Galatians 1:10

The interrogations in this place, doe I preach? and, doe I please? are in stead of earnest negations: I doe not preach, I doe not please. And when he saith, doe I now preach men, or God? his meaning is this: Heretofore I haue preached the Traditions of men, but now beeing an Apostle, I preach not the doctrine of men, but of God. And when he saith, doe I seeke to please, men? his meaning is this; I doe not make this the scope of my ministerie, to frame, and temper my doctrine so, as it may be sutable and pleasing to the affections of men. For otherwise we are to please men in that which is good, and for their good. 1. Cor. 10. 33. Rom. 15. 2.

This verse containes a double reason of his former speach, and of the repitition thereof. The first is this; Though heretofore I taught the Traditions of men; yet now I teach the word not of men, but of God: and therefore I accurse them that teach otherwise. The second is framed thus. If I should yet please men, I were not the seruant of God: but I am the seruant of God: therefore I seeke not to please men, but, if neede shal be, I will denounce curses against them.

Here first we see the proper matter of the Ministerie, which is not the word or doctrine of man, but of God. By this the Ministers of the Gospel are taught to handle, their doctrine with modestie, and humilitie, without ostentation, with reuerence, and with a consideration of the maiestie of God whose the doctrine is which they vtter, that. God may be glorified. 1. Pet. 4. 11.

Secondly, the hearers in hearing are to know that they haue to deale with God: and that they are to receiue the doctrine taught not as the word of man, but as the very word of God, as the Thessalonians did. 1. Thess. 2. 13. The want of this consideration, is the cause that some contemne the ministerie of the word, and others are not touched and mooued in hearing.

Againe, here is set downe the right manner of dispensing the word, which must not be for the pleasing of men, but of God. Hence it appeares, that Ministers of the Gospel, must not be men-pleasers, nor applie, and fashion their doctrine to the affections, humours, and dispositions of men, but keepe a good conscience, and doe their office. The Lord tells Ieremie he must not turne to the people, but the people must turne to him, Ierem. 15. 19. Thus God shal be with them, and they shal bring forth much fruit.

And the people must know it to be a good thing for them, not to be pleased alwaies by their Ministers. The ministerie of the word must be as a sacrificing knife, to kill and mortifie the old Adam in vs, that we may liue vnto God. A sicke man must not alwaies haue his minde, but he must often be crossed, and restrained of his desire: and so must we that are sicke in our soules in respect of our sinnes. It is a fault therefore of men that desire to be pleased, & to haue matters smoothed ouer of their teachers. This is Dauids balme, which he wisheth may neuer be wanting to his head. Psal. 141. 5.

The ende of this verse sets downe a memorable sentence, That if we seeke to please men, we cannot be the seruants of God. Hence I gather, that our nature is full of rebellion, and enmitie against God; because they which please men, cannot please God. Againe, here is set downe what is the hurt that comes by pride, and ambition. It keepes men that they cannot be the seruants of Christ. Ye beleeue not (saith Christ) because ye seeke glorie one of another. Ioh. 5. 44. Ambition so fills the minde with vanitie, and the heart with worldly desires, that it cannot thinke, or desire to please God. Wherefore he that would be a faithfull Minister of the Gospel, must denie the pride of his heart, and be emptied of ambition, and set himselfe wholly to seeke the glorie of God in his calling. And generally, he that would be a faithfull seruant of Christ, must set God before him as a Iudge, and consider that he hath to deale with God: and he must turne his minde, and senses from the world, and all things therein, to God: and seeke aboue all things to approoue his thoughts, desires, affections, and all his doings vnto him.

Lastly, the profession of the seruant of God, is here to be obserued in the example of Paul, who saith, Doe I now preach men? and, doe I yet please men? as if he had said, I haue done thus and thus, I haue preached the Traditions of man heretofore, and I haue pleased man in persequnting the Church of God: but I doe not so still, neither will I. And he that can say the like with good conscience, I haue sinned thus and thus heretofore, but now I doe not, neither will I sinne as I haue done, is indeede the seruant of God.