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it utterly impossible to do much in that way. Add to which, if there were sufficient leisure to follow it up, yet the effect of looking out text after text in detail, would be as inferior to that of having the whole mass brought before the eye at once, as the reading of the child, who must spell every word before he can put a sentence together, would be to the fluency of one that is master of his subject; or as the meagre Divinity drawn by some men from a few wrested and ill-assorted texts is to the rich and glorious view of the Blessed Gospel, when beheld in its breadth, length, depth, and height as we find it in the Epistle before us.

We have commenced with the Epistle to the Ephesians, principally on account of its comprising in a small space so rich and full a display of the Gospel. It is my intention to continue the Work as long as it may please the Lord to give me opportunity and life. If it is a Work of great labour,* it is a Work which I have found, as far as I have been permitted to carry it, of the greatest profit to myself (and, I believe, many of my coadjutors will bear the same testimony) I have ever been engaged in. May the Lord prosper it to the setting forth His own glory, by the rich discovery of Gospel truth; may it be felt by His believing people the Heavenly harmonizer of their souls-the soother of their hearts, amid the din and confusion which may soon encompass them-may it lead those to love that word who are ignorant of its inestimable value; and those who do know its value, to find in its pages a depth yet deeper still than their eye hath already seen, or heart conceived.

* And such it is, not being a matter of mere compilation, but of severe digestion, of the labours of Scott, Bagster, Platt, Cruttwell, &c., and afterwards of close revision by my different coadjutors.

EPISTLE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

TO THE

EPHESIAN S.

a

CHAP. I.

PAUL, an apostle of JESUS CHRIST by the will of GOD,

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EPHESIANS.

PAUL, called [to be] an apostle of Jesus Christ, through Christ by the will of God. 2 Cor. i. 1. see also Col. i. 1.

the will of God. 1 Cor. i. 1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus

2 Tim. i. 1. Paul, an apostle (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father.) Gal. i. 1. b To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints. Rom, i. 7. To them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints. 1 Cor. i. 2. Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia. 2 Cor. i. 1. To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi. Philipp. i. 1. To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ. Col. i. 2. are sanctified by God the Father. Jude. i. 1.

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To them that

c which are at Ephesus, Paul, having passed through the upper coasts, came to

d and to the faithful in CHRIST JESUS:

2 eGrace [be] to you & peace from GOD our Father and [from] the Lord JESUS CHRIST.

e

Ephesus, and finding certain disciples. Acts xix. 1. This was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified, and many that believed, came. Acts. xix. 17, 18. Moreover ye see and hear that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people. Acts. xix. 26. Unto the Angel of the church of Ephesus write. Rev. ii. 1.

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ. Col. i. 2. Thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr. Rev. ii. 13. They that are with Him [are] called, & chosen, and faithful. Rev. xvii. 14. I sent unto you Timotheus......faithful in the Lord. 1 Cor. iv. 17. Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the

Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. i .7. 2 Cor. i. 2. Gal. i. 3. 1 Cor. i. 3. 1 Thess, i. 3. 2 Thess. i. 2. Coloss. i. 2. Unto Timo

thy......Grace, mercy, [&] peace, from God our Father & Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Tim. i. 2. To Titus......Grace, Vol. 1.

B

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3 fBlessed be the GOD and Father of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,

g who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings, in heavenly [places] in CHRIST:

mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Titus i. 4. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. 1Peter i. 2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter i. 2. Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come...... and from Jesus Christ. Revelat. i. 4, 5.

Blessed [be] the LORD, [who] daily loadeth us [with benefits, even] the God of our salvation. Psalm lxviii. 19. That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. xv. 6. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore. 2 Cor. xi. 31. Blessed [be] God,

even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. i. 3. And made [us] sit together in heavenly [places], in Christ Jesus. Ephes. ii. 6. And in Thy seed shall all the

nations of the earth be blessed. Gen. xxii. 18. The seed [which] the Lord hath blessed. Is. lxi. 9. God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. Acts iii. 26. Ye are complete in Him. Col. ii. 10. All things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. v. 18. All the promises of God in Him [are] yea, and in Him Amen. 2 Cor. i. 20. Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Cor. i. 30. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. 2 Cor. v. 19. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Rom. viii. 32.

4 h According as Heh But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you,

hath chosen us

brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation. 2 Thess. ii. 13. The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, Deut. vii. 6. The Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure. Ps. cxxxv. 4. Thou, Israel [art] my servant; Jacob whom I have chosen. Is. xli. 8. Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it. That the purpose of God, according to election, might stand. There is a remnant according to the election of grace. Rom. ix. 5. ix. 11. xi. 7. Except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. Mark xiii. 20. Ye [are] a chosen generation. 1 Pet. ii. 9. Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father. 1 Pet. i. 2. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in

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faith, and heirs of the kingdom? James ii. 5. Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2 Tim. i. 9. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. 1 Pet. i. 20. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life, from the foundation of the world. Rev. xvii. 8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life, of the Lamb slain, from the foundation of the world. Rev. xiii. 8. That He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy which He had afore prepared unto glory. Rom. ix. 23. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the foundation of the world. Matth. xxv. 34. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification. 2 Thess. ii. 13. Elect, according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience. 1 Pet. i. 2. This is the will of God, [even] your sanctification. 1 Thess. iv. 3. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephes. ii. 10. Who hath saved us and called [us] with an holy calling. 2 Tim. i. 9. Whom He did fore-know He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son. Rom. viii. 29. God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 1 Th. iv. 7. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness.&c. Col. iii. 12. That He would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life. Luke i. 74. 75.

I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee. Jer. xxxi. 3. And because He loved thy fathers therefore he chose their seed after them. Deut. iv. 37. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved you. Deut. vii. 7, 8. Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of His Son. Rom viii. 29. Behold! what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. 1 John iii. 1. God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that

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we might receive the adoption of sons. Gal. iv. 4, 5. He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth. Daniel iv. 35. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight. Matth. xi. 26. It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke xii. 32. Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will [have mercy.] Rom. ix. 18. According to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself. According to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will. Ephes. i. 9, 11. It is God which worketh in you both to will & to do of [his] good pleasure. Phil. ii. 13. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of [this] calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of [His] goodness. 2 Thess. i. 11.

That they might be called Trees of Righteousness, The lxi. 3. They shall inherit the land for ever, the branch Planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified. Isai. of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. Isai. lx. 21. That He might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy. Rom. ix. 23. the Gentiles might glorify God for [his] mercy. Ro. xv. 9. For all things [are] for your sakes, that the abundant grace might, through the thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of God. 2 Cor. iv. 15.

That

Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Rom. iii. 24. The grace of God & the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. Rom. v. 15. He hath made Him [to be] sin for us who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Co. v. 21 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. Is. xlii. 1. This is my beloved Son; hear Him. Luke. ix. 35. See also Matthew iii. 17. Mark i. 11. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand. Jo. iii. 35. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. John x. 17.

Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. Job. xxxiii. 24. As for thee also, by the blood

of thy covenant, I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein [is] no water. Zech. ix. 11. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matt. xx. 28. and Mark. x. 45. The church of God, which He hath purchased with his own blood. Acts xx. 28. Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Rom. iii. 24. În

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