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

And whereof cometh this, but of the cursed ambition that I spake of afore? Now in such heaving at men, there will always be some strife and heartburning: and too be short, all must needs go too wrack, because God is offended at it. For at whom do these wrongs aim? True it is that I do wrong too my neighbour whom I disgrace after that sort: but therewithal I do also blaspheme God: so as we cannot deface the gifts and virtues that are in any man, but that our doing is forthwith matched with blasphemy, wherethrough God is grievously offended. And why? For God will be acknowledged in all his gifts, and when he offereth himself unto us, it is good reason that we should honour him. Therefore whensoever we see any tokens of the holy Ghost in any man, if we tread them under foot, or hold scorn of them, and mislike them: is it not a defacing of Gods Majesty too the uttermost of our power? Truly we will not confess it, but yet is it so in very deed. And therefore must we take so much the better heed of that which is spoken here: namely that the faithful glorified GOD in the person of Saint Paul, when they saw he had wrought after that manner in him: and that by that means we be put in mind that we be bound too yield God his dew honour, whensoever he offereth or showeth us any of his gifts. For the reproach or wrong is not done too the creature: but it is GOD that is unregarded in so doing; because he is defrauded and robbed of the right that belongeth unto him.

And whereof commeth this, but of the cursed ambition that I spake of afore? Nowe in suche heauing at men, there will alwayes bee some strife and hartburning: and too bee short, all must needes go too wracke, bycause God is offended at it. For at whome doo these wrongs ame? True it is that I doo wrong too my neighbour whome I disgrace after that sorte: but therewithall I doo also blaspheme God: so as wee cannot deface the giftes and vertues that are in anye man, but that our dooyng is foorthwith matched wyth blasphemie, wherethrough God is greeuously offended. And why? For God will bee acknowledged in all his giftes, and when hee offereth himselfe vntoo vs, it is good reason that wee shoulde honour him. Therefore whensoeuer wee see any tokens of the holy Ghost in anye man, if wee treade them vnder foote, or holde scorne of them, and mislyke them: is it not a defacing of Gods Maiestie too the vttermoste of oure power? Truely wee will not confesse it, but yet is it so in verye deede. And therefore muste wee take so muche the better heede of that whiche is spoken heere: namely that the faythfull glorifyed GOD in the person of Sainct Paule, when they sawe hee had wrought after that manner in hym: and that by that meanes wee bee put in mynde that wee bee bounde too yeelde God hys dew honour, whensoeuer hee offereth or sheweth vs anye of his gyftes. For the reproche or wrong is not done too the creature: but it is GOD that is vnregarded in so dooyng; bycause hee is defrauded and robbed of the right that belongeth vntoo him.