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in the Epifiles of St. Paul, &C. 5 plainly prevented then they are in this context. I f we may take a little unprejudiced confideration of it, I fuppofe what is affirmed will be evident. It cannot be denied, but that the defign of the Apoftle from the beginning of this Chapter, unto the end of Ver. t I. is to declare the way whereby loft and condemned (inners come to be delivered, and tranflated out of that condition into an elate of acceptance with God, and eternal Salvation thereon. And therefore in the firft place, he fully defcribeth their naturalflate,wi Ji their being obnoxious unto the wrath of God thereby. For fuch was the method of this Apoftle, unto the Declaration of the Grace of God in any kind, he did ufually, yea, conftantly premife the confideration of our fin,mifery, and ruine. Others now like not this method fo well. Howbeit this hinders not, but that it was his. Unto this purpofe he declares unto the Epheans , That they were dead in trefpaff s and fins, expreffing the power that fin had on their Souls, as unto spiritual life,and all the a &ions of it ; but withal that they lived and walked in fin, and on all ac- counts were the children of wrath, or fubje& and liable un- to eternal condemnation, Ver. I, 2, 3. What fuch perlons can do towards their own deliverance, there are many terms found out to exprefs, all paffing my underftanding, Peeing the intire defign of the Apoftle is to prove, that they can do nothing at all. But another caufe, or other . caufes of it, he finds out, and that in dire& exprefs oppofition unto any thing that may be done by our felves unto that end. 'o 0E4 arxm® my C4, 'r Ver. 4. It is not a work for us to undertake ;. it is not what we can contribute any thing unto : But God, who xr rich in mercy. The adverfative includes an oppofition, unto every thing on our part, and inclofeth the whole work. to God. Would Men have relied on this Divine Revela- tion, the Church of God had been free from many of thole perverfe opinions and wrangling diifputes, which it hath been.

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