Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, To the reader – Errata

Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians · To the reader – Errata

To the Reader.

Christian Reader,

I Do here present thee with an Exposition of two of Paul's Epistles after the pattern (so far as my weaknesse could reach) held forth by those two Reverend Brethren, Mr. David Dickson, and Mr. George Hutcheson, in their late Pieces of this kind upon other parcels of holy Scripture.

The Reasons of my undertaking (besides what is held forth in the former Epistle) were not any confidence I had to come up to my copie, wherein I doubt not, but, as I my self am very conscious, so, the intelligent Reader will easily perceive that I come far short, and that the superstructure by me is much unanswerable, as to fulnesse of purpose, accuracie and stile of language to the foundation laid by them: But, first, an apprehension I had, that as the compleating of such a work as this upon the whole Scripture, is much wished for by many, and would prove acceptable and profitable to the Church of Christ; So, many of greater abilities and fitnesse than I for such a task, who did lie-by, might be strongly induced to contribute their endeavours towards it, if any essay of mine should be accepted, Wherein, I blesse the Lord, I have not been in a mistake, as may appear by what is sent abroad to the world since the publishing of my former Piece, by a Reverend Brother my nearest fellow-labourer in the work of the Ministery, upon the two Epistles of PETER. And, secondly, I was one of those, who, some ten years ago, without my knowledge, were pitched upon by some Reverend Brethren of the Ministery for carryingon this Work: at which time, I almost perfected the whole task then allotted for me; but, through some sad accident in those times of trouble, all the Papers I had written upon that subject, were destroyed and lost, and so a great part of my time and life in a manner lost with them: which, notwithstanding, did not so discourage me, but the remembrance of what sweetnesse I tasted in that study, and of the manifold advantage wherewith it did recompense my pains, did make me full seven years after more easie to be wrought upon and perswaded by the earnest desires of others to make a new essay, as being confident from former experience, I my self at least should be no loser by it.

If any shall think this present Piece to be of greater length than my former, and some others of this kind are, I hope they will (for satisfaction) consider, that seing the Apostle doth discusse a great and needfull controversie in the Epistle to the Galatians, it requireth time and enlargement to find and follow the threed of an intricate dispute; and to explain those excellent Truths, which the Apostle doth so much labour to assert. And as for the Epistle to the Ephesians, it is well known to be so comprehensive (as containing the whole substance of Christian Religion in so little bulk) that hardly can any man (at least not I) satisfie either himself, or his Reader, without inlarging himself somewhat in opening up such a rich treasure and excellent subject.

I know there may be much coincidencie of Doctrines, which do nativly arise from those Epistles and from those others to the Philippians and Colossians; But, the Reader may, for his satisfaction, consider that (besides I have frequently referred him to those places, where such Doctrines were formerly raised) seing the Spirit of God hath thought it necessary to assert necessary truths oftner than once, in severall Scriptures, for our further confirmation, it should not be thought an idle repetition in a Writer to draw out the same conclusions from the same truths when they occurr: for, hereby is given a proof of the sufficiency and fruitfulnesse of Scripture, as furnishing many arguments to establish one and the same necessary truth; To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe, saith our Apostle, Philip. 3. 1.

I trust it shall not offend, that in some places I do not only hold forth the doctrine and conclusion, which flow naturally from the text; but also couch-in some explanations, cautions, reasons, and somtimes some short uses; for, those serve to obviate mistakes about the truth in hand, and to leave some impression of it upon the heart and affections.

If any take exception that Scriptures are too frequently cited, and think they are hereby retarded from making progresse in reading the treatise, They may be pleased to consider, that I cite no Scriptures to confirm the Doctrines themselves, which, as I conceive, are sufficiently grounded upon, and confirmed from the text, but only the cautions reasons and uses of those Doctrines, which not being grounded upon the present Scripture, I desired none to take off my hand upon trust. However, if any understand the purpose to be truth, and grounded upon Scripture, he needeth not stand to seek the particular passage, which is brought to prove it, except he please and judge it convenient, that he may have some further ground of meditation upon the truth in hand thereby afforded.

And now, beloved Christians, let me exhort you all, and especially you to whom the Lord hath carved out such a lot in things worldly that ye have abundance of time and leasure from your other imployments, Give more of your time to the searching of Scripture, and labour to understand the mind of God concerning your Salvation revealed therein. Hereby shall you be preserved from being led aside by Satans emissaries, who do erre, not knowing the Scriptures, Matth. 22. 29. Hereby ye shall be made wise unto Salvation, and rendered victorious over your strongest lusts, and throughly fitted for the most difficult duties, while the Lord by His Spirit shall make the Scriptures profitable unto you for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousnesse, and thereby make you perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works, 2 Tim 3. 16, 17. Only in order to the gaining of those rich advantages by reading Scripture, ye would read, not superficially, but conscientiously, attentivly, and devoutly; and do not slight to take what helps ye can get from the Labours of others for attaining to the increase of solid knowledge and sanctifying grace.

What humane frailties you discerne in this piece of mine (which doubtlesse are not a few) pitie them and so much the more pray for me that I may discern and amend them: and if any will be so faithfull and free as to advertise me either immediately, or by causing others to acquaint me with them, I shall (God willing) be humbly thankfull, and endeavour to make the best use I can of their freedom, knowing that such reproofs will not break my head, but be as a precious ointment. The great and gracious God blesse all your endeavours for advancing your selves and your relations in knowledge and grace. So prayeth,

Kilwinning, Nov. 12. 1658. Your servant in the Lord, JAMES FERGUSSON.

ERRATA.