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

I have answered already too the first objection that may be made: namely that there is no variableness in God, though he have altered the order of government in his Church. For when he sendeth fair weather or foul, heat or cold, and disposeth the seasons of the year diversly, shall we say therefore that he changeth his mind, and that he is mutable in himself? No, but contrariwise we must say that he hath ordained the things that were convenient for mankind, and yet notwithstanding doth by those changes and turnings warn us that we must not seek our rest here beneath, but pass away as wayfarers, and as they that undertake a long journey to come to the kingdom of heaven. As touching the second objection, Saint Paul showeth that if there be any difference betwixt us and the fathers that lived under the Law, it is not in that our religion is not all one, it is not in that we have not all one God, it is not for that the promises which we receive belong not to us nowadays, or for that our Lord Jesus Christ hath not at all times had the power to make atonement among all men, even from Abel to those which shall be found in the last end of the world: but he saith that the diversity is in the outward government. And the better to express that, he allegeth a similitude which we ought to be well acquainted with. For if a father leave his children fatherless and under years of discretion, he will appoint tutors and governors of them till they come too full age. When the father is deceased, his children shall be under Tutors and governors, without enjoying of the goods that their father hath left them▪ and yet do the goods belong to them: nevertheless they have not the rule of themselves, but in stead of following their wanton appetite, men give them schoolebutter with a rod. Thus ye see that although the children be heirs, yet have they not liberty at the first day, because they be too weak, and have neither wisdom nor discretion. Now according to this similitude Saint Paul saith, that the fathers, (that is to say the Jews which lived under the law) were Gods children and heirs as well as we: but that the Church was then as it were under age as a young child, & needed a bridle, and therefore they were in •••age & subjection of the law. ⟨image 201⟩S.

I haue answered already too the firste obiection that may be made: namely that there is no variablenesse in God, though he haue altered the order of gouernment in his Church. For when he sendeth faire wether or foule, heate or colde, and disposeth the seasons of the yeere diuersly, shall we say therefore that he chaungeth his mind, and that he is mutable in himselfe? No, but contrariwise we must say that he hath ordeyned the things that were conuenient for mankind, and yet notwithstāding doth by those changes and turnings warne vs that wee must not seeke our rest heere beneath, but passe away as wayfarers, and as they that vndertake a long iourney to come to the kingdome of heauen. As touching the seconde obiection, Sainct Paule sheweth that if there be any difference betwixt vs and the fathers that liued vnder the Lawe, it is not in that our religion is not all one, it is not in that wee haue not all one God, it is not for that the promises which we receyue belong not to vs nowadayes, or for that our Lorde Iesus Christ hath not at all times had the power to make attonement among al men, euen from Abell to those which shal be found in the last end of the world: but he sayth that the diuersitie is in the outward gouernement. And the better to expresse that, hee alledgeth a similitude which we ought to be well acquainted with. For if a father leaue his children fatherlesse and vnder yeeres of discretion, he will appoint tutors and gouernors of them till they come too full age. VVhen the father is deceassed, his children shall be vnder Tutors and gouerners, without enioying of the goodes that their father hath left them and yet do the goodes belōg to them: neuerthelesse they haue not the rule of themselues, but in sted of following their wanton appetite, men giue them schoolebutter with a rodde. Thus ye see that although the children be heires, yet haue they not libertie at the firste day, bycause they bee too weake, and haue nother wisedome nor discretion. Now according to this similitude Sainct Paule sayth, that the fathers, (that is to say the Iewes which lyued vnder the law) were Gods childrē and heires as well as we: but that the Church was thē as it were vnder age as a yong child, & needed a bridle, and therefore they were in age & subiectiō of the law.