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

The .xxxiij. Sermon, which is the third upon the fifth Chapter.

The .xxxiij. Sermon, which is the third vpon the fifth Chapter.

7 Ye ran well, who hath letted you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 That counsel came not of him that called you. 9 A little Leaven soureth a whole lump of dowe. 10 I have hope of you through the Lord, that ye vvil be none otherwise minded. But he that troubleth you shall bear his judgement whatsoever he be.

7 Yee ranne vvel, vvho hath letted you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 That counsell came not of him that called you. 9 A little Leuen sovvreth a vvhole lump of dovve. 10 I haue hope of you through the Lord, that yee vvil be none othervvise minded. But he that troubleth you shall beare his iudgement vvhatsoeuer he bee.

We know that God hath set down such a rule for us too live by, that if we give ear too his word, we shall not be subject to walking at rovers, but sure to hold the right way. And that is a thing wherein the faithful differ from the faithless. For all such as submit themselves to Gods word, are not in any doubt or disputation with themselves, whither their doings are allowable or no: for who hath power too judge of that matter but only God? But he hath given his sentence already. So then forasmuch as mans life is likened too a race: let us learn too follow whither soever God calleth us, and then shall we not stray as wretched wanderers that do greatly overtravell and tyre themselves without any profit. And for that cause also doth Saint Paul in this text set down a double race, the one good which hath a right direction, and the other wandering and uncertain. Now it is not enough for men too take great pains: but they must also •ame at a certain end. Moreover we see herewithall a true difference between the race that is to be counted good, and the race that doth but overlabour men in vain. For S. Paul layeth them forth certainly and infallibly, saying that all such as obey the truth do run well. Lo here a saying of great weight. For thereupon we may gather, that when men be given too their own fancies, or walk only by guess, or receive all that is told them without discretion or skill: they may run swiftly enough, but they shall come never the nearer unto God. When they have spent all their life in travelling, they shall find themselves further off than they were at the first. And therefore let us learn to begin at this point, that is to wit, to give ear unto God who doth us the grace and honour too teach us, assuring our selves that there is none other truth but that which proceedeth of him, and that when men follow the devises of their own brain, it shall be but untruth and leasing. Ye see then that the way for us too fare the better by this saying of S. Pauls, is first of all too consider, that all the devotions which men do frame of their own heads, are but mere illusions of Satan, and that all such as do wat they like best themselves, may