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

That is one other kind of Cozeners. And there are othersome so malicious and spiteful, as they can not brook any peace and concord,¹ according as it is said that the hand of Ismael should be against all men, and all mens hands against him. Then there are a sort that seek nothing but dissension and variance. Seeing then that we perceive that the Divel• hath so many bolsterers to turn ⟨p. 250⟩us from the right way: had not every of us need to look well to himself, least he be shaken down: and too continue always steadfast in the thing which we know too be of our God, whatsoever this man or that man do babble or prate? Ye see then that the thing which Saint Paul meant, is that we should not one of us look at another, like sheep which leap one after another into a river or a pit when one is leapt in afore them, or like Cranes and other birds that fly all on a row one after another, no we may not do so: but we must always be constant without swerving aside from the word of God. Mark that for one point. But above all things Saint Paul telleth us, that we must not be dazzled at mens gay shows, when they pervert Gods pure truth under colour of their own skill: but that when we see them too have no regard of any thing, nor religion, no fear of God, no awe, yea and that sometimes they be worse than paste shame, so that if they once come so far forward as too get the Law in their own hands, they pass for no man, but do after a sort spit even in Gods face: I say when we see them become such Monsters, we must wait that God should execute his justice upon them, and show how much store he setteth by the souls which he hath bought so dearly. And that is the cause why he addeth purposely whosoever he be. For here he intended too deface all the gay titles whereof men vaunt themselves, in setting up their bristles against God. Like as at this day, whereas the Pope turneth Gods truth upside down, and through Devilish pride mingleth and mangleth all things: yet notwithstanding he ceaseth not too call himself the Servant of Gods Servants, the Successor of Jesus Christ, and the Vicar of Saint Peter. The Bishops also suppose themselves too have a very lawful title to suppress all knowledge of the truth, in naming themselves Prelates.

That is one other kind of Cousiners. And there are othersome so malicious and spitefull, as they can not brooke any peace and concord,