Therefore is it a lie when as that we thinke shall doe vs good turnes vnto our hurt: or that which we thinke to better our selues by, makes vs worse, whence is this, but because that man can haue his good but onely from God, whome hee forsaketh in sinning: and none from himselfe in liuing according to whom, hee sinneth? Whereas therefore wee sayd that the contrariety of the two citties a∣rose herevpon, because some liued according to the flesh, and others according to the spirit we may likewise say it is because some liue according vnto Man, and other some vnto God. For Paul saith plainely to the Corinthians, Seeing there is emulation, and contention amongst you, are you not carnall, and walke accord•…•…ng to man. To walke therefore according to man, is carnall, man beeing vnderstood in his, inferior part, flesh. For those which hee calles carnall here, he calleth naturall be∣fore, saying: (c) What man knoweth the things of a man but the spirit of a man, which is in him? euen so, no man knoweth the things of God but the Spirit of God. Now we haue not receiued the spirit of the Word, but the Spirit which is of God, that wee might know the things that God hath giuen vs, which things also we speake, not in the words which mans wisdome teacheth, but (d) being taught by the spirit comparing spiri•…•…ll things with spirituall things. But the naturall man perceiueth not the things of the spirit of God: (e) for they are foolishnesse vnto him. Vnto those naturall men hee spake this a little afterwards: I could not speake vnto you brethren as vnto spirituall men, but as vnto carnall. And here is that figure in speech that vseth the part for the whole to bee vnderstood: for the whole man may either bee ment by the soule, or by the flesh: both which are his parts: and so a naturall man and a carnall man, are not seuerall, but all one, namely one that liueth according to man: according as those places afore-cited doe intend. By the workes of the lavv (f) shall no flesh bee iustified: and that where it is said that (g) Seuenty fiue soules v•…•…ent dovvne vvith Iacob in∣to Egipt, in the former by flesh, is ment, man, and in the later, by 75. soules, are meant 75. persons. And in this, not in the words which mans wisdome teacheth, he might haue sayd: which carnall wisdome teacheth: as also, according to the flesh, for according vnto man, if hee had pleased. And it was more apparant in the subsequence: for when one saith, I am Pauls, and another, I am Apollo's, are you not men? That which he had called naturall, and carnall before, he now more expressly, calleth man: meaning, you liue according to Man, and not according to God, whom if you followed in your liues, you should bee made gods of men.
L. VIVES.
HEE (a) would] No man liueth so wickedly, but hee desireth beatitude: though his course lead him quite another way, directly vnto misery. (b) What can] There is nothing more deceiptfull then the wicked. For it deludeth him extreamely in whom it ruleth. (c) What man] This place is cited otherwise, & more expresly in the latine text of the first booke. (d) Taught by the sp•…•…it] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. But some reade, by the Doctrine of the spirit (e) For they are] The spirituall things of GOD seeme fooleries vnto carnall and vnsettled men: as the Pagans •…•…dome and vertues were scorned of the ritch gnoffes that held shades for substances, and vertues for meere vanities. Thence hath Plato his caue wherein men were vsed to shapes •…•…d appearing shadowes that they thought their had beene no other bodies. Derep. lib. 7. (f) shall no flesh] Some read it in the present tense, but erroneously: the greeke is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 abitur. (g) Seuenty fiue soules] Soule, for man, is an Hebraicall phrase: for life, a greeke phrase: vsed also by the latine. Nonius Marcellus saith Uirgil vseth it for bodies, there where he saith.