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

Let us acknowledge this, and yield God the whole praise, suffering our selves to be governed by him. And let us go back again to that which S. Paul told us heretofore: that is to wit, [to beware] that we deceive not our selves wilfully, when we would show our selves hardy and bold in correcting, rebuking, and amending one man or other. Let us not be so foolish as to justify our selves by comparison, as who should say that God ought to hold himself contented with our rebuking of others after that manner, and for that there is some show of virtue in us. Let us not stay upon any of these things, as is told us us here, but let us mark also by the way, that whereas it is said that every man shall bear his own burden, we have right great need of our Lord Jesus Christs help,¹ and that he should take all our burdens upon him, according as in very deed he hath borne all our sins upon the cross, as saith S. Peter in his first Epistle. True it is that the matter which S. Paul handleth here, is none other than the same that I have declared already: that is to wit, that we must not imagine that men are able to warrant us, for the righteousest man alive is cumbered enough with himself. And furthermore, that if our Lord had not regard to hold us up, we should be oppressed under our burden. Yet notwithstanding every man must answer for himself, and Gods word must have the mastery as I said afore. Thus ye see what S. Paul intended to tell us. But yet further, let us think a little upon our selves. If every man should be fain to bear his own burden, who were able to endure it? We should needs be borne down. For if a man had but some one sin in him, behold hell were ready too swallow him up. Surely the weight of one sin is heavier than a stone that were able to crush all our limbs and bones a pieces. Now it is no talking of any one, nor of a hundred: the multitude of them is infinite. How then shall we stand in judgement before God when he bringeth us to account? Who can say that he cometh frank and free? To be short, we see that if there were not a remedy in the matter that S. Paul telleth us here: we shou•• […] we must repair to our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is he that hath borne all our burdens, as I have alleged already.

Let vs acknowledge this, and yeelde God the whole prayse, suffering our selues to bee gouerned by him. And let vs go backe againe to that which S. Paule tolde vs heretofore: that is to wit, [to beware] that wee deceyue not our selues wilfully, when we would shew our selues hardie and bolde in correcting, rebuking, and amending one man or other. Let vs not bee so foolish as to iustifie our selues by comparison, as who should say that God ought to hold himselfe contented with our rebuking of others after that maner, and for that there is some shewe of vertue in vs. Let vs not stay vpon any of these things, as is told vs vs heere, but let vs marke also by the way, that whereas it is sayde that euery man shal beare his own burthen, we haue right great need of our Lord Iesus Christs helpe,