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

Likewise in these days, if a man speak of the Gospel too such as think they serve God, and hope to win heaven by their own deserts: they be grieved at it, because that that gate is shut against them by the presumptuousness which they have conceived afore hand, saying: What I pray? Shall I have lost my time when I have bin so devout all my life long? As for the man that shall have heard a Mass or twain, or mumbled up a sort of prayers, or gone on pilgrimage, or lashed out his money and substance (without sparing) upon pardons, indulgences, and such other things: if one tell him that we be all wretched, and that there is none other thing for us too lean ⟨image 116⟩unto but the mere grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that all that ever we are able to bring unto God is but filthy and loathly, he will storm and reply, Is it possible that God should have no regard of so great pains as I take to serve him? Must not all of it pass in mine account, and be allowed me too my salvation? They would fain accuse God, yea and we shall see many that will not stick to rail upon him with open mouth, because they be loth to lose that which they have done. Although the Hypocrites perceive much lewdness in themselves: yet would they fain hide all under their cowls. For they break out after this manner. One says I have gone woolward: another, I have risen at midnight to serve God: the third, I have forborne the eating of flesh: and another, I have bin shut up in a Cloister as in a prison, and finally I have bin dead to the worldwarde, and shall all this be unprofitable too me, so as God will have no regard of it? Such murmurings as these we shall hear daily. But let us see if they can make their case the better for all their replying? For when they have well examined what is in them, they shall find that all their doings are but as a painting to overcast things withal, like as a man that intendeth not too repair his house, leaveth the holes unmended within, and doth but daub them over on the outside too the end they be not seen, and afterward whytelymes them, so that finally it is nothing else but a pargeting or whitelyming, according also as our Lord Jesus Christ useth the same similitude against the hypocrites that did no more but blanch things.¹

Likewise in these dayes, if a man speake of the Gospell too such as thinke they serue God, and hope to winne heauen by their owne desertes: they be greeued at it, bicause that that gate is shet agaynst them by the presumptuousnesse which they haue conceyued afore hande, saying: VVhat I pray? Shall I haue lost my time when I haue bin so deuout all my life long? As for the man that shall haue heard a Masse or twaine, or mumbled vp a sort of prayers, or gone on pilgrimage, or lashed out his money and substance (without sparing) vpon pardons, indulgences, and such other things: if one tell him that wee bee all wretched, and that there is none other thing for vs too leane