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

For we know ⟨image 188⟩that the greatest number perisheth in their sins, because they refuse the remedy that is offered them in the Gospel. And why then doth Saint Paul speak of all? It is as much as if he should say, there is none other help for us but only Gods looking upon us with pity, of his own mere goodness, that pardoning our offences and receiving us into his favour, he take us for his children, too bring us to the heritage of the kingdom of heaven. We see then that Saint Paul did not without cause say that God will have mercy upon all: not that every man is comprehended under that word all, but to exclude and put away all selfrightuousnesse of man. Moreover we see how the mean is expressed here: namely that we must obtain the promise by faith,¹ according as Saint John saith that God so loved the world, that he spared not his only son, to the end that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have life everlasting. VVill we then enter into the treasure that is showed to us here? Faith must be as a key to open us the door. For God calleth us to it, but it is not enough for us too be called only: it behoveth us to answer according to this saying, you are my people:² yea Lord, and thou art our God. When he saith,³ you are my children: let us answer, Lord we come to thee as to our father. But surely we cannot answer so of our own proper motion: it must be given us of the holy Ghost. Howbeit the question is not here whither faith come of mens selves or no. Saint Paul doth no more but declare that to be quit before God, and to be drawn out of the dungeon of cursedness wherein we are all of us plunged, we must not bring any thing of our own, as though we would go about to bind God, and that it were meet for us too imagine any desert of our own: but come too crave his favour which is offered us freely without any duty to usward, and settle our trust there, so as we hope not for any welfare otherwise than because God showeth himself merciful towards us. I have declared already wherefore this serveth. Surely men would always fain cloak themselves with some presumptuousness, as we see that Adam did: who though his own sin upbraided him, so as he was afraid of Gods majesty, did nevertheless seek figleaves to cover himself withal. At the same point are we.