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 shall not well perceive what our own state is, nor how wretched it is, nor also the remedy which we must apply too it. For to the intent we may put our trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, we must understand that we be utterly forlorn as well by reason of the sin of Adam, as by reason of the infinite number of iniquities wherein we be sopped: yea and we must fully believe it. But we should never perceive that our sins condemn us & curse us before God, except we knew that we have need of righteousness. And on the other side we should not know Gods righteousness, if we should singly say that we be saved by faith and by grace. For God cannot once renounce himself, because he is the sovereign righteousness, and there is nothing in him but pureness and perfection, by reason whereof he must needs hate evil. Now it is so that we be full of corruption, there is nothing but evil in us: and therefore God must needs hate us. And if he hate us, woe worth us: for then are we damned. Then standeth it us on hand to be made righteous, before we can be in Gods favour. That is to say, it behoveth us to be purged of our faults and misdeeds, for else (as I said) we shall never be able to conceive, that God intendeth too show us mercy. But in acknowledging our selves too be sinners, we perceive by and by that God must needs hate sin, and that although he hate sin, yet not withstanding he findeth means to save us, which is by forgetting our offences, and by cleansing and purging them with the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our spiritual washing. God then purgeth us in that wise, too the end we should be received of him, and being made partakers of his love, be assured of our salvation. Thus ye see why the Scripture useth the word Justify: But the Papists descant upon it like blind buzzards. What, say they? should we be justified by faith? Faith is no such virtue as maketh men perfect: and how then shall it make us righteous? They consider not that this righteousness whereof the Scripture speaketh, is Gods covering of our sins (as I declared afore) and his taking of them quite and clean away for ⟨p. 90⟩the sake and by the mean of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the virtue of the Sacrifice of his death and Passion.

we shall not well perceyue what our owne state is, nor how wretched it is, nor also the remedie which wee must apply too it. For to the intent we may put our trust in our Lord Iesus Christ, wee must vnderstand that wee be vtterly forlorne as well by reason of the sinne of Adam, as by reason of the infinite number of iniquities wherein we be saped: yea and wee must fully beleeue it. But we should neuer perceyue that our sinnes condemne vs & curse vs before God, except wee knew that wee haue neede of rightuousnesse. And on the otherside wee should not know Gods rightuousnesse, if we should singly say that we be saued by faith and by grace. For God cannot once renounce himself, bycause he is the soueraine rightuousnesse, and there is nothing in him but purenesse and perfection, by reason whereof he must needes hate euill. Now it is so that wee be full of corruption, there is nothing but euill in vs: and therefore God must needes hate vs. And if he hate vs, wo woorth vs: for then are we damned. Then standeth it vs on hand to be made rightuous, before we can be in Gods fauour. That is to say, it behoueth vs to be purged of our faults and misdeedes, for else (as I sayd) wee shall neuer be able to conceyue, that God intendeth too shewe vs mercie. But in acknowledging our selues too be sinners, wee perceyue by and by that God muste needes hate sinne, and that although he hate sinne, yet not withstāding he findeth meanes to saue vs, which is by forgetting our offences, and by clenzing and purging them with the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ, who is our spirituall washing. God then purgeth vs in that wize, too the ende wee should bee receyued of him, and being made parttakers of his loue, bee assured of our saluation. Thus yee see why the Scripture vseth the woorde Iustifie: But the Papistes descant vppon it like blinde buzzardes. VVhat, say they? shoulde wee bee iustified by fayth? Fayth is no such vertue as maketh men perfect: and how then shall it make vs rightuous? They consider not that this rightuousnesse whereof the Scripture speaketh, is Gods couering of our sinnes (as I declared afore) and his taking of them quyte and cleane away for