None of these by themselves either help or
hinder godliness or salvation. With those of Cain's progeny, faith neither
agrees in name or anything else; one of them eats flesh, another abstains from
it; one wears black apparel, another white; one keeps this day holy, and another
that; everyone has his rudiments, under which he is in bondage: all of them are
addicted to the things of the world, which are frail and perishable. Against
these Paul speaks, "Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from the
rudiments of the world, why, as tho living in the world, are ye subject to
ordinances: touch not, taste not, handle not, which all are to perish with the
using, after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a
show of wisdom in will-worship and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in
any honor to the satisfying of the flesh."
By this and other places above mentioned, it is
evident that monasteries and colleges, whereby we measure the state of
spiritual men as we call them, plainly disagree with the Gospel and Christian
liberty: and therefore it is much more dangerous to live in this kind of life than
among the most profane men. All their works are nothing but rudiments and
ordinances of the world; neither are they Christians but in name, wherefore all
their life and holiness are sinful and most detestable hypocrisy. The fair show
of feigned holiness which is in those ordinances does, in a marvelous and
secret manner, withdraw from faith more than those manifest and gross sins of
which open sinners are guilty. Now this false and servile opinion faith alone
takes away, and teaches us to trust in, and rest upon, the grace of God,
whereby is given freely that which is needful to work all things.
Verse 4. "But when the fulness of the time
was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to
redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of
sons." After Paul had taught us that righteousness and faith cannot come to us by the law, neither can we deserve
it by nature, he shows us by whom we obtain it; and who is the author of our
justification. The apostle saith, "When the fulness of the time was
come"; here Paul speaks of the time which was appointed by the Father to
the Son, wherein He should live under tutors, etc. This time being come to the
Jews, and ended, Christ came in the flesh; so it is daily fulfilled to others,
when they come to the knowledge of Christ, and change the servitude of the law
for the faith of sons. Christ for this cause came unto us, that believing in
Him we may be restored to true liberty; by which faith they of ancient times also
obtained the liberty of the Spirit.
As soon as thou believest in Christ, He comes to
thee, a deliverer and Savior; and now the time of bondage is ended; as the
apostle saith, the fulness thereof is come.
Verse 6. "And because ye are sons, God hath
sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
Here we see plainly that the Holy Ghost cometh to the saints, not by works, but
by faith alone. Sons believe, while servants only work; sons are free from the
law, servants are held under the law, as appears by those things that have been
before spoken. But how comes it to pass that he saith "because ye are
sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit," etc., seeing it is before said that
by the coming of the Spirit we are changed from servants to sons: but here, as
tho we could be sons before the coming of the Spirit, he saith "because ye
are sons," etc. To this question we must answer, that Paul speaks here in the
same manner that he did before, that is, before the fulness of the time came,
we were in bondage under the rudiments of the world: all that shall become sons
are counted in the place of sons with God: therefore he saith rightly,
"because ye are sons," that is, because the state of sons is
appointed to you from everlasting, "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His
Son," to wit, that He might finish it in you, and make you such as He hath
long since of His goodness determined that He would make you.
Now if the Father give unto
us His Spirit, He will make us His true sons and heirs, that we may with
confidence cry with Christ, Abba, Father; being His brethren and fellow heirs.
The apostle has well set forth the goodness of God which makes us partakers
with Christ, and causes us to have all things common with Him, so that we live
and are led by the same Spirit. These words of the apostle show that the Holy
Ghost proceeds from Christ, as he calls Him his Spirit. So God hath sent forth
the Spirit of His Son, that is, of Christ, for He is the Spirit of God, and comes
from God to us, and not ours, unless one will say after this manner, "my
Holy Spirit," as we say, "my God," "my Lord," etc. As
He is said to be the Holy Spirit of Christ, it proves Him to be God of whom that
Spirit is sent, therefore it is counted His Spirit.
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