Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our…Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our…

Now, if it be asked how and wherefore the law is not able to justify: the reason is already set down. It is true in deed that God declareth unto us in his law, how we ought and may attain unto life, if so be we were such as that there were no ⟨image 142⟩let in us. Wherefore, although the law of God speaketh unto us, yet it reformeth not our hearts. For, when God telleth us and sayeth, Behold, what it is that I require at your hands: But & if in the mean while all our desires, affections & thoughts be altogether against that which he commandeth, we are not only condemned, But the law also, as I have already said, maketh us so much the more guilty before the Majesty of God. For before the law was given, we sinned through ignorance: but now, we so wittingly and willingly stand against him, as that it seemeth we would even despite him. For we know that the servant which knoweth his Masters will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. Thus we see why it •e said, that the law engendereth nothing else but wrath: to wit, that when we have been instructed in it, it kindleth God his wrath so much the more against us: and bringeth with it death, but how? Because forsooth we see in it, that we are condemned and utterly cast away. What? is it so that it announceth not life? no: and yet by the way, we cannot attain thereto. And therefore we must be justified after an other manner, which is, by the Gospel. For, God sayeth not unto us in the Gospel, Behold, ye shall do this or that: But he sayeth, Believe that my only Son is your Redeemer: embrace his death and passion as a remedy for all your diseases: wash your selves in his blood, and he shall purge you, and ye shall be made clean therewith: stay your selves upon the sacrifice which he hath offered up unto me, and then see in what sort you shall be justified. Wherefore forsomuch as the Gospel bringeth us back unto our Lord Jesus Christ, and commandeth us to seek for all our righteousness in him, because he hath made full satisfaction for us through the free mercy of God, see how we shall be justified by his knowledge. ¹And this is it which Saint Paul handleth in his Epistle to the Romans, For there he maketh a comparison between the righteousness of the law, and the righteousness of Faith.

Nowe, if it be asked howe and wherefore the lawe is not able to iustifie: the reason is alredie set downe. It is true in deed that God declareth vnto vs in his lawe, howe wee ought and may attayne vnto lyfe, if so bee wee were suche as that there were no