Vers. 1, 2. _Truth its Own Evidence._--1. Though the minister of Jesus Christ is not to depend upon the approbation of others for confirmation of his doctrine, as if he were uncertain before their testimony is added, yet he is not to be so self-willed as to misregard what others judge or think, but ought to demit himself so far as to give a friendly account of the doctrine, that mistakes arising from misinformation may be removed and the joint consent of others to the truth obtained. 2. As there are always some in the Church of God who have deservedly more reputation than others, so Christian prudence will teach a man to be so far from striving against such that he will endeavour, by giving due respect to them, to receive approbation from such, that he may be in a better capacity to do good to others. 3. Nothing marreth the success of the Gospel more than difference of judgments and strifes and debates among eminent preachers, many resolving to believe nothing till preachers agree among themselves, and many stumbling-blocks are cast before people by the venting of passions, jealousies, animosities, and revenge. Paul endeavoured to get the consent of the other apostles to the doctrines preached by him, lest by the calumnies of his adversaries his preaching should be useless.--_Fergusson._ Vers. 3-5. _The Power of Truth._ +I. Superior to ceremonial observances+ (ver. 3). +II. Detects and exposes the wiliest tactics of false teachers+ (ver. 4). +III. Is uncompromising in its attitude towards the subtlest errors+ (ver. 5). Vers. 4, 5. _False Brethren and their Treatment._ +I. The Church of God on earth, even at the best, hath wicked men and hypocrites in it.+ +II. They who teach Christ, joining some other thing with Him in the cause of salvation, are said to creep in,+ because in appearance they maintain Christ; yet because they add something to Christ, they neither enter nor continue in the true Church with any good warrant from God. +III. No man can set down the precise time when errors had their beginning,+ for the authors thereof enter in secretly, not observed of men. +IV. The false brethren urged circumcision to bring the converts+ +into bondage.+--They that be of a corporation stand for their liberties. What a shame it is that men should love bondage and neglect the spiritual liberty which they have by Christ.