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

IT is well enough known in what part of the lesser Asia the Galatians dwelt, and how far their Country reached, but as concerning their original, and the place from whence they came first, the ancient Authors are not all of one mind. They all agree that they were Galls, yea and thereof they bare their name: for they were called Galgreekes, of a word compounded of Gal and Greek▪ But the thing that hangeth in doubt, is out of which quarter of Galland they came. The Geographer Strabo thinketh that those Galls which were called Tectosages, came out of the Country of Province, and othersome say they came out of Gall Celtic, which is the commoner opinion▪ Howbeit for as much as Pliny maketh the people of Amiens to be next neighbours to the Tectosages: and all Authors well-near agree that the Tolistobogians were their companions which dwelled about the Rhine: I take it to be most likely that they were of Gall Belgic which is the lowest Country upon the river of Rhine towards the English Sea. For the Tolistobogians held the Country that is now called Cleveland and Brabant. The common error (in mine opinion) grew upon this, that a company of the Tectosages being cast upon the Country of Province, took possession of it, and retaining still their old name, conveyed over the same to the Country which they had conquered. And that is the thing which Ausonius the Poet of Bordeaux meaneth when he sayeth, unto the Tectosages, which were first named Belgians. For he called them Belgians, and doth us to understand that they were erst named •••tosages in stead of Tectosages. Whereas Caesar placeth them in the black Forest, which in those days was called Hercinia, or Hertswald: I believe it happened by shifting of places, because they were retired thither out of their own Country: which thing may be gathered by Caesars own saying, where he maketh mention of them. But we have spoken enough of their original for this time. Pliny reporteth of the Galatians which dwelt in that part of Asia, which was called after their name, that like as they were divided into three principal peoples, ⟨image 6⟩that is too wit, the Tectosages, Tolistobogians, and Tro• mans: so also they had three head Cities. Now for as much as they were there among neighbours of small prowess, and nothing well trained too the wars: