Galatians 6:11

Here beginneth the Conclusion, beeing the third generall part of this Epistle, consisting of two parts: an Insinuation, in the II. verse, & a Recapitulation, in the verses following. He insinuateth himselfe into the minds of the Galatians by a twofold argument. First, from the largenes of his Epistle, Ye see how large a letter I haue written: secondly, from the instrumentall cause, in that he writ it with his owne hand, where he giues authoritie to it, and a kind of eminencie aboue his other letters. And in both, he commendeth his diligence, loue, and care which he had of them.

The word translated, ye see, is ambiguous, and may be taken 〈Greek〉. either as a commandement, See how large a letter I haue written: or as an assertion, Ye see—. The like ambiguitie is in the word φαίνεσθε, Philip. 2. 5. and may be read either thus, amongst whom you doe shine: or, see that you shine as starres. It is not materiall In whether acception it be taken, seeing the sense is all one.

The first argument to mooue the Galatians to attention, and acceptation of Pauls paines, and good affection, is taken from the largenes of his Epistle. The word in the Originall translated large, is strangely wrested by sundrie interpreters, without 〈Greek〉. cause: a in Psal. •18. Hilarie referring it to the loftines of sentences: Hyperius to the profunditie and depth of matter: Ierome to the greatnes of the character: Chrysostome and Theophylact, to the badnes of his hand, as not beeing able to write well. Haimo to the Hebrew character in which he wrote: whereas the word doth not onely signifie qualitie, but as properly quantitie, as Heb. 7. 4. Consider 〈Greek〉. how great this man was. And the word that answereth vnto it, signifieth as well quantitie, as qualitie. Coloss. 2. 1. I would ye 〈Greek〉. knew what great fight I haue—. Iam. 3. 5. Behold, how great a thing 〈Greek〉. a little fire kindleth? The plaine and simple meaning therefore of Paul, is this, that he neuer wrote so long an Epistle with his owne hand, vnto any Church, as vnto them. He writ indeede the Epistle to Philemon with his owne hand, but that was short in comparison of this. And he wrote larger Epistles to other Churches, as to the Romans, Corinthiās, &c. but by his Scribes, not with his owne hand. Therefore seeing this is the longest, and largest letter that euer Paul writ with his owne hand, it ought to be more regarded, and better accepted: So that as his paines were greater in writing, our diligence should be greater in reading, and obseruing the same.

This shewes Pauls great care of the Churches, not onely when he was present, but when he was absent. How painefull he was beeing among them to winne them to the Gospel, how fearefull when he was absent from thē, least their minds should be loauened by false teachers: how faithfull both present and absent.

And it may serue as a president to all Pastours hauing cure of soules, to vse the like diligence, and conscience, in their Ministerie; that beeing absent in bodie from their charge vpon necessarie occasions (as Paul was) yet they would be present in spirit with them: and present by their letters: that so they may testifie to all the world, that they haue a greater care of the flocke, then of the fleece.

It further teacheth vs, that if the Minister beeing carried with discreete zeale for the good of the Church, goe further either in word, or writing, then he intended, or is thought fit by some: (as it seemes Paul did in this place, for what needes this large letter (may some say,) a shorter would haue done as well) that we are not to censure him, or limite and prescribe him. It had beene a great fault in the Galatians, if they had found fault with Paul for this his large letter; and in the Disciples & Iewes if they should haue blamed his long Sermon, which continued at one time, from morning, to night. Act. 28. 23. at another time, from the closing of the euening, till midnight. Act. 20. 7. And so it is in many hearers, who are too curious and strictt in prescribing and limiting their teachers to the time, longer then which they cannot patiently indure. And in stinting them, in vrging of this or that point, in saying he missed his Rhetoricke, his Epimone was to long, he was ouerseene in dwelling so long vpon the point: it had beene better, a word and away, &c.

His second argument is taken from the instrumentall cause, that he wrote it with his owne hand. a In hac Epistola sicut tradunt Doctores, ab hoc loco vs• ad sinem, proptia manuscripsit— Haimo saith it is the opinion of the Doctours, that Paul wrote not this whole Epistle with his owne hand, but onely from hence to the ende: which opinion is confuted by the very text, You see how large a letter I HAVE WRITTEN with mine owne hand: speaking of the whole Epistle, in the time past: or if of any one part more then of another, of the former part, rather then of the latter. Secondly, his assertion is not true, for (if we except Ierome) none of the Ancients (as I take it) are of that opinion. Not b Vbi holographa manus, falsum dici tion potest. Ambrose, who saith, Where the whole writing is his owne hand, there can be no falshood. Not c In caeteris subscribebat quid em, hic verò totam ipse scripsit. Chrysostome, who saith, To the rest of his Epistles he did subscribe, but this whole Epistle he writ himselfe. Not Primasius, vsing the word perscripsit, that he writ it through with his owne hand. Not d Totam (vt videtur) haue scripfit Epistolam. Theodoret, affirming that it seemes Paul writ the whole Epistle. Not e Edi sum minime apprimè scribendi peritus: compulsus sumtamen vel •ea manu h•c ad vos Epist. scribere. Theophylact, who bringeth in Paul speaking to them in this manner; I am enforced to write this Epistle vnto you with mine owne hand. Not Occumenius, who calls it, ἰδιόχειρον ἐπιστολήν, an Epistle written with his owne hand. Not f Epistolam istam scripsi ego propriâ manu. Non notarii manu, sed mea. Anselme, who paraphrasing the text, saith, it is all one as if he had said; This Epistle I writ with mine owne hand. And a little before. Not with the Scribes hand, but with mine owne hand: (albeit Anselme cannot so preiudice his assertion, who liued long after him.) Not the Author of the Commentarie vpon the Epistles ascribed to Ierome, Tom. 9. for he vpon the 2. Thess. 3. 17. saith plainly, g His verbis omnes Epistolas subscribebat: excepta Galatarum, quam ex integro manu propria perscripsit, With these words he subscribes all his Epistles, excepting that to the Galatians, which he writ from the beginning to the ende with his owne hand. And vpon these very words which we now entreat of, h Intelligite quàm non •imeam, qui liter as manu mea nuper scripsi. See how I am not afraid, which of late time haue written with mine owne hand. (Where by the way, we may obserue, that Ierome is not the author of those Commentaries, beeing so contrarie to himselfe.) This I confesse is a light matter, and not to be stood vpon, were it not, that some are too hastie to swallow whatsoeuer comes in their way, vnder the title of the Doctours. It must therefore be a caueat vnto vs, not to be too credulous in beleeuing euery one that shall auouch this or that to be the opinion of the Fathers, no though it be affirmed by a Father, especially by such a one as draweth neere the dregs, as Haimo doth.

It is certen then, that Paul writ this whole Epistle with his owne hand: the reasons are these. First, that it might appeare vnder his hand, that he was no changeling, but the same man that he was before, in that he did not preach circumcision, or the obseruation of Iewish ceremonies, as the false Apostles standered him. Gal. 5. 11. Secondly, that this his letter was not counterfaited by another, and sent in his name, as the false Apostles might haue obiected, and the Galatians suspected. Thirdly, that he might testifie his sincere loue towards them, and how he did (as it were) trauaile in paine of them, till Christ were formed in them, shunning no labour that might further their saluation.

We may hence further obserue a threefold difference of the bookes of Scripture in the new Testament. Some were neither written by an Apostle, nor subscribed: as the gospel of Marke, and Luke. Some subscribed, but not written: as the Epistle to the Romanes, and others. Some both written, and subscribed: as this Epistle, and that to Philemon, vers. 19. I haue written it with mine owne hand: J will recompense it—. Now that Paul subscribed euery Epistle with his owne hand, he himselfe witnesseth 2. Thessalon. 3. 17. The salutation of me Paul with mine own hād, which is a signe in euery Epistle (that it is mine, & not forged in my name by another) so I write; the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all. In which place he warneth the Thessalonians againe of false teachers, and forged letters: for, 2. Th. 2. 2. he had besought them they would not be troubled by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as though it came from him—. And here he shews how they may know whether the Epistle be his or not: if it haue this signe, it is mine, els it is counterfait: for this note or marke is to be found in all and euery one of my Epistles. Now these words [which is a Signe in euery Epistle] cannot be meant (as some are of opinion) of the former words onely, viz. The salutation of me Paul with mine owne hand. First, because he saith, it is a signe in euery Epistle, whereas it is onely to be found, 1. Corinth. 16. 21. Galat. 6. 11. Coloss. 4. 18. 2. Thess. 3. 17. Philem. v. 19. and not in any other of his Epistles. Secondly, the words, so I write, should be false, if they be referred onely to the former wordes, because that manner of salutation, is not to be found in euery Epistle, (as I haue alreadie shewed.) And except they be referred to the words following, the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, &c. they haue either none, or a very hard construction. Thirdly, if Pauls salutation (which he affirmeth to be a certaine note of his Epistle) be vnderstood of these words. The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, &c. it agreeth vnto all (as Anselme confesseth) whereas beeing meant of the former words onely, it doeth not agree to all, but to a fewe: and yet Paul makes it, a generall, infallible note, and signe, of euery Epistle. Besides Ambrose, and Primasius, in their commentaries vpon the place, as also the Author of the Commentaries which goeth vnder Ieroms name, affirme, the signe whereby we may know Pauls Epistles from counterfeit, and forged Epistles, to consist in these words: the grace of our Lord, &c, Chrysost. and Theodoret likewise say, that Paul calleth the salutation, Salutationem appellauit benedictionem quae in fine sita est. Hinc ergo discimus, quòd hoc, Gratia Domini, &c. pro eo quae est vale scribere consueverat. a benediction, or blessing, which is in the end of the Epistle: and a little after, Hence we learne that he was accustomed to write these words, The grace, &c. instead of adiewe or farewell vnto thē. And Haimo (long after) expounds these words, so I write, howe? (saith he) euen thus as it followeth, The grace of our Lord, &c. I graunt it is probable that Paul writ his owne name in the ende of euery Epistle (whether in the Greeke tongue, and in the Hebrewe characters (as Haimo affirmeth) I leaue it as vncertaine) and that by the salutation or signe of his Epistle, his name written with his owne hand, is in part to be vnderstood: yet it is not onely nor principally meant. The certen signe therefore of his Epistles, is beside the subscription of his owne name, the farewell that he giues them in these words, The grace of our Lord Iesus. Christ be with you all, or the like to the same effect. I say to the same effect, because these very formall wordes, are not to be found in euery of Pauls Epistles. Therefore Caietan is far wide, who taketh the entire and formall salutation, as it is literally set downe. 2. Thess. 3. 17. to be a note that the Epistle is his, so that if it want any one word, either the Epistle is not Pauls, or there is some defect in the text: for hereupon he concludes that the Epistle to the Coloss. onely, hath something wanting in the farewell or salutation, because it is said, Grace be with you: and not the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you, as it is in all Coloss. 4. 18. his other Epistles. But first, it is an vntrueth, for they are not onely wanting in the Epistle to the Colossians, but also in the 1. to Timothie, and in that to Titus, where it is only said, Grace be with thee. Grace be with you all. Secondly, it is a flat mistaking of 1. Tim. 6. 21. Tit. 3. 15. the text, for Pauls meaning was not in euery Epistle to tie himselfe precisely to so many words and syllables: but to commend them to the grace of Christ: sometime making expresse mention of Christ, sometime concealing his name: yet so as that it is alway vnderstood, though not expressed.