Galatians 2:18

By things destroyed, Paul meanes the workes, or the iustice of the law, as appeares by the next verse following, where rendering a reason of this he saith, by the law I am dead to the law.

These words, depend on the former thus. Paul had said before, that Christ was not a minister of sinne vnto vs: and here he prooues it thus. He that builds, the iustice of the law which he hath destroied, is a minister of sinne, or makes himselfe a sinner: but the Iewes, and Peter by his example build the iustice of the law, which they haue destroied, and so doth not Christ: therefore the Iewes, and Peter, make themselues sinners, and Christ doth not make vs sinners.

Here let vs obserue the modestie and meeknes of Paul. The things which he speakes, concerne Peter, and the Iewes: yet least he offend them, he applies them to himselfe. This care, not to offend, was in Christ: who was rather willing to depart frō his right, then to offend. Matth. 17. 27. And Paul biddes vs please all men in that which is good.

Here againe it is Pauls doctrine, that we make our selues offendours, when we build that which we haue lawfully destroied. Thus Teachers are great offenders, when good doctrine is ioyned with bad conuersation. For good doctrine destroies the kingdome of darknes, and bad conuersation builds it vp againe. Thus rulers are great offenders when good counsell, and bad example goe together. For good counsell beats downe wickednes, and bad example sets it vp againe. Thus beleeuers in Christ are great offenders, when reformed religion, and vnreformed life are ioyned together, as often they are. For then vnreformed life builds the kingdome of sinne, which Christ hath destroied.

Further, we are here taught to be constant in that which is good, Tit. 1. 9. and to hold fast the Gospel which we professe. We haue put vnder foote the Popish religion for this many yeares: our dutie is to be constant herein, and no way to build either in word, or deede, that which we haue to the vttermost of our power destroied.