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

Another point is, that Saint Paul in so saying, giveth us an inkling that we be all of us utterly rejected of God, so as we cannot (no not even in this transitory life) enjoy any thing at all, but by the only mere grace of God. True it is that the Sun shineth as well upon the faithless as upon the faithful, and all men are nourished alike with the things that God giveth and granteth unto them: but yet howsoever they fare, the unbelievers possess not any thing by just title. They are but thieves, and must yield account of the benefits and goods which they have received of God, even too the last drop of water, because they were not sanctified, but defiled them as much as in them lay, because they had no faith, which (as sayeth Saint Paul) is the thing whereby the benefits that God giveth unto us are made clean.¹ That is the way for us too use them lawfully: but let faith be away, and there shall be nothing else but uncleanness. For why, if my hands be foul, and I handle the preciousest things in the world with them, they shall be rayed with the filthiness of my hands. Even so is it when we abuse Gods benefits. The unbelief that is in us defileth all: and in the end, all creatures must cry out for vengeance upon us, because we abused them if we possessed them not with faith.

Another poynt is, that Sainct Paule in so saying, giueth vs an incling that wee bee all of vs vtterly reiected of God, so as wee cannot (no not euen in this transitorie lyfe) inioy any thing at all, but by the onely meere grace of God. True it is that the Sunne shyneth as well vppon the faythlesse as vppon the faithfull, and all men are nurrished alike with the things that God giueth and graunteth vnto them: but yet howsoeuer they fare, the vnbeleeuers possesse not any thing by iust tytle. They are but theeues, and muste yeelde account of the benefites and goodes whiche they haue receyued of God, euen too the last droppe of water, bycause they were not sanctified, but defiled them asmuche as in them lay, bycause they had no fayth, whiche (as sayeth Sainct Paule) is the thing whereby the benefites that God giueth vntoo vs are made cleane.¹ That is the way for vs too vse them lawfully: but lette fayth bee away, and there shall be nothing else but vnclennesse. For why, if my handes be foule, and I handle the preciousest things in the worlde with them, they shall bee rayed with the filthinesse of my handes. Euen so is it when wee abuse Gods benefites. The vnbeliefe that is in vs defileth all: and in the ende, all creatures muste crie out for vengeance vppon vs, bycause wee abused them if we possessed them not with faith.