Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

We that are old men, which have ben so nursled up in this pernicious doctrine of the Papists, that it hath taken deep root even in our bones and marrow, have conceived an opinion quite contrary to that which Paul here teacheth.¹ For although we confessed with our mouth that Christ redeemed us from the tyranny of the law, yet in very deed in our heart we thought him to be a lawgiver, a tyrant and a judge, more terrible then Moses him self. And this perverse opinion we can not yet at this day in so great light of the truth, utterly reject: so strongly are those things rooted in our hearts which we learn in our youth. But ye which are yet young, and are not infected with this pernicious opinion, may learn Christ purely with less difficulty than we that are old can remove out of our minds these blasphemous imaginations which we have conceived of him. Notwithstanding ye have not utterly escaped the deceits of the Devil. For although ye be not as yet infected with this cursed opinion, that Christ is a lawgiver, yet have ye in you the root whereof it springeth, that is, ye have the flesh,² reason, and the corruption of nature, which can judge no otherwise of Christ, but that he is a lawgiver. Therefore ye must endeavour with all your power to learn so to know & to apprehend Christ, as Paul hath set him forth in this place. But if besides this natural corruption, there come also corrupt and wicked teachers (of whom the world is full) they will increase this corruption of nature, and so shall the evil be doubled: that is to say, evil instruction will increase and confirm the pernicious error of blind reason, which naturally judgeth Christ to be a lawgiver, and printeth that error so mightily in our minds, that without great travail and difficulty it can never be abolished.

We that are olde men, which haue ben so nusled vp in this pernicious doctrine of the Papistes, that it hath taken deepe roote euen in our bones and marrow, haue conceaued an opinion quite contrary to that which Paule here teacheth.¹ For although we confessed with our mouth that Christ redemed vs from the tyrannie of the lawe, yet in very dede in our heart we thought him to be a lawgeuer, a tyranne and a iudge, more terrible then Moises him selfe. And this peruerse opinion we can not yet at this day in so great light of the truth, vtterly reiect: so strongly are those things rooted in our heartes which we learne in our youth. But ye which are yet yong, and are not infected with this pernicious opinion, may learne Christ purely with lesse difficultie thē we that are olde can remoue out of our mindes these blasphemous imaginations which we haue conceaued of him. Notwithstanding ye haue not vtterly escaped the deceites of the Deuill. For although ye be not as yet infected with this cursed opinion, that Christ is a lawgeuer, yet haue ye in you the roote whereof it springeth, that is, ye haue the flesh,