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9 And ye mafters, do the fame things unto them, forbearing threatning; knowing that your mafter alto is in heaven, neither is there refpect of perfons with him.

9. And let all Chriftian Mafters, A. D. 62.. that have any Slaves under them, ufe them with Gentleness and Humanity; forbearing all paffionate and violent Expreflions toward them; Remembring, they themselves have a and forgiving their pardonable Faults. Heavenly Mafter who forgave them infinitely more; and who regards no Man's external Circumstances, but will reward and punish the Behaviour of a Mafter as well as of a Slave.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might,

11 Put on the whole

+ armour of God, that ye may be able to ftand against the wiles of the devil.

10. And now to conclude my Exhortations to you: Be couragious and refolute in your Profeffion, making the best Improvement of the Powers that God has given you.

11. Your Conflict is very great and fharp. Wherefore, like true Soldiers, arm your felves from Head to Foot with the + Spiritual Armour wherewith God has furnifhed you, for your Defence against the Stratagems and Affaults of the Devil, and wicked Men.

12 For we wrestle 12. And great need you have fo not against flesh and to do. For you must engage not blood, but against only with Men, with the Magi principalities, against powers, againit the ftrates and Rulers of this World, rulers of the darkness but with wicked Spirits too, those of this world, against malicious Powers, that have fo long fpiritual wickednefs in domineer'd over the blind and ig high places 1. norant Heathens, and have ftill their Habitation in the Regions of the Air about us.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye

may

13. Be ready armed then with the following Principles, that will enable you to refift them all, and F 4 ftand

+ Armour of God. See Note on 2 Cor. viii. 1.

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Ver. 12. Spiritual Wickedness in high Places: πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπερανίοις. Again the wicked Spirits in the Regions of [our] Air. pavio is the fame with 7 CRIT☺ TÝTK, This Darkness; the fame with ups, and 4ov, Darkness in St. Peter and St. Jude.

A. D. 62. may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Thef. v.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breaftplate of righteoufnefs :

ftand your Ground under the worst Trial and Temptation; viz.

14. Keep close to the Rules and plain Precepts of the Gospel, the Knowledge whereof will fecure you from all loofe Principles, and like the Soldier's Girdle, keep you in a firm and fteddy Pofture; and the habitual Practice of them be as a Breaft-plate to fence off every mortal Wound.

15 And your feet fhod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

15. Be always prepared with a modeft and peaceable Mind toward your Adverfaries; which will be a means to prevent and take off the Edge of their Malice; as the Soldier's Boots preserves his Legs from the Roughnefs of the Ways, and from the Traps and Galls that are laid by the Enemy to retard his March,

16 Above all, taking the fhield of faith, wherewith ye fhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the

16. But efpecially have your Thoughts ever poffeffed with a firm and fteddy Faith in the Promifes of the Gofpel; that will guard you from the fecret Suggeftions, and open Affaults of the Devil; as the Shield does the Soldier from the Darts of his Enemies.

wicked:

17 And take the helmet of Salvation, and the fword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

17. Let your Hopes of eternal Life and Happiness, be ever ardent and vigorous; which like a Helmet on the Head, will fecure you in the main Points of your Profeffion. Read and meditate on the Word of God in Holy Scripture, the understanding whereof will, like the keenest Sword, enable you not only to refift, but to affault your Adverfaries.

18. And withal, be earneft and conftant in a Course of fervent Prayer to God for your felves, and all Chriftian People,

18 Praying always
with all prayer and
fupplication in the
Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all per-
feverance, and fupplication for all faints,

19 & 20.

And for me, 19 that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gofpel;

19 & 20. Not forgetting to let A. D. 62, me, your Gentile Apostle, have a Share in those Petitions; befeeching God to enable me with due Conftancy and Courage, to maintain this Doctrine of the Gentiles being 20 For which I am called into the Gospel Covenant; a † an ambaffador in Doctrine now abfolutely plain and bonds; that therein certain, how ftrange foever it seem I may fpeak boldly, to the Jewish Zealots; and whereof as I ought to speak. I am now a Commissioned Preacher, and am + Imprisoned on that very Account. 21 But that ye alfo might know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, as a beloved brother, and faithful minifter in the Lord, fhall make known to you all things.

22 Whom I have fent unto you for the

21 & 22. I fend Tychicus, my dear Chriftian Brother, and a faithful Minifter of Chrift, with this Letter to you, on purpose to acquaint you with my Condition, and how it fares with me in my Confinement; and to comfort you under your Concern at it.

fame purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

23 Peace be to the brethren, and love, with faith from God the Father, and the Lord Jefus Chrift.

24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jefus Chrift.

¶ Written from Rome unto the Ephefians, by Tychicus.

23. May all the Chriftians in your Parts continue ftedfast in the Faith, Love, and Favour of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Chrift.

24. His Favour and Love be upon all fincere and good Christians.

Amen.

A PARA

+ Am an Ambassador in Bonds. ПpeσCεów iv äλúσ. Which fome render, I grow old in Bonds; agreeable to Philem. ix. He had indeed been imprisoned in Judea two Years, and had now lain two more at Rome, for the fame Caufe. But I keep to our Tranflation, as more agreeable to the reft of the Expreffions to the fame purpofe in this Epiftle. See Note on Philem. ix.

A

PARAPHRASE

ON

The Epistle of St. PAUL

TO THE

PHILIPPIANS

W

The PREFACE,

HILE St. Paul was a Prifoner at Rome, whither he was forced to make his Appeal from the inveterate Malice of the Jews, for his Preaching to the Gentile World, the Philippian Church fend Epaphroditus to Vifit and Salute him in their Name; to carry him Supplies from them for his Support in his Confinement; and to give him the comfortable Account, how fteddy and firm their Church continued to the Chriftian Faith he had formerly planted amongst them; and efpecially in that Point of relying upon the Gospel Religion for Salvation, without the Obfervation of the Ceremonial Law, which the Jewish Zealots every where cried up to be of abfolute Neceffity to a Chriftian Convert. This Epiftle is a Return of St. Paul's great Satiffaction, Love and Joy at the Refpects they had fhewn

him, and especially for their firm Adherence to this true A.D. 6%. Chriftian Doctrine; with feveral fresh Exhortations to a refolute, but yet meek and peaceful Behaviour in their Difputes with those furious Adversaries, on whofe Temper and Practices he lets fall fome very severe and just Reflections. For a further Account of the Nature of the Expreffions in which this Letter runs, I refer the Reader to the Preface of the foregoing Epistle.

CHA P. I.

The CONTENTS.

The Title and Salutation. He expreffeth his good Opinion of them for their Kindness and Refpect toward him, and efpecially for their firm Adherence to the true Chriftian Doctrine; and prays for their final Conftancy in it. Acquaints them with the Succefs his prefent Sufferings bad for the Promotion of the Gospel, even in the Emperor's Court. Intimates a Sett of Contentious Teachers of the Judaizing Party, who levell'd their Doctrine against him, inftead of preaching Jefus Chrift as the common Saviour of Mankind; but mentions others that were fincere, and ftood by him and his Principles. Speaking of his Sufferings and his Conftancy under them, he makes himself to be in a Streight between the Defires of Serving Chrift by a longer Life, and enjoying him in Death; but is free to live, and even fuffer longer, for the Benefit of the Chriftian Church. Gives them Hopes of feeing them again; but whether he should or no, exhorts them to Chriftian Piety, and Refolution in Suffering, after his own Example.

AUL and Timo

PAU
theus, the fer-
Servants and Minifters
vants of Jefus Chrift, of Jefus Chrift, with all divine
to all the faints in Bleffings from God the Father and

1 & 2. PAUL and Timothy, the

Chrift

Our

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