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

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:

VVhat then? It is ynough for him too shewe that God can finde meanes ynow to keepe the faithfull occupyed, although they haue no Ceremonies, wherewith the hypocrites beguile themselues, in making that their principall. To bee short, we see that S. Paule is so farre off from fauoring the Papists any thing at all, that he fighteth directly ageinst them Nowe vnder the colour of that which is spoken heere, they haue imagined that faith is but a single knowledge that there is a God, and that his only sonne Iesus Christ is come into the world for the redeeming and sauing of mankynd, notwythstanding that the same knowledge bee without any affection, more than if a man should tell vs some storie, and we should beleeue it & hold it for a certeintie. After that maner doo the Papists speake of faith, & say that when faith is all alone, it hath not yet hir ful shape before God: but when it is ioyned with a hartie good wil & loue of God, then is it full fashioned say they. But when the scripture speaketh to vs of faith, it meaneth the knowledge that is giuē vs by the holy Ghost: not which flittereth in our owne braine, but which is sealed in our harts, in such wise as God must needes haue wrought wonderfully in vs, before we can haue bin inlightened & fashioned in faith: for there is nothing but darknesse in our minds. The lyght must come from aboue. Agein wee bee vtterly inclyned to distrust and therfore the holy Ghost must be faine too set this seale vpon vs, that wee bee throughly saued by the meanes of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Furthermore it is not ynoughe too knowe generally that Chryst is our Redeemer: but fayth importeth that euery of vs must acknowledge him too bee hys Redeemer. And is that possible too bee vnlesse our Lorde Iesus doo dwell in vs and reygne in vs, and that wee bee inflamed with the loue of hym too gyue ourselues wholly vntoo him? The Papists therfore neuer wist what faith meaneth, notwithstanding that they chatter of it not altogither so well as Pyes in a Cage, which doo yet vnderstande some woordes heere and there: