A17706:836
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.
He setteth here the spirit now adays among the Christians, to exclude all figures and shadows, as if he should say that it ought too suffice us that the Son of God is appeared too us for our righteousness, and therefore we must let go the Ceremonies, because the shadow were needless now adays. And not in this Text alone doth Saint Paul match the word spirit against the shadows of the Law. Truly when God in old time did ordain Circumcision, Sacrifices, and such other things, it was not too set folk at a gaze here below: for all things that are contained in the Law are in very deed spiritual. There was a pattern of them showed too Moses on the Mountain.1
He setteth heere the spirite now adayes among the Christians, to exclude all figures and shadowes, as if he should say that it ought too suffize vs that the Sonne of God is appeered too vs for our rightuousnesse, and therefore wee muste let go the Ceremonies, bycause the shadowe were needelesse now adayes. And not in this Texte alone dothe Sainct Paule match the woorde spirite agaynst the shadowes of the Lawe. Truly when God in old time did ordeyne Circumcision, Sacrifices, and suche other things, it was not too set folke at a gaze heere bylowe: for all things that are contayned in the Lawe are in very deede spirituall. There was a patterne of them shewed too Moyses on the Mountayne.1
- 1Exod. 25. d. 40.
So then it is certain that the fathers had a spiritual belief as well as we, so as they knew they were not washed and made clean by three or four drops of water: nor reconciled too God by the sacrificing of a Calf or of some other brute beast: but that our Lord Jesus Christ was their only washing and cleansing, and that he by the Sacrifice of his death had discharged them quite, or at leastwise should, because the thing was not yet done, but the Fathers looked aloof at the thing which was not yet disclosed. And moreover it is […] without cause, that the said