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

We must be thus minded in all our prayers and petitions, or else all is nothing worth. Again what Christianity is there in us if we have not Gods spirit, as sayeth Saint Paul in the .viij. to the Romans?¹ And for for the same cause also doth he say in the fifth Chapter, that we shall never be ashamed of our hope, because Gods love is shed into our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us. For if we have no hope, surely then are we banished out of Gods kingdom, and cannot be named Christians. And what manner of hope is it? It is (sayeth Saint Paul) that Gods love is shed into our hearts: that is too say, that we be fully settled and contented because we know our selves ⟨image 212⟩to be in Gods favour. And how know we that? By the spirit. And he setteth down purposely the word Shed,, too do us too wit, that Gods making of us too feel his fatherly goodness and love towards us, is not with a wet finger and away (as they say,) and then afterward too leave us hungry and needy: but that he sheddeth or poureth it out upon us, that is to say, that he giveth us a sufficient & full warrant that he acknowledgeth and avoweth us for his own, seeing he hath laid forth all the treasures of his mercy in our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, this must needs comes of Gods spirit,² according as it is said in the first to the Corinthians, that we do not now by our natural wit comprehend that God loveth us: for that passeth all the power of man. God then must be fain to lift us up above the world: for it lieth not in our own power to certify our selves of Gods love. Therefore the spirit giveth it us: that is to say, we have it not by nature, nor by inheritance, neither do we purchase it by our deserts: but God of his own mere goodness assureth us of it, to the intent we might resort unto him familiarly in all our needs. But contrariwise, the Papists after their own imagination, deem that we cannot be sure of Gods love. And these wretches are so blind, that they say it is presumption if we desire to have any certainty of it: yea [and so is it,] if we would have it of our selves. For if a man would upon his own conceit bear himself in hand that God is his father, he should be but a fantastical child, and a fool at all assays like one of these dizardes that gad up and down the streets, and play the Kings and Princes.