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

But we be utterly amazed when the Devil hold […] us masked in his nets. Too ⟨image 270⟩be short, S. Paul meant too say here, that when men have learned the Gospel, it is not enough for them to profess the receiving of the doctrine that is contained there: but they must also have a pure, sound, and substantial faith, and not swerve aside too the right hand nor to the left, nor be corrupted with any error, nor admit any mingling, but hold fast the pure truth which God showeth us. This is the sum of the matter which we have to gather upon this text. But if ever this warning were necessary, it is necessary at this day. For Satan strains him self too the uttermost, too entangle, yea and too embrace Gods word, too the end that men might no more discern between white and black, but that all Religions whatsoever men list to have, might be taken for good. And such as use that cunning do serve the devil, and have no more fear of God nor Religion, than dogs have. Now a days they that be the best upholders of the Pope, perceiving well that their abuses have bin so gross and out of all square, as it is impossible to maintain them, say, very well, yet must ye not seek such a reformation, as to break of the Eel by the wast as they say: men must be contented with some good mean. And all this is but too cover their filthiness, as if a man that would pluck up a venomous weed, should but nip off some leaves of it, and say, Lo, now it is as good as cut up. Yea but the root is still behind together with the residue of it, which is able to do harm enough, and that is all one as if it had not bin touched at all. Nevertheless the world now a days is full of such vermin and corruption: for we see that these sticklers and neuters which row between two streams, would fain disguise our Lord Jesus Christ after such a sort, as he should be Jack out of office, and be no more known, and that the doctrine of the Gospel might be mingled like a hotchpotch. And so much the more doth it stand us in hand to mark well the thing that is told us here by the holy Ghost, namely that a little Leaven soureth a whole batch of Dow. Sometime this similitude is applied to men: for one scabbed sheep is enough too infect a whole flock, as they say.

But wee bee vtterly amazed when the Diuell holde 〈…〉 vs masked in his nettes. Too ⟨image 270⟩bee shorte, S. Paule ment too say here, that when men haue learned the Gospell, it is not inough for them to professe the receyuing of the doctrine that is conteyned there: but they must also haue a pure, sound, and substantiall fayth, and not swarue aside too the right hand nor to the left, nor be corrupted with any error, nor admit any mingling, but holde fast the pure truth which God sheweth vs. This is the summe of the matter which we haue to gather vpon this text. But if euer this warning were necessarie, it is necessarie at this day. For Satan straynes him selfe too the vttermost, too intangle, yea and too imbrace Gods worde, too the ende that men might no more discerne betweene white and blacke, but that al Religions whatsoeuer men list to haue, might be taken for good. And such as vse that cunning do serue the diuel, and haue no more feare of God nor Religion, than dogges haue. Nowe a dayes they that be the best vpholders of the Pope, perceyuing well that their abuses haue bin so grosse and out of all square, as it is impossible to maynteyne them, say, very well, yet must yee not seeke suche a reformation, as to breake of the Eele by the wast as they say: men must bee contented with some good meane. And all this is but too couer their filthinesse, as if a man that woulde plucke vp a venemous weede, shoulde but nippe off some leaues of it, and say, Lo, nowe it is as good as cut vp. Yea but the roote is still behinde togither with the residue of it, which is able to doo harme inoughe, and that is all one as if it had not bin touched at all. Neuerthelesse the world now a dayes is full of such vermine and corruption: for wee see that these sticklers and neuters which rowe betweene two streames, would fayne disguize our Lord Iesus Christ after suche a sort, as he should be Iacke out of office, and be no more knowen, and that the doctrine of the Gospell mighte bee mingled lyke a hotchpotch. And so muche the more dooth it stand vs in hand to marke well the thing that is tolde vs heere by the holy Ghost, namely that a little Leuen soureth a whole batch of Dowe. Sometime this similitude is applied to men: for one scabbed sheepe is inoughe too infect a whole flocke, as they say.