sire to hear the word of God, and not the traditions and dreams of men. The mouth and tongue do not vaunt of their own works, righteousness, and rules; but they set forth the mercy of God only offered to us in Christ. These changes consist not in words, but are effectual, and bring a new spirit, a new will, new senses, and new operations of the flesh, so that the eyes, ears, mouth, and tongue, do not only see, hear, and speak otherwise than they did before, but the mind also approveth, loveth and followeth another thing than it did before. For before, being blinded with popish errors and darkness, it imagined God to be a merchant, who would sell unto us his grace for our works and merits; but now, in the light of the gospel, it assureth us that we are counted righteous by faith only in Christ. Therefore it now rejecteth all will-works, and accomplisheth the works of charity and of our vocation commanded by God. It praiseth and magnifieth God; it rejoiceth and glorieth in the only trust and confidence of God's mercy through Jesus Christ. If it must suffer any trouble or affliction, it endureth the same cheerfully and gladly, although the flesh repine and grudge thereat. This Paul calleth a new creature.

VERSE 16. And to as many as walk according to this rule, peace be upon them and mercy.

This he addeth as a conclusion. This is the only and true rule wherein we ought to walk, namely, the new creature, which is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, but the new man created unto the image of God in righteousness and true holiness, (Eph. iv. 24.) which inwardly is righteous in the spirit, and outwardly is holy and clean in the flesh. The monks have a righteousness and holiness, but it is hypocritical and wicked, because they hope not to be justified by only faith in Christ, but by the keeping of the rule. Moreover, although outwardly they counterfeit a holiness, and refrain their eyes, hands, tongue, and other members from evil, yet they have an unclean heart, full of filthy lust, envy, wrath, lechery, idolatry, contempt and hatred of God, blasphemy against Christ, &c. for they are most spiteful and cruel enemies of the truth. Wherefore the rule and religion of the monks is most wicked, and accursed of God.

But this rule, whereof Paul speaketh in this place, is blessed; by the which we live in the faith of Christ, and are made new creatures, that is to say, righteous and holy indeed by the Holy Ghost, without any colouring or counterfeiting. To them which walk after this rule belongeth peace, that is, the favour of God, forgiveness of sins, quietness of conscience, and mercy; that is to say, help in afflictions, and pardon of the remnants of sin which remain in our flesh. Yea, although they which walk after this rule, be overtaken with any sin, yet, for that they are the children of grace and peace, mercy upholdeth them, so that their sin and fall shall not be laid to their charge.

VERSE 16. And upon the Israel of God.

Here he toucheth the false apostles and Jews, which gloried of their fathers, bragged that they were the people of God, that they had the law, &c. As if he said: They are the Israel of God, which, with faithful Abraham, believe the promises of God offered already in Christ, whether they be Jews or Gentiles, and not they which are begotten of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, after the flesh. This matter is largely handled before, in the third chapter.

VERSE 17. For henceforth let no man put me to business.

He concludeth his epistle with a certain indignation. As if he said: I have faithfully taught the gospel as I have received it by the revelation of Jesus Christ; whoso will not follow it, let him follow what he will, so that hereafter he trouble me no more. At a word, this is my censure, that Christ, which I have preached, is the only high-priest and saviour of the world. Therefore, either let the world walk according to this rule, of which I have spoken here and throughout all this epistle, or else let it perish for ever.

VERSE 17. For I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

This is the true meaning of this place: the marks that be in my body do shew well enough whose servant I am. If I sought to please men, requiring circumcision and the keeping of the law as necessary to salvation, and rejoicing in your flesh as the false apostles do, I needed not to bear these marks in my body. But because I am the servant of Jesus Christ, and walk after a true rule, that is, I openly teach and confess that no man can obtain the favour of God, righteousness, and salvation, but by Christ alone, therefore it behoveth me to bear the badges of Christ my Lord; which be not marks of mine own procuring, but are laid upon me against my will, by the world and the devil, for none other cause but for that I preach Jesus to be Christ.

The stripes and sufferings, therefore, which he did bear in his body, he calleth marks; as also the anguish and terror of spirit he calleth the fiery darts of the devil. Of these sufferings he maketh mention everywhere in his epistles, as Luke also doth in the Acts." I think," saith he, "that God hath set forth us, the last apostles, as men appointed to death: for we are made a gazing-stock unto the world, and to the angels and to men,” (1 Cor. iv. 9.) Again, "Unto this hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace, and labour working with our own hands: we are reviled, we are persecuted, we are evil-spoken of, we are made as the filth of the world, the off-scouring of all things," (1 Cor. iv. 11-13.) Also in another place, "In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, by watchings, by fastings," &c. (2 Cor.

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vi. 4-6.) And again, "In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prison more plenteously, in death oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. I was thrice beaten with rods, I was once stoned, I suffered thrice shipwreck, night and day have I been in the deep sea. In journeyings I was often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of mine own countrymen, in perils among the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren," &c. (2 Cor. xi. 23—26.)

These be the true marks and imprinted signs, of which the apostle speaketh in this place; the which we also at this day, by the grace of God, bear in our bodies for Christ's cause. For the world persecuteth and killeth us, false brethren deadly hate us, Satan inwardly in our heart with his fiery darts terrifieth us, and for none other cause but for that we teach Christ to be our righteousness and life. These marks we choose not of any devotion, neither do we gladly suffer them; but because the world and the devil do lay them upon us for Christ's cause, we are compelled to suffer them, and we rejoice in spirit with Paul (which is always willing, glorieth, and rejoiceth,) that we bear them in our body; for they are a seal and most sure testimony of true doctrine and faith. These things Paul spake, (as I shewed afore,) with a certain displeasure and indignation.

VER, 18. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. This is his last farewell. He endeth the epistle with the same words wherewith he began. As if he said: I have taught you Christ purely, I have entreated you, I have chidden you, and I have let pass nothing which I thought profitable for you. I can say no more, but that I heartily pray that our Lord Jesus Christ would bless and increase my labour, and govern you with his Holy Spirit for ever.

Thus have ye the exposition of Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. The Lord Jesus Christ, our Justifier and Saviour, who gave unto me the grace and power to expound this epistle, and to you likewise to hear it, preserve and establish both you and me, (which I most heartily desire,) that we, daily growing more and more in the knowledge of his grace and faith unfeigned, may be found unblameable and without fault in the day of our redemption. To whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory world without end. Amen.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Tim. i. 17.)

FINIS.

C. BAYNES, Printer, 15, Duke Street, Lincolu's-inu-fields.