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

John, that whosoever cometh to him, shall drink his fill of water, yea and have such a well in himself, as Rivers shall gush out of it, so as he shall not only have enough to serve his own turn, but also the waters shall flow out of his belly, if he suffer Jesus Christ to pour out his spirit upon him, for he is prest and ready to do it. So then although Gods spirit be a great way off from us: yet shall we receive enough of it, and God is ready to give it us, and he will do it because he hath promised it, and forasmuch as he allureth us so gently, we shall receive as much as shall stead our turn. Therefore like as we be warned here too fight, yea even with might and main: so on the other side […] showed us that our victory is ⟨image 289⟩most certain and infallible, so we seek succour at Gods hand, acknowledging our own weakness, and confessing humbly that we can do nothing. If we repair to our God, and desire him to be our Physician: his holy spirit shall not be so weak, but he shall overcome all the passions of our flesh, and give us the grace too go through with all the battles that shall be set against us. And now again Saint Paul sayeth, that the faithful do not what they would: and that is to give them courage still, that we may learn to go on forward, though we can not bring all the things to pass throughly and perfectly which God showeth unto us▪ And this is needful as I said: for else we should be hypocrites, and bear our selves in hand that nothing were amiss. But such pride were intolerable: of which sort we see some mastiff dogs, in whom there is neither fear of God nor Religion, and yet they preach that the faithful ought to be perfect. And that is a devilish blasphemy, and such a one as we ought too abhor. There are others that despair when they see that they cannot discharge their duty towards God. To the end therefore that we may neither be hypocrites nor yet faint, S. Paul saith that we do not all that we would. But howsoever we fare, we must come back to that which he touched not long since: namely that we fulfil not the lusts of the flesh when we be governed by the holy Ghost. So then, first let us understand, that we be so given unto evil, that a man cannot wring out one drop of goodness out of our thoughts & affections, but they alienate us quite and clean from it.

Iohn, that whosoeuer commeth to him, shall drinke his fill of water, yea and haue such a well in himselfe, as Riuers shall gushe out of it, so as hee shall not onely haue ynough to serue his owne turne, but also the waters shall flow out of his bellie, if hee suffer Iesus Christ to poure out his spirite vpon him, for he is prest and readie to do it. So then although Gods spirite bee a great waye off from vs: yet shall wee receyue ynough of it, and God is readie to giue it vs, and hee will doo it bycause he hath promised it, and forasmuch as hee allureth vs so gently, wee shall receyue as muche as shall sted our turne. Therefore like as wee bee warned heere too fight, yea euen wyth myght and mayne: so on the other syde shewed vs that our victorie is