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

Or may we confederate our selves too his prejudice? So then, seeing that we nowadays have too encounter against the wilful Papists, who have perverted, corrupted, and falsified all the truth of the Gospel: although they face us with these honourable titles of holy Catholic Church, holy Sea Apostolic, Prelacy, Christendom, and holy Supremacy (which yet notwithstanding are but visors in very deed:) let us not be abashed awhit at them. For why? we have God on our side: and besides that the truth of the Gospel is so precious in his sight, as he will not have any creature to be spared for it: according as we have seen how Saint Paul himself telleth us, that if it were possible for the Angels to turn us away from the pure doctrine, we should hold them accursed, and refuse and abhor them. And why then shall we seek too please mortal men, when they would disguise the pureness of the Gospel, and mingle their own inventions with it, and in so doing make our Lord Jesus Christ their underling, that they might still keep possession of their errors? Is it meet that we should yield up our places to them? A mischief light upon such concord: for it shall always be cursed of God. Wherefore let us have such stoutness and constancy of mind, that when we be once sure that the quarrel which we maintain is Gods, we stagger not for any greatness or loftiness of the world. Thus ye see in effect what we have to bear in mind. And here withal we see also what the fondness of the Papists is, and how shameless that villain [the Pope] hath bin in exempting himself from all correction. When the Pope intendeth to magnify himself greatly, he ⟨p. 74⟩calleth himself the Successor of Peter: and yet in the mean while, he will by no means submit himself too any chastisements. He saith that it belongeth to him to correct all the world, and that it is not lawful for any man to meddle with him. And whence cometh that exemption? For if he pretend to hold the place of Peter, we see here the contrary. Peter was rebuked and bare it, yea and he willingly granted himself to be guilty when he saw he was overcome. Seeing it is so, we must needs conclude that there is no dignity in this world (how much so ever men colour it) which should not always be subject too Gods word.

Or may wee confederate our selues too his preiudice? So then, seeing that wee nowadayes haue too incounter agaynst the wilfull Papistes, who haue peruerted, corrupted, and falsified all the truth of the Gospell: although they face vs with these honourable tytles of holy Catholike Churche, holy Sea Apostolike, Prelacie, Christendome, and holy Supremacie (which yet notwithstanding are but vizors in verie deede:) let vs not be abashed awhit at them. For why? wee haue God on our side: and besides that the truth of the Gospell is so precious in his sight, as hee will not haue any creature to bee spared for it: according as we haue seene how Saint Paule himselfe telleth vs, that if it were possible for the Angelles to turne vs away from the pure doctrine, wee shoulde holde them accursed, and refuze and abhorre them. And why then shall wee seeke too please mortall men, when they woulde disguize the purenesse of the Gospell, and mingle their owne inuentions wyth it, and in so dooing make our Lorde Iesus Christ their vnderling, that they mighte still keepe possession of theyr errours? Is it meete that wee shoulde yeelde vp our places to them? A mischiefe light vpon such concorde: for it shall alwayes be cursed of God. VVherfore let vs haue such stoutnesse and constancie of minde, that when we be once sure that the quarell which we mainteyne is Gods, wee stagger not for any greatnesse or loftinesse of the worlde. Thus ye see in effect what we haue to beare in minde. And heere withall we see also what the fondnesse of the Papistes is, and howe shamelesse that vilane [the Pope] hath bin in exempting himselfe from all correction. VVhen the Pope intendeth to magnifie himself greatly, he