The Institution of Christian Religion

Yet we do not hereby make room to that most pestilent Philosophy, which many half papists at this day begin to coin in corners. For, because they can not defend that gross doubtfulness which hath ben taught in Schools, they fly to an other devise, to make a confidence mingled with distrustfulness. They confess, that so oft as we look unto Christ▪ we find in him full matter to hope well: but because we are always unworthy of those good things that are offered us in Christ, they would have us to waver & stagger in beholding of our own unworthiness. Briefly, they place conscience to between hope & fear, that it altereth from the one to the other, by interchangeable times & courses: and they so compare faith & hope together, that when the one springeth up the other is pressed down, when the one ariseth the other again falleth. So when Satan seeth that those open engines wherewith before time he was wont to destroy the assuredness of faith, do now nothing prevail, he endeavoureth by crooked underminings to overthrow it. But what manner of confidence shall that be, which shall now & then yield to desperation. If (say they) thou consider Christ, there is assured salvation: but if thou return to thy self, there is assured damnation. Therefore of necessity distrust and good hope must by interchangeable courses reign in thy mind: As though we ought to imagine Christ standing a far of, and not rather dwelling within us. For therefore we look for salvation at his hand, not because he appeareth a far of unto us, but because he hath grafted us into his body, and so maketh us partakers not only of all his good things, but also of himself. Therefore I thus turn this their argument against themselves: If thou consider thy self, there is certain damnation. But because Christ with all his good things is by way of communicating so given unto thee, that all his things are made thine, and thou art made a member of him, yea & all one with him: his righteousness drowneth thy sins, his salvation taketh away thy damnation: he by his worthiness cometh between thee and God, that thy unworthiness come not in the sight of God. Briefly, this is the truth: we ought neither to separate Christ from us, nor us from him, but with both hands to hold fast that fellowship whereby he hath coupled himself unto us. So the Apostle teacheth us:¹

Yet we do not herby make roome to that most pestilēt Philosophie, whiche many halfe papistes at this daye beginne to coyne in corners. For, bicause they cā not defende that grosse doubtfulnesse which hath ben taught in Scholes, thei flie to an other deuise, to make a confidēce mingled with distrustfulnesse. Thei confesse, that so oft as we loke vnto Christ we finde in him full mater to hope well: but bicause we are alwayes vnworthy of those good things that are offred vs in Christ, they would haue vs to wauer & stagger in beholding of our owne vnworthinesse. Briefely, they place conscience to betwene hope & feare, that it altereth from the one to the other, by enterchangeable times & courses: and they so compare fayth & hope together, that when the one springeth vp the other is pressed downe, whē the one ariseth the othre againe falleth. So whē Satan seeth yt those open engines wherwith before time he was wont to destroy ye assurednesse of faith, do now nothing preuaile, he endeuoreth by croked vndermininges to ouerthrow it. But what manner of cōfidence shal that be, which shal now & then yeld to desperatiō. If (say they) thou cōsider Christ, there is assured saluatiō: but if thou returne to thy self, there is assured dānation. Therefore of necessitie distrust and good hope must by enterchāgeable courses reigne in thy minde: As though we ought to imagine Christ standyng a far of, and not rather dwellyng within vs. For therefore we loke for saluation at his hande, not bycause he appereth a far of vnto vs, but bicause he hath graffed vs into his bodye, and so maketh vs partakers not only of all his good thinges, but also of himself. Therefore I thus turne this their argument against themselues: If thou consider thy self, there is certaine damnation. But bicause Christ with all his good thinges is by way of cōmunicatyng so geuen vnto thee, that all his thinges are made thine, and thou arte made a member of him, yea & all one with him: his righteousnesse drowneth thy sinnes, his saluation taketh awaye thy damnation: he by his worthynesse cō meth betwene thee and God, that thy vnworthynesse come not in the sight of God. Briefely, this is the truthe: we ought neyther to separate Christ from vs, nor vs from him, but with bothe handes to holde fast that felowshippe whereby he hath coupled himselfe vnto vs. So the Apostle teacheth vs: