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

behold, he is but a lost child: and so they will conclude that there is not one drop of good knowledge in them. But if God call them again, as there are many such examples to be seen: a man shall find that the thing which was as good as choked & overwhelmed before, sprouteth again, like as if dung were cast upon a well tilled ground, or as if dust and such other things were strewed upon it, that which is underneath it should lye hid for a time, but afterward it would shoot up again. This in effect is the thing that Saint Paul meant to tell us here. But by the we way we have to mark, that whereas he saith that Jesus Christ shall be fashioned in them new again it is meant conditionally that they return under his obeisance. Surely this saying might seem somewhat harsh at the first sight: for we be rather fashioned in Jesus Christ, than he in us. For proof whereof, behold, Jesus Christ is our full and whole perfection. Now, too say that he is nourished in us as a little babe, or that he groweth or ⟨p. 212⟩is furthered: is not seemly for his person. Nevertheless Saint Paul saith so: howbeit, that is but too show the union that is betwixt us and Jesus Christ our head. Although then that Jesus Christ can neither increase nor diminish in himself: yet doth he take all our faults and infirmities upon him. I have told you already that we are then borne in him, when we be called too the hope of salvation by the doctrine of the Gospel: for we be all dead and damned in Adam. There is but one mean of life, which is, to be made one with our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the fountain that hath all fullness in it, and whereout of it behoveth us too draw. Then we are borne in Jesus Christ (as I said afore:) so doth he suckle us with the doctrine of his Gospel, till we be able too receive perfecter learning, and till our faith be so far forward, that we resemble little babes no more, but increase still in profiting more and more, till we be come to mans age, as Saint Paul saith in the fourth to the Ephesians. Furthermore to the end we may know that our Lord Jesus Christ intendeth not to be separated from us, but that he and we be all one: he saith that he taketh our faults upon him, and becometh as a little babe in us. How so? Can Jesus Christ be weak? No, not in respect of himself:

behold, he is but a lost child: and so they will conclude that there is not one drop of good knowledge in them. But if God call them agayne, as there are many such examples to be seene: a man shall find that the thing which was as good as choked & ouerwhelmed before, sprouteth againe, like as if dung were cast vpon a well tilled grounde, or as if dust and such other things were strowed vpon it, that which is vnderneath it shoulde lye hid for a time, but afterward it woulde shoote vp againe. This in effect is the thing that Sainct Paule ment to tell vs heere. But by the we way we haue to marke, that whereas hee saith that Iesus Christ shall be fashioned in them new agayne it is meant condicionally that they returne vnder his obeysance. Surely thys saying might seeme somewhat harsh at the first sight: for we be rather fashioned in Iesus Christ, than he in vs. For proofe whereof, beholde, Iesus Christ is our full and whole perfection. Now, too say that he is nurrished in vs as a little babe, or that he groweth or