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

At the first blush, if a man teach us Gods word, and that we be not touched with it in good earnest:¹ we will think it the strangest thing in the world: for the doctrine will always seem foolish too mans wit, as we have seen heretofore. And what is the reason? Even our fondness, because our wits are wandering and roving, and we be naturally bent and forward too leasing, and desire (as it were wilfully) too be beguiled. Now then seeing that our wits are so marred, it is no marvel though we like not the word of God, or though it ⟨p. 24⟩have no entrance into us, for all our lustiness is but rebelliousness, and whereas we think our selves to have reason, we be stark blind: and to be short it is not for nought that the scripture sayeth, that men are nothing but vanity and leasing, yea and rebels too God, so as they draw always back from that whereunto God calleth them. But put the case that God had done so much for us as too draw us too him, and to make us taste that his truth is the thing whereunto it behoveth us too hold our selves, and that we were so tamed that there were no more wilfulness in us, but that we were ready to yield him all obedience: yet is there such a frailness and unconstancie in us, that the Devil shall easily thrust us out of the way every minute of an hour. And hereof we see experience even in those that had bin as mirrors of holiness, so as ye would wonder to see them suddenly changed and gone from the right way. And what is the cause of it? As I said afore, although we be in a good forwardness, yet can we not hold our own long, but that we shall by and by go clean awry, except God work in us and amend our frailty. Thus ye see why S. Paul doth with such majesty maintain the doctrine of the Gospel and the occasion thereof was given him by the Galatians, for they were thrust out of the way, by reason that they were borne in hand, that it behoved them too keep the ceremonies of the law. S.

At the first blush, if a man teach vs Gods woord, and that wee be not touched with it in good earnest:¹ we will thinke it the straungest thing in the worlde: for the doctrine will alwayes seeme foolish too mannes wit, as wee haue seene heretofore. And what is the reason? Euen our fondnesse, bycause our wittes are wandering and rouing, and wee bee naturally bent and foreward too leasing, and desire (as it were wilfully) too bee beguyled. Now then seyng that our wittes are so marred, it is no maruell though wee lyke not the woord of God, or though it