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

By that means it will be easy for us to give over all the deserving which we shall have fancied in our selves, so as it shall be soon beaten down, and our mouths stopped, and we become like poor dead folk without any breath, because we shall perceive well enough, that we can not come unto God, but must needs thunder against us, if we bring any foolish imagination of our own deservings. Lo how the law slayeth us. But when we have passed through such death, that is to say, when we be already rightly humbled and utterly dismayed: then here is a remedy, which S. Paul setteth down, saying: I was crucified with Jesus Christ, even to live unto God. Now he showeth here that our Lord Jesus Christ not only bringeth us remission of our sins, but also sanctifieth and regenerateth us by his holy spirit, in so much that whereas there was nothing but stubbornness in us before, now we be given to serve God, and to please him. And for the better understanding of that which S. Paul telleth us, let us mark that we receive two principal graces of our Lord Jesus Christ: The one is the forgiveness of our sins, whereby we are assured of our salvation, and have our consciences quieted, and whereupon it behoveth us to be grounded, so as we call upon God as our father. Who giveth us the boldness to lift up our heads to heaven, and to call God our father? Again, what maketh us so bold as to glory that we be companions and brothers to the Angels? It is because our sins come not to account: for we must always have recourse to the washing of them away, which was done ⟨image 120⟩by the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ye see then that our righteousness is that God accepteth us, howbeit not in respect of our own worthiness, but in respect of the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby all our misdoings are wiped out. That is the first benefit which we have by our Lord Jesus Christ. The second is, that whereas we be froward of our own nature, and all that the Papists term by the name of freewill is but frenzy, and that how great account so ever men make of them selves, all is but naughtiness, and we be full of vice and corruption: in stead of being so, our Lord Jesus Christ giveth us the grace to be sorry for our sins, & to labour to do good:

By that meanes it will be easie for vs to giue ouer all the deseruing whiche wee shall haue fancied in our selues, so as it shall be soone beaten downe, and our mouthes stopped, and we become like poore dead folke without any breath, bicause we shall perceyue well inough, that we can not come vnto God, but must needes thunder agaynst vs, if wee bring any foolishe imagination of our owne deseruings. Lo howe the lawe sleaeth vs. But when we haue passed through suche death, that is to say, when we be alreadie rightly humbled and vtterly dismayde: then here is a remedie, which S. Paule setteth downe, saying: I was crucified with Iesus Christ, euē to liue vnto God. Now he sheweth here that our Lorde Iesus Christ not only bringeth vs remission of our sinnes, but also sanctifieth and regenerateth vs by his holy spirite, in so muche that whereas there was nothing but stubbornesse in vs before, now we be giuen to serue God, and to please him. And for the better vnderstanding of that which S. Paule telleth vs, let vs marke that we receyue two principall graces of our Lorde Iesus Christ: The one is the forgiuenesse of our sinnes, whereby we are assured of our saluation, and haue our consciences quieted, and wherevpon it behoueth vs to be grounded, so as we cal vpon God as our father. VVho giueth vs the boldnesse to lift vp our heads to heauen, and to call God our father? Agayne, what maketh vs so bolde as to glory that we be companions and brothers to the Angels? It is bicause our sinnes come not to account: for we must alwayes haue recourse to the washing of them away, which was done