A commentary of M. I. Calvin upon the Epistle to the GalatiansA commentarie of M. I. Caluine vpon the Epistle to the Galathians

13 Ye know that by the infirmity.) He bringeth them in remembrance after what sort, that is to say, how friendly and honourably he was received of them. and that for two causes. first that they may understand that they are beloved of him, and that so they might with indifferent ears allow of whatsoever he should speak. secondly that they might go forward in their course well begun. The mentioning of this than, first of all is a testimony of good will: secondly it is in stead of an exhortation, by means whereof the last may countervail the first. By infirmity of the flesh, he meaneth (as else where he doth) whatsoever might make him of no reputation and contemned. For the flesh signifieth the outward show: and Infirmity signifieth baseness. such was the coming of Paul, without pomp, without boasting, without the glory & dignity of the world: but as an abject, and of no account in the sight of men. And yet all that letted not the Galatians, but that they received him with very great honour. This circumstance ⟨p. 98⟩availeth much to the purpose. for what was it that they should extol and reverence in Paul, beside the only power and virtue of the holy Ghost? and with what colour or pretence now will they begin to contemn it? moreover they are reproved of inconstancy, because no new thing hath happened unto Paul, why they should set less by him than they did. But he leaveth these things to be considered of them. only he doth after a sort give them an occasion to think upon them. The trial of me. That is to say, although you did behold a man according to the world contemptible, yet you refused him not. He calleth it a trial or proof, because the matter was neither unknown, nor obscure, nor yet of him dissembled: as men desirous of glory are accustomed, who are ashamed of their baseness. For it often chanceth that even unto the unworthy there are given great welcomes, before that their bareness be espied: but within three days after that, they are sent away filthily and with shame enough. but in Paul the matter was clean otherwise, he beguiled the Galatians with no legerdemain, but like Tom tell troth he told what he was. As an Angel of God. Namely in such reputation as every true Minister of Christ ought to be taken, for as God by the means of the Angels doth distribute his graces unto us:

13 Ye know that by the infirmitie.) Hee bringeth them in remembraunce after what sorte, that is to saye, howe friendlye and honourably he was receaued of them. and that for two causes. first that they may vnderstande that they are beloued of him, and that so they mighte with indifferent eares allowe of whatsoeuer he shoulde speake. secondlye that they mighte goe forwarde in their course well begonne. The mentioning of this than, first of all is a testimonye of good will: secondlye it is in steede of an exhortation, by meanes whereof the laste may counteruayle the first. By infirmitie of the fleshe, he meaneth (as else wher he doth) whatsoeuer might make him of no reputation and contemned. For the fleshe signifieth the outwarde shew: and Infirmitie signifieth basenes. such was the comming of Paule, without pompe, without boasting, without the glory & dignitie of the world: but as an abiect, and of no account in the sight of men. And yet al that letted not the Galatiās, but yt they receaued him with very great honour. This circumstaunce