18 Thou wilt say then. In the person of the gentiles he pronounceth whatsoever they could pretend for themselves: and that was such, that it should have been so far from puffing ⟨p. 153⟩them up, that rather it should give unto them, matter of humility. For if the cutting off, of the Jews, was through unbelief, and the grafting in of the Gentiles by faith: what remaineth, but that by acknowledging the grace of God, they might thereby be prepared to modesty and submission?1 for this ariseth from the nature of faith, and is proper in it, that it should beget in us the humbling of our selves, and fear. But understand that fear, which is not contrary to the assurance of faith: For Paul would not have our faith to waver, or to change with any doubting, much less would he have us to be overthrown or to tremble. What kind of fear then shall this be? namely as the Lord biddeth us bestow our selves in the consideration of two things, so it is meet a twofold affection should proceed thence. For he would have the miserable condition of our nature to be still considered of us, the same can bring forth nothing but horror, weariness, anxiety, and desperation: and so it is meet we should be utterly thrown down and broken, that at length we might mourn to him. Yet that horror holdeth not from the consideration of our conceit, but our minds trusting to his goodness may abide calm: that weariness hindereth not, but we may enjoy full consolation in him: that anxiety & desperation letteth not but we obtain sure joy & hope with him. Therefore he doth nothing else but oppose this fear of the which he speaketh as a preservative against proud contempt: because as every one taketh more unto him then is meet, so he is too secure, & at the length insolent against others: therefore so far forth we are to fear, least our heart being lift up by pride do advance it self. But he seemeth to cast a doubt of salvation, whiles he admonisheth them to take heed, least they also be not spared. I answer, seeing this exhortation serveth to the taming of the flesh, which alway is insolent,2 yea even in the sons of God, it derogateth nothing, from the certainty of salvation. But chiefly we are to note, and remember that I said of late, namely that the speech of Paul is not so much directed against private men, as against the whole body of the Gentiles:
18 Thou wilt say then. In the person of the gentiles he pronounceth whatsoeuer they could pretend for themselues: and that was such, that it shoulde haue beene so farre from puffing ⟨p. 153⟩them vp, that rather it shoulde giue vnto them, matter of humilitie. For if the cutting off, of the Iewes, was through vnbeliefe, and the grafting in of the Gentiles by fayth: what remayneth, but that by acknowledging the grace of God, they might thereby bee prepared to modestie and submission?1 for this aryseth from the nature of fayth, and is proper in it, that it should begette in vs the humbling of our selues, and feare. But vnderstand that feare, which is not contrary to the assuraunce of fayth: For Paul would not haue our faith to wauer, or to change with any doubting, muche lesse woulde hee haue vs to bee ouerthrowen or to tremble. What kinde of feare then shall this be? namely as the Lord biddeth vs bestow our selues in the consideration of two thinges, so it is meete a twofold affection should proceede thence. For he would haue the miserable condition of our nature to be stil considered of vs, the same can bring forth nothing but horror, wearines, anxietie, and desperation: and so it is meete we should be vtterly throwne downe and broken, that at length we might mourne to him. Yet that horror holdeth not frō the consideration of our conceite, but our mindes trusting to his goodnes may abide calme: yt wearines hindreth not, but wee may enioy full consolatiō in him: yt anxietie & desperation letteth not but we obtayn sure ioy & hope wt him. Therfore he doth nothing els but oppose this feare of the which hee speaketh as a preseruatiue against proud contempt: because as euery one taketh more vnto him then is meete, so he is too secure, & at the length insolēt against others: therfore so far forth we are to feare, least our heart being lift vp by pride do aduance it selfe. But he seemeth to cast a dout of saluation, whiles he admonisheth them to take heed, least they also be not spared. I answere, seeing this exhortatiō serueth to the taming of the flesh, which alway is insolent,2 yea euen in ye sonnes of God, it derogateth nothing, from the certainetie of saluation. But chiefly we are to note, and remember that I said of late, namely that the speech of Paul is not so much directed against priuate men, as against the whole bodie of the Gentiles:
- 1What kind of fear true faith doth beget in us.What kinde of feare true faithe doth begette in vs.
- 2As we are not to doubt of salvation, so we must neither be secure nor insolent.As we are not to doubt of saluation, so we must neither be secure nor insolent.
