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[Gr. your fouls], though the more abundantly I love you, the lefs I be loved. 16. But be it fo, I did not burden you: nevertheless (1) being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I fent unto you? 18. I defired Titus, and with him I fent a brother: did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the fame fpirit? walked we not in the fame fteps? 19. Again, think you that we excufe our felves unto you? we speak before God in Chrift: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your * edifying. 20. For I fear, left when I come I fhall not find you fuch as I would, and that I fhall be found of you fuch as ye would not left there be debates, envyings, wraths, ftrifes, back-bitings, whifperings, fwellings, tumults: 21. And left when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I fhall bewail many which have finned already, and have not repented of the uncleannefs, and fornication, and lafcivioufnefs which they have committed.

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afflicted, it is for your Confolation and Salvation.- Col. 1. 24. Who now rejoice in my Sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flefh, for his Body's fake, which is the Church. 2 Tim. 2. 10. I endure all things for the Elects Sake.

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I. 9.

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CHAP.

8 See on Rom. 14. 19. 20. † 1 Cor. 4. 21. I † 2 Cor. 10 2. † 2 Cor. 13. 2, 10. See on 52 Cor. 1. 23.

Exod. 19. 16. Thou fhalt not go up and down as a Tale-bearer among thy People. Pfal. 15. 3. He that backbiteth not with his Tongue,[fhall abide in the Tabernacle of the Lord]. Pfal. 50. 20. Thou fitteft and fpeakest against thy Brother; thou andereft thine own Mothers Son. Pfal. 101. 5. Whofo 15privily flandereth his Neighbour,

† 2 Cor. 6. 12, 13, Ye are not 10 Braitned in us, but ye are ftraitned in your own Bowels. Now for a Recompence of the fame, (I fpeak as unto my Children) be ye, alfo enlarged.

16.

..
b 2 Cor. 11. 9.

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17. ct 2 Cor. 7. 2. See on Acts

20.33:

18.2 Cor. 8. 6, 16, 18, 22.

him will I cut off. Prov. 10. 18. He that uttereth Slander is a Fool. Prov. 25.23. The Northwind driveth away Rain: fo doth an

19. † 2 Cor. 5. 12. We com-20 angry Countenance a backbiting

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mend not our felves again unto

jou.

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† Rom. 9. 1. See on Rom.

Tongue. Rom. 1. 30. Backbiters, haters of God, defpiteful.

(1) This was objected against the Apoftle by his Adverfaries, that though he received not any thing himfelf, yet he employed others who did; the Apoftle therefore antwers this Objection in the following Verfes,

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eftablished. 2. I told you before, and foretel you as ifI were prefent the fecond time, and being abfent, now I write to them which heretofore have finned, and to all other, that if I come again I will not fpare: 3. Since ye feek a proof of Chrift fpeaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. 4. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God: for we alfo are weak in [Or, with] him, but we fhall live with him by the power of God toward you. 5. mn Examine your felves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own felves: know ye not your own felves, how that Jefus Chrift is in you, except ye be (1) reprobates. 6. But

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2. 2 Cor. 10. 2. I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am prefent.

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and was made in the Likeness of Men And being found in Fashion as a Man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Crofs. t Pet. 3. 18.-Being put to Death in the Flefh, but quickned by the Spirit.

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d2 Cor. 1. 15. In this Confidence I was minded to come to you before, that you might have a † Rom. 6. 4. We are buried fecond Benefit.. 10 with him by Baptifm into death: that like as Christ was raised from the Dead by the Glory of the Father, even fo we also should walk in new 'nefs of Life.

et 2 Cor. 12. 21.

f See on 2 Cor. 1. 23. 3. Mat. 10. 20, It is not ye that fpeak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

h t1 Cor. 9. 2. If I be not an. Apostle to others, yet doubtlefs I am to you for the Seal of mine Apolefhip are ye in the Lord.

1 † See 2 Cor. 10. 3, 4. Though 15 we walk in the Flefh, we do not war after the Flefh: for the Wea pons of our Warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.

4. Phil. 2. 7, 8. But made 20 himself of no Reputation, and took upon him the Form of a Servant,

5. See on 1 Cor. 11.28.

(1) The Word here tranflated Reprobates, in this and the two following Verfes, has no relation to any eternal Decree of God's appointing Men to remedilefs and everlafting Destruction. Such Notions arife from wrong Apprehenfions of the divine Perfections, and fome difficult and mistaken Places of Scripture. For if any are everlaftingly miferable, it is the Abuse of the Freedom God has given them, and their own, evil-doings, which make them fo. The Greek Word fignifies, untried, unproved, or, without Proof; the Metaphor being taken from the Tryal of Silver, and

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I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. 7. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we fhould: appear approved, but that ye fhould do that which is honeft, though n we be as reprobates. 8. For we can do nothing against the truth,but for the truth. 9. For we are glad when we are weak, and ye are ftrong: and this alfo we with, even your perfection. 10. Therefore I write these things being abfent, left being prefent, I fhould ufe fharpnefs, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to deftru&tion. 11. Finally, brethren, farewel: Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of "one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace fhall, be with you. 12. Greet one another with an holy kifs. 13. All the faints falute you. 14. The (1) grace of the M 3

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7. † 2 Cor. 6. 9. As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live.

9.1 Cor. 4. 10. † 2 Cor. 11. 30. 2 Cor. 12. 5, 9, 10. See on

i Cor. 2. 3.

P Thef. 3. 10. Night and Day praying exceedingly that we might fee your Face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your 10 Faith.

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Lord sharply, that they may be found in the Faith.

+ 2 Cor. 10. 8. -Our Autho rity which the Lord hath given us 5 for Edification, and not for your Deftruction.

I.

II. "Rom. 12. 16. † Cor
Pet. 3. 8. See on Joh.

1. 10.

17. II.

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other Metals, whether they are Standard or not. The Senfe therefore of this Place is, You examine me whether I can give fufficient Proof of my being in Chrift, and of the Grace and Apoftleship I received from him; Pray examine your felves, whether you are in the Faith, that is, true Chriftians. You know the Rule; if therefore you try and prove your felves, you cannot but know your State, unless you are destitute of Proof. I truft I am able to give undoubted Proofs of my being in Chrift, and of my own Apoftolical Authority. Some may be perplex'd with Doubts and Fears, that God hath by a fatal Decree excluded them from Heaven and Happiness. Thofe therefore that would fee a clear Refutation of the monftrous and abfurd Doctrine of abfolute Reprobation, without any respect to the Actions of Men in this World, may confult Archbishop Tillotson's Sermons, published by Dr Barker, Vol. IV. p. 450. Vol. VI. p. 211, 213. Vol. VII. p. 68.

(1) There are three Differences in the Deity, which the Scripture speaks of by the Names of Father, Sou, and Holy Ghost, and every where Speaks of them as we ufe to do of three diftin&t Perfons. And therefore I

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Lord Jefus Chrift, and the love of God, and the com munion of the holy Ghoft, be with you all. Amen.

The fecond epistle to the Corinthians, was writ ten from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus

and Lucas.

14. a Phil, 2. 1. If there be therefore any Confolation in Chrift,

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if any comfort of Love, if any fel lowship of the Spirit.

fee no Reason why in this Argument we fhould nicely abftain from u fing the Word Perfon.- Thus much is certain, and cannot be denied, that our Saviour commanded his Apostles to baptize all Nations in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft: And that the Apostles in their Epiftles do in their most ufual Form of Benediction join these three together: And it is yet further certain, that not only the Name and Title of God, but the most incommunicable Properties and Perfections of the Deity, are in Scri pture frequently afcribed to the Son, and the holy Ghoft; one Property cnly excepted, which is peculiar to the Father, as He is the Principal and Fountain of the Deity, that He is of himself, and of no other; which is not, nor can be faid of the Son and holy Gheft.

Now let any Man fhew any plain and downright Contradiction in all this; or any other difficulty befides this, that the particular Manner of the Existence of these three differences of Persons in the Divine Nature, ex preffed in Scripture by the Names of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is incom prehenfible by our finite Understandings, and inexplicable by us: In which I do not fee what abfurdity there is, fince our Adverfaries cannot deny that many things certainly are, the particular Manner of whofe Exift ence we can neither comprehend nor explain.

Let us now fee whether the Opinion of our Adverfaries hath not greater Difficulties in it, and more palpable Abfurdities following from it. They fay that the Son of God is a mere Creature; not God by Nature, and yet truly and really God by Office, and by divine Appointment and Conftitu tion; to whom the very fame Honour and Worthip is to be given which we give to Him who is God by Nature.

And can they difcern no Difficulty, no Abfurdity, in this? What? no abfurdity in bringing Idolatry by a back Door into the Chriftian Religion one main Design whereof was, to banith Idolatry out of the World And will they in good earnest conteft this matter with us, that the giving Divine Worship to a mere Creature is not Idolatry? And can they vindicare themselves in this Point any other Way, than what will in great measure acquit both Pagaus and Papists from the Charge of Idolatry?

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What? No abfurdity in a God as it were but of resterday? in a Creature God, in a God merely by pofitive inftitution; and this in Oppofition to Plain meral Precept of eternal Obligation, and to the fix'd and immutable Nature and Reafon of Things?

So that to avoid the Shadow and Appearance of a plurality of Deiti they really run into it; and for any thing I can fee, into downright Ido Jatry, by worshipping a Creature befides the Creator, who is bleed for eve Rom. 1. 25,

The

GALATIANS I

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Year of our Lord 58.

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AUL an apoftle, a (not of men, neither by man, but by Jefus Chrift, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead) 2. And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia : 3. f Grace be to you, and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jefus Chrift, 4. Who gave himself for our fins, that he might deliver us from this prefent evil world, according

a

1. Ver. 11, 12.

Tit. 1.3.Which [Word] is committed unto me, according to the Commandment of God our Saviour.

© See on A&ts 2. 24.

2.

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to

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† Col. . 2.
Thef. 1. 1. †2
Thef. 1. 2. See on Rom. 1. 7.
4.8 Gal. 2. 20. † Tit.2.14. See
on Rom. 4. 25.

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h+See Ifa 65. 17. Behold, I create new Heavens, and a new Earth.

Phil. 2. 22. He [Ti-Joh. 15. 19. -Becaufe ye are not motheus] hath ferved with me in the Gofpel Phil. 4. 21. The Brethren whichare with me greet you. 1o e. I Cor. 16. I. -As I have given order to the Churches of Galatia, even fo do ye.

3. ft1 Cor. 1.3. † 2 Cor. 1. 2. † Eph. 1. 2. Phil. I. 2.15

of the World, but I have chofen you out of the World, therefore the World hateth you. Eph 1. 21. Far above all Principality, and Power, and Might, and Dominion, and every Name that is named, not only in this World, but in the World

no more can we

They can by no means allow two Gods by Nature; but they can willingly admit of two Gods; the one by Nature, and the other by Office, to whom they are content to pay the fame Honour which is due to him who is God by Nature,

And do they fee no abfurdity in all this? nothing that is contrary to Reafon and good Senfe? nothing that feels like Inconfiftency and Contradition? Do they confider how often God has declared, that he will not give his Glory to another? And that the Apoftle defcribes Idolatry to be, the giving Service, or Worship, to things which by Nature are no Gods? Surely if Reafon guided by Divine Revelation were to chufe a God, it would make choice of one who is declared in Scripture to be the only begotten of the Father, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the fame yesterday, to day, and for ever: much rather than a mere Creature, who did not begin to be till about feventeen Hundred Years ago.

Thefe are the Words of the excellent Archbishop Tillotson, in his fe fond Sermon concerning the Divinity of our bleffed Saviour, who under food the Difficulties refpecting the Subjects he handled as well as

any Мал.

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