Of ChrJian Liberty. 95 him T it u s his companion and fellow la- S E I r. bourer in the work of the gofpel, who was IV. known to be a Greek, and uncircumcifed. Now, to thew that circumcifion was not a neceífary term of chriftian communion, or a neceffary qualification in a chriftian teacher, Titus was not compelled to fubmit to that ceremony ; and if it had been infifted in, the apoflie would have peremptorily reje -- ed it, for the reafon which he giveth himfelf, ver. 4, 5. becaufe of falle brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to fpy out our liberty, which we have in Grill refus, that they might bring us into bondage; to whom we gave place by fitbjeRion, no not for an hour, that the truth of the gofpel might continue with you. The plain meaning of which is, that though circumcifion was fo far indifferent at that time, that it might be prodded, when it fhould tend to the fur- therance of the gofpel by removing preju- dices; St. Paul himfelf on that account cir- cumcifed Timothy, as we read in the i 6th of the A ls, not from any fuppofed obliga- tory force in the law, which formerly re- quired it, for then he fhould have been cir- cumcifed before, and independently of any particular circumfIances, but it is exprefily faid at the 3d verfe, that he did it becaufe S of
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