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 behold, his friend opened his purse to help him in his need, and spared not himself to succour him: and yet for all that he will be discharged for bringing I wot not what, and for saying, here sir, take this in full payment, whereas all that he bringeth is not a quarter of the whole sum. Men see well that this were but a mockery: what then shall become of such as will needs enter into account with God to deserve at his hand? For God avoweth that whosoever performeth not all the things that are contained in the law, shall be cursed, and S. Paul hath alleged the same text. Whereto then doth god bind us in his law? To perform it to the full. And who is able to do that? There is no man that is able to fulfil any one point of it with such perfection, but that there shall always be somewhat amiss. And now what do these hypocrites which think themselves to have some worthiness in their own works? They bring this and that, & will needs be righteous in part. But God accepteth no such dealing, for he will not unsay this definitive sentence which he hath uttered with his own mouth,¹ Cursed be he that fulfilleth not all. Thus ye see whereupon S. Paul standeth here, when he saith that whosoever is circumcised, is a debtor of the whole law. As if he had said, Let not men beguile themselves any more, for God walketh not two ways at once, he hath told us in his Law, that if we discharge not our selves fully towards him, we shall be cursed. But there is not any man that dischargeth himself, therefore ye see we be all accursed. Wherefore there is none other remedy but to resort [wholly] to our Lord Jesus Christ. For if we think too make Jesus Christ available in part, and therewithal too hold still somewhat of our own doing: it is a deceit: for we must needs confess that there is nothing but cursedness in us, till our Lord Jesus Christ have released us, and that we had need too seek our wants in him, in such wise, as we may acknowledge all our own works to be nothing worth, no nor any better than filth before God, till he receive us for his children, that we may walk in freedom of conscience, knowing that our sins are forgiven us by virtue of the satisfaction that is purchased for us, so as God imputeth not our sins and misdoings […] to us, because he looketh upon us ⟨p. 235⟩in the person of his only son.

For beholde, his freend opened his purse to helpe him in his neede, and spared not himselfe to succour him: and yet for all that he will be discharged for bringing I wote not what, and for saying, here sir, take this in ful payment, whereas all that he bringeth is not a quarter of the whole summe. Men see wel that this were but a mockery: what then shal become of such as will needes enter into accoūt with God to deserue at his hand? For God auoweth that whosoeuer performeth not all the things that are cōteyned in the law, shal be cursed, and S. Paule hath alledged the same text. VVherto thē doth god bind vs in his law? To performe it to the full. And who is able to do that? Ther is no mā that is able to fulfil any one point of it with such perfection, but that there shal alwayes be somwhat amisse. And now what do these hypocrites which think thēselues to haue some worthinesse in their own workes? They bring this and that, & wil needes be rightuous in part. But God accepteth no such dealing, for he will not vnsay this diffinitiue sentence which hee hath vttered with his owne mouth,