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 have seen heretofore, that to have a state of continuance in the Church, we must be grounded upon our Lord Jesus Christ. For many do boast themselves to be Gods children, who notwithstanding are not begotten of the true seed, which maketh the difference whereby God avoweth and acknowledgeth us for his children. Therefore if we will be truly knit to our Lord Jesus Christ, we must hold fast the doctrine of the Gospel, that he as our head and mediator may join us to God his father. Therewithal I have declared that the cause why S. Paul speaketh so of bond & free seed, is for that they which seek their righteousness in their own virtues, do alienate themselves from our lord Jesus Christ, & from his grace. For by that means they bind themselves to an impossibility, that is to say, to satisfy God in keeping his commandments. But there is such weakness in us, as none of us is able to perform the least point of the law: and therefore much less can we attain to the perfection that is showed us here. And for that cause S. Paul concludeth now▪ that we must stand fast in the freedom which our Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased for us. It is certain that he treateth here of the ceremonies of the law: but yet must we always resort to the wellhead and chief point. For if the matter concerned no further than the keeping of a holiday, or the forbearing of some kind of meat: it were not of so great weigh•, that such strife should be moved ⟨p. 229⟩for it in the Church. But Saint Paul pored not upon a matter so slight and of so small importance. He had an eye to the doctrine: he considered that if men should be tide to do this thing or that thing of necessity: it were an excluding of them from the hope of salvation. For if I must needs perform a thing under pain of deadly sin: then if I fail, I am become a transgressor, and there is no shift for me because God is my judge, and I must be fain to come too account, and there is no means to redeem me. Now it is certain that all of us are subject to the keeping of the law: but yet notwithstanding, there is a remedy for it, which is to run unto our Lord Jesus Christ in all our needs, who was made subject to the law to purchase us freedom, and bare our curse to discharge us of it. Now if any necessity be laid upon us again, too say that the doing of this or that is sin:

WE haue seene heeretofore, that to haue a state of continuance in the Churche, wee muste bee grounded vpon our Lord Iesus Christ. For many doo boast themselues to be Gods children, who notwithstanding are not begotten of the true seede, which maketh the differēce wherby God auoweth and acknowledgeth vs for his children. Therfore if we wil be truly knit to our Lord Iesus Christ, we must hold fast the doctrine of the Gospell, that he as our heade and mediator may ioyne vs to God his father. Therwithall I haue declared that the cause why S. Paul speaketh so of bōd & free seed, is for that they which seeke their righteousnesse in their owne vertues, do alienate thēselues frō our lord Iesus Christ, & frō his grace. For by that meanes they bind thēselues to an impossibilitie, that is to say, to satisfie God in keeping his cōmaundements. But there is such weaknes in vs, as none of vs is able to perform the least point of the law: and therfore much lesse can we attaine to the perfectiō that is shewed vs heere. And for that cause S. Paul cōcludeth now that we must stand fast in the freedome which our Lord Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs. It is certayn that he treateth heere of the ceremonies of the law: but yet must we always resort to the welhead and cheefe poynt. For if the matter concerned no further than the keeping of a holyday, or the forbearing of some kinde of meate: it were not of so great weigh, that suche strife should bee moued