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

19 For I by the Law.) Now followeth the direct answer. That that ought not to be imputed to Christ, which properly is the work of the Law. for there is no need of Christ to make void the righteousness of the Law: because the Law it self doeth kill the Disciples thereof: as though he should say, You deceive poor miserable men with a false imagination, as though they should live by the law, and by that pretence you detain them in the Law: in the mean while you make the Gospel to be spited, as though it brought to nought the righteousness which we have by the Law. but it is the Law it self which compelleth us to die to it. for whereas it threateneth destruction unto us and leaveth nothing unto us but despair, by that means it driveth us from trusting to it. A more easy understanding of this place is to be sought out of the seventh chapter to the Romans, for there Paul doth plainly describe, that no man liveth to the law, but he unto whom the law is dead, that is to say, idle and without working. or for as soon as the law beginneth to live in us, it striketh us with a deadly wound whereby we perish: and with all it inspireth life, sin being first dead. They therefore which live unto the Law, have never felt the strength of the Law, no nor yet have once tasted what the law meaneth: for the law being truly understanded, doth compel us to dye to it, and hereof is sin, and not of ⟨p. 47⟩Christ.

19 For I by the Law.) Nowe followeth the directe aunswere. That that oughte not to bee imputed to Christe, whiche properlye is the worke of the Lawe. for there is no neede of Christe to make voyde the righteousnesse of the Law: because the Lawe it selfe doeth kill the Disciples thereof: as though hee shoulde saye, You deceaue poore miserable men with a false imagination, as though they shoulde liue by the lawe, and by that pretence you detayne them in the Lawe: in the meane while you make the Gospell to bee spyted, as though it broughte to noughte the righteousnesse whiche wee haue by the Lawe. but it is the Lawe it selfe whiche compelleth vs to die to it. for wheras it threatneth destruction vnto vs and leueth nothing vnto vs but despaire, by that means it driueth vs from trusting to it. A more easie vnderstanding of this place is to be sought out of the seuenth chapter to the Romaines, for there Paule doth plainely describe, that no man liueth to the lawe, but he vnto whome the lawe is dead, that is to say, idle and without working. or for as soone as the law beginneth to liue in vs, it striketh vs with a deadly wound wherby we perishe: and with all it inspireth life, sinne being first dead. They therefore which liue vnto the Lawe, haue neuer felte the strength of the Lawe, no nor yet haue once tasted what the lawe meaneth: for the law being truly vnderstanded, doth compell vs to dye to it, and hereof is sinne, and not of