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

And for that cause he saith, that if his adversaries against whom he disputeth, will maintain Gods Law, they must consider well to whom it speaketh, and they must begin at them selves: and that if they intend to make good scholars, they must teach them soberness, meekness, chastity, patience, & such other things, and moreover to renounce all their own wicked lusts. These (saith S. Paul) are the true exercises wherein it behoveth us to employ all our endeavour. And in the mean while let us not shut the gate against Gods children, in bereaving them of the privilege that God hath given them. For when he governeth them by his holy spirit, he will not have them subject any more too the yoke of the Law. Now thereupon S. Paul addeth, that all they which are in Jesus Christ, have crucified their flesh, with the lusts thereof. Here he showeth that he […] to have a fleshly liberty, and such a one as the despisers of God […] that he requireth chiefly, that such as talk of christian liberty, should show in deed that they have ⟨image 301⟩crucified all their lusts and concupiscences, to the intent thereby to prove them selves the true members of our Lord Jesus Christ. And this is needful for us: to the end we may hold us to the lawful order and mark which God pointeth us too, when we would know what true liberty is. Now a days there are many Christians from the teeth outward, as far as comes too the eating of flesh upon fridays and in Lenten: they can well enough mock at the pelting toys of papistry: they can well enough say, that if any restraint be made of one thing or other under pain of deadly sin, it is but an abuse and mockery: and they say truth, so they build upon a good and sure foundation. But what? they that are so great talkers, know no whit of our Lord Jesus Christs office and power: they know not why he came down into the world, nor what grace he imparteth unto us by his Gospel: they know not, neither what faith, nor what prayer is: and yet for all that, they will needs have leave to do what they list, and that folk should lay the bridle loose in their neck. Of these wild Christians there are too many now a days. In the mean while the doctrine of God is blamed by their means.

And for that cause he sayth, that if his aduersaries agaynst whom he disputeth, will maynteyne Gods Lawe, they muste consider well to whom it speaketh, and they must begin at them selues: and that if they intende to make good schollers, they must teach them sobernesse, meeknesse, chastitie, patience, & such other things, and moreouer to renounce all their owne wicked lusts. These (saith S. Paul) are the true exercises wherin it behoueth vs to imploy all our indeuer. And in the meane while let vs not shutte the gate agaynst Gods children, in bereeuing them of the priuiledge that God hath giuen them. For when he gouerneth them by his holy spirite, he will not haue them subiect any more too the yoke of the Lawe. Nowe therevpon S. Paule addeth, that all they whiche are in Iesus Christ, haue crucified their flesh, with the lusts therof. Here he sheweth that he to haue a fleshly libertie, and suche a one as the despisers of God that he requireth chiefly, that suche as talke of christian libertie, should shewe in deede that they haue