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

For whensoever the Gospel is preached unto us, it is all one as if we saw Gods son crucified presently before us, or as if we saw his blood streaming down, for so much as we be besprinkled with it by the power of the holy Ghost, as sayeth S. Peter in his first Epistle. So then seeing that our lord Jesus Christ hath by his death and passion opened us the way whereby we may come to God his father: it is not for us to busy our selves any more about the things that were appointed for the time of his absence. It is true that he dwelleth not now adays in the world: but yet have we his Gospel, which is the accomplishment of all things that are needful to our salvation: & therefore it is as good as if he were crucified among us,¹ as S. Paul hath said already. Now that we have the understanding of these words in Jesus Christ, that is to wit, that the Gospel is preached: let us come to this addition of his, that there is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision: that is too say, that those things must henceforth cease, and men must rest only upon charity. And wherefore doth S. Paul add the word charity. Too show ⟨image 263⟩that Christen folk will not be idle, and that they have enough too occupy themselves about, though they keep not the figures of the Law. For albeit that it was Gods meaning to lead the people unto Jesus Christ, in ordaining the Sacrifices, circumcision, and all the residue: yet notwithstanding men being of themselves corrupt, marred all. And truly the Jews were of opinion, that they bound God too them in offering up sacrifice: but it was clean contrary. For he that offered sacrifice, did there pass a recognisance to bind himself solemnly to cursedness, as if he should say, I am worthy of death, in token whereof a poor beast is here killed and hath his throat cut: and is it the beast that hath deserved it? no, it is I. Ye see then that a man might there behold his own sinfulness, like as also it behoved him to seek his salvation else where than in himself. Lo I pray you how the figures ought to have brought folk too such a lowliness, that all men from the greatest too the least should have condemned themselves, and thereupon embracing the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, have rested themselves wholly upon that.

For whensoeuer the Gospell is preached vnto vs, it is all one as if we saw Gods sonne crucified presently before vs, or as if wee sawe his bloud streaming downe, for so much as wee be besprinkled with it by the power of the holy Ghost, as sayeth S. Peter in his first Epistle. So then seing that our lord Iesus Christ hath by his death and passiō opened vs the way whereby wee may come to God his father: it is not for vs to buzie our selues any more about the things that were apointed for the time of his absēce. It is true that he dwelleth not now adayes in the world: but yet haue we his Gospel, which is the accōplishmēt of al things that are needefull to our saluatiō: & therfore it is as good as if he were crucified amōg vs,