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

And yet his meaning is not, that he ought not too look back too humble himself continually, or that the gifts of grace which God had bestowed upon John and Peter, should not be esteemed and commended as they were praise worthy:¹ for we see that in other places he termeth himself a poor thing borne out of time, and confesseth himself too be unworthy to be counted in the number of the Apostles▪ Saint Paul then did not as a number of hypocrites or rather shameless persons do, who all their life long have bin either whoremongers, or drunkards, or loose livers, and of a beastly conversation, and yet for all that do but wring their mouth at it and say, tush, men must not inquire what I have bin. But surely men must not look too have any other judges [against them than themselves.] For every of us ought too condemn himself, as S. Paul exhorteth us: and specially when we consider how we have bin wretched unbelievers,² and as good as beasts, we ought too be ashamed of our own lewdness. Saint Paul therefore wist well there had bin cause for him too mislike of himself, and too be ashamed of his striving against the Gospel, and therewithal disdained not the goodness that had bin in John and James. At such time as Peter and John ⟨image 87⟩were scourged and whipped for the Gospel, Saint Paul was a murderer, and passed not too say that they were rightly dealt withal, and that it made no matter. But yet for all that, he aimeth at the mark which I spake of afore: namely that forasmuch as God had so advanced him within a little while, his former misbehaviour in times paste ought not to hinder the receiving of the gracious gifts that were in him, that they might not profit too the common edifying of the Church.

And yet his meening is not, that he ought not too looke backe too humble himselfe continually, or that the giftes of grace which God had bestowed vppon Iohn and Peter, should not bee esteemed and commended as they were prayse woorthie:¹ for we see that in other places he termeth himself a poore thing borne out of time, and confesseth himself too bee vnwoorthie to be counted in the number of the Apostles Sainct Paule then did not as a number of hypocrites or rather shamelesse persones do, who all their lyfe long haue bin eyther whoremongers, or drunkardes, or looce liuers, and of a beastly cōuersation, and yet for all that doo but wring their mouth at it and say, tush, men must not inquyre what I haue bin. But surely men must not looke too haue any other iudges [agaynst them than themselues.] For euery of vs ought too condemne himselfe, as S. Paule exhorteth vs: and specially when we consider how we haue bin wretched vnbeleeuers,