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

6 I wonder that you are so soon carried over from Christ, which hath called you in grace, unto another Gospel: 7 Which is no other thing, but that there are some which trouble you, and are willing to overthrow the Gospel of Christ. 8 But although we, or an Angel from heaven, preach a Gospel unto you beside that Gospel which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said afore, now also say I again, If any shall preach a Gospel unto you, beside that which you have received, let him be accursed.

6 I wonder that you are so sone carried ouer frō Christ, which hath called you in grace, vnto another Gospell: 7 Whiche is no other thing, but that there are some which trouble you, and are willing to ouerthrowe the Gospell of Christ. 8 But although we, or an Angell from heauen, preach a Gospell vnto you beside that Gospell which wee haue preached vnto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we haue sayd afore, now also say I againe, If any shall preach a Gospell vnto you, beside that which you haue receiued, let him be accursed.

6. I wonder that. He beginneth with chiding, which chiding is somewhat more gentle than they deserved: but his vehement chiding he had rather bestow upon the false Apostles, as we shall see. He reprehendeth them for their shrinking away, not from his doctrine only, but from Christ. For they might not otherwise hold Christ, than to acknowledge us by his benefit to be set at liberty from the bondage of the Law: but the necessity which the ⟨p. 8⟩false Apostles did put in ceremonies was utterly contrary, and so they were carried over from Christ, not because they did altogether cast away Christianity, but because in such corruption there was only left unto them a counterfeit Christ. So at these days the Papists, because they will have a half Christ, and a torn Christ, have no Christ: and therefore they are carried over from Christ, for they are full of superstitious, which are directly contrary with the nature of Christ. This must be diligently marked, That we are carried over from Christ, when we fall unto those things which are contrary to his office: for light cannot be mingled with darkness. After the same reason is it, that he calleth it another gospel, that is, contrary to the true gospel: & yet the false apostles did profess themselves to preach the gospel of Christ: but whereas they did mingle their feigned devises, wherewith they destroy the principal force of the Gospel, therefore they had a false, a corrupt, and a counterfeit gospel. He useth the word of the present time, as though their fall were now in the doing: as though he should say, I say not that ye are already carried over, for then it were more hard for you to return into the way: but now, whilst you are yet in the middest of your course, draw back your feet rather than go forward. Some read, From him that hath called you in the grace of Christ, meaning of the father: but the reading which I follow is more plain. In that he saith, that they were called of Christ by grace, it serveth to upbraid their unthankfulness. To fall from the Son of God, of it self is evil & wicked, but to fall from him when he hath called us freely to salvation, is much more hateful, for his goodness towards us augmenteth the greatness of our wickedness, if we be unthankful. Soon. He augmenteth the foulness of their inconstancy.