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

By that means the name of God shall be greatly misreported. And therefore let us mark well, that if we have for a time served God, and he hath made our labour fruitful, so as the Church hath bin profited and edified by it: we must walk in the greater carefulness, and take good heed that we play not the shrewd Cow, that gives a good deal of milk, and when she hath done, strikes down the pail and spills it. For if we do a hundred times more harm than we did good: what can we allege for our defence? how can we say that we have suffered for the Gospel? Wherefore if we purpose that God should allow of our seruis, let us learn to be constant, firm and fast settled, that we never swerve ⟨image 142⟩aside from our calling, but continue and go forward in it more and more. Howbeit forasmuch as this upbraiding was very rigorous, S. Paul mitigateth it, saying: If at leastwise it be in vain. Wherein he giveth the Galatians an inkling, that he hopeth much better of them, and that although they were start aside for a time, yet it would not endure long, but that upon warning and exhortation they would return again into the right way. And in this text we see, that when we be rebuked by Gods spirit, it is not too make us fumish, nor to drive us too such a desperateness that we should take the bridle in our teeth and fall too chafing: but rather too draw us to repentance. God then intendeth not to make us so dismayed, as too leave us in the briers: but after he hath showed us our faults, he calleth us always home again too him, and calleth us to repentance, and showeth us that he is ready too receive and take us too mercy, as oft as we be touched with true lowliness to be sorry for our sins, and too acknowledge them unfeignedly and freely. Sith it is so, let us on our side be well advised, that when we be told of the faults that we have done, we play not the mad Bedlams, nor go about to win any thing by starting aside or dragging back: but yield our selves guilty, and be so meek and patient minded, as too suffer our selves too be blamed after as we have need. And when rebukings shall seem somewhat with the sharpest & pricking to us: let us always bear in mind, too consider too what end they tend, and what fruit followeth them, and that although God rebuke us throughly, yet he is ready too forget all our faults afterward.

By that meanes the name of God shall be greatly misreported. And therfore let vs marke well, that if we haue for a time serued God, and he hath made our labour frutefull, so as the Church hath bin profited and edified by it: wee muste walke in the greater carefulnesse, and take good heede that wee play not the shrewd Cow, that giues a good deale of milke, and when shee hath done, strikes downe the payle and spilles it. For if we doo a hundred times more harme than wee did good: what can we alledge for our defence? how can wee say that wee haue suffered for the Gospell? VVherfore if we purpose that God shoulde allow of our seruis, let vs learne to be constant, firme and fast settled, that we neuer swarue