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

But as for the poor man that craveth alms, he thinks him self beholden for his life to him that fed him, and lodged him: for he bringeth him nothing but a charge. So then, if we will be justified before God by the Law, we must deserve it, so as he may receive of us, and we of him, and there may be as it were an interchange betwixt us. And is that possible? No: as we shall see more at large hereafter. Therefore we must conclude, that we be excluded from the righteousness of the Law, and that if we think to bring any thing to bind God withal, we do but provoke his wrath. Then is there none other shift, but to go to him like poor beggars, and so to be justified by faith: not as by a virtue that is of our selves, but because we confess with all lowliness, that we can not obtain salvation but by his free gift▪ Thus ye see how the law is set here full but against faith, as if S. Paul should tell us, that all they which go about to win Gods favour by their own merits, forsake the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. as shall be declared more at length hereafter▪ But now if any man say, that the law was given of God, so as it can not have any contrariety against faith, whereof God is the author also: the answer thereunto is easy. For God made both day and night, fire and water, cold and heat. Now it is certain that the day is not contrary to the night: but we see the wonderful order of Gods goodness and wisdom, in that men have the light of the sun to do then work in by day, and [the darkness] as it were a covert to rest in by night: So then although the day differ from the night: yet is there no contrariety betwixt them, neither is there any between fire and water, so each creature be put to his own proper use: but we see that God hath very well agreed the fire and the water, and yet notwithstanding if […] behold them ⟨p. 89⟩fighting together, then is there great contrariety. Even so is it between the law and the Gospel. And if any body will have a man to be justified both by the law and by the Gospel to, he doth but turmoil and mingle things together, and it is all one as if he should set heaven and earth together by the ears.

But as for the poore man that craueth almes, he thinks him selfe beholden for his life to him that fedde him, and lodged him: for he bringeth him nothing but a charge. So then, if wee will bee iustified before God by the Lawe, we must deserue it, so as he may receyue of vs, and we of him, and there may be as it were an interchaunge betwixte vs. And is that possible? No: as wee shall see more at large heereafter. Therefore wee must conclude, that wee bee excluded from the righteousnesse of the Lawe, and that if wee thinke to bring any thing to binde God withall, we doo but prouoke his wrath. Then is there none other shifte, but to go to hym like poore beggers, and so to be iustified by fayth: not as by a vertue that is of our selues, but bicause we confesse with all lowlinesse, that we can not obteyne saluation but by his free gifte Thus yee see howe the lawe is set heere full but agaynst fayth, as if S. Paule should tell vs, that all they which go about to winne Gods fauour by their owne merites, forsake the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ. as shall be declared more at length hereafter But now if any man say, that the lawe was giuen of God, so as it can not haue any contrarietie agaynst fayth, whereof God is the author also: the answere therevnto is easie. For God made bothe day and nighte, fire and water, colde and heate. Now it is certayne that the day is not contrarie to the night: but we see the wonderfull order of Gods goodnesse and wisdome, in that men haue the lighte of the sunne to doo then worke in by day, and [the darknesse] as it were a couert to rest in by night: So then although the day differ from the night: yet is there no contrarietie betwixte them, neither is there any betweene fire and water, so eche creature bee put to his owne proper vse: but wee see that God hathe very well agreed the fire and the water, and yet notwithstanding if beholde them