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

for so long as we abide in our own nature, every of us sootheth and flattereth him self in his evil. But when we have once tasted the inestimable love of our God, and perceived what our Lord Jesus Christ is: then we be so touched by his holy spirit, that we condemn the evil, and desire to draw near unto God, and too frame our selves to his holy will. We be sure of that once, and although we go halting, yet do we continually sigh to see our own imperfections and infirmities, and perceive full well how it is the spirit of God that moveth us thereunto, when our chief desire is to forsake the sinfulness that is in us, and cometh of our flesh, so as we wish nothing else but that God should be glorified in all our life, and faithfully obeyed in all things. That is the second benefit which our Lord Jesus Christ bringeth us: and they be two things knit together by unseparable band, so that like as the light of the sun can not be separated from his heat: so these two graces (that is to wit our righteousness, and the remission of our sins) are unseparably matched with our renewment, which is done by the spirit of sanctification. Thus ye see two graces inseparable: and like as when we say that the Sun is hot, it ceaseth not to shine also, & yet notwithstanding the light of the sun is not heat: so when we say that we be justified by the remission of our sins, it is not meant that our Lord Jesus Christ doth thenceforth suffer him self too be mocked and despised, but that we have need to be throughly cleansed, so as we may learn too renounce the world, and our selves, too the end to stick unto him ⟨p. 100⟩with true obedience. Howsoever the world go, the thing that S. Paul speaketh in this text, shall always be found true, namely that he was crucified with Jesus Christ, to live unto God. Then if any man accuse the Gospel that it giveth liberty to do evil and too sin: we may always answer, how so? By the law we be always dead, for there we see our own cursedness which will leave us dismayed in despair. But in the Gospel, although we be crucified, that is too say, although there be a spice of death in the Gospel, yet is that death a quickening death, and the cause of life. For so long as men live too them selves, they be dead unto God: they be wretched carcasses full of rottenness.

for so long as we abide in our owne nature, euery of vs sootheth and flattereth him selfe in his euill. But when we haue once tasted the inestimable loue of our God, and perceyued what our Lorde Iesus Christ is: then we be so touched by his holy spirite, that wee condemne the euill, and desire to drawe neere vnto God, and too frame our selues to his holy will. VVee be sure of that once, and although wee go halting, yet doo wee continually sigh to see our owne imperfections and infirmities, and perceyue full well how it is the spirite of God that moueth vs thervnto, when our chiefe desire is to forsake the sinfulnesse that is in vs, and commeth of our fleshe, so as we wishe nothing else but that God should be glorified in all our lyfe, and faythfully obeyed in all things. That is the seconde benefite which our Lord Iesus Christ bringeth vs: and they be two things knit togither by vnseparable bande, so that like as the light of the sunne can not be separated from his heate: so these two graces (that is to wit our righteousnesse, and the remission of our sinnes) are vnseparably matched with our renewment, which is done by the spirit of sanctification. Thus ye see two graces inseparable: and like as when we say that the Sunne is whot, it ceasseth not to shine also, & yet notwithstanding the light of the sunne is not heate: so when we say that wee be iustified by the remission of our sinnes, it is not ment that our Lord Iesus Christ doth thēcefoorth suffer him selfe too bee mocked and despised, but that wee haue neede to be throughly clensed, so as wee may learne too renounce the world, and our selues, too the ende to sticke vnto him