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

then doth Peter disannul Gods grace, whereas yet notwithstanding we know there is not a more precious thing than the union of the Church. Therefore he that varieth from it, cannot by any means be excused. But behold, the fault of Peter was, that he brake this bond of concord by separating the Jews from the Gentiles, notwithstanding that all belonged too the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and were the very children of God. Again they had all one selfsame head, and one selfsame redeemer: and therefore his deed was a diminishing of Gods house, forsomuch as we be all gathered together in his name, and do become his household folk, even till we be gathered up into the heritage of heaven. But there was yet one other fault: which is that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was darkened. For what fare we the better by his coming, unless we know that in him we have the fullness and performance of the things that were figured to us in old time▪ If we should offer sacrifice nowadays as they did in the time of the law: we should not know that we were cleansed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that the same was a sufficient payment for the satisfaction of all our sins, and that we have there a perfect righteousness purchased for us. We should know none of these things. Therefore S. Peter offended grossly in hanging up that veil again, which was as much as to stop Christ from being known as he ought to be. Moreover, •there was also a third fault, which was, that [thereby] the Jews were hardened in their error. True it is that we ought to bear with the ignorant ⟨p. 72⟩& weak ones, & not grieve them over much: & although they overshoot themselves, yet must they be brought back again by little & little, rather than to break either bone or gristle of them, as the proverb saith: but yet as for to nourish their ignorance by soothing them in it, or by giving any token of allowance or welliking, that is naught. And Peter by withdrawing himself from the Gentiles to please his own Countrymen, brought to pass that the Jews might the better make their brags, that they had won their spurs, forsomuch as Peter had given an inkling that the Gentiles were unclean & unholy people, and so his deed was an augmenting of the evil that was to great already. In respect whereof S. Paul said, that Peter was blameworthy.

then doth Peter disanull Gods grace, whereas yet notwithstanding we know there is not a more precious thing than the vnion of the Church. Therefore he that varieth from it, cannot by any meanes be excused. But beholde, the fault of Peter was, that he brake this bonde of concord by separating the Iewes from the Gentiles, notwithstanding that all belonged too the bodie of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and were the verie children of God. Againe they had all one selfesame head, and one selfesame redeemer: and therefore his deed was a diminishing of Gods house, forsomuch as we be all gathered togither in his name, and do become his houshold folke, euen till we bee gathered vp into the heritage of heauen. But there was yet one other fault: which is that the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ was darkned. For what fare we the better by his cōming, vnlesse we know that in him we haue the fulnesse and performance of the things that were figured to vs in old time If we should offer sacrifize nowadayes as they did in the time of the law: we should not know that we were clenzed by the bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ, and that the same was a sufficient payment for the satisfaction of all our sinnes, and that we haue there a perfect righteousnesse purchased for vs. VVe should know none of these things. Therfore S. Peter offended grosly in hanging vp that veyle againe, which was as much as to stop Christ from being knowne as he ought to be. Moreouer, there was also a third fault, which was, that [therby] the Iewes were hardned in their error. True it is that we ought to beare with the ignorant