Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and wrap not yourselves again in the yoke of bondage. Be hold I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing at all. I testify again to every man which is circumcised that he is bound to keep the whole law. Ye are gone quite from Christ as many as are justified by the law, and are fallen from grace. We look for and hope to be justified by the spirit which commeth of faith. For in Iesu Christ, neither is circumcision anything worth, neither yet uncircumcision, but faith which by love is mighty in operation. Ye did run well. Who was a lett unto you, that ye should not obey the truth? Even that counsel that is not of him that called you. A little leaven doth leaven the whole lump of dough.
I have trust toward you in God, that ye will be none otherwise minded. He that troubleth you shall bear his judgement, whatsoever he be. Brethren if I yet preach circumcision: why do I then yet suffer persecution? For then had the offense which the cross giveth ceased. I would to God they were sundered from you which trouble you. Brethren ye were called into liberty, only let not your liberty be an occasion unto the flesh but in love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, which is this: Thou shalt love thine neighbour as thyself. If ye bite and devour one another: take heed lest ye be consumed one of another.
I say walk in the spirit, and fulfil not the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth contrary to the spirit, and the spirit contrary to the flesh. These are contrary one to the other, so that ye cannot do that which ye would. But and if ye be led of the spirit, then are ye not under the law. The deeds of the flesh are manifest, which are these, advoutry, fornication, uncleanness, wantonness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, lawyinge, zeal, wrath, strife, sedition, parte takings, envying, murder, drunkenness, gluttony, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they which commit such things shall not be inheritors the kingdom of God: but the fruit of [the] spirit is, love, joy, peace, longsuffering gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperancy: Against such there is no law. They that are Christi's, have crucified the flesh with the appetites and lusts. If we live in the spirit let us walk in the spirit. Let us not be vain glorious, provoking one another, and envying one another.
The .vj. Chapter.
Brethren, if any man be fallen by chance into any fault: ye which are spiritual, help to amend him, in the spirit of meekness: considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burden: and so fulfil the law of Christ. If a man seem to himself that he is somewhat when indeed he is nothing, the same deceiveth himself in his imagination. Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in his own self, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.
Let him that is taught in the word, minister unto him that teacheth him in all good things. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap. He that soweth in his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth in the spirit shall, of the spirit reap life everlasting. Let us do good, and let us not faint. For when the time is come we shall reap without weariness. While we have therefore time let us do good unto all men, and specially, unto them which are of the household of faith.
Behold how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. As many as desire with utward appearance to please carnally, they constrain you to be circumcised, only because they would not suffer persecution with the cross of Christ. For they them selves which are circumcised keep not the law: but desire to have you circumcised that they might rejoice in your flesh. God forbid that I should rejoice but in the cross of our lord Iesu Christ, whereby the world is crucified as touching me, and I as concerning the world. For in Christ Iesu nether circumcision availeth any thing at all nor uncircumcision: but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon Israhel that pertaineth to God. From hence forth, let no man put me to business. For I bear in my body the marks of the lord Iesu. Brethren the grace of our lord Iesu Christe be with your spirit, Amen.
Unto the Galathyans written from Rome.
The pistel of S. Paul to the Ephesians.
The first Chapter.