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

and moreover it is a villainous unthankfulness if we continue not in the serving of our God, when he hath reached us his hand after that manner. And this is so much the more too be noted, because we see many men brag and boast them selves too have wrought wonders, if our Lord Jesus Christ have served his turn by them in any thing. What say they? have not I done this and that? They will allege their own abilities: in so much that (if ye believe them) God is greatly bound unto them. But put the case they had done a hundred fold more than they speak of: yet are they even therefore so much the more beholden to God. For it came not of their own good towardness, ⟨image 141⟩but of God who governed them by his holy spirit: and if they overshoot them selves afterward, their fault and offence is so much the worse. And why so? Because they ought too go forward, and they go backward. And moreover they cause many mo too stumble, than they should have done if they had not bin set forth too the view. For when God lifted them up as it were upon the stage, it was too have them seen a far off. By means whereof they trouble an infinite multitude of people, and therefore their fault is so much the haynouser. But yet is that vice too common. For now a days, such as think them selves too have done any thing for the Gospel, will needs be exempted from all law and rule: in so much that if a man blame them for doing amiss, what (say they?) ought I not to be borne withal? For I have done this and that. To be short, men will dispense with them selves after that manner, and (which is worse) they advance them selves proudly against God, when he doth them the honour too employ them about his service. But let us mark how S. Paul saith here, Have ye suffered so much in vain? He taketh occasion too blame the Galatians so much the sorer, because they had already suffered for the Gospels sake, and been persecuted, and endured many troubles both in their goods and in their persons. Howe now (saith he?) what is to be said of all that you have suffered? Is it not a record that God had called you too the magnifying of his name? For in good faith the things that we suffer for the Gospels sake, ought too serve us for a badge, as if God did set us in some honourable office.

and moreouer it is a vilanous vnthankfulnesse if wee continue not in the seruing of oure God, when he hathe reached vs hys hande after that maner. And this is so muche the more too bee noted, bicause wee see many men bragge and boast them selues too haue wrought wonders, if oure Lorde Iesus Christ haue serued his turne by them in any thing. VVhat saye they? haue not I doone this and that? They wyll alleage their owne abilities: in so muche that (if yee beleeue them) God is greatly bounde vnto them. But put the cace they had doone a hundred fold more than they speake of: yet are they euen therfore so muche the more beholden to God. For it came not of their owne good towardnesse,