z Whereunto that they might be enabled it was needtul to pray tor a power from above, tor the beſt Chriſtians here below are but infirm as well as"imperte&, not able to perform what is required of them for doing and ſuffering the will of God till enſtrengthened. See on Phil, 4. 13. compared with Rev. 7. 17+ we have here great need of all might, ipecial aids of God, to diſcharge dithcult duties, to mortity frrong, corruptions, to con- © temn worldly allurements, to repulſe frequent temptations, to bear manifold croſſes, and to improve daily mercies, derived from exceeding great and mighty power. See on Fph. 1. 19, 20. With 3+ 16. an excellent glorious power, 2 Cor. 4. 7, 13. needful to conſummate and compleat as well as begin the work of Grace, 2 Theſſ. 1. 11. a great reality (and not a metaphor) to tincerc Converts and ſound Believers. & Every way tocbear the things which come hard upon them or continue long : Philoſophy with all its Preſcriptions is ineffettual to form the Soul to true patience and contentment under ſufferings, it muſt be given on the behalt of Chriſt, Phil. 1.29. to a Believer to ſuffer patiently in tongue and heart without a prevailing mixture of patſion, jo that evil: do not make an impreſſion upon him, bur he doth poſſeſs his Soul with patience to the end. } Which he could not do with a becom- ing Chriſtian cheerfulneſs, when ſurcharg'd with a weight ot troubles he finds himſelf a finking, if he were not jupported with the hands of Heaven which relieve with preltent comfort , and raiſe up to believe a future reward, Mat. 5. 12. Acts 5. 41. Rom. 5. 3- 1 Core 11e 32. 2 Cote 1:5o Hebe 11. 27, Heb 12. 10, 12- Fam. 1. 2, 4
12 Giving thanks unto the Father mz, which hath made us meet z To be partakers of the inheritance of the ſaints 1n 11ght o.
1 He paſſeth from Petitioning, verſe 9. to Thankſgiving, td God the Father, upon the confideration of his Grace manifeſted in his Son for our Redemption ; in the Epheſi.zs, 1. 3, 4+ he be- gan with Ele&tion, here with eftectual vocation he acknowledgeth God the Father to be the object and author of what was wrought for us by his Son, and in us by his Spirit. » Who hath made us capable of Communion with himielf, or ready. and fit, which im- plics that by nature we are vnready and unfit ; fo that mcrit can- not be. drawn hence; and the Rhemiſts have done ill, contrary to the Tranſlation of the Syriac, to trantlate it, made us worthy : One Copy hath, who hath call-4 us. The original word in that we follow ſeems to be an idiom of the Apoitle (gs the Learned think) borrowed from the 4:brew , we find it ultd only in one other Text by the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 3.5, 6. and there he ſhews we are inſufficicnt for, and incapable of ſaying good things till God do capacitate us by making us accepted in the beloved, Fpi. 1.6. we cannot underſtand things of the Spirit of God, nor ate God , Foh. 12.39. Rom. S. 5. 1 Cor. 2 14- £1ll God do draw and CapaCi- tate us, Fob. 6. 44, 45+ Phil. 2. 13. and form and worl. us by his Spirit unto this ſelf ſame thing, Rom. 4. 17. 2 Cor. 5.5. 0 TO have a part in the Lot of the purchaled Inheritance w ith them that are Santtified, Ads 26. 13. Ejh.1.14. the Apoſtle lcems to al- lude to the Land Ca, wherein a portion was athigned to every one by Lot for his Inheritance, that being a "Typ? of the reft which remaineth to the People of God, 72-6. 4.9. and this 1s here jaid to be of the Saints in Light, as allezorically connoting the joy and olory of that ſtate and place, in oppuition to the POoWer Ol darkneſs,
13 Who hath delivered us from * tt: power of * tj I darkneſs p, and hath tranflated 2 into the kingcom 6 Grote
F his dear SON 9g.
—
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*Eplt.1.7.
* 2 COr« 4 Ls REV 3 I4.
COLOSSIANS.
| ſcient with that omniſciency, as if the Manhood did inſtrumentany
p The power of darkneſs, which fignifies the ſadneſs and deſpair vf the damned, Fph. 6. 12. Fude, verſ. $. that they who are made meet to walk in the Light as Children of the Light, Eph. 5. 8. are eternally freed from. The word which the Apoſtle uſeth to expreſs God's delivering, of Believers from the power of.fin and Sa- tan is very emphatical, tignifying a gratuitous freedom where a Stranger hath delivered him from flavery who did not deſerve It, nor then deſire it, Mark 3. 27. Luke 1. 74,79. Eph: 2+ 2, 5, 0+ Zeb. 2 14,15. though he was held faſt as in Fetters of Tron. An which is more, q He adds another word, intimating he did not leave us as Atam was before the Fall , but tranſport us without any precedent will of ours, by the etfetual Call of his inſuperable Grace, Foh. 6. 44. 1 Theſſc 2. 12. 1 Per. 2. 9. from the dominion of Satan, into that of his own Son, the Son of his love, Mat. 3.
7.& 17.5. Eph. 1.6. amongſt his Subje&s and Servants where he Reigns, in his Kingdom of Grace, Mir. 13- 11- where Chriſt dwells in the Heart by his Spirit that is united to him by faith, Eph. 3- 17. & 4+ 12, 13. Heb. 12. 22, 23. and of Glory indeed in our Head, verſe 24. With Fph. 2. 6. by right of Adoption, Rom. 8. 17. and hope of Salvation through him promiſed by the omnipotent and true God, Rom. $8. 24. 1 Theſſe 5. 23, 24+ Tit. 1. 2. who may well call it the Kingdom of his dear So, in that he admits none into it but by the mediation of his Son, who makes his Subjetts willing, 7/1. 110. 3. and received this Government of his Father, Mar. 28.18. Luke 22. 29. Eph. 1.6, 7. of whoſe dear Son Paul hath more to ſay, to the comfort of his faithful Subjets at Colofs,
and every where.
14 *In whomr we ſhave redemption 7 through his blood #, ever the forgiveneſs of fins w.