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

Truly the substance of the thing that is preached unto us now a days, differeth not from that which Abraham heard of Gods own mouth. But what soever it be, we have now a much more familiar manner of teaching, because our Lord Jesus Christ who is the day sun of righteousness, is manifested unto us. Seeing then that there is no hardness at all unto us, if we list to give ear: is it not an intolerable traitorousness, if our lusts be still itching too add one thing or other? Howsoever we fare, let us learn to hold us to that which God hath taught us. For we may not deal otherwise than with such modesty in that behalf, because that if we swerve never so little aside from that rule, by and by we be in Satan's snares, ready to be carried one way or other to all confusion. But let us be well advised: and seeing that S. Paul saith here, that the law could not any whit impeach the promise which was made before: what shall become of us in these days, if we will needs have the inventions of mens foolish heads, to impeach the pureness of the Gospel, so as it may not be perceived whither God or his creatures be more master? Thus ye see what ought to hold us in awe, that we pass not our bounds, but that our faith be always wholly ruled and directed by the single word of God, and that we reject what soever is added by man. And that is in effect the thing which we have too gather here. Now as touching that S. Paul saith, that the covenant was established of God toward Jesus Christ four hundred years before the Law. Herein we see the same thing which I touched this morning: namely that when God uttered him self to be a father, whether it were towards Abraham, or towards Noah, or towards any other, it was not but by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ. For there is ⟨p. 151⟩as it were a deadly feud between God and man, in respect that they be corrupted by original sin, in so much that if God let us alone in our natural plight, surely all our thoughts are cursed, all our affections are crooked, froward, and full of stubbornness, & all our wits are bestayned with vices, so that we have not one sound and uninfected place in us, from the crown of our head to the sole of our foot. And for as much as we be so contrary to God, and to his will: it must needs be that we are his enemies, for he can not be unlike him self.

Truely the substance of the thing that is preached vnto vs now a dayes, differeth not from that which Abrahā heard of Gods owne mouth. But what soeuer it be, we haue now a much more familiar maner of teaching, bicause our Lorde Iesus Christ who is the day sunne of righteousnesse, is manyfested vnto vs. Seeing then that there is no hardnesse at all vnto vs, if we list to giue eare: is it not an intollerable trayterousnesse, if our lusts be still itching too adde one thing or other? Howsoeuer wee fare, let vs learne to holde vs to that which God hath taught vs. For we may not deale otherwise than with such modestie in that behalfe, bicause that if we swarue neuer so little aside from that rule, by and by wee bee in Satans snares, readie to be caried one way or other to all confusion. But let vs bee well aduised: and seeing that S. Paule saythe heere, that the lawe could not any whit impeache the promise which was made before: what shall become of vs in these dayes, if wee wyll needes haue the inuentions of mens foolishe heades, to impeache the purenesse of the Gospell, so as it may not bee perceyued whither God or his creatures bee more master? Thus yee see what ought to holde vs in awe, that wee passe not our bounds, but that our fayth bee alwayes wholly ruled and directed by the single worde of God, and that wee reiect what soeuer is added by man. And that is in effect the thing whiche wee haue too gather heere. Nowe as touching that S. Paule sayth, that the couenant was established of God towarde Iesus Christ foure hundred yeeres before the Lawe. Heerein wee see the same thing whiche I touched this morning: namely that when God vttered him selfe to be a father, whether it were towards Abraham, or towards Noe, or towards any other, it was not but by the meanes of our Lorde Iesus Christ. For there is