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

except God make us his heirs, and that must be done all only for our Lord Jesus Christs sake. And therefore we must once again call to remembrance how we have heretofore seen, that the promise was made too Jesus Christ. Then is not Abraham the stay and shoot anchor thereof.¹ And for that cause also is our Lord Jesus named the heir of all things: and look what he hath peculiar too himself, that doth he communicate too us, as too the members of his body. ⟨image 177⟩In that respect also doth S. Paul say,² that the saying which is written in the seventh verse of the eight Psalm, (which is, that he is made Lord of all things) ought too be applied first of all to his person. True it is that the said text is spoken of all men, according as we see how God hath put all beasts of the earth in subjection to man, so as they be fain too die too give us sustenance, and too clothe us and keep us warm. Again, we see how the earth yieldeth us fruits. Therefore the lordship of the world is given unto us, how beit, that is but by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ. For (as I have touched already) if we be separated from him, we be forthwith so cut of from Gods house, that the inheritance of them belongeth no more unto us, than too the furthest strangers in the world. But now let us come too the chief point that is contained here. S. Paul sayeth, that this heritage cometh not of the Law, but of Faith. Whereas he useth these two speeches, and coupleth them together: they be things flat contrary as I have told you heretofore. Not that the law is contrary too faith: but because that too be justified before God, and too obtain favour and mercy at his hand, cannot come too pass by the Law. The Law was not given too that end, (as we shall see in the next Sermon) but too the clean contrary. So then, seeing that the heritage cometh by faith: we must conclude that our works can do nothing, and that we must be fain too come to God utterly empty, as poor beggars too crave too be filled by him, because we have not one drop of goodness in our selves. Ye see then whereat S. Paul aimeth, when he sayeth that the inheritance cometh of faith and not of the law, according also as God gave it unto Abraham in respect of faith. And let us mark, that if we be not able too deserve any nourishment in this world: