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

For behold, whereas God telleth us that the chief sacrifice which he demandeth of us, is that we should resort unto him, and offer up our requests after the manner which he hath appointed to be the mean for us to come familiarly and boldly unto him, that is to wit, by making our Lord Jesus Christ our advocate: Men will needs have us pray unto Saints deceased, and to make them our patrons and advocates to be a mean between God and us, when we go about too seek his favour. As much is to be said of all the rest of their doctrine. God hath commanded us too pray one for another: and they say we must pray for the wretched souls that are in Purgatory. And who hath commanded all this? Men have surmised that so it should be, and according to their surmising, so it must be. Lo what their rashness is. God hath ordained his sacraments for us too assure us of his promises by their means, and he will have them to be as Seals of overmeasure, that our infirmity may be the better succoured. We have Baptism, whereby God doth us to wit, that we be washed and cleansed from all our spots by the bloodshed of his only son, & that therewithal he accepteth us as his members of his body, & bringeth us into his Church. Now, the Papists are not contented with this simplicity, but will needs have spittle, and taper light, and other gewgaws that are irksome to think of. And whence come such additions, but of this devilish boldness, that when God had stablished all that was meet and convenient for the turn, and in such wise as nothing was to be misliked, men could not find in their hearts too take it in good worth, but (as I said afore) were inflamed with such an over eagerness and outrage, as they must needs be adding, mingling, changing, interlacing, and turmoiling without end or measure. So much the ⟨image 173⟩more therefore doth it stand us upon, to hold fast that which God showeth us by S. Paul: namely that for as much as God hath authorized his word, it is not lawful for men to add any thing too it, but that all our wisdom is to join with him, and too receive without scanning what soever cometh out of his mouth. And if this be verified of the promise that was made unto Abraham: much more reason is it that we now a days should keep the same modesty, seeing we have much fuller instruction in the Gospel.

For beholde, whereas God telleth vs that the cheefe sacrifice which he demaundeth of vs, is that we should resort vnto him, and offer vp our requests after the maner which he hath appoynted to be the meane for vs to come familiarly and boldly vnto him, that is to wit, by making our Lorde Iesus Christ our aduocate: Men will needes haue vs pray vnto Saincts deceassed, and to make them our patrons and aduocates to be a meane betweene God and vs, when wee go about too seeke his fauour. As muche is to be sayde of all the rest of their doctrine. God hathe commaunded vs too pray one for another: and they say wee must pray for the wretched soules that are in Purgatorie. And who hathe commaunded all this? Men haue surmised that so it should be, and according to their surmising, so it must bee. Lo what their rashnesse is. God hath ordeyned his sacraments for vs too assure vs of his promises by their meanes, and he will haue them to bee as Seales of ouermeasure, that our infirmitie may bee the better succoured. VVee haue Baptisme, whereby God dooth vs to wit, that wee bee washed and clensed from all our spottes by the bloudshed of hys only sonne, & that therewithall he accepteth vs as his members of his body, & bringeth vs into his Church. Nowe, the Papists are not contented with this simplicitie, but will needes haue spittle, and taper lighte, and other gewgawes that are irkesome to thinke of. And whence come suche additions, but of this diuelish boldnesse, that when God had stablished all that was meete and conuenient for the turne, and in such wise as nothing was to be misliked, men coulde not finde in their hearts too take it in good worth, but (as I sayde afore) were inflamed with such an ouer eagernesse and outrage, as they must needes bee adding, mingling, chaunging, interlacing, and turmoyling without ende or measure. So muche the