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

Surely all their study hath bin to hold folk as it were upon the rack, and to put many hartgripes into them, to the intent they might seem to be sharpwitted. But as for themselves, they never felt any thing. And that is the cause why they prate so much at their case concerning merits, and yet in the mean while have no regard of them themselves. Only they do some small trifles, like rittlerattles that men give to little children, wherewith they bear themselves in hand that they can appease God. Now for this cause Saint Paul disputeth of the Ceremonies of the law, as they were put unto him: and yet doth he nevertheless cut home to the bottom, that is too wit, [he proveth] that men are stripped stark naked from all righteousness, and cannot bring any thing unto GOD, but must beg at his hand, confessing that there is nothing in them but utter beggary and penury. And furthermore let us mark also, that the Jews did always pervert the nature and use of the Sacraments, in that they made meritorious works of them, and that was clean contrary to the use that they should have put them too. For God ordained not the Sacraments to the end that by endeavouring to observe them, men should purchase any virtue that might be imputed ⟨p. 84⟩to them for righteousness: but rather to teach them that it stood them in hand to seek all at Gods hand. As for example, when the Jews were circumcised, thereby God showed to the eye, that all that ever cometh of man is but corruption, and that it standeth us on hand to have it cut away. So, the thing which the Jews had too consider in that visible Sacrament, was that mans nature was cursed before God, and that we may well seek but never find so much as one drop of cleanness in it. And on the other side they had a token and record, that God nevertheless would succour them by means of the Redeemer, which should come of the race of men: for he was borne of the linage of David. God therefore showed that thing visibly. And so the Jews were cast down in themselves, and ought to have considered that there was nothing but cursedness in them, and thereupon should have come to seek the thing in our Lord Jesus Christ which wanted in themselves. As much is to be thought of their washings. As oft as the Jews washed themselves, it was a putting of them in mind, that there was nothing but uncleanness in them.

Surely all their study hath bin to holde folke as it were vppon the racke, and to put many hartgripes into them, to the intent they myghte seeme to be sharpwitted. But as for themselues, they neuer felt any thing. And that is the cause why they prate so much at their case concerning merites, and yet in the meane while haue no regarde of them themselues. Only they do some small trifles, like rittlerattles that men giue to little children, wherewith they beare themselues in hande that they can appease God. Now for thys cause Sainct Paule disputeth of the Ceremonies of the lawe, as they were put vntoo hym: and yet dothe hee neuerthelesse cut home to the bottome, that is too witte, [hee prooueth] that men are stripped starke naked from all righteousnesse, and cannot bryng any thyng vntoo GOD, but must beg at hys hande, confessing that there is nothyng in them but vtter beggerie and penurie. And furthermore let vs marke also, that the Iewes did alwayes peruert the nature and vse of the Sacramentes, in that they made meritorious workes of them, and that was cleane contrary to the vse that they should haue put them too. For God ordeyned not the Sacramentes to the end that by indeuoring to obserue them, men should purchace any vertue that might be imputed