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

which is that for as much as God hath called us to the pure knowledge of his Gospel, we must continue steadfastly therein, according to the way which he setteth before us, who (as we know) is the lively fountain of all welfare, as it is said in the second of Jeremiah. Then if we go about too dig crauyed Cisterns that can hold no water: is it not an utter refusing of the benefit that was put into our hands? When a man seeth good meat ready for his repast, and knoweth that he may take good sustenance of it, and yet will go his way from the table, and seek dung and filth too feed on, is he not worthy too be poisoned? Even so is it with all such as are not contented with the pure doctrine of Gods Law and Gospel. For behold, the fountain is before them,¹ they may drink their fill of it,² as it is said in Isaiah and S. John, and yet they had lever too starve, or else too feed them selves with wind. Now then should not such unthankfulness be punished double as S. Paul saith here? Is it possible that ye should return again too the unprofitable and weak Ceremonies that can do you no good at all. Now at the first blush S. Paul might seem too sharp and rough in speaking after that fashion of the Ceremonies of the Law. For in very truth, although the Ceremonies had bin the first entrances or trainings, like as in training up of young children men are wont too set them first too their absey: yet notwithstanding ⟨image 219⟩our Lord Jesus Christ was figured in them: and there were promises in them too bring men too salvation. For the remission of sins is the chief good thing that we can wish for at God hand, because that by that means we be reconciled unto him. He receiveth us as his children, and we may call upon him with free liberty. Men therefore are then in true and perfect felicity, when their sins are forgiven them. And hereof they had as it were a pledge in their sacrifices in old time. When they washed them selves, it was a full assurance too them that God did cleanse them, and that their spots were no more laid to their charge, but rather that they were received as clean and utterly without blemish. Howe then doth S. Paul term these things unprofitable ceremonies, which carried such instruction in them?

which is that for as much as God hath called vs to the pure knowledge of his Gospell, we must continue stedfastly therin, according to the way which he setteth before vs, who (as we know) is the liuely fountayne of all welfare, as it is sayde in the seconde of Ieremie. Then if wee go aabout too digge crauyed Cesterns that can holde no water: is it not an vtter refusing of the benefite that was put into our handes? VVhen a man seeth good meate readie for his repaste, and knoweth that he may take good sustenance of it, and yet will go hys way from the table, and seeke dung and filthe too feede on, is he not worthy too bee poysoned? Euen so is it with all suche as are not contented with the pure doctrine of Gods Lawe and Gospell. For beholde, the fountayne is before them,