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

Thus ye see how Saint Paul proveth that which he had said afore: that is too wit, that Jesus Christ shall not profit any of all those which are circumcised. For why? If they seek the hope of their salvation in their own works, they must discharge themselves throughly and wholly towards God, and not pelt him out with gobbets and morsels as they say, but fulfil the whole Law without missing any one jot of it. And who is able to bring that to pass? For take me the holyest and perfectest man that ever could be found, and he cannot do the hundredth part of that which is commanded him. Ye see then that men are disappointed of the hope of salvation, if they come not void and altogether empty of all their own merits, and give themselves in such wise too our Lord Jesus Christ: as they acknowledge that they cannot be justified by him and by his grace, except they have first renounced all that ever may hold them back in the trust of any other thing. And furthermore, whereas Saint Paul speaketh here of being circumcised: he meaneth the error which the deceivers did set forth, in thinking to bind God to them, and to fulfil the whole Law. As if it should be said nowadays, that all such as keep the Popes ordinances, do overthrow the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not that a man is damned for not eating of flesh upon Fridays, or in Lent time: but if he forbear the eating of flesh for superstitions sake, and think to merit by so doing: it is certain that he renounceth our Lord Jesus Christ. For Christ is given us to be our Advocate, so as we be reconciled too God his father by his means, and he hath so set us free, as he will not have us too be oppressed any more with the traditions of men. But they which keep the Popes traditions, bearing themselves in hand that it is deadly sin too taste flesh upon any such day, and that in forbearing it they deserve too well at Gods hand, and that they be good satisfactions, yea and that Jesus Christ is well honoured by doing of this or that: I say if they acknowledge that, they do also believe that the gate of Paradise should be shut against them if it were not opened them by that confession, and they think it to be the mean to make their atonement with God.

Thus yee see howe Saint Paule proueth that which hee had sayde afore: that is too witte, that Iesus Christ shall not profite any of all those which are circumcyzed. For why? If they seeke the hope of their saluation in their owne workes, they muste discharge themselues throughly and wholly towardes God, and not pelt him out with gobbets and morsels as they say, but fulfill the whole Lawe without myssing any one iote of it. And who is able to bring that to passe? For take me the holyest and perfectest man that euer coulde bee founde, and he cannot do the hundredth part of that which is commaunded him. Yee see then that men are disappoynted of the hope of saluation, if they come not voyde and altogyther emptye of all theyr owne merites, and giue themselues in such wise too our Lorde Iesus Christ: as they acknowledge that they cannot bee iustifyed by hym and by his grace, except they haue first renounced all that euer may holde them backe in the trust of any other thing. And furthermore, whereas Sainct Paule speaketh heere of beeing circumcyzed: hee meeneth the errour which the deceyuers did set forth, in thinking to binde God to them, and to fulfill the whole Lawe. As if it shoulde bee sayde nowadayes, that all such as keepe the Popes ordinaunces, do ouerthrowe the authoritie of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Not that a man is damned for not eating of fleshe vppon Frydayes, or in Lent tyme: but if hee forbeare the eating of fleshe for superstitions sake, and thinke to merite by so dooing: it is certaine that he renounceth our Lorde Iesus Christ. For Christ is giuen vs to be our Aduocate, so as wee bee reconcyled too God his father by his meanes, and hee hath so set vs free, as hee will not haue vs too bee oppressed any more with the traditions of men. But they which keepe the Popes traditions, bearing themselues in hande that it is deadly sinne too taste fleshe vppon any suche day, and that in forbearing it they deserue too well at Gods hande, and that they bee good satisfactions, yea and that Iesus Christ is well honoured by doing of this or that: I say if they acknowledge that, they doo also beleeue that the gate of Paradise shoulde be shet agaynst them if it were not opened them by that confession, and they thinke it to be the meane to make their attonement with God.