Now he addeth Meekness and gentleness, because that without them it were impossible that there should be any unity or concord among us. For if every man should be terrible and void of gentleness, it were much better for us that we were wild beasts. Therefore we must show a willingness to communicate with those to whom God hath linked us. Too be short, Love is maintained by this meekness, goodness, and gentleness whereof S. Paul speaketh here. And now immediately he addeth, Temperance [or staidness.] which is not only an abstaining from other mens goods, but also a sober behaviour, and a keeping of our selves from all looseness, excess, and outrage. To be short, S. Paul hath set down these virtues which he rehearseth, for Christians, as if he should say, that if we be governed by the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, it may […] by our life, for as much as we shall be so held in awe, that […] shall not run at rovers as these loose livers do, but we shall be charitable and kindhearted one to ⟨image 300⟩another, so as there shall be no wrangling, no guile, nor no extortion in us, but every of us shall content him self with his own, & endeavour to serve one another's turn. But yet notwithstanding we see that all good cometh of Gods spirit. Nevertheless we see also that our Lord Jesus Christ is the fountain out of which we must draw. And that if we be his, and belong unto him as members of his body, he will show in all our whole life, that his receiving of us, and his avowing of us to be his children, is not in vain. Hereupon S. Paul concludeth,1 that against such virtues, (or against the men that are endued with them) the law hath no power nor force at all. And therefore he saith in the first to Timothy, that the Law is not given to the righteous, but to the unrighteous, and to such as rush out into offences and misdealings. Then if the deceivers that troubled the Church at that time, had known well what is the end of the Law and the Gospel: they would not have presumed to bring the faithful in bondage after that fashion. And therefore S. Paul scorning their hypocrisy which was matched with shamelessness, showeth that they pretended great zeal of the Law, and yet bewrayed all manner of wickedness and contempt of God in their life:
Nowe he addeth Meekenesse and gentlenesse, bicause that without them it were impossible that there should bee any vnitie or concorde among vs. For if euery man should bee terrible and voyde of gentlenesse, it were muche better for vs that wee were wylde beastes. Therefore wee must shewe a willingnesse to communicate with those to whome God hath linked vs. Too bee shorte, Loue is maynteyned by thys meeknesse, goodnesse, and gentlenesse whereof S. Paule speaketh heere. And now immediatly he addeth, Temperance [or stayednesse.] which is not onely an absteyning from other mens goods, but also a sober behauiour, and a keeping of our selues from all loocenesse, excesse, and outrage. To bee shorte, S. Paule hath set downe these vertues whiche he rehearseth, for Christians, as if he shoulde say, that if we be gouerned by the spirite of our Lord Iesus Christ, it may 〈…〉 by our life, for as muche as wee shall be so hilde in awe, that 〈…〉 shall not runne at rouers as these looce lyuers doo, but we shall be charitable and kindharted one to ⟨image 300⟩another, so as there shall be no wrangling, no guyle, nor no extortion in vs, but euery of vs shall content him selfe with his owne, & indeuer to serue one anothers turne. But yet notwithstanding wee see that all good commeth of Gods spirite. Neuerthelesse wee see also that our Lord Iesus Christ is the fountayne out of whiche wee must draw. And that if wee be his, and belong vnto him as mēbers of his body, he will shew in all our whole life, that his receiuing of vs, and his auowing of vs to be his children, is not in vayne. Heerevpon S. Paule concludeth,1 that agaynst such vertues, (or agaynst the men that are indued with them) the law hath no power nor force at al. And therfore he sayth in the first to Timothie, that the Lawe is not giuen to the righteous, but to the vnrighteous, and to such as rush out into offences and misdealings. Then if the deceyuers that troubled the Churche at that time, had knowen well what is the ende of the Law and the Gospell: they would not haue presumed to bring the faythfull in bondage after that fashion. And therefore S. Paule scorning theyr hypocrisie which was matched with shamelesnesse, sheweth that they pretended great zeale of the Lawe, and yet bewrayed all maner of wickednesse and contempt of God in their lyfe:
- 1•. Ti. 1. b. 9.
