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

Now then, seeing it is so, Saint Paul doth not without cause tell us here, that such as receive Gods spirit by the preaching of the Gospel, must be void of all trust in their own merits, and acknowledge themselves beholden all wholly to Gods mere and free mercy for their whole salvation. And why so? For they be things that can no more match together than fire and water, that we should be justified by the Gospel, and also justified by the law. What then? Is the Gospel contrary to the law? No: for (as I have declared already) God is author as well of the one as of the other, and there is no contrariworking in him, but the question here concerneth the case of our salvation. God hath given men his law too ⟨p. 116⟩show them the way too live well, and thereby intended to bring them to such condemnation, as if he should prefer an indictment against them, and put a halter about their necks: For truly in the law we see nothing but▪ Hell gaping open upon us, that Gods vengeance is ready afore hand to encounter us, and that he is armed against us as our enemy. Those are the things which the law setteth afore us. But now is the Gospel given us for a remedy, to the end that when we be so in despair, we should flee to the grace that is offered us in our Lord Jesus Christ, and understand that there is none other way [to do us good] than the forgiveness of our sins, whereby God doth so put away and wipe out our offences, as they come no more to account before him. The thing then wherein our righteousness consisteth, is that he burdeneth us not any more with the evil that is in us. And although we see Gods intent and determination to be such, both in the law and in the Gospel: yet are we sure that there is no contrariety in it. Besides this also, if we be not justified by the Gospel, how can we attain salvation by the law? It is true that the law is a preparative too bring us to the Gospel: for so long as men be puffed up with pride, Gods grace hath no entrance into them. If a vessel be full of wind, let a man labour to put what liquor he will into it, and he shall not get it in, because the wind beateth it back, and hindereth the putting of it in. And we may perceive it even in mans body: for we must be fain too take similitudes of worldly things too lead us to higher things.

Now then, seeing it is so, Sainct Paule doth not without cause tell vs heere, that such as receiue Gods spirit by the preaching of the Gospell, must be voyd of all trust in their owne merites, and acknowledge themselues beholden all wholly to Gods meere and free mercie for their whole saluation. And why so? For they be thinges that can no more match togither than fyre and water, that we should be iustifyed by the Gospell, and also iustifyed by the law. VVhat then? Is the Gospell contrary to the law? No: for (as I haue declared already) God is author as well of the one as of the other, and there is no contrariworking in hym, but the question heere concerneth the cace of our saluation. God hath gyuen men hys lawe too