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 for proof hereof, when we be once turned from the simplicity of the Gospel, we shall become like whoremongers: according as we have seen in the last Epistle, how Saint Paul saith expressly,¹ that the Devil useth Bawds tricks and Ruffian tricks, when he cometh too turn us from the doctrine of the Gospel. He will always make some goodly and fair protestation, like as when a Ruffian intendeth to deceive a young wife or a maid, he will not use any lewd terms or knavery, for he knoweth that she would abhor them: but he will mark by little and little how he may infect her with his deadly poison. Even so playeth the Devil in that behalf. For if he should show his horns (as they say) at the first dash, and show himself openly too be Gods enemy: every man would shun him, and we would abhor him. But he windeth himself slyly in, and creepeth in at small crannies, so as we shall wonder that he could prevail with us in sundry things, and we shall still bear our selves in hand, that we cease not to hold with Jesus Christ and his Church. And yet for all that we shall be turned away, and in the end we shall perceive our selves too be quite cut off. Therefore when we read this example, that the Devil had marred and corrupted the Churches whereof mention is made here, [and that,] under the shadow of the Ceremonies of Moses law: let us bethink our selves the better, and stand stiffly without turning aside by any means from the simplicity of the Gospel. Furthermore seeing he hath stryued and disputed about the Ceremonies of the law: let us look well about us too profit our selves by all that is here contained, and let us stand continually upon our guard, that we may find out the crafts and wiles of Satan. And whensoever he shall go about too undermine us, let us look well too our business, and stand always too that which we have learned, so as we may be out of all doubt, that we shall not find any thing in the doctrine of the Gospel, which is not the pure word of God. For (as I said) that is the thing whereupon our faith must be grounded. And if any man will add never so little too it, let us not only suspect it, but also abhor it: for when there is such a mingle mangle made with Gods pure truth, ⟨p. 4⟩it can be nothing else but corruption.

And for proofe heereof, when wee be once turned from the simplicitie of the Gospell, wee shall become like whooremongers: according as wee haue seene in the last Epistle, howe Saint Paule sayth expressely,