17 From hencetorth let no man truable mc 7, for * bear 1n my body the marks of the Lord [efis 0.
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7 Let no Man trouble me, either with queſtions about circum- 4 }- ciſion, or with imputations as if I were a Friend to their opinion of the neceſſity of adding to the Dofrin cf Faith, Circumciſion an
other Obſervances of the Law. 01 ſufficiently declare my judgment to the World, ſuffering for my profeſſion, and preaching the 60- ſpel. Theſe Sufferings he calls rhe marks of the Lord Fejus Clriſts becauſe he indured them in teſtimony to the Goſpel, as well a gainft the Jews as againſt the Gentiles.
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord jeſus Chritt e with your ſpirits p. Amen. ? The Apoſtle cloſeth this Epiſtle with this Prayer, as he generals
concludeth all his Epiſtles, with wiſhing them Grace, the G7. « j Oar Lord Feſus Chriſt : Under which he comprehendeth all the cficcts 0! the free Love of God upon Believers Souls, for the ſake, through the merits of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt : they might feel in their hearts, and that it might be in their 1Þirits 0
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The ARGUMENT.
Pheſus was the moFt conſiderable City of the leſſer Aſia; famous fir for ſm, witchcraft, As 19. 19. Taolatry, F (eſpecially the worſhip of Diana, v. 24.) and Perſecution, 1 Cor. I5. 32. and 16. 9. then for piety having received the Goſpel by Paul's Preaching, AQs 18. and ſhewed great zeal, Chap. 19. 17, 18, &c. Rev. 2. 2, 3. But laſtly, it was noted for Coolneſs and Declining, V. 4. leaving her fir Love. The Apoſtle ſeems to have foreſee: this as like to come to paſs among them by means of falſe Teachers, grievous Wolves that would not ſpare the Flock, As 20. 29. and ſome that wonld ariſe from among themſelves ſpeaking perverſe things, ver. 30. Herenupon he not only admoniſhed the Elders of the Church to look to themſelves and all the Flock, v. 28. but af- terward when a Priſoner at Rome, out of his care of theſe Epheſians, and concern fe» them, he writes this Epiſtle to them, to confirm, and ſettle them in the Faith they had received, and perſuade them to an holy Converſation as be#t ſuited to 4 holy Goſpel. In the Epiſtle there are two principal parts. 1. Doftrinal in the three firſt Chapters, where he lays down and commenas to them the Dottrin of the Grace of God in Eleition, Redemption, Vocation, Juſtification, Adoption, Chap. 1. luſtrating it by the deplorable condition in which before their converſion they had been, Chap. -2. and aſfuring them of the truth of thier call, by aſſerting againſt all objefors and cavillers, - his ApoſHeſhip With To- foeit to thum Gentiles, and his Commiſſion from God to Preach among them the unſearchable riches of Chriit, Chap. 3. 2. Praftical, in which he exhorts them to walk worthy of their calling in the diligent Prattice of Chri- ftian duties , | whether more General and which concern all Believers, or ſpecial, ſuch as belong to them in their ſeve= ral relations, eſpecially Oeconomical, Chap. 5. 6.
the account of whoſe merit, and by whoſe efficiency theſe (j piritual CHAP. I Bleſlings are derived from God to us. Or, in Chriſt as our head, eo the repoſitory, and ſeat of all divine Bleſhngs, fra whom they
ora oy upon us as his Members, receiving all we have, out of ; "ot, Aran, -1:7+5:,1 (11S fulneſs. He ſeems to have reipe& to the promiſe made to
es = Es td, gr Herr fe GR : 4 — Abraham, Gen. 22. 18. That in bis ſeed all the nations of the earth all the Ele@ are gathered together in one ; and Believers had obtained the {magna 90 ory, rang _ as that Seed, and thoſe Ble(- Inheritance « and were in thoſe times to the praiſe of bis Glory for an |S © PL rf de py 4 25, 200 wh PTS Example to others: and ſuch were the Epheſians,and were ſealed by the | 4 According Z as he hath choſen us & in h:m /, ſpirit, for which be thanks God, 10, —= 16» Andprays that theymay| before the foundation of the world #2, that we
come t0 the full knowledge and poſſeſſion of this Grace in Chriſt, who|-- ſhould be holy and without blame + before him » in i the Head of the Church, 17, —— 23. love 7.
. 7 God blefſeth us with all ſpiritual Bleſſings according as he hath
The uſual Salutation, and thanksgiving for ſpiritual Bleſſmgs in Chriſt,
T0 AUL an Apoſtle of Jeſus Chriſt, by the| choſen us 3 Elettion being the fountain from whence thoſe Ble(-
will of God, * to the ſaints which are at ſings OO ; ſo thy _ _ aching for ws. carrying peel X11, | 1 1 hriſt | fe works or our Salvation, but what he had in his eternal coun- E | "TY and to the faithful @ in C cil before determined. þ& Separated us in his purpole and decree
"— | NY F from others (whom he left out of that gracious a& of his will)
a This may be underſtood either 1. by way of Reſtridtion, 0f| 1.4 qetermined that we ſhould be holy and unblamable, &5c; 1 Ei- thoſe who are ſincere and conſtant to Chriſt, and fo not only | ther x; as in the former Verſe, by, and through Chriſt, for his Saints by profeſſion, but true to their profeſhon: Or, 2. rather | 1... 1,4 upon the account of his merit as the procuring cauſe, not by way of Explication. He defines thoſe Saints he ſpake of, and| 11. rieetion, but Sanftification ; q. d. God hath choſen us, calls them faithful in Chris here, whom he called Saints before. | 4... y,. qoud be made holy and unblamable by Chriſt. Or, 2. b The Author and Fountain of that holineſs which denominates| .:1... ;n Chriſt, as the foundation on which he would build us
them Saints. (his ſpiritual houſe) and by which both we might be united to
9.4, 2 * Grace be to you, and peace from God our Fa-| God, and he communicate his Influence and Grace to us 3 or as
ther, and from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. our head, by which he might convey. grace, and ftrength,; and.