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 thing had not bin known too be so excellent as it was, in that God kept him forty days upon the Mountain, and afterward made him come down with a shining face, so as men could no more abide too look upon him without dazzling of their eyes, than too look upon the brightness of the Sun, but he was fain too put a veil before him. Therefore all these things serve too prove, that he devised not the law of his own head, but was as an Angel of heaven, yea and much more excellent than an Angel, for so much as God had ordained him thereunto. In like case is it with the Apostles, for Jesus Christ could well have chosen such as had bin exercised a long while aforehand in the Law and holy Scriptures, and had some countenance to the worldward, and had already purchased some reputation and degree among men: but he chose poor silly souls and handicrafts men without any learning at all, and yet notwithstanding made them too speak after such a strange fashion, that through the eloquence and highness of knowledge which was in them, they passed all such as had bin esteemed most skilful and sharpwitted in the world. We see then that by ⟨p. 44⟩Gods so sudden changing of them, their doctrine was made of so much the more authority unto us. Even so standeth the case concerning Saint Paul. That then is a thing which ought too confirm us, and when soever we be taught by that which he hath left in writing, let us assure our selves that God speaketh too us, and that he was the instrument of our Lord Jesus Christ. He addeth furthermore, that he did not then commune with flesh and blood, that is too say with any mortal man, but went straightways into Araby, where be abode three years, and from thence returned too Jerusalem too see Peter, and saw not any other of the Disciples than him and James. Herein it might seem at the first blush, that S. Paul had to greatly disdained the rest of the Apostles. For although he had the knowledge of the Gospel, yet might he well have bin more confirmed, and the consent and agreement that Gods children have among themselves, doth strengthen them the more, as we find by experience. It seemeth then that Saint Paul disdained a mean that was fit for himself, and might have stood the whole Church in good stead. But there was a special reason that drew him the other way:

but the thing had not bin knowen too be so excellent as it was, in that God kept him fortie dayes vppon the Mountayne, and afterwarde made him come downe with a shyning face, so as mē could no more abyde too looke vppon him without dazeling of their eyes, than too looke vpon the brightnesse of the Sunne, but he was fayne too put a veyle before him. Therefore all these things serue too proue, that he deuised not the law of his owne head, but was as an Angel of heauen, yea and muche more excellent than an Angell, for somuch as God had ordeyned him therevntoo. In lyke cace is it with the Apostles, for Iesus Christe could well haue chozen such as had bin exercyzed a long whyle aforehand in the Lawe and holy Scriptures, and had some countenance to the worldward, and had already purchaced some reputaciō and degree among men: but he choze poore sillie soules and handycraftes men without any learning at all, and yet notwithstanding made them too speake after suche a straunge fashion, that through the eloquence and hyghnesse of knowledge which was in them, they passed all suche as had bin esteemed moste skilfull and sharpwitted in the worlde. VVee see then that by