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 whereas God promiseth salvation in his Law: it is upon condition that men serve him and do their duty towards him. But that is not done: and therefore are we shut out from all hope of salvation as in respect of the Law, not that God is not faithful on his side, but because we keep not touch with him in performing that which he requireth. It is all one as if a man should say, I am ready to sell you this thing, so you bring me money. Now if a man bring neither money nor moneys worth, he can not be put in possession of the thing [that he would have]: for the condition is that he must first pay for it. So then, God promiseth us the heritage of salvation, when we shall have served him: but we be never the better for it, because it is but upon condition that we perform that which he requireth of us, and we be fraughted with all iniquity, and have not any thing in us but uncleanness and filth, insomuch that we be justly odious unto him. And so are we all condemned in the law: howbeit God receiveth us of his free goodness in our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom he offereth us the forgiveness of our sins, and will have us so too embrace his offered goodness, as we should hold our selves wholly to our Lord Jesus Christ, and utterly ⟨p. 145⟩renounce ourselves. But now (saith Saint Paul) let us see whither went before other in antiquity: the free promise of salvation, or the law. We know the diversity that is betwixt them. Then if the law were the ancienter, it might seem that that ought to be sticked too, because God doth never unsay his words neither is variable. But if the free promise were the elder, and were made before the law was published: it is to be concluded, that God repented him not, ne called back his promise at that time, ne meant to disannul the said covenant: for it were too great a diminishing of his bounty and mercy, if we should say that he had first bound himself of his own free goodness, and promised men salvation without their desert: and afterward intended to restrain it, as though he meant to enrich himself with our good works. It were an auk thing too talk after that fashion. For Saint Paul showeth that the free promise was given afore the law: and therefore it followeth that the law came not in to diminish or alter any whit of it, but that it continueth still in his own fullness, nature, and force.

For whereas God promiseth saluation in his Lawe: it is vpon condition that men serue him and doo their duetie towards him. But that is not done: and therefore are wee shet out from all hope of saluation as in respect of the Law, not that God is not faithfull on his side, but bycause wee keepe not touche with him in performing that which he requireth. It is all one as if a man should say, I am ready to sell you this thing, so you bring mee monie. Now if a man bring nother monie nor moneys woorth, he can not bee put in possession of the thing [that he would haue]: for the condition is that he must first pay for it. So then, God promiseth vs the heritage of saluation, when wee shall haue serued him: but wee be neuer the better for it, bycause it is but vpon condicion that we performe that which he requireth of vs, and wee bee fraughted with all iniquitie, and haue not any thing in vs but vncleannesse and filth, in somuche that wee bee iustly odious vnto him. And so are wee all condemned in the lawe: howbeit God receyueth vs of his free goodnesse in our Lord Iesus Christ, in whom he offereth vs the forgiuenesse of our sinnes, and will haue vs so too imbrace his offered goodnesse, as wee should hold our selues wholly to our Lord Iesus Christ, and vtterly