Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 5 · Verse extract 14
Verſe. 14. For the vvhole lavve is fulfilled in one vvord, vvhichwhich is this: Thou shalt louelove thy neighbour as thy ſelfe.
Paule, after that he hath laid the foundation of Chriſtian doctrine, is wont to build gold, ſiluer and precious ſtones vponupon it. Now, there is no other foundation, as he himſelfe ſayeth to the Corinthians,1. Cor. 3.11.1…. than Ieſus Chriſt, or the righteouſnes of Chriſte. VponUpon this foundation he buildeth now good workes, yea good workes in deede: all which he comprehendeth in one precept: Thou shalt louelove thy neighbour as thy ſelfe. As if he ſhould ſay: when I ſay that ye muſt ſerue one an other through louelove, I meane the ſelfe ſame thing that the lawe ſayeth in an other place: Thou shalt louelove thy neighbour as thy ſelfe. Leuitis. 19.1….And this is truely to interprete the Scriptures and Gods commaundements.
Now, in geuing preceptes of louelove, he couertly toucheth by the way the falſe teachers: againſt whom he ſetteth him ſelfe mightely, that he may defend and ſtabliſh his doctrine of good workes againſt them. As if he ſayd: O ye Galathians, I hauehave hetherto taught you the true and ſpirituall life, and now alſo I will teach you what be good workes in deede. And this will I doe to the ende ye may know that the vaine and fooliſh workes of ceremonies which the falſe Apoſtles doe onelyonly vrge, are farre inferiour to the workes of charitie. For ſuch is the fooliſhnes and madnes of all wicked teachers and fantaſticall ſpirites,Meritmōgers & hypocrites vnderſtād not the doctrine of faith and of good vvorks. 1. Cor. 3.12.15. that not onelyonly they leaue the true foundation and pure doctrine: but alſo continuing alwayes in their ſuperſtitions, they neuer attaine to good workes. Therefore (as Paule ſayeth) they build nothing but woode, hay and ſtubble vppon the foundation. So the falſe apoſtles, which were the moſt earneſt defenders of workes, did not teach or require the workes of charitie, as that Chriſtians ſhuld louelove one an other, that they ſhould be ready to helpe their neighbours in all neceſſities, not onelyonly with their goods, but alſo with their body: that is to ſay, with tounge, hand, heart, and with their whole ſtrength: but onelyonly they required that circumciſion ſhould be kept,Galath. 4.1…. that dayes, monethes, yeres and times ſhould be obſerued: and other good workes they could teach none. For after they had deſtroyed the foundation which is Chriſt, & darkened the doctrine of Faith, it was impoſſible that there ſhould remaine any true vſe, exerciſe, or opinion of good workes. Take away the tree, & the frute muſt needes periſh.
The Apoſtle therfore diligently exhorteth the Chriſtians to exerciſe themſelues in good workes, after that they hauehave heard and receaued the pure doctrine of Faith. For the remnauntes of ſinne doe yet ſtill remaine euen in thoſe that be iuſtified: which, as they are contrary to Faith and hinder it: ſo doe they hinder vsus from doing good workes.Reaſon is naturally delited vvith ſuperſtition. Moreouer, mans reaſon and the fleſh, which in the ſainctes them ſelues reſiſteth the ſpirite, and in the wicked doth mightely raigne, is naturally delited with Phariſaicall ſuperſtitions: that is to ſay, it taketh more pleaſure in meaſuring God by her owne imaginations, than by his word, and doth the works that ſhe her ſelfe hath choſen, with farre greater zeale then thoſe which God hath commaunded. Wherfore it is neceſſary that the godly preachers ſhould as diligently teach and vrge the doctrine of good workes, as the doctrine of Faith: for Satan is a deadly enemie to both. Notwithſtanding faith muſt firſt be planted: for without Faith it is impoſſible to vnderſtand what a good worke is, or what pleaſeth God.
Let no man thinke therefore that he thorowly knoweth this commaūdement: Thou shalt louelove thy neighbour as thy ſelfe. In deede it is very ſhort and eaſy as touching the wordes:No mā loueth his neighbour as himſelfe. but ſhew me the teachers and hearers that in teaching, learning, and liuing doe exerciſe and accompliſh it rightly. Therefore theſe wordes: Serue ye one an other through louelove: and theſe alſo, Thou shalt louelove thy neighbor as thy ſelf, are incomprehenſible, & no man, no not euen the godly doe ſufficiently conſider, teach, and exerciſe the ſame. And (which is a wōderful thing) the faithfull hauehave this tentation, that if they omit neuer ſo light a matter which they ought to do, by and by their conſcience is wounded: but they are not ſo troubled if they neglect the dueties of charitie (as daily they doe),Naturall corruption & ſuperſtition remaining in the faithfull. or beare not a ſincere and brotherly louelove and affection towards their neighbour. For they doe not ſo much regard the commaundement of charitie, as their owne ſuperſtitions: from the which they be not altogether free during this life.
Paule therfore reprehendeth ye Galathians in theſe words: For the vvhole lavv is fulfilled in one vvord. As if he had ſaid: ye are drowned in your ſuperſtitions & ceremonies concerning places & times, which profit neither your ſelues nor others: and in ye meane while ye neglect charitie which ye ought onelyonly to hauehave kept. What madnes is this? So ſayth Ierome: We weare & cōſume our bodies with watching,A ſaying of Hierome. faſting and labour: but we neglect charitie, which is the onelyonly lady & miſtreſſe of workes. And this may be wel ſeene in the Monkes, who ſtraitly obſerue their traditions concerning their ceremonies, faſting, watching, apparel & ſuch like. In this caſe if they omitte any thing, be it neuer ſo litle, they ſinne deadly. But whē they do not only neglect charitie, but alſo hate one an other to the death, they ſinne not, nor offend God at all.
Therefore by this commaundement Paule, Paul teacheth good vvorks, and condemneth euill vvorkes.not onelyonly teacheth good works, but alſo cōdemneth fantaſticall and ſuperſtitious works. He not onelyonly buildeth gold, ſiluer and precious ſtones vponupon the foundation, but alſo throweth downe the woode, and burneth vp the hay & ſtubble. God witneſſed by examples in the olde Teſtament how much he did alwayes eſteme of charitie: whervnto he would hauehave yt very law it ſelf and the ceremonies therof to geue place.1. Sam. 31.6. At ſuch time as Dauid and they that were with him were hungrie, and had not what to eate, they did eate the holy ſhewbread, which by the lawe the lay people might not eate, but onelyonly the prieſts.Math. 12.3.…. Chriſtes diſciples brake the Saboth in plucking the eares of corne: yea and Chriſt him ſelfe brake the Saboth (as ſayd the Iewes) in healing the ſicke on the Saboth day. All theſe things ſhew that charitie or louelove ought to be preferred before all lawes & ceremonies, & that God requireth nothing ſo much at our handes as louelove towardes our neighbour. The ſame thing Chriſte alſo witneſſeth when he ſayeth: And the ſecond is like vntounto this.Math. 22.2….