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

Whereby it appeareth that there is no zeal of God, nor no soundness in them: but that their whole seeking is to be fed and pampered fat, and too live in rest, and too have their ease and commodities. Seeing then that nowadays there are so many men that have not one whit of the fear of God, nor of the reverence of his word in them, who notwithstanding pretend too be very zealous, and yet in very deed do but allure poor souls with baits or rather (as ye would say) choke them: it standeth us so much the more on hand too mark well the thing that Saint Paul telleth us here: which is, that forasmuch as we see that they which cry out and storm at others: do nothing at all of that which they speak of, we must stand upon our guard, and consider whereat they aim which teach us. True it is that although the party do clean contrary too that which he sayeth, yet must not Gods word therefore be of the less authority towards us: For it is no reason that because the man is wicked, therefore God should be dispossessed of his sovereign prerogative. And though a man lead a loose life, or do some shrewd turn, yet ought not that to deface the heavenly doctrine, so he preach faithfully. Although a man be mutable, fleeting and variable, or though he be an hypocrite, and his life be not answerable to the things that he speaketh with his mouth: the truth of Gods word must not therefore be embased towards us. Nevertheless, I say now that whensoever we see men pretend great zeal, and yet let themselves loose, and take leave to do contrary to their preaching: we must consider of it, and have the discretion not too be led by their Pipe nor drawn by the nose, but to look into their doctrine, and to make a good and lively trial of it. And when we go so to work, we shall see that the doctrine of the Papists is but a covert which they take to live quiet to the worldwarde, and as for to Godward they care not how things go. For they would not abide any changes, but that they be loth to put themselves in danger of any displeasure: for they be always afraid to be vexed or grieved in any wise. Sith […] this: it is an infallible mark to make us beware of all Satan's ambushes, ⟨p. 320⟩so as it shall not be possible for us to be deceived, except we list our selves, as I have declared before.

VVhereby it appeareth that there is no zeale of God, nor no soundnesse in them: but that their whole seeking is to be fedde and pampered fatte, and too liue in rest, and too haue their ease and commodities. Seing then that nowadayes there are so many men that haue not one whitte of the feare of God, nor of the reuerence of his woorde in them, who notwithstanding pretende too bee verie zealous, and yet in verie deede doo but allure poore soules with baytes or rather (as ye woulde say) choke them: it standeth vs so much the more on hande too marke well the thing that Saint Paule telleth vs heere: which is, that forasmuch as wee see that they which crie out and storme at others: do nothing at all of that which they speake of, we must stande vpon our garde, and consider whereat they ame which teache vs. True it is that although the partie do cleane contrarie too that which hee sayeth, yet muste not Gods woorde therefore bee of the lesse authoritie towards vs: For it is no reason that bycause the man is wicked, therefore God shoulde bee dispossessed of his soueraine prerogatiue. And though a man leade a looce lyfe, or do some shrewde turne, yet ought not that to deface the heauenly doctrine, so he preach faythfully. Although a man be mutable, fleeting and variable, or though he bee an hypocrite, and his life be not answerable to the things that hee speaketh with his mouth: the truth of Gods worde must not therefore be imbaced towardes vs. Neuerthelesse, I say now that whensoeuer we see men pretend great zeale, and yet let themselues loce, and take leaue to do contrarie to their preaching: we must consider of it, and haue the discretion not too bee ledde by theyr Pype nor drawne by the noze, but to looke into theyr doctrine, and to make a good and liuely tryall of it. And when we go so to worke, we shall see that the doctrine of the Papistes is but a couert which they take to liue quiet to the worldwarde, and as for to Godwarde they care not how things go. For they would not abide any chaūges, but that they be loth to put themselues in daūger of any displeasure: for they be alwayes afrayd to bee vexed or greeued in any wise. Sith this: it is an infallible marke to make vs beware of all Satans ambushes,