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

Now then we see that Saint Pauls meaning in effect is, that seeing God hath bound us too do good too all men, because they be our own flesh: no malice ought too hinder any of us from endeavouring too discharge him self generally towards all such as God offereth too him, and in whom it is his will too try our kindness. And yet notwithstanding that for as much as he hath gathered us into his flock, and knit us together in his name, and we call upon him as our father with one mouth: it behoveth us of duty too be as brothers one too another. So that if we mind that he should allow us for his children, we must so advance the adoption whereby he hath chosen us, as we may declare unfeignedly by our doings, that we mind too show that we take them for our brothers, whom God hath so gathered into his house and Church. Thus ye see what we have too remember upon this Text. Wherefore let us no more use these fond excuses too say, I wot not who he is, I know him not. But he is not known of God? yes: and yet notwithstanding thou disdainest too open thine eyes to look upon him that is thine own image, yea and whom God taketh for one of his children. Thou knowest not him, and yet behold how God vouchsafeth to cast his eye upon us which are most miserable, yea even he which hath so high and terrible a majesty, that the very Angels of heaven do tremble before him with all humility. Ye see then that God our sovereign Lord looketh down upon us that are but wretched worms of the earth & filthiness: yea and he not only vouchsafeth to say, I know you: but also protesteth, I have adopted you for my children, ye be my workmanship, ye be mine heirs, ye be after a sort my members. God vouchsafeth too speak after that fashion: and we be so full of pride and stateliness, that we despise such as are as good as our selves, and most commonly much better. So then who can bear with such pride? To be short, they that are so strange in withdrawing them selves from their brethren, and will not in any wise communicate with them, deserve well to be wiped out of the boo• •f life, so as God should •we and scrape them quite out, and deliver them into the possession of the Devil who is their sire, for he was a murderer and full ⟨p. 313⟩of cruelty from the beginning.

Nowe then wee see that Sainct Paules meaning in effecte is, that seeing God hathe bounde vs too doo good too all men, because they bee our owne fleshe: no malice oughte too hinder any of vs from indeuering too discharge him selfe generally towardes all suche as God offereth too him, and in whome it is hys wyll too trye our kindnesse. And yet notwithstanding that for as muche as he hathe gathered vs into his flocke, and knit vs togither in hys name, and wee call vppon him as our father wyth one mouthe: it behoueth vs of dutie too bee as brothers one too another. So that if wee minde that he shoulde allowe vs for his children, wee must so aduaunce the adoption whereby he hath chosen vs, as wee maye declare vnfaynedly by oure dooings, that wee mynde too shewe that wee take them for our brothers, whome God hath so gathered into his house and Churche. Thus yee see what we haue too remember vpon this Texte. VVherefore let vs no more vse these fonde excuses too say, I wote not who he is, I know him not. But he is not knowen of God? yes: and yet notwithstanding thou disdaynest too open thine eyes to looke vppon him that is thine owne image, yea and whom God taketh for one of his children. Thou knowest not him, and yet beholde how God voutsafeth to cast his eye vpon vs which are most miserable, yea euen he whiche hath so high and terrible a maiestie, that the very Angels of heauen doo tremble before him with all humilitie. Yee see then that God our soueraigne Lorde looketh downe vpon vs that are but wretched wormes of the earth & filthinesse: yea and he not only voutsafeth to say, I know you: but also protesteth, I haue adopted you for my children, yee be my workmanship, yee be mine heires, yee be after a sorte my members. God voutsafeth too speake after that fashion: and wee be so full of pride and statelynesse, that wee despise suche as are as good as our selues, and moste commonly muche better. So then who can beare with such pride? To be short, they that are so straunge in withdrawing them selues from their brethren, and will not in ony wise cōmunicate with them, deserue well to bee wiped out of the boo f life, so as God shoulde we and scrape them quite out, and deliuer them into the possessio of the Diuell who is their sire, for he was a murtherer and full