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

Now could Abraham never have trusted too that which was spoken too him, if he had not bin armed with heavenly power, for he himself could not enjoy the benefit that was offered him, neither should his children enjoy it that were too come. Ye see then that two thousand and four hundred years were then to pass,¹ and yet notwithstanding Abraham repented him not that he had forsaken his fathers house, (as the Apostle declareth in the eleventh too the Hebrews) but held on his race still, albeit that God intended too try his patience too the uttermost. Of much more reason ought we now adays too go on steadfastly whither soever God calleth us, and too hold up our heads till we come too the crown of glory, not withstanding that as now it be hidden from us, and that we must be fain too believe and hope for things that surmount all our capacity and which we cannot perceive. Thus ye see how we ought too put this text in ure. Now hereupon S. Paul concludeth, that if the inheritance come by the law, it shall not come by faith. But God gave Abraham all things in respect of faith: and therefore it is too be concluded, that the Law must needs cease when men go about to get favour at Gods hand, and the praise of our salvation must be yielded all wholly unto him. S. Paul in speaking here of inheritance, meaneth two things. The one is that what soever God hath at any time promised us, is of his own mere free goodness: for an inheritance is not a wages or hire. True it is that a father in giving his children their heritage may well say, See how I take pains for you. Mark what shall come of it. Ye shall have my goods among you. But yet how soever the father deal with them, he hath none other respect than too his own kinship. He laboureth and taketh great pains too provide for such as are so allied unto him. Seeing then that heritages are ⟨image 176⟩things of free gift among men: we must not take eternal life as a deserved wages or hire at Gods hand. For why, it is an heritage. Mark it for a sure ground, that here all worthiness of men is excluded. For when a man makes his children his heirs, he passeth not whither they have done any great work or no, or whither they be fair or foul, or whither they be one thing or other: but it is enough for him that they be his children, and that his mind is too provide for them.

Nowe coulde Abraham neuer haue trusted too that which was spoken too him, if he had not bin armed with heauenly power, for he himselfe could not inioy the benefite that was offered him, nother should his children inioy it that were too come. Yee see then that two thousand and foure hundred yeeres were then to passe,