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

doth it therefore follow that we be mockers of God? Yea sayeth Saint Paul. And for proof thereof, ye seek vain shift […] your selves to them. But if you looked rightly upon the deed, and were not wrapped in your own maliciousness: surely you should have a righter judgement than you have.

dooth it therefore followe that we be mockers of God? Yea sayeth Sainct Paule. And for proofe thereof, yee seeke vayne shift 〈…〉 your selues to them. But if you looked rightly vpon the deede, and were not wrapped in your owne maliciousnesse: surely you shoulde haue a righter iudgement than you haue.

What causeth you then to fall asleep in your so fond excuses? it is because ye consider not that we must all of us appear at Gods judgement seat, and that it is he which searcheth mens thoughts, and from whom nothing is hidden. But you take him too be but an Idol: you would bear him in hand that he ought to be contented with your fools babbles: and when ye have beguiled men & laughed them to scorn, ye think that God is of the same stamp, and use yet greater boldness towards him. Therefore it is certain that all such as flatter themselves and seek starting holes, are Infidels, and the thing it self showeth them to be plain mockers of God. Now although this saying be short: yet ought it to make us quake, forasmuch as we here so great a thunder, or see such a lightning coming upon us from above. And I pray you, is it a fault too be pardoned, when men that are but stark rottenness, do so vaunt themselves against God, yea even to mock at him? Surely we know it is the greatest reproach and spite that can be done unto a man, too laugh him to scorn after that fashion. If it be intolerable among us that are nothing: will God suffer himself to be mocked? Saint Paul therefore hath well given us occasion here to look nearly to our selves, and to walk plainly, and not too use our scoffing tricks, as though we thought to mend our market by it, forasmuch as God is provoked by it, as though we defied him, or as though we intended too dispossess him of his right, and to make him believe that a man might pluck him by the nose, and do all manner of villainy to him and he not perceive it. Were this saying well marked, we would walk in another manner of awe than we do: but we see how men become Heathenish, yea even wilfully, and wax so hardhearted, that they regard neither shame nor honesty when good or evil cometh in question, but ye shall see them corrupt and pervert all doctrine with full mouth, and cast out blasphemies against God. Ye shall see then now adays that all Tables, all houses, and all streets are full of mockers of God. And whereof cometh that? It is true that there are many Hypocrites and self soothers: