A supplement to Dr. Hammond's paraphrase and annotations on the New Testament in which his interpretation of many important passages is freely and impartially examin'd, and confirm'd or refuted : and the sacred text further explain'd by new remarks upon every chapter / by Monsieur Le Clerc ; English'd by W. P. ; to which is prefix'd a letter from the author to a friend in England, occasion'd by this translation.

CHAP. III.

Vers. 10. Note b. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 properly is the same with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, he that follows any 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sect, whether its Doctrins are true or false. But the Doctrins of the Apostolical Churches, govern'd by the Apostles, or by Apostolical Men,

that agreed with their Teachers, being true; whoever departed from their 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (that word being understood in a good sense) did by consequence maintain false Doctrins. And hence Persons of er∣roneous Opinions, whether they were such as desired to live in the Church provided they might be tolerated, or whether they chose to separate themselves from it, were afterwards called Here∣ticks. But as there is a difference to be made between Men and Times, so also between Hereticks; and therefore this Precept of St. Paul must not be urged beyond what he intended it. Whoever heretofore departed from the Apostles, did by that very thing de∣ny themselves to be Christians, because they contradicted inspired Men, from whom alone the Christian Doctrin could be learned, and whose Authority was confirmed by Miracles. Those undoubtedly were to be avoided by Christians, who when they had believed the Apostles, did afterwards reject their Doctrin and follow other Tea∣chers. But those who after the Governors of Churches were not in∣spired, nor endued with a Power of working Miracles, seemed to themselves to observe in the Churches a departure from the Apostles in things themselves, tho they were cunningly dissembled, and re∣quested a reformation of those Errors from the Governors of Church∣es; these, I say, were not any longer 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to be avoided, if they could truly charge others with dangerous Errors and Tyranny. These cannot have that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 bugbear name of the Church ob∣jected to them, as if the greatest number which are qualified with that name, could not by degrees at least fall off from the Doctrin of the Apostles; and all that separated from it must necessarily be in a state of Damnation.

Ibid. Note c. I. Besides the difference which our Author has ob∣served between this place and the words of Christ in Mat. xviii. there is this further observable, that there Christ speaks of an injury done to any private Man, and which if it endamaged him, it was only with relation to his private Affairs; but here the Discourse is about a departure from the Apostles Doctrin, which concerned both the Apostles and the whole Church; in which case one or two Admoni∣tions might be sufficient, to know whether those who separated them∣selves from the Churches, would again return to them. Yet I do not think the words of St. Paul are to be taken so, as if he forbad such Men to be admonished a third time, before they were avoided, if there was any hope of reclaiming them. He only says after the first and second Admonition, to shew Christians that Men are not to be given over for lost presently after the first Admonition, but to be

often admonished. Surely Christian Charity will not allow us to number St. Paul's words so, as if after two Admonitions, without any regard had to Circumstances, it were necessary to proceed to Excom∣munication. Here are no Lawyers forms, in which Words are weigh∣ed, and Citations counted; but only a repressing of an overhasty Judg∣ment, that no one might be condemned unheard, or given up too soon.

II. As in Mat. xviii.17. Let him be unto thee as an Heathen and a Publican, does not signify Excommunicate him, for the Discourse is about any private Men, who had not the power of Excommunicati∣on: so also in this place, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is not to Excommunicate, but do not any longer converse with him, after several Admonitions given him to no purpose, avoid him. It is plain this is the proper signification of the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, nor can it be applied to Excommunication, unless the thing it self requires it. But here there is no necessity of its being taken in that sense, because an Heretick was self-excommunicate, and because he made a new Sect, and did not look upon Excommunicati∣on as a Punishment. Sinners who desire to continue in the Church notwithstanding their sinful practices, are excommunicated, that they may be reclaimed to a more Holy Life, when they see they cannot be accounted Members of the Church as long as they live wickedly; not those who voluntarily separate, and will no longer communicate with the Church. The following words confirm this interpretation, which is also Grotius's.

III. I have shewn on 2 Cor. xiii. that that place of St. Paul is wrest∣ed by our Author, and I will not repeat what I have there said.

Vers. 11. Note d. Here our Author does not seem to be sufficiently consistent with himself, having before interpreted 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to avoid of Excommunication; besides, he does not clearly enough shew what is meant by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because he confounds the present Churches with the Apostolical, which in that Age agreed with their Teachers▪ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here is one who forsaking the Apostolical and Christian Assemblies, did by that very thing deny himself to be a Christian, and therefore ought not any longer to be accounted a Christian by his own judgment. He was to be avoided therefore by Christians, of whose number he denied himself any longer to be. But now there are a great many who are called by other Christians by the hateful names of Hereticks and Schismaticks, who yet cannot be said to be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because they endeavour as much as others, to understand the Doctrin and Precepts of Christ, and conform themselves to them, and no less hope to be saved by the Grace of Christ alone. In this imperfect state of Mortality, many Errors creep into mens Minds through ig∣norance,

or prejudice and weakness of Judgment, who live no less Christianly, as to other things, than those that are free from such Errors. And it would be very unjust to call such 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, be∣cause they separate from others. Again, they who denied themselves to be Christians, could not complain if they were avoided by the Christians; but one that charges others with what he thinks to be Error, and cannot be present at their Assemblies, unless he approve them, and therefore absents himself from them, but yet does not avoid the Men themselves, or treat them less Christianly, is highly injured, if equal courtesy be not shewn him. This which was plain of it self, I thought fit to say in a few words, because our Author did not seem clearly enough to explain the mind of the Apostle, not that I designed to handle the thing as it deserves.

Vers. 14. Note f. In the place of the Acts 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is a business, not a providing of necessaries for Life. See Grotius on that place.