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

but we must put that thing in •re which is spoken in the tenth of Saint John,¹ which is, too be able by hearkening unto his voice, too discern his voice from the voice of strangers, and too be always fully persuaded, that there is not any other than he, too whom we ought too yield. Thus ye see how the way to be under the guiding of our good shepherd, is that we swerve not one way nor other when men assail us, ⟨image 49⟩but every of us endeavour to draw home to himself, so as we become not like wavering reeds, but stand steadfast in the doctrine which we shall have learned. In so doing our Lord Jesus Christ will avow us to be of the company and number of his sheep, and always do the duty of a shepherd towards us. But if we play those men which care not which end go forward, insomuch that if a man tell them that Jesus Christ is the only he upon whom we must rest to have any trust of Salvation: it is well, they can like well enough of that doctrine: and on the contrary part if a man set store of trumpery before them, and go about too trouble their wits with this and that, [they can well enough away with that too] and all is one to them: if there be no discretion in us, it is a token that we have no certainty of faith. For we must be out of all doubt, that Jesus Christ is the only Master, seeing that that charge is committed to him by God his father, and also that he hath fully performed the same. If we be not at that point, it is certain that we shall always be carried away with opinion and imagination, and that there shall be no faith at all in us. And that is the cause also why S. Paul declareth, that the Gospel which he had preached, is the same which our Lord Jesus Christ commanded to be preached and published, and whereof he is the author in the name of God his father. Seeing it is so: it behoveth us to hold us to it: and so consequently when S. Paul speaketh of another Gospel, he meaneth the minglemangle and corruption that might be put unto it: as if he should say, Whatsoever is added or patched to the doctrine of the Gospel by mans device, so as they can not content themselves with the simpleness thereof, but that they do vary from it: is every whit of it mere leasing. And therefore let us shun it as a poison, for surely no poison can be so deadly as a false doctrine.

but wee muste put that thing in •re which is spoken in the tenth of Sainct Iohn,