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

As if he should say, ye must not bargain in this case: men must not bear themselves in hand that they can partly bind God, so as he should of right be in their debt, and bound of necessity to take them into his Paradise for doing this or that for him. No no (saith Saint Paul) we must go more substantially too work, we must not fall to bargaining with God, to say that he bindeth us to perform the whole Law, and that we bind him to give us everlasting life. If we come to that point, we be debtors of the whole Law. To be short, Saint Paul striveth here against the devilish error that reigneth in the Popedom. They term it a parting righteousness, that is too say, a righteousness that cometh partly of gods grace, and partly of meritorious works. And why so? For it is well known that there was never yet man in this world, that performed Gods Law, and that doth experience show too much. Forasmuch then as the Papists (as shameless as they be) do know well enough (as I said) that it is too manifest a thing, that men are not able to keep all the Law: they say, we maintain not that we be fully righteous in all points, but we say that Jesus Christ is partly our righteousness and redeemer, and we our selves do partly deserve well by our own works. Fie, fie, saith Saint Paul, whosoever falleth too indenting after that fashion, too say that he will earn aught at Gods hand, or make him any recompense, so as he will play the hireling with him, and make him as it were his debtor, as if he would say, I have done this, and therefore thou shalt pay me that: he maketh himself a debtor of the whole, and they be but fond imaginations wherewith men deceive themselves, thinking that God must be fain to take what they will give him, and to release them all the rest. As for example, if a man be bound too pay a hundred Crowns, and must needs pay and deliver them, and yet notwithstanding imagineth that his creditor ought to content himself if he bring him but four florins, and say unto him here sir, take this upon further reckoning, and afterward bring him half a dozen or half a score more, & (to be short) do with much ado make up the third or fourth part of the principal, & believeth […] he is by that means quite & ⟨image 257⟩clean discharged: is it not (think you) to lewd an unthankfulness?

As if he shoulde say, yee must not bargaine in this cace: men must not beare themselues in hand that they can partly binde God, so as he should of right bee in theyr dette, and bounde of necessitie to take them into his Paradice for dooing this or that for him. No no (sayth Saint Paule) wee muste go more substancially too worke, wee must not fall to bargayning with God, to say that he bindeth vs to performe the whole Lawe, and that we binde him to giue vs euerlasting life. If we come to that poynt, wee bee detters of the whole Lawe. To bee short, Saint Paule stryueth heere agaynst the diuelishe errour that reigneth in the Popedome. They terme it a parting rightuousnesse, that is too say, a rightuousnesse that commeth partly of gods grace, and partly of meritorious workes. And why so? For it is wel knowne that there was neuer yet man in this worlde, that performed Gods Lawe, and that doth experience shewe too much. Forasmuch then as the Papistes (as shamelesse as they bee) doo knowe well ynough (as I sayde) that it is too manifest a thing, that men are not able to keepe all the Lawe: they say, we mainteyne not that we bee fully rightuous in all poyntes, but wee say that Iesus Christ is partly our rightuousnesse and redemer, and wee our selues doo partly deserue well by our owne woorkes. Fie, fie, sayth Saint Paule, whosoeuer falleth too indenting after that fashion, too say that hee wyll earne aught at Gods hande, or make hym anye recompence, so as hee wyll play the hyreling wyth him, and make him as it were his detter, as if he woulde say, I haue done thys, and therefore thou shalt pay mee that: hee maketh himselfe a detter of the whole, and they bee but fonde imaginations wherewith men deceyue themselues, thinking that God must be faine to take what they will giue him, and to release them all the rest. As for example, if a man bee bounde too pay a hundreth Crownes, and muste needes pay and deliuer them, and yet notwithstanding imagineth that his creditor ought to content himselfe if hee bring him but foure florens, and say vnto him heere sir, take this vpon further reckening, and afterwarde bring him halfe a dozen or halfe a score mo, & (to be short) do with much ado make vp the thirde or fourth part of the principal, & beleeueth he is by that meanes quite &