Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

Some other which had not yet utterly forsaken his doctrine, thought that there was no danger in dissenting a little from him in the doctrine ⟨image 241⟩of justification & Faith. Wherefore, when they heard that Paul made so heinous a matter of that which seemed unto them to be but light and of small importance, then marvelled, and thus they thought with themselves: Be it so that we have swerved something from the doctrine of Paul, and that there hath been some fault in us: yet that being but a small matter, he ought to wink thereat, or at least not to vehemently to amplify it, lest by the occasion thereof the concord of the Churches should be broken. Whereunto he answereth with this sentence: A little leaven leaveneth, [or maketh sower] the whole lump of dough. And this is a caveat or an admonition which Paul standeth much upon. And we also ought greatly to esteem the same at this day. For our adversaries in like manner object against us that we are contentious, obstinate, and intractable in defending our doctrine, and even in matters of no great importance. But these are the crafty fetches of the Devil, whereby he goeth about utterly to overthrow our doctrine. To this we answer therefore with Paul, that a little leaven maketh sower the whole lump.

Some other which had not yet vtterly forsakē his doctrine, thought that there was no daunger in dissenting a litle from him in the doctrine ⟨image 241⟩of iustification & Faith. Wherfore, when they heard that Paule made so hainous a matter of that which seemed vnto them to be but light and of small importance, then maruelled, and thus they thought with themselues: Be it so that we haue swarned something from the doctrine of Paule, and that there hath bene some fault in vs: yet that being but a small matter, he ought to winke thereat, or at least not to vehemently to amplifie it, lest by the occasion thereof the concord of the Churches should be broken. Wherevnto he answereth with this sentence: A litle leuen leueneth, [or maketh sovver] the vvhole lumpe of dough. And this is a caueat or an admonition which Paule stādeth much vppon. And we also ought greatly to esteme the same at this day. For our aduersaries in like maner obiect against vs that we are contentious, obstinate, and intractable in defending our doctrine, and euen in matters of no great importance. But these are the craftie fetches of the Deuill, whereby he goeth about vtterly to ouerthrow our doctrine. To this we answer therefore with Paule, that a litle leuen maketh sovver the vvhole lumpe.