The Institution of Christian Religion

Now therefore, whereas the law hath toward the faithful a power to exhort, not such a power as may bind their consciences with curse, butte such as with often calling on, may shake of sluggishness and pinch imperfection to awake it: many when they mean to express this deliverance from the curse thereof, do say, that the law is abrogate to the faithful. (I speak yet of the law moral) not that it doth no more command them that which is right, butte only that it be no more unto them that which it was before, that is, that it do no more, by making afraid and confounding their consciences, damn and destroy them. And truly such an abrogation of the law, Paul doth plainly teach, and also that the Lord himself spake of it, appeareth by this that he would not have confuted that opinion that he should dissolve the law,¹ unless it had been commonly received among the Jews. Butte forasmuch as it could not rise causelessly and without any colour, it is likely that it grew upon false understanding of his doctrine, as in a manner all errors are wont to take occasion of truth, but lest we should also stumble at the same stone, let us diligently make distinction, what is abrogate in the law, and what remaineth yet in force. Where the Lord protesteth that he came not do destroy the law, butte to fulfil it: and that till heaven and earth pass away, no one jot of the law should pass away, butte that all should be fulfilled: he sufficiently confirmeth that by his coming nothing should be taken away from the out keeping of the law. And for good cause: sith he came rather for this end, to heal offences. Wherefore the doctrine of the law remaineth for all Christians, inviolable, which by teaching admonishing, rebuking and correcting may frame and prepare us to every good work.

Nowe therefore, whereas the lawe hathe towarde the faythfull a power to exhorte, not suche a power as maye bynde theyr consciences with curse, butte suche as wyth often callynge on, maye shake of sluggyshnesse and pynche imperfection to awake it: many when thei meane to expresse thys delyueraunce from the curse thereof, do saye, that the lawe is abrogate to the faythfull. (I speake yet of the lawe moral) not that it dothe no more commaunde them that whyche is ryghte, butte onely that it be no more vnto them that whych it was before, that is, that it do no more, by makynge afrayde and confoundynge their consciences, damne and destroye them. And truely suche an abrogation of the lawe, Paule dothe plainely teache, and also that the Lorde himselfe spake of it, appeareth by thys that he woulde not haue confuted that opinion that he shoulde dissolue the lawe,