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

CHAP. VI.

1. BRethren,* 1.1 if a man be† 1.2 overtaken in a fault, ye which are [note a] spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meeknesse; considering thy self, lest thou also be tempted.]

[Paraphrase] 1. When any Christian falls into a fault, you that are the governours in the Churches shall doe well not to exercise too great severity on him, but either to regaine him by friendly advice, or els upon sight of his contrition restore him to the peace of the Church again, considering how possible it is, that thou also thy self mayst fall into the like sin in time of temptation. See Jam. 1. 13.

2. Bear ye one anothers burthens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ.]

[Paraphrase] 2. Ease one another as much as ye can, as in a building every stone assists the next, helps to bear the weight that lyes upon it, and contributes its part to the support of the whole fabrick, &c. and lay not weight on one another by censuring and aggravating of other men's crimes, for so charity requires, which is the summe of the Law, ch. 5. v. 14.

3. For if a man think himself to be something,* 1.3 when he is nothing, he decei∣veth himself.]

[Paraphrase] 3. And, because of the as∣suming, haughty Gnosticks among you, I shall adde, that if any man think highly of himself above other men, that man first, is nothing, his opiniating is an argument of it; and besides secondly, he brings danger upon his own soul by this errour, falls into censuring and contemn∣ing of others, and into many dangerous sins by that means, and so cheats himself, and perswades no man else, but becomes ridiculous by his vanity.

4. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing† 1.4 in himself alone, and not in another.]

[Paraphrase] 4. But let every man so prove and examine his own actions, as to approve them to his own conscience and to God (see Rom. 2. note. f.) and then he shall take comfort in looking on himself absolutely, (and not only in comparison with others, whom he judgeth to be inferiour to him,) and discerning how he is a better Christian to day then he was yesterday.

5. For every man shall bear his own burthen.]

[Paraphrase] 5. For you shall answer for no man's sins but your own, and therefore need not busie your selves about other mens actions, but onely your own.

6. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth* 1.5 in all good things.]

[Paraphrase] 6. He that receiveth the benefit of spiritual instruction from another, ought to be very liberal and communicative of all that he hath to that persons wants.

7. Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap.]

[Paraphrase] 7. And in this, as in all other acts of charity, especi∣ally of piety toward those that are employed by God, let a man resolve, that as he deals with God, so shall God deal with him: as a man's course of life is, so shall he speed at God's tribunal.

8. For he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh also reap corruption: but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.]

[Paraphrase] 8. For as he that makes provision, and layes out all his care and wealth for the feeding his own carnal desires, shall thereby bring losse and ruine to himself; so he that liveth accor∣ding to the Gospel rule of liberality and charity to others, ver. 6. and laies himself out in works of piety, &c. shall thereby inherit eternal life.

9. And let us not† 1.6 be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.]

[Paraphrase] 9. And in duties of cha∣rity, &c. which have promises annexed to them, let us not be discouraged, though we meet not presently with our reward; For as if we fall off, we shall lose all our reward, even for that which we have hitherto laboured, so if we hold out constantly, we shall be sure to have our reward in that season which God sees fittest for us, whether in this life or another.

10. As we have therefore* 1.7 opportunity, let us doe good unto all men, especi∣ally unto them who are† 1.8 of the houshold of faith.]

[Paraphrase] 10. This is sufficient mat∣ter of encouragement to us, to make use of those abilities that God hath or shall give us, and accordingly to expresse our liberality, and beneficence to all men, but especially to those that are of the family of the Gospel, and take pains continually in the work of the Lord (in Apostleship, &c.) and whose lot is the Lord, who preaching the Gospel are to live by it in all reason, see v. 6.

11. You see‖ 1.9 how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

12. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.]

[Paraphrase] 12. They that desire to ap∣pear Jewes, and comply with them, and not to be persecuted by them (for the Jewes out of zeal to their law did then persecute the Christians) will needs have you circumcised, that by that means they seeming earnest for Judaisme (not Christianisme) may escape persecution from the Jewes, see note on Rev. 2. b.

13. For neither* 1.10 they themselves who are circumcised keep the Law, but desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh.]

[Paraphrase] 13. This, 'tis clear, is the ground of their practice, and not any conscientious perswasion of the obligingnesse of the Law; for they doe not themselves observe the Law in other things, perhaps not in that of circumcision (see note on Rev. 2. e.) but that they may make a fair shew that way, by being able to say that they have made you observe the Judaical law, they force you to be circumcised, &c.

14. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.]

[Paraphrase] 14. Such complyances and such boastings as these God forbid that I should ever make use of, or of any other, but only that one matter of true boasting and rejoicing in my sufferings for Christ, in my constancy to the Christian religion and discipleship, by which the pleasures and honour and riches of the world are become livelesse and untempting to me, and I in like manner livelesse, mottified to the world: and therefore as I pro∣fesie not to be wrought on by those motives with which your Judaizing false-teachers are moved, so I would not have you cheated by them.

15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircum∣cision, but [a new creature.]

[Paraphrase] 15. the renewed regenerate heart, c. 5. b.

16. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon [the Israel of God.]

[Paraphrase] 16. all renewed regenerate persons, which, whether cir∣cumcised or no, are equally the people of God, and acceptable in his sight.

17. From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.]

[Paraphrase] 17. For the time to come, I should be glad if they that are Christians, or would be esteemed so, would not cause trouble or vexation to me, for I am now otherwise employed then to need that trouble, and have greater evidence of my being a servant of Christ, then to doubt of the sincerity of the discharge of my office, and my acceptance with him, howsoever I am looked on by you; for I have on me those afflictions which are marks and notes of a servant of Christ, and which testifie me to belong to him, and that 'tis not long before he will seise me as his own peculiar.

18. Brethren, [the grace] of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen, Unto the Galatians,* 1.11 written from [Rome.].

[Paraphrase] 18. the favour and loving kindnesse

Annotations on Chap. VI.

[ a] * 1.12 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.* 1.13 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.* 1.14 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,* 1.15 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] * 1.16 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.* 1.17 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.* 1.18 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,* 1.19 〈 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

  though 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.2

  surprized 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  being nothing 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.4

  toward himself only, and not toward another, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.5

  of all his goods 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.6

  grow slothfull 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.7

  ability, see note on Phil. 4. d.
• † 1.8

  the dome∣sticks of the faith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• ‖ 1.9

  with what kind of let∣ters
• * 1.10

  doe they themselves being cur∣cumcised keep the law, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.11

  See note on the Title to the Epistle.
• * 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.15

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.16

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.17

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.18

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.19

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉