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

The .xiiij. Sermon which is the eight upon the second Chapter.

The .xiiij. Sermon which is the eyght vpon the second Chapter.

20. So, I live: [yet] not I now, but Christ liveth in me, and whereas I live now in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21. I refuse not the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ died in vain.

20. So, I liue: [yet] not I novve, but Christ lyueth in me, and vvhereas I liue novv in the flesh, I lyue by the faith of the sonne of God, vvho loued mee and gaue himselfe for me. 21. I refuse not the grace of God: for if righteousnesse come by the lavv, then Christ died in vayne.

WE have seen this morning to what end we be offered up in Sacrifice unto God, when our Lord Jesus Christ knitteth us together in his body. It is not to the end we should lye still in death, wherein we be plunged already by nature: but rather to make us partakers of the heavenly life. Now the Apostle having spoken after that manner, magnifieth Gods grace, saying that he himself liveth not any more, but Jesus Christ in him: which is as much as if he had said, that all of us by nature have nothing in us but cursedness, and therefore that look what good soever God bestoweth upon us, it becometh us to acknowledge and confess the same to come of him, and to do him seruis for it. For faith bringeth always this humility with it, that men embase themselves too give all praise unto God. But by the way it may seem strange, that a faithful man should boast that Jesus Christ liveth in him, and yet be mortal still. So long as we live in this world, we be subject too many infirmities: and therefore this saying should seem to be a vain speculation or [fantastical conceit,] that Jesus Christ liveth in us. But S. Paul bringeth us back to faith, and telleth us that although our life be corruptible to outward appearance, and we subject to all the adversities of the world: yet doth faith quicken us, so as our Lord Jesus Christ ceaseth not to make us partakers of his heavenly life, yea and in very deed we possess it, insomuch as we must no more consider the state of the faithful according too that which may be judged of it by our natural wit, but mount up higher. For the life which our Lord Jesus Christ imparteth unto us, is a hidden treasure which we attain not too but by faith which mounteth above the whole world. Now it behoveth us to hope for the things which we see not, and which are hidden from us: and God is then highly honoured of us, when we make such account of his word and promises, as that all the things which we see in the world, cannot hold us back from seeking him continually, and from going to him, and from employing all our wits about him. Now then, first we have to gather upon this text, that a man hath never profited well in the Gospel, till he father all his welfare upon