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

He setteth down the Angels that were assembled there to make his Law to be heard among men, and too be received of them without gainsaying. Therefore they were as witnesses of Gods Majesty: but he setteth down the Mediator as the greater. The hand ⟨p. 160⟩therefore importeth direction, as if he had said, that he had highest place, and was chief Commissioner in setting out the Law. And we must not think this strange: for when the Angel appeared unto Moses,¹ he said, I am the Everlasting. There he is named an Angel. Therefore is he Gods messenger as the word betokeneth: and yet notwithstanding he sayeth, I am the Everlasting, that have my being of my self: which saying could not be verified of any creature: and as for the Angels they were made of nothing as well as we. Then had it bin high treason for an Angel too have taken upon him the title that agreeth to none but God alone. Therefore must we conclude, that that Angel was Jesus Christ,² who executed the office of Mediator aforehand, accordingly as Saint Paul treateth thereof in the first too the Corinthians, where he speaketh of the Jews rebelliousness, and of their provoking of God to displeasure by their murmuring and wicked lusts. He sayeth that they tempted Jesus Christ which led them and guided them through the wilderness. No doubt therefore but that our Lord Jesus Christ was even then the Mediator, yea even to reconcile men to God his father after diverse manners. And here ye see why the Apostle in the Epistle too the Hebrews sayeth that the same Jesus Christ which is too day,³ was yesterday, and shall be still tomorrow even too the worlds end, too the intent that men should hold themselves too him, and not wander any more in strange doctrines. But now he addeth, Jesus Christ then hath bin a mean betwixt God and men, to the intent that poor sinners might find some relief, and that although they had some hartbytings by being troubled with Gods judgements, yet nevertheless they might also be comforted, seeing that God offered them a Mediator by whom they might obtain grace to come unto him. Howbeit Jesus Christ is our Mediator after another fashion also, which is that by him God hath always communicated himself to men. For there is such a distance betwixt God and us, so long as we be estranged from him by sin: that we cannot come at him.