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

Then sith we see that the Devil possesseth them after that sort, let us not stick too arm our selves too the battle, and too stand out against them too the uttermost: specially seeing that among other things, the quarrel is more favourable too us in these days, than it could seem to be in the time that Saint Paul maintained it. True it is that the reason is alike, and springeth all out of one fountain: but yet was Saint Paul fain too fight against the Ceremonies that God had commanded by his own mouth. And why did he so? Because that thereby the Gospel was darkened, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was after a sort beaten down, mens merits were stablished, and finally men knew not whereat God had aimed in his law. And nowadays the self same reasons move us, to fight against all the abominations that have bin set up in the Popedom. But we have this for an advantage, that all these things were forged in the shops of Satan and of men. Now we know there is nothing but vanity in men, so long as they be ruled by their own fancy, and submit not themselves too the obeying of God. For as much as the case standeth so, let us fight ⟨p. 76⟩so much the more manfully, seeing that our Lord doth in all respects give us wherewith to keep us from being dismayed at the titles that are set afore us to outface us with, which are nought else but illusions of Satan. Ye see in effect what we have to bear in mind. But it behoveth us also too mark well how Saint Paul addeth that his rebuking of Peter was because he and his companions walked not the right way in the truth of the Gospel: and besides that, his rebuking of them was, because he saw that the mischief was already spread far and wide, and that if he had forborne any longer, the remedy would have come out of season. Behold here two reasons which it standeth us on hand too mark well. As touching the truth of the Gospel, I have showed you already how it is the pureness which it behoveth us to stick unto. He might well have said, that they walk not the right way in the Gospel: but he speaketh of the truth [of the Gospel,] according as he had used the same word once afore.

Then sithe wee see that the Diuell possesseth them after that sort, let vs not sticke too arme our selues too the battell, and too stande out agaynst them too the vttermost: specially seeing that among other things, the quarell is more fauourable too vs in these dayes, than it coulde seeme to bee in the tyme that Saint Paule mainteyned it. True it is that the reason is alyke, and springeth all out of one fountaine: but yet was Saint Paule faine too fight agaynst the Ceremonyes that God had commaunded by his owne mouth. And why did hee so? Bycause that thereby the Gospell was darkened, the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ was after a sort beaten downe, mennes merites were stablished, and finally men knewe not whereat God had amed in his lawe. And nowadayes the selfe same reasons moue vs, to fight agaynst all the abhominations that haue bin set vp in the Popedome. But we haue this for an aduantage, that all these things were forged in the shoppes of Sathan and of men. Nowe wee knowe there is nothing but vanitie in men, so long as they bee ruled by their owne fancie, and submit not themselues too the obeying of God. For as much as the cace standeth so, let vs fight