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

Wherefore let us learn to apply this doctrine to our own profit, and for as much as God hath given us his word purely preached among us, if we once know how he will be honoured and served, let us not swerve from it, neither too the right hand nor to the left, but let us so profit in the word that is preached faithfully unto us in the name of God, as it may appear that we desire to make it available. And surely the further forward that we shall have bin in it, the less excuse shall we have if we turn back afterward, as we see many do, which wax cold or else would fain row between two streams, and whereas it were to be looked for that they should have gone continually forward, ⟨p. 120⟩and have come nearer & nearer unto God, they be still musing upon a sort of silly toys. And now a days they that would shun persecution, find such shifts as these: They disguise and falsify Gods word by mingling and turmoiling mens inventions with it. So much the more therefore doth it behove us to take heed to this doctrine, where S. Paul telleth us, that if God have once set us forward, we must no more return back to our Absey like little babes. For it is a shame for us, when we have once profited in the Gospel, or at leastwise have had leisure long enough for too profit, and yet notwithstanding it shall seem that we never herd one word of it,¹ according as the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrews upbraideth the Jews, saying: Ye ought all of you too be teachers in respect of the time that you have bin taught, and yet notwithstanding you be still like young beginners. Thus ye see the first point that we have to mark upon this text. Now he addeth consequently, Have ye suffered so many things in vain? If at leastwise it be in vain. Here he wakeneth up the Galatians, by telling them that God had done them the honour to make them as witnesses of his Gospel, and yet notwithstanding that afterward they had swerved from it. And this is a thing well worth the marking. For sometimes God doth us so great honour as to serve his turn by us, so that his word is by our means maintained before men. Now if thereupon we swerve aside, and hold not out to the end in such constancy as appeared to be in us, it is a double shame, and also it is to be taken for the greater crime, because the occasion of offence is double:

VVherefore let vs learne to apply this doctrine to our owne profite, and for as muche as God hath giuen vs his worde purely preached among vs, if we once know how he wil be honored and serued, let vs not swarue from it, neyther too the right hand nor to the left, but let vs so profite in the worde that is preached faythfully vnto vs in the name of God, as it may appeare that we desire to make it auaylable. And surely the further forward that wee shall haue bin in it, the lesse excuce shall wee haue if wee turne backe afterwarde, as wee see many doo, whiche waxe cold or else woulde fayne rowe betweene two streames, and whereas it were to be looked for that they should haue gone continually forward,