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 let every of us examine his life well, and there is none of us but he shall find that he provoketh God too use such sharpness towards him, as if a father be as kind hearted as is possible to be wished, ⟨p. 111⟩yet if he have unruly children, so as they be •eude and froward, he shall be provoked after such a fashion, that he shall as it were change his nature, because he knoweth not at what end too begin with them, and is fain after a sort too transform himself. Even so is it with us. For we have a father which in goodness surmounteth all that can be seen among men: but we on our side (as I said afore) in stead of yielding obediently unto him as we ought to do, and in stead of offering our selves readily to walk as he commandeth so soon as he doth but speak the word: do nothing but stray. We have our lusts always inordinate and boiling, we have our replies always ready coined: and although our mouth speak not, yet it appeareth that there is no such calmness in our hearts, as too be contented to submit our selves to God as we ought to do. Seeing then that we be convicted to our faces by experience, that God had need to be so rough and sharp towards us: let us suffer him to do whatsoever he knoweth too be for our welfare. And no doubt but the Galatians were as nice as we, and had as itching ears as we have: and yet were they fain too be rebuked so sharply by reason of their unthankfulness. As for S. Paul, we know he endeavoured by all humility and mildness, too draw all such to the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ, as were committed and appointed too his Apostleship. He likeneth himself (and not without cause) too a nurse, which will bear with her nurse child, and not spare any thing too show the love that she beareth it. We shall see hereafter that he will say,¹ Be ye as I am, for I am as you be. I seek nothing but too fashion my self unto you, and to bring to pass that we may agree in one. And yet notwithstanding, necessity hath constrained him too cry out as you hear now, Ye unwise, ye fools, ye undiscreete or witless as beasts, who hath bewitched you after that sort? must you not needs be possessed with the Devil? Here are very hard words, and no doubt but the Galatians were grieved at them at the first sight. Yet nevertheless it was meet for them to feel, that S.

Howbeit let euery of vs examine his life well, and there is none of vs but he shall finde that he prouoketh God too vse suche sharpenesse towardes him, as if a father bee as kinde harted as is possible to be wished,