Calvin believed that the work of preaching was central to the life of the church. And upon this springs another praise to the proof of the goodness of this work, that its Author is the sovereign God.
THE ARGUMENT OF SAINT PAUL’S
EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS
Let us therefore remember that the truth of the Gospel was attacked in the person of Saint Paul. Whereupon it follows that the doctrine of the false Apostles is shameful and dangerous, because it makes the eclipse.
THE FIRST SERMON UPON
THE FIRST CHAPTER
When Saint Paul says that he is an Apostle, not on behalf of men: this is a general point that should extend to all ministers of God's word, and to all Shepherds of the Church. Saint Paul declares that if they want to question the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, his resurrection should not have diminished it.
THE SECOND SERMON
UPON THE FIRST CHAPTER
Even by fixing our eyes on the Sacrifice that our Lord Jesus Christ brought. Here we must first of all magnify the mercy shown to us in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE THIRD SERMON
Wind with every wind, but remain steadfast in the root of the Gospel, founded on the invincible power of our Lord Jesus Christ. But you will see many who will not openly speak against the doctrine of the Gospel, but will suffer the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to be preached.
THE FOURTH SERMON
By doing so our Lord Jesus Christ will declare that we are of the company and number of his sheep and always do the duty of a shepherd towards us. And this is also the reason why St. Paul declares that the gospel which he had preached is the same which our Lord Jesus Christ commanded to be preached and published, and of which he is the author in the name of God his father. To be short, let us be sure that as soon as any of the matter is added to the pure doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is pure falsehood.
For (as I have already said) what is to be done if we speak in his. So you see how each of us should be prepared if our intentions are to be scholars for the son of God and to transfer to him the dominion that belongs to him.
THE FIFTH SERMON
Do you see then that our Lord Jesus Christ does not have his authority among us until men and all creatures are humbled with them, and all listen to him, from the least to the greatest. And in fact we see how in another text to the Corinthians, (<460206> . 1 Corinthians 2:6) Saint Paul declares that he preached the perfect wisdom when he presented our Lord Jesus Christ, and that there ' n man will find everything he can wish for his welfare. But it helped him to account no more for all the things which are desirable to the world, and which he formerly esteemed high, as for dung and filth (as he himself protests against the Philippians) (< 500308 > .Philippians 3:8) and it behooved him to throw them all away as things that were harmful, because he saw well how they were all accusations that prevented him from coming to our Lord Jesus Christ.
For therein he confesses himself to have been one. persecutor of the church of God, we see that in the intention of still preserving the glory of God and the authority and dominion of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he served, he in no way spares himself. Thus you see how it fell to St. Paul to be corrected in a violent manner: by which we see that neither free will, affection, nor holiness stood in him anywhere, but that all should be attributed to the mercy of God.
THE SIXTH SERMON
Therefore, when we come to the knowledge of the Gospel, although we do not have such revelations as Paul had: yet. In this way we have an eye on the things that God has placed in each person, and this is good reason to do so. Let us assure ourselves that the possession of this does not come of our own will, but through his touching us to the living through his holy spirit.
But let us return to the main point that St. Paul is making here. And this is also the reason why St. Paul strives for the authority of the Gospel.
THE SEVENTH SERMON UPON
THE FIRST CHAPTER WHICH IS ALSO THE FIRST UPON THE SECOND CHAPTER
We see, then, that he did not seek to gain much fame, nor to acquire credit and authority among the people. Moreover, Saint Paul adds that the general report was that he who had first persecuted the faith preached the same, and that God was thereby glorified. It is true that he speaks of the general report, but yet he repeats the matter exactly as it was actually done.
So this is what we must remember, because it is said that the general report was that he had first [previously] destroyed the faith, as he had actually done. But St. Paul here respected the weakness of the simple kind, which he had cast aside as much as it lay within him.
THE EIGHTH SERMON
WHICH IS THE SECOND UPON THE SECOND CHAPTER
So then people do wrong to our Lord Jesus Christ, by keeping silent the ceremonies of the Law. And it was a complete abolition of the power of the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because the foolish souls have been robbed of the freedom that was bought for them by the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But if anyone would draw us away from our Lord Jesus Christ, let us rather endure all the hatred, anger, and madness of the world, than seek such an agreement. So Saint Paul speaks here deliberately of the truth of the Gospel, as he speaks of the simplicity of our Lord Jesus in 2 Corinthians 11:3.
THE NINTH SERMON
WHICH IS THE THIRD UPON THE SECOND CHAPTER
For in baptism we have a washing which ought to be sufficient for us both in life and in death, and God would have us have no other right to that spiritual cleansing which was obtained for us by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we must be satisfied with that. It is true that it was abolished at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; but still the Jews could keep it quiet until they were fully trained in the liberty of the gospel. Because the way of the world is that those who come first must be first served.
And besides, insofar as God's gifts may not be unprofitable, let us allow them to be used for the benefit and well-being of believers. It is true that the teaching of the other apostles belongs to us as well, for our Lord Jesus Christ will be heard when He speaks to us, whether through Peter or through John. are instruments of his mind, and we should not make them a.
THE TENTH SERMON
WHICH IS THE FOURTH UPON THE SECOND CHAPTER
But now Saint Paul, to show that his preaching of such liberty, and that the law which God had imposed upon the ancient fathers was taken away at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, was not without reason: he declares that rebuked Peter for the same thing. For (as it is said elsewhere) (Ephesians 2:14) the wall was thrown down when our Lord Jesus Christ was appointed to be a light of God, not only to the Jews, but also for the salvation of the. As to the truth of the Gospel, I have already shown you how it is the purity that we must hold on to.
I might well say that according to the Gospel they are not walking in the right way; but he speaks of the truth [Fr. And this must be done, not only in the errors which corrupt the pure doctrine of the Gospel, but also in all vices and corruptions [of nature].
THE ELEVENTH SERMON
WHICH IS THE FIFTH UPON THE SECOND CHAPTER
And notwithstanding that we know that we cannot be justified by the works of the law, and that there is no other way to be acceptable to God than to come to him by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: we have renounced the righteousness of the law, and have convinced ourselves, that God must accept us out of his own goodness for the sake of his son. Here (as I touched before) St. Paul enters into the main point of his contention against those who confounded the ceremonies of the law with the gospel. For what are they aiming at who would have men who would keep the ceremony of marriage.
And this is the reason why St. Paul always says, do the law, do the law. Moreover, it should also be noted that the Jews have always perverted the nature and use of the sacraments they have made.
THE TWELFTH SERMON
WHICH IS THE SIXTH UPON THE SECOND CHAPTER
But now let us follow the matter which St. Paul addresses here. We know (he says) that we cannot be justified by the works of the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. For the Papists will well confess that we are justified by faith, even if they add that this is only partly so. For here it is proved that we cannot be found righteous before God, except through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by resting on the salvation which He has purchased for us.
He says that we are not justified, but through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us note, however, that to be fully convinced, that we cannot be justified by the law, we must set God before us in his.
THE THIRTEENTH SERMON
WHICH IS THE SEVENTH UPON THE SECOND CHAPTER
And if he says that he was dead to the lawgiver by the law: this is a mockery of those who pretend to be justified by keeping the law. Because the law brings nothing but a curse, and Jesus Christ brings its cure. As if he were saying, you will make me believe that I can obtain God's favor by means of the law.
However (to be honest) this inconvenience is not to be attributed [to the fault of] the Law, since it should cause shame to God, from whom the Law proceeded. But it is certain that the law (when it performs its function, and is read as we see fit) always kills us, and we lie as if sunk in despair, until our Lord Jesus Christ reaches us his hand. to lift us out of it.
