An Expo(ition, with Notes that is,thofe inw,ard motives that confirained his affent to the truth. Thus alfo the Apofile Pt1tul chargeth us, I The./[.;. 21. firfito prove ~ell things,and then to holdfaH that Which iogood; •cis unfafe' to engage till a full convid:ion,or to ref~lve without evidence; for there is no likelihood of holding faH ttll we have proved. Well then, Labor to underfhnd the grounds ~f your Religion; if you love a truth ignorantly, you cannot love It conffantly, there is fiill a party left in the Soul to ~etray it into t~e hands of the oppo.fite. error; to take up ways Without ~ny tryal1s but ajimple credulity, which will foon be abufed and m1fled; and to take up ways upon half conviCl:ion is hypocrijie, which by that other part ofthe mind, not yet gained, will be foon difcovered: Look upon it then, as brnitifo to follow the track, and bafe toprofefs before you are a[-_ certained. Verfe9• Let the brother of low degree, rcjoJce in that he is exalted. . The Apofile having finithed that nece!fary digreffion ab1pt prayer, recarneth to the main matter in hand, which is bellring of ajfliClions With joy; And urgeth another reafon in this Verfe, be~ c:mfe to be depref{ed in the world for righteoufnefs fak!, is to be txalted towards God; and in confideration of their fpiritual corn. forts and priviledges they had rather cau[e to boaft and glory, then to be madeforry. Let us fee the force of the words. Let the 6rother J That is, a Cbrifiian; The people of Godare exprdfed by that term, becatafe the truefi frierrdtbip and brother~ hood is inter bontJs, among the good and godly: Combinations of wicked men are rather afaElion and ac~n!Jiracj, then a brother. hood~ therefore you finde this in Scripture-notionalways·appropd– ated to the people of God : When 'tis fa id indefinitely a Brother, you may underfiand aSaint; as here, Jame.r doth not fay a Chri– ftian, but Let the Brother: So Paul, I Car. I6. 20, eAll the Brethren falute yolJI; tha·t is, all the 'Saints: And fometimes •tis expre!fed with this addition, holj brethren, I Thej[.).27. where– ~s in the fame place, in Verf. 26. he had ·faid, Greet all the Bre.· thren; This loving compelhtion, and ufe of calling one another brothers and.fiJler;-,continued til.l Tertullians time~ as we Lhewed before. ·Of low degree] In the Original•cis Trl'7fc.,v®-; which as t~e He. . - · brevv
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