As the firſt Creation was by Chrift as tie Second Perſon in the,
Trinity, Fohn 1. 2. ſo the ſecond Creation is by the ſame Chrift as Mediator, the Lord and Head of the new Creation, in whom we | live and move, and have our new being, 'and not in our (clves, 2 Core 5-17- . qAs the immediate end for which we are now created.
\We receive our new being, tat we may bring forth new Works, :
and have a Carriage ſuitadle to our new Principle. r Or rather,
_ as the Margin, prepared, 1. e. preparcd and fitted us for them, by | enlightning our minds to know his Will, diſpoſing and inclining our Wills, purging our Atffections, &c. f 1. e. "that we ſhould glorite God in an Holy Converſation agreeabie to that Divine
Nature, whereof we are. made Partakers in our new Crea-
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+1Cor. 11 Wherefore * remember that ye being in time
-% paſt Gentiles in the fleſh 7 who are cailed uncircum-
CL1-2t-cifion 4, by that whicſ 1s called the circumclion 1n the fleſh made by hands -.
z Either, 1. Carnal, Unregenerate, as Rom. 8. 3, 9. Or, 2. Ra- ther Uncircumciſed in the Fleſh, as well as in Heart, Ezek. 44+ 7+ ſuch as neither had the Grace ſignified, nor the Sign repreſenting, it. e By way of Reproach ; to be Uncircumciſed being the Badge of them that were not //raelires, and ſo were not in the number ot God's People. x i. e. By thoſe that are Circumciſed,; The Ad- ftra& here, as in the former Clauſe, bcing put for the Concrete. He means the carnal Fzws, who had the Circumcilion of the Fleſh which was made with Hands, but not that of the Heart, Rome 2+ 29- made without Hands, Co. 2. 11.
12 That at that time ye were without Chriſt y, be- ing aliens from the commonwealch of Ifrael x, and
zone 9+ [rangers from * the covenants of promiſe 4a, having no hope 6, and without God c in the world 4.
y1.e. Without knowledge of him, or intereſt in him. This 1s the Foundation of all other Miſeries, as Chrift is the Foundation of all laving good, and therefore the Apoſtle begins with rhis. +3 The Church of God confined formerly to the Iſraelites: Their Church and State was the ſame Body, and God the Founder of, and Law- giver to them in both reſpezts. 4 Thoſe Covenants in which the ercat promiſe of Chrift and Salvation by him was made, The Co- venants were ſeveral, as that with Abraham, and that by Moſes, and ditfer'd in ſome accidents, but the promiſe in them was one and the fame, which was the ſubſtance of each. 6b Viz. Beyond this Lifez as they could not but be who were without Chrift, and without the Yromiſes. c Not without ſome general know- edge of a God, but without any ſaving knowledge of him, as not knowing him in Chrift : Or they lived as without God, neszle&ing him, and being negleded by him, and ſuffer'd to walk in their own ways. 4 Which is the Congregation of the wicked, and is here oppoſed to the Church.
:3 Burt now in Chritt Jeſus e ye who were ſome- times far off f are made nigh g by the blood of Chriſt h. |
e Either in the Kingdom of Chrift, or Goſpel Adminiftration, Gal. 5.6. or, ye being in Chriſt, united to him by the Spirit and Faith. Being in Chrift here, is oppoſed to being in the World, v.12, f Far from God, from his Church, from his Promiſes, Ec. having no Communion with him by his Spirit. He means a ſpiri- tual diſtance, yet ſeems to allude to ſi. 49. 1, 12. Thole Gentiles there mentioned being eſtranged from God in their hearts, as well as removed from his People in place. g Brought into a ſrate of communion with God, and his People, and participation of their Privileges, and right to the Promiſes. hþ The merit of his Death expiating Sin ( which cauſed this diſtance ) and ſo mak- ing way for their approach to God, and enjoyment of Goſpel Bleſſings.
Ci. 1.5. 14 For * hc is our peace 7, * who hath made both one k, and hath broken down the middle wall of par- Ltion between us /.
7. e, Peace-maker, or Mediator of Peace, both between God and Man, and between Few and Gemile, He is called our Peace, ..28, 38 elſewhere our Righteouſneſs, Redemption, Salvation. * God is * ſaid to reconcile us, 2 Cor. 5. 19. but Chrift only to be our peace.
t1.e. One Pody, or one People, or one new Man, v. 15. 1 Hav- ing taken away the Ceremonial Law, which was as a Wall of Sepa- | ration between F:w and Gentile, as appears in the next. verſe. Tt ; ſeems to be an alluſion to that Wall of the Temple which parted : between the Court of the People into which the F-ws came, and the outmoſt Court, that of the Gemmiles, who when they came to Worſhip, might not come into the other Court, and were exclud- &d by this Wall. 2 15 * Having aboliſhed mz in his fleſh» the enmity o Cor, ©ven the law of commandments contained 11 ordinan- 7. CSp, for to make q in himfeit 7 of twain /, one * 6. new man #r, /o making, Pace 2.
m Abrogated, taken away the power of binding Men. .» Not the fleſh of ſacrificed Beafts, but his own Fleſh: Before he men- tioned his Blood, and now his Fleſh, to imply the whole Sacrifice
* of Chriſt, comprehending his Fleſh as well as Blood. The Cere- Leu monies had their accompliſhment in Chrift; and ſo their aboliſh- — ment by him. o By a Metonymy he ſo calls the Ceremonies, 4 Which were the cauſe and the ngn of enmity between Few and Gentile, The Fews hated the Gentiles as Uncircumcited, and the = Gentites deſpiſed the Fews for being, Circumciſed. þ Either by the Law of Commandments, the Apoſtle means the Law of Ceromo- pen” nl Rites, and by the word which we render 0ri2ances, he means Dottrin, and then (the word contmined not being in th Gre.) the od ſenſe is, that Chritt by his Dectrin or Commandments abeliſh-
& thoſe Coremonial Rites: The word Commandment ieems thus
5 fo be uſed, Deut. 16. 12. and 1 &irgs 2. 3. Fze%. 19. 21, Or elle to 21H yet comes to the fame) the word renuered Ordinances tigni-
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