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

For first it was told them that the pattern of all those things was heavenly, as it is said in the .xxv. of Exodus.¹ And it was showed too Moses in the mountain, too the intent they should not muse upon these present and corruptible things. And when God saw they were too much given unto them,² we see how he rebuked them sharply by his Prophets, saying: away with your sacrifices, fie on them, for think ye that ••ake pleasure in your cutting of the ⟨p. 182⟩throats of beasts, in hope too pacify me thereby, as though I were an hungered or a thirst? Think ye that I have need of such helps? Ye see then that God did always draw his people from superstition, notwithstanding that there were many ceremonies ordained, which was done for the necessity of the time. For it was requisite that there should be figures and shadows in the absence of our Lord Jesus Christ, according too S. Pauls saying, who telleth us that the fathers of old time were by that means directed too seek Christ: but now that he is come, we have no more need of any such thing. As for example, if a man be away from me, so as I can not come too the sight of him, and I would fain have a representation of him too find him out by, I must at leastwise have an Image that may resemble him: but if I see his body present, and may behold him face too face, I need no more any Image or counterfeit too paint him or express him more lively unto me. Even after the same manner the fathers of old time had many figures and shadows,³ because our Lord Jesus Christ was not yet revealed.⁴ But now that he shineth upon us, and showeth him self as the day sun of righteousness so brightly unto us: were in not a wilful burying of him again, if we would needs have figures still? And for that cause also was the veil of the Temple rent a sunder at his death. For now a days we may enter in familiarly unto God, and offer him our spiritual Sacrifices, that is too wit, our prayers and petitions, and that is because we have the very body and substance as Saint Paul saith in another text to the Colossians.