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 if any man will draw us from the obeying of our God, to make us stoop to the tyranny of men▪ Let us hold our own in that case, let us withstand him stoutly to the uttermost, and let us defy all the loftiness of the world, to the end that our lord Jesus Christ be not diminished, but may always reign over us, and we be subject unto him. Thus ye see in effect how we ought to put this text in practise, and also how the necessity of the time ought to stir us thereunto. For now a days we be not only persecuted, so as we see the fires kindled too murder the poor servants of God: but also are fain to be accused and condemned as seditious persons, by those slaves that are in wages with Antichrist, to overthrow the truth of the Gospel. Moreover they say there is nothing but pride in us, because we will not receive their traditions. Well then, do they slander us so furiously? Let us bear it patiently, and let them rail their fill (as S. Paul saith) so our quarrel be always to stand for our part in the pure truth of the Gospel, and to withstand the Creatures that will not suffer Christ alone too reign, and all knees too bow before him, and all men to do him homage. Now as touching that which S. Paul speaketh of the truth of the Gospel, ⟨image 81⟩it a very notable saying, and which importeth a very profitable doctrine. For he might well have said simply, to the end that the gospel might abide among you, I would not give place too them so much as one minute. But he speaketh of the truth of the Gospel: Howbeit, not that there is one true, and another false: but when he saith that the Gospel should continue true, he speaketh it in respect of men. And why so? For although men make a fair show to be Christians: yet do they always labour to have some medley, according as we see many geerish heads in this world, who cannot abide that God alone should govern us, but every man would cast in his own collop or morsel, and thereof came the confusion that is at this day in the papacy. A man would wonder how so many pelting gewgaws, fools babbles, yea and also gross abominations could be gathered together. But that is come to pass because that men were not contented to obey God, but would needs add this and that of their own fancy. So then, S.

But if any man will drawe vs from the obeying of our God, to make vs stoupe to the tirannie of men▪ Let vs hold our owne in that case, let vs withstande him stoutly to the vttermost, and let vs defie all the loftinesse of the world, to the end that our lord Iesus Christ be not diminished, but may alwais reigne ouer vs, and we be subiect vnto him. Thus yee see in effect how we ought to put this text in practise, and also how the necessitie of the time oughte to stirre vs therevnto. For nowe a dayes wee bee not only persecuted, so as wee see the fyres kindled too murther the poore seruants of God: but also are fayne to be accused and condemned as seditious persons, by those slaues that are in wages with Antichrist, to ouerthrowe the truthe of the Gospell. Moreouer they say there is nothing but pride in vs, bicause wee will not receyue their traditions. VVell then, doo they slander vs so furiously? Let vs beare it patiently, and let them rayle their fill (as S. Paule sayth) so our quarell bee alwayes to stande for our parte in the pure truthe of the Gospell, and to withstande the Creatures that will not suffer Christe alone too reigne, and all knees too bow before him, and all men to doo him homage. Nowe as touching that whiche S. Paule speaketh of the truthe of the Gospell,