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

To be short, it were much easier too mingle fire and water together, than too say, that we can purchase any grace at Gods hand by our own deservings, and therewithal also have need to be succoured by our Lord Jesus Christ. But if a man consider what the law is, and too what purpose it was given: he shall find that it is not whit at all repugnant too the Gospel, nor consequently unto faith, but that they agree very well. Thus ye see how this difficulty is dispatched: so that if it be alleged, that faith cometh of God as well as the Law: it is true. Nevertheless it is to be considered (as we shall say hereafter) to what end God gave as well the one as the other. But let us return too that which S. Paul sayeth. He sayeth that we be not justified but by the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. When he speaketh of being justified, let us mark that it is all one with being reckoned or taken for righteous before God. And that word had need too be well understood: for the case standeth upon knowing after what manner we be saved. But are we not wretched caitiffs, if after we have lived long in the world, a man ask us which is the mean too be saved, and we cannot tell him? We shall see many beastly wretches, which have devoured Gods bread, and yet notwithstanding cannot tell how they should offer themselves before him. And therefore it behoveth us to take so much the better heed to the things which are taught us here by S. Paul. He sayeth that we be justified: and how? Is it that we be righteous, and that there is nothing amiss in us? No: but it is for that God accepteth us. Then is the word Righteousness put for the favour which God showeth us, in that he vouchsafeth too be our father and too take us for his children. If a man demand why the Scripture useth the word Justify, sith it seemeth too make nothing to the purpose: for it might well be said, God loveth us, God pitieth us, God vouchsafeth to become our father and Saviour: [and therefore] why should not men rather use that manner of speech, than ⟨image 110⟩say that he vouchsafeth to justify us? [I answer,] it is not without cause that the scripture speaketh so. For if we take the word Salvation rawly, & say [no more but] that we be saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ:

To be short, it were much easier too mingle fire and water togither, than too say, that wee can purchace any grace at Gods hand by our own deseruings, and therwithall also haue neede to bee succored by our Lord Iesus Christe. But if a man consider what the lawe is, and too what purpose it was giuen: he shall find that it is not whit at all repugnant too the Gospell, nor consequently vntoo fayth, but that they agree very well. Thus ye see how this difficultie is dispatched: so that if it be alledged, that fayth commeth of God as well as the Law: it is true. Neuerthelesse it is to be considered (as wee shall say hereafter) to what end God gaue as well the one as the other. But let vs returne too that which S. Paule sayeth. He sayeth that wee bee not iustified but by the fayth of our Lord Iesus Christe. VVhen he speaketh of beyng iustified, lette vs marke that it is all one with beyng reckened or taken for rightuous before God. And that woorde had neede too bee well vnderstoode: for the cace standeth vppon knowing after what maner wee bee saued. But are wee not wretched caytifes, if after wee haue liued long in the world, a man aske vs whiche is the meane too bee saued, and wee cannot tell him? VVee shall see many beastly wretches, whiche haue deuoured Gods breade, and yet notwithstanding cannot tell howe they shoulde offer themselues before him. And therefore it behoueth vs to take so much the better heede to the things which are taught vs here by S. Paule. He sayeth that we be iustified: and how? Is it that wee bee rightuous, and that there is nothing amisse in vs? No: but it is for that God accepteth vs. Then is the woorde Rightuousnesse put for the fauour whiche God sheweth vs, in that he voutchsafeth too bee our father and too take vs for his children. If a man demaunde why the Scripture vseth the woorde Iustifie, sith it seemeth too make nothing to the purpose: for it might well be sayd, God loueth vs, God pitieth vs, God vouchsafeth to become our father and Sauiour: [and therfore] why should not men rather vse that maner of speach, than