The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

Therefore we must thus think, that even the very faithful after they being regenerate by the spirit of God, do study to attain unto the righteousness of the law, do perform notwithstanding but the half and far less then half, not the whole. For doubtless Peter speaketh not in this place of the Epicure or profane men: but of Abraham, of Moses, and of other holy fathers which were the most perfect in the world, & yet he saith that these fainted under the burden of the law: because it did pass their strength. It is hatefully objected, that the spirit of God is blasphemed, when as ability to fulfil the law is taken away from his grace and help, but we may readily answer: because the question is not what the grace of the spirit is able to do: but what that measure of grace is able to do, which God doth divide to every one in this life. For we must always consider what God doth promise to do; neither let us unadvisedly ask this question, whether that can be done which he himself doth testify shall never be, and which he will not have done. He promiseth the grace & aid of the Spirit to the faithful, whereby they may be able to resist the lusts of the flesh, & to subdue them: yet shall they not quite abolish & drive them away. He promiseth them grace whereby they may walk in newness of life: yea shall they not be able to run so swiftly as the law requireth. For he will have them kept under during their whole life, that they may fly to beg pardon, If it be unlawful to separate from the power of god his counsel & the order by him set down, it is a foolish and vain cavil whereby the adversaries go about to burden us, when as they say that we diminish the power of God: nay rather they transform God when they hold that his counsel & purpose can be altered. The Pelagians did in times past in like sort burden Augustine. He answereth, that though it be a thing possible that the law should be fulfilled, yet is that sufficient for him, that no man did ever fulfil it, and that the Scripture doth not testify that it shall be fulfilled ⟨p. 364⟩until the end of the world. By which words he delivereth himself from their importunate subtlety. But there was no cause why he should doubt, but freely and flatly grant, that it might be fulfilled, the holy ghost being the author. For we must limit the grace of the spirit that it may agree with the promises.

Therfore we must thus thinke, that euen the very faithfull after they being regenerate by the spirite of God, doe studie to attaine vnto the righteousnesse of the law, doe perfourme notwithstanding but the halfe and far lesse then half, not the whole. For doutlesse Peter speaketh not in this place of the Epicure or profane mē: but of Abraham, of Moses, and of other holy fathers which wer the most perfect in the world, & yet he saith that these fainted vnder the burden of the law: because it did passe their strēgth. It is hatefully obiected, that the spirit of God is blasphemed, when as abilitie to fulfill the lawe is taken away from his grace and help, but we may readily answere: because the question is not what the grace of the spirit is able to doe: but what that measure of grace is able to do, which God doth diuide to euery one in this life. For we must alwayes consider what God doth promise to do; neither let vs vnaduisedly aske this question, whether that can be done which he himself doth testifie shall neuer be, and which he wil not haue done. He promiseth the grace & aid of the Spirit to the faithful, wherby they may be able to resist the lusts of the flesh, & to subdue them: yet shal they not quite abolish & driue them away. Hee promiseth them grace wherby they may walk in newnes of life: yea shal they not be able to run so swiftly as the law requireth. For he wil haue them kept vnder during their whole life, that they may flie to beg pardon, If it be vnlawfull to separate from the power of god his counsell & the order by him set down, it is a foolish and vain cauill whereby the aduersaries goe about to burden vs, when as they say that we diminish the power of God: nay rather they transforme God when they holde that his counsell & purpose can bee altered. The Pelagians did in times past in like sort burthen Augustine. Hee aunsweareth, that though it bee a thing possible that the law shoulde be fulfilled, yet is that sufficient for him, that no man did euer fulfill it, and that the Scripture doth not testifie that it shall bee fulfilled