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

For this cons•••ration Saint Paul protesteth here, ⟨p. 204⟩that in reproving the Galatians, he dealeth not with any case or quarrel of his own. We (sayeth he) have bin friends heretofore: I might perchance be despised too the worldewarde, my coming unto you was not with any great pomp, I was no painted fellow: but I brought you the pure doctrine of the Gospel. And although I was a man without any great gayness, so as I was not accounted of too the worldewarde: yet notwithstanding, you received me as an Angel of God, yea even as Jesus Christ himself: and whereof cometh now this alteration? I hold on still in doing my duty: and why then are you so alienated from me? See if ye can allege any other thing, than that you hate Gods truth and cannot abide it. And what a shame is it that ye should so hate Gods truth, that ye should disdain it in my person because I am the Minister of it? Now then we have to gather upon this Text, first that such as have the charge to teach and too carry abroad the doctrine of th• Gospel, must above all things eschew quarrels and contentions, (at leastwise if they intend to have their preaching to prevail and be profitable) I say quarrels and contentions for their own peculiar matters. And so ye see how we must abstain from all quarrels, least the gate be shut against us, and we be disbarred of all liberty of rebuking men when need shall require, that we may protest with Saint Paul that we deal not with them for any desire of revenge, enmity, or evil will, but only for desire of their welfare, let us be sure of that, too the intent it may open us a gap, and give us a way too all manner of rebukings. Mark that for one point.

For this cons•••ration Saint Paule protesteth heere, ⟨p. 204⟩that in reprouing the Galathians, hee dealeth not with any cace or quarell of his owne. VVee (sayeth hee) haue bin freendes heeretofore: I might perchaunce be dispyzed too the worldewarde, my comming vnto you was not with any great pompe, I was no paynted fellowe: but I brought you the pure doctrine of the Gospell. And althoughe I was a man withoute any great gaynesse, so as I was not accounted of too the worldewarde: yet notwithstanding, you receyued mee as an Angell of God, yea euen as Iesus Christ himselfe: and whereof commeth nowe this alteration? I holde on styll in doyng my duetie: and why then are you so alienated from mee? See if yee can alledge any other thing, than that you hate Gods truth and cannot abyde it. And what a shame is it that yee shoulde so hate Gods truth, that yee shoulde disdeyne it in my persone bycause I am the Minister of it? Nowe then wee haue to gather vpon thys Text, first that such as haue the charge to teache and too carie abrode the doctrine of th Gospell, muste aboue all things eschue quarelles and contentions, (at leastwyse if they intende to haue theyr preaching to preuayle and bee profitable) I say quarelles and contentions for theyr owne peculiar matters. And so yee see howe wee must abstayne from all quarlles, least the gate bee shette agaynst vs, and wee bee disbarred of all libertie of rebuking men when neede shall requyre, that wee may protest with Saint Paule that we deale not wyth them for any desire of reuenge, enmitie, or euill will, but onely for desyre of theyr welfare, let vs bee sure of that, too the intente it maye open vs a gappe, and giue vs a waye too all maner of rebukings. Marke that for one poynt.