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

Thus ye see what it is for a man to be a Christian: that is too wit, to be utterly out of hart in himself, in consideration that he bringeth nothing with him but sin and cursedness: and yet upon the feeling of himself to be so utterly void of all well deserving: to come unto God to be clothed with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. For it is not enough for us to be out of hart in our selves, as we see that Cain was, who being as it were upon the rack confesseth his fault: (howbeit, that was but through despair, and so consequently there was nothing in him but murmuring and blasphemy against God: & in like case is it with all reprobates or cast aways) but we must so taste of the love of our God, as we may be able to settle our selves upon it, and be out of all doubt that he will receive us if we come to the Gospel, at leastwise if we come in such wise as our hope be grounded, not upon our own selfweening or imagination, but upon Gods promise, & for that we cannot be disappointed in waiting upon him and in holding our selves assured of his word. Thus ye see in effect what it is too be faithful: for we must always have an eye to the disputation that S. Paul undertaketh. He striveth against such as pretended too purchase righteousness before God by the works of the Law. If there were no more but this saying too be of the faith, without considering what matter S. Paul treateth of here: that manner of speech were but dark, But when we see how S. Paul declareth expressly, that all such as go about too purchase favour at Gods hand by their own deservings, are puffed up with pride, and that their presumptuousness shutteth the gate of Paradise against them, and that God vouchsafeth not to hear them, because they defraud him of his due honour, and would fain as it were deck themselves with his feathers, and that they be traitors in robbing him of his righteousness: forasmuch as S. Paul handleth that point: there is now no doubt but he taketh all those too be of the faith, which distrust themselves, and are utterly out of all hope in themselves, and yet notwithstanding do return unto Jesus Christ, resting, leaning, and trusting wholly unto him. Those therefore are the true children of Abraham. But now let us see how few Christians there are in the world. True it is that the word Christian runneth roundly in every mans mouth:

Thus yee see what it is for a man to bee a Christian: that is too wit, to be vtterly out of hart in himself, in cōsideration that he bringeth nothing with him but sin and cursednesse: and yet vpon the feeling of himself to be so vtterly voyde of all well deseruing: to come vnto God to be clothed with the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ. For it is not ynough for vs to be out of hart in our selues, as we see that Cain was, who beyng as it were vpon the racke confesseth his fault: (howbeit, that was but through despayre, and so consequently there was nothing in him but murmuring and blasphemie against God: & in like cace is it with all reprobates or cast awayes) but wee must so taste of the loue of our God, as wee may be able to settle our selues vpon it, and be out of all doubt that he will receyue vs if we come to the Gospell, at leastwize if wee come in suche wise as our hope bee grounded, not vpon our owne selfweening or imaginacion, but vpon Gods promis, & for that we cannot bee disapoynted in wayting vpō him and in holding our selues assured of his woord. Thus ye see in effect what it is too be faithfull: for wee must alwayes haue an eye to the disputation that S. Paule vndertaketh. He striueth agaynst such as pretended too purchace rightuousnesse before God by the workes of the Lawe. If there were no more but this saying too bee of the fayth, without cōsidering what matter S. Paule treateth of here: that maner of speache were but darke, But when wee see how S. Paule declareth expresly, that all such as go aboute too purchace fauour at Gods hand by their owne deseruinges, are puffed vp with pryde, and that their presumptuousnesse shetteth the gate of Paradise agaynst them, and that God vouchsafeth not to heare them, bycause they defraude him of his due honour, and woulde fayne as it were decke themselues with his fethers, and that they be traytors in robbing him of his rightuousnesse: for asmuch as S. Paule handleth that poynt: there is now no doubt but he taketh all those too bee of the fayth, which distrust themselues, and are vtterly out of all hope in themselues, and yet notwithstāding do returne vnto Iesus Christ, resting, leanyng, and trusting wholly vnto him. Those therefore are the true children of Abraham. But now let vs see how few Christians there are in the worlde. True it is that the woorde Christian runneth roundly in euery mannes mouth: