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

For as much as every of us will needs advance him self by abasing his fellows: therefore S. Paul telleth us, that if we make a good and right trial of the things that are in us: there will not be found so much as one drop of virtue that deserveth praise, at leastwise in respect of our own persons. For we be nothing, and there needed but one blast too make clean dispatch of us. Therefore it is but a foolish overweening that letteth us too walk in simplicity. And so let us understand first of all, that we can not challenge any thing too our selves without treason to God, because it is a robbing of him of the right that belongeth to him, and which ought to be reserved unto him, and that is to our own destruction. For in good faith what shall we gain by it when we shall have abused men, and when we shall have bin taken for other than we be? To be short, when we shall have bin as Idols, what will be the end of it but our own decay and confusion? Then seeing it is so: let us learn too be cast down & laid flat upon the ground, that we may be throughly grounded in our God. And to bring that to pass, let us learn to magnify him only. And in the mean while, if it please him to exalt us, let us not cease to keep our selves in continual awe with soberness and modesty, knowing that we have nothing of our own, and that whatsoever God hath given unto us, he must be fain to preserve it in us from time to time, and that we must so hold all things of him, as to make a willing sacrifice and oblation of them unto him, endeavouring to employ ourselves in the service […] the measure of grace which we have received of him, & yielding the praise thereof too him unto whom it belongeth. This is in effect the thing that we have too ⟨image 314⟩remember upon this strain. Truly it is hard too bring us too this reasonableness. And in good soothe we see the great contentions that are now a days about Freewill and mens own virtues, as though men were able to advance them selves, and to take the grace of God, and by that mean to deserve well. But all this proceedeth of this, that men are forepossessed with such devilish pride, as they will evermore needs be somewhat of them selves. And therefore it standeth us so much the more on hand• too put this doctrine in practise.

For as much as euery of vs will needes aduaunce him selfe by abacing his fellowes: therefore S. Paule telleth vs, that if wee make a good and righte tryall of the things that are in vs: there will not bee founde so muche as one drop of vertue that deserueth prayse, at leastwise in respecte of our owne persons. For wee bee nothing, and there needed but one blast too make cleane dispatche of vs. Therefore it is but a foolishe ouerweening that letteth vs too walke in simplicitie. And so let vs vnderstande first of all, that wee can not chalenge any thing too our selues without treason to God, bicause it is a robbing of him of the right that belongeth to him, and which ought to be reserued vnto him, and that is to our owne destruction. For in good fayth what shall we gayne by it when we shall haue abused men, and when we shall haue bin taken for other than we be? To be shorte, when we shall haue bin as Idols, what will bee the ende of it but our owne decay and confusion? Then seeing it is so: let vs learne too bee cast down & layde flat vpon the ground, that we may be throughly grounded in our God. And to bring that to passe, let vs learne to magnifie him only. And in the meane while, if it please him to exalte vs, let vs not ceasse to keepe our selues in continuall awe with sobernesse and modestie, knowing that wee haue nothing of our owne, and that whatsoeuer God hath giuen vnto vs, he muste be fayne to preserue it in vs from time to time, and that wee must so holde all things of him, as to make a willing sacrifice and oblation of them vnto him, indeuoring to imploy ourselues in the seruice the measure of grace which wee haue receiued of him, & yeelding the prayse thereof too him vnto whom it belongeth. This is in effect the thing that wee haue too