Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

That is to say: we are free from the law, from the prison,¹ and from our Schoolmaster: for when Faith is revealed, the law terrifieth and tormenteth us no more. Paul here speaketh of Faith as it was preached and published unto the world by Christ in a certain time before appointed. For Christ taking upon him our flesh, came once into the world: he abolished the law with all his effects, and delivered from eternal death all those which receive his benefit by Faith. If therefore ye look unto Christ and that which he hath done, there is now no law. For he coming in the time appointed, took away the law. Now, since the law is gone, we are not kept under the tyranny thereof any more: but we live in joy and safety under Christ, who now sweetly reigneth in us by his spirit. Now, where the Lord reigneth, there is liberty. Wherefore, if we could perfectly apprehend Christ which hath abolished the law by his death, and hath reconciled us unto his father, that Schoolmaster should have no power over us at all. But the law of the members rebelling against the law of the mind, letteth us that we can not perfectly lay hold upon Christ. The lack therefore is not in Christ, but in us, which have not yet put of this flesh, to the which sin continually cleaveth as long as we live. Wherefore, as touching our selves, we are partly free from the law, and partly under the law. According to the spirit, we serve with Paul the law of God: but according to the flesh the law of sin. Rom. 7.

That is to say: we are free from the lawe, from the prison,¹ and from our Scholemaster: for when Faith is reuealed, the lawe terrifieth and tormenteth vs no more. Paule here speaketh of Faith as it was preached and published vnto the world by Christ in a certaine time before appoynted. For Christ taking vppon him our flesh, came once into the world: he abolished the lawe with all his effectes, and deliuered from eternall death all those which receaue his benefite by Faith. If therefore ye looke vnto Christe and that which he hath done, there is now no lawe. For he comming in the time appoynted, tooke away the lawe. Nowe, since the law is gone, we are not kept vnder the tyrannie therof any more: but we liue in ioy and safetie vnder Christ, who now sweetely raigneth in vs by his spirit. Now, where the Lord raigneth, there is libertie. Wherefore, if we could perfectly apprehend Christe which hath abolished the lawe by his death, and hath reconciled vs vnto his father, that Scholemaster should haue no power ouer vs at all. But the lawe of the members rebelling against the lawe of the minde, letteth vs that we can not perfectly lay hold vppon Christe. The lacke therfore is not in Christ, but in vs, which haue not yet put of this flesh, to the which sinne continually cleaueth as long as we liue. Wherfore, as touching our selues, we are partly free from the law, and partly vnder the lawe. According to the spirite, vve serue vvith Paule the lavve of God: but according to the flesh the lavve of sinne.