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

Yes verily, for God hath chosen us for his people, he hath given us the seal of Circumcision too show that he avoweth us for his children, he hath allied him self unto us, he hath promised us the Redeemer of the world, and (too be short) he hath sanctified us in such wise, that if we consider the favour which he hath uttered towards us, there hath been well wherewith to advance and exalt us above the residue of the whole world. Thus on the one side Paul doth there magnify the goodness of God: and afterward he falleth too questioning again, and asketh, what advantage have we then? None at all (saith he) for all men are shut up under Gods curse. If the Gentiles be too be condemned, we be too be condemned double: for there may be yet some likelihood that ignorance shall serve to excuse them. But yet can they make no defence of that before God, but shall perish although they never had any instruction or teaching. Needs then must we be condemned by the law (saith he) seeing that God hath taught us, and yet for all that we cease not too sin still, and too transgress his commandments, in so much that we be plunged in greater and deeper cursedness, than the Heathen folk and unbelievers. Now then he saith that the Jews are in deed separated after a sort from the Gentiles, not that the Jews are of more worthiness, or that they have any righteousness in them selves▪ but because God of his own mere goodness vouchsafed to chose them▪ like as at this day the children that are borne of believing parents, are not better than the children that are borne of Paynims & Turks, if a man consider them both in their own nature. For we be all of a corrupted and cursed lump and God hath so condemned us, as no man can ⟨image 108⟩justly set up his bristles, to think him self of more value than his fellows.¹ But yet nevertheless, S. Paul showeth that they be sanctified, and that they be not unclean, as those are which are borne of unbelievers or Heathen folk. Here should seem to be some contrariety: nevertheless, all agreeth very well together. For there is nothing but uncleanness and filthiness in us all without exception, and that cometh of nature. Howbeit, there is a supernatural gift, that is to say, a remedy that God giveth:

Yes verily, for God hath chosen vs for hys people, he hathe giuen vs the seale of Circumcision too shewe that hee auoweth vs for his children, hee hathe alyed him selfe vntoo vs, hee hathe promised vs the Redeemer of the worlde, and (too bee shorte) he hath sanctified vs in suche wyse, that if wee consider the fauour whiche he hathe vttered towards vs, there hath beene well wherwith to aduance and exalte vs aboue the residue of the whole worlde. Thus on the one side Paule dothe there magnifie the goodnesse of God: and afterwarde he falleth too questioning agayne, and asketh, what aduauntage haue wee then? None at all (sayth he) for all men are shutte vp vnder Gods curse. If the Gentiles bee too bee condemned, wee bee too bee condemned double: for there may be yet some likelyhoode that ignorance shall serue to excuse them. But yet can they make no defence of that before God, but shall perishe althoughe they neuer had any instruction or teaching. Needes then must wee bee condemned by the lawe (sayth he) seeing that God hathe taughte vs, and yet for all that wee cease not too sinne still, and too transgresse his commaundements, in so muche that we be plunged in greater and deeper cursednesse, than the Heathen folk and vnbeleeuers. Now then he sayth that the Iewes are in deede separated after a sort from the Gentiles, not that the Iewes are of more worthinesse, or that they haue any righteousnesse in them selues but bicause God of his own meere goodnesse voutsafed to chose them like as at this day the children that are borne of beleeuing parēts, are not better than the children that are borne of Paynims & Turkes, if a man cōsider them both in their owne nature. For we be all of a corrupted and cursed lumpe and God hathe so condemned vs, as no man can