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 he is not contented too take upon him only the person of a father, whose love notwithstanding is tender enough towards his children: but he likeneth himself also too a mother that is towards her travel and full of throws, who (notwithstanding all the pains that she feeleth) is more chary over the child that is to come out of her womb, than she is of her own bowels and life. When Saint Paul used this similitude, it is certain that he wist not how to show himself more affectioned towards them, to the intent to break, or at leastwise to soften the hardness that was in them to whom he spake. But yet whatsoever come of it, he is flat with them in upbraiding them with their lewdness, in that they acknowledged not their mother that bare them and nourished them with the substance of her own blood, but for all the gentleness that he used towards them, became as wild beasts that could not be tamed: and that was an outrageous unkindness. And so we see how Saint Paul doth continually follow the mean that I told you of to day: which is that to the uttermost of his power, he laboureth too bring those back again by lovingness, which were gone out of the way. And to that end he telleth them, that he hath a greater care of their welfare, than they would think. But yet howsoever the case stand, he mingleth their oil with tart vinegar, which quickened them up as need was, least they should fal•••sleepe in their sins. For it is no cockering of such as have offended God, and are as good ⟨image 233⟩as poisoned or rather bewitched by Satan, so as they perceive not their own filthiness: All such gear must be razed out. And therefore, hap what hap will, he holdeth such an even hand, as they must needs perceive that he procureth their welfare, and that all his seeking is to bring them unto God. This in effect is the thing that we have to mark upon this text. Howbeit we have also too mark particularly, that when Saint Paul termeth them little babes, he upbraideth them closely for that they had profited no better. For to what purpose is the Gospel daily preached unto us?¹ It is said to be the incorruptible seed whereby we be begotten again to be the children of God.

And hee is not contented too take vppon him only the person of a father, whose loue notwithstanding is tender ynough towards his children: but hee likeneth himselfe also too a mother that is towardes hir trauell and full of throwes, who (notwithstanding all the peines that she feeleth) is more charie ouer the child that is to come out of hir womb, thā she is of hir owne bowells and lyfe. VVhen Sainct Paule vsed thys similitude, it is certaine that hee wist not how to shew himselfe more affectioned towardes them, to the intent to breake, or at leastwise to soften the hardnesse that was in them to whome he spake. But yet whatsoeuer come of it, he is flat with them in vpbrayding them with their leawdnesse, in that they acknowledged not their mother that bare them and nurrished them with the substance of hir owne bloud, but for all the gentlenesse that hee vsed towardes them, became as wilde beastes that could not bee tamed: and that was an outrageouse vnkindnesse. And so wee see how Sainct Paule doth continually followe the meane that I tolde you of to day: whyche is that to the vttermost of his power, hee laboreth too bring those backe againe by louingnesse, which were gone out of the way. And to that end he telleth them, that he hath a greater care of their welfare, than they would thinke. But yet howsoeuer the cace stande, he mingleth their oyle with tart vineger, which quickened them vp as neede was, least they should falsleepe in their sinnes. For it is no cockering of such as haue offended God, and are as good