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

For thereby he intended to show yet more strongly, how we may renounce the world, and be separated from it, namely by being crucified to ourselves as in respect of the world, that is to say, by mortifying all the lusts that fight one against another within us, & have too much force, & inflame us all wholly like a burning fire, & cast us here & there, because we see that the son of God was fain to suffer so reproachful a death for us. Who would now make his triumphs & braveries in the world, when he seeth that he which is the head of the Angels, & unto whom belong all majesty, glory, & dominion, […] hanged upon tree, & made accursed & abominable for us?¹ Thus ye see by what means all our lusts may be mortified, and the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ ⟨image 346⟩work so in our hearts, as our lusts may be no more so ticklish as they have bin. And that is for one point. Again, the world must be crucified unto us. As how? By esteeming all worldly things as chaff and corruption (according as in very deed there is not any thing in them which is not corruptible) in comparison of the spiritual benefits which Jesus Christ hath brought us, and which we enjoy by this means. For in very deed all worldly things are corruptible. And moreover, what else are all the things which men covet so sore and so vehemently that they be utterly entangled in them, but snares that Satan hath laid too catch them withal? Are they not all of them illusions & trumperies? Yes surely be they. Seeing it is so then, let us learn too set nothing by the world, and too be fully persuaded and resolved in our selves, that God is our friend, that he acknowledgeth us for his children and heirs, and that he blisseth us, and that without those things we be miserable. By this means then ye see we may pass lightly through the world, and not be stayed not pulled back by any thing, for we will always look still to that mark. We know we ought to make hast too come too the place that God calleth us too: and if the affections of this world entangle us, we shall be estranged from our God by that means. Thus ye see in effect what we have to remember upon this strain. Now hereupon S. Paul addeth, that in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision availeth any thing at all: but the new creature.

For therby he intended to shew yet more strongly, how we may renounce the world, and be separated frō it, namely by beeing crucified to ourselues as in respect of the world, that is to say, by mortifying al the lusts that fight one against another within vs, & haue too much force, & inflame vs al wholly like a burning fire, & cast vs heere & there, bicause wee see that the son of God was fayne to suffer so reprochful a death for vs. VVho would now make his triumphes & braueries in the world, when he seeth that he which is the head of the Angels, & vnto whō belōg all maiestie, glory, & dominiō, hāged vpō tree, & made accursed & abhominable for vs?