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

then cannot our Lord Jesus Christ stand us in any more stead as I said afore: by reason whereof we must needs be plunged in our own cursedness, without any manner of relief. Therefore it is not without cause that Saint Paul exhorteth the Galatians to hold their own, and not too suffer themselves to be brought into bondage. For by that means he faith that they shall be bereft of inestimable benefit, even so far forth as they shall be fallen quite away from Gods grace or favour, and utterly separated from our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom lieth all our welfare and happiness. Now, that we may the better conceive S. Pauls meaning, and also reap the fruit that is offered us in this text: Let us mark, that by this word Liberty o• freedom, it is meant that we may walk with full confidence before God, and that he will always be favourable, so that although we be guilty of many offences, yet we shall be quit of them for our Lord Jesus Christs sake: and moreover that it is not in mans power to bridle us or too hold us in bondage: but that it ought to suffice us to yield ourselves obedient unto God, howbeit not after a slavish and constrained fashion, but as children yield themselves subject too their father, knowing well that their father will not handle them roughly. Thus ye see what is meant by the word liberty or freedom which S. Paul useth. Nevertheless to the end that this shortness be not darksome: I will declare it more a•••ge. So long as we be in doubt ⟨image 252⟩whither God do love us or hate us, there will always be trouble and unquietness in our consciences, and we shall be as it were locked up in prison. So then there will be no freedom in our minds, till we know and be throughly persuaded that God is at one with us, and that he receiveth us into his favour & grace, though we be not worthy of it. But it is impossible for us to have any certainty of it, except we have our quittance always before our eyes, which was made us in the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why so? For as I said afore, we be indebted unto God many ways, yea infinite ways. For we be bound to keep the law, and we break it a hundred times a day, yea even or ever we think of it. Again we offend even in gross faults.

then cannot our Lord Iesus Christ stand vs in any more stead as I sayde afore: by reason whereof we must needes bee plunged in our owne cursednesse, without any manner of releefe. Therefore it is not without cause that Sainct Paule exhorteth the Galathians to hold their owne, and not too suffer themselues to be brought into bondage. For by that meanes he faith that they shall be bereft of inestimable benefyte, euen so farre foorth as they shall be falne quite away from Gods grace or fauour, and vtterly separated from our Lord Iesus Christ, in whome lieth all our welfare and happinesse. Now, that wee may the better conceiue S. Paules meening, and also reape the frute that is offered vs in thys text: Let vs marke, that by this word Libertie o freedome, it is meant that we may walke with full confidence before God, and that hee will alwayes be fauorable, so that although wee bee giltie of many offences, yet we shall be quit of them for our Lord Iesus Christes sake: and moreouer that it is not in mans power to bridle vs or too hold vs in bondage: but that it ought to suffise vs to yeld ourselues obedient vnto God, howbeit not after a slauish and constreyned fashion, but as children yeeld themselues subiect too their father, knowing well that their father will not handle them roughly. Thus ye see what is meant by the worde libertie or freedome whiche S. Paule vseth. Neuerthelesse to the end that this shortnesse bee not darksome: I will declare it more age. So long as we be in doubt