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

Paul likeneth the law unto a bondage, it is to show far greater favour to us, than he did to the fathers that died before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, because he useth us now after a freer fashion. And the second similitude doth yet better express that the Jews were as children, & we now are as men grown. For this word Schoolmaster betokeneth a master of children, he saith then that the law executed the office of a Schoolmaster, to train up the childhood of the people in old time. And hereupon it may be concluded, that the faithful which believed in Jesus Christ before he was manifested to the world, were Gods ⟨p. 168⟩children as well as we. And if they were children, then were they also heirs. Herein we see that we must not make them like brute beasts, as some fantastical heads do, which think that the Jews contented themselves with the possession of the plentiful land that was promised them, & cared for no more but to be well nurrished & sed ther: for that is too cursed a blasphemy. But Jesus Christ serveth not to fill mens bellies & to feed their paunches: he serveth to bring us to the heavenly life.¹ It is said that Abraham saw his day: that then was the thing whereon he rested his conscience. And we see how David did always look up higher than the world: & Jacob at his death even though he was giving up the last gasp,² and looked not to live any longer in the world, said he would trust in the salvation of God. The ancient fathers then were not little children after such a sort, that they were not marked with Gods holy spirit, nor called by him to the inheritance of the endless life: but only in the measure of faith, which was the difference between them & us. And how was that? Even because the law which they had was yet wrapped in figures & shadows: whereas now Jesus Christ leadeth us right forth to heaven. And whereas I said that they were inferior to us in the measure of faith: I mean not that Abraham, David, & other like had a weaker faith than we: for seek we never so narrowly through the whole world, it is not to be presumed that any one creature is to be found at this day, which hath the hundred part of the faith of Abraham or David.

Paul likeneth the law vnto a bōdage, it is to shew far greater fauor to vs, thā he did to the fathers that died before the cōming of our Lord Iesus Christ, bicause he vseth vs now after a freer fashiō. And the secōd similitude doth yet better expresse that the Iewes were as children, & we now are as mē growē. For this word Scolemaster betokeneth a master of childrē, he saith thē that the law executed the office of a Scolemaster, to traine vp the childhood of the people in old time. And herevpon it may be cōcluded, that the faithfull which beleued in Iesus Christ before he was manifested to the worlde, were Gods