If any doe sinne, the rest that doe the workes of the Holy Ghost, must not thefore take
pride in themselues, but rather make humilitie of it, partly by fearing their owne fal,
partly by looking straitly to their owne workes. 6. He exhorteth earnestly to good workes,
assuring them that they shal reap none other then here they sow. 11. With his owne hand he
writeth, telling them, the true cause why those false Apostles preach Circumcision, to be only to
please the Iewes: 17. and a plaine argument that he preacheth it not, to be this, that he is
persecuted of the Iewes.
1. BRETHREN, and if a man be preoccupated in any fault, you that are spiritual, instruct such
an one in the spirit of lenitie, considering thine owne self, lest thou also be tempted.
2. Beare ye one anothers burdens: and so you shal fulfil the law of Christ.
3. For if any man esteeme himself to be some-thing, whereas he is nothing, he seduceth himself.
4. But let euery one proue his owne worke, and so in himself only shal he haue the glorie
and not in another.
5. For euery one shal beare his owne burden.
6. And let
*
1. Cor. 9,7.
him that is catechized in the word,
Communicate.
Duety to our spiritual Teachers.
The great duety & respect that we ought to haue to such as preach or teach vs the Cath. faith: and
not in regard only of their paines taken with vs, and wel-deseruing of vs by their doctrine;
but that we may be partakers of their merits, we ought specially to doe good to such, or (as the
Apostle speaketh) communicate with them in al our temporal goods, that we may be partakers of
their spiritual. See S. Augustin li. 2. Euang. quæst. q. 8.
communicate to him that catechizeth him,
in al his goods.
7. Be not deceiued, God is not mocked.
8. For what things a man shal sow, those also shal he reap. For he that soweth in his
flesh, of the flesh also shal reap corruption. But he that soweth in the
spirit, of the spirit shal reap life euerlasting.
9. And
*
2. Thes. 3,13.
doing good, let vs not faile. For in due time we shal
✟
The workes of mercie be the seed of life euerlasting, and the proper cause therof, and not
faith only.
reap not failing.
10. Therfore whiles we haue time, let vs worke good to al, but
Especially.
In almes whom to preferre.
In giuing almes, though we may doe wel in helping al that are in necessitie, as farre as we can,
yet we are more bound to succour Christians, then Iewes or Infidels; and Catholikes, then
Heretikes. See S. Hierom q. 1. ad Hedibiam.
especially to the domesticals
of the faith.
11. See with what manner of letters I haue written to you with mine owne hand.
12. Whosoeuer wil please in the flesh, they force you to be circumcised, only that they may
not suffer the persecution of the crosse of Christ.
13. For neither they that are circumcised, doe keep the Law: but they wil haue you to be
circumcised, that they may glorie in your flesh.
14.
⋮
The Epistle for S. Francis, Octob. 4.
But
✟
Christ (saith S. Augustin) chose a kind of death, to hang on the Crosse, and to fixe or
fasten the same crosse in the foreheads of the faithful; that the Christian may say, God
forbid that I should glorie sauing in the crosse of our Lord IESVS CHRIST. Expos.
in Euang. Io. tract. 43.
God forbid that I should glorie, sauing in the crosse of our Lord Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ
Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
15. For in Christ Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ neither circumcision auaileth ought, nor prepuce, but
A new creature.
Iustice an inherent qualitie in vs.
Note wel that the Apostle calleth that here a new creature, which in the last chapter he termed,
faith working by charitie, & (1. Cor. 7,19) the obseruation of the commandements of
God. Wherby we may learne that vnder the name of faith, is conteined the whole reformation of
our soules and our new creation in good workes: and also that Christian iustice is a very
qualitie, condition, & state of vertue and grace resident in vs, and not a phantastical
apprehension of Christ's iustice only imputed to vs.
Faith with the other vertues is the formal cause of iustification.
Lastly, that the faith which iustifieth,
ioyned with the other vertues, is properly the formal cause, & not the efficient or instrumental
cause of iustification: that is to say, these vertues put together, being the effect of God's grace,
be our new creature and our iustice in Christ.
a new
creature.
16. And whosoeuer shal follow this rule, peace vpon them, and mercie, and vpon the Israel of
God.
17. From hence-forth let no man be troublesome to me. For I beare the markes of our Lord
Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ in my body.
18. The grace of our Lord Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ Christ be with your spirit, Brethren. Amen.