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

Paul holdeth not scorn of those things, neither would he have them rejected: but the matter that he treateth of, is how men may give sure proof to the worldward, whether they be rightly minded to the obeying of God or no. And I have told you already, that such proof is seen by our loving of our neighbours, when we be not given every man too his own profit, but labour in common too nourish good peace and unity, and put to our helping hand also so far as God giveth us ability & means wherewith to do them good to whom we be bound by his word. Thus ye see why S. Paul setteth down the word Love in the first place. It is not to the intent we should so love our neighbours, that God should be thrust back behind us: but because that in having mutual love and friendship one with an other, we show ourselves to be rightly given & dedicated to god: which thing cannot be with […] trust in him, nor without resorting unto him by prayer and supplica•••n. Furthermore seeing that all the things which bear the name of virtue, and are justly commended ⟨image 299⟩among men, are called the fruits of the spirit: surely it is much more likely that when we should come unto God, and be armed against all temptations, and be earnest in praying by means of faith: we be not ready for it if the holy Ghost work not in us. Then of natural inclination there is not any thing in us whereby we take hold of the doctrine of the Gospel: neither are we so lightsome as to mount up unto God, to talk familiarly with him by prayer and supplication, but the holy Ghost must dispose us too it, by enlightening our harts with his grace, & by moving our harts to call upon him. Lo what we have to remember here. Now whereas S. Paul matcheth joy with love, it is not only to do us to understand that we shall be quiet to Godward, and have cheerful hearts, when he shall have received us to mercy and showed himself too favour us: but he speaketh of another kind of joy, which is that there be no heartburning among us to make us lower one at another, nor spite to withdraw us from our neighbours: but that we be gentle & fellowlike, yea and that we be glad when we can aid and succour them that have need of us. In the .xiiij. to the Romans S. Paul saith,¹ that the kingdom of heaven is joy of spirit: howbeit he taketh that word in another meaning.

Paule holdeth not scorne of those things, neither would he haue them reiected: but the matter that he treateth of, is how men may giue sure proofe to the worldward, whether they be rightly mynded to the obeying of God or no. And I haue told you alreadie, that such proof is seene by our louing of our neyghbours, when wee bee not giuen euery man too his owne profyte, but laboure in common too nourishe good peace and vnitie, and put to our helping hande also so farre as God giueth vs abilitie & meanes wherwith to do them good to whom we be bound by his woorde. Thus yee see why S. Paule setteth downe the woorde Loue in the first place. It is not to the intent we should so loue our neyghbours, that God should be thrust backe behynde vs: but bycause that in hauyng mutuall loue and frendship one with an other, wee shewe ourselues to be rightly giuē & dedicated to god: which thing cānot be with trust in him, nor without resortīg vnto him by praier and supplican. Furthermore seing that all the things which beare the name of vertue, and are iustly commended