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

Paul, but that we be taught in their persons, to walk in fear and awe when God shall have bin so gracious too us, as too call us unto him, and too show us what his will is. And it is not for nought that he useth so sharp and rigorous words, as too call them fools and witless, and consequently too say, who hath bewitched you? But we hear how that in the fourth too the Ephesians,¹ concerning the using of the Gospel, he sayeth that when we have once bin taught ⟨p. 113⟩it, we must not be as little babes that are led too and fro, and made to believe that the Crow is white: but we must be so settled in it, that although the Devil stir up never so many troubles, false opinions and lies, yet we may still hold our own, and keep on our pace, assuring ourselves that Gods truth is infallible. Thus ye see that the end whereto the Gospel ought to serve us, is not only to show us what is good for us, but also to arm and fence us against all encounters, and against all Satan's slights, so that if there rise up any heresies or other corruptions, we may still maintain the battle valiantly, and get the upper hand by our faith, and not be piped any more into the fowlers snare, according to the similitude which S. Paul useth. Now then seeing it is so: it must needs be that we be bewitched and possessed with the Devil, if such a remedy suffice us not, after that God hath manifested himself unto us, and we know (yea even fully and assuredly) that it is he which speaketh. If we be not moved by his authority, what will become of it? Again, whereas we have our Lord Jesus Christ shining upon us as it were at high none days: must it not needs be that we are at defiance with nature as I said afore, if we seek here and there for by ways, when the right way is laid before our eyes? So then it is not without cause that Saint Paul speaketh so roughly too that people, which had changed the doctrine, after that God had granted them the grace to have his truth showed unto them. But we must call to mind also, how God upbraideth his people of old time by his Prophet Jeremiah.² Go your ways over the sea (saith he) and into the Isles, and into far countries, and ye shall see every nation worship his own Idols without changing. And wherefore then are you so variable? As for those, they know not whereupon they be grounded.