The Institution of Christian Religion

In deed he assigneth them offices, to be doing, that they should not give them selves to sluggishness of the flesh: but in that he commandeth them to have fear and carefulness, he so humbleth them, that they may remember that the same thing which they are commanded to do, is the proper work of God, wherein he plainly expresseth, that the faithful work, passively, as I may so call it, in so much as power is ministered them from Heaven,¹ that they should claim nothing at all to them selves. Wherefore when Peter exhorteth us that we should add power in faith, he granteth not unto us a second office, as if we should do any thing severally by our selves, but only he awaketh the slothfulness of the flesh, wherewith commonly faith it self is choked. To the same purpose seemeth that saying of Paul:² Extinguish not the spirit. for slothfulness doth oftentimes crepe upon the faithful, if it be not corrected. Butte if any man conclude there upon, that it is in their own choice to cherish the light being offered them, his ignorance shall be easily confuted: because the self same diligence that Paul requireth,³ cometh only from God. For we are also oftentimes commanded to purge our selves from all filthiness: whereas the holy ghost do the claimeth to him self alone the office of making holy. Finally that by way of granting the same thing, is conveyed to us that properly belongeth to God, is plain by the words of John:⁴ Whosoever is of God, saveth him self. The advancers of freewill take hold of this saying, as if we were saved partly by the power of God, partly by our own: as though we had not from ⟨image 112⟩heaven the very same safe keeping, whereof the Apostle maketh mention. For which cause,⁵ Christ also prayeth his Father to save us from evil, and we know that the godly, while they war against Satan, do get the victory by no other army and weapons, but by the armour and weapons of God.