them in their leaving of it yea and that knowingly and with confidence they may be able to denounce the curse of God against those who would dare to hold out another way of Salvation contrary unto it for so doth Paul If an Angel preach besides what we have preached let him be accursed 4. The Ministers of Jesus Christ ought to be faithfull unto the souls of those over whom they are set by declaring the whole Counsel of God unto them Act. 20. 27. and keeping up no Truth necessary for Salvation from them for Paul was thus faithful to the Galatians else he could not denounce those accursed who would preach any thing to wit as necessary to Salvation even besides that which he had preached unto them as he doth here 5. So much of glory to God's Justice and Mercy is manifested in the Doctrine of the Gospel Eph. 1. 6 7 12. the keeping of this Doctrine pure and uncorrupt is so necessary for the salvation of sinners 1 Tim. 4. 16. the perverting of this Doctrine by adding any thing of mans inventions to it is so dishonourable to God whose wisdom is hereby taxed as defective so destructive to the Doctrine of the Gospel it self ver 7. and so perniciously poisonable to the souls of People Act. 15. 24. that they who are guilty of this sin and labour to seduce others to imbrace their pernicious Errors are liable to the terrible curse of eternal separation from Christ and ought to be pronounced such judicially by the Church Tit. 3. 10. Let him be accursed or Let him be Anathema which was one kind of that dreadfull sentence of Excommunication as it was used with the Jews and the word signifieth that which is put apart from the use of man and dedicated unto God with the accursing of them who should convert it to their own use and so by a translated sense it signifieth eternal separation from Christ. Rom. 9. 3. 1 Cor. 16. 21. Doct. 6. The more impartial the Ministers of Christ be in reproving of sin and denouncing of threatnings against all without exception who are guilty of the sin threatned the word of reproof and threatning will have the more weight from his mouth and when the Word is dispensed with evident respect to persons so that the faults of some are sharply rebuked when the sins of others equally guilty for by-respects are wholly connived at usually no person careth for it therefore Paul that the judgment denounced may have the more weight with others exempteth not himself if so he should be found guilty of the sin against which he threatneth Though saith he even I Paul or any other of the Apostles preach any other Doctrine c. 7. As people when they discern any excellencies or perfections whether in gifts or graces in Ministers are ready to take upon trust whatever they deliver so nothing of that kind should make faith to what they preach if it be not founded upon the Word of Truth the first of these is supposed the other more directly expressed while he saith If we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Doctrine let him be accursed 8. The Authority of the Gospel and written Word is far above the Authority of the most trust-worthy Men yea and of the glorified Angels So that neither Man nor Angel Church or any other can adde any Authority to it as though without the testimony of those it had not sufficient Authority in it self 2 Pet. 1. 19. and from God the Author of it 2 Tim. 3. 16. to give faith unto it neither can they detract any thing from its Authority though they should all in one voice contradict it as it appeareth from this impossible case supposed by the Apostle Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel let him be accursed Vers. 9. As we said before so say I now again If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed THat the Apostle may shew what he spoke proceeded neither from rage nor rashnesse he doth again denounce the former terrible curse more generally against all whomsoever guilty of the forementioned sin Doct. 1. Such is the incapacity of mens minds to understand the things of God Eph. 4. 18. the imbecillity and weaknesse of their memories to retain and carefully keep Heb. 2. 1. Yea such is the deadnesse slownesse and aversnesse of the will and affections from imbracing and giving entertainment to saving Truths at first when they are offered Zech. 7. 11. that weighty and necessary Truths are not only once but frequently to be inculcated by faithful Ministers especially fundamental Truths Philip. 3. 1. and of daily use and practice 2 Pet. 1. 12. which frequent inculcating of one and the same thing must flow not from lazinesse occasioning vain and idle repetitions condemned Mat. 6. 7. but from the zeal of God respect to and compassion of the peoples necessity for Paul doth inculcate and again repeat this necessary and fundamental Truth that the Doctrine of the Apostles and by consequence their Writings 1 Joh. 1. 1. have Divine Authority and are throughly sufficient to Salvation without any mixture of humane Traditions added to them As I said before so say I now again 2. Though zeal for God and Truth with servency in the delivery of Truth chiefly in the reproof of sin Isa. 58. 1. be required in a Minister yet he is carefully to guard lest under pretence of zeal he vent his inconsiderate and fleshly passions or lest he give any ground for people to conceive so of him for Paul guardeth against this by repeating advisedly what he had presently spoken As I said before so say I now again 3. It is not enough for the Salvation of peoples souls to have the Gospel preached in purity among them except it he also received by them as labouring to understand the purpose of it Act. 8. 30. giving assent unto the truth of it in their understanding Heb. 4. 2. and imbracing the good things offered by it in their heart and affections 1 Tim. 1. 15. for whereas ver 8. Paul said they are accursed who teach otherwise than he had preached here he saith they are accursed who preach otherwise than they had received whereby it appeareth as Paul had preached the Gospel of Christ so the Galatians received it to wit the whole bulk of Church-members come to age the two first wayes mentioned in the Doctrine and sincere Believers among them in the last way Vers. 10. For do I now perswade men or God or do I seek to please men for if I yet pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ. HEre is a second Argument proving the Divine Authority of the Gospel which Paul had preached to those Galatians taken partly from the scope of his Doctrine which was not to perswade men that is by a necessary Ellipsis and a construction somwhat unusual he did not by his Doctrine perswade men to be
bitter and implacable persecutors as having some respect to conscience in other things and being acted in this from the principles of a deluded conscience Joh. 16. 2. which of all other ties doth most strictly bind and most effectually drive forward to fulfill its dictates especially in things of religious concernment Act. 13. 50. for Paul who profited in the Jews Religion above his equals and was exceedingly zealous did persecute the Church 9. The life and way of some who are engaged in a false Religion may be so blamelesse and according to the dictates of their deluded conscience so strict as that it may be a copie unto those who professe the true Religion and a reproof to many such for their palpable negligence so was Paul's way while he was a Pharisee even such as may serve for a copie unto Christians to walk by in several things as first to be active in spreading the true Religion in our places and stations and bearing down of contrary Errors as he was in persecuting the Christian Church because it was opposite to the Jewish Religion professed by him Secondly that what we do in Religion or for God we do it not negligently but with all our might Eccl. 9. 10. and to the uttermost of what our power can reach as he did persecute the Church not lazily but above measure or extreamly Thirdly that we labour to profit advance and grow in Religion both as to the knowledge of Truth contained in it Heb. 6. 1. and practise according to those Truths 2 Pet. 1. 5. as he profited in the Jewish Religion Fourthly that in the matter of growth there be an holy emulation and strife with others that we may outstrip them as he profited above many of his equalâ— Fiftly that we be zealous for our Religion as having love to it and to the honouring of God whether by our selves or others according to it Act. 15. 3. together with grief and anger when God is dishonoured and Religion wronged Joh. 2. 15 16 17. as Paul was zealous of the Traditions of his fathers for zeal hath in it a mixture of love and anger Doct. 10. As love to the honour of God may engage a man sometimes to speak to his own commendation So there would be that modesty and sobriety of spirit as it may appear he doth not speak from arrogancy or pride and that he seeketh not his own commendation in speaking for Paul commendeth his own diligence and abilities that thereby he may commend Free-grace which delivered him out of that state but with great modesty for he saith not he profited more than all but more than many and not more than his superiours but more than his equals to wit for time and age and those not in all the world but of his own nation 11. As our affections of joy love hatred anger and grief are by nature so corrupt Eph. 2. 3. that even the choicest of them if they be not brought in subjection to the Word by the Spirit of God will lay forth themselves rather upon forbidden and unlawfull objects than that which is warrantable and commanded by the Lord So our zeal and fervency of spirit in particular will bend it self more toward the maintenance of Error than of Truth for Error is the birth of our own invention Gal. 5. 20. and hath the rise from some unmortified lust within which it doth gratifie 2 Tim. 4. 3. so is not Truth Thus Paul sheweth that his zeal tended more to maintain that part of the Jewish Religion which was unwarrantable to wit the unwritten Traditions than all the rest of it And was much more zealous of the Traditions of my fathers saith he Vers. 15. But when it pleased God who separated me from my mothers womb and called me by his grace 16. To reveal his Son in me that I might preach Him among the Heathen immediately I conferred not with flesh and bloud 17. Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were Apostles before me but I went into Arabia and returned again unto Damoscus HEre is a second Evidence of the truth of what he formerly asserted ver 11. and 12. to wit that as God in His providence had been making way both in Paul's birth and education for that which He had purposed to imploy him in so when it pleased God at the time of his gracious and effectual calling ver 15. to make Christ and the doctrine of Redemption by Christ known unto him by extraordinary and immediate revelation Act. 9. 4. that as an Apostle immediately called by God ver 1. he might publish the knowledge of Christ among the Gentiles he was so much perswaded of his immediate Call from God that he did not debate the matter neither with himself nor others who might have disswaded him from giving obedience to it ver 16 but immediately went about the discharging of his Apostolick Office not without great hazard and pains to himself in Arabia and Damascus without so much as once visiting any of the Apostles ver 17. far lesse went he to be instructed in the knowledge of the Gospel by them or to receive Ordination unto the Ministerial Office from them as his adversaries did falsly alleage of him the falshood whereof he is here making evident From Vers. 15. Learn 1. Such is the power of God's good pleasure whereby He doth whatsoever He willeth in Heaven and Earth Ps. 135. 6. that the will of man though never so deeply engaged in the course of sin and wickednesse cannot resist it but most willingly doth yeeld unto it whenever the Lord thinketh fit to let forth that His good pleasure in its gracious and powerfull effects of drawing a sinner out of Nature to the state of Grace as it appeareth from the adversative particle But whereby the Apostle opposeth Gods pleasure to his own former weaknesse as prevailing over it But when it pleased God c. 2. The fountain-cause of man's salvation and of all things tending to it especially of his effectual calling and of that whereby he is made first to differ from another is God's good-pleasure and nothing present Eph. 2. 1. or foreseen to be Rom. 9. 11. in the person who is called for the Apostle ascribeth all of that kind in himself to the pleasure of God But when it pleased God to reveal His Son in me 3. The disposing of events or of things which shall fall out together with the time when they shall fall out are wholly ordered by God's will and pleasure for this pleasure of His circumscribeth even the time of Paul's calling But when it pleased God then and neither sooner nor later was Christ revealed to him 4. The Lord by His working in us and particular acts of providence towards us is often making way for some hid design and purpose of His about us which for the time we are ignorant of but when it appeareth by the event a wonderfull contexture of providences making way for it and
and was a broad belt wherewith souldiers were girt about the middle and did serve both for ornament as being set with drops of brasse or silver and hiding the gap and want between the other pieces of the armour in that place and also for safety and defence as keeping all the rest of the armour fast guarding the belly and strengthening the loyns In like manner this grace of sincerity is the Christians ornament Job 1. 47. covereth many other wants Gen. 20. 6. is a necessary ingredient in all other graces without which they are but counterfeit shadows Prov. 15. 8. and addeth strength and courage to the heart in the day of sore trial Job 27. 5 6. The second piece of armour is righteousnesse not the imputed righteousnesse of Christ which seemeth to be included under the buckler of faith but the inherent righteousnesse of an holy conversation whereby we are enclined and do accordingly endeavour to give both to God and man their due and right Acts 24. 16. according to both the Tables of the Commands Luke 1. 6. and it answereth that piece of the bodily armour which was called the breast-plate whereby the breast and vitall parts therein contained were secured In like manner this grace of righteousnesse doth guard the vitall parts of the soul and that wherein the life of a Christian doth consist to wit the root and seed of inherent grace in the heart 2 Pet. 1. 10. and the faith of his interest in God for righteous walking is an evidence of interest 1 Joh. 2 3. Hence Learn 1. None shall after death stand as victorious over all their spirituall enemies but such as here do stand as souldiers in a military posture They must stand as watchmen Hab. 2. 1. to observe and take up their enemies motions and approaches 1 Pet. 5. 8. and they must stand as fighters to resist and withstand all his furious assaults 1 Pet. 5. 9. otherwise they shall never stand as conquerours for having spoken ver 13. of their standing as conquerours at death he exhorteth them in order to their standing that they would here stand as souldiers Stand therefore 2. Assurance and certainty of through bearing and victory over all our spirituall adversaries is so far from being in its own nature a pillow to foster security and carnall ease that it addeth courage and spirit to those who have it and rendereth them so much the more watchfull active and diligent yea and nothing weakeneth more the hands of a christian souldier than diffidence and distrust of successe for from what he promised ver 13. that they should stand as conquerours he encourageth them here to stand in the conflict Stand therefore 3. Whenever a man doth engage to fight under Christs banner and betaketh himself to his military posture he may expect a present charge and to be set upon without delay by his spirituall adversaries for no sooner doth he bid them stand but with the same breath he commandeth them to put on their armour and be in readinesse to receive a present assault Stand therefore having your loynes girt about 4. The Spirit of God speaking in Scripture doth usually set out most heavenly and spirituall purposes by similitudes taken from things earthly and such as do occur in our ordinary imployments hereby teaching us so to converse among and look upon things earthly as to gather some spirituall lessons from them for the Apostle doth here resemble every piece of the souldiers armour to some answerable Christian grace Having your loyns girt about with truth 5. The grace of truth and sincerity is a necessary piece of the Christians armour without the which we cannot choose but be exposed and laid open to severall deadly blows and dangerous tentations from our spirituall adversary without sincerity we are easily driven to dissemble both with God Psal. 78. 36 37. and man Psal. 55. 21. to go about choicest duties for base and by-ends Math. 6. 2. Phil. 1. 16. to curtell our obedience astricting it to some commanded duties only neglecting others Mark 6. 17. with 20. yea and to despare of mercy or of doing better in time coming when Satan shall accuse and challenge us for our base hypocrisie in time by past to which he himself did tempt us Matth. 27. 4 5. for the Apostle commandeth the Christian souldier to arm himself with truth and sincerity Having your loyns girt about with truth 6. Though Satans chief arms whereby he fighteth in this spirituall conflict are deceitfull wiles and subtile snares See ver 11. yet the Christian souldier must not endeavour to overcome him with his own weapons but ought to be sincere and streight he must not lie no not for God Job 13. 7 8. neither think to out-wit his adversary by yeelding a little and falling back one step of purpose to advance two for it or to capitulate with him by yeelding to one sin at one time upon condition to give way unto none other or not to the same afterwards which at the best is to do evil that good may come which is condemned Rom. 3. -8. and is inconsistent with true sincerity and plain dealing which is here enjoyned to the Christian souldier Having your loyns girt about with truth 7. The grace of righteousnesse or an honest fixed purpose and earnest endeavour to obey God in all His commands is another necessary piece of a Christians armour without which we are exposed and laid open to severall deadly blows and dangerous tentations from our spirituall adversary even such as question our interest in God and brangle our peace with Him Isa. 32. 17. without this purpose and endeavour we are easily driven to break all or any of Gods commands Prov. 11. 5. and 13. 6. and more particularly to take a sinfull course for our own vindication under unjust reproaches Isa. 51. 7. to distrust the providence of God under straits Gen. 30. 33. and to make a foul retreat in the day of trial Prov. 28. 1. for the Apostle commandeth the Christian souldier to arm himself with righteousnesse And having the breast-plate of righteousnesse 8. It is not enough for a Christian souldier to propose unto himself a good and approved end and to be sincere and streight in aiming at the end proposed but he must make use of good and approved means consisting in conscientious practice of all commanded duties both to God and man for with sincerity and truth which relateth chiefly to the scope and end proposed in our actions he enjoyneth the practice of righteousnesse which giveth to both God and man their right and due Vers. 15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace THe third piece of armour here enjoyned to be put on is the preparation of the Gospel of peace that is a prepared and resolute frame of heart to go through our Christian course with chearfulnesse and patience notwithstanding of all the difficulties of the way for the word rendered preparation is used