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

Now hereupon he addeth, that yet once again he made a journey to Jerusalem, and commoned with such as bare the countenance and had most ⟨p. 53⟩authority, too the end he might not [seem too] have run in vain heretofore, nor run in vain hereafter. Here we see how S. Paul was never satisfied in seeking all that might be too the advancement of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and too the taking away of lets, too the intent that the Gospel might have his free course and full scope, yea & that he was not led thereunto by vain presumptuousness, as we saw this morning: but considered that the wicked sort would lay to his charge, that yet at length he came too submit himself too the Apostles, too learn somewhat at their hands. He considered that this might well be said unto him: but hap what hap would, he intended not too forslow his duty in seeking agreement with the [other] Apostles. I say not that he sought a worldly matter at worldly mens hands: but too make his doings well allowed in all points. For it is certain that S. Paul going too Jerusalem, was not too scan who had taught best: but too make a mutual declaration among themselves, that every one of them had served God and preached the Gospel faithfully. That is the cause why S. Paul went thither. Therefore we see here his mildness, in that he spareth not himself at all, so the Church may receive any fruit or confirmation of faith by it, and men may be well assured that the Apostles reckoned him as one of their array and company. Again, besides his mildness, we see also his zeal. It had bin enough for him too have run into many countries: he had bin in Araby and gone about all that land: he had bin in Cilicia where he was borne, and also in Syria: and afterward having first gone about the whole land of Jewry, he returned too Jerusalem. Seeing he made all these voyages, and took none ease at all: it was a token that he would lever have bin dead than alive, so the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ might have bin furthered by it, and the Church have received any profit by his travel, as I said afore.

Nowe herevpon he addeth, that yet once againe hee made a iourney to Ierusalem, and commoned with such as bare the countenance and had most ⟨p. 53⟩authoritie, too the end he might not [seeme too] haue runne in vayne heretofore, nor runne in vayne hereafter. Here wee see howe S. Paule was neuer satisfied in seeking all that might bee too the aduauncement of the kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ, and too the taking away of lettes, too the intent that the Gospell might haue his free course and full scope, yea & that he was not led therevnto by vaine presumptuousnesse, as wee sawe this morning: but considered that the wicked sorte woulde lay to his charge, that yet at length he came too submit himselfe too the Apostles, too learne somewhat at their handes. He considered that this might well bee sayd vnto him: but hap what hap would, he intended not too forslowe his duetie in seeking agreement with the [other] Apostles. I say not that he sought a worldly matter at worldly mens handes: but too make his doings well allowed in all poynts. For it is certaine that S. Paule going too Ierusalem, was not too skan who had taught best: but too make a mutuall declaration among themselues, that euery one of them had serued God and preached the Gospell faithfully. That is the cause why S. Paule went thither. Therefore wee see heere his mildenesse, in that he spareth not himselfe at all, so the Church may receyue any frute or confirmation of fayth by it, and men may bee wel assured that the Apostles reckened him as one of their aray and companie. Againe, besides his mildenesse, wee see also his zeale. It had bin ynough for him too haue runne into many countries: hee had bin in Arabie and gone about all that land: he had bin in Cilicia where he was borne, and also in Syria: and afterward hauing firste gone about the whole lande of Iewrie, he returned too Ierusalem. Seyng he made all these voyages, and tooke none ease at all: it was a token that he would leuer haue bin dead than aliue, so the kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christe might haue bin furthered by it, and the Churche haue receyued any profite by his trauell, as I sayde afore.