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

they will afford to say that he hath redeemed us and purchased the ground of deserving for us, for he hath opened us the gate of Paradise too enter in at, and also that his death and passion do daily profit us, too reconcile us unto God daily when we have offended him. But howsoever the world go, they will have us too deserve or earn the kingdom of heaven in parts, and to redeem our sins by diverse means, and thereof sprang all their satisfactions, and finally that if a man cannot perform all during his life, the rest shall be fulfilled in Purgatory. Thus ye see how Jesus Christ hath but half a place with them in receiving us unto God, and […] in the mean while they shoulder ⟨p. 237⟩him in such wise, that freewill, merits, works of supererogation or overplus as they term them, and such like things run away at leastwise with the one half of our salvation. But S. Paul telleth us that God liketh no such partnership. For either we must bring such a full performance of the Law as God may be contented with: or else yield our selves guilty. If there be never so little a fault, all the residue deserveth nothing at all. For (as I have declared) God promiseth not salvation too such as do him half seruis, or too such as serve him after a sort: but to such as keep his Law throughout. He that doth all the things shall live:¹ and contrariwise he that performeth not all shall be cursed. But it is so that no man doth the things that are required and commanded in the Law. For what good zeal or will soever we have too serve God, there is always much feebleness in us, and we go too him halting and make many false steppes, yea and oftentimes we happen to steppe aside and too go astray: and so are we all shut out from the promise of salvation as in respect of our own works, and the curse waiteth for us, which we cannot escape. For who is so far overseen, as to take upon him that he hath performed the whole Law? Then if all of us be found guilty of offence against God: we be as good as utterly undone, till our Lord Jesus Christ reach us his hand.

they will afoorde to say that he hath redeemed vs and purchased the ground of deseruing for vs, for he hath opened vs the gate of Paradice too enter in at, and also that his death and passion do dayly profite vs, too reconcile vs vntoo God dayly when wee haue offended him. But howsoeuer the worlde go, they will haue vs too deserue or earne the kingdome of heauen in parts, and to redeeme our sinnes by diuerse meanes, and thereof sprang all their satisfactions, and finally that if a man cannot performe all during his life, the rest shall bee fulfilled in Purgatorie. Thus yee see howe Iesus Christ hath but halfe a place with them in receyuing vs vnto God, and in the meane while they shoulder