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

15 Where is then your blessedness? for I bear you witness, that if it had […] possible, you would ⟨image 230⟩have plucked out your eyes, and given them unto me. 16 Am I then become your enemy because I tell you the truth? 17 They be jealous over you, [howbeit] not for [any] good. Nay rather they mean to shut you out, too the end you should be fond of them. 18 It is good too be always earnest minded in good things, & not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children of whom I travel in birth again till Christ be fashioned in you. 20 I would I were with you now & could change my voice, for I stand in doubt of you.

15 VVhere is then your blissednesse? for I beare you vvitnesse, that if it had 〈…〉 possible, you vvoulde ⟨image 230⟩haue plucked out your eyes, and giuen them vnto mee. 16 Am I then become your enemie bicause I tell you the truth? 17 They be ielous ouer you, [hovvbeit] not for [any] good. Nay rather they meene to shet you out, too the end you should be fond of them. 18 It is good too bee alvvayes earnest minded in good things, & not only vvhē I am present vvith you. 19 My little children of vvhom I trauell in birth again till Christ be fashioned in you. 20 I vvould I vvere vvith you novv & could chaunge my voyce, for I stand in doubt of you.

We need no teaching to seek the thing which we think to be good and profitable for us: for every man is inclined to that by nature, yea & too much given unto it. But the mischief is, that we know not the true profit from the thing that is harmful, but are oftentimes so blinded with our foolish lusts, that every of us overthroweth himself wilfully. Not that we forget the thing which I said to be imprinted in our hearts: but for that we be carried away by our unruly lusts, or else so bleared with the vanities of this world, that we have no discretion at all to judge rightly. And therefore we ought to flee unto God continually so much the more, that he may give us skill to discern what is good for us, to the intent we may serve him, and have our minds so wholly set upon him, as we may never be removed: specially for so much as it oftentimes falleth out, that such as are taken to be very wise to the worldward, become like little children according to the alteration of their desires, giving up the things which they had set much store by, and gadding after some pelting trifle that cometh in their sight, so as there is no stay at all in them. Sometimes we shall see a chief run after three or four at once,