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

WE have seen heretofore how Saint Paul condemned such as sought altogether to row between two streams, thereby too please the world, and in the mean while to eschew persecution: And that made them to disguise the Gospel, whereof we see too many examples yet still at this day. For such as see that the pure doctrine and truth of God can not be brooked of the world, but that the wicked sort do rage against it: they (I say) would fain find some mean way, that they might not be hated nor incur any displeasure. And that it is so: if now a days ye ask it of such as have but some little understanding: ye shall scarce find one of them among a hundred, which will not grant that there are many abuses in Popery: but yet [they will say] that all must not be cut off by the quick, but that it is enough if some of the overgrosse and excessive superstitions be taken away, and so they would fain still nourish a great sort of infections. And why? For (as I have said) they would fain be in credit and estimation, and it is no matter at all with them to betray the pureness of the Gospel, so they may save themselves from persecution: yea and even among us a man shall find enow that would have both. And what moveth them, but that they would advance them selves, and get some reputation? Forasmuch then as we see that the Devil which raised those broils in the time of Saint Paul, continueth [the same] unto this day, we ought to be armed with this doctrine. And the very remedy, is that which S. Paul setteth down here: namely to reject all glory, save that which we have in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now for the better understanding hereof, first of all we must call to mind how it is said in Jeremiah,¹ and alleged also by S. Paul, that all the glory of man must be cast down, too the end that God may be exalted as he deserveth.²

WE haue seene heeretofore howe Sainct Paule condemned such as sought altogither to row betweene two streames, thereby too please the worlde, and in the meane while to eschue persecution: And that made them to disguise the Gospell, whereof wee see too many examples yet still at this day. For suche as see that the pure doctrine and truth of God can not be brucked of the world, but that the wicked sort doo rage agaynst it: they (I say) would fayne finde some meane way, that they might not bee hated nor incurre any displeasure. And that it is so: if nowe a dayes yee aske it of such as haue but some little vnderstanding: ye shal scarse finde one of them among a hundred, whiche will not graunte that there are many abuses in Poperie: but yet [they will say] that all must not be cut off by the quicke, but that it is inoughe if some of the ouergrosse and excessiue superstitions bee taken away, and so they would fayne still nourishe a great sorte of infections. And why? For (as I haue sayde) they woulde fayne bee in credite and estimation, and it is no matter at all with them to betray the purenesse of the Gospell, so they may saue themselues from persecutiō: yea and euen among vs a man shall finde inowe that woulde haue bothe. And what moueth them, but that they would aduance them selues, and get some reputation? Forasmuche then as wee see that the Diuell which raysed those broyles in the time of Sainct Paule, continueth [the same] vnto this day, we ought to be armed with this doctrine. And the very remedie, is that which S. Paule setteth downe heere: namely to reiect all glory, saue that which we haue in the Crosse of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Now for the better vnderstanding heereof, first of all wee must call to minde how it is sayde in Ieremie,