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yond dispute, the apostle treats them with great freedom and plainness. In the beginning of the epistle, having afferted, in the strongest terms, that "his "apostleship was not of man, neither by men, but " by Jefus Chrift, and God the Father, who had "raised him from the dead; he adds-I marvel "that ye are so foon removed from him that called you, to another gofpel; and afterwards-but

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though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any "other gospel unto you than that which we have "preached unto you, let him be accurfed." In confirmation of his authority, he relates the history of his conduct fince his converfion, in order to shew how entirely independent he was of any human teacher, even of the very chief of the apostles.

He appeals to his working miracles among them, and imparting fpiritual gifts-" he, therefore, that "ministereth the spirit to you, and worketh miracles

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among you, doth he it by the works of the law, or "by the hearing of faith."-He addreffes them fometimes with the utmost plainnefs-oh! foolish Ga"latians, who hath bewitched you, that you fhould "not obey the truth!" Sometimes, with the warmest tenderness, bearing witness of their mutual affection, at the moment he expoftulates with them most boldly, after recalling to their memory his first preaching among them, and fome infirmities which attended his

Gal. i. 1.

Gal. iii. 5.

Gal. iii. I.

preaching,

preaching, but which yet they had not despised or rejected, he adds" for I bear you record, that if "poffible you would have plucked out your own

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eyes and have given them to me; am I therefore "become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" and in the next fentence he addreffes them in this endearing language-" my little children, of whom "I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in 66 you, I defire to be prefent with you now, and to "change my voice, for I ftand in doubt of you." Thus admirably does the apostle adapt his manner to the relation he bore his Gallatian converts, as their firft teacher in Chrift; and while he expoftulates with them in the ftile of warm complaint, and acknowledged fuperiority, and refts his decifion of the questions he difcuffes principally on his own authority, he yet never forgets the intimate connection he had formed with them, or the feelings which it had produced, but foftens the tone of command with the tenderness of affection, and a grateful acknowledgement of their filial regard.

The epiftles to the churches of Ephefus, Philippi, and Coloffi, were evidently written nearly at the fame time, and under the fame circumftances. The apostle imprisoned at Rome, fearful leaft during his absence vicious practices, or erroneous doctrines, fhould creep into thefe churches, and particularly

h Gal. iv. 15. iv. 19.

apprehenfive

apprehenfive left the Judaizing teachers fhould take this opportunity of intruding their herefy, writes to encourage thefe focieties in their adherence to the true faith; but as here there was no occafion to cenfure any past irregularity of conduct, as amongst the Corinthians, or any pofitive deviation from the gofpel as amongst the Galatians, we find the turn of these epiftles different; having heard of the Ephefians standing firm in the faith, he writes to confirm them in this refolution, thanks God for them, and fetting forth the gracious defign of God in the scheme of redemption, prays that they may be enlightened in this scheme, and displays the glorious state of the Christian kingdom, not in the ordinary way of argument, for the firm conviction of the Ephefians rendered this unneceffary, but couches what he wishes to drop into their minds in thanksgivings and prayers, with an unusual freedom, and fublimity both of thought and expreffion.

i

The epiftle to the Coloffians is written evidently in the fame strain as that to the Ephefians; but the epistle to the Philippians, though certainly written at the fame time, and when the feelings of the apostle were in other refpects the fame, yet it is ftrongly marked by the spirit of personal interest, and ardent affection, fuited to the close connection

i Vid. Locke's Synopfis, and Macknight's Preface to the Ephefians.

the

the apostle maintained with his Philippian converts, from whom * alone, of all the neighbouring churches, he condescended to receive pecuniary affistance in his wants. From fuch full confidence in their regard for him, and tender anxiety for their spiritual welfare, we find St. Paul warns them against the arts of the Judaizing teachers, in more free, ftrong and pointed terms than any other church. "Beware of "dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the con"cifion;" and he also rests the decifion of the queftion more directly on his own authority. "Be ye "followers together of me, and walk fo, as ye have

us for an example."-It seems however not unworthy of remark, that he does not here adduce any facts or arguments to establish his apostleship, or increase the reverence which the Philippians already entertained for him, as he judged it neceffary to do with the Galatians; he rather feems anxious to prevent these favourite converts from suppofing that he offered himself as a perfect example;' for when he thus points himself out as the guide whom they fhould follow, he also takes care to inculcate on them that he himself was yet in a state of trial and of progress, not of compleat fecurity or full perfection;

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as one who had already attained, or was already "perfect; but as one who muft ftill prefs forward to "the mark of the prize of the high calling of God "in Chrift Jefus."-Now furely such sentiments as

* Phil. iv. 15.

1 Phil. iii. 15,

m Phil. iii. 12.

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these are very remote from the arrogance of fanaticifm.

The epiftle to Philemon has long been admired for its tenderness, delicacy and address, and seems so irreconcileable with the style and temper of a difordered fanatic, that Dr. Benson, an eminently judicious commentator, has advanced it as fufficient, even taken fingly, to prove that its author was no enthufiaft. He is interceding with Philemon, a man it feems of fome rank and opulence, to receive and to pardon Onefimus, a flave, who appears to have eloped from his fervice, and afterwards being converted to Christianity by St. Paul, to have resolved on atoning for his offence, by again fubmitting himself to his master's power, and returning to his former fervitude. On this occafion how admirably does St. Paul unite the character of the authoritative teacher with that of the warm, yet unaffuming, interceffor; he addreffes Philemon as his " dearly beloved," his fellow labourer, whofe faith towards Christ, and benevolence towards the faints, was the fubject of his constant thanks to God; and he proceeds-" though "I might be much bold in Chrift to enjoin thee "that which is convenient; yet for love's fake, I ra"ther befeech thee, being fuch a one as Paul, the "aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ, I "beseech thee for my fon Onefimus, whom I have "begotten in my bonds, which in time past was "to thee unprofitable, but now profitable both to

"thee

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