Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 3 · Verse extract 21
Verſe. 21. God forbid.
God maketh not the promiſe becauſe of our vvorthines, but for his ovvne mercies ſake.Why ſo? Firſt for that God doth not make any promiſe vntounto vsus becauſe of our worthines, our merits, our good works: but that he doth, is of his meere goodnes and ineſtimable mercy in Chriſt. He ſaith not to Abraham: All nations ſhalbe bleſſed in thee becauſe thou haſt kept the law: but (as it is written in the .24. chap. of Ioſua) when he was yet vncircumciſed, had no law, & was yet an idolater, he ſaid vntounto him: Goe out of thine ovvne land &c. I vvill be thy protectour &c. Alſo: In thy Seede shall all nations be bleſſed. Ioſua. 24.2.3. Geneſ. 12.1.2. The promiſes of God are abſolute, & not made in reſpect of our vvorthines. The promiſes of God are not hindered becauſe of our ſinnes. 2. Pet. 3.9.Theſe are abſolute & meere promiſes: which God freely geueth vntounto Abraham, without any condition or reſpect of workes either going before or comming after.
This is ſpecially againſt the Iewes, which thinke that the promiſes of God are hindered becauſe of their ſinnes. God (ſaith Paule) doth not ſlacke his promiſes becauſe of our ſinnes, or haſten the ſame for our righteouſnes and merites: he regardeth neither the one nor the other. Wherefore, although we be worſe and more ſinnefull, and brought into a greater contempte and hatred of God by meanes of the lawes, yet notwithſtanding God is not moued therby to differre his promiſe. For his promiſe doth not ſtande vponupon our worthines, but vponupon his onelyonly goodnes and mercy. Therefore, where the Iewes ſay: The Meſſias is not yet come, becauſe our ſinnes doe hinder his cōming, it is a deteſtable lie.A Diuelish dreame of the Ievves. As though God ſhould become vnrighteous becauſe of our ſinnes, or made a lier becauſe we are liers. He abideth alwaies iuſt and true: his truth therefore is the onelyonly cauſe that he accompliſheth and performeth his promiſe.
Moreouer, although the law doe reueile and encreaſe ſinne, yet is it not againſt the promiſes of God, yea rather it confirmeth the promiſes.The lavve is not againſt the promiſes of God. For as concerning his proper worke and ende, it humbleth and prepareth a man (ſo that he vſe it rightly) to ſigh and ſeeke for mercy. For when ſinne is reueiled to a man and ſo encreaſed by the law, then he beginneth to perceaue the wickednes and hatred of mans hearte againſt the law, and againſt God him ſelfe the authour of the law. Then he feeleth in deede that, not only he loueth not God, but alſo hateth and blaſphemeth God who is full of goodnes & mercy, and his lawe which is iuſt and holy. Then is he conſtrained to cōfeſſe that there is no good thing in him. And thus, when he is throwne downe and humbled by the lawe, he acknowledgeth him ſelfe to be moſt miſerable and damnable. When the law therfore conſtraineth a man ſo to acknowledge his owne corruption, and to confeſſe his ſinne from the bottome of his heart, then hath it done his office truely,VVhen the office and time of the lavve is accomplished and his time is accompliſhed and ended. And nowe is the time of grace, that the bleſſed Seede may come to raiſe vppe and to comfort him that is ſo caſt downe and humbled by the lawe.
After this manner the law is not againſt the promiſes of God. For firſt the promiſe hangeth not vponupon the lawe, but vponupon the truth and mercy of God only and alone. Secondly when the law is in his chiefe end and office, it humbleth a man, and in humbling him it maketh him to ſigh and grone, and to ſeeke the hand and aide of the Mediatour, and maketh his grace and his mercy exceeding ſweete & comfortable (as is ſaide Pſalm. 109. Thy mercy is ſvveete ) and his gifte precious and ineſtimable.Pſal. 109.2…. And by this meanes it prepareth vsus and maketh vsus apte to apprehende and to receaue Chriſte. For as the Poete ſayeth:
Dulcia non meruit qui non guſtauit amara: that is,
He that hath not taſted the things that are bitter,
Is not vvorthie to taſte the things that are ſvveeter.
Hunger is the beſt Cooke.The lavv maketh troubled and afflicted ſoules to thirſt for Chriſt. Therefore like as the drie earth doth couet the raine, euen ſo the lawe maketh troubled and afflicted ſoules to thirſt after Chriſte. To ſuch Chriſte ſauoureth ſweetely: to them he is nothing els but ioy, conſolation and life. And there beginneth Chriſt and his benefite rightly to be knowne.
This is then the principall vſe of the law: namely, when a man can ſo vſe it, that it may humble him & make him to thirſt after Chriſt. And in deede Chriſt requireth thirſty ſoules, whom he moſt louingly and graciouſly allureth and calleth vntounto him when he ſaith:Math. 11 28. VponUpon vvhom Chriſt beſtovveth his benefites. Come vntounto me all ye that labour and are heauy loden and I vvill refresh you. He deliteth therefore to water theſe dry groundes. He powreth not his waters vponupon fatte and rancke groundes, or ſuch as are not dry and couet no water.Math. 11.5. His good things are ineſtimable, and therefore he geueth them to none but vntounto ſuch as hauehave neede of them, and feeling the greate neede they hauehave thereof, doe earneſtly deſire them. He preacheth glad tidings to the poore: he geueth drinke to the thirſtie. If any thirſt (ſaith Iohn) Let him come vntounto me &c. He healeth the broken harted &c. that is,Iohn. 7.37.38. Deut. 18.15. he comforteth thoſe that are bruſed and afflicted by the law. Therefore the law is not againſt the promiſes of God.