his kindness towards us in Jefus Chrift. For by grace ye are faved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works, [139] fo that no man can boast." iii. 11, "According to the eternal purpose which he purpofed in Chrift Jefus our Lord." [165]

200. The Ephefians were happy in these privileges, conferred upon them by the pure mercy, grace, and love of God, without refpect to any works of righteoufnefs they had done, in their Gentile ftate. Thus they were faved, through faith only, without works. But would they be finally faved without works of obedience and righteousness? By no means. So far from that, that thefe privileges were means and motives to engage them to good works; which good works are the very end, for which they were, by the grace of God, brought into the forefaid bleffed condition. And therefore the apostle earnestly exhorts them to all manner of holinefs; which would have been needlefs, had their final falvation been fecured by their being chofen, predeftinated, faved by grace, &c.

201. Duty.] i. 4, "He has chofen us, that we should be holy." Ver. 12, "Being predeftinated—that we should be to the praise of his glory." ii. 10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Chrift Jefus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, [when he laid the plan of our redemption] that we fhould walk in them." iv. 1, 2, 3. "I therefore, the prifoner of the Lord, befeech you that ye walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-fuffering, forbearing one another in love." Ver. 17, "This I fay therefore, and teftify in the Lord, that ye henceforth (in your Chriftian ftate] walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God," &c. Ver. 22, 23, 24, "That ye put off, concerning the former converfation, the old man which is corrupt,-and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness, and true holinefs." Ver. 25, "Wherefore, putting away lying, fpeak the truth." -Ver. 26, "Be ye angry, and fin not. Neither give place to the devil." Ver. 28, "Let him that stole, steal no more. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth," &c. v. 1, 2, "Be followers of God as dear children; and walk in love." Ver. 3, "Fornication and all uncleanness, or covetoufnefs, let it not be once named among you, as becomes faints." Ver. 8, "Ye were fometimes [in Heathenifm] darknefs; but now [in your Chriftian ftate] are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." Ver. 11, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness."

202. Suppof.] From these earnest admonitions it is evident, the Ephefans, though they were chofen, predeftinated, &c. might still live in Heathenifh wickedness; as alfo from his exhorting them to "take unto them the whole armour of God, that they might be able to ftand in the evil day, and having done all to ftand," &c. Chap. vi. 11, &c. Which fuppofes they had enemies to engage with, by whom they might poffibly be overcome, and ruined for ever: as he tells them.

203. Threat.] v. 5, 6, "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean perfon, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheri tance in the kingdom of Chrift, and of God. Let no man deceive you,"

into

into the commiffion of those fins, "with vain words: for because of these things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of difobedience * ;' and will come upon you also, if you practise fuch wickedness.

PHILIPPIANS. CHAP. I.

204. Anteced.] Ver. 1,-"To all the faints in Chrift Jefus at Phillippi." Ver. 3, 5, "I thank God for your fellowship in the gofpel." ii. 12. iii. 1. iv. 1," My beloved; my brethren, dearly beloved,"-ii. 13, "God works in [among] you both to will and to do;" [that is, God hath fupplied them with all proper means and motives, to engage them to a faithful difcharge of their duty, and was ready to fupply them with ftrength to enable them to do it.]

205. Renfon. ii. 13,-" Of his good-will." [That is, upon the foot of good-will, eg Eudoxias, or free grace, God was working among them to will and to do. Which grace is not confidered, as what would in itfelf abfolutely fecure their final falvation; but as a motive to obedience, without which, they could not be faved: As appears from Ver. 12, &c.]

206. Duty.] ii. 12-16, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my prefence only, but now much more in my abfence; work out your own falvation [or one another's welfare] with fear and trembling;" that is, with care and attention. [" For it is God which works in," or among, "you, both to will and to do of his good-will.”] "Do all things without murmurings and difputings: that ye may be blamelefs and harmlefs, the fons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverfe nation, among whom ye fhineas lights in the world; holding forth the word of life." . 9, 10, 11,—“ I pray that your love may abound more and more, in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be fincere, and without offence, till the day of Chrift; being filled with the Fruits of righteousness, which are by Jefus Chrift unto the glory and praise of God." iv, 4, "Rejoice in the Lord" [164]. Ver. 6, "Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and thanksgiving let your requefts be made known unto God." Ver. 8, "Finally, brethren, whatfoever things are true, honeft,-jaft,-pure,-lovely,-of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praife, think of these things." 207. Confeq. i. 6, "Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jefus Christ." iv. 7, 9, "And the peace of God which paffes all understanding, fhall keep your hearts and minds through Chrift Jefus. Thofe things which ye have both learned and received, and heard and feen in me, do and the God of peace fhall be with you."

208. Suppof.] ii. 16, "Holding forth the word of life; and that I may rejoice in the day of Chrift, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." [His running and labouring plainly refer to his preaching

the

* Children of disobed.] An epithet of the Heathen world, Eph. ii. 2, 3. +re bine, that is, ought to fhine. Duty is frequently exprefs'd in the prefent tenfe. See Col. iii. 8. Heb. xiii. 14. [274].

the gospel among them. Therefore, he evidently supposes, that the Philippians might not be obedient to the gofpel; (though they were then faints in Chrift Jefus) and that, if they were not obedient, in the day of Chrift it would be found, that the apofile's labours among them were loft and ineffectual: because the Philippians would fail of eternal Salvation. And of himself he faith, iii. 14, " Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: But this one, thing I do, forgetting thofe things which are behind, and reaching forth unto thofe things which are before, I prefs towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Here the apostle tells us, his attaining to the refurrection of the dead, in the beft Senfe, must be the effect of his diligent perfeverance in the Chriftian life, and that this fhould be a rule to all Chriftians. In this all fhould agree; and, agreeing in this, fhould not differ about other things, which they may not widerftand, Ver. 15, 16.

COLOSSIANS...

209. Prior State.] i. 27. The apostle fuppofes they had been Gentiles; Ver. 21," Sometime alienated and enemies [37] in their mind by wicked works," iii. 7, “Walking in fornication, uncleanness, &c. while they lived among the children of difobedience."

210. Anteced.] i. 2, They were "faints and faithful brethren [106] in Chrift;" Ver. 5, The hope of the gofpel was "laid up for them in heaven;" Ver. 12, They were "made meet," or counted worthy, "to be partakers of the inheritance [108 in the note] of the faints [127] in light: being delivered from the power of heathenish darkness, and tranflated into the kingdom of God's dear fon:" Ver, 14, "In whom they had redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of fins;"? Ver. 21, They were "fometime [in their heathen ftate] alienated and enemies"-but now Chrift "had reconciled [117] them in the body of his flesh, through death,;" Ver. 27, Chrift "was in," or among "them, the Hope of Glory ;" ii. 6, They had "received Chrift Jefus the Lord;" Ver. 14, They were "circumcifed with the circumcifion inade without hands, in putting off the body of the fins of the flefh, by. the circumcifion of Chrift: buried with him in baptifint, wherein alfo they were rifen with him, through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead. And them being dead in their fins, and the uncircumcifion of their flesh, had God quickened together with Chrift, having forgiven them all trefpafies, blotting out the hand-writing of Jewish ordinances that was against them," and hindered their admittance into the church upon gofpel terms; iii. 3. By the profeffion and principles of the gofpel, they were "dead" to this world, and their "life was hid with Chrift in God," in hope "that when Chrift, who is our life fhall appear, then they alfo fhould ap pear with him in glory;" Ver. 9, They had "put off the old man with his deeds; and had put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created [99] him;" Ver. 12, They were "elect [92] of God, holy [127] and beloved;" [140] Ver. 15, They were "called in one body."

214. Duty.]

211. Duty.] 1.912," We ceafe not to pray for you, and defire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wifdom and fpiritual understanding: that ye might walk worthy of the Lord [164] unto all pleafing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; ftrengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-fuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father." Ver. 22, "You hath he reconciled [changing you from Heathenifm to Christianity, and forgiving your fins, for this end] to prefent you holy and unblameable, and unreproveable in his fight," [at the last day] ii. 6, "As ye have therefore received Chrift Jefus the Lord, fo walk in him." iii. 1, 2, "If ye," or fince ye, then are rifen with Chrift, feek thofe things which are above, where Chrift fitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, and not on things on the earth, for ye are dead," &c. Ver. 5, "Mortify therefore your members, which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleannefs, inordinate affection, &c. In the which ye alfo walked fometime," that is, when you were Heathens. Ver. 8, "But now," you have embraced the gofpel, "you alfo put off," that is, it is your duty to put off, "all these, anger, wrath, malice," &c. Ver. 9, "Lie not one to another, feeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds." Ver. 12, "Put on therefore (as the elect of God, holy and beloved) [140] bowels of mercies, kindnefs, humblenefs of mind," &c. to the 7th verfe of the 4th chapter. 212. Confeq. iii. 24," Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance." [108]

213. Suppof. i. 23," If ye continue in the faith, grounded and fettled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gofpel." Ver. 28, "Whom [Chrift] we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may prefent every man perfect in Chrift Jefus." ii. 4, "This I fay, left any man should beguile you with enticing words." Ver. 8, " Beware left any man fpoil you." Ver. 18, "Let no man beguile you of your [final] reward." All this fuppofes, they might poffibly be fpoiled, and beguiled of eternal happiness; and therefore the apoftle earnestly cautions and warns them, that he might, in the last day, present them "perfect in Christ Jesus." In which day, he tells them,

214. Threat.] iii. 25, That "he that doth wrong, fhall receive for the wrong which he has done: and there will then be no respect of perfons." For, Ver. 6, on account of fornication, uncleanness, &c. against which he cautions them, "the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience," whoever they be, and therefore, would come upon them too, if they were guilty of fuch wickedness.

Áll this makes it clear, 1. That their being "faints, reconciled, quickened together with Christ, elect, holy and beloved," would not, of itself, fecure their final happiness. 2. That these honours and privileges were in order to their discharging their feveral duties as Chriftians. 3. That they might, though elect, holy, and beloved, neglect thofe duties, and fall into fin. 4. And that if they did, they fhould perish. Confequently their being "reconciled, quickened together with Chrift, elect, holy, beloved,” &c. must refer to their external ftate, as they were taken into the family and kingdom of God, and vefted with the privileges thereof.

7

I. II. THES

I. II. THESSALONIANS.

Both thefe epistles were wrote to the fame persons. 215. Prior State.] They had been idolatrous Gentiles. I Thef. i. 9,-When we "entered in unto you," and preached the gofpel, "ye turned unto God from idols." li. 14, "Ye have fuffered like things of your own countrymen," the Gentiles of Theffaly, "even as the churches of God in Judea have of the Jews."

་

216. Anteced.] Thef. i. 1, They were become, by embracing the Chriftian faith, "the church, or congregation, [133] of the Theffalonians in God the Father, and the Lord Jefus Chrift." 2 Thef. i. 1.1 Thef. i, 2, 4, "I give thanks to God always for you,knowing, brethren be loved, your election of God;" or knowing, brethren, beloved of God, your election. Ver. 6, "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word."Ver. 9, "Ye turned to God from idols." ii. 12, "God has called you to his kingdom and glory." v. 4, 5, "Ye, brethren, are not in darkness,-ye are all children of the light, and the children of the day: We are not of the night, nor of darkness.". Ver. "God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain falvation by our Lord Jefus Chrift." Ver. 27, "I charge you by the Lord, that this epiftle be read unto all the holy brethren." [127, 106] 2 Thef. ii. 13, 14, "We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren, beloved of the Lord, [140] because God hath from the beginning [perhaps from the original fettlement of the covenant with Abraham] chofen you to falvation, through fanctification of the spirit, and belief of the truth; whereunto he called you by our gofpel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord, Jefus Chrift."-Thefe were their great honours and privileges, intended to engage them to a holy and virtuous life; as follows,

9,

217. Duty.] 1 Thef. ii. 12, "Walk worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory." iii. 12, 13, "And the Lord made you to increase and abound in love one towards another, and towards all men, even as we do towards you: to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holinefs before God, even our Father, at," or unto, " the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift with all his faints." iv. 1-6,-"We befeech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jefus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk, and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jefus. For this is the will of God [in electing and calling you,] even your fanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication," &c. Ver. 9-12, "As touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you;for indeed you do it, but I beseech you, brethren, that ye abound more and more; and that ye study to be quiet, and do your own business,” &c. v. 6, "Let us not fleep as do others, the Heathen, Ephef. ii. 3. V.

14]

* Hence it appears; That the happy state of a Chriftian is not determined, or fixed, till the coming of our Lord. In the mean while, he has a state of trial to go through, in order to his being fanctified, and found blameless at our Lord's coming. Which the Apoftle prays might be the cafe of the Theffalonian Chriftians.