CHAPTER VI.] COMMENTARY ON GALATIANS. 47 nor can I desire them, for I too am dead to them. Nothing can be more blessed than this putting to death, for it is the foundation of the blessed life. Ver. 15, 1 6. " For neither is circumcision any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new crea ture. And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." Observe the power of the Cross, to what a pitch it hath raised him ! not only hath it put to death for him all mundane affairs, but hath set him far above the Old Dispensation. What can be comparable to this power ? for the Cross hath persuaded him, who was willing tobe slain and to slay others for the sake of circumcision, to leave it on a level with uncircumcision, and to seek for things strange and marvellous and above the heavens. This our rule of life he calls a new creature," both on account of what is past, and of what is to come ; of what is past, be cause our soul, which had grown old with the oldness of sin, hath been all at once renewed by baptism, as if it had been created again. 1 Wherefore we require a new and heavenly rule of life. And of things to come, because both the heaven and the earth, and all the creation, shall with our bodies be translated into incor- ruption. Tell me not then, he says, of circum cision, which now availeth nothing ; (for how shall it appear, when all things have undergone such a change ?) but seek the new things of grace. For they who pursue these things shall enjoy peace and amity, and may properly be called by the name of " Israel." While theywho hold contrary sentiments, although they be de scended from him (Israel) and bear his appel lation, have yet fallen away from all these things, both the relationship and the name itself. But it is in their power to be true Israelites, who keep this rule, who desist from the old ways, and follow after grace. Ver. 17. "From henceforth let no man trouble me." This he says not as though he were wearied or overpowered ; he who chose to do and suffer all for his disciples sake; he who said, "Be instant in season, out of season; " (2 Tim. iv : 2.) he who said, " If peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, and theymay recover themselves out ofthe snare of the devil; " (2 Tim. ii : 25, 26.) how shall he now become relaxed and fall back? Wherefore does he say this? it is to gird up their slothful mind, and to impress them with deeper fear, and to ratify the laws enacted by 1 [" It is a matter of indifference whether one is circumcised or uncircumcised ; and the only matter of importance is that one should be created anew, transferred into a new spiritual condition of life." Meyer. G. A.] himself, and to restrain their perpetual fluctua tions.2 Ver. 17. "For I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus." He says not, "I have," but, " I bear," like a man priding himself on trophiesand royal en signs. Although on a second thought it seems a disgrace, yet does this man vaunt of his wounds, and like military standard-bearers, so does he exult in bearing about these wounds. And why does he say this? " More clearly by those wounds than by any argument, than by any language, do I vindicate myself," says he. For these wounds utter a voice louder than a trumpet against my opponents, and against those who say that Iplay the hypocrite inmy teaching, and speak what may please men. For no one who saw a soldier retiring from the battle bathed in blood and with a thousand wounds, would dare to accuse him of cowardice and .treachery, seeing that he bears on his body the proofs of his valor, and so oughi ye, he says, to judge of me. And if any one desire to hear my de fence, and to learn my sentiments, let him con sider my wounds, which afford a stronger proof than these words and letters. At the outset of his Epistle he evinced his sincerity by the sud denness of his conversion, at its close he proves it by the perils which attended his conversion. That it might not be objected that he had changed his course with upright intentions, but that he had not continued in the same pur pose, he produces his trials, his dangers, his stripes as witnesses that he had so continued. Then having clearly justified himself in every particular, and proved that he had spoken noth ing from anger or malevolence, but had pre served his affection towards them unimpaired, he again establishes this same point by conclud ing his discourse with a prayer teeming with a thousand blessings, in these words ; Ver. 18. " Thegrace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen." By this last word he hath sealed all that pre ceded it. He says not merely, " with you," as elsewhere, but, " with your spirit," thus with drawing them from carnal 3 things, and display ing throughout the beneficence of God, and re minding them of the grace which they enjoyed, whereby he was able to recall them from all their judaizing errors. For to have received the Spirit came not of the poverty of the Law, but of the righteousness which is by Faith, and to 8 [" Lightfoot similarly, but more clearly ; " Paul closes the epistle as he began it, with an uncompromising assertion of his authority: Henceforth let no man question my authority ; let no man thwart or annoy me. Jesus is my Master and his brand is stamped on my body. I bear this badge of an honorable servi tude." 0. A.] 3 [So also Lightfoot, who says, " with your spirit is probably in reference to the carnal religion ofthe C.alatians, but this cannot he pressed because the same form of benediction occurs in Philcm, 25 ; 2 Tim. iv : 22. Meyer denies there is any such allusion at all G. A.]