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

Thus ye see what we have to bear in mind, and how needful it is that we should so do: for there is not any thing contained here, whereof we have not the experience now adays. As touching the words where Saint Paul sayeth that God accepteth not any mans person: it is all one as if he had said, that God is not tied too the things that are seen of us, or which we have in estimation, but that he is free too bestow his gifts on whom he listeth, and how he listeth. Many men, when they here this word Person spoken of, do beguile themselves, and wrest it against the meaning of the holy Ghost. And thereupon many men suppose that God accepteth not any one man more than another, for then [think they] he should be partial. But see how they darken Gods free Election: as who should say he were beholden too men, and that if he chose any of them, the same ought too be general without exception, in so much that (too their seeming) Gods grace flieth in the air like a Tennis ball, and it is in our power and free will too reach out our hand too catch it, and too apply it too our use. Thus are diverse besotted, yea even with too gross ignorance, because they understand not what is meant by the word person. But the holy Scripture telleth us, that God in vouchsafing too choose men, and too set them in a more excellent state, and too bestow the gifts of his holy Spirit upon them, stayeth not upon any thing at all in the party, ne passeth whither he be white or black, old or young, noble or unnoble, rich or poor, beloved or behated of men, fair or foul. God thinketh not upon any of these small trifles: for if he should delay too love us till he found some good thing in us: he should let us alone still in such plight as we be. That therefore is the cause why Saint Paul sayeth expressly, that God regardeth not any mans person. And so we see now what we have ⟨image 88⟩too gather upon that Text. First of all (as I have said already) let us learn too receive Gods gifts, and too make our own profit of them when they be offered us, and let us not take occasion too refuse them as many men do, which labour too cloak their unkindness by alleging one thing or other. But whither they allege antiquity, or what soever thing else, let it not hinder us too take profit by those whom God sendeth too us:

Thus yee see what wee haue to beare in minde, and how needefull it is that wee should so doo: for there is not any thing contayned heere, whereof wee haue not the experience nowe adayes. As touchyng the woordes where Sainct Paule sayeth that God accepteth not any mannes persone: it is all one as if hee had sayde, that God is not tied too the things that are seene of vs, or whiche wee haue in estimation, but that he is free too bestowe his giftes on whom he listeth, and how he listeth. Many men, when they heere this woorde Persone spoken of, doo beguyle themselues, and wrest it agaynst the meeening of the holy Ghoste. And therevppon many men suppoze that God accepteth not any one man more than another, for then [thinke they] he should be partiall. But see how they darken Gods free Election: as who shoulde say hee were beholden too men, and that if he choze any of them, the same ought too bee generall without exception, in so muche that (too their seemyng) Gods grace flieth in the ayre lyke a Tennisball, and it is in our power and free will too reache out our hande too catche it, and too apply it too our vse. Thus are diuerse besotted, yea euen with too grosse ignorance, bycause they vnderstande not what is ment by the woorde persone. But the holy Scripture telleth vs, that God in voutchsafing too chooze menne, and too set them in a more excellent state, and too bestowe the giftes of his holie Spirite vppon them, stayeth not vppon any thing at all in the partie, ne passeth whither he bee whyte or blacke, olde or yong, noble or vnnoble, riche or poore, beloued or behated of menne, fayre or foule. God thinketh not vppon any of these small tryfles: for if he shoulde delay too loue vs till he found some good thing in vs: hee shoulde lette vs alone still in suche plight as wee bee. That therefore is the cause why Sainct Paule sayeth expresly, that God regardeth not any mannes persone. And so wee see now what wee haue