Sermons of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the GalatiansSermons of M. Iohn Caluine vpon the Epistle of Saincte Paule to the Galathians

And in very deed it is truly said, that all the wisdom which men ween them selves to have, is nothing, but must come to account and be quite da••ed, and they must resort […] God, as to him that hath the fullness of all good things in himse•• Let us confess (I say) that all wisdom proceedeth of his free goodness, ⟨p. 322⟩inasmuch as we be enlightened by his holy spirit, and that because we be weak of our selves, we must be strengthened by his power, and whereas we be full of all filth and iniquity, we must recover righteousness by his gift. But now we must come to the means. For it is not enough for us to know that God is our light, our righteousness, our wisdom, our strength, & finally that the whole perfection [and fullness] of our life, joy, and happiness is in him: that is not enough, for there is a very far distance between him and us, and therefore it standeth us in hand to know how and by what means we may be partakers of all the graces which we have to seek in God. Howbeit we know that the whole is communicated to us in Jesus Christ, verily for that he came down here below, and abased him self, and was contented to be crucified for us. Seeing then that our Lord Jesus Christ is he out of whom we must draw all things that we have need of: now we see why S. Paul saith he will not seek any glory but in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. And why? For in as much as he suffered so painful and bitter a death, yea and was set against Gods justice for us, and took all our cursedness upon him: therefore was he given unto us to be our wisdom, righteousness, holiness, strength, and all that ever we want. But first of all we must learn what we be, to the intent to beat down all our own glorying, and to settle our selves upon our Lord Jesus Christ. For we see many men burst with pride, and they wot not why. There is nothing but wind & smoke in all the things which they surmise of them selves. Howbeit the very cause why they seek not Jesus Christ, is for want of due examination of them selves: and such are the Hypocrites, and the Counterfeiters, and those that are puffed up with overweening of their own works. Therefore (as I have touched already) it behoveth us to look to our own state, and to see how wretched we be till our Lord Jesus Christ pity us. That is the way too prepare us too come unto him.

And in very deede it is truely sayde, that all the wisdome which men weene them selues to haue, is nothing, but must come to account and be quite daed, and they must resorte God, as to him that hath the fulnesse of all good things in himse Let vs cōfesse (I say) that all wisdome proceedeth of his free goodnesse,