Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A41200
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A brief exposition of the first and second epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians by the reverend and learned Mr. James Fergusson ...
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Fergusson, James, 1621-1667.
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1674
(1674)
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Wing F775; ESTC R21229
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249,485
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468
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of every Epistle which did serve as a token or certain mark whereby his own Epistles might be distinguished from all others forged and feigned in his name and he hints at the reason why it was such a differing mark to wit because his way of writing was alwayes uniform and hardly could be undiscernably counterfeited by any other which is implyed while he saith So I write Doct. 1. The sending of salutations by word or writ that we may thereby testifie our continuing affection to absent friends is not a matter of common courtesie and good manners only but a duty to be performed for conscience sake as tending to entertain love and good will among Christians for while Paul doth never omit to send his salutation it evidently appeareth he did not look upon it as a matter of complement but of conscience The salutation of Paul 2. Our salutation whether of present or absent friends should express our wishes to God for things spiritual and the choicest mercies to be bestowed on them wherein we ought to be real hearty and affectionate and not formal or acted from the force of custom only for he calleth his farewell-wish v. 18. to which he annexeth an hearty Amen his salutation The salutation of Paul 3. It hath been an ancient slight of Satan and of his instruments to thrust upon the Church so far as in them did lye false and forged writings and give them out for Canonick Scripture thereby to make the truth and authority of all Scripture questionable for to prevent such impostures Paul did write his salutation with his own hand which is the token in every Epistle saith he 4. That God hath sufficiently provided in his Word against the forementioned evil see upon Col. 4. v. 18. which is the token in every Epistle so I write Ver. 18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen Resteth the very thing which he did so write with which he shuts up the Epistle to wit his hearty with that the free and undeserved favour of God in Christ with all the fruits and tokens of it might be conveyed unto them all without exception to which he affixeth his Amen signifying Let it be so and it shall be so in testimony both of his fervent desire and confidence Doct. 1. Whatever be the eminence of a person or persons for their inherent graces and gracious qualifications yet it is only God free-grace and undeserved favour and not their own merit which must be relyed on for closing their accounts or for obtaining any spiritual or temporal mercy at the hands of God for though he commended them highly for their patience faith love and other graces chap. 1. 3 4. yet he closeth all by wishing Gods free grace and favour to them as the fountain-cause of all things they stood in need of or could expect The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you 2. As there is an inexhaustible fountain of free grace in God which can water all without exception of any and will extend it self to as many as he seeth fit Rom. 9. 18. So the more of it we wish unto or is according to our wish bestowed upon others there doth not the less remain behind unto our selves for Paul who wisheth grace and favour to them all had received a very large measure of it himself and knew that how large a measure soever was bestowed upon them there would not be the less for him Therefore doth he thus close The grace c. The Postscript The second Epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens The truth of this Postscript is no less suspected than the former and this Epistle judged more probably to have been written also from Corinth where Paul continued a year and an half after he came from Athens Act. 18. 1. with 11. See upon the Postscript of the first Epistle FINIS