PREFATORY HINTS

TO THE OTHER EPISTLES.

THESE hints do not constitute any thing like Prefaces to the Epistles; but, in subordination to the principles sug gested in the general preface, may be of some use to the studious reader of this volume.

PAUL'S TWO LETTERS TO THE CORINTHIANS

1. IN Acts xviii. we have a history of the conversion of the Corinthians, and Paul's residence among them.

2. It appears from this history, and from the first letter, that the congregation in Corinth was composed of Jews and Gentiles, and that the greater number were Gentiles.

3. From the Epistle itself it may be learned, as well as from extrinsic sources of information, that the Corinthians paid great respect to the wisdom of the philosophers, and to the eloquence of their rhetoricians, and that in their morals they were a very dissolute and licentious people. Such was the common reputation of the Corin. thians before their calling.

4. It is also evident that there were schisms in that congregation, occasioned by one or more factious persons of Sadducean principles, and admirers of Pagan philosophy, who attempted to rival the Apostle in the affection and veneration of the members of this congregation.

5. That these factious leaders had succeeded in part; yet still there remained a number unmoved from their at tachment to the Apostle, and confidence in him.

6. That a letter had been written by these to the Apos tie, acquainting him with their situation, and soliciting information from him on certain topics.

From these circumstances of this congregation, and from the exhortations of the Apostle, it is very apparent that his chief design in writing the first letter, was to sup port his own authority, dignity, and reputation; to vindicate himself from the aspersions and calumnies of the factious; and to diminish the credit and influence of those aspiring demagogues and leaders, by exhibiting their errors and miscarriages; and thus to withdraw from them the respect and admiration of the party they had formed. To these topics he confines himself to the end of the sixth chapter; and, occasionally, when disscussing other topics, he aims a blow at the factionists, to the close of the letter.

In managing this controversy he is very dexterous. He shows all that philosophy and rhetoric could achieve, from a fair statement of what they had achieved; and proves, beyond all doubt, that without a verbal revelation from God, the philosopher and rhetorician must have continued in the dark, with regard to the knowledge of God. He takes their own reproachful terms uttered against him, his mission, and doctrine, and glories in them; in what they called the foolishness of proclaiming life through a crucified person. In this way he draws off the affection of the people, who had renounced Paganism, from those leaders who extolled themselves, by exhibiting their attainments in the philosophy of the Greeks.

He then adverts to the disorders in this congregation, which he imputes to these leaders, and shows that the immoralities in members of this community were, in a cer tain way, chargeable to these factious persons; and proves, beyond all doubt, that a divided people are generally a corrupt people; or, at least, that vicious practices are either the result or concomitants of schisms and factions.

The principal items in the subsequent part of the first letter are so easily distinguished, and so different from each other, that, in the paragraphs in which they are presented in this version, they are marked with sufficient plainness. He treats, successively, on the incompatibility of lawsuits amongst Christians; on married and single life; on the eating of meats offered to idols; on his call, mission, right, and authority as an Apostle. He lays before them the fate of the fathers of the nation, who, while they professed subordination to, and were participants of, the ordinances of that worship, were not upright in heart before God; but, in fact, rebels against his authority. He next censures their departure from the meaning and design of one of the Christian institutes, viz. the Lord's Supper; treats of spiritual gifts; disproves the Sadducean hypothesis, and removes objections adduced against the resurrection of the dead; and concludes with directions for collections for the poor saints in Jerusalem, with exhortations and salutations.

Having tested his power in Corinth by the first letter, and hearing of its success from Titus, he takes courage, writes a second letter, speaks more boldly of himself, and deals more severely and sharply with his opponents. In this he aims at the extermination of the faction, which he had attacked and weakened in his first letter. He makes good all his claims to the respect, veneration, and submis sion of the Corinthians; strips his antagonists of every

pretext; and, by the most pathetic recital of his own histo ry, and exhortations to unity and peace, closes his commu nications to this large and eminent congregation.

GALATIANS.

THE design of this letter is pretty similar to that of the eipstle to the Romans; but directed more to a certain class of Judaizers, who aimed at bringing the congrega tions in Galatia under the law. It is not so comprehensive as the letter to the Romans; but much fuller on one or two topics engrossed in that epistle. Having been the founder of these congregations in Galatia, he adopts a style quite different from that used in the epistle to the Romans, and speaks more in the style of a teacher to his own pupils. The gifts which the Holy Spirit conferred by his hands, the covenant with Abraham, the law at Sinai, the promise of Canaan, are the principal topics from which the Apostle Paul argues in this letter.

EPHESIANS.

1. THE account of the conversion and gathering of this congregation is recorded Acts 19th and 20th chapters.

2. Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote this letter, and those to the Colossians and Philippians. He was mprisoned because of the truths he taught concerning the calling of the Gentiles, the abrogation of the Jewish constitution and law, or the developement of that secret which was, in an especial manner, entrusted to him, as the Apostle to the Gentiles; which is summarily comprehended in one sentence, viz. Christ to the Gentiles, or proclaimed among them, THE HOPE OF GLORY.

3. In this letter he rather declares this grand secret, than attempts the proof of it; and, in thanksgivings and prayers to God, extols the wisdom and goodness exhibited in this procedure.

He is very sublime in his thanksgivings to God for his goodness to the Gentiles, from the fact that he had before the law, (yea, before the formation of the world,) determined to bless them under the reign of his Son, to call them to the honor of being his people, to give them the privilege of adoption, and to purify them for an inheritance in that world of which Canaan was but a type. He declares that God's original design and plan was not only to magnify his benevolence and favor, but also to reduce every thing in heaven and earth under one head-viz. Jesus his Son. The proofs of the eternal purpose of call. ing the Gentiles, the Apostle lays before them in the statement of facts

1. That the good tidings of salvation to the Gentiles, called the gospel of their salvation, had been confirmed by his own sufferings in proclaiming it, and by the miracles which he wrought in attestation of it.

2. That the Gentiles, who believed his message, were sealed by the same Holy Spirit which was promised by the Jewish Prophets; which was to them who did not believe, au evidence of the truth; and in them who believed, a confirmation that the Gentiles were now become the peo. ple of God.

3. That the former condition of the Gentile world, contrasted with the state, character, views, and feelings of Chose who had already believed, was a full proof to them of the riches of that favor shown to them through the nere good pleasure of God.

4. From which he argues indirectly the abrogation of the Mosaic rites and constitution, and then declares the fact.

5. He then declares the noble design of breaking down the wall of separation to be God's purpose, for making of both people a new, honorable, and happy society. This is the grand topic kept continually in view through this epis. tle; and from this the Apostle deduces numerous exhortations to the Gentiles and Jews to maintain unity and peace, and to cultivate that purity which comports with the character of the adopted sons of God. He sums up the reasons which should constrain the disciples in Ephesus to maintain unity and peace: for whether Jews or Gentiles, Barbarians, Scythians, bondmen or freemen, they were but one body under Christ the head; there was one spirit which animated this one body, one hope presented in the calling of both people, one Lord of both people, one faith which they mutually entertained and confessed, one immersion in which they mutually put on Christ and renoun. ced every other leader or chief, and one God and Father of all-Jews and Gentiles. Thus the main design of this letter is very apparent, and it all admirably comports with it, and can be easily understood when viewed in this light; but on any other hypothesis it is dark and unintelligible.

COLOSSIANS.

THIS letter being written during the same imprisonment, for the same cause, and shortly after the preceding, is much in the same spirit, style, and design. Acts xix. 10. shows how the gospel spread through Asia. Some of the Jews of Phrygia, in which the city of Colosse was, were present in Jerusalem on Pentecost. It is devoted to the Jevelopment of the same secret, and designed to illustrate

the purpose declared in the preceding epistle. It puts the Colossians, whether Jews or Greeks, on their guard against the attempts of the Judaizers, whether attacking them through the law, or through that philosophy by which both Jews and Greeks were so easily captivated; and which were altogether repugnant to the spirit and design of the christian institution, and incompatible with the fulness of Christ and their completeness in him.

PHILIPPIANS.

ACTS xvi. affords us some account of the introduction of the gospel into Philippi. Paul visited this place in his tour through Macedonia, Acts xx. After subtracting what was peculiar in the circumstances of the disciples at Philippi, the scope and design of this epistle are easily seen from a perusal of it, and already hinted in the foregoing observa tions on the two preceding epistles.

THESSALONIANS.

LUKE informs us in the Acts of Apostles, chapter xvii. of the introduction of the good news of the Messiah into Thessalonica. The chief topics introduced in this letter, show that its design was to animate the Thessalonians with such considerations as might induce them boldly and constantly to persevere in the faith, which they had received and confessed amidst much persecution. Nothing could be better calculated to produce such an effect than the method pursued by the Apostle. His exhortations naturally proceed from what he advances on the divine original of the christian religion, which he demonstratesI. From the many and great miracles by which it was confirmed, chap. i. ver. 6.

2. From the character, behavior, and views of the first promulgers of the christian faith.

3. From the purity of the doctrine and inorality of the christian religion.

4. From the resurrection of Jesus.

From these topics, and from the assurance he gives of the resurrection and glorification of the saints, and the rewards to be bestowed by the author of the christian faith and Judge of the world on the faithful, at his coming, he comforts the minds of the Thessalonians, and exhorts them to perseverance.

Either from the person who carried the first epistle, or from some other source, the Apostle had heard (2 Ep. iii. 11.) of the state of affairs in this congregation, and writes