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

Again if we be in doubt and unquietness, not knowing whether God accept our service or no, and therewithal be bound to the keeping of this or that at mens appointment, the entangling of our selves in so many debatyngs will never suffer us too have any rest. Neither is it without cause that Saint Paul having exhorted the faithful to continue in the freedom that was purchased them so dearly, addeth, that Jesus Christ shall not profit them at all, unless they know the thing that he hath purchased for them, and suffer not themselves to be in any wise bereft of it by men. Now we see here, that the freedom which Saint Paul speaketh of, is not to give us leave to do what we our selves think good, as though he laid the reins of the bridle upon our neck: and that will he also protest in place convenient. Then intendeth he none other thing, than that we might serve God quietly without grief of mind without constraint, and without any continual tormenting of our selves with diversity of debatings & doubtful scruples as we see the unbelievers do, namely such as have not their trust wholly settled upon our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore besides that which hath bin said already, we have to mark further, that the end of that freedom is, too be able too carry a cheerful and quiet mind before God. For without that, we shall never have the hart to obey him, but we shall always be in trouble, and not be able too call upon him, which is the chief service that he demandeth and alloweth of. We see then that this matter concerneth the chief point of our welfare, if it be well understood. When we speak now a days of Christen liberty: the Papists say we go about too abolish all the ordinances and traditions of the Church, and that we pass not what cometh […], so every man may live as he ⟨image 253⟩listeth, to eat flesh on all days alike without let, and to despise all other such ordinances. But their saying so, is because they never knew, that it is no obeying of God, unless it be done with an unconstrained will. For let the Papists be throughly sifted all the pack of them, yea even the devoutest of them: and it is certain that they chafe upon the bit, when they tyre and overlabour themselves most to serve God. For all that ever they do is but unwillingly:

Ageyn if we be in doubt and vnquietnesse, not knowing whether God accept our seruice or no, and therwithall be bounde to the keeping of this or that at mennes appoyntment, the intangling of our selues in so many debatyngs will neuer suffer vs too haue any rest. Neyther is it without cause that Saint Paule hauing exhorted the faythfull to continue in the freedome that was purchased them so dearly, addeth, that Iesus Christe shall not profite them at all, vnlesse they know the thing that he hath purchased for them, and suffer not themselues to be in any wise bereft of it by men. Nowe we see heere, that the freedome which Sainct Paule speaketh of, is not to giue vs leaue to doo what we our selues thinke good, as though he layd the reynes of the brydle vpon our necke: and that will he also protest in place conuenient. Then intendeth he none other thing, than that we might serue God quietly without greef of mind without constreint, and without any continuall tormenting of our selues with diuersitie of debatings & doubtfull scruples as wee see the vnbeleeuers do, namely such as haue not their trust wholly settled vpon our Lord Iesus Christ. Therfore besides that which hath bin sayd alredie, we haue to mark further, that the end of that freedome is, too bee able too carie a cheerfull and quiet minde before God. For without that, wee shall neuer haue the hart to obey him, but wee shall alwayes bee in trouble, and not bee able too call vppon hym, which is the cheefe seruice that he demaundeth and alloweth of. VVe see thē that this matter concerneth the cheef point of oure welfare, if it bee well vnderstoode. VVhen wee speake now a dayes of Christen libertie: the Papistes say wee go aboute too abolishe all the ordinances and traditions of the Churche, and that we passe not what commeth , so euery man may liue as he