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. 13. For, Brethren, yee have been called unto li∣berty, onely use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

The second part of the Chapter follows, wherein the reason of his imprecation is given, viz. because the se∣ducers called them back, and drew them again under the yoak, whom God called to liberty; under the form of an exhortation, hee gives three Precepts concerning the right use of Christian liberty.

Onely] 1. That bridleing the flesh, or the sinful lusts of corrupt nature (lest that being unsubdued it should draw Christian liberty into a licentiousness to sin) they may serve one another in the duties of love.

Vers. 14. For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self.

Hee gives two reasons of this Precept, (1.) Be∣cause the Law is fulfilled in love, and not in bare cere∣monies.

Vers. 15. But if you bite and devour one another, take heed yee bee not consumed one of another.

(2.) Because unless they follow after love, they will mutually devour and destroy one another by con∣tentions.

Vers. 16. This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and yee shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

The second Precept is for the confirmation of the former, that they follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost walking as hee himself out of the Scripture hath sug∣gested to their hearts.

And that which] The reasons of the Precept are six, Reas. 1. Because so the lusts of the flesh shall not rule over you, that yee may as servants obey its commands: Therefore follow yee the guidance of the Spirit.

Vers. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other.

Reas. 2. Confirming the former, because hee that fol∣lows the guidance of the Spirit, will become victorious in the contest betwixt the flesh, and the Spirit. That this reason might bee plain, the Apostle presupposes three things: (1.) Hee that is lead by the Spirit hath his na∣ture partly renewed, which is called the Spirit, and partly corrupt, which is called the Flesh. (2.) Hee pre∣supposes these two contrary principles with contrary en∣deavours to fight with one another, that neither good, nor evill without opposition, and a mutual impediment can

bee put in execution. (3.) Hee presupposes that the Holy Ghost doth help Beleevers in their striving by the Word and Grace. From whence it is concluded, that hee which hearkeneth to the Spirit, will become victo∣rious in striving.

Vers. 18. But if yee bee led by the Spirit, yee are not under the Law.

Reason 3. Confirming the former. Because they that are led by the Spirit, are not servants to sin under the ser∣vile Covenant of the Law, to whom onely the knowledge of sin is vouchsafed, but not the victory or strength a∣gainst sin: but Gods Free-men are they, who under the Covenant of Grace obtain strength of God for the re∣sisting of sin.

Vers. 19. Now the Works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, Fornication, Unclean∣ness, Lasciviousness,

20. Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hatred, Variance, Emula∣tions, ••rath, Strife, Seditions, Heresies,

21. Envyings, Murders, Drunkenness, Revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things, shall not inherit the Kingdome of God.

Reason 4. Because if they do not follow the Spirit, but rather the flesh, doing the Works of the flesh (of which sort hee reckons seventeen) they shall not bee heirs of the Kingdome of God.

Vers. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Ioy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith,

23. Meekness, Temperance: against such there is no Law.

Reason 5. Because if they follow the Spirit, and bring forth such fruit (of whith sort hee reckons nine) they will not have the Law against them, i. e. cursing them, and condemning them; but for Reconciliation sake to∣wards God they shall finde the Law their friend: There∣fore it behoved you to follow the Spirit.

Vers. 24. And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Hee proves that they shall not have the Law against them, because they that are Christs, and judicially cru∣cified in Christ, for satisfaction to the Law, they are al∣so judicially obliged to crucifie the body of sin, i. e. cor∣rupt nature, with the affections and lusts. Wherefore they that actually indeavour to peform that, and to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, they cannot have the Law against them, as they that now seriously indeavour to pro∣mote the scope and end of the Law.

Vers. 25. If wee live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Reason 6. Because by the Spirit wee have Consolation, Peace, and Joy, wherein life consists: Therefore wee ought to follow the guidance of the Spirit.

Vers. 26. Let us not bee desirous of vain-glory, pro∣voking one another, envying one another.

The third Precept is especially concerning the shun∣ning Ambition, with the attendants of that vice, viz. backbiting and envy, with which evils the Churches used to bee infected. But because the Doctors of the Church were chiefly obnoxious to these vices: Therefore hee in∣cludes himself in this Exhortation with the rest, that the Galatians may more easily receive this Exhortation.