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

Also it was his will to have men ⟨p. 186⟩know, that to blaspheme his name is an irksome thing. The Heathen folk knew all this without any teaching. Now then if we should be lawless under pretence that our lord Jesus Christ reigneth over us, and hath set us at liberty: what a thing were it? There would be greater confusion in the Church, than there is where Satan hath made a minglemangle and put all things out of order, so as there is no bridle at all. But whereas it is said that we be no more under the law: it is in the same respect whereof mention hath bin made heretofore; namely, that the Law shall not execute any more this sharpness and rigour upon us, too say unto us, cursed shall he be that fulfilleth not all things. For so long as the threatening remaineth and standeth in force, we must needs be as men out of their wits, and as folk upon the rack ready to be torn in pieces. To be short, we can have no rest except the sentence of the law be abolished, which is that they which perform not all that is contained in the law shall be accursed. But contrariwise let our consciences bear us record that God pitieth us and beareth with our infirmities as a father doth towards his children, and passeth not upon the vices that are in us, but hideth & burieth them so as our seruis is acceptable to him, though there be many things amiss in it: & then are we no more subject to the law. Not that we should be quite without rule, nor that the commandments ought not to be preached continually unto us, to the end we may know what God hath ordained & be held in awe by it: but that we should not be out of hart if we fall, or halt, or make any false steppes: or that if we cannot discharge our selves of all things so perfectly as were requisite, yet we should not be utterly dismayed, knowing well that God will always hold us up by the hand, & not enter into account with us to sift our life rigorously: & moreover because the Ceremonies that were before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, are no more in use as they were towards the fathers of old time, who were trained by them as in their childhood. For when the brute beasts were offered in sacrifice, every man beheld there his own death, as though the bottomless gulf of hell had bin opened too swallow up the whole world.

Also it was his will to haue men ⟨p. 186⟩know, that to blaspheme his name is an irksome thing. The Heathen folke knew all this without any teaching. Now then if we should be lawlesse vnder pretence that our lord Iesus Christ reigneth ouer vs, and hath set vs at libertie: what a thing were it? There woulde bee greater cōfusion in the Church, than there is where Satan hath made a minglemangle and put al things out of order, so as there is no bridle at all. But whereas it is sayd that we be no more vnder the lawe: it is in the same respect whereof mention hath bin made heretofore; namely, that the Lawe shall not execute any more this sharpnesse and rigour vppon vs, too say vnto vs, cursed shall he bee that fulfilleth not all things. For so long as the threatening remayneth and standeth in force, we must needes be as men out of their wittes, and as folke vpon the racke ready to be torne in peeces. To be short, we can haue no rest except the sentence of the law be abolished, which is that they which performe not all that is cōtayned in the law shall be accursed. But cōtrarywise let our consciences beare vs record that God pitieth vs and beareth with our infirmities as a father doth towardes his children, and passeth not vpō the vyces that are in vs, but hideth & burieth them so as our seruis is acceptable to him, though there be many things amisse in it: & then are we no more subiect to the law. Not that we should be quite without rule, nor that the commaundements ought not to be preached continually vnto vs, to the end we may know what God hath ordeyned & be hild in awe by it: but that we should not be out of hart if we fall, or halt, or make any false steppes: or that if we cannot discharge our selues of al things so perfectly as were requisite, yet we should not bee vtterly dismayed, knowing well that God will alwayes hold vs vp by the hand, & not enter into accoūt with vs to sift our life rigorously: & moreouer bycause the Ceremonies that were before the cōming of our Lord Iesus Christe, are no more in vse as they were towardes the fathers of old time, who were trayned by them as in their childhood. For whē the brute beasts were offered in sacrifize, euery mā behild there his owne death, as though the bottomlesse gulfe of hell had bin opened too swallow vp the whole world.