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

For they be ravished at the sight of these visors that serve to scare little children. But they that have any firmness in them, & judge according to that which God showeth them, are not at that point. And in good sooth, when the Papists say that they be the representing Church, they say truly: for in deed they make a godly representation [resemblance, or show] that is too say, there is as it were a gay gazing stock: but as the Proverb saith) all is not ••de that glistereth. Therefore ⟨image 249⟩they must be searched to the bottom, to see if there be truth in them or no. And so let us mark what is told us here by S. Paul, that is to wit, that it was not once only that there was an Ismael in Gods Church to persecute Isaac: but that we see the like at this day: and that the children of God shall be borne down and trampled underfoot, by such as have no more but the bare title of Eldership, and under that shadow beguile the simple sort, cloaking all their filths & foulness under the pretence of gay colours. But howsoever the world go, let us prepare our selves to battle (saith S. Paul) and let not our faith quail at the sight of the pride of the enemies of Gods truth, yea even of the household enemies of it, which are not as Turks and heathen men, but keep a garrison in the Church, and yet will needs be Prelates and more than great pillars of it. How soever the world go (I say) let us not be abashed for it, sith we be fenced with the example of our father Isaac, to the intent we should hold out stoutly, forasmuch as we be regenerated by the pure seed which God alloweth, whereby we be made his lawful children, and heirs of his heavenly kingdom. But here a man might think it strange that S. Paul should say that Isaac was persecuted of his brother Ismael.¹ For Moses rehearseth no more but that at the day when Isaac should be weaned, & at the feast that was made at it, Ismael laughed him to scorn. It is not said that Ismael laid any persecution upon Isaac, for aught that is recorded by Moses: only it is said that he being then of some age, & thinking to have a much higher degree than Isaac, because he was already come to years of discretion, did laugh at him, & mock him. Now if there were nothing more than simple mocking & laughter, it seemeth that S. Paul should not term it persecution.

For they bee rauished at the sight of these vizors that serue to scare little children. But they that haue any firmnesse in them, & iudge according to that which God sheweth them, are not at that poynt. And in good sooth, when the Papists say that they be the representing Church, they say truely: for in deede they make a godly representation [resemblaunce, or shewe] that is too say, there is as it were a gaye gazing stocke: but as the Prouerbe sayth) all is not de that glistereth. Therefore