Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

He much marvelleth therefore, that seeing they knew God truly by the Gospel, they returned so suddenly back to weak and beggarly rudiments, by the persuasion of the false apostles. As I my self also should greatly marvel if our Church (which by the grace of God is godly reformed in pure doctrine and Faith) should be seduced and perverted by some fond and frantic head, through the preaching of one or two sermons, that they would not acknowledge me for their pastor any more. Which thing notwithstanding shall one day come to pass, if not whilst we live, yet when we are dead and gone. For many shall then rise up, which will be masters and teachers: who under a colour of true religion shall teach false and perverse doctrine, and shall quickly overthrow all that we in so long time and with so great travel have builded. We are not better then the Apostles, who,¹ whiles they yet lived saw (not without their great grief and sorrow) the subversion of those Churches which they themselves had planted through their ministry. Therefore it is no great marvel if we be constrained to behold the like evil at this day in those Churches, where Sectaries do reign, who hereafter when we are dead, shall possess those Churches which we have won and planted by our ministry, and with their poison infect and subvert the same. And yet notwithstanding Christ shall remain and reign to the end of the world, and that marvellously, as he did under the Papacy.

He much meruelleth therfore, that seing they knew God truely by the Gospell, they returned so suddenly backe to weake and beggerly rudiments, by the perswasion of the false apostles. As I my selfe also should greatly maruell if our Church (which by the grace of God is godly reformed in pure doctrine and Faith) should be seduced and peruerted by some fond and frantike head, through the preaching of one or two sermons, that they would not acknowledge me for their pastour any more. Which thing notwithstanding shall one day come to passe, if not whilest we liue, yet when we are dead and gone. For many shall then rise vppe, which will be maisters and teachers: who vnder a colour of true religiō shall teach false and peruerse doctrine, and shall quickly ouerthrow all that we in so long time and with so great trauel haue builded. We are not better then the Apostles, who,¹ whiles they yet liued sawe (not without their great griefe and sorow) the subuersion of those Churches which they thēselues had planted through theyr ministerie. Therfore it is no great maruell if we be constrained to behold the like euill at this day in those Churches, where Sectaries doe raigne, who hereafter when we are dead, shall possesse those Churches which we haue wonne and planted by our ministerie, and with their poyson infect and subuert the same. And yet notwithstanding Christe shall remaine and raigne to the end of the world, and that maruelously, as he did vnder the Papacie.