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

When the earth bringeth forth her fruits, or is as good as dead and withered: in all those things we continually know God, or at leastwise are convicted that he showeth him self there. And if we will not perceive him now: we shall be driven too confess it at the latter day when the books shall be opened. Now in the mean while, if we worship those which are not Gods by nature: it is all one as if we did wilfully shut our eyes against so many records and looking glasses, which God setteth afore us to bring us unto him. How soever the world go, all the worshipping that men can devise is but a vain fancy, till they have bin brought into the good way. For of their own natural wit they cannot but give themselves to all error and deceivableness. He addeth, Now that you have known God, or rather have bin known of him. Some translate it, now that you have been instructed in the knowledge of God: but all comes too one. Nevertheless in the first part (as I have touched already) he showeth that such as have bin trained in the pure truth, are guilty of perjury to Godward. And thereof they be unexcusable: for it is no ignorance any more: it is not with them as though they never had tasted of the true religion: but it •as a manifest falsehood, like ⟨image 217⟩as if some subjects knowing well enough who is their Prince, should revolt from him, and break the allegiance which they had promised him, and confederate them selves with his deadly enemy. Thus ye see in what plight we be: namely that all such as have known Gods truth, can not steppe aside after their own superstitions and errors, but they must become perjured and false forsworn traitors.¹ For it is not causeless said that all Idols must fall down when God is to be glorified in his highness: and that all superstitions must vanish away when his majesty cometh abroad. Now if he vouchsafe too show him self to us, it is as much as if he did set up his chair of estate among us, of purpose to be so good and gracious too us, as too become our king. If we can not find in our hearts too yield him any subjection, are we not falsehearted caitiffs towards him? If we allege for a reply, that our intent is not so: it is but hypocrisy. For we know that our Lord can abide no companion:

VVhen the earth bringeth foorth hir fruites, or is as good as dead and withered: in all those things wee continually knowe God, or at leastwise are conuicted that he sheweth him selfe there. And if we will not perceiue him nowe: wee shall bee driuen too confesse it at the latter daye when the bookes shall bee opened. Now in the meane while, if wee woorship those whiche are not Gods by nature: it is all one as if wee dyd wilfully shet our eyes ageynst so many recordes and lookingglasses, which God setteth afore vs to bring vs vnto him. How soeuer the world go, all the worshipping that men can deuise is but a vayne fancie, till they haue bin brought intoo the good way. For of their owne natural wit they cannot but giue themselues to al errour and deceiuablenesse. He addeth, Now that you haue knowē God, or rather haue bin knowen of hym. Some translate it, nowe that you haue been instructed in the knowledge of God: but all comes too one. Neuerthelesse in the firste part (as I haue touched alreadye) he sheweth that suche as haue bin trayned in the pure truth, are giltie of periurie to Godward. And therof they bee vnexcusable: for it is no ignorance any more: it is not with them as thoughe they neuer had tasted of the true religion: but it as a manifest falshod, lyke