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 he yielded such obedience too God his father, that if we come grounded thereupon, we cannot but find favour at his hand. Thus ye see how that on the one side God will have us to rest upon him and on our Lord Jesus Christ his son, to the end we should draw out of the fullness of that fountain, and yield the whole praise of our salvation to the working of his holy spirit: and on the otherside giveth us baptism as a help of our rudeness and infirmity. Seeing we have all this, what seek we any more? Is it not a wilful robbing of God, if we will needs have other helps, and put too other opinions and fancies as they come in our heads? Whereto serveth all this? But such minglings are Devilish corruptions. Therefore S. Paul telleth us, that we must be so united too our Lord Jesus Christ, as none of us must advance himself as though he were better worth than his fellows, ⟨p. 176⟩but acknowledge our selves beholden too Gods mere grace for all things, and both great and small must endeavour the same together, and with one common consent confess, that in our Lord Jesus Christ they have all that is to be wished for, and therefore give over all the inventions and devices that can come in their own brain. Yet not withstanding, S. Paul meant not too say that there is no diversity of degrees as in respect of worldly policy. For we know there are masters and servants, Magistrates and subjects: in a household there is the good man which is the head, and the good wife which ought to be subject. We know then that this order is inviolable, and our Lord Jesus Christ is not come into the world to make such confusion as to abolish that which was stablished by God his father. But when S. Paul sayeth that there is neither master nor servant, man nor woman: he meaneth that too be sure of their salvation, men must not set up their tails like Peacocks, and stand gazing upon their own feathers: but look what worthiness so ever we ween too be in our selves, we must wipe it away and cast it under foot, and acknowledge all to be but hinderances that turn us aside from coming to our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore when both great and small do acknowledge that they cannot bring aught of themselves, but must receive all things of Gods only free goodness: Then is our Lord Jesus Christ himself alone is all in all in us:

For wee knowe he yeelded suche obedience too God his father, that if wee come grounded therevppon, we cannot but finde fauour at his hand. Thus yee see how that on the one side God wil haue vs to rest vpon him and on our Lord Iesus Christ his sonne, to the end we should draw out of the fulnesse of that foū tayne, and yeelde the whole prayse of our saluation to the woorking of his holy spirite: and on the otherside giueth vs baptisme as a help of our rudenesse and infirmitie. Seyng wee haue all this, what seeke we any more? Is it not a wilfull robbing of God, if wee will needes haue other helpes, and put too other opinions and fancies as they come in our heades? VVhereto serueth all this? But suche minglings are Diuelish corruptions. Therefore S. Paule telleth vs, that wee must be so vnited too our Lord Iesus Christ, as none of vs must aduaunce himself as though he were better worth than his fellowes,