Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

Moreover, God hath also sent the spirit of his son into our hearts, as Paul here saith. But Christ is most certain in his spirit that he pleaseth God. &c: therefore we also having the same spirit of Christ, must be assured that we are under grace for his sake that is most assured. This I have said concerning the inward testimony, whereby a Christian mans heart ought to be fully persuaded that he is under grace & hath the holy Ghost. Now, the outward signs (as before I have said) are, gladly to hear of Christ, to preach & teach Christ, to render thanks unto him, to praise him, to confess him, yea with the loss of goods and life: Moreover, to do our duty according to our vocation as we are able: to do it (I say) in faith, joy. &c: Not to delight in sin, nor to thrust our selves into an other mans vocation, but to attend upon our own, to help our needy brother, to comfort the heavy hearted. &c. By these signs, as by certain effects & consequents, we are fully assured & confirmed, that we are in Gods favour. The wicked also do imagine that they have the same signs, but they have nothing less. Hereby we may plainly see that the Pope with his doctrine doth nothing else, but trouble and torment mens consciences, & at length driveth them to desperation: For he not only teacheth, but also commandeth men to doubt. Therefore,¹ according to the Psalm: There is no truth or certainty in his mouth: And in an other place: under his tongue is iniquity & mischief,

Moreouer, God hath also sent the spirite of his sonne into our hearts, as Paule here sayth. But Christe is most certaine in his spirite that he pleaseth God. &c: therefore we also hauing the same spirite of Christe, must be assured that we are vnder grace for his sake that is most assured. This I haue sayd concerning the inward testimonie, wherby a Christian mans heart ought to be fully perswaded that he is vnder grace & hath the holy Ghost. Now, ye outward signes (as before I haue said) are, gladly to heare of Christ, to preach & teach Christ, to render thanks vnto him, to praise him, to confesse him, yea wt the losse of goodes and life: Moreouer, to doe our duetie according to our vocatiō as we are able: to do it (I say) in faith, ioy. &c: Not to delite in sinne, nor to thrust our selues into an other mans vocation, but to attend vpon our owne, to helpe our needy brother, to comfort the heauy harted. &c. By these signes, as by certein effects & cōsequēts, we are fully assured & confirmed, that we are in Gods fauour. The wicked also do imagine that they haue the same signes, but they haue nothing lesse. Hereby we may plainly see that the Pope with his doctrine doth nothing else, but trouble and torment mens consciences, & at length driueth them to desperation: For he not onely teacheth, but also cōmaundeth men to dout. Therfore,