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 ⟨image 43⟩although the wretched souls wot not what they mean themselves, yet notwithstanding, behold (say they) I refer my self too our mother the holy Church, I believe as she believeth. But such folk show openly, that they have no faith at all, ne know by what means too be saved. Nevertheless it is said that we obtain righteousness and salvation by faith, namely for that we embrace Christ as the party by whom all good things are imparted unto us. Then if our Lord Jesus Christ be unknown, it is no longer faith, but a gross Illusion of Satan, who hath bewitched the Popish doctors too speak after that sort: and thereby we see that they have no knowledge of God, but are utterly given over too a lewd mind. Wherefore let us mark well, that whereas S. Paul sayeth here, that there is none other Gospel: it is too hold us still in such steadfastness, that after we have once learned what our Lord Jesus Christ is, we may continue in him, and utterly give over all things that are contrary too the doctrine of the Gospel. Have we once such skill, it will serve us too fight against Satan and all the diversity of opinions that are at this day in the world, so as we shall not be shaken down what trouble soever happen, nor finally be turned aside from the certainty of our faith. But if we waver after such a sort that we become like little children, who if one man offer them an apple at one side they run thither, and if another man offer some other pleasant thing at other side they run thither likewise, and leaving the first go too yield themselves too the second. I say if we be so fickle minded, it is a token that there is nothing but mere unbelief in us. Then let us assure our selves, that there must be such a mutual agreement between our faith and the Gospel, that we must give our selves wholly thereunto, and never be plucked from it, and our knowing of the things that are contained in it, must be too rest our selves upon them, as I have said already heretofore.

and ⟨image 43⟩although the wretched soules wote not what they meane themselues, yet notwithstanding, beholde (say they) I referre my selfe too our mother the holy Churche, I beleeue as shee beleeueth. But such folke shewe openly, that they haue no fayth at all, ne knowe by what meanes too bee saued. Neuerthelesse it is sayd that wee obtayne rightuousnesse and saluation by fayth, namely for that wee imbrace Christ as the partie by whom all good things are imparted vnto vs. Then if our Lord Iesus Christ bee vnknowen, it is no longer fayth, but a grosse Illusion of Satan, who hath bewitched the Popish doctors too speake after that sorte: and thereby we see that they haue no knowledge of God, but are vtterly giuen ouer too a lewd minde. VVherefore let vs marke well, that whereas S. Paule sayeth heere, that there is none other Gospell: it is too hold vs still in such stedfastnesse, that after we haue once learned what our Lord Iesus Christ is, wee may continue in him, and vtterly giue ouer all things that are contrarie too the doctrine of the Gospell. Haue wee once such skill, it will serue vs too fight agaynst Satan and all the diuersitie of opinions that are at this day in the worlde, so as wee shall not bee shaken downe what trouble soeuer happen, nor finally bee turned aside from the certaintie of our fayth. But if wee wauer after such a sorte that wee become like little children, who if one man offer them an apple at one side they runne thither, and if another man offer some other pleasant thing atother side they runne thither likewize, and leauing the first go too yeeld themselues too the second. I say if wee bee so fickle minded, it is a token that there is nothing but mere vnbeleefe in vs. Then let vs assure our selues, that there must bee such a mutuall agreement betweene our fayth and the Gospell, that wee must giue our selues wholly therevnto, and neuer bee plucked from it, and our knowing of the things that are conteyned in it, muste bee too rest our selues vppon them, as I haue sayd already heretofore.