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

Now then, whereas it is said that our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, we must come too this point, that all was done for our salvation, because it was Gods will too reconcile us too himself by that mean: and that when he pronounced this sentence, cursed is he that hangeth on tree, so as it was his pleasure to have it registered in the law of Moses: he was not ignorant what should happen afterward: for he had already determined and ordained it. Then must we match these two things together: that is too wit, that God with his own mouth said determinately that who soever hung upon tree should be accursed: and yet for all that, that it was his will therewithal, that his own Son should be hanged on tree. And why so? Too the end he should bear our burden, according as he is our pledge, & ordained to be the principal debtor in our behalf. To the end then that we might be set free from the curse of the Law, Jesus Christ became accursed. Now at the first ⟨image 165⟩fight it might seem hard and strange that the Lord of glory, he that hath all sovereign dominion, and before whose majesty the very Angels of heaven do tremble and are abashed, should be subject too cursing. But we must go back too that which S. Paul hath treated of in the first to the Corinthians,¹ namely that the doctrine of the Gospel is foolishness too mankind, yea even too the wizzest of them: and that it was Gods will too humble us after that manner, because of our unthankfulness. For we should have a good instruction to lead us unto God, yea even in wisdom, if we could profit our selves by the things that are showed us in the whole order of heaven & earth. But forasmuch as men are blind and shut their eyes against this wisdom that God setteth afore them: therefore he is fain too take a new way to the wood, and too draw them to him as it were by folly. So then let us not judge after our own mother wit, of the thing that is declared here, which is, that the son of God was put under the curse: but rather let us be ravished at such a secrete, and give the glory unto our God, seeing he hath so loved our souls, as too pay so inestimable a price for the ransoming of them. And so little ought this thing to embase the majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ, or to deface that which is given him in the holy Scripture:

Nowe then, whereas it is sayde that our Lorde Iesus Christ was crucified, wee muste come too this poynt, that all was done for our saluation, bycause it was Gods will too reconcyle vs too himselfe by that meane: and that when he pronounced this sentence, cursed is he that hangeth on tree, so as it was his pleasure to haue it registred in the lawe of Moyses: he was not ignorant what shoulde happen afterwarde: for he had alreadie determined and ordeyned it. Then muste wee match these twoo things toogither: that is too witte, that God with his owne mouth sayd determinately that who soeuer hung vppon tree should be accursed: and yet for all that, that it was his will therewithall, that his owne Sonne should bee hanged on tree. And why so? Too the end he shoulde beare our burthen, according as he is our pledge, & ordeyned to be the principall detter in our behalf. To the end then that wee might bee set free from the curse of the Lawe, Iesus Christe became accursed. Nowe at the first