The Institution of Christian Religion

The second office of the law, is that they which are touched with §10no care of that which is just and right, unless they be compelled, when they hear the terrible penal ordinances therein, may be restrained at least with fear of punishment. But they are restrained, not because their inward mind is moved or affected withal, but because being as it were bridled, they withhold their hand from outward work, and do keep in their perverseness within them, which otherwise they would have outrageously poured out. Thereby they become truly nether the better, nor the more righteous before God. For although being letted either by fear or by shame, they dare not put that in practise which they have conceived in their mind, nor openly blow abroad the rages of their lust: yet have they not a heart framed to the fear & obedience of God, yea the more that they hold back themselves, so much the stronglier within they are kindled, they burn, they boil, ready to do any thing, and to break fourth any whether, if this terror of the law did not stay them. And not that only, but also they most spitefully hate the law, and do detest God the lawmaker, so that if they could, they would very fain take him away, whom they can not abide, neither when he commandeth rightful things, nor when he revengeth him upon the despisers of his majesty. In some in deed more darkly, & in some more plainly, but in all generally that are not regenerate, is this feeling, that they are drawn to the following of the law not by willing submission, but resisting and against their wills, only by violence of fear. But this constrained and enforced righteousness is necessary for the public common state of men, the quiet whereof is herein provided for, while order is taken that all things be not con founded with uproar, which would come to pass, if all things were lawful for all men. Yea it is not unprofitable for the children of God to be exercised with this Schooling, so long as they before their calling being yet destitute of the spirit of sanctification, are still wanton with the folly of the flesh.

The second office of the lawe, is that thei whiche are touched with §10no care of that whiche is iuste and right, vnlesse thei be compelled, whē they heare the terrible penall ordinaunces therein, may be restrayned at least with feare of punishement. But thei are restrained, not bycause their inwarde minde is moued or affected withall, but bicause beynge as it were brideled, thei withholde their hande from outwarde worke, and do kepe in their peruersenesse within them, whiche otherwise thei woulde haue outragiously poured oute. Thereby they become truelye nether the better, nor ye more righteous before God. For although beinge letted either by feare or by shame, thei dare not put that in practise which thei haue conceiued in their minde, nor openly blowe abrode the rages of their lust: yet haue thei not a hearte framed to the feare & obedience of God, yea the more that thei holde backe themselues, so much the stronglier within thei are kindeled, thei burne, thei boyle, redy to do any thinge, and to breake fourth any whether, if this terroure of the lawe did not staye them. And not that onely, but also thei moste spitefully hate the lawe, and do detest God the lawemaker, so that yf they coulde, thei woulde very faine take him awaie, whome thei canne not abide, neither when he commaundeth rightfull thinges, nor when he reuengeth him vpon the despisers of his maiestie. In some in deede more darkely, & in some more plainely, but in all generally yt are not regenerate, is this feelinge, that thei are drawen to the folowinge of the lawe not by willinge submission, but resisting and against their willes, only by violence of feare. But this constrained and enforced righteousnesse is necessarie for the publike common state of men, the quiet wherof is herein prouided for, while ordre is taken that all thinges be not cō founded with vprore, whiche woulde come to passe, if all thinges were lawefull for all men. Yea it is not vnprofitable for the chyldren of God to bee exercised wyth thys Schoolynge, so longe as they before theyr callynge beynge yet destytute of the spyrite of sanctification, are styll wanton with the follye of the fleshe.