୫ A General Introduction, &c. own Bekaviour, and fhall at last be dealt with, not according to the vain Imagination he has of himself, or the good Opinion of others concerning him, but according to what he really is, and the true Character that he is found to bear. (Chap. vi. 1,--~5.) (4.) He preffes it upon them as their Duty, to be free and liberal in contributing to the Support and Maintenance of their Minifters, affuring them, that plaufible Excufes in a Point of Duty would fatally deceive thofe that made Use of them, and every one should reap, according as he fowed; and therefore urges them, not to be weary of well-doing, but to lay hold of every Opportunity for doing Good to all, especially to their Fellow-Chriftians. (Ver. 6,---10.). And now, the Apostle having written this Epiftle with his own Hand, and given this Teftimony of his affectionate Regard to the Galatians, fums up the main Design of it as the Clofe of all, (Ver. 11, to the End,) and fhews, that as to their falfe Teachers, it was for felfifh Ends, and not from any Veneration for the Law, they preffed them to be circumcifed, that by this Means they might keep up their Reputation with the Jews, and might not only fave themselves from Perfecution, but glory also in the Number of their Profelytes; ---- while for his own Part, he had no worldly Views, and would not glory but in the Cross of Chrift, by whom alone it is that Juftification can be had. This was the Doctrine that he preached, nor fhould the Fear of Perfecution make him to disguise it, for it was only in this Way that any could be juftified and faved; and whether they were circumcifed or not, if they were made new Creatures, and acted by this principle, Mercy and Peace fhould be upon them, as the true Ifrael of GOD. No one should therefore trouble him any more, with urging the Neceffity of Circumcifion, or with fuggesting he himself was for it, when he had fhewn bis Zeal for the pure Doctrine of the Gospel by his Sufferings for it; the Marks of which were a plain Evidence of his Regard to Chrift, and fuch a Proof of his Sincerity, as might well ferve to vindicate his Character, and to confirm the Truth of what he had taught them. --- And having thus reminded them of tye main View he had in writing this Epiftle, he concludes it with a folemn Apoftolical Benediction. A PARA The Apostle Paul, after a general and proper Salutation, expreffes his Surprize and Concern, that the Galatian Chriftians had fo foon fuffered themselves to be led afide from the Simplicity of that Gofpel, which he had first planted among them. Gal. I. 1,---10. 10 Paul infcribing this Epiftle to the Galatians, who raised him from the dead.) IA¶ Sect. 1. of his Miffion; whatever the Factious Teachers, who are endeavouring to dif Gal. I. 1. you, may have reprefented: But I turb am capable of giving you the most con-: vincing Evidence, that I had an immediate Call to this honourable Charge by Jesus Chrift the great Head of the Church, who did himself in Perfon appear to me again and again, (Acts ix. 4. xxii. 18.) and fent me forth to be his Witnefs unto all Men, according to the fovereign Choice of GOD the Father, (Acts xxii 14, 15.) who hath raised him from among the Dead (a), and therein laid the great Foundation of our Faith in him for Righteousness and Life, and our Alliance on him as the Son of GOD and the only Saviour of Men. 2 And while I am thus addreffing my to you, all the Chriftian Brethren, efpe the Churches of Galatia: cially the Minifters (b), who are with me here at Corinth, join with me in the Sen-timents I am going to propofe, and in the most friendly and affectionate Salutations unto the Churches of Galatia, whom they cordially love, notwithstanding any Dif→ ference felf 2 And all the Brethren which are with me, unto Hal Words d of (a) Who hath railed him from the Dead.] Mr. L'Enfant thinks, thefe are added to obviate an Objection, which might be raifed against Paws Million, from his not having received a Commiffion from Chrift, like the other Apostles, while he was here on Earth. But the Minds of the Apostles appear to be always full of the joyful Idea of Chrift's Refurrection, and therefore it is no wonder that out of the Fulness of their Hearts they fhould feize every Opportunity of fpeaking of it.Compare Rom. i. 4. 1 Theff.i. 10. Heb. i. 3 1 Pet. i. 3. and a Multitude of other Texts. To which it may be added, that it is with great Propriety the Apofle mentions here, that GOD bath raised him from the Dead, as agreeable to the main Point he had in View, which was to affert the Doctrine of Juftification by Faith in Chrift; fince GOD declared by raising him from the Dead, that he accepted the Chrift had made, upon him for the Satisfaction and give him a Discharge from any further Claim of his And as is is the great Foundation of out Faith in Chrift, fo the Apofile fays elsewhere, that he was raifed again for our fuftification, Rom. iv. 25. (b) The Brethren, efpecially the Minifters.] As the Title of Brethren and Saints are applied to different Perfons, and Minifters feemed to be diftinguished by being called Brethren, - Phil. iv. 21, 22. they are probably here intended. 5 (c) Not expreffes his affectionate Regard for them. A 4 I. TI ference in Form and Opinion which at Sect. I. 78 པ མ་ our (c) Notwithstanding any Difference in Form and Opinion, &c.] Though the Chriftians at Corinth were most of them converted Gentiles, and these of Galatia were ftrongly prejudiced in Favour of the Jewish Ceremonies; yet the Apostle expreffes their Affection towards thefe their Brethren, and that with great Propriety, that he might thereby invite them to a fuitable Return of Love. On the fame Principle he reminds them, (ver. 4.) of the Bleffings which as Chriftians they fhared in common, that he might endear them the more to those who were joined with them in fuch happy Bands.p (d) From this prefent evil World.] The Words ex Te verlos Clavos come are αιώνος πονηρες ambiguous, and fome would render them, from the Evil of this prefent World; which makes a very good Senfe, but had it been intended by the Apoftle, I think the Article would have been repeated. (Compare John xvii. 15.)Mr. Locke argues from 1 Cor. ii. 6, 8. that a Bros fignifies the Jewish Nation under the Mofaick Conftitution; and fuppofes thefe Words to contain an Intimation, that GOD intended to take the Jews themfelves out of it, fo far was he from any Purpofe of bringing the Gentiles under it. But as it is certain, that av often fignifies the fame with xogos, that is, the World, (fee Matt. xiii. 39, 40. 2 Cor. iv. 4. and Tit. ii. 12. which laft Place were exactly parallel to this,) I think it would be very unreasonable to limit fo noble and expreffive a Claufe by fo narrow an Interpretation. B 2 αιών Gal. I. He wonders, the Galatians were fo foon corrupted. Sect. 1. our Father, who chose this wisest and happieft Method of recovering us to himfelf: To whom therefore, for this ado5 rable and matchlefs Grace to finful Creatures, [be] Glory and Praife for ever and Never MonAmen. 6 . Since this then is the only Way of being justified and faved, it gives me great Concern, and I am quite aftonished, my my beloved Brethren, that after ye have been e have been inftructed in it, and feemed to have received the Truth in the Love of it, ye are fo foon removed (e) from a due Regard to him that called you into this Method of Salvation by and through the Grace of Christ (f), and who continues ftill in the fame Sentiments as when he was at first the happy Inftrument of bringing you to an Acquaintance with it; that ye are fo foon removed, I fay, unto what may almoft be called another Gospel (g), as being fo entirely inconfiftent with the very Fundamentals of that, which you were originally taught concerning our free Juftifi forg t 5 To whom be Glory for ever and ever. Amen. 740 15 (a) That ye are fa foon removed.] It appears from the Beginning of the General Introduction to this Epiftle, that Paul had preached the Gospel firft to the Galatians, and planted feveral Churches in that Country, in paffing through it (Acts xvi. 6.) about the latter End of the Year 50. He vifited them again, (Acts xviii. 23.) in the Year 54; and he seems to have written this Epiftle before that Vifit. He had Reason therefore to wonder, that their Sentiments were fo quickly changed, and that fuch warm Affections as they then bore him (Chap. iv. 14, 15.) were fo foon and fo greatly alienated. bus (f) From him that called you by the Grace of Chrift.] If it be here confidered, that the Expreffion in the Original is xapil, that is, by or through the Grace of Chrift, (as our Tranflation renders it elsewhere, 2 Cor. i. 12. 2 The. ii. 16.) and not, into. the Grace; there is no Difficulty in admitting, that the Apoftle Paul points out himSelf by him that called them; (as he may likewife afterwards, Chap. v. 8.) nor is there any thing more affuming in it, than in his fpeaking of himself as he that miniftred the Spirit to them. Chap. iii. 5. (8) Unto another Gospel.] Monf. Saurin obferves, (Serm. Vol. xi, page 46.) that the Galatians were a Colony of the Gauls, that is, of the ancient Inhabitants of France; who, fays he, have been always reproached with taking Impreffions eafily, and as eafily fuffering them to be effaced. (b) Or |