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

Then if God be our enemy, we can not come to him to hope for any favour or grace at his hand, except Jesus Christ be as a mean to reconcile us again. Thus ye see that the fathers of all ages preached not unto God, but by the guiding of the mediator. And that is the cause why S. Paul in this text saith, that the covenant was made too Jesus Christ. Truly Jesus Christ had no need of any of the promises that were made to the fathers of old time, and are continued still by God even unto this day towards us: but yet did he receive them as head of the Church. So we see that God had not an eye simply unto Abraham, nor too the worthiness that was in him, but that Abraham was a member of the Church, whereof Jesus Christ was always the head.¹ Also when God chose David too be King, and told him that his seat should endure as long as the Sun and the Moon in the sky: it was not for any worthiness that was in Davids own person, but it was all done in respect of our Lord Jesus Christ. And likewise at this day, when God telleth us that he will be favourable too us if we seek him, yea and that he will have us come boldly unto him: it is not in any other respect than for that our Lord Jesus Christ hath gathered us together to be of his body. And this serveth us too two purposes. The one is too bring us to humility. For if every of us mark well what he is: we be Gods enemies. By reason whereof the gate is shut against us, so as we can not hope for any favour at his hand, but rather feel and conceive him too be our judge, always ready too thunder down upon our heads, and too overwhelm us. Therefore whereas it is said that the promises are made unto us by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ: we must shrink down our heads, ⟨image 174⟩and acknowledge that Gods only begotten son is his only darling, and that the favour which we have is only in him [and for his sake.] Let that serve for the one point. The other is, that the promises have so much the more certainty in that respect. For if such troubles as these do come in our minds [so as we think with our selves] what art thou? thinkest thou that God vouchsafeth too stoop down unto thee? Thou art but a worm of the earth, dust, cinder, and rottenness.

Then if God be our enimie, we can not come to him to hope for any fauour or grace at his hande, excepte Iesus Christ be as a meane to reconcile vs agayne. Thus yee see that the fathers of all ages preaced not vnto God, but by the guyding of the mediator. And that is the cause why S. Paule in this texte sayth, that the couenant was made too Iesus Christe. Truely Iesus Christ had no neede of any of the promises that were made to the fathers of olde time, and are continued still by God euen vnto this day towards vs: but yet did he receyue them as head of the Churche. So wee see that God had not an eye simply vnto Abraham, nor too the worthinesse that was in him, but that Abraham was a member of the Churche, whereof Iesus Christ was alwayes the head.