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

But in the mean season, it is well known that all that ever they do is but pelting trash: and as for the law of God, it is nought worth with them, and yet in the mean while they busy their heads about their own inventions. Howbeit let us still put the case that they endeavoured to walk in the fear of God, and that they had learned aright to do the things that God commandeth them: yet for all that, they could not make their boast that they were come to the perfection of that righteousness which God requireth of us. And when they had tormented themselves never so much, how should they be able to serve God with a cheerful courage, unless they knew themselves to be in his favour, notwithstā ding that they be so blameworthy before him? But as for us, we on our side are able to serve God with a free hart, notwithstanding that our consciences find fault with us, and we know that there are many sins in us. And why? For we ground not ourselves upon our own merits, but upon God's mere mercy: and thereby we be taught, that God receiveth our works though there be much faultiness in them, and that we be in his favour although there be many vices and blemishes in us. And that is the cause why he saith by his prophet,¹ that he will accept the seruis which we do unto him, as a father accepteth the seruis of his child. Ye see that a child is willing to obey his father: and when his father saith too him, do this: his father taketh his doing in good worth, though the child know not what he doth, yea and sometimes though he mar a thing, yet his father is contented to lose the thing when he seeth that the child was willing and desirous to serve him. But if a man ⟨image 122⟩take a servant for wages, he will look to have him do his task. And why? For he looketh for his wages: and a man will not abide to have him mar the work that is put into his hands: yea and if it be not well done, he will not be contented with it. Now our Lord speaking of the grace of the Gospel, saith he will receive our services, as a father receiveth the obedience of his child, though all that ever he doth be nothing worth: that is to say, he passeth not awhit for the perfection that is in them, for he shall find none at all in them: but he beareth with us of his goodness.

But in the meane season, it is well knowen that all that euer they do is but pelting trash: and as for the law of God, it is nought worth with them, and yet in the meane while they busie theyr heads about their owne inuentions. Howbeit let vs still put the cace that they indeuored to walke in the feare of God, and that they had learned aright to do the things that God commaundeth them: yet for all that, they coulde not make their boast that they were come to the perfection of that righteousnesse which God requireth of vs. And when they had tormented themselues neuer so much, how should they be able to serue God with a cheereful courage, vnlesse they knew themselues to be in his fauour, notwithstā ding that they be so blameworthy before him? But as for vs, we on our side are able to serue God with a free hart, notwithstanding that our consciences find fault with vs, and we know that there are many sinnes in vs. And why? For we ground not ourselues vppon our owne merites, but vpon Goddes meere mercie: and thereby we be taught, that God receiueth our workes though there bee muche faultinesse in them, and that we be in his fauoure although there be many vices and blemishes in vs. And that is the cause why he saith by his prophet,