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

For the Angels shall not come down to speak to us after a visible manner, but we must be taught by the mouths of men. And yet for all that, (as I have said already) we must hold this for an infallible conclusion, that we have the doctrine whereupon our faith is grounded and settled, from God and from our Lord Jesus Christ. And how shall we perceive that? By the two reasons that are set down here. Whereof the one is, that such as teach us have a desire and zeal to bring us unto god, and arm not themselves with the title & name of men, no nor have any thing at all of man, but follow the trace which God hath commanded all his to keep, that is to wit, that they win the world unto the obedience of him. Let that serve for one point. Secondly, besides their good zeal, they must also have ⟨p. 30⟩a certainty [of doctrine] so as he that speaketh may not take any thing upon him, nor pass his bounds, but from hand to hand deliver the thing that is commanded him, in such wise as Jesus Christ may always be heard, & suffered to speak, and all mouths else be stopped, saving only in way of hearkening, that his doctrine may be known unto us. Now as touching the first, where S. Paul protesteth his good mind: he saith that he doth not counsel [or persuade] according to men, but according to God▪ And hereby he meaneth, that he went not to work with a worldly affection, but had laboured to apply himself simply unto God, seeing he had bin called by him: & also that he had taken Jesus Christ for his master, so as he laid not forth any thing but him, nor toke any backfence of men, as those do which would allure simple & ignorant folk unto them, who hunt for credit here & there, saying▪ ho, such a man saith so. But it is only God that is to be hearkened unto. For though all men with one accord would turn us aside from him: surely he alone ought to outweigh ten C. M. worlds, if there were so many. Then seeing the case standeth so, let us mark well the doctrine that is contained here, where S. Paul setteth down his own affection, which serveth to give us a general rule: according whereunto he addeth immediately, that he had not laboured to please men. For so soon as folk speak after the appetite of men, Gods truth must needs be corrupted. Also▪ he addeth, that if he should please men, he were not the servant of Jesus Christ.

For the Angels shal not come down to speak to vs after a visible maner, but we must be taught by the mouthes of men. And yet for all that, (as I haue sayd already) we must holde this for an infallible cōclusion, that we haue the doctrine whervpon our fayth is grounded and setled, from God and from our Lorde Iesus Christ. And how shal we perceiue that? By the two reasons that are set downe here. VVherof the one is, that such as teach vs haue a desire and zeale to bring vs vnto god, and arme not thēselues with the title & name of men, no nor hauè any thing at all of man, but folow the trace which God hath cōmaunded all his to kepe, that is to wit, that they win the world vnto the obedience of him. Let that serue for one point. Secōdly, besides their good zeale, they must also haue