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

He might have said simply as he said in the beginning of the Epistle▪ that they were quite gone ⟨image 269⟩away, yea and utterly revolted as Apostates or backsliders. But he useth the word Let, too show that it is not enough for us not to turn quite and clean away from God, but that if we do but stop or linger that we go not right forth on still, nor continue always steadfastly in coming nearer and nearer unto God: it is already a very dangerous matter. So then let us be ware of Satan's wiles, and not only be afraid of utter revolting from the obedience of our God, but also bear well in mind, that when the Devil shall once have cooled us, and made us too slake our pace, so as we fall to loitering in our going: he shall have gained over much at our hands. Thus ye see in effect what we have to gather upon this text. Now to condemn the unthankfulness of the Galatians the better, he addeth, that that counsel came not of him that called them. In the first chapter he had said, I marvel that ye be so soon carried away from Jesus Christ which called you to the grace of his Gospel. For it is good reason that God should be heard when he openeth his holy mouth to teach us. What are we? Wretched worms of the earth, and rottenness: and yet notwithstanding our Lord maketh his voice to ring from heaven, to assure us that if he enlighten & guide us, we can not do amiss, and therefore that we must depend wholly upon him, and rest upon his truth. But if we give ear to this and that, and when God speaketh we be soaring in the air, and hearken to one that whistleth, and to another that singeth: Is it not too shameful an unthankfulness? If a Schoolmaster see his scholars prattling together while he speaketh to them, or building of Castles in Spain, so as they hear not what he saith: the rod must be fain too walk among them, and good right it should so. Verily a man can not abide that his mate or companion should muse upon other matters when he is talking with him, but he will take it in scorn and derision. But behold, God calleth us, and yet if there come any deceiver to whisper us in the ear, we hearken too him and follow his counsel: which is a token that there was never any knowledge in us too discern the majesty of our God, and too yield him the reverence that he deserveth.

He might haue sayde simply as he sayde in the begynning of the Epystle▪ that they were quyte gone ⟨image 269⟩