brew of the Hebrews; as concerning the law, a Pharisee; as concerning ferventness, I persecuted the congregation; and as touching the righteousness, which is in the law, I was unrebukable.

Here, is more at large expressed, what it is, to trust in the flesh. By the flesh, he understandeth circumcision, works of the law, the stock of the Jews he came of, his fathers, as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the holy sect of the Pharisees, and their holy institutions of living, his good zeal which he had to keep the law of Moses, for the which he persecuted them, that openly professed Christ, or defended Christ's religion. In the which things outwardly if any man might rejoice or trust in them, much more, saith Paul, he himself might re joice and trust in them, and give no place to any man in these things, but either to be equal with the pseudo-apostles, or else to exceed them all.

Mark, that it helpeth much to affirm any thing, when he, that affirmeth, may declare himself equal to them, that would extol themselves above others. As here the Apostle shewed himself to be equal with the pseudo-apostles, boasting themselves as being far above Paul, when they were inferiors to him, as touching the flesh. We learn here that it is good to take example of ourselves, if we will teach humility and submission, when we may advance ourselves above others, but of humbleness we do not.

The Apostle compareth himself with the pseudoapostles, and in their glory of the flesh he giveth no place to them, as if any would say; "I come of the holy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and am circumcised;" and so in them, will rejoice and boast himself. In the same things, saith Paul, I may as well rejoice as they; for I come of these holy fathers, that is, of the Israelites, yea, of the tribe of Benjamin, and was circumcised on the eighth day,

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born of the Jews, and not of the Gentiles, or proselytes newly come and professing to keep the law of the Jews.

And if any pseudo-apostle do boast him of his holy sect or profession of religion, and say, "he is of the most holy sect of the Pharisees, the best and holiest religion of all amongst the Jews:" of the same may I rejoice, saith Paul. For I am a Pharisee, and of that religion a brother: or if any do think themselves famous for zeal and love which they have to the keeping of the law in themselves and in others, in that thing I need to give no place to any man, saith Paul. For I kept that law blameless, so that no man could justly reprove me for it; and as touching others, that were thought to have transgressed the law, I persecuted them, and brought them to prison and to death. Such was my zeal, as touching the law, which both I kept and would that others should have kept it.

This place sheweth us that Paul was a Jew, born both of father and mother of the tribe of Benjamin, circumcised the eighth day, of the sect of the Pharisees, a keeper of the law outwardly without reproach, and from a blind zeal to the observation of the law, to have persecuted Christian men and women, as is written more at large, Acts, ix.

Ver. 7-11. But the things that were advantage unto me, have I counted loss for Christ's sake: yea, I think all things but loss for that excellent knowledge's sake of Christ Jesu, my Lord, for whom I have counted all things loss; and do judge them but dung, that I might win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which cometh of the law; but by the faith of Christ, (namely) the righteousness which cometh of God in faith, to know him and the virtue of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his passion, that I may be conformable unto his

death, if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead.

Now, the Apostle doth not much boast himself of his kindred, the Jews, of the holy fathers he came of, of his circumcision, of his holy religion, of his diligent keeping of the law outwardly without fault or blame, of his zeal, by the which he had advanced himself before men and before the world, and had counted these things as lucre to him or advantage, and much to have helped him to justice before God: but he now boasted not of these things, for he knew they profited him nothing to true justification before God, for that justice before God cometh not to us of the flesh, of holy fathers, of works of the law, of our good blind zeals, not according to God's word; but of the mercy of God by Jesus Christ.

Things, that were advantage unto me, have I counted loss for Christ's sake. Mark, how St. Paul altered and changed his judgment, that these things which he counted, some time before he came to the true knowledge of Christ, to be advantage to him and to help to justification before God; these same things he afterwards, when he came to the true knowledge of Christ, esteemed as no helpers to true justification before God, but rather for hurt and hindrance to his justice in the sight of God.

So, amongst us there have been many things which we have esteemed for virtue, and the furtherance of our righteousness before God, which now we know neither to have any virtue, nor yet to help to our justification before God. Such were many divers religions of men and women; their observances, ceremonies, services, and traditions were more straitly kept amongst them, than God's word; and the breaking of them was more straitly punished, than the breaking of God's law. Yea, how many were in religion, that thought they should be saved by

their religion, habit, coat, cowl, and being buried in their habit within their monasteries, as they called them. But let all these not be ashamed to alter and change their judgments with Paul, and know that all these things will not justify them before God without faith in Christ, amendment of life, and walking in a new life.

Also, how many have thought pardons, pilgrimages, decking images with golden clothes of silk, velvet, or damask, and offering up of candles to them, to have been meritorious works, and to be preferred before works of mercy commanded of God or else they would not have been so ready to do these works, and so loth to do other works commanded of God: but now let them with Paul acknowledge their ignorance and blind judgments, and change them, as Paul did, when brought to a more true knowledge of God and of his truth; and let them not be ashamed to think and judge other ways, than they have judged before, when they were in ignorance, and in blindness, lacking true knowledge of God's holy word, by the which they are delivered from their ignorance; for the which laud and praise be to God for ever. Amen.

Yea, I think all things but loss for that excellent knowledge's sake of Christ Jesu, my Lord. Now, he declareth more at large, wherefore he counted these things to be hurtful to him, which before he counted for his advantage: that was, for the excellent knowledge of Christ and of his truth, which he wanted before, when he, of ignorance and of a blind and wicked zeal, persecuted the church of Christ.

Note here, what true knowledge of Christ doth, it altereth and changeth men, their judgments and manners, and maketh them as if they were new made again, and to condemn those works, which they before esteemed and judged good works. Yea, it

maketh men to count all worldly riches, goods, lands, and possessions, as hurt, dung, or dust, for Christ and for the knowledge of Christ, that he might win to him Christ, whom good men preferred above all worldly riches or treasures, that he might be made just only by Christ.

Here, we learn of Paul to repeat one matter, worthy to be noted and surely printed in all men's minds, once, or twice, or thrice, if need be; that it might be fixed and rooted more surely in men's hearts and minds. Here, he preferreth Christ and the knowledge of Him above all riches or treasures of this world, shewing that it is better for us to lack all worldly riches, than to lack Christ and his word. For he, that hath Christ, hath all things and all riches for in Christ Paul put all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God (Col. ii,).

For Christ is our justice, holiness, wisdom, redemption, the light, the way, the verity, and the life, by whom cometh all goodness. Therefore he, that hath Christ, hath all things; and he, that wanteth Christ, hath nothing. And if we lose Christ, we shall lose light, justice, the way to the Father, truth, and life. And I am sore afraid that we shall lose Christ shortly from amongst us: in so much that the knowledge of Christ and of his holy word is so little esteemed or regarded, specially of bishops and high rulers, who should most regard it, and provide, that there should be many to preach and teach Christ and his doctrine, and should for such provide honest livings with quietness; or else there shall be none, or few, that will or shall be able to preach and teach Christ's Gospel, and so shall Christ be taken away from us, and the people perish.

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which cometh of the law, but by faith of Christ. He goeth forward, shewing wherefore he