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

Then seeing the case standeth so: let us make account of the grace that God hath granted us in declaring his will unto us, & let us understand that we must not walk at adventure, but discern between good and evil, howbeit not after our own wit and imagination, but by going to Gods school, & by learning the things that he alloweth, assuring our selves that nothing deserveth too be esteemed, save the framing of our selves to the rule which he hath given us by his word. Mark that for a principle. And herewithall we see also what the majesty of the Gospel is, & that it is not for us to bring in mens opinions in that case to wrap our selves in any doubt as the Papists do now adays, who have none other buckler against us, but the traditions of the Church, Councils, and Antiquity. Howbeit when they have thronged all the world together, will it be able to countervail the Angels of heaven? No certainly. Now then we may well mock at their foolishness after the example of S. Paul, and say that if the Pope and all the rabble of his stinking Clergy had the Angels on their side, it were nothing at all in comparison of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath all sovereign power, and before whom all knees ought to bow, not only of mortal creatures, but also even of things that are aloft in heaven, according as it is said in the Epistle to the Philippians,¹ where this saying is applied to his person, in that God sweareth that all knees shall bow before him, & all tongues confess that he only is to be glorified. Ye see then that the way for us to commend the doctrine of the Gospel, is to abide unremoved by the authority of men, & (when it is told us that such a one is of this opinion or that,) to assure our selves that seeing God hath given us the grace to be fully resolved in our minds, it behoveth us to hold us always to it without changing. This is in effect the thing that we have to consider in this sentence: Now hereupon S. Paul showeth, how it was not without cause that he speak so of his Gospel that he had preached. For he sayeth that he teacheth not after the manner of men, or that he doth not set forth men, nor counsel [them] after the manner of men, but that he setteth forth God, and seeketh not to please men, but Jesus Christ.

Then seying the cace standeth so: let vs make account of the grace that God hath graūted vs in declaring his will vnto vs, & let vs vnderstand that wee must not walke at aduenture, but discerne betweene good and euill, howbeit not after our owne wit and imaginaciō, but by goyng to Gods schoole, & by learning the things that he alloweth, assuring our selues that nothing deserueth too bee esteemed, saue the framing of our selues to the rule which he hath giuē vs by his word. Marke that for a principle. And herewithall we see also what the maiestie of the Gospell is, & that it is not for vs to bring in mens opinions in that cace to wrap our selues in any doubt as the Papists do now adayes, who haue none other buckler agaynst vs, but the traditions of the Church, Councels, and Antiquitie. Howbeit when they haue thronged all the world togither, will it bee able to counteruayle the Angelles of heauen? No certainly. Now then we may well mocke at their foolishnesse after the exāple of S. Paule, and say that if the Pope and all the rable of his stinking Clergie had the Angelles on their side, it were nothing at all in cōparison of our Lord Iesus Christ, who hath all soueraine power, and before whom all knees ought to bow, not only of mortall creatures, but also euen of things that are aloft in heauen, according as it is said in the Epistle to the Philippians,