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

but for that they know well enough, that if they make not the pot too boil apace, they are like too starve, and should they not therefore hold fast the possession of their things? Again on the other side they consider also the danger of persecution for maintaining such doctrine: for ye see it is condemned of the Princes and great men of this world, and therefore it is good sleeping in a whole skin. See I pray you how an infinite number do now adays disguise and falsify Gods truth, and maintain all corruptions, because they be loth to suffer for Jesus Christs sake. True it is that they be not rank Papists too blaspheme Gods word openly: but yet they would fain have a mean, yea of their own devising. For they blame us of overmuch rigour and extremity, in that we condemn such as go to Mass, and bear themselves in hand that they worship not idols. O (say they), how should that be, so a man think it not in his heart? Should men be driven so near hand as too make it a stumbling block, and a matter of life and death? Too what purpose were that? God setteth great store by our life, and although we should do amiss, yet will he have pity of our frailty. Surely they that speak after […] fashion, have none other reason too move them, but that they see plainly that all the world is so sore inflamed against us, and it seemeth that we should perish ⟨image 338⟩and be quite confounded every day. Thus ye see that they flee back and labour too imbattell themselves alone from the rest, when they see any danger appearing. But when we see these liverharted folk shun persecution after that sort, & loth to come to any hand strokes for our Lord Jesus Christs sake, and winding and transforming them selves after that manner, only to have peace in this world: it standeth us so much the more in hand too mark this warning of S. Pauls, and to discern which are the true servants of Jesus Christ: that is too wit, they which regard not their own profit, nor would have men too fawn upon them, nor seek the belly cheer and honour of the world: but do simply content themselves with the doing of their duty, and pass not what wind do blow, whither it be tempestuous and stormy, or whither it be fair and calm: but to profit their hearers, and to maintain in all pureness the doctrine committed unto them.

but for that they knowe well ynough, that if they make not the pot too boyle apace, they are lyke too starue, and should they not therefore holde fast the possession of their things? Againe on the other side they cō sider also the daunger of persecutiō for maynteyning such doctrine: for yee see it is condemned of the Princes and great menne of this world, and therfore it is good sleeping in a whole skinne. See I pray you howe an infinite number doo now adayes disguyse and falsifie Gods truth, and maynteyne all corruptions, bycause they bee lothe to suffer for Iesus Christes sake. True it is that they bee not ranke Papistes too blaspheme Gods woorde openly: but yet they would fayne haue a meane, yea of their owne deuising. For they blame vs of ouermuch rigour and extremitie, in that wee condemne suche as go to Masse, and beare themselues in hand that they woorship not ydols. O (say they), howe should that be, so a man thinke it not in his harte? Should men bee driuen so neere hand as too make it a stumbling blocke, and a matter of lyfe and death? Too what purpose were that? God setteth greate store by our lyfe, and although wee should doo amisse, yet will he haue pitie of our frayltie. Surely they that speake after fashyon, haue none other reason too moue them, but that they see playnely that all the worlde is so sore inflamed agaynst vs, and it seemeth that wee should perishe