The Institution of Christian Religion

Therefore if we look only upon the law, we can do nothing but be §4discouraged, be confounded, & despair, forasmuch as by it we are all damned & cursed, & kept far of from the blessedness that he offereth to them that worship him. Wilt thou say then, Doth the lord so mock us▪ For how finally doth it differ from mocking, to show forth a hope of felicity, to allure & exhort men unto it, to protest that it is laid open for us, when in the mean season the entry unto it is foreclosed & impossible to be come to? I answer: although the promises of the law in so much as they are conditional, do hang upon the perfect obedience of the law, which can no where be found, yet are they not given in vain. For when we have learned that they shall be void and of no effect unto us, unless God embrace us with his free goodness without regard of our works, & unless we do embrace by faith the same goodness given us by the Gospel, then want they not their effectualness, yea with their condition annexed. For then he doth so freely give all things unto us, that he addeth this also to the heap of his bountifulness, that not refusing our half full obedience, and remitting so much as it wanteth of full performance, he so maketh us to enjoy the fruit of the promises of the law, as if we our selves had fulfilled the condition. But we will at this present proceed no further in this matter, because it shall be more largely to be entreated of, when we shall speak of the Justification of faith.

Therfore if we loke only vpō the lawe, we can do nothing but be §4discouraged, be confounded, & despeire, for asmuch as by it we are al damned & cursed, & kept far of from the blessednesse that he offreth to them that worship him. Wilt thou say then, Doth the lord so mock vs▪ For how finally doth it differ from mocking, to shewe forth a hope of felicitie, to allure & exhort men vnto it, to protest that it is layed open for vs, whē in ye meane season the entrie vnto it is forclosed & impossible to be come to? I answere: although the promisses of the lawe in so much as they are conditional, do hang vpon the perfect obedience of ye law, which can no where be found, yet are they not geuen in vaine. For when we haue lerned that they shalbe voide and of no effect vnto vs, vnlesse God embrace vs wt his free goodnesse without regarde of our workes, & vnlesse we do embrace by faith the same goodnesse geuē vs by the Gospel, then want they not their effectualnesse, yea with their condition annexed. For then he doth so freely geue al things vnto vs, that he addeth this also to the heape of his bountifulnesse, yt not refusing our half ful obedience, and remitting so much as it wanteth of ful performance, he so maketh vs to enioy the frute of the promises of the law, as if we our selues had fulfilled the cōdytion. But we wil at this presēt procede no further in this matter, bicause it shalbe more largely to be entreated of, when we shal speake of the Iustificatiō of faith.