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

No, we come far short of it, insomuch that if we consider how much we fail of it, we must needs be abashed at it. Ye see then how it is not without cause that God hath given us that promise, though we reap no profit nor advantage by it. For it hath a respect to the correcting of the pride wherewith we be so sore infected, that we must be cleansed of it by some violent remedy, or else we shall burst. And what remedy is that? Behold, God talketh to us thus: Go to, ye murmur at me, if I handle you not after your own liking: but I tell you, that I will not only pour out my gracious gifts and benefits upon you in this world: but also do lay up an everlasting heritage in store for you, so ye serve me. Serve me, and make me a good account, and then shall you be sure that I will recompense you, both in this life and in the life to come. Gods speaking after that manner is to none other end, but to stop mens mouths, and to make them acknowledge, that if God punish them and send them never so many afflictions, it is rightly done insomuch that all such as shall have well sifted their own lives, shall be driven to confess, yea even unfeignedly, Alas, if we be not worthy to eat bread for the sustenance of this transitory life upon earth, how can we by our own deserts get the heritage of heaven, which is a glory that belongeth only unto God? How can we attain to it by our own strength? Ye see then that mens combs are quite cut, by Gods giving of this so large and liberal promise unto them. And therewithal we have too note, that the same promise is free of itself, and yet fare we never awhit the better for any piece of it, till we have utterly let go our hold of it. This would be dark if it should not be laid forth more at large. The heathen men (as I have said already) did fully persuade themselves that they should be recompensed at Gods hand, if they lived after an honest and unblamable fashion among men. ⟨p. 136⟩But that was great folly, or rather stark madness. For how can God become indebted unto us, as it is told us in the seventeenth of Saint Luke?¹ Though men could do better than the Angels of heaven, could they bind God too them by it? No: for they be his aforehand by nature:

No, we come farre short of it, in somuch that if we consider how much we fayle of it, we must needs be abashed at it. Yee see then how it is not without cause that God hath giuen vs that promis, though we reape no profit nor aduauntage by it. For it hath a respect to the correcting of the pryde wherewith we be so sore infected, that wee must be clenzed of it by some violent remedie, or else we shall burst. And what remedie is that? Behold, God talketh to vs thus: Go to, yee murmur at me, if I handle you not after your own lyking: but I tell you, that I will not only poure out my graciouse giftes and benefits vpon you in this worlde: but also do lay vp an euerlasting heritage in store for you, so yee serue me. Serue me, and make me a good account, and then shall you be sure that I will recompence you, both in this life and in the lyfe to come. Gods speaking after that manner is to none other ende, but to stoppe mennes mouthes, and to make them acknowledge, that if God punish them and send them neuer so many afflictions, it is ryghtly done in somuch that all such as shall haue well sifted their owne liues, shal be driuen to confesse, yea euen vnfeynedly, Alas, if we be not worthie to eate bread for the sustenance of this transitorie life vpon earth, how can we by our own deserts get the heritage of heauen, whiche is a glory that belongeth only vnto God? How can we atteyne to it by our owne strength? Yee see then that mens combes are quite cut, by Gods giuing of this so large and liberall promis vnto them. And therewithall wee haue too note, that the same promis is free of itselfe, and yet fare wee neuer awhit the better for any peece of it, till we haue vtterly let go our hold of it. This would be darke if it shoulde not bee layde foorthe more at large. The heathenmen (as I haue sayde alreadie) did fully perswade themselues that they should be recompenced at Gods hand, if they liued after an honest and vnblamable fashion among men.