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

And what say they too the Sacraments? They must have this and that: and to be short, they have their ma•kes which they take to be good stuff. But in the mean while let us come too the Gospel. What shall a man find there? Nothing but plain simplicity. God will not have the preachers of his word and the ministers of his sacraments too be disguised, nor too make so many murlimewes: neither is it his will that his sacraments should be defiled with mens inventions, for all that is nothing before God. Therefore let us bear well in mind the definition of the true Church which Saint Paul setteth down here, too the end we be not shaken when men say too us. How now? See I pray you how goodly things they be. They be so in deed according too our natural understanding. For after as a man is fleshly and earthly: so will he be always inclined to follow the thing that carieth a fair show to his senses. But it is not for us too judge of Gods service: we must stick too that which he hath determined, for his sentence cannot be repealed: which is that we must seek all our whole wisdom in Jesus Christ, which thing we then do when we obey him, and not else. Furthermore let us understand that he will not have us any longer tied too the outward things which he ordained in the time of the Law: but he will have us to be contented with Jesus Christ alone, & with the perfection that is in him. And thereupon we have also too mark, how he wisheth the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ too be with their spirit. For it showeth that the world by reason of his unthankfulness: is not worthy too see the benefits that are offered it in Jesus Christ. The Gospel shall [perchance] be preached enough, but yet in the mean while we see how every man shrinks back and writheth aside, as though we had conspired too forsake the good way of salvation, too cast our selves into ruin and destruction. And what is the cause thereof? It is for that we have our minds empty, and the Devil finds always entrance into us, and thereupon tempteth and provoketh us too flitter in the air. Too be short, until […] grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with our spirit, it is certain that we shall always be as wavering reeds, so as there shall be neither hold nor stay in us.

And what say they too the Sacramentes? They must haue this and that: and to bee shorte, they haue their ma•kes whych they take to bee good stuffe. But in the meane whyle let vs come too the Gospell. VVhat shall a man fynde there? Nothing but plaine simplicitie. God will not haue the preachers of his word and the ministers of his sacramentes too bee disguised, nor too make so many murlimewes: neither is it his will that his sacramentes should bee defyled with mennes inuentions, for all that is nothing before God. Therefore let vs beare well in mynde the definition of the true Churche whiche Sainct Paule setteth downe heere, too the end we bee not shaken when men say too vs. How nowe? See I pray you how goodly things they bee. They bee so in deede according too our naturall vnderstandyng. For after as a man is fleshly and earthly: so will he be alwayes inclined to followe the thing that caryeth a fayre shewe to his senses. But it is not for vs too iudge of Gods seruice: we must sticke too that which he hath determined, for his sentence cannot bee repealed: which is that wee must seeke al our whole wysedome in Iesus Christ, which thing wee then doo when wee obey him, and not else. Furthermore let vs vnderstand that he will not haue vs any longer tyed too the outward things which he ordeined in the time of the Law: but he will haue vs to be contented with Iesus Christ alone, & with the perfection that is in him. And therevpon wee haue also too marke, how he wisheth the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ too bee with their spirit. For it sheweth that the worlde by reason of his vnthankefulnesse: is not worthie too see the benefites that are offered it in Iesus Chryst. The Gospell shall [perchaunce] bee preached ynoughe, but yet in the meane whyle we see how euery man shrinkes back and wrytheth aside, as thoughe wee had conspyred too forsake the good way of saluation, too cast our selues intoo ruine and destruction. And what is the cause thereof? It is for that wee haue oure myndes emptie, and the Diuel fynds always entrance into vs, and thervpon tempteth and prouoketh vs too flitter in the ayre. Too bee short, vntill grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ bee with our spirit, it is certeyn that wee shall alwayes bee as wayeryug reedes, so as there shall bee neither holde nor stay in vs.