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

We have seen heretofore, that if we be willing too serve God, we shall find enough wherewith too occupy ourselves in chastising our vices, if every of us consider to how much corruption & sinfulness he is subject. And saint Paul hath purposely set afore us the sins that reign in us by nature, too the intent we might know whereupon to set our minds to frame ourselves aright to the obeying of God. For we see how men busy themselves about trifling things in showing themselves willing too serve God: they trudge […] measure. Howbeit, all is but vain & unprofitable labour, according […] we see in the Popedom, where men give the name of Gods seruis to a sort of toys that they have ⟨image 298⟩devised of their own brain. And yet in all those things though they like never so well of them, and glory in them never so much, there is nought else but vanity, and in the mean while they never pass of coming to the principal: for the world doth alway seek windlasses. But God setteth the right way before us in his law: and if we intend to go forward to the true perfection unfeignedly, we must begin at the forsaking of ourselves, because there is no wisdom in us that is not cursed, no thought that is not wicked, nor no desire that is not froward & corrupted. For this cause S. Paul told us before, that if men be minded to order their life well, first they shall find enough to occupy themselves withal, if every man consider what a number of entangled and wicked lusts he hath in him to be cut up: which thing will not be done out of hand. And also S. Paul spake these words purposely to such as busied themselves about the Ceremonies of the law. For although they said generally that the things which God had commanded were to be fulfilled: yet the chief things that they made account of, were Circumcision & the Ceremonies, Now hereupon S. Paul telleth us that God will have us occupied about greater matters: that is to wit, he will have us to fight manfully against the great number of things that turn us aside from the right way.

WEe haue seen heretofore, that if we be willing too serue God, wee shall find ynough wherewith too occupie ourselues in chastizing our vices, if euery of vs cōsider to how much corruption & sinfulnesse he is subiect. And sainct Paule hath purposely set afore vs the sinnes that reigne in vs by nature, too the intent we might know whervpon to set our minds to frame ourselues aright to the obeying of God. For we see how mē busie themselues about trifling things in shewing themselues willing too serue God: they trudge measure. Howbeit, all is but vaine & vnprofitable labor, according we see in the Popedome, where mē giue the name of Gods seruis to a sort of toyes that they haue