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

As for example, If a man have wasted all his goods in riot, and have not aught left wherewith too pay his creditors, shall that discharge him of his debts? If any man say, it is not through our own default: Yes surely is it. For in as much as we be corrupted in Adam, original sin holdeth us sufficiently convicted and guilty before God, so as it is no excuse too say, I am weak or rather utterly untoward, and I can not so much as think one good thought,¹ according as Saint Paul declareth. It is true that ⟨p. 134⟩we can not think so much as one good thought, and that our harts are full of sturdiness and malice, so that all our affections are enemies unto God. So speaketh the Scripture: but howsoever the world go, we cease not too be still bound too our duty. Wherefore let us mark, that the Law is commanded us, though it be impossible for us to fulfil and perform it.² And if it were not so, S. Paul would not have said in the eight too the Romans, that God performed that thing by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was impossible too the Law. In saying so he showeth well that we be not able to perform all that God commandeth us. For if we could bring that to pass, surely we should be justified by it. For it is said that all such as fulfil the Law shall live therein.³ If any man could be found that had performed it, he should live. But S. Paul taketh the same reason afterward too show, that it is a folly to think to get righteousness by keeping of the Law: for no man can bring it to pass as is required. Now then as touching this text, let us understand that S. Paul presupposeth that no man is able too perform the Law, though he strain himself never so much: insomuch that although he be governed by the holy Ghost, yet shall he never be able to bring it too pass during this rightful life, because God giveth us his grace by measure. It is true that he could give us such perfection as nothing should be amiss in all our life, but that we should have a full and more than angelical conformity too all his commandments. Howbeit, although he hold us in awe, although he change us and fashion us new again, although he rein us back to the obedience of his will: yet is there no full perfection in us. And why?