Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

Now, if my salvation was so costly and dear a price unto Christ, that he was constrained to die for my sins, then all my works, with all the righteousness of the law,¹ are but vile and nothing worth in comparison of this inestimable price. For how can I buy it for a farthing which cost many thousand talents of gold? Now the law (to speak nothing of other matters which are of much less value) with all the works and righteousness thereof, is but as a farthing if ye compare it unto Christ: who by his death hath vanquished my death and hath purchased righteousness and everlasting life. Should I then despise and reject this incomparable price, and by the law or by the works and merits of men (vile dross and dung, for so Paul calleth them, if they be compared unto Christ) seek that righteousness which Christ freely & of mere love hath given unto me already, & hath cost him so great a price that he was constrained to give himself and even his own hart blood for me? This (as I have said) the whole world doth, and specially such as will be counted more holy and religious then others. Whereby they plainly witness that Christ died in vain,² although with their mouths they confess the contrary never so much. Which is most horribly to blasphemy the son of god, to spit in his face, to tread him under foot, to count the blood of the testament as an unholy thing, & utterly to despise the spirit of grace.

Now, if my saluation was so costly and deare a price vnto Christ, that he was constrained to die for my sinnes, thē all my works, with all the righteousnes of the law,¹ are but vile and nothīg worth in comparison of this inestimable price. For how can I bie yt for a farthing which cost many thousand talents of gold? Now the law (to speake nothing of other matters which are of much lesse valew) with all the works and righteousnes therof, is but as a farthing if ye compare it vnto Christ: who by his death hath vanquished my death and hath purchased righteousnes and euerlasting life. Should I then despise and reiect this incomparable price, and by the law or by the works and merites of mē (vile drosse and dung, for so Paule calleth them, if they be cōpared vnto Christ) seeke that righteousnes which Christ freely & of meere loue hath geuen vnto me already, & hath cost him so greate a price that he was constrained to geue himselfe and euen his owne hart bloud for me? This (as I haue said) the whole world doth, and specially such as will be counted more holy and religious then others. Wherby they plainly witnes that Christ died in vaine,