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

And it is an ordinary matter for men to forget the chief principal, when they give themselves to Ceremonies, according also as our Lord Jesus upbraideth them,¹ saying: for your own traditions sakes you have abolished the law of God my father.² And for the same cause it is said in the fifth Psalm. Thinkest thou that I will drink the blood of brute beasts? If I be hungry (saith God) thinkest thou that all is not mine? This is the thing that I would have thee to offer unto me, namely the sacrifice of praise.

And it is an ordinarie matter for men to forget the cheefe principall, when they giue themselues to Ceremonies, according also as our Lord Iesus vpbraydeth them,¹ saying: for your owne traditions sakes you haue abolished the lawe of God my father.² And for the same cause it is sayd in the fifth Psalme. Thinkest thou that I will drinke the bloud of brute beastes? If I bee hungrie (saith God) thinkest thou that all is not myne? This is the thing that I would haue thee to offer vntoo mee, namely the sacrifice of praise.

1. 1Mat. 15 a. 3.
2. 2Psa. 50. c. 13.

Now we see Pauls meaning. He mocketh the hypocrites which think that all is marred if there be not store of gauds, and gewgaws when men should go unto God, and that they may not go to him as it were with banner displayed. According whereunto we see how they prank up things with pomp, of lamps, perfumes, & tapers, gay disguised cotes, puppets, and such other things. When they have this gear once, to their own seeming they be so well cloaked, that God knows no more what they do, and that their vices are well sheltered under such shadow: and yet for all that, they do but spite him openly. Now S. Paul laugheth that opinion too scorn, saying, that although we have none of all those pomps, there is enough besides wherewith […] God to keep us occupied, & that