A learned Man reads it from the Greek to this purpoſe; As many therefore as are perfet, ler us think this 3 and if ye think any thing otherwiſe, even this alſo, God will or may reveal 10 you, (beſides what w2 have attained to) to walk by the ſame rule, 10 think the fame thing : Conceiving it not congruous to the ſenſe, or ſyntax, but alien from all manner of ſpeaking, to tranllate it imperatively, Let us walk by the ſame rule; but following, our own Trantlation. y From the inſtance of himſelf imitating Chriſt, in loving condeſcention and lowlineſs of mind, ch. 2. 3, 5. worſhipping God in the Spirit, and not having confidence in the Fleſh, ch. 3. 3. in the fellowſhip of Chriſt's Sufferings, v. 10. preſſing forward to abſolute per- fetion, he here doth with himſelf encourage as many Rulers and Ruled who were ſettled in the fundamentals of Chriſtianity, and who had made progreſs in Holineſs, to mind that main butineſ; of Religion, for the prevention of what might enſue upon exaſ pera- ting differences; whereupon he ftiles them comparatively perfect in the way, not in the heavenly Country, 1 Cor. 13. 19. which Goth not diſagree with what he faid before, if we turther diſtinguiſh of a Perfetion. 1. Of integrity and ſincerity, which ſome call of Parts; as a pertett living Child that hath all the parts of the Pa- rent, ſo upon the new birth every real Believer receiving Grace for Grace. Fohn 1. 13.16, 2. Of maturity, proficiency, or degrees where grown to a full ſtature in Chriſt 3 here relatively and com- paratively to others, who are more rude, ignorant and weak Bre- thren, fith in regard of their progrels in godlineſs, they are not took up with Childiſh things, 1 Cor. 13. 9, 1c, LL. With 1 Cor. 14. 20, but are grown more adult, and no more Children. 1 Cor. 2.6. Eph, 4. 13, 14. Heb. 5+ 13, 14. and 6. 1. which he doth elſe- where in regard of their experimental knowledge call ſpiritual, Gal. 6. 1. who here worſhip God in the Spirit, v. 3. As many as are ſincere, of whatſoever ſtature (whether Biſhops, Deacons; or private Chriſtians.) 2 He would have to be ſo minded; as he himſelf was in renouncing all carnal confidence, acknowledging their gradual imperfe&ion, and ftill to be ſtriving and contending, to a fuller meaſure of holineſs, till they come to be conſummate in Chriſt. a And if any through ignorance of Chrift and them- ſelves, converſing with thoſe ready to miſlead them ſhould be of any other perſuaſion in ſome things only, conſidering, the differ- ent attainments of the ſtrong and weak, and thereupon the va- riety of ſentiments, whence would ſpring ſome differences not on- ly in opinions but prattices among them (which yet hindred not their agreement in what they were attain'd to.) b He hoped Chriſt, who had already called, or apprehended thoſe tincere ones would in due time reſcue them from {o dangerous an error, 1 Fob 2. 20, 27. if th2y would attend, upon hint in the uſe of means to come to the knowledge of the truah, with faith and prayer, yield- ing up themſelves to be taught of him. |
16 Nevertheleſs whereto we have already attain-
ed c, let us walk by the ſame rule 4, * let us mind the *Rom. 12. ſame thing 6. I6. and
c However let us, or we ought to walk in obedience to Chriſt, CER love fo him and each other, according to the light we have already received, truſting he would make known his mind more clearly to us. Our uting the light we have well, is the ready way to have more: It bchoves us then to live ſuitably to that degree of the knowledge of Chrift we have obtain'd, 1 Fok# 2, 3, 4, 5. but {till within our lines with regard to the /ame rule. 4 Whether in this metaphorical Alluton the Apoſtle do borrow his phraſe trom Architeas, Soldiers or Racers, is not much material. Be ſure he had an Eye to that ſame rule was well known to them, and by which he regulated himſelf, and therefore it was ſuch a Cz- non as really had a divine ftamp upon it, that-very C.79m in ex- att conformity whereunto, God's Jſ-ael might be ſure of the bet peace, Gal. 6. 16. Phil. 4. 7. The unerring word of God exem- plified- in the condeſcending love of Chritt, whom he had pro- pos'd to their imitation in whom he was found, and the fellowſhip of whole ſufferings, he defired to know more pertealy being hea- venly minded. in oppoſition to thole whom became Enemies to his Crols, v.19, 20. With Gal. 6. 14, 15. The rule of Faith, Love, and a Chriſtian life, or heavenly Converſation, Which he doth elſewhere call a walking in the Spirit, and according to the ſpirit in oppoſition to walking in and after the fldſh, Rom. $. 1. 5; Gat, 5.16, eJn like manner all of us who are ſpiritual, grown Chri- ſtians, ſhould be ſo affetted, being of one accord, one mind, and one judgment in imitation of Chrit, ſo far that the adult, or ber- ter grown Chriſtians, ſhould not deſpiſe the weak or leſs grown, neither ſhould they judge the adult, but in the fundamental Articles, thoſe main 7rinciples of the Chriftian inftitution where- in we all agree, in that common Salvation towards which we all preſs, agreeable to the Analogy of Faith, we ſhould till be per- teing holineſs in the fear of God, by the ſame rule of faith, and loving and mutual condelſc2ntion, by the unity of our judgments in the main butineſs of Religion, the concord of our affettions, the concurrence of our ends, our conſent and delight in the fame truth 5 we ſhould declare to the Church of God, in our differen- ces Chriſt .is not divided, but in the variety of perſwafions in le(- ſer matters (not fundamental) the puricy, holineſs and peace of the Church is ſtill preſerved, ch. 2. 14. the main principles attain'd wherein diffenting parties agree, beins the meaſure "of all other Dottrins, to hold nothing incontiftent with the Majefty or trut'1 of the foundation, to walk circumipectly, and in order, according to that whercin 15 an harmony, not to break our rank, or leave our ftation contrary to received preſcripts, wherein every Chriſtian js fo exerciſe a judgment of diſcerning for himſelt,
Rom. 14+ 23+ and not impoſe on each other (as that ſort of | {5 NJ] Chriſty
Chap. III,
ay ws ie one de ——— ogg ee -
Chap. HI.
Chriſtian-#ws who did compel the Chrifſtian-Gentiles, Gal. 2. 14, is, &c.) inperadding no prerer- Evangelical Dodatrin, Gal. 1. 5, 9.
*1Pet.3.5
* Hoſ.4.7.