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

God hath given us his word, that being dead in our own nature, we have our life elsewhere, namely in ⟨image 125⟩our Lord Jesus Christ, inasmuch as he was purposely sent to bring us from death to life. Seeing then that we have that promise of god, ye see how he may be honoured at our hands. And forasmuch as the case standeth so, that only saying ought to suffice us. And if we settle and resolve ourselves fully thereupon: it is a token that we set our hands to Gods truth as faithful witnesses thereof,¹ as sayeth Saint John. Contrariwise when we doubt or be in a mammering, then hath Gods word no authority nor reverence among us. For if we look no further than to the things that are before us, and to the things that are near at hand: we cannot acknowledge that God is faithful, and that the things which God hath uttered with his own mouth are unfallible. Moreover, in so doing we turn away from our Lord Jesus Christ, who notwithstanding is the pledge of all that is contained in Gods word. Seeing we have the word, we must no more ask (as Moses saith) who shall climb up above the Clouds?² or who shall go down into the deep? or who shall go over the Sea?³ The word (saith he) is in thy mouth, and in thy hart: and we must content ourselves with it. And moreover seeing that we have our Lord Jesus Christ for a larger confirmation: we know that he went down into the hells, that is to say, bare the curse that was due to us for our sins, and answered as our pledge and surety before the judgement seat of his father: and afterward went up into heaven, and in our behalf took possession of the heritage that he had purchased for us. For he was exalted up in our flesh and nature. Seeing that we have such an assurance, must we not needs be too wretched, if we cannot hold ourselves too it?⁴ Again, the matter willeth us to look still back to that which hath bin said: namely, that we hope, not for things that are open and manifest, but for the things that are unknown to worldly perseverance. Then sith it is so, let us learn to live by the faith of Jesus Christ: that is to say, although we be miserable in this world and be fain to endure never so many hartbitings, griefs, anguishes, troubles, and distresses: