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

We have seen already, that if we hope not to be saved by some other means than by discharging our duty, we should all of us be accursed, because we be all guilty before God [in that we are found] too have transgressed and done amiss many ways. For there was never yet any of the holiest men so perfect, but that there was always some blemish, yea and store of infirmities in him. Therefore it is to be concluded, that if God should call us too account, we should be all damned and forlorn. Lo in what plight men be, though they set never so much store by themselves. But now it standeth us on hand, too have some means too scape this cursedness. Else what shall it avail us to have our ears beaten daily with Gods word? For his will shall serve but to plunge us still deeper in eternal death. To the end therefore that Gods word may be profitable too us and available to our salvation: it lieth us upon to get us out of the said sentence of damnation, which is given and proclaimed upon all mankind. And Saint Paul showeth us here the mean, namely that Christ hath redeemed us, even by becoming accursed for us. He showeth us that our Lord Jesus Christ was not hanged upon tree in vain: for he was fain too bear the cursedness of all such as were too be called, too salvation. Ye see we are all accursed, as I have declared already: and therefore was our Lord fain too receive in his person, the thing that was due unto us. Now it was written in the Law of Moses, ⟨p. 142⟩Cursed shall he be hangeth on tree. ¹When our Lord commandeth the body too be taken down, he addeth that it is a cursed sight too behold a man so disfigured, [and therefore] let it be taken down, sayeth he. And at such time as God pronounced the said sentence, that he which should be hanged on tree should be as it were accursed and banned: he knew well enough what he had determined of his own only Sonne. For our Lord Jesus Christ suffered not that kind of death by chance, nor at mans pleasure or appointment.² It is true that the unbelievers crucified him: but that was because God had so ordained it by his own purpose, according as it is said,³ that God so loved the world, that he spared not his only begotten Son, but delivered him too death for us.