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

We see then that men which are but earthworms and rottenness, are put into the balance against God, and all under pretence of the Church. But here Saint Paul warneth us to seek the Church which hath the pure doctrine whereby we were adopted of God to be his children. Now I have told you heretofore, that the whole matter lieth in our being ingrafted into the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and also in our acknowledging that we be accursed by nature, that all our works are but filthiness, that the Devil holdeth us subject to his tyranny, and that there is none other help for us, but that God should receive us to mercy and pity. Therefore let us go into Gods house by the said gate, that is to wit, by acknowledging that there is none other way for us to get in but by the only mere grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus ye see how the Church doth breed us and bear us, verily even by the foresaid incorruptible seed. Now that we may sore the better by this text, we have two points too mark. The one is that we must not be like these fantastical fellows, which think they may be faithful without readings or preachings, bearing themselves in hand, that the holy Ghost ought to reveal himself too them by dream, or I wot not •owe else. And in good sooth they ⟨p. 223⟩despise all doctrine, and (to their seeming) all instruction is but as an Apcie for young children. Let us beware that we let not our selves loose after that fashion by the means of Satan and of his wiles. But if we covet to be counted Gods children, and to have the true mark whereby we may be known before the Angels: let us suffer our selves too be taught, and let us keep the order of the Church with all reverence and lowliness. And so the greatest sort and such as are exalted to any degree of honour, ought always to be throughly persuaded in themselves, that the greatest dignity which is possible for them to have, is to be children of the Church, yea through they were Kings and Princes. For he that exempteth himself from that state, doth utterly renounce God, and cut himself quite off from all hope of salvation. Therefore mark it for a special point, that so long as we be in this world, we must endeavour too profit in Gods word, because that that is the place where all our spiritual life lieth:

VVe see then that men which are but earthwormes and rottennesse, are put into the balance agaynst God, and all vnder pretence of the Church. But here Saint Paule warneth vs to seeke the Church which hath the pure doctrine whereby wee were adopted of God to be his children. Nowe I haue tolde you heretofore, that the whole matter lyeth in our being ingreffed into the bodie of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and also in our acknowledging that wee be accursed by nature, that all our workes are but filthinesse, that the Diuell holdeth vs subiect to his tyrannie, and that there is none other helpe for vs, but that God should receyue vs to mercie and pitie. Therefore let vs go into Gods house by the sayde gate, that is to wit, by acknowledging that there is none other way for vs to get in but by the onely mere grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Thus ye see howe the Church doth breede vs and beare vs, verely euen by the foresayde incorruptible seede. Nowe that we may sore the better by this text, wee haue two poyntes too marke. The one is that we must not be like these fantasticall fellowes, which thinke they may be faythfull without readings or preachings, bearing themselues in hande, that the holy Ghost ought to reueale himselfe too them by dreame, or I wote not owe else. And in good sooth they