Annotations upon all the New Testament philologicall and theologicall wherein the emphasis and elegancie of the Greeke is observed, some imperfections in our translation are discovered, divers Jewish rites and customes tending to illustrate the text are mentioned, many antilogies and seeming contradictions reconciled, severall darke and obscure places opened, sundry passages vindicated from the false glosses of papists and hereticks / by Edward Leigh ...

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Annotations upon all the New Testament philologicall and theologicall wherein the emphasis and elegancie of the Greeke is observed, some imperfections in our translation are discovered, divers Jewish rites and customes tending to illustrate the text are mentioned, many antilogies and seeming contradictions reconciled, severall darke and obscure places opened, sundry passages vindicated from the false glosses of papists and hereticks / by Edward Leigh ...
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Leigh, Edward, 1602-1671.
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London :: Printed by W.W. and E. G. for William Lee, and are to be sold at his shop ...,
1650.
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"Annotations upon all the New Testament philologicall and theologicall wherein the emphasis and elegancie of the Greeke is observed, some imperfections in our translation are discovered, divers Jewish rites and customes tending to illustrate the text are mentioned, many antilogies and seeming contradictions reconciled, severall darke and obscure places opened, sundry passages vindicated from the false glosses of papists and hereticks / by Edward Leigh ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A50050.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 22, 2025.

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ANNOTATIONS UPON THE Epistle of PAUL the Apostle, to the GALATIANS. (Book Galatians)

CHAP. I.

GAlatia was a most brave Province of lesser Asia neere Phrygia.* 1.1 See Acts 18.

The Apostle handleth the same argument here that he doth in the Romans; this is as it were an Epitome of that, and hath many the same sentences, reasons, and phrases with that.

Vers. 1. An Apostle] That is, called or designed to be an Apostle. Paul in his sa∣lutations is wont to stile himselfe an Apostle, that he may win authority to his do∣from his person.

Not of men] as Princes send civill Ambassadors, or as the Jewes sent false Apo∣stles.* 1.2

Neither by man] as Timothy, Titus, Luke, who were ordained by man; or else not by the commendation, paines or instruction of any man.

But by Iesus Christ and God the Father] That is immediately by God. Whosoever will take to him the place of teaching, it behoves him to speake in the name of God or Christ. But because the Galatians did more doubt of Pauls calling, therefore he expresseth more here then in his other Epistles, to assert that. He doth not barely af∣firme that he was called by God, but on the contrary denies that he either received it from men, or by men. He speaks not of the common Offices of Pastors, but of the Apostleship.

Vers. 4. From the present evill World] From bondage under the custome of it;* 1.3 from the fellowship with the men of it, and from the plagues that belong unto it.

Vers. 6. I marvell that ye are so soon removed] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is properly to be trans∣ferred or transported from one place to another, as Plants or Trees are wont to be transported, Hos. 5.10. the Septuagint useth this word, whence the Apostle borrows it. He speaks here of the apostasie or seduction of the Galatians by false Apostles.* 1.4 He alludes (saith Ierome) to the word Galal to roll; as if he should say, You are Ga∣latians that is, rolling and changing, falling from the Gospell of Christ to the law of Moses.

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Vers. 8. But though we or an Angell from Heaven preach any other Gospell to you] Plain∣ly implying,* 1.5 that though the person which brings a doctrine were an Angell, yet he must be tried. He doth not say a contrary Gospell, but any other Gospell. That which is directly besides the Gospell, is indirectly against the Gospell; if we be justi∣fied by faith, understanding it exclusively, that is, sola fide, then we are not justified by works.

Vers. 10. Doe I seek to please men?] This interogation is a negation; I do not seek.

* 1.6For if I yet please men] without respect to the pleasing of God, 1 Cor. 10.33. q.d. It is true indeed, once I did seek to please men, but I am now otherwise then I was.

Vers. 18. I went up to Ierusalem to see Peter] From this Greeke word rendred see 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 comes historia,* 1.7 in which things are set before our eyes, as it were.

CHAP. II.

Vers. 1. I Went up again to Ierusalem] Or, ascended, because Ierusalem was placed and seated upon a mountain,* 1.8 and compassed with mountains, Psalm 125. Or, in respect of the dignity and excellency of the place: as we in England are said to go up to London from all the parts of the Land, because it is the chief City.

Vers. 5. The truth of the Gospell] That is, the truth of God revealed in the Gospel concerning justification and salvation by the free grace of God,* 1.9 through the merits of Christ apprehended by faith.

Vers. 6. In conference added nothing to me] That is, he had so full a measure of Di∣vine revelation, that when they came to talke together of the points of Christian Religion, they could tell him nothing which he knew not before.

God accepteth no mans person] That is, for the outward appearance, as the Greeke will beare it; so he regards not the rich more then the poore.

Vers. 7. The Gospell of the uncircumcision was committed to me, as the Gospell of circum∣cision was unto Peter] The words Circumcision and uncircumcision signifie the Na∣tion of the Jews and Gentiles,* 1.10 the one circumcised the other uncircumcised.

Vers. 9. Iames, Cephas] Cephas is Peter, so called by Christ, Iohn 1.43. Iames na∣med before Peter,* 1.11 1 Cor. 9. Iohn 1.44. Not Peter but Iames was the President of the Councell of Ierusalem, because he spake the last, and concluded all, Acts 15.13. and 21.18.

He names Iames in the first place (saith Estius a Papist) for the honour of our Lord, whose brother he was, and because he was Bishop of Ierusalem, where these things were done, and also was much respected of the Jews for the opinion they had of his sanctity.

* 1.12Vers. 11. I withstood him to the face] Ierome and others would have it a shadow∣sight simulatè non verè; but face is not opposed to withstanding cordially but secret∣ly, behind his back. Paul resisted him in truth and good earnest; this appears be∣cause in the words following he sets down a weighty and urgent cause of his reproofe.

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Vers. 15. And not sinners of the Gentiles] The Gentiles were not greater sinners by nature then the Jewes;* 1.13 but the Apostle speaks here according to the opinion of the Jewes, who thought the Gentiles greater sinners then themselves. That is, not sin∣ners of the people of the Gentiles to whom the law was not given, they wanting the rule of Gods law ran head-long into every sinne.* 1.14

Vers. 20. I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me] shewing, that he had life whereby he did live, but had not life in himselfe to give to others, as Christ,* 1.15 Iohn 5.26. Austen.

CHAP. III.

Vers. 1. O Foolish Galathians] The Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies those that are stu∣pide, and which understand not what they ought;* 1.16 it is used also Luke 24.15. Foolish and slow of heart, the latter interprets the former.

Who hath bewitched you] That is, who hath deluded your eyes, and caused you to think you see that which you see not. He useth a word borrowed from the practise of witches and sorcerers, who use to cast a myst (as it were) before the eyes, that is,* 1.17 dazle them, and make things to appeare unto them which indeed they doe not see. Some say to bewitch is to hurt with the eyes.

Nescio quis teneros oculus mihi fascinat agnos. Virgil.
So the Greek word seems to intimate, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quasi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, id est, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Before whose eyes Iesus Christ hath been evidently set forth] As if he had said,* 1.18 to whom I have preached the doctrine of the Gospell in such evidence and plainnesse, as if Christ had been crucified among you, and you had seen his blood distilling from his hands and side. So Calvin, Pareus, Estius a Papist, and others.

Vers. 2. By the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith] By works is meant the do∣ctrine of justification by the works of the law;* 1.19 and by the hearing of faith is meant the doctrine of the Gospell: hearing being put for the thing heard, and faith for the doctrine believed.* 1.20

Vers. 6. It was imputed unto him for righteousnesse] To impute properly is a speech borrowed from Merchants; and it signifies to reckon,* 1.21 or to keep reckoning of ex∣pences and receits; so Ebilem 18. impute it to me, that is, set it on my reckoning; that is, the thing which his faith believed was imputed to him by God.

Vers. 13. Being made a curse for us] He saith not, Christ was cursed, but a curse, which is more; it shews that the curse of all did lie upon him. Calvin.* 1.22

Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree] The death on the Tree was accursed above all kinds of death, as the Serpent was accursed above all beasts of the field. Both for the first transgression, whereof the Serpent was the instrument, the tree the occasion.

This is taken out of Deut. 27.26. the Apostle here and elsewhere alledgeth the old Testament according to the Septuagint interpretation commonly then known and received among the Grecians.* 1.23 Therefore though he was most skilfull in the He∣brew Tongue, yet he thought it enough to expresse the sense of the Law.

Vers. 16. Promises] By the promises are meant the covenant of grace made with

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Abraham, so called for two reasons; 1. Because the main of the covenant consists in promises.* 1.24 2 Because the covenant was revealed to the Fathers in promises, but not per∣formed.

And to thy seed, which is Christ] Christ personall and mysticall, both; his person primarily and principally,* 1.25 his Church mystically.

Vers. 17. The promise] So called, because all the promises are for substance one in the Lord Christ, and meet in him as lines in the center.

Vers. 19. Ti•••• the seed should come] that seed, that is, Christ, vers. 16. therefore he be∣ing come,* 1.26 the subserviency of the Law to the Gospell should seem to cease. Some expound this onely of the Ceremoniall law, as Beza and some others; when Christ came, the Ceremoniall law was taken away; but in the 12 and 13 Verses he speaks of the Law whose sanction was, He that doth them shall live in them, therefore the morall aw is chiefly meant. Christ both personall and mysticall is here meant; the Law was given to the Jews to prepare them for Christ personall, and given to the Church till all be fulfilled.

In the hand of a Mediator] That is, by the ministery of a Mediator. Typicall Moses, reall Christ.* 1.27

Vers. 20. But God is one] God is said to be one and the same, constant and unchange∣able like himself.* 1.28

Vers. 22. All] Not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 all men, lest some women might be exempted; not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 all women,* 1.29 lest some man might be exempted: but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 all, that is both men and women; as if Paul would purposely prevent all cavils.

Vers. 23. But before Faith came] That is Christ, saith Paraeus, Faith being taken metonymically for its principall object. The revelation of faith in Jesus Christ. Fi∣des significat revelationem plenam eorum quae tunc latebant sub obscuritate umbrarum legis, neque enim fidem adimit patribus qui sub lege vixerunt. Calvin.

Vers. 24. The Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ] As without a School∣master first had and used for entrance in rudiments,* 1.30 children come not to the Univer∣sity; so without the Law we cannot be sufficiently taught to be preferred unto Christ; he that changeth from a Countrey Schoole to the University, changeth his Tutor; so we are not under the law, but under grace.

Vers. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized unto Christ, have put on Christ] A speech borrowed from the custome used in the Primitive Church; for those that were Adulti or come to age,* 1.31 when they were baptized came to the Church the Sunday be∣fore the Pascha, and put upon them white clothes; therefore the day was called Do∣minica in albis,* 1.32 and they were called Candidati.

Vers. 28. There is neither Iew nor Greek] He saith this to take down the pride of the Jews, and lift up the heart of the Gentiles.

There is neither bond nor free] To take away the great carnall difference among pro∣fessors. There is neither male nor female] To take away the base difference that the Turkish Mahomet puts between the two Sexes,* 1.33 when he saith the weaker hath no soul to save.

Vers. 29. Heires according to the promise] That is, we who are Gentiles must receive the inheritance no otherwise then Abraham did, and thus become Abrahams sonnes: but he was heir by promise,* 1.34 and not by nature, and so must we.

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CHAP. IV.

Vers. 4 THe fulnesse of time] 1. Fulnesse of grace, 1 Iohn 10. 2. Of fulfilling pro∣mises, 2 Cor. 1.20. 3. Of fulfilling the Law, Rom. 10.4. and Prophets, Luke 1.70. 4. End of the world after him, 1 Cor. 10.11.

Made under the Law] Not onely under the ceremoniall Law as he was a Jew, but under the morall as a man; for it is under the Law under which we were, and from which we are redeemed. See Gal. 3.13.

Vers. 5. To redeeme them that were under a 1.35 the Law] 1. On the Lawes part, it rigo∣rously exacted perfect obedience, under paine of eternall death. 2. On our part, we doe what the Law injoynes out of a slavish Spirit.

That we might receive the adoption b 1.36 of Sonnes] The Greeke word for adoption shewes the nature of it, to put one in the place of a Sonne.

Vers. 6 Crying Abba Father] That is, causing you to cry;* 1.37 as we call it a merry day, which makes men merry. Aug. de dono perseverantiae, c. 23.

The gemination notes siduciall, filiall, and vehement affection.* 1.38 The first is an He∣brew, or Syriack word. The second a Greek, whereby is signified the union of the Hebrewes and Grecians, or Jewes and Gentiles in one Church.

Vers. 9. Weake and beggerly elements] Or to come neerer to the meaning of the A∣postle, strengthlesse and beggerly, as the Greek words signifie;* 1.39 both the Mosaicall ceremonies, and Heathenish worship. See 3. v.

Strengthlesse] Because they could not justifie.

Beggerly] Because they have no consolation, or salvation in them. Pareus.

Vers. 10. Ye observe dayes, and moneths, and times, and yeeres] By dayes are meant Jewish Sabbaths: by moneths, the Feasts observed every moneth in the day of the New Moone.

Times] Or seasons as the Greek word signifies, fit times for the doing of this or that businesse. It was the manner of the Gentiles, to make difference of times in re∣spect of good or bad successe; and that according to the signes of heaven. And it is very likely, that the Galatians observed dayes not onely in the Jewish, but also in the Heathenish manner.

Yeere.] The seventh of Remission, and the 50. of the Jubilee.

Vers. 15. Ye would have plucked out your own eyes] That is,* 1.40 departed from your dearest things to have done him good.

Vers. 19. Of whom I travell in birth againe, untill Christ be formed in you] The Apostle useth a comparison drawn from the forming of an infant in the wombe,* 1.41 which is not formed all at once, but the principall parts first; the heart, braine and liver; and then the other by degrees: for grace is not wrought all at once, but by degrees. The paines of travell breed not greater desire to see the man childe borne into the world then Pauls love in him, till Christ were new formed in them.

Vers. 21. Yee that desire to be under the Law] That is,* 1.42 the writings of Moses com∣monly called the Law, because the Law was the principall part thereof.

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There is a threefold being under the Law. 1. For justification as here, and con∣demnation as in the fourth and fifth verses of this Chapter. 2. for Irritation, as it stir∣reth up sinne, so Rom. 6.14. 3. For compulsion, Gal. 5.18. That is, not forced to duty as a slave.

* 1.43Vers. 23. Borne after the flesh] That is by a bare naturall power of generation.

By promise] That is, not so much by any naturall strength of the Parents, as by vertue of Gods promise, which bound his truth to set his omnipotency a work above nature.* 1.44

Vers. 24. Which things are an allegory] That is, being the things that they were, signifie the things that they were not;* 1.45 a figure of some other thing mystically signi∣fied by them; that is they represent or signifie the two Covenants.

For these are the two Covenants] That is, distinct Covenants, of workes and grace; first and second Covenant; not the Covenant of grace differently administred in the Old and New Testament. Ishmael was not under the Covenant of grace in any sense; Isaac and Ishmael represented all men; regenerate, and unregenerate, all which are under the Covenant of workes and grace.

Mount Sinai] Which came thence, being there published and promulgated; the Law the Covenant of workes.

To bondage] That is, begets not Children of a free and ingenuous Spirit; loving God and out of love doing him service; and meerly of his grace, love, free favour, and promise, expecting their reward; but bond∣slaves, which out of a feare of punish∣ment, or hope of reward doe service, and expect the reward, for the worthinesse sake of their workes.

This Covenant is Hagar] That is, signified by Hagar, so called for a double re∣spect. 1. For its condition, because it begets all Children to bondage. 2. For sub∣ordination, Sarahs maid the Law is a servant to the Gospell, and Gospell-ends.

Vers. 25. Mount Sinai in Arabia] That is, so by signification, and representation; and answereth in signification and type to Ierusalem which now is, and is in bondage] That is, to the Law, and to the curse and rigour of it, being debtours to the whole Law to doe it; or if they doe it not, to the curse to suffer it.

Vers. 26. Ierusalem] That is, the heavenly Jerusalem the Church; the number of true beleevers, which doe indeed seriously embrace the doctrine of the Gospell, which began by Christ and his Apostles to be preached at Ierusalem; not hoping to be justi∣fied and saved by the merit of their own workes, but by the free promise of God in Christ; these are free from the curse and rigour of the Law; and she is the mother of all true Christians of us all] That is, of my selfe and all those which with me looke for righteousnesse and salvation, alone through the merits of Christ, and mercy of God in Christ, through faith in his name.

CHAP. V.

Vers. 1. STand fast] A metaphore taken from Souldiers, which stand in their rankes, and fight valiantly where the Captain hath set them; not shrinking a foot.

In the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free] This liberty consists in freedome, partly from the curse of the Law, partly in its rigide exaction; and partly from the observation of ceremonies. Vorstius.

And not be intangled] The word is metaphoricall, alluding to Oxen who are tyed to the yoake;* 1.46 their necks being pressed and kept under. So Pareus and others. Let us not returne like willing slaves, to our chaines againe.

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Vers. 2. Behold I Paul say unto you] q. d. These things are as certaine, as I am truly called Paul. Pareus.

Behold] It is a word of one stirring up attention. I Paul who am an Apostle,* 1.47 and have authority to publish the Gospell say unto you, whosoever saith to the contrary; if you thinke circumcision of necessary use with faith in Christ in the matter of ju¦stification, you shall have no benefit nor comfort by Christs death, passion, resurre∣ction, or any thing he hath done; Christum dimidium quisquis habere vult, totum perdit. Calvinus.

Vers. 3. Every man that is circumcised, is a debter to the whole Law] He is a debtor in regard of duty,* 1.48 because be that thinks himselfe bound to keep one part of the cere∣moniall Law, doth thereby binde himselfe to keep it all. And he that is a debtor in duty to keep the whole Law must needs be a debtor in regard of the penalty, be∣cause he is not able to keep any part of it.

Vers. 4 Christ is become of none effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the Law] So many of the Galathians as sought to be justified by the Law, that is, by their own obedience prescribed by the Law.

Ye are abolished from Christ] Or as it is in the originall,* 1.49 ye are made voide and empty of Christ, that is Christ is an empty and unprofitable Christ to you, that are of that erroneous opinion, and hold stiffely that you are justified by the Law.

Falne from grace a 1.50] viz. of God, That is the doctrine of grace say some; the favour of God, and all the benefits flowing from it saith Pareus. See 11 Rom. 6.

Vers. 5. Neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision] By circumcision, he meanes the outward priviledges of the Jewes; and by uncircumcision, the privi∣ledges of the Gentiles, Baptisme, and the Supper. All outward prerogatives availe nothing to justification.

V. 6. But faith which worketh by love* 1.51] Faith is not wrought by charity (as Bellarmine perverteth this Text) for then it will follow that love, by which faith is wrought, must needs be before faith; the Greeke word is not of the passive, but of the middle voyce, as the Interlinear, faith which is effectuall; Pagnine, working by love. Faith worketh by love, not as fire maketh hot by heat; which is a formall property inhe∣rent in it. But as the soule doth this, or that by the hand; which is an externe Instru∣ment conjoyned unto it.

Vers. 7. Run well] Our Christian life is often compared to a course, because there is need of alacrity, and striving to it.* 1.52

Did let you] Stop you, intercept your course, turne you out of the way;* 1.53 secretly intimating their inconstancy.

Vers. 12. Cut off b 1.54] Seeing they glory so in the skin cut off.

Which trouble you] Or as the Greek word signifies waste and overthrow; * 1.55 because these men drive Christians out of house and home, as enemies when they come to sack or spoile a Towne.

Vers. 13. But by love serve one another] That is,* 1.56 let every man in his place and cal∣ling become servant to another, and so preserve love by the duties of love.

Vers. 14. For all the Law is fulfilled in one word] This is secretly opposed to the do∣ctrine

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of the false Apostles, which urged ceremonies alone. Calvin.

Love thy neighbour as they selfe] It is a note of similitude, not equality.

Vers 16. Fulfill the lusts of the flesh] That is, accomplish them with love, with pleasure, and with full consent of will.

Vers. 17. The flesh] That is the corruption of mans nature.

Lusteth against the spirit] That is, grace in the heart.

And the spirit lusteth against the flesh] First, by labouring to overmaster, and keepe downe the motions thereof.* 1.57 Secondly, by stirring up good motions, and inclinati∣ons to piety.

* 1.58Vers. 18. Ye are not under the Law] Condemning or forcibly compelling you.

Vers. 19. Now the workes of the flesh are manifest] The Apostle when he speakes of the fruits of the flesh,* 1.59 he saith of them, that they are manifest not onely to God, but men, which have the light of reason and naturall conscience; but when he comes to speak of the fruits of the spirit, he saith not so of them, vers. 22. The grace of Gods Spirit is a hidden and secret thing, 1 Pet. 3.4. and is not so easily discerned.

Vers. 20. Witchcraft] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 properly signifies poysoning; but here it is fitly translated Witchcraft,* 1.60 because all poysoning is comprehended under Mur∣ther which followeth.

Vers. 21. And such like] The Apostle having reckoned up many workes of the flesh is forced to conclude and say, and such like] as being not able to think of all the sins, which doe as fire sparkle out of the furnace.

Of which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past] before] Before you goe to Hell, as I have already told you.

Vers. 22. The fruit of the spirit] He called them workes of the flesh; vices end in themselves;* 1.61 but fruits of the Spirit, virtues abound with fruit. It is so called, as Ephes. 5.9. 1. Because all grace comes originally from the Spirit, as the fruit is de∣rived from the root. 2. Because of the pleasantnesse. 3. Of the advantage and profit to ones selfe.

Faith] By faith he meaneth fidelity, in making good the words that have gone out of our mouthes; so Pareus, Estius, and others.

Vers. 23. Against such there is no Law] Such persons, not workes. 1. They need not rigorous Law to compell them,* 1.62 by vertue of their graces they will doe them. 2. No Law to condemne them, so Pareus, that is the better.

Vers. 24. Have crucified] He useth this word, to shew that mortification of the flesh, is an effect of the Crosse of Christ Calvin.

The flesh] That is, the corruption it selfe of nature.

With the affections and lusts] That is, the inward working of it in suddaine pas∣sions, and more setled desirers.

* 1.63Vers. 25. Walke] Orderly by rule, by line and measure.

* 1.64Vers. 26. Vaine glorious] Desiring to be accouted rich, eloquent, good by men.

Provoking one another] Striving to anger, and vex one another with injuries, con∣tumelies, and contempt.

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CHAP. VI.

Vers. 1. IF any man he overtaken with a fault] He meaneth a frailty and infirmity;* 1.65 and to be overtaken is on the sudden, ignorantly, and without delibera∣tion, to be drawn to commit some offence.

Restore] The word is borrowed from Surgeons who being to deale with a broken joynt will handle the same very tenderly:* 1.66 so must they be dealt withall in reproofe which sinne out of humane frailty.

Lest thou also be tempted] Even with a powerfull and prevailing temptation to fall into thy brothers sinne. He doth not say lest thou also be overcome, but tempted; because if God leave thee to the temptation thou wilt soon be overcome.

Vers. 2. Beare ye one anothers burdens] Both the inward burden of your temptations and corruptions, and the outward of afflictions, Esay 13.16.* 1.67 We must not beare with their sinnes, but help them out of their griefe by consolation, their sinne by di∣rection.

Vers. 4. Let every man prove his own work] The Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 translated prove, signifies also to approve, as Rom. 14.2. 1 Cor. 16.3. And so the word is used in English, when we say, such a one is to prove a will, that is to approve it. The word here may be understood in both senses, to prove our works, and to approve them.

To rejoyce] The Greek, to glory: which is more then to rejoyce.

Vers. 5. Beare his own burden] as a Porter.* 1.68

Vers. 6. Let him that is taught] Gr catechized,* 1.69 or taught familiarly by word of mouth, or lively voyce, as when children are taught the first principles of Religion. Here it is taken more largely for him that is any way taught and instructed. Make him that taught him] catechised him, or instructed him, generally. Partaker] That is, communicate, afford, give unto them these temporall things.

Vers 7. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap] It is an usuall proverbe among all Nations; You have the like sentences, Iob 4 8. Prov. 11.18. and elsewhere.* 1.70 To sow with the Hebrews often signifies to work, and to reape to be rewarded or pu∣nished, Matth 25.24, 26: 2 Cor. 9.6.

Vers. 10. As we have therefore opportunity] Take the present occasion of doing all the good thou canst. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies in a large acceptation, seasonablenesse of cir∣cumstance, whether of time, place or any occasion: but most properly a seasonable time.* 1.71

Vers. 14. Crosse of Christ] Some understand it of the afflictions which he did suf∣fer for the profession of Christ; but this sense cannot be,* 1.72 that we should rejoyce in nothing but affliction; it is rather to be understood of the Crosse which Christ suf∣fered for us then of that we suffer for him, as 2 Cor. 2.2.

Vers. 15. For in Christ Iesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature] That is, are neither acceptable to God, nor available to salvation.

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under these two synecdochically comprehending all outward priviledges and dig∣nities.

As many as walk] The Greek word signifies not simply to walk, but to walk by rule,* 1.73 in order and measure, without treading aside, but making straight steps to our feet, Heb. 12.13.

According to this rule] This Canon; that is, the doctrine of this Epistle Meta∣phora ab architectis. Pareus.

The Israel of God] Israel of old was the Church of God; therefore the Church is now called the Israel of God.

* 1.74Vers. 17. For I beare in my body the marks of the Lord Iesus] The word in the originall translated marks, doth properly signifie Prints with a hot Iron. But here it is used generally to signifie any blemish, scar, or mark whatsoever. Prisons, bonds, whips, buffetings, stoning, reproaches of all kind, which he endured for the testimony of the Gospell.

Notes

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