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, it is not let but that God giveth us greater liberty and privilege, than he did to such as lived under the law. Thus in effect that question is assoiled. And it serveth to bring us back too that which I have touched already, […] that we must magnify ⟨image 203⟩Gods grace towards us, for advancing of us to such dignity. But therewithal we see also, that it is not lawful for men to devise a new government at their own pleasure under pretence that folk are raw, or that many are not yet fit to be led and guided after a higher and wiser fashion. And it behoveth us to mark that well. For when the superstitions that reign nowadays in popery did first enter into the world: they began not with such devilish blasphemy as they be now maintained with. For look how many Ceremonies there are in the popedom, termed by the name of Gods seruis: so many be their Idolatries and the Illusions of Satan: and to be short, all is abominable before God. Why so? For they imagine them to be things necessary to salvation, that by the means of them they be able to ransom themselves, and too get forgiveness of their sins. Moreover they deface our Lord Jesus Christ and the grace that is brought us by him, because they hope too ransom themselves by their own satisfactions, and by that means usurp and pluck to themselves the thing that belongeth to the son of God. Thus ye see that they be cursed villains. Nevertheless when all their gewgaws were first brought into the Church, they were not yet full of so gross dotages: but they crept in under a somewhat more favourable pretence: that is to wit, that men were rude & dull, & unable to comprehend the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, if they had not bin handled & dandled after the manner of little children. Now (as I have touched already) it is true that every man ought to humble himself when he knows his own infirmity: but yet doth it not therefore follow, that we should bring up new fashions after our own fancies. We must be contented with that which God hath ordained. A young child must not choose his tutor of his own head: no, he should not be suffered to do so: But his father will appoint him one. True it is that there are other means stablished by laws: but here S. Paul hath taken a similitude agreeable to the matter that he deals with.

that is to say, it is not let but that God giueth vs greater libertie and priuiledge, than he did to such as liued vnder the law. Thus in effect that question is assoyled. And it serueth to bring vs backe too that which I haue touched already, that we must magnifye