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

Pauls meaning is, first that if we be Christians and […] true Church of God, we must keep this order, namely that we be united together, or that we be all as one. And how is that? Not ⟨p. 329⟩every man after his own fancy, as we see some do, who being of a froward mind cannot possibly frame themselves to others, but will needs keep alone by themselves, like shrewd horses, and it were too be wished that there were Hermitages and Cloisters for such manner of people, when they will not by any means join with the order of the Church. Therefore when they do so separate themselves from the company of the faithful through their own pride, they must be made the Devils Hermits and Cloisterers. But howsoever the world go, men see why they be so hidden: namely because the Devil holdeth and possesseth them, and their desire is nothing else but too have I wot not what a separation, too turn quite and clean away from God. But Saint Paul telleth us, that the rule which we must go by is this, namely that we make Jesus Christ our shoot anchor, labouring too fashion our selves like unto him, so that whensoever he speaks, we may yield our selves too his saying, and every of us keep his order: and afterward that we help one another. For we may well brag of perfection and of this and that: but if we endeavour not too further the building up of the spiritual temple, surely we shall still serve Satan, and be as slaves under his tyranny. Therefore let us learn to have one conformity among us, tending all together too our Lord Jesus Christ. And furthermore let such as have stoutness and constancy to walk in Gods Law, defy all these Cockerels that mount up in pride after that fashion, too bring in this or that. For Jesus Christ will always know his own marks. That is too say, although we be despised too the worldward, yet shall we always be avowed too be Gods children. And therefore let us go on forward still, and let such as would stop us, be sure that God will beat them down, as we have seen heretofore. Yea and it is good reason that they should be scattered and confounded,¹ sith they break the unity of the Church:

Paules meaning is, first that if we bee Christians and 〈…〉 true Church of God, we must keepe this order, namely that we bee vnited togither, or that wee bee all as one. And howe is that? Not ⟨p. 329⟩