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of the Holy Spirit of God; and ye shall not be carried away with the vain and sinful lusts of the flesh.

V. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: &c.

For there is a continual enmity betwixt the flesh, which is our corrupted nature, and the Spirit, whereby we are regenerated; so as the flesh lusteth, &c.

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

But if ye be led by the Spirit of God, ye are not under the bondage of the Law; but do, out of your free love unto God, yield cheerful obedience to him.

V. 19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, &c.

Now the works of our corrupted and depraved nature are manifest, &c.

V. 24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

And they, that are Christ's, have so far crucified this corrupt nature, with the affections and lusts thereof, as that, howsoever they have some remainders of life in them; yet, they have not so much vigour, as to reign and rule in them.

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

If then, we be persuaded, that the Spirit of God is in us, and that we have a true spiritual life in him, let us also walk, so, as may become the guidance and direction of the same Spirit.

VI. 1. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one.

Brethren, if a man, through weakness, be overtaken with some sin, ye, that are regenerate persons, and know what our nature is, restore such an one.

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

Bear ye mutually the burdens of each others' infirmities: we all have our load; it must be our care and desire, to ease each other in the bearing of them: and so, in loving each other, we shall fulfil the law of Christ.

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

Let no man stand upon the points of his own skill, righteousness, perfection: for, if a man think himself to be something, when indeed he is nothing, his overweening befools him.

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

Let every man try and examine his own actions, by the rule of God's word; and then shall he, finding them sincere and

upright, find cause of rejoicing in the testimony of his own conscience, and not stand upon the opinions of others.

VI. 5. For every man shall bear his own burden.

For every man shall be answerable to God, for his own actions, and not for other men's.

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

Let him, that is taught in the word, by way of just thankfulness and retribution communicate to him, that teacheth him, in all outward good things; returning to him temporal blessings, in lieu of those spiritual, which he receiveth from him.

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

Let no man, when he unjustly draws back his hand from the maintenance of God's ministers, pretend excuses: be not deceived; God is not mocked and eluded by our shifts; but what or howsoever a man soweth, in the distribution of these earthly things this way, in the same manner and measure shall he reap from the hands of God.

VI. 8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

He, that bestoweth these outward good things only upon the pampering of himself, and regards none but his own private pleasure or profit in disposing of them, that man shall be rewarded accordingly: for these carnal respects of his shall end in loss and corruption: but he, that bestows them to holy and spiritual purposes, being therein led and directed by the Spirit of God, shall, by the goodness of that same Spirit, graciously remunerating him, receive eternal life.

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

Let us be ready to do good and liberally to distribute these earthly things, to all that have need, but especially to all our fellow-Christians; and, amongst them, yet more particularly to those, that have the oversight of this family of God.

VI. 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.

As many as affect glory and popularity, and their own ease and safety, urge unto you a necessity of being circumcised; providing herein for their own quiet and indemnity: lest they should from the Jews suffer persecution, for preaching the full effect of the death or cross of Christ, without the Works of the Law.

VI. 13. For neither they themselves who are circumcised

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keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

For neither do these Judaizing Teachers themselves, though they be outwardly circumcised, keep the Law in other things: so as it is plain that they do not urge these matters out of any true zeal to the Law; but only they would draw you in, that they might glory of the circumcision of your flesh, as if they had converted you to their Judaism.

VI. 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.

Let them glory of what they will, boasting of the validity and use of their fleshly circumcision; but, for me, God forbid that I should glory in any thing, save in the benefit of the Cross and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom the world is crucified to me, so as it prevails not against me, to carry me away from my holy courses; and I am crucified to the world, so as I affect not the glory and vanity thereof.

VI. 15. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

For, in Christ Jesus and his acceptation, and in true Christianity, there is neither respect to circumcision and the rest of those legal observations, or to any privileges thereby challenged; nor yet to uncircumcision, or any of that secular learning and wisdom, which is bragged of among the Gentiles: nothing carries it there, but a new creature: he, that is regenerate, is a true servant of Christ, and is accordingly regarded of him.

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

And, as many as walk according to the rule, that I have in this my Epistle commended unto you, seeking Justification only by Christ, without the Works of the Law, peace be unto them and mercy; and not to them only, but to the whole Church of God, every where.

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

I have given you a true Apostolical decision of the controversy moved amongst you: let no man be further troublesome to me; but rest in this sentence of mine: well may I challenge this at your hands; for I bear in my body the marks of the sufferings, which I have endured for the name of our Lord Jesus.

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE EPHESIANS.

I. 3. Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Who hath blessed us, not with these outward favours of riches and honour, and such like blessings, which are uncertain and transitory; but with all spiritual blessings, which may fit us for those heavenly places, provided for us, in and by Christ:

I. 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 lore:

Which blessings of his have been bestowed upon us out of that infinite love, whereby he hath chosen us, before the beginnings of the world, to this end and purpose, and with this effect, that we should be holy and blameless, both in our disposition and conversation before him, approving our unfeigned love unto him in all things:

I. 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of

his will.

Having, by his eternal decree, predestinated and fore-ordained us to be his adopted sons, in and by Jesus Christ; not out of ought that was or should be in us, but according to his own mere mercy, and the good pleasure of his own will;

I. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

All which God hath done for us, for the only praise and glory of his infinite grace and mercy; wherein he hath made us, which were of ourselves justly hateful, to be accepted in his beloved Son Jesus Christ.

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

In and by whom, we have redemption through his precious blood which was paid as our ransom, and full forgiveness of all our sins, according to the abundance of his mercy to us;

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

Wherein he hath been exceeding bountiful unto us, in imparting to us the rich treasures of spiritual wisdom and prudence.

I. 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:

That, in the fulness of time, which God in his wise dispen

sation and providence had appointed, he might call and gather together, under one Head, Christ Jesus, all, both angels in heaven and men on earth, which pertain unto him:

I. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance.

By whom also, and in whom, upon his gracious uniting of us to him, we have obtained a happy and glorious inheritance. I. 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

That our glory might be, to the praise and glory of him, who hath thus crowned and glorified us, who first here below believed in Christ.

I. 13, 14. In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

In whom also, after that ye believed, ye were made sure, and sealed up for his, by that Holy Spirit of his, which he promised to send to all his elect, infallibly witnessing to your spirits, that ye are the sons of God: Which is to us, beforehand, the certain earnest, and pledge of our full inheritance to come, even until that purchased possession of eternal life may be fully accomplished and stated upon us, to the praise of his glory.

1. 18. That ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

That ye may know what great and wonderful good things ye may and ought to hope for, by virtue of his effectual calling of you; and what the unspeakable and unvaluable riches are of that glorious inheritance, which he hath laid up for his

saints.

I. 20, 21. And set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 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:

And exalted him in his human nature, to the participation of his infinite glory and majesty, in the highest heavens; Far above all the most mighty and most glorious Angels of heaven, and whatsoever thing else is or can be named, either in earth or in heaven:

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

And hath put all things in subjection to him, as Mediator; and hath appointed him to have the disposing of all things, as the Head of the Church:

I. 23. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Which Church is so to Christ, as the body is to the head, making up the fulness of Christ, who hath of himself full perfection and infinite power and majesty; so as his goodness holds not himself complete without his Church.

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