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

but in the mean while ⟨p. 124⟩it is foully defiled, and God must needs disclaim all such as pretend after that fashion too be his: like as in the Popedom every man groundeth himself upon his baptism or christendom. And surely in baptism we have on Gods behalf an infallible pledge of our salvation. But what for that? they take but the visible sign, and separate it from our Lord Jesus Christ. And in very deed the Papists know nought at all of that which is told us here by S. Paul: but (which worse is) they have their freewill, their merits, and their satisfactions: in stead of Gods seruis, which they thrust under foot and falsify, they have gewgaws yea and abominations of the Devils own forging: and therefore they be sufficiently convicted too have no christianity in them. And for our part, although we have not the Idolatries and superstitions that reign among the Papists: yet are we not so grounded in the Gospel, that every of us can offer himself frankly unto God, and fully and freely call upon him, quietly suffering him too guide us: but we shall see many that are but wretched beasts. True it is that they will well enough protest themselves too hold nothing at all of the Popes abuses and superstitions: but if a man talk too them of the grounds and principles of the gospel, they wot not what thing it is. Othersome which ween themselves too be great Clerks, when it cometh too the trial, do show that all was but a countenance, and that they did but prate like pies in a Cage. So much the more therefore doth it behove us too bear well in mind, how Saint Paul telleth us here, that we cannot be Abraham's children nor members of the Church, except we come thither with belief of the Gospel, so as every of us renounce his foreconceyued opinions of his own merits, and assure our selves that we be utterly damned and drowned in despair, and thereupon resort too the mere grace of God, and too the mercy which he offereth us in our Lord Jesus Christ, so as we fall too dipping of our selves in the blood which he hath shed too cleanse us withal, assuring our selves that there all our debts are released, and Gods wrath and vengeance so appeased, as we cannot fail but too find him favourable. Howbeit for the better understanding hereof, let us mark also after what manner Abraham believed God.

but in the meane while ⟨p. 124⟩it is fouly defiled, and God must needes disclayme all suche as pretend after that fashion too bee his: like as in the Popedome euery man groundeth himself vppon his baptisme or christendome. And surely in baptisme wee haue on Gods behalf an infallible pledge of our saluation. But what for that? they take but the visible signe, and separate it from our Lord Iesus Christ. And in very deede the Papistes know nought at all of that which is told vs heere by S. Paule: but (which worse is) they haue their freewill, their merites, and their satisfactions: in steede of Gods seruis, which they thrust vnder foote and falsifie, they haue gewgawes yea and abhominations of the Diuels owne forging: and therefore they be sufficiently conuicted too haue no christianitie in them. And for our part, although wee haue not the Idolatries and superstitions that reygne among the Papistes: yet are we not so grounded in the Gospell, that euery of vs can offer himselfe frankly vnto God, and fully and freely call vppon him, quietly suffering him too guyde vs: but wee shall see many that are but wretched beastes. True it is that they will well ynough protest themselues too hold nothing at all of the Popes abuses and superstitions: but if a man talke too them of the groundes and principles of the gospell, they wote not what thing it is. Othersome which weene themselues too bee great Clerkes, when it commeth too the tryall, doo shew that all was but a countenance, and that they did but prate lyke pyes in a Cage. So much the more therefore dooth it behoue vs too beare well in minde, howe Sainct Paule telleth vs heere, that wee cannot bee Abrahams children nor members of the Churche, except wee come thither with beleefe of the Gospell, so as euery of vs renounce his foreconceyued opinions of his owne merites, and assure our selues that wee bee vtterly damned and drowned in despayre, and therevppon resort too the meere grace of God, and too the mercie which he offereth vs in our Lord Iesus Christe, so as wee fall too dipping of our selues in the bloud whiche he hath shed too clenze vs withall, assuring our selues that there all our dettes are released, and Gods wrath and vengeance so appeazed, as wee cannot fayle but too finde him fauourable. Howbeeit for the better vnderstandyng hereof, lette vs marke also after what maner Abraham beleeued God.