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

13 Neither they that have circumcision.) The old interpreter and Erasmus have thus, which are circumcised,) but because I suppose Paul to speak of the teachers only, and not generally of all: to avoid ambiguity, I had rather to translate it so. The meaning than is thus, They do not this for the zeal of the Law, in that they bind you with the yoke of ceremonies. for with their Circumcision they keep not the Law. With pretending the Law they require you to be circumcised: but whereas they themselves are circumcised, they perform not that which they enjoin to others. But there ariseth a doubt, whereas he saith They keep not the Law, whether he meant it of the whole law, or else of ceremonies. for there are some that expound it thus, They truly fulfil not the Law, because it is a burden not able to be born, but he rather accuseth them of falsehood, for that they would quietly pass over the law, as oft as envy was away, which plague spreadeth it self abroad also in every place. for at this day you shall find many who defend the Popish tyranny through ambition rather than of conscience. I speak of the Court Apostles, and them that love their bellies. they will pronounce as it were out of an Oracle that the statutes of the holy church of Rome are reverently to be observed and kept. And what do they the whilst? they set no more by all the holy decrees of Rome, than by the braying of an ass: but they will save one. To be brief, such controversy had Paul with those deceivers, as we have at this day with the counterfeit professors ⟨p. 147⟩of the Gospel, who mingling Christ with the Pope, do frame unto us a monster. Paul therefore pulleth the visor from the face of such, when he teacheth that they do nothing sincerely: but command Circumcision, that they may boast themselves to the Jews, because they have brought with them young Scholars. for this is to glory in their flesh. They will make a Triumph of you, saith he: and so they abuse your body to hunt after favour, when they have showed unto the false followers of the Law, in your mangled flesh a mark of peace and and agreement.

13 Neither they that haue circumcision.) The olde interpreter and Erasmus haue thus, which are circumcised,) but because I suppose Paule to speake of the teachers onely, and not generally of all: to auoyde ambiguitie, I had rather to translate it so. The meaning than is thus, They doe not this for the zeale of the Law, in that they binde you with the yoke of ceremonies. for with their Circumcision they kepe not the Law. With pretending the Law they require you to be circumcised: but wheras they themselues are circumcised, they performe not that which they inioyne to others. But there ariseth a doubt, whereas he sayth They keepe not the Law, whether hee meant it of the whole law, or else of ceremonies. for there are some that expounde it thus, They truely fulfill not the Law, because it is a burdē not able to be born, but he rather accuseth thē of falshood, for yt they would quietly passe ouer ye law, as oft as enuie was awaye, which plague spreadeth it selfe abroad also in euery place. for at this daye you shall finde many who defend the Popishe tyrannye through ambition rather than of conscience. I speake of the Court Apostles, and them that loue their bellies. they will pronounce as it were out of an Oracle that the statutes of the holy church of Rome are reuerently to be obserued and kepte. And what doe they the whilest? they set no more by all the holy decrees of Rome, than by the braying of an asse: but they will saue one. To be brefe, such controuersie had Paule with those deceuers, as we haue at this day with the counterfeit professors