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

and that Abraham perceiving how it stood him on hand to put his whole trust in the mere grace of God, gave over himself, and so his believing was reckoned to him for righteousness, as we have seen afore. In like case was it with all the Patriarchs and Prophets. So then their taking was all one with ours, in that they grounded themselves upon our Lord Jesus Christ, and boasted not of any thing save only Gods mercy, and had the promises of the inheritance of the heavenly life, as we ⟨image 190⟩have. Yet was there also a diversity, because they were fain to have Sacrifices, washings, and such other like things, till the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when the law was given, so as there was a Priest that entered into the Sanctuary to be an intercessor, and the people stood aloof a great way of, and a veil or Curtain was drawn in the midst of the Tabernacle to make a darkening of things: ye see they were things wherein the state of the fathers differed from ours: for during the absence of our Lord Jesus Christ, they had Ceremonies & figures, whereas we have the very body & substance of them,¹ as saith S. Paul to the Colossians. For God biddeth not us to offer any more Calves, Sheep, or Oxen to wipe out the spots of our sins. But he telleth us that we must be sprinkled with the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, through the power of the holy Ghost, & that in our Lord Jesus Christ we shall find all that is requisite for our salvation. Ye see then that as now faith reigneth in full power: that is to say, whereas the fathers had but a little taste of it according to their measure: it is fully & openly revealed unto us. And for this cause S. Paul saith, that the fathers were after a sort restrained or shut up: so that he likeneth the law to a bondage, & in very deed so was it, & he will hereafter show what manner of bondage it is. It is not meant that the fathers obtained not the everlasting life which we hope for, or that we shall not be crowned all together at the last day: but that God was fain for a time to wield them like little babes. And for that cause also doth he use the similitude of a schoolmaster, & will again set down a third similitude of Tutors & governors. Howbeit forasmuch as this shall be handled in his due place, let it suffice us as now to understand, that whereas S.

and that Abraham perceyuing how it stoode him on hand to put his whole trust in the meere grace of God, gaue ouer himself, and so his beleeuing was reckened to him for rightuousnesse, as we haue seene afore. In lyke cace was it with all the Patriarks and Prophets. So then their taking was all one with ours, in that they grounded themselues vppon our Lord Iesus Christ, and boasted not of any thing saue onely Gods mercy, and had the promises of the inheritance of the heauenly life, as we