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 if we receive the Gospel as it becometh us, God will deal with us after such sort, as if we were meet to come near unto him, and will leave all the things which he had ordained in old time for such as were more rude and gross. Thus ye see why S. Paul upbraideth the Galatians with their beginning in the spirit, that is too say, for that they had had the doctrine of the Gospel, which had showed them the things that had bin hidden from the Jews, or at ⟨p. 119⟩leastwise had bin showed them but aloof under dark shadows. Thereupon he upbraideth them, that they intended too end in the flesh, that is too say, with these lower things. And it is all one as if he had said, God hath been so gracious too you, as to have taught you his will out of hand, and you will needs be held still in your Absey, and in your first principles. He hath given you a high and perfect knowledge, whereby ye have perceived the inestimable love which he beareth you in our Lord Jesus Christ: and will you now return again too your Absey, and forget the things that have bin taught you? Were not that a perverting of all order, and a putting away of the grace that he had offered you? But we know that naturally when men intend to learn any thing they begin at the smallest points, and afterward in all crafts and all trades, proceed by little and little through experience. For if a man should teach a child high sciences, without teaching him first his Absey, and to write and read, and afterward his grammar to guide him forth by degrees: what a thing were it? Again, when a child is well forward, and come to mans age, if he should be set back again too his Absey after he hath well profited: it would be a plain mockery. In like wise is it with handicrafts. For it is well known, that he which cometh newly into a shop, shall not be of skill too understand as much at the first day, as he shall be at the end of a year or twain: but first he must be taught his principles, and afterward grow more and more in cunning. But if that he which hath learned his craft, do at the four years end turn back again too that which he ought too have known the first day: in so doing he shall show himself to be a beast, and that he hath lost his time. But now let us apply this lesson too our selves.

Then if wee receiue the Gospell as it becommeth vs, God will deale with vs after such sorte, as if wee were meete to come neere vnto him, and will leaue all the things whiche he had ordeyned in olde time for suche as were more rude and grosse. Thus yee see why S. Paule vpbraydeth the Galathians with their beginning in the spirite, that is too say, for that they had had the doctrine of the Gospell, whiche had shewed them the things that had bin hidden from the Iewes, or at