Julian Period, 4776. Vulgar Æra, 61.

People; and by his Death in the Flesh has abolished the Rome.
Jewish Ordinances that separated them, and were the
causes of their Enmity; and has united them both in him-
self, as one new Man, or one new Body, making peace
between them—that he might reconcile both to God by the
atoning Sacrifice of his Body; having slain or destroyed
the Enmity between God and Man, produced by Sin-
and who, after his Resurrection, preached through his
Apostles, Peace and Reconciliation, both to Jew and Gen-
tile, and through him both have Access by the same Holy
Spirit to the same Father-The Gentiles being no longer
Strangers, but incorporated with the Jews, are admitted
into the same Privileges with his holy People; belonging
to his House, or visible Church, which is built upon the
Doctrine taught by the Prophets in the Old, and the
Apostles in the new Dispensation, Jesus Christ himself
the corner Stone, connecting the Jews and Gentiles to-
gether in the same Building-by whom the Building,
composed of Jews and Gentiles, fitly joined together,
groweth by the Accession of new Converts into a holy
Temple unto God—And through Christ, they, his Bre-
thren, are builded together, that they may become the
Habitation of God, his Spirit living within them.

11 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;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition be

tween us;

15 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;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby ;

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Julian Pe

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles Rome. riod, 4774. and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerVulgar Æra,

61.

stone.

21 In whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord :

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

§ 5. EPH. iii. 1-12.

St. Paul affirms, that for maintaining the Admission of the
Gentiles to the same Privileges as the Jews, without being
bound by the Law of Moses, he was now suffering Im-
prisonment a Circumstance they could not doubt, as they
had heard of the Dispensation of Grace committed to
him on their Account-That God, by immediate Revela-
tion, had revealed to him this Doctrine; as he had al-
ready told them, (chap. i. 9, 10. ii. 11, to the end,)——
that the Gentiles should be Joint-heirs, united in one Body
with the Jews, and Joint-partakers of his Promise con-
cerning Christ by the Gospel-of which he was made a
Minister, according to the effectual working of the free
Gift of Grace, that he might preach the plan of Salvation
through Christ-That both Jews and Gentiles may have
sufficient Light to be able to comprehend the Mystery of
bringing all Mankind to Salvation through Faith in
Christ, which God till now hath kept hidden--although,
like the other Dispensations, it was created or formed by
Jesus Christ from the Foundation of the World-That
the manifold Wisdom of God gradually discovering itself,
might be made evident to the angelic Spirits, by his
dealings with the Church according to the external Ar-
rangements or Economy he made or constituted in Christ
Jesus, through whom we may freely address our Prayers,
and have Access to God, in the full Assurance of being
heard through Faith.

1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ
for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given me to you-ward:

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 understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto the holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the

Julian Pe- same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by Rome. riod, 4774. the gospel :

Vulgar Era,

61.

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ :

9 And to make all men see, what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known, by the church, the manifold wisdom of God,

11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

$6. EPH. iii. 13, to the end.

St. Paul desires the Ephesians not to be discouraged by his
Tribulations on their Account- -as they are for their
Glory or Advantage, proving his Fidelity and firm Convic-
tion of the Truth of the Doctrine revealed to him concerning
them-That they might not faint, St. Paul prays to God
for them; from whom all Believers upon Earth, and
Spirits in Heaven, are named, that he would grant them
according to the Riches of his free Mercy, to be mightily
strengthened by his Holy Spirit in the inner Man, or Soul;
that being rooted and founded in the Love of Christ,
they may be able to comprehend the infinite Dimensions of
the Christian Temple, or Church, which extends over all
the Earth, reaching to Heaven, and is founded on the Love
of God and of Christ, which surpasses finite Knowledge
—that they may be filled with all the spiritual Gifts of
God-To strengthen the Faith of the Ephesians who had
already experienced the strong Power of God working in
them, by the spiritual Gifts imparted to them, he ends
with a sublime Doxology.

13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribula-
tions for you, which is your glory.

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man ;

Julian Period, 4774.

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that Rome.

Valgar Era, ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

61.

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end.

§ 7. EPH. iv. 1-6.

Amen.

As an inducement to the Ephesians to attend to his Ex-
hortations, he reminds them that he is now a Prisoner of
the Lord for their sakes-that he who is in Bondage
calls on them who are at Liberty to walk worthy of the
high Privileges to which they are called-in Subjection,
Meekness, Patience, bearing with one another-that they
may keep that Unity which becomes those who are rege-
nerated and influenced by one Spirit, joining them to-
gether in the Bond of Peace-For in the Gospel of Christ
there is no Division-There is one Body-or Church of
Christ-one Holy Spirit animating that Body-one
Hope of everlasting Life-one Lord who is Head of this
Body-one System of Religion, and Condition of Salva-
tion-one Baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity-and
one God-The Father of Jews and Gentiles, who is
above all, and pervades all-and through his Spirit is

in all.

1 I therefore, (the prisoner of the Lord,) beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

§8. EFH. iv. 7-16.

St. Paul shews that the same God who makes all Mankind
equal in their spiritual Blessings, has allotted to every
Man Offices suitable to the Exercise and Nature of those

VOL. II.

Hh

Julian Period, 4774, Vulgar Æra, 61.

Gifts he has received, according to the Words of David Rome.
(Ps. lxviii. 18.)-Now this Expression, that he ascended,
implies that he descended first into the lower Parts of the
Earth; that he came down from Heaven, and submitted
to lie in the Grave of Death; and that he, who descend-
ed, and humbled himself, is the same divine Being who
ascended into the Heaven of Heavens, that he might be-
come the Fountain of all Blessings, and fill both Jews
and Gentiles with the Gifts and Graces of his Holy Spi-
rit, according to their different Functions-That he has
instituted a variety of Offices in the Church for its Edifi-
cation and Perfection, till Jews and Gentiles are all Con-
verted to the Christian Faith, and have attained to the
true Knowledge of the Incarnation and Atonement of the
Son of God, till the Church as a Body arrived to the
Maturity of a perfect Man; to the full Measure of the
spiritual Stature, endued with all the fulness of the Gifts
of Christ-He exhorts them, therefore, to become sted-
fast in their Faith, and not to be easily led astray by the
Deception and cunning Craftiness of the Judaizing
Teachers, but to adhere to the Doctrines of the Gospel, in
that Love and Charity which it inculcates; that they may
grow up as Members of his Body, who is the Head, even
Christ; by whom the whole Body of Christians being
joined together in one Church, and every Member fitted
for its own Office or Place, like the human Body, grows
to maturity, by the proper Exercise of the spiritual
Functions of its individual Members.

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to
the measure of the gift of Christ.

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9 (Now, that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ;

13 Till we all come in 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;

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ;