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

God then cutteth off all occasion of grudging, when he telleth us that we shall not be disappointed of our wages for our well serving of him. Furthermore let every of us examine him self well, and he shall find that that is not the match whereby we must obtain salvation: for there is none of us all but he may condemn him self by his own life, if he judge without flattering. But after that God hath spoken after that fashion, he offereth us remedy in the Gospel, and telleth us that for as much as we be damned, and can not hope to attain any salvation by our works: he him self offered it us of his own free goodness, because it pleaseth him so to do. And for that cause S. Paul answereth, If the law had bin given to justify, I could well enough grant that righteousness should be given us by it. But let us see whether God meant that or no. It is certain he meant it not. Then sendeth he us to Gods purpose: as if he should say, that the Hypocrites which are so puffed up with pride & overweening, that they think they be able to justify them selves, & to win heaven, are il expounders of Gods law, yea & falsifiers thereof. For men must always have an eye to the intent of the speaker. Now God meant not to set men a gog with any trust in their own wit & deservings: for we be too much given to that of our own nature. We see it hath bin a common error through the whole world in all ages. Therefore we need no schooling to persuade us that we be able folk, & that we can bind God to us by our virtuous doings. But contrariwise God hath given us his law, to the intent we should be wounded with it as with a sword, & the stripe be so deadly as we might be constrained to flee to him for succour. Seeing then that Gods will it to slay us by the Law, it is not given us to make us righteous. And therefore they that seek their life & welfare there, beguile them selves: and there is no reason why they should allege for them selves, yea? how so? God hath promised me it. No, but they must consider to what end he saith so. Now we see how S. Paul hath discussed this question, that there is no contrariety between the Law & the Gospel, though God alter the manner of his speech at the first blush. Now he addeth afterward, That the Scripture hath shut up all •••der sin, that we might obtain the promise ⟨p. 164⟩by the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God then cutteth off all occasion of grudging, when he telleth vs that wee shall not be disappoynted of our wages for our wel seruing of him. Furthermore let euery of vs examine him selfe well, and he shal finde that that is not the match wherby we must obteyne saluation: for there is none of vs all but he may condemne him self by his own life, if he iudge without flattering. But after that God hath spoken after that fashiō, he offereth vs remedie in the Gospell, and telleth vs that for as much as we be damned, and can not hope to attayne any saluation by our works: he him selfe offered it vs of his own free goodnesse, bicause it pleaseth him so to doo. And for that cause S. Paule answereth, If the law had bin giuen to iustifie, I coulde wel inough graunt that righteousnesse should be giuen vs by it. But let vs see whether God ment that or no. It is certayne he ment it not. Then sendeth he vs to Gods purpose: as if he should say, that the Hypocrites which are so puffed vp with pride & ouerweening, that they think they be able to iustifie them selues, & to win heauen, are il expounders of Gods law, yea & falsifiers therof. For men must alwayes haue an eye to the intent of the speaker. Now God ment not to set men a gog with any trust in their own wit & deseruings: for we be too much giuen to that of our own nature. VVe see it hath bin a common error through the whole world in all ages. Therfore we nede no scholing to persuade vs that we be able folke, & that we can bind God to vs by our vertuous doings. But contrariwise God hath giuen vs his lawe, to the intent we should be wounded with it as with a sword, & the stripe be so deadly as we might be constrayned to flee to him for succor. Seeing then that Gods will it to slea vs by the Law, it is not giuen vs to make vs righteous. And therfore they that seeke their life & welfare there, beguile them selues: and there is no reason why they should alledge for thē selues, yea? how so? God hath promised me it. No, but they must consider to what end he saith so. Now we see how S. Paul hath discussed this question, that there is no contrarietie betweene the Law & the Gospel, though God alter the maner of his speech at the first blush. Now he addeth afterwarde, That the Scripture hath shut vp all der sinne, that we might obteyne the promise