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

and the righteous, to the end we should be made partakers of his righteousness:¹ and the holy, too the end we should be made holy in him. Thus then ye see why we must have an eye to our Lord Jesus Christ,² when we intend too know what the word Faith importeth. But the Papists stand wilfully in their own conceit, because they never tasted what it is to believe: and that do they show well enough by their allegations. How is it possible (say they) that a man should be justified by believing, seeing that the very Devils do believe?³ It is true, and S. James useth the same reason. How beit in that place he mocketh at such as pretend a vain and fond cloak of Christianity and faith, and in the mean while show no fruits at all of it. But the Papists beguile themselves yet much more grossly, in saying that Faith is too believe in God, and that God is the mark that faith aimeth at, so as it seemeth too them, that too make up belief, there needeth no more but to imagine that there is some one certain God that made the world, and which governeth all things. And so they fall fast a sleep in their ignorance, and yet cease not too take themselves for good Christians and Catholics (as they themselves babble) although they be altogether dulled in deed. But it is no wonder that they fight so against the doctrine of the holy Scripture, and with such unamendable wilfulness deny that a man can be saved by faith, seeing they have neither discretion nor understanding: for they wot not what the matter meaneth. So much the more therefore doth it stand us upon, too mark well what Saint Paul telleth us here: that is too wit, that if we look not unto Jesus Christ, we know not what faith is. And the reason thereof is, for that we know not what it is too have forgiveness of sins, to come unto God, to be able to put our trust in him, and to call upon him: neither do we know any more what it is to have our consciences quiet, and to hope for the everlasting life. All these things we want till Jesus Christ be set afore us, and till we have cast our look upon him, so as all our senses be settled upon him, and as it were shut up there.

and the rightuous, to the end we should be made parttakers of his rightuousnesse:¹