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 if it be alleged that the promise might have served that turn afore: the answer and solution is very easy. For although God in offering himself to be our Saviour, do thereby show that we be all damned in our selves till he have pity upon us: yet can we not be helped as were requisite, until such time as he scare us. By his promise he calleth us gently, and after a fatherly manner: and no doubt but the same ought to make us perceive our miseries, and to be sorry for them: but we be so fast asleep in our sins, that we never think on them, except we be compelled. Although then that upon Gods making of the promise, men had cause to lament their sins, to the end they might rest themselves wholly upon the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: yet did they it not, till God had stricken them as it had bin with many blows of a Beetle upon the head, which thing he did by the Law. Moreover Saint Paul showeth, that we abuse the gentleness of our God through our unthankfulness, because that the more courteous he showeth himself towards us, the more occasion do we take thereby too flatter our selves. Therefore he must be fain too rouse us up, and to make us feel what we be, thereby too scare us and drive us too seek his favour in good earnest. Thus ye see what the word Added importeth. It is all one if Saint Paul should blame us for that we make not our profit of Gods goodness, seeing he allureth us so gently unto him, and showeth himself as mild as may be: but grieve him, and after a sort enforce him too use rigour against us, too beat us down by that means, and so to prepare us too the seeking of his grace, the which we shall find in our Lord Jesus Christ whensoever we list. And heerewythall Saint Paul addeth, that the Law served but till the seed came to whom the promise was made.

Nowe if it be alledged that the promise might haue serued that turne afore: the answere and solution is verie easie. For although God in offering himselfe to be our Sauiour, do thereby shewe that we bee all damned in our selues till he haue pitie vpon vs: yet can we not be helped as were requisite, vntill suche tyme as hee scare vs. By hys promyse hee calleth vs gently, and after a fatherly maner: and no doubt but the same ought to make vs perceyue our miseryes, and to bee sorie for them: but we bee so fast asleepe in our sinnes, that we neuer thinke on them, except we be compelled. Although then that vpon Gods making of the promise, men had cause to lament their sinnes, to the end they might rest themselues wholy vppon the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ: yet did they it not, till God had striken them as it had bin with many blowes of a Beetle vpon the heade, which thing he did by the Lawe. Moreouer Saint Paule sheweth, that we abuse the gentlenesse of our God through our vnthankfulnesse, bycause that the more curteous hee sheweth himselfe towardes vs, the more occasion do we take thereby too flatter our selues. Therefore hee must bee fayne too rouze vs vp, and to make vs feele what we bee, thereby too scare vs and driue vs too seeke his fauour in good earnest. Thus yee see what the woorde Added importeth. It is all one if Saint Paule shoulde blame vs for that wee make not oure profite of Gods goodnesse, seeyng hee allureth vs so gently vntoo him, and sheweth himselfe as meelde as may bee: but greeue him, and after a sort inforce hym too vse rygour agaynst vs, too beate vs downe by that meanes, and so to prepare vs too the seeking of hys grace, the which wee shall finde in oure Lorde Iesus Christ whensoeuer wee lyst. And heerewythall Saint Paule addeth, that the Lawe serued but till the seede came to whome the promise was made.