As to Paul's Anathema, I think Mr. Caryl saith well, That Moses and Paul were moved with the same spirit of zeal for the glory of God in both their wishes: and as Moses ⟨p. 23⟩so Paul wished himself to be an Anathema from Christ, that is, a person separated or excommunicated from the society or communion of the faithful, and so no more to be remembered amongst the Saints; or to have his name blotted out of the Church Records, though he had been so great a planter and propagator of Churches; thus Mr. Caryl. Certainly Paul, whose heart was so inflamed with love to Christ, Could not wish himself accursed from Christ, and so an enemy to him, as anathematized persons are, 1 Cor. 16.22. besides the impossibility of the wish, in Moses and Paul as men, there were great sin in the wish: First, with that sense which Mr. Caryl gives, agreeth Grotius upon the Text; accursed from Christ, that is, From the Church of Christ, which is called Christ, 1 Cor. 12.12. Gal. 3.27. As it was the manner among the Hebrews, for the Wives to be called by the name of the Husband, Isai. 4.1. This he saith, I would not only want the honour of Apostleship, but also to be the most contemptible amongst the Christians, as those who are excommunicated: thus Grotius. 1Nor much different is Gomarus, who distinguisheth between a temporal and eternal Anathema; between Anathema simply so, and for ever: And secundum quid, or after a sort; so shows it is a temporal Anathema, and after a sort, which Paul wished, not the eternal: as Christ was an Anathema for us, but not for ever: He quotes a passage in Nazianzen, 2wishing the same upon himself, in behalf of the Macedonians; who judged right of the Father and Son, but held the Holy Ghost to be a Creature; his love and affection was so great towards them, that upon condition they might join together, and celebrate the Trinity in common; [Greek or Hebrew], &c. it is but [Greek or Hebrew]. Nazianzen commends them for many things in that Oration; he quotes this saying of the Apostle, and doubts not to say with him as he did; but yet limits it, he will not take the extent of the word. Learned Rivet saith, Whatever be the sense, we must not think that Moses and Paul did pray for any thing contrary to Gods will, and absolutely and determinately contrary to their own salvation.
As to Paul's Anathema, I think Mr. Caryl saith well, That Moses and Paul were moved with the same spirit of zeal for the glory of God in both their wishes: and as Moses ⟨p. 23⟩so Paul wished himself to be an Anathema from Christ, that is, a person separated or excommunicated from the society or communion of the faithful, and so no more to be remembred amongst the Saints; or to have his name blotted out of the Church Records, though he had been so great a planter and propagater of Churches; thus Mr. Caryl. Certainly Paul, whose heart was so inflamed with love to Christ, Could not wish himself accursed from Christ, and so an enemy to him, as anathematized persons are, 1 Cor. 16.22. besides the impossibility of the wish, in Moses and Paul as men, there were great sin in the wish: First, with that sense which Mr. Caryl gives, agreeth Grotius upon the Text; accursed from Christ, that is, From the Church of Christ, which is called Christ, 1 Cor. 12.12. Gal. 3.27. As it was the manner among the Hebrews, for the Wives to be called by the name of the Husband, Isai. 4.1. This he saith, I would not only want the honour of Apostleship, but also to be the most contemptible amongst the Christians, as those who are excommunicated: thus Grotius. 1Nor much different is Gomarus, who distinguisheth between a temporal and eternal Anathema; between Anathema simply so, and for ever: And secundum quid, or after a sort; so shows it is a temporal Anathema, and after a sort, which Paul wisht, not the eternal: as Christ was an Anathema for us, but not for ever: He quotes a passage in Nazianzen, 2wishing the same upon himself, in behalf of the Macedonians; who judged right of the Father and Son, but held the Holy Ghost to be a Creature; his love and affection was so great towards them, that upon condition they might joyn together, and celebrate the Trinity in common; 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, &c. it is but 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Nazianzen commends them for many things in that Oration; he quotes this saying of the Apostle, and doubts not to say with him as he did; but yet limits it, he will not take the extent of the word. Learned Rivet saith, Whatever be the sense, we must not think that Moses and Paul did pray for any thing contrary to Gods will, and absolutely and determinately contrary to their own salvation.
- 1In Text.
- 2Oratio 44. in Pentecost.
