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

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 ⟨p. 116⟩not think or believe that they •ell away from Christ, or did refuse his grace: but yet Christ was left unto them, for that the doctrine of the Gospel in that principal point was counterfeited and abased. This speech, Behold I Paul, hath no small force in it: for he doth set himself against them even to their face, and he giveth out his name, lest he should seem to have a doubtful cause. And although his authority began to wax less and less among the Galatians, yet he avoucheth it to be sufficient to overthrow all his adversaries.

2 Beholde I Paule.) He could shew them nothing more grieuous, thā that he should shut them out from the grace of Christ. But what meaneth this, That Christe auayleth nothing to all that are circumcised? Did hee auayle Abraham nothing? yea rather that he might auayle, he tooke circumcision. If wee saye that that auayled before the comming of Christ, what shall we aunswere concerning Timothie? It must be marked that Paul in this place doth not speake of the outward cutting onlye, or of the ceremonie, but rather he reasoneth agaynst the wicked doctrine of the false Apostles, who fayned the same to be a necessarie seruice of God, and withall they did beate in a confidence as it were of a meritorious work. These diuelish deuises did make Christ fruitlesse and vnprofitable. not that the false Apostles did denye Christ, or would haue had him vtterly taken awaye: but they did make suche a partition betweene his grace and the workes of the Law, that but onelye halfe parte of our saluation should be by him. The Apostle cryeth out agaynste that, saying we may not make such a diuiding: nor that otherwise hee can auayle vs, except we imbrace him wholy. And what other thing doe the Papistes at this daye, but thrust in trifles inuented by themselues, in stead of Circumcision? certaynly to this ende is directed their whole doctrine, that the grace of Christ should be mingled with the merites of workes: which thing is impossible. For whosoeuer will haue but halfe Christ, shall lose all Christ. and yet the Papistes seeme in their own eyes to be very sharpe witted, when they alleage that they attribute nothing vnto workes, but by the grace of Christ being the meane, as though the Galathians were in any other error. For they did