The Institution of Christian Religion

Now followeth his resurrection from the dead, without which all that we have hitherto, were but unperfect. For sith there appeareth in the cross, death, & burial of Christ nothing but weakness: faith must pass beyond all those things, that it may be furnished with full strength. Therefore although we have in his death a full accomplishment of salvation, because by it both we are reconciled to God, and his just judgement is satisfied, and the curse taken away, and the penalty fully payed: yet we are said to be regenerate into a living hope, not by his death,¹ but by his rising again. For as he in rising again rose up the vanquisher of death, so the victory of our faith consisteth ⟨p. 101⟩in the very resurrection: but how this is, is better expressed in the words of Paul.² For he saith, that Christ died for our sins, and was raised up again for our justification: as if he should have said: that by his death sin was taken away, and by his rising again righteousness was renewed and restored. For how could he by dy•ng deliver us from death if he himself had lien still overcome by death? Now could he have gotten victory for us, if himself had ben vanquished in fight? Wherefore we do so part the matter of our salvation between the death and resurrection of Christ, that by his death we say sin was taken away and death destroyed, and by his resurrection righteousness was repaired, and life raised up again: but so that by mean of his resurrection, his death doth show forth her force and effect unto us. Therefore Paul affirmeth, that in his very resurrection he was declared the son of God, because then at last he uttered his heavenly power, which is both a clear glass of his godhead, & a steadfast stay of our faith. As also in an other place he teacheth, that Christ suffered after the weakness of the flew,³ & rose again by the power of the spirit. And in the same meaning, in an other place, where he entreateth of perfection, he saith: that I may know him and the power of his resurrection. Yet by and by after he adjoineth the fellowship with death. Wherw th most aptly agreeth that saying of Peter: