A09383:917
A commentary or exposition, upon the five first chapters of the Epistle to the…A commentarie or exposition, vpon the fiue first chapters of the Epistle to the…
A commentary or exposition, upon the five first chapters of the Epistle to the Galatians: penned by the godly, learned, and judicial divine, Mr. W. Perkins. Now published for the benefit of the Church, and continued with a supplement upon the sixth chapter, by Rafe Cudworth Bachelor of DivinityA commentarie or exposition, vpon the fiue first chapters of the Epistle to the Galatians: penned by the godly, learned, and iudiciall diuine, Mr. W. Perkins. Now published for the benefit of the Church, and continued with a supplement vpon the sixt chapter, by Rafe Cudworth Bachelour of Diuinitie
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1604Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1604
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Again, the fathers of the old Testament before Christ, were but as children in respect of us now. Thus much saith Paul in express words. And they were so, two ways. First, in §15respect of the Mosaical regiment: because they were kept in subjection to more laws then we. Secondly, they were so in respect of revelation: because God hath revealed more to us, then to them. Read Luk. 10. 24. It may be said, we now are (the best of us,) but children to Abraham and the Prophets, whether §20we respect knowledge, or faith. Answ. It is so. If we compare person and person: but it is otherwise, if we compare body with body, and compare the Christian church, with the Church of the Jews before Christ: then we exceed them and they are but children to us. This must teach us all, to be careful §25to increase in knowledge, and in the grace of God, that we may be answerable to our condition, And to live in ignorance (as the most do) is the shame of us all. For in respect of the time, we should all be teachers, Heb. 5. 12. and yet God knows, the most are very babes. For ask a man how he looks to be saved, he will answer, by serving God, and by dealing truly. §30Now his serving of God, is his saying of his prayers: and his prayers are the Belief, and the ten Commandments. This is a poor serving of God, fitter for babes, then for men of years. It is further to be observed, that Paul saith, the fathers of the old Testament, were in bondage under the law, after the manner of §35servants, specially by reason of rites & ceremonies. And hence it follows, that the observation of a religion, in which are manifold bodily rites and figures, is a kind of bondage, and pertains ⟨p. 278⟩to the Church, for the time of her infancy or minority. Let this be remembered against the Romish religion: for it is like to that of the Jews, in the old Testament; standing for the greatest part, in bodily rites, in differences of meats, and drinks, in differences of times, places, garments; in exercises, and afflictions of the body, in local succession, in the collation