profite that commeth to the godly by the tentation of Satan 1. Iohn 4.4 2. Cor. 12.9 Sathan continually bevvitcheth meÌ„ Iob. 1. â— Io. â— 44 The false Apostles bevvitchers of men The example of Doctor Kraus The deuils definition of a false Christ The Godly must diligently vvatch VVorldly and secure men are soone bevvitched VVitchcraft vvhat it is VVho are bevvitched An other goodly commendation of the righteousnes of the lavve 1. Iohn 5.16 Hebr. 6.4.5.6 The errour of the Nonations VVho returne not to the truthe The Aposâ—â—o vseth bitter and rough vvordes Heb. 6. â— They that seeke to be iustified by the lavv crucifie Christ The Papistes are crucifiers of the sonne of God. The Monkes dreamed that they vvere only in the state and life of perfection * VVorkes of superogation they call such vvorks as thei doe of their ovvne good vvill more then they are bound to doe The illusioÌ„ of the Deuill In the time of poperie vve vvere so bevvitched that it vvas impossible to acknovvledge Christ Daniel 9 2â— Superstitious Monkes and such other by streitnes of life and afflicting their ovvne bodies sought righteousnes and remission of sinnes In you or amongst you Rom. 6.9 To seeke righteousnes by the lavve The abhomination of the papacie horrible The commendations of the righteousnes of the lavv of our ovvne righteousnes The fall of Lucifer An argument dravven from the GalathiaÌ„s ovvne experience Paule speaketh of the vvhole lavv Tvvo vvaies to iustificatioÌ„ The holi ghost is receaued by hearing the vvord of faith and not by the lavve Neither the teachers nor hearers nor yet the doers of the lavve are iustified bi the lavve Acts 10 44. Acts. 11.15 Acts. 15.8.9 Acts. 19.5.6 The lavv bringeth not the holy ghost Rom. 10.3 Rom. 11.7 Math. 3.16 The appeariÌ„g of the holy ghost Actes 2.41 Actes 10.44.45 Actes 15.5.6.7 Paulus Sergius the lieutenaunt The Ievves and Gentiles are iustified by faith onely The Gentiles iustified by faith Acts. 11.3 Verse 18. The murmuring of the Ievves against the Gentiles Mat. 20. The Councell of the Apostles Act. 11.17 Actes 15. Acts. 15 8.9.1â— 1. Cor. 1. â— That the holy Ghost is geuen by the onely hearing of faith The Papistes are our Ievves vvhich molest vs no lesse theÌ„ the Ievves did Paule The argument of the booke coÌ„teining the Actes of the Apostles The difference betvvene the lavv and the Gospell To exacte To geue freely Actes 10. â—8 Cornelius 〈◊〉 Gentile is iustified by faith The lavv helpeth not to righteousnes The fathers in the old testament vvere holy c. Faith in Christ already come and in Christ to come * Messias doth signifie Christ the Sauiour Rom. 1.17 VVorke of congruence or merite before grace The person first to be considered and then the vvorke Actes 10.1.6 2. Reg. 5.14.15.16 * He feleth his conscience vvounded in being present at idol seruice and therefore desireth God to forgeue 〈◊〉 left others by his example might fall to idolatrie For as for his ovvne parte he confesseth that he vvill neuer serue any but the true God. Iob. Niniuites Ionas 3.5 Galat. 3.2 The coÌ„science vvitnesseth that the holy Ghost is not geuen by the lavv but by the hearing of faith The blindnes of the Popes kingdome The orders and kindes of life that are appointed of God. The state of seruauntes allovved before God. The certaintie of true beleuers By vvhat meanes the holy ghost is geuen vnto vs. The disputation of mans reason Luke 12.32 To vvhom the kingdome of heauen is geuen VVhat the aduersaries doe obiect against vs. The obiection of the Pelagians against Christians Luke 11 45.4â— A man is made a Christian by hearing the doctrine of faith Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the vvord of God. The conflict of the flesh against the spirite in the godly To heare the vvorde of God. To begin in the spirite VVhat flesh signifieth in this place The spirite The flesh VVhat the papistes call vvorldly and carnall VVhat inconueniences maÌ„s ovvne righteousnes or the righteousnes of the lavv doe bring Paule maketh often rehearsall of the argument grouÌ„ded vpon experience The kingdome of God consisteth not in vvordes but in povver 1. Cor. 4. Ver. 20. Chap. 2.8 Chap. 4.14.15 The vvorkes of the Deuill VVhat happie successe the gospell had vvhen it vvas first preached The Popedom a very slaughterhouse of consciences The Anabaptistes the authors of tumultes and seditions hindred much the course of the gospell The Anabaptists enemies to the article of iustificatioÌ„ This mai rightly be applied to Munster KnipperdoliÌ„g and such outragious Anabaptistes of vvhom Sleidan maketh mention vvho before times had much hindred the course of the gospell Genes 15.6 Rom. 4.2.3 Rom. 4.19.20.21 c. The povver of faith infinite To geue glory to God. Faith geueth glory to God. Righteous before God. VVhat God saith if ye set faith aside harken vnto reason The iudgemeÌ„t of reason touching the articles of faith The Gospell is the vvord of the crosse 1. Cor. 1 18.2â— The chiefe vvorship of God. Faith â—layeth reason The vvrestling of faith vvith reason in Abraham The sacrifice of Christians Reason Gods enemy The commendation of faith The vnfaithful geue not glory to God. Rom. 4.20.21.22 * Formall is that vvhich geueth perfection to the substance vvherunto it is ioyned The remnants of sinne in the godly Rom. 8.23 The blindnes of the Scholemen God accepteth our vvorkes say the Papists not of duetie but of Congruence that is because it is meete that God should revvard them Mans reason Rom. 8.7 Reason must be killed by faith Math. 20.12 Psal. 2.2 The definition of the Christian faith The diuinitie of Paule Christian righteousnes consisteth in tvvo things A Christian iâ— a righteous man and a sinner Hovv they that fele sinne ought to be comforted Christians be Priestes The daily sacrifice of the nevv testameÌ„t Christian righteousnes Galat. 2 2â— Galat. 3.13 A child is borne vnto vs a Sonne is geuen vnto vs. Esay 9.6 VVe are reputed righteous by faith in Christ this Sonne and this gifte geuen vnto vs. The righteousnes of faith out of the xv chapter of S. Iohns Gospel Christ is called our obiect because the eie of our faith is directed vnto him * CoÌ„trary sayings Iohn 16.27 Iohn 17.8 The imputation of righteousnes Rom. 7.23 Rom. 8.1 Things contrary in Christ are made to agree 1. Tim. 2.5 Rom. 8.1 Ro. 4.11.12 c. Rom. 9.6.7.8 The disputation of Paule against the Ievves The bosting of the Ievves Actes 9.15 By vvhat meanes Abraham vvas iustified Genes 12.1.2.3 c. Genes 17.24 Genes 22.2.3 Genes 15.6 Rom. 4.18.19 Iames. 2.2 Galat. 3.6 That the carnall begetting doth not make vs the acceptable children of Abraham Iohn 8.39 The beleeuing Abraham and the begetting Abraham VVhat maner of ones the carnall children of Abraham are Iohn 8.38.39 Rom. 9.11 The first example of Ismael and Isaac Genes 21 1â— Rom. 9.7 Heb. 11.17 The second example of Esau and Iacob Genes 25. â—3 Rom. 9.12
praised for wise righteous and holy Wherfore this witnesseth sufficiently that I teach not mans doctrine After the same maner Christ speaketh also in the seuenth of Iohn The vvorld can not hate you but me it hateth because I testifie of it that the vvorkes thereof are euill And in the third of Iohn This is condemnation that light is come into the vvorld and men loued darknes more then light because rheir vvorkes vvere euill Nowe that I teach the things which are of God saith the Apostle hereby it may sufficiently appeare that I preach the grace goodnes glory of God alone Moreouer he that speaketh as Christ saith those things which his Lord and maister hath commaunded him and glorifieth not him selfe but him whose messenger he is bringeth and teacheth the true woorde of god But I teache those things onely which are commaunded me from aboue neither glorifie I my selfe but him that sent me Besides that I stirre vp against my selfe the wrath and indignation both of the Iewes and Gentiles Therefore my doctrine is true pure certaine and of God neither can there be any other much lesse then any better then this my doctrine is Wherfore whatsoeuer doctrine els teacheth not as mine doth that all men are sinners and are iustified by faith only in Christ must needes be false wicked blasphemous accursed and deuillish and such also are all they which either teach it or receaue it So we with Paule both boldly and assuredly doe pronounce all such doctrine to be accursed and abhominable as dissenteth from ours For in deede we seke not by our preaching the praise of men or the fauour of Princes or Bishops but the fauour of God alone whose onely grace and mercy we preach despising and treading vnder our feete whatsoeuer is of our selues Whosoeuer he be then which shall teach any other gospell or that which is contrary to ours let vs be bold to say that he is sent of the Deuill and hold him accursed Verse 10. Or goe I about to please men That is doe I serue men or God He hath alwaies a glaunce at the false Apostles These saith he must nedes seeke to please to flatter men for by this meanes they seeke that they againe may glory in their flesh Moreouer because they will not beare the hatred and persecution of men they teach circumcision onely to auoide the persecution of the crosse of Christ as followeth in the 5 chapter So at this day you may finde many which labour to please men to the end they may liue in peace and securitie of the flesh they teach mans doctrine that is to say wicked things or els they allow the blasphemies and wicked iudgements of the aduersaries contrary to the word of God and against their owne conscience that they may keepe stil the fauour of Princes and Bishops and enioy their goods But we because we endeuour to please God and not mē do stirre vp against vs the malice of the Deuill and of hell it selfe we beare the reproches and sclaunders of the world death al the mischiefes that can be wrought against vs. So saith Paule here I seeke not to please men that they may praise my doctrine and report me to be an excellent teacher but I desire only that my doctrine may please God and by this meanes I make men my mortal enemies Which thing I find by experience to be most true for they requite me with infamy sclaunder imprisonment and sword Contrariwise the false Apostles teach the things that are of men that is to say such things as be pleasant and plausible to mans reason and that to the end they may liue in ease and purchase the fauour good will and praise of the people And such men finde that they seeke for For they are praised and magnified of men So saith Christ also Math. 6. That hypocrits do al things to be praised of mē And in the. 5. of Iohn he sharply reproueth such Hovv can ye beleue saith he vvhich receaue honour one of an other and seeke not the honour that commeth of God alone These things which Paule hath hitherto taught are in a maner examples onely In the meane time notwithstanding he is very earnest euery where in prouing his doctrine to be sincere and vnfained Therefore he exhorteth the Galathians that they forsake it not for any other doctrine Verse 10. For if I should yet please men I vvere not the seruaunt of God All these things are to be referred to the whole office and ministerie of Paule to shew what a contrarietie there was betwene his conuersation before in the Iewish law and his conuersation now vnder the gospell As if he would say Doe ye thinke that I goe about still to please men as I did in times past So he speaketh afterwardes in the fifte chapter If I yet preach Circumcision vvhy doe I suffer persecution As though he would say Doe ye not see and heare of my daily conflictes great persecutions and afflictions After I was conuerted called to office of Apostleship I neuer taught mans doctrine neither sought I to please men but God onely That is to say I seke not by my ministerie doctrine the praise and fauour of men but of God. Here againe is to be marked how maliciously and craftely the false apostles went about to bring Paule into hatred among the Galathians They picked out of his preachings wrytings certaine cōtradictions as our aduersaries at this day do out of our bokes by this meanes they would haue cōuinced him that he had taught cōtrary things Wherfore they said that ther was no credit to be geuē vnto him but the Circūcisiō and the law ought to be kept Which thing he himself also by his example had allowed because he had circumcised Timothy according to the lawe had purified him selfe with other foure men in the temple at Ierusalem had shauen his head at Cenchrea These cauillers surmised that Paule was constrayned to doe these thinges by the commaundement and authority of the Apostles Which notwithstanding he had kept as indifferent bearing with the infirmity of the weake brethern which yet vnderstode not the christian liberty lest they should be offended To whose cauillations thus he aunswereth How true it is which the false apostles forge against me for the ouerthrowing of my gospell and setting vp of the law and Circumcision againe the matter it selfe sufficiently declareth For if I would preach the law and Circumcision and commend the strength power and will of man I should not be so hated of them but should please them maruelously well Vers 11.12 Novv I certefie you brethern that the gospell vvhich vvas preached of me vvas not after man For neither receaued I it of man neither vvas I taught it but by the reuelation of Iesus Christ Here is the principal poynt of all this matter which containeth a confutation of his aduersaries
which they could not denie Verse 2. This onely vvould I learne of you Receaued ye the spirite by the vvorkes of the lavv or by the hearing of faith preached He speaketh these words with a certaine indignation and contempt of the false Apostles If I had nothing els against you but euen your owne experience saith he yet haue I enough As if he should say Goe to now aunswere me I pray you which am your scholler for ye are so sodainly become doctors that ye are now my masters and teachers Receaued ye the holy ghost by the vvorkes of the lavv or by the preaching of the gospell With this argument he so conuinceth them that they haue nothing to replie againe For their owne experiēce is altogither against them to wit that they had receaued the holy ghost not by the works of the law but by the preaching of the gospel Here againe I admonish you that Paule speaketh not onely of the ceremoniall lawe but of the whole lawe For he groundeth his argument vpon a sufficient diuision If he should speake but only of the ceremoniall lawe it were no sufficient diuision It is therefore a double horned argument standinge vpon two partes whereof the one must needes be true and the other false That is either ye haue receaued the holy Ghost by the law or by the hearing of faith If it be by the lawe then is it not by the preaching of faith If it be by the preaching of faith then is it not by the law There is no meane betwixt these two For all that is not the holy Ghost or the preaching of faith is the law Here are we in the matter of iustification But to come to iustification there is no other way but either the voice of the Gospell or the voice of the law Wherefore the lawe is here taken generally as wholy separate from the Gospell But it is not onely the ceremoniall lawe that is separate from the Gospell but also the morall law or the ten commaundementes therfore Paule speaketh here of the whole lawe His argument therfore is grounded vpon a sufficient distinction after this sort Tell me sayth he Receaued ye the holy ghost by the vvorkes of the lavve or by the preaching of the Gospell Answere me to this Ye can not say that this was done by the lawe For so long as ye were vnder the lawe and did the workes therof ye neuer receaued the holy ghost In deede ye taught and heard the lawe of Moses euery Sabboth but it hath not bene heard or seene that euer the holy ghost was geuen to any either teacher or learner through the preaching of the lawe Moreouer ye haue not onely taught and heard the lawe but also ye haue laboured with all your power to performe the same by your workes wherby ye should most of all haue receaued the holy ghost if he had bene geuen by the lawe seing ye were not onely teachers and learners but also doers of the law and yet ye cannot shew me that this was done at any time But as soone as the hearing of faith or the gospell came vnto you by and by ye receaued the holy Ghost by the only hearing of faith before ye had done any worke or shewed any frute of the gospell For as Luke witnesseth in the Actes at the onely preaching of Peter and Paule the holy ghost came vpon those vvhich hearde the vvord through vvhome also they receaued diuers giftes so that they spake vvith nevve tonges It is manifest therefore that by the onely preaching of faith ye receaued the holy ghost before ye did any good worke or brought forth any frutes of the gospell On the other side the accomplishing of the lawe neuer brought the holy ghost much lesse could the onely hearing of the lawe doe it Therfore not onely the hearing of the lawe but that affection and zeale also wherby ye goe about to performe the lawe by your workes is vtterly vnprofitable Wherefore although a man attempt to doe all things that is to say although he haue a zeale of God and with all endeuour goe about to be saued by the lawe and exercise him selfe day and night in the righteousnes therof notwithstanding he doth but labour and consume himselfe in vaine For they that are ignorant of the righteousnes of God seeke to establish their owne righteousnes as Paule sayth in an other place are not subiect to the righteousnes of God. Againe Israell vvhich follovved the lavv of righteousnes attained not to the lavve of righteousnes c. Now Paule speaketh here of the manifestation of the holy ghost in the primatiue church For the holy ghost came downe in a manifest likenes vpon those that did beleue and by this signe did plainly witnes that he was there present at the preaching of the Apostles Also that they which heard the word of faith preached by the Apostles were accepted as righteous before God for else the holy Ghost would not haue come downe vpon them The argument of that booke which containeth the Actes of the Apostles We must therefore diligently consider the force of this argument which is so often repeated in the Acts. Which booke is written to confirme and establish this argument For it teacheth nothing else but that the holy Ghost is not geuen by the lawe but by the hearing of the gospell For when Peter preached the holy ghost forthwith fel vpon all those that heard him and in one day three thousand which were present at the preaching of Peter beleeued receaued the holy ghost Act. 2. So Cornelius receaued the holy ghost not by his almes which he gaue but when Peter had opened his mouth and was yet in speaking the holy Ghost fell vpon all them which with Cornelius heard the worde Act. 10. These are manifest arguments experiences and diuine workes which can not deceaue vs. And Luke wryteth of Paule in the 15. of the Actes that where he had preached the gospell together with Barnabas among the Gentiles and was returned to Ierusalem he set him selfe against the Phariseis and disciples of the Apostles which vrged circumcision and the keping of the law as necessary to saluation whose mouthes he so stopped saith Luke in shewing what things he and Barnabas had done amongest the Gentiles that the whole church was amazed at the hearing therof especially whan they heard that God had wrought so many and so greate miracles and wonders by them among the Gentiles and when they which bare a zeale to the lawe did greatly wonder how it could be that the vncircūcised Gentiles not doing the law nor the workes therof nor hauing the righteousnes of the law should notwithstanding attaine to this grace to be iustified and receaue the holy Ghost as well as the Iewes that were circumcised here Paule and Barnabas did alledge nothing els but manifest experience wherwith they were so confounded that they had nothing
to reply againe By this meanes Paulus Sergius the Lieutenaunt and all those cities regions kingedomes and countreis where the Apostles had preached by the onely preaching of faith did beleue without the law and the workes therof In the whole booke then of the Actes there is nothing els handled in effect but that it behoueth as wel Iewes as Gētiles as wel righteous as vnrighteous to be iustified by faith alone in Christ Iesus without the law and the workes therof The which thinge doth appeare as well by the preaching of Peter of Paule of Stephen of Philip and the other Apostles as also by the examples of the Gentiles and Iewes For as God gaue the holy ghost to the Gentiles which liued without the law by the preaching of the Gospell so did he geue the same to the Iewes yet not by the law nor by the ceremonies and sacrifices commaunded in the law but by the onely preaching of faith Now if the law had ben able to iustifie and the righteousnes of the law had bene necessary to saluation then doubtles the holy ghost had not bene geuen to the Gentiles which kept not the law But experience it selfe doth plainly witnesse that the holy Ghost was geuen vnto them without the law and this did the Apostles both Peter Paule Barnabas others see therfore the law doth not iustifie but faith onely in Christ which the Gospell setteth forth These thinges are diligently to be marked because of the aduersaries who do not consider what is handled in the Acts of the Apostles I my selfe in times past also reade this booke when in deede I vnderstoode in it nothing at all Therefore when thou hearest or readest in the Actes of the Apostles or wheresoeuer it be in the scriptures this worde Gentiles thou must there thinke that it is not to be vnderstand literally of the common nature of the Gentiles but it carrieth with it a spiritual meaning and is to be taken not for those which are vnder the law as were the Iewes as before is said in the second chapter VVe by nature Ievves c. but for those which are without the lawe Wherfore to say that the Gentiles are iustified by faith is nothing els but that they which obserue not the law nor doe the workes therof which are not circumcised which sacrifice not c. are iustified and receaue the holy Ghost By what meanes Not by the law and the workes therof for they haue no law but freely and without any other meanes sauing onely the hearing of the Gospell So Cornelius and his frendes whom he had called to his house doe nothing neither looke they vpon any workes going before and yet as many as are present receaue the holy Ghost No man speaketh but Peter they sitting by doe nothing they thinke not of the law much lesse doe they keepe it they sacrifice not they care not for the receauing of circumcision but only are bent to heare that which Peter speaketh He by his preaching brought the holy Ghost into their heartes as it were visibly For they spake vvith tonges and glorified God. But some man may here cauill and say who knoweth whether it were the holy ghost or no Wel let him cauil Sure it is that the holy Ghost so bearing witnesse doth not lie but hereby sheweth that he accepteth the Gentiles for righteous iustifieth them by no other meanes then by the onely voice of the Gospell or hearing of faith in Christ preached We may see also in the Actes how greatly the Iewes marueiled at this newe and straunge thinge For the faithfull which were of the Circumcision and came with Peter to Caesarea seing the gifte of the holy Ghost to be poured out also vpon the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius were amazed Also they that were at Ierusalem complained of Peter for that he went into men vncircumcised did eate with them but when they heard the matter declared by Peter in order as it was done touching Cornelius they marueiled and glorified God saying Then hath God also geuen saluation to the Gentiles This report and fame then that God hath geuen saluation also to the Gentiles was not onely at the first intolerable but also a greate offence euen to the beleuing Iewes which they could not easily shake of for they had this prerogatiue aboue all other nations that they were the people of God the adoption the glory the worship c. belonged to them Rom. 9. Moreouer they did exercise them selues in the righteousnes of the law they laboured all the day long they bare the burthen and heat of the day Moreouer they had the promises for keeping of the law therfore they could not but murmure against the Gentiles and say Behold the Gentiles come but euen now and haue not suffered any heate or borne any burden notwithstanding they haue the same righteousnes and holy Ghost without labour which we by labour by the heate and burthen of the day could not obtaine They haue laboured in deede but that was but one hower and by this labour they are more refreshed then weried Wherefore then hath God tormented vs with the lawe if it auaile nothing to the obtaining of righteousnes He now preferreth the Gentiles before vs which haue bene so long burdened with the yoke of the law For we which are the people of God haue bene vexed all the day long but they which are not the people of God neither haue any lawe nor haue done any good at all are made equall with vs. And hereupon the Councell of the Apostles through great necessity was assembled at Ierusalem to satisfie and pacifie the Iewes who though they beleued in Christ yet was this opinion notwithstanding deepely rooted in their hearts that the law of Moses ought to be kept There Peter vpon his owne experience set him selfe against them saying If god haue geuen the same grace vnto the Gentiles which he hath geuen vnto vs that haue beleued in the Lord Iesus Christ who am I that I should forbid God Againe God vvho knovveth their hearts bare them vvitnesse in geuing vnto them the holy Ghost euen as he did vnto vs And he put no difference betvvene vs and them purifiing their heartes by faith Novv therfore vvhy tempt ye God to lay a yoke on the disciples neckes vvhich neither our fathers nor vve vvere able to beare c. With these wordes Peter at once ouerthroweth the whole law As if he would say We will not keepe the law for we are not able to keepe it but we beleue through the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ to be saued as they doe So Peter here is altogether occupied in this matter that God hath geuen to the Gentiles the selfe same grace that he hath geuen to the Iewes As though he would say When I preached to Cornelius I learned by mine owne experience that the holy Ghost was geuen without the law
to the Gentiles by the only hearing of faith Therfore in no case are they to be burdened with the law To conclude since it is certaine that neither we nor our fathers were euer able to fulfill the law it behoueth you also to reiect this opinion that righteousnes and saluation commeth by the law And this did the beleeuing Iewes by litle and litle but the wicked which by this preaching were offended at the length were altogether hardened The commendation of that Booke which containeth the Actes of the Apostles So in the Acts ye shall finde both expositions and experience and the preachings of the Apostles and also examples for the confirmation of this matter against this obstinate opinion touching the righteousnes of the law And therfore we ought the more to loue the more diligently to read this booke because therin are contained most substantiall testimonies wherby our mindes may be comforted and confirmed against the Papistes our Iewes whose abhominations and coloured hypocrisie we resist and condemne by our doctrine that we may set forth the benefites and glory of Christ Who though they haue no substantiall matter to aledge against vs wheras the Iewes might haue laid against the Apostles that they had receaued the law all these ceremonies from God yet notwithstāding they are no lesse stubborne in defending their wicked traditions and abhominations then the Iewes were in mainteining their law which they had receaued frō God standing principally vpon this grounde that they are called to the place of Bishops that the power and aucthoritie of gouerning the Churches is committed vnto them This they do to the ende that they may bring vs into bondage and that they may wrest from vs this article that we are iustified not by faith formed and adorned with charitie as they say but by faith alone But we set before them the booke of the Actes that they may reade it and consider the examples contained therein There shall they finde this to be the summe and argument of that booke that we are iustified by faith onely in Christ without workes and that the holy Ghoste is geuen by the onely hearing of faithe at the preaching of the Gospell and not at the preaching or worke of the lawe Wherfore thus teach we O man although thou faste geue almes honour thy parents obey the magistrate c yet art thou not iustified therby This voice of the law honour thy parents or any other else either heard or fulfilled doth not iustifie What then To heare the voice of the spouse to heare the word of faith this worde of hearing doth iustifie Wherfore Because it bringeth the holy ghost which iustifieth and maketh righteous Hereby may we see what is the difference betwene the law and the Gospell The law neuer bringeth the holy Ghost but onely teacheth what we ought to doe therfore it iustifieth not But the Gospell bringeth the holy ghost because it teacheth what we ought to receaue Therefore the law and the Gospell are two contrary doctrines To ground righteousnes therfore in the law is nothing els but to fight against the Gospell For Moses with his law is a seuere exactor requiring of vs that we should worke and that we should geue briefely it exacteth of vs Contrariwise the Gospell geueth freely and requireth of vs nothing els but to hold out our hands and to take that which is offered Now to exacte and to geue to take and to offer are cleane contrary and can not stand together For that which is geuen I take but that which I geue I do not take but I offer it vnto an other Therfore if the Gospell be a gifte it requireth nothing Contrariwise the law geueth nothing but it requireth and streitly exacteth of vs yea euen impossible thinges Of Cornelius in the 10. of the Actes Here our aduersaries set against vs the example of Cornelius Cornelius say they was as Luke witnesseth a good man iust and fearing God vvhich gaue almes to the people and praied to God continually therefore of Congruence he did merite the forgeuenes of sinnes and the sending of the holy Ghost I aunswere Cornelius was a Gentile and this cannot the aduersaries deny For the words which Peter alledgeth in the 10. chapter of the Actes do plainly witnesse the same Ye knovv saith he that it is vnlavvful for a man that is a Ievv to accompany vvith one of an other nation but God hath shevved me that I should not call any man polluted or vncleane He was therfore a Gentile and not circumcised not keeping the law yea not once thinking of it because it pertained nothing vnto him And yet notwithstanding he was iustified and receaued the holy Ghost And this argument as I said is handled throughout the whole booke of the Actes to wit that the law auaileth nothing to righteousnes Let this suffice then for defence of the article of iustification that Cornelius was a Gentile not circumcised not keeping the law therfore was he not iustified by the lawe but by the hearing of faith God therefore iustifieth without the lawe and so consequently the law auaileth nothing to righteousnes For otherwise God woulde haue geuen the holy Ghost only to the Iewes which had the law kept it and not to the Gentiles which had not the law much lesse did accomplish it But God wrought cleane contrary For the holy Ghost was geuen to them that kept not the law wherfore righteousnes commeth not by the lawe By this meanes the obiection of the aduersaries which doe not vnderstand the true meane of iustification is aunswered Here againe the aduersaries do obiect against vs and say Be it so that Cornelius was a Gentile did not receaue the holy Ghost by the law yet notwithstanding forasmuch as the text saith plainly that he vvas a iust man fearing God geuing almes c. it might seeme that by these works he deserued to haue the holy ghost afterwards geuen vnto him I aūswere that Cornelius was a iust a holy man in the old testament because of his faith in Christ which was to come as all the fathers prophets godly kings were righteous did receaue secretly the holy ghost thorough faith in Christ to come But these popish Sophisters put no difference betwene faith in Christ to come in Christ which is already come Wherfore if Cornelius had died before Christ was reueiled yet had he not bene damned because he had the faith of the fathers which were saued by faith onely in Christ to come Actes 15.11 He remained then alwaies a Gentile vncircumcised without the law yet notwithstanding he worshipped the selfe same God whom the father 's worshipped by faith in the Messias to come But now because the Messias was already come necessary it was that it should be shewed vnto him by the Apostle Peter that he was not now to be looked for but that he was already come And
nations and that he should be the heyre not of one kingdome but of all the worlde Rom. 4. So the glory of the whole kingdome of Christ is translated vnto vs Wherefore all lawes are vtterly ablioshed in the hart and conscience of a christian notwithstanding they remaine without stil in the flesh And hereof we haue spoken largely before The fourth Chapter Verse 1. This I say that the heire as long as he is a childe differeth nothing from a seruaunt though he be Lord of all Verse 2. But is vnder tutours and gouernours vntill the time appoynted of the Father YE see with what vehement affection Paule goeth about to call backe the Galathians what strong arguments he vseth in debating that matter gathering similitudes of experience of the example of Abraham of the testimonies of the Scripture and of the time so that often times he semeth to renew the whole matter againe For before he had in a maner finished the disputation concerning iustification concluding that a man is iustified before God by faith only and alone But because he calleth also to remembraunce this politicall example of the little heire he bringeth the same also for the confirmation of his matter Thus trying euery way he lyeth in waite with a certaine holy subtiltie to take the Galathiās vnwares For the ignorāt people are sooner perswaded with similitudes and examples then with deepe and subtill disputations They will rather behold an Image well painted then a booke well written Paule therfore now after that he hath brought the similitude of a mans testament of the prison and of the scholemaister vseth also this similitude of an heyre which is familiar and wel known to al men to moue and to perswade them And surely it is a very profitable thing to be furnished with similitudes and examples which not onely Paul but also the Prophets Christ himselfe also did often vse Ye see saith he that it is ordeined by the ciuile lawes that an heyre albeit he be the Lorde of all his fathers goodes differeth not from a seruaunt In deede he hath an assured hope of the inheritaunce but before he come to his yeares his tutors holde hym in subiection lyke as the Scholemaister doth his scholer They committe not vnto hym the ordering of his owne goodes but constrayne hym to serue so that he is kepte and mainteined with his owne goodes lyke a seruaunte Therefore so long as this bondage endureth that is so long as he is vnder tutors and gouernours he differeth nothyng from a seruaūt And this subiection and seruitude is very profitable for him for otherwise through folly he would soone wast all his goodes This captiuitie endureth not alwaies but hath a certaine time limited and appoynted by the father wherin it must ende Verse 3. So also vve as long as vve vvere children vvere in bōdage vnder the rudiments of the vvorld In like maner when we were litle children we were heires hauing the promise of the inheritaunce to come which should be geuen vnto vs by the seede of Abraham that is to say by Christe in whom all nations should be blessed But because the fulnes of time was not yet come Moises our tutour gouerner and schoolemaster came holding vs in captiuitie with our handes bound so that we could beare no rule nor possesse our inheritaunce In the meane time notwithstanding like as an heire is nourished mainteined in hope of libertie to come euen so Moises did nourish vs with the hope of the promise to be reuealed in the time appoynted to witte whē Christ should come who by his comming should put an ende to the time of the lawe and begin the time of grace Nowe the time of the law endeth two maner of wayes First as I sayde by the comming of Christe in the flesh at the time appoynted of his father But vvhen the fulnes of time vvas come God sent forth his sonne made of a vvoman and made vnder the lavve that he might redeme them vvhich vvere vnder the lavve c. He entred into the holy sanctuarie once through his bloud and obtained eternall redemption for vs. Moreouer the same Christe who came once in the time appoynted commeth also vnto vs daily and hourely in spirite In deede once with his owne bloud he redemed and sanctified all but because we are not yet perfectly pure for the remnaunts of sinne doe yet cleane in our flesh which striueth against the spirite therefore daily he commeth vnto vs spiritually and continually more and more accomplisheth the appoynted time of his father abrogating and abolishing the lawe So he came also in spirite to the fathers of the old Testament before he appeared in flesh They had Christ in spirite They beleued in Christe which should be reuealed as we beleue in Christe which is now reuealed and were saued by him as we are according to that saying Iesus Christe is one yesterday and to day and shall be the same for euer Yesterday before the time of his comming in the flesh To day when he was reuealed in the time before appoynted Nowe and for euer he is one and the same Christe for euen by him onely and alone all the faithfull which either haue ben be or shall be are deliuered from the law iustified and saued In like maner vve also sayth he vvhen vve vvere children serued vnder the rudimentes of the vvorld that is to say the lawe had dominion ouer vs oppressed vs and kept vs in a streite bondage as seruaunts and captiues For first it restrained carnall and rebellious persons that they should not runne headlong into all kindes of vice For the lawe threatneth punishment to transgressours which if they feared not there is no mischiefe which they would not commit And ouer those whom the law so bridleth it ruleth raigneth Againe it did accuse vs terrifie vs kill vs and condemne vs spiritually and before God and this was the principall dominion that the law had ouer vs Therfore like as an heire is subiect vnto his tutours is beaten and is compelled to obey their lawes and diligently to execute their commaundementes euen so mens consciences before Christe come are oppressed with the sharpe seruitude of the lawe that is to say they are accused terrified and condemned of the lawe But this dominion or rather this tyrannie of the lawe is not continuall but must onely endure vntill the time of grace Wherefore the office of the lawe is to reproue and to encrease sinnes but to righteousnes to kill but to life For the lavve is a Schoolemaster vnto Christe Like as therefore the tutours doe handle the heire being yet a childe streitly and hardly rule him and commaund him as a seruaunt and he againe is constrained to be subiect vnto them euen so the lawe accuseth vs humbleth vs and bringeth vs into bondage that we may be the seruauntes of sinne death and of the wrath of God
they had plāted Rudiments or elements are called the prīciples and first beginning of any thing and so the lavve is but as an A. B.C in respect of the Gospel Rom 4.15 VVhen the lavv is vveake and beggerly and vvhen it is strong and mightie Rom. 10.2.3 VVhen the lavve is a vveake and beggerly rudiment The more a man seeketh to be iustified by the lavve the more he is drovvned in sinnes Ephes 2.3 Actes 15 1◠Luke 5.43 Of the vvomā vvhich vvas diseased vvith the bloudie issue The consciēce is neuer quieted through vvorkes VVhat profite Monks haue by their religion Luke 18.13 A liuely description of al the religious hypocrites in the kingdom of Antichrist The Fable is this that a dogge svvimming ouer the vvater vvith a pece of flesh in his mouth let the flesh goe and snatched at the shadovve vvhich appeared in the vvater Falling avvay from the Gospell is very easie They that are not tried vvith afflictions and tentations neuer feele the povver of the vvord of god Math. 7.15 Paules maner of speech If the lavve of God be vveak and not able to obtaine righteousnes much more the Popes traditions 1 Thes 2. ◠The Popes triple crovvn To fall from the grace of God. VVhat iudgemēt they geue of the lavve that knovv not Christe The thundrings of Luther against the Pope and his lavves 1. Timot. 1. ◠Galath 3.19 1. Timot. c. 7. The doctrine of the false apostles The holy dayes of the Ievves Galath 5.2 Coloss 2.16 Luke 17.20 The fatherly affection of Paul tovvards the Galathiās VVhat this vvord to labour i◠vaine importeth The Apostle novv speketh them faire vvhom before he did sharply chide A right patern of a godly pastour Galath 6.1 The frute of soūd doctrine The agrement of mindes is broken by vvicked doctrine They vvhich fall frō sound doctrine become vvorse thē they vver before The conditiō of the Apostles The Anabaptists bragge altogether of the spirite of illuminations reuelatiōs Falling from Faith is easie Galath 4.20 He mitigateth his former sharpe chiding The Master The Father Chastisement necessary and profitable Heb. 12.11 The Phisitian The stripes of a friend are better then the kisses of an enemie An obiection He praiseth the Galathiās because they vvere not offended vvith his vveaknes The commendation of the Galathians VVhat the infirmitie of the flesh is after Ieromes opinion The iudgemēt of the fathers vvhen the church vvas in prosperitie Marke that vvhen the church began to grovve in honour and vvealth of the vvorld it decreased in vertue knovvledge and other spirituall giftes vvhich before it possessed VVho they are that best vnderstād the Scriptures VVhat the vveaknes of the flesh is vvhich Paule speaketh of 2. Corin. 12.9.10 2. Cor. 11.23.24.25 2. Cor. 12.9.10 2. Cor. 2.14 The povver of the spirite in Paule Math. 11.6 Psal. 21.7 The spirituall tentations of Paule 2. Cor. 12.7 2. Cor. 7.5 The sorovv of spirite in the Apostles Philip. 2.27 Iohn 17. ◠Luke 4.32 Psal. 22.6.15 The praise of the Galathians Luke 1.48 Heretikes vvrest things that are spoken vvell to an euill meaning The name of Luther odious Truth procureth hatred Rom. 16.18 1. Timot. 2.4 Math. 7.15 Paule ansvvereth here to an obiection that might be made against him Zeale 2. Reg. 19 1◠The simple are deceaued by the pretence and fained zeale of heretikes A good zeale an euill zeale The zeale of the false apostles Math. 7.15 Many euils folovved Paules doctrine notvvithstanding that it vvas godly and holy Actes 24.5 Actes 16.20.21 The Ievves imputed all euils to the doctrine of the Apostles Actes 5.29 Rom. 9.3 The Apostles vvere the beholders of great euils not vvithout their great griefe The consolation of Paule Rom. 1.16 1. Cor. 1.23 Math. 11.6 Math. 15.14 All the troubles vvhich are at this day the vvorld layeth vnto Luthers charge Offence tak◠Math. 15.14 Actes 4.31 Acts. 2.21.36 Actes 2.36 Actes 4.12 The cōplaints of the aduersaries against the doctrine of the gospell Iohn 11.48 The Papistes iustifie their ovvne horrible sinnes and condemne our good deedes Math. 15.14 Apoc. 22.11 1. Thes 1.8 The Deuil defaceth the gospell vvith infinite offences Luke 11.21.22 Iob. 40.16 1. Pet. 5.8 Zelous spirits vvithous knovvledge are the authors of Sectes Iohn 8.44 Math. 7.15 The zeale of the spirit and the zeale of the flesh A liuely picture of a faith full pastor The Apostles are parents The forme of a Christian minde and hovv it is gotten 1. Cor. 4.15 1. Cor. 3.3 The forme of Christe Galath ◠13 Coloss 3.10 VVho be like to God. Ephes 4.24 Philip. 2 5◠An Epistle or letter is a dead messenger The true affections of an Apostle The vse of allegories and similitudes Hovv Paule handleth allegories Origen and Hierom. VVhy Paule calleth the booke of Genesis the lavv Iohn 15.25 Psal 35.19 Abrahams tvvo sonnes Ismael vvas a sonne after the flesh and Isaack after the promise An obiection The ansvver Both Isaack Ismael vvere the children of one father Genes 16.2 Sara had hard the promise of God as cōcerning the sede but she vvaiteth not gods appoynted time Sara resigneth vp her right Gen. 16.1.2 c. The humilitie of Sara Ismael the sonne of Abraham accordīg to the flesh * That is sayd to be done at aduenture or by chaunce vvhereof man knovveth not the cause although vnto God it be foreknovvne and appoynted Rom. 9.8 Abraham hath tvvo sortes of children VVho be the true sonnes of Abraham Note this cōcerning the mother Genes 17.19 The mother the sonne are expresly named An allegorie is that vvherby one thing is spoken and an other thīg is meant VVhat accoūt is to be made of allegories * They are called tvvo couenaunts one of the olde another of the nevv testamēt although in very deede they are not tvvo but are so called in respect of the times Abraham is a figure of God. Tvvo sortes of people Tvvo testaments Sina Agar Hermon Agar brought forth a sonne not an heire but a seruaūt Sina brought vnto God a sonne but a carnal people Psal. 147.19 The people of the lavve Rom. 10.5 The promises of the lavve the gospell The promises of God in the lavv are conditionall Deut. 26.1 c. Hovv the Ievves toke the promises of God. The Ievves persecuted the Prophets The lavv bringeth forth bondmen or bondseruaūts The lavv maketh not heires neither doth it iustify The earthly Ierusalem perteineth to Agar That vvhich vvas ordained in Sina vvas kept in Ierusalem It is not for euery man to dally vvith allegories Tvvo Ierusalems an heauenly and an earthly Sara the heauenly Ierusalem The earthly Ierusalem destroyed The citie of the lavv The earthly Ierusalem in bondage Ierusalem had a corporall kingdom for a time VVho are the citizens of the church Aboue The church triumphant militant Philip. 3.20 Ephes 1.3 The earthly and heauenly blessing The heauenly blessing The interpretation of the Monkes The foure senses of the scripture according to the Papistes