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II. 15. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

And, having spoiled the principalities and powers of hell, he made a shew openly, leading them, as manacled captives, after him; being exalted upon the triumphant chariot of his Cross.

II. 16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holiday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

Since therefore the Mosaical ceremonies are thus abrogated, let no man judge you, in matter of eating or drinking; or in respect of your solemn annual festivities, of Pasch, Pentecost, Tabernacles; or of your monthly feasts of New Moons; or of your weekly feasts, the Jewish Sabbaths:

II. 17. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Which observations are only types and shadows of things, which were then to come; but the body and substance, shadowed and figured out by them, is Christ.

II. 18. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly

mind.

Let no man beguile you of your prize, which is laid ready at the goal for you, by drawing you aside, under pretences of voluntary humility, to those opinions and practices which are not warrantable; as to worship the Angels, under colour of an awful modesty, in not going first to God, without a mediation: out of a bold curiosity intruding himself into the profession of knowing that, which he hath not seen; and vainly puffed up with a proud conceit of his own skill;

II. 19. And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

And not holding himself to the true knowledge of Christ, who is the only Head of the Church; from whom, all the body of his universal Church, being knit together by the joints and bands of one common Spirit, receiveth due spiritual nourishment, and groweth up and increaseth in the graces of God, till it come to a full stature.

II. 20, 21, 22. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Wherefore, if ye have part in Christ's death, by which these Mosaical ordinances are abrogated and abolished, why, as though ye were still of the world and had no interest in Christ,

are ye subject to the rites and ordinances of the Ceremonial Law, (as to stand upon the terms of Touch not this, Taste not that, Handle not that other; All which meats and drinks, whereof they are so scrupulous, perish with the using, and have no further being after they are received) interpreted and urged after the commandments and traditions of men?

II. 23. Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in willworship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Which opinions and practices of theirs are such, as wherein they make indeed a great shew of wisdom and piety, professing a voluntary humiliation, and afflicting of themselves with hard usages of the body, in fasting and abstinence; and not yielding that due respect and care to the body, which were meet for the moderate and fit sustentation thereof.

III. 3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

It is not for you, to affect the things of the world: for ye are dead to the world, and to all the vain and sinful motions and desires thereof; but ye have already, and shall enjoy hereafter, another manner of life, which the world cannot see or discern; for it is hid and laid up with Christ, in God; as out of the knowledge, so out of the danger of the world.

III. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, &c.

Mortify therefore all the limbs of your earthly and sinful corruptions; fornication, uncleanness, &c.

III. 9. Seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Seeing that ye have put off your old depraved nature, with the sinful works thereof;

III. 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him :

And are professed, that ye are become new men, renewed in knowledge and all holy disposition; after the image of God, who hath created this new heart in you:

III. 11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, &c.

In which business of renovation, there is no respect of persons at all, whether a man be a Jew or a Greek, &c. but every man is accepted, according to that measure wherein Christ his Saviour, and his Holy Spirit, dwells and works in him.

III. 12. Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering.

Contrary, therefore, to those limbs of your corruptions, take to yourselves, as it becomes the elect children of God, holy

and beloved, all those graces of regeneration, which are meet for your Christian profession; tender-mercies, and compassion, kindness, &c.

III. 14, 15. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

And, above all these, see that your hearts be filled with charity, which doth perfectly unite together all the members of this mystical body; and, by and in which, all other graces are perfected, for the use of God's Church. And let that Christian peace, which God worketh in you, and which your holy profession calleth you to, by virtue of your union with the whole Church, rule and reign in your hearts.

III. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms &c.

Let the doctrine of Christ be familiarly settled in your hearts, and make you rich in all wisdom; so as that ye may be able to teach and admonish one another; that ye may express the joy of your hearts in psalms &c.

IV. 3. That God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds.

That God would vouchsafe unto us fair and happy opportunities of preaching the Gospel; and give us powerful assistance, and abilities to deliver the great mysteries of the Gospel of Christ, for which I am now in bonds.

IV. 5. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Walk carefully and wisely, and carry yourselves inoffensively towards those that are not of the Church of God; and take all advantages and opportunities of doing good.

IV. 6. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Let your speech be always gracious and savoury, such as may argue the holy disposition of the heart, from whence it comes; so framing your words to the occasion, as that ye may return a meet answer to every man.

IV. 11. These only are my fellow workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

These two only of the Jewish nation have helped me, in the preaching and furtherance of the Gospel; and have been comfortable unto me, in their encouragements and loving ministrations.

IV. 16. And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

And, after that this Epistle hath been read among you,

cause that it be read also in the neighbour Church of Laodicea; and let this inclosed Epistle, which was written to me from Laodicea, importing much the good of you all, be likewise read amongst you.

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS.

I. 3. Remembring without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

We do, upon all occasions, give thanks to God, for your faith, hope, and charity; and for the gracious effects and proof of them all: that your faith hath approved itself in good works; your love, in a laboursome endeavour for the help of your brethren; your hope, in a patient enduring of sufferings; whereby ye have fastened yourselves upon our Lord Jesus Christ, in sincerity, as in the sight of God, our Heavenly Father;

I. 4. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. Knowing, brethren, and being upon good reason fully persuaded, that ye are elected of God, to salvation.

I. 5. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

And the ground of this our persuasion is the happy and fruitful success of our preaching amongst you: for our Gospel was not only verbally preached amongst you, and so formally entertained; but it was both delivered and received amongst you, in much powerful working upon your hearts, with much evidence of the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance of the infallible truth thereof; as we do also appeal to your consciences, after what manner we demeaned ourselves amongst you, with what meekness, patience, diligence for the winning of your souls.

I. 9. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.

For when we go about to report your forwardness, they are ready to prevent us; and, upon famous relation, can tell us how loving entertainment and kind acceptance we had from you, in our first entering to you and how cheerfully ye obeyed our Gospel, in turning presently from your idols, to serve the true and ever-living God.

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II. 1. For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain.

For yourselves, brethren, and your own consciences can abundantly testify, that our preaching amongst you was not in vain, but exceedingly effectual.

II. 2. To speak unto you the gospel of God with much con

tention.

To speak unto you the Gospel of God, with much fervency of zeal, and with powerful opposition of the gainsayers.

II. 3. For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile.

For our teaching amongst you was not in a colloguing and colluding fashion, to make a gain secretly of you; neither was it in a plausible way of humouring uncleanness and impurity of living.

II. 5. Nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness.

Neither did I make my preaching as a colour or cloke of my covetous seeking for wealth, as if I aimed at my profit only, in my teaching.

II. 6. When we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

When we might have taken upon us, and have required a chargeable maintenance, and have borne a port, fit for the Apostles of Christ.

II. 8. But also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. Not the Gospel only, but our very lives also, which are worthy to be most dear and precious to us.

II. 12. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

That ye would walk in so holy a manner, as might become those, whom God hath honoured with the high calling of Christianity, and to whom he hath intended to give so glorious a kingdom.

II. 14. For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

For ye, brethren, became followers of those Christian Churches, which are planted in Judea: for ye also have suffered, from your countrymen of Thessalonica, the very same kind of persecutions, which they suffered of their countrymen, the Jews:

II. 15. Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men :

Which Jews, that ye may see and know ye have partners in all your sufferings and hard measures offered unto you, have proceeded very maliciously in their cruel persecutions for they both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own holy Prophets; and have spitefully chased us, who are of their blood and na

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