Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 5 · Verse extract 8
Verſe. 8. It is not the perſvvaſion of him that calleth you.
This is a great conſolation and a ſingulare doctrine, whereby Paule ſheweth how the falſe perſwaſions of ſuch as are deceaued by wicked teachers, may be rooted out of their heartes.The authority of the falſe apoſtles. The falſe apoſtles were ioly fellowes, and in outward appearance farre paſſing Paule both in learning and in godlines. The Galathians being dedeceaued with this goodly ſhew, ſuppoſed that when they hearde them, they heard Chriſte him ſelfe, and therefore they iudged theyr perſwaſion to be of Chriſte. Contrariwiſe Paule ſheweth that this perſwaſion and doctrine was not of Chriſt, who had called them in grace, but of the Deuil: And by this meanes he woonne many of them from this falſe perſwaſion. Likewiſe we at this day reuoke many from errour that were ſeduced, when we ſhew that their opinions are fantaſticall, wicked, and full of blaſphemies.
Againe, this conſolation belongeth to all thoſe that are afflicted, which through tentation conceaue a falſe opinion of Chriſte.A conſolation for them vvhichwhich conceaue a falſe opinion of Chriſte. For the Deuill is a wonderfull craftie perſwader, and knoweth how to amplie the leaſt ſinne, yea a very trifle, in ſuch ſort that he which is tempted ſhall thinke it to be a moſt hainous and horrible crime, and worthie of eternall damnation. Here the troubled conſcience muſt be comforted and raiſed vppe in ſuch ſort as Paule raiſed vppe the Galathians: to witte, that this cogitation or perſwaſion commeth not of Chriſte, for as much as it fighteth againſt the worde of the Goſpell, which painteth out Chriſte, not as an accuſer, a cruell exactor, &c. but as a meeke, humble hearted, and a mercifull Sauiour and comforter.
But if Satan ouerthrow this (For he is a cunning workman, and will leaue no way vnaſſayed) and lay againſt thee the word and example of Chriſte in this wiſe: True it is that Chriſt is meeke, gentle and mercifull, but to thoſe which are holy and righteous. Contrariwiſe, to the ſinners he threatneth wrath and deſtruction. Luke. 13. Alſo he pronounceth that the vnbeleuers are damned already. Iohn. 3. Moreouer, Chriſte wrought many good works: he ſuffered alſo many euilles, and commaundeth vsus to folow his example. But thy life is neither according to Chriſtes word nor his example: For thou are a ſinner, and there is no Faith in thee: Yea thou haſt done no good at all, and therefore thoſe ſentences which ſet forth Chriſt as a ſeuere iudge, doe belong to thee, and not thoſe comfortable ſentences which ſhew him to be a louing and a mercifull Sauiour, &c. Here let him that is tempted comfort himſelfe after this maner.
Chriſte is ſet out in the Scriptures as a gift and as an example. Coloſſ. 2.3. 1. Cor. 1.30.The Scripture ſetteth out Chriſt vntounto vsus two maner of wayes: Firſt as a gift. If I take hold of him in this ſort, I can want nothing. For in Chriſte are hid all the treaſures of vviſedom and knovvledge: He, with all that is in him, is made vntounto me of God, wiſedom, righteouſnes, ſanctification and redemption. Therfore although I hauehave committed both many and greeuous ſinnes: yet notwithſtanding if I beleue in him, they ſhall all be ſwalowed vppe by his righteouſnes. Secondly, the Scripture ſetteth him forth as an example to be folowed. Notwithſtanding I will not ſuffer this Chriſte (I meane as he is an example) to be ſet before me, but onelyonly in the time of ioy and gladnes when I am out of tentation (where I can ſcarſely folow the thouſande part of his example) that I may hauehave him as a mirrour to behold and view how much is yet wanting in me, that I become not ſecure & careles. But in the time of tribulation I will not heare nor admit Chriſte, but as a gift, who dying for my ſinnes, hath beſtowed vponupon me his righteouſnes, and hath done and accompliſhed that for me, which was wanting in my life:Rom. 10.4. For he is the ende and fulfilling of the lavve vntounto righteouſnes to eueryevery one that beleueth.
It is good to know theſe things, not onelyonly to the ende that eueryevery one of vsus may hauehave a ſure & a certaine remedie in the time of tentation, wherby we may eſchue that venome of deſperation, wherwith Sathā thinketh to poyſon vsus: but alſo to the ende we may be able to reſiſt the furious Sectaries & Schiſmatikes of our time. For the Anabaptiſtes count nothing more glorious in their whole doctrine, then that they ſo ſeuerely vrge the example of Chriſt and the croſſe: eſpecially ſeeing ye ſentences are manifeſt wherin Chriſt commēdeth the croſſe to his diſciples. We muſt learne therfore how we may withſtand this Sathan, trāſforming himſelf into the likenes of an Angell. Which we ſhall doe if we make a difference betwene Chriſt ſet forth vntounto vsus ſometimes as a gift, & ſometimes as an example. The preaching of him both wayes hath his conuenient time, which if it be not obſerued, the preaching of ſaluation may ſo be turned into poyſon.To vvhom Chriſt muſt be ſet out as a gift, and to vvhom as an example. Chriſte therefore muſt be ſet forth vntounto thoſe which are already caſt downe and bruſed through the heauie burden and weight of their ſinnes, as a Sauiour and a gift, and not as an example or a lawgeuer. But to thoſe that are ſecure and obſtinate, he muſt be ſet forth as an example. Alſo the hard ſentences of the Scripture, and the horrible examples of the wrath of God muſt be laid before them: as of the drowning of the whole world, of the deſtruction of Sodome & Gomorrha, and ſuch other like, that they may repent. Let eueryevery Chriſtian therfore whē he is terrified and afflicted, learne to caſt away ye falſe perſwaſiō which he hath cōceiued of Chriſt, and let him ſay: O curſed Sathan, why doeſt thou now diſpute wt me of Doing and Working, ſeeing I am terrified & afflicted for my ſinnes already? Nay rather, ſeeing I now labour and am heauie loden,Math. 11.28. I will not hearken to thee which art an accuſer and a deſtroyer, but to Chriſte the Sauiour of mankinde, which ſayeth that he came into the world to ſaue ſinners, to comfort ſuch as are in terrour, anguiſh and deſperation, and to preach deliuerance to the captiues. &c. This is the true Chriſte, and there is none other but he. I can ſeeke examples of holy life in Abraham, Eſay, Iohn Baptiſt, Paule and other Sainctes. But they can not forgeue my ſinnes, they can not deliuer me from the power of the Deuill and from death, they cannot ſaue me and geue me euerlaſting life. For theſe things belong to Chriſte alone,Iohn. 6.27. Math. 3.17. 1. Pet. 1.17. Coloſſ. 1.13. whom God the father hath ſealed: therfore I wil not heare thee nor acknowledge thee for my teacher, O Sathan, but Chriſt, of whom the father hath ſayd: This is my vvell beloued ſonne in vvhom I am vvell pleaſed, heare him. Let vsus learne in this wiſe to cōfort our ſelues through Faith in tentation, & in the perſwaſion of falſe doctrine: elſe the Deuil will either ſeduce vsus by his miniſters, or elſe kil vsus wt his fiery dartes.