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

We saw this Morning, that all such as have the charge & office to teach in gods Church, must forget all liking and favour of the world: for otherwise they can never discharge their duty faithfully, considering how men do always desire and covet too be flattered, and cannot abide to have their faults rebuked as they ought to be. Thereupon I told you also, that every man must rid himself of all fleshly affections, that they may become true ⟨p. 33⟩disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. For so long as we shall follow our own lusts, the gate shall be shut against us, and we shall never have any entrance in unto the Gospel. And truly we see how the Prophet Isaiah speaketh thereof.¹ He saith that all such as will have men to preach pleasurable things to their liking, do drive away God as far off from them as they can. True it is that they will not speak after that sort. For even in the Country of Jewry, every man protested to serve the God that was revealed too their father Abraham, and which had published his law by Moses. Sacrifices were offered in the Temple, and there were fair shows enow there. Nevertheless the Prophet concludeth in one word, that men were desirous too be soothed, and fair spoken too, and by means thereof could not suffer God too guide them, nor give him leave too lay his yoke upon their neck. Ye see then that the means for us to be prepared too receive the doctrine of the Gospel, and to be edified by the same, is that we be not wedded too our own likings, but suffer our Lord Jesus Christ to speak the things that are expedient for our instruction. Howbeit besides this, we must also be as it were wounded to the heart by the word that is preached to us, or else we shall never fare the better for it.² For (as I declared this morning) it is not without cause that the Gospel is likened to a sharp sword, and it behoveth us verily too be made true sacrifices by renouncing all our own lusts, and all other things which God condemneth, and too endure the same patiently, too the intent too be wholly brought back too the obeying of his will. And heerewithall we must also call to mind what hath bin treated of heretofore:

WEe saw this Morning, that all suche as haue the charge & office to teach in gods Church, must forget all lyking and fauour of the worlde: for otherwise they can neuer discharge theyr duetie faythfully, considering howe men doo alwayes desire and couet too be flattered, and cannot abide to haue their faultes rebuked as they ought to be. Thereupon I tolde you also, that euery man must rid himselfe of all fleshly affections, that they maye become true