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 Saint Paul telleth us here, that when men are so disguised, they be but Idols for all that, and God is unchangeable and altereth neither his nature nor his mind. Then sith it is so: although men were exalted too the third heaven, yet ought we too take them for stark Devils, if they go about to mingle aught at all of their own devising, with the pure simplicity of Gods word. To be short, we see here all worth••esse of man beaten down when ⟨image 273⟩the obedience of faith cometh in presence. True it is that in civill cases there hath always bin superiority: but yet must God not withstanding govern still by his word, and his seruis must be ruled thereby, that our faith may be wholly conformable thereunto: and though all the world should set it self against it, and heap up never so huge and high mountains of most excellent titles even up too the clouds, all must be held but as smoke, yea and as filth and dung. Thus ye see in effect what Saint Paul meant to say. Yet doth he it not too excuse the Galatians of their unadvised overshooting of themselves, but too give them courage to return unto God. There are many too be seen now adays which think themselves to be scaped out of Gods hands, and too be quite discharged, when they can say that their Prelates and Shepherds have taught them so. But S. Paul admitteth no such excuse, but sayeth that the way for them to scape the damnation that is prepared for the deceivers, is to return to Gods pure truth, & not to refuse to be brought back again, though they have swerved from it for a time. And herewithall also for a conclusion, he doth us to understand how deer our salvation is to God, and how great store he setteth by it. For whereof cometh that which S. Paul sayeth here, namely that all such as trouble the Church shall give a reckoning of it, and be overwhelmed at Gods hand: but of that we be his heritage, and he taketh all his pleasure in us, as in them whom he hath chosen and adopted, and for that we be as it were his accomplishment, as S. Paul termeth us? Seeing it is so: let us learn to trust in God, seeing he hath so fatherly care of our salvation. And so let us learn to put from us all false doctrine constantly and with such stoutness as we ought to do.

But Sainct Paule telleth vs heere, that when men are so disguyzed, they bee but Idolles for all that, and God is vnchangeable and altereth nother his nature nor his minde. Then sith it is so: although men were exalted too the third heauen, yet ought wee too take them for starke Diuelles, if they go about to mingle aught at al of their owne deuizing, with the pure simplicitie of Gods woord. To bee short, we see heere all worthesse of man beaten downe when