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

yet let us consider that God calleth us unto him, and that he is able to remedy all our weakness, and to give us sufficient strength to hold out to the uttermost. Howsoever the case stand, seeing he employeth us in his service, (us I say which are nothing of our selves:) we must not dishonour him so much, as to make him subject to mens lusts. Thus ye see what we have to consider in the first place. Furthermore we be warned therewithal, to suspect all such as seek their own advantage and profit, and all such as disguise themselves, rowing between two streams, and falsifying Gods pure truth at every turn, too please men withal. For as I have told you already, we must prepare our selves to many battles, if we mind to serve God simply. And we must call to mind this sentence where Saint Paul said,¹ that if his mind were too please men, he must of necessity forsake the service of our Lord Jesus Christ his master. For as I have told you before, the devil will not cease to make war upon us on all sides: and again, men are naturally disposed thereunto: every man coveteth to be soothed and upheld, and to have all his vices cloaked. To be short, there is none but he desireth too be foded and maintained in his recklessness. And therefore if we will be friends with men too frame our selves unto their wills and desires: Jesus Christ can have no more mastership over us, and we shall not only become unprofitable for him, but also utter perverters of all. Now therefore when we see that these which pretend great zealousness of christian religion, do seek their own profit: let us hardily conclude, that they deserve not to have any authority. Of which sort are they which nowadays keep a barking to maintain popish abuses, and cease not to slander […] doctrine of the Gospel, but labour ⟨image 276⟩to bring it in discredit with the blind and ignorant, and yet notwithstanding what is it that the most part of them do seek? Some to maintain themselves in their estate, with their red hats, horned caps, and crosses: Others run after them like hounds in a chase, and these poor starvelings ply them apace that they may have their wages.

yet let vs consider that God calleth vs vnto him, and that he is able to remedie al our weaknesse, and to giue vs sufficient strēgth to holde out to the vttermost. Howsoeuer the cace stande, seeing hee imployeth vs in his seruice, (vs I say which are nothing of oure selues:) we must not dishonour him so much, as to make him subiect to mens lustes. Thus ye see what wee haue to consider in the first place. Furthermore we bee warned therewithall, to suspectall suche as seeke their owne aduauntage and profite, and all suche as disguise themselues, rowing betweene two streames, and falsifying Gods pure truthe at euerie turne, too please men withall. For as I haue tolde you alreadie, we must prepare our selues to many battels, if we minde to serue God simplie. And we must call to minde this sentence where Saint Paule sayde,