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 the devil hath many means & slights to darken Gods truth, in such wise, as it may well seem unto us that we be still with God, & yet in the mean while we shall be a great way of from him, unless we have wisdom and discretion as it is given us here. Therefore let us have the skill too discern God from men, so as we may not be abashed nor amazed when we see many contrarieties, much diversity of opinions, and many encounters and disputations. Let none of all those things make us change our belief. And why? Let us look no more but whether we can be sure in God: if we have that once, let us boldly despise the whole world. But if we be not well settled in our faith: it is certain th•• every blast of wind will overthrow it; or at leastwise make it too stagger too and fro. Therefore let us take such taste, as we may know that God hath verily had pity of us, too the end too show us his will: and let us look well too such ⟨image 51⟩as teach us, [and mark] of what mind they be led and governed, whether they seek to obey God on their own part, and too lead us in the same way by their own example. Furthermore, when S. Paul saith, that if he should please men he were not the servant of Jesus Christ: that doctrine implieth very much. For we know well enough what men are of their own nature, how there is nothing in them but iniquity and stubbornness against God. Then if we mind to pleasure them: we must give over God and have nothing to do with him. For men go always backward if they be not compelled to come unto God, and they kick against him like wild beasts. Therefore we cannot please them but by straying from God, and by giving the bridle to such as leap out, eft a tone side, and eft a toother: yea and even the good men could sometimes find in their hearts, that God should apply himself too their appetites. For although they be still minded too serve him: yet are they not at all times, and in all points so well ruled, as to have given over all their own opinions, likings, and desires, but that sometimes they shall every one of them be tempted to do one thing or other, insomuch that if we were not held short, and made to retire out of hand, we would run to our destruction.

But the diuell hath many meanes & slightes to darken Gods truth, in such wise, as it may wel seme vnto vs that we be stil with God, & yet in the mean while we shalbe a great way of from him, vnlesse we haue wisdome and discretion as it is giuen vs heere. Therefore let vs haue the skill too discerne God from men, so as we may not be abashed nor amazed when wee see many contrarieties, muche diuersitie of opinions, and many incounters and disputations. Let none of all those things make vs chaunge our beleefe. And why? Let vs looke no more but whether wee can bee sure in God: if we haue that once, let vs boldely despise the whole worlde. But if we bee not well settled in our fayth: it is certayne th euerie blaste of winde wyll ouerthrowe it; or at leastwyze make it too stagger too and fro. Therefore let vs take such taste, as wee maye knowe that God hathe verily had pitie of vs, too the ende too shewe vs hys wyll: and let vs looke well too suche