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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, written 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 ed option. 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.

PAUL

AUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, 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, according to the good pleasure of his will,

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 the riches of his 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

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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

for good works.

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 14 Which is the earnest of his own right hand in the heav our inheritance c until the re-enly places, demption 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

bre 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,

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.

CHAP. II.

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The hidden mystery of 3 Among whom also had our conversation in past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great wherewith he loved us,

love

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ; (by grace ye are saved ;)b

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus;

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God;

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye b Through grace or the mere favoar of God, are ye saved.

ii. the Gentiles being saved. were without Christ being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,c and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one,d & bath broken down the middle wall of partition between us ;e

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both f unto God in one body g by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby ;

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar

from the Jewish nation. c Being aliens, &c. Being alienated

d Who bath made both Jews & Gentiles one people of God.

e Hath broken down the middle wall us. Because of partition between the Jews were separated from all the nations, and made the people of God exclusively, by the law of Moses, Paul calls the law, the middle wall of separation, in allusion to the wall, which separated the court of Israel from the court of the Gentiles: and Jesus Christ by his death, having that is, having abolished the law of broken down the separating wall; Moses, hath united both Jews and Gentiles in one church.

t

f Both Jews and Gentiles. g In one body, in one church,

Exhortations to unity, Ephesians.

off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; 21 In whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord :

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

CHAP. III.

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5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit ;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel:

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eter

nal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord;

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole fam

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