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

Paul telleth us, to the end that we become not so wretched as to give over the truth of the Gospel after we have once known it, but that it may be so printed and rooted in our harts, as the devil may never shake us from it. Thus ye see what we have to remember, in that S. Paul doth here set the lewdness of the Galatians before them, and blameth them as utterly unexcusable, for their starting away after that fashion from the pure truth, after they had once bin enlightened with it. Now also herewithall we see whereof Idolatry proceedeth, and what is the fountain thereof: namely the want of knowledge of the living God. For we must needs have some feeling in our selves, that there is a God whom we ought to worship, and which is worthy to be honoured both of great and small, because we have our life of him. It can not be so clean wiped out of our mind, but that there shall always be some spark of Religion in us. But yet in the mean season, every man wanzeth away in his own foolish conceits, because we understand not what God is, nor can come at him. Truly if we were not corrupted, and our understanding blinded by sin, God would still draw us unto him. But for as much as Gods image is defaced ⟨image 216⟩in us, there is nothing but darkness, & that so horrible, that when we should mount, up aloft too seek God, we thrust down our muzzles too the ground like wretched brute beasts. Therefore till such time as God show him self to us, it is unpossible for us to have any true Religion, and we shall always be led with abuses and mere follies. Hereby we know what the vanity of men is, how every man bears him self in hand that he hath skill enough to govern him self. Yea and we see how the very Idiots do brag of their wit: and as for those that have gotten any reputation among men, they be so puffed up with pride, as they can not abide any correction, or to be told of their faults. But if men had any one drop of good wisdom, were it not meet that the first point which they begin at, should be to know what God they ought too worship? That is the point wherein they fail, in so much that they seek Satan's leasings in stead of the truth, and worship Idols in stead of the living God, till God have called them to him.

Paule telleth vs, to the ende that we become not so wretched as to giue ouer the truthe of the Gospell after we haue once knowen it, but that it may bee so printed and rooted in our harts, as the diuell may neuer shake vs from it. Thus yee see what we haue to remember, in that S. Paule doth heere set the leaudnesse of the Galathians before them, and blameth them as vtterly vnexcusable, for their starting away after that fashion from the pure truthe, after they had once bin inlightned with it. Now also herewithall we see wherof Idolatrie proceedeth, and what is the fountayne therof: namely the want of knowledge of the liuing God. For wee muste needes haue some feeling in our selues, that there is a God whō we ought to worship, and which is worthy to be honored both of great and small, bicause we haue our life of him. It can not bee so cleane wyped out of our minde, but that there shall alwayes bee some sparke of Religion in vs. But yet in the meane season, euery man wanzeth away in his owne foolishe conceits, bicause wee vnderstande not what God is, nor can come at him. Truely if wee were not corrupted, and our vnderstanding blynded by sinne, God would still drawe vs vnto him. But for as muche as Gods image is defaced