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

Thus ye see in effect what we have to remember in this text, where we see Saint Paul on the one side so sharp and vehement, and by and by afterward too call the Galatians his brethren, and too pray them that there may be good conformity between him and them, and one accord and tunable consent among them. Now as touching that he saith, I beseech you be like unto me, for I also do apply my self unto you: as we have seen already, it is not too soothe them in their vices, nor too cloak their filthiness, nor too use any flattering of them: but too try all the ways too the wood to win them unto God, according as we shall see hereafter how he will use the similitude of a woman with child, which longeth to see her child borne into the world, and although she endure pain, yet will not wreak her self upon her babe by strangling it, but be more chary of it than of her own life. Saint Paul will use the said similitude. So then he meaneth not here too strike sail (as they say) too please such as had need too be rebuked: but rather advanced him self as far as he could to win them, according also as he will say, that he hath prattled with them as a Nurse doth with her child: and that might well be done without hardening men in their sins. Not that they should be too much borne withal: for when a Nurse stoopeth too teach her young child too go, whom she holdeth by the hand, her intent is not too make him too tumble, nor too teach him too halt, nor too make him such a Cockney: that he should not be able too go when he cometh too mans age: but contrariwise, when she intendeth too stay the child's arm, she will take him by the hand, or by some other part of him.

Thus ye see in effect what we haue to remember in this text, where we see Saint Paule on the one syde so sharpe and vehement, and by and by afterwarde too call the Galathians his brethren, and too praye them that there may bee good conformitie betweene him and them, and one accorde and tunable consent among them. Nowe as touching that he sayth, I beseeche you bee like vnto mee, for I also do applie my selfe vnto you: as wee haue seene alreadie, it is not too soothe them in their vyces, nor too cloke theyr filthinesse, nor too vse any flattering of them: but too trie all the wayes too the woodde to winne them vnto God, according as wee shall see hereafter howe hee will vse the similitude of a woman with chylde, which longeth to see hir childe borne into the worlde, and although shee indure paine, yet will not wreake hir selfe vppon hir babe by strangling it, but bee more chare of it than of hir owne lyfe. Saint Paule will vse the sayde similitude. So then hee meeneth not here too stryke sayle (as they say) too please suche as had neede too bee rebuked: but rather aduaunced him selfe as farre as hee coulde to winne them, according also as hee will say, that hee hathe pratled with them as a Nurse dooth with hir childe: and that might well bee done wythout hardening menne in theyr sinnes. Not that they shoulde bee too much borne withall: for when a Nurse stoupeth too teache hir yong childe too go, whome shee holdeth by the hande, hir intent is not too make hym too tumble, nor too teache hym too haulte, nor too make hym suche a Cockney: that hee shoulde not bee able too go when hee commeth too mannes age: but contrarywyse, when shee intendeth too staye the childes arme, shee will take him by the hande, or by some other part of him.