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20 And are built upon the foundation of the Apoftles and Prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the

20. Believe, for certain, you are A. D. 62. Members of that Church of the Meffiah which is built upon the Truth of all the Prophecies of the Old, and the Apoftolical Doctrines of the New Teftament; Jefus Christ himself being the Head of this Body, and as it were the chief Corner-Stone of this Fabrick, holding and cementing the two Sides of Jewish and Gentile Believers together.

chief corner-ftone.

31 In whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in

21. Under whofe divine Conduct and Influence, all the Members of this Chriftian Society, like the Stones of a material Building, are fo to unite and encrease, as to become the Temple and Habitation of God.

the Lord.

22 In whom you alfo are builded toge

ther for an habitation

22. You Gentile Christians of Ephefus being now a Part of this Glorious Fabrick as well as the of God through the Jews: And as God was formerly Spirit. faid to dwell in the Jewish Tabernacle and Temple, by the Manifeftations of himself there to that People; fo may he now, in a much higher and happier Senfe, be faid to dwell in you, by the Gifte and Graces of his Holy Spirit conferred on you.

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CHA P. III.

The CONTENTS.

The fame Affurances, viz. That the Gentiles are received into the Church of Chrift, continued. He owns and profeffeth himself the Gentile Apoftle, Commiffioned on purpose to preach the Gospel to them. The Calling of the Gentile World, a Doctrine not allowed of by the Jews, nor difcovered to the Gentiles themselves in former Ages, but now clearly revealed to have been always the Purpose of God; and in this refpect is filed a Mystery. He exhorts them to rejoice in, rather than be difcouraged at, his Imprisonment and Sufferings for this Doctrine. Prays for their Confirmation and Progress in the Chriftian Faith, and bleffeth God for his extended Mercies to Mankind.

4.D. 62. FOR this caufe,

I

Paul,

the

prifoner of Jefus Chrift
for you Gentiles,

I.

FOR preaching this very Do

ctrine, viz. That you Gentiles are now received into all the Privileges of the Chriftian Church,

as well as the Jews, am I, Paul, now a Prifoner at Rome, profecuted by the Malice of that People, and to be tried for my Life.

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2 & 3. Nor can you doubt but

I am a Prifoner for your fakes, fince you know my divine Commiffion by an express Revelation

from

+ I Paul, a Prisoner; i. e. either am now a Prisoner, (as I have ventur'd to connect it with the 2d and 3d Verfes ;) or else The Prifoner, and then most probably all the following Verfes of this Chapter are one continued Parenthesis, to the first Verse of the 4th Chapter, where the Apostle refumes his Exhortation again in the very fame Words.

*See Acts xxii, 21, 22. xxvi. 19, 20, 21. xxviii. 17, 20.
If ye have heard; ye husσate, Since ye have heard.
See Dr. Mill. Prolegom. § 72, 73, c.

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery, (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby when ye read ye may underftand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

from God, runs chiefly upon this A. D. 62.
very thing, To authorize me to
declare this unthought of Mercy to
you; as I briefly explained it to
you before, (Cap. i. 9, 10.)

4. By Reading and Confidering
whereof, as I there did, and fhall
now give a further Account of it;
you may clearly understand that
gracious and furprizing Purpose of

God fo little expected by the World.

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the fons of men, as it is now revealed unto his ho

5 & 6. Viz. That though the Heathen Nations had it not exprefly declared to them in former Ages, nor could the Jews be ly apostles and pro- Predictions of their Prophets; yet brought to apprehend it from the phets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles it was now clearly revealed and should be fellow heirs, abfolutely declared to the infpired. and of the fame bo- Apoftles of Jefus Chrift, that the dy, and partakers of Gentiles fhould be taken into all his promite in Chrift, the Bleffings of the Chriftian Coveby the Gospel : nant, and be united to the fews, to make up one Church under the Meffiah.

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A. D.62. 9 And to make all men fee what is the fellowship of the myftery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jefus

Christ.

10 To the intent that now unto the * principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by

9. To fhew both Jew and Gentile the exceeding great Bleffings they are now to enjoy, by being united into one Church under Chrift: A thing that God, who created and governs the World, and all the Dif penfations of it by Him, thought not fit fo manifeftly to reveal to former Ages, as he has now done.

10 & 11. Now that he intends not only to convince the Governors and Magiftrates of this World, who have oppofed and perfecuted this Religion, but to difplay to all Ranks and Degrees of Creatures, both in Heaven and Earth, this manifold Wifdom in the wondrous Management of his Church; fo agreeably to the former † Difpenfations of it; all which were always directed and difpofed, but now fully compleated by Jefus Chrift.

the church the mani-
fold wifdom of God,
11 According to
the eternal purpofe
which he purpofed in
Chrift Jefus our Lord:

12 In whom we

have boldness and ac-
cefs with confidence
by the faith of him.

12. Through whofe Mediation for us, both Jew and Gentile, that embrace his Religion, are accepted of God as his true Church and People; and may address to him with full Aflurance of being rewarded at his true Worshippers.

13 Wherefore I
defire that ye faint
not at my tribulations
for you,
which is
your glory.
14 For

13. Wherefore fince I am now under Perfecution for delivering a Doctrine fo much to the Benefit of you Gentile Chriftians: Be not difheartned or affrighted at my Suffer

To the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places.
See the Note on Chap. 1. 10.

ings;

+ According to the Eternal Purpofe. Κατὰ πρόθεσιν ἢ ἀιώνων; agreeably to the Predifpofition of former Ages, or Difpenfations of Religion. Thus the Saviour was promised to Adam, then to Abraham, afterwards typified and reprefented to the Jews, and at laft, fully and openly preached to all the World.

ings; but rather rejoice at them, as an Argument of the A. D. 62. Sincerity and Truth of this Doctrine; and let it raise your Hearts and ftrengthen your Refolutions.

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift,

15 Of whom the whole family in hea

ven and earth is named;

16 That he would

14 & 15. To which End I hum-
bly and earnestly beg of God the
Father, the Supreme Lord and Go-

vernor of the whole Church in
Heaven and Earth, uniting both
Angels and Men under his Govern-
ment;

16. That out of the infinite Ful-
nefs of Divine Goodness and Mercy,
he would confirm your Minds by
the Influence of his holy Spirit.

grant you according
to the riches of his
glory, to be ftrength-
ened with might, by
his Spirit in the inner man :

17 That Chrift may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye be ing rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all faints, what is the breadth and length, and depth and height: 19 And to know the love of Chrift, which paffeth know

17, 18, & 19. That fo, by a due and profound Senfe of the inexpreffible Bounty of this Difpenfation of Chrift toward you Gentiles, you and all Christian People may render him all unfeigned Returns of Love, Gratitude and Obedience, by an unfhaken and firm Adherence to his Religion; abounding in all the Divine † Gifts and Spiritual Graces belonging to it.

ledge, that ye might be filled † with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him

that is able to do ex-
ceeding abundantly a-
bove all that we ask
or think, according
to the power that
worketh in us,
21 Unto him be
glory in the church by
Chrift Jefus, through
out all ages, world
without end.

Amen.

20 & 21. To him therefore who has already conferred fuch Spiritual Endowments on you, and is both able and willing to encourage your Improvement of them, by giving you still more than you can with or imagine for your felves, be afcribed, by all fucceeding Ages of the Church, all Honour and Glory, through Jefus Chrift, for evermore. Amen.

E 4

*Family of Heaven and Earth.

СНАР.

See the Note ou Chap. . 10. With all the Fulness of God. See the Note on 2 Cor. viii. 1.

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