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 then compareth Gods law whereby the Jews were held in strait awe under the yoke of Ceremonies, I say he compareth it to a Tutorship. But now is that time past and gone saith he: for God hath sent his only son, insomuch that in our Lord we be men grown and are come to such perfection of age, that the government which was under the law is now superfluous & unprofitable, yea & it should be altogether contrary to Gods will, and to the order which he hath stablished. And so we see whereat S. Paul aimed. For it is a thing of great importance to know that our Lord Jesus Christ is no newcome thing, as though god had suddenly bethought him to remedy the destruction of mankind. For Christ had that power from the beginning, and it behoved all men to seek their salvation in him, for the faith hath always bin one selfsame, as the Apostle allegeth in the Epistle to the Hebrews.¹ And truly Abel's sacrifices were not accepted for any worthiness that was in his own person, nor for any value that was in him: but only by the means of faith: faith was fain to be his foundation and buttress. In respect whereof also the Apostle saith,² that our Lord Jesus Christ which was yesterday, is also to day, and shall be still to the end. Therefore we must be well resolved of this point as a thing undoubted & out of all question: namely that we in these days have not any new hope of attaining to salvation, but the very same that hath bin at all times heretofore, and that the Gospel is not a newfound doctrine forged within these few years, but the very same doctrine wherein all the righteous men that ever were, have bin instructed. And truly it hath bin said heretofore, that we be made the children of adoption when we once have our Lord Jesus Christ. For S. Paul intended to rebuke the folly & presumptuousness that was in the Jews, for that they boasted always of their earthly linage. He showeth that in this behalf we must have respect of nothing but of the incorruptible seed of Gods word, whereby we be begotten new again. Now when God adopteth us and receiveth us to be his children, then doth he avow us to be the spiritual offspring of Abraham. How then can we be Abraham's children, except we agree with him in faith? Ye see then that Pauls handling of this point here is to good purpose:

Paule then compareth Gods law whereby the Iewes were hylde in streight awe vnder the yoke of Ceremonies, I say he compareth it to a Tutorship. But nowe is that time past and gone sayth he: for God hath sent his only sonne, in somuch that in our Lorde we bee men growē and are come to such perfectiō of age, that the gouernment which was vnder the law is now superfluous & vnprofitable, yea & it should be altogither contrary to Gods will, and to the order which he hath stablished. And so we see whereat S. Paule amed. For it is a thing of great importance to know that our Lorde Iesus Christ is no newcome thing, as though god had sodenly bethought him to remedie the destruction of mankind. For Christ had that power from the beginning, and it behoued all men to seeke their saluation in him, for the faith hath always bin one selfsame, as the Apostle alledgeth in the Epistle to the Hebrues.