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

And when they have well tormented themselves, a man shall scarcely find one among a thousand that hath his affections well ordered: insomuch that it were much better for them too be a sleep all the time of their life, than too take so much travel without knowing why or wherefore. Now then seeing that the most part of us are proved not to discern betwixt good and evil as were requisite and expedient, we have need to submit our selves unto God, praying him too guide us by his holy spirit. And specially when the sovereign felicity or welfare cometh in question, surely whereas we should be carried away and ravished in love with it: we be haled another way, and do nothing but fisk too and fro, and there is so great inconstancy and lightness in us, that the thing which we love more dearly than our life too day, shall be as good as despised too morrow. And that also is the cause why Saint Paul doth in this text upbraid the Galatians with their forgetting of their own happiness.¹ For this saying of our Lord Jesus Christs, that look where a mans treasure is there is his heart also, is taken of the common order of nature. He termeth that thing our treasure, which we set most store by, and whereupon we do wholly repose ⟨image 231⟩our selves: for there are many things which men do well like of, the which nevertheless they can easily find in their harts too forbear. Though a man see a fair and costly thing, yet can he content himself quietly with his own state still, if he have wherewith too maintain himself. But if we esteem our life unhappy or unfortunate without the enjoying of any welfare at all, surely we shall be tossed with continual unquietness, till we have obtained it: and that doth common experience show well enough. Seeing then that our hearts must needs be tied too the thing which we take too be requisite too our chief felicity, let us now see how every man behaveth himself. Such as are given to the flightfull goods of this world, or are so inflamed with ambitiousness and desire of honour, that they seek nothing else but too magnify themselves, and too be in some high degree and great estate, that they might be had in estimation: will always labour for the same. Such as are possessed with covetousness, will never leave gathering of goods, nor never be satisfied with any thing.

And when they haue well tormented themselues, a man shall scarsly finde one among a thousande that hath his affections well ordered: in somuch that it were much better for them too bee a sleepe all the time of their lyfe, than too take so much trauell without knowing why or wherefore. Nowe then seyng that the moste parte of vs are proued not to discerne betwixt good and euill as were requisite and expedient, wee haue neede to submit our selues vnto God, praying him too guyde vs by his holy spirite. And specially when the souerayne felicitie or welfare commeth in question, surely whereas wee shoulde bee caried away and rauished in loue with it: wee bee haled another way, and doo nothing but fiske too and fro, and there is so greate inconstancie and lightnesse in vs, that the thing whiche wee loue more deerely than our lyfe too day, shall bee as good as despyzed too morrowe. And that also is the cause why Sainct Paule dooth in this texte vpbrayde the Galathians with their forgetting of their owne happinesse.