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

12 Whosoever they be that mean to please.) First, to mean to please in the flesh, is ambitiously to hunt after the praise of men, not for edifying sake. and he useth a compounded verb, which signifieth to be favoured through the allurements of a smooth and flattering countenance and words. He accuseth than the false Apostles of ambition, as if he should say, Will ye know what manner of fellows they be, which lay upon you the necessity of Circumcision? what they shoot at? what they hunt after? you are deceived, if you think them to be moved with any Godly zeal: but their mind is to get or else to maintain the favour of men by this recompense. For whereas they were Jews, they meant by this means to keep still the good will of their Nation, or at the least to escape their hatred. So for the most part are the ambitious accustomed, by flattering like Slaves those by whose favour they hope they may escape: they creep into their hearts, to the end that when they have caste down better than themselves, they may play rex alone. He discovereth this wicked purpose unto the Galatians, that they might take heed to themselves. Only least they should suffer persecution. ⟨p. 146⟩Again he calleth the Cross of Christ, the pure preaching of the Gospel, but he alludeth to their daintiness, in that they would teach Christ without the Cross. For this was the cause why the Jews were moved with so hateful a rage against Paul, for that they could not abide his falling away from ceremonies. these therefore (I mean the false Apostles) did flatter the Jews, to the end they might escape persecution. But if they had themselves kept the Law, it had been the more to be borne withal: but they troubled the whole Church for their own quietness sake: they made no stop at it to lay a tyrannical yoke upon consciences, that they might scape scot-free from bodily vexation. Therefore for fear of the cross they corrupted the true preaching of the Cross.

12 Whosoeuer they be that meane to please.) Fyrste, to meane to please in the fleshe, is ambitiously to hunt after the prayse of men, not for edifiing sake. and he vseth a compounded verbe, which signifieth to be fauoured through the allurements of a smothe and slattering countenaunce and wordes. He accuseth than the false Apostles of ambition, as if hee shoulde say, Will yee knowe what maner of fellowes they bee, whiche laye vppon you the necessitie of Circumcision? what they shoote at? what they hunt after? you are deceaued, if you thinke them to bee mooued with any Godly zeale: but their mynde is to get or else to mayntayne the fauoure of men by this recompence. For whereas they were Iewes, they meant by this meanes to keepe still the good will of their Nation, or at the leaste to escape theyr hatred. So for the moste parte are the ambitious accustomed, by flattering like Slaues those by whose fauoure they hope they maye escape: they creepe into theire hartes, to the ende that when they haue caste downe better than themselues, they may play rex alone. He discouereth this wicked purpose vnto the Galathians, that they mighte take heed to thēselues. Only least they shold suffer persecutiō.