The mind and exposition of that excellent learned man Martin Bucer, upon these words…The mynd and exposition of that excellente learned man Martyn Bucer, vppon these wordes…

For there is no small number which will hardly be persuaded, that all things are laid up for us in Christ alone, when there is so much attributed & so much credit given to mans inventions. Out of doubt there is great fault committed herein now a days, not only of the common people, but even of the head & chief standard bearers of the Gospel now reviving and springing up again. In deed I confess that what so ever hath ben ordained against the liberty of external things,¹ as difference of persons meats, days, places, & other like things innumerable, hath ben altogether brought in by the rabble of Antichrist yet because the common people were ⟨image 7⟩persuaded that all such things were commandments of the Church, ruled and guided by God's spirit: therefore they received them generally as things proceeding from God's will and appointment.² And for this cause we must even in these our days be circumspect in using the liberty purchased for us by Christ, and with Paul sometimes circumcise Timothy: that is to say, for our parts, use well some ceremonies which other men abuse: seeking (as it were) an occasion by that means, to preach Christ sincerely and purely. Albeit thes inventions of men can by no means be compared to circumcision and such like ordinances of God.

For there is no smale numbre whiche will hardly be perswaded, that all thynges are layed vppe for vs in Christe alone, when there is so much attributed & so much credit geuen to mans inuentiōs. Out of dout there is great faulte cōmitted herin nowe a dayes, not onlye of the common people, but euen of the head & cheif standard bearers of the Gospell nowe revyuinge and springinge vppe agayn. In dede I confesse yt what so euer hath ben ordeyned against the libertie of externall thynges,¹ as difference of persons meates, dayes, places, & other like thinges innumerable, hath ben alltogether brought in by the rable of Antichrist yet because the comon people were ⟨image 7⟩persuaded that all suche thinges were commaundementes of the Church, ruled and guyded by goddes spirite: therfore they receaued them generally as thynges procedinge from godes will and appoyntmente.