Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 1 · Verse extract 6
Verſe. 6. From him that hath called you in the grace of Chriſt.
A double expoſition vponupon this place.This place is ſomewhat doubtfull, and therfore it hath a double vnderſtanding. The firſt is: From that Chriſt that hath called you in grace. The other is: From him, that is to ſay, from God vvhichwhich hath called you in the grace of Chriſt. I embrace the former. For it liketh me that euen as Paule a litle before made Chriſt the Redemer, who by his death deliuereth vsus from this preſent euill world: alſo the giuer of Grace and Peace equally with God the father: ſo he ſhould alſo make him here the caller in grace: For Paules ſpeciall purpoſe is, to beat into our minds the benefite of Chriſt, by whom we come vntounto the father.
There is alſo in theſe wordes: From him that hath called vsus in grace, a great vehemencie. Wherin is contained withal a contrary relation. As if he would ſay: Alas, how lightly do you ſuffer your ſelues to be withdrawne and remoued from Chriſt, which hath called you: not as Moiſes did, to the law, workes, ſinne, wrath and damnation, but altogether to grace. So we alſo complaine at this day with Paule, that the blindnes and peruerſnes of men is horrible, in that none will receaue the doctrine of grace and ſaluation. Or if there be any that receaue it, yet they quickly ſlide backe againe and fall from it, whereas notwithſtanding it bringeth with it all good things,VVhat good things the doctrine of grace bringeth vvith it. as well ghoſtly as bodely, namely forgeuenes of ſinnes, true righteouſnes, peace of conſcience, and euerlaſting life. Moreouer it bringeth light and ſound iudgement of all kindes of doctrine and trades of life. It approueth & eſtabliſheth ciuill gouernment, houſhold gouernment, and all kindes of life that are ordained and appoynted of God. It rooteth vp all doctrines of errour, ſedition, confuſion and ſuch like: and it putteth away the feare of ſinne and death, and to be ſhort, it diſcouereth all ſubtile ſlights and works of the Deuill, and openeth the benefits and louelove of God towards vsus in Chriſt. What (with a miſchiefe) meanes the world to hate this word, this glad tidings of euerlaſting comfort, grace, ſaluation and eternall life ſo bitterly, and to perſecute it with ſuch helliſh outrage?
Paule before called this preſent world, euill and wicked, that is to ſay, the Deuils kingdome: For els it would acknowledge the benefite and merciemercy of God:The vvorld hateth the light, and loueth darknes. Io. 1.9.10. but foraſmuch as it is vnderunder the dominion of the deuill, it doth therefore careleſly and deſperatly deſpiſe & perſecute theſe things, louing darknes, errours and the kingdome of the Deuill, more then the light, truth, & kingdome of Chriſt. And this it doth not through ignorance or errour, but through the malice of the deuill. Which thing hereby may ſufficiently appeare, in that Chriſt the ſonne of God by giuing him ſelfe to death for the ſinnes of all men, hath gained nothing els of this froward and forlorne world,VVhat revvard the vvicked vvould repay to Chriſt for his benefits. Io. 1.5. but that for this his ineſtimable benefite, it blaſphemeth him, and perſecuteth his moſt healthfull word, and faine would yet ſtill naile him to the croſſe, if it could. Therefore not onelyonly the world dwelleth in darkenes, but it is darkenes it ſelfe, as it is written in the firſt of Iohn.
Paule therfore amplifieth theſe words: From Chriſt vvho hath called you. As though he would ſay: My preaching was not of the hard lawes of Moſes, neither taught I that you ſhould be bondſlaues vnderunder the yoke: but I preached the onelyonly doctrine of grace and freedome from the lawe, ſinne, death, the deuill and damnation: That is to ſay, that Chriſt hath mercifully called you in grace, that ye ſhould be freemen vnderunder Chriſt, and not bōdmen vnderunder Moſes, whoſe Diſciples ye are now become againe by meanes of your falſe Apoſtles, who by the lawe of Moiſes called you not vntounto grace, but vntounto wrath, to the hating of God, to ſinne and death.The calling of Chriſt. But Chriſtes calling bringeth grace and ſauing health. For they that be called by him, in ſtede of the lawe that worketh ſorrow, doe gaine the glad tidings of the Goſpel, and are tranſlated out of Gods wrath into his fauour, out of ſinne into righteouſnes, and out of death into life. And will you ſuffer your ſelues to be carried, yea and that ſo ſoone and ſo eaſily an other way, from ſuch a liuing fountaine, full of grace and and life? Now if Moſes call men to Gods wrath and to ſinne by the law of God, whither ſhall the Pope call men by his owne traditions? The other ſenſe, that the father calleth in the grace of Chriſt, is alſo good: but the former ſenſe concerning Chriſt, ſerueth more fitly for the comforting of afflicted conſciences.