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 the chief honour that he requireth […], is to have our wits & minds ⟨p. 247⟩bent to understand what he commandeth and appointeth. For that cause therefore S. Paul saith, that the said counsel came not of God, who had called the Galatians. Now it is certain that he had called them long afore that time: Nevertheless he thinketh it not enough to have told us once for all how we should walk: but also he holdeth on still, according also as we have need too have the remembrance of that doctrine to be renewed daily. Then seeing it is so that God is always at hand with us, yea (as the Prophet Isaiah saith,¹ both early and late, that is to say, seeing he hath a continual care to bring us to him self, and to draw us nearer and nearer: it is certain that our fault is so much the haynouser if we have one of our ears in the field, and the other in the town, as the Proverb saith, and that we be not wholly given too him and to his word. To be short, we see here that the true perfection of Gods children, is too offer up themselves wholly unto him, and to suffer themselves to be governed after a peaceable manner with all teachableness, so as none of them say, this is mine opinion, this is my fancy, this have I learned of men: but always prefer the obedience of faith before all things. For there is none other lamp to guide us aright, than Gods word. Mark that for one point. Now after that S. Paul hath spoken so: he addeth, that a little Leaven marreth a whole lump of Dow. This serveth to confirm the matter which I touched not long since: which is, that it is not enough for us, not to make any full revolting from God, & to forsake him utterly, & to renounce all his word: but that we must also continue pure & sound, & be as it were untrussed to put ourselves more & more forward, and although Satan devise and practise too cast blocks and bars in our ways to stop us, yet must we not cease to go on forth still. And this is to be marked the better, because the devil showeth not his horns at the first (as they say) to withdraw us away from God, but transformeth him self into an Angel of light, and creepeth upon us by bypaths and mines under the ground. And by that means are we beguiled. For to our seeming, this or that is no great matter, by means whereof we overleap it lightly, and strike sail as they say.

VVee knowe that the chief honor that he requireth 〈…〉, is to haue our wittes & minds