Galatians — Chapter 1

Secondly *S. Augustin noteth vpon the word, Beside, that not al other teaching, or more preaching then the first, is forbidden, but such as is contrarie and disagreeing to the rule of faith. The Apostle did not say, saith he, If any man euangelize to you more then you haue receiued, but, beside that you receiued. For if he should say that, he should be preiudicial to himself, who coueted to come to the Thessalonians, that he might supply that which was wanting to their faith. Now he that supplieth, addeth that which was lacking, taketh not away that which was, &c. By which we see how friuolously and calumniously the Heretikes charge the Church with addition to the Scriptures. *Tract. 98. in Ioan. The Ghospel is not only in the written word of Scripture, but in vnwritten tradition also. Thirdly, as wel by the word euangelizamus (we euangelize) as the word accepistis (you haue receiued) we may note that the first truth, against which no second Ghospelling or doctrine may be admitted, is not that only which he wrote to the Galatians, or which is conteined either in his or any other of the Apostles or Euangelistes writings, but that which was by word of mouth also preached, taught, or deliuered them first, before he wrote to them. Therfore the Aduersaries of the Church that measure the word of God or Ghospel by the Scriptures only, thinking themselues not to incurre S. Paules curse, except they teach directly against the written word, are fouly beguiled. As therin also they shamfully erre, when they charge the Catholikes with adding to the Ghospel, when they teach any thing that is not in expresse words written by the Apostles or Euangelistes: not marking that the Apostle in this Chapter, and els-where, commonly calleth his & his fellowes whole preaching, the Ghospel, be it written or vnwritten. After-preaching & ouersowing of nouelties, argueth false doctrine. Fourthly, by the same words we see condemned al after-preachings, later doctrines, new sects and Authours of the same: that only being true, which was first by the Apostles and Apostolike men as the lawful husband-men of Christes field, sowed and planted in the Church: and that false, which was later and as it were ouer-sowen by the enemie. By which rule not only Tertullian (de prȩscrip. nu. 6. & 9.) but al other ancient Doctours, and specially S. Irenȩas (li. 3. c. 2. 3. 4.) tried truth from falsehood, & condemned old Heretikes, prouing Marcion, Valentine, Cerdon, Menander, and such like false Apostles, because they came in with their nouelties long after the Church was settled in former truth. The Apostles curse vpon al that teach new doctrine, and draw men from the Cath. Church. Fifthly, This curse or execration pronounced by the Apostle, toucheth not only the Galatians, or those of the Apostles time, that preached otherwise then they did, but it perteineth to al times, Preachers, and Teachers, vnto the worlds end: and it concerneth them. (as *Vincentius Lirinensis saith) that preach a new faith, or change that old faith which they receiued in the vnitie of of the Catholike Church. To preach any thing to Christian Catholike men (saith he) besides that which they haue receiued, neuer was it lawful, neuer is it, nor neuer shal it be lawful. To say anathema to such, it hath been, & is, and shal be alwayes behooful. So S. Augustin by this place holdeth al accursed, that draw a Christian man from the societie of the whole Church, to make the seueral part of any one sect: that cal to the hidden conuenticles of heretikes, from the open & knowen Church of Christ: that allure to the priuate, from the common: finally al that draw with chatting curiositie the children of the Catholike Church, by teaching any thing besides that they found in the Church. ep. 48. Psal. 103. Con. 2.* mentioning also that a Donatist feined an Angel to haue admonished him to cal his freind out of the Communion of the Catholike Church into his sect. And he saith, that if it had been an Angel indeed, yet should he not haue heard him. *Li. cont. proph. hær. nouit. * Aug. ep. 165. Zeale againse heretikes. Lastly S. Hierom vseth this place, wherein the Apostle giueth the curse or anathema to al false teachers not once but twise, to proue that the zeale of Catholike men ought to be so great toward al Heretikes and their doctrines, that they should giue them the anathema, though they were neuer so deare vnto them. In which case, saith this holy Doctour, I would not spare mine owne parents. Ad Pammach. c. 3. cont. Io. Hieros.

1. Neither by man.) S. Paul sent to preach by ordinarie imposition of hands. Though he were not first by man's election, nomination, or assignment, but by God's owne special appointment, chosen to be an Apostle; yet by the like expresse ordinance of God he tooke orders or imposition of hands of men, as is plaine Act. 18. Let vs beware then of such false Apostles, as now a-daies intrude themselues to the office of Ministerie and preaching, neither called of God, nor rightly ordered of men.

II. TO THE GALATIANS, 499. vvorkes *? of the Lavv, but by the faich of les vs Chrift:we by Jae Sin alfo belecucin Chrift es v s,that we may be iuftified by the ourfe oe faith of Chrift,and not by the vvorkes of the Lavy: for the you may per. vvhich caufe,by the workes of the Law no Alef h (hal be iufti- comme » phat ; 17 fied. t Buciffeeking to be iuftified in Chrift, our felues alfo tion is attri. - . butedto faxh, be found finners : is Chrift then a minifter of finae2God for- the vvorkes of 18 bid. t Forif 1 build the fame things againe vvhich I haue de- Charicie be 19 ftroied, I make my (elf a preuaricarour. ¢ForI by the Lavv, bor me ne? am dead ro the Law, that 1 may liue to God: vvith Chrift I am kes of Moyles : . . Ww: 20 nailed to the croffe. t And1liue,novv not l:bur Chritliueth ine ceremo” in me.And thac thar I line novv in the flefh,] line in the faith nes facrifices : ; . and facramits of the fonne of God, who loued me, & deliucred him felf for thereof prin- 21 me. t Icaftnotavvay the grace of God.For if iuftice be by “Pally. and . . a . coniequently the Lavv,chen Chrift died in vaine. el workes done merely by nature and free wil,with- out the faith, ANNOTATIONS grace, {pirit,&¢ Cuap. If. aide of Chria.