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

according as we see how in the second to the Corinthians, he taunteth such as had measured themselves by others mens yards. For S. Paul said unto them, Every one of you consider what he hath done, and when ye have well laid all your parcels together what will you show? Therefore every one of you must come and as it were lay himself upon the rack, that it may be seen what manner of man he is, and what he hath done: and then may judgement be given of him. Even so is it said in this text, that every man must try his own work. As if he should say, we will needs be advanced one above another, but if it be cast in any of our teeth that we have done amiss, by and by his cloak shall be, that he hath a great sort of fellows: but that shall never go for payment before God (saith S. Paul:) every man must shoal out himself, and set himself alone aside from the rest, and understand that he shall be acquit or condemned before God, not thereafter as another man shall be found to be better or worse than he, but after the rule of the judge, that is to say, after his word. For God hath on the one side his own word, & on the otherside our life. Therefore the true balance whereunto we must come: is not too set down the multitude [for our excuse] and to say, such men or such have misinstructed me, I have followed that which I saw, it was the common fashion, I was fain to do so whither I would or no: for I was carried away, because I was not able to stand against a multitude. No, none of these things will go for payment before God, it will not serve our turn to say, that we have many fellows. But (as I have said already) the true […] Counterpoise, and [to consider] that although the whole world draw us unto evil, yet we shall not be excused if we prefer not God and his word before all mens ⟨image 315⟩doings. And here first of all, in following the matter that S. Paul layeth forth, when account is to be entered into, we must call our selves home to examine our own lives throughly. For a man shall never be touched with true repentance, nor never acknowledge his sins without hypocrisy, till he have shut his eyes against all the doings of other men, and fall to considering thus with himself: Go too, what is it that my God commandeth me? After what manner may I appear before his judgement seat? Howe will he judge me? According too his word.

according as we see how in the second to the Corinthians, he taunteth such as had measured thēselues by others mens yardes. For S. Paule sayd vntoo them, Euery one of you consider what he hath done, and when yee haue well layd all your percells togither what will you shewe? Therfore euery one of you must come and as it were lay himself vpon the racke, that it may be seene what maner of man he is, and what he hath done: and then may iudgement be giuen of him. Euen so is it sayd in this text, that euery man must try his owne worke. As if he should say, we will needes be aduaunced one aboue another, but if it bee cast in any of our teeth that we haue done amisse, by and by his cloke shall be, that he hath a great sort of fellowes: but that shall neuer go for payment before God (sayth S. Paule:) euery man must shole out himselfe, and set himself alone aside from the rest, and vnderstand that he shall be acquit or condemned before God, not therafter as another mā shall be found to bee better or worse than he, but after the rule of the iudge, that is to say, after his woord. For God hath on the one side his owne word, & on the otherside our life. Therfore the true balance whervnto we must come: is not too set downe the multitude [for our excuce] and to say, such men or such haue misinstructed me, I haue followed that which I sawe, it was the common fashion, I was faine to doo so whithe I would or no: for I was caryed away, bycause I was not able to stand ageinst a multitude. No, none of these things will go for payment before God, it will not serue our turne to say, that we haue many fellowes. But (as I haue sayde already) the true Counterpeyse, and [to consider] that although the whole world draw vs vnto euill, yet wee shal not bee excused if we preferre not God and his word before all mens