Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

Here is then required a wise and a faithful disposer of the word of God, which can so moderate the law, that it may be kept within his bounds. He that teacheth that men are justified before God by the observation of the law, passeth the bounds of the law, and confoundeth these two kinds of righteousness, active and passive, and is but an ill Logician, for he doth not rightly divide. Contrariwise, he that setteth forth the law and works to the old man, and the promise of forgiveness of sins and Gods mercy to the new man, divideth the word well. For the flesh or the old man must be coupled with the law and works: the spirit or new man must be joined with the promise of God and his mercy. Wherefore, when I see a man that is bruised enough already, oppressed with the law, terrified with sin, and thirsting for comfort, it is time that I should remove out of his sight the law and active righteousness, and that I should set before him by the Gospel the Christian and passive righteousness: which excluding Moses with his law, offereth the promise made in Christ, who came for the afflicted, and for sins. Here is man raised up again, and conceiveth good hope: neither is he any longer under the law, but under grace. Howe not under the law? According to the new man, to whom the law doth not pertain. For the law hath his bounds but unto Christ,¹ as Paul saith afterwards: The law continueth unto Christ: who being come, Moses ceaseth with his law, Circumcision, the Sacrifices, the Sabbaths, yea, and all the Prophets.

Here is then required a wise and a faithfull disposer of the word of God, which can so moderate the lawe, that it may be kept within his boundes. He that teacheth that men are iustified before God by the obseruation of the lawe, passeth the boundes of the lawe, and confoundeth these two kindes of righteousnesse, actiue and passiue, and is but an ill Logician, for he doth not rightly diuide. Contrariwise, he that setteth forth the lawe and workes to the old man, and the promise of forgiuenes of sinnes and Gods mercy to the new man, diuideth the word wel. For the flesh or the old man must be coupled with the lawe and works: the spirit or new man must be ioyned with the promise of God and his mercy. Wherefore, when I see a man that is brused enough already, oppressed with the lawe, terrified with sinne, and thirsting for comfort, it is time that I should remoue oute of his sight the lawe and actiue righteousnes, and that I should set before him by the Gospell the Christian and passiue righteousnes: which excluding Moses with his lawe, offereth the promise made in Christ, who came for the afflicted, and for sinnes. Here is man raised vp againe, and conceaueth good hope: neither is he any longer vnder the lawe, but vnder grace. Howe not vnder the lawe? According to the newe man, to whom the law doth not pertaine. For the lawe hath his boundes but vnto Christ,