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

WE see that Moses intending to bring the law into a sum, to the end we might know what was taught us and told us: saith that God will be loved of us, as good reason it is that we should first stick unto him & be knit unto him, and afterward that there should be such a bond of friendship among our selves, as we might be knit together as members of one body. And our Lord Jesus Christ also saith that that is the thing whereby his disciples may be known:¹ showing therein that he brought not up any doctrine contrary to that which god had always given to the people of old time. And for that cause S. Paul saith now, that the fulfilling of the law consisteth in this word, that we love our neighbours. Not that God ought in the mean while to be forgotten (as I have told you heretofore) for it is good reason that he should be set foremost, and be preferred before all his creatures, in so much that for his sake we ought to forget even our father and mother, our wife and children, and all that ever is in this world. Nevertheless, to love God, and to love our neighbours in their degree, are not things contrary. For when every man walketh in charity, thereby he showeth the love that he beareth to his God, according also as I have declared. And that is the cause why I stand no longer upon these points. To be short, if we be given to our selves, it is a token that we know not what it is to carry Gods yoke: for that is the thing whereunto our own nature driveth us. Now (as we shall see anon) men are wholly inclined to all evil, & therewithal they give the bridle to all their lusts, they make war against God, & all their whole life is nothing else but a rebellion, which showeth that the devil doth so possess all our affections that God can not way with us, till we have beaten down all that is of our own nature. Now then we know that he which loveth his neighbours, seeketh not his own, nor is given to himself. That therefore is a true & certain proof that we be desirous to obey God, & to rule our life according to his word. Also our Lord Jesus Christ beginneth at the same point when he intendeth to show briefly what his doctrine is: It is (saith he) a learning to renounce or forsake ourselves. For so long as we follow ⟨p. 260⟩our own trace, we must needs go full contrary to Gods will. So then it is not without cause that S.

WE see that Moyses intending to bring the lawe into a summe, to the ende wee might knowe what was taught vs and tolde vs: sayth that God will be loued of vs, as good reason it is that we should first sticke vnto him & be knit vnto him, and afterward that there should be such a bonde of friendship among our selues, as we might bee knit togither as members of one bodie. And our Lord Iesus Christ also sayth that that is the thing wherby his disciples may be knowen: