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 whereof is it long that we be not blockish as many creatures are, whom we see to be without wit or reason? Who is it that hath put such difference between men? It is certain that of necessity God must have marked us out, and appointed what we should be, even before we were borne. And therefore who soever hath either wit or any other excellent gift above other men; let him assure himself that God hath fashioned him thereunto. Again, when we be come too age, God must be fain too thrust us still forward and too guide us, howbeit that the same be by a secrete power. We see that the Paynims have some care of the bringing up of their children, and that some of them have a better mind to their study than others. But yet how soever they fare, it is God that guideth and governeth them from ⟨image 62⟩above, so as all ought too be attributed unto him. And here ye see why S. Paul having said that God revealed his son unto him, addeth that as he had called him too preach, so also he had erst shoaled him out aforehand from others: that is too say, he had held him fast as he that wist well too what seruis he were best too apply him. Then seeing it is so, we have cause too walk in humbleness, assuring our selves that if there be any excellency in us, we must not every man brag of it as of his own, but acknowledge God too be the author of all that he hath bestowed upon us, and that his mere goodness is the fountain whereout of we draw. Now if this extend too the smallest gifts of grace which we receive of him: what doth it too the inestimable benefit which he bestoweth upon us, when he calleth us too the knowledge of his Gospel, when he openeth us the gate of Heaven, too show us that he holdeth us all for his children and that he is our father, and when our Lord Jesus Christ is so knit unto us, that by his means we be already made sure of the endless life? Can we say that we have any thing of our own, when God maketh us partakers of such a treasure? Ye see then that the thing which we have too gather upon this strain, is that God hath so reserved too himself the disposing of mans life, that it is his peculiar office to guide our steppes: and he knoweth whereunto he hath ordained us.

For whereof is it long that wee bee not blockish as many creatures are, whom we see to be without witte or reason? VVho is it that hath put suche difference betweene men? It is certayne that of necessitie God must haue marked vs out, and appoynted what wee should bee, euen before wee were borne. And therefore who soeuer hath eyther wit or any other excellent gifte aboue other men; lette him assure himselfe that God hath fashyoned him therevnto. Againe, when wee bee come too age, God muste bee fayne too thrust vs still foreward and too guyde vs, howbeit that the same bee by a secrete power. VVee see that the Paynims haue some care of the bringyng vp of their children, and that some of them haue a better minde to their studie than others. But yet how soeuer they fare, it is God that guydeth and gouerneth them from