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

namely to do us to un•••stand, that from all time out of mind, then ⟨p. 179⟩hath not bin any other mean to renew men to salvation, and too bring them into Gods favour and love, than by trusting in Jesus Christ, and by fleeing altogether unto him for refuge. Thus ye see why it is said that young children are masters of the house, and that the inheritance belongeth to them, though they do not yet enjoy it by reason of their age. And here we have also to mark further, that it were great wrong to the fathers of old time, to shut them out of the fellowship and onement of the faith that is showed here by Saint Paul. For their life was of all mens most miserable, because God kept them occupied with many afflictions: and the lives of the fathers (specially of those whom God marked out too make them excellent) were all mirrors of invincible patience. For what things endured Abraham? How hard and great encounters did he hear out? What manner of temptations did Isaac and likewise Jacob abide? Again what virtues see we in David? Now if they had set their mind upon this world, they had bin in worse plight than the brute beasts. Therefore (as I have said afore) it must needs be that they looked higher: and that did they witness sufficiently, not only by word of mouth, but also by deed. Then let us mark well the point that is set down here: which is, that the fathers hoped for the selfsame heritage that we look for, even by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ. And forasmuch as we agree with Abraham, David & the other holy kings & Prophets in faith: we shall be gathered into the heavenly life with them, & obtain the same crown of salvation with them,¹ which is the reward of faith as S. Peter termeth it in his first Epistle. Furthermore whereas S. Paul saith that the child differeth nothing from a servant: he doth it, always to magnify Gods grace towards us, and the privilege which we obtain by means of the Gospel. It is much for us to be called the children of Abraham: but it is much more when it is said of us, that God hath advanced us to a higher degree by the Gospel, than ever Abraham came unto. For inasmuch as our Lord Jesus Christ was not yet come: he was under the yoke of the law. But we at this day are free from it: and so ye see that God hath exalted us above all the Patriarchs and Prophets.

namely to do vs to vn•••stād, that frō al time out of mind, then