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

And now the Apostle going forward with his matter, useth another reason, which is, that if we seek righteousness in the law, the same will be a clean contrary one to the righteousness which Gods children and chosen people obtain by faith. For what manner of one is the righteousness of the law saith he? [This it is.] He that doth those things shall live in them: that is to say, whosoever obeyeth God and doth his commandments, shall have salvation for his labour. Lo here a fair promise: but what good will it do us? If we will assay to do the things thoroughly which are commanded us, we shall every one of us see that God showeth us our condemnation so much the greevouser, as if he had set it down before us. What would become of our salvation, if we should seek it in ourselves, and be fain to earn it? Now therefore, when we here that God is ready to recompense all such as shall have served and honoured him by keeping of his law: it seemeth to us before we go any further, that we have gotten a marvellous vantage, Tush (say we:) behold, God bindeth himself too us, and warranteth us the heritage of heaven if we serve him and fulfil his will. [Yea:] but when we have compared our life too his doctrine, we shall find that his showing of himself so liberal and bountiful towards us, too bind himself to us for our serving of him and for our keeping of his law, is a plunging of us much deeper into the gulf wherein we were before. What shall we do then? We must resort to the remedy which the Apostle setteth down here before us by the mouth of Habakkuk: which is that the righteous shall live by faith. Therefore let us refuse the promise of the law because it is not for our behoof,¹ & take the freegivē goodness of our god, who reacheth out his arms to receive us, so we be clear rid of all self-weening. That is the thing which is set down unto us here by S. Paul. And it is a reason that holdeth of ⟨image 157⟩contraries as they term it. As for example, if a man should say that fire heateth: and another wilful body should hold the contrary it might be said unto him, see if ye or frost do heat or no: doth it not appear that they be things diverse, repugnant, and unmatchable? Again, if it should be demanded whither the heat of the Sun is behooffull for this life or no: what a thing were it if there were no Sun in the world?

And nowe the Apostle going forward with his matter, vseth another reason, whiche is, that if wee seeke righteousnesse in the law, the same will be a cleane contrary one to the rightuousnesse which Gods children and chosen people obteyne by fayth. For what manner of one is the rightuousnesse of the law sayth hee? [This it is.] He that doth those things shall liue in them: that is to say, whosoeuer obeyeth God and doth his commaundements, shall haue saluation for his labour. Lo heere a fayre promis: but what good will it doe vs? If wee will assay to do the things thoroughly which are commaunded vs, wee shall euery one of vs see that God sheweth vs our condemnation so much the greeuouser, as if he had set it downe before vs. VVhat would become of our saluation, if we should seeke it in ourselues, and be fayne to earne it? Now therfore, when we heere that God is ready to recompence all suche as shall haue serued and honored him by keeping of his law: it seemeth to vs before we go any further, that we haue gottē a maruellous vantage, Tush (say we:) beholde, God byndeth hymselfe too vs, and warranteth vs the heritage of heauen if wee serue him and fulfill his will. [Yea:] but when wee haue compared our lyfe too hys doctrine, we shall fynd that his shewing of himselfe so liberall and bountifull towards vs, too bind himselfe to vs for our seruing of him and for our keeping of his lawe, is a plunging of vs muche deeper into the gulfe wherein wee were before. VVhat shall we do then? VVe must resort to the remedie which the Apostle setteth downe heere before vs by the mouth of Abacucke: whyche is that the rightuouse shall liue by faith. Therefore let vs refuse the promis of the law bicause it is not for our behoof,