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 now that ye have bin taught the Gospel, and obtained so great a benefit, not by your own travel, as though you had compassed it by your own wisdom, but by Gods goodness who marked you out before you could seek him: and seeing he hath so gathered you out to himself: what excuse have you too start away, and not to continue in the doctrine which you know to be certain and infallible? Moreover look (saith he) how ill choice ye have made. For God had given himself to you, and you have forsaken him for pelting trifles. For the Ceremonies of the Law (being set alone by themselves from our Lord Jesus Christ) are but baggage. Lo how ye make great account of things too no purpose, and in the mean while pass not at all for God. Hereupon as a man moved with great grief he concludeth, that he is sore afraid that he hath lost his labour, in that he hath so long time strained himself too bring them too the pure knowledge of the Gospel. And therewithal he allegeth a spice of the things which he had termed beggarly and unprofitable Ceremonies: namely that they kept the feasts contained in the Law, as though there had bin some necessity in the matter, thinking too deserve and earn grace thereby before ⟨p. 193⟩God. This is the sum of the matter that is treated of here. Now we have a good warning too gather of this text: which is, that if we hold not out in the faith of the Gospel after that God hath once brought us unto it, although the poor Infidels might be excused, yet can not we escape horrible damnation, by reason of our unthankfulness in that we have profited no better in the school of our God. It is true that although the heathen had no knowledge, yet they shall not fail to be condemned, because there is naughtiness always to be found in men, forasmuch as they gave them selves over to their own superstition: but if we consider what they be in respect of us, surely whereas they might have a dozen excuses, we should not have so much as a piece of one. Therefore when we have once bin enlightened with the truth of the Gospel, like as the benefit of God is singular, so also shall we pay dear for it if we make not account of it. And let us mark that this is not said too any one people alone: but that it behoveth us also at this day too apply too our use the things that S.

But nowe that ye haue bin taught the Gospell, and obteyned so great a benefite, not by your owne trauell, as though you had compassed it by your owne wisedome, but by Gods goodnes who marked you out before you coulde seeke him: and seeing hee hath so gathered you out to himselfe: what excuce haue you too start away, and not to continue in the doctrine which you knowe to be certaine and infallible? Moreouer looke (sayth he) howe yll choyse ye haue made. For God had giuen himselfe to you, and you haue forsaken him for pelting tryfles. For the Ceremonies of the Lawe (beeing set alone by themselues from our Lorde Iesus Christ) are but baggage. Lo howe yee make great account of things too no purpose, and in the meane while passe not at all for God. Heerevpon as a man moued with great greefe hee concludeth, that hee is sore afrayde that hee hathe lost his labour, in that hee hath so long tyme streyned himselfe too bring them too the pure knowledge of the Gospell. And therewithall he alledgeth a spice of the things which he had termed beggerly and vnprofitable Ceremonies: namely that they kept the feastes conteyned in the Lawe, as though there had bin some necessitie in the matter, thinking too deserue and earne grace thereby before