Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

But he doth not only bewitch men after this gross manner,¹ but also after a more subtle sort and much more dangerous: wherein he is a marvellous cunning workman. And hereof it cometh that Paul applieth the charming and bewitching of the senses to the bewitching of the spirit.² For by this spiritual witchcraft that old serpent bewitcheth not mens senses, but their minds with false & wicked opinions: which opinions they that are so bewitched do take to be true and right godly. Briefly so great is the malice of this sorcerer the devil, & desire ⟨image 97⟩to hurt, that not only he deceiveth those secure and proud spirits with his enchantments, but even those also which are professors of true Christianity, and well affected in religion: yea, as touching my self, to say the truth,³ he sometimes assaileth me so mightily, and oppresseth me with such heavy cogitations, that he utterly shadoweth my Saviour Christ from me, and in a manner taketh him clean out of my sight. To be brief, there is none of us all which is not oftentimes bewitched with false persuasions: that is to say, which doth not fear, trust, or rejoice where he ought not, or doth not sometimes think otherwise of God, of Christ, of faith, of his vocation, of the Christian state &c. then he should do.

But he doth not onely bewitch men after this grosse maner,¹ but also after a more subtile sort and much more daungerous: wherein he is a maruelous cunning workeman. And hereof it cometh that Paule applieth the charming and bewitching of the senses to the bewitching of the spirite.² For by this spirituall witchcraft that olde serpent bewitcheth not mens senses, but their mindes with false & wicked opinions: which opinions they that are so bewitched do take to be true and right godly. Briefly so great is the malice of this sorcerer the deuil, & desire ⟨image 97⟩