A paraphrase and annotations upon all the books of the New Testament briefly explaining all the difficult places thereof / by H. Hammond.

Annotations on Chap. VI.

[ a] * 1.1 V. 1. Spiritual] What is meant by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Spiritual here, may appear by what hath been said of the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Spirit Luk. 9. d. which signifies not onely the Spirit of God, whereby men are refor∣med, and the deeds of the flesh (in the precedent chap∣ter) mortified, but also the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the powers and gifts, which were bestowed on men in the Church, in order to Ministerial functions or offices there. And that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Spiritual are here thus to be under∣stood in proportion to, and by Analogie with, these, may be guess'd by the severals which here follow: first, the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Spirit of meeknesse, which these Spi∣ritual men are to use. This clearly belongs to the pow∣er of the keyes, vested in the Governours of the Church, and is therefore set opposite to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the rod 1 Cor.* 1.2 4. 21. where as coming with the rod, evidently signifies proceeding to discipline, to Censures of Excommuni∣cation, so coming in the Spirit of meeknesse, (and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, disciplining in meekness, 2 Tim. 2. 24.) is admonishing those meekly that have offended, (and to whom that method of fraternal reprehension is first necessary) as perhaps also admitting to repentance and absolution those that have reformed upon the in∣fliction of the Censures.* 1.3 And accordingly this Spirit of meeknesse here is this milder part of the Apostolical of∣fice, which is to precede the more severe; (and to pre∣vent it if, it be possible) first, Admonitions and Repre∣hension, which if they prevail, there is no need of pro∣ceeding any farther; and secondly, an easy admission to penitence, (in case the Censures have pass'd upon him) without proceeding to any higher degree of Censures, as in case of obstinacy might be seasonable. To this second the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may incline,* 1.4 which we render Restore, but signifies properly to put in joint any member of a body which is dislocated, and so it fitly belongs to the restoring an Excommunicate person to the society and peace of the Church; but yet not onely so, but signifies also to recover the offender to a sense and reformation, be it by admonition, reprehen∣sion, or any such milder means, see Note on 2 Cor. 13. c. And the doing of this being proper to the Gover∣nours of the Church, it follows, that these be here meant by the Spiritual.

[ b] * 1.5 V. 11. How large a letter] What 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies, Theophylact hath express'd his opinion. S. Paul, saith he, was accused to preach in other places for the observation of the Mosaical Law, contrary to what this Epistle contains. This forced him to testifie, what here he saith, under his own hand, that he did no where preach for the Law, c. 5. 2. and c. 6. 14. And therefore, whereas his other Epistles were oft written by an Amanuensis, and onely the salutation with his own hand, yet here, saith he, he was forced to write all himself, and that, as he will conjecture, though he was not very well skilled in writing, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, saith he: And this, as he thinks, is noted by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is by Hesychius rendred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not how long, or how great, but of what manner, what sort, noting the quality rather than quantity.* 1.6 And 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are letters, meaning the let∣ters of the Alphabet, and not so properly an Epistle. And accordingly, saith Theophylact, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, it is not to denote the length or magnitude, but the defor∣mity,

of the letters, or characters, in which this Epistle was written, S. Paul being necessitated to write it all with his own hand. But now, granting, as we have rea∣son, this to be the right notion of the single words, yet there is no necessity either this should be thus applyed to the illness of the character, or inlarged to the writing the whole Epistle with his own hand: that is not so much as intimated in any other place, or in any antient record, and this one place cannot conclude it; for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 notes the sort or kind of the hand indefinitely, not defining what it was, save onely that it was such as was known to be his. For so 2 Thess. 3. 17. the writing the salutation (some few words in the close) with his own hand, was, saith he, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the token in every Epistle, that by which it was known to be his. And so if here it be supposed, that the whole Epistle were written by an Amanuensis, as far as to c. 6. v. 11. and then the pen taken into the Apostles own hand, and used by him to the end of the Epistle, he may well begin thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, you see and know with what kind of letters I have written, you know the character, that it is my own hand, under which it is that I testifie all that is before written in the Epistle, particularly that which is in answer to the ca∣lumnie against me, as if I preached circumcision, &c. in other places, which I have assured you, and demon∣strated by my persecutions from the Jewes, that I do not; and to this purpose I here adde again, under my own hand, a character of your Gnostick seducers, v. 12, 13. and the profession of my own opinion and practice, v. 16, 18. and again an evidence of my doctrine and practice from my sufferings, v. 17. And thus the whole difficulty is sufficiently explicated without imagining any more.* 1.7 Or if the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I have written be thought to conclude, that he had written that which went be∣fore, and so the whole Epistle, I answer that it is possi∣ble he might, but not necessarily to be concluded by that forme of that word; because if we still restrain it to these last verses, this will have perfect truth in it. For when he saith,* 1.8 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ye see, he must needs refer to that point of time wherein his Epistle should be received and read by the Galatians, and then 'tis certain that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I have written will be as true of the last verses, as of the former part of the Epistle. And so that diffi∣culty is removed also.

Notes

• * 1.1

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• * 1.2

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• * 1.3

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• * 1.4

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• * 1.5

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• * 1.6

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• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.8

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