The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

The Romans had contentions among themselves, the strong and the weak contemning or condemning one another, about ⟨p. 333⟩meats and days, Rom. 14. and 15. The Corinthians were divided into factions, and exasperated against Paul by false Apostles; so that he is fain at large to vindicate his Ministry: and he doth it partly by appealing both to miracles and works of power wrought among them, and by the Spirit given to themselves, 2 Cor. 12.12. and 13.3, 4, 5. and 1 Cor. 12.7, 12, 13. The Galatians were more alienated from Paul by Jewish Teachers, and seemed to take him as an enemy, for telling them the truth, and he feared that he had bestowed on them labour in vain; and in this case he vehemently rebuketh them, and appealeth first to miracles wrought among them, and before their eyes, and next to the Spirit given to themselves: Gal. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Now if no such miracles were wrought among them, and if no such Spirit was received by themselves, would this argument have silenced adversaries, and reconciled the minds of the Galatians? or rather have made them deride the cause that must have such a defence, and say, [Who be they that work miracles among us? and when did we receive such a Spirit?] So to the Romans, this is Paul's testimonial, Rom. 15.18, 19. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed: Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, &c. And to the Corinthians he saith,