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

yet do we know that we shall not otherwise obtain Gods favour, than by believing in our Lord Jesus Christ. Now it may peradventure seem, that although men being corrupted in Adam can not deserve ought: yet notwithstanding the Jews had a special privilege, because God had adopted them as it were for his own children, and accounted them to be as his household. And that was the thing wherein the Jews deceived them selves. For when the Scripture speaketh of uncircumcision, it meaneth the uncleanness wherewith we be compassed about in Adam, in so much as there is not any man which is not damned already from his mothers womb. But the Jews thought that God had set them free from that common curse, and they made their boast thereof. Surely Gods choosing of them after that sort for his own people & heritage, was a great dignity, and worthy too be esteemed above all worldly goods. But yet nevertheless it became them to have acknowledged with all humbleness, that there was not any excellency at all in their own persons. For according to our wonted manner of drawing Gods gracious gifts too much to vain overweening, the Jews did commonly overshoot them selves, by bearing them selves in hand that they were above all the rest of the world: Verily as who should say, that God had found any thing in them, why he should prefer them before those whom he had forsaken. Therefore that doing of theirs was a great pride, which carried with it a shameful thanklessness, in that they imputed not to Gods mere goodness, the things which they had of his free gift, but were puffed up with overweening, as though God had known them to be better or worthier of everlasting salvation, than the Gentiles. But now S. Paul to dispatch all overweening, saith: Go too, we be Jews by nature. As if he had said, It is true that ⟨p. 87⟩we have some favour above the Gentiles; whom God hath not vouchsafed to receive into his Church. When he speaketh after that fashion, it is not to give the Jews occasion to wax proud: but to lay before them the things which they had received freely of God, wherein they had no cause at all to brag of them selves, according as we see how that in the Epistle to the Romans, he uttereth two sayings, which at the first •lushe might seem contrary. For on the one side, Have we then (saith he) no privilege above the Gentiles?

yet doo we knowe that we shall not otherwise obteyne Gods fauour, than by beleeuing in our Lorde Iesus Christ. Nowe it maye peraduenture seeme, that although men beeing corrupted in Adam can not deserue ought: yet notwithstanding the Iewes had a speciall priuiledge, bicause God had adopted them as it were for his owne children, and accompted them to bee as his housholde. And that was the thing wherein the Iewes deceyued them selues. For when the Scripture speaketh of vncircumcision, it meaneth the vnclennesse wherewith wee be compassed about in Adam, in so muche as there is not any man which is not damned alreadie from his mothers wombe. But the Iewes thought that God had set them free from that cōmon curse, and they made their boast therof. Surely Gods chosing of them after that sort for his own people & heritage, was a great dignitie, and worthy too bee esteemed aboue all worldly goodes. But yet neuerthelesse it became them to haue acknowledged with all humblenesse, that there was not any excellencie at all in their owne persons. For according to our wonted maner of drawing Gods gracious giftes too muche to vayne ouerweening, the Iewes did commonly ouershoote them selues, by bearing them selues in hand that they were aboue all the rest of the worlde: Verily as who should say, that God had founde any thing in them, why he should preferre them before those whom he had forsaken. Therefore that dooing of theirs was a great pride, whiche caried with it a shamefull thanklesnesse, in that they imputed not to Gods meere goodnesse, the things which they had of his free gifte, but were puffed vp with ouerweening, as thoughe God had knowne them to be better or worthyer of euerlasting saluation, than the Gentiles. But nowe S. Paule to dispatche all ouerweening, sayth: Go too, wee be Iewes by nature. As if he had sayde, It is true that