The Institution of Christian Religion

Now let us expound the Apostles comparison, one piece after an other. The old testament is literal, because it was published without the effectual working of the spirit: The new is spiritual, which the Lord hath spiritually graven in the hearts of men. Therefore the second diversity is as it were a declaration of the first. The old is deadly, because it can do nothing but wrap all mankind within the curse. The new is the instrument of life, because it delivereth from curse, and restoreth into favour with God. The old is the ministry of damnation, because it condemneth all Adams children of unrighteousness. The new is the ministry of righteousness, because it reve•eth the mercy of God, by which we are made righteous. The last diversity is to be referred to the ceremonies. Because the old testament had an image of things absent, it behoved that it should in time de•aye and vanish away: but the Gospel, because it giveth the true body in deed, keepeth still a firm and perpetual steadfastness. Jeremiah in deed calleth even the moral laws, a weak and frail covenant: but that is for an other reason, because by the sudden falling away of the unthankful people, it was by and by broken, but forasmuch as such breaking of it was the fault of the people, it can not properly be laid upon the testament. But the ceremonies, forasmuch as by their own weakness were dissolved by the coming of Christ, had the cause of their weakness within them selves. Now, that difference of the letter and spirit is not so to be taken, as though the Lord had given his laws to the Jews without any fruit at all, having none of them converted unto him: But it is spoken by way of comparison, to advance the abundance of grace, wherewith the same lawmaker as it were putting on a new personage, did honourably set forth the preaching of the Gospel. For if we reckon up the multitude of these whom the Lord out of all peoples hath by the preaching of the Gospel regenerate with his spirit, and gathered into the communion of his Church, we shall say, that there were very few, or in a manner none in the old time in Israel, that with affection of mind and entirely from their heart embraced the covenant of the Lord: who yet were very many, if they be reckoned in their own number without comparison.

Nowe let vs expounde the Apostles comparison, one peece after an other. The olde testament is literall, bicause it was published without the effectuall workinge of the spirit: The newe is spiritual, whyche the Lorde hathe spiritually grauen in the heartes of men. Therefore the seconde diuersitie is as it were a declaration of the fyrste. The olde is deadly, bicause it can do nothinge but wrappe all mankinde within the curse. The newe is the instrumente of lyfe, bycause it deliuereth from curse, and restoreth into fauoure with God. The olde is the ministerie of damnation, bycause it condemneth all Adams children of vnrighteousnesse. The newe is the ministerie of ryghteousnesse, bicause it reueeth the mercie of God, by whyche we are made ryghteous. The last diuersitie is to be referred to the ceremonies. Bycause the olde testament had an mage of thynges absent, it behoued that it shoulde in tyme deaye and vanyshe away: but the Gospell, bycause it geueth the true bodye in deede, kepeth styll a fyrme and perpetuall stedfastesse. Ieremie in dede calleth euen the morall lawes, a weake and fraile couenant: but that is for an other reason, bycause by the sodeine fallynge away of the vnthankfull people, it was by and by broken, but forasmuche as suche breakynge of it was the faulte of the people, it can not proprely be layed vpon the testamente. But the ceremonies, forasmuche as by theyr owne weakenesse were dissolued by the comminge of Christe, had the cause of their weakenesse within them selues. Nowe, that dyfference of the letter and spirite is not so to be taken, as thoughe the Lorde hadde geuen his lawes to the Iewes wythout any frute at all, hauyng none of them conuerted vnto hym: But it is spoken by waye of comparison, to aduaunce the abundance of grace, wherewyth the same lawemaker as it were puttinge on a newe personage, did honorably sette forth the preachinge of the Gospell. For yf wee recken vp the multitude of these whome the Lorde oute of al peoples hath by the preaching of the Gospell regenerate wyth hys spirite, and gathered into the communion of his Churche, we shall saye, that there were very fewe, or in a manner none in the olde time in Israell, that wyth affection of mynde and entirely from their heart embraced the couenant of the Lorde: whoe yet were very many, yf they bee reckened in theyr owne numbre wythoute comparison.