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

If a man be hungry, and yet notwithstanding have his stomach so puffed up as it cannot abide any thing: he may well be full: but what for that? All is but wind, he hath never the more nourishment within for all that, but rather the wind hindereth the entering in of any, good sustenance to nourish and maintain him. Even so is it with the foolish presumptuousness that is in us. We bear ourselves in hand, that we be well furnished with all things that we have need of: howbeit, that is but wind howsoever we fare, and that wind shutteth out Gods grace from entering in. But by the Gospel our Lord bringeth us low, & showeth us our wretchedness. And therefore it behoveth us to come to it with a consideration that our ⟨image 137⟩Lord Jesus Christ is set forth unto us there, to the end that we seeing that there is not one drop of goodness in us, should seek it in him, yea even all wholly and not by pieces. Thus then ye see why S. Paul reasoneth, that forasmuch as we have received Gods spirit by means of the Gospel, it behoveth us to hold us thereunto, and not go to the Ceremonies of the law, nor to any other thing one or other, but be contented with that perfection, seeing it is given us and we may enjoy it without gainsaying. For although this matter was written to the Galatians: yet is it common to us also at this day, as well as to them. Let us mark (I say) how our Lord Jesus Christ wrought in us. And first of all let us practise that which is showed us in the second to the Corinthians:¹ which is, that it behoveth us to be wholly new fashioned again, and to have God's spirit dwelling in us. So then the true mark whereby we may discern whither we be Gods children or no, is Gods spirit. But bring we that spirit with us from our mothers womb? Alas no. Neither cometh it any whit the more by our own deservings, as I have told you already: but because it pleaseth God of his gracious goodness to give us it, thereby to draw us to him. If we have any desire or willingness to walk in the fear of our God, or if we would fain be able to call upon him with a pure conscience: it is a token that Gods spirit dwelleth in us. We need not to seek any other witness, nor to make any longer scanning of the matter. But now, have we gotten and obtained this spirit by our own merits? No surely.

If a man be hungrie, and yet notwithstanding haue hys stomacke so puffed vp as it cannot abide any thyng: hee may well bee full: but what for that? All is but wind, he hath neuer the more nurrishment within for all that, but rather the wind hindereth the entering in of any, good sustenance to nurrish and mainteine him. Euen so is it with the foolish presumpteousnesse that is in vs. VVe beare ourselues in hand, that we be well furnished with all thinges that wee haue neede of: howbeit, that is but wind howsoeuer we fare, and that wynd shetteth out Gods grace frō entering in. But by the Gospel our Lord bringeth vs low, & sheweth vs our wretchednes. And therefore it behoueth vs to come to it with a consideratiō that our