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

But contrariwise men have bin fain to apparel themselves like players in an interlude, & therewithal to use so many murlimewes, as it was a shame to behold them: and what was the end of all? Mary •ir, it was a sacrifice for the remission of sins, both of quick and dead. Wherein ye see how our Lord Jesus Christ is bereft of his priestly dignity which was given him of God his father, even with solemn oath that he should ⟨image 204⟩never have any successor: but yet for all that the Papists make him a thousand thousand successors. And what manner of men I pray you? Surely if they were Angels of heaven, yet ought they to be taken for devils. But their choice is of all the vermin of the world, of all the rascals, and of all naughtipackes: and shall we say that such a rabble are the successors of our Lord Jesus Christ. And yet nevertheless ye see what the Papists allege for their covert: namely that men must needs have some helps because of their infirmity. And thereof came all the residue of their superstitions: as for example, when they did set up their Idols and puppets, they termed them the lay mens books. But we see that all their malapertness is confounded here, when S. Paul bringeth us back to the order that God hath set, because we must all wholly hold us too it, and there rest. So then, will we not disclaim the heritage of heaven which our Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased for us? Let us follow the government which God hath set down in his Church, and assure our selves that God will supply all wants. Howe rude or raw soever we be, he can well skill too draw us to him. Yea, so we keep the beaten way, for as for them that have so mingled and turmoiled things, and piled up such a heap of Ceremonies: they have so little remedied their infirmities thereby, that they have rather estranged themselves quite and clean from our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know that men are of their own natures too much inclined to visible things. Therefore by taking up many ceremonies, men are so entangled, so snarled, & so deeply drowned in them, that afterward they forsake God and our Lord Jesus Christ. If any man allege, why so? Had not the fathers of old time many ceremonies also too help their infirmities? Yes: but all theirs were revealed too them by God.

But contrariwise men haue bin fayne to apparell themselues like players in an enterlude, & therwithall to vse so many murlimewes, as it was a shame to beholde them: and what was the ende of al? Mary •ir, it was a sacrifice for the remission of sinnes, both of quicke and dead. VVherin yee see howe our Lorde Iesus Christ is berefte of his priestly dignitie which was giuen him of God his father, euē with solemne oth that he should