The Institution of Christian Religion

Both these things do happen unto us by the partaking of Christ,§9 For if we do truly communicate of his death, by the power there of our old man is crucified,¹ & the body of sin dieth that the corruption of our former nature may live no more. If we be partakers of his resurrection, by it we are raised up into a newness of life, that may agree with the righteousness of God. In one word I expound repentance to be regeneration, which hath no other mark whereunto it is directed, but that the image of God which was by Adams offence foully defaced & in a manner utterly blotted out, may be renewed in us, So the Apostle teacheth,² when he saith: but we representing the glory of God with uncovered face are transformed into the same image, out of ⟨image 209⟩glory into glory,³ as by the spirit of the Lord. Again. Be ye renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man, which is created according to God in righteousness and holiness of truth. Again in an other place:⁴ putting on the new man, which is renewed after the knowledge and image of him that created him. Therefore by this regeneration we be by the benefit of Christ restored into the righteousness of God,⁵ from which we were fallen by Adam. After which manner it pleaseth the lord wholly to restore all those whom he adopteth into the inheritance of life. And this restoring is fulfilled not in one moment, or one day, or one year, but by continual, yea and sometimes slow proceedings God taketh away the corruptions of the flesh in his elect, cleanseth them from filthiness, and consecrateth them for temples to himself, renewing all their senses to true pureness, that they may exercise themselves all their life in repentance, and know that this war hath no end but in death. And so much the greater is the lewdness of that filthy railer & apostate Staphylus, which foolishly saith that I confound the state of this present life with the heavenly glory,