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

his so doing is to the end that he only may appear to be righteous, and be glorified therefore, so as we should yield him all praise, and acknowledge our selves beholden to him for all things. Nevertheless the glorifying of God consisteth not only in our confessing with our mouth that he is the author of our salvation, and that the same cometh of him alonely: and of his mere goodness and free grace: but also in becoming new men through his holy spirit, so as his image shineth forth in us, and we endeavour to give over our selves wholly to his service.¹ It is said, that God hath not called us to filthiness and uncleanness, but that his meaning is too make us holy to himself. Now then seeing the case standeth so: it is not for nought that Saint Paul addeth here, that Jesus Christ hath delivered ⟨p. 15⟩livered us from this wicked world by offering himself for us, and that he hath wiped out the remembrance of our sins before God his father, to the end we should not lie any longer plunged in our own filth and uncleanness, but be as it were separated from the world▪ to the intent to become the heritage of God, and to dispose our whole life to such obedience, as it may be seen that like as he hath adopted us to be his children, so we also have loved and honoured him as our father. And out of all doubt, when as it is said that we must be taken out of this wicked world, it is a benefit which we ought to be abashed at. For under the word World, is comprehended all that belongeth to man in his own nature. The world of it self hath in it neither vice nor corruption: but all the evilness of it cometh of the sin that dwelleth in us. So then, whereas it is said that the world is wicked,² according also as S. John in his canonical Epistle saith that all the world is sopped and plunged in naughtiness: that wickedness is neither in the Sun, nor in the Moon, nor in the earth, nor in the water, nor in any of all the things that are contained in them: but in that we be so perverted, that we have infected all things here below with our uncleanness: and that as long as men continue in themselves and in their own nature, they be but filthiness, so as they must of necessity displease God. For surely there can be none agreement between righteousness and unrighteousness. But in us there is nothing to be found but unrighteousness.