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 if we be led with ambition (as I said afore) every of us will be climbing to get higher and higher. Now hereof must needs spring strife and debate, heartburning, quarrelling and contention, and finally deadly enmity. To be short, so long as ambition hath his full scope, and is let alone unbridled, we must needs be at war, as experience showeth too much, and would God that we might be fain too seek a great way off for examples of it. But so soon as men will needs set out themselves, ambition must needs carry them so away, as too show themselves enemies too their neighbours. And thereof also proceedeth envy.¹ For it is said that charity is glad of other folks welfare. Have not we cause too rejoice, when we see God pour out of his gracious gifts upon our neighbours? yes: or else we pray not unfeignedly for all such as have need of them. For if it grieve us too see that God granteth them too live commodiously and at their ease: do we not therein bewray that there was nothing but hypocrisy and feigned […]. Also if God give any man the gracious […] his holy spirit, it is for the common welfare and edifying of his Church. So then, in all respects ⟨p. 281⟩there is cause for us too rejoice, and if we be rightly qualified according too Gods will, we shall also therewithal love the profit and advancement of our neighbours. Contrariwise when every man is given too himself, and we be driven with this wicked ambition and pride: we can never look but a skew at the advantage and profit of our neighbours. There will always be repining and spiting in our hearts, when God showeth himself bountiful towards those whom we would keep under feet.

Therefore if we bee led with ambition (as I sayd afore) euery of vs will bee climbing to get higher and higher. Now hereof must needes spring strife and debate, hartburning, quareling and contention, and finally deadly enmitie. To be short, so long as ambition hath his full scope, and is let alone vnbrydled, wee must needes bee at warre, as experience sheweth toomuch, and woulde God that wee might bee fayne too seeke a greate way off for examples of it. But so soone as men will needes set out themselues, ambition muste needes carie them so away, as too shewe themselues enemies too their neyghbours. And thereof also proceedeth enuie.¹