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

3 Are ye so unwise, that when ye have begun by the spirit, now ye end in the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so much in vain? At leastwise if it be in vain. 5 He therefore that giveth you the spirit, and worketh mightily in you: doth he it by the works of the law, or by the preaching of the faith?

3 Are yee so vnvvise, that vvhen yee haue begonne by the spirite, novv yee ende in the flesh? 4 Haue yee suffered so muche in vayne? At leastvvise if it bee in vayne. 5 He therfore that giueth you the spirite, and vvorketh mightily in you: doth he it by the vvorks of the lavv, or by the preaching of the fayth?

We know that all the doctrine of the Gospel tendeth to draw us out of this world, and to make us come unto God. But that is impossible, unless we be lifted up continually more and more. Therefore if we intend too profit in Gods school, we must so labour to correct the infirmities that are in our nature, as if we were always at the point too be taken out of the ⟨p. 118⟩world. True it is that God of his goodness stoopeth down unto us, but that is not too hold us here beneath: Likewise when he sendeth us mortal men too be as his messengers, and exhorteth us to come unto him by such means as are fittest for us, and thereto giveth us his Sacraments, which are earthly and visible signs: therein we see how he vouchsafeth right well (as ye would say) too make him self low, too the end we should not have any excuse, to say we were not able to mount up to such a height. But how soever the case stand, if we look well upon the Gospel, we shall find that the mark whereat it aimeth, is to bereave us of our selves, and of all that belongeth too our flesh, to the end we should come unto him. But on the contrary side, men abuse the favour that God showeth them in setting such visible signs afore them, by bearing them selves in hand, that the whole perfection of their holiness is to be found there, and that that is the thing whereunto they must hold them. And the same is not a vice of two days or yesterdays breeding: but it hath reigned from the beginning of the world, and continueth yet still, and (which worse is) men think it not enough to overthrow the thing that God had set up to draw them unto him: but they do also forge and frame many hinderances to keep themselves aloof from him. This would be dark if it were not declared by example. God had in his law ordained Sacrifices, shadows, and figures for a time: yet did he it not for any pleasure that he had in those bare things: but by reason of the rudeness of the people (who were as then like little children) whom he meant to train still forward too a spiritual service, by means agreeable too their rawness. That is the cause why the Ceremonies of the Law are said to be as it were fleshly. For why? God intended too teach his people grossly too come thither as they ought to do.