X4:5 Have any of the Rulers, or of the Tharifees believed on him ?but this polite who knoweth not the Law are, curfed. And 'fornetimes they bottom their' obedience upon the example of the mul- titude. This was Demetrius his=arguMent again[ Paul, on the behalf of Diana, that all 4/14- and the world did worthip her ; and therefore the,dvarine, of Paul, that they-be no Gods which are made with-hands was falfe, and not to be tuf- fered. This bath alwayes been, and is (till the common plea of many, We do btrt as the !road() and fare a great many eyes can fee more than one or two : And hereupon they ex- claim againft others for their fingularity, becaufe they won't do as the ref} of their neighbours do. But, Thirdly,That obttliAce that fprings from Caith,is a,grow- ina obedience, 'tis an abounding obedience; fuch 'a man's defires,willAudy-and labour, is to get up to 'the high& pitch of obedience, to get up to the highest round in `facoes lad- der, Rev. 2. 19. I knows thy work., d charity, _and fervice, and faith, and thy patience, elnd thy works ; and the tat to be more than the firfl. The Angel of the Chueeh of rhyatira is commen- ded, Firl}, for his love. 2 .. FOr hIS.Charity. 3:For his faith. ,And, 4. For his patience : And in the general courfe of -his -life, hedarly became more excellent ; for his latter-works were more th;ri the firft, that is, they were more manifeft proofs of his centlancy, and more worthy of praife than the firft. Tttis faithful Pailzor is commended for -his holy pro- ° °refs in grace. and bolinefs. So Paul,Pthil, 3. a N dt as though I hut already attained, either were alre.tdyperfeEl ; but I follow after, if that (may apprehend tha:_for which 4j I am ap- prehended of Chrift TePis. Ver. 13. Brethren,-I count no, my fey to have apprehended ; but this one thing I do forgetting thfe things which are behi.nd,-!.ndre,:ohirtg forth unto , -things which are before., Ver.14. I prers towards the mark, for the prime the high calling of grid in Chrtg 7efiu. The Greek word A-0.;46), Both emphltically import, a prerfing, with an eager purfuit after the mark : It is the fame word that fignifies to perfe- cute, becaufe-the earneitnefs,of his fpirtit in prettily, toward V thofe the mark, now is the:fame thatit .; in the perfecution of Ael-s19.,1607, 'Tis nor ewry be- lievers happinefs always to make a progrefs in grace. Solomon and ../ffa, and o- thers, run retro- grade. Saints have their winter lea- Ions ; they have their decaying times,and richer- ing tim' es as well as their thriving times, their fsi i. timing times" key. 3; 4.
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