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

according as we shall see many, who too make us swerve aside, will allege, what? It is no renouncing of Jesus Christ, so we hold the grounds of the ⟨image 271⟩Gospel, that we be justified by the free goodness of God, & that we can call upon him in the name of him that hath promised too be our mediator. When we have done amiss we flee too the only and everlasting sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ; and if there be any small spots or wemmes beside, they must be borne with and winked at. And specially such as would win by their pride, will say, yea marry Sir, and what else seek we but concord? For we be contented that every man should walk in the doctrine of the Gospel: but yet is not that a matter of so great importance, that it should be so greatly stood upon. Therefore when the Devil goes about to beguile us with such baits, let us always set this buckler against him, that a little Leaven soureth a whole lump of Dow. And in very deed even experience (which is termed the mistress of fools) hath well showed in our time how true this Saint Pauls saying is. For we see now a days that where the Gospel hath bin preached purely, there are so many divers opinions as it is horrible too think, so as it seemeth daily that all should go too ruin, and Gods truth is as it were torn in pieces. And whereof cometh this, but of mens laziness in that they would maintain them selves in rest, and have their commodities and ease at will, too take their pleasure everywhere, and so have consented too such as came too disguise the pureness of the Gospel? God therefore hath yielded them their deserved hire. Forasmuch then as we see such examples, let us be so much the ware, and let us so walk in the pureness of the Gospel, as we may refuse all mingling, and utterly abhor it. Now hereupon Saint Paul addeth further, that he trusteth of the Galatians, that they will not be otherwise minded. We have seen how the rebukes that he did set down hitherto heretofore, were rough and sharp. Now when men exceed measure, it is always dangerous for discouraging of men, and for casting them into a melancholy. For this cause S. Paul moderateth him self, and seeketh still too be at one again with the Galatians.

according as wee shall see manye, who too make vs swarue aside, wyll alledge, what? It is no renouncing of Iesus Christ, so wee holde the groundes of the ⟨image 271⟩Gospell, that wee be iustified by the free goodnesse of God, & that wee can call vpon him in the name of him that hath promised too bee our mediator. VVhen wee haue done amisse wee flee too the onely and euerlasting sacrifice of our Lorde Iesus Christe; and if there bee any small spottes or wemmes beside, they must be borne with and winked at. And specially suche as woulde winne by their pride, will say, yea mary Sir, and what else seeke wee but concord? For wee be contented that euery man should walke in the doctrine of the Gospell: but yet is not that a matter of so great importance, that it shoulde bee soo greatly stoode vpon. Therefore when the Diuell goes about to beguyle vs with suche baytes, let vs alwayes set this buckler agaynst him, that a little Leuen sowreth a whole lumpe of Dowe. And in very deede euen experience (whiche is termed the mistresse of fooles) hathe well shewed in our time how true this Sainct Paules saying is. For wee see nowe a dayes that where the Gospell hath bin preached purely, there are so many diuers opinions as it is horrible too thinke, so as it seemeth dayly that all shoulde go too ruine, and Gods truthe is as it were torne in peeces. And whereof commeth this, but of mens lazinesse in that they woulde maynteyne them selues in rest, and haue their commodities and ease at wyll, too take their pleasure euerywhere, and so haue consented too suche as came too disguyse the purenesse of the Gospell? God therefore hathe yeelded them their deserued hyre. For asmuche then as wee see suche examples, let vs bee so muche the warer, and let vs so walke in the purenesse of the Gospell, as wee may refuse all mingling, and vtterly abhorre it. Nowe heerevpon Sainct Paule addeth further, that hee trusteth of the Galathians, that they wyll not bee otherwise mynded. VVe haue seene howe the rebukes that he did set downe hitherto heretofore, were rough and sharpe. Nowe when men exceede measure, it is alwayes daungerous for discoraging of men, and for casting them into a melancholie. For this cause S. Paule moderateth him selfe, and seeketh still too bee at one agayne with the Galathians.