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

if we strive against such things, the Papists (as I said) cast forth their desperate rage, without considering of the cause that moveth & constraineth us to stand upon that point and ground. For why? they look no further than to the outward thing. But it behoveth us to go further. For when the Papists command a thing under pain of deadly sin: it is a binding of us in such wise as we may not have Gods favour but upon condition of doing our duty in that point. And he that shall have so done his duty, he I say shall have as it were bound God unto him, yea truly after the devilish opinion that reigneth in popery, which is that we must earn grace by our own deserts, and also that we must pacify Gods wrath and wipe out the remembrance of our sins and offences by making amends. Whereby it appeareth well, that if we can so discharge our selves, then is Jesus Christ made unavailable too us, and he shall profit us nothing at all. For why? Jesus Christ cannot be our righteousness, except we seek the forgiveness of our sins in the sacrifice of his death, & therewithal be well assured that God is our father, to the end we may call upon him with quiet consciences, because he hath adopted us in our Lord Jesus Christ. It is true that the deceivers which had beguiled the Galatians, could well have found in their hart that Jesus Christ should have bin acknowledged and called the Saviour of the world. And they did so mingle the law with the Gospel, as yet notwithstanding Jesus Christ should have had his titles still. But they made a coparcinerie, that men on their side should deserve, & that by that means God should be appeased. As if they had said, that Jesus Christ supplied mens wants: howbeit after such a sort, as the wretched consciences were always out of quiet. The like dealing is at this day in the Papacy. And the Pope with all the rabble of his Clergy, differ nothing at all from the cozeners against whom Saint Paul encountereth here, saving that those cozeners did put forth their own inventions and would have had them too prevail under the shadow and authority of Moses Law. They then against whom ⟨image 255⟩Saint Paul disputeth, said, we must keep still Circumcision, we must needs be circumcised still. And to what purpose? to the end we may discharge ourselves towards God, and be accepted at his hand for doing of our duty.

if we striue against such things, the Papistes (as I said) cast foorthe their desperate rage, without considering of the cause that moueth & constreineth vs to stand vpon that poynt and ground. For why? they looke no further than to the outward thing. But it behoueth vs to go further. For when the Papistes command a thing vnder paine of deadly sin: it is a bynding of vs in such wyse as we may not haue Gods fauor but vpon condition of dooing our duetie in that poynt. And he that shall haue so done his dutie, he I say shall haue as it were bound God vnto him, yea truely after the diuelish opinion that reigneth in poperie, which is that wee must earne grace by our own deserts, and also that we must pacify Gods wrath and wype out the rememberance of our sinnes and offences by making amendes. VVherby it appeereth well, that if wee can so discharge our selues, then is Iesus Christ made vnauailable too vs, and he shal profit vs nothing at all. For why? Iesus Christ cannot be our rightuousnesse, except we seeke the forgiuenesse of our sinnes in the sacrifize of his death, & therwithal be wel assured that God is our father, to the end wee may call vpon him with quiet consciences, bycause he hath adopted vs in our Lorde Iesus Christ. It is true that the deceyuers which had beguyled the Galathians, could well haue found in their hart that Iesus Christ shoulde haue bin acknowledged and called the Sauiour of the world. And they did so mingle the law with the Gospel, as yet notwithstāding Iesus Christ should haue had his titles still. But they made a coparcinerie, that mē on their side should deserue, & that by that meanes God shuld bee appeased. As if they had sayde, that Iesus Christ supplyed mens wants: howbeit after such a sort, as the wretched consciences were alwayes out of quiet. The lyke dealing is at thys day in the Papacie. And the Pope with all the rable of his Clergie, differ nothing at all from the cousiners ageynste whom Sainct Paule incountereth heere, sauing that those cousiners did put foorth theyr owne inuentions and would haue had them too preuayle vnder the shadowe and authoritie of Moyses Lawe. They then ageinste whom