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

Now, may we deserve too have any praise thereby before men? No, but rather blame, because that we by our sinfulness do mar the good things that God hath put into us. Moreover, where as it is said that we be nothing: it is because we can not but apply all our understanding and reason unto evil, and for that we will needs be counted wise,¹ [when as notwithstanding] God avoweth that there is nothing but naughtiness in us, and that all our thoughts, are but vanities, leasings, illusions, and deceits. Again, where as too our seeming we have a will whereby we choose both good and evil: the same will is a bondslave too sin, so as we do nothing else but fight against God. As much is too be said of all our affections. And if we have any thing else that seemeth commendable, God distributeth it too every man as it pleaseth him self, and moreover he is fain too continue the thing that he hath begun, as we see by experience. What cause then hath he too boast, which hath a sharp and subtle wit, seeing it is not he that hath made him self to excel, as though he had bin his own maker? Therefore we must hold all things of God, and do him homage for them. Again we see that even they which take them selves to be jollyest fellows, even they that are most honoured in the world, who must not be replied against when they have once spoken the word, I say we shall see even them made brutish when it pleaseth God. So then, let us conclude that Saint Paul doth justly abolish here all the power that men presume to have, to the end that they may be rightly humbled, that is to wit, to […] our selves to be aught worth. Mark […] or one point. Now hereupon he mocketh the fond vaingloriousness which ravisheth ⟨p. 292⟩their wits, because there is not any man that would willingly be beguiled. And in very deed it is a grief to us when we see any man go about to wind us in by wiliness and dissimulation, and we can by no means brook it: and yet for all that we shall find no greater deceivers in the world too us, than our selves. Every man deceives himself, every man overthrows him self, yea and that in a manner willingly: and what a folly is that? Now then we see S. Pauls drift, and also the lesson that we have too gather of that sentence.

Nowe, maye wee deserue too haue any prayse thereby before men? No, but rather blame, bicause that wee by our sinfulnesse doo marre the good thyngs that God hathe put intoo vs. Moreouer, where as it is sayde that wee bee nothing: it is bicause wee can not but apply all oure vnderstanding and reason vntoo euill, and for that wee wyll needes bee counted wyse,