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 here we see yet better, how all men ought to frame themselves to obedience, too the intent that nothing may let the word of God to be a bridle and yoke, too hold us so in awe, as none of us may follow his own fancies, lusts and affections, but suffer our selves to be guided and governed by the hand of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now if it were not lawful for the Apostles to refuse Saint Paul, because he was sent from heaven: what shall we do? Shall it not be a devilish pride, if we cannot endure that the government and order which God hath stablished in his Church, should continue unimpeached, but would change callings at our own pleasure, to set up and pull down according too the device of our own foolish brain? Then if we go about too make such trouble in the Church, is it not all one as if we would pluck the Sun out of the sky to spite God withal. Therefore ye see here, that the thing which we have to bear in mind, is that the government of the Church is ordained of God, and that they which go about to change any thing in it, are full of devilish pride, and must in the end fall down for advancing themselves in such wise. Now as touching that Saint Paul was sent among the Gentiles:¹ it was not an altering of that which had bin uttered already by the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ when he said, go preach ye the Gospel through the whole world. It might seem at the first sight, that here was some change and contrariety, in that S. Paul was sent on the one side, and Saint Peter on the other. Nevertheless, both of them do stand very well together, forsomuch as our Lord Jesus Christ spake not severally to any one of the Apostles, Thou Peter shalt go over all the world, thou shalt go about the whole earth to preach my Gospel, or thou John shalt do the like, and so consequently to the others: but he sayeth, All you whom I have ordained, go spread abroad my Gospel every where. And his giving of Commission after that sort in general terms, is ⟨image 90⟩no let but that one might go one way, and another another, and every of them employ himself wheresoever God made him way, or gave him entrance, according also as they laboured to spend themselves thereabouts, as well in death as in life.

And heere we see yet better, howe all men ought to frame themselues to obedience, too the intent that nothing may let the worde of God to bee a brydle and yoke, too holde vs so in awe, as none of vs may follow his owne fancies, lustes and affections, but suffer our selues to be guided and gouerned by the hand of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Nowe if it were not lawfull for the Apostles to refuze Saint Paule, bicause he was sent from heauen: what shall we do? Shall it not bee a diuelish pryde, if wee cannot indure that the gouernment and order whiche God hath stablished in hys Church, shoulde continue vnimpeached, but would chaunge callings at our owne pleasure, to set vp and pull downe according too the deuice of our owne foolish brayne? Then if wee go about too make such trouble in the Church, is it not all one as if wee woulde plucke the Sunne out of the skie to spite God withall. Therefore ye see heere, that the thing which we haue to beare in minde, is that the gouernment of the Church is ordeyned of God, and that they which go about to chaunge any thing in it, are full of diuelish pride, and must in the ende fall downe for aduauncing themselues in such wise. Nowe as touching that Saint Paule was sent among the Gentiles: