An exposition with practical observations upon the three first chapters of the book of…

The Apostle Paul saith concerning himself (1 Cor. 15.8.) I was as one borne out of due time, I was an untimely birth: Some of the naturalists say,¹ that word signifies such abortions as are after the seventh, and before or at the fortieth day after conception. Others, that it signifies those who are borne the eighth month, which usually as they are untimely, so they die. Now Paul calleth himself an untimely birth, to suite the humble thoughts which he had of himself, with an humble expression of himself, which reason he seems to give in the next words, ver. 9. For I am the least of the Apostles, that am not meet to be called an Apostle, &c. Even as an untimely birth is not fit to be called a birth; or, because children that are so borne, are very imperfect, they are lesser, and weaker then those of full growth: So saith he, I am as a poor abortive, as a child borne out of due time, I am the least of the Apostles, ²and I am less then the least of all Saints, Ephes. 3.8. I am not come to that stature and growth of a timely birth. Secondly, He calleth himself an untimely birth, or one borne out of due time, probably for this reason, because of the suddenness or violence of his conversion; For you know every abortion or untimely birth, comes from some sudden danger into which the mother falleth; some strain or violence causeth abortion: Paul in this sense was an untimely birth, his conversion was a wonderful violent conversion; Christ came upon him of a sudden, whereas the other Apostles were a great while a forming, a shaping, a fitting to an Apostleship, but Paul was as it were in a moment conceived and borne, brought forth and perfected an Apostle, and so from the suddenness and violence of his new-birth, he may call himself an untimely birth.

The Apostle Paul saith concerning himselfe (1 Cor. 15.8.) I was as one borne out of due time, I was an untimely birth: Some of the naturalists say,¹ that word signifies such abortions as are after the seventh, and before or at the fortieth day after conception. Others, that it signifies those who are borne the eighth moneth, which usually as they are untimely, so they die. Now Paul calleth himselfe an untimely birth, to suite the humble thoughts which he had of himselfe, with an humble expression of himselfe, which reason he seemes to give in the next words, ver. 9. For I am the least of the Apostles, that am not meete to be called an Apostle, &c. Even as an untimely birth is not fit to be called a birth; or, because children that are so borne, are very imperfect, they are lesser, and weaker then those of full growth: So saith he, I am as a poore abortive, as a child borne out of due time, I am the least of the Apostles,