The Institution of Christian Religion

But whereas in rehearsing the sum of the law, Christ & the Apostle do sometime leave out the first Table: many are deceived therein, while they would fain draw their words to both the Tables. Christ in Matthew calleth the chief points of the law, Mercy, Judgement & Faith: under the word Faith, it is not doubtful to me, but that he meaneth truth or faithfulness toward men. But some, that the sentence might be extended to the whole law, take it for religiousness toward God. But they labour in vain.¹ For Christ speaketh of those works wherewith man ought to prove him self righteous. This reason if we note, we will also cease to marvel why, when a young man asked him what be the commandments by keeping whereof we enter into life: he answered these things only: Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery.² Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt bear no false witness. Honour thy Father and thy Mother. Love thy neighbour as thy self. For the obeying of the first Table consisted in manner all either in the affection of the heart, or in ceremonies: the affection of the heart appeared not, and as for the ceremonies the hypocrites did continually use. But the works of charity are such, as by them we may declare a perfect righteousness. But this cometh each where so oft in the prophets, that it must needs be familiar to a reader but meanly exercised in them. For in a manner alway when they exhort to repentance, they leave out the first Table, and only call upon Faith, Judgment, Mercy & Equity. And thus they do not overskip the fear of God, but they require the earnest proof thereof by the tokens of it. This is well known, that when they speak of the keeping of the law, they do for the most part rest upon the second Table, because therein the study of righteousness and uprightness is most openly seen. It is needless to rehearse the places, because every man will of himself easily mark that which I say.

But wheras in rehersing the summe of the law, Christ & the Apostle do somtime leaue out the first Table: many are deceiued therin, while thei wold faine draw their wordes to bothe the Tables. Christ in Mathew calleth ye chiefe pointes of the lawe, Mercy, Iudgement & Faith: vnder the worde Faith, it is not doubtfull to mee, but that he meaneth truth or faithfulnesse towarde men. But some, that the sentence might be extended to the whole lawe, take it for religiousnesse towarde God. But thei laboure in vaine.