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

For if God gave men no remedy, it is certain that they should be utterly abashed when he saith, that he which doth these things shall live in them, that is to say, no man shall live. At the first blush (as I said) we may seem to have won the goal, seeing that God hath told us, that by keeping his law we shall obtain his favour, and that there is a crown of glory prepared for us whereof we cannot fail: but when we have cast our cards, we must be fain to come to this point, that no man can attain to life by his own purchase or earning: for why, no man performeth the law. It is not said, he that doeth but some one part or other of the law, shall live: but he that doeth all that is contained in it. What manner of thing then is the righteousness of the law? It is a full and perfect keeping of it, without missing or failing in any point at all. But such a one is not to be found among men, and therefore it followeth that all of us are disappointed, and shut out from the promise that is given us in the law. Yet is it not to be said that God mocketh us, when he holdeth us at the staves end, because men deceive themselves through their own pride, by boasting of their own deservings. He hath good reason to hold them so at the staves end: and if there were no law nor any such promise, what would come of it? We know that the heathen men would always needs be in Gods favour for their own virtues sake: and yet in the mean while they knew there were many faults in them, and for that cause they retained the use of sacrificing. It is true that they understood not the end of them: yet nevertheless, their sacrificing was a plain confession that they were endangered unto God, and had need to be admitted into his favour. Likewise the Papists do at this day pack together a great deal of pelting trash, to make atonement with God. And so ye see that the heathen men did at all ⟨image 158⟩times keep the same trade which the Papists keep at this day. But howsoever they fared, their intent was to be saved at Gods hand for their own deservings. Howbeit God telleth us that if we think he oweth us any thing of duty, we deceive ourselves: notwithstanding, he promiseth of his own free goodness, that if we keep the law we shall be reckoned for righteous before him. But now, do we keep it?

For if God gaue men no remedye, it is certeine that they should be vtterly abashed when he sayth, that he whych doth these things shall lyue in them, that is to say, no man shal liue. At the first blush (as I sayd) we may seeme to haue wonne the goale, seing that God hath told vs, that by keeping his law we shall obteine hys fauour, and that there is a crowne of glorie prepared for vs wherof we cānot fayle: but when we haue cast our cardes, we must be fayn to come to this poynt, that no man can atteyne to lyfe by his owne purchace or earning: for why, no man performeth the law. It is not sayd, he that doeth but some one part or other of the lawe, shall liue: but he that doeth all that is conteyned in it. VVhat manner of thing then is the rightuousenesse of the lawe? It is a ful and perfect keeping of it, without missing or fayling in any point at al. But such a one is not to be found among men, and therefore it followeth that all of vs are disappointed, and shut out from the promis that is giuen vs in the lawe. Yet is it not to be sayd that God mocketh vs, when he holdeth vs at the staues ende, bycause men deceyue themselues through their owne pryde, by boasting of their owne deseruings. He hath good reason to hold them so at the staues end: and if there were no law nor any such promis, what would come of it? VVe know that the heathen men would alwayes needes bee in Gods fauour for their owne vertues sake: and yet in the meane while they knewe there were many faultes in them, and for that cause they reteyned the vse of sacrifising. It is true that they vnderstood not the end of them: yet neuerthelesse, their sacrifising was a playne confession that they were indaungered vnto God, and had neede to be admitted into his fauour. Likewise the Papistes do at this day packe togither a great deale of pelting trash, to make attonement with God. And so ye see that the heathen men did at all