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Who are Israelites, to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all God blessed for ever'.

SECT. 13. The blissful change to the Gentiles in virtue of the dispensation of the Gospel.

And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins; and were by nature the children of wrath even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus". Wherefore remember, that ye being, in times past, Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision, by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, ye who were sometimes far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments, contained in ordinances, for to make in himself, of twain, one new man; so making peace. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ. And And you being dead in your sins, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. For through him we both

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have an access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth into an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together, for an habitation of God through the Spirit'.

SECT. 14. Jesus Christ is the Lord and head of the church.

Paul called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God, unto the church of God, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours; grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ". Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; having made known to us the mystery of his will; that in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him . For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and powerd. Wherefore, I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints; and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places; far above all prin

Eph. ii. 18-22. §14. 1 Cor. i. 1, 2, 3. d Col. ii. 9, 10.

b Eph. i. 3.

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Eph. i. 9, 10.

cipalities and power, and might and dominion; and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all; to the intent, that now unto the principalities and powers, in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God'. Wherefore, he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And he gave some, Apostles; and some, Prophets; and some, Evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ"; that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up unto him in all things, who is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love': holding the head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence'. For to this end Christ both died, and rose and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living". Be not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard; whereof I Paul am made a minister; who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for his body's sake, which is the church"; the house of God, the

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church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth; the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood P.

SECT. 15. The church considered as espoused unto

Christ.

I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear lest by

any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Wives, subinit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water, by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. For no man yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones; I speak concerning Christ and the church .

SECT. 16. The intimate relation of all the members of the church of God to one another.

There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all; but unto every one of us is given grace, according to

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the measure of the gift of Christ. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit; and there are differences of administrations but the same Lord; and there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God who worketh all in all. For to one is given by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another, the word of knowledge, by the same Spirit; to another, faith, by the same Spirit; to another, the gifts of healing, by the same Spirit; to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, discerning of spirits; to another, divers kinds. of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues. But all these worketh that one and the self same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all

§16. Eph. iv. 4—7.

1 Cor. xii. 8-19.

Rom. xii. 4, 5.
1 Cor. xii. 20, 21.

• 1 Cor. xii. 4, 5, 6.

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