The Institution of Christian Religion

Now if that be true, which is most evidently certain, that all the sum o• the gospel is contained in these two principal points, Repentance & forgiveness of sins: do we not see, that the Lord doth therefore freely justify them that be his, that he may also by the sanctification of his Spirit restore them into true righteousness?¹ John the Angel sent before • face of Christ to prepare his ways, preached: Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is come near at hand. In calling them to repentance, he did put them in mind to acknowledge themselves sinners, and all that was theirs, to be damnable before the Lord, that they might with all their hearts to desire the mortifying of their flesh & a new regeneration in the Spirit. In telling them of the kingdom of God, he called them to faith. For by the kingdom of God which he taught to be at hand, he meant forgiveness of sins, salvation, and life, and all that ever we get in Christ. Wherefore in the other Evangelists it is written,² John came preaching the Baptism of repentance unto forgiveness of sins. And what is that else, but that they being oppressed & wearied with the burden of sins, should turn to the Lord, & conceive good hope of forgiveness & salvation? So Christ also began his preachings:³ The kingdom of God is come near at hand: repent ye and believe the Gospel. First he declareth that the treasures of Gods mercy are opened in him, and then he requireth repentance, and last of all confidence in the promises of God▪ Therefore when he meant briefly to comprehend the whole sum of the gospel,⁴ he said, that he must suffer & rise again from the dead, & that ⟨p. 134⟩repentance and forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name. The Apostles also preached the same after his resurrection, that he was raised up by God, to give to Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. Repentance is preached in the name of Christ, when men do hear by the doctrine of the gospel that all their thoughts, their affections, and their endeavours are corrupt and faulty, and that therefore it is necessary that they be borne again if they will enter into the kingdom of God. Forgiveness of sins is preached when men are taught that Christ is made to them redemption,