IV. But the most futile of all their calumnies is, that men are encouraged to the practice of sin by our maintaining the gratuitous remission of sins, in which we make righteousness to consist. For we say that so great a blessing could never be compensated by any virtue of ours, and that therefore it could never be obtained, unless it were gratuitously bestowed; moreover, that it is gratuitous to us indeed, but not so to Christ, whom it cost so much, even his own most sacred blood, beside which no price sufficiently valuable could be paid to Divine justice. When men are taught in this manner, they are apprized that it is not owing to them that this most sacred blood is not shed as often as they sin. Besides, we learn that such is our pollution, that it can never be washed away, except in the fountain of this immaculate blood. Must not persons who hear these things conceive a greater horror of sin, than if it were said to be cleansed by a sprinkling of good works? And if they have any fear of God, will they not dread, after being once purified, to plunge themselves again into the mire, and thereby to disturb and infect, as far as they can, the purity of this fountain? “I have washed my feet,” (says the believing soul in Solomon,) “how shall I defile them?”[124] Now, it is plain which party better deserves the charge of degrading the value of remission of sins, and prostituting the dignity of righteousness. They pretend that God is appeased by their frivolous _satisfactions_, which are no better than dung; we assert, that the guilt of sin is too atrocious to be expiated by such insignificant trifles; that the displeasure of God is too great to be appeased by these worthless satisfactions; and therefore that this is the exclusive prerogative of the blood of Christ. They say, that righteousness, if it ever be defective, is restored and repaired by works of satisfaction. We think it so valuable that no compensation of works can be adequate to it; and therefore that for its restitution we must have recourse to the mercy of God alone. The remaining particulars that pertain to the remission of sins may be found in the next chapter. Footnote 98: 1 Cor. i. 30. Footnote 99: 1 John iv. 10, 19. Footnote 100: Heb. ix. 14. Footnote 101: Heb. x. 29. Footnote 102: Luke i. 74, 75. Footnote 103: Rom. vi. 18. Footnote 104: Rom. vi. 4, 6. Footnote 105: Col. iii. 1. Heb. xi. 13. 1 Peter ii. 11. Footnote 106: Titus ii. 11-13. Footnote 107: 1 Thess. v. 9. Footnote 108: 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17; vi. 19. Ephes. ii. 21. Footnote 109: Ephes. v. 8. Footnote 110: 1 Thess. iv. 3, 7. Footnote 111: 2 Tim. i. 9. 1 Peter i. 15. Footnote 112: Rom. vi. 18. Footnote 113: 1 John iv. 11; iii. 10. Footnote 114: 1 Cor. xii. 12, &c. Footnote 115: 1 John iii. 3. Footnote 116: 2 Cor. vii. 1. Footnote 117: Matt. xi. 29. John xiii. 15. Footnote 118: 2 Tim. iii. 17. Footnote 119: Rom. xii. 1. Footnote 120: