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

True it is that our Lord Jesus Christ had not yet showed himself to the world, when the free promise was made to our father Abraham: nevertheless it sufficeth that he was ordained to be our mediator, that by his means men might be reconciled to God. Now if any man allege, that it should seem then that the law was more than needed, or else that there was some change and variableness in Gods purpose, seeing the law came in: Saint Paul discusseth the same in place convenient, and we must not huddle up things together, for all cannot be uttered at once, neither in an hour nor in a day. Therefore it is enough for us at this time too have this point made plain and clear, that the promise whereby God hath chosen us into the number of his children, was before the law: and also that the same promise had not any respect to our deservings, nor too any worthiness that was in our persons: but too Gods mere goodness and mercy, which moved him thereunto without looking for any thing in us, because he saw well enough there was nothing in us but utter misery: And finally that the said promise was grounded in our Lord Jesus Christ, who had already done the ••ffice of a mediator to ⟨image 168⟩make us way unto God his father. This being granted, we must needs conclude that the promise hath abidden and shall abide for ever, even to the worlds end. And that is said expressly because the Jews gloried of their ancestry. But Saint Paul telleth them that their father Abraham had not the law, but was contented though he used sacrifices and such other like things. And although he was circumcised in the end: yet when he received the promise, there was not as yet then any law written, no nor any circumcision at all. For Abraham was uncircumcised when he received the promise, and yet nevertheless was justified before he was circumcised, and all that was by faith.

True it is that our Lord Iesus Christ had not yet shewed himselfe to the worlde, when the free promis was made to our father Abraham: neuerthelesse it suffiseth that he was ordeyned to be our mediator, that by hys meanes men might be reconciled to God. Now if any man alledge, that it should seeme then that the law was more than needed, or else that there was some change and variablenesse in Gods purpose, seeing the law came in: Sainct Paule discusseth the same in place conuenient, and wee must not huddle vp thynges togyther, for all cannot be vttered at once, nother in an houre nor in a day. Therefore it is ynough for vs at this tyme too haue thys poynt made playne and cleere, that the promis whereby God hath chosen vs intoo the number of his chyldren, was before the lawe: and also that the same promis had not any respect to our deseruings, nor too any woorthinesse that was in our persons: but too Gods meere goodnesse and mercie, whych moued hym therevnto without looking for any thing in vs, bycause hee saw welynough there was nothyng in vs but vtter miserie: And finallye that the sayde promis was grounded in our Lorde Iesus Chryste, who had alreadye done the ffice of a mediator to