Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 3 · Verse extract 27
Verſe. 27. For all ye that are*Baptiſme ſuccedeth Circū ciſion, and ſo through Chriſt both Ievv and Gentile is ſaued. Rom. 13.14. Galath. 5.16. baptiſed into Chriſt, hauehave put on Chriſt.
To put on Chriſt is taken two maner of wayes, according to the law, & according to the goſpel. According to the law, as it is ſaid in the 13. chap. to the Rom: Put ye on the Lord Ieſus Chriſt: that is, folowe the example and vertues of Chriſte. Doe that which he did, and ſuffer that which he ſuffered. And in the .1. Pet. 2. Chriſt hath ſuffred for vsus, leauing vsus an example that vve should folovv his ſteppes. 1. Pet. ….21.Nowe, we ſee in Chriſt a ſinguler patience, an ineſtimable mildnes and louelove, and a wonderfull modeſtie in all things. This goodly apparell we muſt put on, that is to ſay, folowe theſe vertues.
But the putting on of Chriſt according to the Goſpell, conſiſteth not in imitation, but in a newe birth and a new creation: that is to ſay,To put on Chriſt according to the Goſpell. in putting on Chriſtes innocencie, his righteouſnes, his wiſedom, his power, his ſauing health, his life and his ſpirite. We are clothed with the lether coate of Adam, which is a mortall garment, and a garment of ſinne: that is to ſay, we are all ſubiect vntounto ſinne, all ſold vnderunder ſinne.The lether coate of Adam. There is in vsus horrible blindnes, ignoraunce, contempt and hatred of God: moreouer, euil concupiſcence, vncleanes, couetouſnes. &c. This garment, that is to ſay,Hovv the old man muſt be put of. Eph. 4.22.23.14 Coloſſ. 1.19.20.21. &c. this corrupt and ſinnefull nature we receaued from Adam: which Paule is wont to call the olde man. This olde man muſt be put off with all his workes. Epheſ. 4. Coloſſ. 1. that of the children of Adam we may be made the children of God. This is not done by chaunging of a garment, or by any lawes or workes, but by a newe birth, and by the renewing of the inward man, which is done in Baptiſme, as Paule ſayeth: All ye that are baptized, hauehave put on Chriſte. Tit. 35.Alſo: According to his merciemercy hath he ſaued vsus by the vvashing of the nevve birth, and the renevving of the holy Ghoſt. Tit. 3. Baptiſme is a ſure ſigne of our regeneration vvhichwhich is vvrought by the holy ghoſtFor beſides that they which are baptiſed, are regenerate and renewed by the holy Ghoſt to a heauenly righteouſnes and to eternall life, there riſeth in them alſo a new light and a new flame: there riſe in them new and holy affections, as the feare of God, true Faith & aſſured hope. &c. There beginneth in them alſo a newe wil. And this is to put on Chriſt truely and according to the Goſpell.
Therefore the righteouſnes of the lawe or of our owne workes is not geuen vntounto vsus in baptiſme: but Chriſt him ſelfe is our garment.In Baptiſme vve put on Chriſte. Now, Chriſt is no lawe, no lawgeuer, no worke: but a diuine and an ineſtimable gift, whom God hath geuen vntounto vsus that he might be our iuſtifier, our Sauiour and our redemer. Wherefore, to be apparelled with Chriſt according to the Goſpell, is not to be apparelled with the lawe nor with workes: but with an incomparable gift: that is to ſay, with remiſſion of ſinnes, righteouſnes, peace, conſolation, ioy of ſpirite, ſaluation, life, and Chriſt him ſelfe.
This is diligently to be noted becauſe of the vaine and fantaſticall ſpirites, which goe about to deface the maieſtie of baptiſme,The Anabaptiſtes deface the maieſtie of baptiſme. and ſpeake wickedly of it. Paule contrariwiſe commendeth and ſetteth it forth with honorable titles, calling it the vvashing of the nevve birth: the renevving of the holy Ghoſt. Tit. 3. And here alſo he ſayth,Tit. 3.…. that all they which are baptiſed, hauehave put on Chriſte. As if he ſayd: Ye are caried out of the lawe into a newe birth which is wrought in baptiſme. Therfore ye are not now any longer vnderunder the law, but ye are clothed with a newe garment: to witte, with the righteouſnes of Chriſte. Wherefore baptiſme is a thing of great force and efficacie. Now, when we are apparelled with Chriſt, as with the robe of righteouſnes and our ſaluation, then we muſt put on Chriſte alſo as the apparell of imitation and example. Theſe things I hauehave handled more largely in an other place, therefore I here briefly paſſe them ouer.