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

Now Saint Paul speaketh of Circumcision & uncircumcision, because that (as ye have seen afore) the disputation and controversy which he had was about the Ceremonies of the Law, which he comprehendeth here under the particular term of Circumcision. For the Jews would needs have men to retain still all the shadows & figures which served but for a time. And therefore S. Paul scorning all those things, saith that our Lord Jesus Christ is not come to hold us still in the old forworn figures, but that for as much as the veil of the temple is rent asunder, and he hath in himself the body and substance of all the shadows that were in the Law: men must hold themselves contented with him, and therefore Circumcision was no […] any thing worth. We shall profit our selves the more by […] text, if we apply it to that which we saw yesterday. For in pope […] they have many pelting trifles wherein they put all the trust of ⟨image 347⟩holiness. And if a man ask the Papists how they can deserve favour at Gods hand & purchase remission of their sins, as they make their boast: They will clap you in the mouth with their holy water, their Tapers, their Sencings, their Organ plays, their chauntings, their Pilgrimages & with a number of other things. Again they have their foolish devotions of trotting from altar to altar & from chapel to chapel. Moreover they must buy good store of Masses. To be short, all Gods service which is so termed in the popedom, is but a maze & gulf of superstitions invented of their own heads. But let us consider what those things may avail. God hath not made mention of any of them, but men have devised them of themselves, yea or rather Satan hath whispered them into their ears, too trouble Gods service withal. And yet notwithstanding, the papists imagine that there is neither Religion, nor faith, nor service of God, nor zeal, except a man be ravished with their foolesbables. But S. Paul speaking even of the ceremonies that God had ordained in his law, saith that they be henceforth as nothing. And why? For God thinketh it enough that we serve him with a pure conscience, & that having put our trust in him, we call upon him, knowing that we hold all things of him, and therewithal that we live uprightly & faithful, one with another, knowing that charity is the fulfilling of the law & the end of the law:

Now Sainct Paule speaketh of Circumcision & vncircumcision, bycause that (as yee haue seen afore) the disputation and controuersie which he had was about the Ceremonies of the Lawe, which he comprehendeth heere vnder the particular terme of Circumcision. For the Iewes would needes haue men to reteine still all the shadowes & figures which serued but for a time. And therfore S. Paul scorning all those things, saith that our Lord Iesus Christ is not come to holde vs still in the old forworne figures, but that for as much as the veyle of the temple is rent asunder, and he hath in himselfe the body and substance of all the shadowes that were in the Lawe: men must holde themselues contented with him, and therfore Circumcision was no any thing worth. VVee shall profit our selues the more by text, if we apply it to that which we saw yesterday. For in pope they haue many pelting tryfles wherin they put all the trust of