Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

As therefore the opinion of righteousness is a great and an horrible monster, a rebellious, obstinate, and stiffenecked beast:¹ so for the destroying and overthrowing thereof, God hath need of a mighty hammer, that is to say, the law: which then is in his proper use and office when it accuseth and discovereth sin after this sort: Behold, thou hast transgressed all the commandments of God. &c: and so it striketh a terror into the conscience, so that it feeleth God to be offended and angry in deed, and it self to be guilty of eternal death. Here ⟨image 153⟩the pore afflicted sinner feeleth the intolerable burden of the law, and is beaten down even to desperation, so that now being oppressed with great anguish and terror, he desireth death, or else seeketh to destroy him self.² Wherefore the law is that hammer, that fire, that mighty strong wind, and that terrible earthquake renting the mountains, & breaking the rocks, that is to say, the proud and obstinate hypocrites. Elijah, ³not being able to abide these terrors of the law, which by these things are signified, covered his head with his mantel. Notwithstanding when that tempest ceased, of which he was a beholder, there came a soft and a gracious wind, in the which the Lord was. But it behoved that the tempest of fire, of wind, and the earthquake should pass, before the Lord should reveal him self in that gracious wind.

As therefore the opinion of righteousnes is a great and an horrible monster, a rebellious, obstinate, and stiffenecked beast:¹ so for the destroying and ouerthrowing thereof, God hath neede of a mightie hammer, that is to say, the lawe: which then is in his proper vse and office when it accuseth and discouereth sinne after this sort: Beholde, thou hast transgressed all the commaundementes of God. &c: and so it striketh a terrour into the conscience, so that it feeleth God to be offended and angrie in deede, and it selfe to be giltie of eternall death. Here ⟨image 153⟩