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

He speaketh too such as commended them selves, believing that they had some virtue or excellency in them, as in very deed the Corinthians had such spiritual gifts as might be had in estimation among men. S. Paul granteth well enough that they had great graces, and worthy of estimation: but he asketh them from whence all of them came, whether they were of their own getting, or whether they were able too take them of them selves? It is very certain that they were not. Wherefore let us learn, that it is not enough for us to have Gods word preached too us, except God work in us by his holy spirit, according as experience showeth in that it is not given too all men. And moreover there was never yet any man that bethought him self too seek the good food, except it were offered him of God. Therefore away with all the fond imaginations of our own head, and let us put away all pride: let us not think our selves wiser than other men, because we have known the Gospel: but let us yield this praise unto God, namely that at such time as we turned our backs upon him, and were as good as drowned a hundred thousand times in destruction, he caste his eye upon us, and drew us back too him self, too the end that when it is told us that we be justified by faith, and thereby obtain salvation: we should assure our selves that the same cometh of his ••re grace, and that our faith is •reely ⟨p. 196⟩given us because we can not purchase it: and let us confess with poor Hagar,¹ that we have seen him that looked upon us afore. For there we have a mirror of all mankind. The said poor woman was in great heaviness, forsaken of all men, and wist not whither too go: but God pitied her and visited her, in the wilderness. Hereupon she confesseth that God had looked upon her before she had thought upon him. So then let us be held in awe and humility, seeing that the wellspring and beginning of our welfare is that God knew us and marked us out at such time as we cared not for him, but besides our ignorance, did also despise him, and were so brutish, that every of us had sought his own ruin and destruction, if he of his own infinite goodness had not held us back. Thus ye see in effect what we have to mark. But now let us put the thing in practise that is told us here:

He speaketh too suche as commended them selues, beleeuing that they had some vertue or excellencie in them, as in very deede the Corinthians had suche spirituall giftes as might bee had in estimation among men. S. Paule graunteth well inough that they had great graces, and worthy of estimation: but he asketh them from whence all of them came, whether they were of their owne getting, or whether they were able too take them of them selues? It is very certayne that they were not. VVherefore let vs learne, that it is not inough for vs to haue Gods worde preached too vs, excepte God worke in vs by his holy spirite, according as experience sheweth in that it is not giuen too all men. And moreouer there was neuer yet any man that bethought him selfe too seeke the good foode, except it were offered him of God. Therefore away with all the fonde imaginations of our owne head, and let vs put away all pride: let vs not thinke our selues wyser than other men, bicause wee haue knowen the Gospell: but let vs yeelde this prayse vnto God, namely that at suche time as wee turned our backes vpon him, and were as good as drowned a hundred thousande tymes in destruction, he caste hys eye vppon vs, and drewe vs backe too him selfe, too the ende that when it is tolde vs that wee bee iustified by fayth, and thereby obteyne saluation: wee should assure our selues that the same commeth of his re grace, and that our fayth is reely