9 Now ye are not in the flesh. By a supposition he applieth the general sentence unto them, to whom he wrote: not only to the end, that directing his talk as proper unto them, he might the more vehemently move them: but also that by the definition late put down, they might certainly gather, how they are of the number of those, from whom Christ hath taken the curse of the law. Yet withal, showing of what force the spirit of God is in the elect, and what fruit it bringeth forth, he exhorteth them unto newness of life. If so be that the spirit of God. This is a correction very fitly applied, whereby they are stirred up to examine themselves more nearly,1 least they pretend the name of Christ in vain. And this is a most sure note, whereby the sons of God are discerned from the children of the world: if by the spirit of God they be regenerate unto innocency and holiness. Although it seemeth, his purpose was not so much to correct hypocrisy, as to suggest matter of glorying, against those were preposterously zealous over the law, who esteemed more of the dead letter then of the inward virtue of the spirit which quickeneth the law. Furthermore, this place teacheth, that Paul by the name of spirit, meant not the mind or understanding (which of the Patrons of free will is called the more excellent part of the soul) but the heavenly gift. For he expoundeth those to be spiritual, not which obey reason by their own motion, but whom God governeth by his spirit.2 Neither yet are they said to be according to the spirit, as though they were full of the spirit of God (which thing hath happened to none yet) but because they have the spirit of God abiding in them, howsoever they feel some relic of the flesh remaining in them. And it cannot, meaning the spirit cannot remain, except it have the superiority. For we are to note, that a man is named of the chiefest part in him. But if any have not the spirit of Christ. He addeth this, that he might show how necessary the denial of the flesh is in christians. The kingdom of the spirit, is the abolishing of the flesh, in whom the spirit of Christ reigneth not, they do not appertain unto Christ. Then they are not Christians that serve the flesh. For they who pull Christ away from his spirit, make him like unto a dead image or carcass.
9 Nowe yee are not in the fleshe. By a supposition he applieth the generall sentence vnto them, to whome hee wrote: not onely to the ende, that directing his talke as proper vnto them, hee might the more vehemently moue them: but also that by the definition late put downe, they might certainely gather, howe they are of the number of those, from whome Christe hath taken the curse of the lawe. Yet withall, shewing of what force the spirite of God is in the elect, and what fruit it bringeth forth, hee exhorteth them vnto newenesse of life. If so be that the spirite of God. This is a correction very fitly applyed, whereby they are stirred vp to examine themselues more neerely,1 least they pretende the name of Christe in vaine. And this is a most sure note, whereby the sonnes of God are discerned from the children of the worlde: if by the spirit of God they be regenerate vnto innocencie and holinesse. Although it seemeth, his purpose was not so much to correct hypocrisie, as to suggest matter of glorying, against those were preposterously zealous ouer the lawe, who esteemed more of the dead letter then of the inwarde vertue of the spirite which quickeneth the lawe. Furthermore, this place teacheth, that Paule by the name of spirite, meant not the minde or vnderstanding (whiche of the Patrones of free will is called the more excellent part of the soule) but the heauenly gift. For hee expoundeth those to bee spirituall, not which obey reason by their owne motion, but whom God gouerneth by his spirite.2 Neither yet are they said to bee according to the spirite, as though they were full of the spirite of God (which thing hath happened to none yet) but because they haue the spirite of God abiding in them, howesoeuer they feele some relique of the flesh remaining in them. And it cannot, meaning the spirite cannot remaine, except it haue the superioritie. For we are to note, that a man is named of the chiefest part in him. But if any haue not the spirite of Christe. Hee addeth this, that he might shewe howe necessarie the deniall of the fleshe is in christians. The kingdome of the spirite, is the abolishing of the fleshe, in whome the spirite of Christe raigneth not, they doe not appertaine vnto Christe. Then they are not Christians that serue the fleshe. For they who pull Christ away from his spirite, make him like vnto a dead image or carkasse.
- 1A note to know the true sons of God from the children of the world.A note to knowe the true sonnes of God from the children of the world.
- 2Who and how they are called spiritual.Who and howe they are called spirituall.
