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

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 ⟨p. 103⟩our Lord Jesus Christ. For if we reserve never so little to our selves, we be unthankful to God out of hand:

WE haue seene this morning to what end we be offered vp in Sacrifise vnto God, when oure Lord Iesus Christ knitteth vs togither in hys body. It is not to the ende we should lye still in death, wherein we bee plunged already by nature: but rather to make vs partakers of the heauenly lyfe. Nowe the Apostle hauing spoken after that manner, magnifyeth Gods grace, saying that he hymselfe lyueth not any more, but Iesus Christ in him: which is asmuch as if he had sayd, that all of vs by nature haue nothing in vs but cursednesse, and therefore that looke what good soeuer God bestoweth vpon vs, it becommeth vs to acknowledge and confesse the same to come of him, and to do him seruis for it. For faith bringeth alwayes this humilitie with it, that men imbace themselues too gyue all prayse vnto God. But by the way it may seeme straunge, that a faithfull man should boast that Iesus Christ liueth in him, and yet be mortall still. So long as we liue in this world, we be subiect too many infirmities: and therefore this saying shoulde seeme to bee a vayne speculation or [fantasticall conceit,] that Iesus Christ liueth in vs. But S. Paule bringeth vs backe to faith, and telleth vs that although our life be corruptible to outward apparance, and we subiect to all the aduersities of the world: yet doth faith quicken vs, so as our Lord Iesus Christ ceasseth not to make vs partakers of his heauenly life, yea and in very deede we possesse it, in somuch as we must no more consider the state of the faithfull according too that which may be iudged of it by our naturall wit, but mount vp higher. For the life which our Lord Iesus Christ imparteth vnto vs, is a hidden treasure which we attaine not too but by faith which mounteth aboue the whole world. Now it behoueth vs to hope for the things which we see not, and which are hidden from vs: and God is then highly honored of vs, when we make suche account of hys worde and promises, as that all the thinges whiche we see in the worlde, cannot hold vs backe from seeking him continually, and from going to him, and from imploying all our wits about hym. Now then, first we haue to gather vpon this text, that a man hathe neuer profited well in the Gospell, till he father all his welfare vppon