ble but such a conduct must have occasioned a disclosure of it."

17. The Epistle to the Galatians. The gospel was early preached in the province of Galatia, by St. Paul, and churches established.. In the Acts of the Apostles we learn that he visited this country more than once; the firs: time about the year 50, (Acts xvi, 6,) and the second, about the year 54 or 55.

18. Probably some time between these wo visits, at the end of 52, or beginning of 53, the epistle was written from Corinth, and not from Rome, as the subscription, which is undoubtedly spurious, affirms; for St. Paul's first journey to Rome did not take place until at least ten years after the conversion of the Galatians.

19. Judaizing teachers, soon after Paul's departure, crept into these churches, composed of Jewish and Gentile converts to Christianity, who still felt, in some degree, their national prejudices toward each other. These teachers roused the circumcised portion of the church against the uncircumcised, denying the authority of Paul, insisting upon the ceremonial law as still binding upon all, Gentile as well as Jew, as if the gospel of Jesus Christ alone were not sufficient to justify and save them. Some had been carried away by these doctrines, and had already submitted to circumcision.

20. Such were the circumstances that occasioned St. Paul to write this epistle with his own hand, contrary to his usual practice of dictating his letters to an amanuensis.

He

asserts his apostolical character and authority He repeats his views of the terms of salvation, Lo confirm the Galatian churches in the faith of Christ, especially with respect to the important point of justification by faith alone; exposing the errors which had been disseminated among them, by demonstrating to them the true nature and use of the moral and ceremonial law, and reviving again the principles of Christianity which he had taught when he first preached the gospel to them.

21. The Epistle to the Ephesians. The Church at Ephesus, also, was first established by St. Paul, about A. D. 54; at which time he reasoned with the Jews, in their synagogue, three months, but being called away to keep a feast at Jerusalem, he promised an early return. Acts xviii, 19-21.

22. Early the following year he came to Ephesus again, and preached the word with so much success, that a church, chiefly composed of Gentile converts, was gathered. The apostle remained with them about three years, and a year after, returning from Macedonia to Jerusalem, he sent for the elders of the Ephesian church to meet him at Miletus. There he took an affectionate leave of them, as one that should see them no more; appealing to them with. what fidelity he had discharged his ministry among them, and exhorting them to "take heed unto themselves and unto the flock" committed to their care, lest they should be corrupted by seducing teachers who would arise among

them and attempt to seduce them from the truth.

It is

23. The subscription to this epistle states, that it was written from Rome, and sent to the Ephesians by Tychicus, who was also the bearer of the Epistle to the Colossians, the similarity of which, in style and subject, shows that it was written at the same time. evident that this epistle was written during St. Paul's first imprisonment at Rome, from its allusion to his confinement, chap. iii, 1; iv, 1; vi, 20; and as he does not express any hope of a speedy release, which he does in his other epistles sent from this city, it is probable that it was written during the early part of his imprisonment, soon after he arrived at Rome, about A. D. 61.

24. As St. Paul was, in a peculiar manner, the apostle of the Gentiles, and was now a prisoner in Rome, in consequence of his having provoked the Jews, by asserting that the observance of the Mosaic law was not necessary to obtain the favor of God, he was apprehensive lest advantage should be taken of his confinement to unsettle the minds of his Ephesian converts, who were almost wholly Gentiles. Hearing, however, that they stood firm in the faith of Christ, he wrote this epistle in order to establish them in that faith, and to give them more exalted views of the love of God, and of the excellence and dignity of Christ; and at the same time to fortify their minds against the scandal of the cross.

25. With this view he shows them that they were saved by grace; and that however wretched they once were, now they had equal privileges with the Jews. He encourages them o persevere, by declaring with what steadfastness he suffered for the truth, and with what earnest. ness he prayed for their establishment and continuance in it; and urging them to walk worthy of their high profession, and faithfully to perform the common and special duties of religion.

26. The style of this epistle is exceedingly animated, he being overjoyed at the happy intelligence of the faith and holiness of the church at Ephesus. "No real Christian," says Dr. Macknight, can read the doctrinal part of the Epistle to the Ephesians, without being impressed and roused by it, as by the sound of a trumpet."

CHAPTER V. PHILIPPIANS-COLOSSIANS-THESSALONIANS -TIMOTHY.

1. THIS epistle was written by St. Paul from Rome, during his imprisonment, as is manifest from various allusions contained in the epistle itself, chapter i, 7, 13; iv, 22.

2. It was written, probably, toward the end of his confinement, as he meditates sending away his confidential assistant and son in the gospel; and also speaks of an early visit to Philippi, chapter ii, 19–26.

3. This is a peculiarly gratifying and inte. resting epistle. Philippi was the first city in Europe in which Paul preached, and here the first European church was formed. This church seems to have remained peculiarly steadfast in the apostle's doctrine and discipline, and was not dishonored by the controversies and irregularities of the other churches.

4. Hence the epistle is, as Horne observes, the only one of St. Paul's letters to the churches in which not one censure is expressed or implied against any of its members; but, on the contrary, sentiments of unqualified commendation and confidence pervade every part of the epistle. Its style is singularly animated, affectionate, and pleasing.

5. " It moreover appears that the church at Philippi had on all occasions manifested the most affectionate and generous interest in the apostle's welfare and comfort. When the gospel was first preached in Macedonia, no other church except that of Philippi contributed to his support. Although Thessalonica was the chief city of the province, yet when the apostle was there, the considerate Philippians twice sent nim money, lest the success of the great cause in which they felt so much interest might be hindered, by his becoming burdensome to the Thessalonians, chapter iv, 15, 16. They did the same when he was at the wealthy city of Corinth, and, to cut off occasion from them that desired occasion,' declined to accept the wages of his labor from the church there. And now,