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

For what is the Majesty of God? Again, how precious ought […] truth too be unto us?

For what is the Maiestie of God? Agayne, howe precious ought 〈…〉 truthe too bee vntoo vs?

Moreover, seeing that he doth so join his glory with our welfare, as we cannot procure the one without the other: yea and that we can neither profit him nor disprofit him, though we were never so zealous to maintain his quarrel, for he hath no need of us, neither needeth he to borrow our helping hand, but yet he maketh us his deputies or agents, too none other end but that every of us should seek his own profit, howbeit not of this world, nor in these corruptible things, but in the everlasting salvation of our souls: seeing (I say) that God employeth us after such sort, and we notwithstanding be still reckless and cold: is this treachery of ours excusable? Nay we must come to that which is said in the Psalm,¹ The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up, and the railings of them that railed on thee, I have taken to my self. Certes, this was fully accomplished in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, as in the head of the Church. And Saint Paul showeth that we must be fashioned like unto him as our pattern, so that whensoever we see Gods honour defaced by men, every of us must set himself manfully against it. Thus ye see briefly that the rule which we must gather here, is that we must prefer Gods honour before all things, yea even before a whole million of lives if we had them. Then is it not for us to spare men, when they strain themselves to the uttermost of their power to trample Gods name under foot, to turmoil the doctrine of salvation, to bring to pass that we might no more know what religion to stick unto, and to drive away all peace utterly out of the Church. Therefore if we see men apply their endeavours that way, is it not reason that we should be their adversaries?² Truly if it be possible, we must procure friendship and agreement with all men, yea on our own behalf, and so far forth as lieth in us, saith Saint Paul to the Romans. But when we see these naughtipackes advance themselves against God, and thrust forth their horns too dose at him: it is good reason that every of us should steppe forward, and show in deed that we be no more our own men, but that for as much as our Lord Jesus Christ hath bought and paid for us so dearly, he ought of right to be Lord both of our life, and of our death.