Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

Whiles this doctrine pacifying and quieting the conscience abideth sound and uncorrupt, Christians are made judges over all kinds of doctrine, and are Lords over the laws of the whole world.¹ Then can they certainly judge that the Turk with his Alcoran is damned because he goeth not the right way, that is, he acknowledgeth not himself to be miserable and damnable, nor apprehendeth Christ by faith, for whose sake he might be assured that his sins are pardoned. In like manner they boldly pronounce sentence against the Pope,² that he is condemned with all his kingdom, because he so walketh and so teacheth (with all his religious rabble of Sophisters and Schoolmen), that by the merit of congruence we must come to grace, & that afterwards by the merit of worthiness we are received into heaven. Here saith the Christian, this is not the right way to justify us, neither doth this way lead us to heaven. For I can not (saith he) by my works going before grace, deserve grace, nor by my works following grace deserve eternal life: But to him that believeth, sin is pardoned and righteousness imputed. This trust and this confidence maketh him the child of God and heir of his kingdom: For in hope he possesseth already everlasting life assured unto him by promise. Through faith in Christ therefore all things are given unto us, grace, peace, forgiveness of sins, salvation and everlasting life, and not for the merit of congruence and worthiness.

Whiles this doctrine pacifying and quieting the conscience abideth sound and vncorrupt, Christians are made iudges ouer all kindes of doctrine, and are Lords ouer the lawes of the whole world.¹ Then cā they certainly iudge that the Turke with his Alcoran is damned because he goeth not the right way, that is, he acknowledgeth not himselfe to be miserable and damnable, nor apprehendeth Christ by faith, for whose sake he might be assured that his sinnes are pardoned. In like maner they boldly pronoūce sentence against the Pope,² that he is condemned with all his kingdome, because he so walketh and so teacheth (with all his religious rable of Sophisters and Scholemē), that by the merite of congruence we must come to grace, & that afterwards by the merite of worthines we are receaued into heauen. Here sayth the Christian, this is not the right way to iustifie vs, neither doth this way leade vs to heauen. For I can not (saith he) by my works going before grace, deserue grace, nor by my works following grace deserue eternall life: But to him that beleueth, sinne is pardoned and righteousnes imputed. This trust and this confidence maketh him the childe of God and heire of his kingdome: For in hope he possesseth already euerlasting life assured vnto him by promise. Through faith in Christ therefore all things are geuen vnto vs, grace, peace, forgeuenes of sinnes, saluation and euerlasting life, and not for the merite of congruence and worthines.