of Antichrist defection from the Gospel He exhorts them to good words and works These two Epistles were written from Athens 1407. 1 THES 1.3 Remembring your work of faith and labour Rom. 3.28 Gal. 3.10 Faith is opposed to works Faith is a work but not ours or proceeding from our own strength Joh. 6.29 for then it would not justifie us but it is the work of God and a quality in us respecting the merits of Christ therefore the Apostle calls not Faith it self so much a work as he doth that which proceeds from faith * 1 Thes 1.3 with Gal. 3.10 Faith is a work and brings forth works is a work of the Spirit and brings forth works of righteousness in us yet this hinders not but that Faith may be opposed to Works in the matter of Justification Faith as it justifies is not considered as it brings forth Works but as it brings home Christ Faith yet which brings home Christ is not without Works which Works do shew themselves immediately upon Justification though I cannot say in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Justification 1408. 1 Thes 2.20 For you are our glory 1 Cor. 1.31 He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. Our glorying hath its foundation in God in the mean while if any thing be done amongst the auditory by the work of the Ministry we must say with the Apostle It is not I that laboured 1 Cor. 15.10 but the grace of God which was with me 1409. 1 Thes 4.17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord. 2 Tim. 4.6 I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand In the first place is spoken of the company of the faithful by reason of the most near communion and uniting of the body of Christ for we are all one spiritual body so many as believe in Christ so that what happens to one member may seem to happen to all the rest * 1410. 1 Thes 4.17 And so we shall be ever with the Lord. Rev. 20.6 They shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years We shall be ever after our Translation with the Lord. The latter place speaks of a thousand years but probably this may be in this world before our translation and so it nothing hinders but that after our translation we may be with the Lord for ever Whether these thousand years are to be meant litterally for so many years or else figuratively as the rest of the verse must be viz. Kings and Priests interpreted it is not to the purpose in hand 1411. 1 Thes 5.5 Ye are all children of the light and of the day not of the night Rom. 8.19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sons of God We are here with Paul children of light and the day in grace nor yet in glory The Apostle expected not to be made the Son of God because he was so already actually but only to be revealed to be so for it appears not so yet what we shall be for though we be heirs we do not yet actually possess the Kingdom we must therefore distinguish Sonhood acquired here by grace from that which shall be in our Country by glory 1412. 2 Thes 1.5 The persecutions and tribulations which you endure are a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God that ye may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which you also suffer Eph. 2.8 You are saved through faith and not of your selves it is the gift of God The faithful are worthy not by their own worthiness but Christs also the word worthy is the same here with convenient Col. 1.13 1413. 2 Thes 2.2 The day of Christ is at hand 1 Joh. 2.18 It is the last time To be at hand and to draw near do differ the Apostle denieth that the day is at hand but he denieth not that it draweth near it is called the last time in respect of former time and because in the last time the day of judgment draweth nigh it is called the last hour in respect of God because our daies compared to Eternity are but one moment and a thousand years in Gods sight as yesterday when it is past also all things are present with God 1414. 2 Thes 3.10 If any would not work neither should he eat 1 Cor. 9.6 Have we not power to forbear working In the first place Works are either of the head or of the brain flesh and idleness are condemned in the latter labour is commended which is wrought not with the hand alone but with the head also the Ministers of the Church are not to get their living by the labour of their hands being they are not Mechanicks The Apostle had a singular gift from God to preach extemporary 2 Cor. 1.11 and yet had he means from the Churches Two Epistles of St. PAUL to TIMOTHY THE first is a pattern for Pastors to shew them what they ought to be in Doctrine and Prayers and in Life with their families and laies down the way how to instruct all men of what state age or condition soever It was written from Laodicea in the Year of Christ 52. The second confirms Timothy that he should not be cast down in his mind by reason of the tempests of persecutions and warns him that in preaching the Gospel he should avoid false doctrine that he should be diligent and come unto him It was written from Rome when he was in prison in the year of Christ seventy * 1415. 1 TIM 1.19 20. Some having put away scil a good conscience concerning faith have made shipwrack Joh. 3.36 He that believeth hath life eternal Doubt He that believes in Christ is as sure of salvation as if he were already in an actual and real possession of Christ which cannot be if a man may fall from faith Answ Hymeneus and Alexander made shipwrack not so much of faith it self as of the object of faith that they believed the doctrine of faith which they once professed and afterward deserted falling into heretical blasphemies and blasphemous heresies 2 Tim. 2.17 18. which place clearly explicates the other it shews that they fell from some fundamental truth formerly professed as in the point of the Resurrection or the like The Apostle adds immediately Ver. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of the Lord abideth sure c. q.d. though some professors fall away yet such as do indeed belong unto Christ and are his are firm and stable Or secondly they gave reins to a licentious life against the dictates of their own conscience which God punished by taking away the light of the Spirit from them that so in the midst of their course they should lose their most spiritual Merchandize Yet this shews not that ever these fell from true saving faith or ever had it they that have it once cannot finally
Apostles before me but I went into Arabia Acts 9.26 Paul after his return to Damascus came to Jerusalem Paul after his conversion went into Arabia from Damascus and coming back thence to Damascus in the third year persecution befel him who being in hazard of his life was let down in a basket and escaped and coming to Jerusalem when they were all afraid of him he was brought to the Apostles by Barnabas ver 27. * 1369. Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galathians Mat. 5.22 Call no man fool Christ condemns not the word so as the manner of speaking the word when it is spoken with virulency and rayling especially proceeding from causeless anger St. Paul did not call them foolish out of passion but discretion to let them see their carriage and behaviour in the affairs of the Gospel * 1370. Gal. 4.4 Christ was born of a woman Mat. 11.11 John Baptist was the greatest of those who were born of a woman John was preferred before any of the Prophets or others that went before him but not before any that succeeded him However John was not to be compared with him who was not begot by man but by the Holy Ghost himself as Christ was * 1371. Gal. 4.6 And because you are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son Jo. 11.50 51. Caiphas prophesied It is one thing to have the Spirit of grace another the gifts of the Spirit a wicked man may speak from the gifts of the Spirit yet not have the graces of the Spirit Caiphas beside he spake this extraordinarily not ordinarily 1372. Gal. 4.11 I am afraid of you lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain 1 Cor. 15.58 Be ye stedfast knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. In the first place the Apostle feared of the success of his labour by reason of schism amongst the Galatians Isa 65.23 who sought their salvation more from the Law than from Christ in the latter he hopes well of the Corinthians that his labour shall not be lost 1373. Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the Spirit Eph. 6.12 We wrestle not against flesh and bloud but against powers Flesh is taken in the first place for our corrupt nature in the latter for men whose nature is frail and weak nor is our chief conflict with those but with spiritual powers which use many deceits and make many incursions upon the faithful 1374. Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections Eph. 5.29 No man ever yet hated his own flesh The first place is not concerning the nature of the flesh but the desire of the regenerate man who cares not for the affections of the flesh will not serve his belly his pleasures the world or worldly delights The latter is concerning self-love natural to us all and the Apostle speaking of the wife useth the name of flesh because they are both made one flesh 1375. Gal. 6.2 Bear ye one anothers burdens Ver. 5. Every man shall bear his own burden In the first place is spoken of the faults and infirmities of our brethren which are indeed a burden to us yet we must bear them by sympathy and the rule of charity will have it so that all of us help our brethren and tolerate their infirmities to lift up such as are down to hide their faults so much as may be and is fitting Theod. Thou hast this fault and not that another man hath another fault do thou bear his fault let him bear thine and so fulfil the law of charity be not curious in other mens faults for every man shall give account of his own 1376. Gal. 6.4 Let every man prove his works 1 Cor. 3.13 The fire shall try every mans work In the first place is intimated what is our duty to make our works approved to God in the latter place the fire signifies either the Holy Ghost or afflictions by which we are tried The Epistle of St. PAUL to the EPHESIANS HE commemorates the benefits of God which are part and recites our Election Redemption Sanctification Vocation into the Church Justification by faith our future inheritance of eternal life and our duties in general of us all in special of married people and unmarried of Parents of Children of Masters and of Servants It was written from Rome in the Year of Christ 59. and sent by Tychicus 1377. EPH. 1.7 In whom we have redemption Rom. 8.18 We wait for future glory and the redemption of our bodies 1. We have redemption in Christ from the guilt of sin by our justification we expect a full redemption from inherent sins in our glorification 2. For Christ shall transform our mortal bodies that he may make them like to his glorious body that as we are one with him here in soul and body by grace so we may be also in glory * 1378. Eph. 2.19 You are no more strangers and forreigners 1 Pet. 2.11 I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims No more strangers to God and Christ but friends and sons no more strangers to heaven but fellow Citizens but you are strangers and pilgrims in and to the world and worldly courses 1379. Eph. 3.5 The mystery of Christs incarnation was in other ages unknown to men Col. 1.5 You have heard before in the Word of the truth of the Gospel It was unknown to the Fathers under the Law in respect of fulness and clearness of knowledge revealed since Christ came and it was made manifest to the whole world by the Ministry of the Apostles * 1380. Eph. 3.5 6. It was not made known in other ages That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs of the same body Gen. 12.5 In thy seed shall all Nations be blessed He meaneth not that none knew the Calling of the Gentiles before but because very few in comparison knew of it and they that did know of it had it revealed to them darkly and for the most part under Figures in general confusedly It was revealed but not so distinctly and particularly as now it is 1381. Eph. 3.15 All paternity is named from God the Father Joh. 8.44 The devil is the father of lies God is the Father of heavenly and earthly paternity the devil is excluded from these for he bath no such paternity but as he is the Author his called the Father of a lie 1382. Eph. 4.19 The Gentiles gave themselves over to lasciviousness to work all uncleanness Rom. 1.28 God gave them over to a reprobate mind The Gentiles gave themselves over in regard of their sins God gave them over in regard of punishment * 1383. Eph. 4.26 Be angry and sin not Mat. 5.22 But whosoever is angry with his brother c. The former place commands anger but not as it is a sin the latter forbids it as it is a sin The former would have us rather angry with the sin the latter not with the person as a person The former rather respects the wrong done to God for which
Tim. 2.21 with 1 Joh. 1.1 Purge him not efficiently but instrumentally Purge endeavour to purge i. e. to apply that which may purge us viz. the Bloud of Christ and to get the Spirit of God the one to take away the stain the other the ruling of sin within us The one to take away sin the other evil doctrine and corrupt opinions He that saith we may be cleansed from sin by Christ and that we must purge our selves doth but in the one tell where we may have the remedy and in the other who must use the remedy * 1430. 2 Tim. 3.12 Yea all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Psal 34.12 The godly man is said to see good Persecution is either of the tongue or hand they that are godly shall be persecuted with the one or the other The godly see Good in their persecutions in that they see the comforts of the Spirit and the graces of Gods Spirit works in them Good is either Spiritual and Perpetual or Corporal and Temporary Godly men have the former not alwaies the latter for by persecutions they lose the latter yet obtain more of the former * 1431. 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness Eccles 9.1 No man knoweth either love or hatred The Apostle had an huge confidence or assurance of his salvation and that upon good grounds The Wise man tells us not that a man can by no waies or means know at all whether he be in favour with God but that it cannot be discerned by the outward chances and accidents of this life nor doth he hereby say hatred and love are impossible to be known but that the external passages of this life do not infallibly shew them The Epistle of St. PAUL to TITUS IT is the compendium of Christian Doctrine informing Teachers set in the Ecclesiastical State Political or Oeconomical what thay ought to do he exhorts all and every one to good works and to fly vain questions and heresies It was written from Nicopolis in the Year of Christ 54. 1432. TIT. 1.9 Able by sound Doctrine to convince gainsayers Chap. 3.9 Avoid foolish questions contentions and strivings about the Law In the first place he requires that Teachers by their Office shall rebuke those that are gainsayers with all long suffering and sobriety In the latter that they avoid janglings about words that is contentious clamorous unprofitable Disputations and verbal Discourse which tends not to edification either with Hereticks or others in the Church because they edifie none but rather confirm them in their sins 1433. Tit. 2.15 Rebuke with all authority 1 Tim. 3.3 A Bishop must be no striker Titus was gentle by nature therefore he is warned to rebuke with authority He inculcates to Timothy modesty and mildness that when he rebukes he should not strike but should rebuke diversly according to the diversity of mens faults offices ages degrees otherwise old men otherwise young men otherwise those that sin of malice otherwise those that sin of infirmity otherwise those that were ready to obey and otherwise those that were obstinate as there were in Crâ—â—e many despisers of the Ministry * 1434. Tit. 3.10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject Deut. 13.5 And that Prophet or dreamer of dreams shall be put to death He that commands a lesser hinders not the inflicting the greater punishment While the Apostle bids reject he doth not disallow the putting to death of Hereticks Moses Moral Law is perpetually obliging The Apostle might have said kill if that could in his time have been done without prejudice Civil Magistrates being Heathens then but when the Church may do it without prejudice the Magistrates being Christian the former Law needs no suspension at all Omnes fere ex nostratibus hujus sunt sententiae quod Haeretici sint gladii puniendi Zanchy Almost all Protestants are of opinion that Hereticks may be punished with the Sword The Epistle of St. PAUL to PHILEMON HE intercedes for Onesimus who was run from his Master Philemon and would have his Master receive him again 1435. PHILEM v. 5. He had love and faith toward all the Saints Mat. 16.16 Joh. 3.16 Whosoever believeth in Christ shall be saved Philemon did testifie to all men by his works of love toward the Saints that he had a lively faith in Christ The Epistle to the HEBREVVS Is also thought to be St. PAULS but his Name was left out lest the Jews should be deterred from the reading of it HE describes the person of Christ according to his Divine and Humane Nature And he confirms his Offices Priestly Kingly and Prophetical and exhorts the Jews to Faith Constancy and good Works by the Example of the Fathers 1436. HEB. 1.3 Christ sate down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Acts. 7.55 Steven saw the Son of man standing at the right hand To sit at the right hand is to have all Glory Majesty Kingdom and Power both in heaven and in earth The Lamb standing at Gods right hand which was slain for us and intercedes as a Priest on our behalf stands as Aaron stood with his Censer of old betwixt the living and the dead to turn away the wrath of God * Heb. 1.3 with Acts 7.55 Sitting and standing are not properly but allegorically attributed to Christ in this place for God hath not properly and substantially a right hand but here sitting down the Apostle alludeth to the custome of Kings who place him at the right hand whom they put next in authority and power under them Hereby is denoted the supream and high dignity and power of Christ obtained by ascending into heaven He is said to stand to shew his readiness to intercede to God for us * 1437. Heb. 1.3 Who being the brightness of his glory c. Isa 53.2 He hath no form nor comliness The first is a Metaphorical speech God the Father is compared unto the lightsome body God the Son unto the beam or splendor sent down The second place speaks of Christ as the Jews esteemed him in his Humiliation It is one thing what Christ was in himself another thing what he appeared in our eyes * 1438. Heb. 1.11 The heavens and the earth shall perish Eccles 1.4 But the earth abideth for ever The Heavens and Earth perish according to their form and outward accidents some think that the substance shall remain However when Solomon saith the earth abideth for ever He speaks comparatively in relation to men One Generation passeth and another cometh but the earth abideth The earth is the same and shall be till the day of Judgment 1439. Heb. 2.3 The Gospel was confirmed unto us by those that heard Christ Gal. 1.12 I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ In the first place it is spoken of the Apostles who were with the Lord into which number Paul was taken after