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

But now adays in the Popedom there is a like deceitfulness used, in so much that men do falsify all that God hath ordained. As how? Look upon Baptism, look upon the Lords Supper, which were instituted to the end that we should come and protest before God, that we hold all things of him. What is there in Baptism? It is showed us there, that we must die in our selves. And why so? even because there is nothing but frowardness and cursedness in us, so as we be the children of wrath, and utter strangers unto God. Ye see then in Baptism a man is utterly rid of all his trust in himself. In the Supper we come to seek our life in Jesus Christ: and so are we stark dead both the ways. Yet for all this, the Papists ween these things too be meritorious works. And that is the cause why they by the Hellish abomination of their mischievous Mass, have falsified yea & utterly defaced all things that our Lord Jesus Christ had appointed. For such a work even as it is done by man, or the very working of the deed, that is too say, the very doing of it as it cometh and proceedeth of man, must (say they) of necessity be meritorious. But therein we see a manifest falsehood. Howbeit S. Paul meant to go yet further, in rebuking the hypocrisy of such as ⟨p. 241⟩are so much given too these outward things: the like whereof is still at this day in the papacy. It is true that these miserable wretches take great pains too serve God: they trot up and down without end or measure: but what do they? They martyr themselves in vain things, and such as God never required, but utterly mislyketh: and yet in the mean while, there is nothing but hypocrisy in all their doings. For what doth the devoutest person among them, but only make much babbling and mumbling? He must here Matins in the night, and two or three Masses in a day: He must gad on pilgrimage, and fast the Lent and Saints evens: He must keep all the apes toys that have bin appointed at the devise of men. And what are all these things? Surely if men put their trust in them, they be devilish devises: but although there were none other harm in them saving that every man followeth his own imaginations: yet are they but gewgaws and Apes toys before God. And why? For he loveth obedience better than all sacrifices. But if we will obey God:

But now adayes in the Popedome there is a like deceytfulnesse vs•ed, in so much that men do falsifie all that God hath ordeyned. As how? Looke vpon Baptisme, looke vpon the Lordes Supper, which were instituted to the end that wee should come and protest before God, that wee holde all things of him. VVhat is there in Baptisme? It is shewed vs there, that wee must die in our selues. And why so? euen bycause there is nothing but frowardnesse and cursednesse in vs, so as we bee the children of wrath, and vtter straungers vnto God. Yee see then in Baptisme a man is vtterly ridde of all his trust in himself. In the Supper wee come to seeke our life in Iesus Christ: and so are wee starke dead both the wayes. Yet for all this, the Papistes weene these things too bee meritorious workes. And that is the cause why they by the Hellish abhomination of their mischieuous Masse, haue falsified yea & vtterly defaced all things that our Lord Iesus Christ had appoynted. For such a woorke euen as it is done by man, or the very working of the deede, that is too say, the very doing of it as it commeth and proceedeth of man, muste (say they) of necessitie bee meritorious. But therein wee see a manifest falshood. Howbeit S. Paule ment to go yet further, in buking the hypocrisie of suche as