Galatians 3:4

The interrogation, haue ye? is as much as, ye haue. Because the question in this place counteruailes a speech affirmatiue. And the wordes carrie this sense: Ye haue professed the Gospel, and ye haue suffered many afflictions for the same: but now haue ye reuolted from the Gospel, and therefore all your former sufferings are void, or in vaine.

The words [if they be in vaine] are a limitation or qualification of that which was saide before: and they carrie this sense: Whereas I haue said that your sufferings are in vaine, I speake it not simply, but with some hope of your repentance: which if it be: then that which would be in vaine, shall not be in vaine.

In this verse, Paul sets downe a second reason, to prooue the proposition of his first argument, on this manner: If ye receiued the spirit by my doctrine, then is my doctrine true, and ye fooles in reuolting from it. For by this meanes the things which you suffered well, ye now suffer in vaine.

The vse. When Paul saith, Haue ye suffered, &c. he signifies vnto vs the estate and condition of all beleeuers in this life, that they must be bearers and sufferers. The reason. To this are we called, 1. Pet. 2. 21. for we are called to resigne all reuenge to God, and therefore of our selues to be bearers and sufferers. Math. 5. 39. Resist not euill. And we are called to imitate the passion of Christ, who suffered beeing innocent, and beeing reuiled, reuiled not againe. Moreouer, it is for our good that we should beare and suffer. 1. Pet. 1. 6. and Psal. 119. 71. It may be demanded, What if my cause be good, must I then suffer? Ans. Yea. The better thy cause is, the better are thy sufferings: they are blessed that suffer for righteousnes. Paul commends himselfe by the multitude of his sufferings. 2. Cor. 11. 13. Againe, it may be demanded, how long we must suffer? Ans. Euen to the shedding of our blood, if it be for the resisting of sinne. Heb. 12. 4. Lastly, it may be saide, how shall we be able to doe this? Ans. God is faithfull, and will not lay on vs more then we shall be able to beare. 1. Cor. 10. 3. By this we are admonished, not to make a reckoning in this world, of pleasure, and delight, as though the Gospel were a Gospel of ease, and as we vse to say, a gospel made of veluet; but euery one of vs must take vp his owne crosse. Luk. 9. 23. If thou wilt be my disciple, denie thy selfe, take vp thy crosse: that is, the particular affliction, and miserie, which God laies on thee. Againe, if in this world we must be sufferers by condition, then in dissentions, and differences, we may neither giue nor take the chalenge, but must be content to beare and put vp wrongs, and abuses. Lastly, in these daies of our peace, we must looke for daies of triall, and affliction. For as yet we haue suffered little for the name of Christ. The haruest of the Lord hath bin among vs, more then fourtie yeares: therefore (no doubt) the time of threshing, fanning, and grinding comes on, that as the Martyr said, we may be good bread to the Lord. And that we may be able to suffer for the name of God, we must pray for this gift at Gods hand. For power to suffer is the gift of God, Phil. 1. 29. and we must obserue the commandement of God, not to feare the terrours of men. Reu. 2. 10. 1. Pet. 3. 14. And for this cause, we must (as Peter saith) sanctifie God in our hearts: beeing assured by our faith of the presence, protection, and prouidence of God.

When Paul saith, Haue ye suffered so many things? he shewes that we must endure manifold miseries in this life. Iacob said to Pharao, his daies were few and euill. Many are the afflictions of the righteous. Psal. 34. 20. Christ saith, Take vp thy crosse euery day, Luk. 9. 23. and thereby he signifies, that euery new day that comes ouer our heads, we must looke for a new crosse. And for this cause, it is not enough to be patient for a fit, but we must shew all patience, and long suffering, and that with ioyfulnes. Col. 1. 11.

When Paul saith, Haue ye suffered so many things in vaine? he signifies, that our sufferings are of great vse, vnlesse our sinnes be the hindrance. It may then be demanded, what is the vse of our sufferings? The Papists answer, that in our baptisme or first conuersion, Christ sufferings doe all, & abolish the whole fault and punishment: but if we sinne after our conuersion, then they say, Christs sufferings abolish the fault, and the eternall punishment, and our owne sufferings, abolish the temporall punishment. But this doctrine leslens, and obscures the mercie of God: and it must be obserued, that Paul holds all their sufferings to be in vaine, that seeke remission of sinnes, or iustification, in any thing, out of Christ.

Now we for our parts, make fiue other vses of our sufferings. First, they serue for triall of men, that it may appeare what is hidden in their hearts. Deut. 8. 2. Secondly, they serue for the correction of things amisse in vs. 1. Cor. 11. 23. Thirdly, they serue as documents, and warnings to others, specially in publike persons: thus Dauid suffers many things after repentance, for his murther and adulterie. Fourthly, they are markes of adoption, if we be content to obey God in them. Heb. 12. 7. Lastly, they are the troaden and beaten way to the kingdom of heauen. Act. 14. 23.

When Paul saith, If they be in vaine, we are to obserue his moderation. He reprooues and terrifies the Galatians, yet so as he is carefull to preserue the hope of mercie in them, and the hope of their amendment in himselfe. The like hath bin the practise of the Prophets. Ionas preacheth, yet fourtie daies and Niniuie shall be destroied: but withall he addes, It may be the Lord will repent, and turne from his fierce wrath. Ion. 3. 9. Peter saith to Simon Magus, Thou art in the gall of bitternes: but withall he addes, Pray God that the thought of thy heart may be forgiuen thee. Act. 8. 21. See the like Ioel 2. 14. and Amos 5. 15. And thus are Ministers of the Gospel to delay and qualifie their reproofes, and censures.