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 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 w•at they like best themselves, may ⟨p. 245⟩run fast enough, howbeit they shall be never the further forward in the right way, but rather the further back.

WEe knowe that God hath set downe such a rule for vs too liue by, that if wee giue eare too his word, wee shall not be subiect to walking at rouers, but sure to hold the right way. And that is a thing wherein the faythfull differ from the faithlesse. For all such as submit themselues to Gods word, are not in any doubt or disputation with themselues, whither their doyngs are allowable or no: for who hath power too iudge of that matter but onely God? But he hath giuen his sentence alreadie. So then forasmuch as mans life is lykened too a race: let vs learne too followe whither soeuer God calleth vs, and then shall wee not stray as wretched wanderers that do greatly ouertrauell and tyre themselues without any profit. And for that cause also doth Sainct Paule in this text set downe a dubble race, the one good which hath a right direction, and the other wandering and vncerteine. Now it is not ynough for men too take great peynes: but they must also ame at a certeine end. Moreouer we see herewithall a true difference betwene the race that is to bee counted good, and the race that doth but ouerlabor men in vayne. For S. Paule layeth them foorth certeinly and infallibly, saying that all suche as obey the truth doo runne well. Lo heere a saying of greate weyghte. For therevppon wee may gather, that when menne bee gyuen too theyr owne fancies, or walke only by gesse, or receyue all that is tolde them wythout discretion or skill: they maye runne swiftlye ynoughe, but they shall come neuer the neerer vntoo God. VVhen they haue spent all theyr lyfe in traueling, they shal fynde themselues further off than they were at the first. And therfore let vs learne to begin at this poynt, that is to wit, to giue eare vntoo God who dooth vs the grace and honour too teache vs, assuring our selues that there is none other truth but that which proceedeth of him, and that when mē follow the deuises of their owne braine, it shall bee but vntruth and leasing. Yee see then that the waye for vs too fare the better by this saying of S. Paules, is firste of all too consider, that all the deuotions whyche men doo frame of theyr owne heades, are but mere illusions of Satan, and that all such as doo wat they lyke best themselues, may