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 let us come to the order which Saint Paul keepeth in handling the doctrine which we shall see point by point. That he may be the better heard and also received, he confirmeth his own authority, which some men had gone about too impeach. For behold, the policy of those dogs that encountered against him, was too allege that the Apostles taught otherwise than he did. Now forasmuch as Saint Paul had not bin conversant with our Lord Jesus Christ while he lived in this world: it was supposed at the first, that the Apostles were a degree above him, and ought to be preferred before him. And on the other side they inquired who had put him in that place, as though he had thrust himself in, and had done it rather of rashness than otherwise. Saint Paul therefore was fain too set himself against all this gear, and too show that he was truly sent of God. Furthermore (as I said erst) the Devil stirred up others, who coming from Jerusalem, said that that was the mother Church, and the holiness of all Christendom: and they pretended too be zealous setters forth of the pureness of the Gospel. By reason whereof, it behoved Saint Paul too go forward in showing that he had not advanced himself, nor taken any thing upon him of his own head, but had obeyed the calling of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, who had made him his Apostle. Yea and he compareth himself with John and James and Peter,¹ who were (as men termed them) the pillars of the Church, and so taken to be among all men, showing that he was no whit inferior to them. And why [doth he so] To the end his doctrine might be received: for that is the mark that he aimed at. Afterward when he hath prepared the Galatians too receive obediently the warnings that he giveth them: then he debateth the matter which was at that time in controversy, and showeth that the Gospel is beaten down, if we have not the freedom which is purchased for us by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: which is, that the ceremonies of the law should not hold us any more in subjection or awe. For (as we shall see hereafter) if such subjection should be admitted, all the fruit of our redemption and of the salvation which is purchased for us by the son of God, should go to wreck.

Now let vs come to the order which Saint Paule keepeth in handling the doctrine which wee shall see poynt by poynt. That hee may bee the better heard and also receyued, he confirmeth his owne authoritie, which some men had gone about too impeache. For beholde, the pollicie of those dogges that incountered agaynst him, was too alledge that the Apostles taught otherwise than hee did. Nowe forasmuch as Saint Paule had not bin conuersant wyth our Lorde Iesus Christ while hee lyued in this worlde: it was supposed at the fyrst, that the Apostles were a degree aboue him, and ought to be preferred before him. And on the other syde they inquired who had put him in that place, as though hee had thrust himselfe in, and had done it rather of rashnesse than otherwise. Saint Paule therefore was fayne too set himselfe agaynst all this geere, and too shewe that hee was truely sente of God. Furthermore (as I sayde earst) the Diuell stirred vp others, who comming from Ierusalem, sayd that that was the mother Church, and the holinesse of all Christendome: and they pretended too bee zeelous setters foorth of the purenesse of the Gospell. By reason whereof, it behoued Saint Paule too go forwarde in shewing that hee had not aduaunced himselfe, nor taken any thing vpon him of his owne heade, but had obeyed the calling of God, and of our Lorde Iesus Christ, who had made him his Apostle. Yea and hee compareth himselfe with Iohn and Iames and Peter,