s to 20 25 45 the Epifile to the Galatians. Chap. i. and concealed their owne faults, andnot to haue blazed their owne (hart to the world. And therefore the booties offcrip- ture, arenot bookes ofpollicie (as Atheifts fuppofe) to keepe men in awc,but they are the very word of God . Againe, the endof this plain e confeffim is,that Paul might thereby cöfirme, and iutlific, his owne calling,to theofficeofanApoftle. This ferues togiuc a checke to fuch perfons,asvie to fit and rehearic their wicked liucspaft, in boatingand rcioycingmanner. In Pauls example there be two things to be confidcred,his profc(ïion beforehis calling,and his conuerlation.His profeffi- on was Iudaifine:and this kindredhimfrom imbracingthe go- fpell.It may here be demanded , what Iudaifine or the Icwifh religion is Anfwer. In thedaies ofChrift, and theApoílles, there were threefpeciall fees among the Apoftles,Efhcis, Sad - duccis,and Pharifes. And the Pharifcs were theprincipali, and their doftrinewas commonly imbraced of the Ievves . And therefore by Iudaifine (as I take it) Pharifeifine is here meant. Nowt the principal! dofrines of the Pharifes were theft. I. Theyheld, that therewas one God,and that this Godwas the father, without any diftinaion of perlons : for whenChrifl mentioned the diflinthon of the father, and theTonne, they would not acknowledge it, Ióhn 8. 19. I I. Theyacknow- ledged in the Mcffiasbut one nature:for when it was askedthc, howeChrilt beeing the fonneofDauid , (hould neuerthelefle be his Lord; they could not aafwer. Math.az. I I I. They held ,that the kingdome oftheMesas, was an earthly king- dome:andwith this opinion,the Dilciplesof Chrifl were tain ted. I V. Theyheld,that thekeepingof the moral! lawe,f}ood in external! obedience, as appeares by the fpeeches of Chriff, reforming their errours,Math.5.6.7.chap. V. They maintai- ned a natural( freedomeofthe will, in theobferningofthe law, Luk. t 8 .Lord l thanke. thee(faith thePharifie) tdoe tivis& thws. V I. They held a iuftification by the workes ofthelawe,with- out the obedienceofthe Mcllias. Rom.9.3. VII. Betide the writtenword and lawofMoles ,theyhad many unwritten tra- ditions,which they oblerucd pretifely : and the obferuation of themwas accounted the worfhip ofGod,Math. x 5.3.9.Other points theyheld,but theft are theprincipal). It may further be demaunded,how the Iewescould hold fuch heretical!, & dam-' nableopinions,and yet be thepeople ofGod? An/wer. ty I~ x lraal
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