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

6. But as for those that are in estimation, (I pass not what they have bin in time past: for God regardeth not the outward appearance of man) surely those that were in estimation did add nothing unto me. 7▪ But contrariwise when they saw that the preaching ⟨image 83⟩of the Gospel to the uncircumcised was committed unto me, as the preaching to the circumcised was committed unto Peter: 8 (For he that was of power in Peters Apostleship towards the Circumcision, was of power in me also towards the Gentiles.)

6. But as for those that are in estimation, (I passe not vvhat they haue bin in time past: for God regardeth not the outvvard apparance of man) surely those that vvere in estimation did adde nothyng vnto me. 7▪ But cōtraryvvise vvhē they savv that the preaching ⟨image 83⟩of the Gospell to the vncircumcised vvas cōmitted vnto me, as the preaching to the circumcysed vvas committed vnto Peter: 8 (For he that vvas of povver in Peters Apostleship tovvardes the Circumcizion, was of povver in mee also tovvardes the Gentiles.)

WE saw this morning, that when men mingle their own fancies with Gods truth, there is nothing but corruption, and by that means the Gospel is falsified. Which thing ought to hold us in such awe, as no man should presume to add aught at all to the things that we have from above. For God hath taught us so perfectly, as we can not put too any thing without great blasphemy, forasmuch as it were a covert accusing of him of unadvisedness, or else of nigardship, as who should say he were loth too bestow things upon us which would be for our welfare: Seeing then that the doctrine of the Gospel is sufficient for us, let us abide in it. And if any man step up to bring in some addition of his own, let us abhor it, yea though the thing seem to have never so great reason in it, as oftentimes the devil useth to shroud himself under this covert, that we must not stick at light & slender points. But [surely] God must be hearkened too in all points and all respects according as it is to be deemed by S. Pauls doing, who could easily have let slip the circumcising of Titus as a small thing, & yet notwithstanding would not bend in that behalf: the reason whereof was, least the Gentiles should be made subject to such necessity as was intended to be laid upon them. Yet we read that he sticked not to circumcise Timothy. Nevertheless the matter seemed to be all one, and that S. Paul used inconstancy and variableness in that behalf. Behold, there were two Heathen men which had not bin nourished and instructed in the law of Moses from their birth. And the Jews would never have received any man that had not ben circumcised. For they deemed all men to be unclean which bare not that warrant about them.