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

Therefore we must either be withdrawn from our selves, or else we shall never be able to come nigh unto God. What shall then become of all the blind wretches, which bear themselves in hand that they be able to work wonders with their free will, their virtues, their wisdom, and I wot not what else? According as we see that men do always like well of themselves, & although they be convicted to have nothing but filthiness in them, & that they be so loathsome as it is pity to see it, and they themselves ought to be ashamed of it: yet they will still challenge somewhat to themselves, & always deceive themselves with their own fond imaginations. And yet notwithstanding when men have well tried themselves, all that they can find in them shall be condemned under the term of naughtiness [or wickedness:] insomuch that it is showed thereby, that there ⟨image 36⟩is nothing but corruption in us, and that if we presume too press unto God as we be of our selves, he must needs drive us a great way of. Therefore mark this for a ground, that here all pride is beaten down, too the intent that men may learn too leave their boasting in any thing, save in the free goodness of God, and be so abashed in considering their own shame, that they may condemn themselves with their own mouth, and not tarry till God give sentence against them, but become their own judges. This is it in effect which we have to mark. And now we see how it behoveth us to walk warily and carefully; that we may be assured that the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ belongeth to us. For if we will needs give bridle too our Justs, it is certain that our Lord Jesus Christ will disclaim us. True it is that our Salvation resteth always upon the only goodness of God, and that we must not intermeddle our own works when we intend too have the certainty of faith, but rather renounce our selves. Nevertheless howsoever the case standeth, our Lord Jesus Christ is not come to give us occasion too abuse the grace that he hath purchased us, for that were a mocking of him to his face. If we should go wallow again in our own filthiness after that he hath washed us in his blood, were it not a wilful defiling of the thing that is most holy, yea a and which maketh all the whole world holy?

Therefore we must either be withdrawne from our selues, or else we shall neuer be able to come nie vnto God. VVhat shall then become of all the blinde wretches, which beare themselues in hand that they be able to worke wonders with their free will, theyr vertues, their wisdome, and I wote not what else? According as we see that men do always like well of themselues, & although they be conuicted to haue nothing but filthinesse in them, & that they be so lothsome as it is pitie to see it, and they themselues ought to be ashamed of it: yet they will still chalenge somwhat to themselues, & alwayes deceyue thēselues with their owne fond imaginations. And yet notwithstanding when men haue well tried themselues, all that they can find in them shal be condemned vnder the terme of naughtinesse [or wickednesse:] insomuch that it is shewed therby, that there