The Institution of Christian Religion

But against our works are aptly set, as directly contrary, both the free favour of God, and the obedience of Christ, either of them in their degree. For Christ could not deserve any thing but by the good pleasure of God, and but because he was appointed to this purpose, with his sacrifice to appease the wrath of God, and with his obedience to put away our offences. Finally in a sum: because the deserving of Christ hangeth upon the only grace of God, which appointed us this mean of salvation, therefore as well the same deserving, as that grace, is fitly set against all the works of men.

But agaynst our workes are aptly set, as directly contrarie, both the free fauour of God, and the obedience of Christ, either of them in their degree. For Christ could not deserue any thyng but by the good pleasure of God, and but bycause he was apointed to this purpose, with his sacrifice to appease the wrath of God, and with his obedience to put away our offences. Finally in a summe: bicause the deseruynge of Christ hangeth vpon the only grace of God, whiche apointed vs this meane of saluatiō, therfore as well the same deseruing, as that grace, is fitly set against all the workes of men.

This distinction is gathered out of many places of the Scripture.§2 God so loved the world,¹ that he gave his only begotten son, that who so ever believeth him, shall not perish. We see how the love of God holdeth the first place, as the sovereign cause or original, & then followeth faith in Christ, as the second or nearer cause. If any man take exception and say, that Christ is but the formal cause, he doth more diminish his power than the words may bear. For if we obtain righteousness by faith that resteth upon him, then is the matter of our salvation to be sought in him, which is in many places plainly proved. Not that we first loved him,² but he first loved us, and sent his son to be the appeasing for our sins. In these words is clearly showed, that God, to the end that nothing should withstand his love toward us, appointed us a mean to be reconciled in Christ. And this word Appeasing, is of great weight: because God after a certain unspeakable manner, even the same time that he loved us, was also angry with us until he was reconciled in Christ. And to this purpose serve all those sayings: He is the satisfaction for our sins.