A Christian instruction, conteyning the law and the Gospell. Also a summarie of the principall poyntes of the Christian fayth and religion, and of the abuses and errors contrary to the same. Done in certayne dialogues in french, by M. Peter Viret, sometime minister of the Word of God at Nymes in Prouince. Translated by I.S. Seene and allowed according to the Queenes Maiesties iniunctions.

Of the cause of the imperfection that is in the sanctification ioyned to our person, and of the vvorks vvhich proceede therof.

M.

THou wilte then saye that this se∣conde kinde of sanctification is not only adherente to the person of Iesus Christe,* 1.1 and that it is not only ours by imputation, as is the firste: but that it is also adherente to our flesh and nature, as a new qualitie which Iesus Christ hath put into vs by his holy spirite, whiche maketh our flesh holy in it selfe, to do af∣terwardes holy workes.

P.

It is euen so.* 1.2

M.

Thou wilte then say also, that the ho∣ly works whiche men do, being so sancti∣fied, be the frutes of the same sanctifi∣cation.

P.

It is euen so: but bycause there remayneth continually muche of oure naturall corruption in our fleshe why∣lest we are in thys worlde, there can procéede from vs no worke so hol∣lye, but that it is founde very foule,* 1.3

and farre off from that perfect holynesse whiche God requireth of vs in all our works.

M.

What wilte thou conclude by that?

P.

That our workes be so farre off from worthynesse to be presented for sa∣tisfaction, and to obteine saluation by thē, be they neuer so holy, that if he shoulde iudge of them according to the rigoure of his iudgemente, he shoulde fynde no∣thing therein but matter of condemnati∣on.* 1.4

M.

Thou maist not denie for all that, but the good & holy works are very agrée∣able vnto him?

P.

If it were otherwise, they ought not to be done: but thou must note herein, that they be not acceptable vnto him, as cause of our saluation, but as testimonie of the same.

M.

Howe vn∣derstandest thou that they be testimo∣nies of our saluation?

P.

In that that they testifie that Iesus Christe is in vs, and that he there worketh by his holy spirite. Wherefore it foloweth that we be iusti∣fied and sanctified by the iustice and sanc∣tification of Iesus Christ,* 1.5 the which God beholdeth, and for the regarde thereof he doth beare with the imperfection that yet remayneth in vs, and doth pardon vs

that wherin we do yet dayly offend him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Roma. 8. b. c.
• * 1.2

  Galla. 5. c. d. Ephe. 5. b.
• * 1.3

  Iob. 4. c. Esay. 64. c.
• * 1.4

  Rom. 11. a. 2. Timo. 1. c Ephes. 2. b. Tite. 3. b. Matth. 7. c. 2. Peter. 1. b
• * 1.5

  Rom. 8. b. Gala. 5. d. 1. Cori. 1. d Rom. 7. d. 1. Iohn. 1. d