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

The. 4. Sermon upon the first Chapter.

The. 4. Sermon vpon the first Chapter.

8 But if I my self or an Angel from heaven tell you otherwise than I have told you, cursed be he. 9 As I said afore, so say I yet again, if any man tell you otherwise than you have received, cursed be he, &c.

8 But if I my selfe or an Angell from heauen tell you othervvise than I haue tolde you, cursed be he. 9 As I sayd afore, so say I yet agayne, if any man tell you othervvize than you haue receyued, cursed bee he, &c.

We have seen heretofore that we must be sure of the truth of the Gospel, or else our faith is no faith but rather an opinion, if we be ready to stagger too and fro. Now then the very proof which we ought to make of our faith, is to be fully settled and resolved in our selves that God hath taught us, and that he hath so uttered his will unto us, that if we swerve from it one way or other, it is all one as if we did wilfully cast our selves away. And for this cause we must not only receive Gods word as good & holy: but also bear such honour too it, as to hate whatsoever is against it, yea or which agreeth not fully with it. For when as S. Paul speaketh here of an other Gospel: his meaning is, that if men disguise the pure simplicity which they have learned of him, there remaineth nothing else but untruth and corruption. Wherefore let us learn to set such store by Gods doctrine, that we may not only esteem it in it self, but also reject as devilish things, what soever shall be brought contrary or repugnant unto it. And truly Saint Paul thinks it not enough too speak of men, but mounteth even unto the Angels of Heaven, and sayeth that we must rather hold them accursed, than alter any whit of the faith which we have of the Gospel. He doth well too speak of himself first: and he doeth that, too show that he had no regard of his own person, but that he meant simply too honour God, and too cause his word to be received of all the world without gainsaying. Therefore it was needful that Saint Paul should use that protestation: for if any man exempt his own doctrine by privilege, he maketh the same a private case. But he that teacheth, ought too range himself in the common array and too submit himself obediently too the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, so as we may not have any other Master in this world of whom too hold our faith, but that the Son of God may have all sovereignty over us as belongeth unto him. And Saint Paul speaketh purposely of the Angels, because the false Apostles and deceivers that were come into the country of Galatia, pretended the name of Peter, John, and James: and therefore he setteth a bar in their way, saying that when they had all that could be on