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, God calleth me, and I must be fain to yield up an account of my life: and I shall go seek warrants too answer for me. And who be they? Every man shall be cumbered enough in answering for himself: there is not that man which hath not faults enow of his own already. And how then could they bear my burden if I should cast it upon them, seeing they be so sore laden already with themselves, as is able too weigh them down a hundred times? Is it not then a great folly for me to bring such warrants before God? I am guilty of a hundred thousand faults, I shall be put there into the throng among the rest, and if I examine my self rightly, I shall find my self worse than guilty as I said, and yet for all this, I will satisfy God with saying, I have followed the common trace. While I go about to discharge my self after this fashion upon others, a thousand persons or twain shall fall upon me, and by that means my burden which was too heavy already shall be increased and be made much heavier: and so ye see we shall still abide in confusion. Now therefore we see what folly it is too allege men, as though they could defend us against God, or that we could be exempted from our deserved condemnation by making a number of bucklers after that sort, too shield ourselves against God: as who should say, the matter were doubtful who should get the upper hand,¹ whither Gods word which must endure for ever and cannot be impeached, or else our lusts which are fleshly. For whereof cometh custom, and fashion, and all that men term lawfulness, and antiquity or prescription and such other things? Of nothing else but that men will needs be wise in despite of God: and moreover are carried away with their own wicked lusts, & every man would have the bridle slaked, to take leave too do all manner of lewdness. Ye see then that we cannot bring any warrants too set against God, but we make open war against him. To be short, if every of us consider that he is overladen with his own faults, he shall have cause to humble himself. For there is not any man which is not beaten down to the ground if God list too enter into […] execute rigour towards him, and even the righteousest men of all, shall have somewhat continually in them that is worthy of ⟨p. 297⟩blame, so as they shall be confounded.

Behold, God calleth mee, and I must bee fayne to yeelde vp an account of my lyfe: and I shall go seeke warrantes too answere for mee. And who be they? Euery man shal bee combered ynough in answering for himself: there is not that man which hath not faults ynow of his own alreadie. And how then could they beare my burthen if I should cast it vpon them, seeing they bee so sore loden already with themselues, as is able too wey them downe a hundred times? Is it not then a great folly for mee to bring such warrantes before God? I am giltie of a hundred thousand faultes, I shall bee put there into the throng among the rest, and if I examine my selfe rightly, I shall finde my selfe worse than giltie as I sayd, and yet for all this, I will satisfye God with saying, I haue followed the common trace. VVhile I go about to discharge my selfe after this fashion vppon others, a thousand persons or twayne shall fall vpon mee, and by that meanes my burthen which was too heauie already shall bee increased and bee made much heauier: and so yee see wee shall still abide in confusion. Nowe therefore wee see what folly it is too alledge men, as thoughe they could defend vs ageynst God, or that wee could bee exempted from our deserued condemnation by making a number of bucklers after that sort, too sheelde ourselues ageinst God: as who should say, the matter were doubtfull who should get the vpper hande,