A commentary of M. I. Calvin upon the Epistle to the GalatiansA commentarie of M. I. Caluine vpon the Epistle to the Galathians

but he giveth us the fruit and possession thereof by the Gospel. Paul than doeth well when he monisheth the Galatians, that they be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage: that is to say, that they suffer not a snare to be put on their consciences. for if men will lay a wrongful burden on our shoulders, it may be borne: but ⟨p. 115⟩if they will bring our consciences into bondage, we must resist it stoutly, and even to the death For we shall be robbed of an inestimable benefit, if men may bind our consciences. And withal injury shall be offered to Christ the author of liberty. But of what force is this, again? for the Galatians never lived under the law. It is meant simply for this, Even as though they were not delivered by the grace of Christ. For although the law was given to the Jews, and not to the Gentiles: yet without Christ there is no liberty to either of them, but a mere bondage.

but hee giueth vs the fruite and possession thereof by the Gospell. Paule than doeth well when he monisheth the Galathians, that they be not entangled againe in the yoke of bondage: that is to say, that they suffer not a snare to bee put on their consciences. for if men will laye a wrongfull burden on our shoulders, it may be borne: but ⟨p. 115⟩if they will bring our consciences into bondage, wee must resist it stoutly, and euen to the death For wee shall be robbed of an inestimable benefite, if men maye binde our consciences. And withall iniurie shall be offred to Christ the authour of libertie. But of what force is this, againe? for the Galathians neuer liued vnder the law. It is meant simply for this, Euen as though they were not deliuered by the grace of Christ. For although the law was giuen to the Iewes, and not to the Gentils: yet without Christ there is no libertie to eyther of them, but a mere bondage.

2 Behold I Paul.) He could show them nothing more grievous, than that he should shut them out from the grace of Christ. But what meaneth this, That Christ availeth nothing to all that are circumcised? Did he avail Abraham nothing? yea rather that he might avail, he took circumcision. If we say that that availed before the coming of Christ, what shall we answer concerning Timothy? It must be marked that Paul in this place doth not speak of the outward cutting only, or of the ceremony, but rather he reasoneth against the wicked doctrine of the false Apostles, who feigned the same to be a necessary service of God, and withal they did beat in a confidence as it were of a meritorious work. These devilish devises did make Christ fruitless and unprofitable. not that the false Apostles did deny Christ, or would have had him utterly taken away: but they did make such a partition between his grace and the works of the Law, that but only half part of our salvation should be by him. The Apostle crieth out against that, saying we may not make such a dividing: nor that otherwise he can avail us, except we embrace him wholly. And what other thing do the Papists at this day, but thrust in trifles invented by themselves, in stead of Circumcision? certainly to this end is directed their whole doctrine, that the grace of Christ should be mingled with the merits of works: which thing is impossible. For whosoever will have but half Christ, shall lose all Christ. and yet the Papists seem in their own eyes to be very sharp witted, when they allege that they attribute nothing unto works, but by the grace of Christ being the mean, as though the Galatians were in any other error. For they did