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

This in effect is the thing that we have to bear in mind. Furthermore forasmuch as S. Pauls intent here, is to bring back the faithful to the Gospel: let us assure our selves that if we swerve never so little from it, we be straight in the high way to destruction. And so there is none other knitting of God unto men, than by means of the Gospel which must go as a chain that cannot be broken betwixt them. And Paul doth purposely once again call it the preaching of faith, to show us how great need we have that God should prevent us. For until such time as he have reached us his hand in our Lord Jesus Christ, and drawn us out of the gulf of confusion wherein we be by nature, what are we? Moreover we see how bountiful he showeth himself towards us, in that he giveth himself fully to us in the person of his only Son: surely it is much more than if he gave us heaven and earth, and all the goods that are in them. For what are all other things in comparison of our Lord Jesus Christ? ⟨p. 123⟩Wherefore let us mark, that seeing that God having declared unto us that we be utterly unfurnished of all goodness, addeth that he will not keep back any thing from us, nor show himself a niggard towards us, if we seek too him for all things that we want: we must be contented with it, and if we swerve never so little one way or other, we deserve well to be utterly bereft and dispossessed, even of that which we have received already. And thereupon S. Paul bringeth us back too the example of Abraham, because he is the father of all the faithful, and moreover because that in his person it pleased god to show how we may become righteous to be saved: for there is none other way to bring us to the kingdom of heaven than the same that he went. There is but only one way, and that is set forth too us in the example of Abraham. S. Paul therefore sayeth that Abraham believed God, and the same was reckoned too him for righteousness: and therefore that if we will be Abraham's children, we must believe. Here we have too call too remembrance the thing that hath bin declared already heretofore: that is too say, what this word faith or belief importeth. It is not a single believing that there is but one God which governeth the world:

This in effect is the thing that wee haue to beare in minde. Furthermore for asmuch as S. Paules intent here, is to bring backe the faithfull to the Gospell: let vs assure our selues that if we swarue neuer so litle from it, we be streyght in the high way to destruction. And so there is none other knitting of God vnto mē, than by meanes of the Gospell which must go as a chayne that cannot bee broken betwixt thē. And Paule doth purposely once againe call it the preaching of faith, to shewe vs how great neede wee haue that God should preuent vs. For vntil such time as he haue reached vs his hand in our Lord Iesus Christe, and drawne vs out of the gulfe of confusion wherein wee bee by nature, what are wee? Moreouer wee see howe bountifull he sheweth himselfe towardes vs, in that he giueth himselfe fully to vs in the persone of his only Sonne: surely it is much more than if he gaue vs heauen and earth, and all the goodes that are in them. For what are all other things in cōparison of our Lord Iesus Christ?