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

Truly although none of the things that S. Paul rehearseth here do appear in us, so as we be blameless before men, yea and seem too be little Angels: yet cease we not too be wicked and untoward, till God have reformed us. Nevertheless God giveth every of us sufficient record in our lives, whereby to cast us quite down, and to make us give over our pleading of our own accord. Thus ye see in effect, that the mean to put this lesson in ure, is that if we think our selves to be any thing worth, and perceive not the wants that are in us: we must sift our life, and compare our works with the things that God biddeth or forbiddeth: and then we shall have a fair looking glass, wherein to behold our lewdness and filthiness: and whereas it seemed erst that there was nothing but all pureness and perfection in us: God will show us to our faces, that we be full of wickedness. And yet nevertheless when we shall have considered this diverse and many times: let us thereupon conclude, that it is not the hundredth part of it. For we shall always be dimsighted in finding out of our own wants. Although God constrain and reprove us in such wise as we cannot deny it: yet will he show in the end, that for every point that we have known, there are a hundred that were hidden from us. And verily when we see our works laid open before us: it is to make us go to the wellspring of them. Many men are so gross, that if they have not committed whoredom, if they have not plaid the drunkards openly, or if their filching and pilfering have bin so covertly and finely conveyed as no man could bewray them, they think themselves quite and clear. But S. Pauls intent in saying that the works of the flesh are manifest, is not to flatter men as though a sin were not to be condemned till it were openly seen in deed. For […] told you) we must proceed from ⟨image 292⟩the one to the other. Then if whoredom, drunkenness, robbery, murder, treason, blasphemy against God, troublesomeness, & sedition, be detestable things in themselves: we must also conclude thereupon, that the wickedness which lurketh within the hart, (as ambition and pride, when men esteem & like of themselves too much) is detestable likewise. Also covetousness when we have a mind too other mens goods, and all other like things are to be condemned likewise.

Truely although none of the things that S. Paule rehearceth heere doo appeere in vs, so as we be blamelesse before men, yea and seeme too bee little Angelles: yet ceasse we not too be wicked and vntoward, till God haue reformed vs. Neuerthelesse God giueth euery of vs sufficient recorde in our liues, whereby to cast vs quite downe, and to make vs giue ouer our pleading of our owne accord. Thus ye see in effect, that the meane to put this lesson in vre, is that if wee thinke our selues to bee any thing woorth, and perceyue not the wantes that are in vs: we must sift our life, and compare our workes with the things that God biddeth or forbiddeth: and then wee shall haue a fayre lookingglasse, wherein to behold our leudnesse and filthinesse: and whereas it seemed erst that there was nothing but all purenesse and perfection in vs: God will shew vs to our faces, that wee be full of wickednesse. And yet neuerthelesse when wee shall haue considered this diuerse and many times: let vs therevpon conclude, that it is not the hundredth part of it. For we shall alwayes be dimsighted in finding out of our owne wantes. Although God constreyne and reproue vs in such wise as we cannot denie it: yet will he shewe in the ende, that for euery poynt that we haue knowen, there are a hundred that were hidden from vs. And verely when wee see our woorkes layd open before vs: it is to make vs go to the welspring of them. Many men are so grosse, that if they haue not committed whoredome, if they haue not playde the drunkardes openly, or if their filching and pilfering haue bin so couertly and finely conueyed as noman could bewray them, they thinke themselues quite and cleere. But S. Paules intent in saying that the woorkes of the flesh are manifest, is not to flatter men as though a sinne were not to be condemned till it were openly seene in deede. For told you) wee must proceede from