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

For he saw there the rulers of his country, he saw them assembled with their pomp, and there was the stateliness of Magistrates, which had bin able too amaze a poor man of no credit as he and his fellow John were. But not withstanding his stout answering that he would obey God maugre all those that pretended too have preeminence over him, yet he was deceived in this case whereof mention is made here. Therefore whensoever men do the thing that may thrust us out of the way, and we have some fair cloak, so as it shall seem too us that we do not amiss too please them: Let us bethink us of this example, that is set us down here, and which is told us too make us every of us look about him what his calling will bear, and what God commandeth, without casting of our eye aside too purchase favour in the world. Let us shut our eyes against all that is about us, and look only at this mark, that we must in all cases and all respects fashion our selves too the will of God. And when we shall have looked rightfoorth too Gods ordinances, and asked counsel at his mouth, and prayed him too guide and govern us by his holy spirit, and finally well considered the bounds of our vocation, so as we attempt not any thing otherwise than becometh us: then shall we be able too eschew the •lightes and allurements of Satan and the world, so as we shall not pass too pleasure creatures overmuch. But without that, we shall be beguiled at every turn as it happened unto Peter. For if we compare our selves with him: it is certain that he was much better able too keep himself than we be. Nevertheless he was cast down afterward, too the end that his doing might ⟨image 100⟩serve for our learning, and we be rid of all pride, so as we might not thrust forth our own opinions to be overwise in our own brain and fancy, but that all our wisdom might be too rule our selves according to Gods pure word. But now let us come to that which S. Paul addeth. He entereth further into the matter and sayeth, we be Jews by nature and not sinners (that is too say, damnable men, defiled, and miserable wretches) of the Gentiles. And yet notwithstanding forasmuch as we know that we cannot be justified by the deeds of the law, and that there is none other means to make us acceptable to God, than by coming too him with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ:

For he sawe there the rulers of his countrie, he sawe them assembled with their pompe, and there was the statelinesse of Magistrates, which had bin able too amaze a poore man of no credite as he and his fellow Iohn were. But not withstanding his stout answering that he woulde obey God maugre all those that pretended too haue preheminence ouer him, yet he was deceyued in this cace whereof mention is made heere. Therefore whensoeuer men doo the thing that may thrust vs out of the way, and wee haue some fayre cloke, so as it shall seeme too vs that wee doo not amisse too please them: Let vs bethinke vs of this example, that is set vs down heere, and which is tolde vs too make vs euery of vs looke aboute him what his calling will beare, and what God commaundeth, without casting of our eye aside too purchace fauour in the worlde. Let vs shet our eyes agaynst all that is about vs, and looke onely at this marke, that wee must in all caces and all respectes fashion our selues too the will of God. And when wee shall haue looked rightfoorth too Gods ordinances, and asked counsell at his mouth, and prayed him too guyde and gouerne vs by his holy spirite, and finally well considered the boundes of our vocation, so as wee attempt not any thing otherwise than becommeth vs: then shall wee bee able too eschew the lightes and allurementes of Satan and the worlde, so as wee shall not passe too pleasure creatures ouermuch. But without that, wee shall bee beguyled at euery turne as it happened vnto Peter. For if wee compare our selues with him: it is certaine that hee was much better able too keepe himself than wee bee. Neuerthelesse he was cast downe afterward, too the end that his doyng might