The Institution of Christian Religion

The third use, which is also the principal use, and more nearly looketh unto the proper end of the law, concerneth the faithful, in whose hearts already liveth and reigneth the spirit of God. For although they have the law written and graven in their hearts by the finger of God, that is to say, be so affectioned and minded by the direction of the spirit that they desire to obey God, yet do they still two ways profit in the law. For it is to them a very good mean, whereby they may daily better & more assuredly learn what is the will of the Lord which they aspire unto, and may be confirmed in the understanding thereof. As if a servant be already bent with all the affection of his heart, to please his Lord: yet hath he need diligently to search out and mark the fashions of his Lord, that he may frame and apply him self unto them. And let none of us exempt him self from this need. For no man hath hitherto attained to so great wisdom, but that he may by daily instruction of the law get new profit in proceeding to the purer knowledge of God's will. Then because we need not only doctrine but also exhortation: this other profit shall the servant of God take by the law, to be by ⟨p. 43⟩the often meditation thereof stirred up to obedience, to be strengthened in it, to be holden back from the slippery way of offending. For after this manner, must these holly ones drive forward them selves, which with how great cheerfulness so ever they travail to Godward according to the spirit, yet they are alway laden with the sluggishness of the flesh, that they proceed not with such full readiness as they ought. To this flesh is the law given as a whip, that like a slow and dull Ass it may be pricked forward to work, yea to the spiritual man, because he is not yet dispatched of the burden of the flesh, it shall be a continual prick that suffereth him not to stand still.¹ Even to this use David had respect, when he did set fourth the law with those notable praises: The law of the Lord is undefiled, converting souls: the justices of the Lord are upright, and cheering hearts: the commandment of the Lord is bright, that giveth light to the eyes. &c. Again:

The thirde vse, whiche is also the principall vse, and more nearely loketh vnto the propre ende of the law, concerneth the faithful, in whose heartes allready lyueth and reigneth the spirite of God. For although they haue the lawe wrytten and grauen in their heartes by the finger of God, that is to saye, be so affectioned and mynded by the direction of the spirite that thei desire to obeye God, yet doe they still twoo waies profite in the lawe. For it is to them a verye good meane, wherby they maie dayly better & more assuredly learne what is the will of the Lord whyche they aspyre vnto, and maye bee confyrmed in the vnderstandynge thereof. As if a seruaunt be already bente with all the affection of hys hearte, to please hys Lorde: yet hathe hee neede dylygentelye to searche oute and marke the fashions of hys Lorde, that hee maye frame and applye hym selfe vnto them. And lette none of vs exempte hym selfe from thys neede. For no manne hathe hetherto attained to so greate wysedome, but that hee may by dayly instruction of the lawe gette newe profyte in proceedynge to the purer knoweledge of Godes wyll. Then bicause wee neede not onely doctrine but also exhortation: thys other profite shall the seruaunt of God take by the lawe, to be by