Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

How doth the righteousnesse of the law, and the righteous∣nesse of the Gospell differ?

Not in matter or forme, but in the efficient, the subiect and the end. Not in matter, because both of them are obedience per∣formed vnto God. Not in forme, because the rule of both is the law of God: for God acknowledgeth no other righteousnesse, but that that agreeth with this law. And therfore Rom. 3.30. The law is established by faith: both because the righteousnes of Christ is the full performance of the law, as also because we are by faith clothed with the spirit of Christ, which working in vs, we doe begin to will and to doe things appertaining to God, and so by him the obedience of the law is begun in vs, and Rom. 8.3.4. God sent his sonne in the flesh, that the righteousnesse of the law. i. that verie thing which the law requireth, namely, the fulfilling of righ∣teousnesse, and the perfect integritie of our abilitie (all which we doe freely attaine by Christ apprehended by faith) might be fulfil∣led in vs, that is to say, indeed in himselfe, and as I may so say, by

application, for by faith he and his righteousnesse are made ours, and Gal. 4.4. Christ was made vnder the law, that is subiect vnto the law (both by doing and suffering) that hee might redeeme those that were vnder the law. i. which were subiect vnto the lawe.

But they differ in the subiect and efficient, because the righte∣ousnesse of the law is performed in and by that man, who by the same is accompted righteous, of which sort there is none but Christ himselfe. The righteousnesse of the Gospell is a perfect fullfilling of the lawe performed not in or by that man who is thereby accompted righteous, but by another namely Christ, which performance notwithstanding is accompted to come from the man himselfe. And therefore Rom▪ 10.5. &c. The righteous∣nesse which is by the Lawe standeth thus; The man that doth these things shall liue in them. Leuit. 18.5. But the righteousnes that is of faith promiseth free saluation If thou shalt beleeue in thy heart and confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus, and that the Father hath raised him from the deade thou shalt bee saued.

They differ also in the end; for the end of the righteousnesse of the Gospell is the glory of the mercie and iustice of God; but the end of the righteousnesse of the Lawe is rather the glory of men,a 1.1 because man should haue whereof to boast him∣selfe

Notes

• a 1.1

  Rom. 3.26 27 & 4.12 Ephes. 1.6