Page 597
Annotations on the Epistle to the Galatians. Chap. I.
[ a] * 1.1 V. 2. Brethren which are with me] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 brethren doth oft signifie no more then believers, Christians; but here being joyned with Paul in the writing of the Epistle 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, all the brethren with me, it seems to denote those that accom∣panied S. Paul in his travails, & assisted him in the prea∣ching of the Gospel, such as Timothy and Clemens Phil 4. 3. and the rest, who are there called his fellow∣labourers. Thus Phil. 4, 21. The brethren that are with me seem to signifie, being distinguish'd from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 all the Saints, v. 22. And thus in the Epistles to the Philippians and Colossians, Timothy is joyned with him in the Inscription, and Silvanus and Timo∣theus both in the Epistles to the Thessalonians (and so the same probably here, or the like, though they be not named.) And so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the brother 2 Cor. 8. 18. and c. 12. 18. is thought to be either Silvanus or S. Luke, the constant companion of S. Paul for some time: And so our brethren 2 Cor. 8. 23.
[ b] * 1.2 V. 10 Perswade] What 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to perswade men and God signifies, must be taken from the like phrase in the Old Testament, 1 Sam. 24. 7. where the Greek hath these words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, David perswaded his men with words, where we read, David stai'd his servants with these words. The men that were with David were very eager to have him take the advantage against Saul, and kill him, v. 4. & were ready to rise up against him to kill him, v. 7. & Davids speech to them took them off from this bloody purpose, and that is express'd by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 per∣swading them, appeasing, pacifying them. Thus is it the office of a Rhetor, or advocate, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to perswade, that is, to appease the judge to the client whose cause is pleaded, to propitiate him. So Mat. 28. 14. If the Governour hear of it, that is, of the souldiers being so negligent, as to let Christ be stolne out of the grave which they were set to watch,* 1.3 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, we will perswade him, that is, appease him, obtain his pardon for you, and, as it followes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, we will free you from all sollicitude of securing your selves from that heavy punishment that by the Roman Laws Martiall was due to the watch-man that fell asleep. By which it is clear that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is to propitiate, or gain ones favour, to appease wrath, or punishment, to avert displeasure; and so it is here, to perswade men, that is, to say, or teach those doctrines which will avert the displeasure of the persecuting Jewes, which the Gno∣stick teachers did; and to perswade God is to endeavour to say and preach that which may avert Gods wrath, be acceptable to him, obtain and secure his favour. And this is in the next words explained by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to please men, as that is contrary to, and unreconcileable with, the service, or approving himself to God.
[ c] * 1.4 V. 15. Separated me from my mothers wombe] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to separate in this place signifies in the same man∣ner as Act. 13. 2. (spoken of this Apostle) a conse∣cration to the Apostolical office, onely with this diffe∣rence, that there it is spoken of it as instantly to be performed by the ministry of men, here onely in the de∣signation or decree of God, which is therefore said to be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from the womb,* 1.5 to denote the no-contri∣bution made by him toward this decree of giving him a commission to be an Apostle, or the no-merit consi∣der'd in him by God, when he designed him to this of∣fice. This farther includes a purpose of God's to call him from heaven, in the midst of his madnesse against Christians, (which mercy of God's to him was founded in his doing it ignorantly, 1 Tim. 1. 13.) and his fore∣sight that he would immediately convert upon that call; which two being first supposed (in God's eternal pur∣pose and prescience) it must needs follow to be an act of his unmerited free choice from all eternity, that God purposed to make use of him for the converting of o∣thers, who had himself been wonderfully changed from so profess'd an enmity to the faith, to so perfect an obedience to it. But this being a designation onely to the dignity of the Apostolical office, (as Jeremy c. 1. 4. and John Baptist, and others appear to have been de∣signed to the prophetick) can with no reason be so ap∣plied as to inferre any irrespective decree or destina∣tion of his person to heaven and blisse; that being lai'd up for him as a crown of righteousnesse, a reward of the finishing his course and perseverance, 2 Tim. 4. 8.