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 all mingling will be but corruption; as I told you this morning.¹ And that also is the cause why he exhorteth those that speak in the Church, too hold fast continually the Majesty of God, and not too bring in ought of their own, nor too put forth any thing which breedeth of their own brain. For in what case should we be, if men might intermeddle themselves with our Lord Jesus Christ, and every man caste in his morsel and collop (as they say) and that we might have a Gospel stuffed with mens dreams and fancies? It would be nothing else but ⟨image 55⟩a horrible confusion. Ye see then that our Lord Jesus Christ hath not his authority among us, until men be put down, and all other creatures with them, and that all give ear unto him fro the least too the most. This in effect is the matter which we have to bear in mind. And in deed we see how that in another Text too the Corinthians,² Saint Paul declareth that he had preached the perfect wisdom, when he did set forth our Lord Jesus Christ, and that there a man shall find whatsoever he can wish for his welfare. And in one other Text too the Ephesians he sayeth,³ that that is the thing whereunto we must apply all our study, both far and wide, so as we need not too bring any petty trash, too further the thing that he had set out afore. Then sith it is so, we see that all such as entangle themselves in mens devices and inventions, have a disguised Jesus Christ, and a bastard Gospel which God disclaimeth, so that our Christianity can be no Christianity, except we continue in the things which we have learned of the son of God, who is our only Master, and in the things which the Apostles also have taught us in his name. Lo what we have too remember in this Text. Now hereupon Saint Paul showeth his own conversation, whereby it may be gathered, that out of doubt he was as it were fashioned by the spirit of God. For so strange an alteration as was seen in his person, could not happen, except God had put too his hand, and wrought after a secrete and unaccustomed fashion. And so ye see in effect whereat he aimed, when he sayeth that the Galatians knew his conversation or manner of living. We have here a good lesson. Howbeit, that we may profit the more by it, let us mark how Saint Paul continueth the thing that he had touched afore: