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 we can not […] •ore shield our selves by ignorance, ⟨p. 246⟩as they do which are bred & brought up in error and misknowledge, who will say, if we knew which is the truth, we would not do so as we should need to be pulled by the ear: but we be in doubt, and we wot not on which side to turn us. Then if they which have begun to follow God, yea and have had some certain and infallible instruction by his word, do afterward start aside, or go back again: do they not show that they do it not of ignorance, but of wilfulness and stubbornness, as though they meant of set purpose to spite God? Now it behoveth us to mark well this thing, specially for so much as God is so gracious unto us, as too show us which is the way of salvation, which thing he doth not too the rest of the world. For we see many blind wretches, that run and trot up and down, and wot not what they do: but yet they show some desire of serving God. If a man ask them whether they think they do well, or no, they answer, yea: howbeit it is but a weening, they be not sure of it. But we on our side have the warrant of the holy Ghost, which ought too be sealed in our hearts, that the doctrine which is preached unto us is not devised by men, but that God is the very author of it. The holy Scripture is sufficiently proved: we know, without adding of any thing, that God is our guide, so that now a days there is not so very a dullard or idiot, but he is justly too be condemned, if he receive not the doctrine that is preached and set forth, and may upon his own knowledge judge that he doth manifestly make wilful war against God. Seeing that our Lord hath done us the prerogative too call us too him, and doth still daily allure us and encourage us to come forward, till we be come to our races end: if we be weary to hear him, and every of us would fain take his own scope, to follow whatsoever his own lust liketh: what excuse or shift can we hope to have, that we should not be condemned with the Galatians, for falling to our own bias after we have run well, and bin well forward on our way? Yea and we must also mark this saying which S. Paul interlaceth, Who hath letted you, saith he?

for we can not 〈…〉 •ore sheelde our selues by ignorance, ⟨p. 246⟩