A. D. 57. ultimate End and Meaning of which was not underftood by that People *. 14. But their minds which veil is done a- bath-Day to them, 16. Nevertheless, 14 & 15. Nor indeed do their Pofterity yet understand those Types and Prophecies of the Old Teftament, which are no Way perfectly to be apprehended and fulfilled, but as they relate to Jefus Chrift. And by their obftinate Disbelief of him as their true Meffiab, the Veil is, as it were, ftill upon their Minds; and they can no more understand the true Intent of their Law and Prophets, that are read every Sabthan they could fee the Face of them the Law. 16. But as, when Mofes upon the Mount turned his Face from the People towards God, he then took off his Veil: So whenever the Jewish Nation fhall be converted to the Chriftian Faith, by duly and impartially comparing their Law and Prophecies with Chrift and his Religion, they will then perfectly fee and understand the true Intention and spiritual Meaning of them. 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty t. 17. For Jefus Christ is that true Meffiah defcribed and foretold by the Jewish Prophets, and his Religion and Doctrine the full Accomplishment, and ultimate Signi *Ver. 13. That the Children of Ifrael could not fedfafly look unto, &c. Tędę to μn alevioas, &c. For that [or to denote that the Children of Ifrael did not attend to, or understand, the ultimate Defign of the Law, that was defigned to be, and is now, abolished. The Expreffion is plainly intended to denote the Effect itself, not the Cause of their Ignorance. Mofes was veiled to denote their Ignorance; not that they were made ignorant by his putting on the Veil. † Ver. 17. There is Liberty. This Liberty [Asudegia] is either the fame with [wappneia, Verse 12] Freedom and Plainne f Signification of the Ceremonial Law. Well therefore A. D. 57may such a clear and Spiritual Religion fet its Minifters and Apoftles above the vain Flourishes of Gentile Orators, and the obfcure Traditions of Jewish Doctors, and make them preach it with a noble Freedom, and undisguised Plainnefs of Speech. 18. But we all with open face, beholding as in a glafs, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the fame image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 18. And thus by a full and clear Understanding of our glorious Religion of the Gospel, we preach it to the World with perfect Plainnefs and Simplicity; and in fo doing, we are the true Reprefentatives of Chrift, our glorious Mafter, by whofe Spirit we are guided and directed, and are more and more like him who is Light and Truth itself *. And thus we, and all good Chriftians, guided by the plain and clear Revelation of God's Spirit, and living up to Chrift's Commands, will gradually become like to him here in true Virtue, and more like him hereafter in Glory and Happiness. Plainnefs of Speech; or else Freedom from the Jewish Ceremonies. The latter is the Senfe of the judicious Dr. Clark ; (Serm. Vol. III. and both Senfes in Vol. V. Serm. 17.) * Ver. 18. Kadang and Kugie Tvεúμal-As by the Spirit of the Lord: Or by the Lord, (viz. CHRIST, who I faid, ver. 17. was) the Spirit. The Senfe either Way is, That as Chrift and his Religion is the true fpiritual Meaning and Fulfilling of the Mofaical Law, fo bis Apoftles and Mini fers are in their Preaching and Office more clear and illuftrious, in Proportion to the Excellency and Clearness of JESUS CHRIST and his Doctrine. CHAP. IV. The CONTENTS. The Dignity of the Gospel Miniftry, and the divine Power attending it, a great Encouragement to the Apostle's confcientious fcientious Difcharge of it, under the Reproaches of his Adverfaries; with a Reflection on their falfe Teachers. Sufferings for Religion, and divine Deliverances from thofe Sufferings, a plain Proof of a true Apoftle. The future Profpect, a Support under Chriftian Sufferings. A. D. 57. 1. Therefore feeing IT of the Honourableness of . we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not: I. HE due Senfe then I have my Chriftian * Ministry, and the divine Affiftance accompanying my fincere Difcharge of it, is what gives me Life and Spirit to go through it, under all the Reproaches of my Adverfaries †. your new 2. In the Performance of which Office, I fcorn to make Use of those private and unwarrantable Practices that some of Teachers have Recourfe to, in order to exalt themfelves, and deI defire to recommend prefs me. myself by nothing but the Plainnefs and Purity of my Doctrine, that will stand the Teft both of God, and of all well-difpofed Men. 3 & 4. Nor can what I have preached and written to you, be denied to be the fincere Gospel Truth, unless by fuch fenfual and profligate Men, whofe Affections are fo wedded to their temporal Ends and Advantages, that they have no Relifh of the wife and glorious Purposes of the Religion of Jefus Chrift the Son of God, the Image of the Father, and the Revealer of his true and laft Will Chrift Jefus the Lord; fet up myself for a Head of * a A. D. $7: and our felves your Party for any private Advantage, fervants for Jesus fake. but preach Jefus Chrift as the common Lord and Head of all Chriftians; pretending my felf to be, like the other Apoftles, nothing more than a Minifter † under him, and ready to do any Kind of Services for your Edification in his Religion. 6. For God who commanded the light to fhine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jefus Chrift. 6. His Minifter, I fay, whom God the Father and Creator of all Things, who by his Word produced Light from Darkness, has declared to be the true Meffiah, the laft and most glorious Revealer of his Will to Mankind, by the Excellency of his Person, Power, and Doctrine; which, by the Illuminations of his Holy Spirit, he has enabled us his Apoftles truly to understand, and preach to the World. 7. But we have this treasure in earthen veffels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and 7. These Endowments of the Spirit are conferred upon us weak and mortal Men, to be a more abfolute Demonftration that the Miracles we work, for the Confirmation of the true Religion, are perfectly divine, and can have no Mixture of human ‡ Artifice, Wisdom, or Contrivance. not of us. 8. We are troubled on every fide, yet not diftreffed: we are perplexed, but not in despair; 8 & 9. An Argument that is yet further confirmed by that wonderful Providence that attends us under all the Difficulties of our Miniftry, not fuffering us to defpair or fhrink under the down, but not de- hardest Calamities; delivering us ftroyed; even when there seems no Hope for an Escape, and raising us up 9. Perfecuted, but not forfaken : caft from the very Jaws of Death. 10 & II. Ver. 5. We preach not our felves, i. e. not our felves as Lords. "Anλa Xeisov 'Insty Kugiov, but Chrift Jefus as the Lord. + Ib. Aid 'Inour. For Jefus Sake, or by or through Jefus, i. e. by his Commission. 1 See 1 Cor. ii. 4, 5. 10 & 11. And thus, as the continual Sufferings and frequent Hazards we undergo for his Religion, are a constant Resemblance of his Death and Sufferings for us, and an Expreffion of our Faith in them; fo the marvellous Protection and Deliverance we have from them, are both a Refemblance of his Refurrection, and a clear Proof, that that Saviour who can thus raise us from Dangers and Death, is himself risen to an endless Life and Power. 12. So then death 12. So that, while preaching worketh in us, but the Gospel procures us, the Apostles life in you. of Chrift, innumerable Hazards of Perfecution and Death; it gives you that embrace it, a full Affurance of eternal Life and Happiness. 13. We having the fame fpirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken: we also believe, and therefore speak. 13. For our Courage and Conftancy under thefe Sufferings is founded upon the fame Principle with that of the Pfalmift; (Pfal. cxvi. 10.) That religious and folid Faith in the Truth and Power of God, That in the Midft of the Sorrows of Death made him declare, he yet hoped to walk before God in the Land of the Living; makes us alfo to continue to preach the true Religion in the midst of the utmost Distresses and Oppofitions. 14. Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jefus, fhall raife us up alfo by Jefus, and fhall prefent us with you. 14. Namely, This perfect Affurance, that the God who raised up the Lord Jefus from the Grave, will, one Day, in Reward of all our Sufferings for his Sake, Ver. 13. I believed, and therefore I have spoken |