Westminster Annotations, 1 Thessalonians 2
ANNOTATIONS ON THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAVL THE Apostle to the THESSALONIANS.
CHAP. I.
Vers. 1 SIlvanus] Saint Jerome is of opinion that Silvanus (through the errour of some that transcribed this Epistle of Saint Paul) was put for Silas; and by comparing this Chapter with divers passages in the Acts of the Apostles, it should seem, that he who is called here Silvanus, was no other then Silas; and he might be sometimes called by the name of Silas, and sometimes of Silvanus, as S. Paul himself was sometimes called Paul, sometimes Saul.
and Timotheus] There are three reasons alleadged by Salvianus and others, why the Apostle addeth Silvanus and Timotheus in the inscription of this Epistle: the first, that the Thessalonians might know, that they were all three together, who are joyned in this inscription when the Apostle dictated this Letter. Secondly, to shew their consent in doctrine, and that what they had taught before severally, they now deliver joyntly. And thirdly, that the Epistle might carry the more authority, being sent from three such emin…nt Pastors. See Gal. 1. 1.
V. 2. We give thanks to God] See Philem. 4.
V. 3. your work of faith] Your faith which is not a dead, but a living faith, working through love; although faith be opposed to the works of the Law, by this Apostle (Rom. 3. 28.) who concludeth, that we are justified by faith, and not by the works of the Law, yet is faith a work of grace, and of the Gospel, and so is called by Christ himself, John 6. 29.
and labour of love] The duties of true love, excercised and practised by you, without sparing your selves in hard and dangerous times and occasions.
patience of hope] Your voluntary and constant patience under the Crosse, for the Gospel, which is upheld by the assured hope of a farre exceeding and eternall weight of glory; 2 Cor. 4. 17.
in our Lord] Gr. of our Lord.
in the sight of God] Either the meaning is, what time soever we present our selves before God, to pray unto him, we remember you: or this may be added to signifie the truth and sinceritie of these vertues in the Thessalonians.
V. 4. Knowing] By Gods blessing upon our labours, in your true conversion, and the fruits of true faith, brought forth by you, that you are elected of God.
beloved, your election of God] Or, beloved of God, your election.
V. 5. but also in power] Either powerfully testified by miracles, or a most powerfull working upon your hearts.
and in the holy Ghost] Either he meaneth the extraordinary gifts of the holy Ghost, or the testimony of the Spirit, assuring them of their effectuall calling.
V. 6. with joy of the holy Ghost] A spirituall joy wrought in you by the holy Ghost.
V. 8. Word of the Lord] The Gospel is so termed, either because the Lord is the Author, or, the object of it; for it is both à Domino, and de Domino.
V. 9. entering in we had] That is, what loving entertainment, and kinde acceptance we had from you, and how cheerfully you imbraced the Gospel. Act. 17.
serve the living and true God] God is said to be the true God in opposition to all false gods, Joh. 17. 3. but, the living God, partly in opposition to idols, which were images of dead men, and themselves livelesse being senslesse stocks; or to teach us, that God hath life in himself, and is the Author of all life; both of nature, grace and glory.
V. 10. wrath to come] Christ delivereth us from the wrath of God, both present, and to come; yet the Apostle nameth onelyonly wrath to come, as S. John Baptist likewise doth, Matth. 3. 7. because that is the most dreadfull wrath, and the deliverance from that, the greatest and most illustrious deliverance of all. Apoc. 6. 16, 17.
CHAP. II.
Vers. 1. IN vain] The meaning is, either that he preached not vain things unto them, as Poeticall fictions, or curious speculations but true and necessary doctrins: or that his preaching among them was not without fruit, but through the operation of the Spirit, fruitfull and effectuall: in which sense the sacred symbols or elements are truly affirmed by Protestants not to be foreign, the word here used, that is, bare, vain, or emptie figns, because the Spirit worketh by them, and they really exhibit to the soul that which is signified by them.
V. 2. shamefully entreated] Cruelly beaten with rods, and after cast into prison, and his feet set fast in the stocks, Acts 16. 23, 24. as if he had been a vagabond, or rogue: but the more disgrace the enemies of the Gospel put upon him, the more God honoured him by miraculously shaking the foundation of the prison, and loosening his and all his fellow-prisoners bands, and converting the Gaoler himself to the Christian faith.
at] Gr. in.
Philippi] See Acts 18. 22.
bold in our God] That is, trusting in Gods help, who powerfully assisted us, and as it were owned us. The possessive our here, as my elsewhere, Psal. 18. 2. Esa. 25. 1. Dan. 9. 18, 19. Luke 1. 47. Phil. 3. 8. Rev. 3. 12. shew the speciall affiance, which the faithfu…l have in God, which because the Romanists disclaim, they shew they understand not the nature of true justifying faith.
with much contention] Gr. in much strife. With much fervencie of zeal, and strong contestation with all gain-sayers of the truth. For it is not sufficient to hold the right faith, or preach it, but we must strive and earnestly contend for it, Jude 3.
V. 3. not of deceit] The heretikes and false apostles, proposed to themselves chiefly three ends, applause, gain, and voluptuousnesse: the first they sought to attain by soothing their hearers, and colloging with them; the second by craftie fetches, and cloakes of covetousnesse; the third by sowing pillows under mens elbows, and preaching doctrins tending to carnall libertie; from all which the Apostle cals God himself to be his compurgatour, from the first vers. 6. from the second vers. 5. from the third vers. 3.
V. 4. allowed of God] As God hath thought us fit to be trusted with the preaching of the Gospel, and given his approbation to our ministery: so we seeke to approve our selves to him in all things, and not to men, as the false apostles do, who are time servers and men pleasers.
trieth] Or, proveth.
our hearts] Jer. 17. 10. Acts 1. 24. Rom 8. 27.
V. 5. nor a cloak of covetousnesse] For the sinceritie of his teaching and actions he calleth them, but for the sinceritie of his intentions, he calleth God to witnesse. The word in the Originall foreign, signifieth a faire and specious pretext, which they commonly use to beguile their hearers with, who go about under hand to make a gain and a prey of them.
V. 6. been burdendome] Or, used authoritie. When we might have taken upon us, and exercised our Apostolicall authoritie, and required of you such maintenance and chargeable entertainment, as might befit the Ambassadours of Christ: yet we tooke a contrary course, we put you to no cost at all, nor came unto you with a rod, but with the spirit of meeknesse, 1 Cor. 4. 21.
V. 7. gentle among you] Tenderly affected, as a nurse which beareth with a froward child, and patiently taketh all pains with it, as if she were the mother.
V. 8. our own souls] Either to have imparted and communicated unto you all our secretest intentions, and the very bottome of our hearts: or we would have been contented even to have laid down our lives for you, so farre were we from going about to make any gain or advantage of you.
V. 9. labouring night and day] See Acts 20. 34. 2 Thess. 3. 8.
be chargeable] See 1 Cor. 4. 12.
V. 10. how holily] Holily in respect of God, justly in respect of men, unblamably in respect of our selves: or holily in our ministeriall function, justly in our civill affaires, and commerce, and unblamably in respect of our private carriage with our familiar and most intimate friends. This Text seemeth to be parallel to Titus 2. 12. for holy answereth to godly there, justly to righteously, and unblamably to soberly.
V. 11. charged] Gr. testifying.
as a father doth his children] Before he compared himself to a nurse which tenderly affecteth, and carefully attendeth and cherisheth the infant committed to her: but because a nurse cannot be of the like naturall aff…ction as the parent, nor hath the like power to do it good, nor authoritie over it, he improveth the former metaphor, and withall amplifieth his love unto them, by resembling his care over them and affection towards them to that of a father: and truly Pastours are as ghostly fathers, both in respect of their fatherly affection, and fatherly power, and especially, because in Christ Jesus they beget us through the Gospel, 1 Cor. 4. 15.
V. 12. That ye would walk worthy of God] See Ephes. 4. 1. Phil. 1. 27. Coloss. 1. 10.
V. 13. word of men] Who are subject to errour, and as themselves, so their words are impotent and weake, but as the word of God, which is mightie in operation, and sharper then a two-edged sword, Heb. 4. 12. Or ye received it as the word of God with reverence, and religious attention, and full assurance of the truth thereof, yeelding both your assent and obedience thereunto.
V. 14. as they have of Jews] What in particular the beleevers among the Jews suffered of their countreymen is set down, Heb. 10. 32, 33, 34. not only reproaches, but also spoyling of their goods, with other grievous persecutions.
V. 15. killed the Lord Jesus] He preventeth an offence which might be taken, for that the Jews especially, above all others, persecuted the Gospel, that is no new thing saith he, seeing they slew Christ himself, and stoned his Prophet, and have banished me also.
persecuted us] Or, chased us out.
contrary to all men] Who are of a froward and perverse disposition, opposing themselves against all men, in resisting the course and successe of the Gospel among the Gentiles, and as much as in them lyeth, hindering the salvation of all men: just of the temper of those Lawyers, against whom our Saviour pronounced a dreadfull woe, Luke 11. 52. who neither entred themselves into the kingdom of God, nor suffered any others to enter.
V. 16. fill up their sinnes] The Jews intended not by persecuting the Church of Christ, to fill up the measure of their sinnes, and so to draw vengeance from heaven upon themselves: but the Apostles meaning is, that God in his just judgement permitted them thus to make up the full measure of their own, and their forefathers sinnes, because he intended to sweep them away with the besome of destruction, in the hand of the Romans. In the phrase and manner of expression he alludeth to, Gen. 15. 16. & Matth. 23. 32.
come upon them to the uttermost] Or, suddenly fallen upon.
V. 18. Satan hundered us] By his agents and instruments, raising up new stirres and troubles in other Churches, where our presence was required to compose them, and thereby we were hindered from coming to you. Or by laying blocks in our way through manifold persecutions stirred up against us, stopping up all passage to you.
V. 19. our hope] In these words he passionately expresseth his love to them, saying, you are my hope, that is, they from whose growth in the knowledge of Christ through my ministery, I hope I shall receive praise of God; and ye are my joy, that is, they who bring me much joy and comfort; and my crown, that is, ye are they for whom by my faithfulnesse in the exercise of my ministery among you, I shall receive a crown at the last day, 2 Tim. 4. 8. 1 Pet. 5. 4. Or ye are the crown of my rejoycing or glorying, that is, I more rejoyce and glory in you then in a crown.
rejoycing] Or, glorying.
CHAP. III.
Vers. 1. COuld no longer forbear] Before he compared himself to a Father, Chap. 2. vers. 11. and here he sheweth how his bowels yearned towards the Thessalonians, as his children; and because he would not leave them comfortlesse, he left himself helplesse, sending his fellow-labourer Timotheus unto them, and staying himself alone at Athens.
V. 2. to establish you] The troubles and afflictions which befell the Apostle their teacher were likely to unsettle the faith of the weake, and discourage them in their holy course he had set them in; therefore out of wisdome and love he sendeth Timotheus seasonably unto them, both to strengthen them in their faith, and comfort them in their fears, and arme them against the temptations of Satan.
V. 3 for your selves know] From my mouth, for at one and the same time that I preached unto you Christ crucified, I forwarned you that you were to bear his crosse.
appointed thereunto] The word in the Originall foreign, is the same with that which Simeon used when he blessed our Saviour, saying, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many. (Luk. 2. 34.) The godly are set as a mark, at which the arrowes of persecution are shot: for in the Decree of their predestination to life, God hath so ordered, that they be conformable to the image of his Sonne; first in their sufferings, and after in glory, Rom. 8. 17. 29.
tempter have tempted you] Or, had. By tempter he meaneth the devill. See Matth. 4. 1.
be in vain] Or, had been.
V. 8. For now we live] Notwithstanding all our crosses and afflictions, and that death doth hunt us continually; yet are we glad, and joyfull, and our spirit is revived when we heare of your constancie in the truth.
V. 9. our God] See 1 Thess. 2. 2.
V. 10. perfect that which is lacking in your faith] The word in the Originall foreign. signifieth to make even, and consequently to perfect: for an even number is a perfect number, and an odde number imperfect. The Apostle before commended them for their stedfastnesse in the faith; they wanted not constancie therefore; what they knew they stedfastly beleeved, and constantly professed: but it seems they were not fully instructed in all points, but needed either a farther information in some doctrines of faith, which they had not yet learned; or a resolution of some doubts which might trouble and perplex their conscience: these lackings in their faith were partly supplied by Timothie his sending unto them; and partly by the Apostle in this Epistle: and it is very probable, that what he prayed for so earnestly day and night, God granted unto him, a prosperous journey to the Thessalonians, that he might water where before he had planted; and finish the building where he had so happily laid the foundation.
V. 11. direct] Or, guide.
V. 13. stablish your bearts] See 1 Cor. 1. 8. Chap. 5. 23.
unblameable] See 1 Cor. 1. 8.
holinesse] Gr. Tec. righteousnesse.
CHAP. IIII.
Vers. 1. BEseech you] Or, request.
exhort you] Or, beseech.
by the Lord Jesus] Gr. in. That is, by the command of the Lord Jesus: or, in the Lord Jesus, that is, in the Name of the Lord Jesus.
V. 3. the will of God] He meaneth the object of Gods will; or his commandement, which is, that we endeavour to keep our selves holy, both in body and soule; and carefully shun all pollution both of flesh and spirit, 2 Cor. 7. 1.
your sanctification] Or, holinesse. The word in the Originall foreign, signifieth sometimes sanctification, as Matth. 6. 9. 2 Thess. 2. 13. Sometimes sanctimonie, or holinesse, as Rom. 6. 19. It may be taken here in either sense: for if we refer it to the former words, the meaning is, This is God revealed will, or word which sanctifieth you, as Joh. 17. 17. If it be referred to the latter words, it may be well rendred your holinesse: for abstaining from all filthinesse, is a great part of our holinesse.
from fornication] He taketh here fornication generally for all uncleannesse committed alone, or with others, men, or women, single, or married: as also all incestuous marriages within the degrees pr…hibited, 1 Cor. 5. 1.
V. 4. possesse his vessel] Or, keep. Some of the ancients, as Saint Augustine l. de …pt. c. 8. understand our wife; or the body of our wife; applying this exhortation peculiarly to married folk, that they keep their bed undefiled, and that they wrong not one another in that kind. For though such defrauding and wrong be done never so secretly; yet God, to whose eyes all things are naked, taketh notice thereof. But by the antecedents, and consequence, and scope of the place, it should seeme that the exhortation is generall; and that by Vessel, here he understandeth the body of every man, or woman, which is foreign, as a vessell, or utensill of the soul, which we ought not to prostitute to any manner of uncleannesse; but use and govern it holily and chastly; keep it in honour, and in holinesse, as the vessels were kept clean and sweet, which were dedicated to the service of the Sanctuary.
V. 5. lust of concupiscence] Gr passion. In the Originall it is foreign, which signifieth a passion or disease of the mind, whereby a man is inslaved to beastly and inordinate desires; so the word is used, Rom. 1. 26. foreign.
V. 6. and defraud] Or, overpresse, or, over-reach. Either by false weights or measures, or lying words, or fraudulent intentions, or over-reaching policies and devices: for though these things come not at least usually within the walk of mans justice, yet God will meet with such persons, and revenge all such wrongs done to our brethren.
in any matter] Or, in the matter.
V. 7. unto holinesse] Gr. in.
V. 8. that despiseth] Or, rejecteth. These wholesome and Apostolicall counsels and commands; or he that maketh light of such fraudulent dealing above mentioned, slighteneth God himself, and rejecteth his holy commands.
V. 9. taught of God] See Joh. 13. 34. and 15. 12.
V. 11. do your own businesse] In these words he reproveth two vices; idlenesse, and curiositie; idlenesse, in neglecting their own businesse; and curiositie, in intermedling with other mens affairs, which vice he reproveth also else-where, 1 Tim. 5. 13.
V. 12. walk honestly] Or, decently. See Col. 4. 5.
of nothing] Or, of no man.
V. 13. which are asleep] Act. 7. 60. 1 Cor. 15. 20.
sorrow not] He forbiddeth not Christian sorrow for the dead, but heathenish; not moderate, but excessive, and immoderate; either in respect of time, or the measure of our grief: we may water our plants for our deceased friends, but not drown them.
no hope] To wit, of the resurrection of the dead: supposing that their departed friends are utterly lost, and perished, and that they shall never see them againe.
V. 14. them also which, &c.] See 1 Cor. 15. 23.
sleep in Jesus] The dead in Christ who continue in faith, whereby they are grassed into Christ even to the last gaspe.
God bring with him] He will raise their bodies and joyn their soules unto them, and so bring them with him to heaven; or to see the face of God. And it is to be observed that the Apostle here speaking of the resurrection, maketh no mention at all of the resurrection of the wicked to condemnation; but onelyonly of the resurrection of the elect to life and glory: and the reason hereof is two-fold. First, because his purpose was in this part of his Epistle to comfort the Thessalonians, vers… 18. whereas the doctrine of the raising of the wicked to their condemnation and everlasting punishment, is a doctrine of terrour. Secondly, because he directeth his speech here to them who lived and died in the faith of Christ; who as members of Christ shall be raised with him to everlasting glory, and never experimentally know any resurrection to condemnation.
V. 15. by] Gr. in.
word o… the Lord] Some understand this word of the Lord to be the promise of Christ, Matt. 24. 31. and Joh. 5. 28, 29. Some take it for a peculiar revelation of Christ to Saint Paul, when he was rapt up into the third heaven, 2 Cor. 12. 4.
alive and remain] In these words the Apostle doth not imply that he and those to whom he wrote, should continue living in the flesh untill the day of judgement; for the event shewed the contrarie: but dividing all the faithfull into two ranks, those that were already dead, and the rest which were yet living; he reckoneth himself among the living, as then he was, and the secret he revealeth unto them is this, That the dead which have long lyen in their graves, and their bones resolved to dust, shall notwithstanding by the mighty power of God be assoone brought before Christ, and glorified, as they that shall be alive at his second coming, 1 Cor. 15. 51. 52. Or he speaketh of these things as though he should be one of them, whom the Lord shall finde alive at his coming, because that time is uncertain, and therefore every one of us ought to be in such a readinesse as if the Lord were coming at every moment.
V. 16. with a shout] Gr. in. foreign. The word doth properly signifie such voyces and cries, as are used by Mariners, or gatherers of the vintage, to encourage one another to joyn their strength together, and go on cheerfully with their work.
with the voyce] Gr. in.
voyce of the archangel] Or, an. See Cor. 15. 52.
with] Gr. in.
the trump of God] See 1 Cor. 15. 52.
V. 17. In the clouds] These clouds shall serve as chariots in which the Saints shall be carried up into the ayre, as it is said of Elias, 2 King. 2. 11. and of Christ, Act. 1. 9.
V. 18.comfort] Or, exhort.
with] Gr. in.
CHAP. V.
Vers. 1. TImes and seasons] For the yeer, monethmonth, day, or houre, in which the Sonne of man shall come to Judgement, as it is curiositie for you to enquire, so it is not given to any man or Angel to resolve you therein; or precisely determine the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power, Matt. 24. 36. Mark 13. 32. Act. 1. 7.
V. 2. the day of the Lord, &c.] See Matt. 24. 43, 44. 2 Pet. 3. 10. Revel. 3. 3. and 16. 15.
thief in the night] It cannot be rom hence gathered that Christs coming shall be in the night, as some have imagined: but that his coming shall be sudden, and unexpected; it shall steal upon men when they dream not of it, Luk. 12. 39, 40.
V. 3. Peace and safetie] Generall securitie is a fore-runner of the day of Judgement, Luk. 17. 27. when the light of the truth is taken away; when the heart of the good man of the house is at rest, and his eyes are darkened, that he cannot see, and all his senses are drowned in worldly pleasures: when the world like Laish, (Judg. 18. 7.) is most secure and carees for nothing, or thinks of nothing; then will the Sonne of man come to Judgement, then shall destruction suddenly fall upon them.
a woman with child] Women that are with child though they may have certain signes, that the time of their delivery is neer, yet they cannot know the very day and houre: so likewise though Christ in the Gospel hath given us many certain signes of the approach of his coming, yet not of the day or houre.
V. 5. children of the day] See Rom. 13. 12.
V. 6. let us not sleep] Returning to exhortation, he warneth us which are enlightned with the knowledge of God, that it is our dutie not to live securely and delitiously, lest we be suddenly taken in a dead sleep in pleasures; but on the contrary, wisely to have an eye to the Lord, and to take care that our hearts be not oppressed with surfetting and drunkennesse, and the cares of this life, and that day come upon us at unawares, Luk. 21. 34.
others] Gr. the rest.
V. 8. putting on, &c.] See Isa. 59. 17. Ephes. 6. 16, 17.
V. 9. to obtain salvation] Gr. for purchasing salvation.
V. 11. comfort] Or, exhort.
and edifie one another] See 1 Cor. 14. 3. Col. 3. 16.
V. 12. to know then] Or, take notice of them. See Heb. 13. 17.
over you in the Lord] The Elders that rule well, and labour in the word, 1 Tim. 5. 17. In the Lord, that is, in the fear of the Lord: or as set over you in those things which pertaine to Gods service, (Heb. 13. 7. 17.) so is the Ecclesiasticall function distinguished from civill authoritie.
admonish you] Or, instruct.
V. 13. very highly] Gr. over and above.
for their works sake] He calleth the pastorall function here, at 1 Tim. 3. 1. a work foreign, partly to signifie that it is a most laborious function; for faithfull Pastours like lamps spend the oyle of their lives to give light to their flock: partly in respect of the excellencie of their work, wherein they are fellow-labourers with God to bring men unto salvation. 1 Cor. 3. 9.
V. 14. exhort] Or, beseech.
warn then that are untruly] Or, disorderly. We must have consideration of every mans condition, and affection; and as the disease is, so must the remedie be used of admonition to them that are disorderly; consolation to them whose heart sinkes under the burden of their crosses; of support to weak consciences, and of meek patience towards all who are discased in mind, and troubled with any spirituall maladie.
V. 15. See that none, &c.] See Prov. 17. 13. and 20. 22. Matt. 5. 44. Rom. 12. 17. 1 Pet. 3. 19.
V. 16. Rejoyce evermore] Carnall joyes are but like a blaze of a fire nourished with stubble, which soon goes out: they who rejoyce in their goods, in their children, in their peace and worldly safety, in their honour and preferments, (Eccl. 7. 6.) or their descent of their pedegree, their joy transitorie: but those who rejoyce in the holy Ghost, and the comforts of the Spirit, their joy is everlasting. Wherefore though ye finde many troubles in the world and causes of grief, (Phil. 4. 4.) yet still rejoyce in the Lord, and comfort your selves with the hope of a better life; and even when you sorrow after a godly manner, and that the mor… abundantly you fow in these teares, the more plentifully you shall reap in joy.
V. 17. Pray without ceasing] See Luk. 18. 1. Col. 4. 2. Be instant and constant in prayer, because we stand in continuall need of Gods help, either to give us something that is good, or to deliver us from that which is evill. The Apostle biddeth us pray continually, Col. 4. 2. not that we should spend all our time in prayer, and do nothing else, as the Euchites and the Messlians taught, but that we should be ready to pray upon all occasions; and whensoever we have opportunitie to lift up our hearts to God either in set and composed prayers, or sudden and heavenly ejaculations.
V. 18. In every thing give thanks] Whatsoever God sends receive it thankfully; in prosperitie give thanks unto him, because he crowneth you with temporall mercies; in adversitie, because he thereby trieth your faith and patience, and gives you a sight and sense of your sinnes; in wealth, because he assendeth you thereby means of doing much good; in want, because he taketh away from you many nourishments of vice, and teacheth you to depend upon him and his promises for your supply and support, and not upon onutward means and helps; in all the passages of your life, for his care and providence over you; and at your death for his delivering you from the miseries of this life, and presently receiving you into his heavenly kingdome.
for this is the will of God] A thing acceptable unto God, such as he liketh well of, 1 Thess. 4. 3. Rom. 12. 2.
V. 19. Quench not the spirit] Stop not the motions of the Spirit in your selves, nor restrain the gifts thereof in others. The speech is Metaphoricall, taken from the fire of the Altar, which never was to go out. The Spirit is compared to a fire both in respect of the light that it giveth to the understanding, and the heat and fervour to our affection. When we feele this fire within us, either in our private meditations, or at the hearing of the Word, we must endeavour to keep it still burning; and it it slack in us, we must foreign, stirre it up in us, 2 Tim. 1. 6. by such means as God hath ordained for that end.
V. 20. Despise not prophesyings] Contemne not the preaching of the Word, how mean soever the Preachers gifts seem unto thee, set not light by the declarations and applications of the Scriptures, either by such as have the extraordinary gift of prophesying, 1 Cor. 14. 1. 5. Or by the ordinary gift which the Ministers of the Gospel receive by imposition of hands, 2 Tim. 1. 6. In this Prohibition the Apostle meeteth with those, who thought themselves wise enough of themselves, and that they had no need of any such help, Heb. 10. 25. 2 Pet. 1. 19.
V. 33. whole spirit and soul] Father he taketh the spirit for the understanding, and the soul for the will and affections; or the spirit for the rationall part of the soule containing in it both the understanding and the will; and by the soul the sensitive and locomotive facultie.
unto] Gr. in.
V. 26. with] Gr. in.
V. 27. charge] Or, adjure.