te recommends to their ſerious prattice not new tings, but 10/2 weighty Matrers which they had betore learned of lum, Woacn preaching among them. © 1 YEA and approv d as worthy to be kopt. 1 And that all things might be more lively and affecting with an incrcaſe of words; he mores with this that his Dvctr Was EX- empliticd by his own pradice when amoneft them cas he had hint ed before, cþ!p. 3. 17.) expreſſing the ſame-thing by his lite, Which
Ind}
he did by his word, 1 7. 4.12. 1 Per. 5. 3- w Whereupon he would have them to be doers alſo of the ſame things, 1 I:oſſ. 1. 6. & 2.13. Heb. 13. S. Fam. 1.22, xAnd in this prattice you have comfort from th2 preſence of the God of peace (45 above, veſc 7.) «ho will embrac2 and proſper you; being reconciled to you in Chriſt, and at peace with you; fo Rom. 15-5 33+ & 10. 20. 2097. 12. 11. 1 Theſſ. 54.23, 10 But I rejovced in the Lord greatly y, that now , FA -> . rY —- pg . at the laſt your * care of me | hath flouriſhed again, wherein ye were allo carefu!, bur ye lack2d oppor- 4 LUNILY 2.
y He ſignifies that he had been much raiſed mn true ſpiritual (not carna!) joy, that the Lord had by his ſpirit wrought in them ſach enlargedne($ of heart, as did ſhew it felt in their care of him for the ſake of Chriſt. + What follows, a learned Man writes, may be rendred, That now at laſt, ye could bring t0 maturity the care of mes, for whonindeed ye had been careful, bur had nor the ability. | [he Apoftle's I'hraſe is borrowed from Trees, which in the Wainter- ſeaſon keep their ſap within the Bark, in the Spring and Summer grow green, and vield their Fruitz fo was the Pr1//pp14s Care or Paul ſuffering, in Chriſt's Cauſe for the ©reck word we trantlate Purifhed 10117, Or r2vived is ſometime uſed actively and tranhitively. $0 in the LXN, Feb. 17. 24. (with the Apocryphal Writer, Eccl:}. 1.1S. & 11. 22. & 59.11.) and ſo it may be expounded here, not only of reviving, growing green and budding again (which 3s leſs than the thing is) but of brinzing forth +ruit For their care of Paul was in their Heart, but by reaſon of troubles it could nor exert it ſelf, or yield fruit, but only in the »eaſon (as Mar. 21. 24.) which the Apoftle ſoftning his ſpzech, alledgeth as an Apology tor them : He doth not ſay *ther: was not any oppor- tunity in reſped of himſelf, but a ſeaſonabl-n2!s in reſpect of them. They being deftitute of a faculty of bringing forth Fruit, verl- 17. (which yet they always nouriſhed in their moſt intimate affetions towards him) till the preſent, when at length they had a ſeaſonableneſs and an ability given th-m of God, to the perte- fting of that Fruit for the Apoſtle. For what we tranſtate wiere7m, may. as, chap. 3. 12. be traillated for where (compare the ule of the particlc and article, Mar. 18. 4. with 26. 50. Kone 5+ 12+)
11 Not that I ſpeak in reſpe&t of waut a: for | have learned 6 in whatſoever ſtate I am c, * tmerew:ri to be content 4.
a He doth anticipate any conceit they might have, as if he had 2 mean Soul, and his joy were ſolely for the Fruit of their care he had received in the ſupply of his waxt as the ſame word 1s elſewhere uſed, Mar. 12. 44. 6 Becauſe he knew better things, being inftrutted at an higher rate, he had prattically learned to reft tativhed with his own 1ot, 2 Cor. 11. 27. c Accounting God's allowance a ſufficiency to him in any condition, 1 T!m. 6. 6, 5. 4 flow adverie focver his ſtate was, he had attained to tuch equani- mity that he could be content with ſuch things as he had, #7-b. 13. 5. and chearfully and patiently ſubmit to God's moft wiſe diſpoſal of him, knowing his moft righteous and tender-hearted Father, would n:ver leave nor forſake him, having already given him greater things than any of theſe ſublunary ones he could ſtand in need of,
$1, 43% \ . 1\VVite \) + 2 2o A. -
12 1 know. both e how to be abaſed f, and I know tow to abound g: every where and in all things I am inſtructed þ, both to be fuil, and co be hungry, both 10 abound z, and to ſuffer necd k.
e He explains the equality of his mind he had through grace attain'd to, in a free ſubmiſhon to God, either in the abſence, or affluence of external good things. f In a mean and ignominious fate, he had {piritual skill to exerciſe ſuitable graces without murmuring, 0r repining when trampled on, 1 Cor. 4. 11. 2 Cor. 11. 27. having entirely re{igned his Will to the Will of Ged.
In an higher ftate had in much efteem and well accommodated. h Yea in all circumſtances religioutly initiated, and taught, forti- fied againit Temptations on all hands. 7 When fairing well, and having a large revenue to be temperate, 1 Cor 9.23. humble and communicative, 1 Tim. 6. 18, k When hungry and poor, not to be diftrefſed, but confident our heavenly Father will provide enough in his ſeaſon, Mat. 6. 32. and 7. 11. 2 Core 4+ 5. giving an E/ixir at preſent that will turn all into Gold.
it —_—
+3 1 can do all things through Chriſt which {HICA2TReneeh MC m2.
? Having written of the great things he had learned, that it PEROES BY”
M1:1t not be attribured to his proud conceit, or give occation to ' 1 Oers vanity to boaſt gas he had recourſe before to the divine eh. ro will, and do, chip. 2. 13.) he refts ſolely for power + being, tound in whom, when he ſaith, ke can do all f not 10 ungeritand it abſolutely, but reſtridively to the
4
' .* be en 1 THNE 4 13 L3T i
. 4
7 Y 4 oy Drop r,p ty Vs %
' true, Believers and their good Works are as [we=t odours, 4, | acceptable, but in Chrift, 1 Per. 2.5. becauie they p!
PIX#MYE +þ, > Precedo TICS
\ubje& matter he had before mentioned in the Gs ntimating be could by the Lord's help uſe well both. pro) and adveriity z or all thote things the Lord called him ©, 200 — 11M upon. Not as the Papiſts urze, that any meer Man tincs 11... tail 13 alle in this lite, perfe&ly ro keep the Commardimonr. .. God ; bur that he by Faith being united to Chriſt, by the pov. o his Spirit dwelling in him, hath in the Lord rightcouind: \.. x [trength, .J/2. 45. 24. and thereupon hath a fincere reſp rg .n God's Commands, as David had, Tſul. 119.6. So alto had 7 1. riah and Elizab-th, Luke 1. 6. in oppolition to Phariſtical ohod:. ence; not by any power he had of himſelf, but through « 1... ſtrengthening of him, ſv that God would accept of his tr. pertormance {though not eyery way perica) of what was i. bent on him.
14 Notwithſtanding », ye have well done 0 (1.4
1