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

Therefore the honour that we must yield ⟨image 284⟩unto God, is to renounce ourselves, to the end we may love them that hate us. And as I have told you already, this warning is not superfluous. For Saint Pauls intent is too shame such as are so fiery at the first dash, that reason can neither appease them nor stay them. Therefore when men be so hot, and fling themselves at all adventure: things must be alleged agreeable to their nature, to make them ashamed, that they may be drawn too the obedience of God. S. Paul then meant here to bring us by little and little to the overcoming of all our affections, which are to far out of square, too the end that whensoever we be provoked to hate any man, or to be revenged of him, we may consider thus with our selves: what will be the end of it, but that we shall one of us consume another like dogs and cats? And when we have considered that, we must proceed yet further: which is, that although our hatred might advantage us never so much, although we might always have the upper hand of our enemies, and although we could bring all our practices and attempts to effect: I say although we might have advantage by giving head to our passions: yet were it but a provoking of Gods wrath, seeing we could not yield so far unto him, as to love those that are unworthy. Sith the case standeth so, let us be afraid & submit ourselves with all humility. And forasmuch as it is a hard thing, let us fight so much the more manfully, till God have gotten the mastery, and we renounced our selves as I said, forsaking all our own nature, too the end that we may keep the sacred unity which he did set among us, when it pleased him that we should be one flesh. Now hereupon Saint Paul addeth, that if we mind to restrain the lusts of our flesh from reigning in us: we must walk in the spirit. Furthermore the battle is right hard: so that we do not what we would do: but although God have reformed us and touched us to the quick, so as we would fain please him in all points: yet notwithstanding we shall not yet attain too perfection, because our own nature will always lead us unto evil. But before we go any further, we must mark that by the word Flesh, Saint Paul meaneth all that is in man, and […] what ever we bring with us by our birth.

Therfore the honour that wee must yeelde ⟨image 284⟩vnto God, is to renounce ourselues, to the end we may loue them that hate vs. And as I haue tolde you alreadie, this warning is not superfluous. For Sainct Paules intent is too shame suche as are so firie at the first dashe, that reason can neither appease them nor stay them. Therefore when men be so hot, and fling themselues at al aduenture: things must bee alledged agreeable to their nature, to make them ashamed, that they may bee drawen too the obedience of God. S. Paule then ment heere to bring vs by little and little to the ouercomming of all our affections, which are to farre out of square, too the end that whensoeuer wee bee prouoked to hate any man, or to be reuenged of him, we may consider thus with our selues: what will bee the end of it, but that we shall one of vs consume another lyke dogges and cattes? And when we haue considered that, wee must proceede yet further: which is, that althoughe our hatred myght aduaūtage vs neuer so much, although we might alwayes haue the vpper hand of our enemyes, and although wee could bring all our practizes and attempts to effect: I say although wee might haue aduauntage by gyuing head to our passions: yet were it but a prouoking of Gods wrath, seing we could not yeelde so farre vnto him, as to loue those that are vnworthie. Sith the case standeth so, let vs bee afraid & submit ourselues with all humilitie. And forasmuch as it is a hard thing, let vs fight so much the more manfully, tyll God haue gotten the maysterie, and wee renounced our selues as I sayde, forsaking all our owne nature, too the ende that wee may keepe the sacred vnitie which he did set among vs, when it pleased him that wee should bee one flesh. Now herevpon Sainct Paule addeth, that if wee mind to restreine the lustes of our fleshe from reigning in vs: wee muste walke in the spirit. Furthermore the battell is ryght harde: so that wee doo not what wee would do: but although God haue reformed vs and touched vs to the quick, so as wee would fayne please him in all poynts: yet notwithstanding wee shall not yet atteyne too perfection, bycause our owne nature will alwayes leade vs vntoo euill. But before wee go any further, wee must marke that by the word Fleshe, Sainct Paule meaneth all that is in man, and what euer we bring with vs by our birth.