The Institution of Christian Religion

But to both may that be applied which he saith in an other place,¹ that the law was to the Jews a Schoolmaster to Christ, for there are two sorts of men, whom with her schooling she leadeth by the hand to Christ. The one sort, of whom we first spake, because they are to full of affiance of their own strength or righteousness, are not meet to receive the grace of Christ, unless they be first emptied, therefore the law bringeth them down to humility by knowledge of them selves, that so they may be prepared to desire that which before they thought they wanted not. The other sort need a bridle to be holden back, lest they so give loose the reins to the wantonness of their flesh, that they fall of altogether from all study of righteousness. For where the spirit of God doth not yet govern, there sometime lusts do so boil, that it is in great peril lest they throw down the soul that is subject to them into the forgetfulness and despising of God: and so would it come to pass if God did not with this remedy provide for it. Therefore those whom he hath appointed to the inheritance of his kingdom, if he do not by and by regenerate them, he keepeth then by the works of the law under fear, until the time of his visitation, not that chaste and pure fear such as ought to be in children, but yet a profitable fear for this that they may according to their capacity be taught by introduction to true godliness. Of this we have so many proves, that it needeth not example. For who soever have any time continued in not knowing of God, will confess that this happened unto them, that they were holden by the bridle of the law in some fear & obedience of God, until the time that being regenerate by his spirit, they began heartily to love him.

But to bothe maye that bee applyed whyche hee saythe in an other place,¹ that the lawe was to the Iewes a Schoolemayster to Christe, for there are twoo sortes of menne, whome wyth her schoolynge shee leadeth by the hande to Christe. The one sorte, of whome wee fyrste spake, bycause they are to full of affyance of theyr owne strengthe or ryghteousnesse, are not meete to receiue the grace of Christe, vnlesse they bee fyrste emptyed, therefore the lawe bryngeth them downe to humilitie by knoweledge of them selues, that so they maye bee prepared to desyre that whyche before they thoughte thei wanted not. The other sorte neede a brydle to be holden backe, leaste they so geue loose the remes to the wantonnesse of theyr fleshe, that they fall of alltogether from all studye of ryghteousnesse. For where the spyryte of God doth not yet gouerne, there sometime lustes do so boile, yt it is in greate perille leaste thei throwe downe the soule that is subiecte to them into the forgetfullnesse and despisinge of God: and so wolde it come to passe if God did not with this remedie prouide for it. Therefore those whom hee hathe apoynted to the inheritaunce of his kyngedome, yf he do not by and by regenerate them, he keepeth then by the workes of the lawe vnder feare, vntyl the tyme of his visitation, not that chaste and pure feare such as ought to be in chyldren, but yet a profitable feare for this that they may according to their capacitie be taught by introduction to true godlynesse. Of thys we haue so many proues, that it needeth not example. For who soeuer haue any tyme contynued in not knowynge of God, wyll confesse that this happened vnto them, that they were holden by the brydle of the lawe in some feare & obedience of God, vntil the time that beinge regenerate by hys spirite, they beganne hartelye to loue hym.