Galatians

The Galatians after they had been instructed by St. Paul in the truth of the Gospel, gave place to false Apostles, who entering in, in his absence corrupted the pure doctrine of Christ, and taught that the ceremonies of the Law must be necessarily observed, which thing the Apostle earnestly reasoneth against, that he proveth that the granting thereof is the overthrow of man's salvation purchased by Christ: for thereby the light of the Gospel is obscured: the conscience burdened: the testaments confounded: man's justice established. And because the false teachers did pretend, as though they had been sent of the chief Apostles, and that Paul had no authority, but spake of himself, he proveth both that he is an Apostle ordained by God, and also that he is not inferior to the rest of the Apostles: which thing established, he proceedeth to his purpose, proving that we are freely justified before God without any works or ceremonies which notwithstanding in their time had their use and commodity: but now they are not only unprofitable figures, but also pernicious, because Christ the truth and the end thereof is come: wherefore men ought now to embrace that liberty, which Christ hath purchased by his blood, and not to have their consciences snared in the grins [snares] of men's traditions: finally he showeth wherein this liberty standeth, and what exercises appertain thereunto.