Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Ver. 1. _Be not again entangled_] ενεχεσθε. As oxen tied to the yoke. Those that followed Judas Galileus, Acts 5:37, chose rather to undergo any death than to be in subjectio... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. Ver. 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 righteousness, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Ver. 3. _That he is a debtor_] 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 blood with our puddle stuff. Those t... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Ver. 4. _Christ is become of none effect_] Woe then to popish merit mongers. William Wickham, founder of New College, though he did many good works, yet he professed he trusted to Jesus Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Ver. 5. _For we through the Spirit_] We apostles hope for righteousness by faith. If you will go to heaven any other way, you must erect a ladder, and go up alone, as Constantine said to Acesins the Novatian heretic, _Erigito sc... [ Continue Reading ]
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ver. 6. _Neither circumcision_] Unregenerate Israel is as Ethiopia, Amos 9:7 . _ But faith that worketh_] _Iustificamur tribus modis, _ Effective _a Deo, _ apprehensive _a fide, _ decl... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? Ver. 7. _Ye did run well_] Why do ye now stop or step back? _Tutius recurrere quam male currere, _ was the Emperor Philip's symbol. (Reusner Symb.) Better run back than run amiss; for in this case, "He that hasteth with his feet... [ Continue Reading ]
This persuasion _cometh_ not of him that calleth you. Ver. 8. _This persuasion_] Sectarians and seducers have a strange art in persuading, πιθανολογια, Colossians 2:4. And although we think ourselves able enough to answer and withstand their arguments, yet it is dangerous dealing with them. The Val... [ Continue Reading ]
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Ver. 9. _A little leaven_] viz. Of false doctrine,Matthew 16:6. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 16:6 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. Ver. 10. _But he that troubleth you_] That heresiarch, or ringleader of the faction. The beast and the false prophet are taken and cast alive into a... [ Continue Reading ]
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. Ver. 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... [ Continue Reading ]
I would they were even cut off which trouble you. Ver. 12. _I would they were even cut_] Not circumcised only, cut round, but cut off, _Non circumcidantur modo, sed et abscindantur._ (Chrys.) _ That trouble you_] That turn you upside down, or that turn you out of house and home.... [ Continue Reading ]
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only _use_ not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Ver. 13. _Only use not your liberty_] _In maxima libertate, minima licentia._ In the greatest freedom is the least amount of licence. Therefore αναστατουντες, are men... [ Continue Reading ]
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, _even_ in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Ver. 14. _For all the law_] _i.e._ All the second table. The Scripture often appropriateth the law to the second table, as Romans 13:8; Ephesians 6:2, &c. A man must exercise the first table in the s... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. Ver. 15. _But if ye bite, &c._] _Si collidimnr, frangimur, _ If we clash, we break. Dissolution is the daughter of dissension, saith Nazienzen. The Turks pray to God to keep the Christians at variance. Israelit... [ Continue Reading ]
_This_ I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Ver. 16. _This I say then_] For an antidote against abuse of Christian liberty. Set the Spirit, as Pharaoh did Joseph, upon the chief chariot of your hearts, and let all be at his beck and check.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Ver. 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 armie... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Ver. 18. _Ye are not under the law_] For where the Spirit is, there is liberty from the rigour, irritation, and malediction of the law.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are _these_; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Ver. 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,... [ Continue Reading ]
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Ver. 20. _Idolatry_] This is fitly set after those fleshly sins, as commonly accompanied with them, 1 Corinthians 10:7,8. Sir Walter Raleigh knew what he said, that were he to choose a religion for licentious li... [ Continue Reading ]
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told _you_ in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Ver. 21. _Murders, drunkenness_] This is often the mother of murder. Domitius, the father of Nero,... [ Continue Reading ]
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Ver. 22. _The fruit of the Spirit_] The spirit of grace are those two golden pipes, Zechariah 4:12, through which the two olive branches empty out of themselves the golden oils of all precious graces into t... [ Continue Reading ]
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Ver. 23. _Meekness, temperance_] Queen Elizabeth was famous for these two virtues. King Edward VI called her by no other name than his sweet sister Temperance. (Camd. Elizab.) She did seldom eat but one sort of meat, rose ever with an appetite, an... [ Continue Reading ]
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Ver. 24. _And they that are Christ's_] When Christ came in the flesh, we crucified him; when he comes into our hearts, he crucifies us. _ Have crucified the flesh_] To crucify is not absolutely and outright to kill;... [ Continue Reading ]
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Ver. 25. _If we live in the spirit_] Spiritual men only are heirs of life, 1 Peter 3:7, all others are dead in trespasses. _ Let us walk_] Walk orderly, by line and by rule, march in rank, στοιχωμεν. Life consists in action. Life, saith the... [ Continue Reading ]
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Ver. 26. _Let us not be desirous of vain glory_] _Ingens dulcedo gloriae_ (saith Aeneas Sylvius) _facilius contemnenda dicitur, quam contemnitur._ It was this vice that raised so much trouble in Germany between Luther... [ Continue Reading ]