Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

So we also at this day do labour by the word of God against those fantastical opinions of the Anabaptists, that we may set at liberty those that are entangled therewith, and reduce them to the pure doctrine of faith, and there hold them. And this our labour is not altogether in vain. For we have called back many whom they had bewitched, and have delivered them out of their snares. Notwithstanding such there are as will not suffer themselves to be taught, especially the chief Sorcerers and authors of this witchery. They will hear no reason, nor admit the scripture: yea they abuse and corrupt the scripture, and avoid such places as are alleged against them, with their false glosses and devilish dreams clean contrary to the scripture: which is a manifest sign that they are bewitched of the devil. Wherefore they are nothing amended by our admonitions, but are much more hardened and more obstinate then they were before. And surely I could never have believed, but that I have good experience thereof at this day, that the power of the devil is so great, that he is ⟨image 98⟩able to make falsehood so like to the truth. Moreover (which is yet much more horrible) when he goeth about to overwhelm sorrowful consciences with over much heaviness, he can so cunningly and so lively change himself into the likeness of Christ, that it is impossible for the poor tempted and afflicted soul to perceive it, whereby many simple and ignorant persons are deceived and driven down to desperation, and some also destroy themselves. For they are so bewitched of the devil that they believe this to be a most certain truth, that they are tempted and accused, not of the devil, but of Christ himself.

So we also at this day doe labour by the word of God against those fantasticall opinions of the Anabaptistes, that we may set at libertie those that are entangled therewith, and reduce them to the pure doctrine of faith, and there hold them. And this our labour is not altogether in vaine. For we haue called backe many whom they had bewitched, and haue deliuered them out of their snares. Notwithstanding such there are as will not suffer themselues to be taught, especially the chiefe Sorcerers and authors of this witchery. They wil heare no reason, nor admit the scripture: yea they abuse and corrupt the scripture, and auoide such places as are alledged against them, wt their false gloses and deuilish dreames cleane contrary to the scripture: which is a manifest signe that they are bewitched of the deuill. Wherefore they are nothing amended by our admonitions, but are much more hardened and more obstinate then they were before. And surely I could neuer haue beleued, but that I haue good experience therof at this day, that the power of the deuill is so greate, that he is