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

But yet doth he grant us other special graces besides, as when he giveth us men that teach us his word faithfully, or that govern the common wealth wisely, or which have other gifts: for in so doing he giveth us certain tokens that he dwelleth among us, and thereby also he bindeth us so much the more unto him. Let us mark the reason that S. Paul setteth down here. He blameth the unthankfulness of the Galatians, for that they considered not how it came unto them by the preaching of the Gospel. And he sayeth it purposely, because men will always make fair protestations enow, that they mean not to reject Gods grace, and yet do show the clean contrary in their doings. As how? They that are loth too suffer themselves too be taught, and would drive away all the ministers of Gods word if they could, & they which through envy & spitefulness, could find in their harts to abolish the remembrance of all those whom God hath ⟨image 143⟩stablished too maintain the welfare of his people, they (say I) do show well enough, that they would have God too hold himself a far off from them: and that they be loth to come at him. For he setteth before them the means to come too him, and they vouchsafe not too take it, but do thrust it from them. So then, whereas S. Paul findeth fault with the Galatians, it was not for that they protested openly with full mouth that they would none of Gods spirit, or that they held scorn of his gifts: but too show them that they had very ill regarded Gods uttering of the gifts of his spirit in their Church. What ought we then too gather upon this Text. That if God give us means too come unto him, we must take them awoorth, even by fashioning of our selves unto them. For if the Gospel be preached among us, and we wilfully forget what is told us: it is all one as if we rejected God, and turned our back upon him, of purpose too stray away from him. Wherefore if we intend that God should continue his grace towards us: let us hold us too the means that he hath ordained for us: that is to say, let us suffer our selves to be taught by such as he sendeth unto us, let every of us exercise himself alone also in reading the holy scripture, let such as have done good in edifying the Church have room & place among us, and let us not shut the gate against the holy Ghost.

But yet doth he graunt vs other speciall graces besides, as when he giueth vs men that teach vs his woord faythfully, or that gouerne the common welth wisely, or whiche haue other giftes: for in so doing he giueth vs certayne tokens that he dwelleth among vs, and thereby also he bindeth vs so much the more vntoo him. Let vs marke the reason that S. Paule setteth downe heere. He blameth the vnthankfulnesse of the Galathians, for that they considered not how it came vnto them by the preachyng of the Gospell. And he sayeth it purposely, bicause men will alwayes make fayre protestations ynow, that they meene not to reiect Gods grace, and yet doo shew the cleane contrarie in their dooyngs. As howe? They that are loth too suffer themselues too be taught, and would driue away all the ministers of Gods woord if they could, & they which through enuie & spitefulnesse, could find in their harts to abolish the remēbrance of al those whom God hath