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

He saith that they whom ⟨p. 295⟩he hath won unto Jesus Christ by the Gospel are his Crown or garland. And all Gods servants may say as much. Nevertheless, it is not meant that they must part stakes with God, as they do which allege their own virtues and deservings, who out of all doubt do make as it were idols of themselves: But that the faithful having confessed themselves to be nothing at all but by Gods free goodness: rejoice in the things that he hath given them, always reserving too him his due. Therefore when we desire not too have any thing too ourselves alone from God, but depend upon him and upon his mere grace: then shall we have praise, howbeit in our selves (saith S. Paul) and not in other folk. Now whereas it is said But in ourselves: it is not meant that the praise springeth in our selves, and that we be not sinners: but he hath an eye too that which I have told you already: which is, that so long as men stand upon comparing of themselves with other folks, they do but deceive themselves. For it will seem that we be little Angels: and yet for all that, we shall be never a whit better than Devils. And why? For we liken ourselves but too such as are stark nought and utterly corrupted. Now if ever this warning were necessary, it is most necessary now adays. For although there have bin much corruption even ever from Saint Pauls time hitherto: yet at this day it is come to the full height of it. And in very deed it seemeth that all states and degrees have conspired against God. We see then that the world rusheth forth as it were into a furious rage, too make war against all equity and uprightness: and yet we cease not too sleep still in such confusion. And why? Because every man doth so. And by that means God is as it were driven back. Think we that we by our iniquities shall thrust him out of his seat, or bereave him of his authority of judging the whole world? No: For all of us without exception must appear before him, and there we cannot shock ourselves together too say, Sirs let us stick too our tackling, for we be too great a multitude God with one blast of his mouth is able too sink […] so, let us put the thing in practise which is spoken here by Saint Paul, and let every man keep good watch over himself.

He sayth that they whō ⟨p. 295⟩he hath wonne vnto Iesus Christ by the Gospell are his Crowne or garland. And all Gods seruants may say as much. Neuerthelesse, it is not ment that they must part stakes with God, as they do which alledge their own vertues and deseruings, who out of all doubt do make as it were ydolls of themselues: But that the faithful hauing confessed themselues to be nothing at all but by Gods free goodnesse: reioyce in the things that he hath giuen them, alwayes reseruing too him his due. Therfore when wee desire not too haue any thing too ourselues alone from God, but depend vppon him and vpon his meere grace: then shall wee haue praise, howbeit in our selues (sayth S. Paule) and not in other folke. Nowe whereas it is sayd But in ourselues: it is not ment that the praise springeth in our selues, and that wee bee not sinners: but he hath an eye too that which I haue told you alreadie: which is, that so long as men stand vpō comparing of thēselues wyth other folks, they do but deceiue themselues. For it wyll seeme that wee bee little Angells: and yet for all that, wee shall bee neuer a whit better than Diuells. And why? For wee lyken ourselues but too suche as are starke nought and vtterly corrupted. Nowe if euer this warning were necessarie, it is most necessarie nowe adayes. For althoughe there haue bin muche corruption euen euer from Sainct Paules tyme hytherto: yet at this day it is come to the full heygth of it. And in very deede it seemeth that all states and degrees haue conspired ageynst God. VVee see then that the worlde rusheth foorth as it were into a furious rage, too make warre ageynst all equitie and vpryghtnesse: and yet wee ceasse not too sleepe still in such confusion. And why? Bycause euery man dooth so. And by that meanes God is as it were driuen backe. Thinke wee that wee by our iniquities shall thrust him out of his seate, or bereeue him of his authoritie of iudging the whole world? No: For all of vs without exception must appeare before him, and there wee cannot shocke ourselues together too say, Sirs let vs sticke too our tackeling, for wee bee too great a multitude God wyth one blast of hys mouth is able too sincke so, let vs put the thing in practise which is spoken heere by Sainct Paul, and let euery man keepe good watche ouer himselfe.