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

which was, that [on the one side] the Jews should be inured to patience, by continual perceiving of their own wants and miseries, and thereupon rid themselves from all corruptions of the flesh: and on the other side be led to our Lord Jesus Christ, to repose their trust in him, & to rest wholly there. So then, as touching those that would have the ceremonies of the Law kept, as if it were of necessity that men should be precisely bound to them upon pain of [deadly] sin as they term it: it is certain that their meaning was to set up a seruis of God contrary too his will and meaning, and that they were as good as Cozeners: for why, they perverted the natural meaning of the Law. Mark that for one school point. Another is, that they taught men to set up their bristles, & to glory in themselves, & that was an abolishing of Gods glory: for we cannot challenge aught ⟨p. 81⟩(be it never so little) to ourselves, but we rob and rend away that which belongeth unto him. Ye see then how it is a devilish traitorousness when men presume upon their own power, as though they had any spark of righteousness in themselves. And besides that, it is an entering into the gulf of hell, when we ween to get salvation by our own works. For we renounce the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, where we should seek all our righteousness. Again the Devil maketh us to believe wonders▪ howbeit, it is but to make us to fall into destruction. Wherefore let us mark well, that S. Paul treateth here of the manner of justification before God, that is to say, of the mean whereby we be brought into his favour, because it is the principal point which we ought to learn, and without that, all the religion [or devotion] that can be named, is but smoke and leasings. And it is not for naught that Saint Paul entereth into that question. For many men make this allegation▪ How now? The case concerned the Ceremonies of the law: and why then doth Saint Paul (as ye would say) fling himself overthwart the fields? Why speaketh he of righteousness, of mans salvation, of the forgiveness of sins, and finally of all the whole law?

which was, that [on the one side] the Iewes should be inured to patience, by continuall perceyuing of their owne wantes and miseries, and therevpō rid themselues frō al corruptions of the flesh: and on the other side be led to our Lord Iesus Christ, to repose their trust in him, & to rest wholly there. So then, as touching those that would haue the ceremonies of the Law kept, as if it were of necessitie that mē should be precisely bound to thē vpon paine of [deadly] sinne as they terme it: it is certayne that their meening was to set vp a seruis of God contrarie too his will and meening, and that they were as good as Cousiners: for why, they peruerted the naturall meening of the Law. Marke that for one schoole poynt. Another is, that they taught men to set vp their bristles, & to glory in thēselues, & that was an abolishing of Gods glory: for we cānot chalēdge aught