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

But before we go any further, we must assoil a doubt which the Papists cast here. For to their seeming it maketh wholly on their side when S. Paul saith, that faith which worketh by charity is the thing that maketh all the faithful perfect. And thereupon they conclude, that only faith doth not purchase us grace, but faith and charity matched together. Put the case it were so: whereto would it serve them? For whereupon do they ground their merits, but upon childish toys? as who should say they would appease God with a Rattle: but S. Pauls meaning is far otherwise. For although he have hitherto showed the true way how too be in Gods favour: yet notwithstanding he mindeth not too ground our righteousness or our hope […] •aluation upon charity.

But before wee go any further, we must assoyle a doubt which the Papists cast heere. For to their seeming it maketh wholly on their side when S. Paule sayth, that fayth which woorketh by charitie is the thing that maketh all the faythfull perfect. And therevpon they conclude, that onely faith dooth not purchace vs grace, but fayth and charitie matched togither. Put the cace it were so: whereto would it serue them? For wherevpon doo they ground their merites, but vpon childishe toyes? as who should say they would appease God with a Rattle: but S. Paules meaning is farre otherwise. For although he haue hitherto shewed the true way how too bee in Gods fauour: yet notwithstanding he mindeth not too ground our rightuousnesse or our hope 〈…〉 •aluation vppon charitie.

What then? It is enough for him too show that God can find means enow to keep the faithful occupied, although they have no Ceremonies, wherewith the hypocrites beguile themselves, in making that their principal. To be short, we see that S. Paul is so far off from favouring the Papists any thing at all, that he fighteth directly against them Now under the colour of that which is spoken here, they have imagined that faith is but a single knowledge that there is a God, and that his only son Jesus Christ is come into the world for the redeeming and saving of mankind, notwithstanding that the same knowledge be without any affection, more than if a man should tell us some story, and we should believe it & hold it for a certainty. After that manner do the Papists speak of faith, & say that when faith is all alone, it hath not yet her full shape before God: but when it is joined with a hearty good will & love of God, then is it full fashioned say they. But when the scripture speaketh to us of faith, it meaneth the knowledge that is given us by the holy Ghost: not which flittereth in our own brain, but which is sealed in our harts, in such wise as God must needs have wrought wonderfully in us, before we can have bin enlightened & fashioned in faith: for there is nothing but darkness in our minds. The light must come from above. Again we be utterly inclined to distrust and therefore the holy Ghost must be fain too set this seal upon us, that we be throughly saved by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore it is not enough too know generally that Christ is our Redeemer: but faith importeth that every of us must acknowledge him too be his Redeemer. And is that possible too be unless our Lord Jesus do dwell in us and reign in us, and that we be inflamed with the love of him too give ourselves wholly unto him? The Papists therefore never wist what faith meaneth, notwithstanding that they chatter of it not altogether so well as Pies in a Cage, which do yet understand some words here and there: