There are others who consider this phrase apart by it self; some explaining it by purity of heart, and conversation; others as denoting thereby the duration of love [tam prosperis quam adversis, or] both in good and bad times. Piscator makes it a distinct branch of the Apostles Prayer, as if he had said, Grace be with all them, &c. and life eternal; Taking no notice of the Preposition that is added, and varies the Construction. 'Tis the conjecture of a Learned Divine, That the Apostle in adding this clause, hath some reflection on the Gnostics, who had mingled themselves with the Christians of Ephesus; And were, whatever they pretended, neither pure in their love to Christ, having mixed his Doctrine with abominable corruptions, nor yet sincere and lasting therein, being ready upon every blast of persecution that did arise, to deny him, and Apostatize from him; I shall for the present with Musculus, leave the matter indifferent, not only which of the two first, but of all the other fore-mentioned Opinions is fixed upon, finding no cause so far as concerns my present purpose to be peremptory in either. The Apostle doubtless meaning none else by lovers of Christ, but such whose hearts were sincerely and entirely affected, to him, whether he intended to characterize them any further by [[Greek or Hebrew], or no] which, I presume,1 might easily be manifested from other parallel places (where this grace is mentioned and understood properly, having no additional qualification made thereto;) and from the design of the words themselves, for certainly he would not so solemnly have entitled the rotten-hearted Hypocrites, that did only pretend love to Christ, unto the Benediction of the great and blessed God. And if that stand good, we have enough for our purpose, and more need not be contended for.
There are others who consider this phrase apart by it self; some explaining it by purity of heart, and conversation; others as denoting thereby the duration of love [tam prosperis quam adversis, or] both in good and bad times. Piscator makes it a distinct branch of the Apostles Prayer, as if hee had said, Grace bee with all them, &c. and life eternal; Taking no notice of the Preposition that is added, and varies the Construction. 'Tis the conjecture of a Learned Divine, That the Apostle in adding this clause, hath some reflection on the Gnosticks, who had mingled themselves with the Christians of Ephesus; And were, whatever they pretended, neither pure in their love to Christ, having mixed his Doctrine with abominable corruptions, nor yet sincere and lasting therein, being ready upon every blast of persecution that did arise, to deny him, and Apostatize from him; I shall for the present with Musculus, leave the matter indifferent, not only which of the two first, but of all the other fore-mentioned Opinions is fixed upon, finding no cause so far as concerns my present purpose to be peremptory in either. The Apostle doubtless meaning none else by lovers of Christ, but such whose hearts were sincerely and intirely affected, to him, whether hee intended to characterize them any further by [〈non-Latin alphabet〉, or no] which, I presume,1 might easily be manifested from other parallel places (where this grace is mentioned and understood properly, having no additional qualification made thereto;) and from the design of the words themselves, for certainly he would not so solemnly have intitled the rotten-hearted Hypocrites, that did only pretend love to Christ, unto the Benediction of the great and blessed God. And if that stand good, wee have enough for our purpose, and more need not bee contended for.
- 11 Cor. 16.22. Joh. 14.15, 23. & 21.15, 17. 1 Pet. 1.8.