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

For there is none of us all but he is convicted to be more than guilty, and therefore we should needs stand at a stay as drowned in despair, till we were succoured by our Lord Jesus Christ and knew that God will be favourable to us, & thereupon could find peace and assurance to call upon him, as knowing that Jesus Christ will be there aforehand. On the otherside, if we know not that God hath so received us into his favour, as he is contented with our willingness to obey him, and with our coming towards him, though it be with infirmity: we see yet another halter that serveth to hang us withal. But yet so is it with all unbelievers S. Paul therefore doth purposely warn us, that until such time as the Gospel have taught us that God loveth us, and of his own free goodness taketh us as his children, and moreover will not have us to be overtroden by mens tyranny, and specially that he delivereth us from the bond and rigour of the Law: we are all of us drowned in bondage, and that when Jesus Christ hath once set us free, it behoveth us to maintain well such a benefit. Now let us come to the reason that he addeth, Verily (saith he) I Paul, yea even I do tell you, if you be circumcised, Jesus Christ shall profit you nothing at all▪ It is a very sore saying that circumcision should cut men off in such wise, as they should have no part in the salvation that is purchased for us by our Lord Jesus Christ. But first of all we must mark, that when as S. Paul speaketh here of Circumcision, he looketh not at the thing in it self, but unto the end of it, because the deceivers that had perverted the pureness of the Gospel among the Galatians, made them believe that they ought too be circumcised, too the end too keep the Law. Saint Paul standeth upon that point, and saith, that if we do so constrain and bind our selves before God, or enter into such covenant with him: Jesus Christ shall profit us nothing at all. And this is well worth the noting. For when as we nowadays do say, that is a hellish Tyranny ⟨p. 232⟩for men to command the keeping of a thing under pain of deadly sin, or to forbid a thing because them selves like not of it: (as the commandment of keeping the Lent, or the shriving of mens sins once a year:)

For there is none of vs all but he is conuicted to be more than giltie, and therfore we should needes stand at a stay as drowned in dispaire, till we were succoured by our Lord Iesus Christ and knew that God will be fauorable to vs, & thervpō could find peace and assurance to call vppon him, as knowing that Iesus Christ wil be there aforehand. On the otherside, if we knowe not that God hath so receiued vs into his fauor, as he is contented with our willingnesse to obey him, and with our comming towards him, though it be with infirmitie: we see yet another halter that serueth to hang vs withall. But yet so is it with all vnbeleeuers S. Paul therfore doth purposely warne vs, that vntill such time as the Gospell haue taught vs that God loueth vs, and of his own free goodnesse taketh vs as his children, and moreouer wil not haue vs to be ouertroden by mens tyrannie, and specially that he deliuereth vs from the bond and rigor of the Law: we are all of vs drowned in bondage, and that when Iesus Christ hath once set vs free, it behoueth vs to maynteine well such a benefite. Now let vs come to the reason that he addeth, Verily (sayth he) I Paule, yea euen I do tell you, if you bee circumcised, Iesus Christ shall profite you nothing at all It is a very sore saying that circumcision should cut men off in such wyse, as they should haue no part in the saluation that is purchaced for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ. But first of all wee must marke, that when as S. Paule speaketh heere of Circumcision, he looketh not at the thing in it selfe, but vntoo the ende of it, bycause the deceyuers that had peruerted the purenesse of the Gospell among the Galathians, made them beleeue that they ought too bee circumcised, too the ende too keepe the Lawe. Sainct Paule standeth vpon that poynt, and sayth, that if wee doo so constreyne and bynd our selues before God, or enter intoo suche couenant with him: Iesus Christ shall profite vs nothing at all. And this is well worth the noting. For when as wee nowadayes doo say, that is a hellishe Tyrannie