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

15 But when it pleased God, who chose me from my mothers womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son by me, to the end I should preach him among the Gentiles: I did not thereupon take counsel of flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I back again to Jerusalem too those that had bin Apostles before me: but went my way into Araby, & returned again to Damasco. 18 Afterward, a three years after, I went again to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and abode with him fifteen days, &c.

15 But vvhen it pleazed God, who choze me from my mothers vvomb, and called mee by his grace, 16 To reuele his Sonne by mee, to the ende I shoulde preach him among the Gentiles: I did not therevpon take counsell of flesh and bloud: 17 Nother vvent I backe againe to Ierusalem too those that had bin Apostles before mee: but vvent my vvay into Arabie, & returned again to Damasco. 18 Aftervvard, a three yeeres after, I vvent again to Ierusalem to visit Peter, and abode vvith him fiftene dayes, &c.

We have seen what case is handled here by S. Paul: that is to wit, that men ought not to be advanced so high, as that the glory of God should be defaced or diminished in respect of them, or of the reputation that we have of their persons. For oftentimes we be given to commend creatures to much, so as the same carieth a prejudice to Gods word. And although S. Paul compare himself here with the other Apostles: yet hath he not regard of his own person, but is desirous that the gospel which was committed unto him should be received with all reverence. And for the bringing thereof to pass, he allegeth here Gods graces rather than his own virtues. For he doth not allege or rehearse here what he had done as of himself, but ⟨image 61⟩what he hath done through the change that was happened unto him, which men might perceive to be from heaven, and not through his own endeavour. Yea and we see, how he declareth freely, that all his changing after that manner, ought too be fathered upon the mere goodness of God: for he useth the term of good Pleasure. Wherein he excludeth, what soever is of man, to the end it should not be thought that he minded too reserve aught too himself. Again, he sayeth not that he had sought the Gospel, but that he had had it by revelation. Thirdly he sayeth it was God that called him. And lastly he sayeth that it was not for any readiness that was in himself afore hand (as peradventure a man might put one of us too some seruis when he findeth us meet for a thing:) but he sayeth that God had separated him aforehand from his mothers womb. We see then that S. Paul intendeth not to exalt himself, but only too make Jesus Christ known by his means, and to keep the doctrine of the Gospel from impeachment under the colour that other men had gotten great reputation through the whole world. And (as we see) the troublers that were come into the Country of Galatia, took a deceitful covert under the name of the Apostles. S. Paul therefore showeth, that the thing which he held, he had not of men. And likewise also he braggeth not that he had conquered o deserved aught, but that at leastwise it was known how God had so set out his grace in him, as the same served to make the doctrine of more authority which he bare abroad. But by the way, there is no doubt, but that in the person of S.