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

Howbeit in the mean while God regardeth not the outward appearance, as it is said in the first of Samuel,¹ but searcheth mens hearts and the truth, and [layeth open] the things that were hidden afore, according also as it is said in Jeremiah.² Sith it is so: then all such as allege or set forth their own devotions, may peradventure have some fair show before men: but surely, before God all is but leasing. And as soon as God doth but blow upon their painting and starch, it shall scale off like the painting of harlots that take great pain too starch their faces, and yet the Sun doth no sooner shine upon them, but a man shall see the filthy scales fall off, and their foulness is discovered to their shame. In like taking are all hypocrites when ⟨p. 96⟩they will needs colour things after that manner before God: their shameful lewdness must needs be brought too light. Wherefore let us mark, that our Lord Jesus Christ in condemning the whole world, by showing that none can be saved but by the free goodness of God his father, the which he offereth and imparteth unto us: bringeth not sin, (for we have that already in us,) but uttereth and bewrayeth it, too the end we should be convicted of it, and all the pride wherewith we were made drunken afore be laid down, and nothing remain in us but lowliness too confess unfeignedly that we be undone, and that there is none other shift for us, but that God utter the infinite treasures of his mercy upon us. Ye see then that all mouths shall be stopped, and men must not beguile themselves any more by surmising to find any righteousness in themselves. And furthermore S. Paul useth here a double answer, too show that it is nothing so. Howbeit before he answer, he setteth down a precise word, saying: God forbid. As if he should say, it is an horrible blasphemy too intend to lay the blame of our sins upon our Lord Jesus Christ. Eor (saith he) if I pull down the thing that I have builded up, there shall be contrariety [in me.] And in speaking so, he bringeth us back to the common doctrine of the Gospel.

Howbeeit in the meane while God regardeth not the outwarde appearance, as it is sayde in the first of Samuell,¹