Paul intercedes forOnefimus. Philemon. Paul intercedesfor Onefimus. ceive him for ever. 16. Not now as a fervant, but above a fervant, a bro- ther beloved, fpecially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord? t 5 rs. His tentporsiv departure may end in a durable reception andentertiinmeat ; and that not only as a Servant, but a Brother, beloved 'fpecially by me who converted him, much more by thee to whom now he is doubly rela- ted, both as a Servant, andas a fellow- member ofChrift. 17, 18. If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as my felf. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account. 17, IS. If thou judge me to have right in thy affairs, by thebonds of Chriltian friendfnip,re- ceive him if thou woulditreceiveme : Ser thy loses by him, and wrongs on my account, and I will give thee fatisfa&ion. 1 9. I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not fay to thee how thou owef unto nie even thine own felf betides. r9. Rather than Money-matters Stall continue a breach, I here givethee a Bill under my hand, that 1will repay all that he oweth thee ; tho' I might tell thee that thou oweft me even thy fell, 20. -Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord : refrefhmy bowels in the Lord. zo. I pray thee,Brother,comfort me with this cxpieiiiion ofthy Chriftian love and forgiveneli. '2z. Haying confidence in thyobe- dience,. I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt alfodo more than I fay. . -at.,I write this as encourag'd by a Meng perfwafton, that thou wilt not only obey my delre, bat do more for him than I think meet particularlyto urge thee to. z2. But withal prepare me alfo a lodging, for l truft that through your prayers I Shall be given unto you. 21 4áae, That our deliverances mutt be ex- peted by the means date Prayers of the fait- 3 24, z 5. There falute thee Epa- phras, myfellow-prifoner in Chrift Je- ' us : Marcus, Ariftarchus, Demas, Lu- cas, my fellow-labourers : The grace of out Lord Jefus Chrift be with your Spirit.: Amens. 23, ï4, 25. leste i Patel was not without f$l. law.prifaüers,orfellow-labourers, in hisbonds: M m 3 The 7. For we have great joy and confo- lation in thy love,becaufe the bowels of the faints are refrefhed bythee,brother. 7. Note ; That when Faith bringeth forth the fruits of liberal Charity to the relief of o. thers, it makes it and the agent much more amiable, than when it doth nor, tho' it Should be lintter, and want only ability (as a good. Tree laden with choice fruit is more lovely. than in the Winter): Much more than when Hypocrifse maketh Faith fruiticfs. 8. Wherefore, tho' I might bemuch bold in Chrifi, to enjoyn thee that which is convenient, 9. Yet for loves fake I rather befeech thee, being fuck a one as Paul the aged, and now alfo a prifoner of jefus Chrifi. 8, 9. Church- Rulers mutt not plead' and ufe meer commanding Authoriay, when Loveand Intreaty is more fit for the ends, asufually it is with Brethren, and worketh more' kindly and effeítually. so, 1 r. ,I befeech thee for my foil Onefimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time pall was,to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me. ta,t a. Note, a. That true ConverSou maketh good Servants, es well as good ChrMims. a. That the faults ofconvertedSeivonts fhotild be`pardenéd byus, as ours be ofGod. 3. That God's Word by a Prifoner may fàve Souls. 4. That ä èönvertéd Servant Ih'ould be valued by the greatefl Apoftle i,2. Whom I. have Pent again: tiled therefore,receive hila1 that is Mine ovn b'owela. ta. Note; Howdear are the Souls of the meanèft to a faithful Mitïifter,' and how level1 when converted ? 13. Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy fièad- he might have miniflred untò me in the bonds Of the gofpel. 1 i ven thou thy Pelf oweft me" feivtce while I fuffer bondi for theGofpels fake; andI would havelmat him todo',t for mein thy Read. 14.But without thy mind would-I do nothing, that-thy-benefitThould pot be as it wereof neceffity, but willingly. 14. But I would not, without thy confent, fmdifpofe ofone' who is rightfullyMy Servant, ilia' a fugitive, that -thy.kindnefs to me may not beneceffitated by my will, but be free as ôf thy ownwill. ' i 5. For perhaps lie-therefore depar- ted for a feafon, that thou Ihouldft re-
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