Gentleneſs *and Charity in forbearing and forgiving oo by them in the Gentiles, The word, J, | Virtue is twice uſed in this verſe ; it is firſt ap |
The Second is all Knowledge. 4. 6. in things neceſſary, or in mat- ters relating-to Chriſtian Liberty : or by 21 knowledge, he means a large meaſure and proportion of it. The Thirtl is, Ability 0 aamcniſh one another, to inform others in things, about which they were ignorant ; or to reprehend ethers for things, about which they were negligent. Though there were many weak and ignorant Perſons among them ;' yer there were others, of whom he was perſwaded and fully aflured they were thus qua- ttfied. Yid. 1 Gor. 1. 5. |
15 Nevertheleſs, brethren, I have written the more boldiy unto you, || in ſome fort, as pucting you in mind, becaule of the grace that is given to me of
God &.
k 9. d. Though { am thus perſwaded of you, or of many of
you; yer I thought good to Write to you in ſome fort, -or 1n part, or a little the wore boldly and freely, That T may ſtir you up to the Practice of that which you know already, wid. > Pet. 1* 12, 13. and 3. 1. This he ifpeaks to allay the ſharpneſs of his former Reprehesſfions ; and that what he had :tren, might be the berter Digeſted ; for all Men more eaſily endure to be noted of Neglt- gence, than of all Malice or Ignorance. And farther he rells them, he could do no leſs, Becauſe of the Grace that was given kim of God. 7. e. Becauſe of his Apoſtolick Qfhce and Authority, wid. chap. 1. 5. and 12. 3. 16 * That 7 I ſhould be the miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt to the Gentiles 2, miniftring the Goſpel of God », that the || * offering up of the Gentiles might be accepta- ble o, being landified by the holy Ghoſt p.
{ He proceeds to ſpeak more particularly of his Offce and Calling, which he had mentioned more generally in theforego- ing Words. 1 See the Notes on chap. 11. 13. See alfo Gal. 2, 7,
Or, Sacri- 8. 2 T.m, 1. 11. = 7.4. . Preaching of it; Some read it Con-
fecing, * Phil. 2.
17,
| Or. t6- warn; ths E7:A;ece &* ihe
C:2ntiles
ſecrating er Working in the holy Service of the Goſpel of God. It 3s an Allufion to the work or office of the Priefts under the Law. The Jews and Gentiles, they both boafted of their Priefthood and
Sacrifices : The Apoftle therefore ſheweth, That his Miniſtry was |
far more Excellent, being nor occupied in Sacrificing of Beaſts, but in Offering up Living Men to be an holy Sacrifice to God. o Some underſtand it .z7;vely, that the Gentiles might Offer up themſelves, as it 1s in chap. 12. 1. or that they might Offer up acceptable Sacrifices to God, according to Mel. r. 11. But IT 15 better underitood payiuely, that the Apoſtle converting them by his Miniſtry mighr preſent or offer them to God, as an acceptable oblation. Yie. ja. 66. 20, p Not by any Prieſt on Earth, bur even_by the Holy Ghoſt himſelf; as the Oblations of old had their external and legal Purifyings ; ſo this Oblation | 15 purified or ſanttifed by the Holy Ghoſt.
17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jelus Chriſt, in thoſe things which pertain to God 9:
q 94.4. Having received this grace of Apoſtleſhip, and bav- ng had great fucceſs in my Labours, multitudes being converted by my Miniſtry, T have whereof to Glory, or I have matter of Glorying and Rejoycing. Bur then he adds, that this Glory-! ing of his, was not in himſelf, but in and through Jeſs Chrif, by whoſe grace he did what he did, wid. 1 Cor. 15. 10. alſo, that ir was not in any thing that concerned himſelf, but In things pertaining to God, which concerned his Worſhip and, Service, and wherein his Miniſtry conſiſted. In the foregoin verſe he deſcribed his Apoſtleſhip interms, that were borrowe from the Levitical Prieſthood ; and here continuing the ſame me- taphor, he calleth rhe execution of his Fun&ion, a performing of things pertaining to God, which is that for which the Prieſts of old were ordained, Heb. 5. r. :
18 For T will not dare to ſpeak of any of thoſe things , which Chriſt hath not wrought by me, |
ed the Goſpel of Chriſt x. 't Or by the power of /igns and wonders, which ſerved firm my Commiſſion from God, and the truth of what [ ed, and ſo helped forward the Obedienice and C the Gentiles, wid. 1 Cer. 12.12. If there be twixt Signs and Wonders, 'tis only. gradual. T fing them £2a conjoined in Scripture, Mat. 24. 24. John 4. af. 4g 6 43- and 5, 12. and 7. 36. and 14. 3. « Which bleſſeg Words, Deeds and Miracles of the Apoftle, and wro
any differencehs,
» ths wrought «gy, vvapus Power Or Plied to Signs and the Spirit of Gay Efficacy. w Thi;
Wonders, roſhew their Efficacy ; and then to to fhew that he was the efficient cauſe of that thewerh the pains and travelof the Apoſtle, to bring the c tiles to the obedience of Faith. I!yricum 'is ſaid to be jn to moſt parts of Greece, bordering upon the Sea, which i; tans on called 1tyricum Mare. Irs thought to be the Country = called Sclawvonia, and that is diſtant from Fernſalem abou 350, German Miles, which makes above a thouſand Engliſh Miles: - it ſeems he did not travel in a dire and ficaight line, by bh about, or in a circle, as the word imports, tetching a circyi | Some Writers have given us out of the 4s, a particnjar Hiftry 'of his peregrination from Damaſcus, where he began his Miniſtry;
went to Arabis, and afcer three years returned to Dane, and from thence to Feruſalcm ; from Jeruſalem he wentt Coſures and ſo ro Tarſus; from Tarſus, Barnabas brought him to 6714 and from thence to Jer»ſalom to carry relief to the 7p; : From