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

Paul saith that they be already as good as men grown, & that God will not hold them any longer as children under a master, or as under tutors & governors. And in another […] he saith, that not only such as are weak ⟨p. 180⟩and ignorant, but even the excellentest sort, which ought to carry the torch before others to give them light, must grow still. And how long? Not for a year or two, but all their life time: so that as long as they live in this world, they must daily acknowledge themselves to be weak still, & that they have need to enforce and strain themselves to go forwarder and forwarder. But all this agreeth very well together. For if every man examine himself what he is, surely even the forwardest of all, shall find themselves to be still as little children. For although we endeavour to come unto God, yet we drag our legs after us: and howsoever we be disposed of ourselves, a number of hinderances step before us, & every little straw stoppeth us: or else if a fly do but cross our eyes, byandby we be ready to turn away. And although we had never so great courage in us, yet have we many vices to fight against, & our knowledge is not such but we have need to pray God daily to increase our faith, and correct the remnant of unbelief that is in us. Thus ye see what every man shall find on his own behalf. But if we look upon the fashion that God keepeth in guiding & governing his Church: it is certain that we be fully men grown. And why? For we be no more held in so strait subjection of the law as the fathers were: but forasmuch as we have our Lord Jesus Christ, we resort unto him, when we have sinned. We see well enough how we be berayed with spots & blots before God: but yet is our washing ready at hand, insomuch that by being dipped in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ by faith through the working of the holy Ghost, we become pure & clean, & God accepteth us into favour. Again we be bound to everlasting death by reason of the faults that we commit daily against him: but yet the amends for them is to be found in our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is ordained the ransom to discharge us. Ye see then that we be no more under the bridle whereto the fathers were subject, namely in respect of God and of his governing of us. Therefore although we feel our own infirmities, yet doth not that bar us from being men grown:

Paul sayth that they be already as good as men growen, & that God wil not hold them any lōger as children vnder a maister, or as vnder tutors & gouerners. And in another 〈…〉 he saith, that not only suche as are weake