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 S. Paul circumciseth the one,¹ and will not do the like to the other, who will think that he kept an even hand? If we consider all things well, we shall see why he refused to circumcise Titus, and yet had circumcised Timothy. Circumcision was at that time lawful of it self. It was not like the Idolatries that are in Papistry nowadays. If ye ask what holy water is, it is an unhallowing of baptism. For in baptism we have a washing that ought to suffice us both in life and death, and God will not have us too have any other warrant of the spiritual cleansing that was obtained for us by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we must be contented with it. But as for the Holy Water of the Papists, what else is it than an endless baptising of our selves? As touching the Mass, it is so villainous and outrageous a treachery, that no man can come at it, but he must defile himself by renouncing the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. But Circumcision stood not in the like case: for it was profitable for the time that it lasted. True it is that it was abolished at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: but yet for all that, the Jews might keep it still till they were fully instructed in the liberty of the Gospel. Saint Paul therefore had circumcised Timothy: and the reason why, was for that he saw many weaklings, which would have been offended because they were not yet throughly confirmed in the knowledge of the Gospel, but thought that it behoved them to keep still the ceremonies of the Law. And it is said, that we must yield one to an other, for charity bindeth us thereunto. Every man must not do what he him self thinks good, to the troubling of his neighbours: but we must so fashion our selves one too an other, as none may be offended through our fault. S▪ Paul then forbore in having respect too the poor Ignorant weaklings, who not withstanding might be brought to knowledge in time. And as concerning the person of Titus, he saw how men went about to lay a yoke of bondage upon the Gentiles, and that the same would be a holding of the Jews always under the Law, which was then but superstition. For it was for them to have known that the law had served out his time, and that the ceremonies should not continue for ever.

Now S. Paule circumcyseth the one,¹ and will not doe the lyke to the other, who will thinke that he kept an euen hande? If wee consider all thyngs well, wee shall see why he refuzed to circumcyse Titus, and yet had circumcysed Timothie. Circumcision was at that tyme lawfull of it selfe. It was not lyke the Idolatries that are in Papistrie nowadayes. If ye aske what holywater is, it is an vnhallowing of baptisme. For in baptim wee haue a washing that ought to suffice vs both in lyfe and death, and God will not haue vs too haue anie other warrant of the spirituall clenzing that was obteyned for vs by the blud of our Lord Iesus Christ, but we must be contented with it. But as for the Holywater of the Papists, what else is it than an endlesse baptysing of our selues? As touching the Masse, it is so vilanous and outrageous a trecherie, that noman can come at it, but he must defyle himself by renouncing the death of our Lord Iesus Christ. But Circumcision stoode not in the like case: for it was profitable for the tyme that it lasted. True it is that it was abolished at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ: but yet for all that, the Iewes myght keepe it still till they were fully instructed in the libertie of the Gospel. Saint Paule therfore had circumcised Timothie: and the reason why, was for that hee sawe manye weaklings, whiche woulde haue bene offended bycause they were not yet throughly confirmed in the knowledge of the Gospell, but thought that it behoued them to keepe still the ceremonies of the Lawe. And it is sayd, that wee must yeeld one to an other, for charitie byndeth vs thervnto. Euery man must not do what he him self thinks good, to the trubbling of his neybours: but we must so fashyon our selues one too an other, as none maye bee offended through our faulte. S Paule then forbare in hauing respect too the poore Ignorant weaklings, who not withstanding myghte bee brought to knowledge in tyme. And as concerning the persone of Titus, he sawe how men went about to lay a yoke of bondage vpon the Gentiles, and that the same wold be a holding of the Iewes alwayes vnder the Lawe, whiche was then but superstition. For it was for them to haue known that the law had serued out his time, and that the ceremonies should not continue for euer.