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

But if we declare how all our satisfaction is in the things that are purchased for us by the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and therewithal that God utterly misliketh all that is of our own invention, and that he will be served with obedience: then do we lay forth the case as it ought to be, and may bring it to a sure and certain conclusion. After that manner did S. Paul. For he regarded not only what the Jews said, how it behoved them to forbear the eating of swines flesh, and to keep such a feast or such a feast, and all the residue of the Ceremonies: but he marked to what end they said it: namely how they went about too show, that the keeping of the law was of necessity of salvation and that was a yoke of bondage upon mens consciences, that could not be borne. Again he saw how the liberty that was purchased us by our Lord Jesus Christ was taken away, and that was another point that compelled him to enter into that discourse. But the chief point that he treateth of here, is that such as would have had men to keep the Ceremonies, had a secret meaning that the same was an acceptable seruis unto God, and of such importance as men should purchase righteousness and soul health by it, and (to be short) that ⟨p. 82⟩it was a meritorious thing. But S. Paul showeth, that it is impossible for men to purchase righteousness before God by their works. Now therefore we see for what cause S. Paul treated generally of our justification, when as notwithstanding his adversaries pretended no more, but the keeping of the Ceremonial law, and the continuing thereof still as before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, so as men should still offer sacrifice, and do the rest of the shadows and ancient figures. And hereby we see also what a folly it is for the Papists to think themselves escaped, in saying that S. Paul speaketh here but of the works of the law, and not of the moral works. True it is that they be not the first founders of that dotage. For the Devil hath always had his ministers to cousin the people. But we must not rest upon the authority of men, specially of such as have neither religion nor fear of God in them. Although that many of the Monks have bin reported to be men of great skill: yet notwithstanding they have bin but fantastical fellows, and never had any taste of the fear of God.

But if we declare how all our satisfaction is in the things that are purchaced for vs by the death and passion of oure Lord Iesus Christ, and therewithall that God vtterly misliketh all that is of our owne inuention, and that he will be serued with obedience: then do we lay foorthe the cace as it ought to be, and may bring it to a sure and certaine conclusion. After that manner did S. Paule. For he regarded not only what the Iewes sayd, how it behoued them to forbeare the eating of swines flesh, and to keepe suche a feast or such a feast, and all the residue of the Ceremonies: but he marked to what end they said it: namely how they went about too shew, that the keeping of the law was of necessitie of saluation and that was a yoke of bondage vpon mens consciences, that could not be borne. Againe he saw how the libertie that was purchaced vs by our Lord Iesus Christ was taken away, and that was another point that compelled him to enter into that discourse. But the cheefe point that he treateth of heere, is that such as would haue had men to keepe the Ceremonies, had a secret meening that the same was an acceptable seruis vnto God, and of such importance as mē shuld purchace righteousnesse and soulehealth by it, and (to be short) that