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

for they despise the whole law, & yet in the mean while have a number of things to put into their account, which they would have God to allow of. But (as I said) the end of all their doings, is to imagine themselves discharged to Godward, and that he should not press them to sore, and yet notwithstanding, that they might follow their own swing, & take leave to assoil themselves of all their sins, & that God having I wot not what, (that is too say, some fair countenance of their own bringing) should have his mouth shut and not be so hardy as too speak a word. Now then we see whereat S. Paul aimed. And he addeth in the winding up, Peace and mercy be upon all those that submit themselves too that rule, and upon Israel that pertaineth too God. In speaking of the Rule, he showeth that men may well ma•• themselves believe this or that […] yet in the mean while God will not bow, for he is not mutable that he should suffer himself to be led by our follies, or be made ⟨image 348⟩to swerve aside: that is impossible saith S. Paul, and whatsoever befall, the Law that God hath stablished must abide unchangeable as he himself is. No doubt but we will admit this at the first sight. For who will not willingly abide that God should be our superior? Yea and we perceive full well, that to say the contrary were blasphemy. Ye see then that at a glance the whole world can well grant that God should be our sovereign, and his law our rule, but therewithal let us see what liberty men take to themselves. Every man deviseth one thing or other, and when he hath so done, he would have all other men too observe the same: every man then would have his own rule alone by himself. True it is that in the popedom all are not of the rule of S. Francis or of S. Dominic: but yet for all that there is not so doting an old fool, nor so superstitious an hypocrite in the popedom but he hath his rule. Again, there is not so young a calf but he hath his rule too. For all of them will say, that is my devotion. And their using of the word Devotion, is as much to say with them, as, God is put back, and I must have my liberty to do what I list, and God must hold himself contented with it.

for they despise the whole law, & yet in the meane while haue a nūber of things to put into their account, which they would haue God to allow of. But (as I said) the end of all their dooings, is to imagin themselues discharged to Godward, and that he should not presse thē to sore, and yet notwithstanding, that they might follow their own swindge, & take leaue to assoile thēselues of al their sinnes, & that God hauing I wote not what, (that is too say, some faire countenance of their owne bringing) shoulde haue his mouth shet and not bee so hardie as too speake a worde. Now then wee see whereat S. Paule amed. And he addeth in the wynding vp, Peace and mercye bee vppon all those that submit themselues too that rule, and vppon Israell that perteyneth too God. In speaking of the Rule, he sheweth that men may well ma themselues beleeue thys or that yet in the meane whyle God wyl not bow, for he is not mutable that he should suffer himself to be led by our folyes, or be made