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

and if they could pluck their heads out of the collar, they would full fain do it. Furthermore when they have toiled after that fashion in their fond devotions, they bear themselves in hand that God ought to like well of it. And if a man tell them that they cannot do any thing that God should accept, and furthermore that although their works were good, yet they deserve not aught before him: ye shall see them spew out their poison (as they do) and fall to blaspheming of God unless ye believe them that they be able to work wonders by their own merits. Howsoever the case stand, they are never able to know and to taste what it is to obey God. For why? they understand not what it is too be quiet: namely that it is an unconstrained offering of their doings unto God with a free hart, and an assuring of themselves that he accepteth the same, even because he handleth them gently, and beareth with them as with his children. The Papists know not this, and therefore it is not too be wondered at, though they think it strange that we should strive for that freedom, for they wot not what it meaneth. But yet doth not Saint Paul speak it without cause: and by those words we see how precious that liberty is, and that it is not a thing to be despised. For Jesus Christ did not jest in his death and passion when he offered up himself unto God his father: but wrought a work that in excellency and worthiness passeth the creation of heaven and earth. Now if Saint Paul bring in this liberty for an excellent fruit purchased to us by the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ: it must needs follow that it is a high and precious thing. And to the intent we may conceive what the nature and power of it is: we must learn too gather in ourselves unto God when we be spoken to of it. As for example: if we be commanded or enjoined of necessity too ⟨p. 231⟩do such a thing or such a thing: very well, the doing thereof too the worldward hindereth not our freedom before God: for the things that concern common policy may be bidden or forbidden, because that otherwise they might turn too the hurt of the common weal, or else such things may be expedient, and then must one of us serve another's turn in common.

and if they could plucke their heads out of the collar, they would full fayne do it. Furthermore when they haue toyled after that fashion in their fond deuotions, they beare themselues in hand that God ought to like well of it. And if a man tell them that they cannot do any thyng that God shoulde accept, and furthermore that although their works were good, yet they deserue not aught before hym: ye shall see them spew out their poyson (as they do) and fall to blaspheming of God vnlesse yee beleeue them that they be able to worke wonders by their owne merites. Howsoeuer the cace stand, they are neuer able to know and to tast what it is to obey God. For why? they vnderstand not what it is too bee quiet: namely that it is an vnconstreyned offering of their dooings vnto God with a free hart, and an assuring of themselues that he accepteth the same, euen bycause he handleth them gently, and beareth with them as with his children. The Papists know not this, and therefore it is not too be wondered at, though they thinke it straunge that we should striue for that freedome, for they wote not what it meeneth. But yet doth not Sainct Paule speake it without cause: and by those words we see how precious that libertie is, and that it is not a thing to be despised. For Iesus Christ did not iest in hys death and passion when he offered vp himselfe vnto God hys father: but wrought a worke that in excellencie and worthinesse passeth the creation of heauen and earth. Now if Sainct Paule bring in this libertie for an excellent frute purchaced to vs by the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ: it must needes followe that it is a high and precious thyng. And to the intent wee may conceyue what the nature and power of it is: wee must learne too gather in ourselues vnto God when wee bee spoken to of it. As for example: if we be commanded or enioyned of necessitie too