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1 He moveth them to stand in their liberty, 3 and not to observe circumcision, 13 but rather love. 19 The works of the flesh, 22 and fruits of the Spirit.

STAND fast, therefore, in the liberty a wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.b

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, That if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised,

that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

the Gospel, &c.

fect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith, which worketh by love.

ye should

Ye did run well; who did hinder you, that not obey the truth?

8 This persuasionc cometh not of him that calleth you.

9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.d

10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded; but he that troubleth bear his judgment, whosoever

he be.

you

shall

11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross

4 Christ is become of no ef- ceased.

rah, whose children were by promise, not slaves, but free-born, represents the Gospel dispensation, the Jerusalem from above, whose children we all are, who believe, & are free from the bondage of the ceremonial law.

b Cast out the bond-woman and her son, that is, let the covenant of the law with its enslaving rites, be abolished, and the more mild, free and gracious dispensation of the Gospel every where prevail.

a Liberty, freedom from the law of Moses.

b Yoke of bondage, the ceremonial

iaw,

12 I would they were even cut off,e which trouble you.

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14 For all the law is fulfill

c This persuasion you entertain, concerning the law and its efficacy to salvation, &c.

d A little leaven, that is, the errors of one teacher are sufficient to cor rupt the whole church.

Cut off, excommunicated.

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ed in one word,f even in this, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, & the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now, the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance; ́against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's

f In one word, by obeying one precept.

to mildness.

have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

CHAP. VI.

1 He willeth them to deal mildly with a brother that has slipped, 2 and to bear one another's burdens; 6 to be liberal to their teachers, 9 and not to be weary of welldoing.

BRETHREN, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2 Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.

3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

6 Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his

Well-doing recommended. Galatians. Of the cross of Christ.

flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint

not.

10 As we have, therefore, opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them, who are of the household of faith.

11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

13 For neither they themselves, who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to

have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but

a new creature.

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Unto the Galatians, writ ten from Rome.

PREFATORY REMARKS

TO THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS.

EPHESUS was the metropolis of Asia Minor. It was celebrated for its commerce and riches, and for the magnificent temple of the goddess Diana. The inhabitants were a dissolute and idolatrous people, and extremely addicted to magic and divination.

St. Paul first visited this city on his journey from Corinth to Jerusalem, A. D. 53, and preached in the synagogue of the Jews with some prospect of success; but he was at that time unable to continue there, being in haste to go to Jerusalem to keep the feast of Pentecost. He however soon returned and spent three years in preaching the Gospel, first in the synagogue, then in the school of one Tyrannus, and in other places

Of election,

Chap. i.

and adoption. of public resort. Paul therefore having spent so much time and labour in establishing the church at Ephesus, that he might not be wanting in concern for its safety and prosperity, wrote this Epistle while a prisoner at Rome, about A. D. 60 or 61, to secure it against the erroneous doctrines and practices, which the false teachers were endeavouring to introduce into it.

It has been remarked concerning this Epistle, that it contains a more complete system of precepts, respecting the temper which Christians ought to possess, and the duties which they owe to themselves and to each other, than is to be found in any other of Paul's Epistles.

↑ THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE EPHESIANS.

CHAP. I.

1 Of Election, 5 and adoption, 11 which is the foundation of man's salvation.

AUL, an apostle of Jesus

to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, & peace, from God our Father and from

the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, aecording to the good pleasure of his will,

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6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath

made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to grace;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence ;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,a according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which

are in heaven and which are on earth; even in him :

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the

a The mystery of his will here means the salvation of the Gentiles

through faith without obedience to

the law of Moses. It sometimes

means the whole doctrine of the Gospel.

Ephesians.

We are created purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,b

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance c until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your under

b Ye were sealed, &c. In allusion to the custom of merchants, marking their parcels of merchandize with seals, to distinguish them from the goods of others, Christ is said to have sealed or marked the Gentiles as the children of God, by bestowing on them the gifts of the Spirit.

c Which is the earnest, &c. Earnest

is a small part of the price of a thing,

given as evidence, that the bargain is concluded, & as a pledge, that the whole price will be paid at the time agreed on.

for good works.

standing being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

1

CHAP. II.

What we were by nature, 5 and what we are by grace: 10 we are created for good works.

AND you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein, in time past, ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power the spirit that now worketh in of the air,a the children of disobedience :

a The prince of the power of the air, the chief of evil spirits.

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