NOTE.

"heavy for us and our fathers to bear. They would do much better to ease the burdens of the weak, this is suitable to the law of Christ, which they are under, and is the law, which they ought strictly to obey. If they think, because of their spiritual gifts, that they have power to prescribe in such mat"ters, I tell them that they have not, but do deceive themselves. Let them " rather take care of their own particular actions, that they be right, and such as they ought to be. This will give them matter of glorying in themselves, "and not vainly in others, as they do, when they prevail with them to be cir"cumcised. For every man shall be answerable for his own actions." Let the reader judge, whether this does not seem to be St. Paul's view here, and suit with his way of writing.

Exay xaúxnua is a phrase whereby St. Paul signifies " to have matter of "glorying," and to that sense it is rendered, Rom. iv. 2.

SECT. XIII.

CHAP. VI. 6—10.

CONTENTS.

ST. Paul having laid some restraint upon the authority and forwardness of the teachers, and leading men amongst them, who were, as it seems, more ready to impose on the galatians what they should not, than to help them forward in the practice of gospel-obedience; he here takes care of them, in respect of their maintenance, and exhorts the galatians to liberality towards thein, and, in general, towards all men, especially christians.

TEXT.

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.

PARAPHRASE.

6 Let him, that is taught the doctrine of the gospel, freely communicate the good things of this world to him that teaches him. Be not deceived, God will not be mocked;

TEXT.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corrup tion; 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 houshold of faith.

PARAPHRASE.

He, that

8 for, as a man soweth, so also shall he reap. lays out the stock of good things he has, only for the satisfaction of his own bodily necessities, conveniences, or pleasures, shall, at the harvest, find the fruit and product of such husbandry to be corruption and perishing". But he, that lays out his worldly substance, according to the rules dictated by the Spirit of God in the gospel, 9 shall, of the Spirit, reap life everlasting. In doing thus, what is good and right, let us not wax weary; for, in due season, when the time of harvest comes, we shall reap, if we continue on to do good, and flag not. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunities, let us do good unto all men, especially to those who profess faith in Jesus Christ, i.e. the christian religion.

NOTES.

7a Soweth. A metaphor used by St. Paul, for men's laying out their worldly goods. See 2 Cor. ix. 6, &c.

8b Rom. viii. 18. and ii. 12.

SECT XIV.

CHAP. VI. 11-18.

CONTENTS.

ONE may see what lay upon St. Paul's mind, in writing

to the galatians, by what he inculcates to them here, even after he had finished his letter. The like we have in the

last chapter to the romans. He here winds up all with admonitions to the galatians, of a different end and aim they had, to get the galatians circumcised, from what he had in preaching the gospel.

TEXT.

11 You see how large a letter I have written unto you, with mine own hand,

12 As many as desire to make a fair show 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.

PARAPHRASE.

11 You see how long a letter I have writ to you with my 12 own hand'. They, who are willing to carry it so fairly in the ritual part of the law, and to make ostentation of their compliance therein, constrain you to be circumcised, only to avoid persecution, for owning their dependence for salvation solely on a crucified Messiah, 13 and not on the observance of the law. For even they themselves, who are circumcised, do not keep the law. But they will have you to be circumcised, that this mark in your flesh may afford them matter of glorying, and of recommending themselves to the good opinion of the 14 jews. But as for me, whatever may be said of me God forbid that I should glory in any thing, but in having Jesus Christ, who was crucified, for my sole Lord and Master, whom I am to obey and depend on; which I so entirely do, without regard to any thing else, that I am wholly dead to the world, and the world dead

NOTES.

11 a St. Paul mentions the "writing with his own hand," as an argument of his great concern for them in the case. For it was not usual for him to write his epistles with his own hand, but to dictate them to other, who writ them from his mouth. See Rom. xvi. 22. 1 Cor. xvi 21.

12 In the flesh," i. e. in the ritual observances of the law, which Heb. ix. 10, are called dixasúpala cagnos•

13 See chap. v. 11.

14 See chap. v. 11.

TEXT.

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.

PARAPHRASE.

to me, and it has no more influence on me, than if it 15 were not. For, as to the obtaining a share in the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and the privileges and advantages of it, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, such outward differences in the flesh, avail any thing, but the new creation, wherein by a thorough change a man is disposed to righteousness, and true holiness, in good works®. 16 And on all those, who walk by this rule, viz. that it is the new creation alone, and not circumcision, that availeth under the gospel, peace and mercy shall be on them, they being that Israel, which are truly the people of 17 God'. From henceforth, let no man give me trouble by questions, or doubt whether I preach circumcision or no. It is true, I am circumcised. But yet the marks I now bear in my body, are the marks of Jesus Christ, that I am his. The marks of the stripes, which I have received from the jews, and which I still bear in my body for preaching Jesus Christ, are an evidence 18 that I am not for circumcision." Brethren, the fa"vour of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." Amen.

15 See Eph. ii. 10. and iv. 24.

NOTES.

3.

16f St. Paul having, in the foregoing verse, asserted, that it is the new creaation alone, that puts men into the kingdom of Christ, and into the possession of the privileges thereof, this verse may be understood also, as assertory, rather than as a prayer, unless there were a verb that expressed it; especially considering, that he writes his epistle to encourage them to refuse circumcision. To which end, the assuring them, that those, who do so, shall have peace and mercy from God, is of more force than to tell them, that he prays that they may have peace and mercy. And, for the same reason, I understand "the Israel of God" to be the same with "those, who walk by this rule," though joined with them, by the copulative xal, and; no very unusual way of speaking.