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

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 ⟨image 261⟩word [Spirit] is set down here, to show that the fathers could not embrace the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, but by the means which our Lord had ordained for the time. Therefore when any man had done amiss, he came with a sacrifice, to acknowledge himself worthy of death before God: not too seek his atonement in a Calf, or in a Sheep, or in any such other thing: for that was too be had in Jesus Christ: but yet was it of necessity that the figure of him should go before. As much is to be said of the washings and of the residue of those things.¹ In these days we have the body (sayeth S. Paul) and therefore the shadows are not requisite any more. If a man were present before mine eyes: would I seek too know him by his shadow? That were to darksome a dealing: and if I might behold him in the face, what a doltishness were it for me too turn away from him, and to go seek some tracings too know him by? Even so is it now adays with such as turn back again to the old figures. They turn their backs upon Jesus Christ, knowing not that the rending asunder of the veil of the Temple at his death, betokened that all the ancient figures were abolished, and that we at this day may enter into the heavenly Sanctuary, from the which we were as good as strangers before. To be short, S. Paul meant here too declare, that his condemning of the Ceremonies of the Law, is not to condemn the fathers that used them, nor God that was the author of them, but to show that we in these days have the truth and substance of them: and consequently that the things which were shadowed heretofore, are no more so, and therefore that we must content our selves with Jesus Christ, who hath brought all perfection with him. Thus much concerning the Ceremonies of the Law.

So then it is certayne that the fathers had a spirituall beleef as well as wee, so as they knewe they were not washed and made cleane by three or foure droppes of water: nor reconcyled too God by the sacrifizing of a Calfe or of some other brute beast: but that oure Lorde Iesus Christe was their onely washyng and clenzing, and that hee by the Sacrifyze of his deathe had discharged them quyte, or at leastwyse should, bycause the thyng was not yet done, but the Fathers looked aloofe at the thing which was not yet disclozed. And moreouer it is without cause, that the sayde