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 seeing that God hath made us to perceive where our true joy lieth, and given us such a taste of it as we ought to rest wholly upon it: let us take good heed that we never change our purpose, nor alter our mind hereafter. And if we do: let us consider how the spirit of God doth here condemn us of unthankfulness by the mouth of Saint Paul, saying, Where is your happiness? For had we bin always let alone like brute beasts without knowing wherein our welfare and joy consist, it had bin no marvel though we had still kept on our common trace. But seeing that God hath showed us that we must seek all our welfare in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that he is the full perfection in whom we must wholly rest: if we do afterward fleet too and fro and be shaken now one way and now another: it is certain that we can no more excuse ourselves by ignorance. Ye see then that the thing which we have too bear in mind in this text, is that when we have once bin taught the Gospel, we must set light by the things that we made too great account of before, and which men covet without end or measure: that is to wit by the allurements of Satan and of the world, and by all transitory and flightfull things which have no substantialness in them and continually seek our Lord Jesus Christ, till we come to the full enjoying of all the benefyt• which he hath brought us. ⟨image 232⟩And now hereupon S. Paul blameth the Galatians yet further, that he cannot be their enemy but for telling them the truth. For it is too great a lewdness to fall out with our friend, only for showing himself faithful towards us. What is the thing that we should chiefly desire in a friend, but that he should deal roundly with us, and not bear two faces in one hood, nor use any craft and untruth towards us? Every man can tell that well enough, and it is as a natural lesson which we know without schooling: and yet notwithstanding we be grieved and displeased with them that tell us the truth, and by that means do work our weal: and therefore must it not needs be that we are bewitched of Satan, if we step up against them and become their enemies? Saint Paul then showeth the cause of his fear that they should be alienated from him, and blameth them that they were become his enemies, for none other cause than that he had dealt soundly and roundly with them.

and seeing that God hath made vs to perceiue where our true ioy lyeth, and giuen vs such a tast of it as we ought to rest wholly vpō it: let vs take good heede that we neuer change our purpose, nor alter our mind hereafter. And if we do: let vs consider how the spirit of God doth heere condemne vs of vnthankfulnesse by the mouth of Sainct Paule, saying, VVhere is your happinesse? For had we bin alwayes let alone like brute beasts without knowing wherein our welfare and ioy consist, it had bin no maruell though wee had still kept on our common trace. But seeing that God hath shewed vs that we must seeke all our welfare in our Lord Iesus Chryste, and that he is the full perfection in whome we must wholly rest: if we do afterward fleete too and fro and bee shaken now one way and now another: it is certaine that wee can no more excuse ourselues by ignorance. Ye see then that the thing which wee haue too beare in mind in this text, is that when we haue once bin taught the Gospell, we must set light by the thinges that wee made too great account of before, and which men couet without end or measure: that is to wit by the allurements of Satan and of the world, and by all transitory and flightfull things whiche haue no substantialnesse in them and continually seeke our Lord Iesus Christ, till wee come to the full enioying of al the benefyt which hee hath brought vs.