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 on our side stick to the promise, that is to wit, that God having looked upon us with mercy, hath drawn us out of the dungeon of destruction wherein we were and by his Gospel told us, and assured us that he will be our father, and that an heritage tarrieth for us, which is purchased for us, not by our selves, or by any mortal creature, but by Jesus Christ, who being very God became ⟨p. 225⟩man, to the intent we might obtain the thing in him which is not to be found in all the world. Ye see then in effect that the end whereunto S. Pauls conclusion tendeth, is that if we mind to be well grounded in the doctrine of the Gospel, and to be sure of a good stud and anchorhold of our salvation, we must not intermeddle any opinion of our own deservings with it, nor surmise that we be able to bring any thing of our selves, but simply receive that which God offereth us, and suffer Jesus Christ to be our saviour wholly & not by halves. That is the thing whereunto the word promise tendeth, as I have declared more at large already. But the law had also his promises, howbeit with condition, as I have declared. The promise that S. Paul speaketh of presently, is the thing that abolisheth all mans pride, and disgraceth the men them selves, showing them that there is nothing in them but utter confusion, and that all their welfare lieth enclosed in our Lord Jesus Christ, so as we cannot come by it, nor enjoy it but by means of the Gospel. Now the Gospel telleth us that we must hold all of God, and do him homage for our salvation, because he giveth it us, and it is not a wages due unto us, that he should by any means be bound unto us. And hereupon S. Paul saith, that it is so even yet still at this day, according as Moses declareth under the figure which he did set forth this morning. For in Abraham's house (saith he) there was an elder some called Ismael, and he persecute •. Isaac which was the lawful son. Now then it behoveth us to be so handled and dealt withal, that such as have nothing but dissimulation & hypocrisy in them, which are but as bastardships, and which are utterly corrupt & become strangers, may nevertheless crake & boast their fill, & set up their bristles against us, as though we were unworthy to kiss their feet. Such manner of men then must perk up in all pride, and persecute us: but yet let us be constant saith S.

VVe on our side sticke to the promise, that is to wit, that God hauing looked vppon vs with mercie, hath drawne vs out of the dungeon of destruction wherein wee were and by his Gospell tolde vs, and assured vs that he will be our father, and that an heritage taryeth for vs, which is purchased for vs, not by our selues, or by any mortall creature, but by Iesus Christ, who being verie God became