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

And it riseth of this, that they had not an eye to the principal, but gazed still upon the appurtenances. The principal is the promises: for all the Ceremonies of the world are not only vain and baggagely, but also devilish illusions, except Gods word be printed in them, and that that be the thing whereat they look, and the mark whereat they aim. As how? If we had no promise for baptism, ne knew to what end it was ordained: what a gewgaw were it? It were much better for us to forbear it. Again, if we knew not what the Lords Supper meaneth, it were better that the remembrance of it were utterly buried. But when Gods word goeth with it, so as we have the promises to w• •ant us that we be washed and cleansed ⟨p. 183⟩from all our spots by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: then lieth all our trust there. And moreover it is said that there we be renewed by the holy Ghost. Lo how baptism leadeth us to the promises, and the promises lead us to Christ, as to the party that is contained in them. Thus ye see what we have to bear in mind, when S. Paul exalteth us in degree above all the Patriarchs, and those that lived under the Law: namely, that it is not for that there was not more perfection, constancy, and faith in them, than is now a days in us. And therewithal (as I have erst said) we be still confirmed in this point, that there is no new mean of salvation set forth unto us, but that God gathereth us too him for our Lord Jesus Christs sake, in like wise as he hath in all ages called his chosen, and those whom he listed too cull out, and whom he vouchsafed too make partakers of the adoption that is imparted too us at this day. For if it might be said, that men have had the mean too be justified, and too come in favour with God, but only since Jesus Christ came into the world: what should become of those that lived afore? Our faith should be but weak, and it would cast us into such a maze, as we should not wot where too become. How now, would we say? Hath not God bin the father of his creatures in all ages? Was there no salvation till Jesus Christ came into the world? Yes, but where as it is said that the salvation is manifested unto us by the Gospel, yet was it also already before:

And it riseth of this, that they had not an eye to the principall, but gazed styll vpon the appurtenances. The principall is the promises: for all the Ceremonies of the world are not onely vayne and baggagely, but also diuelishe illusions, excepte Gods worde bee printed in them, and that that be the thing whereat they looke, and the marke wherat they ame. As how? If wee had no promise for baptisme, ne knew to what end it was ordeyned: what a gewgawe were it? It were much better for vs to forbeare it. Agein, if we knew not what the Lordes Supper meaneth, it were better that the remembrance of it were vtterly buryed. But when Gods word goeth with it, so as we haue the promises to w ant vs that we be washed and clensed