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

And it behoveth us to mark this thing well and diligently, because some have thought in times past, that it was done by agreement betwixt them, & that S. Peter was sorry that some of his Countrymen were to hard to be pleased, & therefore had told S. Paul secretly, that he was contented to be rebuked of him. But all this is but a flimflam. For S. Paul saith expressly, that Peter was worthy of blame, & that thereupon he had stepped up when he saw he walked not aright. We see then that there was not a secrete agreement or packing in this case: but rather that S. Paul used the liberty that was given him [of God] & rebuked Peter, & would not bear with him in that case, although he reverenced him as the Apostle of Jesus Christ. And now upon this text we have to gather for our own instruction, how precious this liberty is as I have declared heretofore. For here the case standeth not upon the only use of things: but upon the having of our consciences quiet before God. If the debate had bin, whither it were lawful to eat swines flesh or no, which was a thing comprehended under the ceremonies of the law: it had bin a trifling matter, and it might well have bin passed over, like as it may be nowadays when the like Ceremonies are talked of. But it behoved them too come to the well head, as I have declared heretofore. For the figures served to hold the people of old time as it were in wardship, like young children which are under governors, and do not yet enjoy their liberty. But at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, like as faith grew great, so it was meet that such manner of teaching should no more take place among the Jews. Then was not Saint Pauls ⟨image 93⟩striving, only about the outward use of things, (for he would willingly have forborne that:) but to the end it might be known to what purpose the Ceremonies of the law had served: namely how it was not a bondage that should endure for ever, but that they had stood in force, only to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And hereupon it may be gathered, that when the Jews forbore the eating of Swines flesh, or observed any holy day, or did this thing or that: they did not a service to God that was of necessity in it self, but used it for the continual exercising of themselves in the faith of Jesus Christ. Whereby we see, that the Ceremonies had no virtue of themselves:

And it behoueth vs to marke this thing well and diligently, bicause some haue thought in tymes past, that it was done by agreemēt bytwixt them, & that S. Peter was sorie that some of his Countrimen were to hard to be pleased, & therfore had told S. Paul secretly, that he was cōtented to be rebuked of him. But all this is but a flimflam. For S. Paule sayth expresly, that Peter was worthie of blame, & that thervpon he had stepped vp when he saw he walked not aright. VVe see then that there was not a secrete agreement or packing in this cace: but rather that S. Paule vsed the libertie that was giuē him [of God] & rebuked Peter, & would not bear with him in that cace, although he reuerenced him as the Apostle of Iesus Christ. And now vpō this text we haue to gather for our owne instruction, how precious this libertie is as I haue declared heretofore. For here the cace standeth not vpon the onely vse of things: but vpon the hauing of our consciences quiet before God. If the debate had bin, whither it were lawful to eate swines flesh or no, which was a thing comprehended vnder the ceremonies of the law: it had bin a trifling matter, and it might well haue bin passed ouer, like as it may be nowadayes when the like Ceremonies are talked of. But it behoued them too come to the wel head, as I haue declared heretofore. For the figures serued to holde the people of olde time as it were in wardship, lyke yong children which are vnder gouernours, and do not yet inioy their libertie. But at the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ, like as fayth grew great, so it was meet that such maner of teaching should no more take place among the Iewes. Then was not Saint Paules