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

The one is, that when God hath spoken unto us, we can not throughly consent to say Amen unfeignedly, or to accept his promises, or to be moved at his threatenings. Men will always use shifts, and we need not to seek far for example thereof: for (as I said) we have experience of it in our selves. The other is, that although we yield God his due honour in believing his word too be true and infallible: yet we will always be adding unto it, and that do we see too much in the Papacy. Whereof cometh that confusion or mazeworke which we see too be in the serving of God, the great number and diversity of fashions, and the great store of abuses and falsehoods, but of that men have not yielded too the things which God showeth them, but have made additions and confused medleys of things that came of their own brain? In what manner do the Papists endeavour them selves too serve God? Every man hath his several devotion by him self, and therewithal an infinite number of gewgaws. Their saying is, that the Church hath commanded all: but what soever it be, it is all of mans inventing. And what a thing is that? Did not God sufficiently foresee what he would like of?¹ He telleth us that in the Law we have all perfection, and that he will not have us too hold any other rule.² Again he addeth that he had lever have obedientnesse than all the sacrifices in the world.³ His mind is too hold men in awe, that they should not presume to mingle any thing of their own brain and imagination. But what and if God have said so? Yet will men bear him down that this and that were good, and they will needs add a hundred times more than he had ordained. Yea and (which worse is) they hold scorn of that ⟨p. 150⟩which he requireth, and exacteth most straightly, and in the mean while magnify fond toys and pelting trash, which not only are of no value before him, but also loathsome to him, because he disalloweth all things that men thrust upon him after that fashion to spite him with. Now then we see hereby how eager and presumptuous also men have always bin, in thrusting themselves forward to serve God after their own liking: howbeit that was but a perverting of all the holy scripture.