Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

This matter, as touching the words, is easy (to wit, that righteousness is not essentially in us, but without us in the grace of God only & in his imputation: and that there is no essential substance of righteousness in us besides that weak faith or first fruits of faith, whereby we have begun to apprehend Christ, and yet sin in yt mean time remaineth verily in us): but in very deed it is no such small or light matter, but earnest & of weighty importance. For Christ which was given for us, and whom we apprehend by faith, hath done no small thing for us, neither hath he dallied with us, but (as Paul said before):¹ He hath loved us and given him self in very deed for us: ²He was made accursed for us &c. And this is no vain speculation, that Christ was delivered for my sins, and was made accursed for me, that I might be delivered from everlasting death.³ Therefore to apprehend that Son by faith, and with the heart to believe in him, given unto us and for us of God, causeth that God doth account that faith, although it be unperfect, for perfect righteousness.

This matter, as touching ye words, is easie (to wit, that righteousnes is not essentially in vs, but without vs in the grace of God onely & in his imputation: and that there is no essentiall substance of righteousnes in vs besides that weake faith or first frutes of faith, whereby we haue begon to apprehend Christ, and yet sinne in yt meane time remaineth verely in vs): but in very deede it is no such smal or light matter, but earnest & of weighty importance. For Christ which was geuen for vs, and whom we apprehend by faith, hath done no small thing for vs, neither hath he dalied with vs, but (as Paule said before):¹ He hath loued vs and geuen him selfe in very deede for vs: ²He vvas made accursed for vs &c. And this is no vaine speculation, that Christ was deliuered for my sinnes, and was made accursed for me, that I might be deliuered from euerlasting death.³