The Latins render the words of the original,1 Populus acquisitionis. In the Greek it is, [Greek or Hebrew]. The word, rendered peculiar, signifies sometimes conservation or saving, as Heb. 10.39. to the saving or conservation of the soul: sometimes, purchase, as, the Church was purchased by his blood, Acts 20.28; sometimes, possession or obtaining, as, He ordained us to the obtaining of salvation, 1. Thes. 5.9 and the glory of Christ, 2. Thes. 2.14. Neither do Interpreters agree about the attributing of what felicity the word imports. For, one would have the sense thus: Populus acquisitionis, that is, the people he could gain by; intending thereby, that the Apostle should say, that the Godly were the only people that God could get any thing by. Others would have it thus: A people for obtaining, that is, of heaven: and so the sense is, 1. Thes. 5.9. that they are a people God hath set apart to obtain heaven, ⟨p. 314⟩or to gain more than any people. Others, thus: A people of purchase, that is, such as were purchased, viz. by the blood of Christ. And so the people of God were purchased out of the world by the blood of Christ; and the Israelites were typically redeemed out of Egypt by the blood of the Lamb. The Godly are a people bought at a great price; none ever so dearly ransomed. But I take it as it is here rendered, A peculiar people: and so the word may intimate a double reason. For,2 first, they are a peculiar people, because God hath every way fashioned them for himself. Secondly, they are a peculiar people, because they are his treasure, yea, all his treasure. The Godly comprehend all his gettings: they are as it were all he hath. And so Exodus 19. verse 6. may explain it.
The Latines render the words of the originall,1 Populus acquisitionis. In the Greek it is, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. The word, rendred peculiar, signifies sometimes conseruation or sauing, as Heb. 10.39. to the sauing or conseruation of the soule: sometimes, purchase, as, the Church was purchased by his bloud, Acts 20.28; s•metimes, possession or obtaining, as, He ordained vs to the obtaining of saluation, 1. Thes. 5.9 and the glory of Christ, 2. Thes. 2.14. Neither doo Interpreters agree about the attributing of what felicity the word imports. For, one would haue the sense thus: Populus acquisitionis, that is, the people hee could gaine by; intending thereby, that the Apostle should say, that the Godly were the onely people that God could get any thing by. Others would haue it thus: A people for obtaining, that is, of heauen: and so the sense is, 1. Thes. 5.9. that they are a people God hath set apart to obtain heauen, ⟨p. 314⟩or to gain more than any people. Others, thus: A people of purchase, that is, such as were purchased, viz. by the bloud of Christ. And so the people of God were purchased out of the world by the bloud of Christ; and the Israelites were typically redeemed out of Egypt by the bloud of the Lamb. The Godly are a people bought at a great price; none euer so dearly ransomed. But I take it as it is heer rendred, A peculiar people: and so the word may intima•e a double reason. For,2 first, they are a peculiar people, because God hath euery way fashioned them for himself. Secondly, they are a peculiar people, because they are his treasure, yea, all his treasure. The Godly comprehend all his gettings: they are as it were all hee hath. And so Exodus 19. verse 6. may explain it.
- 1The acceptation of the words.
- 2Doct.
