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

Some shall be arraigned as felons, and some shall be indited of this and that, and yet all shall be but stark slanders. To be short, all such as mind to go through with their race, must prepare themselves too endure many temptations that might make them reel, if they were not settled in this point, that God must be obeyed in spite of the whole world. Mark that for one point. And here withal we have also to mark, that this extendeth to the whole Church in general. Therefore when we here the message of peace that is brought us in the name of God: let us not think to be in rest to the worldwarde, but too have many troubles and encumbrances continually. And he that determineth not upon that must needs shrink away from our Lord Jesus Christ: for he can never be any of his disciples,¹ according as he himself declareth with his own mouth, that such a man is not worthy to be of his school, and so he shutteth them all our of the doors. Wherefore let us learn, that when we be once called to our Lord Jesus Christ, we must be partakers of his cross so long as he listeth, according as it is said, that if we suffer with him we shall also be glorified with him,² and be made partakers of the power that is showed in his Resurrection. But yet notwithstanding the sufferings which he endured must first be accomplished in us that are his members. True it is that he suffered as much as was requisite for our salvation: but yet must we be fashioned like too his Image, as it is said in the .viij. too the Romans. Now whereas God spareth us, so as we be not among Tyrants that might t••ent us: or if the wicked •ee not able too byte us, but only bark at us: or if he let us […] in peace: let us know that it is because he pitieth our feebleness, ⟨p. 318⟩and that he spareth us because he seeth how weak we be. But yet for all this let us not flatter our selves, but pray God too strengthen us so by his holy spirit, that whensoever he shall call us into the array too fight, we may not be like freshwater soldiers, but that we may have minded it a long time before hand, that we must be made partakers of Jesus Christs sufferings, too come too the glory of his Resurrection.