William Perkins on Galatians 4:15

Vers. 15.

What was your felicitie?] that is, you esteemed it to be your felicitie, that you receiued me and my doctrine. Ye would haue plucked out your eies and haue giuen them to me] a prouerbiall speech, signifying the speciall loue of the Galatians to Paul, so as nothing which they had could be to deare for him. If it had bin possible] this he saith, because no mā can pluck out his eie to doe another man good: or thus, no man can possibly giue his eie and the sight thereof to another.

In these words Paul sets downe the third signe of the loue and reuerence which the Galatians shewed to him: and that is, that they thought themselues happie by reason of Pauls Ministerie, and would haue parted with their owne eies for his good.

Hence we learne, that there is a felicitie after the time of this life, and that is, to receiue and imbrace the doctrine of the Gospell So saith Christ else where. Luk. 8. 21. and 11. 18. Math. 7. 26. True happinesse stands in our reconciliation with God in Christ. And this reconciliation is offered and giuen vs on gods part by his word and promise, and it is receiued of vs, when we turne to God; and by faith rest on the said promise. To be in Gods kingdome is happinesse: and this is the kingdome of God, when we resigne our selues in subiection to his will and word. The preaching of the word is the key of this kingdome, Matth. 16. 19. and when it is receiued into our hearts by faith, heauen is set open vnto vs euen in this life, Ioh. 1. 51.

The Philosophers therefore haue erred, that place our happinesse in honours, riches, pleasures, or in ciuill vertue.

Secondly, our common people are deceiued, who thinke because they deale truely, and iustly before men, that they are in as good a case, as they that heare all the sermons in the world: as though true happinesse stood in ciuill conuersation.

Thirdly, this doctrine serues to beate downe a point of naturall Atheisme in the heart of man, which makes many thinke it a vaine thing to serue God, and to heare his word, Iob. 21. 15. Mala. 3. 14. Dauid was troubled with this corruption, Psal. 73. 15. Many of them which professe the name of Christ, will not be brought to keep the Sabbath daie: and in their dealings they vse fraud, and lying as other men doe: and all is because they thinke they cannot liue by their religion.

Fourthly, the onely way to establish a kingdome or common wealth, is to plant the Gospell there: for this makes an happie people: And this is the maine cause of our happinesse and successe in this church and land. And the obedience of the Gospel is it that makes euery man in his trade, office, and calling whatsoeuer it be, to prosper. Read Psal. 1. 3.

5. On the contrarie, they are wretched and miserable that liue without the Gospell, Prou. 29. 18. 2. Cor. 4. 3. 2. Tim. 3. 7.

6. To receiue the doctrine of the Apostles, is an vnfallible marke of the Church of God. For this is it that makes a people blessed and happie.

7. We may not despise the preaching of the word, 1. Thes. 5. 20. If we doe, we despise our owne happinesse. If it be said, Preachers sometime are deceiued. Answ. Marke the addition of Paul, Prooue all things, hold that which is good, 2. Thess. 5.

Touching the speciall loue of the Galatians to Paul, First it may be demanded, what was the cause of it? Answ. The very Ministerie of the Apostle, whose office it was to make Disciples, Math. 28. 19. and so to plant the Church of the new Testament. And for this cause, he had a priuiledge to preach the truth, so as he could not erre in things which he deliuered to the church. 2. He preached with authority, as hauing power to correct rebellious offenders 2. Cor. 106. and 1. Cor. 4. 3. he preached with vnspeakeablle diligence. Read. Act. 20. 31. 4. He had a prerogatiue, (as the rest of the Apostles had) after he had made disciples by imposition of hands to giue vnto them the extraordinary giftes of the Holy Ghost Act. 8. 17. And these are the meanes whereby this speciall loue was procured.

Secondly, it may be demanded, whether the Galatians did not more then keepe the law, when they would haue plucked out their owne eyes, and haue giuen them to Paul? for thus they loue him more then their owne selues. Ans. The commandement [Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe] doth not prescribe that we must in the first place loue our selues, and then in the second loue our neighbour: but it setts downe the right manner of louing our neighbour, and that is, to loue him, as hartely, and vnfainedly, as our owne selues.

The measure of loue is expressed when Christ saith we must loue on another, as Christ loued vs. Ioh. 13. 34.

There is a certen case in which we must consider our neighbour not only as a neighbour, but also as a speciall instrument of God: and thus are we in some respectes to loue, and to preferre him before our selues. Thus a subiect is more to loue the life of his prince then his own life. Thus Paul was content to be accursed for the Israelites, Rom. 9. 1. And the Galatians would haue giuen their eies to Paul, that was so worthy an instrument of the grace of God.

In their example we are taught to be willing to forsake the dearest things in the world for the Gospell of Christ, euen our eies, hands, feete, yea and our life.