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

As if he should say, that they which did then trouble the Church, had nothing to move them thereto but their own vaingloriousness. For to stir up great troubles when the Church is not furthered nor fareth the better by them, surely it showeth that men seek nothing else, but to set up them selves in the room of our Lord Jesus Christ. For what should be all our drift, but that the son of God might reign among us, and we be ruled by the word of his Gospel, and that his power might be known, to the end that both great and small might put their whole trust in him? And therefore according hereunto, let us be reso••ed in our whole life to obey God, and to submit our selves to his word. For like as Gods spiritual temple consisteth in faith & newness of life: so faith importeth ⟨p. 325⟩that we should do homage unto God for all his benefits, that we should have our recourse unto him, that we should blaze abroad his praises, and that his holy name should be called upon among us. That is the way for us to be advanced to be Gods temple. Again on the other side, we must also be renewed in our life, & by patience learn to renounce ourselves, and to dedicate ourselves unto God. Lo what all teachers and preachers ought too procure. They then which shoot not at that mark, do show well enough that their intent is not to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. So then S. Paul declareth that nothing availeth in Jesus Christ, but the new creature: that is to say, that we must come too that point, according as we have seen how he said heretofore in the second to the Corinthians,¹ that whosoever will be esteemed in Jesus Christ, must become a new creature. For if one man boast of his eloquence, another of his wit, another of his great learning, and another of his trim behaviour or goodly personage all this is but vanity. Therefore let us learn too forsake our selves quite, and to forsake the world, and to give our selves to him that hath bought us, to the end that we be no more loose. For it is good reason that Jesus Christ having bought us so dearly, should possess us and fully enjoy us. But that cannot be done, except every of us renounce himself, and all things else that may hold us among men. Lo what we have to mark.

As if he should say, that they which dyd then trouble the Church, had nothing to moue them therto but their owne vayngloriousnesse. For to stirre vp great troubles when the Church is not furthered nor fareth the better by them, surely it sheweth that men seeke nothing else, but to set vp them selues in the roume of our Lorde Iesus Christ. For what should be all our drift, but that the sonne of God might reigne among vs, and we be ruled by the worde of his Gospell, and that his power might bee knowen, to the ende that bothe great and small might put their whole trust in him? And therefore according heerevnto, let vs bee resoed in our whole life to obe God, and to submit our selues to his word. For like as Gods spiritual tēple consisteth in fayth & newnesse of life: so faith importeth