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

To be short, all the Ceremonies of popery are utter renouncings of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the pure truth which he hath purchased for us by his death and resurrection, and of the grace that is offered us at this day in the Gospel. For they may well bring what shrouding-sheets they list, but they cannot disprove the holy Ghost, who hath uttered the said sentence by the mouth of Saint Paul. Then do we see in effect what is showed us here. Now as touching the particular which Saint Paul allegeth here concerning days, months, and years he meaneth not the seasons of winter and summer, nor the discerning of one day from another, nor that men should not reckon years and months: but he speaketh of the feasts that were commanded in the Law, and which those deceivers would needs have to be kept still, even as of necessity. In which case there was a kind of binding and thraldom, and it was an abolishing of the freedom that was purchased for us by our Lord Jesus Christ. Lo here the cause why Saint Paul useth such vehementnesse, howbeit that he did it also in respect of the foresaid falsehood: for it was requisite that our Lord Jesus Christ should have bin known in all those figures, and that men should have aimed at that mark. But they that had beguiled the Galatians, had bound them to the clean contrary, seeing that by holding still the feast of Passover and other feasts, they intended to bring them back again to the old forworn figures, which ought to be abolished. In old time when men kept […] Easter day under the law, it was ⟨p. 198⟩to the end that the people being put in mind of their deliverance out of the thraldom of Egypt, should look for the great redemption that was promised them.¹ And for that cause Saint Paul saith that our Easter lamb (that is to wit, Jesus Christ) is offered up already. He showeth that the thing which had bin figured by the paschal lamb that was offered in the law, was now fulfilled in the person of our mediator. In like case was it with the feast of Tabernacles or Tents, whereby God did put the Jews in remembrance, that they had dwelled in the wilderness where there was neither house nor building, and yet had continued there a long time travelling too and fro. And that was also a warning too them that this life is but a wayfaring, where through we must pass in hast.

To bee shorte, all the Ceremonies of poperie are vtter renouncings of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and of the pure truth which hee hath purchaced for vs by his death and resurrection, and of the grace that is offered vs at this day in the Gospell. For they may well bring what shrowding-sheetes they list, but they cannot disproue the holie Ghost, who hath vttered the sayd sentence by the mouth of Sainct Paule. Then do we see in effect what is shewed vs heere. Now as touching the particular whiche Sainct Paule alledgeth heere concerning dayes, mooneths, and yeeres he meeneth not the seasons of winter and sommer, nor the discerning of one day from another, nor that men shoulde not recken yeeres and mooneths: but hee speaketh of the feasts that were commaunded in the Lawe, and which those deceiuers would needes haue to bee kept still, euen as of necessitie. In which cace there was a kind of binding and thraldome, and it was an abolishing of the fredome that was purchaced for vs by our Lord Iesus Christ. Lo heere the cause why Sainct Paule vseth such vehementnesse, howbeit that hee did it also in respect of the foresayde falshood: for it was requisite that our Lord Iesus Christ should haue bin knowen in all those figures, and that men should haue amed at that marke. But they that had beguiled the Galathians, had bound them to the cleane contrary, seeing that by holding still the feast of Passeouer and other feastes, they intended to bring them backe agayne to the olde forworne figures, which ought to be abolished. In olde time when men kept Easter day vnder the lawe, it was