Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

I do not deny therefore but that the concupiscence of the flesh comprehendeth carnal lust, but not that only For concupiscence comprehendeth all other corrupt affections, wherewith the very faithful are infected, some more, some less: as pride, hatred, covetousness, impatience and such like. Yea Paul rehearseth afterwards among the works of the flesh, not only these gross vices, but also idolatry, heresies and such other. It is plain therefore that he speaketh of the whole concupiscence of the flesh & of the whole dominion of sin, which striveth even in the godly who have received the first fruits of the spirit, against the dominion of the spirit. He speaketh therefore not only of carnal lust, pride, covetousness. &c: but also of incredulity, distrust, despair, hatred, & contempt of God, idolatry, heresies and such other, when he saith: And ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. As if he should say: I write unto you that ye should love one an other. This ye do not, neither can ye do it because of the flesh, which is infected and corrupted with concupiscence, and doth not only stir up sin in you, but also is sin it self. For if ye had perfect charity, no heaviness, no adversity could be so great, which should be able to hurt or hinder ⟨p. 249⟩that charity: for it would be spread throughout the whole body. There should be no wife, were she never so hard favoured, whom her husband would not love entirely, loathing all other women, though they were never so fair and beautiful. But this is not done: therefore it is impossible for us to be made righteous through love.

I doe not deny therfore but that the concupiscence of the flesh comprehendeth carnall lust, but not that onely For concupiscence comprehendeth all other corrupt affections, wherewith the very faithful are infected, some more, some lesse: as pride, hatred, couetousnes, impatiency and such like. Yea Paule rehearseth afterwardes among the works of the flesh, not only these grosse vices, but also idolatry, heresies and such other. It is plaine therfore that he speaketh of the whole concupiscēce of the flesh & of the whole dominion of sinne, which striueth euē in the godly who haue receaued the first fruites of the spirite, against the dominion of the spirite. He speaketh therefore not onely of carnall lust, pride, couetousnes. &c: but also of incredulitie, distrust, despaire, hatred, & contempt of God, idolatrie, heresies and such other, when he sayth: And ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. As if he should say: I wryte vnto you that ye should loue one an other. This ye do not, neither can ye doe it because of the flesh, which is infected and corrupted with concupiscence, and doth not onely stirre vppe sinne in you, but also is sinne it self. For if ye had perfect charitie, no heauines, no aduersitie could be so great, which should be able to hurt or hinder