but maintained the Christian Religion to be the sufficient A. D.58. and only Condition of a Christian's Justification and Happiness. 6 But of these, who 6. Thus I behaved myself to those seemed to be fome, Zealots. And as to the disparagewhat, (whatsoever they ment your false Teachers are pleased were maketh no mat to cart upon me, and their setting up ter to me, God ac Peter*, James, or John, as Apostles cepteth no man's per far greater than 1, be they as great fon) for they who seemed to be fome. as they will, their eminency makes what, in conference me neither greater nor less. God, added nothing to me. who made us all equally his Apostles, looks not upon present and external Reputation in the Church. In the mean time, when I gave those eminent Men the account of my Doctrine, and Proceedings in my Ministry with the Gentile Christians ; they could find no Fault, pretended to correct nothing, nor to instruct me in any point that I did not know as well as themselves. 7 But contrariwise, 7. But, on the contrary, upon when they saw that the Testimonies I gave them of as the gospel of the un- fufficient a Call to preach the Gospel circumcision was com to the Gentile World, as Peter in mitted unto me, the gospel of the cir. particular, or any of them had to cumcision was unto Pe. preach it to the Jewish Nation, they highly approved of what I had done. 8 ( For he that 8. (And indeed well they might; wrought effectually in for God had endowed me with as Peter to the apoitle- miraculous Powers and Evidences ship of the circumci- for the one, as he had them for the sion, the same was other.) mighty in towards the Gentiles.) 9 And when James, 9. Accordingly those three leadCephas, and John,who ing Apostles, being fully satisfied seemed to be pillars, both of my Office, and the Method perceived the grace and Success of my Preaching, did, that was given unto with great respect, own me and me, my a ter : me * See Ver. 9. and see the Paraphrafe on i Cor, ix. 20. xix. 21. & ix. A.D. 58. me, they gave to me my Fellow-Traveller Barnabas for and Barnabas the right Apostles, as fully commissioned to convert the Jews; and concluded, unto the circumcision. in the same manner as we had begun. 10 Only they would 10. They prescribed no Rules that we should re to me, at parting ; they only rerember the poor: quested of me to collect some the same which I also Charities among the Converts I was forward to do. made, for the Relief of the poor * See Acts Christians of Judea *; a thing I was very ready to do. xxi. 4. 10, u But when Peter 11. Thus far Peter and I en11, 12, &c; was come to Antioch, tirely agreed : And so constant and Cor. xvi: withstood him to steady was ! to this Doctrine of 2. Cor. viii the face, because he the 'no necessity of the Ceremonial was to be blamed. Law to the Christian Converts ; that when He would once have diffembled, and Alinched from it at Antioch, I stood my ground, and freely and boldly upbraided him with his Infincerity. 12 For before that 12. For before those Jewish | Acts Xv, certain from Zealots came to Antioch † with a James , he did eat pretended Authority from James with the Gentiles; but and the Apostles at when they were come, Jerusalem, he withdrew, and fe and cried up the Neceflity of the . parated himself, fear- Jewish Law; Peter was as free ing them which were and familiar with the Gentile Chriof the circumcision. ftians ( who were Profelytes to the Jewis Worship of the True God, though not Circumcised) as I myself was. But when they had spread their Notions, and possessed the Minds of fome People, He grew shy, and avoided the Conversation of the Uncircumcised Christians, for fear of disgusting the Jews, and these Zealots of the Jewish Converts. 13 And the other 13. And by his Example, feveJews diffembled like- ral other of those Converts did the wise with him, inso- fame ; and even Barnabas himself much that Barnabas also was carried began to give in to that way of Dif away with their diffimula simulation, to the great DiscourageLion, ment of the Gentile Chriftians. came 14 Bus 14 Such but maintained the Christian Religion to be the sufficient A. D. 58. 6 But of these, who 6. Thus I behaved myself to those to cast upon me, and their setting up Peter*, James, or John, as Apostles God, who made us all equally his Apostles, looks not upon present and external 7 But contrariwise, 7. But, on the contrary, upon to the Gentile World, as Peter in they highly approved of what I had done. other.) . And when James, 9. Accordingly those three lead- my as ter: was * See Ver. 9. and see the Paraphrafe on i Cor, ix. 20. 4. D. 58. but where we were, viz. in an unpardon'd and unjustified Condition : which God forbid any Christian should hold ! * 18 For if I build a. 18. For 'tis evident beyond Exgain the things which ception, if after having taken upon i destroyed, I make me the Christian Profession, as the myself a transgressor. I means of this Juftification, I run back again for it to the Jewish Law, I am but where I was, an Unjustified Sinner; and act just like a foolish Man а that pulls down his House to make it better, and then builds it up again with the very fame Materials, just as it was, upon its old Foundation. I 19 For I through 19. Let others think and act as the Law am dead to they will. I know that by the very the Law, that I might Tenour and Design of the Jewlive unto God. in Law itself, a Christian is now as perfectly free from its Obligation, as a Woman is See Rom. from her Marriage Contract at her Husband's Death || ; vii. to ver. so that even a Jewis Christian, much more a Gentile 7. iii. 21. vi. 3,4: one, is bound to nothing but the Observance of the Chri ftian Religion, as the true Service of God. 20. By this new Dispensation the Life of a Jew, but the ObeI live by the faith of dience of a Christian, to that Sathe Son of God, who viour and Redeemer, who so loved loved me, and gave me as to give himself for a full himself for me. Satisfaction for all my Sins. . 21 I do 21. For * Is Christ the Minister of Sin? Or else thus with Oecumenius, If the Law be obligatory still , then we Christians are transgressors, in not adhering to it ; and do we think that Christ would enjoin us to fin against a divine Law ? God forbid ! But I chuse the Paraphrase as the most natural sense. Or lastly, It may be read with. out an Interrogation, thus, If we be finners in seeking to be justified by Christ, then Christ is the Minister of hin. 1 I make myself a Tranfgreffór, i. e. fays Chryfoftom, by setting up that Law which I allow God has abolijn'd. 21. I do not frustrate 21. For my part I shall never A.D. 58. the Grace of God : countenance a Doctrine that frufor if righteousness come strates the main and merciful Deby the law, then Christ sign of the Christian Covenant. For is dead in vain. 'tis clear, could the Jewish Law have justified and saved us, there had been no need of Christ's Death ; nay, and if that Law has any part in our Justification, then his Death was insufficient of itself for it. CH A P. III. The ARGUMENT. The Apostle having absolutely cleared himself of having ever preached up the Necessity of the Ceremonial Law to Christian Believers ; comes now to argue directly against that Principle of the Jewish Zealots. His first Argument taken from the miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit conferred upon Christians. His next, from the Case of Abraham's Justification ; proving that all true Christians, whether Circumcised or not, are accepted and pardoned upon the same Faith, and from the same Promise that justified that eminent Patriarch ; and not at all from the observance of the Jewish Law. The Jewish Zealots object, To what purpose then was the Law given ? He answers it: Shows the Law to have been only preparatory to the Gospel, and that all Believers, Gentile and Jewish, are to be saved by the Christian Religion alone. Foolish Ga. I. Foolish Galatians, who O O latians, who is it, or by what Magical hath bewitched you, Arts have they deluded you from that you should not this Fundamental Article of the obey the truth, be- Christian Faith, viz. That the fore whose eyes Jefus Gospel Religion is sufficient for SalChrist vation |
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