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 there hath always been such spitefulness among men, that every man envieth his companion, because all men desire to be greatest. And until God have well tamed us, and we be learned to obey meekly: it is certain that there is none of us all, but he would fain overreach his fellow. Now out of this ambition spring always envy and strife, together with disdain, grudging, backbiting, and such other like things. But contrariwise, when we have well digested the rule that is given us here, by and by we learn too glorify God as oft as we see any tokens that come from him. For when we envy those whom God would have honoured, and go about too deface his gifts which we ⟨p. 52⟩perceive in them, and all excellency: surely we do not only offer wrong too mortal creatures, but also too God, who is the Author of the gifts in them. [As for example:] I see a man that is able too edify the Church, and God hath endued him with such gifts, that his labour may do good: now I fearing least he should be advanced too much, and I be plucked back by it, do go about by my slanders and overthwart means, too deface and diminish the thing that God hath put in him. It is all one as if he would hide all Gods gifts, and bring them in contempt.

for there hath alwayes beene such spytefulnesse among men, that euerye man enuyeth his companyon, bycause all men desire to be greatest. And vntill God haue well tamed vs, and we be learned to obey meekely: it is certayne that there is none of vs all, but he woulde fayne ouerreache his fellowe. Nowe out of this ambition spring alwayes enuie and strife, togyther with disdayne, grudging, backbyting, and suche other lyke things. But contrariwyse, when wee haue well digested the rule that is gyuen vs heere, by and by wee learne too glorifie God as oft as wee see any tokens that come from him. For when wee enuye those whome God woulde haue honoured, and go aboute too deface his giftes whiche wee ⟨p. 52⟩perceyue in them, and all excellencie: surely wee doo not onely offer wrong too mortall creatures, but also too God, who is the Authour of the gyftes in them. [As for example:] I see a man that is able too edifie the Churche, and God hath indued him with suche gyftes, that his labour maye doo good: nowe I fearing least hee shoulde bee aduaunced too muche, and I bee plucked backe by it, doo go aboute by my slaunders and ouerthwart meanes, too deface and diminishe the thing that God hathe putte in hym. It is all one as if hee woulde hyde all Gods gyftes, and bring them in contempt.