He proves the excellency of the New Testament above the Old the duty of Gospel-Ministers and the advantages of living under the Gospel. 4. He declares his own sincerity and faithfulness in preaching the gospel. 5. His hope of immortal glory — and of future judgment. 6. His heart is open to them and he expects the like affection from them. 7. He declares what comfort he took in his afflictions, since he had heard so good a report of them by Titus. 8. He very affectionately urges them to contribute liberally to the support of the poor. 9. He proceeds to encourage them to liberality. 10. He arms them against the crafty insinuations of false teachers. 11. He gives a large account of his labors, sufferings, and qualifications for the ministry. 12. He promises to come to them and blames them for their faults. 13. He threatens severity with obstinate offenders and concludes the epistle with a general exhortation and prayer, GALATIANS. THIS is another of Paul's epistles. It is not directed to the church or churches of any particular city, as some others are; but to the churches of a whole Province for so Galatia was, of Lesser Asia. This Province formerly contained twenty-two famous cities; and it seems that the Gospel was first preached, and Christianity first planted here by the apostle Paul, See Acts xvi. 6; xviii. 23. While this Apostle was among them, they expressed great love both for him and his preaching; but he had scarcely left the country, before some false teachers got in among them and stirred up the people to hate both him and his doctrine; and which was the occasion of his writing this epistle to them. In chapter 1. He sharply reproves them for so soon departing from the faith. 2. He gives an account of an interview he had with Peter at Antioch, 3. He reproves them for their folly - and proves the truth of the doctrines from which they had departed. 4. Shows the happy change their conversion wrought in them. 5. Describes the struggles with flesh and sin - and the fruits of the flesh and of the Spirit, 6. Concludes with some plain practical duties and the true character of false teachers. The whole teaches us to follow Christ and beware of men. WHILE a prisoner at Rome, the Apostle Paul wrote this epistle to the church at EPHESUS,the chief city of Lower-Asia; a city famous for its idolatry and magnificent temple dedicated to the goddess Diana. Chapter 1. After the salutation, he thanks God for the great blessings he has conferred upon them. 2. He compares their former state by nature with their present one by grace. 3. He desires them not to faint for his tribulation and prays that they may be sensible of the great love of Christ toward them. And having in the former part of his epistle, or letter, delivered some very important doctrinal truths, he proceeds to give some of the most weighty exhortations to faith and practice. 4. He exhorts them to love — unity — concord purity — and boliness. 5. He shows how Christians should conduct themselves exhorts them to mutual love—charity · and to avoid all manner of uncleanness. 6. The duty of children to parents and servants to masters - describes the complete armor of a Christian-and how it ought to be used. And concludes with his good wishes and prayers for all the brethren. - PHILIPPIANS. PHILIPPI was a city of considerable note, of the western part of Macedonia; and the Apostle Paul was called in an extraordinary manner to preach there. Read Acts, chapters xvi. and xx. He appears to have had a particular kindness for the church he had been the instrument in forming there. Although he had been called to suffer many hard things at Philippi, and had been scourged and put in the stocks, that did not wean his love from either place or people. In chapter 1. He assures them that he always remembered them in his prayers. 2. He exhorts them to be diligent-loving and serious — and to walk like Christians. 3. He cautions them against false teachers who, like surly dogs, would bark to annoy and bite to destroy, the faithful professors of Christianity. 4. He gives them many faithful admonit、 ions and exhortations gratefully acknowledges their kindness and concludes with praise to God. He wrote this epistle while a prisoner at Ramie, COLOSSE was formerly a large city in Phrygia; although it is now laid in ruins. Read Acts xvi xviii. This epistle was written about the same time, and in the same place, as the one to the Ephesians and Philippians; while Paul was a prisoner at Rome. Paul did not plant, neither had he ever seen this church; still he did not forget it, nor neglect it. In chapter 1. He thanks God for the good report he had heard of their faith and prays that they might be fruitful—and gives them an excellent abridgment of the doctrines of Christianity. 2. He exhorts them to beware of philosophy and vain traditions. 3. He exhorts them as those that were risen with Christ to live above the world. 4. He entreats them to pray fervently walk wisely and concludes with his best wishes for them all. All who profess Christianity should live like Christians. - 1 THESSALONIANS. THESSALONICA, now called Salonichi, was the chief city of Macedonia; Paul, in a very remarkable manner, was directed there to preach the gospel. See Acts xvi. 9, 10. When this great teacher of the Gentiles first planted a Christian church there, it consisted of some converted Jews, and many Gentiles, who embraced Christianity. See Acts xvii. 1-4. The apostle was greatly opposed in his good work by the unbelieving Jews, and the baser sort of the people; so much so, that, for his own safety, he had to leave the city in the night with Silas, who went with him to Berea. This is sup posed to be the first epistle Paul ever wrote; although it is placed after his other epistles. In chapter 1. He tells them how thankful he felt to God on account of their having embraced the gospel, and forsook their idolatry. 2. He appeals to them as to the faithful manner of his preaching the gospel among them. 3. He testifies his great love to them by sending Timothy to them by rejoicing in their well-doing-by praying for them — and desiring a safe coming to them. 4. He exhorts them to live holy and justly to love one anotherand gives a brief description of the resurrection. 5. He gives them many useful exhortations to watchfulness →→→→ sobriety faithlove and hope and charges them to read this epistle to the brethren; and concludes with the usual benediction. 2 THESSALONIANS. THIS epistle was written shortly after the first; and, it is probable, from the same place. It appears that some of the Apostle's expressions in the former epistle had been misunderstood by some of them; and they were led to believe that the coming of Christ, the end of the world, and the judgment-day, were so near, that to pay any regard to their temporal affairs was inconsistent with the anticipation of that great event. To correct so great an error, the apostle, no doubt, immediately wrote this second epistle, or letter. In chapter 1, he gives thanks to God for their faith, love, and union, and speaks of the coming of Christ, the punishment of the ungodly, the glorification of the saints, and prays that God may count them worthy of their calling-and that the name of Jesus might be glorified by them. 2. He exhorts them to stand fast in the faith, and not be alarmed at any rumors they might bear concerning the coming of Christ-confutes the error that he had cautioned them against, by shewing them what great events must take place before his coming. Such as, a general apostacy, and the revelation of antichrist. He thereupon repeats his former exhortation, and prays for them. 3. He begs them to pray for him, testifies what confidence he has in them, makes requests to God in their behalf, shows them how to treat those who walk disorderly, prays that they may have increasing peace, and concludes with the usual benediction. "The grace of our Lord," &c. 1 TIMOTHY. PAUL'S epistles have hitherto been directed to churches; now we have the four following to particular individuals: two to Timothy, one to Titus, and one to Philemon; all three ministers of the gospel. TIMOTHY was an Evangelist, an order which appears to be inferior to the apostles: Eph. iv. 11. Though, it is evident, their commission and work were much the same with that of the apostles: preaching, baptizing, planting, and watering the Christian churches. It ap pears that Timothy's mother was a Jewess and his father a Gentile; and which will account for his not having been circumcised when Paul met with him; and it is probable, that at this time his father was dead, and he was living with his mother and grand-mother. Compare Acts xv. 1-3 with 2 Tim. i. 5. He seems to have been brought up in the fear of God, and, by means of the holy Scriptures, had been carefully instructed in the Jewish religion. Compare 2 Tim. i. 5 with 2 Tim. iii. 15. From the time Timothy submitted to circumcision he accompanied Paul in his travels, assisted him in preaching the gospel, and establishing the churches; and was left by him to take charge of the church at Ephesus; but how long he continued there is not certain. In chapter 1, Paul informs Timothy why he had left him at Ephesus what the false apostles taught instead of the gospel-exhorts him to hold fast faith and a good conscience and speaks of some who had made shipwreck of faith. 2. He exhorts that prayers be made for all men shows the reasons why and how men should pray and women adorn themselves. 3. He speaks of the qualifications of bishops of deacons - of their work and how they should be proved. He foretells apostacy from the true faith-instructs Timothy what to teach and what to avoid. 5. He lays down rules for reproving directions concerning widows— and elders and a precept for Timothy's health. 6. He speaks of the gain of godliness the evil of loving money exhorts Timothy to be faithful - and describes the majesty of God. -- 2 TIMOTHY. In this epistle, which was written by Paul while a prisoner at Rome, and under the constant expectation of being put to death, we have in chapter 1. An account of the piety of Timothy's grandmother, and mother — of the religious education they had given their son an exhortation to Timothy and the kindness shewn to Paul while in prison, by Onesiphorus. 2. Timothy is exhorted to constancy and perseverance to preach faithfully the word of truth and to carefully avoid the doctrine of Hymeneus and Philetus who declare that the |