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

Afterward he addeth, that his Gospel is not of men, but that it was revealed to him from above, as I have declared already. It had not bin enough for S. Paul to have spoken of the Gospel in general, except ⟨p. 28⟩he had showed therewith, that he had bin a true & faithful minister of it. For the Devil can well enough away, that the name of the Gospel should be of very great estimation among us: but in the mean while he would not have us to know what it meaneth, nor cease to be entangled in store of errors, & to have our wits roving here & there. Then it is not enough, that the name of the Gospel be honoured in the world: but we must also know what manner of thing the Gospel is, and what is contained in it. And that is the cause why S. Paul challengeth that faithfulness of teaching the Gospel, in so much that if any whit of it be changed, let the same be accursed. And this yet again is well worthy to be noted. For when the Papists read this place, they do nothing but scoff at it: and God also hath dulled them, so as there is less wit in them, than in little children. For they understand it [thus: namely] that Paul meant, that if a man should make another Gospel, as if a man should write a book, and the same should not be the Gospel that was written by him, then they should utterly reject it, because the Gospel was sufficiently proved already. But in the mean while they thought not that all that was contained in Pauls Epistles was every whit of it Gospel: but they rather surmised, that he had written some story of the Gospel, and that if any other had bin brought in upon the refusal thereof, the same that had bin so brought in, should have had no credit nor reputation. But we see that in that case these wretched beasts have neither reason nor understanding, nor any taste at all. So much the more therefore doth it stand us in hand too mark, that S. Paul had good cause too speak of the Gospel which he had preached, even to show as it were with his finger the doctrine which it behoveth us to be fully persuaded of. VVill we be of the flock of our Lord Jesus Christ? Then is it not enough for us too accept what soever is told us in his name:

Afterward he addeth, that his Gospell is not of men, but that it was reueled to him frō aboue, as I haue declared already. It had not bin ynough for S. Paule to haue spokē of the Gospell in generall, except ⟨p. 28⟩he had shewed therewith, that he had bin a true & faithfull minister of it. For the Diuell cā well ynough away, that the name of the Gospell should be of very great estimacion among vs: but in the meane while he would not haue vs to know what it meaneth, nor ceasse to be intāgled in store of errours, & to haue our wittes rouing here & there. Then it is not ynough, that the name of the Gospell be honored in the world: but we must also know what maner of thing the Gospell is, and what is contayned in it. And that is the cause why S. Paule chalendgeth that faithfulnesse of teaching the Gospell, in so much that if any whit of it be chaūged, let the same be accursed. And this yet againe is well woorthy to be noted. For when the Papistes reade this place, they do nothing but skoffe at it: and God also hath dulled them, so as there is lesse wit in them, than in little chyldren. For they vnderstand it [thus: namely] that Paule ment, that if a man should make another Gospel, as if a man should write a booke, and the same shoulde not bee the Gospell that was written by him, then they shoulde vtterly reiect it, bycause the Gospell was sufficiently proued already. But in the meane whyle they thought not that all that was contayned in Paules Epistles was euery whit of it Gospell: but they rather surmyzed, that he had written some storie of the Gospell, and that if any other had bin brought in vppon the refuzall thereof, the same that had bin so brought in, should haue had no credite nor reputation. But wee see that in that cace these wretched beastes haue nother reason nor vnderstanding, nor any taste at all. So much the more therefore dothe it stande vs in hand too marke, that S. Paule had good cause too speake of the Gospell which he had preached, euen to shewe as it were with his fingar the doctrine which it behoueth vs to be fully perswaded of. VVill we be of the flocke of our Lord Iesus Christ? Then is it not ynough for vs too accept what soeuer is tolde vs in his name: