Galatians 3:5

These words are a repetition of the second verse, whence the exposition must be fetched. The words [and worketh miracles among you] are added: and they carrie this meaning; That God gaue to the Galatians, not onely the spirit of adoption, but also other extraordinarie gifts of the spirit, as to speake with strange tongues, to cure diseases, and such like.

Repetitions in Scripture are not idle, but of great vse, and signifie vnto vs the necessitie of the thing repeated, and the infallible certentie of it. The substance therefore of this verse must carefully be remembred, and that is this. Ye receiued the spirit by my doctrine: therefore it is true, and of God. The argument is of great vse. For by it we come to an infallible assurance of the Certentie of the Scriptures, and of true religion deriued thence.

The Galatians are now reuolted from Pauls doctrine, and they erre in the foundation: and yet Paul saith in the time present, He that ministreth the spirit vnto you. Hence it appeares, that falls of infirmitie in the child of God, doe not vtterly extinguish the spirit, but onely grieue, or make sadde the spirit.

Againe, Paul here teacheth, that God is the onely and proper author of miracles. For he that ministreth the spirit, worketh miracles, namely God. A miracle is, a worke aboue the strength of nature: therefore it can be effected of none but the author of nature. It may be obiected, the Apostles, Prophets, and others, had a gift to worke miracles. Iosua commanded the sunne to stand, Ios. 10. 12. and Elias commanded fire to come downe from heauen, 2. king. 1. Ans. God neuer gaue to any man power to worke and effect a miracle, either mediately or immediately. The gift was the faith of miracles. The faith was grounded vpon reuelation: and the reuelation was, that God himselfe would worke such or such a miracle, when they praied, commanded, or imposed hands. Men therefore properly, are but the mouth of God, and messengers to signifie what he will doe. Againe, it may be obiected, that the deuill can worke miracles. Ans. He can worke a wonder, or things extraordinarie, in respect of the ordinarie course of nature. Thus he caused fire to fall from heauen: and he caused vlcers to arise in the bodie of Iob, and that true vlcers. And this he did by the force of nature, better knowne to him, then all the world. But as for a true miracle, that exceedes the strength of nature, he cannot possibly doe it: no not Christ himselfe, as man, though he be exalted aboue all men and angels. By this we see that they are deceiued, who thinke that the deuill can make raine, thunder, and lightning. Indeede when the matter of raine and thunder is prepared by God, he can hasten it, and make it more terrible: but raine, and thunder he cannot make: for that is indeede as much as any miracle. Againe, it is a falsehood to thinke, that Alchimists are able to turne baser mettals, into gold. For it is a worke of creation to turne a creature of one kind into a creature of an other kind. It is also as foolish to imagine that witches, by the power of the deuill, are able to turne themselues, into catts and other creatures. None can doe this, but God that made the creature.

Here againe we see the vse of miracles, that is, to confirme doctrine in the Apostolike Churches. That their vse is further to confirme doctrine euen at this day, it cannot be prooued.

Lastly, here in the Galatians we see what an easie thing it is to fall from God, from our faith, and allegiance to him. They were taught by Paul: they had receiued the spirit of adoption: they were enabled to worke miracles: and yet for all this, they fall away to an other Gospel. They must be a looking glasse to vs. In peace we are now constant: but if triall shall come, our frailtie shall appeare. That our frailtie and weaknes may not be hurtfull to vs, we must remember two rules. One is, not to haue a conceit of any thing in vs: but to hold our faith and religion in feare, as in the presence of God. Rom. 11. 20. the second, to take heede that there be not in vs an euill, corrupt, and dissembling heart. For if our heart be naught, our faith cannot be good. Heb. 4. 12.