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

Again when we show them that they can not bind us by their traditions, and that it is but a tyranny which they have usurped in robbing God of his right, and that the liberty was purchased for us by our Lord Jesus Christ, to the end that we should not be tide too the things which men would lay upon us of law and necessity in matters concerning the spiritual government of our souls. O (say they) see what comes of it: their desire is nothing else but too wallow in all pleasure, and too lead a loose life. Surely we may easily answer too all this. For the doctrine that we bring, serveth not to stir up mens lusts, nor to give them too great and lawless a liberty: but too the clean contrary. But howsoever the case stand, it ought too suffice us, that if we should abide in the quagmire of the Papists, surely there would be nothing but death for us. For were they not too fast asleep and utterly dulled, undoubtedly they should be tossed with such unquietness and hartebytings, as they should needs see that that is not the thing whereupon we must rest. But behold, they be so rotted in their ignorance, that they have not any feeling of Gods justice at all. But as for our parts, for as much as we know we have such a freedom purchased us by our Lord Jesus Christ, and are sure of our salvation because God doth freely forgive all our faults, and do feel already by the working of Gods holy spirit, that he draweth us to him, and are mortified to live unto him: Let us go forward with a cheerful heart. And although there be never so many infirmities in our nature, yet notwithstanding let us not doubt but God accepteth us, for all ⟨p. 101⟩our imperfections. But the Papists cannot have so much as one good purpose to serve God, saving that they be utterly bewitched [to believe so] through vain selftrust. And why? For they ground themselves upon their own merits, and (to their seeming) that is the mean to purchase grace. But now what is it that they can do? Put the case that they brought a hundred times more with them than they have to bring, and that God governed them by his holy spirit, so as they had some manner of feeling of the Gospel, though it were but half a feeling: yet should they come far short of discharging their duty, yea or of the hundred part of it towards God.

Agayne when wee shewe them that they can not bynde vs by their traditions, and that it is but a tyrannie whiche they haue vsurped in robbing God of his righte, and that the libertie was purchased for vs by our Lorde Iesus Christ, to the ende that wee shoulde not bee tyde too the things whiche men woulde lay vpon vs of lawe and necessitie in matters concerning the spirituall gouernment of our soules. O (saye they) see what cōmes of it: their desire is nothing else but too wallowe in all pleasure, and too leade a loose lyfe. Surely wee maye easily answere too all this. For the doctrine that wee bring, serueth not to stirre vp mens lustes, nor to giue them too greate and lawlesse a libertie: but too the cleane contrarie. But howsoeuer the cace stande, it oughte too suffice vs, that if wee shoulde abyde in the quamyre of the Papistes, surely there woulde bee nothyng but deathe for vs. For were they not too faste asleepe and vtterly dulled, vndoubtedly they shoulde bee tossed wyth suche vnquietnesse and hartebytings, as they should needes see that that is not the thing wherevpon wee muste reste. But beholde, they bee so rotted in their ignoraunce, that they haue not anye feelyng of Gods iustice at all. But as for oure partes, for as muche as wee knowe wee haue suche a freedome purchased vs by our Lorde Iesus Christ, and are sure of our saluation bicause God dothe freely forgiue all our faultes, and doo feele alreadie by the working of Gods holy spirite, that he draweth vs to him, and are mortifyed to liue vnto him: Let vs go forwarde with a chearefull heart. And althoughe there bee neuer so many infirmities in our nature, yet notwithstanding let vs not doubt but God accepteth vs, for all