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

If Saint Paul had shrunk aside by himself, it would have been said, that his meaning was not too have any consent of doctrine with the rest of the Apostles. But now, seeing he cometh after that sort too agree with them: he showeth that he was not carried away with any pride or presumptuousness: and that is it which he meaneth by saying new again, that the Apostles avowed him too be their fellow▪ Then doth he not take upon him too be above them: but will have men know that the Apostles served our Lord Jesus Christ, & that he was one of their number, and that the Gospel which he had preached must not be taken as a doubtful thing, but [as certain] as if Peter or John had spoken it, insomuch that when Saint Paul treateth thereof, he sayeth not, it is I, but he sayeth it is Jesus Christ. Whither it be Peter, John, or James that speaketh, let us look that the Son of God have ever the masterhood above us, and let the thing that cometh of him be received, whither it be by me or by an other. Saint Paul will not have men too gaze after him, any more than after the least man in the world. The thing which we have in effect too remember in this text of Saint Pauls, is that he had no mind at all of himself, ne sought any whit of his own, but was contented that Jesus Christ should have the praise that he deserved, and that his word should be received with all reverence, and as for all other things, he cared not what became of them. As touching the other point, that he was accepted for the Apostle of the Gentiles:¹ it is agreeable too that which Saint Luke also rehearseth: namely that Paul and Barnabas were ordained Apostles, because God had shoaled them out for the same purpose, too preach the Gospel among the Gentiles. Then did not that matter come of men: but God had pronounced his unrevocable sentence of it: and Saint Pauls treating after that sort of himself, doth no whit diminish the commission of the other Apostles. ⟨p. 69⟩But seeing he was sent of God in deed, and that his calling was not grounded upon men, nor he had preached in unmeasurably, nor thrust himself in upon a geerishnesse, but was chosen thereunto of God: the Apostles showed that they would not in any wise speak against such a calling, because it was of sufficient authority, as coming from God.

If Sainct Paule had shrunke aside by himselfe, it woulde haue bene sayde, that his meening was not too haue any consent of doctrine with the rest of the Apostles. But nowe, seyng he commeth after that sorte too agree with them: he sheweth that he was not caried away with any pryde or presumptuousnesse: and that is it whiche he meeneth by saying newe agayne, that the Apostles auowed him too bee their fellowe Then dothe he not take vppon him too bee aboue them: but will haue men knowe that the Apostles serued our Lord Iesus Christ, & that he was one of their number, and that the Gospell which he had preached muste not bee taken as a doubtfull thing, but [as certaine] as if Peter or Iohn had spoken it, in somuch that when Sainct Paule treateth thereof, hee sayeth not, it is I, but he sayeth it is Iesus Christe. VVhither it bee Peter, Iohn, or Iames that speaketh, let vs looke that the Sonne of God haue euer the maysterhood aboue vs, and lette the thing that commeth of him bee receyued, whither it bee by mee or by an other. Sainct Paule will not haue men too gaze after him, any more than after the least man in the worlde. The thing which wee haue in effect too remember in this texte of Sainct Paules, is that he had no minde at all of himselfe, ne sought any whit of his owne, but was contented that Iesus Christe shoulde haue the prayse that he deserued, and that his woord should be receyued with all reuerence, and as for all other things, he cared not what became of them. As touching the other poynt, that he was accepted for the Apostle of the Gentiles: