GAL. 6. 15.
THe Apostle at the 11th Verse concludeth this Epistle with a testification of his love and kindnesse to them: For his reproofs had bin sharp, yet love caused them, and that is good of Austins, Dilige, & loquere quod vis, Love, and then speak what thou wilt. The Argument of his love is seen in the length of his Letter; a large Letter argued large affections, and that with his own hand; whereas many of his other Epistles were written by others. The second demonstration of his love is in warning them against false Apostles, whom he describes by their ambition and hypocrisie: Their hypocrisie, they desired […], an excellent word, To make a fair shew. As strumpets commonly more trim up themselves than grave Matrons, so falshood is more varnished and painted than truth. Then their ambition is described in affecting Disciples, Ambitio scenam desiderat, Ambition loves to have some look on and applaud. Lastly, there is the carnall advantage they look at, it is to avoyd persecution: For the Jewes being zealous of the Law, and persecuting to the death those that seemed to take it away; these false Apostles to avoid danger would retain the Doctrine of Christ, and the Ceremoniall Law also: Thus they were as Reeds shaken with every wind. Now the Apostle to oppose them, instanceth in the contrary grace in himself, God forbid that I should glory, save in the Crosse of Christ, &c. Persecutions for the Gospel I fear not, but glory in them; and hereupon layeth down a generall sentence, an excellent practicall Aphorism, In Christ Jesus neither Circumcision, or uncircumcision availeth any thing, but a new Creature. As if he should have said, you are wholly taken up in disputations about Circumcision and uncircumcision, all your conference, all your studies run out about this; but the truth of grace lyeth not in these things. It is not any Privilege, any Sacrament, any external duty makes us acceptable to God if we are not new Creatures. The Apostle hath a parallel expression in the Chapter before, Chap 5, 6. 1 Cor. 7. 19.
Before I come to handle the nature of this new Creature, I cannot passe the preheminence and superiority the Apostle giveth it to all other privileges and duties though never so glorious. From whence observe,
That no privilage, or duty in Religion, is acceptable to God, unlesse a man be a new1 Creature.
Dost thou pray? unlesse a new Creature God owneth it not. Dost thou hear? unlesse a new Creature God regardeth thee not: As Joseph said to his Brethren, Unlesse bring Benjamin come not in my presence; Unlesse you come to holy duties as new Creatures, God loveth not to see you. This Doctrine is so necessary, and so worthy of all acceptation, that the Apostle addeth, Whosoever walketh after this rule (that is) as some expound, according to this position, that no externall duties are accepted without a new Creature) peace be on him and mercy. The receiving of this truth, is opening of the door for the peace of God to rest on you.
To understand this better, know, That the Apostle doth not speak this, as if external duties were to be omitted or neglected; for he that saith here, Circumcision availeth2 nothing, doth in another place say, It profits much every way, Rom. 3. 2. and he calls it, The seal of the righteousnesse of faith, Rom. 4. 11. Thus the Ordinances of the New Testament, prayer, hearing, receiving of Sacraments, though they are nothing without Regeneration, yet they are duties commanded in their time and order. If a man should say, eyes, and eares, and a head are nothing without a soul; it doth not therefore follow, that they are not to be prized as mercies, when God gives us to enjoy both soul and body. Though the Chaff be worth nothing when the Wheat is not, yet it was a great defence and shelter to the Wheat when it covered it growing in the field. Outward duties are not to be opposed to the work of grace, but composed; you must not argue from one, to the destruction, but to the position of the other.
If a man should say, There are so many forms of Church-Government, and if a man be for this form, or the other, it is nothing unlesse a man be a new Creature; he saith truely: but to infer from thence, that Therefore it’s no matter for that form which hath clearest testimony from Scripture, it is a great inconsequence; and the ground of all this is, Although outward duties, and the Religious forms God hath appointed, be not the essence of grace; yet being commanded by God, we are to use them, and thereby testifie our worship of him; and withall where true grace is, they doe increase grace, and by dayly frequent exercise therein, we come to an higher degree in holinesse; for they are the Pool, in which not an Angel, but God comes in with healing; they are the Garden, wherein Christ walks; they are the Feast, at which God himself is present; and for these spirituall effects, the Saints of God have such admirable ravishing expressions about them. Take heed therfore of that dangerous Rock on one hand, to neglect the ordinances, expecting immediate Revelations, and Enthusiasms; or on the other hand, a propliane contempt of them, even as the Swine doth a Pearl.