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

Then whereas many have received baptism in their childhood, and have lived a forty or fifty years in the world without knowing too what end they were baptized: it were better for them that they had bin borne dead, and too have bin sunken a hundred times into the earth, than too have unhallowed so holy a thing. And therefore let us bethink our selves the better, and learn that although there be but a little water caste upon our heads, yet notwithstanding it is not a vain figure: for God speaketh in it as it were from heaven, and Jesus Christ is there present as a witness of the usage and operation of the sacrament, and specially his death and resurrection are warranted too us by it. Let us think well upon these ⟨p. 175⟩things, and consider too what end we be baptized and what benefit it bringeth us: let it be well rooted in our hearts, and when soever any young children are baptized, let us bethink our selves the better: For to what end is baptism solemnized in the company [or congregation] of the faithful? Truly to the end that the babe should be commended unto God. Again it is a certain infraunchizing of him into the heavenly City, and therefore it must not be done in hudther mudder: but it is so excellent a deed, as ought to be done after a more orderly and solemn fashion, than any thing belonging to worldly policy. For therein we have a mirror of the benefit that was bestowed upon us before, to the intent we should joy in it to the end. But we see that the unbelievers do through their own unthankfulness deprive themselves of this adoption of Gods, and quite banish themselves from it. To the end then that we may be confirmed more and more, we must consider well, that when baptism is celebrated, it toucheth us very nearly, and God calleth us to him, too show us in another bodies person, that we our selves are forlorn and damned by nature. Howbeit forasmuch as he hath knit us into the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, we be no more considered in our own kind, neither doth God look what we be of our selves, nor what we have deserved: but accepteth us as if Jesus Christ were in us, as in deed we must not be separated from him. This in effect is it that we have too consider upon this text. Now hereupon S.

Then whereas many haue receyed baptisme in their childhood, and haue liued a fortie or fiftie yeeres in the world without knowing too what ende they were baptized: it were better for them that they had bin borne dead, and too haue bin sunken a hundred times into the earth, than too haue vnhallowed so holy a thing. And therefore let vs bethinke our selues the better, and learne that although there bee but a little water caste vppon our heads, yet notwithstāding it is not a vaine figure: for God speaketh in it as it were from heauen, and Iesus Christe is there present as a witnesse of the vsage and operation of the sacrament, and specially his death and resurrection are warranted too vs by it. Let vs thinke well vpon these