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

that is to say he did set forth the land of Canaan as a pledge to those whom he taught, & keep them to the Sacrifices, washings, figures, shadows, & all other like things, whereunder he showed what the happiness of gods children is.¹ As for example, we see how he likeneth the church to a palace builded of gold & silver and precious stones. Ye see then that his manner of dealing was fashioned unto the darkness of the law. But now our Lord Jesus Christ is set forth unto us, although a simple man preach the Gospel, which hath neither great eloquence nor authority: yet shall he as it were point at Jesus Christ with his finger, he shall show us how we be in the time of fullness, and therewithal he shall assure us that our sins are forgiven us in the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, insomuch that Gods wrath is pacified, and victory obtained for us over death. Thus ye see that the diversity is […]. doctrine, and not in the quality of the ⟨p. 169⟩faith as it is in every mans heart. For although Abraham had a wonderful faith, and such a one as we shall not find nowadays in the world: yet was it always hemmed in with the said Ceremonies and shadows. David was an Angel and mirror of all perfection: and yet for all that, he was fain to be subject to the same order that the common people were, and to use all the Ceremonies that were then in use, and his looking at Jesus Christ was but a far off, because there was the said Curtain before him, which letted him that he could not behold his glory as it is showed us nowadays in the Gospel. And although we know not the hundredth part of the things that were disclosed to David and Abraham, to make them invincible against all temptations, and to make them fight so manfully that god might be glorified in them, and to make them bear out all brunts: yet had they not that which we have: that is to wit, they had not the pledge Jesus Christ delivered unto them, as we have, to the end we might call upon God his father, because we be members of his body, and he is our head, assuring our selves that he and we are all one, with condition that his goods become ours, and that we have full enjoyment of them at this day. Thus ye see that our faith is greater than Abraham's was, not in respect of our persons, nor yet in respect of any steadfastness and firmness that is in us:

that is to say he did set foorth the lād of Chanaan as a pledge to those whom he taught, & keepe them to the Sacrifises, washings, figures, shadowes, & al other like things, whervnder he shewed what the happinesse of gods children is.