Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 4

Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John · Commentary 4

p. 182A COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITION VponUpon the Epiſtle of S. Paul to the GALATIANS.

CHAP. I. Verſe 1. Whoraiſed him from the dead]

ANd by the ſame almighty power cauſeth dead ſouls to hear the voice of the Son of God in his Miniſters and live, Ioh. 5.25. Eph. 1.19.

Verſe 2. The Churches of Galatia] They are not diſcliurched, though much corrupted. Ʋzziah ceaſed not to be a king, when he began to be a leper: the diſeaſe of his forehead did not remove his Crown.

Verſe 3. Grace be, &c.] See the Note on Rom. 1.7. This Epiſtle to the Galatians is an epitome of that to the Romans.

Verſe 4. From this preſent evil world] Bewitched wherewith the Galatians were relapſed from Chriſt. A ſubtill and ſly enemy it is ſurely, and hath caſt down many wounded: yea, many ſtrong men have been ſlain by it, as by Solomons harlot, Prov. 7.26.

p. 183Verſe 5. To whom be, glory] The benefit of our redemption ſhould make us lift up many an humble, joyfull and thankfull heart to God.

Verſe 6. That ye are ſo ſoon] Giddy headed hearers have religionem ephemeram, are wherried about with every winde of doctrine, being conſtant only in their inconſtancy, as Ecebolus, Balduinus, and our modern Sectaries. The Biſhops and Doctours of England (ſaid that Martyr) in their book againſt the Popes ſupremacy, ſpoke as much as Luther, or any Lutheran ever did or could. If they diſſembled, who could ever ſo deeply, ſpeaking ſo pithily? If not, who could ever turn head to tail ſo ſuddenly and ſo ſhortly as theſe did?Act. and Mon.

Removed from him, &c.] From Chriſt and me his Apoſtle. Luther often in his books teſtifieth, that he was much afraid, leſt, when he was dead, that ſound doctrine of juſtification by faith alone, would die alſo. It proved ſo in ſundry places of Germany. Men fell to Popery as faſt as leaves fall in Autumn.

Verſe 7. There be ſome] That would fain have blended Phariſaiſme and Chriſtianity, Act. 15 5.

That trouble you] As Camels with their feet trouble the waters they ſhould drink of.foreign.

And would pervert the Gospel] They pretended only to bring in a Jewiſh rite or two, and yet are ſaid to pervert the Gospel: Ea quae post tergum ſunt, in faciem convertere, foreign.as Hierome hath it, to turn that before that ſhould be behinde: to ſpeak diſtorted things, ſuch as produce convulſions of conſcience,foreign. Act. 20.30. A little thing untowardly mingled, mars all.foreign. The monſtrous hereſie of Neſtorius lay but in one letter, and of Arrius, but in one ſyllable.

Verſe 8. Or an Angel] Not an evil Angel (as Ambroſe underſtands it) but a good Angel, per impoſſibile, as Iohn 8.55.

Then that which we, &c.] Or beſides that which we have preached. He ſaith not, contrary to that, but beſides that: for indeed that which is directly beſides, is indirectly againſt the Goſpel.

Verſe 9. Then that ye have] Of the Camell it is ſaid, that he will never carry any more weight then what at firſt is ſaid upon him; nor go one foot beyond his ordinary journey. Conſcience will not budge, nor yeeld an hair for an Angels authority. Stand p. 184faſt in the good old way, and finde reſt, Ieremy 6.16.

Verſe 10. For do I now perſwade men] That is, mens doctrines and deviſes.

Or do I ſeek to pleaſe men] Ʋt foreign, qui ab omnibus gratiam inire cupit, quem quidam per jocum Placentam vocat. Menpleaſers, that curry favour with all, and covet to be counted No medlers. Theſe looſe a friend of God.

For if I yet pleaſed men] As once I did whiles I was a Phariſee.

I ſhould not be, &c.] That rule holds good in rhetorike, but not in Divinity,Cic. in Partit. Non ad veritatem ſolùm, ſed etiam ad opinionem corum qui audiunt, accommodanda eſt oratio.

Verſe 11. Is not after man] This he often inculcateth, becauſe the falſe Apoſtles had buzzed ſuch a thing into their ears, to diſparage his Miniſtery.

Verſe 12. Received it of man] i. e. Of meer man. Jeſus Chriſt is more then a man.

Verſe 13.foreign. Ho…er. And waſted it] As an enemies countrey with fire and ſword. Mars is ſtiled foreign.

Verſe 14. Above many of mine equals] Porphyry ſaid it was great pity ſuch a man as Paul was even caſt away upon the Chriſtian religion. The Monarch of Morocco told the Engliſh Em baſladour in King Iohns time, that he had lately read Pauls Epi ſtles,Ecp. Geog. which he liked ſo well, that were he now to chuſe his religion, he would, before any other, imbrace Chriſtianity; but every one, ſaid he, ought to die in his own religion: and the leaving of the faith wherein he was born, was the only thing that he diſliked it that Apoſtle.

Verſe 15. Who ſ…parated me from. &c.] How knew we this, but by the event? Whoſoever is lawfully called to the Miniſtery, may conceive that he alſo was ſanctified thereunto from the womb, and ſhould therefore do his utmoſt in the work, Verbi miniſter es, hoc age, Sa Ward Praef. ad Pe…t. prob….Perk. probl. was M^r Perkins his Motto.

Verſe 16. To reveal his Sonne in me] Not only as in an object (wherein the power and grace of Chriſt might ſhine and appear) but as by an inſtrument of revealing and preaching Chriſt to many.

I conferred not with fleſh] i. e. With carnall reaſon, an evil counſellour for the ſoul, Rom. 8.7. Indeed in humane governments, where reaſon is ſhut out, there tyranny is thrust in: but p. 185where God commandeth, there to ask a reaſon is preſumption, to oppoſe reaſon is flat rebellion.

Verſe 17. But I went into Arabia] Of this journey Luke maketh no mention in the Acts. Into theſe tents of Kedar came S. Paul, and made them, by his preaching, comely as the curtains of Solomon, Cant. 1.5. Rude they were, but rich; black, but comely, when they had this precious man amongſt them eſpecially, who became a bleſſing to all places whitherſoever he came: Contrary to that which is ſaid of the great Turk, that whereever he ſets his foot, he leaves deſolation behinde him. Arabia was Felix indeed, when S. Paul was there.

Verſe 18. To ſee Peter] Not by way of idle viſit, but thorowly to obſerve the Hiſtory of his Chriſtian practice for godly imitation. Hiſtoriae ſunt fidae monitrices.foreign, videndo abſervare.

Verſe 19. But other of the Apoſtles] They were buſily attending upon their particular charges and offices, according to Rom. 12.7.

Verſe 20. Behold, before God, I lie not] This he ſolemnly ſweareth for therir ſatisfaction. An oath may be lawfully taken to help the truth in neceſſity, and not otherwiſe. Hence the Hebrew word is a paſſive, and ſigniſieth to be ſworn, rather then to ſwear.Niſbbaug.

Verſe 21. Afterwards I came] He kept, belike, a Diary of his travels, and was able to give a good account of his daily courſes. It is not to be doubted, but that our Saviours Diſciples kept a regiſter of his holy oracles and miracles, out of which the hiſtory of the Goſpel was afterwards compiled and compoſed.

Verſe 22. And was unknown] So far was Paul from learning ought of them.

Verſe 23. Now preacheth the faith] A marvelious converſion. I was an obſtinate Papiſt (ſaith Latimer of himſelf) as any was in England: Inſomuch that when I ſhould be made Bachelour of Divinity, my whole Oration went againſt Philip Melancthon, and his opinions, &c.Act. and Mon.

Verſe 24. And they glorified God] Whoſo offereth praiſe, he glorifieth me, Pſal. 50.23. God accounts himſelf as it were to received new being, by thoſe inward conceptions of his glory, and by thoſe outward honours, that we do to him.

p. 186CHAP. II. Verſe 1. I went up]

TO that firſt Chriſtian Councell, Act. 15.

With Barnabas] His conſtant companion, till that bitter bickering, Act. 15.39. See the Note there.

Verſe 2. By revelation] i. e. By Gods ſpeciall direction: for he ordereth a good mans goings, Pſal. 37.23.

I communicated unto them] I laid open the matter freely and familiarly,foreign. as unto boſome-friends.

But privately] For all good men are not fit to be truſted with ſecrets, but only ſuch as can both keep counſell, and give counſell.

Or had run in vain] Leſt, if it ſhould be thought that I had not held good correſpondency with thoſe other Apoſtles, I might loſe the fruit of my Miniſtery.

Verſe 3. I was compelled to be circumciſed] i. e. I would not yeeld he ſhould be: leſt I ſhould ſeem to countenance them that held circumciſion neceſſary to ſalvation. In the year of grace 1549 the Miniſters of Magdeburg did ſtoutly oppoſe them of Wittenberg and Leipſich, and ſet forth many books againſt them, becauſe they dealt deceitfully,Alſted: …bron. pag. 520. and by their Adiaphora, or things indifferent, as they called them, they paved a way to Popery. And this was our caſe till this late bleſſed Reformation. It was not without cauſe that Peter Martyr commended it to the care of Queen Elizabeth, That Church-governours endeavour not to carry the Ark of the Goſpel into England upon the cart of needleſſe Ceremonies.

Verſe 4.foreign. Ʋnawares brought in] Or privily ſlipt in, pretending piety to their worldly or wicked reſpects. With ſuch ill inſtruments the Church hath been ever peſtered, 2 Pet. 2.1. Theſe hell-ſcouts are ſculking in every corner.

To spie out our liberty] viz. Of circumcising or not circumciſing Titus, that they might pick a quarrell with us.

That they might bring us into bondage] ſc. To the ceremoniall law.Bucholcer. Chronol. Carolostadius attempted ſome ſuch thing in Luthers daies, and by him was oppoſed.

Verſe 5. to whom we gave place] We muſt ſtick cloſe to the p. 187truth, and ſtickle hard for it, accounting each parcell thereof precious, and not to be parted with for any good. How religious were the Apoſtles and Ancients this way? They would not yeeld for an hour, or exchange one letter or ſyllable of that holy faith, wherewith Chriſt had betruſted them.

Verſe 6. Whatſoever they were] Augustine being oppreſſed with the authority of the Fathers, ſaith, he regardeth not Quis, ſed quid, the worth of the man, but the weight of his reaſons.

Verſe 7. As the Goſpel of, &c. He equalizeth himſelf to Peter in office and dignity: though pſeudo-apoſtles, and pſeudo-catho-likes deny him that honour.Survey of Weſt. relig. Saint Peter Jeſuites commend for a worthy ſpirit, when they cenſure Saint Paul for a hot-headed perſon, &c.

Verſe 8. For he that wrought, &c.] He argues from the ſucceſſe of his and Peters Miniſtery, to the lawfulneſſe of their calling to the work. So he doth, 1 Cor. 9.1, 2, 3. and 2 Cor. 13, 4.5. See the Notes there.

Verſe 9. Who ſeemed to be pillars] Of the Church, or of the Colledge of Apoſtles. The Apoſtle ſeems to intimate,foreign. dictum. Camer. that even then men began to attribute more then was meet to thoſe holy Apoſtles. This degenerated afterwards into groſſe ſuperſtition.

And they unto the circumciſion] Yet were they not ſo tied up by this agreement, but that they might preach upon fit occaſion, to the Gentiles too, as might Paul and Barnabas to the Jews; but the Gentiles were their chief charge, and among them, they had greateſt ſucceſſe.

Verſe 10. Remember the poor] Thoſe Jews that embraced Chriſtianity in Pal…stina were therefore turn'd out of all by their unkinde countrey-men, Heb. 10.34. Hence this care of the Apoſtles, and this forwardneſſe in S. Paul. About the beginning of the Reformation in France, the Duke of Lorrain had proſcribed ſome thouſands of his Lutheran Subjects, who were forced to feed upon haws and acorns, &c. The Divines of Straſborough in Germany, moved with pity towards theſe poor brethren, ceaſed not till by their diſcourſes they had prevailed with the Senate there, to take thoſe miſerable exiles into their City,Scultet. Annal. and to provide for them, till they might be conveniently conveyed to other places.

Verſe 11. But when Peter, &c.] I would gladly learn (ſaid p. 188that Martyr) why the ſeat of the primacy (to grant that) ſhould be rather at Rome then elſewhere? They anſwer, becauſe Peters chair was at Rome. Act. and Mon. fol. 1496.This is even like to this, becauſe Moſes the greateſt Prophet, and Aaron the firſt Prieſt exerciſed their office untill their death in the deſert, therefore the principalleſt place of the Jews Church ſhall be in the wilderneſſe. But grant them their reaſon that it is good, what ſhould Antioch claim? for Peters chair was there alſo, when Paul gave him a check, which was unſeemly and unmannerly done of Paul, that would not give place to his Preſident and better.Baron. A…a'. Thus far M^r Bradford. Cardinall Baronius withſtands Paul as much as ever he did Peter, and blaſphemouſly aſſirmeth, that Peter was not to be blamed, but Paul a great deal more, Bellarmine ſaith, It was not Peter, but Cephas one of the ſeventy.

Verſe 12. For before that certain] This hiſtory pertains to Act. 15.30, 35. but is not there recorded, that we might ſearch the Scriptures, and compare place with place. So God hath ſcattered the duties of husbands and wives up and down the Scriptures, That men learning to be good husbands, they may learn alſo to be good men.

Fearing them of the circumciſion] It was not danger that he feared, but offence: wherein he had not done amiſſe, but that in avoiding a leſſe ſcandall, he fell into a far greater.

Verſe 13. And the other Iews diſſembled] The ſins of teachers are the teachers of ſins: and great mens faults go as ſeldom unaccompanied, as their perſons.

Barnabas alſo] Adhering to Peter rather then to Paul his old companion, not without a tincture perhaps of the old bitter bickering. Try all things; Good men may ſeduce us, as here Peter did Barnabas, and as thoſe would have done Paul, Act. 21.12.

Verſe 14. That they walked not] Miniſters muſt both foreign and foreign, Divide the word rightly, and foot it uprightly.

I ſaid to Peter be fore them all] The fault was publike, the reproof muſt be according, 1 Tim. 5.20. In the year 1159. lived Ioannes Sariſburienſis, Prae ens prae, erter pontificem redarguit. Renius in hiſt. Pont.who both reproved the Pope to his face, and alſo wrote his Polycraticon, wherein he freely ſcourgeth the Popiſh Clergy.

Why compelleſt thou, &c.] Peters example was a compulſion. p. 189The company we keep compell us to doe, as they doe.

Verſe 15. We who are Jews] The Apoſtle proceedeth in his ſpeech to the Jews at Antioch.

And not ſinners of the Gentiles] Becauſe under the Covenant of Grace; Their ſinnes and iniquities will I remember no more.

Verſe 16. Knowing] Here's more then an implicite faith, or a conjecturall confidence.

Verſe 17. B…. if whiles we ſeek] This is the ſame in ſenſe with Rom. 3.31. If we ſhould argue from mercy to liberty, from free juſtification to lewd and looſe converſation, would not all the world cry ſhame on us? I reade of a monſter, who that night that his Prince pardoned and releaſed him, got out and ſlew him. This was Michael Balbus, who ſlew the Emperour Leo Armenius. Is it poſſible that any ſhould offer to do ſo to Chriſt?

Verſe 18. For if I build again] As I ſhould, if I ſhould licenſe any man to ſin, becauſe juſtified by faith. Chriſt came by water, as well as by bloud: he juſtifies none, but whom he alſo ſanctifies.

Verſe 19. Am dead to the Law] I. e. Am freed from the curſe, rigour, and irritation of the Law. Or, am freed from ſin, as Rom. 6.7.

Verſe 20. Chriſt liveth in me] Luthers Motto was Vivit Chriſtus, Chriſt liveth: and if he were not alive,Ioh. Manl. loc. com pag. 419. Pſ l. 18.Ps 50:18 I would not with to live one hour longer. Let the Lord live, ſaith David: Yea let him live in me, ſaith Paul. Let him act me, let him think in me, deſire, pray, do all in me. Lord, ſaith Nazianzen, I am an inſtrument for thee to touch. Chriſt dwels in that heart moſt largely, that hath emptied it ſelf of it ſelf. The Iſraelites felt not the ſweetneſſe of Manna, till they had ſpent the fleſh-pots, and other proviſions of Aegypt.

And gave himſelf for me] True faith individuateth Chriſt, and appropriateth him to a mans ſelf. This is the pith and power of particular faith: Miſtris Lewis the Martyr, being ſet upon by Satan, a little afore ſhe ſuffered, was much comforted and helped by this text.Act. and Mon. fol. 1826.

Verſe 21. I doe not fruſtrate] viz. By ſeeking to be juſtified by the Law. Ambroſe tenders it, Non ſum ingratus gratiae Dei, I am not ungratefull to grace of God: I do not repudiate, caſſate, nullifie it.

p. 190Dead in vain] Becauſe he attains not his end in dying, which was not only to leave us a patern of patience, as Anabaptiſts hold; but to merit for us remiſſion of ſins, and imputation of his righteouſnes for our juſtification.

CHAP. III. Verſe 1. O fooliſh Galatians]

THoſe that are ſick of a Lethargy muſt have double the quantity of phyſick given them, that other men have in other diſeaſes. Theſe Galatians were in a ſpirituall lethargy, and are therefore thus ſharply rebuked, that they might be ſound in the faith.T…t. 1.13.

Who hath bewitched you] Or, Bemiſted you, and dazeled your eyes, foreign. ve…v. Pun lib. 7. cap. 2.The word properly ſignifies to overlook, as they call it, or to kill with the eyes, by caſting out venemous beams, as the Baſilisk, and as witches are ſaid to do.

Hath been evidently ſet forth] As a remedy, by looking whereon ye might have been cured or kept from that bewitching by the eye: like as the ſtung Iſraclites were healed by looking on the brazen ſerpent.

Crucified amongſt you] In the evidence of the doctrine of Chriſt crucified, and in the adminiſtration of the Lords Supper, that lively picture of Chriſt on the croſſe.

Verſe 2. Or by the hearing of faith] The Manna of the ſpirit comes down from heaven in the dews of the Miniſtery of the Goſpel. If our eyes ſee not our teachers,N…nb. 11.9. 1 Pet 1.23.1 Pet 1:23 we cannot expect to hear the voice behinde us, Iſa. 30.20, 21.

Verſe 3. Are ye ſo fooliſh?] Thoſe then that have the ſpirit may play the fools in ſome particulars. Thoſe that are recovered of a phrenſie, have yet ſome mad fits ſometimes.

Made perfect by the fleſh] As Nebuchadnezzars image, whoſe golden head ended in dirty feet.

Verſe 4. If it be in vain] q. d. It is not in vain. God keepeth the feet of the Saints, that they cannot altogether looſe the things they have wrought, they cannot fall below his ſupporting grace: the Lord puts under his hand, Pſal. 37. Yet it cannot be denied that an hypocrite may ſuffer, and all in vain, 1 Cor. 13.3. as did Alexander the Copper-ſmith, who was near unto Martyrdome, p. 191Act. 19.34. See the Note on 1 Cor. 13.3.

Verſe 5. Or by the hearing of faith] Faith (and ſo life) is let into the ſoul by the ſenſe of hearing, Iſa. 55.3. to croſſe the devil, who by the ſame door brought death into the world.

Verſe 6. It was accounted to him] This the Papiſts jearingly call a putative righteouſnes. The Jews alſo deride it, and ſay, That every fox ſhall yeeld his own skin to the flaer. See Rom. 4.9, 11, 12.

Verſe 7. The ſame are children, &c.] And heirs together with him of the world, Rom. 4. which is theirs in right, though detained a while from them by the Amorites, till their ſins be full.

Verſe 8. And the Scripture fore-ſeeing] The Scripture therefore is not a bruit dead things, as the Jeſuites blaſpheme.Greg in Reg. 3. Excellently ſpake he, who called the Scripture, Cor & animam Dei, the heart and ſoul of God.

Preached the Goſpel] There is Goſpel therefore in the old Teſtament.

In thee ſhall all Nations] See my Note on Gen. 12.3. All Nations ſhall be bleſſed, i. e. juſtified by faith.

Verſe 9. Are bleſſed, &c.] For they only are bleſſed whoſe ſins are remitted, Pſal. 32.1. O the bleſſedneſſes of that man, ſaith the Pſalmiſt.

Verſe 10. Are under the curſe] Aut faciendum, aut patiendum. He that will not have the direction of the law, muſt have the correction.foreign.

That continueth not in all] Deut. 27.26. Heb. Shall ſtand firm, as a four-ſquare ſtone.

Verſe 11. Shall live by faith] As being juſtified by faith. See the Note on Rom. 1.17.

Verſe 12. And the law is not of faith] Becauſe it promiſeth not life to thoſe that will be juſtified by faith, but requireth works.

Verſe 13. Christ hath redeemed us] As man he bought us, as God he redeemed us, ſaith Hierome. For to redeem is properly to buy ſome things back, that were morgaged.Qui redimit, emit quol ſuum fuit & ſuum eſſe deſi…t. Hieron.

Curſed is every one that hangeth] The tree whereon a man was hanged, the ſtone wherewith he was ſtoned, the ſword wherewith he was beheaded, and the napkin wherewith he was ſtrangled, they were all buried, that there might be no evil memoriall of ſuch an one, to ſay, This was the tree, ſword, ſtone,Caſaub. ex Maimonide. napkin, wherewith ſuch an one was executed. Conſtantine aboliſhed this kinde of death out of the Empire. But what an odde cuſtome was that of the Tibarenes to hang their beſt friends in p. 192courteſie,Sphinx Pbiloſ. pag 752. Longaſforeign, ex ijs literas facere quos chares habtbant?

Verſe: 14. The promiſe of the ſpirit] That is, the ſpirituall promiſe made to Abraham, and his ſpirituall poſterity.

Verſe 15. I ſpeak after the manner] I ſet the matter forth to you by a familiar compariſon.

Though is be but a mans teſtament] William Tracy of Gloceſterſhire Eſquire, made in his Will, that he would have no funerall pomp at his burying, neither paſſed he upon a Maſſe. And he further ſaid, That he truſted in god only, and hoped by him to be ſaved, and not by any Saint. This Gentleman died, and his ſon as Executour, bought the Will to the Biſhop of Canterbury to be proved, which he ſhewed to the Convocation: and there moſt cruelly they judged that he ſhould be taken out of the ground, and be burnt as an heretick, anne 1532. D^r Parker Chancellour of Worcester executed the ſentence,Act. and Mon. 951. and was after wards lent for by King Henry 8. who laid high offence to his charge, &c. It coſt him three hundred pounds to have his pardon.

Verſe 16. Which is Chriſt] Myſticall Chriſt, that is, whole Chriſt: for he accounts not himſelf compleat without his members, who are therefore called his fullneſſe, Epheſians 1.23.

Verſe 17.Ligbtſoots Har. Prolegom. Four hundred and thirty, &c.] This ſpace of time betwixt the promiſe and the law, the divine providence call into two equall port. ons of 215. before the peoples going down to Egypt, and 215. of their being there.

Verſe 18. Gave it to Abraham] Gr. Freely gave it. What more free then gift? And what better free-hold, then the divine promiſe?foreign

Verſe 19. Becauſe of tranſgreſſions] Which are diſcovered by the Law. Sight of miſery, muſt go before ſenſe of mercy. Lex. lux, the law is a light (ſaith Salomon) which laies all open: as I Cor. 14.25. and threatneth deſtruction to tranſgreſſours.

And it was ordained, &c.] Therefore it is not to be diſreſpected, though we cannot attain eternall life by it.

In the hand of a Mediatour] That is, of Moſes, who was a Mediatour of that communication of the Law to the people, Exod, 20.19. Chriſt is the only Mediatour of expiation, and of Chriſt alone ſome take this text.

p. 193Verſe 20. Is not a Mediatour of one] q. d. God and men were at odds: elſe what uſe of a Mediatour? sin is the make-bate, as being a tranſgreſſion of the Law.

But God is one] One and the ſame now as of old in taking vengeance on the laws tranſgreſſours. Or, God is one party diſagreeing or diſpleaſed.

Verſe 21. Have given life] That is, have juſtified a ſinner. But herein lay the laws weakneſſe thorow the fleſh, Rom. 8.3.

Verſe 22. But the Scripture] The law and Prophets.

Hath concluded all] Gr. Hath clapt them up cloſe priſoners.foreign

That the promiſe, &c.] That he might have mercy upon all, Rom. 11.32. See the Note there.

Verſe 23. But before faith came, &c.] i.e. Before Chriſt came: Faith is put for the object of faith.

We were kept under the law] As in a priſon or gariſon: being circled with a compaſſing ſtrength. The ſinner,foreign having tranſgreſſed, is kept by the law, as with a guard or gariſon, that he cannot eſcape, unleſſe he be delivered by Chriſt.

Verſe 24. The law was our ſchoolmaſter] Such an one as that that Livy and Florus ſpeak of in Italy, who brought forth his ſcholars to Hanibal: and if he had not been more mercifull then otherwiſe, they had all periſhed.

Verſe 25. But after that faith] That is the Goſpel, or Chriſt the authour and matter of the Goſpel. See ver. 23.

Verſe 26. The children of God] Gr. The ſons of God, grown up at mans eſtate, Qui manum ferulae ſubduxiums, who are no longer under a ſchoolmaſter. How we are the children of God by faith, See the Note on Joh. 1.12.

Verſe 27. Baptized into Christ] And ſo have had your adoption ſealed up unto you: like as in the civil adoption there were certain rites and ceremonies uſually performed.

Have put on Chriſt] To juſtification and ſanctification. See the Note on Rom. 13.14. this is to be clothed with the Sun, Rev. 12.2.

Verſe 28. Ye are all one in Chriſt] Souls have on ſexes, and Chriſt is no reſpecter of perſons.

Verſe 29. Heirs according] Heirs are kept ſhort in their nonage, and ſometimes forced to borrow of ſervants: but when once at years, they have all. So ſhall the Saints in heaven, though here hard put to't.

p. 194CHAP. IIII. Verſe 1. Differeth nothing from a ſervant]

IN alluſion whereunto there is written upon the Princes arms, Icb dien, Daniels Chro. fol 109.that is, I ſerve. Henry the ſecond, King of England. crowned his eldeſt ſon Henry, whileſt he was yet alive: which made his ambition quite turn off his obedience. Ambition ever rides without reins.

Verſe 2.foreign But is under tutours] Thoſe under the Law were but Alphabetaries in compariſon of thoſe under the goſpel. the Sea about the Altar was brazen, I King. 7.23. and what eyes could pierce thorow it? Now our ſea about the throne is glaſſie, Revel. 4.6. like to cryſtall clearly conveying the light and ſight of God to our eyes.

Verſe 3.foreign When we were children] Gr. Infants, babies, that muſt be pleaſed with rattles: ſo the old Church with carnall Ceremonies.

Verſe 4. But when the fulneſſe of the time] This anſwers to that time appointed of the Father, verſ. 2. Plato ſaid, that God doth alwaies foreign, he doth all things in number, weight and meaſure: He never comes too ſoon, neither ſtaies he too long.

Godſent forth his Son] Out of his own boſome. May not we ſay, as they did, ſob. 11.36. Loc how he loved us. This was an hyperbole of love.

Made of a woman] Of the ſanctified ſubſtance of the holy virgin. Note this againſt Marcionites and Anabaptiſts.

Made under the Law] Circumciſed the eighth day, and ſo made a debtour to do the whole law: which he perfectly fulfilled, and yet (for us) ſuffered the curſe.

Verſe 5. To redeem them, &c.] To buy them off, who were in worſe caſe then the Turks Gally-ſlaves chained to an oar.

That we might receive the adoption] That is, the poſſeſſion of our adoption, the full enjoyment of our inheritance.

Verſe 6. Crying Abba, Father] God hath no ſtill-born children. Paul was no ſooner converted, but behold he praied, Act. 9.11. The ſpirit of grace is a ſpirit of ſupplication, Zech. 12.10. And when God ſends this ſpirit of praier into our hearts, it is a ſure ſign, that he means to anſwer our deſires: like as when we did p. 195our children ſay, I pray you, father, give me this, we do it not, but when we mean to give them that which we teach them to ask.

Verſe 7. And if a ſon, &c.] See the Note on Rom. 8.17.

Verſe 8. Ye did ſervice] Here all religious ſervice done to any, but God, is manifeſtly condemned as impious, whether in Pagans or Papagans.

Verſe 9. Or rather are known of God] Whoſe gracious foreknowing and fore-appointing of us to eternall life, is the ground and foundation of our illumination and converſion: our love to him a reflex of his love to us.

Verſe 10. Ye obſerve daies] The Chriſtian Church knows no holy-daies, beſides that honourable Lords-day, Iſa 57.14. Revel. 1.10. and ſuch holy feaſts, and upon ſpeciall occaſions the Church ſhall ſee ſit to celebrate, as Novemb. 5, &c.

Verſe 11. Leſt I have beſtow'd labour] Gr.foreign Even to laſſitude, as a day-labourer. Other work-folks finde their work as they left it … but a Miniſter hath all marr'd many times, between Sabbath and Sabbath: or if but a while abſent, as Moſes was in the Mount.

Verſe 12. Be as I am] No longer a legaliſt, as once, Philip. e.5, 8.

Ye have not injured me at all] He was above their buſſoneries and indignities.Sendeìra … …. When an ineonſiderate fellow had ſtricken Cate in the bath, and afterwards cried him mercy, he replied,Tacit. I remember not that thou didſt ſtrike me; Tu linguae, ego aurium Dominus, ſaid one to another that railed on him. I cannot be maſter of thy tongue, but I will be maſter of mine own ears. One having made a long and idle diſcourſe before Ariſtotle, concluded it thus,Plutar. degarrulit. I doubt I have been too tedious to you Sir Philoſopher, with my many words: In good ſooth, ſaid Ariſtotle, you have not been tedious to me; for I gave no heed to any thing you ſaid.foreign Momus in Lucian tels Jupiter, It is in thy power whether any one ſhall vex or wrong thee. S^t Paul here ſhakes off the affronts and injuries offered unto him with as much eaſe, as once he did the Viper. Some would have ſwelled, and almoſt died at the ſight of ſuch a thing: he only ſhook it off, and there was no hurt done.

Verſe 13. Through infirmity of the fleſh] That is, though much broken with many miſeries, yet I ſpared not to take pains amongſt you. Zachary, though he ceaſed to ſpeak, yet he ceaſed p. 196not to miniſter: he took not his dumbneſſe for a diſmiſſion, but ſtaid out the eight daies of his courſe, Luk. 1.

Verſe 14. And my temptation] That is, mine afflictions, whereby the Lord tempts his, feels which way their pulſes beat, and how they ſtand affected toward him.

Which was in my fleſh] My ſpirit being haply untoucht. For oſt the body is weak, the foul well. Afflictions may reach but to the out ward man. ſob never complained till he was wet thorow, till the waters went over his ſoul.

Nor rejected Gr. Ye ſpet not on., as they did, that ſpet in Chriſts face.foreign

Even as Chriſt Jeſus] Who hath ſaid, He that receiveth you, receiveth me. It was a common ſaying at Conſtantinople, Better the Sunne ſhould not ſhine, then that Chryſoſtome ſhould not preach.foreign Beatitu…inia praedicatio B. 30.

Verſe 15. Where is then the bleſſedneſſe] q. d. time was when ye held your ſelves happy in me, and bleſſed the time that ever ye ſaw and heard me. Is the change now in me, or in your ſelves? Thus the Jews rejoyced in John for a ſeaſon, but he ſoon grew ſta…e to them, Joh. 5.35. See the Note there. Neutrum modo, mas modò vulgus.

Verſe 16. Am I there ſore become, &c.] Truth breeds hatred, as the fair Nymphes did the ugly Fawns and Satyrs. the hearing of truth galls, as they write of ſome creatures, that they have fel in aure, gail in their ears. It was not for nothing therefore that the Oratour called upon his Countreymen to get their ears healed before they came any more to hear him. to preach, faith Luther is nothing elſe but to derive upon a mans felt the rage of all the Countrey. And therefore when one defined the miniſteriall function to be Artom artium & ſcientiam ſcientiarum, the art of arts, and ſcience of ſciences. Melancthon ſaid, If he had defined it to be miſeriam miſeriarum, the miſery of miſeries, he had hit it.

Becauſe I tell you the truth?] He that prizeth truth (ſaith Sir Walter Raleigh) ſhall never proſper by the poſſeſſion or profeſſion thereof.Hiſt l. 1.0.1. An expectas, ut Quintilianus ametur? When we ſeek to fetch men out of their ſins, they are apt to fret and ſnarl & as when men are wakened out of ſleep, they are unquiet, ready to brawl with their beſt friends.

Verſe 17. They zealouſly affect you] Depereunt vos: as Jealous p. 197wooers they would have you whole to themſelves without a corrivall, foreign, cognata ſunt.

They would exclude us] As ſtanding in their way. this is the guiſe of all ſectaries and ſeducers, they denigrate the true teachers, that they may be the only men.

Verſe 18. To be zealouſly affected in a good thing] In a good cauſe, for a good end, and in a good manner. There is a counterfeit zeal, as it that of the Popiſh Martyrs or traitours rather, of whom Campian in his Epiſtle to the honourable Counſellours of Queen Elizabeth, Quamdiu vel unus quispiam è nobis ſupererit qui Tiburno veſtro fruatur, &c. As long as there ſhall be left any one of us to wear a Tibu…n tippet, we will not ceaſe our ſuit.

And not only when I am preſent] Sith even abſent I teach and tell you the truth of God by letters.

Verſe 19. Till Christ be formed] That you may ſeek for ſalvation by him alone. Together with the word there goes forth a regenerating power, Jam. 1.18. It is not a dead letter, an empty ſound, as ſome have blaſphemed. Only let us not, as Hoſea's unwiſe ſon, ſtay in the place of breaking forth of children, proceed no further then to conviction: much leſſe ſtifle thoſe inward workings for ſin, as harlots deſtroy their conceptions that they may not bear the pain of childe-birth.

Verſe 20. And to change my voice] To ſpeak to your neceſſity: for now being abſent I ſhoot at rovers,foreign and am at ſome uncertainty how to frame my diſcourſe to you.

Verſe 21. Ye that deſire, &c.] that are ambitious of ſlavery, of beggery, v. 9. How many have we at this day, that rejoyce in their bondage, and dance to hell in their bolts?

Verſe 22. For it is written] It was enough of old to ſay, It is written: there was no need to quote Chapter and verſe, as now. Men were ſo ready in the Scriptures, they could tell where to turn to any thing at firſt hearing.

Verſe 23. Was born aſter the fleſh] In an ordinary way, as all others are: for Hagar was young, and Abraham not old.

Was by promiſe] i. e. By a ſupernaturall power, by a divine miracle.

Verſe 24. Which things are an allegory] That is, they ſignifie or import an allegory: or they, being the things that they were,foreign repreſented and typed out the things that they were not. So did the brazen ſerpent, the deluge, the red ſea, &c. As for thoſe allegories p. 198gories of Origen and other wanton wits, luxuriant this way, what are they elſe but Scripturarum ſpuma, as one calleth them, Scripture-froth?

Verſe 25. For this Agar is mount] The Arabian, call Mount Sina, Agar. Twice Hagar ſled thither, Gen. 16. and 21. it being in her way home to Aegypt. From her the Arabians are called Hagarens, and ſince (for more honour ſake) Saracens of Sarah Hagars miſtreſſe.

Anſwereth to Jeruſalem] That is, to the Jewiſh Synagogue, born to bondage, as Tiberius ſaid of the Romans, that they were homines ad ſervitutem parati.

Verſe 26. But Jeruſalem which is above] that is, the Chriſtian Church, the heavenly Ieruſalem, the Panegyris and congregation of the firſt-born, whoſe names are enrolled in heaven, Heb, 12.23. The Hebrew word for Ieruſalem is of the Duall number; to ſhow,AmamainCoronide. ſay the Cabaliſts, that there is an heavenly as well as an earthly Ieruſalem, and that the taking away of the earthly was intimated by the taking away of the letter jod out of Ieruſhalaim, 2 Sam. 5.13.

Verſe 27. Far it is written] When theſe teſtimonies of the old Teſtament are thus cited in the new, it is not only by way of Accommodation, but becauſe they are the proper meaning of the places.

Verſe 28. Now we, brethren, as Iſaac] This the Jews to this day will not hear of, but call us Ma…zer Goi baſtardly Gentiles.

Verſe 29. Perſecuted him] By cruell mockings and reall injuries, challenging the birth right, and deriding the Covenant, &c. The Papiſts made way for their great project of perdition in 88. by dividing the people here under the rearms of Proteſtant and Puritan,George Abbots …of. to D. Hiſs 3 real. and provoking them thereby to reall and …un…uall, both hate and contempt.

Even ſo it is new] And to alſo it is now, may we ſay at this day. For what do Papiſts perſecute us for elſe, but becauſe we reject their juſtification by works? They poiſoned their own Cardinall Contarenus, for that he declared himſelf found in this point by a book that he ſet forth ſome four years afore the Councell of Trent.

Verſe 30. Shall not be beirs] No juſtitiary can be ſaved. A Papiſt cannot go beyond a reprobate. Pur us pu…us Papistanon potest ſervani, Rev. 19.21.

p. 199Verſe 31 We are not children, &c.] q. d. We are in a farre better condition then Legaliſts. I have bleſſed Iſmael, faith God, twelve Princes ſhall be beget, but my Covenant will I establiſh with Iſaac, Gen 17.20, 21. And ſuch honour have all his Saints.

CHAP. V. Verſe 1. Be not again entangled]

AS oxen tied to the yoke, Thoſe that followed Iudas Galileus, foreignAct. 5.37. choſe rather to undergo any death, then to be in ſubjection to any mortall. If civil ſervitude be ſo grievous,Ioſeph. 1.18. c. 2 what ought ſpirituall to be? Thoſe poor miſled and muzled ſouls that are held captive in the Popes dark dungeon, have an ill time of it. Ever ſince, being reconciled to the Roman Church, I ſubjected my ſelf and my Kingdoms (ſaid King Iohn of England) to the Popes authority, never any thing went well with me,Nulla mihiprospera, ſed omnia aſverſa evensrunt. but all againſt me.

Verſe 2. Behold I Paul] q. d. As true as I am Paul, and do write theſe things.

Christ ſhall profit you nothing] For he profits none, but thoſe that are found in him, not having their own righteouſneſſe, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, the righteouſnes which is of God through faith, Phil. 3.9. As Pharaoh ſaid of the Iſraelites, they are intangled in the Land, the wildernes hath ſhut them in, Exo. 14.3. So may it be ſaid of Phariſaicall and Popiſh Juſticiaries, they are entangled in the fond conceits of their own righteouſneſſe, they cannot come to Chriſt. A man will never truly deſire Chriſt, till ſoundly ſhaken, Hag 2.7.

Verſe 3. That he is a debtour] viz. If he be circumciſed with an opinion of meriting thereby. Chriſt will be our ſole Saviour, or none; he will not mingle his precious bloud with our p…ddle-ſtuff.

Verſe 4. Chriſt is become of none effect] Woe then to Popiſh merit-mongers. William Wickum, founder of New-colledge,Parc…biſt pro. fan medul. D Vſher on Eph. 4.13.Eph 4:13 though he did many good works, yet he profeſſed he truſted to Jeſus Chriſt alone for ſalvation. So did Charles the fife Emperour of Germany. So did many of our fore-fathers in times of Popery.

Ye are fallen from grace] It cannot hence be concluded, that p. 200the Apoſtle ſpeaks conditionally, and it may be underſtood of the true Doctrine of Gods free-grace.

Verſe 5.Erigito ſcalam, Aceſi & ſol… …ſtendito For we through the spirit] We Apoſtles hope for righteouſneſſe by faith. If you will go to heaven any other way, you muſt erect a ladder, and go up alone, as Conſtantine ſaid to Aceſius the Novatian heretike.

Verſe 6. Neither circumciſion] Unregenerate Iſrael is as Ethiopia, Amos 9.7.

But faith that worketh] Iuſtificamur tribus modis. Effectivè à Deo, apprehenſivè à fide, declarativè ab operibus. Faith juſtifies the man, and works juſtifie faith.

Verſe 7. Ye did run well] Why do ye now ſtop or ſtep back? Tutius recurrere, Reuſner Symb.quam malè currere, was the Emperour Philips ſymboll. Better run back, then run amiſſe: for in this caſe, He that haſteth with his feet, ſinneth, Prov. 19.2. But to run well till a man ſweats, and then to ſit down, and take cold, may cauſe a conſumption.

Verſe 8. This perſwaſion] Sectaries and ſeducers have a ſtrange art in perſwading,foreign. Coloſ. 2.4. And although we thinke our ſelves able enough to anſwer and withſtand their arguments, yet it is dangerous dealing with them. The Valentinian heretikes had a trick to perſwade before they taught. Arrius could cogge a die,Tertullian. and cozen the ſimple and needleſſe hearer.

Verſe 9. A little leven] viz. Of falſe doctrine, Mat. 16.6. See the Note there.

Verſe 10. But he that troubleth you] That hereſiarch, or ring-leader of the faction. the Beaſt and the falſe-prophet, are taken and caſt alive into a lake, &c. when the common ſort ſeduced by them had an eaſier judgement, Revel. 19.20, 21.

Verſe 11. Why do I yet ſuffer perſecution] From the Jews zealous of the Law. It is well obſerved, that the nearer any are unto a conjunction in matters of religion, and yet ſome difference retained,D. Day upon 1 Cor. 16.….1 Cor 16 the deeper is the hatred. A Jew hates a Chriſtian, worſe then he doth a Turk or Pagan. A Papiſt hates a Proteſtant worſe then he doth a Jew, &c.Non circumcidantur modò, ſed & abſcindantur. Chryſ. foreign.

Verſe 12. I would they were even cut] Not circumciſed only, cut round, but cut off.

That trouble you] That turn you upſide down, or that turn you out of houſe and home.

p. 201Verſe 13. Only uſe not your liberty] In maxima libertate, minima licentia. Therefore are men the worſe, becauſe they ſhould be better. Chriſt came to call ſinners, not to licentiouſneſſe, but to repentance, Mar. 2.17. to take his yoke upon them, Mat. 11.29. to hire out their members ſervants to righteouſneſſe, Rom. 6.16. Hence it is, that as S. Pauls Epiſtles largely prove free election and juſtification by Chriſt: So the Epiſtles of Iames, Peter, and Iohn, preſſe to love and new obedience, leſt any ſhould argue from mercy to liberty.

Verſe 14. For all the law] i. e. All the ſecond table.Primo praecepto reliquorum omnium obſervantia praecipitur. Luther. The Scripture oft appropriateth the Law to the ſecond Table, as Rom. 13.8. Epheſ. 6.2. &c. A man muſt exerciſe the firſt table in the ſecond, the duties of his generall calling in his particular calling. In the firſt Commandement, ſaith Luther, the keeping of all the law is enjoyned. Neither can any one love his neighbour as himſelf, but he that loves God above all.

Verſe 15. But if ye bite, &c.] Si collidimur, frangimur. If we claſh, we break. Diſſolution is the daughter of diſſenſion,Camer. Medit. hiſt cent. 2. ſaid Nazianzen. The Turks pray to God to keep the Chriſtians at variance. Iſraelites in Aegypt vexed one another: And Chriſtians, as if they wanted enemies, ſlie in one anothers faces. This is a ſad fore-token of a deadly conſumption.

Verſe 16. This I ſay then] For an antidote againſt abuſe of Chriſtian liberty. Set the Spirit, as Pharaoh did Ioſeph, upon the chief Charet of your hearts, and let all be at his beck and check.

Verſe 17. For the fleſh luſteth] Every new man is two men. What can a man ſee in the Shulamite, but as the appearance of two Armies, Cant. 6.13? Theſe maintain civil broils within her, as the two babes did in Rebecca's womb. All was jolly quiet at Epheſus, till Paul came thither: But then there aroſe no ſmall ſtir about that way, Act. 19.23. So is there in the good ſoul, &c.

So that ye cannot doe the things, &c.] As ye cannot doe the good that ye would, becauſe of the fleſh (Rom. 7.21. ſomething lay at the fountain-head, and ſtopt it) ſo neither can ye do the evil that ye would, becauſe of the Spirit. In which reſpect, ſetting the ingratitude aſide, the ſins of godly men are leſſe then of p. 202others: becauſe the fleſh cannot carry it without ſome counter-buffs.

Verſe 18. Ye are not under the Law] For where the ſpirit is, there is liberty, from the rigour, irritation, and malediction of the Law.

Verſe 19. Now the works of the fleſh] Sinners are ſore labourers; wicked men great workmen, Would they take but half that pains for heaven that they do for hell, they could not, likely, miſſe of it.Gnama…. foreign. The Hebrew and Greek words for ſinne import labour.

Are manifest] They lie above ground, and are condemned by the light of nature.foreign. Wicked men alſo hang out their ſins to the ſight of the Sun, Iſa. 3 9.

Verſe 20. Idolatry] This is fitly ſet after thoſe fleſhly ſins, as commonly accompanied with them, 1 Cor. 10.7, 8. Sir Walter Rawleigh knew what he ſaid, that were he to chuſe a religion for licentious liberty and laſciviouſneſſe, he would chuſe the Popiſh religion.

Verſe 21. Murthers, drunkenneſſe] This is oft the mother of murther.Sueton. Domitius the father of Nero, ſlew Liberius an honeſt man, becauſe he refuſed to drink ſo much as he commanded him. Alexander killed many of his dear friends in his drunkenneſſe, whom he would have revived again (but could not) with his own heart-bloud. Once he invited a company to ſupper, and provided a crown of 180. pounds to be given to thoſe that drank moſt. One and fourty killed themſelves with drinking to get that crown.

Verſe 22. The fruits of the spirit] The ſpirit of grace are thoſe two golden pipes, Zach. 4. thorow which the two olive-branches empty out of themſelves the golden oils of all precious graces into the Candleſtick, the Church: Hence grace is here and elſwhere called the fruits of the ſpirit, pleaſant fruits, Cant. 4.16. and 6.2. Ioh. 15.16.

Long-ſuffering] It hath been queſtioned by ſome, whether a man can be long-ſuffering, Sine anxilio gratiae, without the help of grace.Aquin 2.2. q. 136 foreign. But that which is right, is a fruit of the ſpirit.

Gentleneſſe] Gr. Ʋſefulneſſe, ſweetneſſe.

Faith] That is, Faithfulneſſe, as Mat. 23.23. 1 Tim. 5.12. Tit. 2.10.

p. 203Verſe 23. Meekneſſe, temperance] Queen Elizabeth was famous for theſe two vertues. King Edward 6.Camd Eliſab. called her by no other name, then his ſweet ſister Temperance. She did ſeldome eat but one ſort of meat, roſe ever with an appetite, and lived about 70. years. Next to the holy Scripture, ſhe preferr'd (as the beſt piece) Seneca's book of clemency.S. W. Vaughan. When ſhe ſaid, that book had done her much good, yea, ſaid one, but it hath done your ſubjects much hurt.M. H…rick… 3. Sermons.

Against ſuch there is no law] 1 Tim. 1.9. As, for the works of the fleſh, there is no Goſpel.

Verſe 24. And they that are Chriſts] When Chriſt came in the fleſh, we crucified him: when he comes into our hearts, he crucifies us.

Have crucified the fleſh] To crucifie is not abſolutely and out-right to kill; Crucifixion is a lingring death, no member being free from pain. If then we ſo repent of ſin (as that which crucified Chriſt) we ſo pierce the old man, that we are ſure he will die of it, though he be not preſently dead, this is mortification. Thoſe beaſts, Dan. 7.12. had their dominion taken away, and yet their lives were prolonged for a ſeaſon.

With the affections] Sinfull, ſudden paſſions.

And luſts] More deeply rooted in our natures, and ſo, not ſo eaſily overcome.

Verſe 25. If we live in the Spirit] Spirituall men only are heirs of life, 1 Peter 3.7. all other are dead in treſpaſſes.

Let us walk] Walk orderly by line, and by rule, march in rank, foreign.&c. Life conſiſts in action. Life, ſaith the Philoſopher, is ſuch a faculty as whereby creatures move themſelves in their own places. The godly eſteem of life by that ſtirring they finde in their ſouls: as elſe they lament, as over a dead ſoul, Iſa. 38.15, 16.

Verſe 26. Let us not be deſirous of vain-glory] Ingens dulcedo gloriae (ſaith Aeneas Sylvius:) faciliùs contemnenda dicitur, quam contemnitur. It was this vice that rai…ed ſo much trouble in Germany betwixt Luther and Carolostadius, and that bred the Sacramentary war, that is not yet ended. It was a ſaying of Luther, From a vain-glorious Doctour, p. 204from a contentious Paſtour, and from unprofitable Queſtions, the good Lord deliver his Church.

CHAP. VI. Verſe 1. If a man be overtaken]

GR.foreign Be taken afore he is aware, afore he hath time to conſider, or bethink himſelf of better. It is of incogitancy, that the Saints ſin: put them in minde, and they mend all. It is of paſſion, and paſſions laſt not long.Pſal. 139. Pſal. 1.1.Ps 139Ps 1:1 There is no way of wickedneſſe in them: They ſtand not in the way of ſinners, they ſit not downe in the ſeat of ſcorners.

Reſtore ſuch an one]foreign. Gr. Set him in joynt again. A Metaphor from Chyrurgeons and bone-ſetters, who handle their patients tenderly.

Lest thou alſo be tempted] I have known a good old man, ſaith Bernard, who when he had heard of any that had committed ſome notorious offence, was wont to ſay with himſelf, Ille hodiè, & ego cras, He fell to day, ſo may I tomorrow.

Verſe 2. Bear ye one anothers burdens] When after-reprehenſion, ſinne is become a burden, ſet to your ſhoulder, and help to lift it off. Support the weake, be patient toward all.… Theſſ. 5.14.

Verſe 3. Thinke himſelf to be ſomething] The ſelf-deceiver takes his counter, and ſets it up for a thouſand pound, as the Phariſees and Laodiceans. Of ſuch it may be ſaid, as Quintilian ſomewhere of ſome over-weeners of themſelves, that they might have proved excellent ſcholars, iſ they had not been ſo perſwaded already.

Verſe 4. But let every man prove] This is an excellent remedy againſt ſelf-deceit, and a means to make one fit to reprove others with mercy and meeknes.

And then ſhall he have rejoycing] Ʋt testimonium perhibeat conſcientia propria, non lingua aliena, ſaith Auguſtine, that thine own conſcience, and not another mans tongue may teſtifie for thee. Omnis Sarmatarum virtus extra ipſos, Tacit. lib. …. …. 10.ſaith Tacitus. All the ſelf-deceivers goodneſſe is p. 205ſhored up by popularity, or other baſe reſpects.

Verſe 5. For every man ſhall bear] Be thorow therefore in the work of ſelf-examination. Sparing a little pains at firſt, doubles it in the end: As he who will not caſt up his books, his books will caſt up him at length. The miſery of moſt men is, that their mindes are as ill ſet as their eyes, neither of them look inwards: how few are there that turn ſhort again upon themſelves, ſo as to ſay, What have I done? Woe to all ſuch when God ſhall ſend out ſummons for ſleepers, When he comes to ſearch Jeruſalem with candles, and puniſh the men that are ſetled on their lee…, &c. Zeph. 1.12.

Verſe 6. Communicate unto him] Not contribute as an alms,Occumen. but communicate as a right: ſee Philem. 17. as wages for his work, Mark 6. as pay for his pains, 1 Cor. 9.14. See the Note there.

Verſe 7. Be not deceived] Thinke not all well ſaved that is with-held from the Miniſter. It is a ſaying in the civill-law. Clericis Laici ſunt oppidò inſenſi: Many think it neither ſin, nor pity to beguile the Preacher. But God is not mocked, neither will he be robbed, by any, but they ſhall hear, Ye are curſed with a curſe, Mal. 3.8, 9. even with Shallums curſe (Jer. 22.11, 12, 13.) that uſed his neighbours ſervice without wages, and would ſacrilegiouſly take in a piece of Gods windows into his wide houſe, ver. 14.

Verſe 8. For he that ſoweth in the fleſh] He that neglecting his poor ſoul, cares only to feather his neſt, and to heap up riches. Si ventri benè, ſi lateri, as Epicurus in Horace: If the belly may be filled, the back fitted, let the ſoul ſink or ſwim, he takes no thought.

Verſe 9. And let us not be weary] Let us not give in,foreign. as tired jades: hot at hand ſeldome holds out.

For in due ſeaſon we ſhall reap] We muſt not look to ſow and reap in a day: as he ſaith of the Hyperborean people, far North, that they ſow ſhortly after the Sun-riſing with them,Heresbach. de re ruſtica. and reap before the Sun ſet: that is, becauſe the whole half year is one continuall day with them.

If we faint not] Quaerendi defatigatio turpis eſt, cum id quod quaritur, ſit pulcherimum. Cic. de fini….It is a ſhame to faint in the ſearch of that, which being found will more then pay for the pains of ſearching. Caleb was not diſcouraged by the Giants: p. 206therefore he had Hebron the place of the Giants: ſo thoſe that faint not in the way to heaven, ſhall inherit heaven.

Verſe 10. As we have therefore opportunity] Catch at it, as the Eccho catcheth the voice. Joſeph took the nick of time to gain Egypt to the King by feeding the hungry, ſo may we, to get heaven.

Who are of the houſhold] Of the family of faith, Gods houſhold-ſervants. That was a deſperate reſolve of Aigoland, King of Arragon, who coming to the French Court to be baptized,Turpine. and asking who thoſe Lazars and poor people were that waited for alms from the Exmperour Charlemains Table? When one anſwered him that they were the Meſſengers and ſervants of God; I will never ſerve that God, ſaid he, that can keep his ſervants no better.

Verſe 11. How large a letter] Gr. With what good great text-letters. I have written unto you with mine own hand (no fair hand: the greateſt Clerks are not alwaies the beſt Scribes) and not by any Tertius, Chryſoſt. Theophylact.or other am…nenſis, Rom. 16.22. to ſhew his love, and prevent impoſture, 2 Theſſ. 2.2.

Verſe 12. To make a fair ſhew] Gr. To ſet a good face on it, foreignafore the Jews eſpecially, and to ingratiate with them.

For the croſſe of Christ] That is, for the doctrine of the croſſe, or of juſtification by the death of Chriſt crucified.

Verſe 13. Keep the law] Rom. 2.23. Hierome doubteth not to pronounce that man accurſed, that ſaith it is impoſſible to keep the Law. Sed quid viſum ſit Hieronymo, nihil moramur: nos quid verum ſit inquirimus, ſaith Calvin. But let Hierome hold as he will, we know there is no ſuch thing.

That they may glory in you fleſh] That they pride themſelves in the multitude of their followers, and curry favour with the Jews by gaining many proſelytes.

Verſe 14. But God forbid, &c.] The Saints keep a conſtant counter-motion, and are Antipodes to the wicked. They thus and thus, but I otherwiſe.

Whereby the world is crucified] I look upon the world as a dead thing, as a great dung-hill, &c. That harlot was deceived in S. Paul, in thinking to allure him by laying out thoſe her two fair breaſts of profit and pleaſure: He had no p. 207minde to be ſucking at thoſe botches; He was a very crucifix of mortification: And in his face (as one ſaid of D^r Raynolds) a man might have ſeen, Verum mortificati hominis idaeam, the true portraiture of a mortified man.

And I to the world] q.d. The world and I are well agreed. The world cares not a pin for me, and I (to cry quittance with it) care as little for the world.

Verſe 15. For in Christ Jeſus] That is, in the Kingdome of Chriſt.

But a new creature] Either a new man, or no man.

Verſe 16. According to this rule] viz. Of the new creature.

Peace be on them] Not only in them, or with them; but on them, maugre the malice of earth and hell.

Verſe 17. From henceforth let no man] Here he takes upon him as an Apoſtle, and ſpeaks with authority.foreign.

I bear in my body the marks] As ſcars of honour. Paul had been whipped, ſtocked, ſtoned, &c. The marks of theſe he could better boaſt of, then thoſe falſe Apoſtles of their circumciſion. And hereby it appeared that he refuſed not, as they did, to ſuffer perſecution for the croſſe of Chriſt. In the year 1166. the Synod held at Oxford in the raign of Henry the ſecond, baniſhed out of England thirty Dutch Doctours (which taught the right uſe of Marriage,Alſted. Chron. p. 357. and of the Sacraments) after they had firſt ſtigmatized or branded them with hot irons. Iohn Clerk of Melden in France, being for Chriſts ſake whipped three ſeverall daies, and afterwards having a mark ſet in his fore-head, as a note of infamy, his mother beholding it (though his father was an adverſary) encouraged her ſon, crying with a loud voice, Bleſſed be Christ,Act. and Mon. fol. 802. Vivat Chriſtus ejuſ que inſignia. and welcome be theſe prints and marks of Chriſt. The next year after, ſcil. anno 1524. He brake the images without the City, which his ſuperſtitious Countrey-men were to worſhip the next day. For the which he was apprehended, and had his right-hand cut off, his noſe pulled off with pinſers, both his arms, and both his breſts torne with the ſame inſtrument; and after all, he was burned at a ſtake.Sculte…. Annal. In his greateſt torments he pronounced that of the Pſalmiſt, Their idols are ſilver and gold, the works of mens hands, &c. I conclude this diſcourſe with that ſaying of Pericles. It is not gold, p. 208precious ſtones, ſtatues, &c. that adorns a ſouldier, but a torne buckler, a crackt helmet, a blunt ſword, a ſcarr'd face, &c. Of theſe Biron the French Marſhall boaſted at his death. And Sceva is renowned for this, that at the ſiege of Dyrrachium he ſo long alone reſiſted Pompeys army, that he had 220. darts ſticking in his ſhield,Denſa… que … rens in p…o…e lylvam. …. and loſt one of his eyes, and yet gave not over till Caeſar came to his reſcue.

Verſe 18. Be with your ſpirit] Spirituals are ſpecially to be deſired for our ſelves and ours. Caetera aut aderunt, aut non oberunt. Other things we ſhall either have, or not want, but be as well without them.