A17706:702
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
London: printed by Henry Bynneman for Lucas Harison and George Bishop, 1574London: printed by Henrie Bynneman for Lucas Harison and George Bishop, 1574
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The .xxv. Sermon, which is the second upon the fourth Chapter.
The .xxv. Sermon, which is the seconde vpon the fourth Chapter.
4 But when the time was fully come, God sent his son made of woman, and made under the Law. 5 Too the intent too redeem those that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of children. 6 And forasmuch as you be children, God hath sent the spirit of his son into your hearts, crying Abba, that is to say, father. 7 Wherefore now thou art not a servant but a son: and if thou be a son: thou art also an heir with Christ,
4 But vvhen the tyme vvas fully come, God sente hys sonne made of vvoman, and made vnder the Lavve. 5 Too the intente too redeeme those that vvere vnder the Lavve, that vve might receyue the adoption of children. 6 And forasmuche as you bee children, God hath sent the spirite of his sonne into your hearts, crying Abba, that is to say, father. 7 VVherfore now thou art not a seruant but a sonne: and if thou bee a sonne: thou arte also an heyre vvith Christ,
I Have told you already why S. Paul speaks here of the fullness of time: namely to abate mens curiosity, who by their good wills would seek to far into Gods secretes, yea and take upon them so boldly as to reply against God if he behave not himself after their fancy. To the intent therefore that the faithful may content themselves with the order that God hath kept in sending of our Lord Jesus Christ: he sayeth that the due season was not before, for that matter dependeth upon the only good pleasure of God, and upon his unchangeable purpose, whereunto it behoveth us too submit our selves. And now S. Paul sayeth, that our Lord Jesus Christ was made of woman, and put under the law, to acquit those that were under the law. First he sayeth that he was clothed with our nature, for else he could not have yielded obedience to God in our behalf, that we might be set free. Howbeit forasmuch as he was conceived after a wonderful manner, therefore doth S. Paul say he was made or begotten of a woman. It is true that he was of the seed of David: nevertheless I have told you already, that there was a secrete working of the holy Ghost in his conception. But how soever it was, our Lord Jesus Christ took our nature upon him, too the end he might yield obedience to God his father, as it were in our person. And that was the cause why he took our nature upon him. And this subjection whereof he speaketh, was not of constraint, but of good will. For we know that the Son of God hath all superiority and sovereignty, in so much that even the Angels and all the principalities must bow their knees before him too do him honour. How then could he be subject too the Law, seeing that the Law is such a bondage? This doth no whit deface the Majesty of Gods son, forasmuch as he abased himself of his own good will. Therefore (as it is said in the second too the Philippians) there is no contrariety in that he might make himself equal with God without robbery: