Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

Therefore, when men dream that they well understand the commandment of charity, they are utterly deceived. In deed they have it written in their heart: for they naturally judge that a man ought to do unto an other, as he would an other should do unto him. But it followeth not therefore that they understand it: For if they did, they would also perform it in deed, and would prefer love and charity before all their works.¹ They would not so highly esteem their own superstitious toys, as to go with an heavy countenance hanging down the head, to be unmarried, to live with bread and water, to dwell in the wilderness, to be poorly apparelled, &c. These monstrous and superstitious works, which they have devised and chosen unto themselves, God neither commanding nor approving the same, ⟨p. 245⟩they esteem to be so holy and so excellent, that they surmount and darken charity, which is as it were the Sun of all good works.² So great and incomprehensible is the blindness of mans reason, that it is unable, not only to judge rightly of the doctrine of Faith, but also of external conversation and works. Wherefore we must fight strongly, as well against the opinions of our own heart (to the which we are naturally more inclined in the matter of salvation then to the word of God), as also against the counterfeit visor & holy show of our own will-works: that so we may learn to magnify the works which every man doth in his vocation, although they seem outwardly never so base and contemptible, if they have the warrant of Gods word: and contrariwise, to despise those works which reason chooseth without the commandment of God, seem they never so excellent and holy.

Therfore, when men dreame that they well vnderstand the commaundement of charitie, they are vtterly deceaued. In deede they haue it wrytten in their heart: for they naturally iudge that a man ought to doe vnto an other, as he would an other should do vnto him. But it foloweth not therefore that they vnderstand it: For if they did, they would also performe it in deede, and would preferre loue and charitie before all their workes.¹ They would not so highly esteme their owne superstitious toyes, as to goe with an heauie countenaunce hanging downe the head, to be vnmarried, to liue with bread and water, to dwell in the wildernes, to be poorely apparelled, &c. These monstrous and superstitious workes, which they haue deuised and chosen vnto themselues, God neither commaunding nor approuing the same,