Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 5 · Verse extract 17
Verſe. 17. And theſe are contrary one to the other, ſo that ye can not doe the ſame things that ye vvould.
Theſe two captaines or leaders (ſayth he) the fleſh and the ſpirit, are one againſt an other in your body, ſo that ye can not doe what ye would. And this place witneſſeth plainly, yt Paule wryteth theſe things to the faithfull, that is, to the church beleuing in Chriſt, baptiſed,The faithfull hauehave flesh vvhichwhich reſiſteth the ſpirite. Rom. 7.1…. iuſtified, renewed, and hauing ful forgeuenes of ſinnes. Yet notwithſtāding he ſayth that ſhe hath fleſh rebelling againſt the ſpirite. After the ſame maner he ſpeaketh of him ſelfe in the .7. to the. Rom. I (ſayeth he) am carnall & ſold vnderunder ſinne. And againe: I ſee an other lavv in my mē bers rebelling againſt the lavv of my minde, and leading me captiue vntounto the lavv of ſinne vvhichwhich is in my mēbers. Alſo: O vvretched man that I am, vvho shall deliuer me from the body of this death? &c.
Here, not onelyonly the Schoolemen, but alſo ſome of the olde fathers are much troubled, ſeeking how they may excuſe Paule. The godly feele the terrours and captiuitie of ſinne.For it ſemeth vntounto them abſurde and vnſeemely to ſay that that elect veſſell of Chriſt ſhould hauehave ſinne. But we credite Pauls owne words, wherin he plainly confeſſeth that he is ſold vnderunder ſinne, that he is led captiue of ſinne, that he hath a law in his mēbers rebelling againſt him, & that in ye fleſh he ſerueth ye law of ſinne. Here againe they anſwer, yt the Apoſtle ſpeaketh in the perſon of the wicked. But the wicked do not cōplaine of the rebellion of their fleſh, of any battel or cōflict, or of the captiuitie & bō dage of ſinne: for ſinne mightely raigneth in them. This is therfore yt very complaint of Paule & of al the faithful. Wherfore they hauehave done very wickedly which hauehave excuſed Paule & all the faithfull to hauehave no ſinne. For by this perſwaſiō (which procedeth of ignorāce of ye doctrine of faith) they hauehave robbed ye church of a ſinguler conſolation: they hauehave aboliſhed the forgeuenes of ſinnes, and made Chriſte of none effect.
Wherfore when Paule ſayeth: I ſee an other lavve in my members, &c. he denieth not that he hath fleſh, and the vices of the fleſh in him. It is likely therfore that he felt ſometimes the motions of carnal luſt. But yet (no doubt) theſe motions were well ſuppreſſed in him by the great and grieuous afflictiōs & tentations both of minde and body, wherwt he was in a manner continually exerciſed & vexed, as his Epiſtles do declare: Or if he at any time being merry & ſtrong, felt ye luſt of ye fleſh, wrath, impatiency or ſuch like: yet he reſiſted them by the ſpirite, and ſuffred not thoſe motions to beare rule in him. Therefore let vsus in no wiſe ſuffer ſuch comfortable places (wherby Paule deſcribeth the battaile of the fleſh againſt the ſpirite in his owne body) to be corrupted with ſuch foliſh gloſes. The Schoolemen, ye Monkes, and ſuch other, neuer felt any ſpirituall tentations: and therfore they fought only for the repreſſing and ouercomming of fleſhly luſt and lecherie: and being proude of that victorie which they neuer yet obtained,The Monkes & ſuch other cloiſterers neuer had experience of any ſpirituall tentations. they thought them ſelues farre better and more holy then married men. I wil not ſay, that vnderunder this holy pretence rhey nouriſhed and maintained all kindes of horrible ſinnes, as diſſenſion, pride, hatred, diſdaine, & deſpiſing of their neighbours, truſt in their owne righteouſnes, preſumption, contempt of all godlines and of the word of God, infidelitie, blaſphemie and ſuch like. Againſt theſe ſinnes they neuer fought: Nay rather they toke them to be no ſinnes at all: They put righteouſnes in the keeping of their fooliſh and wicked vowes, and vnrighteouſnes in the neglecting and contemning of the ſame.
But this muſt be our ground and ankerholde, that Chriſt is our onelyonly and perfect righteouſnes.Chriſt our righteouſnes If we hauehave nothing whervnto we may truſt: yet theſe three things (as Paule ſayth) Faith, hope, and louelove doe remaine. Therefore we muſt alwayes beleue, and alwayes hope: we muſt alwayes take hold of Chriſte as the head and fountaine of our righteouſnes.Rom. 9.33. He that beleueth in him ſhal not be aſhamed. Moreouer, we muſt labour to be outwardly righteous alſo: that is to ſay, not to conſent to the fleſh, which alwayes enticeth vsus to ſome euill: but to reſiſt it by the ſpirit.The outvvard righteouſnes of the faithfull. We muſt not be ouercome with impatiencie for the vnthankfulnes and contempt of the people, which abuſeth the Chriſtian libertie: but through the ſpirite we muſt ouercome this & all other temptations. Looke then how much we ſtriue againſt the fleſh by the ſpirite, ſo much are we outwardly righteous: Albeit this righteouſnes doth not commend vsus before God.
Let no man therefore deſpaire if he feele the fleſh oftentimes to ſtirre vppe new battell againſt the ſpirite,The godly feling the corruptions of the flesh, muſt not deſpaire. or if he can not by and by ſubdue the fleſh, and make it obedient vntounto the ſpirite. I alſo doe wiſh my ſelfe to hauehave a more valiaunt and conſtant heart, which might be able, not only boldly to contemne the threatnings of tyrants, the hereſies, offences and tumults which Satan and his ſouldiers the enemies of the Goſpell ſtirre vp: but alſo might by and by ſhake of the vexatiōs and anguiſh of ſpirit, and briefly, might not feare ye ſharpnes of death, but receaue and embrace it as a moſt frendly gheſt. But I find an other law in my members, rebelling againſt the law of my minde, &c. Some other doe wraſtle with inferiour temptations, as pouertie, reproch, impatiencie and ſuch like.
Let no man maruel therfore or be diſmaied when he feeleth in his body this battell of the fleſh againſt the ſpirite: but let him plucke vp his heart and comfort him ſelfe with theſe wordes of Paule: The flesh luſteth againſt the ſpirite. Alſo: Theſe are contrary one to an other, ſo that ye doe not thoſe things that you vvould. The battell of the flesh and the ſpirite in the godly.For by theſe ſentences he comforteth them that be tēpted. As if he ſhould ſay: It is impoſſible for you to folow ye guiding of the ſpirit in all thinges wtout any feeling or hinderance of the fleſh: Nay, the fleſh will reſiſt, and ſo reſiſt and hinder you, that ye can not doe thoſe things which gladly ye would. Here it ſhalt be enough if ye reſiſt the fleſh and fulfill not the luſt therof: that is to ſay, if ye folow the ſpirite and not the fleſh, which eaſily is ouerthrowne by impatiencie, coueteth to reuenge, biteth, grudgeth, hateth God, is angrie with him, deſpaireth, &c. Therefore when a man feeleth this battell of the fleſh, lette him not be diſcouraged therewith, but let him reſiſt in ſpirite, and ſay: I am a ſinner, and I feele ſinne in me: for I hauehave not yet put of the fleſh, in which ſinne dwelleth ſo long as it liueth. But I will obey the ſpirite and not the fleſh: that is,To vvalke in the ſpirite. I will by Faith and hope lay hold vponupon Chriſte, and by his word I will raiſe vppe my ſelfe, and being ſo raiſed vppe, I will not fulfill the luſt of the fleſh.
It is very profitable for the godly to know this, and to beare it wel in minde: for it wonderfully comforteth them when they are tempted. When I was a Monke I thought by and by that I was vtterly caſt away, if at any time I felt the luſt of the fleſh: that is to ſay, if I felt any euill motion, fleſhly luſt, wrath, hatred or enuie againſt any brother. I aſſayed many wayes to helpe and to quiet my conſcience, but it would not be: For the cōcupiſcence and luſt of my fleſh did alwayes returne, ſo that I could not reſt, but was cōtinually vexed with theſe thoughts: This or that ſinne thou haſt cōmitted: thou art infected with enuie, wt impatiencie, & ſuch other ſinnes: therfore thou art entred into this holy Order in vaine, and all thy good works are vnprofitable. If then I had rightly vnderſtand theſe ſentences of Paule: The flesh luſteth cōtrary to the ſpirit, & the ſpirit contrary to the flesh: And, Theſe tvvo are one againſt an other, ſo that ye can not do the things that ye vvould doe, I ſhould not hauehave ſo miſerably tormented my ſelfe, but ſhould hauehave thought and ſayd to my ſelfe as now commonly I doe:Let all troubled conſciences comfort them ſelues by this example of Martin Luther, and ſay as he ſaid. Martine, thou ſhalt not vtterly be without ſinne, for thou haſt fleſh: thou ſhalt therefore feele the battell thereof: according to that ſaying of Paule: The flesh reſiſteth the ſpirite. Deſpaire not therefore, but reſiſt it ſtrongly, and fulfill not the luſt thereof. Thus doing thou art not vnderunder the lawe.
Stanpitius a godly learned man of vvhom he made mention before.I remember that Staupitius was wont to ſay: I hauehave vowed vntounto God aboue a thouſand times, that I would become a better mā: but I neuer performed that which I vowed. Hereafter I wil make no ſuch vow: for I hauehave now learned by experience, that I am not able to performe it. Vnleſſe therefore God be fauourable and mercifull vntounto me for Chriſtes ſake, and graunt vntounto me a bleſſed & happie hower when I ſhall depart out of this miſerable life, I ſhall not be able with all my vowes and all my good deedes, to ſtand before him. This was not onelyonly a true,A holy deſper…tion but alſo a godly & an holy deſperation: and this muſt all they confeſſe both with mouth and heart, which wil be ſaued. For the godly truſt not to their owne righteouſnes, but ſay with Dauid: Enter not into iudgement vvith thy ſeruaunt, for in thy ſight shall none that liueth be iuſtified. … Pſal 143.2. Pſal. 130.….Againe. If thou O Lord shouldeſt ſtraitly marke iniquities, O Lord vvho shall ſtand? They loke vntounto Chriſt their Reconciler, who gaue his life for their ſinnes. Moreouer, they know that the remnant of ſinne which is in their fleſh,VVhat the godly muſt do vvhen they feele ſinne. is not laid to their charge, but freely pardoned. Notwithſtāding in the meane while they fight in ſpirite againſt the fleſh, leſt they ſhould fulfill the luſtes thereof. And although they feele the fleſh to rage and rebell againſt the ſpirite, and them ſelues alſo to fall ſometimes into ſinne through infirmitie, yet are they not diſcouraged, not thinke therefore that their ſtate and kinde of life, and the workes which are done according to their calling, diſpleaſe God: but they raiſe vppe them ſelues by Faith.
The faithfull therefore receaue great conſolation by this doctrine of Paule, in that they know them ſelues to hauehave part of the fleſh and part of the ſpirite,The conflict & battell of the flesh and the ſpirite in the children of God. but yet ſo notwithſtanding that the ſpirite ruleth and the fleſh is ſubdued and kept vnderunder awe, that righteouſnes raigneth and ſinne ſerueth. He that knoweth not this doctrine, and thinketh that the faithfull ought to be without all fault, and yet ſeeth the contrary in him ſelfe, muſt needes at the length be ſwalowed vppe by the ſpirite of heauines, and fall into deſperation. But who ſo knoweth this doctrine well and vſeth it rightly, to him the things that are euil turne vntounto good.Rom 1.…8. For when the fleſh prouoketh him to ſinne, by occaſion therof he is ſtirred vp and enforced to ſeeke forgeuenes of ſinnes by Chriſte, and to embrace the righteouſnes of Faith, which elſe he would not ſo greatly eſteme, nor ſeeke for the ſame with ſo great deſire. Therefore it profiteth vsus very much to feele ſometimes the wickednes of our nature and corruption of our fleſh, that yet by this meanes we may be waked and ſtirred vppe to Faith, and to call vppon Chriſte.A Chriſtian a maruellous vvorkman. And by this occaſion a Chriſtian becommeth a mighty workman and a wonderful creatour, which of heauines can make ioy, of terrour comfort, of ſinne righteouſnes, and of death life, when he by this meanes repreſſing and brideling the fleſh, maketh it ſubiect to the ſpirite.
Wherfore let not them which feele the luſt of the fleſh, deſpaire of their ſaluation. Lette them feele it and all the force thereof, ſo that they conſent not to it. Lette the paſſions of luſt, wrath and ſuch other vices ſhake them, ſo that they doe not ouerthrow them. Let ſinne aſſaile them, ſo that they doe not accōpliſh it. Yea the more godly a man is, the more doth he feele that battaile. And hereof come thoſe lamentable complaintes of the faithfull in the Pſalmes and in the whole Scripture. Of this battaile the Heremites, the Monkes and the Schoolemen, and all that ſeeke righteouſnes and ſaluation by workes, know nothing at all.
But here may ſome man ſay: that it is a daungerous matter to teach that a man is not condemned, if by and by he ouercome not the motions and paſſions of the fleſh which he feeleth. For when this doctrine is taught amongſt the common people, it maketh them careleſſe, negligent and ſlouthfull.Read more hereof before in the leaſe 246. and in the line. 32. This is it which I ſayd a little before, that if we teach Faith, then carnall men neglect and reiecte workes: If works be required, then is Faith and conſolation of conſcience loſt. Here no man can be compelled, neither can there be any certaine rule preſcribed. But lette eueryevery man diligently trie him ſelfe to what paſſion of the fleſh he is moſt ſubiect, and when he findeth that, lette him not be careleſſe, nor flatter him ſelfe: but lette him watch and wraſtle in ſpirite againſt it, that if he can not altogether bridle it, yet at the leaſt he doe not fulfill the luſt therof.
This battell of the fleſh againſt the ſpirit, all the children of God hauehave had and felt: And the ſelfe ſame doe we alſo feele and proue. He that ſearcheth his owne cōſcience, if he be not an hypocrite, ſhall well perceaue that to be true in him ſelfe which Paule here ſaith: that ye fleſh luſteth againſt the ſpirit.The children of God do fele the rebellion of the flesh againſt the ſpirite. All the faithfull therfore do feele and confeſſe that their fleſh reſiſteth againſt the ſpirit, and that theſe two are ſo contrarye the one to the other in themſelues, that, doe what they can, they are not able to performe that which they woulde doe. Therefore the fleſhe hindreth vsus the we cannot keepe the commaundementes of God, that we can not louelove our neighbours as our ſelues, much leſſe can we louelove God with all our heart: Therefore it is impoſſible for vsus to become righteous by the works of the law. In deede there is a good will in vsus, and ſo muſt there be (for it is the ſpirit it ſelf which reſiſteth the fleſh), which would gladly doe good, fulfill the lawe, louelove God and his neighbour, and ſuch like, but the fleſh obeyeth not this good will, but reſiſteth it: and yet God imputeth not vntounto vsus this ſinne: For he is mercifull to thoſe that beleue for Chriſtes ſake.
But it foloweth not therefore that thou ſhouldeſt make a light matter of ſinne becauſe God doth not impute it. True it is that he doth not impute it.To vvhom God doth not impute ſinne. But to whom, and for what cauſe? To ſuch as repent, and lay hold by Faith vppon Chriſte the Mercyſeat, for whoſe ſake, as all their ſinnes are forgeuen them: euen ſo yt remnants of ſinne which are in them, be not imputed vntounto them. They make not their ſinne leſſe thē it is, but amplifie it & ſet it out as it is in dede: for they know that it can not be put away by ſatiſfactions, works or righteouſnes, but only by ye death of Chriſte. And yet notwithſtanding the greatnes and enormitie of their ſinne doth not cauſe them to deſpaire, but they aſſure thēſelues that the ſame ſhall not be imputed vntounto them or laid vntounto their charge.
This I ſay leſt any man ſhoulde thinke that after faith is receaued, there is litle accoūt to be made of ſinne. Sinne is truely ſinne, whether a man commit it before he hath receaued the knowledge of Chriſte, or after. And God alwayes hateth ſinne: yea all ſinne is damnable as touchinge the facte it ſelfe. But in that it is not damnable to him that beleueth, it commeth of Chriſte, who by his death hath taken away ſinne. But to him that beleueth not in Chriſte, not onelyonly all his ſinnes are damnable: but euen his good workes alſo are ſinne, according to that ſaying: VVhatſoeuer is not of Faith is ſinne. Rom. 14.23.Therefore the errour of the Scholemen is moſte pernicious,The errour of the Sophiſters or Scholemen. which do diſtinguiſh ſinnes according to the fact, and not according to the perſon. He that beleueth hath as great ſinne as the vnbeleuer. But to him that beleueth, it is forgeuen and not imputed. To the vnbeleuer it is not pardoned, but imputed. To the beleuer it is veniall: to the vnbeleuer it is mortall and damnable: Not for any difference of ſinnes, or becauſe the ſinne of the beleuer is leſſe, and the ſinne of the vnbeleuer greater: but for the difference of the perſons. For the faithfull aſſureth him ſelfe by Faith that his ſinne is forgeuen him, for as much as Chriſte hath geuen him ſelfe for it. Therfore although he hauehave ſinne in him and daily ſinneth, yet he continueth godly: but contrariwiſe the vnbeleuer continueth wicked.The vviſedom of the godly. And this is the true wiſedome and conſolation of the godly, that although they hauehave and commit ſinnes, yet they know that for Chriſtes ſake they are not imputed vntounto them.
This I ſay for the comfort of the godly.The godly only feele ſinne. For they onelyonly feele in deede that they hauehave and doe commit ſinnes, that is to ſay, they feele that they doe not louelove God ſo feruently as they ſhould doe: that they doe not beleue him ſo hartely as they would, but rather they oftētimes dout whether God hauehave a care of them or no: they are impatient, and are angrie with God in aduerſitie. Hereof (as I hauehave ſayd) proceede the ſorowfull complaintes of the faithfull in the ſcriptures, and ſpecially in the Pſalmes. And Paule him ſelfe complaineth that he is ſolde vnderunder ſinne. And here he ſaith,Rom. 1.14. that the fleſh reſiſteth & rebelleth againſt the ſpirit. But becauſe they mortifie the deedes of yt fleſh by the ſpirite (as he ſayth in an other place, & alſo in the ende of this chapiter: They crucifie the flesh vvith the deſires and luſtes thereof): Galath. 5.24.therefore theſe ſinnes doe not hurt them nor condemne them. But if they obey the fleſh in fulfilling the luſtes thereof, then doe they loſe Faith and the holy Ghoſt. And if they doe not abhorre their ſinne and returne vntounto Chriſt (who hath geuen power to his church, to receaue and raiſe vppe thoſe that be falne, that ſo they may recouer Faith and the holy Ghoſt) they die in their ſinnes. Wherefore we ſpeake not of them which dreame that they hauehave Faith, and yet continue ſtill in their ſinnes. Theſe men hauehave their iudgement already: They that liue after the fleſh ſhall die.Rom. 8.12. Sentence pronoūced agaīſt ſuch as obey the luſts of the flesh. Alſo: The vvorkes of the flesh are manifeſt, vvhichwhich are adulterie, fornication, vncleannes, vvantonnes, idolatrie, vvitchcraft, hatred, debate, emulations, vvrath, contentions, ſeditions, hereſies, enuie, murthers, drunkennes, gluttonie and ſuch like, vvhereof I tell you before, as alſo I hauehave told you, that they vvhichwhich doe ſuch things, shall not inherite the kingdom of God.
The true Sainctes of God.Hereby we may ſee who be the very Saincts in dede. They be not ſtocks & ſtones (as the Monkes and Scholemen dreame) ſo that they are neuer moued with any thing, neuer feele any luſts or deſires of the fleſh: but, as Paule ſayth, their fleſh luſteth againſt the ſpirit, and therfore they hauehave ſinne, and both can & doe ſinne. And the .32. Pſalme witneſſeth that the faithfull doe confeſſe their vnrighteouſnes,Pſal. 32.5.6. & pray that the wickednes of their ſinne may be forgeuen, where it ſayeth: I vvill confeſſe againſt my ſelfe my vvickednes vntounto the Lord, and thou forgaueſt the punishment of my ſinne. Therefore shall eueryevery one that is godly, make his prayer vntounto thee, &c. Moreouer the whole Church, which in deede is holy, prayeth that her ſinnes may be forgeuen her, and it beleueth the forgeuenes of ſinnes. And in the .143. Pſalme Dauid prayeth: O Lord enter not into iudgement vvith thy ſeruaunt, for in thy ſight shall none that liueth be iuſtified. Pſal. 143.….And in the .130. Pſalm. If thou O Lord shouldeſt ſtraitly marke iniquities, Lord vvho shall ſtand in thy preſence? But vvith thee is mercy, &c. Thus doe the cheefeſt ſaincts and children of God ſpeake and pray: as Dauid, Paule. &c. All the faithfull therfore doe ſpeake and pray the ſame thing, and with the ſame ſpirit. The popiſh Sophiſters read not the Scriptures, or if they read thē, they hauehave a veile before their eyes: and therfore as they can not iudge rightly of any thing, ſo can they not iudge rightly either of ſinne, or of holines.