Sermons of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the GalatiansSermons of M. Iohn Caluine vpon the Epistle of Saincte Paule to the Galathians

To be short, we see here whereof they be blamed which would subdue Christen folk too the keeping of the Ceremonies and shadows of Moses Law: that is to wit, that they were double fellows, and passed not upon the truth of the matter, whither God required such things or no, but had a mind to please and pleasure the world, and by that means to eschew persecution. And we nowadays have need to be warned thereof, as well as the Galatians needed then. And if we look upon the state and disposition of our time, we shall easily perceive that this doctrine is not needless, and that the holy Ghost intended to provide for the thing which he knew to be for our behoof. For what a number are to be found nowadays, which do strongly and stoutly maintain the Ceremonies of the Law, and yet notwithstanding make none account of them? But (which is worse) they maintain the follies and traditions that are invented by men, yea and even such abuses, errors, and deceits as are so gross and fond as may be. All these things shall be maintained with extreme rigour, by such as will needs have men to obey them. Like as nowadays, if a man charge these Hypocrites that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the brightness of his Gospel are darkened by the great number of their observations, and that we be become as good as Jews: (for in very deed the Papists have borrowed so many things of the Law, that a man shall hardly discern the difference between the Jews, & them that call themselves Christians:) I say if a man do charge them with these things: yet will they maintain to the uttermost, that men must do so still, because they have bin kept time out of mind. If a man go further with them, and say, how so? Ye have so many dotages, that the very heathen men were never so gross and fond in their superstitions as you be: O tush (say they) yet must we keep still the traditions of our mother holy Church. And therewithal they cry, to the fire with him. But now what do these Hypocrites, which move the […] of Princes and Judges against those that preach Gods word faithfully? So long as they be among themselves, they make but a ⟨image 341⟩mock at their own traditions. And when they dispute of them, they will say clean contrary too their preaching, and talking in the Pulpit.

To be short, we see here whereof they be blamed which woulde subdue Christen folke too the keeping of the Ceremonies and shadowes of Moyses Lawe: that is to wit, that they were double fellowes, and passed not vppon the truth of the matter, whither God required such things or no, but had a minde to please and pleasure the worlde, and by that meanes to eschue persecution. And we nowadayes haue neede to bee warned thereof, as well as the Galathians needed then. And if we looke vpon the state and disposition of our time, we shall easily perceyue that this doctrine is not needelesse, and that the holy Ghost intended to prouide for the thing whiche he knew to be for our behoofe. For what a number are to be founde nowadayes, which do strongly and stoutly mainteyne the Ceremonies of the Lawe, and yet notwithstanding make none accounte of them? But (which is worse) they mainteyne the follies and traditions that are inuented by men, yea and euen such abuses, errours, and deceytes as are so grosse and fonde as may bee. All these things shall be mainteyned with extreeme rygour, by such as will needes haue men to obey them. Like as nowadayes, if a man charge these Hypocrites that the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and the brightnesse of his Gospell are darkned by the great number of their obseruations, and that wee bee become as good as Iewes: (for in very deed the Papists haue borowed so many things of the Lawe, that a man shall hardly discerne the difference betweene the Iewes, & them that call themselues Christians:) I say if a man doo charge them with these things: yet wyll they mainteyne to the vttermost, that men must do so still, bicause they haue bin kept time out of minde. If a man go further wyth them, and say, howe so? Yee haue so many dotages, that the verie heathen men were neuer so grosse and fonde in their superstitions as you be: O tush (say they) yet must we keepe still the traditions of our mother holy Church. And therewithall they crie, to the fire with him. But nowe what doo these Hypocrites, which moue the of Princes and Iudges agaynst those that preach Gods worde faithfully? So long as they be among themselues, they make but a