A17646:161
A commentary of M. I. Calvin upon the Epistle to the GalatiansA commentarie of M. I. Caluine vpon the Epistle to the Galathians
A commentary of M. I. Calvin upon the Epistle to the Galatians: and translated into English by R.V.A commentarie of M. I. Caluine vpon the Epistle to the Galathians: and translated into English by R.V.
London: printed by Thomas Purfoote, 1581
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
6 Because you be sons.) He showeth that the adoption which he speaketh of, belongeth unto the Galatians, by an argument or reason gathered of the consequent or thing following. For, to be adopted of God, goeth before this, To have the testimony of adoption, of the Spirit of God: but the effect is the token of the cause. The spirit of Christ▪ saith he, is the Author unto you, and persuader to embolden you to call God Father. than is it certain that you are the sons of God. He meaneth that which he often teacheth 1. Cor. 1.22. & 5.5. That the Spirit is unto us an earnest and gage of our salvation, that we may be certainly persuaded of the fatherly affection of God to us ward. But some man will object, Do not the wicked break out to that point of rashness, that they boast God to be their Father? nay rather falsely with great boldness do they oft times boast in God I answer, Paul doth not here speak of vain boasting, nor of that which a man doth arrogate unto himself by his own spirit: but of the testimony of a Godly conscience. which followeth new regeneration. Therefore this argument cannot be of force but among the faithful: because the reprobates have no taste of the certainty hereof▪ as the Lord himself witnesseth: The Spirit of truth, saith he, which the world cannot receive because it knoweth him not. Joh. 14.17. And thus much do these words of Paul sound, God hath sent (the spirit) into your hearts. For his mind was not to teach what they foolishly presume through their carnal reason, but what God within in the heart doth witness by his spirit. This also doth better agree with the circumstance of the place, that he saith the Spirit of the Son of God, than if he had used any other epithet or title. For therefore are we sons,1 because we are endowed with the same Spirit that the only son is endowed with. And mark that Paul doth attribute this alike to all Christians, as in very deed there is no faith, whereas this gage of the love of God toward us, is not. Hereof appeareth what christianity is among the Papists, whereas they condemn a man of wicked presumption, if he say he hath ⟨p. 92⟩