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

Therefore let us learn, that it is only God which knitteth us to our Lord Jesus Christ, of his own mere goodness, & that he doth it by the secrete power of his holy spirit, and yet notwithstanding ceaseth not ⟨p. 173⟩too work by baptism as by an inferior instrument, according as we see how all light cometh of him, insomuch that there was light in the world, even before there was either Sun or Moon. And yet nevertheless God hath stablished the Sun whereby we have light here below even unto this day. But yet doth not the Sun serve too diminish the power that is in God alone. Again it is said that man liveth not by bread only,¹ but by every word that proceedeth out of Gods mouth. And in good sooth the bread it self is a dead thing. Who giveth it us? It is God that inspireth life into us: for we live in him as S. Paul sayeth in the .xvij. of the Acts.² And yet notwithstanding it is his will too do it by bread, and he applieth it daily too our use, too the intent we should be fed with it. So then there is none inconvenience that we should be clothed with our Lord Jesus Christ by baptism, and yet notwithstanding that the same should proceed of Gods mere grace, and that it should be done by the secrete working of the holy Ghost, surmounting the whole order of nature, whereof baptism doth certify us, because we be rude and earthly. God therefore is fain too draw by little and little by reason of our infirmity, too make us too conceive the things that otherwise are too high for us. For where are our wings too sty with above the heavens? We have much a do to creep here beneath upon the earth, and therefore God is fain too come down to us, which thing he doth by his Sacraments. Thus are we clothed with our Lord Jesus Christ by baptism, according also as S. Paul she weth by another similitude in the sixth to the Romans.³ For he sayeth that we be grafted into the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, too the end also to be made partakers of his resurrection and life. This similitude of grafting is as fit as the other of clothing.

Therfore let vs learne, that it is only God which knitteth vs to our Lord Iesus Christ, of his own mere goodnesse, & that he doth it by the secrete power of his holy spirit, and yet notwithstanding ceasseth not