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

therein the Angels are willing too yield, so their name serve to such use, for that is their chief desire. Thus ye see why Saint Paul maketh bold with the name of the Angels, although he mean not that they can at any time shrink from their obedience unto God. And he repeateth the same sentence again, saying, that who soever shall bring any new Gospel, let him be build as accursed. Now first of all we see here, how God intendeth too be honoured and served at our hands: namely not with strange Ceremonies and fashions as men are wont too do: but our chief seruis is to hearken unto him, and as ye would say to bridle our selves, holding all our senses prisoners under his word when he speaketh unto us, according also as he himself protesteth in his prophet Jeremiah.¹ Have I (saith he) demanded Sacrifice of thy fathers? No, but the thing that I required of them, and which I still require of you as the homage that you owe unto me, is that you hearken to my voice. In that text God showeth, that men may well overlabour themselves in bringing their own devotions to him upon hope to please him thereby, but all shall be but filthiness, till we have learned to hearken to his voice, and to obey him. Mark well this point which is very notable, least we labour in vain as we see the wretched Papists do. For it hath always bin a common disease in the world, that men knowing well that they were created to serve God, have tormented themselves & taken much pain [to do it,] & yet all hath bin vain & unavailable, because they began not at the right point of ruling their life by the will of God, and of settling themselves fully to take nothing in hand but that which he commanded them. Ye see then that the means too have our seruis acceptable unto God at this day, is too give ear unto him, too suffer ourselves to be taught by his word, to be governed altogether thereby, and to frame our life with all our deeds & thoughts fully according to the same. And herein we see the benefit that God hath given us in calling us to the knowledge of his Gospel. On the other side, we see (as I said afore) how the poor Papists rise early, & busy themselves about this & that, without end or ceasing of their travels: & yet in the mean while, not only the time is lost, & their labour is vain & unprofitable, but also they themselves are abominable ⟨image 48⟩before God.

therein the Angelles are willing too yeelde, so their name serue to such vse, for that is their cheefe desire. Thus yee see why Sainct Paule maketh bold with the name of the Angelles, although he meene not that they can at any time shrinke from their obedience vnto God. And he repeteth the same sentence agayne, saying, that who soeuer shall bring any new Gospell, let him bee bilde as accursed. Nowe firste of all wee see heere, how God intendeth too bee honored and serued at our handes: namely not with straunge Ceremonies and fashions as men are woont too doo: but our cheefe seruis is to herken vnto him, and as ye would say to brydle our selues, holding all our senses prisoners vnder his woord when he speaketh vnto vs, according also as he himself protesteth in his prophet Ieremie.