Galatians 5:25

In these words is cōtained, the last reason of the rule of good life before mentioned, in the 16. verse. For the vnderstanding whereof, two things are to be considered, what it is to liue in the Spirit? and what to walke in the Spirit? Touching the first. Life is twofold: created, or vncreated. Vncreated life, is the life of God. Created is that which pertaineth to the creature. And this is either naturall, or spirituall. Naturall life, is led by naturall causes and meanes, as by meate, drinke, cloathing, breathing, & such like. Spirituall life, is by, and from the Spirit. Of this there be two degrees. The first is, when the Spirit of God takes vp his habitation in man, and withall gouerneth all the powers of his soule, by putting into the minde, a new light of knowledge, into the will and affections, newe motions, and inclinations, whereby they are made conformable to the will of God. The second degree of spirituall life is, when the spirit dwelleth in man, and gouerneth the powers of the soule, and further doth sustaine the bodie, immediately without naturall means. 1. Cor. 15. 44. It riseth againe a spirituall bodie, that is, a body liuing in the second degree of spirituall life, not beeing sustained by meanes, but immediately by the eternall sustentation of the spirit. The first of these degrees is in this life, the second after this life, in, and after the last iudgement, when body and soule shall be reunited. And of the former, this place is to be vnderstood.

To walke in the Spirit, is, first, to sauour the things of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 5. 7. And that is, to minde, wish, like, desire, and affect them; or, in a word, to subiect a mans selfe to the law of God, in all the powers and faculties of the soule. For the things reuealed in the Lawe, are the things of the spirit, which spirit must at no hand be seuered from the word. Secondly, to walke in the path way of righteousnesse, without offence either of God or man, Psal. 143. 10. Thirdly, to walke not stragglingly, but orderly by rule, by line, and by measure. For so much the word [walke] importeth, in the originall; as if Paul should haue 〈Greek〉. said, Let vs, (whilest we liue in this world) not onely indeauour to doe some one, or some fewe good actions, but in the course of our liues and callings, order our selues according to the rule and line of the word of God.

The vse. This text in the first place, cuts off the shiftes and excuses of sundrie persons in these daies, who professe themselues to be the children of God, and yet for their liues, are much to be blamed, because they lead them not according to the Spirit, but according to the flesh. And these persons, whatsoeuer they say, doe indeed and in truth, deceiue themselues, and are quite destitute of Gods Spirit. For if they liued in the Spirit, they would also walke in the Spirit; It is not an idle spirit in any, but it will shew and manifest it selfe, in a holy and orderly conuersation. You will say; If such persons haue not the Spirit of god, what other Spirit haue they? Ans. If there life be naught, they haue an vncleane. Spirit dwelling in them: and the god of this world hath blinded their eies, and makes them that they cannot see the right way wherein they should walke, 1. Cor. 4. 4.

Againe, we learne from hence, a true and a pregnant signe, whereby to discerne, whether any man hath in his heart the spirit of God or no? The life of a man will discouer and proclaime to all the world, before God, men, and angels, what himselfe is. If a man in the course of his life and calling be godly and vertuous, leading his life according to the will & word of God, in an honest and carefull indeauour, though he faile in some particulars: what euer the world thinkes of him, he is the man that is indued with the Spirit of God.

Lastly, this teacheth, what is the office of all Christian people, namely, to walke in the Spirit, that is, to frame and order the whole course and tenour of their liues, according to the line & square of Gods word and Spirit. A motiue to which dutie may be that fearefull threat pronounced vpon those, that turne aside, and walke in their owne crooked waies. Psal. 125. 5.