The Institution of Christian Religion

Therefore God doth well and orderly, when in his promises he adjoineth this condition to the wicked that are bound with the fetters of sin, that they shall then only enjoy his benefits, if they depart from their wickedness: or for this purpose only, that they may understand that they are worthily excluded from these things, that are due to the true worshippers of God. Again, because he seeketh by all means to stir up the faithful to call upon his grace, it shall not be inconvenient, if he attempt the same thing also by promises, which we have showed that he hath done to great profit with commandments toward them. Being informed of the will of God, by his commandments, we are put in mind of our misery, which do withal our heart so far dissent from the same, & we be therewithal pricked forward to call ⟨image 111⟩upon his spirit, whereby we may be directed into the right way. • But because our sluggishness is not sufficiently sharpened with commandments, there are added promises which with a certain sweetness may allure us to the love of them. And that the more desire that we have of righteousness, we may be the more fervent to seek the favour of God. Lo how in these requests, (If you will: If you shall hear,) the Lord neither giveth us power to will nor to hear, and yet mocketh us not for our want of power.

Therefore God dothe well and ordrely, when in his promyses hee adioyneth thys condytyon to the wicked that are bounde with the fetters of synne, that they shall then onely enioye hys benefytes, yf they departe from their wyckednesse: or for thys purpose onelye, that they maye vnderstande that they are woorthylye excluded from these thynges, that are due to the true woorshyppers of God. Againe, bycause hee seeketh by all meanes to styrre vp the faythefull to call vpon hys grace, yt shall not bee inconuenyente, yf hee attempte the same thynge also by promysses, whyche wee haue shewed that hee hathe donne to greate profyte wyth commaundementes towarde them. Beynge enfourmed of the wyll of God, by hys commaundementes, we are put in minde of our miserie, whiche do withal our heart so farre dissent frō the same, & we be therwithal pricked forward to call ⟨image 111⟩vpon his spirite, whereby we may be directed into the ryght waye. • But because our sluggishnesse is not sufficientlie sharpened with commaundementes, there are added promises whiche with a certayne swetenesse may allure vs to the loue of them. And that the more desyre that we haue of rightuousnesse, we may bee the more seruent to seeke the fauour of God. Loe howe in these requestes, (If you wyll: If you shall heare,) the Lorde neyther geueth vs power to wyll nor to heare, and yet mocketh vs not for our want of power.