The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

First he putteth a difference between the Jews, and those whom God had suffered too walk on still in their own darkness. For it was a special privilege that God gave unto Abraham's offspring, when he adopted them, too say too them, you shall be my people whom I like of, as though ye were of mine own household. Those then which came not of Abraham's line, were as good as banished from Gods kingdom and Church. And he addeth, in the flesh. Not as he speaketh in divers other places, where he useth that word in reproach: but too show that God had showed by a visible fashion, how wretched their state was, and that they needed not any great deepness of wit too perceive it. For circumcision (sayeth he) served as it were too rid men of their uncleanness. And furthermore that Sacrament was ordained of God, too show that all the seed of man is cursed, and that we cannot be rightly made holy and pure, but by the cutting of, & putting away of the things that we have by nature. Too be short, like as now adays we be taught by Baptism too renounce whatsoever we have by birth: so also was circumcision a token to show how all men were filthy and loathsome, till they had forsaken their own kind. Now then, S. Pauls meaning is, that the said visible sign, showed well too all the heathen, that they were (as ye would say) unworthy too press unto God, and that he vouchsafed not to receive them into the company of the faithful. For the Jews had not invented circumcision of their own brain: but (as I have said afore) God had shoaled them out from the rest of the world, & all was by reason of the privilege of his own mere grace & goodness.

First he putteth a difference betweene the Iewes, and those whom God had suffered too walke on still in their owne darkenesse. For it was a speciall priuiledge that God gaue vntoo Abrahams ofspring, when he adopted them, too say too them, you shalbee my people whom I lyke of, as though yee were of myne owne houshold. Those then which came not of Abrahams lyne, were as good as banished from Gods kingdome and Church. And he addeth, in the fleshe. Not as he speaketh in dyuers other places, where he vseth that woord in reproche: but too shewe that God had shewed by a visible fashion, how wretched their state was, and that they needed not any greate deepenesse of wit too perceyue it. For circumcizion (sayeth he) serued as it were too rid men of their vncleannesse. And furthermore that Sacrament was ordeyned of God, too shewe that all the seede of man is cursed, and that wee cannot bee ryghtly made holy and pure, but by the cutting of, & putting away of the thinges that wee haue by nature. Too bee shorte, lyke as nowe adayes wee bee taught by Baptime too renounce whatsoeuer wee haue by birth: so also was circumcizion a token to shew how all men were filthy and lothsome, till they had forsaken their owne kynd. Now then, S. Paules meaning is, that the sayd visible signe, shewed well too all the heathen, that they were (as yee would say) vnwoorthie too preace vnto God, and that he voutsafed not to receyue them into the companie of the faythfull. For the Iewes had not inuented circumcizion of their owne brayne: but (as I haue sayd afore) God had sholed them out from the rest of the world, & all was by reason of the priuiledge of his owne mere grace & goodnesse.