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

Again, how is it that we live by faith? Seeing we be continually subject to fall into the same danger whereout of God hath delivered me once, twice, or thrice ⟨image 162⟩before, and that if God have pitied me in some affliction to day, so as I have felt his favour, he afflicteth me to morrow with some other affliction: what were my life if I rested upon the world? So then, the Prophet meant to declare, that although the faithful be miserable and do but pine away in this world, yet notwithstanding they be blessed of God even in this world, and all the misery which they endure here shall turn to their welfare: for why they rest themselves upon their God. Wherefore we must understand that there is a better heritage than this, and that we seek the true and everlasting happiness, so as we may have a steadfast continuance of our state. But the word Righteousness, ought also to be well marked. For if Habakkuk had said, the wretched sinners shall live by faith: it would have seemed that he had spoken but to a few folk. For it will well enough be granted that wretched sinners should flee for refuge unto God: but as for those that excel in virtue, ought they not to be exempted from the common array, and to be exalted too a higher degree at Gods hand, and finally too be justified by prerogative? Accordingly as we see nowadays that although there be nothing but all manner of filth in the Popish Ceremonies and Clergy as they term it, so as they ought to be abhorred both of God and man: yet notwithstanding, under colour of their Cowls, and all other their trumpery, they cease not to challenge God too be greatly in their debt. And besides this, when these dotards have made much babbling, and trotted and scudded up and down from altar too altar, and from Chapel to Chapel, and gadded on pilgrimage: to their seeming, God ought not to forget any of these doings, but all of it ought to pass for good payment in their account, besides an hundred thousand other Items which they have too set down before him.¹

Againe, howe is it that we lyue by fayth? Seeing we bee continually subiect to fall into the same daunger whereoutof God hath deliuered me once, twice, or thrice ⟨image 162⟩before, and that if God haue pitied me in some affliction to day, so as I haue felt his fauor, he afflicteth me to morrow with some other affliction: what were my life if I rested vpon the worlde? So then, the Prophet mēt to declare, that although the faithful be miserable and do but pyne away in this worlde, yet notwithstanding they be blessed of God euen in this worlde, and all the miserie which they indure here shall turne to their welfare: for why they rest themselues vpon their God. VVherfore we must vnderstand that there is a better heritage than this, and that we seeke the true and euerlasting happines, so as we may haue a stedfast continuance of our state. But the woorde Rightuousnesse, ought also to be well marked. For if Abacucke had sayde, the wretched sinners shall liue by fayth: it would haue seemed that hee had spoken but to a fewe folke. For it wil well ynough bee graunted that wretched sinners shoulde flee for refuge vnto God: but as for those that excell in vertue, ought they not to be exempted from the common aray, and to be exalted too a higher degree at Gods hande, and finally too bee iustified by prerogatiue? Accordingly as we see nowadayes that although there bee nothing but al maner of filth in the Popish Ceremonies and Clergie as they tearme it, so as they ought to be abhorred both of God and man: yet notwithstanding, vnder colour of their Coules, and all other their trumperie, they ceasse not to chalenge God too bee greatly in their det. And besides this, when these dotardes haue made muche babling, and trotted and scudded vp and downe from altar too altar, and from Chappell to Chappell, and gadded on pilgrimage: to their seeming, God ought not to forget any of these doings, but all of it ought to passe for good payment in their account, besides an hundred thousande other Items which they haue too set downe before him.