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workman is worthy of his meat, &c. | soned in the synagogue every sabbath, &c. He testified to the Jews, that Jesus was Christ, &c. Apollos shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.-Acts xviii. 1-5. 28.

I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.Matt. x. 8-10. 16; John xx. 21; Luke x. 1, &c.

Paul preached three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God; but when divers were hardened, &c. he separated the disciples, disputing, &c.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have-Acts xix. 8, 9. commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, &c.-Matt. xxviii. 19, 20; John xx. 21-23.

He that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me.-Luke x. 16. He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, &c.-John vii. 18.

The apostles were very desirous to do good to the souls of others, and therefore took all occasions possible to preach the gospel every where.Acts ii. 13, &c.; iii. 12, &c.; iv. 811; v. 29-31. 42; vii. 1, &c.

When the apostles were forbid to preach Christ, they answer, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye; for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.-Acts iv. 19, 20.

Paul said, I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you: but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying, &c. repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. Neither count I my life dear, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. I am pure from the blood of all men: for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God, &c. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel; ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.-Acts xx. 20, 21. 24. 26, 27. 33–35.

The Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, &c. We will give ourselves continually-Acts xxvi. 17, &c.; Gal. i. 10-12. to prayer, and to the ministry of the 15, 16. word. Acts vi. 4.

Sirs, why do you these things? we also are men of like passions with you; and preach unto you, that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earth. Acts xiv. 15, 16; xvii. 22, 23.

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Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him: preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.-Acts xxviii. 30, 31.

I thank my God, &c. that your faith is spoken of, &c. Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, &c. I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established, &c. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation.-Rom. i. 8-11. 16; Col. i. 9; Eph. i. 15, 16.

I will not dare to speak of any of

I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say: the cup of blessing, &c. Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

those things which Christ hath not | I might by all means save some.-1
wrought by me, to make the Gentiles Cor. ix. 7. 14-16. 19-23.
obedient, &c. I beseech you, bre-
thren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's
sake, and for the love of the Spirit,
that ye strive together with me in
your prayers to God for me, that I
may be delivered from them which-1 Cor. x. 15, 16. 33.
do not believe in Judea.-Rom. xv.
18. 30.

When I came to you, I came not with excellency of speech, or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God: for I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified, &c. and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing (or persuasive) words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, &c. which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth: comparing spiritual things with spiritual.-1 Cor. ii. 1-4. 13; xv. 1—4.

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, &c. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, &c. I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase: so then, neither is he that planteth any thing, &c.-1 Cor. iii. 1, 2. 6, 7.

Account of us as, &c. stewards of the mysteries of God: moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful, &c. Even to this present hour we hunger, &c. and labour, working with our own hands.-1 Cor. iv. 1, 2. 11-13.

Have we not power to eat and to drink? &c. Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own charges? &c. even so the Lord hath ordained, that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel, &c. but I have used none of these things, &c. woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel, &c. though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more: and unto the Jews, I became as a Jew, &c. I am made all things unto all men, that

In the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.-1 Cor. xiv. 19.

The gospel which I preached unto you, &c. which I received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, &c. By the grace of God, I am what I am, &c. I laboured, &c. yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.--1 Cor. xv. 1-4. 10.

Ye also helping together by prayer for us, &c. not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy.-2 Cor. i. 11. 24.

If I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? &c. Out of much affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote unto you with many tears: not that you should be grieved, but that, &c. we are not as many which corrupt the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.2 Cor. ii. 2. 4. 17; iv. 1, 2.

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God: who also hath made us able ministers, &c.-2 Cor. iii. 5, 6; Eph. iii. 7.

Commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God, &c. we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake, &c. We having the same spirit of faith, &c. believe, and therefore speak.2 Cor. iv. 2. 5. 13.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, &c. the love of Christ constraineth us, &c. God hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation, &c. We are ambas

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sadors for Christ, as though God, &c. -2 Cor. v. 11. 14. 18-20.

Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed; but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in necessities, in distresses, &c. by pureness, by knowledge, &c.-2 Cor. vi. 3-10.

We have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man, &c. though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, &c. I do rejoice; not that you were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance, &c. that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.-2 Cor. vii. 2. 8-10.

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, &c. -2 Cor. x. 4, 5.

Paul (being forced to it for the gospel's sake) justifies and commends himself.-2 Cor. xi; xii.

I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you; for the children, &c. and I will very gladly spend, and be spent for you; though, &c. we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying: for I fear, &c. lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned, and have not repented.—2 Cor. xii.

14. 17. 19-21.

We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth, &c. I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to your edification, &c.-2 Cor. xiii. 8-10.

Do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ, &c.-Gal. i. 10, &c. Paul blamed Peter for dissembling, openly. Gal. ii. 11-14.

Paul had a holy jealousy of the Galatians: and after he had written largely to them about their turning back to the law, he saith, Ye observe days, and months, and years: I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.-Gal. iii; iv. 10, 11.

When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men, &c. and he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, &c.-Eph. iv. 8. 11-13.

Praying, &c. for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly.-Eph. vi. 18, 19; 2 Thess. iii. 1, 2; Col. vi. 3, 4.

God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus, &c. some indeed preach Christ even of envy, &c. what then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached, and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.-Phil. i. 8. 15-18; Luke ix. 50.

If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, &c. I have no man likeminded; all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.-Phil. ii. 17. 19-21.

Not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.-Phil. iv. 17.

Christ, whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man, in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.-Col. i. 27-29.

I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, &c. that their hearts might be comforted.-Col. ii. 1, 2.

Our exhortation was not of deceit, &c. but as we were allowed of God, &c. even so we speak: not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth our hearts for neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness, God is witness; nor of men sought we glory, &c. but we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children; so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, &c. labouring night

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and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the Gospel of God: ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves, &c. What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?1 Thess. ii. 3–12. 19.

I could no longer forbear: I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter, &c. for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 1 Thess. iii. 5. 7—10.

Brethren, pray for us.-1 Thess. v. 25. We behaved not ourselves disorderly among you: neither did we eat any man's bread for nought: but wrought with labour and travail night and day that we might not be chargeable to any of you not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us, &c. 2 Thess. iii. 7-10; Acts xviii. 1, &c. Refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. These things command and teach, &c. Be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine; neglect not the gift that is in thee, &c. meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all, (or in all things;) take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine, &c.-1 Tim. iv. 7. 11-16. Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren.-1 Tim. v. 1.

Stir up the gift of God which is in thee, &c. hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love, &c.-2 Tim. i. 6. 13. The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also; thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ: no man that warreth entangleth himself with the

affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier, &c. I endure all things for the elect's sake, &c. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed; rightly dividing the word of truth, &c. foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do engender strifes and the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient (or forbearing) in meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance, &c.-2 Tim. ii. 2-4. 10. 15, 16. 23-25.

Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering, and doctrine, &c. But watch thou in all things; endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of (or fulfil) thy ministry.—2 Tim. iv. 2. 5.

There are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, &c. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.Titus i. 10, 11. 13, 14.

Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine; in all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine, shewing uncor ruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned: that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.-Titus ii. 1, 7, 8.

Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain.-Titus iii. 9.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God, &c. that God in all things may be glorified.-1 Pet. iv. 11. I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be

established in the present truth; yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up, by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off my tabernacle, &c. Moreover, I will endeavour that you may be able, after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance: for we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.-2 Pet. i. 12–16.

That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, &c.-1 John i. 3.

I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth.-2 John 4; 3 John 3, 4.

CHAPTER XXV.

OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, UNDER

THE SEVERAL NOTIONS THEREOF,
AND THE THINGS BELONGING ΤΟ

I, Paul, &c. rejoice in my sufferings, &c. for his body's sake, which is the church.-Col. i. 24.

III. Particular visible Churches, who
are joined together as one Body,
and usually meet together in one
Place, for the Participation of
the same Ordinances, and exercis-
ing Duties as a Church, and one to
another, as Members thereof.
Can two walk together, except they
be agreed?-Amos iii. 3.

They all continued with one accord
in prayer and supplication, &c. The
number of the names together were
about an hundred and twenty.-Acts
| i. 13–15.

And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls; and they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers, &c. And all that believed were to

THE SAME IN GENERAL; AND ALSO gether, &c. And they continuing

WITH REGARD ΤΟ PARTICULAR

CHURCHES.

FIRST. The several Acceptations of the Church mentioned in Scripture.

I. General, or Universal. UPON this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.-Matt. xvi. 18.

gave

Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour of the body, &c. Christ also loved the church, and himself for it, &c. that he might present it to himself a glorious church. -Eph. v. 23. 25. 27.

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven.-Heb. xii. 23.

II. Universal, Visible. The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.-Acts ii. 47. That now, &c. might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, &c. unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, &c.-Eph. iii. 10. 21.

daily with one accord in the temple, &c.-Acts ii. 41, 42. 44. 46.

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Šamaria.-Acts ix. 31.

Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem, and they sent forth Barnabas, &c. At Antioch, they assembled themselves a whole year with (or in) the church, and taught much people.-Acts xi. 22. 26.

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, &c. they went to Antioch, &c. when they had gathered the church together, &c.Acts xiv. 23. 27.

Paul and Barnabas came to Jerusalem they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, &c. then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send, &c. being assembled with one accord, they gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle, &c. Paul went through Syria, &c. confirming the churches.-Acts xv. 2-4. 22. 25. 30. 41; xxi. 17, 18.

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