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

Paul showeth us here. And specially when Gods truth is in hand, let no man be spared, let the zeal of God get the upper hand in us, and although we should purchase displeasure, and run in danger of many slanders and backbitings, yet ought we nevertheless to undertake the challenge. For there is no excuse for us if we play the traitors, by dissembling when the truth of the Gospel is falsified. Wherefore we must follow the thing that Saint Paul showeth us here: and the deed which he did too his fellow Peter, must serve us for a law and rule, so as we may show that we desire nothing more, than that God should be heard, that his truth should not be turned into a lye, and that there should not be any thing shuffled too it, nor any Leaven or Darnell mingled with it, but that it should continue always in his own pure singleness. And on the other side, the great ones are warned here, too submit themselves meekly, and too yield themselves pliable too the correction that is offered them, knowing that God surrendered not his own right when he advanced them too that ⟨image 96⟩state, but must still keep his sovereign dominion, execute his jurisdiction by his word, in such wise as they which are most highly advanced, must bow down their necks, and understand that it were a devilish confusion too pretend a privilege too receive no chastisement. For by that means Gods word should be as good as thrust out of doors, and he be bereft of the sovereignty which he hath over us: and therefore after that manner must we put that doctrine in ure. And specially nowadays when we see men so bold too bend themselves after that fashion against God, let us be fenced aforehand against them, and let nothing abash us, seeing we know what the quarrel is wherein we fight against them: but let us hardily defy all that filthy dungeon, that is to wit, the Pope and his Clergy, and let us not pass a whit for these stinking vermin, when we see them bend their horns at our Lord Jesus Christ, and that under his shadow and by pretending his name, they go about too thrust his Gospel under foot, yea and too bury it utterly, or else too make such a confused mingling of it, as men may not know who is master.

Paule sheweth vs heere. And specially when Gods truthe is in hande, let no man be spared, let the zeale of God get the vpper hande in vs, and although we shoulde purchase displeasure, and runne in daunger of many slaunders and backbytings, yet ought wee neuerthelesse to vndertake the chalenge. For there is no excuse for vs if wee play the traytours, by dissembling when the truthe of the Gospell is falsified. Wherefore wee must followe the thing that Saint Paule sheweth vs heere: and the deede which hee did too his fellow Peter, muste serue vs for a lawe and rule, so as wee may shewe that wee desyre nothing more, than that God shoulde bee hearde, that his truth shoulde not bee turned intoo a lye, and that there should not be any thing shuffled too it, nor any Leuen or Darnell mingled with it, but that it shoulde continue alwayes in hys owne pure singlenesse. And on the other syde, the greate ones are warned heere, too submit themselues meekely, and too yeelde themselues plyable too the correction that is offered them, knowing that God surrendered not his owne right when hee aduaunced them too that