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

Nay contrariwise, we cease not to provoke him daily against us, and yet he cometh too say unto us, I will fall too atonement with you, whereas notwithstanding there is nothing but spitefulness in us, we be like little fiends, and to be short, we be damned and forlorn, and yet cometh he to seek unto us, and desireth nothing but too have th• atonement made. After that manner speaketh Saint Paul word for word. But now what will become of us, if we reject such grace, seeing that God offereth it, us so freely? This is it which is meant by that saying. And thereupon he concludeth in the end, that if we seek righteousness in the Law, Jesus Christ dyed in vain. As if he ⟨p. 108⟩should say, that if we intend to enjoy the grace that is contained in the Gospel, we must utterly give over the fond opinion of our own merits. For men are deceived by bearing themselves in hand, that there is ever somewhat of value in them: and to be short, they cannot find in their hearts to come as poor beggars before God, but will always bring some present with them. And yet notwithstanding all that ever we think our selves too have, is but abomination. Therefore Saint Paul showeth us, that there is none other means for us too receive life at our Lord Jesus Christs hand, and too be made partakers of his death and resurrection, and so to attain too the heritage of heaven by his means, than to be utterly voided of all the foolish overweenings, which the children of this world conceive, when they imagine with themselves, ô as for me, I have some virtue in me, I have some towardness: and to lay it all down and cast it quite away. For until we have forgotten our own deserts, surely we shall never be able to conceive the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do we then come unto him? Let us come utterly empty. For if we make any countenance of having aught, it is nothing else but wind. Truly whensoever men are puffed up with pride: they become so full that they are ready too burst, howbeit all of it is but wind. But yet how so ever we fare, that wind holdeth us back from receiving the benefits that are purchased and brought unto us by the Son of God, and which he communicateth to us by his Gospel. Thus ye see whereunto the conclusion tendeth which Saint Paul maketh here.

Nay contrariwise, wee ceasse not to prouoke him dayly agaynst vs, and yet he commeth too say vnto vs, I will fall too attonement with you, whereas notwithstanding there is nothing but spitefulnesse in vs, we be like little feends, and to be short, we bee damned and forlorne, and yet commeth he to seeke vnto vs, and desireth nothing but too haue th attonement made. After that maner speaketh Saint Paule woorde for woorde. But nowe what will become of vs, if wee reiect such grace, seing that God offereth it, vs so freely? This is it which is ment by that saying. And therevppon hee concludeth in the ende, that if wee seeke rightuousnesse in the Lawe, Iesus Chryst dyed in vayne. As if hee