possible, that it may there be that which, as a gift,
was inherent in them, and so be agreeable to the rest
of the graces mention'd there, and yet here be the
means by which they were enriched; and if so, then it
will signifie the preaching of the word, the doctrine
of the Gospel as it is first preach'd and made known to
men that had not before received it, as when we read
of preaching the word, that notes the doctrine of Christ,
as it was taught by him, or the articles that were to be
believed of him, his death and resurrection, &c. This
is wont to be set opposite to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 doctrine (see
1 Tim. 5. 17.) which is the farther instructing of them
that have formerly received the faith, and accordingly
it may be so taken here, where 'tis set opposite to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
knowledge, which is the explication and unfolding of
the mysteries of religion, and may well be here the
watering of Apollos, which was superadded to the
planting of Paul, and both of them together make up
that which followes ver. 6. the testimony of Christ
confirmed in you, the testimony of Christ being the
Gospel, c. 2. 1. as 'tis first preached, (so Joh. 21. 24. where
'tis distinguished from the very writing of it, and so
1 Joh. 1. 2. but especially Rev. 1. 2.) and the confir∣ming
of it, is farther declaring, and proving, and
explaining of it; the first being prerequired to the ba∣ptizing
of any, the second usefull for the fitting them
for that imposition of hands which we ordinarily call
Confirmation.
[ c] Ib. Knowledge] That the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here signi∣fies
the farther explication of the Christian doctrine,
may appear, not only by the use of it in other places
(see Note on 2 Pet. 1. c.) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the word
of knowledge, c. 12. 8. that is, being able to explain
mysteries (as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the word of wisdome there,
is being able to speak parables, or to use other such
waies of veiling wise conceptions,) but especially by
the circumstances of the Context here, the Gospels be∣ing
confirmed in them, v. 6. And this of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 being
here set down as a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a special gift, and the be∣ing
made rich in every thing (particularly in word
and knowledge,) being all one with coming behind, or
being wanting (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) in no gift, ver. 7. this is again
according to what we see ch. 12. 8. where 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is
one of the gifts of the Spirit. Thus 2 Cor. 11. 6.
where Paul's 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is preferred above his speech, 'tis
his skill in explaining the mysteries of the Scripture,
which is shewn in his writings in a greater height, then
in his speech (when he was present with them) was
observable. Thus Ephes. 1. 17. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
the Spirit of revelation, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in discerning
and acknowledging of Christ, the understanding of
Prophecies, and discerning Christ in them, is there joy∣ned
with the Spirit of wisdome, as 1 Cor. 12. 5. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
had been, and 1 Tim. 4. 13. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, part of Bishop
Timothy's task, seems to be expounding, not simply
reading of Scriptures, to which is joyned exhortati∣on
and doctrine. Thus is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 used in this Epistle
c. 8. 1. where this gift of explaining mysteries is look'd
on as apt to puffe men up, and so indeed some Here∣ticks
of that time were so exalted and puff'd up with
it, that taking upon them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 v. 2. to know some∣what,
that is, some extraordinary matter above other
men (as he that thinks himself to be something, that is,
some extraordinary person, all one with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 some
great one, Act. 8. 9.) they call'd themselves 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, knowing men, from this sort of sublime
knowledge and explication of difficulties (as also
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the spiritual, from this extraordinary gift)
and so are referred to in that chapter, under the word
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ver. 10, 11. and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, knowledge
so called, but not truly so, from a false, not true Spirit,
1 Tim. 6. 20.
[ d] V. 6. Confirmed] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to establish ap∣plied
here to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 testimony, may perhaps literally
referre to the forinsick customes among the Jewes,
where there being three parts of their Judicial processe,
first 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the entring of the cause, secondly,
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, stabilitio litis, the establishment of the
matter in dispute, thirdly, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Job 29. 16. the sear∣ching
into the cause, the second of these may be here
literally rendred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, confirmation or establish∣ment.
For that second consisted in the interposing of an
oath on one side, which is therefore called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
Heb. 6. 16. the end of contradiction, that is, of that
affirming and denying, which was formerly lawfull
betwixt the actors, till the oath on one side had given
the Judge some reason to incline that way, and that is
said to be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in that place, for the seiling, or
establishing the cause, in that sense wherein the Ro∣mane
law saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
(Psellus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. v. 1243.) an oath takes off
the Judge from that dubiousnesse that before he was
in, one affirming and the other denying the same thing.
By analogie to this, the preaching of the Gospel by
the Apostles being called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a testimony or wit∣ness,
viz. that which the Apostles gave in to the testi∣fying
the truth of the Gospel (being eye-witnesses
thereof) this testimony may be said to be established
or confirmed, when beside the first preaching of it,
more light, and knowledge, and evidences have been
afforded to the removing of all ignorance or doubt
from mens minds. And so the meaning of the phrase
here 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 will be clearly this,
that the Gospel which we first preach'd, the testimony
which we gave of Christ, hath since by sufficient pro∣bation
been made good among you, to incline you to
consent to the truth of it.
[ e] V. 19. Wisdome] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies three
things in these books: sometimes the mind or intelle∣ctual
faculty, Mar. 12. 33. where God is to be loved
with all thy mind, (see Note on Rom. 1. l.) secondly,
an habit of science, or prudence, as here; thirdly, per∣spicacity,
Ephes. 3. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 7.
[ f] V. 20. Disputer] What is the meaning of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
in this place is not easie to determine, because, as
the word it self, so the adjunct 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is very ca∣pable
of a double notion: for if 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 be ren∣dred,
of this world, then it will seem to signifie the
Heathen world, and so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
all be interpreted accordingly, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the wise
moralist, as the seven wise men of Greece and Socrates
after, who for the moral learning was by the Oracle
proclaimed the wisest man in the world, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
the learned philologer, literator, as Tertullian renders
it, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the searcher, or indagator, into the
nature of things, which the Hebrews call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
this world, the philosopher, or natural magici∣an.
And so the next words would encline one to un∣derstand
the place, the wisdome of the world ver. 20.
and the world which by wisdom knew not God ver. 21.
looking most directly upon the heathen Philosophers,
who are by Baruch described in these words ch. 3. 23.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they that seek out,
or search, wisdom on the earth. But then if 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
be rendred, of this age, then it may more pro∣bably
referre to the Jewes; as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
chap. 2. 6. must signifie the chief of the Jewes of
that age, which crucified Christ, ver. 8. that is, cau∣sed
him to be crucified, and there is mention of those,
v. 22. and 23. and then 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may belong to the Jew,
and denote their 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, naturallists, that un∣dertook
to know every work of the creation; and so
likewise 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 will belong to the Jew, and signifie
him that is skill'd in their laws, and which interpreted
them to the people according to the literal sense, their
Doctors; and then 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 will have a peculiar noti∣on
among them also: For it was the custome of the
Jewes, for many of the learned among them to sit in