a The words, as Tranſlated by us, are very difficult ; for the word which we Tranſlate ſpeaking ly-s, being the Genitive caſe, will neither agree with Spirits nor Dotrines,in the former verſe they be- ng both the Dattve : But neither is our Tranſlation agreeable to the Greek, which is thus, 1n or through the bypocrifie of ſuch as ſpeak lies, and of ſuch as have 4 Conſcience ſeared with an bot iron,which doubtleſs 15 the {enſe : So the words-explain the manner how they were ſedu- ced ty Apoſtaite, viz. Ihrough the hypocriſte, or diſhmulation of men that /peak 1ies, and had Contciences benummed, and mortified; as jt LW Ok Ih
OTHY. a2 Chap; IV.
were cauterized and ſear'd with anibot Iron. By their hypocrijie he charaQerizes Seducers, uncertain, falſe men, that regarded not what they ſaid, but made a ſhew and appearance of Piery, when indeed they had no lenle of Piety in them, © e By men, whoſe Conſciences were feared with an bor Iron : he means perſons ſo far from any ſenſe of Piety, that they were hardened to any degree of Iniquiry z and indeed by both terms he excellently expreffeth ſuch perſons as gene- * *P 1 rally they are who ſeduce others to falſe Do&rine, they could not do it without ſome ſhew or pretence of Piety, they would not do it if they had any true ſenſe of it ; and by both terms too, he well ex- prefſeth thoſe that in our days ſeduce men to the Dottrine concern- ing Damons: and abſtaining from marriage and meats, which are thoſe Doftrines he alone inftanceth in,
3 Forbidding to marry f, and commanding to ab- ſtain from meats g which God hath created, * to be*Gen.z.2,
received * with thankſgiving of them which believe, <9: 3:
F + and know the truth þ. Rom. 14 |