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

WE have seen already and declared heretofore, why S. Paul having to treat of the Ceremonies and shadows that were before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, concluded generally that men could not attain righteousness before God to stand in his favour, but by keeping the whole law. Now a man might deem at the first sight, that these were divers matters. Howbeit (as I have said afore) it behoved Paul to come to the pure use [of ceremonies] to show that men do but beguile them selves, when they think to obtain favour at Gods hand by their own merits. Secondly, also I declared why S. Paul doth expressly add the word Law. For although it have always bin a common opinion in the world, that by living well men might bind God to be good unto them, yet did they foully deceive them selves therein. For do what we can, God shall not be any whit at all beholden unto us, because we owe unto him what soever we be able to do. Then is there not any desert (if there might be any deserving at all) but by the covenant which God hath made,¹ in saying, that he which fulfilleth the law shall obtain life and salvation. For as much as God hath spoken that word, no doubt but he accepteth the obedience that is yielded unto him, as if it deserved salvation: but yet is not that as much too say as that we can deserve ought. For there is none of us all that dischargeth his duty, as we shall see hereafter. That promise would be too no purpose, or at least wise it would be unavailable, so as it should never take effect, unless God gave us another remedy, that is too wit, unless he forgave our offences, and accepted us for righteous, although we be not so. But how so ever the case stand, when S. Paul saith that we be not justified by the works of the Law, his meaning is, that if we intend too ⟨image 107⟩claim favour and salvation, because God hath promised that such as keep his law shall be righteous, and so taken to be: that will not serve our turn, because none of us fulfilleth the Law, but we are all of us guilty before God, and must receive sentence of damnation upon our heads. And for the better expressing hereof he maketh a comparison between the Jews & the Gentiles. Although (saith he) that we be Jews by nature, and not Heathen men:

WE haue seene alredie and declared heretofore, why S. Paule hauing to treate of the Ceremonies and shadowes that were before the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ, cōcluded generally that men could not attaine righteousnesse before God to stand in his fauour, but by keeping the whole lawe. Nowe a man mighte deeme at the first sight, that these were diuers matters. Howbeit (as I haue sayde afore) it behoued Paule to come to the pure vse [of ceremonies] to shew that men do but beguyle them selues, when they thinke to obteine fauour at Gods hand by their own merites. Secondly, also I declared why S. Paul doth expresly adde the word Law. For although it haue alwayes bin a common opinion in the world, that by liuing well men might binde God to be good vnto them, yet did they fowlly deceyue them selues therein. For doo what we can, God shall not be any whit at all beholden vnto vs, bicause wee owe vnto him what soeuer wee be able to doo. Then is there not any deserte (if there might bee any deseruing at all) but by the couenant which God hath made,