The Institution of Christian Religion

And although this be spoken according to the weakness of our capacity, yet is it not falsely said. For God which is the highest righteousness, can not love wickedness which he seeth in us all. Therefore we all have in us that, which is worthy of the hatred of God. Therefore in respect of our corrupted nature, and then of evil life added unto it, truly we are all in displeasure of God, guilty in his sight, and borne to damnation of hell. But because the Lord will not lose that which is his in us, he findeth yet somewhat that he of his goodness may love. For howsoever we be sinners by our own fault, yet we remain his creatures. Howsoever we have purchased death to our selves, yet he made us unto life. So is he moved by mere and free loving of us, to receive us into favour. But sith there is a perpetual and unappeasable disagreement between righteousness and iniquity, so long as we remain sinners, he can not receive us wholly. Therefore, that taking a way all matter of disagreement, he might wholly reconcile us unto him, he doth by expiation set forth in the death of Christ, take away whatsoever evil is in us, that we, which before were unclean and unpure, may now appear righteous and holy in his sight. Therefore God the Father doth with his love prevent and go before our reconciliation in Christ:¹ yea, because he first loved us, therefore he afterward doth reconcile us unto himself. But because, until Christ with his death come to succour us, there remaineth wickedness in us, which deserveth Gods indignation, and is accursed & damned in his sight: therefore we are not fully and firmly joined to God, until Christ do join us. Therefore if we will assure our selves to have God made well pleased and favourable unto us, we must fasten our eyes and minds upon Christ only: as in deed we obtain by him only, that our since be not imputed to us, the imputing whereof, draweth with it the wrath of God.

And althoughe this bee spoken according to the weakenesse of oure capacitie, yet is it not falsly saide. For God whyche is the hyghest ryghteousnesse, can not loue wickednesse whiche he seeth in vs all. Therfore we al haue in vs that, which is worthy of the hatred of God. Therfore in respect of oure corrupted nature, and then of euell life added vnto it, truely we are all in displeasure of God, gylty in his sight, and borne to damnation of hell. But bicause the Lorde wyll not lose that whiche ys his in vs, he fyndeth yet somwhat that he of hys goodnesse maye loue. For howesoeuer we be sinners by our owne faulte, yet we remaine hys creatures. Howesoeuer we haue purchaced death to oure selues, yet he made vs vnto lyfe. So is he moued by meere and free louinge of vs, to receiue vs into fauoure. But sith there is a perpetuall and vnappeasable disagreement betweene righteousnesse and iniquitie, so longe as we remayne sinners, hee canne not receiue vs wholy. Therefore, that taking a waie all matter of disagreement, he might wholy reconcile vs vnto him, he doth by expiation sette forth in the deathe of Christe, take away whatsoeuer euel is in vs, that wee, which before weare vncleane and vnpure, may nowe appeare righteous and holy in hys sight. Therfore God the Father dothe wyth hys loue preuent and goe before oure reconciliation in Christe: