An expositon of all St. Pauls epistles together with an explanation of those other epistles of the apostles St. James, Peter, John & Jude : wherein the sense of every chapter and verse is analytically unfolded and the text enlightened. / David Dickson ...

The Second Part.

Vers. 12. And I thank Iesus Christ our Lord, who hath enabled ••ee: for that hee coun••ed mee faithful, putting mee into the Ministery,

The second part of the Chapter follows, which con∣tains the vindication of the authority of his Apostleship a∣gainst those that denied it, or in consideration of his fore-acted life did lessen it, and that with thanksgiving for the Grace that was bestowed upon him: Seven Rea∣sons are laid down of his thanksgiving; All which prove that his Apostleship is in no wise to bee disparaged.

Reas. 1. Christ by the grace of his Spirit hath strengthened mee an infirm man, and heretofore a slave to sin, the Devil, and the world, appointed an Apostle by him, that as a leader, I should with an invincible cou∣rage, stand up for the defence of the Gospel, against all the insul••••tions of the world▪ the flesh, ••nd the Devil: Therefore thanks are to bee given for my confirmation in the Apostleship, so little reason is there, that any thing should bee detracted.

Accounted mee faithful] Reas. 2. Christ hath endu∣ed mee, being appointed an Apostle, with the gifts of his Spirit, and hath so far honoured mee, that hee made and accounted mee his faithful friend, who would com∣mit to mee the Gospel, to bee dispensed to the souls of his Elect: Therefore my authority is not to bee dispa∣raged.

Hath appointed] Reas. 3. Christ the Lord hath pla∣ced mee in the Minist••ry, i. e. in the office of an Apostle, that I might wholly attend to the preaching of the Gos∣pel,

separated from the world to this business: who is it therefore that dares detract from my authority?

Vers. 13. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecu∣ter, and injurious, but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbeleef.

Reas. 4. Notwithstanding the wickedness, and the e∣vil deserts of my former life, God is not hindred from ta∣king mee into his service, who was in times past an ene∣my: Who therefore will disparage my authority upon the wickedness of my former conversation?

Ignorantly] Hee prevents an Objection; Some man might say, how could so open an enemy of Christ obtain pardon?

Hee answers that his sin was out of ignorance, and so hee proves that it was not that unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost, or a malicious insurrection against Christ, which the devilish enemies of the Gospel, knowingly practise, in opposition to the Kingdome of Christ; but sin committed out of ignorance, while hee was yet an unbeleever.

Vers. 14. And the Grace of our Lord was exceed∣ing abundant with Faith and Love, which is in Christ Iesus.

Reas. 5. God hath vouchsafed mee more than an or∣dinary measure of Faith and Love, and hath abundant∣ly shewed forth his Grace in the bestowing of his saving gifts: Therefore there is no reason that any one should detract from my Apostolick authority, from my former conversation.

Vers. 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Iesus came into the world to sav•• sinners, of whom I am chief.

Reas. 6. Christ through his eminent mercy towards mee, hath effected this, that being taught by experience, I should bee drawn first (as the chief of sinners in my o••n opinion) to subscribe to that sentence of the Gospel concerning the person of Christ, his office, comming, virtue, merit and efficacy to save sinners, so that I cannot but declare openly to the whole world the truth and be∣nefit of that sentence: for by experience I speak: It is a faithful saying, &c. Therefoee no disparagement ought to bee offered to my authority, who not onely beleeve my self what is committed to mee, but I also preach what I have experience of.

Vers. 16. Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in mee first, Iesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering for a patern to them that should here∣after beleeve on him to life everlasting.

Reas. 7. The Lord hath set mee for an example of his long-suffering, mercy, goodness, and admirable grace, that sinners to the end of the world, who shall hear of my wonderful conversion, and the bounty of God to∣wards mee, may bee abundantly confirmed in the love of Christ, and expect the like goodness towards them∣selves, looking upon mee, as a type, and exemplar of un∣speakable mercy: Therefore am I most fit to bee made a Preacher of that grace; and far bee it from any one to detract from my authority, because of my former con∣versation, while I was an unbeleever.

Vers. 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, in∣visible, the onely wise God, bee honour, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Th•• Apostle now affected with the greatness of the benefit, not satisfying himself in the amplification of it, with a pathetick thanksgiving, he concludes his speech, with an illustrious celebration of Christ, concerning whom hee produces four Epithites, which are so agreeable unto Christ, that they may also bee ascribed to the Fa∣ther, and to the Holy Ghost. 1 God, or Christ as God, is King of ages▪ i. e. by an Hebraism, the eternal King, that hee may bee distinguished from mundane and mortal Kings. 2 Immortal, because God is without all alteration, change, and corruption, and alwayes the same like himself▪ 3 Invisible, because hee cannot bee com∣prehended by the eyes, or any senses, because their facul∣ties are corporeal, and circumscribed with narrow limits▪ 4 Hee is onely wise, because hee alone knows all things, not by objects, nor by [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] ratiocination, but in, and by, and of himself, as one in whom are all things, as in their first efficient, and their ultimate end. Hence the Apostle ascribes honour to God, or a testification to his eminency, Glory, a celebrious fame with praise, which is eternally due unto God, adding Amen, as a seal of his faith and willingness to glorifie God.