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

Moreover thou hast a Sea of vices in thee, and therefore what a presumptuousness were it for thee to think thy self to be one of Gods children, till he come to seek thee? If we be tempted after this manner to distrust, let us bethink us of that which is spoken to us in this text: that is to wit, that the promise was made on the behalf of Jesus Christ. Although then that there be nothing in us but all wretchedness, yet it ought to suffice us that there is worthiness, power, and righteousness enough in the son of God, and that he also is the person in whom we receive the promises. Now remaineth for us too know, by what means we come unto God: namely by the [promised] seed, which is but only one, as S. Paul addeth: For if men turn never so little from our Lord Jesus Christ, by and by they be cut off from the kingdom of heaven. And if this was spoken too beat down the pride and false presumption that was among the fleshly children of Abraham: what is to be said to us, which are but afterbirths borne out of time in comparison of them, as S. Paul termeth us in the tenth to the Romans? Wherefore let us understand that all such as content not them selves with our Lord Jesus Christ, do utterly renounce all hope of their salvation. For there are not two or three, but only one Mediator (saith S. Paul) like as it is not said, that there is any more than one seed. I have told you already, that many come of Abraham's linage, which yet notwithstanding were not heirs of the promise. Then if we come not to Jesus Christ to be gathered unto him: surely God disclaimeth us, and telleth us that we be none of his, and that he will have none acquaintance at all with us. Therefore although the world go astray to be tossed too and and fro, according as we see how on the one side the Papists have infinite means to come unto God, & likewise ⟨p. 152⟩on the other side the Turks and the Jews, all which have quite forsaken our Lord Jesus Christ: yet let us lean wholly unto him, and assure our selves that if we be once ingrafted into his body by faith, and made one with him, the promises belong unto us. Why so? For they were given unto him, not for his own commodity, as I have said already (for he had no need of them) but for our behoof that we might be made partakers of them. Thus ye see in effect how we ought to make our profit of this text.

Moreouer thou hast a Sea of vices in thee, and therfore what a presumptuousnesse were it for thee to thinke thy selfe to be one of Gods children, till he come to seeke thee? If wee bee tempted after this maner to distrust, let vs bethinke vs of that which is spoken to vs in this text: that is to wit, that the promise was made on the behalfe of Iesus Christ. Although then that there be nothing in vs but all wretchednesse, yet it ought to suffise vs that there is worthinesse, power, and righteousnesse inoughe in the sonne of God, and that he also is the person in whome wee receiue the promises. Nowe remayneth for vs too knowe, by what meanes wee come vnto God: namely by the [promised] seede, which is but only one, as S. Paule addeth: For if men turne neuer so little from our Lorde Iesus Christ, by and by they be cut off frō the kingdome of heauen. And if this was spoken too beate downe the pride and false presumption that was among the fleshly children of Abraham: what is to be sayde to vs, whiche are but afterbirthes borne out of time in comparison of them, as S. Paule termeth vs in the tenth to the Romanes? VVherefore let vs vnderstande that all such as content not them selues with our Lorde Iesus Christ, do vtterly renounce al hope of their saluation. For there are not two or three, but onely one Mediator (sayth S. Paule) like as it is not sayde, that there is any more than one seede. I haue told you alreadie, that many come of Abrahams linage, which yet notwithstanding were not heires of the promise. Then if we come not to Iesus Christ to be gathered vnto him: surely God disclaymeth vs, and telleth vs that wee bee none of his, and that he will haue none acquayntance at all with vs. Therfore although the world go astray to be tossed too and aad fro, according as we see how on the one side the Papists haue infinite meanes to come vnto God, & lykewise