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

We find well enough what an enemy of our welfare the Devil is, sith he ceaseth not to labour by all means too stop the course of the Gospel. And therein we perceive also, that God hath set all our welfare, joy, and happiness, in being taught by his word. For the Devil would not be so hasty to trouble that doctrine, unless he knew that the whole welfare of men lieth therein. True it is that he laboureth sore and straineth himself too deface Gods glory: but they be things that go together. For God of his gracious goodness hath appointed that too be the mean too reign among us, and to gather us unto himself: and all our welfare is too cleave unto him and too join with him. Now therefore the Devil not only stirreth up many enemies to make war against the Gospel ⟨image 76⟩of our Lord Jesus Christ: but also laboureth too stir up much strife among our selves, and too make us enemies one too another, and that hath bin his practise at all times, as we see by example in the things that Saint Paul rehearseth too us here. We know what alarams were given him everywhere, and what a number of battles and plunges he was put unto, by reason that the Heathen and the unbelievers did (to the uttermost of their power) withstand the preaching of Gods word: and yet over and besides this, he showeth how there were deceivers also, which wound themselves in slyly, and entered in as it were by stealth. For the Greek word that he useth, importeth so much, and it cannot well be expressed [by any one word] in our [french] tongue. His meaning then is that there were Cozeners which intermeddled themselves undermyningly with the faithful, and yet all was no more but to cause the truth of the Gospel to be corrupted. And let us mark, that those dogs pretended not to reject utterly the whole doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ: but rather bare the name and title of Christianity. Howbeit in the mean while their intent was to have a half fast Gospel, which should be neither fish nor flesh (as they say) but a medley of their own device: like as at this day there are still too many such folk in the world, who would fain forge and build a kind of Religion after their own fashion, taking a piece of the pure truth, and mingling many lies and dreams with it. Lo how there have bin Neuters even from S. Pauls time hither.

WEe finde well ynough what an enemie of our welfare the Diuell is, sith he ceasseth not to labour by all meanes too stop the course of the Gospell. And therein wee perceyue also, that God hath set al our welfare, ioy, and happinesse, in beyng taught by his woorde. For the Diuell would not be so hastie to trouble that doctrine, vnlesse he knew that the whole welfare of men lyeth therein. True it is that he laboreth sore and streyneth himselfe too deface Gods glory: but they bee things that go togither. For God of his gracious goodnesse hath appoynted that too bee the meane too reigne among vs, and to gather vs vnto himself: and all our welfare is too cleaue vnto him and too ioyne with him. Now therfore the Diuell not only stirreth vp many enemies to make warre agaynst the Gospell