Commentary on Galatians, Preface
The Preface of Martine Luther vponupon the Epiſtle to the Galathians.
I My ſelfe can ſcarcely beleeue that I was ſo plentifull in wordes when I did publikely expounde this Epiſtle of S. Paule to the Galathians, as this booke ſheweth me to hauehave bene. Notwithſtanding, I perceaue all the cogitations which I finde in this treatiſe by ſo great diligence of the brethren gathered together, to be mine: ſo yt I muſt needes confeſſe either all, or perhaps more, to hauehave bene vttered by me in this publike treatiſe. For in my heart this one article raigneth, euen the faith of Chriſt. From whom, by whom, and vntounto whom all my diuine ſtudies day and night hauehave recourſe to and froe continually. And yet I perceaue that I coulde not reache any thing neare vntounto the heighte, bredth, and depth of ſuche highe and ineſtimable wiſedome: onelyonly certaine bare and poore beginnings, & as it were fragments doe appeare. Wherfore I am aſhamed that my ſo barren and ſimple Commētaries ſhould be ſet forthe vponupon ſo worthy an Apoſtle, and elect veſſel of God. But when I conſider againe the infinite and horrible abuſes and abominations which alwayes hauehave raged in the Churche of God, and yet at this day ceaſe not to rage againſt this onelyonly and grounded rocke, which we holde to be ye article of our iuſtification, (that is to ſay, howe, not by our ſelues, neither by our workes, which are leſſe then oure ſelues, but by an other helpe, euen the ſonne of God Ieſus Chriſt, we are redemed from ſinne, death, ye deuell, and made partakers of eternal life) I am compelled to caſt of all ſhame, & to be bolde aboue meaſure.
This rocke did Sathan ſhake in paradiſe,Gen. 3, verſ. 2. when he perſwaded our firſt parents, that by their owne wiſedome and power they ſhould be like vntounto God: forſaking true Faith in God, who had geuen them life, and promiſed the continuaunce therof. By and by after, this lier and murtherer, which will be alwayes like vntounto him ſelfe, ſtirred vp the brother to the murthering of his brother, and for none other cauſe,Geneſ. 4. but for that his godly brother by Faith had offered vp a more excellent ſacrifice, and he offering vp his owne works without faith, had not pleaſed God. After this, againſt the ſame Faith followed a moſt intollerable perſecution of Sathan by the ſonnes of Caine, vntil God was euen cōſtrained at once by the floud to purge the whole world, and to defend Noe the preacher of righteouſneſſe.Geneſ 6. 2. Peter. 2.5. Geneſ. 10.6. &c. This notwithſtanding Sathan continued his ſeede in Cham, the third ſonne of Noe. But who is able to recken vp all examples? After theſe things the whole world waxed madde againſt this Faithe,1 Actes 14. finding out an infinite nombre of idolles and ſtraunge religions, wherby eueryevery one (as S. Paule ſayth) walked his owne way, truſting by their workes, ſome to pacifye or pleaſe a God, ſome a Goddeſſe, ſome Gods, ſome Goddeſſes: that is to ſay, wt out the helpe of Chriſt, by their owne workes to redeme them ſelues from euils and from their ſinnes, as all the examples and monuments of all nations doe ſufficiently witneſſe.
But theſe are nothing in compariſon of that people and congregation of God, Iſraell: which not onelyonly had the ſure promiſe of ye fathers, and afterward the lawe of God, geuen vntounto them from God him ſelfe by his angels,Actes. 7.5…. aboue all other: but alwayes and in all things were alſo certified by the preſent ſayings, miracles, and examples of yt prophets. Notwithſtanding euen amonge them alſo Satan did ſo preuaile (that is to ſay, the madde & outragious opinion of their owne righteouſnes) that afterwardes they killed all the prophets, yea euen Chriſt him ſelf the ſonne of God, their promiſed Meſſias, for that they had taught, that men are accepted into the fauour of God by grace only and not by their owne righteouſnes. And this is the ſumme of the doctrine of the deuill and of the world from the beginning: We will not ſeeme to doe, euill, but yet whatſoeuer we doe that muſt God allow of, & all his prophets muſt conſent to it, which if they ſhall refuſe to doe, they ſhall dye the death. Abell ſhall dye, but Cain ſhall floriſhe. Let this be our lawe (ſay they) and euen ſo it commeth to paſſe.
The church of the Gentiles.But in the Church of the Gentiles, the matter is, and hath beene ſo vehemētly handled, yt the fury of the Iewiſh Sinagoge may wel ſeeme to be but a ſport.1. Cor. 2.1. For they (as S. Paul ſayth) did not knovv Chriſt their anoynted, 1. Cor. 1.30.& therfore they crucified the lord of glory. But the church of the gentiles hath receyued & confeſſed Chriſt to be the ſonne of god, being made our righteouſnes, & this doth ſhe publikely record, reade, and teach. And yet notwithſtanding this confeſſion, they that would be accounted the church, do kill and perſecute, & continually rage againſt thoſe which beleeue and teach and in their deedes declare nothing els, but that Chriſt is the ſelfe ſame thing that they them ſelues (though wt fayned wordes and hipocriticall deedes) are conſtrained mawgre their heads, to allow and confeſſe. For vnderunder the name of Chriſt at this daye they reigne. And if they could without the name of Chriſt hold that ſeate and kingdome, no doubt but they would expreſſe him to be ſuch a one openly as in their hartes they eſteeme him ſecretly. But they eſteeme him a great deale leſſe then the Iewes doe, which at the leaſt thinke him to be Thola, that is to ſay, a theefe worthely hanged on the croſſe. But theſe men account him as a fable, and take him as a fayned God amongeſt the gentiles, as it may plainly appeare at Rome in the Popes court, and almoſt throughout all Italie.
Becauſe therefore Chriſt is made as it were a mocke amongeſt his Chriſtians (for Chriſtians they wilbe called): and for that Cain doth kill Abell continually,The argument of iuſtificatiō, very neceſſary and diligently to be handled. & the abhomination of Sathan doth now chefely raigne, it is very neceſſary that we ſhould diligently handle this Article, and ſet it againſt Sathan, whether we be rude or eloquent, learned or vnlearned. For this rocke muſt be publiſhed abrode, yea though eueryevery man ſhould holde his peace, yet euen of the very rockes & ſtones them ſelues. Wherfore I doe moſt willingly heerein accompliſh my duetie, and am contented to ſuffer this long Commentarie and full of wordes, to be ſet forth for the ſtirring vp of all the brethren in Chriſt, againſt the ſleights and malice of Sathan, which in theſe dayes is turned into ſuche extreame madneſſe againſt this healthfull knowledge of Chriſt now reuealed and raiſed vp againe: that as hetherto men hauehave ſeemed to be poſſeſſed with deuels and ſtarke madde, euen ſo nowe the deuils them ſelues doe ſeeme to be poſſeſſed of farre worſe deuels, and to rage euen aboue the furie of deuils,The rage of Sathan, a ſure argumēt that the day of iudgemēt is at hande. which is in deede a great argument that that enemie of truth and life, doth perceaue the day of iudgement to be at hand, which is the horrible day of his deſtruction, but the moſt comfortable day of our redemption, and ſhall be the end of all his tyrannie and crueltie. For not without cauſe is he diſquieted, when his members and powers are ſo aſſailed: euen as a theefe or an adulterer, when the morning appeareth and diſcloſeth his wickedneſſe, is taken tardie and apprehended for the ſame. For who euer heard (to paſſe ouer the abhominations of the Pope) ſo many monſters to burſt out at once into the world, as we ſee at this day in the Anabaptiſts alone?The outrages of the Anabaptiſtes. In whom Sathan breathing out as it were the laſt blaſt of his kingdom, through horrible vproures ſetteth them eueryevery where in ſuch a rage, as though he would by them ſodenly, not only deſtroy the whole world with ſeditions, but alſo by innumerable ſectes ſwallow vp and deuoure Chriſt wholy with his Church.
Againſt the liues and opinions of others he dothe not ſo rage: to wit, againſt whoremōgers, theues, murtherers, periured perſons, rebels againſt God, vnbeleuers. No, to theſe rather he geueth peace and quietneſſe: theſe he maintaineth in his court wt all manner of pleaſures and delites, and geueth to them all things at will: Euen like as ſometime in the beginning of the church, he did not onelyonly ſuffer all the idolatries and falſe religiōs of the whole world to be quiet and vntouched, but alſo mightely maintained,The Deuill troubleth not thoſe that are buried and dead in ſinne, but eſpecially thoſe that are godly and hate ſinne. defended, and nouriſhed the ſame. But the church & religion of Chriſt alone he vexed on eueryevery ſide. After this, permitting peace and quietnes to many heretikes, he troubled only the catholike doctrine. Euen ſo likewiſe at this day he hath no other buſines in hand but this onelyonly (as his owne and alwaies proper vntounto him ſelfe) to perſecute and vexe our Sauiour Chriſt: which is our perfect righteouſnes without our workes, as it is writen of him: Thou shalt treade vponupon his heele.Geneſ. 3, ver. 15.
But I doe not ſet forth theſe my meditations ſo much againſt theſe men, as for my brethren, which will either ſhew them ſelues thankfull in the Lord for this my trauell, or els will pardon my weakenes and temeritie. But of the wicked I would not in any wiſe they ſhould be liked or allowed: but rather that therby both they and their God might be the more vexed, ſeeing with my greate trauell they are ſette forth onelyonly for ſuche as S. Paule writeth this Epiſtle vntounto: that is to ſay, the troubled,For vvhoſe cauſe ſpecially Luther ſetteth forth this vvorke and vvho they be that onelyonly vnderſtand this doctrine. afflicted, vexed, tempted, (for they onelyonly vnderſtande theſe thinges) and miſerable Galathians in the Faithe. Who ſo are not ſuch, let them heare the papiſtes, monkes, anabaptiſtes and ſuch other maiſters of profound wiſdome and of their owne religion, and let them ſtoutly contemne our doctrine and our doinges. For at this day the papiſtes and anabaptiſtes conſpire together againſt the church in this one point (though they diſſemble in wordes) that the worke of God dependeth vponupon the worthines of the perſon. For thus do the Anabaptiſtes teach:The dignitie of Gods vvord and the ſacraments depend not vponupon the vvorthines or vnvvorthines of the miniſter. that baptiſme is nothing except the perſon doe beleeue. Out of this principle muſt needes follow, that all the workes of God be nothing if the man be nothing. But baptiſme is the worke of God, and yet notwtſtanding an euell man maketh it, not to be the worke of God. Moreouer, hereof it muſt follow that matrimonie, authoritie, libertie and bondage, are the workes of God: but becauſe men are euill, therfore they are not the workes of God. Wicked men hauehave the ſunne, the moone, the earth, the water, the aire, and all ſuche other creatures ſubiect vntounto them: but becauſe they be wicked and not godly, therfore the ſunne is not the ſunne, the moone, the earth, ye water, are not that which they are. The Anabaptiſtes them ſelues had bodies and ſoules before they were rebaptiſed: but becauſe they were not godly, therefore they had not true bodies and true ſoules. Alſo their parentes were not lawfully married (as they graunt them ſelues) becauſe they were not rebaptiſed: therefore the Anabaptiſtes them ſelues are all baſtards, and their parentes were all adulterers and whoremongers, and yet they doe inherite their parents landes and goods, although they graunt thē ſelues to be baſtardes and vnlawfull heires. Who ſeeth not here in the Anabaptiſtes, men not poſſeſſed with Deuills, but euen Deuills them ſelues poſſeſſed with worſe Deuills?
The Papiſtes in like manner vntill this daie doe ſtande vponupon workes and the worthines of man, contrary to grace, and ſo (in wordes at the leaſt) doe ſtrongly aſſiſt their brethren the Anabaptiſtes. For theſe Foxes are tied together by the tailes,Iudges. …5, 4. although by their heades they ſeeme to be contrary. For outwardly they pretende to be their greate enemies, when as inwardly notwithſtanding they thinke, teache and defend in deede all one thinge againſt our Sauiour Chriſt, who onelyonly is our righteouſnes. Let him therefore that can, holde faſt this one article, and let vsus ſuffer the reſt which hauehave made ſhipwracke thereof,1. Timot. 1, 1…. to be carried whether the ſea and windes ſhall driue them, vntill either they returne to the ſhip or ſwimme to the ſhore.
The concluſion and ende of this complaint is, to hope for no quietnes or ende of complaint, ſo long as Chriſt and Belial doe not agree.Eccleſ. 11, 4. Pſal. 121.4. One generation paſſeth and an other commeth. If one hereſie die, by and by an other ſpringeth vp: for the Deuill doth neither ſlumber nor ſleepe. I my ſelfe,The Churche shall neuer be quiet in this vvorld. which (though I be nothing) hauehave bene now in the miniſtery of Chrſt about .xx. yeares: can truly witneſſe yt I hauehave bene aſſayled with moe then .xx. ſectes: of the which ſome are already deſtroyd, other ſome, as the partes and membres of wormes or bees that are cut aſunder, doe yet pant for life. But Satan the God of all diſſention, ſtirreth vp daily new ſectes, and laſt of all (which of all other,Vnderſtande this of peſtilēt Libertines vvhichwhich vvould vtterly take avvay the lavv, al feare of god and the miniſterie of his vvord. Oſea. 4, 4. Mich. …, 6. I ſhould neuer hauehave foreſeene or once ſuſpected) he hath raiſed vp a ſecte of ſuch as teach that the ten commaundementes ought to be taken out of the church, and that men ſhould not be terrefied with the lawe, but gentely exhorted by the preaching of the grace of Chriſt, that the ſaying of the Prophet Micheas might he fulfilled: Let none rebuke or reproue an other: They shall not prophecie vntounto them. As though we were ignorant or had neuer taught that afflicted and broken ſpirites muſt be comforted by Chriſt: but the hard harted Phariſes vntounto whom the grace of God is preached in vaine, muſt be terrified by the lawe. And they them ſelues alſo are forced to deuiſe & imagine certaine reuelations of Gods wrath againſt the wicked & vnbeleuers. As though the lawe were or could be any thing els, but a reueiling of Gods wrath againſt impietie. Such is the blindnes and pride of theſe men: which euen by their owne iudgement doe condemne them ſelues. Wherefore it behoueth the miniſters of Gods word to be ſurely perſwaded (if they will be accounted faithfull and wiſe in the day of Chriſt) that the word of S. Paule is not ſpoken in vaine,An exhortatiō to miniſters. or prophecied of a matter of no importance:1. Cor. 11, 19. to witte, that there muſt be hereſies, that they vvhichwhich are proued may be knovvne. Yea I ſay, let the miniſter of Chriſt knowe, that ſo long as he teacheth Chriſt purely, there ſhall not be wanting peruerſe ſpirites, yea euen of our owne and among our ſelues, which ſhall ſeeke by all meanes poſſible, to trouble the church of Chriſt. And herewithal let him comfort him ſelfe, that there is no peace betvvene Chriſt and Beliall, 2. Cor. 6, 15. Geneſ. 3, 5.or betvvene the ſeede of the ſerpent, and the ſeede of the vvoman. Yea let him reioice in the troubles which he ſuffereth by theſe ſectes and ſeditious ſpirites, continually ſpringing vp one after an other. For this is our reioicing, euen the teſtimony of our conſcience, 2. Cor. 1.12.that we be found ſtanding and fighting in the behalfe of the ſeede of the woman, againſt the ſeede of the ſerpent. Let him bite vsus by the heele and ſpare not. We againe will not ceaſe to cruſh his heade, by the grace and help of Chriſt the principall bruſer therof, who is bleſſed for euer.