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

3. Grace be unto you and peace from God the father, and [from] our Lord Jesus Christ. 4. Who gave himself for our sins, to deliver us from this evil world according too the vvill of God our father. 5. To whom be glory for evermore, Amen.

3. Grace bee vnto you and peace from God the father, and [from] our Lord Iesus Christe. 4. VVho gaue himselfe for our sinnes, to deliuer vs from this euill vvorlde according too the vvill of God our father. 5. To vvhom be glorie for euermore, Amen.

There is no man but he desireth his own welfare, and we be inclined thereto by nature. Nevertheless we be very far overseen in that behalf, & know not which is the fountain from whence all welfare springeth, and much less what is the true cause of our happiness, namely that God loveth us, & that we be sure that he holdeth us for his children. For without that, all the prosperity of the world is nothing, nay rather it shall always turn to our harm, because that until such time as God receive us into his favour, we be all of us accursed, and the goods that we receive at his hand shall cost us right dearly: for they belong not too us, till we be of the fellowship of his children. Therefore we must above all things seek to be in the favour of our God, and too be well assured in our selves, that he admitteth us too be of his household and Church. And that is the cause why that after the Prophet hath rebuked mens worldly desires, in that one would have abundance of wine, another abundance of corn, and every man, hath an eye to his own ease:¹ it is said in the Psalm, that nothing is better nor more too be desired, than that God should show us the light of his countenance: that is too say, than that we might take hold of his favour, not doubting but he will acknowledge us for his children, as I told you afore. And that also is the cause, why in the hundred and sixth Psalm the Prophet craveth above all things,² that God should be mindful of him with the favour that he beareth towards his people. He knew well enough that he wanted many things: and yet he overpassed all the rest, because his heart carried and haled him the other way, namely [too desire] too be comprehended in the number of Gods chosen, and therefore he sayeth purposely according to the Love which thou bearest towards thy people. True it is that God giveth oftentimes some sign of his love too all men in general: but yet is all Adams offspring cut off from him, till we be grafted in again by Jesus Christ. Therefore there is one kind of love which God beareth towards all men, for that he hath created them after his own image, in which respect he maketh the Sun too shine upon all men, nourishing