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 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.

WE saw this morning, that when mē mingle their owne fancies with Gods truth, ther is nothing but corruption, and by that meanes the Gospel is falsified. VVhich thing ought to holde vs in such awe, as no man shoulde presume to adde aught at all to the things that we haue from aboue. For God hath taught vs so perfectly, as we can not put too any thing without great blasphemie, forasmuch as it were a couert accusing of him of vnaduisednesse, or els of nigardship, as who shuld say he were loth too bestow things vpon vs which would be for our welfare: Seeing then that the doctrine of the Gospel is sufficient for vs, let vs abide in it. And if any man step vp to bring in some addition of his own, let vs abhor it, yea though the thing seme to haue neuer so great reason in it, as oftentimes the diuell vseth to shroude himself vnder this couert, that we must not stick at light & slender points. But [surely] God must be hearkned too in al points and al respects according as it is to be demed by S. Paules dooing, who could easyly haue let slip the circumcizing of Titus as a smal thing, & yet notwithstanding would not bēd in that behalf: the reason wherof was, least the Gentiles shoulde be made subiect to such necessitie as was intended to be layde vpon thē. Yet we read that he sticked not to circumcise Timothie. Neuerthelesse the matter seemed to be all one, and that S. Paule vsed inconstancie and variablenesse in that behalfe. Beholde, there were twoo Heathen men which had not bin nourished and instructed in the law of Moyses from their birth. And the Iewes would neuer haue receyued any man that had not ben circumcized. For they deemed all men to be vncleane whiche bare not that warrant about them.