A commentary of M. I. Calvin upon the Epistle to the GalatiansA commentarie of M. I. Caluine vpon the Epistle to the Galathians

8 For he that soweth to his flesh,) This is a distribution of the parts after the general sentence. To sow to the flesh, is to provide and care for the necessities of this present life, without any regard of the life to come. They which do so, shall gather such Corn as their sowing deserveth: for they shall heap up that, that ill shall perish. Others do expound, To sow in the flesh, for to cherish the concupiscences of the flesh: and Corruption for destruction. but the former exposition doth better agree with the text In that I have translated (it) otherwise than the old interpreter and Erasmus, I have not done it without cause. The words of Paul in greek sound thus, sow into the flesh, and what other thing is that but so to be addicted to the flesh, that thou directest all thy study to the commodity and regard thereof? But he that soweth for the spirit.) I take Spirit for a spiritual life, to which they are said to be sown who more respect heaven than the earth: and do so order their life, that they aspire to the kingdom of God. they therefore shall reap the uncorruptible fruit of spiritual studies in heaven. Furthermore he calleth them spiritual studies, or exercises of their end: howsoever otherwise they are outward and pertain to the body. of which sort is this very same ⟨p. 143⟩whereof now he treateth, namely to Nourish the Pastors. If the Papists after their manner go about out of these words to build up the righteousness of works, I have said else where how easy a matter it is to confute their follies. For it doth not follow hereof, if eternal life be a reward, either that we are justified by works, or else that works deserve salvation. for that this same very thing also is freely given, because GOD vouchsafeth such works, which he hath given unto us, worthy such honour that he promiseth unto them a reward which they deserve not. If any man require a fuller resolution, first I deny that we have any good works which God should reward, but (those) which we have of his grace, secondly I say that the good works which we do by the guiding and directing of the holy Ghost, are the fruits of the free adoption: thirdly I say, that they are not only unworthy of so much as a very small trifling reward: but that they are utterly worthy of damnation:

8 For he that soweth to his flesh,) This is a distribution of the partes after the generall sentence. To sow to the flesh, is to prouide and care for the necessities of this present life, without any regarde of the life to come. They which doe so, shall gather such Corne as their sowing deserueth: for they shal heape vp that, that ill shal perish. Others doe expounde, To sowe in the fleshe, for to cherishe the concupiscences of the fleshe: and Corruption for destruction. but the former exposition doth better agree with the text In that I haue translated (it) otherwise than the old interpreter and Erasmus, I haue not done it without cause. The wordes of Paule in greeke sounde thus, sowe into the fleshe, and what other thing is that but so to bee addicted to the flesh, that thou directest all thy studye to the commoditie and regarde thereof? But he that soweth for the spirite.) I take Spirite for a spirituall life, to whiche they are sayde to be sowne who more respecte heauen than the earth: and doe so order their life, that they aspire to the kingdome of God. they therefore shall reape the vncorruptible fruite of spirituall studies in heauen. Furthermore he calleth them spirituall studies, or excercises of their end: howsoeuer otherwise they are outwarde and pertayne to the body. of which sort is this very same