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 therefore in this text he chargeth not the Gospel, but the Law with it. Wherefore let us remember upon this text, that all they which deceive them selves by any opinion of their own merits, never tasted what the Law of God is, nor what it meaneth: I speak of the greatest doctors that are in most estimation, as (in good faith) it is too be seen in the Popedom. For even those that are taken too be the pillars of the Church, (notwithstanding that they profess Divinity) know not one word of Gods law, too apply the same too his true and natural use. For they have nothing in them but hypocrisy, and they bear them selves in hand, that they shall please God with a rattle, as if he were a little babe. They do but toy with him, and yet ye shall see them stand so much in their own conceits, as they can not abide to be condemned. And if a man tell them that we must seek our salvation in Jesus Christ: yea say they? and what shall become then of our freewill? what should become of our own merits and satisfactions? Too their seeming it were much better too pluck the sun out of the sky, yea and God out of his seat too, than too bereave man of that prerogative, or of the thing that he can bring of him self to compound with God and yet for all ⟨p. 99⟩that, it is certain that there is nothing in them but stark filthiness. For men see that there is neither fear of God, nor uprightness, nor equity, nor ought else [that good is] in their life. They be so full of pride that they be ready to burst again, and they be full of envy, rancour, and all manner of looseness. And yet for all this, they will needs hold God bound unto them: but that is because they never knew the law. So then, when our Lord teacheth us, and showeth us how we ought to walk in this world, let us learn to lay the doctrine that he setteth forth and our life together, and there we shall find the right perfection of the law, and that in our selves there is nothing but horrible confusion: we shall see hell ready prepared for us.

And therfore in this texte he chargeth not the Gospell, but the Lawe with it. VVherefore let vs remember vpon this text, that all they whiche deceyue them selues by any opinion of their owne merites, neuer tasted what the Law of God is, nor what it meaneth: I speake of the greatest doctors that are in moste estimation, as (in good fayth) it is too bee seene in the Popedome. For euen those that are taken too bee the pillers of the Churche, (notwithstanding that they professe Diuinitie) knowe not one worde of Gods lawe, too apply the same too his true and naturall vse. For they haue nothing in them but hypocrisie, and they beare them selues in hande, that they shall please God with a rattle, as if he were a little babe. They doo but toye with him, and yet yee shall see them stande so muche in their owne conceites, as they can not abide to be condemned. And if a man tell them that wee must seeke our saluation in Iesus Christ: yea say they? and what shall become then of our freewill? what should become of our owne merites and satisfactions? Too their seeming it were much better too plucke the sunne out of the sky, yea and God out of his seate too, than too bereeue man of that prerogatiue, or of the thing that he can bring of him selfe to cōpound with God and yet for all