Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 4 · Verse extract 19
Verſe. 19. But as then he that vvas borne after the flesh, perſecuted him that vvas borne after the ſpirite, euen ſo is it novv.
This place containeth a ſinguler conſolation. Whoſoeuer are borne and liue in Chriſte, and reioyce in this birth and inheritance of God, hauehave Iſmael for their enemie and their perſecutour. This we learne at this day by experience: For we ſee that all the world is full of tumultes, perſecutions, ſectes and offences. Wherefore, if we did not arme our ſelues with this conſolation of Paule and ſuch like, and well vnderſtand this article of Iuſtification, we ſhould neuer be able to withſtand the violence & ſubtill ſleightes of Satan. For who ſhould not be troubled with theſe cruell perſecutions of our aduerſaries, and with theſe ſectes and infinite offences, which a ſort of buſie and fantaſticall ſpirits ſtirre vp at this day? Verely it is no ſmal greefe vntounto vsus, when we are conſtrained to heare that all things were in peace & tranquilitie before the Goſpel came abrode:The iudgemēt of the vvorld concerning the goſpell. but ſince the preaching & publiſhing therof, al things are vnquiet & the whole world is in an vprore, ſo that eueryevery one armeth himſelfe againſt an other. When a man that is not endued with the ſpirit of God heareth this, by and by he is offended, and iudgeth that the diſobedience of ſubiectes againſt their magiſtrates, that ſeditions, warres, plages & famine, that the ouerthrowing of common weales, kingdoms and countreis, that ſectes, offences and ſuch other infinite euils doe procede altogether of the doctrine of the Goſpell.
Againſt this great offence we muſt comfort & arme our ſelues wt this ſweete cōſolation,VVhat the faithfull muſt be content to be called in this vvorld. Iohn. 16.2. that the faithfull muſt beare this name and this title in the world, that they are ſeditious and ſchiſmatikes, and the authors of innumerable euils. And hereof it commeth that our aduerſaries thinke they hauehave a iuſt cauſe, yea that they doe God high ſeruice when they hate, perſecute, and kill vsus. It can not be then but that Iſmael muſt perſecute Iſaac: But Iſaac againe perſecuteth not Iſmael. Who ſo wil not ſuffer the perſecution of Iſmael, let him not profeſſe himſelfe to be a Chriſtian.
But let our aduerſaries (which ſo vehemently amplifie & exaggerate theſe euils at this day) tel vsus what good thīgs enſued ye preaching of the Goſpel of Chriſt and his Apoſtles.VVhat folovved the preaching of the Goſpell. Did not the deſtruction of ye kingdom of the Iewes follow? was not the Romaine Empire ouerthrowne? was not ye whole world in an vprore. And yet ye Goſpell was not the cauſe hereof, which Chriſte and his Apoſtles preached for the profite and ſaluation of men, and not for their deſtruction. But theſe things folowed through the fault of ye people,Pſal. 2.2.3. the nations, the Kings & Princes, who being poſſeſſed of ye Deuill, would not hearkē to ye word of grace, life, and eternall ſaluation: but deteſted and condemned it as a doctrine moſt pernicious and hurtfull to religion & common weales. And that this ſhould ſo come to paſſe, the holy Ghoſt foretold by Dauid when he ſayeth, Pſal. 2. VVhy doe the heathen rage, and the people murmure in vaine. &c.
Pſal. 2.2.3.Such tumultes and hurly burlies we heare and ſee at this day The aduerſaries lay the fault in our doctrine. But ye doctrine of grace and peace ſtirreth not vp theſe troubles: but ye people, nations, kings, and Princes of the earth (as the Pſalme ſayeth) rage, murmure, conſpire and take counſell, not againſt vsus (as they thinke) nor againſt our doctrine, which they blaſpheme as falſe and ſeditious: but againſt the Lord and his annoynted. Therfore all their counſels and practiſes are and ſhall be diſappoynted and brought to naught: He that dvvelleth in the heauen shall laugh: Pſal. 2.4.the Lord shall hauehave them in deriſion. Let thē cry out therfore as long as they liſt, that we raiſe vp theſe tumults and ſeditions: notwithſtanding this Pſalme comforteth vsus, and ſaith, that they themſelues are the authors of theſe troubles. They can not beleue this, & much leſſe can they beleue that it is they which murmure, riſe vp,The blindnes of the aduerſaries. Iohn. 16.2. & take coūſell againſt the Lord & his anoynted: nay rather they thinke that they maintaine ye Lords cauſe, that they defend his glory, & do him acceptable ſeruice in perſecuting vsus: but ye Pſalme lieth not, and that ſhall the ende declare. Here we doe nothing, but onelyonly ſuffer, as our conſcience beareth vsus witneſſe in the holy Ghoſt.Rom. 9.1. Moreouer, the doctrine for the which they raiſe vp ſuch tumultes and offences, is not ours, but it is the doctrine of Chriſte. This doctrine we can not deny, nor forſake the defence thereof, ſeeing Chriſt ſayth: VVhoſoeuer shall be ashamed of me and of my vvordes in this adulterous and ſinnefull nation, Luke. 9.26.of him shal the ſonne of man be ashamed vvhen he shall come in his glory, and in the glory of the father and of the holy angels.
He therfore that will preach Chriſt truely, and confeſſe him to be our righteouſnes, muſt be content to heare that he is a pernicious fellow, and that he troubleth all things.Paule a peſtiferous felovv. Actes. 17.6.7. They which hauehave troubled the world (ſayd the Iewes of Paul and Silas, Acts. 17.) are alſo come vntounto vsus, and hauehave done contrary to the decrees of Caeſar. And in the. 24. of the Actes. We hauehave found this peſtilent fellow ſtirring vp ſedition among all the Iewes thorow out the whole world,Actes. 24.3. and the authour of the Sect of the Nazarites. &c. In like maner alſo the Gentiles complaine in the. 16. of the Actes: Theſe men trouble our Citie. Actes. 16.20.So at this day they accuſe Luther to be a troubler of the Papacie and of the Romaine Empire. If I would kepe ſilence, then all things ſhould be in peace which the ſtrong man poſſeſſeth,Luke. 11.21.2…. and the Pope would not perſecute me any more. But by this meanes the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſte ſhould be blemiſhed & defaced. If I ſpeake, the Pope is troubled and cruelly rageth. Either we muſt loſe the Pope an earthly and mortall man, or elſe the immortall God, Chriſt Ieſus, life and eternall ſaluation. Let the Pope periſh then, & let God be exalted, let Chriſt raigne and triumph for euer.
Chriſte himſelfe when he foreſaw in ſpirite the great troubles which ſhould folow his preaching, cōforted himſelfe after this maner: I came (ſayth he) to ſend fire vponupon the earth, Luke. 12.49. Hovv Chriſt comforteth him ſelfe againſt the euils that shuld folovv his preaching.and vvhat vvil I but that it be kindled? In like maner we ſee at this day that great troubles folowe the preaching of the Goſpell through the perſecution & blaſphemie of our aduerſaries and the ingratitude of the world. This matter ſo greueth vsus that oftentimes after the fleſh and after the iudgement of reaſon, we thinke it had bene better that the doctrine of the Goſpell had not bene publiſhed, then that after ye preaching therof the publike peace ſhould be ſo troubled? But according to the ſpirite we ſay boldly with Chriſte: I came to ſend fire vponupon the earth, and what will I but that it ſhould now be kindled? Now, after that this fire is kindled, ther folow forthwith great commotions. For it is not a King or an Emperour that is thus prouoked: but the God of this world,2. Cor. 4.4. which is a moſt mighty ſpirite, and the Lord of the whole world. This weake worde preaching Chriſt crucified, ſetteth vponupon this mightie and terrible aduerſarie.*He meaneth the Deuill. Behemoth feeling the diuine power of this word, ſtirreth vp all his members, ſhaketh his taile, and maketh the depth of the ſea to boile like a potte. Iob. 41. Hereof come all theſe tumultes,Iob. 41.14.22. all theſe furious and cruell rages of the world.
Wherefore let it not trouble vsus that our aduerſaries are offended and cry out that there cometh no good by the preaching of the Goſpel. They are infidels, they are blinde and obſtinate, and therfore it is impoſſible that they ſhould ſee any frute of the Goſpell.The faithfull ſee infinite profites by the Goſpell. But contrariwiſe we which beleue, doe ſee the ineſtimable profites and frutes therof: although outwardly for a time we be oppreſſed with infinite euils, deſpiſed, ſpoiled, accuſed, cōdemned as the outcaſts and filthy dunge of the whole world, and put to death: and inwardly afflicted wt the feeling of our ſinne, and vexed with Deuils. For we liue in Chriſte, in whom and by whom we are made Kings and Lordes ouer ſinne, death, the fleſh, the world, hel, and all euils: In whom and by whom alſo we tread vnderunder our feete that Dragon and Baſiliſke which is the King of ſinne & death.Pſal. 91.13. How is this done? In Faith. For ye bleſſednes which we hope for, is not yet reuealed, which in ye meane time we wait for in patience, and yet notwithſtanding doe now aſſuredly poſſeſſe the ſame by faith.
The article of iuſtification comforteth vsus againſt al ſclā ders and tentations.We ought therfore diligently to learne the article of iuſtification: for that onelyonly is able to ſupport vsus againſt theſe infinite ſclaunders & offences, & to cōfort vsus in all our tentatiōs and perſecutiōs. For we ſee that it cā not otherwiſe be, but that ye world wil be offended wt the pure doctrine of the Goſpel, & continually cry out that no good cometh of it: For the natural man vnderſtandeth not thoſe things vvhichwhich are of the ſpirit of God: 1. Cor. 2.12.for they are foliſhnes to him. 1. Cor. 2. He onelyonly beholdeth the outward euils,The vvorld cā not but be offended at the preaching of the Goſpel. troubles, rebellions, murthers, ſects, and ſuch other like things. With theſe ſights he is offended and blinded, and finally falleth into the contempt & blaſpheming of God and his word.
On yt contrary part we ought to ſtay & cōfort our ſelues in this, that our aduerſaries do not accuſe & condemne vsus for any manifeſt wickednes which we hauehave committed, as adulterie, murther, theft & ſuch like, but for our doctrine.VVhy our aduerſaries doe condemne vsus. And what doe we teach? That Chriſt the ſonne of God by ye death of ye croſſe hath redemed vsus frō our ſinnes & from euerlaſting death. Therfore they do not impugne our life, but our doctrine: yea ye doctrine of Chriſt, & not ours. Therfore if ther be any offence, it is Chriſtes offence & not ours, & ſo ye fault wherfore they perſecute vsus, Chriſt hath committed and not we. Now, whether they wil condemne Chriſt, & plucke him out of heauē as an heretike & ſeditious perſon for this fault that he is our onelyonly iuſtifier and Sauiour, let them looke to that. As for vsus, we commending this his owne cauſe vntounto himſelf, are quiet beholders whether of them ſhal hauehave the victory, Chriſt or they. In dede after the fleſh it greueth vsus that theſe Iſmaelites hate & perſecute vsus ſo furiouſly:Greefe after the flesh, and glory after the ſpirite. Rom. 5.3. notwtſtanding according to the ſpirite we glory in theſe afflictions: both becauſe we know that we ſuffer them not for our ſinnes, but for Chriſtes cauſe, whoſe benefite and whoſe glory we ſet forth: and alſo becauſe Paule geueth vsus warning aforehand, that Iſmael muſt mocke Iſaac and perſecute him.
The Iewes expound this place, which Paule alleageth out of the 21. of Geneſis,Gene. 21.9. The expoſitiō of the Ievves. of Iſmael mocking & perſecuting Iſaac after this maner: that Iſmael conſtrained Iſaac to commit Idolatrie. If he did ſo, yet I beleue not yt it was any ſuch groſſe idolatry as ye Iewes dreame of: to witte, that Iſmael made images of clay after the maner of the Gentiles, which he compelled Iſaac to worſhip: For this Abraham would in no wiſe hauehave ſuffred.VVhat maner of man Iſmael vvas. But I thinke that Iſmael was in outward ſhew a holy mā, as Caine was, who alſo perſecuted his brother, and at length killed him: not for any corporall thing, but becauſe he ſaw that God eſtemed him aboue the other. In like maner Iſmael was outwardly a louer of religion: he ſacrificed & exerciſed himſelfe in well doing. Therefore he mocked his brother Iſaac, & would be eſtemed a better man then he, for two cauſes:Iſmael vvould be preferred before Iſaac for tvvo cauſes. Firſt for his religion and ſeruice of God: Secōdly for his ciuill gouernment & inheritance. And theſe two things he ſeemed iuſtly to chalenge to himſelfe. For he thought that the kingdom and Prieſthode pertained to him by ye right of Gods law as the firſt borne: and therfore he perſecuted Iſaac ſpiritually becauſe of religion, and corporally becauſe of his inheritance.
This perſecution alwayes remaineth in the Church,Iſmael alvvayes perſecuteth Iſaac. eſpecially when the doctrine of the Goſpell flouriſheth: to witte, that the children of the fleſh mocke the children of the promiſe and perſecute them. The Papiſts perſecute vsus at this day, and for none other cauſe, but for that we teach that righteouſnes cometh by the promiſe. For it vexeth the Papiſtes, that we will not worſhip their Idols, that is to ſay,The ſpirituall perſecution. that we ſet not forth their righteouſnes, their workes and worſhippings deuiſed and ordained by men, as auaileable to obtaine grace and forgeuenes of ſinnes. And for this cauſe they goe about to caſt vsus out of the houſe, that is to ſay, they vaunt that they are the Church, the children and people of God, and that the inheritance belongeth vntounto them. &c. Contrariwiſe they excommunicate and baniſh vsus as heretikes and ſeditious perſons, and if they can, they kill vsus alſo: and in ſo doing they thinke they doe God good ſeruice. So, as much as in them lieth, they caſt vsus out of this life, and of the life to come. The Anabaptiſtes and ſuch other do hate vsus deadly becauſe we impugne & deteſt their errors & hereſies which they ſpread abrode & daily renue in ye church: and for this cauſe they iudge vsus to be far worſe then ye Papiſts, & therfore they hauehave cōceiued a more cruel hatred againſt vsus, then againſt ye Papiſts.
As ſoone therfore as the word of God is brought to light,The Deuil perſecuteth the church by violence & ſubteltie. the Deuil is angry, & vſeth all his force & ſubtil ſleightes to perſecute it, & vtterly to aboliſh it: Therfore he cā no otherwiſe do, but raiſe vp infinite ſects, horrible offences, cruel perſecutions & abhominable murthers. For he is the father of lying and a murtherer. He ſpreadeth his lies thorowout the world by falſe teachers, & he killeth men by tyrannes. By theſe meanes he poſſeſſeth both the ſpirituall and the corporall kingdom:Epheſ. 6.16. the ſpirituall by the lying of falſe teachers (ſtirring vppe alſo without ceaſing eueryevery one of vsus perticularly by his fierie dartes to hereſies and wicked opinions): the corporall kingdom by ye ſword of tyrannes.The ſpirituall and corporall perſecution of the godly. Thus this father of lying and of murther, ſtirreth vp perſecution on eueryevery ſide, both ſpirituall and corporall againſt the childrē of the freewoman. The ſpirituall perſecution which we are at this day conſtrained to ſuffer of heretikes, is to vsus moſt greeuous & intolerable becauſe of the infinite offences and ſclaunders wherewith the Deuill goeth about to deface our doctrine. For we are enforced to heare that the hereſies and errours of the Anabaptiſtes and other heretikes, and all other enormities, doe proceede from our doctrine. The corporall perſecution, by which tyrannes lie in wait for our goodes and liues, is more tolerable: For they perſecute vsus not for our ſinnes, but for the teſtimonie of the word of God. Let vsus learne therefore euen by the title which Chriſt geueth to the Deuill: to witte, that he is the father of lying and murther,Iohn. 1.44. Iohn. 8. that when the Goſpel flouriſheth and Chriſt raigneth, then ſectes of perdition muſt needes ſpring vppe, and murtherers, perſecuting the Goſpell, muſt rage eueryevery where. And Paule ſayeth:1. Cor. 11.19. That there muſt be hereſies. He that is ignorant of this, is ſoone offended, and falling away from the true God and true Faith, he retourneth to his olde God and olde falſe faith.
Paule therefore in this place armeth the godly beforehand, that they be not offended with thoſe perſecutions, ſectes and offences, ſaying: But as then he that vvas borne after the flesh, &c. As if he would ſay:Falſe brethrē at the firſt are frendes, but aftervvardes they become moſt deadly enemies. If we be the children of ye promiſe and borne after the ſpirite, we muſt ſurely loke to be perſecuted of our brother which is borne after ye fleſh: that is to ſay, not only our enemies which are manifeſtly wicked, ſhall perſecute vsus, but alſo ſuch as at the firſt were our deare frendes, with whom we were familiarly conuerſant in one houſe, which receaued from vsus the true doctrine of the Goſpell, ſhall become our deadly enemies,The brethern borne after the flesh, muſt perſecute the brethern that are borne after the ſpirit. Pſal. 41.9. and perſecute vsus extremely. For they are brethren after the fleſh, and muſt perſecute their brethern which are borne after the ſpirite. So Chriſt in the .41. Pſalme complaineth of Iudas: The man of my peace vvhom I truſted, vvhichwhich did eate of my bread, hath lifted vp the hele againſt me. But this is our conſolation, that we hauehave not geuen any occaſion to our Iſmaelites to perſecute vsus. The Papiſtes perſecute vsus becauſe we teach ye pure and ſincere doctrine of ye Goſpel: which if we would forſake, they would perſecute vsus no more.The true doctrine of the goſpel is the cauſe of perſecution. Moreouer, if we would approue the pernicious hereſies of the Sectaries, they would praiſe vsus. But becauſe we deteſt and abhorre the impietie both of the one and the other, therefore doe they ſo ſpitefully hate and ſo cruelly perſecute vsus.
But not onelyonly Paule (as I hauehave ſayd) armeth vsus againſt ſuch perſecutions and offences,Chriſte comforteth his againſt the hatred and perſecutions of the vvorld. Iohn. 15.19. but Chriſt himſelfe alſo moſt ſweetely comforteth vsus in the .15. of Iohn, ſaying: if ye vvere of the vvorld, the vvorld vvould louelove you: but becauſe ye are not of the vvorld, but I hauehave choſen you out of the vvorld, therfore the vvorld hateth you. As if he would ſay: I am the cauſe of all theſe perſecutions which ye endure: and if ye be killed it is I for whoſe ſake ye are killed. For if ye did not preach my word and confeſſe me, the world would not perſecute you. But it goeth well with you:Math. 10.24. Iohn. 15.20. For the ſeruaunt is not greater then his maſter. If they hauehave perſecuted me, they vvill alſo perſecute you for my names ſake.
By theſe wordes Chriſte layeth all the fault vponupon himſelfe,The name of Chriſte is the cauſe vvhie the vvorld rageth againſt the godly. Iohn. 16.33. and deliuereth vsus from all feare. As if he would ſay: Ye are not the cauſe why the world hateth & perſecuteth you, but my name which ye preach and confeſſe, is the cauſe thereof. But be of good comfort: I hauehave ouercome the vvorld. This comfort vpholdeth vsus, ſo that we dout nothing but that Chriſte is ſtrong enough, not onelyonly to beare, but alſo to vanquiſh all the crueltie of tyrannes, and the ſubtill ſleightes of heretikes. And this he hath declared in ſhewing forth his power againſt the Iewes and Romaines, whoſe tyrannie and perſecutions he ſuffered for a time:Chriſt remaineth king and conquerour, though the gates of hell fight againſt him. He alſo ſuffered the ſubtelties and craftie practiſes of heretikes, but in time and place he ouerthrew them all, and remained King and conquerour. Let the Papiſtes then rage as much as they will: let the Sectaries ſclaunder and corrupt the Goſpell of Chriſte as much as they can: notwithſtanding Chriſte ſhall raigne eternally, and his word ſhall ſtand for euer, when all his enemies ſhalbe brought to nought. Moreouer, this is a ſingular conſolation, that the perſecution of Iſmael againſt Iſaac ſhall not alwayes continue, but ſhall endure for a litle while, and when that is ended, the ſentence ſhall be pronounced, as foloweth.