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

Mark me a little child when one showeth him a glass, he knows not whither it be himself or another, whom he sees there, and yet is he altogether fond of it. Even so is it with all such as believe themselves to be wondrous fellows. And why so? Whereupon do they ground themselves, or what reason moveth them, but that they seem to themselves to be of more value, than they that were able to show them the way? For see here what they will allege. O (say they) such a man is well esteemed, but yet he hath such a fault and such a fault in him. So that when a mans vices are searched out, if they be condemned, ye see it is but a sport of little children. Therefore not without cause doth S. Paul say, that to make a a good trial, that we may have a well grounded praise and such a one as may stand before God, we must try ourselves. If a man say, yea: but may a man praise himself? It is so certain that we must be void of all glory, to put in ure that which we have seen in another text, where it is said that we must glory in God. The question then is not whither men may be praised or no: but S. Paul hath said conditionally, that if any man will be praised of God, he must withdraw himself as it were into his secret chamber, and consider what manner of one he is: and then will he be no more so foolish as to commend himself or to say, tush, I am worth as much as such a one, I am as good a man as he. When this greere is pulled down: then shall a man see whither he ought to be praised or no. Now of a truth, it is certain that there is not one spark of praise in us, at least wise that we may challenge as our own. Nevertheless we shall not fail to have praise in our God: which is much better than if we were hoised above the Clouds. For when men deceive themselves with a vain opinion, or that the whole world laugheth upon them: it seemeth to them that they fly in the air: but it is the next way to make them tumble down & break their necks. Lo whereunto all this presumption that blindeth us serveth us. But when we once know what it is too seek praise in God: then are we in the way too be rightly knit unto him, and so shall we stand upon a good and sure […] and esteemed. According whereunto we see how S. Paul glorieth in his good conscience and in his uprightness.

Marke me a little chyld when one sheweth him a glasse, he knowes not whither it be himselfe or another, whom he sees there, and yet is he altogether fond of it. Euen so is it with all suche as beleeue themselues to be wonderous fellowes. And why so? VVherevpon do they ground themselues, or what reason moueth them, but that they seeme to themselues to be of more valew, than they that were able to shewe them the way? For see heere what they will alledge. O (say they) suche a man is well esteemed, but yet he hath suche a fault and such a fault in him. So that when a mans vyces are searched out, if they be condemned, ye see it is but a sport of little children. Therfore not without cause doth S. Paule say, that to make a a good tryall, that wee may haue a well grounded prayse and such a one as may stand before God, wee must try ourselues. If a man say, yea: but may a man prayse himselfe? It is so certeine that we must be voyd of all glorie, to put in vre that which wee haue seen in another text, where it is sayd that we must glorie in God. The question then is not whither men may bee praysed or no: but S. Paule hath sayd condicionally, that if any man will be praised of God, he must withdraw himself as it were into his secret chamber, and consider what maner of one he is: and then will he be no more so foolishe as to commend himselfe or to say, tushe, I am woorth as much as such a one, I am as good a man as he. VVhen this greere is pulled downe: then shall a man see whither he ought to be praysed or no. Now of a truth, it is certein that there is not one sparke of praise in vs, at least wise that we may chalendge as our owne. Neuerthelesse wee shall not fayle to haue prayse in our God: which is much better than if wee were hoyssed aboue the Cloudes. For when mē deceiue themselues with a vayne opinion, or that the whole world laugheth vpon them: it seemeth to them that they flie in the aire: but it is the next way to make them tumble downe & breake their neckes. Lo wherevntoo all this presumption that blindeth vs serueth vs. But when we once know what it is too seeke prayse in God: then are wee in the way too bee rightly knit vnto him, and so shall wee stand vppon a good and sure and esteemed. According wherevnto wee see how S. Paule glorieth in his good conscience and in his vprightnesse.