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

To be short, our outward doings bear witness that we be full of infection before God. And where is that infection to be found? In our desires, in our intents, in our thoughts, & in all our doings, we see there is even as it were a well spring of all naughtiness. So then, let us be drawn to such an acknowledgement of our sins, as we may be heartily sorry for them before God. And we see that in the Law there is such a fashion of teaching. God in his Law forbiddeth not fornication, but adultery: yea & at the first sight he forbiddeth not fraud and filching: what forbiddeth he then? Theft or robbery. He forbiddeth not lying, but only false witness. Now then it should seem to them which know not the power of the law, that they have well discharged their duty, when they have well eschewed those crimes.¹ And that is the cause why S. Paul said that for a time he thought himself to be throughly righteous, and that God could not have blamed him for any thing. After the same manner do the hypocrites sot themselves in their own selfweening, and thereupon become mad if God find fault with them, because they think he doth them great wrong. And why? for they conceive not what the nature of the Law is.² It is spiritual (sayeth S. Paul): that is too say, we must be wholly reformed to frame our selves thereafter. But so long as we follow our own fleshly nature, all that we think, and all that we can say or do, shall be no better than sin before God. So then, we must not look only at the bare words that are set down in the Law, [but too the things that are meant and contained in them.] God by setting down the particular kind of Adultery, meant too make all kind of whoredom hateful: for if marriage continue not whole and sound without impeachment, it perverteth all order and civill policy among men. God therefore under the word Adultery, hath showed that all whoredom and chasteness displeaseth him. ⟨p. 270⟩Again he sayeth, Thou shalt not kill. Is it then lawful too beat a man?³ No, nor yet to hate him: for (as S. John sayeth) he that hateth his neighbour secretly is a murderer before God, though he neither torment him nor touch him with his finger: So then, under the word Murder, God condemneth all wrong that we do to our neighbours. Although then that we stir not a finger to do them harm: