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

But we have too mark also, concerning the antiquity which S. Paul treateth of here, that the doctrine of the Gospel is no new devised thing, nor a thing that had bin unknown of before: but that God hath continually ever since Abraham's time unto this day, called us to be his adopted children, & proved him self to be our father. Truly it was even before Abraham was borne: nevertheless it must suffice us, that as then there was made so full discovery of it, as we know that God did then begin to publish the things that are contained in the Gospel at this day, and that the fathers had none other way whereby to come to salvation, than the same that is showed us at this day. And this is very needful for us. For many busy bodies do now unskilfully imagine, that the Gospel was never heard of before: yea & there are of these scorners of God, and heathenish fellows, who to embrace the authority of God, & of his Gospel, say it came up within these sixteen hundred years, and that it was never heard of in the world before. What (say they)? had God forsaken the world quite and clean? As who should say, we saw not with our eyes, and might not feel with our fingers, that God never varied, but that even at such time as it pleased him to adopt Abraham, then were we also included in him, and the gate of salvation was opened unto us▪ howbeit that the accomplishment thereof came not till the full time was expired, as I have declared this morning, and shall declare more at length in time convenient.¹ And here ye see why S. Paul saith that the preaching of the Gospel was a secrete that had bin kept hidden from the beginning of the world. But yet had God determined it before, and made sufficient promise of it, as we have seen. Here ye see also why we be called Abraham's offspring. ⟨image 175⟩For we belong no whit at all to him in respect of the flesh. But faith is a sufficient bond too knit us unto him. Furthermore we see that our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the pledge of mens welfare, is now revealed unto us, too the end that we should have the better assurance that we be▪ his, and that he will hold us for the members of his body. And that is the cause why Christ said that Abraham saw his day, and was glad of it. The Jews alleged the worthiness of the Patriarch:

But wee haue too marke also, concerning the antiquitie which S. Paule treateth of heere, that the doctrine of the Gospell is no new deuised thing, nor a thing that had bin vnknowen of before: but that God hathe continually euer since Abrahams tyme vnto this day, called vs to be his adopted children, & proued him selfe to be our father. Truely it was euen before Abraham was borne: neuerthelesse it must suffice vs, that as then there was made so full discouerie of it, as wee knowe that God did then beginne to publishe the things that are conteyned in the Gospell at this day, and that the fathers had none other way wherby to come to saluation, than the same that is shewed vs at this day. And this is very needefull for vs. For many busie bodies doo now vnskilfully imagine, that the Gospell was neuer heard of before: yea & there are of these scorners of God, and heathenishe felowes, who to imbrace the authoritie of God, & of his Gospell, say it came vp within these sixteene hundred yeres, and that it was neuer heard of in the world before. VVhat (say they)? had God forsaken the world quite and cleane? As who should say, we saw not with our eyes, and might not feele with our fingers, that God neuer varied, but that euen at such time as it pleased him to adopt Abraham, then were we also included in him, and the gate of saluation was opened vnto vs howebeit that the accomplishment therof came not till the full time was expired, as I haue declared this morning, and shall declare more at lengthe in time conuenient.