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

Ye see then that the point whereto we must come, is not only that God should pour out his grace upon us, but that we also should so receive it in heart and mind, as it may take root, not to hold us down here beneath, but to lift up our affections & all our senses unto God. And because this doctrine can never pass unspoken against, S. Paul doth here defy all such as lift up themselves against it, and saith: Hereafter let no man trouble me, for I bear the marks of our Lord Jesus Christ in my body. When he speaketh of the marks of our Lord Jesus Christ, he setteth them against all the cotes armours of Princes, against all their Crowns and sceptres, & against all the cognisances or badges, which they have too honour themselves withal, or to purchase themselves any majesty or reverence to the worldward. When a Prince intendeth to keep his estate, he will furnish and apparel himself in such sort, as men shall not be able to look upon him without dazzling of their eyes. And they do it, oftentimes because they have not in themselves wherewith to win estimation, but are fain to borrow it else where: and so ye see it is the fashion of worldlings to set out themselves with pomp and bravery, and to use many things to get themselves reputation. To be short, the world doth always borrow of others, because it hath nothing but vanity in it self. But S. Paul telleth us that the marks of our Lord Jesus Christ are much better, preciouser, and of far greater Majesty, than all the things wherewith the world is so ravished as we see. But by the way we must see what he meant by these marks.¹ He hath showed it [in another Epistle] heretofore, where he saith that he had bin often whipped, that he had bin once stoned that he had bin cast in prison, that he had suffered hunger & thirst, and finally that he had bin as an outcast and forlorn person. True it is that such reproachful things would be shunned to the worldward. But S. Paul saith that they be much better, than all the honour and pomp that could be devised to be done unto him, and that he carieth those marks, to the end that men should not stop him of his course, nor hinder him of discharging his duty. Now then we see how S.

Yee see then that the point wheretoo wee must come, is not onely that God should poure out his grace vppon vs, but that wee also shoulde so receiue it in harte and minde, as it may take roote, not to hold vs downe heere beneath, but to lift vp our affections & all our senses vnto God. And bicause this doctrine can neuer passe vnspoken ageinst, S. Paule doth heere defie all such as lift vp thēselues ageinst it, and saith: Hereafter let no man trouble mee, for I beare the markes of our Lord Iesus Christ in my body. VVhen he speaketh of the markes of our Lord Iesus Christ, he setteth them ageinst all the cotes armours of Princes, ageinst all their Crownes and scepters, & ageinst all the cognisances or badges, which they haue too honour thēselues withal, or to purchase thēselues any maiestie or reuerence to the worldward. VVhen a Prince intendeth to keepe his estate, he will furnish and apparell himself in such sort, as men shal not bee able to looke vpon him without dazeling of their eyes. And they do it, oftentimes bicause they haue not in themselues wherwith to win estimation, but are faine to borrow it else where: and so yee see it is the fashion of worldlings to set out themselues with pomp and brauerie, and to vse many things to get themselues reputation. To be short, the world doth alwayes borrow of others, bicause it hath nothing but vanitie in it selfe. But S. Paule telleth vs that the marks of our Lord Iesus Christ are much better, preciouser, and of farre greater Maiestie, than all the things wherwith the world is so rauished as wee see. But by the way wee must see what he ment by these markes.