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

Paul therefore doth purposely use that manner of speech, too the end we should not have any cold imagination, after the manner of diverse ignorant persons, which take themselves too be Christians, and yet in the mean while are as wretched beasts. But when we once know that the thing which was done for the redemption of the whole world, pertaineth to every of us severally: it behoveth every of us to say also on his own behalf, The son of God hath loved me so dearly, that he hath given himself to death for me. Furthermore the word Love is not superfluous here: for Saint Pauls ⟨p. 107⟩intent is too magnify the gracious goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ: as if he should say, that we be very wretches if we accept not such a benefit when it is offered us, seeing that God in sending us his son, had none other respect but to our miseries which he intended too relieve. Also our Lord Jesus Christ did so neglect himself, that he spared not his life for our welfare. And what was the cause of it? The love that he bare us. Seeing it is so: must we not needs be worse than out of our wits, if we accept not such a benefit?¹ But it is a very common doctrine in the holy Scripture, that God so loved the world, that he spared not his only son, but gave him too death for us: and also that our Lord Jesus Christ, at such time as we were his deadly enemies as saith Saint Paul,² did confirm a marvellous love towards us, in that he offered himself in sacrifice to make atonement between God and us, and too do away all our sins, so as they might no more come to account. Lo here a warrant of our salvation, so as we ought to think our selves throughly assured of it. Howbeit S. Paul meant purposely here, too rebuke mens unthankfulness, in that they accept not the benefit which God granteth them so bountifully, yea and of his own free goodness.³ For it behoveth us too call to mind, how Saint John in his Canonical Epistle sayeth, that we loved not God first: (as if should say, we did not prevent him, as those think they do which say, I have done him such service and such. For alas what is it that we can do too him?) but that he loved us, [yea even] at such time as we were his deadly enemies,) and came even then to seek us out in the very deepest of the bottomless Dungeons.