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

To be short, Saint Paul meant to show here the union that is between our Lord Jesus Christ and all the faithful, which are the members of his body. And like as all the substance of a tree cometh from the root, and all the powers and abilities of a natural body come from the head: even so is it between the son of God and us. For (as I have said already) we have not so much as one drop of the heavenly life, but of his inspiring or breathing into us. Therefore if we will come unto God, and be partakers of the holy Ghost, and of the gifts that belong to the endless life: let us be in Jesus Christ, and not think our selves to be any thing or aught worth of our selves. And for the same cause, our Lord Jesus Christ in the said text which I alleged out of the xvij. of S. John, setting out the true and perfect happiness of his, faith: Father I pray thee that they may be made one with us. Ye see then that the way for us to get out of the dungeon of death wherein we were drowned, is to be united to our Lord Jesus Christ by the bond of faith. Now S. Paul saith, that that is done in Baptism. Not that all they which are baptized are true members of Jesus Christ in deed: for we see the clean contrary, insomuch that there are some which unhallow and defile all the holiness of Baptism, and are guilty of high treason too God, because that whereas they profess to hold of Jesus Christ, they despise and spite him, and are as dung and filthiness too mar all things. Baptism then maketh us not all Christians, and again we know, that too be made the child of God, is too great a benefit to be fathered upon a corruptible Element. What is the water? Too say that the water begetteth or regenerateth us again, and that thereby we be delivered from death, and obtain the glory wherein God lifteth us up too himself: as (say I) a perverting of all order.

To be short, Saint Paule ment to shew here the vnion that is betwene our Lord Iesus Christ and all the faythfull, which are the members of his body. And like as all the substance of a tree commeth from the root, and al the powers and abilities of a natural bodie come from the head: euen so is it betwene the sonne of God and vs. For (as I haue sayd alredy) we haue not so much as one drop of the heauenly life, but of his inspyring or breathing into vs. Therefore if we will come vnto God, and be partakers of the holy Ghost, and of the giftes that belong to the endlesse life: let vs be in Iesus Christ, and not thinke our selues to be any thing or aught worth of our selues. And for the same cause, our Lorde Iesus Christ in the sayd text which I alledged out of the xvij. of S. Iohn, setting out the true and perfect happinesse of his, fayeth: Father I pray thee that they may bee made one with vs. Ye see then that the way for vs to get out of the dungeon of death wherein we were drowned, is to be vnited to our Lord Iesus Christ by the bond of fayth. Now S. Paule sayth, that that is done in Baptisme. Not that all they which are baptized are true members of Iesus Christ in deede: for we see the cleane contrarie, insomuch that there are some which vnhallow and defile all the holinesse of Baptisme, and are giltie of high treason too God, bicause that whereas they professe to holde of Iesus Christ, they despyze and spyte him, and are as dung and filthinesse too marre all things. Baptisme then maketh vs not all Christians, and againe wee knowe, that too bee made the childe of God, is too great a benefite to bee fathered vppon a corruptible Element. VVhat is the water? Too say that the water begetteth or regenerateth vs againe, and that thereby we be deliuered from death, and obteyne the glorie wherein God lyfteth vs vp too himselfe: as (say I) a peruerting of all order.