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 true that they have mingled Jewishness with them, and made such a galimaufrey as a man can not tell of whom they have borrowed most. But howsoever the world go, yet are the Ceremonies of mens setting up, which are at this day in the Popedom. Now when we strive to abolish them, they say we trouble the world for nothing. And then steppe in these Neuters, which would fain please both parties, and make a Bastard Gospel. Those fellows caste us in the teeth, that we be seditious, and that through our preciseness we set much trouble in the world. And for proof thereof (say they) is it meet that there should be such striving about Ceremonies, seeing they be things indifferent? Yea forsooth: For if God would have the Ceremonies of the law (which yet notwithstanding came of him and by his express commandment) too come too an end in our Lord Jesus Christ: what shall we do when men will of their ⟨p. 58⟩own foolish rashness set up others in their stead? Seeing that God would have his own abolished, why should men step forth thereupon, and bring in their own device, and make God believe that he was not well advised? See ye not a cursed blasphemy? Now we know that the cause why God would have the Ceremonies of his law abolished in these days, was to the intent that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ should be the more lightsome and better known.¹ For he is the daysunne of righteousness. Therefore all those shadows must cease, and it is he in whom we have the body and substance of them,² saith S. Paul. Seeing then that God had that respect and reason: the figures must pass and vanish away. But now what reason will the Papists bring, when as men perceive by eyesight, that all their Ceremonies are a burying of our Lord Jesus Christ, and yet that they bind men to the keeping of them under pain of deadly sin? And furthermore when as in all their Ceremonies, they have a certain opinion, that Baptism is not enough for them, but that they must have holy water to christen or baptise men evening and morning: and finally, that when they have brought in all their pelting trash, and all their gewgaws, there must always be somewhat in them to draw poor souls into bondage: is it to be borne withal? On the other side, we see there is so straight a yoke, as it is able to strangle the poor wretches.