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

Howbeit, ⟨p. 166⟩it is but a beguiling of ourselves too come before God, like whytelimed walls, and to think to be accepted at his hand: for he hath an eye to the soundness of the hart, which is not to be found in any man. For so long as he letteth us alone in our own kind, we be naughtworth, how fair a show soever we make too the worldward. Again, when he hath reformed us, and given us a good desire too walk in his fear, which thing all the faithful must needs have: it doth not follow therefore, that our affection is full and perfect: no, it cometh far short of it. And yet, that which we have, we hold of his mere grace. So have we not any thing to glory of or to rest upon howsoever the world go: we cannot ground ourselves upon our own deservings. True it is that the faithful must seek to give themselves wholly unto God: for we cannot be members of our Lord Jesus Christ, except we be sanctified by his holy spirit, as we shall see in time and place hereafter. And our Lord Jesus Christ cannot be divided nor cut in pieces as infinite as he is. Although our sins be forgiven us by his death and passion, and washed away and cleansed by his blood, and that the same washing be given us to fashion again the image of God his father in us, so that we must be made new creatures in him: yet notwithstanding howsoever we fare, it is not for us too press boldly before God, as though we were worthy to be received, or as though we brought him any thing wherewith to bind him. For if we presume to allege one thing or other to him, first and foremost all that we have cometh of him. Again on the otherside we be convicted of a hundred thousand faults, and when we go about any good work, we shall no sooner have done it, but it shall be infected with some spot or other, so that if it be tried rigorously, it shall always be subject to condemnation. Then must we needs keep our mouths shut: so that if we will have God favourable and merciful to us, we must bring nothing with us but only faith, no, but only faith. Nevertheless it is not meant that every man should take the bridle in his neck too do evil (as I have declared already heretofore:) it is not meant that we should be void of God's spirit, nor that we should welter in all wickedness:

Howbeit, ⟨p. 166⟩it is but a beguiling of ourselues too come before God, lyke whytelimed walles, and to thinke to be accepted at his hand: for he hath an eye to the soundnesse of the hart, which is not to be found in any man. For so long as he letteth vs alone in our owne kinde, wee bee naughtworth, how fayre a show soeuer wee make too the worldward. Againe, when he hath reformed vs, and giuen vs a good desire too walke in his feare, whiche thyng all the faithfull must needes haue: it doth not follow therefore, that our affection is full and perfect: no, it commeth farre short of it. And yet, that which we haue, we hold of his meere grace. So haue we not any thing to glory of or to rest vpon howsoeuer the world go: wee cannot ground ourselues vpon our owne deseruings. True it is that the faythfull must seeke to gyue themselues wholly vnto God: for wee cannot bee members of our Lord Iesus Christ, except wee be sanctifyed by hys holy spirite, as wee shall see in tyme and place hereafter. And our Lorde Iesus Christ cannot be deuided nor cut in peeces as infinite as he is. Although our sinnes bee forgiuen vs by hys death and passion, and washed away and clenzed by hys bloud, and that the same washing be gyuen vs to fashion agayne the image of God hys father in vs, so that we must bee made new creatures in hym: yet notwithstanding howsoeuer we fare, it is not for vs too preace boldly before God, as though we were worthy to be receyued, or as though wee brought him any thing wherewith to binde him. For if we presume to alleadge one thing or other to him, first and formost all that we haue commeth of him. Agayne on the otherside we be conuicted of a hundred thousand faultes, and when we go about any good worke, we shall no sooner haue done it, but it shall be infected with some spot or other, so that if it bee tried rigorously, it shall always be subiect to condemnation. Then must we needes keepe our mouthes shut: so that if wee will haue God fauorable and mercifull to vs, we must bring nothing with vs but onely fayth, no, but only fayth. Neuerthelesse it is not meant that euery man shoulde take the bridle in his necke too do euill (as I haue declared already heeretofore:) it is not meant that wee shoulde bee voyde of Goddes spirite, nor that wee shoulde welter in all wickednesse: