The Institution of Christian Religion

When we say that this is the meaning of the law, we thrust not in a new exposition of our own, but we follow Christ the best expositor of the law. For when the Pharisees had infected the people with a false opinion,¹ that he performeth the law that hath with outward work committed nothing against the law, he reproved this most perilous error, and pronounced that unchaste looking at a woman is fornication: he protested that they are manslayers that hate their brother, for he maketh them guilty of judgement that have but conceived wrath in their mind, & them guilty of the council that in murmuring or grudging have uttered any token of a displeased mind: and them guilty of Hell fire, that with taunts and railing break fourth into open anger. They that have not espied these things, have famed Christ to be an other Moses, the giver of the law of the Gospel, which supplied the imperfection of the law of Moses. Whereupon cometh that common principle of the perfection of the law of the Gospel, which far passeth the old law, which is a most pernicious opinion. For hereafter, where we shall gather a sum of the commandments, it shall appear by Moses himself, how reproachfully they dishonour the law of God. Truly it showeth that all the holiness of the fathers did not much differ from hypocrisy, and it leadeth us away from that only and perfect rule of righteousness. But it is very easy to confute that error: for that they thought that Christ did add unto the law, whereas he did but restore the law to her integrity, while he made it free, and cleansed it being obscured with lies, and defiled with leaven of the Pharisees.

When we saie that this is the meaninge of the lawe, we thruste not in a newe exposition of oure owne, but we folowe Christ the best expositoure of the lawe. For when the Pharises hadde infected the people with a false opinion,¹ that he perfourmeth the lawe that hathe wyth outewarde worke committed nothinge againste the lawe, he reproued this moste perilous erroure, and pronounced that vnchaste lookinge at a woman ys fornication: hee protested that they are mansleyers that hate their brother, for he maketh them gyltye of iudgement that haue but conceiued wrathe in their minde, & them gylty of the counsell that in murmuringe or grudginge haue vttered any token of a displeased minde: and them gyltye of Hell fyer, that with tauntes and raylynge breake fourth into open anger. They that haue not espied these thynges, haue famed Christe to be an other Moses, the geuer of the lawe of the Gospell, whiche supplied the imperfection of the lawe of Moses. Wherevpon commeth that common pryncyple of the perfection of the lawe of the Gospell, whyche farre passeth the oulde lawe, whiche ys a moste pernicious opinion. For hereafter, wher we shal gather a summe of the commaundementes, it shall appeare by Moses himselfe, howe reprochefully thei dishonoure the lawe of God. Truely it sheweth that all the holynesse of the fathers dyd not muche dyffer from hypocrisye, and it leadeth vs awaye frome that onely and perfecte rule of ryghteousnesse. But it is very easye to confute that erroure: for that they thoughte that Christe did adde vnto the lawe, whereas he did but restore the lawe to her integritie, whyle hee made it free, and cleansed yt beinge obscured with lies, and defiled with leuen of the Pharises.