Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 4 · Verse extract 13 – Verse extract 17
Verſe. 13.
And ye knovv hovv through infirmitie of the fleſh, I preached the Goſpell vntounto you at the firſt. And the triall of me vvhichwhich vvas in my fleſh, ye deſpiſed not, neither abhorred, but ye receaued me as an angell of God, yea, as Chriſt Ieſus.
Now he declareth what pleaſures he had receiued of the Galathians. The firſt benefite (ſayth he) which I eſteeme greateſt of all,He praiſeth the Galathiās becauſe they vvere not offended vvith his vveaknes. was this. When I began firſt to preach the Goſpel amōgſt you, & that through infirmitie of the fleſh and great tentatiōs, my croſſe did nothing at all offend you. But ye ſhewed your ſelues ſo louing, ſo kinde and ſo frendly towardes me, that not onelyonly ye were not offended with this my infirmitie of the fleſh, with my tentations and perils wherewith I was almoſt ouerwhelmed: but alſo ye loued me dearly, and receaued me as an angell of God, yea rather as Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe. This is in dede a great commendation of the Galathians,The commendation of the Galathians. that they receaued the Goſpell of a man ſo contemptible and afflicted on eueryevery ſide as Paule was. For where he preached the Goſpell amongeſt them, both the Iewes & and Gentiles murmured and raged againſt him. For all the mightie, wiſe, religious and learned mē, hated, perſecuted, & blaſphemed Paule. With all this the Galathiās were no whit offended, but turning their eyes from the beholding of this infirmitie, theſe tentations & dangers, they did not onelyonly heare that pore, deſpiſed, wretched & afflicted Paule and acknowledged them ſelues to be his diſciples, but alſo they receiued and heard him as an angell of God, yea as Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe. This is a worthy commendation and a ſinguler vertue of the Galathians: and in dede it is ſuch a commendation as he geueth to non of all thoſe to whom he wrote, beſides theſe Galathians.
VVhat the infirmitie of the flesh is after Ieromes opinion.Ierome and certaine other of the auncient fathers expound this infirmitie of the fleſh in Paule, to be ſome diſeaſe of the body, or ſome tentation of luſt. Theſe men liued when the Church was outwardly in a peaceable and proſperous eſtate without any croſſe or perſecution. For then the Biſhops began to encreaſe in riches,The iudgemēt of the fathers vvhen the church vvas in proſperitie. eſtimation & glory in the world. And many alſo exerciſed tyrannie ouer the people which were cōmitted to their charge, as ye Eccleſiaſtical hyſtorie witneſſeth. Few did their duetie, and they that would ſeme to doe it, forſaking the doctrine of the Goſpel,Marke that vvhen the church began to grovve in honour and vvealth of the vvorld, it decreaſed in vertue, knovvledge, and other ſpirituall giftes vvhichwhich before it poſſeſſed. ſet forth their owne decrees to yt people. Now, when the Paſtours and Biſhops are not exerciſed in the word of God, but neglect the pure and ſincere preaching therof: they muſt nedes fall into ſecuritie: For they are not exerciſed with tentatiōs, with yt croſſe and perſecutions, which are wont alwayes vndoutedly to folow ye pure preaching of the word: Therefore it was impoſſible that they ſhould vnderſtand Paule. But we by the grace of God, hauehave ſound and ſincere doctrine, which alſo we preach and teach freely, and therfore are compelled to beare the bitter hatred, afflictions and perſecutions of ye Deuill and the world. And if we were not exerciſed outwardly by tyrānes and Sectaries wt force and ſubtiltie, and inwardly with terrours and the fierie dartes of ye Deuil, Paule ſhould be as obſcure and vnknowne vntounto vsus as he was in times paſt to the whole world, and is yet to the Papiſts, the Anabaptiſts and other our aduerſaries.VVho they are that beſt vnderſtād the Scriptures. Therfore ye gift of knowledge and interpretation of the Scriptures, and our diligēce, with our inward and outward tentations, open vntounto vsus the meaning of Paule, and the ſenſe of all the holy Scriptures.
Paule therfore calleth the infirmitie of the fleſh,VVhat the vveaknes of the flesh is, vvhichwhich Paule ſpeaketh of. no diſeaſe of ye body or tentation of luſt, but his ſuffring and affliction which he ſuſtained in his body: ſo that he ſetteth the ſame againſte the vertue & power of the ſpirit. But leſt we ſhould ſeme to wreſt and peruert Paules wordes, let vsus heare himſelfe ſpeaking in the .2. Corrin. 12.2. Corin. 12.9.10 Very gladly vvil I reioyce rather in mine infirmities, that the povver of Chriſt may dvvell in me. Therfore I take pleaſure in infirmities, in reproches, in neceſſities, in perſecutiōs, in anguish for Chriſtes ſake: for vvhē I am vveake then am I ſtrong. And in the .11. chap. In labours more aboundant: 2. Cor. 11.23.24.25.in ſtripes aboue meaſure: in priſons more plenteous: in death ofte. Of the Ievves fiue times receiued I fortie ſtripes ſaue one: I vvas thriſe beaten vvith roddes: I vvas once ſtoned: I ſuffred thriſe shipvvracke. &c. Theſe afflictions which he ſuffred in his body he calleth the infirmitie of the fleſh, & not any corporall diſeaſe. As though he would ſay: When I preached the Goſpel amōgſt you, I was oppreſſed with ſondry tentations & afflictions. I was alwayes in daunger both of the Iewes, of the Gentiles & alſo of falſe brethern. I ſuffred hunger, and wā ted all things. I was as the very filth and of ſcouring of the world. He maketh mētion of this his infirmitie in many places, as in ye. 1. Cor. 4. 2. Cor. 4.6.11.12. and in many other.
We ſee then that Paule calleth afflictiōs the infirmities of the fleſh which he ſuffred in ye fleſh, like as yt other Apoſtles, the Prophets, & al godly men did: notwtſtanding he was mighty in ſpirit. For ye power of Chriſt was in him, which alwaies raigned & triumphed through him. Which thing he teſtifieth in yt. 2. Cor. 12. wt theſe words:2. Cor. 12.9.10. For vvhen I am vveake, then am I ſtrōg. Alſo: I vvil gladly reioyce in my infirmities, that the povver of Chriſt may dvvel in me. And in the .2. chapter. Thanks be to God vvhichwhich alvvayes maketh vsus to triumph in Chriſt. 2. Cor. 2.14.As though he would ſay: In dede the Deuil, the Iewes & the Gentiles rage cruelly againſt vsus: notwithſtāding we continue conſtant & inuincible againſt all their aſſaults,The povver of the ſpirite in Paule. & wil they nil they our doctrine preuaileth & triumpheth. This was the ſtrength & power of yt ſpirit in Paule, againſt the which he ſetteth here the infirmitie and bōdage of the fleſh.
Now, this infirmitie of the fleſh in the Godly doth wonderfully offend reaſon. Therfore Paule ſo highly commendeth the Galathians, for that they were not offended with this great infirmitie, and wt this vile and contemptible forme of the croſſe which they ſaw in him: but receaued him as an angell, yea as Chriſt him ſelfe. And Chriſt alſo armeth the Faithfull againſt this baſe and contemptible forme of the croſſe in which he appeared,Math. 11.6. when he ſayeth: Bleſſed is he that is not offended in me. And ſurely it is a great matter that they which beleue in him doe acknowledge him to be the Lord of all, and Sauiour of the world: whom notwithſtanding they heare to hauehave bene the moſt miſerable of all others,Pſal. 21.7. the laſt of men, yea a very ſcorne of men, and a contempt of the world: briefly, deſpiſed and hated of all men, and condemned to the death of the croſſe, and euen of his owne people, and eſpecially of thoſe that were eſteemed the beſt, the wiſeſt, and holieſt of all other. This is a great matter (I ſay), not to be moued with theſe great offences, and to be able, not onelyonly to contemne them, but alſo to eſteme this pore Chriſt ſo ſpitefully ſcorned, ſpitte vponupon, whipped and crucified, more then the riches of all the richeſt, the ſtrength of all the ſtrongeſt, the wiſedom of all ye wiſeſt, the holines of all the holieſt mē, with all the crownes & ſcepters of all the Kings and Princes of the whole world. They therfore are worthily called bleſſed of Chriſt, which are not offended in him.
The ſpirituall tentations of Paule.Now, Paule had not onelyonly outward tentations (wherof I hauehave ſpoken alredy) but alſo inward and ſpirituall tentations, as Chriſt had in the garden: Such as that was wherof he complaineth in the 2. Corrin. 12. that he felt the pricke or ſting of the flesh, 2. Cor. 12.7.and the angell of Satan vvhichwhich buffetted him. This I ſay by the way, becauſe the Papiſts expounded this to be a motion of fleſhly luſt: but it was a ſpirituall tentation. And herein is no repugnance that he addeth this word Flesh, ſaying: A pricke vvas geuen me in my Flesh. Yea he calleth it of purpoſe a pricke in the fleſh. For the Galathians and others which were conuerſant wt Paule, had ſeene him oftentimes in great anguiſh, terrour and heauines of ſpirite. Wherfore the Apoſtles had not onelyonly bodily,2. Cor. 7.5. but alſo ſpirituall tentations, which alſo he confeſſeth in the .2. Cor. 7. with theſe wordes: Fightings vvithout, and terrours vvithin. And Luke ſayeth in the laſt of the Actes,The ſorovv of ſpirite in the Apoſtles. that Paule when he had long ſtriued in the tempeſtes of the ſea, euen vntounto heauines of his ſpirite, was againe refreſhed, and waxed bolde when he ſawe the brethern that came from Rome to meete him at the market of Appius and three Tauernes. Alſo, in the .2. Phil. he confeſſeth,Philip. 2.27. that God had mercy vponupon him, in that he reſtored Epaphroditus ſo weake and neare to death, vntounto health againe, leſt he ſhould hauehave ſorrow vponupon ſorrow. Therefore beſides outward tentations, the Apoſtles alſo ſuffered great anguiſh, heauines and terrours.
But why ſayth Paule, that he was not deſpiſed of the Galathians? It ſeemeth that they deſpiſed him, when they fell away from his Goſpell. Paule expoundeth himſelfe. When I firſt preached to you the Goſpell (ſayth he) ye did not as other people for the moſt parte hauehave done, who being greatly offended through this my infirmitie and tentation of the fleſh, hauehave deſpiſed and reiected me. For mans reaſon is ſoone offended with this vile and contemptible forme of the croſſe, and iudgeth thoſe that are ſo afflicted to be ſtarke madde which will goe about to cōfort, helpe and ſuccour others: Alſo, thoſe that boaſt of their great riches, that is to ſay, of righteouſnes, ſtrēgth, victory ouer ſinne, death and all euils: of ioy, ſaluation, and euerlaſting life, and yet notwithſtanding they themſelues are needie, weake, heauy hearted and deſpiſed, euill intreated, and ſlaine, as very noyſome poyſons of common weales and of Religion,Iohn. 17.…. and they that kill them thinke they doe high ſeruice vntounto God. Therfore, when they promiſe vntounto others eternall treaſures, and they themſelues periſh ſo wretchedly before the world, they are laughed to ſcorne and cōpelled to heare:Luke. 4.32. Phiſitian cure thy ſelfe And hereof come theſe complaints which are eueryevery where in the Pſalmes: I am a vvorme and no man. &c. Againe:Pſal. 22.6.15. Depart not frō me, for tribulation is at hand, and there is none to helpe. &c.
This is therfore a great commendation of the Galathians,The praiſe of the Galathians. that they were not offended with this infirmitie and tentation of Paule, but receaued him as an Angell of God, yea as Chriſt Ieſus. It is in dede a great vertue and worthy of great praiſe to heare the Apoſtle. But it is a greater, and a true Chriſtian vertue, to geue eare vntounto one ſo miſerable, weake and contemptible as Paule was among the Galathians (as here he witneſſeth of him ſelfe) and to receaue him as an angel from heauen, and to geue him ſuch honour as if he had bene Chriſt Ieſus him ſelfe: and not to be offended with his afflictions being ſo great and ſo many. Wherefore, by theſe wordes he highly commendeth the vertue of the Galathians, which he ſayeth, he will kepe in perpetuall remembraunce, and ſo much eſtemeth the ſame, that he deſireth it may be knowne vntounto all men. Notwithſtanding in ſetting forth ſo highly their benefites and praiſes, he ſheweth couertly how entirely they loued him before the comming of the falſe apoſtles, and therwithall he moueth them to continue as they began, and to embrace hym with no leſſe louelove and reuerence then they did before. And hereby it may alſo appeare, that the falſe apoſtles had greater aucthoritie amōg the Galathians then Paule himſelfe. For the Galathians being moued with their authoritie, preferred them farre aboue Paule, whom before they ſo dearly loued and receaued as an angell of God. &c.
Verſe. 15. VVhat vvas then your felicitie?
As if he would ſay: How happie were ye counted: how much were ye then praiſed and commended? The like maner of ſpeech we hauehave in the ſong of the virgin Marie:Luke. 1.48. All generations shall call me bleſſed: And theſe words: VVhat vvas then your felicitie? containe in them a certeine vehemēcie. As if he would ſay: ye were not only bleſſed, but in all things moſt bleſſed & highly cōmēded. Thus he goeth about to qualifie & mitigate his bitter potion, that is to ſay, his ſharpe chiding, fearing leſt the Galathians ſhould be offended therwith: eſpecially knowing that ye falſe apoſtles would ſclaūder him and moſt ſpitefully interprete his wordes.Heretikes vvreſt things that are ſpoken vvell to an euill meaning. For this is the qualitie and nature of theſe Vipers, that they will ſclaunder & maliciouſly peruert thoſe words which procede from a ſimple and ſincere heart, and wreſt them cleane contrary to the true ſenſe and meaning thereof. They are maruelous cunning workemen in this matter, farre paſſing all the witte and eloquence of all the Rhetoricians in the world. For they are ledde with a wicked ſpirite, which ſo bewitcheth them, that they being enflamed with a diueliſh rage againſt the Faithfull, can no otherwiſe doe, but maliciouſly interprete and wickedly peruert their wordes and wrytings. Therefore they are like vntounto the ſpider, which ſucketh venome out of ſweete and pleaſant flowers: and this procedeth not of the flowers, but of their owne venemous nature, which turneth that into poyſon which of it ſelfe is good and holeſome. Paule therefore by theſe milde and ſweet wordes goeth about to preuent the falſe apoſtles, to the ende they ſhould hauehave no occaſion to ſclaunder and peruert his wordes after this maner: Paule handleth you very vngentely, he calleth you fooliſh, bewitched, and diſobecient to the truth: which is a ſure token that he ſeeketh not your ſaluation, but accounteth you as damned and reiected from Chriſte.
Ver. 15. For I beare you record, that if it had bene poſſible, ye vvould hauehave plucked out your ovvne eyes, and hauehave geuen them to me.
He praiſeth the Galathians aboue meaſure. Ye did not onelyonly entreat me (ſayth he) moſt curteouſly and with all reuerence, receauing me as an angell of God &c: but alſo if neceſſitie had required, ye would hauehave plucked out your owne eyes and geuen them to me: yea, ye would hauehave beſtowed your liues for me. And in dede the Galathians beſtowed their liues for him: For in that they receaued and mainteined Paule (whom the world accounted, moſt execrable and accurſed) they turned vponupon their owne heades as receauers & mainteiners of Paule, the cruell hatred and indignation of all the Iewes and Gentiles.
So alſo at this day the name of Luther is moſt odious to yt world.The name of Luther odious. He that praiſeth me, ſinneth worſe then any idolater, blaſphemer, periurer, whoremonger, adulterer, murtherer or theefe. It muſt needes be therfore that the Galathians were wel eſtabliſhed in the doctrine & faith of Chriſt, ſeeing that they wt ſo great daūger of their liues, receaued & maintained Paule which was hated throughout all ye world: For elſe they would neuer hauehave ſuſtained ye cruel hatred of the whole world.
Verſ. 16. Am I therfore becōe your enemy, becauſe I tel you the truth?
Here he ſheweth the reaſon, why he ſpeaketh the Galathians ſo faire. For he ſuſpecteth that they take him for their enemie, becauſe he had reproued them ſo ſharply. I pray you (ſayth he) ſet apart theſe rebukes, and ſeparate them from doctrine, and ye ſhal finde that my purpoſe was not to rebuke you, but to teach you the truth. In deede I confeſſe that my Epiſtle is ſharpe and ſeuere: but by this ſeueritie I goe about to call you backe againe to the truth of the Goſpel, from ye which ye are falne, and to kepe you in the ſame: therfore applie this ſharpnes & this bitter potiō, not to your perſons, but to your diſeaſe: And iudge me not to be your enemy in rebuking you ſo ſharply, but rather thinke that I am your father. For vnleſſe I loued you dearly as my children, and knew alſo that I am beloued of you, I would not hauehave reproued you ſo ſharply.
It is the part of a frend, freely to admoniſh his frend if he doe amiſſe: and when he is ſo admoniſhed, if he be wiſe he is not angry with the other which hath ſo frendly admoniſhed him and tolde him the truth, but geueth him thanks. It is commonly ſeene in the world that truth bringeth hatred,Truth procureth hatred. and that he is accounted an enemie which ſpeaketh the truth. But amongſt frendes it is not ſo: much leſſe amongſt Chriſtians. Seing therefore I hauehave reprehended you of mere louelove, to the ende ye might abide in the truth, ye ought not to be offended with me, nor loſe the truth or thinke me your enemie becauſe of my fatherly reprehenſion. All theſe things are ſpoken of Paule, to confirme that which he ſayd before: Be ye as I am: Ye hauehave not hurt me. &c.
Verſe. 17. They are ielous ouer you amiſſe. &c.
He reproueth here the flattery of the falſe apoſtles. For Satan is wont by his miniſters, through wonderfull ſubtiltie & craftie ſleightes to begile the ſimple:Rom. 16.18. As Paule ſayth Rom. 16. VVith faire ſpeech and flattering they deceaue the hearts of the ſimple. For firſt of all they make great proteſtations that they ſeeke nothing elſe but the aduaūcement of Gods glory: and moreouer that they are moued by the ſpirite (becauſe the miſerable people are neglected, or elſe becauſe the truth is not purely taught of others) to teach the infallible truth,1. Timot. 2.4. that by this meanes the elect may be deliuered from errour, and may come to the true light & knowledge of the truth. Moreouer, they promiſe vndouted ſaluation to thoſe that receaue their doctrine. If vigilant and faithfull paſtors doe not withſtand theſe rauening wolues, they will doe great harme to ye church vnderunder this pretēce of godlines & vnderunder this ſheepes clothing.Math. 7.15. For ye Galathiās might ſay: Why doſt thou inuey ſo bitterly againſt our teachers,Paule anſvvereth here to an obiection that might be made againſt him. for that they be iealous ouer vsus? For that which they doe, they doe of zeale & mere louelove: this ought not to offend thee, &c. In dede (ſayeth he) they are ielous ouer you, but their ielouſie is not good.
Here note that zeale or ielouſie, properly ſignifieth an angrie louelove,Zeale. or, as ye would ſay, a godly enuie. Elias ſayth: I hauehave bene very ielous for the Lord of hoſtes. After this maner the huſband is ielous towardes his wife,2. Reg. 19.1…. the father towardes his ſonne, the brother towards his brother: that is to ſay, they louelove them entierly: yet ſo that they hate their vices and goe about to amend them. Such a zeale the falſe Apoſtles pretended to beare towardes the Galathians. Paule in dede confeſſeth that they were very zelous towardes the Galathians,The ſimple are deceaued by the pretence and fained zeale of heretikes. but their zeale (ſayth he) was not good. Now, by this colour and ſubtil pretēce the ſimple are deceaued, when theſe ſeducers doe make them to beleue that they beare a great zeale and affection towardes them, and that they beare a great zeale and affection towardes them, and that they are very carefull for them. Paule therfore warneth vsus here to put a difference betwixt a good zeale and an euill zeale.A good zeale & an euill zeale. In deede a good zeale is to be cōmended, but not an euil zeale. I am as zelous ouer you (ſaith Paule) as they. Now iudge ye which of our zeales is better, mine or theirs: which is good and godly, which is euill and carnall. Therfore let not their zeale ſo eaſily ſeduce you. For,