Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

This is the principal Article of all Christian doctrine, which the popish Schoolmen have altogether darkened.¹ And here ye see how necessary a thing it is to believe and to confess the Article of the Divinity of Christ: which when Arrius denied, he must needs also deny the Article of our redemption. For to overcome the sin of the world, death, the Curse and the wrath of God in himself, is not the work of any creature, but of the divine power. Therefore he which in him self should overcome these, must needs be truly and naturally God. For against this mighty power of sin, death and the curse (which of it self reigneth throughout the world and in the whole creature) it was necessary to set a more high and mighty power. But besides the sovereign and divine power, no such power can be found. Wherefore, to abolish sin, to destroy death, to take away the curse in himself: and again, to give righteousness, to bring life to light, and to give the Blessing, are the works of the divine power only and alone. Now because the Scripture doth attribute all these to Christ, therefore he in him self is life, righteousness and Blessing, which is naturally and substantially God. Wherefore they that deny the Divinity of Christ,² do lose all Christianity and become altogether Gentiles and Turks. We must learn therefore diligently the Article of justification (as I often admonish you). For all the other Articles of our faith are comprehended in it: and if that remain sound, then are all the rest sound. ⟨image 140⟩Wherefore when we teach that men are justified by Christ, that Christ is the conqueror of sin,³ death and the everlasting Curse: we witness therewithal that he is naturally and substantially God.

This is the principal Article of all Christian doctrine, which the popish Scholemen haue altogether darkened.¹ And here ye see how necessary a thing it is to beleue and to cōfesse the Article of the Diuinitie of Christ: which when Arrius denied, he must needes also deny the Article of our redemption. For to ouercome the sinne of ye world, death, the Curse and ye wrath of God in himselfe, is not the worke of any creature, but of the diuine power. Therefore he which in him selfe should ouercome these, must needes be truly and naturally God. For against this mightie power of sinne, death and the curse (which of it selfe reigneth throughout the world and in the whole creature) it was necessary to set a more high and mightie power. But besides the soueraigne and diuine power, no such power can be found. Wherfore, to abolish sinne, to destroy death, to take away the curse in himselfe: and againe, to geue righteousnes, to bringe life to light, and to geue the Blessing, are the workes of the diuine power onely and alone. Now because the Scripture doth attribute all these to Christe, therefore he in him selfe is life, righteousnes and Blessing, which is naturally and substantially God. Wherefore they that denye the Diuinitie of Christ,