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

Further let us understand, that to yield our selves teachable is a far greater virtue without all comparison, than to enter into disputation, and to be inquisitive of things that belong not to us, nor are lawful for us. It is true that faith is not a dotage or sottishness to receive and believe without gainsaying, whatsoever shall be told us: but yet when God speaketh, it behoveth us too yield him so much honour, as to keep our mouths shut, & to open our ears to hearken advisedly to that which he telleth us, & to frame our selves simply to the same. Ye see then that the good race wherein we can not go amiss, nor be carried aside one way nor other, is to follow the way that god showeth us by his word. Otherwise (as I said) we shall but rove, according also as S. Paul useth the self same similitude, in taunting all the things that the ignorant and unbelievers do to serve God withal. For although they take never so much pain, yet they do but loose their labour. But by the way let us mark also how he blameth the Galatians for turning aside in the middest of their race, saying that their fault is so much the less to be excused, in that they had begun well, and not held out likewise to the end. True it is that even the ignorantest in the world shall not fail to be condemned if they follow not Gods word: but howsoever they fare, we offend much more grossly, when God hath once bin so gracious unto us as to call us unto him, & to show us his will. Then if we turn head, and forsake our holy calling from heaven after we have bin taught in Gods school, and entered into the way: surely our fault is double, & we deserve much sorer punishment. This is it that S. Paul meant in this text by saying, how now? You ran well. Surely this forwardness of faith is a great virtue, namely when we be ready to answer God as soon as he speaketh the word to us: but yet is it nothing worth without holding out. Then if we be so fickle and inconstant, that when we have gone forward a step or twain, we be ready to run back again, or else to start out on the one side or on the other: such unthankfulness is much more shameful, than if we had never harkened to God at all:

Further let vs vnderstande, that to yeeld our selues techable is a farre greater vertue without all comparison, than to enter into disputation, and to be inquisitiue of things that belong not to vs, nor are lawfull for vs. It is true that fayth is not a dotage or sottishnesse to receyue and beleeue without gaynsaying, whatsoeuer shall be tolde vs: but yet when God speaketh, it behoueth vs too yeeld him so much honor, as to keepe our mouths shut, & to open our eares to herkē aduisedly to that which he telleth vs, & to frame our selues simply to the same. Yee see then that the good race wherin we can not go amisse, nor bee caried aside one way nor other, is to follow the way that god sheweth vs by his word. Otherwise (as I sayd) wee shall but roue, according also as S. Paule vseth the selfe same similitude, in taunting all the things that the ignorāt and vnbeleeuers doo to serue God withall. For although they take neuer so much payne, yet they doo but loose their labour. But by the way let vs marke also how he blameth the Galathians for turning aside in the middest of their race, saying that their faulte is so much the lesse to be excused, in that they had begon well, and not hild out likewise to the end. True it is that euen the ignorantest in the world shal not fayle to be condemned if they follow not Gods word: but howsoeuer they fare, we offend much more grosly, whē God hath once bin so gracious vnto vs as to call vs vnto him, & to shewe vs his will. Then if wee turne head, and forsake oure holy calling from heauen after we haue bin taught in Gods schole, and entred into the way: surely our fault is double, & we deserue much sorer punishment. This is it that S. Paul ment in this text by saying, how now? You ran well. Surely this forwardnesse of fayth is a great vertue, namely when we be readie to answere God as soone as he speaketh the word to vs: but yet is it nothing worth without holding out. Then if we be so fickle and inconstant, that when we haue gone forward a step or twayne, we be readie to runne back ageyne, or else to start out on the one side or on the other: suche vnthankfulnesse is much more shamefull, than if we had neuer harkened to God at all: