I'Z6 VERS.I7• AnExpofitign,withNotn CHAP.i Every goodgirt,] The Vulgar re~d~th die beff !Jft, properly enough to the fence, but not to the ongmal words; the gift is can. edgoofl, Either, 1.To exclude t~ofe g.ifts ofSatan,which are indeed injuries, rather thengifts .; ablmd mmd, 2 Cor+4· ·Unruly affeCl:i. ons, Ephef. 2. z. Thefe gifts that are from bene.:lth are notgtJad. · 2. To note the kind of gifts which he (peaketh of, not common mercies, but good gifts, fuch· as the Apofile calleth elfewhere 'if'VWf1-rJ.11l(,d~ ~uMyirJ.~, [pir#u.4l BleJ!ings, Ephef. I. 3• ·ris rrue, all commongifucome from the divine bounty; but the Apo!lle intendeth here fpecial bleffings, as appearech partlyby the amiw ·butes, goodandperfect : ..I is true, fome diil:inguifu between the two claufes, making ,Na-H ~yrJ.6~, or g€1odgift, to imply earthly bleffings, and d'<Jf~fl-rJ. Til>-Hov, perfefl gift, to imply heavenlyor fpiritual bleffings ; but I fuppofe that>s too curious ; thefe two words imply the fame imercies with a different refpect, as by_and ·by: Pt:lrtly becaufe fuch mercies fuit with the context, lookup· on it forward or backward .; in the forgoing Verfes ·he fpeaketh about Gods being the Author of fin, and noArgument is {o fit to batter down that conceit, as that God is the Author ofJPecial a13d faving grace ; and in the tollowing Verfe he i~ft:anceth inRege-– 'neration. Partly becaufe thofe mercies are moil: clearly from God, -and needlitde of the concurrence offecond caufes. And every perfect gift J That is, fuch as do any way conduce to '~.mr pe~fe'}ion, .r:otonly initial and #r~grace,but all the;pro_greffes m trhe fpmmal hfe ; and at lail: perfechon, and eternal hfe 1t felf. is the gift of Go<i:: Thougheternal death be awages, yet:. eternal ·life is agift, and therefore the Apofile diverfifieth the phrafe when he compareth them both togethc:r, Rom. 6. 21: The fum is, That not only the beginning, but all the graduat accelfes fromgrace to glory are bygift, and from the free mercy ofGod. Isfrom above,] That is, fromHeaven; the fame phrafe is elfe. where ufed, 'fohn 3· 2 r. He that cometh from above u above all; ·that is,from Heaven, and Heaven is put for God, as Luk. I). 21. I have finned againft He(//?J~;t, and againft thee; that is, againfi 'God, and his earthly father: And I fuppofe there is fame fpecial Reafon why our bleffings are (aid to be from above, becaufe they weredcjign-ed there,and t11ither is their aim aad tendency,and ther-e are theyperfellly enjoyed, and ther,efore,Ephe[.I. 3· are we faid'to ·~~ ~lej{e~ . "l!_~~h JPi~~~'!.'!_( ~le/Jings ~~ ~~'}7!_~n!J pla~es; !~~~fo~.e - · - - 1n
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