Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 5 · Verse extract 19
Ver. 19. Moreouer rhe vvorks of the flesh be manifeſt, vvhichwhich are. &c.
Math. 7.10.This place is not vnlike to this ſentence of Chriſte: By their fruites ye shall knovve them. Doe men gather grapes of thornes, or figges of brambles? So eueryevery good tree bringeth forth good frute, and an euill tree bringeth forth euill frute, &c. Paule teacheth the very ſame thing which Chriſte taught, that is to witte, that workes and fruites doe ſufficiently teſtifie whether the trees be good or euill: whether mē folow ye guiding of the fleſh or of the ſpirit. As if he ſhould ſay: Leſt ſome of you might lay for him ſelfe, that he vnderſtandeth me not now when I treat of the battel betwene the fleſh and the ſpirite, I will ſette before your eyes firſt the workes of the fleſh, whereof many are knowne euen to the vngodly: and then alſo the workes of the ſpirite.
And this doth Paule, Hypocrites mingled amongſt the godly.becauſe there were many hypocrites amōgs the Galathians (as there are alſo at this day among vsus) which outwardly pretended to be godly men, and boaſted much of the ſpirit, and as touching the wordes they vnderſtode the true doctrine of the Goſpell: but they walked not according to the ſpirite, but according to the fleſh, and performed the workes thereof. Whereby Paule manifeſtly conuinceth them to be no ſuch holy men in deede as they boaſted themſelues to be. And leſt they ſhould deſpiſe this his admonition, he pronounceth againſt them this dreadfull ſentence, yt they ſhould not be enheritours of ye kingdom of heauē, to ye end that being thus admoniſhed they might amend. EueryEvery age euen in the faithfull, hath his peculiare tēptations, as fleſhly luſts aſſaile a man moſt of all in his youth,EueryEvery age of man hath his peculiar temptations. in his middle age ambition and vaineglory, and in his olde age couetouſnes. There was neuer yet any of the faithfull, whom ye fleſh hath not oftē in his life time prouoked to impatientie, anger, vaineglory, &c. Paule therefore ſpeaking here of the faithfull, ſayeth that the fleſh luſteth in them againſt the ſpirite, &c: therefore they ſhall neuer be without the deſires and battels of the fleſh: notwithſtanding they do not hurt them. But of this matter we muſt thus iudge, that it is one thing to be prouoked of the fleſh & yet not willingly to yelde to the luſts and deſires therof, but to walke after the leading of the ſpirit and to reſiſt the fleſh: and an other thing to aſſent vntounto the fleſh and without all feare or remorſe to performe and fulfill the works therof and to continue therin, and yet notwithſtanding to counterfet holines and to bragge of the ſpirite. The firſt he comforteth when he ſaith, that they be ledde by the ſpirite and be not vnderunder the lawe. To the other he threatneth euerlaſting deſtruction.
Notwithſtanding ſometimes it hapneth that the Saincts alſo do fall and performe the luſtes of the fleſh: As Dauid fell horribly into adulterie. Alſo he was the cauſe of the ſlaughter of many men when he would hauehave Vrias to be ſlaine in the forefront of the battell: and therby alſo he gaue occaſion to the enemies to glory and triumph ouer the people of God, to worſhip their Idolles, and to blaſpheme the God of Iſraell. Peter alſo fell moſt greeuouſly and horribly when he denied Chriſte. But although theſe ſinnes were great and hainous, yet were they not committed vppon any contempt of God or of a wilfull and obſtinate mind, but through infirmitie & weaknes. Againe, when they were admoniſhed, they did not obſtinately continue in their ſinnes, but repented. Such he willeth afterwardes in the .6. Chapter to be receiued, inſtructed and reſtored, ſaying: If a man be falne by occaſion into any ſinne, ye vvhichwhich are ſpirituall reſtore ſuch a one vvith the ſpirite of meekenes, conſidering thy ſelfe leſt thou alſo be tempted. To thoſe therefore which ſinne and fall through infirmitie, pardon is not denied, ſo that they riſe againe and continue not in their ſinne: for of all things continuance in ſinne is the worſt. But if they repent not, but ſtill obſtinately continue in their wickednes and performe the deſires of the fleſh: it is a certaine token that there is*That is, a ſecrete contempt of God, vvherof Dauid ſpeaketh, Pſal. 3.2. diſceit in their ſpirite.
No man therefore ſhall be without luſtes and deſires ſo long as he liueth in the fleſh, and therfore no man ſhall be free from temptations. Notwithſtanding ſome are tempted one way and ſome an other,Some are exerciſed vvith greater tentations, and ſome vvith leſſe. according to the difference of the perſons. One man is aſſailed with more vehement and greeuous motions, as with bitternes and anguiſh of ſpirite, blaſphemie, diſtruſt and deſperation: An other with more groſſe tentations, as with fleſhly luſtes, wrath, enuie, couetouſnes and ſuch like. But in this caſe Paule requireth of vsus that we walke in the ſpirite and reſiſt the fleſh. But who ſo obeyeth the fleſh and continueth without any feare of God or remorſe of conſcience in accomplyſhing the deſires and luſtes thereof: let him know that he pertaineth not vntounto Chriſte: And although he bragge of the name of a Chriſtian neuer ſo much, yet doth he but deceaue him ſelfe. For they which are of Chriſte, doe crucifie their fleſh with the affections and luſtes thereof.
VVho be rightly called Sainctes, and be ſo in deede.
This place, (as I hauehave alſo forewarned you by the way) containeth in it a ſingular conſolation: For it teacheth vsus that the ſainctes and moſt holy men in this world liue not without concupiſcence and temptations of the fleſh, nor yet without ſinnes. It warneth vsus therefore to take heede that we doe not as ſome did, of whom Gerſon wryteth, whych laboured to attaine to ſuch perfection, that they might be without all feeling of temptations or ſinnes: that is to ſay, very ſtockes and ſtones.
The like imagination the Monkes and Scholemen hadde of their Sainctes, as though they hadde bene very ſenſeleſſe blockes and without all affections. The virgine Marie felt great griefe and ſorowe of ſpirite when ſhe miſſed her ſonne. Luke. 2.Luke. 2.48. Dauid in the Pſalmes complaineth that he is almoſt ſwalowed vppe with exceſſiue ſorrowe for the greatnes of his temptations and ſinnes.2. Cor. ….5. Paule alſo complaineth that he hath battelles without, and terrours within: and that in his fleſh he ſerueth the lawe of ſinne.Rom. 7.2…. He ſayeth that he is carefull for all the Churches: and that God ſhewed great merciemercy towardes him, in that he deliuered Epaphroditus being at the poynt of death, to life againe, leſt he ſhould hauehave had ſorrow vppon ſorrow.VVhom the Stoickes coū ted vviſe mē. Therefore the Sainctes of the Papiſts are like to the Stoickes, who imagined ſuch wiſe men, as in all the world were neuer yet to be found. And by this fooliſh and Deueliſh perſwaſion which proceeded of the ignoraunce of this doctrine of Paule, the Scholemen brought both them ſelues and others without number, into horrible deſperation.
When I was a Monke I did oftentimes moſt hartely wiſh, that I might once be ſo happy, as to ſee the conuerſation and life of ſome Sainct or holy man. But in the meane time I imagined ſuch a Sainct as liued in the wildernes abſtaining from meat and drinke, and liuing onelyonly with rootes of herbes and colde water: and this opinion of thoſe monſtrous ſainctes, I had learned not onelyonly out of the bookes of the Sophiſters and Scholemen, but alſo out of the bookes of the fathers. For thus wryteth Hierome in a certaine place. As touching meates and drinkes I ſay nothing, for as much as it is exceſſe, that euē ſuch as are weake and feeble ſhould vſe cold water, or eate any ſodden thing, &c. But now in the light of the Goſpel we plainly ſee who they are whom Chriſt and his Apoſtles call Saincts:VVho they be vvhichwhich Chriſt and his Apoſtles cal ſaīcts. Not they which liue a ſole & a ſingle life, or ſtraitly obſerue dayes, meates, apparel & ſuch other things, or in outward appearance do other great & monſtrous works, (as we read of many in the liues of the fathers): but they which being called by the ſound of the Goſpell and baptiſed, doe beleue that they be iuſtified and clenſed by the death of Chriſt. So Paule eueryevery where, wryting to Chriſtians, calleth them holy, the children and heires of God, &c. Who ſo euer then doe beleue in Chriſte, whether they be men or women,VVho be true Sainctes. bond or free, are all Sainctes: not by their owne workes, but by the workes of God, which they receiue by Faith: as his word, his Sacraments, the paſſion of Chriſt, his death, reſurrection, victorie, and the ſending of the holy Ghoſt. To conclude, they are Sainctes through ſuch a holines as they freely receaue, not through ſuch a holines as they them ſelues hauehave gotten by their owne induſtrie, good workes and merites.
So the miniſters of the worde, the Magiſtrates of common weales, parents, children, maiſters, ſeruauntes, &c. are true Saincts, if firſt and before all things they aſſure themſelues that Chriſt is their wiſedom, righteouſnes, ſanctification and redemption: Secondly, if eueryevery one doe his duetie in his vocation according to the rule of Gods word, and obey not the fleſh, but repreſſe the luſtes and deſires thereof by the ſpirite. Now, where as all be not of like ſtrength to reſiſt temptatiōs, but many infirmities and offences are ſeene in the moſt part of men: this nothing hindereth their holines, ſo that their ſinnes procede not of an obſtinate wilfulnes, but onelyonly of frailtie and infirmitie. For (as I hauehave ſayd before) the godly doe feele the deſires and luſts of the fleſh, but they reſiſt them, to the ende that they accompliſh them not. Alſo if they at any time vnaduiſedly fall into ſinne, yet notwithſtāding they obtaine forgeuenes thereof, if by Faith in Chriſte they be raiſed vppe againe: who would not that we ſhould driue away, but ſeeke out and bring whom the ſtraying and loſt ſheepe,The vveaknes of Faith. &c. Therfore God forbid that I ſhould ſtraighte way iudge thoſe which are weake in Faith and maners, to be prophane or vnholy, if I ſee yt they louelove & reuerence the word of God, to come to ye ſupper of the Lord, &c. For theſe God hath receaued, & counteth them righteous thorough the remiſſiō of ſinnes: to him they ſtand or fall. &c.
Wherefore, with great reioyſing I geue thankes to God, for that he hath abundantly and aboue meaſure graunted that vntounto me, which I ſo earneſtly deſired of him when I was a Monke: For he hath geuen vntounto me the grace to ſee, not one but many Sainctes, yea an infinite nomber of true ſainctes: not ſuch as the Sophiſters hauehave deuiſed, but ſuch as Chriſte himſelfe & his Apoſtles doe deſcribe. Of the which nomber I aſſure my ſelfe to be one. For I am baptiſed, and I doe beleue that Chriſt my Lord by his death hath redemed and deliuered me from all my ſinnes, and hath geuen to me eternall righteouſnes and holines. And let him be holden accurſed, who ſo euer ſhall not geue this honour vntounto Chriſte, to beleue yt by his death, his word, &c. he is iuſtified and ſanctified.
Wherfore, reiecting this fooliſh and wicked opinion concerning the name of Saincts (which in the time of Poperie and ignorance we thought to pertaine onelyonly to the Sainctes which are in heauen, and in earth to the Heremites and Monkes which did certaine great and ſtraunge workes): let vsus now learne by the holy Scripture that all they which faithfully beleue in Chriſt are Saincts. The world hath in great admiration the holines of Benedict, Gregorie, Bernard, Al the faithful be Sainctes.Fraunces and ſuch like, becauſe it heareth that they hauehave done in outward appearance and in the iudgement of the world, certaine great and excellent workes. Doutles Hyllarie, Cyrill, Athanaſius, Ambroſe, Auguſtine and others were Saincts alſo, which liued not ſo ſtrait and ſeuere a life as they did, but were conuerſant amongs men, and did eate common meates, drunke wine, and vſed clenly and comely apparell, ſo that in a maner there was no difference betwene them & other honeſt men as touching the common cuſtome, and the vſe of things neceſſary for this life, and yet were they to be preferred farre aboue the other. Theſe men taught the doctrine and faith of Chriſte ſincerely & purely, without any ſuperſtition: they reſiſted heretikes, they purged the church from innumerable errours: their company and familiaritie was comfortable to many, and ſpecially to thoſe which were afflicted and heauie harted, whom they raiſed vppe and comforted by the word of God. For they did not withdraw them ſelues from the company of men, but they executed their offices euen where moſt reſort of people was. Contrariwiſe, the other not onelyonly taught many things contrary to the Faith, but alſo were themſelues the authors & firſt inuentours of many ſuperſtitions, errours, abhominable ceremonies and wicked worſhippings. Therefore except at the houre of death they laid hold of Chriſte, and repoſed their whole truſt in his death and victorie, theyr ſtrait and painfull life auailed them nothing at all.
Theſe things ſufficiently declare who be the true Sainctes in deede, and which is to be called a holy life:A holy life. Not the life of thoſe which lurke in caues & dennes, which make their bodies leane with faſting, which weare hear, and doe other like things with this perſwaſion and truſt, that they ſhall hauehave ſome ſingular reward in heauen aboue all other Chriſtians: but of thoſe which be baptiſed and beleue in Chriſt, which put of the olde man with his workes, but not at once: For concupiſcence and luſt remaineth in them ſo long as they liue: the feeling wherof doth hurt them nothing at all, if they ſuffer it not to raigne in them, but ſubdue it to the ſpirite.
This doctrine bringeth great conſolation to godly mindes, that when they feele theſe dartes of the fleſh, wherewith Sathan aſſaileth the ſpirite, they ſhould not deſpaire: As it hapneth to many in the Papacie, which thought that they ought to feele no concupiſcence of the fleſh, where as notwithſtanding Hierome, Gregorie, Benedict, Barnard and others (whom the Monks ſet before them as a perfect example of chaſtitie and of all Chriſtian vertues) could neuer come ſo farre as to feele no concupiſcence or luſt of the fleſh. Yea they felt it and that very ſtrongly. Which thing they acknowledge and plainly confeſſe in diuers places of their bookes.
Therfore we rightly confeſſe in the articles of our beleefe, that we beleue there is a holy Church.I beleue that there is a holy Church. For it is inuiſible, dwelling in ſpirit in a place that none can attaine vntounto, and therefore her holines can not be ſeene: For God doth ſo hide and couer her with infirmities, with ſinnes, with errours, with diuers formes of ye croſſe and offences, that according to the iudgement of reaſon it is no where to be ſeene. They that are ignorant of this, when they ſee the infirmities and ſinnes of thoſe which are baptiſed, which hauehave the word and beleue it: are by and by offended, and iudge them not to pertaine to the Church. And in the meane while they dreame that the Heremites, the Monks and ſuch other ſhauelings are the church: which honour God with their lippes, and worſhip him in vaine, becauſe they folow not the word of God, but the doctrines and commaundements of men, & teach others to doe the ſame. And becauſe they doe certaine ſuperſtitious and monſtrous works, which carnal reaſon magnifieth and highly eſtemeth: therfore they iudge them only to be Saincts and to be the church: And in ſo doing they chaunge and turne this article of the Faith cleane contrary: I beleue that there is a holy church.I do not ſee, but I beleue. &c. and in the ſteede of this word [I beleue] they put in [I ſee]. Theſe kinds of righteouſnes & holines of mans owne deuiſing,Hypocriticall holines. are nothing elſe but ſpiritual ſorceries wherwt ye eyes & minds of mē are blinded & led frō ye knowledge of true holines.
But thus teach we, that the Church hath no ſpot nor wrinkle, but is holy, and yet through Faith onelyonly in Chriſt Ieſus: Againe, that ſhe is holy in life and cōuerſation by abſtaining from the luſts of the fleſh,The church is holy. and exerciſe of ſpirituall works: but yet not in ſuch ſort that he is deliuered from all euill deſires, or purged from all wicked opinions and errours. For the church alwayes confeſſeth her ſinnes,The church prayeth that her ſinnes ma… be forgeuen. & prayeth that her faults may be pardoned. Alſo ſhe beleueth ye forgeuenes of ſinnes. The Saincts therfore doe ſinne, fall, and alſo erre: but yet through ignorance. For they would not willingly deny Chriſte, forſake the Goſpell, &c: therefore they hauehave remiſſion of ſinnes. And if through ignorance they erre alſo in doctrine, yet is this pardoned: for in the ende they acknowledge their errour, and reſt onelyonly vppon the truth, and the grace of God offered in Chriſte, as Hierome, Gregorie, Bernard and others did. Let Chriſtians then endeuour to auoide the workes of the fleſh: but the deſires or luſtes of the fleſh they can not auoide.
It is very profitable therfore for them to feele the vncleane luſtes of the fleſh,To feele the vnclennes of the flesh is profitable. leſt they ſhould be puffed vp with ſome vaine & wicked opinion of the righteouſnes of their owne works, as though they were accepted before God for the ſame. The Monks being puffed vp with this opinion of their owne righteouſnes, thought thēſelues to be ſo holy, yt they ſolde their righteouſnes & holines to others, although they were cōuinced by the teſtimony of their owne hearts, yt they were vncleane. So pernitious and peſtilent a poyſon it is for a mā to truſt in his owne righteouſnes, & to thinke himſelfe to be cleane. But the godly, becauſe they feele ye vnclennes of their owne harts, therfore they cānot truſt to their own righteouſnes. This feeling ſo maketh thē to ſtoupe, & ſo hū bleth them yt they cannot truſt to their owne good workes, but are conſtrained to flie vntounto Chriſte their Mercy ſeat and onelyonly ſuccour: who hath not a corrupt and ſinfull, but a moſt pure and holy fleſh, which he hath geuen for the life of the world: in him they finde a ſound and perfect righteouſnes. Thus they continue in humilitie: not counterfet and Monkiſh, but true and vnfained, becauſe of the vncleanes which yet remaineth in their fleſh: for the which if God would ſtraitly iudge them, they ſhould be foūd giltie of eternal death. But becauſe they lift not vp thē ſelues proudly againſt God, but wt a broken & a cōtrite heart humbly acknowledging their ſinnes, & reſting wholy vppon the benefite of the Mediatour Chriſt, they come forth into the preſence of God, and pray that for his ſake their ſinnes may be forgeuen them: God ſpreadeth ouer them an infinite heauen of grace, and doth not impute vntounto them their ſinnes for Chriſtes ſake.
This I ſay to the end that we may take heede of the pernicious errours of ye Papiſts touching ye holines of life, wherin our minds were ſo wrapped, that wtout great difficultie we could not winde our ſelues out of them. Wherfore doe your endeuour with diligence, that ye may diſcerne and rightly iudge betwene true righteouſnes or holines, and that which is hypocriticall: then ſhall ye behold the kingdom of Chriſt with other eyes then carnall reaſon doth, that is, with ſpirituall eyes, and certainly iudge thoſe to be true Sainctes in deede which are baptiſed and beleue in Chriſte, and afterwardes in the ſame Faith wherby they are iuſtified and their ſinnes both paſt and preſent are forgeuen, doe abſtaine from the deſires of the fleſh. But from theſe deſires they are not thorowly clenſed: for the fleſh luſteth againſt the ſpirite. Notwithſtanding theſe vncleane & rebellious luſtes doe ſtill remaine in them, to this ende that they may be humbled, and being ſo humbled, they may feele the ſweetenes of the grace and benefite of Chriſte. So theſe remnauntes of vncleane luſtes and ſinnes doe nothing at all hinder,To the godly thoſe things vvhichwhich are euil, turne vntounto good. but greatly furder the godly: For the more they feele their infirmities and ſinnes, ſo much the more they flie vntounto Chriſte the throne of grace, and more heartely craue his aide and ſuccour: to witte, that he will couer them with his righteouſnes, that he will encreaſe their Faith, that he will endue them with his holy ſpirite, by whoſe gracious leading and guiding they may ouercome the luſts of the fleſh, that they rule & raigne not ouer them, but may be ſubiect vntounto them. Thus true Chriſtians doe continually wraſtle with ſinne, and yet notwithſtanding in wraſtling they are not ouercome, but obtaine the victorie.
This hauehave I ſaid, yt ye may vnderſtād, not by mens dreames, but by ye word of God,Chriſtian doctrine raiſeth vp and comforteth vveake and troubled conſciences. who be true Saincts in deede. We ſee then how greatly Chriſtian doctrine helpeth to the raiſing vp & comforting of weake conſciences: which treateth not of coules, ſhauings, ſhearings, fraternities and ſuch like toyes, but of high & waightie matters, as how we may ouercome the fleſh, ſinne, death and the Deuill. This doctrine, as it is vnknowne to all Iuſticiaries & ſuch as truſt to their owne works, ſo is it impoſſible for them to inſtruct or bring into the right way one poore conſcience wandring and going aſtray: or to pacifie and comfort the ſame when it is in heauines, terrour, or deſperation.