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

16 By speaking the truth.) Now he cometh to himself, and denieth that it was long of him, that they changed their minds. Although it be a common proverb, Truth getteth hatred: yet is it not hateful, but through the malice and wickedness of them which will not abide to hear it: he purgeth himself than of the fault of estranging, so that after a sort he nippeth their unthankfulness. And yet it is withal a friendly admonition, that they should not rashly and without cause reject his Apostleship, ⟨p. 100⟩which afore they dearly loved: and that because they knew it deserved to be loved. For what thing can there be worse than because we hate the truth, of friends to become enemies? & therefore hath he said thus much, not so greatly to upbraid them as to warn them, to the end they may come to themselves again. 17 They are jealous over you.) At length he cometh to the false Apostles, whom he deciphereth more hatefully by silence, than if by name he had uttered them. for we are accustomed to speak of them & suppress their names, whom to name it is grievous and irksome. He admonisheth the Galatians of the preposterous ambition of them: because they might deceive them under the colour of zeal. And he borroweth a similitude of wooers, which woo maidens not chastely nor with honest love, but that they may abuse them after their lust. Let it not deceive you that they be suitors unto you or woe you: for they do it not of a right zeal but of a wicked lust to get a name. that is contrary to holy jealousy whereof mention is made, 2. Cor. 11.2. Rather to shut you out.) He augmenteth as yet their preposterous deceits in correcting wise, They go not about only to catch you, saith he, but because they cannot otherwise obtain you, they go about to set variance between us, that so ye being as it were forsaken, might yield your selves to them. for they see that so long as godly agreement shall remain between us, there shall be no room for them. This practise is common to all the Ministers of Satan, to pluck the harts of the people from their Pastor, that they may allure them unto them afterward: and after they have taken out of the way the counterwooer, they enter as it were into the possession being void. If a man mark it attentively and wisely, he shall see that so they begin alway. 18 It is good to be jealous.)

16 By speaking the truth.) Now he commeth to himself, and denieth that it was long of him, that they changed their minds. Although it be a common prouerbe, Truth getteth hatred: yet is it not hatefull, but through the mallice and wickednesse of them which will not abide to heare it: he purgeth himself than of the fault of estranging, so that after a sort he nippeth their vnthankfulnesse. And yet it is withall a friendly admonition, that they should not rashly and without cause reiect his Apostleship,