The Institution of Christian Religion

Because it should nothing profit us to know what God requireth of us, unless he did succour us fainting and oppressed under the yoke and untolerable burden. In an other place he teacheth that the law was made for transgressions,¹ that is to bring men to humility being proved guilty of their own damnation. And, because this is the true and only preparation to seek Christ, what so ever he teacheth in diverse words, do all very well agree together. But because he then was in contention with perverse teachers, which feigned that we do deserve righteousness by the works of the law, to confute their error, he was compelled sometime to speak precisely of the bare law, which yet otherwise is clothed with the covenant of free adoption.

Bycause it should nothing profit vs to knowe what God requyreth of vs, vnlesse he did succour vs faynting and oppressed vnder the yoke and vntolerable burden. In an other place he teacheth that the lawe was made for transgressions,¹ that is to bryng menne to humilitie beyng proued gilty of theyr owne damnation. And, bycause this is the true and only preparation to seke Christ, what so euer he teacheth in diuerse wordes, do al very well agree together. But bicause he then was in contentiō with peruerse teachers, which fained that we do deserue righteousnesse by the workes of the law, to confute their errour, he was compelled somtime to speake precisely of the bare lawe, whiche yet otherwise is clothed with the couenant of free adoption.

1. 1Gal. i•j.xix.

But now it is good to know, how being taught by the moral law, we are made more inexcusable, that our own guiltiness may move us to crave pardon. If it be true that we be taught perfection of righteousness in the law, then this also followeth, that the absolute keeping thereof is perfect righteousness before God, that is, whereby a man may be deemed and accounted righteous before the heavenly throne of judgement.