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

This warning therefore is for such as have long journeys to go, and not only one or two, but continual travellings. They shall perchance have hard passages, they shall have stony and shrubby ways, or ways that are miry and dirty, they shall have hills and dales. Such have need too be quickened forward, that they may be cheered and pluck up a good heart, that they tyre not nor quail not in the midst of their journey. Even so is it with us when God toucheth us with his holy spirit, so as we be disposed to serve him and to do good to such as seek succour at our hand. But on the one side we be plucked back by unbelief, because we be afraid that the earth will fail us: and if any man be too be relieved, we cast with our selves that the like want and penury may befall our selves. Thus ye see we be plucked back, we be snarled in that overcarefulnesse, and are unsatiable in our lusts, and think we shall never have enough. Hereupon also we be tempted too seek excuses. For we will allege [on the one side] that we cannot tell whither the party that complaineth have such need as he speaketh of, or whither he be so greatly too be pitied: and on the othersyde that the world is so wicked and ungracious, that a man cannot tell too whom too do good, and that oftentimes the good turn is lost, and there is such unthankfulness, that it were better too let those complainants to endure hunger and thirst, than to give them occasion too offend God, in beguiling men after that sort and in laughing them too scorn for their labour. There will always be found excuses and shifts enow too escape from welldoing, as experience showeth too much, specially considering that we be so lazy and faint by nature. So much the more therefore doth it stand us in hand too remember this lesson which Saint Paul setteth down •••ere, which is, too […] still without being weary, yea verily in doing good. This matter concerneth the enlarging of our hearts, and of the ⟨p. 308⟩employing of our goods (if we have any) to the relief of our needy neighbours. And we know that Saint Paul hath begun at the ministers of Gods word.

This warning therefore is for such as haue long iourneys to go, and not onely one or two, but continuall trauelings. They shall perchaunce haue hard passages, they shall haue stonie and shrubbie wayes, or wayes that are myrie and dirtie, they shall haue hils and dales. Such haue neede too bee quickened forward, that they may bee cheered and plucke vp a good harte, that they tyre not nor quayle not in the middes of their iourney. Euen so is it with vs when God toucheth vs wyth his holy spirit, so as wee be disposed to serue him and to doo good to such as seeke succour at our hand. But on the one side wee bee plucked backe by vnbeleefe, bycause wee bee afrayde that the earthe wyll fayle vs: and if any manne bee too bee releeued, wee cast with our selues that the like want and penurie maye befall our selues. Thus yee see wee bee plucked backe, wee bee snarled in that ouercarefulnesse, and are vnsatiable in our lustes, and thinke wee shall neuer haue ynough. Herevppon also wee bee tempted too seeke excuces. For wee will alledge [on the one side] that wee cannot tell whither the partie that complayneth haue suche neede as he speaketh of, or whither he bee so greatly too bee pitied: and on the othersyde that the worlde is so wicked and vngracious, that a man cannot tell too whom too doo good, and that oftentymes the good turne is lost, and there is suche vnthankefulnesse, that it were better too let those complaynants to endure hunger and thirst, than to giue them occasion too offende God, in beguyling men after that sort and in laughing them too scorne for their labour. There will alwayes bee founde excuces and shiftes ynow too escape from weldooyng, as experience sheweth too muche, specially consideryng that wee bee so lazie and faynt by nature. So muche the more therefore dooth it stande vs in hande too remember thys lesson which Sainct Paule setteth down ere, which is, too still without beeyng weerie, yea verily in dooyng good. This matter concerneth the inlarging of our hartes, and of the