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

Peter telleth us in his first canonical Epistle) it was neither gold nor silver nor any corruptible thing, but it was our Lord Jesus Christ himself that was paid for our ransom. Therefore let us not doubt but that mercy is ready for us, as oft as we seek it in his name, for if we should come with any opinion of our own deservings, what were that worth? But when we know how dearly the Son is beloved of the father, and how precious his death was: that is the thing wherein we have full certainty that God will always hear us, and that we shall find him merciful and favourable towards us, namely if we rest wholly upon that which is told us here: which is, that our Lord Jesus Christ forbore not even to become accursed for our sakes. Here withal let us mark how S. Paul sayeth, that by that means the promise of the spirit came unto the Gentiles, as it had bin given unto Abraham. Now by naming Abraham here, he showeth that the promise belonged first and formest too those that came of his race. For the Jews had as it were a peculiar interest in the heritage of salvation, till such time as God opened the gate too the whole world, and published his ⟨p. 144⟩Gospel too the end that all men should be made partakers of the redemption that was purchased by our Lord Jesus Christ. Now then, although the said promise belonged too the Jews, and was after a sort peculiar too them: yet was it after them made common too the whole world. And why? For it consisteth in spirit, and not in Ceremonies. By this word Spirit Saint Paul meant too deface all the false opinion of those deceivers, which mingled the Law and the Gospel together. He showeth that all these things, namely the Sacrifices, Circumcision, and such other things are now superfluous. Not that there is no profit for us too gather by the Ceremonies in reading the Law: but because the use of them is abolished. Ye see then that the cause why the promise is at this day called spiritual, is for that we have no more need of the old shadows and figures, but are simply called and guided to our God, so as we may call upon him with full trust, and being so adopted by him rest wholly upon our Lord Jesus Christ, as the only foundation of the Gospel, and seek all our wants in him. That in effect is the thing that S. Paul meant too say in this text.

Peter telleth vs in his first canonicall Epistle) it was nother golde nor siluer nor any corruptible thing, but it was our Lord Iesus Christ himself that was payd for our raunsome. Therefore let vs not doubt but that mercie is readie for vs, as oft as we seeke it in his name, for if we should come with any opinion of our owne deseruings, what were that woorth? But when we know how deerely the Sonne is beloued of the father, and how precious his death was: that is the thing wherein we haue full certaintie that God will alwayes heare vs, and that wee shall finde him mercifull and fauorable towards vs, namely if wee rest wholly vpon that which is tolde vs here: which is, that our Lord Iesus Christ forbare not euen to become accursed for our sakes. Here withall let vs marke how S. Paule sayeth, that by that meanes the promis of the spirit came vntoo the Gentyles, as it had bin giuen vntoo Abraham. Nowe by naming Abraham heere, he sheweth that the promis belonged first and formest too those that came of his race. For the Iewes had as it were a peculiar interest in the heritage of saluation, till suche tyme as God opened the gate too the whole worlde, and published his