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

Behold here in effect how we may be touched with the true fear of God: behold also how we may mislike of our sins, and finally be humbled: namely, not by looking upon this man or that man, but by examining truly what we ourselves are, and thereupon by resolving our selves fully, that only Gods word shall bear sway with us, & that it is not for us to give judgement by the things that are seen in the world. Let that serve for one point. And hereupon also we may gather a general lesson: namely that it is to gross an oversight, too think too bury our faults and too scape unespied, by having a great number guilty as well as our selves. And yet nevertheless it is the common excuse now adays, as I have touched already: but yet for all that it is but a trifling excuse. If a man ask why the Papists are so dull, and why they give no ear too any reason, tell them what ye can, but account it as nothing: it is because they judge by comparison, saying: Al the world doth thus. Too be short, God seemeth unto them too be barred of all liberty, when the world behaveth it self otherwise than he hath commanded by his word. But it is too no purpose for them too set down and object such examples: for they cannot prejudice God, that he should not always condemn such as have done amiss. Though there were a thousand worlds, yet should they all go to wreck before him, specially if men came with such stateliness, as too say, Thus and thus do we. And who are you? Thus ye see in effect whereunto this text ought to serve us that we may take profit by it, […] •ave every man too try his own works. And it is purposely said his own work, too bring us too the consideration of our whole ⟨p. 294⟩life. For he meaneth not that we should take a piece of it and let the rest alone: but that like as God hath written all in his records, so we on our side should search throughly by piecemeal wherein we may have offended, and what vices and infirmities there are in us. That is it that S. Paul meant by the word work. For it may happen now & then, that in some one point we shall have served God faithfully, but yet howsoever it be done, there is still some infirmity in it. Again we be faulty of so many imperfections, as it abasheth us too see it, and we cannot but even loth ourselves.

Beholde heere in effecte howe wee may be touched with the true feare of God: behold also howe wee may mislyke of our sinnes, and finally bee humbled: namely, not by looking vppon this man or that man, but by examining truely what wee ourselues are, and therevppon by resoluing our selues fully, that only Gods word shall beare sway with vs, & that it is not for vs to giue iudgement by the things that are seene in the world. Let that serue for one poynt. And herevppon also we may gather a generall lesson: namely that it is to grosse an ouersight, too thinke too burie our faultes and too scape vnespyed, by hauing a great number giltie as well as our selues. And yet neuerthelesse it is the common excuce nowe adayes, as I haue touched alreadie: but yet for all that it is but a tryfling excuce. If a manne aske why the Papistes are so dull, and why they giue no eare too any reason, tell them what yee can, but account it as nothing: it is bycause they iudge by comparison, saying: Al the world doth thus. Too bee shorte, God seemeth vntoo them too bee barred of all libertie, when the worlde behaueth it selfe otherwyse than he hath commaunded by hys woorde. But it is too no purpose for them too set downe and obiect suche examples: for they cannot preiudice God, that he shuld not alwayes condemne such as haue done amisse. Thoughe there were a thousande worldes, yet shoulde they all go to wrecke before him, specially if men came wyth such statelynesse, as too saye, Thus and thus doo wee. And who are you? Thus yee see in effect wherevntoo this texte ought to serue vs that wee may take profite by it, aue euery man too trye his owne woorkes. And it is purposely sayde hys owne woorke, too bryng vs too the consideration of our whole