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

for though they be not past three days old, nor can magnify themselves among men, nor have done many exploits and valiant enterprises: yet is it no matter too us, so we perceive that our Lord hath given them such gifts as may be available too our edification, and therefore let every of us stoop and become teachable, assuring our selves that if we refuse the good that is offered us by man, we do not wrong too the man, but forasmuch as God is the author thereof, and we hold scorn too receive that which cometh of him, we be worthy too be utterly bereft of the thing that he is minded too bestow upon us, and of the benefits which he hath after a sort put into our hand. Lo what we have too bear away. Furthermore let us learn also, not too bring any imagination of self value when we come unto God. But let him that is noble, mighty, or rich too the worldwarde, lay away all self estimation, and acknowledge it too be utterly nothing before God: and let him that is poor and miserable, assure himself that he is not quite shaken off, though men despise him. Also let us practise that which is showed us by S. James, which is, that the brother which is great and noble should glory in his smallness, knowing that he hath all things of Gods only mere goodness: and that the brother which is poor and of low and mean degree, should glory in that God hath adopted him, and given him such a state as passeth all the kingdoms of the world, seeing it pleaseth him too avow us after that fashion for his children. True it is that where as men gaze upon the outward appearance and fair show of things: God accepteth a good conscience, God looketh at the uncorruptnesse of the hart. But yet must he be fain too put the same before into it: for at the first he shall not find it in us. Let God look upon all the children of Adam,¹ and (as it is said in the Psalm) he shall ⟨p. 68⟩find nothing but utter corruption. They be stark rotten in their wickedness. See what our nature is. Then is there not any thing that could move God too accept us, and too prefer us before others: but we must become vessels of his goodness, and acknowledge that his accepting of us, is not for our own worthiness: but that when he chose us too himself, and set us into the way by his holy spirit, even then he knew what soundness was in us.

for though they bee not past three dayes old, nor can magnifie themselues among men, nor haue done many exploytes and valeant enterpryzes: yet is it no matter too vs, so wee perceyue that our Lord hath giuen them such giftes as may bee auayleable too our edification, and therefore let euery of vs stoupe and become teachable, assuring our selues that if wee refuze the good that is offered vs by man, wee do not wrong too the man, but for asmuch as God is the author thereof, and wee hold skorne too receyue that which commeth of him, we be woorthie too bee vtterly bereft of the thyng that he is mynded too bestowe vppon vs, and of the benefites which he hath after a sorte put intoo our hand. Lo what wee haue too beare away. Furthermore lette vs learne also, not too bring any imaginacion of selfe value when wee come vntoo God. But let him that is noble, mightie, or riche too the worldwarde, lay away all selfe estimation, and acknowledge it too bee vtterly nothing before God: and lette him that is poore and miserable, assure himselfe that he is not quite shaken off, though men despyze him. Also let vs practyze that which is shewed vs by S. Iames, which is, that the brother which is greate and noble shoulde glorie in his smalnesse, knowing that he hath all things of Gods onely meere goodnesse: and that the brother which is poore and of lowe and meane degree, should glorie in that God hath adopted him, and giuen him suche a state as passeth all the kingdomes of the worlde, seyng it pleaseth him too auow vs after that fashion for his children. True it is that where as men gaze vppon the outward apparance and fayre shewe of things: God accepteth a good conscience, God looketh at the vncorruptnesse of the hart. But yet must he be fayne too put the same before into it: for at the first he shall not finde it in vs. Let God looke vppon all the children of Adam,