The Institution of Christian Religion

The third Chapter. That we are regenerate by faith. Wherein is entreated of Repentance.

The thyrde Chapter. That we ar regenerate by faithe. Wherein is entreatch of Repentance.

Albeit we have already partly taught how faith possesseth §1Christ, & how by it we eioye his benefits: nevertheless this were yet dark, unless we did also make declaration of the effects that we feel thereby. Not without cause it is said, that the sum of the Gospel standeth in repentance and in forgiveness of sins. Therefore leaving out these two points, whatsoever we shall say of faith, shall be but a hungry & unperfect, yea & in manner unprofitable disputation of faith. Now forasmuch as Christ doth give both unto us, & we obtain both by faith, that is to say, both newness of life & free reconciliation, reason & order of teaching requireth, that in this place I begin to speak of both. Our next passage from faith shall be to Repentance, because when this article is well perceived, it shall the better appear how man is justified by only faith and mere pardon, & yet how real holiness of life (as I may so call it) is not severed from free imputation of righteousness. Now, it ought to be out of question, that Repentance doth not only immediately follow faith, but also spring out of it. For whereas pardon & forgiveness is therefore offered by the preaching of the Gospel, ye the sinner being delivered from the tyranny of Satan, from the yoke of sin, & from miserable bondage of vices, may pass into the kingdom of God, truly no man can embrace the grace of the Gospel, but he must return from the errors of his former life into the right way, and apply all his study to the meditation of repentance. As for them that think that repentance doth rather go before faith than flow or spring forth of it, as a fruit out of a tree, they never knew the force thereof, and are moved with to weak an argument to think so.

ALbeit we haue already partly taught how faith possesseth §1Christe, & how by it we eioye hys benefites: neuerthelesse thys weare yet darke, vnlesse we dyd also make declaratiō of ye effectes that we feele thereby. Not without cause it is said, that the summe of the Gospell standeth in repentance and in forgeuenesse of sinnes. Therfore leauing out these two pointes, whatsoeuer we shal saie of faith, shalbe but a hungry & vnperfect, yea & in manner vnprofitable disputation of faith. Now forasmuch as Christ doth geue both vnto vs, & we obteine both by faith, that is to saie, both newnesse of life & fre reconciliation, reasō & ordre of teaching requireth, that in this place I beginne to speake of bothe. Oure next passage from faith shalbe to Repentance, bicause when this article is well perceiued, it shall the better appeare howe man is iustified by onely faithe and mere pardon, & yet how real holinesse of life (as I maie so call it) is not seuered frō free imputation of righteousnesse. Now, it ought to be oute of question, yt Repentance doth not only immediatly folow faith, but also spring out of it. For wheras pardon & forgeuenesse is therfore offred by ye preaching of ye Gospel, ye the sinner being deliuered from ye tyrānie of Satan, from ye yoke of sinne, & frō miserable bondage of vices, maie passe into ye kingdome of God, truly no man can embrace ye grace of the Gospell, but he muste returne from the erroures of hys former life into the right way, and applie all his studie to the meditation of repentance. As for them that thinke that repentance dothe rather goe before faithe than flow or spring forth of it, as a frute out of a tree, thei neuer knew ye force therof, and are moued with to weake an argument to thinke so.