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

IT hath always bin a common saying, that look what Law a man layeth upon others, he ought too keep the same himself. For it is neither right nor reason, that a man should go scot-free himself, and lay the burden upon other folks shoulders. And for that cause doth our Lord Jesus Christ upbraid the Scribes and Pharisees,¹ that they passed not to lay heavy burdens upon the poor people, & in the mean while took leave to do what they listed themselves. And commonly it falleth out through hypocrisy, that he which is rough & extreme in all rigour towards his neighbours, would have other men to forbear him and to dispense with him. But if we will needs press our neighbours to do their duty, the true & natural order requireth, that every of us should first begin at himself. Ye see then how it is a most manifest hypocrisy, when a man will not a whit bear with his neighbours, but challengeth their duty to the uttermost, & in the mean while offendeth grossly himself, & will not suffer any correction. Yea & sometimes also it falleth out, that we would play the good fellows at other mens cost. Even so fell it out here in S. Peter. For his enforcing of the Gentiles to keep the Ceremonial law, came not of the foresaid hypocrisy of taking leave too do what he listed, and of desiring too go quite and clear before God for his constraining of other men too such a point: but of doubleness, for that he was too desirous too pleasure his own countrymen. He had already taken leave too live after the manner ⟨image 99⟩of the Gentiles, that is to say, too give over the using of the Ceremonies of the Law. For (as I have erst touched) S. Paul speaketh not here of the unbelievers, nor of the despisers of God: but of those Gentiles that had bin converted too the knowledge of the Gospel, and were desirous to serve God, yea even without the old Ceremonies. Now S. Peter had fashioned himself to their common trade, and yet notwithstanding he was a Jew: and therefore he did the Gentiles too much wrong, to put a straiter bridle upon them, than he received to himself, as I said afore. He did it not in respect of himself, but plaid on both hands, as they do which would feign keep favour with all parties, and are loth too mislike any man. So we see there was rightful reason to rebuke him, and too shame him before all the Church.

IT hath alwayes bin a cōmon saying, that looke what Law a man layeth vpon others, he ought too keepe the same himselfe. For it is nother right nor reason, that a man should go scotfree himself, and lay the burthen vpon other folkes shoulders. And for that cause doth our Lorde Iesus Christ vpbrayd the Scribes and Pharisies,