Allen H. Brown, ./5~. ." Srom f^c feifirarg of (Pet>. ^ffen J^enrj (f ro«,n. ®. ®. ^tm(^i^tii 6g atm fo ^^c £t6rarp of (prtncefon e0co%icaf ^emtnarj i-j >-^ lit 1814 i^HE NEW TESTAMENT OF OUR ^w Of ni!cc) LORD AND SAVIOUR l^»^0Eci5Bn *; JESUS CHRI8T: TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL GREEK. WITH ORIGINAL NOTES AND PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. BY THOMAS SCOTT, RECTOR OF ASTON SANDFORD, BUCKS, AND CHAPLAIN TO THE LOCK HOSPITAL ^ VOL. II. THE FOURTH AMERICAN, FROM THE SECOND LONDON EDITION, IMPROVED AND ENLARGE^. ►»^XXS>«n^«X>€>®€=sa PUBLISHED BY DODGE & SAYRE, No. 86 BROADWAY. J. SEYMOUR, PRtrtTER, Ifo. 49 JOHN-STREET. 1816, PREFACE TO THE EPISTLES IN GENERAL. TO St. PAUL'S EPISTLES, AND TO THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE ROMANS. We noio enter upon the epistolary part of the JVcw Testament, concerning tvhich it may be profitable io muJcc some previous remarks. The epistles are letters, uriltcn either to individuals, or to particular clmrches, or to several churches ; or they are catholic epistles, that is, circular letters to the churches in general. It is supposed, that they ivere all icritten by one or other of the apostles ; and, excepting the epistle to the Hebrews, and the epistles ascribed to John, each has the name of an apostle pref .red to it. l^hc apostle Paul's name is ajixcd to thirteen of them, and the epistle to the Hebreics has generally been ascribed to him : that of Peter to two ; thost of James, John, and Jude, to one, each. J\ow, tf they were actually written by the apostles, what shadow of reason can there be in the opinion, ivhich 7mmbers maintain, that they are not to be cojisidered as of equal au- thority with the Gospels? The Gospels, indeed, record the words and actions of Christ; but the human testimo- ny, by which these words and actions tcere recorded,might even be thought inferior to thai of the epistles, for neither Mark nor Luke ivere apostles ; and tve have as full proof that the epistles were divinely inspired, as that the Gosjjels were. Various reasons may be assigned, why many truths should be more obscurely delivered duriiig our Lord''s ministry than afterwards, of which he gave several intimations : and where are we to look for the full and explicit declarations of'''- the whole counsel of God,''"' but in the writings of those xvhom the Lord Jesus selected as the depositaries of his truths ; to whom he gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven ; to n-hom he promised to give the Holy Spirit, " to teach them all things, and lead them into all truth ;"' and whom he sent, to make known his Gospel, even as the Father had sent him? If the doctrine of the apostles teas the unadulter- ated and entire truth of God, and altogether of divine authority, as they preached it, why should it not be so when they committed it to writing .'' and if it was not the unadulterated entire truth, but either redundant or defective, then Christianity u-as corrupted or mutilated, even from the first. It must also be observed, that it is impossible that we can know what the apostles preached, except fromivhat they themselves wrote, or what others ivrote concerning them : and can we suppose that their own tvritings arc of less authority than the lorit- ings of others on the same subjects ? If there be any ground for making this distinction between the Gor.pels and the apostolical v:ritings, how is the Church '• built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets .?" ' Hence then it folloivs, that ichat the apostles have delivered in these epistles, as necessary to be believed or ' done by Christians, must be as necessary to be believed and practised in order to salvation, as what iras pcr- ' sonally taught by Christ himself, and is contained in the Gospels.'' (^^'hitby.) Most of the epistles, especially those of St. Paul, ivere written to the Churches, the planting of which is recorded in the Acts of the apostles ; and the history so entirely tallies with them, even in the most minute particulars, and. evidently icithout the least design or aim at coincidence, that the more carefully they are examined, and compared with the history, the more icill it appear, that both are indisputably genuine. This has been shown clearly, by the learned Dr. Paley, in his Koi-a:' Paulina;; and I am decidedly of opinion, that all the genius, sagacity, and care of any number of the most able men, ivho ever lived, would be absolutely insufficient to forge a history, and a number of epistles, so manifestly frank, artless, and often immethodical ; and yet to make the one so com- pletely to confirm the other, ff ever books had such internal evidence of being genuine, that no reaso7iable mon, after a diligent examination of them, could doubt of it, these are the books. But if the epistles be genuine, they must be inspired, and also prove the divine origin of Christianity. Our Lord not only foretold his own dtatk and resurrection ; and that before the destruction of Jerusalem, and in that generation, the Gospel sho'dd be A 2 ROMANS. fen/ extemivchj preached ; hut he promised to invest his apostles and disciples with miracvlotts powers, and es~ pecialhj with the gift of tongues, in order to accomplish this object. '■ JS'ow, I desire to know, whether any • thing of this nature waj ever undertaken, or laid, as the foundation of their credit, by any other authors of any ^ doctrine or religion? Whether they ever made their oun violent death, and resurrection, the foundation of ' their vcrucitij ? Or promised the like powers and assistances, after they were risen, to those who should pro^ ' inote, or — embrace their doctrine ? Or whether that, which no man else durst undertake, was not performed ' effectually by the Lord Jesus Christ ?' (\Vl1itb3 .) — -^^^ '^'^ fulfilment of these promises, the apostles, (espe- cially St. Paul.) in these epistles continually refer, as to farts most certainly known by tliore. to whom they wrote ; and which none could deny or (jucstion. They appeal to the Churches, whether themselves hud not ex- ercised these miraculous gifts among them, miy, conferred them on others : they argue with them, from these gifts, as to the truth of their doctrine, ivhcn heretics perverted it : they appeal to these gifts, as deciding between them and their opposcrs : they lay down rules for the bchaviour'of the Churches, in respect of them ; and they sharply rejirove several instances of misconduct in this particular. Can it then be doubted, that, supposing the epistles genuine, these miraculous gifts were publicly exercised and conferred, and that all knew them to be so? And if this was the fact, was not the promise of Christ fidfilled ? Is not Christianity from God? And can it be supposed that the writers, who exercised and conferred these powers in so conspicuous a manner, were left to tkonsclccs, without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in addressing the Churches on the most important sub- jects, and transmitting their doctrine to posterity ? The epistles in general are written in language, w'hich shows that, if genuine, they must have been known by the Churches, to ichich they were addressed, ditring the life of the writers : but can it be supposed that suehjacti were spoken of as undeniable, during the lives of the writers ; and yet, no one of their opposers, either heretics or persecutors, {jtol to say their friends,) knowing that no such facts had taken place, should stand forth, pub- licly to deny anil confute them ? It is also undeniable, that most of the epistles were known, at a very early period, to other Churches, as the writings of the apostles whose 7iames they bear. Very soon, translations were made of them into other languages, copious quotations were taken from them, and homiiics, or expositions, were made on them. The Churches, with one consent, acknoicleJued them as the word of God ; aiui neither heretics, schis- matics, nor opposers of the Gospel, denied that they were the genuine writings of the apostles, and the stcmdarcl records of Christiatiity. But had these epistles, bearing the name of this or the other apostle, been brought forward after their death, tvhen no one, either in the Church specially addressed, or in other Churches, had ever before heard of them, can it be conceived but that they wotdd have been rejected as spurious ? It is evident the claim would have been absurd, and the imposture manifest. Had they not been known during the life of the wri- ters, at what time, or in what manner, could it have been possible to have palmed them on the Church, and to have obtained them the credit of apostolical writings ? The epistle to the Hebrews, not bearing the name of St. Paul; that of James, tvhich it seems at that time, as well as in later ages, was supposed irreconcileable with the doctrine of St. Paul ; the second epistle of Peter, which probably was written just before his martyrdom, cmd was not generally known till after his death; and the second and third epistles of John, in which he only styles himetf " the elder ;" were not for some time received by the Churches as genuine ; but this shoivs the scrupulous caution of the primitive Chr istians in this respect and further incpiiry, together with internal evidence, at length obtained the admission of them into the sacred ca- non. Yet very many writings, which in some places, and for a time, tcere admitted as apostolical and divine, were afterwards, on fuller investigation rejected, and most of them have sunk into oblivion. The epistolary jiart of the JS'ew Testament, while it more fully shows the accomplishment of the ancient prophecies concernintj; the establishment of the Jllessiah's kingdom, than even the historical part had done, contains also many rcmarkahlc propdiccics, several of ichich have already received as remarkable an accomplishment ; but some still remain to be fulfilled. (Notes, Rom. si. 2 Thcs. ii. 1—12. 1 Tim. iv. 1— .3. 2 Tim. iii. 1—5. 2 Pet. ii. iii.) This also constitutes an irrefragable proof that they were written by inspiration of that God, who sees the end from the bcs^inniiig. Finally, it will appear, as we proceed, that the writers of these epistles speak of themselves, and of each other, as authoritatively delivering the truth and will of God to mankind. Even the exceptions, as they are supposed to be in a few instances, more undeniably establish the general rule : for tvhy shouldan apostle intimate that he on- ly gave his own opinion, and not a divine and authoritative injunction, in a particular ease, unless cotiscious, and unless demanding his readers to allow, that in all other cases he spake as moved by the Holy Ghost? But if they advanced siuh claims, what alternative is there, between admitting them in their full extent, or decidedly re- jcctimr them ? That is. What allernative is there, between receiving the apostolical epistles as the infallible word of God, and the standard of truth and duty, or wholly rejecting them as bold impostures ? Had no such claims been advanced, ii might have been allowed (hat they were good men, right upon tht whole, yet erroneous in some ROMANS. fhhii^'! : {and then ichcrc shall wc have a divine tlandard of Christianity ?) But as the case is, either they are infallihli/ ris[hl. their doctrine dioine, their writimrs the standard by which all other doctrines 7nnst be tried, or they claim for themselves, and each other, tvhat they had no right to claim. I ivoidd be very caii/ioiis, in ventur- ing on this ground ; but lam fully persuaded, that more injury is done to the cause of truth by a half-hearted allowance, that the epistles, (or other jiarts of Scripture,) arc genuine, authentic, and instructive, but possibly in some things erroneous, than by all the open attacks of infidels. For these plausible statements leave us no stand- ard of truth and duty ; 7io wcnj of discriminating between true doctrine and heresy ; no divinely appoin.cd ex- hibition of the Christian religion, with which all other exhibitions must be compared, and admitted, or rejected, as they agree or do not agree with it. The peculiar doctrines of the Gospel are here more explicitly stated and explained, cmd their practical tendency more arcjiimentativcly shown, than in the historical books. The distinguishing truths there laid down have been kept in view through the whole of the preceding exposition : audit will, therefore, be unnecessary fortnaliy to answer those, who have endeavoured to reconcile this part of the Scripture with systems of a contrary nature and ten- dency. It may, however, be proper to say, that the author has considered, with some attention, both Dr. Taylor''s key to the epistle to the liomans, cmd the eminent Jl'Ir. Locke's comment on several of the epistles : but, deeply convinced that both oj' these publications " darken counsel by tvords without knowledge,''' he can only on some in- cidental matters deduce instruction from them. In general, if the various terms, used in Scripture eouccrning Israel as a nation, be in the same, or nearly the same, sense to be applied to Christians under the JS'ew Testa- ment, where is the type and the antitype f Where is the true Israel, as distinguished from Israel after the flesh ? ^ind where are we to learn either the character^ privileges, or duties, of true believers? Severed of the epistles were ivritten on special occasio7is, but others were not. These special occasions, however, ■acre of that nature, that they gave the most favourable opportunity for explaining doctrines, enforcing precepjts, and giving admonitions and counsels of the greatest importance to the Church of Christ in every age. A'or has any thing ever yet bem devised, more suited to render " the tvord of God ofiio effect,'"' than the notion, that we have little or nothing to do with this and the other part of Scripjfure, and can cotulude nothing general from it, because it teas ivritten on a jjarticular occasion. }] e begin with the epistles of the ajwstle Paul, icho wrote, as icell as laboured, more abundantly than all his brethren. Fourteen of his epistles are reserved for our instruc- tion. In all his writitigs ice perceive evident proofs of a sound judgment, a talent for close reasoning, a lively imagination, and fervent affections : sometimes, yet not so often as many have supposed, he induces a measure of obscurity by long parentheses. Jill his abilities and endowments, however, were directed and superintended Ly the Spirit of inspiration. The epistle to the Romans is placed first, though some others were icrittcn before it : but it was addressed to the Christians who resided in the capital city of that great empire, tchich then lorded it over the whole knoion world ; and the epistle itself is one of the longest and most comprehensive of all that iverc written by the apostle. It is not known when, or by ivhom, the Gospel was first preached at Rome; but it is conjectured that it teas carried thither by some of those Jews who v;ere converted at the day of Pentecost, (Acts ii. 10.) Paul, however, had not yet visited that city ; but, as the apostle of the Gentiles, he deemed it proper to use this method of establishing the believers in the faith ; and of giving them such a eomjjrehensive view of the Christian religion, as might put them upon their guard against false teachers of various descriptions. This epistle is the only part of the scripture, in which divine truth is delivered in a systematical method : and it is a proper 7nodel for any one, who intends to compile a body of diviniti/. After the introduction, the apostle opens his subject, (as it is reasonable to begin such systematical treatises,) by showing man's relations ami obligations to God his Creator, and his apostacy from his worship and service : he proceeds to prove the universal sinful- ness of both Gentiles and Jews, and the impossibility of any man's justifying himself before God by his own obedience. Having brought the world in guilty, and deserving of wrath, he j)roceeds to state the method of our salvation by the mercy of God, through the redemption of his Son, and the xvay of justification by faith in his blood. This he proves, illustrates, and exemplifies very fully : he next proceeds to show that this icay of justifi- cation is closely connected icith sanctification and evangelical obedience : he then states the believer's crpericnce and conflicts ; and displays his character, hopes, and privileges : cmd, at length, he leads our reflections back to the source of these blessings, in the eternal election, and sovereign love and mercy of God. Having thus stated, proved, and answered objections to his doctrine, and discussed several questions respecting the calling of the Gentiles and the rejection of the Jews, he applies the whole discourse by a varity of practical exhortations, pre- cepts, and instructions, enforced by evangelical motives. And having touched upon some particulars suited to the circumstances of those times, he concludes wfth affectionate salutations, cautions, and prayers, and with ascribinrr glory to God our Saviour. The order in which the ejnstles were ivritten, and the date of each, ic ill probably ic given at a subsequent period of the work. .^. D. 6t. ROMANS. jS. D. 61. »xv . tl II. 1. 9. XI 18 Julinxii. 20. xlii 11-10 XV. li £0. Acls XXVJi. 23 SCor. >v. S Oal i. in. I'hil i 1. li II. ill. G, 7. I. Jam I'et. Re I a I. Jude xiii fi o. c5. li 13. Acts ix 15 xsii. 14, li. :i. sxvi It; -18 I Cor. i. I. Ix. I. 16—18. XT. B-in 2 Cor. i I. xi 5. XJI. II GjI i. 1. II im i. I. 12 ii. 2 Tim i II. It i I. Heo. l>eut. X 8 Clir. xxiii. 13 Is xlix. I Jei i. 6. Ads xiii CHAPTER I. The apostle shows his apostolical office, and the ^rcat subject of his ministry, 1 — ^>- lie salutes the Christians at Rome, 6, 7 ; thanking God, on their account, and praying for them ; espe- cially that he might come and preach among them, 8—1,0. The Gospel is the jmwer of God to salvation, and shows the only tvay of justification, 16, 17. Sinners are exposed to the wrath of God, for acting in opposition to the light afforded them, 18—22. A dread- ful description of the Gentile world, as given up, by the just displeasure of God, to vile idolatries and iniquities, 2,}— 32. 20. ■ XTi. 2b. Ti^'LkA \k " "O^^UL, " a servant of Jesus Christ, i',',h*t."{3. ^\ Jl " called to be an apostle, "^ separated '•ril":iK iJ, \t ""^o ' *'i6 gospel of God, rV'-'^J "Luke 2 (Wliicli ' lie had promised afore by aIis x°' ij h's prophets in s the holy scriptures,) yivi r, — — — giii. I I's cxix 140. Dao. X. 21. 2 Tim iii 15, IG. 2 Pet i. 20, 21. NOTES. CHAP. I. V. 1 — 4. According to the custom of those times, the aposde began thi.s epistle by prefixing his name and distinguishing tide. The Christians at Rome would receive this letter from Paul, who was also called fcaaul, and had been a persecutor of the Church, but who noiv regarded it as his honour and happiness to be the ser- vant of Jesus Christ, and to be called his apostle; having been separated and appointed by the choice and eft'ectual calling of God, to preach his Gospel to the world, and to spend his life in promoting it. This doctrine was no novel invention, but the fulfilment of the promises made in the sacred Scriptures by the prophets; and it respected the Son of God, even Jesus the Saviour, the promised Messiah, the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church, whom all believers acknowledged and obeyed as their Lord. lie was drscended from David according to the flesh, or in Ids human nature: but he had also been declared, and deter- mined, to be the Son of God by that divine power, which ■idscd him from the dead. The expression, " according • to the Spirit of Holiness," has been generally inter- preted to signify, "' according to his divine nature;" but it is not used in thjs sense in any other place, nor does it naturally convey that idea. Others therefore explain it of the conception of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, on which account he Avas called the Son of God : but this does nothing more than state what he was ".according to 'the "flesh," or in his human nature: whereas the apostle seems to have intended to show his divine nature, as the " only begotten Son of the Father;" and the aH/t7/i«sts, as well as the context, evidently requires this. Our Lord indeed 3 Concerning ''his Son Jesus Christ h 9. »iii. 8,329 our Lord, ' which Avas made of the seed »i«t. ""m." i'- of David *■ according to the flesh ; 4 with power, " according to the Spirit of ho- m. '»i?2* fy. liness by the resurrection from tne dead ; 3iAx\n^\lot. 5 By whom ° we have received grace coi i. 'j3-is; and " apostleship, t for ^ obedience to the uonn ■ V laitli, 1 among all nations, ' for his name ; fj' » i >■ o Among whom ' arc ye also ' the call- 'j'g^'^, ed of Jesus Christ ; f-yj^ 7 To " all that be in Rome, * beloved M.''"m''[x~n of God, y called to be saints: ^ Grace to 1','^i^^i,'^. you and " peace, from " God our Father, ^J. ' and the Lord Jesus Christ. 10— CT.Ii 18. cii. 12- Ixxxlx 36, 37 Is ix. 6, xxiil.S, 22 xxii Luke 1. 3l-:)3 69 ii. 4 — 6. .lotin vii 42. Acts ii. 30. xiii. 22, 23 2 Tim il. 8 k vlii 3. is. 5 Gen. iii. 15. John i 14 Gal iv. i. 1 Tim. iii 16 I John iv 2, 3. 2 Jolin 7 • Gr dtlermintd 13 John ii 18-21 Acta ii. 15 iv. 10—12 V. 30—32 xiii. 33—35 Xvii. 31. 2 Cor Xiii 4 Eph i. 19—23. mLukexviii 31-33 xxiv. 26,27. Heb. ix 14. I Pel. 1. 1 1. 2 Pet i.21.Rer. 3 XV. 15, 16 John i. 16 I Cnr. XV. 10 2 Cor. iii. 5, 6 Gal i. 15, 16. £pli. 24. 32. Heb, V 5,0- xix in, n iii. 2—9 I Tim i. II. 12 of fait k. p X o Acta I. 25. I Cor. ix 2 Gal ii. 8, 9. 1 Or, te the libidi 26 Acts vi. 7 3 Cor. x. 4—6 Heb. v. 9 q iii. 29. 30. xi 12, I.-} XV 9—13- 10 Gen. xxii VJ. Ps xxii 27 Ixvii 2 Ixxii 17. Mat. xxviii. 19. Markxvi. 15, 16 I.uke .\xiv, 46, 47 Acts ix. 15. xxii. 21. jxvi 17.18. rMal. i. II M. Acts XV 14 K.phi.6.I2 I Pet. ii 9, 10 sKplj.i 11 Col. i. 6. 21. 1 vili. 28— 30. ix. 24. 1 Cor i. 9. Gal. i. 6. I Tiies. ii. 12. SThta. ii I4 2Tini.l 9. Heb iii. I. 1 Pet ii.9. 21. V 10. 2Pet i 10 Rev. xvii 14 u Actsxv. 23 I Cor i 2 2 Cor i I.Pbii i. 1 Col. i.2. Jam i. 1 1 Pet i 1,3. Jude I.Rev.ii 1. 8 12. 18.29 iii 17. U 22 xix.35. Deut. xxxiii 12. Ps Ix. 5. Cant, v 1. Col. iii 12. I Tim. vi 2 y6 Col. ill. 15. IThes i».7. 1 Pet i 15. 2 Pet i. 3. z 1 Cor i 3. 2 Cor. i 2 Gal. i 3. Eph. i. 2 Phil i 2. Col. i. i. 1 Thes i I. 2 Thes. i. 2 1 Tim i. 2 2 Tim. i. 2 Til. i 4. Ph lein 3. 1 Pet. i. 2. 2 Pet i 2 2 John 3 Jude 2 Rev i 4, 5. a v. I. xiv. 17. xv. 13. 33 Ps cxxii. 6 U Iv. 12 Ivil. 19 21 Zcch vi 13. Luke ii. 14. X 5. 6. xix. 38. 42. John xiv 27. xvi 33. Acts x. 36 Epb, 1 Tlics V. 23 2 Thes. iii. 16. Heli 4 I'hil. iv. 20. I Thes. i. 3. 2 Thes xvi 23 2 Cor xii. 8—10 xiii U. Gal vi 11—13. v. 28. 2 The9. ii. 16, 17. iii. 16. 13. -b&latt. V 16. vi 8,9. John XX. IT. i 1. 1 John Iii I. c Acts vii. 49, 60. I Cor. 18. Eph. vi 23 24 Phil. iv. 13.23. 1 Thea. iii. ITim. iv.22 Philem. 25.Uev. xxii 21. wrought all his miracles by the Spirit of God, which was " given to him without measure :" but the ajiostle plainly speaks of " the Spirit of holiness," in immediate con- nexion with the demonstration, that Jesus was the Son of God, which arose from his resurrection from the dead. Now, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the wit- nesses of his resurrection, and all the stupendous eflfects which followed, both in respect of them, and of those -on whom they laid their hands, were a divine attestation to their testimony ; and thus Jesus, who was crucified for declaring that he was the Son of Gel, was " determined " to be the Son of God with power, by his resurrection ;" according to the demonstration of that event, arising from the divers ]50wers, signs, and miracles, which the Spirit of God enabled the apostles and primitive Christians to per- form. {Note, Heb, ii. 3, 4.) It may also be observed, diatthe Holy Spirit had foretold by the prophets, that the Messiah would be the Son of God, as well as the Son of David ; and also that he would be put lo death, and rise again, and enter into his glory. When, therefore, the Lord Jesus, having been put to death as a deceiver and blasphemer, arose from the dead, " ascended on high, " and gave gifts to men," especially by pouring out the Holy Spirit on his apostles and disciples, according to the predictions of holy men, from the beginning, " who spake " as they were moved by the Holy Ghost;" he, in both respects, was " declared to be the Son of God with power, " by his resurrection from the dead, according fo the " .Spirit of holiness.' {Nole.^, Acts ii. 22—36. 3Iarg. Ref.) V. 5—7. From this glorious Saviour, Paul declared A. D. 61. CHAPTER I. Ji. D. 61. J vi. 17. 1 Cor i. 8 First, ''I thank my God Mhroue;h vJ^\ \-l Jesus Christ for you all, ' that your farth coiiwirhc. . gp^j.^^^ ^^ throughout ? the whole . ., -. HI. 9 2 IS Tlies i 3. STin. f , I. 3-S Philen.. WOrld 4,9. 2 Ja)in ( John 3, 4. e Eph. ill. 21. V. -- — • i. II serve 9 For '' God is my witness, ' whom I with my spirit in '' the 2:osnel of iPet. U.S. iv.ii. his Son, ' that without ceasing "' 1 make f svi. 19 1 Tbes. . ' , , . ° 'm"' xiv 14 Qicntion ol you always m my prayers ; i.„teii. 1. Acts 10 Making " request, if by any means 'I'i" a co?*i"3" "°^^ ^* length I might have " a prosperous oil i°so "phil: journey p by the will ol God, to come i. 8. I Thes. il. 5 unto VOU. -10. lTiin.ii.7. "'"" J""' 11 For " I long to sec you, 'that I j Acta XX Phil ii. 23. Col i 28, 30 2 Tim. i 3 *0. , 14, 15. Phil. iii. 3. k Mark Lukexviii 1. .\ct3xii. 5 Eph. m» spirit John iv. 23, 54. Acts six 21. 1 Cor X . "Acts iii. 26. 1 Joh.T v. 9-12. 1 I Sam. xii. 23 ._ _^.. .. 18. 1 Thc3. V. 17. 2T(m i. 3. m Eph i 10-19. J*, Sic Phil i 4. 9—11. Col. i. -J— 13. 1 Thes. i. S. Philem 4. n xv. 22-24. 30- 32. Phil iv 6. 1 Thes ii. 18 iii. 10,11. Philem. 22. Heb. siii. 19 o Acts xix. 21 xxvii. xxviii p Acts xviii. 21. xxi- U 1 Cor iv. 19 .lain. iv. 15. q Geo 15 2 Co . I- ,. 2-5. Erh i». e-is r XV. 29. Acti that he had received mercy and grace, as well as an ap- pointment to the apostolical office ; that he might be em- ployed as his instrument, in bringing sinners of all nations to " the obedience of faith," by accepting of the Redeemer's mercy, and becoming subject to his authority, for the honour of his name in their salvation, worship, and ser- vice. Among this happy and favoured company, were the persons to whom he sent this epistle; for they too had been called by the Gospel to profess themselves the disci- ples of Jesus, to bear his name, and to trust and serve him. As Paul was the aposde of the Gentiles, he consi- dered himself peculiarly interested in their welfare, though they had not been converted by his ministry; he had therefore written this epistle to them : and he addressed it, not to the citizens of Rome in general, but to all those, who had been called to be, and were denominated, saints, or holy, separate, and sanctified persons, partakers of di- vine grace, and devoted to the service of God ; and who •were thus evidenced to be beloved by him, interested in his mercy and plenteous redemption, renewed in a measure to his holy image in which he delights, and constituted heirs of his everlasting kingdom. These the aposde saluted, by wishing them " grace and peace :" grace to sanctify their souls, and peace to comfort their hearts and consciences. Of these blessings, the sum of all happiness, he- ardently desired that every professed Christian at Rome might participate : and that they all might continually have an accession made to that measure which they had already obtained, as springing from the free mercy of God, the reconciled Father of all believers, and coming to them through the Person, merits, and mediation, of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the customary apostolical salutation ; and it is most undeniably a prayer, or act of worship, in which Christ is addressed in union with God the Father. {Murg. Ref.) V. 8 — 12. The apostle next assured " the saints at '' Rome," that, though personally a stranger to them, he heartily thanked his God and Father, through Jesus Christ, for the mercy which he had shown to them all ; as their faith in Christ, and its happy effect upon their conduct, were spoken of in every part of the world. Wherever he may mipart unto you some spiritual gift, sxvi. 25. 2Chr. ,,•',,', •' , i ir 1 1 xx.2n. Actsxvi. ' to the end ye may be established ; 5 2Cor.i 21. 1 12 Tliat is, ' that I may be comforted Tiles iu 7.1 iu. together t with you, " by the mutual faith v. lo.Y^'si-et i. ,='.»' i'' -^ 12. Iii. 17, 18. both ot you and me. txv. 24.32. Acta ,. ,•' , , , , . XI. 23 2 Cor. il 13 JNow "1 would not have you ijjno- '-3. vii 4-7. rant, brethren, ^ that oltentimes 1 pur- \l~f.j.-^'^;-;''j posed to come unto you, (^ but was let V,"u'\ ^' *■ hitherto,) ^ that I might have some fruit J o;.!*"..^"" .^it i among you also, '' even as among other i„^jg|'^''''- '• '• Gentiles. V'i" 1' *^2°co^r; 14 I am ■= debtor both to the '' Greeks !> 'Tiies. ■». 13 and to the Barbarians, ^ both to the wise ''^II "7 and ' to the unwise. 8. Ada 2 Cor. i. 19,16. XV. 22. Act3Xvi. 6. 7. 1 Thes. ii. 18 2The?. ii. 7. a Is. xxvii 6. Jobniv 36. sii. 24. xv. 16, Col. i. 6. |0r, invoM. b xv. 18-20. Acts xiv. 27. xv 12. xxi. 19- 1 Cor. ix 3. 2 Cor ii. 14. .n 13— '16. 1 Thes. i. 9,10. ii. 13. 14 2 Tim. iv. 17. -^^ c viii. 12 xiii. 8 6r Acts ix. 15. xiii,2-4. xxii 21.xxvi 17,18. 1 Cor ix. 16-23?B Tim li. 10 ilActsxxviii 4. ICor. xiv II Col. hi. 11. c 22 xi.25 xii. 16. xvi. 19 Matt.xi.25 Luliex. 21. I Cor i 19—22. ii 13. iii. 18, 19. 2 Cor. x. 12. xi. 19 Eph v. 15-17. Jam. iv. 17, 18. f Prov, i. 22. viii 5. Is. xxsv. 8 1 Cor. xiv. 16 23, 2i. Tit. iii. 3. went, he heard the commendation of the believers at Rome ; and their good conduct was the more noticed, by reason of the renown of that city, and the temptations with which they were surrounded. He could therefore confirm what he was about to say, by solemnly calling to witness that God, whom he worshipped and served, not only with con- stant and persevering diligence, but with inward fervency, zeal, and devotion, according to the discovery of his glory made in the Gospel, and also by promoting that doctrine, which respects his Son as the great Author and Subject of it. This glorious God was witness that he prayed for them all, on every occasion, without inteimission, or ne- glect; and he especially besought the Lord that he would enable him to go among them, if after so long a time, and many disappointments, he might bo favoured with a pros- perous journey to come unto them, by the will and appoint- ment of God. For he ardently desired to sec and converse with them, that he might impart to them some of those spiritual gifts, (which were generally conferred by imposi- tion of the apostles' hands,) in order to their establishment in the faith. And this he desired, in order that he might share the comfort bestowed on them, and rejoice in minis- tering to their joy ; as well as in conferring with them con- cerning the nature, object and effects of that faith, whicli was held both by them and him. St. Paul doubtless meant to remind the Romans of his apostolical character and au- thorit}', as sanctioning his doctiine, by which he intended to guard them especially against tbejudaizing teachers: yet he aimed to do this in as unassuming and affectionate a manner as he could, that he might give no disgust to any person, or furnish false teachers with any handle against him. Some think that the Christians at Rome had received supernatural gifts, but it _does not appe.ir that any aposde had been there: Paul, however, expected that these gifts would be more abundantly imparted, when he should go among them, and that they would be thus fortified against such as attempted to pervert them, as well as against the fear of jjcrsecu'ion. It has been seen how his prayers for a prosperous journey to Rome were answered, by his being sent thither as a prisoner. {Mare. A. D. 61. ROMANS. ./?. i>. 61. giiiin iKine^ 15 So, s as mucU as in mc is, ''I am I xi" «^ 2 c'or. read J to preach the gospel to you that iji's vi"8 M,u are at Rome also. 3^. Actiixl"i3 16 For '1 am not ashamed of "^ the Ltnr y. 16, 17 grospcl of ChHst : ' for it is the power of isiu 15 in. (iod unto salvation, "■ to every one that CXK «6. Mark ' J Luke belioveth ; ° to the Jew hrst, and also to the Greek. _ 17 For therein* is ° the righteousness I'ctr "i^""' 12 of Grod revealed p from faith to faith: as Tr'\% n '*• is written, i The just shall live by faith. ix. Ci Vi i' 3 Tim. i 0. 15 16. I Pet ««1. i. 7 1 lira.i II. U. 17. P? PK 2. Is liii 1. 1 Cor Li2Cor.il U— 16 X 4,5. Col I 5. 6 1 Tlies i.-i.e.ii.U Heb. iv. 12 miii.ia. •Ji JK M. X 4 II. Mirk, svi 10 John ili 15, IC 3G vi. 3& 40. 47. vii. 3B. 39. xi. 35,26. Oul lii. 22 1 Pet i\ 6. 1 Jobu v 10-13 n ii 9. 10 iii 29.30 iv. 9—12 ix 24 X 12 sv 8,9-1. u eii :in-33. x.>iiv. 47. Acta si In xiii. 46, 47 xviii. 5, 6. xx 21 xxti EO.Xxiiii. 17-28. Gal ii 15. 16. lii. £8. Kph ii. 11-17. "■ "■ 4. Is Klv 3 Cor » 21. Oal 16 ; Cor. iii. 13. %\. 0, 7. tlvi. 13 11. 8. liv. 17 Ix V S. I'liil. ili. B, 9 2 Pet ! Ihes. i. 3. •» It. i. 1, 2 — 10. Je I ■ -qHa 6 Dan. ix 14. 1 Cor. i 30 ii 3 Ps lxxxi». 7 Jnhu i . 4 Gal. ill II Heb. x. 38 V. 1.3 — 16. The apostle next showed, that he had repeatedly purposed to come to Rome ; but that he had ^cen hindered hitherto by his multiplied engagements, and by tl'.e ojiposition made to his endeavours. Indeed, he was exceedingly desirous to have some fruit to his ministry among the ftomans, as well as among the other Gentiles : for, as he had been converted in a most extraordinary man- ner, and intrusted with a dispensation of the Gospel, he thought himself bound to do every thing that he possibly could, to promote the salvation of men in general, espe- cially among the Gentiles. This was a debt, which he owed both to the civilized Greeks, or Romans, and to the rude barbarians ; and indeed to the learned and unlearned of every nation, from the wise philosopher to the untu- .tored labourer. With this view of his obligation, he was ready, according to his ability and opportunity, to preach ithc Gospel at Rome also : though, in that haughty and magnificent capital, he might encounter more contempt anJ opposition than in other places; and though his ad Iress might be less suitable to the fastidious taste of its felined inhabitants. For however the noble, the learned, .or the |)roud, might despise the doctrines of the Gospel, and e.spccially that of salvation by faith in the merits of a Jew, who had been crucified as a deceiver by his own country- men, yet St. Paul was in no wise ashamed of it, but was ready to glory in his belief of it before all men, as he knew that the power of God attended, and was displayed by th.1t doctrine, for the salvation of every believer from ihc power of hJ3 corrupt passions and habits, from the bondage of Satan, from the love of the world, and the fear of men, and from all sin and misery ; so that, whilst Jewi-;h rabbics and pagan philosophers had tried in vain to veforni men's lives, the despised Gospel of Christ, where- cvcr it had been jireachcd, had been rendered extensively gurcessfiil for that purpose. This had first been evidenced among the Jews, in the conversion and holy lives of mul- titudes, who had before been of very bad characters ; and afterwards it had produced similar effects among the Gen- tiles, vast numbers of v.liom had been turned from their immor.diiies and idolatries to the holy worship and service of the true God. " It is the jiower of God unto salva- " t-ion..'' ' To v.hpm ? To all that believe. Now it is 18 H For 'the wrath of God is re- rn. «.»,«. it. vealcd from heaven against all ' ungodii- U. do"' Vx"!!!: ness and ' unrighteousness of men, " who IxTi'Ts jer.'iJ! hold the truth m unrighteousness. L /^^ii." fi. 19 Because '^ that which may be known j'f^ ■" m. of God is manifest * in them: for God ar^cai^'ili. w! hath shewed it unto them. i>f «' Ret °\. 20 For > the invisible things of him »^j«,.' Tjm'^V ^ from the creation of the world are clearly ',' *• '-'A ^ seen, being understood by the things that ',^? Ii '; ^ ''• . O J O 13. Ueut. XXT. are made, ' even his eternal power and \][ ,',' ^''' ^^ " Godhead ; t so that ■= they are ^ with- 'f'i l^l^%-_ out excuse : 1?^/ uot,ni.'9^ u 19. 28 32 ii 3. 15-23 Luke xii. 46,47 John iii 19-21. Acts Xxi». S4, 25 2 Then, ii lol 1 Tim iv 6 X 20 Ps.xix.1-6 I»xl.2» Jer.x '0— 13 Acts Xiy. 16, IT. xvli 23-30. Or, totlum. ^f John i. 18. Col i 15, 16 1 T.b i. 17. vi. 16. Heh xi 27 1 19. Beut iv 19 Job xxxi 2n Pj viii 3, 4. ixxiii 6-9. ciT 5-31 cxix 90, 91 cxxxix. 13 -S6. cxiviii. 3— 12 Matt, v 45--axvi. 26 Gen. xxi 33. Ueut xxxiii 27. Pj Xe. 2. Is. ix 6. xxvi 4 si 26. I Tim i 17 Heb ii. 14. liActsxvii 29 Col ii.9 r Or, that tluy may br, 6tc c ii. !. IS. John xv. 22. Hare- i See on, Atls xlii 1. Or. ' plain, that it is not merely the power of God manifested ' in outward miracles that is there spoken of; for mi- ' racles were wrought upon, and in the presence both of. ' them that believed not, and them that did believe. The ' power of God there spoken of, is a power felt only by ' them that believe : so that, whatever the enemies of the ' free grace of God may suggest, it cannot be meant of ' those extraordinary manifestations of power in healing ' men's bodies, &c. but of that inward teaching and draw- ' ing of the Father, of which the propkets foretold, lliat ' it would be bestowed in a large manner in Gospel-times.' {Dr. Blaclaiirin.) V. 17. (il/rtrn-. ^ef.) In the Gospel God hath re- vealed, not only the righteousness of his perfect character and government, and the righteousness required by his holy law, but ■ 1 cor. xv 31. r -r • , . , "^ 2 Cor. IV. *-6. ot tneir error which was meet. » s sinei. i. ctn A I 1 T 1 ••• 8 ii. 10— 12 a 2u And even ' as they did not like to ^""^ 'ii s-^^^ t retain God in their kriowledjje, God ea\ c '',■*«'"»;„„ . 1 , " • 1 " 1 blcr.viSO 2Cor. them over " to | a reprobate mind, to do f,;"i*TVr". those things which are ' not convenient ; > °' mmi voider 29 Being -i filled with all unrighteous- v^';,';™ (,'• « ncss, fornication, wickedness, covetous- '',';' ,'5" ]iJ,i?|' ness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, lurl'^iVi.K. 1 Cor vi. 9. 10 Oiil V iq— ai rr.\ c '«— r rn\ iii s— a I T.m i T.m ii: 9._ 9. 10 C«l V. 19-21. y.vX 3 Rev zzi. 8 xxii. 15 3-G Col. ill 5-J. I Tim i. 9, 10 2 Tim. iii.'2-- ration, or in the coiidact of their lives; nor were they thankful for his goodness to them. On the contrary, tliey sanctioned, by a hypocritical conformity, the stupid ido- latries of their countrymen ; and, proud of their superior discernment, they amused themselves with vain fancies and reasonings concerning matters too high and abstruse for them. Thus they were bewildered in speculations, and most of them took refuge in skepticism'' or atheism. Their minds, being destitute of practical wisdom andun-l derstanding, became more and more darkened with error and delusion; and whilst they professed themselves to be sages, wise men, and philosophers, they were infalnaled, or turned into mere fools or idiots, in the great concerns of God and religion. So that most of dicm relapsed into , gross idolatry ; and men in general concurred in exchang- ing the gl%ious Object of all worship for inanimate idols. They at first commonly changed the glory of the incorrup- tible God into the image of a mortal man, which they: foolishly supposed to be a proper resemblance of him : at length they made images of their deities, like birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, and insects, and thus actually fell down i to worship the meanest and most noxious of the creatures. It is well known that many of the ancients, especially the learned Egyptians, worshipped dogs, snakes, reptiles, nay, even vegetables. Thus mankind, having retained from] original tradition, or having acquired by the exercise ofj reason, some general notions of a Deity, invented nume- rcms species of idolatry, and universally forsook the wor- 1 ship of the true God, in all places where revelation was not actually vouchsafed. Indeed, the fact is undeniably llic same even to this day ; and if any nations seem to be sunk into such total stupidity, as to have no notions of a God remaining among them, this still more clearly proves, jiot man's want of rational powers, but his carnal enmity to God and religion, through which he becomes more and more the besotted and blinded slave of Satan, {\otes, Is. xliv. 9 — '20. Marg. Ref) Imnginations. {'2\.) Or rea- •soiuiig'S, (3Ja//. XV. 19. Lufer ix. 46, 47. Gr.) Cicero's books, ' On the nature of the gods,' contain a most strik- ing illustration of the apostle's meaning. V. 24 — '27. The race of men, having thus dishonoured God by wilful apostscy and idolitry, he left them, under the influence of Satan, to debase themselves by the most unnatural and abominable unclcanness. This did not so much result ivova the prevalence of aijimal inclinations, (for the very brutes are kept from such excessive and unna- tural practices,) as from the lusts of their own hearts, which madly sought satisfaction in sensuality, when they had lost the favour of God, and happiness in him. Thus they disgraced their bodies, (which had been most curi- ously formed by the Creator, to be the instruments of the soul in his worship and service,) by using them to perpe- trate with each other the most detestable pollutions. This was permitted j«dtcia//j/ ; because they had exchanged the truth of God which had been made known to them, re- specting his nature, perfections, and worship, for the ba- sest falsehoods and delusions of the devil, and the sophis- tical conclusions of their own vain reasonings ; and in con- sequence, they had rendered divine honours to creatures, in preference to the infinite Creator, who is in himself " blessed for evermore ;" whom all rational creatures ought to adore and bless: and whose praises are celebra- ted by all the inhabitants of heaven, whilst saints on earth repeat a cordial Amen to them. The idolaters first joined creatures with him in their worship, or adored them as mediators ; they used images to represent the invisible Object of their adoration, and at length the vilest of crea- tures engrossed the whole of it. The Lord therefore be- ing provoked to jealousy by this base apostacy and ingra- titude, gave them up to the vilest affections and inclina- tions, so that they were left to practise such unnatural lusts, as are not fit to be mentioned, except as a stigma on human nature, and to enhance the grace of our redemption. And this was a judgment meet for such a crime ; as they had so dishonoured God, through their pride and carnal enmity, it was proper for them to be left to expose their own shame, that the consequences of their apostacy, and the blindness of their boasted reason, as well as the filthi- ness of their hearts, might be known to the whole intelli- gent creation. Those unnatural crimes and vile aflfections, which are most scandalous at present, and carefully con- cealed and most severely punished, were openly avowed among the Greeks and Romans, even in their politest ages ; and their most elegant and celebrated poets have defiled their compositions by the mention of such vile amours, without any expressions of abhorrence, or even of disapprobation ! More than, Sic. ('25.) Pralerito Crea- lore, (" passing, by, or disregarding the Creator.") ' Thus Hilary renders the clause with purity and elcgancel' («fra.). ji. D. 61. CHAPTER I. A. D. CI. « r» »•'/''">»• debate, 'deceit, nialisfnity ; * whisperers, aj. 2 Cor lii. 30 f Backbiters, ^ haters of God, de- fproTxxT^w^ spiteful, proud, ''boasters, 'inventors of evil things, ^ disobedient to parents, 31 'Without understandinf^, "" cove- 17. 1 K.Og! Ccr. X U 30. Ec V X 3i Dfu; 10. 3 Chr. S. Ps. Ixxxi Prov viii. John Tii 7 XV 13, ii. Tit iii Ps. X. 3. xlix. 6 lil 1 \i-.\. , i iv 16. i Pit li. IS Juile 16. 18— SI. xxT:i. 16 ProT. xix. 17 Kz xxii 7. Slatt. x. 21. X' iii. 2 120, SI HI. II. ProT. XTiii. 2. Is xxvii. 11 Jer. h Kisga xviii. U, &c l9 .Kxiii. 9. 2 Tim. Iii. i. SI. M. 2 Cbr sxv. IS 2T11CS. il 4 .lam lil vii 29. li Deut xxi .4 l.nke xxi. IG 2 Titr . 22 Matt XV 16 m I V, 28 — 32. Men, in all ages and nations, had shown a disposition to discard from their minds the kno^vlcdge ol the true God. Having no delight in him, ihcy did not endeavour " to retain him^in their knowledge." Th( original word signifies prove, (as metals are assayed,) or approved. The lattcrseems the meaning in this passage. Not approving the knowledge of Jehovah, men every where were prompt to run into idolatry. This was an evident fact ail over the Gentile world. The glorious per- fections, spiritual worship, and holy service, of God, by no means suited the proud, sensual, carnal, heart of fallen man: so that, as with one consent, they preferred the basest idols to him, because more congenial to their dis- positions, and consistent with their favourite pursuits ; in righteous judgment he gave them up to a reprobate mind, that they should foolishly and perversely prefer the most shameful and pernicious practices, to those which are decent, honourable, and becoming rational creatures. Thus they were left to commit such crimes, as were \itterly inconsistent with reason, nature, and their own and each others welfare. Nay, they proceeded to such lengths in wickedness, that their whole hearts and lives were filled with every kind of fraud, oppression, extortion, and iniquity ; they practised all fornication, incest, and adultery without remorse ; they delighted in mischief for its own sake : they rapaciously amassed wealth by every means in their power, however vile ; they revenged every injury with desperate malice ; they envied all, who were more honoured or prospered than themselves ; they were prompt to commit murder or engage in any kind of bitter contests, and in ever}' species of deceit and malignity, or habitual mischievoustiess, as delighting in the misery of Others. Secret calumnies and slanders were employed to ruin men's characters ; they were haters of God, and of his authority, law, justice, service, and providence, and despiteful to his worshippers and to each other. They were proud of their abilities, possessions, and exploits ; they idolized themselves, in boasting of their virtues or performances, and in wholly seeking their own glory in the most ostentatious manner; they invented new species of cruelty, treachery, luxury, impiety, idolatry, sensual gratification, and magnificence. They cast off all regard to parental authority, and despised, injured, or even mur- dered their aged parents, (as the emperor Nero did his mother Agiippina.) They, acted, in many things, as if they had been destitute of common sense, by the indul- gence of their headstrong passions; they violated without scruple the most solemn treaties, covenants, and oaths; they sinned away natural affection, and even exposed their new-born infants without remorse or censure, that they might not have the trouble or expense of bringing them up, and in many places they put to death their parents, nant-breakers, * witbout natural affection, n?^'^"""'?-^. implacable, unmerciful : 32 Who " knowing the judgment of God, (that they which commit such things are " worthy of death,) not only do the same, but f have pleusure ia tiiem that do them. 21-l'J. ivi. 21 Ceut. Xvii. 6 xxi 22. 2 Sam. sii 5—7. 1 Kings li 2'; He!>. Re . sv'. 6. 2'J. nilh them Vi i 18. Hi.s. vii. 3 Ilarkkiv. 10,1 when they became helpless and burdensome. They were implacable in their resentments, and unmerciful in their dispositions ; so that, besides the cruel carnage of thei:- ambitious Avars, the indiscrin.inatc slaughter w'hich oftci attended the taking of cities, and the frequent murder of their vanqui.shed enemies, their public diversions con- sisted in beholding gladiators fighting together, till hun- dreds were sometimes massacred before their eyes, or in seeing slaves and criminals fighting with wild beasts, and often devoured by them. Nor did the principal persans, whether men or women, absent themselves from these hor- rid spectacles! Nay, even those among them, who were most fully convinced that these things were criminal, and deserving of condemnation and death, according to the judgment of God, not only continued to practise them, but they also delighted in, honoured, caressed, flattered, preferred, or even deified, such persons, as were most no- toriously addicted to them. The history of the Greeks and Romans, especially of the latter, about the time when the apostle wrote, abundantly confirms this horrid de- scription of their general character, from which even their philosophers and moralists were by no means excepted. — It might easily be shown, that the morals of idolatrous nations, if judged according to the immutable standard of the divine law, are at this day very little, if at ail, belter than the description here given of the Gentile world. — Have pleasure, &c. (32.) « This, say the Greek com- ' mcnlators, is much worse than the bare doing of them • ' for a man may do them by the power of temptation, ' and, by consideration, become sensible of his folly, and 'repent of it; but when he is arrived at that height of ' wickedness, that he not only approves, but delights in ' seeing the like things done by others, he demonstrates ' such a strong affection to them as is incurable.' (Whitby.) — The apostle, however," is showing what need the Gen- tiles, and all men, had of the grace of the Gospel; and not that they were incurable by it ; and in fact multitudes, who once had answered this description, afterwards em. braced Christianity, and became " a peculiar people " zealous of good works." PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS, V. 1-7. A servant of Jesus Christ is the highest style of man • and that of a minister, or an ajjoslle, only specifies the particular service in which he is employed; but the Christian slave is a servant of Christ as truly as the apostle. All those, who are thus distinguished, have been called out of a state of darkness and alienation from God, and separated from their sinful connexions by divine grace ; and thus taught to believe, love, adorn, and promoto \\n Jl. D. 63. ROMANS. A. D. 61. CHAP. II. Thcy^ U'ho^juJge others, and yet transgress ihcnisclvcs, are inexcusable, and cannot Gospel of GoJ. This Gospel, though often treateil as a new doctrine, hath comprised the whole hope of sinful man from the beginning ; and was promised by the pro- phets long before it was published by the apostles of Jesus Christ. He is the great Subject of the Gospel, being the Son of David, and the Son of God, according to the tes- timony of the Spirit of holiness by the prophets, and the demonstration of his resurrection from the dead by the power of God, attested by the same Spirit. From his ful- ness have all his servants received ; he gives grace to the sinner, and qualifies the believer or tiic minister for the work allotted to him ; but in vain do any claim autiiority in the Church, as successors to the apostles, when their lives evince that they have not received regenerating grace, and when, instead of bringing others to the obedience of faiih, tlicy themselves are evidently disobedient and un- believing. The end of the Gospel-ministry is, to bring sinners of all nations to obey the command of God, by believing in his Son, and submitting to his authority, that his name may be glorified in their salvation, and that they may become a peculiar people, to show forth his praise. Happy they, who are thus the called of Jesus Christ lo be his saints, beloved of God and devoted to him! They should often recollect their character and privileges, that they may be excited to act consistently ; and they should cordially desire an increase of grace and peace to all their brethren in every place. Without grace there can be no substantial peace ; in proportion as grace is comn:iunicated, peace maybe ex]iected; and when grace shall ripen into perfect holiness, peace will become complete fruitiou. These then are the great blessings, which we should seek for ourselves, our children, our friends, and all around us, in preference to all earthly possessions or prosperity ; and they must be sought from the mercy of God our Father, by failh in the Lord Jesus Christ, and by reliance on his merits and mediation. V. 8— 15w Zealous Christians are always ready to thank God, in behalf of all others who partake of the same invaluable blessings in which they rejoice : and we should cultivate this pious and benevolent tlisjiosition, that we may present our grateful tribute to the Lord, not only for our tViends, or surli as have been converted by our means, but for strangers also, and for ail concerning whom we hear a good re|)ort. Indeed, if we " servf; God with our spirit in •* the Gospel of his Son," we shall be sure to approve our hearts before him, as deeply concerned for the peace and |)rosperity of his Church : and we should also without teasing, iA our daily prayers, make mention of our fellow Christians and the interests of the Gospel, all over the world. Yet, alas, most of us must own with, shame, that we are not so earnest, or particular, in this respect, even In our narrow circles, as Paul was, in respect of his most I'Xtcnsive connexions, and with all his vast and multiplied engagements ! But we should endeavour to follow him escape (he judgment of Go^^pSG. The measure of his dealings icfthr'Jews end Gentiles, 7 — 16. The apostle solemnly even as he followed Christ : and we ought to long for opportunities of usefulness, as worldly men do for a pros-, perous trade, or occasions of distinguishing themselves, and acquiring celebrity ; and count that the most success- ful journey or undertaking, in which most good ha'h been done, though it have exposed us to hardship, loss, or peril. We should earnestly request the Lord, that by his will such opportunities may frequently return ; though we know not in what manner these prayers may be answered : we should readily impart to others, what God hath intrusted to us, whether to supply their temporal wants, or to promote their spiritual comfort and establish- ment; we ought to rejoice in making others joyful; and should peculiarly take pleasure in communing with those \iho believe, hope for, and experience, the same things with us. But purposes, resulting even from this happy and excellent state of mind, may often bo retarded and disapijointed ; nor ought we to be discouraged or desist on this account. We should still desire and expect the oppor- tunity of bringing forth fruit, though we have been hin- dered hitherto : and while we ought to be thankful for the least usefulness, we should not say of any measure, let this suffice us as long as we have health and strength for labour, and so much yet remains to be done, before all nations are brought to the obedience of faith. Being re- deemed by the blood, and converted by the grace of the Lord Jesus, we are altogether his : and for his sake, we are debtors to all men, to do them all the good we can, to whatever nation they belong, or of whatever coiriplexion, rank, capacity, or education, they are. Nor ought we to deem such services any great thing ; but merely our bounden duty, our debt of gratitude to Christ, and of love to our neighbours and brethren. V. 16—22. We ought not for a moment to allow of that absurd an-3i.Luke'»'i: thou that ludcrest doest the same :i'- xl». 22. , . JO .lohn viii 7-9. thmffs-. .13.21-23. 2 But we are sure that " the jude;ment e S 111. «,5 IX. . _, J. O J!t Pi" *'"' 01 (jrou IS according to truth, against them 'lit. JOJl XKKiv. I • I ^ ' O J^7|'/^ ^; which commit such things. 0."' xc'vi"'i3: -^ And f thinkest thou this, e O man, ■rr''i=.^,iv'"i9: tliat judgcst them wliich do such things, K2 xvM 25.2I: ^""^ doest the same, '' tliat thou shalt es- ze?h 'ni. ^l cape the judgment of God ? y>cls xvii .■)! 2 '1 lies. i. 5— 10 liev.'xv. 3, I ]ni,.S xix. 2. f 2 Sam. X. 3 Job XXXV s Ps 1 21. Matt. xsvi. 53 % 1 Dan x. 19. Liikexii. 14. sxii. .W. 80. h 32. Ps. Ivi 7 rrov Ki 21. xyi 5. Ezra .wii. IS. 1(1 Watt, xxiii. 33. 1 Thea. v. 3. Heb. li 3 Aii.25. NOTE.S. CIIAP. I!. V. 1 — 3. The aposde is commonly sup- yioseJ to have here passed from the state of the Gentiles, to animadvert on that of the Je\vs ; though some think that the heathen philosophers and moralists were also in- cluded. He, however, seems to have expressed himself in this general manner, that he might include all those, of every nation, sentiment, or description, "• who hold the '' truth in unrighteousness," or object to " the righteous- " ncss of God by faith," (Note, 1. 17, 18 ;) and who are ready to judge and condemn others, though guilty them- selves. Of these, the Jews were the most notorious ; for they disdained and abhorred the Gentiles as profane, abo- minable, and utterly undeserving of iJod's favour; whilst they thought themselves a holy people, and entitled to all their privileges by an unalienable right. Yet, while they would join with the apostle in showing the inexcusable wickedness of the Gentiles, they were equally or more inexcusable ; for they proudly arrogated, and severely exercised, the office of a judge, and yet the sentence, wliich they denounced on others actually condemned themselves ; as they might be proved guilty of the very same crimes, or such as were of similar malignity. They copied the vices of the very heathen whom they con- deiuned ; like them they acted in opposition to the light ailbrded them, and they were unthankful, rebellious, and unrighteous, even as the Gentiles were. But they, and all other persons in the world, whosoever they were, who acted in this manner, must be reminded, that assuredly the judgment of God, according to the truth of his word, and the real character and condyct of men, would be then executed on them : and, instead of meeting with favour on account of their external advantages, or their condemna- tion of sin in others, their punishment would be enhanced by these very circumstances. For could any man suppose, that when he had committed the same crimes, which he judged deserving of puni.shment in others, he should him- self escape the judgment of God ? This intimated to the unbelieving .Jews, that personal and national judgments awaited them, unless they fled for refuge to the grace of ;he Gospel. ' These Gentiles were by the Jews reputed as ' unclean, great sinners, and so incapable of salvation. ' To these Jews the apostle .jn this chapter directs hi? 4 Or ' despisest thou ^ the riches of his ivi. i.u. p. «, goodness, ' and forbearance, and long-suf- JeV »ii. Vo' eJ: fering ; not knowing that "' the goodness Jiiit xx%. 4»; of God leadeth thee to repentance ? k i* 2»''x 12 li. 5 But " after thy hardness and impe- ? civ j«. Epi!: nitent heart, " treasurest up unto thyself »• e. '6">bir. ^I • . „ .1 1 ' r 1 ■' , l» "9 Col I. 27. wrath, against p tlic day of wrath, and ii-s M™ "• !• /*! .,•' .. /. 17. Tit III 6. ■i revelation of the righteous judgment of'^'| "„!J^'2' God ; Kun,*"i' It. ' Ps Ixxtiii. 38. 6 Who ' will render to every man ac- l","'iJ?o. ""i cording to his deeds ; Pe™iii*ii" ' ra .Iohxxxni.27-3'1. Ps. cxxx 3,l.Is.XJ1[ IB. Jcr. iil 12.13.22,23. El stI 63 Hot iii. 5. Lulexv. 17-lD. ised his rich goodness, they strangely mistook its tendency, as it ought to lead and induce them to repentance. The more kindness God ex- ercises, the greater aggravation is there in the sinner's dis- obedience, and the more should he be humbled for his base ingratitude. The jiaticnce of God gives the sinner time and opportunity for repentance, and the discoveries of his mercy furnish him with motives and encouragements ; and were it not for man's total depravity, the proposals of the Gospel must prevail with every one to repent of his departure from God, and to return to his worship and ser- vice. {Notes, Luke XV. II — "24.) If the Jews presumed upon the special kindness of God to them, and continued to reject the Gosjjel, and to disobey his commandments, according to the obduracy of their impenitent hearts, their condemnation would be proporlionably severe ; and thq A. D. 61. CHAPTER II. J. D. Gl. j„b 7 To them wIjo, ' by patient continu- YJi. ance in well-doinof, seek lor ' glory, and Matt XI i' 13 Luke viii tS Jolin vi. C6 I Cor. Kv 8 But unto them that arc ^' contcn- M. Gd|.°vi.^9. tious, ' and do not obey the truth, but "" '^i2.'ii » obe\ unriarhteousnesi, " indis-nation and Jam. y 3 ' O Heb. X. 35, 36 Jam. .- V. 7.8 Rev. i. wrath ; 9 Tribulation " and anguisli upon every c^rWi Pet ^°"^ '' of "11^" *'i^t doeth " evil, of the Jew i.T^e.fv 13.14 first, and also of the * Gentile : 1 1 Cor v\ JJ, ¥-» ■■ I 1 1 >, .1 ^^^J"",';'? 10 But ' eiorv, honour, ^and peace, " to 1 VI S3. 1 Joiia O •^11 1 ' 1 T r'proV xiii 10 every man that worketh good ; to the Jew " first, and also to the f Gentile : Tit. - . 5! I. ID. vi. 17. X 16. EV 18. Job xitiv. 13 Is i. iv. 17 a John iii 18-2( 2 Tbes. i xc Il.Nah i. 6. Heb. X 27. Rev xiv. IC i El xvii). 4 Mitt »vi. 2G e 10 I l( 46. I Pet iv. 17. * Or, Crttk. f 7 iii 16.17 iv. 7-9. viii. 18 Luke I. viii. 6 xiT. 17. XV 13 N 12. xxxii 17 xlviii 18 22. Iv. 12 Iv xix. 42 Jolin siv. S7 xvi 33 Gal. sxxii 17. Acts X 3S. Gal v. 6. Jaa 1. 10. 2Tlies i. 8 Heb. v 9,xi 8. IPct iii 10-12. Heb. iii 12, 13 li ix. !2. Ps Xvi. 19 0. Irov. i 27.28 2 Tlics i. 6 Am iii 2 Matt xi 20—24 Luke sii 47, ix.21.23 1 Sam ii. 30. Ps cxii. 6— 9 Prov. X. 43 xii 37 Jolin xii. 26. 1 Pet i. 7. v. 4. g v. 26 Job xxii.21. Ps xxix 11 xxxvi 37 Is xxvi 19. Jer r. 22. Phil, iv . ii. 22. ill. 13.- . 79 0. .Matt X. 13. Luke h Ps XV 2 Prov. xi.lB. Ii — t Or, Gralc. longer God had patience with them, the heavier vengeance would be executed on them. And all others, who thus employed the day of mercy in committing sin, hardening their hearts in impenitence because of the goodness of God, would find that they had accumulated wrath as their treasure, for themselves, which would be secured for them, till the day of wrath and" final recompense. Then the Lord will manifest the perfect justice of his decisions before the whole world, to the full satisfaction of all his friends, and the confusion of his enemies : seeing he will then render to every individual according to his works ; whether he was an obstinate unbeliever, or a humble peni- tent believer in the divine Redeemer. {Notes, 3Iatt. xvi. 27. XXV. 31—46.) V. 7 — II. The apostle here gradually proceeds to a more explicit mention of the Jews, whom he especially intended to " conclude under sin." According to the whole tenour of Scripture, as well as the dictates of com- mon sense, no sinner can do well, til! he repents, submits to God, and seeks mercy from him. The Jew, who did this, must have respect to the types and promises of a Saviour, with which the law of Moses was replete, as well as to the preceptive part of it ; and he alone, who did this, would perform any spirittial obedience. If then there was a man, any where, who embraced by faith the revelation of glory, honour, and immortality, through the promised Messiah, made in the word of God, and was earnestly bent upon obtaining this blessing ; if he sought the inheritance, by repenting, " ceasing to do evil, learn- " ing to do well," attending on the ordinances of God, obeying his commandments, and thus waiting patiently for ihe completion of his promises; and if he proved his sin- cerity, by patience under trials, and perseverance in well doing amidst temptations and difficulties ; tliis man would surely be made partaker of eternal life, according to the constitution of the most gracious covenant of God in Jesus Christ, whatever measure of explicit knowledge he might be favoured with, or under whatever dispensation he might hve. But as all trangressors of the law are under con- demnation, 30 those Jews, or others, who disputed against ] 1 For ' there is no respect ©f persons incut » nxvi with God. ',!■ :^X^^- 12 For as many '• as have sinned with- 23: s^'Mru out law, shall also perish witiiout law ; xx."2i'Vt"x'"' and as many 'as have sinned in the law, ■tU''v'i''9''crf shall be judored by the law ; 17.°'' ' *"" ' 1 •> /T/ in . .il U /■ il 1 kl4, l.'ii 18-21 iJ (^ror "' not the hearers ol the law 32 e?. xvi. 4j. are just before God, "but the doers o/tlie 24.' LufeexTj law shall be "justified. 7oim "xlx.'']!. 1 4 For when the Gentiles, ^ which have ^}^- ~iri.'"'i9,''2o not the law, '' do by nature the things con- ^ . . . . .' . . .' O Dent XK ^ not the law, ' are a law unto themselves : tained in the law, these, having not the ^^ ^^ ^^_^ 10. 22. Jam 15 Which shew the work of the law j^Jj '^jjf j, \ ' written in their hearts, { their » con- ^-m" L"" ll.xxxiil 30-33. Malt, vii 21—27. Luke viii. 21. Jam, i. 22-25. I John ii 2'l iii J. 1 iii 20 2J X 5. Luke X. 25-29 Gjl. iii II, 12. oiii 30 iv. 2-5 Is cxlii 2 Luke xviii. l4 Aets xiii. 39 Gal. ii. 16, v 4. Jam ii 21-25 p 12 iii 1, 2 Ueut iv 7 P, cxlvii. 19,20. Acts xiv. 16. xvii 30 F.ph. ii 12 q 27. i 19,20 1 Cor xl. l4 Phil iv 8. r 12. i. 3.' si 18. 19 1 Oclke contcitncc witntiting inlh Ihrm. 1 i_( 1. Joliii viii. 9. Acts xxiii. 1, xsiv. 16 2 Cor. i. 12. v. 11. 1 Tied. it. 12 Tit i 15. the Lord's method of saving sinners, and his sovereignty in dispensing unmerited favours, whose " eye was evil, " because the Lord was good, who were angry at the kindness shown to returning prodigals, and who refused to obey the truth, by embracing the Gospel, and submitting to the promised Saviour, choosing rather to obey unri<^hf- eousncss, and continue the slaves of sin and Satan, all such persons would surely sink under the indignation and wrath of their offended Judge. For tribulation and anguish of spirit will be the inevitable portion of every soul of man, who " worketh evil ;" and the iew \\\\\ have the first and most severe lot in this condemnation, though the unbelieving and disobedient Gentile will not be exempted. Oil the other hand, that glory, honour, and peace, which God confers on the objects of his special love, will cer- tainly be given to " every man that worketh good,''^ as a sinner who oheyeth the truth. The Jew indeed had the fust proposal of this mercy, but no Gentile was excluded from the full participation of it, " for God is no respecter of " persons." {Notes, Acts x. 1—8. 3-1, 35.) it is evi- dent, that the apostle did not mean that either Jew or Gentile could be saved by his own works, without faith in Christ, but that, " by obeying the truth," and by that patient continuance in well-doing which springs from faith, the Gentile would obtain eternal life ; and without this, the Jew must fall under wrath and condemnation. To suppose he meant that any man could be saved with- out believing the Gospel, would absurdly make him ad- vance principles subversive of his own grand argument throughout the whole epistle, and of his doctrine in all his episdes. He had many reasons for first proposing his doctrine in this covert and practical manner. IJe thus avoided giving immediate disgust to the Jewish reader, previous to the more explicit declaration of the Gospeh for which he was here only making way ; lie intimated that they, who really best understood and obeyed the law, would most readily embrace the Gospel, and that the Je\ys did not refuse to " obey the truth," from, love to the holiness of the law, but from " obedience to unrigh'cous- I" ncss." iMarg. Kef.) " " jL £). 61. ROMANS. A. D. 61. » Or. *,(,,«, science also bcarin"' witness, and their uuen. ill a-ii. tJioiijjnts * the mean while " accusinsr or i-i. I Kin;. li el-SG Gxcusing OHC anothci';) }.c "vir.''a 1 16 In the day when '' God shall jiidffc John 111. 19-21. , ^ ^ •' , ^ rM ■ •' " x5 i,i 6. xiv. tlic secrets ot men »' by Jesus Christ '■ ac- 10- 12. Grn. ,. ^ ,, / xvMi 85. Ps.ix. cordins: to my (josncl. 7.8 1.6. xcvi. , - it Ti 1 1 I 1 II 1 T '?■ ,.""». l 17 Tl iseliold, ' tliou art called a Jew, f.c. ill 9. XI. 9. , • 1 1 1 I *Vi 2;'' xxvli'i ^"'^ restest m the law, and ' makest tliy r2Jor.":^.i.'''o^stofGod, "pet. 'fv ": ^^ -^'"^ " knowest /j/s will, and t ap- xx."i-is.""' pi'ovcstthe things that are more excellent, "ActiVifrv'n ' feeing instructed out of the law; •ji^ 2 Tim. iv. 19 ^n^i f jjrt confident that thou thy- 2 xvi. 25. 1 Tim. i. 11. 2 Tim ii. 8. sSfl.SH, ix, 4-7. Va. cxxiv 4. Is. xlviii. 1. 2. Malt iii 9 viii.n,12 John viii. .13. 3 Cnr xi 22.Gal.ii 15 Bpli. ii 11 Phil iii. 3— 7. Kcv. ii. 9. iii. 1. a b 23. ix 4 33 Jer. iii 4-10 Zepll. Iii. \1. Lu1 them which arc in darkness ; ?I''"luwo1 ;'. 20 An instructor ofthc foolish, ''a teach- rm "U: '' er of babes, which hast ' the form of know- Vcor; 'ill "i ledge and of the truth in the law. i ret ii'2 2 1 Thou '' therefore which tcachcst an- i is. in *. i"- othcr, teachest thou not thyself.'* thou that k'p« 1 '?.-2'- preachest a man should not steal, ' dost &c' •-•""' •'■ ',,,-, '23. XI. 40. III. thou steal r ■17. xix k;. 22 Thou that sayest a man should not G>i-ji- '3- th. commit adultery, "dost thou commit adul- "'!":''•, ^J. 11 111 • I 1 "'" ' tery r thou that abhorrest idols, " dost jj,"? ^''*.^ *",f- thou commit sacrilege .'* J'^»,^j jj"* ''• 23 Thou " that makest thy boast of "g^fj ,;■'„• ^'|; the law, through breaking the law dis- li%y "\]'^' honourest thou God ? n^sSi'Vs. m. i 2. ix. 4. Jer. viil. 8, 9. Matt. xix. 17—20. Luke X. IC 23. Jhm. t. 23, Sic. iv. IC, 17. ing! This seems to be the apostle's argument; but it by no means implied that the Gentiles performed any spi- rilual obedience ; or that any of them could be justified on account of dieir partial and scanty compliance with the dictates of their own understanding. As rational creatures in a fallen state, yet not desperate, they sometimes acted more morally than at other times ; and accordingly their consciences approved, or disapproved, of their conduct : and the same is the case at this day with infidels and mere nominal Christians. This is an earnest and evidence of a future judghient, when God will judge the secret actions, thoughts, motives and atTections of all men, by his Son Jesus Christ ; which was one principal doctrine of the Gospel that Paul preached both to Jews and Gentiles. As die apostle plainly says, that " as many as have sinned " without law shall perish without law," it is rather surprising that any expositors should have thought die cage of Job and his friends, and Cornelius, to be referred to- Probably, Job lived and died before the law; and he had traditional revelation, as the patriarchs had ; and Cornelius, though not observant of the ceremonial law, had the Scrip- tures of the Old Testament, and by the grace of God had studied ihem to good purpose. The apostle's object evi- dently was, to convince his readers that neither revelation, nor the light of reason and conscience, could save (hose who failed of obeying them ; that all had in many things failed, however in particular instances some had been obedient; and that all must perish, though with different degrees of aggravation, unless saved by the Gospel. 'Hell 'hath no power over sinners of ifsrael, because Abraham ' and Isaac descended thither to fetch them thence. No ' circumcised person goes to hell, God having promised to ' deliver them from it, for the merit of circumcision. — ' All'Israelites have their portion in die world to come; ' and that notwithstanding their sins ; yea, though they ' were condemned here for their wickedness.' {Extracts from Jewish n-riler.i in Whitby.) It would not be easy to produce any passage from modern wj-itcrs, in which proud self-righteousness .and rank ontiaomianism are so complete- ly combined ; but a considerable portion of the same leaven may often be discerned both among papi-ts and protcstant;-". Ji. D. 61. CHAPTER If. A. U. 6i "i/'iii'if ' e" 24 For V the name of God is blas- Ma" ' xv^iT"? phemed among the Gentiles through you, lii'l^Trtii.'!;" as it is written. 9*s Sam. »ii. u. 25 For "^ circumcisioH verily profiteth, ""w'u, 12 Deut if thou keep the law : ^ but if thou be a ""(iai'-T's-e breaker of the law, thy circumcision is vi 15. Eph li. , • • • •' IS mad 323 Jer ix 25, 2S Actsvii 61. t I: e uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, ' if the uncircumcision Matt 'viii' n. keep the righteousness of the law, shall not hia uncucumcision be counted lor 1 Cor. . . . - I'M) Circumcision .'' 27 And shall not uncircumcision which V. 17 — 24. In order to understand this chapter, it should be remembered, that the apostle is combating the prejudices and presumption of the Jews ; to whom he expected the epistle would lie shown, and whose influence he knew wo\dci be employed to unsettle the minds of the believers at Rome. The Gentiles are therefore only in- troduced by way of illustrating the argument, and not in order to show in what way they should be justified. The apostle here immediately addressed himself to any .Jew, that was willing to take up the argument. He .snjiposed him to rest his hope of acceptance on the law, and to boast of God, as standing in a covenant-relation to him. Ho thought himself well acquainted with the will of God; and, as an expert casuist, he could " distinguish things " which differed," and give the preference to such as were more excellent, having from his youth been in- structed, or catecliised, from the law. In this confidence he thought himself qualified to guide and enlighten the blind and benighted pagans, and to instruct such as became proselytes, whom he deemed foolish, and mere babes, com- pared with himself, as he had got a complete knowledge of the whole law, having an epitome, or abstract, of it in his memory ; yet this was but a mere form, semblance, and outside appearance of the spiritual knowledge and true meaning of the law, which, rightly understood, would lead him to trust in the promised and typified Redeemer, and not in the law itself. In this form he rested, without even obeying the precepts of the law according to his own exposition ; as if his work had been to instruct others, and not himself! Or as if he meant to insult the great Law- giver, by studying his commandments in order to break them ! Did such a man explain and enforce the law against theft, and then practice dishonesty ? Did he commit adul- tery, after quoting and explaining the seventh command- ment ? Did he sacrilegiously embezzle the sacred treasures, of money, after having expressed his abhorrence of idb latry ? It was notorious, that many of the chief priests, scribes, and elders, who appeared most zealous for the law, were guilty of these and similar crimes : and the rest, who rejected the Gospel and made their boast in the law, would be found to dishonour God, by evidently is by nature, " if it fulfil the law, "judge u vi.i.i xm 19. thee, who y by the letter and circumci- i7-2ii.Acta*xiii sion dost transgress the law ? yKS''ri\fi-is Z6 tor'' he is not a Jew which is one "ei..xi 7. . 1 1 , -,1 . , . . . y20 29 »ii.6— « outwardly; =" neither r? that circumcision scor ij^.s which is outward in the flesh : 'i'^;;;. 1 is '. 29 But he is a Jew " which is one in- = »°^L^-^' wardly : ' and circumcision is tnat ol the J?*'"J *l ,'"i cart, 'J m the Spirit, and not in the letter ; J5er""ix"' \i whose praise is not of men, but of God h 1 Sam. xvi.7: 1 Chi 39,40. xvii 21. Joh ii II, 12 d27. 1 Cor iv.5 3 Cor 17. Ps xlv. 13 Jer iv U. Matt, xx V. 23, 21. I Pet. iii 4. c Deut x. 16. xx i. 6. xlv. 17 John iii 5—8. Phil. iii. 3 18. I T/ies. ii. 4. 1 Pet. 11). 4. 12. I Pet iii. 21 25-2B. I.uke xi. i 6 Jer. jv 4 Col. ■e John V. 44 xii. 43 Rp/.) The terms here used concerning the Gentiles aptly expose the arrogant self-wisdom of the Jews. ' Tfiis ' passage may be illustrated from the Jewish writing* ; for ' they say that he, who tcachelh others what he doelh ' not himself, is like a blind man who hath a candle in ' his hand to give light to others, whilst he himself doth ' walk in darkness.' Blasphemed, &c. (24.) ' Of this ' Josephus doth frequendy accuse them, saying, ' What ' wickedness do you conceal or hide, which is not known ' to your enemies ? You triumph in your wickedness, ' strive daily who shall be most vile, making a show of ' your wickedness, as if it were virtue.' ' And thinkest ' thou this, O man, that thou shalt escape the judgment ' of God, who punisheth the Gentiles, when thou art as ' guilty as they of acting against thy own conscience, ' and doing that for which thy own mouth condemns thee ; ' and which doth also cause them to " blaspheme that " holy name by which thou art called ?" {Whitby.) y- 2.5 — 29. Thoudi chargeable with the grossest vio- lations of the moral law, the Jews confided in circum- cision, as if it had secured their covenant-relation to God. But the apostle showed (hem, that, though circumcision, and the means of grace connected with it, would be very advantageous to the conscientious Jew, who copied the example of Abraham ; especially in bringing him ac- quainted with the oracles of God, and preparing him to receive the Gospel ; yet they could not profit the presump- tuous tran.sgressor, who rested in them, and neglected that " righteousness by faith," of which it was the seal. If a man cleaved to the law, he must perfectly obey it, in order to justification ; circumcision made " him a debtor to ful- " fil the whole law ;" and his transgressions cast him out of the covenant of God, as if he had never been circum- cised. On the other hand, if an uncircumcised Gentile should regulate his conduct according to the'Wghteousness or defraud the Lord of his dues, through an idolatrous lovj^jirescribed by the law, ought he not to be deemed One of God's ti-ue worshippers, notwithstanding his .uncircum- cision ? ^uch Crentiles, as were taught by divine grace thus to love and serve God,' would, like Cornelius, em- brace the So|riel when proposed to them : and thus in unch-cumcisij^ the external natural state of man, they, being made partakers of an inward spiritual change, would breaking it. For in fact the name of God was bias- ^dge and condemn the Jew, who. having the letter of phemed among the Gentiles, and they were set against* the" law and the outward circumcision, had no inward true religion by the wickedness of the Jews, as it was disposition to obedience. For, in fact, he was not to be written in th^ir Scriptures, and was a charge brought counted a Jew, or one of God's chosen people, who was frequendy by the prophets against their fathers. {Marg. only so in .his outward profession or descent : nor wart Vol. V — No. 31. C ■ J. D. 61. ROMANS. A. D. 61. CHAP. III. The ml vantages of the Jews, \, 2. The unbelief of some docs not render the faith ef God of no effect^ '^, 4 ; who is just in punishing si)i, though he takes occasion from it to disphiy his own glory, 5 — H. Passages from the Old 'leslament ad- duced to prove that the Jews are all under sin. 9 — 19; so that no flesh is justified by that the true circumcision, the true seal of the covenant, which was outward in the flesh. But he was the real Jew or (Jiild of Abraham, who had the inward disposition of his believing and obedient ])rogenitor ; and that was the true circumcision, which was wrought in the heart by regeneration, according to the spiritual meaning, and not the mere letter, of the law ; producing an inward confor- mity of the judgment and affections to its holy precepts. This indeed men could not see, or would not approve ami commend, but rather despise and hate ; but Cjod would approve, commend, and value it. So that, though the outward seal was, for the time, necessary ; yet the inward grace, or the thing signified, was always far more excel- lent ; and the former was now superseded by the Christian disjiensation, and could be of no use to those who tena- ciously adhered to it. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—6. The censures which men pass on others, who perhaps justly deserve them, may yet render themselves more inexcusable, while they do the same things. The branches of man's disobedience are numerous, yet they all spring from the same root; nor can any one judge another to be deserving of divine wrath, without, at the same time, con- demning himself; for though he may not have committed the same crimes, yet he hath been guilty of the same npostacy from God, and rebellion against him, and is equally chargeable with sinning against his better judg- ment in various ways. Frequently, superior advantages render a man's apparently lighter oflences more aggra- vated in the sight of God, than the more scandalous sins of his worse educated neighbour, against which he vehement- ly declaims. We are indeed very incompetent judges of the comparative heinousness of men's conduct ; but it is certain that the judgment of God is, and will be, " accord- " ing to truth," against all who break his law and reject his grace. To him we ought to leave others, and to be chiefly concerned to judge ourselves, and to seek mercy according to his blessed Gospel. If our fellow-sinners can- not stand before us in judgment, how shall we, who are guilty of the same things, escape the righteous contlemna- tion of a heart-searching God? In deciding against them, we pass sentence upon ourselves ; and " if. our lieart con- *' demn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all *' things." The excuses which numbers make for their mis- conduct may very commonly be turned against them ; nor would men in general be so daringly wicked, were il not for the deeds of the law, 20. TTie righteous- ness of God without the law, is upon all that believe, without any dijference. 2], 22. jIs all have sinned, ivhelher Jews or Gentiles, alt must be justified by the free grace of God, through faith in Christ, and the redemption of his blood, that God may be glorified, and boasting excluded, 23 — 30. This establishes the law, 31. their experience of God's long-suffering, and their general notions of his mercy. But they, who thus " despise the " riches of his goodness and forbearance," and grow more bold in rebellion by that kindness, which should •' lead them to repentance," will find at last that they have ■' been sinning against their own souls ;" and that their !iard and impenitent hearts have led them " to treasure up '• wrath, against the day of wrath, and revelation of the " righteous judgment of God." Indeed, this is the daily employment of every unbeliever ; and he adds to his store with a rapidity of increase, proportioned to his crimes and abused advantages. He himself will certainly reap the harvest that he now sows, and the longer he is spared in the long-suffering of God, the more terrible will be the day of righteous retribution, in case he proceed in this destructive course. V. r— 16. The questions concerning justification, election, or effi- cacious grace, should be kept distinct from those that relate to the character and conduct of the righteous and the wicked. If a man cannot be satisfied with an earthly portion, but aspires after glory, honour, and immortality ,_ and if he seeks this inheritance by faith in the promises of God, and patient continuance in well doing, he doubtless is in the way to eternal life. But if men quarrel with the precepts and sanction of God's holy law, with his decrees and dispensations, and with his truths and ordinances, or with any thing rather than their sins, if they " do not " obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness," and live in allowed violations of the divine law, no doubt they are in the broad road to destruction, and if they proceed in that path, indignation and wrath will overtake them, to what- ever Church or sect they may belong. Indeed, tribulation and anguish must come upon all impenitent evil-doers ; but glory, honour, and peace, will be awarded to all, " who are taught by the grace of God to live soberly^ " righteously, and godly, in the present world," " for " there is no respect of jiersons with God." Whatever may now be objected to this, from some doctrines ill understood, or from appearances in providence which are misconstrued, it will be made manifest to all the world, in the day Avhen " God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ," as he hath assured us he will, in his holy Gospel. Then they who, not having the written word, have sinned against the dictates of their own consciences, will be proved guilty, and condemned by that rule. They that have sinned against tiie law of God which, wtis made known to theca, A. D. 61. CHAPTER III. A. D. ei. 1 11 25—39. Geo XXV. 3?. E 8 II Is I 15. Mai ii '«|? T"¥THAT » advantage then hath the .'i7. VV Jew? or what protit is there of " circumcision ? will be judged and punished according to that law : and the professors of the Gospel will be shown to have been either true believers or hypocrites, according to the effects produced by the truth on their tempers and conduct. For if the very Gentiles were a law unto themselves and each other, when they acted contrary to " the work of the " law, written in their hearts," how absurd must it be for any man to expect acceptance with God by a written law which he hears and disobeys ; or by the Gospel, when he does not ■practically believe it ! No man can in- deed be justified by his own obedience, because all men deviate from their rule : yet the nearer they act in con- formity to their principles and convictions, the lighter will be their condemnation ; and the greater the distance there is between their known rule and their allowed practice, the more aggravated must be their guilt, when the secrets of men shall be brought to light, and all these infinitely im- portant concerns shall be determined by the omniscient and righteous Judge. V. 17—29. The Jew, who rested in the law, and made his boast of God, and was proud of his superior knowledge and at- tainments, will, at the last day, be more deeply condemn- ed, than the blind Gentile whom he so greatly disdained ; and numbers, who call themselves Christians, and have learned many right notions of the Gospel as a system, and so deem themselves the children of God, though they obey not the truth, will perish more dreadfully than their more ignorant neighbours, who have sinned against less light and inferior advantages. Indeed, the sermons which many preach, and the books which they publish, will testify against them; and it behooves ministers, especially, to be very jealous over themselves in this respect ; for it is far more congenial to the self-flattery of our hearts to instruct others, than to bear the yoke ourselves. Many teach their hearers the truth and will of God, who never teach themselves : they lay down good rules, but never practise them ; and the discoveries of the great day will show, that some, who appeared to be the guides of the blind, and the light of such as sat in darkness, were indeed dishonest men, adulterers, or sacrilegious mercenaries. Numbers despise their ignorant neighbours for resting in a dead form of godliness, and yet they themselves trust in a form of knowledge which is equally lifeless and inefficacious ; and many glory in the Gospel, whose unholy lives dis- honour God, and cause his name and truth to be blas- phemed among his enemies. In short, no forms, ordi- nances, or notions, can profit us, without regenerating grace, which will always eventually lead us to seek an interest in " the righteousness of God by faith." The distinction between truth and error, and between divine ordinances and human inventions, is indeed immutable and most important ; yet a man may be alive to God, who auiintains some errors, cleaves to some superstitions, and 2 " Much every way : chiefly, « be- ^^^_i^ '■/ "- cause that unto them were "^ committed "^Q^j^^'', «• ' the oracles of God. ^,^1' '^J''''i- 19, so. Is viii. 20 Ei i ia-21. Rev xis. 1( rii. a8. Heb v. 12 1 I forms improper conclusions in respect to some divine in- stitutions : while another, who is very clear in his notions, and exact in externals, may be dead in sin, unciicumcis- ed in heart ; and, through the letter and the outward form, he may deceive himself, and be a scandal to the Gospel. For he is no more a Christian now, than he was a Jew of old, who is one outwardly ; " neither is that bap- " tism, which is outward in the flesh :" but he is the real Christian, who is inwardly a true believer, with an obe- dient faith ; and the true baptism is that of the heart, by " the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy " Ghost," producing a spiritual mind, and a cordial sub- jection to the truth, in its holy import and tendency. A Christian of this character will seldom be much approved by zealots of any party, any more than by the world at large ; but he will be accepted of God, and at length wel- comed with " Well done, good and faithful servant, enter " thou into the joy of thy Lord." NOTES. CHAP. III. V. 1, 2. If disobedient Jews could not be accepted, and if pious Gentiles might be saved, it might be inquired what advantage the Jew had above the Gentile, or what good circumcision did him ? The whole Old Testament implied, that God had peculiarly favoured the posterity of Abraham ; and the law, together with the seal of circumcision, had been supposed to convey some special privileges : and did the apostle mean to level all these distinctions, and to prove that the Jews had no ad- vantage from their relation to Abraham and their national covenant ? To this he replied, that they had doubtless much benefit from them in every way. The law and circumcision could not indeed save them in their sins, or by their own eflicacy ; yet they gave them great advantages for obtaining salvation. The stated ministry of the priests, the occa- sional messages of the prophets, the ordinances, cf tho temple, the worship at their synagogues, their education in an acquaintance with the true God, and at a distance from idolatry, the many good examples (hat were set before them, and the dispensations of providence respect- ing them, were means of grace, which probably were made effectual to the conversion of more persons in that one nation, than were converted in all the rest of the world. But especially the oracles of God, the sacred writings of Moses and the prophets, were committed to them ; and the written word of God had lieen continued among them through their several generations, to direct them how to seek acceptance with God, and to walk before him. In them the Messiah was promised, and the various parti- culars of his character, miracles, redemption, and king- dom, were typified and predicted : among the Jews he made his appearance in the appointed time; in him the Scriptures were fulfilled before their eyes, and numbers of them had believed in and found salvation by him. Oraclei^, &c. {Mnrg. Rff.) Some think the Scriptures arc thus called, with reference to the oracular answers, which th*^ C 2 i. D. bi. 1-7 Heb. iv. S. ;si 2'J Num zxiii. 19. 1 ^am XV 29 b. liv.'<. 10. Iv II. Uv i5, :6 Jer.xKxhi S4 -26 M»tt.xxiv 35. 2 Tim ii 13 Heb vi. 13-18. he. !l vi. 2. \i. vil. 7 13. is U- si I II. LuKe XX IG. 1 Cor. Tt. IS Gal. ii cxx»vni2 .>Iic vii. 20. >obn III X\ :• Cor I IC Tit i. 2 H.-1. XRXvi 3 Hs Ii 13. U o i l,i. Niih i 2 6 ROMANS. ^. D: 61. 6 Foi vvliat ' if some did not believe Pitaketli vengeance .'' (^ I speak a.s a man,) p vi. :9. icom. '■• shall their unbelief make the faith of 6 •• God forbid : ' for then how shall ^s?e^L"i '* God without effect.'' 4 '■ God forbid : yea, ' let God be true, " but every man a liar ; as it is written, ' That thou mi2;htest be justified in thy sayings, and miohtcst overcome when thou art judged. 5 But " if our unrighteousness com- mend the righteousness of God, " what shall we say.'^ ° Is God unriiihteous who !8. 1 .lohn t. 10 20 lev. i-l 7 k I'j Uii a Matt XI 19. III 7 :.5 2fi V 8 20 21. n iv ;, in. 9, i.x. IV- 20 vii 19 Ueut kxx i 31-43. Pa a 2 Thes i C- 9. Rev x\ 3 4 \»1. S-7 xvili. 20 cxvi II. 1 Jo'- 1 vi. l.vii 7 i«. Iviii 10, II xciv high-priest delivered, when he consulted the Lord by the breast plate of judgment, {Sole, Ex. xxviii. iiO;) im- plying that they were as immediately and entirely the word of God, as the oracles thus delivered had been. ' This is ' so rema kable and iin[)ortaiit a testimony to the divine ' inspiration of the Old Testament in general, thai it can ' leave no doubt concerning the full persuasion of St. Paul > on this head.' {Doddridge.) Cmniiiitted, &c. Or, " they were intrusted with the oracles of God." {Gal. ii. 7. 1 Tlies. ii. 4. Gr.) ' The oracles of God were ' deposited with the Jews, not to keep to themselves, but • to publish them to all the world besides. But because ' they did not this work sufficiently, it is Christ's ap- ' poiiitmeiU to the aposUcs, that they should disperse ' themselves unto all nations, and so bring them to the ' knowledge of his will.' {tfammond.) h behooves Chris- tians in every age to remember, that the Scriptures are thus inlru-ted to them also, in order that they may com- municate the blessing to all around them, and to all who shall come after them, by every proper means, to the utmost of their ability. (iVo/e, ix. 4, 5.) V. 3, 4. What if some, if the greater part of the nation, from carnal and ambitious motives, had obsti- natelv, and wickedly rejected this divine Saviour ? Did their unbelief render the failltfiiliiess of God ineffectual? He had fulfilled his promises to their fathers; and if they would not receive and submit to the Seed of Abraham and of David, could they pretend that God had failed of his word, because he would not conliiuie his special fwour to them, notwithstanding their disobedience and atrocious wickedness? God forbid that such a thought should be allowed in any one's mind ! " Let it not be," (for thai is the literal translation of the words; let every man rather humbly acknowledge the veracity and faithfulness of God, though it should require him to suppose that all men were liars, hypocrites, or deceivers, as every one in some degree must be allowed to be. (P.v. Ixii. 0.) Let the blame of the rejection of the Messiah rest on litem and Iheir hypocrisy, and not be supposed to retlect upon the faithfulness of God: even as David, when he had com- mitted prievous oflences, acknowledged that God was by his crimes justified in his declarations concerning the des- perate wickedness of the human heart ; and that this humiliating event was permitted, to di.splay more clearly his truth," justice, and mercy; and that God might be fully -'indicated from all those presumptuous charges, by which 0 1 Kiii;s xiii. 7, 18 26-.'2. : Kings «iil lU Matt. XXV God judge tlie world ? 'job" 7 For " if the truth of God hath more h"'i abounded through my lie unto his «»" glory; * why yet am I also judged as a'««" sinner.'* j ■« 8 And not rather, (as " we be slan- derously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) =' Let us do evil, that ^^^ '||-J,* j, ,j good may come ? whose damnation is 1:3^ *xi". aj- just. Pet iii 16, 17 3 men venture to arraign the testimonies of his word, the throatenings of his law, or the dispensations ol his pro- vidence. (A'o• What the!) ? ^ arc we better than '"pnii'* is'" //i6y ? No, in no wise : for wt- ha\e before v." e5^i'39 * proved both Jews and Genliios, » that svii! 9-14. I , ' ,, , they are all under sin ; * Gr. ehargffi. Tht 10 "As it IS written, a Gal iii. 10 2! rififhteous, no, not one : 4* i>'v,,i^o ; "ii There is '^ none tliat unucrstandeth, oP3 Mv 1-3 f there is none that seeketh after Gad. djj JohxiT. 1 1-2 They s are all gone out of the MarkK.is. Rph wav, thev are together '' become unpro- II. 13. I John .J -■, . f 111 «ilrL°8Psxir ntable; ' there is none that doeth good, 3 4 (Hi 2 TC'V B. Prov »Gen i 3 VI. s. 7 Matt XXV 30. Philem 11 Epb ii.8— U). Phil, ii 12. 13. Tit ii. 13, 14. Jam. i. 13, U 19 Tit llv. 1 Una. vii 13. Eph iii I Ec ii. 3. I Jiihn 10 --gEi I Pet. u. ii 20 Is. Ixiv. G. spread concpriiiriEj the Christians by those, who, mistaking the doctrine of tree grace, affirmed that they said, '• Let " us do e\ ii, that good might come," would indeed be established as a general principle, and as the rule of man's conduct, instead of the law of God. But in fact, the con- demnation of such, as thus abused the Go.-i|jei, or who committed sin that good mis^ht come from it, was most righteous. The blame of their sins belonged only to themselves, the honour of the good educed from them to God alone. DitTerent opinions indeed are advanced con- cerning the persons, of whom the apostle said, " whose " damnation is just." Some interpret it of the Jews, and others who rcjpct the Gospel : but this proposition, though true, seems not to arise out of the context, or belong to the argument. Others apply the awful sentence to the calumniators, who charged thte Christians with saying, *' Let us do evil, that goo I may come:" but the clause, " as we be slanderously reported," &c. is I think properly included in a pai-eniliesi', that it may not interrupt the main argument. The apo.-^tle evidently intended to show that God may justly, and will certainly, punish those sins, which yet eventually prove the occasion of more conspicuously manifesting his glory. Now, if this were not the case, it might be said, "Let us do evil, that good " may come :" but, on the contrary, whatever blasphemers may assert, this proposition is so contrary to the real nature and genius of the Gospel, that every intelligent minister or Christian will he forward to allow the con- demnation of those, who thus encourage themselves in sin, under a vain imagination that good will follow, to be undeniably righteous. (A'h/p, vi. 1, -.) The floodgates of licentiousness are opened by such a view of the Gospel. Even apparently religious persons often tolerate, nay, zea- lously promote, practices, which cannot be dmied to be deviations from truth and integrity, and vindicate thf m. because good is thus done. In this way the standard of intecrritu is, (dreadful to say,) fixed lower in some parti- culars among numbers, who are zealous for the Gospel, than among resperiable worldly ppo|ile, who are,hy obser- Ting these things, exceedingly prejudiced against evangeli- cal truth. Nay, the same raise principle is brought forward, in another and more fashionable form, when ulilily, and not the Ifiw of God, is made the standard of morality, and a main principle of reasonings on moral obligation. It is 1 3 Their '' throat is an open sepulclire ; ' with their tongues they have used de- ceit ; '" the poison of asps is under their lips ; 14 Whose " mouth is full of cursing and bitterness ; 10 Their ° feet we swift to shed blood : 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways : 17 And P the way of peace have they not known : 18 There is "J no fear of God before their eves. .1. U. Oi. k Ps. V. 9 Jer. v, 16 Matt, xxiii, 27, i8 I l Pb. V 9.Kii. 3 i XXKVl 3 l.i 2 Ivii 4 Is. 3 Jer. ix. a. Er. li Matt J,ini iii n Deut I .14 3&. pv. I. Is Iviiai 11k' 6 Matt vii. 14 Lule i. 79 qGeii. x> II. Pi. xxxvi. 1. Prov. viii 13 svi. 6 on these accounts, most obvious to suppose, that the apostle meant, though in a cursory manner, to bear a most decisive testimony against a maxim, which, carried toils consequences, is destructive of all practical religion; and against those, who, professing Christianity, counte- nanced and acted according to it. V. 9— 18. The ai)OSlle here resumes his subject from the second verse. The advantages of the Jews were many ; but were they betler than the Gentiles, or more able to justify themselves before God by their own works, or without " the righteousness of faith .''" This could by no means be admitted: for it had been proved, or rather charged iipon both Jews and Gentiles, " that they were all " under sin." They had all, in maniibld instances, vio- lated the known rule of their conduct, and were under condemnation as transgressors, unless delivered by the mercy and grace of God. To this indictment, on which the Gentiles had been convicted, the Jews pleaded not guilty : and theiefore, to the evidence already brought against them from notorious facts, and the nature of the case, the apostle next produced several passages of the scri[)tures against them. In these it was not intimated that circumcision, the written law, their ceremonial ob- servances, or their national covenant, would excuse their crimes, or entitle them to the favour of God, as the unbelieving Jews vainly imagined. And if these charges were true of the greater part of the nation in former limes, could it be supposed that the Jews, when the aposlle'wrote, were better by nature, or merely as cirnirn- 'ised, or as liavii.g the law, than their fore-fathers had been ? It was expressly written of them, that in them- selves, and by their works, there was not one of them righteous: that there were none of them who understood the character, truth, and will of God, or their own in- 'errst and duty; or who sought to know him, and find hcipjiines.s in his favour: they had all ibrsaken the way of holy obedience, they were all become unprofitable, in re- spect of the great end of their creation and their peculiar advantages ; so that none of them employed themselves in glorifying God, and doing good to man. Their throats, by their insatiable luxury, or rather by their filthy com- munications, resembled the sepulchre when opened to receive the dead, or when emitting its nauseous and in- fectious vapours. Deceit and dissimulation seemed th«> J. D. Gl. ROMANS. A. D. Gl. ti. ii. 18-13. 19 Now we know that ' what tliinsrs so- •jy 'c«| !<• ever the law saith, it sailli to them who sTivs'zi. V. are under the law; 'that every mouth 'J; may be stopped, ' and all the world may V m ix 2,3 I's. become ;i. Mstl. xxii IS, in. John VI ubjixt tnlht j«dgmn,t of Cod guilty before God. ICor. i. 2a. t 0. 23 li. 20 Therefore " by the deeds of the law, ."»"»" .'♦ .'? there shall =' no flesh be justified '' m his f^ «•?' ,V,_iS sight : of sin. zJob x(7. 4. P«. cxii 3.cx)iii? 20-26. y Job XV. 15 xst 5. 1 viL 7-3. Gal ii 13. xuaiii use of their tongues ; their slanders, seduction?, and flatteries, were under thcii' lips as the fatal poison of asps ; instead of pious and kind words, their mouths were filled with imprecations, perjuries, and hitter reviiings ; they were eager to shed blood, in revenge, ambition or avarice ; they knew not the ways in which godly men walk, at peace with God and dieir neighbours ; and therefore they went on in those paths, which lead to misery and ruin, both to themselves and each other. In short, they had cast the fear of God behind their backs, and habitually dis- regarded his authority, threatenings, precepts, and judg- ments. {Notes, &c. Ps. V. 9. x. 7. xiv. 1—3. xxxvi. 1. liii. 1 — 3. csl. 3. Is. lix. 7, 8.) A few exceptions, by the mercy and grace of God, there doubtless were to these general rules ; and the aposde intended very soon to show how these persons were made to differ : but these quota- tions, were full to the point to show the Jews, that they were as unable to justify themselves before God, as the Gentiles. For if, in the days of David and Isaiah, this had been the general character of the people, the accept- ance and holiness of any among them must arise from some other cause than their national covenant and exter- nal privileges. V. 19, 20. It was well known, that the things which were written in the law, or in the Old Testament, werej immediately addressed to those who were under the law, j and had the benefit of divine revelation ; or to the nation of Israel, and not to the Gentiles. This was intended to silence the cavils and objections of the Jews, who brake the law in which they rested ; and indeed in this manner '• every mouth must be stopped," and all tne world must become, or be proved, guilty before God ; as it was not supposed that the Gentiles were more free from guilt than the peculiar people of God. So that in fact every sinner's pica must eventually be silenced, either now as an humble penitent before the mercy-seat, or as a condemned crimi- nal before the judgment-seat of God. From these premises it evidently followed, that no one of the whole fallen race of men could be justified before God by his own obedience to the law •, for by the law sin is discovered, exposed, and condemned. The straighlness of that perfect rule makes known the crookedness of men's dispositions and actions ; and it must therefore convict the transgressor as guilty, instead of pronouncing him not guilty, or a righteous pel son. Every attentive reader must observe, that the aposde used the word law in a variety of meanings ; which is rather to be considered as the defect of human language, than the result of any ambiguity in his style. But the context will generally show how the word is to be under- stood : and common sense, united with a teachable spirit, will usually determine this better than critical learning; wnich is too often employed rather to perplex what is plain, than to clear up what is obscure. The nature of the aigument retjuires us to suppose that the aposde means the sacred Scriptures in general, when he saith " what " soever the law saith :" for the quotations were not from the law of Moses, and it is evident the whole Old Tes- tament was thus spoken of. {Marg. Ref.) When he spoke of the Jews as " under the law," he evidently meant the whole legal dispensation, by which they were distinguished from the Gentiles. But when he says, " by " the law is the knowledge of sin," he must be under- stood of the moral law especially, the extent, spirituality, and excellency of which shows what things are sinful, and how evil sin is : whereas the ceremonial law rather gave the knowledge of salvation, bj' prefiguring the shedding of that atoning blood, and the communication of that sancti- fying grace, by which sin is taken away. Indeed this subject seems capable of an easy solution ; if there be any law, which a man hath perfectly kept, he may doubdess be justified by it ; and surely no man can be justified by a law which condemns him for breaking it ! But there is no law of God which any man hath kept; therefore none, by the deeds of which a man can be justified. The Gen- tile broke the law of his reason and conscience ; the Jew broke the moral law ; and even the attempt to justify him- self by observing the ceremonial law, contradicted the very nature and intent of it. And as to that new law, which requires sincere obedience as the condition of justification, they who dreaib of it should show us when it was pro- mulgated, where it may be found, what it requires, whom it can condemn, or whom it can justify. When this is done, it may be worth while to show, that it makes void both the law and the Gospel ; that it introduces a new, vague, and unintelligible rule of duty, which every man may interpret according to his own inclinations, that it introduces boasting, and unites together pharisaical pride and antinomian licentiousness. Yet this vague, unscrip- tural notion, which is replete with such complicated ab- surdities, so well suits men's natural indolence of thought in matters of religion ; serves so conveniently to reconcile a quiet conscience with a worldly life ; and so coincides with their enmity against both the holiness of the law, and the humiliating doctrine of the Gospel ; that perhaps it deceives more souls, than all other false systems of religion put together, in this superficial dissipated age. ' By law, ' which is the publishing of the rule with a penalty, ' we are not delivered from the power of sin, nor can ' it help men to righteousness ; but by law we come ' experimentally to know sin, in the power and force ' of it, since we fisd it prevail upon us, notwithstanding ' the punishment of death is annexed to it.' {Locke.) {Notes, vii.) ' The knowledge of sin being chiefly by ' the moral law, (vii. 7,) shows that the apostle excludes ' that, as well as the ceremonial law, from justifica- ' tion ; and evident it is, that the antithesis runs all ' along, not between moral and ceremonial works, but ' between works in general and faith.'' {Whitby.) A'o flesli, means none born of fallen Adam's race. (1—5. 9, John iii. 6.) A. D. 61. CHAPTER Iir. Ji.D. 61, »i 17. vis 21 21 II But now * the righteousness of ?. M xw. 24 God without the law is manifested, "being sMi/i^le uau witnessed by the law ■= and the prophets ; .lo 2 cor V. 21. 22 Even the righteousness of God bo/ut ^"ius- "^ ichich is by faith of Jesus Christ ' unto 44 j,.iin i 4i. all, ' and upon all, them that believe ; ill. 11. 14 » ^' ,, • ' ,•«• <6, i\^ *«' t for there is no diiterence : *"'"~Actsiii ji ^^ For '' all have sinned, and 'come Tx^m 23*'ir« short '' of the glory of God : i*iv%-i3 so- 24 Being ' justified freely by his grace. 2a V I »iii- I Phi. iii9. e iv. fi H ?2 Gal. ii. 16 hi. 6. Jam ii 23 fls. l.si >n M«t». .«Li n 12 r.iike vv. L'2 fial hi 7—9 ir ii 1 X 12, A.:tsxv 9. I Cor 10 Malt, ixii II. 13 jv.7.r.sl ill 28 Col. _,a i Heb. iv 1 „ ^, 1 ». 16-19. 1 Cor vi. 11. Epb. ii 7—10 Tit. ui 5-7 ike XV. 22 G»l iii 7—9 g ii 1 x 12, Aots xv 9, I Co 11 Ii9-I9 1 28-32 ii. l.&c. Gal. iii 22 \ John i ( -k V. 2. 1 Tliei. ii. 12, 2 Thes. ii. 14, 1 Pet. iv. 13 v. 1, lo V. 21 — 26. The apostle having " concluded all men " under sin,'' proceed.-; more explicitly to exhibit '• the « rightpousness of God by failh," {Note, i. 17,) which had been laanitestly declared by the preaching of the Gospel. *rhis was the righteousnes.?, which God had appointed, provided and introduced, in the Person of his So.a. U was " without the law ;" having no dependence on a man's personal obedience to the law, being entirely a distinct thing : no past obedience being supposed as having any influence in the sinner's justification ; and his sub sequent obedience being intended for other jiurposes. It had nothing to do with the ceremonial law, (except as it was the substance of some of those shadows,) for the Jew, who accepted of this righteousness, would place no de- pendence on these externals ; and the Gentile was not required to be circumcised, or to keep that law. Yet it had been witnessed by the law and the prophets ; the ceremonies typified it ; the very strictness of the moral law and its awful curses, being compared with the promises of mercy to sinners, implied it ; the promises and predictions of the Messiah bore witness to it; the faith and hope of ancient believers testified it ; and the whole Old Testament, righdy understood, taught men to expect and depend on it. This " righteousness of God by faith in Jesus" is account- ed or imputed to all believers without exception ; yea, it is put on them as a robe ; for the words '• unto, and upon, " all," seem to admit of no other construction. Nor is there in this respect any difference between one man and another, however otherwise distinguished ; as all have sinned and come short of rendering to God the glory due unto him, all have lost his glorious image, and all have forfeited that glorious felicity, which was annexed to per- fect obedience as its reward, {Marg. Ref.) and therefore, whatever the nature or degree of their crimes may have been, or whatever their nation, rank, or capacities be ; there is no difference in the way in which they must be justified before God. Every believer is not only par- doned, liut honourably acquitted, as one against whom no charge can be supported, and accounted righteous, or en- titled to the reward of righteousness. This is by the free gift of God, which he bestows on him, merely from his own infinite grace and mercy ; not only without his deserving it, but directly contrary to his desert.s, which the apparent tautology, " freely by his grace," seems to denote. This grace is honourably exercised, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ; or through the ransom, and meritorious "through the redemption tliat is in Christ mv 9 is iii u T = 4 M:.tt. x.v, :8 Jesus ; i^nh- .1 c, 7 25 Whom God hath * set forth " to be j^™,^"n*|,^,ij- a propitiation " ihrousch faith in liis blood, '=-'•; '•'(''• II I • • I r a. I ''■ p to declare his righteousness lor T the ,\''". '*-• . . . f • I 11 'Orjorr-tirdari- rctnission 01 sins that are past, through i"? j^.^^?.!'-;^ the forbearance of God ; ^jj J,^«,' K.\^- 26 To declare, / say, at this time his "ji^^u^lvi'i." righteousness ; "i that he might be just, "j!lh,ui*s V/. ' and the Justifier of him which believeth „'," ,. g ,, j, in Jesus. Ii" ^JtWi. i 20- 2n. Heb X. 19, 20. p 56. Ps. ixii 31. Xl. 10. 1. 6. xcvli. 6. cxix. 142 I Jul e i 10 1 Or.paiiing (Hier2,).21 it I— 0. Heli ix 16-22 2S, 26, X 4 xi 7. 13 17 39, 40 Rfv. v. 9. xiii. 8, xs. 15 i) Deut xx.lii.4 Ps Ixssv 10, II Is slii :J1. xlv 21. Zeph. iii 6. Ij. Zecli. ix. 9. llev xv.a. r3Q, iv. i. viii 33 Git iii B— U obedience unto death of the incarnate Son of God, as our Surety ; for God the Father had before set him forth, or fore-ordaiiied him, {3Iarg.) to be a propitiatory saciifict for sin ; he had appointed him to bo Mediator, as '■ God " manifest in the flesh," for that purpose : he had opcnlv laid on him the iniquities of us all, and exacted the fuuiisli- nient from him ; and he had exhibited this transaction to the world by the Gospel, that, through him, .sinners oi' every nation might approach God on a propitiatory or mercy seat, and find acceptance by faith i;i the Saviour's atoning blood. This method was taken, in order to de- clare and manifest the {>€rfect righteousness of God ; even in the very act of pardoning the innumerable sins of be- lievers, remitting the punishment due to them, and ac- counting tbem righteous, who in dtemselves were not so. And, whatever the Jews might suppose, this was as neces- sary in respect of their believing progenitors, as any other sinners. For iu remitting the puni.shment justly merited by the sins committed in times past, through his forbear- ance, God had neither respect to the repentance nor sub- sequent good works of his servarits, which could not satisfy his justice ; nor did he ultimately respect the legal sacrifices, which could not take away sin ; but he had respect to the engagements of the divine Surety of the; new covenant, and the atonement which he was at length to make. In the' fulness of time therefore this sacrifice was offered, this righteousness inlioduced, and this method of justification published to mankind, that God mi^'-ht be clearly known to be a just and righteous Governor, r»nd yet the Justifier of every sinner who believed in Jesus ; which he could not otherwise have been, {Prov. xvii. 15 :) for justice in a governor requires, that every man be dealt with according to his real character and actions, except some expedient can be adopted for maintaining the autho- rity of the law and the credit of the adininistraiion, and' to indemnify individuals, while mercy is exercised to those who deserve punishment. So that ancient believers had been admitted to the reward of righteousness, as well as exempted from the punishment deserved by their sins, for the sake of that promised Redeemer, who had engaged to- pay their ransom, and bring in an infinitely valuable and everlasting righteousness for their justification : nor would it otherwise have consisted with the infinite justice of (.'od- to deal with them in a manner iro very different from their real deservinj^s. This is evidently the apostle's argu- ment ; and the concluding verses might be thus translated A. D. 61. ROMANS. Ji. U. 61. V^Ei'xJfe'' 27 ' VVhert 25 boasting tlien .>* It is ex- ^sz^Y^iC I'l" eluded. By what law .'* ' of works .'' Nay ; h""? ri'i'"- \Z " but by the law of faith. U I Cor I 29. •'fTii I* III 7^1. • '\ J, 28 I he re fore " we conclude that a Lph II 8—10 n * I -1 '!l^fi"Ga?i''ro ™^" ^^ justified by faith, without the "vVii '2 ^Ai"k deeds of the law. fiL36"G»i-"ii'" 29 Is he y the God of the Jews only ? 22 IJohnv lli 12 120-22 26 if. 5. v 1 John iii 14-16. v 2l. vi. 40. Acl3 . t. 18-2} Heb X. 16. Jafn i' l-H " Whom God hath before appointed to be a propitiation, " through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of hi " justice, on account of the passing by of sins tiiat had " been committed in former times, through the forbear- " ance of God ;" / say, " for a demonstration of hi.s "justice in tliis pre.sent time, in order that he might be " just, and tlio justiiierof him that believeth in Jesus," — ' Dr. Hammond saith the word }'?/ ;r/i.«/ law ? • Or, '• by what doctrine," as the Hebrew word Torali is ' sometimes used for the doctrine which any one pre- ' scribes.' (Heza.) It is indeed used with great latitude, ■ven much greater than the word (o/toj {law,) is in the New Testament. {Murg. Rff.) V. '29 — 31. Could any sujjpose that the great Creator of all men was the God of the Jews only ? Was be not also the God of the Gentiles? Being the Proprietor, Governor, and Benefactor of the whole earth, when all men had alike apostatized from him, it was meet, that in revealing a way for their recovery and reconciliation, he should suit it to the general case of all the nations, though special reasons might require a temporary restriction of it ; for his object would be to receive worship from, and become the Portion of, his creatures, in dilTerent parts of the world. And in fact he was the God of the Gentiles, as well as of the Jews, nor were even external privileges to be restricted to the Jews any longer, seeing the same One, living, and true God, who had formerly, and did at that time, justify those of the circumcision who believed, by their faith, and not by their legal services, and left unbelievers under condemnation, was ready, with equal regard, to justify uncircumcised Gentiles, through faith in Christ, when they were brought thus to receive him. And if any should object that this doctrine of faith made void the law, as if it had been given in vain, the apostle absolutely denied the charge, and would by no means have such a thought be allowed of; on the contrary, this fully established the law in all its honour and authority ; neither al)rogating it, nor disgraci.-g it, nor altering it to a nearer lovel with man's present state and ahiliiies. The doctrine of faith indeed honoured and fulfilled the ceremonial law; and showed the proper intent of it, and of the legal dis- pensation ; but, then, this was only in order to their final larv, as some call it, which in fact is a law of works, and | abrogation. But the moral law was fully establisted in ^. D. <<.ar 12 30 xil 1-9. Cil.vi. 13. 14 Rph ii.9. |2,I3 m. 1. Joib. ICnr. I. •M Mark xii 10 J«m iv. i 2 f CI — i&. 1. II 22-24 I'a. cvi.3l. V. 21—31. Blessed be the Lord that he hath not left our fallen race shut uj) under sin, without hope or help. For " now the ♦•righteousness of God without the law is manifested ;" and those alone arc truly wise, who plead guilty at his mercy-scat, and seek " that righteousness of God by faith " in Jesus Christ, which is unto, and upon, all that be- " licve, without any difference. " Proud men will be offended at this, and strive to establish some distinction between themselves and more scandalous or vulgar sin- ners ; but ihcy labour in vain, for " all have sinned and '■'• come short of the glory of God," and the meanest and vilest of the human species, who comes in God's appointed and manifested way, shall be "justified freely by his grace, " through the redemption of his Son ;" while all, who per- sist in the attempt of justifying themselves, will assuredly perish under the wrath of God. This is a plan equally suit- ed to glorify the justice, holiness, and mercy of our God; and to give encouragement to the broken-hearted, self- condemned criminal. Thus all they, who of old obtained a good report, found righteousness and salvation ; thus the believer's felicity.is secured, boasting is excluded, despair obviated, and the Lord shown to be the God of all nations, with equal regard, making no other distinction in his final decision, than that which subsists between believers and unbelievers. And whatever Pharisees, Sadducees, or infi- dels may object, whatever Antinomians, or Enthusiasts may pretend, the doctrine of faith alone establishes the law in its real honour, and lays die true foundation for all holy obedience. NOTES. ' CHAP. IV. V. 1—3. The aposde had before inti- mated, that the favours shown to pious persons of old, had a reference to the righteousness and redemption of Christ, {Note, iii. '21 — 26.) a id he here proceeds to show this more especially in respect of Abraham, the most re- nowcd progenitor of Israel. ' From this single example "•of Abraham, as deservedly selected from among all the ' fathers, the aposUe intended to draw a conclusion, which ' would necessarily take in all believers. And that he ' might do this fairly, he intimates, at the very entrance 'of the question, (hat he did not propose Abraham merely ' as one of the number of believers, but as the father of ' the Church, that he might properly reason from the " father to his children, the foundation of which he lays ' in the thirteenth verse. In Avhalever way Abraham, ' the father of believers was justified, in the same must ' all his children, (that is, all believers,) be justified ; but ' Abraham was not justified and made the father of the ' faithful by any of his own works, either preceding or ' following his faith in Christ, as promised to him ; but ' merely by faith in Christ, or the merit of Christ by ' faith imputed to him for righteousness. Therefore all ' his children become his children, and are justified, not ' by their works, either preceding or following their faith, ' but by faith alone in the same Christ, who was at length ' to come ; — and thus they are at present justified, and ' shall be to the end of the world.' (Bcsa.) The original seems to connect the words, " according to the fleih," with tiie verb/oimd. '• What shall we .say .' that Abraham our " father hath found according to the flesh ?" and some would explain it exclusively of his circumcision, ' By ' virtue of his obedience to God's command, in circum- ' cising his foreskin.' (1 Cor. x. 18. 2 Cor. v 16. xi. 18. Phil. iii. 3, 4.) ' In this the Jews had the greatest con- ' fidence of being acceptable to God, declaring that no 'circumcised Jews go to hell.' (Whilbi/.) The aposUe had doubtless resjiect to these arrogant prejudices of his countrymen in this argument ; but if circumcision exclu- sively had been intended, he would hardly have allowed that Abraham miglit have had whereof to glory, if he had been justified by his obedience in that single instance, and not by his faith. It may therefore be supposed, that all those formal and proud works, however distinguished, by which men in every age seek justification before God, were intended by the words " according to the flesh." Did Abraham find righteousness or justification in this way? Surely no; why then should any man, who allows this, seek to be justified by such works ? As all really good works are " the fruits of the Spirit," and none else are called ffood works in Scripture, and as it is especially the office of the Holy Spirit to convince men of sin, and to glorify Christ, it may be inferred that " the fruits of the Spirit" are never expressly and al- lowedly depended on for justification. Even the propo- sition, ' Good works are the fruits of faith, and follow ' after faith' in Christ, though a general truth, may admit of some exception, in such cases as that of Corne- lius. {i\otes. Acts X. 1 — 4.) ' This interrogation, being ' not formally answered, must be taken as an answer to ' itself; " What do we say ? that Abraham found ac- " cording to the flesh ?" ' No, certainly he did not.' (Flam- mond.) No Jew would deny that Abraham was at least one of the most eminent servants of God mentioned in Scripture ; if dierefore any of them had been justified by works, it might be supposed that he belonged to diat com- pany. And if this had indeed been the case, he would have had some ground of glorying above others, which was contrary to the doctrine before taught, (iii. 27.) but in fact, however distingnished he had been in various respects, he had really nothing to boast of in the presence of God ; being a sinner saved by grace, through faith, oven as other men. For, not to argue from the years which had pre- ceded his calling, the original source of his being made to differ from his former neighbours, or the failures in bis subsequent obedience, and even in his faith, it was evident, from express Scripture, that " he believed^ God, and it " was counted to him for righteousness," {Note, Gen. xv. Ji. D. 61. CHAPTER IV. .1. D. GL u ix 35 xi 6. 35. 4 Now "= to him that worketh, is the Malt xs. 1-ls 120S. lii. 23 v! reward not reckoned of £2;racc, but of Actsxiii. 38, jj debt. Gil. li. IS. 17 lii. T-« 1 1 ■ 1 11 I .''"',^"6-30 "^ But ' to hini that worketh not^ but }■ 3" - ^J "" beheveth on him that justifieth ° the hn V 24. G»l I • /- • 1 • •' I ,• -1 ungodly, ° Ins laitli is counted lor right- eousness. John ' n i. 17, 18. V 8. Josh XX 1 Cor vi 9-11. (J Even as David also describeth p the 13- \i Til iii J- blessedness of the man unto whom '^ God »i«oil, 3 p9. Deut xssii. i9, Ps. i. 1-3. csii. I. cxlvi 5,6. Matt v. 3— 12. Gal III 8. 9. U W 15 Eph i. 3 q 11. Si i. 17 iii 22. v 18, 19 Is Klv H.'.S liv 17. Jer. xxiii 6. xxxiii. 16. Dao. ix. 24. 1 Ccr. i 30. 2 Cor. v. 21. Fbil. iii. 9 2 ret. i. I. 6.) The promise of God, his perfections as engaged to perform it, and the promised Seed through wiiom the blessings were bestowed, were the objects of his faith ; this formed his relation to the Messiah, and interested him in the righteousness which he had engaged to jierform. and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness, as if he had personally satisfied divine justice, and perfectly answered all the demands of God's holy law. But if Abra- ham, though greatly distinguished among men, had no ground of glorying before God, much less had his poste- rity any ground of glorying in him as their father, while they refused to walk in his steps. Thus the apostle, by this single example, struck at the very root of their na- tional vain confidence in Abraham, as their Father in cir- cumcision, and in the law of Moses. V. 4, 5. From the example of ATsrahara, the apostle observed, tliat to a man, (if there had been any such,) who had worked the full measure required by the law, the reward must be adjudged, as a debt due to him by the terms of that covenant, whereas it was obvious that it was adjudged to Abraham as a favour, seeing " faith was " imputed to him for righteousness ;" and this was the general case of believers. For to the man who workelh not, but, conscious that he can advance no claim of this kind to the desired reward, comes as a sinner, to " believe " in him who justifieth the ungodly,''^ his faith is counted to him for righteousness, not on account of its own excel- lency or %vorthincss as a good work, but as it refers the sovereign Judge tor payment to the accepted righteousness and atonement of his Son : even as the receipt of a scrap of paper, intrinsically not worth a farthing, in the form of a draft upon a creditable banker, is entered in the mer- chant's book for a considerable sum of money, as if it had been paid in cash. This man, " who worketh not," will indeed diligently use appointed means of grace, rejjent, forsake sin witn earnestness, conscientiously perform his several duties, and even.become " zealous of good works';'' yet he worketh not at all with an aim, or expectation, of obtaining righteousness in this way, which he knows to be absolutely impossible. But he comes to God, as " the " Justifier of the ungodly," that he may obtain the gift of righteousness by faith, of mere grace, through the merits of the divine Surety. He is not indeed absolutely ungodly at the time of his justification, for his humiliation, sub- mission, and faith, are ell".-cts of regeneration, which is the source of all godliness in a fallen creature. Yet he is justified as ungodly in himself, in strict justice, and ac- cording to the law ; he comes for the blessing as ungodly ; God makes no account of any thing in justifying him, imputeth righteousness "■ Avidiout work?, ni :i, 21 :■- 7 Sai/Z/iiTi' Blessed are they whose Ini- a'r'im.Vo. quities are forgiven, and whose sins are ''-s. »• ''"ot^- 1 , t> ' 2. i.xxx.3 4. 1». covered. xi. 1,. 2.^ ur. 8 Blessed is the man Mo whom the yii 18-"' M"". . . 1". 2 I.I.UC TU. L;ord will not impute sm. iVs'^ri lo-i- 9 Cometh " this blessedness then upon j,*^^°[.i,;ie,n ''',;' the circumcision o/i/y, or upon tlie uncir- Si*; ,V"''' "'^ cumcision also? * for we say that faidi ",',' ^^'•'°- ',;. " .... Tal. iii. u, :£-;b. El.li. ii. 11— 13*Yii 8.' Col. ii"i,' except his faith, as forming his relation to Christ, and tho man has no respect to any thing else himself, in cxpcctin:.; that blessing. Nay, the justified Ijeliever, whatever his holiness or diligence maybe, never works /or Hits purpose ; and he still comes before God as urgodly in this rtsptct, still desiring and depending on " the righteousness of God " by faith in Christ," as his only hope, though his good works are evidences of the sincerity of his faith. Abro- ham, several years before, " by faith, obeyed" the call and command of God, and therefore could not be, strictly speaking, altogether ungodly, when it was said, " He be- " lieved God, and it was counted to him for righteousness ;''' so that the example of Abraham is alone a full and clear refutation of the construction by some put on this text, that men arc altogether and in every sense ungodly and unregencrate, at the time when God justifies them ; a sen- timentof most dangerous tendency. "He that worketh," ' that is, who hath deserved any thing by his work, to ' him is opposed " be that worketh not;" ' that is, who ' brings no work, for which he claims a reward, but de- • pends on the gratuitous promise of God. But this indeed ' is spoken, by concession, in a similitude taken from the ' commerce and contracts of men ; for otherwise, " Who " hath first given ? and it shall be rendered to him again." {Be=a.) V. 6 — 8. This quotation from the thirty-second Psalm,' and the apostle's interpretation of it, come in as a paren- thesis. David did not pronounce those men happy, who had never sinned, or who had done works to cover their sins, and to justify themselves ; but he " described the " blessedness of the man, to whom God imputed right- " eousness without works," when he declared that man happy, whose sins were forgiven, &c. Not that forgive- ness of sins is equivalent to justification ; which implies also treating a man as righteous, and entitled to the re- ward of eternal life; for it is evident, in all human trans- actions, that the pardon of a criminal is a very distinct thing from giving him the title to a large estate. But God always imputes righteousness where he does not im- pute sin ; for none are pardoned, except in virtue of their relation to Christ by faith ; and if his atoning blood cover their sins, his righteousness also justifies their persons. As their Surety he suffered for their sins, which were im- puted to him, and they are rewarded and trfidc heirs of eternal life, because his righteousness is impnted to them. {i\vte, Ps. xxxii. 1, IT.) ' From hence the . xpression of ' blotting out iniquity, so frequently used in Scripture, may ' be understood : that is, the striking it out of the account.' ' {fjocke.) D 2 .i. I). Gl. aOMANS. d. D. ^\. ». Gen XXXi 13 17. ^£,^ nx l;. SO a ii. £» Sfl.Dcut XKX 6 - Cor. i 23. £|ill. I. 13 iT. 30 Kev. ix. 4. I>I3 iri 22. ix. 30 X C. GjI t S Pbil. iii 9. Heb xi. 7. 2 Pet i I u 12. 16—18 ix. C. Mitt viii II Luke Gal 7 29 vi 16 ^Stt en, b. «; ix 6, 7 Matt iii. 9 I.iilie xvi 23 - 31 John Tiii. 33. lO. Gal IT. 22-31. tJoh xviii. 11 Prov,ii.20 Cant, i I) I Cor sii 18. I F«t ii.2l JCCD. xii 3 XV i 4, S IC. xxii. ftCal.iii. IC— 18 was reckoned to Abrahatn for righteous- ness. 30 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircum- cision ? ^ Not in circuracisio.n, but in un- circumcision. ] 1 And he received * the sign of cir- cumcision, " a seal of the ^ righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncir- cumcised ; that he might be the " father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised ; '' that riglitcousness might be imputed unto them also; 12 And the father of circumcision " to tlietij. who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk ' in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yd uncircumcised. 13 For " the promise that he should be the heir of the world, vms not to Abraham, or to his seed, '' through the law, ' but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For '' if they which arc of the law be heirs, faith is ' made void, and the pro- mise made of none effect. 15 Because "' the law worketh wrath : for ° where no law is, there is no trans- gression. 16 Therefore it is ° of faith, that it might be by grace ; to the end ^ the promise might be sure to all the seed ; not to that only which is of the law. but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is ■■ the father of us all. 17 (As it is written, ' I have n)adethce a father of many nations.) ' before him, whom he believed, evtn God, ' who quickeneth the deati, " and calleth those things which be not as though they were : V. 9 — 12. The Jews not only supposed diat righteous iiess was by works, but that the privileges of God's people were inseparably connected with circumci.sion ; the apostle therefore next inquired at what time Abraham's " faith " was reckoned to him for righteousness ?" And the .answer was undeniable, for it appeai'ed from the scripture before cited, that he was justified al least fourteen years before his circumcision ; the former having been some lime before Ishmael's birth, the other when Ishmael was thirteen years of age. It was therefore manifest, that circumci?ion was not necessaiy in oider to justification ; and indeed Abraham had received from God this instituted ordinance, to be an outward sign of the grace given him, and a seal of the righteousness of faith imputed to him, when in uncircumcision. {Note, Gen. xvii.) This demonstrates that circumcision sealed s)iirihial blessings to Abraham personally, as the outward seal of the covenant of giace, and the emblem of sanctification, however it might other- wise be applied or understood. ' This seems an ' contestable proof, that circumcision was the seal of the * covenant of grace, and not merely of temporal promises, ' and couscciMcntly obviates the most considerable objection • that hath ever been urged against infant-baptism.' {Dad dridge.) This seal was also a pledge to Abraham of the performance of the promise respecting his seed, especially his spiritual seed of true believers. He was therefore justified before he was circumcised, that he might be the fa- ther of all those true believers, who should have the cir- cumcision of the heart, but not the rircumci.'^ion of the flesh, that they might inherit all his blessing; and he was after- iv-ards circumcised, that he might be the father of the cir- cumcision also, not merely the natural progenitor of the nation of Israel, but the spiritual father of all true believers amoni; them, who walked after the example of his obe- dient faith, which he had before circumcision, but many of them subsequent to it., that it might be to fliem the seal tStcoi). II. k i« U.I ii 21. iii H .24 V. 4, hbil iii 9 Heb. vii in 2b. 1 iii. :il. Num. XXX '2 15 Ps. cxix .26. lF.lv- 11 Jer. xix 7. mil 19, 20. V. 2021. vii. 7— II. John XV 22, 1 Cor x» 46. 2 Cor Mi. 7— g. Gal iii -Vis. 1 John lii. i> n ii 12. 13 T 13 o ill 2i-26 V. 1 Gal iii. 7-12 2.'. Kph, ii S 8. Tit lii 7. p Heh vi. IS-IJ 2 Pet 1 10 (1 Src ctt. II. r IX t Is li.2. GeD.XTil.5 16. 20 Aim iii £9 t2 Tiii. II Matt. iii. 9 .lohn V. 51. 25 li. 63 1 Cor. XT. 44. l:|>li ii. l-i 1 T.m Ti. 13 u Tiii 29. 30 Is. xliit 6. xliT. 7 xlii. 12 1». 12 A>U XT. IB. 1 Cor i. 28 Jleh xi. 7 I Pet. ii 10. 2 Pet. ill. 8. of the righteousness of faith, though not to those who had only the outward sign, and not the inward grace signified by it. V. 13. The. world cannot here mean the land o( Canaan, which is never so called ; but in Abraham and hi? Seed all the nations of (he earfli .ire blessed. Abrahan. was the root and specimen of all that multitude, all over the earth, to whom the most valuable blessings were to br confined, and who may be said to be heirs of the world. He was, as it were, the repositoiy, in whom all these blessings were first laid up for their advantage ; and also the progenitor of Christ '' the King of kings and Lord of " lords," and " Heir of all things." This distinction w^as not given to Abraham through the law, (for that was not promulgated till long after,) nor to his posterity as uiitler the law, for many of them would be excluded for their sins ; but it was given to him through the righteousness of faith, and they were the true seed wiio partook of that same distinction. V. 14 — ir. The apostle further argues, that if all they, and they only, who were under the legal dispen- sation, were heirs, faith, which the scripture assigned as the immediate cause of Abraham's Justification, would be made ineftcctual. ' It is made void to them who are not ' of the law, because then they cannot by it be made ' heirs ; and it is also made void to them that are of the ' law, because they were heirs before, and ma_v still be ' so without it.' {Whitby.) Indeed, whether the law of reason or tradition, (under which Abraham was,) or the law of Moses, be considered, instead of giving any man an interest in the promises of God, it must necessarily expose him to condemnation. For " the law worketh " wrath," by showing that every transgressor is exposed to the righteous indignation of God; and the clearer, the more copious, and express, the law is, the more numerous, evident, and aggravated, must his transgressions appear. J. D. 61. CHAPTER IV. Jj. D. 6-i , 19 V 6. viii.5i 1 8 Who * afi^aiiisl hope believed in Pro!!. iivi\rtl hope, that lie might become ihe father Si^kT'ss, M of many nations ; accorclino; lo that which «ir»'al)%5*"' was spoken, > So shall thy «ecil be. ;S.™i",l'2i. 19 And, ^ being not' weak in faith, ;i""s6."^« 3I.S he considered not his own body now John' XX 2?. 38. dead, when he was about an hundred 'm?!!. m'-jI years old, neither yet the deadness of k '^""'jjfJ.j'Ji^ Sara's womb : si9 2Chr"«'.' 20 He ''staggered not at the promise 9. jer »x«i/i's of God through imbeiicf; "= but was ,*is xx»T. 1 strong m faith, givmg glory to L»od : M°Hag"ii*i 21 And being "^ fuily persuaded, that a«ch viii.9 1.1 I Cor xvi 13 SCor xii. lo' Eph. vi. 10. 2 Tim ii. 1. d viii. 38. 3 Tin. i. 12. Heb xi 13. If a man could be without any law, he would not be arraigned and condemned as a criminal ; for, as sin is the transgression of the law, so no transgression could be charged upon him who is under no Taw. But as this cannot be the case of any, so all men are liable to con- demnation ; for every man's rule workelh wrath against him for acting contrary to it, till he flees for refuge to Christ, who delivers believers from the condemnation of the law, though not from their obligation to obey it. As therefore God intended to give sinners a title to the pro- mised blessings, so he appointed it to be by faitli, that it might be wholly of grace, in order to ensure it to all the seed of Abraham, even to all who should ever be made partakers of like precious faith with him, not only to those who lived under the legal dispensation, but to all others throughout the earth, and in every age of the world. This accorded to the promise, that Abraham should be " the father of many nations ; for though several nations naturally descended from him, yet this promise had a far nobler and more sublime accomplishment in the immense multitude from so many nations, who have been, are, and hereafter shall be, interested in the blessings first conferred on him, in behalf of himself, and all that should resemble him by a living faith. This was the state of the case, (before that God in whom Abraham believed,) as to the relation of the whole church to him ; for God not only quickeneth the dead in sin, and so raises up children to Abraham from the nations that were dead in their idolatry and iniquity, but " He calleth those things " which be not, as though they were." and so had all the unnumbered millions of future believers, as it were, present before him, in respect of his fore-knowledge and pre-determination, when he made the promise to Abra- ham, and considered him as the father, and them as the family, to whom the inheritance of the blessing was en- sured through faith. V. 18 — 22. The nature and power of Abraham's faith are next slated. He believed the testimony of God, and expected the performance of his promise, when the case seemed hopeless, and when there was nothing to oppose to the most formidable objections and apparent impossibili- ties but the bare word of God. He hoped to become the father of many nations, naturally, in his posterity, and spiritually, through Christ who was to drsrend from him, bexause God had said, that his seed should be innumerable what he had promised ' he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore ' it was imputed to him for righteousness. 2.i Now "5 it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him ; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, '' if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead ; 25 Who ' was delivered for our otfen- ces, "^ and was raised again for our justifi- cation. .Matt xix. 2e l.uke i. 37. : Cor. ix 8, III 16 17. . 10. Kph i - 20 Heb 20. 21. 1 Pet i. 21. ii.. 25. V 6-8. viii 3. 32 l» Ini. 5, 6. lO— 12. Dan. ix. :^4 if- Zech. xili 7. Matt Cor 3,4 as the stars of heaven. Yet many years iiad elapsed since the same promise, for substance, was given, and he still continued widiout any child by Sarah, to whose offspring the promise was restricted. She had been barren all her younger years, and was then become incapable of bearing children, according to the common course of nature, and he was now grown old, and unlikely to have any ; yet, though he had been tried by such long delays, and was discouraged by such immense difficulties, he did not weakly stagger at the promise through unbelief ; he hesitated not most con- fidently to expect that God would be as good as his word ; being marvellously strengthened in his iaiih, he gave glory to God, and honoured alfhis perfections, by a full assur- ance that he was able to perform what he had promised ; and therefore " his faith was imputed to him for right- " eousncss." That is, his faith was thus approved to be genuine, meet to form a relation between him and the predicted Redeemer, and therefore it marked him out as a proper person to be justified by the everlfiiiing righteous- ness which the Messiah would introduce. It is evident, from the whole context, that Abraham's faith did not jus- tify him by its own merit or value, but as interesting him in Christ ; for, though the sincerity of his faitli was manifested on this occasion, he had actually been justified long before, and his example -could not af dy illustrate the Christian's justification by the merits of Christ, and not by those of his own faith, if we do not thus understand it. A very common perversion of this passage must not pass unnoticed. Msny speak of " hoping against hope," not that God will fulfil his promises to believers, notwithstanJ- ingall difficulties and improbabilities, but that themselves are believers and shall be saved, contrary to the evidence of their tempers and lives, and this is often the grossest fire- sumption and fanaticism imaginable, though sometimes used by those who are not aware of its tendency. V. 23—25. The history of Abraham and of his justi- fication was not written for his sake, as he had been tlead long before Moses recorded it ; but it was intended for the instruction for all future generatir'ns, and of ibose espe- cially to whom the Gospel was preached. For in case they believed in that God, who had raised Christ from the dead, and who was able to fulfil his largest promises, their faith would be imputed to them for righteousness, even as that of Abraham had been ; for this faith, if genuine, would form a relation between them and the Lord Jesus, an<3 Jl. D. 01. ROMANS. y}. D. 01. CHAP. V. Being justified by failh, we have peace with God, rejoice in hope, and rejoice in tribu- lations, 1 — 5. The rich love of God to us tchen sinners, in reconciling us to him- stlf hij the death of his Son, assures us of fined scdvation, and leads us to rejoice in him, 6 — 11. JJs sin and death come upon all men by Adam ; so the graae of God, which justificth unto life, with all concur- rent blessings, comes more ubundantlij on all believers bij Jesus Christ, VI — 19. The law proved, an occasion to the abound- ing of sin unto death ; but this made way "ive ihcin an interest in his mcdialorial work. For, as .Icsiis had been delivered up to death, by man, as a crimi- nal, but by the Father as a sacrifice for the offences of his people, so he had been raised again for their justification : he was thus perfectly justified from the charges brought against him, and the acceptance of his righteousness and redemption was demonstrated ; and in th's all his people were interested, for the justification of the Surety was eventually elfectual for the justification of all those who were represented by him, to which privilege every one is actually admitted, when he truly believes the Gospel. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1 — 12. No mere man, since the fall, could ever find any thing hut death by his own works, and the history contained in the Scriptures, and the confessions of the best of men, prove that all, who have been saved, escaped condemnation and obtained heaven by " faith being imputed to them for " righteousness.'" In all controversies we should inquire, " What say the oracles of God .'" These uniformly teach, that the reward is not assigned to a man for working, as a debt, but through believing, as of grace. None can sin- cerely pray for this blessing, till he ceases from working in order to justify himself, and indeed no man performs good works from pure principles, till he learns to believe " in '• him who justificth the ungodly." Yet at the same time no true believer will neglect ivorkivi^, in order to glorify God, to do good, and lo make his own calling and election sure. Man's felicity consists in the favour of God, which can belong to none of our fallen race, except the pardoned sinner ; and the forgiveness of sin, and the imputation of righteousness without works, are entirely through the obedience unto death of our gracious Redeemer. They who obtain this blessedness, are happy, though poor, de- spised, and afflicted ; all who come short of it are most miserable, however wealthy, '.honoured, and prospered. This distinction extends to all nations, sects, or forms of worship ; some are justified, and some are not, in all com- panies where the great Iriiths of the Gospel are known ; and this method of justifying the ungodly is crjuslly suited to preclude the most eminent saints from glorying, and the most atrocious sinners from despairing. for the still greater abounding of grace, »!> le i i?. iii. as reigning through rightcous)tcss unto in.i'u'is. ix. eternal life by Christ, 20, 21. u t .'oim l.l'. J J ' ' lC-18 V. 2«. AcH nil 3D, 3». THEREFORE, » being justified by i{-'i!,:,i°,./'* faith, ^ we have peace with God, ^^-^^ js'"";, ^ through our Lord Jesus Christ : "xUe- lo V.; 2 By "^ whom also we have access by "Vit ', .i.Yv j". faith into this grace " wherein we stand, {'ukcii''i"}jt,'^ ' and rejoice in hone of s the glory of AiVi.*3G ^\ f'f,,] (or V. 18-SO. Col i. 20.21. ill. 15. Heb xUi.20 Jam ii. 23 cvi.23. Jolioxx -jl. Eph, ii. 7. d lohn X. 7 9. xiv 6 .Acts .iiv 27 Enh li. 18 iii- 12 Hefc x 19,20 1 Pet i,i 1«. e'J, 10 vi i. 1. 30-39 xii'. 4 Jolin v. 2l. ! Cor. xv. 1, 2. Eph t 13 l lei 1. 4 J fS. viii 24 2i. xii 12.17^3 Jobxil.25 27 Ps xvl.9-11 xvii 15. I'rnv xi« 32. 2 1 liet Ii. 16, 17 Heb. i i 6 VI 18,19 I Pet. i. 3-9 I John v. 1—3 g il. 7. iii 13. Mii 17. 18 Ex. xxsiii IS 20. Ps In jiii. J4. Matt xjv. II. John 9, 2l. 2 Cor. iii 18. iv. 17. Her- ill. 21. xxl. 3. 11.23. xxii. 1.5. V. 13—25, The seal of the Holy Spirit in sanctification is the inward evidence " of the righteousness of faith ;" when the old nature is crucified, and the heart is circumcised to love God, it is evident that we are the children of Abra- ham, and walk in his steps ; and sacraments will be really seals and pledges of 'the same blessing. Blessed be God, that we are not left under the covenant of works. For the more holy and perfect the law, the greater wrath would in that case come upon us ; but as all is of grace, it is through faith, and the promised blessing is ensured to all the chosen seed, wherever dispersed, or however distin- guished. May we then copy the example of Abraham, and in the midst of perils and difficulties " in hope believe " against hope," as.>ured that God is both able and willing to perform his promises to all who trust in him, and wait the accomplishment of them in patient obedience. Thus our faith will be imputed to us for righteousness, through him who died for our offences, and rose again for our justification. NOTES. CHAP, V. V. 1, 2. The aposde, having stated and confirmed his doctrine concerning justification, here pro- ceeds to show the happiness of those who are thus justified. When the sinner believes in Jesus, his " faith is imputed " to him for righteousness ;" thus he is justified before God, accounted a righteous person, and entitled to the reward of righteousness. In consequence of this, " he •' hath peace with God," the controversy, or hostility, which sin hath excited, is terminated by a blessed pacifi- cation through the great Mediator, and a covenant of amity is ratified between that holy God, who had so just cause to treat his rebellious creature as an enemy, and that rebel, who before was so unreasonably alienated from his beneficent Creator. The sinner submits, pleads guilty, seeks mercy, and learns to love and serve God ; and his offended Sovereign receives him to full favour and thence- forth behaves to him as his Friend and Father. The sin- ner, being thus reconciled, co'.isiders the cause and people of God as" his own. and separates from his cncmifs, that he may be united lo his fiiends: he makes the glory of his God the ul'.imate end of his habitual conduct, and God protects, countenances, provides for, and communes with J. D. 61. CHAPTER V 3 And not only so, ■> but we glory in J. D. 61. U Tiii. 35 - 37. Matt. V. 10-12 ., , . , ■: , . ^l i ~^ •! ' I i.uke vi. 22. !j tribulations also: ' knowinsT that tnbula Acts 41. and I: X i.'4-6 XV, i 3 ta .lob ; ,-37. Ps svii 6 'rties ^i'/io^Kph' *'°" "orketli patience; li'i? r8'''jam' ^ ^^'^ '^patience, experience u"iv^is.'^n ''' experience, hope: He"\^\o, II. 5 And ■" hope maketh not ashamed ; ■'""' ^ ; Cor ° because the love of God is " shed e- 12. yi 9 10 Jam i. 12. 1 fet. i 6, 7 v. 10 1 Josh x 21 25 1 Sam i- sxvii 2.3 xlii 4,5. Hxi. U IS-24 2 Cnr iv S-IO 2T,ni iv 16-111. Ps. ssii 4,5 Is xxviii. 15—18 xlv. 16. 17. xlis 2;l.Jer xvii 6-S. I'h.l. i 16. 2 Tim, i 12 He') vi Id, VJ. n viii U-17.28 Matt. xxi.. 3G,37, Hell »ii 10-12, IJohuiv. 10. o Is xliv 3-5 KJ xsxvi. 25-27 2 Cor. i. 22 iii 13. iv. 6 Gal. W. 6. v. 22 Eph. i 13, 11 iii. 16— IS. iv. aO. Tit. iii. 5, 6. the believer as his friend, and requites the injuries or favours done to him as if done lo himself. All this centres in the Person, mediation, and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath made and preserves this blessed peace. Tlius every true believer has actually found admission into a state of full favour with God, even as if he had never sinned ; in this he stands accepted before him, and is secured by his promise and grace from being cast down from it ; and he learns to rejoice in the prevailing, abiding, and realizing hope of being glorified with God, and glori- fying him ; of completely bearing his glorious image, and of enjoying his unspeakable love to all eternity. The expressions may also alljde to the free access of sinners, from dilferent nations, into the full enjoyment of the pri- vileges of God's people, without any respect to the legal ceremonies and restrictions in appro.iching his mercy-seat The word rendered rejoice more properly signifies glory, abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. 6 For '' when we were yet i witliout strength, * in due time ' Christ died for the ' ungodly. 7 For ' scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for "a good man * some would even dare to die. Ps. c.Kii, 5. Acts si 24,—— s s\-*. 1 2 Sam, xvii pF,!, xvi. 4-». F.pli ii l-.i. tul, ii IJ. Tit ill. 3-5 q Lain i f. ll;lfl. XI 15. t Or.nccor.J ilj (0 thcUmc Oal IV. 4. Hell, i K, C. 1 Pet. i. ;c 1 Thes V 1, IP. rSci on. v i xi. 20 Ps i i. Tit. li 12. t John XV 13. 1 John iii. lb. u 2 Sam XV word of God, but sealed upon his heart by the gift of the Holy Spirit, by whose sacred influences the excellency and loving-kindness of God, esjiecially in the work of redemption, are so discovered to him, and diflused or poured out through all the faculties of his soul, as to produce a similarity of disposition, a reciprocal love of the divine perfections, a longing desire of the favour of God, a delight in communing with and serving him, a lively gratitude for his benefits, and zeal for his glory ; these being full proofs of regeneration, the inward " seal of the righteousness of faith," and earnests of heavenly felicity, ensure the Christian's hope from the shame of disappointment. Blost expositors interpret this clause, (" the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, " &c.") exclusively of the perception and sense of the love of God to us, which is vouchsafed by the Holy Spirit. Yet ojtr love to God, as " the fruit of the Spirit," writing or boast. {Note, Jcr. ix. 23, 24.) Boasting or gloryinor\ his law in our hearts, is in fact the only indisputable proof in ourselves is excluded, that, by the free grace of God,|Khat our hope will never make us ashamed. The seal and we may glory and exult in the hope of heavenly felicity,! consolations of the Spirit are distinguished from all enthu- in our very trials, in Christ Jesus, and in God as our God siastical delusions and false afl'ections, by their permanently and Portion. i sanctifying effects ; no sup[)0sed sense of God's love to us, V. 3 — .5. The primitive Christians not only rejoiced; except as attended with the consciousness of loving him. or exulted in hope of the glory of God, notwithitandingl ca.n warrant a scriptural assurance; and the Spirit of present afflictions, but they gloried in the tribulations! adoption is doubtless a Spirit of love to God, as well as themselves, as the sure pledges of the divine favour and confidence in him. (Note, viii. 14 — 17.) It must there- means of spiritual improvement. For they were assured, fore be evident, that the work of the Holy Sjjirit, in from the word of God and from the evidence of facts,! changing our natural enmity against God into supreme that their trials and persecutions produced submission lo " the divine will, and acquiescence in it, meekness amidst injuries and provocations, and " patient continuance in " well-doing," and quietly waiting for the Lord amidst all difficulties, perils, and sufierings. Their trials indeed might at first excite impatience ; but, by watching and praying, they would overcome it, and thus be brought into a patience of spirit through trials, as the rough block is wrought into a beautiful statue by the chisel and la- bour of the workman. At the same time this patience produced an enlarged experience, an experi-nental ac- quaintance with their own weakness and sinfulness, in order to their humiliation ; of the reality and power of grace in their hearts after repeated trials in the furnace ; of the faithfulness of God to his promises ; and of his readi- ness to answer their prayers. So that these painful dispen- sations tended still further to establish the hope of glory, and to assure them that this hope would never make them ashamed, by vanishing in disappointment, like the base less confidence of a worldly man, of a Pharisee, an unbe love of him, must be intended, either as the primary meaning of the clause, or as the inseparable cflect of a genuine sense and perception of the love of God to us. {Marg, Ref.) It cannot be supposed that the apostle mentioned this triumphant confidence as the habitual at- tainment of all justified persons, but rather as an invaluable privilege consequent on justification, which must be sought with diligence and earnestness, and which is actually enjoyed nearly in proportion as it is thus sought. The sufierings of believers, especially from persecution, form cne grand objection to what is spoken in Scripture concerning their happiness, in the opinion of men i^i general. To select, therefore, these very trials, as one ground of the Chris- tian's glorying and rejoicing, was peculiarly suited to meet that objection, and to produce a great effect on the reader's mind and heart. V. 6, T. It might perhaps be objected, that, after ail, it was not impos.>ible, nor even highly improbable, that the believer's hope should terminate in disappointment and shame, through the prevalence of in-dwelling sin and the lieving Jew, or a hypocrite. For the hope of the tried! power of temptation, and that Satan mighT, at Icngil and experienced believer is not only warranted by the | induce him to apostatize. Some constitutioiio! or habit j? A. D. 61. ROMANS, J. D. 61. 8 But God i conmiendeth his love to- )r20. 21. ill Epb I. e— li zu ?>'["»' I vk ward us, ' in tliat, while we were yet sin 'iv:9jo. ' """" ners, Christ died for us. aScros, 1. ill. 21 -2S. 1 John I. 9 Much more then, " being now justi- b^o i 18 viii fled Ijy his blood, ^ we shall be saved from 24 1 Thes" i" 10 wrath throujrh hitu. iniquity, wiiicli in more favouiable circum.stanccs had been ki'pt under with great ditficulty, might at lengtii obtain the asLCiidciicy tlirough his unwatchfuliie.s.s, and so destroy him, or he iiii^ht lull away in the hour of death, or at some other cnucil season. The apostle therefore dii^resscs, in order to ohvimn this objection, and at the same time he shows what abundant reason believers have to love their God and Saviotii-. When they, who are now at peace with God, lay in the ruins of the fall, under deserved wrath, and the power of sin and Satan, without any strength to resist, or to deliver themselves, when they had neither natural power for so vast a work, if they had been inclinable to it, nor moral ability or inclination to attempt it, when thus impotent and helpless, and dead in sin, they could ha\ c no refuge but in the mere compassion of God, and yet nere ungodly, and without any proper disposition of hcait towards him, nay, every way contrary to his natuie. will, and worship; when they were too proud even to ask for mercy, or to allow their need of it, ;ind too averse to religion, to be at all willing to become spiritual worshippers; even then Christ died for them, in t^eir stead, a sacrifice for their sins, and to make way for their salvation ! For though some of those, for whom 10 For if <= when we were enemies, "^ »"■ ^«cor.t. we wore " reconciled to God by the '^■"■ death -ol his hon ; much more, being fch^^'x 2? jeconciled, ' we shall bo saved by his l',J "[^ ^ ■jfc. h^i'''- '^ : John vi 40 S7. X £8,29. xl. 25,r0. xiv IJ J Cor. iv, 10. II Co!, iii. 3,4. He'b lii.25 would be possible to find a man, who would, in such cause, suffer for his friend or benefactor upon a scaffold. Yet this most rare instance, the ^■ery summit of human aflection, is immensely beneath the love of God to us. He, who should give up his life in these circumstances, would do it lor one of superior excellency, or who had greatly befriended him, and his death would ensure honour and apf>lausc to his mrmory. But the infinitely glorious God had commended, or set off to the utmost advantage, his love to us, in that his incainate and co-equal Son gave himself to endure the most agonizing and ignomini- ous death for those who were infinitely beneath him, his creatures that had rebelled against him, and persisted in that ungrateful )-ebe!lion : yea, impenitent sinners, who had perj;etrated the most atrocious and multiplied crimes to provoke his vengeance, and whose state of heart ren- dered them the meet objects of his abhorrence. Yet he had freely loved them, and purposed their salvation, and when hi.? justice and holiness, and the honour of his law, ob- structed that gracious design, he so loved them, that he gave his own Son to die a sacrifice for their sins ! (^tes, &c. Gen. xxii. Jokn xv. 13 — 5.) Now, if this was so, .,and they by divine grace had been brought to repent, and Christ died, were previously gone to heaven, otherswere j to believe in Christ, and had thus been ju.-tified through godly persons then living on earth, and others had not come; the shedding of his bio "', by faith in that great atone- ;nto existence: yet they v. ere all considered as ungodly,] menl; much more then would they be kept from falling and wii/icJii sfroig-i/i, in respect of Christ's dying for them. I again under the wrath of God, and perishing in sin, They all stood, as it were, present before God, according | through him who died for them and rose again. For could to his omniscience, fore-knowledge, and pre-determination. it be imagined that He, who so loved them when enemies, in their natural state of impenitent ungodliness, and Christ, as their divine and righteous Surety, took their iins upon hini.~elf, and engaged to atone for them, before they knew their own lost condition, and without any soli- citation from them. In this sense he is " the Lamb slain ■ from the foundation of the world." The believers who ived before his coming not only were pardoned and javed through his engagement in their behalf, but their repentance, faith, and grace, as the eftects of regenera- tion, sprang from the same source. At length, " in due " time," the season apjjointed by the only wise God, he appeared on earth, and '• died for the ungodly ; and by his Spirit sinners are quickened^ from the death of sin, repent, believe, love, and obey : but all comes to them through his atonement and intercession. V. 8—10. To illustrate the immensity of this love of God, the apostle shows, that if " a righteous man," one of strict integrity, who had committed no crime ao-ainst the welfare of the community, were about to be unjiiBily put to death, there would scarcely be found a pi rson who would consent to die in his stead ; though per- iiaps for (( good mmi, oce of extensive philanthropy, whose as to die for them, would not save and uphold them by his almighty power, now they were made friends? If, when they were not only destitute of goiliness, and impenitent transgressors, but enemies to the holy character, law, sovereignty, grace, providence, and cause of God, they had been brought into a state of reconciliation andxordial peace with him, by the death of his Son upon the cross, mncli more would they, being thus recont iled, be preserved from falling under the power of Sin and Satan, or finally apostatizing, " by his life," his intercession, authority, and omnipotent grace. (A'o/e, John x. '17 — 30.) He, that had done the greater work for his enemies, would surely do the less difficult for his friends and children, and iheliving Lord would complete the piirjiose of his dying love, by saving all believers to the uiiermost, till his finished ransom on the cross should terminate in their finished salvation, as " presented faultless before his pre- " sence with exceeding joy." There could be no danger oi a reconciled believer falling under the wrath of God, but on supposition that he should commit sin, and die without repentance ; but had Christ suffered, and denied, and humbled himself, even to death upon the cross, that life had been and was likt^ly to be a public blessing, some, he might bring him into this state of reconciliation ? and might even ventunt to lay down their lives. This has' would he, after all, so leave him to l.imself, and in the sometimes been done in the field of battle, and perhaps itjhaiids of the wicked one, as thus finally to perish, . when A. D. lil. CHAPTER V. ./. L>. Gl ii 17. I Sam ii 1 1 Aficl Iiot OhIj' 40, '' but WC alsO joj xxkIi. ] xiiii' jn God throuerh our Lord Jesus Christ, 1. Ci» 34 islix. = , • J ^1 iv Is. ixr. 10 g by whom we nave now received the Has. Ml 17, \ti J G'iji%'2*'i'hu atonement. I'pe'i f's''" * 12 H Wherefore, '' as by one man sin M°-"58 '"i Cor entered into the world, ' and deatli by sin ; **6Jr rS'Jma- ^fi J ''0 death passed upon all men, t for that '' all have sinned : I ill 19 !2— 21 E/. iriii 1 1 Cor xv. 21. .Tarn i. 15. Ilev. xx. 14, tion 10. Ii 19. Gen ill 1 vi.23. Gen .i 15. r Or, ] 3 For ' until the law sm was m the ' f^^n. woild: ""but sin is not imputed when ™\y there is no law. ^'^ ^ 14 Nevertheless " deatii reigned from "j^y'j.^ Adam to Moses, " even over them that had ^ not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, ■* who is the ii;cu iii. r.- 19, ijal. iii. 10. Jan). 16 And not as it was by one that sin- ii To" ■ ned, so is the cift: "for the judgment III i. 18. xllii ', ^ , . • 1 * 1 24 xiiv. 2v was bv one to condemnation ; " but the I.ukev,l..i7— jn. - .-'. . . . .^ Acisxi.i. :i8 sj. jree gilt is oi many olicnces unto justiiica- 1 I imV 1:1-16. tion.' y 12. Geo jii. 6. .'li'';"''' '"• ^'^ For if y Ijy * one man's offence •ur,»j<,n,(.^ Pct. 1,9. ucv. demnation; even so by J the rigliteousness j^-'^wf >s,i.s. of one, the free gift came upon ''all men <^j|,-'' - •» "■• unto justification of life. •.o,\oh, rg/iuoui- 19 For " as by one man's disobedience aVoiui !'}';] m many were made sinners; ' so by the Ji;: H ,^^|» obedience of one shall many be made f',,!-;. ] J™^ righteous. e'i:-ii f Is. liil. 10—12 Dao is. 21 2 Cor. v. 21. Eph i 6. Kfv vii 9-lT. sequences do not in all things coincide with the free gift, or the grace, of redemption. Through that one man's single offence, the many or the multitude, of mankind arc dead, under condemnation, and exposed to death temporal and eternal. But the infinite grace and mercy of God, and the free gift of righteousness and salvation, through that one man Jesus Christ, the second Adam, who is also '; the " Lord from heaven," much more abound to many, even to all the multitude of believers, by bringing them 'into a far safer, happier, and more exalted state, than that from which they fell in Adam. For this gift not merely answers to the loss sustained by Adam's sin, but far ex- ceeds it in this respect, that the judgment of God came- through Adam's single offence upon mankind, to their con- demnation ; but the free git't not only delivers believers from that condemnation, but from the punishment due to their own numerous, or rather innumerable, transgressions ; nor does it place them anew in a state of [irobation, like that of Adam before he sinned, but it fixes them in a slate of comjdele justification, even as Adam would have been if he had stood his time of trial. For if, by one offence of one man, death acquired a complete dominion over all the whole human race, so that none were admitted to a personal trial in that re.'^pect, whether they would be obedient or not; much more would they, wdio by faith re- ceived the abundance of God's grace and mercy, and were interested in the gift of righteousness, be assuredly pne- served in that state of acceptance, and so reign in life, by the perfect obedienee of their one Surety Jesus Christ, without the infinite peril, or fatal conscf|uences, of being put upon a personal trial of their obedience, like that ill' which Adam had failed, and Christ had persevered. Man is indeed in some sense in a probationary state on earth ; jbut no man is put upon the trial, whether he can obtain ex- 'emption from the general condemnation of Adam and his |seed by his own personal obedience. A trial is made of jhini, tending to discover the wickedness of his heart by imanifold experiments; tlic trial is made by the Gospel, I whether the sinner will repent and believe ; professed Chris- jtians are tried whether they «re sincere or not, and be- lievers are proved in respect of the strength of their faith land grace; yet they are not put upon ajiy probation, with jrefcrence to their justification and eternal life, but jaie accounted riirhteous, and appointed heirs, by faith 'alone, through the righteousness of their One divirxe j Surety, which consisted not, like Adam's oflencc, in one D. 6J, CHAPTER V. J. D. 01, ^'iS?' vii's-s 20 Moreover, s the law entered, that the r°r" n'l. "7-3" °^^"*^^ might abound; ''but where sin 'i'.'"]' 'liclir abounded, grace did much more abound; XXSl] »xxvi »J-32. Mil II r.pli. i. 6-8 ii. 11. I:. 10. 19. Malt. ix. 13 \Mif. \ I 1 Tim. i. 13—16. Tit. ill. 3- action, but in a continued and perfect conformity to the whole divine law through life, and unto his death upon the cross. Yet, notwithstanding these differences, the simi- larity is striking and instructive; for, as by the offence of one man sin entered and prevailed to the condemna- tion of all men ; so by the righteousness of One, even Christ, grace entered and prevailed to the complete justi- licalion of all men, throughout the earth, and during all ages, who are related to Christ by faith, as all were to Adam by nature. For, as by the disobedience of one sin- gle person, being a public character or representative of his |50Sterity, many were made or constituted sinners, and dealt with accordingly, previously to the consideration of their personal transgressions ; so by the obedience of One who also was a public character, and the representative of his people, many, even the whole multitude of believers, •are constituted righteous before God, and dealt with as s^ch, even previously to the consideration of their personal holiness and obedience, which spring from their spiritual union with Christ, as depravity does from man's natural union with Adam. Thus in many things the type and Antitype coincide, though disobedience and condemnation are opposite to obedience and justification. But the believer, being justified in Christ, has his' tide to life in him, who preserves it for him, so that he is not left to peradventures, or to the hazards arising from the muta- bility of creatures, as Adam was ; but he is safe by his union with Him, who is " God manifested in the flesh ;" and his future felicity will be proportionably more exalted, in consequence of his endeared relation to the Godhead, in Christ his Brother and Friend. As it is evident that all men, in the strict sense of the word, do not " receive " abunda|j)ce of grace and of the gift of righteousness," or obtain " justification of life ;" and that all men, in this uni- versal sense, shall not " reign in life," for some shall " go " away into everlasting punishment," so the term must be explained, in the first clause, of all men in Adam, and in the second, oi all men in Christ. (18.) V. 20,21. The whole plan, respecting the justifica- tion of believers, was fixed and engaged for long before the law was given by Moses. This dispensation entered a little, or among a few persons, compared with the whole posterity of Adam, and for a short time, compared with the duration of the world, but so far from being intended for the justification of sinners, " it entered that the offence " might abound." The moral law, by its perfections, showed that many thoughts, affections, tempers, words, and actions, were sinful, which otherwise would not have been known to be so ; it evinced the malignity and desert of every sin, and it irritated man's natural corruption, both to hanker after forbidden objects, and to rise in opposition and enmity against its spiritual precepts and its righteous sanction. Thus it occasioned transgressions to be multi- plied, for it had no efficacy to cure human depravity ; and at the same time it aggravated the enormity of sin, seeing it was committed against so express a declaration of the 21 That ' as sin hath reigned unto \ death, even so might '', grace rclijn k John i. IC, 17^ Til ii U Hch. ' through righteousness, "■ unto eternal \l " ' '''''• life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. ^o'»^•V^' divine will. Even the ceremonial law, as considered apart fi-om Christ, multiplied duties, and consequenlly transgres- sions. So that the law i^i every sense entered, in order ((» show and condemn man's abounding wickodne.-s, as an ex- periment tried with a specimen Of die human race, tha'. the free grace of redemption might be more gloriouslv displayed, by its super-abounding mosi where sin had most abounded ; and (like the waters of the deluge.) flow- ing far above the summits of the highest mountains of man's guilt and depravity. So that, as sin, like some ter- rific victor and tyrant, had reigned widi uncontrolled sway, unto the death and ruin of all men, under Adam's covenant ; even so grace, or the infinitely free and rich mercy of God, might ascend a more exalted throne, and there reign with benign authority, through the righteous- ness of the Surety of the new covenant, unto the eternal life of all who believe, 'in virtue of the power and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace, as reigning in the be- liever's heart, may be included ; but this is more explicitiv treated on in the ensuing chapter; and grace, as reigning upon the throne of God, to justify every believing sinner, and to complete the salvation of every justified believer, is here principally intended, PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—11. A most blessed change takes place in the sinner's state, however vile he has been, when he becomes a tiue be- liever ; " being justified by failh he hath peace with God," " through our Lord Jesus Christ," which will in due time be communicated to his conscience, and dwell in his heart ; he has free access to the mercy-seat, he is esta- blished in the grace and favour of God, and he may now rejoice in the hope of everlasting glory, though he just before trembled from apprehensions of deserved vengeance. How vast then are our obligations to him, who hath made " all things ready" by his agonizing death, and hath made our hearts willing by his converting grace ! May we act as the covenanted friends of our reconciled God ; may we " adorn the doctrine of his salvation ;" may we study to recommend it to our fellow-sinners, and to make grateful returns for his love, by our kindness to our poor fellow Christians, who are the brethren and receivers of this our rich and bountiful Benefactor ! Then we need not be dismayed by temptations or afliictions, or despond and murmur under them ; nay, we may glory and rejoice in them : for though nature feels that tribulation worketh inijiatience, yet grace finds that at length it produces patience, experience, and a hope, which can never make us ashamed ; " because the love of God is shed abroad in " our hearts by the Holy Ghost." This seal of God can- not be broken, and Satan evidendy and peculiarly fails ill his attempts to counterfeit it ; for all false affections, and enthusiastic confidences, are liable to be consumed in the furnace of long-continued afflictions ; and they never E 2 '/. D. 6} ROMANS. J. D. 61. CHAP. VI. Believers arc dead to sin, according to the meaning of baptism; which represents their conformity to Christ in his death, burial, resurrection, and living unto God, 1 — 10. Tkeij should reckon themselves to be dead to sin and alive to God, 1 1 ; and, as not being under the laxv, but under grace, theij mustnot tiujfer sin to reign in their bodies, but yield them to God, as instruments of righteousness, 1 2 — 1 5. Being made fret from sin, and become servants to right eousncss, they should serve it wholly, 1 0 — 20. The service of sin is unfruitful, shameful, and destructive; but the ser- vants of God have their fruit unto holi- ness, and the end eternal life, 2 1 , 22. This is the gift of God by Christ ; but death is the wages of sin, 23. WHAT shall we say then ? " Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound .'* 2 " God forbid : ' How shall we that are ' dead to sin, ' live any longer therein ."* IPet Ii. in 2>-et ii l« IS Jude4 c See on. iii. 4. doen X [xiK n Pt.C.IX 1114 1 Jolin in 9. C5-11 vii. 4 IJll. ii )9, vf 14 Col tti 3 1 Pet il U. f . Cor T u- 17 1 Pet i. 14. W can conimuiiicate that reciprocal, steady, pre-eminent and abiding love of God in Christ, which no fire can burn, I no waters can quench, and which, in ten thousands of in- ' stances has proved stronger than tlic fear of death, in its most tremendous forms, and has enabled a feeble believ- er to disregard tiie cruelties of a,';avage executioner, in comparison of the anguish of wilfully denying or disobey- ing his beloved Lord. Surely he is worthy of all this from everyone of us ! If we consider how helpless, ungodly, rebellious, and full of enmity against God, we were, when his comjjassionate eye was first fixed upon us, if we re- flect on the salvation purposed for us, the price paid for it, tlie dignity of our Redeemer, the change wrought in us before we would accept of the free gift, and the privileges most graciously bestowed upon us, wc cannot but allow, that the love of God our Saviour passeth knowledge, and is infinitely beyond example or illustration. It is incon- ceivable, that even God himself could more have com- mended his love to us, or have given us more powerful: motives and encouragements to humble submission and' grateful obedience. In proportion as we feel the force of these motives, we maybe assured that we are justified by the blood of Jesus, and reconciled to God by his death ; and that we shall be saved from wrath by him, " who was •' dead, and is alive for evermore, and hath the keys of •' death and hell." Though conscious of our own sinful- ness, we may thus glory in God through Jesus Christ, as having by him received the reconciliation. At the same lime wc shall learn not to disdain, or despair of, any other sinners ; as we shall feel that they are not worse in them- selves, or further from God, than we once were, and that thev are equally capable of being reconciled in the same way, whatever their character and crimes may heretofore have been. V. 12—21. Let us learn habitually to look upon ourselves and the whole human race, as in the ruins of the fall, sinners by nature and practice, exposed to condemnation, and no more able to save our own souls from hell, than to rescue our bodies from the grave. Instead of per])lexing ourselves about the deep, but righteous, dispensation of God, in per- mitting the entrance of sin and death, let us learn to adore his_grace for providing 60 adequate a remedy for that catastro))he, which wc are sure consisted with all his glorious perfections. As our children have evidently through us received a sinful, suflering, and dying nature from the first Adam, we should be stirred up, even by their pains and sorrows in helpless infancy, to seek for them the blessings of the second Adam's righteousness and salvation. Though the grace of God and the gift by grace have much more abounded to many thiough Christ, than justice and wrath did through Adam, yet multitudes choose to remain under the horrid dominion of sin and death, rather than seek the blessings of the reign of grace ! But there is the fullest encouragement to every sinner, who comes to Christ for his free and holy salvation, and he will in no wise cast out one such humble supplicant. Let all then lice without dolny to this righteousness by faith in Christ, whilst grace liiis the throne of God, and before the Judge ascends his dread tribunal ; let the entrance of the law into the conscience, that sin may be known to abound, im])cl the sinner to the greater diligence in ajiply- ing for free salvation ; let none be discouraged by the view of their enormous crimes, seeing there is in Christ much imore abounding grace ; let the uncstablished inoiiircr give diligence to make sure his interest in the RedeCTner, and let the thankful and confirmed believer frequently meditate I on his obligations, privileges, security, and prospects. Let him contrast his state in Adam with his felicity in I Christ; that whilst he gives all the gbry to sovereign grace, through that obedience by which lie is made right- leous, he may look at all enemies and remaining obstacles, land at the king of terrors, with a victorious hope, assured Ithat" grace shall still reign through righteousness, unto p' eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord." NOTES. CHAP. VI. V. I, 2. The apostle's doctrine might seem to lie open to the objection, which is now continually made to that of salvation by grace. It might be said, that if we be justified of entire merry, by the imputation of Christ's righteousness and the efficacy of his sacrifice, through faith alone, without works of any kind oi' in any degree, either before or after believing, are not men set free from all moral obligation, and the fiood-gates of licentiousness thrown open ? And if God take occasion, from man's excess in wickedness, the more conspicuously to disjjlay his abounding grace, may we not safely, and A. D. 61. CHAPTER Vi. J. D. hi c 16 vii. 1 icor. 3 g Know ye not, that so many of us 3 9 IS. le^'is! h as * were baptized into Jesus Christ, is. S3, 21 2Cor . . .'. i • i ,l i xiii. & Jam IT. 1 were baptized into lus tltatli r Auuxxviiii? 4 Therefore '' we are bui'ied Avith him Fel'l'i'sf ^^^y haptism into death; 'that hke as u°5 "'cors. Christ was raised up from the dead " bj ^i %' ifil the glory of the Fatlier, " even so we also 19 If^.cor should walk in newness of life yi. U, 2Cor. xiii.«. EpSii. 19.20 ri 6,6 mJohnii 11. 13, 2(1. xi 40. Col I 19 vii 6 vii 1,2 Xiil 13 U 2C.r t 17 Gal vi. 15. IS. Eph iv.17. 22-21. Pbil. lii. i;. 18. Col. J. 9-lL'. ii. 11,1.'. iv. I. 1 Pet iv. 1,2. 2 Pet i 4-9. 5 For " if we have been p planted to- "/-'p^ii^Pi" ;J gether in the likeness of his death, we shall ^'1,^ ^^.. ^^ j.. be also m the likeness odds resurrection : m,J, •";,'.' -ji (3 Knowing this, ^ that our old man is John xi.. si sv. crucified with him, 'that the body of sin \9p"J;,!i=^^3''cor. might be destroyed, ' that hcncelbrth we ,'i'i>j° ,iii ^ should not serve sin. ,',^^S' 'vi'.'.'ss 7 For ' he that is dead is t freed from 'v^iv'' ity'r^' 13. John viii 34 -36 1 Or, justified, viii. 1. sm. .4. Col ill 1-3 1 Pet even on princijjle, commit more and grtaler enormities, and continue in sinful practices, witiiout remorse or amendment, on j^urpose that the riches of divine grace may be the more glorified in our salvation '' Tlii.s sounds specious; and self-decci\ed hypocrites, through Satan's suggestions, comment in this manner on (he Gospel, and so give some colour to the cavils of infidels and Pharisees. But the aposde has taught us how to answer ail such objections, and guard against such abuses. He does not set us an example of keeping out of sight, explaining away, or proposing catitiotisly, the free grace of the Gospel ; but while he states his doctrine in the men explicit and decisive language, he shows also the inscjiarable connexion between justification and sanctificalion. Let " the thought •' be abhorred," says he. " of continuing in sin, thai •' grace may abound." The unbeliever has no part in that grace, and the believer is " dead to sin," and how then should he live any longer in the practice of it ? That view of the glory of God, of the holiness and goodness of the law, and of his own guilt and danger, which, as the effect of legenerating grace, convinced him tiiat he needed the salvation of Christ, and mMe it precious to his heart, led hira also to repent, and to abhor all sin. This change, begun in gracious convictions, was more completely effect- ed, by fuither discoveries of the grace and exj)erience of the comforts of redemption ; so that love and gratitude to the divine Saviour, and other evangelical principles, con- cur, with hatred of sin, to mortify his affections to its plea- sures and interests, and to cause him to separate from ini- quity, as a dead man ceases from the actions of life. Not only oiighl this to be the believer's character, but in a mea- sure it actually is so ; thus it forms the proper evidence, being the inseparable concomitant of his justification. This effectually secures him from abusing the doctrines of gi-ace ; he may be seduced into sin, but he cannot live any longer in the habitual practice of known transgression; he cannot take occasion, from abounding grace, to continue in sin, that it may still more abound, but on the contrary, in proportion to his admiring views of the riches of God's mercy in his salvation, he will be " steadfast, unmoveable, •• and always abounding in the work of the Lord," and he will only lie remiss in duty, when such hopes and affec- tions grow languid and low. ' The benefits of justification ' and sanctificalion are connected by a perpetual bond ; • each of them flows from Christ, by the grace of God. ■ Sanctificalion is the destruction of sin, that is, of our • original depravity, in the place of which the purity of a • renewed nature succeeds. This is the c|uali'y, which the 'Spirit creates in the members of Christ O'jr Head. — '' Dying unto sin," ' and '• living unto God." 'or Christ, or ' righteousness, answer to each other.' (Besa.) It is surprising, that so many learned expositors should inter- pret the phrase, as if it only meant the outward pmfessiou made in baptism ; and as if all baptized persons were in- deed " dead unto sin !" V. 3, 4. The apostle, by this question, most empha- tically shows, that all who had been baptized into the name and religion of Jesus, had received the sign, and made ilie profession, of communion with him, and con- formity to him, in his death, that in virtue of his dying for their sins, they should die to all sin, and have done witli their former unholy satisfactions, pursuits, habits, and connexions. This profession was equivalent to " being " buried with Christ," as dead with him ; for as his burial was a manifestation that he was really dead, and an intro- duction to his immediate resurrection by the glorious power of the Father, or for the display of his glory, so the baptism of a converted Jew, or Gentile, was a pro- fessed manifestation of his death to sin, and to all his carnal expectations, affections, and pursuits, from which he meant to be entirely secluded, as one buried is iVom the affairs of life ; and it was a professed introduction to his walking '" in newness of life," not only as to his out- ward actions, but with respect to his inward principles. The spiritual meaning of the external sign is the same, when baptism is administered to the infant-offspring of believers; even as the meaning of circumcision was the same, when it was performed on Abraham the aged be- liever, on Ishmael who |ierhaps never believed, and on Isaac an infant of ('ight days old, long before he believed. It was the outward sign of regeneration, or ' a death unto ' sin, and a new birth unto righteousness,' and it scaled justification by faith to all those who ever possessed the thing signified, but to none else. Thus Simon Magus, though baptized adult, derived no more benefit from the outward sign, than the multitudes do, who, having been baptized in infancy, when grown up, despise the inward and spiritual grace of it. Great stress has been laid ujion the expression, " buried with him by bajitism into death," as proving that baptism ought to be performed by im- mersion, to which tlie aposilc i.s supposed to allude : but we are said also to be crucified with Christ, andcjriHjnctsfrf Avith him, without any allusion to the outward manner in which crucifixion and circumcision were performed ; and as baptism is far more frequently mentioned with reference: to the pouring out of the Holy Ghost, and as the apostle is evidently treating on the inward meaning, not the outward form, of that ordinance, no conclusive urgunient seems dc- ducible from the expression, that immrrsion is necessary to baptism, or that baptism was generally thus administered J. Z>. G1. ROMANS. A D. CI. "'ri"?2"^'"' '' ^^ Xovv " if \vc be dead uith Christ, ''■'cor. "J'^irl- ^ "'<^ believe tliat we shall also live with i, x.il .: f'c\ Iijn, . J !. -J sr.iua. '■''" • , . ,'p,";\!,';,_,, 9 , Knowing that >' Christ, boinpj raised He" vii ui"S. '''0"i ^bb dead, diotli no more; ' death us"'*' ""' batli no more dominion over him. 11. V. I.l He!), ij II, 15. JO For in that he died, ' be died iinto»'"M 'Corr. 1 • 1 1 1- 1 1 1 !• 1 * ""^ '* ^^ sm once : but in tliat be liveth, '' ho hveth 7^=' ' i"" "■ unto God. i-,", >" 7-9. 11 Likewiisc"^ reckon ye also yourselves fp,"''!,''^ '* to '' be dead indeed unto sin, •■ but alive un- 5sj''«''2 to God ' through Jesus Christ our Lord. %,',' ,"^0,^' "; -tl3 V. I. xvi 27. Jolinnx-31. £ph ii 7. Ph.l "l 11 iv. 7, Col' V. 5 — r, ' By ail cloginf metaphor, tlio apostle com- ' jiarcs Christ, who died and was buried, and rose again ' iVoiii the (lc;ul, to a plant, which, being covered in the * earth, gorminatcs in ihie (inie. And then, because he ' had s lid that we arc dead to sin, and buried with Christ, ' that we might rise again unto righteou.snes.^, in order to *" intim;it.> that all those things take place by the grace ' which uc derive from Cliri.st, lie says that we have grown ' together with him into one plant, as those things '' which are " planted together" ' with a tree grow to- ' gethcr, and live by one common sap ' (Beza.) ' Wc * grow together with Christ, as moss, — misseltoc,or such ' like, grow up by a tree, and are nourished liy the juice * thereof.' {Leltrh.) Sinners become one with Christ, by partaking of the Moly Spirit, which animates his whole mystical body, as the soul does our natural bodies, and by fhe teaching and influence of the Holy Spirit, they believe tjiUo justification; but the same Spirit also mortifies all their sinful passions, and renews their souls unto holiness, li then a man be planted together with Christ in the like- ness of his death, he most certainly will be conformed to liim in the likeness of his resurrection, and, by motives and grace derived from him, habitually live a holy life, according to a new rule, and for new ends and purposes. For he will know, that Christ was crucified to atone for sin, in order that he might mortify and destroy it. So that the corrupt nature, (called a man, because it com- prises a complete system of unholy dispositions and affec- tions, and imparts its hileful influence through all the powers of the soul and members of the body, and the old man, because derived from the first Adam, and so in every one prior to grace, or the image of the second Adam,) is in all true believers, crucified with Christ, by the grace tlerlved from his cross. It is de]Ji-ived of dominion, and proscribed as an enemy and a condemned criminal; its de- struction is absouitcly determined ; it is weakened, confin- ed, and in a disgraced, sufl'ciing, and dying state, though it yet lives and struggles for life, and even fof liberty and victory. Nor is there tiie least intention, either in the be- liever or his gracious Lord, to release the crucified rebel ; die he must, though in a lingering manner ; the whole body of sin, every kind and degree of inconformity to the holy law of God, Duist be abolished and destroyed, that the believer may no more be the slave of any sin, and that at length he may be finally delivered from its harassing emotions. For he that is dead to the love and practice of £in is freed for ever from its yoke, he hadi passed into the service of another master, sin hath no further claim upon )iim, and shall never recover its lost authority. Thus the seventh verse is commonly explained ; but it is most ex- acdy translated: "He that is dead has been justified "from sin:" and the literal meaning seems still more iSptly to ct.i-:cidc with tlie aposde's argument; he. and he only who is dead to sin, is justified from the guilt of if. '' having received the free gift unto justification of life," (v. 18.) His death to sin is the requisite altestation of his being accounted righteous, so that the doctrine, pro- perly understood, is incapable of that perversion which is generally ohjectcil to it. V. 8 — JO. Conformity to Christ, in his death and re- surrection, is the cxpci-imenlal ground of hope, that wc shall live with Christ for ever in heaven, as partakers of the gift of God, even eternal life, through him. The promise of eternal life is indeed the direct ground of hope in this respect ; but all who hear the Gospel do not ob- tain the blessing, and iiow shall we know that we, rather than our neighbours, are interested in the promise, ex- cept by being conscious of having experienced this ' death unto sm, and new birth unto righteousness ?' If a professed Christian is a stranger to this change, his con- fidence of reigning with Christ in glory is presumptuous. But when we become dead to our once most beloved sin- ful pleasures, our prospect is clear, and our interest in the righteousness of the Surety is demonstrated. He rose from the dead, no more to be subjected to the dominion of death, seeing the end for which he died was fully an- swered. He could never have been liable to death, had it not been on account of dlr sins imputed to him as our Surety, to expiate which he died once; but, having accom- plished that grand and gracious design, he rose again, and now in our nature, as one with the Father, he liveth a heavenly life, in unspeakable exaltation and felicity, to the glory of the divine perfections and government, by the conducting and perfecting of his mediatorial work, " as " Head over all things to his church." In like manner, therefore, in conformity to his death and resurrection, we die unto sin, are delivered from its dominion, and rise to a new life, to fall no more under t\)^t bondage ; but henceforth for ever to live unto God, and to find happiness in his holy service, and in glorifying his name. As the blessed Jesus was in himself wholly free from sin, it seems impossible to find any satisfactory meaning in the words, " He died unto .sin once," unless we allow that he died as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of men, which were imputed to him, and " bare them in his own body " on the tree." V. 1 1. The preceding verses declare the character and experience of real Christians, according to their mea- sure of grace; but the apostle here proceeds to exhort professed Christians to evince their sincerity by a suitable conduct, and true believers to live up to their privileges, and in consistency with their profession. For this end, let them account themselves to be " dead indeed unto sin," and be influenced by this to a resolute rejection of all its allurements and temptaUons ; and let them consider them- seb.es- as alive unto God, through tlie redemption of hivS A. D. ei. CHAPTER VI. Jl. D. CI. ii6. » 2i.viij3, 12 Let 8 not sin therefore re\(rn m ss Dcut yii. i your " mortal body, that ye should obey 13. judg ,, d". it ' ill tlit' Lists thereof: "3. "^ 13 Neither '' yield ye your members 05 I vnu 11. 1 Cor. r • I i'^'u'yY^"'' instruments oi unrighteousness unto sin : i6.ii 8 vii..i3 jj^t 1 yield yourselves unto God, as those XIII. 14. 'iRl ^ ■ •' *, , , i^w'as's'Tinl ^hat are "alive horn the dead ; and " your 'jlj^fj 3 ijii'^'j; members as instruments of righteousness u.M iv. i-x iinto God I Pet i 1.1 li. UIllO VJUU. ?■ 14 For " sin shall not have dominion Uobn ! •lude 16. k IC IS \ arms, ur, weapons. 2 Co Kph ii. .1. 6 M. Beb. 5. 23. 1 Cor. vi. 15 Col ui 5 3mt ih 5, 6. iv. 1. ' Gr i,.l Ixii 1 2Chr. xst. 8 Dajl iii 2li 1 Cor. vl 5. Vhil. i.20 mil Luke xv. 2.1. 32 .lolin v. 2i. 2 Cor. v 15 14 Col. ii 13 1 Pet. ii. 2.1 n Ps xxxvii 30 I'rov xii. IS Jam. iii I. V. 20. 21. fs. cxxx. 7, 8 Mic. vii. 19. Malt. i. 21. Jolin viii, 36. Tit. ii Son ; that they may feel more powerfully tlie motives of the Gospel, to devote their lives, talents, and powers to his service, and to seek all their happiness in glorifying kim. V. 12, 13. ' The vicious afiections, like noxious * weeds, sprout up and increase of themselves but too ' naturally ; while the graces of the Christian temper, * exotics in the soil of the human heart, like the more ' tender jiroductions of the vegetable world, though the * breath of heaven must quicken them, require on our * part also, in order to their being preserved in health and ' vigour, constant superintendence and assiduous care.' {Wilberforcc.) 'Let none therefore, suffer sin to reign in their bodies, (which were become mortal, and which no attention or gratification could preserve from the grave ;) that they should obey and comply with its corrupt luslings, to the injury of their immortal souls. If a yrnfesscd Christian did this habitually, he could have no evidence of his conversion ; as provision is made in the Gospel for deliverance from the dominion, as well as from the con- demnation, of sin : and if a real Christian did this in any particular instances, it must weaken his evidence and con- fidence, and would be the effect of partial unbelief, «n watchfulness, and forgetfulness of his obligations and privileges. Let then no one of them yield, or consign over, the members, senses, or organs of their bodies, to bej employed as the instruments or weapons of the carnal propensities of the soul, in doing the work or carrying on the wari'are of unrighteousness, in the commission of sin : by making them inlets to sinful thoughts or affections into their hearts ; by communicating the inward evil to pollute others with corrupt words; or by gratitying any sensual, malevo- lent, covetous, or ambitious inclinatio!). But rather let them yield and give up themselves wholly unto God, as alive from the condemnation and death of in by his abun- dant grace ; that all their powers of body as well as soul, might be consecrated to his service, as instniineiils of his work in all righteousness, to his gloiy ; or as weapons with which to light Lis battles, against sin, the world, and Satan. Thus onr eyes should bp employed in contem- plating the works, and reading the word, of God ; our cars, in hearing his voice, and in attending to the • rirs of the distre.-sed ; our tongues in speaking the praises of God, anfi i" [ ro!it,..!c convers:Mion ; and even our natural incli- nati'':i.s should be so regulated by his law, and subordinated to superior considerations, that whether we cat, or drink, over you : f for ye are not under the law, pin i-.so vii a but '1 under grace. K!4,i''2i''i li' 15 MViiat then? ' shall we sin, be- ^^k ^Johi.) r! cause we are not under tiie law, but under rs«"n,,'ii' Ii."'' grace? God forbid. "^f '^'■' S??' 16 ' Know ye not, that " to whom \e '".is' h"i.. 11 • 1 1 , •' , , . .' O-IO Tit. li yield yourselves servants to obey, hisser- ii-i-i-Juriei. vaiits ye are to whom ye obey ; " whether " '■' J"-!' "'« ol sm unto death, or ol obedience unto f,";;', y}\ -' righteousness ? ^ ]?■ •'• 1372^: 17 But y God be thanked, ^ that ye 'i.fj''''i';i,|:' were the servants of sin : '' but ye have V. ■*!,",' "^ ^'i! ...» « . J -o. Acta XI. It' xxvrl. IS tlCor. Tl 3—11 Epli. ii 5-10. 1 Tim i 13-16. Til iii 3-7. 1 iVt ii 9'IP '" 2-5-: — »'...5-".8 XV. lb. xvi. 26. Ps. xviii. 44 Aiurff. 2 Ci r. x. i, 0. Heb. v or whatever we do, we may do it to the glorv of God. Is it not evident, that sin is here represented as" having its seat in the soul, which employs the members of the body as instruments of accomplishing its vile purposes ? And If so, what becomes of that system of intcrjiretation, which supposes animal nature to be the Jlesli, and the rational soul the spirit.^ (Notes, vii. 15—25. viii. 1 — 13.) V. 14, 15. Hope of victory gives fresh ardour to the courageous ; assurance of it would make a coward valiant. The slave emancipated from his yoke, or the captive escaped from his dungeon, will resist all attempts to re- duce him to his former abject state, with a vigour propor- tioned to the prospect of preserving his beloved liberty. Thus the aposde assures believers, that sin shall not reas- sume its hated dominion over them, in order to animate their opposition to its influence in every instance. He shows that the eround of this assurance of final liberty and victory lies in the nature of the covenant. He could not intend 'merely to distinguish between the legal dispen- sation and that of the Gospel, for all wpi;c not slaves to sin who were under the former, nor are all free from sin who live under the latter. But the moral law, as the founda- tion of the covenant of works, is evidently opposed to the covenant of grace. All who remain under the legal cove- nant must be held under the dominion of sin, and their efforts to emancipate themselves must be unsuccessful, because no grace is by it promised, or communicated to a sinner. But the believer passes from under this cove- nant, to be under that of mercy and grace ; and as motives and encouragements are by it supplied, so effectual help is insured to him, to preserve him from ever again becom- ing the willing slave of any sin, though he may be sorely harassed, baffled, or even polluted, by those tem[>tations and corruptions, to which he once was wholly subjected. Miiy Christians then safely commit sin, because '" diey "are not under the law, but under grace ?" To this iIir apostle answers with his usual energetic expression of abhorrence. A carnal man taking it Yor granted that Le is not under the law, but under grace, bt'cau.se of .<^oin/j change of notions oj- flow of affections, may thus abuse tiur doctiinc of final perseverance, as well as lint of free justi- fication ; but iho true believer cannot, his heart rifee* against the vile suggestion, and he must reject it with de- cided detestation ; or if betrayed to yield to it in any in- stance, he must abhor himself, and deeply repen! of mrk, base ingratitude and pcrverseness. .°K'ra'"ii"'6' job 19 1 '• speak after the manner of men,! sin, and i become servant.-- to Cod, 'ye *«'• i^' ''"vi,!*^ f because of tlie infirmity of your flesh :■ have your fruit unto holiness, =■ and the "i^^ei'-^l _ ,T - __ 1 • 1 1 "i "^ I I ■ •' ■ . ..» xxxvi 31. 32. for '- as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness, and to iniquity ■^ unto iniquity ; even ' so now yield your members servants to rigliteousness ^ unto holiness. 20 For when ye were ' the servants of sin, ye wprc free t from righteousness on, 17. 1 Or, to rij/Kcocsi v. 16 — 19. It could not but be known and acknow- ledged, that all believer.s were the servants of God. The ripostlc iherelbre demanded, whether it might not bo ascer- tained whom any man served, by observing the constant tenour of his conduct ? A person may do an occasional .service for one, to whom he is not a servant ; but no doubt he serves that man, to whom he habitually yields and addicts himself, and in whose work he spends his time and strength, day after day, and year after year. The case is the same in spiritual mailers ; a man may profess Christianity, and in some things appear to serve God, and vet habitually addict himself to sinful pursuits and plea- sures. But every one must be judged to be the servant of that master, to execute whose commands he willingly yields himself, whether it be the sinful bias of his own heart, in such actions as lead to death, or the new spi- ritual disposition to obedience, in habitually performing the righteousness recjuired in the law. The apostle, how- ever, not only congratulated the Romans, but thanked God also, on account of the change which had taken place in them. They had been the willing devoted slaves of sin, which they uniformly obeyed by gratifying their various carnal inclinations, without regard to the authority or glory of God. But they had now cordially obeyed the call of the Gospel, they had been delivered, or cast info the very fashion of it, as melted metal receives and retains the exact impression of the mould into which it is poured. Being thus renewed into the nature of the humble, holy, and loving Gospel of Christ, they were set at liberty from the slavery of sin, and became the servants of righteous- ness, obeying the dictates of that new nature, which is, as it were, God's representative in the heart, even as sin is that of Satan. These things the apostle stated to the Christians at Rome, by similitudes taken from the affairs of men, " because of the infirmity of their (lesh ;"' which rendered them less capable of understanding abstract reasonings, and that he might guard them against those delusions, to which their weakness and remaining sinful- ness would otherwise expose them. As therefore, before their conversion, they had yielded thefr bodies as well as their souls, to be the servants of uncleanness and injustice, thus continually accumulating guilt, adding strength to dieir evil propensities, and furthering the cause of wick- edness and ungodliness in the world ; even so ought they now to devote themselves wholly to be the ^rvants of Dan. Ii. t. 17- end everlasting life. 23 For ' the wages of sin is death ; " but i'l"'";,^^ the gift of God is eternal life, tiirough Je-„'[,' f°^°X^ sus Christ our Lord. '""''' " P">» 8 Jano liiil. ill 13 Hcb vi 8 Jam t. 20 I Pet. ir. 17. lier XX. H p St', on, 14. 18 vhi. 2 2 Cor. hi. 17. Gal. V. 13 q vii 24 Geu. I 17 Jnh i 8, Ps. Ixuxn. 2. cxiiii. 12 Is ||»' 17 D.II1 iii. 26 vi. SO Gal. i. If) Col. iv 12 T.t i. I. i»in i 1. I Pet ii 16 Ref. vii 3 14. .lohnw 2. 16. Gal v. 22. Eph v 9 Phil, i II. iv 17 Col.i 10 s SI 10. Ps. XXX O liii 17 Gen li. 17 K J.TI1 i Ii Rev xxi n u ii 1 S7 32, 3fti0 50-53.63, x.28 X ■ 37,38. .Matt. xiii. lO 43 xix 23. XXT 46. John It xvlii 4 20 1.,. ill II 1 Cor »i 9 lO Gal. iii 10 vi. 7. 8 7 21 John iii 14—17. 36. iv. 14 v. 24 39. 40. Tl. 1. Tit i 2. I Pet i 3 I Jobr ii. 2S. T.ll, 12. lightcousncss, or to execute constantly the commands of God, the dictates of his Spirit, and the motions of the new nature ; that by progressive sanctilication, they might press forward to perfect holiness, and do what they could to render others also holy and happy. V. 20. The willing slaves of sin, though by no means free from obligations to be righteous, ave yet unreslrained by them in following their own carnal inclinations ; they perform no service to righteousness, they are not in- fluenced by a regard to the glory or authority of God in any of their actions, but uniformly gratify some of their own unholy passions, and seek happiness in so doing. V. •j.l — 23. The apostle here calls on his readers to declare, what advantages they had acquired in the service of sin ? What was the fruit produced by those evil actions, of which, as penitents, they were at length ashamed ? They could not but know, that vanity, vexation, disap- pointment, disgrace, disease, remorse, fear, and sorrow, always attended, or followed sinful indulgences, beside? their fatal effects on others ; and therefore, if this life alone were considered, they could have no rational induce- ment to return to them. But, besides all present bad consequences, "' the end of these things is death," and it is a mere delusion to supjjose, that any creed or profession can preserve the habitual 'ransgressor from this condem- nation. As death is here opposed to everlasting life, and as temporal death is the end of the most godly, as well as the most ungodly life, it is clearly absurd to restrict his meaning to the death of the body ; doubtless he meant the future state of final misery, in a total separation from the presence and favour of God, and under his awful wrath and vengeance. From this condemnation the believer is set at liberty, when made free from sin, as the removal of the malefactor's fetters, and the opening of his dungeon, are connected with the pardon of his crimes. Then the Christian becomes the servant of God, thenceforth he has his fruit unto holiness, or the nature and effects of his conduct are holy, and it tends to increasing sanctification, and also to promote the general cause of truth and holiness against that of delusion, sin, and misery ; and it termi- nates in perfect holiness ; so that instead of death, at the end of his course, he is put in possession of everlasting life, of which he had many foretastes, in holy conso- lations, when serving God in newness of life. But this happy event of his conduct is not to be considered as a A. D. 61. CHAPTER VII. A. D. 01. CHAP. VII. The believer's death to the laio and union with Christ, that he may serve God in newness of spirit, arc illustrated by the law concerning marriage, 1 — 6. Through the depravity of human nature, the law, merit fd reward. Indeed death, temporal and eternal, is the stipend, or stipulated and deserved wages, of sin, even of every violation of God's law; this every man hath earned, and every unbeliever will receive. But eternal life is the gift of God to those wl\o condemn themselves, and re- nounce all dependence on their defective and defiled ser- vices, to rely eatirtly on free grace, through the right- eousness and atoncmeni of Jesus Christ; and that holiness, which is the meetness for heavenly happiness, is as much the gift of God through Christ, as that imputed righteous- ness which is the believer's title to it. Thus he apostle closes his argument cenccrning justification, a id sanctifica- tion as the seal and evidence of it. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—4. Self-righteous pride and antinomian licentiousness are two fata!- rocks, on which immense multitudes are con- tinually wrecked, and between which none but the Holy Spirit can pilot us ; and the objections of open enemies to the doctrines of grace derive their greatest plausibility from the unholy lives of many professed friends. The mercy of God is indeed glorified in proportion to the abounding sin which is freely pardoned to the penitent, but his justice will be glorified in the deepest condemnation of those, who " continue in sin, that grace may abound." Every true believer abhors the thought of thus perverting the Gospel, and despising the riches of divine grace ; and could he be led to think that he might go on in sin with im- punity, he would be kept back from it, by a strong aver- sion ; for how can he, in whose heart those principles are mortified, which gave rise to his former sinful courses, continue in those practices, which he now has no pleasure in, bat loathes and dreads ? Our bajitism indeed may instruct us in the necessity of thus dying to sin, and being buried, as it were, from all ungodly and unholy pursuits, and of rising to walk with God in newness of life ; and unholy professors of Christianity, (alas, how many are they !) belie and virtually renounce their baptism. They have had only the outward sign of ' a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness,' they have never passed from the family of Satan into that of God, they have never re- nounced the world, the flesh, and the devil, to believe in Christ, and keep his commandments. V. 5— li If indeed we have been so made one with Christ, as to stand accepted in his righteousness, we shall certainly have conformity to him in his death and resurrection ; and his grace will enable us to " crucify our old man, with his " affections and lusts," and excite us to determine on the destruction of the whole body of sin. ihet we may no Vol. v.— No. 31. though holy, just, and good, can only oc- casion sin and death, 7 — 1 '^. The pain- ful conjliit of those who delight in the law of God, but arc not able to keep it, 14 — 24; and their jyrospecl of deliver- ance by Christ, 25. more serve that hated enemy, which crucified our beloved Lord, nor ever resi satisfied, till it hath no place in our souls. Thus, by looking to our crucified, risen and glo- rified Redeemer, and believing that we shall live logetlier with him, wo should be animated to " reckon ourselves " dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through him." As our mortal bodies will at last be raised immortal and incorruptible by the almighty power of the Saviour, so we should never allow sin to reign in them, or obey it in the lusts thereof; but, praying earnestly for help from above, we should refuse to yield any of our senses or members to be the instruments of unrighteousness, and seel-: to have them all devoted to God, and employed in his ser- vice, as those who have already entered on that divine and happy life, which we hope to lead to all eternity. To this we may be encouraged by the nature of the new covenant. If indeed Christians, we are not under the law, which gives no power, and proposes no mercy, but under the grace of the Gospel ; and this ensures to the regenerate the liberty, with which Christ hath made him free. V. 16—23. The real Christian finds by experience .that his heart as well as his state is changed ; he has most cordially changed his master and his work ; he remembers that once he was the wretched slave of sin, but he thanks God, that he both heard, understood, believed, and obeyed the Gospel ; thus he found his mind cast into the form of it ; and as the same inetal becomes a new vessel, when melted and cast into the mould, so he became a new crealnre, when he was thus made free from sin, and became the servant of righteousness. Notwithstanding, therefore, " the infir- " mity of his flesh," he aims, and prays to be enabled, to spend all his powers and capacities of body and soul in the service of righteousness, unto increasing holiness, even as he once yielded them to serve his sinful passions, unto abounding iniquity. As they, who now are the servants of God, once were the slaves of sin, so they, who now are the slaves of sin, may become the servants of God, through the Gospel. We ought therefore diligently to use every means with those who are yet unchanged, in depen- dence on his blessing to render them effectual ; and when the change takes place, we should heartily thank him for it. We may boldly inquire of sinners. What fruit they gather from their vices ? What real good they derive from ungodliness and iniquity ? We may show them that all must be ashamed of such things, either in deep repentance here, or in everlasting contempt and misery hereafter ; for the end of them is death, and every wise man will con« sider in what future consequences his present conduct is likely to terminate. Happy is he, who is covered with shame for his past oflences, who is set at liberty from sin, who has his fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. .1. D. Gl. ROMANS. Ji. D. 61. :i Stf on, vi o. S ix.3. X I. r. ii 17, 18. Km vii 21. Prov vl CJ I Cor. ix. B 9. Gal. Iv 21. 4 6. vi II « Gen ii. 23. 2l. Num x«x 7» B I Cor vii. 4. 3S ; Es XX 14. Lev XX lU Mum V 13, ill- Ueut Xtji. £3 - 14, Matt. V. 3^ Marl! X. 6—12. ■lohD viii. 3—5. KNOW ye not, " brethren, (for I speak "^ to them that know the lavv,j iiow tliat "^ the law hath dotiiinion over a man as long as he liveth } 2 For '' the woman which liatii an hus- band, is bound by the law to licr husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law oi her husband. .3 So then, ' if while her husband liveth she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her hus-g Rutin n. i band be dead, slie is free from that laiv : ia irim.'v.Ti so that she is no adulteress, f though she ts vi u. ci. , -1*1 O ii. 13,20 iii IS. be married to another man. « "«• coi n 4 Wherefore, mv brethren, " ve also ' "»" »»vi 2«. are become dead to the law by 'the body "^°!:*"^ ^^y' J . ./ X. 10 tPct II 24' of Christ; ^'- that ye should be niariied to "jf i^'^j'^Yij'* another, even to him who is raised from ?„ "oSniii m the dead ; ' that ye should bring forth -^l'^, Ji_2?; fruit unto God. It is of the Lord's n.ercy, that we have not received as well a.s deserved, the wages of sin ; but thanks be to Got! for tlie iiKsliinable gift of his own Son to be our Sal- vation, and oi" eternal lite through him ! May we all fore- go our boasts and renounce our vain confidences, may vvc couic as coiidemiied criminals, not to buy, merit, or earn, the favour of God, which is life eternal, but to supplicate him, for Christ's sake, to bestow ii on us as a free gift, that he may have all the glory both now and for evermore ! NOTES. CHAP. VII. V. 1 — 4. The aposde had before .said, •' Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not •' under the law, but under grace." (i\'c»" -."r.'"" '• fortli fruit unto death. 20 1 Cor xr. i i- i /■ 1 -9 Ga^i"nT"'io^ ^ ■""* ■■ now we are dehvered from the f joiin'i'ii '4 '" '^^^'' t that being dead wherein we were 'i9~Gj?'v"i9- held ; that we should '^ serve in newness p^M.^Ti 'i3'*i9 of spirit, and not in the oldiiess of the coi.iii.5 ja^ letter. q vi. 21. r 1 vi. H, 15 Gal. iii. 13. 23-25. iv 4,5. r Or. bring dead to thai. 1 4 31 9 ii 27-29 vi. 4. II 19-22. sii. 2. Ez Ki. 19 EXXti 26. 2 Cor iii. 6. v. 17. Gal. ii 19,20 vi. 15 Phil. iii. 3. Col iii. 10. been equitably divorced for consanguinity, (which rendered her former marriage a nullity ;) or for any other cause, would be guilty of adultery, if she married again during her former husband's life : for neither the law of Moses, nor the precepts of Christ, inculcate any such thing. Now the case of the believer, in respect of the subject un- der consideration, bore some analogy to that which had been stated, Not only were the Jewish converts dead to the Mosaic ]aw. by its virtual abrogation ; but all true Christians were become dead to the moral law, as a cove- nant of Works " by the body of Christ," by his incarna tion, obedience, and sacrifice on the cross for their trans gressions. He having thus answered its demands as their Surety, it had no further power to condemn ; but believ- ers were looked upon to have fully endured its sentence, and fulfilled its righteousness, by their Representative. Thus the relation between them and the law was dissolved, (as marriage is by the natural or legal death of either par- ly ;) and this was in order to their being married to Christ as risen from the dead, that being united to him according to the covenant of grace, and interested in all his unsearch- able riches, they might, by the supply of his Spirit, bring forth such fruit in their lives, as should bear the holy stamp of God upon it ; be meet for his gracious acceptance ; and honourable to his name. It should be remembered, that many of the Christians at Rome had been Gentiles, who never were under the Mosaic law ; and even the Jewish converts were not as yet required to renounce it : and this consideration still more fully proves that the apostle meant something very different from what many learned exposi- tors have supposed. (Note, Gal. ii. 19, 20.) V. 5, 6. " In the flesh," evidently means an unrege- nerate state, (Mars:, fiff-) which is the necessary conse- quence of being under the covenant of works, and desti- tute of the grace of the Gospel. While, therefore, both Jews and Gentiles were in this state, the motions of sin, or those carnal desires and affections which the law forbad, powerfully exerted themselves, wrought by the members of the body, or rather in all the constituent parts of the man, to produce such thoughts, desires, words, and works, as subjected them to death by the sentence of the law, instead of entitling them to life, as having fulfilled its righteousness. But when, by faith in Christ, diey were delivered from that covenant, and their former relation to the law was dissolved, they becoming dead to it, or it becoming dead to them, they were brought into a new re- lation to Christ, and God dealt with them by another co- venant. Being, therefore, now regenerate, and having .sure promises of grace as well as mercy, they were encoura- 7 ' What shall we say then ? " Is the law sin ? God forbid. Nay, =« I had not known sin but by the law : lor 1 had not known I lust, except the law had said, ^ Thou shalt not covet, 8 But ' sin, taking occasion by the commandment, ^ wrought in me alf man- ner of concupi-u ence. '' For without the law sin ivas dead. i5pll. V. 3 Col. iii 5. 1 John ii. 15, 10. z 11. 13. 17, i». 15 v. SO.- tiii.S iv l.vi.14 u 8. 11. '.3. I Cor XV. 56 xa ii in. I's. xtx.7 — ILV ciix '.IS. t Or, concvvi' tcerce 8. 1 Thes It 5 y xiii 9. Celi.iii. 6 Ex. XX r. Deut. V. 21. Mart. V :a. Luke Sii. 16 — a Jam i 14, ged and enabled to worship and obey God in newness of spirit, from ingenuous principles, according to the spi- ritual meaning of the precept, in cordial love and gratitude under the intluence of the Holy Spirit, and not merely with external observances, moral or ceremonial, according to the mere letter of the precejit, and the corrupt glosses of the scribes and elders upon it, of which alone the old na- ture is capable. {Notes, kc. Matt. v. "2 Cor. iii.) ' Some ' of the works of the flesh do not require the members of ' our body, but only the faculties of our minds, for their ' performance.' (Locke.) V. 7, 8. It might be objected, that if they who were under the law inevitably remained the slaves of sin, and if none could serve God in newness of spirit, till they were dead to it, and it to them, surely the law and sin were in substance the same, and would not this be a vile aspersion to cast upon the law of God .-' To this objection, the aposde answered, with abhorrence of such blasphemy, by observing that the law and sin were diameUically opposite to each other, and that the former tended to discover and detect the latter, (iii. 20. v. 20,) so that, in his owr; case, he should not have known the sinfulness of his aflections and actions, but by the law. That exact balance detected the deficiency of his obedience, and that perfect standard showed the obliquity of his heart and life, as well as proved his sins to be more aggravated and numer- ous, than he had ever Before imagined ; at the same time that it contained no provision of mercy or grace for him. Thus the wholesome laws of the community shut up the criminal in a dungeon, load him with fetters, and con- demn him to death for his contrariety to them ; but the clemency of the prince alone can give him a pardon and release. In particular, the aposde observes, that, by his natural conscience without the law, he should not have known that hist, or coveting, was sinful ; he should not have supposed, that, though free from adultery, theft, or murder, yet the desire of a forbidden indulgence, or an object withheld by Providence, was criminal, even so criminal as to expose him to the curse of the law. Nay, he should not have felt so many Ivstings or covetincrs, if the very strictness of the commandment, " Thou shalt not " covet," had not given occasion to them. So that sin, (his depraved nature, spoken of as an agent,) traiterously watching the opjiortunity of destroying him, took occasion from the commandment to excite in his heart all manner of concupiscence. The imagination began to rove after for- bidden objects, the carnal heart hankerer' fcr them, and he was led to conceive of some greater satisfaction in them, Uian in those which were not forbidden. That man has F 2 J. D. 01. ROMANS. J. D. 61- cMvt. lis. 20. 9 I^oi- c I ^ya3 alive '' without the law Juke K 25-19. Ill 1 XV.29. xvi.19- Qfjce : ' but when the commandment u. 21 riiii. Ill . . 1 1 !• 1 d*M.tt V 21. &C. came, ' sm revived, s and I died. "iB-'s""'' 10 And ''the commandment, which 'pi' i'i"' )? GuT '"«■' ordained to life, I found to be unto in, 1 1 I 31-23 viii 7. 5 1-6 Marg. II. iii. JO. Oil. ii. 19 b X 5. Lo i.\. II. Lu'^e X. 27-29. 2 Cor in 7. no deep knowledge of human nature, or the perverse wickedness of his own heart, who does not ob.serve, or is not conscious, of this irrational proi)ensity, to fancy that there is something cxciuisiteiy jileasurable in what is out of our reach, or prohibited. Indeed, it seems natural to expect that it would be so with the posterity of those, who could be satisfied with no fruit in the garden of God, c.Kccpt thn which he had forbidden; amidst the profusion of E'.len, pci-ha|)S that tree had been disregarded, if it had not been prohibited. We soon see this propensity in others, especially in our children, though perhaps self- love may m.ike us blind to it in ourselves. " For without " the law sin was dead ;" not only the same affections and actions' could not have hurt us, if the law had not given sin its condemning power, but the sinful principle lays comparatively in a dead or dormant state, as a frozen serpent is inactive and innoxious, til! the warmth enlivens it, and it recovers vigour, and then if provoked its nature becomes apparent. Thus the spiritual precepts and awful sanctions of the law excite the dcjiravity of the heart by their contrariety to it, (as the alkali produces an effer- vescence by its opposition to the acid ;) and so the heart rises in blasphemous enmity to the law, and rushes more impetuously into transgression. In what sense can this be applieil to the ceremonial law, the ordinances of which a carnal mind might readily com|)ly with, provided their relation to the Gospel were not perceived ? Does the tenth commandinent belong to the ceremonial law ? Where is the marked transition from the ceremonial to the moral law to be found in this discussion ? Is not the apostle evidently throughout illustrating "bne proposition, namely, that they who are under the law are slaves to sin ? I'he inconsistency of expositors, who set out by confining the meaning to the ceremonial law, or the Mosaic dispensa- tion, and then gli le. either imperceptibly to themselves, or at least without hintins: it to their readers, to the most spiritual jjrccept of the moral law, must be obvious to every attentive student ; and the perplexity which arises from this source is inexpressible. ' It is surprising to me, ' that the learned Mr. Locke, and some others after him, •■ shouhl make the sense of the passage to be, " without •' the law," (meaning the law given by Moses) " sin is •' dead," not able to hurt me, or, without the law of ' Moses, which annexes death to transgression, sin is as ' good as dead, is not able to have its will against me, and ' bring death upon me. For this is contrary to the ' apostle's |>eremptory assertions, that " by one man sin " entered into the world and death by sin," " that sin '' was in the world until." or all along before, " the " law," and that" death reigned from Adam to Moses." * (v. 12 — 14. ■) How then could it be said, that sin was * not able to hurt the apostle, or to bring death en hicn, 'or upon any other Jew, without the law of Moses; 1 1 For ' sin, taiviii'x occasion by the ■ ^ '^. ^ , , , , ." , ,J, . k lixl 5 20 Jer. commandment, ''deceived nie, and by it x».i a. xi,i is , ' ./ Ob 3. kpli IV. slew me. 22 'J'J'j'jilj"' 12 Wherefore ' tlie law w holy; and 'J« li^'^.^'j/'J; ™ the commandment holy, and just, and f^'iVVi'x; frood. "^ '-'=* "'» ^'^'■ a""-""' 8C 127, I2«. 127 UO 172. I Tim. i 6 m 7. ' since " it had reigned unto death," so many hundred ' years before that law was given ; and we are told, that ' the very heathens, who had only the law of nature, ' knew the judgment of God, that the transgressors of ' that law were worthy of death V {Rom. i. 32.) {Guise.) v. 9 — 12. It seems evident, that the apostle here spoke literally of himself and his own experience. If he personated another man, why did he not give some intimation of his design ? In another place he fairly brought forward the Jew, (ii. 17 — 29.) and ambiguity is no characteristic of his writings. Indeed, I apprehend, that the more humble and spiritual any Christian is, the more clearly will he perceive, that the aposde describes the experience of the true believer, from his first convictions to his greatest progress in grace during this present life. His avowed object is to show that the law can do nothing for a sinner, either to justify or sanctify him, and that the believer feels this daily, as long as he lives. '' 1 was," says he, "alive without the law_ once;" he was once a Pharisee, ignorant of the spirituality of the law, and only attentive to the outward letter, to the corrupt glosses of the scribes, which served only to limit and explain away even the literal sense of the command, and to ceremonies and traditions; and having some general decency of cha- racter, without any acquaintance with his inward corrup- tions, he concluded that his heart and life were good, and that he was in a state of acceptance with God. But when the commandment came to his conscience, by the convic- tions of the Holy Spirit, and he perceived its righteous and extensive requirements, and its severe denunciations, he found the lusts of his heart, which before seemed dormant, rise against it, and every endeavour to fulfil its precepts showed him more plainly his inability to do it. Thus his former hopes died away, he found himself a helpless sinner under merited condemnation, and became as a dead man, except as the Gospel revived him from despon- dency. And the law, of which the promise was, that " The man that doeth these things shall live in them," which was originally ordained to life for holy creatures, and from which he, though a sinner, had expected heaven, was " found to be unto death ;" even as the law of the land, which secures the lives of honest men, is found to be unto death by the murderer or robber. The ceremonial law was not ordained unto life, except as it pointed out Christ, the Substance of its shadows, and it was found unto death by none, but those who made it an appendix to the covenant of works, and rejected Christ for the sake of it ; and this jiorfeclly coinciilcs with the interpretation above given. For sin, the corruption of fallen nature, being averse to the holy strictness of the law, by its extreme deceitfulncss, seduced Paul into various tr:m=gressions, and thus slew all his self-righteous hopes, and actually brought him under deeper condemnation. Not that the law Cflugct? J. D. 6!. CHAPTER VII. .^. D, CJ. ,iii 3. cuii. 1 3 \Yr^g „ jjj^i^ jj^jjj wliich is good, made im'i is-ij'^' deathunto me ? God forbid. But "sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good ; that sin by the com- mandment miffht become exceedinff sinful. this, or even gave any just occasion for it : though sin took occasion from it, as a wielded man takes occasion fi'oni a pious discourse, or a friendly admonition, to scotf, blas- pheme, or rage die more. The whole law must therefore be allowed to be perfectly holy, the transcript of the divine character ; and each commandment, (especially that pro- hibiting concupiscence.) most pure, and at the utmost distance from moral evil; most just, as recjuiring nothing more than what is righteously due to God and our neigh- bours ; and most good, as tending to the true welfare of ourselves, our families, the community, and all mankind : so that the universal observance of it would almost anni- hilate the evils of the world, and convert earth into heaven. The apostle never passes such eulogiums on the cere- monial law, or the Mosaic dispensation : they had a temporary fitness and goodness ; but they made nothing perfect, and consisted of carnal ordinances, which con- tinued in force till the time of reformation. V. 13, 14. The question here recurred, Was a good law made death to those who were under it ? Was this its natural tendency and efficacy ? This conclusion the apostle rejects with detestation. Wholesome food, or a valuable medicine, through a diseased state of the body, or when taken improperly, may occasion death, contrary to its feneral and proper tendency : but poison kills, as a cause y its native efficacy. The law may occasion death through man's depravity ; but sin is the poison that causes it. It was not therefore the law, but sin, that was made death to Paul; sin took occasion from the goodness of the law to manifest its own deformity, odiousness, and dire malig- nity, by working death in him by that which w^as good, as an intemperate man murders himself, not by a sword or by poison, but by the wholesome gifts of a bountiful Providence. Thus through the commandment " sin be- " came exceeding sinful ;" that is, the odious and ruinous nature of sin, as well as the sinfulness of the human heart, were most clearly shown, in order that the abound- ing grace of God might appear the more glorious. For, says the apostle, we " know and allow that the law is " spiritual.'''' It is not like human laws, which only reach to the outward actions, and take no cognizance of the motives, aftections, and thoughts : for God chiefly re- spects these : the law requires an entire coiiforfoity to the spiritual excellency of the divine perfections, and such a state of the heart as approves itself to him who is a Spirit ; and it allows of nothing but what is done from the most pure and sublime motives, and in perfect love, zeal, gra- titude, and delight. Compared with this, the apostle found that he was " carnal, sold under sin :" his nature was perfectly opposite to this spiritual law ; and afte'r all his attainments in grace, he found himself so much short of this perfection, and in every respect so unable to attain to it, though he ardently aspired after it ; that he seemed comparatively to be carnal, and like a man who is sold against his v.ill to a hated master, from whom he can by li For we know that f (lie law is ^J;';, ^f'? ; spiritual; *• but I am 'carnal, ' sold under sC'^j,'^^;"- (] in. 52.23. JoSslii 6 Ps cxis. 24. Prr 6. 7. xvni 11-14 Kpti ill. 8 r xxxiii 27. 36. xl. L-J. Es. xii a-J. x\ 111. 3 Am. il e .Matt, xvili 2^. X. 5 !■; V 5. Ixiv i. G. Li I,e. v 8 \!i. 1 K ui^ .'. 'i Ki J X ►,T. 17 .'4 ( Is 1. l'. no means set himself at liberty. Numbers cannot con- ceive, that St. Paul could mean this of himself as a con- firmed believer ; and finding it to be inseparably connected with what follows, they would explain the whole of v.n awakened .Jew, or some other convinced sinner, who is seeking justification by die works of the law ; or at most of an unconfirmed believer. But such diings are spoken as are true of none but real Christians ; and the whole is actually verified in their experience. A believer can- not willingly sell himself to work wickedness, as Ahuh did; nor will he imitate those slaves, who loved their master and his service, and refused liberty when oflered to them : yet when he compares his actual attainments with the spirituality of the law, and with his own desire and aim to obey it, he sees that he is yet to a great degree car- nal in the state of his mind, and under the power of evil propensities, from which, (like a man sold for a slave,) he cannot wholly emancipate himself. Me is carnal in exact proportion to the degree in which he falls short of peifect conformity to the law of God : and he indignantly and reluctantly serves an abhorred master ; yet cannot shake off the galling chain, till his powerful and gracious Friend comes to rescue him from it. It is true, this inability lies only in the remaining evil of his heart : yet it is a real but most humiliating, hinderance to his servino- God, as angels and the spirits of just men made perfect do, or as the Saviour did, who could say, " The prince of " this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." To this perfect holiness the zealous believer cannot but aspire, nothing short of it will ever satisfy his " hungerinc^ and " thirsting after righteousness," and this proves that in another sense he is made free from sin, and become the " servant of righteousness." As the apostle was far more enlightened and humble than Christians in general are, so doubtless this clog was more uneasy to him, than it is to them, (though some of us find our lives at times embit- tered by iU) So that this energetic language, which many imagine to describe an unestablished believer's experience or even that of an unconverted person, seems to have resulted from the extraordinary degree of St. Paul's sancti- fication, aad the depth of his self-abasement and hatred of sin ; and the reason of our not readily understandino- him seems to be, because we are so far beneath him in holiness, humility, acquaintance with the spirituality of God's law' and the evil of our own hearts. In the former part of the chapter, the aposde had spoken in the past tense, " I wa.=; " alive, &.C ;" but here he uses die present, to which he uniformly adheres in what follows. He had described his state as a blind proud Pharisee, and the manner in which he became dead to the law, as to dependence on it for justification ; and here he shows, that even as a confirmed Christian, all his hope and all his holiness must come from Christ, according to the new covenant. Thus, in another place, he says, " What things were gain to me, these J " counted loss for Christ, yea, doubtless, and I count ai' j}. D. 61. ROMANS. Jl. D. 61. 1 xiv 28 Luke 1.5 For ' that ^vhich I do, I * allow not; gV know r, for" what I would, that do I not; but .2 Tim. li' IS.' x what I hate, tiiat do I. Ii"iy i" I'v ^'' If then I do that wliich I would -■> "'"ic^^l ""*' * ^ consent unto the l^w that it is 20 'oal.'v. 17 p-ood. 'john/? 8 ' ^^ iSow then, ^ it is no more 1 that do V'xiv"^? 'io'c'. it? ^^ut " sin that dwelleth in me. ?s«?i?3.'"p,lii 18 For 1 know " that in me, (that is, \'jj ;,^,j»ii;^-'^ in ray flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: i.3 Judei3 yl2. 14 S2.Ps.csix. 127,158 2 20 iv 7. 8. 2Cor. viii 12 Phil iii. 8 9 a 18 io. 23 Jam iv S 6. h Gen. vii 5 vlii 21. Job ji'" ■• »" n— ifi XXV '4 P8. 11 5. Is. Ixiv. 6. Ma" «" 11 Mark vii Si- Tit iii 3 I Pet iv. 2. c S jii. 8 9 a 18 20. 23 Jam iv S 6. h Gen. vii 5 vlii 21. Job xiv. 4 XV. 14—16 xxv'4 P8. li 5. Is. Ixiv. 6. MatI XV. 19. Mark vii 21—23 Luke xi. 13 E(.h ii. 1-5 3-13. xiii li. Juhn iii 6. Gal v. 19-21.21. " things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of " Christ Jesus, &c." (Note, Phil, iii. 7—9.) Some in- deed make the transition fiom the experience of the apos- tle, under his first convictions, to his subsequent conflict with indwelling sin, to be made at the next verse ; but the change of tense in this place hardly admits of that construction. In the very same chapter, in which our Lord pronounces Peter blessed, as a believer, he says, '• Thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those " that be of men," {Mull. xvi. 23.) that is, thou art ctiiHul, not totally, but in a considerable degree. Humbly to confess and deeply to lament being thus " carnal and " sold under sin," is not the disposition and conduct of a willins; slave to his lusts ; and the readiness, with which numbers of the most eminent believers adopt the apostle's language, shows that it is very suitable to their strong feel ings of self-abasement and abhorrence of sin. " I ab •' hor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." '• Wo is me =• for I am undone, for I am a man of unclean lips, fcc." ■' My soul cleaveih unto the dust." " Surely I am more ■' brutish than any man !" V, 15 — 1 r. The apostle here more jjartlcularly enlarges on the conflict, which he dally maintained with the re- mainder of his natural depravity. He was frequently be frayed into such tempers, words, or actions, as he did not approve, or allow, in his renewed judgment and affec- tions. He earnestly desired, and fully determined, if possible, to perform a perfect obedience to the law of God, but he continually fell short ; and while he hated and abhorred every kind and degree of sin, he found it impracticable wholly to avoid committing it. In thus do- in" what he hated, and desired above all things to shun, he " consented to the law, that it was good ;" and as the prevailing bias of his soul was to holiness, he was eviden ced by it to be a regenerate man, under the covenant of grace, so that it would not be considered that he did the evil which he hated, but it would be charged to the ac- count of sin, that dwelt In him as a detested inmate, which he could not expel, though he would not willingly obey it. He certainly did not meAn to e.ijcuse his sinfulness, as if he might not jiislly have been condemned for it; but to show- that righteousness could In no case be by the law, and that, by the grace of the Gospel, a man's state and cha- racter arc determined according to what habitually pre- vails in his heart and life, notwithstanding impediments and restraints. A wicked man feels some Inward opposi- tion to his crimes from conscience, fear, or shame, and ' for to will is present with me, but ''J'ix"i"2.^ how to perform that which is eood, I find l7c."~G.i' v'l^ not. ^ r "" "' 19 For the good that I would, I do not : but the evd whicli I would not, that II e 17. 1 do. f23. vi 12. |4. 20 Now if I do that I would not, ' it is lllp£, '»■ no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth jf^y,' i',"'^' ill nie gscbr. ixx 18, '" ""-• 19. Ps.xil 12. 21 I find then ' a law. that when 1 f,' '^vi"'^": would do good, 8 evil is present with ^l^^ {JJ l^^^ he meets with various obstacles to the gratification of his desires, yet all this is accounted for nothing, whilst sin habitually jjrevails in his heart and conduct ; and a godly man has great hinderances in his holy progress, from in dwelling si;i and outward temptation, yet this is not imputed to him for condemnation, seeing the prevailing state of his heart and tenour of his conduct are holy. Thus Judas, in betraying Christ, acted in character, ac- cording to the habitual, though concealed, state of his heart ; it was he that did it : but Peter, through sudden temptation, acted out of character, and contrary to the ha- bitual state of his heart, in denying Christ ; it was " not " he, but sin that dwelt in him,'' according to the gracious tenour of the new covenant. V. 18 — 21. The aposde knew, that in him, as a fallen creature, apart from regenerating grace, no good thing, but sin, and only sin, was found, though its actings were more specious at one time than another. It Is evident from the limitation, " that Is, in my flesh," that he spoke as a believer, who had grace as well as sin dwelling in him ; for it will soon appear, that by flesh, in this con- nexion, he does not mean the body as distinct from the soul, but the old man, or human nature, in unregeneracy, which never concuis with the Holy Spirit in regeneration, or with the new man afterwards, but strives against both. He was more deeply acquainted with this humiliating truth by his experience subsequent to conversion, than he had been before. Formerly, he might have supposed that a little good disposition, or moral ability to holiness, was ia man, but this was now experimentally disproved. As regenerate, he had indeed an habitual willingness to obey the law of God, and to accomplish the good required by it ; but his corrupt nature, though dethroned and crucified, made such constant opposition to this, that he could by no means perform what he aimed at. So that, in fact, he did not fulfil that measure of good, which he was habitually desirous of doing, but in every thing fell short of his aim ; and he was also frequently doing the evil, in some measure or respect, which he was most bent upon avoiding. Now, as he was thus constantly baflBed and obstructed. In his earnest persevering deslre.« and endeavours to obey the law, it was evident that it was not properly he, as a believer, who did this, but the traitor and enemy that lodged within his heart. He was obliged, contrary to his habitually pre- valent inclinations, to live under a sort of necessity of being a sinner, and he could only persist in maintaining the conflict with his inward enemies, without being able A. D. 61. CHAPTER VII. A. D. 61. h Till 7 Job xxiii 12. Ps 1 2 XllC. 8-10 X tl csix 16 2! 31 47, 48 12 92 97 - UH III 113 127 167 174. Is li 7. John iv 34 He'., "ii 10 ii. 29 2 Cor IV 16. Eph. Ill It; 22 For " I delight in the law of God af- ter ' the inward man : 2:i But I see "^ another law in m\ members, warring against the law of ni} mind, ' and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my mem- bers. entirely to extirpate thcni. For, in fact, he found, b} painful experience, that there was a law imposed upoii him, in his present state of warfare, that when he was most desirous of doing good, evil was present with him, to interrupt, intrude, baifle, discourage, and defile him. Lei any man who knows his own heart, and the spirituality of the law of God, compare his actual conduct, comprising his thoughts, affections, words, and woiks, during any given time, with his purposes, prevailing desires, and earnest persevering prayers ; let him take that one dutj which he esjiecially aims to perform most perfectly, or thai ietnper or evil propensity which he most longs to rec- tify or extinguish ; let him examine himself very exactly in these respects every night, and he will surely find, that he cannot but be a sinner still, and is subjected to '• a law, " that when he would do good, evil is present with him." God has wise reasons for permitting this to be so, espe- cially to give us a deeper sense of the malignity of sin and our own vileness, in order to commend tiie grace of the Gospel ; but they, who are most acquainted with the ex- cellency of the law, and most diligently aim in every thing to obey it, will be most sensible that the case is really thus with them. Yet this opposition to sin, and mortifying disappointment resjiectiiig their most ardent desires, must not be confounded with the willing slavery of sin, and the convenient excuse of indwelling depravity. The apostle. " daily exercised himself to have a conscience " void of offence toward God and man ;" and could call others to witness, '• how holily, and justly, and unblame- " ably, he had behaved among them." Yet this was not inconsistent with his being deeply humbled in the sight of God, by the consciousness of wandering thoughts in prayer, want of fervour of love and gratitude to God, zeal for his glory, and enlarged good will to men, the rising of evil tempers, the intrusion of vain imaginations, and the in- termixture of selfish motives. All these are sin, and as such, hated and abhorred, in proportion to the degree of sanctification ; yet no mere man on earth, after all pos- sil)le diligence, watchfulness, fasting, and prayer, could truly say, that in these respects he was perfectly free from sin, in his worship and obedience. So that even a person, who is not conscious of at any time neglecting one duty, or committing one actual transgression in word or deed, (which is at least a most uncommon case,) yet aspiring to be holy as an angel, or as Jesus Christ was, will very painfully feel, that " he doeth not the things that he would, " and find a law, that when he would do good, evil is "present with him;" and the more spiritual the services are, in which he engages, the greater clog and hinderance will it be to him. Had the aposde intended to describe ♦he case of any of those, however distinguished, who 24 O ■" wretched man tliat I am ! '"^j^pjf • {."'"s' ' who shall deliver me from * the body of ^ i>xxii 3, *; this death .'^ cxix. 2n.8i-«3. 25 I ° thank God ; through Jesus Christ f^'V '-3. <"'' _ ' o IX 4 Matt. V. our Lord. '' So then with the mind 1 my- *_% ue'v^x' 4. .elf serve the law of God j bat with the "j?*; flesh the law of sin. i7 Ps Ixxi 11. Ixxii.l2 xci 14, 15 cii. 20 Mic. vii 19 Zecb. ix. n. 12 I.ute iv. 18 aCor.i 8-10 2Tiin iJ. 18 Tit.il 14 Heb ii 15. 'Or. IMt bvdn 0/ dialh vi 6 viii. 13 Col. ii. 11. 8 vi. 14 17 Ps cvii. IS, 16. cxvi. 16, 17. Is xii. 1 xlis 9. 13. Malt, i 21. 1 Cor xv. 57. 2 Cor. is. 15. xii. 9. 10. Epli. v 17 1 Pet. ii. 5 9. p 15-24 Gal v. 17-24. 20. Pbil. ill. 3. iT. 6. Col. habitually live in sin, against the conviction of their own JLidgment and conscience, it cannot be conceived, that he would not, with his usual concise energy, have reprobated their conduct, as far more aggravated than that of igno- rant and thoughtless transgressors ; but nothing of this kind appears ; on the contrary, he leads on the character, which he is describing, to exultation and joy in believing. V. 22—25. By the " inward man," tlie apostle must mean the soul, as renewed by divine grace. He alone uses the term, and concerning believers only. The aflections and powers of the soul of fallen man are more opposite to the law of God, than the bodily appetites ; nay, the latter are not sinful, except as improperly gratified through the iusts of the heart. {Marg. Ref.) But to approve, and even delight in, the law of God, according to the habitual judgment and aflections of the soul, through a kind of spiritual sympathy, or congeniality of heart with its most spiritual requirements, must be peculiar to the regenerate, and impU a high degree of sanctification. (Note, viii. 5—9.) This the apostle had attained to ; yet he found another law in his members, (not the members of his body, but the constituent j)arts of the old man,) which continually enjoined a conduct, or suggested inclinations, contrary to " the law of his mind ;" and this tended to bring him into captivity to the law of sin, and in some cases for a time it jjroduced that effect. This painful con- flict was more grievous to him than all his other trials ; so that he was led to bemoan himself as a wretched man, who was constrained by invincible necessity to be, and to do, what he most abhorred. This extorted a bitter com]ilaint, which neither bonds, nor stripes, nor tortures, could have done ; and with a sort of holy impatience and ea- gerness, he exclaimed, " O wretched man that 1 am ! " who shall deliver me from the body of this death ?" For indwelling sin clogged his motions, offended his senses, and was a nuisance to him, as a spiritual man ; even as if any one should be forced to drag about with him a putri- fying corpse, as by a refinement of cruelty some have been sentenced to do. He found by experience that he could not deliver himself; and the law, instead of deliver- ing him, seemed to make the case still worse ; but this made him the more fervently to thank God, for the method of salvation revealed through Jesus Christ, which gave him earnest and sure hopes of final and complete deliver- ance from this enemy, and a triumphant victory in this spiritual warfare. " So then," says he, " I myself with " miy mind," my prevailing judgment, aflections, and pur- poses, as a regenerate man, " serve and obey the law of " God ;" but with the flesh, the carnal nature, the re- mains of depravity, " I serve the law of sin," or that law which wars against the law of my mind. Before A. D. Gl. ROMANS. A. D. 61. CHAP. VIII. They, who are in Christ, and walk after the Spirit, arc free from condemnation, 1 — t. The carnal, and the spiritual mind, .O — 8. They, and only they, are the children of God, who have the Spirit of Christ, are led by the Spirit, and mortify the flesh, 9 — 14. The Spirit of adoption testifies with their spirit, and marks than heirs of God, though now exposed to suffering, 15 — 18. The cre- ation, through man's sin, is subject to vanity, and waits for deliverance at the conversion the whole man serves this law, with a very feeble opposition from conscience, fear, and shame ; but at length the usurper is dethroned, and grace reigns in the heart. Yet still the usurper lurks in the kingdom, reigns over his own party, makes war, creates immense dis- turbance, and gains temporary advantages, but he is hated, opposed, proscribed, and shall die. Delight in the law of God. ' This is so sure a trace of real piety, and is rcpre ' sented in Scripture as in this view so decisive, that if ' it be supposed a true representation of a character, we ' must surely allow it to have been that of a truly good ' man.' {Doddridge.) It is especially spoken of Christ, and of the man after God's own heart, as the type of him. It is the effect of " the law being written in the heart," and it is the direct opposite of " the carnal mind, which is " enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of " God, nor indeed can be." {Marg. Ref.) '' Consenting '' to the law that it is good," delighting in the holy, just, good, and spiritual law of God, hating all evil, loving all good, and being deeply distressed at not being able to do the good that is loved, are all exclusively peculiar to the regenerate, and widely different from a heathen saying in one particular ; '1 see and approve the better, but follow ' the worse,' which in fact any man might say. Many f.i the professions and petitions of David in the hundred and nineteenth Psalm, as well as in other places, are of a -imilar nature. {Marg. Rtf.) Indeed, such a conflict as is here described, must exist, where sin is hated, and the law of God delighted in, till holiness is perfected; and as abhorrence of evil must increase in proportion to the love of God and holiness, so the least degree of evil rising in the heart, and escaping from the lips, in some passionate or vain word, will necessarily more grieve and Ijurden an eminent saint, than perhaps the grossest crimes did, before his conversion ; even as a speck of dirt gives more uneasiness to a very cleanly person, than the most squalid filthiness does to those, who are used to live in it as their element. There is, therefore, no manner of need to have recourse to such uimatural expedients in expound- ing this cha|"iter. as to imagine, that when the apostle said, " I myself," he meant some other person of a widely different character, or the whole family of Abra- ham, before and under the law. However these theoiies have been sanctioned by eminent names, they go upon suppositions for which the Scripture gives not the least ground, which are absurd in themselves, and which are wholly unprecedented and unparalleled in the writings of any good autlior, sacred or profane. No doubt, numbers have perverted the words of the apostle ; and it is fairly allowed, that no man, who is not himself engaged in this oontlict, can clearly understand his meaning, or fully enter into tliose feelings, which dicated his energetic language. But as to the former case, thoy who want an excuse for sin, " wrest the other Scriptures also to their own dcstruc- '• tion ;" and as to the latter, " The secret of the Lord " is with them that fear him," and " The heart knowelh " his own bitterness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle " with his joy." It cannot be supposed, that a man who never saw war could enter into the feelings, and fully understand the ardent language, of an experienced soldier, when he related all his conflicts, dangers, hard- ships, terrors, narrow escapes, victories and triumphs. But I apprehend that many pious persons exclude them- selves from the rich source of instruction and consolation in their warfare, provided for them in this chapter, either from fear lest others should pervert it to bad pur-poses, or because men of great name have affected to rejjrobate the obvious interpretation, and have tried to force some other meaning upen the words. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—6. We stand in such a relation to the holy law of God, as the rule of our present conduct and future judgment, that none but he, who formed the union, can dissolve it, and unless " we become dead to the law by the body of " Christ," renouncing all expectations from it, that we may be united to Him, who died for our sins and rose again for our justification, we must abide under the do- minion and curse of the law for ever. If, however, we are thus delivered, it is not in order to our being lawless, but that the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us may write the law in our hearts, and enable us to bring forth the fruits of holy obedience, to the glory of God. Indeed this is ab- solutely necessary, in order to our serving God with that newness of spirit, which the law itself demands, for sancti- fying grace comes only by the new covenant, without which we must continue in the flesh, and our natural concupis- cence will work against the law to bring forth fruit unto death ; and nothing but a formal obedience to the outward letter of any precept can thus be performed. V. 7—13. It is no fault of the ?aw that it cannot justify or sanctify a sinner ; nay, it is the necessary effect of its perfection, by which it detects and condemns the least degree of evil, and leaves the transgressor to merited ruin, without help or remedy ; and the better the law is, the more righteous is the doom of those who break it. We should therefore be very careful, in showing the impossibility, of salvation by the law, to avoid all expressions that so much as seem derogatory to it. On the contrary, we should hear decided testimony to its righteousness, spirituality, and excellency, and show that it is, on that very accounf, only suited to A. D. 61. CHAPTER Viir. manifestalion of the children of God, 1 9 — 22 ; ivho " groan being burdened," are saved in hope, and patiently expect de- liverance, 23 — 25 ; the Holy Spirit aid- ing their prayers, and thus rendering them acceptable, 2(i, 27. ^'lll things icork to- J. O^ 01. gcthcr for their good, 28 ; this springs from their predestination to life, and is secured by the death, resurrection, and in- tercession of Christ, 29 — 34. JS'othing sludl separate them from the love of God through Christ, 35 — 39. show the sinner the clanger of his case, and to render it still worse, so long as he foolishly cleaves to it, and depends on it. For no man could expect to be either justified or sanctified by a broken law, or according to a forfeited covenant, were he not ignorant of the law, and of himself as compared with it; so that the proudest Pharisee on earth would, from his towering height of vain confidence, sink into despair, if the commandments were at once discovered to his soul in all their spirituality and excellency, without a correspondent view of the sal- vation of Christ. Ten thousand unobserved transgressions Avould stand in array against him, his former foibles and infirmities would appear desperate rebellion, ingratitude, and enmity, his admired duties would appear loathsome through pride, selfishness and hypocrisy, and the dormant lusts of his heart, which secular motives or carnal hopes had restrained, would break forth into enmity against' i E (lie law of sin and death. 3 For •■ what the law could not do, Christ Jesus, ' who walk not after the "j flesh, hut after the Spirit. 2 For '' the law of "^ the Spirit of life, ''i.'\t R«i. T '" Christ Jesus, ' hath made me free from ll-u (Jal ill 13. )-)Cvi7 Johiixiv al XT 4. 1 Cor i SO XT S2. S Cor V. 17. xii :.' Gil ill S3 <• in, II. John ... .10. 14 vl. 63 vii *. 39 I Cnr. rs li 12 John Till 32 2 Cnr vii. 4-11. Cal iii. 21. Hcb. vii 5v. 45 2Cni i'i 17. Gal 18, la. X. l-IO 14. 6 IteT.xi n. xxii. I ' gv 21. »ii. 21 2! .d'ter the flesh, but after the Spirit r> For they " that are after the flesh, do ^ mind the things of the flesh ; but o 12, in Joha iii. 6 2 Cor x 3 2 I'ct. ii 10 p c, 7. Mark \iii.33 i32. John iii.U— 17. (ial it 4,6 IJohn IV 10—14. U ix.3 Mark XT. 27 2i Jolinix24. *' Or, til a lacrl- fc: l^r ,i„. 2 for V 21. Gal. ii'. 13. I vi 6 I )>cl. ii 24 It. 1,2 uiUul. ..22-21. Kl'h r. 2C. 17. Col i 22 Hfh. ail 23 I John Iii 9 JuJt2l. Hcv. xiv. 5. 0 I sin ; then doubtless he is without Christ, whose name he profanes ; he is under the law which he hates : and his presumptuous confidence and quietness in such a state only prove, that he is given over to " strong delusion to be- " lieve a lie." Nor docs this much disjnilod and abused chapter, more evidently condemn the hope of the jiroudest riiarisce on earth, than it does that ot such a professor of i-vangclical truth. NOTES. CHAP. VIII. V. 1, 2. The apostle had shown, llial flie believer, being earncsily desirous of obeying the holy law of God, was graciously accepted in Christ, and his failures were a.?cribcd to sin dwelling in him, against his habitual and prevalent inclination, and not imputed to him ; a.nd he here proceeds furtlicr to state this privi- lege. While men continue under the law as a covenant, every failure is imputed to them for condcmnali(W; but when they become dead to the law and one with Christ, they are in him by faith, as their Refuge from day to day, nnd there i.5 no condemnation for them. Their [last sins r.re all blotted out, they arc fully justified, and, continually exercising repentance, and faith in his blood and right- eousness, their lamented transgressions and deficiencies f;re pardoned. Thus they are preserved fiom condem- nation, and shall be to the end, and for ever. Their cha- ja'cter and conduct likewise di.'.tinguish them ; for, not- v.-ithsfanding their painful conflict with indueliing sin, '. hny do not wrilk after the dictates of corrupt nature, but j.rc" habitually influenced by the new ])riiici)jle commu- jiicated in rrgeneration ; for " that which is born of the "Spirit is spiri!." The former, as " the law of sin and '/ deatii," (vii. 23 — Q5,) had once commanded their will- ing service ; but regenerating grace, by " the Spirit of ''"life in Christ Jesus," and by means of the Gospel, had dcthronetl the usurper sin, and made tiiem free from his law b}- ciTicaciously inducinga conti'aty conduct. So that, ihou^ the remaining power of sin greatly harassed them, and in some instances jirevailed, yet, on the whole, they were enabled successfully to resist its authority, and to v^alk at liberty i:i obedience to God's commandments. — Some explain"'- the l:iw of the, Sjiirit of life" of the doc- (■inc of the Go.'jirl, through which the Spirit is commu- nicnted, rather than of his commanding influence in the believer's soul; but the latter is the more exact contrast In the "law of sin, and death," from which he is by it set fice. ' To be in Christ,' says Mr. Le Cierc, ' is often ' used by St. Paul for br-ing a" Christian,' {Uarg, Ref. ;) * but if he means only Chri.^linns by profession, or only ' being members of tlie Christian C'hurch, this will by * BO means agree with this j^lacc. o- ony other ff bke ' naturi?; since frecflom from condemnation — will not ' follow our being Christians in this sense, 'but upon a ' lively faith in Christ, our union with him by the Spirit. ' and our being so in him as to become new cieatures.' (9. '2 Cor.v.^lT. Cal. v. 6.) {WhUhy.) They who '• are in Chri.st" are Christians ; " they walk not after the "flesh, but after the Sjiirit :" this describes their charae- tei'; and ills their grand privilege, that there is no con- demnation for them. V. 3, 4. The good and peifect law of God was weak through the flesh, or by means of man's depravity, so that it was impossible for it to bring man to holiness or liber- ty, any more than to justify him ; even as the wholesome "aws of the land cannot make men honest; they can oi.ly declare how they should act, and denounce jicnoltics, but cannot change the heart, and therefore their impetuou.s passions break through the feeble restraint without regard to consequences, as the vehement torrent of some full swol- len river breaks through or cverflov.s the mound that was jilaccd to impede its course. , As tlie law was there- fore inadequate to man's necessity, God was j-leased in infinite mercy to send his own Son, to assume our nature, and appear " in the likeness of sinful flesh." Though free from sin, lie became subject to those infirmities lo which through sin we are exposed ; he was accused of many crimes, and numbered with tranfgres.'ors, and he vas punished by the Father as our Surely, as if lie had been the great- est of sinner.s. Tiius he vias apjioinled " for sin," or '• for '• a sin-ofiVring," t!ial Ciod, having " condemned sin in " the flesh," and shown Ids abhcri'ence of it by the suf- ferings of his Son in our flesh, might pardon and justify the believer's person, and execute the sentence of condem- nation on his corrupt nature, by its ciuciflxion and destruc- tion ; that so, through his mercy and grace, even the very righteousness required by the law might be fully written in our hearts, and habitually in all its parts I'erformed in our lives, though too imperfectly to justify u.";, and that hereafter we niight be jierfeclly conformed lo the holy law, in its substantial rcquiiemcnt of love to God and his crea- tures, and obey it fully for evermore. T.Iany expositors explain Uiis of "Chri>t, as One with us, having fuh'iilcd the righteousness of the law in our stead, and of its iniputalion to those who walk after the Sjiirit. liut t'le former sciiSG seems more obvious, and best to answer the ajiostle's de- sign, who was proving, that deliverance from the law, as (I covevanl, v as necessary, in order to our obeying the law (ts a rule. ' Sanctilication, begun in us, is the sure ' evidence of our union with Christ, which is the richest ' fruit cf a holy life.' {Ue:a.) The coruplction, however, o^ sanctificalion, seems especially intended. A. D. 61. CHAPTER VIII. A. D. 61. ,9. 11.1 Cor \v they thflli^rc after the Spirit ^ the tilings ss'. Epiij 9 of the Spirit. ril'Ti. 21. 53 6 ' F'or to * be carnally minded is Til 5 ll.Oalvi. , , , , 1 . . -Yi • 1 1 • 8 jam.i 14.15. death: but T to be spiritually minded is Y iktftuh xiN. 5 i,fg jifj(j peace, t Gr. (aj m.viiin.' 7 Because ' the carnal mind ?s enmity s». 1. 10. niv.w. gg(j,ngt (jod : " lor it is not subioct to John SIV C. 27. J5 "• y-t 1 * I '11 xvii. 3. Gil. V. {[jg ]^^y of (jod, * neither indeed can tTas :o. V. 10 u Ex xs. 5 2 "*" 7. 5 Chr. SIX 2. Ps. liii. I. .Tohn Jam IV. 4 1 John ii. IS. 16 u 1. i T. 12,23. Heb. >iii. 10 X Jer x .31 31. FiiN It. 18. 19. Col. i, 31. 2 Tim. iii. 4 s\\ 7—1.1.22 .•Vlntt. V. 19 1 Cor iK 2\ Gal. 13. Watt. xii. 34. I Cor. Ij. ; 1. 2 Pet ii. II. V b — 9. The discrimination of character before re- ferred to is here more fully stated. T!ie word flesh, in this connexion, cannot mean the body as opposite to the soul, for out of man's /iPft/7 proceed even adulteries, for- nications and drunkenness ; and pride, envy, hatred, are works of the flesh. {Marg. Ref.) That wickedness, the seat of which is immediately in the soul, is rpore contrary to the image and glory of God, than that in which the body seems more concerned ; but indeed tlie body is no more than the instrument, and the soul is the agent in every sin. The soul of an ungodly man is not spiritual, but carnal ; " that which is born of the flesh is flesh." By the flesh we must therefore understand corrupt nature, as derived from Adam to all his posterity, and perhaps this term is used, because the soul is become the caterer to man's fleshly lusts, and the whole man is, as it were, im- mersed and sunk in the flesh. The}', therefore, who are born after the flesh, but not after the Spirit, and who go after the leadings of the flesh, mind the things of the flesh ; they are sagacious about them ; they choose, desire, pur- sue, savour, and delight in them ; they seek their happi- ness in the riches, pleasures, honours and perishing va- nities of this world, or in things of an unholy nature, which must be left at death, and which bear no relation to heavenly felicity. About these, their abilities, imagina- tions, contrivance, and time, are employed, and they give them a decided preference to spiritual things, in their nabitual judgment and conduct. But they, who are *' born " of the Spirit," and walk after the leadings of the new and spiritual nature, understand, choose, pursue, relish, and supremely value such things, as pertain to the spiri- tual and divine life, and such as will endure for ever. The favour of God, communion with him, j-enewal to his im- age, and a life spent to his glory, most occupy their imagi- nations, desires, and attention, and have the pre-eminent place in their choice and conduct, no^ithstanding all the opposition from indwelling sin. This*abitiial prevalcncy atamps the character as carnal or spifilval ; so that, if a man be carnal in the prevailing judgment, temper, and affections of his mind, he is under condemnation, dead in sin, and meet for destruction ; but if he hespirihial in the habitual prevailing temper of his soul, he is evidently alive to God, and at peace with hira, and the spiritual aiind is, in proportion as it prevails, the very essence of life and peace. The importance of this distinction is manifest, •' because the carnal mind is enmity against God;" man's aposlacy originated in his preferring the saUsfaction to bcj 8 So then > they thai arc iu the flesh, y'- '!'•*. Joha cannot ^ please uod. «,*'»" .'>' '" 9 but ^ ye are not m the flesh, but m ',<■'."•. "jj, 32. tiie Spirit, ** it so bo that the Spirit of j- ^.1-,. 'w. *.''■ God dwell in you. Now if any man iiave ^|h|;' fj .^^ ',■ not " the Spirit of Christ, '' he i,^ none of/j''''°p;i' ;;]; ,„ his. J'^;!;., =r''" "■ 10 And, '•■ if Christ be in you, f the ^'[>'''"^,'j^' j,,'; vi. 19.2 Cor vi. IG. Fph i. 13 17, 18. ii 22 2 Tim i 14 1 John li. il. iv 4. JuJe 13-. 21. cJoliaiii ;m. G.11 W. 6. Fh.l i. 19 1 I'ct i, II .1 John wii. 9, 10. I Cor. iii. 21— 13. Kv. £3. 2 Cor x 7 Gal v 24 llev i'li 8. xx Ii e John vi ."iS xi". SO 23. XV. 5. xvii 23 2 Cor xiii 5 E|ih iii \7 Col i 27 f II. v. !3 2 Cor ir 11. » 1-4. 1 Thes iv. 16. Heb. is, 27. 2 Tet. i. 13, 14. Kcv xiv. \j. found in die crcat'.ircs through disobedience, to the felicity to be enjoyed in God by obedience. This is in fact the universal idolulrt/ ; and men thus preferring self-satisfac- tion and created good to the favour and service of God, not only rebel against him, but become enemies to hitn and haters of him. For his holy law demar.ditig their whole heart, and forbidding their favourite pursuits, and all his perfe(;tions being engaged to execute vengeance on transgressors, the carnal mind disdaining control, bein--- averse from his service, and bent on sinful indu!<--er.cc rises in enmity against the authority, precepts, threaten- ings, power, and perfections of God. Therefore, thid carnal mind is not subject to the divine law, and indeed it cann^be so ; it is morally unable to do any thing but revolWgainst it, and refuse obedience to it. An enem}' may be reconciled, a carnal man may become spiritual ; but enmity in the abstract can.nct be reconciled, and there- fore the carnal mind must be crucified and destroyed, (vi, 6.) and as no rational creature of God can please him who refuses subjection to the holy law, it is evident, that unregenerate men cannot please God in any of their services, by whatever name they are called. Thus evan- gelical religion is equally remote from self- righteousness, which cleaves to the law as a covenant, and antinomianisni which rejects it as a rule, in doing which men cannot please God. " But," says the apostle, " Ye are not hi " the flesh, but in the Spirit,*' regenerate and spiritual and therefore willingly, though not jjcrfectly, subject to the law, "if so be the Sjjiiit of God dwell in you," as in his temple ; but if any man, Jew, Gentile, or nominal Christian, remain destitute of the sanctifving Sjnrit of Christ, he certainly does not belong to Jiim" as one of his accepted disciples, and dying in that state, he must perish as an enemy of God. if the flesh be explained of the body, as distinguished from the soul or spirit, iCfuHows that no man can please God while he lives in this world and that the Romans were disembodied spirits, which is palpably absurd ; yet the interpretation of olhcr Scriptures concerning the flesh and spirit, by many learned men, unavoidably lead to this absurdity ; nor is it much less unreasonable and unscriplural to aver, that living under the Mosaic dispensaiion was " being in the flesh," and professing the Gospel, especially if miraculous powers were vouchsafed, was being in the Spirit. {Slall. vii. 21 — 23. 1 Cor. xiii. 1— .3.) Yet these seem the only ways, by which the above plain and natural intei'prefaiion can be evaded. G 2 //. D. CI. ROMANS. „iv. 14. vi body is dead because of sin ; « but the iV'iv si^sActi iiliall also quicken your 'mortal bodies, i'Vh \ is. io by * liis Spirit tiiat " dwelieth in you. ret i SI 12 1 iierelore, brethieii, " we are debt- h:; Is. x.tvi 10. , ,, , ,. ,. ., J?./. xiKvii u. ors, not to the rlesh, to live alter the Jolia V 23, 2i) I „ , Cor. vi. U. XV. flesh 16. 20-22. SI- "'-''"• ^ .. .. - , n 1 »'^2c«r^v. u, i;{ for if "ye live alter the nesli, ye ? i'-cV"iii'"iJ' ^'^^'^ <^'*^ • *" ^^^^ '0'*^' *" through the Spirit, do mortity the deeds of tlie body, ye 1 4 For as many as are J. I), bl. by the ry 9. Ps rxm XX 11- - I vi. 12 1 toi- !tv. eUr.M |;.,.> SI 2Cor iv II Sllitil "V t,. V. i • Or, litcauit (//' m 9. .loho vii 38.39 xiv. ]■.». 20 I I'et. iv. 2, ;). o I 1-li. vi 21. i3 vii.S. Gal C',.1. iii ."i. 6 .laii. i 11. li. p2 I Cor. ix. 27. Gal v 1\{ ii 1! 1 I'ei. a. II 111 i'.ph, IV M V. lii. I I'et, 0 vl. 5-15 I Cor. vi 19-2;. vi. 8. Isph. V. 3-5. . Kpb iv.22. Col. iii. 5-8. V. 10, 11. If the Spirit of Christ dwell in a man, Christ himself is in him, by his power and influence, and ))y his imai^e renewed in him. In this case, though the body is mortal and must soon die, because of the dis- tibedience of Adam, and the man's personal transcrressions, vet the spirit has liffi abiding in it, tiie soul is alive to God, and has begun its holy felicity, which shall endure for ever, through the righteousness of the second Adam, in whom it is interested. So that when the body drops into d^, the soul being perfectly delivered from sin will enter Heaven ; and the almighty God, who raised Jesus from the dead, will raise the mortal body also incorruptible and glorious, by the omnipotence of his indwelling Spii'it, who will not always leave his temple to lie mouldering in the dust. {Slurg. ti Spirit itself beareth witness ip LukVufi." ^ with our spirit, that we are the children »vi.«.'\Aas'i,'' 01 God : .l"n ■ V. Heb. 17 And " if cliildren, then heirs; fj„^"'? '■' "• " heirs of God, and joint-heirs with "'^ r'. "*" „, . ■fit'' rr • 1 '■ ^V''- ' * " Christ ; ' il so be that we suner with ~^.^l^.^ ^.^ ^^ hi?n, that we may be also glorified to- J'2"''!"„hj,'xx'"'i7' gether. ^h^'^'i 'f'i' I. 13, M iv. 30. z2Cor. i. 12. IJohn iii. 19-22 v 10 a 3 29. ilO, v. 9, 10 17 Luk-xii 32. Ar,l8 Klvi. 18. Gal iii. 29. iv. 7. Eph. iii. C. Til. iii. 7 Heb. i. U vi 17. Jam. ii. 5 1) Matt. xxv. 21. Luke sxii. 29, 30. John xvii. 2l. I Cor ii 9. iii. 22, J3 Uev. iii 21 xxi. 7. c Malt xvi. 24. Luke xxiv. 26 J..lin xii 25,26. Acts xiv. S3 2 Cor. IV. 8-12. Phil i 29. 2 Tim. ii lO-U. theni from merited destruction. Indeed, if any habitually lived according to its corrupt lustings, they would certainly perish in their sins, notwithstanding their profession of the Gospel ; but, on the othei- hand, if through the in- fluences of the Holy Spirit, and according to the tendency of the new nature, they denied, subdued, and proceeded to extirpate their sinful lusts, and so to mortify and lop off those actions which thence arose, they would prove them- selves alive to God through C;hrist, and their spiritual life v^ould pro]iortionabIy abound. The natural appetites of the body need only to be moderated, regulated, and subor- dinated, but the carnal desires of the body of sin and death, the old Adam, the flesh, with its afl'ections and lusts, must be extirpated, and all its actings terminated. This is to be done by ihc Holy Spirit, yet we are to do it through him. and by dcjicndence on him. {Murg. Ref.) V. 14 — 17. The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit brings us, through Christ, . ito the family of God, and evidences our sonship according to the choice and pui'pose of the Father. Therefore oil they, and (hey only, who give themselves up to the leading of the Spirit, are the children of God. The Holy Spirit will lead a man into the knowledge of the Lord and of his own heart, into humble repentance, faith in Christ, holy love, communion with God, and delight in his worship and commandments ; and he will lead him away from vanity and iniquity, pride and discord ; and in pioportion as we willingly give up ourselves ♦to be led in such paths, we may know our adoption. The apostle further observed, that confirm- ed believers had not received again the spirit of bondage to serve God frctfcislavish fear; this they must do, who continue unilcr th^aw as a covenant, if they serve him at all. The Mosaic dispensation had a greater tendency to foster this temper than the Christian religion has ; and the Jews, too generally considering the whole as a covenant of works, worshipped God in this slavish manner. But most of the Roman converts had not been under the Mosaic law, yet they are spoken of indiscriminately, as having been formerly influenced by the .spirit of bondage ; we may ti.erL'fore suppose that their first convictions were intended, under which awakened sinners act more from fear and selfish iuinciples_ than they do afterwards, ab- J. D. 61. CHAPTER VIII. J.L>. 6J, OMalL V. U. 12. AcH x» 21 2 Cor iv. n. 111. Heb. xi ii. 26 35 1 Pet. I. 6,7. eCol iii. 4. 2 Tbes i 7-12. ii. u I Pet i 13. 13. I John iii. 2 raa.phii. i 2o. g Is. Isv. 17 Acts 31. ! Pet iii 11-13 Re :ixi 1-6. I, Alal iii 17, Ifl Malt XXV. 31 — 4C 1 .lobo 111- 2. iS2. Gen. ill. 17- 19 13 Jobxii 6-10. Is. xsiv.S.C.Jer xii 4 11 xiv.5.6 Hos. iv. 3 Joel i. 18. 18 For ■'' 1 reckon, that the suffl-rings of this present time, air not worthy io he compared with ' the glory which shall be revealed in tis. 19 For 'the earnest "expcctalion of the creature waiteth for '■ the manifesta- tion of the sons of God. 20 For 'the creature was made sub- ject to vanity, not willingly, but by rea- son of him who hath subjected (he same in hope ; 21 Because the creature itself also shall 121. Ilev re on, IS,16 be delivered from the bondage of corrup- tion, '~ into the glorious liberty of the -s. """'''■■' I'll i' / ' I ' " Or, iVrnt trtn- children ol (jod. ivn 20. i«s»u 22 For we know that * the whole ere- il's'xiviii.s John ation groaneth and ' travaileth in pain 2' I '~ • 1 » Dl S together until now: s' 23 And not only ihef/, but ourselves "^^e^l'''^' "■?'! also, •" which have the first-fruits of ^^'j' /f'-^'^- ' the Spirit, " even we ourselves gioan "3J."'f,^|i''^1''j^; within ourselves, " waiting for the adop- ^it^ij'^',^ „;*.' tion, io wit, f the redemption of our jf, j-^ ' ■'°''" body. staining from many sins without hating them, through dread of consequences, and practising duties without loving them. These convictions proceed from the moving of the i Spirit of God upon their minds, and prepare tlieni fori receiving Christ by faith ; but they are very different from' their disposition, after they are brought into the full jight^ and liberty of the Gospel, and have received *' the Spirit I " of ado[)tion." Then they are taught to serve God with filial reverence, confidence, love, gratitude, submission,! zeal, and satisfaction; and are especially taught and! en.-ouraged to call upon him, as a Father, for all things' they want, and in all their trials, notwithstanding their! conscious unwoi'thiness. The word Abba is Syriac for, Fatiier, and the use of different languages in tiiis con-i ne.'vion sweeUy indicates the harmony of Jews and Gen-: tiles, and of different nations, in this filial worship of God according to the Gospel. Thus the Holy Spirit, by I producing in believers the tempers and affections of chil- ; dren, as described in the scripture, most manifestly attests 1 their adoption into God's family. This is not done by any ; voice, immediate revelation or impulse, or merely by any text brought to the mind, (for all these things are ecjuivocal and delusory,) but by coinciding with the testi- mony of their own consciences, as to their uprightness in embracing the Gospel, and giving themselves u|5 to the service of God. So tliat, whilst they are examining themselves concerning the reality of their conversion, anJ find scriptural evidence of it, the Holy Spirit from time to time shines upon his own work, excites their holy affections into lively exercise, renders them very efficacious upon their conduct, and thus puts the matter beyond doubt ; for while they feel the spirit of dutiful children towards God, they become satisfied concerning his paternal love to them. This being ascertained, they may further infer themselves to be the heirs of the heavenly inheritance, and of God himself as their Portion, even joint heirs with Christ the beloved Son of the Father, beiflg arce])ted in him, and appointed with him to share the purchased inheritance; and of this they may be still niore fully assured, if they patiently endure sufferings, after his ex- ample and for his sake, in the hope of being also glorified with him. V. IB — 23. The apostle had an abundant share of these sufferings ; but upon the most exact and deliberate compulation of thrm, he found them not wT,rih\' to be put in competition v/ith that glorious recompense which vill be bestowed on Christians, or that glory which will be revealed to them and accomplished in them. So that it would be the greatest folly imaginable for him to shrink from the pursuit of this promised felicity, through th(; dread of the most terrible of these transient sufferings. Indeed, the whole visible ci'eation seems to wait with earnest expectation for that important period, when the children of Gud shall be manifested in the glory which is prepared for them ; and in this it resembles a man, who with out-stretched neck looks, and waits with impalient: longing, for the arrival of some beloved and expected friend. For the creation itself became subject to vanity and disorder through man's apostacy ; not willirigly, as he. did, but by a kind of constraint, through the guilt and righteous condemnation of Adam and his posleiity. By this awful difjicnsation, the Lord subjected the creatures of this lower world, and even the visible creation, to vanity. Every thing seems perverted from its intended use ; the inanimate creatures are pressed into the service of man's rebellion ; the luminaries of heaven give him light, bv which to work wickedness ; the fruits of the eaiih are sacrificed to his luxury, intemperance, and ostentation ; its bowels are ransacked for metals, from which arms are forged lor public an(' [irivate murder and revenge, or to gratify his avarice, and escitc him to fraud, oppression, and war. The animal tribes are subjnct to pain and death through man's sin : and their suffei'ings are exceedingly increa.sed by his cruelty, who, instead of a kind master, is become tlieir inhuman butcher and tyrant. So that everv thing is in an unnatural slate ; the good cieatures of God appear evil through man's abuse of them, and even the enjoyment originally to be found in them is turned into vexation, bitterness, and disappointmt-nt, by his idola- trous love of them and expectation from them. Yet this is '• in hope ;" God intends to rescue tlie creation from this confused slate, and to deliver it from being thus held ii» bondage to man's depra-jty, that it may part:.ke of and minister to the glorious liberty of His chihlren. So that, we are assured, the whole creation groan.? in every part, as with one sympathizing expression of anguisli, (like a woman in the pains of travail, not as one in the agonies of death.) expecting, and impatiently longing for, a glorious event of all these distractions. This it halh done ever since the fall, and will do in a measure till the end of the world. The miseries also of (he human species, through their own and each othii's wickedness, as r.ell as the slate of the inferior creatures, declrue the world to be ia such a situation, as is not intended ahvays to ccntir:i,e. i!l. D. 61. tlOiMANS. vl D. GJ. ijT.a nil. 13x7. 21 For wc arc i savctl by hope : ' but xxxiii"'i9 82: hope that is seen is not hope : for what a iw^'-i: ''jer man seoth, why doth he yet hope for? u 'la. I Cor. 25 But if wc hope for that wc see not, i cM.\.i S3 ihcn do wc ' witli patience wait lor it. allies, h ifi. 26 Likewise the opint also nelpetn Hes. vi IS. li) our * infirmilies : " for wc know not ! I'tt i. 3 51. , ,11 f 1 » iiohniiia. what WC should pray lor as we oti2;ht: r 2 Cor. ivIOv, ....',„•' , ,. ~. 7. lie!., xi. 1. x }jut the Spirit itrtell niaketli interce.'.sion 1 Pet 1. n. .1 I • I 1 N"n"'xi.^'' la ''-*'' ''^^ ^ v>'i^\y groaiiings which cannot be xx^vir'j -'.} littered. M 'iVj""!' 27 And '■ he that scarcheth the hearts. Th fs.'ii liX ' knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, CM '?.' "n'; ''i * because '' he makctli intercession for the The'..ii'5 ^Hn!," paints ■■ according to the will of Go-A. vl. 12 15 \.:is xii I -n. .Ith. i. 3. 1 V.7-U Ri-v. i, 3. xiii. in xiv 13 1 sv. 1 ;ily human nature, both i:i body and soul ; that so he m.iy appear among them as t!ie first begotten and Head en the many biethren, which shall constitute the family of God, that being admitted thiouc'h liim to be children and heirs, they may thus be made meet with him tj enjoy ihcir inheritance. As this was the 4clcraiii;ale jiurposc and forc-knowledgf of God respecting all eternity ; this could not be more absurd or unscrijitural, than the notion of being iustified from cternilv, and probably it would be less capable of abuse. Dr. Whitby says, that all Uie fathers before Augustine understood thi's passage of those, nhom God foresaw would lore him. — Uut does God foresee that any of our race, v.hile unrc- generatc, will love him? And is not the clause, " called •• according to his purpose," of the same import as re- generated ? And can this choice of some, rather than others, of our fallen race, because of soraediing spiriiually good in them, as the ground of it, in order to their being thus called, pos.^ibly consist with the doctrines of original sin, or the total dejiravity of human nature, and of a regene- ration from the death of sin to the lite of righteousness ? Does not it border on I'elagiaiasm ? Again, if all the Genliles, or all die inhabitants of any one nation, whom God foreknew, and determined to call into his Church, be really conformed to the image of Christ, and justified, and shall, uithout exception, jiartake of eternal glorv, the interpretation of die passage, as referring to the election of collective bodies, may stand ; but not otherwise. So that, if this were the only passage, in wldch U;e humi- liating subject was cxj)rcssly mentioned, we might confi- dently maintain, that the doctrine of individual iiredcsli.- iiation to eternal life, and Uic authority of the ajiostje al an inspired writer, must stand or lall together. ISfothiiigmorc fully shows this, than t!ie dillicuhies to which its learned and sagacious opposers arc reduced, and the dillcrent grounds on v.hich they rest the cause; for they scarcely grcc in any thing, but in determining lo oppose the most naturn! and obvious meanincr of tin Ferhajis the apo.iilc'£ d?cl:-i:ie was r.cvcnr.0ic ju=d_v expressed bv uiy A D. CI. ! 1. Jo;, i. 9-11. li 4-» sxn. e.Scf xs ;iv.8, 9. iti 7- ;i Ps > X 4V. 11. M.v. )7 Zech ill. 1 — < Kev xir 111, II. UU .flii. 1 Mil sx V. 2J. XTiii.J. 1 The.'. ROMANS. ^-7. D. 61. 1 «. Tit..i. 1 1 Pet. i. 3. X ill. 20 Is. I B, 9 Gal. iii 8. > I xiv 3. Job .ixxiv. M I's xisvi 3j cix. 51. Jfr. i: 20. 2 iv. i3 *. 6— in jlv.a.icSxxnili Si. .M»!t XK. 18. JOIinxiv 13 (.n). ill. IJ, M Hcb.i. 3 ix 10- U x 10-11. U-2; xii. 2 1 Pit iii 18. Hfiv. i 18 — iii. 22. li27 ix. 24 I John ii 13. U 16. Uev .lolia xri. 33 ^ hf 16-13. Heb shali he not with hiui also freely give us aii tiiin2:s ? S.j Who ' shall lay any thing to tlie charfje " of God's elect ? * II is God that justiiieth. 'M Who >■ is he that condemncth .-* '■ // is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, ^ who is even at the right hand of God, '' who aI.so maketh intercession for us. '3~) Who " shall separate u? from the love of Christ.'' ''shall tribulation, or dis- tresi=, or persecution, or famine, or naked- ness, or peril, or sword ? — a Mark XTi. 19 AcKvii Sfi-fiO Col iii 1. Heh riii. 1.2. 1 Pet Is. liii 12 Jolin X"i 23. 26,27 xvii. 211-24 Hc!i iv 14. li. «ir. 21 1.2 c33. Ps cili. 17 Jev. xxxi 3. John x. L'U. xiii 1 2 Thos. ii. .5,6. (I 17. V 3-5 .Matt. T. 10-12 x. 23— 31 Liitf xxi 12— If. .IS xiT 22. XX. 23. 24. 2 C«r. iv 17 vi 4—10. xl 23-27. 2 Tim i. 12. xii. 3-ll.JaM i. 2-4. I Pet. i. 6-7. i». 12-14. Rer. vli. 14-17. 36 As it is written, * For thy sake ^vc « p,xiiv.2scxii. are killed all the day long; we are ac- cn" xVsi.'si' counted as ' .sheep for the slaughter. nfTiii"? ".ler. 37 Naj', ' in all these things we are more than conquerors, through '' him that V- loved us. S7. SCor ii 14. 38 For 'I am persuaded, ' that neither Jotniv 4 t 4. , , IT 11 . . S. Rev. Tii 9.10. ueatn, nor liie, nor anjrels, 'nor prmci- xi 7-is x'i.n. palities, nor powers, nor things present, h^ti^y'SOEph. nor things to come, -,1^^'- ."' !^' 39 ■" JNor " heiffht, nor ° depth, nor any .'* "'^ ' * . . ^ ' I ./ 1 iv.21 2 Cor. ir. other creature, f shall he able to separate h^'^^j^ '- us from 'I the love of God, which is in •'jiV^zj.'jj"^,^^. Christ Jesus our Lord. t*"I-8.' lwi?V 20-23. 12 Cor xi 14 EpU vi 11, 12 Col I 16. il. l.-i. I Pet. r. 8— id. m Ep'h.' ill 18. 13 D Ex.ix. 16, 17 Ps xci i 3. 4 I,. I. in-u 31 Xxi7. 21 D«n is. 1! V. 13-23 2Tlies. ii 4 Kcv xiii 1-8 o xl. 33 Ps lxi» 6 ProT XI i M«tt. xxiv. 24. 2Cor. ii. Il.xi 3 STbcv ii 9-12. Rev ii 24. xii 9 xiii 14 xix. io. xx. 3. 7 p John X 23-80 Col ill 3. 4 q 35 T «. John ill IS xvi 27. xvil. 86. Eph. i. 4 ii. 4—7. Tit. iii. 4—7. I John iv 9, 10. 16. 19. iininspircd writer, than in the former part of the seven- teenth article of our church. ' Predestination unto life ' is the everlasting pur[)osc of God, whereby, (before the ' foundations of the world were laid,) he had constantly ^ decreed, by hi.s counsel, .secret to us, to deliver from ' curse and damnation tho.^c whom he had chosen in Christ ' out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlast- ' ing salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore ' ihev, which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, - be called according to God's purpose, by his Spirit work- • ing in due season, they thi'ough grace obey the calling, • they be jusiified freely, they be made the sons of God by ' adoption, they be made like unto the image of his only ' begotten Son Jesus Christ, they walk religiously in good ' works, and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to ever ' lasting felicity.' V. 32 — 34. The omnipotence and omniscience of God had been, in the preceding verse, opposed to the puny ef- forts of every enemy ; here his former benefits are shown to be assured pledges of final felicity to all real Christians. When the hoHness of God and man's sinfulness barred the way to happine-s, his free love of such rebels and enemies induced him to give his own Son to be their Surety and Sacrifice, having willingly assumed their nature, in order to bear their sins ; and in this, the Father " spared him not, " but delivered him up" to agonies, ignominy, and death, notwithstanding his personal dignity and excellency, the perfection of his obedience, and his own inconceivable love of him. Thus he bore the curse instead of all his people, and so expiated their guilt when enemies ; and havinics, by expressing in the most energetic language his cordial allection for his people. He spoke the truth as in the presence of Christ his Judge, and with a solemn appeal to him, that he did in no degree deviate from it ; his conscience also, being enlightened and directed by the Holy Ghost, bare witness to his sincerity in declaring, that the unbelief and rejection of the Jews excited exceedingly great disquietude and depression, and constant grief, in his heart. Insomuch, that he would our servile fears, and shall trust, walk with, and obey ♦lod, as our reconciled Father ; the Holy Spirit will wit- ness with our consciences that we have the temper of lov- ing, obedient children towards him, and support us with the joyful ])rospcct of our inheritance, amidst our suffer- ings in the way to glory : while our present trials will ap- I ear li<'li.', compared with the frlicily reserved ibr us. V. 19—27. Sin lias filled the world with unspeakable disorder and 'uisery, all creatures seem to proclaim man's fatal apos- • :>ry. and to recommend the precious salvation of Christ. While men arc evidently at A\ar with their IMaker and with each other, and the earth is become a great slaughter- house and burying grotmd to its inhabitants, the inferior v'.reatures are forced into the service of man's lusts by the most abominable perversion of them. Thus the creation groans under bondage to human depravity, every creature seems to abet man's rebellion, or to be an instrument of his crimes ; the very heathens could see the strange state of the world, though they saw neither the cause nor the cure of it. But the Gospel opens a brighter prospect, a glorious crisis approaches, of which all things seem in anxious ex- pectation. When the children of God shall be manifest- ed, and separated from his implacable foes, a complete de- liverance from this bondage will be given to all ; but Satan and his obstinate adherents, and sin, deformity, vanity, and misery, shall be seen no where but in the bottomless pit. May we then give diligence to ensure our interest in this redemption, and to possess the first-fruits of the Spi- rit! Then our groaos under our share of this universal ruin, while we wait for our final adoption, will be in hope ; we shall learn to disregard the perishing things which arc seen, and patiently to expect and wait for the good things that are unseen and eterr\al. The spirit ot God will in these things help us under our infinnitics ; and, notwith- standing our own insufficiency, wc shall l)y his influence pray to our heavenly Father, with such large and spiritual desires, and such unutterable pantings after his salvation, as shall ensure a gracious answer, and abundant sujiplies «f every needlul blessing. V. 28—39. If we are but assured that we really love God, and desire to keep his commandments, we may rest satisfied diat all things shall finally terminate to our greatest advan- tage. For the love of God, in the hearts of those who were once enmity to him, i)r()ves that they have been called according to his denial purpose, in order to be conformed to the image of bis Son, and made meet as his brethren to be joint heirs with him. But none can have any ground to think themselves predestinated, called, or even willingly submit to be treated as an Anathema, or A. D. C]. CHAPTER IX. A. D. GI. g6. Gen xjnii. 4 Who are « Israelites ; to whompcr- beut^n B. I's taincth '' the adoption, ' antl the fflory, lsii.il. Is xlid , I I * ' ^ 1 1 ,1 ■ ~ r xivi3 johni.47 k and the * covenants, and ' tlie sjivmff ot h Ex.iv22Ucut. , , ' . r /-< t l lii I Jcr the law, " and the service of God, ° and »xxi. 9 SO ' . •' ' iN'Jm^'vii 89 "^^ promises; s/Tkin's vf.'i' ^ Whose ° are the fathers, p and of 11 rsMsxviii. ^vhom as concerning the flesh Christ came, ''ivu" z"'?. 10 '' wlio is over all, God ' blessed for ever. Bx xxiv 7. 8. s Ampn xxix. 1. xxxi. 16 Neb.Siii 29 Ps. Isxsit fl-3i. Jer xxx'ii. 20-25. Acts iii. 25. Hch viii 6-10 •OT.ttilamenl! 1 iii. 2. KPli.ix.l3,U Ps. cxivii. 19 Et xx.ll. 12. John i. 17 m Is. V. 2. Matt. xxi. 33. Heb. ix. 1—10. n Luke i. 54.55 69-75 Acts ii. 39. iii. 25.26. xiii.32, 33 Eph ii. 12 Heb. vl. 13-17. o xi.28. Deut K, 15. p i. 3. Gen. xli. S.xlix. 10. !<. vii U xi 1 Matt, i t,Uc. Lufcc iii 23, !ic. 2 Tim. ii 8 Hcv. xxii r; q X. 12. Ps. xlv 6 ciii. 19. Is. ix. 6. Jer. xxiii. 5. 6. Mic v. 2. John i 1—3. X. 30. Acts XX 28 Phil ii 6—11. Col i. 16. I Tim. iii. 16. Heb i. 8—13. 1 Jehn v. CO r i 25. Ps. Ixiii 19. 2 Cor xi 31. i Tim Ti 15 s Deut xxvii. 15, Sic. I Kinss i.36. 1 Chr xvi. 36. Ps. xli. 13. Ixxiix 52. cvi. 48. Jer. xxviii 6. Matt. -»i. J3 XKviil. 20. 1 Cor xiv IG. Rev. i. 18. v. 14. xxii. 20. 6 Not ' as thont;-Ii the \\'ord of God tin 3 xi. 1 13. hath taken none cU'ect. Foi* " they are i,™. n^'Mmt' not all Israel, which arc of Israel; x^m. 2 i' m"i" 7 Neither " because they are the seed ili "' ]'' ' of Abraham, ore t licy a\l children: but, -m. '3ob,i'l »r >■ in Isaac shall thy seed be called. x LuklVii s.xvi. n rni ■ i i • i i i -i i ^*- 25 39. Joha o 1 hat IS, ^ they winch are the children y^i^ ^^f^^ of the flesh, these are not the children of y"''" .»"■ '-■■ /-ill 1 I •! 1 c 1 • "*'' '"■ " Uod : but the cliildren oi the promise y^'j^J^'i''^''' " arc counted for the seed. »,p™ ^fi*'!?,- 9 For this w the word of promise, "^ At '"""oaf ii""!* this time I will come, and Sara shall have 7-^ uoimi.i. ^ son. x^fi^'ia^uixj'. 2. Sarah. Heb. xi. 11, 12. 17. accursed, afler the ma7iner of Christ, to be excommu.ni" cated from his visible Church, loaded with infamy, cru- cified, or in any way put to the utmost pain and disgrace ; or even for a time to be excluded from all the comfort of communion with Christ, and shut up under the deepest horror and distress of mind which could be endured with- out sin : if by any personal sufferings of his own, that could consist with his final salvation, he might rescue his beloved brethren and kinsmen from that national and personal de- struction, which he saw about to come upon them for their obstinate unbelief. (Note, Ex. xxxii. 32.) This seems to be the utmost that the apostle could mean, as it would be utterly unlawful, on any consideration whatever, to wish to be eternally miserable, and an implacable enemy of God, as all who perish will be. {Marg. Ref.) ' I ' could even wish, (if it were proper to make such a wish, ' if it would avail to make so great a multitude happy,) ' I could even ivish so great a blessing to my brethren, ' though with the loss of my own happiness.' {Whitby.) — The preposition «t«, here translated from Christ, may be rendered, after the example of Christ. " ^Vhom I serve " from my forefathers ;" that is, after the example of my forefathers. (2 Tim. i. 3.) V, 4, 5. The apostle was peculiarly grieved, to think that all the distinguished favours shown lo his people should terminate in the rejection of them for opposing Christ. They were the descendants of Israel, who wrestled with God and prevailed ; they had long been the professed worshippers of Jehovah, to whom the typical adoption pertained. The covenants made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Aaron, and David, the law given at mount Sinai, and the national covenant grounded on it, belonged to them, and were so many peculiar honours and advantages towards their becoming the spiritual people of God. The worship at the temple, which was both typical of Christ's ■salvation, and the means of grace and communion with God, and the ark of the covenant, the symbol and pledge of the Lord's gracious presence with them, had for ages been their glory. All the promises concerning Christ and his salvation were immediately given and preserved to them : they were honourable by their descent from the ancient patriarchs, who walked with God, and were ac- cepted by him ; and finally, the expected Messiah had been Tiorn among them, as one of their nation according to the f.psh.; even He, who '5 also " God over ail" creature blessed and praised throughout all worlds, and to ail rtcr- nity ; to this the apostle affixed his cordial Amen. The expression, " according to the flesh," implies that Christ had a far higher and nobler nature ; even as when Paul used it concerning the Jews his brethren, &c. (3.) he inti- mated his sorrow that they were not his brethren, as the children of God, born of the Spirit, and believers in Christ. This, with every other consideration, undeniably proves, that the apostle here meant, in the most decided manner, to attest the Deity of Christ, as one with the Father, and equally the object of universal and everlasting adoration. — There is no example, cither in the INew Testament, or in the Greek translation of the old Testament, in which the doxology, " Blessed be God," is expressed in the same words, and arranged in tiie same manner, as in this place. So that the only way, in which the Socinians and Arians have attempted to evade the conclusion, unavoida- bly deducible from this text, namely by rendering the clause, " Who is over all, God be blessed for evermore;" rests on a most harsh and unnatural construction, of which no example can be adduced, at the same time that it de- stroys the antithesis, without which the verse would_be des- titute of projjriety and animation. V. 6 — 9. Though the Jews had rejected the Go.spel, and were cast off by the Lord, it must not be supposed that his word hnd failed of accomplishment. Their national covenant had been fulfilled to them, till it was finally forfeited ; the promises respecting the IMcssiah had been performed, and the spiritual covenant and promises did not belong to them as a nation, but to such of thcni only as believed, in common with other believers; for all were not the true " Israel of God," who v.-ere naturally descended from Jacob. Indeed, this had been intimated in the case of Abraham and his seed ; for tlie special covenant, made with him in favour of his children, did not include all his posterity ; but it was limited to the line of Isaac, when the Lord a.ssurcd him, " that in Isaac should his " seed be called." So that his children, in the ordinary course of things, were not all adopted as the children of God even in a typical sense ; but those only, who sprang from him according to the promise, and by the extra- ordinary power of God performing it, when Sarah was naturally past child-bearing. {?Targ. Ref.) The apostle cvidendy speaks of a true Israel anion^ the descendants of Israel, a remnant, as distinguished from the nation at 112 jL Z). 61. ROMANS. .^. D. 61. >. V. 3. II. Luke xvi. 86. li (Vcn ixv. 21 RtitknK. e IT 17. Ps li 5. KpS i:. 3. f li.l. :8-30 la. Xiv 21. 26. 27 xxiii 9. ziTi.lO. II. J«r. li. 19 Eph.i. 9-11 Hi. ll.STilD. i 9. rxi.S-7.Epb. i. 4,5. 1 Ttim. i 4 2 Pet. i. 10. >i xi. C Eph ii 9 ■iit iii.i. i 10 And '• not only this ; "^ but when Re- becca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac, 1 1 (For " the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evi!, ' that the purpose ofGod « according to the election might stand, '' not of works, ' but of him that calleth,) i viii 28. 1 Thes. ii. 12. 2 The", ii 13, U. 1 Pet v. 10. Rev. xvii. U. Iarn;e ; and he introduces the case of Abraham and his two sons, and afterwards that of Esau and Jacob, not as examples, but as illustnttions of his main subject. If this were carefully noted, the perjjlexily which involves the reasonings of many learned men on this passage would in a great measure vanish. " The children of the pro- " mise" are ' those, whom God gives to Abraham, by ' a spiritual generation, whether alone, -as in the case of * us Gentiles, or atlcied to the carnal generation, as in the ' case of Isaac, and of all believing Jews.' ' They who ' interpret " the children of promise" ' to mean those, who by faith embrace the promise ; say indeed, what is 12 It Was said u»to her, '' The * elder ^ g««,x«». c , ' 23. 3 Sam. »u.. shall serve the t younger. ^* ' k;i.6» xa: 13 As it is written, ' Jacob have I lov- * o>-.,^"«'" ed, but Esau have 1 " hated. 'ncen! xxii. s! 11 What "shall we .say then.? ° Is ^ '^ ^ (here unrighteousness with God ? God i*uk.*'Vi'T* « forbid. „■'":,•''»*■ 'f; , even Esau and his posterity, though the elder son of Isaac and Rebekah, and twin-brother to Jacob. Even before they were born, and consequently before they had done good or evil, it was said to Rebekah that the elder should serve the younger, (Note, Gen. xxv. 22, '23.) which cer- tainly implied the special favour of God to Jacob above Esau, and that the covenanted blessings would be restricted to him. This denoted that the purpose of God, in respect of the heirs of promise, would be established according to the sovereign election of God, who calleth men to i>artake of the blessing as he pleaseth, and not of any works which they would perform. Doubtless, God foresaw that Esau's 'fact, but do not speak with suitable precision; for the! works would be profane and evil, and Jacob's in a measure apostle does not in this place distinguish the children of pious and holy ; but the latter could only be -foreseen as Abraham from others by their faith as known; but he! //te (-_^cc/ of his election and consequent regeneration, and discourses concerning the primary cause, that is, the so , they cculd not be considered ft fountain of their faith itself, namely, the eternal purpose of gratuitous election.' {Besa.) Isaac was promised the cinise of ihcm. God foresaw them both as born in sin, and he knew, that if they were left to themselves tliey would continue in sin .•;ome time before his birth ; and the faithfulness and power j through life ; but, (for reasons best known to himself,) he of God having fulfilled that promise, he was " the child' purposed to change Jacob's heart, and to leave Esau to his '•of promise," in whom Abraham's "seed should be j native pervcrseness, because l.e freely loved Jacob, but did •called;" and in whose "Seed the nations should be j not in the same manner love Esau. Wickeckiess foreseen •• blessed :" but Ishmael was not thus previously promised,! is doubtless the cause of the Lord's purpose to condemn, and the chosen nation, which was to inherit Canaan, andi because it is of a man's self by nature; but holiness fore- from whom the Messiah was to spring, would not descend I seen in z fallen creature cannot be the cause of his election, irom him, but from Isaac. In like manner, all the de- because it is the effect of special grace, and never comes scendants of Israel were not entitled to the spiritual bless ings of the covenant, but only " the remnant according /' to the election of grace," which was found among :hem ; and these, being regenerated and having believed in Christ, were brought into the family of believing Abra- iiam, as the children of promise, in whom the promises to him, concerning his numerous posterity and their extra- ordinary privileges, should be especially fulfilled. {Notes, iv. 9 — 17. Ueb. vi. 13 — 17.) In thus adducing the case of Isaac and Ishmael, the apostle certainly did not decide on the eternal state of either of them ; yet the subject, which he thus ilUistiatcd, namely, a remnant of believers among an unbelieving nation, must refer, not to outward .advantages and disadvantages, but to eternal salvation or •jamnation, for " he that believcth and is bajitized shall " be saved, and he that believcth not shall be damned." .And this is equally clear, whether it be held, that this remnant believed, in consequence of their being elected, or that they were chosen in consequence of their faith either as foreseen, or as actually exercised. V. 10 — 14. As Isaac was Abraham's only son by Sarah his wife, it might have been supjiosed that the i-.ovi'iianted blessings w^ere limited to him on that account. Yet not only Ishmael, Abraham's son by Hagar the bond- woman, and his children by Keturah, were excluded, but from any other source. This instance of Esau and Jacob was intended as an illustration of the divine conduct towards the fallen race of man. It has often been urged, that Jacob and Esau were not so much personidly inlcnaed, as their posterity, and that temporal, and not eternal, things are spoken of; and this is certainly true. Jacob never had dominion over Esau personally, but his posterity ruled over Esau's. The election, the prediction, the birth-right, and the blessing, however, secured to Jacob antl his seed the same I'eligious advantages, as the promise of God secured to Isaac and his seed, and excluded Esau, as well as Ishmael, from them ; and this, without determining any thing of Esau's eternal state, though his character, and the epithet profane annexed to his name by the apostle, seem to indicate that he was not a believer; yet it is evident, that the subject illustrated related to individuals, and to their eternal state, whether as believers or unbelievers. As Esau, that " the purpose of God according to election " might stand," had no inheritance in Canaan, and was not the progenitor of Christ, so those Israelites, who did not belong to " the election of grace,'' were excluded from the true Church, had no part in Christ, and no inheritance in heaven : but the reverse is true of " the " election of grace." They were called, and in conse- quence believed ; they were justified in Christ and glorified, J. D. 61. CHAPTER IX. J.D. 61. pi(.i8.o. E«. 15 For licsaith to Moses, ""l ivill have xKiy 6, 7. u. mercy on whom I will have mercy, and 1 '"'•'s '° will have compassion on whom I will have, q II. Geo. zsvii . r il.'i'ilV.v''?: compassion. Nsuxr 25.86. i(j So then "i t/ «« not of him that will- 1 Luke X 21. John /,.• ri-ii •o/" '?. 's6-3i' ^*^''' "°'' "^^ '"'" "^^^ runneth, but of God ?.n.^ '! .1' *2 that sheweth mercy. 17 For ' the scripture saith unto Pha- Pbil Thes, Tit Jam i il. 13, U lii. 3-S. 13 I Pet. ii. 9,10. 1 (A'o/e, viii. 28 — 31.) and the same is the case in respect of men in all other ages and nations. It indeed there were any of our race, not fallen like other mon ; or not by nature dead in sin, and children of wrath, even as others ; if there were any inclined, rvUhout preventing grace, to repent, and to believe the humbling holy Gospel of Christ, to love God and obey his will; then indeed the election might be made with respect to their foreseen faith and obedience. But then what ground would there be for the objections, which the apostle evidently supposes would be made to his doctrine ? Or what reason to silence them, in the manner which he afterwards does ; when he might easily and consistently with truth have given an answer far more satisfactory to the objectors, by clearly explaining his meaning ? It is then inquired, First, Are all men, as born of Adam, equallj' depraved ? and secondly, Is man willing of himself to do what is spiritually good, or does the grace of God make him willing? AVhen these questions are an- swered, according to the scrijitures and the articles of our church, it will readily be perceived, that no good, fore- seen either in the hearts or lives of sinners, could be the cause of their election to eternal life. If then God loved Jacob, and hated Esau, (or showed him far less favour,) without reference to their works, as comparatively good or bad, could any injustice be objected to him ? By no means ; he did Esau no wrong in leaving him to his own choice, and he and his posterity received more favours than they deserved ; nor did the unmerited love of God to Jacob and his posterity in any measure injure Esau. f]ven in respect of holy creatures, we must either allow, that God may justly permit them to sin, and punish them for it, and so at least foreknow both the permission and the punishment ; or else we must deny that he can act as a moral Governor of the universe. For if this were not just, God would be bound to prevent all his creatures from sinning ; and if they were left to' sin, He only would be the cause of it. So that men are not aware what blas- phemy is involved in their bold objections on this subject. Much more then may God righteously leave fallen crea- tures to themselves, to proceed in rebellion, and sink into destruction. He might justly have thus left all ; it is of infinite mercy that any are saved ; and their salvation can be no injury to those, who are only punished according to the desert of their own sins : and it is probable, that most of the objections brought against these doctrines originate from the want of a deep conviction, that God would have beer just, had he left our whole fallen race under final condemnation. The election of nations to special pri- vileges and religious advantages, not vouchsafed to other nations, which some expositors suppose lo be here meant, (contrary to the whole tenour of the context,) is liable to raoh, ' Even for tiii.s same iiurpose have s a« <»i,e.x ix , I •1,1 , 1 '• I "^ 1 'I '""''I- "• * ' 1 raised thee up, " that 1 might shew my ^u^'- power in thee, and that '^ my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore ^ hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy. will, ' he hardeneth. J. Is xxxvii SO. X Johnsvii 26. 7, 8 S« on. Ex i». 21. vii. 13. Deut Acts xxviii. St—SS. S Tlies. ii. 10-12 vv. 14. IJ . xlv. 1- j. Jer xxvji e. 7. nan, iv. 21', T 18-21. Ex X.I, a Xiv 17. 18. sv. U. 16. xviii. 10, II. and whom he i^'\ "sa^.i'v! 8. Fs. "ixxxiii. 17.19 Prov.svi. . 16. V. 28. 21- Eph. i e » i. 24-28. xi. sli. xi. SO Is. Ixlii. 17. Matt xiii 14, 15. the same objections as personal election ; and can only be vindicated in the same way. All might justly be left without them ; and when some are mercifully favoured with them, " that the purpose of God according to election " might stand, not of works, but of him that calleih," no wrong is done to the others. V. 13 — 18. ' Mercy pre-supposes niiserj, and thi.s ' sin, or the voluntary corruption of the human race ; and ' this corruption pne-supposes a creation in purity and ' uprightness.' {Besa.) Moses, for whore the Jews pro- fessed the highest deference, had written as strong language concerning the sovereignty of God in showing mercy, as the aposde used, when Jehovah declared, " I will have •' mercy on whom //larc mercy ; and I will have compassion " on whom I havt compassion ;"' for the lalter clause is in the present time, which implies, that he would by no influence be induced to alter his fixed purpose of showing' mercy, or executing vengeance. {iSole, Ex. xxxiii. 19.^ In the case of Jacob, it indeed appeared, that he was willing to obtain the blessing, and he ran at his mother's word ; thus he prevented Esau, and Isaac, contrary to his puipose, blessed him : but the whole transaction was dis- graceful, and merited the indignation rather than the favour of God. {Soles, Gen. xxvii.) The establishment, Ijpwever, of the covenant with him and his posterity did not originate IVom this, but from the electing love of God ; whose purpose respecting him had been made known ion"- before. Thus believers greatly desire the salvation of Christ, and labour to secure it ; yet these are streams from the fountain of electing love. They '■ were by nature " children of wrath, even as others : but God, who is " rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved " them, even when they were dead in sins, hath quick- " ened them together with Christ." Thus he makes them willing by regeneration ; and they are disposed to the dili- gent use of menn.-^, and through these they are made partakers of salvation; the sinfulness attending their very diligence being graciously forgiven. Whereas they, who are not llius willing and diligent, are not made iinwilling by any positive act of God ; but it is the consequence of their own pride, self-will, love of sin, and aversion to holiness ; it springs from innate dej'vavity, and is increased and strengthened by habits of di.¥obediencc, and can never be removed, except by an act of almighty power, which God cannot be bound injustice to perform for any of his rebellious creatures. Men are indeed naturally willing to be saved from misery and made happy, and are often very diligent in proud and unbelieving endeavours in order lo it; but this is widely different from a cordial willingness to be saved from sin as well as misciy, and made holy and happy, in the humbling method of the Gospel. This A. D. Gl. ROMANS. Jl. D. GJ^ siii. 3 ico' -!». 19 Thou " wiit say then unto me, |-| ■" "*" i* ^V'hy cJotli he yet fiiid fault? lor who '_fi ,•!"'• '".jV hath resisted his willr' io "i3'V'l*''i -^^ '^'^)' '■*"^' " ^^ '"^"» ''who art thou ij'n' il'' M *hat * rephest against God ? ' Shall tho aAs^i ;!)' fv ihiiig formed say to him that formed it, cllf'iwt.vM ^^'^'O' '''^^* ^'^"'' ni''^de nic thus ? ja'irii ;m '"■ -' Hatii not f the potter power over ViKvl""''' ;j ♦'"= clay, of the same lump to make ^ one xsxvuiS, 3 xl 2 j 8. xlii. 2-C Mjlt. «x lA • Or, a:ittltrcsl asain. Job Kiv 3. Tt ii -J ••t,ilitp:U,!t nHikOiid 1 Cor i. 20. I Tim. vi ». els xxix 16. xlv 3- 11 1 II. in li. Kiv b Jer. xviii- 3-ii. g £2, 23. Jer. xxii. ;:li. Hos »iii b vessel unto honour, and another unto dis- 1"" ■ ^ » *. , , 4 E« il. 16. l".. lionourr *'. " "to" 22 What it God, "^ willing to shew his ts'17 "■' " wrath, and to make Ins power known, J.?^ ""Ji,! nw ' endured with murh long-sulfering "^ the Y^^^ ||l '=-, vessels of wrath f fitted to destruction ; j^'H - ]^ j J, 2.'5 And that he ' might make known k^jiTxhc'T'i. the riches of his glory on the vessels of '^;;, ""'^f ^f; mercy, which ^ he had before prepared M"'iThes''ii^iZ » 7 10 iii.8 IG. Col i. 87. STbes i lO-lS in 1 Chr xxix, IB. I.uke i 17. Uf.li. ii. 3— 5 Col i I2.2TI1CS il 13,11 2 Tim. ii. 21 Trt. iii. 3-7. 1 Pet I 2-5 stiliject was cxcmiilified in tlic case of Pliaraob. God the Ci'eator advoiiced hiin to great aulhoiity and prosperity, and spared liis liic through the several plagues of Egypt ; but at tlic same lime he left him to harden himself in en- mity and rebellion. This he declared to be intended, that in his destruction he might make known his power and glory tliroughout the earth. So that it must he allowed, that he hath mercy on such of our apostate race as he sees good ; and that he hardeneth whom he will, by leav- ing thcni to themselves and under the power of Satan, by ordering his dispensations respecting them in such a man- ner as he knows will exasperate their emnity and em'- boldon their ]Mesumption, and by judicially sentencing them to final obduracy, that his justice in their punishment may become the more conspicuous. {Notes, &c. Kx. iii — XV.) ' This hardening also is voluntary, because the Lord, ' otibndcd by tiioir depravity, makes use of their own will, ' in executing this judgment on those whom he hardens. ' Then follow the fruits of this hardening, namely, unbelief ' and sins, which are the real causes of the condemnation of ' die reprobate.' {Besa.) V. 19 — 21. The unhumbled olijcctor would be sure l:crc to cavil, and to inquire, Why the Lord blamed or ))unished Pharaoh, or indeed any man, for his sins ? Who had resisted his sovereign will and ajipointment ? Even they, who most rebel against his precepts, fulfil his de- crees ; his will is therefore universally done, and no crea- ture makes any opjio.sition lo it. As if the secret purpose of God could be a rule of duty to his creatures ! Or as !i' a man could mean to do the will of G>)d, by breaking ills express couunandments, out of enmity to him, and to gratify his own lusts ! To this presumptuous caviller, (and such arc very numerous, when both avowed enemies .md false friends of these doctrines arc included,) the apo-tle answered, by demanding of him, (a man, a sinner,) who he was, that he should deem himself authorized to reply against God, and to charge him with injustice or want of wisdom, for those things which he had express- ly spoken and done ? Was it proper for the creature lo call his Creator to an account, for having formed him as he saw good ? Would not men allow the infinite God the same sovereign right to manage the affairs of the creation as the potter exercises in disposing of his clav, when of the same lum|) he makes one vessel to a more honourable, and another to a meaner, use.' {Notes, Is. Ixiv. 6 — 8. Jer. xviii. 6 — 10.) Would they give the Lord no credit for his justice, wisdom, truth, and goodness, when they could not tully comprehend them ? Kor infer from his infinite perfection, that he could not do wrong, however it might appear to them ? And could diere be any danger from the exercise of absolute sovereignty by infinite excellency ? Would they Vlare lo dictate to the Lord, to determine what he ought to do, or to call him to an account for what he had done ? It is plain, fiom the whole context, that the apostle did not mean, that God might justly make inno- cent creatures miserable by prerogative, as some seem at least to suppose ; for he goes upon the supposition that the divine sovereignty is that of infinite wisdom, justice, truth, and goodness. The words, " have mercy on whom he " will have mercy," imply that all deserved wrath; so that the lump of clay in the hands of the potter must refer to men, already existing in God's foreknowledge as fallen creatures. But the aposde intended to repress the arro- gance of ignorant presumptuous worms, who venture to speak about injustice, cruelty, tyranny, &.c. in discoursing of their offended Creator and Judge ; who conceive in their own imagination how the infinite God ought to act ; and then, forgetting who He is, and who they arc, charge him foolishly, and say, that if such and such doctrines be in- deed true, then God is — but their words ought not to be re- peated. This very common practice is such a compound of arrogance, irreverence, and folly, that it seems the most glaring proof of human depravity, which even this^ wicked world exhibits ; especially when it is added, that many pious men appear, in the violence of controversy, sometimes to be betrayed into it. It is wonderful that the great Mr. Locke should confidently assert, that the apos- tle here speaks of men natiomtlly, and not personalty, in reference to their eternal state, when the rejection of the Jewish nation, with the reservation only of a remnant" ac- " cording to the election of grace," was the main subject, to illustrate which all the other examples are introduced. This remnant consisted of a small number of individuals, not of a nation ; and the Gentile converts were individuals out of their several nations, forming, with the Jewish con- verts, the Christian Church ; and not whole nations, or one whole nation, chosen, as a collective body, to succeed to the external advantages which the nation of Israel had for- feited : and surely " the vessels of mercy before prepared •' unto glory," which the apostle next mentions, must have been chosen, not to external advantages, but to eternal lit"?, {Note, viii. 28—31.) V. 22, 23. Suppose that God was pleased, (as in the instance of Pharaoh,) in order more conspicuously to dis- play his powerful wrath against his enemies, to endure their provocations with patience for a long time, till they J. U. Gl. D Tiii. 25 - 30 I Cor, i 9 Heb. ill I 1 Pet V 10 Hev. six 9 ei'i 3f, 30 ii 11.12 X 12. si 11—13 XT. Si- lo (ien- xlix 10 Va xxii 27. Acts siii. 47. «8. XV. 14 sti. 17- 20, G-il ill, 28, Eph ii 11-13. Ui 6-3 Col iii II. • Hos i. 1, 3. s Hos ii 33 IPet. CHAPTER IX. Ho .10 s5^ l6.U,xl 6 John si. iS. 2 Cor vi. 18, Gal. iii. :6. 1 John Hi. 1—3 . Is i. 1 Isaiah. n, Is X 20 — L',l yxi, ,1-6 E.ra il 8, 11. Is I. 3 X, 20. 21. xi. Il.xsiv 13 Jer. T. 10 Ez y\. 8. Mic V. 3-8 « Or. occoiiiU. X Is sxviii 22. XXX 12 — U. Did. is 26. 27. Malt. xxiv. 21. 22. a I's. is Lim iii 22 2-1 Even us, " whom he hath called, ° not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles ? 25 As he saith also p in Osee, i I will call them ray people, which were not my people; and her ' beloved, which was not beloved . 2G And = it shall come to pass, (hat in the place where it was said unto them, 1 e are not my people ; ' there shall they be called the children of the living God. 27 " Esaias also cricth concerning Is- rael, ^ Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, ' a rem- nant shall be saved : 28 For he will fuiish the * work, ^ and cut it short ^ in righteousness ; because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 29 And as Esaias said before, '' Except 8. IXT 5. Is. V. 16. Actsxvii. 31. Re%-. xix. 11. b Is. i. 9 vi. 13 the Lord of ' Sabaoth had left us a seed, ' we had been as Sodoma, and been m.-ide like unto Gomorrah. 30 What ' shall we say then ? That •" the Gentiles, which ^ followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteous- ness, *■ even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which ' followed after the law of righteousness, '' hath not at- tained to the law of i-ighteousness. 32 ^Vhcre^ore ? ' Because (hey soui^ht it not by faith, but as it were by the woi ks of the law. For "" they stumbled at that stumbling-stone : 33 As it is written, ° Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone, and rock of of- fence : " and whosoever bclieveth on him shall not be t ashamed. m Ki Ii. Ma't xiii. 57 Luke ii 31. vii 2:1. 1 Cor i 23 n Ps i-xv 15, xxviii 16. Ma't xsi 42,44 1 Vet ii 7.3, o i- 5 x. U. Vi xlv. 17. 25 liv. 4 Joel ii 2«, 27. Phil i 20. 2 Tim. i. 12 1 Johu ii 21 founiiid. 1 Pet- li. 0. J.D. (iJ. il lien x;.< 24. Ii. xiil 11) .ler. XliK. 18 I. vU l.iuT) iv C. Am, iv II Zi'|>li Ii. 9 i Pol ii o. Sodotn. Gnmvr- rnh J lldu 7. Srr II. 14 i.6. 18- 3S. X 20. I« Kv. I, 2. 1 Cor. vi. 9—11. Kpl. ii. 12 iv. 17-19 1 I'tt- IV 3, 2 31 ProT. XV. 9. xxi 21. l5 li. I. 1 ■lim. vi. II. h i 17 iii 22. i. • 9 II 13. GbI. iii. «. v. B. Phi!. ill. 9. Heb. xi. 7, i 30 32. X. 2- 1- Gal. iii. 21. Phil. iii. 6. k iii. £0 iv. 11, l.i. xi. 7. Gal. iii 10,11 V. :;, i Jam. ii 10, Malt. xix. 16- £0 Jolin vi 27 -29. Actssvi. 20-34 1 Jobll had acted out the desperate wickedness of their hearts, and filled up the measure of their sins, and so became ripe for signal vengeance ; what injustice could there be in this? In allusion to the potter's vessels, they were in themselves vessels of wrath, and their wicked disposi- tions and actions rendered them fitted for destruction. Nor could they have been preserved from it, but by an act of omnipotent power, as well as by the exercise of unmerited mercy ; this God was not bound, and did not see good, to bestow ; and they were too proud and wicked to ask, or desire it, or even to accejit of it. They desjaiscd the riches of that long-sullering that spared them ; they treasured up wrath in the iinpenitency of their hearts ; and at length received their due recompense, (ii. 4 — 6.) And if, on the other hand, the Lord chose to display the abundance of his glorious power, truth, and love, in his dealings with some of the same lump, whom he had se- lected to be vessels of mercy, what was this to olheis ? They were not any more meet for the felicity intended them than the former ; but he was jileascd to prepare them before for it, by his converting and sanctifying grace : as well as to make them capable of actively glorifying him here on earth. But did his free love to litem imply injustice to others 7 Their cause for gratitude is immense ; but have those, who suficr no more than ihcy deserve, any gt'uund for complaint ? while he wiiliholds from none ihciP due, he has surely a right to do what he will with h.is own. (A'o/es, jl/a//. XX. 1 — 16.) The dilTcreiU language used concerning'" the vessels of wrath, and the vessels of " mercy," is of vast importance in staling this doctrine soliilly and scripturally : the former are " fitted for dc- •' struction ;" it is not said that God had fitted them. For he saw them, in themselves, both deserving wrath, and lit for the place of torment, and the society of fallen angels ; but God himself before prepared the vessels of mercy for that glory to which he intended to advance them. The term, " vessels of mercy," implicS; that they too hod de- served wrath ; and the preparation before-hand for glorw shows that in themselves they had been unprcjj iroti. (A'o/fs, Ep/i. ii. ]— 10. Tit, iii. 3—7.) V. 24 — -29. The vessels of mercy, or converts t',. Christianity, had been called forth from among both Jews and Gentiles ; this gave great oOcnce to the unbelieving Jews, yet their own prophets had foretold it. Hosca had predicted, that ihey would be beloved of God as his peo- ple, who iiad not been so; and Isaiah had shown, that hi;! a remnant would be saved from the innumerable multi- tudes of l.-rae! ; and (hat God would finish his work witii that nation, in a righteous but compendious manner; cr by taking a short account of the chosen people among them, and con-igning the rest to just destruction through- out ihc whole land. The passages referred to have alreadv been considered ; and though the version is somewhat different, being from the Septuagint, yet the meaning is nearly the same. {Noles, I.;, i. T — 9. x. 22, 23. llus. i. 8 — 10. ii. 21 — 23.) J seed is hcie put for -'a very small " remnant," in Isaiah ; but the twenty-eighth verse con- siderably ditTors fmm the passage, as it stands in the ori- ginal of the projihery. ' From comparing the original ' with the Sc|->liiagint, no one can deny, that the Greek ' interpi'cters have in fact rendered the passage veiy neg- 'ligentty, as far as words are concerned. Should an)' one 'ask, why the apostle neverllielcss u^ed that tiMii.slalion, I ' answer, that he did ihis very properly, becau-iC they 1) ' whom he wrote had been u.sod to that tran.slutirn ; amJ ' thiit. as far as the scnliment is concerned, in support of ' which Paul adduced this te.niiriony. the Greek inierprrteis ' had preserved it sulTicitntly faithful. Nor does it signify I' any other, cither in the Hebrew or ihc Greek, than thiit i' God had dctciinined to render t!ie number of an ungrateful I' people extremely smidl.' (Bca.) ' V. 30 — 33. The nposllc, having shown that both die- purposes and predictions of God were fulfilled, in thf? rejection of the unbelieving Jews and the calling of t-b<- .^. f). 01 ROMANS. A. D. 01. fJHAP. X. 'Ike apostle again shows his earnesl desire of Israel'' s salvation ; testifying to their . zeal, staling wherein it was erroneous, and t/islinguishitig between the righteousness rf the law and that of faith, 1 — 1 1 . He Gentiles, here proceeds to show by what means this had been effected, which tended to prove that the Lord had acted righteously, and tho Jews wickedly, in this matter. The (.jicntiles, who before lived in the grossest ignorance, idolatry, and wickedness, without at all intjuiring or fol- lowing' alLor righteousness, had suddenly, through the surprising gr.icc of God, been brought into a state of acceptance with Him, being called to partake of " the " ri2;htcousness of God by faith." But Israel, who had the law, which contained the rule of righteousness, and shadowed forth the way of justification, and who had sedulously p:ii(l regard to it as "• a law of righteousness," had not attained to the righteousness for which they sought. Not living up to their law, they were condemned by it, vet cleaving to it, they rejected Christ and his salvation. Wherefore then had they failed of acceptance? Was it merely through God's decree ? Or did he refuse to receive them in tho same way as the Gentiles were justified I No, | truly ; but they refused to seek the blessing iiy faith, as an unmerited favour, and persisted in claiming it by the law, | as a matter of right. This they did, as it ivere, by the j works of the law; they did not think that they perfectly! kept the law, but they expected to make up their dcfi- 1 ciency in one respect, by abounding in others, or by] repentance and amendment, and the legal sacrifices, or by | superstitious additions and observing tlie traditions of men. | Thus they sought the blessing from that, which denounced! a curse upon them, and refused to trust wholly in Him who was raised up to bless them. At this stumbling stone they fell, as it had been predicted. (Notes^, h. viii. 1 1 — I 15. xxviii. 16.) Their obstinate pride and unbelief were I the immediate cause of their ruin, and God had only ' decreed, in righteousness, to give them up to the lusts of their own hearts. Some expositors think, that the apostle liad reference to a race, in which the Jews, with all their advantages, were so far from coming in before the Gen- tiles, that they were left far behind ; " for the last shall be '* first, and the first last." Mr. Locke, and many others, argue, that the apostle only meant, that the Gentiles had embraced the true religion, not that they were brought into a state of salvation ; but surely, if ihry " attained to " righteousness, even the righteousness w hich is of faith," they were justified persons, children of Abraham, children of God, and heirs of heaven ; and though all who pro- fessed theGospe! were not of this character, yet none else were partakers of " the righteousness which is of faith." It is a'lso allowed, as these leaj'ned expositors maintain, that die dealings of God with ih<^ Jews, and not his n-eneral conduct towards mankind at large, as to their eternal concerns, is the priiudry subject of th,: chapter ; but the dispensations of God with Israel are explaiaed, illustrated, and justified, on such principles, as establish in the clearest manner the method of his dealings with man- maintains that Jews and Gentiles were in this respect on equal terms, 12, 13; that it was proper to preach to all,, though ma- ny tcould not believe, 14 — 18; and that the prophets had foretold the rejection of the Jeios and the calling of the Gentiles, 19—21. kind at large. And if we are not allowed to infer general conclusions from the commands, testimonies, promises, and dispensations of God, in respect of individuals, it does not appear how we can use the Scriptures, or a great proportion of them at least, either for doctrinal or prac- tical purposes, either for encouragement, warning, or instruction in righteousness. " Whatsoever things were " written aforetime, were written for our learning." " All these things happened unto them for ensamples, aqd " they are written for our admonition, upon whom the " ends of the world arc come. Therefore let him that " thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." {Rom. XV. 4. 1 Cor. X. II, 12.) The Jews, as a nation, had outward privileges, so have Christians as a collective body. Most of them trusted in these outward privileges, and rejected the salvation of Christ, and so do the bulk of professed Christians. A renmant, however, believed and were saved, while tlie rest wrt'C hardened and rejected ; the case is the same with professed Christians. This rem- nant was '• the election of grace," and so is the remnant of true Christians. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—8. The command of loving our neighbour as ourselves, and the example of Christ, require us to mourn over obstinate transgressors, especially when near to iis according to the flesh ; at the same time that we vindicate the justice of God'in his dealings with them. This sorrow and heavi- ness, springing from natural affection, will indeed alloy our present consolations ; but they are active principles, exciting us to use proper means for the conversion of those around us, and to submit to hardship, reproach. loss, or suftering, in our compassionate endeavours for their good ; and the more such affections rule in our hearts and influence our conduct, the more we resemble Him, who was made a curse for us, to redeem us from the curse of the law. We cannot now know the purposes of God respecting others ; it will be soon enough for us to be " without natural affection," when perfected in holiness, and to rejoice in the destruction of his enemies indivi- dually, when the event makes them known to us. In the mean time insensibility to the eternal condition of our fellow creatures is contrary both to the love required by the law. and the mercy of the Gospel ; and the more we can appeal to our heart-searching Judge, through the testimony of his Spirit in our conscience, that we sincerely pity, pray for. and would suffer any thing to save, our most virulent despisers and persecutors, the greater confidence we may use in affectionately warning them of their danger, and of [the delusions into which they are fallen. For no external I forms, notions, means, promises, or intercourse with emt- A. D. 61 3 i» 1-3. xzxii. 10 1 Sam \li XV n J5 1. Jer sv -13 -? i T6 CHAPTER X. .,y. jj. Gi. B' heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they i.uke ni'g'^t be saved. 34 John ». 2 For ^ I bear them record, " that they have a zeal of God, '' but not according to G.r^iv. 15 Col. knowledge. , cX32. S KiniJX. 16. JobDKTi. 2. AcU xxl. SO. 28. xxii. 3 22 xxv . 9,10 GiJ i, M iv. 17, 18. PbIL iii. C (1 Ps xiv 1. Prov. xix S. Ii. xxvii. U. 2 Cor. iv 4 6. Pbil i. 9 I Cor nent saints, can profit such as have not the power of godliness. Nay, if we Stood related to Christ himself, according to the flesh, we should be no better for it, un- less we submitted to him, trusted and worshipped, and obeyed him, as " God over all blessed for ever." V, 9—21. The whole Scripture shows the difference between the professed Christian and the real believer. Outward pri- vileges are bestowed on many, who are not the children of God. These are born of the Spirit, according to the promise and " purpose of him," who " worketh all things " after the counsel of his own will," and not because they were any better by nature or of themselves than others. For " the Lord hath mercy on whom he pleases •' to have mercy," " and it is not of him that willeth, " nor of him that runneth, but of God, that shovveth " mercy." Yet is there abundant encouragement to the use of means. The promises, invitations, and exhorta- tions of Scripture are perfectly consistent with the secret purposes of God. Where there is a willing mind, and humble diligence in seeking him, the blessing will cer- tainly be given : and the happy believer will in due time ascribe even this willingness to electing love. But if men wilfully harden themselves in disobedience and impeni- tence, he will show his power and vengeance in their destruction, and cause all their abused prosperity' to in- crease their condemnation and his own glory in it. Who could have previously thought, that any of our I'ace would have presumed to say, that there is unrighteousness with God .' To quarrel with his judgments, and pretend '-hat none hath resisted his will ! Shall criminals cite their offended Sovereign to their blasphemous tribunal ? If they do, let them see to it, for evil is before them. He that .sitteth in heaven will deride their folly, and vex them in his hot displeasure ; he will go on with his own plan, exercising his holy Sovereignty as he sees good, and dis- tinguishing between those who adore, and those who blaspheme, the depths which they cannot fathom ; and he will number with the latter such as pretend to believe the doctrines in question, and then take occasion from them to sin with greater presumption. But surely all who love and fear God, however such truths may dazzle and di.smay them, should reverently keep silence before him. And even if they hear them staled unscripturally or licentiously, they should take care what words they use in disputing against those who thus pervert the truth, that they may not a[)pear to countenance the impieties of infidels and ungodly men. In short, modesty, caution, humility, and profound awe of the holy Majesty of God, should restrain and guide the tongues and pens of all, who speak or write on such subjects, hov/- ever satisfied they may be with their own views of them. Vol. v.— No". 31. 3 For they being iguoraui of '^ God's «^.' jJ Ij^' ^2 =« righteousness, and going about '' to esta- ^»''j. g^'j'" iJ; blish their own righteousness, have not ^ yJn^'.'Vi' 5 submitted themselves unto the right- i"c"r'"'v.'' s?. eousness of God. rl/"'' 32 u. 4 For " Christ is the end of the law l:jie'lM.'xv,. 15. xviii 9-12 r.ii. T 3, 1 Rev ill 17, I8 g Lev. xsvi. 41. Keh. ix. ;3. J.iii KXjiii 27. Laftl. lii. 22. Uau. .x r,^.j. '.:4ie»v 17— Jl. h iii SS-31 viii 3, J.I"; liii. II. Matt iii. 15 v 17, It- "lii i. 17, Acts xiii.38. 39, 1 Cor. i. 30. Gal. iii. M Col li. 10 1 ■• Hel). ix. 7-14 X, 8-rj- V. 22—33. Sinners need no preparing for destruction ; they are vessels of wrath, and God's long-suffering towards them is very wonderful. But the vessels of meicy were ori- ginally of the same lump, and that new creation, by which they are " afore prepared unto glory," is as great a display of the riches of God's grace and mercy, as the inheritance which he freely bestows upon them. If we have experienced something of this change, surely, iii our own case, we must allow that the Lord alone hath made us to difler ; and, instead of disputing against that free electing love, whence all our happiness flows, we should be employed in adoring his pardoning mercy and new-creating grace, or in giving diligence to make our calling and election sure. And they, who know nothing of this change, ought to be far otherwise employed than in disputing either for or against this doctrine. Let them strive to enter in at the strait gate, before the door be for ever shut, and leave such discussions to those who arc walking with God in the way to heaven. As many of us have now obtained mercy, and are the people and children of the living God, who once were far off- from him, so we may pray, and use means that this may be the case with others throughout the earth. For, alas ! even among the vast number of professing Christians, it is to be feared that but a remnant will be saved, and the Lord will be righteous in the destruction of an immense majority of them. Blessed be his name, that he hath left us also a seed of true believers, to preserve our land from being as Sodom and Gomorrah, yet this will not prevent many individuals from perishing with still deeper destruction. Whilst numbers care for none of these things, and perish through open impiety, and while some are snatched from among them by an un- expected conversion, and pass from death to life, through the righteousness of faith and the grace of the Gospel, others, who seem intent on following after the law of righteousness, attain not to it, " because they seek it not by faith, but, as it were, by the works of the law," by some confused observance of an imaginary rule, and ex- pecting to atone for sin by forms, sacraments, alms, and superstitions, and by some general notion of Christ's making up the rest. At this stumbling-stone how many fiill. and lose the race! Being offended at the humbling, levellin ' doctrines of free grace, they even make the preciou."^ foundation for our hope, which God himself ha'h laid, md on which whoever trusts shill never be ashamed, a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, and so pe:-ish with an aggravated destruction. From such a downfall good Lord deliver us ! Amen. A. D. CJI. KOMAiNS. A. D. 61. for rigiitcousne.^y to every one tliat bc- licveth. ,0 For Moses ck'scribetli t!ic liulitcous- '^'hu.'loS'. ness which is of the law, ' That the man like'x 17 23 which docth tliose tilings '=IuiiI live by *;»'';"='■ them. 'u '^x'31, 32 (3 But '' the lighteousness which is of i'i.'V' " ' "''' faith speakcth on this wise, ' Say not in 'i3.^'Iov''nv»'4^ thine lieait, Who shall ascend into hea- °ti"'''3i'"38''so. ven? (that is, ■" to brincr Christ down i! is f (.b iv. /- y X ^ 11-10 lies. i. 3 from, above :) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? ''iJj'fi>i^''i''i''iB (^^^^ is, " to bring up Christ again from """'"'"' the dead.) eDeuix!.iu. y 3^,t „.}j^t g^jtlj ;t ? o The word is nigh thee, eve7i in thy mouth, and in thy p n ■ is. 17 i». heart : that is, '' the word of faith, whi-jli xvS s" Ave preach; 9 That 1 if thou shalt confess with Mark 16 Acts x 43 Xltt 38, 19. xvi.3l. G»l. Hi 2. » 1 Tjui. iv C 1 let i. thy mouth the Lord Jesus, ' and shalt q'xi^ n. m.il 32,33. I.uke I. e Johr: IX. raised him from the dead, thou shall be "'•'•>■ believe in thine heart that God hath hi saved. 2,3. 34. Jobs 10 For " with the heart man bclieveth 7' f-" . • I 1-11 1 •"'--■' A'>» ""■ ' unto riijiitcousness; " and with the mouth ?'• '^'>' »'• .0 . ' . 11-18. 1 ret. I. coniession is made unto salvation. ^^^^^^ ^..| ,j. 1 1 For the scripture saith, " Whoso- i;i''"i'9iji'"'Hic" ever believeth on him shall not be ,'r'i'ai''ii*,6^i„i. ashamed. NOTES. C?IAI'. ?v. V. 1 — 4. Aware of the oflcncc which hi doctrine would give the Jews, ami even many of the Jew- ish Christians, tlie apostle repeated his [jrotcstation of hi earnest desires and fci'vent prayers for the salvation of his people, iiotwilhstundiiig their prejudices against him, and the persecutions which he iiad endured from them. He was also ready to bear testimony for the Jews, that they had'- a zeal" of God," or a very great zeal in things re- lating to God and religion ; they were vciy zealous for the worshi]5 of God, according to the law of IMoses, as they understood it ; but it was with a misguided and ig- norant zeal, founded on a misconstruction of the law itself, andcf their national covenant, and so leading them fatally to oppose the kingdom and salvation of their promised Messiah. For they, not being acquainted with the perfect justice of the divine character, law, and government, and not understanding the nature of that righteousness, which God had provided for the justification of sinners consist tification of all believers. The strictness and sanction of the moral law showed men their need of a free salvation, and the ceremonies shadowed forth Christ and his work, as fulfilling the righteousness, and bearing the curse, of the law ; so that even under the law, all, who were jus- tified before God, obtained that blessing by faith, which interested them in the perfect righteousness of the pro- mised Redeemer. Some argue, that if the apostle had, in the preceding chapter, meant, that the reprobation of the Jewish nation was absolutely decreed, he would not have prayed for them ; but he knew that a remnant was ex- cefited ; he did not know to what number this extended, and his g-ood will, (so the original word signifies,) tovvards ihcm was so strong, that he prayed for the conversion of Israelites, in a way which implied a longing desire that they all might be saved. Had it depended on him, this would have been the case ; he prayed according to the knowledge which he had, and left secret things to God, adoring his wisdom and justice, even in those events which ently with his own glory, 1. id gone about by various devi- were contrary to the feelings and desires of his heart ces to establish their own righteousness, as the meritorious The author can answer for one, that the belief of personal ground of their justification; in doing which, they had ac- tually refused to acknowledge the justice of God in their condemnation, and to submit to seek righlcousness as his free gift by faith alone. The exj>ression, " establish their own righteousness," seens to be taken fiom a person, who allows his house to be out of icpair and in some danger of falling; but will not be convinced that the foundaiion is destroyed, and that it must come down, and be entirely rebuilt on a new foundation. He therefore endeavours, by props and buttresses, and various rejiairs, to make the house stand ; but all his expense and iabour are thrown away; and if he persist in his vain endeavour, it will be likely to fall down and bury him in its ruins. Thus the Jews, (and immense numbers in every age do the same,) when convinced of defects in their moral righteousness, endeavoured to repair them by ceremonial or superstitious observances ; nor would they be convinced that they were building upon a false foundation, that they must totally give over such vain and perilous endeavours, and come for a free salvation to Christ, even as the poor Gentiles did. To this they would not submit, because they did not know t.hat Christ was the end and scope of the law for the jus- election and the divine decrees does not in the least inter- fere with his joining heartily in that prayer of our excel- lent liturgy, '• That it may please God to have mercy upon ' all men.' V. 5 — 11. Moses had repeatedly stated the righteous- ness which the law demanded of a man, in order to his justification ; {Marg. Bef.) and his dcscrijnion showed, that without a sinless obedience to every prece|il, no man could be accepted by it, and effectually cut off all trans- gressors from every hope in this way. But the righteous- ness of faith might be introduced as using the words of BIose.= on another occasion. (Note, Deut. xxx. 11 — 14.) The self-condemned sinner needs not to perplex himself with inquiries, how it could be obtained ; he needs not say in his heart. Who shall ascend into heaven, to fetch down one who may introduce such a righteousness ? For Chiist has already romc down, and finished that work. Nor need he inquire who should descend into the grave, or ib.e place of departed spirits, to bring back the crucified Saviour from the dead ; for that also was done, and he was exalted at the right hand of the Father, to confer ihe blessing on all who applied for it. Nor was the informa- J.D. 61. CHAPTER X. .;. i>. 01. .IB. 1 Cor.xv 47 Phil. ii. ll.Ue ^v' u, if" iv 1 2 For y there is no difTerenco between w XV 'e^s'^Gai'' the J"w and the Greek: for the same -y'iff coi i!f. ' Lord over all is " rich unto all that " call E xiv. 9 x». 12. upon him. ' " ' 13 For ' whosoever shall call upon the " name of the Lord shall be saved. •Ti'i*9"'Epuf7°i: 14 How then '^ shall they call 4 7.1ii 6.16 Phil. 1 • • I .1 1 i 1 it. 19 Col. i i7 on liim m wliom tnoy nave not be- b"i"s*' iKsxvi 6. lieved ? ^ and how shall they believe " Acts IS. 11. in him of whom they have not heard ? c joeTii'aa' Acts and how sh^l they hear without a d I Kings viii 41 preacher.'* 15 And ' hovrshali they preach, except i*!5 26. ^^^7 ^^ ^^"*- •'' ^^ '*• '^ written, ^ How *u"ke x'xiJ^'is beautiful are the feet of them that preach Atu°''ii" ^2. '' ^^^ gospel of peace, ' and bring glad ti- 'l- 1? dinffs of sood thinsfs ! -43. J 9-14. 16. iii.5- 9 Heb. xi 6 2 Tim. iv. 17. Tit 1 3 f Jer. xsiii, SI. Acts is 15. xiii 2—1 12. 1 Pet i 12. gSrc S.36. Eph. ii 17. \i 15.- i. Matt, ix 38. x. 1 — 6. XEviii 18—20 LuVe X. I.John xx. iii 21. I Cor sii. 58. 29. 2Cor. V l8-i?0. Eph. iii. 6 iv. II, .19 III 7. Nah i. 15 his. Ivii. 19 Lul;e ii. ll. Acts -i la. si. 3. Isi. I. Luke ii. 10. Tiii. 1 Acts xiii. 26. tion respecting the means of obtaining an interest in it at a distance, that men should travel into far countries to in- quire after it ; on the coiitrary, it was nigh to them, in the word of faith which the ministers of Christ were sent to preach ; it was in the mouth of all who ])rofe.ssed the Gospel, and in the hearts of all that believed it. In short, if a man confessed his belief in Jesus, as the Lord and Sa- viour of lost sinners, and really believed in his heart that God had raised him again from the dead, in attestation of having accepted his atonement, he should certainly be sav- ed, by the righteousness of Christ imputed to him through faith. For that faith, which interests a sinner in the me- rits of Christ, has its seat especially in the heart of a hum- ble penitent, and produces cordial desires after him and love to him ; and the bold confession of his name and truth among enemies, and in the face of danger, evidences a man's faith to be genuine, and gives a sure hope of com- plete salvation, according to the prophecy before referred to. (ix. 33.) The distinction, between confesshifr rvith the mouth, and believing in the^ heart, shows that the apostle was discoursing, not of a mere profession of Christianity, but the genuine sincerity of him who made that profession. On the other hand, they who refused to make this open pro- fession, in times of persecution, had little reason to con- clude, that in their hearts they truly believed in Christ for righteousness and salvation. V. 12 — 17. In respect of the subject spoken of, there was no difference between Jews and Gentiles ; for as none of ihem could be justified by their works, or saved in un- belief, so th? infinite Creator and Governor of the world, being rich and plenteous in mercy towards all who humbly call on him for salvation, would never exclude any from justification who believed on his Son. Thus the prophet had foretold, concerning the times of the Messiah, that *• whosoever should call on the name of the Lord should "be saved." (Notes, Joel i\. 28— 32. Acts ii. 16— 21.) The Jews in general called upon Jehovah for temporal deliverance and eternal salvation, even while they reject- ed Christ; but they called in vain ; this therefore could not 16 But ■= they have not all 'obeyed tlic i. ii .,. „■,. „. gospel : for Esaias saith, ™Lo"d, who hath xKw.f. zf. He''.' believed * our report.'' I'i's^'i''^ vi'ir 17 So then " faith comelh by hearing, m Th '°.V'? " and hearing by tlin Avord of God. . Heh'^v. n.'xia" 18 But I say, f Have they not heard .'' m Is iiiM "mL Yes, verily, i their sound went into all the «Vi'r'M7ftr,iri>y earth, and their words ''tuito the cuds of ?f.i''a'n/'' "" .11, n M. I. In. l.t:lip the Avorld. >vi -} - x. 19 But ^ I say, Did not Israel know.'* '^'^i '■ *-•■■ t Ti- AT • 1 ¥ •If ' Thes. it. i:i ' r u'st Moses saith, 1 wdl provoke you f J'j^^ , v . '•'' to jealousy by them thai are no people, ^jj ',.'",' '■' and by a " foolish nation I will aneer "„!,"'.,''?':'• F-' 20 But Esaias is " very bold, and \% ^»,V'i. saith, 1 1 was found of them that sought p'^j^ij j, j.,,. xsvi. 10. xxviii 23 q -. 0. xv. 19 Hs. xis 4. Matt. xxiv. 11. xxvl. 13. siviii. 19. Mark xvl 15 10. Col i s 2 1. rPs.xsii 27 xcviii 3 Is x^iv. 16. xlix 6 lii. 10. Jer xvi. 19 6 13. iii. 26. I Cor i 12. vii. 29. X. 19 xi. 22 xv. 50 txi. Ik. Stt 0,1, Deut xxxii. 21 Hos. ii £3. I Pet ii. ID u j iU£2. Pa cxv 5-8 Is. sliv 18-20. Jer X. 8. 11 1 Cor. xii 2. Tit iii 3. s PrDv. xiv.ii. I Is. Iviii I. E[.b- n. 19, 20 y ix. 30. Is. Ixv. I. be the intent of the prophecy. By calling on the name of the Lord, we must understand, cither invoking the Lord Jesus personally, as the incarnate Word, the co-equal Son of God, " God manifest in the fle.'.h," or calling upon the Father by faith in the Son, and through his inlercesjion ; but the former sense best accords to the apostle's argument, and is by far the most obvious construction of the words. All believers thus called on the name of the Lord Jesus, and none else would, that is, humbly and sincerely ; therefore all, whether Jews or Gentiles, who thus sought help from him, would be saved. But how should any call on the Lord Jesus, the divine Saviour, who had not believ- ed in him as such ? Or how could any believe in him, who had never heard of him or his salvation ? Or how could the Gentiles hear the things pertaining to Christ, if none of the Jews, to whom they were immediately reveal- ed, were sent by God and his Church to preach to them ? Why thefT'should the Jews blame the apostle and others, for engaging in this needful and benevolent woik, to which God had called them ? The necessity and importance of preaching the Gospel had been stated in strong terms by the prophet, {Note, Is. lii. 15.) who had pocticaliv de- scribed even the feet of those who proclaimed the Gos- pel of peace to be beautiful; and though the Gentiles had not generally welcomed the salvation of Christ (any more than the Jews,) so as to receive it with an obedient faith, yet that too had been intimated by the same prophet, when he expressed his grief and surprise at men's general inat- tention to the glad tidings of salvation by a suftering Mes- siah. (Note, Is. liii 1.) And even the phrase which he used, when he called the Gosjiel " our report," confirmed the foregoing argument, that faith generally came by men's hearing a report of Christ, brought to them by the faithful preaching of the word of God. This is the means which God hath appointed and chiefly blessed for this purijose, and it is therefore man's duty to use it, in expectation of his blessing. The manner, in which the apostle applies the words to Christ, which Isaiah spake of Jehovah, forms a strong proof of our Lord's Deity. 1 ti ..^. /A 01 ROMANS I was made manifest imlo ihcm .i. b. (,l 21 But to Israel lie saitli, • All day li Iv.l.S. Mat , "iISke""23't"3t a'-ked not after mc \ Jutiii IV. 19 a Hrov. i. U Is Ikv. 2— 6 Jfr ;isv. 4 xxjcv. 15 Matt ss 1 — 15 xxi 33-43 xiii. j-/ 3tsiii.j4—o« I-Uke »k.iv.4; Acts XIII 46. 47 V, 18 — 21. As, ihci), the hearing of the report con- (.eriiincf Christ was so necessary to laiih in him, could it be said, that the Jews had not had an opportunity of hear- tn" it .' Indeed, the Gos|)cl had been so generally and exten- sively diffused by the minislcr.s of Christ, that the words of David, respecting the instructions conveyed to all na- tions by the luminaries of heaven, (as typical of the Sun of riehlcousness.) might be well applied to what had already taken place. (Ao/e, Ps. xix. 4.) But the Jews cspcciaUy had almost universally heard it. The aiiostles, the seventy discij'les, and others, by the express command of the Lord, preached in tlie cities and villages of Judea and Galilee, for a long time, before they addressed the Gentiles; and even St. Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, constantly first preached to the Jews, in every city whither he went. Very few of that nation therefore could plead, that they had had no ojiportunity of hearing this report; and tiieir unbelief was not the effect of ignorance or want of instruction, but of obstinate enmity against the truth. A"-ain, could the Israelites pretend, that no intimations had long 1 have stretched forth my liauds ''j,°«jjfj,'«g,'^ unto '' a disobedient and gainsaying people. ix ac Jer zliT 4-6 Art! v.i. 51,52 I Thes IC 1 rcl ii 8 and shameless profligates, infidels, and blaspho:ners,^in the broad road to destruction,, but "many also who have a zeal for God and religion; and while we should inculcate earnestness in that imporlant concern, we mu=.t id»o insist upon the absolute necessity of its being regulated by the word of God, without which it can oidy the more spe- ciously deceive and ruin thettoulsof men. Sinners could never persist in their vain endeavours to repair the baseless edifice of their own pight(?ousness, if they knew either the justice of God as a Governor, or his rightcou.sness as a Saviour. But being ignorant, through heedlessness, pride, and prejudice, of both the law and the Gospel, they stand out against their partial convictions, they do not allow the*juslice of the sentence denounced against them, as sinners deserving the wrath of God, and they will not submit to be saved by " the righteousness of faith," in the same way with the vilest of the human species. Mani- fold are their devices and endeavours to establish a legal righteousness of their own ; but all their labour is lost, and their souls continue in the most imminent danger ; for in been given them, that God intended to cast them off for opposition to all other methods of obtaining the divine their unbelief and disobedience, and to take others in their stead'? Even Moses, in that prophetical song which all were commanded to learn throughout their generations, had represented Jehovah declaring that he would excite them to jealousy, by those who had been no people to him, and raise their indignation by his favours shov.n to a nation; whichhadbeendespisedas foolish, because idolatrous. This had been remarkably accomplished, in the virulent oppo- sition to the Gospel, which the calling of the Gentiles had excited in the Jews ; when it should have stirred them up to an emulation, not to be surpassed in faith and holiness by those who had before been so ignorant and far from God. (A"oe from whom they receive Uie greatest injuries ; and iffcr their fervent and persevering prayers for the salvation favour, whether forged by ignorance, superstition, phi- losophy, enthusiasm, or grave morality, we must still' insist upon it, that " Christ is the end of the law for " righteou-ness to every believer," and that every unbe- liever remains under the curse of the law and the wrath of God. If a man object to this, and dispute about the difference between moral and ceremonial obedience, and ar^ue that the for2:icr may help to justify a man, though the latter cannot, let him hear Moses describe the right- eousness of the law, and then let hira inquire whether he can claim eternal life according to it. Let him take the law of God, (for rules that men prescribe to themselves and to each other are out of the question,) and, having pro- duced a sinless obedience to it, through the whole of his continuance here, in thought, word, and deed, let him then demand the reward as a debt. But if this be a des- perate attempt; let him submit to the degradation of a condemned criminal, and apply for pardon to the clemency of his offended Lord, and for eternal life, as his free gift through Jesus Christ and by faith in him. The humble trembling sinner has, however, no cause for discourage- ment. The righteousness of faith, invites him as it were, to accept of it; the Surety hath finished his obedience and atonement, and is risen and exalted to be our all-prevailing Advocate. Nor need we cross the seas, or explore far distant climes inquest of divine knowledge ; this is brought ni^h to us in the Gospel, and if we receive it by living fafth in our hearts, and confess that faith with our mouths in this 'evil world, without doubt the blessing is ours. But we should not trust in a fafth, of which we are afraid or ashamed to make a confession ; much less ought we to depend on any mere confession of faith, or assent to divine truths, which we have not believed in our hearts. For no faith is justifying, which is not efficacious in sanc- of the VC17 persons, against whom they denounce tne wrath tifying the heart, and regulating all its affections msub- of God. if they persist in uubeliff. Not only are careless 'sTvim'-y to the love of ChrisU Of such a faith no simiw J. I). 61. CHAPTER XI A. D. «1. , I can. xii.iS. 2 XIXl. 36. 37, xxsiii. 21-26 H08 is 17 A3> . Actsssii ;vi 4.2etK- i Pbil ill CHAP. XI. The apostle shows, that God had not so cast off Israel, but that a remnant would be saved by grace, not by ivorks, 1 — 6 ; while the rest were blinded, as foretold by the prophets, 7 — 10. He predicts thai this . rejeetion tvould not be final, and stales the consequences to the Gentiles, both of the fall of the Jews and of their recovery, 11 — 15. He cautions the Gentile converts not to boast agcnnst the Jews, but humbly to profit by this example of God's severi- ty and goodness : and forelels glorious times which would at length arrive, 1 G — 32. He adores the depths of the divine wisdom, and the glory of his unsearcha- ble judgments, his nnderived all-sufficien- cy, and his universal sovereisnfif. .'33 — 36. I SAY then, " Hath God cast away his people .'' " God forbid. ' For I also shall be ashamed before God: glorv in it before man. and he oujrht therefore to V. 1-2— 21. In the great concerns of eternal salvation there is now no difference between one nation and another; for our rich and gracious Lord most willingly regards the desires of all who call upon him, and none receive the less, because of the numbers who share the blessings with them. As therefore faith, (whence all true prayer proceeds,) comes by hearing the word of God, we should be careful to be found among those who obey the Gospel, and we should zealously and diligently endeavour to communicate the same blessing to others, even to the ends of the earth, with all the influence which we have, that the Sun of righteousness may diffuse his healing beams, wherever the sun in the fiiraament gives light to raankitid. A\ hen we hear of the success of the Gospel among tlie ignorant, the barbarous, or the jjrofligate, instead; of being disfileased, as'proud Pharisees are, n>o should cordially adore the riches and power of the grace of God, in his being thus found of them who sought him not ; and we should excite ourselves and each other to a holy jealousy and increasing diligence, lest we should be left behind by those who once were so far below us in spiritual advantages. Thus we shall obtain the assurance, that we are not of that immense number, to whom the Lord says, " All day long have I stretched " out my hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people." NOTES, CHAP. XI. V. 1 — 6. The apostle next supposes that it would be inquired, whether God had utterly cast away his chosen people, and so failed of performing his am an Israelite, ot the seed of Abraliam, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hatfi not cast away his people '^ whicli he foreknew. ' Wot ye not what the scripture saith *ofE!ias.'* how he ' makcth intercession to God against Is- rael, saying, 3 Lord, 6 they have killed thy pro- phets, and '' digged down thine altars ; and 1 am left alone, and thev seek my life. ^ i But what saith the answer of God unto him ? ' I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of^ Baal. 5 Even so then ' at this present time also there is a remnant, according to the ™ election of grace. 6 And " if by grace, then is it no more of works : otherwise grace is no more grace. But Mit be of works, then is it no more grace : otherwise work is no more work. I viii 29.30. il. 6. 23. Atli xili. «e. XV 18 I V«t , 15. 19- '. 1- .ler XVI 23 Jo.T 3 II g 1 Kings xviii 1 13 x.x 10 U Neh IX. !6.Jer 30 Set ;s xvm 1 Kin; xxv. 3 k Num. Deut- iv 3 .lu.lg ii. 13 I . Kinns xvi 31 2 Kings K. 19. 20. .Ter. xis 5. Hos. XV 10. Gal i 21. V 4 r.ph.i 4—9. 2 Tim 3 Tit iii. 6 promises to their Fathers. This inference from his doctrine he decidedly disavowed. Indeed, the Lord could not so properly be said to have cast them off, as they to have cast him oti', by their determined opposition to the kingdom and salvation of the promised Messiah, by which they of course forfeited their privileges. This appeared from the ready reception with which all met, who were willing to become the disciples of Christ; of this St. Paul himself was a most remarkable instance, for, being a descendant of Abraham, and notwithstanding his furious '.lersecution ot the Church, he was now become the apostle of Christ to the Gentiles. God had not therefore castaway his people, whom he had foreknown as in due time to be called and justified, to whom esjiecially his promises had respect : though he had left the rest to fall by their unbelief. {Note, viii. *28 — 31.) But as a considerable remnant was reserved to the Lord in the diys of Elijah, when the prophet was ready to conclude that he alone was left to serve him, and used such words in prayer, as might be considered as pleading against Israel, {Notes, 1 Kings xix. 10 — M.) ever, so there was a remnant reserved of many ten thousand Jews, yea, a fargreaterproportion than was generally supposed, at that very period when the nation was cast ofl' from being the people of God. This remnant was reserved" according " to the election of grace;" not because they were less undeserving of such favour than others, but because God was pleased to have mercy on them for reasons best known to himself; otherwise they too would have perished in unbelief. If then this election were of grace, it could no more be pretended to be of works, either performed or foreseen, as this would imply that somclhing naturally in the objects chosen determined the Lord's preference, and that it did not originate in his mere grace. For if, in any sense or df'gree. it were of works; it would in part at least .7. D. f.1. ROMANS. ^. D. 61. "tlr'x u'kii' 7 • What then } i" Israel hath not ob- j'.x'ii.ji X 3 Inincd that which iie seekcth for; ibut the i'.r3i''iic!.''k'il! election luith obtained it, ' and 'he rest r.V v.ii :ii-ao were * blinded, i^sViie.Ti. la, 8 (Accordinrr Jis it is written, ' God ris. vi lo.'iTv hath o'iven them tlie spirit of t shimber, la Mutt xi i . ^ ,, , ^, 111' 1 • u,ii John vii. ' eyes that they should not see, and ears tu iCar Ml M. , •' , 111 1 X 1 • i^vM 2T11C3 it. that they should not hear,) "unto this ' Or, Kittdtnid. day. jJ5^««i£'if- i) And "David saith, Let ^ their table S"°v' g'^^Jrr V ^^ made a snare, and a trap, and a stum- MarifwVi' r bliag-block, and '- a recompense unto >i"ii;iri.Hxvii 31 ^^ Let * their eyes be darkened, that 4L2t.or iii u, tijjjy p^j^y ^Q^ gee^ '•and bow down their y uci"!'vi "in- badi ahvay. Is i*sam' x'x^ 1 1 I say then, ' Have they stumbled VS,~M. JolikX 20— W Prov. 1 3a Is viii 13,14. Luke xii. 20 x\i 19-25. I Tim. ,j I7-Ia. i Uput. sxsii. 35. Pi. xxTjil. 4 I6 lix la Ixvi 6 Heh il. 2. a 8 1 I 21 I's isiv2i. Zech xi 17 Epb iv 18. 2 Pet. ii 4. 17 J.iile 6 13. b Dcut XXViii E.I-bB. Is. li 23. Ixv. 12 — c Ej xvhi. 23. 32. xxxiii. 11. that they should fall } God forbid : •> but ^"J-^r.Jm. rather through their fall salvation is come xx"i''2i-le.' unto the Gentiles, ' for to provoke them ns* J3."ix 2:^. to jealousy. Kph i.i. 8. coi. '12 Now, if the fall of them be 'the\°J;. ""'»• "[• riches of the world, and the J diminishing '"x'uJ.'iVvT of them the riches of the Gentiles, how i.l'^v. 7* zerh much more s their fulness! M.neT^x'i^- I'.i For I speak to you Gentiles, in as txv le-ioAn., much as I am '' tlic apostle of the Gentiles, xx>i. I?,"' i».' I magniiy nune olhce : 7-9. Epi>. !».» , P ir : t I , , 1 Tim 11. 7. 2 14 11 ' l)y any means I may " provoke T.m. i 12. to emulation tkera wlucli arc 'my ilesli, " i^Tioi. ii. 10 and '" might save some of them. ^'i^- ^ p""'"" l."} For if " the casting away of them be "J'.j,^'"'' ]i!- \l ° the reconciling of the world, what shall ^'\'"^\\\ the receiving of (hem be, p but life from the Vj. '"cor'^v % dead .'* be of debt, and not of entire free favour ; otherwise work, iis it stands related to election and juslification, would lose its very nature. For an entire free favour must be abso- lutely distinct from a reward, conferred in consequence, of some w ork performed ; as the price of one farthing, paid for wliat is worth a thousand pounds, must in exact pro- priety of speech essentially distinguish it from an entirely ii'ce gift. This text is so decisive] on the subject, that great jiains have been taken to explain it away; but really the arguments of the most able and learned men on the other side, prove nothing so much as the weakness of their cause. 1 shall therefore only observe, in general, that in fad thcij are not called, who lo our apprehension are best disposed to perform good works, but often the contrary, us the examples recorded in Scripture alone undeniably de- monstrate ; that every real good disposition in an apostate creature must be the effect, and cannot therefore be the ca^tse, of the grace of God bestowed on him ; that God did not act without reason in choosing one rather than another, though wc are not made acquainted with his reasons; and that the display of the infinite riches of his mercy, the omnipotence of his grace, and the glory of his own sovereignty, in converting the most unlikely persons in the world, are fir more probable reasons of his choice, than any foreseen comparative goodness of natural disposition in those who are saved, above those that perish. "The " election of grace." (5.) ' Not those who chose grace, -'"but those whom grace chose; that is, those whom God ' freely chose.' ' Neither would grace be grace, if we ' were in the .smallest degree chosen for our foreseen good ' works ; nor would work be work, if in any measure it ' needed the help of grace.' {Be:a.) {Note, iv. 4, 5.) V. 7 — 10. AVhat then was the precise state of the Jewish nation? In general, they had not obtained that justification unto life which they sought for, because they clave to their own devices, and rejected the Gospel of God ; but " tlie election," or the chosen remnant among «hom, had obtained it, whilst tlic rest were blinded ; so diat the rejcctio'i of the latter wa-: the punishment of their -20. Eph. i. 10 Col. i. 20.21. P Ez sxxvii. I-U. Rev. si. II. xx 4—6. own sins ; but the calling of the former was neither the consequence, nor reward, of their own works. The elec- tion here mentioned, as distinct from Israel, God's chosen people, (that is, an election wiihin an election,) clearly marks the ditference between a collective choice of a people lo special external privileges, and a personal choice of in- dividuals to eternal life ; and it fully refutes the sentiments of those, who would tonfine all these scriptures to the for- mer kind of election, because they know not what else to do %vith them. This judicial blindness of the enemies of Christ had been clearly foretold, and might therefore have been previously expected. (Notes, Dent. xxix. 4. Ps. Ixix. -22— '28. Js. vi. 9, 10. xxix. 9—12.) These scrip- tures have already been explained in this sense ; but we may add, upon the version here given of David's words, that the provision made for the souls of the Jews, (as well as their temporal plenty.) were, in righteous judgment, made the occasion of their being more deeply ensnared in guilt, and sinkinii under more dreadful condemnation, as the recompense of their unbelief; till at length they were totally blinded, and given upas slaves to the oppression of their enemies, to be bowed down continually with the heavy burdens laid upon them ; an emblem of their base and ruinous bondage to sin and Satan. The apostle seems rather to have given the sense of several prophecies to this eflect, than the exact words from the Scptuagint, or the literal translation from the Hebrew. God hath given, &c. (8.) 'This by no means implies, that God infuses any ' new viciousness ; but that he, as a just Judge, delivers ' up those, who are destitute of grace, unto Satan and ' to their own lusts, to be more and more blinded.' (Besa.) This venerable reformer certainly adopts what is generally called the supralapsarian doatrine ; and ventures on ex- pressions, which few modern Calvinists,(as they are called,) would subscribe; yet he by no means admits those con- sequences, which numbers, who speak evil of what they understand not, indiscriminately charge on all who hold the doctrine of personal election to eternal life. , \. 11 — 1.5, The apostle next inquired whether the ^. D. 61. CHAPTEK XI. :1. D. 61. qT.% XSii. ■ 16. Lev XX Nil.n XV. 17- 21. Ueut. xvi'M. 4. xxvl 10- Neh X 36-37 l-rov. ill 9. 10 Ej xli\ 30 Jaia i 18 R>:% Sl» i. I 17 Gen ivii. 7. Jcr. ii SI. 1 Cor vii U. jTs. IsxK. Il- ls. Is. VI 13. xsvii 11. Ei. XV 6-8 .M«tt. viii 11.12. xxi. 43 John )vv 6.- - IG For 1 if the first-fruit be holy, the Uimp /a- also holi/ : ' and if the root be hoi}', so arc the brandies. 17 And if ' some of the branches be broken ofl", and tlioii, ' being a wild olive- tree, wert grafted in * among them, " and with them partakest of the root and fat- ness of the olive-tree ; 18 "Boast not ao;ainst the branches: 1 Act3 ii. 39. fial. ii. 15. Epb. iV H-13 iii. B. Cnl. li. IJ * Or, u Deut >iii. 8. JuilE. ix 8, a. Ps Iii. 8- Zecll iv 3 John i 16. Rev xi. ii 27. 1 Kln's XX. U. Prov. svi. la. .Malt xxvi. 33 Luke xviii. 9—11 nation had so stumbled, as finally to be excluded from all further share in the blessings covenanted to thtir fathers ; or whether God had no further end in that mys- terious dispensation, than merely their fall and ruin. He would by no means admit either of these suppositions ; for it actually appeared, that the Lord intended through the fall of the Jews to communicate his salvation to the Gentiles, The persecution of the Christians in Judea drove them into other regions ; and the Jews, in every place rejecting the Gospel, excited the preachers more speedily and openly to address the Gentiles ; by which means vast multitudes had been turned from idols to serve the living God. Yet even this was suited to excite the Jews to a holy jealousy, and an emulation with the Gen- tile worshippers, in zeal for the service of Jehovah, and earnestness in seeking the blessings of the Messiah's king- dom ;*though it too generally had the contrary effect, through their pride and bigoted prejudices. If then their fall had been over-ruled for the enriching of the world in general with the blessings of the Gosj^el ; if the diminution of the numbers of that long-favoured people, by tiie ex- pulsion of so large a part of them from the visible Church, and the subsequent judgments inflicted on them, was the occasion of communicating such rich blessings to immense numbers of the benighted Gentiles, how much more would their conversion, when the whole nation should in one full body acknowledge and submit to their long despised Messiah ? For this they have ever since b^ien preserved a distinct peo[)le, almost by a continued miracle ; and as their conversion will probably be etfected by the fulfilment of other prophecies, so it is likely that it will conduce to the conversion of the nations in general. For Paul, addressing himself to the Gentile converts, (though he was aware that both the Jewish Christians and the uncon- verted Jews would read his argument.) spake in the cha- racter of the apostle of the Gentiles by the special designa- tion of Christ, and aimed to commend and magnify that office, as honourable to himself, (though he was vilified for it,) and most important for the good of mankind. At the same time, by a most judicious and delicate turn, he represented his zeal for the conversion of the Gentiles as animated by the desire of stirring oj) his brethren the Jews, ■whom he regarded as his own flesh, to emulate their faith and aspire to their privileges; that thus he might be in- strumental in saving some of them also, ihough he knew that the sentence denounced upon the nation was irrever- aiblc. The English word provoke, being now fixed in common use to the idea of exciting indignation, is very but if thou boast, >' thou bcarcst not the >• iviczcd ' :o-i.i JO 1.; Oal i. K|>li ii 19. :o root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches f'ij;|)0''¥"is' were brokenolKHhat I might be grafted in. |^''i'^',".,'\'?u'>i , 20 "Well; " because of unbelief they £f i„'','^",':, were broken oft, ' and thou standest by ^'J- f J'- ^^j,^ faith. '' Be not high-minded, ' but fear : J* fcorVx'vl: 21 For ' if God spared not the natural }?,.t,\!:°[\'/^_, branches, la/cc heed lest he also spare not a{»\h in rs. iUf.p c-xxviii 6 Piov. I'JCC. ^,^viii 26. I.. ii. II 17. Hah. ii. 4 Zeph iii 11. 1.ulie xviii u 2 Cor. x. 5 2 Tlies. ii 4. 2 Tim.iii. 3 — i ■■aw. iv 6. 1 ret. V 4, 6. Kev iii. 17 xviii. ? c Prov. xxviii. l4. Is Isvi 2. 1 Cor X- 12 Phil li. 13 Heb iv. 1 1 Pet. i. IJ f 17. 19 vni. 3:. Jer. x.w. 1'.'. xlix. 12 1 Cer. X. 1-12. 2 Pet, ii. 4-9. Jude 5. apt to confuse the reader's mind, and to prevent his clearly seeing that the apostle spoke of exciting them to holj-, and not to unholy, passions ; thougli the hitter was gene- rally the effect of his conduct, contrary to iiis intentions. As therefore the righteous rejection of the unbelieving Jews had proved the occasion of such multitudes of the Gentiles, throughout the world, being reconciled to God and walking at peace with him ; what would their future reception into the Church introduce, l>ut such a change as would resemble a general resurrection of the dead in sin to a life of righteousness, in every part of the world ; and. a proportionable increase of spiritual life to all who before had believed ? This event will accomplish so mnny prophecies in so open and signal a manner, that infide- lity in every form must be finally confuted and silenced ; and the attention of the most heedless must be excile. ' ~ Jobn ii. 19. Judesn, 21. i John iv. 2 Itev. ji 5, k Zee 1 Ti.ea. 5. e. Hel . ii" c 11 X 3S -.1 9. 1 ..0 kviii 2 17- 11), Malt 111 a w u Matt XI nil. it. 2 Cor II . IG of the tree, a part of the visible Church as .springing from Abraham. Notwiih.stanthngall former rebellions, the Jews were the branches of this tree, till as a nation they rejected the Messiah; (though the most of the ten tribes had be- fore been brohen off;) but after that, their relation to Abra- ham and to God, was, as it were, suspended ; they were broken off from the olive-tree in vast multitudes ; they were cast out of the Church", as the children of the bond-woman, or as profane Esau ; neither they nor their posterity any longer retained even the outward seal of the covenant ; (for circumcision lost its validity, and bnptism became the sign of regeneration ;) and they were thenceforth deprived of die ordinances of God. At the same time the Gentiles •.vere graftetl into this free in their room; by professing iaith in Christ, nnd being baptized into his name, they were admitted into the visible Church of God, and attained A relative holiness ; they were favoured with the means of grace, and the ortHnancrs of God, " for their good, and •• that of their children after ihem," as the Jews formerly had been ; and multitudes, that had been the branches of die wild unfruitful olive-tree, were thus made heirs of Abraham's faith, holiness, and blessedness. Yet the Gen- tile Christians ought by no means to copy the Jews, in being proud of their distinction, or in boasting over those who had been rejected to make room for them. But if any of them were disposed to do this, they should recollect, that they were- not the root of this well-cultured fruitful tree ; nor had they naturally sprung from it, but of free grace had been grafted in to share its advantages. Abra- ham's race had derived no spiritual good from them ; but they derived all from Abraham's race. They might indeed say that the natural branches had been broken off to malrt way for them, and it was indeed true that God had pre- ferred them ; yet it was not on account of their works, but of mere grace. Through unbelief, the offspring of pride, the Jews had been broken off, and through faith the Gentiles had been grafted in ; they ought therefore to be- ware of self-confidence, self- preference, and every kind of pride or ambition, lest, having only a dead faith, and an fmpty profession, they should apostatize from God and forfeit their privileges. For if he had not spared the natural branches, they ought surely to fear lest they too should be broken off. This doubtless refers to the col- lective body of professing Christians, and not to individual believers ; the latter are indeed preserved through humility and holy fear, yet there is no real danger of their being cut off. It has also a \)cc\i\\z.r prophetic, energy, when we consider it as addressed to the Roman Church, which, so soon attempting to domineer over other Churches, to be the metropolis of the Christian world, and at length to be infallible, fell, through pride and presuaiption, till it became " the mother of harlots, and of abominations of still in unbelief, shall be giaircd in : for God is able to graft them in again. 21 For if ' thou wcrt cut out of the ' "• " ^ olive-tree which is wild by nature, and wcrt gralFed contrary to nature into a good olive-tree : how much more sliall these, which be the natural branches, be giaffed into their own olive-tree ! " the earth." It is obvious to observe, that, though tht illustration of grafting excellently suited the apostle's pur- pose, yet the reverse takes place in the cai^e before us, than in natural grafting ; for there, the good Cion communi- cates its changing efficacy to the wild stock; here, the good stock imparts its efficacy lo the corrupt branches, which by divine power arc grafted into it. Tlic apostle's reasoning in this place strongly evinces the oneness of the visible Church under every dispens tion ; and the change of the initiatory ordinance since the ccniing of Christ is manifest; his statement thereforr- implies more substantial arguments in favour of infant-baptism, than has generally been supposed. ' We ought indeed to giory in Gc i ; ' but not so as to despise the Jews, whom it beeonn . us ' rather to excite to a holy emulation. And they doubt- ' less do suffer, and will suffer, the punishment of this ' neglected duty, v.ho at this day call themselves Chris- ' tians, and yet, impelled only by their own wickedness ' and perverseness of mind, by all means vex that holy ' people, (as it respects their fathers :) and also hardeti ' them more and more, by setting before them the ex- ' amples of the basest and most insane attachment to ' idols. But, indeed, I would daily and most willingly ' thus. pray for the Jews : O Lord Jesus, thou indeed justly ' avengest the contempt of thyself, and that ungrateful ' people is worthy of thy severest judgments ; but, O Lord, ' remember thy covenant, and pity them for thy name's ' sake. And grant unto us, the most unworthy of all ' men, whom nevertheless thou hast distinguished by ' thy mercy, that, making proficiency in thy grace, we ' may not be the instruments of thine anger against them; ' but that rather, both by the knowledge of thy word, and ' by the exanfple of a holy life, we may, through die ' power of thy Spirit, recall them into the right way ; that ' thou mayest be glorified for ever by all nations and ' people. Amen.' (Besa.) V. 22 — 24. Instead of boasting over the rejected Jews, or glorying in themselves, the Gentile converts should contemplate with wonder, awe, and gratitude, the unme- rited goodness, and righteous severity, of the Lord ; on the fallen Jews severity, but to themselves most astonish- ing goodness. Yet, considering them as professors of Christianity, concerning whom there v.'as no absolute de- monstration that they were all true believers, it was pro- per to add, *' if ye continue in that goodness ;" that is, if in humble faith they received and lived upon the grace displayed in the GTospel. But if any of them, either personally or collectively, were unbelieving and pre- sumptuous, and renounced the truth, they loo would be cut off. Whereas, if the Jews were not obstinate in their unbelief, they would be grafted in again, which might be easily accomplished by the divine power. For if God had A. D. 61. CHAPTER XL A. D. GJ. OXII Hi 5-7 IS. IG I: 3 Cor • Or. hard qPs 3 Zech —23. XIV. 9 21 I.uke zxi Rev. ii..!i. xx "hm; "ii. *?■ 25 For » I would not, brethren, that i.lTFei' i'ii s" ye slioUld be ignorant of " this mystery, 3"'9Ve»''x"7 {" lest ye sliould be wise in your own con- °""'ccits:) f thkt * blindness in part is hap- .'■ T.'s pencd to Israel, ■> until the fulness of the '° Gentiles be come in. -M n 26 And so ' all Israel shall be saved : xvi'.'is- as it is written, '^ There shall come out of M Sion the Deliverer, ' and shall turn away 2< ungodliness from Jacob : 27 For " this is my covenant unto them, Vw. *7. i;"v 6- X when I shall take away their sins. 10 Jer 111 I'— ->n4 • ^ /-^ ii 23 vK!c 17-22 :it> As concerninff the Uospel, > meware "*v. ^\ril' enemies lor your sakes : ^ but as touching a ' im^n V\- ^'^^ election, ^ they arc beloved for the fa- il; "ir'^ivi" thers' sakes ii 5. Jo -21 Ac _ „ „ iH.''''is -M. «'■« without repentance. arzech.x-6-12'. 30 For ■= as ye in times past have not B P.s XIV. 7 cvi. 47. I3. Ilx. 20 1 Malt, i 21. Arts iii.28. Tit. ii 11. 11 Is. Iv. 3. lis. 21 Jer. xxxi 31—31. xxsii. 38—40. Heb. »iii. 8—12. x. 16 s Is xxvii. 9 jllii. 45 Jer. 1 20 Ez xsxvi 25-29. Hos. xiv. 2. John i 29 J 11 30 Matt, xxi 43 Acts xiii 45. 16. xiv. 2.xviii 6 1 Tbes ii. 15. 16 2 7. Is. xli. 8. 9 a Gen. »xvl « xxviii U Lev xsvi .0—12 Dent iv 31. vii 7,8 viii 19 ix 5 x 15. Ps. cv. 8— n. Jer. xxxi. 3 Mic vii.2U Luke i 51.55 68-75 b Num. xxiii. 19. Hos xiii. II. Ma!, lii. 6. c 1 Cor. vl. 9-U. Eph. ii. 1, 2. 12, 13. 19-21. Col. iai. 7. Tit iii. 3-7. taken the Gentiles, as branches of the wild olive-tree, the descendants of those who for so many ages had been ig norant and licentious idolater^, and had, by his word and Spirit, grafted them in among his own people and woi'ship pers ; doubtless he would much more in due time graft the Jews, the natural branches, into their own Olive-Tree. This was spoken prophetically, both respecting the apos- tacy of the Roman Church, and the future conversion of the Jews. ' This " grafting in again," ' seems to import, ♦ that the Jews shall be a flourishing nation again, pro- ' fessing Christianity in the land of promise ; for that * is to be reinstated again in the promise made to Abra- ' ham, Isaac, and Jacob. This St. Paul might, for good ' reasons, bfe withheld from speaking out here ; but in ' the prophets there are very plain intimations of it.' {Locke.) V. 25 — 32. Perhaps the apostle was aware, that the mystery of iniquity already wrought in the Church at Rome, (2 Thes. ii. 7.) and therefore he laboured the more to check its fatal progress. He would not have them ignorant of the mysterious purposes of God respecting his ancient people, lest their present distinction should render them proud of their own wisdom. The Loi'd, in his right- eous sovereignty, had permitted blindness in part to hap- pen even to Israel ; not a partial, but a total blindness ; but it extended only to a part of the nation, for the elec- tion was preserved from it. This would continue to be the case till the happy period arrived, for the conversion of the fulness of the Gentiles. In the intermediate ages vast numbers of them would be gathered into the Church ; but about the time of the last great harvest of the nations, ■the blindness will be removed from Israel, and the nation saved from its rejected dispersed state, and be brought in a body to embrace the Gospel ; probably it will be restored to Vol, V.~No. 31. believed God, yet haVc now ''obtained*',?'',.'^"';''; II- 1 I- <• 2.'" 2 Cor IV I mercy "= through their unbelief; } Jlf■^^ ',„ '^ 31 Even so have these also now not J ^'"Jl,^,^^ .j,^ t believed, ' that through your mercy f^Jfj."" they also may obtain mercy. ?o^I■',?(''ft'<■mu^ 32 For « God hath J concluded them Xi'fV: xii all in unbelief, '' that he might have mercy f '■*'"" ''■'' upon all. ^!riii'"- ' 33 O ' the depth of the *= riches both of "^pi/i-"""^^ the wisdom and knowledge of God ! ' how 'i"if '"'s^*^"'' 111 1 • - 1 ., 11-1 Joliv.9 ix 19. unsearchable arc his judgments, and nis xi 7-9 xsvi. ways past finding out! xxxvii 19. sii'. •J 4 171 n, 1 1 il 1 xl • , Ps xsxvi 6. Xl. 34 Tor ""who hath known the mind 5 uxvii. 10. of the Lord.'* or who hath been his coun- ec iii. 11. oan'. sellor ? 35 Or " who hath first given to hi..., .^.^. ^ and it shall be recompensed unto him ", l^„,, , r D .Toll XXKV, 7. aorain ? '''i". Matt xx. » ■ . . 15. I Cor iv.7, 36 For ° of him, and through him, and "I'/p^ftioii's! to him, are all things : ? to whom Oe glory j^™' ii''M_2l' for ever. Amen. [I fxXctslVii: 25. 26. 28. I Cor. viii. 6 Eph iv. 6—10 Col i. I5-1T. Rev xxi. 6 p xvi. 27 Ps. xsis. 1, 2. xevi. 7, 8. cxv. I. Is. xlii. 12 Luke ii U xix .13. Gal. i. 5 Eph. iii 21. Fbil iv. 20. I Tim. i 17 vi 16. 2 Tim. iv 18. Heb. xi ii 21 1 Pet. V. 11. 2 Pet. iii. 18. Juile 26. Rev. i. 5, 6. iv. 10, II. v. 12-14. vii. 10—12. xis. 1. 6,7. m Jol) sv. 8. xxxvi 23, 23. Is. xl. 13 Jer. 18. 1 Cor. the holy land, and most of the Jews at least will become true believers. This accords to a prophecy, which, as here quoted, not materially differing from the original in Isaiah, predicts the spiritual coming of Christ, to turn away from the Jewish nation ungodliness, impenitence, unbelief, and enmity to his kingdom and salvation ; that, by thus remov- ing the guilt and power of their sins, his covenant may again be ratified with them. {Note, Is. Uk. 20, 'M.) For though in respect of their rejection of the Gospel, and their indignation at its being preached to the Gentiles, they were considered as enemies to God, which was over-ruled for the calling of the Gentiles, through special love to them ; yet in regard to the original election of that people in Abraham, and the immense number of elect persons, that are yet to spring from them, they are still to be fa- voured, for the sake of their pious fathers ; seeing God will, in his persevering love and kindness to that race through all ages, show, that however he is said to repent of his threatenings and judgments, and is thus better than his word, yet he never repents, or is said to repent, of his special gifts, or distinguished favours, bestowed on, or promised to, fallen man. So that as the Gentiles, who had once no knowledge of God, had at length obtained mercy, through the unbelief of the Jews, and by means of their preachers, even so the unbelieving Jews might at length obtain mercy, through the mercy shown to the Gentiles, and receive the Gospel from them in their turn. For God had alternately left both of them in unbelief, shut op as in a prison, for the appointed time, in ordei- that at length he might have mercy upon them all, by bring- ing both Jews and Gentiles and all nations to the know- ledge of his salvation, by faith in Jesus Chiist. V. 33 — 36. ' The apostle breaks forth in this excla- ' mation, as filled with astonishment at the exceedingly ./?. D. 61. ROMANS. ^. D. CI CIJAP. XII. The (tpnatlc exhorts Christians by the mer- ries of God, to be devoted to him, and con- formed to his holy will, 1,2; to think humbly and soberly of themselves, as members of one body in Christ, 3 — 5 ; to exercise faithfully their different gifts, ' admirable wisdom of God, which he also tlius teaches ' should be piously and reverently adored, and not pro- * fanely and curiously searched into beyond the boundaries ' of revelation.' {Besa.) He had gone as far in unra- velling, illustrating, and vindicating the mysterious designs of God, as was proper or profitable; yet he well knew that n)uch darkness and difficulty must still rest on them, and that presumption, pride, and unbelief, would still mul- lijjly inquiries and objections. Thus he gave no counte- uancc, either to those who, with absurd arrogance, pre- tf>nd to reduce all possible existence, truth, and knowledge, to the size of their own intellect, and to believe no more than they can comprehend, or to those who know no end of speculating and disputing, and of arguing from revealed truths to their uni"evealed causes and consequences, as they s>ipj)ose them to be. Instead of this he closed the subject, by breaking forth into admiration and adoration of the un- fathomable depth, and infinite treasures, of the wisdom and knowledge of God. His views are immense and eter- nal, and his reasons for every part of his vast designs are taken from himself, and his purpose of glorifying his own perfections; to us therefore they must be impenetrable and inexplicable, but they are all consistent with the rich- es, or infinite abundance, of his justice, truth, and love. His judgments and determinations, and his wisdom in them, cannot be fully investigated or comprehended by any created being, much less by us sinful worms. His deal- ings with his creatures cannot be traced out, for they are a vast deep, where his footsteps cannot be known. We should then be satisfied to understand, and receive by faith, the information which he graciously reveals ; and to lielieve that he acts with perfect wisdom, justice, truth, and perform the duties of their several stations for the common ben: ft , G — u; to mutual love, diligence, patience, It^pe, prayer, hospitality, compassion, ani/ con- descension, 9 — l(j ; to a peacen(jle,f II liv- ing, and becoming conduct i-warJ' all men, and to a persevering kindness to ene- mies, 17 — 21. they all subsist, are provided for, and disposed of, and to Him they all are, or ought to be, wholly devoted, and in one way or other they all shall proclaim, or display, the glory of his perfections, and the honour of his great name. Instead therefore of murmuring and objecting, all men should, and all believeis will, most cordially say, " To " Him be glory for ever. Amen." PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—10. God never casts away those, whom he hath foreknown and predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son ; and if this seal be affixed to our souls, wc may be assured of his everlasting favour. We may also cheerfully hope, that he hath reserved for himself a larger proportion of such persons in the worst of times, than fall under our cog- nizance, or comport with any of our computations; and in- stead of reviling, or making intercession against, the mul- titudes of worthless professors of Christianity, with whom we are surrounded, we should still hope and pray, that " a remnant, according to the election of grace," may yet be gathered from among them. For as our salvation ori- ginates wholly from tlie free grace of God, without any re- spect to our works, so we may expect to see that grace abound, in the conversion of the chief of sinners of every description. But though grace must have the whole glo- ry of our salvation, yet sinners perish for their own wick- edness ; and they who seek the favour of God in unau- thorized ways, will never obtain it. Numbers are thus left to be blinded, and given up to the spirit of slumber and to presumptuous canfidcnce ;• till all their advantages ensnare and goodness, when we cannot comjjrehend what he is do- jand harden them, and bind them fast in the bondage of Sa- ing ; or when his dispensations seem to us not reconcile- 1 tan ; and it is only by the mercy of God, that any of us able to these his essential perfections. Thismustbe thedu- lare preserved from these strong delusions, which might tj' of created intelligences; for what being hath an intui- justly have been awarded us as the recompense of our live acquaintance with the mind of the great Creator, that 'pride and ungodliness he should be able to discover his unrevenlcd designs? Or who can pi'elend, that he hath counselled the Most High, and therefore understands his intentions, and can unravel bis decrees ? Or who hath first given any thing to the Lord, or rendered him any service, previous to his having received so much from him, as to be bound by the strong- est obligations to devote his all to him ? If any can prove that the Lord is thus indebted to him, he shall certainly be recompensed : but all such claims, and all men's disputa- tions against his decrees, dispensations, truths, and pre- cepts, involve in them the mnst irrational arrogance and horrible blasphemy. For e/ Him, as the self-existent, all- sufficient, and eternal Fountain of being and perfection, all creatures were originally derived : by and through Him V. 11— T 5. The Lord over-rules the fall and ruin of some, to the salvation of others. His awful judgments on daring transgressors frequently warn their companions or neigh- bours to flee from the wrath to come ; and, on the other hand, the conversion of notorious sinners sometimes excites others to imjuire after him. But what extensive, per- manent, and most glorious effects may be produced, in the whole cieation of God, through eternal ages, by the fall of angels and men, by our redemption in Christ, and by the disjicnsations of God towards his Church and the world, we cannot tcM. However, a hint of this, a glimpse A. D. 61. CHAPTER XII. .1 Z>. 61. I F.ph iv 1 Thfa ir I 10 V. i; 47. 3 Cor. It. 1. t. 1 c vi. 13. IS. 19. 1 Cor BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, "= that ye Heb. XI 1, 15. Eph. i vi. 13. 15. V. i. h H. 4 ix 33 xi 30, 31. Ps. csvi M. Luke .4-10 Phil il 1-5. Tit. lii. 4-8. 1 Pet. ii. 10-1! , 20. Pbil. i. 20. Heb. x. 23. as it were, into the invisible world, should remind us, that the Lord may have ten thousand wise and gracious rea sons for his most severe and terrible judgments, of which we can form no conception. Thus the fall of the Jews was the occasion of the Gentiles being enriched with the unsearchable treasures of Christ ; and his justice, truth, and wisdom, were glorified in that awful dispensation ; yet their eyes were so blinded, that they could see no glory in it. We, the ministers of the Gospel, however mean and un- worthy in ourselves, should magnify our oiBce, as tending unspeakably more to enrich and bless mankind, (provided it be faithfully executed,) then all arts, sciences, commerce, or improvements whatsoever, unitedly can do. Whilst we labour for the conversion of those among whom we are called to minister, we should have an eye also to others, and even to those who are most prejudiced against us, if by any means we can excite them to emulation, or do any thing to save some of them, for they too are our own flesh. Though the Lord over-rules his works of judgment, to the reconciling of sinners to himself, yet he most delighteth in mercy ; and he will ere long display his glorious power, by making the salvation of one people the introduction to that of others, till it shall be as life from the dead to all the nations of the earth. V. 16—24. While we wait and pray for the approaching happy times to the Chtfrch, let us be thankful for our engrafting, as branches of the wild olive-tree, into the holy tree of God's Church, to partake of the root and fatness of it, that the blessing of Abraham might come on us Gentiles by faith. But let the state of those who were the natural branches of this tree, warn us not to rest in external profession or advantages ; not to boast, or prefer ourselves to others, or indulge carnal security. If we stand at all, il is " by faith ;" this implies that we are guilty, polluted, and helpless, in ourselves ; and warns us to be humble, watchful, and afraid of deceiving ourselves, or of being overcome by tempta- tion. Alas, how hath the once flourishing church of Rome fallen, by neglecting the apostle's caution ! And how many other churches, and individuals, have, in a mea.sure, trod- den the same path! But blessed are they who fear always, and walk humbly with God ; who contemplate, with holy awe and fervent gratitude, the severity and the goodness of the Lord, as revealed in his word, and displayed in his providence ; who are thus led to " be sober, and to " watch unto prayer ;" who, by living faith, " continue in " his goodness," and wait for its complete effect in their eternal salvation. But if any presume themselves to be the peculiar peojile of God, and despise others, though themselves strangers to his new-creating grace, they will at length be cut off, and cast as unfruitful branches into the fire ; while such as have been most estranged from the truth will find admission to all the privileges of the Gospel, if they abide not in unbelief. present yoin- bodies '' a hving sacrilice, ho- ''^^,''"*j,^'''^.! ly, •= acceptable unto God, which is your 2 1^;*"^'',^ reasonable service. ^^'^• . i. 1 Pet. ii. 6. 20. 16. Vi six. 14. Is. Ivi. 7. Jer. 17 Hch X. 20-22. xiii. O Eph V. 10. Phil. iv. V. 25—36. As pride is the genuine oftspring of ignorance, so a spiritual knowledge of the mysterious truths and dispensa- tions of God will tend to prevent our being "wise in our " own ^conceits." Hig dealings with his creatures appear very different, when viewed in detached parts, from what they will do, when seen as constituting a most glorious whole. Zion's great Deliverer saves none from wrath, but those who are separated from ungodliness ; for his cove- nant with his people ensures their sanctification, as well as their justification. His " gifts and calling are without re- "pentance," in respect of his true Church; this he hath shadowed forth in his dealings with Israel as a nation. Their captivities, dispersions, and exclusion from the Church, are emblems of the believer's corrections, and re- bukes for his transgressions ; and the contrnued favour of the Lord towards that people, and the final mercy intend- ed for them, denote the persevering patience, and victori- ous love of God to those whom he hath " chosen iii Christ " before the foundation of the world," and will finally save for his sake. As we therefore have obtained mercy, through the unbelief of the Jews, let us pray, and use proper means as we can, that through our mercy they may spee- dily obtain mercy ; (Notes, Hos. i. ii, iii.) instead of per- plexing our minds about secret things, let us walk in the light which the Lord hath graciously afforded us; and, conscious of our inability to comprehend his deep designs, let us adore the riches of his wisdom and knowledo-e, whose judgments are not to be investigated, nor his waj's traced out, whose mind none can penetrate or comprehend, who needs and regards no counsellor, who first gives life and all things to every one, and to whom none can render any thing which he hath not first received from him. " For " of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things, " to whom be glory for ever. Amen." (Dan. iv. 34—37.) NOTES. CHAP. XII. V. 1. The apostle having closed the doctrinal and argumentative part of his epistle, (which is so carefully guarded as to be of a very practical tendency,) proceeds here to enforce more particularly a variety of important duties from evangelical principles. He entreat- ed or exhorted the Romans, as his brethren in Christ, in the most earnest and affectionate manner, by the mercies which God had shown to them in their election, redemp- tion, conversion, and abnndant privileges, that'they would evidence the sincerity of their love, and honour the Gos- pel, by presenting themselves as a living sacrifice unto him. The allusion seems to be made to the living ani- mals, which were presented as sacrifices before the altar, that they might be slain, and thus offered to God upon it! Thus Christians should present their bodies before God, to be employed in his service, and to be spent and woi'a out by hardships or labours for him, that so they mirit be wholly'dcvoted to his glory. The body, with its mc'iu- A, D. Gl. ROMANS. J2. D. 6J. f ExxxiiisLcv- 2 And ' be not conl'ormed to this itviii.2a,:)0.Deiil. , , i < p i i ^i ,»»iii 3-14 John ^vorlu : but ^ be ye translormed by the re- ■»ii.7 siv 20. x«. . ^ -11 • " "vi.i '*• • newinir oi your mind, that ye may ' prove Cor. Ill 19 2 ^ J ' >/ -'1 J -17 '"car- '" "'hat is that ^ good, and acce[;table, and ^p^'^Yj'/ perfect will of God. ll.l Ivll VI 3 For ' I say, through tlie grace given I'i-n' ■'ii?°i3 ""to rac, to every man that is among iv.4, 5. V. 19. Rev Xii 9 xiip 8 1; xiii. ll. Ps. li. 10. Ei. xviu. 31 XXXTl 26 li Cor V. 17 Kph iv 22-24 Col. iii. 10 Tit iii. 5 i I. I'a xxxiv, 8. Kpli. t. 10 17 1 I'ct. ii. 3 k I vii 12. 14. 22. P.< xix 7-1 1 cxix 47, 48. 72 97. 103. 128. 174 Prov iii. 1—4. 13-18. Gal t. 22, 23 Eph v. 9 Col. iv. rj 1 Thes iv 3 2 Tim. ill. IS. 17 1 6—8 i 5 XV 15. Ifi 1 Cor Iii 1(1. XV. IB. Gal ii 8, 9. Kpll. iii. B. 1 7, 8 iv. 7-12. Col i. iS. 1 Tim i. 14 1 Pet. iv. 11. you, •" not to think of himself mori highly m xi2o,s4 ?«». than he ouEfht to think ; but to think "^ so- " xivi "e. , , ~ ,. /-I 1 1 ■ , 1 •'*'"=• >' ".Malt. berly, " according as (jod hath dealt to xv.u 1-4 i.uke •' ' , " ,■ I XMi' 11. ICor. every man the measure 01 luith. w '.e scor. J^ . XM 7 Gal. vl. 4 l^or " as wo have many members m J ,''!'' i'' ^-« II 1 II II Col .1 18 Jam. one body, and all members have not the j^'jj/.f' "• same ollke; *i°r.m°i!"''9"i'>" 5 So I' we, being many, are one body in ',"'• ,''pp?; f ,^ Christ, and every one members one ofan-„'j 'jJhn'iii. 34. other ' *^'"'- '■' ' "" 'J'-l'^l- 7 _ II. a Cor. Kii n. Eph. iv. 7 13. 16. o 1 Cor xii. 27. Eph. iv IS, 16 p 4 1 Cor. x. 17. jiir 12-14 27,28. eph. i'23. iv. 25. v 23. 30. C«l. i. 31 ii. 19. bers, senses, and organs, is the instrument of the carnal mind, in executing its purposes and gratifying its evil in- clinations ; when therefore the mind is made spiritual, the body should, in like manner, execute its holy purposes, and express its spiritual affections. {Notes, vi. 12 — 16. Miirg. Hff-) Thus the soul becomes the consecrated priest, and the body the living sacrifice unto God, through Jesus Christ, hi general this sacrifice must be presented alive, to be employed in the worship and work of God, though sometimes at length it must also be offered up to death by martyrdom. As the legal sacrifices, (which that of Christ had now superseded,) were to be without spot or I as most resemble the inhabitants, worship, and joys of ims and customs of the world in these Respects are so agree- able to the spirit of the Gospel, that dicy may safely con- form to them. In order to escape these and other snares, the a])ostIe called on the Christians at Rome " to be trans- " formed by the renewing of their mind." {31arg. lief.) This transformation of the soul into the holy image of Christ, this daily renovation of the judgment and afi'ections by the power of the Holy Spirit, is the only effectual cure of " conformity to this world," because it produces con- formity to " the spirits of just men made perfect," and a capacity for delighting in such society and employments, blemish, so the bodies of believers must be separated from the practice of all iniquity, or they cannot be fit to be living sacrifices to God ; but, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, the worship and obedience performed by them, as the instruments of the renewed soul, are far more pleasing and honourable to God, than legal sacrifices could be. This is a reasonable service and worship, suited to rational creatures, and to their relations and obligations to God, as redeemed sinners ; whereas the oblation of bulls and goats, when separated from its typical meaning, was not, in this sense, a reasonable service. V. 2. In thus wholly dedicating themselves to the ser- vice of the Lord, Christians must go entirely against the course of this evil world, and incur the censure, ridicule, and enmity of ungodly men, which would greatly inter- fere with their worldly interests. They must not there- fore seek happiness from the world, or conform to the maxims, customs, and fashions of mankind in general. They must not comply with common usages, as to their pursuits or employments, in any respect, where such usa- ges were contrary to tlie holy commands of God, the spirit of the Gospel, the interests of piety, and prosperity of their own souls, and the improvement of their talents. In all these things the reproach of singularity is honoura- ble, the want of it suspicious, and to be fashionnble is to he unchristian. A serious j'egard to this rule, and a few others of a similar nature, would soon show men, in what things they " must not be conformed to this world ;" and it would easily convince them, that, on the one hand, af- fected singularity, in things minute or indifferent, comes far short of the spirituality of the exhortation ; and on the other, that they excuse their vain amusements, splendid decorations, expensive fcastings, eager pursuit of wealth power, or distinction, waste of tim^, and other parts of their conduct, because they love the-friendship of the world, savour earthly things, and cannot endure self-denial, or the cross ; not because they can fairly prove that the max- heaven. Animated, urgent, and affectionate exhortations to seek this inward transformation, as essential to duty and happiness, are the apjiointed means of leading Christians to plead the promises, and attend on the ordinances, of God, in order to attain unto it more and more. Thus tliey prove, or make trial of, and experience the happiness to be found in obeying the salutary, excellent, and holy will of God, made known in his spiritual law, and now enfor- ced by the blessed Gospel; they manifest tbeir cordial approbation of it, and show to others its excellency and beneficial tendency. This alone can be an acceptable ser- vice to God, being perfect in its own nature, and suited to the perfecting of the soul in holiness, and then the body will indeed be presented as a living sacrifice unto him. There does not appear in these verses any distinction intended between the Jewish and Gentile converts ; or any reason to conclude, as some have done, that the Gen- tiles were especially addressed. The customs and practi- ces of the unbelieving Jews were as little to be conformed to by the Christians, as those of the heathen were ; and the case is the same in respect of a vast majority, in coun- tries called Christian. This jror/rf. ' Thus he calls the ' state of unregenerale men, without any exception." {Beza.) The Jews were no longer required to offer the legal sa- crifices, the Gentiles munt renounce their idolatrous sa- crifices, and were not required to keep the ritual law ; but both were bound to devote themselves to God in holy obe- dience. V. 3 — 5. The preceding general exhortation was in the affectionate style of brothei-ly love, but this is in that of apostolical authority. According fo the distinguishing favour shown to him in his call to be the apostle of the Gentiles, St. Paul charged the Romans to beware of spirit-, ual pride, to which their distinguished situation might peculiarly expose them. (xi. 20. 25.) Let no one of them, however eminent for rank, abilities, learning, or spi- ritual gifts, think more highly of himself, than con- Ji. D. 61. CHAPTER XII. J. D.m. qj. II.. 1 Co; ^ f 6 Having ^ then gifts differing accord- •-"; K~^' iiiff to tlie ei-ace tliat is jriven to us, ' whe- xni 2. t Pet IV- a O o TMatt'sxiiisi. t'"^'' pi"opnecy, /c/ us prophesy ^ accordino- tcu ii-n it *o ^^^ proportion of faitl) ; il «. Mi. 9 7 Or ' ministry, /e/ us icait on o?/r minis- \u'\ 3-5 2i' tering : " or he tliat teacheth, on teaching : I'J. 33 Epli \\i i.\v. II 1 Thes. s SO s ... Ai-eixviii 21-28 2 Cor v ii. 12. I'lul iji, 15 - — t Is. .sxi 8 K/. lu 17-21 s.^xiii. 7-8 :\latt xxlv. J5— .17 I^ulie sir. 4a— 41. .^cls X5. 20 23 Col iv, 17 1 Tim iv 16 J Tim iv 2 1 Pet. v 1— .1. u Dent. f xssili. lu 1 >am sii 3~. Ps. ixsiv U. Ii. 13 Ec xii. 9. Ma;t xxviii 19. Jobn iii S. Cal. vi 6. E|>li i» II Col. i 28, 2J I Tim ii. 7. iii. 2 v 17. 2 Tim .i. 24. sisted with the truth of his case and character, as a lost sinner saved by sovereign grace. Lot none forget the Giver of his peculiar distinctions, the end for which they •were bestowed, and the improvement required of them. Let none over-rate his own talents, as if they entitled him to superiority over others, or authorized his emulation or ambition. But let every one soberly and prudently esti- mate his own gifts and attainments, according as the Lord had dispensed to every man his proportion of faith, and the benefits connected with it; that he might neither bury his talent in the earth, as undervaluing it, nor yet grow proud of it, or above the duties of his proper station in the Church, or disposed to aspire after those places for which he was not qualified, or to envy and oppose such as filled them. In short, every one of them ought to bo in the Church, as the members are in the human body, where each is fitted for its place, and as it were contented in it, and there quietly performs its proper function, for the good of the whole. Thus united unto Christ our Head, ani- mated by one Spirit, and endued with different gifts, Christians are the members of one mystical body, and should seek its welfare, in humble diligence, disinterested love, and unambitious quietness. {Notes, 1 Cor. xii. 12 —31.) Think more highly, &c. (3.) ' That he be not ' immoderately pleased with himself, as proud and ambi- ' tious persons are, who seem to themselves more wise ' than they really are.' (Gr.) ' It behooves every one — ' to be conscious of those gifts, which he has received of • the Lord, that he may perform his duty with a good * conscience. But there are two boundaries, within which ' the sobriety and moderation, required by the apostle, ' are included. The one, that we arrogate nothing to our- ' selves which we do not possess ; the other, that we do ' not glory in what we have received, but use them as ' gifts, conferred on us, with trembling, to the glory of 'God.' (Hesa.) The measure of faith. It is common- ly observed th^t faith is here put for those spiritual gifts, which were generally conferred on believers, and exercised in j)roportion to the measure of their faith. Yet it is evi- dent, that in some instances even miraculous powers were possessed by those who had not saving faith. {Notes, Mult. vii. 'il— 23. xvii. 19—21. xxi. 20—22. Marg. Ref.) ' For ria-Tcuf {faith) in one manuscript we find ' X»ii-'»i' i^rac*.) {Hem.) V. 6 — 8. As God, the Giver of every good gift, had imparted to each of them abilities, providential advanta- ges, spiritual gifts, miraculous powers, or qualiliciitions, for that office in the Church to which he had been culled, and as none had any claim upon God for the hii.st of these benefits, which he had an undoubted right to bestow in that measure and proportion he saw good, as an 8 Or *he that exhorteth, on exhorta-^Acts^j*"^^' tion : y he that * giveth, let him do '■ il t with IJ." , /'Sy- 3; simplicity; "he that ruleth, '- with ilili- S'eb.,.i5. «i gence; 'he that sheweth mercy, with ^^-'j uj„,x,8 cheerfulness. 11.14 Jol XXH 16-21). Is rxii, 6. Is xxxii.*. 8. Ivlii. 7-11 Malt vi. S— 4 xxv.40. LuliC 33-35 xi. 28— 30. 2 Cor viii 1-9. 12. 1 ret. iv. b -iI. 2 Cor i 12. xi 3. Kph. vi. 5 Col iii. 22. , Or, 9. I'rov. xKii. 9 Ec s xxl. 1 - 1. Acis \\. 41- * Or, impartetk. 1 Thes. tibrrallt/ a xii, 6. Gen. xviii. 19 Actsxiit. 12 xx' 21 12-14. 1 Tim ill 4, 5. ». 17. I-Jeb. xiii. 7. 17. 24 I Pet. v 2, 3. lUeut. xvi II. 14, 15. Ps. xxxvii. 21. Is, lxiv.5 2 Cor. ix. 7. . 10. act of mere grace and favour, so every one ought to be satisfied in his place, and with his work, and ability to perform it. It any one therefore were endued with the gift of prophecy, and was enabled either to foretel future events, to deliver any message from God, or to explain his word for the edification of the Church, let him exercise this gift, according to his ability, which would be in pro- portion to the degree of faith by which he depended on the teaching of the Holy Sjjirit ; or, (as some explain it,) let him show himself to be truly inspired, by speaking in entire consistency with the analogy of faith, or that sys- tem of divine truth, which God had made known to his Church by his prophets and apostles. If a man were called to the office of a deacon, in receiving and dispensing the charities of believers among the poor, the sick, the prison- ers, or others ; or in any other way to minister to the common benefit, by managing the concerns of the Church; let him faithfully, diligently, and steadfastly attend to that good work, and serve Christ and his brethren in it. If any man were called to teach young persons or new con- verts the first principles of Christianity, or to instruct others in the truth and will of God, let him give himself up to the duties of that station, well satisfied with his work, and let him neither envy his superiors, nor despise those beneath him. If another were called to the higher func- tions of the pastoral office, by authoritatively counselling, encouraging, exhorting, admonishing, instructing, or re- proving his fellow Christians, let him be chiefly concerned to fulfil his ministry in a proper manner, and to give him- self to it, as the great business and pleasure of his life. He who, having this world's goods, was enabled to serve the common cause, and to provide for his needy brethren, let him do it liberally without covetousness, and in sim- plicity without ostentation, or assuming authority on that account, but with a single design of glorifying God by doing good to men. He also, who was called to exer- cise authority, either in the Church over any description of its ministers, or in any magistracy or presidency in the community, let him deem himself advanced, not for his own honour, but for the good of others, and let him ac- cordingly employ himself diligently, in the performance of his proper duty. And finally, in whatever way any one might be called to exercise compassion, or to alleviate misery, let him do it with cheerfulness, notwitlistanding the expense, hardship, danger, or disgusting circumstances, to which it might expose him, counting it his ha[)piness by any means to be usefiil. I am aware, tiiat these verses are commonly explained exclusively of the different orders of church offl'^ers and rulers, and so every man endeavours to find hjs oivn system of ecclesiastical polity in them ; but thou;^ the various duties of the ministry in all it:; .1. D. CI. ROMANS. J. D. 61. d ssam XX 1. 10. 9 Lct ' lovc hc without dissimulation. xxv'r V, """V. e Abhor that v hich is evil : ^ cleave to that XXXiii .il Mitt .... , s"' 2^cor''Jr which IS good. 6. iiii 8 iThca. 10 5e = kirully aflcctioncd one to an- if iPM 'i!'22' other* with '' brotherly love; ' in honour iv. 8. 1 Jol.n III. /. ■ 1 "^ 'l''" ■ ,. pre crnno: one another; jMiViVir'' ^' Not "< slothful in business; ' lervent Pro* . 'vMi. 'fa i" spirit ; "■ serving the Lord ; Amy. IS. Heb. j2 0 Rcjoicing in hope; ° patient I.tclsxi S3 IThf?'. V 15. Heb. Xii II. I Pet in 10,11 jjohnniii 31.35 x ■" XVT. 21. Actsiv 3; Gal. V. 6. 13. 22. Eph i». 1-3 C( a Ileb. xiii. 1. 1 Pet. I 22. lil 8, 9 S Pet. i. 7 I John 20, 81. T. I, 2 « Or, in Hir love i:f Ike brtthrin i Gen. Xiii. 9 .Malt XX. 26 I ukc \\i 10 Fhil. ii. 3. 1 Pet v. 5 k Ex v 17 I'rov vi 6-9. X. 2S. xiii, .1. xviii. 9 xxii 29. xxiv. 30-34. xxti 13-16, Ec. ix ID. Is Ivi 10 Matt XXV.26. Fph. iv. 28. I Thcs, iv. 11,12. 2 Thes. ill 6—12 1 Tim v 13. Heh. vi. 10. 11 1 Matt. XXiv 12 Acts xviii 25 Col iv. 12, 13 Jam T. 16. 1 Pet. i 22. iv 8 Bev. ii. 4 iii. 15, 16 m 1 Cor Til 22. Eph vi. 5—8. Cnl iil. 22-24 iv. 1. Tit. ii. 9, in. n V 2. XV 13 Ps. xvi 9-11. Ixxi LO— S3 Isxiii 24-26 Prov. x 28. xlv. 32 T.am. iii 24—26 Hab iii. 17. 18 Matt. t. i2 I.uUe x. 10 1 Cor xiii 13. Pli 1. iii 1 iv. 4. Cot i 27. 1 Thee. v. 8 16. 2 Thes. ii. 16, 17 Tit ii 13. iii. 7 Heb. vi. 17—19 I Pet i. 3— B. 1 .lohn ill 1—3 o ii 7. v. 3.4 viii 25 xv. 4 Ps sxxvii.7 xl 1. Luke viii 15. xxi. 19. Col. ill I Thes i 3 2 The. i 4. W\ 5.2 Tim iii 10 Heb «i 18. 15. x. 36. xii 1 Jam. i, 3,4 v 7. 10, 11 1 Pet. ii. 19,20.2 Pet. i. 6. Rev. xiii. 10. I Thes . 9—11 iil. 10-18 h Joh i. 4 Pi . 3. 1 Pet v. 5 kEx . 30-34. xxvi 13-16, in tribulation: p continuing instant in p "en xwii m- ' S) 26 Job XXvli. prayer ; 8-ip Ps w. in, r •' ' rv. ., . , . -17. Ixii 8. Clx. 1.3 1 Distributinsr to the necessity of f^Jer xxix. ij, , O . ,. •' 13 Dso IK. 18, saints ; ' given to hospitahty ; \l Luke xi 5- ' _,p 1*^ 1 " x\m- I, Sic. 14 ' Bless them which persecute you; ^j"",' '*,/,' *f- bless, and curse not. |.^°' ^, "/^ ,«• l.*! ' Rejoice with them that do rejoice, ^Jj' .] " and weep with them that weep. 16 i?e " of the same mind one toward another. ^ Mind not high things, ^ but 6, 7. 2. 12. I Thes V. 17. Heb V. 7 Jam. V. 15, 16. I Pet. iv 7. I John T. 14 IS. q 6>e on, 8 IT.2S Acts iv. 35 il. 36— 41 I 4. x«. 34. 35 I Cor xv tial. vi to Philem. 7. Heh. vi 10. xiii. 16. I John iii 17 :i. 1 Tim. iii. 3 v. 10 Tit. i 8. Heh xiii. 3. I Pet iv 9 .Matt. V. 44. I.uie vi. 28 xxili. 34 Acts vii 60 I Cor iv iii. 10 1 Pet ii. 21—33 iii. 9 1 Is. Ixvi. 10—14 Luke i I Cor xii 26. 2 Cor. ii. 3 Phil ii 17. 18. 28 u Neh i. 4 14 Jer.ix 1. Johoxi 19.33-36 2Cor xi. 29. Phil ii 26 Heb xiii. 3. X sv. S, 6 2Chr. XXX 12. Jer. xxxii. 39 Acts ir 32. 1 Cor i 10 Phil. i. 27. ii 2.3. iv.2. I Pel. iii. 8. y Ps cxxxi. 1.2. Jer xlv. 5 Matt, xviii. 1-4 XX. 21-28 Luke iv. 6— 11. XXii 24-27 I Pet V 3 3 John 9 Rev. xiii. 7,3. 1 Job XXXi. 13— 16. xxxvi 5. Prov. xvii S. xix. 7. 17. 23 Matt. xi. 5. xxvii. II Luke vi 20. xiv. 13 Jus. ii. 6,6. rGen xviil 2-8 xis I — — s2l Job XXXi 39. 30. 2. 13 1 Thes. V IS Jan. . 58. xv 5-10 Actaxi. 23. Ps. XXXV. 13, parts are princirially intended, there seems to be no proof that the apostle meant them restrictively. He seems rather to have inculcated a general improvement of every man's talents, for the common benefit of the Church, whatever his gifts and place were. And as there were saints in Cesar's household soon after, so it is possible that Chris tians might be called to the lower functions of the magis- tracy. The epistle, however, was intended by the Holy Ghost for the edification of the Church in all ages, so it may be supposed that the duties of Christian magistrates as well as those of Church-rulers, are hinted at in the general lan^jage used by the apostle. Some consider the word rendered ministry, (7,) to be a general term for the different orders of ministers in the Church, which are afterwards enumerated : but the disjunctive particle or, seems unfavourable to that interpretation ; the original word may point out the office of the primitive deacons, but the exhortation to " give with simplicity,''^ or lilje- rality, appears more properly addressed to those who dis- tributed their own property, than to the deacons who were intrusted with the treasures of the Church, and to whom, faithfulness, prudence, and impartiality, were especially necessary. Gifts. (6.) Many seem to think that spi- ritual or miraculous gifts are exclusively intended by this word ; but the office of a minister, of whatever order, is itself a distinct thing from a man's qualifications for it; other endowments were even then necessary to the due performance of the ministerial duties, even more so than supernatural gifts; and the money, which some distri- buted, whether their own or the Church's, was a talent of entirely another nature, yet all were the free gifts of God, and as such to be received and improved. V. 9 — 13. The apostle next exhorted the Christians at Rome to see to it, that their professed love of each other was sincere, and free from that dissimulation, that un- meaning and deceitful compliment, with which the world abounded, notwithstanding its selfishness. This hollow show of affection, the counterfeit of genuine love, they ought by all means to avoid, and to be cordial, faithful, liber.nl, compassionate, forgiving, and kind, in their whole temper and conduct. Depending on divine grace, they jnust also learn habituallv to detest and dread all kinds of evil, and to love and delight in every thing good, kind, excellent, or useful, and to cleave constantly to it, what- ever opposition or temptation they met with. By a kind of natural affection for their brethren in Christ, the effect of regeneration and progressive sanctification, they should delight in every exercise of mutual love ; and, in deep humility, and a disposition to animadvert on their own faults, and to notice the gifts and graces of others, they should learn to prefer and honour one another, and to yield the respect and precedency to others which ambitious men claim to themselves, and readily to honour, and induce others to honour, the estimable conduct of their brethren, who, on one account or another, were disregarded or dis- couraged. Whatever business any of them were called to, they ought to avoid all slothfulness, and to do it in a skilful, diligent, and assiduous manner, from love to Christ and zeal for the honour of the Gospel, with fervency of spirit, as serving the Lord in their most ordinary em- ployments. This would ennoble every business, and ren- der it acceptable to God, and it would redound to the credit of the Gospel, if every Christian acquitted himself better in the business which he undertook, than other men did. They were called on to rejoice in the hope of that glorious inheritance, which the promise of God ensured to them ; and thus to bear up under their various trials with submission, constancy, cheerfulness, and meekness. And as they could do none of these things of themselves, they ought to persist in constant earnest prayers, notwith- standing all the discouragements which they would feel, and the temptations they would meet with, to render them slack in that duty. Not only ought the wealthy, but all of them according to their ability, to distribute to the neces- sity of their poorer brethren, and hospitably to entertain in their houses such as were driven out by persecution, or came as strangers from other cities, or were in any way destitute, trusting in God to provide for the expense thus incurred. Given to, kc. Or, Pursuing hospitality. {Heb. xii. 1 4. 1 Pet. iii. II. Gr.) ' Stay not till occasions ' of this kind force themselves upon you, and much less till ' importunity extort the favour ; but, like Abraham, look ' out for proper objects of such a bounty, and follow after^ • (hem. to bring them back to your houses.' {Doddridge.) A. D. 61. CHAPTER XII. .9. D. 61. • ot.bt cMie„t- * condescend to men of low estate. " Be li ni/ft mtaii (*i/^j. Matt yi not Wise 111 voiir own conceits. 25,Eb. Phil 1^ r^ "^ *i r ""'-^n'S'T 17 '' Rccoinpensje lo no man evil ior ''''',? o evil. "^ Provide thmo!, honest ni the siffht ; sY'i cor ■' of all men. 'v^i.'^: '.^J'iiL 18 If '' it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all "tuTV r,. men. 1 Pet iii 9 c siv 16 I Cor vi. 6 7 xlii 4. 5 a Cor. Tin 20, 21 Phil iv. 8, 9 Col. IV. 5 I Thes. iv 12 T 22 1 Tim v. U Tit ii. 4. 5 1 Pet^ ii 12. iii 16. d xiv 17 19. 2 Sam xx. 19 Ps s>;xiT. U csx. d-7 Prov. xii 20 Matt, v 4 9. Mark ix iO. I Cor. Tii 10 2 Cor. xii 11 Oal. v. 22. Eph iv 3. Col. rii. !4, 15. 1 Tbes v. 13. 2 Tim. ii. 22 Heh. xii. 14 Jam. rii 16-ie 1 Pet. iii. II. 13-17 b 19. Prov XK. 22. Matt T. 3i> V. 14 — 16. With this kindness lo their friends, they must admit of no resentment against their enemies, but should wish well to and pray for their persecutors and all men, and never allow themselves to utter bad wishes or imprecations against any one. Instead of grudging or envying the prosperity of their brethren or neighbours, they ought benevolently and unfeignedly to rejoice with them, as well as to sympathize with, and endeavour to comfort, those who mourned. Thus they all ought to be united in one mind and affection, and to judge themselves interested in the welfare of every individual of the body to which they were joined. Nor ought they to covet, value, or aspire to high things, such as wealth, honourable connexions, preferments, reputation ; but be satisfied to associate with men of low estate, or to stooj) to mean and low accommodations, bein^^ contentedly poor, or conde- scendingly and benevolently rich. And especially, they should avoid all conceit of their own wisdom, as if they were above ordinary rules, had no occasion to ask wisdom of God, or to regard the counsel of their brethren ; or as if they ought to be at the head of every business, and notliing could be well done if they were not consulted about it. The marginal references form by far the best comment on the comprehensive and sententious practical hints, of which the latter part of this chajiter consists. V. l7 — 21. The preceding exhortations had princi- pally respected the behaviour of Cnristians one toward another ; but these mainly relate to their conduct among their unconverted neighbours. No provocation ought ever to induce them to render evil for evil to any man, how- ever vile his character were. In every part of their con- duct, and in all their dealings, they ought to study and endeavour, that uprightness, jiunctuality, sincerity, and fidelity, might evidently appear in them, in the sight of their most severe judges. By the most harmless and forbearing conduct, and by every sacrifice and concession, they ought, if possible, to avoid all quarrels and litiga- tions, and to live at peace among their most unreasonable and injurious neighbours ; avoiding all contention, as the greatest evil to their own souls, and to the cause of true religion, except it were a meek, but steadfast, contention for the truth. When they were insulted, defrauded, or assaulted, even if no! redress could be obtained IVom the magistrate, they must not on any account presume to avenge themselves, hut rather give way to the wrath of their enemies, and without opj)osition endure the effects of it ; or as some interpret it, they should give place, and leave it to God, -whose wrath they had incurred, to punish them, if he saw good, as private persons must give place, 19 Dearly beloved, ' avenge not your- e'4 17. i." selves, but rather ^ give place unto wrath : ^«^^ ,'fv if'" for il is -vviitten, 8 Vengeance /*• mine ; I 19.29. ezkxv. will repay, saith the J^ord. 'SeviVi' 20 Therefore '' if thine enemy Ininger, g'j.ij'^'f bp„, feediiiin; if he thirst, give him drink: ji^^ij^i^'',-^;! for in so doing thou shalt heap ' coals of Hl^ ,'30*' " fire on his head. \*t.^^^'t, 21 Be "^ not overcome of evil, but over come evil with good. 10. Cant viii 0, T 1. Prov. xri, 32. Luke vi. ' Prov xsv 21, 22 Mntt v 44 i I's c»x. 4 cxl. !'-30. 1 Pet. iii 9. and leave the jiunishment of those who had robbed or as- saulted them to the magistrate, remembering, that God had declared that vengeance belonged lo him ; so tliat ^^hcii an unauthorized ]:ierson presumed to avenge himself, ho invaded God's prerogative, and, as il were, attempted to wrest his sword of justice out of his hand. {Nole, Deut. xxsii. 35.) On the contrary, tliey ought to wait for the opportunity of their enemy being in distress, in order kind- ly to supply his wants and alleviate his sufferings, as a man would feed, and give driuk to a wrary, wounded, fainting traveller. In doing this, they would use the proper method for melting down his obdurate heart into reciprocal affection ; like the founder, who not only puts fire under the hard piece of metal, but heaps fire over it also, that by fire on every side it may at length be melted. {Notes, Prov. XXV. '21, *22.) In this contest of love against ha- tred, they should persevere with a fixed determination not to yield, or to be overcome by any degree or num- ber of injuries, or by any ingratitude or ill usage, so as to give way to resentment, or to cease fronv em- bracing the opportunity of returning kindness ; but with a holy pertinacity to persist in the endeavours of overcoming evil with good, after the example of the Lord lowarda them. (Notes, &:c. Blatt. v. 88—41. Lnke vi. 27—35.) ' He is overcome of evil, who sins in his conduct to ano- ' ther, because the other sinned in his conduct towards ' him.' He■"»■ ">"» 21. 8 * Owe no man any thing, but to love /eT'^ p'' '^\ one anotlier: for he that loveth auotiier ^5'*! |f,I;'\ hath fullilled the law. fj |^- jA'i'"''''' s 7. Deut. xxiv. IJ, 15. ProT. iii. 57, 28. Matt. vii. !2. xj.ii. "i l" redressed. So that the Christian must render (o rulers the tribute, custom, excise or impost, demanded legally from him, with as much exactness as he would pay any other debt. He must use no collusion or fraud : he should not hesitate or murmur ; and all smuggling or dealing in contraband goods, all withholding or evading duties im- posed on any commodity, and every species of this kind of imposition, is a direct rebellion against the providence and most express commandment of God ; and, however such con- duct may be palliated or varnished over, it is not merely a defalcation of the revenue, but it is a robbery of all who jiay taxes ; for such collusions will not prevent the sum re- quired from being raised upon the j^ublic ;. so that when one tax falls short, another is imposed ; and when b.e, who should pay five pounds, pays but three, his more con- scientious neighbour must pay seven instead of five, and "is theiefore directly robbed of forty shillings. At the same time, all the atrocious crimes of the whole body of s.mug- glers, and others who combine to defraud the revenut-, are abetted by every one who puts his hand to such a disho- nest business. In such a case, to declaim about the vices and extravagancies of rulers, is to add one sin to another. These things never were worse than in the days of Nero : they are inseparable from human nature : the" great Law- giver was aware of them when he gave the command- ment ;_ and if no man pay a tax till the character and administration of £.11 concerned in managing public busi- ness, and the disposal of the public money, and the tax itself, met his full approbation, nothing would ever be paid by the selfish and unreasonable part of the community, and the public exigencies could never be answered. This subject is the more enlarged on, because the arguments and examples of some avaricious professors ofthe Gospel draw in well meaning people to wound their consciences, and disgrace the cause, by evading or refusing taxes in a dis- ingenuous and fraudulent manner, which is as contraiy to simple truth as to common honesty. Moreover, the apostle enjoins Christians to render fear, or reverence and honour, to those to whom they belong, on account of their authority, rank, or any other civil distinction; neither supposing that religion requires a stiff and rude singufarity, in refusing customary titles or expressions of honour and respect to superiors, or that it-allows that petulance and scurrility with which many delight to vilify the characters and conduct of their rulers, and those in high stations. Their faults should in general be regarded with candour and silence ; (for their situation is conspicuous, and their temptations arc very great :) and though the honour due to their rank and authority may consist with disapprobation of their conduct, yet not with reviling and defamation of them. The same authority, which commands children to honour their parents, commands subjects to honour their rulers ; and they should honour them in the same manner. {Nole, Ex, XX. 12.) L 2 J. D. bl. ROMANS. A. D. 61. t E«. XX. 12-17. Deut. V. lii-ai. Mat'., xix. IC, IJ Mirk 1. ID. l.ulisx>iii :0 :l vii. 7, 8 X I.c». six 18.31. .Malt. xxii. 39. I uke X. 27. Gal. V.I3. U Jam.ii •.:— lU V ICor. xiii 4-7 f. B. Malt xxii.40. .<. Is xxi. 11, IS .Mdit. xvi. 3. xxiv 45-41. I TtlM. V. 1-3. s Jon u 6 Matt XXV. S— 7. xxvi. 40,41 . Markxiil. 35 - 37. 1 Cor. iv. 3 J. Epli. V. 14 IThes v.5.6 c EC ix. 10. Luke sxi. 28. 1 Cor. »«. S9-31. 1 Pet. iv 7. 2 Pet ii 13-lS Rev. xxii. 12 2U. 9 For this, ' Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false wit- ness, " Thou shalt not covet; and il' there be any other commandment, it is briefly coniprchcudcd in this saying, namely, "^ Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy- self. 10 Love > Avorketh no ill to his neigh- bour: therefore ^ love is tlie fullilling of the law. 1 1 And that, ' knowing the time, that no;V '' it is high time to awake out ol sleep : '^ for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The -^ night is far spent, the day is dc.ot » n. i at hand: let us therefore ^ cast off the e i" Ii'm xxx. ^ works of darkness, and let us ^ put on « tpi. i"' »' ,, /• !• 1 ^ Ccl 1 1. 8. 9 tlie armour ot light. j«b> > :' iP't- 13 Let ■' us walk * honestly, ' as in the f Job, xxiv u- clay ; - not m riotmg and drunkenness, 7'^^f,''''^ jji- ' not in chambering and wantonness, " not J-""""" '*-'''• in strife and envying. 'flph-'w"!-!* 14 But " put ye on the Lord Jesus f-^/tii'v'J"" Christ, " and make not provision for the ^ "j*^^ 'j^l ^^ flesh, \o fulfil the lusts thereof j'lj Pb'i l^' lii 16-20 iv e, ■ " ' ■ • Or. dtctnllj/. 10. 1 TliM. ii. 12. iv 12 1 Pet i AcU 11. IS 1 Thcs V. 7. 2 Ptt. ii 13.- 13 xsviii 7,8 Am. vi. 4—6. Mall xxiv 48-51. Lu e 1 Cor vi. 10 Gal. v 21. Epb » 18 I Pet ii. II. iv 3-i.- K|ih V. 3-5 Col iii 6. I TLes iv. 3-5 2 PeU ii 14 18—'. 15. 21 26 Ph I ii. 3. Jam. iii 14—16 iv 5 1 Pet. 1 Jobn ii 6. 2 Jobn — t Prov xiiii 20 1«. xxii xvi 19. xvii 27,28 XXJ. 34. 1 1 Cor vi 9. Oal. V. 19. .0 Jude 23. m Gal. i. Gal Hi. 27 Eph ; viii 12, 13. Gal. v 16. 17 24 Col iii 5-8. I Pet. , II. V. 8 — 10. Il cannot be supposed that the apostle lucant to prohibit the coutractiiig of debts on any account, whicii is next to impossible to the greatest pait of man-| kind ; but only lo direct Christians to jiay all legal demands, ' without needless reluctance and delay, and with great| punctuality; and that they should uvuid all superrtuousl expcn.se, that they might be preserved from debt, and: Ii-oii\lhe danger and discredit of not rendering lo all their dues. Yet when all such demands were answered, they! would still one love t.j ail men, with all the duties that! result from its enlarged exercise. The learned Erasmus! iong since remarked, that the clause might as properly be! rendered, " Ye do owe no man any thing, but to love one \ another:" and though subsequent commentators, almost; without exception, take the words imperatively, yet it may be worthy of consideration, whether the iadicaliie, construction does notmore simply and evidently accord to the' context. The apostle was exhorting Christians to render; to all their dues : and, having branched out the general precept into a few particulars, he closes by adding, '• Ye *' owe no man any thing, &c." as if he had said ; ' All ' that I would inculcate is reducible to this, obey the law ' of love to others, in all its branches, and then you will 'render to all their dues.' The sense in this construction is obvious and important : but the ordinary interpretation, seeming at least to forbid Christians lo coiilract any debts, and to condemn such as cannot at present dis- charge those already contracted, may embarrass the minds of the most upright, and requires some management in expounding it, so as to prevent this embarrassment. No doubt, il is the duty of all Christians lo avoid contracting debts, which they hare not a reasonable jirospect of dis- charging punctually ; and to submit lo any inconveniency in order lo pay their debts in a creditable manner : but the obvious interpretation of the text, as imperative, seems inconsistent with the situation of almost all men in the present state of the world. The usual exposition of the next clause, " but to love one another ;" ' Be not a debtor ' to any man of aught but love and aflection, which ye ' ought so to pay, as that ye should have more lo pay,' {Bp. Hall ;) is not to me, at least, very satisfactory : for why should we be allowed so to come short in rendering love lo whom love is due, as to be always there in arrears. and there only ? If we daily rendered all that love to our neighbour, which is due to him, we should not remain in his debt. The next day would indeed require a fresh pay- ment, but there would be no arrears due. Upon the whole, tiierefore, though 1 would speak with cauuon and hesitation, 1 cannot but prefer the indicative construction ; " Ye do owe," &c. In short, the whole of what the apostle would inculcate was, the exercise of love in it: various branches: so that he who loved another, actually fulfilled the law. in res]iectof its requirements towards his neighbour: and this love of our neiglibour as ourselves, in obedience to ihc command of God, would also be the best evidence of our loving him with all our hearts, according to the first and great commandment of the law. (Notes, «kc. Ex, XX. Lev. xix. 18. Deut. vi. 5.) The apostle, by thus appealing to the moral law, as the standard of duty, after having so fully shown that no man can be justified by it, completely establishes the distinction between the law as n covenant, and the law- as a rule ; and proves that our deliverance from it, in the former sense, is in order that we might obey it in the latter. Worketh no evil, &c. ' Not ' that the law is exactly fulfilled by doing no evil to our 'neighbour: but, because, in Christ's interpretation, the ' neglect of doing any good we are able, and have oppor- ' tunity to do for him, is doing evil. " Charity is also " kind," ' and engageth us '" by love to serve one another.'" (Il'liitby.) {Ularg. Kef.) V. 11 — 14. Some think that the apostle here refers to the approaching destruction of Jerusalem, and the more complete establishment of Christianity that followed : but he seems rather to speak of the state.of believers in this world, and their expectation of approaching complete sal- vation. It behooved them to consider how long they had heard and professed the Gospel; and the shortness of the ime that might yet remain to them, in which to glorify God among men. Thus ihcy would perceive, that it was full lime for them to shake oil" all remaining sloth and supineness, and to attend to every duty with increasing zeal and vigour, as the day of salvation approached con- tinually, and was then actually much nearer than when they had first believed in Christ ; and consequcndy their term of remaining usefulness on earth was proportionably abridged. The redemption by which salvation comes t» J. D. 61. CHAPTER XIV. J. I). Gl, CHAP. XIV. Directions to receive candidly the weak in faith, and not to despise or judge one an- other, in respect of things doubtful or in- lost sinnei-s, was finished with the humiliation of the Saviour, and when he expired on the cross. Salvation becomes ours, and is begun, when we come to him by faith : it will be finished as to the soul at the hour of death, and as to the body at the day of judgment. The life of faith might be called day, in comparison of the darkness of the idolatrous and unconverted state ; yet it was but night or twilight, in comparison of the light of heaven. But this night was far spent, that day was at hand : it was therefore incumbent on them to prepare for it, and anticipate it, by casting oft" their former sins, in which they had lived during their heathen darkness, as a man would cast off filthy and ragged garments, or as he would put oft' his niglu-clothes before he went out of his chamber. And they ought not only to put on their day- clothes, but their armour also, by praying for and cul- tivating all those holy dispositions, which arm the soul to repel temjitation, and are at the same time its ornameot and beautiful attire ; even as the burnished armour is deemed the conqueror's most honourable decoration. The apostle therefore exhorted the Romans to join with him, in walking after a becoming and consistent manner, as those who enjoyed the light of the word of God and the hope of heaven ; keeping at a distance from all excess or intem- perance ; from all sloth and unchastity, and every wanton look, word, or action, and t from all' contention, envy and malevolence. And then, instead of multiplying ex- hortations, he called upon them " to put on the Lord Jesus" himself, and thus do the whole at once. Let the mind and example of Christ be reflected in all their tempers and conduct, that all, who saw their piety, purity, zeal, benevolence and self-denial, might recognize the image and character of Christ in them. That as they stood jus- tified before God in the robe of his imputed righteousness, so they might appear before men adorned with his"image for sanctification. Then they would not contrive means for gratifying any of their carnal lusts, nor would they be anxious to provide for the indulgence of their appetites ; but they would find their satisfaction in such things as pertained to the life of thejr souls. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1— r. The grace of the Gospel directs our thoughts to the providence of God, as well as to his promises and com- mandments ; and thus itjinduces submission and cheerful compo3ure, where pride and the carnal mind see nothing but cause for murmurs and disquietude. Christians should always remember that there is no power but what is derived from God : " that the powers that be are ordained •' of God," though not according to what we might tiiink the most eligible plan ; and therefore " that every soul is "bound to be subject to the higher powers :" that while so many, disdaining every yoke, " are not afraid to speak different, 1 — G ; but to c onsidcr their re- lation and accountaUeness to Christ, 7-— 12. Exhortations to caution, charity, hu- mility, and self-denial, in usin" that he may cat Piim "iv '1 all thinfrs : '' another, who is weak, ' cateth Tit.i 14 Heb , , » ii^ 19. xiii a. herbs. toM i 29 is. 3 Let not him that eateth, ^ despise uan i u 10. liini that eateth not ; aiin let not him *ii. 10. .Matt! ^vhicii eateth not, '' iudtre him that eateth; xv.i. 9^^^ Cor. i fQi- (Jod iiath received lum. h^"' >i«u vii 1, 4 k Who art tiiou that Judgest another 30 co'iTiiTeu' man's servant? to his own master he stand- 'x.^'s a"""' " ^^'^ 01' lalleth ; Yea, ' he shall be hoiden It i.\ :iO. Actaxi 17. I Cor. iv. 4, S .am iv. 11. \3 13 xi i3. xvi aS Deut sxxii;. i7-^9 Vs. xvi . 5 xxxvii 17 24. 38. cxix. 116, 117. Jobn X. 29-3a Rom viii. 31-39. ileb" vii 25. 1 Pet. i. 5 Jude 21. up : for God is able to make him stand. .') One man ■" esteemeUi one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. " Let every man be fully * per- jsuadcd in his own mind. G He that f j-egardeth the day, " regard- leth it unto the Lord; and hc^iat regard- eth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, f for he giveth God thanks ; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and ffiveth God thanks. believing dependence, a.s a lo.st sinner, on the merits and atonement of Christ, " God manifest in the flesh," and a reliance on the Holy Spirit for teaching and sanctilica- tion, it does not appear, that he can properly be regarded as a believer, or admitted into the communion of the saints. ("2 John 9, 10.) But when these things are professed in words, and not denied in works, a man ought at least to be received as one that is " weak in the faith," and meekly helped forward, though he may yet be under the power of many prejudices and mistakes. ' The force of ' the apostle's admirable reasoning in favour of candour ' and mutual condescension cannot be enervated by say- ' ing, that there was no separation between Jewish and ' Gentile Christians. Had the things judged indifferent by ' the latter, and apprehended sinful by the former, been ' imposed, a separation of communion would have ensued, ' and the schism on the apostle's principles would have ' been chargeable on the imposers. When it shall please ' God to awaken in the governors of estabUshed piotestant ' churches such a spirit of moderation and goodness, 'joined with a true zeal for religion, as to leave such ' things in that natural state of indifference, in which * ahiiosl all sensible men confess it is best they should be ' left, many separations will cease of course.' (Dod- dridge.) Thus the guilt of schism is reciprocally charged by all parties on their opponents ; and indeed tndy, when not done exclusively ; for the same state of mind and heart generally prevails in those who impose unscriptural terms of communion, and in those who separate themselves from their brethren without sufficient reason ; and then endea- vour to make the cause of their separation appear as great as they can, to justify themselves. So that not only the governors of protestant established churches, but the leading men among dissenters and seceders also, "need to be brought, by the illumination and grace of the Holy Spirit, to a fuller knowledge of the Scriptures, and more entire conformity to the temper there incul'.ated. In pro- portion as men apj)roach nearer, in judgment and dis- position, to the word of God, they u-ill he brought nearer to each other, as the lines from the circumference of a circle approximate to each other and to the centre pro- portionably. 'Then each person concerned, (instead of decidedly justifying every particular, among those with whom he is connected, and disjiuting against every thing in use among such as he differ.'! from,) will seriously compare all particulars on every side with the sacred oracles ; and in consequence will diicover, that neither ^ 0 , Ol'St I'Clk. 0 l'.x. xii. 14. 42. XV 25. 1 S i HI. .■). Zecb Vii it. 0. p Matt. X y 19. XV r(R . ohi VI. :::i. 1 Cor . R :ii), 31. 1 r 31 iV. party is entirely right, and neither entirely wrong. And this conviction, avowed and reduced to practice by the leading men, would gradually be communicated to the rest of the body, and would make way for such amendments, retrenchments, and concessions, on all sides, and such fairness, gentleness, and candour, in debating on the con- troverted subjects, as would in process of time effectually terminate these unhappy divisions. But " until the Spirit " be poured upon us from on high," it cannot be ex- pected that these events will generally take place. It is, however, highly important, that individuals should well consider, from what source contentions in the Church, as well as " wars and fightings in the world," actually arise ; and what is indispensably necessary, in order to terminate them. V. 2 — 4. The apostle next proceeded to exemplify his general rule by a particular instance. One Christian, either a Gentile convert, or a Jew who had got over the prejudices of his nation, believed it lawful to eat any kind of meat, without regarding the distinctions of the law ia that respect : another, cither a Jewish convert, or one who had imbibed some Jewish prejudices, would eat only vegetables, (especially when in company with Gentile converts,) lest he should unawares eat some unclean thing. This indeed showed that he was weak and unestablished in the faith ; yet it evinced him to be conscientious. Here then mutual candour was to be exercised : the Christian, who knew and used his liberty, must not despise his weak brother, as ignorant or superstitious, and so disdain to associate with him, or use contemptuous language respect- ing him : and, on the other hand, the scrupulous believer must by no means condemn his brother, as self-indulgent or lax in his conduct, or shun him, and speak again.st him, on that account. For God had accepted him, and taken him into his family, without regarding these distinctions : and it did not behoove any one to judge and condemn another's servant, for such things as his own master did not object to. He was only accountable to his own t.ord, who would justify or condemn him, uphold him or leave him to full, as he saw his real character to be : and if indeed he was a believer, the power and promise of God were engaged to uphold him, and were abundantly suffi- cient for that purpose. {Notes, &ic. viii. "28 — '3d. Marg, Ref.) V. .5, 6. The case was similaras to the observance of days. Some Christians considered the Jewish sabbaths, new moy;is, and other solemnities, to be still -in force, and .v. f). 61. ROMANS. ^. 1). 61. -1.1 cw vi 15, 7 For ipone of us liveth to himself, ~<;ai li. 1^ 20 and no man dieth to liimself. I'llil i S(l-24. ,, TT I ] I- !• :iit. ii u Met }{ r or wnctner wc live, we live unto ui'i" x.l'' ic ^^^^ Lord ; and whether we die, ' we die ^,^?'.. ''»'." unto tiic Lord: Mvhethcr wc live there- inn. II. 1/ M). » X 1 .'100" 'iii"''2 ^^^'^1 oi" "'*^' ^c ^^'^ the Lord's. iVhM." iv. 14'- ^ For to this end ^ Christ both died, k"" "lo'-li 3"fl rose, allff revived, that he might be i.uke Kx.r. 26 u Lq,-J both of the dead and living. \'fl,, ";.' 2! 10 But why dost thou judge thy nev. i. 18 u Malt, mviii. ID John v. B2, 23 27-29. Acts %. 36. 42. Eph i. 20— i3 vtil. ii. 10, 11. 2 Tim. iv. 1. 1 Pet. iv 5. brother.'' or why dost thou » set at jtn.i Lukexxw nought thy brother.'* >' for we shall yn is' Kcxini all stand before the iudcrment-seat of iotm \"2Af"» ,,, . , .' O X 42 xvii. 31 1 Christ. Cor iv 5 SCnr ,,T-i ■• • .111- •1'^ 10 Judeli.iS I J 1' or it IS written, ' ^'Js 1 live, sa't'i J'p?J„''\iV~2? the fjord, ' every knee shall bow to f" i^ i"''* is me, and every tongue shall * confess to fj',' " ^'p^ God. »'' .lO required by the law of God ; and accordingly they regarded them in a religious manner : others were satisfied that the ritual Ijw was alirogated, and that such appoint- ments wrre no longer obligatory, so that in this respect they regarded every day alike ; (for we cannot suppose that they 'lid not observe the Lord's day, or any days of fasting and jirayer.) In such matte-'s it was chiefly necessary, that every man should be fully satisfied in his own mind as to his own duty, and that he acted from proper motives in it. If then a Christian regarded a day according to the law of Mo.'=c.^, or conscientiously set it apart for devotion, he might bo supposed to do it from reverence to the authority of God : and if anotlicr Cliristian, deeming these distinc- tions to be superseded, omitted all regard to those days, which llie other accounted holy ; it should be supposed, that he did it with a view to the honour of Christ, of his legislative authority, and his fulfilment of all the ancient typical observances. In like manner, the believer, who ate any kind of food, should be considered as regarding the will and glory of the Lord in it ; while he returned thanks l,oth for his food and for his Christian liberty : on the other hand, he tliat refrained from thi.s or the other meat, being contented with and thankful for what he did eat, sluiuld be considered as doing it from a self-denying and conscientious regard to the will of the Lord, even (hough his scruples were judged to be groundless. Fiilltj persuaded in his on-n mind. " Let every man freely en- •' joy his own sentiment," ' and go on in his own way, with- ■ out im.pedimcnt or censure.' (Doddridge.) This inler- jirclation is very ancient ; but it does not seem to be the most natural construction of the clause. ' Let a man ■ have that full persuasion of the lawfulness of what he ' doeth, or abstains from, as will ]ireserve him from sin- • ning against conscience in it. Let him not search into ' the judgments and actions of other men, about these ' matters, to condemn them for them.' {Whitby). ' I do • not agree with those, who think that the apostle meant nothing more, than that each person should be careful ' not to do any thing with a doubting or hesitating con- •• science. For it is not enough, that our conscience con- ' sents to what we do ; but it is necessary, in the first ■ place, that our conscience be certified from the word of • God.' {Besn.) {Note, 19—23.) V. 7 — 9. It v.'as an acknowledged principle, that no real Christian allows his own humour, indulgence, interest, or credit, to bij the end for which he lives, or acts, as to the general tenour of his conduct ; nor does he even avoid, desire, or meet death, from selfish motives ; 1 2 So then *" every one of us shall give ','j II l! lo" kev. T.' account of himself to God. b X 9 »v. 9. Matt. X 32. 1 .lohn Iv. is. 2 .loho 7. cEc.xi. 9 Slatt. xii. 36 xviii 23, ic. I.uke xvi. 2. Gal. vi 6. I Pet.iv. ». but whether his lifcjbe prolonged, he aims to spend it to the glory of Christ ; or whether death be expected, lit refers it to him, to be ordered in all respects for the glory of his own name ; so that whether the Christian lives or dies, he belongs to the Lord, to be disposed of as he pleases ; and is his beloved, to be taken care of by him in all possible events. For to this very end Christ both died on the cross, and rose again, and liveth anew in heaven, that in human nature he might be the sovereign Lord of all his people, both during their lives and after their death, as they willingly devote themselves to him, and are prompt to labour, suffer, or die, for his sake ; as he orders all things respecting the time and cii-cumstances of their death, for ids own glory and their good \ and as, when they die, they are taken to be with him for ever, and he will raise their bodies to share the .^ame felicity. Christ is also the Lord of all the dead, and of the living who do not believe in him ; he spares their lives, cuts them oQ" by death, and executes vengeance upon them, as he sees good ; yet the former sense seems to have been principally intended. It is worthy of observation, that the apostle most cogently showed professed Christians what tliey ought to be and do. by slating the character and aims of true believers, and by teaching them what charity would suppose, concerning their brethren who differed from iheni, if their conduct were in other respects consistent with their profession. " The Lord," evidently means Jesus Christ in these verses, which contain a very conclusive argument in proof of his Deity, that the next verses undeniably confirm ; for to what mere creature can we be thus entirely devoted, without manifest idolatry ? V. 10 — 12. This suggested another reason why Chris- tians should not judge or despise one another, as they must all stand in judgment before Christ, when it would be known from what motive every man had acted. The prophecy referred to has been before explained of Christ, as "Jehovah, our Righteousness," {Aoles, Is. xlv. 20 — 2.5.) but the apostle's transition from " the judgment- " seat of Christ," to " giving an account of ourselves to " God," shows how familiar it was to him to understand the predictions uttered by Jehovah as the words of his divine Lord and Saviour. Shall confess lo God. ' That ' is, shall adore and acknowledge me as God.' (Be:a.) ' If these words, which the apostle certainly spake of Jeho- ' VAH, be well applied by the apostle to Christ, Christ ' must also be the Person intended ' by them ; for how ' could the aposde prove, that " every knee must bow" ' to Christ, from the words of God, " to me every knee A. D. 61. CHAPTER XIV. A. D. Gl. « Luke xii 1 Cor. »i. a Cor 1 \i t ix. 32, 3J six. U. Is Ivii U. Ez xiv. 3. Matt, xvi 23. Waj that no man ' put a stumbling-block, or an occasion to fall, in his brother's '. Luke 1 1 Cor 9 — 13. i Set on, 2. • Gr. common. Acts X. M, 15 Xl. 8, 9 k 23. ICor I Kt. xiii. 2 1 Cor. ^iii. 12 "• 13 Let us not therefore ''judge oneinot meat and drink; ' but righteous- ri,.xi^ 2.. j.r. " another any more : ^but judge this rather, ness, ' and peace, and joy in the Holy rx'''24 'vfau"'"!.' Ghost. 18 For he that ' in these things serveth Christ " is acceptable to God, " and ap- proved of men. 19 Let us therefore y lollow after the things which make for peace, ^ ami things wherewith one may edify another. 1 20 ' For meat destroy not ^ the work of God. "All things indeed arc pure: y" =2- gu. vi.# . . y* I ' LS.IR. Colin 21. ■^ but it IS evu lor that man who eateth „'',;|;'^'i7^'iV with nflpnrp 7. ro ij 7 .4rn 2.1 It is '^ good neither to eat flesh, JVeT. 11 s! m.*" nor to drink wine, nor ani/ thing ' where- x"'^'-'- '^ s " 14 1 know, ^ and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, ' that there is nothing * un ii!"i4. ". *" clean of itself: but to him that esteemeth *i T^r' ^".' u any thins: to be unclean, ^ to him it is 1 John ii 10. .', = h .\cts X, 28. unclean. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with I'lj , thy meat, '" now walkest thou not t chari tably. ° Destroy not him with thy meat, ..?' ? for whom Christ died. 1 Cor. viii. 1 xiii. 1.4,5 G«l V. 13. Fhil 16 Let not then "your good be evil T^-;*a«ord,./(o spoken of: 17 For P the kingdom of God 1 is J __ — ^j.. .. . - ^ .. ... — . „. 1 Thea. ii. 13 -q 1 Cor. charitu ■ 1 Cor - _ 2 Pet. ii. 1. 1 John ii 2. o xii. 17. 1 Cor x. 29, 30. 2 Cor. viii 20, 21. I Thes p Dan. ii.44. Matt iii. 2. i\ 33. Luke xiv. 15 xvii. 20, 21. John iii 3 5. 1 C . 8. Col. ii. 16, 17. Heb. ; " shall bow," * if Christ were, in his whole nature and ' essence, as different from that God who spake those ' words of himself, as is a creature from his great Creator?' {Whitby.) {Note, Phil. ii. 9—14. V. 13 — 18. The apostle concludes this part of his subject, by exhorting Christians, especially the Jewish converts, not to judge, censure, or condemn one another any more ; and he then enters on another exhortation, in which the Gentile converts were principally concerned. This he introduces by using the same word, in somewhat of a different sense. Instead of exercising their judgment about others, let them learn to act judiciously in their own conduct, that they might not ensnare their brethren, or occasion them to sin, as if a man should heedlessly lay a stone or a trap in another's way, which might occasion his falling or being hurt. This they would be apt to do, by an inexpedient use of lawful things. The apostle knew, by the doctrine and revelation of Christ, that no kind of food was any longer polluting in itself, yet if a man supposed the ceremonial distinctions to be still in force, the meat which he ate contrary to his judgment and conscience would be unclean to him ; and he therefore ought to abstain, till more fully satisfied. Now if a stronger and better informed believer induced his weaker brother, by his example and influence, to eat such things as his conscience forbade, and so to bring guilt and distress upon himself, it was obvious that he did not walk cha- ritably. For his conduct directly tended to the ruin of one for whom Christ died ; seeing it tempted him to sin, which naturally leads to condemnation. This does not imply that the weak brother would actually perish; but the contrast is made between the love oWDhrist to the weak believer, who shed his blood to save lAn, and the want of love in his stronger brother, who woBd not abridge him- self of his meal, from regard to his welfare, but would rather prove an occasion of sin to hini, and so hazard the loss of the soul of one, whom he might hope to be a be- liever, than restrain himself in the excrci.se of his Christian li'ierty! We may, however, oliservc, that the apostles did not write in that exact systematical si\ le which some affect, Vol. V.-No. 31. I Cur. 2 Cor V. 21. Phil iii. ■.). 2 Pet i. I. s V 1 .■). viii B. 15. 16 XT. III. Is Iv, 12 Ixi. 3. Alts ix. 31. Stii. . iv. 4 7 Col. .11. 1 Thes 1. 1 Pet i. 8. Maiic John 1 Cor. — y xii 21. 1 Thcs. 1. 3,1 .lam ii 18—26. I Pet Matt- V. 9. Msik is 60. 2 Cor. xiii 11. Eph, Kii. 14. Jam iii. 13-111. 1 Pet. iii. II. z xv. 2. 1 Co 29 1 Thcs. V. 11, 12. 1 Tim i i iSrr m. 15. Matt xvi 13 X. 31. b Eph ii 10. Phil. i. 6. c 14. Malt, xv Tit i. 15. J 15.21. 1 Cor. viii 9-12. x ;i2 33. e 17 x Mdl. ii 8 Matt. xvi. 33. iviii. 7-10. Luke xvii. 1,3 PhiL. U.cx.txiii. I. 3-7.' Phil. ii. 1-4. Col. iii. 12—15, Heli. X. 2:1. xiv 12-17. 28. Eph iv. iii. 8. 1 Cnr vi.l2. 13 viii. 8. II. Actsx. 15. 1 Tim iv. 3-.S- IV. 1.2 1 Cor. viii 13. f l:i. 10. Heb. xii 13. Rev.il. U. otherwise they would scrupulously have avoided such ex- pressions. In using their liberty, therefore, which was good in itself. Christians ought to be careful not to do it in so upguarded a manner, or with such bad effects, as might give occasion to its being evil spoken of: for ihe privileges of the kingdom of God no more consisted in meats and drinks, than its reqiiiremenls did : so that a believer, who would use his liberty, at any rate and at all events, laid a.s undue a stress on the indulgence of the new dispensation, as a Jewish convert did on the ceremonial distinctions of the old one. To stand justified before God, to be at peace with him, to possess peace in the heart anil conscience, and to experience that pure joy which the Holy Spirit communicates, are the great privileges of the kingdom of God : and to walk by faith before him as a reft.oncilfctl Father, in righteousness, and in cheerful holy obedience, according to the grand requirements of the moral lawi and by the sanctification of the Spirit, is the sub.'^tancc'OT' the duties of the kingdom : and he, whojn such things serveth and obeyeth Christ, is acceptable to "God, and is approved before men to be a true believer, and shoukl therefore be received as such by his brethren, without respect to his differences of opinion or practice. To infer from hence, as some have incautiously done, that a peaceable exem- plary Christian, who is not too risj^'^in his sentiment?, or tinctured with bigotry, will generally be esteemed and loved by mankind, would im|)ly a censure on Paul, on the other apostles, on the prophets, on the most eminent believers in every 'age, nay, on Christ himself, as if Ikey had not been so candid and liberal as n4 ought to be : for we know what favour the world showed them. But in fact" the men of the Church, and not those of the world, are exclusively meant. ' It evidences a cruel ' mind, to make greater account of food than of a ' brother's salvation ; which they do, who can endure to ' eat, when it causes a brother to offend, and so gives ' him occasion of turning a.^ide from the Gospel. We ' ought to copy the example of Christ, who, so far from ' destroying the weak for fooil, poured out his life lor ' them.' (Bezel.) M A. D. 61. ROMANS. A. D. 61. h vil 16.21. Acts xxiv. 16 S Cor. I. Vi. I J o^, by thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, I not himselfin that thing which he allovveth. '',^^°\ ' '''oris made weak. 22 Hast « thou faith } haVfe t/ to thyself oiiaiii before God. ''Happy i* he that condemneth 23 And ' he that * doubteth is '' damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faitli : ' for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. iUctmlk, or. pu'ltlh a iif- JiTtnce b'tnitn mi,l,. k xiii 2 1 Cor- XI 29— nl Cr. I Tit i \i. Ueb- V. 19 — 23. The apostle proceeded to inculcate an as- siduous and persevering attcnlion to the interests of peace among Christians, and to all those things by which mutual edification might be promoted. L^t then none of those, ^V'ho understood their liberty, allow thrir own indulgence in any kind of food to counteract the work of God, in the conversion of the Jews, the spread of the Gospel, or the .sanctificalion of bLlievcrs ; or suffer it to destroy any of his rational creatures. Indeed the apostle would have it known, ns his dccidfd judgment, (though he had been educated a Pharisee,) that all kinds of meats were alike pure in them- selves : yet it would be evil for a man to eat them, when it had a direct tendency to seduce a weak brother into sin. Nay, so much ought love to preponderate over all such considerations, that it would be good and right for a man to abstain wholly from flesh and wine, and every other in- dulgence, by which his brother would be tempted to sin, made uneasy in his conscience, or weakened in his hope, and the vigour of his obedience. So that they who had stronger faith, and assuredly believed that they might.law- fully eat any kind of food, should not make ostentation of it, or improperly seize on every occasion of acting accord- ing to it; but rather possess it as in thef sight of God, who would know their uprightness when others judged them on that account: and let them use their liberty with humility, caution, prudence, and self-denial ; and without seeming to prefer themselves, or to despise their weaker brethren. It would be a great happiness to a man, to be free from all doubt or self-condemnaUon, in those things which he al- lowed himself to do: but if any one questioned whether any indulgence were lawful or not, and yet example, per- suasion, or inclination, prevailed with him to venture upon it, he would certainly commit a sin, for which his con- science would condemn him, and for which even God would condemn him, if ho did not repent of it. For as he did it not infuilli, as he was not fully persuaded in his own mind that he was allowed by the Scripture to do it, he would be guilty of preferring his own inclination to the ■ ,' , , , Tit. ii. 9, 10. weak, and not to " please ourselves. « ''^ «' ^-^■ I • P , , , . Matt. XXV. 33 2 Let every one 01 us '' please hts f- ^'^^"^y ^■ neighbour lor his good to edihcation. js" «% 30 f^' 3 For *= even Christ pleased not himself: ^' '° ''"'' " but, as it is written, ' The reproaches of 7^,^^,'^ ' '" them that reproached thee, lell on me. 50, &J. Matt. \ ri John XV. -t. and learn to renounce whatever comes in competition with the welfare of our brethren, the peace of the Church, and the glory of God. Let us pray for more humility and self-denial in the exercise of our knowledge, more to regard our acceptance with God, and less to desire the applause of men. In every doubtful or indifferent matter, " Happy is he, who condemneth not himself in the thing " which he alloweth." Numbers venture into places and upon actions, against which their own consciences revolt, because they are induced by inclination, and emboldened by the example of those, who on some account have obtained the reputation of pious men. But whether the things themselves be lawful or not, as they cannot do them in faith, as they hesitate concerning the lawfulness of them, and as they cannot heartily pray for the presence and blessing of God in them, they are condemned for indulging themselves in a doubtful case. But few are so happy as to be quite free from self-condemnation in every thing that they allow: a sound judgment, a simple heart, a tender conscience, and an habitual self-denial, are neces- sary for the enjoyment of this comfort : and most -of us see frequent cause to condemn ourselves, and, by daily repentance, faith, and prayer, to deprecate the merited condemnation of our God. NOTES. CHAP. XV. V. 1—3. The apostle here proceed..; with the argument of the preceding chapter. He admit.s that they, who knew their liberty in respect of the dis- tinctions of meats and days, were generally stronger in faith, as well as sounder in judgment, than their' more scrupulous brethren. But for that reason, they who were able to do it ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak, who were not able to rise superior to them ; and not to despise them ; but even to bear their infirmities, by patiently submitting to self-denial on their account, and meekly enduring their uncharitable censures, while they persevered in endeavours to promote their welfare, and to maintain a peaceful communion with, them. So that, instead of pleasing and gratifying themselves in the in- dulgent use of their liberty, or humouring pride, self- will, or resentment, they ought readily to recede from their own inclinations, in order to please their neighboui as far as could conduce to his good, or to mutual edifi- cation, by obviating his prejudices and gaining upon Lis M 2 A. Z). CI. ROMANS. ^. D. 61. e iv 23.51. icor. 4 For E wliatsoevcr things -were written ijun'^i," 'iB. aforetime were written for our learning; ,|. -!Ptt i.io, ,, ^i^^j ^^^^^ through patience, and comfort ii "x7i 12." IV of the scriptures, might have hope. He!..v, i^-ii; 5 Now ' the God of patience ^ and » -IS, 36. Jam. 1 . , .1111 -11 » '-II. I iM. con.solation, grant you to ' be like-mmded in En.xxxivc. one toward anotlier, * accordinj^ to Christ I F^t '''■ -I' Jesus : ''\^^"-"i 3, :! (J That ye may "" with one mind and 'xis '"12" jl^r ^"'^ mouth glorily God, even " the Father XU9 A.-ts'^iv ^^ ^^^ Lord Jesus Christ. i toJ 'xiii' n ''^ Wherefore " receive ye one another, rv'!'2.'rT-et"iii '' ^s Christ also received us, 1 to the glory tp''h''v 2°''ph,?.- 8 Now ' I say, that = Jesus Christ was tt9-n zeph iii. a minister of the circumcision ' for the S Ze.h xiii SAct'iv. 24 n John X 29, 30 XX 17 2 Cor i. 3 xi. 31. Eph i 3 1 Pet. i 3 o xiv 1-3 .Matt x 40. Mark in. 37. Luke ix 48 p Matt. li 28— 30 l.uke XV 2. John »i 37. xiii. 34 q 9. Eph. i 6-8 12.18 2 Tbes. i. 10- 12 r lii 2b 1 Cor. i. 12. x. 19.20 xv. 50. i\% 4,5 Matt, xv 24. XX 28. John i. II Acts i'i.2-1,26 Xiii 46 Gdl iv.4,5. 1 iii 3. Ps. xcviii. 2, 3 l»lit. vii. 20. Luke 1. 64-5C 70-73. 2 Cur. i. :0 affections. Thus Christ, from love to sinners, renounced his own case, comfort, and reputation, exposed himself 10 the reproach and revilings of the enemies of God, and lived in this polluted, miserable world, exposed to con- tempt, calumnies, and persecutions, till he finished his sufferings by the ignominious death of the cross, amidst the insults of his embittered murderers ; according as it had been predicted of him by David, who spoke as a type of him. {Notes, &c. Ps. Ixix. 9. 20.) \ . 4 — 7. The apostle took occasion from this quota- tion, to remind the Christians at Rome, that the whole of the ancient scriptures had been written for their instruc- tion, as much as for that of those to whom they were first delivered ; whether they contained types or predictions of Christ, gracious promises, precepts, admonitions, or ex- amples, in order that by patiently cleaving to the Lord in faith and holy obedience, amidst all their trials and terap- t:itions, and by taking comfort from the daily perusal of the Scriptures, they might possess a joyful hope of heaven, notwithstanding past sins and present manifold defects, lie therefore prayed for them, to that God, who is infinitely jiaiiciU and long-suffering towards us, who commands us in like manner to bear wiUi one another, and who is the Au- thor and Giver of jjatience to his people, and the Source of all their consolations, that he would render his exhorta- tions efrpctiial, and grant them to be of one judgment and one heart, disposed to entire harmony and affection, and full of disinterested love and compassion for each other, after the example of Christ, and according to his com- mands. That so nothing might hinder them from joining, as " with one mind and one mouth," in the worship of God, in glorifying him for his mercies, and adoring his perfections, as tlie Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is approached by sinners through liis beloved Son, and is become their reconciled Father in him. And he again exhorted them to lay aside [trejudices and disputes, and to receive one another as brethren, without regarding the distinctions of Jew and Gentile, or differences of opinion on these matters, even as Christ had received them with- out making exceptions to any of them, that God might be truth of God, to confirm the promises "'22*m*?,'.«w: made unto the fathers: It.' Ifph ■'ii'"!2- 9 And " that the Gentiles might glorify fet "1 s'ln ' God for his mercy; as it is written, " For ^irj^i"" '"• this cause IvviJI confess to thee among the ''i°'"ix"'"'ii«. Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. ^i."^xJ^i""\. 10 And again he saith, >' Rejoice, ye cJs'viii.^, s. Gentiles, with his people. xni m'-i2. 1 1 And again, ^ Praise the Lord, all ye » is xi n'oRev. Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. boen xiix m. 12 And again Esaias saith, " There xxii 27,28 fx.ii.' I If 1 /■ T K ill 1 11 """' " •«• shall be a root 01 Jesse, " and he that shall "iii.t 4 xin. rise to reign over the Gentiles ; "^ in him ]^}:^\ f"^ '"■ shall the Gentiles trust. V-7' Ma't"ii' 13 Now, •'the God of hope "^ fill you ^'p^' fVV'i with all joy and peace in believing, that ye 7p"'t' i' 2i*''"*' may ' abound in hope, through the power "/^^i •"" Ve'! ^' of the Holy Ghost. e\'i" 17' i« ii. 12. John xiv I 27. Gal v 32. Eph. i S. v 18, 19. 2 Tbes. ii. IS, 17 I Pet. i. • 1 ». 4, 5. Iii 12. 2 Cor Ix 8 Heb. \i IN glorified in their salvation, as he also would be in iheic mutual love and harmony. ' V. 8 — 13. In order to unite Jews and Gentiles in one church, and conciliate them to each other, Jesus Christ had assumed his human nature among the Jews, he had submitted to circumcision, and exercised his personal mi- nistry with unwearied labour and self-denial, among cir- cumcised persons, and he commanded his apostles to preach the Gospel to the Jews in the first place. Thus he .fulfilled the predictions and promises delivered to the fa- thers of that nation : the Ger\tile converts could therefore have no pretence for despising them. On the other hand,. after Christ's ascension, the Gospel had by his command been extensively preached among the Gentiles, and with vast success, that they also might glorify God for his mcrcy^ as it had been predicted by the ancient prophets, {Notes, Deii/. xxxii. 43. Ps. xviii. 49. cxvii. Is. xi. 1 — 10.) So that the Jewish converts could have no reason to exclude or shun the Gentiles, whether they regarded the will of their ascended Lord, or the prophecies of the Scripture. In the last quotation it had been shown that the Gentiles were to trust, or hope, in that Messiah, who was to reign over them : hence the aposde took occasion to pray that God, the Author and object of hope, would fill them with abun- dance of spiritual joy and peace, by enabling them simply to believe in him, as revealed in his beloved Son, and as relying on his gracious promises ; that so they might attain to an assured, abiding, realizing, and anticipating hope of eternal life, through the sanctifying and comforting energy of the Holy Spirit. Bejoice, &c. (10.) ' The ' Hebrew interpreters render the original, {Dent, xxxii. 43,) " Celebrate, O ye nations, his people." ' Certainly ' the nations could not cordially extol the people as happy ' and blessed, unless, affected with their felicity, they ac- ' knowledged and worshipped the same God. The apostle, ' as it were, seals all his preceding exhortations with ' prayers, that the Lord would bestow en them the things ' which he commanded.' {Be:a.) Reign over, &c. (12.) ' That which is out of the Hebrew rightly rendered " for " an ensign," ' is by the Greek translators, " to bear rule •/* J. D. 61. tPhi!. i7. 2rim I J. Philem 21. Heb. vi 9. 2Pet I. 12 I John I: SI. 6 Phil. i. II. Col i. 8-10. 3 Pet i. 5—8. 1 Col lii IS 1 Thes. V. 11. M Tit ii 3,». HeS. T. 12 I. 21, 2S. Jude :o-2a. k He;>. xiii. a 1 Pet V 12. IJnbn li 12-U V 13 1 Jude 3-* 1 Tim iT. 6 STim i 6 ii U. Tit iii I. «Pet 1. 12-15. ■Ii 1,2. Bi i. b- xii. 3 6. ) Cor. ii>. 10. XV. JO r,al > IS,16. ii.9 Kph iii 7. 8 1 Tim i. II- II 1 Pet is 10. II 2 I'et iii li. B 18 Xi 13. Acts ix 15, xiii 2. xxii 2'. XXV i 17. It. 1 Cor. iii. S iv 1. 2 Cor. T. 20. si. 23 Gal. ii. 7,8. Epb. ill I Thes ii 2 9 I Phil li 17 iv. 1 37. 1 Cor. VI. 19 4. xi. 16-30 xi CHAPTER XV. ^. D. 61. 14 H And « I myself also am per- suaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are '' full of goodness, filled, with all knowledge, ' able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, ^ I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, ' as putting you in mind, ^ because of the grace that is given to me of God, • 16 That ■' 1 should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ° ministering the Gospel of God, that p the * offering up of the Gentiles might be accept- able, 1 being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. 17 1 have therefore *■ whereof I may 1. 1 Tim ii 7 3 T Tim i II. I Pet i. 12 e Heb xiii 16 1 Pet. ii. 5 . Eph. ii 18 22 1 Tbes. t. 1 I. Acts XX 24. Gal. I. U. Ixvi. 19. 20. 2 Cor. sacri/tcing. q v 5, ' 2.2Cor. ii 11-16. lii. 1- ' because it is the ofSce of the king to defend, and by arms * to protect, his people.' (Hammond.) V. 14 — 17, The apostle, being about to conclude his epistle, shows the Romans why he, who had never seen them, had addressed them in so earnest and copious a manner. This did not arise from any doubt that he enter- tained concerning them ; for he was fully persuaded that they were replete with that goodness, that kind and affec- tionate spirit, which he had inculcated, as well aS with knowledge in every part of the Gospel, so as to be able to admonish one another without other assistance. Never- theless, he had written with the more confidence to them about some particulars, to put them in remembrance of their duties and their dangers, because God had peculiarly favoured him in appointing him to be the apostle and the minister of Christ to the Gentiles. His special ministry required him to preach the Gospel among the Gentiles, and to superintend their affairs, (as the priest used to do the sacrifice, or the burning of incense,) in order that their persons and services might be presented to God in an acceptable manner, by the hands of the great high Priest within the veil, being sanctified by the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, and he therefore thought himself called on to attempt this service towards them also. For in this important trust he had some ground of glorying, not in himself, but in the unmerited and rich favour of Jesus Christ towards him, not in carnal things, but in those that pertained to God and his worship. V. 18 — "Jl. The apostle's success had corresponded to the importance of the trust delegated to him. He would not speak of what Christ had not indeed wrought by him in bringing the heathen nations to obey the truth, in word and deed. It seems some teachers were forward to do this ; but he would not venture to do himself, what he condemned as folly and sin, in other men. (Notes, 2 Cor. X. 12—16. Jude 'J.) What had been done was indeed enirely the work of Christ, but he had chosen to make use of him as his instrument. His preaching had been attended with extraordinary miracles, wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit, whose divine agency had also glory through Jesus Christ ' in those things which pertain to God. 18 For ' I will not dare to speak of any of those things " which Christ hath not wrought by me, " to make the Gentiles obedient, ^ by word and deed, 19 Through ^ mighty signs and won- ders, " by the power of the Spirit of God ; " so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto lllyricmn, I have " fully preached the Gospel of Christ. 20 Yea, '' so have I strived to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should •■ build upon another man's foundation : 21 But as it is written, '' To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see : and they that have not heard, shall understand. " " ' "' "7 d2 Cer. X. 14-16. . Hot) V, 1. t I'rov. XXV. U 2 Cor. X. 13-18 li. 31 xii. « Jude 9 u iVurk xvi. 2(1 Acts xiv.S7 XV vi I. X i 6. vi. 17. xvi. 26 Matt.xxviii. 18 — 20. Acts (xsvi 20 2 Cor. X 1.5 Heb. V. 9. xi. 8. y Cnl. iii. 17. 3 Thes ii 17. Jurn. i 22 1 John iii • 10 : 7. Acts: 12. xvi. 18. xix. II, 12. 2 Cor. xii. 12. Gal. iii. 5 Heb. ii. 4. a Matt. xii. 28. Act> i 8. 1 Cor xii. 4— II IPet. i. 12 b 24 Acts ix. 23, 29. xiii. 4, 5. 14. 51. xiv.6. 20,21. 25. xvi 6—12. • sviilO 15 xviii. 1. 19. xix. l.xx. 2,3 6. ■e 1 Cor iii 9-15- disposed the hearts of the hearers to embrace the Gospel. So that from Jerusalem, in a very extensive circle of some thousands of miles, even to lUyricum on the borders of Italy, be had fully preached the Gospel of Christ, and instructed vast multitudes with great accuracy in that holy doctrine. Indeed, it had been his ambition, (so the original word signifies) to carry the glad tidings of salvation to those who had not before heard of Christ, and thus to face the dangers and hardships of making the first assault on the kingdom of Satan in every place. Nor was he disposed in general to build on the foundation laid by other ministers, who were competent to carry on the work which they had happily begun, but rather to fulfil the Scripture, which foretold that many nations and rulers would see and understand such things, as they had before been strangers to. (Note, Is. lii. 15.) ' Probably, in ' mentioning this, he may'glance on those false apostles, ' who crept into churches which he had planted, and ' endeavoured to establish their own reputation and in- ' fluence there, by alienating the hearts of his own con- ' verts from him, while, like some in our own days, ' they built on his grand and noble foundation an edifice ' of wood, and hay, and stubble.' By word and deed. (18.) By the manner in which he hath enabled me to ' speak, and the things which he hath strengthened mc to ' perform.' (Doddridge.) As there is no preposition in the Greek, the clause may be rendered, " in word and " deed," and applied, as above, to the obedience of the Gentiles : and this seems better to accord with the general language of Scripture. (Marg. Ref.) Unto Illi/ricum (19.) ' I do not think that these words necessarily import, that ' St. Paul had penetrated into Illyricum ; but rather that ' he had come to the confines of Illyricum ; and that these- ' confines were the external boundary of his travels.. ' Illyricum adjoins unto Macedonia ; measuring from Je- ' riisalcm towards Rome, it lies close behind it. If thcre- ' fore St. Paul traversed the whole country of Macedonia, ' the route would necessarily bring him to the confines oi ' Illyricum. Now the account of St. Paul's second visit ' to the peninsula of Greece is contained ia these words. A. D. 61. ROMANS. A. D. 61. • Or, nuny ngifg, or, OJIcKtlmtt. Il33 i. 10- I Thes. iii. STim i 4. §28. ActjxliSI. k 4ctiixi.3. x«i 5 t Cor i 16 I i 12. 1 Cor xvi S-7. t Or. Willi yoB. 32. 0)25-31. Acts S'.ii. 21. xrx. 21 XX ;r.. g: Xxiv. 17 I Cor xvi. 1—3 oal ii. 10 B Acts &i 27—30. 2 Cor. >« 1 love 01 the bpirit, " that ve strive toeether ^' "'' 24. . , . 1 ' ■' /- 1 /■ ^ *«'" '»-2«- with me m your prayers to Uocl tor me ; "z2\~l'tk^' 31 That ^ I may be delivered from them .'ir'*;,j''di,(,6f. that J do not believe in Judea ; ^ and that ,25'"^^ jcor my service which I have for Jerusalem, /j;"'^*,! J; '„_ may be " accepted of the saints ; ^23.2^ i 10-13 32 That *" 1 may come unto you with ii' ij;':;',!'. IE. 30, 31 Pbil. i I2-It! •' He departed for lo go iiuo Macedonia, and nihen he had *'■ gone over those parts, and had given them much exhor- " tation, he came into Greece." *■ This account allows, or * rather leads us to suppose, that St. Paul, in going over ' Macedonia, had passed so far to the west as to come into ' those parts of the country which were contiguous to II- ' lyricuin, if he did not enter into lllyricum itself. The ' history and the epistle therefore so far agree, and the ' agreement is much strengthened by a coincidence of time. ' At the time when this epistle was written, St. Paul might ' say, in conformity to the history, that he had come unto ' lllyricum ; much before this time he could not have said ' so ; lor upon his former journey into Macedonia his route ' is laid down, from the lime of his landing at Philippi to ' his sailing from Corinth, which confines him to the eastern ' side of the peninsula, and therefore keeps him all the while ' at a considerable distance from lllyricum.' {Paley.) V. 22 — 29. As the Romans were already favoured with the Gospel, it did not accord with the apostle's plan to leave his more urgent employment to go among them ; and this had long hindered him from visiting them. But, as he had now brought the churches which he had planted to establishment in the faith, and as he had no immediate call to any new scene of action in the parts where he had be- fore laboured, so he purposed to gratify the desire which he had for many years experienced, of going to Rome. But he also intended a journey inlo Spain, a large country still much further to the west, where probably the Gospel had not at that time been preached ; in his way he purposed to stay for a time at Rome, and when he had in part satisfied his affectionate desire of communing with the believers there, he expected they would help him forward toward Spain. But, in the mean lime, he must take a long journey in the opposite direction, in order to perform an important service to the poor Christians at Jerusalem, for whom the Gentile converts had raised a very liberal contribution. This they had done willingly ; hut indeed tlicy were in some respects debtors to them. For the Jewi.=h pieachers had first carried the Gospel among them, and the primitive •- believers there had impoverished themselves in promoting ou^'.hat doctrine, the blessing of which they now shared with the Gentiles, whose duty it therefore was to communicate to them of that temporal abundance, which was so gene- rally spent in a carnal manner. When therefore he had performed this service, and had affixed his seal, as it were, lo this good fruit produced by the Gentiles, in order lo con- ciliate the minds of their Jewish brethren, he intended to pass by Rome to Spain. And whenever lie should be per- mitted to come to them, he was confident that he should be employed to communicate to them an abundant supply of those spiritual gifts, consolations, and blessings, which arc conveyed to sinners by the Gospel of Christ ; so that they would certainly be edified, established, comforted, and in- creased in numbers, by his coming, his preaching, and the miraculous powers that he should be employed lo impart to them. Thus the apostle never lost sight of his object, or let slip any opportunity of inculcating mutual love between the Jewish and Gentile converts. {Gal. i. 18. ii. 1.) It is not known whether the apostle ever accomplished his in- tended journey into Spain. But as Clement, writing from Rome, in the first century, said that he preached ' to the ' utmost bounds of the west,' it is most probable that he did. He, however, went lo Rome in a very different man- ner than he had purposed. I goto Jerusalem. (24 — 26.) {Marg. Ref.) ' Here, at length, but fetched from three ' dilVcrent writings, we have obtained the several circum- ' stances, which tiie epistle to the Romans brings together, ' viz. a contribution in Achaia for the Christians at Jerusa- ' lem, a contribution in Macedonia for the same purpose, ' and an approaching journey of St. Paul lo Jerusalem. ' We have these circumstances, each by some hint in the ' passage in which it is mentioned, or by the date of the ' writing in which the passage occurs, fixed to a particular ' time ; and we have that time turning out, upon cxamina- ' lion, to be in all the same, namely, towards the close of ' St, Paul's second visit to the peninsula of Greece.' {Pitley.) This fixes the writing of this epistle to a parti- cular part of the narrative of the apostle's labours ; but there is some difficulty in determining in what year those events took place. Some date tbem A. D. 58, others A. D. GO, or 61. A.D. 61. CHAPTER XV. A D bi. co'r"lr.'' ?9 joy '^7 tHc Will of Gocl, >* 311(1 uiay with 33 Now ' the God of peaee He with "X'i^: i^".' !»'''*•,» von be refreshed. you all. Amen. <|-?7ov. ,x; 13 you be refreshed I Cor xvi 18 2 Cor. vii 13 I Thej. iii 6-10. S Tim. i.l6 Ptiilem 7 30 V. 30 — 33. The apostle regarded his journey to Je- rusalem as of so much importance, that he ought not to decline it ; yet he was aware that it would be attended with great'dangcr and difficulty, through the enmity of the Jews, and the strong prejudices even of the Christians against him, which neither his zeal in their behalf, nor the liberality of the Gentile converts, could counterbalance. He therefore besought the Romans, for the sake of Christ, their common Lord, and for that love's sake, which the Spirit of Christ had wrought in their hearts to each other, (according to his own most loving nature and conduct to- wards them,) that they would earnesUy unite in prayers for him, that he might be protected from the malice of the unbelieving or disobedient Jews, who would otherwise dis- appoint all the plans which he had formed ; and that the prejudices of the Jewish believers might be so removed, that they might accept and take in good part the service which he went to perform. That so, if the Lord pleased, he might not come to them grieved and disappointed, but with joy and comfort; and also have his spirit refreshed and enlivened by joining with them in thanksgivings to God, and by what he whnessed of the grace bestowed upon them. In the mean time he prayed, that the God of peace, as reconciled to believers in Christ, and as disposing them to live together in peace and harmony, might be with them all, for their comfort, and to prevent all disputes and divi- sions among themselves. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—7. The powerful of this world often domineer over the weak, but it ought not to be so in the Church of Christ ; on the contrary, every one, in proportion as he is strong in faith and grace, should be tender, patient, and com- passionate to the feeble-minded, to those who are com- passed with infirmities, perplexed in their views, harassed with scruples, doubts, and temptations, and unable to en- joy the peace and comfort of the Gospel, though they appear to walk in the obedience of it. Even if their in- firmities be attended with bigotry, censoriousness, or peevishness, we ought still to bear with and pity them, and to submit to self-denial for their good ; and instead of pleasing ourselves, whatever may become of them, we ought to give up our own humour and inclination, as far as we can please ihcm for their good to edification ; though we must not be men-pleasers, or help to deceive them by our flatteries and compliances. If any man deem himself strong, and he be at the same time disposed to re- vile, despise, condemn, and reject, the weak and scrupu- lous, because they cannot accede to his whole system^ it is evident that pride and selfishness are stronger in his heart •than faith and grace ; and that he hath more of " the " knowledge that puffeth up, than of the love that edifieth." He is the most advanced Christian, who is most conformed to Christ, and most willing to give up his own case or in- dulgence, and to cnutirc reproach and suffering, after His example, and in prosecution of that great design for which he shed his blood t and if in doing this, we arc reviled by Thes V. 23 i Thes. ... SO 2 Cor xiii. U. 2 Til 16 Heh siii.30- 19.20 II. rhil it ». -fXTi. 24 RuUii *. Matt i. 23 xxvi furious zealots and uncharitable bigots, we may, with humble accommodation, use the Redeemer's words, " the " reproaches, of them that reproached thee are fallen upon " me." For whatever is written, either in the Old or the New Testament, is intended for our instruction, and may be applied to our case, for our direction and encourage- ment ; that, by piatient faith, persevering obedience, and comfort derived from the word of God, ' we may embrace, ' and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, ' as given to us in Jesus Christ.' Thus relying on the mercy and truth of the God of all patience and consolation, we should pray continually, that we, and our brethren in Christ, may be like minded towards one another, after his example ; that the divisions of the Church being healed, all who are called by his name " may glorify God, even " the Father of our Lord Jesus, with one mind and with " one mouth." And till this perfect union shall be effected, we should learn to agree, notwithstanding our differences about non-essentials, and to receive one another as bre- thren, while we hold the great doctrines of salvation for sinners by the blood and Spirit of Christ ; and this will tend greatly to the credit of the Gospel, and the glory of God. V. 8— -21. The whole plan of redemption is suited to reconcile us to one another, as well as to our gracious God ; and we may say of every contention among Christians, "An '• enemy hath done this." The fulfilment of ancient promises and prophecies, in the coming of Christ among the Jews, and in the great success of the Gospel among the Gentiles, and through distant nations and languages, that they might glorify God for his mercy, and hope in that " Branch from the Root of Jesse," who was raised up to reign over them, should teach us to cease from our mur- murings and disputings, and to join in grateful praises and thanksgivings to him, who glories in his merciful victories among the heathen, and hath called them to rejoice with his people. If we would have the God of hope to fill our hearts " with all peace, and joy in believing," (and a sinner can have abiding holy joy and peace in no other way,) if we would " abound in hope, by the power of the Holy " Ghost ;" we must rely on, and pi-ay for, the teaching and influences of that divine Agent ; and we must be careful neither to grieve him by our evil tempers or sinful passions, nor to quench his sacred fire by negligence, or procras- tination ; for thus we often bring darkness and discon- solation upon ourselves. We should hope the best of others, and commend what is good in their conduct : but they, who are really most full of goodness and knowledge, and able to admonish one another, will be most thankful to be reminded of their duty, and cautioned against danger, by those who arc authorized to watch over them ; who have obtained grace to be faithful in their ministry; and wha evidendy desire that the persons and services of their brethren may be acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. It is indeed an honour to be employed by the Lord Jesus ; and for him to work by us, in those things which pertain to God, and in J. D. 61. ROMANS. JJ. D. 61. a S Cor. iii. 1. b »laiL xii. i< M,>rk n. ai 1 Tim t. 2 ii \i 1 Pet. .M.23 r I.uke v.ii. : 1 Tim. V. 9, lU CHAP. XVf. The aposth commends Phebe to the Chris- tians at Rome ; and sends salutations to viany by name, 1 — 1 6. He warns them against those who caused divisions and o^'cncei, 17 — 20. He names several bre- thren, tcho joined in their salutations of them, 2 1 — 23. He concludes icith prayers for them, and ascriptions of glory to God, 21—27. I COxMMEND unto you Phebe our sister, who is " a servant rendciinq sinners obedient in word and deed. But the whole glory must ultimately be referred to him : osten- tation should carefully be avoided in speaking on such subjects ; and it is seldom expedient to mention ourselves in these matters, except as we want to obviate men's prejudices against our ministry, when they impede our usefulness. But indeed, how trivial are the labours, and how limited is the usefulness, of most of us, when com- pared with those of the apostle, whose ministry was at- tended with the power of the Holy Ghost in so remarkable a degree, and whose unwearied labours would admit of no bounds, but those of the human species, or of his own life! It is honourable, when ministers, who have the opportu- nity, boldly face opposition and hardship in carrying the Gospel to those places, where Christ hath not yet been named ; and when they would rather make irruptions into the uninvaded provinces of Satan's dark domain, than stay to garrison such as have already been torn from him. This is a noble ambition ; but as most of us must in some mea- sure build upon the foundation that others have laid before us, we should at least take heed how we build thereon, that our superstructure may not disgrace or expose the good foundation, as is too often the case. V. 22—33. Our best desires may meet with many hinderances ; our well concerted plans may be disappointed ; our very pray- ers may seem to remain unanswered : but, proceeding in the path of duty with self-denying zeal and love, endeavour- ing to conciliate the minds of Christians to one another, and to excite them to emulation only in good works, and seek- ing our comfort in communion with God and his saints, all will surely terminate to our advantage : and even the ser- vices which we would have performed, and could not, shall be graciously accepted and rewarded. The rich believer should deem himself a debtor to the poor ; and they who have been made partakers of spiritual blessings should count it their duty to minister in carnal things to those, through whom they were brought to the knowledge of sal- vation. There is a blessing, a fulness of blessing, in the Go.'pel of Chi'ist, which we should expect to know and to communicate, but with which numbers are totally unac- (juainted, and which most of us experience in a degree far beneath what the primitive believers did. We should therefore strive together in our prayers for each other, that, for Christ's sake, and by the love of the Spirit, a great blessing may come upon the souls of Christian.'^, and the of the church which is at ■' Cenchrea : *Act. mii. u. 2 That "ye receive her in the Lord, ^o-43;Mv^a: ' as beconieth saints, and tliatye assist her ivV r'hiiem! in whatsoever business she hath need of lo 3 John °6-^ you : s for she hath been a succourer offEph ' 3 Pbii. 1 /. I r ^ I. 27 I Tim. many, and ol niyseil also. lo Tit.iis. 3 Greet ■■ Priscilla and Aquila, ' my *,'"p'^'^i^f; ^'■ helpers in Christ Jesus: -" 2Tim.i. 4 Who ''have for myhfe'laid down '■a"""'" "s , . , J !« 1 Cor . x»i their own necks : unto whom not only I j^ * Tm. ■„■ give thanks, but " also all the churches of j^'^'/^^J^^j'^'J- the Gentiles. "joh^.'ii.'iG.^' 1 Jo?b. X 2«. 1 Sum. xxii. «1. MIc. ii. 3. m AcU xv 4) .Hi. 5. I Ccr. ui. 17. 1'fL 1 I Tbes. ii. 14. Rev. i. 4. labours of ministers : that envy, prejudice, and a party- spirit, may not prevent the faithful zealous servants of Christ from being accepted by the saints, in their disinterested endeavours to do them good, (as frequently is the case :) but that they may meet the people, wherever they go, with joy, and may by them be refreshed ; and that the God of peace may be the ever-present Comforter of all, who " love the Lord Jesus Christ in sinccritv." Amen. NOTES. CHAP. XVI. V. 1,2. It is probable (hat this epistle was sent by Phebe, according to what is added at the end of it in our Bibles ; but as these addidons are of no autho- rity, and sometimes palpably erroneous, they are not here inserted. Cenchrea was the sea-port of Corinth, (where a separate Church was founded,) which shows that the apostle wrote from Corinth. Phebe acted as a servant, or a deaconess, to the Church at Cenchrea, and was probably employed in relieving the needy women among them. This she must have undertaken freely, out of love to the work alone, as she appears to have been a person in good cir- cumstances. (Notes, I Tint. v. 9 — 16.) The Christians at Rome were exhorted to receive her to their fellowship, and also to assist and support her in the business which had brought her thither, as she had been helpful to many Christians, and to Paul also, who was not backward to acknowledge his obligations lo her. V. 3, 4. A(]uila and Priscilla had now returned to Rome, though but a short lime before they had been at Ephesus. (Notes, Acts xviii. 1, 2. 24 — 28, I Cor. xvi. 19.) They had ventured their lives in protecting the apostle at Ephesus, as if they had been willing to lay down their own necks, and to be beheaded in his stead : and as his life was so useful to all the churches of the Gentiles, they, as well as he, were under the greatest obligations to them. He therefore gave his atfectionate salutations and good wishes to them, and to the Church in their house ; or to the several Christians, of whom their family was composed, and who met continually together to worship God. ' Priscilla and Aquila had originally ' been inhabitants of Rome.' (Acts xviii. 2.) ' They ' were connected therefore with the place to which the ' salutations were sent. St. Paul became acquainted with ' ihem at Corinth during his first visit into Greece. They ' accompanied him upon his return into Asia ; were settled ' for some time at Ephesus ; (.Ids xviii. 19 — 26 ;) and ' appear to have been with St. Paul when he wrote from ' that place his first epi£tle to the Corinthians. (1 Cor. A.D. 61. CHAPTER XVI. I Mitt, xviii.20 5 Likewise greet " tlie chuicli that is in! Cor ?T.' Is their house. Salute " my well-beloved )''''i2"3 johD 1 Epenetus, '' who is the lirst-ir.uits of ,»y 26 Acts b eireet iVJary. xviii. 12. :'■ I 1 2 Cor I I ix 2. labour on us. 7 Salute Andronicus and r I.' Matt S 35. 1 Tim 1 tscor xi 23 kinsmen, and ' mv fellow-prisoners, " who who beslow(!d much unia, ^ my 3-6 1 v.ii t. Is xl 17 3S John V vhiiem ill Hev are of note anions^ the apostles, who also " were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ainplias*, y my beloved in the =f;/cor.T3o.^s Lord. vi^'is. '^krh.ii' ^ Salute Urbane, ^ our helper in Christ, l-j.T.'so"'"' " ^"<^ Stachys my beloved. /ohoHi.u' ' 10 Salute Apclles "approved in Christ. 2,'? 21. a siT. 18 Deut viii i. 1 Cor. xi. IG. i' Co.-, i;, ?. \\\S. 22. Phil ii. 22. 1 Tim. iii. 10 I Pet. i. V. ■ xvi. 19.) Not long after lie went ft'om Ephesiis into ' Macedonia, and after " he liad gone over t!;osc parts," • jfroceeded from tlience on his second visit into Greece ; ' during which visit, or rather at the ccricluiion of it, this ' Epistle was written. We have therefore the time of ■ St. Paul's residence at Ephcsus, after he liad wi-itten to ' the Corinthian.";, the time taken up by his progress ' through Macedonia, and his three months' abode in ' Greece : v.-e have the sum of these three periods allowed - for Aquila and Priscilla going back to Rome, so as to • be there when the epistle was written. Now what this ■ leads us to observe is, the danger of scattering names ' and circumstances in writings like the j^resent : how ' implicated they often are w'th dales and [ilaces ; and - that nothing but truth can preserve consistency. Had ' the notes of time in this epistle fixed the writing of it • to any dale, prior to St. Paul's first residence at Corinth, ' the salutation of Acjuila and Priscilla would have con- ' tradicled the history ; because it w"ou!d have been prior • to hi.s acquaintance with these persons. If the notes of • time had iixed it during that residence at Corinth ; during ' his journey to .Jerusalem when he first returned out of • Greece ; or during his progress through the Lesser A.sia, ' upon which he jiroceeded to Antioch ; an equal contra- ' diction would have been incurred : because it appears, {Ads xviii 2 — -26 ;) ' that, during all this time, they were ' either with St. Paul, or abiding at E|ihesus. Lastly, had ' the notes of time in this epistle, which we have seen (o be ' perfectly incidental, compared with the notes of time in ' the first epistle to the Corinthians, fixed this epistle to be ' either contemporary with that, or prior to it, a similar ' contradiction would have ensued ; first, because, when ' the episde to the Corinthians was written, Aquila and ' Priscilla were along with St. Paul, (1 Cor. xvi. 1 9 ;) and ? because, secondly, the history does not allow us to sup- ' pose, that between the tiiiie of their becoming acquainted ' with him and the writing of that episde, they could have '^gone back to Rome, so as to have been saluted in an ' episde to that city ; and then have come to St. Paul af ' Ephesus, so as io be joined with him in saluting the ' Church at Corinth. As it is, all things are consistent.' (Paley.) The author has transcribed this passage, chiefly to give the less learned reader an idea and a specimen. Vol.' v.— No. ^\. Salute them which are '' of Aristobulus' * household. 11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the t household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. 1 2 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who ■^ labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord. 13 Salute '^ Rufus ' chosen in the Lord; and ' his mother and mine. 14 Salute Asvncritus, Phlegon, Her- mas, Patrobas, Hermes, = and the brethren which are with them. 15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nere- us, and his sister, and Olympas, '' and all the saints which ai*e with them. A. D. 61 b2 Tim iv, IJ * Or, friends. i; Matt ix a8 I Cor xc in 58 xvi 16. Ool i. 19. iv 12 ITIies i 3 V 12 13. I Tim IV. 10 V n, 18. Hc'j. Ti 10. 11. il Mark XV. 21. e Matt. XX 10 JohD 16. Eph i.j. SThes, 11 13 2 John 1 f Ma I xii. 49.S0. Mark iii. 35. John SIX. 27. 1 Tim. V. 2 g viii.SD Col. i 2. Heb. iii. 1 IPet. i 22,23. J h2 i.7 Is 1x21. Eph. i. I 1 Pet of the manner in which able critics can, almost in all cases, detect literary Ibrgcries, and establish the authenticity of ancient writings. This is peculiarly needful in an age of bold infidelity, in which the most confident assertions arc made, and suppositions advanced, without the shadow of proof: as if a literary forgery were attended with little difli culty, or danger of detection ! when in fact it is nearly the most (iifBcult thing that can possibly be attempted, and scarcely ever escapes detection. ' St. Paul's contention ' at Corinth was with unbelieving Jews, who at first " op " posed and blas[)hemed," ' and afterwards " with one " accord raised an insurrection against him." ' Aquila ' and Priscilla adhered, we may conclude, to St. Paul. ' f(iroughout diis whole contest. {Ads xviii.) It is highlv • [irobablc they should be involved in the dangers and pei"- ' secutions which St. Paul underwent from the Jews. At- ' they, though Jews, were assisting to him in preaching to ' the Gentiles at Corinth. They had taken a decided par'. ' in the great controversy of that day, the admission of the ' Gentiles to a parity of religious situation w:lh the Jews. • For this conduct alone, they may seem to have been ' enlided to thanks from the churches of the GenUles.' {Paley.) V. 5. The apostle also desired to be remembered with the same exjiressions of affection to Epenetus ; (for the words greet and salxile are the same in the original.) He was peculiarly beloved by the aposde, having been his first convert in Achaia, and the earnest of his subsequent usefulness. Perhaps he was the first of the household of Stephanas, who embraced the Gospel. (1 Cor. xvi. 15.) V. 6-15. Il is not known what Mary this was, or in what respect she had bestowed much labour on the apostle and his fi'iends : but she had in some proper manner been very active in providing for their supjiort and comfort. Amironicus and Junia, being Jews and of the same tribe and family with St, Paul, had on some occasion .been imprisoned with him for the sake of the Gospel. They had probably been converted on the day of Pentecost, or soon after; and were well known and esteemed by the other apostles, while Paul had been a [;ersecutor ; as ihey v.'erc m Christ, that is. believers, before the apostle was. Of the persons, who are next mentioned, nothing certain is known, Ajiclles had apj>roved himself to be a true N J. D. 61. ROMANS. J]. D. 61. lAcisxx. 37 1 10 Salute one another 'with an holy cnr^xVii ^2 ? kiss. " The churches of Christ salute you. viTv."!!.''- ' 17 H Now I beseech you, brethren, n'hii. iii 17 s ' mark them which '" cause divisions and ■n'Acux'v'i- : " offences, contrary to the doctrine which "li. iii.3 xi. IB yc liave learned ; " and avoid them. Gal. i 7-9. li 4 •' , ,, ,-, , 1 I ,. 4 Phil ill. 2. :i. IB tor they that are such "' serve not tOl.n 11 2 Ptt. , ■ , •' .r-ii • 1,1- ii L2. iioimii our Lord Jesus Christ, i but then- own i;'i'ia/'°vi,i 7 ''^^"y ^"^ ' ^y 0°*^'^' ■^^'oi'tls and fair 'huiVxuri. speeches deceive the hearts of ' the simple. o iMatl XVIII 17 I , 1- • II I v."/ " 'rl'.- 1 •) For ' your obedience is come abroad 1' 1 hes. III. 6 14. J 1 1 I r 1 T,m. ,i^3-.'K ^j„to ^\\ „,g,j_ u 1 am glad therciore on your behalf: but " yet i would have you xi. 3. •IM li John I 1. Malt. .. _ . Johnxii 2B, Gal. i Hi Hhil ii 21. Col. iii. 21. Jam i. I.Judel llcv i. I. q I ba- ii 11-1/ 2J. l3 Ivi 10—12 Kz xiii. 19. H.>3 iv B~ll .Mic. iii 5 Mai l. Ill .Matt. xxiv. 48-51 I'hil. iii. 19 1 Tim vi S 2 Pet. ii. 10— 15. Juile 12 r2Cbr. xvni 5. IJ i7. Is. Kxx. 10. 11 .ler.viii 10, llXKiii i7 nvili 1-9 15-17 E«. xiii. IB. Mu- iii. 6. Matt vii 15 XXIV. 11.24 2 Ciir ii. 17 iv 2. xi. 13— 16. Col ii 1. iihes ii 10. 1 ■rim. VI. 5. 2 Tim. ii 16-18 ill. 2 -t! Tit i 10-12. 2i'et ii 18-20 1 John ' Jude IG 5 19. Ps. xis. 7 cxix. 1.30 Prov viii. 5 xiv. 15. xxii. 3. 2 Ci ti. 8 1 Thes i. 8,9. u Kph i 15-17 Coli3 9. I The, i 2, 3 King3 Iii 9-12 Ps ci. 2. l8. x Phil i. 9. Col. i. 9. believer by his exemplary zealous conduct. Probably Aristobulus wa.s not a Christian; but he had several in liis household, of whom the apostle had some knowledge. Narcis.sus iS supposed to have been a very powerful and wicked man, of whom many things are recorded in the Roman histories; yet he too had believers in his family ! Rulus seems to have been the son of Simon the Cyrcnian ; ondhis motiier had showed s^uch attention to Paul, that he deemed her deserving of the honour and respect due to a parent. It is remarkable, that the apostle, amidst all his engagements, should be so well acquainted with the names and characters of many Christian.s, residing in a city which lie had never visited. This shows his indefatigable diligence and attention to every thing relative to the Churches of the Geniilcs. (it may also be observed, that he never men- tioned the name of Peter, which he doubtless would have done, had he then resided at Rome ; which powerfully militates against all the tiaditions of antiquity respecting him, on which so enormous a fabric of usurpation and sujierstition hath been erected. V. 16. A holy kiss. This expression of spiritual alTection, to which the apostle exhorted them, to show that his epistle had produced its intended cllect in promoting mutual love among them, has been supposed to have been used by men and women separately; yet as it seems after- wards to have been laid aside, because of abuse or slanders, diat opinion |jerhaps is groundless, and rather the clTect of modern ideas of pro|)riety, resulting from licentious refine mcnt, than suited to the pure simplicity of those primitive times. The apostle further .inforn'.ed them, that the several Churches of Christ, which he had visited, desired to ex- press ihcir affectionate regard to them. V. ir — '20. Simple. (18.) The word here rendered simple is different from that which is translated simple in the nest verse; and conveys the idea of well menning though jio/ 7vell informed, persons. The apostle wrote from the fulness of his heart; and therefore, Avhen he seemed'to be concluding, hfs overflowing love induced him to begin again, as some further topic was suggested to his mind Thus he here interrupted his subject, to warn the Chris iians atRome to note, and, as it were, set a mark on, the wise unto that which is good, and * simple concerning evil. 20 And y the God of peace ^ shall t bruise Satan under your feet shortly. ' The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 21 IT ''Tlmotheus my work-follow, and '• Lucius, and ''Jason, and ' Sosipater, '^my kinsmen, .salute you. 22 1 Tertius, s who wrote ihis epistle, •■ salute you in the Ltird. 2.3 ' Gaius mine host, and r,[ the whole church, saluteth you. '' Erattus the cham- berlain of the city saluteth you, and Quar- tus a brother. 24 ' The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. li 15. y Src on, XV 33. / Gen Iii. 15 Ik. XXV. 8 — 12. Rom. vlii 37. Ilcii ii M, 1$. I John iii V. Ilev. XX. 1-3. t Or. Irlail JoS xl 12. Is Ixiii 3 Zech X. ». Mai. iv.3 Luke X 19 14. Gal vi 18. PhilpmSS Kev. h .\cti . 1—3 II xvii xix 22 XX. .1. 2 Cor i. 1 19. Phil i 1. il H -23 1 Thes i. 1. iii 2 f. 2TliCf 1. 1 I Tim. I 2. Ti II 20 2Tim. i,2 Hon xiiiSJ. c Acts xiii. I 11. h 8 Col. JT. 20 1 Xee persons, whose conduct, doctrine, or insinuations, tended to make divisions in the Church, or to stumble or mislead im[uirers : and to avoid them, as they would such as were infected with some contagious disease. For, whatever they pretended, they did not serve Chii.st or seek his glory in what they did : but they rather sought the indulgence of their appetites ; and advanced, or zealously contended for, their opinions, in order to support themselves and live in plenty without labour. Thus, by thrir affectionate and flattering language and plausible harangues, they imposed upon the judgment, and insinuated themselves into the aflections, of those persons, who were favourably disposed to hear the Gospel, but were unsuspecting and undiscerning. The apostle was the more earnest to caution the Komans against such artful deceivers ; because their unreserved obedience to the will of Christ was every were sjioken of with great approbation. He was therefore greatly rejoiced with this good report of them, and wished it to prevail still more ; yet he would have them to be obedient from an established jutlgment, as well as from a proper dispo- sition of heart : he desired that they might be wise and [irudent in every good work ; and simple and inexperienced only concerning evil, and unacquainted with its [lainful effects; and so harmless, and idq^cHSii'f, according to the exact meaning of the original word. He knew that Satan, who was permitted to bruise the heel of the Seed of the woman, {Note, Gen. iii. 15,) would annoy them to the uttermost ; but their reconciled God, the Author of in- ward and outward peace, would shortly bruise that enemy and all his agents under their feet, and give every believer an entire and final victory over him. He therefoi-e prayed that the pardoning mercy and sanctifying grace of Christ might always be with them. V. 21— 2.'}. (Jc■ God ■" only wise, be glo- l'^ Cf "s'''; ry through Jesus Christ for ever. ?i'°J,','i'i"°''{ Amen. f'-'g"",'; ^^ »"■ S «ce on, i 6 xv 18 .\cls vi 7 y xi. 50. Gal i. 4 S Eph. iii. 20 2! Pliil Iv. 20 1 Tim. i 17. vi IC. 2 Tim iv 18 Heb. xiii. 15 21 I Pet. n. 5 v 10, II. 2 Pet iii. 18. Hev. i i, 6 iv 9-11 v 9-U vii. 10. 12.xiK. 1— 6. zxl. 33,34.Ps cxlvii 5. Eph. i. 7, e. iii 10. Col. ii. 2. 3. Jude 25. pliably entertained Paul and his company ; and he was S0| liberal in services of this kind, that he might be called the host of the whole Church. Erastus, as the steward or trea- surer of Corinth, must have been a person of considerable i rank, who had embraced the Gospel. I V. 25 — 27. The apostle at length concluded, with| ascribing glory to God in such a manner, as to direct the | faith and dependence of those whom he addressed to be placed on him. He was aware, that nothing but the almighty power of God could preserve them from the fatal assaults of their subtle and potent enemies. But God was able to establish them in the faith, hope, and obedi- ence of the Gospel, w^hich he had preached to them, in consistency with the doctrine of Christ, respecting the salvation of sinners and the calling of the Gentiles. — This great mystery had been concealed from mankind in general since the beginning, and had only been in part revealed to the Jews ; but at length it had been openly manifested, according to the writings of the ancient pro- phets, and by the accomplishment of them ; and by the preaching of the Gospel according to the commandment of | the eternal God to his aposdes and evangelists: that it might be made known to the nations, in oriler to deliver them from their idolatries and iniquities, and lead them to the obedience of faith. To this God of infinite wisdom and knowledge, from whom all wisdom originates, all glory and worship ought to be rendered for ever, through his Son Jesus Chiisl. By the only wise God, we must understand the Df^ity, without respect to the distinction of persons ; or the Father, without excluding the Son or the Holy Spirit ; who in many Scriptures are shown to be coequal with the Father in all divine perfections. But as the Godhead is revealed to us in and by the incarnate Word, our divine Mediator, so we must in him see the glory of God, and our adoration and worship must in the same way be presented. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—16. True religion teaches men humbly and frankly to ac- knowledge their obligations even to those, who in many re- spects have been their inferiors ; and it becometh saints to receive and be helpful to each other for the Lord's sake, as they have opportunity, and to requite the kindness that hath been shown to any of their brethren : and the v^holc Church is under obligations to those, who venture their lives, or lay themselves out, to preserve or assist the useful servants of Christ, If an apostle so kindly remembered each of those, who had bestowed labour upon him, much mere will Uic Lord remember all the services, which have been performed from love to him and the Gospel. Senior- ity in faith gives a real precedency ; and the bonds of grace are nearer than those of nature. Christ is as much present in the family worship of those who meet in his name, as in the more public assemblies of his saints. Be- lievers are often found in those families, of which the prin- cipals are unconverted ; and they should perform their se- veral relative duties with cheerfulness and a deference to their superiors, though strangers to the grace of God. V. 17— 2r. In order to maintain uninterrupted our communion with the Lord and with his saints ; those persons must be marked, disgraced, and avoided, who aim to prejudice believers against each other, to draw them oft" from faithful pastors, or to seduce them into strange doctrines contrary to the simple truths of God's word. For notwithstanding their zeal and confidence, as iithey only were the servants of Christ, they evidently do not belong to our Prince of peace, but are the slaves of their selfish interests, their sensual appetites, or their ambition. By their apparent affection and compassion, and by (heir well-worded decla- mations, they deceive many hopeful injudicious persons ; and kvf are absolutely secured from their plausible delu- sions. While,_therefore, we give Christians merited com- mendation for their obedience hitherto, we should use every proper moans to render them wise to that which is good, and to keep them inexperienced in that which is evil : as well as to encourage them and ourselves with the assurance, that " the God of peace will bruise Satan under " our feet shortly." Every expression of the most endeared affection should be used among believers, but in the most pure and holy manner. They, who honour Chi-ist by showing kindness to his people, will be honoured of hiiij by having their names written in the book of life. True religion docs not require men to quit public stations, when they can fill them to the glory of God and the benefit of his Church, Trusting in the power of God to establish us in the faith and hope of the Gospel ; thankfully receiving the revelation of the mystery, which was so long' kept secret from mankind ; endeavouring to make known the Gospel " according to the Scriptures " of the prophets, and the commandment of tlic everlasting *' God ;" remembering that we are called to the obedience of faith, and that every degree of true wisdom is from the only w^ise God : we should endeavour by word and deed to render glory to him through Jesus Christ ; that so the grace of our Loi\l Jesiis Christ may be with us fo;» ever. Amen. N 2 I'HK FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLL! TO I'Ul. CORINTHIANS. I'he narrative of the apostle's successful preaching at Corinth, has been considered. (Notes, Acts xviii. 1 — 18.) But spcedilij after he left the Church which he founded there, other teachers came among them, ivho made u-reat pretensions to eloquence, wisdom, and knowkdge of their Christian liberty ; and thus undermine^ his itjlience, and the credit of his ministry. By these nceans the Corinthians ivere divided into parties, eni^aged in eager disputes, and seduced into various irregularities, abuses, and errors. ' It ' appears, that this letter to the Corinthians was written by Sc. Paul, in amwer to one which he had • received from them, (vli. 1 .) and that the seventh, and some of the following chapters, are taken up in • resolving certain doubts, and regulating certain points of order, concerning which the Corinthians had ■ consulted him — Thou'j;h they had written to St. Paul, requesting his ansiver and directions, in these • points ; thei/ had not said one syllable about the enormities and disorders, which lutd crept in among ■ them, and in the blame of which they all shired ; but his information concerning these irregularities ■ had come round to him from other quarters, — by more private intelligence. (Paley.) The epistle was • therefore written, not only us an answer to the inquiries of the Corinthicms by letter ; but in order • tn oppose and terminate the various corruptions in doctrine and practice, lohich prevailed; to subvert the • influence of the fcdse teachers, and to re-establish the apostle^ own authority in that Church.'' By •General truths, he, with great address and prudence, made way for a more direct and particular opposition to the several gross irregularities and dangerous errors, into which they had been seduced. He staled /he truth and will of God in various particulars, tvith great energy of argument and animation of style ; he resolved the several questions, that had been proposed to him ; he, with great tenderness and wisdom, intermixed exhortations and direction with his other subjects; aiul he concluded with affectionate and pathetic prayers for them. Though this epistle is not so systematic as the preceding one ; yet it is replete with important instruction, and contains the fullest and most interesting declaration and demon- stration, of the resurrection of believers, in consequence of the resurrection of their Lord, which is any where to be found. It is most evident, that the epistle teas written by the apostle, when residing at, or near, Ephesus, and some time before he left that city. (Note, xvi. .0 — 9.) Many learned men calculate, /hat it was written about .A. D. 55, or Ji. D. 57. ' In the ninth year of Claudius, says Orosius, tJi • the tenth, say others, in the twelfth, says Dr. Pearson, the Jews were banished from Rome ; and St. ' Paul coming to Corinth, finds Jquila and Priscilla. (Acts xviii. 2.) He stays there a year and a half; ■■ — at Ephesus, three years, cmd at the close of these three years, he writes this epistle, — according to ■ Dr. Pearson, A. D. 57.' (Whitby.) But this learned tvriter has alkfwed no time for the apostle's voyage and journey to Jerusalem, and his progress through the churches of Syria, Galatia, and other parts of Asia Minor ; and the same oversight has been fallen into by most ofiliose, whom the author has had the opportunity of consulting, ivho date the epistle so early. ' A D. 54. Paul at Corinth, meets with Aquila and ■' Priscilla. A. D. 56. Paul departs from Corinth, and passes to Ephesus ; thence he sets out towards • Jerusalem, — he lands at Cesarea, go?.-: down to Antioch, and comes into the regions of Galatia and • Phrygia, confirming the disciples in r/l these places. A. U. 57. Paul returns to Ephesus — A. U. 60. ■ About this time a ^schism ariseth in /'. church at Corinth, which causeth Paul, (noio in or about Ephesus,) • to write his First Epistle to the Corinthians.'' (Index to the Quarto Oxford Bible, 1794.) The chaptb:r I. person, who compiled this index, seems to place the writing of the epistle, suOseoue/U lu Hit tumuU at Ephcsvs, which it certainly was not. (Notes, xvi. 5 — 9. 2 Cor. i. 8 — 11.) It could not, however, be written long before the apostle left Ephesus ; and probably, the index above quoted docs not allow too much time for ihr; apostle's progress from Jerusalem to Ephesus. (Note, Acts xviii. 18 — 23.) lliis compvtalion, ihercfo) : , the author has fixed on, as more satisfactory than a»iy other ivhich he has seen. The epistie contains no express prophecies : but nothing can exceed the decided claim to divine inspiratimu which the ivriter advances. (Notes, ii.) He either therefore claimed what he was not entitled to ; or his epistles are not mdy genuine and aiff hen- tic, but divinely inspired. (Preface to the Epistles.) J. D. 60. GHAP. I. The apostle salutes the church at Corinth, 1 — 3 ; thanks God for the grace and gifts conferred on the-ni, 4 — 7 ; and expresses his assurance of their final salvation, 8, 9. He exhorts them to unity, and re- proves their dissentions, 10 — 16. The preaching of the cross, though foolishness to them that perish, is the power and wis- dom of God to the salvation of believers, 17 — 25. To exclude boasting, Gad hath not called the wise, the mighty, or the no- ble ; but the foolish, the weak, and those whom man despises, 26 — 29. Christ is NOTES. CHAP. 1. V. I, 2. {Aoies, Rom. i. T, 2.) There leerus to have been a party at Corinth, who depreciated Paul's ministry, and questioned his apostolical authority ; it was therefore proper for him to begin his epistle with an express declaration, that God had by his grace and sovereign will called him to that office ; and it was con- siliatory and condescending to join Sosthenes with him in this salutation and address, as he meant to reprove many evils which had crept in among the Corinthians. It is probable that Sosthenes was one of them, who, having been appointed to the ministry, accompanied Paul in his travels. (Aoe in every place, who called on the name of the Lord Jesus ; (probably with an immediate reference to the other Churches in Achaia ;) who was equally the Lord of the apostle, of Sosthenes, and of every believer. This shows us how inseriarable the invocation of Christ wat. to the profession of Christianity in those days. Some wovid indeed render it, " those, who are called by the name of " the Lord Jesus :" but it may be shown to be incon- oi. D. 60. our Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctifca- aBnm. ii. cai. tion, and Redemption, that we may glo- blii's' ix- 1, 2. ru in the Lord alone, .'30, 31. vl j^ohn "xkI''. •^ Acts J. 2. 2S. 26. xxii.2l. Horn. AUL, "called to be "an apostle of s xn. i2."Gii. !: Jesus Christ, " through the will of T'"- ''■ ' " ' /~i 1 J 1 o j1 11 cfx. 16, 17. John Ijrou, and " oostrienes our brother, "v. is. 2 cr i 2 Unto ' the church of God which is Pr'' '■ '• '^"^• at Corinth, ' to them that are ^ sanctified ''*'=''' -^"'ii. 'I m Chnst Jesus, '' called to be saints, ' with ^,\, f sTrheV all that in every place call upon the name i rj'^i-f 15.' of Jesus Christ '' our Lord, both theirs l^.^'",';. 9_,, and ours : {^''Wts'kv's xxvi. 13 Eph V 25. Kcb. ii. II x. 10, x i. 9 I Pet. 1 15, 16. i P3 slv. II. A 17. 2 Tim ii 22. k viii. 6. Acts X. n -11. Rev. xis. 16. ."ia -h en 12 Hon u . B 7. 1 Thcs xsii ir,. 2 0. 2 Cor. i^ iv.7. 2Tir Thes ii 1 5 Phil, ii sistent with the pi-oper construction of the Greek lan- guage thus to render it ; and probably this interpretation would never have been adopted, if the previous opjjosilioii of men's minds to the divine adoration of Christ had not induced them to have recourse to it ; though indeed some have Contended for it, who by no means questioned the Deity of Christ. ' This in the New Testament is the ' character of a Christian ; he is one that calleth on his ' name. That these words ought not to be rendered ' passively, is evident from the Septuagint, who still ' translate the phrase Yikruh besliem, (he sliall cull on the ' name,) by similar words. (Gen. iv. 26. xii. 8. xiii. 4. ' xxi. 3. Ps. Ixxix. 6. xcix, 6. cxvi. 4. Is. Ixvi. 1. Lam. ' iii. 55. Zech. xiii. 9.) But when the phrase runs thus, ' Sliemka nikrah, (that is, thy nameis called on us, or we ' are called by thy name,) they use the passive preterite, ' or first aorist. (Deut. xxviii. 10. 1 Kings viii. 43. 2 ' Chr. vii. 14. Is. iv. 1. Ixiii. 19. Jer. xiv. 9. xv. 16. ' Dan. ix. 18, 19. Am. ix. 12.) The disciples were first ' called Christians at Antioch. Now before this time we ' find not only Stephen calling on this name, and saying, " Lord Jesus, receive my spirit ;" ' and St. Paul bid " ta " wash away his sins, calling on the name of the Lord :" ' but Ananias speaks to the Lord Jesus of St. Paul, " Hf hath authority from the high priest to bind all that '• call on thy name :" ' and of him it is said, " He de- " stroyed them that called on this name at Jerusalera." — yi. D. CO. 1. CORINTHIANS. J. D. 60. s« on Rom i 8 ' Grace be unto )oa, aMtl peace, from I'sa'm, Rom.i. Gocl our Fatlicr, aiicl from the Lord Jesus 8. Art, xl. 23 r^x • . •' xiv. u.'"iG, V. 4 I ""thank my God always on your be- Tim I 14 half, for " the ffracc of God which is jjiveii ,iv. 7-10. Horn 1 T ».pb vi iv 3, i. S. Kom XV 4 2 Cor iv. G Kph i 17. Phil t 9. Col. i 9, 10 ii. 3 iii. 10 Jam iii 13 2 Pet 21.21 XSii 18 xxili. 11 nvili 23 1 Tim. li. 6 2.9. vi. 9 xil. 11 17. six 10 sMaikxvi xii 12. Gal iii i tlcb. ii 3, 4. r ii. 1. 2 Act! i. 8 1 John V. 11- xl. 17. 21 Uooi X (The original is the same as in this place.) Dr. Ham- ' mond, who here translates this phrase passively, doth ' elsewhere translate it actively ; the context forcing him * so to do. So Rom. x. 13, " Whosoever shall call on "' the name of the Lord ;" ' that is, pray and adhere to ' Christ.' And Acts ix. 14. " He hath authority to "^bind all that call upon thy name :" ' that is, saith he, ' that publicly own the worship of Christ.' {Whitby.) {Note, Ads IK. 10 — 14. Marg. Ref.) To explain the terms sanctified, and saints, as implying no more than the profession of Christianity, and including all nominal Chris- tians, as many learned men do, would enervate the lan- guage of the apostles, and confound the distinction between the form and power of godliness, which it is his grand object to maintain. No doubt there were unconverted persons in the several Churches, even in those days : but the apostles addressed theii' epistles to the collective body, according to their profession; thus teaching them what that profession implied ; but if any were not truly saints, they were no more intended, than if they had not been called Christians. The arguments by which these learned writers support their opinion would equally prove, that the worst persons in the Church at Corinth were indeed the temples of the Holy Ghost, the temple of the living God, and entitled to all spiritual and eternal blessings, equally with true believers, (iii. 16. vi. 11. 19. 2 Cor. vi. 16.) ' Even here from the beginning he lays the ■ foundation of his future reasoning ; for if the Corin- • Uiians and all other believers were called by one God, ' and sanctified in one Christ; if they all had, and owned, ' the same Lord ; whence did the dissentions arise and get ' slrcngf'.i among diem, as if Christ was divided." {Be:a.) V. 3. (A'o/f, Rom. i. 7.) ' Is not this to desire for ' them grace and peace from God the Father, and conse- ' quently to pray for it ? Why therefore is it not also to ' desire the same blessings from God the Son V {Whitby.) and consequently to pray for them ? V. 4 — 9. Before the apostle entered on the immediate subject of his epistle, he endeavoured to conciliate the aifections of the Corinthians, by calling to their recollec- tion the benefits which they had derived from his ministry. He always thanked God on their account, for having bestowed his grace upon them, through Jesus Christ, Ijy M'hic'h they had been turned from idolatry to the faith of Ihe Gospel and the worshiji of God. They had also been enriched by him with all spirituel gifts, and jr.iraculously 7 So that * ye come behind in no gift ; 1 2 cor xii. n. " waitinsr for the * coniinfif of our Lord "''«' '■uuxkI^'' Jesus Unrist : non, vj.i 19. 8 ^VJio shall also ''confirm you unto Thes V To » the end, ihut ye niav be * blameless in tiiaHcbixss. . ., I /• ''r II /-.I • X. 36, :i7 Jamv. ' the day ol our Lord Jesus Christ. ';«, sp" iii. 9 " God is faithful, '' by whom ye *^j^^ 'nthuon. were called unto " the fellow.ship of his ^1' '" ' «• Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Is'^'Tpefi 11' iv 13 V 4 1 John iii 2 liPsxxxvii 17 28. Rom uiv 4 sti. fS. 2 Cor i 21 I Thes' iii 13 2 llies ill 3. 1 Pet v 10 y Epb. v 27. I'hil i 15 Col. i 22 I ThC«. iii 13 V 23 2 Pet iii u. Juile24 25. z Phil, i G 10. ii IS 2 Pel i:i 10 «k 13. Nuid' xxili. 19 Deut vii 9 xxxii 4 Ps. Ixxxix 33-3S c « U <. 4 XXT I xlix 7 Ijm' <i'_| tentio.is among you. Jam""";" n-ii ^' ^'ow * this I say, that every one of ipet >i 8,9 yoLi saith, ''I am of Paul; and I of ' ApoUos ; and I ol " Cephas ; and 1 ol Geo xsvii 42. xxxvii. 2 1 Sam.3xv 11—17 h iii 3. ti 1-7 Prov. xiii i 6. 2 Cor xii. 20 Gal v 15 SO. S6 Phil ii. U 1 Tim. vi a 2 Tim ii 23-15 , 1.2 i vii 29 XV i0.2Cor ix 6. Gal. iii. 17 kiii 4-6 21-23. it 6. . Acts xviii. 2*— £8. xis 1 m is 5. sv 5. Jolin i. 42. GaJ. ii. 0. for some were not true believers ; yet all those* whom the apostle specially addressed, would ; namely, " the saints," even those whom God had " called to the fellowship of " bis Son Jesus Christ." {Rom. viii. 30.) V. 10 — 16, After this conciliatory introduction, the apostle proceeded to the subject, on which he particularly nrote to the Corinthians ; and to point out that leading evil, which gave rise to the other evils which he meant to reprove. He besought and exhorted them by the name, the honour and the authority, of Christ, to cease from mur- murings and disjjutings ; that they might all join in the same language of faith, avoid all schisms, contentions, or disunion of heart, and be perfectly united together in the same mind and judgment. Considering the different capa- cities, educations, habits, and prejudices of mankind, it seems impossible to avoid all difference of opinion : but it is equally true that fallen men will never on earth love God with all their hearts, and their neighbours as them- selves ; yet the rule and exhortation must not be changed on that account. As we have one rxde and standard of truth, and one Spirit to be our Teacher : so, in proportion to our humility, simplicity, and diligence, we come to be of one mind and judgment, in the great concerns of re- ligion : and were we perfect in these things, we should also be perfectly united in sentiment and affection. This will be the case in heaven ; and it will at length be so in a great degree on earth. The nearer we come to it, the more we approximate to perfection : all our divisions arise from a sinful cause, which must not be excused ; but while it subsists, we should endeavour to bear with each other in respect of it, and so to " keep ihe unity of the Spirit in the •' bond of peace." Yet we should continually pray for the more abundant pouring out of the Spirit of truth and love, on ourselves and all our fellow Christians, that we may be '• perfectly joined together in the same mind and judg- " ment." The apostle gave the Christians at Corinth this seasonable admonition ; because he had been informed by those, on whom he could depend and v/hom he did not hesitate to mention, that their Church was troubled with contentions : they were in a divided stale ; and he might -ay, that every one of them was attached to some parti 13 Is " Christ divided .=• " was Paul crucified for you .■' p or were ye baptized in the name of Paul.-' 11 1 1 thank God that I bapt'-^-d none of you, but ■■ Crispus and ' Gaii- ; 16 Lest any sliould say, that ' I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And 1 baptized also the household of " Stephanas : besides, I know not whe- ther I baptized any other. 17 For Chri.st sent me ^ not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: ^ not with wis- dom oft words, ^ lest the cross of Christ should be made of none eHect. 18 For " the preaching of the cross '.a to them that perish, " foolishness ; but J. D. ()>. 0 3Crr. xi ». ttjl_ I. 7. Epf n ;■} 19. ;0 Bom Xiv. 3. 2 Cor. s. U, 15. Tit iiU ? 15. X. 2. IHsll xxvjFi. 19. AcH ii 3B. X tS. xix. 5. q 1 Xiv. 13. SCc Ii. U F.pll ». £0 Col. ill iy 17 ntiM. r. 13 1 T.ra i. !;■. Philem. 4. r Arts xviil ff. s Ri.m. xvi 23 tJolin iii.2B.2K. V i 13. 2 Cor. xi 2 u XV i IS 17. AcH sii 15. 33 s John iv. 2..Acti? s.iS. xxvi 17, IS. Tii I. 4 i::. '2 Cor iv 2. X. 3,4 10. i?e'.. i 16. t Or, tpefch- z ii. 5. . 3 2 Tiles, ii. 19 cular teacher in opposition to all others. As if one pro- fessed himself to belong to Paul's party, another to that of the eloquent Apollos, another to Peter the great apostle of the circumcision ; and as ifothers professed themselves the disciples of Christ alone, to excuse their disregard for all his ministers ! It has been thoiight with probability, thaf: the apostle does not mention these names, as really the heads of the parties into which the Corinthians had divided: but to show the evil of the thing itself, and the absurdity of dividing the Church, out of a disposition inordinately to honour some particular teacher ; or to despise faithful ministers under jirctcncc of honouring Christ. However respectable the names might be which were thus used, the thing was indefensible : but it would give less umbrage for him to mention Apollos and Cephas, than expressly to name the false teachers, who were the authors of the discord. He therefore demanded of the Corinthians, whether Christ and his salvation, or his mystical body, could be thus divided, and one part set in opposition to another ? Had Paul, or had any of their other teachers, acquired a right to them by atoning for their sins on the cross ? Or had any of them been baptized in the name of Paul, as his dis- ciples, who were in all things without reserve to be devoted to him and honour him .' As things had turned out, he was thankful, that he had baptized so few of them ; lest his opponents, should have averred that he baptized (hem in his own name. He could recollect but a fev,", whom he had baptized ; (nor was it necessary that he should be immediately inspired with the remembrance of so immaterial a fact ;) the rest had been baptized by others, according to the appointment of Christ, without any men- tion of the apostle's name in it, as they veiy well knew. — The word rendered coidentions, is properly schisms ; and the marginal references will show the veader who under- stands Greek, the several places in which it is used in the- New Testament. The word here evidently signilies divi- sions or discords, among persons who held the same grand doctrines, and met together for worship in the same grand ordinances. Thus schisins, as the word is here used, differed from heresies, which related to doctrines : yet the meaning varies materially from the modern use of the ternj. .t n. 6a. (CORINTHIANS. A. D. GO. J2» Ps.c Rom iCor i: I Thet. ,3 '' Uiito Ut wliicii arc baved, it is the power » of God. 19 For it is written, " I will destroy 'ii-yi Is xis. t!ie wisdom of tlie wise, and will bring to Jer -iM 9 nothing the understanding of the prudent. lii' ' 20 Where ' is the wise .'' where is the f- 19. ^Ham-XT i' . . . . , .. /. 1 ■ -s'jobxh'iUi ^'^'''^^ • ^vhere is the disputer ot this 21 it *."""■ world .'' ' hath not God made foolish the Horn i. s: . /N 1 . VSm.'^'xi " a" wisdom of this world .-' 21 For after that, '' in the wisdom of ,^°"'°'*God, ' the world by wisdom knew not EpI) i Mat. s> Zli.IiUke X SI ~22. Sf God, it pleased God by '' the foolishness k s« o,, la of preacninff to save them that believe. iiw"i-4" A-. n 1 I T • 1 »''' ".'2 •'"'le 22 ror ' the Jews reciuife a siffii, and «' '« 29 Joho I i-. I 1 r • 1 U. 18. iv. 4B "■ tlie Ureeks seek alter wisdom: ' ' 23 But " we preach Christ crucified, " unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks '' foolishness; 24 But unto them which arc ■• called, „'},^,pjj;'j',',j^ both Jews and Greeks, Christ ^ the power {"J".'^ of God, and ' the wisdom of God. k"^','^ 38. S». RIarfc I 11,12 Luke 1 18- 31. I 18 ii 2. LuIk XKiv • liath chosen the foohsh things of the work! lo confound the wise ; and'God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the things which are mighty ; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, i/ea, and "^ things which are not, 11-21. vi 9, in. vii 35 64 svii. 18 xxiv 24,25. 2 Cor. iv. 7. X. 4,5. iv. 17. 2 Cor xii. 11. confirmed, in the resurrection of Christ, and in the ac- complishment of ancient prophecies ; and his wisdom in the glorious plan of redemption, as harmoniously honour- ing all the divine perfections and magnifying the divine law : but they experienced Christ to be " the Power and " AVisdom of God," to deliver them from the bondage of sin, and to make them wise unto salvation ; and they obser\'ed him and his Gospel to be the grand medium, by which the power and wisdom of God were displayed, in the subversion of Satan's kingdom of idolatry and sin, and in confounding all the subtle devices of him and his ser vants. V. 25. Those doctrines and dispensations of God, which proud men decried as foolish and weak, were far su- perior in wisdom, and much more efficacious, than all that men ever could have devised and attempted for the same or similar purposes. Thus the doctrine of salvation by faith in a crucified Jew, which appeared to the carnal mind a foolish device, and the preaching of it by unlearned and obscure persons, which appeared a weak expedient, had, by the power of God accompanying it, done more in a few years towards making men wise and holy, than all the learning of Jewish scribes and Pagan philosophers, or the power of armed legislators, had ever been able to cfi'ect, or ever would have eflected to the end of lime. V. 26 — 31. The persons who had been converted to Christianity, and then sent forth to 'preach the Gospel, were a living demonstration of what the apostle incul- cated. This- the Corinthians might see for themselves for as the Gospel had not been preached to them " with " wisdom of words," or with a display of learning and philosophy, so but very few of the sages, politicians, mighty princes, or warriors, or of the noble and honour- able of the earth, had embraced it. They had perhaps heard of a few instances of this kind, in whom the omni- potence of divine grace had been displayed. The persons, however, whom God had employed in preaching the Gospel, seem especially intended ; and the words, " are " called,^'' which seem to favour the other interpretation, lire not in the original. (Marg. Kef.) The apostles and evangelist.^, and other ministers, whom God had chosen to publish his salvation to mankind, were not in cciieral Vot. V,— No. 31. ^ " to brine: to nought things that arc : a ii «- d i:i- rni fl ^ 1 III • 1 • XKViir. «3. Job 29 1 hat "^ no iiesh should ^'ory in hi.s jx^'' ^--oii O J ts. xy.Mii. 10. 35,36 ii.ll. 17 xni 13, -36 xll. an. ii. 'M, presence. 30 But of him are yc "" in Ciirist Jesus, ^i^'j^j, who ""of God is made unto us "^ AVisdom, ij^.^fj^'if ^''*' and •■ Righteousness, and ^ Sanctification, ''=' and '' Redemption : n That, according as it is written, j^ 'He that glorieth, let him glory in the 'j'/j 'f.-''^', viii 1 xii. .1. xvi. 7. 11. 2 Cor. v 17. xii. 2 Kph i 3,1 ii 10 il Horn, xi 3B. 2 Cor. V la-2l. e24. xii. 8. Prov i 20. ii. c. viii i. Dan ii. 20. l.ule xxi. 14 Joliii i. IS. viii. 12. XIV 6. xvii B 26 £ Cor iv 6. F.ph i 17. 18 iii. 9. 10 Ciil ii. 2,3 iii. 16 2 Tim iii. 15-17. Jam i. 5. f I's. Isxi. 15. 16. Is xlv, 24, I'.V liv. 17. Jer Ksiii G. XKXiii. 16. Dan ix 24. liora. i. 17 iii 21— 24. iv. 6. v. 19. II 2Cor. v. 21 I'liil. ii. «. 2Pet.i 1. e 2 vi. II. Malt. i. 21. Jclmxvii. 17— 19 Actsxxti IC Rom. viii. !i. Gal V. 22-24. E|ili. ii 10 v 26. I Pet. i 2. 1 John v. 6. h xv. J.i-.')7 Ilo.s. xiii 14 Horn. ill. 24. viii £3. Gal. i, 4 iii. 13 Kph. i. 7. iv 30. Col i 11 Tit ii 14. Heb. ix. 12. I Pet. i. le, 19 Bov v. 9 xiv 4. i I Clir. >.vi. 10 35 ■ Ps cv.3. Is. xii. 16. xlv.25. Jtr. iv. 2 ix. 24, 2 Cor. x. 17. Gal \i. l;;, U Pbil iii.3. Cr. xl.x 6. )■ X. 16 Jcr Is 23 Bnm iii. la 2 XV. 17 called to that service from the schools of the learned, from the courts of princes, or from noble fcmilics and eminent stations. On the contrary, they were rnen whom the world counted /oo/(s/(, because not remarkable for eminent talents, and because destitute of human learning ; and, indeed, such persons were selected for this pur|.'0sc, that by them God might confound the proud reasonings and scornful objections of heathen phiiosophers and Jewish Rabbles, hi like manner he had chosen men of low birth and mean circumstances, unarmed ii.^hcrmen, tent makers, and others destitute of authority, ))o\vcr, and influence, not renowned for courage and vigour of mind, but gentle and mild in their dcporlmcnt, that, having endued them with heavenly wisdom and strength, and enabled them to confirm their testimony by stupendous miracles, he might, by their holy lives and heroic con- stancy, their jwtient sufferings and successful labour.-, shame and confound the mighty of the earth. God had even chosen some, who had previously been of immoral characters and disreputable professions, that, being made wise, holy, and useful in the ministry, by his grace and blessing, they might confound and asloni.-h ihce who formerly counted them even beneath contempt. Nav, he had raised up eminent ministers from among (he Gentiles, who, in the proud language and sentiments of the Jews, were considered as scarcely existing in respect of God and religion, that he might by them confound and siiame the Scribes, Pharisees, and unbelieving Jews. In ihort, the Lord had ordered everything, respecting the conveiiion of sinners, the preachers of the Go.spel, the plan of redemp- tion, and the way of acceptance, in such a manner, as to give no one of the human species any ground of boaslin;^- or " glorying in his presence," either [n respect of abili'^ ties, learning, noble birth, privileges, achievements, moral character, or natural good dispositions, or any other dis- tinction, either before or after conversion. 'Uhy then should the Corinthians so value these endowments in their teachers, when God had evidently poured contempt on them ? Even that distinction, in whicii alone llicy niisht glory, was not in any respect of them.-^ elves. By The sovereign choice and regenerating grace of God, thry. sin- ners of the Gentiles, were in Christ Jesus, who, by hi< /7. D. m. I. CORINTHIANS. A. 1). 60. CHAP. II. The apostle declares, that he had not come among the Corinthians " with excellency of speech and ioisdom" but had preached Christ erucijied, with plainness and humble diffidence ; that their faith might stand in the power of God alone, 1 — 5. The Gospel contains the hidden wisdom ap|)ointniciU and free mercy was made to all believers the wliole of salvation. For they being in themselves igno- rant, foolish, guilty, polluted, enslaved, and condemned, Christ was constituted to each of them, " Wisdom,'' that by his word and Spirit, and from his fulness and treasures of wisdom and knowledge, they might receive that in- struction and counsel, which would render them wise unto salvation, and fit for every service to which they were call- ed; " and Righteousness," that being justified by his obe- .liencc unto death imputed to theiu, and " made the right- '' eousness of God in him." they might possess a title to '•ternal life ; " and Sanctification," that by the fiower of the Spirit of Christ they might be gradually renewed to his image, and made perfect in holiness, and meetness for their heavenly inheritance ; '• and Redemption," that by his power and grace being delivered from the bondage of «in and Satan, they might at length be completely rescu- ed from all remains and traces of this hateful slavei'y, and be saved from the condemnation and all the consequences of sin, till, by the redemption of the body from the grave, " death itself should be swallowed up in cverlast- " ing victory." Thus, according to the ancient prophe- cy, \Sole, Jer. jx. 23, 24.) they who " gloried, might " glory in the Lord," and in his special favour, all-suffi- cient gi-ace, and inestimable salvation, though in them- selves they had nothing to glory in, but every thing to be ashamed of. Here again the apostle refers to Jesus, " the Lord our Righteousness and Strength,'-' what the pro- phet had spoken of Jehovah. (Mars'. Ref.) ' They who ' say, that Christ is made our Righteousness by his right- * eousness imputed to us, have the same reason to say al- ' so, that he is made our Wisdom, by his wisdom impa- * ted to us,' &c. {Whilby.) There might be some weight in this objection, if this were the only passage of Scripture, by which they, who hold imputed righteousness, support their doctrine, if there were any other passages in the sa- cred oracles, which even seem to countenance the notion of imputed wisdom, &c. and if the nature of the case were not essentially different. Another may pay my debt, and allow me to receive the wages which he has earned ; thu« his payment and his labour are set down to my account, or imputed to me for my adequate advantage ; but who can have wisdom, health, or liberty, by imputation ? {!soles, Rom. iii. iv.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—9. The true Church of God comprises all those, in every place, who are " sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be "saints," who call on hin) as "God manifest in the *' flesh," for all the blessings of salvation, and who acknow- ledge and obey him as their Lord, and the Lord of all saints, of all men, and of all creatures; and it includes no other persons. In behalf of all such, we should pray con linually for an increase of grace and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ ; we should thank God for the grace bestowed on them by Jesus Christ, with an especial remembrance of those with whom we are more immediately coimected, and we should rejoice in those gifts, and that knowledge by which the testimony of Chi'ist is confirmed among them. Bui ministers, with a mixture of authority and affection, should remind their flocks, that an account must be given of all their advanta- ges at the coming of Christ, and call on them daily to wait and prepare for that event. He will confirm his true dis- ciples unto the end ; and they may confidently Irust in him to preserve tiiem blameless to that day, and to " present " them faultless before the presence of his gloiy with ex- " ceeding joy." But many aj)pear to be Christians, and are endued with useful gifts, who have not been called to the fellowship of Christ ; it is therefore highly proper to exhort all who profess ihe Gospel, to prove the reality of their faith, and the sincerity of their love, and to wait for the coming of their Lord, by watchfulness, diligence, and a careful improvement of their talents. How striking is the contrast, between the language of the apostle in these verses and that of many modern divines ! The name of the Lord Jesus Christ was to him the sweetest melody, or " as ointment poured forth ;" iliey seem to fear no- thing so much, as a too frequent or too honourable men- tion of him! and, whatever repetitions they may fall into, they will be sure to offend no man, by loo often enlarging upon his dignity and condescension, his love and aton- ing suft'erings, his character and offices, his merits and salvation ! V. 10—16. — ^^p— Satan hath always endeavoured to stir up strife among Christians, as one of his grand devices against the Gospel ; we should therefore use all our influence to prevail with thera, by the name and for the honour of otir common Lord, to avoid contests of every kind, and as much as possible to speak the same thing, and to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment ; and we should persevere in praying for this most desirable harmony. For it must greatly pain every serious and judicious believer, to see or hear of the divisions, which take place, through the spiritual pride, ambition, selfishness, and malignant passions, of turbulent and designing men, and through the prejudices, instability, want of judgment, love of novelty, and eager spirit of some real believers. Thus the Church is divided into parlies, congregations are distracted by intestine contentions, and men are drawn away from their faithful pastors, to rank themselves under the banners of some confident deceiver, who " privily brings in damnable " heresies," couched in plausible language, propagated under specious pretences, and varnished over by an inge- nuity which might have been better employed. Thus professed Christians become the disciples of mm, and, regardless of the apostle's expostulations, they still glory J. I). 60. CHAPTER II. J. D. m. of God in bringing men to glory, which . eould not be discovered by any sagacity of man, 6 — 9 ; but God by his Spirit had revealed it, 10 — 13. The natural 111 ranking themselves among the partisans of this or the other preacher, as if Christ were divided! Or as if that teacher whom they extol, while they despise others, had been crucified for them, or they had been baptized in his name, and vowed to be his faithful soldiers unto their lives' end ! We should be very thankful, if we have been pre- served from giving sanction, or even occasion, to such disgraceful contests; we should carefully avoid all ap- pearance of seeking our own credit, instead of the glory of Christ ; and pray continually for "the meekness " of wisdom," that we may know how to counteract the pestilent endeavours of the firebrands of the Church, with- out giving them any handle or plausible pretence against us. V. ir— 23. They, whom Christ sends to preach his Gospel, are often incapable, and should never be studious, of " that " wisdom of words," which carnal men admire ; nor should the hearers of the Gospel look for such worthless decorations of that divine doctrine, which is most beau- tiful in its native simplicity. Too often " the cross of " Christ is rendered of none effect," through the vain affectation of the preachers to recommend it by the man cannot receive it, because it is spirit- ually discerned: but the spiritual man judgeth all things, and is Judged of no man, 14 — 16. have they done towards rendering the world wise and hoi) : Or what have they to propose so excellent, as tomciitu preference to ibat Gospel which tiiey reject ? J ) iidcniablc facts evince the folly of this wisdom, and show that, amidst all the displays ot the eternal power and God-head with which we are surrounded, human reason and learning- know him not, but uniformly lead men to idolatry, im*^ piety, or infidelity : and on the other hand, it hath pleased God, from age to age, by '• the foolishness of preaching," (the despised doctrine of salvation by faith in a crucified Saviour, God in human nature, " purchasing the Church " with his own blood,") to save multitudes, even all that believe, from ignorance, dcliision, and vice; and to mukr them meet for Jiis heavenly kingdom. For the true mi- nister of God insists especially upon this great doctrine, which is no less a stumbling-block to some and fooiishnes.s to others, at present, than it was in the apostle's days ; but which is known and experienced to be the wisdom and power of God to all, who partake of the high and graciou.'. calling of God in Christ Jesus. V. 26—31. There is scarcely a stronger demonstration of man'.s affected graces of elocution, or the ostentatious parade of j depravity, blindness, and folly, dian this circumstance, learning and philosophy. Thus its edge is blunted, its that neither facts nor arguments can repress his arroo-ance' convincing plainness is obscured, its genuine beauty and| in treating the wisdom of God manifested in the Gospel as glory are tarnished ; the preacher has his worthless reward i foolishness, the power of God as weakness, thou^-h no m hunian applause or useless popularity : but the Spirit of i human devices or efforts have ever produced effects in the God disdains to set his seal to the word thus preached ; it least comparable to those, which have been and are wrou<'ht ♦proves the mere shadow of a feast, at which the guests are starved ; and an amusing display of ingenuity, instead of an assault on the strong holds of Satan by the power of divine truth. Indeed, all attempts to make the real Gospel palatable to worldly men must be unsuccessful : it always was and always will be foolishness to such as are in the road to destruction ; and the only way to render it i»of- fensive is, to leave out, or slightly touch upon, the offensivt parts of it: and this is too commonly done, when preach- ers study to embellish their doctrine, and recommend them- selves, by the wisdom of words or the excellency of speech. But the true minister of Christ is no man- pleaser : he will with great plainness of speech deliver his whole message, however it may be derided or reviled ; that by it, as a sure touch-stone, men may learn their real state and character. Thus, while to numbers it appears foolish, to those who are saved it proves the |)o»ver of God. It is his determination to " destroy the wisdom " of the wise, and to bring to nothing the understanding " of the firudent :" he will not honour carnal weapons, or self-sufficient instruments : he will pour contempt on carnal wisdom; and will abase, either in deep humiliation or final destruction, all the learned scribes, the wise phi- losophers, and the eager disputers of the world. Such persons are indeed commonly found among the despisers •r opposers of tbe doctrine of Christ crucified : but what by it. Let them then call it folly, enthusiasm, weakne'ss, madness, or what they please; may we show in our lives, that it is a wise, holy, and blessed doctrine, and we shall feel in our hearts, that it gives " a peace of God, " which passeth all understanding." And though we too see that but few of the wise, the mighty, the noble of this world, are called to the knowledge of the truth, or employed to promote the cause of righteousness, yet we perceive also, that God employs the foolish, weak, despised, and base of this world, to "confound the devices and expose the folly of the wise, to disappoint the designs of the mighty, and to disgrace and bring into contempt the honourable of the earth ; so that in every thing he takes care, that no flesh should glory in his presence. But let us not fear knowing how foolish. guilty, polluted, and enslaved, we are ; for by deep con- victions of this kind the Holy Spirit leads poor sinners to believe in Christ, who of God is " made to them Wis- " dom, Righleou.sness, Sanctification, and Redemption :" so that having all in him, they may be satisfied to have nothing as of themselves ; and when most covered with shame, filled with deep remorse and self-abhorrence, they may yet " glory in the Lord and his salvation ;" and hope to glorify him on earth, and to be preserved as monuments of his love, to praise him for ever in his heavenly felicity. O 2 J. D. CO. I. CORINTHIANS. J. D. 60, .Acn..iii;-4. A ND I, brethren, "when I came to b 4 13 i. 17. V.\ L\ IV 10 Jcr ic7 y% yoii, en .■} Tliat your faith should not t stand for », ^ came not ''with excellency of in the wisdom of men, 'but in the power 'it'ii' "scor* cor'V'oirf; speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you of God. kiivio cr -os ' Alts '»J" ai *= the testimony of God : 6 Howbeit, we speak wisdom among 37.' sritrWa! rVo. I Tim H. 2 For 1 determined '' not to know any '' them that are perfect: yet ' not the wis- iiu. ?i Kphlill 1 joho'Tt. u thinsc amonfj you, save Jesus Christ, and dom of this world, nor "" of the princes of 12-ii toilr. this world, that " come to nought : J»ra >i" » 1 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a ','j," ','*• '»■ mystery, " even the hidden u-isdoni, which ^"|;' "■ '' *• God ordained before the world '•" unto our ^"^ ' glory; 21- 8 Which •* none of the princes of this Js.sf *"^" world knew: 'for had they known ?/, S p" x"vhi^2 ii 2 3 xi« ii> him crucified. 15 J 0:1 3 G3l '.i x\nd I was with you '' in weakness, 1^ and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And ' my speech and my preaching I VI 14. Fbll iii. 8-10. e IT lO-U sviii 6-11. X 18.19. 2tor. i.. ■ ,- »■ • ■ - 1 - /> , ' '~'^ '^1 m M)a5 ^ not with * enticin^c words ol man s -io^'jil?i''cai* Wisdom, '' but m demonstration of the Spi- rit and of power: 17-W. XV. S- 6. a Kings xxii. 13.14. 2Chr ivi i. 19-21 Hrov. vii 21. xx. 19. Jer xs. 10 Ez. xiii. 6 10. 11. Rom xvi 18 Col ii. 4. 3 Pet i. 16 ii. 18. ' Or. pcriuniiblc Arts xx»i. 28 Gal. i. 10. ll iv. SJ .lolin xvi 3- IS. Koji. xv. la 1 Tht» i. i 1 Pet. i. 12. ' i7. 13. II r Acts XX 17 6 1. 13. i 17 JuJk x: ii a Jam. i Job xii 1!>. Ps. ii 1-6. 11-13. xlMii. 6,7 .Mall xi 25 xiii 3i. Rom x»i 2:-. 26 E|ih i i iii. 4-9 Col. . . 13 I Pet i. II. 12 Bev xiii 8 p 1 Pet. V. 1 10 2 Pet. i. 3. 46. 1. 26-28 31.itl xi 25. Jolin vii 48 r Luke xxiii 31 Inlin iii 19-21 viii. 19 ix. 39— 41. xii. 40— 43. xv 22-25 xvl 3. Acta iii. 17. xiii. 27. 2 Cor. iii. 14. 1 Tim. i. 13. V. 3—5. In adhering to this determination, the apostle had been deeply sensible of his own weakness and insutficiency, and aware of the predjudices and opposition which he had to encounter: and he was even oppressed with much fear and trembling, lest his infirmity should prevent his success, ordisgracehisgloi-ious doctrine. So that he had acted among ■'e Corinthians with much diffidence, modesty, and meek- NOTES. CFI.VP. H. V. 1. 2. When the apostle came, as a Jewish stranger, among the polite, speculating, and licen- tious Corinthians, he did not attem[)t to catch their atten lion by affected elegancy or .sublimity of language, by the trappings of human oratory, or by the sjieculatioiis of or iihilosophy. For his object was to declare the testimony th Lif God, concerning the only method of salvation from|nes.5, and without any thought of making himself the tternal misery, and of obtaining eternal life, and such a head of a party, as some of their present teachers did. inessa<'c would not admit of these worthless embelli.sh- His address and style of preaching had been entirely devoid mcnts.^ Whatever knowledge therefore he possessed, either of " the persuasive words of human wisdom," which of Rabbinical or Grecian learning, he determined to keep often seduced men into error, and enticed them into the it out of sight, and to preach, as if he had known noi views of designing orators, by moving the passions, im- (iher subject than that of Jesus the Messiah, even him, pressing the imagination, and imposing on the judgment, who was crucified, and who was generally desipsed and On the contrary, he left the success of it to be produced execrated; and those things that related to redemption for; entirely "by the demonstration of the Spirit," and the ^inner3 ihrout'h his blood. This was the centre and sub- exertion of his divine power. This many expositors un- stancc of his preaciiing ; but it is evident that he did not'derstand e.^ciustyc/^ of the miracles, by which the Holy confine hinLself wholly to this one topic, so as to exclude! Spirit powerfully demonstrated the truth of the Gospel ; or other parts of the revealed truth and will of God : fori the prophecies, which were fulfilled in those things which wo arc sure, from his own writings, that he preached 'the apostle preached concerning Jesus and his salvation: linn's relatioa to God, as his Creator, Benefactor, and] but these proofs, however conclusive, without the internal Governor: the glorious perfections and the holy law of! operation of the lioly Spirit, as the Author of divine life (Jod- the future judgment and an eternal state of righteous! in regeneration, would not have produced true faith; and retributions: the lost estate of man, regeneration, repent ance, conversion, the necessity of personal holiness, atten- tion to relative duties ; and, in short, " the whole counsel " of God," as the great circumference to that circle, ofj t is unreasonable to confine the expression to those opera- tions which were peculiar to one age, and to exclude such as a^e alike necessary, and to be depended on, in every age. The annexed reason, however, puts it beyond all rcason- which Christ crucified is the centre, in which all the lines, able doubt that the latter « ere principally intended: for meet. But, upon the most mature deliberation, he had j the apostle would use no other arts of persuasion, than determined to know nothing, even among ti:e r> fined and that plain and faithful address to the hearts and consciences philosophical Corinthian^;, which di.l not elucidate, re- of men, which the Spirit of God always makes use of in commend, evince, or adorn, tl. is great doctrine of salva- convincing them of sin, and in powerfully demonstrating the tion by the cross of Christ. Declaiinir. (xa.«-/ytAA»rii) — truth and preciousness of the Gospel to their souls : because The aoosde came as a Hiesse?ig-pr sinipl, lo deliver aj he would not have their " faith to stand on the wisdom of rjes3a<'P. What exti-aordinary claims are advanced, what! men, but on the power of God." Now that faith, which pretentions made in this cha|)ter! How ]:ointed is it upon is produced by outward miracles, and wholly rests on them, the subject of inspiration! If the sacred writers were in is no more saving or to be depended on than that which any dcj-ree //Hc men, they were men fully inspired in all is the effect of logical reasonings or eloquent persuasions : which ^ihey taught concerning religion. The miracles ( 4c" God hath revealed them unto us ^ by his Spirit: for •' the Spirit search- eth all things, yea, '' the deep things of God. . 1 1 For " what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which . xcii. 5, 6. Din. ii 32. Hom. xi. 33—36.- . xiv. 10. XX. 5. 'il. is in him ? '' Even so the lhing,s of God knoweth no man, but (he Spirit of God. 12 Now we Iiavc received, "not the spi- rit of the world, f but the Spirit which is of God; f that wc might know tiie things that are freely given to us of God : 1 3 Which things also we speak, '' not in the words which 'man's wisdom teachcth, 'but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing " spiritual things with spirit- ual. 11 But 'the natural man " receive th not " the things of the Spirit of God : Jolia iii .-)-(•. Tiii. 43. x. 26, 27. xii. 37, 38. Uom. viii. S— 8 n 12 26 svi. b— 15. A. D. GO. il 10. Itnm.xi 31. e Ii Horn. viii. :>. 6 2 Cor iv. i. Kph il. 2. .lam. i» 5 I John i\. ■I 4 T. lu. Rev xii. 9. f Itom viii is.in g Iii. 22 Joll.i xvi. 14, 15 Roin. vi.i 33 1 Johl iN20 27. Ue». xxi. i;. h 4. I. 17. 2 Pet. i IG. i xii 1—3 xiT 2 Luke xii. !;■ Alts ii. 4. 1 Pet i. 12. k 14. ix, 11. X 3—5. Epii. V l.l. V. 6 — 9. Though the apostle disclaimed all preten- sions to liumaii wisdom or learning, yet he would not allow his preaching to Ijc really foolishness. Indeed, he and other faithtul ministers spake wisdom among those that were };f)/ec< ; that is, who were so matured in judg- ment, ex]ierience, and spirituality, as to be able to receive it. To such persons they laid open the rich treasures of the wisdom of God, in his method of saving sinners, and in the dispensations of providence ; and thus they excited their admiring adoration, and rendered them wise and intelligent in divine things, and, in respect of their true interest and whole duty, far beyond all other persons in the world. If therefore the Corinthians had not been initiated into the depths of this divine wisdom, it was because they were not proper recipients of them. But this wis- dom was totally distinct from, and even in many thing.-; contrary to, the wisdom of this world, and of its princes tion now proclaimed to mankind, and the blessings cori- lerred on and prepared for those who were taught by thr grace of the Gospel to love and obey God ; and which fni- exceeded all that had been seen, heard, or thought of, bv men. {Note, Is. Ixiv. 4.) V. 10 — 13. The apostle, and the other preachers of salvation by Jesus Christ, had not discovered the mysteries of divine wisdom by their own superior sagacity ; but God had revealed it to them by his Spirit; who not only searched all hearts, but was intimately acquainted with the deep things of God, and all the inmost counsels of his infinite mind. For as no man can penetrate the recesses of another's heart, and know the whole of his thoughts and intentions, in the same way that his own soul is conscious of them, so none can knov/, discover, or com- prehend the things of God, but his own infinite Spirit, who is One with the Father and the Son in the unity of ih and rulers, whose sagacity and policy would not prevent , Godhead, and whose office it is to reveal divine mysteries the speedy termination of all their grandeur, and their .to his Church. {Mall. x\. 27.) This should be- noted as everlasting ruin, or that of their subjects and flatterers, ta most decisive testimony both to the Deity and pcrson- For it was the wisdom of God as contained in a mystery, jality of the Holy Spirit. Now the apostles had not even in the mysterious design of glorifying his holy name, {received the spirit of the woi'ld ; they were not actuated and all his pei-fections, in thejedemption of sinners, by ihe by those worldly principles, nor guided by that corn;.l prudence, of which Satan, " the spirit that worketh in iha " children of disobedience," is the concealed author: but incarnation and atoning sacrifice of his co-equal Son. This was ordained and intended by him before the world began, in order to bring his chosen people to everlasting glory ; but it had been entirely hidden fro.ii men, except as made known by revelation, antl as faith simply received that information. So that the Gentiles, with all their spccu- they were inspired and actuated by the Spirit of God, that they might know and communicate to the Church iht! things which God freely bestows on all believers. These they declared, not in such words as carnal wisdom wnuKI lations, knew nothing of this wisdom; the unbelieving 'have suggested, but in simple plain language dictated by Jews and their most learned Scribes were wholly unac- the Holy Spirit; which sacred style was formed by coni- quaiated with it ; the old dispensation had only conveyed paring one part of divine revelation with another- th'r some general intimations of it, but the Gospel had no discovered it more fully to all, who were brought to em- brace it. Yet none of the princes or great men in the world's estimation had known any thing of it ; nay, their spiritual nature of redemption with the holiness of th.' divine character and law; the former discoveries of tin- truth and will nf God with these later ones; the types an 1 prophecies, with their accomplishment; and the rem'^l/ policy was diametrically opposite to it; for had Pilate, proposed with the state of mankind, and their need of Herod, Caiaphas, or the Jewish rulers, understood this 'i'hus their spiritual meditations, discoveries, and alioction?, divine mystery, they would at least, by fear, have been under the teaching of the Floly S|)irif, led them to use ;t restrained from crucifying the Lord of glory, that divine solemn, energetic, and faitliful method of speaking, which Person, who, even when he hung upon the cross, was thelaccordcd to the majesty and importance of their subject, Lord and King of glory, God in human nature, the land the style of the sacred oracles, but totally diilerentfroni Governor and Judge of all the world. Thus the pro- Ithe aficcted oratory or enticin^' words of man's wisdom, phecies had been accomplished, and what had of old been |The apostle here undoubtedly speaks of himself as diviiu ! / written by Isaiah might be applied to die glorious rcdemif^iin.spircd, both in what he preached, and in what he wrci'.'. JJ. D. GO. 1. OORINTHIANS. J. iJ. (3u. °vi "si"'52^°x" ^°^ " ^^^y ^^^ foolishness unto him : p nei- ''\i. 32*xlni Vs' t'^^** ^^" ^'^ know them, because they are ejIm'^ "■"' spiritually discerned, •^ohn'v ^i' vr '^ JBut '' he that is spiritual * judnjeth 44,45 AcWX'i IJ'SCor iv 4— 6. I John ii. 20 .17. V, SO. Jude 19. ■\\\C\ »iv. :i7. G»l vi I Col i. a * Or, ditcermtli,. 2 S«ni. xW. 17. i Klniss iii. 9— II. Hi. xxv. 14, Prov xsviii. S Kc. viii.i. ;Johli vii. 17. Kph. iv. 13, U. Fhil. i 10 Or 1 ThM T. 21. Hel), V-U. I Jolill iv. I all things, ' yet he himself is i' judged of ','» Sj-^^^™'*"^ no man. 'r*-*''' **' 16 For 'who hath known the mind oil^^^l^"^*^^^^ the Lord, that he \ may instruct him } ?b.'',V^j,r'iiii' ' but we have the mind of Christ. j'Sr'wuii''' '' t .lohD XT. \i XTi 13-15. xvii 6—8 Gal i. 12 Epb ill. 3,4 V. 14 — 16. It was not to be expected that the faith- ful and solemn preaching of the Gospel would please man- kind in general, as " the nahiral man receiveth not the " things of the Spirit of God." The term here used hath occasioned much disputation ; but as it is derived from a word, that sometimes at least signifies the rational soul, it may be supposed to have reference to the powers of his mind, as well as to his inferior inclinations. ' It is op- ' posed to the regenerate man, anrl to the glorified, that ' is, the perfectly regenerated man. A man tliat hath ' only natural abilities and perfections.' (Leio-h.) One that has not the Spirit of God. {Mcirg. Ktf.) The apos- tle's argument absolutely requires, that by " the natural " man" we understand (he unregeneraie man, however sagacious, learned, or abstracted fi-om sensual indulgences ; for he opposes him to the spiritital man, and the pride of carnal reasoning is at least as opposite to spirituality as the most grovelling sensuality can be. No man, as natu- jally born into the world, and not supernaturally born again of the Spirit, " can see the kingdom of God," or receive in faith and love the spiritual mysteries of re- demption by the cross of Christ. To all unregenerate men, these things will in oneway or other appear _/'ooZ- ishness, irrational, uninteresting, unnecessary, inconsistent or absurd ; and doubtless proud reasoners have scoffed at them more than ever mere sensualists did. No ingenuity, address, or reasoning of the preacher can prevent this effect ; no application of the man's own mind, except in humble dependence on the teaching of the Holy Spirit, can enable him to perceive the real nature and glorj' of them. For they are " spiritually discerned," that is, by the illuminating and sanctifying work of the Spirit of God upon the mind ; by which a spiritual capacity is produced, that discerns, admires, loves, and delights in the divine excellency of heavenly things. When this change has taken place, and a man's spiritual senses have been ma- lured by growth and exercise, he may be called " a spi- " ritual man ;" and he perceives the spiritual glory and excellency of every truth and precejit of the word of God ; he distinguishes one object from another by a spi- ritual taste, or a kind of extempore judgment, and so he becomes a competent judge in such matters. Yet his views, principles, and motives, fall not under the judgment of any other men : none of them are competent to decide on the propriety of his conduct, as they are strangers to those views and discoveries which direct his determina- tions. For what natural man hath understood the mind of the Lord, that he should be able to instruct him who is under the tuition of the Holy Spirit ? As therc'bre the apostle and other inspired persons were maHe acquainted with the mind of Christ, by whom the Father reveals himself to men : so none of their self-appointed judsres could be competent to decide, either upon their doc- trine, or their manner of communicating it. They were above such instructors or censurers, who could not possi- bly understand the (jrinciples on which they acted. In a measure, all sjiiritual men " have the mind of Christ," and natuwl men are incompetent judges of their conduct ; yet this is in every thing to be tried by the word of God, and nothing must be justified or excused, which does not accord with that rule, when jjroperly explained. But the in- spired apostles were employed to state that mind of Christ, by which men's principles and actions must be judged ; and in this respect they could not be liable to be judged by any man. Some indeed explain the last verse as an inquiry, whether any man had so known the mind of the Lord, as to be competent to give him any counsel or in- struction ? (Notes, Rom. xi. 34 — 36.) But the context rather fixes the meaning to the preceding interpretation ; and the apostle intended to expose the absurdity of a car- nal man |)re5uming to instruct a spiritual man in respect of spiritual things, or of an ordinary Christian or teacher presuming to censure or dictate to an inspired apostle, as he thus declared himself to be. It is probable that the ajiostie had in mind the words of the prophet Isaiah, but he does not expressly quote them. (Notes, Is. xl. 12 — 17.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—9. How surprising is it, that this most honoured servant ot Christ should be constrained to justify his excellent and useful preaching, even to the very persons who had been converted by it! But this surprise should be connected with a pleasing admiration of tlie divine wisdom, in taking occasion from that circumstance to give the Church most valuable instructions concerning the best method of de- claring the testimony of God to sinners. This wants no excellency of speech or of wisdom to enforce it, but appears most venerable, when the witness for God is re- gardless of human applau»e or censui-e ; when his whole soul is occu|)ied by zeal for the honour of his Lord, and compassion for the souls of perishing sinners ; when he is willing, even among the learned and polite, to be counted ignorant in other respects ; when he determines " to know " nothing but Christ crucified," and the gracious message which he is sent to deliver in his name. But if this arduous service made even St. Paul to fear and tremble through conscious weakness, what reason have we to be humble and diffident, when called to declare the same tes- timony to mankind ! How should we fear disgracing this honourable ministry by our own folly or sin ! At what a distance should we keep from all ambition and self-con- fiiUnce! How carefully should we remember that all our sufficiency is of God alone! Such humility and meekness adorn and give dignity to that holy constancy and bold- ness, with which we must plead the cause of God ; and a realizing sense of eternal things, of the worth of souls. jl. D. 60. CHAPTER 111. A. D. t>«. CHAP. III. The aposllc skoivs, that he could not instruct the Corinthians in the deeper mysteries oj the Gospel, because they ivcrc carnal, 1 — .■}j CIS appeared from their disscii lions, 1. ,dll ministers are servants to one Lord, 5 ; who employs them, in cultivating his field, and in oui/diitg his church, 6 — 9. The apostle had laid the o>dy true Founda- tion, and othc7-s must take care ivhat they build on it : for their vork would be tried as by fire, 10 — 15. Christians are the temple of God, and must not be defiled, 16, 17. Worldly icisdom is foolishness with the clanger of ungodly men, the precioiisness of Christ, and the importance of our message, will counteract our natural propensity to trifling, or to an affectation of " the " enticing words of man's wisdom." The more deeply we are convinced, that no arguments or eloquence of man can by their own efficacy produce saving faith, the greater care we shall take to speak in a plain, serious, and scrijjtural manner, and in imitation of those preachers of old, whose v.ord was attended with "demonstration of the Spirit and of power ;" depending singly on his effectual operation to bring our hearers to believe, to the salvation of their souls. The maxims of human wisdom, whether philosophical or political, will soon come to nought, and sink into con- tempt. But experienced believers are shown such glorious displays of wisdom, as eclipse all that they before ad- mired, even as the rising sun obscures the glimmering lamp. The things which God ordained before the world, in order to bring his chosen people to glory, are such as " angels desire to look into :" they give the humbled and enlightened mind such views of God, and his perfections, works, and ways, as fix it in astonishment, excite it to adoration, inspire it with love and gratitude, raise it above this earthly clod and ail its puny concerns, and enlarge it into the most exalted, holy, yet humble, ambition after true honour and greatness. But this wisdom must still be hidden from the proud, the carnal, and the unbelieving, notwithstanding the fulness and clearness with which it is revealed in the Gospel. The same principles, which in- fluenced the princes of the world to crucify the Lord of glory, still possess the uiinds of men in general : and avarice, sensuality, or carnal ambition, still despise those good things, which " God hath prepared for them that •' love him," though they pass man's understanding, and infinitely excel in glory and value whatever he hath seen, heard, or imagined. V. 10—16. No man truly understands, or properly values, divine re- velation, except that divine Spirit, who " searcheth all " things, even the deep things of God," and who revealed them to the apostles, removes the veil from his heart, and enables him to perceive their real excellency. On this great Teacher we must simply depend, while we seek to God : and none ought to glory in men ; for all things belong to true believers, 1 8 — 23. ND I, brethren, could not speak unto you "as unto spiritual, but '' as unto carnal, even as unto ' babes in Christ. ' 2 [ have "^ ^cd you with milk, and not with meat : ' for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now ate ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal : ' for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and * divisions, are ye not carnal, ^ and walk t as men } b3, 4 ii i4 Matt xvi »! Ilom. vii. I.I. csiv. 20 Ron). ii SO i;ph iv. 13, U 1 Jobii ii. VJ. d Heb V. 12-14. I Pet ii 3. e.'ol.n XVI. l£. Het> V II, 12. f i. II. vi. 1-.1. X). 18 2 Cor. >ii. 20. Gal v. 15 19—21 Jam iii. 16. iv 1,2. ♦ Or,/entance, and woiks meet for re- pentance, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the necessity and nature of holiness, the influences and fruits of the Spirit, the day of judgment, and eternal happiness and misery, delivered in tlie simplest plainest language, suited them far better than those deeper mysteries, which led to mere speculation, and which afforded the teacher a fairer opportunity of showing his knowledge, ingenuity, and capacity. On these the apostle did not much insist, he- cause he knew the Corinthians could not bear them, but that such instructions would feed their carnal passions, instead of their faith and love. Indeed, though a con- siderable time had since ela]5sed, they were not yet able to receive, and make a good use of, these sublimer truths, because they were still under the influence of carnal prin- ciples. This needed no other proof than their well-known conduct •. for w'hile they envied one another the gifts which God had bestowed on them, and with emulation sought their own credit in the exercise of them, while there subsisted eager contentions and lamentable divisions among them, could they deny that they were carnal, and acted more like the men of liie world, in their competitions and contests for honours and distinctions, or for the in- terest of a party, or the credit of a favourite orator, or philosopher, than like s[)iiitual men '/ The principles and affections of the natural man were more ])rominent in their ronduct, than the humble, meek, loving, and jieaceable <'.ispnsitions, which S])ring from regeneration. {Marg, Rif.) It is evident, that by carnal, and as men, the apostle fioes not here intend the ])rcvalence of sensual appetites, but that of malignant passions ; not the propensities of the animal, but those of the fallen spirit : and this may con- firm us in the interpretation given of this and similar Mords in other places. As spirttuul is opposed to carnal, it must relate exclusively to the sanctifying grace of the Jloly Spirit, and not at all to miraculous endowments. The Corinthians were enriched with the latter ; but some any thine, neither he that >vatereth;p9 we John * ~ . . iv. 3S— 38. but God that sivcth the increase. " 3 Avattretli, are one : '' and every man snail ?, *'■ « x»i , . , •' ,. 1 • '' ""'° ''••>• receive his own reward, according to his vno'iPe^t"*'' own labour. ?i;'S°xxii'!" 9 For ' wc are labourers together Avith \^^'^"'jl '^^^^^ God : " ye are God's * husbandry ; ' ye are ;;;; fj j^h';,'*^ God's building. ',^/,,'Vs; ]7il: 8—11. Is V 1-7. xxvfi S, 3 xxviii 54-29. xxxii 20 Ixi 3 S. 11. Jer ii. 21. Mat. xlii. 3-9. 18-30 36-42 XX 1-14 xxi 33-44. Mark (V. 26-29 John iv 35-38. 19. |-e. • Or. Illlagr. 1 16 vi. 19. Ps. cxviii. 22 Am. ix. II 13 Zei-h. vi. 12, 13. M»:t xvi. 13. Acts IV. 11. 2 Cor VI. 16. f.ph ii 10. 20-2.'. Col ii 7. 1 Tim lii. 15. Heh. lii. 3, of them seemed altogether destitute of the former, and the generality of them were but babes in Christ. V. 4 — 9. The apostle still cautiously forbore to men- tion the false teachers, who had done the mischief. Even if Paul and his beloved brother Apollos had been set up for the heads Of the contending parties, the contests of the Corinthians would have proved them to be carnal. For who were Paul and Apollos ? Not lords over God's heri- tage, but ministering servants to them for Christ's sake, by whose labours they had been brought to believe the Gospel, according to the gift of God, both to the ministers, and those converted by them. ' For what reason do you ' regard either the one or the other ? Is it on no con- ' sideration but that of talents, which they have in com- ' mon with many who are strangers to the Gospel .' Or ' ought it n'ot to be in a different view ? even because they * are the ministers of Christ, ' I have laid the Founda- x'iKfn;i'iii 9- tion, ' and another buildeth thereon. La' y 3 " But let every man take heed how he Miv J'sTim: buildeth tlrereupon. t"s« on,6 1 1 i.t 11 For " other foundation can no man nom. 'x. 20. lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Eph ii M Rev ,^i ■ XXI 11 19 Christ. r.xv 11.12 Arts AT -f 1 •! 1 1 • xvi.i 2758 scor 12 iNow il anv man build upon tins X li XI 13—15 . J 1 •Ef,,"''.''"" foundation, •= gold, silver, •* precious 'is "jirMi'" stones, ^ wood, hay, stubble ; ^pet'iri-s"" ^^ Every '' man's work shall be made '»iatt'"'ivi. Js manifest: for 'the day shall declare it. Acts iv. 11, 12 2 Cor xi. 2-4 Gal. i 7—9 1 Pel. ii 6-8. c fs. six. 10 ex X. 72 ProT.viii 10 xvi 16 Is. Ix 17 1 Tim. iv 6 2 Tim il. SO I Pet. i 7. Rev. iii. 18 4l9 liv 11-13 Rev xxi 13—21. e Prov. XXX C. Jer sxiii. 2R. Matt. xv. C— 9 Acts IX. 30 Horn xvi. 17 2 Cor ii 17. iv 2 Col. ii 8. 13—23. I Tim. iv 1-3. 7 vi 3. ITim ii 16 - 18 iii. 7. 8. 13. iv 3.1 Tit i. 9— 11 iii 9-11. Heb. xiii. 9. llev. ii u, JS. f U. 15 iv. 5 2 Tim. iii 9 g i. 8. Mai. iii 17,18. Rom ii 6,6 10. 2 Th8S i.7— 10. 2 Tim. i. 13 2 Pet ill. 10—13 Rev XX 12. V. 10 — 1§. Thus far the apostle proceeded on the supposition, that the labourers were skilful and faithful ; but he meant to lead the attention of the Corinthians to some who were not so : therefore he declared, that, ac- cordint; to the grace bestowed on him, (to which all the glory was due,) he had laid the Foundation of " God's " building"' among them, like a wise architect ; and he knew that it was capable of supporting the whole weight of the intended superstructure. But since he had left Corinth, another had budded on his Foundation ; nay, several had been emj)loyed in that work : but let every one of them take heed with what materials, and in what man- ner, they carried on the building. He knew that no man could lay any other foundation of a spiritual temple, for the glory of God, or for the sinner's hope of salvation, than what he had laid in his preaching, and which God had laid in his purpose and by the Gospel ; namely, the Person, mediatory office, righteousness, atonement, inter- cession, and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. If any man pretended to lay any other foundation than this, he could not be considered as the minister of God, " a worker " together with him." It was not thei-efore to be sup- posed, that this was the case with any of their teachers. Yet even on this Foundation very different materials might be builded : some might carry on the work with gold, silver, and valuable stones ; others with wood, hay, or stubble : some, who preached the doctrine of salvation by faith in Christ, would instruct believers from the word of God in all the precious truths of the Gospel ; show them their obligations and duties ; and teach them to evidence their faith by spiritual worship and holy obedience. Others might substitute false doctrines, human inventions, abro- gated ceremonies, and philosophical speculations, or deduce licentious inferences from the doctrines of grace. {M»rg. Ref.) Thus the building would be deformed and weak- ened by such additions and base materials, as would never stand the trial which was appointed. For the time was coming, when the nature and value of every man's work would be made manifest, the day of judgment would openly declare it. The materials of this spiritual build- ing, and every man's work in it, must be tried as by fire, Vol. v.— No. 31. C 1 Pet. V. 1. Rev.il. 8-11. k 12, 13 H> iM b. ^ tor. J. «i God'.s. L«=^' " i9 V 3 Malt, xvii 5 Jolinxiil, m 21 Eph i 10 I'lul ii.t-ll. and trials would concur in jx'omoting their advantage; and the future judgment and its eternal consequences would be altogeiher in. their favour. 1'hus all things were theirs, even as much as i( the whole pioj.erty of the creation had been vested in them: ^eeillg they belonged to Christ, the Heir of all things, and were one with him. his chosen and redeemed people, the meiiihers of his liody, his beloved, the trojjhies of his vict<,ri(s, and the jewels of his crown ; and as " Christ is God'?," his beloved Son, his appointed Surety, the Brightness of his glory, and the grand Medi- um of displaying all his jierlections in the sight of all worlds, and to all eternity, liiesewere truly honourable distinctions ; and they ought to recollect, that, by glor) ing in men, they acted inconsistently with their relation and obligations to Christ, to whom alone they should unre- servedly devote themselves. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIOMS. V. 1—8. Ministers should suit their instruction to the state and wants of their hearers ; and teach them such things, as more immediately lend to their edification, rather than in- sist continually on those subjects, uhicli are agreeable to the inclinations of any party. Babes in Christ must be fed with milk, and not with strong meat : many doctrines, which they may hereafter feed upon, would at present be useless or [lernicious ; because they are not eible to perceive their tendency, or their harmony with other truths. Men may have much doctrinal knowledge, and yet be mere beginners in the life of faith end experience : nay, their fondness for speculations, and their acuteness in them, may prove them to be in a great degree carnal, and but imper- fectly grounded in the first princiijles of experimental and practical religion. Thus many professed Christians, and preachers too, show thcm.selves to be yet carnal, by their vain-glorious emulations, (heir eagerness for con- troversy, their selfish fiery zeal, their disposition to prefer and exalt themselves, and to despise and revile others ; and their ajiparent delight in disturbing the peace of the Church. This is the tendency of sin, not of grace; the temper of the carnal, the natural, and not of the spi- ritual man: and we need much of that " love which " hopelh all things," to suppose that such wranglers have any spirituality, or are even babes in Christ. It is, however, an universal rule, that these dispositions are proportionably proofs, that the carnal mind of worldly men is prominent and prevalent : and while so many are saying, " I am of Paul, and I of ApoJlos ^" W6 may D. CO. CHAPTER IV. .4. D. 00. CHAP. IV. The apostles and preachers of the Gospel, should be accounted of, as servaiits to Christ, and stcicards of the jnyslerics of God : and they are required to be faithful, 1 , 2. They must be left to the judgment of the Lord at his coming, 3 — 5. 37ie apostle exhorts the Corinthians not to be puffed up for one against another ; as all have their different endowments from God, 6, 7. He contrasts their vain-glory with his own despised and afflicted' state, and lowly conduct, 8 — 13. He loarns them, as their only father in Christ, and exhorts them to imitate him, 14 — 16. For this purpose he had sent Timothy unto them, 17; and intended to come himself, and make trial of the power of those ivho op- posed him, 1 8 — 2 1 . fairly demand cf them, whelher they be not carnal. For what are the most able ministers but servants of Christ and of his people ? Tiiey do not come in their own name, or about their own business ; they seek not their own glory ; sin and folly are all that they have of their own, and their wisdom and grace are wholly from the Lord. By his help they may plant and water ; but he alone can give the increase : so that they arc nothing, and he only must be considered as the object of adoring love and gra- titude. Faithful ministers are afraid of receiving undue honour : though their rank and abilities may ditier, they are all one ; they are engaged in the same work, and aim at the same object : they are fellow-labourers of God, in his spi- ritual husbandry and building ; and he will graciously reward the services, which, by his grace, they have per- formed. Indeed, all those, who, in their several places, labour by scriptural means to promote the cause of true religion, are " workers together with God :" but all un^ godly men, es])ecially persecutors, false teachers, seducers tempters, and such as employ their ingenuity in dissemi- nating infidelity, impiety, and licentiousness, are fellow- workers with the devil, in rendering others wicked and miserable, and their recompense will be proportioned to their zeal, diligence, and success. V. 9—15. It is a great comfort to the minister of Christ, when, on reflection, he is humbly conscious of having, like a wise master builder, laid a right Foundation: but every one should also take heed what he buildeth upon it. For while many attempt in vain to substitute some other foun- dation, in the stead of Christ, and so perish with their deluded followers, there are also numbers, who lay the right Foundation, and yet build worthless rubbish upon it, to their own great loss and danger, and to the great detriment of their hearers. In expectation therefore of that solemn day, when every man's work shall be mani- fested and tried as by fire, we should now be careful to build with approved and precious materials : we should avoid superstitious inventions, unscriptural doctrines, en- thusiastical delusions, and |)hilosophical speculations, as well as a variety of trifling inquiries and disputations, about which maoy, who seem to lay the right Foundation, waste thfir^time and lose their labour, while they injure the building and endanger their own souls. We should bestow pains to procure gold, silver, and precious stones, for this work ; that by sound doctrine and scriptural in- structions we may build up the souls of believers in know- ledge, hope, love, and obedience ; that by our labours, example, and prayers, they may grow up a holy templn to the Lord ; that so our work may abide the trial, that we may receive a full reward, and have an abun- dant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of Christ. It is then peculiarly incumbent upon ministers, in all their studies, pursuits, sermons, publications, and conver- sation, to recollect that their work must be tried by fire ; to anticipate the sentiments, which the day of judgment will obtrude upon them, concerning their present occupa- tions ; and to reflect on the irreparable loss of spending their time of service to no purpose, or perniciously ; to consider the tendency of their undertakings, to compare them with the word of God, and to judge themselves, that they may not be judged of the Lord. For if shame and sorrow could enter heaven, surely the minister, whose work shall be burned, yet he kimself saved as through fire, would be overwhelmed with them ! V. 16—23. When faithful admonitions have no effect on men's minds, their state is very awful. It is proper, however, to warn them, with all solemnity, concerning the guilt and danger of defiling the temple of God by their false doc- trines and bad examples. Many of them will indeed despise the warning, and deceive themselves. The reputa- tion of being wise in this world is no favourable evidence of a man's character ; as the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, who takes the wise in their own craftiness, and exposes the vanity of their counsels and speculations. It cannot therefore be too earnestly incul- cated on all, to cease from their own wisdom, and to be willing to think themselves fools, and to be thought so by others, that they may become wise by the teaching of the word and Spirit of God. But we should all remember that true Christians are the temple of God, who dwelleth in them by his sanctifying Spirit: and they, who know not this, can hardly be thought even babes in Christ. If we are conscious of this spiritual consecration to God, to be his living temples, let us be careful to have our sacred charac- ter adorned by a holy conversation, and to avoid whatever may defile either ourselves or our fellow Christians. And surely he is deceived, who deems himself the temple of the Holy Spirit, and yet is unconcerned, or but little con- cerned, about personal holiness, or about the peace and purity of the Church. If indeed we are the children of God, we have something nobler to glory in, than in men, and our relation and attachment to them : for, all tLinc3 P 2 '5 J. D. 60. 1. CORINTHIANS. ^. D. GO. an. 2 Cor nil 6. b ill 5 in 16-18 Atatt nxiv. 4i 2 Cor iv S. vi 4 XI :n. Col. i. ;S. 1 Tim. iii.fi. ': Luke xii. 42. .t»i. 1-3. Tit. i, 7. 1 Vet. I». .10. • ii. 7. Matt xiii. IV Mark It. II I.ukc vili. 10. Rom. xvi 25. Euli I 9 ii. 3-1',). »1 19 Col i. 26, 27. ii 2 it. 3 1 Tim iii. 3. ID e 17 ■ 10—12 2 Cor li. • Gr. day. iii 13. LET a man so ' account of us as of •" the ministers of Christ, " and stew- ards of the '' mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required in stewards, " that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me ' it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's * judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self: are ours, apostles, prophets, ministers, ordinances, pro- vidential dispensations, earth, heaven, life, death, things temporal, and things eternal ; because we are one with Christ, and his purchased and redeemed people, and he is One with the Father: so that, as the glory of God is displayed in Christ his Son, our salvation is secured in Christ our Head, who will cause us to sit down as con- querors through him " upon his throne, even as he hath " overcome, and hath set down with his Father upon his " throne," NOTES. CHAP. IV. V. 1. Lest the Corinthians should suppose, from what the apostle had said, that little respect or affection was due to their ministers, he here showed them in what estimation they ought to hold them, and by what measure they ought to regulate their regard to them. Whether they were apostles, evangelists, or ordinary teach- ers, they were to consider them, not indeed as lords, but as the ministering servants of Christ for their benefit, in the highest and most important offices ; even as the stewards of the mysteries of God ; that, as his immediate representa- tives, they should, by his authority, preside in his family, take care of his interests and honour, instruct and direct the services of their brethren, and give every one his portion in due season. [Note, Malt. xxiv. 45.) Thus they were intrusted with the mysterious and sublime truths of the Gospel, that they might preach them to the people, and apply them with suitable admonitions, exhortations, en- couragements, and warnings, as every one's case required, in order to the conversion of sinners, and the establish- ment and edification of believers. Some, by the mysteries of God, understand also the administration of the sacra- ments, which were commonly called inysteries by the fathers ; but though this is a part of the minister's work, yet the external ordinances are not called mysteries in .Scripture ; and this name, afterwards given them, helped to lead men to form a wrong judgment concerning them, h was, however, well known, that exact fidelity was the most essential qualification required in a steward : a man of strict probity, attached to his master's interest, and impartial in his conduct towards his fellow servants, might be a valuable steward, though his accomplishments were but moderate ;^but nothing could compensate for the want af faithfulness. Thus a minister, who uprightly and simply sought the glory of God and the good of souls, and who impartially dispensed the truths of God, without respect of persons, or regard to his own interest, honour, ease, or indulgence, would be accepted by the Lord, and «ught to be valued by believers, though not so eminent in 4 For 8 1 know nothing by myself; eJohii«.i« p<. '■ yet am I not hereby justified: ' but he »'«' " scor* il J • I .1 • 1 r I i 13 I Jolio iii. that ludceth me is the Lord. su.21. y 1 nereiore " indere notlmifif before the '« ««*•<• »i. time, ' until the Jjord come, " who both "" ' "H'l- •11 1 • 1-1 1 1-11 1 • ^ ' Hrov. «xl. ». Will bring- to light the hidden things ot l\'"i"' '^<^■^■ darkness, and will make manifest the '| j*''p^«'";' j^' counsels of the hearts : and then shall \^^l^- ;'/ '-jf- every man have " praise of God. iVr 4'So-i3 Jam. iv 11 1 i 7 XI 26 xv 2) Matl xxiv 30.46 1 Tlies. v. 2. Jam.'v 7 2 Pet iii 4. 12 Juoe 14 llei i 7 m iii 13. Ec xi 3. sii li Mai. iv 18 l.uke Xii. 1—3 Horn. II 16 2 Cnr iv 2 Heli iv. 13 Rev xs. 12 o Malt xxv, 21 23. John v. 41 Rom. ii 7.20.2 Cor X. 18. I tet i. 7. v. 4. natural endowments, or even in spiritual gifts and attain- ments, as others were, who sought themselves in their admired niiiiisliations. V. 2 — 5. Ttie apostle counted it a very small matter, compared with the acceptance of his gracious Lord, what judgment the Corinthians, or any man, formed of him ; whether they supposed him to be faithful, or not ; or whether they were offended with him for his faithfulness, and despised him because he had not come with excellency of speech or of- wisdom. Indeed, he did not rely on his own judgment concerning himself; because he was aware of the deceitfulness of the human heart, (which their self- confident teachers ought more deeply to sludy :) for lliough he was not conscious of any unfaithfulness or self-seeking in his mini.stry, yet this was not sufficient to justify him before God, who often saw that evil in the heart which pride hid from the m.'^n himself. He therefore sought to the Lord to judge him, and so waited for that day when he must appear before his tribunal, {^'ote, iii. 10 — 15.) But knowing that many of them were disposed to judge unfavourably of him. through tiie artifices of their se- ducers ; he exhorted them not to judge such matters before the time, but to leave them, till the Lord should come to judgment, when characters and actions would appear in another light than they then did. For he would both discover the secret sins of men's lives, which they had veiled in darkness from the view of their neighbours ; and disclose the motives and intentions, which lay concealed in the impenetrable recesses of the heart ; and which would in many instances appear to be designing, ambitious, and selfish, when a man's words and works were mo.st specious and plausible. Then the faithful steward would be pro- portionably honoured, with the commendation of God himself, which would abundantly counterbalance the con- tempt and reproach of men ; but it must be a day of detection and confusion to all hypocritical, ambitious, and self-seeking teachers, however admired and extolled. ' Hence note, that Jesus Christ must have the knowledge ' of the secrets of the hearts of all men subject to his 'judgment; and so must be that God, who alone knows ' the'hearts of all men. {Whitby.) (Marg. Ref.) ' This ' saying of Paul,' (" Judge nothing before the time,") ' must be restrained to a certain hypothesis : for both the ' spirits are to be tried, and we ought to " judge our- " selves-whether we be in the faith." ' The apostle does ' not even condemn the private judgments of charily ; and ' much less either civil or ecclesiastical polity. For he is ' not properly discoursing ^ibout the examination of men's ' doctrine or manners ; but rather concerning the estimate A. D. 60. CHAPTER IV. A. D. m. • i. 13 Hi. 1-17 6 And "these things, brethren, I have fs'^Si/is Is in a figure transferred to myself and to ''i^lf ixi^'i Apollos, P for your sakes ; " that ye might iT-'m li. !"o * learn in us not to think of men above that V^ vi.n'4 «i'vt which is written, that no one of you "• be " ^ s^e^'Ma" puffed up for one against another. '"■ ' ~ '" 7 For ' who * maketh thee to differ 3.1s sxi Rom »'ih'"sr"iv' i8,y>om another? 'and what hast thou that 1. tJiu. i. N'um thou didst not receive .'* Now if thou didst xl 2S, :9 John iii 26 Col » receive iV, " why dost thou glory, as if 3 iii 4-11. XV. thou hadst not received it ? 10 Rom IS 16 , -. ,, ,, . , -18 Eph ii 3 8 No;v ^ ye are lull, now ye are rich, —5 2 1 lies. 11 ••^11. -.i i^Ti-ii ' 'ti! y^ have reigned as kmgs ^ without us ; Hrdutinguuh- '^ and I would to God " ye did reign, that .''it '5" vii 7 ^^^ a'^° might reign with you. I'chr sxix. 11 — 16 2 Chr i 7— 12 I'rov ij. 6. Mult, xnv 11,15. Luke six 13 John i. 16 ii 27 Ram. i 5 sii 6. .Iain i. 17 1 I'et. i» 10. u v. 0. 2 Uhr. xxxii 23-29 Ez xxviii S-5 xxiK. 3. DaD. iv .30-32 v 18-23. Acts xii. 22, :.r X i S. ill I. 2. . 6. frov xiii 7. xx». U. Is v 2. I.uke \. il-53. vi 25. Horn. xii. 3. 16. Gal. vi 3. Re» iii. 17. y 18 Acts XX 29. ■>n Vh\. i. 27. ii. 13 z Num xi. 29 Acts xxvi, ■Kl 2 Cor. xi. I -—a Ps. cxxil. 5-9 Jer xxviii 6. Rom. xii. 16. 2 Cor. xiii. 9. I Thea ii 19, 20. iii 6—9. 3 Tim. ii. 11, 12. Kev. v. 10. • that is to be made of each person by men, which, says • he, the Lord will at last judge. Finnlly, when he says ' that he " knew nothing by himself," ' it must be re- « ferred to the subject of which he was treating, namely, ' the ministerial office, which he testifies he had fulfilled « among the Coi-inthians with so good a conscience, that • he could not charge himself with any fraud or neg- ' ligence. This wonderfully suited both those teachers, • who seemed to themselves so excellent in comparison of • Paul, and these hearers, who, (like the persons who sat • in the theatre, in order to confer the crown on the best • performer, so boldly extolled or depressed whom they ' would. But indeed, says Paul, ! cannot pronounce ' concerning myself, in tirat manner which ye do concern- • ing me and others.' {Bcsa.) {Note, 2 Cor. i. 12—14.) ' This only forbids our censures of things uncertain, ' of which no righteous judgment can be passed. This ' appears both from the words and the occasion of them. ' From the words, for they respect " the hidden things " of darkness," and " the counsels of the heart." From ' the occasion of them, they passing their censures on • St. Paul, and questioning his fidelity in his office, of - whom they had no authority so to judge, nor occasion so ' to judge.' {fVhilbii.) V. 6, 7. In speaking of those who had been eon-si- dered as heads of different parties at Corinth, the aposde had chiefly mentioned himself and Apollos ; and thus, to avoid giving offence, he had, as by a figure, transferred the case from those who were really concerned, to persons whom he could not be thought disposed to undervalue, that in them the teachers might learn not to be wise in their own conceits, and the peojile not to think too highly of men. calling them masters, or glorying in being their dis- ciples, and thus esteeming them as something more than servants or stewards, or above what he had written accord- ing to the word of God, and on other accounts than because of their faithfulness. Indeed both diey and the teach- ers, (whom they placed in competition with each other, and about w^hom they were puffed up,) should inquire who had made them to differ, either in spiritual gifts, or even 17. 9-i: . Phil i 29,30 IThes cPs. X IV. 22 Horn iii. 36 I Thos. V. 9, 10 Uov vi !l~ll. d Hel) X 33 xi 9 For ^ I think that God liath set forth b , us the apostles last, ' as it were appointed to death : for *" wc are made a f spectacle unto the world, and "^ to angels, and to "^Hom men. 10 We 'are fools ^ for Christ's sake, ^ , . ..,,,. ' t Gr. thialrr. but ye " are wise in Christ : ' we are weak, a;'!"."; ^i, ^'• '' but ye are strong ; ye are honourable, ^'7"~'''- ""' ' but we are despised. f,'j '8-=°^ ^e- 11 Even " unto this present hour we jf hu^'"|''?,* both Itunger, and thirst, ° and are naked, 4' xxviii. " " and are buffeted, p and have no certain ^j^iLj^y,,,*: dwelling-place; 12 And ilabc hands: ' being reviled, we bless; ^ being iy'"3°2c persecuted, we suffer it : 9l']o.''xi?i*3,4!'9'. k iii. 2. X. 12. 1 Prov. xi. 12 Is. liii. 3. Luke x. 18. xiiii. 9. I Thes. iv 8. in ix. 4. 2 Cor vi 4,5 x> S7 Phil, iv 12. n Uom viii 35 o Acts xiv. 19. svi 23. xxiii 2. 2 Cor xi. 23— 25 2 Tim iii 11 p Matt. viii. 20 q is. 6 Acta xviil, 3 XX 3.1 1 Thes. ii. 9. 2 Thes. iii. e 1 Tim iv 10. r Matt, v 44. Luke vi 23. xsm. 34 Acts vii 60. Horn xii. 14. 20. I Pet. ii 23. iii. 9 Jude 9. s Matt. v. 11. 1 Pet. iii. 14 iv 12-14. 19. by converting grace, from their idolatrous neighbours or their fellow Christians. Was this difference the effect of their superior merit, docility, or goodness ? What had they, which they had not received as free gifts, or as talents committed to their stewardship ? Why then did they glory in them, and boast of them, as if they had been the independent authors of those endowments, by which they were distinguished from others, and were authorized to employ them to their own glory or advantage, without being accountable to God for them ? Surel} , such self- exaltation must be most absurd, abominable, and sacri- legious. It is evident, that the apostle is here more im- mediately speaking of natural abilities and spiritual gifts, and not of special and efficacious grace. Yet if we all are by nature entirely depraved, if we must be born again, and new created, if it " is God that workcth in us to " will and to do of his good pleasure," and if " by grace " we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, " it is the gift of God," the apostle's reasoning seems equally conclusive against all kinds and degrees of spi- ritual pride, and glorying in ourselves and other men, as against that which he was specially opposing. V. 8. After the apostle had left Corinth, and the Church had got more eloquent or flattering teachers, they were satisfied and pleased : they thought themselves rich a^d happy, and seemed to reign as kings without him and his fellow-labourers, who had treated them as children, and kept them under, more than was agreeable to them. Many of them, it is probable, were in prosperous circum- stances, and exempted from persecution ; they had abun- dance of spiritual gifts, they grew vain of their distinctions, and they deemed themselves pre-eminent above other churches, and so used this improper language one among another. But the apostle intimated, that this was a mere delusion ; he most cordially desired that they should be as happy, prosperous, honourable, and eminent, as they thought themselves ; for then he knew that he should have comfort in them, and credit among them. If they had really reigned as kings, he should have reigned with them, instead of be- ing despised by them, in addition to all his other troubles.. A. D. GO. I. CORINTHIANS. Ji. D. 60. y e,i hi 21 Acts xx. 31. Col. i. £b. 1 Thei. T. H z 2 Tim iv 3. a ill. e in. ix. I. 3 AcU xuii i — U. Horn ST. SO 2 Cor. lii. 1 —3. Gal. iv 19 Tit. i. i- J'liilem 10-12. 19. .lano i. 18. 1 I'et 1. 113 I. XI. I Jolin X 4, i. Phil. Ill 17. 1 Thes '. 6. B Thes iil. 9. Heb. »iii. 7. 1 Pet. V. 3. c xvi 10 Acts xis 21.22 Hhil. ii. 19. 1 Thei iii 1.3 Bcino- dofamcd, \vc entreat: ' wc arc made a.s tlic /iltli of the world, and arc the off-scouring of all things unto this day. 14 1" write not these things to shame you, but, as * my beloved sons >' I warn you. 15 For though ' ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have yc not many fatliers: " for in Christ Jesus I have be- gotten yon through the Gospel. 16 Wiierefore 1 beseech you, "^ be ye followers of me. 17 For this cause have "= I sent unto you Timotheus, '' who is my beloved son, 2. 6. d 15 1 Tim. l. 2 2 Tim. i.2 eS. TliJS Num. Iil 7 Prov.«iii Matt iiir. 21. 23. Col i. 1 It, 9; and ' faithful in tlie Lord, who shall brin you into rcmen)brancc of '' my ways whic be in Christ, as I teach every where in "ph 11 Col every church. in 1 8 Now some ^ are puffed up, as f vk i" x'%'?6 ■ III I 1 i I "'i- '• 2 Tim. tliougri I would not come to you. >v lo. 19 But '' I will come to you shortly, ' if h^>.v, .■. AcUixii. the Lord will, and will know, ''not the -i' ssV i.s. speech of them which are puffed up, but "<"» »'" s?; .' 11' Hel) vi. 3. Jan. the power. ^"^ '> 20 For ' the kingdom of God is not in ,'. \^ .. word, but in power. r?'"ii\ '^''"'i 21 What will ye.' " shall I come unto j^Vi,e,"i'5.' *' you with a rod, or in love, "and in the ""^^^g^ ^"i^j^- spirit of meekness .'' n2 Cor. X, I. I Tiies V. 9—13. It appeared to St. Paul, that God had chosen the apostles to be set apart, like those condemned persons in the public shows, who were brought forth /a.s/, without any defensive armour, to fight with each other, oi- to be exposed to wild beasts, till they were slain in the sight of the spectators, and who, if they escaped at that lime, were only reserved to another day of slaughter, being appointed unto death, and having no hope of more than a short respite. Thus the apostles were distinguished by a larger share of contempt, hardship, and suffering, than any of their brethren, and were appointed to martyrdom at the end of their course, and as the only termination of their trials 5 tliat, conflicting with exceedingly urgent difficulties and distresses, in patient faith and persevering hope, and .supported by omnipotent grace, they might be a spectacle to th? whole intelligent creation, both men and angels, while all holy beings beheld them with solicitous affection and astonishment, and unholy beings with malice, rage, and disappointment. In this conflict Paul and his brethren were counted fools for Christ's sake, not only by uncon- verted Jews and Gentiles, but by the Chri'^tians at Corinth also, who seemedj to be wise in Christ, through the ad- mired instructions of their speculating teachers, the liberty to which they supposed themselves entitled, and the politic methods which they used for escaping contempt and per- secution. They deemed the apostle, and such as he, weak, timid, and scrupulous Christians, "nen of feeble minds, narrow capacities, and inferior attainments ; but they sup- posed themselves strong in faith, of great discernment, and superior to such fears and disquietudes as troubled others. Nay, it is probable that they deemed themselves honour- able on account of their affluence, knowledge, and wis- dom, and despised the apostle and hi,? fri(-nds, as mean and obscure persons. Thus, while they lived in plenty, he and his conijjanions in travel, (and probably the other apostles.) continued even to that day exposed lo hunger and thirst ; they often wanted even suitable raiment to appear in before their auditories, they were buffeted with contem|)t and cruelty, they wandered about without any settled habita- tion, and they earned their mean and scanty subsistence by the labour of their own hands. Yet, when they were reviled, they blessed and prayed for those who reproiched ihem ; Uiey endured persecution patiently, they returned humble entreaties for defamation ; but, while thus render- ing good for evil, they were treated as the fdlh of the world, and the refuse and scum of the earth, even to that very time ; they were considered as below contemjit, or as wor- thy of execration, as pestilences and nuisances, who ought to be extirpated and purged out of society, as the common sewer carries away the filth a.id offscouring of the city, to (jrevent infection and disease. {Mar 13. uninfluenced by, the opinion of others ; and many are thus tempted to waver or warp from the constancy of their testimony. Yet men must be incompetent judges ; nsy, though we know more of ourselves than any others can do of us, yet our own judgment is not to be depended on, in respect of our faithfulness, any more than our own works, in respect of our justification. We should therefore rely in this, as in all other things, on the Lord ; beseeching him to preserve us from deceiving ourselves, and to plead our cause against unjust censures and suspicions : and in respect of others, we should iti all doubtful matters refrain from passing judgment, wait- ing till the Lord come: (IS'ote, Malt. vii. 1 — 5.) Then every secret will be disclosed, every heart will he laid open, and all counsels manifested ; every hypocrite will be unmasked, every slandered believer justified, and every faithful servant and steward applauded and rewarded. Waiting for that solemn season, and preppji'ng to render our account, we should beware of thinking of ourselves, or of otheis, above what is written in God's word, and of being puffed up for one against another ; lest we should desj)ise those whom God will then honour, applaud those whose hidden things of darkness he will disclose, or trust in man instead of the Lord himself. If we duly consider what we are by nature and practice ; who hath made us in any respect to differ from others ; and from whom we have received all our talents ; we shall see no ground of glorying in ourselves on any account, but rather of shame and humiliation before God, even if in some respects we are distinguished from our brethren, and if we do not over-rate our endowments. V. 8—13. Fallen man is most apt to count himself full, rich, and honourable, when he is most blind, poor, and naked j and mere professors of the Gospel, like glow-worms, shine most in the dark, as to their own opinion of themselves. The absence of faithful ministers concurs with the smooth and enticing words of false teachers, to buoy them up in vain-confidence, and to lead them to admire the wisdom of avoiding the cross, of attempting to serve God and mam- mon, and of deeming self-indulgence the summit of evan- gelical liberty. But such ministers as most desire, and would most rejoice in, their real prosperity, will be the last to congratulate them on their admission into this ' fool's paradise;' and they may know to what a precarious and carnal kingdom ihey are aflvanccd,by their shyness to those pastors, who will also reign with them, if ever they are admitted into the kingdom of heaven. They whom God hath most honoured, have always been proportionably despised, hated, and abused by men ; and tljcir guf^trings, even unto death, have made ihom an interesting speciacle to all the intelligent creation. The con&idej-stipn t}ia{ i?& .^. D. 60. 1. CORINTHIANS T is " reported commonly that there is J. D. 60. X ^ fornication among you, '■ and sach HI II. Gen xxxvii. 2 ISam il. 21. _ Vcu'xt' lu^ij. fornication as is not so much as named Vix'v. I*" Epb. amon but y^Josh xxiv. u. with the unleavened bread of sincerity J°*^">,2''',..? and truth. ?■ , ^p''.,.^',!'" , _ 1 Joint ill. 18— 9 H 1 wrote unto you in an epistle, ^),^ . , , p_.^^ ^ not to company with fornicators : n K,b v^Vi*'' 10 Yet Miot altocrcther with the for- ?f I'". '^ ;.. O , o 1 *:0 John VIM. nicators '' of this world, or with the |^' g.^'ii^ ie'''2 covetous, or extortioners, or with idola- h"^ 'Yjohnlvi ters; ''for then must yc needs go out of/„,J't , u-m. the world. ' law, with no favourable auspices, by no authority ! Oh ! ' incredible wickedness ! and unheard of through life, ex- ' cept in this one instance.' (Cicero.) V. 6 — 8. It Avas evident that the Corinthians had no good cause to glory in their eminence and prosperity, for their connivance at the gross wickedness before mentioned was alone sufficient to prove that pure religion was greatly declined among them. What! did the)' not know that a little leaven would soon ferment and sour the whole lump of dough? And that corrupt principles and examples, if connived at, would diffuse their baleful efficacy through the whole Church ? The judgment of men would thus be corrupted, their conduct -would be lax and licentious, and they would altogether become a scandalous commu- nity. As the Jews tJiercfore used to search with candles in every corner of their houses, that they might cast out all the leaven before they made the unleavened bread for the passovcr, so ought they to purge out such crimes and offenders. These evils, however congenial with their old state of idolatry, were utterly inconsistent with the purity of a Christian Church, which should be a new lump, as they were to resemble the unleavened bread used at the ]5assover. The Jews, indeed, had only the type and shadow of good things to come, in their appointed feast ; but Christ himself, the true Passover, had been sacrificed for his Church, to atone for their sins, and to be the spiritual sustenance of their souls. It behooved them therefore to keep the sacred feast, not with the old leaven of heathea licentiousness, nor yet with the leaven of malice, ambi- tion, and contention, but with that simplicity and sin- cerity of repentance and holy obedience, which were the truth and substance shadowed forth by the unleavened bread. This might either be applied to the habitual feast of communion with God, by faith in Christ, or to their commemorating his death in the Lord's supper ; and it included both personal purity, and the purity of the reli- gious society. {Notes, &ic. Ex. xii.) Some expositors con- fidently maintain that the incestuous person was one of the teachers who opposed the apostle, or the opposing teacher, supposing that the apostle had a single false teacher in his mind. But this is not probable ; and in the second epistle, where he directs the Corinthians to comfort the incestuous person, a.s brought to deep repentance, and in danger of being " swallowed up of over much sorrow," he yet speaks of " false apostles, ministers of Satan, trans- " formed into the ministers of righteousness," which indeed wholly subverts this su]iposition. Lewdness ' is ' the old leaven to bo purged out, because the Corinthians ' were infamous for it to a proverb.' {Wkitbi/.') Q :l D. GO. I. CORINTHIANS. Jl. D. 60. J ''.6, ?"."•. '5 11 But now I have nrittcn unto you, Till II Actiix. . . , • 'J . „,n not to keep company, il any man tliat i& c6»m, 1 T.0.10 r I . ' _J , ?• ' '-~?\-,?'^ called a broth«i be ' a loifiicator, ' or Cor XII. SO, 21 . ' tSm' ivra-s' covetous, ■; or an idolater, '' or a railer, ' or ixi' a'xxu. li" a drunkard, '' or an extortioner; ' wilii 12 For " what have I to do to judge '"j^h''„''J^*i"35'*' them also that are without t " do not je ".J!*'* 'Th«''!'T: judge them that are witiiin.'' o'Ti.')-y"''" J 3 But them that are without, ^''.-i 31" b^oo. *■ God judgeth. "> Therefore put away i' jV"*^?'"" from among yourselves that wicked per-^li's' ,"'"7. „„„ ' x.l Sl.x1il.2i. son. u Ec IX. IB. V. 9 — 13. Probably the aposll c had in some jirevious cjislle, (which has not been preserved,) warned the Corin- thians not to associate with fornicators, or persons who were known to live in any kind of lewdness. Some expositors indeed are of opinion, that the apostle did not refer to any epistle which he had before written, but to ■what he had enforced in the preceding verses of this chapter. But this certainly is not the most obvious mean- ing of the passage. And why should we sujipose, that all his letters, (any more than all his sermons,) must be preserved as a part of the sacred voluaie ? Can it be thought probable, on reflection, that this zealous apostle, so admirably qualified to give epistolary instruction, who lay so long in prison, and was, in various ways, so long kept at a distance from his friends and children, should, in the course of his whole ministry, write no more letters than arc now extant ? However this may be, he did not mean to prohibit all intercourse with fornicators, or with covetous men, or with such as oppressed the poor by ini- quitous enactions ; or even with idolaters, provided they were not professed Christians ; for so general were these crimes, diat such a prohibition would have been equivalent to a command to leave their families and occupations, and to become hermits and recluses, which would by no means be for their good, or for the honour of God. He would therefore now more explicitly say, that if one called a brother, a member of the Christian Church, was guilty of fornication, or similar crimes, or of reviling, or intem- perance, he ought not only to be excommunicated, but his society should be shunned, as infectious, by every be- liever, and they all ought even to refuse to eat with him, till he had given evidence of his sincere repentance. Thus the infection might be stopped, and the scandal prevented, and the most effectual method would be taken to convince offenders of their guilt and danger. But the aposde did not deem himself required, or authorized, to determine any thing concerning those that were not professed Chris- tians, (which might be the reason why no mention is made of censuring the woman who had been guilty in ihis matter, she probably being a heathen,) but did it not belong to them to exercise a judicial authority over the members of their own Church, and to censure the scan- dalous ? (iv. 5.) As for those without, they must be left to the judgment of God, who would not permit them to escape unpunished. Therefore, let the Corinthians proceed to do their duty, by putting away from among them this notorious offender, without regarding the di.spleasure that might be excited by it; otherwise the apostle would be compelled to coiiic unto them with a rod, and to exert his miraculous powers in inflicting punishments on them. — Dr. Hn.n-nond, and some others, by far-fetched criticisms, interpret almost all the words here used of some kind or degree of lewdness. Thus the C'lvdotis the extortioners, and even the ruilcrs, are supposed to mean debauched or licen- tious characters, a.s if covetousness. extortion, and reviling, were not totally inconsistent with Christianity, or as if such a writer as St. Paul would have needlessly accumu- lated words, in speaking of one species of wickedness, and not have dropped a hint concerning other kinds of wicked- ness, which are equally abominable in the sight of God! PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1— a. — o»^~- How grievous is it, that those crimes should sometimes be notoriously committed by professors of the Gospel, which heathens would be ashamed of! Wo be to the world because of such offences ! And wo be to them by whom such offences come ! yea, to those by whom they arc connived at! Spiritual pride, ambition, and false doctrines and teachers, directly tend to introduce and per- petuate these scandals ; for men's gifts, influence, notions, and connexions, are in such circumstances more regarded than their conduct. So that religious societies, as well as individuals, are generally most puffed up, when they have most need to be ashamed, and to mourn ; and sometimes those men arc gloried in, especially when eminent in gifts or affluence, who must be taken away, as mortified limbs, before the Church can thrive in vital godliness. When a man has wisdom, zeal, and love, he can have but one judgment in cases of this kind; and if he possesses autho- rity or influence, he will use it, whether present or absent, in exciting those, who are more ('''Jiediately concerned, to prefer the honour of the Gospel to every personal or party- interest, to venture all consequences in bearing testimony against such scandals, and to separate from among them those who have done such deeds. It would be desirable that all the ministers and Churches of Christ were enabled to exercise this salutary di.scipline, in the name and by the authority of their Lord, and to deliver over into the visi- ble kingdom of Satan, all who evidently disgrace their pro- fession, and that those who have such discipline among them, did always exercise it with exact impartiality, due solemnity, and tender compassion to the souls of offenders. But, alas ! it hath been so generally abused by men's carnal passions, or rendered ineflicient by family-connexions, secular and party-influence, and an undue regard to the rich above the poor, that a more complete revival cf pure and spiritual religion seems necessary, before it can pro- duce its full effect. Far more, however, might be done in most places than now is, if fear of man, respect of persons, and carnal policy, did not sometimes deter those concern- ed from decidedly acting according to their judgment. But, alas! many even glory in their prosperous state, when J. D. 60. CHAPTER VI. A. D. 60. CHAP. VI. The Corinthians arc reproved for going (o law before hcaihsn viagistrales, instead of ^cllUng their differe^iccs among them- selves, 1 — G, and for selfishness and dis- honesty, 7, 8. A''cithcr fornieators, adul- terers, S,'c. nor thieves, nor covetous persons, nor drtmkai-ds, nor rcvikrs, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdotn of God, 9, 10. Sojne of the Corinthians had been such, but they loerc ivashed, Sco., 11. All lawful things arc not ex- pedient, 12. Christians, whose bodies arc the members of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit, must flee fornica- tion, as a sin against their own bo- dies, 1 3 — 1 9 ; that as bought ivith a price, they may glorify God in body and soul, 20. abuses prevail, which fully authorize us to say, " your glorying is not good." Few seem suflicicntly aware, that "a little leaven leavcneth the whole lump ;" and that the honour and success of the Gospel, and the flourishing of the Church, require that the old leaven be diligently sought out and purged away, though the numbers and wealth of the society should be greatly diminished by it; and that none should be deemed a part of the true Church, Avho docs not appear to have renounced and mortified his old sins, that thus the whole company may be a new and unleavened mass. So far is the sacrifice of " Christ our Passover for us" from rendering this personal and public sanctification unnecessary, that it furnishes the most cogent reasons and effectual motives for it ; else we can neither live by faith in him, nor join in his ordinances, with comfort and profit. Tiiis feast cannot be solemnized, thcic provisions cannot be relished, along with the old leaven of sensual indulgence, or that of malice and wick- edness, but must be attended with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. V. 9—13. When individuals, who mourn over those that have done evil, cannot prevail to have them put away from among them, they should refuse to associate with them, and protest against their scandals by withdrawing from them : and though we should not be severe on the infir- mities, or even the occasional falls, of such as are humbled for them, yet when any one, who professes the Gospel, is a fornicator, or covetous, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, charity itself requires of us to avoid all fel- lowship with him, even more than we do with persons guilty of similar crimes, who make no profession of religion ; lest we should appear to allow of his sins, be- cause ho is of our party and sentiments. But how grievous is it, that we must needs still go out of the world, (though called Christian.) if we should resolutely refuse DARE any of you, having " a niattcf 'i^.'^'a",!,";,!.!-: against anotlicr, ''go to law before hV; 7*"'"^" (he unjust, aiul not befoie "^ the saints .'' '^I'.'ij'"'" "^ 2 Do ye not know that'' the saints shall "cx'Sxl-o'Dap judge the world .'' and if the world shall xi'v be judged by you, arc ye unworthy to judge * the smallest matters.'^ 3 Know yc not that we shall ^ judge an- c^^i^cor i^. le sch? how much inoic thino^s that sper- r.vaVxxv.ii.^t ? ■ . 4U- Vr -i l'et.ii4 Ju.leC tain to this liie.'' 54. Ps xvu. w 4 If then '' ye have judgments of xxi%""Tim things pertaininjr to this life, set them to h » 12 judge, ' who are least esteemed m the church. kij u. xi. 14. 5 I speak '' to your shame. ' Is it so, i*'' is i»- >«• that there is not a wi_se man among you .'' Jjf jj- *. lii. no, not one that shall be able to judge "^i/- *^/i"„*^j- between his brethren.'' rxsKMi^'^Au.' (i But '" brotlier gocth to law with ;jj \l •'['']„;', brother, and that before the unbelievers, ii,!""- ''" " Zch. Malt I.uki. XSii 30 1 riip«. iii. 13 Rev ii £6, 27. hi. •.\ all intercourse with such characters as arc here described ! So prevalent is vice on every side ! We must, however, leave those that are without, and who are strangers or ene- mies to the doctrines of grace, to the judgment of God. We should first judge ourselves, and take heed to give no offence to others : then we should shun such professors of the Gospel, as would be an offence to us, and a reproach to the cause ; and thus attending to our own duty in this respect, we should wait and pray for times of greater purity in the Church of God. NOTES. CHAP. VI. V. 1—6. The apostle here reproved another lamentable evil in the Corinthian Church. He abruptly inciuired, as one astonished, whether afiy of them could venture to go to law with their brethren before the heathen magistrates, who were unrighteous persons, and might be expected to be unjust judges in such matters. Whereas they ought to have decided all their differences, (if such there were,) by the arbitration of the saints, the holy disciples of Christ. What ! with all their superior knowledge, did they not understand that believers, being first declared righteous and heirs of God, at the day of judgment will be assessors with Christ in judging the world, and will concur in the sentence denounced by him against the wicked ? And if this honour was intended them, were they not worthy to be intrusted with the decision of such causes, as related only to the comp^'ra- tively trifling concerns of this life ? Whereas, even fallen angels, whose slaves they once were, and by whom they were long harassed, will be judged by them ; and the punishment of those proud and malignant spirits will be embittered by this mortifying circumstance. If, then, they had causes relative to secular matters to determine, they need not take off the ministers of the Go.= pcl from their work, nor select such as were qualified for othef services : even thoseofinferitfr abilities and estimation in the Church Q2 .7. D. CO. n Prov. xsT. P— 1(1. Hos. X. 'J .lam iv 1-3. V I'rov XX. 82 M;\tt, V :i. p I (-V vi 23 iii. 17 1-J. V. 15 ,1. l9-2a. xix. l.l L' .Mul iii 5. Miyrti MarkK. 19 Col iii Si. 1 'Dies r Ex xxviii 1- I.I 7 Zech V 3. A I XXV 34. Gal V. 7 Now therefore " there is utterly a fault among- you, because ye go to law one with another: ''>Vhytlo ye not rather take wrong ? why do ye not rather snffer yourselves to be defrauded ? « Nay, I' ye do wrong, and defraud, and that yovr brethren. 9 t Know ye not that the ■■ unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? be not deceived : neither ' fornicators, nor Bu. xis. 15. 35, 36 Deut- xxv. 13-16. Prov xi. 1. xxii. H Is. x. 1.2. Iv. Is xxiv. 2b. lloni. 1 lu. 1 Tim. i. 9. 3 10. xv. 50. Jlalt xix. 29. •were competent for this business. At present they acted in such a manner as was very shameful ; for after having greatly gloried in their wisdom and gifts, there seemed to be not so much as one wise man among them, not one, that could be trusted as an arbitrator between his brethren ! So that such disputes were carried before the unbelievers, ■who would thence natiii'ally conclude the Christians to be a .selfish and litigious set of men. Doubtless, therefore, there was a great fault among them, which could not be pal- liated : their quarrels proved them carnal and selfish : this cfl'ect of them was exceedingly dishonourable to the Gos- pel ; and their connivance at these scandals proved, that the Church was far from being in a flourishing state. The .fews were allowed to settle matters of property among themselves, according to their own law ; and Christians would doubtless be admitted to exercise the same kind of authority •, yet voluntary reference to arbitration seems rather to be intended. ' The apostle is not treating con- ' cerning the cause to be judged between believers and ' unbelievers, nor of the public administration of justice ; ' but of those dilTerences, which nothing hindered from 'being settled by private arbitration. If the Corinthians ' had been such as they ought to have been ; this question ' would have been superfluous : for no one would have given ' his brother any occasion for litigation. To decide such ' matters as diese, they ought by no means to employ the ' pastors, or teachers, or other rulers, of the Church, or ' the deacons ; who were fully occupied in their sacred ' fnnctions : but rather they should choose some of those '(afterwards called the laity,) who being less taken up in ' sacred services, might be more at leisure to attend to ' these secular concerns.' (Besa.) The word rendered leant esteemed, is elsewhere translated, despised, or set al noiight. {i. "25!. xvi. 11. Luke xviii. 9. xxiii. 11. Acts iv. II. Rom. xiv.3. 10. 2 Cor. x. 10. Gal.iv. !4. 1 Tlics. V. 20.) ' It is full of sense, signifying to esteem a man ' to have no worth in him, to disdain, vilify, and nullify ' a man ; to set at nought, and basely to esteem a ' thing.' (Leigh.) ' If you still retain your secular ' judicatures, you set them to be judges over you, who ' arc despised in the Church.' {iVhilhy.) This learned writer reads the clause interrogatively : •' Do ye set them " to judge, who are despised in the Church?" But did the Church avowedly despise and set at nought those very magistrates, whom the apostles eoinnian.Sf(;on, vil z xii 2. Rom. vi. 17-19. Eph. il S— IV 17-22. v. 8 Col iii 5-7 Tit iii 3 1 Pet iv 2. 3 - -« P3 li 2 7 Prov nx 12 Is 15 Jcr. iv. 14 Kl \\%y\. 25- John \ i 26, 27. ."^ I Tim. 1.10 that the original word was ever used in that sense. In fact, none of the interpretations above given are fully satisfactory : for the meanest Christian could not be des- pised and set at nought in the Church, except as that Church was corrupted. But may not the apostle refer to the vain glory and self-wisdom of the leading persons at Corinth, who would, by necessary consequence, despise such as were inferior to them in knowledge, utterance, and spiritual gifts, in proportion as they exalted them- selves ? Yet the meanest real and experienced Christians, whom they set at nought, were competent to decide such causes as they brought before the heathen magistrates •, perhaps more competent than their despisers. V. 7, 8. ' There is a fault among you, tliat you go ' to law at all ; it being either, on the one side, want of ' patience and Christian contentment, that you do not ' rather bear some injuries, than thus seek to redress ' them ; or, on the other, covetousness and injustice, which ' move you to do wrong to, and defraud, your brethren.' {Whitby.) No doubt there were faults on both sides, though the dishonest party was most criminal. Fault. (i'mifta.) ' That is, a w«nt of fortitude of mind, which ' causes you to be " overcome with evil," — whencedis- ' putes and litigations arise.' (Besa.) (Marg. Ref.) V. 9 — 11. The apostle here plainly declared his doubts concerning some of the professed Christians at Corinth, as their conduct was so contrary to the precepts of God's word. What, did they not know that unjust or dishonest persons shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? There is "vast energy in these inquiries, when we consider that they were addressed to a people, who were puffed up with an imagination of their superiority to others in wisdom and knowledge. If, however, they did not pay a proper re- gard to so plain and evident a truth, he must warn them not to deceive themselves, or each other, and to take heed that Satan did not deceive them : for they would certainly find, that persons who lived in the practice of any of the vices and iniquities which he proceeded to enumerate, would be excluded from heaven at last, whatever their profession, gifts, or creed, had been. The word effeminate does not seem merely to denote persons of a soft and self- indulgent temper and conduct in other matters, but such as violated the order of nature by abominable practices, only to be named with those of " the abusers of them- '• selves with mankind." He did not, however, mean, that they, who had been guilty of these or similar abomi- nations, were excluded from salvation ; for even some of M. D. 60. CHAPTER Vr. J. D. (jO. ix. 12 S. 21- 33. Rom XIV 15-23 2 Thes ill. 9 • Or, pro/ilabU. fix. 37 llom vii 14 He'. XII IS, 16 Jude 12 gMatt. XV. 17, Mark vii 19. Kom xiv 17 kx. 3-5 Jnhn Ti 27 19, Col, 9. 2 Cor. V. IS, xi 2 Eph. V 23 9. viii. II. 2 Cor 12 H All "^ things are lawful unto mc, but all things '' arc not * expedient : all things are lawful for me, ' but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 ^ Meats for the bellj, and the belly for meats : '' but God shall destroy both it and them. New, the body is not for fornication, ' but for the Lord ; and the Lord for the body. 1 4 And ^ God hath both raised up the . 24 svli. 31. Rom. the true Christians at Corinth had been habitually criminal in many of these respects ; and probably most of theni in one or other of them. But, then, they had been washed, not only by the water of baptism, but in " the Fountain *' opened for sin and uncleanness ;" so that they were sanctified froni the love and practice of sin, and to the love and service of God, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, as well as pardoned and justified by faith in the name of the Lord Jesus. Thus their character and con- duct were changed, as well as their state : but if any one of them still practised these vices, he deceived himself, if he supposed himself to be an accepted believer. The arrangement of the expressions in the eleventh verse shows, that no argument can be drawn merely from that circumstance, in respect of controverted points of doctrine. * Here is the figure called Hyperbaton : for we " are " justified in the name of the Lord Jesus," ' and " sanc- " tified by the Spirit of our God." (So Philem. 5.) * To be justified, still signifies, (in all Paul's epistles,) to ' be absolved from the guilt of sin, and approved as righ- * teous, either at present, or before God's tribunal. And » so " the name of Christ," ' when wc are said to be 'justified by it, must signify faith in Christ dying for * us ; " for in him shall all that believe be justified." (^Wliitby.) ' The apostle begins with those vices, with * which a rich and luxurious city abounded, seriously * warning them, that repentance and forgiveness, justifica- * tion and sanctification, are joined by an indissoluble bond.' (Beza.) V. 12 — 17. It is surprising that expositors should speak of the Judaiziny; teachers as the authors of the divisions at Corinth, when their philosophizing disposition, and their abuses of Christian liberty, plainly show them to have been speculating Gentile converts, who ran into the opposite extreme, and introduced a specious system of anti- Domianism. As all meats might lawfully be eaten, the ceremonial law being no longer in force, they were dis- posed to extend the same principle even to fornication, as if that too were only prohibited by the ceremonial law, or as if the moral law also had lost its force ! This false principle, added 'to their heathen maxims and habits, seems to have made way for their connivance at the conduct of the incestuous person. Now, says the apostle, admitting the truth of this position, that " all things are lawful to " a Christian," which might be granted in respect of meats, yet all things arc not expedient to him, or con- Lord, and will also raise up us ' by his uoi.nv. ss, 29. own power. a!^K,!u f?*; 1.0 Know yc not that "■ your bodies are nfig. Ill 2." J!:. the members of Christ.^ shall I then take Etih"",'." 2!,"'2?i the nicmbei-s of Christ, and make them V! 23"3o' "cok the members of an harlot.'* " God forbid, "'cen' xiiv 17 16 Wiiat! know ye not that he which R™ '"..?• ' is joined to "an harlot is one body.'' p for y." ■'■.Pi'^"' two (saith he) shall be one Hesh. o'i:. n xx "iv 31 17 But 0 he that is joined unto the "fV'"' "^''^ '■' L, . . . J Judg XVI. I. ord IS one spirit. ■*'"",, ,"'. "• sistent with his real benefit, and that of his brethren or neighbours : so that even this liberty must be used under certain limitations. {Notes, Rom. xiv. 13 — 23.) More- over, a Christian should habituate all his natural inclina- tions to subjection ; and not allow them, by unrestricted in- dulgence, even in lawful things, to obtain a power over him, so that he cannot refrain when it is requisite that he should. Indeed, all kinds of i'ood were created for the support of the body, and for no other purpose ; and the stomach and bowels were formed to receive, digest, and convert them into nourishment: yet both the meat and the body, (in respect of its present subsistence,) will soon be destroyed, according to the appointment of God. But he did not form the body, to be em])loyed in fornication and promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, which coun- teract, and, if universal, would entirely defea., the design of the Creator, in making them male and female ; namely, the increase of the human species, and the proper training of children, and all the comforts and advantages of relative and domestic life, as springing from honourable marriage. But even this was a very subordinate end, for which their bodies were created : for they were " for the Lord," to be employed in his service ; especially the bodies of believers were " for the Lord Jesus," to be presented as living, sacrifices to him, and employed as instniments of righ- teousness to his glory, {Notes, Bom. vi. 12. 13 — 16. xii. 1 ;) and the Lord Jesus was appointed to be the Saviour, Proprietor, and happiness, of the body as well as of the soul : for God had raised him up from the grave, as the earnest of the resurrection of all his people, by his power, to glory and immortality. And did they not know that their bodies were members of Christ's mystical body, the Church ? Was it then meet that the body of a believci-, which stood in so high and honourable a relation to the Lord of glory, the incarnate Son of God, should be dis- graced and abused by a- vile intercourse with a harlot '! They ought to know, that this was to become one body, or flesh, with a licentious woman, by a most degrading and pernicious deviation from the original institution of marriage. Whereas he that was united to tlic Lord was one spirit with him ; this union was formed by the com- munication of the Holy Spirit, and was of a spiritual and sacred nature, comprising a conformity of judgment and disposition, and a sympathy of soul : and could a Christian think of being one spirit with Christ, and one flesh with an harlot ? A. D. GO. I. CORINTHIANS. A. D. 60«. ficn.xxsix. 12 18 ' Flcc fornication. Every sin that —18. Frov. ti. 11- • 1 1 1 1 1 .. I i5~'vi li-^ ^ "^^'^ docth IS v'llhoiit tlic body ; but lie '6-*8 '"'^Tm ^^''^^ comniittcth ibrnicalion " sinnctli y.22. iPei li against liis own body. 19 ' What! know yc not tliat " yonr 1. 16 scor body is the temple of tlie Holy Ghost i. 16 Eph 11.11,22. 1 I'et. ii.5. s Uom. I I Tties. iv t 15, 16 which is in yon, which ye have of God, ^' ^'"P' " ■• , "^ -4 ' I Cbr xiis. 14. " anti ye arc not yonr own .-* boid'kiV i-f 20 For ^ ye are bought with a price : \^^\ ,i "• therefore ' Cflorify God in your body, and Vi' se^cai*!,'' in your spirit, wliich are God'.s 2 I'ct ii. 1 Kov. V C z X. 31. Ma't V. 18 — 20. As this vice was so inconsistent witli Christian hoHness, and as the temptation of the Corin- thians to it, from former bad habits, the example of their neighbours, and abundant opportunities, would be many, they ought to flee from it, as from an enemy whom they dared not face : they should shun all incentives to it, and reject every thought of it or solicitation to it, without parleying with them. For it might further be ob.-crved, that other sins in general have their chief cfiVrt upon the mind rather than on the body, and commonly injure others more immediately dian the man himself : but lewd per- sons not only sin against God, their neighbours, and their own souls, but against their own bodies also ; dishonouring and abusing them to the vilest purposes, and bringing upon them the most painful, loathsome, and destructive diseases. Thus they, as it were, take their bodies, and, by an act of cruelly to themselves, and gradual suicide, present them for sacrifice to the fjlthiest demons. This is in some degree the case in other kinds of sensual excess ; but far more in respect of this vice than any other : as every one must know, who is acquainted with the horrible effects of lewdness in populous cities, and with the vast multitudes that are annually cut off, in early life, and in- the most deplorable manner, by the various diseases, with which it hath pleased God to show his abhorrence of it. Moreover, Christians ought to know that their bodies were consecrated to be the temples of the Holy Ghost, who dwelt in them, as the gift of the Father through the Son, to consecrate them to God, and prepare them for his glory ; so that in this respect too they were no longer their own, but the property of God the Spirit, who had taken pos- session of them as his holy habitation. For they had been redeemed from merited condemnation and hopeless slavery, by the atoning sacrifice of Qirist, who, having thus bought them with a price, had acquired for himself, and for the Father and the Sjjirit, as One with him, a new and endear- ing right to them and their services, in addition to that which he had as their Creator. So that, being wholly and on every account the Lord's, they were bound to devote both body and soul to his glory, in every service to which he called them, and to make no other use of either body or soul, than was consistent with that holy and entire dcvotedncss to God. The language of this chapter is remarkable : " God the Father will raise the bodies of " believers by his own j)0?i'fr," (14. John v. 25 — 28.) Their bodies are members of Christ, and for him, (as he for them,) his property, to be devoted to him, having been bought with the price of his blood. And they are also the ttm})les of the Holy Gliost, and thus his property, so tliat they are not their own, but God's, to glorify him. Does not all this demonstrate, that St. Paul considered the God, to whom Christians especially belonged, as subsisting in three divine persons, The Father, the Son, and the Hply Ghost, to each of whom he shows their peculiar 3 Heb IX. 13. 1 ret. 1 18, 19. V. 16 Bom. vi 10 xii. 1. Phil.l. 20. relation ? This accords with the form of baptism and bene- diction. ' The question, '' Know ye not this ?" ' is re- ' peated six times in this one chapter ; which may seem ' to carry with it a just reproach to the Corinthians, who ' had got a new and belter instructor than himself, in ' whom they so much gloried.' (Locke.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1— n. The high privileges and glorions prospects of believers should suggest arguments to them against ,'3in, and for the practice of every duty ; that so a just sense of the dignity gratuitously bestowed on them may rendcr^^hem superior to the debasing alluif menis of vice, and the love of worldly vanities. Surely, the saints of God, and the assessors of Christ in judgment on men and angels, should not so eagerly contend with each other about secular interests, as to make their appeal to the enemies of religion ! Surely, they are competent to decide ^I'ch comparatively insigni- ficant causes among themselves ! If there were not utterly a fault among them, such disputes would rarely occur : and if at any time they b'^came unavoidable, it would be easy to decide them by arbitration, were not professors of the Gospel too tenacious of their supposed right, and too much on their own side : for real Christians, even of mode- rate abilities, might generally determine such matters with sufficient equity, if they were impartially set before them, and unreservedly left to them. It must, however, be a shame to any religious company, if there is no man among them so wise and faithful, that his brethren dare trust him to determine their secular differences. Indeed, law-suits with those that are rvithont, need seldom be had recourse to, if Christians were disinterested and forbearing in due mea- sure ; if they would, in all tolerable matters, suffer them- selves to be defrauded and injured, for the sake of peace, and the credit of the Gospel. But brother would never go to law with brother before unbelievers, if there were not a very great fault on one side, or both : and much deliberation, counsel, prayer, and cndea^'our for accommodation, should surely precede, before a man dare to enter upon so peril- ous an'l disgraceful a business. But, alas, many professors of the Gospel not only refuse to bear and forgive inju- ries ; but they do wTong and defraud, and that their brethren ! Whether such men act contrary to their con- sciences, or are misled by false principles, they should be reminded, that " the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God :" for no one, continuing an adulterer, a fornicator, or lascivious, a dishonest, covetous, fraudulent, drunken, or malicious man, can have either title to, or meetness for, the holy habitation of God and his saints. M my deceive themselves and others in these matters ; but. the thing is impracticable, and the hope of it the grossest presumption. As many, however, who are now trup J. D. 60. CHAPTER Vn. ^. D. 60, CHAP. Vi[. Directions concerning marriage^ as a remedy against fornication ; and the conduct of husbands and wives to each other, 1 — 5. The sii.glc stale has advantages to those who are ccipaUe of it, 6 — 9. Instructions how to act, ivhen one of the parties is an unbeliever, lU — 16. Every one should abide ivilh God in the state in ivhich he was called, 17 — 21. Further intima- tions of the advantages of a single life in that troubled state of the church; and a me- mento concerning the shortness and tincer- iainty of earthly things, 24 — 35. Direc- tions concerning the marriage of virgins and widows, 36 — 40. NOW concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me : It is ^ good Christians, were once such characters ; so they, who are now the most abandoned, may become Christians : but then they must be " washed, and sanctified, and justified, in " the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our •' God." V. 12—20. Satan takes advantage of men's ignorance, pride, and lusts, to drive them from one extreme to another. Thus, when they are led to renounce superstitious scruples, they run into inexpedient, or even unlawful, indulgences. But the wisdom from above leaches a man to guard against such mistakes ; to abstain from lawful things, when inexpedient ; and to exert an authority over his own inclinations ; that he may not be brought under the power of any of them. This is a difficult lesson, but of vast importance : and if we consider how soon all animal pleasures, and our present life, shall terminate, the reflection may teach us moderation in the most innocent gratifications, and arm us against temptations to such as are unlawful. Our bodies should be coneidered as " for the Lord," and be devoted to his .icrvice, that they may at length share his resurrection, and be made like to his glorious body. How degrading, then, how ungrateful, how sacrilegious, to make the members of Christ the members of an harlot! Or to defile the temple of the Holy Ghost, and to alienate the Lord's peculiar pro- perty to the vile jjurposrs of fornication ! It is, however, needful to fortify our minds on every side against these dangerous temptations, by which so many eminent men have been cast down, and shamefully overcome : and in this view even the horrid diseases incident to those, who thus sin against their ov/n bodies, may be profitably reflected upon, especially by the young and inexperienced, in order to caution them lo flee from so destructive a vice, and to keep at the utmost distance from all its fisciiiating allure- ments. But nobler m.^tives should animate the believer's soul : being united to Christ as one spirit, and bought with a price of inestimable value, he should considei- himself as wholly the Lord's, by the most endearing and for a man not to ^ touch a woman, bow ,,>■«■ « - ,r , , ., ^ . . Ruthii. 9. ProT. 2 iNevertheless, "to avoid lornication, "' ? ,„ „ ' ' c 9. VI 18. Prov. let every man have his own wiie, v. ij). is i Tim. and let every woman have her own hus- ''J'i^VMai °n. band. ^J; J^ ' "^p" '•' 3 Let the husband " render unto the ',^et. It-. '"■ wife due benevolence : and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The ^ wife Iiath not power of her f,^°,'t ^'-i % own body, but the liusband: and likewise Markx.ji,!:. also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, ^ ex- ',^|jn,'''xii. '*; cept it be with consent for a time, that |ech.''v'i.'3 xu! ye may give yourselves to fasting and '^"■''' prayer; and come together again, '' that "'i^'^ej^ij"-,,"; Satan tempt you not for your inconti- nencv. indissoluble ties ; that, seeking all his happiness in his fa- vour, he may live wholly devoted to him, and may '• glo- " rify him in body and spirit, v/hich are his." {Notes, Prov, ii. 16—20. V. vi. 24—35. vii. 6—27.) NOTES. CHAP. VII. V. 1—5. It seems, that they, who retained their regard to the apostle's authority at Corinth, had written to him, desiring his decision of several ques- tions which had been started among them : and he here proceeded to answer their incjuiries, especially respecting marriage. While some of them pleaded for the lawfulness of fornication, others seem to have imbibed the. sentiments of the Pythagoreans, and to liave dee,med marriage itself inconsistent with Christian purity, or at least inimical to intellectual improvement. On the other hand, the Pha- risees generally taught, that it was sinful for a man to live unmarried beyond his twentieth year ; but at the same time they laid down many superstitious rules concerning the conduct of married persons. In determining, there- fore, this matter, the apostle first allowed, that, in many cases and circumstances, it might be profitable to a man to live unmarried, and might render him more useful to others, provided he were able and willing to live with that entire chastity, which the single life required. Never- theless, " because of fornications," on account of those propensities which God originally, for wise reasons, im- planted in human nature, and which man's sinfulness has rendered generally too predominant to be kept in absolute subjection ; in order to prevent fornication and other lewd practices, and to remove the temptations to them ; " let " every man have his own wife, and every woman her " own husband." In all cases this was allowable ; in very many it was far best that it should be so. Nor ought they to imagine it a virtue in them to live apart; or that it was even allowable for one of them to withdraw, with- out the consent, or contrary to the inclinations, of the other : but in every respect, they should consider mutual com- jjliance and affection an incumbent duty ; and the propci means of livi;ig in harmony and purity, and at a d.stjnco. J. D. 60. I. CORINTHIANS. ^. D. 60J 'vHi.'/xin!"' 6 But I speak this ' by permission, awrf not of commandment. ''xJt? 1-9 '"^* ^ ^'^^ ^ ' would that all men were even 's*s li' *'"' ^^ ^ myseh': ' But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. %l^: ^' ^' ^ ^ s^y therefore ■" to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. "i'.rv' n'u. ' 9 J^"t if they cannot contain, " let them marry : for it is better to marry than to burn. o'2 25.40. '^ '^^^ ""to the married I command, 'M^i."'ii.' u-f« ° F^ not I, but the Lord, p Let not the t-" ^ii\'rk"s" wife depart from her husband : iw.'.t '""'' 11 But and if she depart, let her re- main unmarried, •> or be reconciled to her 'je"**,!!*'* '" ^ husband: 'and let not the husband put 'ST,.'M^k'i. away his wife. '■ 12 But to the rest ^ speak I, not the 'f, »"="'*'• Lord; ' If any brother hath a wife that '.^f,? " *•'" believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. .1 3 And the woman which hath an huspband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. It For " tlie unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband : * else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. from temptation ; remembering that they had an unalien- able property in each other's person, in respect of all the purposes for which marriage was appointed. This places the husband and the wife entirely on the same ground, and as much forbids him to take another woman, as it does her to cohabit with another man ; so that it is absolutely de- cisive against polygamy. Nor ought married persons to deprive each other of that preservative against temptation which is their due ; so that they ought not to separate, but by consent, for the spiritual work of fasting and prayer on extraordinary occasions : and even this should not generally be for any long time ; lest Satan should take advantage of their weakness, to harass and defile their minds by improper thoughts, or even to tempt them to unlawful indulgences. V. 6 — 9. These things the aposde spoke to them as what were allowable, not as giving an absolute command- ment. Men might use their own discretion about marry- ing ; and married persons concerning their conduct in that state ; provided they did not needlessly cross each odier's inclinations, do injustice to one another, or throw any temptation in the way. For the apostle would have wished, that all his Christian brethren had been as free from disquietude in that respect as he was ; that if the glory of God, and the circumstances in which they were placed required it, they might live unmarried with as much content as he did. Some think that he was a widower, but this is uncertain. We cannot suppose that he wished marriage to cease among Christians ; but only that every one might be enabled calmly to use his prudence in that respect, without being necessitated to marry, when otherwise it would not have been adviseable. But the apostle knew, that his experience in this matter was not a rule for other men; as this superiority to the animal incli- nations was a special gift of God, which he gave to one and not to another, as he saw good, and that in different proportions. {Notes, 31l. V. 33 Heij xii. 11. J>si iii 17. 18. • Gr. inptcte. • is !2. Prov \i 30 Luk^ sr 10 iTIln Jam V 19, 10 1 Pet iii I. t Gr »»«i. b 7. Matt \ix. 19 Rom. xii. 3-8 1 Pet iv 10,11 c IB-Sl A Jv 17. xvi. I 2 Cor. xi. 88. f viii. 8 Ro S5-29. ii eal T. 6. \ 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. ^ A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such casw .• ^ but God hath called us * to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, " O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband .'' or t how knowest thou, O man, whether tliou shalt save thy wife.-* 17 But '' as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath '■ called eve- ry one, so let liim walk : and '^ so ordain I in all churches. 18 Is any man called * being circum- cised .'' let him not become uncircumcised : is any called in uncircumcision .'' let him not become circumcised. 19 ' Circumcision is nothing, and un- Jolin XV 14. I .lohn ii 3. 4. iii 22—24 T 2, 3. circumcision is nothing, « but the keeping 5 1 sam of the commandments of God. 20 Let every man '' abide in the same eallinff wherein he was called. i-ii * ., ,1 11 1 ■ J ■ , i h n ai-23 L«le 21 Art lliou called ' being z. servant."^ fi i"-i4. 1 , ...,.,, o , Thes iv II. : ■^ care not lor it: but it thou mayest be Thc6.iii. 12. , . . , -' i 1111.13. Gal ii. made Iree, use tt rather. ss^.coi iii. 11 22 For he that is called in the Lord, 1 Pet ii is-s*". 6e2?;£- a servant, ' is the Lord s T ireeman : "''. -' /'-"^f l-l • 1 If • 11 1/ • r xsi. 34. Phil. IV likewise also he that is called, betmr iree, ,*; " '.''',' ',! . ' O ' I Luke I. 74, 7A ■" is Christ's servant. '3.;''iiom."v,??Z 23 Ye ° are bought with a price; " be Ep^'^;;' \^\ not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let every man, wherein j he is called, therein p abide Avith God. " Philem. 16. t Pet . IC. iv. 12. 2 Pet. i. 1, Ju.le 1 n vi 20. Lev 18,19. iii 18 Rev. V 'J. o Matt xsili.8- 24. xvii I. 1 Sam. xiv. 45 Col iii. 23, 2i adt free ix. 19 Rod. i. Gal i 10. Ccl. 12 Acts XX 28 Tit.ii 14.1 Pet. i III ii. 4. px. ai. Gea. V. 32— would have been accounted relatively unclean, and so excluded iVom baptism, as those of the Jews in the above mentioned case were from circumcision : but, on the con trary, they were accounted holy in the Christian churches. and thus admitted among them, as a part " of the visible " kingdom of God." This exposition of the Scripture before us has indeed been much controverted ; and some have explained holij, or unclean, to mean legitimate, or illegitimale : but in all the places, where these words are found in Scripture, there is not one that will fairly admit of this sense. No doubt, the children of heathens, who were lawfully married, were as legitimate as those of Christians, yet they are never said to be Iwly. Something more must be meant by the believer sanctifying the un believing party, than merely legalizing their marriage ; for that would have been the case, if both had been unbe- lievers ; and the children would not really be more Italy in respect of their nature, if one parent was a believer, tlian if both were unbelievers. But as the word unclean is frequently used in a relative sense, denoting tnifit to be admitted to God''s ordinances, andholy the contrary ; as in this sense the male children of the Jews were holy, and so partakers of circumcision ; while those of the Gentiles, and even such as had one idolatrous parent, were uncle'in, and excluded from circumcision: so I cannot but con- clude, after long attention to the subject, that the baptism of the infant-offspring of Christians is here referred to, as at that time customary in the churches ; and that the Corinthians knew that this was not objected to, when only one parent was a Christian. ' Hence then the argu- ' ment for infant-baptism runs thus: If the holy seed ' among the Jews was therefore to be circumci.?ed, and to * be made federally holy by receiving the sign of the cove- * nant, and being adiniued into the number of God's holy ' people, because they were born in sanctity, or were ^ seminally holy; for " the root being holy, so are the " branches also :" ' then, by like reason, the holy seed of ' Christians ought to be admitted to baptism, and receive ' the sign of the Christian covenant, " the laver of rege- ' neration •," ' and so be entered into the society of the * Christian church. {Whilby.) YoL. v.— No. 32. V. 15, IG. The apostle further observed, that if die unconverted wife or husband chose to depart, and to dis- annul the marriage, according to the laws of the com- munity, the believer was not required to act in opposition to it, or as if in bondage by the preceding contract. Yet separations ought to be avoided, if this could be done : for God had called them to live in peace with all men, as far as possible; and therefore they ought so to act, that if a separation took place, no part of the blame should attach to the Christian. Such an union, indeed, would occasion much grief and trouble with an unbeliever; yet that ought patiently to be endured : for how did the believing wife and hu.sband know, but that God would make use of them for the con^'ersion and salvation of their unbelieving companions, by their pious, affectionate, and exemplary behaviour, edifying converse, and fervent prayers '. The fathers in general interpret this, as allowing the deserted person to marry again. ' Such a total and perpetual ' desertion must, (on this interpretation,) dissolve the ' matrimony, and render the deserting person as dead to ' the other. A brother or a sister is not enslaved, after ' all means of jjeace and reconciliation Lave been in vain ' attempted, and the unbeliever hath entered into another ' marriage or rather hath dissolved the former by adul- • tery ; as may well be supposed of those heathens, who • thus separated from their Christian mates. And this ' interpretation seems to be confirmed, from the former ' words relating to the case of the believing wives and ' husbands ; " if they depart, let them remain unmar- " rieu ;" ' it being not to be supposed that believers would ' dissolve the bond of matrimony by adultery. Therefore ' the apostle seems to grant this in the case of unbelievers ' departing from Christians on the account of their faith." (Whitby.) Total and perpetual desertion, when accom- panied by evident adultery in the deserting party, undoubt- edly sets the other party at full liberty, according to the scriptural rule; for deserting a husband or wife, to live with anollier man or woman, or in any way evidently adul- terous, must as much dissolve the marriage, as a divorce ex|dicitly given on account of adultery. (Notes, Matt. xix. 1—9.) R D. m. i. (CORINTHIANS. Ji. /J. 00. tTii M 3f,-33. r6 10 12 49 3 Cor. viii. a- 10. X< 2 Cor XT. 10 il 17 iv t I. e S3 35— 3P. 25 i Now " coDceiniiig virgins, Ij 27 Art " (hou bound iiate a wife .'' seek "'=-'*• ^ 'have no commandment of the Lord :! not to be loosed. Art tliou loosed from a yet 1 give ray judgment, as one that hath j wife.'' seek not a wife. ^ obtained mercy of the Lord to be faith- 28 But and if thou marry, ' th »ii hast»" "*•■ »" C^l not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she 2t) I suppose therefore ' that this isjliath not sinned. > Nevertheless, such 5"*^"** good for the present * distress; /say, that shall have trouble in the flesh: ^ but I it is good for a man so to be. \ spare you. z 36. 3 Cor i :3 V. 17 — 24. The preceding subject led the apostle to digress to a more general topic. In ordinary cases, ami without good reasons to the contrary, it was proper that every man should continue to serve God, by the improve- ment of thn.=;c gifts that he had distributed to him, and in that situation in whicii he had called him. This was the 2;enei-al rule, which the apostle gave in all the churches. Thus, if a Jew, or circumcised proselyte, had been con- verted ; let him not deny, conceal, or be disriuieted aboui his circumcision ; or refuse that regard to tiie ceremonial law, which might tend to conciliate his unbelieving bre- thren : but let not the uncircumcised convert submit to that abrogated ordinance, or at all take that yoke upon him. For in fact the difference was in itself inmiaterial, unless they put such matters in a v.rong place: but obedience to the commandments of God was the great concern. VVhih the Mosaic dispensation continued in force, it was pra per that its requirements should be complied with; and it Blight be still expedient for the Jewish converts to pay some regard to them: but the Gentiles had nothing to do with them, and need only regard the precepts of the moral law. and the institutions of Christ, from a principle of faith in him, and love to him. It is obvious, that the aposde is not here speaking of the way of justification, but of the conduct of jusdfied believers, bi like manner, it was commonly adviseable for every man to abide in that profession, trade, or station, in which the grace of God had called him to the knowledge of Christ, provided il were an honest emiiloymcn'. For the Gospel would teach a man how to behave in any condition, and patiently to bear its inconveniences. If then any one had been converted in a state of servitude, even to a heatlien master, (which was the common case of the servants in those days,) let him be less solicitous about his liberty, than al)out glorify- ing God in that trying situation. But as it would frequent- ly deprive him of religious advantages, especially that of meeting with his brethren on die Lord's day, or at other limes, and as it would expose him to many temptations, if he had a fair opportunity of obtaining his freedom, he would do well to embrace it. The converted slave, how- ever, was called to the noblest liberty, as the frecdman of Christ, and emancipated from Satan's yoke : and the Christian, \yho enjoyed his outward liberty, should consi- der himself as the servant of Christ, his property, and bound to devote himself to him, and obey his will. As therefore all Christians had been bought with an invaluable price to be the Lord's servants, they ought not by choice, or from secular motives, to become the servants of men ; because that would interfere with their devoted obedience to their common Lord : so that every man ought content- edly to abidp with God, by constantly performing the du- ties of that situation, in which he was converted to the faith of Christ. As ministers were at that time entirely taken from among the converts to Christ in every Church, many of whom had doubtless been previously employed in other occupations and as seminaries for educating men tor diis service were not then known, so, it is c'vident that the U]ji)sile did not mean to forbid that change, when if. could be made advisedly and on good giounds, as well as from projier motives; and in other respects his general rule might ar'mit of some exceptions. ' They should no' ' chatige, upon a presumption that Christianity gave them ''a new ami peculiar liuerty so to do.' (Lo'-ke.) The con- text lavouss the supposition, that those ch.angcs which some might be induced to make, from an erroneous judg- ment, in respect of their liberty, or duty, as Christians, was the primary object which the apostle had in view : yet his irfuerul language seems to imply, that he meant to extend the rule to various other cases. ])r. Whitby and some others explain the words, " Ye are bought with a " price," of those slaves, who had been charitably ransom- ed at ine expense of their fellow-christians. But their fellow-christians obtained no property in them by thus ran- suming them, ai Christ does by ransoming us; the advice ^eneral, and not liiiiiteii to these persons ; and it is far more obvious to suppose tha! the apostle used this expres- sion in the same sense in which he had done liefort, (Ao/f, vi. 18— -20.) Abide nilU God, kc. 'Neitherde- ' serting his master upon pretence of being God's servant, ' nor doing any thing against the laws of God, in obedi- ' encc to his master.' {IVhithy.) It may be added ; But serving God by faithfully, diligently, and meekly 'serving ' his master, in all things lawful.' V. 25 — is. The apostle here resumes his former subject, with especial reference to those who had never been married : for he seems to use the word rendered virgins in this latitude, including both young men and young women, Christ had given no commandment in this matter, but had left them free to marry, or not, as they saw good ; and the apostle had received no special revela- tion about it. He did not therefore speak author ilatively ; but he gave them counsel, according to the spiritual judg- ment which he possessed, as one who had obtained mercy to be faithful in his stewardship of divine mysteries ; for he ascribed his faithfulness to the compassion and mercy of God, by a very remarkable expression, pitied of God to be faithful. Considering the unselded state of the Church, and the persecutions to which it was, or might be, exposed, he considered it advantageous to live unmarried ; that they- might be less encumbered in removing from city to city, and have fewer temptations to shrink from imprisonment and death : and that thry might be more disengaged, awd d. D. bO. GH AFTER VU. A. D. 61. .jobsi. . - p<. 29 But this I say, brethren, ' the time 'x«ix 4-7 ^0 j.^ short: it remaineth, "that both they '" " that iiave wives be as tliough they had noue ie. Ec. vi 10 Kom »iii- 11.12. Heb Jill W. U. 1 Pet iv 7. SPct iii. 8,9. 1 Johnii. 17 hEc. Jii.7,8. 13, Is xxiv. r xl S-8 J>n Neil V. 1-6 I.uke sii. 23 1 Tics ir. II. 12. 30 And they « that weep, as though' u u X..- .. they wept not ; and they that rejoice, as l^n-\l .'?«. though they rejoiced not ; and they that ,'p^ xsx. s buy, as though they possessed not; "".' u'xx^; 3 1 And they that " use this world, as ?/"•«. ''xv'h not abusinsiV; 'for the fashion of this KcT Tii. 17 world passetn away. nx"'i8'.Ec.ii2i 32 But f I would have you with- y.*?8-'so 'y.^7 out carefulness, s He that is unmarri- ro'^MiTt xxiv' g(j careth for the things that belong to 43-M_ XSV.^U ftim „i. 17. 18. Jam V 1-5 —a' Ltt. e xii 15—21 ePs l"'i 20 ...EC '_^4 _J Ti, S5— il. xiii. 22. Pbll !. f Ps. Iv 22. Matt the Lord, how he uiay please the Lord : 33 But he tlTat is married, ^ careth lor the things that are of the world, ' how he 1 may please his wife. 'b E(.s '»'■::.-- 34 There is difference also between a 1 pet'^iiV. wife and a virgin : the unmarried woman " careth for t!ie 1 lungs of the Lord, diat Y^i;'-* '.;„''•"; she may bo holy ' both in body and in ^^ ''Wl^, i^|; spirit : but slu; that is married careth for ,5.^15 jj'^J ^. the things of the world, how she may [?•,";' J„- ^\ please /ler hu.sband. xhes v. 23 ;55 And this I speak for your own pro- ^„ j_g „, 35. fit; "not that! may cast a snare upon „\'f' ^^;; ^- j you, but for that which is " comely, ° and fT,m" .."'m that ye may attend upon the Lord with- a^. "m u^u out distraction. I2!x.^t'si. ready for any service which should be proposed lo them for, ought in all cases to be maintained. ' To have and use the furtherance of the Gospel, as their anxieties, occupa-, ' these things, as though we had them not, or did not use It by no means to attempt uie viouuion 01 v. o.; — oj. uj^ mc ju<-i.i,>...iJt^ ^^,^„^.. ..... ..,,-.....- his eneacemcnts, in order to possess more liberty for the' meant to preserve believers from perplexing cares, in that service of God, though the unmarried might be counselled: unseUled state of the Church. For he was sensible that to avail themselves of their advantages, and not to involve' an unmarried man, having grace proportioned to his state, their conduct as imprudent, lest he should deter some from; to travel to any part of the woHd for this purpose, il an whose duty it was to marry, or lest he should opportunity presented itself. But the believer who was ision to any of representing that state as unholy, married must needs employ more ot his thoughts and time about secular concerns, that he might provide tor and attend to his family, and render things agreeable and com marrying give occasion to any (Note, Jer. xvi. 2—4.) V, -29—31. In speaking on this subject, it was proper that Christians should be reminded of the shortness of life, and the transitory nature of earthly things at all times. " The remainder of their days was short, or contracted, •' so that both those," &c. So it is understood by some, who join the words rendered " it remaineth" to the pre- ceding part of the verse. Or, it remained therefore to be observed, that married persons should retiect how speedily their union must be dissolved, that they might sit loose to the satisfactions of that endeared relation, and be habitually prepared for a separation ; that they who mourned any temporal loss should moderate their grief; that the pros- cerous and joyful also should repress their rejoicing, by more serious recollections ; that they who were pur- ahasing houses or lands should consider the uncertainty of their tenure, and not deem themselves owners of such fleeting possessions ; and that those who were laying out their worldly riches should be careful not to abuse them, or to expect happiness from their pleasures and enjoy- ments, seeing '"the fashion," the whole scheme, form, and show of thi.s world, was passing away, as a pageant or fortable to his wife, whom he was commanded to love and cherish as his own flesh, and this would exclude him from several active services, to which he might otherwise have been competent. The difference between a virgin and a married woman was of a similar nature ; the former might wholly dedicate her time and thoughts, her body and soul, to the service of God, in following after holiness, and in doing good ; but the latter must be engaged in the business of the family, and in other duties of her station, accord- ino- to the will of her husband, whom God had commanded he'r to obey. So that, though marriage was mo.st suited to men and women in general, yet individuals, who desired peculiar advantages for progress in personal religion, and for doing good, might possess them in an unmarried life, and lo surh it might be good not to marry, even if the times had been more favourable. This counsel of the apostle was far from countenancing them to shut them- s'^lves up in convents, and thus to put the lighted candle under a bu.=hel ; on the contrary, it instructed them to '• let •■ their lijfht shine before men," by an uninterrupted series >eivices. for the glory of God, and the benefit crocession Ihrou-h the street, and would soon vanish as u 1 ot activt >ervices, tor tiie glory 01 uoa, anu u.e u.^i.-iu Shrntom So that the spirit of a pilgrim and travellerj of the world. Yet he only gave them this counsel for their phan R 2 D. 60. CORINTHIANS. p I Kan H 0 37 y;. I). GO. 36 But it any man think tiiat he bo- havcth himself uncomely' ton aid his vir- gin, it" she pass ■' the flower of her age, 1 and need so require, let him do what he will, ■■ he sinneth not ; let them mar- ry. .37 Nevertheless, he thatsfandeth stead- fast in his heart having no nc^cessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, docth well. 38 So then, he that giveth her in mar- riage " docth well ; but he that giveth her not in marriage ' doeth better. 39 The " wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; " only in the Lord. 40 But > she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment : ' and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. 9 i. Hcb. I tie. 2e ii. 3, <. ii II. li U— pfofit, and would nol by any means cast a snare on thenii by persuading those to i) single life, who had not a suffi- cient command over tlioir own passions. He meant not d>at this was required ol' tlirm, but that in some cases it would be comely, and enable tjiem to wait upon God in his ordinances and coujuumdmenls, without having their thoughts or afTections divided or distracted by other cares or attachments. . V. 36 — 38. Hitherto the apostle's meaning has been evident, but these verses are nol without difficulty. Some exphun them of a man's resolutely continuing in a single .-ituie, su|iposing " the necessity" mentioned to be matter of pei'Ronal consciousness, and not any thing arising ti-om the conduct of another ; but such a construction of the original is, by their own allowance, without examidr. Others would refer them to the case of a man who had betrothed a virgin, and was in doubt whether he should comjdete the marriage ; but to marry is not the same as to give in mnrriaire. it seems therefore most obvious to ex- plain the passage of a parent, or guardian, who had the charge of a virgin. If sucJi a one thought that he acted un- suitably, in letting the virgin live single till she had passed the prime of her life, and if any attachment, or other cir- cumstance, rendered it needful, let him determine as he saw good, or, as it may be rendered, " as she willeth," without supposing it sinful to allow her to marry. But, on die other hand, if a man was established in his judgment, that it was best for his daugiiter, or word, to remain un- married in such evil times, and if he saw no necessity from any thing in her behaviour, disposition or attachments, to deviate from his own inclinations respecting her, and he so determined in his mind to keep her unman ied, he did well. So that the parent or guardian, who gave a virgin in mar- riage to a jiroper person, did well, and was by no means to be blamed, though she miglit thereby be exijosed to addi- tional dilRculties in those unsettled times, on which ac- count, he who did not give his daughter, or w;ird, in mar- riage, did better ; that is, ho acted more for her real ad- vantage, provided she was satisfied in a single slate. V. 39, 40. The law was still in force, which bound the wife to her husband as long as he lived, (that is, except when legally divorced for a sufficient reason,) but after- wards she might without sin marry any other man, pro- vided he were a Christian, and, in the judgment of charity, a true believer. The apostle, however, jutlged that widows would be happier, if they continued in that condition, in the })rescnt state of the Church ; and, whatever some of be Corinthians might sujijiose. he thought himself to be guided by the Holy Spirit, in giving these counsels and instructions. The language employed in several jilaccs ol" this chapter has led most expositors to conclude, that the apostle did nol write by inspiration in ihe particulars re- ferred to ; and doubtless these intimations, thus undcrs.lood, woulil rather prove, than invalidate, his immediate inspi- ration in other [>arts of his writings. Yet there seems no sufficient ground for the distinction; sometimes he spoke by way of permission, concerning filial was allowable; sometimes by way of counsel, concerning what was ad- viseable ; and at other times by conmiandment, concerning what was absolutely binding on their consciences. But in all this he might be, and doubtless was, guided by the Spirit of inspiration. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-;). That which is good in itself may not always be best for a man, when all circumstances are weighed, and alJ the variety of inward evils and outward temptations, con- nected with it, are duly considered. So that those things which are good for one, may not so much as be recom- mended to another, because he is incapalileof overcoming the difficulties to which they expose him. For, though none may be dispensed with in breaking the divine law, even that perfect rule leaves men at liberty to serve God in that way which is most suited to their capacity and various circumstances, of which others ai? often incom- petent judges. Thus, if they who find advantages for serving God in the single slate, imagine th;it others might do the same, they show themselves to be ignorant of the situation of fallen man in this ensnaring world; ff)r there is no doubt but many, who, from various motives, live unmarried, experience that circumstance to be a great hinderance to them in respect of theii- souls, and are unable, or unwilling, to persevere in that kind of celibacy, which the apostle describes as good. To ()revent therefore the fatal eflects of unchastity, it is generally expedient, and always allowable, that " every man should have his owa " wife, and every woman her own husband :" all re- strictions of this allowance uniformly tend to licentious- ness; and no tongue can express the mischiefs whii.li arise from covetous, licentious, and constrained celibacy. Kivery part of the conduct of married jiersous also ought to be so regulated, as to render them agreeable to and satisfied witli each other. Whatever therefore, on either side, tends to give Satan an opportunity of templing the J. D. 60. CHAPTEU. Vlll. A. D. \3(i. cpiAP. vni. Humble love in preferable to that knowledge uhich piiffelh up, 1 — 3. Idols are no- thing ; seeing Christians worship only one God, through one Lord and JMedialor, 4 — 6 : yet this knowledge, and the liberty •iher party to any of those evils which marriage was institutetl to prevent, or to render it ineflectual tor any of those enJs fur which the Creator appointed it, must be highly criminal, under whatever specious pretence it may be done, andtiie offending party is answerable to God for the consequences of the deviation from his commandments. For not only adultery and polygamy are inconsistent with the duties of this relation, and with the mutual property of married persons in each other, but also whatever is disobliging, and tends to weaken the attachment, and to open the way for either of them to look with more satis- faction on another object. Every tiling in the Ciiristian's conduct should be regulated in subserviency to iiis commu- nion with God. Abstinence, and abstraction from lawful indulgences, may for a time be greatly subservient to that end ; yet, when carried beyond proper bounds, they often produce contrary effects, and give Satan peculiar advan- tages against us. The}', who, like the apostle, are enabled to live with purity and contentment in an unmarried state, should copy his example, by laying themselves out \\\\\\ double diligence to glorify God, and to be useful to man- kind; they should also imitate his prudence and candoui-, in not prescribing to others, or despising others, who are not endued with the same gift, remembering that in this also God had made them to ditfer. In counselling others, we should use caution, lest, by exciting a man to grasp at advantages which are out of his reach, we should cast him into circumstances of insujierable temptation, urge him to that which is contrary to his duty, and dissuade him fiom what is best for him, and indeed incumbent on him ; for, in such matters, no man is competent to judge for another, but every one must determine for himself or rather he ought to seek counsel from God, how he ought to act, V. 10— ir. I? is the express commandment of God, that married persons should not separate from each other, if it can pos sibly be avoided ; and that such as have sejiarated should endeavour to be reconciled, or else live single. It is also his will, that husbands and wives should be careful to please each other in lawful things, though it leave them less time for religious exprcises, than they enjoyed in a single state. Even if a believer hath been married to an unbeliever, either before conversion, or by inattention to the rule of the sacred word, the cross of that incongruous union must be patiently endured, and the duties of the relation cheerfully performed ;that by kin'Iness, by a good example, and by fervent prayers, the unbelieving party may be won over, and the immortal soul saved. Nor need any doubt, but that, even in that case.'the marriage state is sanctified to them ; and they may still hope that their chiltlren would he made partakers of the sjMritual grace, as well as the outward sign, of baptism, by means of their connected with it, maybe so used as to en- Jhcble or stumble wcr.h bcUei-ers, 7 — 11. Jn this eas% tec sin ngatnst Christ, 12. The apostle would rail icr for ever abstain from meat, than thus stumble a weak bro- ther, J 3. redoubled diligence to " bring them up in the nurture and " admonition of the Loi'd." In every state and relation, we should remember that God hath called us to peace : and that every thing should be done to promote domestic and social harmony, as far as truth and holiness will permit. 24. 29—31. It is proper that every man should walk with God, accoidiiig to the gift distributed to him, and the duties of his station in the communily. Believers should not show an inconstant and unsettled temper. Even a disposition to change from one sect to another, on frivolous pretences, is frequently injurious and dishonourable ; for these generally are as nothing, compared wilh that cheerful obedience to God's commandments, which both evidences our faith in Christ, and recommends his Gospel to others. So su]5crior area believer's privileges to all temporal things, that even the want of personal liberty, the most valuable of earthly blessings, should not much disquiet him ; nor ought he to be careful about it, though called to serve God in a slate of slavery. If the Son of God has made him free from sin and Satan, he has a far nobler liberty, even in bondage, than his unconverted master ever formed an idea of. The lowest condition of his freedmen is honourable ; and, being " bought with a price," we are all his servants, and should abide with God in our proper place and work, well satis- fied wilh his appointment, and not desiious of a change, unless a substantial reason can be given for it : nor ought a believer so to attach himself to any man, from secular motives, as to restrict himself from his liberty in the ser- vice of God. But whatever our state or service, may be, we should remember that the lime is short ; our temporal comforts and trials will soon be terminated; our season of preparation or of usefulness will speedily expire. Let us then study to sit loose to earthly satisfactions, to bear up under temporal sorrows ; to be sober and considerate in prosperity, and cheerful in adversity ; to deem heaven our sole inheritance, and " to use the things of the world, as •' not abusing them, seeing the fashion" of this vain world is passing away like a shadow. Thus we may be heljjcd forward by ihem in our pilgrimage, kept out of the way of temptation, and enabled to serve God and our generation to belter advantage, as we pass through the world to heaven. V. 25—28, 32—40. They who have obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful, and who have most studied the word of God and human nature, will be the most candid and cautious in giving their judsment, or-passing their censures ; for what- ever may be good, in respect of present difficulties or peculiar circumstances, they know that marriage is ho- rl. D. Ga. CORfNTillANS. .7. D. 60. iin. ic. 13-22 1VT*J^V' as " (ijiichiiiT thins:s odercd un- i a",;usv io. J_ 1 to idols, wc know that " wc all have 2i.ne li. U 20. li 2.4 7. II. i. 1». 10. xiii. xiv. :o. XV. ; Uom. xiv. 1 Si. Col. il. in i: i- m knowlediffi. " K.novviedg« puffeth iip, •^ but charity edifieth. 2 And " if any man think that ho know- ■\<'^- ctli any thing, he kiioweth nothing yet as jm.^ »i. 23 he oiii^ht to know. m^8-i3.Ep!i 3 [-^Lit if any man ' love God, the same known of him. 1 As concerning therefore the eating ^'jam^i'is of those tilings that are offered in .sacrifice il 6. I Pet. i 8. I lohn IV, 13 v. a, 3- s Bk. x.\>iiii 13 17. P« i (1 xvii. 3. uxsKlx. 1, 2. N:ih. i. 7 Matt, vii 1.1. .lohn x. 14 xxi 17. lloaj viii. 29. xi. 2 Gal iv. ». 2 Tim. II 19. Hew. il. 9. 13. I'J. iil u, 9. IS. 16. ■XIX. 2-4 Gal. unto idol.s, '' we know tliat an idol /*■ no- ii thing in the worhl, and that 'lucre is none ' other God but one. 5 For though there be " that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many;) G But to ns ihci-e is but ' one God, the Father, " of whom urc all things, .^.p^ /'n';!*!' " and we * in him ; ° and one Lord Jesus ^•'^Jut'x i? j«r Christ, by whom are all things, ^ and we ''^^^ v^i^'johli ^y him. 2 The".'ii'l; '■ \Scc 0/1,1 Jon i. 19 Mai. ii 10. John ^ 30 xiv 3 -,0 xvil.3 ix 17 Rph i. 3 iii. U. iv B. I Pet I S. 3 m ActsXMi £3 Hum xi 3S Eph iv 6. n John xi; CO x»ii. 21-23 » Or. for /iiw Ti 13 o xii 3 Malt. xi. 27. xivii: 13 John v 20-JS. xiii. 13 XTii. 23 Ai:t< li :it 31 Eph i :0-23 Phi ii 9-11. Col 1 15.17. I Tim. 11 5. C. I Pet i. 21. Re> i 13 p lohn i 0. HeS. i 2- 3. 5 Jer X. U. 11. 17 18 Hab. ii 1.1,20. AeU xix. xxiTii. U 70. xlic. 6 8. xlT. i U Jer X 10. M' \yhich hast knowledge ' sit at meat in the idol's : y 1,S Z X 20, 21. Nu xsv. 2. Judg. ix. 27. All temple, " shall not the conscience of "«om'!"'j"v u. him which is weak be J emboldened to t*or firit, in the unity of the Godhead: and as opposed to all other pretenders to divine adoration. V. 7—13, Christians, who were matured in knov,'- iedge and judgment, knew indeed that an idol was the senseless representative of a nominal deity, which had no existence: and many of the Corinthians, being piifled up with a groundless conceit of their own superior attain- ments, boasted of their knowledge in this respect, and assigned it as die reason of their conduct, in partaking of the sacrifices even in the temples of the idols. But, had there been no other reasons why they should refi'ain from doing this, (which the apostle afterwards purposed to consider, {Nnle, x. 18—22,) regard to their weaker brethren should iiave sufficed. For not evciy professed Christian, no, nor every true believer, had this know- ledge : so that some of them, even to that time, ventured to eat of the idol-sacrifices, who retained a superstitious regard to the supposed invisible object of worship. They had an impression upon their minds, that they were joining in an idolatrous sacrifice, and thus through weakness their consciences were defiled. Now, for what purpose did the Corinthians thus lead their brediren into temptation and sin ? Meat, of whatever kind, did not recommend thein to God, or give them any religious advantages above those who abstained from it, whether out of scruples of con- science, or regard to their brethren. They ought there- fore to be far more caudous and circumspect, in using, what they considered as their liberty and privilege ; and not to act in such a self-confident and imprudent manner, as tended to seduce those into sin, who were weak and unconfirmed in the faith. For if a person of this descrip- tion saw a Ckristian, who had the reputation cf superior knowledge, sit at meat in the idol's temple, he would be encouraged to follow his example ; and induced to do that which either brought on him the guilt of acting against the dictates of his own conscience by eating, while he doubted the lawfulness of so doine; ; or to commit real idolatry, through an erroneous conscience, thus embol- dened to think, that it was not inconsistent with Chris- tianity to pay some degree of regartl to those idols, which they had been used to worship. The word, translated cmboldotcd, is literally edified : and thus the apostle inti- mated, that instead of edifying their weaker brethren, in their most holy faith, by their exani[)le and endeavour.'-, they were confirming them in the superstitious regard, which in some degree they still retained for idol--, and even inducing theru to join in those idolatrous riles, by which the worshippers had " fellowship with devils." Thus theii' knowledge, of which thej' made so ostentatious a display, directly tended to the ruin of those for whom Christ died, and, whatever might be the event, through the special gi'ace of God jirevcnting the fatal consecjuence, yet, l/y .thui giving a wound, mortal in its nature, to a member o) Christ's mystical body, they committed a very heinous sin against the Saviour himself, which would not pass without severe rebukes. On this account, the apostle de- clared, that rather than thus cause his weak brother to offend, or thus displease his gracious Lord, he would to the end of his life eat only vegetables, and taste flesh no more for ever. {Note, }lom. xiv. l.O.) The word ren- dered rveak, often means sick or diseased ; and some learned men explain these verses, not of a doubling conscience, but of an erroneous conscience; that is, not of one who ate, though he doubted the lawfulness of so doing ; but of one, who erroneously thought he might lawfully pnitnke of the sacrifices, with some degree of regard to the idol, and in expectation of some advantage to liiinself or family. And indeed, considering the inveterate habits of such as had been brought up, and perhaps grown old, in idolatry, and likewise the corrupt state of the Corinthian Church, it • is not unlikely that some professed Christians letained a hankering after their former usages ; especially, as fe.nsting with their neighbours and rekitions, or. (i.es^ occasions, would in part exempt them from reproach and persecution. The apostle, however, by " a weak brother," seems par- ticularly to mean the man with a doubting conscience ; not him with the erroneous one, at least, not exclusively. £. D. 60. 1. CORINTHIANS. «f. D. 60. CHAP. IX. The apostle asserts and proves his anthorifij. 1 — 3 ; and shows that the ministers of the Gospel have a ri^ht to marry, and, with ihcir families^ to be supported b)/ the peo- ple, 4 — 14: yet he hud not availed him- self of this right ; and hail in many things iimived the exercise of his liberty, lo jjro- motc the salvation of souls, IT) — 23. He proposes to them the example of his ex- ceeding earnestness in securing an incor- ruptible croicn, 21 — 27. M 'I not ?.n n pestle .•* ''am I not«23ii xvg, ' - ,.. . o Act* U. 14. free ? *= have I not seen Jesus Christ »i- • ... ^ our Lord.'* "^ are not ve mv work in the i7, m uom" i^'. Ll i ' •' ». xi 13. 2 Cor. Orel .'' xi i. xii II, ij. 2 If I be not an apostin unto others, ij' ' b i r.m. yet doubtless I am to you : ' for the seal y i"'' i-"!- of mine apostieship are ye in thc''''«aiTi ^ , 1 - I J c xv k Acull Lord. 3.4 17. xvii, • _ _. XXll. G~8. U— .3 Mine ' answer ^ to them that do ex- sUm6-i8 " amine me is this ; ''i;.',,''.')- '*'i* II. a Cor XXV. 16. Pliil i. 7 17, 2Ti xiii 3 4. 10 37. 2 Cor. X. 7,8 xii IS-I'j Dr. Whitby, after eiulcavouring to refute the argument which some drew from these verses against conformity to the ceremonies of the Church of England, becau.se they doubted the lawfuhiess of so doing, malies the following imoortant remark : ' Nevertheless, this^ scemcth to press ' hard on them, who believe that the schism of such weak ' persons will finally tend to their ruin, and render then: ' exiles from the llocU of Chri.'t, and yet for things indif- ' ferent, U'ill, in that dreadful sense, cause their w eak bro- ' iher to ollend : since this they do, for that " which com- " mends them not to God," ' v.'hich doing they are not the ' better, or omitting ihey arc not the worse. For if schism ' and idolatry be equally damnable, and equally cause my ' brother to oQ'end, and him to perish for whom Christ ' died, we are equally to take heed in both cases, lest our ' power, to do the thing indiH'crent, become a stumbling ' block to the w'cak, or the erroneous, in their judgment of ' these things. For let men imagine what other differ- ' ence they please in the case, while the sad issue or event ' is in general the same, to wit the perishing of my bi-o- ' ther, and my power to have abstained from that which ' through his erroneous conscience gave occasion to it, is ' the same, 1 fear the guilt will be the same.' This can- not easily be answered by those, who think nonconformity a fatal schism, and yet require things allowedly indifferent as terms of conformity. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—6. Satan as effectually injures some men's souls by tempt- ing them to be proud of their intellectual powers, as he does those of others by alluring them to the gros.sest sen- sualities. That knowledge, therefore, whicii puft'eth up the possessor, and renders hiin self-confident, dogmatical, and unteachable, is as dangerous, at least, as self-righteous pride ; even though a pure evangelical creed be the object of it : and they, who are elated, because they thus know much about the truth, know nothing yet as thoy ought to know, and need to be sent to school to learn the /irs< rudiments of heavenly wisdom. For without holy afl'ections and di- vine love, all human knowledge is wortiiless, and far be- neath the attainments of apostate angels : but sanctified affections, and humble grateful love, are not only evidences of the Lord's merciful acceptance, but are irnportant steps lo ' good underst.^ndiiig m the way of godliness.' The proud speculator is probibly at the top of his attainments : 'but the loving tlisriple. though comparatively ignorant, shall daily be edified and make progress in heavenly wisdom ; so that he shall be abundantly enriched from the fulness of Christ. While we refuse all kinds and degrees of wor- ship to the many, that are called gods and lords, and lo those saints and angels, which antichristianity hath devised for mediators, remembering, that " to us there is one " God, even the Father, of whom are all things, and one " Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things," let us ex- amine whether we really come to God by faith in the di- vine Saviour: whether we be spiritual worshippers of the living and true God, according to his word. V. 7—13. If our evidence of conversion is clear and decisive, and our views distinct and satisfactory, let us bless God for the consolation ; but let us not suppose that this measure of knowledge and assurance is vouchsafed lo ail believers : or that we are better in ourselves, or more beloved of God, than our weaker brethren, the younger children of the same family. Let us beware of self-preference, vain-glo- ry, and self-indulgence, and of despising those who are disquieted by needless scru]jles ; who, though less con- formable, may serve God more conscientiously and hum- bly than we do. Such Christians as have knowledge. should also beware of abusing their liberty, and of ap- proaching to the verge or ajipearance of evil; " lest by •' any means this liberty of theirs should prove an occa- " sion of stumbling others," if not of guilt to themselves. For, should a weak believer see one, who is reputed to have knowledge, silting at some of those feasts, or in some of those places of public concourse, for which msny plead, (perhaps as [plausibly as the Corinthians in behalf of eating in the idol's temple,) might he not be tempted to do the same, though contrary to the convictions of his own con- science ? And thus, through such a man's knowledge and carnal self-indulgence, would the soul of a weak be- liever, for whom Christ died, be endangered, and his con- science wounded ; or one, who was beginning to inquire after salvation, might be turned aside and utterly perish. How can men thus sin against their brethren, and violate the law of love, without offending Christ and endanger- ing their own souls too ; seeing they act so contrary to the spirit of the apostle, who would have eaten no flesh to the end of life, rather than cause his weak brother to offend ; and to the mind of Him, who shed his precious blood, and poured out his dying prayers, for his misguid- ed murderers ? A. D. 60. CHAPTER IX. A. D. 60. 1)7-14 Matt x. 4 Have '' wc not power to eat and to 10 Luke s. 7 , . , , ' Gal. Ti 6, I drink r Thes II. 6. a ^- ■ 1 1 1 J Thes ill. 8, 9. 5 Have we not power ' to lead about 1 Tiro. V. 17,18. . * •/• "^ 11 ,1 ^a'Viti'sHeb ^ Sister, * a wite, as well as other apos- fc'vii *' 15 39 *1*^^' ^""^ ^^ ' *''® brethren of the Lord, fi°^' v' i!" '?: ™ ^"<^ Cephas ? ?Tim. rk '■ 6 Or I only and ° Barnabas, ° have not *Ml{t"T"'is- ^V6 power to forbear working ? *i3"john?'.Y2' ''' ^^ho P goeth a warfare any time at Acts i. 14. Gal i. 19. m i. 12. Matt viii. U. ^fark i 30. John i 42. n Acti iv. 36. xi 22. Xiii. 1,2. 60. xi». 12. XV. 36,37. oiv II, 12. Acts Kviii. 3 XX 34, 35 1 Ttias. ii. 9. 3 TheJ. iii. 7, 8. p 2 Cor. x. 4, S. I 'I'lm. i 18. vi. 12. a Tim. ii. John xxi. I5-- 17. Acts XX. !8 1 Pel. NOTES. CHAP. IX. V. 1 — 3. Some expositors seem to think that the apostle here began a new subject, and en- tered upon a formal vindication of his conduct among the Corinthians ; but he appears rather to have digressed from his subject, in order to illustrate it by his own example, &c. ; and accordingly he resumed and concluded it in the next chapter. He had before declared his readiness to de- ny himself the eating of flesh, during the remainder of his life, rather than stumble his weak brother ; and he here proceeded to show what he had actually done in this re- spect, to promote the Gospel. But in order to state this clearly, it was necessary to prove his apostolical office, and that he had a right to a maintenance and other privileges in that character. He therefore inquired. Whether he were not an apostle ; and whether he too were not free as well as the Corinthians, if he chose to exercise his liberty. In- deed he was aware that some of them would question his apostleship ; but could they deny that he had seen the Lord Jesus, who repeatedly appeared to him, that he might be an unexceptionable witness of his resurrection and glory ? And were not they his work in the Lord, who, by employ- ing his ministry for their conversion, had affixed his seal to his apostolical commission ? For he certainly would not thus have attested a direct imposture. So that they were the last persons, who ought to have made a doubt of this, being themselves the seal and demonstration of it. This therefore might serve as a brief, but sufficient, answer to those, who examined him concerning the credentials of his commission. 3Iine answer, &c. (3.) ' Namely, what is * said in the preceding verse : therefore this is improperly by some joined to the next verse. He adds this by the ■ way, as if he had said, So far should you be from doubt- ' ing of ray apostleship ; that 1 am used to answer those, ' who call that in question, by declaring what the Lord • hath by me done among you.' (Besa.) V. 4, 5. It being then determined, that he was the apostle of Christ : he next inquired, whether he had not an indisputable right to eat and drink at their expense. And even whether he had not the privilege or liberty of marry- ing a believing woman, and of taking her along with him in his travels ; receiving from the Churches a maintenance for her and his family also. This several of the apostles did ; especially Peter, the aposUe of the circumcision, who was attended by his wife when he went to different places to preach the Gospel. The words "a siitcr, a wife," are so determinate, that they leave no doubt but several of the apostles were married, and took their wives with ihera to Vol. v.— No, 82, h s own charges ? who '' plantetli a vine- q in r-s. cent. yard, and catcth not of the fruit thereof .-^ l^'W^- ^''' ' or who feedctli a flock, and = eateth not of the milk of the flocl;^? 8 Say I these things ' as a man? " or =j^'f°'^; ^;''' ' saith not the law the same also? ','„' ■'".ir''- 9 t or it IS written in the law of Moses, Jxiv.*'34^. la. Tiii. " Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the i%tri^i-''\. ox that treadeth out the corn. ^ Doth God ^''^Z xxifiiB-. take care for oxen ? ptcw'27.'cxiv: 15, lii. cxlvii. 8, 9. Jon iv. 11. Malt ?i. 23-30 Luke sii. 24-28. those places, where they more statedly resided. To render them a sister, a tvoman, as some do, would form an un- meaning tautology, or rather one calculated to mislead the reader : for a sister must be a woman ; and the latter word would be wholly redundant, if not intended to show in what relation she was supposed to stand ; namely, that of a wife, according to the general acceptation of the word. ' This declares, in effect, that St. Peter continued to live ' with his wife after he became an aposde ; and also that ' St. Peter had no rights, as an aposde, which were not ' common to St. Paul. A remark utterly subversive of ' popery, if traced to its obvious consequences.' (Dod- dridge.) ' Clemens of Alexandria not only saith, that he ' that marrieth hath the apostles as examples, and that St. ' Peter carried his wife with him till his martyrdom ; ' but confutes the enemies of martyrdom from these words. ' Adding, that they carried about their wives, not as ' wives, but as sisters, to minister to those who were mis- ' tresses of families, that so the doctrine of the Lord ' might, without any apprehension, or evil suspicions, en- ' ter into the apartments of the women.' {Whitby.) The former part of this quotation shows what the records, or tradition, of the Church in that century was ; the latter is a proof how soon antichristian notions about marriage be- gan to prevail. ¥. 6. The apostle further inquired, whether he and Barnabas alone were destitute of the right of being sup- ported, without earning their bread by labour. These two useful servants of Christ were called to the apostolical of- fice after the ascension of Christ, and set out together to preach among the Gentiles. The circumstances in which they found themselves, probably led them to adopt the method of subsisting by their own labour, in order to pro- mote the Gospel ; and they both persevered in it after they separated : while the other apostles, setting out among the Jews, who had been used to support their teachers, were generally maintained by them without working ; and were supplied when they journeyed to other places, where Churches had not been planted. Thus Paul and Barnabas, by not requiring a support, seemed to have lost tiieir right to one ; anil were generally left to labour, and struggle with difficulties and necessities, for want of adequate assist- ance. This view of these verses renders their connexion with the foregoing chapter very clear. The aposUe was preparing to show the Corinthians how he waived the exer- cise of his liberty, in order to do good ; that they might see, as in a glass, the impropriety of their seliish exerci.'^e of their liberty, " in eating the things offered unto idols." A. D. 60. I. CORINTHIANS. .1. D. 60. e2 iv 14. IS. r IS. I!l Acfi xz .11—31. 2 Cor 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes.'' ^ for our sakes, no doubt, this is written : ■" that he tliat |;loweth should plow in hope; and that he tliat threshcth m hope siiould be partaker of his hope. 1 1 If we have '' sown unto you spiritual things, is it " a great thing if wc shall reap your carnal things.'' , 1 2 If '^ others be partakers of this power over you, ' are not wc rather.'' "^neverthe- less we have not used this power; ° but suffer all thing.s, lest we should '' hinder the Gospel of Christ. i:j Do ye not know that ' they which minister about holy things * live of the thinirs of the temple.'' and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar .^ M Even so hath the Lord " ordained V. 7 — 1-2. Had ths Corinlliians objected, that St. Paul, by not receiving a maintenance from them, seem- etl to allow that he was not an apostic, as some suppose ; it would have been needless for him formally to prove his ri^^ht to it : but this was absolutely necessary, if he meant tacitly to instruct them, by his example, to give U|i their rin-ht and sclf-imlulgence, from love to their brethren. He lirst shows, that he, as well as other ministers of the Gospel, had aright to a maintenance on the principles of natural equitx' : for who expected others to employ their time, strength, aud skill, in their service, without afford- ing iht'in a suppnrt 1 The soldier, when fightiug for his country, being thereby deprived of the opportunity of at- ten iing to his private concerns, had his charges borne by the stale. The person, employed in planting a vineyard, was allowed a maintenance from its produce : and he who tended a flock, was used to eat the milk of the flock. And who could think it ecjuitable to refuse them this re- compense for their labour? Ought not therefore the mi- nisters of the Gospel, who gave up other prospects of suj)- poriing themselves and their families, that they might with great peril and hardship promote the spiritual good r[ others, to be maintained in a decent and comfortable man- ner by tliem ? ' Chrysostom and Theophylact observe, ' that he saith not. Who goeth to warfare, and is not rich? ' AVho plants a vineyard, and heaps not up gold of the * fruits of it ? Who feeds a flock, and makes not a mer- ' chandise of the sheep ? Teacliing us, that the spiritual ' pastor should be content with little, and seek only what ' i=i necessary, not what is superfluous.' {Whitby.) Was diis merely the dictate of human reason ? Verily the law rave an embleitiatical intimation of it, when it forbade the Israelites to muzzle the ox, which was employed in tread- vng out the grain. (Deul. xxv. 4.) if the ox must not be refused a share of that abundance, which men enjoyed ;hrough its labour, surely the laborious and patient mi- nister should be supjiorted by those, who received far richer blessings by his instrumentality. For could it be supposed, iliat God made such particular laws from a re- that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel, 15 But ' I have used none of these things: "neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me : " for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16 For though I preach the Gospel, " I have nothing to glory of: ''for necessity is laid upon me ; yea, " wo is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel. 17 For ' if I do this thing willingly, I " have a reward : but if ' against my will, " a dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then.'' Verily that, " when I preach the Gospel, I may make the Gospel of Christ without charge, I .S« on, 12 ni 2 tor. xl. 9— 12. «il 13-la. D .Matt xv:>i C. AiH XX. 2i. Phil, i 20-23. oRiiin.i»2AV.I7. p Jer XX 7. Am. i.i P. vii. IS. Actsiv ;u IX C. 15 XXVI. ic-2(i. q 19 li S I.ukc ix t2 Cul. it 17. r I C'hr. ixviii. 9. kxix i. » 14. Nch xi. 1 1?. V 1 8 2* Cor Till 12 CLilem U ll'ei v.2-4 s l Mi,C7 2Uir. xi 7—3 xli. 13 — 18 IThpsiili. 2 Tbes. m t.9. gard to oxen ? He indeed required men to be merciful to the beasts, and his providential care and bounty extend to all creatures ; yet doubtless this prohibition was entirely given for the sake of the human s|)ecies, that none should receive his neighbour's service without wages : and cspc- ciallv for the sake of ministers, that they should be sup- ported in a suitable manner, as a recompense for their use- ful and affectionate labours. Thus, when endeavouring to propagate the Gos[)cl among Gentiles, or when liibouring amidst great hardship and necessities among unconverted persons, where no support could be expected, any more than the oxen had when plowing the ground, they might be encouraged, by the hope of future maintenance, to per- severe in the work ; and, when employed in furthering the joy and growth of believers, they might be partakers of the e.tpected I'ecompense, and have some refreshment and relief" after their hardships, by a comfortable main- tenance, as the oxen eat of the corn, when treading it out for the benefit of others. And, indeed, if the ministers of Christ had sown the spiritual seed of the word of God, which was about to produce, for the benefit of the people, the excellent and permanent fruits of salvation, ought they to deem it a great matter, a large expense to themselves, or a great favour to their ministers, if they allowed them to reap a jiortion of their c«r;ifl/ things ; which were of an earthly nature, and could not long be preserved, and which would prove them canutl, if they either tenaciously hoard- ed them, or luxuriously spent them on themselves ? If then other pastors, and even the false teachers at Corinth, had been allowed to partake c f this pri\ ilege, or authority over them, murh more was this due to the apostle and Ins helpers, who first jireached the Gospel among them. Ne- vertlieless, they had not availed themselves of this their un- doubted right ; but had chosen rather to endure labour, pinching want, and every extremity, than to prevent the success of the Gospel: yet the Corinthians would not abridge themselves of the indulgence of a luxurious meal, out of love to their weaker brethren ! This is evidently the contrast intcndedi A. D. 60. CHAPTER V; Jl. D. GO. yvi!.3i. Tiii 9. y that I abuse not my power in the Gos- B 1. Rom XV. 5. pel. ax'sa'MMt XX 19 For thousfh '^I be free from all men, 26-:8 Jo^DXlii. , ,11 1C 1. I 14, isscuriv vet have ^1 made inyscli servant unto 5. Gal V. 13* • ,1 K I , T • I .. ■ ^\ " "^ ail, •' tliat 1 niiijht cram the more. 1. 30. ' IT r I ii. IS 20 And " unto the Jews I became as a ' '6 Jew, that 1 niiffht gain the .lews; to them 1 10 ' 111 111 \- ^' that are '' under t|ie law, as under the law, ^■^'ll that I might gain them that are under the dKon,.,n.ivi.laW: u,.s Gal iv s. 21 To « them that are without law, as e'Aclsxv. 2«. XTi.l xxi.25 Rom ii 12. U Gil lr.3,.l. 12— U. b 20-2J l*rov. 1 Matt sv HoiD x 1 Tim. i 2 Tun. i Jam T. 1 Pet. iil c Acts O Gnl, V l:t. U law. S^ -'5 f-pll vi 22 To s the weak became I as weak, \-^-„]^;\ that I might gain the weak : '' 1 am made e 'J all things to all men, that I might by all ,2^ o^. means ' save some. l^.'^'i, 23 And this I do " for the Gospel's «,, f,'; sake, • that 1 might be partaker thereof, 'j'j.'J with you. 12 He 13. Uii I. 2C"r. ■ 2 Tins, i 6. Hel) i.i 1 U I let V. 1 I Jf.liTi i 3. of the ministry, from love to Christ and to the souls of sinners, and zeal for the glory of God, he might have been assured of a gracious and abundant recompense. Bur, as he was so wonderfully arrested, when violently perse- cuting the Church, and intrusted with a dispensation to preach the Gospel, without any previous choice or wiiiing- ness, a line of conduct of a peculiar nature was requisite for him, in order to show that he was not actuated by slavish fear, or mercenary principles. For if this had been the case, where would have been his reward ? {ISotes, Matt. vi. 1—5. 16— 18.) Or how could he, in his peculiar circumstances, distinguish himself from mercenary teachers, and thus have ground of glorying, through the grace of God, in this distinction ? Or how might he possess the assurance of a reward ? Truly, by preaching the Gospel freely, without putting his hearers to any ex- pense ; and by enduring poverty, hunger, and labour, rather than make an inexpedient and improper use of his liberty and privilege, as an apostle of Christ. Thus he evidenced that he acted from genuine principles of zeal and love, and so enjoyed much comfort and assurance of hope in his own soul. To insist on our due, and use our liberty, when this hinders our usefulness, is to *' abuse '• our power in the Gospel." V. 19 — 23. The preceding instance was not the only one, in which the aposde thus denied himself. Though he was free from obligation to comply with other men's inclinations, or to conform to their customs, yet he had voluntarily become as a slave to all men, or to men of every nation, rank or religious opinion; by renouncin.q; every personal consideration, and making allowance for their prejudices, mistakes, and infirmities, as far as he could consistently with his duty, in order that he might win over the more to the faith of Christ. So that he conversed among the unconverted .Jews, as though he had considered the IMosaic law to be still in force ; he iiad circumcised Timothy, that he might give them no offence ; and he paid that regard to their rules, which consisted with his duty as the apostle of the Gentiles, without re- garding the trouble and self-denial of so doing. Thus he endeavoured to win upon them to attend to his doctrine, for their good. Even to the .Jewish converts, who still deemed themselves under the authority of the ritual law, he became as one of them; and joined with lliem in their worship and purifications, as far as he could wiliiout mis- leading; (hem, in order that he might soften iheir prejudi- ces and be made useful to them. He conversed zs freely among the Gentiles, as if he had been unacquainted with S 2 /;. D. CO. I. CORINTHIANS. A. D. 60. m ijm.Tiii 10. 2-1 H Know je not that " they which hiJlllrKi'fl " '■"" '" ^ ^^^^' '■"" ^"' '^"^ °"^ rcceiveth ].. i;'"' j',|, >c the prize ? " So run, tliat ye may obtain. 1- V ',■ " 'A"? 25 And every man that '' striveth for 3iri. I . Jam. 1.12. J • 1 1 i * j.E^hvi 12-18 the mastery is ''temperate in all thinp^s. ■ +im vi 12. 2 jNjQ^y they do it io obtain a corruptible crown; "■ but wean incorruptible. .6 rxv i.l 2 Tim iv 8 Hcb xii 28. JatD. i. 12 1 Pet i. 4 Tiro. Heb %n 4 S Gal. V 23 Tit i 8. ii. 2 2 Vet V i Re 10. ill. 11 iv. 4 26 I therefore so run, 'not as uncer-'^cor ». i g tainly ; * so fio^ht I, not as one that beateth ' ''3''' * He?.' , •'. O ' i». 1. 1 Pel. ,. I. the air : ^sp«t- ■ m. n 27 But " I keep under my body, and E^^i*'/! cii bring it into subjection ; " lest that by any ^'^f ,^ ," ^^ means, when I liave preached to others, 1 *^ '\^l_ ';'.;; myself should be > a cast-away. l^ xf^si ^t" iii 5 2Tim li 22 1 Pet ii II n .\iii i-:i 1', 1 is Matt, vii 21-23 Lu exii.o -47 xiil.26, 27. 2 Pet. ii 13 y Jer. li 30 Luke ix. 2i AiU i 26 2 Cor xiil. »,8. the law of Moses, in order that he might win them over to embrace the Gospel. Yet did he not disreg;ird the au- thority and commands of God, but consiilcrcd himself to be •' under the law to Christ," bound to receive the moral law from his hand as a rule of duty, taught by his grace to love it and delight in it ; and, being delivered from its curse, engaged by additional motives to yield a jirompl obedience to it. hi like manner he condescended to the infirmities and scruples of the weak in faith, as if he too had been weak; abridging himself of Ids liberty, lest he should grieve or ensnare them, without making any ostentation of stronger faith or greater knowledge, or showing an) neglect or contemjjt of them. Thus, in all things lawful, he became all things to all men, by an habitual, cheerful, patient endurance of their infirmities, and toleration of their prejudices and mistakes in things unessential ; that, by every means which he could devise, he might save some from the several descriptions of men among whom he Jabourecl. This he did from love to the Gospel and a valua- tion of its blessings ; that he might not only be a partaker of them himself, but that he might share them with nume- rous converts, and especially with the Corinthians ; not being satisfied, as it were, to be saved himself, without he could prevail for the salvation of others also. Nothing could be more suited to shame them out of a selfish use of their liberty, than this statement of his own principles and conduct ; or more strongly mark the surjirising change Avhich had taken place in him since the time, when, by cruel persecution, he wanted to make all men conform to his religion. V, 24 — 27. To illustrate his subject, the apostle called their attention to the Isthmian games, wliich Avere cele- brated near Corinth. Did they not well know, that though several racers set out to run for the prize, yet it was only awarded to the victorious person, and the rest were dis- appointed ? This induced each of them to exert himself to the uttermost, in order to be successful. Let then the Co- rinthians do the same in their Christian course ; let them run with earnestness, self-denial, and patience, without shrinking from hardships or perils, and without loitering IVoni attention to worldly allurements; that they might ob- lain the prize, which self-indulgent professors would come :''« r It • ■ 1 !• \ /-< 1 E£ V 4, 5. Da». y l)ut ' with many oi tlicm (jod was jj. 's vn n. not well pleased; lor they were over- J^ /V' -ir . I . ' *' 2(J Gal IV 25. thrown in the wilderness. ~ ^»', " " "«*• 6 Now ^ these things were our t ex- '^^'^'^ amples, to the intent we should not ' lust 34. jj ijjs. pi after evil things, as they also lusted. Jt^'ilift ''^tT"' xcv. U.cvi 2','.': 'so''' Job ye what I say. "Tbesv'ii/ 16 The I" cup of blessing which we ^uti«vK:6- bless, is it not 'the communion of the -2rLu\J«" blood of Christ? " The bread which we i'/nj%. »i n break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For ' we, leing many, arc one bread, 1 xii.i2 s7 Rom and one body : for wc are all partakers of xii. 6 Gel iii , ■,•' i il'i^i-Zii 16 ■" *''^t *^"*' bread. J'/Vf'?'!2 18 Behold "Israel after the flesh: a Cnl.' 11, 19. 1 • , /■ 1 • (• ni' 3,V 2i!xi ;s ° ^^^ "o*^ ^h*^y ^vhich cat ol the sacritices nltm h, i.r.. partakers of the altar " ix. 3-3. iCiir. xi 13. ;2. Epli ii 1 1. 12. Pllil. iii 3- vii. 11-17. 1 Sam. ii 13- IS. ix. 12, 13. Hcb. ii 1 John i. k Acts ii. 3t» 7 n -oix. 13. Lev. iii. 3—5. II. their own hearts, the suggestions of Satan, and the allure- ments of the world. They had not been tried by severe pcrscculions to deny Christ, or conform to the customary iJolatry, as many had been, and would be. The aposUe, however, did not mean to discourage the humble and fear- ful, by thus mentioning much stronger temptations than those which thev had met with : for, if indeed they truly believed, the faithfulness of God to his promise and cove- nant would secure them from being finally overcome by any temptation. He would so direct and overrule every event, and restrain die malice of tempters and persecutors, as well as communicate strength proportioned to their trials, that they should never be tempted above what they ■were able ; but, in some way or other, he would, in his providence, or by his grace, make a way for them to escape, that they should be enabled to bear the trial, and come forth out of it unhurt, however sharp or durable it might be. This cannot mean, that all believers should be rendered victorious over every particular temptation ; because in that case they must all be kept from actual sin, which is con- trary to fact and Scripture : yet it must imply, that no con- currence of circumstances should ever cast them into such temptation, as would render the commission of sin unavoid- able ; and that nothing should ever occasion their final apos- tacy and condemnation. {Rom. viii. 33—39.) However, the examples and warnings, which had been given, suffi- cicndy proved that they ought to flee to the greatest distance from all approaches to, and occasions of, idolatry ; for if so small a temptation as a feast was more than they could resist, how could tliey hope to withstand in the evil day of fiery persecution ? The word rendered " a way to escape," is ■suited to lead the reader's thoughts to the case of a poor shipwrecked mariner, who has indeed escaped to dry ground ; but the winds roar, the billows rage, the tide Hov,'s, the cliffs overhang, and death, inevitable death, seems still to pursue him, when at length he discovers an opening, or gate, (such as are common in some places where the cliff is high and steep,) and thus a most wel- come outlet, or way of escape, is unexpectedly afforded him ! The experience of some Christians, who have been peculiarly tried and templed, till ready to give up hope, and yet at length rescued and filled with admiring gra- titude, will show the peculiar propriety of the illustration. {Heb. siii. 7. Gr.) A metaphor, taken from them who, 19 What say I tlien? p that the idol "J. ,»iV^' Veul'. is any thing? or that which is offered in f7"'iii.'M.*'i saciifice to idols is any thing ? ^" *" "• 20 But /ioy, that the things which qi-ev. ,Tii. 7. the Gentiles "i sacrifice, they sacrifice to i7°2Chr''x(. Ij; devils, and not to God: and I would sco" iv." I. not that ye should have fellowship with ' is' 'viii. 10 , ., •' ^ Dcut-xiiil 37, devils. 36 IKinjsxTiii. ^ . IT- I'll r T "'■ *'»" '' S*- 21 Ye 'cannot drink the cup of the f^cor. vi. i^, Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot ',^V *»*''■ be partakers of the Lord's table, and of ]l I,*- »»»',;■ the table of devils. "xvm "• Ii"' 22 Do ^ we pro\-oke the Lord to ,Yol*';^:/\ jealousy ? * are we stronger than He ? |xl 9 Ez sxii. U. Heb X. 31. ' being surrounded by thieves, are in danger on every ' side.' [Parens in Leigh.) V. 13 — 17. The Corinthians valued themselves on their superior knowledge and wisdom ; and the apostle would speak to them as wise men, and call on them, im- partially and discreetly to judge of what he had further to adduce against their feasting in the idol temples. Would they not allow that the cup of wine, which was used in the Lord's suj^per to represent spiritual blessings, and as an act of praise and thanksgiving to God, after it had been blessed and set apart by prayer for that purpose, was a token and pledge of their communion in the blood of Christ as the atonement for sin, and their being made joint partakers of it ? And was not the bread which they broke a token of their participating of his body? Did not a man's joining in that ordinance imply a profession of faith in Christ crucified, and of adoring gratitude to him for this salvation ? Certainly every one would put this construction on it : and if a man really intended in his heart what he thus professed, he would actually have the communion of the Saviour's blood shed and body broken for the sins of the world. For all Christians, by this ordi- nance and the faith in it professed, and tlie grace implied, were united, as the grains of wheat in one loaf of bread, or as the members in the human body ; seeing tlicy were all united to Christ, and had fellowship with him and one another, by partaking of the same bread, as a token of their feeding by faith on the same spiritual nourishment for their souls. \n like manner, to join with idolaters in their feasts, at the temples of their idols, must be under- stood, as a professed act of communion with the idol and its worshippers : and if this was not intended, it was n sort of hypocritical profession. ' The aposde calls it " the cup of blessing," ' because, when we have it in o>ir ' hand, we praise and bless, with admiration of his in- ' cffable gift, him who shed his blood for us ; and not only ' shed his blood, but has made us all partakers of it.' (Ambrose.) ' These words, the loafoT bread, is one, and ' we all partake of one loaf, and therefore are one body, ' show how grossly the Church of Rome has varied from ' Christ's institution, in distributing to the communicants ' severally an unbroken wafer ; so that they are neither ' partakers of one loaf, or bread, or of bread broken.' (Whitby.) .-^. D. 60. CHAPTER X. A. D. bO. . 13. Rom _ _.v3-S. IS 17 26 Rom. xir. la. x». S 2 Corxiila. Eph iT. 29 iTbes. V. II 1 Tim i 1. y 33. ix. 19— 23- Siii. S. Phil. li. I Rom xW. U 1 Tim iv. 4. Tit i 15. 1 37—29. viii. 7. Rom. xiii & h 28. Ex xix. 5. Deut. X. U Job sli H. Ps xxiv. 1. 1 12. 1 Tim. Ti. 17. cv. 9— II. Luke V. 29.30. XV. a. lis. 7. e 25 3 Cor. i. I!. iv. 2. V. 11. 23 All " tilings are lawful for mc, but all things are not expedient: all things arc lawful tor me, but all things ^ edify not. 24 Let no man J' seek his own, but every man another's wealth. 25 Whatsoever is ^ sold in the sham- bles, that eat, asking no question » for conscience' sake : 26 For '' tlie earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27 If any of them that believe not ' bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go ; '^ whatsoever is set before you, eat asking no question " for conscience' sake' Ex. ii. 59. CSV. 16. Jer. )ii. ifi. Matt. 31.32. :. viii. 3— fl m. xiv. IJ— 28 But if any manj gay unto you, Tin's is offered in sacrifice unto idols, ' eat not •'I'lji, slv-.Ts" for his sake that siicwcd it, and for con- science' sake : e for tlie earth is the Lord's, ^p'/ and the fulness thereof: ?j 29 Conscience, I say, '' not thine own, ""r but of the other: for 'why is my liberty iR™. x.v. judged of another mart's conscience ? T rhes.V'as 30 For if I by * grace be a partakei-, '^4' ''""^'^ why am I evil spoken of for tliat •* for "i xiai i».' 3, which 1 give thanks .'' , ,.. ,, ^^ 31 Whether therefore ' ye eat, or drink, *!;. " ',!j J* or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory f^'j^- "^'j * of God. ^I.Jl'l, V. 18 — 22. The subject might be illustrated by the case of " Israel after the flesh," the nation of Israel, as distinguished from the whole company of believers. They who feasted in the courts of the temple, upon the flesh of the sacrifices and peace-offerings, of which part had been burned upon the altar, were understood to have fellowship with Jehovah and his worshippers, and to expect a share of the benefits arising from such sacrifices ; and was not the meaning similar, when any one feasted with idola- ters in their idol-temples, upon their sacrifices ? Would they then suppose him to mean, that an idol was a real being, to whom worship was rendered ? Or that these sacri- fices diflered materially from other food? Thus he knew that some of them would speculate to excuse their self- indulgence. But, though the deities to which they sacri- ficed were non-entities, and all the account of their origin and exploits mere fables, yet he must inform them that their sacrifices were actually presented to devils, fallen angels, malignant demons, and that these ambitious rivals of God were gratified by them, in proportion as God was dishonoured and provoked. Perhaps some might fancy that the name was not essential, and that God was wor- shipped in these rites, though under another title: (as modern speculators have asserted that Jehovah, and Jove, or Jupiter, &c. are virtually the same ; and that the supreme Being is worshipped with equal acceptance in every age and clime ;) but the apostle assured them, that these sacri- fices were not presented to God, but to the determined enemies of God and man ; and he would not on any account have his beloved Corinthians join themselves with devils and their worshippers. Indeed, they could not make the ordinances of Christ to consist with these abo- minable rites ; and if they attempted it, they would pro- voke the Lord to jealousy by this familiarity with his de- tested rivals, as if they were stronger than he, and could defend themselves against his judgments; even as a woman, though not guilty of gross adultery, must excite the sus- picion and indignation of her husband, if she associated very familiarly with the man of whom he entertained a peculiar jealousy. {Marg. Ref.) The apostle joined him- self in these inquiries, to show how greatly he abhorred such a conduct, and how he should dread the consequences of being seduced into it. ' Dare you then, being espoused ' to Christ, provoke the Lord to jealousy by idolatry. Vol. v.— No. 32. ' which is spiritual whoredom ? " Are you stronger than " he," ' and able to resist him, when he shall let loose ' his fury against you ?' (Locke.) V. 23—28. (Notes, vi. 12, 13. viii.) The feasting in the idol-temples having been shown to be direct idol- atry, the apostle next proceeded to prove, that some limi- tations must be assigned to their liberty ; and expediency and edification consulted in the use even of lawful things. He exhorted them, therefore, not to seek their own indulgence or satisfaction, exclusively or principally, but to study the welfare and advantage of their brethren and neighbours, whom they ought to love as themselves, and for whose greater good they ought to give up every inferior interest. He would, however, allow them to eat without scruf)Ie, what they bought in the public market, without asking any questions, whether it had been offered to an idol or not ; lest they should receive an answer, which might tend to perplex or wound the consciences of their brethren, if their own were out of danger: for, as the earth and its fulness belonged to the Lord, they might partake of his bounty without hesitation, if ihey knew no reason to the contrary. In like manner, if an unbelieving friend or relation invited them to his house, and they were disposed to go ; (which in many cases would be lawful, and in some even expedient ;) let them eat of the provisions set before them, without asking any questions.. But if any one informed them that this or the other dish was part of an idol sacrifice, let them refrain from eating of it ; because it would be proper thus to protest against idolatry, and to show their judgment of it, for the benefit especially of him who told them, whether he were a Christian or an unbeliever, and that they might not wound the conscience of any man. And as the earth and its fulness were the Lord's, they could not need such defiled food, but might be supplied with other meat, though they abstained from it. Some versions and manuscrii)t3 omit the concluding clause ; but there appears to me a peculiar beauty in the repetition, and entirely in the apostle's man- ner. All things are lawful, &ic. (23.) ' Tertullian, ' speaking of women's apparel, says, ' How nmrh more ' easily will she fear things unlawful, who is cautious and 'scrupulous in things lawful!' 'Thus Clement also, ' They who do whatever is lawful will soon glide into ' that which is unlawful.' (Be:a.) IJ. Co. 1. CORINTHIANS. ^. D. GQ. 32 Give " none «flcuce, utithcr to the Jews, nor to the * Gentiles, nor to " the ro M. »iii. 13. Hum. x\f. :a a Cor. vi 3. cnil. i 10. •OT,cri,ki. rhurch of God U I Tin Hi. i li. V. 29 — 33. The apostle obscrvcJ, perhaps with refer- ncfi to the self-confidence of some at Coi-itUli, that he did not so mucli mcaw they were to abstain for the sake of their own consciences; for he supposed tliem able to dis- card such ignorant scruples : but for the sake of other men's on?ciciices, especially those of their weaker brethren. '. ct they would inquire, why their liberty was to be thus ^;cnsurcd and restrained, out of regard to other men's con- sciences ? Or why they were to be blamed and slandered, in eating those things, for which they gave thanks, and which they received in a thankful and believing frame of jnind ? Thus we may explain the passage as the objection of the Corinthians to the apostle's directions : but it may be understood as his inquiry, Why they should so incau- tiously use their liberty, as to give cause for its being con- demned in the consciences of other men ? Or why they should so use those good gifts of God, which they received with grace and thanksgiving, as to give cause for slander or offence ? He therefore concluded this subject by admo- nishing them, whether they ate or drank, in any place or company, or whatever they did, to do it all with an habi- tual aim at the glory of God: by considering bis precepts, and the propriety, expediency, appearance, or V^ndency of their actions, and the construction which others would put upon them : and by acting with prudence, temper- ance, thankfulness, consistency, and charity in every thing. Thus the whole tenour of their conduct would show the excellency of the Gospel, and conduce to win over others to it ; by which the name and perfections of God would be the more known, adored, and glorified. This great end they ought habitually to have in view : whatever inter fered with it ought to be avoided ; and every interest, pur- suit, and indulgenc€, should be rendered subordinate, or even, if possible, subservient to it. They would then be careful to give no needless offence to any man, or to throw any stumbling-block in the way, either of Jews or Gen- 'ilcs ; and not to give cause of sin to the Church, or any believer : but to follow the apostle as he followed Christ, ^,xi. 1.) according to what he had shown them of his prin- ';iple3 and conduct; {Notes, &c. ix.) in which he had 'endeavoured to please men of all descriptions, and in all things, as far as consisted with faithfulness ; in nothing ':onsulting his own emolument or satisfaction, but the good *.fmany, in order to promote their salvation. {Marg. Ref.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—5. The mistaTces and sins of professed Christians commonly 'uriginate from ignorance of the Scriptures, or from a partial attention to them. If this were not common, men could not suppose, that forms, ordinances, or assent to doctrines, wouUl procure them a license to indulge their passions, or impunity in the allowed practice of sin. Men may seem to be converted ; they may relate a specious :rxperiencc, and make a credible profession of faith; tbey 33 Even " as 1 please all men in all ''J:^j'';,7^;i*,y| fhiiigs, not seeking mine own profit, but l,.{h"'->*'' '*' the projil of many, that they may be sa- ved. may be admitted members of the visible church, where the strictest discipline is exercised, and statedly hear the most faithful instruction ; they may be greatly distinguished by external privileges and gifts ; they may be baptized in any form, and receive the spiritual meat and drink of the Lord's supper, in. the purest societies ; and yet, not ' feed- ' ing on Christ himself in their hearts by faith,' God will not be well pleased with them, but they will die short of Canaan, and perish with the multitude of the ungodly. V. 6—14. The examples recorded in the word of God for oijj- admonition, who in these latter ages of the world enjoy the full benefit of all preceding revelations, should warn us to repress every evil lusting; to avoid a festive, sensual religion, which gratifies the eye, the car, the taste, and which connects with sitting down to eat and drink, and rising up to play ; to keep at a distance from every for- bidden indulgence ; and not to tempt Christ, by running ourselves into those dangers in which man}- have perished : and to avoid all murmurings and disputings, by which the enemy of souls hath made such havock in the church. Above all, we should beware of " a haughty spirit, which " goes before a fall;" and while we think we stand, ivc should trust in God to preserve us from deceiving our- selves, and from falling by temptation, using every means of security against such fatal and lamentable evils. In these quiet times we have no temptation to resist, but such as is common to man ; and if we cannot now stand our ground against the world, the fiesh, and the devil, what should we do in the fiery trial of persecution ? If %ve are not prepared to give up a worthless interest or indulgence for Christ's sake, how should ^ve yield our bodies to the flames in his cause? Whether, however, the world smiles or frowns, it is a dangerous enemy; but if we are be- lievers, we shall be enabled to overcome it, with all its terrors and fascinations ; no.r will our. faithful covenant- keeping God suffer us to be tempted above what we arc able. We may often be alarmed, harassed, bafHed, and even cast down ; but we shall rise again superior to our foes ; for with every temptation the Lord will be sure to make some " way for us to escape, that we may be able to bear it." Yet his fear put into our hearts will be one great means of our safety ; and the greater our humble jealousy is concerning ourselves, the more we shall escape such falls, as, when not fatal, are productive of very pain- ful consequences. We should therefore flee from temp- tation, and not ostentatiously parley with it, V. l.j— 22. If we would be deemed wise, let us show our wisdom by a cii'cumspect conduct, and not by curious speculations. — Our union and communion with Christ and his people, by partaking of his ordinances, should engage us to av«id .'?. D. QO, CHAPTER XI. Jl. D. G* a IT. IS. X. 33. Phil iii. K. 1 Ties. i. «. 2 Thes. iii. 9. Heb. vi 12 b Kom. IT. 2. X Eph. V. 1, ;. Phil, ii 4. 5. c 17, 22. Prov. xxxi. 28-31. div. 17 sv 2 e vii 17 1 ThC!. iT. 1,2. 2 f he3. ii Ii. iii. 18.1 Til II, 12 1 Fet 1. i,i. CHAP. XI. The aposllc exhorts the Corinthians to inii- falc him, as he imitated Christ, 1. He praises them for observing his injunc- tions, 2. He gives directions concern- ing men and tcomcn prophesying, 3 — lb. He blames iheni for abuses in tiieir religious assemblies ; especially for their divisions, 17 — 19; and their profana- tion of t!ie Lord'^s supper, 20 — 22 ; re- minding them of the first institution of it ; and showing the danger of partaJcing of it xuncorthihj, 23 — 31. BE ^ ye followers of me, •" even as I also am of Christ. 2 Now ■= I praise you, brethren, '' that ye remember me in all things, " and keep the * ordinances, as I delivered thera to you. 3 But I would have you know, that ^ the Head of every man is Christ ; s and all " fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness," and all conformity to the vanities of the world. When we receive the outward signs of the body and blood of Christ, we should seriously inquire into the sincerity of this profession of faith in him and his atonement, and of our desire to live devoted to his service, and united to his people, as one bread, and one body, with him and them. For '• the world lieth in the wicked one ;" ungodly men are the servants of the devil, and false religion is his wor- ship, however ingeniously some may varnish over or deny this awful truth : we cannot unite the service of God with that of devils, or have fellowship with Christ and with those enemies whose works he was manifested to destroy ; and they who aim at such a coalition are commonly hypo- crites in their religion, and only sincere in their idola- trous worship of mammon. If Christians will venture into those places, and join in those sacrifices to " the lust " of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life," which are of no ill repute even in this land, they will certainly provoke the Lord to jealousy -, and seeing they cannot endure his omnipotent indignation, why should they foolishly act as if they were stronger than he ? tlie head of the \\oman is the man ; "-and ^-'''ux'^iz-- the Head of Ciirist is God. f.,';Li^ iU. 4 Every man praying ' or prophesying, fifai-sl v."sot •^ having his head covered, dishonouretli ilf^i^.T'^ his head. .-u. ";'"■ 5 But every woman that prayctli ' or 'i^'iJ" "" *" propliesieth witli /icr head uncovered, di.s- ■J\\>i'^T'^^ honoureth her liead : for that is even all ii:"ri'xl 'j "^ ' one as if slie were '" sliaven. 6 For if the Avoman be not covered, let her also be shorn: "but if it be a"^'"'"''-"^ shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as °he is the image °,*'j'i" J' I, ■'•,'•• and glory of God : p but the woman is «.,-'^?' ■''.?,. . W / 11 3. Gea. ii« 10. the glory of the man. 8 For 1 the man is not of the woman ; "^ "ff^'li'ia,^- but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was ■■ the man created for ''.i"=° ''• '= -' the woman : but the woman for the V. 23—33. Let us not be abused with vain words about the inno- cence of this or the other worldly pleasure ; these apologies are seldom grounded in truth ; but if they were, Are such indulgences expedient? Do they tend to edification ? Do they consist with charity ? Might not the time and money be better employed ? Does not the examnle grieve or mis- lead others ? Let us not then be so selfsh as to seek our own needless indulgence, in preference to the important good of our neighbours. While we trust in the Lord for our temporal provision, and thankfully receive it as Lis gift, let us be careful to use oar liberty or plenty in such a manner, that we may " avoid the appearance of evil," of excess or selfishness, and of whatever may occasion censure or suspicion, and that piety, charity, temperance, and prudence, may so regulate even our feasts and meals, and every part of our conduct, that " whether we eat or drink, " or whatever we do, we may do all to the glory of God." Connected with this great end, we should be careful to give no needless offence to, or occasion any prejudice in, the minds of unbelievers of any descrijition, and not to cause any discord in the church, or disquietude to the consciences even of weak believers ; but we should endea- vour in all things to please others rather than ourselves, as far as it consists with our duty, or can conduce to their profit and salvation. And let us remember, that he who gives us these admonitions, and calls us to follow him as he followed Christ, was the writer of those scriptures which most fully declare the doctrines of free grace and of God's eternal purposes, which therefore must consist with these practical instructions, though many are unable to perceive that consistency. ^FOTES. CHAP. XT. V. 1. This verse, most evidently, is connected with the conclusion of the preceding chapter ; it referred to what the apostle had written concerning his own conduct in the ninth chapter, and it concluded the subject which began in the eighth. He called on the Corinthians to be imitators of his example, (even as he imitated Christ,) especially in the charitable and cautiou.s useof their christian liberty, {I^'ote, Rom. xv. 1 — 3.) and he thus hinted, that they had in this respect followed others who had acted contrary to the will and the example of Christ. 2T D. GO. J. CORINTIflANS. ^. D. 60. ♦ Tliiit i« . 0 tr.. vtri.,ig 1 *\c JlOIVl \uii>a:tti. 0/ liir Gen XX. IG. XSIV. i'j • Eo V s Matt xviii 10. Heb i KVi 4 Horn. .H Hsd i :, K K. i:> Luke > :,;. John vii. J 10 For this cause ought the woman to have * power on her head ' because of tlie an2;cly. 11 Nevertheless, 'neither is the man without the woman, neither tlic woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of tlie man, even so is the man also by the woman ; " but all things of God. IJ =' Judge in yourselves: is it comely V. 2 — 16. The apostle here entered on another sQb- jcct, and began to discuss several particulars respecting the jmblic assemblies of the Corinthians ; which, with some digressions, he continued to the end of the fourteenth chapter. As he was about to reprove various abuses, he diMinod it ailviseable to begin by a general commendation of their coni.iuct, in remembering him and observing his injunctions, thougli this admitted of some exceptions, or misconstructions had taken place, and it would therefore be proper to show them his meaning in these things. In the abundance of spiritual gifts bestowed on the Corinthians, several women hail been endued with the Spirit of pro- phecy, which enabled them, by immediate insj-iiration, to oiler prayers for the congregation, or to give instructions, or even to predict future events ; for it is not reasonable to suppose, that a woman could be said io prophesy, merely by being present when another prophesied. This seems to have been the only case in which women were allowed to speak in public, and in this respect some abuses had crept in. (xiv. 34, 35. 1 Tim. ii. 11 — 13.) In order to understand what was becoming in this exempt case, the apostle would have them to understand, that Christ was the immediate Head, or Ruler, of every man among them ; whose honour was concerned in their conduct ; and that the man was the immediate head and ruler of the woman, to whose authority God had subjected her, and who would therefore be disgraced by any impropriety in her beha- viour; and that Christ, as Mediator, was subject to God as his Head and Pi'incipal, to whose glory his whole con- duct in his mediatorial government was refeiTcd. As therefore Christ did the will, and sought the honour, of »Jod, so the Christian should avow his subjection to Christ doing his will and seeking his glory, and the woman should ficknowledge her subjection to the man, anil, (in all things }awful,) do what was pleasing and honourable to him. — According to the custom of those days, a veil on the iicad was the token of subjection and respect to supe- riors ; if a man therefore should pray or prophesy with sucii a covering, he would dishonour Christ his Head, by acting out of character, and appearing as if he was placed in subjection to the woman, instead of in authority over her. On the other hand, it would be inconsistent with modesty, and her state of subjection, for a woman to lay aside her veil on such occasions ; for thus she would seem to forget her place, and to affect authority, which would dishonour the man whom God had appointed to be as a head over her. Nay, this would be so great an impropriety, that it would be of a similar meaning with the shaving of her head, irhich was a disgraceful punishment, that was used to be that a woman pray unto God uncovered.? 11 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that >'if a man have longhair, *it is a shame unto him ? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a J^lory to her : for her hair is given her for t a covering. IG But if any man ='seem to be con- tentious, we have no '' such custom, neither "^ the churches of God. r 5 Sam xij. 5S. > I Tim inflicted on women of bad character. If then the women would exercise their gifts uncovered, let them be shorn or shaven ; but if they deemed this shameful, let them Avear their veils. Somejthink that these prophetesses had their hair dishevelled after the manner of the Pythian priestesses of Apollo; and if this was so, it would be an additional reason for the apostle thus strenuously to oppose tliem. The man, indeed, being the image and glory of God, and appointed as his rej)iesentative in ruling over this lower world, ought not to be veiled on these occasions. But the woman, reflecting, as it were, the man's glorj', being formed his counterpart, and the most honourable subject of his delegated autliority, ought to avow her will- ing subjection by wearing the veil. For the woman was not originally created separately, but taken out of the man as a part of him, yet inferior to him; neither was the man created for the woman's advantage, but the woman for that of the man. {Notes, &c. Ge)i. "ii. 20 — 25.) On this account therefore the woman ought to be covered with her veil, even when praying or prophesying, as an emblem of her being under the authority of the man. Many con- jectures have been formed concerning the meaning of the following expression, " because of the angels ;" but pro-, bably the apostle referred to the presence of holy angels^ (who had witnessed the creation of man,) as spectators, or even in some respects' as joint worshippers with believ- ers in their public assemblies, which therefore ought to be regulated with the most exact propriety, that these heavenly worshippers might not witness any thing unbe- coming so holy an occasion. But though the woman had. been created for and subjected to the man, yet no diil'er- ence was made between them in res|)ect of their acceptance in Christ, but they were called together to have fellowship with him. Nor ought the authority of the man to be ex- ercised harshly, but in tenderness and love, seeing that, as the woman was originally " from the man," so the man hath ever since been " by the woman," born of her, and tended on in infancy by her tender care ; that as both were reciprocally means of comfort and benefit to each other, so they should live together in harmony and affeo tion. But all things were to be considered as derived from God, and regulated by him, whose wise appointments ought to be submitted to. The Corinthians therefore might judge for themselves, whether, according to the constitution of the Creator, it would be comely for a woman to appear uncovered in the act of worshipping him. Even nature would teach them, that if a man wore his hair long, and tired in the manner which custom had appropriated to women, it would be a disgrace to hiniy J. D. 60. CHAPTER XL A D. GC d D 83 le^ six- 17 1 Now in this that I declare ?/«/(> 3 H°m %hi.'3 you, "'I praise you not, "^ that je come e'jo'34"xi*.. S3 toocther not for the better, but for the ■Jo. U i 13. U ^ ^vorsc. 18 For first of all, when ye come to- gether in the church, ' I hear that there >. iii. :>. he * divisions amon^ you ; and I partly \ believe it. 19 For 8 there must be also f heresies t Or, KcVr^Ads amoHg jou, that they '' which are ap- xli'i.s 'xxTiil pj'oved may be made manifest among vil. 9, 10 i 10-18. vi. 1. 'Ot.ichim g Matt l.uke Acts 1 Tioi. iv. 1. a I Het. ii. 1 T.t. iii 10 Cr }""• b Deut. xili 3 hu^e ii. 3j. a Cor. sii 5-7 Cr. I John i and be considered as a proof of efferninacy and folly. On the other hand, long hair, when decently tired accoiding to the custom of the times, would be an honour to a woman, being given to her as a natural veil ; and to wear her hair short, as men used to do, would appear masctdine and disgraceful ; and, for the same reason, she ought to wear her veil on her head when praying, that she might keep her proper place and appear in character. These things the apostle stated as decent and proper ; but if any of the Corinthian teachers appeared inclinable to excite a contention about them, he would only add, that he and his brethren knew of no such custom as prevailed among them ; nor was there any such in the Churches of God, that had been planted by the other apostles. V. If — 22. Another exception the apostle must adduce to the general commendation that he had bestowed upon the Corinthians ; as when they came together, they be- haved so disorderly, that it tended to their detriment rather than their edification ; and thus they lost more in one way than they gained in others, in respect of religious improvement. For, in the first place, when they assem- bled as a society met together for the worship of God, in which they ought to have beea_of one heart and mind, there were divisions, or schisms, among them. Though they met in one place, as one congregation, yet they were divided into parties, and were actuated by carnal com- petition and mutual animosity. This disgraceful report he had heard, and he believed it in pari, or concern- ing a part of them; for he was so acquainted with iui- man nature and the temper of the Corinthians, that he was aware these sc/tis/ns would be followed by heresies also, or by a more entire separation of some of them from the rest, out of zeal for the pernicious doctrines which they had espoused. ' It seems evident from hence, that ' hertsy is something worse than the schism abovcracn- ' tioned.' {Doddridge.) This Satan was attempting, and God would permit it to take place, in order to distinguish his approved servants by their steadfast adherence to the truth, from the unsound professors of Chiistianity, which had crept in among them. Their assembling together in one place with such divided hearts was very evil, and their subsequent conduct was so carnal, that though they pro- fessed to celebrate the Lord's supper, they could not be said to do this, but rather to substitute a carnal feast in the stead of it. For they brought their own provisions with them, and ate them separately, not waiting for each other, or communicating with each other ! So that a sclfrh or 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, l this is not to eat the '°',: '■>' """'■ Lord's supper. 21 For ' in eating every one taketh '^t''' * ''' before other his own supper : ^ and one VJj'is. '' '" is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What ! ' have ye not houses to eat"''- and to drink in ? '" or despise ye the Vas^'x/"!. church of God, and siiame them § that }j''"°' "'■ " have not? What siiall I say to you ? *°;,v. pf°J „"' shall 1 praise you in tiiis? J praise you s- •'a'^- 1' !>• t- not. intemperate meal had succeeded to that holy feast of faith and love ! and, while the poor went away hungry for want of proper provisions, the rich ate and drank plentifully, if not to excess! V'hat could be said to such a scandalous profimation ? Had they not houses to feast in on their abundance, and to which they might invite their friends '. Did they despise the assembled Church of God, as if it had been a company of intemperate revellers ? Or did the rich purpose to shame their poor brethren, because they had not suitable provisions ? Would they have him ap|.'laud such profane, uncharitable, and sensual practices ? This he would not do, though glad to praise them when he could. Such a refusal of commendation implied the severest re- buke. It is almost unaccountable that a Christian Church, in a short time after this eminent apostle had left ihern, should run into so abominable a jirofanation of this sa- cred ordinance. But the public feasts of the Greeks were commonly conducted in this manner, which apjKars to us as ineonsislent with civility as with piety. Tiic self- conceited Corinthian teachers carried their notions of Chris- tian liberty to an excess almost inconceivable at present ; they not only joined in the idolatrous feasts of their neigh- bours, but they introduced the customs of them into the Church, and so perverted this sacred institution ; aiid, to show the folly of man's wisdom, they were left thus to disgrace themselves more than other Churches, because they thought themselves wiser tlian they. It is also won- derful that the apostle should express so favourable an opinion of the Corinthians in general, notwithstanding these gross abuses ; anti we should thence teain caution in con- demning whole religious societies, because of such evils as perhaps but few ajiprove of, though numbers are seduced to connive at them. ' Mevnv, to be drunk, is by the gram- ' marians thought to have its original from ij.cra to hay, ' {after sacrificing,) because of the free drinking they ' indulged in after their sacrifices. The Judaizing con- ' verts thought themselves obliged to drink plentifully at ' their festivals ; four large cups of wine, saith Dr. Light- ' foot, at the paschal suppei', and to be quite drunk, s;:iili ' Buxtoi-f, at the feast of rurim.' {Whilby.) M such sentiments were publicly a\o\vcd at the time when the apostle wrote, our aslonishtnent at the facts advanced may be abated, but our abhorrence should be proporlionably increased. ' Though the Corinthians had written to St. ' Paul, requesting his directions in several points, yet ' they had not suid one syllabio, about the enormities ' which had crept in amongst them, and in the blame of A. D. G6. I. CORINTHIAlSrS. J. D. 6^. n i» 3- Deol W. b Matt xxtiii £11 Gal i III, 12. I 'I hes iv. 2 0 .Matt. Kxvi 2 17 111 p 3fatt. xxci 2G —23 Mlril Xiv 52 — 21. Liik.! Jt.xii 13, £0 Alts XX. 7. q V. 7, 8. Ps.sxii 26. iO Prov. ix ». Coiit. V. 1. I«. XIV. c. Ir. 1-3. Ju.'^u vi. S:i-57. r :C :;X s 3, 4. IC, 17. • Or, /or a n- n:em6raft.:« Ex. xii. 14. Jush iv. 7 Ps. cxi. I fiat, i 1 U >xvt. R. Malt. 1 xxvi. U. t Luko xxii. 20. SCor. iii.ii. M. 23 For " I have received of thel Lord that ^hich al.so I delivered unto Voii, Tlint the Lord Jesus, ° the same night in which he uas betraj'ed, p took bread : 21 And when he had given thanks, he brake /'/, and said. Take, i eat ; ' tliis is my body, \vhich is broken for you : this do * in remembrance of mo. 25 After the same manner al.'io he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, = This c!ip is ' the New Testament in my blood : tliis do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in jcmerabrancc of me. Htb. U. !i-:Q. siii. 20. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, f ye do shew the Lord's death " till he come. 27 Whei-eforc, * whosoever shall eat diis bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, ^ shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But ^ let a man examine himself, ' and so let him cat of thul bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that cateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh J dam- nation to himself, ^ not discerning the Lord's body. t Op, thtn yr. u iv S. XV. 2.>, John xxi ;r- Arts i. II ITho. iv \i 2 The;, il. 2, :: Heb. ix m 2 Pet. iii. I> 1 JcliQ li 2S. Kev 1 -,. XX 11,12 XXli 20. X 1.2!. Lev X r —3 2Chr \n 13 - 20. Malt Xxii. 11. Joiia xi:i. 18-27. y29. ^31. P? XXvi 5 —5 Lam ill 40 Haj. i i - ZecU. Ml. 5-T. 2 Cor. xili. 3. I Or, (uVliereiore 1 give you to understand, ^'j;,^||j."9 that f no man speakinw by the Spirit of ',''«' '■"«■ r' \ hit' * " -^ '11 fMatk is. S? Ood calleth Jesus * accursed : and that ^"^"h'U '3" i' = no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, *j.°r. j"j"*'J,'^";j but by the Holy Ghost. fj""- s^ ci'li, g viii 6. M»tt. xvi. 17 John lui 13. x». 2« 2 Cor xi, « of his love ; a desire to show forth his death, to profess our obligations to him, and to give up ourselves to his service, in doing good to his people, and to all men for his sake, constitute the proper preparation for acceptably communicating. All who are able to come in this frame of mind, are bound in gratitude and by their professed subjection to Christ, to " show forth the Lord's death till " he come." Such persons are not likely to eat and drink unworthily, or to be " guilty of the body and blood oi Alas! how often do even the professors of the Gospel " Christ;" and their fears and scruples are commonly the meet together for the worse instead of the better! .Espe- eflect of mistake : for every one is fit to come to this ordi cially how frctjucntly do animosities, and personal or parly contentions divide religious societies and corrupt the apparenlh/ united worship! Indeed, in the present state of human nature, such schisms and Inrcsies cannot altogether be avoided : but whilst we adore the wisdom of God, in over-ruling these evils for the manifestation of those who are approved by him ; we must by no means palliate the guilt of such persons, as thus divide and distract the Church. The Lord, indeed, can take occasion from the most hon-id profanations to establish the most beneficial re- gulations : but that display of his wisdom and goodness is tar from excusing the criminals, or exempting them from punishment. We should rejoice, that we are under no temptation to pervert the Lord's supper to an intemperate revel ; but we may seriously inquire, whether profanations, equally flagrant and expressive of contempt, are not com- mon among us. How often do avarice, ambition, and extravagance send their infidel, impious, or profligate vota- ries, to qualify for preferment by this sacred ordinance ! How often do custom and ostentation lead sinners of supe- rior rank to exhibit their petty distinctions, even in attend- ing on this humiliating institution ! How often is it made the support of Pharisaical pride ! Or the cloak with which hvpocrites cover dishonesty or secret licentiousness ! Shall \>,'e praise men for such things ? Surely no ! nay, wc must strenuously protest against them. V. 23—34. They who understand what the apostles received from Christ and delivered to the Church, respecting the interest- ing season when this ordinance was appointed, even that very ordinance in which the Saviour was betrayed ; and concerning the meaning, use, and benefit of it, will per- ceive that a penitent heart, a simple reliance on God's free mercy by faith in Christ, according to the new testament rn his blood ; a thankful recollection of his suflerings and nance, who can pray for spiritual blessings in the name of Christ, without hypocrisy and in an acceptable manner. There should, however, be an habitual self-examination ; and a more particular one at some times when we have opportunity : this will tend to co^ivince the humble be- liever of the difference between his case, and that of profane, proud, and carnal communicants. The same method will tend to prevent other evils and mistakes, which might bring chastisements upon us. But the end of such self-examination should be renewed repentance, ac- ceptance of Christ, and prayer for grace to enable us to " discern the Lord's body," and to attend on this ordi- nance, in a humble, spiritual, and grateful manner. In every respect we act most wisely for our present comfort, as well as for our future good, when we judge ourselves that we may not be judged. Our personal and .family trials should remind us, that the Lord hath a controversy with us : but, as we are apt to be partial or dilatory in judging ourselves, we should count it a mercy to be chas- tened of the Lord, and not condemned with the world ;'and to sufler any thing, even unto death, by which we may escape the eternal damnation of the wicked. Yet it is prudent for us to act with such caution, piety, charity, seriousness, and temperance, that we may, as much as we can, avoid chastenings, which " for the present seem not " joyous, but grievous," though they " bring forth the " peaceable fruits of righteousness to them who arc exer- " cised thereby." NOTES. CHAP. XIT. V. 1—3. The Corinthians were fa- voured with a rich abundance of extraordinary gifts and powers, by the operation of the Holy Spirit ; which they exercised principally in their public assemblies: and, as they were divided into parties, it seems that they vied with each other in the ostentatious display of these endowments. This gave rise to envyings, covetings, repinings, &:c. which were equally opposite to piety and charity. To J. D. 60. CHAPTER. XII. .1 D. 60. 1 Pet h 8-11. 28 Bom. 4 Now ^ tliere are diversities of gifts, fy'^fneb -nt but the same Spirit. Jnutrin. 5 And thefc are differences of * admi- iSSi UoDi.siifi . -« Eph u u.ij nistrations, ivi.i fi Matt ' xjiii. lO Acts X 36 Rom X but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of opera- kV*'riF'r''jot. 'ions, but it is the same God whicli xs'x.i 29' John k worketh ' all in all. V. 17 Kpb. I. 19 . . , ~ . . Phfi ^f''V3. "^ "^^ "" *"^ mamtestation of the Spirit i"v''28'''Fph i 's given to every man to profit withal. iD^iv°5.'i!."i7 ^ ^°^ ^^ ^^^ " 's given by the Spirit xxv°~u. "si'c. the word of wisdom ; to another the word f fet Jv n~'^ of knowledge by the same Spirit; a i. i. 30. ii. 6—10. xiii 2 8. Gea. Sli. 38, 39. £s. sxxi 3 1 K\af,» hi. 5—13. Neb. ix. 20. Job ixxii e. Ps. cxliii. 10. Ptov. ii.e Is xl. 2 1. 4. llx. 21. Daa. ii. 21. Matt. xiii. 11. Acta vi. 3. Epb i. 17,18. remedy tliese grievous evils, the apostle began his obser- vations on the subject, by reminding them of what they had been a short time before. He would not have them ignorant of the origin and use of such gifts ; for though they prided themselves upon their speculative knowledge, they were in great danger of remaining entirely without instruction in many practical matters. Yet they mu.st know that they had, in general, been Gentiles, who were carried away by a blind attachment to their idols, even at they were led captive by their lusts, by their priests, and by Satan. These were dumb idols, (notwithstanding all '.hat was boasted of their oracles,) and therefore they could not confer on their deluded votaries those gifts of tongues, and that utterance, which the converts toChristianiiy had now received, and which must be ascribed only to the sovereign grace of God. It was then proper for them to understand, that all such gifts were confined within the limits of the Christian Church ; so that no man, whether Jew or Gentile, who blasphemed the name of Jesus, or treated him as a deceiver, deserving the death of the cross, .spake by the Holy Spirit ; but his pretended, or apparent, inspiration must be ascribed either to human imposture, or diabolical agency. On the other hand, no man could sin- cerely confess Jesus to be the Lord, the [jromised Messiah, the Son of God, according to his own declarfitioiis con- cerning himself, except he spake under the infliience of the Holy Spirit. The knowledge and belief of his truth, and the boldness to profess it, must come from that bless- ed Agent; in this important sense, all true Christians had spiritual gifts, and none ought either to despise another, or to deem himself over-looked, if he were not favoured with ^uch as were more coveted, but less valuable. Yet the subject rather leads us to suppose the apostle to mean, that this confession from the mouth, even of a nominal Christian, being made under the impulse of the Holy Spi- rit, (as wicked Balaam prophesied,) was a spiritual .^^ift, which might benrfit others, though it should prove or' no use to the possessor. {Note, 1 John iv. 1 — 3.) ■ Nor ' can they who confirm the doctrine of Christ by miracles ♦ be acted on by any other but the Holy Ghost ; li.r no ' evil spirit would assist them to confirm a doctrine so op- ' posile to and destructive of their kingdom and desig.is.' (IVhilby.) The expression, " say that Jesus is the Lord," more obviously signifies the profession of the true doc- trine concerning Christ, than the exercise of saving faith Vol. v.— No. 32. 9 To another 'faith by the same Spi-oxiii. s. rit ; to another p the gifts of heahiia" by 2V."!«l.'v" the same Spirit ; i. 6 • 10 To another "i the working of mira- ii>'» cles ; to another 'prophecy; to anothtr ■. ' discerning of spirits ; to another ' divers ;■,• -,^ kinds of tongues ; " to another the inter pretation of tongues Jam 1 (.like 1 1 But ^ all these worketh that one ;'\,'j-;;, Aei*|| iii.'s Het>l and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every J?"^- man severally >' as he will. Kum. xi. 15— f9 I Sam s. 10—13. xix 13 Act.« it 17 18 29. 3li li 28. \xi 9, U> iXiT S9. Acts T. 3 1 Joliii iy. I Rev li. t - iUar\xvi 17. Arts ii. .1 !2 x. 46, 47. sis. .loho i i. 2? Rom. SII.6 i Cor x. 13 Eph 15. John iii 8. . 21. Horn. ix. 18. Eph i. 1 2. xiT. 1. 3. 5 5l 31. 32 39. iii 1,2. Joel ii. 23 .lohn s»i. I riie» V 20 2 i'et. i iO, 21. n. X ii I. .siv 2-4.22. 27 39. K V 2i:- ;8 X4 vii 7. IT. Dao. iv 35 Matt. si. 2G. xx. in him, especially in a discourse concerning " spiritual " gifts," or, as some would render it, " s]3iritu;d men," or men possessing sjiiritual gifis, such as are afterwards enumerated, (8 — )0.) to qualify them for any public sta- tions in the Church. ('28.) Man) have propl-esied in his name, as well as preached and defended his tiuth, wiio were workers of iniquiiy ; yet, as far as they avowed " that Jesus was the LordI," they spake by the Holy Spi- rit. {^"ote, 1 John iv. 1—3. Marg. Ref.) V. 4 — ] 1. There was a great diversity in the spiritual gifts conferred on the Corinthians, and they valued some of them far more than others ; yet they were all from the same divine Spirit, of whose operations they were but instruments and vehicles. There were also various dif^ ferent administrations, or offices, in which men ministered to the benefit of the Church, according to the work as- signed and the talents intrusted to them ; but they were all the servants of Christ, and were dependent on and accountable to the same Lord. In the effects which fol- lowed the exercise of their gifts, whether in miraculous cures, or in the conversion of sinners, the whole was produced by the power of the same God, who wrought all these changes on the bodies and souls of men, through his Son, and by his Spirit, for the glory of his own great name. But the manifestation of the power and glory of the Spirit, in these extraordinary operations, was not made for the credit of the man by whom he wrought, but for the advantage of the Church, and even of those without, that the person who possessed these gifts, or filled up any office in the Church, might profit others ; for these things were entirely distinct from that gracious state of the heart, which disposes a man to improve his talents of every kind ; and gifts were sometimes bestowed on merely nominal Christians. For the purpose of thus profiting others, the Holy Spirit conferred on one, " the word of wisdom ;" by which may be intended such immediate discoveries of the grand scheme of salvation, attended with such powers of discoursing about it, as were suited to render other mea " wise unto salvation." To another the same Spirit gave " the word of knowledge," by which might be intended an exact and extraordinary understanding of the Old Tes- tament types and prophecies, and a capacity of explaining difficult subjects, of answering objections, of determining casos of conscience, or of speaking suitable words to dif- ferent descriptions of persons. Another was endued witk J. D. 60. I. Corinthians: .^. D. m. T X. 17. Rom III 4. S K|>!|. i. 23. Iv 1 Vi Mi. le. h X .2 li.xMv.3- S t<. oxvi 2i -Ul. Slatliii 11 Lukciil.l6.Juljo i.aa iii S. Acl! i. i. Horn, vi 3—6. Till 5-n. Kph T 20 Ci.l ii U, :'2 Tit lii. 1-6. 1 Pel, iii. 21 K|.h. il. 11-16 U-22. lii 6. Cnl. \.'il iii. II • Gr. 6 recks. d vii. 21,21. F.ph vi (i eCmit V 1 Isxli. 17,18 Iv 1. Zecli ix IS-17 John IV, 10. 14 vi.O), >ii 37-39. r 12 If.JO 27 28. Eptl iv, 21. Rjiidf: ix, i;-l5. 2 Kiiiss XIV 9. Il K. 22 Until. .xii 3 10, I'tlil, ii. 3. 121. 29. 1 Fam ix 9 J's Sciv 9. i-sxxix. 13—10. I'rov XX. 12. XV. 38. Pb CX 3. 11 I.uke s, 21. • xii 32. Roinxii 3. F.p!i. i 5. 9. 12 For '■ as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one bo- dy; "so also is Christ. i;j For " hy one Spirit arc we all bap- tized into one body, " whether vjc be Jews or * Gentiles, whether ice be ' bond or free ; and have been all made " to drink into one Spirit. 1 4 For ' the body is not one member, but many. 15 If f the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, 1 am cot of the body ; '■ is it therefore not of the body .'' 16 And if the ear shall say, Because 1 am not the eye, I am not of the body ; is it therefore not of the body } 17 ii^ ^ the whole body were an eye, where ivere the hearing } If the whole were hearing, where iverc the smelling .'* 18 But now ^ hath God set the mem- bers, every one of them in the body, ' as it hath pleased him. 19 And " if they were all one meniber, where ivere the body ^ a remarkable degree of faith, which rendered him capa- ble of engaging in very perilous services, for which per- sons of more exact knowledge might be less competent. This kind and degree of faith was distinct from diat gra- cious fiiith which justiiielh, and so might be considered as a spiritual gift bestowed on certain persons, to enable tliem to profit others. Some of them were endued with I he gift of peri'orming miraculous cures, others were enabled to work miracles of divers kinds. Some predicted future events, others liad.a supernatural talent of discerning spi- rits, of perceiving by what principles men were actuated, or of what services they were capable. Some could speak in various languages which they had not learned, and others could miiaculously interpret them to the hearers, who understood them not. All these endowments t!ie Holy Spirit Irccly bestowed, in that measure and diversity which he saw good, and conducive to the common advan- tage of the Ciiurch, so that no one had any ground of glo- lying over others, or of repining, as if he were forgotten in this distribution. This is a most clear and conclusive attestation to the Personality, Sovereignty, and Deity of the Holy Ghost. There is, indeed, much difficulty at pre- sent, in determining precisely what the apostle meant by each of the terms here used, which doubtless were readily understood at the time when the gifts spoken of were ex- ercised, some by one, and some by another of them ; but l.c sense which appeared most probable has been chosen, .i(] great exactness on such a subject is not at all neces- ,5ary. (Marg. Bef.) Y. 1-2 — 14. (Note, Rom. xii. 4, 5.) The apostle nest illustrated the wisdom and goodness of the Holy 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And " the eye cannot say unto the ''I'Vi,™' J,^.'- ^„- hand, 1 have no need of thee: nor again, Ne"iv''i6i'2f the liead to the feet, I have no need of ■'o''"*'' '*" you. 22 Nay, " mucli more those members Vr/" g^'s cof: of the body, which seem to be more fee- I'ul' ""■""•'• ble, arc necessary : 2.3 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon the.se we f bestow more abundant *^^^ uf-j ^^'■ honour ; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For Pour comely jmrts have no ^if" ''■*5- "'^ need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given moie abundant ho- nour to t\\Sii part which lacked : 25 That 1 thei-e should be no t schism i ' 'o-" -'i ^ , , , , , , ^ lohn xvii 21- in the body; but inut the members f^- stor xn.- should have ' the same care one for ano- t °^-^^''"ji»''|, then , 'v.i.le. "■ 26 And ' whether one member suffer, all the members sufi'er with it ; or one member be honoured, all the members ""'' "••scr rejoice with it. 2 Cor 29 I Heb Spirit, in his distribution of lhe?c gifts, by the similitude of the human liody. This, though formed of many mem- bers, constitutes one harmonious whole, while every mem- ber has its proper use and capacity for the couimou bene- fit. Thus, Clirist mystical, or his Church, as united to l.im, its glorious Head, was one great whole, consisting of many parts. As the thing signiiied by the baptism of water, all true Christians had been baptized into Chriai's body, by the communication of his life-giving Spirit, whether they had been before Jews or Gentiles, slaves or iVce-men ; and by deriving continual supjjlies of that siujie Sjiirit, in answer to their earnest desires and believing |)ruyers, they ll ill. 8. 18, I' 5. CXXSIt. I'rnv. X Mate xi. 2,3.1 Pet i. 10-12 1 John 1 0 But f when that which is perfect is ',!?. \"m *« come, then that which is in part shall be ^ly.ii\.li,ii done away. xxii. i,s. 11 When I was a child, ^1 spake fi^'^;»,n^'»g*J as a child, I understood as a child, 1 " ' * thought as a child: but when 1 be- * °'^' "'"'"^'* piicmies, aft^r Christ's example, and in obedience to his commands ; and he now dcsiies that they should all be happy, anj God be o;lorificd in their salvation. This love therefore includes all parties, nations, .'ind characters, in its expansive exercise, though still capable of more parti- cular attachments : it reganls both the tcm|)oral and eternal interests of mankind ; and the external comfort, as well as spiritual advantage of believers : and in subordination to the love of God, it seeks to promote the benefit of man- kind, and the peace and prosjierity of the Church, as its grand objects. This love is the unequivocal evidence of legeneration ; and it is a belter touchstone of men's pro- fessed faith iu Christ, than even the love of God ; because its eflecis may more easily be examined, and there is less danger of false aflections in it. It was also that part of the Christian temper, in which the Corinthians weie peculiarly defective : the apostle therefore selected this subject, to show ttiem how low an estimate ought to be made of their religion. AVo must further observe that he described love as a man would gold, by enumerating its properties in the abstrart. AVherever it subsisted, it had those properties, whether its quantity were small or great; and l)y this a man might estimate his own attainments in real religion. Some love might exist, where great remains of selfish passions obstructed its exercise ; (as a little gold may be mixed with a large alloy of base metal ;) but it would then become less evident, and the man's state more dubious. " Love sufiereth long •," it influences a man, as far as it prevails, to endure the most provoking injuries atrd afiVonls for a long time together, without resentment or retaliation : it " is kind," even to the most injurious ; persevering in endeavours to overcome evil with good, and delighting in showing kindness to all sorts of persons, h\ word and deed. " Love envieth not ;" as far as it rules in the iieart, it represses pride and selfishness, and causes men to rejoice in the comfort, advantage, and honour, even of those whom nature would regard as enemies or rivals. " Love vauiiteth not itself;" it is a humble, unostenta- tious prin'-i[)le ; it never prompts a man to boast, to push himself into notice, to prefer himself to others, to act with rashness and insolence, or in an overbearing dogma- tical spirit. •' Ft is not pulled up ;" it never leads a person to be elated by endowments, oflices, applause, or popularity ; for where love prevails, these are only regarded and valued as means of good to others, communicated from God, to whom all the honour of them belongs. " Love " doth no! behave itself unseemly ;" it guides a man to a gentle, beneficent, courteous, compassionate, respectful conduct, suited to his employment, relative duties, age, and station : and thus it preserves him from rashness, and those im]iroiirieties, into which pride and selfishness betray others : for he who is influenced by lo\ e will keep the good of mankind continually before him ;is his object : and this will restrain him from tliose evil tempers and unbe- coming actions, which would cotintcract his grand design. " Love seeketh not its own ;" it never prompts men to seek their own case, interest, credit, or indulgence, except in subordination to the welfare of others and the glory of God ; and it docs not allow them to seek any selfish end, in the use of their gifts and talents, which are conferred on them to profit odicrs with. '• Love is not easilj " provoked ;" it is not passionate and furious, any more than revengeful ; it does not readily take offence even at many or great aflronts, which pride and self-love would deem intolerable. " Love thinketh no evil ;" it is unsus- pecting, and not ajit to impute men's conduct to bad mo- tives without c\ idcnt proof: it can iherefore never prompt any one to invent or circulate slanders, to believe malicious reports, or even needlessly to expose the faults of others : but it will rather influence him to extenuate or conceal them. For " love rcjoiccth not in iniquity ;" it is no! gratified, (as pride and malevolence are,) with the report of the vices and follies of others, though belonging to any party, or regarded as opposcrs; it rather influences a man to weep over it. lunl to desire that it should be found erro- neous. " But love rcjoiceth in the truth ;" it excites joy in the heart, when the triumphs of the truth and the holy lives of such as profess it are mentioned ; or when aspersed characters are vindicated by the truth being made known ; or when persons of any sort act with truth, sincerity, and integrity, professing and adorning the truth of the Gospel. '• Love bearcth all things ;" it covers all faults, as far as oilier duties will admit ; it bears with the infirmities and mistakes of others with candour and kindness ; and it submits to any inconvenience cheerfully, which this for- beai'ancc imposes. " Love believeth all things ;" it dis- poses a person to believe the most favourably of all others, till the contrary be proved ; to act as counsel for the ac- cused ; and even to credit a man's apologies for his faults, his professions of repentance, and his purposes of amend- ment. " Love hopeth all things ;" it promj^s a man to hope the best of another's character and intentions, that the case will fairly allo\f him ; to hope for the conversion of the sinner, or the recovery of the back-slider ; to proceed with hope in his attempls to do good to the most profligate obstinate, and ungrateful : and it allows no one to despair of others, to be wearied out by their pervcrseness, or to give over all endeavours for their good. In this desire and hope of finally succeeding, at least in some instances, " Love cndurcth all things ;" it influences a man to bear any poverty, reproach, persecution, hardship, suffering, or even death, in seeking to do good to the bodies and souls of men, after the example of Christ, and in obedience to his commandments. It is obvious to every attentive rea- der, that in this beautiful description of the properties and effects of love, the apostle meant to show the Corinthians, that their conduct had in most particulars been an entire contrast to it. (Soles, Gal. v. 13—13. Jam. iii. 13 — IT.) .1. D. 60. CHAPTER Xm. D. GO. '',25'°' f-^ »• came a man, I put away childish things. ' ifdi' ' '-.''is- ^12 Foi- now '' wc sec through a glass, ■,\^^^r,"-», * darkly ; but then ' face to face: •< now ;, 7; , I'xvi': I know in part ; but then shall I know '' 1 jiThni.l';: even as also I am known. Kev. ssii. 4.-^ k9, 10. Jolox IJ V. 8 — 12. Tlic love which the apostle rccommonrlcd, *' never taileth :" it never loseth its value or excellency, it will never be changed for any other tiling, nor will it ever fail out of that heart in which it hath taken root. On the other hand, even the gift of prophecy would fail : the Spirit of prophecy would soon be withdrawn from the Church ; the instructions, given by the prophets from imme- diate revelation, would soon be superseded by more ordina- ry methods ; and even the prophecies of the Scripture will all shortly be accomplished, and, having answered their end, will be of no further use. The gift of tongues was of no long continuance in the Church ; and in heaven no ac- quaintance with human languages will be of any value. That philosophical knowledge, on which the Corinthians prided themselves, soon vanished as a dream: and even that kind and degree of religious knowledge, which is acquired on earth, will, as it were, be eclipsed by the per- fect knowledge of heaven ; as the light of the stars by the blaze of noon : or the knowledge, by which some were qualified to teach others the truth and will of God, would be of no further use. Here indeed the servants of God " knew in part, and so prophesied in part :" they had a small portion of his ways, works, and counsels, made known to them ; but when the perfect discoveries of an- other world should be mLide, all this would be done away, as the useless taper in the day-time. This might be illus- trated by the difference between the apprehensions of a child, and those of a man. The apostle coul. F OLLOW after '' chaiify, ''and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that y( ^ Prov.sv.g.xxi £1. Is li.l.Rom. Ix. 30. xiv 19. 1 TlQj. V. IOti.U. p«"ill' \\-\l may '^ prophesy. 3Joha II .-„»», ». b Ste a" Pet^i""'." tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto S 3-s.y,'25. S7. God : for no man * understandeth him; NUffl^'si. *2s- ' honbeit in the Spirit he speaketh mys- SO. teries. iii. I- 2 For "^ he that speaketh in an tmfenou'w . 14 3 But he that prophesieth, speaketh that speaketh in an ^ edifieth himself: but e9-ll. 16 21,33. 23*°D?i't xsviii unto men, to ^ edification, and '' exhorta- 49. aKingsKviii. . J ^ 26 Acts 1. i~ tion, and ' comtort. II. X. 46 XiX. 6 ., , , * Gt. htanth. 4 He Acts xxii 9 fii 7. 10. xiii- 2. tongue. XV. il.Ps xlix. '""o"^' i/- 1 1 '"iV'Sl prophesieth, 'edineth the church. ,vi ol Si" would that ye all spak^ Kora. XM. 2S. J ' i ■ 1 T '■'' i9.'"col~l tongues, but rather that ye prophesied : Tim' iii!'/ 16. " for greater is he that prophesieth than Rev. X. 7. g4. 12 26 viii 1. X. 23, Acts is 31. Rom. xiv. la. XV. 2. Epii. iv. 12— 1«. 89. I Thee. V. II 1 Tim i 4. Jmle 20 h Luke iii 18. Acta xiii. 15 xi 38. Rom xii 8. 1 Tlies. ii 3. iv 1 v. 1 1. 14. 2 Thcs. iii. 12. I Tim. iv 13. vi iT.8 Tit i. 9 ii.6.9 15 Heb iii 13.x. 25 xiii. 22 I Pet v 12. i31 : ill 7 Eph vi 28 Col iv. 8. 1 Thes ii II. iii. 2 iv 18. v. II 18, 19. m xii. 28—30 xiii. 4 Num. xi. 28, 29. a i. Matt unknown he that with V 22 sv. J. vi i. 8 Tim i31 2 Cor. 1.4 k 14. 13. good gifts : and whilst we contend, that faith alone can justify the sinner by forming his relation to the Saviour, and that hope only can support the soul, amidst all the trials of life and death, let us remember, that Love is still greater than these useful and needful graces ; being the evidence of our title to eternal life, and the meetness for and earnest of that holy and unspeakable felicity. NOTES. CHAP. XIV. V. 1—5. Having shown the excel- lency of love, the apostle exhorted the Corinthians to fol- low after it, as the great object of their unremitting pur suit, in preference to all other things : and then they would do well earnestly to desire spiritual gifts, that they might be enabled to be useful to their brethren ; for under the in- fluence of love, they would certainly thus us& them ; espe- cially they should value " the gift of prophesying." By this the apostle seems to have intended an immediate com- munication from the Spirit of God, concerning the mean ing of the Holy Scriptures, or some point of doctrine or practice, in which the Church or individuals wanted in- struction at the time. This was a gift bestowed on seve- ral, by which they became occasional, or extraordinary, teachers in the Church, and it seems to have generally been accompained (by the power of predicting future events, when circumstances required it. The Corinthians, how- ever, did not value it so much as the gift of tongues, or of miracles, because it was less suited to excite admiration ; but the apostle instructed them, that it was gready to be preferred by Ihem, because more useful in their situation. For he who spake in a language which the hearers under- stood not, did not speak to men, but to God only ; nor would others receive any benefit, tiiough under the im- pulse of the Holy Spirit he spake the most sublime mys- teries of the Gospel, in the most suitable words. Whereas, he that prophesied spake to men, to edify them in divine truth, to exhort them to holy practice, or to comfort them YoL. v.— No. 32. he that speaketh with tongues, " except "^'ii'iaaS'"''' he interpret, that the churcli may receive ''sTs.m'xli^L'i. edifying. 3r.u.nx"i6: 6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you -iTmil'iieJ: speaking with tongues, ^ what shall I ,j''26'-3o Man • profit you, except 1 shall speak to you corxii''L7.Epif either by "* revelation, or by "knowledge, is. '' '"" or by ^ prophesying, or by ' doctrine .'* V^Hom 'xv'il' 7 And even " things without life Viviner kph ih « \ , , , .=> , O " Pet i.5 iii 18. sound, whether pipe or nnrp, " except - s« ci, i xiii.i'. , ' . ,..'». . , ' ' , f t 26 Bom. xv>. tnev eive a distinction m the T sounrLs, i^ ='''ira. ii. 1 "^ I 11 • I 1 1 • • 1 10 16. IV. 8. £ how shall it be known what is piped or^Joj'.na- harped? _ S™ ^Ji.'i. 8 For y if tlie trumpet give an uncer- .^'or'iJni..^" tain sound, who shall prepare himself to >j5J,'|, the battle ? Judg vii 16- IB Neh iv. 18 9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by ^"25"' u.^x"''. ' 13' Am iii S. vi. ll-l.\ ig„ificanL the tongue words % easy to be understood, j^p^ how shall it be known what is spoken } ,^''" ' ^ for ye shall speak into the air. ^"' ^' under their manifold trials. Indeed, he v/ho spake in an unknown tongue might derive instruction and benefit from his own words, and his faith might be established by the exercise of this miraculous gift, in case he was not elated with pride, and influenced by ostentation. But he that prophesied would edify numbers, which would be far more desirable. As the apostle rejoiced in every thing conducive to their prosperity, he desired that they might all be endued \vith the gift of tongues ; but still more, that they should all be capable of instructing others, by the gift of prophesying ; for the prophet was certainly a more honourable and useful person, than he who spake with tongues; except the latter were also endued with the gift of interpreting his discourse into the language understood by his hearers, that so the Church might be edified by what he spake. This was not generally the case ; for a man might be miraculously enabled to speak in one, two, or more lan- guages which he had never learned ; and yet, being left ig- norant of others, he might be unnble to c.vplain his mean- ing to those, who neither undcr.-tood the language in which he spake, nor that which was his native tongue. Or, to counterpoise this distinction, which tended so much to elate the possessors, they might be left incapable of giving utterance with propriety, perspicuity, or promptitude, suit- ed to a public assembly, even in their native tongue, to those divine truths which they spake fluently in another language, under the influence of the Holy Spirit : and ano- ther man might be miraculously enabled to understand, and interpret into the language of the audience, wiiat was thus spoken, who yet himself might be unable to speak fluently in the language which he interpreted. Even in ordinary cases, clearly understanding a language, and being able to speak fluently in it, are very dititinct attainments. 'Why ' was the gift of tongues conferred ? That the mysteries ' of God might be openly made known to more people and ' nations. Then, surely prophecy, to which the gift of ' tongues was intended to be subservient, must be of supe- ' rior excellency.' {Besa.) .■J. D. 60, I. CORINTHIANS. Jl. D. 60. • 31 AcllIXTii) 2. i Knn,. r. 11. Col. ill. II. .S 1 xii 7. 21. viii ai. Phi! 18 Si 21 Eph vi. I 16. JudeSO 17-1 Col i 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of" voices in the world, and none of them is without sis;nification. 1 1 Therefore if I know not the mean- ing of the voice, "I shall be unto him that speakfcth a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. J 2 Even so ye, '' forasmuch as ye are zealous of * spiritual gifts, '- seek tliat ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 13 Wherefore let him that speakctli in an unknown tongue, "^ pray that he may interpret. 1 4 For if I pray in an unknoivn tongue, '' my .sfiiiit praycth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 'What is it then.? U vvill pray V. 6 — \-2, To convince die Corinthians, widiout need- less nfTince, of whit he hi\d asserted, the apostle put the case, thai, when he came tit-xt to Corinth, he should mere- ly disjilay his gift of speaking in a variety of languages ; of u hut use in that case would his visit be to them ? Sure- ly of none ; except he spake intelligibly, either by imme- diaie revelation from God, or by some prophetical mes- sage suited to their case, or concerning some doctrine in which they wavered or were mistaken. Unless, in some of these ways, (which indeed it is difficult for us to dis- tinguish with exactness,) he gave them clear instructions, all tlial he could say in unknown languageTs would be an un- meaning noise. For even lifeless things that 'are used to give sound, such as musical instruments, can give no di- rection to those who are to sing and dance to them, unless a |iroper ilislinclion be observed in the sounds: and if the trumpet should be blown at random, without any distinc- tion between that sound which calls the combatants to the field, and other sounds of different meaning, what soldier could understand when to prepare himself for the battle ? If then, an intelligible distinction of somids was necessary in the ordinary concerns of life, much more must they be HO in those of religion. For, unless they uttered significant and intelligible words, how could the hearers understand what was s|)okcn ? They might as well speak in an empty room or an unfrequented desert, where their words would be lost in the air, and never reach any human ear. There were indeed as many languages or idioms in the world, as there were diflerent regions ; and each of these was signi- ficant to the persons accustomed to it. That circumstance therefore ought to be considered ; otherwise, even in or- dinary conversation, the speaker and hearer, who under- stand not each other, would appear reciprocally barbari- ans to each other, however expressive, polite, and copious the languages were in which they spalie ; and they would be more likely to d>^spise each other, than to profit by the interview, or be satisfied with it. In the common concerns of life, therefore, it was thus requisite for men to under- stantl each other ; and surely the Corinthians, amidst their aealj and emulous de.-Jre of spiritual gifts, ought to act with the sjiirit, and I will pray with the understancling also : I will sing with the spirit, '' and 1 will sing with the under- Vji ;j';i_s standing also. 16 Else when thou shalt 'bless with''^-'^- the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the 1. fs. XXIK. . J. Acl«i thy giving of thanks, seeing he under- i If, standeth not what thou sayest .i^ il, "'"'i "i^i', 17 For thou verily jrivest thanks wejl, iwlit v^^,. ™ but the other is not edified. UMii^sz. cIl 18 1 "thank my God, I speak with f'.iuH.'vWa. tongues more than you all : »Ti w. John 19 Yet ° in the church I had rather i4"xxii 20.' ' speak five words with uiy undcrstandinor, " > «-6. »•. 7 A J. I ■ T • 1 . . I , f 01 31.2!. that by my voice 1 might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an un- known tongue. consistently with common sense, and desire to excel in those things by which they might edify the Church ; and not in such as could only procure them irrational admira- tion! ' At this day, among the papists, they arc used in ^ their sermons, always to quote the sacred Scriptures in 'Latin, without adding a translation in the vulgar tongue; ' nor do they use any other method, in tiie singing and ' prayers." (Besa.) ' If you that have the gift of strange ' languages do not speak that which the auditors may un- ' dcrstand; (for to that end sure were those languages giv- ' en) that you might speak to every one in his own language, (Ads ii. 6;) how shall any one be better for your lan- guage ?' [Hammond.) V, 13 — 19. If any of them must needs speak in an unknown tongue among their brethren, let them pray to be endued also with the gift of interpreting what was spoken, or what others delivered in a foreign language, that their religious exercises might not be a mere osten- tatious display of their powers, without meaning or use. Supposing the apostle should come and pray with the con- gregation in an unknown tongue, his spirit or heart might indeed be very devoutly engaged in the worship of God, while exercising this gift ot the Holy Spirit ; but, as others could not understand him, so his own under- standing would be unfruiful, having no just and proper exercise, and producing no benefit to his fellow-worship- pers. What would then be the proper inference from this observation ? Truly, he would pray from the fulness of his spiritual affections, and in thesobe r exercise of his under- stanfling also, liy using such words as might edify others and enable them to join with him. In like manner, when he sang the praises of God, he would endeavour to have his spiritual affections engaged as much as possible ; yet he would also consider, as a rational man, what language would be best understood by the congregation. But if any of them, neglecting this dictate of common sense, should celebrate the praises of God, and return thanks for his mercies, in the most spiritual and fervent manner, but in an unknown tongiie. how could he, who o ccupied the place of a private believer, who had neither learning, nor A. D. 60. CHAPTER XIV. A. D. 61). piii. . II. 99. I: xi. 3. Ram xvi. 19. F.ph iv. U Fhil i. 9 Heb. V. 12, 13. q Ps. cxKzi. I, 2. Matt si 2S. sviii 3 xix \i. M H"' '"''■ Joi") T> •/ II I II X. 10 .\tts u. 21 Uut II alt prophesy, and there come i3 xxvi.24. in one that believeth not, or one un- learned, ^ he is convinced of all, he is '■^^_ll- f;""",,* judged of all: wfs'if "*'' 25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest ; and so ' falling ^^^°;^ .»"]'■ ,'.|; down on his face, he will worship God, '"''I'^kJ'^'^ and report that "God is in you of a g'sis"*''''' '" irUlU. Zech.viil.S3. ducive to general edification, in the present state of the Church. V. 20 — 25. These intimations of the ignorance and childishness of the Corinthians, who were evidently in no small degree disposed to self-wisdom, are very remarkable. As they professed to have much knowledge, let them not be " children in understanding ;" for it was really as trifling and vain to make a parade of the gift of tongues, merely to astonish those who could not understand them, as any of the competitions and amusements of children could be. Let them indeed be as infants in respect of malice, and every evil disposition ; being of a gentle for- giving disposition, without resentment or rancour : but let them be men in understanding, as those that were ma- tured in judgment and experience, and capable of act- ing with propriety and wisdom in their whole conduct. In the law, (or in the Old Testament,) God had foretold, that he would speak to Israel by men of other lips, and yet even then they would not hear him. (Marg. Eef.) This seems primarily to have related to the languages of those foreign nations, by whom God intended to execute vengeance on Israel : but it might also denote, that he would instruct them by persons endued with the gift of tongues, to convince them of the truth. So that this gift, when exercised among such as did not understand what was spoken, was to be considered rather as a rebuke than a favour ; but in its proper use, it was intended for a sign to unbelievers, in order to their conversion, whereas, pro- phesying was more immediately intended for the edification of believers. Yet the gift of tongues might be so per- verted, as even to prove exceedingly injurious to unbe- lievers, and this ought to be taken into the account. If, therefore, the whole Church of Corinth should be assembled in one place, and all who were able should speak with tongues, several at once, and others in succession, whilst the rest undtTstood nnt what was sjjoken ; and if any per- |son. uninstructcd in Christianity, or disposed 10 reject it, jshf)uld come in to make his observations, would not such ! irrational and confused proceedings confirm his prejudices, • and cause him to conclude that they were a company of ' madmrn, or fiantir enthusiasts ? Bui if they all pro- Iphcsif'd, and one teacher after another .'pake by the Spirit of God, in a periinent, instructive, and convincing manner, ;on some point of doctrine or practice, the stranger who ' X 2 /;. 00. I. CORfNTttlANS. .J. D. 60. 2G IIow is it ti.cn, brethren? vvlieu k-'io''" " ^' }« come together, " v\e\y one ot" you hath a psalni, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an inter- '.1»'w' scTr pretation. '' Let all things be clone unto »>►,''. Vic': edifying. sv. 1 Tiies. ^. 27 li" any man speak in an unknoion tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course ; and let one intcjprtt. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church ; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or 'v'io.'ai 'uohJi three, and ' let the other judge. '/ }^^ 30 If any thing he ' revealed to another 't-i^V"!; •,'fl that sitteth by, Met the first hold his occasionally came among them, would hear something from every one to convince his understanding, to awaken his conscience, and to move his afiections; lie would find his secret objections answered, his seci-et thoughts divulged, his secret sins reproved, and the real slate of his heart and soul made known to him, though before they were un- perceived. And this might be expected, by the divine blessing, to produce a full persuasion of the truth and excellency of the Gospel : so that it would often happen, that the curious or ignorant despiser would be suddeidy changed into a humble worshipper, and that under his deep conviction, he would even prostrate himself in adora- tion of the living God ; acknowledging that the glorious Lord was evidently present in the midst of the assembled Christians, and evidently spake by them for the instruction of the hearers. (Marg. Kef.) V. 26 — 33. How then ought their public meetings to be ordered and conducted? When they came together, all, who were endued with gifts, were ready eagerly to seize the opportunity of exercising them : so that one would begin to sing a psalm or spiritual song, another to discourse on some doctrine, another to speak in an unknown tongue, another to declare some special reve- lation that had been made to him, or another to interpret what had been spoken. Thus several would speak at the same time, in different parts of the assembly ; and while every one was more desirous to be heard and admired, than to hear and be edified, the whole scene became confused, and the great end of their coming together was overlooked. — As a general rule by which such abuses might be reme- died, they should always take care, that all things were done with a view to their common edification. Ff then any of them chose to speak in an unknown tongue, let no more than two, or at most three, one after another, exercise this gift, at one meeting, and let some one in- terpret his discourse. But if none present were enabled to ^o this, let him, who was about to speak in an unknown tongue, be silent ; and be content, on proper occasions, to speak 10 himself and to God in meditation and prayer ; without obtruding his uaiiUilligible words upon the con- 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that •" all may learn, and ' all may be comforted. 32 And ^ the spirits of the prophets are subject t-> tlic prophets. 33 t or God is not the Author of * con- fusion, ' but of peace, as "" in all churches of the saints. 31 Let your ° women keep silence in the churches : for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but "they are com- 7nunded to be under obedience, p as also saith the law. 3.5 And if they will learn any thing, "ilet them ask their husbands at homo: for it is "^ a shame for women to speak in the church. q Eph. V. S5-i7. I Pet iii. 7 r 31. li li 3. 19. 35. Pwr i S ix u. Eph. iv 11, \3. i Rom i. 13. I Cor i. 1. Til. s, 7. Tph. vl. n. I Thtj. ir. 19. T II \i. k 19, JO ISam. X. m-13 »ix ij— ix- : Kin^i ii 3 b. Job SXXli B -II. Jer IX 9 AcH iv. 19.20 • Gr UriiuU, or, unquUtnttt. 1 'ii. 15 Luke II. U Rood xt. 33. Gal ». a. 3 The: iii. 16. Hes xiii a». JuD Iii 17,18. 17 le. 17. B X . 3. I Tim. ii. II. 13. o 3> Ii. 3 7—10 Eph. 5 22 -I«. 33. Col iii. I«. lit. ii 5 I Pet. iii IS p2l. Geo iii, 16. Num SSI. 3— e. 11-13. EMil. i. 17-£0 .6 U. Eph T 12. gregation, who ought to be more profitably employed. Let, ilie prophets also speak by two or three at the same meet- ing, in due order ; and let those prophets especially, who were silent, exercise their judgment upon what was spoken, to determine whether it accorded with the Scripture, as false prophets might creep in among them. \i\ case any thing should be immediately revealed to one who sat by, which required present attention, let the first, on a proper intimation given, keep silence till that had been consider- ed : or, as some render it, let the other wait till the first, had done speaking. For they needed not be eager to speak first; seeing by properly waiting they might all pro- phesy, (who had that gift,) and all be edified. Nor could it be urged, that the divine impulse upon their minds con- strained them to speak immediately, as the frantic heathen priests and priestesses did ; for the spirits of the prophets, (their minds when most powerfully influenced by the Holy Spirit,) were subject to government, and might be restrained, directed, and regulated by reason and judg- ment, as at other times. That gracious God, whose Spi- rit spake by them, was by no means the Author of confu- sion and disorder, such as must ensue from the vehement utterance of many speakers at once, vying with each other who should attract most attention ; but of peace, har- mony, mutual love, and good order: as it was evident in the conduct of all the churches of the saints, in this and other particulars. V. 34, 35. (xi. 3 — 16.) To reconcile these verse* with the Scripture referred to, it seems most natural to suppose, that some of the Corinthian women were used to speak publicly, when not under any immediate or extra- ordinary impulse of the Holy Spirit ; and perhaps they interrupted the other speakers by inquiries or objections, according to the disputatious spirit that prevailed. The apostle therefore laid it down as a general rule, (to which the foregoing case was the only exception,) that women must not be allowed to speak in the public congregation, or to assume the office of teachers or disputants : for this by no means consisted with the obedience to their husbands which the law of God inculcated. But if they met with A. D. 6(}. CHAPTER XI V^ d. D. bo. Is. ii 3 Mjc. 36 What? ^caine the word of God xw sjAf's^,.' out from you ? or came it unto you only ? xvi^sjo xv.K 37 jf t any man think himself to be a ,§fl prophet, or spiritual, " let him acknow- i'l^ ledge that the things that I write unto r''^ you are the commandments of the Lord. )r '! 7 \a. %\. 4. ia-15. Gal vi 3. uvi»i'S. 10 Lul-e X. 16. 1 Thea iv. . lii. 2 I Johu IT. 6. Jude !?• 3 Cor. X 16. I Thes. I viii. a- xii any thing in the public instructions, which they could not understand or assent to, let them wait till they went tome, antl then ask their husbands about it, who were supposed able and willing 'to inform them, and who were the most proper persons for them to confer with. For it was inconsistent with modesty and propriety, and would be scandalous among their neighbours, for women to make a practice of discoursing in the public assemblies. V. 36 — 40. The abuses here reproved were peculiar to the Church at Corinth, yet diey deemed themselves a model for others to imitate ! Was then theirs the mother- church, from whom the preachers of the Gospel had first come forth ? Or had the word of God reached them alone ? As it was evident neither of these was the case, and as many churches had been planted before them, why did they presume to set themselves u[) above, or against, the wholesome regulations observed elsewhere ? Indeed, some of their ambitious teachers might be strenuous in support- ing the innovations which had been introduced, professing that he was a prophet, or a spiritual man, ' that is, one ' well qualified, by religious instruction, to understand • and judge about spiritual things, as opposed to the carnal 'man, and the babe in Christ.' (iii. J.) (Besa.) And if he really were so, let him show it, by acknowledging these things to be the commandments of Christ, by his apostle. But if any man was, or pretended to be, igno- rant of Paul's apostolical authority, and of the obligation of these instructions, let him continue ignorant, for he would not enter into any further debate with him. f Tpon the whole, therefore, the apostle exhorted them to desire to prophesy, in preference to all other spiritual gifts, yet not to forbid speaking with tongues, but let all things relative to their public assemblies be regulated with a strict regard to decorum, propriety^ and regularity, as this must tend most to their own edification, and the credit of the Gospel among unbelievers, as well as the most honour- able and acceptable to God. To adduce this text as a di- rect argument about any particular external ceremonies vsed in divine worship, (which always appear decent and orderly to those who invent and impose them, and the contrary to those who dissent from them,) is doubUess wresting it from its proper meaning. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—11. All our pursuits should spring from love, as the grand motive ; and this we ought to follow without wearying, though it seem to flee from us. Every endowment or possession is valuable in proportion to its usefulness, and all public ordinances should be conducted as may most tend to the edification, exhortation, and consolation of believers, and the conversion of sinners. Even fervent 38 But " if any ujan be ignoi'ant, let him be ignorant. 39 Wherefore, brethren, y covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40 Let ^ all things be done decently, and in order. Mall vii G. XV U. 1 Tim, V. 3-5. 2 Tim. i» 3 J. Revxmi 11, 15. zie— 33 xi. 3«. spiritual affection must be governed by the sober cserci.^p of the understanding, or else, with the best intentions, men will run into great extravagancies, and disgrace the truth which they mean to promote. What shall I profit ? Or, in what resjiect shall I be profited ? are proper in- quiries, when we are considering in what manner to con duct our meeting together for religious exercises. Mi- nisters especially should not only study to exercise their gifts with acceptance and reputation, but inquire, in the first place, what advantage their hearers may derive from 'their subjects, and their manner of treating them. Alas! !for want of this, many a good speaker, in delivering an I eloquent and admired discourse, is even more unmeaning than " things without life giving sound ;" and if tlicy who play on musical instruments made no more exact distinc- tion in their sounds, than many preachers do in their doc- trine and exhortation, they would be unfit even to direct the motions of dancers, much more to call the soldier io arm for the batde. V. 12—25. Whilst we reasonably exclaim against prayers and wo.-- ship in an unknown tongue, and thank God for emanci- pating us from so absurd an imposition, we should inquire, whether some, who use the language of /their country, do not aft'ect such elegant phrasgn such sonorous words, and such learned discussions, thai they render themselves as unintelligible to the common people, as if they preached in Latin or Greek ?j This, alas ! is sometimes in a measure the case with preachers %vhose doctrine is worthy of atten- *on ; for, as to many public teachers, obscurity is their best qualification. If we use language in any respect above the capacities of our most illiterate and weakest hearers, to please a fciv who are more learned and polite, how shali they, who most need instruction, know what is spoken t Indeed, it might as we!! be spoken to the air. But if wi^ speak in plain, simple, and perspicuous language, which even children may understand, (and this does not imply toarseness and vulgarity,) we may be sure that the more intelligent part of our audience will be edified, if disposed to receive instruction. And surely a minister of Christ should more desire to " excel for the edifying of the " Church," than in order to obtain the character of a polite, eloquent, or learned speaker ! Whatever judgment others may form, all who are actuated by the love and zeal of the aposde, will choose to apeak five woids so a.T to be understood, rather than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue, and will waive the display of their na- tural or acquired abilities, from the same motive that the apostle did his gift of divers tongues. Whether we pour out our prayers, sing the praises of God, or thank him for his mercies, we should be careful to unite spiritual affec- Jl. D. 60. I. CORINTHIANS. ^. D. 60 CHAP. XV. The apostle states the gospel, tchich he had preached at Corinth, and shoics hoiv fully the resurrection of Christ had been demotistrated, 1 — 11. He proves that the resurrection of the dead is inseparable from that of Christ ; so that the denial of it is subversive of Chrislianily, and of all the hopes of Christians, 12 — 19: bxit Christ, the First-fruits, being risen, all others shall arise in due order, till death the last enemy being subdued, the kingdom shall be delivered up to the Father, 2(i— 28 ; otherwise it ivould be lions with sober judgment, and they who lead in social worship should use such language as may affect and in- struct the meanest fellow-worshipper, and enable him to add his cordial Amen to what is spoken. We should, in- deed, be as children, in respect of malice and revenge ; and ;i child-like docility, simplicity, dependence, and submis- sion, become us ; but childish deviations from the maxims of good sense and sober reason are unbecoming the dis- ciples of Christ, who should endeavour to attain a ripe- r;ess in wisdom and understanding, and to " walk wisely •' towards them that are without." For though religious ordinances ought to be peculiarly directed to the edification of believers, yet provision should also be made for those unbelievers, who may come among us, to make their re- marks ; nor should any thing be admitted, which may reasonably excite their disgust, or needlessly confirm their prejudices. They are ready enough to conclude that we are enthusiastic or mad, without our giving them any ground for the charge ; and the more willing we are to bear unmerited contempt and reproach, the more careful should we be not to deserve them. This hath not been sufficiently attended to, and many things have been said and done, without warrant from Scripture, by good men, which have sent away occasional hearers riveted in their prejudices against the truth, and disposed to ridicule it in every company. But when the word of God is soberly spoken, with an address both to the understanding and the affections, and with a close application to the conscience, occasional hearers are often unexpectedly impressed, being judged, convinced, and arraigned, by what they hear. The very secrets of their hearts seem to be disclosed by the ex- perimental address of the preacher, and they are induced to join in that worship which they before despised, and to confess that God is of a truth among those persons, whom perhaps they came prepared to deride. y. 26—40, In all things edification should be aimed at ; ambition, emulation, and self-preference, should be steadily repressed ; men should be " swift to hear .and slow to speak," more ready to receive than forward to give iiistruclion, and wiUiag, (unless the case require the contra]-y.) to speak to (hemselvts and to God, leaving others to edify the con- in vaiii for any to risk their lives, as the apostle did, 29 — 32. He uarns xvi. in, 1| Is liii. 10— 12 Hos. vi. 2. Jon i. 17. Matt. xii. 40 Acts ii. 25-33. siii 30-37 xxvi 22,23 ro Luke xxiv 31 D i. IJ. iii 22. tx. 5. Jaha i. 42. o .Mark xvi 14 Lube xxiv. 36, kc. Juba xx 19—26. Actsi 2-14. K. 11. NOTES. CHAP. XV. V. 1 — 11. The apostle here entered on another subject. The Corinthians were tinctured with the Sadducean spirit of Jewish skeptics; or rather with the philosophizing temper of the Grecians, who derided the doctrine of the resurrection, and denied the possibility of it. Some asserted that virtue was its own reward, and that the expectation of a future recompense was a mean unworthy motive. So that, certain persons at Corinth begai>to teach, that there would be no resurrection ; alle- gorizing or explaining away what had been revealed or declared to them on that subject ; though it does notapjiear that they denied the immortality of the soul. In order to slop the progress of so pernicious an error, the apostle began by stating the substance of the doctrine that he had taught them, which they had received by faith, as a divine testimony, in which he supposed them still to be steadfast, and by which they would certainly be saved, i being already brought into a safe state,) incase they remembered and cleaved to what he had delivered to them : this tiicy v/ould do, unless they had believed with a vain, empty, and inefficient faith, in which case they might be left to cm- brace tenets subversive of the whole doctrine of Christ. In the first place, and as a matter of the greatest impor- tance, he had delivered to them, even as he had received it of the Lord Jesus, that he, the Messiah, tlie Son of God, had died a spotless sacrifice of infinite value for the sins of mankind, as " the Lamb of God that taketh away the " sins of (he world," in order, that" all who believe in " him should not perish, but have everlasting life :" and this agreed with the types, prophecies, and promises of the Scriptures. That, being leally dead, Pilate had delivered liis body to Joseph of Arimathea to be buried ; and that on the third day he arose again, as it had been foretold. {Marg. Re/,) To demonstrate his resurrection, on which the whole of his religion rested, he first appeared to Peter 5 6 After tliat, p he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once ; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some 1 are fallen asleep. 7 After tiiat, he was seen of James; ' then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all ' he was seen of me also, as of | one born out of due time. 9 For I am ' the least of the apostles, that am iu)t meet to be called an apostle ; " because I persecuted the Church of God. 10 But " by the grace of God I am what I am: " and his grace which was bestoiocd upon me, was not in vain ; ^ but I laboured more abundantly than they all : ^ yet not I, but the grace cf God which was with me. 1 1 Therefore, *■ whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye be- heved. Luke xxiv. J Acls i. 2-12. Ix 1. Art., i 1-6 tor, Cor bCTlh- Cor. xi. II. Kpli ill C u Ads viii 3, i.v 1, t;c. xxii, i. 5. xxvi 9-11 Ito 13, IJ. 1.5 6 Eph. ii, 7, 8. iii. 7, H, 1 Tim 1, Ii, 16, y 2 2 Cor, vj, 1 z Horn XV, 17— 20 2 Cor X. 12 —16. Xi, 28—30. II. b 3,4 ii. . in Phu'. 28, 29. then in the evening of that day to those of the twelve aposUes who were assembled ; and on the evening cf the succeeding first day of the week, when Thomas was present and confessed him as his " Lord and God :" that afterwards he appeared to above five hundred disciples at once, doubtless in Galilee, where he was most known, whore many of iiis disciples lived, and where he appoir;tcd to meet the apostles. Most of these had been still jvrc- served to be living witnesses of that great event ; though some had fallen asleep, having died in faith and hope, and so departed io be present with their Lord. Afterwards James was favoured with a visit from his risen Saviour: probably, this was James the son of Alpheus who wrote the episde, but we have no other account of this appear- ance of Christ. Then he was seen of all the apostles, before and at his ascension : and last of all he had gra- ciously manifested himself to Paul also, in such a manner, that he could not but assuredly know him to be Jesus who had been crucified. In this, the Lord had acted with peculiar condescension and mercy ; because he was so vile and worthless, that he was more properly to be deemed an untimely birth, or an abortion, than in any way entitled to such distinguished favour. ' Suetonius says, that there ' were, in the time of Augustus, an enormous number of ' senators, and most of them most unworthy of that dig- ' nity, having, after the death of Cossar, by favour and ' bribery gotten to be elected. These the multitude jiro- ' verbially styled uhorlives. St. Paul, like them, was ' none of the regular number of the twelve, first taken ' in, in Christ's life-lime, no way worthy to be an ' apostle ; and yet by Christ's grace, and sjiecial favour, ' called and admitted to this dignity.' (Hnmmond.) hi this respect he considered himself as the least cf the apostles, and unworthy to bo numbered among ihem, seein g he had so wickedly and cruelly persecuted the Church of God ; (though in gifts and authority he was not .7. D. 60. I. CORINTHIANS. A. D. 6p. 17. Tim. e <0. Joiin xi Si, 26 Acts xxiii « Horn. iv. :'j, 25 viii II M. SCor. Iv. lo- ll Cnl. Hi J - «. I Tbf3. i» 14 S Tim. iv. I. HCi. ii. U. xiii. L"l I Pft. 1 3 KCT i. 18. f 2 17, Pa, Ixxiii. n u. xiix. 4. .lir. viiu 8. Matt xc. » GaJ. (I. &. Jiin. i. iC. li. W. g Rx xxiii. n Job xiii. 7-10 Horn ill. 7,8 h Acis ii. i«. 32 IV 10. aj. s i9- 12 H Now "^ if Chrisl be preached that he rose from the dead, '^ how say some among yon that there is no resurrection of the dead ? 1 3 But ' if tliere be no resurrection of the dead, tlien is Christ not risen : 14 And if Christ be not risen, ' then is our preaching vain, and your faith in also vain. 15 Yea, and wc are found ^ false wit- nesses of God ; because '' we have testified of God that he raised up Christ : ' whom -12. Xiii. 30—3.1. XX. SI.- a whit behind the chiefest of them.) However, by the lich mercy and |)owerl"ul grace of God, he was at length brought to be a Christian and nn apostle, and to be cm- ployed in many important services : nor was this distin- guishing favour shown him in vain, seeing he had been constrained by the love of Christ and of souls to labour more abundantly than any of the other apostles. Yet this was not to be ascribed to him, or to any thing in his natural disposition more towardly than others, but wholly to the grace of God that was with him, which both wrought the willing mind, and gave him the ability thus to abound in the work of the Lord. As therefore all the apostlci had been witnesses of Christ's resurrection, so both they and he had every where preached the same doc- trines. These were then to be considered as the grand jieculiarities of Christianity, which could not be denied, without virtually attempting to subvert the whole system — Several other appearances of Christ after his resurrection have been considered in the evangelists ; but this account mentions circumstances not before recorded, and it illus- trates that important subject. (Marg. Ref.) V. 12 — 18. All the apostles preached the resurrection of Christ as an undoubted fact, a fundamental doctrine, and the great demonstration of the truth of the Gospel : how then was it that some Corinthians ventured to declare That no resurrection of the dead was to be expected? Pro bably they argued against the possibility or credibility of such an event; and then endeavoured to put a figurative construction on the testimony of aposdes or prophets con cerning it. This was, in reality, a denial of Christ's resur- rection ; for that authenticated fact demonstrated the pos- sibility of the dead being raised : it confirmed all that he had taught about that doctrine, and it was an earnest of the resurrection of all believers ; so that to invalidate the resurrection of Jesus, would subvert Christianity itself. For this was the grand proof that he was the Messiah : it evinced the acceptance of his atonement ; and it made way tor his ascension, intercession, and mediatorial kingdom. The whole, therefore, of the doctrine taught by the apostles, •was so closely coimected with the resurrection of Christ, that, if that could be disproved, their preaching would be evinced to be useless and delusory, and the faith of their hearers groundless and unprofitable. Yea, they would be convicted of bearing false witness in this sacred cause, as if God had needed such base frauds to support religion in the world! which in some respects was bearing false wit- ness against him. And, notwithstanding all the miracles he raised not up, if so be that the dead ks. u rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not I Ec. xxilii. 10. Joba vlli, 21 — !t. AcU V. 31. 17 And if Christ be not raised, '' vour «« « *-i- ;. -.l . ■ , ^ . ^. J I Pel. i. 3. 21. laitli IS vain ; ' ye are yet in your sins. .">6. nhei ir. 18 Then they also which are "fallen asleep in Christ, are perished. 19 If in " this life only we have "hope ^f';'* j'.^"^ in Christ, we are ^ of all men most J'^^i j ,j „ miserable. l,'[>;^- .'"' ,j 1 Pet i 21. . 2 Tim. ill. 12. Rev. D P! xvli. vi 12. i Luke -. p iv. 9-13 Malt, X. C1-S5. xxiv. 9. Jobn xvi. S. 33, Ac wrought by them, their self-denying labours, holy lives' and patient sufferings unto death, it would be proved that they combined together to deceive mankind with a most egregious falsehood ! For the general proposition, " that " there is no resurrection," includes in it that particular one, " that Christ is not risen ;" and the resurrection of others can only need a conunuation of that same omni- potent exertion which raised him from the grave. But if Christ was not risen, their faith was vain, and " they " were yet in their sins," as no repentance or reforma- tion could possibly take away their guilt, and nothing could prove that Christ's atonement had been accepted, except his resurrection from the dead. Nay, further, they who had died in the faith, and fallen asleep in Jesus, n whether by a natural death or as martyrs, had certainly / perished in their sins if Christ was not risen ; for what- ^ ever might be urged on other grounds for the immortality of the soul, there could be no other way of forgiveness, acceptance, and eternal life, than through the merit of his sacrifice, the belief of which could not consist with the denial of his resurrection. As the persons spoken of had actually repented, renounced sin, and walked in newness, of life, they could not have perished in their sins, except through the want of a sacrifice sufficient to expiate their guilt ; and thus the apostle's argument concerning our Lord's resurrection, demonstrates that he and the primitive Church universally regarded-the doctrine of the real Atone- ment of Christ's death as essential to Christianity. ' If ' Christ be not risen for our justification, we are yet ' under the guilt of sin ; and if so, both body and soul ' must perish after death, and then the hope of Christians ' must terminate with this life.' (Whitbi/.) V. 19. If the consolations derived from the hope and earnests of another life were to be thus torn from Chris- tians, and they had no other benefit from Christ than what related to this present life, they would be of all men most miserable. Some explain this wholly of the apostles, as exposed to peculiar hardships and sufferings, and as pecu- liarly guilty in propagating an imposture, if indeed Christ was not risen ; but there seems no proof that this restric- tion was intended. It does not follow that Christians would in fact be more unhappy than other men, if there should be no future reward ; for even then their hopes of it, and that consolation which is thence derived, would counterbalance their peculiar trials, self-denials, and hard- ships ; but if this hope and consolation were taken from them, they would indeed be more miserable than odier .^. n. CO. CHAPTER X\ .1 D. (j-J r^J.A;lSJ^vl23 Ko^. v,ii. n Col i 18 1 ret i. 3 Rev i- b s 22. Koin. V 13 -17. f Jo^n xi SS,26. Koa. VI. 23 ti 45— i9 Gen. i 17 13 _ 21 -;■■). Fiji v. 12-21 XlJ Isxsvi 10. I Ttcs iv 15-17 y iii. C3. S Cor. X 7 Gal. iii 29. T. 54. 7 Ulu xii 4 9 13. MoU I. 2! x.ii. 39, 40. MiT 13 1 Pet iv. 7. a Is ix. 7 Dan vii. 11. ?7 M>tt. xi 17. xsviii 18 I.uk.; s. 22 Juba i i Ml xiil 3. I Tim. vi 15. 20 ^ But *■ now is Cliritl risen from the (lead, and become ' the (irst-fruits of them that slept. 21 For since 'by man ccune dcalh, ' by man came also the resurrection of tlic dead. 22 For as " in Adam all die, eren so in Christ shall all be made alive. 2.? But " every man in his ov\-n order : Christ the First-fruits; afler\vard ^ they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then ^ comclk the end, when he shall have delivered up -' the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power. 25 For "he must reign, lill iie liath lfs ex i m,u put all cncaiies under his (ect xf.'n; Yui''.' s'' 26 The Mast enemy fhat shall be de- i^fKpin'M'lieb' stroycd is death. ,':■' u^ki'^ 27 For '' he hath put all things under }% *xs. H his feet. But when he saith, All things i;e:Mi. u'r.Jv. are put under him, it is manifest that he ^V^ vif't*!; is excepted, which did nut all thinos un- kx'viii. lo joVn cr liim. rpiv i. 20, 21 28 And when ^ all things shall be sub- 'i«i> i'''3 >' »' dued unto him, ^ t^cn shall the Son also },P|^'; ,*,''■« himself bo subject unto him that put all «j*^^jj; '3: ''47 things under him, that God may be cair|i",5;''j^^j\ all. -cii; :3 xi c- Jjis xj -v men, having lost iheir relish for those vain j)Icasures Avliich alone could be lioped for, experiencing, earnest de- sires, which must certainly be disappointed, and enduring uitiiiy peculiar evils, without any peculiar suj^port and con- solation. The fact, however, is, that Christians have not only the iiope of a future felicity, (which even if ground- less must afford great consolation whilst it prevails.) but also the earnests, tlve beginnings, and first-fruits of it, in those holy affections towards God, and that joy in him, which a stranger intermeddlcth not with, and therefore ibcy are so far from being of all men most miserable, that ihey of all men enjoy the most solid comfort, amidst their difficulties and trials, and even in the seasons of the sharp- est persecutions. JIany of the Corinthians were not aware what dangerous inferences were fairly deducible from the ienets to wl.ich they had listened, and their false teachers would doubtless disavow them; yet it was proper thus to expose them, that they might be put upon their guard, and not patronize opinions pregnant with such mischief to the souls of men, and so destructive of the amimating hopes and comforts of all believers. V. 20—28. The apostle, having established the fact of Christ's resurrection, from that fact shows the certainty of our resurrection, and then, from the important questions in the ihirty-fifih verse, he takes occasion to descant on the glorious change that shall take place in the bodies of the saints, and finally he tramples on death by the con- sideration of a resu:TCCtion and glorioi;s immortality. — This is the plan, or method, and the coherence of the parts, in this noble chapter. In opposition to the errors above noticed, the aposlle testified with authority, as fully instruct- ed by immediate revelation, that Christ was risen from the dead, and was become the first-fruits of the whole harvest of those that slept in death, even of all believers who had died from the beginning, and of all who should die to the end of the world. He was the First who arose to die no more, and the most illustrious of all, who ever should arise; he arose as a public Person, as the Surety, '.h^ Representative, and the Fore-runner of his saints ; his resurrection was a pledge and assurance of theirs, and as the first-fruits presented to God, to sanctify and sccujc his blessing upon the whole crop. For, as by man sin and Vol V.--K0, .'32. death entered into the world, so by Man, by One i;j human nature, came the resurrection of the dead ; and, as in consequence of their relation to Adam, all men are born mortal, and at leif^lh die, even so, in and by Christ, shall all be made alive. All men, through his undertaking, being placed under a dispensation of mercy, shall be raised from the dead, that their future state may be accordingly determined ; yet none will be finally benefited, but thev who are one with him by faith, and the particijiation of his life-giving Spirit; and of these the apostle particularly treats in this chapter. This resurrection must be cflccted in an orderly manner, according to the appointment of God; Christ himself hath been the First-fruits: hereafter, at his coming, his redeemed people \\ ill be raised before others, and at last the wicked will arise also. Then the end of this ])resent state of things will arrive, and the solemnities of the final judgment being concluded, Christ will deliver up the mediatorial kingdo.-n to God, even to the Father from whom he received it ; having previously put down all authority and power, which have been placed in opposition to his cause and kingdom. For he must reign till all cnemics« be subjected to him, for thus it had been predicted, and the Scripture cannot be broken. Of these enemies, death will be the last that will be put under the Redeemer's feet, when he hath finally delivered all his people from this universal conqueror, and entirely abolished iiim. For when it is said that Jehovah hath put all things under the ieet of Christ, it is evidently meant of all creatures, and with an exception of the great Creator, who put all things under him ; so that, when all things shall be subdued to the incarnate Son, and when the end of his mediatorial authority shall be thus completely answer- ed, then will the Son himself, as Man and Mediator, be subject under Ilim, who hath put all things under him ; all the pov.er and authority will be acknowledged to have been of God, and all the honour will be referred to him ; his absolute kingdom shall then supersede the Metlialorial kingdom of Christ, that God may be acknowledged and ;JorJfied, as "all in all," the first great Cause, and the last End, in every thin--, and the Object of universal ado- ration and obedience. The distinction hctueen the r>bso- lute, universal, and everlasting kingdorn of God, the. y .f. D. 60. I. CORINTHIANS. A. D. 69 29 Else " wliat shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead lise not at all ? why are thej then baptized for the dead ? Govcnior of all, and the mediatorial kingdom of Christ, as instituted for the benefit of fnllen man, is every where implied in Scriplm-c. The Faliicr, as the Head of tlic absolute kingdom, ceased not to reign when the Son was advanced to the mediatorial throne, as that authority was only intended to endure for a time, in order to accomplish certain important ends, to the glory of (Jod in man's salva- tion. After the day of judgment, this kingdom will be ter- minated ; Christ, having executed his comnnssion, will cease to reign over all worlds as mrdiatov, leaving public- ly delivered up the kingdom to God in the person of the Father, yet he will, in human nature, retain a peculiar au- thority over his redeemed people; and, as One with the father, he will, with him and the Holy Spirit, reign One " God over all,»blessed for evermore ;" nor will he any more cr'ase to reign, in lliif! fteiise, when he hath given up the mediatorial kingdom, than the Father ceased to reign when he appointed the Son to tliat kingdom. For in this passage, as in some others, the Person of the Father is mentioned, as filling the throne, and appointing the Me- diator, in order to distinguish that absolute authority ot God from the delegated authority of the Son in human nature. ' He saith not that " the Father," ' mentioned in • the twenty-fourth verse, but that '• God may be all in •' all ;" ' and so he seems to lead us to that interpretation • of the Godhead, which comprehends Father, Son, and • Holy Ghost. That the Godhead may govern all things • immediately by himself, without the intervention of a • Mediator between him and us, to exact our obedience • in his name, and to convey to us his favours and rewards. • —So as now Christ, God-man, is " all in all," (Col. iii. 11.) ' because the Father hath put all things into his • hand, does all things, and governs all things, by him; ■ when this o^conomy ceases, the Godhead will be " all in ••all," 'as governing and iniluencing all things by him- • self immediately.' " That God may be all in all," • by a full communication of himself to, and an inti- • mate union with, all his saints.' '.As the priesthood of ■ Christ must needs cease, when the subject v)f it ceaseth, • and he hath none to intercede for, so must his kingly of- • fice cease, when all his friends have that eternal life con- •" ferrcd upon ihcm, for which this jiower was given to ■ him, and all his enemies are become his footstool' ' scntial to the Godhead. And though he shall, ever so ' far reign, as to be still at the rigiit hand of God, in ho- ' nour, dignity, and beatitude, and th';ugh the effecis oi ' his kingly power shall continue for ever, }ct the cxer- ' cise of that power shall (hen cea'^e, and he, as Man, ' shall be subject to the Father.' ' As Christ before was " all in all," ' in reference to his Church, and " from his " fulness ihey did all receive," so now the Godhead may ' be all in all, and fill all things immediately by himself.' (Whilbi/.) No doubt Christ, as Man, and in his medi- atorial kingdom, always was most perfectly subject to the Godhead, referring all to his honour, and exercising all his authority, " to the glory of God the Father;" but when the grand designs of that kingdom shall be illustriously completed, in the view of all holy creatures in the uni- verse, and the kingdom delivtied up, this shall appear in the most conspicuous manner, and so as far to exceed aH our conceptions, and the glory of the Godhead. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, will be displayed and adored, in the highest possible degree. V. 29. The apostle, having shown the order and event of the general resurrection, proceeds to evince still lurthei' the importance of a firm belief of it. Tlie expression, '■ baptiz>'d for the dead," has given occasion to a variety of ingenious conjectures, and learned discussions. Some argue that it only means ' baptized in the name of one ' who certainly died,' and whi, " if the dead rise not," ' still remains among tie dead ;' but the word rendered deiid is pluriil, and all the labour bestowed to remove that difficulty appears to be altogether in vain. Others sup- pose that the apostle refers to a practice, which it seems at onetime prevjdhd in the Church, of baptizing a living person in the stead, and for the supposed benefit, of one who had died unbaptized. But who can imagine, that so absurd and gross a suj)erstition was customary when the apostle wrote? Or that he should sanction it? Beza, rather Iriiimphanily, concludes that he has discovered and fixed the true interpretation ; and that the apostle neant the iv(islib)«i; of the dead liodies among the Jews, and Christians, before burial. {Acts ix. 37 ;) which he thinks was a profession that they expected a resuneciion. But this use of the won! biti>lize, in such a connexion, could hardly be expected ; and the words will not bear that sense The Godhead could alone enable him to execute his | by any fair interpretation. Hammond contends, that it kingly odke, yet this jiower was conferred on him, ■ because he was the Son of man." ' He intercedeth still • in heaven, by virtue of his blood ; all favours are granted ' to the Church ihrough him, and " God will judge the ■■'■ world by the Man Christ Jesus." ' While lie conti- ■ nucd on earth, and acted only as a Prophet sent from God, ■ he always owned that he could " do nothing of himself, ■ but as the Father gave him commandmer>t, so he did, • and so he spake." • But being exalted to be I^ord of all ' thino's. he acted as a Lord in all things, which relate to •' his kingly office over his Church. The exercise of this ' authority he shall then lay down, when " all things are ••^ subdued to him;" ' no other kingdom or dominion be- ' ins: toie exercised in the celestial slate, but what is cs- means the jirofe^sion of faith, concerning the resurrec tion of the (lead, which was required of persons at their bap- tism, which represented, as he thinks, the burial and resurre ;tion of Christ. Why did they profess this, if thev did not believe it ? But this is far from satisfactory : for the peculiar circumstances of some persons, when they wei'e bajitized, soem evidently intended. ' What this bap- ' lizui"' for the dead was, I confess I know not, bul it • seems by the following verses, to be something therein • they ex|)Osed themselves to the danger of death ' {Lode.) The following interprefition, however, sugjesled by Dr. - Doddridge, who receive i it from Sir Richard Ellis, appears the 'rue one. The apostle ;efers to tii'e ca.se of those wh» presented themselves for baptism,, iuim.ediately after tha A. D. 00. CHAPTER XV A. D. G«i i3i.i»om.'iii3« 30 And * why stand we in jeopardy -39. 2<.'or. ill . ^ •' -12 Ti.D.xi =3 every hour r —27. GbI vU •> , 1* ... I'U fcCien. xini.3 I 31 I "^ protest oj * your rejoiciiig which ii7 zeoh iiio: J hnve in Christ Jesus our Lord, 'I die • Some read, uur. 2Cor i. 12. li daily. u I I lies II. ■' r,% ■ ,- 1 r II 19 iii 3 32 Iff after the manner ol men I have *H. 73. uora' fouo-ht Avith " beasts at " Ephesus, " what iv. 10. 11 xi 23. j^jya,jtaorcth It me, li the dead rise not.'' V°/(*°. 'kf Kom vi. 19. ^2 Pet ii 12 ^luJj 10 n Acts k,k 1. -.3. ic 2 Cor. i. 8-10 o Job xsxv 3. Hs. Ixsiii. 13-lS. iMal ) M, IJ. Lakeix.S.'i. martyrdom of their brethren, or at their funerals ; as if fresh soldiers should enli.st and press forward to the assault, to supply the places of those who had fallen in battle. Thus they professed their faith in Christ, and ventured the rage of their enemies, at the very time when others had been put to death for the Gospel. But what advantage could they propose to themselves from such a conduct, if there were no resurrection ? Or what wisdom could there te in so doing? For in this case, Christianity itself would lose the great evidence of its truth; even the immortality of the soul might bn called in question ; believers were yet in their sins; and they, who had died as martyrs, had lost their souls, as well as their Hves ! This might show the Corinthians how greatly their sentiment tended to dis- courage men from jirofessing the Ggsjjc!, in limes of per- secution, and to make them afraid and ashamed to own the cause of Christ. If this were the case, why did Christians in general, or the apostles and evangelists in particular, live in continual and urgent danger of suiTering and death, by their open profession of the Gospel and their zeal ill promoting it ? They could have no siifhcicnt encou- ragement for so doing, if the dead arose not. V. yO — 3'2. The apostle could protest in the most solemn manner, " by their rejoicing," or his rejoicing with them, and on their account, as converted by his mi- nistry; (several copies read it " our rejoicing;") that he " died daily ;" he was every day exposed to the peril of martyrdom; he expected that violent death continually, and his manifold hardships and sufferings rendered his life a kind of lingering execution. To all this he had nothing to oppose, but the joyful hope and blessed earnests of future felicity, through his crucified and risen Lord ; and the pleasure of bringing others to share the same salvation, ivhich, uj)Oii the principles that he was confuting, must prove a mere delusion. What profit then could he derive from his late jicrils at Ephesus, if the dead should not arise ? he had diere, " after the manner of men, fought " with wild beasts." It is not probable that the ajjosde hterally fought with wild beasts in the public shows; such an event could scarcely have been pas.sed over unno- ticed by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles ; as a Roman citizen, it cannot be supposed that he would have been exposed to such an indignity, and the expression, " after •' the manner of men," favours the figurative interpre- tation. But the irrational fiiry ofhis enraged enemies, with the extreme danger to which he was exposed, might very properly be represented as a contest with savage beasts of prey. Many expositors have supposed that the apostle rehrred to the tumult at Ephesus, excited by Demetrius and his workmen ; but he afterwards expresses his ))ur- pose ef continuing at Ephesus till Pentecost; (xvi. 3.) en I and drink ; for to-morrow we pEc.ii.24 »■ ivi. 12. l.uk. Xli. 19, 30. 1 VI. 0. Mat! XXit. 4 II. Jl CJal. vi 7 Kj.ti V 0 2 ThPl. 1' 11 r.cv xii. ? xiii 8-14 r V 6. Prov. i.\ B xiii. 20. i lim. 11. 16-18 " let die. 3.'{ "i Be not deceived ; ' evil communi- cations corrupt good manners. 34 ^ Av.ake lo righteousness, and ' sin not: for " some have not the knowledge of God : " 1 speak l/u's to your shame. whereas in the history it is said,. that " after the uproar " ceased, he departed to go into Macedonia." {Acts xx. 1.) Indeed his whole plan seems to have been deranged, in good measure, by that tumult. (ISoles, xvi. 9, 10. ■2 Cor. i. 8 — 14.) Had he, in this short and fignrativi expression, alluded to that event, in writing to the Corin- thians, it must have been as supposing them ],'rcviousl_v acquainted with it. it is evident, that he wrote from Ephesus, and that he intended to remain there for some time. The epistle must therefore have been written before tlidt titmitll, and some other ofhis perils and hardi'hips a' Efihesus must be meant. He had great success and many adversaries in that city; and it is plain, that but a small part of his sufferings have been particularly recorded. {Note, 2 Cor. xi. 2'l — 31.) 'If this sense, ""(the literal interpretation,) ' be not liked, you may iriterpret " after " the manner of men," ' according to the intention of inert. ' it being the intention of the men of y\sia, to deal so ' with him. Note also, that cruel and iiloody-minded ' men are often represented under this metaj/hor of beasts. ' So Ignatius, when he was carried from Syria to Rome ' under a band of soldiers,' (who, saith he, are the worse for the kindness I show them,) ' From Syria to Rome I ' figlit w ith beasts. And Heraclitus says, The Ephesians ' were turned into beasts, because they slew one another." (Wliithy.) V. 33, 3.J. The apostle's conduct in steadfastly per- severing to profess and preach the Gospel, abundantK demonstrated that he most firmly believed a future resurrection, with which all his hojoes and comforts were inseparably connected. Whereas, the epicurean maxim, " Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die," let us indulge every sense and appetite without restraint, and shrink from all hardshi)! as much as possible, for death will soon terminate our pleasures, and nothing further is to be expected, Avould be the natural inference from a denial of that doctrine, when carried to ils unavoidable conse- quences. Let none then be deceived by the specious reasonings and pretences of their false teachers ; for even a heathen poet, (Meiumder,) could teach them, that " evil " communications," or the familiar converse of those who inculcated false and pernicious princijjles, would " corrupt their good manners," and tend to self-indul- gence, an undue regard to present ease, interest, or repu- tation, and a disposition to neglect their duty, conceal their sentiments, and avoid suffering for Christ's sake. Indeed, they had already produced these effects inanany instances, and were diffusing (heir baleful influence. The ajjostle must therefore call upon them to " awake righteously," (in a righteous manner.) and as became righteous persons, from the lethargy into which these delusions had throwa J. D. 60. I. CORINTHIANS. y Johxi 12. xxii 13. Ps Ixxiii II. Ec. xi. S. Kz xzsvii. 3. II. .)ohn lii. 4 9. ix 10. « 33-63 M»lt. xkH 29, 30 Phil, iii i\ a I.uke xii CO. xilv 3.< Rom i S3. Eph. ». I.S. b Ju^^ xii. 2v * CfO. i 20-:5, 35 But some Dum will say, *' How are the dead raised up ? and ' with what body do they come .•* .3(j Thou '' fool, '' that which thou sow- cst is not fiuickciiod, except it die : 37 And that wiiich tlioii sowcst, thou sowcst not that body that shall be, but bare grain ; it may chance oC wheat, or of some other if )•«?'« ; 38 But ' God giv(.'th it a body a.s it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 '' All flesh is not the same flesh : but there is one kind o/" flesh of mcr), another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and an- other of birds. 40 There arc also celestial bodies, and them ; for, whilst they were elated widi an opinion of their superior knowledge, it was evident that some among them had not the humbling, sanctifying, and saving knowledge of God; and their communications corrupted the good manners of the rest. This must be spoken to their shame, and it behooved them to be humbled for it, and ashamed of it, as far better things might have been expected from them, considering the opportunities which they had en- joyed, and the profession which they had made. It is evident, that the apostle constantly aimed to bring the Corinthians to a more humble opinion of themselves, and gradually to draw them off from their false teachers. V. 35 — 38. The philosophizing skeptics, concerning the resurrection, were ready, (as the apostle well knew,) (o inquire in what manner the dead could be raised, after their bodies had been turned to dust, mixed with other substances, and even become a part of their bodies? And, if this were possible, with what bodies, or what sort of bodies, would they come for'h from the graves ? With such as they had on earth ? or witli others of a different form and constitution '! Sucii an inquirer the apostle ad bodies terrestrial : but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the ter- restrial is another. 4 1 There is " one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars : for one star dilFereth from another star in glory. 42 So also ' is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown ^ in corruption j ''it is raised in incorrnption : 43 It is sown ' in dishonour ; it is raised in glory : it is sown '' in weakness ; it is raised ' in power : 44 It is sown a natural body ; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural bo- dy, and there is a spiritual body. 4.'> And so it is written, " The first .'J. D. m. E Gen i. U-18. Urf iv 19 Job XXXi. :6,!7. P«. Ill 3. . 4— jslviii 3-S. II. IXiV 23. f 40-Ji Dan xli. 3 .Matt xiii 43. I'hil ill 20, 21. g Gen 1 i 19 Jot> xvii U l-s xvi. 10 xlix. 9 14. Is xxxvili. 17. Acts ii. 27 31. xi.i 34 37. Kora I 23 it h62-S4. Luke XX. 3i, 36. ll'et. i I'hil k Joli 111. 20 21. JO ja . -'s. cli. 2 Cor. xlii. Mitt. , 30. 24. :s. Mark xi 2 Cor _ Phil iii. 10. Di 47— iS.Geo ii. 7 K..m V 13- U. Ucv XfL ;>. hath sprung up and produced the full corn in the ear, but a bare grain of wheat, barley, or other corn. This, (after corrupting in the earth.) by the wonderlul power of God, springs up and produces an increase, and he gives that increase a body, as it pleaseth him. Yet, whatever else is changed, he always gives every seed its own body, and so preserves a complete distinction between the different kinds of vegetable productions. (A'o/e , John xii. 2-1.) Thus the bodies of believers, after corrupting and turning to dust, will be raised in a new and more glorious form ; not in every respect the same that they were, but one far supe- rior and more excellent. This will be done in the infinite wisdom, according to the sovereign will, and by the almighty power of God, but in a manner inexplicable to us. The identity of the same particles of matter, as necessary to the resurrection of the same body, is no where mentioned in Scri|)ture ; and this chapter seems to militate against such an opinion. God hath many other ways of preserving personal identity; exactly the same particles do not constitute our bodies tor two hours together in any part of our lives ; yet we are the same persons, dressed as a foolish and ignorant man, who pretended to [both in body and soul, from childhood to old age. So that limit omnipotency, and to deny the possibility of an event, i there is no need to clog the doctrine with this opinion because he could not solve all difficulties about it, and comprehend in what manner it could take place. Even the ordinary productions of the earth exhibited a process, which might illuslrale the subject ; for the seed sown in the ground does not vegetate, except it corrupt and die. Some modern infidels have maintained, against the apostle, thnt the seed docs not die in vegetation ; because thcgermen lives, and expands itself, and only the extraneous matter corrupts. But in fact, the seed, as such, doth die ; it ceases to be a grain of corn, though a pnrt of it springs, as it were, into ne\v*life, by a process which we can no more fully comprehend, than we can the manner of the resurrection. Even a " prophet of their own," Lu- cretius, the epicurean atheist, says, — ' Whatever change • transfers a body into a new class of beings, may be ' justly called the death of the original substance. For ' what is changed from what it was, that dies.' {Creech.) The body spwn is not the same which will existj v/hen it which furnishes infidels with their most specious objections against it. Many of the philosophers, and afterwards of the heretics, considered the body as the prison and sepulchre of the soul; from which it would at death be delivered. Such men indeed could not but dislike the doctrine of the resurrection, and be disposed to dispute against it ; yet the passage does not seem to^rcfer to objecr tors of this kind. V. 39 — 44. The reference is here made to the variety, as well as the wonderful nature, of the works of God, in order to raise our conceptions, so as to silence all thoughts of the difficulties which seem to stand in the way. The flesh of different animals, as well as the form of vegetables, is differently constituted, produced, and supported ; yet we cannot comprehend the manner in which the Creator hath made and preserves this difference ; though it is evi- dcndy intended to fit them for their several kinds of life, their divcr'-c elements, nutriment, and uses. Cannot be A. D. 60. CHAP;rER. XV, « John i. iw man Adam, was made a living soulv earthy: the gecond man wi the Lord from -29 vi '33. 3», the last Adam icas made "a quickening heaven. 40. 47. 63 68. „ . . 1 I 1 ,, A ■ ^1 1 1 i 4« As ts the earthy, ' such arc tiiey also that are earthy: ' and as is the heavenly, such are they also t!mt are heavenly. 49 And as wc have borne the image of the earthy, ' we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. ;■ I0-" .*8 -7; Spirit xvii 2,3. Acts 4t) Hovvbeit, that urns not iirst which jii. 15. Uom V. . . . ' . . ;i ,^' p^'j' ' IS spu'ituah but " that which is natu- 10, II. Phil. Ill I'l", 11 i-t* •• "'; K^"'- '',' ^. ral ; and afterward tliat winch is sniritu- ». II, 12 Rev «1 xxt. 6. xxii. 1. "'• 47 The f first man is of the earth, then raise our bodies suited to the state intended for them, consistently with our personal identity, and in a manner inexplicable to us ? The same varied wisdom and power of God hath formed celestial, as well as terrestrial bodies, but the celestial appear far more splendid than the ter- restrial : yet even among the former there are different degrees of glory, as they are in themselves, or as they appear to us. The sun is far more glorious than the moon ; yet the reflected light of the moon far exceeds that of the remote stars, and some of them shine more bright than others. Thus also will it bo in the resurrection of the dead ; the bodies of the righteous will appear as much more glox'ious than they now do, as the heavenly lumi- naries excel a clod of the earth, yet will they shine with dilferent degrees of splendour, as the sun, moon, and stars do. The body, as born of dying Adam's race, and during its mortal state, and as laid in the grave, " is sown in " corruption," it tends to corruption, and after death it is speedily wasted and decayed : but at the resurrection it will be raised in incorruption, without any seeds of mor- tality, disease, or decay, in its constitution, but fitted for a state of perfect health, vigour, and activity, to all eternity. Here, during life, at death, and in the grave, the body is sown in dishonour; it lives as a condemned criminal; various sufferings and diseases are the forerunners of the execution which takes place at death, with much igno- miny and disgrace : and the wasting state of a dead corpse is very dishonourable in itself, though the death and burial of Christ has sanctified the grave to all believers, and his resurrection haih assured us that the body shall be raised in glory. But the triumph over death and the grave will be honourable ; the body will be rendered most beautiful and glorious, it will be made fit for that heavenly felicity, and those employments in which angels arc associated, and it will resemble the glorious body of the Lord Jesus himself, the First-born from the dead. " It is also sown '• in weakness ;" our manifold diseases, and death in which they terminate, are peculiar evidences of human imbecility ; and the state of the body in the ground, devoured by worms, a loathsome object and turning to the dust, shows most affectingly how little all men's power and abilities can do for them. But the body of a believer will not only be raised by almighty power; it will also be endued with a power of which we have no conception, and be rendered capable of such metions, and of producing such efiects, as utterly surpass whatever we have heard, seen, or perhaps imagined. In short, the body is here sown a natural, or an animnl, bo.ly ; it resembles the bodies of animals, in its wants, appetites, pains, and diseases; and after death it turns lo dust, as ihey do } but J. D. 60. 17 il 11 John i'i 12, 13 31. vi. 33. Acts X. 36. Kph. iv. 9-11. s I'hil lii. 20 21. t Malt Siii. 43. Kom viii 29. 2 Cor iii. la iv. 10, II. 1 John hereafter it will be raised a spiritual body, capable of the spiritual work, worship, and happiness of heaven ; entirely refined fronn all its sensual dross and low desires ; needing no more food, rest, sleep, or recreation ; no longer capable of relishing animal pleasures ; and no mor? a clog to the soul, but a helper to it, in all holy exercises. For there is a natural body suited to our state on earth, and a spiritual body suited to the heavenly state; nor can these be in every respect the same. {Note, Luke xx. 3-1—36.) V. 45 — 49. In the history of the creation it wa.s written, that " the first man, Adam, was made a living "soul :" and his natural or animal life had been commu- nicated to all his posterity, but without the spiritual life originally connected with it ; so that, ever since the fall, the very mind of man had been carnal, as well as his body mortal. {Note, Gen. ii. 7.) But " the last Adam," the . latter Surety, or Covenant-head, of any of the human race, " was a quickening Spirit :" the Author and Source of spiritual and eternal life to all his people, by the supply of his holy Spirit, Nor does this quickening energy relate only to their souls ; for he will also " (|uicken their mortal •' bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in them ;" and this is here principally intended. But the natural and carnal state, in both cases, preceded the spiritual : we are born in sin, bearing the image of the first Adam ; and are after- wards born again to bear the image of the second Adam; the soul continuing numtricaUy and idenlkuUy the same, though newly created. In like manner, wc first have a natural and mortal body like that 'of Adam, and at length we shall have an incorruptible and spiritual body like that of Christ : yet it will be in one sense the same body, equally ours, though in another sense it will be change'd. The first man was formed of the dust of the earth, and was earthy in his nature and original : but the second Man, to whom all believers are united ai;d conformed, " is the " Lord from heaven," the Lord of glory, Jehovah, God in human nature. As long as we are conformed to the earthy Adam, which, in respect of our bodies, will bp till the resurrection, we are earthy ; our bodies, durino- life, are gross, animal, and diseased ; and, after death, they turn to the dust whence they were taken. But when wc shall be conformed to the' heavenly Adam, our bodies will become heavenly, and suited to that spiritual and immortal felicity, to which wc shall be admitted. Even the aposiJe and all Christians had borne the image of the earthy Adam ; but they were assured, by the promise of God, (hat they should at length bear the image of the heavenly Adam ; not only in their souls, but in their bodies also, which would be raised very different in their appearance and capacities from what they were when on earth j and thus aji 4- D. 60. I. CORINTHIANS. Vc'or 'u. "l 50 Now "this I say, brethren, Mhat: u^EphU " flfi-li 3"^' blood cannot inherit the kingdom! x°\"\3. Mail of God; neither dotli corruption inherit i "'3-0! sc'or' incorniption. j yW iv. -xi.i .01 iJchoM. 1 shew von a mystery;: 3v^5S:"' ■' ' We shall not all ^lerp."bnt we shall all 2 6 18. :o 1 I , I I ' Thes iv 11- be changed, aPhii.iii.:i. 52 In '' a moment, in the twinkling of Niini xvi. :i an eye, at the "• last trump : ^ lor the 45 Ps. ixsilr 1 II 1 11 1 I I II la- trumpet shall soniul, " and the dead sliall c Exxix 16 XX. , '. , . .. , , I II 1, 18. Num. X 4 be raised mcorruptib c, and we sliall be Is. xviii. 3 , I ' xxTii 13 Er. chanffeci. XXXIII. 3 6 ^ r-< 1 • -11 zech. ix. 14. 53 1' or this corruptible must "^ put on incorrnption, and this mortal nwst put on immortality. 54 So when tiiis corruptible shall have "■ Ga"in. It! put o" incorrnption, and ? this mortal g'lFom'u^. vi shall have put on immortality, then shall viii. 2, Ix 13, M d Matt xxiir John V. :J Thes iv. IS c Ste on, 42. 5 t' UODI. X .//. D. 60. be brought to pass the saying that is hUxxTS i.uwe written, "Death is swallowed up in victo- "if n"v.Vx ry. u'uii I 55 ' O death, where is thy "^ sting .- O '\x*°"io 'i? '^°' * grave, where ' is thy victory .^^ 'xu 23' aJx'"",' 56 The "sting of" death "?> sin; and u "^ " '■' n il A x\ /■ • • .1 I I Job xviii. 11, " the strength ot sm ;.y the law; u p. xiix e- 57 But " thanks f^e to God, which y-c in the Lord 2 Cm o .4cu XXr Horn. Tii 26. II 11. U ix. li F.pli V 20. p S4. 2 Kin|! v I. Jl.'or? 1 Chr xxii. It P- III I. ITov X5i 31 Marg John xti 33. Kom. vii 37. l John r. 4.i. Ke» xil II 2.3 qSCor vii 1 2 Pet i 4-'.' rKuthi.la I'... 1» 22 Ixsviii b 37 " " ' ■ " ■ 5. I Thes. iii 3 Heh iii. 14.2 Pel. ill 1". Ifl s Ph I i n. it 17 I. 2 Thes I 3 1 xvi 10. JoliD vl 28 23. Phil |i. 30 •i Six. II. Gal Ti. • 5 y Matt- E. 40- C. Col Col. ii 7 1 Th^ I Thes. i 3. Tit ii. U. Hcb. xiii. 21. u iii 8 2 Chr x». Heh. vi. 10. — X Vs. Isxiii 13 Gal.iv. II. Phil ii. 16. 1 Thes 42 sxv 31-10 PfcU i II. Heb. xii 15, IC. philosophical objcclions were shown to have iheir foun- dation in ignorance of the Scriptures, and of tlie power of God. (A"o/f, Mnll. xxii. 29, 30.) V. 60 — 54. A siinilar ciiange niu.st also be made in the bodies of those who shall bo found alive at the day of ■judgment: for fle.sh and blood, the human body in its present form and gross manner of subsistence, and with its present animal wants, propensities, and iiifirmilies, cannot inherit the kingdom of God, or ])nrtake of its pure and refined pleasures : nor can corruption, or the body as mortal and corruptible, inherit incorrnption, or the incor- ruptible and unchangeable felicity of heaven. The apostle therefore dechtred to the Corinthians a mystery, vhich could not be known except by immediate revelation, or understood except liy.faith receiving that revelation. Speak- ing of the whole multilude of believers to the end of time, as constituting one family, to which he and (he Coiintliians belonged, he might say, " We shall not all sleep," or die. " but we shall all be changed." But he elsewhere speaks of himself, a.= one of those who should be " raised up by " Jesus," (2 Cor. iv. 14.) So that llicre can be no ground for the sujjposition, which many have formed from his language, that he expected to live tilljhc coming of Christ, of living believers v.'ill be changed from natural to spi- ritual, from corruptible to incorruptible, from mortal to immortal ; even as a man's form is changed by putting on new raiment. When this change hath taken place, in respect of all believers ; then the saying of the prophet will finally be accomplished. (IS'oles, Is. xxv. 6 — 8.) Death and all his power shall be annihilated, and swal- lowed up for ever, in the complete victory obtained over him by Christ and his people ; and sin, with all its con- sequences, shall ever after be wholly Confined to the place " prej^ared for the devil and his angels." The apostit showed the Corinthians a i^iystery, by informing them ol the event that would take place ; yet, in resjject to the vmnner in which it would be etfected, it still remained mvsteiious and incomprehensible. Thus the mysteries of the Trinity, and of the incarnation of '" the Lord from " heaven," are revealed to us, as certainly true, but the maniirr of them still remains inexplicable. V. df) — 58. With the glorious jirospcct before the eyes of his faith and hope, the apostle, in the most beautiful and animated ajiostrophc, addressed death and the grave, or the unseen woild, as real persons, the universal and most ferriblr conquerors and oj:f|">ressors of the human race. which he judged to be very near: and the notion of others. He demanded of death, where was now his sling, or his that be alluded to {he jir.it resurrection p/tevious to the i destructive dart or spear, with which he had caused such millennium, is inconsistent with the language of the pas- anguish and terror, and wrought such wide-spread dcso sage : for they, who have died, (or shall die before the millennium.) as truly " sleep in Jesus," though ih«y should arise immediately, as they do who shall remain in the state of the dead till the general resurrection. The apostle therefore only meant to speak of himself as belonging to that one family, of whom most would die and be raised again, and all must one way or other be changed. This change will be rffected in a moment, instantaneously, as the eye twinkles, by the almighty power of Christ, when lations. . And of the grave, «hat was now become of his victory, by which he seemed to have shut up in his dark dungeon, as vanquished foes, all the generations of men that had lived on earth, bideed. the sin of man was the sting and destructive weapon of death, which both enabled him" to kill the body, and had made that fatal stroke tre- mendous ; and the holy law, pronouncing the sentence of condemnation against every transgressor, gave sin its power to bring death u|ion mankind, and to embitter its the last trumpet shall sound, as the summons to e11 men; agonies with the dread of future punishment. This was to meet their Judge. {Mar^. Ref.) Then the voice of the natural and universal state of man ; and all must have Christ will be heard by all the dead, and the\- n ill be rais- 1 thus lived, died, and perished miserably, had not God ed again to life in their own order ; and then the bodies; provided deliverance for them. But Christians might now A D. 69. CHAPTER XVI. A. D. 60. CHAP. XVI. I Tiie apostle directs the Corinthians^ in\ what tvai/ to make collections for thc\ Christians at Jcntsalcm, 1 — 4; statcs\ return thanks to him with joyful liearts, for having given them the victory over these dreadful foes by Jesus Clirist, through his vicarious suHerings and glorious resur- rection ; and for bringing them to this faith and hope in him. Tliey might therefore at ]iresent triumph ov( r the fear of death, in confidence of a glorious resurrection for ilieir bodies, as well as of immediate and eternal happiness for their souls ; and they would all at length most certainly Triumph in the full possession of those blessings, and in a complete victory over these enemies. He therefore ex- horted his beloved brethren, to continue stcadiltst in the prof/'ssion and faith of the Gospel, and immoveable in their adherence to the truth and will of God, amidst all dangers and temptations : and especially to continue stead- ast and unmoveablc in the belief of the resurrection, not- -vithstanding the artifices of false teachers. At the samej :ime, let them abound in al-l those good works, which the '• commandment and honour of their Lord required, from love to his name, his cause, and his people : seeing that ihey had the fullest assurances, that their labour " in the ■• Lord," or from such motives as his Gospel suggested, and especially from love to the Lord Jesus, and zeal for; his honour, would by no means be in vain, either unrc- ! warded or unsuccessful ; but that the whole of it would terminate in his glory, the good of mankind, and their own everlasting advantage. Every part of this animated discourse shows, that the resurrection of true believers is exclusively intended : for the things spoken will not be fullilled, either in resjject of the dead, or of those who may live when Christ shall come to judgment, in any ; oih'rs, by whatever name, form, or creed, they are dis- ' iinguished. j PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1 — 11. ' When the f:»iiiiful minister sees his b'loved ]jC'0ple ; drawn aside to embrace dangerous errors ; his chief comfort under the trial must arise from, being able to appeal to' them, that the doctrine which hf preached was Scriptural ; ' and from a full satisfiction, that they who hpd received it ] and stand fast in it will be certainly saved : and thai none if them can perish, if they keep in remembrance the in- j -iructions he gave them ; unl^s^ they deceived themselves with a vain, a dead, and inefficient faith. In order that we I may possess this comfort, we must be careful to deliver the I truths of God's word pure, as we have received them ; and ; in that order a ad proportion in which they stand in the. Scriptures : and he who attends to these sacred oracles, I will know assuredly, that the death of Christ for our sinsi j and his resurrection for our justification, are essential and fundamental truths, which must, in all places and on all occasions, be explicitly and strenuously insisted on. Apostles and prophets concur in bearing testimony to them, even more than to many other truths : and, blessed be God, the demonstration of oi'.r Lord's resuncclion is his intentions about visiting them, 5 — *J ; commends Timothy, who was coming to them, 10, 11; shows that Jpollos de- clines visiting them at jirescnt, 12; f.i- equai to the weight, which is to be supported by that im- portant fact. {A'oies, John xx.) The most emiueni Christians are always the most humble : they continuall} relied on the aggravated sins of their unconverted state ; especially if they were longorgready set in opposition to the Gosjiol. The more evidently God hath pardoned them, the less disposed v. ill they be to excuse themselves. They feel their unworthiness of the di.^tinctions conferred on them ; they are disposed in honour to prefei- others to themselves: and, though they cannot -but be conscious of what the Lord hath done for and by them; yet, taking their whole conduct and obligations togethei', they readily conclude, th.it none are so unfiuilful and unprofitable as they. In reality, it is a grdat thing for a man with pro- priety, humility, and truth, to say, " By the grace of " God, 1 am what I am :" the declaration only becomes those who are walking under the influence of holy ])rin- ciples ; and is utterly unsuitable to the character of the loose, or formal, professor. But if we really fear and love in his ways, we must ascribe all the the Lord, ., . - - glory to his grace and mercy : if much have been forgiven us, we should pray to be enabled to love much : if our conversion have been remarkable, we should earnestly desire, that the grace bestowed on us may not be in vain : if we have set out late in life to serve t!ie Lord ; we should aim (o redeem the time that hath been lost, by labouring more abundantly than our brethren : and, while we charge ali our sins aiul follies upon ourselves, we must remember to ascribe all the good which we do to the giace of God that is with us. V. 12—10. How sulnilly doth Satan bring in false doctrines, by men of abilities, learning, or eloquence ; in a covert and pjlau- siblc manner, that the simple may suspect no danger ! Such teachers, with apparent n)Oi,lesly, question whether we have rightly understood the sacred writers ; and whether the doctrine, that they oppose, l^p contained in them. They inquii-e, whether a more I'ational interpretation may not he given to such and such texts? Whether the more obvious meaning do not involve absurdity, or even im- possibility ? Whether any but the weak and illiterate can credit such mysteries ? And whether we had not better adopt a figurative sense, or admit some other reading, or even suppose the sacred writer to be mistaken ; than assent to so inconipreheiisihlc,an<} therefore irrittional a doctrine? If indeed they could prove the mysteries which they oppose ioheiontrart/ lofctitjo iiduiHon, orlodcmonslraiion, their princij)les might be admitted : but when they apply them to doctiincs, which are merely above reason, and conlrai-y to their .'iiyz/'osfrf ;)ro/;«?)j/<7(t.s and vain nasonin^s; they are perfectlyinadmissible and irrational, unless man he wiser than his Maker. But the dupes of such specious pretences are seldom aware, whither these rational improvements of the creed and of the Scriptures lend : tl;ey do not perceive, that according to them man^s presumptuous reason tits in ../. D. GO f. CORINTHIANS. A. D. 60. horts them to vigiknce, steadfastness, and love, 13, 14; recommends the household of Stephanas to their special regard, 15, 1 6 ; expresses liis satisfaction at the coin- ing of certain persons from Corinth, 17, 18; atid, after salutations from the Churches, concludes in the most solemn and (ijfcciionate manner, 1 9 — 24. judgment on the infinite wisdom of God; man's weakness is made tlic standard of omnipotence : and man's vain conjecture the measure of divine revelation! Indeed, this is i^erfectly consistent wii'i (hose oeconomical and jiolitical sentiments, contended by the same oracles of an enlight- ened age; by wiiich children are set to judge, whether their parents are fit to be honoured and obeyed, or not : .servants are called on to determine the same concerning their masters : and, in short, not only is all subordination virtually df stroyed, but in every relation the inferior is constituted the judge of his superiors, without any ajipcal from hi? arrogant tribunal ! In like manner, the princijiles before cited, when fairly examined, are found to involve r.onscquenees, sub\crsive of those (ruths which are pro- fessedly venerated ; to invalidate the testimony of Scripture, and to tend to universal skepticism : they prove, (if they prove any thing,) that the j)reaching of the apostles and the faith of iirimitive believers were vain ; and that the marlyrs for the Gospel were false witnesses against God, by testifying truths and facts, which remote, posterity has found out to be false or needless ! This is especially the case, in respect of those doctrines that relate to the Person, undertaking, and atonement of Christ, and the way of acceptance by faith in him. If Christ had not risen, his sacrifice could not have been depended on, because there could be no proof that it was accepted ; and consequently ])elievers must still have been in their sins •, they who slept in this faith must have ])erished ; the preachei's of the Gospel must cither have been deceivers, or deceived ; and the disciples, having only hope in Christ as to this present World, must have been of all men most miserable! To what, then, must the lenels lead, of those, who indeed ])ro- fess to believe that Christ is risen, yet deny, explain away, or overlook, that great doctrine, which he csjiecially rose again to establish and demonstrate ? V. 20—28. AVe have full proof, (hat Christ both died for our sins, and rose again from the dead for our justification, and as the First-fruits of our resurrection ; that, as death entered by man, so might life eternal be introduced by One in our nature. We certainly know that all in Adam die ; and it is equally sure (hat all in Christ shall arise to im- mortal glory. Undoubtedly, the suffering, dying, risen, and ascended Saviour will soon appear, to raise the dead and judge the world : may we be found among " those. " that are Christ's at his coming !" It should be with us a matter of serious inquiry, whether we are his true disci- ])lcs or not? For soon the end will come -, the mediatorial kingdom will be delivered up to God, even the Father; und all who shall then be found enemies will be put under Christ's feet, and be punished wi(h e\crlasting de- f.lniction. Would we then triumph in that solemn and important season, we must now submit to his rule, accept of his salvation, and live to the glory of God through him. Then shall we at length rejoice in all his victories, and participate his glories ; we shall exult, with immense satisfaction, in the blessed aecomplishment of the Re- deemer's undertaking ; and as being with him, our Head in human nature, pui under the absolute dominion of our reconciled Father, " that God may be all in all," that he may receive the whole glory of our salvation, and that we may for ever serve him and enjoy his favour, without sin or death, and without needing repentance, forgiveness, a sacrifice, or a Mediator any more, to all cterui(y. V. S;9— 32. Should we lose sight of the animating prospect, in the preceding verses set before us, should any one jirevail lo argue us out of these our expectations, how must our zeal, diligence, and boldness, be enervated, and our re- joicing clamped ! Wlio then would step forward to succeed those illustrious soldiers of Christ, who have nobly bled in the cause of tiuth? Who would confess him in this evil world ? Why should we stand in jeopardy continually !* Why should we venture the rage of men, more savage than lions and tigers, more venomous than serpents, and more subtle than foxes ? Such principles would soon in- duce us to depart from our constancy, and make us exclaim, " What advantageth it us, if the dead rise not ?" or even tempt us to say, " Let us cat and drink, for to- " morrow we die." Let us not then suffer ourselves to be deceived by corrupt reasoners ; but let us separate from them, and venture our all, on the single testimony of the word of " God, who cannot lie." Let us fear associating with skeptical, profligate, or ungodly men ; for " cvjl "communications corrupt good manners;" let us warn our children, our juniors, our hearers, to shun them as a pestilence ; let us awake to righteousness, and not sin ; let us not hearken to those who know not (lod, in what science else they may excel ; being assured that this igno- rance will be found shameful, in j^roportion to the abilities, opportunities, confidence, or profession, of those in whom it is found. V. 33—41. If any are still disposed to start objections, or make presumptuous inquiries, when truths are scripturally pro- ])osed, let them remember the appellation, which the apostle, or rather the Ildly Spirit, gives to such wise men of this world. For they may thence learn, that man's wisdom consists in becoming a little child, and simply believing his Maker. The works of creation and pro- vidence read us daily lectures of humility, as well as teach us to admire the variety of the great Creator's wisdom and goodness. Till we can fully comprehend the whole pro- cess, by which a bare grain, corrupting in the earth, produces many ears of corn at the harvest, and til! we can satisfactorily answer all questions; and solve all difficul- ties about it, letus learn to be the pupils, and not assume- A. D. 6©. CHAPTER. XVI. .4. D. GO. "OW ^ concflining the collection for Cor -."kfc^i! -i-^ '' ^'^^ saints, as I have given order to h'Act's u 41 " ^^'^ churches of Galatia, even so do ye. "cor *" "- 2 Upon " the tivstdai/ o( the week let r H^hTi/io" every one of you lay by him in store, " as 1 John lii. 17 c Acts xti. 6. xviii 2J. Gal. i 2. d I.uko xxiv. 1 Jotin XX I'J. 85. Acuxx. 7. llcv. i. 10 eGen xxvi 12, xsx 27 3U. xxsii. 10 xxxiii. II. Deut. viii IS xv. u— U, 3 Clir. xxxL 10. JIarkxii 41-44. xi». 3. LukexTi. 10 2 Cor. Tiii 1-3 13-15. to be the counsellors of the most High : and let us hold fast. the sure hoj3C of a glorious resurrection ; without perplex- ing ourselves about the manner, in which inunite wisdom and almighty power can effect it. V. 42—50. . They who shall be accounted worthy to obtain felicity in the heavenly stite will excel in glory all present splen- dours, far more than the celestial bodies transcend the ter- restrial : and yet they shall exceed one another in glory, as one star differeth from another ; while Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, shall infinitely outshine them all. This de2;raded, corruptible, sinful, and dying body, shall be raised incorruptible, immortal, and glorious ; it shall be- come vigorous, active, and beautiful, beyond conception ; this animal body shall be raised spiritual. Here our very souls are carnal, there our very bodies will be sj^iritual. And our " second Adam, the Lord from heaven," will give new and immortal lite, as " a quickening Spirit," both to our souls and bodies ; that in both, according to our measure, we may bear his image and glorify his name. As flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven, let us then not " sow to the flesh, of which we can only " reap corruption :" and as they who shall be exempted from death must be changed, let this reconcile our minds to that change, which death will begin, and the resurrection complete in our bodies ; when death shall be swallowed up in victory. Let us then seek the full assurance of faith and hope, that in the midst of pain, and in the prospect of dis- solution, wc may triumphantly exclaim, " O death, where ''■ is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" That we may hail the sharpest pangs of dying, and think without emotion on the darkness, the corruption, and the horrors of the tomb, asstired, that there our bodies will sleep at case ; that in the mean time our souls will be present with our beloved Redeemer ; and that our bodies will shortly arise, to share that unspeakable felicity. But " sin is the " sting of death," and who can disarm that " king of tcr- " rors ?" For " the law is the strengfh of sin ;" and who can answer its demands, endure its curse, or expiate his own transgressions ? Hence the terror and the anguish ; hence the w-retched cleave to life ; save when infidelity, despair, and rebelliosi, induce madness and suicide I Hence, death is jusdy terrible to the unbelieving and impenitent: hence, the needless alarms of tiic weak and trembling be- liever. Thanks be to God, that di"rc is deliverance and victory for us in Christ .Jesus ! May he give us faith and hope, and increase our faith and hope, that we may not only be safe, but joyful and triumphant ! And, having these assurances, let " us be steadfo.si. unmoveable, always " abounding in the work of the Lord, as knowing ihat our " labour is not in vain in the Lord." Vol. v.— No. 32 God hath pro.spored him, ^ (hat there bo -jl^^a- s.""' " no gathering.s when I come. 3 And Mvhen 1 come, '■ whomsoever ^'^ '^~-'- "' ye shall approve by j/our letters, them ''/cor 'm. 'il- ' will I send to bring your * liberality unto •%!-. gtrt. Jerusalem. NOTES. CHAP. XVI. V. 1, 2. The Corinthians seem to have been previously acquainted with the apostle's intention of raising a contribution from the Gentile Churches, for the poor Christians in Judea ; and, as they were more wealthy than most of their brethren, he did not intimate a doubt of their liberality in that good work : but he deemed it proper to point out to them the method, which he had given orders tor in the Churches of Galatia, whence he had lately come. On the first day of the week, let every man treasure up a proportion of his gains, according as God had prospered him during the preceding week: thus a larger sum would gradually be provided, than could at once have been collected. Some are of opinion, that the suras thus set apart were brought to the treasury of the Church at the same time : but the words do not seem to admit of that interpretation ; and if each separately laid by the sunx which he purposed to give, the whole would be brought together, at once, when necessary, without any trouble in soliciting contributions. Laying it np as a treasure^ ' For ' these are the true riches, laid up in heaven, intrusted to ' God, to be compensated with the amplest interest, both ' in this world and the next, though not of their own va- ' lue, but of his mere liberality.' (Besa.) Worldly men would, at certain times, increase their treasure, by adding their clear gains to it ; let Christians imitate them, by lay- ing up on the Lord's day for their poor and distressed brethren, according as God had prospered them, and count this their trea.sure. If this was kept apart by each person till wanted, so that none knew what others gave, ostenta- tion and corrupt emulation would be far more effectually excluded, than if each brought his contribution to the com- mon stock every week, and so a public account was taken of it. It was especially needful, that this precaution should be taken at Corinth, where these evils exceedingly jirevail- ed : and it is evident that the aposde intended, as much as possible, to leave every one, in this respect, to deter- mine for himself, before God, what he ought to do ; that none might give more than he could properly spare, or than he was from proper motives inclined to, either to ac- c|uire applause, or to e.-^capc censure and coutemjjt. (Notes, 2 Cor. viii. 1 — ].5.) The argument from this passage, for the observance of the first day of the week as the Lord's day, the Christian sabbath, is very conclusive : for, unless that were the custom in apostolical Churches, v.hy should the first day of die week be mentioned in this connexion ? ' On Sunday,' says Justin Martyr, ' all Christians, in the ' city or country, meet together, because that is the day of ' our Lord's resurrection : and then we read the writings ' of the prophets and apostles. This being done, the presi- • dent Biake.s an oration to the assembly, exhorting them to ' imitate and do the things which they have heard; then • we all join in prayer, and after that wc celebrate the ' sacrament.' {Whitby.) ,;. D. 00. Ii Acts > \% ". XK I— J. ito J \C, M. Ill Acts XV 3 xvii 15 %r.- M. kxl b Rutn. XV 14 :i Tobn 6, 7. > r.i. xsiii. le. l,ev xxiii 15- 31. AcU ii 1 n Acts xix. B.*^'"- T Acls xlv. 21 2 Cor ii 18. Col. iv 3. Kev. iii. 7, 8. i. COIUNTHIANS. J]. D. 6o: 4 And ' if it be meet lluil I go also, they sliall go with nic. 5 Now 1 will come unto you, ^ when I shall pass through Macedonia : for 1 do pass through Macedonia : 6 And it may be that 1 will abide, yea, 'and winter with you, "that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go. 7 For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, " if the Lord permit. 8 But I will tarry " at Ephesus until p Pentecost. 9 For "i a great ' door and effectual is 32 Acts III. 10. i Cor. i. « -lu. opened unto me, ' and there arc many ad- ^j|', versaries 10 Now 'if Timotheus come, see that 'j^ "*'='»»" he may be with you " without fear : " ft I 11 ITim iv.12. 19-22 1 TbCJ, also do. 1 1 Let y no man therefore despise him ; i The" 'i?" «'. but conduct him forth in peace, that he Tit'i,. i». p ,', ... I . zi. Acts IV 33. may come unto me : lor 1 look lor him with the brethren. 12 As touching ''our brother Apollos, 'J^J.y''^j'_;^^",» i greatly desired him to come unto you ^'j* '■ ''"''•'''■ with the brethren : but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come bEc ii. i.nisrk " when he shall have convenient time. iliv'ti ^"' V. 3, 4. Every thing having been previously arranged, the apostle, v.hcn he arrived at Corinth, would send with ihe bounty of the Corinthians such persons as they ap proved, and would recommend by their letters. Or rather joining the words, " by ittlers," with the httter clause, whomsoever they approved, the apostle would send with a !ett<'r from him to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem: or if :t was thought more satisfactory to all concerned, he would himself accompany the messengers. V. 5 — 9. The apostle was meditating to make a pro- gress through Macedonia when he wrote this epistle : and he seems to have given some intimations, that he would go to Corinth in his way to Macedonia, as well as on his return, though it is not here mentioned. (2 Cor. i. 15.) He had, however, formed hi.'^ determination of coming ; and he as- sured the Corinthians that he would make some stay among them, if the Lord would give him leave : for lie did not think it sufficient merely to call on them as a tra- veller in his journey, when so many things required his pre- sence among thcin. His plan therefore was, to tarry at Ephesus till the feast of Pentecost ; the rest of the summer he meant to employ in his progress through Macedonia, and then perhaps to spend the winter with tiicm ; expect- ing that afterwards they would help him forward in his journey, whithersoever he purposed to go. He might in- tend to sail from Ephesus to Corinth llr.st ; then after a short slay, to go into Macedonia, and afterwards return to winter there. But he deemed it incumbent on him to con- tinue some time longer at Ephesus, as great opportunities ef service were afforded him, great success atteiuled his la- bours, and many adversaries were excited to ojiposc him. 10 terrify or dissuade men from embracing the Gospel, or to discourage and mislead the new converts. His presence therefore was peculiarly necessary, though his dangers and hardships were proiiortionably increased. It is evident, from the concluding salutation, that the a|)OSt]e wrote this epistle from Ephesus, though the spurious addition at the close dates it from I'hilippi. It is probable that the tumult made at Ephesus by Drinetrius hastened the apostle's de- parture ; and his plan seems in other respects to have been circumstantially deranged. Ptntccosl. ' It tliciefore was the following Pentecost, that he liastened to be at -Jerusa- lem.' (initbij.) V. lOj 1!. Timothy had been sent before the apostle into Macedonia, with directions to visit Corinth, (iv. l7. Acts xix. 22 :) but such was the disposition of many in that city, that it was neces.sary to charge them not to behave improperly to him when he came. For the apostle was apprehensive, that their party-quarrels and opposition to his authority would induce them to show such dislike- and coutcmpt of Timothy, as to make him afraid of exe- cuting Ids commission among them. He therefore assured them, that Timothy was faithful and skilful in the work of the Lord, even as he was : let none of them therefore des- pise him, because of his youth, or his supposed deficiency in " the wisdom of words and excellency of speech :" let them encourage and countenance him, in bearing testimony against the abuses which had taken jjlace among them : let them not take oflence at his faithfulness, or permit him to go away, as one who had incurred their displeasure : but let them conduct him forth in peace and love, on his journey towards Ephesus, where the aposde expected him, with the brethren that accompanied him ; or both he and the brethren at Ephesus expected him, as one whom they greatly loved. Probably, Timothy returned to E|)hcsu-. bclbre Paul was driven thence. ' We infer that Timothy ' was not sent with the epistle ; for had he been the bearer ' of the letter, would St. Paul in that letter have said, " if " Timothy come ?" ' If he was with the apostle when he ' wrote the letter, could he say, " I look for him with the " brethren ?" ' Timothy was sent forth upon his journey ' before the letter was written ; but he might not reach ' Corinth till after the letter arrived there.' [Acts xix. xxi.) (Pahy.) Wilb the brclkrcn. Either those who had ac- companied Timothy into Macedonia, or some whom the apostle expected frpfu Corinth. V. 12. It seems that a party at Corinth professed themselves attached to Ap.ollos, in order to cover their opposition to the afostle: yet he greatly desired that emi- nent minister to go among them, with Timothy and Eras- tus, or with Stephanas and his friends, when they returned to Corinth, being of opinion that his presence would tend to allay their disputes, having the most entire confidence in his wisdom and humility. But, perhaps, Apollos feared lest his presence should have a contrary effect ; or he might be fully employed in another place ; or perhaps he thought it right to express his decided disapprobation of the conduct of the Corinthians, by absenting hiaiself till they came \a. D. 60. CHAPTER XYJ J. D. w cMatiMiv.42- 13 •= Watch ye, "^ stand fast in the faith, ixvi "\iark ' quit you Hke men, ' be strong. I^T'sB'T^k/Jn: U Let 5 all yeiir thin^^s be done ^vith :iS-40. »xi 36 1 •■ "^ Kph. vi. 18. Col. charity. , cT sTiml'w.s: 15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know 8. Rcv'm 2,3 ^ the house of Steplianas, that it is 'the *x'Js53 2Cor first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have riili'i. 17 iv' i! addicted themselves Mo the ministry of 1 Thes'iii 8. 3 the saints.) \-s.. 25-27.' ^ 16 That ' ye submit yourselves unto cb^' sis'" 13 such, and to every one that "" helpeth I'^-W with iM, and " laboureth. 17 1 am glad of the coming of" Ste- phanas, and Fortunatiis, and Achaicus ; l-.'^Kllii'io. '' for that which was lacking on your part x«v I'd™ ». they have supplied. 19. »i 32. Has ii 4. Kech viii 9. 13. Eph. vi. 10. Phil iv 13. Col i. II, 12. 2 Tim. ii. 1. ; Tiii. 1. xli. 31 Kiii siv. 1. .lohn xiii. 34, 35. xv 17. Rom. xiji. 8-10. xir 15 2 Cor xii. 9, 10. 14. Gal. V 13, ll S3 Phil, ii 1—3 1 TLei. iii. 6 12. iT. 9,10 2 Thes. i. 3. I Tim. i,5 Heh.xiii. I. 1 Pet. iv. B 2 Pet i 7. h I7.i 16. i Rom. Kvi.5. V.ei xiv. 4. k Actsix. 3i;-4l. Rom xii. 13. sv. 25. xvi. 2. 2 Cor vSt! 4. ix. 1. 12-lS 1 Tim. V. 10 Philcm. 7. Heb vi 10 I Pet iv. 10. 1 Eph. v 21 Heb xiii 17 1 Pet Eph 1 Tira 2 Tim. ii 3 iv 7. Heb. 32—34. IJoEh. i 6. 7. 18 1 )Chi . 28. I Chr xii. IB. Uom xvi. 3. 9 Phil. iv. 3. 3 John 8 Horn. xvi. C 12. 1 Tbes i. 3 ii 9 v. 12. 1 Tim. v. 17. Heb vi. 10. Rev. p Phil. ii. 30 I Thes. iii 6. Philem. 13. to a better temper. However, he was not at all willing to go to Corinth at that lime, though he intended to visit them when he could with more conveniency. {Marg. Ref.) V. 13, 14. The aposUe, about to conclude his epistle, called on the Corinthians, instead of presuming on their gifts and privileges, to be upon their guard against tempt- ations, and vigilant in avoiding the snaies of the great deceiver and his servants : he exhorted them to stand fast in the faith, as they were in great danger, and already began to waver : he reminded them to be valiant and prudent, as it became men, in their conflict with dieir com- mon enemies ; and not to behave like children in disputing with one another, and envying one another : he directed them to be strong in the grace of Christ for their woilc and warfare, instead of amusing themselves with curious spe- culations : and above all, he warned them to manage all their concerns according tc^-the dictates of that love, which he had so fully explaihed and recommended to them, (Notes, xiii.) V. 15 — 18. Stephanas seems to have been with the apostle at Ephesus, when he wrote this; but his house- hold remained at Corinth. The several persons belonging to his family were qualified for usefulness, and ought to have possessed great influence in that Church ; as they were the oldest converts to Christianity in all Achaia ; and as they had habitually employed themselves in every service, by which they could minister to the good of their brethren. The apostle therefore besought the Christians at Corinth, to submit themselves to the counsel, influence, or ministry of this family ; and of others, who concurred with him, in his endeavours to promote the peace and purity of the Church, or laboured diligently in that good cause. The coming of Stephanas and his companions, (who had pro- bably brought an epistle to him from some of the Church at Corinth,) had given him pleasure, because they had further explained all things concerning the state of the Church; and their representation of the jiroper disposition of many of them, together with their pious conversation, nad refreshed his spirit, as they doubtless had frequendy 18 For 1 they have r-efccshed my gpirit and yours : ' therefore acknowledge ye them that arc such. 19 The 'churches of Asia salute you. ' Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with " the church that is in their hou.sc. 20 All * the brethren greet yoii. y Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. 21 The salutation of 7nc Paul with mine own hand. 22 If any man ^ love not tlie Lord Je- sus Christ, let him be ''Anathema Maran- atha. 23 Tlie "^ grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (jc with you. 24 My " love be with you all in Christ Jesus. ^ Amen. 14, 15. viii. 8, S 2 Cor. \ ii. 6, 7. 13. Hhll. ii 23 . Col iv8 lTh«-. iii. 6. 7 3 John 4. 1 I '1 lies. T. 12. Heb xjii. 7. :i ir'.m II, 12. l.nev II t A : .13. xxi. 15—17 2 Cor, 7. 1 John iv. 13 V. I xxii 11. Rom. !.•!. 3. Gsl Cor. xi 11. xii. 15 Pbii. .6. Eph- vi 21. Heb. vi r. 11. If.. S Thes i 8. 9 tc on. Ham xvi. 20.21- -e Sa on, X 24 Uom svi 1. 2 Tim. iv. 19. rrisca M Kcm. svi, .I. Col. iv. Ii. I'hiifim. 2. X Horn xvi IC. 21 23 2 Cor xiii. 1.1 Phil, iv. 12 rii'lem i?., ii. Heb.sii :■!. y 2 Cor. S'ii , the Lord comellt. Some Jewish Usages arc supposed to be referred to; but the above is the undoubted meaning of the jiassage. {i)tnrg. Hef,) The apostie, however, did nut v\rite this awful warning, (for whicii he saw too muih occasion in the conduct of the Corinthian teachers,) from resentment or harsh- ness of dispoiition : he tliercforc exincssed his earnest desirt: that the grace and favour of the Lord Jesus might be witli them, and rest i.n tlicm : and he concluded l)\ such an ■tssuiancc of his cordial love to them ;ill in Clirist, and for his s dee, as is not I'ouiid in any other epistle. To ■'is li'- uanexed his Amen, as assuring them of his sin- 1.1 it, nolwithstauchng the rebukes which he had om, and the iinproficr treatment which he had re- '.■ ., -^ Irom tiie;n. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—11. It is incumbent on ministers to exhort their people to liberal charity, especially towards their bi-cthrcn in Christ ; and to direct the;ii in t!ie best way of collecting and apply- ing their contributions ; and all Christians ought to be ready for such good works, in proportion as the Lord pi-os|)f'r3 ihein in their secular concerns. When a little is weekly appropi-iated to such ])urposcs, it is parted with more convenir-nily, and less reluctantly, than when greatei' sums are requa-cd at once. For it is considered as a part of the weekly exj)ense, and so spared in other things: but, without some arrangement of this kind, the fund for charity is often previously spent on superfluities, and the sum required cannot well be alTorded. Such weekly collections, therefore, as are made by several lau- dable societies in London and many other places, in ■which even poor people and mechanics, by the constant payment of trivial contributions, raise annually large sum-, for the relief of the sick and destitute, cannot too warmly he recommended. Mucli real good is done by them : the Gospel is adorned and recommended, an excellent examjile is exhibited, and the rich are excited to a proportionable liberality. Miy such societies be established in all the churches of Ciirist! Tiiesc charitable works well consist ■with the design of the Christian sabbath : but when the funds are raised, prudent, pious, disinterested, and bu- rn ;iic persons should be chosen to apply them : nor ought any man to clcem such a service foreign to his place, ex- cept he be necessarily engaged in still more important scr> ii es. All our purposes shotild be formed in submission to the will of God ; and our conduct should be regulated by the dispensations of his providence, in connexion with Uie [vrecep's of his word. Ministers ought not readily Ho leave those phces, in which great and effectual doors are open to them, even though there be many adver- saries: nay, this circumstance may often render it more incumbent on them to continue in their post, though ■dangci-Qus and dilTi.^ult, that they may establish and cn- co'.jnge the weak or wavering. It is wonderful that they, who attend on the work of the Lord in tlie most faithful maaner, should have cause for foar among professors of the Gospel; or be in danger of hfing despised and dis- quiete I by them. Yet, the prevalence of [larty, the in- fluence ')f corrupt Iciichers, or the infection of lax prin- ciples, frequently produces this elTect ; especially, when they who are rctjuired to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all authority, arc young, didident, or deficient in external accomplishments. But senior ministers should use their influence to repress this spirit, that their faithful young brethren may be securc4 from contem]ji, enabled to do their work iti peace, a'nd receiv-^ due kindness from those among whom they labour. The zealous servants of Christ will commonly be hnrmonious among them- selves, even when their injudicious hearers place them in com|)ftition with each other; they will concur in op- posing such evils, though they may have ditferenl opinions about the best method of remedying them ; and therefore they will leave others to follow their own judgment, even when different from their own. V. 12—24. Exhortations to vigilance, constancy in duty, steadfast- ness in the faith, and mutual love, can never be unseason- able. They who have addicted themselves to the labour of love, in ministering to the saints, are most worthy of re- spect and imitation ; and not they, who are fluent in speech, and forward to assume the lead in public concerns. 'W'c should also willingly submit to those who are experienced and mature in the faith of Christ ; or who labour to promote that cause, for which the apostles spent and laid down their lives. Faithful and pious persons may supjily what is lacking in each other; and their conversation will refresh the spirits of such as are like-minded. Christians, though divided by seas and mountains, and though they disajiprove of some things in each others creed or prac- tice, will yet cordially wish well to and pray for one anodier. i3ut they, who " love not the Lord Jesus," can be Christians only in name : and I hey must certaiidy abide under an awful curse, which the Lord, when he cometh, will execute. Our obligations to the divine Saviour, and our reasons for loving him, are infinite : yet many who are called by his name, who profess his truth, nay, wiio preach his Gospel, are strangers to this holy affection, and only seek their own advantage, credit, case, or pleasure, in their religious performances. They may conceal this fatal defect from the most discerning of their fellow- servants ; but the Lord, when he cometh, will surely detect it. Let us then call ourselves to account in this matter, and not be satisfied with any religion, which does not include the love of Christ, earnest desires of his salva- tion, gratitude for his mei-cies, zeal for his glory, and obedience to his commandments. Let us inquire, whether we do indeed count all things worthless, compared with Christ and his righteousness ? Whether we be willing to give up worldly objects, when they come in competition with him? Whether we love his image in his )jcople, and be willing to deny our^^elves, that we may commu- nicate to their wants ? Whether we love his ordinances, as means of communion with him ? Whether we rejoice to hear him glorified, and grieve to see him dishonoured ? Whether we allow ourselves in any known sin, or the neglect of any known duty ? By these inquiries, impar- tially answered, we may form a good judgment of the state of our souls. But while we warn those around us not to deceive themselves, we should beware of the appeaiance of anger and resentment. We should desire that the grace of Christ may be with those whom we thus caution, and we ou^ht to assure those of our coidial love in Christ, whom we see it needful to reprove and warn in the most plain and solemn Hianiier, THE SECOIVD EPISTLE OF PAUL THE Al^OSTLE TO THE iii.l'ife. This epistle seems to have been u-rittcn about a year after the foregoing, u-hilc the apostle was on his pro- gress through Maeedonia. Having heard by Titus^ that his first epistle had produced very good (fats on many of the Corinthians, he ivrotc this also, in order to prepare the way >nore completely for his visit to them ; and it is probable, sent it immediately by Titus, and others who aecompanied him. In it he justifi- ed himself from the charge of levity or carnal policy, in delaying his journey to Corinth; and assigned those reasons, for this part of his conduct, ichich could not have been disclosed icith propriety, till the ef- fect of his former epistle had appeared. He also gave directions respecting /he restoration of the inrcstu- ous person, v:ho had been exeomiminicated. He then expatiated on his conduct in the Christian ministry : intermixing many exhortations with the avowal of his motives and fervent affcctioiis in his sacred icork. With great address and earnestness he recommended to them the collections for the poor Christiaiis Lt Je- rusalem, and showed the manifold advantages of such services. /It length lie more directly, yet evident- ly with great reluctance, contrasted his own gifts, labours, sufferings, and conduct, ivith the pretences of their false teachers; and showed himself not a tchit inferior to any of the apostles. Jlnd he then ton- eluded with various admonitions and affectionate good wishes. These epistles may appear to some readers less interesting than several others, because they mainly refer to the peculiar cireumstances of the Corin- thian Church ; but in fact they are the more instructive on that very account : as directions and admoni- tions, suited to many of the more ordinary incidents of life, are communieated by them ; which could no! have been so advantageously adduced, in a more general disccurse on the great doctrines and duties of Christianity. The most remarkable circumstance in this epistle, is the confidence of the apostle in the goodjiess of his cause, and in the power of God to bear him out in it. Opposed, as he then was, by a powerful and sagacious party, ivhose authority, reputation, and interest were deeply concerned, and who icere ready to seize on every thing, zchich could discredit St. Paul; it is ivondcrful to hear him so firmly insist on his aposicli- cal authority ; and so itnrtservedly appeal to the miraculous powers, which he had exercised, and con- ferred, at Corinth. So far from shrinking from the contest, as afraid of some discovay being made, jut- favourable to the common cause ; he, with great modesty and meekness indeed, but with coual boldness and decision, expressly declares that his opposers and despisers were the ministers of Satiut ; and menaces them ivith miraculous judgments, when as many of their deluded hearers had been brought to repentance, and re-established in the faith, as proper means could in a reasonable time effect. It is inconceivable that u stronger internal testimony, not only of integrity, but of divine inspiration, can exist. Had there been any thing of imposture among the Christians, it was next to impossible but such a cov.dvct must hate occasioned the disclosure of it. vf D, 61, II, CORINTHIANS. j9. D. 61. CHAP. r. }'htl. i. I i ■ -i2. Col. ^ 'I'lica i. 1^ Thes i Hull, xiii i •■ Aita Kvik if. I Cor. i .' I Cnr vi trii. i 1. The rtposllc salutes the Corinthians, 1, 2; and Llcssca God for consolulioiis and deli- verance in extreme danger^ lateh/ vouch- safed to him : for the hencjlt and co'mforl of others also, as v;ell as an earnest to him of future deliverances, 3 — II. He rejoices in the testimony of his conscience ; and expresses his confidence of their ul- tnchment to him, trhich had induced him io purpose ei jovrneij to them, 12 — J 6. iJis delay of his journey to Corinth did not arise from pclckness, 17, 10. He stales the stability of the promises of God ihroug-h Christ, and the security of believ- ers, 1 9 — 22 ; and declares that he had postponed his visit from lenity toicards the Corinthicais, 23, 21. AUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and ^' Timothy oj(r brother, nnto ■= the church of God Avhich is at Corinth, with ''all the saints which ■ are in all " Achaia : 2 f Grace be lo you, and peace from f^"«".. Rom. ■ God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus '■^ '^"^ »'•■ Lnrist. I'll vi is.Epb .{ ^ Blessed be God, even '' the Father ^j'^JIJ^ *i^ » of our Lord Jcsu.s Christ, ' the Father of rz, 'V/xv" mercies, and ^ the God of all comfort ; '^\„ '*i»" "j^ 4 Who' comfortcih u.s in all our tribu- \'f. ' '■' '•"'' lation, ■" that we may be able to comfort "2?! 23 '^*^^; them which are in any trouble, by the i^'c'eph^ri comfort wherewith we ourselves are com- rjot,n4 9" "' fortedofGod. S'-l'-^TJ,!^; f) For " as the sufferings of Christ k'Hom..Kv s. abound in us, ° so our consolation also 'uiii^: iV k aboundcth by Christ. f/V is^^Ih t 6 And P whether we be afflicted, it is Mm iw. \l: for your consolation and salvation, which ii iVir*'^''"' is * efiectual in the enduring of the same "sc xxxi""- sulTerings which we also sulfer : or vvhe- "' .' '>»•>> u- thcr we be comforted, it is for your con- ' '''" '" is- solation and salvation. ■"" 'o. n.xia:, / And '' our hope of you is steadfast, "'^/i:'', '.2" I . -, 1 •* ' II 10 Col. I. ^4. knowjng, that ' as ye are partakers of the Vihi'" jj "' sufferings, so shall ye be also of the con- p'/^^/'isl-jj' solation. 21— I Cor. S3. 2 Tim r, wrought. IV 17. v. S Rom. v. 3-5 viii 28. Phil i 19 Heb xii 10. II. a U. 9. xii 20,21. I'hil.i. 6,7. 1 Thes i 3. 4 r Matl. v. 1 1 , 12 Luke xxii. 28-30. m. viii. n, 18. 1 Cor. X. 13 2Thcs i. 4—7 £ Tim. ii. 12, Jain, i.2-4. 12. NOTES. CHAP. I. V. 1—7. {Notes, Rom. i.l—S. 1 Cor i. 1 — 3.) The apostle joined his beloved Timothy with himsell'in this second epistle lo the Corinthians, that he might establish his reputation and influence among them : licnce v.e learn that Timothy was come to him from lOphesus, before he wrote it. ' He calls Timothy his ' brollier, prohably that lie might not be despised for his ' youlh.' {Jl'hiiby.) He addressed the epistle, not only lo llie Chui'ch of Corinth, but also lo all the saints in Achaia ; meaning all professed Christians, tvlio were to be con- sidered as saints in ihc judgment of charity. After the usual salutation, he abruptly broke forth in thanks and jiraises lo God, as the Father of our Lord Jestis Christ, (and consecjucntly of ail believers in him,) as the Father of mercies, the Source and Autiior of every kind of jiiciey to sinful men, abounding in mercy and delighting in it; and as the God of ail conifort, the inexhaustible iind everlasting Spring of peace, joy and consolation, to ail who Inisted in him. ' It is observable that eleven of ' St. Paul's epistles begin widi exclamations of joy, praise, • aiul tlianksgiving. As soon as he thought of a Christian ■ Church, planted in one place or another, there seems to ' iuivc been a flow of most lively aflcction accompanying ' the idea, in which all sensibility of his temporal atfec- • ;:ons, or theirs, were swallowed up, and the fulness of ' ;.:.^ heart must vent itself in such cheerful, exalted, and • (i'vout language.' [Doddridrre.) Good tidings from the i^hurchcs which had been planted by him always animated ?he aiio-tle, and his heart was now full of saiisfaclion in what he had heard from Corinth by Titus. lie therefore blcTi^erl God for rornforling him and his companions in labour, amidst all their troubles and persecutions, that they might be able to encourage others who were in trouble, b\ suggesting the same topics which God had made use of for their comfort. They could also assure their brethren of the sufficiency of divine consolations; seeing, in their own case, they had experienced, that, as sufl'erings for Christ's sake, and such as he endured, abounded in them, so their consolations also abounded in proportion, by the grace of Christ and the joy of his salvation. When, therclbre, they were afllicled, they considered these jjainful trials as allotted them in order to qualify them for their work, in jjromoting the consolation and salvation of their hearers. , These blessings were efficaciously communicated to the souls of believers, by means of sufferings similar lo those of the apostle ; and the example of constancy, patience and fortitude, which he and his brethren exhi- bited, tended to embolden their Lirciliren for sufferings, and to animate them in |3ersevering under diem ; and their ex]ierimental and syuipalhizing exhortations and instruc- tions led them to behave projjerly under their trials, and lo derive benefit from them. On the other hand, when the apostle and his helpers were coinlbrted, their consolations were intended for the encouragement of their people also, as tending to illustrate the faithfulness of God to his promises, and his gracious readiness to support those who sufl'cred for his sake, and by showing them how comfort might be found. These considerations both reconciled them to sufferings, and rendered consolations doubly wel- come. The apostle's hope concerning the Corinthians was rendered steadfast by what he had heard, notwithstanding all that had been reprehensible; as it was evident they sliarcd in his sorrow and uneasiness, and were willing to A. D. (il. CHAPTER I. A. D. 61, ,i».7-ia. Arts 8 For wc would not, brethren, have fcor "r 32 you ignorant " of our trouble which came uV:%. I Sam to US in Asia, that we were pressed out •"or.^j*"" '' of measure, above strength, ' insomuch "7-'io"'job xii tliat we despaired even of life : itiv.s-"j>'rov: 9 But we had the * sentence of death "23,24. svH. in ourselves, " that we should not trust in iz.Luktt^m'l ourselves, but ^ in God, which raisetii the X i» 13, II El , , Rom 'iv 17~ ii "^^" ' Heb.xi. ij. * ■ 10 Who >■ delivered us from so great a y 1 Sam. Tti. 12 , . , " fi'i a ■"%' death, and doth deliver : in whom we I'^Llvi'^a, "j' t''"^^ ^'i^'' 'i^ ^^'" y^^ deliver us ; ^2'% Tim ?!' 1 1 Ye also '• helping together by prayer .'jiu''u'k"xtii. for us, "that for the gil't bcsloiccd upon Icts'^'kii '■ ». "s by the means of many persons, thanks I Horn. XV 30-32. Eph vi. 18, 19 Ptiil i. 19. Col iv. :i. "l '1 hes v. 2S. 2 Thes. iii, I Philem. 22. Heb. xiii 18 Jam. v. 16 a iv. 15 ix. 1), 12. partake of his sufferings for Christ's sake ; and therefore he was assured that they would partake also of his con- solation in Christ. Even the Father, &.c. This style seems to be adopted under the New Testament, to dis- tinguish the one living and true God from all other objects of worship, (without excepting the Supreme Being of de- ists and infidels ; )as that of " the God of Abraham, Isaac " and Jacob," had been under the Old Testament, to dis- tinguish Jehov.-vh from Baal or Jupiter, or other ima- gined deities. None was the true God, but the God of Abraham, &c. ; none is the true God, biit the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (31arg. Kef.) V. 8 — II. Some think that the apostle here referred to his sufferings in Asia, {Acts xiv.) but this was so long before, that he would scarcely have thus mentioned it on that occasion. As he seems to have written this Epistle from Philippi, or at least when he was in Macxicnii. as Ephesus was the chief city of Asia, according to tlie ;ense in which the apostle ahvnys uses that word, and as he had just before been driven away by Demetrius, and the tumult excited by him, it is probable that he referred to die furious persecutions attending on that transaction. — ' It may be said, perhaps, that it does not appeaY from ' the history, that any danger threatened St. PauPs life • in the uproar at Ephesus, so imminent as that from • whicli in the epistle he rcjiresents iiiinselfto have been • delivered. This matter, it is true, is not slated by the '• historian in form ; but the personal danger of the apostle, • we cannot doubt, must have been extreme, wiicn the • whole city was filled with confusion ; when the populace ' had seized his companions ; when, in the distraction of 'his mind, ho insisted ^on coming forth amongst them; •when the Christians who were about him would not • sulfcr him; when his fiiend?, certain of the chief of ■ Asia, sent to him, desiring that lie would not adventure ' himself into tlie tumult ; when, lastly, he was obliged ■ to quit immediately the place and tlie country ; and ■• when the tumult was ceased to depart into IVlaccdonia." — ' Nothing could be more expressive of the circum- ' stances in which the history describes him to have been, ' at the time wiien the epistle j^urports to have been ' T/ritten,' (than the verses Qndcr consideration.) ' It .i> may be given by many on our bclialf. b-W) xih. v. 12 For ''our rejoicing is this, the tes- isv,';. 's.~ 'b. timony of our conscience, that in "^ sim- ?n.''j-5~Jii»rT plicity and '' godly sincerity, * not with 'ii'Ms»i^'!'w fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, coi.iv i cai. we have had our conversation in the s 19, 20 hci,'. world, and more abundantly to vou-ward. 111. le'si 'i „ ' • 11- -"oho lii. VJ-2:. 13 r or we write none otiicr things ■= "'^ ""'"='*■■ f I 1 1 , » 18, 19 unto you, ' than what ye read or acKuovv- •>}> '' "'''^ / ledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge icorv.sEiM,. even to the end ; ^'f- ';tT",'2l 14 As also ye have acknowledged us ?co?''i,'^7'5. ° in part, '' that we are your rejoicing, .'.^; f.J:_\° ^^"^ ' even as ye also are ours, ''in the day of ''g'^p-J.iil.nJ'e'"'' the Lord Jesus. g ii. 5 Rom X.. 25. I Ci.r.xi IC, 1 V, 12. 1 Cor iii, 21-23 Pliil i. 2R. Cr. i ix 2 1 Cnr XV. .11. Phil ii. 18. Ci r. iv. 1. 1 Thes. ii. 19,20. k 1 Cor. i B. Pliil i, 6, 10 I Thes iii 13. v. 23 ' the calm recollection of a mind emerged from the con- ' fusion of instant danger. It is that devotion and solcni- ' nity of thought which follows a recent deliverance. — ' There is just enough of particularity in the jiassage, to ' show that it is to be referred to the tumult at Ephesus.' {Paley.) The apostle, however, had been weighed down with distress, which was beyond measure grievous, from the concurrence of outward dangers and hardships, with inwai'd disquietude about the state of the churches ; so that they were insupportable by any strength which he had previously possessed, and ho was by them led to despair of being any longer preserved in life, to execute his jilan-; of future uscfulnes.'^. He even considered himself as a condemned person having tlw sentence of death in himself, in that hejudged his doom inevitable. Nor, indeed, had he anv method of escape b\' his own contrivance or efforts, or : ny confidence in himself; but he was brought to trust only in God, who by hi? almighty po'vcr raiseth the dead, and was therefore able to rescue him. Accordingly, he had delivered liiai fi'om so imminent a peril of death, when if. seemed to have t.ikcn hold of hiici, and he still continued to deliver him from the rage of his enemies : he therefore was encouraged to trust that he would yet deliver him, and preserve his life for future usefulness. This he expected, in answer to the prayers of the Corinthians, who, he doubted not liad'thus assisted him, and would continue to do so ; that his life and term of usefijlness being pre- served by means of the prayers of many persons, numbers might also unite in blessing God on his account, and f)r the benefit derived through his ministry. Inalltliis he spoke in the plural nMnd)er, as joining his fellow-labourers with him ; but he doubtless meant it^with special reference to liis own case. V. 1-2 — 14. JIany of the Corinthians had been pre- judicedagainstthc a|)ostle,and some still insinuated several things to his disadvantage ; but amid diis discouragomcnt, and all his other trials, he possessed a con.'lant source of joy and exultation in the testimony of his own conscience. For though, as a sjnncr, he could only rejoice and glory in Christ Je>us, yet, as a believer, he might rejoice and glory in his inward consciousness of being ti'uly what he professed and apprared to be : and cspnrially in tku he .'?. D. GI. n. COniNTHIANS. v/7. D. 61, n. Rom i. 1 2a. I>liil. i • Or, f>rilc6 15 And ' ill this confidence I was minded to couic unto you before, "* that yc might have a second * benefit ; 1(3 And to pass by you into Macedonia; 0 Artsxi^ 2i,:2 "and to come ajrain out of Macedonia I tor. XVI. 4—7. If II I unto you, and ot you to be brought on my Nvay toward Judoa. ojiii ix 4 Ter ^^ VVheii I therefore was thus minded, "'" 38 zepii. (]id I use ° hffhtncss ? or the things that 1 ^\o\m \\n'' 1? purpose, do I purpose '' accordmg to the i'Thc-i'ii.i8.^^^''csh, (hat with me there should be i yea, 'jAjam. v.'i"'.'' yea, and nay, nay ? 18 But 'as God is true, our j" word rs3. xi.3i.jotia toward you wai not yea and nay. '■'''V. '■•'*'• 19 For " the Son of God, Jesus Christ, forfrcacMng. who was preached among you by us, j;;.'.' • even by nic and Silvanus and Timotheus, " was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20 For " all the promises of God in him arc yea, and in him *' Amen, ^ unto the glory of God by us f« XXVii 10 St. Maiki. I. i.tite 1.34 John i 34 «? '" 16 35 36. - 13 iO. : John 9. Kev ii IS, 1 Act! xviii 5, Silai u Ks. Juiill viii 48 Hob i. 12, 13. xiil.8. Rev. i S. ll. 17. x Gen iri Vs. Uxii. 17. Is. vii. !■» ix. 5, 6 tulte 1 G6-71. John I 17. xiv i 33-39 Kom vi 53. x» D. '.• Gal. iii 16-18. 52 HeS. vi. 12—19 v 33,4lJ 1 John ii. 24, iS. V. 11,12 vIbIxv 115. tfcd. John iii 4 Cr. R '" '■•-■' ■• " •■• ■ - - Ei-h. l.C I John i 3 V 1 14. Mitt. xxiv. 34. 14. x. Corinth, in order to spare them those censures and mira- culous judgments, which he feared wouUl have been un- avoidable, if he had gone thiiher immediately on leaving Ephesus. lie had not then received any information what efi'ecthis former epistle had [iroduced ; he was D«-arc that time would be required to bring their afiairs inio some better state, and he thought it more adviscabje to wait a little longer, that he might at lengdi come, not " with a " rod, but in love and in the spirit of meekness." He did not mean by this to claim ar. absolute authority in dic- tating to them, as of himself, what they should believe, or even to insist, in a dogmatical manner, on their re- ceiving every particular which he taught them by the command of Chri^-^t. lie had not thus usurped dominion, or lorded it over them, " in respect of the faith," as the clause may be rendered ; but had before acted, and v.'as still disposed to act, with gentleness and forbearance, as a helper of their joy and consolation in Christ, by his in- structions, admonitions, and counsels. Yet he deemed it necessary, as the servant and representative of Christ, to act with authority, and even sharpness, against such as perverted the Gospel, and corrupted its doctrines ; for " by " faith," they stood accepted with God, and were enabled to stand steadfast amidst trials and tempta(ion.=i. Those persons, therefore, who perverted the faillt by i'alse doc- trines and corrupt practices, were about to take from them that support by which they stood, to cause them to fall into various evils, to mar (heir joy, and to do them immense mischief, if not opposed. As helpers of their joy, therefore, the apostle and his friends must take a de- cided part against these enemies to their holiness and com- fort. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS, V. 1—11. The Church of God is his peculiar residence, in wliich he displays his glory and communicates his grace ; all therefore who belong to it should be saints, devoted and conformed unto hira. Many persons, however, of a dif- ferent character, will intrude among them ; but " grace " and peace from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus " Christ," will be given to the saints alone. We sinners, who have believed in Christ, should ever be ready to bless and prai.se our God, even amidst sharp .sufierings. He is " the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort ;" nor can we expect too much from his infinite comjiassion and love, or too highly celebrate the praises of what he hath already done for us. Wc must expect tribulations ; they are needful, profitable, and unavoidable ; and they who have been most honoured by the Lord Jesus have al.so been most conformed to him in sufferings ; but he pro- 2 A .i. I). (il. M. CORINTHIANS. ^. D. 6i. CHAP. If. riic apostle shows his purpose, of not com- vi!f (o Corinth in heaviness ; and the i^ricf with tvhich he had written his for- mer epistle, 1 — i. He directs the Co- rinthians to forgive and restore the in- cestuous person, as he had forgiven him portions his consolations to the troubles of such, as simply irusl and serve hini ; and ho thus renders them capable of comforting others, by tiie comfort with which they are comforted of God. The allliclions and consolations of minister!*, especially, arc often intended for the sake of others, as well as themselves ; that, by their example, experience, counsels, and exhortations, they may promote the consolation and salvation of the people. For these blesr.ings arc commonly brought home to men's hearts by means of trials and afflictions ; and the minister, who is a stranger to suflerings and divine consolations, can seldom duly sympathize with the mourners, counsel the tempted, encourage the dejected, or even bear with the infirmities of the weak. This siiould reconcile us to our sorrows, and teach us to seek benefit from them : and it should animate us to more earnest prayer for proportionable grace and consolation, that we may exhibit an edifying example under trials ; for assuredly we sliali rrjoice in heaven on account of the sharpest of those afflictions, which have teen rendered subservient to our salvation, and that of any of our Lord's beloved people. We may have a stead- fast hope of such professed Christians, as sympathize with the afflicted servants of Christ, and are willing to suffer for his sake ; being confident, that, as they partake of the •sufferings, they shall also share llie coiisolations of his Gospel. The Lord sometimes permits his children to be pressed out of measure, even above strength, and to be -driven almost to despair of deliverance ; that, having the sentence of death in themselves, they may learn more simply to trust in his almighty power and all-sufficient grace. — 'This often occurs in the concerns of their own souls : inward temptations and conflicts, connected with outward xlifficulties, fill them with desponding fears and anxieties ; they are made to feel, that infinite mercy and omnipotent grace alone can preserve them from the most terrible downfals, or even from final ruin: thus they are driven from all self-confidence, and learn to cast themselves 'wholly on God : and when he hath repeatedly rescued ihetn " from so great a death," they admire his truth, ■power, and love, and are encouraged to hojje that he will yet deliver them, and make them victorious over all their enemies. In such scenes of conflict and terror, especially, ■we feel that we need the prayers of our brethren : and we .should thence learn to pray for all, wdio are tried and tempted ; as well as to unite in thanksgivings with such •as have received gracious deliverances. Thus all our trials and mercies, being mixed with prayers tmd praises, will terminate in the glory of God, and in our own and each others spiritual advantage. And even the most afflicted Christian, who is fully assured of eternal felicity, ought to desire and value life, as long as God is pleased to make him useful to the souls of men, and an instrument of pro- moting his glory. in ChrisCs name, 5- — IL His uneasi- ness, at not finding Titus at Troas, had induced him to go directly into Macedo- nia, 12, 13. He blesses God for the joy and triumph, which had attended his faithful ^reaching of the gospel in every placn, — 14 17. V. 1: -16. If we Avould have comfort amidst troubles, reproaches, suspicions, and slanders, we must seek for the rejoicing in the testimony of our conscience. If indeed we are upright in our professed repentance, and faith in Christ and hie atoning blood, and careful to serve the Lord in simplicity and godly sincerity, according to our places in his church and in the community; and if we have our conversation in the world, not by ileshly wisdom, but by " the grace of " God ;" we may greatly exult in these evidences of our acceptance in Christ, and our adoption into the family of God; and may take this comfort as an abundant counter- poise to every calumny, and even as a sure anticipation of the favourable sentence of our Judge in the great day of account. Yet we need not wonder, if we be suspected b)' those persons to whom, and for those actions in which, we have behaved most conscientiously. Some- times simplici'y and godly sincerity may require that line of conduct, which to superficial or prejudiced observers may have a contrary appearance : and on some occasions a man may be deemed inconstant because he will not go the whole length of a party, and coincide with them in their follies, mistakes, and sins. We should, however, leave our characters in the Lord's hands ; only nsing proper means to clear them, when the credit of the Gospel, or our usefulness, calls for it. Ministers, and the people who have profited by their labours, should now rejoice in each other, ?.s they may expect to do at the last day. What- ever interferes with this reciprocal joy and all'ection should be guarded against ; and believers should be careful not to grieve, bj" neglect and unkindness, those faithful friends, to whom, under God, they owe their eternal salvation, and who are concerned for their best welfare, with all the tenderness of affectionate parents. And ministers should desire to visit their beloved people, from whom they have> been separated, not only for the comfort of their company, but that the people may have still further benefit from them* V. ir— 24. It is very unjust and uncandid to ascribe every alteration in a man's purpose or conduct to lightness, instability, duplicity, or carnal policy ; especially when his general character bears another stamp, and there may be good reasons for the change that hath taken place. Il we are thus unjustly censured or suspected, we must make our appeal to God : yet it behooves us to be steady and constant in our conduct and profession, as far as we can, that we may " avoid the appearance of evil." This is peculiarly incumbent on the preachers of the Son of God. Jesus- Christ, the AMEN, the true and faithful Witness ; in whom all the promises of God are given and confirmed .i. D. 61. CHAPTER It , i IS— 17. Aft! xi 39. sr i. 37 1 Cor. ii 2. V 3. Tit. iii !2. S3 Tii. 5- ii. :0, 21 10. 1 Cor h* 4 I Cor. ir. I,&c e \\\i\ xii f xii. n 29 viii. 23 Gal. V. 10. rhilcm 21 hl.ev six. '.7.18 Ps csix 136 Prov xxvil i. e Jer.xiii. 14- ^7. Luke xlx. 41—44. Horn, is 3. 3 Pbil. iii. IS, 19 BUT " I (letermin&cl this with myself, '' that I would not come again to you in iieaviness. 2 For ' if I make you sorry, who is he then that luaketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me ? 3 And '' I wrote this same unto you, ■^ Jest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom ' I ought to rejoice : ? having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For '' out of much aflhctiou and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with in the most steadfast and unchangeable manner, '• to the '• glory of God by us." What he hath already done leaves no room for us to doubt of the exact performance of every promise to all believers : his ^vord, covenant, and dispensations, are so ordered as to give encouragement to the weakest faith. We may not only say, " Hath he " spoken, and will he not do it ?" Hath he interposed with an oath, and will he now fail tiiose, who " flee for •• refuge to lay hold on this hope set before them ?" But '• he hath not spared his own Son; and will he not with " him freely give us all things ?" Yet unbelief excludes men from the blessing ; and many believers come short of comfort, because tliey are distrustful and of little faith. If then we have been established in Christ with these vincient believers, it is God that hath doae this great thing for us : the sacred unction of his grace, the seal and earnest of his Spirit, and those holy tempers and gracious fruits, which attend our conlidence and consolations, secure us from delusion in so important a matter, and distinguish genuine experience from all Uie joys of hypocrites, enthu- siasts, and apostates. We should never call God to wit- ness, except on important occasions, and in the most solemn manner, when other ways of ascertaining the truth, and avouching our integrity, are insufficient, and momentous concerns are at slake ; yet the example of the apostle, under the immediate inspiration of the Holy Spirit, fully proves, that solemn oaths in some cases are both lawful and expedient. The record of God will be on our souls, either to justify or condemn us : he " will •' not hold those guiltless, who take his name in vain :" and we ought so to act, that in all ordinary cases our yea yea, nay nay, may be sufficient to ensure credit to our testimony. If the apostle did not exercise dominion over the faith of Christians, we should by no means call men master or father, or implicitly submit to their decisions and assertions ; nor should we ever attempt to lord it in this manner over any part of God's heritage. We ought to remember, that ministers are the helpers of the joy of believers ; and we should seek the increasing comfort of our brethren with prudent and persevering tenderness and affec- tion. Yet as Christians stand by faith only, and all their joys must flow from the vigorous, uninterrupted, and autho- rizedexercise of that leading principle ; so every thing that tends to weaken, mislead, and subvert the faith of pro- fessed Christians, must be watched against and opposed. Sometimes therefore genuine love, and a wise desire of many tears ; ' not tiiat ye shoultl be grieved, but that ye might know the love which 1 have moic abundantly unto you. b But if "^ any have caused grief, he hath not ' grieved me, but in part : that I may not overcharge you all. 6 Sufficient to such a man rs this * punishment, '^' which was infiUied of many. 7 So that contrariwise, ° ye ought rath- er to forgive him. and comfort him, lest perhaps such an one should be ° swallowed up Avith P over much sorrow. oi. D. 61. k fror. xsli- J*. I Cor. \ I— «. 12, 13 I Gal. iv i; ' Or. «TtM.Tr In^^i.lO IC(ir«. 4.5 iTim. V :i- n G»l. vi. 1. a Eph iv.32 Col i L 13. SThes. 'iir.e I4,li Heb. xii 12-15. o V. 4 2 Sara. x5. 19. 20 I's. xs|. 9. Ivi. 1.8 Ivij. •3. cx&lT. 3. Tror. i. IS. U xx»iii 7 1 Cor.' sv 54 pvii 10 Pmr, xvii.22 Phil ii 27. 1 Thes K'. helping the joy of believers, will dictate sharp rebukes and decided censures of those, who would deceive and corrupt them. It is, however, best to use more lenient measui-cs, as lar as there is a prospect of success ; and to avoid even the appearance of severity, if it can be done consistenUy with prudence and faithfulness. NOTES. CHAP. II. V. 1—4. The apostle had determined in himself that he would not, if it could be avoided, make his intended visit to the Corinthians, till he could go with comfort to himself and them. He expected that he should prevail with them, by his epistles, to exclude such as remained refractory, and should also recover those who had been drawn aside : and then he might be able to go among them without that heaviness and distress of mind, which he must have fell, if he had been constrained to re-establish his authority by censures and punishments. When he had before visited Corinth, he had received and communicated joy ; and he was not willing to come the second time in a sorrowful manner. Even his steady friends must have shared the sorrow, if he had been forced to exercise severity : and so his journey must have been distressing to them and to him. He had therefore written before, and he now wrote again, in order that the pre- vailing abuses might be redressed : lest he should receive sorrow from the very persons, in whose holy and com- fortable walking he ought to have had rejoicing : and he was confident that they would approve of this plan, as he would not doubt but his joy was the joy of tliem all. No doubt the apostle knew, that this rule ad- mitted of exceptions : but it was kind and prudent in him to express his favourable opinion of the Corinthians in general ; and to represent the disaflccted party to be so small, as not to bear any proportion to his friends and adherents. He had indeed written the former epistle, especially' those parts of it which contained rebukes, iii great afliiction, and constrained by the anguish of his iieart, at hearing distressing things concerning them ; and he had wept abundantly at the painful necessity imposed on him : yet he had not intended by it to cause them need- less grief; but rather to convince them of his more abun- dant love to them, by performing this most self-denying and distressing act of Christian friendship, even contrary to their inclinations, and at the hazard of incurring their displeasure. 2 A 2 J.D. GJ. 11. COUINTHIANS. .;. JD.iil. ''^'u/juJc'sJ,' 8 W hero fore I beseech you, "i that ye, but taking my leave (.f ihcm, '' I went I'i^Vf ",,,J;*i5 ."vii. 12-15 vtii would conCirm 1/our love toward hiui. .from tiience into Macedonia. zJ '*T{fi'''iri; ifeui'viirV 10 9 For to lhi.s end also did 1 write,, 11 iNow'^ thanks 6c unto God, *" which d'p"*'c'i" 'Jt. xm 3 I'h.i u r ij^at J niight knoAV the proof of you, always causeth us to triumph in Christ, v"'i''!7'*,"ci?. 'pil'i ii^ \l. ' whether ye be obedient in all things. 'and maketh manifest "' the savour of hise","'. cam i. .?.. ."■' J!' '* ]Q ffy t ^vlioin ye forgive any thing, I knowledge by us in every place. co"!!" sJ "' 1 >> For we aie unto God ' a sweet 'Lx^iiiV'io li; savour of Christ e in theni tiiat are saved, tVvi*i iv Is'. and in them that perish: V,6V\'cor f'lB". ju lo tne ono tec «rc '' the savour ofi'iukc a it. death unto death ; and to the other the a"i" xHi 45- C t-r ' 1-,. 11 . 47 »x 21. J7. savour ot lite unto hie: and 'who is .'..*'«'■« ''-.? i 1. '.()■ Malt. „ . , y •!• I r .1 • .. miii 18 j'hn fonrive also : lor 11 1 lornavc any tnuii;, to 3■ and a xAcu'sx 1- Jooi' was opened unto me of the Lord, j!iv 27. 1'^ ' ''^<^' ^ »o Jf^-t in my spirit, be- .3' Kev! cause 1 found not "Titus my brother: I Cor Tiih. T U I m. 1 I'et. 1 vAr.s suflicient for these thinffs .'' ; Cor. a viii. 6. 16. 23 xii. 18. Gal. ii. 1. 3. 2 Til V. 3 — 11. (A'o/e.ours of the faithful minister will be accented and graciously rewarded by our God, whether his hearers be saved, or perish. But how dreadful is the case of numbers, to whom the blessed Gospel be- comes " the savour of death unto death ;" and the faithful and affectionate endeavours of ministers for their salvation serve only to seal and aggravate their condemnation ! This is n painful thought to the .servants of Christ ; as they would gladly be " the savour of life unto life" to all, who come within the sound of their voice, or by any means can be made acquainted widi their doctrine. But liow should the consideration of the consequences which must follow on our preaching, to ourselves, and our hearers, make us shrink back, as it were, under the con- sciousness of unworthincss antl insufficiency ! especially as so many still corrupt the word of God, to their own ruin, and that of their deluded followers. May we then inquire how the case is with us ; may we carefully watch aurselves in this matter ; and seek "the testimony of our consciences, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, that " as of sincerity, as of God, in the sight of God, so we " may speak in'ChristI" May the Lord send forth many such ministers into his Church, and slop the mouths of all false teachers ; and may every Christian learn to distinguish between faithful shepherds, and all kinds of wolves and foxes in sheep's clothing I NOTES. CHAP. 111. V. 1—3. The apo.itie's opponents would be ready to censure the foregoing declaration, as another instance of his commending himself; of which, it is probable, they alleged that his former epistle contained some examples : but could the Christians at Corinth, in ge- neral, suspect him of being actuated by such motives? Did he or his friends need such a testimony to their character? Was there any occasion for odier churches to give them recom- memlatory letters to the Corinthians ? Or that the Corin- thians should thus testify to their character, for the satis- faction of other churches? This indeed was the case of some, who had come in among them wit'.i an ambiguous cliaractcr ajid mission ; and who wanted, ar.i rec<:'ived such ii. U.Pbil I. c. D Ex. xviii. 19 I Thes. t. 8 5 Not "that wc are sufficient of our- ■' i" •'oiin xt s. selves to think any thinff as of ourselves; "-'« J«f " n I .1 „..-'.=,,•, ' 6-10 .Man I ° but our sutnciency is ol God ; "•, »« L"tre n 1X71 1 11 1 11 • • XXI. IS. xxiv«9. b \\no also ^ hatn made us able mmis- L'^'>r„"'=i?, '."• ters ot 1 the new testament; ""not of p,^' '^ J*" the letter, but of the spirit; 'for i\\c 'M^'^n'H letter kiileth, ' but the spirit * giveth i io ' Jil'l' lifp " r.|ih iii. 7.' iv ""^- 11. la. Col. i li-Zi I Tim i IMSiy f, STimill. n 11. .I(?r. xxxi 31 . M«tt. xx»i. 28. Msrkxiv 24. Luke xxii 20 1 Cor. xi. 25. Heb vii 22 iX 15-2B. Xii. 24. Kill. 20. Mare r Rom ri. 27-29 vii 6 s7 9. Ueul. xxvii 20. Rom iii. »> I, li vii 9-11. Gil iii. 10-12 21,22 tJi.ihnTi.C3 Rom * Or, quickelut^. John ». 21 , Hoai. iv. 17. 1 Cor. xv. ti. Eph. - recommendations ; but the apostle had no need of them. Foi' the Corinthians themselves were his epistle of com- mendation ; it was written in their hearts, (as some explain it, perhaps without sufficient authority from manuscripts or copies,) and legible in their lives ; so that men of every nation and language might read and understand the import of it. Or, he so valued this testimonial, and so loved them as the seals of his ministry, that he had this epistle, as it were, engraven in his heart. For they were mani- festly declared to all men, to be Christ's epistle recom- mending his ministry, whicli he had employed him in framing. This was not written with ink on paper, but by the Spirit of the living God ; nor engraven, as the law was, by the finger of God on tables of stone, but on fleshly tables of the heart ; their hearts having been soft- ened, humbled, and prepared to receive this divine lim- pressioB, by the new-creating power of the Holy Spirit. ' In your hearts, made soft and pliable, and ready to obey ' the word, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, according ' to the promise, Es. xi. 19. xxxvi. 26.' {Whitby.) As the aposde therefore firmly believed them to be true Chris- tians, so they could not doubt but he was the aposUe ot Christ : their conversion sufficiently recommended him and his doctrine, and he needed no other testimonial. V. 4 — 6. The preceding considerations gave the apos- Ue such 'confidence, through Christ, in his cause and in those things which pertained to God, that ho spake to the Corinthians in that bold manner of himself and of his ministry, which they censured. Not that he or his asso- ciates professed any sufficiency for so important a trust and work, as of themselves, or by any natural wisdom, ability, or good disposition, above other men : they could not exe- cute their ministry faithfully or successfully, if left to themselves , they could not think a good thcug:-.: without divine grace ; they made no estimation of themselves in this great concern ; but allowed and were deeply sensible, that all their sufficiency was of God. He indeed had made them able, faithful, and successful ministers of the New Testament, or covenant, which was ratified with believers through the blood of Christ, and ensured to them all spiritual and eternal blessings : and, while they gave him all the glory, they could not but be conscious of what he had done for them and by them ; nor might they shun to speak with autherity and decision in his cause. For they had not been trie ministers of a mere ictter, but of a doctrine that was accompanied by the operation of the J. D. 6f. CHAPTER III. J. D. 61. ,9-s«o>.,..6 7 But if " the miniitration of deatli, 'livMa xKjcii' » written a/if/ ensjraveii in stones, ^ v/aB if -ifut. i'^!3.■ glorious, 6o ' tiiaf the cliiitlreii of Isri^fel 13 ■* x'' i-»' coui'1 not steadfastly behold the Ace of 13 Ps l^'J<^''Cs« for the glory of his countenance, y beui fV'j^B'ni 'which glory was to be done away ; knn, 'vii IS- 8 How shall not '' the ministration of 14 (12. Gal •■ •" ■: xxxi l.. xii II Holy Spirit to render it efficacious : for the mere letter would have proved an occasion of condemnation and death to the hearers ; but the Spirit gave life and salvation to thera through the Gosjjel. This is commonly understood restrictivcly of the legal and evangelical dispensations, con- trasted with each other, and the context seems to favour this interpretation :,yet it is not satisfactory, as proposed in a general manner ; for the legal dispensation was not a killing letter to ail that were under it, nor is the Gospel in all cases attended by the life-giving Spirit. But the legal dispensation derived ail its saving efficacy from the Gospel, to which it referred ; and, after the publication of Chris- tianity, it became altogether a killing letter to those who cleaved to it. For the Gospel was " the ministration of " the Spirit," and the only doctrine through which life and salvation were communicated to sinners, as the ajiostle shows more fully in the next verses. The moral law indeed is universally " found unto death," to all who remain under it ; but the ceremonies and types, together with the ])rophecies, gave ancient believers a feeble dis- covery of mercy and grace, through the promised Saviour: yet these to unbelievers were a mere lifeless iqrm, which left thera under the condemnation of the moral law, and even added to it. But then it must be remembered, that the Gospel itself, and its ministers, are " a savour of death •' unto death" to unbelievers ; who often make the same formal use of some evangelical truths, and an attendance on Christian ordinances, which the Jews did of the Mosaic ceremonies, and the traditions of the elders : and in this way, and many others, " the letter," even of the New Testament, " kills;" and it only gives life, when accom- panied " by the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." To understand '' the letter and the spirit," of a lileral and an allegorical interpretation of Scripture, is both foreign to thf apostle's aigument, and also palpably absurd and extremely dangerous. Some parts of Scripture are allego- rical, and must he so interpreted : but surely laws, doc- trines, promises, exhorlaiions, and historical fads, must be literally understood by all, who do not seek to misun- derstand them ! V. 7 — II. The Corinthians undervalued the authority of the aposde as the minister of Christ ; but he here showed them, how far the ministry of the New Testament excelled that of tiie Old. The moral law alone was %vritien and engraven in stones ; and it was properly the minisiration of death and condemnation, by leaving every transgressor under the curse denounced by it : but the unbelieving Jews turned the whole Mosaic dispensation inlo a mere covenant of works, to their own condem- nation be glory, much more doth " the miuistratiou ol righteousness " exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious, ' had no gloiy in this re- spect, by reason of the glory that ex- celleth. 11 For 5 if that which is done away was glorious, '' much more that which remaineth is glorious. ^ Hoi) vii. 21 -26 vlii. 13. xii. 25-29.- .1 V. 21. IH. lln. 13 Jer. xxiii t. lloni. i. ir. lii. 21,22 IV II. V l.'i-2l. X. 3— JO. 1 Cor. i 30. Hal. V. 4, 4. Pti.l. iii. .9. 2 I'et ). I e 10, II. 1 <,'or. x» 41. Hcl). ijr. b. 6 fJol. XXV. 5 Js. XKiv. 23. Haf. ii. 3 7-9. A«/3 xxvi. 13 I'hil. iii. 7, 8. 2 I'et. I 17 Rcv.sxi. 23.24. xxii S ^ ' " °-"i'i 6 iv. r nation. Both the holy, just, and good law, and the legal dispensation, as connected with it, and introductory to the Go.spei, were gloiious : the whole had the stamp of divi- nity upon it, and was exprt'ssive of the justice, holiness, and truth of God. As an emblem of this, the face of Moses, when he came down from the mount with the tables of the law, and the ratificalion of that covenant, shone in such a manner that tlie Israelites could not stead- fastly look at it ; which caused him to wear a veil in their presence. Yet this rejiresented the glory of that dispen- sation, which was to be abolished by the introduction of the new covenant in Christ. If, then, the ministry of that dispensation, which, considered apart from the Gospel, could only leave men under the sentence of death, spi- ritual, temporal, and eternal, was so glorious, and im- parted such honour to Moses, how could it be supposed, that the ministry of the New Testament, through which ei^pecially the sanctifying Spirit was given to sinners, as the seal and earnest of eternal life, should not be glorious and honourable to those intrusted with it? If that ministry, which in itself tended only to condemnation, contained such a display of the divine glory, as rendered the exercise of it honourable ; how should not that ministry, by which condemned sinners are taught the way of righteousness, by faith in Christ, and which contains so full and complete a discovery of the glory and harmony of God's perfections, confer far greater honour on the apostles, who were em- ployed to preach it to the world? Indeed, the glory of the law, and that of the legal dispensation, were so eclipsed by the excellent glory of the Gospel, as iii this respect to be comparatively nothing; and after the publication of Chris- tianity, the Mosaic dispensation had lost all its reflected glory and divine authority, and was become a lifeless letter and form to those who rejected Christ. If, then, that which was intended to bo temporary, and at length to be abolished, had been glorious when Moses promulgated i\, much more must the Gospel, which is intended to continue till the end of the world, as the last and most complete discovery of the divine Uuth and will, be glorious in itself, and honourable to those who were intrusted to reveal it to mankind. ' It should be understood, that the law,' (of ten commandments,) ' is not considered simjdy, but as ' connected with the ministry of Moses, and as apart ' aad distinct from the Gospel ; in which respect it may ' be said to have been abolished, when the ministration of ' Moses was abolished. But thou wilt say, is the minis- ' tration of Moses abolished in this respect ? By no means : ' for men must always be jirepareil for (he Gospel by the ' preaching of liie law. But this I say, that the minis- ..;. D. 6) II. CORINTHIANS. ^. D. Gl. iw.2,3 13 jnhn 12 Seeing then that we have such 23. I cSr'xIv. hone, ' \vc use screat * plainness of speecli : •Or. M(f«.,. l.i And not as Moses, ^ nhicn put a Ik's;' 23-3i'veif over his face, that the children of 3 Vph Ti*!!.. iHracl ' could not steadfastly look ■" to the in. Pnil 1. 211. , r- 1 1 • 1 ■ 11-11 1 Thn'm",,* end of that which is abolished : ^s"'""'"^^" Ji But "their minds Avere blinded: mKom ^1 G,i ''"'' "'^*'' *'"^ '^'^J rcmainetli the same veil "■' "''i^'coi''.'] i"i<l irCSTin. X I Cor xiii. 12 23 r>v 4 6 Jobs i. 14 xii 41 I Tim i II Or. 7. V 17 Horn viii. 10 Tit. iii. 5. 3 * tration of Moses is in all cases abolished, when the mani- • fc5t grace cf the Gospel succped.s to the figurative i^reach- ' in^' of the law.' (Beza.) From this argument it is ge- nec.illy concluded, that the false teachers at Coiinth Jitda-[ ized : but it has before appeared, that their leading errors were of a different nature; though some might also be prone lo run into that extreme. The apostle, however,! seems to have principally intended lo magriity his office ;{ and to show, from the examjile of Moses, that the ministry: of the New Testament was honourable, in proportion to! the superior glory of that dispensation: and that he, as; immediately intrusted with the important stewardship of) the divine mysteries, as an inspired apostle, and as faithful in this service, had a right to demand respect and dcferefft:e to his authority ; which his opponents, whoever they wero,j refused him, and instructed their partizans to refuse him.] V. 1"2 — IG. Having this hope and confidence, thati he was made of God an able mini.ster of that glorious j dispensation, by which the gift of righteousness and thej life-giving Spirit were conferred on men, the apostle uscdj great plaiimess, liberty, and boldness of speech : declaring! •without reserve "the whole counsel of God." and faith- 1 fully reproving what was false and sinful, as one that had authority and sufficiency from God. His doctrine was not hid in obscurity or ambiguity, or under types and shadows, as the legal dispensation had been, of which the veil on the face of Moses was a figure, or emblem. As this cover- j ing concealed die lustre of his countenance; so, the oh- 1 sGurity of that dispensation concealed its real glory; andj the Israelites were unable to look steadfastly to Christ, the great End, Scope, and Substance of those ceremonies, which | were shortly lo be abolished. Even believers had only I indistinct and transient glimpses of that glorious Object : and unbelievers looked no further than the outward insti- tution, except as they expected a temporal deliverer and king. Thus their minds were generally blinded by pride, prejudice, and carnal lusts, which formed a veil over ihcir hearts, in addition to that which was thrown over the Mosaic law: and this veil remained, to close their minds against the truth, even after the light of the Gospel had shown the real import of the legal ceremonies : so that, when the .lews rend the Old Testament, the veil upon their hearts prevented them from understanding its true meaninc;, or deriving any spiritual benefit from it. For the veil is only done away in Christ: h!> doctrine tends to remove it I'rom the written word : but faith in him, and the supply '.f his Spirit, must remove it from the heart, and enable tho believer to perceive the spiritual meaning of the types, jjrophecies, and promises of the whole Scrip- ture. For want of this the Jews at that time, (and their awful case i; the same to this day,) had a veil on their hearts, when the law of Moses was read among them ; nor could ,dl their diligence, attention, or attachment to it, enable them to understand it in a saving manner. But when any individuals among them were converted to the Lord Jesus, this veil was removed from their minds : and this will be the case respecting the nation in general, when they shall according as it is predicted, believe in their long rejected Messiah. {Notes, Ex. xxxiv. 29—35.) — Abolished. ' Such an oblique manner of speaking on ' this subject makes the argument peculiarly sinking. ' It is taken for granted, as a thing certainly knowi., and ' quite indisputable, that the Mo.-aic dispensation was to ' be abolished.' (Doddridge.) ' Vv'e, the ministers of ' the Gospel, speak plainly and openly, and put no veil ' upon ourselves, as Moses did, whereby to hinder the ' Jews froin seeing Christ in the law: but that which ' hinders them is a blindness on their minds, which ' remains to this day. Their unbelief comes not from ' any obscurity in our preaching ; but from a blindness ■ which rests upon their minds. But when their heart ' shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.' (Locke.) V. 17, 18. It appears from the preceding argument, that the Lord Jesus is that S|)irit, or animating soul, which gives life to the letter of the Scriptures, and lo believers. Without him, doctrines, promises, ordinances, and commandments, are a mere carcass of religion ; the pov.cr and life of which wholly depends on their relation to his person, mediation, and grace: and without faith in him, and grace from him, all knowledge, ordinances, or external obedience, constitute a dead form of godliness. In both respects he is, as it were, the soul that animates the body, and gives cirtivity, energy, and value, lo every part of it. This union with Christ is efTected by the in- dwelling of his Holy Spirit: and where this divine Agent, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and One with them, inhabits the hear!, there is true liberty. He gives freedom from sin and Satan, from condemnation and servile principles, from the love of the world, and the fear .'?./). >6J. CHAPTER IV. ^. D. iii CHAP. IV. The apostic declares his tmwcaried zeal and integrity in preaching the Gospel, 1 , 2. Satan blinds the minds of unbe- lievers (tirainst the light of the divine frlory of Christ ; which God imparts, by shining into the hearts of his people, of men: he enables the believer to find liberty in ivilling obedience, and in spiritually worshipping God. And he gives him confidence and boldness in his conduct among men, without regarding their censures and frowns, or courting their friendship or applause, from conscious in- tegrity and satisfaction of the Lord's acceptance. Thus all Christians, in proportion to their degree of faith and grace, being enlightened by the Spirit of the Lord, behold with open face, as in a mirror, by faith exercised on di- vine revelation, the glory of God in the Person and work of his Son: and \.hh glory, beaming upon their souls with transforming efficacy, (as opaque objects reflect the rays of the sun, and so become in a measure luminous.) they are gradually changed into his image of righteousness, purity, truth, and love, growing moTe and more like their belov- ed Saviour, in judgment, disposition, affections, and con- duct, from one degree of this glorious holiness to another ; even as by the work " of the Spirit of the Lord," or the Ziord the Spirit, by which he new-creates the soul ; and according to the measure in which he discovers to a man the glory of God in Christ, and enables him to behold it with open face and fixed admiration. Till at length the work will be perfected, when the view of faith, as in a mirror, shall be changed for immediate and perfect vision. {Marg. Ref-) Some expositors explain the " open," or unveiled, " face," to mean the face of Christ: rendering the words, " We all, in an unveiled face, beholding as in a glass the " glory of the Lord." &c. The glory of God in the face of Christ is certainly the object contemplated. The veil on the face of Moses implied, that this glory was but obscurely shown by his ministration : but the veil, by the ministration of righteousness and of the Spirit, is removed, so that the glory of God in the face of Christ is unveiled; and all they, from whose hearts the veil of prejudice, pride, unbelief, and worldly lust is removed, see it clearly and distinctly. If the " unveiled face," be un- derstood of the beholders, this latter veil is meant ; and llie contrast is between them and the unbelieving Jews : but if it be understood of Christ, then the contrast is be- tween the obscure ministration of Moses, and the clear and full ministration of the apostles. As believers they beheld this glory, (A'o/e, iv. 4 — 6 :) and through their doctrine, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, all Christians did, and still do, behold it. PRACTICAL OBSEP.VATIONS. V. 1—6. Even the appearance of self-commendation is painful to the humble and spiritual Christian ; whereas the firoud and carnal court applause, and are highly gratified with it. The conversion of sinners, and their subserjuent holy lives, are the minister's best letter of recommetidation : if these Vol. v.— No. 32. .3 — 6. The weakness and sufferings of the apostle redounded to the praise of the power of God, 7 — 12. The sup- ports, motives, and prospects of glory, by ivhich he and his helpers were in- duced to persevere without faintino-, \\j -18. efiects be evident and abundant, ho will generally want n.; other testimonial among real Christians. For his useful- ness is manifestly declared, and fuUy understood, to be Christ's own attestation to his ministry, which the Saviour hath written by the Spirit of the living God upon the hearts of his people, and made legible in their lives and actions. Professors of evangelical truth should remember, that their tempers and conduct are supposed to form an exhibition of the tendency of that doctrine and ministry on Avhich they attend. Indeed, the stamp of much reli- gious profession is a lax practice, self-confidence, boasting loquacity, censoriousness, a disputatious temper, bitter- ness, and clamour : this epistle often shows under what sort of a ministry it was formed ; though it leaves the reader in great doubt whether Christ had any part in i^, or whether an enemy alone was concerned. But, alas ! many, who attend on the most faithful and practical preachers, exhibit such an epistle, (so to speak,) to the perusal of the church, as has evident marks of spurious- ness in it : though numbers charge all the blame on the doctrine and ministry, which are thus disgraced. But *hen professed Christians act consistently, obeying the commands, and copying the example, of their Lord, they honour and recommend the Gospel and the preachers of it, and are instrumental in bringing others also to attend on the truth without prejudice. Success in this blessed work should inspire our minds with confidence in God : yet wc ought always humbly to recollect and acknowledge, that we are not sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves ; that our whole dependence must be on the Lord, and that the whole glory belongs to him alone. It is a very great honour to be made able ministers of the New Testament. We should not indeed suppose ourselves to be such, in that high sense which the apostle meant : yet, by imbibing his principles, copying his example, and adhering to his doctrine, we may hope that the Lord will, in an inferior degree, qualify us for the same honourable service. Even the New Testament will be a killing letter, if exhibited as a mere system and form, without a depend- ence on the Spirit of God to give it a quickening energy,: yet it is by the blessed doctrine of God our Saviour alone that the Spirit is given to sinful man. V. r— 18. The holy law of God, though excellent and glorious m itself, can only be held forth as the minislration of death and condemnation to fallen man : but justifying righteous- ness and sanctifying grace come from Jesus Christ, and by the ministry of the Gospel. This gracious revelation so far exceeds in glory the holy law it.-.eli', that it even seems to eclipse it, as the noon-dny sun does the glim- mering stars. Much more, then, does the clear light and 2 B A. D. bi. H. tORINTHIANS. A, D. 61. IH Eph, 8. k I Cor < I Tim I Pet ^,. ; rr^IIERI^^FORE, ^ boejrig we have this . ' I miiii&trv, " as ^vc have received P 'J mercy, "^ we laint not; 2 iiut have '' reiiouncccl the hidden of "* dishonesty, "' not walking in yiif"'ue"°h craftiness, nor handlinsj the word of God dtcor iv.5 deceitfully ; but, ' by tuanifestatiou of the *Rom*"v'. 21. truth, commending ourselves to every tph V. i;. ei- 12. li 17. XI 3 6. 13-ii Epj. iv ll. 1 flija, ii. 3-S. fv 11. -. »l. 30 ■ 1 Kph rh 1 IV. things man's conscience in the sight of God.si«o'»- « is. 3 But if 5 our frospel be hid, '' it is hid ' t™ " n to them that are lost: l'c.1-'"'' * ' *'• 4 In whom ' the god of this world /j^''«j 'j,'~" hath '' blinded the minds of them which i"!;°3o''''^.'5'- believe not, ' lest the light of the glorious [.^J'-,^ gospel of Christ, who is '" the Image of \^'^^ God, should "shine unto them. \'^, 10 John xii 40 1 iii. 8 11.13. John tii. 12. xii. 35 Aitjx.'ivi IB. C. I i. v7. l"T,m' i. II. Tit :i. 13 ID John i 13. xii. O Xiv. 9 10. xv. 24 Phi ii C Col. i. I}. Heb' i.3. n6 P] 1 2. I> Ix I 2. 2 Pet. 1.19 I Jolio ii 8 I John , 19. cr. XX 3 14 1 Kings jj;lory of the Gospel exceed those of all preceding dispcn- ing at another and covering avaric-o, and ambition, or sations. M.»y Christians then learn to value the faithful sensual indulgence, undei-high pretensions to zeal and ministry of the Gospel, and encnuragc their preachers tOj sanctity. Nor did they deceitfully model their doctrine to use great plainness of speech, suited to the doctrine with] suit the prejudices and inclinations of men, for their own which they are intrusted! May we read the Scriptures selfish ends, by keeping back profilable truths, or making Mith continual prayer to have the veil removed from our | such additions and altcraiions, as might render their prcach- hearts, that we may discover and steadfastly behold thej ing less offensive; or by usii>g ambiguous and obscure Lord Jesus, as " the End of the law for righteousness to ; language, that their meaning might not be clearly appre- *' every believer ;" that so we may profit even by those hended. On the contrary, they endeavoured to set divine things which are now abolished! May we pray also in truth before their hearers in the most manifest, con- behalf of them whose minds are still blinded by pride,! vincing, and affecting light, that so their doctrine, mi- prejudice, and unbelief; e.'ipecially for the poor Jews, who nistry, and conduct, might be commended to every man's are preserved a living demonstration of the truth of the I consciencf, even should his heart rise against it; that every Scriptures, though themselves utterly unacquainted with j one might perceive the truth and importance of their their spiritual import ! May they speedily be turned to thej message, and be sensible that both his interest and duty Lord, and the veil be taken from their hearts I May \ve| required him to attend to it; and this they did, as in the always remember that the Lord Jesus is the life and soul,! sight of God, the ever^jresent Witness and Judge of the as it were, of the Scriptures and of all true religion ; that! thoughts and intents of their hearts. 'What reason can teing One with him, by faith and his indwelling Spirit,! ' be assigned why they, who preached the Gospel plainly, we enjoy true liberty in the service of God; and that, ' should write the same things to the same persons ob- " beholding with open face, as in a glass, the glory of, ' scurely ? " Whatsoever things were written of old " the Lord, we are changed into his image from glory to!" time, were written for our learning." {Rom. xv. 4.) — I ( glory, as by the Lord, the Spirit!" This transfer- ' And surely they who wrote afterwards by the same Spirit, mation of the soul into conformity to Christ, is the proper ' wrote for the same end. And if they wrote for our evidence and test of spiritual illumination ; and without a measure of it, all supposed discoveries and revelations are mere delusion and enthusiasm. May then all, who are called ministers, have the eyes of their understanding enlightened, to behold in this manner the glorious Object of our faith, hope, love, and imitation ; and point him out to others with the same efficacy on their souls also : rhat so the triune Jehov.vh, Father, Son, and Spirit, may be glorified in all and by all, now and for evermore ! NOTES. CHAP. IV. V. 2, The apostle having had such a glorious and excellent ministry intrusted to him as had been described, and being sensible of the abundant mercy which had been shown to him in his extraordinary con instruction, to be sure they wrote plainly and clearly ; since otherwise they wrote not so as to instruct and ' leach, but rather to confound the reader. Seeing there- • fore the great end of writing the Scripture was to instruct ' the world in the will and mind of God, and the great ' things of the Christian faitli, their writings are an ' effectual means to obtain it ; which yet they cannot be, ' unless they arc plain and clear, as to the great things of 'religion.' {Whilby). This was written against the pa- pists, who discourage the reading of the Scripture, be- cause they are obscure, lest the common people should learn heresy from them ; and on the same ground rest the claims of the Church to infallibility, and the authority of their traditions. But the reasoning is equally conclusive against all those nominal protcstants, who suppose that version and reconciliation unto God, and his call to the great learning and skill are needful to understand the Scrip aposdeship, diil not faint or draw back in a dishonourable manner, because of the difficulties and sufferings which he had to encounter : but he and his fellow-labourers re- iiounced with abhorrence all those artful contrivances, by which the idolatrous priests, or the scribes and priests of ■the Jews, or corrupt teachers of Christianity, imposed on their followers, served their own dishonourable and dis- honest purposes, or concealed their secret crimes. The true servants of Christ did not thus exercise their ministry ■•tith craftiness or duplicity, professing one thing and aim- tures, especially the apostolical epistles ; otherwise conclu- sions may be drawn from them, which they think heretical. V. 3, 4. If then, after all, the Gospel, which the apostle preached so plainly, was covered with a veil, (as the Mosaic law had been,) if its truth, nature, and glory, were hidden from any who heard it, such persons were evidcndy as yet in a lost estate, and in the most imminent danger of final predition ; and the veil must be upon their hearts, through the prevalence of pride, pre- judice, and ungodly lusts. For Satan, the god of this A. D. 61. CHAPTER IV A. />. CI. oMstt. iii. '"• 5 For " we preach not oui'selvcs, but '," ^'".*' ■ '■'■'i '' Christ Jesus the Lord ; i and ourselves 18. Actsm IS, /• I / I "ssle 'xis J°"i" servants lor JesAis sake. "»~ '?7 '*°'s' ^ ^or God, ■■ who commanded the m^sV x' iS ''ght to shine out of darkness, * hatli I'liil.'i IS. 1 llie? 11 S, 6. Tit. i. 11. 1 ret. v. 2— 5. 2 Pct ii 3. p i. 19 fllatt. x»iii 8 A U> ii. 36 V. 31 X 36. Roni Xiv. 8, 9 1 Cor. i 23 ii. 2. viii e. sii. 3. xv 48. Phil. ii 11. qi.24v 14,15. llatt. KX 25— 57 Lute Sxil 25, 26. JoliQ xiii. 14, IS Rom sv 1,2 I for is. 19-23 Gal v. 13 2 Tiin ii 10 rGcn i. 3. 14, 15. Fs Ixxiv. 16 cxxsvi. 7-9. Is. slv. 7. • Gr. ij 4c nko hcth. world, whom all unconverted men worshipped and served, in one way or other, prevailed to blind the understandings of numbers who heard the Gospel, and disbelieved it through love of sin and pride of heart : that so the " light of " the Gospel of the glory of Christ," (as the v.ords most literally signify,) even the light which exhibits so clearly the glory of Christ as the Image of God, representing and displaying all divine perfections harmoniously exer- cised in his character and salvation, might not shine upon them, or within them. Vast multitudes of Satan's subjects are kept from hearing the Gospel; others hear, and for a lime are blinded by the tempter to oppose or reject it : and his giand design is, at any late or by any means, to keep out this transforming light ; yet many, who for a season were blinded, have been at length converted. But among the number of unbelievers, the enemy is permilied, in aw- ful judgment, to blind many to their perdition ; and this was peculiarly to be expected by those who closed their eyes to this light, when apostles were the preachers, and their doctrine was confirmed by evident and multiplied miracles. (3Ifn-g-. Ref.) ' The fault is not in us, or in the ob- ' scurity of the Gospel, but in their own blindness, for ' we hide nothing from them.' {Whilby.) It is most astonishing, that many of the ancient Christian writers understood the true God to be meant by '• the god of " this world:" and it also shows, thfit their authority, as expositors of Scripture, is not irnplit >ly to be depended on ; and that the reformers from poperj , who conceded to join the fathers of the first four centuries with the Scrip- tures, in stating and defending their doctrine, did not act with their usual judgment, but greatly embarrassed th" cause vi-hich they most zealously maintained. Image, &• , {Nole, Col. i. 13— ir. Marg. Ref.) V. 5, 6. The peculiarity of the apostle's ministry and that of his faithful associates, was this: they preached not themselves, they did not seek to exalt or enrich them- selves, they did not aspirp after authority, reputation, or any secular pre-eminence ; but they preached Christ Jesus as their great Subject, in respect of his Peison and sal- vation ; they endeavoured to exalt and gl'orify him ; they declared him to be the I,ord of the Church, and the Lord of all ; and they called on men to accept of his salvation, submit to his authority, and become his obedient servants. But, as to themselves, they not only were fellow-subjects to the common Lord of all Christians, but they were the willing servants of the Church for Christ's sake ; they declared that they were bound readily to labour, venture, suffer, and submit to the deepest debasement in doing good to men, as far as the glory of Christ could be advanced by it, or his command required it. This zeal to glorify their beloved Lord made them earnest to be understood in their preaching, which ought to have recommended them to all '^ shincd in our hearts, to f'/fc ' the heht ^Th ' '7'« »• O O U. rf ret, I ID of tiie knowledge of the glory of God '^^^.;;."',5i^« " in tlic face of Jesus Ciirist. Kih '2 '' «. 'I'u. 7 But we hav§ " this treasure ^ in i',,,,/2 l^i earthen vessels, ' that the excellency of iS. Acifui w, the power may be of God, and not of us. ^Luke ii. n Jolin i. 1.1 xii 41 xiv », 10. Phil ii 6 Col. i 16 Heli. i. 3 1 I'ct i. 12. x 1. vi. lo. Matt xiii. 41 62 Kiili. iii 8. Col i 27. i, 3 >• v I. x 10. Judg vii 1.1. 1 1. l(--20. l.im. iv. 2. 1 Cor i 2i<. iv 9-13. Gal iv. 13. 14 2'rMn ii 21 j iii. 6, C. xii.7— 9. xiii. 4. I Cor. ii. 3-5. Eph. i 19, 20. ii, 6 8, 9. Col ii. 12 I Tbes i. 5. Christians, in proportion as it excited thecnmilyand oppo" sition of Satan and his servants. They were induced and enabled to act in this manner by what they had ihcmsclves experienced ; for they too might have been blinded by the god of this world, and for a time were in an awful i-tale of opposition to the light of the glorious Gospel; but at length, " That GOD, who," in (he creation of the world, " commanded light to spring forth out of darkness," had, of his sovereign mercy, cfiected a similar change in their souls, where ignorance, error, sin, and misery, had before prevailed. By his new-creating Spirit he had removed all obstacles, and let the light of divine trntli shine into their hearts; having prepared the understanding to adnj.'t, and the heart to love, the doctrine of the Gospel. Thus had he given them the illumination of that knowledge of the divine glory, which their fai(,h perceived in the face of Jesus Christ, in his Person, miracles, character, right- eousness, atonement, and mediation ; and which, being thus steadfastly beheld with open face as in a mirror, transformed the soul into the glorious image of God exhibited in it. The apostle seems especially to have adverted to his own extraordinary conversion ; yet he evidently meant to include that of all other faithful mi- nisters and true believers, which is similar in its nature and eflects, and wrought by the same divine power, though it be not attended by the same miraculous circumstances. Satan blinds men's minds, lest the light of the Gospel should make known to them the glory of Christ; but God enlightens the minds of his chosen people, that they may behold that glory ; so that this seems the grand dis- tinction between those whom Satan blinds, and those whom God the Spirit illuminates. Face, ' The apostle ' continually alludes to the face of Moses, which was ' not uncovered, (that the image of God might be clear,) ' but covered.' {Besa.) ' The face of Moses gave a feeble and transient reflection of the glory of God, which was covered with a veil ; but the face of Christ, the Image of God, displays it fully and permanently to those who are divinely illuminated. " The light of the Gospel of the " glory of Christ," (4.1 and " the light of the knowledge " of the glory ©f God," are spoken of as the same ; for " Christ and the Father are One." V. 7. This treasure, (even the light of the know- " ledge of the glory of God, in the face of Christ,"' and that imjjortant ministry which related to it.) was, as it were, deposited in earthen vessels, {Notes, Jiulg. vii. IG — '2-2.) [Marg. Ref.) Even the apostles and most eminent evangelists were sinners by nature and practice ; their bodies were frail and mortal as those of other men ; liable to the same infirmities, susceptible of pain and suffering, and easily worn cfown by fatigue and hardship, or pinched with hunger and cold; nor were their minds less suscep- 2 B 2 A. D. 6t, \',i'rxi.23-M' 8 JVc are "troubled on every side, Vsii,'; xxii"*^. ** yet not distressed ; wc are' perplexed, ,'vi 2*3 *i.'rov but * not in " despair ; vlm^ T' 3-5; 9 Pciscculcd, '' but tjpt forsaken ; ^ cast v,M5-37^jjim jQ^yp^ ]jj,j ,^Qt destroyed ; 'Vr Mt^^M^g'- iO Always ' bearing about in the body IX or™,:,'.';;;"' the dying of the Lord Jesus, e that the joiin'"'xiv ■ 'lis life also of Jesus might be made manifest I Cor X. 13 • 1 I ,-, isam xKxi 1 m our ootly. rt ps ix io xxii. J 1 For Ave which live '' are always de- ui "ji'ii -1 livcred nnto death for Jesus' sake, that .'vii.'6''johv.i7 tlie life also of Jesus midit be made -13 xxii. 20. .... , r> P iM xxsyji. 21 mniiitcst HI ' our mortal llesli. ^\i ' 12 So thei 'i 6 9. nnm . 10, 11 Col i t xiiU Jt.hnx. . . - . '^11^ according as it is written, II. CORINTHIANS. ^. jj. 01. the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also •'s^'^coi*^'''' •' by ' ^ - > " •- .-• - you death woiketh in us, but 1 3 We havinfr the same spirit of faith, ' I believed, and 1' 12. \"y. 'i tberefore have 1 spoken ; " we also be- i,'ps'%iiv 12. litive, and therefore speak ; rii'i' 3' I'c'i^- ^^ Knowing " that he which raised up XV 31. iv..: Rom. viii. 11 I Cor. x« 53, Si k xii 1' - - - - 1 Cor iv. 10 Pliil il 17 SO 1 .lohn iii 17. 1 Aclsxv 11 1 t irSPel i 1. ni Hk. rs>i. 10 n hi IS Prot. xii.2« Jotm si- 15, 16 Horn viii. 11 ! Cor. vi. l; \v. :o-i2. 1 Tiies, iv. 9. Act! iii. 9 Heh '. O Is XKV lible of fear, sorrow, anxiety, and discjuietudc, than those of others. They were also conscious of many defects and impediment-;, and destitute of tho.*e accomplishments ^vhich the world generally admires ; they had no wealth X)T authority, they made no show of superior genius, iearuins, or eloquence ; naj', they were not delivered from the effects of in-dwelling sin. So far therefore were they from being such illustrious persons as to attract general admiraiion, that they were treated as the filth of the world ; and, while their infirmities sometimes render- ed them less acceptable even to the churches, their stripes and imprisonments increased the contempt with which the proud and self-wise beheld them. This was appointed by God for most important purposes. He could have commissioned angels to proclaim the glorious doctrine of the Gospel, or he could have put this treasure into more splendid vessels, by sending the most eminent and admired of the sons of men to instruct the nations ; but his jilan was, that the superior energy of the Gospel, and llic won- tierfid efTccts produced by it, should evidently a|)pear to he wholly owing to the excellency of his jiowcr, as working by that doctrine ; and not at all to be ascribed to the superior endowments of the person wliom he employed. For this end he chose mean brittle vessels, by which to ♦ onvey this treasure to mankind, that his power might be glorified. in their preservation, and in the blessed change wrought amongst mankind by their ministry. V. 8 — 13. it was very suitobie to the ajiosllc's design, of re-establishing himsell' in the aftections of the Corin ihians, to remind ther.i of his suli'eriiii::s and supports in that ministry, from whicli they had received such un- ."peakablc advantage. He, and other faithful ministers, were " troubled on every side," in every place, from persons of every descri^:!tion, and with ail kinds of afilic- tioris ; yet were they " not caif:':"-' c'' f^ §^''2:-cncd,. by Jesus, and •• shall present m with ^'hitnlm.. 1 Cor. _ -i3. Col i. 15 For'' all things arc for your sakes, r'M'^'^iM'- that ' the abundant grace might, through u.' 23.'%.at !; the thanksgiving of many, redound to the l\. c£i m ,^' glory of God. |J "-- 1'^ Iii For which cause Mve faint not; s-n "7-!l: but ' though our outward man perish, ss* 'r7°i. v,. yet " the inward man *is renewed ^ day '/"/i it 39.'*' by day. tcs- p, 1,,'^: 17 For ^our light affliction, which is Maii\.'"a, m. but lor a moment, ^ worketb lor us a f't'' ■" ic. , /. ,. , 1 • 1 ' '^" "' " "tar more exceeding «;;« eternal weight"''' '■ "o »» »'• ... a B .11. Itom. xii. 2. ot glory ; vf\o\'^^-"'' 18 While "^we look not at the ^h'mgs Hf^l^l/"^^ which are seen, but at the things which f"A?tsi'x» are not seen : "^ for the things Aviiich are 7j:3|"'^pg',''i] seen are temporal; but the things which /|.,''„%''j,"'7, are not seen are eternal. Kom! v sil Phil i. la 2ThM i..l-6 Keb. xii. 10, II. Jano. i 3, l. IS. h iii. 18 Gen xv. I." 1-3. xsxl 19 Ixsiii. 21 Is. Isiv. 4. Luke vi. 23 Rom. ii 7. 1 Cor ii 9 I Pet. i. 7, 8. r. 13.1 Jotm iii. a Ju(le24 c v. 7. Rom. viii. 2l, 25. Heb. xi 1.25-27. xii. 2, 3. d Matt XXV 4G. Luke xvi. 25, 26. 2 Thes ii Ih. IJobo ii. 16. 17 25. men who had no way of escape or relief. They were •' perplexed" with difficulties, about what course they should take, and how they should endure amidst such mul- tiplied trials ; yet they were not left to " despair" of help and comfort. They wcie " persecuted" wherever they went ; yet the Loitl did not forsake them, or permit their enemies to prevail against them. Nay, they were even cast down in the conflict with temptation and persecution ; yet they were not destroyed, but were enabled to rise up again, and to renew the fight, without any material damage to themselves or the cause. Thus they carried about witii them in their bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus, in those bruises, wounds, and stripes, which they received for his .sake, and from such men as had crucified him ; that so the life of Jesus, as risen and glorified, might be evidently proved, by the protection, deliverances, sujiports, and con- solations, afforded to them, which enabled them to proceed with constancy and fortitude in their ministry, amidst these complicated dangers and sufferings. For, while some of their brcthi'cn had sealed their testimony with their blood, they, who still lived, were continually delivered to death, in the persecutions which every where met them ; that so the power of their ever-living Saviour might be manifested, in still preserving their mortal fiesh in life and fitness for service. So that death was, as it were, con- tinually at work on them, by the hardships which they endured in conformity to the d^v^th of Christ : but life wa.s wrought in the souls of the Corinthians by means of their sufferings, as they were not only exempted from per- secutions, but were made partakers of spiritual and eternal life by their ministry. And did it then become them to augment ihc trials of their pastors, by their neglect and disaffection .' ' While you are called to live for his ho- ' nour, we may be said to serve our Redeemer, by bearing ' for hi? sake repea'.ed dearlts.' {Doddridge.} A.D. CI. CHAPTER V. ?. D. (31 CHAP. V. The apostle declares, that the assured hope \ ami earnest desire of being present with the Lord, u-hen absent from the body, ren- dered him indifferent as to this life, 1 — 8 : that he laboured to approve himself to V. 13 — 18. The aposlle and his fellow-sufferers per- severed in their ministry, because they were actuated by the same spirit of faith which the Psalmist had expressed, when, amidst imminent dangers and distressing difficulties, he had declared his confidence, that God, according to his promise, would deliver him out of them all. {Note, Ps. cxvi. 10, 11.) They believed most firmly the doctrines which ihey preached, and therefore nothing could induce them to conceal, retract, or corrupt them. In the daily expec- tation and anticipation of martyrdom, they were fully assured that God would raise their mangled bodies from the grave by the powerful work of Jesus, even as he had raised him from the dead ; and that he would thus present them, wi:h all those to whom their labours had been bless- ed, before his glorious throne, as the objects of his love, ^vhom he at length had made perfect in glory and felicity. They also understood, that all their sufferings, as well as their ministerial endowments, were intended to subserve the Lord's purposes of love to their brethren, (as indeed all things were ordered in that manner, which might best promote their eternal good,) that the abundant mercy and grace vouchsafed to them, might excite vast numbers to thank God for the benefit received by their means, and so conduce to his glory also. With thess [irospects and hopes, they were preserved from fainting, or declining the dangers and difficulties attending on their ministry. For, " though their outward man perished," their bodies were •worn out by fatigue and sufferings, and their lives destroyed by repeated violences, 3'et their " inward man," or their souls as regenerate, daily became stronger in faith, hope, love, patience, &c. and were renewed more and more into the holy image of God. They therefore considered their various trials to be '• light affliction," which ought scarcely to be mentioned, being as nothing, v;hcn compared with the end which they had in view ; and the continuance of their suft'erings, (though for many years,) was but for a moment, when contrasted with elernit}'. Moreover, they knew, by faith and experience, that ;lipse aillictions were ■working out for them an increase of Hiiure and eternal felicity ; both as means by which their so!;ls v. ere made partakers of the holiness of God, and rendered more ca- pable of spiritual enjoyment, and as he would graciously and abundantly recompense those fiuiVerings which they endured for his sake. {Marsr. fiff-) The words here •ised arc far more cmphatical than any translation of them ran be. There is a lepetition of the woi'd lnjperl)olo, by which is generally meant a person's exceeding the limits of exact truth, in any animated description or narration; but.in the subject, on which the a]iostle spoke, the boldest figures of speech must come short of ih.e mark. If a man proceeded from one appaTenihifperho'c to another, and Accumulated the most energetic terms as much as possible, he could not fully express tne real cxcellercy of that glory, honour, and immorlaliiy, in which the believer's sufferings Christ, in the prospect of a future judg- ment, 9, 10; knowing the terrors, of which he eonscientioushj persuaded men, 1 1 : that this was said, not as boastina;, but to furnish the Corinthians with an answer to false pretenders, ] 2 : that the would assuredly terminate. Compared with it, all tem- poral afflictions were levity itself, a momentary lightness of affliction ; and earthly prosperity mere vanity and emptiness. This glory was substantial, weighty, durable, exceeding description and imagination, and human lan- guage must labour in vain to convey any suitable ideas of it. It would even have been an insupportable weiglit to them, until their bodies and souls were prepared by Om- nipotence to sustain it. It waS " a weight of glory," a fulness of God, a measure of knowledge, holiness, dig- nity, and felicity, in his favour, presence, and according to his gloi'ious excellcnry and beauty, adec|ua;e to what- ever they should be made capable of possessing and enjoy- ing, and all this would be unchangeable and eternal. In this prospect the apostle and his brethren disregarded visible and sensible objects, they did not aim at worldly honours and advantages, they looked not at them with estimation or desire, but by faith they beheld, and in hojie they sought, invisible glories as their gieat object ; being assured that all visible and sensible things, whether plea- sant or painful, thp good or the evil things of the woi-ld, were temporal, and would speedily be terminated ; where- as the unseen objects which faith realized were eternal, whether the final happiness of believei's, or the final misery of the wicked, were intended; and this gave such an incomparable importance in their judgment to unseen things, that nothing else seemed worthy of their desii-es or of their fears. ' What an influence St. Paul's Hebrew ' had upon his Greek is every where visible. Cabad in ' Hebrew signifies to be heavy, and (0 be glorious. St. ' Paul in the Greek joins them, and says, weight of glorj/.'' (Locke.) That the writers of the New Testament fie- quently hchraisc, so to speak, is manifest; but whether this might not in some cases be intentional may be ciues- tioned. Even the copious Greek, as found in Pagan writers, could not have expressed, in full energy, the apostle's exalted conceptions, without some of those sub- lime allusions and metajihors, which are found only in the Hebrew Scriptures, and in the New Testament. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—6. They are not meet for the sarrcd ministry of the New Testament, who do not ex]icct the salvation of their own- souls from the i'rec mercy of God through Jesus Christ. If we have received this mercy, or have a prevailing hope of it, \vc should not faint under any tribulations, while employed to recommend it to our fellow-siimers. Indeed, divine grace v.-ill teach faithful ministers " to renounce '• the hidden things of dishone^ty ;" ihey will not walk " in craftiness, uor handle the word of God deceitfully ;" and if any, who are artfully imposing on men for their own credit or profit; suppose themselves partakers of '.he saving .^. D. Gl. If. CORINTHIANS ^. D. 61. love of Christ constrained him to- devoted obedience, ami made him dead to all other rep;ctrds, 13 — )G: that all in Christ are neiv creatures, 17 : that God, in Christ, reconciling the ivorld unto himself, had reconciled him and other preachers, and had cojnmittcd to them the ministry of reconciliation, 18, 19: and that as aynhassadors, they, in the stead of Christ, besought v\cn to be re- conciled to God, through his righteous- ness and atonement, 20, 21. mercy of Christ, they are as much deccivGd by Satan as others can be by them. For the minister of Christ must avoid all appearances of duplicity ; he must neither pay court to any man's passions, nor connive at his vices : but he ought, in the most perspicuous and intelh'giiile manner, to declare and apply the truth, and so to C(jnimend him- self to every man's conscience as in the sight of God. If the Gospel, when thus preached, be hidden from the hearers, it is evident that they are still in the way of destruction and they have reason to dread the consequences of thei obstinate unbelief, as it is among such persons, especially, that Satan, the usurpiii";; god of this world, is permitted finally to blind and harden numbers to their ruin. His great object is, to keep men in the dark : particularly to keep out of their minds " the light of the Gospel of the " glory of Christ ;" he therefore spares no pains to keep them at a distance from faithful preaching, or by various prejudices to set them against it, or by manifold corrup- tions to destroy its efficacy. His grand opposition is always made to the personal and mediatorial glory of Christ ; for he knows, that no other knowledge, or religious obser- vances, will sanctify or save those on whom this divine light doth not shine: and that none can perish who are illuminated by it. But, though many are blinded, the minister must go on with his work ; he must not preach himself, either as the subject or the object of his dis- courses ; but he must " preach Christ Jesus, the Lord j" dwelling on his love and salvation as his favourite theme, and seeking his glory as the great end of his labours : and, instead of aspiring to pre-eminence and authority, he should willingly be the servant of the disciples of Christ, for his sake, and stoop to any thing that may promote their good. Indeed, this will be the disi)osition of all those, into whose hearts God hath shined by his new- creating Spirit, to give them " the light of his glory, in " the face of Jesus Christ." In proportion to the degree of our spiritual illumination, we shall reflect the image of Christ, even as he is to us the Image of the invisible God ; and we shall learn lowliness, self-denial, and love, from that admired pattern. But without this illumination the soul remains a dark, confused, and deformed chaos, when science hath done its utmost ; nor can that knowledge of God and of Christ, " which is eternal life," be obtained in any other way. {Marg. Ref.) V. 7—12. The Lord puts the treasure of heavenly truth into mean earthen vessels ; he often employs persons of such infirm bodies, moderate abilities, or low rank in society, as worldly policy would reject and despise ; for, whatever instrument be selected, he will make it appear, that the '• excellency of the power," by which the Gospel is made successful, " is of God, and not of men." He therefore uses various methods to convince his most useful servants of their v/eakness and insufficiency ; and sometimes he makes their infirmities visible to others, that they may not give them undue honour and respect. These caithcn pitcii- ers are very brittle ; but the rich treasure they contain is often most manifest when they are most exposed ; and when they are broken to pieces, it is sometimes more abundantly communicated than it was before. In one way or other both Christians and ministers must be troubled ; and sometimes it will be on every side. Yet faith and grace will preserve them from deep distress. They may be perplexed by various difficulties and com- plicated discouragements; yet they will be preserved from utter despair; the Lord will not forsake them in their persecutions and temptations. Even when cast down by their enemies, they shall not be destroyed ; for he will lift them up again, and enable them to renew the combat. But the troubles and sins of ungodly men, as well as their temporal prosperity, will terminate in everlasting darkness and despnir. It is indeed a great honour, though painful to nature, always to bear about with us the dying of the Lord Jesus, by suffering for his sake and after his example, from the contempt and enmity of this evil world ; and he will show his life and power, by supporting and comforting those who are thus tried and exposed in his cause. In- deed, if we by faith are interested in our dying Redeemer, and conformed to him in outward troubles, and the cru- cifixion of the flesh, we shall, in hope, comfort, holiness of life, and constancy in his service, abundantly manifest his power and truth, as risen and glorified ; and, as far as we resemble him, we shall be willing and thankful for death to work in us, that life may be given to others by our means. V. 13—18. Nothing can be done in the spiritual warfare, without the same Spirit of faith which animated the ancient jjro- phets, apostles, and martyrs of Jesus : we shall be timid, hesitating, and wavering in our testimony, unless we can say, " I believe, and therefore have 1 spoken." But when we are fully assured of the truth, importance, and excellency of the Gospel, nothing can durably prevail with us to retract, alter, or conceal, the great doctrines, which we are called to preach or profess. Yet true religion does not require us to neglect our real interest: it assures us, that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise up all his faithful followers, and present ihem before the assembled world, as those who have honoured him, and whom he will honour. Knowing, therefore, " thai all " things work together for good to those who love God ;" giving diligence to obtain the assurance that we are of this numl^tr ; and being animated by the hope, that our labours and trials will conduce to the benefit of our brethren and the glory ot the Lord ; we shall not faint in our work and J. D. (Jl. CHAPTER V. A. D. 61. ajobsix i5,:g TT^OR Mve know that il" *> our earthly i!''i2.'"/joti'.'i'ii. B^ hourie of this tabcrnacic were "■' dis- 2. U 19. V. 13. 30. b4. Ofn solved, we have '' a buildiog of God, 'il 'job"!v •; an house not made with hands, eternal 46-48. 2 Pet 1. in the heavens. cjib x»x. 12 2 For in this ^ we £C''oan, « earnestly djohn xiv. 2, 3. Jegipiuor to be "> clothcd upon with our ) Cor Hi a '^ 1 ■ I ■ /• , '^ 9.''?*',,"'d ,, house whicli IS from licavon : eCol ii.ll.Heb 1 c 1 1 • III I n r'fRo.l'viist •* it so be that ' being clothed, Ave shall vni.M iPet jiQit be found naked. g Phil i. 2') h 3, 4. 1 Cor. sv 53, 51 i Gca. iii. 7— 11 Ex. sxsii. 29. Rev. lii IS.xvi. 15 4 For '= we that are in this tabernacle uapet i^s. ' do sroan, boinff burdened : not for that m3 111 111 1 I T 1 ^ '"■ ^^"^ •■ '• we Avould be unclothed, '"but clothed cor xv sit.si •11 II , O V. 17 Is XXII upoB, " that mortality might be swallowed |j j,'«_ j.i ,|j""- up of life. ^L^^^L 5 Now he that hath " Avrought us for ]^"\f: ^f'.^^- the self-same thinij is God, who also hath J„'°,'.'° i;;,?;* i given unto us ''the earnest of the Spirit. is'''°xxif'' XL 6 Therefore "i we are always conhdent, """5^' !"?"',■ knowing that, ■■ whilst we are at home in rsn^'''L^ 1. 1 Chr xxis. 15 i's. xxxix. 12. cxix 19. Phil. iii.20, 21. Heb. si. 13 sl'ii. U. warfare. Even when our bodies waste away by disease, ■wear out by labour, grow feeble through old age, or are about to perish by persecution and dcadi, the soul may be renewed and grow more vigorous and holy day by day ; and more ripe for the enjoyment of heavenly felicity. But if the apostle could call his heavy and long continued trials ^' light affliction, and but for a moment," what must our [rifling difficulties appear in the estimate of faith and grace ! How shameful then is it, that we should complain or despond under them ! What powefful supports and con- solations must there be in the hope and earnest of heaven, beyond what we have hitherto experienced ! May we then seek to have all our light and momentary allliction.s sanc- tified to us, that, by promoting our humility, spirituality, and admiring love of God our Saviour, they may " work " for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory !" We know not indeed what we shall be, but the unut- terable nature of the felicity which we are encouraged to expect, should enhance our value of it. That must be little, which human language can express, or human imagination conceive ; but the joys of heaven will be immense and everlasting. On the other hand, what must be the weight of that misery reserved for the wicked, concerning which the Scriptures use the most energetic language ; when all the suflerings that a man is here exposed to are light and momentary, according to the judgment of the inspired writers ! Let us then look oft' "from the things which are seen ; let us cease to seek for worldly advantages, or to fear present distresses ; let us take warning to flee from the wrath to come, and give diligence to ensure future felicity ; for " the things which *' are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen '• are eternal." NOTES. CHAP. V. V. 1.^4. The aposde, continuing the argument of the preceding chapter, stated, that he and other faithful ministers endured persecution, from the assurance of a far happier state, whenever they should be cut off by death. The body might be deemed " an earthly " house," in which the soul dwelt on earth, and which would soon " return to the dust whence it was taken :' yet it was rather a tabernacle, \.\ie unsettled and precarious abode of a few days, than a staled residence. This house, or tabernacle, was about to be taken down, and the mate- rials of it to be dissolved ; but when that change should take place, the soul being released from a mean moul- dering tenement, which continually needed repairs, and had been a constant source of trouble, sorrow, temptation, and sin, would immediately have a building of God, a habitation far superior to all that ever was made with hands, a blessed mansion in the heavens, where God dis- plays his glorious presence, and where light, purity, and felicity, are found in full perfection : and this mansioa would continue to all eternity. As the apostle spake of what was to follow immediately upon the dissolution of the body by death, he must be supposed to mean the state of the immortal soul, before, as well as after, the resur- rection ; for the language is figurative, and must not be confined by a too literal interpretation. In this prospect, he and his brethren groaned earnesdy desiring to be deli- vered from their present troubles, and to be clothed with that glory, felicity, and immortality, which might be con- sidered as the garment, as well as the mansion, of the blessed inhabitants of heaven. This he seems to have longed for, and desired to possess, without jwssing through death, if it might have been so. He, however, know, that seeing they should be thus arrayed, they would not be found naked or destitute, when they left this world, and all its possessions and accommodations ; nor would they expe- rience trouble, want, shame, or any inconvenience, for evermore. This then must be a most desirable change : for while they were in the frail tabernacle of the body, they groaned, being burdened with manifold trials, temptations, and ditliculties, from which they longed to be released. Not that they desired to be unclothed, by putting off the body at death, merely in order to be rid of its incumbrance : the prospect of that dissolution v/as not in itself jileasing to them: but they would ratiier have been " clothed upon," by being taken immediately to heaven, as Enoch and Elijah v/crc, that mortality might at once have been swallowed up and lost in life and immortality ; yet the prospect of the consequences of death, and the hope of a future resurrection, reconciled them even to the pangs of the separating stroke. The passage, being expressed in metaphors unusually bold, is indeed rather ditficult; yet the above seems the evident meaning of it. Nor docs it appear that the ajioslle intended to express any expecta- tion that the day of judgment, and the general resurrection, were at hand; or to determine any thing concerning the manner, as to external form, in which the soul subsist.';, either before or after that solemn season. The word nak- ed, may allude to Adam and Eve, after they had eaten the forbidden fruit, and lost the robe of innocency ; whereas believers, being " made the righteousness of God in " Christ," will not he thus found uE^kcd, in whatever man ncr they leave this world, Jl. D. Gl. II. CORINTHIANa ^. D. 61. B i. 51 ir H the body, we are absent from the Lord : R-T" XV.' 21, 7 (For Mve walk by faith, not by 12 G«i ic. 20. si^lit :) "?!c.V""-e;: "O Wc are confident, I say, 'and will- .'r.° xii. 2. _^3. ing rather to be absent from the body, /"is" xs'i. Jti. and to be " present with the Lord. ??:"•' ^u'S' ^ Wherefore ^ we * labour, that >' whe- f.i. n, r2.^,' ■' ther present or absent, we may be ^ ac- V" '«■ '"v;-ceptcd of him. ..T — 2^ Matt. I , i /• "im xiV "a '<' i "i" ° ^^■'^ '""^'' ^'' fipP<^=^'' betore "»",='''lj'"=°{ the judijment-seat of Clirist ; that every Jolinl'i 2r»ev. vni U-17. sxii 3 x John vi. 27. 1 (or is, 2r,,27 xv_58. Col. i 2:) ITim. ii* Ul. Heb ir. 11 2 I'ot i 10, 11. iii. U. OT.irtAr.avovr Kom. XV :ii.lThes. IV. II. Gr yO 8. riora xi». R --- 1 Oen iv. 7 h Ivi 7. Acts x J* F.ph. i 6. Hcl). xii. ;s a Gen xviil 25. I Sam. ii 3 10^ P^. vn. 6-S '«• ' 8 j "-0 xovi 10-13 xi'v.ii. 9 Ec. si 0. xii. i.i. E'. x«iii an. .\fiin xx%- 31-10. Acts x. .:'J. .-:vii. 31 iiom. s.v. 10-12. 1 I'et iv. i Jude U, 15, Rev. sx, 11-17. V. 5—8. That change of the judgment and affections, by which the apostle and his brethren had been wronght and fashioned into a fitness for their perilous .ind suffering employments, nnd to that willingness to die for Christ^s sake, "in the assurance of going to enjoy felicity in his i'avour, was the work of God himself, and could have been effected by no other agent. They had also received the enrnesl of the Spirit, in his sanctifying joys and con- solations ; so that they could not possibly be deceived in this respect. {Note, i. 22.) They were therefore always confident of the divine favour, and courageous in their work, though exposed to the daily peril of a violent death : ■'qt they well knew, that, whilst they sojourned in the body, they must be excluded from the immediate presence of the Lord Jesus, as pilgrims in a distant land. For they then iivcd and laboured by faith in him, as invisibly present with them and taking care of them; which afforded them .'upport and encouragement suited to the present state ; yet it differed very much indeed from that intuitive vision of .his glory and felicity in his immediate presence, which was' the object of their hopes and desires. This faith, however, inspired them with confidence and courage; as they were satisfied, that whenever their bodies should be worn out by labours,' or endure martyrdom, their souls, being di.slod.<;ed from that tenement, would immediately be admitted into the presence of their beloved Lord. This is absoluleiy decisive concerning the felicity to be enjoyed by the souls of believers, when " absent from the body ;" and it also shows that they will possess their happiness in the verv place, where Jesiis displays his glorious presence. The word home, (6,) seems not well chosen. This world is not the believer's home, but the place of sojourn- In" and pilgrimage ; and his body the tabernacle, in which he sojourns. V. 9 — 12. In this hope, the apostle and his fellow- labourers were ambitioii!>, (so the word properly signifies,) ' and it is flat to translate it,' " We labour :" (Doddridge.) They were ambitious, not of ilie honours and applause of the world, but of acceptance with the Lord, in respect of their persons, ministry, and labours ; though they should lie unacceptable to mankind, or even to their brethren : that so they might be supported by the comforts and con- wiousness of his approbation, during their sojourning in fh'' body while ab.^pnt from him ; and that, when Uiey one may ''receive the things done * in biKing.Tiif.ja. his body, according to that lie hath done, fr Ps" ix*"!?.' whether it be good or bad. M.tt xvi." n'. 11 Knowing thereibre '' tlie terror of ic?r. 'iy.~'i'. the Lord, " we persuade men ; ' but we Eph. ti. s cm; 1 •/■ ' /-.I 11, ill 24,25 Jl»v. are made maniicst unto (jod ; and I trust «, t3 nx n^ also are made manifest in your consciences. "= """^v.'- 'p.';;. 12 For "we commend not ourselves ,,',^or ,ij3.J-in. again unto you, but ''give you occasion to glory on our behaW, that ye may have somewitat to anstver them wliich glory in Jj';-^;^ ,i' kJ^_ t appearance, and not in heart. ij/ ^"it'.' t^ Mark nii 35-5H ix. n-50 Luke xii. 5 Heb x.31 Hev. ix. 15 e 50. vJ. 1 Lui.e xvi 31 Act; xi'i 13 xviii. 4. U xix.2i; XX. IS— 27 xxvi. 26. XXviii.23. Cal. i, 10. Col. i. 20, 2'... 2 Tim, ii 2l-rii fi 12-U ii 17. iv. I, 2 1 Cor iv. 4.5 I Thes ii 3—11. giii 1. vi 4 X. i) I2.1S xii. 11. Prov. xxvii. 2. li i. 14. xi 12— 16. xii- 1—9. rOr thffact Osl vi. 12-11. Job vi. 4 xviii. 11. xxxi 23. Ph. Ixxiil.l9. Ixxvi. should quit the body, they might be welcomed by him as good and faithful servants, and be admitted to the joy ot their Lord. For they were assured that they, their hearers, and all men, without exception, must necessarily, whether they would or not, appear, or be made manifest, in the whole of their true characters, with all the secrets of their hearts and lives, before the solemn and decisive tribunal of Christ, the righteous, impartial, holy, heart-searching, umnipotent Judge ; who now called on them to trust in him and obey him as a divine Saviour, but who would surely take vengeance on all who rejected or abused his salvation. At this solemn period, every individual shall receive the appointed recompense of his deeds, according to the things done while he sojourned in the body, or by and through the body, whether they were good or evil, without any respect of persons, or regard to profession, or other distinctions. So that the justified believer, who, from love to Christ hath done good, uprightly and faith- fully, will receive an abundant and gracious recompense of his believing, though imperfect, services : but the pro- fligate, the infidel, the Pharisee, the hypocrite, and apos-, tate, with all kinds of impenitent transgressors, will be punished according to the number and aggravation of their crimes. Knowing therefore what a terrible vengeance the Lord would then execute on the workers of iniquity, tho apostle and his brethren used every kind of argument and persuasion to induce men, of every nation and aescription, to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to act consistently with the character of his disciples. In this their earnest endea- vour, the motives and intentions of their hearts had already been manifested to God, and judged by him : and they were confident of his gracious approbation : and whatever the prejudices and passions of some at Corinth might suggest, the aposUe was confident, that in their consciences they were convinced that he and his helpers acted with integrity, seal, and faithful affection to their souls. Not that they needed or intended again to commend themselves to favour, from selfish or vain-glorious motives ; but they thus sug- gested such things, as were proper to be opposed to the censures and suspicions of false teachers, and gave the peo- ple occasion to glory in the disinterested labours and patient sulVerings of their faithful ministers ; and so to answer the boastings of those ambitious men, who gloried, in appear- ance, as if very zealous in the cause of Christ, and greatly A, D. 61. ;hapter v. A. D. Gl. iii. 1. 16. 17. 13 For whether ' we be beside our- M, Acis'xxv" selves, " it is to God : or whether we be ai, 2i. 1 Cor. , , . . iT. 10- 13. 1 1 sober, tl is "" for your cause. 1.3 Sam. vi SI, 14 For ° the love ol Christ " con- > Ajjj *.«fj 25- straineth us; f because wc thus judi^e, inTii.12 Col i. that if'' one died for all, ' then were all 24. 1 Toes I. 5. 3 Tim ii 10. Af>^A • 15 And that he died for all, ' that j7'''joim'xiv'^2i they which live, should not ' henceforth "|7. I Cor. xvi 22 Eph. iii, 13. 19. \i. 21. Heb vl. 10 I Pet. i. 8. o Job ■ ~ 14. qls. 1' „».5« Jnhni. S9 «i. iO-.S2. 1 Tim. ii 6 HOI), ii » I Jolin 11. " " I.ukex -23 x_. xxxiii 18. I.uke xxiv Malt. XX. 28 Jotani. : ■ 24.32 John iii 3. I John •Tohn iii IS. 16. v. 24 it 57. 14. Col. ii. II. iii I- I Pet. i i». 17. 1 Pet. i. 14, 15. iT. 2- 19,20. p Rora. ii . 50-52. I Tioi. ii 6 Hob. ii i. 25 Uom. V. 15. Eph. 6 E: Rom. vi. 2. II, 12, r. 6. I John iv. 9.- 2 I Cor. 9 I John i - - 1-5. Col. Ii. 13 1 Tim. . 6 xxxvii 9. 14 Hah . 6. in. Gal, Zech x. 9. ii 20, V. 25 Eph. V. 17. Rom. vl 6. Eph. attached to the Corinthians, but who were not really what they j)rofcs.sed, and whose hearts dissented from, and, as it were, belied the language of their mouths. V. 13 — 15. The great earnestness of the aposde to rectify the disorders at Corinth, and to re-establish his authority among them, his lively affections, and his ex- cessive labours amidst sufferings and dangers, gave his adversaries occasion to represent him as "beside himself," and transported by a vehement zeal, beyond all the dictates of reason and sobriet} . {Blarg. Ref.) But, whatever in liis conduct had given them this opinion of him, it was wholly owing to his zeal for the honour of God and his truth, and to his earnest desire to approve himself faithful in his cau.se ; and when at other times he seemed to act with great moderation and candour, and to debate matters with coolness and sobriety, it was wholly from a regard to their welfare, and a desire to recover them from dangerous errors ; in order to which he employed every method that he could devise, without regarding their censures or any personal consequences. For in this, as well as in other things, the love of Christ constrained him and other faith- ful ministers and real Christians. The love which Jesus had manifested towards sinners, in the great work of re- demption, and to believers, in calling them to partake of this inestimable blessing, had excited in their hearts such reciprocal love and gratitude to him, as constrained them, and carried them on with invincible energy, in every service, by whicli they could glorify his name or promote his cause ; nor could other fears, hopes, affections, or interests, stop their progress, when actuated by this most powerful principle. For in this matter, they judged decidedly, in the most cool and reflecting moments, that, if Jesus died as an atoning Sacrifice for all that should ever believe in him, then were all men dead, as under con- demnation, enslaved to sin, and utterly destitute of power to deliver themselves; otherwise he needed not to have died for them, or in their stead. And that he died, as a common sacrifice for the sins of all men, or men of every natiqp and descrijition, that when, through the preaching of his Gospel to sinners, any of them were quickened and pardoned, and so passed from death to life, they should from that memorable period no longer live according to their carnal inclinations, o!' to seek their own interest, reputation, indulgence, or advancement, as they had for- merly done ; but should devote themselves, and all their powers, to d ) the will of the Redeemer, to promote his Vol Y.~No. .32. " live unfo themselves, but unta him u i-uko i 74. which dice! for them, and rose again. x'iM x^v[^-t. 16 Wlierefore, lienccforth "know we 33.°Gai'i1.il no man after the flesh : vea, tliouffh we c,.)', i.V n'.h: I ] r^i ■ , r -^ t n t^ 1 Ihes. V. 10. have known Ciirist after the flesh, ^ vet rit, ». u. lu..- , Till T ■ •' xiii.2U,21. Ucv. now hencefortli know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man "^ Lc in Christ, * he,is " a new creature : •' old things are passed away ; behold, all things are be- come new. y John 1 viii. 1 bim be K l)cut xxxiii fl I Sam. ii 2*. Matt X 37. xii 48 — io Maik. iii 3I-.35 Juhn ii 4 GjI. ii 5. C. I Tim. V 31. 22. Jrtm. ii. 1 — pi. 63. 2)9. 21. xii. 2 Is. xlv. 17 24, 25. Jobo xiv, 20. x». 2 5, xvii 23 Ri xvi 7.11. ICor 1. ao Gal. iii 20. v B.Epb.i.3,1 Phil. iv. 21. ►Or, a Ps. Ii. 10. Ej. xi. 19. xviii. 31.xxxvi. S6. Ma't xii 33, Jolin iii. :i 15. Eph. ii. 10 b 16 Is xliii. IS. 19. Ixv. 17. 18 Matt ix 16-lfl. XKiv. fi. 4-S vii 6. viii. 9, 10 I Cor. xiii. II Epb iv. 22-24. Phil. iii. 7-9. Col. Heb. viii. 9-13. 2 Pet. ill. 10—13 Rev. xxi. I -5. glory, and to recommend his Gospel ; seeing he had died for them, and risen again, to be their Lord and King. V. 16. The apostle and his associates, therefore, being under such obligations, iniluenced by such motives, and encouraged by such hopes and assurances of assistance as had been stated, were powerfully impelled to disre- gard all contrary and interfering objects, that they might show their love to their most gracious Lord and Saviour. So that when this change had taken place, and these ].n'in- ciples were matured, they " knew no man after tlie " flesh ;" they had no respect to men's persons, because of nation, sect, rank, or personal attachment, when their obedience to Christ was concerned ; they could not accom- modate their doctrine or conduct to the humours of men, from any worldly principles, or because of outward con- nexions with them7 or obligations to them. Nay, they did not now regard their external relation to Christ hi.aself, as being of the same nation with him, or otherwise ac- quainted with him. Even such of the apostles and cvan gelists, as had personally known him, or been nearly related to him, did in this respect disregard that external tie, when it came \\\\ competition with their union with him as believers, and their obedience to him as his ser- vants and ministers. They could not warp their doctrine or deviate from their instructions, to please the Jews, or the nearest relatives of Christ, any more than out of respect to their own friends, or to the philosophers and princes of the Gentiles. Many suppose that the apostle here referred to the Jewish converts, who were displeased with him for admitting the Gentiles into the Church, and being earnest for their conversion, which they dccnied a kind of madness : (13 :) but the Corinthians were chiefly Gentile converts, and they do not seem to have been gene- rally disposed to judaise. V. 17. The judgment, 'experience, and principles, which the apostle had stated, should not be regarded as peculiar to himself, but as the standard of genuine Chris- tianity : therefore if any man, whether Jew or Gentile, was " in Christ," as a justified believer, he was also " a " new creature,'' or a new creation of God ; for the marginal reading, " let him be a new creature," does not accord to the rest of the verse, " Old things are passed " away," or " have passed away," &ic. By spiritual illu- mination, and its invariable rflecis, a new judgment had been produced, with nevv inclinations, aflectioDS. and pur- poses, from which new words and actions must proceed. 2 C i.D. 61. II. CORINTHIANS. .^. D. 61. • Johniii 16 57. 18 And ' all things arc of God, '' who cori "n vMi fi hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Jii.6 Col i 16, _, . , ] I .1 • ^ xl • • 1 17 jaa.i. 17. Christ, and *'■ hath mvcn to us tlic ministry dl.cv vi.30. Ez r -v .■ siv 15 D>ir ix. ol reconciliation ; li, ii.oT Kph 19 To wit, that ' God was in Christ, II 16 Col I 21 ... ' , , , . ,p ,, , cVo*"'" Is' lii 7 ^ reconciling tiie world unto himsell, not Lt^is'ib ulkc^P"^'"?? their trespasses unto them; and "...'.Vj'..?;^ hath * committed unto us ' the word of 17. Col. i f Mitt i 2J. John X 1 Johnii. 1,2. iv I » Gr put in »» iv. 7 reconciliation. 2i xliv 22 llo 20 Now then we arc "^ ambassadors for ^;>>i '<>•>« Christ, 'as though God did licscech wow '" »'™ '• "7- , ^ . ^,, . , J , John XX SI. by US : we pray you '" in Christ s stead, ■*'" «»'' •'. " be ye reconciled to God. 21 For "he hath made him to be sin for US, P who knew no shi ; that '' we mi^ht be made the righteousness of God in him. , 2Kinpi 2 Chr. K Neh. Ei X. Jnli XXI I..ite X. Cor V. ' Thct. ir ii.Sl. Prov. 1.22. Sic Is xxtii. 5. Jer. xili. 16, 17. xsxvlii. 20 Luke; 4-6 10-12 Dan ix 2i. Ze^h. iiii 7. nom. viii. 3 Gal hi 13 Kph 18. 1 John ii 1,2 p l«. liii 9. Lute i -' "' " • - -- . i q 17 Is xlv 24. 2S l.ii 11 Jer i . 21—26. Tiii. 1—1. jt. 4 1 Cor. 1. 30. I'bil, Thus old desires, intentions, expectations, connexions, and of God through Jesus Christ ; but God did, as it were, ctisfactions, passed away and were superseded ; for be- beseech men by them, as the ambassadors of Christ ; and lold, by the rnarvclinus ojieration of divine grace, all things they, " in Christ's .stead," most earnestly entreated them hold, by I . „ . _ wci'e become new! So that the Christian experienced new hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, desires and aversions; he learned to speak a new language, to choose new com- panions, to aim at new objects, and to attend to new employments. FA-ery thing was now cast into a new mould, received a new impression, and took a new direc- tion from the knowledge of God, faith in Christ, and love to liim, humiliation for sin, and hatred of it, the desire of holiness, and the hope of eternal life. V. 13 — 21. As this change was wrought by the power, and according to the purpose of God, so it bore on it the stamp of his holy image, and led to a proper temper of mind and conduct towards him. Thus he had reconciled the apostle and his brethren to himself by Jesus Christ, the 2;rcat Mediator ; and, having pardoned their rebellions, subdued their enmity, and " shed abroad his love in their " heal-ts," he had intrusted to them " the ministry of " reconciliation :" that from gratitude to him, zeal for his glory, and benevolence to their fellow-sinners, they might spend their t'uture lives in earnest and unwearied endeavours to bring others to partake of the same mercy, and to devote themselves in love to the service of their reconciled God. This ministry implied that " God was " in" Christ," " manifest in the flesh;" as the fulness of the Deity dwelt in, and was displayed by, the human nature, through the incarnation of the eternal Word and Son of God, who was equal to, and one with the Father : that so, being united to man's nature, he might reconcile the world unto himself, by his atonement, mediation, and grace; and that sinners throughout the earth, of every nation and description, might thus be encouraged to hope in bis mercy, and taught by his grace to love his holy character, law, wor.sliip, and service, to which their carnal minds had before been enmity. When therefore sinners were brought to him, as " in Christ reconciling " the world to himself," in humble faith, he no more imputed any of their trespasses unto them, but blotted them out by a free forgiveness. This word or doctrine of reconciliation he had committed to those, who had once been enemies, but who had thus been reconciled. .So that they were now commissioned, as ambassadors for Christ, to go in his name a.id by his authority, and declare these encouraging truths to sinners in every part of the world. And they were not only instructed to com- mand them to repent and believe the Gospel, and to exhort, nerseadc, and encourage Uicoi to hope in the rich mercy not to reject such astonishing love, but to repent, submit to God, accept his salvation, and be reconciled to him, as his worshippers, friends, and children. For it must be cer- tain, that he was really willing to be thus reconciled to all who accepted this invitation, seeing that " He," even God the Father, " had made Him," his incarnate Son, '' who " knew no sin," but was most perfectly holy and right- eous, " to be sin," or a sin offering, " for us," who deserved the utmost severity of his vengeance. So that this holy and divine Saviour, being perfectly willing to sulTer as a sacrifice, was dealt with as if he had been altogether a sinner; that thus God's hatred of sin, and hi.i determination to punish it, being so wonderfully displayed, he might honourably pardon every believer, and make him " the righteousness of God in Christ ;" dealing with him as if he had been perfectly righteous, or righteousness it- self, yea, as " the righteousness of God in Christ ;" as a far nobler and more excellent righteousness was thus made his for justification, than any mere creature could ever have performed. {3Iarg. Ref.) This verse contains most con- clusive arguments, in proof of the vicarious sufferings of Christ, as the satisfactory atonement to divine justice for our sins ; of the imputation of his perfect righteousness to believers, as their title to eternal life ; and of his real Deity, whose righteousness becomes theirs for jusufi- cation, by virtue of their union with him. Perhaps stronger language cannot be used, in declaring these doc- trines, by those who most zealously contend for them. The same jireposition, ("tj^,) here used, is translated i«- stead in the preceding verse ; " in Christ's" stead, or in- stead of Christ. Thus he sutTered instead of us ! (I Pet. iii. 1 S.) The apostle doubtless spoke primarily of himself and his fellow-labourers, as Christ's ambassadors, yet, as all faithful ministers are intrusted with the same message, by the same authority, so tliey too arc ambassadors tor Christ, though to a smaller number of their fellow-sin- ners. Some of the professed Christians at Corinth were supposed by Paul to be unconverted, and unreconciled to God ; and he might have them in view, when he ?|^ake of God's beseeching sinners by his ministers. But he was evidently giving an account of his commission and general ministry through the nations of the earth : wherever he came, he addressed sinners in this pathetic and earnest manner ; and while " he prayed them in Christ's stead to be " reconciled to God," it was as if God himself had besought them to lay aside their enmity, and accept of his mercy. ,/?. D. 6i CHAPTER VI. A. a 04. CHAP. VI. The apostle earnestly exhorts the Corinthi- ans not to receive the grace of God in vain, but to seek salvation without delay, 1, 2. He shows in zvhat manner he, and his brethren, approved their ininistry, 3 — 10. He tells them, that he spake of this the more freely, out of the great love The change of the language, " ambassadors for Christ,'''' " God beseeches you ; we pray you in Chrisfs stead," &:c. shows how familiar it was to the apostle to consider his divine Master as One with the Father, in Deity and authority. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—8. It is most animating for us to know, amidst our sufler- ings, temptations, conflicts, and prospects of mortality, tliat whenever we die we shall enter into the heavens, and be admitted to an unspeakable felicity : but our assurance or prevailing iiope of this must be proportioned to the evi- dence of our conversion. It is not worth while to be very solicitous about, or indulgent to, this clay-cottage, in which the soul is now incommodiously lodged, or rather impri- soned because of transgression. We should not be troubled to feel it, as it were, shake, or to perceive the tokens of its approaching dissolution. We must not expect ease or satisfaction in " this earthly house of our tabernacle ;" but we should look forward in hopes of " a building of God, a " house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." While we groan, earnestly desiring admission into this blessed mansion, let us seek to be more and more " clothed " upon" with the robes of righteousness and salvation ; thus we may be sure that we shall not be found naked, when dislodged from the body. If in the mean time we groan, being burdened with manifold tribulations and tempta- tions ; or if we feel a reluctance to be stripped by the cold rude hand of death, and could rather wish to pass to heaven some other way, " that mortality might be swal- " lowed up of life ;" it may encourage us to recollect, that even apostles experienced the same troubles, and knew something of the same reluctance. But if the desire of having done with sin and sorrow, and especially of be- holding face to face our beloved Redeemer, hath given us, in a measure, a victory over our fears, and made us willing even •' to be absent from the body, that we may be present " with the Lord ;" we should reniember that it is God himself, who halu wrought our hearts into this spiritual and holy disposition ; and that these desires and aftections are indeed '• the earnest of the Spirit," and the first-fruiis of our eternal happiness. This should excite us to an unremitted courage and confidence in our duty, whatever dangers may obstruct our course : while absent from the Lord, we may by faith walk with him, and derive support and consolation from him ; for thus we may see him who is invisible, and realize those objects that arc unseen : and whatever hastens our departure from the body, shortens tvhich he bore to them, 11, 12; requirmg the like affection from them, KJ. He warns them against intimate connexions ivith unbelievers, as Christians arc the temples of the living God, 1 1 — 16; and encourages them by the promises of being received as the children of God, to sepa- rate from sinners and from sin, 17, 18. also our passage to the presence of our Lord, where is fulness of joy for evermore. V. 9—13. While others labour for worldly riches, and are ambi< tious of the honour that cometh from man, let us aspire after the glory of being accepted by Christ, in all our services during life, and of being received into his joy when we leave the world. As we must all appear with- out disguise before his judgment-seat, let us beware of hypocrisy, and be impartial in judging ourselves ; and especially let us carefully acquaint ourselves with him, as our Saviour, who will shortly be manifested as our Judge ; that by his grace we may hencefortii do those good things, which he will recompense, as the fruits and evidences of saving faith, in that solemn decisive day. This expectation should also render ministers unwearied and faithful in their work : and, knowing what a tremendous day it will be to all the workers of iniquit}', they should be the more earnest and affectionate in tiieir persuasions and warnings to sinners, to seek salvation before it be too late. Happy are they, who are warranted to appeal to God, in respect of their faithfulness and zeal in this good work; and even to the consciences of those who are offended with their plain- dealing. This may sometimes be necessary, though men may censure it as self-commendation : and it is often use- ful to suggest to the people such things, as are proper to be spoken in defence of the truth and in behalf of faithful preachers, that they may know how to answer the cavils and boastings of such as glory in appearance, but are not hearty in the cause of God. V. 14—17. If earnestness to prevent the delusion and destruction of our fellow-sinners, and in the great concerns of the eternal world, bring upon iis the charge of being " beside '• ourselves ;" we need only inquire, whether our conduct be warranted by the word of God, and spring from a re- gard to his authority and glory ; and whether our most vehement affections and addresses, as well as our more cool and temperate reasonings, are indeed intended to promote the salvation of souls. U this be the case, we may venture to disregard the contumely ; and we should pray fo"" our rovilcrs, that they may indeed come to themselves, and be delivered from that real insanity, with which all unbe- lievers are affected. If our judgment, concerning our lost estate as sinners, and the love of Christ as dying for "ur salvation, coincides with that of the apostle, we shall feel, 2 C 2 .^. D. 61. II. CORINTHIANS. .0. D. 61. Iii.9 b Scl on. X I. .Matt 37 Koin xii I. Oal iv. II 12 c Jer viii b. Gal iii. 4 Hch-^ii n. SS. d VI SW' E then, 05 ' M'orkers together wilh him, '' Ijesccch v'^u al.so, that 'ye receive not ' the grace ot God in vain. 2 (For he saitii, 1 have heard tliee in i. 1,2. .\cts xiv. 3 Ual ii. 21. Tit ii II. I Pet iv 10,11. IJolin v. 12 in proportion to our failh and hoi)c, the constraining in- fluence of his love, powerfully exciting u.s to live to him who died for us, and rose again. But, alas ! many show the worthicssncss of thrir professed faith and love, by living to themselves and to the world; and our views are often so obscure, our judgments so unconfirmed, and our love so feeble, that comparatively we live but little to the glory of our gracious Lord. All partialities from exter- nal relations or connexions, which tempt the minister to waver in his testimony, or the Christian in his obedience, arc inconsistent with a proper regard to the Lord Jesus ; and in this sense we should henceforth know no man after the flesh, whatever claim he may seem to have to our special regard. The justified believer is a new creature in a new world : his new relation to Chri.st, to the Church, and to heavenly things, together with his new obligations, interests, pursuits, principles and satisfactions, have su- perseded those that formerly prevailed : yea, " old things " have passed away, behold, all things are become new." Even the same actions that he formerly did are now pcr- formedfrom new motives and in a new manner; his atten- lion to relative and social duties, and his diligence in worldly business, spring from new purposes, and receive a new direction. They, who know nothing of this new ' creation, are not in Christ, whatever they may think ; and the more evidently it hath been experienced, the more •■ learly is a man's justification proved. V. 18—21. Every good gift comes from God, and to him the whole glory belongs: even they who are new creatures, jea, even apostles and martyrs, who are now perfect spirits before the throne, were once enemies to God by wicked works. The enmity to God began wholly on man's ]3art; but the reconciliation was entirely devised, revealed and rftected, by his offended Sovereign. In the person of Emmanuel, in his mediation and atonement, who " was •' made sin for us, though he knew no sin, that we might " be made the righteousness of God in him," the foun- dation of this blessed reconciliation was laid.j for "God " was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." — When the kings of the earth appoint ambassadors, they generally depute them to those who are of their own rank in society ; nor would they deign to send a solemn em- bassy to their own rebellious subjects, when vanquished, tlisarmed and condemned. But the King of kings and Lord of lords appoints ambassadors from him.self to us, poor, apostate worms, and helpless, perishing siimers ! — Earthly princes select persons of dignity and eminence to represent their persons, and act by their" authority on these important occasions; but the Lord of glory deputes par- doned rebe^f and reconciled enemies to go to their former associates in rebellion, on this embassy of peace ! The gracious proposals which they are instructed to make, and the eacouraging terms which they are commanded to use, ■■ a time accepted, and in the day of salva- V Et*xti'*8; tion have I succoured thee : beliold, now Ji°J;l,'Mei>f'ili'. is the accepted time ; behold, now is the ^ " " '" day of salvation.) are equally expressive of condescension, compassion, and good-will to men ; for the Lord himself, who might justly, and could easily, destroy them for ever, is pleased to " be- " seech them to be reconciled to him !" This language of our God and Saviour, by his ministers, to his proud enemies, must appear wonderful, beyond conception, to the holy inhabitants of heaven : yet the reception with which it often meets, and the contempt or disdain which it excites, must exceedingly increase th^ir astonishment, and it will assuredly satisfy them concerning the propriety and equity of punishing the iircconcileable haters of God with everlasting destruction from his presence. The am- bassadors for Christ, however, must adhere to their in- structions, whatever reception they may meet with. Tliey should magnify their office, and endeavour to represent their I.,ord, by exhibiting his character in their example, as well as declaring his whole counsel : they must conform to the laws and customs of his kingdom, and not to those of this evil world; neither fearing the contempt or rage of men, while " in Christ's stead they pray (hem to be re- " conciled to God," nor yet seeking to please men, or ex- pecting any recompense, save from their gracious Lord. On the other hand, let all who hear the Gospel remember, that the faithful minister is the ambassador of Christ to them, sent to treat with them concerning reconciliation to God : and that his Lord will surely punish every insult and injury offered to him, as if done to himself in Person. The refusal of this proffered peace will leave men the ene- mies of God for ever : the removal of faithful ministers from such as have slighted their message is the recall of an ambassador of peace, and the fore-runner of a declara- tion of war. Let sinners then hear the voice of God, be- seeching them to be reconciled to him : let the trembling penitent rejoice in the assurance that his a|3plication for " peace wilh God will not be rejected :" let professed Christians examine their interest in Christ, the great Re- conciler, by inquiring whether they are become the friends of God, his cau.?e, and his people : let ministers not only warn men by the terror of the Lord, but beseech them by his abundant mercies, to repent and turn unto him: and let believers consider, wheUier God can now withhold any good thing from them ; or whether they can venture, lose, labour or suffer too much for him, who gave his beloved Son to be the sacrifice for their sins, that they might be " made the righteousness of God in him ?" NOTES. CHAP. VI, V. 1,2. The apostle and other faithful ministers, as fellow-labourers of God, and employed by him in reconciling the world unto himself, joined thei earnest entreaties to the Corinthians also, as ihey had to others, that they would not " receive the grace of God '• in vain." The word rendered grace signifies any special, undeserved favour ; and when it is used for the regenerating and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, k implies that this is a special, undeserved favour. The Jl. D. 61. fi IS. »m. 20. 3 Givinj^ 'no oITphcc in any tilings that iv'iii.' f'Rora! the ministry be not blamed : 9- 13 i.ti2.M.j. '1 But e in ail thines ^ approvinc; our- 33,2*32.33 , , ^, • • '^ /./, ' i , ■ " l E ii 17. vi. 11 selves '' as the ministers oi Uod, ' in much AcU ii 22. Horn. . • i lYl" i" • i • x' x\i. 18. xvi. 10 patience, m * amictions, in ' necessities, m I Cor. ^^. la. I ' jTbcs^a 3- m distresses, 1* ' ' 5 In "stripes, in " imprisonments, i" in * Or. covantnd- • I 1 • i • ' ■^»j^iT. 2 Rum I tumults, m 1 labours, in ■■ watchinjifs, in hiii. e. li 23 Is s factinO''i • s' h' i' 1^ The"' ^ "y ' pureness, by " knowledge, by iv. 6* ' ^"° ^ long-sufl'ering, by kindness, ^ by the 'xii. I'a nam Holy Ghost, by ^ love unfeigned, ■» 3,4. Col. i. 11. 1 Tnes V. U. Tim vi II. 2 Tim iii. 10. Hel> xii. 1. Jam v 7—11. ■Rev. i a. iii. 10. kiv 17. Aclsxs. 23. 2i Col i. 24. I Tlies iii. 3.2 Tim i 8 iii IMS.iv 5. 111 9 27 xji 10. Acta XX 34. 1 Cor iv 11,12 PWI iv. 11,12. m iv. 8. liom. viii. 35,36 1 Thes iii 7. n si. 23,24. Deut xsv. 3 Is. liii. i. Acts xvi. 23. o I Kings sxii 27. 2 Chr .'ivi. 10 Jer. sxsiii. I xxxvii- IS, 16. xxxviii. 6 Matt xiv. 3. 10 Ads V. 18. xii 4,5 xvi. 21. xxii. 24 xsiii. 35 xxi« 27 xxvi 10 29. sxviil 16 , 17 30 Eph iii. I. Phil i 13 2 Tim i. S \\ 1 Heh xi 36 xii 23. Rev. iii 10 p i. 8— 10. Aclsxv 19 xvii 5. xviii 12-17. xix 23-34. xxi 27— 35. xx.i. 23. XXiii 10. r Or. toning! to and fro q xi. 23. 1 Cor. xv 10 1 Thes ii. 9. 1 Tim. iv. t|o. rxi. 27 Ei. iii 17. Slaik xiii. 34— 37. Acts x.-;. 31. 2 Tim iv 5 Heh xiii. 17 s Matt, ix 15 Acts xiii. 3. xiv, 23 I Cr-r. vii. 5. 1 vii 2. 1 Thes ii. in. I Tim iv. 12 ■V. S. Tit. ii. 7. u iv 6. xi. C. 1 Cor li I, 2. 16 F.ph. iii 4 Col. i. 9. 10. 27. ii. 3. X 1 Cor xiii 4 Gal, V 22 Eph. iv 2 32. Col i. II. iii. 12 2 Tira. iii. 10. iv 2 y iii. 3. xi.4 Rom. XV 19 I Cor. ii. 4 Gal iii 2. 5. 1 Thes i 5, 6 1 Ftt i. 12 1 ii 4. xi. II. xii. 15. Judj. xvi. 15 Ez. xxxili. 31. Uom. xii. 9 I fet. j. 22. I John iii. 13. CHAPTER. VL j. jj, ,ji. 7 By * the word of truth, by '' theaiis-,o i, ^ power of God. by ' tlu; armour of right- i'''i"i5 1''. cot eousness '' on the right hand, and on' the ifc*jam'^M'ii.''' unspeakable love of God to sinners in the redemption by his Son, and in the appointment of " the ministry of rccon- *' ciliation," and the mercy shown to those whom he thus '• besought to be reconciled to him," would be altogether in vain, as to such of them as " neglected so great salva- " tion," through unbelief and love of sin. The apostle feared that this had hitherto been the case of some profess- ed Christians at Corinth: and doubtless many such would read or hear his epistle; whom therefore he most earnestly exhorted and entreated, not to render all the advantages set before them ineffectual to themselves, by persisting in unbelief; but that they would without delay, while the word of God was faithfully preached to them, embrace the proposals of mercy and "grace set before them. For as Je- hovah had as.sured the Messiah, according to the revela- tion made by the prophet, that he had " heai-d him in an "acceptable time, and succoured him in a day of salva- " tion," (iVo/es, Is. xlix. 7, 8 ;) with a special reference to his intercession for the Gentiles, after his exaltation to his mediatorial throne ; so the present season might be consi- dered by the Corinthians, as " an accepted time and a day " of salvation" to all v,ho sought an interest in the blessings of the Redeemer's kingdom. But if they refused the em- bassy of peace, they might expect to be speedily punished as the enemies ofChrist. {Notes, fcc. Piov, i. 20 — 33. Is. Iv, 6, 7. Luke xiii. 25.) V. 3 — 10. The apostle and his fellow-labourers, while they thus zealously fulfilled their embassy of peace; be- j haved with the utmost circumspection, that they might give no oflence, or just cause of stumbling in any thing, lest their imprudence or misconduct should expose their ministry to censure or contempt, and thus render it iii- eftcctual. They therefore studied, and were enabled, in all things to approve themselves such persons, as the ministers of a holy God, in so gracious and sacred a service, ought to be. This thry did, " by much j)atience," resignation, constancy, and |)crsevcring assiduity, notwithstanding their multiplied and heavy afflictions. They were not discou- raged, or induced to repine or despond, by urgent neces- d Bx. xiv Pn.v. ill. 16. C Acts iv. 21 kft, 8 By ^ honour and dishonour, by ' evil co" i^'2r'' u report and good report ; f as deceivers, 2o.°iii*l'u' lieb: and yrl " true ; ci6%i 5 iii. ir. 9 As ' unknown, and yet ^ well known; i3"%il'"i. u. ' as dying, and, behold, we. live ; ™ as AT'"' chastened, and not killed; 10 As " sorrowful, yet always rcioic- ^^'io'Ii' ^u. J J J 11—20 x«l. 20 ing ; as " poor, yet p making many rich ; j^--^-] ^^"^'t'i as having nothing, 1 and yet possessing all f '",;,',% ,,_ ,,, thinjjs, ^ -5 ^A-^i's V- b 3 X. 22. XXII. 12. xxiv.5. xxviii. 22 Rom. iii 8, I Tim iii. 7 iv. to Heh xiii. 11 1 Pet. iv. 14. :i John 12 Rev. iii. 9. g Matt, xxvii. 63 John vii. 12 — h .Alalt. xxii 16 Mark xii. U. John vii 18 i Acts xvii 18 xxi 37. 38 xxv 14, 15. 19 26 k iv 2 v. 1 1 xi. 6. Act? xix. 26. Horn, xv 19 Gjl. i 22-24 1 i. 8-10 iv 10, 11. RoUl viii. 30 1 Cor. iv. 9. XV.31- mPs. cxviii 17. IS. I Cor. .xi. 32 n ii .; vii. 4-10 Malt v .1 12. I.uke vi 21. Jnhnxvi. 22 Acts V 41 xvi . 25 Rom. v 2, 3. ix Sxii 15 xv 13 Ph 1 iv. 4. 1 Thes iii. 7—10. V 16. Heb, x 3J. .lam i. 2-4 1 Pet i. 6—8. iv. '3 o See on, 4. p iv. 7. viii 9. Rom xi. 12. Eph iii S. 16 Cnl iii. 16. 1 Tim. vl 18. Jam ii. 5. Rev. i:. 9 q iv. li Pniv xvi 16- Matt. vi. 13, 20. Luiie xvi. 11, 12. 1 Cor iii. 21—23, I Tim. iv. 8 Rev. xxi. 7. sities and perplexing difficulties, even about obtaining a subsistence ; or by repeated scourgings and imprisonments, from both Jewish and heathen magistrates ; or by the tumultuous assaults of enraged mobs. But they patiently continued their labours, often spending the night as well as the day in unremitted toil, and adding religious fastings to those which absolute want imposed on them. To this patience they were encouraged hy the pureness of theii' motives ; and they apjiroved themselves as the ministers of God, by the holiness, temjierance, and puritv of their whole conduct. They also showed themselves competent to impart all kind of divine knowledge ancT instruction to the world; they meekly endured all injuries and insults; not only without seeking revenge, but without remitting their endeavours of doing good to their enemies, and of showing kindness to all men. They abounded in the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and confirmed their doctrine by his miraculous gifts, and they exercised those gifts disin- terestedly, and without ostentation, from unfeigned love to Christ and the souls of men. They were approved as the ministers of God, by '■ the word of truth," which they every where preached without any adulteration ; and by that " power of God," which rendered it eHectual to the conversion of sinners. Tficy were also defended on every side by the compact armour of strict integrity, and an universal regard to the righleous commandments of God, from the purest evangelical principles. This fortified them against the assaults of carnal hope and fear, against the frowns and smiles of the world, and against every assault of the tempter. Thus they passed through honour and dishonour, without being elated by the distinction con- ferred on them, or depressed by the ignominy to which they were exposed. The calumnies raised concerning them, and the commendations which they received, were alike incapable of drawing them aside from tlieir steady course. The world indeed treated them "as deceivers," who imposed their fictions on the credulous ; yet they acted in all things as faithful men, and showed to mankind the true way "of salvation. The noble and haughty of the i. D. (il. II. COllINTHIANS. J. D. 61 11 O ' ye Corinthians, * our mouth; witli Belial? 'or what part hath he that eEir. 1,3 M.rk i"0. iXi .••s li. 15. til. < xir. 15 I' cxix. 3J Hall. 1 , i. 'i J ii.s I'h.i i B but yc arc straitened U Ex 11 9 ilarg. , •■ Job xKuvi. lu bowels. Prov iv. U , , fcT /* • ,1 Mic ii 7 \.i Psow tor a recompense in the same, » Phil, i.8 lJo!.D , T , 1 -I I \ ., I iii 17 (>■ 1 speak as unto mii children,) be ye V I Cor W. 14. V, r n V li Gal iv ij. also tnlarf>;ed. 1 Tiics. 11 II. ^ ^P 11 11., Heh xii. 5 6. 1 ] i 5 Be ye not ' unequally yoked to- »aK'ifs^i''ii"i'iS*^'"^'* ^^'^'^ unbelievers: '' lor what lel- -»3^,J',« 1;^='?^ lowsliip hatli righteousness with unright- Mark'v■4-G^i cousucss .'' ' atitl wliat communion hath iJoil!l"'i.!'iy I'S'l't "''^'1 darkness } 'L^et^Vix la IS" And '•what concord hath Christ D ut vii.S. 3. xxii 9-11. F.ira ix I, ; II. 12. x. 19. Neh xiil 1— 3 :3-2B Ps ovi 35 Prov xsii 21. .Mat. ii 11. 15- I Lor viii. ea %\. 3i. Jam. iv 4 1. 2Chr xii 2. I'-, xvi 3 xxti 4 5 5, 1ft. xliv. 10.21 ci 3-5 cxix 6:1. i;KXnix 21,22 I'lov xiix. 27 Jolin vii 7 XV 18, i\t A.lsiv 2.1 E| h. v 6-11 1 .lohn ill 12-14 c Pro belicveth with ' \ii inlidel .'* 'vi,'.3,4 IS,,,,. Is open unto you, ' our heart il I. Job xiisii , ' 1 2.3 larged. VI Yc " are not straitened in us,! temple of God witii idols .-• ibr '' ye are the '13" Mx^iv^'M. in your own! temple of the living God ; as God hath T'7"%Iu,'f5: I said, ' I will dwell in them, and walk in ^'\ i^m%li'3. them ; and '' I will be their God, and they si sK°D^EeV»ir , ,, I I ■' 33, 34 xxi «. S. bliall be my people. xxiii s-7 schr. lir. ■ V 1 . /• XlXiii 4,5. Ez. 17 VV liereiore 'come out Irom amons: »»«'i s* hos them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, ''^^^^^^^ |f » and touch not the unclean thing ; ^ and I M^i"' e V'l will receive you; 6'''i"pet't^s.'' 18 And will be ° a Father unto you, 'Z^/, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, ^J.i" a'zecb saith " the Lord Almighty. fii'ilL.',",?' 9 11 F.pli iii. 17 2T;m i. U I John iv. 12 15 Rev. xxi. 3 Ic Oen. xvii 7, e.Jrr xxiv 7 xxxi 33. xxsii 33 t/.xi 20 xxxvi 28 sixvii. 2«.27. Hos. ii 23. Zech viii. 8 xiii 9 Rom ix 26. Hsb viii 10 Rev xxi 7 Ivli. 1 Num. xvi 21 26 45 Kir» vi 21 X II. Ps i 1-3 P.-ov ix 6. Is l:i. II Jer. li. 6 Avis ii 40 Rev. xviii 4. in John vi. 37, 33 RoDi xv 7 n I's xjil 39 Jer ill IS xxxi 1 9 Ho» i 9, in Johc i 12 Kom viii U— 17 29 Sal ill. 26. iv. 6— 7. Epb. i 5. I John iii. 1,2. Rev. xxi. 7 0 Gen xvii 1 xlviii 3 Rev, i. 8. xxi. £2, ^voild piiher knew ihem not, or despised them as obscure persons; but they v. ere well known to multitudes as the instruments oi' good to their souls. They seemed continu- ally exposed to death, or even enduring its stroke ; yet they still lived by the marvellous power of God. They were chastened by him as in a state of tuition, and he used the malice of their enemies as the rod of his salutary discipline ; but they v.ere not killed by it. They had con- stant calls to be sorrowful, both on account of sins and suf- ferings, and were looked upon as unhappy men ; yet di- vine consolations rendered them habitually cheerful, and joyful in the Lord. Though poor and needy in this world, dicy were employed by God in making many rich unto eternal life : and while they had no estates or property on earth, they possessed all things, by their relation to Christ und their interest in the promises; and the whole universe, if they had l)een the proprietors of it, could have afforded them nothing more, as conducive to their real good, than \vh3t they actually enjoyed or expected. Thus the whole of their temper and conduct, in the varied circumstances through which they passed, tended to show that their doctrine had a blessed effect upon their souls ; and render- ed them holy, beneficent, useful, and happy men. The animation, sublimity, and energy of esjire.ssion, in this beautiful passage, have been generally and justly admired ; and it shows how full the apostle's heart was of holy affec- tions; and how open and communicative in speaking on these interesting topics. Slaking many, !i. li :l 1 Ttie^, v. 2:! d Malt, v 48. Eph i». 12. Ij. I'liil iii. lS-15. 1 ThM. hi II iv 7 Heli xii 23 1 Pet v 10 e2Chr xix. 3 Ps six. U I'l-ov. viii 13 x\i.f .4ct? ix 31 Hch xii 28. 1 xi 16 Matt.s 14 40 11. I,\ibe X B I'hil ii 29 Cnl iv lO rhilcm 12.17 2John 10 3 Joliii 8-jO ei 12 iv 2 vi 3-7. xi 9 xii U-ui Nnm xvi 14 lSamxii.3,1 Act! XX. 33 Rom, xvi 18 I Ihes. iji 3—6. 10 2 Thcs. iii. 7—3 man, we have corrupted no man. we have h i: it 4.s xii d/- 1 1 ' 10. I Cor. iv l«, ciraucled no man. is 3 I speak not fliis '' to condemn you : ^ :'*> I'.tn : n T ,' • 1 1 /• ,1,1. ^ . IS Pl.il I. 8, ». ' lor 1 nave said l)clore, that '■ye are jni«'"i'' >« '' i I , ,. , ,. . , •' Thes. Ii 8. our lioarts ' to die and live witli you. ">''"■ '^ "«'t- /-, . , '' , Ti. II. X. I, a. l ureat is ■" my boldness ot speech to- ^j ^r Ept,^ ti. ward you, " great /*• my glorying of you : „'l'','/'l" "_,• ° 1 am filled with comfort, I am exceeding -VhcTii' is- ' joyful in all our tribulation. Rom V 3. Phil, i which any past misconduct may have made on men's minds, and to prepare iis for serving liim more unex- r.eptionabiy for the future, that we may give up every worldly interest and indulgence, and be willing to labour and suffer in ll:e cnuse oi Christ. We should seek to be made iVuitful in good works, to be endued with purcness and knowledge, to be slrcngihencd in the cxerci.se of long-sutfering and kintlness, to be armed with the whole armour of God, to rejoire in the midst of tribulation, to be more desirous of making others rich than of avoid- ing poverty in our own circumstances, to leave our cha- racter and concerns in the Lord'.s hands, and to count our- selves to possess all things in his aU-sufficient favour and precious piomises. V. 11 — 18. Evident iipriglitnrss and enlarged love give us confidence in addressing even those, who have imbibed prejudices ; our mouths will be opened in the cause of Christ, by the consciousness that we only seek the good of the people, and not our own emolument or reputation. We shall be more concerned, when they close their minds against our instructions, than when they refuse to communicate to our necessities ; and the most desired recompense of our labour of love will be, their readiness to receive the truth from our lips. It will especially be near the heart of such pas- tors, to caution their beloved childi'cn in the Gospiel not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. The fatal eflccts of neglecting the scriptural precept in this matter are most evident. They whose cross it is to be thus connected, without their wilful fault, may expect peculiar consola- tions under it ; but when believers will thrust themselves into these disadvantageous circumstances, contrary to the express warnings of God's word, they may expect to feel much additional distress. Indeed, all intimate connexions with unbelievers should be avoided. There can be no pro- fitable communion between contrary characters ; the at- tempt of making a coalition between Clirist and Belial is unnatural and abominable ; the kingdom? of righteousness and unrighteousness, of light and darkness, must wage perpetual war with each other ; and n r are mo'^.t likely to do good to unbelievers, when we strind aloof from all other intercourse with them, besides that of duty and compas- sion. If Christians indeed, we are the temples of the liv- ing God; what have we then to do any more with idols? Let us \alue our relation to him, and not profane it; let us admire his condescending promises of dwelling and walking in us poor sinners, whom he hadi reconciled to himself by Jesus Clirist. Let us earnestly de..'ire to have his temple made and kept pure, that we may have the comfort of his manifested jjresenre. Let us beseech him to be our Gorl and Portion, and to number us with his chosen people. Let us come out from among the workers of ini(|uity, and separate from all their vain and sinful pleasures ;jnd f.uisuits, and from all conformity to the cor- ru)>t customs and fashions of this evil world. Let us not touch any gain oi- indulgence dial is s[)ot!ed with sin. Let us remember that the woi-ld, though called Christian. still lieth in wickedness, and is lull of unclean things which We must abhor. Let us assure ourselves that the Lord w(ill receive all, who come in his ajipointed way, and at his call, and thai he will be a Father unto them, and lake them for his children ; and if it be so envied a privilege to be the son or daughter of some earthly potentate, wdio can express the dignity and felicity of being the sons and daughters of the Lord almighty *. NOTES. CHAP. VII. \. 1. This verse is evidently con- nected with the subject of the former chapter. The pro- mises, which God has given in the Gospel, should excite those who hear them to aspire after holiness. All sin is Jillhiness in the judgment of God, because contrary to his holy nature and law. Sensual lusts may be called " filthi- " ncss of the flesh ;" while pride, envy, revenge, avarice, and idolatry, may be intended by the " filthiness of the " spirit ;" or the former may signify the outward expres- sion of sin by the body, in word or deed, the latter its inward workings in the imagination and affections. As- piring after acceptance, adoption, and communion with God, and dejiending on his promises, Christians ought to cleanse themselves from all this filthiness ; constantly watching against all evil thoughts, desires, words, and works, moi'tifying every corrupt propensity, renouncing every sinful interest or pleasure, seeking for an increase of all spiritual dispositions, and abounding in every good word and action. In this manner they ought to proceed in perfecting holiness, and in.secking entire conformity to the holy image and law of God, from reverence of his autho- rity, fear of his displeasure, and an habitual sense of his holy heart-searching presence. Thus they should perse- vere in unremitted endeavours after perfect holiness, as long as they live, because their highest attainments leave them short of perfection. In this die apostle joined him- self, thus intimating, that he too needed more perfect cleansing from the filthiness of sin, and that he called on others to do nothing, but the same w-hich he himself was continually endeavouring to accomplish. Perfecting, Sic, ' Still making progress in holiness.' (Whitbi/.) ./?. n. 61. CHAPTER Vll. A. D. CI '"aU'^'x"; "I'^i ^ F<"'i '' when we were come into Ma- q*jr8-i2.*xi 23 cedonia, '^ our flesh had no rest, but we ^^"fa'ixlii'i'j.' were Mroiibled on every side: "without ^"uu'xi w- were fightincjs, within wtre ' f(>ars. rTy. 8. Jnb xvni. 6 Nevertheless, God, " that comfortcth ii. lo"^ '''.""' those that are cast down, ^ comforted us Sco'r."t"3i, by the coming of Titus; til 3.9. xi :=> 7 And not by hiscomino: only, >' but by iv n!"!9, 20 the consolation wherewitli he was com- 11 1. 3,". 'i'i u. ibrted in you, ^ when he told us your Is mi 1. li '2 f ■ ,, . •' ivii 15 18 1x1 " earnest desire, your ° mourninn:, your 1.2. Jcr. "XI - • 1 / -^ 1 1*1 13 Mm »• « •= lenent mind toward me : so that I re- John xiv '6. . . ' Rom. .xv^ 'jjoiced the more. Ttes_ li. 16. 17. 8 For '' though I made you sorry with s « 13. 1 Cor a J 1 •' I 1. 1 fThes'fi'i -'c^ letter, 1 do not repent, * though 1 did ■\cu''''xi"~23 r^P^nt : for I perceive that the same epis- VhcsS'ii ''•^ hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. «. a JqIio 4. sll. ii. 9 csli S Prov Ps. . 8, 9. a T. 2. vlii. 16. Luke xsil. 4.1. Phil. i. 20. Heb. ii I Jam. v. 17 Jiide3 b 10. Juils. ii. 4, 5. Ps. »i. 1-6. xsx. 5 xxni 9-H xxxviii 18 li. 1. cxxvi 5, 6 Jer. xxsi. 18-20 Matt, v 4. xsvi. 7i Jam. It 9, 10 c i U. ii. 3 1 Thcs iii 6. d 6 II ii. 2— II L:ini. iii. 32. .Matt, xxvi 21. 22 Luke xxii. 61,62 Joha xvl 6 xxi. 17. Heb xii.9-11. Rev. lii. 19 e Ex. v. 22, 23. Jer. XX. 7-9. V. 2 — 4. The apostle here returned to his more im- mediate purpose of re-establishing his authority among the Corinthians. {Note, vi. 11 — 13.) He called on them to receive him and his brethren as the ambassadors of Christ. There could be no reason for a contrary conduct, as they had injured no man in his person or connexions, corrupted no man's principles or morals, and defrauded no man in regard to his property, or in any respect co- veted aught belonging to them. He did not speak thus, as disposed to condemn them of bringing such charges against him ; for he had so favourable an opinion of them in general, that they were most dear to his heart, as he had before intimated, (iii. 2 ;) and. if other engagements would have permitted, he would willingly have spent and ended the remnant of his diiys among them. Indeed, he was so confident that they would submit to his apostolical authority, that he addressed them with great freedom and boldness, not fearing but they would take it in good part; and he even ^gloried among his friends concerning their conduct in the late transactions ; yea, he was filled with such comfort on that account, as abundantly counterba- lanced all his trials. V. 5 — 7. After the aposdc had passed from Troas into Macedonia, (ii. 13.) he was so harassed with perse- cution, that he had no rest in his flesh, or in respect of his outward circumstances ; and he was troubled on every side, because the outward conflicts which he sustained with his enemies concurred with much inward anxiety about the Corinthians. But that God, whose peculiar character, prerogative, and delight it is to comfort such of his servants as arc dejected and discouraged, and indeed all those who are hitmble and lowly in heart, was pleased to comfort him, by the arrival of Titus from Corinth. His safety and company were sources of satisfaction to him ; but he was still more rejoiced at the comfort which Titus had received from the behaviour of the Corinthians, ard while he described their carneet desire to remedy all Vol. v.— No. 32. 9 Now 'I rejoice, not that yc were ^jJrh"";,^',/; "/if made sorry, but that yc sorrowed to re- -2o.'"ze"h''xii," pentance : for yc were made sorry * after IS' 'n^',r^ a godly manner, ^' tliat yc might receive /o'",',',,™,^!;.. ■« damage by us in notLiiig. "s'ar."' " ' 10 For godiy .sorrow worlceth '' repent- ^'fii'W"!^ ance to salvation not to be repented of : i.'xii""2i'2 sam but ' the sorrow of the world workcth ^iii."'- 5o*'joi; 1 .1 xxxiii. 1:7, Si death. kz. xviii. 27- 11 For, behold, this self-same thino-, i'l- fliV'xxT . .1 . , ,., ,, , . '"^ 20— 32. x^vl 7.'. '' that yc sorrowed alter a godly sort, what i-"''? ,"» "> ' carefulness it wrought in you, yea, tvhat i" I'l xi. ib. ^ , . ,. " .^ ' •' ' . 2Tim ii, 25,26- " clcarins: ol yourselves, yea, whal " m- ■ t^en. iv. 13-1.1. ,. . ~ .' ' .< HKX I I Sail. dignation, yea, what " (ear, yea, ichat ^^^-^ ^l^T, ''vehement desire, yea, ?<7wM zeal, yea, p|^„'^'^J/,''3 ,5" zvhrit ' revenge ! In all things yc have f^^'J* '^^:^Z. " approved yourselves to be clear in this Heh.'xii.*iV matter. k 9. Is 1< Zech. xii, 10- «liv 6,7 I Cor &c xiii 25. .Inb 14. 1 Cor. V. 2 1 Scr on, n 7 1 Cor s:i rs Tit. iii R v. 13 Rph V II. 1 Tim. V. 21,22. u 2 Sara xii 6-7 Nt xlii 6 .ler xxxi. 18— 10, Dan vi U Mark lii 5 ol, xxvi:i 14 Rom. xi 20 Phil ii. 12. Heb. iv I xii, 15, 16 1 Pet i. 17 Juile 2:1, pPs. xxxviii 9 cslv 19 Cant, viii 16.1s xxvi Ul. I Pet ii- 2. .jix 2. Ps lxi< 9. cxix. 139. John ii 17. Aclsxv.i 16 r Ps xxxv 13. Matt, \.i'J. Mark ix. 43-4B. s vi 4 xiii. 7 Rom. xiv. 18 2 Tim ii 15. abuses, their poignant sorrow for having dishonoured the Gospel, and their fervent affection towards the apostle, and longing desire of seeing him. So that his present joy was rendered the more abundant, even by means of the sorrow which had preceded it. V, 8. The superintending inspiration of the Holy Spi- rit did not supersede the exercise of the understanding and faculties in the sacred writers ; and the aposde's ex- cess of concern, about the consequences of his former epis- tle, seems to have rendered his mind uneasy as to some ex- pressions on it, lest they should counteract his design. If indeed he actually repented of having written so sharply, as well as had felt an after carefulness about it, it must not be ascribed to the things written, as if they had not been divinely inspired; but to infirmity, as not being fully sanctified, or freed from a proj^ensity to excess of anxiety and solicitude. Some, however, render the passagt^, " Even if I had repented, I should not now rc|ient." V^. 9 — 1 1. The apostle understood that his epistle had made the Corinthians sorry, as he expected it would, but it had been only for a short space ; he therefore rejoiced, not in their sorrow, in which he shared, but in their re- pentance, which had been effected by it. For they had sorrowed " according to God," under the influence of his grace, with reference to his will and glorj', and in depend- ence on his mercy; and this had been so ordered, that they might receive damage from the apostle in no respect, not even as the innocent occasion of it. For that sorrow, which was the effect of divine grace and the fear of God, tended directly to work repentance in the heart, and to render it humble, contrite, submissive, afraid of punish- ment, dependent on mercy, disposed (o renounce and mor- tify every sin, and to walk in newness of life ; and this repentance was " unto salvation ;" as always connected H'iih faith in Christ, and an interest in his atonement; so that no man would repent of thus sorrowing and re- penting. Some arc of opinion that the word, rendered 3 D .'i. D. 61. 11. CORINTHIANS. ^. D. 61. J 2 Wherefore, though I wrole unto \\\ 9. ic.T 'you, ' I (lid it not torliis cause that hath done tlie wrong, nor for his cause that a it. 1 17. xi 11- suffered wron 1 • I X you in tlie sight ot bod might appear .. unto you. li. I Cor «!■ 13 1 hereiore * we were comiortecl in S6 xiii 5-7 , |. 1 .1 ?ei' I V'b"' 'your comlort: yea, anu exceedingly tlie ',i' .",?^ ,Vi more joyed we for the joy of Titus, > be- 32 I tor »M .) .7 . . -Ill II {•*„iVi.To' '^' cause his spirit was relreshcd by you all. y^^;-.,! J4. is I J Yov ' if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed ; but as t V/l^^t,/. .«. » we spake all things to you in truth, even Jiiii'^ , K?nS so our boasting, which I made before Ti- "''^.hu"' \ tus, is found a'truth: joL.'liii' ' 15 And his * inward alTection is more Vb./ii "iV' li abundant towards you, wliilst he romem-c^'cToiU'io* n. bereth "the obedience of }ou all, how j Ji V/i t * >* . ' with fear and tremblins: ye received is Lvri'iiM.' I • ° •' xiii. I AcUXTi. turn. .j> Epti 16 1 rejoice therefore, '^ that I have confidence jn you in all things. piiii : ds IhM iil I PbileiB i :i. another of this society ; so these several particulars can only be applied by accoiumoddtion to the rejienlaiiceof an " not to be repealed of," should be referred to " salvation," rather liia II to '• repentance;" in the same sense as it is applied to "the gifts and calling of God," in the only j individual, place where the same word occurs in the New Testament. V. 12. The apostle further assured them, that he had {Horn xi. 29 ;') sig!iifyingitsj«7i'/ia)ig-e.'(f*/(';u-ss; or denoting not written concerning the incestuous person, from a per- a s:dvation which will infinitely more than ronipensate all sonal dislike to him, or merely on his account in any re- thai m-iy be endured in attaining it : and perhaps the con- spect ; nor from regard to his father, who had been so struclion, in the original, favours this opinion. On the grossly wronged in this matter; but in order to show to other hand, the soir w of carnal n:en about worldly objects, ; them, as in the si^ht of GoJ, his attention to their spiritual being separated from thi' fear and love ' f G^d and faith in j interests. The other offenders at Corinth, (1 Cor. vi. 1 — his mercy. oUcn drank up their spirits, broke their proud ill;) might also be alluded to ; but it is evident, that the rebellious hearts, drove them to suicide, or prompted them ; principal criminal was more directly intended, to the most desperate wickedness; and so worked death,! V. 13 — 16. The apostle's endeavours had been made suc- temporal and eternal. {Marg. Rif.) -'The sorrow of Jcessful, and had eventually issued in the comfort of the Co- *' the world," is the certain way to desperation, unless 'rinthians ; and thus he shared their consolations, as he had ' God prevent it, as appears from the horrid cxam|)les ! before sympathized in their sorrows. It also increased his 'of Cain, Saul, Ahithophel, and Judas: but the written joy, to see how joyful their condiact had rendered the pious 'tears of David give the clearest examjdc of the other ' heart of his beloved Titus. Ifthenhehad before spoken ' kind of sorrow.' {Bezn.) It was evident that the sor- 1 so confidendy of them, that it seemed to be boasting, he row of the Corinthians had been " after a godly sort,"! was not now ashamed of it; for as his doctrine and his from their carefulness to rectify and amend what had been j professed affection for them had been true, so this his amiss, and their ready obedience in censuring the criminal ; : boasting of them to Titus had [Toved true also. And the from their desire to show, that their comivance at the evils which had taken place was not thf effrrt of corrupt principles, but of inattention, that by thus clearing them- selves they might preserve the credit of the Gospel; from their indignation at themselves for having thus ilisgraced their profession ; from their fear, lest any rcjietitions of such abuses should occur: from their most earnest desire of further degrees of purity ; from their zeal for the glory of God ; and from their desire, as it were, to revenge his cause on themselves, by submitting to any humiliations, er corrections, that were requisite for the honour of the Gospel. So that in every thing they were now freed from further imputation in this transaction. Numbers of them ihussho'ved that they had not been directly guilty, though they had iiiadvertenily connived at the offenders ; and of this connivance they had repented, and sought forgiveness. Others, who had been more directly criminal, had like- wise repented, and concurred in such measures, as implied a decided prutcst against the sins which had disgraced the cause of Christ, an'l those teachers who allowed of them: and thus the Church, as a society, was cleared from the guilt and infimy under which it lay ; and the whole blame now rested with the individuals who still persisted in impenitence. As this verse relates to the conduct of a Chris'.ian society, in particular circumstances ; and, pro- ''oably, some of the clauses to one part, and jorae to love of Titus towards them was greatly increased, while he remembered the obedience which they all had shown to the authority of the apostle, signified by him ; and ho^v they received him even with a trembling fear, lest they should grieve him, or impress his mind unfavourably towards them. So that the apostle could now rejoice in the confidence which he had in them in all things. There was great address in this part of the epistle ; and his kind acceptance of what had been done, and the confidence he expressed in the Church, W"ere in general well suited to excite them to a more entire reformation, to break the party formed aiainst him, to deliver them from the fasci- nations of the false teachers, and to re-establish his own authority. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—7. The promises of God should excite and direct us in following after holiness. His grace alone can efficaciously purify us : but it is our duty to use the means which he hath appointed ; and, depending on that grace, to search out, and cleanse away, all '• filthiness of the flesh and " spirit," as abhorred by God and all his people. Perfect holiness should be the object of our unremitting prayers and endeavours : we should follow after it, as in the pre- .1 D. 61. CHAPTER VIII. A. D. bi GHAP. VIII. The apostle sets before the Corinthians the liberality of the poor Christians in JMaee- donia, 1 — 5; and excites them to imitate this liberality toward the poor saints in Judca, that they might abound as much in this i^race, as in other things ; and show the sincerity of their love, as animated by senee of God, and influenced by the fear of him, when no eye but his can possibly witness our conduct; and our lamented imperfections should excite us the moredihgcntly to '• go on unto perfection." If the ambassadors of Chiist would be received in that character, they must be careful " to wrong no man, to corrupt no man, to defraud no " man :" and they who reject those ministers, whose conduct and doctrine are thus uncorrupt, will greatly offend i him that sent them. Yet we should avoid all rigorous censures, and show cordial love to the people, notwithstanding their faults : we should express as much confidence in them, and speak as favourably of them, as the case will admit : and when tliey show a readiness to amend what hath grieved us, we should deem it such a comfort, as may render us exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. But we ought not to expect much rest to our flesh in this evil world : and if inward fears concur with outward opposition to distress us, we only taste of that cup, of which far better men have drunk more abun- dantly. We cannot sufficiently admire the compassion and condescension of our God, in revealing himself as the Comforter of those that are cast down. In all our dejec- tions and perplexities, therefore, let us rely on him as our all-sufficient Helper. And, seeing the time of our extreme distress is commonly that of his interposition, we should endeavour to make it that of our most enlarged expec- tations. He works, however, by second causes and in- struments : the converse of some pious friend, or a good account of those about whom we were anxious, or the affection of such as we feared were alienated, are often sources of relief and consolation, in which the kindness of the Lord should be acknowledged with much thank- fulness. V. 8—16. Through anxiety about the event of his labours, the faithful minister may be tempted to repent of his best intended and most scriptural endeavours to do good. He may fear that he spake too decidedly or sharply, and so gave needless offence, or excited undue sorrow, when he only performed the office of an aftectionate reprover, un- der the influence of the Spirit of truth and love. Thus a man may be rendered uneasy for having done his duty, and afraid of doing it on another occasion. Indeed, we should be reluctant to cause sorrow ; (even as the skilful, and tender surgeon is averse to give pain, though he finds it often necessary ;) but we should rejoice in bringing men to that godly sorrow which workelh repentance, as their grief will be transient, and the benefit eternal. The loss of an earthly friend, the displeasure of a powerful supe- the self-abasing and self-denying love of Christ, b — 9. They had before shoicn a readiness to this contribution, vhich would be graciously accepted by the Lord, i 0 — 15. He commends to them Titus, and. two other brethren ivhom he had engaged in this service, and who xcere, on many accounts, worthy of their particular re- gard, 16 — 24. rior, or other secular misfortunes, excite men's sorrow, and they think they have cause to mourn : how tlicn should we be grieved for having ofiemied our Creator, dishonoured his name, incurred his frown, and deserved eternal misery! The objects of wo.ldly sorrow are trivial; its exercise is commonly unavailing; and it tends to death: we should therefore be careful not to indulge it. Unless sin be mourned over, as the cause of men's sufferings, and God be regarded as the righteous and merciful Author of them, their sorrow under afllictions and calamities leads to in- creasing enmity, to distraction, despair, and blasjjhemy. {Rev. xvi. 9 — 11.) We should therefore endeavour to turn all our mourning into a religious channel, that we may " sorrow after a godly sort." But e\cn sorrow about sin and our eternal concerns will be of no use to us, unless it worketh repentance ; and even repentance itself may be counterfeited, and so not be " unto salvation." Of all deceptions, this is most to be feared. A partial and superficial repentance ; an unbelieving and hopeless re- pentance, like that of Judas ; a pharisaical repentance, which is presented as an atonement for sin, and the rival of Christ's expiation ; outward penances, mortifications, and observances, with an unhumbled and unrenewel heart ; apparent contrition, without renouncing the favourite ini- quity, or throwing back the wages of unrighteousness ; these, and other kinds of repentance, are not unto salva- tion, but must be repented of, either in this world, or for ever in hell. But deep humiliation before God, hatred of all sin, attended by faith in the merits of Christ, a new heart and a new life, constitute " repentance unto s;ilva- " tion never to be rejjcnted of." May the Lord bestow it on every one of us ! Sorrowing after this godly manner will work great carefulness and watchl'ulness in us, to amend our lives and subdue every iniquity : we shall thus be led to a serious endeavour to clear up the reality of our repentance to our own consciences, and to all men ; we shall feel an indignation at ourselves for past transgres- sions; a fear of rcla|)sing into sin ; a vehement desire of forgiveness and sanctifying grace ; a zeal for the honour of God ; and a revenge, as it were, against those lusts which have excited us to offend him. VV'hen the faithful minister of Christ, (who hath warned the sinner of his guilt and danger, and reproved the inconsistent professor of the Gospel, that his care of them in the sight of God might be evidenced,) witnesses such " fruits meet for '• repentance," he will be comforted in helping their com- fort ; he will rejoice in the joy of other believers on their account; he will exult in realizing the favourable hopes which he had entertained ; he will encourage the abundant affection of others towards them ; he will commend their 2 D 2 A. D. ^)l. II. CORINTHIANS. Jl. D. til. Acts Rom. I Thes iVi. u. i: "\/|OREOVER, brcthrtn, ^ we do you f rJr. "xv 10. XVJL to wit of " the grace of God Ijc- Etfh. iii.B. toi. stowed oti ' the churches of Macedonia: "9; 2 How that " in a great trial of afllic- 7,^8; tion, * the abundance of their joy, and dTi'hes i 6. ii ' their deep poverty abounded unto ^ the e'Siei' ?ii1 in- riches of their * hberahty. 12. Acu, u 4i. ^ jp^^, i, ^^ ^1^^^^ power, ' I bear record, fIVlark xii 42— 1 1, 1 1 .1 • j/ 44 LukeKx. I yea, and ' I)eyond tlictr power tiuy were liev ii.a ' willino: of themselves ; g VI. 10 iX. 11. . ii ■ ■ 1 , i 1 il i 13. Duut XV 4 4 l-'iayiiig u.9 witn much entreaty ' tliat xHsVi s "s we would receive the eift, and take upon »Gr .in/jj-ifilv , . /- „ ?l • • 1 ' * i 12 Knui MB ,/5 tlie fcllowshii) ol " the miuistcrmg to h ix 6. J Mark . I ^ xiv 1; Acts X. (lie saints. 29 1 'or Kvi 1 I . T !• I 1 1 2iretivii ^ .\„(i //j„ thai did, not as we hoped, 1 Horn ^ 2 f>al _ ./ . ' I k iV*/n 'V? ""*■ " '""^t S'''^'*^ t'-'^"' °"'" ^^'^'<^S t*' "^^ MYchr'x'x" I-iOi'd. and " unto us by the will of God ; 5.6 9 13—17 Ps cx 3. I Cnr U 17 Phil. ii. 13 1 Thes ii. 8 Philem. 14 I Pet v 2 I 18. I'l Gen. xSHiii 10.11 aKnjsv 15. 10. Acts Xvi IJ 1 Cor xvi 3. 4. m ix. 1. 12- 14. Malt. X. 42 xii iO xvv 40 44 45 Mark xiv 7. J(jhn xix. if., 2' Arts vi. 1, kiC ix 39-11- '.xiv n.Knni xv 25. !^« 'Cor xvi I. 15. Gal i. 10 vi 10 ITim v. 10 J'hileui. 5, 6. Heb vi .0 I J.,hri iii IB-18, nv 14 15. 1 Esin. i. 28 2thr xxs. a Ii. xliv.3-5 Jer xsxi 33 Ze.-h xiii 9 Horn vi. 13. xii 1. Siv. 7-9. 1 Cor. vi 19, 20 o iv 4. 1 Clir xii. 18 2 Clir EXX. 12. prompt and circumspect obedience, and rejoice to have conl'idence in them in all things. NOTES. CHAP. Till. V, 1—5. The mention which the apostle had made, of his confidence in the Corinthians, gave him an occasion of introducing the subject of the collection which he'^vas making for the Christians in ,fudea. which takes up this and the following chapter. With great delicacy and propriety he brought this forward by informing them, as an article of interesting intelligence, concerning the admirable conduct of the churches at Phi- lippi, Thessalonica, and Berea in Macedonia. In ex- lolling the generosity of the Christians in these cities, he gave the glory " to the grace of God bestowed upon " them ;" the "cause being thus manifested by the ctfcct. Though they had been tried with great afflictions and pcr- i,ecutions, by which they had been greatly impoverished, yel the abundance of their joy in the Lord and his salva- tion had so enlarged their hearts to love of him, and his poor disciples whom they had not seen, that a large col- lection hiid been made among them, and their deep poverty had illustrated the riches of their liberality. So that the G lusouuich that 'Mvc desired Titus, ? I?;. '/i^*;- ',5 that as he had begun, so he would also vi:f: ^- ,* finish in you the same t grace also. q'ir.t,n".v"* u. 1 Therefore, "i as yo abound in every 7'^xTv'i2.*Ber thing, in ' faith, and utterance, and ' know- r'l'cgr xin j. ledge, and in all diligence, and '■in your "xii?"? "'" ''" love to us : " sie that vc abound in " this u Phu. i. o m. I •' I IhM iv .J grace also. lo 2 ibM i. j. 8 I J' speak not by commandment, but speii s-s"' ' by occasion of the forwardness of others, >y 2» srI',;!'. and ^ to prove the sincerity ot your 2e 2 Pet m. 1... , • •' •' y 10 Ix 7 1 Cor love. v.j^e 12.24. 9 For ye know *■ the grace of our Lord "'"" j' l^- Jesus Christ, that " though he was nch, »^2*. *' «^ J'g^. yet "^for your sakes * he became poor, J^s'^-'J'™!. ' that ye through his poverty might be iin,'""^ jL'c rich. ' '''"■ '• '2. i ""-"• Jolm iii 17-13. b xiii 14 John i 14 17 Rom. v. 8 30, 21. I Cor i 4. Eph. i 6— 8. ii7 iii. 8 |'i c I's rii 25-27. John i 1—4. 10, xvi. 15. 1 Cor. XV 47. Phil. ii. 6 Col. i 16, 17. Hel. i. 2 6— H d Is. Ixli I Ixv 0 John xii 30 xvii. 19 Col. i 24 els li,i.2 Malt, viii 20 xvii. 27. \x. 28. iNlark vi. 3. Luke ii. 7 viii. 3. ix. 5a. PhiUi. 7, R f vi 10 Luke xvi II Rom. viii 32. xi. 12. I Cor iii 21.2.!. £pb. iii. 8. I Tim. vi !'„> Jam ii 5. llev. xxi. 7. of God according to his appointment, and in improving their talents to bis glory. The word renderedgj-ncf, is, no doubt, sometimes translated or |J< ,- but to interpret " the " grace of God towards the churches," 16. »t. is. 2 • G r. t.illiae Sic on, 3. lis 7. Eic sx». D MS.KV ^. 21, S5. 29 1 Clir sxix 3-18. 2 Chr. vi 8. Prov Six. 2£ Maik 1 0 And herein « I give 7ny advice ; for this ib '' expedient for you, wlio have be- f^iin before, not only to do, but also ' to be * forward a year ago. 1 1 Now therefore jjerform the doing 0/ il ; that as there ivus a readiness to w ill, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12 For " if there be first a ■willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man halh, and not according to that he hath' not. 13 For / mean ' not that other men be eased, and you burdened : 11 But by an equality, that now at this time jour abundance laay be a supply for their want, tliat their abundance also may be a supply for your want, that there may be equality; 15 As it is written, "^ He that had ga- thered much had nothing over; and he that had trathered little had no lack. head; yet ''for their sakes," who were in themselves poor, guilty, polluted, and perishing sinners, '' he had " become poor," by assuming human nature, being born of a poor virgin, in a stable ; living in poverty and afflic- tion for many years on earlli ; and at length entirely im- poverishing liimself, as it were, to ransom their souls by his sacrifice on the cross. All this he submitted to most freely, in unspeakable compassion and condescension, tluit they by his poverty might be made rich with all the bless- ings of salvation ; the mighty debt of sin having been thus discharged, and the forfeited inheritance of eternal life re- deemed, with all things pertaining to their everlasting glo- ry and felicity ; and surely they could want no other argu- ment to prevail with them to part largely and freely with their riches, for the relief and support of his poor bre- thren ! In the judgment of the apostle, Jesus ivus rick be- fore he rvas poor ; and that it was voluntarily and gracious- ly that he became poor for our sakes, &c. ; but he was born in a stable, and educated in poverty ; he was poor all his life, and had not where to lay his head, and only became rich after his death ; and therefore if he was no more than a man, he certainly mas poor before lie was rich, not rich before he was poor. V. 10 — 15. In respect of this service, to which the Corinthians would, as it must be supposed, feel them- selves constrained by the love of Christ, the apostle only interposed with his advice ; for it would be expedient for them, and consistent with their profession and character, to abound in this grace also, and evidently to copy that love by which they were saved ; especially as they liad begun a year before, not only to deposit money for this use, but to enter upon the service with a willing, earnest, and fervent mind. It behooved tiiem therefore to make no hesitation about perlbrming it, that their actions might poincidc with the promptitude of their former detcrmi- 16 But " thanks be to God, wiiicli put "[fj|,"i/;i. .,f^' the same " earnest care into the heart of ""'^1 j^J"'!, Titus for you. o'ttrv^'i'aii'hii 17 For indeed he p accepted the c.x- I's'TifS xms: hortation ; " but being more forward, of his '*'" "'"" ' own accord he Vvcnt unto }ou. 18 And we have sent with him ' the M,"--'" ■'' brother, whose praise is in the Gospel " throughout all the churches; ' '"'™ ^'■"' * 1 9 And not that only, ' but who was al- ' so chosen of the churches to travel with us with this t grace, which is administer- ^i.'^^'V: *" ed by us, " to the glory of the same Lord, "li-u' and declaration of your ready mind : 20 Avoiding this, ^ that no man should „.„.... blame us in this abundance, which is ad- 3' Epr,"!'! ministered by us : ' ■^""^ " '' 21 Providing >' for honest things, ^ not •"j,^;;"' j^"";, ", only in the sight of the Lord, but ?dso in fts'liJUi. the sight of men. ^'r ,j ^ ^_^^ 22 And we have sent Avith them our ?'"'\xiiL 5 "'i brother, "whom we have oftcntiiiios JptT.?! ^o-zr 1. A-Jta vj .1 11 V. 2S i'i Dr. jvi. 3, 4. ri,,l IV. 18, l:i. 1 F«t Iv. in. 11. : si. 12 Malt, x. nations. In doing this, let every one of them proportion his contribution to his circumstances, for a small sum would be equally acceptable from a jioorcr person, as a larger from his more wealthy brother ; and indeed, in eve- ry case, w here a willing mind, to honour aid obey Christ from humble love to him, was the principle of a man's ac- tions, his services would meet with a gracious accept- ance, nor would more be expected from him than he was enabled to do. To express and evidence this willing mind, the proportion, before recommended, would be necessary ; yet i< would not be proper to ui'ge any man to exceed what he was thus disposed to give, lest, in vying with his bre- thren, he should intrench upon other duties. Nor did the apostle mean to relieve the poor Christians in Judea by bur- dening the Corinthians ; or even to exact fi'om them, and exempt other churches, so as to give rest to the one, and affliction to the other. He only desired that some mea- sure of equality might b3 preserved among brethren in Christ : and that, in order to this, the Corinthians should on the present occasion communicate from their abun- dance, to relieve the necessities of their poor brethren in Judea: and then, if a reverse of condition should take place, through persecutions or other calamities, either to individuals or the collective body, the abundance of the .Jewish converts, or of other churches, might be a fund for the supply of their necessities. Thus one might help another after an equal manner, according as it was written concerning the Israelites respecting the manna, which, though collected in different quantities, being thus pro- perly dispensed, was all used, wiLhont the redundance be- ing wasted, or any of the congregation left destitute of a sulTicicnt supply. {Notes, Ex. xvi.) ' .So far C'hristiani- ' ty seems to require this equality, as that we should no; ' suffer others to lack the necessaries of this present hfc^ ' while we abouad in them,' {Whitby.) ./?. D. GI. II. CORINTHIANS. Jl. D. 61, j)rovcJ tliligcnl in niauy things, but now b ".' 6" v.'I'«''xii 'i"Jch more diligent, upon the great con- c'uii.e V 7 10 hdence which * / have in you. dl-'biui 14 i.^ 23 Wlicthcr fl«y do vuptire of " Titus, ' he " is my partner "^ and fellow-hclpcr concerning jou : or our brethren be in- •fbes. ii .1 Jolm 8. quired of, they are * the messengers of the *^J '"''" " " churches, and the glory of Christ. 21 VViicrefore, ' shew ye to them, and '!;" '*• '" » before the churclics, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your be- half. V. 16 — 24. The cordiality and diligence of Titus, in bis attention to the Corinthians, as well as his zeal for the good work in hand, were put into his heart by the Lord ; and the apostle heartily thanked him for this interposition in his favouf. For Titus not only complied with his ex- liorlation to return to Corinth, from regard to his autho- rity, but he was more prompt and williiij;; for that service, than to need solicitation. The brother, that was sent with him, is generally sup|)osed to have been Luke, whose ])raise was in all the churches, on account of the Gospel which he had written. This, however, is on many ac- counts uncertain : but this brother had been chosen by the churches of Macedonia to travel with the apostle, as their messenger to Jerusalem, with the contributions raised by them ; which they were to dispose of, (as the deacons did the donations of their several churches,) to the glory of Christ, the one Lord both of the Jewish and Gentile converts ; as the evidence of their ready mind to such good works ; and to cultivate love with their Jewish brethren by reciprocal kindness. This the apostle had proposed and accomplislied, that he might avoid all cen- sure and suspicion of injustice or partiality, in the disposal of those large sums of money which had been raised : and that he might, by a prudent foresight, take care that his whole conduct should appear honourable, consistent, and unexceptionable in the sight of men ; as well as that it should really be so in the sight of God. With Titus and the brother before mentioned, he had also sent ano- ther of his brethren, whom he had frequently found dili- gent in other services ; but he expected extraordinary dili- gence from him on this occasion, as he was animated by ine confidence in them which the apostle had expressed. Some think that Apollos is meant ; but this is not proba- ble, for he wanted no recommendations to the Corinthi- ans : indeed curiosity, rather than edification, is concern- ed in determining such questions. If, however, any of ihem inquired who Titus was, that he should take the }ead in this business ; (as the apostle's adversaries would be likely to do;) let them be answered, that he was the partner of the apostle in the sacred ministry, who cordial- ly united with him in all his designs, and who was par- liculaily helpful to him in the affairs of Corinth. If the other brethren were inquired of, let it be said, that they were the chosen messengers of the Macedonian churches, whose characters, zeal, and conduct, in that important service, made them an honour to the Gospel, and great- ly instrumental in manifesting the glory of Christ. It therefore was proper that the Corinthians should show, in their liberality on the present occasion, before these excel- lent persons, and the churches whom they represented, the proof of their love to Christ ; and that they deserved those warm commendations which the aposde had be- stowed on them. {Notes, Acts vi. 1 — 6.) It may here again be observed, that there is not the least reason to doubt, that the messengers, intrusted with the contri- butions of the Christians for their Jewish brethren, were diosen by the suffrage of the churches : how then is it that so little satisfactory Scriptm-al proof can be adduced, that the spiritual pastors were elected in the same manner? ' It would have been a most ready calumny against Paul, ' to have said that he greatly desired the care of these ' contributions, that he might sacrilegiously convert the ' consecrated money to his own use, had he not by every ' means guarded against it. But who, during these ihou- ' sand years, and more, has followed this truly apoitolical ' example ." (Besa.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—9. By ascribing all good works to the grace of God, we not only give the glory to him, whose due it is, but we also show men where their strength lies, and enable humble believers to read the Lord's special love to them, in the fruits of their love to him and to his people. Abundant spiritual joy not only supports the soul under great trials of allliction, but it enlarges the heart in the work and labour of love ; so that the depth of poverty, in joyful Christians, only serves to render more admirable the riches of their liberality ; for they will do more than could have been conceived in their power, and will manifest a still more enlarged good will. How different is this from the conduct of those, who will not concur in any expensive good work, except their reluctance is overcome by im- portunity, as uneasy to themselves, as to those who solicit them ! The happy frame of mind before described must spring from an unreserved surrender of ourselves to the Lord, that we may henceforth live to his glory, as well as partake of his salvation; and then giving up ourselves to the counsels of his faithful ministers, as far as we are satisfied that they instruct us by the will of God. Re- markable examples of piety and charity should be brought forward, in order to excite others to a holy emul.ition, especially when their inferiority in outward things renders them less likely to be observed : and such instances will commonly be found very efficacious to this end, among those who are partakers of divine grace. They whom God hath employed to begin, will commonly best carry on and finish, his work of grace in his people. They who abound in faith, knowledge, utterance, fervent affec- tions, and attachment to pious ministers, should be ex- horted to abound proportionably in liberality to their poor brethren. And occasion should be taken from the for- wardness of some, to excite others to show the sincerity oi their love ; for nothing can evince this, except the fruits ot love, in good works to Christians for the Lord's sake. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was not declared in kind words only ; but, " though he was rich, yet f«r our A. D. 61. CHAPTER IX. d. D. bl. CHAP. IX. The aposlh assigns his reasons for sending the brethren be/or c-hajicl, to make vp the collections of the Corinthians, notwith- standing his confidence in them, 1 — 5. He encourages their cheerful liberality ; under the figure of sowing seed, from which they might expect that God mould give them an abundant increase, to en- able them to sow still more abundantly to his glory, 6 — 1 1 : for such services " sakcs he became poor ; that we through his poverty " might be rich :" and they who truly know and experience the happy eftects of his grace, will show their love to him and his people by good works, and not merely by a cheap profession. But, alas, we may easily estimate the deijree in which most of us know the grace of Christ, by consider- ing how small a proportion of our superfluities we retrench, and how little we deny ourselves, forego the prospect of wealth, endure inconveniences, and stoo]) to men of low estate, from love to his name ! Doubtless this is the proper standard of our spiritual knowledge of Christ. In propor- tion to our views of his glory, we shall bear his image : and if this change were more fully effected, we should embrace poverty, endure hardship, and even lay down our lives, for the good of his people, when properly called to it : and at last we should deem all this as nothing, when compared with our obligations to his infinite love. V. 10—15. We may not enjoin the proportion, in which Christians should communicate to the relief of the necessitous ; yet we may advise them concerning what is becoming, and consistent with their ability, profession, and hopeful be- ginnings, that their readiness to nill may be manifested by the performance of it. But while the wealthy must be charged to be ready to communicate, the poorer should be encouraged to conti'ibute their help also ; yet without being urged to what may distress them : for if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted. This is indeed a ■universal rule : the sinner's willingness to repent, to be- lieve in Christ, to love and obey him, and to do good to others for his sake, springs from divine grace : without this, all external services must be ostentatious and hypo- critical ; but where this is fir^t produced, the defective attempts of the believer to glorify God will be accepted and graciously rewarded, though in strict justice they merit condf mnation. We should be careful to act im- partially in promoting works of charity : one should not be burdened to ease another, but ecjuality and reciprocal help should be aimed at. Even among the poor people, in any parish or congregation, the most disiressed may be relieved by such as are less straitened, with what they can at present spare ; and when they in their turn come to be straitened, their brethren may concur to help them. Thus mutual love will be cemented, and prayers and thanks- givings for each other will be multiplied ; and though none not only supply the wants of the saints, but excite them to abundant thanks- givings to God, and fervent love to their benefactors, and prayers for them, II — 14. He concludes the subject 6?y « oon xxvii. « thanking God for his unspeakable aift, = "k°™s% mii is 15. Ps xlv !. Mat. xxli. 31. Horn, xi. W. Phil, iii FOR as ' touching ^ the ministering to '',,'i?,~l* laf v" the saints, "^ it is siipernuoiis for me (.7r^„ j,, , to write to jou: 'fs? '' '^'''"' 2 For I know " the forwardness of V-i'L!;'°, «"• may have any thing superfluous, yet absolute want may commonly be excluded. But upon a larger scale, and where more wealthy persons are concerned, greater pfTect.s may be produced : and the most prosperous may be ex- horted to liberality, from the consideration of the vicissi- tude in human affairs : nor can riches be secured so etfec- tually for the benefit of the possessor, as by thus lending them to the Lord. V. 16—24. We should love those who have an earnest care for the welfare of the church, and we ought to be thankful to our benefactors : but the Lord, who put it into their hearts, should be first acknowledged and adored. It is becoming, to show a readiness for difficult and laborious services, and even to render exhortations superfluous by a willing mind : and it is proper to commend what is good in the most candid manner ; for this is often the best method of exciting men to redoubled diligence. All our good works should be referred to the glory of the Lord, and be considered as the evidences of our ready mind to his service. Whatever disputes may have arisen about the appointment of rulers and officers in the church, it seems indisputable, that men should choose the persons, who are to manage their charitable contributions ; though they may be counselled to select those whose praise is in all the churches. When ministers are in any way intrusted with large sums of money, they should be peculiarly careful to avoid all occasion of suspicion, or appearance of evil. It is indeed in the first place necessary to act uprightly in the sight of God, but things honest in the sight of men ought also to be circumspectly provided for. The world is lull of selfishness, and enmity to true religion ; and suspicions and slanders will be unavoidable, without great pruJence, as well as exact conscientiousness : whereas a clear cha- racter, as well as a pure conscience, i.-* requisite to usc- fuhicss. When approved, diligenl, and faithful men are employed, in services evidently conducive to the benefit of mankind, and the glory of God, they are not only honoured by their brethren, but tlieir character, conduct, and usefulness, is " the glory of Christ," and his Gospel is recommended by them. It therefore behooves Christians, among whom they labour, to rr.^pect them, and to sliow, before them and the churches of Christ, the proof of their love, and of the expectations which have been raised coa- cerning them. A. D. 61. eviii SI. f i 1. viii. in. 1 Cor. xvi 15. g Tiii. 8 Heb X II. CORINTHIANS. ^. D.Gh your mind, for which <= I boast of you to thein of Macedonia, ' that Achaia was rea- dy a year ago ; and your zeal hath « pro- voked very many. 3 Yet " have I sent the brethren, lest our boastingof you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ' ye may be ready : 4 Lest haply if ^ they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not ye) should ' be ashamed in this same conlident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they wouW go before unto you, '" and make up before- hand your * bounty, t whereof ye had notice before, that the same might bo ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. (j But " this / say, " he which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly ; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he pur- poseth in his heart, so let him give ; '' not grudj^ingl)> or of necessity; for i God loveth a cheerful giver. 1 Pet iv, 9 q ?iii. IS. Ex. ixt. 2 KXXT. 5 1 Chr. xsix 17. Pro» bUtting. xxih.ll. I X«V. J7. :6. Mart. „^». IS T Or, Khich halh bun 10 muck ipnkln cfbffari. II I Cor. i. 12 vil. 29 «». 59. G»l. ill 17. V. |g. Kph. JT. IT. Oi.l ii 4. OIO ProT xi 19. M. 25 xix. 17. xxii. 9 Ec. zi. Heb vi 19. p Deut x» 7—11. U ProT. sxiii. fi-3. I9 xixii. 5 V. Jam. V. 9. xxii. 9 Actsxi. NOTES. CHAP. IX. V. 1 — 5. Beza explains the " minis " tcring to the saints," not of the money contributed, but of the oflice and duty of those persons, who were chosen to take charge of it, and the care of the Corinthians in selecting them : but the context does not seem to favour this interpretation ; at least as exclusive. The whole transaction, from the first thought and proposal of thus relieving the poor Christians in Judea, to the completion of the design, in the distribution of the money among them, by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, may be included in this general term. (Marg. Ref. viii. 4.) The apostle, however, deemed it superduous for him to write particularly on the duty and benefits of ministering to the necessities of the saints ; as he took it for granted, that the Corinthians were well instructed in this respect, and even taught by God himself, thus to show love to their brethren. He also knew that they were forward to concur in the present good work ; and accordingly he had spoken of them with confidence to the Macedonians, de- claring that the Christians in Achaia, (of which Corinth was the capital city,) had been ready with their subscrip- ■ tions a year before ; and their zeal in so good a cause had quickened and excited many, who were before remiss. Yet he had sent Titus and the other brethren to complete the design, lest his boasting of their readiness should be in vain in that respect ; for though he did not doubt but they would contribute, yet he feared lest they should not be ready when he came. And in that case the Macedo- nians, who accompanied him, would witness this circum- stance ; which would put him to shame for having boasted so confidently of them; and also tend to their disgrace, for having disappointed the expectations which had been formed respecting them. He had therefore judged it needful to tlesire the brethren to go before him to make vip their contributions, of which tnmtion had hcev. made before, both to them and the Macedonians ; that it might evidently apjiear to be a bouutt/, or benefaction willingly bestowed, and not money extorted from them by impor- lunily. ' The apostle calls that covetousness, which i.s ' done sordidly, and as extorted from a covetous person.' (Be"fr.) ' To give alms out of shame, or to satisfy the ' importunity of others, rather than out of love and gnod- ' will, is a symptom of a covetous temper.'' (Wkilhj/.) Th? word, rendered botinly, signifies a blessing ; which may either intimate that it should be given as an expres- sion of gratitude to God, and as an act of praise' and thanksgiving to him ; or that it should spring from love, and a disposition to bless and do good to iheir brethren. {Marg. Ref.) V. 6, 7. The apostle would not prescribe the propor- tion, which every one ought to give; nor would he write as one that aimed to extort money from them ; but this he said, that God would measure to them, according to the measure which they used towards their poor brethren. The seed-corn seems thrown aAvay, yet this alone yields any increase : the prudent husbandman will not therefore sow sparingly, for he knows that in that case he must ex- pect to reap sparingly ; but, when the ground is well pre- pared, it may be expected, that if he sows liberally, he will receive a proportionable increase. Thus, money give.i in charity seems, tounbelief and selfishness, finally thrown away ; but in fact, when given from proper principles, it is seed sown, and the only part of a man's substance,'from which a valuable increase can be expected. God in his providence will often frown upon the undertakings of him who gives sparingly, and, by concurring causes, keep him poor ; the evidence of his conversion must be proportion- ably dui3ious. If a real Christian, his consolations will be scanty, according to his penurious conduct towards his brethren ; and his final recompense will be proportioned to the small measure of his present fruitfulncss. But he who sows plentifully, from gratitude to God, and love to man, will in every sense reap a plentiful and bountiful in- crease. {Notes, Is. Iviii. 7 — M.) The word rendered bountifully, is, literally, wiV/i fc/fs.«mo-y. {Note, 1—5.) Let then every one determine for himself how much he would spare from other expenses, or deduct from his accumula- ted treasure, to sow in this fertile field, from which the word of God ensured so large an increase ; and let no man do it grudgingly or of necessity, merely to keep up his character, or through the imjiortunity of ministers ; for God loved the willing cheerful giver, and no other ; as this was the effect and evidence of his grace, and so well- pleasing to him through Jesus Christ. ' Two things are ' excluded by the apostle, namely, grief and necessity,^ {(ir.) ' when, for in.stance, any person gives indeed, but ' with a grudging and illiberal mind, or even unwillingly, ' because he would not be evil spoken of among others ; ' else he would not give at all.' {Iie:a.) Jl.D. GI, CHAPTER IX, J. D. 61. rSChrxxvS.Pi. Uxxl' II l'ro» iii.g.io. X 23 xiviii. S' H«j. li. 8 Mai ill 10. Phil. iv. 18. 13 % Tiii. 19. I Pet ;v 10 t II. 1 Cbr xxix. IS— 11. u viil 2. ^ Acts i\. 36. I Cor XT. 58. Cpll li 10 Col i 10. arhes. ii. 17 2Tim iii 17. Tit. ii. 14. iii. 8 U. zScfOit, Ps cxii. 9. y Ps cxii .1 Prov 18. 21. Is II « I Cor. xiii. 13. Gal ». 5,6. 2 Gen i. II, 12 jilvii. 19. 23, 24. la. \i. 10. l6. Proi. si. 18. Be. xi. 6. I'bil. IT 17 b Hns. X. 12 Epb -14. 2 Chr. SKXi ratittf Gr. simpW 8 And ' God is able to make ' all grace abound toward you ; that ye, ' always having all sufficiency in all things, " may abound to every good work : 9 (As it is written, " he hath dispersed abroad ; he hath given to the poor : ^ his righteousness remainetli for ever. 10 Now ^ he that ministerclh seed to the sower, both minister bread for your food, and " multiply your seed sown, " and increase the fruits of your right- eousness :) 11 Being '^enriched in every thing to all * bountifulness, '^ which caus- V 9, Phil, i. II. 1 Thes. iii. 12. ir. 10 c viii 2, 3, 1 Clir xxis. 12 .10 Prov. iii 9. 10. Mai. iii, 10, 11. 1 Tim vi. 17, 18. * Or, libe- city. viii. S. Gr. Rom. xii. 8. J 12 i. 11. iv. IS. viii. 16. 19. V. 8 — It. The Lord would, without fail, in one way or other, make up to the givers what they expended in this good work; for he was able to make every gift of his free favour to abound to them ; that so, having a sufficien- cy of all things desirable for themselves and families, and being enlarged in faith and love, they might have both a willing mind, and ability; for every good work. Thus the character and blessedness mentioned by the Psalmist would be verified in them, {Note, Ps. cxii. 9.) and their acts of kindness to the poor, from love to Christ, would ■be accepted works of righteousness, of which the benefit would remain with them for ever. The apostle therefore besought God, who, in his providence, both supplied the husbandman with seed, and mankind in general with food, from the increase of the field, that he would both provide for their wants in proportion to their seed sown in acts of charity •, multiply to them the ability of sowing more in the same manner ; accompany it with a larger blessing to others ; cause them to abound more and more in the fruits of righteousness ; and give them an increase of comfort in their own souls. That so, being enriched in every re- spect, they might be enabled to all bountifulness, which would occasion many to thank God on their behalf; and the apostle would then rejoice to be the instrument and means of such an honourable and beneficial work. The tenth verse may be thus literally translated : " May he, " who supplieth seed to the sower, and bread for food, " supply and multiply your seed, and increase the produc- " tions of your righteousness." The sense is thus ren- dered more obvious, but it is not materially altered. The word rendered " seed sown," more properly signifies seed for sowing. V. 12 — 15. The proper management of the service which was spoken of, by the liberal contribution of be- lievers towards it, and the faithful and prudent application of the sums thus raised, would not only relieve the neces- sities of the poor saints in Judea, to whose comfort they ought gladly to communicate, but it would also produce abundance of thanksgivings to God, Ijoth for the season- able supply given them, and for hi.s grace bestowed on the Gentile converts. For thus cxjierienciiig their brotherly love, they woukl praise and glorify God for bringing them Vol. v.— No. 32. eth through us thanksgiving to God. e s« ««, i vnu 12 r or ^ the administration ot this ser- ii. a.v iv. le.i'i vice, not ''only supplieth the want of the Jam""!!, u-u; .,,,.■','', ^ , , 1 .l..hn iii 17 saints, but is abundant also by many is , ' . . . r> 1 •' •' e. I's. 1. 23 Malt, thanksarivinss unto bod ; vie. joiiuxv ixr, •,~ , 1 • /> 1 • " Ac's i' 21. \:i v\ lilies by the cxnerimcnt ot tins xi le. %%,. vi. i I •!■ /-I 1 /< '0 t"'*! i 24. I ministration, "they olorily (jod lor your ''c'ls ;.'■ n ''professed siibiectioa unto the e^ospel of i^-. »''>m x jr. Christ, ' and for your liberal distribution \ ^ ... „ ' ^ 1 Heh xnl. 16. unto them, and unto all men ; 14 And ''by their prayer for you, \J^' which 'long after you for '"the exceeding J" (;;[JV i'c-ij! grace of God in you. 'l^^'\ ^["p,?;; 15 " Thanks ie unto God for ° his un- „',");[' ,=\ 7 ', speakable gift. f Tim \. u *' C— 10. Ps »li I, to act so consistendy with their professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ ; and for exciting them to so liberal a distribution- to their brethren there and elsewhere. At the same time, they would glorify God by their fervent prayers in their behalf, as they would very much long to be acquainted with them, because of their love to them, and admiration of the exceeding grace of God, by which so happy a change had been effected in their character and conduct. This last consideration caused the apostle to break out in thanks to God for the unspeakable grace of the Gospel, and the gift of his Son to be the Saviour of sinners ; by whom idolatrous Gentiles had been thus brought to glorify him ; a foundation had been laid for the mutual love of Jews and Gentiles, as members of one Church, and children of one family ; and the most effectual motives, encouragements, and example, had been afforded, to excite men to love and good works. ' The admirable ' charity, by which God is so much glorified, the Gospel ' receives such credit, others are so much benefited, and ' you will be so plentifully by God rewarded.' {Whitby.) ' If we understand it in this sense, it will be as rcmark- ' able a text as most in the Bible, to show that every good ' affection in the human heart is to be ascribed to a divine ' influence. But I am ready to think the apostle's mind, ' to which the idea of the invaluable gift of Christ was s® ' familiar, rather, by a strong and natural transition, glan- ' ced on diat.' {Doddridge.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-r. The duty of ministering to the saints is so obvious, that it might be deemed superfluous to exhort Christians to it; yet they are so apt to forgot their principles and obliga- tions, and the remains of unbelief and carnal self-love are so powcrfiil agains; the constraining love of Christ in their hearts, that it is in general n'-cssary " to stir up •• their minds by way of remembrance." This is often done most effectually, by expressing a favourable opinion of them, and high expectations from them ; by commend- iuEc the forwardness which they have shown on former 2 E .4. D. m. 11. (JORlNTHfANS. Jl. D. 61. CHAP. X. I The upostlc intreats the Corinthians not • to leave him any cause, to exert that] spiritual poxver, with which he was armed and which he uas ready to use against those who despised his jjcrson and ministry, 1 — 6; assuring them, that when he came, he would be found as mighty in deeds, as he was in writing ivhen ab- sent, 7 — 11 : and contrasting his 07Wi conduct, with the ostentatious boastings and ambitious intrusions, of the false teachers, 12 — 18. NOW '' I Paul myself " beseech you, " by the meekness and gentleness 10. ciai. (jf Christ, who in * jn-esence am "^ base '-'•jf'jf among you, but being absent, '^am bold ■'kv.is.'"" toward you : •11 ■^ i Zecb. in. •J. .M.1U. si. >:)■ i 19, £0. x« .a Actsviit. .«. I Pet. ii i2, is * Or. ouiitard ap- pea rai le. 7. 10. ■M . i 1 Cor. ii. 2 But I beseech you, ' that I may not t-,,. s. ,« m. bo bold when I am present with that con- Vk'^\1-3i.' '^''" lidence, whcrcwitli 1 think to be holdlx!:"-"- xn. against some, which t think of us as if Itnri'.'i "0?^ s we walked according to the flesh. ";2.3" ''' 3 For though ''we walk in the flesh, ret.i»"i,2.' ' we do not war alter the ilesn : 2 T.m n 3, «. 4 (For " the weapons of our warfare 1 i I 1 . • I 4- \ , k VI. 7 Rom. ti. are not carna , but ' miffhty T through '3 a^v «»!.• God "to the pulling down of strong -le. iibes. v. holds;') iiii.s. iT.7 «iii. '/ . . . 3, 4 Judj. .(i 5 L asting " down § imagination.?, " and !j""j,"iJi7 every high thing that exalteth itself ^^-^^ xu u^ against the knowledge of God, and if ,^"^''le-■ p bringing into captivity 1 every thought l\ ijj ^■^ "*''• to ' the obedience of Ciirist : l"'o,l,K^,°to. r- -n Luke XXX. 25 Jer i. 10. Heb X 27-S9, iii. 10 ) Or, 11,12 " occasions, and die happy eft'ects of their zeal on the con- duct of others ; and when we have a good hope that the persons addressed are real believers, this will consist with eodly sincerity, and may be considered as true wisdom.— it is very painful for ministers to be compelled to retract or excuse the commendations which their fervent love had bestowed on their people, and when other Christians witness in them a conduct inconsistent with such con- ijdent boastings. Men should be very careful not to shame or grieve in this manner their faithful pastors, as that will eventually tend to their own deeper disgrace. Many an intended good work has been neglected or rendered use- less by delay : it is therefore proper to exhort men to be prompt in doing what they have shown a willingness to engage in. Works of piety and charity should flow spon- taneously from the gratitude and benevolence of a be- lieving heart ; and not require extorting by importunity. This favours of covctousness, and it even puts those, who lin-ward useful designs, to the painful necessity of labour ill''- to draw money from those who ought to give, but are i-c?uctant to part with it. Yet the main benefit of every "■.ct of charity fur the Lord's sake will redound to the "ivcr. He sows this good seed in a fruitful soil, and his bouiilifulness to man will assure him of the Lord's bountifulncss to him. Whatever expenses therefore are retrenched, or from whatever fund it is deducted, we should not grudge or be sparing in this seed. It is spiritual policy for us to spend less on every kind of indulo-ence, and to lay by less for our families, that we piay ffive more to the needy for Christ's sake ; for this will be best secured and most productive. Even persons in moderate circumstances may sow much of this seed. if by various lillle savings and self-denials, they will but study to spare something lo relieve their distressed bre- ihren • and this they will do, if their faith and love abound. With these truths before their eyes, men must be left to do, as they have purposed in their hearts ; for ihey who gi»'e in a grudging manner, and of necessity, fcave little reason to expect the acceptance of God, who Ibvcth a cheerful giver. 1. Acts Iv. IS, 26 nom. I :i. I Cor. i \j. . o Ex. T. 2. ix IF, 17. 2 Kingf xlx :2 23. Jo!) j: 12. ll. U. Dan. iv. 31. T 23— 30 Acts ix 4—6. Plul. 9. 2'nies, ii 4-C. pllon. uii. 23 1; Deul xv. 9 Ps cjxxix 2 Pro». «v. 26 xxiv 9. ls.lv 7. lis 7. Jer. iv. 11. Matt ST 19 Heb ir. 12 r Ps. xviii. n. ex Rom. i. 5. xvi.2G. Heb. v 9. I Fct. i. 2 U, 15. 22. V. 8— IJ, — o««— There arc a few " who scatter, and yet increase ;■' bu: there are far more, even among those who are zealous for evangelical doctrines, " who withhold more than is meet, " and it tendeth to poverty ;" for God is able to make all grace to abound to those whose hearts are enlarged with kindness to their brethren ; and it should be remembered, that he gives us every thing far more freely than we can give alms to a poor beggar. If he sees it good for us, he can so prosper us, that, " having all sufficiency in all '' things, we may abound unto every good work ;" and they who, from love to him, " scatter abroad and give to '' the poor," have " a righteousness that shall endure foi " ever." lie can easily give us enough to use, and enough to disjiersc, that wc may have more, sow more, and reap more, and so " increase the fruits of our righ- " teousness :" that, being enriched in every thing unto all bountifulness, we may be happy in ourselves, blessings to others, and instruments of promoting his gloiy. But, alas ' the faithfulness of our God in this respect is little known among professed Christian?, because so few fairly make the experiment. The Lord is pleased to try and purify many of his saints by poverty, and he proves others by employing them as his almoners. Their faithfulness and liberality in this service not only supply the wants of his saints, but abound in a large revenue of praise and thanksgiving to God: it evinces the sincerity of their own professed subjection to the Gospel ; it stirs up many to pray for (hem and long after thorn, and to admire and glorify God for his exceeding grace in them. Thus they adorn the Gospel, animate the worship of believers, ce- ment mutual love, and derive abundant blessings unto iheir own soul.s. While therefore wc thank the Lord for the unspeakable gift of his Son to be ourgncious Redeemer, through whom we poor sinners may perform such honour- able and useful services, with assurance of acceptance and abundant recompense, let us endeavour to copy the ex- ample of Christ, by being unwearied in doing good, and deeming it '•' more blessed to give than Ip receiyc." A. D. Gl. CHAPTER X. Jl. D. 61. xr.i. 2 10 Num. 6 And havinsf 'in a readiness to re- lAem V. 4-11 vcngc all disobedience, Mvhen your obc- xiii. 10, 11. n . J 3-" 'I'ri':!. \. diencc is fulhlled. •li'l'viTi'^ 7 Do " ye look on things after tlic "j 'gjJJ;"^^ J '^ outward appearance? *If anyman trust "ke xvi" 15. to iiiniself that he is Christ's, let him of ioha vii !4 Rom. ii IS, ;j x I Cor. ii! 23 xiv. 37 xi. 21. Gal iii. 29. NOTES. CHAP. X. V. 1 — 6. Having; concludoci other sub- jects, tlic apostle here begins to sjuak more directly against the false teacher or teachers who op|)Oscd him at Corinth. Even he, Paul, whom they reviled and despised, as not daring to assert his authority among them, besought them, by the nicekness and gentleness ivhich Clirist, though iiosses.sed of all jiower in heaven and earth, had exercised towards his enemies, and vyhicli he required of his peoj:)Ic, not to compel him to ado|it measures apparently of a con- trary n?.ture. Some indeed represented him as mean- spirited and abject, when present among them ; for they disdained his lowly appearance, and humble, unassuming deportment : yet. being absent, he was bold towards them, and wrote as one who had resolved to vindicate and exert his apostolical authority. But before matters came to this extremity, he besought them, witii all meekness and gen- tleness, not to constrain hfm to it, that he might not be bold among them, with that kind of confidence with which he was determined to proceed against certain per- sons, who suspected and accused him of conducting him- self with carnal policy, and aiming at secular advantages in the execution of his sacred ministry. In this charge ihcy included his fellow-labourers also, and by such mis- representations they seduced the Corinthians from their attachment to him and them. But though he and his coadjutors were liable to the manifold infirmities incident to the present mortal life, and were not exempt from imiierfections, as " walking in the flesh," living in the body, and not being yet perfected in holiness ; yet ihey did not war against sin and Satan, or conflict with their numerous opposcrs, according to (he maxims of carnal policy, with craft and dissirnulation, in dependence on their own wisdom and strength, or with an aim at their own interest or honour. For the weapons, which they employed in this spiritual warfare, were not carnal, nor did they produce their eiTect by their own natural energy ; but they were mighty through God, whose power wrought by them to demolish the strong=holds of Satan by which he had maintained his empire of darkness, idolatry, and wickedness, in the world. For the preaching of the Gospel, confirmed by miracles and accomjjanied by the power of the Holy Spirit, pulled down these strong-holds, dispersed Satan's garrisons, delivered his capiives and subverted his authority, by diti'using the knowledge of Ood, of his com.mandments, and of his salvation, among sicn. Thus the ministers of Christ went on, casting down men's vain imagination.s, presumptuous specula- lions, and carnal reasonings ; exposing the falsehood and ;olly of that proud philosophy which led to skepticism and atheism, as ■well as of those fables which supjiorted -he stupid idolatry of the populace, and showing also the -.vor'JJessnes.s cf . pbarisaical forius and duties, and of himself think tjjis ao'ain, that as he is Christ's, y even svay of attaining them. But the apostle and his fi-iends would not boast of their qualifications or services, in this vague antl unmeasurable manner, but would speak of them, with reference to the true standard, even that rule or line, wiiich marked out the services, to which the providence and commandment of the Lord had called them. This measure, as it respected Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, had reached even as far as Corinth. For he had not stretched himself beyond his commission, or left his work in other places, from haste to come to them, though not within the line of his duty, as the false teachers had done ; but, proceeding regularly in his work of preach- ing the Gospel to the Gentiles, he had at length come to them, and had been the first that taught them the way of salvation. To this time, it appears, from the history, that Achaia was the boundary of the apostle's labours in Europe. He did not therefore boast of interfering with services which lay beyond the line of his present duty, or seek the credit of other men's labours, as their false teachers had done, by intruding among them and pervert- ing them,. On the other hand he hoped, when their faith J. D. 01. B Ps. CV 3 CVi i. Is. xl't \6 slv.25 Ixv 16 CrtAPTER X. 17 liut ■' ho thfit glorieth, let liiin glory ill the Lord. 13 For "not he that coQimeiuleth 3 10, Or 0 12, iil. 1. V 12 Prov, 33, 71 Rom. V II Gr I Cor. 1.29 31 Gal. v\ in U. l'6il. ill i. U xsi. S. Luke sv i M xviii lu— 14 was increased even by means of these events, so that he could safely leave them to their ordinary teachers, that he should be so magnified and helped forward by them, as to proceed, with abundant success, to preach the Gospel in other parts of the Peloponnesus, or even in the more remote regions of Italy and Spain ; according to his rule of labouring for the conversion of the Gentiles, without in- terfering with tlie duty marked out to other men, or boast- ing of tilings male ready to his hand, as if he had actu.tUy performed them. ' To the apostles God allotted the charge * of converting the world, and endued them with gifts * suited to the greatness of their work. To them ihere- ' fore it belonged to form their converts into churches, ' and to appoint rules for their government. The pro- ' vince assigned to the evangelists, and other inferior mi- * nistcrs, was. to assist the apostles, to build upon the foun- ' dation !aiii by them, to labour in the Gosjiel under their ' direction, and in all things to consider themselves as ' subordinate to the apostles. According to this wiew of ' the matter, the fa-lse teacher at Corinth, who was but at ' best an inferior minister of the Gospel, had in many ' things acted out of the bounds in which he ought to ' have laboured.' (Macknighl.) V. If, 13. 'If any teacher boast, let him boast of ' having performed his duty in the manner the Lord hath 'appointed.' (Macknighl,) Surely, this is widely difr ferent from gloi^ing in the Lord! (Marg. Ref. A'o/fs, Jer. ix. 23, -24. 1 Cor. i. 26—31.) The aposde was constrained to speak of his own labours and success ; but he must remind the Corinthians, that every man who gloried ought to glory in God as his Portion and in the Lord Jesus as his whole Salvation, and the Giver of all his hopes, grace, endowments, and usefulness, to whom all die honour of them was due. If a man could not thus glory in the Lord, all other glorying m«st be vain-glory, and end in shame and misery ; for that man was not to be considered as approved, in respect of his profession or ministry, who could speak eloquently and plausibly in his own commendation ; but he, to whose faithfulness the Lord himself bore testimony, and whose services he commended, by employing him as his instrument for good to many souls, and by giving him the gracious earnests of final acceptance and commendation. Most expositors suppose, that the commendation, here mentioned, was given when God en- abled a man to work miracles, or exercise spiritual gifts ; but many wrought miracles and prophesied, who Vv-ere workers of iniquity, (Notes, Matt. vii. 21 — 23, 1 Cor. xiii. 1—3 ;) and it could not be properly said, that the Lord commended them. The evident usefulness of a minister's labours is a less equivocal testimony ; yet the final account the " Well done, good and faithful servant," and the re- joicing in the testimony of conscience, in the mean while, fieem especially intended. (Note, 1 Cor. iv. 5.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—6. Tbey who meet with unjust and ungrateful usage Irom himself Is '' appiovcif, Lord cominendeth. .jMlU. X! d.D. bi but wlietii the p/!,/ ,;'•''■,! I Cot. i 1 Pet, 42-11. xii. 13. Kom. those (o whom they are labouring to do good, sliould fre- quently meditate on the meekness and gentleness of Christ. As he vvas reviled and despised by those whom became tC' save, none need wonder or be discouraged at meeting with a similar contradiction of sinners, in the same labour of love. They should endeavour to go on patiently and qui- etly, after his example, and to " overcome evil with good ;" and even when constrained by duty to reprove andcorrec't, or to exercise authority with firmness and sharpness, they should do it with reluctancy, show a desire to avoid the painful necessity, and manifest a loving and forgiving spirit, that all may see how dear the meekness and gentle- ness of Christ are to them. Ministers should be careful to avoid all appearance, and to obviate all suspicion, of walk- ing according to the flesh; and they v/ho falsely accuse them of so doing will expose thcm.'-clves to the displeasure of God. Though encompassed with infirmities and tempt- ations, and subject to manifold imperfections, the servants of Christ are engaged in a warfare which cannot be waged " after the flesh." Human wisdom, affected eloquence, dissimulation, compulsion, angry disputations, slanders, revilings, and ritlicule, are carnal weapons; and however powerful they may seem, they will be found useless in this war, and tend rather to fojlify and garrison Satan's strong-holds, than to pull them down. For .success ag.ninst the kingdom of darkness must be expected, " not from " might, nor power, but from the Spirit of God." The appointed means, however feeble they ajipear to unbelief, will be " mighty through God :" by his command, the walls of Jericho fell down at the blast of the trumpets, far more speedily and entirely than any engines of war could have demolished them. [Notes, Josli. vi.) And the preach- ing of the cross, by men of faith and prayer, has always been most fatal to the strong-holds of idolatry, infidelity, impiety, and wickedness. Men may, if they can, give energy to means of their own inventing; but Satan derides their puny effort*, and takes them captive at his will. But God works by his own aj^pointments ; by his power the enemy is driven from his fortifications ; men's imagi- nations are cast down, their reasonings and objections silenced, their pride abased, their illusions dissipated ; the knowledge of God finds admission into the heart ; reve- rential fear, repcntar.ce, humility, faith, love, and gratr- tudc follov/ ; and the whole soul, with all its faculties and operations, is at length captivated to the obedience of Christ. But while he thus makes " his people willing ii: " the day of his power," and gradually perfects them iu obedience and the beauties of holiness, he is in rcadines? to avenge the disobedience of the impenitent and unbe- lieving, especially that of hypocrites and false teachei'Sj who corrupt the Church and dishonour his name. V. 7—n. It is peculiarly unsuitable to the character of Christians, though lamentably common, to judge of men, or look \a. D. 61. II. CORINTHIANS. .^. D. 61; CHAP. XI. Tht apostle excuses himself as to his appa- rent sclj-commendation ; because he did it out of godly jealousy over the Corin- thians, itFhom he had espoused unto Christ ; lest false teachers should pervert than, as Satan did Eve, 1 — 3. JVoneof their new teaehers preaclicd another Saviour, or another Spirit, or another i(ospcl, than he had done, 4. He was not at all inferior to the greatest aplastics ; for thoiivith the infirmities of their iirst instructor in Chrisdanity. But the contrary was manifest ; for, what- ever they might think, he was conscious that he was in no respect inferior to any of the apostles, without excepting Peter, James, or John, who seemed to be the chief of them all ; he might, therefore, well be confident that their new teachers could add nothing valuable to the instructions which he had given. He had indeed appeared among them to be " rude in speech," as a person of ordinary educa- don, ignorant of the rules of eloquence, and careless re- specting them ; (and this might be the case, though hi.s discourses were replete with natural paUios, and sound argument ;) yet he had shown himself competent in know- ledge to instruct his hearers in every part of Christianity. St. Paul's declaration, that he " was not a whit behind " the very chiefest aposdes," \vhen carried to its conse- quences, is totally subversive of the enormous baseless fabric of Popery, which rests entirely, (as distinguished from the rest of the professed Christian Church.) on the vain imagination, that Peter was supreme over all the apostles, and that the Pope, or the Roman Church, or both, inherit, by some unknown title, that supremacy. Many expositors suppose, that the expressions used by the apostle, in respect of his espousing the believers at Corinth to Christ, are taken from Grecian customs ; and others conclude, that one false teacher, and he a Jew, and disposed to corrupt Christianity with Judaism, was the author of the dislui'banccs at Corinth. But neither of these opinions seems clearly deducible from the epistle itself. V, 7 — 12. The chief distinction, between the new- teachers at Corinth and Paul, seems to have been in what they had received, and not what they had imparted. And would the Church then be offended with liim, because he had abased himself, in working at a trade for his main- tenance, and submitting to many self-denials, that ihey might be exalted to the privileges of God's people, by preaching the Gospel to them without putting them to any expense ? Indeed, he had done this, lest he phould )>rrjudicc their minds ; and he might in some sen.^e be said even to have robbed other cliurchcs, by receiving money of them for his sub.sistcnce, whilst he was labouring for the benefit of die Corinthians. And >vhcn he had really been in wan^ J. D. bl. 11. CORINTHIANS. J}. D. 61. U15 ii.i7. iv.2. 1.3 For such arc * false apostles, ' de- Actl ji"T :i' ceitfiil workers, f ran'^fortniiit' themselves xvi. iG Gal i. into the apostles or l^linst. vi. V2*'Kl.'ii. iv! 14 And no marvel : "' for Satan himself 11. Phil, i 16. . . , . 1 r r 1 1 Col ii. i. 8 IS transtormcd into an angel ol hglit. i-rvi3-s. 3 LI Therefore it is "no great thing if li.i-o iv n.4. o),J5 iiiiiiisters also be transformed as ^ the i Pet. ii. 1-3 I . . ^ • 1 1 1 ?;j|j|;;j-i8|''J^- ministers ot righteousness; ''whose end \ ".«'l!-' shall be accordine: to their works. •.0 jm. 20 S . , • 1 ' '''lo I'i' ' '''''' lo iL 1 ' say again, ' Let no man think "i? i-s'' Mm '"^ ^ fool: if otherwise, yet as a fool It 1-10 Oal i 8 Bev. xii 9, n 2 Kin;- v, 13. 1 Cor ix II « 13. Acf^ xiii 10 K.pli vi 12 ne^ is.ll.xiii 2. U. xis 13-21. >ts. 2.3 7-10. p 23 iii. 9 ■! Is ix. U IS. -Isr V. 31 it^iii. 11. I.V xxviii 15— 17. xsH 33 Ei. xiii. 10-15 22. Man v\i 15. 16. Oil. i 8.9 IMiil. lii. 19. 2 Thea. ii. 8-12. 2 J'et ii. 3. 13-22. JuJe 4. 10-13 1 1 S2I-23 xii 6. II. * receive me, tiiat I may boast mvself a 'O'.'-arcr.Tt, i little. 17 That Avhich I speak, ' I speak it not 'i','^'"' ''■' « after the Lord, but as it were" foolishly, Vbiiili 4-6.^ in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeinac that " many glory after the is-ii ~jer. i«: n 1 V I • i7 I 1 J O J 23, 24. 1 Pet. i. tlesli, ^ 1 will sfiory also. »«• in n ^ n- r l i 11 • ysnS. C. 9. II. 19 1* or ye siiiler lools gladly, ^ seeing ^jcor^ •' lo. vc yourselves are wise. ■*«.• "J. ".. At-" iv ■/• 1 ■ a I 24 Gil li «. 20 r or ye sutler, " if a man bring you \'„l,\^-'- ' into bondage, if a man devour you, if a ''"""hi^Yj; "; man " take of you, if a man exalt himself, c'lJ'l'V' Lm. if"' a man smite you on the face. !,'j;°" Lukevi. among thcra, he neither ceased frona his ministry through discouragement, as an indolent p'-r.5on, nor yet put them to any charge : i;iit the Christians from Macedonia, especially from Pliiiippi, supplied him with what was absolutely ne- cessary. (Note, Phil. iv. 10—19.) Tlius in* all things }>e had kc[)t himself from being burdensome to them ; and he had seen cause to determine that he would continue to do so : and, as surely as he faithfully preached the truth of ChrLst, he was reselvcd, that no man, by entreaties, argu- ment.-, or rc|";roachc3, should ever take from him this ground of glorying; and that he '.vould receive nothing towards his maintenance from any one, through all the regions of Achaia. If the reason of this purpose were demanded, or if any should impute it to his want of love, he would appeal to God, who well knew his tender affection for them. But indeed he was resolved to proceed in his ]H-csent conduct, that he might deprive those of the occasion t>f slandering him, who were ready to seize on every handle against him ; and to set them a good example, that,'in respect of zeal for the honour of Christ and love of the Church, in which they gloried, they might be shown in what manner to make good their pretensions; and learn, thai the self-denial and disinterestedness of the apostle was a far more unequivocal evidence of zeal and affection, than their plausible harangues, joined with a selfish and domi- neering conduct. It is generally "supposed, that the false teachers affected the praise of preaching the Go5pc\ freely : but the language, which tiiC apostle afterwards uses, rlcariy proves that this was not the case. (-0.) They seem rather lo have despised Paul, as degrading himself, and as acting inconsistently with the dignily of an apostle, in thus labouring, and enduring poverty, instead of demand- ing a maintenance. As Corinth was a rich city, his long continuance there might have been ascribed to mercenary motives, had he not adopted this plan: and as the Mace- donians, though far poorer than the Coiinthians, yet maiii- tai,aed, in part, the apostle, when labouring at Corindi ; it Kiight in some sense be said, that they were robbed, to exalt their more prosperous brethren. V. 13 — 15. It was not to be expected that the persons, tn whom St. Paul referred, would in this respect be found like h.im, as they were iii'lncd sjmrious apostles, who fa'^ely pielended to be sent by Christ; in this and other ihinpii working deceitfully, acting w^th duplicity, and varnishing over their hyp' ::i'isy and sclfi.sh intentions by specious professions; (iv. '2 ;) so that their style, manner, and conduct, were an affected imitation of those of the apostles ; but their ministry tended to dishonour God, and to deceive souls. Nor need it excite any wonder, that such wicked men should be so specious in their appearance and pretensions : for even Satan, their master, could dis- guise himself, and tempt men in the form of a holy angel, a messenger from the world of light, instead of appearing as the prince of darkness. He could delude men with professions of extraordinary illumination, high affections, evangelical truth, revelations, singular sanctity, deadness to the world, austerity, or sublimity of devotion, and in various other ways ; that so he might undermine or disgrace the holy religion of Christ, hurry them into absurdities and extravagancies, lead them to neglect the plain rule of the written word, and change them into enthusiasts, anti- nomians, or superstitious formalists. It was not therefore any thing great, or difficult, or marvellous, that his mi- nisters should be transformed, and assume the appearance of the ministers of righteousness, that by them this great deceiver might impose on men to their destruction : for if they appeared openly, as opposers of the Gospel and patrons of vice and impiety, they could do far less mischief; even as depredators succeed best, when disguised as honest men, and reputed to be such. But whatever their pro- fessions might be, and however they might be admired and applauded, yet their end would accord, not to their popularity, confidence, eloquence, or sentiments, but to their works, their conduct in the sight of God, and the ef feet of their principles among men. The plural number, used in these verses, in which the a[)oslle directly sfieaks out on a subject, to which he had all along covertly re- ferred, docs not favour the opinion that one false teacher was exclusively meant, though one might possess greater influence than the others. ''^'" V. 16 — -20. Having thus openly decided against those, who persisted in opposing his authority at Corinth, the apostle again returned to his subject. He desired that no man would esteem him to be a fool, or a vain- glorious man, on account of what he said in his own behalf, when the importance of the occasion demanded it ofhini : yet, if the\- would form so unfavourable a conclusion concern- ing him, let them at least receive him in that character, while he boasted himself for a short time, and as lo some things in which he was really distinguished : for he sought their good, and not his own credit, in what he said. He did not indeed speak on this occasion according to the general A. D. 61. CHAPTER XL Jl.D. (>i. d«i,2.ioiiii 21 I speak as concernint^ reproach, «.*M-s7. Phil ill * as though we had been weak. How- ri7». , beit, Mvherein soever any is bold, (^ I g Ex lli 18 V.3 I /• 1- L 1 \ I U 1 J I Til i6.i«_i "3 speak foohshly,) I am bold also. 3. Rom^xi. I 22 Are the V e Hebrews .'^ so am 1 : are Phil. iii>5. 1 I !• -I I 111 h Geo. xTii .8. 9 thev Israehtes r so am \ : are they " the S Chr. XX ' I p » 1 I 1 T '_ seed of Abraham r so am 1. '^ 2.i Are they ' ministers of Christ ? (I V/s. w i'. speak as a fool,) '' I am more : ' in labours Matt John viii 39 Rom I iii. 6 Cor. .:.--. I Tkes. ill. i. I Tim. ii. 6 k S. sii. 11, 13 1 1 Cor xv. 10 Col more abundant, ""in stripes above mca- nm.ss vi.* ;, « ., . „ • A-^'" '■"< In- sure, "in prisons more irenucnt, "in "Acts xvi a deaths oit. xxiv. ss, 27. 24 Of the Jews five times received I i xxyhi ir, 30. I-nb III I. IV. 1. VI cn Plilt. 13. 2 Tim. i. ■* forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was 1I beaten with rods, ' ,"^ „ ,,„^ ■ 1 h-lem 9. tieb: 'once was 1 stoned, "thrice I suficred „H •^' .^ ^^ ,, shipwreck, a night and a day I have been I, ',co'r" xv in the deep; ??"r^i /''" *' precepts or example of the Lord, or what was proper to be imitated in ordinary cases ; nor was it an immediate revelation that he was about to declare : but he followed that same confidence of boasting, which their conduct had imposed upon him, and which the example of some among them seemed to authorize ; though they would perhaps deem it foolish in him to do it. As, however, many of them, both the deceivers and the deceived, had got into this habit of glorying, " he would glory also ;" but on other ground and in another manner, in order to coun- teract the pernicious tendency of their vain confidence. — Well satisfied indeed with their own wisdom, they were accustomed to bear, with a self-complacent joy, the con- duct of those who acted foolishly ; and had, no doubt, of- ten looked down on him with this mixture of pity and contempt. They had not indeed greatly shown their wis- dom in tolerating the false teachers ; for they endured it without complaint, at least without being undeceived, if any one brought them into an abject dependence on him, and enslaved their consciences to his unwarranted impositions : if he devoured their substance, (as the Pharisees did the widow's houses,) by exorbitant demands under covert spe- cious pretexts ; if he took large sums from them by way of presents ; if he exalted himself, as some absolute ruler over them, and behaved in the most insolent manner; nay, if he even smote them on the face, as treating them with contempt and disdain, in his furious passion. Doubtless, this refers to facts known to the ajiostle, in which the vio- lent, litigious, ambitious, selfish temper of the false apos- tles had been evident to all men : yet lliey were still al- lowed to retain their influence, through the fascination of their eloquence, confidence, and crafty management of their deluded admirers ! Glory after the flesh. This is, by most expositors, without any clear proof, explained of the false teachers glorying in their Jewish extraction and in circumcision. But the expression, " after the flesh," ac- cording to the apostle's language, implies every thing that an unregenerate man can possess; and learning, eloquence, and various other distinctions may be meant, whether the Jewish extraction and circumcision be included or not. • If subjection to the Jewish rites had been that which the ' aposUe was so zealous against, he would have spoken ' more plainly and warmly, as we see in the episde to the ' Galatians ; and not have touched it only by the by slight- ' ly, in a doubtful expression. Besides, it is plain, that no • such thing was yet attempted openly ; only St. Paul was ' afraid of it.' (Locke.) V. 21, 22. The aposde referred, in what he had said, to the reproaches which these deceivers had cast upon Vol. v.— No. 32. him and his friends, as if he had been weak and timid in his conduct at Corinth. They ascribed his modcstv, meek- ness, and self-abasement, to a want of courage, and a con- sciousness that he had no apostolical oiuhority, or no pow- er to enforce it. Yet, in whatever particular any man was bold, as a Christian, a minister, or an apostle, he was bold also ; though, in avowing this, he did what on other occasions would be foolish. Commentators generally sup» pose, that in what follows he meant to compare himself with the false teacher or teachers at Corinth ; and infer, that these were Hebrews, and wanted to impose the law on the Gentile converts ; of which no trace is found in either epistle. (Note, xii. 17 — 21.) But I apprehend that the whole passage will appear far more natural and animated, if we understand it with reference to " the " chiefest of the true apostles," and the words, " wherc- " in soever any is bold," obviously lead to this interpre- tation. It was indeed a small matter for him, to show that he was superior to " the ministers of Satan," whom he had just condemned: indeed, how could he speak of them as the ministers of Christ ? but, in order to re-esta- blish completely his apostolical authority, he must prove that he was not " a whit behind the chiefest apostles :" and in fact he here shows, that he laboured and suffered more abundantly than they all, or than any of them did. All the apostles were descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were neither Hellenists, nor proselytes ; and St. Paul was not inferior to them in this respect; though his birth at Tarsus might give some persons occasion to conclude that he was. He had declared that his opposers at Corinth were not ministers of Christ, but of Satan, and he could scarcely seem to speak foolishly, in magnifying his ofiice, and declaring that he was more than they ; but it had indeed this appearance, when he proceeded to show that in some respects he was more distinguished, as the minister of Christ, than any other person, even among the apostles ; not by superior authority, abilities, miraculous powers, zeal, or holiness ; but by his more abundant la- bours and sufferings, in which he evidently far exceeded all other ministers of Christ on earth. The false apostles had laboured very little, and, instead of suffering for the' Gospel, it is very probable that they had risen to emi- nence, afiluence, and Authority, by means of it ; but by thus showing himself m these things to be distinguished above all the other apostles, he tacitly pointed out to the false teachers, and their followers, in what true pre-eminence con* sisled ; and by the contrast made it appear, that thoge things, in which they gloried, were indeed their shame, (Note, Matt. xx. 25—28.) 2 F ' A. b. Gl. « Acts ix 26-!0 SI '.ii. i6 viii. 31 » X< 2-4. «!).ll.M.i.S»ii »VI,]. I. I _V3 XIX I. ss. 1, S": ilora XV. 19 ;j-2S. G.ll. I 17-21, ti Ads is i3-:5 iJ. CORINTHIANS. 26 hi louriievings often, in A. L». bl. of waters, in [jeriis of robbers, " in pe pcriLs by a 50 J- 13. x_ 'II XSiii IJ.iic ■SKV 3 I ibes. ii IS, K » i. 8-11. AcU xiv S IJ Kn )'J-24 xix. 23 ' il VI 5. Acta X3C 5— II 34,34. I Th«s. ii 3. 2 ■J'hes rii. 9. by mine own countrymen, the heatlien, ^ in perils in the city in perils in tlie wilderness, in perils in tlie sea, in perils among iaise bre- thren ; 27 In ^ weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, ^in hunger and thirst, in " fastings often, in cold and ' naked- ness. 28 Beside "^ those things that are with- out, that -vvhich cometh upon nic daily, * the care of all the churches. iivi.i Atls liii.2,3. I:¥ 21. I Cor. vii 5 law. ii :j I.', il 23-27 e Acts xs. ib. 41. xv perils 29 Who ' is weak, and I am not weak .'' r ii i,s vii » c erils who is olfended, « and I burn not ? 1-3' i om'xii 30 If I i" must needs glory, ' I will glo " "" ' ' """ ry of the things which concern mine in- f'Tb«'^l?4-f Hrmities. ^x^"6'^n "n'^T, U The-"' God and Father of our Lord "'-""'"•'* Jesus Christ, ' which is blessed for ever- more, ■" knowcth that I lie not. ;J2 In ° Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprelientl me : hi6-i» xii u ... * I 1 1 • 1 ■ 11 '' •'"■"^ "*'■ J.J And through a window in a basket " ^^si' "'*'' was " I let down by the wall, and escaped '^'i^*"'" '''"• his hands. ''J 3- Jnunx 30 .'oUn ii 17 IC or V 1-4. Ti S-7 IS-IO XI. 22 3. IV, 8-20. T. 2—1. 2 John 10, II .Imle 3, 4 work of faith V. -23 — 27. The other apostles had indeed been, hn still persevered, without fainting, in his scourg.'d aud imprisoned for Chris.'s sake ; yet Paul h^dl" and labour of love." endured tiiis pain and disgrace more frequently than they,! ^- -^ — 30. Beside these things, which were without. and had bc-^n in danger of death on far more occasions, i and mainly related to the ajiostle's bodily sufferings, his The Jews had ?courg>^d him five times, with the utmost! mind was worn down by a multiplicity of affairs, which sevcrit} of wi ich their law and custom allowed : for they' came upon him daily with the violence of an armed mul- were forbidden to exceed forty stripes, and for fear of a tiiude, by the care of all the churches of the Gentiles mistake, they ahvajs confined themselves to thirty-nine.; planted by him and others ; this lay upon him, filled hiin {Marg, H(f.) He had also been ihrice scourged by the I with constant solicitude, and employed him perpetually in command of the Roman magistrates, though contrary to forming and executing plans to i;romote their peace and their law. He had once been stoned and left for dead, prosperity, to counteract the designs of false teachers, and but had been miraculously restored to life. He had thrice to order all their concerns for the best. And in this he so been wrecked in his ditferent voyages, and at one time he cordially engaged, thai he was attentive to the case even of continued a night and day in the sea, probably on a part individuals ; so that he might ask what single Christian in of the wreck, in extreme cold, suffering, and peril. This all the churches was reported to him as weak in the faith, was previous to his voyage to Rome, when he was again and liable to be discouraged, with whom he did not sym- wrecked ; and many of his other suffering.*, recorded in the pathize as weak also? or who was stumbled and turned Acts of the apostles, were subsequent to the writing of this ' aside, and he was not fired with zeal to recover him, and epi.stlc. He often journeyed from one region to another; with a holy indignation against those who occasioned the amidst hardships and perils : sometimes his life had been j evil ? As they had made it necessary for hiin to glory, so endangered in passing rivers or deep waters, that lay in his 1 he had taken care, in glorying, not to expatiate on.his gifts v/ay ; sometimes by robbers, who attempted to plunder, or the honours which he had received ; but on those things and murder him •, frequently the Jews assaulted him, bein^ enraged by his preaching lo the Gentiles ; then the Gen- tiles attempted to slay him, because his doctrine under- mined their idolatry: when he was in any city, his life was in danger from the violence of the mob, or the ini- quity of the rulers; in passing deserts, the wild beasts or ■wicked men, who infested them, exposed him to equal perils •, when crossing the sea he was in danger of pirates and tempests; and even when among professed Christians, he was in [lerii from false bretlircn. Thus his life was spent in Weariness, pain, and suffering ; his incessant toil in preaching the Gospel, conversing with the people from house to house, writing his epistles, earning his bread, and attending to his devotions, fretjuently forced him to pass whole nights without rest. Often he was exposed to hunger and thirst through extreme indigence ; and when he had food, his labours and religious duties led him lo ab- stain from il. He was sometimes exposed to cold from the inclemency of the weather, and want of ])roper accomrao- ilatioiis ; and often had not suitable and decent raiment to €«vcr him, when be w:*"^ called to appear in public, Yet which showed his exjiosed, despised, and sulfcring con- dition, the infirmities of his body and mind, his continual need of divine support, his persecutions, reproaches, and deliverances, and such things as implied his weakness, and the power of Christ which rested on him. Nor did he in this at all exceed strict truth, as those that gloried were apt to do ; for the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, to whom the glory and praise belonged of all that was done by him, and for him, v^as witness that he did not lie in any particular, or in any measure. {j\larg. Bef.) V. 32, 33. The event here mentioned took place soon after the apostle entered upon his ministry, and was a specimen of what he had ever since been exposed to- We know nothing more of it than what is here recorded, and in a pa.ssage which has been already considered. (JSote, Acts ix. •23—23.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—12. Ministers must on some occasions submit to the impu- A. D. 61. CHAPTER XII. Ji. D. (Ji CHAP. XII. The dposile relates his extraordinary re- velations, which had rendered such hu- miliating experiences necessary, as eon- strained him to glory, only in his own in- firmities and trials, and in the atl-snjji- cient power and grace of Christ, 1 — 10. As his apostleship had been fully proved among them, the Corinthians ought to have recommended him, and not to have compelled him to this self -commendation, 11 — 13. He was about to i^isit them tation of folly, rather than neglect the care of souk : and when their hearers think their conduct, in particular cases, indiscreet, they shouU! bear with them, especially if it spring from an excess of zeal. They may be jealous over their people with such an afll'ctionatc earnestness, as carries them beyond ordinary rules, or personal consi- derations, while they apprehend that liieir beloved chil- dren are in danger of being by any means corrupted from the simplicity of Christ : and that conduct, which many censure, may be the eftect of pure and holy afiections, superior to those of other men. It is their great employ- ment and object, to promote the espousals of souls to Christ, and to preserve those, who appear to be thus espoused, from corruption in their principles, spirit, or conduct, that they may present them as a chaste virgin unto Christ. This will excite in them a jealous fear, lest Satan, who by his subtlety beguiled Eve in paradise, should deceive them also. For he hath agents of all descriptions, who are continually at woik to impose upon the unstable and unwary. If then the faithful minister seem too suspicious, and become troublesome by his watch- fulness and warnings, his people ought, notwithstanding, to bear with him. When any are about to leave those pastors, by whom they seem to have been espoused to Christ, they ought to inquire whether their new favourites can preach another Jesus, another Sanctifier, or another Gospel, than they have already received ? And they should not endure those who, withoitt sufficient cause, would alien- ate them from the instruments of God in their conversion. Christians need not wonder, if confident persons represent their faithful pastors as inferior preachers, who are des- titute of erudition, eloquence, and power, or in some respects exceptionable or erroneous, as there were not wanting deceivers, who confidently said the same things of St. Paul himself ! But it is far better to be " rude in " speech," yet not " in spiritual and experimental know- " ledge ;" and to be manifested thoroughly in all things, as walking consistently with the Gospel, tiian to be ad- mired by thousands for excellency of speech ; and to be lifted up in pride, to corrupt the Church with damnable heresies, to distract it by furious contentions, and disgrace the Gospel by malignant tempers and an unholy life. So injudicious arc many professed Christians, that high con- fidence, and the language of importance and authority, will often go further, than the most humble, meek, unas- suming, and disinterested deportment ! The minister, who is content to bo poor, to fare hardly, to be abased, or to earn again ; but was determined to adhere to his disinterested conduct ; and to spend himself in fervent love to them, though they should, on that very account, love him the iess, M, 15. He shows that those, whom he had sent to them, had acted in the same disinterested manner, IG — 19; and expresses his fears, (hat lie shotdd be humbled, as well as com- pelled to use severity, by finding many, who had grossly amended, cmd had 7iot repeated, 20, 21. his bread, tlijt he may esalt others by freely preaching the Gospel to them, is often consigned to neglect, as if guilty of some great ofrencc. AVhile others, who assume a ma- gisterial tone, and exalt themsehcs, are admitted to that consequence which they assume, provided they have po- pular abilities, whatever their character in other respects may be. Yet it is in reality an honour to endure want, without ceasing to labour, or desiring to become charge- able, where it might prejudice men against the Gospel. On. some occasions a man should determine not to be deprived of this glorying; especially if he at any time judges him- self required to mention it. Thus the appearance of evil may be avoided, the mouths of gain-sayers may be stopped, an edifying example may be exhibited, and a contrast made to the conduct of mercenary deceivers. This, how- ever, must be done in love and humility, and as in the presence of God : and it may sometimes be proper to show, that it docs not result from pride, by receiving the kindness of others with grateful acknowledgments, w'here the same reasons do not operate. It often happens in this way, that ministers receive wages, as it were, from one set of people to do service for another : and sometimes the poorer are at the expense of maintaining those that preach to the rich. But the minister needs not scruple this, as if " he robbed other churches :" it reflects no dishonour on him, provided he only requires a decent subsistence ; and it will redound to the credit and profit of those who thus supply him : yet when rich professors of the Gospel know this to be the case, they are not just, if tiiey do not bear the burden themselves; nor generous, if they do not copy so noble an example. V. 13—20. Whatever fair show deceivers may make, they will seldom be found like faithful ministers, in labourin"- with- out any jiope of worldly advantage or honour, from pure love to Christ and the souls of men. This is a part of the apostolical character and office, which by no means accords to the designs of false apostles and deceitful workers. The plausibility of deceivers, and the attractive form which they assume to seduce men from the simplicity of Christ, should not excite our wonder ; for Salan is continually transformed into an angel of light, that, under the most specious pretences, he may fill the earth with infidelity, heresy, and ungodliness ; and, under the mask of philo- sophy, morality, extraordinary austerity, or new reve- 2 F 2 ■ J. D. G.l. U. CORINTHIANS. ^. D. 61. i^]n 10 John TT is not * expedient lor me doubtless f coJ vi!"is X X "* to s'ory • * ^ ^^'" ^o'"*^ ^o ' visions ii'ii. Hi. 16-30 and revelations of the Lord. "'^"/rxiTl'' ^ ^ "'^"'-'^^ ^ '"'^" ''" ^'"''^^ ^^°"^ "ei iT ii*""!^ fourteen years ago, (vvhetlier 'in tlic body, io Joe'i M i'8, i cannot tell ; or whether out of the body, 23 Actsix. 10- .11 /-111 ,1 \ 1 iT.xviiio. xxii I cannot tell : e Ood knowetii,) such an 17-21. xx:]l II ^ . , , 1 • 1 1 ^ V''. '2- '?, one '' caught up to ' the thud heaven. ^Mohnv.io 3 And 1 knew such a man, (whether V II.°»i7'"24, '" ^'^'^ body, or out of the body, 1 cannot !', l^Txy! tell : God knoweth ;) 31-23 Uom viii 1 svi 7 1 Cor. i. 30. Oal i. 22 v 6 f v. S-8. I KinsfXviii ■>S 2 Kiossli. 16 Ei viii. 1—3. Ki. 21 Act! viii 3S, 10 xxii 17 Fh )• i 22. 2.1. Rev i 10 iv. 2 8 3. Sit on. si. II ti 4. I.iikesniv 51.1 Tlies iv. 17. Hcb. ix 21. Kev. Eii. i i Gen i. 14—20. 1 Kicgs viii. 27. Is. Ivii. 15. lations, he does far more mischief, than by templing men lo gross enormities, h might, therefore, have been prc- vioLi.sIy su))posed, that some of his miiH.sters, tran.sformed into tlic ministers of righteousness, should be inspired lo copy his example; but if their end were to be according to their abilities, conlidence, or notions, they would have a far better hope than they now can have, when it must be '" according to their works." If then, any oftlicin could indeed vacate the law of God, the rule of duly, and the standard of sin and holiness, they would secure an im- portant point ; but they will find it in full force at the day of judgment ; the believer's works, as evidential of his faith and love, will be tried and approved by it ; and they, who have habitually done evil under the profession of the Gospel, will be condemned as hypocrites. But there is an equal danger on the other side, and it serves Satan's pur- poses nenrly as well, to set up good works against the merits of Christ, and salvation by faith and grace. In short, his ministers will be permitted to preach any doc- trine, except the holy law of God, as established by faith in the righteousness and atonement of Christ, and the par- ticipation of his sanctifying Spirit ; but this is the bane of every false system, and, when clearly exhibited, detects Satan, however transformed into an angel of light. We have great reason for thankfulness, that the apostle was constrained, though with many retractions, lo " boast " himself a little;" for, whatever he might fear, or his enemies might say, his confidence in boasting hath thrown such light upon his ministry, character, and history, as will be instructive to the Church to the end of the world. Doubtless the Holy Spirit guided his pen, though he seemed not to speak " after the Lord ;" fur he did not glory in a carnal, a proud, or a false manner, as many do. Had the Corinthians been as wise as they thought them- selves, he would have had no occasion to apologize to them for his conduct; for he did not iT'Cjuire those indulgences, which they granted lo their fals'? teacheis. Indeed, if faithful ministers, who flatter no man, and pay no court to any man's ])assions, should attempt to treat their people as some do, who, for their own enrls, are in some things more complaisant, it vvould not be endured. It is asto- nishing, to sec how some men bri.ig iheir followers into bondage ; how they devour and take of them ; Imw they - insult and reproach them as well as others ; and yet how all Uiis is borne with, excused, or palliated! For indeed their doctrine suits the lives aad conscience.? of their 4 How that he wag caiigiit up into '' paradise, and heard unspeakable words, \'^Jit "*;, J; wnich it is not * lawful for a man to . "VpL'sfa. utter. 5 Of ' such an one will I glory : "^ yet '"-*• ot myseli 1 will not glory, but in mme infirmities. 6 For though "I ■would desire to "'g^/j^'j'l- glory, I shall not be a fool ; for " I will „'P ,, ,; „' say the truth : but now I forbear, lest any ^"''^ *•'',, **• man should think of mc "above that p'*" ''"•• which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. hearers, and their example encourages them to similar conduct towards others. Sometimes it may be necessary lo take notice of the reproaches of such men, but never to imitate their spirit or conduct. V. 21—33. What mere man ever united such, and so many, grounds of glorying as this apostle? How does it fill our minds with astonishment, to meditate on this brief enumeration of his labours, hardships, perils, and suflerings, during a long course of years ! of his patience, perseverance, dili- gence, cheerfulness, and usefulness, in the midst of thenv! and of his attentive and fervent affection towards all the churches, and every individual believer! Next to the his- tory of Christ himself, the dangers, psrsecutions, cruelty, and treachery, which this most excellent and useful servant of God, every where, and from all sorts of persons, met with, and the unkindness even of his own converts, form the severest stricture on the folly and wickedness of man- kind, that ever was published. We may here see what are the chief preferments in the true Church of Christ; and we may inquire, whether on such terms we should be willing to be " not a whit behind the very chiefest " apostles ?'' In this glass, our utmost diligence and ser- vices appear too minute to be noticed, and our difficulties and trials can scarcely be perceived; the prospect may welt shame us out of all our boastings and complaints, and lead us to inquire whether we be really engaged in the spiritual warfare, or arc only called the soldiers of Christ. Here we may study patience, fortitude, meekness, and perseverance in well-doing, and confidence in God to pro- tect, deliver, and comfort us, in every possible suffering or danger. Here we mny learn to think less of our own ease, interest, indulgence, or reputation, and more of the great concerns of godliness ; and to sympathize with the lighter sorrows of our brethren, even when more heavily afllicted ourselves : here we may look, till poverty, re- proach, hunger, thirst, watchings, fastings, cold, naked- ness, stripes, and imprisonment, appear honourable, and even special privileges, when sustained in a good cause and with a constant mind. Here we may learn lo be content with food and raiment, thankful for mean and scanty jiro- visions, indifferent about all worldly things, ardently desr- j rous of doing good to others, and animated with the hope Ipf success in this work, notwithstanding our maflifofel .i. D. 61. CHAPTER XIL J. D. 61. ^xsxisopeut. 7 And 1 lest I should be exalted above schr. xivi.Ts! measure, throueh ' the abundance of the aixii. 2J,S6 31. 1 • 1 " Dm. v. 2a I revelations, there was given to me ' a *g1J xiiii 25 ^h<^rn in the flesh, the ' messenger of Sa- ^3t °Jud«. ii 3 tan " to buflet me, lest I should be exalted o.i.iv 13. u. above measure. t Job II. 7. Luke 1 • 1 • T > 1 IT sin. i« ) Cor. 8 For this thing * 1 besought the Lord "icor!i"Ti " thrice, that it might depart from me. '26"I Sam' ^ 9 And he said unto me, ^ My grace n SSsm.lii. It— IS M«tt xx 21,22 xxvi 39—44 Heb v. 7 y 10, iii 5,6 Kx ill 11,12 iv. 10-15 Deut xxxiii 25-27 Josh i. 9, Is xliii. 2. Jer. i. 6-9 Matt. z. 19,20. Luke xxi. 15. 1 Cor s. 13. st. ia Col. i. 2e, 29. 1 Tim. 1. U. Heb n. IE. infirmities. These we shoulil especially look at, if we are never constrained to glory ; we should ever keep in view our obligations to the Lord, from whom all our dis- tinctions are received ; we should strictly adhere to truth, as in his presence, and we should refer all to his glory, as " the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed " for evermore." NOTES. CHAP. XII. V. 1—6. The peculiarity of the apostle's circumstances rendered that conduct necessary, which otherwise would not have been expedient ; and which, it is probable, his opposers would censure, or even deride. He would, nevertheless, proceed to speak con- cerning visions of the divine glory, and revelations of hea- venly things. It may be supposed that the false teachers at Corinth made high pretensions in these matters ; and insinuated that Paul was not distinguished by them, as the other apostles were. In mentioning his extraordinary vi- sion, or revelation, he modestly spoke in the third person ; but there can be no doubt that he meant himself. He knew a man in Christ, {Marg. Ref.) who fourteen years before had a most extraordinary vision. Whether he was in the body or not, at that time, God alone knew ; but his out- ward senses were entirely closed, and his whole percep- tion was by the powers of his mind ; but whether heavenly things were brought down to him, so to speak, as his body lay entranced, (as the case often seems to have been with the ancient prophets,) or whether his soul was dislodged from the body for the time, and actually taken up into heaven ; or whether he was taken up in body and soul together, he knew not. {Marg. Ref.) This language evidently proves, that the apostle most firmly believed the soul to be distinct from the body, and capable of percep- tion, activity, and enjoyment, in a state of separation. — However these things might be, this man was suddenly caught up into the third, or the highest heaven ; above the lower region of the air and the starry heavens, to the place where the Lord immediately reveals his presence and glory, and receives the adoration of his heavenly hosts. Yea, this man, with whom he was so intimately acquaint- ed, was taken up into Paradise, the place of felicity, of which Eden was the type, and there heard such words as man could not speak if he might, and as it would have been unlawful to speak if he could, it being the purpose of God, that the discoveries made of himself in that glori- ous world should not be more fully declared on earth than they had been. Many approved coiEmenlalors sup- is sufficient for thee: Mbr my strength » ps 'iii 2 i». is made perfect in weakness. "Most ""a'l xi,. 13-^ gladly therefore will I rather '' glory in m. ep° m is! ■ c •,■ .1 1 5 .i-.i"' • I'h 1. IV. U Col. my infarmities, that nhe power ol Christ _^i-||i,Hebxi.3i. may rest upon me. ' b"'if3o 10 Therefore ■'I take pleasure " in '=,'j^;°6^^i>^i> infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, liji^'P^viii ie'. in persecutions, in distresses 'for Christ's f^ 1 ret 'v. 13, sake : e for when I am weak, then am I '' V'' 'I *a'"s'v; strong. Phil i i9 ii. 17. 18 Col i. 24. Jam. i fit 5. 11 Matt V. II. X 18 Luke vi. on, 9. xiii. 4. 9 Eph. yi. 10. pose these to have been two distinct visions; that Para- dise is a different place from the third heavens, and that in the latter he saw Jesus at the right hand of the Faiher, and in the former he conversed with departed saints. But, as the happiness of the " spirits of just men made perfect" consists in being " present with the Lord," there seems to be no Scriptural ground for this distinction. {Marg. Ref.) The language is indeed varied, yet only one vision ap- pears to be intended ; but in that one vision he doubtless had an abundance of revelations. Of this man, who was so highly favoured, at least equally with any of the ancient prophets, he would glory ; though in himself, as to any thing that was properly his own, he would not glory, ex- cept in his infirmities. In his present circumstances, in- deed, he was desirous of glorying in such matters, and of mentioning other visions that had been made to him, yet he should not act foolishly, as he could do it with perfect truth, (which probably was not the case with the false teachers.) He would, however, forbear speaking further on that subject, lest some of his friends should think more highly of him than his manifest conduct and minis- try authorized, and should thus be tempted to honour him too much, and perhaps to undervalue other faithful mi- nisters in the comparison. As fourteen years had passed, since the apostle had this astonishing vision, and he had not, as it appears, before mentioned it, he must be allow- ed to have been exceedingly reluctant to glory in the ho- nour conferred on him. The vision seems to have been vouchsafed to him, especially for his own support and en- couragement, amidst his various labours and suflcrings; and as no revelation of divine truth, needful tube known and believed by Christians, or ministers, was made to him, it was not only impossible, but even unlawful, if it could have been done, to relate what he had heard and seen. — As two distinct words are used, it is most natural to sup- pose, that they were intended to convey two distinct idea-. V. 7 — 10. The apostle did not forget that he was a poor sinner, wholly dependent on mercy and grace, amidst all his honourable distinctions : so that his extraordinary and multiplied revelations were soon followed by as re- markable trials, lest they should prove an incentive to spiritual pride. What he saw in the third heavens must have been in its own nature of a humbling tendency ; {Juh xlii. 5, 6. Is. vi. 1 — 3 :) yet, when he came among his brethren, he would be apt to think, (however >othei wi^e abased,) that none of them had seen, or heard, what he had seen and heard ; or been favouiTcl with such visions oi God as this in the third heavens. Thus the vision might .1 D. 61. 11. CORINTHIANS. vf. D. 6^ 1,1 e. xi I 16, u I j^n^ '■become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled mo : for I ought to i p. si s I Cor iiave been commended of you: 'for in Gal. ii.e-u"' nothing am I behind the very chiefest '«j!C"'-..»'j9.'o apostles, '' though I be notliing. 'Hj)m~'x/'i8 ^2 Truly ' the signs of an apostle were I' J^";;,;*- wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 1 .') For wliat is it wherein ye were in- ferior to other churches, except i( be that "I Cor ^'n 6 I's " I myself was not burdensome to you? ,rJ-^i " forgive me this wronir. 14 Behold, " the third time I am ready os. is x\,i. i. to come to you; and I will not be bur- ii i lil.*"' densome to you ; ^ for I seek not yours, ""acS^'m' ^' but you : i for the children oucht not to inMi'' ».«,'«.■ I /• I II 19, £0. I Pet ¥.■ lay up lor tlie parents, but ttio parents '-• »• lor tlie children. w-ixii. i4,ij If) And I 'will very gladly spend f^*-\*^y and be spent for * you ; ' though the //j"""-,!,' 'J-^ more Abundantly I love you, the less I be ]^[\]- ^"J;" «■ lovt'd "• '''''■ •'• " les ii e. 2 Tim. ii in — * Gr your touts. 1 1 Heb xiii 17 j ri. IS, 13, » have proved an occasion of self-preference, which would have induced a long (rain of evil consequences. But his gracious Lord, perceiving the danger, counteracted these effects, by " giving him a thorn in the flesh," &;c. The expressions have almost occasioned commentators as much trouble, as the trial itself gave the apostle : but had it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, that our curiosity should be fully gratified in this respect, he would have led the aposUc to be more explicit ; and the general statement is more suited for edification, than if the particular trial had been specified. A thorn, fixed and rankling in the flesh, would give great and constant pain : and some particular trials of the aposde, which began, or were augmented, after this remarkable vision, caused a continual uneasiness to his mind of a similar nature. Probably, these arose from the personal defects, of which he was conscious, which gave his enemies, especially the false apostles, (who were " ministers," or " messengers," of Satan,) a colour for reviling and deriding him. These seemed to obstruct his usefulness, and continually reminded him of his weak- ness and inability to do any thing as of himself. They were exceedingly uneasy and mortifying to him ; and doubtless they aflbrded Satan an opportunity of tempting him to impatience, and discouraging him in his labours ; as well as of exciting carnal men to insult and injure him. Being thus constantly harassed and bulTcted, he thrice besought the Lord Jesus, that this thorn in the flesh might be removed from him; (as Jesus had thrice besought his Father, that " the cup might pass from him;") and that the messenger of Satan might be compelled to depart : supposing, that otherwise he should not i)c able to go on with his "ministry, with any encouraging prospect of success. This seems to prove, that he did not mean his persecutions, but those infirmities which emboldened his enemies. (Gal. iv. 13, 14.) The Lord, however, did not see good to grant his request; as he knew that this sharp trial was needful to keep him humble, and even to illustrate the power of his o>s'n grace. lie was therefore pleased to continue him under it ; but at the same time to assure him, by immediate revelation, that his grace should certainly be communicated to him in that measure, which would be suflicient to support and comfort him under the allliction, and to enable him to fulfil his ministry notwith- standing it : as His power had its most perfect work, and appeared most illustrious, by means of tlie weakness of diosc, who were thus enabled to bear and perform such dently, unfit for. Thus the aposde's mind had been com- posed : nay, with heart-felt joy he gloried in his infir- mities ; in order that it might the more undeniably ap- pear, that the power of Christ overshadowed, sunou'nded, and rested upon him: seeing he was evidently made very successful, in his extensive and important work, though he seemed to be disqualified for it, and jjlaced in such cir- cumstances as to render it impossible he should proceed. Christ's omnipotence was glorified through Paul's weak- ness ; and this made him even " well pleased" with his infirmities, and the reproaches to which he was exposed for his sake : especially, as he found that in propor- tion as he was weak in his own estimation, and that of other men, he was led more entirely to depend on Christ for strength, and so was actually made strong to bear all the sufferings, to resist all the temptations, and to perform all the services, to which he was called. This passage contains a most express example of prayer to Christ, and of confiding and glorying in him, as the source of grace and Power. (Notes, Ps. cxlvi. 3. Jer. xvii. 5, 6.) V. 11 — 13. Every topic unavoidably led the aposde to show the Lord's special favour towards him, even in his most humiliadng trials. But, if the Corinthians thought that he was become a fool in glorying, it followed, that they had compelled him ; for they ought strenuously to have stood up in defence of his character and ministry, when attacked by false teachers, as he was in no respect inferior to the greatest apostles ; though he was nothing in himself, or compared with his Lord. His credit indeed was of no consequence, apart from the glory of Christ ; he was greatly disesleemed ; and he was willing to be still more abased, that Christ might be glorified. Yet, in fact, the special signs and miracles, which distinguished the other apostles, had been wrought among the Corinthians, (connected with great patience and perseverance "amidst difliculties and persecutions ;) especially in conferring on them also miraculous powers : nor was there any thing, in which they were less favoured than other churches, except that he had never burdened them about a main- tenance. If any of them would censure him, and com- plain of this, as a wrong done them, he must crave forgiveness of this his single offence, though he had fallen into it from a regard to their good. V. 1-1, 15. The apostle had once been at Corinth; and had repeatedly jjiirposed to come again, and declared that purpose ; but he had been disappointed ; however, the things, as in themselves they were consciously, and evi- third time he fully expected, that he should visit iheiat .i. /). 61. CHAPTER XII. A. D. 61. ) Thet li. 3 i. 3 Pet. it. 3. X 1». 2 Kings T >« SO - 27 1 Cor. IV. 17. xvi. 10. y ii IS, 13 vii. C ] Sam xii 3. 4 «x. 33 — 31 e 15, vii 1. Koni »>i 19 I Cor X.U Phil iv I. T2l.&iii 9 16 Bat be it so, 'I did not burden you : nevertheless, " being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17 Did '' I make a gain of you by any of theui whom 1 sent unto you } 18 I desired > Titus, and with him I sent a brother: did Titus make a gain of you .'' ^ walked we not in the same spirit ? tcalked we not ^ in the same steps .'' 1 9 Again, '' think ye that we excuse oiu'selves unto you .'' '^ we speak before God in Christ: "but we do all things, ^ dearly beloved, for your edifying. 20 For I foar, lest, when I come, ' I and he had resolved to put them to no expense on his account when he came ; as he sought not to share their possessions, but to save their souls. For children were not exi)ected to lay up money, as a future supply for their Y)arents, but the parents for their children : and thus he had determined to do wiiatever he could to enrich the Corinthians with spiritual blessings, as their father in Christ, without accepting of any other return than their grateful affection. Nay, he was even willing to spend his time, talents, health, and strength, among them ; yea, to be spent and worn out in his labours for the good of their souls ; even though, the more abundantly and fervently he loved them, the less they loved him, and the more neglect and contempt they expressed towards him. A more excel- lent frame of mind can scarcely be conceived, than what is described in these emphatical words. V. 16. Many persons without hesitation quote this verse as the words of the apostle, giving an account of his own management : and it is to be feared, that it is often used to excuse or commend gross duplicity. But nothing can be more foreign to the true meaning of the passage, as it stands in the context : for it is evidently the objection which the apostle supposed some persons at Corinth would make to the account that he had given of liis own dis- interested conduct. In this indeed commentators, of every kind, are almost unanimous. The false teachers would be ready to answer, that though the aposde did not openly burden the people, yet, being an artful man, he craftily drew them in, by various pretences, and so obtained larger sums of them, in an under-hand manner, than would have sufficed for his maintenance. V. 17 — 21. To this objection the aposde replied, by inquiring, whether they couki mention any man, whom he had sent among them, by whom he had made a gain of them. Had not Titus and others acted in (he same disin- terested manner that he had done ? And would some Still pretend, that they only excused themselves from ..sinister views ? To this he would answer, that he spake before God as revealing himself in Christ ; and that he did all things in subserviency to their edification, who were dearly beloved by him, notwithstanding all their unkindness. For he apprehended, that when he visited them, after the delays which he had purposely made, he should not find the Cliurch in that pure state which he shall not find you such as I would, f and r > 23,ij. n. i- ihai I shall be found unto yon such as ye niii. 2 10: II 1 . # y 1 1 •' : Cor IV. IB- would not : lost Merc 6e'' debates, ^i^^y" |,VcnrVti lu ings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, ' whis- 3^1. ^%"=-?- perings, ^ swellings, tumults : 15~'Li'''' 'li' 21 Aiidlest, when I come again, 'my God will humble me among you, and '" (hnt I shall bewail many which have " sinned already, ° and have not repented of the P uncleanness, and fornication, and ,i"vm\ i lasciviousness which they have com-„*ii ,_j mitted. 35 F.zra is 3. s. I.Pb il L'6 Kpli 31,32. Jam 14-ir.. iv 1 IPfl ii. 1 xli 7 Prov. , :s. RoK). i 18. 1-4. E». xil. 31. Deut. ix 111. 25. 136 ,Ier, i%. I. siii. 17, T.uke xix 40, 41 Horn, .. 2 Pliil lii. la. la n xiii 2 o 1), 5-11 vii 9-11 x 6, 1 Cor. vi. 9-11 Uev i 20—22. [I Uoni xiii 13 1 Cnr v 1,9-ll.vi 15-18 Gal v 19 Kp!i v, 5. 6. Col, ii 5 1 Thes iv.3-;.Heb x.ij. 4 1 Pet, l» 2, 3 2 Pet. ii 10-14 18 Jurte 7, 23, Kev. (Xi. 8, x&ii 15. desired; and that they would not find him so gentle among tliem, as they would have him to be : but that he should meet with violent contentions, bitter envyings, mutual wrath and strife, and reciprocal slanders, suspicions, and surmises •: while some would sv.ell with |iri(le, ambition, and disdain, or attempt to excite tumults against him, or those in the Church who were not of their party. So that he feared lest his visit to Covinlli, (like the thorn in his flesh.) would be a trial lo him, and a cause of humiliation and dejection, rathtr than of comfoi't : and that he should have to bewail the case of many, who had not rejicnted of their enormities. These last verses show us to what dread- ful excesses the self-sufijcient teachers had drawn aside their deluded followers : and that the incestuous person, who had been brougnt to repentance, was but one of a considerable number, who had committed crimes of a similar nature, and who persisted so obstinately in them, that there was a danger lest they should unite against the apostle's authority, and so constrain him to use great seve- rity ! This surely gives us the idea of Gentiles, who professed Christianity, and corrupted it with heathen sjie- culations and licentiousness, rather than of those, who attempted to impose the law of Moses on the Gentile converts. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1 — 10. When we cannot avoid speaking such things concerning ourselves as seem to imply boasting, we should use every method of rendering it consistent with modesty and humi- lity. Those things, which are seen and heard in the heaven of heavens, are so far above our present concep- tions, that the most eminent believers could not sustain the view of them, except they were cast into such an ecstacy, as not to know whether they were in the body, or out of the body ; nor can human language make the result of such visions intelligible to mortal ears. ^Vhile this should teach us to enlarge our exf/ectations of the " glory that shall be " revealed," it should also render us contented with our more ordinary method of learning the truth and will of God. The heart, even of the best of men, has in it the remains of pride ; and even visions and revelations of the Lord might Qccasion sclf-cxaltation. When any thing oj' A. D. 61. K. CORINTHIANS. A. D. >i. Oil AP. XIH. The ftpodh declares his purpose of injiicting miraculous punishments, on those who persisted in opposing his authority, 1 — 4. this kind takes place in those wliom he loveth, some " ihoni in tlic llcsh," will be surely given them, and some messenger of Satan let loose to buflet them ; but the delu- sions of entliusiasts tend only to pride, without any conn- terpoise. It is, however, very surprising, that corrupt nature should, as it were, learn pride in heaven, and grace should be taught humility, even by Satan and his mcssen- j^ers. However painful the process may be, the wise Christian will be thankful to be kept from being exalted above measure, and he will be more ready to speak of his sins and follies than of his extraordinary discoveries and consolations, as he will not desire that any one should think of him above what he seeth him to be. Whatever there be in a man's experience, whether of outward trials or of inward conflicts and temptations, which tends to counterbalance more encouraging dispensations, and to mortify his pride, he may very properly consider it as a " thorn in the flesh," given to him to prevent worse consequences. And it is especially matter of gratitude, when this prevention is effected without his being left to commit actual sin, or to dishonour the Gospel. When we are buflieted by Satan, we should apply to Him who " sufTered being tempted, that he might be able to succour " those that are tempted ;" and we should be frequent, as well as instant, in beseeching him, that those temptations and trials may depart, which appear to impede our use- fulness, or to endanger the credit of our profession. Yet we must be careful not to conclude that our prayers are rejected, when the desired deliverance is delayed, as he may see those conflicts salutary, which we deem ruinous. His wisdom must be trusted, as well as his truth and love ; and when we strive against sin, bear up under dis- couragements, and attend to our duty, in dependence on him, we may rest satisfied " that his grace will be "' suflicient for us, and that his strengtli will be made " perfect in our weakness." He frequently answers pray- er by reconciling our minds to a humiliating trial, and by increasing our strength for that conflict which we were desirous of declining ; and sometimes Christians have such views of his glory, and such confidence in his grace, that they can most gladly glory in their infirmi- ties, assured that his power will rest upon, and be ho- noured in and by them. Thus a man may even take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, necessities, perse- cutions, and distresses, for Christ's sake ; and though we may not have arrived at this vigour of faith and love, jet, if we are indeed believers, we have also found, that when we most felt our own weakness, we were peculiarly strong in the Lord ; and when we began to think our- selves strong, we have been left to discover, and perhaps to expose, our own weakness. V. !1— 21. He calls them io Sclf-exatnination^ S ; and to disarm him of his pouer to use sharp- ness, by their previous repentance, 6 — 10. He conchules with exhortations, saluta- tions, and benedictions, 11 — 13. They who do not give proper commendation to Buch as have faithfully laboured for their good, but prefer every new voice to that of their own pastors, often comfiel them to glory, and then perhaps censure them for it. But whatever the Lord may give us, or do by us, we are no- thing in ourselves but sin and folly ; so that the deepest self- abasement and self-renunciation not only consist with the consciousness of the liord's special goodness towards us, but are intimately connected with it. It is a great thing for ministers to say before God, and to their people, " we " seek not yours, but you. Alas ! in what numerous in- stances must the words be transposed, in order to be true, as the preachers seek only the property, and not the sal- vation of their hearers! But the more disinterested our labours are, the more apostolical they must be allowed to be ; and it is generally desirable to avoid being burdensome to our congregations ; for far more will " forgive us this " wrong," than the very appearance of being mercenary. Indeed, we should, as far as we can, imitate the conduct of affectionate parents, who seek to enrich their children, and not to be enriched by them. But how hard is it, gladly to spend and be spent for those who make unkind returns, and who seem to love those least who most love them,! We are soon vanquished in contests of this kind ; jand may hence infer, how far short we are of the apostle's measure of grace, who yet, long after this, confessed that he had not already attained; {Phil. iii. 12, 13;) and we may thus learn to pray for an|increase of faith, love, and patience. No excellency of spirit or conduct can silence calumny ; and if we were even as holy as Paul, some would revile us as crafty men, who took others by guile. It is well, when we can disprove such slanders, and when fellow- labourers walk in the same spirit and steps. We should not however be too anxious to excuse ourselves, being satisfied with a clear conscience towards God, yet we ought to do all things for the edification of our brethren, and the recovery of such as have been drawn aside. But how can ministers be expected to prove such as their people desire, when they witness among them such con- tentions, envies, slanders, whisperings, boastings, and tumults, as not only grieve and humble them, but also dis- grace tie Gospel ? Alas ! they are often cast down, and sent to bewail the crimes of those whom they fondly hoped would be a comfort to them ; and they are frequently dis- tressed on account of their own mistakes or infirmities, which they fear have tended to prevent their usefulness. But how grievous is it, that such evils should prevail among the professors of the Gospel, and that we should still have to lament over many, who have sinned, and have not repented of the " uncleanness, and fornication, and " lasciviousness, which they have committed !" Yet we need not despond on this account, for it was so even in the apostle's days. But while we observe that " the " enemy hath dong this ;" we should not forget to adej, that it was by means of anlinomian and self-conceiteo teachers. A. D. 61. CHAPTER Xfll. .f. D. GT. aSteori, xii 14 b Kum.xxxv. 30. Uaut xvii e. six. 16 I Kings XXI 10.13. Malt xviiL le xsvi 60. CI. John viil 17.18. Heb X.28. c i £3 X 12 8- 11. xii. 20 ICor. »i. 19-21. T 4 d 10. exii 21. fx -10 10 Matt. X . ao x\M 18—20 Luke sxi iS. 1 Cor V 4. ». b ii 6 i"i*4'ipei'. 1 • .^ v 10. Kiss. i I 4. .Marks. <». 1.3 "All the saints salute you. X?" ".i',,* 14 ° Ine p grace oi the Lord Jesus '>^'J<"» j" '* Christ, land the love of God, 'and the '.cofj ^ wi communion of the Holy Ghost, be with i'i'riMH'a"'' you all. -^Amen. ',?," i"i\«t ix 50. P.om xii 18 xiv. 19. 1 Thes v. 13 2 Tim ii 2i Heh xii. U. Jam. iii 17, |8. 1 Pet Iii II 1! Rom XV. 3 V XV i. 211 Phil iv » 1 ThM. v. 23. Hch xiii 20 I Johniv8-ie. lit Matt i. S3 21hesiii 16 Rev.xxii.2l ni Rom xvi. 16. I Cor xvi 20 I ThC3. V. 25 1 Pet v li n Rom. «vi It 21—23 Phil, .y SI. 22. Phllem. 21, 21 Heb xiii. 24. 1 Pet. v. 13 3 John 13 3 John 14 o Num. vi. 83— 27. M»U. xxviil. 19. Rev. i. i, 5. p John 1 1«. 17 Stc on. Horn, i 7 xvi. 20 1 Cor. 23 n Horn V 5. viii. 39 Eph. vi 23. 1 John iii 16 Jude2l. r John i lO II vii 38,39 XIV 15-17 Rom. viii 9 11-17 IC 22. 23. Eph ii. m. :::. v 9 Phil.ii. I. 1 John i. 3. iii. xxviii. 20. Rom. xvi. 10 27. 1 Cor. sir. 16. 24- 16 ri. U. ' apostle calls in this place, not those who are not divinely * elected to eternal life, (lor they who still continue in ' their sins, not being yet efi'ectually called, are not direct- ' ly to be considered as " vessels of wrath ;" ' nor those ' who after their calling, fall into grievous sins;) but such ' as are not at present wpproued.' (Bezu.) It does not appear to me, that either the original word, nor our Eng- lish word, reprobates, is ever in Scripture used as the opposite to elect ; and as to reprobation, it is, I apprehend, a Scriptural idea, (for they who are not chosen must be rejected:) but not a Scriptural word in any sense. How many declamations, then, on this subject, might be spared! {Mar^. Eef.) V. 7 — 10. The aposUe prayed for the Corinthians, that they might do no more evil, but repent of what they had done ; not that he and his friends should appear ap- proved, by the submission of all parties to his authority, but that they might do what was right, and becoming them, though it should occasion him to be disapproved and censured : or even to be thought destitute ©f aposto- lical authority, because he liad no occasion given him of exercising it. For indeed he and his brethren could do nothing in the use of these miraculous powers, against the truth of the Gospel, being invested v>ith them only Uiat they might defend the truth. But he loved their souls far more than his OAvn reputation; and therefore he should be glad to be weak in iliis respect, by their strength of faith and grace removing all occasion of displaying his power; and indeed the great wish of his heart was for their per- fect re-establi,':hmcnt in the faith and holiness of the Gos- pel, as a man is perfectly recovered from a dangerous malady, or from the breaking or di>location of his bones.— Therefore he wrote these things before he came to Corinth, that they might have time for this complete recovery ; lest contrary to his inclination, he should be compelled to use sharpness, according to his apostolical power, which the Lord had intrusted to him; that in the use of it he might promote the edification of believers, and bring sin- ners to repentance, and so prevent their final destruction. V. 11 — 14. The apostle at length closed this most in- structive episde with his friendly salutations, and affec- tionate desires and prayers for the present and future wel- fare of the Christians &t Ccrinth ; exhorting them to be sincere, entire, established in the faith, and unreservedly the disciples of Christ; exciting them to be joyful in the Lord, and of good courage amidst all their temptations, and also to e."?hort and animate one another ; calling on them to lay aside contentions, (hat they might all be of one heart and judgment, delighting in, and attending to, the same things, and living together in peace ; und assur- ing them that in diis way, "the God of love and peace," the Source and Pattern of love and peace, would manifest his presence among them and bless them. {Murg. Rif.) As a token of their mutual forgiveness and love, let them salute each other with a holy kiss. {Marg. Ref.) He assured them, that all the saints where he then was desir- ed aftcctionately to salute them; and, finally, he desired that the free favour, mercy, and salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the special love of God the Father to them, as the objects of his choice, and his adopted children, and the participation of all the gifts, graces, and consola- tions of the Holy Ghost, might be with them all. That so, all blessings from the Father, the Son, and the Holj Ghost, in whose One name thry had been baptized, might really be conferred on all of them, and constantly enjoyed by all of them, without exception, to the glory of the three Persons in the Sacred Trinity, according to the parts whicb they sustain in the great work of man's redemption. PRACTICAf. OBSERVATIO>'S. V. 1—6. All rigorous measures should be preceded by long patience and many warnings, when the case will admit of them, and with caution and deliberation, upon sure grounds, and with firmness of mind. They who will not be convinced by the abundant evidences already afforded, that Christ speakcth by his faithful ministers, will at length expei^ience a very awful demonstration of it. These cannot appear moi'e weak and despicable in the eyes of carnal men, than Je.^us did to the chief-priests, when he hung upon the cross ; yet he livelh, and exerciseth " all " power in heaven and earth ;" and when he shall come to judgment, every denunciation of vengeance uttered by his servants, according to his word, will be found Id be diving and powerful for the condemnation of dcspiser^. ^. D. 61. II. CORINTHIANS. .f. D. 0.1. We should therefore diligently and imparlially examine ourselves, whether we are in the faith : and, instead of imagining tliat it is alnays tiiibelief to doubt of our accept- ance, we should daily bring the whole of our faith, ex- perience, comfort, affections, words, and works, to be assayed by the touchstone of the Scriptures, that we may get well acquainted with ourselves, obtain an assurance that will not shrink from investigation, and possess that " hope which makcth not ashamed, because the love of " God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.'" For except " Jesus Christ be in us," by his Spirit, his image, and the governing power of his love, our faith is dead, and we arc as yet disapproved by our Judge. While ministers give these warnings, they should also look well to themselves, that they may have a good hope that they shall not thus be rejected ; but, in general, they who are most presumptuous in judging others, have most reason to suspect and examine themselves. V. 7—13. We should earnestly pray to God for those whom we caution, that they may " cease to do evil, and learn to do " well ;" though their good conduct, " as becometh the "Gospel of Christ," should expose us to censure for our suspicions of them. We should be glad for others to be strong in the grace of Christ, though that should be the means of exposing our weakness ; and we should long for the perfection of knowledge, holiness, and comfort in be- half of those who have imbibed a strong dislike to us ; even if this should proportionably confirm, and increase ] men's prejudices agamsl oiir.5eives. In short, all our iu- terests and feelings, except our present holiness and future felicity, should be despised, when they come in competi- tion with the honour of Christ, and the prosperity of his Church. The miraculous jjowers of the apostles could not be used against the truth, but only in its defence ; yet, abilities, gifts, authority, and influence, as well as the cen- sures and excommunications of the Church, may be em- ployed against the cause of Christ, and the edification d his people ; yea, to the destruction of the possessors, and of others with them : we should then pray for grace to pre- serve us from such abuses, and to enable us, and all con- cerned, to make a proper improvement of all our talents. — If we would have the God of peace and love to be with us for our spiritual advantage and consolation, we should study to be steadfast in the faith of Christ, to act consist- ently with it, to be united in heart and soul with all oui brethren, and to follow peace with all men. Then we may hope that " the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the " love of God the Father and the communion of the Ho- " ly Spirit, will be with us all ;" that through us ' glory ' may be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, ' as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, ' world without end. Amen.' And what more can we de- sire for ourselves, or our brethren, than this frequently repeated apostolical benediction ? May we then at all times, when these words are in our lips, or spoken in our hearing, so enter into the meaning of them, with fervent affections and enlarged desires and expectations, that the blessings implied in them may be upon us, and all onr fellow-worshippers, now and for evermore I Amen* 3 0 2 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE Xcir own ceun- GALATIANS. The Gahtians, or Gnllogrccians, were the descendants of the Gauls, who migrated from tL.. „^„ c-„,.- /ry, to seek for new settlements; and itho, after a variety of disasters, got possession of a eonsidcrable dis- trict in Asia Minor, near to Lycaonia, Lystra, and Iconiim. It is supposed, that they retained their native language and customs, at the time ivhen the Gospel teas first preached amomr them. Learned men have shown it to he probable, that this was, during the first progress of Paul and Barnabas, throw^h those regions : (Acts, xiv ;) for, though Galatia is not mentioned, yet, " the regions round about Lyeao- " nia, may be supposed to include Galatia. But some attempts to fix the date of their conversion to ctn earlier period, are wholly destitute of scriptural proof, and unsupported by any solid argument. It ts plain, that the Galatians were, generally, idolatrous Gentiles before their conversion. The apostle, was not able to spend much time among them, because of his multiplied engagements ; yet he asserts, in a way which challenges refutation, that he conferred miraculous gifts on them. But soon after he left them, some professed converts to Christianity, who were zealous for the Mosaic law, intruded among them ; drawing them of from the true Gospel, to depend on ceremonial observances, and to the vain en- deavour of establishing their oicn righteousness. The way in which the apolsle, with the greatest deci- sion and apparent severity, opposes this false Gospel, will appear as we proceed: but certainly it shows, that he considered the very, life and soul of Christianity to be at stake. Yet his opposition to this self- righteous perversion of Christianity, does not, in the smallest degree, lead him to overlook its holy and practical tendency : and, in this respect, the epistle before us forms a striking contrast to the over zeal- ous and vehement earnestness of numbers, for a part of Christianity ; while another part, of equal im- portance, IS overlooked, if not disparaged. Learned men maintain different opinions, as to the time when this epistle was written. Most, however, agree, that the apocryphal postscript which dates it from Rome, contains a direct untruth. It is probable, that it uas written during the apostle's residence at Co- rinth ; though some fix the date of it to the time, during which the apostle abode at Jntioch, after his first progress through Asia Minor ivilh Barnabas, and after the council at Jerusalem; but before he set of the second time, ivith Silas and Timothy, when the 'decrees were delivered to the Churches. The former opinion is, however, more generally ■maintained; and indeed it 25 «o/ certain, that the apostle had been in Galatia, before his second progress through Jsia Minor: and the objection to the epistle's beino- written at a later period, arising from' the decrees which had been sent by the apostles to the Churches, which might, it is thought, have superseded the necessity of it, seems of little wei. 32 iii 15. Rom ir. 24.24. ». 9. xiv. 3 Epb i 19, 20. Heb. xiii. 20. g Phil. i» 21. b Actsix. 31. XV. 41. Xvi. S, 6. sviii 23. I Cor xvi. 1. I See on, Rom i 7. 2 Cor xiii. 14 k ii. ^0 Matt.X! 28. XXV 28. Mark Luke xxii. 19 Jobox. II Rom IT. ii Epb V 3. I Tim ii. 6 Tit ii 14 Heb ix. 14. X 9, 10 1 Pet ii 24 ill. 18 I Joho li :. iii. 16 Rev i. 1 vi. 14. Johoxii 31 xiv. 30. XV. 18, 19. xvii 14, 13. Rom xii. 3 2 Cor iv 4 Eph. ii 2 vi 13 Heb. vi 5. Jam iv 4. \ John ii 15— 17. V 4. 5. 19, 20. Rev. T. 9. Tii. 9. CHAP. I. Paul asserts his divine appointment to the apostolical office, 1. He salutes the churches, and praises God, 2 — 5. He sharply reproves the Gulutians for so soon turning aside to a false gospel ; and denounces an auful curse on all that preached any other doctrine, than what they had received from him, t) — 10. He declares that he had his authority and instructions from Christ; and shows what his conduct had been before his conversion, and what it was afterwards, 11—24. PAUL, ' an apostle, (" not of men, ' neither by man, " but by Jesus Christ, * and God the Father, who ' raised him from the dead ;) 2 And 6 all the brethren which are with me, unto '' the churches of Ga- latia : 3 ' Grace be to you, and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who ^ gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us ' from this pre- NOTES. CHAP. 1. V. I, 2. (iVo/e, Ads xiii. 1—3.) It is highly probable, that the Judaizing teachers in Gaiatia expressly denied Paul to be an apostle; or, at least, that he was equal to Peter and the other apostles. He there- fore began his epistle by calling himself an apostle, and declaring that he was not sent forth by any human autho- rity, nor yet by the intervention of any man, as even Matthias had been, " but by Jesus Christ, and by God " the Father, who raised him fiom the dead." That as Christ received his mediatorial kingdom from the Father, so Paul received his apostleship from Christ, and from God the Father by him ; and though he was not appointed to that office before the death of Jesus, as most of the other apostles were, yet his authority was equally valid, being personally conferred on him by his risen Lord and Saviour. Ananias baptized Paul ; but he neither appointed him to the apostlesliip, nor instructed him for it. With him all the brethren, (probably the ministers were in- tended,) who were then with ihe apostle, joined in this epistle, as testifying the facts, and concurring in the doctrines, contained in it. ' Perhaps the apostle meant ' to distinguish himself from those, who were constituted ' by the apostles, and sent by thera to different places, ' being peculiarly named evnugelisls. Of this kind were < Timothy, Tiius, Luke, and other companions of Paul, ' who are celebrated in his epistles, rcid the Acts of the • apostles.' (Keza.) V. 3 — 5. The epistle was addressed " to the churches sent evil world, " according to the will of'^^r^^l »'»;♦; God and ° our Father: ?a'''\?'36°*',"'' 5 To ° whonjf be glory for ever and fj}, "p,"™ ]''■ ever, p Amen. n"M'u''M.~'! 6 I 1 marvel that ve are ' so soon re- |'°"'phi'. iv^?o moved from him, = that called you into Is'^anic'ii II' ' the grace of Christ, " imto another Vs?'' i.xli l:l. l\.v 19. Is xxiv xlii. 12. Md vi. 13. LWie 14 Rom. xi. : xvi 27 K[>t 12. Fhil IV, ; 1 Tim. i h\e 25. . 9— n 1. 12 si' gospel : 7 Which is not anotlier; ^ but there be some that trouble you, and would ^ pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But Mhough we, or an angel from ii Pet, heaven, preach any other Gospel unto ' you than that which we have preached unto you, " let him be '' accursed. x.iviii 20 9 As we said belore, "^ so say 1 now J"'-" 's 30. again: It any man preach any otiier j*'T ' .J'f '|j gospel unto you ''than that ye have re- ^" ",'=. 'a. ^ . ' , , , .•' , 1 •' s v. a 1 ( or IV ceived, let him be accursed. J* ^rf"' 9 10 For " do I now ' persuade men, or l^^l j ^ '^ God.'' or do I seek to please men.'' ^for'f^^|^ *^ '^ if 1 yet pleased men, I should not be j'jjJJ \i '■; •■ the servant of Christ. liom 2 Cor. x'.4. X ii. 4 17. 18. y Jer. xsiii 2 Tim ii. 18, iii. S, 9 John? 10 Jurle I. Re xi 13. U. I T.m. i 19 2(1. T Dent .^xvii. 15— 26. Josh i.K 21, ISam xxvi. 19 Neh xili 25. Mat. xxv 41. 2 Pet b Mark xiv 71. Arts xxiii. 14. Rom, ix 3 I Cor xii 3 xvi. 23. Cr. c 2 Cor. i xiii 1 2. Phil iii 1. iv. 4. dDeut.iv 2. xii. 32 xiii 1-11 Prov mi. 6 Rev. i 18,19 e .4ct9 iv. 19.20 V. 29. 2 Cor v 9-11. IThes ii 4.-- -T Malt, xxv.ii 20 Knm. li 8 Gt. g .Mali. xxii. 16. Rom xv 1,2 I Cor, x. 33. Eph 1-. 17 V in. 12. vi II, 12 17. Acb XV. 1-5 24 it. ;!n. Roro. xv !S Matt.xsiv. 21 A.jts.iciii 10 2Cor. ii 17 i>- 2 1 Tim iv, 1-3 r 3. 4 Tit i. 10. 11. 2 Pet ii. 1-3 1 John ii 13, 19. iS i». I. 2 6. 14. 15. 20. xii 9 Xlii. II, xix "20, XX, 3. /. 9 3 Cor. ■ 10 Kev xxii 18, 19. a iii 10. 13 Gen. ix 2fi 13 17 6 Col 22. Ja h See on, llonr " of Gaiatia," or the several congregations of professed Christians, which had been collected in that province ; but, as they had departed from the faith in the fundamental article of justification, the apostle did not call them " saints," for he stood in doubt of them. After hi.- usual salutation, he addetl, that Jesus " gave himself" a willing and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of men, " that " he might deliver" all believers from the condemnation, pollution, maxims, fashions, and conduct of " this pre- " sent evil world," according " to the will" and ap- pointment " of God our Father," to whom the whole glory ought to be, and would be, referred for ever. This deliverance could not be effected consistently with the glory of God, except by the redemption of Christ, and the acceptance, reconciliation, and grace, that are ihrougli him: ii then the Galatians renounced their dependence on Christ, they must continue enslaved to this present evil world, and be condemned with it, for no outward forms or observances could deliver them from it, or give them the victory over it, (1 John v. 4, 5.) Some indeed interpret the words, which we render " this present evil " world," of the Mosaic dispensation, which was then become a mere carnal system, connected with the love anrl spirit of the world, the fear of men, bondage to sin, and exposedness to condemnation. But the preceding expla- nation is far more extensive and natural : most of the Galatians were Gentiles before their conversion, and even the ritual law of .Moses is never called evil in Scripture, much less the whole Mosaic dispensation. .1. D. 5G. GALATIANS. A, D. $6. t. I Cfir ii 9, 10 xi n. 11 But 1 certify you, brethren, ' that m3-8 *^'''' the Gospel which was preached of rue, is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, V. 6 — 10. Tt is rcmarkaLle, in how diirercnl a man- ner the aposdc addressed the Galatians, from what he after- wards did the Corinthians. We have seen thai he used the utmost caution, and the most delicate and consummate management, in undermining (he influence and coun- teracting the delusions of the false teachers at Corinth : but he attacked the error of the Galatians in a direct and open manner, without any circumlocution. The Corin- thians had indeed " built hay, straw, and stubble" upon the good Foundation ; but the Galatians were attempting to lay a wrong foundation : the former " might be saved " as by fire," notwithstanding their errors and abuses ; but the latter must perish, unless recovered from their infatuation. In the former case the errors had been in- troduced more plausibly, and had diffused their baleful in- fluence more gradually : the lares were so mingled with the wheat, that they could not be plucked up by a rough hand without the greatest danger, and much caution was requisite, lest Satan should get still further advantages. But in Galatia the error was simple and fundamental : it was a virtual renunciation of the Gospel, and destruc- tive in its very nature. The persons who propagated ♦' another Gospel" in Galatia, were as determined enemies to true Christianity, as the false aposUes at Corinth, and more evidently so ; but they were not equal to them in ingenuity : the detection of their error lay within a small compass; their example was of a most dangerous ten- dency ; their progress was likely to be very rapid unless effectually checked, and therefore the apostle opened his subject in the language of astonishment at the conduct of the Galatians. He had been employed to call them by his ministry " into the grace of Christ," or a professed dependence for acceptance on the free mercy of God, through the merits and sacrifice of Christ, and by faith in him. He had fully instructed them in this important sub- ject, and confirmed it by miracles and the gifts of the Spirit conferred on them, and they had appeared cordially to embrace this salvation : he could not therefore but be surprised, that they should so soon be induced to disclaim his ministry and renounce his doctrine, by turning to another Gospel. As it was more evident at first sight, that the Galatians had been removed from the ministry and doctiine of Paul, than it was that they had renounced Christianity, and as he stood in doubt whether they had been efficaciously called into the grace of Christ, so I apprehend we are rather to understand him as speaking of the instrument of their outward calling, than of the Agent in eflectual vocation. Indeed, their new scheme was not another Gospel, nor any Gospel at all, but a most fatal delusion, shutting up under condemnation all those who adhered to it. This the apostle hoped would not be their case, as the immediate blame was to be cast on certain persons, whose aim was to trouble, perplex, and mislead the minds of the Gentile converts, and to pervert the Gospel of Christ, out of a blind and proud zeal for the Mosaic dispensation. They, no doubt, appeared to the neither Mas 1 laiight il, but by tlic reve- lation of Jesus Christ. 1.'} For'' ye have heard of my conver-'',*''f; sation in titr.e past in the Jews' religion, unstable and unwary Galatians, to speak very plausibly concerning obedience to the law, as joined with faith in Christ in order to justification ; but he must in the strong- est and plainest terms declare, that whoever preached any Gospel contrary to that which he had preached to them, and they had received, or even added any thing to it on the grand question of justification, would be, and ought to be accursed, as one that remained under the curse of the law, and kept others under it, and as acting in direct opposition to Christ and the glory of God in his salvation. Nay, this would be, yea, let it be, the case, even if Paul himself, or any of the apostles, should depart from their former doctrine, and endeavour to establish any other foundation for a sinner's hope than they had done. Indeed, were it possible for an angel to come from heaven, and to preach a doctrine contrary to the free justification of a sinner by faith in the merits of Christ alone, he must at that moment become an apostate spirit, a rebel against God, an enemy to Christ, and accursed in himself. So that abilities, morality, plausibility, or even miracles, were not to be regarded in this case. Nor.let this be considered as the language of intemperate zeal ; for he would repeat it with solemnity, and again denounce accursed, by his apostolical authority, every one who thus attempted to lay so false a foundation, that they might learn to dread and abhor those delusions which they had unwarily encouraged. For could they suppose, that, after so many years of labour and suffering in the cause of Christ, he only meant to persuade men to adopt his own private sentiments that he might ingratiate himself with them, instead of pleading the cause of God, and approving himself to him ? Indeed, if this had been his object, he should never have entered on the service of Christ, or so long continued in it ; and if, in so fundamental a doctrine, he accommodated his dis- course to the pride and prejudices of men's hearts, he could not act as the servant of Christ, who cannot be pleased with those things which suit the carnal minds and worldly wisdom of men. As the apostle became all things to all men, that he might please them for their edification, and as he even tolerated difference of senti- ment and conduct, in various instances, respecting the Mosaic law ; so we must conclude that this decisive language only related to that fundamental doctrine, of which he was about to treat, or to such others as are of similar evidence or importance. It does not behoove tis to use the same authoritative language, or to de- nounce anathemas on those who differ from us ; yet we may properly show men how evidently the apostle's words conclude those under the curse, who teach sinners to rely for justification, in the least measure or degree, on any thing except the righteousness and atonement of Christ, Should not be, &c. (10.) 'This is a cutting ' reproof to all those ministers, who either alter or ' conceal the doctrines of the Gospel, for fear of dis- ' pleasing their hearers, or to gain popularity.' (Mac knight.) A. D. 6&. CHAPTER I. A. D. 5(i. 1 Sam. 1 Chr )._ 9. Malt Luke I slix iAct..iii.3 i>(. 'how that beyond measure I persecuted »" xl^\%. the church of God, and wasted it ; "or. Ir'l 14 And ™ profited in the Jews' re- TVim i'"3. ' ligion above many my * equals in ",u "'" " mine own nation, " being more exceed- *,«r, '^' " infflv zealous of the ° traditions of ray n Acu JX.i 3 c^l »ivi_s. Phil, lathers. o'm.u\»3, 3 15 But when f it pleased God, ''who lb' Col "i'i" 8. separated me from my mother's womb, pDeui. Ill 7,^8. r and called me by his grace, "'iii.^: 16 To 'reveal his Son in me, ' that I g'^- might preach him among the heathen; "i 5 " immediately I conferred not with ^ flesh Jer i. 5 Luie or, J h|ood • i. 15 16. Acts """ uiuuu . IIrV^"'^' •'''' Neither ''went I up to Jerusalem 'm°™ 2i?i Cor to them which were apostles before me; i 9 21 XV 10 2 Thca IJ. n, 14. 1 Tim i 12— U 2 Tim. r. 9. I I'et. v. 10 s Matt. xvi 17 I Cor ii 9— 13 2 Cor i» 6 Epti. i 17, 18 iii S-IO 1 ii. 7— 9 Acts xsii. 21. iXTi. 17, 18. Horn i 13. U. si 13 xv. 16-19 Eptl lii 1. 8. Col i 25-27. 1 Thes. it. 16. I Tim i 7. 2 Tim i U. u 11, 12 ii I 6 Deut xxxiii 9 Luke is 23— 25.59-62. Acts xxvi. 19, 20. 2 Cor. t. 16. s Matt. xvi. 17. xxvi 4l. 1 Cor. xv. SO Eph. vi. 12 Heb. ii. U. r '8. Acts is 20-:5 V. 11 — 14. The reason of the awful denunciation, which the apostle had made, was contained in the assu- rance, that " his Gospel was not after man ;" neither of human invention, nor suited to the dispositions and opi- nions of mankind ; for he had not received it from any human teaching, but it was immediately revealed to him by Jesus Christ. This might be evidenced by facts ; for ihey had often heard of his character and conduct in former years, when he professed the Jews' religion, and how his bigoted zeal had induced him to exceed the measure of all other opposers, in furiously persecuting the church, which he wasted as a wolf doth the sheep, or as a victorious army plunders and destroys the city which it has taken. He had also been well instructed in the religion of the Jews, and had made greater proficiency in his studies than most of those who were his equals in age, rank, and education ; as well as far exceeded them in zeal for the traditions of the cldei-s, along with the law of Moses. {Soles, Mutl. xv. 1 — 20.) It could not there- fore be supposed that he should at once, and contrary to all his interests, both embrace Christianity, and preach it fir.it to his countrymen, and soon after to thu Gentiles, without regarding the Jews' religion, unless some adequate cause had intervened to produce the extraordinary change. * For, says he, it is well known in what school 1 * was educated from my youth ; namely, among the prin- ' cipal enemies of the Gospel. And, also, that I even •, excelled in the religion of a Pharisee ; and thus, from ♦ being a Pharisee, I suddenly became the apostle of the « Gentiles ; so that no time intervened, in which I could ' be taught by man.' (Be.za.) ' A revelation of the ♦ facts and doctrines of Christianity immediately from « Chri.st himself, without (he assistance of any human » teacher, so wonderfully agreeing in all its branches with « that which Christ had taught on earth, both before and ' after his resurrection, was so extraordinary an event, and ' of so great importance to those whom St. Paul visited, « and to whom he wrote, that one cannot wonder ho ' should think proper to assert it in so solemn a manner,' but I went into Arabia, and * returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years 'It went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save *• James the Lord's ' brother. 20 Now the things which I write unto you, "^ behold, before God, I lie not. 21 Afterwards ^ I came into the re- gions of Syria and ' Cilicia ; 22 And was unknown by face unto s the churches of Judea, which were ""in Christ : 23 But they had heard only, That ' he which persecuted us in times past, now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed ; 24 And "^ they glorified God in me. l2Cor xi 32.33. A. 0 38. a Acl3 ix SG— 23. xxii. 17, Hi t Or. returned. b Mitt. X. 3. Mark iii. 18. Luke vi. 15. Acts i. 13. James tki ton «r Alpttcut. 1 Cor. ix. 5. .lam. i. 1. Ju.le I. cMatt. miii 55. MarK^vF 3 (1 See on, 2 Cor. xi. 10, II. 31. c Acts ix. 30 xi. 25, 26. xiii. I. XV 23 41. wiii. 18. xxi 3 r Acts vi. 9. XSi. ):». xxii. 3. xxiii. 34 g Arts ix. 31. 1 Thcs ii. U. t) See on, I Cor i, .30. Phil, i. I. 1 flies. I. 1. •■■2 Thes. i I- i Acts is. 13. U. 20,21 27 1 Cor. Actsxi 18 XXI iO. 2 Cor. ix. 13 2 Tbes. i. 10. i: (Doddridge.) The marked distinction between being taught by man, and " by the revelation of Jesus Christ,'' is a proof of our Lord's Deity. ' In this respect, Paul ' seems to have been, in a measure, superior to the other ' apostles whom Christ instructed on earth after the ' manner of men.' (Besa.) V. 15—24. When it pleased God, (who had chosen him to be an apostle, even from his mother's womb, and had, by his purpose, set him apart for that service,) to call him by his efficacious grace unto the knowledge and faith of the Gospel, and thus of his abundant mercy to reconcile him unto himself by Jesus Clirist : and when, along with the outward extraordinary circumstances of his conversion, it had also pleased God to reveal his Son, in the glory of his Person and salvation, to his understanding and heart, to display his power, love, and grace, in the conversion of so prejudiced and violent an enemy ; that he might make hi.s name more widely known on earth, by sending him as an apostle to preach Christ to the Gentiles. {Acts xxvi. iT, 18.) When this gracious change had taken place, he immediately prepared for obedience, without consulting any sort of men, or conferring with the dictates of his own natural reason, about the consequences of his conduct to his interest, credit, ease, or life itself. He did not go up to Jerusalem to receive instructions, or to obtain a commission from those who had been apostles, before his extraordinary conversion and appointment to that service ; but he proceeded to exercise his ministry without dcia}, and very soon went into Arabia for that purpo.se. Afier- •ivards he preached at Damascus, till he v.'as driven thence by persecution. At length after three years he went to Jerusalem, to visit Peter as a brother in Christ, to confer v.iih him, and to relate the gracious dealings of God, and what he had wrought by him ; but neither he nor James attempted to add any thing to the instructions or authority that he had received from the Lord ; and for the entire truth of ail that he had stated, he solemnly appealed to God. After a short time he left Jerusalem ; and the other churches in Judca did not so much ?r< A. D. 56. GALATIANS. J. D. 5(i CHAP. H, The aposlle shows for wlial purpose he, nftcr many years, went tip to Jerusa- lem, 1,2; an■ he that wrought cfTectually ''-/i.'m'W-iB'in Peter to the apostleship of the circum- ^yn^'n' " " cision, the same ' was mighty in me to- aiii AActsxlii.2 J.I /-^ .•| \ -11 Kiv. 3-11 ward the Uentiles :) i^iG'xxMo'V 9 And when ^ James, Cephas, and ^"scoT^xi'i'l' John, who seemed to be ^ pillars, per- "i's'ss.'"' ' ceived "= the p-race that was given unto b2 G. 12—14 , ■■ 1 n L il •vi»t( xvi IB mc, they gave to me anil Barnabas tne sf! M-in right hands of '' fellowship ; that * we "e. Ily.^i Vc.'j should so unto the heathen, and they XV. 10 Kpll 111 ^3 . . . ■' Pti*iv io'n ' ""^^'^ *"^ Circumcision. atcorvhlii H) Only iheii tvould ' that we should John 1. 3 J J I • 1 1 eAr|^'«^j 23- j!» remember the poor; the same which 1 s?"23-27"'"" ^'•''i> w^s forward to do. Cor. xvi" 1, 2 2 Cor viii. ix Heb. xiii 16. Jam. ii li, 16 I John iii. 17. 11 ![ But wlien Peter wus come ^ to <^'='»jj^3<'-w- Antioch, ''I witfistood him to the face, Jl ,?,i'-»- I 111 1 ' JIH 1 1 ITno. T. ' because he was to be blamed. i'Ex!"x"kii si 12 For before that 'certain came from ^| j^,"'"^ »»' James, 'he did cat with the Gentiles: i"S M^tt'xv?.' but when they were come, " he withdrew, x\' 37-4. xt'" and separated himself, "fearing them i"iih»'r8"io'' which were of the circumcision. ^j^Acuxxi. n 13 And "the other Jews dissembled Kph^H^j^'si likewise with him ; insomuch that Bar- nVuSs i.ukc nabas also was ■" carried away with their '''22 ' """ dl . •' n I'r .V xxix 2S. issimulation. i> ivn. n .ia,t. 14 But when I saw that they 1 walked ooeo' .si. t— not uprightly according to ' the truth of n'';'-";! ec! the gospel, 'I said unto Peter before corve. .iii. 3 them all, 'If thou, beine: a Jew, livest '■ J"'- »» 12 t alter the manner 01 Uentiles, and not as ;" '* Hebxin do the Jews; " why compcllest thou the i,""' " =.<"" 1- 1 I 't ^ Ixxxiv II Gentiles to live as do the Jews .'* r spin's' ko,?. 15 We ?t'/io arc ^ Jews by nature, and fv' aij ' '/j'™- not >' sinners of the Gentiles, 9s«"*on h. n 16 Knowing ^ that a man is not justi- Y^ ^^'J '^' Prnv xxvir.S.C, tl2,13. Acts s. 28 xi .1-18. u3 vi. '2 Act^ Xv 10 I9-" 21 21 28,29 X Malt, iii 7-9. John viii 39— tl KoiD. iv. Ifi. Eph, ii 3. y .Mark vii 2C— '.8. Ai-ts xxil 21, 22. Rom. iii 9 Eph ii. II , 12. Tit iii 3. 1 19. iii. 10-12 V, d Jo'i is. 2, 3. 20 XiV 4. Ps. cixs 3.4. Lu«ei.2S— 23 .\ct3 xiii. 38, 39^ judiced an audience. Yet, while he used this precaution, he would not consent that Titus should be circumcised, contrary to his judgment and inclination : and it is pro- bable, that he look that excellent Gentile convert with him on purpose, that, in the case of one on whom he could depend, he might show his steadfastness to his principles, on so critical an occasion. {Notes, Acts xvi. 3.) For both his journey to Jerusalem and his conduct there, espe- cially in respect of Titus, were intended to counteract the designs of the false brethren, the pretended Christians, who had, in an unsuspected manner, got admission into the Church at Antioch ; and who came as spies to observe the degree of liberty, which the Gentile converts, and even ihose of the Jews, used, in respect of the law, according to the truth and will of Christ : in order that they might bring the Gentiles into bondage to the legal ceremonies, as well as oblige the apostle and his coadjutors to be more observant of them. He was indeed always disposed to make allowance for men's prejudices, and to deal gently •with weak consciences, in order to promote the Gospel, (Notes, 1 Cor. ix. 19 — 23 :) but he would not give place at all, by way of subjection to the law, when they imposed it on men's consciences, and represented it as necessary to salvation. Nay, he strenuously opposed all such attempts, in ordfT that the truth of the Gospel, which these Jewish teachers were labouring to |iervert and corrupt, might re main in the Gentile churches. V. 6 — 10. The false brethren disparaged Paul, as if no account was to be made of him ; but Peter, James, and John, seemed to be somewhat in their estimation, in order that by using their names they might the more successfully oppose the truth : for the opinion of others oonceruinj^ ihcm, not their own estimate of themselves, is exclusively meant. But the apostle declared, that it was no matter to him what they or others were, as to their endowments, authority, or reputation : foi- God did not thus partially accept of men's persons, or determine right and wrong, truth and falsehood, by such rules. However, therefore, he loved and honoured them as bre- thren, he would not put them in Christ's stead, or acknow- ledge that they had any authority over him : nor indeed, when he conferred with them, had they added any thing to his knowledge of the Gospel, or authority to preach it, or even to his spiritual gifts and miraculous powers. On the contrary, they were convinced that Christ had imme- diately appointed him to be his principal minister, in preaching the Go.spel among the Gentiles; even as Peter was the leading person in the work carrying on among the Jews : and had qualified him as fully, and wrought by him as mightily, in the one case, as he had by Peter in the other. So that these three apostles, who seemed to many persons to be the only pillars on whom every thing depended, saw and acknowledged the grace of God bestowed on him, and allowed of him and Barnabas, as fellowdabourers of equal authority and ability with them- selves ; being satisfied that they should labour principally among the Gentiles, while themselves would at present continue among the Jews. Only, considering the low condition of the Jewish converts, and the expenses which they had incurred soon after the day of Pentecost, they desired them to remember, and raise some contribution^ for their poor, among the Genule converts ; which Paul was very ready to do, and accordingly did without delay, and with great earnestness, notwithstanding their pre- judices against him. The event of this con^rence n> other respects .was ^vell known. ji. D. 5G, CHAPTER H. J. D. . iii, 13, 14. 23- fied by the works of the law, ' but by fV'iH sr-s" the faith of Jesus Christ, even " wc have «; yM.Vs'a' beUeved in Jesus Christ ; that we might al"ic7rvi^rl be justified by the faith of Christ, and Phn'iil 9. Heb. not by the works of the law : '^ for by hso. Jo'ho Ti. 68, the works of the law shall no flesh be 69. XX. 21. Acts . ■/. 1 iv. 12, I Pet. i justincd. 17 But if '^ wliile we seek to be justified ii", by Christ, we ourselves also ''are found sinners, ' is therefore Ciirist tiie minister 2 Pet- John i ; S. Rev. yU. c See on, _. . „ d"oi;V ..-ofsin? sGod forbid 33. si. 7. e 1 1 liora ,2 18 For ''if I build again the things I, which I destroyed, I make myself a trans- ii 7_9 gressor. 21-25 viii. 2. I John iii 5 gStenn -12. V U. Kom. xiv. li 1 e»r. viii 11, 12 V. 11 — 16. The wisdom of God, in permitting the transaction here recorded, is very conspicuous ; Tor it demonstrably proves the pope's pretended infallibility and supremacy, as derived from Peter, (no one can tell in ■what manner,) to be the most groundless fiction imagi- nable ; and it tends exceedingly to establish the doctrine of justification by faith alone. After the decree of the coun- cil at Jerusalem, Peter on some account went down to Antioch, and, knowing that the Mosaic law was no lon- ger obligatory on the conscience, he did not scruple to eat and converse freely with the Gentiles : yet when cer- tain Jewish converts came from James to him, he separa- ted from the Gentiles, lest he should incur the censure of the Jews. Thus he showed more fear of man, than regard to the truth of the Gospel ; he confirmed the pre- judices of the Jewish converts, and strengthened the hands of the Judaizing teachers ; he weakened the influence of St. Paul and other ministers ; he set an example of dissi- mulation, which was followed by the other Jews, and which even seduced Barnabas himself, who had been St. Paul's coadjutor among the Gentiles ; and he threw addi- tional hindrances in the way of their conversion. This sufficiendy proved him to be both fallible and sinful in himself, though he was guided by the Sjiiiit of God to deliver the Gospel to mankind, free from error or corrupt mixture. As, however, he was so evidently blameable, Paul, though probably a much younger man, and called to the aposlleship long after him, deemed himself bound openly to withstand him. A private remonstrance would not suffice on so public and important an occasion ; and he would not speak against him behind his back. But he took an opportunity, in the presence of the whole Church, to expostulate with him concerning his disingenuous con- duct; demanding of him, how it was that he, being a Jew, should in many respects and on many occasions live like the Gentiles, without observing the Mosaic law ? •and yet should inconsistently employ the influence of his example, to induce, and even to compel, the Gentile converts to submit to circumcision and obey that law? For they, who were naturally of the stock of Israel, and thus had been born and educated Jews, and who had formerly been strictly observant of the Mosaic law, and not idolatrous sinners like the Gentiles, being at length fully convinced, that a man could not be justified before iii. 19. 20. 20. vii U 22,: k Ram vi. 2 1 1 9 For I ' through the law am ^ dead ■ iii. m n. Hom J. J 1 I > 1 T • I J* ^^1 lii in Oft t,. to the law, ' that I might live unto God. 20 I am " cruciiicd with Christ " nevertheles.? I live; yet not J, "but Christ liveth in me : and '' the life which I ; I'e't. li ci.' now live in the flesh, ''I live by the faith « ^ i c" x^si'.' of ■■ the Son of God, ' who loved me, and j,.!"'.'^', ^^'i; ' lit II IJ. Hch. gave himself lor me. ix^m. iPct.iv 21 I 'do not frustrate the grace of ■"„;; j'\| ^|_!,\ God : for if " righteousness cojnc by the f,'.'',!- u. '^''' law, then "Christ is dead in vain. "v','?'! 'LI n'. 1,5. Col. 11 13 i 17 Cnl. i 27 Ufi 7i. 57. Rom 1. 1 i6 35 vi. r,9 ix -13 20 ■ ii, 20 p2Cor i». Il.x. 3 T Pet iv 1,2. j 10. lii II ( 2 2 Cnr. i 24 v 7. 15. Pill iv. 13. I I'ft. i, R. r lolin i i -38. Acts viii. 37. ix- 10 1 Xlies. i. 10. 1 Jolin i 7. it. 9. 10. 11 Mitt. XK 23. John sv. U. Unm viii 37 Kph. v. 2 2S. Tit I's xrxiii. 10. .-Mirk vii 9. Marg Rom. i:i. 31 ii S.r m, ! 3. XI 0 X Is xlix. 4 Jcr. viii. ti 1 Cor xv. i. 14 17. God by hi.s own obedience, in any sense, (A'o/fs. &c. i^om. iii,) but that this blossing must be obtained by the faith of Jesu.s Christ, even they had renounced all de- pendence on the law, and fled to Christ by faith, that they might be justified in him alone, without the works of the law. Why then should Peter and other Jewish converts draw the attention of the Gentiles to the legal ceremonies, and intimate to them, that they were not fully brought into the Church of Christ, because they did not submit in them, when this served to sanction those teachers, who instructed them to depend upon them in part at least for justification ? Whereas they well knew, that by the works of the law no flesh could be justified befoie God. The occasion of this declaration was doubtless taken from the ceremonial law : but the argument, as it respects justi- fication, is equally conclusive against all dependence on the works of the moral law, as absolutely inconsistent with the Gospel-method of justification. This certainly took place some years before the apostle's last journey to Jerusalem, as recorded by St. Luke, and it is an addi- tional argument in support of the view before given of St* Paul's conduct on that occasion. (Note, Acts xxi. 18 — 20.) The conduct of Peter, on this trying occasion, seems to have been peculiarly excellent. (Marg. Rrf.) V. 17 — 21. It is not agreed, wlicther the aposUc's address to Peter continues to the end of the chapter ; or where it terminates, if it does not : but the doctrine is just the same, however this may be decided. If then, while the aposdes renounced their legal confidence, and sought to be justified by Christ, it should at length be found that they were yet in their sins, through the insuf- ficiency of his righteousness and atonement to jusdfy them, except they returned back to the law, and taught others to do the same, it would foUotv, that Christ was " the minister of sin," and the Gosjiel " the ministration " of condemnation," instead of the ministration of the Spirit and of righteousness. But, God forbid that such things should be spoken of Christ, and his Gospel! This appears to be the meaning of the verse, as it stands coh- nected in the apostle's argument. At first sight indeed it may seem rather to relate to the sins which are found in tho.sc, who profess to be justified by Christ ; which are not to be charged on the doctrine, or the insufficiency of his grace to sancfiTy them, as if he were the ministc 2 112 .'i. D. b^. GALATIANS. A. D. 5G. CHAP. HI. The apostle sharply reproves the Gidaliuns for (Icpartinn; from that doctrine, which had been fulli^ preached to them, and confirmed by the gift of the Holy Spirit, 1 — .'). He proves his doctrine concerning justification, from the example of jlbra- ham, and the testimony of scripture, G — 9 ; from the tenour and curse of (he law. and the redemption of Christ, 10 — 14 : and from the Abrahamic covenant, which the law could not disannul, 13 — ]!]. He shows the subserviency of the laiv to the covenant of grace ; being us a shoolmaster to prepare men for Christ, 19 — 21; and that all believers are delivered from the law, and made the spiritual seed of Abraham, 25 — 29, of sin, and allowed men to continiio in it ; or as if there was any need to go back to the law on that account. The former iiilerpi-etation, however, is most afijiiovcd, and indeed justly, if liicn Paul, or the other apostles, should, either by doctrine or example, countenance the opinion, thai the law must be obeyed, in order to jiistihcalion, thus building again what they had destroyed, they would be- come transgressors, and liable to condemnation. And if the Jewish Christians should return back to a de])endcnce on the law, they would vaiidy attempt to ciect again that olii building, which they iiad destroyed, in order to make Chrisj. their Foundation. (Notes, Rom. x. 1 — 4.) wiiich would again bring tliem under condemnation, and leave their sins both unpardoned and unsubdued. But tliis was very diflerent from the apostle's own experience in this matter : for through his knowledge of the strictness, ex- ten t, spirituality, excellency, ami sanction of the moral law, as well as of the typical import of the ceremonies, he was become " dead to the law ;" he expected no help from it in the matter of justification ; he was divorced from it as a legal covenant, that he might welcome Christ and his salvation. The union betwixt him and the law, in this sense, was finally dissolved, as themarriage relation is by death. He hoped and feared nothing from it, any more than a dead man did from his friends or his enemies. But the eflcct of this was not a careless, lawless life : on the contrary, this was necessary, in order that he might live to God, and be accepted by him, and dcvot-cd to him, l-hrough the motives, encouragements, and grace of the Gospel. Indeed, he was even crucified with Christ ; the demands of the law on him had been answered by his ^surety, in his obedience unto the death upon the cross; .ind his union witli Christ had made him die to all legal dependences, as well as to the love and friendship of the world, the delights and interests of sin, and all those carnal principles from which his former activity arose. — Nevertheless, he lived in a new and evangelical hope, by •■he communication of a divine life to hi* soul, by new capacities of enjoyment, and new motives and principles of action. Yet it was not so much he that lived, as Christ who lived in him by his Spirit, and his power and grace, regulating his judgment and atiections, transforming him into his own image, and employing him as the instru- ment of his glory. So that the life, which he then lived in the body, surrotmded with worldly objects and tempta- tions, was not conducted upon carnal principles, or by a regard to external things, but by faith in the Son of God ; as he depended 9n hmi for all things, and aimed to do all according to his will and in subserviency to his glory. And to this he was' influenced by the consideration, that this glorious Saviour had loved him when a bitter persecutor, .Tud had given himself a sacrilice for his sins. So that, though he neglected no acceptable obedience, and declined no self-denying service, yet he attended to all Jiis duties from such principles and for such purposes, tliat he did not frustrate or set aside the gi-acc of God, by attemjiting in any measure to justify himself by his works ; being fully assured, that if rigiitcousncss could have been ob- tained by any obedience of man to the law, consistently with the glory of God, then Christ had died without any necessity, and to no purpose. As, therefore, no Christian could suppose, that so siupendous a plan as that of re- demption was formed and executed without any occasion ; so it m\ist also be concluded, that righteousness could, in no degree, be obtained by a sinner, on account of his obe- dience to the law. This holds equally true of the moral, as of the ceremonial law. It was of small moment whe- ther men observed the latter, or not, except as they de- pended on it : and the concluding part of the apostle's argument related to the moral law, at least equally with the ceremonial. (Notes, Row. vi.) " I through the law " have died by the law, so that F must live by God." (19.) ' We all, through breaking law, have died by the curse of ' law, so that if we live, we must live by the free gift of ' God, and not by law.' (i}htckniglil.) If this learned and laborious writer had made it clearly intelligible, what he meant by ' have died by the curse of the law,' his novel inter|)rctation would have required further notice. — But the author owns himself unable to affix any precise meaning to the words used in this and in several,places of his translation and paraphrase ; and certainly the word breaking is here a direct addition to the text, which is not at all necessary, or indeed admissible. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIOiNS. V. 1— 10. While we simply depend upon God to prosper our labours, we should use every prudent method of obviating misapprehensions, and couiiteracling the designs of op- posers, " lest by any means we should run in vain ;" and this may commonly be connected with decided firmness in important cases. False brethren and teachers are gene- rally brought in unawares; we must expect spies in our congregations, who come on purpose to find something to cavil at or object to, in order to deprive us of our Chris- tian liberty, by bringingus into bondage to legal terrors or human impositions, or, through extravagant notions of liberty, to keep men in slavery to sin and Satan. We mvist not give place, in sitch matter?, " by way of sub* .4. D. 5G. CHAPTEK m. A. D. 56. »3 Deujl^^"^'.!; /^ " FOOLISH Galatians, * wTio hath 13 iTu'Ke xxi'v, t f bewitclicd you, that "= yc should not jrrim. VI X obey the trutli, before whose eyes "Jesus V MMt'xliv' Christ lialh been evideiitlj set I'oitli, cru- -ii.^"cor'''xi° cified among you ? ?,.'?r"2 rifes. 2 This only would I learn of you, ji;',7'-H//i'^'' Received ye the Spirit by the works I JO- xiii. 1 J, M xviii 3. c Atts vi 7. Tlom, ii. 8- vi H x. 16 S Cor. x 5. 2 Ties i. 8 Heb- V a. <1. a. I Pit. i. 22 iv 17 d r Cor i 23,24. ii. 2 si. 2C v;ph M. t BS.U Aitsli 38 via IS n 41— 47.xi 15-18. sr.8 sis 2-6 1 Cor. xii J-13.3Ci>r si 1. Epli i 13. 14. Heb ii 4 1 Pet i 12. " jection," in any measure ; lest the truth of the Gospel should be obscured or disgraced. False brethren often jjrotend an undue regard to .?orae ministers of established reputation, in order to run down others of equal ability and faithfulness, whose line of duty requires them to pro- ceed in a somewhat diilcre nt manner. But they should be shown, " that God accepteth no man"'s person ;" and that all the servants are as nothing, in comparison of their common Lord, who will never approve of those who ■*' call any man master upon earth," that they may disparage others, who are labourers together with him. The ques- tion is not, who said or did such and such things ; but merely, what was said and done, and whether it accords to the word of God, or not? Frequently those ministers, whom captious or injudicious persons magnify against others, in conference, add nothing to them: nor indeed do they materially differ from them ; except as the diilcrent descriptions of men, among whom they labour, induce them to conduct their work with some apparent variation. And they generally see that God hath called them to their different spheres of usefulness, and become mutually desirous, by love and good ofiices, to strengthen each other's liands ; while many ignorantly suppose, or maliciously pretend, that they are opposing one another. But whe- ther our differences be real or imaginary, we should all be forward to remember the poor; especially such as have impoverished themselves for the sake of the Gospel, even should they retai;: any prejudices against us. \^ 11—16. " The fear of man bringeth a snare," to an eStent which few are fully aware of; and we need not wonder to see pious persons ashamed or afraid openly to countenance those, whom they inwardly favour ; or boldly to avow themselves on controverted points, when their opinions are unpopular ; for even Peter Avas induced thus to pre- varicate ! But even a man equal to an apostle, or " the " chiefest of the aposUes," who " walks not uprighdy '' according to the Gospel," is to be blamed, and with- stood to his face, when the^matter is evident and impor- tant: for the more eminent he is, the greater mischief will follow from the example ; so that other distinguished persons will be carried away by such a sanctioned dissimu- lation. Public offences must be publicly reproved, that the evil may be effectually counteracted. We must cease from man, and know no one after the flesh, if we would follow the Lord fully ; for " verily every man in his best " estate is altogether vanity." Christ is the only infallible Head of his Church : all pretenders to this title on earth ar^ antichris'.s ; and they who cannot yndure to be blam,ei^; of the law, or ' Ijy tlic hearing of faith? 3 Arc ye so foolish? ^ Itaving begun in the Spirit, arc ye now made perfect by the flesh ? '1 Have ^ yc sufl'ered * so many things in vain ? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore ' that ministercth to you the Spirit, and ^ workcth miracles .Tnhi, 0. tOr, , a. a Cor. iii 8. k Atts xlv 3 !), 10. nix II, 12. 19. 1 Cor i 4 5. 2 Cor x 4. >ii. \2 xiii. 3. or to acknowledge themselves mistaken, are of a very un- christian temper. Men are seldom aware of the mag- nitude, or fatal consequences, ;of their errors or carnal compliances ; yet they should be fairly pointed out to them, that they may be put upon their guard. Whatever be our nation, religious profession, education, or outward character; yet, if we are real and established Christians, we know that " by the works of the law shall no flesh be "justified:" this conviction hath led us to believe in, and rely oil, Christ, that we might be justified by faith in him ; and whilst we adhere to this principle, all our worship and obedience will be entirely disregarded in the grand concern of our justification, and be wholly performed" from other motives and to other purposes. V. ir— 21. We should make Christ the minister of sin, were we to suppose that his merits were insufficient to justify the believer; even as others make him the minister of sin, by allowing themselves in disobedience, from a presump- tuous confidence of being justified by his righteousness, and saved without being sanctified. The believer, through the law, is become " dead to the law," not that he may continue in sin, but that "he may live unto God," {ISotes, Rom. vi. vii.) and the more simply he relies on Christ for every thing, the more devotedly does he walk before him in all his ordinances and commandments. He is crucified with Christ to the world and sin, as well as to all legal dependences ; he is united with Christ and conformed to him ; he, as it were, rises, lives, and ascends with him ; yea, Christ lives and reigns in him, and speaks and acts by him : and, as far as he is brought under this sacred influence, his words and works resemble those of his Lord, and all his powers are employed in his service. He lives here on earth by faith in the Son of God, which worketh by love, induceth obedience, and effects a pro- gressive transformation into his holy image: and this proportionably enables him to use the language of full assurance, and to say, " he loved me, and gave himscll " for me." Thus he neither abuses nor " frustrates the "grace of God;" for this proposition, " that if right- " eousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in " vain," is the bane of all self-justifying schemes, how- ever refined or ingenious they be : and all, who cleave to them, would certainly have deemed this language to be enthusiasm, if the apostle had not used it as his own experience, and if it had first been spoken by some zealous modern defender of the doctrine ©f grace, against the objections of Pharisees and the perversions of Anti- r.omian^ ' • J. D. :a\. GALATIANS. A. D. 36, 'r,h. Gen xv r, amoii:; joQ, cloclh iLC it '^by the works of v"\o \\.ytzi. tlie law, or by the bearing of faith ? »ll"'.i".puud 15 Even " as Abraham bchcved God, r2"'2i 'scor.'i' atul it was * accounted to him for risfht- 19-21. ^ m-?. c3 1.,,'n cousncps. xi'n.ji'' """ 7 " Know yc therefore, that ° they ■ it"m which arc of faith, tlie same are the chil p 22 IV ;iO John WIM 42 xrx 37. Hoin. IX 17 8 And ''the scripture, i foreseeing that s'iim'."'i'ii'.''ii- ""God woiih! justify the heathen through 1 .■J"''" '5-'" faith, = preached Ijcforc the jjospel unto r Rom. lit. 18- , ' I . , I M II Abraham, sayings ' In thcc bhall all nations 31 in 31). s Heb. iv . t 16 Gen .Kii n [jc blcSSetl I.I8.< in 9 So then " they which be of faith are U XllX in I'a. i"uv' o'^rLs blessed with faithful Abraliam. ill 25. 1.0. Itc. 10 For * as many as arc of the works "i': u'.^ig's""'" of <^he law are * under the curse : for it is ^n.'LiitcTlili ^vriltcn, ' Cursed ?'? every one that con- isT'vii.'^T-ix tinueth not in all things wliicii are writ- Tiii 7 V Kent xi. 2fi— 2;f. xxiK in 1=. Kliii 23. .%liilt. xsv. 11. ;: Dent. xXTii. 16. Jer xi. 3 Ei. xviii, i Rom. ill. 19, 20. li. iJ. Jam. ii. 3-11. NOTES. CHAP. III. V. 1 — 5. Having authenticated his ministry and dortiine by the statement of fact.s, the apostle proceeded more directly to argue ihe point with the Galatians, whom he sharply reproved, as destitute of wisdom and understanding, in thu.s unaccountably turning away from the truth of Chri.st. He demanded, therefore, who liad fa.^cinated thorn by the sorcery of their insidious insinuations ? Who had induced tliem to refuse obedience to the truth, which required them to seek justification by faith in Christ alone? For it certaiidy could he owing to nothing less than fascination for them to seek it by the works of the law, seeing the Gospel had been so fully explained and earnestly enforced upon them ; and all things relating to the sufferings of Christ, and the need, motive, intenseness, and benefit of them, had been set before them in so pathetic, affectionate, and lively a manner, by the preaching of the Gospel and thotadministration of the Lord's sujjper, that Jesus Christ had, as it were, been evidently set forth as crucified before their eyes and in the midst of them. And could it be imagined that the im- pressions which seemed to be thus made upon their minds should so soon be utterly erased ? The argument, however, might be reduced to a very compendious decision: he only desired to know hom them, whether they had received the miraculous gifrs of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of those preachers who proselyted them to the ^Jewish law, or from him who brought them the joyful report of free salvation by faith in Christ. As they must know that they received these gifts by him, and not by their legal teachers, could they be so absurd as to auppose that they had indeed begun to worship and serve God, in a spiritual and acceptable manner, by the preach- ing of a doctrine warranted by the Holy Spirit, but that the work had been left imperfect, and was now to be completed by teachers who possessed no miraculous powers, at least could impart none to others ; and who only in- structed them in mere external ordinances, a bodily exer- 17. Heb. I3C. C Horn i» 4, 6 14 16 il.30— ten in the book of the law to do them. ,i K:D.,,iii.«. 11 But " that no man is justified by i'uVI: l','iii. the law in the sight of God, it is evident : «uii""c^i'i. for, ^ the just shall live by faith. JIIi.g''' iliVl' 12 And "^ the law is not of faith : but i-'ili'io ^nii" »" ■^ the man that doeth them shall live in '« hI> iu nom! them. 13 Christ hath ' redeemed us from the M ^°"^". P , , , , . 1 ,. , is. Gen xii. 2. 3 Is. xli. 8. Ii. 2, 3. Horn. iv. 3-17 k 16 Cen. xxii 18 Is xlin. f. lii 10 l.uks ii. 10,1!. Act« li 39 i.i 25,26. iv. 12 Rom x 9-15 1 Tira ii. 4-1; 12.5 iv 6 U. sxxii 15 xliv 3,4 Ix. 19-2 . Jer lx\i 3.1. xxsii 40 El. xl 19. »»x>i, i6, 27,xxsix. 2J. Joel li S8 2.). Zech xii. 10 I.n".e xi 13. xxiv 49 John vii 39. Act's i 4.5 ii 33 M V 32 X. 45-47 xi 15,10. Kora Tiii 9-18.20,2?. ICor.xii I3.C Cof. i 22 Eph. i, 13, 14. il 13. 22, iii.TS. iv. 30. 1 Pet. i.22. Jude 19,20 cise, of which carnal men were as capable as the most spiritual man on earth ! They had endured many perse- secutions, especially from the Jews ; and would they at length prove their profession of Christianity to be vain, and lose all the benefit of their sufferings, by renouncing the grace of the Gospel, to rely in part at least on legal observances ? The apostle hoped that it would not yet be thus in vain ; but it certainly must be so, unless they could be recovered from the fatal mistake. He must therefore again demand of them, Whether the supply ol' the Spirit and miraculous powers had been given them from the Lord, by means of the preachers of legal ob- servances, or by the ministers of the Gospel ? This open appeal to the Galatians, who were under the influence of such as opposed the apostle's authority, is a strong demon- stration that these gifts were actually communicated to them by his ministry. The abruptness nnd repetitions of his questions prove that his mind was greatly agitated by their misconduct, and show how important he deemed (heir mistake ; and we cannot doubt but that he regarded all their profession and sufferings to have been altogellier in vain, in case they j^ersisted in it. This is of vast impoitance in the argument ; for submission to the cere- monial law, though burdensome, would not have been a renunciation of the Gospel, if it had not implied a depen- dence on their own works, instead of Christ's righteous- ness and atonement ; and this dependence must be equally incompatible with the grace of the Gospel, even when the obedience itself is necessary from other motives, and for other purposes. V. 6 — 14. {Notes, Ge7i. xv. 6. Rom. iv,) The ex- ample of Abraham was sufficient to determine that they^ Avho expected justification by faith alone, were his chil- dren, and interested in the blessings promised to him ; and the Holy Spirit, who inspired the writers of the Scriptures, foreseeing the calling of the Gentiles, and their justification by faith in Christ, preached the Gospel to Abraham in few words, when it was said, " In t!i«e J. D. 5li. CHAPTER. Iff. A. D. iji>- lv> Brethren, '•'I speak after the man- '• shall all nations lie blessed ;" that is, ' By virtue of • their relation to the promised Seed, which shall descend ' from thee, sinners of all nations shall, by faith, be made * completely hiipf)y in the favour of God and tiie enjoyment ' of everlasting life.' So then they who sought acccjitancr in this way of believing were blessed after the example of believing Abraham ; but as m;:iny as were induced to seek acceptance by their own obedience to the works oi the law, and all who in any way remained under that covenant, abode under the curse, according to the testi- mony of tiie law itself. {\ote, Dent, xxvii. 26.) Tiic passage here quoted, follows a variety of curses denounce against transgressors of the moral law; which shows that this was principally referred to. Indeed, the legal dis- pensation, considered as a covenani of works, was intend- ed : believers always were under the covenant of grace by feiih in the Saviour, as promised from the beginning, and prefigured by the sacrificing of innocent animals ; unbe- lievers always made 'he whole a complex covenant of works ; and the nation of Israel was under the Sinai- covenant, in respect of the land of Canaan and their peculiar privileges. But after the promulgation of the Gospel, the whole became entirely a covenant of works. even as much as that of Adam ; and under such a cove- nant, in one form or other, all men continue as the rational and accountable creatures of God ; and, being transgressors of his law, even accorJing to their own obscure notions of it, they are exposed to the curse and wrath of God, and remain under it, unless they believe in Christ. But as the apostle was arguing with Judaisers, so he led their attention to the written law jtself, which could not confer the blessing, but must denounce the curse upon them, for they had not " confirmed it," or " con- " tinued" from the beginning of their lives " in all " things written in the law," so as to perform a perfect obedience to them. It was therefore evident at the first glance, that no man could be justified by a law that peremptorily demanded this absolute and sinless perfection, which no mere man ever yet rendered to it ; but it was further evident, as God had declared another way of justi- fication and eternal life: {Note, Hah. ii. 4. Rom. i. I7.) and the way of faith, by which alone the most righteous of our fallen race can live before God, is perfectly distinct lich never pro- lience. {Notes, ii. 28—34. Luke X. 25 — 29. Rom. x. 5 — 11.) Every one, therefore, who has not performed this condition, is under a curse ; feut Christ hath redeemed his people from that curse of the law, or bou»;ht them off by a price i)aid for them, having been willingly made a curse in their stead. For, as it was the purpose of God thus to deliver men from wrath by the ignominious and agonizing sufferings of his beloved Son upon the cross, and all the punishment which he then endured, so he declared that kind of punishment to be accursed, and an emblem of his most dreadful vengeance, ■when it was written, " Cursed is every one that hangcth *' on a tree ;" {Note, Deut. xxi. 23.) "that so, when the Jloly and divine Saviour was suspended on the cross, it fflight appear ikat he endured the curse of the law in our ner of men ; Tlioiis^h " ii be Lui u maa'b "' stead. Thus ihe way was opened for the blessing of Abraham, even the righteousness of faith, and friendsiiip with God, to !.ic conferred, not only on the Jews, but on the Gentiles also, through Christ, and l;y hiitli in him : and iliat they too might receive the prouiistd gifts ol the Spirit by taiih, to seal to them the truth of the Gos- pel, and his sanctifying grace, and their own free justifi- cation. {Note, Acts ii. 14 — 21.) It is evident that the apostle supposed the Gcniiles to be under the curse of the law as well as the Jews, but in another form ; else they woukl not have needed this redemption aiid justification. Tliejiist, inc. (II.) Or, " The just by faith shall live." This is the more exact translation ;" and as " the righteous- " ness of faith" does not secure men from temporal d(!ath, in any form or at any time, so deliverance from eternal condenination, and eternal life in heaven, must be in- tended. Curse of, &c. (13,) As Christ died, not to deliver us from temporal death, but from " the wrath to " come," it is manifest that the curse of the law, whether the law of Moses, or any law which rrien are supposed to be under, is eternal damnation, not temporal or tem- porary punishment. Christ did not suffer eternal dam- nation ; for, being God as well as man, his temporary sufferings constituted an infinite satisfaction to divine jus- tice, and a display of the evil of sin, and the honour of the -livine law. Many ex]iositors, who contend against the imputation of Christ's righteousness to believers, in dis-. puting against Socinians, argue for the vicarious sufferings of Christ in our stead. Now, what is this but imjmtation ? He, though perfectly holy, paid the debt which we vile sinners had contracted. " It was exacted, and he be- '• came answemble. ^Ve, vile sinners, on believing, are " made the righteousness of God in him," and receive the inheritance which he merited. Thus there is a reci- procal imputation. But as the imputation of sin did not render the Saviour either criminal or jiolluted, but had its effect merely in his receiving the punishment which we deserved, so the imputation of his righteousness docs not render us either free from criminality or pollution, but merely entitles us to the reward of his righteousness. We have still the same need of humiliation and repent- ance, of sanctification, and personal obedience, and holi- ness, without which we have no evidence that we are made the righteousness of God in him. ' I wonder that Jerome and Erasmus should labour and seek for I know not what figure of speech, to show that Christ was not ' called accursed. Truly in this is placed all our hops : in this the infinite love of God is manifested : in this ' is placed our salvation, that our God, acoperly and ' without any figure, poured out all his wratn-on his own ' Son ; caused him to be accursed, that he might receive ' us into favour. Finally, without any figure. Christ was made a curse for us, in such a manner, that unless ho ' had been truly God, he must have remained under the curse for ever, from which for our sakes he emerged. For, indeed, if the obedience of the Son of God be figu- ' rative and imaginary, so must our hope of glory be.' (i>e;.j.) The Spirit. (14.) The departure of the Spirit of life and holiness, when Adam sinned, left him spi- ritually dead, and proved him a condemned criminal : th.o A. D. 5G. GALATIANS. A. D. 5G., • Or, uttamtnt. * covcnaiit, j'ct if it Ic coiifirmeil, no man "xiii '4?i6."«v. disanimllclli, or adilctli thoitto. xxi'isl'ia. ,Kii. IG Now "to AbraliaiH, and liis seed i.xxiii^'ia.'ii' were llie promises made. He saith not, ii2)-29 nnm And to seeds, as of many: but as of one, 13 S7. Eiih I'v And to thy Seed, '' which is Christ. 15,10. V 59,30 ,-,»•;„ ,1 • , ,r.i 1 aa. cci ii. la ]7 And "i this 1 say, Ihat the covc- 111. II. , /- 1 1 • 'i|V.j6. i^cor.L nant that was connrmed belore of God iiv°r7'co'i' f^*"! ' '" Christ, the law, ' which was four liun- 'xn? 7*8 19 '^'"^'^ ^"*^^ thirty years after, 'cannot dis- k'Ji'i7°*T" ^'"lul, " that it should make the promise of " none cficct. 18 For > if the inheritance be of the 'cten 'iv'^ ?"■ '^"'' *^ " "o more of promise : ^ but God A?ts v'i'i t' "' gave it to Abraham by promise. ^xfv'sT.'L'v'f 19 ^ Whttrofore 'then scrvcth the 18 Heb vii, 18. u2l. Num. xxiii 10 Hei>. vi.n— 18 x v. l Num. xxx.C. I's. XXXiic. 10 Horn, ill 3. 1 Cor. i. 17 y 10 12 20 29.ii. 21 Uom iv, 13-lli viii. 17. z Sit oil. 16- P^.rv 6-12 )3 Mio vii. 13— 20. Luke i. 51, 55 71, 72. Heb, \i. 10-15 a Kom iii. 1, 2. vii. 7-13. SC-58 Roai 25. 2 Cor, i :n Hel,. xi. 13 '7 -19 39, JO. 1 gift of the Spirit of life and holiness in Christ Jesus, is the source of spiritual life, and the seal of his justification. The miraculous or extraordinary gifts of the Spirit can- not, therefore, be exclusively meant. V. 13 — 18. The apostle proceeded to ground another argument upon the case of Abraham. Speaking of the high concerns of God's dealing with his creatures, after the manner of men's dealing with each other; he reminded the Galatians, that even a covenant between men, when fully ratified, could not be disannulled, or have any new conditions added to it, without the explicit consent of all p.artics. Now the formal ratification of the covenant with Abraham, and its es])ress promises to him and his Seed, took jilace long before the Mosaic law ; and could not therefore be altered or disannulled by it. Neither did the Lord include all the descendants of Abraham in these pro- mises, as so many distinct kinds of seed : but they were limited to him, and/'«s Seed in the singular number, which implied that Christ was principally meant, and others only as related to him. {Marg. Ref.) So that the unbe- lieving descendants of Jacob were no more interested in the most valuable promises, than the posterity of Ishmael and Esau : while all believers, though of gentile extrac- tion, being one with Christ, were included in the Abra- hamic covenant, without any concern in the Mosaic law or the Sinai-covenant. Now this covenant confirmed with Abraham, in resjiect of Christ and his salvation, the law, which was not given till four hundred and thirty years after the caUing of Abraham, could not disannul, that the promise should be rendered of none clTccl, {Note, Ex. xii. 40, 41.) For if the inheritance of heaven, (vvhich was typified bv that of Ciinaan,) had depended on the law, and men's personal obedience to it ; it could not have been se- cured to bolievei-s by the promise given to Abraham ; and the ncv,' conditions added to his covenant would virtually have disannulled it. V. 19 — 22. If then the promises were made to Abra- ham and his Seed, ami all believers in him, without any dependence on the law; what purfiose did the law answer, and why was it promulgutcd ? To this objection the apostle law.'' *'It was added because of trans-b2i-s». ueut gressions, ' till the Seed should come to isl'o u,kVx^i. whom the promise was made: and it ivas *7 xT°''22.'n;;,;r ordained ''by anojeLs 'in the hand of a w-'is."' jn'^T mediator. /Kl? "_" 20 Now ^ a mediator is not a mediator iOeM.wi^l' f„ , , /■-. 1 • Act, vii. 63 one, e but (jod is one. nen. ii i 5 21 Is ''the law then against the pro- j""^ i -"n! mises of God.'' 'God forbid: ''for if ^*J", C~^*- there had been a law given which could ':; '^-io' 2i- , . ,.^ V 1 • I 29. xviii. 15-1«. nave g-ivcn lue, verdy 'righteousness •'s^tvi 23 jona 1 111 I , 1 . =• I 17 Acts vn 38. sliould have been by the law. i'^l'tiuT ^"^ 22 But the scripture hath "concluded ejJ.^'JY^ioI^' all under sin, " that the promise by faith tl'^^u^'^^n-a^ of Jesus Christ might be given ° to them ""'"-i"' ^'' that believe. 'uoJ.^„i^^""' k ii. 19 21. Sec wi, Rom. iii 20 1 Bom. iii. 21, 52. i«, 31. x. 3— 6. Phil iii. fi— 3. Heb. xi 7. m 8-10. 21 Ps ckliii 2 Rom. iii 9-20. 23. v 12- 20. xi, 32 0 14-17 29. Kom iv. 11—16 V 20,21 2 1 im i I. Heb vi 13-17 ix 15 2 Pet. i 4 hi 13. I Jobo ii. 25 V. 11—13 o Mark xvl 16 John iii 15-lS. 36 v. 24. vi 40 xl. 25, 26 »ii. 46 XX, 31. Aclssvi. 31. Rom, s. 9 1 Jobo iii 23, 21. v 1. answered, that it was added to the covenant with Abra- ham, and subserved the accomplishment of it in various particulars, previously to the coming of Christ ; though it made no alteration as to the manner of a sinner's accept- ance. The whole system served, " because of trans- " gressions," to restrain the nation of Israel from uni- versal idolatry and wickedness, and to preserve the worship of God among them till the coming of Christ : the mora! law was useful to convince men of sin, to show them their need of repentance, of mercy, and of a Saviour ; the ceremonial i^w shadowed forth the way of acceptance and holiness, and believers were thus enabled to maintain com- munion with God, by faith in the promised Messiah. Thus it pleased God, that things should remain, till the coming of that Seed of Abraham, to whom especially the promises had respect; and the law was promulgated, and formed into a national covenant, at mount Sinai, by the ministration of angels, and by the intervention of Moses as a typical Mediator. {ISoles, Ex. xix. xx. xxiv.) It was, however, well known, that a Mediator was not appointed to act merely in behalf of one parly, in any covenant, but of two at least : yet only one party in the Abrahamic covenant was present when the law was given, even God himself. For tAftynation of Israel was not the other contracting party in^at covenant ; unbe- lievers among them had no sharc^n the principal blessings of it ; and all believers in every age and nation were con- cerned in it, by virtue of their union with the Seed to whom the promise was made. So that Moses might mediate another covenant between God and Israel : but he was not authorized to alter or disannul the Abrahamic covenant ; which therefore continued in force with all believers, after the giving of the law, exactly as before. This does not mean, that Christ was not present, as Jehovah, and the great Agent in the giving of the law: but only that he acted in his legislative, and not in his mediatorial character, or as representing the whole body of believers. If this then were the case, it might further be inquired, Whether the law was contrary to the promises of God, and the accomplishment of tbero to those whff J. D. 56. CHAPTER in. Ji. D. .-sb. P_i9.s4,!5 w 1 23 But before ' faith came, we were qw.«,s. s'. V kept '• under the law. shut up unto ■■ the IS Horn ill la - .1 111 II,- II II v^- <•«; "Sj 1 Cor luith which shonlcl altcrwards be revealed, r Luke'x. 83. i\ 2 i Wherefore " the law was our school- Heb »i. W S9. /-ii • 1 40 iF't 1 II. master . GALATlAJNb. Ji. D. 50 CHAP. IV. The chufch hud been under the law, as an heir v)idcr a guardian, 1 — 3. Chris/ came to redeem those that u'cre under the law, and to -gice both Jews and Gen- tiles the adoption of sons, 4 — 7. The apostle shows how absurd the conduct of the Galatians was ; in that, after having been delivered from idolatry by the gos- pel, they willingly subjected themselves to the bondage of the law: and he cx- ' Chriit Jesiis, as if there were but that one person.' (Locke.) The learned writer indeed connects this high privilege with the profession of the Gospel ; but it cannot be connected with a hyjiocritical profession. ' The false ' apostles might urge, that circumcision was used even ' from Abraham ; but the apostle answers, that baptism ' has succeeded to circumcision.' {Bcza.) ' Baptism ' under the Gospel, as the rite of initiation, is as cflectual 'for making us the sons of God, as circumcision was ' under the law.' (Macknight.) Wc may also add, ' and no more.' (Note, Rom. ii. 28, 29.) From the time, when any persons " believe in their hearts unto " righteousness, and with their mouths make confession " to salvation," all other distinctions vanish ; they arc all members of the mystical body of Christ, and entitled to all its blessings, without any need of the Mosaic law. So that if the Galatians did indeed belong to Christ, by faith and the participation of his Spirit, they were become •the spiritual seed of Abraham, and heirs of all tlie bless- ings covenanted to him ; and had therefore no need of be- ing proselyted to the Jewish law, or concerned in the ab- rogated Sinai-covenant. The question, concerning the baptism of infants, is not at all affected by the apostle's lan- ."uage in this passage : for the same way of arguing, l)y which some have attempted to prove that they ought not to be bajnized, because incapable of believing, would also Drove them incapable of salvation, (Mark xvi. 16. Kph. ii. 7, 8 ;) and also that the male infants of Israel ought not to have been circumcised. That question must be deter- mined by arguments of a more appropriate nature. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. Y. 1—5. The faithful preaching of the Gospel so exhibits Christ sjrucified, as the great Object of the sinner's faith, hope, and admiring gratitude, and so shows the nature, glory, and prcciousnessof his sufl'crings, from love to our souls, that he is, as it were, evidently set forth before men's eyes, as dying upon the cross for their sins. But how small a portion of the preaching in Christendom answers ihis description, or tends thus lo excite men's aflcctions towards the gracious Redeemer, need* not be told. Alas! who hath infatuated and bewitched men's minds, that they should so generally turn away from tiiis fundamental doc- trine, to listen to metaphysical subtleties, moral harangues, superstitious observances and forms, or enthusiastical reve- ries ' Ir is plain, that the god of this poi-ld, by varp'-'S presses his fears of thcni, 8 — 11. He tenderly expostulates with them, for becoming alienated from him, to lohom they had expressed the most fervcHi love ; ascribes this to the influence of false teachers, and shows the ardour of his soul in longing for their salvation, 12 — 20. He illustrates this subject of the two covenants, by showing, that the history of Sarah and Hagar was an al- Ic^oriecd representation of them, 21 — 31. instruments, who minu;dly despise each other, hath " blinded men's eyes, lest the Gospel of the glory of " Christ should shine into them," and they should learn to trust in a crucified Saviour, " God manifested in the '• flesh," But we must observe, with still greater grief and astonishment, the folly of numbers, who have often heard the Gospel most faithfully and patlietically preached, and yet have at length been fascinated, by plausible de- ceivers, to refuse obedience to the truth. We canhof. indeed appeal to miracles and extraordinary gifts of the Holy Sjjirit ; but we may boldly demand. Where are the fruits of the Spirit most evidently brought forth ? among those who preach justification by the works of the law, or those who preach the doctrine of faith ? They who have begun to fear God, to seek mercy, to pray, and to renouncg sin, under the preaching of the Gospel, must be very foolish, if they think to make further proficiency by returning to legal dependencies, or resting on carnal and external observances. It is most grievous to sec those who have gone through sharp convictions, and even en- dured persecutions for attending on the Gospel, afterwards turning aside, and giving cause to fear that they have suficrcd so many things in vain : and indeed any affliction endured, without profit derived from it, should be con- sidered as a cause for sorrow and humiliation. y, 6— ij. We should aim to be" followers of those whd, through " faith and jiatience, inherit the promises," and have obtained a good report: and for this end, we should study the Object, nature, and effects of -Abraham's faith. 'J'licy who partake of his faith shall surely inherit his blessing ; and if we can ascci lain that this is our case, we may be sure of sharing all his privileges. But wl:o can, in any other way, escape the curse of the holy law ? Who hath continued in all things written in it, to do them ? Who dares demand life on this ground ? Let us learn to dis- tinguish accurately in this matter : " The law is not of " faith :" every law of God, and every legal covenant, must be perfectly distinct from the covenant of promise through faitii in Jesus Christ : and if we confound these things, we shall find a curse instead of a blessing. The redemption of all, who ever were or shall be saved, was paid by the great surety of the new covenant, v.hen he was " made a curse for us, and bare our sins in his own " body on the tree :" but the sufferings of this holy One pf God moic loudly warn sinners to ilcc from the \v0h J. D. 50. jiii. ;3 2:- cca. "XT »xiv S, 3. 2 X Kinp X a. XI. ^ OWl say, Thai CHAPTER IV. tlie heir, as \ong .1. D. 50 (housfh be be lord of Irom.a servant, all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, '' wlien we were cbi!- to come, than all tlie teiTors of Sinai, or the curses of the law itself; for hoA- can it be expected, that Go! will spare any man to whom sin is imputed, seeing he spared not his own Son, when our sins were charged upon him ? Yet doth Christ, at the same time, ns from the cross, most freely beseech sinners to take refuge in him, and with accents of the tenderest love invites even the Gentiles to accept of the blessing of Abraham, and to seek for the pro- mise of the Spiiit by faith in him .' V. 15—22. No subsequent transactions, or external alterations, can disannul or add to that covenant, which engages eternal life to every believer ; that promise cannot be made of none elfect. Yet let us not think that the law w;^s given in vain ; the legal covenant and the ceremonies have an- swered their end, and, being fulfilled in Christ, are no more in force ; yet are they still replete with instruction to believers, though a better covenant is made with them, through that great Mediator, whom " all the Angels of "God worship." But, as the law of Moses wB never contrary to the promises of God to Abraham and nis Seed, but served as a school-master, to bring the Cliurch to Christ for justification by faith, so it would be most absurd to suppose that the holy, just, and good law of God, the universal standard of duty, is contrary to the Gospel of Christ, as it is in every way subservient to it, when properly understood and used. If a law was ever given to fallen man, which could give eternal life, this must be it, and then righteousness is by the law ; but, in- stead of this, it brings in the whole world guilty before God, and shuts up every man under sin, without hope or remedy from any other quarter than the Gospel ; while the excellency of its precept demonstrates the justice of the sinner's condemnation. Here Christ finds transgress- ors, and the promise of eternal life is freely given by him to all that believe. V, 23 29. Men in general, even under the dispensation of the Gospel, continue shut up as in a dungeon, in love whh their chains, being blinded, intoxicated, and lulled asleep by Satan, through worldly pleasures, interests, and pur- suits. But the awakened sinner discovers his dreadful condiiion, and the more he examines, or labours to escape, the fuller conviction he receives that he cannot cft'cct his own deliverar.ce ; then he learns, that the mercy and grace of God form his only hope ; and, though his measure of doctrinal knowledge may be scanty, he is '• shut up to the '• faith, that will shortly be revealed" to him. The pre- cepts and sanction of the law urge him on to duty, and come, ^ God sent forth his Son, ', Sofa woman, '" made under the law drcn, were ' in bondage iiiidcr tlic * elc Hients of the world : I Malt I .Inhn viii 30 A tls X 'I but when '' the fulness of the time Vvns .", adc )r, rudivientt. 9 Mare Col ii. 8 ;0. HtU.vii IC. l^a ix 24— C6 Mai iii 6, 17 Zerh li 0-11. J Is is C, 7 Blic. V 2 Zt -E 2 Tim 111 16. Heb ixxi. :2 Mio V 3 Mnlt -27. R 2 gGfn iii. 15. Is vii. II. Jfr 7. ll Mall, iii Ii. V. 17. LuUc il ^' restrain him from sin, even while they discourage him and fill him with terrors ; and thus, by a kind and beneficial se- verity, the lav/ is made use of by the convincing Spirit, to show the sinner his need of Christ, and to bring him to rely on his merits, tbat he may be justified by faith. Then he ceases to be under the tuition of the law as a school- master, and to be alarmed by its terrors, (except ns he lives beneath his ]..'-ivileges ;) yet the precept becomes, by the teaching of the Spirit of Christ, his guide in the delightfiil path of evangelical obedience, his beloved rule of duty, and his standard of daily self-examination ; in this use of it he learns continually to depend more simply on the Saviour's merits, and it puts energy into his praj'- ers, and endears the promises to his soul. Thus we be- come the children of God by faith in Christ, and, being baptized into him by the converting grace of the Holy Spirit, we put on Christ, and stand accepted in him ; and all, who thus belong to him and are one with him, are the children of Abraham, and heirs according to the promise. But no outward forms cr profession can ensure these- blessings, for " if any man have not the Spirit of Christj; " he is none of his." NOTES. CHAP. IV. V. 1—3. The argument and illustrs.- tion of the preceding chapter are here continued. The heir of a large estate, during his minority, is excluded from the possession of it, and kcp*_ in subicction to guardians and tutors, who lay restraints upon him, as if he was a servant ; though in fact he is the proprietor of the whole inheritance : and this continues till the time appointed by his father, in his will or otherwise, for his coming of age, and being put in possession of the estate. Thus the Church was held in apparent bondage under the Mosaic law, till the coming of Christ, ns being in its childhood, and under tuition. These observances are called, " the elements of this world ;" they taught the simplest rudiments of religious knowledge, as the alpha- bet contains the first principles of science : and the bur- densome external ceremonies of that dispensation were suited to the ideas of worldly men, and in many things similar te the rites of other nations, rather than adequate means of spiritual worship, or adapted to those who were matured in spiritual judgment and affections. The splendid temple, the priests in their sacred vestments, the mul- ti[)lied sacrifices and religious festivals, and other things of the same kind, when their typical meaning and u.sc were neglected, w^ere greatly coincident with the gross appre- hensions of carnal men concerning God and his worship. Thus unbelievers had always abused them ; and even be- lievers were held in comparative darkness and bondage, by so many external obser^•clrcps. 2 I 2 4. U. jij. GALATLUNS. .J. .D 5|j. .21. i:i. 13 MAI. 5 To ' n-deciij iheiu that were iiiider 2». Kvb i 7 the law, '' that we init^lit receive tlie % 8. Cul. i IJ- , . ' . O io. Tit. ii. u. adoption ol sons. -m""?" 'u ^ ' because ye are sons, 'dod liath ncv.T 9. ' sent (brtii " the Spirit of his .Son into your » ^ 111 :6 John - V 1 1 o 1 Wh'^lx'r'i 'i'^^rts, " crying, Abba, r aUior. 1 L'tike *xi 13. ^ WhereCore ° thou art no more a i'J" i^e"- ?8 servant, ^ but a son ; and '> if a son, then {i'V Vh'i ^" 'heir of God through Christ. 8 Hovvbeit, then ' vvli{;n ye knew not m John til. 31 X 20 jivi.V Hon) vi;i. 0 I Cor sv jj. Fill x'.iv. 3— S. Jer ill. .1 la Mali, vi i>— Sl.l.ui Hel). iv U - 16. Juile .0 - - o 1.2 S,0 Jl l(i p.Se. on. iii 26. q J'^ r Gen kv i. an: T.B.Fs.kw i i«i.iii 116. .ler x. I6 x»^i 33 x^xii Lorn iii 2; I Cor ill. 21 -21 2 Cn,- vi. 10-18 Kci- .\xi 7 9 bx 1 1 ei Johni 10. Acts jvii.2J. ao Kooj. I 2S. 1 Cor. i. 11. Kpl). ii 11, 13. iv 18. i The S ities. i. b I Jul.n iii. I. God, 'ye (hd service unto them which tJo»h. xmr - by nature are no gods. . 8* cxxirijl 9 But now, aiter that " ye have known so j'er i' 3- God, or rather * are known of God, -i.^ ^'xJi'i's'u! > how turn ye * again to the weak and ic'orviii.V. beggarly t elements, wliereunto ye desire Jff;^>.^ '3 ^■ ajiani to be in bendaire .'' u 1 K.nis .lii. 4.1. . \/ I 1^ 1 1 ' Chr.xxviii ». lU ic ^ observe days, and months, and *"«'«,"> >''o» J ' ' 11 3. Jer. xKXi. times, and years. M,tt"°''i'' 2*7! 11 I "am afraid of you, '' lest I have •J"^'", 7,' ^ bestowed upon you labour in vain ii. :0 1 loll Cor Mi' 3 Heb X 31; .<:< 1 or, rudlmrni, 3 Mn'if xxix Horn viv 5 Cul ii 16 17 « 20 2 Cur xi 2,3 l9. .^l s. 4 Acts XVI 6. I Cor XV. 58. Fliil. ii. lb. I Tlie;. ii 2 Cor Kpl. i. 17 2Pet- 17. ri : G. John X. 14.27. Horn V li. !i I -y Col ii, io-23. Hell. vii. I» • Or. bacJc. ii. x«». l-n. Nun li' 20.21. bli 2 V.2 . 5. 2 John 8. V. 4 — 7, When the fulnrss of time was arrived for thfi coming of the Messiah, which God had cko.'^en in i:is purpose und n^adc known by prophecy, and which ihe state of the Jewish natioii, und of maiikiiid in genera!, showed to he peculiarly suitable for the introduction of a new and inore enlarged dispensation, then God sent forth his own Son, One with him in the divine nature, lo become manifest in the flesh, assuming human nature into pcr.sonal union with the Deity, by his miraculous conception in ihc womb of the virgin, t!r.it he might be made, or born, (as some copies read it.) of a woman, and be emj)hatic3lly Iwr seed, {Gen, iii. 15,) hv receiving hi.s liumin fle- h of her sulistance. ' lie w.3s thei'cfore the 'Son of Cod, even, yea, properltj, in respect of his ' Deity.' (Heza.) Thus he was also made under the law, being born of a Jewess, and the reputed Son of a Jew, and circumcised ; that so Ijeing under it as a cove- nant of works, he might, as the Surety of the Church, in every way answer its full demand. This was done volun- tarily, without any previous obligation. As the Son of God, he was not hr.uj,d to be subject to any law ; as a per- fectly holy liinn, he was not bound to submit to the cere- in&aial law, which in every thing impiierl man's sinfulness. But he was pleased for more than thirty yeai's to tabernacle here on earth, in perfect obedience to the whole law ; and at length to give himself as a spotless sacrifice of infinite value, to redeem sinners from the curse of the broken lav/, and to redeem the Church from the ceremonial law, which was a kind of bond given for future payment by the Surety, of the debt due to divine justice for the sins of those who hod obtained forgiveness by faith in the pro- mised Saviour. Thus, instead of the yoke of cei-emonial obedience and that slavish spirit which in many ra^^es it inspired, believers received and possessed the adoption of children, and had the liberty and privileges of adults, instead of liic restraints and rigorous subjection of minois. .^nd bciause this was the slate of Gentile as well as Jewish converts. God had sent forth the Holy Spirit, as given through his Son, to (jiuckin, seal, and comfort them, as his beloved children, enabling and encoui-aging them, wiiii filial love and confidence, to call upon him as their Father, of whatever nation they were. SetMiig. there fore, the .ipostle hoped that this was the case of the Gabi- Uans in general, though there might be exceptions, (for he addressed them individually, every person of this cha- racter, of whatever country or language, was no longer a servant, to worship and obey Gotl fiom slavish fear or mercenary hope ; but a child of God, and an heir of heaven through Christ, to walk with him in love, filial reverence, and confidence. {Sole, Rom, viii. 15 — 17.) V. 8 — IJ. The preceding argument proved, that even Jev/ish converts were rccleeuied from the yoke of the cere- monial law, as well as from the curse of the legal cove- nant. How absurd then would it be for Gentiles to have recourse to that abrogated system ! The Galatians had formerly been ignorant of the one living and true God, and had then jjerlbrmed religious service to mere creatures, orimagi^wy beings, which by nature were not gods : and estei'napPBservances might accord very well to such objects of worship. But, having at length been brought to the knowledge of God, by their conversion to Christianity, or rather having been thus known and owned by him, through the s])iritual gifts bestowed on them, how could they think of turning again to such carnal services as they had forsaken, as if desirous of being in bondage to them ? The Jewish ceremonies were mere rudiments of religious knowledge suited to the childhood of the Church : they were, in themselves, weak and inefficacious, low and poor ; and thus incapable of communicating sjiiritual riches to mankind : after the coming of the Messiah, they lost all their use and obligation ; they became as worthless even as the superstitions of Paganism, and, when put in the place of Christ, they were equally inconsistent with true religion. In this sense only could the Galatians he said " to turn again to the weak and beggarly elements ;" for they had not before been under the ceremonial law : but, when delivered from idolatry, they were about to substitute the abrogated Jewish ceremonial in the place of the heathen superstitions ; and to liring themselves into. bondage to Judaizing teachers and Pharisaical traditions, after having been emancipated from the Pagan priests. Their observation of Jewish sabbaths, new-moons, festi- vals, and sabbatical years, had the appearance of an apos- tacy to Judaism , so that the apostle, was afraid that they would totally depart from the faith, and that his labours for their eternal salvation would be in vain. Bee^garly, &c. (9.) ' Thus he calls these rites in themselves, and con^ ■ sider,ed apart from Christ.' (Besa,) ' St. Paul calls 'them, "weak and beggarly cleiaents," ^ whereby tt vf. D. 5tj. CHAPTER l\^ eik U Ti. U Gen. xisiv 15. 1 Kings xxii 4 Acts xxi. Si. 1 Cor ix. 30-23 Phil i.i 7.8. ■12 Cor il i. • ■ Cor ii 3. aCor. X. 10 si. 6. 30 »ii 7—10. S.-i 4 ti. 6 Artsxti C %Situu.\i Job xii S. Ps cii-i. 141. Kc. IX :6 Is liii 3, 3 1 Cor i 28 iv 10. 1 Thes iT« US Sam. xiv. 17. xix 27. Zech Xii K Mai li 7. i'tt Heb 5 Mnlt. X. xviii 5. HKV Luke X John xiii 2 Cor V 1 Thes. il 1 • Or nr.lal iMna.klc - - s 2 2 Cor. 16-18 40 12 IT Brethren, I beseech you, ' be as I am ; for I am as ye are : '^ ye have not injured me at all. 13 Ye know how, * througli infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel unto you ' at the first. It And my temptation Avhich was in my tlesh * ye despised not, nor rejected ; but received me as '' an 'angel of God, even ' as Christ Jesus. 15 * Where is then "' the blessedness ye spake of.'* 'for I bear you record, that, '" if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have siveu them to me. * should scc.^^, they were empty of all spiritual meaning. * I answer, such liiey were become indeo I, when Christ ' was once come ; when the grace signified in them was ' brought out into the light, when the inwrapped pro- * mises were unfolded and revealed, they were then as ' emnty shells, and like carcasses whose soul was gone. ' So long as a shell contains a kernel unseen, so long it is ' full ; when it comes forth to outward view, then the ' shell is empty. Even so it is with the elements of the •law.' (Mede.) The best illustration of the absurd conduct, which the aposde ascribes to the GaiaUaiis, may be found in the Church of Rome, in whicii the ™rship of saints and angels succeeded to that of the inferior deities ; the superstitious, and often licentious, festivals, which were multiplied among them, to^ those that were used in Pagan Rome. In short, almost every part of the idolatrous worship of Pagan Rome has its counterpart in that of Anlichristian Rome ; as may be seen by any man, who will take the pains to compare many )iassages in Virgil, and other poets, with the rituals of the Church of Rome. V. 1*2 — 16. ' The apostle tempers whatever he might ' seem to have said more sharply than usual, by an ad- * mirable, and therefore no doubt a divine, management ; ' so declaring his good-will to the Galatians ; that when ' they read it, unless they were wholly desperate, they * could not but acknowledge his lenity with tears.' (Besa.) Being desirous of considering the Galatians as his brethren in Christ, he affectionately entreated them to be as he was, as cordial in love to him, as he was to them ; or rather, of one mind with him respecting justification and the Mosaic law : for " he was as they were ;" though he had been zealous for the law, (as they were become !) yet he now trusted only in Christ ; and put no more con- fidence in die law, than if he had been a Gentile ; and he entreated them in this to imitate him. He did not cha.»-ge .them with having at all injured him, or speak any thing out of resentment, though they had wronged themselves 16 Am I tlierelbre " become your enemy, ° because I tell you the truth ? 17 They ''zealously aflect you, tid not well : yea, they would exclude f you, that ye might aifect them. 18 But '' il is good to be zealously affected alway in a good thing, and not only ' when I am present with you. 19 My 'little children, ' of whom 1 travail in birth again until " Christ be formed in you ; 20 I desire =' to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I X stand in doubt of you. Philem 10. I!l Jam i l«. I John :i. I. 12, 13. v L.ikeiixii 41 Phil i 8. ii P. Col ii l.iv 12. H viii 2-i kill 14 Kph iv. 24. Phil li-S- Col. i. 2 ii. 17,18 ill 5. 1 Or iOifcrpUiedJor yoh — t Num. xi. Kev. Kii I, x 1 Cor. J. D. i)b »lii 1-4. IKinga xvili 17 18. XXI 20 xxii 8. 27. aChr. xKiv. 20- 22 xsv. IC. Hs. Cili 6 Plo» i^ 8. Jolin vil 7- viii. 4) nxi.i 14 V. 7 T Or, vs. 1 Cov iv 8 18 (| Num XXT. n- HI3 Pa Ixix ? cxix. 130 U lix 17. John li 17 Tit li 14 Hot. ill I'J, no Phil i. 27 11,12. It. liii. II. I. u Hoiii iv. 13-SI, I TLes had not, however, desjiised him on that account, or re- jected his testimony ; but, seeing that his doctrine was confirmed by undeniable proofs, and feeling its energy on their consciences, they received him, though thus infirm and tempted, even as if he had been an angel sent from God, or as if Christ himself had come in person to preach to them. {ISote, Sic. 2 Cor. x'n. 7— 10.) Doubdess the apostle here spake of " his thorn in the flesh," which must thorefoi'e have been some perceivable infirmity, that exposed him to inward temptations and to the contempt of his enemies ; and indeed il is absurd to explain this of his persecutions, which were no plausible reason why he should be despised, but the contrary. What mas then the felicity of which they spake, as communicated by the hope and comforts of the Gospel ? Or what must now have become of that blessedness, that they had recourse to the legal covenant, which could only enslave and condcmr, them .' ■ Their inward satisfaction in Christ had at that time so inspired ihcm with love to his minister, that he could testify for their willingness even to have plucked oiif their own eyes, and to have given them to him, if tliii could possibly have I'emoved his infirmities, or conducctl to his benefit. And v.'as he so soon become their enemy? the object of their aversion and resentment ? If so, it must be because he had [icrsistcd in telling them the truth, both in respect of the way of salvation, and of their pcrilou? deviation from it. V. ir — 20. The Judaizing teachers *bowod great attention to the Galatians, and expressed the most zealous affection for them ; but this did not arise tVom proper principles, nor was it expressed in a proper manner. Yea, they would even exclude Itiem from the liberty and salva- tion of Christ, in order to confirm them in a blind attcich- ment to their doctrine. Some copies., (not manuscripls,) read, " they would exclude us :"" they wanlcd to alirnrite them from the apostle, that they might jjossess an undivided authority over them from carnal motives. But. instead of in departing from his doctrine. They remembered his first showing such warm affection all at once towards these de- cerning among them, wlicn his personal infirmities seemed ceivers, it would be good for the Galaiians to be constanily to unfit him for preaching the (Gospel, or likely to render zealous in a good thing, even for the truth i^nd cause ot' his ministry unacceptable : yet he was enabled to proceed, j pure Christianity; and not only while ihp apostle con- liiough gre'aUy tried, and tempted to discouragement. They 1 linwd among them, as had been the case' widi many of d. D. 50. GALATIANS. .^. D. 5b y9 iii. 10 21,21 ■tool Ti. u VII. h, 0. il. 30-3S. X 3-10 » Milt »xi 12- 44 xxii. 19—33 John V 46, 47. I Jobu X 34 31 10 25 h Gen. X IS xxi I, 2. 10. c Hom ix. 7. «. d lien xvii 15— la. xviii. 10-14 xxi. 2 Kom iv lu-21 ix 8.9 Hub xl. II, 12 0 Kz. XX 4'.». H03. xii. 10 »l»it. xili 35. I for X II Vr. Hcb. xl 13 t2l> LiikeK mother of us all. 27 For it is written, ' Rejoice thou ' barren that bearcst not ; break forth and cry, tliou tliat travailcst not : for the ' desolate hath many more children, than she which hath an husband. 28 Now " we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as «tlicn, " he that was born after the flesh,' persecuted him ihal teas horn > after the Spirit, ^ even so it is nov,'. 30 Nevertheless, ' what saiih the scrip- ture .'' '' Cast out the bond-woman and her son : for "^ the son of the bond-woman shall not be heir with the son of the free- woman. 31 So then, brethren, '' we arc not children of the bond-wonian, but of the free. r2^ r. iJohD VI, i 3e lias, vi 14. 13 I Pet it. 16. 1 Cam. viii. I, 2 l5. I I. He- li 2 S. I, - x\ii s. fls liv l-s I Sam 4- Ps I Ilutb I. 11-13. iv 14-16 i Sam xiii. 20 !• xlix 21 I Tim V S. i; 23 lii 2J. Actx ill 25 Roro. iv. 13-18 ix 8.9. X Cm XXI 9. y Jolui iii s Itom till. I 5. 13. » V 11 ,1 ]2_ 14 Matt xxiii 34-37 I The.. ii- 14, 15. HeU. X 31,34. « iii 8 22. nom. iv. 3 X. 2 JanL h V„ 10- -II. eJoho T;ii 25 Bum Viii 15- 17 li V I. 13. Jolm i. 12, 13 viii. 3f>. Hen. ii 14, li. 1 John iii 1, 2. naturally past child-bearing. These things v/cre intended as an allegory of tlie Sinai-covenant, and of that made with Abraham in Christ for the benefit of all believers. That part of the nation of Israel, which were not inter- ested in the covenant made wiih Abraham by faith, were indeed outwardly a part of Abraham's family and of the visible Ghiirch ; but, like Ishmacl, they were born in ser- vitude, wT their obedience was of a slavish nature, and their privileges external and carnal : nor could the legal covenant deliver them from this state : for Hagar, (whose name signifies a Rock in the Arabic,) the bond-woman, was the emblem of mount Sinai in the deserts of Arabia, which country was afterwards peopled by her descendants, being without the boundaries of the promised land. From that mountain the law was given, and there the legal covenant Avas ratified. It therefore corresponded to Jeru- salem and its inhabitants, as the outward worshippers of God, in the ordinances performed at the temple ; for as far as they continued under the legal covenant, especially when they had rejected Christ and the Gospel, they were mere slaves, and not the children of God. But the heavenly Jerusalem, the true church, as coming from above, espoused to Christ, and rcjjrcscnted by Sarah, is in a slate of freedom ; and this church is the mother of all true believers, who are born of the Spirit. And that this church should mainly consist of Gentile converts, had long before been figuratively predicted. (Notes. Js. liv.) Believers, therefore, whether Jev.'s or Gentiles, like Isaac, were the children of promise : they were not only brought into the church, as descended from Abraham, or pro- selyted to an external profession ; but fhey were super- naturally made a part of the true seed of Abraham, in virtue of the promise made to him, that " in his Seed " should all the nations of the earth be blessed." But as Ishmacl, a slave by hirth, and in no wise entitled to the inheritance, had mocked and persecuted Isaac, who was miraculously born of Sarah, according to the promise, to be Abraham's heir j so the Jews, who continued volurt' J. O. ^6. CHAPTER V. A. D.56. CHAP. V. The apostle exhorts the Galatians to stand fast in their christian liberty ; and shows that, by being circumcised, they would in fact renounce Christ, 1 — 6. He dis- claims preaching circumcision himself and condemns it in others, 7 — 12. He cautions them not to abuse their liberty, but by love to serve one another ; for tarily in bondage under the legal covenant, at that time jiersecuted the Christians, who were born of the Spirit as Abraham's seed, according to the meaning of the Holy Ghost, and to whom alone true liberty and the heavenly inheritance belonged. But as the Galatians might read in the Scripture, that God himself had commanded Hagar and Ishmael to be sent away from Abraham's family, that the son of the bond- woman might not share the inheritance with Isaac ; even so the Jewish nation would soon be cast out of the Church, and all who continued under the legal covenant would be excluded from heaven. If then the exclusive privileges of all believers were such by the cove- nant of grace, what an absurdity was it for the Gentile converts to desire to be under the law, which could not deliver the unbelieving Jews from bondage and condem- nation ! We should not hare discovered this allegory in the history of Sarah and Hagar, if the apostle had not shown it to us ; and much sobriety and discretion should be used in thus applying Scriptural narrations ; yet this trans- action was so remarkable, the coincidence so exact, and the illustration so instructive, that we cannot doubt but it originally was intended by the Holy Spirit as an allegory and type of those things to which the inspired apostle referred it ; and it should be observed, that it was intended as an illustration of the subject under consideration, rather than as a direct argument. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—11. ^Vhile we arc ihanlcful for deliverance from " the ele- *' ments of this world," by the light, libcrly, and pri- vilegesofthe Gospel, v/e should cheerfully submit to the restraints and corrections of our heavenly Father, in this our state of education for pci-fect felicity ; and patiently wait the time appointed by him for our admission to it; and we ought to delight in the easy yoke of our Re- deemer, whose service is perfect freedom. For who can enough admire the condescending compassion of the Son of God, in " being born of a woman, and made under the " law,-' that, by obedience unto the death upon the cross, he might redeem us wretched rebels from every fatal curse, galling yoke, and slavish terror ; that so we might receive the adoption of children, and the Spiiit of adop- tion, emboldening us to worship God as our Father, to walk v.ilh him in holy communion, and to rejoice in the hope of his everlasting felicity ! May we, by this filial temper and conduct, at all times evince our adoption; and vsi&y " the Holy Spirit thu? witness with our spirit, that love is the fulfilling of the law, 1 3 — 15. Exhorting them " to walk in the Spi- rit,^'' he shows the conflict Letwcen the flesh and the Spirit, 10 — 18. He enu- merates the works of the flesh, and the fruits of the Spirit, 1 9 — 23. He shows that true christians have crucified the flesh ; again calls on them to walk in the Spirit, and warns them against vain-glory and em'y, 21 — 26. " we are the children and heirs of God !" Once we knew not God ; and though outward circumstances kejit most of us from gross idolatry, yet we idolized the world, and sought our happiness from it. If then we now so know God in Christ, as to reverence, love, trust in, and obey him, it is the effect of his knowledge of us as the objects of his choice, and owning us as ransomed by the blood of his Son. AVhat then have we to do any more wiih worldly idols ? What occasion for superstitions and human inven- tions, as if we desired to be still in bondage ? Surely, all those things must be weak and beggarly elements which God hath no where required of us ! And though Christians may " observe a day to the Lord," yet an evident attach- ment to such things may well induce a lear concerning men's spiritual stale ; and it should always be remembered, that if ministers lose their faithful labours, their hearei's lose their precious souls. Idolatry consists in worshipping what by nature is no God : surely then, the worship of saints and angels is turning again to heathenism ; and every scriptural example of worship rendered to Christ, demon- strates that he is, by nature, " God over all, blessed for " evermore." V. 12— 20. Ministers ought, as much as possible, to w^aive tlicii" personal complaints against the people ; and to show more iear lest they should injure themselves, than lest they should behave amiss to them. It behooves us, when wc think ourselves unkindly treated, to recollect the instances in which we experienced the candour and affection of our hearers, and when they overlooked those infirmities which we feared would have occasioned the rejection of our message. ^Ve maj' also remind them, when they seem about to turn aside, of those tender and sweet seasons, when they welcomed the message delivered by such poor worms, as if aif angel, or even Christ himself, had spoken to them ; and when their hearts were so full of blessedness, that they scarcely knew how sufficiently to express their gratitude to the instruments of their hopes and consolations. Contrasting these happy seasons with that coldness and disaffection which sometimes follow, without any apparent reason, we may with cflicacy in- quire, Whiit is become of their blessedness ? And whe- ther we be looked on »s enemies, because we tell them the truth ? Alas ! this is often the case, not only with mere professors, but even witii misguided believers, when for a time they are seduced by those who zealr^isly affect them, but not well ; who Avould alienate them from their faithful pastorsj to attach them to thcmselvc ; or who J. D. 56. GALATIANS. J. D. SG- »"«.». Kiii M. » ri T AND last tlierefore in " the liberty I'"' 'i\ii«'i'i I' ^-^ wncrewith Cl)ri.st liath made ns free, li. Vfts^ii.'s ^''^' Ije not '^cntaijglccl again with tlic i^-M '^jii'i '! y^^^ f'^ hon Jage. bfh.'n"" '• 2 Behold, '" I Paul say unto yon, ^i' scM" f^ "= tliat i;' ye be circumcised, Clirist sliall ^-.rbJIl'n IToAt you nothing. horn vmT. Jh ^ F^or I '' testify again to every man Vcm. "viV '». that is circumcised, that he is « a debtor ^r^et ii"iG '2 to do the whole law. Pet. ii 10^ r. ,\ 4. iv 9. l»l:ilt. xxiii. 1. .Vl^Tv. 10 Col ii If.-S2.I'eli ix 6-11 U I < or. kvr 21 0 Unr. x I I Thes li. 1». I'liilem. 9 e .1. *■■ ii 3- 5 Acis XV 1 24 ?"'•'•<■ ""'" IX al.32. X 2,3 lleb iv 2 f Dpiit. viii n. sxxi 21 Ncli ix is -:• ,„ '■"''* I'i 28 Acl.s ii. 40. X« 21 Knh iv 17 1 TliBS iv. 6 I Joliu iv. 14 em. 10. Deut. xxvii.SG Man. xxiii 16. 1«. Cr Jam 11.10,11. woulJ even hazard iheii- souls to promote their own credit, or that of their sect. At such times their most affectionate wariiings and Scriptural arguments often give offence, and increase alienation. This is a most trying situation to the faitliful minister. He cannot cease to feel for, and long after, his deluded children. Though he could bear to lose their affections, he cannot lie ■willing that they should lose their souls : he must remind them, that their zealous affections should be towards more substantial good, than new notions and new tcachei-.-;, as in the sight of God, and not merely in the presence of their ministers. Thus many know experimentally the apostle's meaning, when he said " that lie travailed in birth again," of his spiritual children, till " Christ was formed in them ;" as the anguish on account of those, who they had hoped were converted, is greater than their earnestness for their conversion ; and their prayers and endeavours are more fervent, as fearing " lest their last state should be worse " than the first." Nothing is so sure a proof of a sinner's justification, as " Christ formed in him," by the renewal of the Holy Spirit : nor can this be hoped for, while men depend on the law for acceptance with God. The faith- ful minister desires to change his voice of reproof for that of commendation ; and not only to instruct, but to speak confidently of those concerning whom he stands in doubt, and who therefore certainly ought to stand in doubt of themselves. V. 21—31. They who desire to be under the law should hear what the law says to them ; and this would in every case teach them to flee from it to the grace of the Gospel. For not only do allegories and types instruct us, but the plainest language imaginable declares the two covenants, that from Sinai and that of Christ, to be perfectly distinct, and even of opposite tendency to those who now are under them. They who are born of the flesh, whether of Jew- ish or Christian parents, and who have only a legal depend- ence on circumcision, baptism, or any personal obedience whatsoever, or even on creeds, or sects, or national churches, however excellent, are under the covenant of works, mere Ishmaelites, bond-slaves, citizens of the earth- ly Jerusalem, and under condemnation. But they who " are born of the Spirit," and so believe in Christ, trust- ing only in his merits and grace, are the children of the 4 Christ ^ is becotne of no effect unto \i » 21 Ron. yoij, whosoever of vou are ' justified -i i . , , •' /• 11 •' /■ 1 V.r,m. lii £0. i. by tlie law: " >e are lallen Ironi «i 'J ki. 6-9 Roi. frace. »'■ « Hei> »>■ S J 1 o • • • ■*"* * 38,3." f) ior we 'through the bpint " wait ?.!' l* '.'^«'-,^ r • 1 I y • 1 20-22. Ill 15, for " the hope of nshteousness by laith. ,"""''■,*;» .1 -.1 • ■ 1 ■ r'ohn xn B-IS. 6 r or " m Jesus Christ neither ciicum- „'''^1,„",I|', ,8 cision availeth any thing, nor iincircum- I^m. "cxxx. *; cision ; but p faith whicli worketh by {;J;° ''ji"'": love. "•"" 2 The? iii. iii. } B Rom V SI. Phil, lii 9 ETim. Inm il. !0- 29 ill 29—31 1 Cor vii 19 Cnl U llbei. 1.3 Hell XI II 17-19 Jsn. ii I I Thee i U ■ t T.t ii. 13. o2. 3 ill 21 1 11... p Mall XXV. 31-41 -2t. I Pel. i. U I Johu ul. 14— 2( promise, and of the heavenly Jerusalem ; they possess true liberty, and are the heirs of everlasting felicity. Mil- lions have already been thus born of God in the Gentile world, which once lay desolate ; and we should pray that such places, as slill continue barren, may speedily pro- duce more converts than have yet been made in the most flourishing churches. If indeed we are the children of promi.se, and heirs of the inheritance, we need not wonder that carnal Ishmaels mock and persecute us : so it hath been, and so it will be. But let us rest our souls on the Scrijiture, and, by an evangelical hope and a cheerfui obedience, let us show that we are the children of God ; that we walk at liberty ; and that our conversation and treasure are indeed in heaven. NOTES. CHAP. V. V. 1-C. As Christ had called the Galatians, by his Go.spel, to partake of full liberty from condemnation and from the ceremonial law, as well as from sin and Satan ; so the apostle exhorted diem to stand fast in that liberty, whatever efforts were used to deprive them of it ; and not to suffer the judaizing teachers to entangle them in a yoke of bondage under the ceremonial law, which would reduce them again into as abject a slavery as that of their Gentile state. For he, Paul, though single, and opposed to many conGdent teachers who maintained the contrary, most decidedly and solemnly assured them, that if they submitted to circumcision, as ■ necessary to justification, they would derive no benefit from Christ and his covenant, or from his righteousness, atonement and mediation ; and he again testified to every individual among them, who should be circumcised from such motives, that he became a debtor to keep the whole law of God, and liable to condemnation for every failure in his obedience to it. Perhaps some taught them, that the most burdensome par's of the law were not obligatory on proselytes who lived at a distance from Jerusalem. And certainly Christ would not benefit that man, who brought himself under this obligation, by seeking to be justified on account of his own obedience to the law; as that attempt was in fact a renunciation of the doctrine of grace, a forfeiture of every hope of benefit from the mercy and free favour of 'lod, and a kind of voluntary divorcing himself from Christ. For circumcision, in such cir- cumstances, would be a deliberate renunciation of the covenant of Christ for that of the law : whereas all true Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, being taught by tht A. D. 56. CHAPTER V .1 D. .')G. qMMt. s:ii. ai. I (.or. i%. 24. Heb mi. I. • Or. drive jfou »af*' 1" I » Acts/. 7 ao,.i, ii. a. VI i;. X. 16. XV. lii xvi. 1«. 2 Cor. X 5 3 Thc3 i- 8. Feb. I. 9 xi. 6. I Pet. ii :2 a Ste on, i 6. tMstt. xiii 31 X>1 6-15 M«k vi.i. Ii Luke 1 Cor. V S. 7 xr 3J. 3 Tun. i< Ftiileia 2!. 7 Ye did ' run well ; who did * hin- der you, that ye should not "■ obey the truth ? 8 This persuasion comclh not of - him that calleth you. 9 A ' little leaven Icaveneth the wliole lump. 10 I have "confidence in you through , -- - . v. w.^y „i.iu the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise | which trouble you.' . i7. u iv 11. ;0. 2 Cor. 1 15 ii. 3. vii. 16 vii!. :2 2 Tliej iii. J. I i« X'. 33 I ti.r i IH ij 1 Pet. ii. E. 9 . minded: ^ but lio that truubleih you >c,i ■ .. j . i shall y bear /i/y judcriacnt, '• v,ho*ocvcr he >'' 'a."U7.' be. Jo. 1 1 And r, brethren, circumcision, cution ? then it ceased. 12 I would they were even '^ cut off 8 Sl IB- as. .,. , , , y 1?. 1 Cor V .. il 1 yet preach ^'■^r "■.« » wliv do 1 yet sullcr pcrt^c- i.."'!™- ' 2" , 'the oiicncc of the cross '".''.'a'" *'",:'• c iS. viti.lt liotu. It Ex x'i ia.xx&. . IJ. I'.l iii. IJ. Holy Spirit, wailed lor clernrd Hie, the proper reward of righteousneis, and the object of their hope, as the gift of God by faith in Chii&t ; and not for the sake of their own works in any degree. Thoy not only deemed themselves pardoned and justified by faith in Chiist, in respect of the past and present, but they had the same expectation for the future, and waited for the day of judgment, ex- pecting to be accounted righteous only by taith in Christ, and thus entitled to the heavenly inheritance. For, accord- ing to the new covenant, a.ad iii respect of those who were members of the Christian ch'.i:ch, neither circumcision nor uncirc'jmcision were of any avail : the Jewish convert Ciight observe the legal ceremonies, or he might assert kis liberty from them ; the Gentile might utteily disregard diem ; or from motives cf expediency he might be cir- eumcised, as Timothy had been, and pay some attention to them, provided he did not count them obligatory on his conscience, or place any dependence on them. But these things were of no avail in Christ Jesus, True faith alone received the Saviour, and interested the believer in his whole salvation ; and this living and justifying faith was distinguished from a dead faith, by being an opera- live active principle; and especially as it always showed its energy in the heart, by love to Christ, his cause, antl his people -, by love to God and to man for his sake ; and this never failed to produce its correspondent effect on a person's conduct. By this view of the subject, a simple dependence on the righteousness and atonement of Christ, and an evangelical obedience to his commandments, are at once secured ; and the fruits of that love, by which faith worketh, will be adduced at the day of judgment, as evidences to prove believers entitled to the heavenly in- heritance. {Matt. XXV. 31 — 46.) After what the apo.stle had before said, (2 — 4.) this conclusion fully proves that he did rsct oppose the observance of the ceremonial lav; as evil in itself, but as their legal dependence on it was wholly incompauble with the method of justification re- vealed in the -Gospel. • h is to be noted, that circum- ' cision is here to be considered, partly from the cir- ' cumstances of the limes, (when it had ceased to be •• the seal of the righteousness of faith," ' as by baptism ' it was abolished.) and pardy from the sentiments of ' these adversaries, who were desirous to connect it with ' Christ, as if some part of salvation resided in i!.' iBeza.) V. 7 — 1-2. When the Gospel had first been received by the Galatians, they seemed in a very promising manner to run the race set before them ; professing, and apparently exercising, that "faith which worke'.h by love," aid Vol. v.— No. 2'3. obeying Christ from evangelical principles. But they were now evidently hindered and turned aside from thi.s obedience of faith aiul love to ceremonial observances and legal principles. But who were they that had thus driven them buck from the way of Christ into these new and un- authorized paths ? (or, dome across them in the course, and Uirned them out of it.) This persuasion of the neces- sity of circumcision certainly did not come from the apostle, who had called them to ihs grace of Christ ; nor wa.s it from the Holy Spirit, the .Agent in the sinner's conversion, hi fact, a t&w Judaizen had crept in among them, who, being infected with pride, bigotry, and enmity to the pure Gospel of Christ, had leavened them also with a similar spirit; iii baleful influence was rapidly dif- fusing itself through all their churches, and would' have most fatal effects, unless counteracted. Yet, (notwith- standing his fears concerning them,) rejecting on the manner in which they had received his doctrine, and trusting in the Lord Jesus, he had a confidence in thcni that they would recover from the temporary fascination, and become entirely of his judgment on the subject. Then the ringleader of the defection, or any other person who had perverted them, (of whatever importance he had seemed to be.) would be justly censured by them, and bear that con- demnation from them which he deserved ; as assuredly he would from God, unless he were brought to repentance. Indeed, it had been craftily and maliciously insinuated that the apostle himself, after his journey to Jerusalem, and his conference v/ith the other apostles, on some occasions preached the necessity of circumcision, when it tended to increase his influence ; (and for this his candid allowance to men's prejudices, when it could be safely done, and the circumcision of Timothy, might give the handle:) but if this had been his practice, why did he every where meet with such furious persecution from the Jews ? For in that case, the offence of the cross of Christ would have in a great measure ceased. Had he proselyted the Gentiles to the Mosaic law, and taught justification by it, the Jews would iTavc connived at his regard to Jesus of Nazareth, being gratified in their self-preference, and in the in- creasing number of those who observed the law. But his preaching Christ as the only Salvation of sinners, his dis- regard to the ritual law, his doctrine of justification, whicli left all unbelievers under condemnation without distinction, and his success among die Gentiles every where, exas- perated the Jews against him. As then diis insinuation was notoriously false, so he ardently wished that the persons who thus tiouhled them, and employed such manifest deceits for that purpose, were cut off by cxrom- K /l D. oii. GALATIANS. J. D. 56. ci w5-7s:-3i. l.i H Foi', Lrfcthreii. "ye have been iv.rj'joi,.>'^'1* called iKito liberty; ' only use not liberty iti-2j' "' " for an occasion to the llcsh, ^ but by love f ICor v.iii 9 1 , ' - i-ei ii 1(1 ji'e: sci'vc one aiioltier. 'l'~'^.,o ' „ ' "^ ^''*'' '' ^" t'"' '^^^ '^ fulfilled in one M.rkV 4:1-41 word, cveii in this, ' Thou siialt love thy John X II.. 11 ' 1 ,,. •' HonfTv"'"*! iiciglibour as tliysclt. J-T '"all- n''! '^ ^"^ '' '' y^ '^'^^ ^"'' devour one *']■ x.'m'ii"ii- fi'i*'ther, take heed ihat ye be not consu- iT.^jJohni.i ic mod one of another. j ''xii'"le,.''3.'xs'it '6 77iw 'I say then, '"Walk in thej x'ii f-\o Jam Spirit, " and * ye shall not fidfd the lust of V '-'.' the llpsh ' i 1 Lev. xis. 18 34 ^"*' IJCSU. Markxii Jl.rn I.ukf x 1-7-; 7- I Tim i.5 k IS : S»m ii. 2f,, 17 Is ix.CO:! xi. .^— 9. ):l. ICnriM. a VI. B-8 : C.r xi. ;n. \n. 20 Jam. ill, U-18 iv 1-1 iSnim. ill 17 1 Cor Vii :9 m 15 >i. 8. Rom v:i'. I 4,5 13. 14. I I'l-t 1.22 iv i .Juile IH-si — n IS. 21. Horn. vi. 12 irlil. 13, M t Cor vn 1 Eph 1. 3 Col. ii. II. ' iii. S-IO. I Pet i 14 ii. II. iv. I-4 1 Jolin ii 15 IG * Or. Julfil ml. I muiiicatio.-i lVo!U their socifly, and so kept from doing tlicmany iiiither iiii.schii'f. {Marg, Htf.) But why did he not command the G.diuians to excommunieatc them, as Jie had rec|uircd tlic Coiinlliians to deliver the ince.stuous person to .Satan, iic. ? It is probable. Ijecause the infection had spread so wide in (he cliurrhcs of Galatia, antl so very: many were concerned in some degree, that tliere wa.s little prospect, except by the intervention of miracles, that such a command would be obnye.l. The apostle therefore pointed out to them their duty, and wailed for a more favourable op))ortunity of exercising the needful discipline. V. J3 — 1.0. Tiie Galatians had been called untn liljerty, and ought not to endure those who wanted to bring them; into bondage : only let thcinbe careful not to run into lircn- tiousness, or to take occasion from their liljcrty !o indulge Ihe inclinations of corrupt nature. "Faith working by iove" would indeed, as far as it had influence, lead them to serve and worship God as his children : and love to their brethren and to all men, for Christ's sake and after his cx;iir|)le, utight to make them willing servants to each other, and induce them to give u|j their own inclinations j and indulgence, to promote their welfare, as far as inj their power, without doing any one harm in his person, j connexions, property, reputation, or peace of mind. For, the whole moral law contained no more, in all its require- ments, than was implied in that '• love" by which faith worked : especially the whole of men's duty to one another; was summed up in the single prece|)t of '" loving their " neighbours as themselves,'' {Notes, Lev. xix. in. Rom.l xiii. 8 — 10.) and this still continued to be their rule of du- ty, though they were delivered from the law as a covenant. | But if, on the contrary, they indulged selfishness, pride, and anger, by dividing into jiarties and (luarrclling with each other, as if they would bite roul devour one another, they might expect to be left by the God of peace :^:i xvi. 17 2n.xx.i. that ye would. *> Joi!9 '<■ «• IB But ' if ye be led by the Spirit, " yc -« ."■'•* 13- are not under the law. So " 'Rom"","" 19 Now • the works of the flesh are '^lo-"'' ''i'" s manifest, which are ihcse ; " adultery, for- i^^'j^''^' ^-,'[- nication, unclcanness, lasciviousness, M^e"'"^"'!! 20 Idolatry, " witchcraft, hatred, vari- I'3°'"Hhyi''ii",7 -IS.Uni Iii 2 iJolini. 8-10 r Ifi. 25 iv B I's xx>.4. 5 8 n i i. 6 Rom. vii 5 18 25. viii :> 5 9 13.1 Cor iii 3 1 Pet iv 2 ii K/. xxii 6-13 Matt xv 18, 10. Mark vii 21—13 rtnin i Sl-32 I Cor vi . '.i. lO 2 Cor. xii 20,21. Kph. iv 17-19. v 3,4 i.ol. iii 5-8 1 Tim i 9. 10 Til iii 3 .lam. ii' 1 1. 15 I Pet iv « 5 Kev xxl. 8. XXii 15 X Ex xxii. 18. Deut Xviii. 10. 1 cam »v 2J. 1 Cbr. x. 13, U 2 Chr. XXXiii. 6 Actb viii. 9— 1 1, xvi. 16—19 nature with which they were born. ' According to his ' manner, the apostle calls that part of a man '"the spirit," ' which is newly quickened by the Holy Spirit, which is 'dead unto sin and alive unto God; and, "the flesh," ' whatever in man is not renewed by grace, through ' Christ, as apprehended by faith. He here justly adds, ' that in the same regenerate man is both_^esft, and : ■ 1 ,11 Horn. xw. 13. 21 Liivyings, murders, ^ drunkenness, 10. Eph.'v'. 18 a rcvelliu"s, and such like : of the which 1 Thes '■'•»,, ^, . 11 I II a I Pet iv 3. I (ell you bclorc, as 1 liavc also told you. m kisiii.ll Rom li . J ' ,11 II- ••'i^j,'-',? K^"r tmie past, ''tliatthcy wincli do such tiiiuirs »l.9,10. Bph V 5. I ' • 1 1 • 1 r f^ I «cnuu6 Rev shall not uihent tlie kiUijdom oi (jrod. 27 o 16—18 Ps. i. 3. xcii U.Hos xiv 8. MaU xii 33. a 22 But ''the I'ruit of the Spirit is Lukeviiiu.is love, joy, peace, loug-suil'ering, gentle- s.'i 'is "'"Rom. ness, goodness, " faitli, Ti. 22. vii. 4 Kph T 9. Phil i. H Col i 10 ill J Ron v 2-5 xii. 9-18 xv. 13 1 C.ir.xiii.4-7 Eph. iv 28-32 v l. 2 Phil iv 1-9 Cnl iii. rj-17 I Tin's i 3-10 T. 10-S2 Tit ii. 2-12. Jam. iii 17, 18 1 Pet. i U 22 2 Pet. i. 5- 8 1 Joiin iv 7- IC. e 1 Cor. xiii 7.13 2 Thes iii, 2. ! Tim iii. 11 iv 12.1 ret. v 12. "l. X^ V. 19 — 21. The difference between the flesh and the Spirit might be known by their contrary eilccts. The works of the flesh must be manifest to every one, who considered die conduct of unconverted men, and the state of the world in general. Several of the sins here specified as " the works of the flesh," have no connexion with the bodily appetites : which |jroves. that we are not to under- stand, by " flesh and spirit," the animal part of man, as distinguished from the intellectual ; but t'le whole of our fallen nature, as opposed to the new nature communicated by regeneration, and the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit acting upon it. It is not requisite to consider every particular in this catalogue : a few may require observa- - lion. Idolatry is " a work of the flesh ;" as it springs from man's carnal enmity to the holy character, worship,! and service of God; in the ,'^tead of whom he deities! imaginary beings, more congenial to himself, and worships! them in a manner more suited to his pride and lusts. — i Witchcraft, (implying all kinds of sorcery, charms, divi- nations, incantations, fortune-telling, and attempted, real,! or pretended, intercourse with evil ^spirits.) is a work ofi the flesh, as it results from man's carnal dislike of sub- 1 mission to God, and dependence on him, and a desire ofl seeking help and information from other quarters : by both these, men virtually worship the devil. Emulations, or " zeals," seem in this connexion to signify thatp ambition of pre-eminence and thirst for glory, which excite men to vie with one ^mother, and eagerly to aspire after distinc- tion, according to the nature of their objocts and pursuits. Poets, orators, historians, philosophers, moralists, and all men who do not attend to the Bible, deemed this the noblest principle of human activity ; yet it springs from Ammingled pride and selfishness, and is nearly allied to envy. When the object of emulation is evil, its effects are dreadful ; when the object is good, the glory of man is sacrilegiously substituted in the place of the glory of God, and this thirst for human applause has caused more hor- rible violations of the law of love, and done more to desolate the earth, than even the grossest sensuality ever did. Heresies arc called works of the flesh ; pride, am- bition, avarice, or other carnal aflTections, induce men to pervert the truth of God's words, and, espousing some pernicious error, to seek distinction by propagating it — Hence arise contention's, separations, and the most fatal eflects to individuals and to the Church. These were therefore joined by the apostle with adulteries, unnatural, and woPie than beastly lusts, drunkenness, envy, revel- lings, seditions, and even murders, as equally the result 23 Meekness, "^ temperance : ^ agamst r aci^^xiv ci i such there is no law. < « ii 2. 24 And '' they that arc Christ's, have ^' va 'as ' iiom ' crucihcd the ilcsh with the * aliections ^i.ss'xv. Si and lusts. > ii-i" 11.20. vl 25 If ■< we live in the Spirit, 'let us |^i^"C^iii' '^ .... I ' 1 Pet. 11 11. also walk in the bpirit. *or pauiwir I k ,Ioiin VI, 63. 2(j Let us not be " desirous of vain "' " " glory, ° provoking one another, envying one another. in. I Onr as 2 Cor a I Pet. iv li— 16 I Pet of a carnal lieart, and marks of unregeneracy. Many more he might have mentioned; but these and such like would, without repentance and its fruits, cci'tainly exclude men from heaven, as the apostle had formerly declared to them, and now again forewarned ihem. The word translated witchcrafts, is by some rendered poisonings, a.s if the apostle in this compendium would jiause to dis- tinguish one kind of murder from another, when the difi'erence did not at all alter the nature or degree of tie crime. "Witchcrafts," had the name used in the ori- ginal, from the magical compo.^itions of certain ingrc-' dients, which attended these diabolical practices. Hevel- lings were such feasts as were accompanied with music and dancing, and whatever could promote hiliarity. Tlie Greeks and Romans had an imaginary god, called Coinus, (from the Greek word here used,) who was supposed to preside over them, and was in that character worshipped by hymns, oblations, and libations. V. -22 — "26. The holy dispositions and aflections, and the conduct resulting from them, are not so much the works of the believer, as " the fruit of the Spirit," dwelling in the new nature and working by it, which he hath produced by regeneration. Love of God and man, of the Saviour, his people, and ail men for his sake, and according to his command and example ; a joyful frame of mind in the salvation and service of the liord ; a peaceful conscience, and a submissive will, leading to a peaceful conduct towards man ; a disposition to bear injuries and aflronts, without seeking revenge, or expressing resent- ment; a mild, unassuming, inoffensive deportment, united with beneficence and philanthropy; truth, sincerity, fide- lity and integrity to man, springing from faith in God and faithfulness to him ; a humble, teachable, unambitious temper and demeanour, and an evident moderation about earthly objects, and in respect of every animal indulgence: Lliesc, and such like, are " the fruits of the Spirit ;" and against theni there is no law. for they are exactly what the moral law requires. (Notes, 1 Cor. xiii.) So that obedience to the law as a rule, and as written in the heart by the Holy Spirit, with delight and satisfaction, and ear- nest desires after more exact conformity to it, is the apos- tolical evidence of deliverance from the law as a covenant of work^ ; and they who really belong to Christ, as jus- tified believers, have actually crucified the flesh, with all its corrupt aflections and rebellious inclinations. The carnal naluj'e, the old man, is dethroned, condemned, hated, opposed, weakened, and wounded : his death is determined, though the cxectiiion be lingering and only 2 K 2 ' d. n. f>0. tULATIAN;.. A. D. 56. CHA-P. V^f. The cpoalh exhorts (he Galaliaus to re- store the fallen with meekness, and fa hear each other's burdens, accordiiiu; to the command of Christ, J , 2 ; to beware of proud self-dcccpliun, 3 — .0 ; to pro- ride for their pastors, and to persevere without U'caryiiii^ in cverij good tcork ; being assured that c-crt/ one will reap as he has sowed, G — 10. lie shows the carnal motives and glorying of the Juda- i zing teachers, II — 13; and determines to glory in the cross of Christ (done, as crucified to the ivorld, and the worhl to him, 11. A'othing in Christ avails, but a new creation, l,j. lie prays for peace on fdl true Israelites ; desires that none of them icouhl further trouble him, who, as an old sohlicr, bore the scars of his warfare ; and he commends them to ihf grace of Christ, 1 6 — 1 8. "to be cfiectet] by ?. conlinucd course of sclf-c]eni;il ; and though he still struggles Tor life, liberty, and even victory ; which perpetuates the believer's conflict, and prevents his complete holiness. But, says the apostle, if we live in, or by, the Spirit, as regenerate persons, " let us also '• walk in the Spirit," and order our daily conversation according to his holy influence, and in dependence on his guidance: especially in mortifying the carnal desires of lin glory and human applause, and reiVaining froin what- • 'vcr may tend to exasperate the minds of other men, or manifest envy of their gifts, reputation, or prosperity. The ftody, as meaning the animal nature, must be " kcjH under " and brought into subjection," by proper discipline, as :\ child ; but ihe flesh must be crucified, as an enemy and miicfacior, which is doomed to inevitable destruction. ■'Sole, 1 Cor. is. 24—27.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—12. While so many arc struggling for personal and political liberty, or disputing about it, as the greatest of earthly blessings, let us aspire after, and stand fast in, the liberty ■which Christ bestows : that, walking before God with the humble and obedient confidence of children, we may steadfastly reject every yoke of bondage, with which Satan or his ministers may attempt to entangle us. Especially we should regard the apostle's warnings to keep clear of all dependence on our own works for justification, as in that case " Christ will profit us nothing." It is to be feared, that numbers impose on themselves in this matter : ♦hey imagine that the merits of Christ will make up for f our justification, or he will leave us wholly to stand or fall by our own righteousness; and every man, who trusts ^o his own works, " becomes a debtor to do the whole *' law :" " Christ becomes of none effect to him ;" he virtually renounces the covenant of grace, and must ex- fect to be dealt with according to tlie rigour of the cove- nant of works. May we then keep at a distance from this fatal rock, and be of thai number, who " through the " Spirit wait for the righteousness of liope by faith !" For the danger of old did not lie in circumcision, as that and iincircumcision were alike immaterial in themselves, even as many external forms and observances now are : but Christ. Without this all else is worthless ; and, compareu with it, other things are of small value. Yet many, wh(. seemed to run well in this evangelical race, have been hii; dcred from obeying the truth by those who perplexed them with refined notions, or laboured to proselyte them to some new sect or form : so that, instead of '• the wori; •' of faith, and labour of love, and |)aticncc of hope," they have turned aside to vain jangling, and zeal for trifling distinctions and the shibboleths of a party. This per- suasion, that religion consists in such things, does by no means accord with the doctrine of the apostles, nor is it from the converting grace of the Spirit, Yet, when p. little of this leaven gets into hopeful congregations, it is apt to diffuse itself through the whole lump. Its first beginnings should therefore be strenuously op|)osed ; and they who would thus unsettle and pervert others, should be censured by their brethren, or even cut off from theii communion : and certainly they who persist in disturbing and dividing the Church of Christ, must at last bear their judgment, whosoever they bs. V, 13—18. It becoir.es us most steadfasdy to maintain the pure Gospel of a crucified Saviour, whatever offence may be taken, or persecution endured, by means of it; but we should be equally watckful against those who inake their " liberty an occasion for the tlesh," and of indulging their selfish passions. By love, we should become the willing servants of one another and of all men ; and in loving our neighbours as ourselves, according to the requirement of the holy commandment, wc shall most effectually pro- mote our own *omfort, and the happiness of families, churches, and communities. But a house divided against itself cannot stand ; and when professed Christians, instead of the gentleness of lambs and doves, become like savage beasts of prey, in biting and devouring one another, wc need not wonder, that they are consumed one of another. Alas ! how hath Satan prevailed in this way against the Church of Christ ! What cruel persecutions and fierce con- troversies have arisen among Christians, so called ! How many hopeful prospects have thus been clouded, and flou- rishing churches ruined ! So that the nominal kingdom of the Prince of peace has become a scene of contention and discord ! But all this would have been pievenled, if men had '• walked in the Spirit ;" for they would not then have thus fulfilled the lusts of the flesh. The most cmi- fiiib working by love fcrms ihc essence of the religion of|nent Christians indeed do not attain to all that they desire Ji. D. 56. CHAF^TER VI. A. J), ao. • Or, fiHhou»h • U II— '3 Uen ■1. :u-:4 xii 11—13. Kum BRETHREN, ^ ii' a laan be 'over- taken in a fault, ye which are " spi- uv-n^'a ritual. " restore such an one "^ .'a the spirit 6am m a. Si- • l • i i '■ i Milt. »xTi i'9 of meekness ; * consiu'jring tliyseli, lest '''*°'" Tcor \\ ^'^°" ^'^"^ ^^ tempted. ?i ill. I. xiv. 2 f Bear )e one anotjicrs burdens, and easa™ xii I. so fulfil « the law of Christ. Uc. JolMV. 3, 4 1< XMX» 3 4 lil.X^Xiv IS Mitt ix 13. xviii 12 — 15 Lu'e XV 4—7 Jivii. 3 Sii 13. Jam v 19, 20 I John v 16 JuJc 22. L'3 d v, :■;. Matt xi iS. I Cor. ■ 2 Cor. K. I 2 Tlies Hrli. xiii 3 Jam . 15 a Tim II Si. Jo 3. f5 T 13.11 Kx xsiii.i . IT si 8S. I.ul!« XI «. Rom. XV Viii 14. !*• 34, 35. »v. 12. 1 Cor. ix 21 I Jobn ii. 8-IJ. and aim at ; yet they who arc led by ihe Spirit, habitually appose and mortify those sinful \vorkings, which they can- not wholly extirpate. A. i9— 26. It should always be kept in mind, that " hatred, va- ■" riancc. caiuiations, wrath, strife, seditions, iieresies, " and envyiiigs," are as much the works of the flesh, as adulteries, fornications, murders, drunkenness, revellings, or any sensual excess ; and that they will as certainly exclude men from heaven, whatever profession of religion they make ; naj', even when religion, in its purest form, is the pretence, subject, or occasion, of their malignant passions. But though the apostle hath repeatedly and plainly forewarned us, that they who do such things as are here mentioned, or others of a similar nature, shall not inherit the kingdom of God, yet what numbers of pro- fessed Christians live habitually in the grossest of them ; and notwithstanding their adultery, fornication, shameful vincleanncss, or secret iasciviouKness, still hope for heaven, in neglect of evangelical repentance and faith ! Nor can the most idolatrous covetousness, the most exorbitant pride, ambition, and emulation, the most notorious malice, wrath, hatred, envy, or even the murders committed in revengeful duels, deprive them of their presumptuous confidence. For " he that believcth not, hath made . 56. GALATIANS. J. D. 56, pDrut xii 13. 0 Lot '■ liiai that is taiiolit in the M-onl, Hon' xv' 17 conimuiiicatc unto him that teaclioth, in u 'iT.fn'''v/'i7 all good tliings. ql. Job XV ji 7 J3e '' not dwcived ; 'God is not w''^/l,nke\^i mocked : ' for whatsoever a man sowcth, S I Cor. HI. I«. , ^ , ,, I , vi. 9. x»;.3i. that shall he also reap. *i''5;''jL"'iJo' U For he that ' sowcth to liis flesh 7 " " shall of the llesh " reap contiption : but lb xiii 8, 0 . . , ,',,..' 1 .1 . r Job xiii 8, 9 , , , I ■ rM • • ' I II ,. r s"joif'v\ Pnv ''c that ''sowetii to the bjunt, shall > oi ». 31 xi Ifl. Ho-i " .'.'■' the Spirit reap life cverlastinc: xi 1" H05 nil t^ , I ' • 11 xvi" 2i' Horn ^ And let ' iis not be w-ary in Mvell ixt"'" *'■''"■■ doinjy : ''for in due season wc shall reap. ^^Tu. Hi. "' ' 'I' " e faint not. "je"xii,n 'lios. 10 As we h.ave therefore "opportunity. X 13 S Put M 12 19 Ile« x«ii 11 kScc on, 7 Ps cxxvl S, r, F,c xi li l< ssxii. :n .lam iii. Il> y Malt xix. 29 I.iiI.e xviii !n. John iv. U 3B vi 27. Uom. Ti a 1 Tim i. If.. T.t. iii. 7 .Tmlc 21 z Mai. i l::. 1 Cor. xv .^8 STI.cs iii. 13 Hch xii. 3 aKom. ii. 7 1 I'et. ii. 14 iii 17 iv ij b l,ov xxvi 4. Ueut xi li. Ts ri« 2:.cxiv 1.^ Jam. v 7,6. c li si. nO. 31 Zopti. iii IB M.-.rg. Mutl. xxiv i.?. I.i|i;e xviii. 1.2 Coi- iv. I 16 Kph iii 13. lU-b iii B 14 II. 17. 2C— 20, iii 5 6 12, 13. 21. 22. Phil. iv. 10. Col. iv. 6 Gr. Tit ii 11. 3J I TDM I Tim 17, 18. Tit let us « do good unto all men, ' especially e p. xxxTii d c?. unto them who arc of the household of {it«" "u^c",'! fdith. 11 H Yc see how larc^e a letter I have b h.: '^ written unto you with mine own hand, t MM"x.':i zn Irtl h I'. I /.. W). XXV d«. I J As many " as desire to make a lair Kph li. 19. iii 1 • ..1 n 1 . 1 • '4 *l«h '»■ «• snew m the llesh, ' they constrain you vi 10. 1 Jotm to be circumcised: only ''lest they sjohns-s snoulu sutler persecution lor the cross ol ,ic<"- "vi si- Christ. h'li M,.tt. vi 2 13 For neither they themselves who f- '-«''« ?-i' 111 1 I 1 1 IS XX. 47 Jolm arc circumcised 'keen the law; but de- y''.','?'^"'*- , . t . > 1 - 12 XI 13 rh:l sire to have you circumcised, "^ that they I,',*,'' * ^"^' may glory in your flesh. 'i', ] j'* ^'^^ 14 But "God forbid "that I should "*?;; ,';;•'■,/ " glory, ''save in the cross of our Lord 'is'"' "oii i! ^17— 24. iii. 9— 19. 2 I'd. ii. IS IB 1 Cnr. iii. 21 v. G 2 Cor si. IB. n Stc on. Itom. iii 4 6. 02 Kinsn xiv.9-n. Job XKXi. 21 2.i. Ps. xlix G Iii. I. Jer ix 23,24 Ka XKviii.2 Ujn iv.3fl,31 v. i0,2l. 1 Cor. I. 29-31. iii. 21 SCor.xi. 13. sii. 10, II plsxlv.:i,2i Uom. i 16. 1 Cor i. 23. ii. 2. fhil. iii. 3 Gr. 7-11 For every man must at last stanu or fdl, not according to the sect to which he belonged, or the judgment of men respecting liim, but according to his real character in the sight of God. So that if any were deluded into fital errors by false teachers, every one must bear the burden of his own guilt ; nor would the condemnation of the deceiver excul|iate him, who allowed himself to be deceived by him. {Marg. Kef.) The word rendered spirilnal, when applied to persouf!, seems to denote the spirilualily, or heavenly mind and judgment, of those wlio are thus distinguished. But all rulers, teachers, and workers of miracles, were not spiritual, spiritually minded, " led *' by the Spirit," and filled with '• the fniils of the " Spirit ;" and many private Christians were. The duly of restoring the fallen might belong to the teachers and rulers primarili/, but not exclusivelt/. It can hardly be doubted, but that there were pastors and teachers in the churches of Galatia, yet they are scarcely men'tioned in this epistle; perhaps, because they generally concurred w ith those who preached circumcision. Some indeed sup- pose, that the persons endued with spiritual gifts superin- tended the churches for some time, without any regular appointment, and that there were no other bishops or el- ders in G.ilatia at this time ; but this by no means agrees with the history, which mentions the ordaining of elders by the apostles in every city, either personally, if lliey had leisure, or by apostolical men, or evangelists, (as Timothy, Titus, &;c.) if compelled previously to leave the new con- verts. It is, however, probable, that these elders, and the deacons also, were generally chosen from among those who had been endued with miraculous powers, by the laying on of the hands of the apostles. V. 6 — 10. The Lord had appointed the office of the ministry, for the conversion of sinners and the edification of believers ; and accordingly the apostle exhorted the Galatians to contribute to the comfortable maintenance of their pastors, who instructed them from the word of God, communicating to them a proportion of their temporal good things, according to their ability. In this, and all such matters, they must be careful not to be deceived by their own hearts, by Satan, or by false teachers ; for however they might excuse themselves, or impose upon men, and then deride their simplicity and credulity, God was not to be thus deceived, or mocked with false pre- tences ; and it was most certain, that every man would at length reap a harvest correspoiulent to what he sowed. He that sowed to the flesh, by continuing to fulfil its lusts, and to indulge his selfish and sensual desires, under the profession of the Gospel, would only reap the corruptible things of this world ; his body, which he indulged and pampered, would soon turn to corruption in the grave, and at length he himself would perish, as unregenerate, and having no inheritance in heaven. But the man who sowed to the Spirit, and, under the influences of the Holy Spirit, exercised daily repentance, faith in Christ, love to him and his brethren, and other Christian graces, would not only here reap the earnest and first fruits of inward consolations, but at length inherit everlasting life, a-s trained up for it b}' the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and as receiving for Christ's sake a proportionable gracious recompense of all his disinterested and faithful ser\ ices. Let then none of them grow weary of doing well, in dependence on Christ and for the honour of his Gospel, whatever conflicts, disappointments, persecutions, or tempt- ations, they met with ; for in due season, in the time of harvest, they would surely reap an abundant increase of all their labours, self-denial, and expense, if they showed the sincerity of their faith and love by continuing to the end without fainting in the work of the Lord. While therefore their lives were continued, and opportunities aflbrded, they ought to make it their great business, an3 deem it their chief pleasure, honour, and advantage, to be doing good, according to their ability, to men of every description, but especially to those who were their brethren in the family of God, by faith in Christ, or all professed Christians, who showed their sincerity in pro- tessing the Gospel by their temper and conduct. For surely those learned men, who would substitute the word profession, instead oi fitilh in Christ, do not mean to in- clude those who evidently make a hypocritical profession", ji. D. 50. CHAPTER VI. ji. D. 60. • or.niicA Jcsus Clipist, bv * whoiii 1 the world q i 4 ii 20. » :i- . •,• 1 II I Acts XX. i3 24^ IS cruciucu unto mc, and 1 unto the Horn VI 6 2 , , ' Cor V 14-16. u-orld. iiiiViJobD ^^ For ' in Christ Jesus ' neither cir- n. is-17 V 4, cnmcision availcth any tiling, nor uncir- 'K"oi°"viir \. cumcision, ' but a new creature. >°i^cor°r.i'i9. 1*^ And as many as "walk according taCor. V 17. Enh. ii. 10. iv. 21. Col. lil. 10, Kev. xsi 5. u v. 16. 2i. I's. CiXv 4. i. VM. iii 16. V. 11 — 16. The words here rendered " how large a " letter," are supposed by many persons to signify willt whul kind of letters, referring to the apostle's want of skill in writing the Greek language. He had, however, be- stowed great pains to jiea this epistle with his own hand, either because he had not an amanuensis ^^•ith him, or, rather, because he did not choose to employ one, but wrote the whole himself, that he might convince the Galatians of his love to them, and anxiety about them. There were professed teachers of Christianity indeed, who wanted to make a fair show in the flesh, or in respect of external matters, by forming a coalition between the Jew- ish religion and that of Jesus. These were so very earnest in urging the Gentiles to be circumcised, that they might be said" even to compel them, as they would take no denial, and exhausted all their eloquence and ingenuity to overcome their reluctance. But, notwithstanding their attachment to the ritual law, diey would not have been so earnest in this matter, if they could otherwise have pos- sessed their influence in the Christian Church, without exposing themselves to persecution for jirofcssing faith in Christ and his cross. For, not only did the Jews hate and persecute those who preached the Gospel to the Gentiles, without regarding the Mosaic law, but the heathen rulers also, who tolerated the Jews and such Christians as observed the law, were inveterate against the Gentile Christians, and deemed them an upstart sect, dangerous to die civil government. This crafty and selfish aim of the iudaizing teachers, of advancing themselves to considera- tion in the Christian Church, without exposing themselves to persecution, induced them to be very zealous in prose- lyting the Gentiles to the Mosaic law, but they were not equally strict in their own observance of it ; not only were they negligent of the moral precepts, but probuldy on one pretence or other, they di.^pcnsed with themselves and one another, in respect to the more burdensome and expensive of the ceremonial institutions, many of which could not be observed in countries distant from Jerusalem. So that it was evident they only desired the Gentiles to be circumcised, that they might glory in having induced such numbers to bear in their flesh this mark of their being proselyted. This both placed them at the head of a Chris- tian sect, and also tended to procure them i'avour and reputation with the Jewi.sh rulers and cther.=;. But the •Tposde added, with a nolilc disdain of such base motives, " God forbid that 1 should ghjry, Szc, :" he would not value himself on any thing which he had received, at- tained to, or perfcrmed, either before or since his con- version, except in his dependence on the sufTci'ings and death of Chri.-t upon the cross, as a sacrifice for sin, and in the ho])cs, comforts, and blessings, which lie thence had derived. In this, indeed, he greatly gloried, and his to this rule, " peace 6e on tlum, and Vjf;,, kTx'i!" mercy, and upon >' the fsracl of God. Lli'^" "«« "i 17 From henceforth Met no man j^"'^ '' »"'"'■ trouble me : for * I bear in my body the ''ixxJr?.if xi^^! marks of the Lord Jesus. joi„"°'i.'" J'?! 18 Brethren, "the grace of our Lord f^^j Vl-Ta. Jesus Christ 6e with your spirit. Amen. l^i..t'^ "'"*' 2 i 7. V. 12. .lush vii.25 Acts xv Ii^'hel. xi,. I.'i a v 11.2 Cnr r, 5 iv in. xi. 23- 15 Col. i 21. b S'C on, Roin. xvi. 2U 21 2 Cor. xiii U. 2 litu iv. 22. Philem. 2S. Rev xsii. ;l view of the cross of Christ, and of the obligations, mo- tives, and instructions, connected with it, had crucified the world to him, and him to the world. ' So that he viewed ' the world, as little impressed by all its charms, as a ' sjicctator would be by any thing that had been graceful • in the countenance of a crucified p.erson, when he be- ' holds it l.lackened in the agonies of death, and was no ' more affected by the objects around him, than one that ' is expiring would be struck with any of those prospects, ' which his dying eyes might view from the cross on ' which he was suspended.' (Doddridge.) He disdained the friendship, I'iches, honours, and plcnsurcsof the world, and disregarded its reproach and hatred, as he would have done-those of a crucified malefactor, seeing in the cross of Christ the condemnation of all unbelievers without dis- tinction; and the love of all things of a worldly nature was crucified by his view of the holiness of God, the evil of sin, the wickedness of man, and the importance of eternity, whicli the cross of Christ exlnbited, and by that grace which he died to prrcure for hiin. To show forth jUie love of iiis crucified Lord, to point him out to sinners, to honour'iiini in his own conduct, and to teach otiieis to love and glorify him, was the great business of his life; all else was comparatively beneath his notice. This raised him above all regard to circumcision or uncircum- cision, assured that regeneration, or a new creation to the image of Christ, as evidential of faith in him, was the great distinction between one man and another ; {Notes, •i Cor. v. \7 — 20:) and to all men, Jewish or Gentile converts, who walked with God, as in Christ, new crea- tures, glorying in his cross only, and crucified by it to the world,"he desired that mercy and peace might abound, even to the true Israel of God, as distinguL-ihed from the unbelieving nation of Israel. V. 17", 18. As what had been v/rittcn was abundant- ly sufficient to satisfy all humble intiuiries, the apostle desired that he might not thenceforth be troubled and disciuieted by surh disputjtioiis ; they ought not thus to add to his sufitTings, for he already bore in his body the marks and scars of the v.ounds which he had received in the cause of Christ, and which he deemed far more honourable than the external badge of circumcision. — Some think, that the marks which slaves and soldiers received, showing to what master or commander they belonged, arc alluded to. But the scars of the strijies and wounds, which he had received for Christ'.^ sake, are cer- tainly meant. These ought to have endeared him to ihem, as he exposed himself to such persecutions for their good. He therefore desired, that the grace and free favour of Christ might be with their souls, to comfort, establish, and sanctify them ; and Uien he kne'.v 'h-.t they would be more aflectioiialu to him, and less attached to mere cxtcrnafs. /. D. 43. GAL4TIANS. d. D. 00. nUCTlCAL OUSERVATIOISS, V, I- 10, There is a great diiTerencc belween tlioao whohablfually live in known sin ; ami ihose who arc ovcitukfii with a fault, to which iha best of men are liable. The reality And degree of our spiriliialily should be evinced by lender jnd coinpasf.ionalo enjeavouis to restore the fallen and v-onfirm the weaic, in the si)irit of meekness ; as conscious dial wo too are liable to be tcnipled, and have need of liuniblc watchfulness, and constant dependence upon God. Our Christian liberty is enjoyed in proportion as we ' fulfil the law of Christ," in loving the brethren, and bearing one another's burdens, v/tUi compassion and self- uoRial, But, olas ! many think themselves to be something when ihey arc nothing, and so deceive themselves. Let iis then prove our own work ! and seek rejoicing in the assurance of our own conversion, and not in the opinion of others concerning us ; Eceing that '* every man must bear •' his own burden.'' They who love the Gospel, and are iaughi according to iho wonl of God, will not grudge the f.(ilhful minister a proportion of their good things ; men may in this and in other matters impoca on others, as well xi deceive themselves ; but God will not be trifled with. As the present is our seed time for eternity, let us examine what we are now mowing 5 and uhat our harvest is likely to prove, Jf hitherto any man have sown to the tlesh, and is afraid that " of the flesh he shall reap corruption ;'' let hin> begin, by repentance, faith, and prayer, to sow to the Spirit, that he may at length reap everlasting life, And Ipt nono of us, who have begun thus to fow to the Spirit, '' grow weary in well doing j assured that in due ?' seqson we shall reap if wo faint not." Not only do those, who have no root in themselve?, lose all their la- bour about religion, by dretwing back in the time of tempt- otion ! but even believers often lose much of the comfort .TTii) nieii>lne55, that they were Hktly to obl?.in, by faint- ing in part through dissppointmcnf, and want of zeal and patience. Let us then watch against this ; rcnicmbcrinjj tlwt wo are the servants of Christ, whose work it is, "a^ " wo have opportunity, to do gcod to all men, especially •• to the household of faith.*' V, 11— 1C. There have always been profcsscrs and teacher?, who desired to make a fair show in the flesh, to render religion, subservient to worldly interests or distinctions, and to escape the cross, tuch men will commonly be more xealous to make proselytes to a parly, than ccnvcits to Christ ; that they may glcry in the numbers who arc attached to them. Dut the consistent Christian is nobly disdainful cf these low aims : he only glories in the cross of Christ, as the Foundation of ail bis hopes ; and thi;'. faith in a crucified Saviour crucifies the world to him, and him unto the world ; as he desires to " live no longer to " himself, but to him who died for him, and rose again." Thus he overcomes the love of worldly objects, and is reconciled to hardships, poverty^ reproach, and hatred for his Lord's sake. If we then are in Christ, new crea- ture.', we have the kernel and the substance of religion, and may leave others to quarrel about the shell cr the sha- dow of it. Yet we should desire that mercy and pcaco may be upon all, who walk according to this rule, and upon the whole Israel of God. They are peculiarly blameable, who tiouble ond grieve those soldiers of Christ, who bear in their bodies the scars of the wounds which they have received in fighting the good tight : but wo should not wonder, if om- most disinterested and self-de- nying labours meet with this recompense alone, fiom those whom we have most loved. And we must still pray, that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be with their spi- rits ; as well as expostulate with them concerning their mi^ coniluct. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. * Ahhovgh it does not appear to have ever been disputed, that the epistle before us was written by Si. Paul, ' yet it is well known, that a doubt has long been entertained concerning the persons to whom it teas ad- ' dressed. The question is founded on some ambiguity in the external evidence. JMarcion, a heretic of the ' second century, as quoted bij Tertullian, calls it the Epistle to the Laodiccans. The name, Ephesus, in the ^ first verse, upon which word singly depends the proof that the epistle was written to the Ephesians, is not ' read in all the manuscripts now extant I admit, however, that the external evidence preponderates, with a ' manifest excess, on the side of the received reading.'' (Palej.) The same learned writer proceeds to argue, from iiiternnl evidence, that the epistle could hardly be written to a people with ichom the apostle had- resided three years : and it must be acknowledged, that in this respect it more resembles the epistle to the Romans, and that to the Colossians, than those epistles which the apostle wrote to the Corinthians, Galatians, Phillppians, and Thessolonians ; in which there are constant allusions ana appeals to what hou past when he resided anifinir them. As, however, the external evidence prepnnderales with a manifest excess, in favour of the received reading, it is in this exposition adhered to : though it may be observed, that the change of the word Ephesus for Laoclicea, or the total omission of it, would in no respect deduct from the abundant in' itruition, contained in the epistle itself. ' // has been said, that if this epistle teas directed to the Ephesians, if ' is difficult to understand how the apostle contented himself with a general .lalutation. But there are no parti- ' cidiir salutations, in the epistles to the Galatians, Ss'c, : because, to have sent particular salutations to individuals^ * in Churches where the apostle was so generally and intimately acquainted, might have offended those who ' were neglected. And to have mentioned every person of note, would have taken up too much room. In ' writing to the Romans, the case ivas different. The apostle ivas personally unknotvn to most of them ; and ' he eoidd take particular notice of all his acqucnntance.'' (Macknight.) The successfd ministry of the apostle in the renowned, but licentious, city of Ephesus ; and his solemn charge to the elders of the Church, which was there collected, have before been considered ; (Notes, Acls xix. xx.) Some years after, he wrote this epistle during his imprisonment at Rome, and probably near the close of if; to establish them in the great doctrines of the Gospel, to guard them against errors, excite them to a holy conversation, and to animate them in th'ir Christian warfare, lliis epistle, unduhe two that follow it, ivhieh icere also written during his im- pris lament, and probably about the same time,, are remarkable for a peculiar pathos and ardour, or rapture, 05 some have called it ; and this is generally ascribed to the extraordinary consolations enjoyed by the apostle during his sufferings for Chrises sake. But his mindtvas doubtless enlarged to a remarkable degree in ivriting to those whom he had no occasion to rebuke, and with whom he teas not under the necessity of engaging in ■controversy : so that, entire confidence of affection took place of that caution, reserve, or sharpness, which were requisite in the three preceding epistles. Learned men, according to their different hypotheses, suppose, that the apostle continually refers, in this epistle, to the mysteries of Diana, to the Gnostics, or to the Judaizmg teachers ; but it may fairly be questioned, whether, writing ivith an inexpressible flow of holy affections, on the great subjects which rejoiced his heart, he had express reference to any of those things which expositors, more coldly speculating on his words, have thought of. Perhaps, he had some general re- gard to the Judaizing corruptors of the Gospel : but, as the epistle to the Colossians, which ivas written about the same time, and in other respects greatly resembles this, is far more explicit on Jhai subject,, it mau be supposed that the Ephesians were less in dan^-er from that quarter. Vol.. V.-No. 33. 2i; A. D. 61. EPilESIANS. A. D. G4, CHAP. 1. The aposlle salutes the Ephcfsians, 1, 2. He blesses God for the^ spiritual Olcss- inirs, ichicli he had conferred on them and him, as chosen in Christ, and pre- destinated to the adoption of children, 3 — 5 ; as accepted in the Beloved, through the redemption of his blood, and his grace abounding toicards them, in all wisdom, 6 — 8 ; 05 gathered, and made heirs, with his people, to the praise of his glorij, by first trusting in Christ, 9 — 12 ; and as scaled by the Spirit of adoption, the Earnest of their inherit- ance, 13, 14. He thanks God for them, and prays that God tcoiild more com- pletely illuminate them, and give them deeper experience of the grace and com- forts of the Gospel, 15 — 18; according to the mighty potver, by which Christ had been raised from the dead, and exalted as Head over all things to his church, 19 — 23. a Sit on, Rom. i. ""' ' "' o T^AUL, " an apostle of Jesus Christ, by bSteon.f Rom. 1-^ ' I '{ ' cor'M'"' "' -*- *-"® ^^" (jod, "to the saints which c vi. 21. Num. arc at^ Ephesus, and to the 'faithful in 10. Actsxvi 15. Christ Jesus : ^^l] 2 Grace "^ be to you, and peace, from J. b. God our Father, and from the Lord • ^ Jesus Christ. 3 "Blessed be the 'God and Father «,«\?°, ^''^[^^ of our Lord Jesus Christ, Mvho hatii ,^^|^,.;i ^,„ l^^: blessed us witli ail spiritual blessings '' u» "Jfl'lU^i,^. heavenly * vlncrs ' in Christ : nT"j!Jl'29. 4 According " as he hatli chosen us in 5^,."^ sco?" liim ' hefore the foundation of the world, I u. " '"'"*■ ■"that we should be holy, and " without **^-° blame before him " in love : 5 llavins; ^ predestinated us 1 unto the bau » e'ni'.'W adoption of children' by Jesus Christ to Hei. »iii. j"! himself, ' according to the cood pleasure ''or, thmg.. of his will, .. "'5.'' *''! „ rn \ • • r 1 i r l • ^'- ^°'° *"■ *• G 1 o the • praise of the 2 cry ot nis 1 cor 1 30 »iL 1 -'ill 1 ° J 12 2 Cor T. 17. wrace, wherein " he hath made us accepted ^, ill ^ the Beloved : 1 Chr. 10 V» Ixili. cxjJiv. 3. 1«. John s I Cor i. 2. ne 13. xvii. d Su on. Rota, i Cor. '■ I k Deut 111. 6. r. Fs C5SXT. 4. Is. . xl: 8,9. nil I. 7 In ^ whom we have redemption '^,'^,^ J a"*' through his blood, ' the forgiveness of sins, according ' to the riches of his ^l\i. *o" ro"^ grace ; ^V'^^" |t y%: 8 Wherein " he hath abounded toward ^/''^j't.™ 'it us "= in all wisdom and prudence ; 'j"^ i's 'i Pe^ i.2 ii 0. 1 Matt xxv 3« John xvii :i. Acts xir 18 1 Pet. i. SO. Re». xiil. 8. KTii. R m ii 10 I.ukc i 71. 75 Jntin xv IS Rom. viii 28 29. Col. iii 12. 1 The, W. 7. 2 Tim i 9 ii. 19. Tit. ii I ', 12 2 Pet 1 J- 10. n v 27, 1 Cor i 8 Pliil ii. Ii CoL i. 22 2 Pet iii 14 o iii 17 iv 2. 15, 16. v 5 G.l 7. 6 13 22 Col. ii.2 1 THea iii> 12 1 John iv. 16 p 11. Rom. ,iii i9, 3(1 q Jer in 4 19 Ho? i. 10 John i. 12. il, 52. Rom viii 11— 17 23. 2 Cor »i 13 Gjl iv5,6 Heb. xn 5 -S IJohniii 1 Rev. xxi. 7. r John XX. 17 Gal. iii. 26. Heb ii. 10-15 9 9 II Dao Iv. 35 Matt jO.23. Luke X 21 xii. 32. Rom ix. 11 — 16. 1 Cor. i. 1. Phil, ii 13 SThes i 11 17.8. la. Ii. 18 ii. 7 iii 10 II Prov. xvi, 4 Is xliii 21. lli 3 1 1 Jer. xxxiii 9 Luke ii. 11. Kom. ix 23. 2.). 2 Cor. iv 1,1. Phil ill iv IS.SThea i 8-lO.llim.i 14—16 IPet.iv II. u Is. xlv 21. 25 Jer. xxiii 6 Rom iii. 22-26 v IS-la viii. I. 2 Cor v. 21 Phil, iii 9. X Ps xxii. an. Ix 5. Prov viii 30 31. Is xlii. 1 xlii 1-3. Zech xiii 7 Matt iri 17. xvii 5 John iii. 35 x 17 Col. i. 13. -y Job xxxiii 21. Ps cxxx 7 Dan ix 21-2C. Zech. ix. 11 xiii 1. 7 Matt XX 28.xxvi 26 .Mark xiv 21 Act, XX 23 Rom iii.21 ICor. 1 30. Col ill. ITim ii S.Tit ii 14 Heb ix 12 15 22 X.4-12 1 Pet i 18,19 !• 21. iii 18 I John ii.2. iv le Rev V. 9. siv 1 1 E%. x^\iv .7. Ps xaiii 1.2 1,\ivi 5. cxxx 1 Is. xliii 25. Iv 6. 7 Jer xxxi 31 Oao ix.9 13 Jon iv 2 Mic vii IS LukCi- 77. vii. 40—12 17-50 xxiv. 17 John xx. 23 Acts ii. 38. iii. 19 x 13 xiii. 38 39. Rom. iv 6-9. Col. ii 13 Heb. x. 17, 18. 1 John i. 7—9. ii 12 a See OB, 6. ii. 4 7 ,ii 8 IC. Rom. ii 1. ix. 23 2Cor. viii.9. Col. 1. 27 h. 2 Pbil iv 19. Tit Hi 6 ifaTf. b Rom. V 15.20 21 cll iii. 10 Ps.civ 24. Prov. viii. 12 Is Iii 13 Dan. ii. 20, 21. Mtltt xi. 19. Rom. xi. M. 1 Cor. i. 19—21. ii. 7. Col. ii. 3. Jude 25 Rev. v 12. NOTES. CHAP. I. V. 1, 2. {iWotes, Rom. i. 1—7.) By " the " failht'iil in Christ Jesus," the apostle might Qiean, either licUevers in Christ, or such as approved themselves to be He could do no other than spenk well concerning the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, and celebrate the praises of his name, who hadrfoHf so well and graciouslif by his believing people, and had conferred on them all his /:u7/i/ui soldiers, servants, and stewards. Some have j spiritual blessing.^, that could be desired, or enjoyed, ia supposed, that the expression was intended to include other j respect of heavenly tliinss, and as the earnest of heavenly believers, as well as the saints at Ephesus, but it may be j felicity ; by giving his Son Jesus Christ for them, and rendered, " f tea the faithful in Christ Jesus." (-l/drg. by calling them to believe in him; or by e.^alling Christ, Kef.) Grace. {•!.) ' This grace is given by the coinmu- as their Surety, Advocate, and fore-runner, into the • nication of the Holy Ghost, from the Father, and the heavcMy jilaces, God had at once, as it were, conferred all • Sou, to the Church ; {John xiv. 23 ;) which is the reason spiritual blessings on every believer, as united unto him, • that the Holy Ghost is not mentioned in these salutations.' {IVhiiby.) V. 3 — 8. The following twelve verses, properly speak- ing, form one period. The aposde's mind was so full of his subject, that he was not very exact about his style : and this renders a double degree of attention requisite in the reader, v.-ho v/ould fully enter into his meaning. We shall, however, better undersland his argument and »kictrine, by considering the passage in a more dctach- and interested in him. This resulted from his choice of them, in Christ, and as given to him, even " before the •' foundation of the world ;" not because he foresaw they would of themselves be more holy than others of their fallen race ; but that they should be made holy, by se|,a- ration from sin, consecration unto God, and the sanciifi- cation of the Spirit, in consequence of their election in Christ. Thus he purposed to render them " blameless before him, in love ;"' not only in respect of their eJ manner. Rellecling on the great things which God complete justilication in Christ; but by their present had done for him, and by him, especially among the j integrity and sincerity in the professed love of Christ, of Centiles, the aposde broke out into the most rapturous each other, and of all men; by their blameless walk praises and thanksgiving unto God 9.1 thi^t .account.— [before God, in all his ordinance* and commandments; A. D. 64, CHAPTER I. Jl. D. C4, e (7, 18. ,w,.o.., .-.. 9 Having '"made known unto us the RoL'/xv.'si- mystery ot his will, 'according to his i'i2.'8Xi' i:" frood pleasure, which he hath ^ purposed iG Coti>-28. P , . r iTm. iii. 16. Ill Jumsell : rir°°.'ii. Job 10 That, ein the dispensation of the «k"£Vl^JI fulness of times, "he might gather to- fd,n" jer if 2a o-ethcr in one all things hi Christ, both aS it Si'' t". ^vhich are in * heaven, and which are on •" earth, even in him 2 Ti 1 Dan 1. 14. ix :i-27 Am. Heb i. 2 ix 10 »i. «0 1 Pet Malt Xkv. 32 I'hil.i'. 9, 10 Col. i. W. six 4—6 ' *i'- '*' hCM'tM. ,,. Mic. iv. 1,2. Mai iii. 1. ICor. X. II 3 ii 22. ii. 15. iii. 15. Gen sliK. ro. 11. Heb. xii. 2S-21. Rev. t. 9. »n 4—12 11 In whom also MYc have obtained .;^' r^^xx^'^M. an inheritance, "^ being predestinated ac- ^'J',,'";;,','"^™ cording to 'the purpose of Him, who H* j^^^'vlt 'l workcth all tilings after "the counsel of jpe't''",. r ,». his own will : barton.;,. 12 That ^ve should be "to the praise |,;'|s^/;';//e j„h of his glory, "who first t trusted in ^H; "•//"■. Christ. ' Xl. 13. U. Jcr. xiii. 13. xxsii. to T.eth ix. 17. Arts ii 23 i». 28. xx. 27 Horn, xi 31 Heh. vi. 17 ■ ■■ 7. iii. 21. 2 Thcs ii. 13 Sto on. t. 6. o 13 Ts. ii 12 cxlvi.3-S Is xi , 1, 2. xlii. 1—4. Elv. 23-:s. Jcr xvii. s-7. xxiii 6. Matt %.i 12, 13. 2 Tim. i, 12. Hire- 1 Tet i 21 1 Oi- n 14 - in. xii 2. XX -, — 18-SI. John xiv. I. Ro hi'ptd. and m. length by making them perfect in holy love and heavenly fclicitv. For he had " predestinated," or fore- ordained, them tgjbe adopted as his children, by faith in Jesus Christ: and to be openly admitted to the pnviie^ges of that higli relation to himself, notwithstanding their oric'inal and actual sinfulness. In doing this according to his°soverei-n will and pleasure, he intended to exhibit the -lorv of his rich, free, and distinguishing grace in the most illustrious manner, that they and others might cele- brate the praises of it for ever: as by that glorious grace he had made them, (lost sinners both of the -Jews and Gentiles,) " accepted in his beloved" Son, and the right- " eousness of God in him :" so that, as the Father was well-pleased in his beloved Son, he was also well-pleased with them for his sake. Or hath " highly favoured us in " him •" as a word of the same import is elsewhere ren- dered :' {Luke i. 28 ;) including all other blessings, as flowing, without fail, from their justification in Christ.— For though in themselves ihey had been condemned cri- minals, enslaved and imprisoned under the curse of the law, and the power of sin and Satan, without any possi- bility of delivering themselves, yet Christ had paid a complete ransom for their souls, when he shed his blood on the cross, and, having been brought into a state of union with him by regeneration and faith, they had ob- tained a complete redemption ; their sins having been fully pardoned, and their souls set at liberty from the fetters and dungeon of their former wretched condition.-- This deliverance accorded to the unspeakable abundance of God's free mercy and grace: his love appointed this method of redemption, provided the Redeemer, spared not his own Soii, brought them lo hear and embrace this salvation, freely pardoned all their sins, gave iberty to their captive souls, supplied all their wants, and invested them with the richest variety of privileges and blessings. In exercising such astonishing grace, after so abundant a manner, the Lord had also acted with all wisdom and prudent counsel : for whereas mercy to criminals often trivcs encouragement to crimes, and disgraces or weakens the hands of government, this method of grace was so •wisely ordered, that it showed sin in all itsodiousncss and desert of vengeance •, exhibited the divine justice and holi- ness in the mo~t tremendous glory; manifested all the attributes of God in glorious harmony; furnished the most effectual motives to the believer's future obedience; and tended directly to subvert Satan's empire of ungod- liness and iniquity. So that the wisdom of God never shone so bright in the view of all holy intelligences, as in this display of the riahcs of his glorious grace. {JS(oles, Rom. iii. 19—31. viii. -23— 39.) Exalted and mysterious wisdom had also been displayed in all the steps by whicU the way was prepared for the revelation of this plan, and in the time and manner in which it was revealed. {Marg, Ref.) V. 9 — 12. The blessings before mentioned were com- municated to believers, by the Lord's making known ta them the mystery of his sovereign will, respecting the method of redemption and salvation, and the admissioa of sinners into his family by faith in Christ, whether they were Jews or Gentiles. All these arrangements had been made " according to his good pleasure, which he had " purposed in himself;" for as he advised with no coun- sellor, so he gave no account of his holy, wise, and right- eous appointments. Having revealed these things to the aposUes, and by them to the Church, his divine teaching had led those whom he had chosen to see the glory of those truths, which others were left to blaspheme. Thus were they made to know the mystery of his will, and to understand, that in the dispensation, which at length ia the fulness of times had been introduced, the Lord meant to gather together, as into one kingdom or family, in his beloved Son, and under his government, all things in heaven and earth. So that not only Jews and Gentiles would become one Church : not only were the saints, who had before gone to heaven, to be considered as one body with believers on earth ; but even holy angels, and all the inhabitants of heaven, as confirmed in Christ, and his worshippers and subjects, would form one kingdom with redeemed sinners, and join with them in love, adoration, and obedience. By virtue of their relation to Christ and union with him, the apjosUe and the Jewish converts had obtained a share in this glorious inheritance ; haying been^ predestinated, according to the sovereign appointment of that glorious God, who carries on his work of creation, providence, and redemption, according to those wise counsels, and that perfect plan, which he hath seen good to form And while most of their coufitrymen had been left to judicial blindness and unbelief, to be monuments of God's awful justice, they had been selected " for the " praise of his glory," being brought to trust in Christ for salvation, {Marg. Ref.) by the power of divine grace, as the first-fruits of the Christian-Church, though in them- selves dnserving of wrath, no less' than their unbelieving Jewish brethren. Gather, &c. ' As when orators form a ■ brief recapitulation of their arguments, or the heads of ' their discourse ; so believers are said to be collected toge- ' thcr in Christ.' ' For Christ is He, in whom all the ' elect, from the creation of the world, otherwise wandering 2L 2 .1. D. G4. EPHESIAN5. ^. D. U. ■'i 'Li-2T'i Fr': i-'5 In whom p ye also trusted., ''after ,''.v'."si. John i that ye heard ' tlie word of truth, 'the i'.'u"-"n'' Co' gospel of your salvation; in whom also Thtr» 13'^ 'after that ye believed, 'ye were sealed 's'cor^'A *7 witli that " Holy Spirit of promise, Jam'" 13" '*■ M Which is " the earnest of our in- "lefA'^ts.^'in :c' heritance, until >■ the redemption of the; nro ii'i. 14 r.t purchased possession, ' unto the praise of Bom. ». ii Si. 25. i Col i S. 23 I Thes v. 8 2Tbe9. il le. {.uke Xkiv. 411. .lolin tn-. 10. 1 xv. 26 purcnaseu possession, ' unto uic p ii. 11 Hi'U II :) ! • , ' ' tiv.10 John VI lus glory. p'coT i' 22. 15 Wherefore I also, ' after I heard of iievvii. 2 3. your '' faith in the Lord Jesus, " and love I Joel ii 2B. •' ,, , . ' 13 unto all the saints ; ] 6 ■' Cease not to give thanks for you, 6-2a"^' 33' Gil' " '"^'^i'lg mention of you in my prayers; '■' '* ..." ,, 17 Ihat ' the God of our Lord Jesus X Rom. Till. 15- _,, . I r' I iJ *5 GaM.b'' Christ, 6 the t ather 01 glory, may give ^xxvl :i,V^ " "Jft^ 'J^^ ^ iVie Spirit of wisdom and M''j''e?. 'xxxii. ' revelation, * in the '' knowledge of him : ii Vi"''xx.''2«' 1^ The 'eyes of your understanding "p"e" ,,'9 Wrs being enlightened ; that ye may know > Stt on, 6. 12 a Col i. 3. 4. I'llilem. 3. li Gal. v. G 11 Ics i. 3 2 Tlies. i. 3 1 Tim i. 5 11. r rs avi 3 Col. i. 1 IThes h, 9 llel.. ri m. I IVi. i 22 I John lii. 17 tv 21 d Stt u,i, Horn i H, a. I ^am vii.8 xii 13 1 Tlies- v. IT e Gen nl, ll Is. Isx i 6. I •! Ilea I 2 f Sit oji 3. glChr.sxix.il I'a xxiv 7 II xxix 3 Jer. )i. 11. llatt vi ;3. Luke ii 14. Atts vii.2 1 tor ii 8 Jam ii. I Rev, tii 12 h Gen Sli 38. 39 lE xi 2 Dan v ll.I.iikexii 12 xxi 15. Jolin xiv 17 2C. Aits vl 10 I ««r xil 8 xiv B. fol i. 9 ii .1, Jam iii. 17, la. — i iii 5 Uaii ii 28—30 x 1, Matt. «i. 25. xvi. 17 I Cor ii. 10. 2 Cor xii 1. • Or, /or tkr. acknoMcdsmfit. Col. ii. i 2 Tim. ii 25 'lit. i 1. — k iii. 18, iS. I'rov ii 5 .ler, ix 21 xxiv 7 xxxi 34, ' M«U, xi 27 Jolin viii 61,64 xti 3. xvii 3 25, SB. Rom. i 28 Col.i 10.2 Pet i 3, iii, l» 1 John I. 11 1 It. 8. Fs. cxix 18 Is vi 10, xxix 10 18 xssii, 3. Matt xiii. 15 Luliexilv 46, Aitsxvi M.xxvi 18.2 Cor. iv, 4. 6 Helj. x, 32. what "is the hope of "his calling, and™', what " the riches of the glory of his in heritance in the saints, 19 And what is p the exceeding great- IjoU?!; 1-3^ ness of his power to us-ward who believe, ''2'8-3n"°'hini! according to the f working of his mighty Ttiim. "i. 12 ° ° ^ •' 2 I he., i. 11, power, 1 Tim vi. 12 20 W^hich "I he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, ' and pii m.'.ii 7. 20. own riorht hand in the I'li i-' Jonmii' ~ 6 Arti xxvi 18 Horn i IC. 2 Cor iT 7. V. 17. Pliil ii 13. set him at h ^ ' heavenly places, 21 Far "above all "principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and , y every name that is named, not only in , _ this world, but also ^ in that which is to ''."'"/ q 11 4, come : , 22 And hath ^ put all things under his 'joh/J' iI~m. feet, and ^ gave him to be the Head over ^.'",'0' ",'~Jo all thiriifs ' to the church, J 23 Which is " his body, ^ the fulness of V: him that fdleth all in all. Rom, 5-11. Phil. 10 iPet Horn. Ill 20 8-10 xxvi 61 18 MarkxlT 61 xvi. I'J John] 31. Col III 1, Heb i, 3 ii ii 10 Heb i. 1. x 15. Hei. iv 11 1 Pet iii. 2 xii. 12, 13 z Malt, XXV. 31-46 Kxvii.. 13 John v. 25-29. Hch in- 15 a Gen iii 15 Pa viii 6-8. xci 13 1 Cor xv 25-27, Heh ii 8 li iv. 15,16. 1 Cor xi, :), Cnl, i. 18, li 10. 19. c iii 21. IMatt, xvi, 18 Acts sx 28. 1 Tim. iii. 15. Heb Xii 23-44. d ii. 16. iv. 1. 12. T. 23-32. Rom kit. 5 • Cor xii 12- 87. Col i.2l. iii. 15 eili. 19. iv. 10 John 1 16 1 Cor xii 6, xt. 28. Col i. 16. II 9, Acts ii 34-30. T, 31. vii 65 56 Kom Tiii. 12. Rer. I 17. V. 11—11. tSttoii.h 3. u Col. . vi. 12 Uan vii 27, Rom. viii. 38, 39. Col i 15, 16 ii. y Matt, xxvlii, 19. Apls iv 12 Ph'l ii 9-11 Rev. 10 II, •from God, are gathered togellier ; of whom were some • in the iica\tns, when he came on earlh, (who indeed • had been gathered together, by faith in him who was • to come ;) ollicivs being found on earth, Avere gathered • together, Hnd are daily gathered to liim.' (Bcsti.) The union of angels with retleemed sinners, in one company of worshippers, seems also intended. V. 13, 14. Not only the Jews, who had embr.iced the Gospel, but the Gentile converts also, especially those at Ephesus, harl, " to th.e praise of the divine glory," been led to believe and iiopc in Christ ; when the word of truth, the glad tidings which piojjosed salvation to them, had been preached among them, in whom, " after '• they had believed," or believing, ihcy had been sealed by the Holy Spirit, who had been promi.sed by the ancient propliets, and by Christ before his ascension into heaven. This cannot be exclusively explained of miraculous powers. These were not the earnest, pledge, and foretaste of heaven, as this seal is declared to have been ; for many unsanctified [lersons have exercised mira- culous powers. But die sanctifying and comforting in- fluences of the Holy Spirit seal believers as the children of God and heirs of heaven ; fliey are the first-fruits of that holy felicity, and they impress the holy image of God upon their souls.. {A'ote, 2 Cor. i. -21, •22.) Thus the Ephesian converts were preserved, supjiorted, and comforted, and would be during their time of trial and suffering in life and death, till they should at last be put in full possession of that complete redemption, which Chrict had ensured to his purchased people : or till the ■■p>heritance, which sin had lorfeitcd, bvt which Christ had purchased for them, should be, so to speak, fully rescued from the hands of their enemies, and they put in complete possession of it at the resurrection of the dead ; to be for ever monuments erected '• to the jiraise of the glory of " God." All these things are so evidently distinguishing of true Christians, and so inapplicable to collective bodies of professors, that we must conclude the aposde spoke of election as personal and orratuHovs ; and of effectual voca- tion as inseparably connected with eternal life : and learned men need far more ingenuity than has yet been employed in the argument, to make the apostle's words speak any other language, consislently with the rules of grammar and of common sense. {Notes, Rom. viii. 23 — 39. ix. xi.) V. 15 — 23. The apostle had for some time witnessed the conduct of t'le Ephesians : but having been absent from them at least five year.*, he had again heard of their faith in Christ, and love to all his sain'.s ; which excited him, without ceasing, to thank God for his grace and mercy toward.s them, and animated him in meiitioning them expressly by name, in all his secret and social prayers. Especially he entreated the God, whom the Lord Jesus Christ, as man, had worshipped and obeyed, (even the glorious Father, the great Aut'ior of all that glory which is visible in the whole universe.) that he would still more abundantly communicate to them the Holy Spirit, from whose influence all divine wisdom was derived to men ; and who discovered to the hearts of believers the ceitainty, nature, and glory of those truths, which by piojihets and apostles he had revealed to the Church. That so every veil oi' prejudice, pride, and sin, being removed, they mijjht more completely know God in Christ, and more confi- A. D. 64. CHAPTER ir. J. D. 04. CHAP. II. The apostle shows the Ephesians their former corrupt s/ulc, as shivcs of Satan and children of disobedience ; among whom he and all others once were, being b)/ nature the children of wrath, even as thet/, 1 — d. Jill arc saved by grace, in Christ, through faith, and thus created unto good works, i — lU. The Gentiles dently acknowledge their relation to him ; that, the eyes of their minds being divinely illuminated, they might under- stand more clearly, and experience more deeply, the value of that Object of their hope, to which God had called them by his Gospel ; and perceive what riches of grace, conso- lation, and spiritual blessings, were comprised in that glory, which constituted the inheritance conferred on his saints ; or the rich abundance and revenue of glory, which the Lord would derive fi'om Jiis saints, as his chosen inheritance. And that they might perceive what exceeding greatness of divine power had been exerted in their con- version to the faith; and was still engaged to uphold, strengthen, and defend them, to perfect their new creation, and to complete their redemption from Satan, sin, and death ; according to the operation of that raighiy power, which was put forth in the resurrection and exaltation ol Christ. It is remarkable that the apostle seems here, studiously, to have exhausted the utmost vigour of the Greek language to express, by a beautiful accumulation of energetic words, the omnijiotence of God, as effecting the believer's conversion and salvation, in continuing, as it were, that exertion of it, by which the Redeemer was raised from the dead. For, in consequence of the resur- rection of Christ, he had been exalted in the human nature to the right-hand of the Father, on the mediatorial throne in heavenly places, far above all creatures, however dig- nified ; not only above the princes of the earth ; not only as the conqueror and destroyer of the powers of darkness ; but even far above the hierarchies of heaven, however distinguished as principalities, powers, &c. ; yea, above every name, that ever was, or will be, celebrated on earth or in heaven, either during the continuance of this world, or that which is to come. And as all creatures were subjected to his government, so all enemies were virtually put under his feet ; seeing he hath power and authoiity to crusii them as he pleases ; and will continue to do this in the proper seasons, till the last enemy shall be destroyed. {Note, 1 Cor. xv. 24—28.) Having thus exalted the risen Saviour, th'^ Father hath constituted him absolute an:i universal Governor of the world, and given him to be the Head of the Church, that he might employ his un- boundeil authority, and almighty poweV, for its benefit : so that the whole is exercised in subserviency to his pur- poses of grace, and to render effectual his redemption, in the final salvation of his purchased people. For his Church is his body ; he is the Head of life, and authority to the whole company of believers, as united to him ; and they are dear to him, and taken care of by him, as the members of hi^ body : so that he, " in whom all fulRcss dwells," is were once wilhoiit Christ, without hope, without God ; but by the special ijncc of God, through the atonement of Christ, all, who believed, were brought nigh, and reconciled to God ; had access to him ; were formed into one church tvith Jewish converts, {the ritual law being taken away by the death of Christ,^ and so became an habitation of God through the Spirit, 1 1—22. not complete in his mediatorial character, excej)t in the preservation and full salvation of his whole mystical body. And while he fills heaven and earth with his glory, he fills his ordinances with his power and giacious presence, and dwells in every believer, by his Spirit of life, purity, and love ; he condescends to deem them essential to his own fulness of glory ; even as every member of the body is to the completeness of the human nature. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—8. Faith in Christ, and faithfulness to him, unite to form the character of his saints; and to the sovereign grace of God we wholly owe it, if we are either true believers or ministers. God our Father, from whom, and the Lord Jesus, through whom grace and peace are given to sinfiil men, are to be adored and praised for all those s|)irituai blessings with which we are, or hope to be, blessed, in time and to eternity. The appointment of the eternal Son of the Father, as the Surety for fallen man, in the divine foreknowledgp, even before the foundation of the world, is the source of ail the iiopcs and comforts of those who " were chosen in him, that they should Lie holy, and " without blame before him in love." For personal holiness was provided for, in every part of the counsels of God, respecting man's salvation. So that the renewal ot our hearts to the divine image, and a blameless walk before God. in love of him and of our brethren, are the proper evidences that we are predestinated, and have been called, by God, to " the ado])tion of children by Jesus Christ " unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." For when this i)urpose of God began to take effect, bv our being " maile accepted in his beloved Son, in whom " we obtain redemption through faith in his blood, even " the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of his " grace :" then, as the children of God, who is Love, we began to bear his image and become followers of him. Thus the change wrought, as well as the mercy shown, are " to the praise of the glory of his grace ;" the reconciled rebel, the adopted son, gives all the praise of his falvatiou to his gracious Father; his actions, (as well as his lips.) declare the praises of the divine mercy ; and it appears evident, that adorable wisdom and ))rudence conjoined with unspeakakle grace in forming and executing the holy plan of man's salvation. V. 9—14. The mysteries of God in man's redemption must f^^v^i^T'^ Jl. D. G4. EPHESIANS. ^. D. 6L 10 25. 2C. I for. XV 45 Col. II 13. iii 1-4 I V. 14 Matt viii Si. Luke XV 14. 32. John v V. 22 iJohlLXXi 7. I Cor AND 'you halhhe quickened, who were '■ dead in trespasses and sins ; 2 Wherein " in tiujc past yc ■walked, ^ accordinff to tlic course of tiiis world, or. T. It 1 Tim v 6 Uobn hi Uol. i. 21. i i." I Pft iv 3 d Pi. 10. Lukexvi.8 Johu nii 7 Viii. 23 xv. 13. I'Oa. xii 2. 1 Cor v i. 4. 2Tim. iv. 10. Jim i. rr. IV. 4 1 Jo in il. ij-w. \.i. c3 "according to the ptince of the power «74'i,'ii'j!'°jl';, ' of the air, « the spirit that now i"'joko'"v i"; worketh in *' the children of disobc- "'u.xi.V*'" g Matt xii. .13— 45 I.ukeil 21—26 xxii 2.3 31 Jjbi xill 2 S7. Acti v. 3 2 Cor It. 4 1 John i/i e IT. 4. Ii3 V 6 1.4. XXI I Ivii 4 Hos. X. 9 Malt Xl. IH. Xlii. 38. Col 111 6. 1 Pet. 1 It Or. i I'ct li H Gr. 1 Jotifl i i 19 been for ever liidden from us, if lie had not made them known to us by his Gospel, and his Spirit of truth. Thus, in every respect, he dispenses his blcs»inj^s according tti " his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself." In executing his grand design of " gathering together in " one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and " in earth," he hath brought us to seek and obtain an inheritance among his redeemed people ; and we must allow, that we were '• predestinated according to the " purpose of him, who worketh all things afier the " counsel of his own will." lie sent the word of truth, the Gospel of salvation, to us, while others were left in darkness ; he quickened us, when odicrs were left dead in sin ; he enabled us to trust in Christ, as well as scaled our pardon by his sanctifying Spirit, as the earnest of our fu- ture glorious inheritance. Vic need not wonder that the self-wise and self-sufficient men deride and dispute against these humbling and spiritual mysteries ; nor is it at all desirable that they should embrace tliem, as a scheme of doctrine, in a carnal mind. But that humble believers, •x v f, 7 Nnh. i: 8 Is Iv. 6-8- Dan ix. .' Jon iv 1. Mic. 20, 21. ix. 23. X. 12. I Tim. i. It. 1 Fet i 3. in mercy, ;j!„ '7; - p Kom lij 9 22,23 1 Cor. 18-20 I.uke 1. 7B. Uoai " according to the course cf tliis wovkl," .vat, to live accord- ing to the will of the devil ; a dreadful ad\ ancc on tiie pre- ceding clause, though evidei.tly contained in it. At this j time therefore they lived according to the example and j temptations of Satan, the god and prince of this world, that arch-apostate and rebel, who has the seat of his; empire in the air, and there exerts his power and in-| fluence. This, at least, accorded to the notions then pre- i valent among the Jews, and even among the Gentiles, concerning their genii and demons ; which, whether to bej understood literally or figuratively, was suflicient for the : apostle's purpose. There Satan, and the legions of fallen angels which are subordinate to him, continually wait their , opportunity oi tempting men to sin, by removing Irom their minds good thoughts and serious impressions, and suggesting others of a contrary tendency. In this way j he maintains his dominion ; and men in general copy; his example of rebellion, enmity, and contemptuous de- J fiance of God ; of pride, ambition, envy, malice, deceit, j murder, and destruction : or they gratify his malignity by destroying themselves and each other, through gross sen- sualities, or by war and bloodshed ; or his ambition, by i idolatry, impiety, and infidelity. Thus the Ephesians had walked according to that spirit, which still worked in the ■ children of disobedience, or In those who continued in | unbelief and rebellion against Ood. Or, as it may be I ^more literally rendered, " according to the prince of thatj '*• spirit, which now worketh, &c." Satan is the author! and ruler of that proud, carnal, and impious spirit, or dis- j position, w-hich is in ungodly men : his temptations first j produced it in human nature ; and he works on it by the agency of evil spirits, to instigate it to all wickedness, in thought, word, and deed : thus he rules in man's hiart; he possesses, as it were, all unbelievers ; and he inspires with wit and ingenuity the advocates for vice, impiety, and infi- delity, by whom he maintains his empire in the world. children of disobedience. {Marg. Ref. No[e,v. 6.) V. 3. The apostle before spoke of the Gentile con- verts excluaively, at least principally : but here, (in the same manner as in the epistle to the Romans he proved the Jews also to be under sin,) he turns his discourse, and includes both himself, and all the converts from that nation, among those who once were dead in sin, and slaves to Satan : and he proceeds to use the first person plural to Uie . end of the seventh verse, and then he again addresses the Gentile converts. He could not muan the Jew.?, say many , learned men, because they had not been idolaters. Bui, had I the apostle mentioned idolatry ? and is there no \vay ofl conforming to the world and serving the devil, except by idolatry ? To suppose thu the apostle .spake of himself, as one of the Gc-ntilcs, or one of the CJiurch of Rome, j chiefly consisting of Gentile converts, because he then resided there, issoabaird in itself, so unsuit;ible to hisj argument, so needles?, afte:- what he had sai(' of the I Gentiles, and 90 conaary to hh language, and that of the I most eminent saints, in other parts of Scrijiture, (Marg. Ref.) that nothing, it may fairly be jjrcsuined, co«ild have reconciled so many learned writers to it, but the necessity of adopting it, in order to avoid the doctrine of original sin, in the strict and proper meaning of the terms, as true of all men, Jew, Gentile, or Christian, as ' naturally cn- ' gendered of Adam's race ;' and so to avoid also the doctrine of regeneration, or a real new creation of the soul, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The author of these notes was once deeply engaged in this scheme, being strongly attached to Mr. Locke's views ; and had begun to compose a sermon according to it, when this very test, occurring to his mind, shook his whole system to the foundation. This is more than thirty years since, and he has had abundant lime, and has bestowed no little pains, in reconsidering the subject ; but is deeply convinced that the interpretation is wholly unscriptural, and that it tends^^ to evaporate the meaning of the sacred oracles, as if we had little concern in the greatest part of them. Not only were the idolatrous Ephesians thus dead in sin, and under the power of Satan ; but the apostle, and all other Chris- tians then on earth, had in times past their conversation among them, as alienated from God, and disobedient to him. They lived " in the lusts of their flesh," or ac- , cording to the desires of their carnal hearts ; gratifying their animal appetites in sensual wickedness ; or the proud, covetous, ambitious, and malignant tempers of their minds^ as constitution, custom, or education swayed them ; with- out any proper regard to the authority, will, glory, or fa- vour of God. So that the Jews, as well as the Genules, and the Christians, as well as those who remained uncon- veited, were " by nature" dead in sin, " and children of " wrath," one as well as another. For, being born of Adam's fallen race, averse to good and prone to evil, they were alike, in the temper of their hearts and the conduct of their lives, deserving of, and meet for, the wrath of God. Great pains, as has been observed, have been em- ployed to prove, that nalurz may signify custom, or ha~ biliiul practice. But they who, with immense erudition, labour, and ingenuity, have spent themselves in this vain attempt, have been evidently baflled in the critical argu- ment, by tacn of lar inferior learning ; so that they seem nea.ly silenced. At the same time, stubborn facts prove, that men called Christians are " dead in sin," as much as the Gentiles were ; and that the children of believers are as , prone to evil and averse to good, as those of idr.laiers : nor can any man suppose, that v/oildly lusts ar^ mure excusa- ble in Christians, than in heathens. The word rendered " by nature," seems never to have been u-dl for any other customs, than such as resulted from iwinle |Toprnsitics ; and the whole tenour of the Scripture, as well as the expe- rience and confessions of the most .pious persons who ever lived, confirm our interpretation, and expressly contradict ;hat more flattering one, which many have attempted to sub' sliiute in its place, ~ '/! MA' J. /). 64. EPHESIANS. ^. D. 64) rDfui .ii.T. 9 for ' liis great love wliercwitli he loved us, ixxi^a.°:/.'svi' 5 Even when we Avere ' dead in sins, \7-\r uofn-'t liath ^ quickened us to£;cAci- with Christ, Tiiea u. 13, s (" by * grac#)c arc saved:) i'/'d-VuLm (3 Anil " hath raised ns up together, " t'oiTk.! and made vs > sit together '■ in heavenly places in Christ Jesus ; "6 7 That ' ic) the ages to come he might '[ ""show the exceeding riches of his grace, .'"'in his kindness toward us through Christ 9 Not 'of works, lest any man should fR,B, iii.M.n, boast: 23 Iv 10 For f we are his workmanship, W tu.' created in Christ Jesus unto ' good gp».cx«i • 1^.11 11/* J? ls< xix lii e. x.t iHl 01, c. 3 V 14 Jahn V. SI M. C3 Horn vi i 2 u 3 ILXB. IV IC II. Horn %\.. --- 5 Cor «ili '* Jesus a For "^ hy grace are ye saved,'' through ii?i-i' "■ "* faith ; and " that not of yourselves ; il is ".'i^^^ri, thegiltofGod; s:(ii SO,30. Johiixil.aS XV. 3 xvii .21— Si! Rev. n i.j 5.21 Ps. \li. 13. .VI. la Is Ix 15 I Tim. l I' I Tim 1. H I ffct i. 12. Kev v9 U. c S« xvi 16 l.u':e'N.6n Jonuiii U-18 JC. .20,21. iSc.-on.h i li.SXuii. 4 2Tbe9 i. in. i Uom lit. 24 U »'; •.'7,^ia 35" 4fl.' Acts Kiii.39 xv 7-9. 31 Kn.n. i 10. X. S.IO. Gai ill U 22 1 Ji.lili v. 10- 12 2, n VI 37 4J 54. Acts.XivA? ivi. 14. Horn. X. 1-1- 16-13 3». 40. i 3 -e. Cor works, '' which God hath before f or- %\>t 33 dained that we should ' walk in them. 3 jm x 11 ^Wherefore "remember, that ye i^"",,); beiiiii in time past "Gentiles in the llesh, ^corvi i'hi^, I IllfT* *■ I I l-0tl3 weo. who are called " Uncncumcision, by that |_»;;' || ^^ ^ which is called the Circumcision in the q",, ^^"'i "cii" llesh i> made by hands; /^ijf , ,j 12 That at that time ye were "i without ^[}^^ \ '|- Christ, being ' aliens trom the common I Tim. ii 10 V 10, i5 vi 18 2 Tim ii, 21 iii 17. Tit. ,i 7 14. i 24 xiii 21, I Pet 1 \i. 33 Ps Ixxxi, 13 M. 6 m Deut v. \S vij .2 ix 7 43 xxsvi.3l 1 C,r vi 11 XI , S Gal. Col, i 21 .1 1 S.im. svii 26, 36 Je li II. ^John I. 16. s V, S Heb xi. 31 9 \bKi 1 . 17. 1 ill 17. Tit. .i 7 14. i i 1 8 14 He > X. , viii 29 1 Ot. prtpared- 1 J * I. 3— y Acts ,1,^ ,r^,^rl .vr.rtc =li^nl,l U^ n^„. communicated from him, by the holy Spirit. So that they were saved, or had been saved, wholly by unmerited grace; whether their election, redemption, or conversion,! were considered. Being thus raised to a new life, in con- formity to their risen Lord, they in him, their Head, Ke- prescntative, and Surety, were •' made to sit in heavenly ♦' piftces;" their (mure glory was ensured by his ascension and exaltation, and by their union with him ; and their treasures, heart.*, and hopes, were already in heaven with Christ their Life. {Marg. Hef.) This whole plan had been formed and executed, that " in the ages to come," m future gene.ations, and future 7vorld'>, the Lord might displaylhe exceeding riches and abundance of his grace, by the astonishing kindness shown to such vile sinners in Christ Jesus; that so men and angels, and all created intelligences, to eternity miglit behold, admire, and adore his glorious mercy and love in these transactions. The ■ipostle would therefore repeat and enlarge upon the iiiflt before given, that " they were saved by grace;" ability to love God, and to do good works, should be con- sidered as a pari of their snlvalion, not as the cause of it* for it was the purpn-e of God, that his redeemed people should liabitualiy walk in good works, from their conver- sion, till they finished their course ; and their holy livc^ were the effect, evidence, and recommendation of their salvation by grace. ' Both faith and works are God's ' workmanship; both are necessary; but the one the' fruit ' of the other.' (Jlnclaurin.) The term, " good works," is never used, in the New Testament, for ritual obedience, or moral virtue, as practised by unbelievers, or for any other works than the fruits of the Spirit. If any one doubt of this, let him consult the marginal references, or a good* concordance. This the author was not aware of when he wrote this note for the former coition, or he perhaps should have enlarged on the idea of the disposition and ability to do good works being a part of our salvation ; and so in no sense a cause of it. For, without doubt, reo'eneration and sanctification by the Spirit of Christ are as much a part of our salvation, as redemption and justification. Some have objected to the word prepared being used, instead of ordained ; but it is the marginal readin<^, and the more literal. Perhaps provided answers the idea as accurately as any other word. Ordained, they were l>rought into a state of full security by the mere mercy of God, through faith in Christ : and even this faith, which effected thsif relation to him, was not of themselves ; their proud and carnal mind.s having been utterly averse to the hui H was the free gift of SpSfa'fd'^enmkJvhd^T^^^^^^ o7 sin" and^he w;rld,]and he prepares believers by his grace to fall ia with thfe were subdued, andtheywere brought l« believe the Gospel, [arrangement. umblin-' and spiritual doctrine ; but for set in order, (Ps. vui. 3.) gives the real meaning )fGod°o them, the effect of ihciri Walking in good works forms an essential part of t regenerated, by his Spirit. Thus plan, which God has set in order for man's salvatn that tion ; A. D. 64. CHAPTER 11: A. D. 64 B <5«n «T. IB. wealth of Israel, and strangers from " the MiT. 3-11. covenants of promise, ' havinof no nope, P. imixix 3, and " without God in tlie world : &C. itt. XXII. • ^1 • , T I 31-34^ xxx^ii. 13 But now* in Christ Jesus ye, who "'"1^^"^ sometimes >' were far oil', ^ are made nigli ?T. **,/', J- by the blood of Christ. ijai iir. lb, 17. •' , 111 'n'johB V'" l-t For he IS "our Peace, who nath Cor 1"*' S7 made " both one, and hath broken down 3 Thl'i. n. \l. ' the middle wall of partition between m ; H.b.'°°'vi.' 18' 15 Having abolished '' in his flesh the 11 Pet. i 3. 2l.4ii. IS. 1 JohD iii 3 u J Chr. xi. i Is xliv 6 xlv. 20 Hos iii 4 Acts 111- li. 16. Rom i. 28-33. I Cor viii. 4-G x. in, 20 Gal iv 8 « S-/>- ' g-i , - ? , .J J ^ 11. CO. 1 Hfit IV II And came, 'and preaclicd peace to ,'^= ,■,*,„„,, you which were afar off, and to them ' ,''/^;[«V''5 ||^ "that were niffh. '■ l"'-.''-:.': o Zecti. IX. IC 18 tor 'through him we both have ?'""e ji.^u x access " by one Spirit unto " the Father. t.Violi.'r. I. S Cor ». io k 13, II Deut. iv. 7. Vs Ixi' 1. Ijxvi. 1,2, c»lTit IS, 19 cilviii. 14. I.ukex. 9-11. 1 iii 12. Jolin s. 7 9. xiv 7 Horn, v 2. Heh. iv. 15,16 \\\ 20 x. 19 CO I Pet. i £1 iii. IB 1 J..hn li 1,2 m iv. 4 vi. 18 Zcch. xii 10. Rom. vlii. 15. 20 27 I Cnr xii, 13 ,tude 20 n iii 14. Malt. XKviii 19. Joho iv. 21-2J, 1 Cor, vih, n, Gal.iv. 6. Jam. iii 9, i.Pe'. i. 17 language ? If no man knoweth the Father, but he to whom the Son reveals him, all men, who reject the Gospel, whether idolaters, unbelieving Jews, Mahometans, or Deists, must be " without God," acco;ding to the aposdc's meaning in that expression. {Mftrg. Hvf.) V. 14 — 18. In every sense, Christ was to be con- sidered as their Peace ; the Author, Centre, and Substance of reconciliation to God, and of the union of Gentile con- verts with Jewish believers in one church. For he had eflected a cordial peace between those discordant parties, (who had before exceedingly despised, and even detested, each other;) by breaking down that partition-wall, which had so long separated the Jews from the Gentiles : namely, the ceremonial law, to which the Gentiles were extremely averse, even when otherwise favourable to the worship of Jehovah ; and of which the Jews were tenacious and proud, to a degree of disgusting bigotry. But Christ, by assuming human nature, and fulfilling, in his priestly character, especially by his sacrifice on the cross, these typical institutions, had abolished them ; and thus removed the ground of enmity of the Jews and Gentiles against each other concerning them. So that this law, the com- mands of which consisted of external ordinances, having lost all its use and obligation ; the Gentiles were admitted into the Christian Church, without submitting to the yoke, or being deemed unclean because uncircumcised. Thus they became one body with the believing Jews ; that so Christ might create, as it were, " One new man," con- sisting of regenerate persons, both Jews and Gentiles, united to himself the Head, quickened by his Spirit, walking in newness of life, harmonious in worship and obedience, and mutually loving and doing good lo one another. (Notes, ' u-k. Er! . . . ■' 1 /I II xl — xln I Cor. stone; iii9. Hchi,i3,«. 21 In whom "all the building, 'fitly M"«'V,';\, Iranicd together, groweth unto * an holy fj','",," j' cZ' temple in the Lord ; "' '« . „ 1 ■ z John XIV 17— 22 In whom ye also are builded to- R„,5"tin'~9i gether for ' an habitation of God through \\\^\ f°\^ti. "the Spirit. !!i" 2* ly' isms" ^«-»8.|iy^.2c- o gtpaijgcrs and foreigners, i" but fellow- -24"jiiv*''iii^ citizens with the saints, and of " the ,'iri5. Mat." household of God ; fjobn'iii'i"'' 20 And are ' built upon " the founda- M>vi2. 1 Pet li ^imj qC tij(, apostles and prophets, ' Jesus t l\ 11-13 Is xxviii IC Malt, xvi 18. 1 Cor. lii. 9— II xli 28 0»1. li. 0 He». xxl. II. 1 r» cxviii. 22. Alatt xxl.43. Mark xii. 10, II. Luke zx 17, 18 Acta iv. J I, 12 I I'et. ii 7.8. ^le whole, and is him.self consrcrated and preserved bjf bping a part of it, the spiritual temple is erecting from agp to age, and will be, till its full compleiion in heaven. — So that ihf Gentiles, bring in Christ by faith, were builded on this FouiRLition laid by prophets and apostles, whose predictions and doctrine related to the chiei Corner-stone. Thus they became a part of the temple, together with Jewish bdievers ; for the special in-dwelling of God, who liy his Holy Spirit reigned in them, communicated his jieculiar blessings, and was glorified by them. (Marg. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—3. Wc cannot duly value (he Gospel, unless convinced tha: we arc in ourselves dead in trespasses and sins ; and that we must have perished if God had left us. as he most justly might have done. Yet, when we had neither title to happiness, nor capacity for it ; when we were unable to help ourselves, and unwilling to try, we were utterly The wall, which separated the uncircumcised Gentiles, | insensible of our danger, ready to vindicate our conduct, -ivho came to worship the God of Israel at the temple, and perhaps proud of our wisdom, strength, and good- i'p'm the Jews and the circumcised proselytes, is generally ness ! This is still the case with the multitudes, '• who munication of his Holy Spirit to regenerate sinners, and so to destroy the enmity of their hearts against the holy character, worship, and service of God. {Soles, '2 Cor. V. 17 — "21.) Ilaviui; finished this great design, became, hy his apostles and ministers, to preach peace with God, and with each other, to the Gentiles, who hud been far oil", an! to tho Jews, who were outwardly nigh to God, For through the Person, sacrifice, and mediation of Christ, sinners of all descriptions were allowed access to God, as a Father ; and were introduced with acceptance into his presence, with their worship and services, under the immediate teaching and influence of the Holy Spirit, as one with the Father and the Son, in this great work of salvation, as well as in the unity of the Godhead : {Is, ivii. 19.) It should be noticed, that in the seventeenth verse, the apostle, distinguishing the Gentile converts from the Jewish, s.tys, " »/ou that were far ofl';" thus evidently ranging himself among the Jewish converts who were coinparatively nigh. This is nahiral, and perfectly des- tructive of that niinalural interpretation, by which he is supposed to include himself among the Gentile converts supposed to be alluded to, by the " middle wail of par *' tilion." Under the Christian dispensation, they all wor- shipiicd together, as one boiJy, aniinaled by one soul, and speaking by one tongue. {Notes, Col. ii. 10 — -i'.t.) V. 19 — '2'2. The Gentile heiiovers were no longer strangers and aliens, excluded from the privileges of God's r. opio, as foreigners are from those of native subjects : or ns those from other nations, who came occasionally to worshi|J at Jerusalem, were from the stated or resident worshippers. But they were become fellow--citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem with the most eminent saints of Israel : they belonged to the household of God, not only as servants, but as children. Nay, they w-ere made a pai't of thr >piiiiual temple, which the outward sanctuary had typified; having been builded upon the foundation, which propliets of old, and apostles of late, had laid in their doctrine, and in the --cripturcs ; of which foundation, and ©; the whole superstructure, Jesus Christ himself was th;- chief Corner-stone, the Centre of union, the Cement an Support. Upon him the whole building, being filly framed, according to the counsel and ]jlan of the divine Ai h teit, grew uj) to a holy tenijile in the Lord ; being do.licated to iiis glory, the i)lace of his special presence and power, in which he delighted to be worshipped. Thus, by the continual conversion of sinners, and the progressive sanctification of believers, while each individual, in his walk according to the course of this world," in the broad way of destruction ; for they, who go with the stream, who will be in the fashion and live in pleasure, " are dead whilst they live." They seek liberty in the bondage of Satan ; and that " prince of the power of the air" jlludes his numerous votaries with gay phantoms of fancied good, and enables them to build magnificent palaces in his unsubstantial elcinent, that they may neglect " the gift of God, which is eternal lile." Thus millions copy his example of rebellion, and do as he would have them. He still " works in the hearts of the children* of disobedience :" he prompts his ministers of unright- eousness and infii^elity : and. while he emboldens them to deride the doctrine of Scripteqe, concerning divine in- fluences, and the agency of good and evil spirits, he must feel a horrid pleasure, mingled with contempt of the folly of those, who are thus deluded by his deceptions. — There is no doubt a black inspiration; and Satan and his angels, working on men's pride, enmity, and love of sin, teach them to invent, iirojvagate, and ingeniously defend impious or infidel notions, and to excuse or palliate their ungodliness and worldly lusts. Bui indeed, in one way or another, wchave all had our conversation among these chil- dren of disobedience, under Satan's influence, and ful- filling the desires of our carnal minds: and, on the broad round of scripture, we may assert with confidence, that proper place, conduces to the stability and propoi-tion of) whether men have been more prone to sensual or spi- A. D. 64r- OHAPTER III. Jl. D. M. CHAP. HI. Pauf, (he prisoner of Christ for the Gen- tiles, 1 ; shoivs, that the mystery, con- ccrnin See on i 3 i i. 8. rs. civ. U. Matt xi ii - 10 To 'the intent that now niiLo rRx.xsv.n-ss , ..... , t, • 1 rs. ciii SO. the 6 principalities and powers "in nea- cxivai i^a. is. venly places, might be known by U."! i-a 'i.Vi the church, 'the manifold wisdom oft;.?"' God, 1 ] According to ''■ the eternal purpose ff.^°\ which he purposed in Christ Jesus our J,^'^;'';"',^.'' '^ T,ord • i< i *■ » '"' •' 12 In 'whom we have boldness and f^'J^-'ni" access with confidence by the faith of ;'j''5 ^K';;^'', d*' him. 18 .loho xiv C Rom V. 2. Heb. iv. U-16. X. lS-22. of Christ, which were not provided for himself or for holy creatures, but purchased for thfe vilest of sinners ; for the payment of their debts, the ransom of their souls, and the enriching of them to all eternity ; which sufficed for all the multitudes that ever had co.me, or should come to him for them, how many soever they were ; which never could be exhausted or diminished, by the most libe- ral and profuse communication of them, or leave the glo- rious and gracious Proprietor less rich than before, to the ages of eternity : these are " the unsearchable riches of Christ;" and they b;iffle even the powers of computa- tion ; they are incomprehensible and infinite! This was the great subject of the apostle's ministry among the Gen- tiles, whom he called to come and partake of these un- searchable riches by faith in Christ. It may be very use- ful to compare the animated language of this chapter with the cold reasonings of modern theologians, and their ex- treme caution lest they should speak too highly of Christ and his salvation. V. 9 — 1-. This preaching was appointed, that men of all nations and descriptions might perceive the happy fellowship or partnership, (so to speak,) of Jews and Gentiles in the blessings of salvation ; according to the mysterious plan, which had been formed from the be- ginning, in the counsels of God, but had been hid from his creatures in general ; save as he had given some pre- vious intimation of it by his prophets, and had at length more fully discovered it by Jesus Christ, by whom, as the eternal Word, he at first created all things, and was now effecting a glorious new creation. {Note, John i. 1 — 4.) To the intent that angels and archangels, even the prin- cipalities and powers who were around his throne in heavenly places, and had from the beginning witnessed and adored the displays of his wisdom, in the works of creation and providence, should now discover still more surprising and beautifully varied displays of it, in his Church of redeemed sinners : while they beheld rebels ^^ changed into spiritual worshippers ; all the Persons and ^^ perfections of the Godhead more abundantly glorified, even by means of man's apostacy ; Satan's devices turned against him, and the most discordant characters united ia one loving family, or as one Body in Christ- All this accorded to the purpose of God, which from eternity he had conceived in his infinite mind, of saving sinners by Christ Jesus our Lord. Through faith in him, and an interest in his salvation, both Jewish and Gentile be- lievers had obtained the privilege of coming before God A, D. 64. EPHESIANS. .1 D- 04. a Tbci. Heb xii. 3-S. D 1. SCor. Pbil i 12- U o i ie-19. I KiDgi viii. 51 Xil. 18. 3 Clir. m Dent. XI. 3 Is. 13 Wherefore I desire that " ye faint r'i.'io Acul'il' not " at my tribulations for you, wliich is 33 Gal vi. a. I -^ your glory. 14 For this cause °\ bow my knees cSi'!i 24 rn>it unto P the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1.5 Of whom 1 the whole family in s.'prxcTe" it heaven and eartli ' is named, xlv. 23 Don. vi , ' 10. i,ukexxii4i. Jo 1 hat he would grant you, ' ac- Acts VII lO IX. ,. I • 1 , 1 40 XK.36 x»i.5 cordms: to the riches of his erlorj', ' to be '',i 10 Col fso. ^tret)gthened with might by liis bpint in J'if.^ ^z" '* " ^'^*^ inner man ; 'xxx!i',."i6' Ac's ^7 1''iat "Christ may dwell in your 17 ih 12" " hearts by faith ; that ye, >' being rooted "jj and '' grounded in love, . 7. 18 Rnm IX Phil. iv. 19. Col 1, 27 1 vi. 10. Lib ;Xli. 10 Ze h X 12 .Matt vi 13 2 Cor Si. 31. u Jer Xlixi. .13 Horn ii 2 U Ivii. IS .lohnvi.56. \iv. 17 23. «vi Col i. 27 1 Jolm iv 4. le. !!cv iri 20 SCorv. 14, IS Gal. V. 6 Coi. i 23 li 6. Ps 9. I'll 1 IV £2. 2 Cor .8 cxxiviii. 3 !•;. xl 29-11. IJ. Col .11.2 T ro (V 17 He . V. 16. 1 Pet. iii. 4 X il 21.. 2. 9-11 2 Car vi. 16 O.1I. ii 20. ;iii 6 Kom v. 5. I Cor. viii 1. li 24, 2S. l.uke vi 4a Or. with a humble boldnrss, iiotwilhstaiiding tlieir reverence of his infinite majesty and purity ; and with a confitlcnce •f being accejUed, and receiving; abundant blessings, not- withstanding their conscious guilt and iiollution. V. 13. As so great honour redounded to God, and such blessings were conferred on men, through the jjreach- ing of the Gospel to the Gentiles, the apostle was well satisfied with his sufferings on that account, and desired the Ephesians not to be discouraged, or to turn aside from their profession, on account of ihem ; either for fear of being exposed to similar persecutions from the Jews; or through the insinuations of Judaizing teachers, who might attempt to prove that Paul had done wrong in disregarding die legal ceremonies, and thus had needlessly exposed himself to persecution. Whereas his constant and patient endurancfe of such sufferings, in defence of the liberty oi' Lhe Gentile churches, was indeed an honour to them ; it manifested the importance of their cause in his judgment, •■ind it showed the temper of the bigoted Jews : it should (hercfore animate the Gentile converts to stand fast in the liberty of the Gospel. V. 14 — 19. The aposde could not go, as formerly, to oslablish the churches by his personal exhortations ; but his affectionate desire of their prosperity was unabated ; so that, in his imprisonment, he bowed his knees, in constant prayer for them, unto the Father of our Lord Jesus; of whom the whole family of believers on earth, and saint.s and angels in heaven, are named and considered as the children of God, lieing gathered together in one in Ghrist. (i. 10.) To this Father of Christ and of the whole family the apostle prayed, that according to the riches of his fl| mercy, which were cmjihatically " his glory,'' he would grant the Ephesians to be powerfully strengthened by his Holy Spirit, in all the holy disjiositions of their renewed souls, in faith, reverential fear, love, gratitude, hatred of sin, hope, patience ; that thus they might be steadfast ainidst temptations and persecutions, enjoy comi'ort, and gl..rify God in every situation and duly. That Christ, being welcomed to tlieir hearts by faith, to lie their Lord and Saviour, might dwell there, as the Sovereign of all their affections and actions, and the Source of all their 1 8 May be " able to comprehend a 19. -,. la-sn. '■ witii all saints, what is the breadth, and pf ci*' n!"!. length, and depth, and height ; u. i"""joi.1, i 9 And ' to know the love of Christ, 10' m. u'Vii'i which '' passeth knowledge, that ye might 10. rTitiI"i. u be " Jilled with all the fulness of God. tu ii"'n, ii 20 JNow unto him that is ' able to dobi e'Vs'Deut s exceeding abundantly above all that we *'^'"' v- *' ask or tiiiidt, '' according to the power io"il.h' jif'J' that workcth in us ; c..^°rV''' ^' 21 Unto liim'Ae glory in the church ^j^*„ ^^j*3=*j >" by Christ Jesus, 'throughout all ages, ^,"'^,0' Phii*^'!' world without end. Amen. 2~pei^°ii' 1°' I John IV 9-14. (1 Phil. iv.7. e i 23 P« xvii. ». xliii 1. .Mutt.'v e'. lohii i. 16 Col. ii 9 llcv vii 15—17 xsi 22-.'4. sx.i. :i-S. fOen xvil I xiiii 14. 2Chr XXV. 9 ler xxxii. 17.27 Dan iii. 17 vl 20 Matt. iii. 9 John x 2'.', 30 Horn iv. il.xvi 25. Hfb VII. 24. xi 19 lain. iv. 12. .lude .4 e K\ xxxiv t 2 Sam. vji 19. I K ng!i iri. 13 P'i. xxxvi 11,9 Cant v. 1. Is Xlxv 2 Iv. i John X 10 ICorii. 9ITm i u. 2 Pet. I II — h 7. 1, 19 Col i 29. i i. 6 1 Chr xxiA II. Ps. xxli. ',2. Ixxii. I». .:sv I Is. vi 3 xlii 12 Malt. ( i. 13 l.ukr li 14 Rom xi 36 svi 27 Gal.i 5 Ptil ii. II iv 20 2l'im. iv 18 Heb. xiii 21 I'etv. II Rev. i,. 9— 11 V.9-U. vil 12 Sec. -k Phil i. II. Heb. xiii. 15, 16 1 Pet. ii. S. 1 ii 7. i Pet v. II. 2 Pet iii. II!. Jude2S joys : that so they might be rooted, as a tree in a deep and fertile soil, and established, as a building on a firm foun- dation, by their supreme love to Christ, and his salvation, cause, and jjcople ; and thus be secure I from turning aside or growing negligent, and be reni'ercd ftable and fruitful in their profession. That they might also be enabled to apprehend and understand, as all true saints did in some measure, the vastncss of the love of Christ to his people. This had in it a breadth, commensurate with the boun- daries of the earth, as it extended to sinners of every nation and character ; a length equal to the duraiion of the world, yea, extending from eternity to eternity; and a depth and heiiiht, which might be contemplated in the abject state of deserved wretchedness in which Christ viewed sinners, from the height of his essential glory, the depth of suffering and abasement to which he stcioped for their salvation, and the height of present privilege and future felicity to which he advanced them. In short, the apostle prayed, that they might, spiritually and experimen- tally, know more of the love of Christ : which passed the knowledge of all created beings, and could never be fully understood, being in all respects infinite and incompre- hensible ; that they might be so filled with heavenly know- ledge, holy affections, and conljlfcitions, as to leave no room in their souls for error, ignorance, sin. or infelicity ; but that the fulness of the divine power, grace, light, love, and joy, might wholl^^^upy their hearts ; and that their powers might be so^WBrged, as to receive more and more of these, till they should be filled with, (or unto,) all the fulness of God, as his temfile was with his glorious presence. " The whole family in heaven and " earth." may include all holy creatures ; but certainly none of the obstinate enemies of God. Perhaps the re- fleemed from among men are exclusively meant; and Christ, as the immediate antecedent, is He, from whon« this family is named Christian. {Miirgr. Ref.) " The •' height, frc." is here exjilained, as if necessarily con- nected .with " lhe love of Christ," mentioned in the fol- lowing verse. But the glorious plan of redemption in gen- eral may be meant : tius, however, does not materially al- ter the sense. J. D. 64. CHAPTER rv. A. D. Gi CHAP. IV. The apostle exhorts the Ephesians to a conmtiid walk, in himility ami love, as united by manifold fndcarin— Men of generous minds often consider more the effects, which their sufferings may have on others, than their own feelings under them : and they who know human nature, d. D. C-l. EPHESIANS. ^. D 64. 'HEUEFORE, • the ITHEREl'ORE, • the prisonci; the Loixl, " beseech you, that walk worthy of the ''vocation wherewith UK„ „ yc arc called, Philom. 9, J »,,■ 1 11 1 ,• II 2 With all "lowliness and meekness, a St »n ill. I. • Or. in tht Lord bJer XKXriii £0 Rom. xil I 1 Cor iv 16 aCcr. l.x. J!. - . TO I I'd "3.' 1,1 ^'acT» with long-suffering, ' forbearing one an- if,.n,^«"coi=i- other in love- 10 iv 12 IThes h. 12 iv. I, 2. . _ ^ , I\i,. 'ai '" "'"' the Spirit in the bond of peace. <14. Bltm. vii. 28-30 Phil lii Id. 2Thc,i II 2 Tim. i 9. Hch. jii I. 1 Pet iii 3. V 10. 2 Pet i. 3 e Num xii 3. Pa xlv. 4 cixxviii 6 Prov iii 3t Kvi 15 [Ts Ivil 14. Ixi. 1-3 Eeph.il 3 Zerh. ix. 9. Matt v 3-5 xi S9. Aits x\. 19 t Cor xiii i. b. Gal v 23 Col iii 13, 13 1 Tim vi II. 2 Tim. il 2.'j Jam i. 21 iii.lS-la. 1 Pet. iii. I*. f Mark ix 19 Horn xv, 1 I Cor. ;;iii 7 Galvi.2 gt .lolinxiii 31. xvii 21— 23. lloni xiv. 17-19 1 Cor. i 10 xii 12, 13. SCor. xiil II. Col iii. 13- IS. ITbes. V. 13. Heb. xii. U. Jam iii 17,18, 3 Endeavouring * to keep the unity of 4 There is ^ one Body, and ' one Spirit, •> " '« v m. ,. Ill-" I r'- *""' *"• ••• *• even '' as ve are ciillcu in one liopc ot your ' <^'"» " »» ... •' r y •" 18, 13 io Col. 5 ' One Lord, " one faith, ° one bap- »»»''• ,'"' '';'" ' ' r Kii. 4— 11. 2Cor• tlSm, ks*,>i, i I f 6 One " God and Father of all, p who "v^,"."'"' "' ' K\ll. 7. Acts XV. is above all, and through all» ' and io j The"' ,i' \i. you all Heb • - I Tin will fear lest otliers should faini on account of those trials, which are indeed their glory. The instructions and admo- nitions of ministers or others should always be watered, as it were, with fervent prayers : and we may serve our brethren or relatives in this way, wiien precluded from all other methods. While therefore we " bow our knees " before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," as the Father of his whole family in heaven and earth, w-e should not fail to supplicate him in behalf of others in every part of the world ; remembering the riches of his glory, and entreating him to deal with us and with them according to it. Nor can we do better than often to enlarge on the petitions before us, whether we arc praying for ourselves, or our fellow-christians. We should desire that the Lord would grant unto us, that we may be " strengthened with might •• by his Spirit" in all the graces of the new man ; that our hearts may be made the throne and temple of the Lord Jesus ; that, in the daily exercise of failh, we may realize hi.5 gracious presence, experience his sanctifying conso- lations, and become more entirely devoted to his service ; that, being rooted and grounded in love to him and his cause, we may be made fruitful in every good w-ork, and bold in professing our faith in him ; that thus we may understand, experience, and enjoy more and more of his boundless love, which passeth all comprehension, and will be more and more discovered and adored to all eternity ; and that so at length we may be filled with all the fulness of God. In asking for such enlarged blessings, for ourselves and for all our brethren, we should not be straitened in our own minds, as we are not in our gracious God. He is " able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we" ever yet asked or thought, or ever shall be able to ask or think, as long as we live : let us then enlarge our expec- tations and multiply our supplications ; encouraged by •what he hath already done for his Church, and by his regenerating and upholding of our souls : being assured that the conversion of sinners, and the increasing light, holiness, and comfort of believers, will redound, in more abundant adorations and thanksgivings, to his glory by Christ Jesus, in his whole Church, and through all the ages of eternity. Amen, So be it. Let thy name, O Lord, be thus hallowed on earth, as it i.s, and ever shall be, in thy holy habitation above ! NOTES. CHAP. IV. V. I — 6. The nposde, as the prisoner o(, Christ, for preachiqg the Gosjicl to the Gentiles, ex- 1 1. Tit. 13 ill T. 18.19. 1 Ptt i. 3, 4 22. I John iii. 3 1 Arts ii 36 X 36. Rom xiv fl.S. Cor. i. 2 13 vlii. C xii. i Pbil.il II iii. U m 13. Kora lii 30. 2 Cor. xl. 4 Gil. .6.7. v6. Tit. i 1.4 Hcl». .till. 7. Jam li 13 2 Pe^ i. I Jude 3. 20 n MatU ixviii. 19 Rom. vi 3.4. 1 Cor. til 13 Gal. ili. 26 27 I Pet lii 31 0 vi. 21. 4uiT> xvi 23. Is. IXiii. 16 Mai 11 10. Matt >i. 9. John xx 17. I Cnr vlii 6 0°«l lii. 2tt-2« Iv 3-7. I J.ilio III 1-3. p i 31 Gen xiv 19. I Cbr. xxix. 11. 12. Pa xct Is Kl. II — 17. 21-21. Jer.x 10-13 Ovx Iv 34.35 v 18-23. M.itt. vi 13 Rom. .16 Rev. iv 8-11. q ii. 22 iii. 17. John xiv. 23. xvii 28 2 Cor. vi 16. I Job* 24. Iv. 12- IS hortcd and entreated his Ephesian brethren, whose best interests evidently lay near his heart, that they would be very careful, that their habitual conduct in the world, and among themselves, might be worthy of their high vocation. The privileges and prospects, to which the free grace of Go! had called them, from a state of wretched idolatry, the obligations conferred on them, the motives and encou- ragements aflforded them, and every thing in the doctrine and love of Christ, as well as the nature of their future inheritance, required of them a peculiar temper and con- duct ; which he was about to point out to them in various particulars. Especially, he must exhort them to behave with humility and self-abasement, without self-preference, boasting, emulation, or contempt of others ; and with meekness, gentleness, and long-suffering, amidst great insults and injuries ; as well as with a disposition to for- bear with one another in love, as to those light occasions of offence or displeasure which could not be wholly avoided, even among believers, in this present imperfect state. Thus they ought, studiously and diligently, to fol- low after peace and harmony with each other, according to the teaching and influences of the Holy Spirit ; whose in-dwelling in all their hearts was the cause of their unity as Christians, and should induce them to live together as Ijound in the closest amity, and the nearest of ail rela- tions, notwithstanding difference of sentiment in subordi- nate matters, and the manifold defects to be discerned in each other. For, in truth, the whole Church was one Body, of which every believer was a member, and Christ the Head : this Body was animated, as it were, by one life or soul, even the omnipresent Spirit of Christ : all be- lievers were called to hope for the same eternal happiness, on the same ground of the word of God, warranted by the same experience of his converting grace. They had all one Lord, Ruler, Protector, and Judge, under whom they had their several employments allotted to them. They had all one faith, both as to its Object, Author, nature, and efficacy ; and they all believed the same doctrines in the great essentials of religion. They had all been ad- mitted into the Church by one baptism with water, " in " the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy " Spirit," a.s the sign of regeneration and the outward seal of the new covenant : and they were all. whether Jews or Gentiles, become the worshippers of one God, even the Father of all ; who was infinitely above, and absolute Ruler over all creatures ; who pervadd, sustained, and acted by all as bis instruments ; and who was indeed in them all, ^i. D. bi. CHAPTER IV. ^. D. 64. 7 8 - M. Matt. XXV 14 Rom. xii 6-8 1 for Zli 8-11 28- 30 > iii 8 ; Cor. vi I 1 Fet. iv 10 t Jnlin III :U I JU.I5. V. IS.Col. • Or, a multitude J-. Prov. sxs. 4. .lohii iii. 13. vi. M XX. 17 Acts ii 31—36 xix. !0. .lohn vi. 3::. as. 41 il S8. 40 lleli i' 7. 9 - 7 H But ' unto every one of us is given " grace, according to ' the measure of the sift of Christ. 8 ^V'hercfore he saith, " When he as- cended up on high, " he led * captivity captive, 5 and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that ' he ascended, what is it but that ' he also descended, tirst into '' the lower parts of the earth ? 10 He that descended is the same also that " ascended up far above all heavens, <■ that he might t fill all things.) _ _ h Ps. viii. 5 Is c Src on, i £0- 23 Acts i. 9. 11 1 Tim. d iii 13 Jolili i IB. Acts il. .13. Col . l.ukc xsiv. 44. John xix. il. 28 3f.. Or. A . 9—13. xvi. 25, £6. __JX, 15. Matt. Kii. 16. Hob. iv U. vii. iii.'ni. xiii. 32,33! through Christ, and by his Spirit, being personally distinct from tlie Son, and the Holy Ghost, yet mysteriously one ■with them. Thus they had every possible motive to live in love and peace, as being united in so many important and endearing particular.?. All divisions and discords, in these circumstances, must be peculiarly incongruous ; yet pride, self-wisdom, self-will, ambition, resentment, the devices of false brethren, and the stratagems of Satan, would tend to disunion ; and it W'OuId require their most prudent and strenuous endeavours to " keep the unity of the Spirit in " the bond of peace." ' It must be owned, as a certain ■ truth, that nothing can unite us to Uiat Church and Body, ' of which Christ is. the Head, but the participation of the ■Spirit.' {illiUby.) V. 7 — 10. Ihe common Head and Lord of this one Body had conferred on every individual member gifts and grace, according^ to that measure by which, in his sove- reign wisdom, he proportioned his communications to the wants and circumstances of his saints. This, therefore, every one ought thankfully to receive, and quietly to employ for the benefit of the whole, without envying, coveting, or disputing. With reference to this mq^ler, the Lord had s]Jokcn by the Psalmist concerning the vic- tories and exaltation of the Messiah ; that when he as- cended up on high, and led captive those enemies who had enslaved the human race, he received gifts for rebel- lious men, that he might confer them on them. (Note, Ps. Isviii. 18.) Now if Jehovah, (who was there evi- dently spolcen of,) ascended, what doth this imply, but that he ])reviously descended into these lower parts of the earth ? So that his incarnation, abasement, death, and liurial, in human nature, previous to his resurrection and ascension, were evidently pointed out by the prophet. He, Avho thus descended and abased himself, was the very same Person who also ascended up far above all heavens, as placed over all the inhabitants of them ; that he might fulfil all things relative to his mediatorial undertaking ; that from his fulness he might fill his Church, his minis- ters, and all believers, with his abundant gifts and graces ; and that he might fill heaven and earth with his glory. {Note, i. 22, 23.) V. 11 — 1.3. Christ, being thus exalted, first qualified and endowed with the Holy Spirit his chosen apostles, as *\is invaluable friffs to men ; that, through their ministry, Vol. v.— No. 33. 1 1 And "^ ho gave some, apostles ; and ea ii.29. iii.6 , . ° 1 } |. , Rnm X. U, li some, prophets ; and some, ' evangelists ; 1 cor. xii s? , ^ ' ' 1,7 * •'"'le 17 R«v and some, « pastors and teachers ; xviii.so. xxi. h 12 ror "the pcrlcctinfr ot the saints, Tmiv.s. i r I , c 1 ■ • 1 /■ I e 2 Clir XV. ?. 'lor the work 01 the ministry, ''lor the J«r ''•,..'' i-r ■ !■ 1 1 1 1 c /-Il ■ Malt, xxviii in edilvinsf ol ' the body 01 Christ: ^ct. xjii. 1 r7i.ii II J. • I • """■ *■'• '■ '■ 13 lill '" wc all come J m the unity cor. ^<'>-^__^' of the faitii, and of " the knowledge of ^"j^,',,.;^-?- 3„ the Son of God, "unto a perfect man, i"^" J'^iJ^' unto the measure of the § stature of the ^'^ " jj'' '§ p fulness of Christ : 1 Thes V. II— U. Hcl) vi 1 Coi Tim. i 12. 2Tim iv 5 11. k 16. 29. Rojn. xiv 2 Cor. xii. 19 1 Thes v. II 1 See on. 4 i 23 Col 38, 39. Ki. xtXTii 21,22 Zepli. iii. 9. Zech. xiv. 9. Jolin xvii 21. Acts lO.l'hil.ii 1-3. I Or, info. n Is. liii II Malt xi. 17. Jolio x L'8 2 Cnr. iv. 6. Phil, iii 8 Col. ii 2. 2 Pet. i. 1-3. iii. 18 1 John v. £0. Col. i 28. {Or, o»£ p See on, i. 23. Kom. XV. 1 29. 2 Cor. V i.l- Xiii 17. i Acts V. 18. Vi 3, Col. iv 17. 2- I Coi-. xiv 4, 5. i;. 26 Jer. V. 32.1. Oil'. and by the laying on of their hands, sinners might b». partakers of his salvation, and of abundant spirituiil gifts and miraculous powers : and that, fi-om them, as the grand repository, the Church, in all future ages, might receiv all divine truth ; especially by those sacred writings, which were penned by them, and under their inspection, to be thf standard of Christianity. He next qualified and raised uj) prophets, or extraordinary teachers endued with the gill of prophecy, and acting in subordination to the apostles, in spreading his Gospel ; others he qualified to be evangelists, to preach the Gospel from city to city, as assistants to the apostles, and as observing their directions. He also quali- fied and appointed stated pastors and teachers in the dif- ferent churches, to carry on the work begun by the apostle.-^ and evangelists. Thus the ascended Saviour, by sending forth able and faithful ministers, gave gifis unto men, as through their labours h^^d^mmunicated all other spiritual blessings; This appointment was intended for the per- fecting of the saints in knowledge and holiness, as well as for completing their numbers, by the performance of tlu- several parts of the ministerial work ; or for the perfecting of other holy persons, to perform in their turn the work of the ministry for edifying or building up the spiritual temple ; by bringing sinners through faith to be built on the true Foundation ; and by increasing the fitness of believers for their several stations in the Church ; in order to the beauty, harmony, and proportion of the whole. Oi', considering the Church as the Body of Christ, it was in- tended to nourish and mature that Body, till all believers were brought to that unity of faith and agreement in doc- trine, and that spiritual and experimental knowledge of the Son of God, in his Person, glory, and salvation, pro- ducing love, confidence, obedience, and conformity, whick would render the whole " a perfect man," complete in every member, sense, and organ, and all grown up t» maturity ; according to that measure of capacity, gifis, and grace, which Christ allotted to every individual, in order to the proportion of the stature of his fiiystical Body, " the fulness of him who fiUeth all in all." That so, die Church on earth might, in each succe.-:sivp genera- tion, bear some proportion to the whole assemMed com- pany when perfected in number, knowledge, holiness, union, and felicity, in heaven. Evungelislx. ' Dnder this niimc ' they arc to be understood, whom the apostles used as 2 N .i. D. (t4. EPHESIANS. A. D. G4. an «»vi;i. 9 li That wc koicc/orlh be iiio more i roV*ii'" ft' c!>ililrcii, ' tossed (o and iVo, and ' carried Vi~u " " about by every wind of doctrine, ' by the Vm'xvi 17.111 sluiiiht of men, ami ciinninl ■ 5.7 iTm i. > may crow up nito hiui in all ttiint'.s, IS kt 17 Id iil. I ••' I "• I i', , /-.l • wliicli 13 the Head, even Ltiribt: lo From '" whom the Avhole Body , '' fitly joined toijethcr, and compacted by cor^x 1. 2 jam that which every joint suppheth, accord- •^i^sc"'!:. 17 '"g to " the circctual working in the mca- 2''n.es'ii' 'rlfi s"^"'*^ of every pait, maketh increase of the ' lleb xiii 9 Pet. ii. 1-3 John li. H. 36. •2 1"el ii 18. Kev. xiil. II X 56 Zech vii. 16 2 Cor S. Jolin i.47. Knai sir 9 JaJO ii. li. 10. 1 Pet i 22 I John ii jiv 5-7 \Ial. iv 2. I I'et. ii 2 2 I'tt iii 18 z .SVi tSti «il, 13 Joi X. 10, 11. Pa ixixix 15, 16 1 Cor. xii 12- 1 1 Thei ii. 13 IB. OH. 35 V 28. Col. i; y ii 21 Hos 23. Col. i IB 19. c iii Body unto the '' edifying of itseh^ in love. 17 11 This 'I say, tlierefore, and ''tes- tify 8 in the Lord, '' that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, ' in the vanity of their mind ; 18 Having '' the understanding dark- ened, being ' alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance tiiat is in them, ." because of the t blindness of their heart : 19 Who, being "past feelinjj, have ° gi- ven themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness ''with greediness. (lis. i.4. I Cor. vi xiii. «-9 riii 13. 1.9 Col. 1 Tlid 3. i;i 12. I» 3, 10. 2 Thcs i. a. ITi.tii.J nvi. i22 1IOhniv 16. ; 1 Cor i 12. xc. ."lO 3 Cor Ix. 6 Gil. l.i 17. Cnl li i. f Neh ix 29 30. Gal T 3 ITlei. 32 1 Cor vi 9-11 r.il. V 13—21 Col. .ir. 5 a'l Pet 11 Atsxiv. li. k l'3 iKXiv 20 fxv 4—8 Is xliv l8-2n.xl 30 xxvi 17. 13. Horn. i.21-:'3. 23 1 Cor i 21 2 Cor. i» 4. Gal iv 1 Horn viii 7, 8 Col i. 21. Jam. iv 4 m Rom ii. 19. I .lohn ii. 1 nc!> Uan. v 20 Malt xiii 15 John xii. 40 Hum xi 25 Marg oSttoTi.n. nom i 21-25. I Pet iv. 3. p Jjb " " ' 22. JuJe II Uet 16. li Iv — i 1-8 XCIV I i 5—8 Acts X' 8 1 Phes iv 1 Or. ha — n 1 Tim iv. 2 Pel ii 1-- .3. ' their at'.ciulants in perlorining their oiTicc, because the} « were not sufficient for every thing. Of thi.s kinJ were • Timothy, Titus, Sihanus, A polios, whom Paul joined • with himself in the inscrijition of the epistles, yet so as • to cill himself alone nn uposlle. Tliis office therefore ' was only temporary.' (iiera.) The opinion of (his vene- rable Reformer, in the last clause, perhaps is not well founded. The office of Evavgcli^ts seems to have been, in most respects, similar to that of missionaries in subse- quent limes; that is, ]ircacheis of the Gospel, without full aiiostolical authority, and without any stated charge, going among the heathen to found chui'ches, under the personal direction of the a[)0stles while tiiey lived, and afterwards according to their doctrine and methods of proceeding. or visiting the churches alr(^||Mfe planted, to set in oider such things as were wanting m^iipply the deficiencies, or aid the labours of stated pastors, and to stimulate them to o-reater earnestness in dischnrgintj their duty. When zeal for propagating the Gospel subsided, this office sunk into disuse ; and thus for ages the heathen have been, in a great measure, neglected; but in one fjrm or another, the office of evangelist, or something of the same nature, must revive with the spirit of evangelizing the nations. — ' These, when they, (tlio persons above-mentioned.) were ' employed in preaching the Gospel to those who had ' not yet received it, the Scripture calls Evcingelists.'' {Hammond.) It might have previously been expected, in the present divided state of the Church, that the xcalots of each division would find out their own ])lan of Church-government, and their own orders of ministers, exclusively in this passage ; but it is probable that none of them would be satisfied with so general a statement, were they called lo write their sentiments on the sub- ject, V. 14—16. This whole plaa was formed in order that telicvers should not dienceforth be, as many had been, like childi'en in knowledge and experience; and so, through instability, want of judgment, and weakness of faith, liable to be tossed to and fro, as ships without ballast, by the waves of* the sea; or carried about like clouds with the win ', by the false and pernicious doctrines which subtle and ingenious aien devised j and by the plausible reasonings and pretences with which they propagated them ; as in this manner Satan's ministers waited by the way for the pro- fessors of the Gospel, to deceive and pervert them fur their own ambitious and selfish purposes. To prevent the division, scandals, and delusions, arising from the cunning craftiness of such deceivers, and the unsuspecting credu- lity of weak Christians, apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers, had been appointed; and every believer had his measure of spiritual gifts bestowed on him, that he might improve it to promote the purity, peace, and cdifi- calion of the Church. Thus all Christians, as well as mi- nisters, being taught to hold, or maintain, the truth in love, uprightly professing and defending the great truths of the Gospel in meekness towards ail men, and love of each other, might grow up in all things to a nearer communiop. with Christ, and conformity to him, by inlluciice derived from him, and by observing his directions, as members iu that Body of which he is the Head, from whom the whole receives all its life, vigour, and spiritual hcaldi. And being fitly proportioned and closely united, through the gifts, grace, and services of each individual, and with the effcciual operation of Christ by his Spirit, according to his appointed measure in every part, continual increase might be made lo it, both by the conversion of sinners and the sanctification of believers; and the whole be edi- fied, united, adorned, and advanced, in love of Christ, and of every one to the other, with all the happy cfibcLs and fruits of love. In this respect the Church would pesemble the human body, which consists of various mem- bers, united by joints and ligaments; each part being proportioned to its place, and fitted for its use : the whole being compacted by the nerves, arteries, veins, and the circulations continually carrying on from the head and the heart, through every part of the whole. 'I'hus it grows up from infancy to manhood, and is preserved in vigour and activity, while evepy papt jierforms its i^rojier function in union with the head, in |)crfect harmony with all the rest, and for the common good. This shows the intent, tenden- cy, and duties of the several stations of Christians in the Church ; and if these were more attended to, the resemblance would be more manifest, and the effects unspeakably bcneri- cial. (Notes. 1 Co)\ xii.) /I D. U. CHAPTER IV. A. D. 64. oLuke T\ii it. John vi. IS. llnin, vi. I, 2. 2Cor. ». U. li. T,t. li 11-U. 1 John ii 27. r M.ilt. xvii 5. I.iike X. le John I. ST. Acts iii. 22. S3. Hcl). iii. ;. 8 B i. 13. Vs. xlv 4 Usxv. 10 11 John si S Cor 30—32 Col. ii. I i 13 1 I'ct Ob. 3 Uoin 20 But lye have not so loarncd Christ ; 21 If so be that ye have ' heard iiim, and have been taught by him, ^^ as the truth is in Jesus : 22 That ' ye put off concerning " the former conversation, " the old man, which is corrupt according to the >' deceitful lusts; 10 IJnhn V 111-12 20 - -t 25 I Sam i li Jo'j XKii 21 K/. sviii. iii 8. Heb xii. 1 Jam. i. 21. I Pet ii. 1,2 u See on 17-ii 3 Gal. .2 Pet. 7 xUom. VI 6 Col. iii 9. — y Prov. xi 18. Jer xli». 16. n.Til iii 3 Heb in 13. Jam i 2B. 2 Pet. ii. 13. 23 And ' be renewed in tlic " spirit of '•''•'"; ""d. "i i». . , 1 fcx. XI I'j xviii. your mmd ; f^- ssxv,. 2« 24 And that ye "put on ihe "= new f/'.'s" ''''■™' man, which •'after God is "created in ^''p"™; ^ ^i'- «■ ' righteousness and * true holiness. ^4'"ls■'°lli"'^ 25 Wherefore, s putting away lying, '*, )! i^""- 1 Cor. XV 53 64 2 Cor. iv Ifi. Gal iii 27. tol iii 1(1- M . — c"m 15 llojiT vi 4 8 Cor. V 17 I Pet i. 2 d Gen. i 2i!. !7 2 Cor iii IS Col iii. 10 I Ji.lin ili 2 e See on ii in f Ps. xlv.6 7. Rom. viii 29, Tit li M Hcl.. i. 8, 9. xii '4 1 John lii 2 * Or, koliiiest o/trulli g Lev. xin II. Ps. I.i. 3. cxil :;i. Prov vi. 17. lil. 19.22 xxxi. 6 Is ix. 3.4 Ixiii 8. Jer. ix 3-5 Hos iv. 2. John viii. 41 Ads t. 3, 4 Col. iii 9. 1 Tiln. i. 10 iv 2 Tit. i 2. 12. llev xxii. 15. V. 1" — 20. In order that the Ephesians might " by " love serve oneanollier," the a]5o.«lle next called on thcni, not only as a friendly monitor, but as testifying to them, and charging them in the name and by the authority of' the Lord Jesus, that they should not thenceforth, after having professed the Gospel, conduct themselves in the same manner that the unconverted Gentiles did ; but should manifest such a distinction of temper and behaviour as became their vocation. For the Gentiles around them .walked "■ in the vanity of their mind ;" and their vain speculations and carnal aflections concurred in influencing them to choose and pursue uorldly vanities as their chief good, which was the natural effect of their vain idolatry. Their understanding.s were darkened through pride, pre- judices, and lusts, and by the agency of .Satan ; so that they were wholly averse to that life of spiritual obedience which God requires and communicates, which accords to his own nature and felicity, and which is the beginning and preparation for heavenly joy.s. This " alienation from " the life of God," was the effect of their gross ignorance in every thing relating to true religion ; and that arose, not so much for want of capacity or means of information, as from ihc blindness or hardness, o{ their hearts, and the: ob.stinale depravity of I heir affections. Thus they stupi- fied themselves with false principles, corrupting fables,' and habitual excesses, till they lost all feeling of con-' science, and sense of propriety, decency, and morality ; and so gave them.selves up to the unrestrained indulgence of their lewd inclinations, by the greedy commission of the most unnatural and detestable uncleanness ; as if their highest happiness had consisted in these far worse than brutal practices. (Aoles, Rom. i. 18 — 32.) Greediness. The original is covetousness. ' All this they diil with • covetousness, while they were never satisfied with lus- ' urious indulgence, neither had their voluptuousness any • measure or bounds.' (Jerom.) V. 21—24. The Ephesians had not so learned that religion, cf which Chi-ist is both the Teacher and the lesson, the centre of all doctrines, promises, ordinances, and duties, as to live after the manner of their heathen neighbours. Indeed, some in other places had learned Christ fiom teachers who paid liulc regard to their prac- tice ; bill they had been better instructed, seeing they had heard Christ him.self, a.s it were, speak by his apostle, and had been thus, taught by him as the " truth was in .Jesus," laid up in him as in a treasurv, to bo communicated from him to his Church, through his word and ordi- nances; or. if so be hey had been taught by him, that is, by his Spirit as well -.g by his ministers. For indeed, •The truth as it was i. Jesus," taught men, that ihev must put off, in respect of their whole former conversation and behaviour, the " old man," or that sinful nature which they derived from failcn Adam, and which is corrupt in all its principles and affections, according to those various inordinate desires of worldly things, which mock men's expectations, deceive their souls, and make them deceiv- ers of each other ; and which may therefore be called deceitful lusts, " lusts of deceit." The outward conduct, resulting from this corrupt nature, must be cast off at once as a filthy garment ; and the inward desires them- selves must be denied, crucified, and mortified, till they are wholly abolished. {ISntes, Rojn. vi. .5, 6.) The Ephe- sians had also been taught, according '■ to the truth ia '• Jesus," that they must continually be rcncvcd more and more in the inward judgment, temper, and aff( ctions of their souls, by the power of divine grace, into the hum- ble, spiritual, holy, and loving mind of Christ ; that so they might " put on the new man," and that (heir habitual conduct might be conformed to his example, and evince that they were new created after the image of God, ia righteousne.=s nnd true holiness, Ihc holiness of IniUu that is, evangelical holinessj^ven that holiness which springs from a real belief of tlwlilith as it is in Jesus, consists in uprightness towards God and man, and produces true and genuine pe ice and satisfaction. (A'o.'es, &c. Gen. i. 26. R m. xii. 1—3. xiii. 14.) These lessons they had been taught by the aposde, and by Christ himself, if they were true Christians ; and, in connexion with the means, motives, and assistances afforded them, they would effec- tually lead them to a conduct very different fiom that of. their Gentile neighbours. The corrupt conversation, in- cluding doubtless the bad habits of the hp;ithen, i.s distin- guished from " the old man," or the depraved nature whence all these evils sprang. The root would still re- main after the converts had " put off, concerning the ''former conversation, the old man ;" and this would ren- der watchfulne-s and diligence needful to the end, even till '-the body of sin was abolished." If " the old man," signify only bad /in6i7.s-, as many explun it. how did it come to pass that these bad habits have always bren so <^eiieral, not to say universal, while good hahit/have been exceed- ingly rare ? We never read of bad habits, in any degree, among holy angels, nor would they have been heard of among men, if we had not apostatized from Go 1, and be- come dead in sin, and by nature children of wrath." The stale of the unconverted Gentiles is, indeed, here particu- larly adverted to ; yet it is most certain, that the nature of the unrcgcnerate, (nay, their pr.iclice also, cxccfit in re- spect of gross idolatry ^ind some of its abominable ajipcnda- gcs,) is similar, even in those who are called Christian*. 2 N 2 sfl. D. <)4. EPHESIANS. J. D. 6^. ij IS Prov.viii. 7. 1" speak every man truth with his neigh- Till ic 19 bour : ' lor we are members one oi an- 2 Cor. v.i 4. ,, i ». 30 iiom XII. other. xii' is^-ji ' 2li Be "^ ye angry, and sin not : ' let 6 '^xii, 21 22. not the sun so down upon your wrath ; 13. 24 XXV 7- 27 Neither "" ifive place to the devil. II .Nch V. 6- SI 13 v.. xxxvi. 28 Let " liim that sto e, steal " no ■- p«i 20—^:1 . '^[•^ :^ more : but rather let him ^ labour, work- ig with his hands the thing which is v^-2i "aT"''. g'^o'J^ '' t'l^t '^6 "1^''' ''ight i" many cases be •justified: and I wish that none but heathens had ever - taught so loose and dangerous a doctrine.' {Doddridve.) V. 26, 27. It would be proper to express displeasure at what was wrong, on many occasions, bcth in the jnanagcment of their families, in reproving sin, and even in ordering their temporal concerns, so that all auger was not to be prohibited : yet let Christians be sure to restrain that dangerous passion within the bounds of reason, nieck- aiess, piety, and charity ; not being angry without cause, ©r above cause, or in a proud, seltish, and peevish manner ; not expressing their displeasure by reproaches, or furious rage, or suffering it to setde into resentment; but always endeavouring to subordinate its exercise to the glory of God, and the benefit of the offender himself, as well as :hat of others ; and to show stronger disapprobation of the sin committed against God, than of the injury done to themselves. This would induce them to attend to the caution annexed,'' not to let the sun go down upon their "■' wrath," not to close the day without forgiving and praying for those who had offended them, or expressing a disposition to reconciliation and kindness. In this, and in other respects, they must take care not " to give place to •-the devil," who watched his opportunity of filling their minds with rancour and malice, and of thus exciting divi- sions and contentions among them. {Marg. Ref.) {JSoles, Matt. V. 21—26. Mark iii. 1—5,) V. 28. It might also be supposed, that, when the Ephesians were idolaters, they had practised various kinds of fraud and dishonesty, and that sqme of them had even lived by theft, rapine, or oppression. These might not, in many cases, be able to make restitution : but at least let them finally cease from every kind and degree of this vice; • and, rather than do wrong to any man, let every one, how- ever he had before lived in habits of ease and self-indul- gence, learn, and Mibmitto, if necessary, even the lowest and most laborious employment, whit.h was honest and useful to society ; not only in order to provide food and raiment for himself and family, but that he might be able to relieve the more urgent necessities of his sick and alHicted brethren and neighbours. Thus their Christian conduct would be as honourable, as their former behaviour had been disgraceful. In this way, even the grand prin- ciple of restitution, (namely, renouncing all right to pro- perty which has been injuriously acquired,) would be adhered to, as far as their circumstances admitted ox it ; and a fund raised, among the vigorous and healthy poor, for the relief of the sick and aged. Great stress seems in many places to be laid on this ; which in a very striking maimer shows to what an extent charitable com- munications, from the substance or gains of Christians, in every station of life, for the relief of their bretliren, and of others for Christ's sake, ought to be carried. (Marg. lief.) But, alas! they who are not eager to amass^ wealth, as most in these days are, s]iend too much on themselves and their families, to have a due pro|)ortion to spare for such purposes : and a degree of liberality, even far beneath the scriptural and primitive standard, is now deemed rather a. prodigy to be wondered at, than an example to be imitated! V. 29. The apostle lurthermore exhorted his readers to abstain from all corrupt and polluting conversation, and not to suffer any thought of that contagious nature, which arose in their hearts, to proceed out of their lips ; as this would poison the imaginations of the hearer.--, even when not so grossly indecent a.s to shock them. On the contrary, they otight to watch their opportunity of intro- ducing wholesome and instructive discourse ; and to take heed that the general tendency of theii* conversation was good, useful, .tnd edifying; even such /s might be the means of communicating grace to >*^ hearers, by the- blessing of God upon it; either by/»^'n£;ing farelrs^ per- sons to serious reflection, or by e^^uruging, warning, a- quickcning beUevers. (JSlarg./^*'!'} A, D. 04. CHAPTER rV. d. n. 64. ?. speaking, be put away from you, '' with 4 Gen. iv XXvilll XXSVIP 1 «. SO Lev xix al nifiliro 17, i». a Sam- "" liuiiiLi, sill 2J Prov. X 12 sxxvi 81 24. Kc vii 9 Knm i 29 I Cor. v 8 eRiilhii. ill Pa cxiii 4 5 9 I'lov i 2. num. xii 10 I Cor xiii. 4. 2 Cor. 32 And b ye " kind one to another, ;ir I'D. Col lii 8. Tit. lii 3. I Jnhn in 12. li. ix 22. Is. Ivii. 1 Marg. I.uke vi. 3i. .Vis x»yiii. I. 6 Col. ill. 12. 2 Pet. I 7. iV. 30 — 32. In this, and in every other respect, Chris* tians should beware of " grieving; the Holy Spirit of God.' — ' Give diligence, tiiat the Holy Spirit may dwell in 'you willingly, as in a pleasant and agreeable liabilation. ' and do not give him any cause for grief. He sjjeaks • here of the Sjiirit after the manner of men.' {Beza., \Marg.ReJ'.) When a lather ha.s done everything ]3ropcr for the benefit of his son, he is grieved if his son acts in an unbecoming manner; and conse(|uently, will not be free and cliecrful in his company, but will either shun him, oi" frown on him. The sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit seal believers, as the pe- culiar people of God, to the day of complete redemption, even to the general resurrection. (Notes, i. 13, 1-1. 2 Cor. i. 20 — 22.) (iMurg. Ref.) As a kind and wise Friend, the Holy Spirit watched over the Ephesian converts for their good, with infinite condescension and love : all their hope, ■wisdom, strength, and joy, were fi-orn him ; and tlie only return that he required was, a ready compliance with his holy suggestions, and a watchfulness against every thing of a contrary tendency. But, if they indulged anger, sel- fishness, deceit, sensual lusts, or vain conversation, he would hide his face, or frown upon them, withhold his consolations, and leave them to darkness, fears, anxieties, or even to know their own weakness by such fall.=!, as would expose them to sharp corrections. In watching against these painful consccjucnces, let them put away ali bitterness and harshness of temper, languatre, and beha- viour, even toward such as most grievously ouctidcd them ; and avoid all sinful anger, and clamorous disputes, re- vilings, slanders, and reproaches, as well as all malice and resentment: that they might he kind and tenderly sym- pathizing with each other, and ready to forgive, even as God in Christ, and for his sake, had forgiven them.— {Notes, Matt, xviii. 21 — 35. 1 Cor. xiii.) None but true believers, persons really partaking of the regenerating sanctifying Spirit of Christ, could feel the energy of this exhortation : and, in the judgment of charity, the apostle addressed the Ephesians as of this happy company.^— Sealed. ' That is, have God's mark set upon you, that • you are his servants ; a security to you, that you shall • be admitted into his kingdom as such, at the day of ' redemption, that is, at the resurrection ; when you ' shall be put in the actual possession of a place in his ' kingdom, among those who Tire his, whereof the Spirit 'is now an Earnest.' (Locke.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. J— 6, The mind tVat was in Christ, will teach those who suffer for his saVe. to be more desirous that believers should walk worth) ^f their vocation, than of their own exemption from the CKss : and though we can do nothing towards our own Justili-Ttjon. yet by the grace of God wc may do a great deal »>,. ti^c honour of the Gospel and f tender-hearted, ' forgiving one another, 'pji^j, "=^1;- even as God for Christ's "sake hath for- J„"^% ,| given you. 14- U. xviii 21-35 Msrk si. 25. Luke ^i 37 xi 1 : ij. 7 10. Col.iii 12, 13. 1 Pet. iii 8, u. I Jolin i. a. ii the benefit of mankind. A spiritual, humble, obedient, and holy walk, is peculiarly suitable to the character of our Saviour, and to the freeness of our holy salvation, as well as to the nature of our present privileges and future in- heritance. Even the candour and allowance, which wc arc conscious that we need from our brethren, should teach us to act with all lowliness and meekness, with '' long-suft'ering, forbearing one another in love." If all who profess the Gospel did indeed thus "endeavour to " keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," what a diflerent face would the Church of God assume i Bui, alas! whilst there is one Body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, on whom all depend, and from whom all our hopes and comforts come, how grievously do the remaining gnorance, bigotry, and disproportionate zeal about com- jaratively trifles, even in good men, the designing ambi- tion and furious passions of bad men, and the artifices of the devil, defeat the endeavours of those who labour for peace ; and perpetuate, yea multiply, divisions and dis- sentions among those who arc agreed in the great essentials of Christianity ! Let us, however, persevere in seeking, and praying for, the peace of the Church: for " blessed are the peace-makers ;" and whatever eager zea- lots may say of them, " they shall be called the children of " God." Let us watch against spiritual pride, envy, and the ambition of popularity : and Ictus improve our measure of endowment, as the gift of Christ for the benefit of others^ witii contentment and quietness. V. 7—16. It may be very useful to remember, that the Redeemer first came down from heaven, and abased himself, before he ascended as a triumphant Conqueror, to enrich us rebels with the fruits of his victories. Thus he left us an example that we should follow his steps, and expect abasement, self-denial, and the cross here, and honour and felicity hereafter. While Christians should be exhorted to value the faithful ministry of the Gospel, as the precious gift of Christ, and the grand means of salvation to their souls, pastors and teachers, however distinguished, should be reminded of the end for which they were appointed, even " for the perfecting of the saints, and for the work " of the ministry," rather than for the emolument or reputation of it ; and for the ediiication of the body of Christ, not for the indulgence of themselves or the ad- vancement of their families. We shouki then " lake heed to ourselves and to our doctrine," and labour to bring those among whom we minister to the unity of ihe faiih and of the knowledge of the Son of God, and to that maturity of judgment and experience, which may fit them to be a part of that complete Body, " according to the measure of the " «latiire of the fulness of Christ." For by leading believers with gradual advances to this ripeness of know- ledge, we most efiectually counteract the sleight of me»^ l\ 04. EPHESIANS. ^. Z>. G4, ciiAr. V The fij)cslle exhorts ihc J.jjhcmuns to imitate the love of Cod in Christ, 1,2: to avoid all ttnclatuncss, covctousncss, and improper disrourse, uhich draiv down the wrath of God upon '• the cltil- " dren of disobedience,''' '.i — b ; to have no fellowship with the tvorks of dark- ness ; but, as the children of light, to re- anl thai cunning civiftincss by w'nich they lie in wnit to deceive ; for their success is ciiielly among unstable j^ro- fessors, or such Christians, as, being children iu luider- stundiiig, are liable to be '' tossed to and fro, unci carried " about wi^h every wind of doctrine," and by every subtle "device of the enemy. \Vc should indeed hold the truth with firmness, but it should also be in love ; otherwise, y.eal for orthodoxy may dictate such violent measures, as will more distract the Church, and injuic the cause of Christ, tiian false teachers themselves could do. But in •'.faith working by love-' wc grow up into Christ in all things, and, acting in thissjiirit, every minister and Chris- tian, as a part of that Body of which he is the Head, con- tributes to the proportion, union, and prosperity of the whole, according to the elTectua! working cf Christ in every part ; and thus the Church is increased in holiness and in numbers, " by edifying itself in love." Indeed, every congregation, where the truth is preached, will prosjjer and increase, according to the measure in which this peaceful and loving improvement of every one's talents for the common benefit is attended to ; for "the " fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that " make peace, but where envying and strife are, there is " confusion and every evil work." V. 17—24. Let all ministers testify in the Lord against antichris- tian tempers and practice?, as well as against false doc- trines, and insist upon it. that believers must not walk as others do, who are Gentiles in conduct, though Christians in name ; for the didbrencc between heretofore, and/ifjicf- forlh, is of vast importance in this grand concern. Alas ! do not men on every side walk in the vanity of their minds ? Is it not plain that their understandings are darkened, and their hearts alienated from the life of God, and even har- dened against it, through the ignorance that is in them ? Nay, are there not numbers who are past feeling, and have given themselves up to work all uncleanness with greediness ? Must we not then insist most decidedly upon liie distinction between real and nominal Chris!i:ins? In- deed, there arc many professors of evangelical truth who have so learned Christ, as not to be convinced of the neces- sity of mortifying their corrupt nature and its deceitful lusts ; of being " renewed in the spirit of their minds," and of " putting on the now man, as created after God in " righteousness and true holiness!"^ But if we have truly learned Christ, from the teaching of his word and Spirit, we shall be daily aiming to practice these lessons, seek- ing help'from God by fervent prayer ; we shall mourn that prove them, 7 — 14 ; to u-a^ tcith wis- dom and circumspeelion, 15 — 17: not to drink to excess ; but to be filed with the Spirit, nngi/ig Fsahns and praises t» God, 18 — 20 : and to submit to one another, in the several relations of life, 21. The duties of wives and husbands, enforced and illustrated, by the mutual love of Christ and his church, 22 — .33. so much power yet remains in our old corrupt nature, and He shall long to be more like our divine iMaster, in every |)art of our temper and conduct. V. 25—32. Zealous professors, and indeed, admired preachers of evangelical truth, nsy, even true Christians, need warn- ing and cautioning to avoid immoral practices ; but the latter welcome and profit by the word of exhortation, while hypocrites detect themselves by raging against iU They, who most vigilantly examine themselves, will most perceive the extreme difficulty ot entire truth and sincerity in all their conversation, and of avoiding every kind and depree of fal-ehood ; they also find it very difficult to feel and express anger on the most justifiable occasions, and to perform the duties of parents, masters, or ministers, without falling into sin and dishonouring their profession. They perceive it very necessary to watch and pray against resentment, lest " the sun sliould go down upon their " wrath," and so place should be given for Satan to tempt them to further transgressions ; for, in every thing, the occasions of his suggestions should be assiduously avoided. Nay, exact and scrupulous honesty is far more uncommon than is generally imagined ; and even some pious persons do things not strictly just, for want of being instructed and admonished after the apostolical manner. But while thieves and robbers are as welcome to Christ as their more moral neighbours, yet, thenceforth they must steal no more, whatever hard labour may be necessary for an honest livelihood. AVhat then shall we think of those pro- fessed C/iri.s/i«»is, who grow rich and live in luxury, by various frauds, oppressions, excessive profits, smuggling, and other acts of injustice, without restitution or amend- ment ? And if the poor labourer should give to him that needelh, what .shall we tiiink of them, whose large reve- nues and immense expenses or hoardings are far out of all proportion to their penurious and scanty alms ? Our dis- course also must be kept pure, our tongues bridled, and the gift of speech improved diligently as a talent; that so we may not, with this unruly member, do mischief to others, but may speak such pious and instructive words, as are suited to minister grace to the hearers, if we would act according to our obligations as Christians. ^Vhen we, in anv degree or respect neglect these rules, we " grieve •' the" Holy Spirit of God," lose our comfort and evidence^ or even bring our state into doubt and'^'^picion. Let us then watch against all these evils, y' anger and malice, and copy diligently the loving q^niplc of ow God and Saviour. i. D. 04. B bJe Kxxi 20 E ye therefore " follower as dear children ; 2 And "^ walk in love, "^ as Chri CHAPTER ^ \ of God, .7. D. 01. also i"°2 cd?..u'ir '^^*'' 'o^'^^'J "s, and hath given himself fo cui"^" i» s' ?5 ^'®' ^" offering ai)u *a sacrifice to God, 34. iiorn" liT ^ ^^^' ^ sweet-smelling savour. u coriii^ri ^ ^"*^ ^ fornication, and all unclean- 1 V^m i'v' 12 ncss, or '' covetoiisncss, let it not be liohD ii'i' II- once 'named among you, ''as becometh 23 i'. 20 21. c^ints ■ »». i8. John »«. IS, 13 2 for. ». U. 15. viii. 9 Gal i 4 ii 20 1 Tim. ii 6. Tit. ii. M. Hel. vii 25-27 ix 14 1 Pet ii 21— 21. IJohD iii. ir. Kev 1.5 v 9. e Uom. viii. 3. jWarj I Cor. V 7 Heb i«. 2.1. x 12 f Geo. viii 21. Lev. i 9 13 17 iii 16. Am \.21 SCor ii 15 %i iv. 19 Num xxv 1. Dejt. xsiii 17, 18. Malt sv. 19 Markiii.21. Acts xr. 20 Uom. i 29 1 Cor. v 10 11. vi 9.10 13. 18. X. 8 i Cnr. sii. SI. Gal. V. 19-21. Col. iii s 1 Tbes iv. :l 7 Heh sii IC xiii. 4. 2 Pet >i 10 Ke« ii 14.21 ix. 31. xxi 6. xxii. 15. hi Kx. xviii 21 kx. 17. Josh vii. 21 I cam. viii 3 Ps. S 3 csix. 3B Prov xxviii 16 Jer. vi 21 vi\i lO xxii 17 Ez Kxiii.31. Mic ii. 2 .Mark vii. V2 I.ukeSii 16 xvi. 14. Arts xx. 33. I Cnr vi 10. Col 1m ill. S I Tim iii. 3 vi 10 2 Tim iii. 2. Tit i 7. 11 Hel. xiii 5 1 Pet. v 2. 2 Pet. ii. I ,„ 3 11 i Ex. xxiii. 13. 1 Cor. v. I. k Rom. xvi. 2. Phil. 1. 27. 1 Tim. ii. 10 1" Tit. ii 3. ,,. 4 Neither ' fijtiiincss, nor foolish talk- 1 1^.20 Prov.,ii ing, nor jesting, which arc not •" conve- il'3 '.i^.l xi'i Ji nicnt ; " but rather giving of thanks. S"co!."^i."8: r) For " this ye know, ■' that no whore- fi^t "ii. 1 h monger, nor unclean jicrson, nor covet- mtom " '2?, ous man 1 who is an idolater, hath any .."lo.'ia 1.%. ph inheritance in the kinfjdom of Christ and M''"tvi.''2i"2 „r i-i I ° Dan. >i 10 Johi 01 (jtod. V, tx 2(.<.r i /- T , , 1 • .,1 . ll.ix 15 PHI, b JLet no man deceive you with « vain " <"■ c<.' iii u words ; for because of these things ' cometh " ^1- neb xli'i! the wrath of God upon "the children of "' C"' 'i. cio J, , . , , . I p S< r en, 3 * tlisobcdicncc. q cm. iii. 5. y^ , 1 Tim vi 10. 7 L»e " not ye tiicrcforc partakers with ixi"fj '"'''■ * them. rJer.xsix 8 31 . 8 Col i5h. xxii 17, 18, Ps Ixxviii. 31, 1 btlief Heh. iii. 19, 1 let ii. 6 Or . 6. xiii. 20. 1 Tim. V. 2Z. Rev x^ -xll Kum. ivi. 26. Ps, 1 18. Pr 0— ll. ii 4 8. 18 2The«. ii 3. --t Num. xxxii 13. 14. y« 61 NOTES. CHAP. V. V. 1, 2. instead of the malignant pas- sions, mcntionfid towards the close ot' the precedinj^ chap- ter, the believers at Ephesus were exhorted to foliow or imitate God, as his beloved children, in all his moral per- fections, especially in that love from which their salvation flowed. This might best be contemplated in the Person and love of Christ, who had assumed human nature, and given himself for them an otiering or sacrifice to God, which was to him a sweet-smelling savour, in allusion to the typical sacrifices that were consumed on the altar. Not that the Father took pleasure in the sullerings of his " be- " loved Son," in themselves ; but his justice and holiness were glorified in them, and a way was thus opened for the honourable exercise of mercy towards those who de- served his awful vengeance, and in this he was well pleased. — As the Father appointed and ])rovided this sncrificc, and from love to us gave his beloved Son for our sins, and as Jesus said " 1 and my Father are One 5" so the love ofChrist must be equivalent to that love of God, which they vere directed to copy in their habitual conduct. — Compassion for the deservedly miserable, condescension to the mean and vile, a readiness to forgive injuries, self- abasement, self-denial, and enlarged beneficence, were most illustriously manifested in that love, which is here pro- posed as the jiallern for our imitation. V. 3, 4. The apostle had, in the foregoing chapter, warned the Ephesians against fe\eral of those immorali- "ies, to which they had been addicted before their conver- sion, and he here resumes that subject. The degree, in whici; fornication in particular, and other kinds of iicen- ti.ousness were practised, and even allowed, nay vindica- ted, by the gravest philosophers of the Gentiles, can hardly be conceived by those who are not very conversant with their writings. The exhortation, therefore, as it respects these vices, needs little comment ; liut many learned men maintain, that the word, rendered tovetousiifas, means an in.satiable craving after more and more of these sensual indulgences. Now, it cannot be denied that the word sometimes has that sense; yet it can hardly be supposed, that the apostle would, in so general a way, have added to his warning pgainst fornication, the menlioa gf thai •' uncleanness with greediness," which he had before sta- ted as the excess of Pagan blindness and hardness of heart, (iv. 19.) On the other hand, can it be thought, that covetousness should here, and in all other exhortations of a similar nature, which the aposde addressed to the churches, be almost, if not entirely, overlooked .' For they, who explain the word in this text of gtfetlincus in lewdness, put lije same construction on it in other places where it occurs. No doubt, covetousness, or eager desires of gain, \;'hether to hoard, or to support extravagance, is as contrary to vital Christianity, as the grossest sensuali- ties, though more plausiiile, and not so easily defined : and also as sup[jlying the means of silencing or softening the reproofs of those who would firmly protest against Voi-ni- cation, and even, in many eases, prosecute them with the cens'ires of the Church, i ho clause, indeed, '• let it not " once be named, &c." may only mean, ' Let it not be 'said, that a Christian is guiliy of such crimes.' But if understood of the discourse, in which the »i«»iiHO' or men- tioning of licentious practices, in a manner too common, tends to pollute the imaginations, or infiame the passions of the hearers, it cannot be doubted, that the conversa- tion of those who sjieak as if every thirig was valuable in proportion as money can be got or .saved by ir, corrupts the judgment and principles of men, though in another way, yet as rflectually as obscene discourse. It s'cm-; also to be with peculiar propriety, that the apostle 'oincd this odious vice with these others more generally ."icanda- lou«. Neiiher tiie one nor the other should be mentioned without detestation, for this beciinie, (or suited their cha* ractrr as) saints, and their relation to G',d, as his chiK drcn, as members of Christ, as temples of the llcAy S^i- rit, as heirs of heaven, and as lights in the world. Na}-, they must not allow of any indecent conversation, or an/ thing vain and trifiing, or even those witty turns of ex- pression, by which improper sentiments, being conveyed in an ingenious manner, obtain applause, instead of ex- citing indignation. Nothing of this kind could consist with the character of Christians, who ought rather to converse together on the mercies of God, and unite irv thanksgivings for them. V. 5 — 7, The apostle here supposed his readers Vo ./?. D. G4. EPHESIANS. ./f. D. 64. yiin.is. wia 8 For > ye wore somctiinos darkness, so. la. V's' * but now are ijc Yx^hi in the Lord : '" walk xhi. 10, Ix. 2. , ., , ^■'i. ,^ jcr xiii. 16 as children oi liglit : i.ukoi la Actf 9 CFor " the fruit of tlie Spirit is in xvil. sn xxvi. ,, ^ , 1 ,1 • I , I 16, iio.Ti i 21 all ' jroodness, and ' nglitconsncss, and ji. 10. 2 Cor. VI. p ' ~ u. Col I. 11 c fr-nth : ) li. 9 ijohi, .i. 10 f Proving what IS " acceptable unto \\!,;;f.^^^ the Lord. U, 20 Join 11 And Iiave felic no lenow.snip witn 1.30 2 Cor iii 13. iv. C. I Thes v./l-!i. 1 John ii 9-1 1 a2 I the S 9. viii 12. 46. I Cor I. I.uke »vl 8. John xii 3G Gal ». 25 I Pit li 3-11 1 Jntin i 7 1) Gal. v. ;.;, i.> <• Ps. xvi 2,3, Roni ii 4 %» U. 1 I'ct. ii. IS n Joliti 11. <1 riiil i. :i 1 Tim VI 11 Hcb i 8 xl.33 1 Pet !■ 24. 1 John ii 2J iii. '.', 10. e Stt un. iv. IS. 25 vi. U JohD i 47 f 1 Sam yvii. 39 Rom. xii. 1, 2 Phil, f 10. 1 Thes v. 21 e P». xix H Hrov. HXi 3 Is. Iviii 5. Jcr vi iO, Rom xiv. 18 I'hrl. iv. 18. 1 Tim ii 3 v 4 Hcb. xii 18 I Pet ii. » 10. h7 Gfu .\l.x. 5-7 P« i 1.2. sxvi 4.S xciv 20. 21 Prov iv 11.15.iJC.6. Jer. xv. 17. Rom xvi. 17. 1 Cor. v. S-l I. x. 20, 21 SCor.vi 1.1 -18 2 Thes iii. 6. U 1 Tim vi. 5 2 Tim iii. 5. 2 John 10, 11. Hcv xvlii. 4. unfruitful *= works of darkness, ' but ra- iPmv i 31 i. Hi in. Rum. vi 21 Gil. vi 8. . 23 Jul, XX thcr reprove ihem. ,_./,.. , . I U)».22 Jol.xxiv 12 Tor ■" It IS a shame even to speak 13-n. joim n; of tliosc things wiiicii are done of them 23__;3s xu, 12. " in secret. i;i But all things fliat arc * reproved are made manifest by the light: " for whatsoever doth make manifest, is light, 14 Wherefore f he saith, i" Awake, thou that sleepest, and 'i arise from the dead, ■■ and Christ shall give thee light Prov.ix. 17 • . - - ,..-.. -. .. tiincovtrci \a I Thei 1 Gen XX. 19. lev xix 17 V> cxii. » Prov ix. 7. 8. Xlii 13 XT 12. xix. IS. xxv. 12 xxix. I. l4 xxlx 21 Matt. xviii IS I.ukfl iii. 19 1 Tim V. M, .le . 14. Hos ii 10 V fOr.(( 1> 1, li i 26 Mnrg. q ii 4. Ez xxxvii ii. 1. r Jolini n 3. nnm i 24- 27 1 Pel. Iv. 3 _ l2S»m xii. 12. I.uvn xii. 1,2. P.i.m li. 10. Rev xx 12 Or. o Mie. vii 6 .'ohn iii. 20. si. 1 Cor iv &. Iii I U I Rom xlii. 11.1 Cor xv 3.1 3Tini III. John v. 25-99 xi. 43, 44. P,om. vi 4,5. Col. ix. 5. Acl!i Xiii. 47. 2 Cor, iv 6. 2 Tim i. 10. ]cnow, that fornicators, unclean pcrson.s, and covctou.s men, were out of the way to licavcn, Tlie lalliT, thougl often more favoured than debauched characters, were, in the strictest sense, idolaters, seeing they loved, truslccl, and expected happiness from wealth, rather than from God ; nnd sought to increase or secure their treasures, instead of seeking; lirst his favour, image, and glory. (Marg. Rif.) They were not therefore truly converted ; and, not being subjects of Christ's kingdom on earth, they could not be entitled to the inhcrit;nice of that heavenly kingdom, which God, for Christ's sake, would bcslow on all true believers. Some might indeed argue against this declaration ; and, excusing such practices, or amubing themselves with spe- culations on God's mercy and the frecness of salvation, might persuade others that they were not absolutely in- consistent with a state of acceptance. But let none suffer any man to deceive them with vain words ; as these very jiracticcs brought the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience, or those who persisted in unbelief, impeni- tence, and the allowed practice of sin. But vain, deceit- ful words of various kinds might be noticed, did our limits jiermit. The common principles which prevail even in countries professing Christianitj^, among those who are far removed from an antinomian perversion of evangeli- cal truth, jnopeily so called, dictate vain words, which de- ceive vast multitudes. A smattering of vain philosophy, united with the.se common notions, leads numbers to con- clude, that God will not punish men for indulging their natural inclinations, however irregularly. Many popular writers, of late, have spoken of fornication, and even the seduction of an unmarried woman, as no crime ; or mere- ly as ' indulging the most amiable weakness of human nature !' In these, and in various other ways, ingenious men, and even moral philosophers, by moral essays, so called, m modern times deceive millions with vain words; and no tfoubt the grand deceiver of mankind had prophets of a similar stamp in ancient days, AVhcn the vilest of trans- gressors repent and believe the Gospel, they become " chil- '' dren of obedience," from whom the wrath of God is turned away ; but it could not be expected that he would .jiiinish the Gentiles for such abominations, and connive at ihem in professed Christians, If the Ephesians therefore meant to escape the condemnation of their heathen neigh bours, let them not partake of their crimes. V. n — 14. The^ Ephesians had once been darkness ■itself, through total ignorance of God and his will ; but now, by tlic Gosjiel, ihcy were made '= light in the Lord,'' as One with Christ, the Light of the world. Let them therefore walk as children of the Light; like persons who were born again into the spiritual world, to be trained up as heirs of the light of heaven. If they were inwardly enlightened, the Holy .Spirit, by whom the change had been wrought, would lead them to a suitable conversation ; as the fruit of the Spirit consisted in all kinds of goodness, mercy, equily, integrity, veracity, sincerity, and faithful- ness ; as well as in uprightness in their professed faith, fear, and love of God. Let ihcm then prove, or make trial of those things, which God accepted and delighted in. and seek solid enjoyment in them. But let none of ihem countenance those works of darkness, from which carnal men sought pleasure and profit; but which were wholly unfruitful, and yielded no present real advantage, to coun- terbalance in any degree the future ruin to which they led. On the contrary, let them reprove such vices in their neighbours, by refusing to join in them, by protesting plain- ly against them, by showing their hateful nature and per- nicious tendency ; or by keeping a significant silence, when more explicit reproof might be unsuitable. For indeed it was a shame even to speak of the practices, which the heathens secretly committed ; not oidy in taverns and brothels, but more especially in the most sacred mysteries of their abominable religion ! The light, however, of divine truth, held forth in an open profession, and a suitable walk and conversation, could not fail to detect and expose the detestable nature of such shameful practices. For what- ever thus tended to make things manifest according to their real nature was light, and equivalent, in the spiritual world, to the light of the Sun in the natural world. With a view to this, according to the tenour of the Old Testament prophecies, {Is. Ix. 1:) the Lord now called on sinners of the Gentiles to awake from the sleep of sin, and their vain dreams of worldly happiness ; yea, to arise from the death of sin ; and Christ would, by his doctrine and Spirit, give them sufficient light to discover and es- cape every fianger, and to find the way of peace and holi- ness. Surely, this one text ought for ever to silence the vain speculations of those, who, arguing from figurative expressions, concerning the state of sinners, as asleep, nay, dead in sin, not only object to, but absolutely condemn, as heresy, the most scriptural addresses, and calls to them to repent and turn to God, and believe in Christ, and seek salvation ! J. D. U. (^HAPTEll V'. J. d:m- xix. 10. 13. 15 'See then that ye 'walk circuni- pectly, " not as fools, but as wise, 16 -^ Redeeming the time, because the clays are evil. 17 AVherelbre ' be ye not unwise, but untlerstantlinc: what the will ol" tiie Lord Matt X- 16. 1 Cor. xiv. 20 Pbil. i 57. Col. i. S, 10 iv 5. tj2Sam xxiv 10. Job li in Hs. tx»;ii S2 ''rov xiv. P. Jlatt Luke i Gal. iii: 1. 3 I Tim. wnercin vi.9. Jiiin. Hi. 13 ,1 c< • V ;Ec ix .ouoin. the bpu'ii : — ill 1 I tlni 1'; 1 • 1 * 1 9 bpeaking " to yourselves in XXV. 18 And ' be not drunk with wine, c.Kcess ; "^ but be filled with peaKing " lo yourselves in ■ psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing Acu'xL.si.sa'and makinjj melody s in your heart to the 1 Cor. vii 16 » •' ■' 19-31. ^ ^ Lord ; " °-"U IT 0- ^^ Giving ''thanks always for all 28 ps''<-*l''io things unto God and the Father, ' in the H'''^5"'x,r°8. "ame of our Lord Jesus Christ: xsiii 23 Jer. O I k iv.22 Rom xii ■" ... ?Ti,es°'iv.'i-3. other 'in the fear of God. 1 Pel iv. 2. bCcn. ix. 21. xix. 32-35. Dent, xsi 20. I's Ixix. 12 Prov. XX. 1 XXiii 21 21-3i. l!. V 11-13 22 iMiilt xxiv. J.l l.uke xii, .15 xxi .31. Rnm. siii 13. I'cor V. ll.vi 10. xi. 21 Gal. v 21 1 Tlics v. 7 ir Matt xxiii. 25 I Pet iv 3,4. .t Ps Ixiii. 3-5. Cant iv i vii 3. Is, xxv 6. Iv 1 Zccl.. ix 15-17 l.uke xi 13, Acis li 13-18. xi. 21. Gal. V. 22-25 e Acts xvi 25. 1 Cor- xiv 26 Col iii. 16 Jam- v. in f I's xcv 2.C.V.2 Matt, xxvi, 30 8 l's.xhii, 7. Ixii. 8. Isxxvi. 12 cv 3, Is Isv.U. Matt XV. 8 Jolin iv 23.24. li «te on. 1.— Job i. 21. Ps xxxiv I. Is Ixiii 7. Actsv 41 1 Cor i 4 Pi'il i. 3 iv S Col. I 11. 13 iii. 17. 1 Thes iii 9 v. IS 3 Tiles i 3 ii. 13 iJohtix;\. 13,11 xv.16. xvi. 23-26 Heb xiii 1.5 1 Pet ii. 5 iv 11. kias 24 Gen xvi. 9 1 Chr. »xix. 24. Rom. xiii. 1—5. Iter. xvi. IB. 1 Tim. ii II iii. 4 Heb. xiii. 17 1 Pet. li. 13. v. 5. — I 2 Clir. six. 7. Keh. t. 3. 15. Prov. xxiv 21. 2 Cor. vii I Pet. ii. 17. V. 15 — 20. AVilh tliesc advantnges, the Ephe.sian,s ouglit !o svo to it, that they walked accnraldy ; and to consi'icr iin-.v tlicy should behave : or with exactness, ac- cording lo the vi.nunands and example of Christ : keeping the middle way, avoiding all appearance of evil, and aim- ing at more complete obedience in every particular; and circuinspeclli/, cautiously looking at their paths, to sbun the snares laid in them; not acting as heedless, ignorant, or foolish persons, who rush into dangers, temptations, and mischief, but as wise men, who are aware of them and escape them. As a great part of their lives had been wasted in heathen darkness, they ought also to improve their time for the future the moie diligently; redeeming or buying it o3' from other avocations, at the expense of much self-denial and watchfulness ; that they might spend it in religious exercises, or in doing good to others accord- ing lo the duties of their stations ; for the days were evil, and the persecutions that awaited them might render the term of their usefulness more precarious, than in peaceful seasons : so that if they would secure their own salvation, or do good to mankind, no time was to be lost. Let them not then be as unwise servants, who were not prepared for dieir Lord's coming, and were ignorant of their work : nay, let them spare no pains to understand his will con- ceri'ing them, that they might serve him intelligently, as well as zealously, and without giving their enemies any advantage agiinst them. Instead of joining, or imitating the revels of their neighbours, or seeking exhilaration by intemperate drinking, which induced a temporary insanity, and various disorders both of body and mind, and led to the most ruinous and mischievous conduct, let them wait on God in pverv appointed means, for larger conVnuni- cations of the Holy Spirit, whose sacred influences would Vol. v.— No. y3. ■ 22 Wives, ■"submit yourselves unto '"F.ah''i'"'i6 -iT your own husbands, " as unto the f^\ co*i."iii.''i8. Lr,,.,I 1 Tim ii. n', 12. O'*^'- Tit ,i. 5. 1 Pet. 2;i For ''the husband is the head ofr'vi'7.''coi ii. the wife, ^evcn as Christ is the Head ofo'fco,- xi.3-i,r the church: and ''he is the Saviour of^'iv"™' ""' Ul 1 q 25, 26. Arts s V ic hody. 26. 1 Thes. i. 10. 2 4 Therefor'^N as the church is sub- rss Eixsiii.M joct unto Christ, so k( the wives be m.'fo. 22. n'. subject to their own husbands ' in every ^'sf! Ren. n. u. , I • *' •' xxiv. 67. 8 Sam. thincr. xii 3. Prov V .->r TT 1 I « I • '"■ '^- Col. iii 25 Husbands, 'love your wives, even ^^-^^Pft in.-. as Christ also • loved the church, and ^'''''" "'i' "''' , . ,;, ^ . ' 20 John vi 51. gave liimseli lor it. ^<^'^ "•.. =» 26 That " he miglit sanctify and j p'^';'". ^'^'^„^^- cleanse it "^ with the washiha: of water, ",'7 ' *.. \'j- o ' u John xvii. I,— y by the word, ,'|- •*"^^,?"'^i; 27 That ' he might present to himself Hob'^'i'x 'I'i 'x" "a glorious Church, ''not having spot, Jujei'"' ' " or wrinkle, or any such thing; ''but", that it should be holy, and without blemish. — y John XV. 3. xvii. 17. !2 28 Juile2J a Ps xl xii. 22-24 Rev. vii 9— I SI 2 Pet. iii. M c . xxi. 27. xxxvi 25. Joli iii. 5. Ac tsssi 16, Tit iii 5. 7. Heb. X. 2 I Pet. iii. 2 i. 22. 23 -4 2 Cor. i a ix 15-20 ixii. 3. (Jc b Caiit. iv. 7. He' , Col i. 22- 2S. 1 Thes. - fill their souls with satisfying consolations in every circum- stance, and tend to the happiest consequences in future. In order to this, they should substitute in the place of the loose odes and songs of the Gentiles, or other trifling conversation, the psalms and hymns of the sacred scrip- ture, and such spiritual songs as pious men composed on the peculiar subjects of the Gospel, and according to the doctrine of truth. In these they should speak to them- selves, or to each other; attending to the affections of their hearts ; that the inward melody of holy love and gratitude unto the Lord might unite with the outward melody of poetry and singing, when they used them in this manner, -either alone or in social worshij?. It was incumbent on them also to give thanks always, even in seasons of persecution and affliction ; and for all things, not excepting such as nature disrelished, being satisfied of their beneficial tendency. Thus let them acknowledge their manifold obligations to God, even the Father, in the name of Christ, through whom alone blessings were bestowed on sinful creatures, and praises accepted from them. A V. 21. In order to glorify God and adorn the Gospe^ it was requisite, that Christians should submit to one another, and to ail who had authority, according to their different situations and relations in the church oj; the com- munity, and the subordination established by me word or providence of God. This should be done, not so much from secular motives of propriety and expedieffcy, as in the fear of God, and from a pevcrcniial regard to his au- thority, his favour, and glory ; which would obviate those multiplied excuses, thai might be ma^lc for the neglect of this submission, on Srcount of the rnftconduct of superior relations, and on various other grounds. 2 O • .a. D. M. EPIIESIANS. .1. D.U. H 31. 33. Gen ii. 28 So ouglit incii to lovc their wives xi^i ■ *" "^ as their own bodies : he that lovetli « 31.Pr07. xi 17. , . •/. 1 .It- I,- Ec iv. s. Rom. his Wife, lovctli liiiuseli. I'i. m It. Ez. 29 For no man ever yet ' hated his 3fXXlv. IJ, l.*i /111 e ■ 1 1 I 1 • L i7. Matt xxiii own ilesh ; but ^ nourisheth and chcrisn- S7 John vl 40 . , , , -s" „ .. eth it, even as the Lord the church : «i. 23 Rom 111. , , T-i 1 /• 1 • I 1 xii ^SL-^'coi' '^'^ ^°^' ^'^'^ ^ ^''^ members of his body, i,'r,cn. Ii 21 ^^ ^''^ flesh, and of his bones. M..tt »' Mirk X. 1 Cor. vi \- 31 For ^ this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one i'lm "il" -j'. ilesh. k f's. «iv. 9-17. ;i2 This is ' a ijreat mystery : but '' I '""'li'- 5~ixii. speak concerning Christ and the church. 29 2Corxi."3: — - , '" Rev xix 7 L 33 ISevcrtheless, 'let every one of »»'3 , ' , ,.-'.. 1!S. 2B, 29. Col. you in particular so love his wife, even ;;J ,'" ' »'''- as himself; and the wife see that she %^ Es-ifPso " reverence her husband. ,"£''; .?'"„ }• V. 22 — 27. As a most important instance of that " submission to one another in the fear of God," which had been mentioned, the apostle exhorted wives lo submit themselves to their own husbands, as an essential part of their obedience to the Lord, who had appointed this sub- ordination, and required this subjection, in all things law- ful, for his own glory and the benefit of mankind. For, the husband was constituted the head of the wife, as her ruler and protector, both in Providence and by the iaiv of God : even as Christ was the Head of the Church, and the Saviour of this his mystical body. The government of Christ and the subjection of the Church, are conducive to the benefit of the latter, as Christ's authority is that of Avisdom and love : and in general it is beneficial even to the women, to be subject to their own husbands, in the same manner that the Church is subject to Christ ; though the rule may seem lo admit of some exceptions. But to render this submission more easy, benelicial, and com- fortable ; husbands also ought to love their_ wives, with that tender, canstant, faithful, and compassionate aliec- tion, which Christ showed to the Church. He had even p;iven up himself to the death upon the cross, in order to save his people from their sins ; that, having atoned for their guilt, he might also cleanse them from their pol- lution, by those influences of the Holy Spirit, of which the baptismal water was the external sign ; and which were communicated through the word, as the means ol >heir conversion and jjrogressive sanctification. {Marg. Jlef.) Thus, as the heavenly Bridegroom, he prepares the whole multitude of his people, his one espoused bride, for the completion of that sacred union ; that he may '• present her to himself," as the object of his choice, the purchase of his blood, and the work of his grace, a glo- rious and glorified Church, not having one remaining spot of sin, or wrinkle of imperfection, or any thing of the kind : but made complete in holiness, without the least remaining blemi.sh. ^V. 28 — 3L The aposde, having described, in the most alTecting manner, the elTects of the love of Christ to his Church, and the subjection of the Church to his authority ; here shows, that men ought lo love their v.ivcs with a wise, holy, constant, and tender afTection, in confor- mity to that perfect pattern : in every thing seeking their Comfort and advantage, sympathizing in their sorrows, bearing with their infirmities, and endeavouring to pro- mote their salvation and sanctification. They ought indeed lo love them even as they do their own bodies: for so iulimate and indissoluble is this endeared relation, in its (vriginal intention, Ihd when properly entered into and 'ove himself, as her comfort and happiness are, and should be deemed, inseparable from his own. Now, no man in his senses can hate his ov/n flesh, or lake pleasure in wounding and paining it : but, self-love teaches him to nouiish and cherish it ; in the same m.anner that the Lord doth his Church, and every believer in it; all of whom he graciously considers as members of his body, and, as it were, a part of his flesh and of his bones. And thus ought men to lovc their wives, be tender and kind to them, and provide for their comfort. What an affecting view does this give us of Christ's love to his people ! Ho loves, and nourishes, and cherishes them, as a man does his own body ! To instruct us in these duties, the Lord, by the original institution of marriage, commanded men even to leave their parents, in order to join interests and afTections with their wives, as if they became indissolubly one body, or one flesh, with them. All that was contrary to this, had been the cfl'ect of sin, and ought to be peculiarly guarded against : that so, every man should consider th^- wife of his choice, or rather of God's choice for him, as a part of himself, whom he cannot abuse without injurinr himself, and who cannot be hurt without his sharing the harm ; as if any part of his own body had been woui.ded. V. 32, 33, This is indeed, says the apostle, a great mystery, I mean the union of Christ and his Church . nevertheless, to return to our subject, let every man in particular thence learn in what manner to love his wife, even as himself, and be supplied with motives so to do ; and every woman to respect and honour the person and authority of the husband, as constituted her head by the law and providence of God. It is obvious, that there mu.st, in all cases, be manifold defects and failures on bodi sides, in the present state of human nature ; and often grievous oft'ences may be committed : yet, this does not materially alter the duly of the other relation, (except in some cases elsewhere provided for.) {Notes, Mall. xix. 3—9. 1 Cor. vih) huleed, a great part of the difliculty and duty consists in persevering good behaviour, notwith- standing unsuitable retiu'ns. It is observable that the aposde says, " let every one love his wife,'''' not ivives : so that polygamy is not even sujiposed by the exhorta- tion, to exist among Christians. ^It/stery. (32.) The Vulgate, or the old Latin version, exclusively used by the church of Rome, rendi rs this, sacravieitt ; which is the only scriptural reason, or shadow of reason, for the absur- dity of numbering marriage among the sacramcnt.s, even while th;.t Church considers the married stale inco'i.=;islent with high attainments in holiness, forbids its priests to marry, and discourages marriage in various oihcr Avays ! ftUendcd to ; that a man, iii loving his wife, may be said to. Many have enlarged on this mi/stery, namely ihc appoint A. D. 64. CHAPTER VI. . '• no work nor counsel in the grave, •'whither we are going." Let us then acquaint ourselves with the will of our Lord, attend to his work, and w^ft for his coming. Thus we shall practically show our wisdom, while many jirove their folly by talking about religion, without knowing or doing the will of Christ. — When we are afflicted or ivearied, let us not procure a vain exhilaration by any degree of intemperance, which is hateful and pernicious, and ends in deeper dejection ; but, by fervent prayer, let us seek to be filled with the Spirit, and to bo satisfied v.'ithhis holy consoladons ; and let us avoid wha(ever might grieve our gracious Comforter. Thus we shall be animaicd to "speak to each other in " Psalms, and Ilym.ns, and spiiiiual songs;" and, at least, wilh the melody of a grateful heart, to give thanks always, for all things, (o our God and Father, in the name of his 2 0 2 A. D. 64, EPHESIANS. A. D'6-L. 'x'i?vii''"'ie3 /~1HILDREN, " obey your parents "in ii- JO " Pro;-"'"'! -^ '' lIon.Hir thj' father am! mother, l/^Jf',*"';^ (wliicli is the first commandiiieiit witli ,] promise,) l.ukn iii. .(I 1- N<-li 2 .Tint, r l,^- Malt XV 4 ^ Mar'. 51 Col S 5, 6. Rom xti S ICcir. x». 5" Col iii 17. B 2.1.21 1 Tct li. 11 13 Jobxx.Siii n Ps. xix ». cxi» 7S. 123. Hof. xiv 9 Rim. Tii 12. xii 4.- -<1 Es X< 12 Deut. H«v i 16 Prov XX SO Ez. xxii 7. Mai. i. 6 bolo/nd Son, and lliii.s anticipate the joys of heaven in the communion of the saints on earth. V. 21—33. If \vc all were .subject one to anotlicr in the fear of God. and according to oui' several relations in life, societv would apjieiir like a well organized body, and every indi- vidual would share ihe advantages. Every relative duty should be enforced by evangelical motives and examjiles. — The most eiitire sulmiissioii of wives to their oun husbands will be no infringement of their liberty, if performed for the fjurd's sak' , and after the example of the Church's obcvjieiice to him : c?|)ccia!ly if husbands also love their ivlves, after the jiattern of Christ's love to his chosen peo- ple. He died for them, that he might sanctify and cleanse ••hem, to be to him for an honour and praise to all eternity, an! that he might be glorious in making them happy. — ■\Vhile we adorf>, and rrjoice in, tlii.s condescending love, and |)ress forwird to that perfect holiness which is intend- ed for us ; and while we reverence both the mystery of this sacred union with the Lord, as members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones ; and his loving authority over us, who nourisheth and cherislieth us, as a man doth liis own flesh ; let husbands hence learn how to love their wivc.^, and to show themselves justly entitled to superiority lay wisdom, joined with tender sympathy and [patient care ; and let wives hence learn to obey and reverence their hus- liands. If the original a|ipointment of marriage, and the subject before us, were duly attended to, all harshness, ty- ranny, and unfaithfulness, must be excluded ; for no man .hateth his own flesh : and on the other hand, all contests for superiority, and unreasonable attachment to humour and inclination, as interfering with cheerful obedience, wouM be prevented. In short, were Christianity general, and Christians more attentive to the j)recepts of their Lord ; Jiarmony and affectionate confidence would sweeten domes- tic life, without any material interruption or alloy. But, is all are sinners, it behooves every individual to make raaiiy concessions and allowances, and to persevere in the di% of the relation, though attended with many a cross, — Thus the worst evils will be prevented ; and even an offend- ing or unbelieving partner maybe won upon: whereas a retaliation of misconduct can only render disagreement per- petual, and tend to the most painful and disgraceful conse- ttuences. NOTES CH.\P. VI. V. 1—4. {Note, Ex. xx. 12.) The aposde next exhorted believers, who had parents living, to be obedient to tl^m " in the Lord,"' for his sake, iVom gialitudc to him, in obedience to his commands, and for the honour of his Gospel. This general exhor- 3 That it * may be well with thee, and <^d«u« i' «o.<' thou mayest live long on tlic earlii. tuxuiu"!' vl'. 4 And, ' ye fathers, provoke not your i'il'oj'er'x'iii's- rliildren to wrath : « but bring them up in f,*^'", s"\'I: the nurture and admonition of the Lord, m- w. cui hi iCtn xviii. 13 Bx Xii 2S 17 xlii i4. 5 Dcul iv. 'J vi 7 20 24 xi. 19-21 I'^sl' iv. 6.7. 21—24 Xliv. !». 1 ( hr sxil 10- n xxviii. 9, 10.20. xxix 19. Ps. Ixx 17, 18. Ix\%iii 4—7. Prov Iv. 1-4 xix 18 xxii 6 19 xxiii 13, 14 Xkix 14 17. I> xixvlii. 19 3 Tim i S ill. IS. Heb. xii 7-10 tation was to be limited according to the ages and p-ip- ticular circumstances of children. Some, it is probable, had Gentile parents, and they ought not to obey them- when their commands contia-licled those of Christ; jet it wouM be peculiarly incumbent on them to give up llieir own will in all things lawful, for the crcilit of Christianity. Obedience of children to paienis, thus limited, is in itself equitable and reasonalile, a del)i (lu<^ to the insiruments of their existence, and the tender guardians of tlieir in- fancy, and generally conducive to their good. Indeed, the sentiment.s of all nations coincide in this; and the law of God expressly commanded cliildn n to honour the persons and authority of both father a. id mother, and to requite their kindness, as they had opjiortunity and ability. This was placed in the decalogue as tlie first commandment of the second table, being 'he first of the relative duties, and the source of all the others ; and a promise of long life in the land of Canaan was annexed to it. as given to ilie Israelites ; which might be generally ap|)lied to Christians, and encourage them to expect temporal comfort and length of days, as a gracious recompense for their obedience unless the Lord should see good to reward it more liberally in another life. Indeed, it has been observed in every age, that they wlio were distinguished for filial obedience were remarkably prospered. Tiie apostle also exhorted parents, (for though fathers are only mentioned, doubtless motiiers also were intended.) to use their authority without rigour, lest their children should be discouraged, prejudiced against Christianity, or provoked to obstinacy and disobedience, which always would ])rove painful to the parents, and often ruinous to the children. The restraints, reproofs, and corrections of fwrents, ought therefore always to be used in a meek, affectionate, and forgiving disposition, while they diligently educated them in such a manner, and with such instructions, as might best initiate them in the knowledge of Christ and true religion, and gave them such friendly admonitions, as might guard them against the various snares of the world, and tie temptations of Satan. In these exhortations the inferior relation is con- stantly mentioned first ; perhaps because the duty of it is most contrary to corrupt nature: jet it ought to be attend- ed to, even when the superiors neglect theirs. ' Make • them to read the Scriptures, says Thcophylact, which is ' the duty of all Christians: for is it not a shame to in- ' struct them in heathen authors, whence they mav learn ' bad things, and not to instriiei them in the ora'( les of 'God?' (ffhilln/.) This is an important remark : but im- mensely more is required, in catechizing and other insiiuc- tion, in reproof, mild correction example, conversation,, watchfulness against every thing in word or deed unbecom- ing in the presence of children, seizing every opportunity of drawing their attention to the great truths and duiies. of religion, and illustrating the eflects. of wickedness, the: c4. D. 64. CHAPTER VI. A. D. tii. s,Gcnxvi9Ps. 5 Servants, "be oLcdicnt fo them S"M«tt J'"!! that are your masters ' according to the v'scoMr^ flesli, '- ■^vlth fear and trembling, ' in sin- Vit'n 9.''io~'i glcness of jonr heart, "■ as unto Christ; nMl.'em"'ii;'' 6 Not \vith " eye-service, as mcn- ' from the heart: 14 IChr XkiX _ ^'ir- 1 1 'M 1 • 17 M-s isvxvi / Witli '' o-oocl-will cloinir service, "^as II Matt vi.SI , •■ , ~ , , ^ Arts, ae^snor to the L/orcl, and not to men : nil icor.'viisz. 8 Knowincr that ^whatsoever ffood Col. iii n-S4 1 .1 .,1 1 n I nPhu li 12 Col tinno; anj man cloetli, the same shali lie ''•■>'.., „ ^.,- receive of tlic Lord, * wlielher he be bond Vx'i.J'0',2*^°i, or free. V'^ Ztf\^\ ^ And, " yc masters, do '^ the same rot ii IS |_v 2 things unto them, * forbearinor threaten- ^i"y ^" Rom 'fg •■ ■ Iviiowing- that t your Master also Tl 17 Col. !ii S3 Q Gen x.sx.. 0 i; m 2 King's V 2.3 1.1, ri.r, I Cor X. 31. sProv si IE j.sx\iii.lS. If, ill |l. Malt » 12 vi I.4.X.41 dS. nvi 27 I.ukevi. 35 XIV. M. Rom ii G 10 2 Cor v 10 Heb X -IS. xi 26. 1 Gal in 2i. Col iii 11 u Lev. xix 13 xsv 3:1 -.lll Ueiit. xv u— 16 x\i]i u, IJ Neb v. 5 8,9 lob xxiv 10-12 xxxj 13 15 Is. sivii. 6 Iviii. 3— 6. Am viii .1-7. .MhI iii 5. Col iv I Jam. V. 1. x 5— 7. Matt ru. 12. I.uke vi. 31 lam i. C I.) "Or. modirolirif. i t-"jm xxv 17 !>an. iii r. 15 v 19, 20. y !■? cxl 12 Kc. v S .Milt, ssi'i. « in xxiv. 48 31 T.u<ressiy contending against the lawfulness of slavery. — Yet boili the law of love and the Gospel of grace tend to its abolition; and the universal prevalence of Chri^iianity must annihilate; if, with many other evils, which in the present state of things cannot wholly be avoided. In the wisdom of God, the apostles were left to take such matters as they found them, and to teach servants and masters their respective duties ; in the performance of •which, the evil would be niitigated ; till in due time it should be extirpated by Christian legislators. Servants were therefore taught to obey their masters, not only iviih a pespectful attention to their persons and authoriiy, and a fear of displeasing them, but with a jealous and irembling fear of (ifl'ending and dishonouring (jod by an im[)roper behaviour. Tiiis was to be done with a single desire and aim to please Christ, their great and gracious Master, %vhom they obeyed, in conscientiously serving even an unreasonable and tyrannical earthly master. The) were also todo their wcrk. not as eye-servants, who arc diligent in their master's [ resenre and slothful in his ab.iscnce, being only desirous of [ileasing man, but as tiie servants 23 Jo.Mi. ; ). 1 SaTl 16. 1 Clir i I" 2f'. ; Cbr XV 7. |-« is in heaven ; ' neither is there respect o{'\^"Z0^^^ persons '»vit!i him. a'^-^cor' ^.i i; 10 II » !■ inaliy, my brethren, "' be !'^4"K' J'^. strong in tlie I.ord, and in the power ofMe,! his might. J?;" 1 1 ' Put on "^ the whole armour of (Jod, that yc may be ^ able to stand ao-ainst cxxxllii.'^ ,. .1 •^•1 V.i II ^ xxsv3.4.»l28 ' tlic wiles oi the devil. -31. iia; n t. 12 tor we s ^yi-ggtle not "against 1 cor xvi. 13. e i flesh and blood, but against ' princii^al- r Ji. iv"i3"coi' . . . ^ . » ' ill 2'i^i;i] ii I ities, against powers, '' against tlie rulers iv 17. n-ct. v if of tlic darkness of this world, against 14 foi m in V spiritual wickedness in hioh places. 2 cm- vi 7 x.i xnTi • 11 lilies. V 3 1,1 Wliereiore 'take unto you ihc^'^^^^^'--^''' 'f, whole armour of God, that ye may be J^^,''-„^'' " able to 'withstand ""in the evil day, and •'l:;'^^]!^''''''' ' having * done all "to stand. — ;i. I I'et V g I.uke xiii 24. XV 56. Gal i 15. 1 I'ct ii : XX >i. 18 2 Cor 1 arc on. 11-17 overcome d ftlal 4 XI. 3 r.- 15. £ I lies ii « 'at ii 1-3 Uev ii. 2l xii. 9 xiii. 11—15 xix 20 XX 2.3 7. K. ix. 25-27 2Tro ii. 6 Hch xii 1.4 llMatlxvi. 17 I Cor .- r (ir lil'i'id (iv,]Jhth. i i. 21. Iii. 10. Ki.ir. vili ,-.8 Col ii. -k ii 2 .lobii 2. I.ukessii 53 .lolin xii. •!!. xl« 30. xvl U Acts Col i 13. iOt. vnckcdsinritt \\Or,kcavtnly Stcim.S.i iii 13 Rev. V VI 17. 10 — ' Or. of God, who heartily did his will even in their secular eaiiiloymcnts. Then they would cheerfully and assi- duously do service to their masters, as endeavouring to jilcase tlie Lord, and not men, in so doing : being assured, that whatever good action any man did, from Christian principles, it would be graciously recompensed by the Lord ; and that a poor slave would be as much accepted, in performing the duty of his |)lace, as any free man in his apjiarenlly more important services. On the other hand, believing masters ought to act from the same prin- ciples, and in tlie same conscientious manner, towards their servants, whether they were Christians or not : excicisino- their authority with humanity and gentleness ; not only without inflicting rigorous punishments, but also forbear- ing to menace or terrify their servants, or to express any haughty or excessive anger to them, even when most evidently faulty. For though the laws of man gave them [great power in this respect, yet they must remember, that I they were accountable to the great Lord and Master of [all for their use of it; who will deal with men accord- ling to their conduct towards their inferiors, and expects his people to copy the cxamiile of his lenity and mercv. \{Marg.Ref.) ^ I V. 10 — 13. The apostle here concludes his pracficaf instructions, by a figurative exhortation, taken from mili- tary aflairs. As the soldiers of Christ, the Ephesians were called to tight under his banner, against Satan, the world, and sin: but they were too weak in themselves for this conflict, and must therefore " be strong in the Lord," by a continual reliance on his mighty power for protection, support, and assistance. In the fulness of Christ, and in the graces of the Spirit, a panoply, or complete suit of armour, was provided for every believer : this, the Lord, as it were, held out to them, that, leceiving it from him, they might put it on daily, in a diligent and watchful use of the appointed means. Thus armed, they might be able to stand against the assaults of Satan, by whatever artfu! .1. D. G4. EPHESIANS. j9. D. C4- ov 9. isxi. 5. 11 Stand therefore, " liavin^yoiir loins 2'"ior.'"'vi 7. jrirt about witii tnitii, and havinc; on '^ the I Pel. i. 13 yJ , ,• • 1 ° r Is. r.» I'- breast-plate ol ri2flitcousiicss : lict ix 9 17 j.ij And '' your icct sliod with the ])rc- Hah'' hi"' 19 paration of ' the gospel ol peace; r'if lii.'r Ro": 1^ AbovQ all, taking 'the shield j\',-^' -'^'""'■'- of faith, wherewith yc shall be able 'ivr"3 "4 in ^'. ' ^o quench all the fiery darts of the V^:L I'l'i w wicked. i7ri8''x''V- 17 And take " the helmet of salvation, :■]". 1 ret. V B, 9. t Jolin v. 5. 1 I Tljes. t. 19. u 1 Sam xvii. 5. 38. Is lis. 17. 1 Tlics y 8 and ' the sword of the Spirit, ^ which is »i«»ii« shci.. ,1 1 /• i-< 1 ' n.M. lUv. lie. tlic word ol uod : »" "» »i.i. » Jo ^ rraynig alway.s with all prayer ^o.^njieb. »i(. and •'" supplication ^ in the Spirit, and '!",»''''■"•' "■ watcning thereunto with '' all perseve- ]".; ,("« ^^^. '». ranee, and "= supplication for all saints; .LuIlMi''6 i?! 19 And f for me, that ^ utterance may Jcu'i'ii''*'i"J' X. 2^xii 5. Horn. xil. 12. Phil. i» 6. I The. v 17 IT.in i. 3. a I Kins« vilV'ssI 51 55 K 3 Ksth IT. e. Dan ix 20. Hos lii 4. 1 Tim li. 1 Heh. v. 7--bil 2a /rich, sii 10 Horn viii. li. 26,27. Gal. iv. 6 Ju.le M c Man.xxvi 41. Mark xii.. .11. XIV. .38 I.ukoxxi 25 xxii. 46. Col iv. 2. I l-et. iv. 7. il Gen xxxii. 2l-28 ,'■ ; ■ "i^nt*,"-' .^"'" '"A""^ "'"'• '-^ oiKonf 19.-iii. 8 18. Phil i. 4. L'J .^hileoi 5. rnom. XV. 30 2 Cor. i 11. Pliil. I. 19. Col. iv. 3 1 Thet. vii?7. '■ '"' '■ '"''"''"' " "'''■ '''''• '" "'*'" '■ * ' '^'"- '»■*«"• inclhod.s he, or iiis in.struments, attem]-itcd to ob.struct ilicir ) rogress. For ihcy, and all Christians, were called to conllict and wrcslle, not only ngainst their own in-d'.velling corriiplions, the opposition of persecutors, the enticements of wicked men, and tiie allurements of the world, but also agninst those invisible and formidable principalities and powers, who ruled the darkness of this world ; even fSatan and his angels, the great authors of man's igno- rance, impiety, and iniquity, alt over the earth. These might be called " spiritual wickedness in high places,''' not only as they held their empire in the air, according to the general cjiinion, and temjited men to wickedness, especially in their religion ; but also as being the authors of all idolatry. They became proud rebels and apostates oven in heavtnb/ places: ; and being spiritual wickednesses in that holy W'Orld, they were cast out from thence; and had fioni the beginning opposed man's entrance into hea- ven by every means, which malice, capacity, or sagacity, could suggest. Jt was therefore necessary for all engaged in this warfare to be completely armed for the conflict •with such powerful and determined enemies ; that they might be able to stand in the evil day of peculiar tempta- tion, or persecution, or at the approach of death. They must be prepared every day for the conflict, and would continually be called to resist their foes : but some days would peculiarly encourage or give advantage to Satan's assaults ; and as they could not know before-hand when such occasions would be aflbrded him, shcy must, as vi- gilant and valiant soldiers, be always ready. That, thus '• v.ithstanding in the evil day," and having done all expected from them, they might stand victorious on the field of battle, and be approved by their great Commander. y. 1-t — 17. The minds of Christian soldiers ought to be fortified and prepared for the assault, by con- 3cious shicerity in their profession, and by truth in their whole conversation ; as the loins of soldiers were girded by their military belt, when they marched out to the battle. " Uightcousness," or an habitual and consci- entious obedience to the various commandments of God, should be their breast-plate, which would defend them from fatal wounds in the day of conllict : whereas con- scious negligence and disobedience would render them afraid to face persecution or death in the cause of Christ. To stand their ground in such diflicult situations, or to march forward in such rugged paths, their feet must be '• shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace ;" that is, their motives and encouragements to obedience, amidst temptations and persecutions, must be derived from a clear and comprehensive knowledge of the Gospel ; through which God is revealed, as " in Christ reconciling the world unto himself," and actually at peace with every believer, notwithstanding past irangressions, and present defects and infirmities. This assurance would make obe- dience delightful, though self-denying, and animate the. established believer to resist temptation, to endure tribu- lation, and to march through dilficulties and enemies, in the cause of Christ and in the way to heaven. (Note, Dent, xxxiii. 25. Luke xv. 22.) 'Over all these faith must be placed as a shield : by crediting the testimony of God, realizing unseen objects, resting the soul on the promises, and relying on the power, truth, mercy, wis- dom, grace, and providence of God, according to his word ; they would be able to ward of}' the temptations of Satan, as soldiers received the darts of the enemy on their shields. The suggestions of the tempter wouM in- deed often resemble darts, by the suddenness and violence with which they were injected, and fiery, or poisoned darts, by the fatal efl'ects produced by them. For as poisoned darts would fatally inilame the blood of those wounded by them ; so the suggestions of Satan would inflame the anger, pride, lust, avarice, or other corrupt propensities of the heart, unless immediately intercepted and extinguished by the shield of faith. This clause is often interpreted exclusively of those harassing tempta- tions, by which hard thoughts of God, and horrid or de- sponding conclusions concerning themselves, are excited in men's minds : these lead to immense distress, and even- tually to guilt ; and faith in God's word must extinguish them : yet, probably, the apostle meant the words in a more comprehensive sense. To all this, Hope, or a scrip- tural expectation of victory and eternal glory, must supply the place of a helmet, to cover the head in the day of battle ; by couteracting that discouragement, which doubtfulness of the event would induce, in times of sharp temptation : so that it might be called the helmet of salvation, as nothing could be courageously done without il. To com- plete the whole, the word of God must serve the Christian soldier for a sword : an exact and comprehensive a'cquaint- ancc with its various doctrines, promises, precepts, warn- ings, and a readiness at recollecting, and adducing, per- tinent texts upon every emergency, would drive the tempt- er to a distance, and procure a final victory over him. (Notes, Matt. iv. 1 — 1 1.) Thus the whole suit of armour would be com]ilete : for no covering was provided for the back, as victory must be sought by valour, not by cowardice. .7. D. 61. CHAPTER VI. i,Acuiv.,i3. S5.be given unto me, "that I may open my ilii.'fs Ki»*3 mouth boldlv, to make knoAvn ' the mys- xviii i6 xix 8. ,- 1 "^ 1 xsvi.i. 3i£Cor tcry 01 tiie gospel : '•""-■"""'''•''"■ 20 For which '' I am an ambassador > in * bonds: tliat t therein 1 may speak ■^ boldly, as 1 ought to speak. 21 il But " that ye also may know my ""co?""") ' atVairs, and how I do, " Tychicus, '' a bc- '?"°Vaii"'s''2 loved brother, and ** faithful minister in the «"or a chain. Lord, sliall make known to you all things : • Acts xtviii so! :■ Tim. i. 16. 1 Or. Ihiu^f m Sec o.i h. I9.-Jer i 7. B. 17. Ez. 'ii <-7. Matt. X. S7,:8. Acts t. S9 Col. iv. 4. 1 John iii 16 .lude 3 ii Phil. i. 12 '- ■ ■ - .--'-. . "Tim. IV. 12. T.t. iii 12. — p Col i», 3. Fbilem. ID. 2 Pet, t Pliil - Thes. ii 2 ji. 9. iii 3, 1 Cor. ii 7. 1 Col i ii. "ii.S. 1 lira k Pros sill V. 18 — 20. To give all the rcsl their full efficacy to procure, keep bright, and put on this suit of armour, the soldiers of Christ must '• pray always ;" constantly, fre- fljuently, at stated times, in occasional ejaculations, and more abundantly in the prospect, or in the hour, of temptation : using all kinds of prayer and supplication, in de]5endence on the Holy Spirit, and according to his teaching and influences ; and '• watching unto it," against remissness, discouragement, weariness, interruptions, and unseason- able engagement : " with all perseverance ;" seeing Satan would peculiarly tempt them to negligence in this matter, that he might obtain further advantages against them. They must also remember to help one another, and all the saints, by their prayers for them without distinction. Especially the apostle entreated their prayers for him, that he might have opportunity and liberty of spirit, boldly to declare his important message in the face of danger and death ; for though he was Christ's ambassador of peace to the Gentiles, he was at that time executing his commis- sion in confinement and in fetters : so greatly was his glorious Lord despised among men ! lie, however, did not regard this degradation, or feel any anxiety about his bberly, provided he were enabled to speak with becoming boldness, firmness, and impartiality, when called to bear testimony to the truth. The reader, who is acquainted with what hath been written on this subject, will perceive that, in some particulars, the exposition here given rather varies from that of approved writers. Perhaps zeal for particular doctrines sometimes renders pious men too apt to explain every expression in support of them ; tliough it weakens the proof of them, makes one ]5art of such pas- sages coincide with the other by a needless repetition, and leaves out other matters equally important. Indeed, it may be apprehended, that by adducing every thing v.hich can be thought of, in explaining such metaphors, mafiy things are supposed to be contained in them, which were entirely out of the wiiter's mind when he penned them. Bonds. Or, in a chain. ' Tlie apostle vi'as allowed to live at ' Rome, with a soldier that kept him. To this soldier hp ' was tied with a chain, fixed on his right wrist, and fas- ' tened to the soldier's left arm ; and the chain being of a ' convenient length, the two could walk together with ' ease. The soldiers, who were thus employed, no doubt * reaped great benefit from the ajjostle's conversation an^' ' preaching.' (Macknight.) This is probable, and ihr thought is worthy of attention ; but the words, no doubt, imply more than we know on the subject. 22 Wliom '1 have sent unto you for the same pinposc, tiiat ye might know our affairs, and thai lie might comfort your hearts. 23 - Peace 6e to the brethren, ' and love with iaith, from God the Fatlier, and t!ie Lord Jesus Christ. 24 " Grace 6c with all them that "" love our Lord Jesus Christ J in >' sincerity. '■ Amen. Tit iii. 15 Heb. xiii, t Or, Juitfi incorrvplio Matt. vi. 13. ssLviii. ; .14. sSrceii John sxi. 15-1 y Matt, xxii, 37. £ Cor. viii. 8 .•/. D. 64. rBhil. ii.. 19 SB. tul.iv.S. 1 Tlics. iii 2. 2 Thes. il. 17. s Sit on Horn. i. 7 1 Cor. 13 — Ceil, zliil. 2.'*. Gal. vi I Pot. V. Uev. i. 4. t Gal V. 1 Thes. i. 3 8. 2 Thes. i. 1 Tim. i- Phileni. 5-7 o Col. iv. 2 Tiin. iv. . I Co zSc V. 21—24. The aposde knew that the Ephesians would be anxious to know many things concerning him; but it was not requisite for him to write on that subject, as he had sent, with this epistle, a brother and minister competent to inform them, and to encourage and edify them by his con- verse and preaching. (Murg. Ref.) ' He wished the Ephc- ' sians, (as well as the Philippians and Colossians ;) to know • what success he had had in preaching at Rome, what ' opposition he had met with, what comfort he enjoyed ' under his suflerings, what converts he had made to ' Christ, and in what manner the evidences of the Gospel ' aifccled the minds of the inhabitants of Rome.' {31iic- knight.) The desire and prayer of the apostle was, that peace with God, their consciences, and each other, as connected with faith and love, and communicated from God the Father and the Lord Jesus, might abound to all the brethren. At the same time he gave them his aposto- lical blessing in such language, as showed that the grace or special favour and mercy of God would be on all them, and them only, who loved Christ, in sincerity, and in an uncorrupt and holy manner. {Note, 1 Cor. xvi. 21 — 24,) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—9. The Gospel furnishes believers with most efficacious motives to all relative duties; and the law directs those, whom Christ hath redeemed from its curse, in what man- ner they may adorn his doctrine and show forth his praise ; for all its commandments are right and beneficial. When children honour and obey their parents, they take a proper ' ' ' ' " ' " and ce of method to obtain temporal comfort and prosperity when they do it '• in the Lord," it forms an evidcn their interest in his promises, which will be fulfilled in their everlasting felicity. Similar motives shq^ld induce parents to attend diligently to the education of their chil- dren, with meekness, prudence, and affection ; that they may not provoke them to wrath, or tempt them to siji ; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But, alas, how sadly is this duly neglected, even among professors of the Gospel ! How many parents, even among jji-ofessed Christians, by their imprudence, violent passions, harshness, or unforgiving temper and conduct, disgust their children, prejudice them against religion, render them uncomfortable in their presence, and conse- quently disposed to ]irefer almost any other company I This docs not excuse the children's disobedience ; but it ?. D. GJ. EPIIESIANS. .i. D. G4. nwfully occasions il. 0n die olher haml, ho'.v commonly -/i7_!/, j tuations, that they may boldly declare the mystery of the sccuie them a gracious recompense from the Lord. The same princijiles will render masters considerate, kind, gen- tle, and conscientious in their whole deportment, remem- bering that they also have a Master in heaven, who is no respecter of pei'sons. And what orderly and happy fa- milies will those be, where relative duties are thus attend- ed to ! V. 10— ir. and we are without strength ; but our Redeemer is alinighly, and in the now'er of hi* might we may overcome all that oppose our course. Let us then daily put on the armour which the Captain of our salvation hath prepared for us; that, being soiier and vigilant, and always ready for the battle, we may be " able to stand against all the wiles of " the devil." The potent rulers of the darkness of this world, who wrought sjiiritual wickedness in heaven, will oppose our march to that inheritance which they have lost, and endeavour to bring us to that hell to which they are Gospel : for the more boldly they speak, in consistency with the"1heekncss of wisdom and love, the better do they perform their work. Men of this stamp rather desire to make full proof of their ministry, than to enjoy personal ease or liberty ; their own affairs will be inconsiderable in their ju lament, compared with the success of the Gospel. They will, however, greatly rejoice to have beloved bre- thren and faithfiil ministers, wlio are able to comfort and establish the people in their absence ; and while they wish for peace, with faith and love, to all that profess the Gos- condemned. They often have powerful allies in the prin- nel. they must also rrmind them that grace will be with cipalities of th'^ earth, and wicked men always figiit under j all I'lfm, an'l them only, who " love the Lord Jesus Chri&t their banner J but our flesh, the corrupt nature, the traitor " in sincerity." THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. The manner in which the apostle and his associates tvere led to j)ass over from idsiu into Europe, end to be- gin their labours at Philippi, in Macedonia ; as well as their success, and the persecution by which Paul and Silas were driven thence, have been already considered. (Notes, Acts, &c. xvi.) The apostle had once afterwards visited Philippi, though few particulars are recorded. (Note, Acts xx. 1 — 6.) As this epistle was, manifeslly, written from Rome, and during the latter part of the apostWs first impri- sonment in that city ; nearly twelve years had passed since he first preached at Philippi : but the conduct of the Christians there had uniformly been so exemplary, and their grateful affection to him so fully evin- ced, that he had only to rejoice over them with heartfelt gratitude, while he poured out his prayers for them ; and affectionately animsted them to persevere and press forward in their heavenly course. Some cautions indeed, against deceivers of different descriptions, whose base conduct and awful doom he de- clares in most expressive terms, are joined with his exhortations. JYoi one censure, however, is passed, or iinpiicd, on any of the Philippians ; but wiqualified commendation and coifidcnce. (Note, Rev. ii. (i — 11.) It is evident, that Epaphroditus, ivho had been sent with a supply of money to the apostle at Rome; and who seems to have been a pastor, and perhaps the principal pastor, of the Church, convey- ed the epistle to Philippi. He had, either by his journey to Rome, or by his zealous labours, in assistin I 'I'hes. i V. i Hcb 7. 7 Even as ^ it is meet for me to think t this of you all, ' because * I have you i'2 Cor iii. s. in my heart, inasmuch " as both in my • o'r,% havt me bonds, * and in the defence and confir- o.i *v°s 1 johD niation of the gospel, ye all are t pai- uActj»vi23-ri takers of my srracc. XS.23 Eph HI •' " , . 1,1 I iv IV,. SO. 2 }j Por y God IS my record, 'how Heb'x 33,34. greatly I long after you all 'in the ■'*'^ bowels of Jesus Christ, "^j- 9 And '' this I pray, that " your love 1 Pet t Or, gfact. See 1 Cor ix IIel>. Ill I. iv 1 2 Co) Svi II. Is 12 Phile Gal iv 19 Coi li i IS Jer. x.ixi. 2". l.uko i 13. 20 I John 1 Fet »]««. siii. 31—33. 2 Cor. I. Gal. I. 1 Thej. ii 0. 2 Tim. i. -l. a ii. 1. Is. 7!1. A/arif. 2 Cor. vi 12. vii. 15 Marg. Col. 111. S« irn, 4 c iii. 15, 10 Jol> svii 9. Prov. 1 Tlies. iii 12 iv. 1. 9, 10 J Thcs. i. 3 the verb x«/»«»5« in ihis resembles it, as also the other words from the .same root. (iii. 10. iv. 15. Malt, xxiii. 30. Lwfcev. 10. Ads ii. 42. Rom. -aii. 13. xv. 26, 27. 1 Cor. i. 9. X. 16. 18. 20. 2 Cor. i. 7. viii. 4. 23. xiii. 14. Gal. ii. 9. vi. 6. 1 Tim. \. 22. vi. 18. Pliilem. 6. 17. Heb. ii. 14. x. 33. xiii. 16. 1. Pet. v. 1. 2 Pet. i. 4. 1 John i. 3. 6, 7. 2 John 11.) These are nearly all the places in which this word, and those from the same root, occur in the New Testament ; and it is evident that iji most places it means parlnership, or participation ; and in the rest implies such a communication as admits others to share with the givers. ' To have all things common, ' xoi»*.' (Leigh.) In not one of them does it clearly denote a number of persons joining together to raise a sum of money ; as has been in this place interpreted, both in ancient and modern times, though it evidently enervates and obscures the sense. The day, &c. (6.) — 'The Spirit of God will not desert us to the end, until ' even our mortal bodies, being restored to life and glori- ' fied, shall stand in judgment before Christ.' {Be::a.) — V. 7, 8. Many who had made a credible profession of Christianity afterwards fell away, having " no root in "themselves;'' yet it was meet for the apostle to hope better things of the Philippians, and to be satisfied that a good work of new creation had indeed been wrought upon them; for their long continued consistency of conduct had given them a peculiar place in his heart ; or, as it may be rendered, they had shown that they had had him in their hearts, and had abundantly evinced their love to Christ by their kindness to his afflicted servant. During his imprisonment they had cordially sympathized with him, and endeavoured to alleviate his sufferings ; and in all that lie undertook for the defence and confirmation of the Gospel, they had concurred with him, and shown them- selves partakers of the same grace which had been be stowed upon him, acting from the same holy principles, and returning his love with reciprocal affection. Indeed, God was witness how greatly he longed after them, with a holy, tender, and compassionate affection, like that of Christ to his people ; how he longed to see them, and how gladly he would exert himself in any self-denying .ser- vices, by which he might be further useful to them in their spiritual concerns. V. 9 — 11. The apostle next gave the Philippians a compendious account of his constant prayers for them. — He was confident that they were true believers, and may abound yet more and more, '' in j ; cor xiv :o knowledge, and in all J judgment; T'a'' " 10 That "ye may § approve things lO"-' that are excellent ; ' that ye may be sin- ^^'^ cere, ^ and without offence, '' till the day '^f ./'',j of Christ; l^i'T^'i'^'g 11 Being 'filled with the fruits of ojjj^^/'",".f,; righteousness, which ^ are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 10 iVM. 18. . Heb IS, If U. IS S John XXMV 2 Cor. xi. IS- IS. Elih V ID I Tbes. V. 21 Heh v 12-14 1 John iv. 1. Rev. ii 2 f IR Gen. xx. .5. Josh »iv 14. John I. 47, 2 Cor. i 12 ii. 17. viii. 8 Eph. iv. 15. Mnrf. vi 2,1. g Mat xvi 2:1 xviii B. 7. sxvi.33 Rom xiv, 20,21. Xvi. 17 1 Cor. viii. 13. x 3'.' 2Cor vi. H Gal v 11. 1 Thes. iii. 13 h.Vee on. I Cor. i.9 i iv. 17. Ps i. 3 xcii. 12, 13 t- v, J. Luueslii 6-9. John sv 2. 8. 16. lloni. vi 22, sv. 28. 2 Cor. ix If), Gal v. 22, 23. Eph, V. 9. Col i 6 10. Heb. xii, II. J»m iii. 17. 13. -k Ps xcii 14, 15. Is. U. 21. Ixi !l, II. Matt V Ifi. John xv. 4,5. 8. I Cor x. 31. 2 Thes. i. 12. Hcb, siii. 15, 10. I Pet, i, 5 9, 12, iv. 10,11. 14. " loved the Lord JesusJ in sincerity ; and he therefore prayed that love of him, his cause, people, truths, and ordinances, of the holy character, law, and government of God, and of all men for his sake, might " abound more " and more," i- all its varied exercises and happy effects ; and that it might be regulated by an enlarged and exact knowledge of divine things ; and by that sound judgment, which was the result of a holy relish for spiritual excel- lency, a matured discernment in the various parts of re- ligion, and deep experience of' its power in their own. hearts. For when these concur, they enable the Christian to judge, as it were, extempore, in a variety of cases: even as the healthy eye distinguishes objects, the ear sounds, and the palate meats. Thus false affections, un- justifiable measures and enthusiasm, would be prevented, and all those evils into which vehement zeal, without, proportionable knowledge and judgment, betrayed men, to the scandal of the Gos|iel and the division of the Church ; and their abundant love would be directed in forming and executing designs of extensive usefulness. He further prayed, that they mighthc cnixh\edto dislingiiishliiings that differed, and so to guard against counterfeit revelations, false affections, and all those specious errors and evils, by which Satan and his ministers imposed upon the un- wary ; thus they would choose and " approve things that " were excellent," and reject others, however plausibly stated. The marginal reading, "Try," or prove things " which differ," seems more exact than that inserted in the text. {Marg. Ref.) He also prayed that they might be " sincere," not only as true believers, but as uncorruptcd with base alloy, whether of fal.?e doctrine, superstition, or a worldly spirit and condixt. The original word is taken from any transparent object being held in the light of the sun, by which every mote or atom of dross becomes visible. The word sincere, derived from the Latin, is mel sine cerd, honey ivithoul wax, or entirelj' pure and unmixed. If the Philippians were thus sincere, the apostle trusted, that, according to his prayers forlhcm, they would be " without offence. &c. ;" neither stumbling at the scandals laid in their way by others, nor misleading or grieving their brethren, or causing their neighbours to stumble at the word by their misconduct ; for both the active and passive sense may be implied. Accordingly, he further prayed that each of them might be thus upheld, till he rJiould honourably fini-h his course ; and even that the Church of Philippi might be thus preserved through 2 P 2 .^. D. 64. PHILIPPIANS. ^. D. 61. lAcisxiis'.dc. 12 *& But I would ye should un- raEi~"ni" II. dcrsfand, brethren, ' that the things ixx^i in. ' Acts tvhich happened uuto me, have fallen out si-'nom^Tiii js " rather unto the furtherance of the ri7 2 Tim fi. a. , ■ Attt XS. S3, 24 PfOSPel : JISl. 11 — 13^' "iiii "7 ^8 ''^ ^^ ^''^^ " '"y bonds *in Christ are fp;;. "igi Jj^ manifest in all f the palace, and J in all .'n ' /•'* />» • , other places ; • Or, /or C4rti(. i ' . t'or! ''^ (£7„rv •"'* ^"" many of the " brethren in the tor:l„i,H„€r.!Lord, Mvaxing' confident by mj bonds, '"rcdi":? are much more bold to speak the word vithout fear. 15 Some indeed ' preach Christ ' even ^ilZtVu l\\. of [envy and strife ; ' and some also of rVe'.a. Act, V. good-will: 42 viii 7 35 ix 20. X 3C xi. JO I Cur i. 23. 2 Cor. i 10. ii 5 1 Tim iii IS > ii 3. !Vfa(l xxiii S Rom xvi. 17. 18. I Cor iii 3, 4 siii Z. 2 Car. xil 20 Gal ii. 4 Jim iv i, s 1 17. 1 Pet V 2-1 e, 7 Luk xii. 14 Acbi xxii 1 xxvi I. 16 The one preach Christ of conten-„s„„,r ,n 2 tion, " not sincerely, * supposing to add xZ\l\\}ul^i affliction to my bonds. /i''n.'i.'.''i'''3- 17 But the other of love, knowing .'''o'iiM.N,','' that ^lam set for the defence of the 2?!" i '.1 1.': gospel. 13 *What then.'* Notwithstandinsr, ""aVfm.' I .1 • , v>' 1(> Gt. every way, • whether in pretence, or m ^ •>""' .'" 9. ^f. truth, '' Christ is preached ; ''and I there- »i' is" , . . • 1 -ii' . . "14—17 .M«tt. It) do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. ,*»'» "*• »'"« 19 tor -^ I know that this .shall turn !;'j«'»/ '» , . c Mark 11.18—40 to my salvation 'through your prayer, icnr'^y''^ and the supply of 'the Spirit of Jesus /^J°_J""-,"jg Christ, " \¥''-'^^y- ) Pet. 1 *-». 20 According to my «^ earnest expec- Vph.'",i i!).ii.' tation, and my hope, that '' in nothing 1 '"""j^ J",' p,; successive generations, until the day of Christ: and thati *' trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord," might not only be in some measure fruitful ; but that they might resemble those trees, which arc laden with fruit on every bough ; being filled with all holy tempers, all kinds of good works, all the fruits of the Spirit, through every day of their future lives, in the full imjirovement of their talents, and according to the duties of their several relations. For these good fruits would not only be beneficial to men, and eventually advantageous to themselves ; but, through Christ, as the eflccts of his grace, and accepted through his me- diation, they would redound to the praise and honour of God, adorning and recommending the Gospel, silencing gainsayers, and bringing sinners to glorify God in the obedience and worship of faith. V. 12 — 14. It is probable the aposde had been in- formed, that the Pbilippians feared lest his imprisonment should check the progress of the Gospel, and intimidate others from preaching or erribracing it ; and, no doubt, Satan and his servants expected this elTect from it. He however would have his friends to know, that his suffer- ings had rather conduced to promote the cause of Chris- tianity, through the interposition of God ; and that the restraint put upon his personrd ministry had been more ihan counterbalanced by other circumstances. So that his bonds for Christ's sake, and his constancy in them, the doctrine for which he v>as confined, and which he preached even in that situation, bad become openly knor.n even in [Nero's palace among his courtiers, and in all other parts of Rome ; whicli had excited a general attention to the Gospel through that imucnse city, whence the report would circulate almost tnroi'ghout the earth. Moreover, many Qiristians, who were appointed to the ministry, and qualified for it, hut who had before been tiuiorous, perceiv- ing how die aposde was pro'ccted, comforted, and pros- pered in his imprisonmnent, were greatly caboldened to preach, wniioul fear of jjcrsc-ulion, in the most open and useful manner ; by who.-e labours the knowledge of the Gospel was rapidly diffused. V. 15 — 13. indeed, while some preached Christ of good- will, there were others, who were actuated by envy of Paul's reputation, success, or measure of liberty, and who aimed to cause divisions, even by preaching the Gos- pel of peace ! Probably, these were Judaizers, who con- cealed part of their sentiments, and preached the substance of the Gospel, in order to form a pai!y under ihcir influ- ence, and in opposition to the apostle and his friends ; that so they might gradually impose the Mosaic law on the Gentile converts. The designing, ambitious, and selfish conduct of these men proved them insincere in what they preached, and ihit they only wanted to excite contentions, which would not only have added alfliction to the apostle'.s^ mind during his imprisonment, but, as they supposed, would also increase the virulence of his persecutors. Others, however, acted from love to him, for die sake of Christ; knowing that he was appointed, as the apostle of the Gentiles, to defend as a bulwark the pure Gospel, against all that opposed or perverted it ; and that he was now lodged in prison in the metropolis, not only as a witness for the truth, concerning justification and Christian liberty, against^Judaizers ; but also to bear tes- timony before senators, praitors, and courtiers, nay, perhajis, before the emperor himself, concerning the holy docdinc of salvation through Christ Jesus. But, thourh some aimed to oppose, grieve, or expose him the more, yet, as Christ was preached by that means, either in a pretended or a sincere zeal for his honour, among great numbers that had hitherto been strangers to the Gospel, who migiit in due time be more fully instructed in tlie faith, the apostle rejoiced, and he determined to do so, whatever co.ise- quences might ensue. Not sincerely, (\&.) Ot,purclt/. ' Not indeed, with a pure mind, though otherwise their ' doctrine was pure.' (Beza.) It is not certain who these preachers were, or whether they meant to excite divisions between the Jewish and Gentile converts, or to stir up the persecuting rage of idolaters against the apostle, for boldly propagating a doctrine subversive of idolatry : or that of the emperor and statesmen against him, for " preaching another King, one Jesus. '^ But the whole tenour of his writings and conduct shovv.s, that bad the doc- trine which they taught been materially eiTonoous, he would have opposed ihcnii instead of rejoicing in their succe&i.. A. D. 64. CHAPTKR I. A. L. (j1. 'if""/*"'" shall be ashamed, but that '' with all bold- ••ji* ',', "x™. 'i.' "ess, as always, TO now also, " Christ shall if"cor'T.'i5 be niagniiied in mj body, ' whether it be iM^stynn sii. bv life, or by death. Acif x^'s!' 21 For to me ■" to live is Christ, and ",';v-9 ."co": " to die w gain. ?; ,1' cof." i 22 But^T 1 -live in the flesh, Mhi s-7^8Fei. '1' w the fruit of my labour: yet what I msTtjn, 20. ii. sliall choosc "^ I wot not. Gai'vi'iVcoi. 2,'J For [ am ' in a strait betwixt two, b'm I'siyii. I, £ having 'a deiire to depart, and to be as'^jcor iii t ^y[^\^ Christ; which is " far better : c, 8."i Ti.es iv. 24 Nevertheless, ^ to abide in the flesh 13- Ii Ucv . ir 1 r xiv. 13 IS more needtul lor you. • 24. 2 Cor. «• 3- ^ , , , . •' , . ^ , , i?'i'"i?et*^rvi ■^^ And, having >'this conlidencc, 1 \ , ... ,„ know that I shall abide and continue with p vs. Isxi 18. Ls. "cln'^xii'se. y^" ^^'' '■ for your furtherance and "^ joy ''xixix 8. »;s. nf fail li • xxxii. 1. Acts oi lauu , iii. If. Horn xi.2 a Luke ii. 1'9.30..'' - - "!••. 15. Lulse viit. 3». sxiii 43. Joho _ ul's. svi 10,11. _ " ■ ' .7 Actsxx. 2')-:!l. 5- ii. 2a. Acts . 21. Roai i. II, 12. m V. 2. XV. la. 1 Sam sxiv. 11. 1 Clir x^i. 1.1 I.uke xii, .W. 2 Cor. vl. IS 1.2 Cor V. 8 2 Tim Iv G. 1 Jol. xis 2f., 27. Fs. 3. xvii SI. Acts vii. .55, 2 Cor. v 8. 15. Ixxiii. 21-26 Re' 1 Thes iv 17 Rev xiv 1... Tii 14—17. X 22 25.26 .loll „ XX 25 zLuet.''ll' '[-l ' Avheiher I come and sec you, or else be d'nom; r 9 is absent, "^ I may hear of your affairs, ^that ry''4*'"ix" "' ye stand fast '' in one spirit, with one mind, eii''i3.£i. sirivingtogethcrfor'thefaithoftlie gospel; ' ''' '" 28 And ' in nothing terrified by your adversaries: wliich is to them' an evident token of perdition, "but to you of salva- tion, ° and that of God. 29 For unto you " it is given in the behalf of Christ, p not only to believe on i^'s^*-/!?,™^ him, but also to suflTer for his sake : ^^*"= j*-i;|''i 30 Having 1 the same cowdict '' which jV?rov.'x\Tii. : ye saw in me, cmcl 'now hear to be in me. Kom^.'s's' Epli i 13 I Tim. i U. U 2 'lim. iv. 7. k Is, Ii 7 12. Matt. .x. 23. Luke xii. 4- xxi. 12— 19. Acisiv 19-31 v 411-42. 1 Thes. ii. 2. 2 Tiiii. i. 7, 8. He.i xiii, 6, Rev. 10 1 2 1 hes. i. 5. 6 1 Pet iv. 12-11 m .Malt. v. 10-12 Rom.viii.l7 2 Trm. 10,11. n Gea xlix, 18 Ps 1 23 Ixviii. 19, 20 Is xii 2. Luke iii 6 Aclssxviii. : o Atts V 41. Uoiii V. 3 Jam. i. 2 1 Fet iv. 13. p Matt xvi. 17. .loliu i. 12. 13 vi 4 V 27. Eph. ii a. Col \i. 12 Jam. i 17, 10 q .lohii xvi 33, Rci iThcs G. riiileiu. 5. J John 3,4. gii 1,2 iv 1 I's cxsii 3 rssxiii. 1 Matt, xli. K> 1 Cor. I 10 XV 68 xvi. 13, 14 2 Cor xiii. II li Jer. xxxii 39. John x»ii 21), 21. .4cls ii 4r,. 45. Acts xiii St.. : viii 35-37 1 Cor. 2— 4. 2 Tim ii n-1 19-40 1 Thes ii 2, which he should choose, if it were left lo him, being in a strait between two, and drawn both ways, by the reasons which he had to desire life on the one hand, and death on the other. Indeed, he had a most vehement longinfr t<» depart from this world of sin and sorrow, that he might immediately go and be wilh Christ, exchanging the lifi^ of faith, hope, an;l feeble love, for that of sight, fruition, and perfect holiness ; as this was incomparably mote de.-;l- rable, than any thing which could be possessed or pnjo\ - ed on earth. Nevertheless, his continuance here bciiii; the more needful for the benefit of his beloved people, he was willing to postpone the completion of his own hapjii- ness for their advantage. And indeed, having this confi- dence respecting his own concerns, he was also assured, bv intimations from the Lord, that he should abide somti time longer, to promote their growth and establishment in the faith, and the joy or glorying in God connected with it ; and that, being permitted to come and renew his la- bours among them, he should be an instrument of increas- ing their abundant rejoicing in Christ. " Christ is gain " to me, living and dying." (-1.) Thus Beza and many others translate and understand the words ; but the anti- thesis between the two parts of the verse is destroyed : the meaning is comparafivelij cold, nay, selfisli ; and, though I would speak diffidently, after such eminently learned critics, the original seems incapable of this construction. Far better. (23.) ' The original is the highest super- ' lativc which it is possible to form in any language.' (Mackitiirht.) ' Better beyontl cxjiression.' (Doddridge.) ' Could St. Paul think a state of insensibility much better ' than a life tending so much, as his did, to the glory of ' God, to the propagation of the Gospel, and to the further- • ance of the joy of Christi.tns ." {lVhitb>/.) 'I'he doctrine of the soul's immediate hapjiiness, with Christ in glory, is here declared beyond almost the possibility of doubt, except as men disbelieve the apostle's testimony. A. D. 64. PHILIPPIANS. J. D. 64. CHAP. IT. Thr apostle earnestly, and by the most affecting topics, exhorts his brethren to humble, condescending, and self-deny- ing, love, 1 — 4 ; after the example of. Christ, in his incarnation, humiliation, \ and death on the cross ; as terminating i in his glorious exaltation, 5 — 1 1 . He exhorts them to diligence, in working' out their own salvation, as depending on the grace of God, 12, i:3; and to pro- fess tlic gospel, and adorn it, among Iheir neighbours, by a harmless aiid blameless example, in such a manner, thnt he might rejoice uith them at the day of Christ, in the success of his la- bours, 12 — 16; and assuring them that he shoidd joyfully become a martyr for their sakes ; and exhorting them to re- V. 27- PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1— II. '—30. None of die events before referred to': case. No doubt the Jews excited most of the persecu- nor any other, could harm the Philippians, if they oji/»/i lions, to which the apostle was exposed ; and his zeal for took heed to have their conversation becoming the Gospel, I the admission of the Gentiles into the Church without which they had embraced. {Sole, Epk. iw I — 8.) The circumcision or regard to the ritual law. rendered him original word, rendered converi^ation, denotes the conduct peculiarly obnoxious to them. But it is also evident that of citizens, when it accords to their privileges, and tends zeal for idolatry and for local customs, and fear of inno- to the credit, safety, peace, and prosperity of the city, j vations and insurrections, as well as enmity against God Thus the Fhilifipians, being graciously made citizens of : and holiness, disposed the Gentiles generally to concur the heavenly Jerusalem, ought to act suitably to that highland often to take the lead in persecution, character, and to seek the honour of the Gospel and the 1 welfare of the Church in all their actions. Then it would j be well with them, and gladden the apostle's heart, whe- ' thcr he came to see them, or only heard of their affairs, j — e*o_ that they stood firm in the profession of the faith, and in I Those servants cf Christ, who most resemble their obedience to Christ, amidst surrounding temptations and ! Lord, will thank God on every remembrance of the con- bad examples ; avoiding all dissentions ; continuing as one jgregations among whom they have laboured, when they body actuated by one spirit ; being of one heart and mind know that ministers and people, in their proper places, ai- in the great concerns of religion ; not striving one against tend to their several duties, in such a manner as evinces another, either about their temporal interests or reputa- ; them to have fellowship with Christ, and to share the lion, or about any things of subordinate importance in i blessings of his Gospel. But, alas ! how often are faithful religion, in which they did not exactly .Tgree ; but, as one ; pastors constrained to make request rvitlir tears, instead of compact phalanx, striving with united force against the joy, for those in whom they once were confident, but for common enemy, to exclude false teachers, to prevent | whom they now tremble ! We may, however, be always abuses, to bear up under persecution, and by every means : confident that God will perform his good work in evcrr to promote the cause of Christianity. In attending to these | soul, in which he hath really begun it by regeneration': things, they ought in no wise to be intimidated by the ^ though we should warn men not to trust in superficial ap- number, power, menaces, or cruelties, of their adversa- , pearances, sudden emotions, external reformation, change ries, whose malignant rage against such excellent per- [of sect or sentiment, or in any thing short of a ncw'creation sons proved them enemies to God and holiness, and in the junto holiness. But it is meet for us to hope the best of way of perdition : while the meek and patient conduct of > those who profess the truth, and do not disgrace it • and those who suffered for Christ's sake, united to the holiness | greatly to desire the spiritual welfare of those who'havc of their characters, was an additional evidence that they i showed us kindness for the Lord's sake, sympathized in were the friends of God, and partakers of that salvation, jour sorrows, and helped us in our labours for the defence which he wrought in the hearts of his people, (Note, 1 Pet. jand confirmation of the Gospel, as we may well conclude that they are really partakers of divine gr.a'ce. We should "long after them in the bowels of Jesus Christ ;" and pour out our prayers for them, when incapable of doin'^ them other service. We cannot in general pray for our^ selves, and in behalf of those who possess that faith which worketh by love, in a better manner, than by copying the example before us ; and rcrjuesting that our love *may abound yet more and more, and be exercised in knowledge and in all judgment ; that wo and they m.iy discern be- tween things that differ, and know how to choose the good and refuse the evil ; that we may be sincere and diligent disciples, preserved from all scandals and offences, and " filled with the frniis of righteousness, which are " through Christ, to the praise and glory of God." For those things, which most honour God, will eventually most benefit v. • we should not therefore leave it dubious, iv. 12 — 16.) For indeed they were called to an additional honour and privilege ; in that it was given to tiiem, not only to believe in Christ for salvation, but to be distin- guis':cd among his disciples by a nearer conformity to him ill suffering, for which their reward would be great in heaven ; {Note, Malt. v. 10 — 12 :) as they were then en- during that same honourable conflict, which they had seen the apostle engaged in, when scourged and imprisoned at Philippi ; and which they heard that he was at that time sustaining, by his confinement at Rome. Many exposi- tors are very exact, in this and other passages, in distin- guishing between the persecutions, which the aposlle and the churches were exposed to, from the Jews, and those which they endured from the Gentiles. But this rather em- barrasses than clears the interpretation; and the practical instruction, if not thus lost sight of, is the sa.iie in either ^. D. U. CHAPTER li. J. D. bl. joict with him, H, 18. He hopes to sencV, Timothif to them shortly, u-hom he high- lit comineiidi, 1 9 — 23 ; as he docs also Epaphroditus, their messenger to him; uho had been sick, and teas grieved that they had heard it ; and, as God hadmer- whethcr any good fruit be found on us, or not ; a smal' measure of love, knowledge, judgment, spirituality, and fruitfulncss, should not satisfy us : but we ought to long and pray to be filled with all good fruits ; as aiming at great things, and nobly aspiring to do much good, and to be holy as God is holy. V. 12—20, The consideration, that the Lord '• worketh all things ^ after the counsel of his own will,"' should reconcile us to those afflictive dispensations, which seem to preclude us from usefulness. Whatever Satan or wicked men may intend or expect, our God can furdicr the success of his Gospel, by the very events which arise from men's endea- vours to stop its progress. He often works by apparent contraries ; and his most able ministers have been immu- red in prisons, that their bonds in Christ might bring the linowledge of his truth into the courts of justice, nay. even into the palaces of princes; and the blood of the martyrs hath more abundantly made fruitful the good seed of the word of God. Nay, the extremest sufferings and cruel deaths of his saints, instead of intimidating, have infused courage into their brothien, while they witnessed the triumphant consolations of the happy suJlerers. In- deed, Satin will endeavour to prevent ihese blessed etiects, even by stirring up men to jireach the Gosjjel from un- worthy motives : and not only have ambition and avarice moved vast numbers to take this sacred office upon them ; but envy, malice, and contention, have done the same ; and Christ and his truth have often been preached, in or- der to grieve, perplex, or expose his faithful suffering ser- vants ! So varied are the effects of human depravity ! We should, indeed, gi'icve to see tares sown in the Lord's field, and the souls of men deceived by damnable here- sies; but when the substance of the truth is preached among ignorant persons, we should neither so much re- gard o.iir own reputation, oi' that of our party, nor be so concerned about the motives of the persons employed, as not to rejoice, if, by such men and means, sinners are brought acquainted with the all gracious Saviour. The mortifying circwnstances, which sometiniJ's attend these transactions, will turn to our salvation, if we bear them in a proper manner, through the supply of the. Spirit of Christ, granted in answer to the prayers made for us an|)p1 of " Christ." In that case, all changes, personal or relative, in the Church or in the world, will be working together for our good. This then should he our primary personal con-' ccrn ; and all the company of believers, however divided and subdivided, should consider themselves as one great army, and endeavour to " stand fast in one S|iirit, with '■ one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel ;'' and to recommend liie salvation of Christ to all around them. In stich a cause, we should not allow ourselves to be terrified by any adversaries ; for their reproaches and menaces against such as thus serve Christ, is a manifest proof that they are in the broad road to destruction, as A. D. 65. PIIILrPPlANS. A. D. 65. IF there be therefore * any consolation in Christ, "^ if any comfort of lovr, a Hi 3. I-uke 10, 11. ss. John xlT. 13. 27 XT. k'iiu'a. Rom'J. ' if anv fellowsliip of the Spirit, "* if any l,S. XV. 1!,I3 I 1 ■•' 1 '• "^ •' (•orxv3i.2Cor Dowols aiul mcrcics, ■Wei. ii! IB. 1?" 2 'Fulfil ye niv iov, Mhat ye be Hell. Ti 18 I , 1-1 ■ I 1 L ■ ^^1 1 Iff., i 8. « like-minucd, navinrj the same love, k P« cxxxii" '■ I ■ /. I 1 r • 1 Joiio XV. in- belli s; ol " one accord, ol one mmd. iv. 32^ Gal ^i 3 LiC/ ' notiuiEC 06 iloiic tlirouscii stnle :2 Eph iv 30 . , 1 • 1 1- ^ ,- • 1 -M Col ii. 2 or vam-clory ; ' but m lowlmess oi mirid t John n. 7, 8. b ./ ' ,'=15 , ... lot each esteem other better than them- c Kom. V 5 viii S— IC 26 iCor cplvP'; »i. 19,20 »il. ''l''>*-i'- u. Ga"iv'''6: '^ ' Look not every man on l\is own ^''^s-isl^'i! things, but every man also on the things 1 Pot ir'2 22, f,f otlier-, 43. 1 Jolin iii ^^ OUlt-IS. Wt. dS« on. I 8 e 16. i. i 26, 27 John iii 29. 2 Cor. ii. 3. 7ii. 7. Col. ii 5. 1 Thes. ii. 19,20 iii 6-10 2 Tbp3 il 13 1 Tini 1.4. PhilemZO IJohni.3 4 aJohn* 3Johnl. f.S«o«.i.27 g 20. iii IS. 16 iv 2 Rom. xii. 16. xv.S. 6 1 Cor. i 10 2C.T. xiii II 1 Pel iii. 8 9 h Acts i 14 ii. I 46 v. 12. i U i IS in Prov. xiii. 10 Rom xiii. 13. ICoriii.3 2 Cor xii. 20. Gal v !S iO, 21.26. Cul iii. 8 I Tim vi 4 Jam. iii U-16 iv S.6. 1 Pet. ii. 1,2. k Luke xiv 7-11 xvii. 14. Horn, xii 10 1 Cor XV. 9. Kph iv 2 v. 21. 1 Pet. v.5. 1 Malt, xvili 6. Kom XM 1.5. xiv. 19-22. XV. 1. 1 Cor. vlii. 9- 13. X. 24 32, 33 Xii 22— 26. xiii. 4, J. 2 Cor tL 3. xi.29 Jam. ii 8. 5 Let "this mind be in you, which mM^txijo xi. was also in Christ Jesus : 'fxil I?. Joj; 6 Who, being " m the form of God, M",i'3*H',5: " thought it not robbery to be equal with f corVw^xl: n \ ' Eph V. a. Uod ; I Pet Ii 21. !y. 7 But ^ made himself of no reputation, o u v.i.°u' Tiu and took upon him i the form ol" a ser- x»i'i' « Mi<:.*I. vant, and was made "^ in the * likeness of Joho* iXn x\ii. S. Hoai. men : >« ^i » cor. iv ,,.,,. ~ 1 • /. 1 . « ^■''- ' '*. "• 8 And being round ih lashion ' as a \J%i- "i] ^■ man, ' he humbled himself, " and became ^%„^g * *■ •obedient unto death, even "the death of^'j'^'' "';;•, V, tiie cross. xiii 7 John V ;b. 23 --pP Joih V. 13-13. viil 58, SJ X 30 38. xiv 9 XX 28 Rev i. 1. xxii. 6 li. xhx 7. I. S,6. Hi 14 till 2.3 Dan. ix. 26. Rom. XV. 3 2Ccr. viiL'J Hel). ii »— 18. xiL 2. nil. 13. Iix.3 111 13 liii 11. Ei xsxiv. 23. 24. Zech iii 8. Matt xii 18 xx. '28 Murk X 44,45 Lukeitii. 27 John xiii 3-U Rom. xv 8. r6 Johni. 14. Rom viii 3 Cal. iv. 4 Heb ii. 14-17. iv. is. • Or, Ualiil a Malt xvii 2. MarkixS. 3 I.uke ix 23. r— t Prov. xv. 33. AcU viii. 33. Heb. v 5— 7 xii 3. 1 Fs xl. 6— 8 la.l 5,C. Johniv 34. xv.lO Heb v.S,9 x 7-3 x Deul xxi 23 Ps xxii 16 Jobn X 13. xii. 23-32 xiv 31 Cal. Hi. 13. Tit ii. 14 Heb. xii. 2 I Ptt. Hos. xii. 3-S. ?.• 17,18. XXI 6 -■ Zecb ix 9. Ms . 24. 18 they liate the triilli and imoge of God in his people. Thi enmily of ungodly men against us for Christ's sake, when we love, and are beloved by the brethren, is an evident token fo us, thai we partake of salvation by the grace of God, as both friends and foes discern his seal upon us ; and to us " it is given in the behalf of Christ," to believe the same truths, to love and suffer for the same holy cause, and to endure the same conflict which prophets, apostles, and *nartyrs, have believed and maintained before us. NOTES. CHAP. II. V. 1—4. {Note, i. 2"~30.) The apos- tle evidently deemed harmony among Christians essen- tial to a conversation becoming the Gospel. He therefore speaks, as it were, to this effect : ' By all the consolation .:ind animating motives derived from Christ; from the pardon of your sins, and your deliverance from the "bondage of corruption 5 from the love of Christ and .<:ommunion with him; from the fellowship of the sanctifying Spirit ; from the favour of God and the hopes and anticipations of heaven ; by all the s%veet com- Ibvts arising from the very exercise of love ; I beseech and exhort you : if the Lord has manifested his tender compassions towards you ; if you have any feeling for your spiritual father, now also a prisoner for your sakes ; or any for your brethren in Christ, redeemed by the same Saviour, heirs of the same heaven, and sufferers from the same trials and conflicts with your- selves ; '' Fulfil ye my joy," ' the joy that I felt at your conversion, by living together in entire peace and harmony.' ' If any force of exhortation, in the name ' of Christ.' {Whitby.) The original word signifies exhortation, as well as consolation, or rather an en- couraging, animating exhortation. The authority of Christ, speaking by his apostle, as well as the consolation derived from him, seems implied. {Mnrcr. Ref.) The expressions that follow are varied, to include all that can be imagined in the most cordial amity, unity, and sympathy. Let them live together as members of one body, animated by one soul : let their common love to Christ, and delight in his holy service, unite them in love to each other : let them be of one accord in every undertaking to promote the common cause : and let them seek, in belialfof them- selves and each other, that degree of spiritual illumination, which might make them of one judgment, and of the same sentiments, as much as possible. But as differences in some things might take place, and even in the concerns of the church, some would judge more favourably of persons or measures than others, of which Satan would take advantage, in order to disturb their harmony, let them all watch themselves, that they did nothing from self-will, a contentious temper, or an ambitious desire of obtaining applause, influence, or superiority. On the other hand, let them see to it, that they were actuated by a humble spirit, and that, from a consciousness of the evils in their heart and conduct, which others could not observe, and from candour to their brethren, they were ever ready to deem others more deserving esteem than themselves. In many cases this could not be done, iu respect of talents or spiritual gifts, though self-flattery and vain-glory in these things also would readily and dangerously intrude ; but if the endowments, and the obligations connected with them, were properly estimated_, they would rather tend to humble than to exalt them^ even as the apostle spake of his knowledge in the mystery of Christ, when he deemed himself less than the least of all saints. {Note, Kph, iii. 4 — 8.) They ought not there- fore to regard either their own attainments or interest%, alone or principally, but, in humble, self-denying love, to recede from every personal concern, for the benefit of the. brethren, and the peace of the church. ' Be as ready t© ' assist and help others, as if you were their subjects and ' inferiors : so the example of Christ requires, and so the ' precept runs ; that he who is the greatest should be the ' servant to others.' {Whitby.) V. 5—8. To illustrate and enforce in the most effec- tual manner that conduct which he had recommended, the apostle here called on them to cultivate and manifest the same judgment and disposition which had been so con- spicuous in Christ Jesus. He had been " in the form of A. D. 65. CHAPTER II. J. D. 65. 9 Wherefore' y God also hath highly %^' exalted him, ^ and given him a name «Vi u cx"i- "'hich is above every name : 6. Is. il 7. xlis 6—6. IK. 13. liii 12. Uan ii 44, 15. vii 11. MaU xi. 27 JXviii 18 l.uke x28- John iii.3J. 36. V. 22-27. riii. 3 Jtvii 1—3. 5 Acta ii 38— 36 v. 31 Kom. liv 9—11 1 Cor jv. 21-27. Heb ii » xii 2 2 Pet i 17 Bcv. i 5 v. 12 xl. IS. xix. 16 z rs. Ixxiix. 27. Epb. i. 20-23. Col. I. 18. Heb ill Pet. iii. 22 17 — 19 10 That at the name o(' Jesus ^ every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things ^ under the earth ; b MaU. xii. 10. John v. :a, :3. Eph- i' a Gen xli. 13. Is. slv 23-a.'i. Malt xx\ii 20. Uoin xi 1 xiv. 10, II Ei'h. iii. 11 Hd> >. 6. liov. iv. 10. V, 13. 11. r. 3. Kev. XS ! 1. " God -," he appeared in divine majesty and glory, as the Creator and Lord of all, in the heaven of heavens, and all the angels worsiiippcd him as God, One with and coujual to the Father. He had manifested himself, as Jehovah, to patriarchs, prophets, and the Church of Israel, through successive ages ; and had not thought it a robbery to be equal with God, and to receive divine adoration from men. To this he was conscious of having a full right, without in the least interfering with the honour due to the eternal Father. Nevertheless, he emptied, or impoverished, him- self; he divested himself of his divine glory, that he might appear on earth like one of no dignity or reputation : as Erinces travel without the insignia of royalty, and are not nown from private persons. He did not come down from heaven " in the form of God," as when he gave the law from mount Sinai ; he appeared, not like himself. " the Lord of glory," but " in the form of a servant," even of the lowest servant. As he was really a Servant to the Father, when in the form of a servant, so was he really God, when in the form of God. By this voluntary susception of a new character, in order to man's salvation, " he was made in the likeness of men ;" he assumed our nature, and became like us in all things but sin. Thus the only begotten of the Father tabernacled here on earth " in fashion as a man," being truly man, but more than man at the same time : and he was pleased still more to abase himself, by submitting to the most indigent circum- stances, and the most accumulated hardships for our good ; especially he became obedient to the whole divine law, as our Surety, and fulfilled all righteousness, amidst inconceivable difficulties and temptations. In this he per- severed to the end, and, his voluntary obligations requiring it of him, he submitted to su'Tcr death ; even that of cru- cifixion, the most ignominious and tormenting, and ac- cursed kind of execution, to which the vilest of male- factors were condemned : and he was most perfectly resigned and obedient to the Father, through all the inward agony, and multiplied indignities and cruelties which he endured. Thus low he voluntarily stooped from " that "■• glory, which he had with the Father before the world •■■ was." He not only abased himself to become man ; but he denied and humbled himself as man, to the very depth of suflering and shame, from love to worthless hell- deserving rebels and enemies ! The example can never be done justice to by human language ; and all our imi- tation mast necessarily fall infinitely short of it. In this view of the subject, how important and energetic' is the apostle's argument! How striking is the illustration! — But many persons have laboured to prove, that the apos'.le only meant that ' the man Jesus, though he acted as the ' Ambassador and Representative of God, did not think •of robbing him of his glory, by claiming equality with ' God !' Anil this would sink the meaning not only into insipidity, but absurdity; for it would propose, as an ex- ample of the most perfect self-denial and humility, a bare \'oL V. — Ne. .33. exemption from^the most horrible impiety and ambition imaginable ! as certainly it must be such, for any mere creature, in any circumstances, to harbour a thought of equality in honour and majesty with the infinite God. Indeed, this sense cannot be consistent with our Lord's frequent and most express declarations concerning himself. {John v. 17, 18. 23. viii. 58. x. 30—33. xiv. 9.) Nay, the whole interpretation of the pas- sage must be forced and unnatural; the reality of our Lord's human nature, " in the likeness of man/' and " in fashion as a man,'' might as justly be questioned, as the reality of his Deity •' was in the form of God ;" and his taking upon him the form of a servant, and becoming obedient, are unmeaning vs'ords upon the Soci- nian interpretation, but exceeding cmphatical ujion that before proposed. Sut. (7.) Or, Yet, or jSeverllieless, or NolwilhsluHding. See the following passages, among many others, comparing the translation with the original. {3lark xiv. 29. 86. John xi. 15. xvi. 7. Rom. v. 14. 1 Cor. ix. 12. xiv. 20. Gal. iv. 30. 2 Tim. i. 12. Rev. ii. 4. 14.) On a portion of Scripture which is of so great importance, both in respect of its general import, and also in the argument concerning our Lord's Deity, and which, at the same time, has been i:ierplexed by discordant interpretations, more than most otiier pas» sages,',a few additional quotations may be properly adduced, which indeed may be omitted, when read in a famrly. — ' Who does not perceive that Paul declares what Christ ' was, before he assumed the form of a servant ? Christ ' himself, when he was God, and consequently in that ' glory and majesty which belong to God alone, and when ' he did not think that he usurped any thing not belong- ' ing to him ; yet, as laying aside this 'glory, abased him- ' self even so far as to become such as the servants of ' God are, that is, to become man : yea, and tlicn also ' he conducted himself towards the Father, not as towards ' his equal, but his Lord ; so that he voluntarily sub- ' mitted to undergo the most ignominious death ! And ■ shall not we mortal and mean slaves be ashamed of our ' arrogance, in acting as if we excelled our brethren ! ' This I say, is Paul's argument, than which nothing can ' be more weighty and forcible.' " He thought it no " robbery." ' Or, as a most learned interpreter renders ' it, " He did not think it jtrcy to be seized on.'''' ' For ' he refers that which follows to the manifestation made in ' the flesh ; that this should be the meaning. Christ, as ' God, possessed of eternal gloiy and majesty, knrw, in- ' deed, that it was just and lawful for him to appear, not ' in humble (Icsh, but with a dignity w.orthy of God : but ' he chose rather to abase himself. ' But I think that ' this also belongs to the pristine glory of Christ, which ' he mentions, (,Tohn xvii. 5.) and that this is the mcan- 'ing; C/hrist, when possessed of that eternal glory of i Deity, was not ignorant, that in this thing, (that is, i in being coequal with God the Father,) he did no 2 Q J. D. bi). PHILIPPIANS. .^. D. 65. xuii. 40 1 1 And that ' every tongue should con- 1 presence only, but now much move in my \''',s^'5,?i["; joh^^s^ fess, that Jesus Christ ''is Lord, Uo the absence, '■work out your ' own salvation *'„\'^\Vi'^: ■" ' ■ " ' ' with fear and trembling : -s9''"Kom ?' 13 For it is 'God which worketh in Lj,' *■'';,"'»',' ■"^ ,\ V,"!:" elory of God the 1' athcr jv 2. ]i 2 John S •'_,,,■ /• r /...:'."',., 12 H Wherefore, 'm 21) Arti ii. 3C 13 Xlil. 31, 32 Xir. T3 23 sv I'et il. 11 gi. 5 27.23. ye have always obcye I beloved, s as not as in my 3 XV 17 e John v -f iv. 1. I Cor IV U I 9 1 The< ii 3 Heh iv 11 vi 10, II. xii 1. S Pet I 5- Knm xhi. tl-M 1 Cor Ix 20-23 2 Tm. ii. 10 k K/ra X 3 I's ii 11 cxix 150. I- Jxvi 2 S Acts ix 6. xvi. 29. 1 Cor ii 3 2 Cor vii IJ Kph vi. S H virtually rendered to the Godhead, through the medium of his liumanity, by which alone sinners can know, approach unto, or worship, the infinite God. (/VoieS, &c, Ps. ii. Is. xlv, 21—25. Rom. xiv, 10—12,) ^. D. 65. CHAPTER U. J. D. 6i miKiD-sviiiss you, both "" to will aad to do o{his " good ISEira i ! S vii nlcaSllTe. ST. Neh. II. 1 Ps. r T^ ,, 1 . • I ex. 3 cxix 3s ] 1 Do all things " without murmunngs CXll.4 PrOT.SXl. ^ ^ 3 O V/h''" '-' \*". and '' disnutings : , El)h. a. 4, 4. J I O ,,11 1 T!'t"i."4',"i."i 1^ T'^*^ J*^ maybe i blameless 'and /Luie^xii a;. * harmless, 'the sons of God, without Rom' ix.' il le'' tph- i. i 9 II ii.3 SThes i. II 2 T.m i.'J o3-E« x»i. 7, 3 Kum. sir Si I'.- tvi. :5 .Malt. XX. 11. .Mart xiv 5 .VctSTi I 1 Cor. x 10 Jam v. !l Jiide IS. pProv Xiii lO xv. 17. is. .Mjrk ix 33.3.t. .tcts xt 2.7 39 Ko.n. xii re. xiv 1 xvi 17. I Ci.r. i. 10-12 i;i. .3— 5 2 Cor. xii 20 Gal. v IS. 26. Kpii. w 31,32. 1 Tl.es. V 13. 15. 1 Tim. vi 3-5. Hell xii 11 Jam i. JO. iii. 14-13 iV. 1 I IVt. iii 11. q I.ukc i. 6 I Cor i 8. Kpii. v i; 1 Tlies i. 23. 1 Tim iii 2. 10. v. 7. Tit i S.2 Pet iii, 1». r Malt. x. 16. Uo n xvi. 19 Mxrg. Heb. vii IS. «0r, sllt'ctu. i 10 3 Matt r 45 43. Lukeii 35, :0. 2 Ccr. n. 17, 18, f.p.i, v, 1,2. 7,8 I I'et. i 14-17 ii 9,10 1 Jooa iii. 1-3. ' rebuke, in the midst of " a crooked and t ' Tim y. u.ao. perverse nation, among whom T ye shine Rev. iii. la. I,., .' 3 'J a Deut. xsxii.I, as lights in the world ; Maif'x^ri; 16 =■ Holding forth ^ tlie word of life ; ,tl'.?i3. u ''■ that I may rejoice in tlio day of Christ, '/iJig^;. 'j^,'',, '" that 1 have not luii in vain, 'ncitlicr la- /j.2V^|!'s''J. 9; boured in vain. i'i',t't!"'''x"'2r: 17 Yea, ''and if 1 be \ offered h"m ;'^''c-u;: Rev. sxii 17 -V John vi 6!. 08. Arls Kill 26. 2 Tim li l.)-17 Heii, iv l:, 1). I I'et, i 23. 1 John i. 1 ^ j. i. ar.. 2 Cor, i M 1 Thes. li 19, 20 -^ — a I? xlix. 4. O.hI. V. 12, 13. As the Philippians, whom the apostle ad- dressed ill the language of cordial love, had so endearing and encouraging an example before their eyes, let them continue to act as they had hitherto done. They had al- ways been prompt to obey tlie will of Christ made known by his apcstle, not merely while he abode among them, but even witli increasing attention when he had left them; and he desired that they should now, in hi.s absence, labour diligently in all the means of grace, and in the performance of every duty, to obtain more complete deliverance from the po.vcr of sin, by the renewal of their souls to holi- ness. Thus they should work earnestly in the great con- cern of their own salvalion, " with fear and trembling ;" lest any of them should seem to come short of the pomis- ed rest, and be proved to liave no root in themselves, by falling away in the hour of temptation ; lest by negligence they should lose their comfort, and subject themselves to darkness and terror at the approach of death ; or lest they should dishonour God, and prejudice men against the Gospel by falling into scandalous sins. ' The phrase, (" with fear and trembling,") ' in other places of thc^e ' books, seems to imjily, not only lowliness of mind, but ' diligence, and caution, and solicitude, and fear of dis- ' pleasing.' {fininniond.) (Marg. Ref.) ' Though we ' are freely saved in Christ alone, apprehended by faith. ' yet we must press forward unto salvation in the way of ' righteousness, seeing that the sons of God are led by the ' Spirit of him, by whom they are justified, that they ' may walk in good works.' {Btsa.) S.dvation heresig- jiifies, not justification, either exclusively or primarily, but deliverance from sin and all its consequences, which must be and will be diligently and vigilaady laboured for by all the regenerate, so long as any sin rcmaineth, and which ■will not be in all things completed, till death shall be swal- lowed u|) in victory. The ri^htcou.sness, atonement, and mediation of Christ, have made all things ready' for our salvation, the Gospiel calls us to partake of it, the re- generating Spirit of Christ rjuickcns us when dead in sin, and brings us to repentance and faith. Thus excited and animated, we first diligently seek an interest in Christ, dien to "make our calling and and election sure," and then for the full assurance of hope unto the end. In this way of diligence we also receive daily more and more o( sal- vation itself, by liberty from sin, victory over it, peace and communion with God, and the earnests of heavenly felicity; and at the .same time- we glorify God, adorn the Gospel, are useful to our brethren, and shine as lights in the world. In doing these things, the Philippians should consider that God wa$ even then working in them that willingness to repent, believe, and obey, of which they were conscious, and that ability to reduce their good de- sires to cITcct, which their past conduct evinced. In this he had acted according to his sovereign purpose of good- will to men, and what they had ex|)erienced in this mat- ter should animate them to more vigorous exertions, and direct them to depend wholly on' God to enable them for evejy good work. To will, &:c. ' We are not therefore ' stocks, but are willing in doing well ; not that God ' helps the imbecility of our will, but that from being evil • he makes it good, and that wholly of his grace.' " And " to do." ' He does not say, that we may have the facul- ' ty of willing and doing well, if wc will ; but he says, ' that the efficacious gift of willing and doing well is be- ' slowed on us.' {He:n.) This shows the nature of di- vine inlluenccs upon the mind, according to the constitu- tion of rational nature, and not against it, by producing ill us a willing mind to use all means of obtaining help and deliveranro, and not by driving or constraining us against our will. By the regenerating work of the Holy Sjjirit, the mind and heart are prepared to discern and love truth and holiness; the Gospel sets objects before us, and proposes them to us, suited to this new state of mind and heart, and we accordingly choose them, without the lenst infiingement of our liberty. We feel no force, we are pcrfecily voluntary, we act according to our present feelings and desires, as if the whole were from ourselves ; and perhaps it is not till long after, that we learn from what Author and Source the revolution in our judgment and afleclions, which led to newness of life, originated ; nay, numbers cannot clearly discern this during their subsequent earthly course. In short, " the carnal mind " is enmity against God ;" all are by nature carnally mind- ed ; none are of themselves willing to repent and believe the Gos|ieI, according to the jvord of God; none can be compelled to do this against their will; but "God works " in us to will and to do of his good pleasure," (Marg. Kef.) ' the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may ' have a good will, and working with us, when Ave have • that good will.' (Art. x.) If the ojjposers of the doc- trine, im|)roperly called Calvinistic, in former and latter times, had been M'i7/m2r and nhle to understand tho.se against whom they contend, it would have saved them immense labour, in combating sentiments, which few indeed main- tain in the sense which they seem to suppose. One of them, however, has repeatedly quoted, " apcratur in no- " his f«//e," ssone of Cahiii's dreadful dogmas, when it is exactly the vuli;ate translation of St. Paul's words, which we render, '■ works in us to will I" 2 Q 2 .';. D. 65. PHILIPPIANS. .^. D. 05 dir 18. nom upon ''the saciifice and service of «1T. I XV 16. ' r • \ T • 1 ■ • • 1 Heb. xiii. ii,i6 your laith, "=1 loy, and rnioicc with vou *''';'• .'., 21 all. 1 Tilt? Ill '— , T-, 1 /. , ■ . -r , lo ror the same cause also ^do ve i^ir^ij Jim i rcjoKc With me. i°x-Z'Ty"i ^y * ^^"t sl trust in the Lord Jesus n'm. *v. li: *■ ^" send Tiinotheus shortly unto you, 2 nm. 'i is ' 'I'^t 1 al*^" may be of good comfort, li'i^mTai' when I know your state. 1.23. 2.V i. I Uo.n , • - - - •'■ - - - I Tl.fb iii. 2. C 3 Julia 3, 4. V. 14 — 18, hi all their concerns, whether secular or religious, the Phiiipjjians were exhorted to avoid every kind of murmnriiig again.st the apjjointmcnts of God, and grudging of one another ; and all angry controversies, or ambitious com[ictitions for pre-eminence. Thus they would be blameless, and not liable to be accused by their neighbours, a.s contentious, selfish, deceitful, or injurious ; their whole conduct would be harmless and inoffensive, as well as benevolent ; and they would appear to be the children of God, by the purity, equity, and love, exhibited in their characters. Tlicy would escape the reproach and censure of observers ; and their bold profession of the Gospel in the foce of persecutors, joined with their holy conversation and spiritual worship, would cause them to shine, amidst their immoral, idolatrous, and licentious rounlrymen, as " lights in the world." The words may be rendered as the imperative, " Shine ye, &c." The nation indeed, to which they belonged, was crooked, deceitful, injurious, and perverse; which appeared in • heir conduct towards one another, as well as in their per- secution of the Christians : but the doctrine and example of consistent believers would tend to enlighten them, and to'direct their way to Christ and holiness ; even as the light-house warns the mariners to avoid the rocks, and directs their course into the harbour. This must be at- tempted, not only by holding fast the truth, but by" hold- ♦' ing forth the word of life," in their profession, discourse, public ordinances, and holy actions, hi this manner they Mould certainly be saved themselves, and be instruments of saving others ; and the good work, begun among them, would be diflu.sed and perpetuated to other generations. This would enable the apostle to anticijiate thejoy reserved for him in the day of Christ, when it would appear that his labours at Philipjji had not been fruitless, and that he liad not run as one that loses the jace. And, provided their I'aith, and its blessed iVuits, were thus presented in Christ .Tesus, as an acceptable and honourable sacrifice and service 10 God; if he should be ollcied on that sacrifice, by the shedding of his^ blood, as a martyr in the glorious cause, as the drink offerings were poured upon the sacrilices ; {Mnrg. Ref.) he would be so far fiom regretting this €>vent, that he vyould rejoice at thus suflering 'for the con- firmation of their faith, and congratulate them, yea, share their happiness, even while enduihig the agonies of death. He would not therefore have them be Uoubled on his account; but rather rejoice wiih him and for him as a very kappy man, even in his imiirisonmenl, and in the prospect «£ a viokut death ! JN^othing can ciceed the genuine raag- 20 For "^ I have no man t like-minded, ks. ss vror. who will naturally care for your state. ""3'. xii.°"r?. .111."' I II 1 ,1 • , ™ .1 ' •^'"■- ' '0. I'- 21 ror 'all seek their own, not " the ^"t.. " 'i thiiifirs which are Jesus Christ's. 211°. i.* .■»£■> T) i , 1 .1 r r \ • T Or, to dear unlo IZ 15ut "ye know the prool 01 him, ^'^isjm »viii. that, "as a son with the father, he hath '* ,'.« '^i " ... . - ' Mai 1. 10 .Matt served with me in the gospel. 2.'J Him therefore 1 hope to send pre- ;" sently, ""so soon as I shall see how it will t.^^ViFV go with me. ^1 ^ J, ,e„. i». 4 V. 14, 14 D Acts >vi 3-12 S Cor II 9. viii 8 22 21 o See (ln,20. 1 Tim. i. 18. 2 Tim, 1. 2 T.t i 4. p 1 Sam xxii. 3. .Matt. 24 l.uke n 57-62. xiv. A. Acts xiii 13. 38. 1 Cor. I. nanimity and disinterested love, expressed in this most beautiful passage. V. 19—28. The apostle did not, it seems, suppose, that he was at that time to suffer death : he " trusted in " the Lord Jesus," in whose hand all hearts and events were, that he should bo enabled shortly to send Timothy, to inquire into the state of their souls and of the Church, the result of which, he was persuaded, would conduce to his comfort. He had selected him for this service, because he had at that time no one with him of so excellent a spirit as Timothy, and so entirely coincident with himself in his views and aims ; or who would be concerned for their welfare, with so prudent, tender, and assiduous an affection, like the natural love of parents to their children. For all too much sought their own case, safety, interest, credit, or indulgence, which often interfered with the work, honour, and cause of Christ. Probably, this was wholly the case with several, who had offered their assist- ance to Paul, but had declined difficult and perilous ser- vices : others perhaps had rendered themselves suspected by the same selfish conduct ; and most concerned had given the apostle cause for dissatisfaction, by preferring easier and more secure services to those of far greater im- portance, but connected with more self-denial, labour, and peril. It may be supposed that several of his most approved helpers were absent on other services, and others might be fully employed at Rome : but, after all deductions and limitations, the apostle's complaint must stand as a lamentable testimony to the selfishness of human nature. The Philippians, however, had already had experimental proof of Timothy; and they well knew, that he had imbibed the very mind of the ajioslle, as his genuine son in the faith : and that he was ever ready to enter iuto his views, to concur in his measures, to observe his direciions, to consult his comfort, and to labour, venture, and suflier in the cause of Christ ; and in serving with him in spread- ing the Gospel, as a son with his father. But he deemed it better not to send him, till he knew how his own cause would be decided, which he continually expected to come on before the Emperor's tribunal. The words, " trust in " the Lord Jesus, &c." as introduced with reference to a providential concern, and not any thing immediately re- lating to his salvation and grace, should not pass unnoticed. Perhaps the most satisfactory assurance of our Lord's Deity may be obtained, by carefully noting such ivords, as seeoi to drop, without design, from the pen of the sacred writer, and which are seldom noticed in the con- troversy 5 but which can ii) uo other way be reconciled tc J. D. 65. CHAPTER 11. J. D. iVj. 24 But 1 1 trust in tlie Lord (hat 1 », 30. Phiiem. also myself shall come shortly. 25. 2 John 13 __ Vr . T 1 "i ' i 1 aJohnii. 2:^ Yet 1 supposed it necessary to send Iscor. ii. 14. viii. to jou ' Epaphroditus, ' my brother, ' and t"v.3. 'i Cor iii. companion in labour, " and fellow-soldier, 9. 2 Cor viii. r 1 I ^1 i • S3. Com. 7 iv X but your messenger, >' and he that nim- ^a^PhjJ^cmj '. ^^istered to my wants. Phiieras ' 26 For Mie longed after you all, and X Pr»» xsv. 13. /■ 11 /• 1 • I h i!°cor *vi'i'i 23 ^^^^ " '"'' °^ heavmess, because that " ye 5Mv''i8' 2CoV had heard that he had been sick. A' 's.' iv. I. 27 For indeed he was sick'' nigh unto Bor t."' u. death : ''but God had mercy on him: and 2 Cor ix.' 11. aJohix 27. Pa. Ixix 2(1. Prnv. xii 25 % Ixi 3. Matt xi. 23 xxvi.37. Kom. i». 2. ! Pet i 6. b2 Sain. sxiv. 17. Jchn xl 35. 36 Acts sxi J3 Rom. xii IS. 1 Cor. xii- 26 Gal vi 2. Eph iii. 13 c 30 2 Kings xx. I. Ps cvii . 1,2. John xi. 3, 4. Acts ix. 37 d Job v. 19. I's xxx 1—3 10,11. xxsiv. . 19—22. Is. xxxviii 17. Acts ix. 29-41. Other scriptures. {Mar^. Ref.) Proof, &c. {'22.) This shows that Timothy was at Philippi with the apostle ; yet the history does not expressly mention it : but, by carefully comparing one part of the narrative with another, this a))pears evidently to have been the case. {Mcirg, Ref.) Undesigned coincidences of this kind, between the history and the EpisUes, prove that both are genuine ; and if genuine, then inspired. V. 24 — 30. The apostle was satisfied, confiding in the Lord that he should speedily regain his liberty, and be enabled to pay the Philippians anotlier visit. But before Ive could either spare Timothy or come himself, he deemed it expedient to send Epaphroditus, whom he owned as a brother, and whom they had sent as their messenger, to bring him a supply to his urgent necessities. Probably, Epaphroditus was a pastor of the Church at Phi- lippi ; and, beijK absent from his stated charge, he longed alter them, and^is labours of love among them : espe- cially he was in heaviness, because thty had heard of his sickness, and the thoughts of their sorrow on his accfuint were more painful to him than his own sickness ! AVhat a beautiful and admirable instance of genuine sensibility and aflection is here ! In what book except the Scriptures, do we meet with such ? bidecd, Epaphroditus had been dangerously ill ; but God had graciously restored him for further usefulness : and in this he had shown mercy to the apostle also ; to whom it would have been an additional sorrow, if so excellent a person had lost his life by minis- tering to him in his bonds. It does not appear that any miracle was wrought ja this case ; and we may thence infer that the gift of miracles could only be exercised on particu- lar occasions, of which those endued with them had some previous in'imalion. This is clearly intimated; and it shows that the aposde was as ready to own his want of power, when trulh required it, as to speak of his miracles when needful. On account therefore of die late sickness of Epaphroditus, the aposde had been the more careful to send him back, that the jay of the Philippians might be increased by seeing their beloved minister in health again ; for the very thought of diat joy would alleviate his sor- rows, liiough at a distance from thera ; and though by th-^ loss of Epaphroditus' assistance and company. He would, therefore, have them to receive him, for the" Lord's sake, with all expressions of tJiankful joy : and to esteem and Acts XX. 2 Tira 1.4 gSn not on liiin only, "but on me also, lest I eisx^viit: jcr. should have sorrow upon sorrow. mv.^ Hah. i"i': 28 I sent liim therefore the more care- I'clr 11%^ M\y, that, when '' ye see him again, ye '27.20. xhi"!'', may rejoice, « and that I may be the less John""" sorrowful. 29 '' Receive him therefore in the Lord VTor ' with all gladness ; "^ and * hold such in '< M°tt x'lb.ii reputation : Jolm xiii 2i.' 30 Because for ' the work of Christ he iff- ^;^'- '.''• was " nigh unto death, not reojardinir his 9"}-, ,'„• "' ., „ ~ 1 1 f . 3 John 10. iite, "to supply your lack of service to- '/.'' i;',^ ^l^* ward me. ii„nf x^is ' Eph iv. 9— 11, k2Cor. s. 13. 1 Thes v 12. Heb. xiii. 17 • Or, Aonotir suc/V Acts XKviii. 10 1 TiiD V 17 1 I Cor. xv. 58 xvi 10. m 17 27. i 19. 20. MatL XXV. 36-40 Acts XX. 24 Itom. svi. 4 2 Cor. xii 15 llev. xii. 11. u iv 10 lU 1 Ccr. highly hoHour such affectionate laborious ministers : for indeed the sickness of Epaphroditus had been the effect of his excess of diligence in the work of Christ ; as he had not even regarded his life, that, in the place of the absent Philippians, he migiit render every possible service to the apostle, both in his personal concerns, and in those relating to the propagation of the Gospel. As Philippi lay at a great distance from Rome, Epaphroditus must have con- tinued with the apostle a long time ; or the report of his sickness at Rome eould not have reached Philipjii, and that of their sorrow have reached Rome, before Epaphroditus left that city, and consequently the epistle must have teen written towards the close of the apostle's two j-cars im- prisonment. Messtn^er. (25.) The original is «po.s//f. The marginal refei'ences, distinguished by Gr. will show the reader the difl^erent ways in which that word is used by the sacred writers ; and impartiality requires me to observe, that it does not appear, in any one instance, to be used for bishop, in the general acceptation of the word. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—11. All our consolations, ho]ie?, and experience, in the Jc!- lowship of the Spirit, and the bowels and mercies of God our Saviour, as well as all our regard to our own peace, should engage us to be of one mind with our brethren, and so to fulfil the joy of all wise ministers and Christians. Nothing so honours Christ, defeats the machinations of his enemies, or fills the soul with consolation, as thi.s holy love : but envy, contention, and ambition, not only dis- turb the peace of the Church, but torture the suul that entertains them. Neither inward nor outwai-d peace can be enjoyed, except in jiroportion as " in lowliness of mind " we esteem others better than ourselves, and look at the " things of others as ^vell as at our own." These are hard lessons to the proud Snd carnal heart of man. J\Iany have learned the doctibics of the Gospel vci-y accurately, who have not " thus learned Christ." We cnn.nol study Uiis subject successfiilly, exce[jt by continually looking uiito.Tosus; but whilst fiifh penetrates the veil of sensible objects, and contemplates the Siviour " in the form of '• God, and thinking it no robbery to be equal \\ith God ;■' yet " making himself of no rejiulation," assuming the fyr.Ti A. D. 65. PIIILIPPIANS. A. D. 65. CHAP. IH. The apostle exhorts to joy in the Lord ; and gives enutions (i'j;(tinst fuhc Inuh- crs, I, 2: shows that Chris/iaiis are the true circumcision, 3 ; and that he had belter grounds of carnal confidence i.han most had, who trusted in the hiw, '1 — 0; hut that he counted this, and (dl other things, as loss ami dung, compared to the knowledge of Christ, and (he right- eousness of God (jji faith in him, 7 — 9 ; desiring also to know the power of his resurrection, and to be conformed to him, even in sneering arid death ; if so be he might attain to the resurrection of the just, 10, II. He owns, that he was not yet perfected ; but that he anxiousli/ and earnestly sought this prize of his calling, 12 — 11. He exhorts to an imitation of his examjile, 1.5 — 17; as many professing Christianity, walked after the Jlesh, in the icuy of destruc- tion, 18, 19 ; tcith whom he contrasts true christians, their heavenly conversa- tion, and their expectation of Christ, to raise their vile body, like to his glo- rified body, 20, 2 1 . of a servant and tlic nature of man; appoarin-; as an in- fant in the stable, as a poor carpenter at Nazareth, as an indigent and despised preacher in Galilee and Judca ; as obedient to the law during his life, and as an insulted criminal at his death upon the cross; when these things arc conlemjilated, and the height of his essential glory is contrasted with the deplh of his voluntary abasement, and with the motives and cllccts of this stupendous transaction, ivc see sucli otjligations and encouragements to self-deny- ing love, as the whole universe besides can never supply ; and " beholding, as in a glass, this glory of our Lord, we " arc gradually changed into his image." And whilst wc contemplate his subsequent exaltation, and the name given to this lowly Suftcrer aljove every name, wc learn to abase ourselves, that we may be exalted, to serve others in order to our own best interest, and lo labour and sulfcr reproach, that we may ensure glory, honour, and immortality. But, as every knee must bow to Christ, as every tongue must confess him to be " Lord, to the glory of God the Father," let us examine whether wo do indeed thus reverence, love, obey, and wors'iiji, the incarnate Son of God, or whether we arc yet among those enemies, who must be bruised under his feet shortly. -18. Even those professed Christians, of whom we have the most favouraV)le opinion, should be exhorted not only to he obedient, as in the presence of their [xistors, but to in- crease in circumspection, when removed from under their faithful care. Thus ought we all to " work out our own " salvation" with jealous fear and humble caution ; wait- ing for the full assurance of hope, and the renewal of our souls to holiness, in the way of simple dependence, dili- gent^ obedience, and serious attendance on the ordinances of God ; tl-.anking liim for working in us the willing mind, and calling upon him for grace to perform the duties in- cumbent on ns. Surely, some zealous advocates for evan- gelical truths have never read this chapter, for they can do nothing " without murmurings and disputings!" These are their element; these are the unhallowed '^weapons of Iheir warfare. How can they be " blameless and harmless," on this plan, when envy and strife are inseparable from " confusion and every evil work ?" And how can they think themselves the children of God, who in so many fea- tures bear the express image of Satan ? But let us pray lo be made peaceable, humble, unambitious, and inoffensive, both in the Ciiurch and in the community, that " by well " doing we may put to silence" the calumnies of ungodly men ; and that we may be without rebuke in the midst of this our nation ; which, alas ! is proved to be crooked and perverse, by the prevalence of infidelity, impiety, anil every kind of immorality, under a Christian profession, and abundant means of religious instruction. Let us then endeavour to shine among our neighbours as lights in the world, and to hold forth the word of life in our families and circle, by an open profession of evangelical truth, con- nected with a holy conversation. Then the ministers who have preached the Gospel will anticijjatc their rejoicings in the day of Christ, assured that it will then appear that " they did not run nor labour in vain," and hoping that far more extensive and permanent good wajj^ done than ihey lived to witness. In such a prospect, a zealous servant of Christ would be animated to a readiness for death in his Master's cause ; whilst the exultation of faith and grace would conquer nature's reluctance to suffering ; and cer- tainly they, who have been thus offered ujjon the sacrifice of their brethren's faith, are to be considered as objects of peculiar congratulation, for they have almost universally died rejoicing, and triumphant. V. 19— SO. Alas ! in the best times how few aie like-minded with the apostle, and naturally care for the state of the Church and of their fellow-christians ! For while numbers evi- dently and wholly seek thgir own interest, reputation, eas", or indulgence, " and not the things of Jesus Christ,'" we are all too attentive to personal concerns, and some- times allow them to interfere with our usefulness. So that a man who is ready to engage even in a service of great in)i)ortancc, where no emolument or credit, can be ex- pected, and in which losses, hardships, perils, sulTcrings, must be encountered, is deemed a prodigy, and rather an object of astonishment than of imitation. But let us seek deliverance from this mean regard to our own accommo- dation, by increasing zeal for the glory of God and love to the souls of men ; that they who best know the proof of us may perceive, that we should have been ready to^ J. D. 65. CHAPTER III. ^. D. 65. ai» 8 2Cor^T7^INALLY, my brethren, ''rejoice in! 4 Thongh 'I might also have confi-is^cor JO 2Tt;e^''i''v V P the Lord. 'To write the same things! dence in the flesh. If any other man m gc- Net! Jobxxii.26 P V II XXX xxMii 1 X 4. sl:i -1 : I.e. 1.2 ex 3 For 5 we are the circumcision, which ^fij "' worship God in the Spirit, and ' rejoice 2,3 in Christ Jesus, and * have no confidence 6 Concerning 'zeal, ^ {>ersecuting the /^g';^!;^,-;. *,, ut u hJi u in the flesh : 12. Joel ii. 23. Hah iii I7,n Zeph iii. II n. 7efh X 7. MV.t Jlom V. 2,3 II- I Tli«. LuUe i 4' !6. Jan i 2. I Vet. i. 6-8 ir 13 c li 17. 18. 2 Pet --dProi- xsvi. II. Is Ivi 10 Malt, vii 15. xxiv. IP Oil v l.l. STim. i' 14 15 2 Pet. ii 22- Ker. xxii. 15. e 19. Miitt vii i2 23 2 Cor. xi l:i Gal v. I: I Tiro i. 19. 2 Tim iii. 1-6 iv. 3. i Tit i 16. 2 Pet ii 1S-2n Jiid" 4 1(1-1:) He ,si 8. rs. Horn ii 28 Gal ii 3 1 >■■ I. 2 6 He? ii 9 iii 9 g Gen xvii 5-1 Peut. X 16 XXX 6 Jer iv i ix. IC Rom ii 25-29 iv. II, 12 Col ii. 11 b Mai II John iv. 23, 24 Kom i 9 vii 6 vii. :5 20 27 Fpl> vi 13 JudeSO. 1 Sec e able to intioduce them into useful services, as their companions in labour, and approved fellow-soldicrs. What an ingenuous spirit doth the GospQ] inspire ! The most eminent ministers, who most simply trust the Lord Jesus for every thing, will yet frankly acknowledge their obligations fur tempoi'al assistance to those who owe their salvation to their labours of love. The aftectionate pastor will be more full of hea- viness for the grief of his people on his account, than for his own pain and si'-kness ; and he will long after them, and to renew his labours among them, as a tender mother doth after her beloved iiifant. The Lord often afflicts such men, to maiiifst the excelieticy of their disposition; but he will have mercy upon them, and not let the.Ti have sorrow ujjon sori'ow; and tliey will readily put themselves to inconveniences to remove the grief, or increa.=*e the comfort, of their brethren ; rejoicing, though at a distance, i:i the thoughts of their joy, as an alleviation of their own sorrow. Such ministers as t!ius spend their strength, and disregard even "life and health in his cause, and to supply (he Ijck of service of tho='f who arc incapable of perform- ing it, should be peculiarly honoured by i!ie Cliurch, and by every Christian ; yet none should, without necessity, j kept from tho'people of tlicir peculiar charge. KOTE,S. CHAP. in. V, 1-7. The apostle deemed it needful to close the preceding practical exhortations by calling on the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord Jesus, and in their relation to him as their Glory and Salvation. This he had often incul :atod by various methods, and it was not diffi- cult for him to repeat the same instruction; but it was safe for them, and suited to their afflicted circumstances. So.Tic think he meant th.at it was easy for him, but safe for them, to write the same things to iheni which he had jamin, p an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as ■'?" i ', touching the law, i a Pharisee ; church ; ' touching the ricfhieousness =*'"'' . ,, which IS in the law, blameless. i','°3!rl^ ''" 7 But what things " were gain to me, 'I'^'feV'x'xfi '3, those I counted loss for Christ. ? cor"xv'' '^'. 1 Tim. i. 13. 1 Matt, V 20. xxiii S.! Markx. 20, 21. A-t3XXvi, i). Rom, vii. 9, ix 31.32 X 2-5 U4-. G. 8-10 Oen xix 17. 26 Jub ii. 4 Prov. xiii.e xxiii. 23. Man. xiil. 11-46 xvi 26. I. like xiv. 2C. 33. xvi. B Kvii. 31—33 Acta xsvii. la, 19. 38. Gal • done to other Churches. He also warned them to " be- " ware of dogs.''' The Jews contemptuously called the • Gentiles dogs ; but the bigoted selfish JuJaizing teachers I are supposed to be here intended by that emblem, as they could fawn on those that favouied them, yet were greedy, '' snarling, and ready to bite or devour such as opposed them. Perhaps apostates from Christianity arc meant. ' (Dlarg. Rcf, Note, Is. Ivi. 9 — 12.) The evil wojkers may ■also iiclude those teachers and professors who abused the I doctrines of grace, and indulged themselves in sin as a 'part of their C^liristian liberty. The Philippians, however, : were especially cautioned to " beware of llie concision,''^ ■or the r.nltingr off': the Judaizers liid much stress on cul- ' ''"S" ^M ^^'^ foreskin, though they did not mortify the deeds of the body ; they wanted to Ltd off the Gentiles from the Church, but they cut off thcinselves and others from sal- ' vation by their dependence on the works of the law. The ; honourable title of the circumcision did not therefore bc- i long to them. That ancient rite was no longer of any lvalue; Christians were the true circumcision, the cove- j nant-people of God, the spiritual seed of .Abraham ; " (he !" righteousness of faith" was sealed to them by the cir- cumcision of the heart, of which baptism was the outward sign. Thry worshipped God, not so much according to external forms as spiritually, and under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, {Note, John iv. 23, 2.1 ;) and they re- I joiccd and gloried in Jesus Christ, the .Subject of all the prophecies, and the Substance of all the shadows of the old dispensation. The ajiostlc did not thus put himself on a level with the Gentile converts, because he had nothing of a carnal or external nn'urc to depend on; for if any man sapposed himself to have distinctions of this kind to I glory in, he could evince that he had more. lie had been circumcised on the eighth day, according to tlio law and custom ; he could trace back his genealogy to Israel and Abraham ; he was of the tribe of Benjamin, which was descended from Rachel, the wile of Jacob's choice; and which never apostatized from the wor.->!iip of God at the temple, as most of the other tribes hid tlone. Both his parents were Hebrews ; so that he was neither born nor educated a Hellenist Jew, who might be supp^osed less ] exact in the law. As a Pharisee, he had been peculiarly j strict, both in the Mosaic ceremonies and the tiaditions i of the ciders ; his persecution of the Church proved Li; A. D. cr., PHlLfPPIANS. ^. D. 6^. V rjua. XV. 30. 3 Yea * doubtless, and > I count all Luke"*" in things 6«/ loss fornhc excellency of the 1 tohn i^ij ^'' kiiowicdgc of Christ Jesus "my Lord: ^iu,in\i!i*ie"' '' for whom I iiave siilfercd the loss of all '•Ir ,'x. s",u thintrs, and do count them "but dun^, M..l>. XI SS-27 , S, 1 • /"ii • , XVII 16.17 Lii^e that 1 may "^ win Ciirist, i'c.n''i'J''K.h '"f? '"'"^ °"'" righteousness, •'which is » 1I'i''''cl'i' "* ^'i*^ '^"'' ''"^ *''^^ wliich is through the ;; .-'.:'|,_.^' ';'^' faitli of Christ, ' the righteousness Avhich - ■ - 7 Matt, xix ^7-29. 1 Co- =•■ J t.illie i. W. XX. ^:'— 4.1 .lnt.n XX 13- La h Sre o 'J— IJ. 2 Cor Xi. 1.1—27. i rem iv. Ij c 1 Kin?: xir. 4 Mai ij. 3. d Malt, xiii 44— 4n Heb lii. 17. 1 John \ix .1, 4. H«li. VI. 18. I I'ei. Ill 13,20 f Su OH. Horn 2 Cnr V 17 s 6. I King- viii. 46. 2 Ciir : M-U »lii. i G I's XIV. 3 xix 12 cxxx. 3, Job XX -e Gen vii.23. Deui I xvi. 7 1 Cor. i. 30 Sli. 2S 31. Job IX. 211-31. X. 14. 15 XV xliii. 2 F.C ' S. e .MUt ii. 13. Kom ix 31.32 X 1-3 2Tim.i 9 Tit iii. fi Jam. ill- 2. I Jobn i 8_in h Ucul. x.wii. 2G. t u!e x. SS-5!1. Horn, iii IP, CO iv. 13-lS. vii. .'i-13 vi i 3 X 4, .^ (i4l. Ill In-i3. 21, 23 Jam ii. 9-11 I John iii 4. i l>s. Ixxi l.?, 16. I, xlv Dl i'.^. x'vi 13. Iiii 11. Jer xiiiil 6. xxxiii. 16 Dan. i«. 24 John x»i 8-11. lloni i 17. ii' 21. 2J iv 6, C U. v. 21 X 3. 6 10. 1 Cor. i. 30. 2 Cor. V. 21. Gal. ii. 16 II. 1 et 10 That ''I may know him, 'and theirs,, o».t. e. power of his resurrection, "and the fel- i jo°„^".''2?-2f. lowship of his sulFerinscs, beinsf made aciI' if.'sl-w! r ' 1 1 . 1 • , ,," ^ Horn vi 4-11. contormabic to Ins death ; ^i.i. lo. n i 11 If ° bv any means I miffht "attain acoriio V. , " ■' . ,. , 1^ , 10-13. xiii 4. unto the resurrection oi the dead. Eph. i. is-21, 12 H Not as though '• I had already i°ih^ V'u, .... S - •' IS iPet 1.3 Iv. attamed, cither were lalreadv perfect: ' but ■■ 1 follow after, if " that I may ap- prehend that for whicli also I am ' appre- hended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, "I count not my.self to have apprehended : but (his " one thing 2. 27. 2 ti.r. Kl. 3. I The' 24 Acts xxiii 6 xxvi 7 Heh. xi 35 p 13. ID t24 Gal. T 17. Jam iii 2 <| Job xvii. 9 P, rx 2 Cor. vil I xlli 9. Kph. iv. 12. Heh. xii.23 xiii rll Ps. xiii. 1 Ixiii 1-3 8 Ixxsiv 2 xr.iv. 15 I, V. 10 vi II Hph.xii 14. 1 Pet. iii. 11-13 s 1 2 Tlies. IJ 1 B. 12. i. 13—21. in Matt XX 21 Rom. vi. 3. 5. viii. 17 23 £ Cor. i. 5 Gal. ii 20 Col. i. 21. 2 Tim. ii. II. 12. 1 Pet. iv. 13. 14. I Ps xlix.7 Art- XKvii 12 Rom. xi 14. 1 Cor. ol.iikexiv. It XX. 35,36. John si. Ps cxix. S 173— l7f,.Koni Til 19— ;xviii 8 Prov iv (8. I Cor xi'i. 10. 21. I Pe'. V 10 2 Pet. i 5— 8. Iii IS. Ii. 1. Hos vi 3 I The,, v. 15 1 Tim t Ps. ex 2,3 Act 11—13. z Ps. xxvil. 4. 7,eal for that kind of religion ; and liis whole conduct, was lo life, " his own righteousness," which, having reference externally so conformable to the letter of the law, that in to the law, as its measure, could only condemn him ; but rcsppf t of that kind of righteousness, no one could lay any thing to his charge. But all thnse things, which hel once deemed most advantageous to him, and conducive to his acceptance with God, as well as to his reputation and jjrefcrnicnt, he at Icngdi learned to account loSs for I'hrist; being assured, that if he depended on them, or I'.icavcd to ihem, they would prevent his salvation by Christ. He had therefore willingly renounced them all, as the merchant, in a storm, casts overboard his most valuable property, lest it should occasion the loss of his life. {J\larg. fief.) V. 8 — 1 1 . ' The present time is to be noted ; so that ' the apostle, as to what reJates to justification before God, ' excludes all works ; those which follow, as well as those ' which precede, faith.' (Besn.) The apostle not only had judged, at his first conversion, that his legal righteous- ness, and hi.-, worldly prospects, were loss to him, com- pared with Christ ; but after many years spent in success- fully preaching the Gospel with apostolical authority, miraculous gift.-, immense labour, multiplied sufferings, and most exemplary holiness, he decidedly deemed all these things to be loss, in comparison of the most ex- cellent know ledge of Christ by faith, in the glory of his I'eison an.l redemption. For his sake, whom he rejoiced 10 call his Lord, he had suffered the loss of his worldly friends, prospects, interests; and his strength of mind, liis superior talents, his learning, and his connexion with the great, seemed to promise great prosperity. But he iiad renounced all ; even his country and liberty ; and he continually expected that he should be called lo lay dowH his life in this cause ; yet lie accounted all these like- wise to be most worthless in coinj)arison of Christ, as the grountl of his hopie of acce])tance with God, and of eternal salvation. lie therefore gladly parted with them, in order to win " the Pearl of great price," which alone could make him rich, honourable, and happy for ever. F'or his wreat desire was " to be found in Christ," in the hour of death, and at the day of judgment ; as Noah was in the ark, when the deluge swept away an unbelieving world : .and to stand before God, not having, as his plea or title that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteous- " ness which is of God by faith ;" even that righteousness, which God bestows on and imputes to the believing sin- ner ; namely, tlie perfect obedience unto death of his incar- nate Son, which alone can answer the demands of the law, and render a transgressor's salvation consistent with the perfect justice of God. {ISoles, Rom. iii. iv. v. 2 Cor. v. 21.) All things else the apostle deemed worthless, compared with this knowledge of Christ, and that joyful, transforming view of his glory, and experience of his grace, wliich resulted from saving faith: that he might know more of the power of his resurrection, by the new creation of his soul to holiness ; that he might have fel- lowship with him in his sufferings, both by the mortifica- tion of his sinful nature, and by enduring patiently the enmity of the world for bis sake : " Being made con- " formable to his death ;" both by dying to sin that he might live to God, and by laying down his life when call- ed to it in the service of his beloved Saviour : and that so, by any means, at any rate, by making any sacrifice, or bearing any afflictions, he might attain to that perfect feli- city to which the saints will be admitted at the resurrec- tion, and of which their preceding joys are an anticipation. The apbsde did not mean that he doubted of this happy event of his labours, (i. 21 :) hut he showed what that great object was which he pursued, and for which he re- nounced all other hopes and prospects, and endured such complicated trials ; and he instructed others in the way of possessing an assured hope. It is evident, that the apostle speaks, not of the resurrection in general, for this will be both " of the just and of the unjust," but of " the " resurrection to eternal life," in that glorious view of it which is afterwards given. (Note, 20, 21.) When the sinner believes in Chri.-.t, he is immediately " justified by " faith, and has peace w-ith God :" yet he, " through the " Spirit, waits for the hope of righteousness by faith ;" for at the day of judgment, when living faith will be distin- guished by its" fruits from dead faith, the sentence of jus- tification will not only be confirmed, but proclaimed to tht whole assembled world. J, D. Hj. ;hapter 111. J. D. GJ. ;. ii 13. Rom XT 2n - 29 1 Cor ix 81-27 Heb xii. IS. 8 Luke xvi. 16. 2 Cor iv. 17, 13 T 1. 2 Tim. IV 8. Rev. ill. 21. b Rom «ii-.S9— 30 U. 23,2t. 1 Thea ii. 13 3 Thes. ii 13. 14 Beh. iii 1. IPet i. 3, 4 13. y 10 a Pet i 3. 1 Cor ii 6 xi». 20 Col i 2S. iv 12. 2 lico. iii. IT. Hei>. V. U Cr Jam i.4 1 Jolin ii. i. 2—11 Gal 10- iPa. I do, ' forgetting Uiose tilings which are behind, ' and reacliing forth unto those things wliich arc before, Ml" press toward the mark, for the prize of ^ the high caUing of God in Christ Jesus. 1 5 Let us therefore, "^ as many as be perfect, '' be thus minded ; and if in any thing ye be otherwise-minded, ' God shall reveal even this unto you. 1(5 Nevertheless, ' whereto we have already attained, = let us walk by the same rule, '■ let us mind the same thing. :v. 6. Luke si 13 JobD vii .• S. 9 I'rov ii 3-6 iii 5.6. f Cil. V. 7. Heb X 38. 39. .5— J Col. ii.6. hSicun, V. 12 — 14. The apostle did not mention his simple dependence and earnestness of soul, as a proof that he had attained the prize, or was already perfected in his Saviour's image. On the contrary, he continued still pursuing, and aiming, by further labours, and progress in holiness, to finish his course and obtain the prize, for which he had been graciously arrested by the Lord Jesus, at the time when he was a malignant persecutor. He disregarded all past attainments and services; as the racer, in the Isthmian grimes, seemed to forget the ground over which he had run, and the competitors whom he had left behind ; and he reached forth to further labours, and increased conformity to Christ, wi'hojt loitering or weariness ; as the racer exerted all his V 14 )ur and agility to outstrip those before him, and to pass over the remainder of his course. One thing engaged his attention, to the exclusion of all inter- fering considerations : thus he pressed forward to the mark with unremitting speed, that he might receive the prize of heavenly glory, which God had called on him, by Jesus Christ, to aspire after ; even as the racer urged his course to the goal, keeping the victor's crown full in view, and animated by the acclamations of those, who excited him so to run that he might obtain. (\ole, J Cor. ix. 24 — 27.) — The word rendered '' were perfect," (12.) is dilferent from that translated perfect in the fifteenth verse. It is the preterite passive of the verb, which is often translated accomplish or accomplished ; and it is the same word which St. John uses concerning our Saviour, and which is rendered, " It is finished ;" except that here it is in the first person singular, and there in the third. Whereas the word in the next verse is an adjective, derived indeed from the verb, but often used in a rather different meaning. V. 15, 16. The apostle here exhorted all those that were perfect to be like-minded with him in these things, counting all but loss for Christ, deeming present attain- ments inconsiderable, and pressing forward to the mark. The very exhortation, (iVofe, 12 — 14.) implies that the temper and conduct, before d-jscribed, form the Christian's highest perfp'nion in this world. The word here used may signify the sound character of the established believer; the man who is matured in judgment and experience, and hath made most progress in Christianity. It is used in the Greek authors, for men of full age, (about thirty.) as distinguished from boys and young men ; and the apostle \9L. V,— No. ii3. 17 Brethren, 'be followers together of me, " and mark them which walk so, as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For 'many walk, of whom "I have told you often, and now tell you ° even weeping, (hnt they are the ° enemies of the cross of Christ : 19 Whose ^ end is destruction, '' whose god /* their belly, and ' whose glory is in their shame, ' who mind earthly things.) n i, 1 l'.> cxlit. 136. Jer ix 1 xiii 17. Luke six. i\. Act. xx 19 30, 2 Cor ii 4. xi •;« o i 15. 16 1 Cor i 18 Oal. i 7 vi 12 Luke kii. 45. 40 2 Cor xi 15 2 Thes. ii 8. 12 Heb- vi 6-8. 2 I'et. 1.13. Rev. xix. 20 XX. 9. 10. xsi 8 xxii 15 q ii 21. I Sam ii 1 10-12. Ez. xiii 19 x.^siT. 3 Mic. iii. S 11. Mai. i 12 Luke xii 19 x 18 I Tim vi.S.aTim iii 4. Tit. i II 2 Pet h \:i Jude 12 r Ps Halj i:. IS, 16 Lulce xviii. 4. I Cor. v 2. 6 .: Cor. s . 12 lam. iv. 16 Juile 13 16 Rev. xviii 7 s P3. i» 6,7. xvii 14 MatL xvi. 23 1 Cor iii 3 2 Pet ii 3 iv. 9. 1 Crr W. C X 3:^23 XI i.lThes. . S. ii. 10 1. 2 Thes ill 11 Dar. r.al. 14 Kph iv 17. 2Tn.-s i.i II. 2 !'et. II. 10. Jude 18. m 1 Cor vi. ?. Gal V 21 Kpl'. V. 5.6. 1 TUc . iv 6 , 31. Rom. ii. r. p Matt. XXV 41. ii. I 3 17 .ludd I- IB 20 Is. Ivi. vi 19 Rom xv/. . Ho iv 7. IS \1. conveys a similar idea by it in other passages, (1 Cor. ii. 6. xiv. 20. Eph. iv. 13. Heb. r. 14. Gr.) which seems to be the meaning of it in this place. In this way the Philippians would best wait for furtlicr instruction ; and if any of them were otherwise minded than their brethren, or than the apostle, and under any mistake or misappre- hension, in thus avoiding disputation, and diligently prac- tising what they knew, from evangelical principles, they might hope that God would make known to thera those things, of which they still remained ignorant : and tlrir stronger brethren should bear with their prejudices, till they were in this manner obviated. Nevertheless, they all ought to be careful, not to decline from that measure of faith, diligence, constancy, and holiness, to which they had attained : but that, by walking according to the same rule of divine truth, and minding the same inenns of im- provement, in which they had hitherto proceeded, they might keep the ground that they had gained, and make further progress ; not growing slack in one part of their duty by zeal in another! V. 17 — 19. With full confidence that he acted v,-ith propriety, the apostle called on his children at Philippi to imitate him ; and to observe and cofiy such Christians as followed his example, and that of Timothy and Silas, ia these respects : for alas ! many walked in a very different manner. He had often spoken to them against their con- tagious principles and examples ; and he now mentioned them, not with acrimony of resentment, but with tears of compassion for their souls, and of grief for the dis- honour which they brought upon the Go.spel. For in fact, they were the most dangerous enemies to the cross of Christ. They did not enter into, nay, they hated, the holy import of that instructive transaction, which was the grand display of the divine holiness, of the excellency of the law, and of the evil of sin ; and their licentious lives more disgraced the doctrine of the cross, thanall ihe obloquy and opposition of avowed enemies. The end of their vain profession, if persisted in. would certainly be final perdition ; as " their god was their belly," the in- dulgence of their appetites was the end which they pro- posed to themselves, and the chief satisfaction which they sought : to this base end they sacrificed thr most important interests, and from it they expected their happiness, in- stead of seeking it from the Lord. At the same time, 2R ^ J. D. (id. PHILIPPIANS. J. D. 65: .' Vxlrii ^4 2^* ^°'' ' °^^' conversation is in " heaven ; L",i' 5*~|° * ffom whence also Mve look for the ■Mutt xii 31 Luke Hi] -I 3S -M. X ■■'j 1 Fet I J, 4. Saviour, the Lord Jesus (Jhrist ; IV. U. 2 Cor. I» IB. V. I e Kpli li f. Col. 1 ■> iil l—^. Ili-h » — u tr. Is x\ii l.i Gal. iv 26 fcpli. li. 19. Heb .\ii. 2;' \i<:v ) ti i II. I ThM Iv. IC 2 Thes i. 7, 8 Uev. I 7. y i 10 1 Cor. . 10. 2 Tim. iv. 8. Tit ii 13. Heb. ix. 20 2 Pet. iii. 12-11. lliey gloi'ietl in llioir licentious doctrines, piactices, and success in niaUing proselytes, and coiiuptiiig others; of which liiey rughi to have hcen uslwmed. and \shicti would coriaiiily ter'. inate in their deep disgrace. For ihc_\ wen canuilly mindod, and. not savouring heavenly things, ihey regarded only their worldly pleasures and interests. Some expositors explain ihis ainio.st exclu.-ivciy ol' the Judaizing teachers and theii''Iollow'?rs, and some supjiose the (inos- tics to be osiiccially meant; and doulttless many of each of thfSt^ w; te of this stamp. Yei t! ere were others who jjcrverled the (jos|iei ; and the apo.sile's words point out at least equall\ lii entious Antinoinian professors, whether Jews or Gentiles; of which we cannot doubt hut many siJiang u|> in every part of the church. Nor is it prudent to re] rosenl all the danger to lie on one side, when the -0]))-)usito r.vtreme is eciually lytal. v. 20, '21. In oj)|in.>iiion to the base and grovelling characters before described, the apostle here showed that true Chri.'-liaiis wcie ritizens of heaven, where their hearts and treasures were lodged, and whence their hopes and comforts were derived : so that their judgment, aft'ections, and conduct, would be of a heavenly nature. Thence also all true believers expected the coming of Christ to be thcii judge, and were continually preparing to meet him. Instead of idolizing animal gratifications, they deemed the body itself at present to be vile, and in a huiniliatmg con- dition ; being the seat of ensnaring appetites, the instru- ment of sins, the encumlirance of the soul in duty, liable to manifold loathsome" diseases, and condemned to return to corruption and dust But they expected that Christ, at his second coming, would change their bodies, fashioning ti.em into a complete conformity to his glorified body, ren- dering thtm incorruptible and spiritual, and thus preparing them to jiarticipate and improve the holy felicity of the immortal soul to all eternity. This the Saviour would cflert by his omnipolcnt ojieration, according to that divi7te power, bj'ivhich he is able to subdue all things to himself, and so give them linal deliverance from death, their last enemy- The contrast between " the body of our humi- " lialion," and " the body of his glory," into which Jesus will cluivfre our bodies, is remarkable. There seems to be a reference to the transfiguration. If omnipotence is an incommunicable divine perfection, the apostle's lan- guage doubtless attests his Deity in the most emphatical language. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—11. We should be senlnus of good works, but we must re- joice in the Lord Jesus alone. Repetitions on such im- portant subjects, though easy lo the teacher, are safe to the hearers, and must not be deemed superfluous ; being often niore useful than the most original, ingenious, and learned discjuisitions. We carmotioo earnestly guard men against those vrho either oppose or abwsc tl^e doclrine of free .sal- 21 Who « shall change our vile bodr, «'<""_«» «- ' that it nia_) be ia.sliioned like nnto iiis ^V'" "•'' '• gioiioiis body, according to '' the working [,^^''» "''• »■ whereby he is able even to bubdue all >■ ''V"'^'""- U, , ■ , ,. '3 Hoe. xiii 14. lings unto himself. m«» ''■"I » V. 2i- 2'J %\ 24-20. I Cor xv :4 25 53-iE Epl,. i 19 20 Hev i. bTs' xx'^-ls" vation. Many of them are greedy of their own interest, ficicc against their op|josers, and rody to rend in pieces the church, in order lo propagate iheir own peculiar no- tions or observances. The true Christian will be aware of them ; he " worships God in the Spirit, glories in Christ '• Jesu.y has the circumcision of the heart, vnd confides in nothing of which iinregeneiale nxn are capable. But how lar short do many, who have confidence in the flesh, conic of the attainments of Saul the persecutor ! Tin ir birdi of Christian parents, early baptism, and form of god- liness, can scarcely be imagined superior lo his distinctions of a similar nature: but where is their strictness, their zeal, their morality, and their blameless conduct .' Yet they trust in their poor scanty worthless forms and duties, and deem them too valuable to be exchanged for Christ and his salvation ! But, if they ever " come to them- '• selves," and become acquainted with God, his law, and their own cha.Mcters, they will count all their gain to be '• loss for Christ :" and if, in consequence of their con- version, they should lose all outward things, and endure all kinds of persecutions in the Lord's service ; if they should labour more abundantly, and walk more holily than their brethren ; they will still count even all these things but loss and " dung, for the excellency of the knowledge of " Christ :" they -vill renounce all dependence on their best services, and esteem all worldly objects worlhles.s, compar- ed with the hope of winning Christ, and being found in him. They will deprecate, as sure destruction, having their eternal state in any measure decided according to their own righteousness : they will desire above all things to have the gift of righteousness by the faith of Christ. They will see that no additions need be made to his unsearchable riches, no security added to his sure refuge, no appendages to his robe of righteousness. Thus they will account them- selves rich, safe, and happy, in proportion to their assur- ance of being " found in Christ," and " made the right- " eousness of God in him ;" but, in seeking for this assur- ance, as well as in order to glorify so bounteous a Friend they will also earnestly desire and aim at a more transform- ing knowledge of Christ, a deeper experience of the power of his resurrection, and a nearer conformity to him in his sufterings and death, by dying to sin, and crucifying the flesh, with its affections and lusts. And, at the same time, the love of Christ will constrain them, if called to it, lo suf fer, yea, to die with him, that they may be also glorifi(;d to- gether. V. 12—21. Thousands and ten thousands have testified, that the above is the judgment and experience of true Christians : nor can any measure of personal holiness, or self-denying labours, satisfy the man, who " counts all but loss that he " may win Christ," and be justified by faith in him alone. He still " counts not himself to have attained;" he is continually humbled for his manifold defects ani] defife- A. D. 6r>. CHAPTER IV. A. D. 65.' CHAP. IV. The aposfle uffcctionately exhorts and en- courages the Philippians to steadfastness in the faith, concoi'd among themselves, and joy in the Lord, 1 — 4 ; and to moderation, confidence in God, constant prayer and thanksgiving, and uniuersal good behaviour, 5 — 9. He declares his\ joy in the Lord, on account of their rc-j tiewcd care of him, in sending by EpaA phroditus a supply for his wants, 10 ;| for, though he had learned, and was able,] through Christ strengthening him, to bcl content in any station ; they hud done' well in communicating with him in his eviction, I I — 14. Indeed, they alone: had formerly thus communicated with him : and he rejoiced that they were thus fruitftd ; as it would redound to their own profit ; being a spiritual sacrifice peculiarly acceptable to Clod /Aroug-fe ",;;', fjfj-^ '*'"'' Christ, who would abundantly supply all \f' °"' '■ ° "• their wants, 15 — 19. To him he ascribes "H "j-rhee^i! eternal glory, 20; and concludes with dt'I^ e^'xK.iu salutations and benedictions, 2 1 — 23. xJrjo'iiiM'!!!: rriHEREFORE, my brethren, clearly t^^'lS J. beloved "and longed for, '^^ my joy i»!.?°' oai'v: and crown, "^ so stand fast in the Lord, 'k '■£lli.'iv'°2' 11111 1 Thes ill 8. 7ny dearly beloved. n 2 -ih&i y.. 2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syn- "eb in'-V' n. tyche, ' that they be of the same miod in ^m 'm''' "u. /, T 1 •' JuJe -'0, ;i u. the Liord. • , 25. Ret iii w, 3 And T entreat thee also, ^truee^y^2„3 Geo. yoke-fellow, ''help those women which ^^""^ laboured with me in the cjospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow- ip,!", labourers, ' whose names are in the book J'",^ j,f''„ ,'J- of life. - ■'■ -' ■ Mark do. Horn. xii 16 - 18. 1 Cor. i. \l<. 1-K. Philem 8. 9 gScem. ii 2-4 9 ID I Tim. V in. 11. xii. I Lute K SO. Itev. iii 1 I'et. iii. 8-11. f2 Hon. xii 1 h Acbix. 36— Al.xvi. 14-16 Horn xvi. '. 32. Fs, Ixix. 28 Is. iv 3. Ei. siii. S. Daa. . XX. 12. 15. xxi. 27. merits ; he still follows after, in hope of attaining to that prize for which he was apprehended, when a careless sinner, a wretched sensualist, or a proud formalist, by the Saviour's preventing grace. In his Christian course "he " forgets the things which are behind, and reaches forth " to those that are before ;" and " presses forward to the " mark, for the prize of his high calling in Christ Jesus." In these respects there are indeed vast disparities among real Christians ; but all know something of these things. They who are most perfected in the life of faith and grace, need exhortations to be thus minded : they who are newly set out should be called on to emulate such honour- able examples : and while they judge and act in this man- ner, as to these grand concerns, the Lord will guide them into the further knowledge of his truth and will. For satisfactory views of divine things are far better acquired, by peaceable meditation and diligent obeJience, than by! noisy disputations. Wc should, however, be very careful not to grow remiss and languid, in those things to which we have already attained ; but still continue to " walk by " the same rule, and mind the same things," that wc may make a perpetual progress in the divine life, and secure, as it were, every post, of which we have got pos- session. Let us then study to walk after the example of apostles and evangelists, that our conduct may be meet for others to copy with advantage: for, alas! in every age there are professors of the Gospel, of whom the humble zealous Christian can scarcely think or speak without soiTow and weeping. Of these, ministers must tell their flocks in tender love ; seeing " their end is destruction :" sciisiial indulgence is their filthy deity ; they glory in their sh imeful c.hwe of the Gospel ; and mind earddy things under a religious profession. But let us, as citizens ofj heaven, have our conversation of a contrary nature : mayl we conlinuilly prefiarc for die coming of oui' Judge, " ihnt we may be found of him in peace, without spo'.! " and bl imeje.s* :" may wc expect confidently to iiavc ouri vilf" b'ldics c!ia;iged by his almighty |)ower into the fashion] of his gloril^ed body: and, in this prospect, may wc apply| j to him daily to new-create our souls unto holiness ; to de- diver us from our enemies, to bruise Satan under our {cet, I and to employ both our bodies and souls as instruments of [righteousness, in his service en earth, till he shall come to receive us to his heavenly kingdom ! I NOTES. CHAP. IV. V. 7. This verse evidently relates to the subject with which the former chapter concluded. Seeing the Philippians had such hopes and so powerful a Friend, let them stand fast in faith and obedience, amidst all enemies and temptations ; as they had hitherto done, and as had been recommended to them. The verse is principally remarkable for the variety of expressions, in which the apostle poured out the atiection of his heait towards his brethren, or rather children, at Philipjif. They Avere indeed dearly beloved ; with tiiem he longed to commune ; and he earnestly desired to be still more use- ful to them. He counted them " iiis joy and crown,''' amidst all his sorrow and disgrace ; and he expected tha* they would be so in the day of Christ. V. 2, 3. It is probable that Euodias and Syntyche were women of note at Philipjii, who on some account had disagreed ; this both impeded their usefulness, and tended to cause divisions in the church. The apostle therefore entreated them to accommodate their differences, by mutual concessions and forgiveness ; that ,.so they might be of one mind in Christ, for his sake, and in seeking the peace and welfare of his church. The " truc- " yoke-fellow," or irenuinenssociale in \hc work of Christ, whom (he apostle addressed without naming, was doubt'i\ss well known at Philippi ; though our conjectures respect, g liim must be precarious. 'The word is masculine in t le original, and some think that the person intended was husband to one of the women above-mentioned; oth'rs that he was some eminent minister at Philippi. The anostle, however, entreated him to u.^e his inllueiice ia bringing those women to a cordial agreement, and in help- ing tliem to accomplish all th"ir good dcs'gns, for I'e honour of Christ, and the promulgation of the Gospel : fcr 2 R 2 Jl. D. 65. PHILIPPIANS. Jl. D. 65. s«o«.,.m 1. 4 "Rejoice In the Lord ' alway : anrfj every thinff by prtvyei' and supplication, 7 s,*^-; »» ',2 !«iv".T.^ivi. ' through Christ e-'u ' ;iv"3 IpSMQ IS.Xlv 7. .l-.Mi, 12 Ivii. 19-21 Jer sxxlii. 6 Luke I. 79 II U Jchn xiv 17. xvi 33 - bit on Rao, i. 7. — V. 1 vlil. 6. xiv. 17 XV. 13 3 Cor. xiii 11 Gal v. 22 Col lii IS 2 Ibes ill. IS Hel>. Xiii. 20. Mev i 4. u Rph. iii. 19. Rev. ii". 17. X NeU vin. 10. Prov. ii. II Iv. e. vi. 22. y 1 Cet i 5, 6. Jude 1. thcv liad formerly laboiireJ, by their private endeavours, to prouiotc the success of hi.s public ministry ; as Ckmcnt a so ha I done, and several otiiers, whom he acknowledged a.'- his fellow-labourers ; and whose zeal and love emboldened hiiii 10 say, that their names were enrolled in the book of lile, amoDf' the elect of God and the heirs of heaven. {Marg. Kef.) It is not certain that this was Clemens Romanus, an'o[)ist!o of whose writing is yet extant : but it is generally supposed that the aprsde'mcant him. V. 4. The apostle again exhorted the Philippians to '-• rejoice in the Lord alway :" even in the midst of per- secutions, afflictions, and temptations ; though they should be poor, bereaved, sick, imprisoned, or in danger ol deatii : yea, notwithstanding their manifold sins, and their present lamented imperfections and defilements, the deplo- rable evils which they must witness among professed Chris- tians, and the wretched state of the world around them. For the favour, mercy, salvation, protection, and consola- tion of their all-sufficient and almighty Lord ; the honour of their relation to him, the felicity of communion with him, and the eternal glory which he had purclmsed for them, comi)rised a joy which might more than counter- balance all the causes of their sorrow, and which would satisfy and sanctify their hearts, and fortify them for self- denial, suffering, and death. Nor were they to consider this exhortation as given, without due consideration of their inward and outward impediments: lest they should suppose this to be the case, he would again call upon them to rejoice ; for he knew, that if they lived up to their privileges, they could never want cause for joy, and would generally be enabled to rejoice. V. 5—7. In connexion with the holy joy above in- culcated, and in order to it, the apostle exhorted his be anxiety and an useless solicitude about events : and let them in every case, by prayer and supplication [or ihom- selves and others, make their requests known unto God ; pouring out their hearts before him, and joining their iervent prayers willi thanksgivings for mercies alreatiy received. In thus seeking to God, under a consciousness of their indigence, dejicndence, and unworthiness, and in believing reliance on his mercy, power, truth, and grace ; they would find, that the peace which he alone could bestow, consisting of an inward thankful admi;ing sense of his forgiving love, an acipicsceiice in his will, a con- fidence in his help, and a serene composure of soul, would be vouchsafed to them. Thi.s peace indeed could not be understood by those who did not (?S|)Ciicncc it, nor could any words give them an adequate idea of it; nay, even true believers could not fully explain its nature and excellency ; but they would find iheir affection^ and all the powers of their souls, possessed and garrisoned by it, to the exclusion of anxious cares and harassing tempta- tions, through the merits of Christ, the supply of his Spirit, and the exercise of faith in him. The word ren- dered " moderation," or the substantive of nearly (he same imjjort, is translated clemency, {Acts xxiv. 4 ;) gcn- lleness, (2 Cor. x. 1 ;) patient, (1 ^'im. iii. 3 ;) andgentle, {Tit. iii. 2. Jam. iii. l7. 1 Fd. ii. 18.) ' It means. ' meekness under provocation, readiness to forgive inju- ' ries, equity in the management of business, candour in 'judging characters and actions, sweetness of disposition, ' and the entire government of the passions.' (Mackniglil.j ' Equity ; a mind moderate as to the things of this life, ' and by no means strictly exacting what is justly due.' (Beza.) " The Lord is at hand," {5 ;) or uenr. Some understand the clause of his being a present Help in loved brethren to manifest an indifference concerning those trouble, &c. Others suppose that the apostle meant, worldly possessions, distinctions, and enjoyments, about that the Lord would speedily come to destroy Jerusalem, which men in general contend and quarrel : that bo the and deprive the Jews of that power and influence, by meekness of their disposition might be known to all men, which they became the general instigators of persecution. even to their enemies ; who would perceive how moderate they were, as to the acquisition and use of outward things ; and how composedly they suffered the loss or want ol them, or any of those hardships, to which the injustice of their persecutors exposed them. This they should aim at, um'ipr a realizing assurance that the Lord was at hand : the present life, with all its trials or enjoyments, was speedily vanishing ; die Lord would soon come to receive the souls of his jieople to glory, and to terminate the pros- perity of his enemies ; nay, the day of final retribution would sjjcedily arrive, with complete redemption to be- lievers, and perdition to ungodly men. Whatever then was taken from them, or wanting to them ; whatever dis- couraged or distressed them, in their own concerns or those (sf their brethren, they ought to watch against unbelieving This interpretation was prohalily adopted, lest it should be inferred that the apostle erroneously supposed the day of judgment to be near at hand; but it is by no means satisfactory. It is, however, the manner of the sacred w-riters, to consider all temporal diings as short, and the " end of them as at hand," and " the Judge as at the " door :" and, seeing death is the same, in a great measure, 10 individuals, as judgment will be to the world at large ; their language is in this respect highly suitable and proper. " AVith thanksgiving." (6.) ' Thus David, very often ' beginning with lamentations and tears, concludes with •thanksgiving.' {Be:(i.) Keep, &c. (7.) The mitjd andheart are distinguished. The peace of God, and the happy experience of it, fortifies and garrisons the intellec- tual faculties, against tiic cavils, objections, and vain rea- A. D. 6i>. CHAPTER IV. d. D. Cb. xs««o» a.iii.i. 8 ^ Finally, brethren, ' whatsoever "s"""' Or x'iT thiiiffs •• are true, whatsoever thinsjs " arc 4-7. Gal V. »!, ^ , S ^ , ^ , , • ,1 • . 23 j.ro ill 17. * honest, whatsoever tilings " are lust, 2 Pet i 5—7 • 1 6M«it sjtii li whatsoever thinsfs " are pure, whatsoever Bom. xii 9 •-' things ' arc lovely, Avhatsoever things Cor.yi. B Eph 3 , '' \. ■ £■ ,i I n.» V, ?. .1 i arc ol good report; li there be any 14. I Pet I. 22 ^ I •/■ ^i / • • wohniii. 18. I'viitue. and il mere be any 'praise, c Acb vi 3 Rom. , . , ' , , • J r ' a'coV vl'i 2? think on these things. *'"i' 'i t"." ^ Those things, ' which ye have both ii.2 T''i";.',f learned, and received, and heard, and .War Heb.sii ii. I abU. 1 • Or «i(»i. 7. t 10 h Ruth iii xii. 4.xxxi. 10. 29.2 Pet. i. 3, 1. i iToi . xnxi. 31. Hero. ii. 29 X'.i. 3. 5.2 Cor v'li 13 — k l.ukexTi. 15. 1 Thes v. 21.1 John .v 1. 1 ii; 17. 1 Cir X. 31-33. xi. I 1 Thes. i 6 ii. 2-12 14. iii 6-10. iv. 1-H. m Dc.i! v. 1 Matt. T ;9. SO. vii. 21 21-2?. I.u'ic vi 46 viii Jl John ii 5 xiii 17. xv 14. Acts ix 6. r,.TIies iii. 4 Jam i 22. 2 I'ct i. 10.1 John iii, 22. n 7 Uom. xv. 33 xvi. 50 I Cor xiv 33 2Cor. V. 19, 20. xiii.. 11 I Thes. v 23 He'j. xiii. 20. 21. o Is. viii. 10. \\i. 10. Matt i 2). xxvi.i 20 2 Tiro iv.22. soilings of infidels, skeptics, philosojihers, and herclics and the affections against the allurements and terrors of j worldly objects. V. 8, 9. The substance of the praclical exhortations, which the apostle had further to give, might he comjirised in few words. Whatsoever tempers, words, or actions, in any way exjiressed truth, candour, sincerity, or fidelity : whatsoever appeared grave, venerable, or respectable ; whatsoever was just and upright, stamped with probity and integrity ; whatsoever evinced purity, chastity, and temperance ; whatsoever was amiable, or friendly ; Avhat- soever was justly of good rep^irl, and approved as virtuous or commendable among men : let them continually think of such things, form a due estimate of the value of each, adopt such as were really good, and endeavour to manifest them in every jiart of their conduct, hi short, let them practise what he had taught them, and what they had received as teachable scholars ; what they had heard from him, and witnessed in his example: and then he could confidently assure them of the comforting and protecting presence of their reconciled God, (as the Author of in- ward and outward peace.) with their souls and in their as- semblies. V. 10 — 13. The apostje would not conclude the cpisUe, without a special acknowledgment of the kindness shown him by the Phili))pians. It had indeed " greatly " rejoiced him in the Lord," with reference to his pro- vidence, will, and glory, that, after a considerable time, their care of him had flourished again, as a tree shoot.* forth its buds in the spring. ' You have made your care • of me to flourish again.' (Hammond.) This not only * excited him to thank God, for putting it into their licarts to supply his urgent necessities ; but it made him glad, as it evinced the prosperous state of their souls. Indeed, he then was satisfied, that they had all along been carefiil for him, and desired to help him-, but they had wanted the opportunity or ability of doing it so soon as they had intended : yet perhaps his godly jealousy over them migi.t make him fear, lest they were become disaffected or re- miss. He did not speak this with respect to the want which he had suffered, as if that were an intolerable evil ; for he had learned in the .school of experience, under the 10 But P 1 rejoiced in the Lord greatly, ps«pii-.onment for the Gos- pel had exrited general attention, should want the neces- saries or comforts of life. But the Gentiles, in general, were little in the habit of giving to the ponr, or contribut- ing to the support of the ministers of religion : and the apostle, like Elisha in respect of Naaman, would be ex- tremely careful not to excite tli'ir prejudices, or interrupt the success of the Gosjjel, l>y his own concerns ; so that, probably, it was not generally known that he was in want. J. D. tJJ. a 1 Kingsvili l«. : f lir VI. 8. ■J Juhn 6-8 tl 18 i. 5. Uom SV 87 1 Cor ix. 10. II. (..il. >i 6. I Tim «i. til. Hell x. 31 xili. IG « 2 Kin's V. 16. :.0 2Cor. xi. B -IS xii. Il- ls 6 Art! Xvi. 40 :;ili 1-5 e I Tlics ii 9. 1 I Tbes il 18. g II. Mil. i. 10. .Vcls XX 32, 33 1 Ciir. ix 12- IS. SC'nr si 15. 1 Thes. ii. 5. 1 Tun lii. 3. %i 10 Tit. 1 7. •> ret V 3 a Pet. Ii 3. IS. ludc II hill Mic. vii I. J.ihn SV 8 In Ron xy PHILIPr.'ANS. J. D. 65. jyiatt X to-il. xxr 31 — 10 L' ■riies. 1.3. 14 xXotwithstandiiig ■ yc have well i" an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice n. j..hn done, that "yc did communicate with my'" acceptable, well-pleasing to Gud. Kph', aflliction. '^ ^"* ° ""J ^^^ ''*''^" '' supply all H" 15 Now, ye Pliilippians, know also,] your need, i according to his 'riches in "o"" that ''in the beginning of the gospel, when ** 1 departed from Macedonia, no cluirch communicated with me, as con- cerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even "in Thessalonica ye sent •^ once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not fc' because I desire a gift: but I desiro ''fruit that may abound 'to your account. 1!J But *I have all, and ''abound: 1 am full, having received of ' Epaphrodi- tus the tilings which were sent from you ikesiv. 12-14. ••••■•- . ~ . . .... • .. il £4. ii . 10. • Or, / Imve i glory by Christ Jesus. scur xvni 13 20 Now unto God and our Father 6e v'^ii^^'^. 1 r I . ■ ' John it:v IT glory lor ever and ever. ' Amen. m Rom i ■. 21 "Salute every " saint in Christ ''•'"eo'V ' Jesus. ''The brethren which are wit!: '"'"t y/i'Vi: Keh. IX IS P=. me greet you. xni 1-5. lu.. '' 1—3 Ixxxiv 11 22 All ^ the saints salute you, chiefly "''*!o'^'!"" ^ they that are of Cesar's household. [{ki"xii'''-^0" 2.J The '' grace of our Lord Jesus -[^ii^cor. « » Christ be with you all. Amen. %'> jJ'JV^'j ? Rom ix S3 xi. 33. Eph i 7. 18. ii 7. iii. 8 16. Col. i :T. iii. 16 I Tim vi"l7.— Mlorn" viii 18. 2Cor. it. 17 1 The3 ii 12 I Pet » I. 10 s i 11 :'s Kxii I" cxv 1 .H«. via 13. Horn XI. 36 xvi. 27 Eph iii 21. 1 I iin i. 17. Jude JS Rev. i 6iv9-i| V 12. xi. 13 xiv 7 121. Scf (u. Mtt vi 13 ixviii 20. uSrfpn. Rom xvi ., 2 Kph i I. y Ro.i) XVI al 22 Gil ii 3. Col iv 10-14 16. 2 Cor xiii 13 Heb. xiii 24 1 Pet v. 13. 3 John u -16 X i. 1 1 Cor. Ihilem. 21, 24 zRojii II 13 b See on, Rom x . 20.21. 2 Cor Xli 14. The Christians at Rome, as in other places, were, it may be supposed, chiefly of the lower orders; and they had already to provide for their own pastors, the jioor, and tlse expenses of their religious worship. Yet, after all these considerations have been allowed their full weight, not only the disinterestedness of the apostle, but the inat- tention, to say no mora, of the Chiistians, must excite our astonishment. Abased. (12.) 'He who is poor is ' despised by most men, how much soever be may be ' adorned with the excellent gifts ofGod.' {Beza.) {Note. Ec. ix. 13—18.) V. 14 — 20. Though the apostle could well have en- dured his poverty without murmuring, yet he was not on that account, by any means, the less entitled to assist- ance; and the Pliilippians had done a good work in com- municating with him in his affliction, by straitening them- selves to relieve him. This renewed instance of their liberal affection made it proper for him to mention, what they indeed knew, that at the beginning of the Gospel being preached among them, when he wis departing from Blacedonia ; no church, except that at Philippi, had main- tained Christian fellowship with him, by giving him a supply for his urgent wants, and by his receiving it from them. Even when he was successfully preaching at Thes- salonica, and labouring with his own hands for a main- tenance, they had repeatedly sent him presents. This demanded his grateful remembrance; not because he de- fired a gilt for its own sake, or coveted the property of liis hearers ; but because he desired to see them fruitful in those good works, which would conduce to their present comfort and future felicity : whereas, no doubt, it grieved him to see professed Christians tenacious of their worldly goods, and leaving their ministers to struggle with deep poverty. But, in every respect, he had all he cotild wisli for; he was fully satisfied with their conduct and wit'i his own circumstances, having received from Epaphroditus the supply vvliich they had sent. This lie knew to be far more acceptable to God than the most fragrant incense, being a spiritual sacrifice, well jileasing to liim, as the gonaine fruit of faith in the Lord Jesus, and love to him. {Eph, V. 2.) The aposdc indeed could not make them the return which he wished ; but his God and Father, " whose " he was, and whom he served," would surely supply all their wants of every kind, according to the riches of his all-sufficiency and bounty ; especially by bringing them to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus. To him therefore, as the common Father of the whole family, he ascribed the glory of all that was done in them, for them, and by them ; and of all his manifested perfections, and wonder- ful works, which he desired might be universally adored for ever and ever. Amen. Nothing could more fully show the peculiar confidence which the aposde had, con- cerning the Christians at Philippi, (as well as his fervent prayer for them.) than this conduct. Thessalonica was indeed a larger city than Philippi, but, probably, the con- verts to Christianity were poorer ; and perhaps they had not been so fully proved, when he was driven from them, as the Philippians had been. {Note, 2 Cor. viii. 1 — 3.) As Thessalonica was the chief city of Macedonia, at which St. Paul continued some time, it has been supposed that the clause, " when I departed from Macedonia," relates to a supply sent to him, after he was gone into Achaia, distinct from what had been sent to him in Thessalonica, V.21,22. The brethren, m:iy here either mean the ministers at Rome, or such of the apostle's friends as were come from other parts to be with him. There were true saints 'even in Nero's household, who kept dicir plac .'5, and served Christ, in that most perilous and ensnaring situation ! It is probabl°, that they were generally in inferior stations. {i\Iarg. Ref.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—9. Afiectionate ministers, like tender parents, can scarcely find words cmphatical enough to express their love, and fervent desires after the felicity of those whom they rcgird as their present joy aiid ilieir future crown. They greatly- long after their steadfastness in the faith, and con.'itant devotedness to God, amidst the temptations and allure- ments of the world : and their good conduct for .-\ scasoH makes them the more earnest with them, to acquit them- 1 selves in like manner for the future. They so love die J. D 65. CHAPTER IV. .1. D. GJ. bks.sed office of peacc-mr.kers, that they will even stippli- tc.le by name iIku- o\w! childrei!. lo be of one mind in the Lord : and tlicy >o much desire die success of every good work, that ti;ey use all their influence to excite every one to htl|' all those who lal)our in anyway to promote the Gospel, and thus give assurance that their names are written in ihe book of life. 13elie\ers have always ground of rejoicing in the Lord, though tiiey are not always able to rejoice : the perfection of their duty, and the full enjoy- ment of their privilege, are precisely the same : their disconsobtions arise from weakness of faith and grace, and they should be called ujjon to "' rejoice in the Lord "aiway," though they be not able to come up to the. standard that they may aim high; for the nearer they come to it, the more will the Lord be glorified in and by them. Living upon these holy, satisfying, and substantial iovs, we should make it appear that we are not of this 'world. Let the carnal and selfish grasp at, and contend about, thi' possessions and parade of a day ; our modera- tion about temporal tilings, and our composure amidst injuries and losses, should be manifest to all men. The Lord is at hand ; the hour of death, and the day of judgment, will specdil) arive. The transient joys and soriows o! t' t' I'lesfnt scene are not worth our solicitude ; all our len.; o \ arid eternal interests are in the Lord's h ,ds ; we should therelbre be careful for nothing, except to know the state of our souls, and the path of duty.-- In all our sorrows, fears, or wants, we should make our recjuests known unto God : for, though he knows them beforehand, he loves to hear them from us. Whatever our difficulties may be, we have always cause to unite grateful praises with our prayers and supplications; and in this way we shall find an inward satisfaction, and experi- ence that peace of God which passeth all understanding ; so that our hearts and minds will be preserved in serenity, whatever storms may rage around us. All our privileges and salvation originate wholly from the free mercy of God ; yet the actual enjoyment of them is intimately connected with our holy conversation. Therefore, what- soever things are true, respectable, just, pure, loving, lovely, or of good report; whatsoever is virtuous and commendable ; whatsoever prophets, apostles, or martyrs, bave exemplified ; whatsoever excellency we have heard, and read of, or witnessed, in the conduct of the saints; nay, whatever things the world, on good grounds, regards and approves as virtuous ; these we should continually think of, and diligently practise ; and in this way we may hope for the jiresence and blessing of the God of peace and love. V. 10—23. Even they, who prosper in religion, have their winter, as well as their spring seasons : sometimes their Zealand love seem to languish, and then again at last they fiourish more abundantly. Yet they often lack opporiunitj', when they perhaps are judged inattentive ; and faithful minis- ters may sometimes suspect or mourn over them, when if they knew all, they might be rejoicing greatly in the Lord for them. We should, however, confide in God alone ; for human friendship is precarious. It is a great and difficult attainment, to " learn in whatever state we *' are, therewith to be content." Pride, unbelief, a vain hankering after something unpossessed, a fickle disrelish to present things, and the tedious repetitii.;-, of the same actions and scenes which no longer give pleasure, render men naturally discontented in the most favourable circum- stances ; and their continual shiftings, frotn one thing to another, resemble the tossing to ajuifroofa man in a fever, who imputes his restlessness to his posture, rather than to his disease. It requires much humility, spiri- tuality, faith, and resignation, to render us contented in our appointed situations. Probably, few Christians, who enjoy liberty and plrnfy, can sincerely and unreservedly adopt the language of Paul, the indigent prisoner of Jesus Christ. We ouglu, however, to study this important les- son ; we should pray continually for patient submissioti and hope, when we are abased ; for humility and a heavenlv mind, when exalted ; and to be initiated into the practical mystery of temperate, self-denying, liberal, lowly abun- dance ; or that of cheerful, contented, and honouiable indigence, even if called to sutler hunger £.nd extreme want. AVe can indeed of oursf'lvcs do nothing ; but we may do all things through Christ, who iinvardlj stiengther.s his people, in proportion as they simply depend upon Iiim, He can teach and enable his ministers to live in poverty among the affluent, without grudging, envying, coveting, or repining ; even when they have an ecjuitable claim upon them for a portion of their abundance. Indeed, we should peculiarly aim at this, if we would be examples to the flock, and convince the wealthy that we " seek not theirs, " but them." Notwithstanding this, the people should bo taught, that they do well in communicating to the wants of their faithful pastors, who are justly entitled to libera! assistance, in proportion as they are willing to ci.dure all things, rather than hinder the Gospel of Christ. And they Vv-ho distinguish themselves in such services, from pui« motives, shall be "had in everlasting remembrance ;" for tlieir most secret good works shall be published at the last day, if not before. The aftectionale servant of Christ will not '• desire a gift;" nay, on some occasions, he will firmly refuse it, whatever his straits maj' be : \ct he cannot but long to see his people fruitful in such thiiigs as will abound to their ow n accnnnt : and though he be willing to suffer want, yet he must grieve, ^vhcn they neglect their bounden duty, and so bring their state into question, or prevent their own comfort. We should not be reluctant, on proper occasions, to acknowledge our obligations to those who have ministered to our neces- sities; and to commend their fruits of faith and love, as " an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well- •' pleasing unto God." AVhai we cannot repay, we may trust that he will, according to his riches in Christ Jesus, supiilying all the wants of those who thus straiten them- selves, and bringing them to his heavenly liingdoni, that glory may be to him, our God and Father, for evermore. Whether saints reside in palaces, cottages, or dungeons, communion should be maintained among them by mutual ])rayers, salutations, and kindnesses. The Lord will have some to honour him in every situation ; and he can pre- serve I'uem unhurt in their proper plac'es, however perilou*, by the power which protected the three young men ia the fiery furnace ; for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will be with all his people, wherever disjicrsed. or how- ever distinguished, and prove eventually sufficient for them. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THi: COLOSSIANS. Colossc teas a populous city of Phrygia, in Asia Minor, near to Laodicea and Hierapolis. It is not recorded, that St. Paul had been there ; and the general testimony of antiguity favours the opinion, that Epaphras, or some other evangelist, sent by the apostle from Ephesus, founded the church at Colosse. This opinion, however, has of late been much controverted. It docs not indeed appear to be a matter of much con- sequence to us ; and I am not disposed to enlcr on so uninteresting a controversy ^ yet, I must give my decided opinion, that the evidence agcdnst the apostle's having been at Colosse, is far stronger, than any which has been adduced on the affmnative side of the question. There is a great similarity between this epistle, and that to the Ephcsians ; and it is generally supposed, that they were written about the same time, and sent by the same mcssenc-er, even Tychicus : though Onesimus, being a Colossian, who accompanied Tychicus, is not mentioned in the epistle to the Ephcsians. It is probable, that the apostle hud heard of some teachers ; who, o-raflbw heathen philosophy (dong with the tradition of the Pharisees, on the ritual law of Moses, had cor- rupted the Gospel by this heterogeneous mixture ; and were attempting to draw aside the Colossiau'i. He therefore particularly warned them against these deceivers, and against all who, either by superstitious obser- vances, or philosophy, attempted to draw them aside from the simplicity of Christ : in whom alone, they were complete, and had every thing which they could possibly want or conceive of. These cautions and ex- hortations are introduced, and connected with the most exalted views of the personal and mediatorial dignity of Christ ; and (he fulness and frecness of his salvation, which many suppose to have been directed against some of those heretical sects, that sprang up at an early period in the church, thf leaders of which sought to exalt themselves, by deroo-atin"- from the glory of the divine Saviour. It appears, hou-ever, that the church at Colosse was, on the whole, in a very flourishing state : and accordingly the epistle abounds more in thanksgivings to God, commendations, and animating exhortations, than in reproofs and warnings.— Epaphras was, probu' bly, when the apostle wrote, confined as a jnisoner at Borne. (Fhilem. 23.) Ji. D. 64. , . ^ ^- ^' ^*- CHAP. I The apostle salutes the saints at Colosse, 1, 2 ; thanks God for the good account which he had heard from Epaphras, of their faith and love, 3 — 8 ; shows how he prayed for their increasing knowled for you in heaven, whereof ye heard be- Pet i. 21-S3J fore in ' the word of the truth of the gospel ; b Which " is come unto you, as i( is 'g'9 in all the world; "and bringcth forth 18, i9_2Thes fi-yit, gg {( Jo(fi also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and " knew the grace ol Eph Thes iii John 3, 4 b Gal.v.6 IThes i. 3. iv. 9, 10 2 Thei Philera U 23. Actl '■ Heb 19 1 Pet. iii I John iii. : Matt vl 19 Luke xii. 33. 2 Tim. Cor V. 19. vi 7 Eph xcviii. 3- Matt IPet. i. 3, 1. 1 iii IS. Acts X. 36 xiii. 2G. Rom x 8. 2 1 Thes. ii 13. 1 Tim i. 15 t Pet ii. 2. m 23 Ps. ixviii 19. Mark xvi. 15 Rom x 18. xv 19 xvi 26 2 Cor. n 10. Mark iv.H. 26-29. Jolili xv 16 Acts xii. 24 Rom. i. 13. xv 28. Eph. Phil i. II. iv. 17. 0 Pa ex. 3 Acts xi. 18. xvi U. xxvi. 18 1 C<,r. xv. 10. II )r vi 1. Eph, iv 23, 24. 1 Thee. i. 4 ii. 13, 3 Thea, ii. 13, U. Tit. ii ll.lPet. i. 2, 12. NOTES. CH.\P. I. V. 1, 2. {Marg. Ref. Notes, Rom. i. 1—7. 1 Cor. i. 1 — 3.) ' Colosse was situated in Phrygia, not far ' from Hierapolis and Laodicea, in that part which bor- ' ders on Lycia and Pamphylia.' {Be=a.) ' I cannot ' think they are called holy and faithful brethren, on ac- ' count of their adhering to the purity of the Christian ' faith, in opposition to those that urged the necessity of ' observing the Jewish law. This was indeed one instance ' of their fidelity ; but I think it greally impoverishes and ' debases the sense of such an extensive phrase, to reduce ' it within such narrow bounds. Many scores of criticisms ' of some modern commentators of reputation are liable ' to the same exception.' {Doddridge.) The author quotes this passage, as exactly conveying his opinion on several learned espositions, both before and since the time of the pious Doddridge. They give you a bucket of water, and speak as if they had emptied the well. V. 3 — 8. The apostle began the epistle, as usual, by assuring the Colossians, that he gave thanks "to the God " and Father of our Lord Jesus," for his grace bestowed on them, and prayed for the perfection of that good work in them. This he and his friends had done, ever since they heard of their faith and love, (Eph. i. 1.5 ;) blcs.sing God, who had called them from the delusive pursuit of earthly things, to hope for happiness in himself. The object of this hope -was laid up in heaven, the place of perfect purity and joy, out of the reach of the vicissitude.? i>f this lower world. It was treasured up for them, and no enemy conld deprive them of it. They had hoard of it, in the word of truth, even the glad tidings of salvation which had been sent to thorn. It was intended, that these Vor,. v.— No. 33. 7 As yc also learned of ^ Epaphras, ''.!,' '= ''''''«™ ■J our dear fellow-servant, who is for you ''r3""/':.v'''' "' 'a faithful minister of Christ; 'MaTxxw'. J,: 8 Who also declared unto us your "V^iV. virC!i' = love in the Spirit. Fp."' vi^':,."'d 9 For this cause we also, 'since the ii.'n'i'ii":""''' day we heard//, "do not cease to pray 'x*v. oa^rJi * for you, and to desire "that ye might be f^Pet^'S."' filled with the knowledge >' of his will, 'io.KpiKTts,ifi^ in all ' wisdom and spiritual understand- "Acts'°ii6"phii! * i. 4. 1 TliPS. i 3. mg : V. 17 2 Thes. I. 10 That "ye mie-ht walk worthy of •> ''i'i>™"4' ' ,1 r 1 >°ll 1 ■ i-^- X Kph. i. 15-2(1. the Liord, unto "all Tjleasinff, beinnf ■'' '■'-is Phii. /••/•I- l' 1*1 .3' 9-11 Mruitliil m every coou work, and 'i jn- y i'- '2 rs cxiiit. .1 111 rA I '" 'lohn vi(. 17. creasing in the knowledge ol God ; ^"^-^ "M. ^2. 11 'Strengthened with all miffht, ac- 'J- ^ ."f!'''; cortlmg to 'his glorious power, ^ unto ["^^^ .'i',,' ■• all patience and long-suffering with joy- ^-''^ '.^^'^^'..Tam. fulness ; '.'" i '' i >■*':' 12 ''Giving thanks imto 'the Father, \l Phili 27 IThes ii 12 b iii. 20 Prov. ii 4. Heh, xi i xiii. IG. I John iii 22. c Phil, i II. Tit. iii. I. 14. Heb. xiii, 21 2 Pet. xii, 4 Kah, ti. 14 .John xvii 3 2 Cor i i 14 i' . 18. I John \ f E ,6 Ps 2 Aitsi. 8. 2 Cor. Rom. ii 7 V 3-5 2 Cor. vi. 4, 6 xii 34-33 xi, 34-38 Xii 1,2. Jam i 2—4 l."! 17. 1 Chr xsix. 20 Ps l.xxis. 13 Ii. 2 John iv, 23 xiv, 6, xx 17. I Cur vi. 4. Eph. 1. V. 2, I.i. 7. Phil tv. 18 1 Thes iv 1. 2 Tim. xr. 8 16 Gal V 22, 23 Eph ii. III. (ii. 5-8. ii 19, Is liii. II, Dan. s 8. Eph. i 17. iv. 13. 2 Pet i. 2, :i. Eph. iii. 16, vi. 10 Pliil. iv 7. Juile 25, g Prov xxiv. 10 Ai 9,10, 1 Thes, iii 3.4 2 Tim ii 1—3 Heh. , V. 7. 8. 2 Pet i. 6. Uev xiv 12, 13 h i cvii. 21, 22. cxvi. 7. Dan. ii. 23 Kph. v 4 : viii. 6. Eph iv. 6. Jam. iii. 9. 1 John i, 3. should be published throughout the world : they had made a very rapid progress among the nations, (Marg. Ref.) and, having been attended by a divine power, they had brought forth fruit in every place, in the conversion of multitudes to the holy service and spiritual worship of God, by faith in Christ Jesus. The same blessed fruits had been produced in the hearts and lives of the Colos- sians since the time when they first had hcaid the Gospel, and had tnili/ and experimentally believed it, and been real- ly made partakers of Christ and his salvation. These things they had learned from Epaphras, whom the apostle own"d as a dear fellow-servant in the work of Christ, and a faith- ful minister, appointed specially to labour for the good of the Colossians, as their stated pastor. Moreover, he had assured the apostle of their love to Christ, and to him for Christ's sake, which they exercised " in the Spirit," under his influences, and in a spiritual manner; and this made him so confident in respect of their interest in the hcavrnly hope before-mentioned. JFe give thanks, &c. (3.) ' From ' this note, that the good Shepherd should not only feed ' his flock, but pray continually for them, and give thanks ' for the sijiritual blessings conferred on them.' " The " God and the Father." " The God of Israel," ' was tie ' characteristic of the true God to the Jewish nation : — " God, who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," ' i.s ' the cliT'i-actcristic of the same God to Christians, .who ' worship him under that title, as being " the Father of •' our Lord Jesus Christ," 'and in him our Father: we ' being the sons of God through faith in him, and derivin^y ' all our blessings from the Father through him.' " Love " in the Spirit," (?..) ' Wrougjit in you by that Spirit, ' whose fruit is love.' (Whilby.) 2 S A. D. 64. COLOSSIANS. A. D. 64. liom 30 Kmg, vi r Avhich hath ^ made us meet to be 'par-1 " *" ' takers of ""the inlieiitance of the saints] 1 5 Who is " the Image of * the s. Til. ii. 14. " HI l|o;lit 1 KoiD X 27 U Cph J Mall Acl- llotn- ]3°Wiio hath " dehvcrcd us from " the i^M.ii'ncl.*!'; power of darkness, "land hatli translated "'"xxvliuj into 'the kingdom of * his dear Son: VjV iV 14 s|n whom we have redemption i,'2-» g' through his blood, even ' the forgiveness fv^J iliiTs of sins : so Hel. x.i 23.1le» xii.23 «ii 5 ols.xlix. 24.25 liii 12. M.ll sii 29. 30. Acl.» xxvi, '8. He'> ii 14,16. p Luke xxii' 63 John xii 31.32 2 Cor iv 4 Kph iv "> V. 8 vi 12 1 Pel. ii 9. I John li e, 9 iii 8 Act! XX 28. Rom iii.24, S5 Gal iii. 13. k,ph. i 7. v 2. 1 Tim ii 6 Tit .i 14. Hel. Is. 12 22 x. lS-14 1 Pet i. 19,20 i... 18 1 John li 2. Iter 1 6 V 9 XIV 4 t ii 13 iii. 13 Ps. xxx'i 1. 2 cxxx 4 Luke v. '.0 vii 47- 40 A-ls li. 38 X 43 xiii 38 39 xxvi. 18. Flora, iv 6 8. Epk iv 32. 1 John i 9 il. \- mVI- uE«. xxiT. 10 sible God, ''the First-born ^ of every i. af-Sa' ^"hn , ' I. « xiv 9 XV. creature : 24. 2Cor i» 4. 16 For ' by him were all thinos created uts \ 3 that are '' in heaven, and that are in earth, '^j'J."'^'' »■ 2' visible, and invisible, whether ihey be ' thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers : all things were created '' by him, and for him ; 1 7 And "^ he is before all things, ' and by him all things consist. b20 Deul iv. 39 I Chr. xxix. II. Eph i 10 Pbil ii in. Rev. v 13, i !5. nom. viii 38 Eph i 21 iii 10. vi 12. 1 PeL iii » d Prov xv Uorr. xi. 36 Heh. ii 10. e 15 Prnv vili. 22. ,a. Is xliil H— 13 xl John i. 1,2. viii 58. xvii 5 Hcb xiii 8 Kev i 8. II 17. ii 8 1 Ixxv 3. John V. 17, 18 Aclssvii. 28. Heb i 3. 27. JohD i 11 III. 6. Ileb i i. : 16, 17. Prov. VII 29 - 31. He ii 4 > 15 Ps. .• i 25- »■ Is XI S-12 Xll . 24 ohni. 3. 1 Cor. tiii. Si Kp III < Heh. 1 2 .0- 2. Iii. 3 . < - c il 10. V. 9—14. Since the time that the apostle had heart! concerning the professed Christians at Colosse, that they evidently .showed their faith in Christ, and faithfulness to him, (2.) he and his friends had not ceased to pray for them. He especially re()nested that they might he filed, or v.ompltlely endued wilk, the knowledge of the will of God, both in respect of his method of saving sinners, and their duties to him and to all men, as his redeemed servants ; that they might understand the import and spiritual extent of his commandments, and how to obey them in the several relations, situations, and offices, which they sustained in the church and in the community, and in the improve- ment of their different talents. That they might know how to apply genera! rules to their own particular cases, and so do the work of Christ assigned to each of them, in the best manner, from the purest motives, and with the happiest effect. Thus they would proceed " in all wis- " dom and spiritual understanding •," with sagacity and prudent discernment of seasons and opportunities; distin- gui.shing between real excellency and all deceitful ap- pearances; wisely attending to their duties in the most inoffensive and engaging manner, without affording their enemies any advantage, or losing opportunities of useful- ness out of tiiniditj', or failing ot success through want of camion and discretion. He was desirous of this especially, that they might habitually behave in a manner worthy of that glorious and holy Lord, whose servants and v;orship- pers thev were ; not dishonouring him or his cause by any inconsistency or impropriety of conduct, but acting as became persons so highly favoured and divinely instructed ; and that their conduct might in all respects be well-pleasing to him ; while fruitfulncss in every kind of good work was connected with a still further increase in the knowledge of God, and of the glory and harmony of his perfections, and a happy experience of his consolations. {Note, Phil. i. 9 51.) The apostle and his helpers prayed also that the Colossians might be most abundantly strengthened in all the "races of the new nature, with an energy suited to their utmost need, according to the glorious power of God bv whicli he converted, upheld, and comforted be- lievers.' that so they might be enabled to bear all their tribulations and persecutions with patient submission, per- severing constancy, meekness of long-suffering, and joy in the Lord; whilst, amidst all trials, they gave thanks to the Father of our Lord .'esus. whose special grace had made them meet to partake of the inheritance provided for the saints, in the world of perfect light, knowledge, holi- ness, and haf>piness; at a distance from all ignorance, error, sin, temptation, fear, and sorrow. As believers, they were even 'hen called " to walk in the light ;" and. compared with the condition of unconverted men, their situation might well be thus distinguished : yet, when the state of glory was spoken of. into which the spirits of their departed brethren had already entered, they were still in comparative darkness. They had, however, obtained;-. lot in that blessed inheritance ; and their holy desii-ps, spi- litual atTections, and cajiacity for delighting in the work and worship of God, especially their love to the Lord Je- sus Christ, and his glorious salvation, constituted a mee;- ness for that inheritance, and all its joys and employments, and a sure evidence that God intended to bring them to it. For, in order to effect this change in them, he had rescued them from the " power of darkness," the empire of Satan, the prince of darkness, whose Uliml and abject slaves they had formerly been ; and he had translated them into the kingdom of righteousness, of liberty, of light, and comfort, which he had constituted under his dear Son, or the " Son " of his love ;" (Marg. Ref.) by faith in whom they enjoyed this redemption, as the purchase of his atoning blood ; by which forgiveness of sins, and all other .spiritual blessings, were vouchsafed to them. (Notes, Arts xxvi. ir, lf5. Eph. i. 7— n. 13. 15—18.) The apostle joined himself and the Jewish converts along with the Gentiles in these things ; and doubtless all are the subjects of the prince of darkness, of whatever nominal religion they are, till inward conversion translates them into the kingdom of Christ. And to restrict the interpretation to the deli- verance of the Gentile converts, and to the happy slate 6f the Jewish converts, as " the saints in light," is totally to enervate tlic passage, which is highly animated, and to make it inconsistent with itself: for how could the apostle speak of himself as one of these benighted idolaters ? The " glorious power," here spoken of, is sometimes ascribed to God, absolutely, sometimes to the Holy Spirit, and frequently to Christ. " For these Three are One." (Mnrg. Ref.) V. l.^» — 1". Having mentioned Christ as the well beloved Son of God, the apostle here explained more fully the import of that expression. He declared him to be I" the image of the invisible God." {Marg. Ref. Note., A. D. b4. CHAPTER 1. A. D. G4. , \b, 16. '<• 1 8 And f- he is the Head of the body, «; the church : who is " the Beginning, ,' the First-born from the dead; '' that ,]: * in all things he might have the pre- li John i. I Jubn Re*, i. 3 i ilShn\ "s! 1 eminence. Acts ixvi 23. I Cor. n. iO— 23. Rev g7. C>al T. 10. Is IJI. 13 )IaU X!!ii'. i 3i Rnm. \iii. 29. 1 Cor. xt Zi Htb. * Or. amtng all. i 5. 19. k Pa. x xiriii 19 JobQ i IG 2 5, t R«T T 9-13. xi. 2— S Ixxxix iii. 34-31. 31 J. XXi. 29. 21. Heb. i. 1 — 4.) Being possessed of all divine perfections, as One with the Father, he appeared on earth, displaying those perfections, and performing ail divine operations, through the medium of the human nature. Thus, he made the invisible God known to mankind, as his express image : he rcpresciited the Father, and manilested his glory. In and through him, as God manifest in the flesh, sinnei's might know, approach, trust, and worship God with ac- ceptance ; which otherwise they could not have done. It seems evident that Christ is not called the linage of God, in respect of his divine tialure, as many, e-|jecially the ancient expositors, supposed ; and so, by iheir illustrations, weakened or perplexed the argument for his real Deity: for the divine essence is no more visible in the Person of the Son, than in that of the Father : and therefore the one cannot be the Image, or visible representation, of the other. But the Person of Ciirisl, as God in human nature, is the visible, or sensible, discovery of the invisible God ; and " he (hat hath seen him hath seen the Father." — The apostle fu'ther declared Christ to be " the First- •■' born of the whole creation ;" (for so the words may be literally rendered.) Christis often called the FtVs<-6eg-ot," or are preserved in being and order ; so that, without his sustaining power, they must 19 For ' it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell ; 20 And, t having ■" made peace throufifh the blood of his cross, by him " to re- concile all things unto himself; by him, Isaif. whether tlin/ be ° things in earth, or things in heaven. 5 Zech. IX 9, 10. I.T.l.a ii U AcUx.36. UoEl v. I. 2. Cor. r. 19-21 HeO xiii. 10, 21 John It. 9, 10. n2 Cop r. 18. He'J ii. 17. — o Kpn I ii. S. 9 iii r, M«f. M. Si J7 l.ukex 21 2<. Joha 1. «. IM 31 Rph 1 2J n lO 11 tOr. mrtkU; ptrttC 01 a.. 23 1 i4). PS ixt ii ■ 10. 1' Is IX tt. ^ y.> X » 1 — to Uan IX. 24 — :6 Mi V :» . kph i 13- 17. fall into confusion or non-existence. (Marg. Ref.) It is perhaps impossible to use stronger language, to express creating and upholding Power, universal Sovereignty, and real Deity, than is here employed. To which the Soci- nians can only say, that it is all figurative, and means no more than the introduction of the Go.spel-dispensation as a kind of new creation ; than which nothing can be more absurd. Or tiiey may say, that the apostle was mistaken ! And to such obstinate infidelity wc oppose the demon- strative evidences of the divine inspiration of the Scrip- tures. In fact, we find similar languajce in every epi.vtle, and in almost evciy part of the New Testament. — It should also be observed, that however we may interpret the expression, " The First-born of every creature," no man can infer from it, that Christ is a sort of su^ia- angelic creature, (according to the inconsistent opinion of the Arians,) without expressly opposing St. Paul's in- ference from his own doctrine, or rather the argument by which he confirms it ; in which he evidently s^ows, that he meant that Christ was before, above, and distinct from, all creatures ; yea, the Author, Proprietor, and Sup- port, of all ranks and orders of them in the universe. — First-born. (16.)— By using this word, (jr^arsTsx??,) and not First-created, (rfaToKTic-Tot ■) the apostle marks the distinction between the- eternal Son of God, and the most exalted of those creatures which derived their existence from him. V. 13 — 20. The same glorious Person, of whose original majesty such sublime language had been employed, was next declared to be the " Head of the body, the "Church." This manifestly related to his mediatorial cliaracter, which he voluntarily assumed and sustained in human nature. He is also the Beginning, the Authoj- and Source, of spiritual and eternal life to man, the Resur- rection and the Life, both of his body and soul : and " the " First-born from the dead ;" the first who rose to die no more ; the First-fruits of his people, who rose to inherit the mediatorial throne, as their Surety, and for their benefit. So that it was evidently intended, that in " all things he " should have the pre-eminence," over all worlds, and in all respects ; as to creation, providence, redemption, essential dignity, universal sovereignty, assumed and dele- gated authorit)', personal excellency, and the display of Omnipotence ; as the Conqueror of " death, and of hirn " that had the power of death ;" both in the world and in the Church ; above all creatures visible and invisible ; during time and to eternity. For " it pleased." or seemed good, to the Father, " diat all fulness should dwell in him :" that all the plentitude of divine power, authority, wisdom, knowledge, holiness, justice, truth, mercy, grace, even all "the fulness of God," should divell in the P^rson of Christ, and be exercised and communicated through bis 2 S 2 /;. D. 04. COLOSSI AN S. Jl. D. 04- pRomiaojg, 21 And you, that were ''sometime cor'vi a-ii alie of the « Joiiniy.6 acu pospcl, which ye have heard, ««(/ which iunnea tii 3.' fe 1 ' . . / ' , . , . yi Hum. V. 5. was preached '• to every creature winch is f*"' "■ » J=rh- r , , 1 /• 1 r» 1 ' '" ' ''''<«■ "■ "under lieavcn ; ''whereot I, 1 aul, am "^I'-es ii.io. . . ' ' ' 1 t 111 7. Heb. made a nunister : j' '^: ), •"?,< '■ -,., . . . „ 3 1 Jobu 111. I 24 Who now ''rejoice m my suller- ,-\,j^^jj,j ^ ings for you, and '^ till up that which is ,'1,°';;, *j. 'I, ,, behind of the afflictions of Christ, in my ici"" s''/,.??." flesh, " for his body's sake, whicli is the ''xxvi^'io'' ko" church ; 1 5. v. ie-20 Ti. 1. xl 23 Eph. lii. 7, 8, I Tim. iv. 5,6. c Malt V. II, 12. Acts V. 41. Rora v. 3. 2 Cor 17, 18. Jam. i. 2. dS Cor. i. 6-8. iv. 8-12. xi. 23. 27. rhil I Cor iv. 1 -3 2 Cor 12. ii. 7. 2 Tim. i II 12 V.yh iii. I 13. Phil, ii- reconciliation : the u ent of which was, that they should at length be presented before God so perfectly holy, as to be unblameable and unrcproveable even in his sight ; their sanctification being at length rendered as complete, as their justification had been when they believed. {Note, Eph, V. 25 — 27.) This would certainly be the case with every one, who continued in the profession and exercise of faith, like a building that is grounded and settled on a firm foundation, and so was not, by any carnal fear, delusion, or expectation, or by any temptation, moved away from the hope of eternal life, according to the truth of the Gospel, which they had heard. 'I'he Lord had commanded that it should be preached to every creature under heaven, and it had actually been published very widely among Jews and Gentiles, without distinction of nation, or previous character ; and of this Gospel St. Paul had been made a minister and an apostle. He uses a general term, commonly employed on similar occasions, the imjjort of which must be learned from other places. (Marg. Ref.) — This last verse maybe rendered, "Since " ye continue, &c. ;" implying a confidence of the since- rity of the Colossians, as evidenced by their steadfastness. But our translation is good sense and sound doctrine ; for many promising professors are moved away hom the hope of the Gospel, " having no root in themselves ;" fear of coming short is one grand means of the true believer's perseverance; and il was frequently the apostle's manner, by such intimations, to caution his readers to beware of deceiving themselves. — Mind, &c. (21.) This word denotes the higher faculties of the soul, the intelleclual or reasoning powers ; yet in these, man is an enemy to God ; so vain is the Jnotion, that the opposition of reason to the sensual appetites is the conflict between flesh and s])iril, of which the apostle elsewhere discourses. V. 24. The suilerings of ihe apostle came upon him, chiefly, by preaching to the Gentiles ; but the blessed cftects of his ministry among them, and ihat of those who con* curred with him in it, caused him to rejoice in all thai he endured for their sakes : for he thus " filled up that which " was behind of the suflerings of Christ." The sufferings of Christ jjerfcctly sufliced for the redemption of his body the Church ; nor could those of the apostle in any measure make up the deficiency, if there had been any. But the atonement of Christ must be applied ; that application is made by faith ; faith comes by hearing ; hearing by [ireach- ing ; and preaching was then inseparable from suffering ; SO that tjhe ajpostie's su^cnngs ia hi? flesh, for the hen^&t .4. D. G4. CHAPTER I. ^. D. G4. fSwon, b 23 — 1 Thes Hi. 2. I Tim. i». 6. . Rom. XV. IS- IS 1 Cor. ix. 17 Gal. li. 7, a Bpli ill. 2. » Or, /uNji to ; preach the ivord of God. HoiD. XV. 19. 2 ■I'im iv. 2-S. il Rom xvi. 23, 26. I Cor ii. 7 Eph. iii. 3—10. i Ps XIV. M Matt xiii. H. Mark iv. II. Luke viii. 10 S Tim. i. 18. U 1 Cor. ii 18- 14. 2 Cor ii. 14. iv. 6. Gal. i 16. IT. 19. 25 Whereof ' I am made a minister, e according to the dispensation ol" God, which is given to me lor you, * to fulfil the word of God ; 26 Even " the mystery which hath been hid from ages, and from genera- tions, but ' now is made manifest to his saints ; 27 To •= whom God would make known what is ' the riclies of the glory ol this mystery among the Gentiles ; which lii 3 Kc ix. 23. xi. 33 Eph i. 7. 17, 18. iii. 8-10. IC. Th.l of the Church, were necessary in their place, and could not be disjiensed with. By them he filled up what was behind of the afflictions ot" Cliri.st ; as the suflerings of martyrs, confessors, and believers in genei-al, form one aggregate of pain and distress, with those of the Head of the Church, the whole of which is conducive and neces- sary, in different ways, to the complete salvation of the whole body. But the apostle might with the more pro- priety say this, as he suffered in the same cause, from the same persons, in the same meek and patient manner, and from the same spirit of zeal and love, with his divine Master; so that his afflictions resembled Christ's in every thing, except that Christ's alone were expiatory. Christ is also represented as sympathizing in the sufferings of his disciples; and many think the apostle had in view the words with which the Lord addressed him, in the way to Damascus ; " Saul, Saul, why perseculest thou " me ?" In this sense the sufferings of every part of the Lord's mystical body are his sufferings ; yet the former sense appears more suitable to the tenour of the passage. V. '25 — 27. St. Paul had been made a minister of the Gospel, according to the sovereign appointment of God in his gracious dealings with him, that he might fulfil the prophecies of the Scripture, in preaching to tlic Gentiles, and bringing thf m into the Church ; thus he was employed to make known that mystery, which had been hidden fi'om men, during all preceding dispensations and ages of the world, but was at length manifestly revealed to the holy followers of Christ. {Notes, Eph. iii. 1 — 9.) For to them il had pleased God to make known the immense abundance of his mercy and grace, as well as the glory of all his perfections, in this mystery among the Gentiles. Not only was Christ, the promised Messiah, preached a??iong the Gentiles ; not only did he reign among them, bdt he actually dwelt in the hearts of true believers, in the hearts of multitudes of them, by faith, and the power ^4^ of his Spirit, implanting his love, renewing his image, and '^ writing his law, which fully sealed and wan-anted their hope of eternal glory. Indeed, it cannot be made intelli- gible, how Ctirist among them could give individuals a warrantable hope of glory. V. "28, 29. This precious Saviour was the great sub- ject of the apostle's preaching, and that of his faithful I) xihrcn, who warned every man to flee from the wrath 10 come, ancj from every other confidence, to this Refuge, is ■" Clirist t in you, " the hope of glory : m'^'j; n^i I'j'J'O^ 28 " Whom we preach, '' warning eve- ^^j ^'^]''^]l ry man, and i teaching every man, ' in all J",;'..'./;.,^'?' lo wisdom ; that " \\c may present every i, ^.;',^ ^'[ if- man ' perfect in Christ Jesus ; f/'jj'i, f 'j- 29 Whereunto I also "labour, ^striv- ivi'Heviif.''2a ing according to ''his working, which ^5f'v';°"i"v\''J!: worketh in me ^mightily. llii."°Tii ''if SCi.r. iv 17 1 Pet i 3,4 o Actsiii. 20 v 42 viii. 5 3J. ix. 10. X 30. xi 20. xiii :!( •ivii. q. 18. Rom xvi 25. 1 Cor. i. 21. xv 12 2 Cor iv. 5 x. 14 Eph iii. l(. I'hil. i. 15_ 18. I Tim. iii. 16, p Jcr vi 10. Ez iii. 17—20. xxxiii. 4-9. Malt iii. 7. Actsxv 20 27 31. 1 Cor iv. 14 1 Thes iv. 6. v. 12-M. — q Dent iv. 6. Ezra vii. 10. Ec. xii. 9 iVall. XKviii. 10 llarkvi. 20 Kph. iv. 11.1 Tiro Hi 2 2 Tim. ii. 24 r I'lOV. viii. a' Jer. iii 15. Loke xxl. 15.1 Cor ii 6 15. .sii. 8. 2 Pet. iii 15. eSte oti,S2 tii. 10 1 Cor I. 30 Kph. iv 12. 13. Huh x 14 xiii 21. u iv. 12 I Cor. xv. 10 SCor.v. 9 vi 5. xi. 23. Phil, ii 16.1 Thes ii. 9. 2 Thes iii 8. 2 Tim, ii 10. Rev. ii. 3. x ri, l. Luke siii.21 Horn, XV. 20 30 1 Cor. ix 25-27, Phil. i. 27. 30 Heh xii. 4. y 1 Cor, xii. 6 II. Eph i. 19, iii 7, 20. Phil. ii. 13. Heb xiii 21. 22Cur.xii. 9,10, xiii 3 and to beware of delusion in so important a matter; and they instructed every man with all wisdom, and in every thing that could render them wise unto salvation, or wise to serve God in tlieir several places. For they desired and aimed to present every man, who attended on their ministry, complete in Christ, perfectly justified, and at length perfectly sanctified, bi this the apostle laboured with unwearied diligence, striving by every means to bring .sinners to Christ, and believers to establishment and holiness ; yet this assiduity and earnestness were not of himself, but according to the working of a divine power on his soul, which wrought mightily in him, ex- citing fervent desires after God, and the salvation of soul.s, communicating vigour to all holy affections, raising him above all low and selfish aims, and supporting him in con- stancy, patience, and cheerful fortitude, amidst all difficul- ties and persecutions. Some would explain this power to mean the miracles which the apostle wrought ; but eve- ry one must perceive, that this wholly destroys the euer£;y, and darkens the meaning of the passage. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—8. All spiritual blessings, " from God the Father and our " Lord Jesus Christ," belong to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ, wherever they are dispersed ; may we be found of that number! We should thank God for those who show their faith in Christ by love to all his saints, and also pray heartily for them, (thoi'^h they be not personally known to us,) when we hear a good account of them, for in these things ' the communion ' of the saints' principally consists. The hope of real Christians is laid up for them in heaven, out of the reach of enemies and disappointments ; they have been called to partake of it by " the word of the truth of the Gosjiel ;" and, blessed be God, the joyful message is come to us in this far distant region! If we have known the grace of God in truth, it bringoth forth fiuit in our holy lives and spiritual worship; but if it has in no degree this effect on us, it will only aggravate our condemnation. This may lie learned from all the fellow-servants of our common Lord, who faithfully minister in different )iarts of hi.s Church ; for they all di^clare, that '' love in the Spirit,'' of Christ, of holiness, and of the jicojile, ordinances, anol commandments of God, is inseparable frem saving faith. J. D. 6-1. COLOSSIANS. ^. D. 64. CHAP. 11. I The apostle slioics how camcstlif he pray- ed for ihe Colossians, and ihc churches which had not seen him ; that they might be united in love, and so comforted ; and that they might attain a clear and satis- factory htowltdge of the mysteries of Christ, and not be seduced by deceivers, J — 4. He rejoices, as if he saw their order, and the steadfastness of their [ faith ; and exhorts them to perseverance j and thanlcfnlncss, 5 — 7; warning them'' against vain philosophy ami human tra- 1 ditions ; and showing that they were i V. 9--14. It is not enough, that we know tlie grand outlines of| divine truth, but we should also pray tor one another, ! that we may be " perfected in the knowledge of the i '• Lord's will, in all wisdom and spiritual unerstanding," : in order that we may walk worthy of out vocation, please ! God in every part of our conduct, and produce every kind of holy fruit in abundance. Tiius we shall likewise in- crease in the knowledge of God ; for a humble, upright, teachable, and spiritual mind exceedingly helps the exercise of a sound judgment, in investigating the nature and per- 1 fections of God, and experience confirms the knowledge! which fiuih receives from divine revelation. This again tends to increasing simplicity in dependence on God, which I brings strength mto the soul, that, being invigorated with { ill might " according to his glorious power,""' the believer | may be able to exercise " jiatience and long-sufi'ering with '■ joyfulness," under the severest trials an • is-n is nii. r ather, and of Christ ; ««« «i„f |.I .3 t In '' whom are ' hid all the trea- ^?''S3'\s'^^3i sures of Avisdom and knowledge. Tl^'iT'li-sj; 4 And this I say, °' lest any man should tor '.'//.tr").."'" beguile you with " enticing words. Vom'^xi" 3"^ 5 For though I " be absent in the flesh, i-^^IbS^v''": yet am I with you in the spirit, joying fiij^ii";?' """■ ■ '" " '-'' -'■' ■ " - ■ "' ■■ "■ Kph :ii, n. lici. li n- m3. M. Malt jr xi ;l II— M Oil ii4. Eph..- 14- v. f. )ii. Kt. Tit i. 10, 11.2 Pet ii i— 3, I i.. XX. 3. 8. u 1 Cor. ii 4, 0 I.I Cor. Job. .<^ XXiv 4 54. .\cts XX. 30. Rom XV' 13. G 3 Tlies.ii 9—11 ; 'rim. iv. I, 2. 2T Joliii ii 18 2S iv. 1.2 JoI]Q7,R«v. xii. W'ho had never seen him, in order to promote their spiritual welfare. He especially wresd; 1 ni./=t earnestly wit!' God in prayer,' (iv. 12,) that their hearts niighi b:j encouraged, by divine consolations, in every part of their duty : and that, in order to this, they might be r.niicd together in the most perfect love of one another : that so all envies, re- ."ientment, suspicions, and competition, might be excluded, which would otherwise certainly burden their consciences, inflame their passions, grieve the Holy Spirit, and inter- rupt their comfort. In this most cordial union, he prayed that they might attain and possess all those spiritual riches, which were to be found in the distinct and complete un- derstanding of the Gospel of Christ, as connected with the full assurance of faith and hope ; that so'they might con- fidently acknowledge, and profess their belief of, the mys- tery of God, even of the Father, and of Christ his beloved Son, as One with him, according to " the great mysteiy " of godliness, God manifest in the flesh ;" in whom, or in which myslery, were treasured u]i all the riches of wis- dom and knowledge. These were indeed hidden i'rom the eyes of proud unbelievers : but the infinite wisdom and knowledge of God w'cre more displayed in the Person and redemption of Christ, than in all his other works : all true wisdom and knowledge consisted in a believing and prac- tical experimental understanding of these mysteries, and such instructions as were deduciblc from them : yea, from this treasury all true wisdom and knowledge must be derived, by faith and prayer ; and all science or philo- sophy contrary to this were worthless. This the apostle insisted on, lest any man should beguile them into some specious delusion, by enticing words or persuasive rea- sonings, such as plausible orators often use, to impose on the judgment by addressing the passions ; or by assuming as true, what is sjiecious indeed, but false : as if either heathen sages, or Jewish scribes, could teach any wis- dom, distinct from and jireferable to the mysteries of the Gospel. ' It grieved the aposUe, to think how incapable ' he was rendered of serving them, otherwise than by his 'letters and prayers. Oh! that such language might ' inspi-e every minister, who reads it, with a desire to use ' his liberty to the best of purposes, and to exert himself, ' as under such confinement he would wish he had done.' (Doddridge.) All the treasures, &c. (3.) ' Let this be ' the firmest argument against cavillers, that without ' Christ there is no true wisdom.' {Beca.) The language of the first verse renders it at least highly probable that the'iapostle had not been at Colosse : and that conslruclioti ot it, which consists with the contrary supposition, is not very obvious or natural. J. D. (3i. COLOSSIANS. A. D. &i. ^c^^ ii. 45 I Cor XV is xvi 13. I TIPS Hi 8. Hel> iii 14. vi. m. 1 Pet T 9 2 I'd. iii 17, 18. r Matt X 40. John i. 12. n. x ii 20. 1 Cor i 30 Heh. iji. 14 I John V. II, 12 50 SJohn R.9 s ill. 17 l m him, which is 'the Head of all pnncipality and power : .9 .Mark vii. 3—13 Gal. I M. 1 Pet. i. 10 1:0 Eph. ii. 2 'Or 3. I". eEpli.iv 20 f2,3 i.19 I3. vli "< Mult. I. 23. John X 30. xvil 21. 2 Cor. V. 19. 1 Tim iii 16. Tit ii. P. I John v. 7. 20. g Lull II 21 h iii. II. John i. 16. 1 Cor i 30. J! r ,| hi. 26-29 i I. 16- iv. 15,16 Phil ii. a-ll I Pet iii. 22. Rev. V —IS I Deot. Ti. I" M.tt vii.i5, ,; » J"..i- '■'"I- '"■ 2 2 Pet. ji, 17 > IS Caot Ii If J" xxix. ■«. Horn. XTl. 17 ''-p!' V 6. Hov b Acts Xvil. ij 32 lloDl. i. si' 22. I Cor i |g -23 iii IB, ,9 "' 35, 38 2 Cor X 'i.G,' 1 Ilm V, 20, ^ '"n II. 17 18. iii 13 C23. Matt XV. 8 . elements Gal. . 10 e lii.23 John i.r4.' 13. Epb 1 21-23 ceremonies at the same time; he argued against both of them at once, but he leve!ip 1 11 ""i co°r su' 13 God, * who iiath raised liim from ttie dead. Ep'n iv's Tit. 13 And you, being ' dead in your sins, iil 5, 6. Heb vi. 2 I Pet iii 21 qiii.1,2 Kom.vi.8-11 vii. 4 I '"or. s v. SO. Eph. i. 30 i. 4-6 1 11 1 Pet iv 1—3 r Luke -tvii. 5 Gr John i 12. 13. lii. 3-7. Actsxiv 27 Eph. i. 19. ii 8 iii 7 17. Phil, i 29 Heb xii 2. Jam i 16, 17 s Acta ii 24 Kom. IV. 24,25. Heb. xiii 20,21. 1 Kz xxxvii. 1 — 10. Luke ix GO xv, 21. 32. Rum. vl. 13. 2 Cor t. 14, IS. Eph ii. 1. S v. 14 I Tim. v. 6 Heb vi. I. ix. 11. Jaoa. ii. 17. 20. 26. from them. The Judaizing teachers seem to have imbibed, and new-modelled, the Pagan notions of subordinate deities, and, applying it to the scriptural doctrine of angels, to have introduced the mediatorial worship of them, with which they at an early period attempted to corrupt the Christian church, and not wholly without success. To this the apos- tle here evidently refers, as well as in what is said alter- wards. But Christians could have no occasion to pay homage of any kind to those creatures, who, however ex- alted, were subjected to Christ, their Lord and Redeemer. V. 11, 12. The disciples of Jesus did not want the external seal of circumcision, in order to their acceptance or complete salvation ; for in Christ, and by their union with him, they had the true circumcision, which was not performed on their bodies by the hands of men, but on their hearts by the Holy Spirit, in consequence of whose regenerating work, they were daily employed in " putting " otfthe body of the sins of the flesh." Thus they renounc- ed and watched against all the sins, to which their natural corrupt propensities excited them ; and they had crucified the old man, as propagated from Adam, whence all these evil lustings originated. This is the true circumcision, which Christ himself performs on the hearts o his people, by his Holy Spirit; (Note, Rom. ii. 28, 29.) For " the circumcision of Christ,'' seems rather to signify his work in the believer's soul, than his own personal circum- cision ; though that was a part of his mediatorial humi- liation, by which the true circumcision was procured for them, and in which they are rendered conformable to him. Instead of the outward sign of circumcision, baptism had been substituted ; (which some suppose to be meant by the circumcision of Christ:) this represented that death aud burial with him from former confulences, and sinful and worldly pursuits, which true Christians experience, in order to their being made conformable to him in his resur- rection. {Notes, &c. Rom. vi. 1 — 11.) The baptism of Jews and Gentiles, when converted to Christianity, implied their ' deaih unto sin and new birth unto righteousness ;' their entrance into the Church and kingdom of Christ ; the washing away of the guilt and pollution of their sins ; and their dedication to the service of the Father, the Son, and the Holy S|)irit, in whose name, as the God of their salvation, they were baptized. The same inward change had been signified by circumcision, which ■was adminis- tered to adult proselytes, and then to their infant olfsiiring; so that no argument can hence be deduced against the Vol.. V. — No. 33. and " the uncircumcision of your flesh, u v,,h n n. hath ^ he quickened tog-ether with him, cxlv so. jnii,, . . . 1 . ,p ' v21.viC3 Rom y havinoj loro-iven you all trespasses ; ir "■'■'"J' J 3 55. J r . .' Cor XV. 36 45. 14 ^ Blotting out '■' the haud-wntino; of ^^'^ >;\„.'^ !:5 . O Marg. 1 Tim. ordinances that was against us, which was ""pj^.^jj , ,5 contrary to us, and '' took it out of the ',;,'^i''f,/ ^'h way, nailing it to his cross; l'^^^ ^*'; ^?,; IT) Jlnd "having spoiled "^ principali- "'uol'iJu-r ties and powers, he made a shew of them Ji,.J,^ ^ ^-^ openly, " triumphing over them * in it. il'^gMs^xml: 26 sliv. 22 Arts iii 19 — - a 20. Esth iii. 12. viii. 8 Djn v 7. 8 Luke i. 6. Gal iv 1 — 1. I'.ph ii 11-16 Heb. vii IB, viii. 13. ix 9 10 x. 8. 9 h Is Iv.i. 11 aTlii-s, ii. 7. c (Jen iii. 15. Ps. Iiviii. 18 laxlis.21,25 liii 12. Matt xii. 29. Luke x. 18. si. 22 Joliil xii.31. xvi. II. Eph iv, e. Heb. ii 14. Rev. xii. 9. xx 2, 3 10. Ji 11 2C.ir.iv. 1 Eph vi 12. e Luke xxiii. 40-43. John xii. 32 xix 30. Acts ii 23, 21 32-3G. • Or, ill himul/-. baptism of infants. (Notes, Gen. xvii. Matt, xxviii. 19 20.) This conformity to the crucified and risen Saviour was elTected, '• through the faith of the operation of God, " who raised him from the dead ;" or by a believing reliance on the effectual saving power of God, as revealed in the Gospel of Christ. It is, no doubt, an important scriptural truth, that the faith, by which we receive all other blessings, is itself the gift and work of God ; and this has induced some expositors, and very many preachers, to explain the clause to mean, " the faith which God has " wrought in the heart." This was the author's view, when he wrote the first edition of this work, and, indeed, till he came to revise it for this editi.>ii. But a careful examination of the subject has convinced him, that this is rather imposing a sense on the apostle's v.-ords, than inquiring after the true meaning of them. The ablest Grecians are decided, that the idiom of the langnar teaches nor implies any thing to the contrary. Indeed, this is clearly taught in the sub- sequent verse. {Marg. Ref.) Buried. {Notes, Rom. vi. 1—3.) V. 13 — 15. The Colossinns, being chiefly converts from idolatry, had been " dead in their sin.«." and in that carnal state, of which the uncircumcision of their flesh was an outward token ; but God had quickened them together with Christ, by virtue of his resurrection, having in his death provided for the forgiveness of all their transgressions, to the full benefit of which he had thus admitted them. (\oles, Eph. ii. i —11.) For Christ had blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances, the ceremon-al law, which was, as it were, the bond of the ancient church, for payment of the debt of sin contracted by violation of the moral law, but which Christ, the .Siiretv, had paid in behalf of all believers, and so blotted out the ilebt. This was ngainst the Jeivs. aiid conlrari/ to them, as well as to the Gentiles; for it is observable that the apostle changed the person, when he came to speak on this subject, saying us, instead oi pott. Not only was it a heavy yoke for them to bear, but all its sacrifices and ablutions testified that they were guilty ani! 2 T A, D. Gl. COLOSSIANS. A. D. 64. 'Bom xw.3 10 16 Let no man therefore ^ judjre you -31. Gal. ii IS, * m 5 nieat, or in dnnk, or t i" respect »3. Jiin.lv. II. . Ill el °i;/;'' .'"''"?'■ of an holy-day, or ol ' the now moon. and linnktng- J J • Viii"' "loi"?*' ^ O'" °' ^''^ sabbath days : };*«%/■; ;\' 17 Which am ' a shadow of things to Acuxr3-!i. conje: but ™ liie body w of Chiist. 18 Let "no man J beguile you of 20. H Xiv. 2 6 U 17. 20,21. I Cor viii 7-13 1 Tim iv 3-5 H li I.CV. xxiii' Num. KKviii. xxix. Deul xvi I— r7 >Ieli *Num. X. 10. xxviii. 1' U I Sam r%.i 15. sKin^s yi Ps. Ixxxl. 3. Is i 13 Kz xlv. 17 xlvi 1— n A'n i xvl. 31. xxiii. 3. 24 22 39 1 .loliD i. 17. Hc'i viii 28,23 Hub iv. 1 — 11 n i 8 Geo. iii. 13 Nun. xi -t Or. in pari. viii 9 X m. P.«. xlii 4 Horn siv. ,v S3 I Chr. xxiii 31. ^en x. \'\ 4 Gal iv 10 k Lev-. 5 >\ 9 X I mMaU xi. V. I- M rl( xxiv Si Horn. xvi. 1,2 2 John 7- II. Rev. xii 9. your reward, § in a voluntary humility ! cr. ».i«fo ««- and " worshippinc: of angels, i' intrudins: i"»2'3"uuT9 1 1--I 1 Oo bao xi 38 nito these thinos which he hath not seen, u.b nom i iv 1 vainly pullbd up by his "■ ileshlv mind ; > 'I'm "w ' \. J!> .-Viid ' not lioldincr the J lead, from '" "^ » 1 • I , I, , I 1 ' I • • 1 P Ui;"" XX1S.29. which 'all the body, "by loints and ^ "»xi 1.2. bands, having "nourishment ministered, \^,j' f-'"':.;''^' and > knit together, ' incrcaseth with the ,''[",',;";;.'-» increase of God. Tor Xil 20. Gal v. 19, 20. 6-9. i. 18 Gill. i. C-9 T 2-4. I Tim. ii. 4-6. 1 Kph. X li.ie xJohuxv 4-6 Koiu Xi.l7 Eph'. Jam. iii 14-ir, iv 1-6 - iv. 15.16 u loll X 9-12 pp V 2a y 2 John xvii 21. Acts iv 32. Honi xii 4.4. 1 Cor. i. 10. x. 16 17 xii. 12- 27 Kph. iv. 3. I'Uil i, 27. ii. 2-5. 1 Pit. iii. 8 z i. 19. 1 Cor. iii 6. Eph. iv. 16. 1 12 iv 10 2Tbes. i.3 3 Pet. iii 18. polluted, yet could they not take away sins. So ihat the bond could never have been discharged, except as Christ came and made payment of it, and unbelievers among the Jews were under condemnation, hy the testimony even of the ceremonial law, as well as for tiie additional sins which the inulti|iiying of precepts necessarily occasioned. At the same time ihe Gentiles, who had not so much as tiicse typical expiations, were under condemnation as trans- gressors, and were excluded by them even from the visible Church. But Christ not only blotted out the debt, but removed the bond out of the way, and nailed it as a can- celled deed to his cross, that it might no more appear against his people. The ceremonial law, therefore, and the whole Mosaic dispensation, having received its in- tended accomplishment in Christ, were of no more force or value than a cancelled bond ; and the Gentiles, being admitted i^ito the church by faith in Christ, and his insti- tution of baptism, Lad no need of circumcision, or of any legal observances, and ought not to pay any regard to them. Moreover, Christ had at the same lime virtually deprived the princii^alitics and powers of darkness of their usuiped dominion, and made way for the subversion of their king- dom, which was before universally established throughout the Gentile world. For, by satisfying the justice of God for sin, he had removed the cause of fallen man's sub- jection to Satan, and made way for the preaching of the Gospel to the nations, with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven to make it successful. So that he vanquished those enemies when he hung upon the cross ; when he arose and ascended, he led them captive ; and he made an open show of his victory, and manifested .the triumphs of his cross, when, by the preaching of his Gospel, he |)ro- ceeded to destroy Satan'.s stiong-holds, and to rescue his captives in the dilT;'rcnt nations of the earth. {E}fh. iv. 8 — 10.) Asa'.nst us. (i4.) ' Circumcision publicly tes- ' lifted innate depravity ; the purifications, the pollations * of sin, and the sacrifices, that its guilt deserved death, * to which the remarkable saying of Augustine refers; ' in those ceremonies there was rather the confession, than 'the removal, of sin.' {Heza.) The .silencing of the heathen oracles, and the gradual, yet rapid, subversion of ■ the Grecian and Roman idolatry, in consequence of the death of Christ, are fixed on, by some comamntators, as almost the exclusive meaning of the clause, " triumphing *' over them in it ;" but these, however important, con- stituted only a small part of that victory over the powers of darkness, which Christ obtained on the cross, and of his subsequent triimohs; of which the salvation of the dying thief may be considered as an earnest. {Note, Gen. iii. 1.5.) V. 16, !7. Seeing, therefore, that Christ had cancelled the ceremonial law, let no man venture to judge and con- demn the Gentile believers as guilty, or as no jiart of the Church, because they disregarded it ; and let no Christian disquiet himself about such censorious judgments, which related to the distinction between clean and unclean meats, or the use of, or abstinence from, this or the other drink, or the neglect of the Jewish festivals and solemnities, the new-moons and sabbaths. Doubtless, this last related principally to the weekly sabbath, which, as observed on the seventh day, was now become a part of the abrogated Jewish law. For the sabbath under the Mosaic dispensa- tion, was a ceremonial and a judicial, as well as a moral, requirement; the morality of it had no necessary conr nexion with the seventh day, in preference to all others, save as that was for the time appointed; but the appro- priation of a part of our time for the worship and service of God, is of moral and essentially immutaljle obligation. {Note, Ex. XX. 8 — 10.) The first day of the week, the Lord's day, was the time kept holy by Christians, in re- membrance of Christ's resurrection ; and the sabbath, in the New Testament, always signifies the seventh day, the observance of which the Judaizing teachers wanted to impose upon the Gentile converts. These things in gcne^ ral were shadows of evangelical blessings ; but the truth, reality, and substance of them were found in Christ, re- sulting from his Person, work, and salvation, and con- sisting in the holiness, peace, communion with God, and heavenly rest, which he vouchsafes to believers. ' In the ' law no kind of drink was "forbidden, except to the Naza- ' rites. Now, it is not improbable that the eldevs, who ' pretended to have received from Moses and the prophets, ' by tradition, many precepts not written in the law, ' might enjoin abstinence from wine and strong drink, to ' such of their disciples as aimed at superior holiness.' [Macknigltt.) {Munr. Kef.) V, 18, 19. As Christ was " the Head of all prin- •' cipalities and powers," the apostle warned the Colos- sians not to allow any man to rob them of that glorious prize, for which they were candidates, by giving thera wrong directions, or turning them out of their course. The original word seems to be taken from the office of those who presided in the Olympic games, and decided to whom the prize belonged. Now, if any man usurped such an authority among Christians, he would mislead all who willingly submitted to him, as well as domineer over their A. D. 61. CHAPTER II. J. D. G4 ,iii 3 Rom, vi. 20 Wherefore, ^ if ve be dead \vith!iisin!^ ;) 'after the commandments and ei.'-j,^'^'^!''" S-ll. Til 4-6 .• ; J."',. ^ill' i • (• XI 37 Nail. Kv »«',J', ,,^«. 20 Christ ^from the * rudiments of the doctrines ol men -Epb. ^vorld, why, as though " hvirig in tiie ,,, worki, are ye '' subject to ordinances ? ,6 "■ 21 (= Touch not, taste not, handle not ; , , j„|,u ^. 22 Which all are ^ to perish with the il Xft on, 14 If. —Gal iv 9-12 Heh. siii 9 e Gi - "'- 17. 1 Tim. i,. 3. f JIark vii 13, 19 John vi 27. I Cor . 3 l3. lii. II. 2 Cor. -^^: consciences. This would be attempted by certain persons, who were induced, by an uncommanded and self-imposed humility, to worship angels ; pretending that it was im- proper for mean sinful creatui-cs to come to God imme- diately with their prayers, and that it was therefore expe- dient to solicit the mediatory good olliccs of holy angels ; antl ihcy aimed to persuade others to the practice. Thus, they ascribed divine honours to created beings, as if ever prese; t with men in all places, and acquainted with the sincerity and the desires of their hearts : nay, they seemed to intimate, that they were more compassionate and kind than the Lord bimselt\ This might be called fmmilily, and indeed it was a vuluntary degradation, to which a rational creature ought not to submit : yet, in fact, it originated from pride, and a most presumptuous intrusion into the sup- posed state of the invisible world : it substituted;, man's arrogant conjectures and speculations in the place of divine revelation ; and it was the genuine offspring of that self- wisdom, with which the carnal mind is so prone to be puffed up. By thus exalting angels to the office of media- tors, and worshipping them in that capacity, they espe- cially dishonoured Christ, the One Mediator between God and inan, to whom, as God manifested in the flesh, such Tvoishii) ought to be appropriated. They did not therefore adhere to Christ the Head, or hold communion with him ; but. intact, they departed from the grand principles of the Gospel, bj' choosing and worshipping other mediators: and as no sinner can approach God, or be accepted, but in and by Christ, so this error tended directly to ruin their souls. For all true believers arc united to him, and re- ceive all grace from him. they arc compacted together into one body f)y their union with him and with each other, and by thus filling up their proper places, and performing their proper funcions in his Church ; as the human body is made up of many mei especially in love of each other, readiness to foririve injuries, and gratitude to God, 12 — 1.0 : to keep close to the uord of truth, to abound in grateful praises, and to do all in the name of Christ, Hi, 17. The duties of wives and huabands, 18, 19 ; of children and parents, 20, 21 ; and of servants, 22 — 25. (cachcrs, forbidding the use of all food, wiiich cuised ih? dcsiruclion of life. — ' VVliaievpi- (iiiags tend to tlis dc- ' sinictioT of life, in iheiHing.' (MncknigiU.) Cut tnough tlie words may b;3v this liMnslatioii, yet, as there is nothing in the original far of life, and ns whatever is used as food is destroyed by that \iic, the intcrprel.iiion seems inadii'.issibie. — 'All which things tend lo the corruption ' of iliat cscellent religion, into whicii you are iniitialed.' (Doddrige.) This suppose* iho word (pSc>x in be used in a mor.:i oensc, of which many instances may be given. But the more general, and, as it appears to me, the best founded inteiprf^tation, supjioses tiic apostle to refer to our Lord's words concerning the traditions of the Phari- sees, {.)[all. XV. If.) and implies, that abstaining from such things, when not divinely prohibited, as su;iporled the body by perishing themselves, could do nothing to- v.'ardsl!ii' salvation -f 'he soul. {.Soles. Ttltilt. xv. 1 'JO. 1 Cor. vi. I- — '20. j Whereas all such things perish with the using, ind could comnunicate no real defilement. J^ypicul in..trHclioi>s had in former ages been conveyed by the ritual law, but its obligation had now ceased, and it was of no more authority than the other doctrines and command- ments of human invention, which the false teachers ^added to it. The worship of angels and the distinctions of meats had a show of wisdom, which might impose on the injudi- cious. To add voluntarily to the rule of duty, and thus to render it more strict, had a semblance of great devotion and extraordinary sanctity ; but it implied that God had given a defective rule, and that he would be jileased with wliathe had never commanded. It might alsj appear very humble to worship angels, yet this arose from abomina- ble pride and unbelief. The abstaining fi'om meats, with various self-imposed austerities, might have a show of ex- traordinary spirituality, by which the body was neglected, from a jiretended superiority to animal indulgence, and willingness for raortilication and suffering ; yet all this was not " in any honour" to God, cr any thing valuable in itself; nay, the whole tended to so/is/^(/, in a dishonourablp manner, the propensities of the flesh, of the cartial mind, by grati.'ying his self-will self-wisdom, self-righteousness, bignti')-, and contempt of others. — The w^ord rendered *' will-worship," is not clsewdiere used in the New Testa- ment, but it may be so naturally formed out of two words found in the eighteenth verse, and rendered '■ voluntafv " worshipjiing," that its meaning is by no means doubt- ful. The last clause is differently interpreted, — ' Nor are ' they of any value, as they regard those things by which • the flesh is gratified, ''or pam|)cred.'' (Besa.) By "the " flesh," he means the carnal mind, which is gratified ivilh every thing that a.fbrds fuel for pride, self-pre- ference, and contempt of others. " Wot by any provision ' for satisfying the flesh : Tift->i, ' somctimrs in scripture ' signiiles the food and clothing necessary for the l)ody. — ' Tlius the jirovi^ion of tlie necessaries and conveniences ' of life, made for parents, elders, and widows, is called ' Tfft?, (1 Tim. V. l7.) The body is as real a part of our ' nature, as the soul, and ought to have such food and ' recr. ation as are necessary to its health and vigour. ' The wisdom which teaches the " neglecting of the body, " is not wisdom, but folly." {Macknighf.) ' Not yield- ' ing that due respect and care to the body, which were 'meet for tne moderate and fit sustentalion of it.' {Up. Hall.) ' Forbidding marriage, wliich " is honourable, '' (ti^(«<^,) in all," ' and allowing no honourable means ' of satisfying those desires, which are imj)lanted by 'nature, brought them all to dishonourable lusts.' {Ham- mond.) If this meaning could be clearly made out and firmly established, it would very well suit the context. For it can hardly be doubted, that the Holy Spirit led the apostle to speak against the corruptions, which certain Judaizing and speculating teachers, grafting the heathen philosopher, so to speak, on the superstitious Pharisee, attempted to corrupt the Church, in language strictly pro- phetical of the subsequent corruptions of the " man of •' sin," the papal antichrist. It may, however, be ques- tioned, wdiether the words translated " satisfying the flesh," which seems to imply/i(// grulificnlion, even to repletion and satieli/. would have been used by the apostle in this connexion : so that, on the whole, the first interpretation appears to me the msst satisfactory. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—7. They who know the worth of souls, will seek and pray for the salvation of sinners all over the earth ; and such as greatly love their brethren, will earnestly strive for the establishment and progress, even of those whom they have not seen ; an I when -they can do nothing else, they may wrestle with God in prayer for them. The hearts of Christians arc commonly comforted and animated, in proportion as they are " knit together in love;" and there are riches, in the full assurance of understanding of • the Gospel, with which believers in general are but little ^ acquainted. Indeed, there is an inexhaustible mine of ^^ most precious treasure in the word of God ; from which *^^ men are enriched, in proj-jortion to the simplicity, dili- gence, and perseverance, with whichtheyseek.it. We cannot comjire hend the mystery of God ; even of the Father and of Christ ; but we may believe, acknowledge, contemplate, and adore it. Thus we shall derive, from the treasures laid up in our Emmanuel, supplies of wis- ^. D. 04. CHAPTER III. Jl. D. Gl. TF yc then be 'risen with Christ, ''seek I ii 12, 13. 20. Kom vi .1, 9-11 Gdl IV" ',''*'■■' Christ sitteth on the riirlit luuul of God. those tliinofs which are above, "^ where ka.psxvi.ii.ivj 14, Ii. Ixxi 26. Vtoi. i Mal>. vi. 10. 3 Luke lloin vlii. C. 2 Cm 44 6i Ma 2 '^ Set your * allcction on thino^s ^3 above, " not on tilings on the earth. - Phil iii. 20,il. Heb. ,1 13— ic.-— -■ •^■- ■■ " Rom. Vlii. 34 F.ph 1 20 «». I. 1-1 CLr SX'i 19 Tii. 14 Msit xvi. 23 Kon « i. Ps ihy HI' .Malt 13. vili. I X. 12. iii -. 1 I'H 10 xci 11 c. \. 36,37 Pr i 2?, 1 John ii 15—17. \i. xvi 8. ». 11 13—25. Phil- 2. Mitt Itxli Mi ii — dSn I dom and knowledge, far more valuable than all man's boasted science and philosophy ; but those treasures are hidden from the proud and unbelieving, and can be dis- covered and approini.Ued only by faith. AVe have peculiar need to insist on ihcsp things at present, when so many are employed in beguiling men with enticing words; ex- tolling the powers of human reason, and depreciating revelation, deriding theology, and idolizing phdo.^ophy ; boasting of deinonitration and experiment in natural sci- ence ; rejecting unanswerable evidences of the divine in- spiration of the Scriptures, and treating all experience of the power of divine grace in the heart with the most sovereign contempt ! Whilst multitudes of frivolous and siipcrfio'ial speculators are thus beguiled into infidelity, skepticism, or destnactive perversions of Christianity, it must rejoice every established believer and every zealous minister, to know that theie is yet a remnant to be found dispersed through the land, who walk orderly accordingly lo the obedience and worship of rhe Gospel, and are steadfast in the faith of Christ ; with those he will find his heart united ; and, if he hath opportu.iity, he will exhort them to walk in Christ, even as they have received him to be their Prophet. Priest, and King; that being rooted in, and built upon, him, they may be steadfast in the faith, and fruitful in every good work, " abounding therein with " thanksgiving." V. 8— ir. Let young persons, and inquirers after the truth, espe- cially bev.are lest any man spoil them through jihilosophy. They may depend upon it, that all tiie boasted knowledge, which is opposed to the mysteries of the Person and re- demption of Ciirist, is a vain deceit, a worldly wisdom, like that of .Jewish scribes, who crucifi-jd Ciirf-t, or that of heathen philosoph'-rs, who counted the preaching of the cross to be foolishness. Men cannot follow such vain delusions, and be the discij/les of Chris! ; for " in him " dwelleth all the fulne.ss of the Godhead bodily.'' All true Christians glory in this " great mystery oi godliness," and all who oppose il arc strangers to the life of faith and the way to the Fatlicir. {John xiv. (5.) Without union and communion with Christ, and with the Fa'her through him, by the su])ply of his Spirit, v.e can do nothing: but true Christians are complete in him : they derive all they •want from his fulness, and they are safe in his keeping, who is the Head of all principality and power. If we enter into the S|iiril of genuine Christianity, we do not want either Jewi.sh exfiloded ceremonies, or newly invented suficrstitions. The circumcision of the heart, the cruci- fixion of the flesh, the death and burial to sin and the world; and the rciurrcction to newness of life implied in .3 For ve 'are dead, and ^ your life is f*',°«" ." , ^ . ^ J £ 4 John 111 ^ hid with Christ m God. W\C'y' 4 When Christ, ivko is 'our Life, *,. ^*,"ru"^i siiall '^ appear, then shall ' yc also appear ji. V'co^ with him in ^lory. t'V"''''" Phil h ii 3 Ma't xi ii. 1 Cur. ii 14 I John xi 25 xiv 6 XX. 21 Art Het ii 7. xxi I. 11 k I T V 1 1 .iohil ii 28. lii. 2 -lohn vi 39. 40. siv. 3. xvii 2l. 1 C 2 Thes i 10-12. JaJe 25. iv. 7 1 Pet lii 4 1 John Hi. 3. Uct i. Gal ii. 20 2 Tin. i i 1 John i 1. 2. v. U 2 Tim. iv 8 Tit. ii.l3 Heh. is 2S 1 f xvii. 15 liwxiii 24 Is XXV. S, 9. Malt, xiii •43. 2 Cor i». 17 Phil iii 21 1 Mies, i v. baptism, and connected with faith of il.e ( pcration ol Goti, sufficiently prove that our sins are forgiven, our debt is blotted out and cancelled, an'] that we are fully delivered from the curse of the law. He wdio triumpind uj;on the cross over the principalities an;l power.'- of dark- ness, will also, from his glorious throne, deiend us from all their assaults and stratagems, till he hath made us more than conquerors. We want no other wisdom, light- eousness, strength, holiness, liberty, or victory, than what Christ bestows. We need not regard those who judge us in respect of meats, and drinks, and holy-days, or other humin traditions, which are not so much as a shadow of things to come, as Jewish ceremonies once were : but we enjoy the substance in Christ, and by walk- ing in his ordinances and commandments. V. 18— 'J3. Having One alhsufficient Advocate with the Father, we have no occasion for any other mediator, and need not abase ourselves to worship fellow-servants, to the great dishonour of our common Lord. Such voluntary self- degradation is real pride, which refu.ses submission to the I teaching, righieousness, and authority of God; and it is i the genuine effect of a carnal mind, puffed up with ima- Igined knowdcdge, and vainly intruding into th'jsc things ! which are not "seen. The Church has long enough been {corrupted, and souls deceived, with such gross delusions, with human inventions, will-worship, and self-imposed austerities ; men have long enough been mi.-led by those who said, " Touch not, taste not, handle not," co.icern- \n^ such diings as perish with the using. But whatever slibw there may be of wisdom, sanctity, or mortii'icilior, in these devices, they certainly are worthies.^ in them- Iselves. they neitherhonour nor please God; and they iwratify the proud seh"-]5:eferencc, the domineering bigotry, jand the per.-ccuting temper of the carnal heart of man. — I Let us then not depart from the simplicity of ;Our depen- dence on the Lord Jesus, and obedience to him : He is jour Head of aulhortiy and influence, " from whom the i" whole body, by joints and bands, having nmirislimcnt I" ministered, and knit together, increiseth with the in- !'' crease of God." As dead with him to the world, and jits wisdom and nvixims, let us willingly bear his yoke, and steadily assert our liberty from human impositions. — VVhat he hath left indifferent, let us regard as such, and 'leave others to the like freedom; and, remembering the transient nature of earthly things, let us cnJea\ourto glo- rify God in our use of them. CHAP. HI. NOTES. v. 1 — 4. If the Colossians were ir. .^. D. 61. COLOSSIANS. Ji. D. 64. 5 "Mbrtiiy therefore your " members [concupiscence, and ' covetousness, ^vhich '^^<^<^^^-_Jo '■;''''■ which are upon the earti) ; " fornication, is idolalry : -stton.EphT; H) Rom. n. GaJ n llom Jam. i». r . "AilfftvifsuM ""^'^^""'^°^' ''inordinate alfection, i evil Rom i 23" i Cnr. V I 10, II. vi 9 11 18 a C.ir xi' 31. Gjl v 13-21. EpI. v J I Ihes. iv. 3. Heh. xii IS. xiii 4. Hcv xii 8 xsii I.'. p Knm. 1.26. 1 Thes iv. S. r;r. q Kom vli 7, 8. 1 Cur. x 6-8 Epll iv. I'J. 1 Pel. i>. II. 6 For " wiiicli things' sake the wrath ,'*"°"y^P'' of God Cometh on the ^children of dis- fi^'tfii"^, ^ii^t obedience. Feu 1 U 2 PeU li. U er <]eed risen with Christ, as their baptism and profession implied, it bclioovcd them to evidence it, by seeking " those " things which areal)ove." {Marg. Ktf.) Pcrtect know-j ledge, holiness, and felicit}', in the immediate ])re»oiice of: <5od, and in his service and love, are evidently intended.! The assured hope, and the happy earnests and first-fiuits df these, they ought to seek, in preference to all worldly' interests or pleasures, and in tlie diligent use of all ajj-j pointed means. Thus they should ioilow Christ their Fore-runner; that, as they were dead to .sin and alive, to God, in conformity to his death and resurrection, so they! might be conlormed to him in his ascension into heaven,' where, as their Surety, he was exalted on the mediatorial' throne, at the right hand of the Father, to appear in hisj presence, and to prepare a place for them. 15y faith be-i holding his glory, and aspiring in hope to this heavenly inheritance, they ought to value, choose, savour, pursue, and dcligiit in, spiritual things, and not earthly. (A'oies, Rom. viii. 4 — 9.) For, according to their firofession, and the aposde's confidence respecting them, they were already dead to their former hopes, interests, motives, and pur- suits, " and their life was hid with Christ." The spring] of that eternal life which abode in them, and from which all their present comforts, hopes, and activity, were de- rived, was in Christ and his fulness; the streams of this living water flowed into their souls, by the influences of the Holy Spirit, through faith ; thus they were united to Christ and had communion with him, and wisdom, strength, grace, and comfort, were derived from liim ; he lived and ruled in them, and they lived in him, by him, and to him. The Fountain of their life, and the nature, supports, and principles of it, v/cre hidden, from carnal men, who could not understand what were the secret springs of their active diligence and joyful patience, in opposition to all temporal interests and satisfactions. This life was likewise secured, as a hidden treasure, from wicked men and fallen spirits, who could by no means deprive them of it ; nor was it in their own keeping, but in that of Christ, by whom it was sustained, and who was himself the unfailing Source of it. Thus it was " with Christ in God," through the union of the Deity with his human nature ; and so the immutable power, faitiifulncss, •wisdom, and love of God secured it for them. When, therefore, Christ their life should appear to raise the dead and judge the world, then would every one of them, who thus lived by him, appear with him in glory, being made completely like him both in body and soul, that they might all be glorified together with him; and their comforts on earth, and the previous ft licity of their de- |>arted spirits, would be an anticipation of this perfect and eternal glory reserved for them. (ISote, Gul. ii. i;0.) V. 5, 6. The exhortations here given are similar to those that have been already considered ; {Notes, Eph. iv. 17 — 32. v. 1 — 6.) The " members which are upon earth" signify the various lusts of man's carnal nature, the mem- bers of the old man, the body of sin. In the regenerate " the flesh is crucified wiih its afleclions and lusts ;" yet there is still life in it. It must therefore be daily mor- tified ; a continual opposition must be made to all its cor- rupt workings ; ihe supplies of its life must be, as it were, cut olT; no provision must be made for its indul- gence ; temptations, and occasions of sin must be avoided; and even h^wful inclinations must be habituated to brook lienial. Thus the members of the carnal nature, which afl'ects earthly things and disrelishes heavenly, must be continually enfeebled, and put to death liy a iingciing unrelenting execution. In the detail of particulars here adduced, we may observe, that inordinate affection, may relate to inexpedient and excessive desires afterevcn lawi'ul indulgences of any kind : though some understand it of un- natural crimes. Kvil conaipiscence, signifies the sensuality of the luart, and imagination, which must be mortified, or gross crimes will follow. But several expositors exjjlain the word rendered coveloiisntsf!, as denoting rather the ex- cessive desire of sensual gratification, than the love of riches. This appears a very dangerous misconstruction: f,r by this men ns,S(-u«Hi/»/?/ is si;;. 'poscd to be forbidden with a needless redundancy of words, And covetousness escapes without the least rebuke : whereas the love of money is the root of all ki.nds of evil, and both the scripture and matter of fact show it to be one of the greatest possible hinderances to man's salvation, and the greatest of all snares to the pro- fessors of the gospel ; nor can any vice so properly be called idolatry, as avarice. The original word literally signifies having mure, or have more, imjjlying the hank- ering after still more and more, which is evidently the disease of the avaricious. It is but seldom used in the Greek writers for any thing but covetousness ; though a fc^v instances may be found of its being applied to an insatiable greediness in other respects. The general mean- ing of the word in the New Testament may be understood, from most of the passages in which it is used, where its import cannot be doubted. {Marg. Ref. Gr.) ' There ' being in us naturally " the old man," (9.) ' and the ' body of sin: the inordinate affections and lustings of it ' are stjled the members of that body ; partly because they ' exert themselves by the members of the natural body ; ' and parily, because as the members of the body are ' employed to accomplish the desires of the natural body; ' so these afli'ctions are employed to gratify the desires of ' the body of sin. As heathens place confidence in their ' idols, so the avaricious man doth place his confidence in ' gold and silver. The covetous person doth not indeed ' believe Ids riches to be a god ; yet by so loving and ' trusting in them, as God alone ought to be loved and ' trustpd, he is as truly guilty of idolatry, as if he so ' believed.' {IVhitby.) By " the children of disobedience," some understant! wicked men in general ; and others seem to confine the interpretation to idolaters. But the word rendered di"so6fJie?ice often signifies «n6f /if/"; and ' ihtj 1 A. D. G4. CHAPTER II!. A. D. 64. ., ii. 13. Rom vi. 7 lathe wliich " yc also walked some- It iLEpVu". lime, when ye lived in them. T.t^iM J. ipet. y But now ye also "put off all these ; Ve'x'iu'jam > ano-cr, wrath, malice, ^ blasphemy, vp'a ssxvii s' ^ filthy communication out ol youi ■pro». xvii. u. ,-' •' XIX. la xsi.v mouth. Kom sVii. Tn' 9 b Lie not one to another, seeing that Cor xii 2.1 c yg have put off the old man with his Gal xl. I, 2it ^ Y „., . 15. W J 26 .Epii n^M deeds ; "■'i».=* ,^;|^j^ 10 And have '' put on ■= the new ,- ». , -^1,7 man, which is 'renewed in ekuowledae, 16. Mark vii 22. ^ ... o ' j.mMi'r.'^jud'e " ^^f^'" ^'i<^ image of him that created S Rev. xyi. 9. Jjj™ . »Bptl iv 29. V. »"iu • 6'2'pe't i")"?.*! H Where 'there is neither Greek b^Lev si!^H. Is. nor Jew, "" circumcision nor uncircum- 3-5 'zepii. L'^ cision, 'Barbarian, vScythlan, "bond nor 13. Zcili. Mil. K Jihn viii 41, E(.h iv. 25. I Tim, 1 10 Tit i 12, 13. llev xsi. 8. 27. XSii. 15 .-8 Ron VI 6 Eph. ,v. 22. -J 12 U .lub xxis. U. Is lii. I. lix. 17. Kom xiii 12 n 1 Cor xr 53.51 Gal ii. 27. iOph iv 2i. e Ei. ai. 19. xsiii 31 . XK-ivi. 2i 2 Cor. V. 17 Gal. vi 15 Eph ii. 10 15. iv. 21 Rev. xni. 5. f Ps. Ii. 10. Rom..'iii 2 Kptl iv. 13 Heb vi 6- |,John xvii 3. 2 Cor. iii. 18. iv. 6 1 Joliii ii 3 5 hGeD. i 25,27 Eph iv 23.21 1 Pet i 14, 14 — i Ps cxvii. Is. sis. 23-25. xlix 6. lii ID Ixvi. 18-22. Jcr xvi 19 Hos. ii 23 Am ix. 12 .M:c. iv 2 Zeih li. 11 viii.20 —23 Mal.i.U Mau. xii 13-21. ActsK 34,35 xiii,46— 48 XT. 17. xsvi. 17, 18 Rom. iii 29 iv. 10, U. ix. 24-26 30,31 X 12 XV 9-13 1 Cor. xii 13. Gal iii. 28 Eph iii 6. k 1 Cor. vii. 19. Gal V 6. vi 15. 1 Acts ssviii. 2. 4. Kom. i. U. 1 Cor slv. 11 m 1 Cor. vii.21,22 Eph vi. S. " children of disobedience," are doubtless all those, how" ever distinguished, who do not believe and obey the Gos" pel ; while the most profligate and abandoned, believing and obeying the Gospel, become the " children of obedience." {Mars;. Ref.) The rites of Bacchus and Cybele were pe- culiarly observed at Colosse, the chief city of Phrygia, and conduced exceedingly to deprave the morals of the inha- bitants, in many of the things here spoken of: but, alas! the case of multitudes even in professed Christian countries re- quires the same warnings and exhortations. V. 7 — 11. The Colossians had once habitually prac- tised some or other of the above-mentioned vices ; when they lived among those who were of the same character, and when they had no experience or exjiectation of nobler interests or satisfactions. But now they must not only mortify these gross, carnal pi-opcnsities, which had ac- quired strength by habit ; but they must lay aside, as a cast- off garment, all evil practices, especially those which are next recapitulated. The word translated blasphemi/, may signify slanders and revilings, as well as ])rofanc speeches respecting God and holy things. These, as well as all polluting discourse, and falsehood of every kind, must be renounced-, seeing " they had put off the old man with " his deeds," by the mortification of the carnal nature, and by cftsing from the allowed practice of all sin. They r,.- ought therefore to avoid whatever was in the least degree inconsistent whh their profession. And as they " had put " on the new man," and professed their conformity to i: Christ; and as this renewal of the soul after the holy im- .^' age of him who had at first created it, and who had thus new-created it, was in knowledge, or by the transforming knowledge of the glory of God in Christ ; so they ought to act like men who were of one mind and judgment with the Lord, " haling iniquity and loving righteousness" in their whole conduct. For they were foully admitted to all the privileges of God's people, and should therefore act in Christ '1 ,'»• "lii Ixv 9, 22 Ma free : " but Christ is all, ' and in all. ^ ii m i cor. i- . 12 ■' Put on, therefore, '' as the elect of 2;)"'Gai."i'ii."29~ God, 'holy and 'beloved, 'bowels of 7-9^ iJohii'V- II • 1-1 I 11 r • 1 " '2 2 John 9 "mercies, kmdness, humbleness 01 minu, 0.101,11 vi. iii.i?- meekness, lons-suireriuo' ; xIm "21 ""Rom- i.Tvl-ll- .1 ^ f viii. 10, 11 Oal ]j ^ r orbeariiitr one another, and y lor- " -n Kph. i ,1 '^ ■,. ' , 23 iii. 17. IJol givino: one anotlier, 11 any man have a ». 20 g = , . , •' ^, . p Sit on. il U). * quarrel against any : ^ even as forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things, put on j' i-ue.xviiir "charity, which is " the bond of perfect- f i'?i.,'^^p,o. '"^="'- i 2. 2 Pet. i. 10- 15 And let " tlie peace of God rule in Bi"'.'xvii u"' your hearts, '^ to the which also ye are 'jp^'j ^}\ni!^, called in one body; ''and be ye thankful, ji.'ufuf ""''■ s .Icr xxxi. 3. E/.. xvi 8 Rom i. 7 Eph ii. 4, 5 2 Pirn. i. 9. Tit ni. 4-6. 1 John iv. !9. lis. Ixiii. 15. Jcr. xssi. 20 l.uUe i 7». Marg. Phil. i. 8 ii. 1 IJohii iii. 17 u Rom^ xii. 9, 10 Gal. V. 6 22 23 Eph, iv 3.:. Phil, ii 2-4. I Thes v 15 Jaji i i 17. 18, IPel iii 8— II. 2 Pet. i. 5— B IJotin iii 14-20. x Rom. xv. 1.2. 2 Cor. vi. 6 Gal. vi.2 Epl: iv. 2 y Matt v 44 vi. 12. 14, 15. xvjii 21. .35 .\Iark xi. 25. Luke vi. 35-37. xi. 4. xvii. 3. 4. xxiii 31 Jam. ii, 13. • Or, cemjjfaijil Malt, xvlii 15-17 1 Cor vi 7,8. z Lulie V 20 24. vii 48-50. 1 Cor. ii, 10, Eph iv. 32 v. 2 1 Pet. ii, 21 a John xiii. 31 XV 12 Uo.n slii. 8 1 Cor. xiii. 1 Thes. iv. 9. l Tim i. s. I Pet iv. 8. 2 Pet i 7. 1 John iii 23. iv 21. b Eph i. 4. 1 John iv 7—12 c; Ps xxix 11 Is. xxvi 3 ixvii. 5 tvii. 15 19 Johnxiv. 27. xvi 33. Rom. v, 1 xiv. 17. xv. 13. 2 Cor. v. 19-31 Eph ii. 12-18 v. 1 Phil iv. 7. d 1 Cor vii 15 EpK ii 16 iv. \6 e 17 i. 12. ii 7 Ps ly. 17. Jou. ii. 9 L'He xvii. 16-13 Mom. i 21 2 Cor. iv. 15 ix. II. Eph. . £0 Pbil. i . 6. r . IC. 1 Til :i. 1. Heb. xii 15 Rev, character. They were now members of the Christian church, in which all other distinctions were abolished, Greeks and Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, illi- terate persons of the most barbarous nations, the uncivil- ized Scythians, and the meanest slaves, as well os free men, were all equally made the children and heirs of God by faith in Christ : their relation to him was alone requi- site for their acceptance, and admission to these privileges ; and he dwelt in them all, by the power of his Spirit trans- forming them into his own holy image ;' by which they, were distinguished from all other persons. V, 12 — \b. As the elect of God, who had been freely beloved and chosen in Christ, and called ^to be saints, or holy persons, let the Christians at Colosse p? kind, lowly, unambitious, meek, and patient spirit ; bear- ing with each other and forgiving one another, if any dis- pute or cause of complaint arose among them, after the example of Christ's love to them. Over all these let them put on charity, or active liberal love ; this would be as the bond of union to all their other graces, and form their characters consistent. It would compact thorn into one- body, and produce the most perfect stale of the church on earth ; as indeed it is the very bond which unites God and all holy beings, in the perfect happiness and holiness of heaven, {Notes, 1 Cor. xiii.) And as (he peace of God, in their hearts and consciences, was the source of all tlicir comforts ; that peace ought to rule within them, as the umjiire of all their diiferences ; that they might be in- fluenced by so endearing an example to live peaceably with all men. Esjiecially this should teach them " to keep the •' uniiy of the Spirit in the bond of [>eace :" because they had been called into a stale of peace with God, " in one •' body," as united in Christ their Head ; for which it be- hooved them to be thankful, and to show their gratitude ia this manner, and in every other way which they coiikl. y A. D. 61. COLOSSIANS. A. D. 64. rioimv 39, ' love ynur wives, and 'J*cor. "'.' is" be not ^bitter against them. Eph. r. 19 ja™ 20 Children, ^ obey ymir parents " in m I Chr XXV 1. \eh xii 4G. Pi xisii. 7. cxix 51 Cant. K 1. Is. v. I. xxvi. I. xxx 25 Uev V 9 \iv. 3 XV 3 n iv 8. Ps XXviji. 7. xsx. 11, 12. xlvii. 6. 7 l.sin. 4 -6. Uxi S3, fiii 12 .-xsKviii 1. 1 Cur, x.v. 15. 0 23 p !3. 2 Chr xxxi. 20. 21 Pniv i i. 6 Horn, xiv 6-1). 1 Cor s. 31 q 2 Thcs ii 17 1 John iii. 18 r Mill. iv. 5. Malt^xxviii. 19. Acts iv. 30. six. 17 Phil. 1. II. ITijes. iv I, 2 si. 12 i 7. Rom i. 8 Fph. V 20. 1 Thcs v 18. Heb. si i. 15. I Pet ii 5. 9 iv. II. t K|ih. i 17. Phil ii II I The* i. I. Heb 1 5 I Jihn Ii 23 u Gen. ill. 10 Estll i 20 I lor. \i 3. xiv 3l Kf-h v 22 -24 33 1 Tim. ii 12. Tit. ii 5. I Pet. iii l-f. X AcHv. 29 Eph V 3. vi I. y Gen ii 23. 2l XXiv 67. Prov v. 18 19 Ee ix 9 .Mai ii. U— IG I.uke xiv 26 Eph v 2.S 28, 29 33 I Pet 7.21. Rom. iii 14 Kph. iv 31. .Fa ' " all things : for this the Lord. 21 Fathers, '^provoke not your chil , dren to anger, lest they be discouraged. is ■= well-pleasing unto '^el." Ju,' 2Y " d Ps.fiil 13 Prov. iti 2. iv 1-1. Sic ca Kph. vi. 4 I riie(.iii. 11. He... xii S-ll. Ps.:xxiii2.\Ial. 3ev in all uiings your uke iii 9. 46. masters accorduiff to the llesh : not with 7 1 ti™ vi 1. •7 1 1 i c ■ 2- T I ii. 9, in. eye-service, as '. men-plcascrs ; but ^ in Phiiem isi Pet. singleness of heart, '' fearinjr God : f oai.i id iTh«.. near men -^ _. ., ._ _^ ^ .,, ^... 2.> And 'whatsoever ye do, do i/?M"_« »i. 22. artily, '' as to the Lord, and not unto viV."""' ''''■ J ' ' h r.en vlli 1« 21 Knowing that of the Lord ' ye shall x;.i J3 a'cori receive the reward of the inheritance : for ' *" ""i " -=c|ir. ' ye serve the Lord Christ. xi.n.G 7.riii i.' 25 But "he that docth wrons shall ?f '*,'?. /'r- '^ ■•* 10. 1 ret. I. :h. vii 5-T. t. vi. 16 6 8. ° receive for the wrong which he hath ,''| done : p and there is no respect of persons lK-21. 4-6 xil. 19 Epll. 16, Prov 1-3- 7. Ex. XX. 12 20 XX 20. XXX II. 17. B?.. XXii. 7 b22 Eph V 21, Tit. ii. 9, IHal. Eph. V 23. vi 7. 1 Pet Ii. 13 15 -lil. 18 Gen Matt V . 12. 46 \ i t, 2 5. 16 X 41. I. uke vi. 35 X V iii 8. X 17, 18. Heh ill 15. X 35 X . 6 — — m John vii 12 Gal i. n. Enh. vi 6. 2 Pet. i 1 lu,le 1 — Phileir le 0 2 t; >r. V 10 Heh i 2 — — pi«. 1 xiv |4 2 Chr. I ix.7 iJob x»i iv 19. XkXV i. 24 Luk Eph.v . 9WI Pet i. 17. Jude 16 Rot 1 Ruth ii. 12. Prov. xi. Rom. ii e, 7 iv 4. i. 1 Cor i 26. Rom. i I xiv m I Cor. n I Cdt vi 7, B 1 Thes iv. 6. I. Lev xlx. 16 Deut.i. i7 2 Sam. Acu z. 34 Kom. ii. II. V. IG, 17. {Note, Kph. v. ia— 20.) By Uie word of Christ, ihe wliole of llic sacred scripture .seems to be meant*; which was all from him, as " (he Light of the '• world," and the personal Word of God ; ami which, in one way or another, all related to him. It was very im- portant, that the Colo.sslans should, by diligent study and medilaiion, store their meinorics and understandings with the instniciions of scriptui'c ; that it might thus abundantly d'.vell within diem ; and that so their judgments might be formed upon it, their hearts cast into the mould of it, and their consciejices directed by it. Thus they would hs enriched in all spiritual wisdom and knowledge ; (ii. 2, 3 ;) and wouKI learn to act wisely in their whole con- duct; or they would be influenced to use their knowledge in al! wisriom, by reducing it to practice. This would enable ihcm, with readiness and pertinency, to teach, | caution, exhort, reprove, or encourage one another: while those psnlms and sacred poem.=!, which they sang together with holy affections, under the influence of divine grace in Lhcir hcsirt?, to the 'glory of the Lord, would furnish them with words suited to such mutual admonitions. Their i.lclatrous neighb;u;'s had laid up in their memories songs ill pi-aise of their base deities and corrupt practices, which ihey used on every festive occasion, and when they met together for social intercourse, nay, for amusement and recreation when alone. This, in fact, has always been the case in every country; and the popular songs hove an immense, but, generally, a most pernicious eflect on tiie people. They are lear;icd in early lite, and not soon forgotten, and often are considered as proverbial or oracular. I-.et then Christians, e.xcluding those polluting vanities, labour lo get their memories and minds richly replenished with hymns and songs of praise to God, and of every kind which are suited lo prepare them for the worship of heaven, and to anticipate its joys ; and let ihem use those hymns and songs constandy, not on public occasions alone, but in social meetings also ; and even when alone, in their houses, or journeying, and indeed in any other situation. This will aho render them edifying and animating companions lo their fellow-christians. In general, whatever they are employed about, whether in conversation, in social worship, in their secular or domes- tic concerns, or in any work of piety or charity, let them " do all in the name of the Lord Jesus ;" in a believing dependence on his merits and grace, out of love lo him, in obedience to his precepts, and for the honour of his name, giving thanks to God, even the Father, by him ; for such services can»be accepted from sinners only through his intercession. V. 18,19. (iWoles, Eph.v.2'2—33. I Pet. in. \— 7.) " Fit in the Lord ;" or agreeable to his commandment, honourable to his Go.spel, and not contrary to the rule of obeying God rather than man. Christian wives would, at that time, in many cases, be required to obey idolatrous husbands; and Christian husbands to love heathen wives. Be not bitter. ' Thou art not a lord, but a husband ; thou ' hast not got a maid-scrv.uit, but a wife ; God would have ' thee the ruler of the inferior sex, not the tyrant.' (.4m- brose.) ' In this precept, fidelity to the marriage-covenant ' is etijoined, as well as care to provide for the wife such ' conveniences, asmay be necessary to herhappiness, agree- ' ably lo the husband's station.' {31ackniglit.} V. 20, 21. {ISote, Eph. vi. 1 — 4.) Discouraged. When parents are conlinunlly finding fault with their children, and confounding the distinction between wilful offences, eft- obstinate disobedience, or immoral conduct, and the heedlessness or inadvertencies of youth; and when they sharply reprove even the defects of their endeavours to obey, without commending what is right ; children im- bibe the notion that it is impossible to please their parents, and so discouragement renders the.Ti careless. They then count their jia rents harsh and unfriendly, they shun their company ; and in consequence are exposed to numberless temptations. J. D. 64. CHAPTER IV A. b 04. CHAP, IV. ExhorlGiions to masters to behave properly to their servants, 1 : to perseverance in prayer, 2 — 4 ; to prudence and edifying V. 22— 25. {Notes, Eph. V. S. aJarg. Ref.) Single- ness, &c. That is, singly aiming to obey ar;d honour God in all they do; doing it to the best ot' their ability, as serving a good, merciful, and bountiful God, even in doing the work of a tyrannical, iniquitous, and idolatrous master. This would render the meanest employment a service acceptable, well-pleasing unto God ; and, however they might fail of pleasing their unreasonable masters, they would certainly receive an abundant, though gracious, reward from God, especially iu the heavenly inheritance. — Serve lite Lord Christ. ' We are,' (says Schlictlingius, 3. Socinian,) ' to serve Christ as our heavenly Lord, which, ' saith he, comprehends faith in him, obedience to him, 'and worship and adoration of him.' (fVhilby.) He that doeth wrong, &zc. (25.) The misconduct of the servai^t would not excuse the cruelty and injustice of the master ; ^nd the idolatry, wickedness, or severity of the ryaster, would not exempt the slothful, dishonest, or disobedient -rrvant from punishment. (Marg, Ref.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1— n. speech, 5, 6. 2^hc apostle commends Tychicus and Oncsimtts, by whom he sent the epistle, 7 — 9 ; and concludes with salutations, admonitions, and di- rections, 10 — 18. The sincerity of our professed faith and love must be evidenced by a consistent temper and conduct : and we should prove that wc are spiritually alive through our risen Saviour, by seeking and delighting in those things which are above, where he sitleth at the right hand of God. Thus we shall know our interest in his atonement, by the life which we have derived from him ; and' may be assured that ■' When Christ, who is our Life, shall appear, then "shall wc also appear with him in glory;" though this life of faith, and experienced communion with an unseen Saviour, must be hid from ungodly men, and frequently derided by them. Having such hoj)es and comforts, we should daily employ ouiselves in mortifying every carnal affection, and in seeking a more entire deliverance, not only from hankering after forbidden gratifications, but from all inordinate affection, and every desire of sensual indul- gence, and from that idolatrous " covetousness, which " God abhorreth :" for " because of these things cometh " the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." In 3uch practices and pursuits we might have been left to perish : for whether we once walked in them or not, we were by nature prone to them, and should have lived and died among the children of disobedience, if we had been left to ourselves. Let us then also put off anger, malice, slander, revilings, irreverent words concerning God, pol- luting discourse, and all kinds and degrees of insincerity : for a Christian should no more allow himself in any of these, than a courtier should dishonour his prince, and beraean himself, by wearing squalid and ragged g-irments. Having therefore put off ihc old man and his deeds, and put on Christ, and being renewed in knowledge after his Vot v.— No. 33. image -.let us study to copy his example, and to act consist- ently with our rank and character. v. 12—25. AS to all other distinctions, we may well be indifferent about them, 'seeing " Christ is all, and in all:" but we should be earnestly desirous of evidencing ourselves to be the elect of God, holy and beloved, by cultivating every benign, friendly, humble, and gentle temper ; by copying the forgiveness through which we are saved ; and by putting on that love which is the bond of perfectness, that it may above all appear in every part of our conduct, whilst we follow peace with all men, and arc of one mind with those who belong to the Lord's body. We should also seek to be enriched in divine knowledge and wisdom, by a comprehensive acquaintance with the word of Christ ; that, being familiarly versed in the Holy Scriptures, we may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work. From this sacred treasury we may deduce instructions for mutual admonition, while we unite in the worship of God, and in praising him with grace in our hearts: and so we shall be habitually led to do every " thing in the name of the " Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, even tlie Father, bv "him." By these means, our ordinary employments and relative conduct will be sanctified, and made a spiritual sacrifice. Thus the disobedient and disobliging behaviour of wives, and the bitter words and harsh conduct of hus- bands, will alike be precluded ; because such things are noivieet for those who are devoted to the Lord. Children will thus learn obedience to their parents, because this is well-pleasing to the Lord : and from the same motives, parents will learn to exercise their authority with prudence and gentleness; not exasperating their children by violent anger or durable resentment, nor discouraging them by- disapproving of their endeavours to ])lease. Thus servants will learn to be faithful, diligent, and conscientious in obeying their masters, from fear of God: and regard to his authority and all-seeing eye upon them. In short, true religion will teach every man to do the work of his station keartily, to the best of his ability, and with cheer- ful diligence, " as unto the Lord, and not to men :" ex- pecting from him the gracious reward of the heavenly inheritance, as the servant of Christ, in obedient faith ; and fearing, (when tempted,) to do wrong, lest he should come short of that inheritance, or expose himself to the displeasure of God, who is no Respecter of persons. These princijsjfs, and these alone, will render men uni- versally conscientious, in all places and circumstances, from love to Christ, zeal for his glory, a desire of recommend- ing his Gospel, and of possessing the assurance that they are interested in its blessings. But that evangelical profes- sion, which leaves men regardless of relative duties, and gives those, with whom they are connected, just cause for complaint, is very suspicious: and tiie misconduct in the 2 U .4. D. 64. COLUSSIAJNS. ^. D. 64- b E «8 - ;.i «" m'-Ix ■jl/f asters, *givc unto your scr- "rixiv^ior XVX vanls that which is just and equal ; ^oil'si'iv *r'i2 knowing that ""ye also liave a Master in " I,' '3~5* '9 heaven. \" Mar'hiV 2 11 "^Continue in prayer, and ''watch t'. sVattin the same with "thanksgiving; ° ^ ^.uke 3 Withal, ' praying also for us, « that ^j" v^-.\, vL«, God would open unto us a door of utter- i iiN.Vs."'^" ance, to speak ""tlie mysteiy of Christ,, xii ii lob :v ' for which I am also in bonds : i's iv 17 la 4 That '' 1 may make it manifest, ' as 1 ought to speak. 5 '" Walk in wisdom towards ° them that arc without, ° redeeming the time. 6 Let '' your speech bt alway with grace, 1 .seasoned with salt, that ye may '32""Eprvi."i9^ know ■■ how ye ought to answer every J5 man. Heh xiii 18, 19, I.ukc xviii 1 Horn. Xii IS Kph. ' . >v.Phil iv 6 Thes V n, 13 d Malt > \vi 41 Mark xill. y.\ t.uke xxl :ir. 1 1'et T 7 c\.\ 1. 17 Phil ) The — % 1 Cor Kvi 9 2 Cor ii 12 2T1]C!'. iil. 7,S. h Sc, i/n, i. 26 ii 2,3 i Eph. iii. 1. i» I Phil i li 15 2 T V Mall. X 26. 27. Acts iv. 2S) 2 Cor iil. 13 iv 1-4 1 6 Acts v 29 1 C«r. ii. 4. 5, S 14 Kpli vl 20 miii 16. Matt. X 16 Knm xvi 19 1 Cor xiv 19-25 K(ih 12. 13 I Ihce. Iv 12, 1 Tim. iii 7 1 Pet iii 1 le Deut »i 6.7. xi 19. 1 Chr xvi 24 Ts, xxxvii, 30, 31, «i 1.^—19 !3,24 Ixxvili. 3, 1. cv 2 rsii 13 ii Prov x 21, XV 4,7. XV.. 21-21 xsii. 17. 18 XXV 11,12 V:>- x. 12 Mil iii. 10 IS. Malt xii 34, 3S Luke iv 22. Eph iv 29. q Le v. ii. 13. 2 Kinfs ii 20, 21. Matt, t 13 Mark iz. 40. r Prov. x.ivi. 4. S. Luke xx. 20-40. 1 Pet. iii. 15 17. la m Bpli V 16 p iii , 10. xlv. 2 Ixvl ie Ik 7 All 'my state shall ' Tychicus de- ; ^pj ^i ^si -23 clare unto you, %vho is "a beloved brotlier, -,''j"]*.. j^ « and * a fiithful minister, and fellow-servant "v'*^;^" "•j,'^'','' in the Lord : /fo„r j, ,_^ 8 Whom y I have sent unto you for 'a'co"' xn. IJ" the same purpose, that he might know i'i'23 'merill; your estate, ^ and comfort yourliearts; i*ii s, ,, „ , 9 With "Onesimus, a faithful and be- 'i'ui.'frkA loved brother, who is one of you: They i'« 'v"'it 'u. shall make known unto you all things .7 i'"iiem.''o- which are done here. ha t. xix S9 10 '' Aristarchus, my fellow-prisoner, ihiem."'" *' ■■ sahitcth you, '' and Marcus, sister's son sv! 2" 23 "^ to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received s ". .-'» 37- commandments : if he come unto you, « 11. 1 Pet y 13. ''receive him ;) fi.ioiin », 9. AIT 1 • 1 • HIT '^'' * **• "'• 11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, ^j',,''",'y5 '|- ^ who are of the circumcision. These onlj' Kpii.iin.Tii! oj-e my ^ fellow-workers unto the kingdom V' '2*^Sor''ii'r of God, which have been ''a comfort unto [''j; me. several relations of life, of some who are zealous for the Gospel, is so evidently and habitually wrong, that there can be no doubt but they deceive them.selves, as well as 6, 7. I'bllem. h 2 Cor. 1 2 ' Epaphras, who is one of you, ■■ a j'l rThiem 23. k John xii. 26. Gal I. 10. 2 Pet i i. V. 5, 6. (Mole, Eph. iv. 29, v. !5— 17.) " Wisdom " towards them that Avere without," might include a pru- dent caution not to expose themselves needlessly to their di.<;gracc the cause. Let us then earnestly pray for grace,! persecutors, to which some expositors in a great measure to enable us to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, in restrict it. But the words contain a general rule of vast these and in all other things; that ti)e sincerity of ouri extent and importance : implying such habitual propriety, love may be evidenced beyond all reasonable ground of circumspection, and discretion in the whole conduct, as suspicion. CHAP. IV. V. ], NOTES. (M'ote, Eph. vi. 9.) The may preserve Christians from being ensnared or drawn into sin by their unconverted I'eighbours, and from giving (hem any unfavourable impressions of the Gospel ; and such an chilling admonition of the preceding chapter related loi evident excellency of character, as may silence calumny, masters, as well as to servants. 1'he former were here I soften prejudice, and win upon the beholders to examine exhorted to give their servants that su|)port, and recom-| into diose religious principles, which produce such happy jicnse for their labours, which were just and equitable, im- 1 effects. Thus the Colossians ought to "redeem their ]jlying care of them in sickness, j)rovision in old age, and i " time," in acquiriiig and exercising this heavenly wis- dom, to the honour of God and the good of mankind : in order that their conversation might not only be inoffensive, but " always with grace," the genuine language of piety, jjlying care of tliem m sickness, j)rovision in old age proportionable rewards for extraordinary fidelity and exer- tions. Thus ihey should in all things act towards them in a consider.itc and reasonable manner ; not abusing their au- ihoiity, but remembering their accountableness to their j purity, wisdom, and love; savouring of heavenly things, ■ ' ■" .. ". as meat is preserved and made relishing by being seasoned with salt. (Matt. v. 13.) By attention to these rules, they would know how they ought to answer every man, whether he asked a reason of their hope, and seriously M.istcr in heaven, (ilfarif, Ref.) V. a— 4. {Notes, Eph. vi. 18—20. Phil. iv. 4— 7.) in order to the suitable performance of all the before-men- tioned duties, the apostle exhurted the Colossians to per st.s< sf^adily in jirayer; watching against all indisposition '.inquired into the nature of Christianity ; or whether he and impediments; persevering notwithstanding delays and ; desired a solution of some doubt or difficulty ; or whether discouragements; and joining thnnk'igivings for mercies [he were disposed to object, cavil, dispute, or revile : for continually received. He also desired them to pray for the meekness of heavenly wisdom would dictate a pertinent him and his brethren in the ministry ; thirt God would answer on every occasion, and preserve them from dis>- give them opi^ortunity and boldness to speak the mystery graceful contentions. Salt. The wit, smartness, and of Christ; (i. 27 ;) for which the apostle was then a pri-i ingenuity, often accompanied with polluting or profane soner; that, both when thus circumstanced, and when set i illations, which were customary and admired, among the at liberty he might fully manifest tlic counsel of God, con-' Greeks, was called Atlic salt. Probably, the apostle cerning the way of salvation, and the calling of the Gen i refers to this, but shows his readers a far more excelleifl tiles, as he ought to do ; without fearing Avhat man could w'ay. do unto hin>. V. 7, 8, {Note, Eph, vi. 21, 22, Marg. Ref 4 J D. 64. CHAPTER IV. ^. D. Gl ISte 011,3. Luke Slii 4« Gal. iv 13 Hell T. 7. Jam V 16 • Dr. jlriuinj li. I. Rom X' 30 til Str an i. \' 22 28. .latt. V 48 I I'or i 6 sir. SO. :: Cor xui II i till lii. 12 -15. ThOi V D Horn, X 3 2 ol'i.'ie. ii. I. Kev. i. II ill. U-17. ft 2 Tim. iv. II. I'bilem. 21 q :■ Tim. IV 10 fhiUm. 24. servant of Christ, ealutetli you, ' always * labouring ferviiitly for you in prayers, ■" that ye may stand perfect and t complete in all the will of God. 1 3 For " I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them [hal are in " Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 14'' Luke, the beloved physician, and ** Demas, greet you. 13 Salute the brethren which are ' in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and ' the church which is in his house. [■ Sie an, o 13. — s Kom svi 3. 1 Cor. xv 16 «And when ' tliis epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also I in the church of the Laodiceans ; and that ye likewise read the epistle i'rom Laodicea. 17 And say to " Archippus, " Take heed to ^the ministry which thou hast received in ihc Lord, that thou "fulfil it. 18 The salutation » by the hand of mc, Paul. ''Remember my bonds. "^ Grace be with you. Amen. V. 9—14. Oacsimu.s, of whom we shall read here" after. (Philevi.) and whom the apostle sent with Tychicus, was formerly an inhabitant of Colosse: the language used concerning hirn shows how high he now stood in the apostle's estimation. Aristarchus continued with Paul during his imprisonment; {Marg. lief.) but whether this was voluntary, or whether he was confined with him for d;e sake of the Gospel, is not certain ; the latter, however, is probable. Marcus, or John Mark, nephew to Bar- nabas, (Marg. Hef.) was before this fully reconciled to the apostle ; and Paul's unfavourable opinion of him was completely erased, by his subsequent good conduct. Pro- bably, the Colossians had formerly received some injunction from the apostle not to countenance Mark as a minister : but he now, reversed it ; for he and Aristarchus, with one called Jesus, (a common name among the Jews, and sur- named Justus because of his integrity,) were the only mi- nisters of the circumcision, who had cordially united with him in preaching the kingdom of God among the Gentiles, and who had been a comfort to him. This is generally and justly urged, as absolutely conclusive against the tra- dition of the papists, that the aposde Peter was at this time bishop of Rome, where he resided twenty-five years. It also renders it highly probable, that Luke was not a Jew, or a circumcised proselyte. Epaphras, a Colossian, a pastor of the Church, and probably its founder, sent t 1 Tlies V. '.7. u Pl.il.m D X Lev. X 3. Niiqj. x«il. 5. SCli xxis. II. y.: xlivr S3, :m. Acts XK. 29. I Tim iv. Ifi, vi ll-U SO. ilTiin iv. I-/, y Act5 i. 17 XU'. 23 I Cur iv. I 2. K|ili iv. n 111 the Lord was statedly worshipped. The apostle liirected this epistle to be read in the neighbouring Church of Lao- dicea, as it was suited for general instruction ; and that an episUc, which they would receive from Laodicea, should be publicly read among them. This direction hath given rise to various conjectures ; but probably the apostle had written to the Laodiceans, though the epistle was not preserved. ' For all the epistles which the apostles ever ' wrote are not preserved, any more than all the words ' and actions of our blessed Lord.' (Doddridge.) Some think, that the episde to the Ephesians was intended to be a kind of circular letter; and that, by private direction, a copy of it was sent to Laodicea, to be thence forwarded to Colosse. Indeed, that episUe contains so litde peculiar to the Church at Ephesus, and so much important instruc- tion of general concernment, that this opinion is not im- probable. V. 17. Some suppose Archippus to have been the bishop of Colosse. ' That he should have been then ' bishop of Colosse, and that St. Paul should not write ' one word, or send one salutation, to him, but send to the ' people of Colosse to admonish him of his duty, is not ' very credible.' {Whitby.) 'Archippus being old and ' infirm, received this encouragement from the apostle ' to strengthen him.' (Btngelius.) Jt is far more pro- bable, that he had been newly appointed to the ministry 5 Lis salutations to them. He could not then attend his; and showed some .symptoms of timidity or negligence: the labours among them, being confined as a prisoner; (P/ii- apostle therefore sent a message to him in particular, lemon, 23;) but he continually prayed for them so fer- charging him to take heed to his sacred ministry ; and to vendy, that he even laboured, or agonised, or 7f res Timo- theus, ' unto i\\c church of the NOTES. CHAP. I. V. 1—4. Silas, or Silvanus, did not come to the aposde, when diivm from Thessalonica and Berea, till after his arrival at Corinth, nor did Timothy return to him ; so that thfe epistle could not be written from Athens. (.■Ic.'s xvii. 1-1. 15. sviii. 5) St. Paul join- a Acts XV. 27 .12 ■aj. 41 xvi 1«. 24 2i xvi . i. M>. xv'ii !> sua. 8 Co r 1 19. 2 Thes 1 1. 1 Pet V 12. h Acu xvi -3 Xvii U.15. X Mil i. X i 22 XX 4. 2 Cor. I Pbil i 1 i 1 1 T,m Col 2 2 ria> . 2 Heb nUi 23. -.5. D. bJj. •^ Thessalonians, which is ' in God the j acu xvi . i-ia. Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ : e'cJI -.2 2Tbea. f g^t^ce be unto you, and peace, from iudei.""' ' God our Father, and the Lord Jesus S*"K°,h' "2'"' '' f^l ■ . g S« (/Il Rom l.p Christ. ?. vi n I Cor. 2 We E give thanks to God always li* Phif > 'i, T. for you all, making mention of you in our h m. e'i 2 Tim. i. Dl'avrr^ • » i'- '3. l*- John |)lc1^tis, _ »i. S7-S9. Rom. 3 '' Remembermg without ceasing »" =» 1 coj. ,0 III /•» "XvSB Gal V 6. ' your work oi faith, '' and labour of love, »^^ ^t]^^^; ' and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus '^^^ h:\"~'^' Christ, "in the sight of God and our ''^Gej. ^^if; =;• Father, i°i^ *';,'^ ,?! 4 " Knowing, brethren * beloved, your ^J^ jf.f 'j- election of God, I'TcJr.'v tZ 15. viii 7-3. Gil. V. 13. Fhilem 5—7. Heh. »i. 10. II I John iii 18. Hev. li- 2-«. 1 Koni il. 7 V 3-i. viii. 2l, 2S. xii 12. xv. 13 1 Cor xiii IJ. Gal vi 1 Heb. ti. 15 X 36 Jam. i 3, 4. v. 7 t Jotui Iii. 3 Kev. iii. 10 oi Ec. ii 2fi. Acts ill. 19 X 31 2C.ir li 17 1 Trni. il- • Heb xiii. 21. 1 Pet iii 4. 1 John iii 21. D 3. Kom v,il 2«— 30 xi 5-7. Kph. i 4 Phil i 6, 7 1 Pel i 2 2 Pet. i. 10. ' Or, brlovcdqfUoi,' and of the Lord, having ^ received the '-'?'? word in much aflliction, ^ witii joy of the Holy Ghost : 7 So that ye were *■ cnsamples to all that believe, *= in Macedonia and Achaia. Uoni i 16 ) Cor a Cor Kpli ii. 4.S \0 80 l-t.i) i. 13 Jam. i 16— 1«. 1 I'et i 3 » John jYi 7-iS. Acts li .13 X 41— 4V. xi IS- IS 1 Cor )li 16 Heb. ii 3. I Pet. i. i;. -i tii. 1-11. Acts X« 18 19.33-35 3—10 Phil iv 9. 2Thes iri. 7-- 19— M. S Tim ii, 10. y Matt, xvi 24. John 7-12 i Co •J-S V, a. Si, 23. Tit. "i .">, 6 :ol ii 2 Heh vi. 11 18 19 jc. S2 2I'et. 1 10 19 I Cor ii.2-5. if. 9— 13. X 33 2 Cor iv 1.2. v. 1 Tim iv 12-16 I Pet v. 3 u 1 Cor. is. _ ., 14 1 Cor. iv. le.'ii 1 Phil lii 17 2 l lies. iii. 9 iii. 12. xiii. 15 Eph v. 1. 1 Pet. iii. 13. 3 John I'. vil 13,U ... 2-4 Ho« ii 14. Mark x. 29, 30 Acl^ svii. S. E Cor. viii 1,2 ! Tlies. >. 4 a John ^iv 16-18 Alts v 41 ix :il Iton. v 3-6. viii. 16-18. iv. 13. Gal. v. 22 Heb s 34 I Pet > 6 3 h iv. 10 1 Tiio iv 12. Tit. ii. 7. 1 Pet v. 3. c U Acts xvi J8. ivii 13 xsiii. 1 2 Cur. i 1 ix 2 xi C> 9. 8 For "• i'loui YOU .sGundou out die word of the Lord, not orilv in Macedonia and Acliaia, but also '^ in every place your faith to ' God-ward ip spread abroad ; so that we need not to speak any thing. 1^ For they thcmseives siiew of us 8 v\hat manner of entering in we had unto vou, and how *" ye turned to God from idols, to serve ' the iivinjr and true God ; 10 And to ''wait for his Son from heaven, ' whom he raised from the dead, even ""Jesus, which deliveretl us from " the wrath to come. 10 llnm ix 26. 2 Cnr vi IS, 17 I Tim. iv 10, FIch xii 22 ticv vii. Gen, >llx, 18. Jol' >li.\. es -27 Is.xkv 8,9 l,uke ii 2.'i. Act«i 11, iii, —25 1 for, i. 7. Phil, iii 20 2Tbes. i 7 2 Tim. iv 8 'I'lt, ii 13 He', i 14 Hev 1,7. lActsii 24 lii 15 iv 10. v, 30, 31 x 40, 4l.xvii.: viii 34 ICor. Xi 4-21 Col. I. U. 1 Pet i 3.21 iii IS. Rev i IB 21. Rom V. 9, 10. Gal. iii 13 1 Pet ii. 21. n iVlatt iii. 7. Luke i ; U. il. 3 Ixvl. 19 u - r.i ylv 36 2 Tilt lii 1. Ill 1 Op Clio . 17 6 ii I 13 R ii 17-21 Jc (i. 19. Zcph.i Ze.'h » i : 23 Mai i. 1 (lal. Iv 8, 9. i Deut. V 2 1 Panv svii • 36. Ps. irlii Ixsxiv. 2 I xxxvii. 4 1 . 10 I)a 26 Ho 16 17 . 21. Ko ix 28 iPel li. 1 . KoiD i. 4 iv 2 m V 9 Matt . 7 Heb, X,i7. iheir active obedience showed dial their faith was living, " wrought by love" of Christ unci his ministers, truth, and cause ; and that this powerful affection induced them to labour strenuously, in all things connected with the honour of Christ, and the benefit and comft)rt of their brethren. They professed to hope in the promises of God, and to expect eternal life, as his gift in Christ Jesus ; and this living hope renJered them patient, and constant in their adherence to him, amidst tribuliUons and persecutions. These graces and duties they attended to, as " in the sight " of God," even theii»reconciled Fadier; and the apostle was satisfied, from what he had witnessed, that they were his brethren be-loved, and the elect of God in Jesus Christ. This he did not speak as a matter of immediate revela- tion ; but his fivourable conclusion respecting them was drawn, by tracing back the effects of divine grace, in their conversion, to the source of them in their election. The purpose of God, in calling die Gentiles collectively, could not be known in this manner, and indeed some of the! Thessalonians were Jewish converts. And in what sense j a remnant of Thessalonians, (that is, of the inhabitants of j one city,) could prove the national election of the Macedo- 1 nians, they who adopt this opinion would do well to inform | lis. Some explain the words to mean election to externa! privileges, as Israel had been chosen : but an external pro- 1 fession of Christianity was sufficient to prove this ; whereas the apostle grounds his confidence respecting the Thessalo- nians on " their work of faith, and l^ibour of love, and patience of hope," " things which," no doubt, " accompany " salvation." He had (jiice indeed had his fears of them ; but subsequent tidings from them had fully satisfied him ; (iii. 5 — 7 :) yet, if any individuals did not show the same ' active faith, laborious love, and patient hope,' as the rest did, they were exceptions also to the apostle's general oonfidence, respecting the professed Christians at Thes- salonica. V. 5 — 8. The Gospel, which the apostle and his asso- ciates preached, had come to the Thessalonians " not in " word only :" it had not been left to its natural efficacy, or the power of arguments and persuasion on their minds. Numbers had thus hearrl it in many places, who never- theless continued to live in idolatry and iniquity ; but it had come " with power t.nd with the Holy Ghostj" that is, with the power of the Holy Spirit. This cannot relate to miracles exciusivelv : for many saw miracles, and yet remained unbelievers ; but the new-cieatlrig power of the Holy Spirit, accompanying the word of God, had produced such a full, conviction of its nature and importance, and such an assurance of faith and hope, as had induced the Thessalonians at all events to embrace and profess the Gos- pel ; even as a ship is carrieil, by a full tide and a fair wind, over every obstacle, into the haven. For they knew and observed what manner of men the preachers of Christianity were among them I'or their sakes ; while they witnessed their [iatience, self-denial, diligence, holiness, and love; and that they laboured with their own hands for a maintenance, that they might not be burdensome to the c onverts : and this induced them to attend to their doctrine, so that they joined thcmseives to these despised servants of a crucified Saviour ; they associated themsclvrs with tliem in divine worship; they copied their exanqjles ; and. in doing so, became imitators of the Lord himself. Thus they received the word into their hearts, amidst great afflictions in their circumstances, and from their persecu- tors : yet had they such joy from the Holy Spirit, as made them ample amends. (Mnrg. Ref.) In this manner they became examples, not only to their idolatrous neighbours, but even to believers in other parts of Macedonia, and in Achaia : for the Gospel was soon spread from Thessa- lonica into those regions, by persons who went out for that purpose. In all places whither the apostle travelled, the report of the conversion and good conduct of the Thes- salonians had arrived before hiu; : and they who came t© him from other parts declared the same. V. 9, 10. In every city the apostle met with ihose, who joyfully mentioned his prosperous entrance with the Gospel among the Thessalonians ; and how tliey had been converted from the worship of idols, either dead men, or imaginary beings, or evil spirits, to serve and worship " the one living and true God," by faith in Christ ; and to \Vait for the Saviour's coming from heaven to raise the dead and judge the world, in believing and jiatient hope, diligpnt preparation, and universal conscientiousness. For they were fully assured, that God the Fathei had raised him from the dead, and advanced him to the mediatorial throne, to rcigiT at his right haud, till all eaem ics should be pot, .^. D. 55. THESSALONIANS. .1 D. 55. CHAP. II. 7'^e aposik reminds the Thcssaloniaiis of his affectionate faithful labours ami hoti, manner of life among them., I — 12. He expresses his satisfaction, as to the man- ner in which they had received the gos- pel; and their constancy amid persecu- tion, 1 :^, 14: and speaks of the guilt and ruin of the unbelieving Jeu's, 15, under his feet. Him therefore they looked and waited for, as their great Deliverer from " the wi-ath to come." To 'his wrath, both Jews and Gentiles had been justly exposed 'or tlicir sins ; and under this they must all have finally perished, if the Son of God had not become incarnate, per- rovmcd his suretyship obedience to the law, laid down his ;ife as a vicarious Sacrifice, risen as the First-fruits of the resurrection, ascended into heaven to be the Advocate of sinners, sent forth his Gospel to call men to partake of ihis salvation, and accompanied it by the power of his Spirit, (o overcome the prouti and carnal opposition of their hearts. Thus he had delivered tliem from fhe merited wrath of God, which is coming, and will for ever be 16. He shows his joy on their account, his desire of seeing them again, and his « u i ji-\o. hope of a joyful meeting at the coming of^<^>i Jni!',„ii. Christ, 17— '20. ««vii'7 "S^: Jl»b n 13. I FOR yourselves, brethren, know 'our ?^ ,|.^"|,^iy ,?• entrance in unto you, that it was not ^\^ 'm vain : JjH~'' 2 But oven after that \vc had suffered J',^J'i before, and were ■= shamefully entreated, j'^^.^, as ye know, at Philippi, we were Jl XTf. 37 a 12. HeS. ministers evidently set before the people an edifying example, so that by imitating them they follow Christ also, it is very conducive to their conviction and conver- sion. When this happy change is effected, and sinners join themselves to those who walk as Christ walked : they are often enabled to receive the word, amidst poverty, contempt, and manifold afflictions, with abundant joy in the Holy Ghost. Thus they become good examj^les to their families and neighbours, and even to their fellow- christians ; the word of God sounds forth from them to others; and they zealously embrace every opportunity of diffusing this heavenly light. And when great numbers of careless, ignoiant, and immoral persons are turned from coming, upon all impenitent and unbelieving sinners : of their idols and iniquities, their worldly pursuits and con- this deliverance their conversion was the sure evidence, nexions, to serve the living and true God; to believe in and, having this earnest and pledge of final salvation, they and obey the Lord Jesus; to "deny ungodliness and waited in joyful hope for that solemn season, which will complete the felicity of believers, and the destruction of the wicked. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. It gives cordial joy and fervent gratitude to faithful minis- ters, when they witness " the work of faith, and " labour of love, and jwticnce of hope in the Lord Jesus," of those among whom they have preached the Gospel. This puts vigour into their prayers and praises for them ; as evidenc- ing, that they are " in God the Father and our Lord Jesus •• Christ ;" partakers of " mercy, grace, and peace ;" " be- " loved brethren," and " the elect of God." But faith worldly lusts ; to live soberly, righteously, and godly in " this [iresent world ;" and to" wait for the Lord Jesus from heaven," as " believing that he will come to be their " Judge," and hoping ' to be numbered with his saints in ' glory everlasting ;' the fact speaks for itself : there needs little pains to spread the report, for it is a work of God, that will be sure to be known, and rendered conspicuous by its own light. May he then send forth ministers into all parts of the world, attended by his power, and thus made abundantly successful, in the conversion of the nations to the worship of the living God, and the obe- dience of faith in his Son ! But let us remember, " that " the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all " ungodliness and unrighteousness of men." All tem- poral miseries, terminating in death, are the effects of that which worketh not obedience, professed love that declines | wrath : Jesus did not come to deliver us from these suf- self-denying labour, and hope which is separated from j ferings, but from " the wrath to come," the everlastin patient continuance in well-doing," can never prove a man's ■' election." All other ways of proving it than that here prescribed are vain and delusory ; and this scri[)tural medium is not capable of being abused. Alas ! even the Gospel which the apostle preached often comes in word only ; and thus men continue impenitent, and slaves to sin, or at most, become only notional formalists and mere pro- fessors. This should excite all wlio preach, and all who love the Gospel, to pray without ceasing, that it may every where, and at ail times, be attended by the divine power of the Holy Spirit ; producing in the minds -and hearts of men that full assurance of its truth and im- portance, which alone will prevail with them to break through all hindei-ances, and make all sacrificps. that they may follow Clirist, and be partakers of his salvation. This misery of hell. None but Jesus can deliver any man from this merited condemnation : all, who believe in him with an obedient faith, are delivered from it, and all others are exposed to it, "for the wrath of God abideth on them:" for if all true Christians once were exposed to this wralh, all they whom Jesus has not delivered must be still exposed to it. Let us then examine this most important matter with proportionable sei iousness ; let us give dili- gence to make our calling and election sure ; if we have obtained this assurance, let us remember the price which our deliverance cost the great Redeemer, that humble love may constrain us devotedly to obey him, and cheerfully to suffer for him. But, if any are conscious that they have not experienced this deliverance, let them take warning, without delay " to flee from the wrath to come," and te is the work of God ; but he works by means : and when seek refuge in Christ and his salvation. S. D. 30. CHAPTEK il. .'L D.'jb. 'j/i^i.l'xVs'n our God to speak unto you the Gospel "phii.'i. sT-aS of God with " much contention. Phil Col f 4.6 U h-um. xvi 15 1 Sam. xii 3 A x\ 3!. 31 aCoi li c«it, nor of unclcanriess, nor in guile : \ But as 8 we were allowed of God iiV. 2Pet U6* ^ to be put in trust with the Gospel, even *Eph"i:i "s" so we speak ; ' not as plea^iing men, '' but fi^Te 'x^i"42 God, which trieth our hearts. f''i " Ix 17 5 For neither at any time ' used we T-'m-i'ii '1. flattering words, as ye know, nor "a ti 2 Ti' i'3 cloak of covetousness ; " God is witness : 1 1 Cor ii 4, 5 2 , -^T ^ , 1 Cor V 2. V 11. b iNor " 01 men sought we srlory, nei- Eph »i 6.C01. ther of you, nor yet of others, p when we ^iT'^'fili' 39 '"'n''* have * been "• burdensome, ' as the Pa'^'fvi'ri^i- apostles of Christ. |'^^.'*«'X'| 7 But 'we were gentle among you, ixKii.^V' Joh°n ^^'^" ' as a nurse cherisheth her children; n K*;)J\iif n S So> being " alfectionately desirous of Heb iv. 13- RP'T. ii 23 IJoh Kvii 5 xxsii. 21.22 Ps. sii 2 3 Pros xx 19 xxvi. £8. xxviii. 23 XKix 5- la kxs. lu Matt ssii. 16 2 P^t. ii. 18 — tn la Ivi 11 ler vi 12 viii. 10 Mic. iii. 5 Mil. i, 10, Mult xsiii. Il Acts xt 33 Kom xvi 18 2 Cor. i» S vii 2. xii n. I Tim ii 3 8 T t i. 7 1 Pet. y 2 2 fet ii 3 U. 15. Jiide II. Rev xviii. 13. n Ste on. Eom i 9 ix. I. Gal i 20 .-o E.ilh i 4 v II Prov xxv 27 Dan. iv 30. John ». 41 44. vii. 18 xii 43 Gal. v 26 vi 13 1 Tiro, v 17. p9 1 Cor. . 12 -la. .i Cor. II 1.2 10, 11. xiii 10 ■ Or Bird aulAorily q 2 Cor. ' " 12, 13. U 2 Tlifs iii. 8. 9 r 1 Cor ix. 4-6 s Gen xxxir 14—16. -Matt, xi 29.30 John xxi. IS— 17 1 Cor. ii 3. in Cal V. 22, 23 2T.m. ii 84,25 lam iii 17 — t ll.Num xi. i: Actsxiii. 18. Marg. u Jer. siii. IS— 17 Rom i II, 12. ix. 11—13. Gal it- 19 Pbil. i 8. ii. 25,26. Col i 23 iv. 12. Heb. xii 13. U Is xl II Kr. 2J. 2 Cor X 1 xiii. 1 Is xlix. 23 Ixvi. 13 —3 X 1. 2 Cor. vi. 1 NOTES. CHAP. II. V. I— 8. The Thcssalonians well knew, that the apostle and his fcllow-lahourers did not come amonj]; them witli empty speculations, or in an ineffi- cacious manner : but they were sensible, that it was a wcll- qrounded testimony, and not a vague report, which hadj been spread abroad concerning tliem. (i. 9.) Hnvingi been, by immediate revelation, directed to go into Mace- donia, they had not yielded to discouraging fears, when ihey suffered the most severe, ignominious, and iniquitous usage at Philippi ; (Notes, Acts xvi :) but, as soon as they were set at liberty, tiiey came to Thcssalonica ; and there boldly, in dependence on God and from zeal for his glory, they preached that Gospel of which he was the Author. This they did with great earnestness of spirit, and strong desires of their conversion ; and with the most constant per- severance, notwithstanding the opposition of the Jews, the di.'^putings which they were constrained to maintain with them, and the persecutions which awaited (hem. For their exhortations were not suited to beguile men, cither into false notions, or licentious praclices; nor had tliey any sinister or selfish motives. On the contrary, they were most f.iUy assured of the divine authority and excellency of the dot trine which they taught, and conscious of the ut- most integrity, purity, and sincerity, in their endeavours to propagate ii. For as they had been approved by God him- self, and marked out to be " stewards of his mysteries," and intrusted with the Gospe] : so they had spoken with the most simple and sincere desire of approving themselves faithful to him, and meeting with his acceptance ; know- ing that he would scrutinize and prove the secret intentions of every heart. They had not indeed at all sought to please men, for the -^ake of their own case, interest, repu- VoL. v.— No. 33. ' f iv 1. V 11 Arts XX 2 2 Thes. 11 H iii 22 i Num xxvii 19. 2 13 17 2 Tim iv 1 — — h Gen. iv. II Prov. 10 15. ii. 1. 4, ,■> - — .i iv 12 Gal. V 16 KpK iv. 16 1 John i. B, 7. „ 6. kv 24. Rom. 13 14. 2 Tim i. 9 1 Pet. . 11. ii. 9. you, we wore willing to iiave imparted "e'coV "i'* i*.' unto you, not the Gospel of God only, ^.'^I-mu. ' " but also our own souls, because ye were Vhl'L* ii^"'2».' „ J . ^ Marg iv. I. y dear unto us. coi i ^ 9 For ye remember, brethren, ^ our zi j'acisxvi. labour and travail ; for labouring " night jc " iv.' 12' and day, because we would not be y'. 5 'sVhes.' '' charo-cable unto any of you, we preach- I'v 0 ed unto you ' the Gospel of God. '4 uxxviii. 1. ,,% i' 1 • I /-I 1 7 Jer ix. 1 Luke 10 re arc '' witnesses, and God ofco, '^ f\,f 7,'- ',■ 'how holily and justly, and unbianieably, I'm. vs.2nai. we behaved ourselves amoiis; yuu that '•••N.'-V.i'l,!.'"* 11 As ye know, 'how we exhorted, Jg^^Vim^Vn: and comforted, and ? charged every one 'y_| ' |™- *||; of you, ''as a father doth his children ; acof v"'. ^v.' 12 Tbat ye would 'walk worthy of ^^j:;'^,,^'-^. God, ^ who ■ hath called you unto his .'"'^S" -'^ kingdom and glory. i'viij"2ii -li! Jer xviii. 20 Aits xx'iv. 16 2 Cor i. 12 vi 3-10 vii 2 2 Tlies 12 2 Tim iii. 10. Tit. ■17.8 1 Pet . v 3 - ill 12 I Tim. vi 2 2 Tim iv 2 Tit. ii. 6. 9, Deut. iii 2« XKXi. II. liph iv. 17 I Tim v : 1. :6. 17 I Chr xxii. 11-13. xxviii 9, 20. Ps. : -12 V. 1. 2 vi. 1 vii 1 24. XXXI. 1-9 1 Cor. I V S 8 Phil i. 27. Col. i. 10. ii 6 1 Pet i. 15. viii. 30. ix 23, 24. 1 Cor. i 9 2 Thee. i. 1 1, 12 iii 9. V. 10 tation, or accommodation ; or in any way, except as con- ducive to their edification. (ISote, 1 Cur. iv. 1 — 5. Gal. i. 10.) They had never, on any occasion, employed flat- tering words, to soothe their hearers into a delusive opi- nion of their good estate or character, to jiailiate their sins, or to compliment their endowments or virtues. This the Thessalonians knew ; being sensible that they address- ed them in the plainest and most convincing language ; and God himself was wdtness, that they had never made religion, or their ministry, a cloak to cover any avaricious designs. Nor had they courted applause, or aspired at authority, or honour, among them, or any other Christians ; on the contraiy, they even receded from their due, and would not burden them by requiring a maintenance. This was a mark of respect, which the other ajiostMs generally received from the churches, and Paul had as just a claim to it as they : but he did not insist upon it, either for himself or his companions ; because lie was aware that it would have been burdensome to the people, as they were ia lowcircumslanccs. In thi.s, and in all other respects, they had imitated the gentleness of a nursing mother to her beloved infant, whom she deems if a pleasure to suckle and attend on. and has the desired recompense of her dis- ^itcrested assiduity, when it thrives and is in health. Thus, being affectionately desirous of their S|iir'itual growth and prosperity, they were not only wilHng to impart the Gospel to them ; but the tendevest feelings of tlieir hearts accom- panied their labours. They readily spent their strength, employed all their knowledge and ability, exhausted their spirits, and even ventured ih^^ir lives for them, because they were dear to them ; and they desired no odier recr.m- pense, than the " furtherance, and joy of faith" of their beloved people. 2 X J. D. r,:->. I. THESSALONIANS. J. D 55. sr,o«.\.2,r 13 H For tlii.s cause also 'thank wo J jer! xiiv 18 Goil uitliout ceasirii^, '"because, when ye M Aci.ii'41. received the word of God wliich ye heard *8. xvi u JO- of US, vc received // not ai the word of 31 xvii II 13 ',•'... . , 1 r -so 33_ G.I. men, but (as it is 111 tiMith,) " tlie word o( IV U 2 Pel 111 _, ' A , ,,. 1 1 I I 1 ."'jer xxiii 28 *J""' which "eiloctually worketh also iii % '1%' \i }'^" ^''^* behcve. ;'iii'*''«''' if! '^ For ye, brethren, p became follow- f,2"jers of T tlie clinrches of God, which in ' Judea 'are in Christ Jesus : for 'ye also '" have sufTcred Hkc things of your own ' " ' ' ■ 18. Col . - .._.... Horn Ileli. ret i. 26 2 1 1 lC-21. o i. S-IO. Ji countrymen, ' even as they have of the Jews ; 15 Who both "killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have * per- secuted us ; and they * please not God, and are '' contrary to all men : l(i ' Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, " that they might be saved, '' to fill up their sins ahvay : 'for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. t Acts Tlii. 1. a. in. I. 13 (i. 19. mi 1-3 Het). X. 33. 34 u Matt vl2ixl. 3S-39. xxiii. 31 -3i xxtii ». Lu'e XI ««-51. xih 3.1.34 Acta )i. 23 10. SJ )■). Una -p i. 6. q Acts U. 31. Gal. i 22.- I. 2 Thes. il I i.r, 1 13 xlv 22. M«i k X' Gen. sv 10 Zech. i '—10 12 xii 45. x»i !0-Si. Heb. »i 8. X. 27-30. J»iD i:. 13 8 Acts -a. M»tt . 27-31 xxii. 21. 22. G«l iv 12. Uom. X 13— li. 3Thfs. li XKiii. 32 c Joel ii. 30, 31. M«l 6,7. xxiv.ai,23. Lake xi *0 M » Or cliaiii at oul Am Til. 12. . At uiiii 18-21. X Acts xil 3. ; Cor X 5 y ettb iii S. Luke x>. i3,S3. 1 ArtJ li 2.3 IT, 18 xii SO. xir. T II Bpb iii « II. 10 I Tm. li 4 IT I 6 Matt iii. XIX 43-M. XxL V. 9 — 12. Tlie Thessalonians could well remember I tlic disinterested labour ami faiif^uing toil of the apostle j and his 3.5.sociates : for they not only rm[)loyed the day inj the various parts of their ministerial duty, or in working | hard for a subsistence, but they bereaved themselves of' rest, spending the whole, or a considerable part of thei night, in the same manner: lest, by being chai'geable tOj any of their iiearers, they should prevent their own suc- cess. Thus they failhfuUy preached to them the Gospel of God: and the Thcssulonians coukl witne.ss, (as the Lord! himself also would,) in what a holy, upright, and blameless j manner they behaved themselves ; not only in those things ! which unbelievers might have noticed, but also in their] most retired and intimate behaviour, among such as be- 1 lieved the Gospel; so that none of them had seen any I thing, but what evinced the greatest purity, probity, sin- ; cerity, and holy love. They had also exhorted and ani- 1 mated them with every consolatory topic, and charged; them with authority, as testifying the will of God con-, cerning them, to copy their example. And as a wise and ; affectionate father uses arguments, persuasions, encourage-' ments, and commands, in directing the conduct of his I chfldren : so they had used the same means, of inducing ihera to walk worthy of the holy perfections of that God] whom they worshipped, and who hatl so graciously called them from the power of darkness into die kingdom of hi.sl Son, that they might be trained up on earth, for the eter- 1 nal glory and holy felicity of heaven, {^hira^. lief.) i V. i3 — 16. The apostle and his frien N tJiankcd God! continually, because the Tiiessalonians h,id not treit^d *' the word of hi aring of God ;" or the word of Ciod. which they had heard from them, as '' the word of man :" which may be disputed against, rejected, oi' even derided, without m:;tfriil criminality or detriment, however plau- sible or ingenious it may be. On ihe co'i'rary, dicy had received it " as the word of G'd," (which il certainly was ;) and had a; cordingly rcvcremed it, believed it. and obeyed it. Thus it had cflVctually Mrought in iIk ir hearts, repentance of sin, hatred of idolatry, faith in Christ, love to liini and his cause, delii;!it in the worship and service of God, a supreme valuation of his favour, and a realising view of eternal things, hi this manner, they became imitatofs of the Chiistian chuiciics in .ludea, in doctrine, worship, and holy obedience : and they adhered to the truth and will of Christ, patiently and cheerfully, amidst the persecutions which they endured from their neighbours, who were i'isli;:ated by the unbelieving Jew.s ; even as the Christians in .Judea were hated and persecuted by those of their own nation. Nor should this excite any astonish- ment ; seeing the Jews, though professed worshippers of God, luid murdered the promised Messiah, (as their an- cestors had done the prophets ;) and they persecuted the apostles and itisciples of Christ, from a |iroud and blind zeal for the law, and the glosses and traditions of the elders. In this they were far from plei'si;ig God, nay» they exceedi. gly provoked him: and they were contrary to all men, and opposed as much as possible the salvation both of Jews and Gentiles. Especially, as they prohibited, and did all in their power to hinder, the preaching of the Gospel to the Gcnliles; as if they could not endure that they .should be saved. Thus, with ceaseless efforts, they filled uj) the measure of their personal and national ini- quities, for which the wrath of God was, even then, about to come upon them to the uttermost ; in the destruction of their city and temple ; the slaughter of immense multi- tudes of their nation; the scattering, enslaving, and ab- ject miseries of the survivors; and the most unheard of calamities of every kind, pursuing them into every region of the earth, throughout numeious successive generations. (iVo/e.?, Malt, xxiii. 34—39. xxiv. 3Iarg. Ref.) The morose and unsocial bigotry of the Jews, respecting all Grnlilos, fiom the time when they ceased to copy their idol.itiies, is largely insisted on by commentators in gene- ral ; and the testimony of Gentiles is adduced in proof of it. This evidence, however, is not much to be regarded i for if the Jews had shown the most compassionate, liberal, and friendly attention to idolaters in temporal things, while they steadily adhered to the divine law, by separating fio'n them in all things relating to religion, the clamour of the Gentiles against their bigotry would not have been silenced, if it had been even abated. The steady refusal, of what some have called an intercvmmunitt/ of deities and religious riles, would have sulHced to keep up the pre- judice against Jews, and the disdain of them, among the proud Greeks and Romans; for the same reasons, that no philanthropy or liberality can exempt those from con- t'^mpt and reproach, eveu among professed Christians, who unreservedly avow their attachment to the doctrines- of ihc Gospel, as their rule of faith, and the precepts of Christ, as their rule of conduct. The Jews were, how- ever, in thi.s respect, very faulty; andso are many Chris- tiaDs ; but the grand point which here demands considera- A. D. 55. CHAPTER U. A. D. dl K!«gs T ;e. Acta xvii 10. I Cor. V. 3 Col li.i. eiii. 6 10. II Cen xssi 10. xl«. S8 xliiit. II. : Sam. Mill 39 T» Ixiii I. Luke zxii. 15. Iloni i. 13. XT. 29. I'hil. i. a— 36 1 Cor Xvi 31 C6I. ii. 13 3 Til 1,3. Horn. XV. 2: 17 But wc, brethren, being taken from you for a short time, "' in presence, not in heart, '^ endeavoured tl)e more abun- dantly to sec your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we Avould have come unto you, ' even I, Paul, ^ once and again ; but '' Satan hindered us. 16 h Zech iii tion, is this ; ihat the determined opposition of the Jewish nation to the proacliing of the Gospel among the Gentiles was the immediiUe cause of wrath coming on them to the uttermost. Let Britain, let every Briton, tremble at the thought of opposing the cause of missions among the heathen, as too many are disposed to do, lest wrath come upon us also to the uttermost. ' They who obstruct the ' progress of the Gospel, and persecute the promoters oi ' it, are tiie ministers of Satan, and therefore bear his •name.' (18.) {Whitby.) V. 17 — '20. The apostle had been forced from the Thessalonians, but his affections were still with them. The separation (for he had left them with as much reluc- tance as a parent parts with liis children, whom he leaves as orphans in this evil world,) was only for a short season, or for the space of one hour, ' for the apostle's mind was • full of the ideas of eternity, which did, as it were, an- ' nihilate any period of mortal life.' (Doddridge.) He had, however, been exceedingly desirous of returning to ihem, which he had attempted with abundant earnestness: (for in this he spake of himself, as Timodiy had visited them again, and perhaps Silvanus also ;) but Satan, by exciting disturbances and opposition to him at Berea, and in other places, had hindered him from effecting his pur- pose, as he could not have come with pro[)ricly. Other- wise, they might be sure, that he gladly would have come, and that he would embrace the ftrst opportunity of so do- ing. For what, did they suppose, was the object of his hope in the work of the ministry, but such success as he had met with among them ? Or, what was his joy and crown of exultation in that respect, but to see numbers of such affectionate converts to Christ as they were ; whom he could look upon, as those in whom he should rejoice before the Lord Jesus, when he would come to judge the world ? For indeed he and his brethren did not glory, or rejoice, in their gifts, popularity, or excellency of speech ; but in being prospered by God, as his instruments in the conversion of sinners, and in encouraging believers to a holy walk and conversation. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—12. Confidence in God, zeal for his glory, love to the souls of men, and conscious integrity, will support faithful ministers amidst manifold hardships and .sufferings: and when they have been shamefully used in one place, they will not decline further labours and perils, but will be courageous in speaking the Gospel of God in another situ- ation. Even when their ministry excites the opposition of unbelievers, and constrains them to engage in argument, •ind to contend earnestly for the truth; though they love 10 For what rV ' our hope, or joy, or'*';'"', '., ''• . /■*••• ■> ' J J ^ Phil. ll. 16. ir. ■^ crown ot * rejoicing .-' jre not even ye ^'p_^^. ,^ g^.. ' in ti)e presence of our Lord Jesus Christ \''\l \;^^i] at his cominsf.'' \Jf^ v^4. bct. nn/l • Or, /(./rjtne. 20 For ye jlory joy- I Cor 3 Tim. iT I, 3 Tit 36. in rr peace, and hate disputatious contests, tJicy must persevere in their testimony, for they cannot but speak the things which they have heard and known. All ministers should be careful, that their preaching be free from faliscy, de- ceit, and a licentious tendency ; and that their motives bo equally pure from all artful designs of advancing, en- riching, and indulging themselves, by means of tlieir mi- nistry. For such discoveries have been made, respecting priests of different religions, that men are very aj)t to sus- pect some fraud, or corrupt inteniion, to be lurking under a great appearance of zeal and devotion. It is in vain to oppose arguments to this deep-rooted suspicion, except they are corroViorated by manifest Jacls. ^Ve should con- sider ourselves, as " allowed of God to be put in trust " with the Gospel ;" and recollect that liiis is of all others the most important stewardship : our laithfulness in it will produce the hapfiiest consequences; but unfaithfulness will constitute the most aggravated guilt, and ensure the deepest condemnation. We should therefore by no means seek to please men ; but simply study to apj.rove ourselves to God, who trieth the hearts. Even the approbation of godly men may be fallacious, and may interfere with our simplicity, in aiming to please the Lord by faithfulness to our trust. A man may indeed, by harshness and severity in his manner of stating the truth, prevent his own use- fulness; but selfish principles will far more generally lead men to temporize, to palliate, and to speak smooth things. This puts hearers into a good humour with themselves, and that makes them friendly to the preacher; which may be very conducive to his secular advantage, and for a time even add to his reputation. It is therefore a very great thing indeed, for a minister to be able on good grounds to say, " Neither at any lime used we flattering words, as " ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness. God is witness ; " nor of men sought we glory :" and to be able to appeal both to the Lord and to men, that he hath constantly receded even from his equitable claims, out of love to the souls of his hearers, and lest he should be burdensome to them. But when this decided faithfulness, this unam- bitious, disinterested, and self-denying plainness of speech., on all occasions, unites with equal tenderness and affection, so that the same persons can say, " We were gentle " among you, even as a nursing mother cherlsheth her " children : so, being affectionately desirous of you, we " were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Gospel " of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were " dear unto us :" then the servants of Christ come as near to the mind of their Lord, as can be conceived attainable by mortal men. There are, however, but few, who are not warped one way or the other, by constitution, habit, or circumstances: it behoove.s us therefore to search out our spirits, to be open to conviction, and to guard against ovv 2X2 /. U. on. 1. THESSALONIANS. JIB. 5u. CHAP. III. ti. ii. 17 Jcr XX. ». Iliv. 2S. : Cor. ii. 13 xi. 39.30 b S.CXS Ilii IS' 'ilu apostle shows, that his care for the Thessaloitians had induced him to send Timothy, to cslabh.sh and encourage them. 1 — .') ; tchoscgood report concern- ing them had been a great comfort to him in his distresses, 6 — \i. He thanks God in their behalf, and shows how earnestly he desires to see them, 9, 10; and prays, that he may be enabled to visit them ; and for their growth in holiness and love, and perseverance to the end, 11—13. WHEREFORE, Mvhen we could no lono;er forbear, '' we thougiit k good to be left at Athens alone ; 2 And send 'Timotheus, *our brother, and minister of God, and our Ii llow- iabourer in the Gospel of Clirist, ' to establish you, and to comfort you con- cerning your faith: 3 Tiiat no man should be "^ moved by these atllictions : for yourselves know tiiat ' we are appointed thereunto. 4 For, verily, when we A\ere with you, ' we told you before tliat we should suffer tribulation ; ' even as it came to pass and yc know. 5 For this cause, ' when I could no longer forbear, ' 1 sent to know your faith, ■" lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, " and our labour be in vain. hJohnxvi 1-3 i i. 2. 14 Acle xrii.l. 5-9. 13 2 Cor TiiL I, J t See on 1 12 6 A. i» x» 3« Cor. vli S-7 ni.Vatt.lv Cor ii. II xi 3 (3—15 Gal i C— 9 Kph. iv. Ij. Jam i. 13, U Acts i l.xvii U il Hon. xvt i I Cor x»i. :i SCor li. \>i 23 Eph. Zl.Ptiil il I 7.iv 9- 12 ■se. VI 22 I'hil i. 24 I P« . xii r. A U il. us >> it. xxi 13 Horn t. 3 1 tor XV 58. Epb iii. 13. Ph I i. 28 Col. 1 2.1 Zlea i. 4 ^ T,[& •. 8. I Pet iv. 1!- 14 Kev II, la. Is. xlix « Gal II I'hil. ii. 16 in Luke .ixi 12. John XV, 13—21. ■ ■ I 33 Acts i« le xiv. 2i XX'. 13. Rom v.i.JS -^7. 1 Cor IV 3. a Tim. i.i 11,12. I I et ii. 21. IT 12. 2 i Thes I 4-6. .3 1 Cor vii 4 -nS«9n,ii I- «\vn peculiar weakness. If we arc desirous of the charac- tor of able, faithful, and affectionate ministers of Christ \vc should not shrink from labour and toil, day or night ; wc should cheerfully endure hardship, both in preaching the Gospel, and also in diligent endeavour* to avoid being char'^cable to those who are itnable, or tintvillins:, to assist us : and we should have a noble ambition of being able to appeal to men, as well as unto God, that we have behaved ourselves with purity and equity, and in a blameless man- ner, among them, with whom we were most conversant. This will give energy to our words, whilst we exhort, encourage, and charge our people, " to walk worthy of '' God, who hath called them to his kingdom and glory." Indeed, we ought always to have their welfare at heart, as a father haUi that of his children ; and to seek it w ith the same affectionate and assiduous earnestness, from Uie most disinterested motives. V. 13—20. We should give thanks to God without ceasing, in be- half of those who receive the Gospel from us, not as the opinion of fallible men, but as the " sure testimony of the '• Lord, which giveth wisdom to the simple." This it certainly is, as far as any man preaches according to the scriptures, however unlearned, obscure, or frail, the preach- er may be. When thus received with reverent faith and obedient attention, it works effectually an entire change in the judgment, disposition, and characters of men : they become /oi/on'pr.«, not of this or ti; ■ odier leader of a sect, but of the primitive Christians ; and may expect to be reviled and persecuted by their neighbours, (as far as out- ward circum.',tances will admit.) even as they were of the .Tews. For the same nature is in men of every age and clime, which was in those w!io killed the Lord Jesus and the holy prophets, and who persecuted the apostles and di.sciplcs of the Saviour; and Satin, who " worketh in the " children of disobedience." hales the pure Gospel of Christ, and the faithful preaching of it to sinners of all descriptions, as much as he did of old. But they who would forbid us thus to preach to the chief of sinners, and to those who are dead in sin, and to evangelize the heathen, that they may be saved, do not in this please God, and they are contrary to all mon. The object and motives of those in general, who would hinder the preaching of the Gospel, in any part of the world, are manifest; but it is grievous to think, that some ajiparently |)ious men, mis- led by an undue attachment to system, should countenance the conduct of those who, in every age, are actuated by the same proud and bigoted selfish spirit, which influenced the Jews of old, when filling up the measure of their sins, till wrath came upon them to the uttermost. The affec- tionate and faithful ministers of Christ, may be forced from those with whom their hearts are most uniied ; and they may be frustrated, through the devices of Satan, in their most earnest desires and endeavours of coming to them again ; yet their separation will be only for a short space. Their hope and joy are intimately connected with the spiritual growth and fruitfulness of those who have profited by their labours. They are now " their crow.i of rejoicing," far more than all possible commendation from other men. And they will meet them, in the presence of the Lord Jesus, at his coming, as their glory and joy; and then all the pangs of their partings and separations will be richly and eternally compensated. NOTES. CHAP. II!. V. 1—5. {Snies. Acts xvii. 15. xviii. 1 — 6.) Timothy came from Berea to Atliens, whilst Paul was there, but it seems that Silas did not. The apostle, being anxious about the new converts at Thessalonica, could not endure to remain any longer in suspense, or to act as if he were unconcerned for their welfare : he therefore chose to be left alone at Athens, though that must have bren very inconvenient to him : and he sent back Timothy to Thessa- lonica, to establish the Ciiristians of that city in the faith by suitable inslrurtions, which he was eminently qualified to give ihem ; and to exhort and encourage them to hold fast J. D. do. CHAPTER 111. Ji. D. D5. oA«iaxviii5. 6 But now, • when Tiniolhciis came ^iT"' 7"V?T. from von unto us, -' and brought us good /' Cor xiii. .;. tidiiJc/s of your ^ faith and chanty, ' and ?.^i 'sThef"! that ye have good remembrance of us Phnem"'!' 1 alwavs, ' desiring greatly to see us, as we ri J ii 3 icor also fo scc you : n '•■iTim >'l 7 'Mierciore, brethren, ' we were com- 8 9, 10 s«on. ii. forted over you "in all our affliction and 17 Vhil \ 8 ,. , •' „ . , t8,9 2Coi i 1 distress, by your laitn : sjohni 8 For now ''we live, 'if ye stand fast « Arts X>11. *- . , T . '' '°„'.'~r '"^''fi the Lord. — 13 i Cor. »'._-,,,, , iii~fo-is''^""" ^ ^*^'' ' ""^^ thanks can we render to «^,sam xsv. 6 Qo J again for you, ^ for all the joy "joho'iiii 31 wherewith we joy for your sakes '^' before V/a'-.c^r^oi'J-God; XV 58.xvi.13. Gal. v 1 Eph iii. 17. ir 15.1(1 Pliil i 27 ir. 1 Col. i. S3. Heb.iii. U. iv 14 K- S3 I I'ci V. 10. : I'et. Mi 17. Uev iii 3. 1 1 z i 2, 3 2 Sara, vii, 18- 20 Keh. !x.5. Ps l»xi. U. IS. 2 Cor ji. U. i.x. 15. a 7. S Sre on.ii. 19. b Deut xii 13 18. XV 1. 1 1, a Sam vi. 21. Ps Ixvili 3 xcv:. 12, 13 xctiii 8,9. their profession, whatever ojiposition they met with, by assuring them of iieculiar protection, consolation, and re- ward. T!ii^ was intended to prevent any of them from being moved to renounce or disguise their faith, by means of the EfHictions to which it exjjostd them; for they could not but know, if they understood the nature of their [iio- fession, that the disciples of Christ were appointed to have fellowship with him in his sufterings. Their situation amidst the enemies of God, and their doctrine and cha- racter, would render contempt and enmity unavoidable : Satan would certainly stir up persecutions as far as he could : and it pleased the Lord to appoint them a certain measure of suffering, for the trial of their faith, the pro- gress of their sanctification, and the honour of the power- ful and excellent effects of his grace in them. This the apostle had plainly and confidently predicted, and warned them to expect, when he was with them, even before the persecution had begun : he had never allowed them to be deluded by any expectation of peace or prosperity ; but had taught them to look for tribulations from without, and for inward consolations. Accordingly it had come to pass ; he and his associates had been driven from them by furious persecutions ; and as he had left them in the midst of this fiery trial, he had 'sent to see how they had stood it, and whether their faith had thus been proved genuine ; for he could not wholly divest himself of solicitude, lest the tempter, even Satan, should have prevailed against thetii, by his manifold artifices, to renounce the faith, and com- ply with the idolatry of tlieir neighbours ; and lest thus his unwearied labours for their good should prove in vain. — (^Note i. I — 4.) Some would explain.'what the apostle here speaks of persecution, exclusively of himself and the otheraposties and evangelists ; as if the enemies of Chris- tianity used this circumstance for an argument against its divine original ; and as if the danger of the Thessalonians arose, not from any persecutions to which they themselves were exposed, liut from the vain reasonings of their heathen neighbours, respecting those which the apostle endured, and his leaving Thessalonica on account of them. But the Thessalonians were themselves exposed to perse- cution; as all mast expect to be, "who live godly in 10 ■= Night and day 'Spraying exceed- ci,uiie ii 37. ingly, that avo might see your face, and sxim ""'««'; "might perfect that which is lacking in d'li*^!' 17, if. /• •,[ i " Roni.i. in XV. your laith .'' 30-32. PhiUm. 1 1 Now '' God himself and our Father, e iiom. i n, 12. 5 and our Lord Jesus Christ, * direct Phi^i W roi. '' our way unto you. 2 Ties i' n. ' J 2 And 'the Lord make vou to in- •'«'■ "'"''' " , . , 1-11 • 1 "al i 6 .Matt. crease and " abound m ' love one toAvards '^ ^eV'LukJ another, and toAvards all mat, '" even as Ave ^i'",, ■''sco'" do toAvards you : j-'j '« r^', ■ * 13 To the end "he may establish your «/'„'.?"• "v"-' I ,, !!• 7. 21 hP^. It. 16 hearts ° unblameable in holiness ^ before ,, g^^f ";■;!' „,_ God, even our Father, "* at the coming of if,-.','™''p^'"^*,^: our Lord Jesus Christ, 'Avith all his saints. Jam. i 17 2 Pel. iii It). 39 Rom, sill, 8. 1 Cor, xi m ii. « n V 23. Roi o F.|ih. V. 27. Col. i 22 Jud 23. 2 Thes. ii 1 r Deut. xxxii '.Cur iv,9, 10 Phil i, 9, 2 Thes. i. 3 1 v. 15. Malt vii. Gal. V 6.13,11 22. 2 I'et. i. 7. 1 John iii 11-19. iv xiv 4. xvi.25. 1 Cor i. 8 2 Tiles, \i 10, 17. 1 Pel 4. pStc- an excellent ' pattern to all the bishops and pastors of the chuich, to 'be continually solicitous to know of the welfare of their flock; incessantly praying for it, blessing God daily for it; and looking upon it as the very felicity of their own lives.' {Whilby.) {Marg. UeJ.) V. 11 — 13. The ajinsile closed the expressions of his aflcctionate and pious fervour of hoK cMillaiion, by writing down the requests of his heart for the Clmstians at Thessaloiiic.i. He earnestly besought " God, ccfH our •• Father, and our Lord Jesus," as the incarnate Son, the Head over all things to his church, to direct, and make ■ Ji. D. .05. I. THESSALONIANS. ^. D. S5i CHAP. IV. The apostle earnesthj exhorts his brethren, to increasing (JiUu;ence in obedience to Christ, 1, 2 : ana to ehastity and inte- grity in all things ; as God had called them to holiness : arid tlicy tcho despised such admonitions, would despise God himself, '3 — 8 He calls on them to abound more and more in love of one another, 9, 10 ; to be industrious in their respective ecdlings, 11, J 2 ; and to moderate their sorrow for deceased believers ; from assured expectation of the plain his way unlo them, by removing all those providen- tial hinderances which had hilherlo prevented him ; and he entreated the Lord Jesus, (lor as the foi'mer clause is an undeniable act of divine worship rendered to Christ as One with the Father, so this also seems to have been addressed to him ;) that by further communications from iiis fulness, Jie would cause them to increase in love of one another, und of all men, not excepting their jiersecutors ; accord- in" to the various exercises of that holy atrcciion required by the commandments of God; and to abound in every one of them, according to the nature and measure of the apostle's fervent, spiritual, and enlarged love of them. — 'I'his he desired, in order to the establishment of their hearts in holiness ; and that their affections, tempers, and conduct, might be unblameablc, in every part of iheir vari- ous duties to God, towards each other, and towards all men, in the several relations of life ; and that it might be manifested that they were so, as in the presence of their holy and heart-searching God and Father, in that decisive day, when the Lord Jesus should come with all his holy ones, whether angels or redeemed sinners, to judge the quick and dead. {Col. i. 22.) For the souls of the redeem- ed, who died in the Lord, will descend with him from hea- ven, to be reunited to their glorified bodies ; and the saints on earth will be changed, and meet the Lord in the air. • This invocation of Christ must suppose him omniscient, ' omnipresent, and the Searcher of all hearts ; and these ' are the properties of God alone.' . {Whitby.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. coming of Christ, to raise the dead, /o lii. n Rom t, change the living, and to receive all his x i EpL w II people to himself, 13 — 18. iie'.'»i'ia •' ■• -' 'Or. rrf wfl. FURTHERMORE,thpn," we * Ijesccch ^i!^fff •; you, brethren, and t exhort you ^hy "i.Tim' u. ji! the Lord Jesus, that as ' ye have received t;","' ' ^ , , ' 1 ■' II 1 <^ 11,12. Aclixir 01 US how "'ye ought to walk, and * to ", ji'^^pu'^l- please God, 'so ye would abound more ^-^J, *^°.'. ','*• I 'J 1; J befl 111 10— and more. 2 For ye know ' what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. . ii. I£ IC. I John i iii. 11 2 I'h 21. 2 Th»5. dSrec eHom. vJii e. xii. 3. Epb. V. 17. Col. i. 10. Heb XI. e xiii. I 18 Jobs IT 2 Phil. i. « Matt, xxviii. 2u. I Cor.ix. The love which the zealous ministers of Christ bear to ihcir people, and the longing desires after their salvation which they feel, cannot wholly be separated from painful foiicitude on their account. This often disposes them to renounce their own conveniency, and to endure fatigue, in order to obtain satisfaction concerning them, and to pro- mote their spiritual benefit. And it is a great advantage for such as are engaged at a distance from tho.^e, of whom they arc thus affectionately desirous to have faithful fellow- labourers, whom they may employ in establishing and comforting them concerning their faith. Jn die most peaceful times, every ChnV^^tian should count his cost, and their hearers, that they may be prepared for the cross, an3 meet every trial with watchfulness, and prayer ; as in this manner they will best be preserved constantand steadfast in the faith. For the tempter hath many artful devices : he knows how to suit his suggestions to men's dispositions, and to avail himself of their circumstances ; and he will be sure to work on their hopes, fears, desires, or aver- sions, by the most subtle methods imaginable. So many, who have for a time made a creditable profession of the Gospel, have been overcome in the day of trial, that the experienced minister will generally feel a degree of anxiety; and he will not fail to caution the people to be on their guard, lest by some means " the tempter should tempt " them, and his labour should be in vain," But in pro- portion to these solicitudes will be his rejoicing, when he finds that his beloved children stand fast in the faith, and walk in love; and that their remembrance of him, and af- fection to him, correspond with his feelings towards them. In proportion as he has the mind of St. Paul, he will be "comforted over them in ail his affliction and distress by " their faith :" the pleasure of his life will greatly consist in seeing them stand fast in the Lord, walking in his ordi- nances and commandments blameless, and in no degree moved by the reproaches of their enemies. He will feci, that he can never sufficiently thank God, for all the joy which de derives from then:», and the testimony of the acceptance of his labours, which their conversion implies ; and if he be absent from them, such good tidings of them will draw out his soul in more fervent prayers to God con- tinually ; that he may again enjoy the comfort of their be- loved society, and perfect what is lacking in their faith, to whatever hardships or perils this may expose him. Thus will he beseech God, even our Father, and our Lord Je- sus Christ, to direct his way unto them ; that he may again on earth meet with those whom he so tenderly loves ; anj that especially, the Lord would make them to " increase, " and abound in love one towards another, and towards all "men;"andi',t;' x?'ii' _ 1 • ' I 111 Pet ii. 10. 9 11 Jbut as "touching brotherly love, »o^'|j^"J'.^{"a-^' *" ye need not that 1 write unto you ; = for '^ John xn. «? ye yourselves are taught of God to love ^ .»-^ one another. 10 And indeed ye do it towards "^ all \n^'\ '5 ^^ the brethren which are in all Macedonia : fo"'] pet"!.']? but we bcscecli you, brethren, that ' ye joh^'iii' 24.'' ' increase more and more ; 'c'ixxiiri.'^jtru xiii 34. 35. XV 12—17. .lets i». 32. nom.xii. 10. Eph v 1.2. Heb. xiii 1 1 PPt. iii 3. 2 Pet i.'7 IJohDii. 10 iii II. 14-19. 2<. iv 7—16. b» 1 Jer xxsi. 34. Hel- vii'. !0, 11 1 Joiio li 20 27 c. Is liv. 13. JoliO vi 44 45 Hi^o. X. 16. 1 Jobn v. 1. d i. 7, 2 Cor. viii. 1,2 R- 0 Kph i 15 Col i. 4 2 Thes. i. 3 Pbilem. 5-7. el iii. 12. fhi:. i 9. ill. 14. 15.8 Pet ill. 18. acting immoderate profils, or by any of those tiicks and subterfuges, which selfishness devises to impose upon the unwary, without blasting men's credit, or incurring punish- ment by human laws. Such persons might not be de- tected, or could not be called to account by men : but the Lord would not suffer their hypocrisy and injustice to escape with impunity, being himself the Avenger of all such clandesiine frauds and inipositions. Of this the apostle had before warned them, when he was with them, and he had testified that these practices should not escape the vengeance of God. For the Lord had not called them into his family, in order to give them a license to live in an unholy manner, either hyg.^atifying their sensual appe- tites, or their avarice, but that they might be taught, inclined, and enabled to walk before him in holiness. Tlic word " uncleanness," here used, has led many learned expositors to explain the sixth verse of clandesiine adul- tery. But, if fornication were forbidden, adultery must be of course; for even the Gentiles condemned the latter, whilst they connived at the former; nay, in fact publicly sanctioned it, when committed only with slaves and cour- tezans, as it is evident from the writings of Demosthenes, Cicero, and others. This interpretation is far from the most obvious meaning of the passage ; dishonesty is as in- consistent with Christianity as lewdness ; and, in this ovcr- reachinsr, fraudulent manner, p rhaps even more common ; and the word tincleaniit^s may cither be referred to what went before, or be undersfoofl as a general word for wick- edness, all which isfillhiness in the sight of Odd. {Marg. Ref.) Notwithstanding the excellent slate of the Thes- saionian Church, thf-re might some creep in among theui, who would speak of the doctrines and comforts ot rhristianity, and vet afiect to despi-e these prartical ex- hortations, as inconsistent with th*' gr.^ce and liberty of the Gospel ; but the apostle reminded tfcm. that, in so doing, they did not despise him. Silvanus, <;r Timothy, but God himself, who had given ihe^i his Holy S;>irit, by whose inspiration these exhortations had been written. ' In- ' this ))a<:sago St. Paul asse^t.■^ h\> own inspiration, in the ' strongest terms, and with the greatest solemniiyv* {Macknighl.) ji. D. bo. 1. THESSALONIAiNS. J. D. 55. fProf xvii 1. 11 And "^ ill at ye ^ study to be quiet,' m 26*2t1!m '' and to do your own business, antl ' toj a'l Pet T,','"4!' woik witli your own hands, as \vc coin- tor. » ;> Cf. niaiKl«'(l vou ; Lu^e'"»i!"42,ji3 1 2 That ''ye may walk honestly towards coi'i.i 32-24 ' them thai are without, and tliut ye may 1 Tiji. V. 13. ... J J 4-jQ. have lack of * nothing. i;i H But "■ 1 would not liave you to be t 35. . . J . I IS '£;no'anN brethren, concerning tncni tEm.'Vu^S- " ^^'''ch are asleep, that "ye sorrow not '* even as others '' which have no hope. 14 For ''if we believe that Jesus died, Phu Tv 's'^Tii. ^nd ''ose again, even so them also which ;i"i7'?, i'^''^! ■• sleep in Jesus will ' God bring with I .Mark i». Il' i I,' „ Cor. V 12, 13. ■'""• Col. i». * I Tim iii 7 I Pet lii I » Or. ito man 2 Cor xi 6-8 m Rom i 13 I Cor «. I xii I. 2 Cor i.SSPetiii. 8 u 15 v If). 1 K.u8< i 21 ii. 10 Dan sii 2 .Matt x»vii.52 I.uke vm. 52, 53 John .\i II 13 Acts vii CO. xiii 2fi 1 Cor. XV. $. !3 2 Pec iii 4 o Oen xsxvii.ai lev xix i8. Deut xit I 2 Sam sii. 13,20 sviii. 33 Job i.2 . K.i^siT Ifi- lii John m 24 Avts viii 2 p S« on, Epil. li 12 Job six 25-27. ITov xi.- 32 El xsxvii. 11 1 Cor kv 19 qls. \xvi. 9. Rom viii II. I Cor. »» 12-23 2 Cor iv. 13 14 Itev i. 18 r 13. 1 Cor xv 18 Rev xiv 13 « 17. Cen xlix. 10. Zerh. xiv 5. -Matt xxiv 31 I Cor. xv.22. Phil iii. 20, 21 2 Thes. ii I. Jude U, 15 1 I'd. 15 i Aas Rom. 1 Cor 12 r I. Marg k V.22. nom. xii 15 For tlii.s we say unto you ' by the %' f,",?^;',,^; word of the J..ord, that we, " which arc u^c"'xv"5i_ ali\ e, and remain unto the coming of the r Joh^xlfu'' pi Lord, shall not * prevent them which are M^x'TiT'^us ' asleep. /s'''.„" 'i3"- l(i For Mhe Lord himself shall de- 'm..,'".„''-27'. scend from heaven, " with a shout, with "» si'^mv!: the voice of ^ the arch-angel, and ' with "ih*eV'i.'r"2 the trump of God : ''and the dead in ■"'""'"'' a- . I 11 ■ r . aNum ixiii 21 iri.st slKill iise nrst : p? sivii is 17 Then "^ we which arc alive and ^ remain, shall be 'caught up together c eVx.x is xx with them « in the clouds, to meet (he ze^i> "<^'''i " Lord in the air : '' and so shall we ever be J,°« »'» » !' . , , . Ill Cor IV. 23. Willi the Lord. 5'-52 ^ ixri e 1 /. el5. 1 Cor xv. 1 8 ' V\ here tore, j comfort one another ffK,„,.j.,ii ,2. with these words. '\^'ji'^\3^l» 11 2 Cor X 1 2 4 llfv xi. 12. Xii S % Mjtt xxvi 64 ^^ar^t xiv. 62. Ads i 9 Rev. i. 7. Il Ps KM- II xvii 15 xlix. ISlxXiii 24 Is XXXV 10 Ix 19, 20. J^h.n Xii 26. xiv 3. xiii 24 2 Cor v 8 Pnil I 23 2 Pel iii 13 Rev vji. U-17- xii- 3-7 22 i». x«il 3-5 i V. II 14. l3. si 1.2 Luke xsi 2S. HeU XI.. . \0t, Exhort. Heb. s 24, 25. V. 9 — 12. As to the new comfnandment, which Christ had given his disciples, of loving one another, ihe^ apostle need not write lo them concerning the reasons, native, exercises, fruits, and blessed eflefts of it ; for they were inwardly taught of God, by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, thus to do; it was an essential di.sposition of the new man, which counteracted and overpowered the .selfishness of their old nature. {^lurg. Hef.) Indeed, they did exercise that holy afibction, not only among one, another, but to\^ards all the Christians of the several churches in I^facedonia ; yet he would e.xhort them to increase more and more in the fervency of their love,' and in all the fruits of it- And while men in general i aspired to eminence, reputation, or auihoiity, by an inter- j meddling and turbulent conduct, it should be their ambi-\ lion, (so the original literally signifies.) to behave quietly,! peaceabl)', and contentedly, in their own situations, how- ever low and obscure ; and to attend diligently to their' proper work, in the community, in the Church, and in relative life. And as most of them were poor, they ought to be industrious in- their manual labour, as the apostle had commanded them, at the same time that he laboured for his bread among them. Thus" they would be enabled to act honestly and creditably among their unbelieving neighbours ; paying all their dues, maint.iining their fami- lies decently, and being j)reserved from seeking relief by any dishonourable services or compliances, as not having any want of things suited to tlieir station, or requisite in oraer to relieve one another in their distresses. V. 13—18. {Notes. 1 Cor. xv. 23. 50— .54.) Per- haps the apostle heard, that some of the Thessalonian believers had lately died : and that their relatives and brethren were greatly dejectc ! about them, as not duly attending to the consolations .suggested by tiie Gospel. He therefore would not have them to be igni rant concerning those who were fallen asleep in Christ, that they were in a safe and hajijiy estate ; as it was not proper for 'hi m to .sorrow on such occasions in so disconsolate a mauner, or with such outward expressions of violent grief, as they who had no hope resjiecting their deceased friends, or expectation of meeting them again, were u^ed to do. For since they believed that Jesus died for their sins, and "rose again for their justification," they might thence assuredly infer, that God would raise again incoiru|'tible the bodies of those who slept in Jesus, that they might be produced with him, and presented by him. at the last day. Death was become only a sleep through Jesus, as the body felt no pain, and the soul was present with the Lord in holiness and felicity. He must therefore inform them, by immediate revelation from the Lord, that such of the whole multitude of believers, as should be found alive at his coming, would not enter into the full enjoy- ment of heavenly felicity, in body and soul, before their brethren who had previously died, and been buried. For at that solemn period, the Lord Jesus will be seen to •descend from heaven, with the acclamations of attending angels, and the voice of an arch-angel, who will be ap- pointed to lead the hierarchies of heaven on this illustrious occasion, and with the trumpet of God, sounding in a manner similar to what it did fr(jm mount Sinai, but far more loud and trenjendnus. Then, all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of Mm, and shall come forth, but the dead in Christ shall rise first, and be rendered incorruptible, even before their brethren wlio never died shall be changed. Immediately after, these will he changed, and their -bodies become immortal and spiritual ; and thus will ihey be suddenly taken up together into the clouil.s to meet the Lord in the air ; that, being approved as heirs of the kingdom, the whole company may be his assessors in judgment, and then re-enter heaven with him triumphantly ; and so will they be for ever with the Lord. Wherefore the apostle exhorted the Thessalonians to comfort and encourage themselves and each other with these animating topics, undprihe lo.«s of iheir brethren, the prospect of death, and all their trials and sorrows. Some suppose that the apostle expected to A D. 55. CHAPTER V. .:?. D. 3j. CHAP. V. ^s the coming of Christ will be sudden, and bring inevitable destruction on the wicked, •' the children of light'''' should live ti!l the day of judgment, because he spoke in the first person plural cf those that should be alive at that time ; but he elsewhere spoke of being absent from the body, and of being raised up with Jesus. {Marg. R(f.) He was one who remained alive after others had been removed, his faith and hope annihilated, as it were, the intervening space, his love made him consider the cause of the whole multitude as his own, and it is evident that he did not speak it personally of himself; for when the Thessalonians imagined that the day of judgment was at hand, he dili- gently set himself to rectify that mistake ; (2 Thes. ii.) And, as the apostle expressly declares that he spake " by *' the word of the Lord," or by divine inspiration, the consequences of allowing him to be mistaken in what he Said, should very seriously be considered. Similar ex- pressions may be found in other parts of Scripture. (Ps. Ixvi. 6. Ixxxi. b. Has. xii. 4.) Some suppose that Christ himself was meant, by the arch-angel being the ruler of all angels ; but as we must understand the words, " The Lord," of him ; so it seems not natural to explain another term in the same sentence of him likewise ; and many intimations are given of different ranks and orders among the holy angels. The resurrection of believers is exclusively meant, as every attentive reader nmst perceive, and therefore all speculations concerning the bodies with which the wicked shall arise, (a subject on which the Scripture observes a profound silence,) must be wholly foreign to the subject. The notions which prevailed among the Gentiles left them totally destitute of a firm, well-grounded, and animating hope of again meeting their tleccased friends in a state of happiness ; and so do the notions on these subjects of merely nominal Christians Some expositors have said, that the expression, " so shall " ye be for ever with the Lord," implies, that the souls of believers are not previously, at least not permanently, with him ; but has not the apostle expressly assured us of the contrary ? (2 Cor. v. 8. Phil. i. 23, 24.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—8. The ministers of the Gospel must not only instruct their jicarers in the great doctrines and promises of the Gospel, but also in every part of their duty, that they may " know " how they ought to walk and please God;" and Chris- tians should as readily receive these insTructions, as they do the most encouraging declarations of free grace and everlasting love. They should also take in good part the earnest, repeated, affectionate, and authoritative exhorta- tions of their pastors; when they " beseech and charge" them to abound more and more in every good work, according to the commandments given them in the name of the Lord Jesus. For as all men come short of perfec- tion, so zealous ministers cannot be fully satisfied with ihe present measure of the people's fruiifulness, any more \0L. V — No. 3.3. prepare for it, in vigilance and fobricly, with faith, and love, and hope, 1 — 10. Various exhortations, admonitions, and encouragements, 11 — 2.'3. Concluding prayers and salutations, 26 — 28. than humble Christians are with their own attainments.. The will of God, as revealed in his holy law and in his precious promises, implies his purpose of their complett! sanctification ; wo should therefore diligently foilotv after perfect holiness ; and it may encourage those who long for more entire sanctification, to reflect, that in this re- spect, their will and that of God are now coincident. In aspiring after this reiicwal of the soul unto holiness, the strictest restraints must be imposed upon the apjietites and senses of the body, and upon all those thoughts and incli- nations of the mind which are connected with them ; that not only fornication and gross transgressions may be abstained from, but that every one may learn to " possess " his vessel in sanctification and honour," at a distance from the lust of concupiscence, which so degrades numbers of those who know not God. It is a disgrace to a rationol creature to be a slave to his animal inclinations, and to act contrary to his better judgment, his true interest, or the welfare of his neighbour, for the sake of gratifications, of which the beasts are equally capable ; but it is far more dishonourable for a spiritual man, a child of God, a member of Christ, a temple of the Holy Spij-it, and an heir of heaven, to have his mind and body polluted, or unfitted for communion with God, by unlawful or inex- pedient gratifications, or even by improper thoughts and desires. Yet in many cases this will not be avoided, with- out watchfulness and prayer, without diligence in every means of grace, and a constant care to shun all tempta- tions, or occasions of evil. It is equaHy inconsistent with the character of a Christian to go beyond or defraud his brother in any matter, or to injure him in his property, reputation, or connexions. This too calls for the most diligent care, and the most impartial scrutiny into every part of our conduct ; for self-love, habit, and the customs of the world, will otherwise lead us, without reflection, in some measure to violate the golden rule of '• doing to " others as we would they should do unto us." If a believer be led to commit ofiences of this kind, the Lord will surely chastise him, and thus bring him to repent and forsake them ; but if any cloak such allowed dishonesty with specious appearances of piety, or zeal for doctrines, they will dreadfully find, that the Lord is the Avenger of all such, and t^eir present impunity will only tend to their heavier condemnation at last. Of this the great chamjiion fn- the doctrines of grace forewarned his new converts, his beloved Thessalonians, testifying that nothing could induce tlie Lord to connive at the want of strict honesty in the dealings of men with each other. For God hath not called us into a state of peace with him, tiiat we may go on in the polluting practice of worldly lusts ; but that, depending on his jjromises, " we may cleanse our- " selves from all filthiness of llesli and spirit, perfecting " holiness in the fear of his name." And let it be re- membered, that he, who despiscth such adujonitions, doth not so much despise him that enforced them from the 2 Y ,1. D. brj. I. THESSALONIANS. Ji. D. 5. *"«' Mirk"',!: 'o "15 ^'^ °^ '''^^ times and the seasons, ."^•Ao'l 13 brethren, ''ye have no need that I b IT 9 2C')r is. -■— T "' c'jer';!ii',ii.2o write unto you. ^^x'^'n'M^rii 2 ^"'' yomselves "^ know perfectly, that *v;3^^i^uke J the day of the Lord so cometh as a y\'i', 1^" "'■ thief in the night. *A".' x*^'.* 87, 3 For when they shall say, <" Peace 18 I's x n>l<'. H xxi. 4 Iti. IS Dan. V 3-6 ^llh i 10. Matt xsiv 37-39. Luke avii 2":— 30 xst 3;, 35 and safety; 'then sudden destruction '^'."'jo Jot Cometh upon them, « as travail upon a j"de x«. 4T, 4^^ woman with child: ""and they shall not -2'"p'«"'iii° ■^ 18 — 20. f'rov escape. "xsj i is xxx , '^r> ..11 ■ 1 1 " Ai-l5xii.S2. 4 JtJutye, brethren, ' are not in dark- fg"'"!},'^^^!"^- ness, that that day should ^ overtake you g'J.Vi'ui' c'l! as a thief. xli> «. xxi 3. Jer iT. 13 »i. 2t. XXii SJ. Hm xiii 13 Mic. iv. 9, 10 h Matt XEili. 33 Hob ii 1. xii Si I Ron. xiii. II. II Col. i 13 I Pet ii.9.10. I John ii 8. II Deut. xii 6 xxviir I& 43. Jer. xlii. le Hos x. 9. Zecb i 6. pulpit or the press, as that God, by whose Spirit they were originally diciatec] ; yea, he as much despises God. as that man does who contemns the message of free sal- vation. V. 9 — 18. All true believers arc taught of God to love one nnothcr for his sake ; they remeinbcr the instructions, which they have received on that subject, which is so congenial to their neu- nature : by practice they accjuire habitii of kind- ness, compassion, forbearance, and forgiveness ; they love their brethren, whcreso'^ver they meet with them, and tiicy feel an expansive benevolence to all mankind ; yet they too, mav properly be exhorted to increase in these things more and more. It should also be the height of iheir ambition, to behave quiedy and peaceably, avoiding all interference in other men's matters, diligently attending to their own duty ; being willing to labour, working with dieir own hands in any honest calling, and to be active in every service, which their station in the Church or the community requires of them. When Christians are thus industriou.^, and contented in obscure situations, submitting to many difficulties in order to pay every one his due, decently maintaining their families, devising by every means to live with|(i the bounds of their income, having no need to raise contributions, in order to supply defi- ciencies occasioned by improvidence or extravagance, and being ready to spare a little for the relief ordjeir more indigent brethren and neighbours, they will be respectable themselves, snd an honour to the profession of the Gospel. .\nd should disappointments and afflictions, at any time, render them incapable of acting according to their plan, they may expect candid allowance and cheerful assistance, as they will have a testimony in ever;.' one's con.^cience, that it is a real and unavoidable necessity. Christianity does not forbid, nor does grace extinguish, our natural aflections, but we arc thereb}' taught to regulate and moderate them. It tiierefore behooves believers to mourn with resignation even for such relatives, as they cannot think of without discouragement, in respett of their eternil state ; but it is peculiarly improper for them to indulge grief and sorrow, as men without hope, for those who sleep in Jesus, whose souls are at rest with him, and whose bodies also shall be raised again, to attend the triumph of their once crucified and risen Redeemer. Our own loss, on such occasions, we must feel and mourn for, with submission to the will of God ; but the separation will be short, the re-union rapturous, and the subsequent felicity uninterrupted, unalloyed, and eternal. Nor shall such of us, as endure the stroke of death, be eventually less favoured and happy than those, who shall be found alive at the coming of the Lord, that great event to which we should continually look forward. For when the incar- nate Lord of all worlds shall appear, in " his own glory, •' and in that of the Father, with all his holy angels," at his summons, attended with the voice of the arch-angel, and ihe trump of God, the dead in Christ shall rise first: and, being joined by ihcii- bredircn, tiien living'on the earthj they shall meet their Lord in the air with unutterable joy, and be for ever with him in the regions of perfect felicity. May wf, by realizing faith and hope, continually antici- pate that solemn joyiiil ])criod. and comfort ourselves and each other with those words of truth and love ! NOTE.S. CHAP. V. V. 1--3. The aposde did not think it needful to write any thing to the Thessalonians, concern- ing the precise time of Christ's coming, or the seasons appointed by God for the accomplishment of his promises and predictions. This was not a matter of revelation, and it did not belong to him, or them, to incinire into it, from an unavailing presumptuous curiosity. {Marg. Kef.) In general, they perfectl^i knew, from his former instructions, that " the day of the Lord was coming as a thief in the " night." {Luke xii. 31), 40.) The thief breaks into the house, while the family is asleep, and unprepared for resistance, and thus excites great terror, and plunders or murders, as he pleases : thus the day of the Lord is coming on the ignorant, the careless, the secure, and un- believing, when they do not expect it ; it will excite the mo&t distressing consternation, and will plunge them into the most tremendous destruction. As the hour of death is the same to each person, that judgment will be to man- kind in general, so the same remarks and illustrations equally answer to both cases ; and when sinners are flat- tering themselves with the hope of peace and safety, then sudden destruction will come upon them. This is further illustrated by another most striking similitude ; as the woman with child, (often when she is thinking of some- thing else,) is suddenly seized with her travailing pangs, which will unavoidably increase upon her, so ungodly men have abundant reason to look forward with terror to death and jiltlgment ; yet they are employed and HUjused by so many other matters, that they are sud- denly surprised with those solemn events, when they le^st expect them ; and this first astonishment will be followed with increasing misery, from which it will be impos- sible for them ever to escape. The former chapter ends wiUi a special revelation, concerning tne Lord's coming to judgment; and to explain the beginning of this, as if it related to odier events of a widely different na'-ore, (which some do,) is palpably absurd. ji. D- 5&. CHAPTER V. JLD. ^hZ' xiV' al 5 Ye are all ' the cliiidrcn oflight, and Ep" v"''' '" the children ol' the day : we are not of the "I^Mo'jon Vl. night, nor of darkness. "'"5 ^fa'rkxf*.' 0 Therefore "let us not sleep, as do w. iiom\iij!"i'i others ; but let us " watch and be "sober. w'Vi,h:°v'."^ 7 For ■* they that sleep, sleep in the \»J!^" 'L«r night ; and ■• they that be drunken, are 33 10,11 Mark , ^5 , . , ••' , xiii M. 3s 3: drunken in the night. *"3«. xxi 2s. 8 But let us, ' who are of the day, be ""/cor" xvj sober, putting on ' the breast-plate of Col. IV isTmi faith and love ; and for an helmet, ' the Vt. 5. 1 Pet IV. , c 1 ■ 7. Rev. iii. 8 tiope 01 salvation : os-fb.! iv. 6 1 9 For God hath " not appointed us to Tim II 9. IS , . ri . ^",2-'jT^t 'I wrath, but to ''obtain salvation by our 4j-«\ „ Lord Jesus Christ, 7 Job iv. J3. tTT I /i"^n.«v35, 10 VVho y died for us, that, ^whether la-ar'is.^ixi'. ^'^'^ wake or sleep, we should live together 4,a»i)an..v. i, with him 4, Acts ii. IS. ""•11 iniij. r^s'^'Rom^siii ^ ^ ^ Wliercforc, * comfort yourselves 13. Eph. V. 8 9. 1 Pat ii. i). 1. John i. 7 s Is lis. 17. Rom. siii 12 2 Cor vi 7 Kph Ti.ll 13-18 1 Jo'i KixX:3-27. Ps. slii.5. 11. tliii 5 Lam iii 2fi. Rnm v. 2—5 viii 24, 2i 1 Cor xiii 13 Gal v. S-SThCi ii 16 Heh. vi. 19 x 35 3B. 1 Pot. i, 3— S 13 1 John iii 1—3 u jii. «. Ex ix 16. Prov. xvi. 1. Et xxxviii iO-17 Matt. xxvi. 21. Acts i. 20. 25. siii- 13. Rom. l.K. 11—23 2 Tim. li. J9,20 1 Pet. ii S 3- Pet ii. 3 Jude 1. x Rom xi 7.30 2Thes.ii 3, U. 1 Tim. 1 13 16 2 Tim ii 10 I Pet ii 10. 2 Pot 1. 1 y Matt xx. 28. John x 11. IS 17 XV. 13 Rom T 6—8. viii. 31 xiv P, 9 1 Cor. xv 3 2 Cor v 15 21. Eph v 2. 1 Tim ii 6. Tit. ii. 14 I Pet. ii. 21. Iii> !3. 2. See on, iv. 13 17. aSeeoa, iv. 16 • Or, tMhort. Heb iii. 13 X 25. V. 4 — 11. The apostle judged it needful to give these warnings, lor the benefit of such persons as were neg- ligent in prep.^r i.'ig for the coming of the Lord ; yet, he was well satisfied as to the Thessalonians in general. They not only enjoyed the outward light of the Gospel, and professed to believe and walk in it, but he was per- suaded, that they were really delivered from the power of darkness, and the ignorance and wickedness of their hea- then state. They were not, therefore, in danger of being overtaken by the day of the Lord, when unprepared, as the thief surprises those that are asleep. They were all, according to their profession, nay, his confidence in them, « the children oflight, and of the day." {Nole, Eph. v. 8 — 14 ;) for none of Christ's true disciples were " of the " night, or of darkness." They neither continued in igno- rance, nor lived in wickedness, nor wanted concealment for their secret practices ; but, being delivered from the thick darkness of heathenism, or the comparative darkness of Judaism, they enjoyed, and walked according to, the clear light of the Gospel. It behooved them, therefore, to act up to their privileges ; and not to be supine, indolent, careless, and unwatchful, as others were : but to be vigi- lant, circumspect, upon their guard against the assaults and stratagems of their enemies, and attentive to every opportunity of duty ; and to be serious, considerate, mode- rate in every thing of a secular nature, and indifferent to all animal indulgences. In general, men chose to sleep during the quiet of the night ; and to be drunken or riot- ous when others were asleep, that their excess might be the less noticed. In like manner, all sloth, unwatchful- uess, intemperance, or excessive worldly pursuits, were more consistent with the condition of benighted heathens, tljan witt that •£ Christians ; who would, as it were, turn together, ^ and edify one another, ''- even '' ","2; I'cor ',' as also ye do. ". 2'cor* xYi 12 1[ And we beseech you, brethren, ii- 2'9'"'iT,m •^ to know them which « labour among o'lv lo'llomiv. you, ' and are over you in the Lord, d'i'cor" xVi' u. 5 and admonish you ; c ii'9. mjk. ix. 1.3 And to '"esteem them very highly 1, a 7! joh.i i»: . , r 1 • 1 » 1 ;. I 1" . 38 Acl» XX. 3S m love lor their work s sake. ' jfnd be at ' cor. i.i.g.xr. , 10 XVI 16 2Cor peace among yourselves. 14 Now we t exhort "^ you, brethren, ' warn them ■" that are | unruly, " com- fort the feeble-minded, ° support the weak, p be patient toward all men. 15 "i See that 'none render evil for evil unto any man; but 'ever follow thatg^'i'Tm ',* i which is good, both among vourselves, ^■,5'^" '• '^ ' and to all men. ' "j*^*','. ,,:' ,,t Iv. 24 Ps. cxxxiii I. Marliix. 50. i.ukexvii. 17-19 a Cor. xiii II. Gal. V 22 Eph iv. 3. Heb xii. U. Jam. iii 13. 1 Or. btseecii. 'i 10. Ei. iii I7--JI. xxxiii. 3-9. ActSXX 27. E_10 1 Or, dUordtrlH. 2 Thps. iii. 11—13 n n. 7—12. I3. XXXV. 3, 4. si 1, 2. 1 1. Bz. xxxii. 10 Malt. xii.20. Luke xxii. 32 John Xll. 15— 17 Rom xiv 1 sv 1-3 G.l vi, 1,2 Heb. xii 12 o Acts XX. 35. Cr. p Is Ixiii 9. 1 Cor xiii 5 Gai v. 22 Eph. iv. 2 32 v. 1.2. Col iii. 12. 13 1 Tim, iii n vi 11 3 Tim. li 24 25. iv 2. Heb v. 2, 3 siii. 3. q Gen. xiv. 24. 1 Cor xvi. 10. Eph V 15. 33, 1 Ptt, i 22. Kev. six. 10. xxii. 9 r F.x xxiji 4. 5. Lev. xix. 18 1 Sam. xxiv 13 Ps vii. 4 I'rov, xvii 13, XX. 22, xxiv, 17 29. xxv 21. Matt, v 39. 44,«5, Luke VI. 35 Rom xii 17-21 1 Cor vi. 7 1 Pet ii. 22, 23 iii. 9 siii. 12 Deut. xvi. 20.P9 xxxviii 20. Rom xiv 19. I Cor. xiv. I 1 Tim vi. II. Heb. xii. 14. 1 Pet iii. H— Ii. 3 John U 1 Rom. xii. 17, 18 Gal. vi. 10 3 Tim ii. 21. iii. 2. 1 Pet ii. 17. I.xi23. 11 PliiL Col. i 29 , V. 17, 18. t. i. i. HeU ii.7 17,. 1 Pet. 2, 3 Ilev I ix 7 -11 fial iv 14. ci.6 i Geo 3-5 Jnl n xi i 34,3.'i XV 17 Ro m. X) Cnl iii 5 2 Ihes ii . 11) 2 Tm ii. 2 Rom xi I - k See on. 2, 31. 1 Cor , iv U. Col. 1. 28 . m ■I'it. the day into night, if they were betrayed into such prac tices. As therefore they enjoyed the full light of '• the Sun " of righteousness," they ought to be sober and vigilant ; for they had not only a great work to do, but an arduous warfare to maintain, against numerous, |)otent. active, and subtle enemies : {Notes, Epli.\i. 10 — 19,) They ought therefore to stand armed like soldiers, and be vigilant as centinels : while faith in Christ, and a firm belief of the divine word, with reliance on the promises, with love to God, to Christ Jesus, to holiness, to each other, and to ali men, constituted a breast-plate to defend their heart an^ affections from mortal wounds ; and a well-grounded, real izing hope of eternal happiness and complete salvation, was like a helmet, to cover their heads in the day of bat- tle, to defend them from the fear of the most cruel perse- cutors. This hope they were warranted to entertain ; as their conversion proved, that God had not appointed thera to endure the severity of his wrath, which their sins had deserved ; but diat he had chosen them to obtain salva- tion of his free mercy, through Jesus Christ ; who had willingly suffered death, to atone for their sins, and to ran- som their souls ; tliat " whether they waked or slept," whether they lived or died, or however they were foun'i, '"c^f^pj this is the will of God in Clirist Jesus yfteoo Kph T concerning }ou. f.i •""ili" 17 19 ' Quench not " the Spirit. J..h i. 21. Ps Ilxir I Itch xiii l."* T iv. 3 1 IVt ii. li. iv. 2 1 John ii 17 »C«nt. viii 7 Knh. »i IG bGen vi 3 I pjm «»i ll. Keb. ix. 30 Pi li 1 1 Is. Iliii. 10 Acts VII 61. Kph iv. 30 I Tim iv. 14 2 Tjdi i 6. 20 ' Despise not prophcsyings. '2i'-29 *■ ""aB*^ 21 "Prove all tilings : Miold fast that ^,'' \o'^t which is good. f c"^ *^\ ^f, 22 'Abstain from all appearance of evil, j," Jt,,f ".J 22-25 ;9-t!2. 37-33. Eph iv II. 12 llev xi. 3-II d Is vlii JO Matt vii. Ii(— So! .Mark vii 11-16. I.iite xii il AclS-xvil. II Kom X i 2. I Cor ii. U Ii xiv 99 Eph. V lu. Phi i 10. MtTf 1 John iv. I Rev. li 2. e Deut xi. 6-9 xxxii 46.47 Frov lii I 21-21. Iv 13. vi. 21-23 xxiii 23. Caat iii 4 John viii 31 x». 4. Acu li. 21 liv. 22 Horn, xii 9. 1 Cor. XV. 58 fbil. iii. 16 2 Tbs» ii 15 2 Tim. i 15 iii. C iv. 14. HeS. X. 23 Rev. ii. 25 iii 3 II riv 12 Ex xiiii.7 iMitt xvii. 26,27. Roo ill. 17 I Cor. vili 13 X 31— 33 2Cor. rl. 3. viii.20,21 Pbil iv 6 Jude23. prs, was used to " ordain elders in every city," {Ads xiv. 23. XX. 17. 28. 1 T/m. v. -22. Til. 1—3 :) and though no mcniion is made of this, in the brief hi.story of his labours at Thessaloiiica, nor in the opening of the epistle, there ran be no reasonable doubt that he had appointed elders over the Church in that rity. It was their office to labour among the pcojilc, in frcaching the word of God, and in every moans of promoting their edification, and the con- version of sinners ; to preside in the regulation and con- duct of [)ublic worship, and in the management of their spiritual concerns, as placed over ihcm in the Lord ; to act l)y his authority and in his name ; and to admonish, re- prove, and warn, such persons as acted wrong, or were likely to be drawn aside. The apostle therefore exhorted the people to be observant of these teachers, to acknow- ledge them as the Lord's stewards, and to regard their admonitions ; and they were not only directed to love them as Christians, but to esteem them "more abundantly in '• love," for their work's sake ; and to show them all resjiect and kindness, in return for the benefit which they derived from their faithful labours ; that, under their guidance and instruction, they might live in entire harmony with each other. The apostle likewise exhorted the pas- tors, and others in conjunction with them, to warn, re- prove, and censure such persons, as were unruly, and acted like soldiers who cjuit their ranks. They should also comfort those, who were weak in the faith, timorous, discouraged through temptation, and harassed by per- plexities, fears, and misapprehensions ; and support, by proper instructions and every encouraging topic, such as were ready to stumble, or were of a weak and feeble capa- city ; as well as support and provide for those that were s-ick, and unable to maintain themselves, {Marg. Ref.) and they should also exercise patience and long-sufl'ering towards persons of all kinds, behaving with tenderness s\n(l meekness even to those who acted in the most un- grateful or perverse manner. Nor might they in any case render to any man evil for evil ; but they ought steadily to persevere in all those things, which were kind, benevolent, beneficent, and useful, both among themselves and towards all men, without excepting even their virulent persecutors, {Notes, &c. Horn. xii. 14. 17 — 21.) This may also imply r.n instruction to the pastors, and other Christians, to watch over their brethren : and if they perceived any indi- cation? of a bitter and vindictive spirit against their perse- cutors, to repress it by every suitable means, and with all their influence. V. 16 — ii. The substance of these exhortations has before been considered. {Notes on the passages referred io in the margin.) The Christians at Thessalonica were ex- horted to consider it as their duty, as well as privilege, to be '" ab,vay3 rejoicing'' in die Lord : they were directed to pray incessandy, at stated seasons, occasionally, and with frequent ejaculations ; and to watch against every thing which could put them out of frame for this important privilege and duty. In every circumstance, they were to give thanks, as all their mercies were unmerited, and all their trials would prove beneficial ; so that this constant spirit of gratitude was the will of God concerning them, as his children in Christ Jesus. JIany have explained " quenching the Spirit," of restraining the exercise of spiritual gifts in themselves or others ; but doubtless it relates principally to the sanctifying and comforting in- fluences of the Holy Sfiirit in the hearts of believers ; not excluding his strivings and convictions in the hearts and consciences of sinners. {Marg, Ref.) These tend to kindle a flame of sacred love in the soul : but they may be quenched by evil tempers, by procrastination, by worldly cares, by inexpedient indulgences, by trifling comjiany, or by negligence, even as fire may be quenched wiiii water, and will go out, if it be not supplied with fuel, if it want air, or be choked with ashes. Thus convictions are often finally extinguished, and the Holy Spirit will no more strive with men : and thus believers often greatly damp the holy ardour of their souls, mar their own comfort, and impede their growth in grace, by not giving themselves up without delay to those spiritual afiections, which are excited in their hearts by the Iloly Spirit, and by quenching them in the manner before mentioned. The apostle also warned his brethren, " not to despise prophesying.?," or those nstructions and intimations of the divine will, which were given them by the prophets, either in explaining the scrip- tures, or from immediate suggestions of the Spirit. {Notes, I Cor. xiv ) The exhortation may also fairly include the more ordinary preaching of God's word. Vet, as there would be many false teachers, and erroneous doctrines pro- pagated by them, they must be careful to prove, or try, both the teachers and their instructions by the word of God; that they might reject « hat was spurious, and ad- here to what was good and excellent- And, not only were they exhorted to alDstain from evident evil, but from every thing which appeared to be sinful, either in their own judgment, or in that of others ; and to do nothing, con- cerning the lawfulness of which they doubted, or which might appear suspicious to those around them, and so pre- judice them against the truth. Ko doubt cases cfien arise, in which we are required to do those things, which appear evil to misinformed, prejudiced, and unieasor^able men, in order to obey the commands of God, and to follow ll;e clear dictates of our own consciences. But these are ex- ceptions to the general rule, which could not I c parti- cularized in so compendious an exhortation : and they seem to be the only exceptions : for it is better to avoid wha.t I appears evil to others, though lawfuHn itself, if it canjiie J. D. 55. CHAPTER V. J. D. 55. gRom. K9.5. 13 23 And the very ^ God of peace SJ.iviso ;Cor. . , 111 IT ri I fj» 3^^^2Cor.v. •> sanctily you -wliolly ; and 1 pray Uod STUBS ill. 16 • your whole spirit and soul, and body, be Heb nil. 20. J 1111 1 ■ r b'ir*'i3'''i'i? 3 pi'eserved blameless unto the coming ol t'.'.J? ? It our Lord Jesus Christ. A^u «"■ 32' 24 ' Faithful is he that ■" calleth you, f s^Hebu^n. ° ^^^10 ^^so will do il. 1 Pet i i Jiide I i Heb iv. 12. It hi. 13 I Cor. i. 8 Eph, v SB,S7 PbU i 6. 10 ii. 15 16. Col 1. 22 JudeU. 1 Deat. Tii 9. P.>'ilm xxiii 19 2 Kings sis. 3i Is. is. 7 xiv 24— 23. sxxvii. 32. Matt xsiv 3i. done with a safe conscience, than, by an uncharitable ex- ercise of our Christian liberty, to cause our weak broth e to offend, or to prejudice others against the Gospel. The Spirit. (19.) ' That is, the afflatus, and light of God ' shining into our minds. But, some one will say, if ' that be never exting^jished in the elect, this is com- ' raanded in vain. This, however, I strenuouj^ly deny. ' Nay, for this reason it is not extinguished in the elect, ' because they cherish it ; and they are induced by these ' exhortations to cherish it. For he, who hath determined ' never wholly to extinguish his Spirit in the elect, hath ' also made known by what means he will cherish it, ' namely, by the progress of his people in piety.' (Besa.) — Pruve,&ic. (21.) 'The apostle gives an injunction, ■' common to all Christians, having " their senses exercised " to discern good and evil," ' to all, who are obliged " to " hold fast that which is good," ' and not to believe false * prophets ; which is a strong argument for the perspicuity ' and sufficiency of the scripture, and against the neces- * sity of a living judge. For he that must try all things, ' must first try the doctrine of this living judge. For ' these words plainly teach, that what we must hold fast * must first be tried. Hearers, says St. Basil, who are in- ' structed in the scriptures, ought to try the things spoken ' by ihcir teachers ; and receive those things which arc •' consonant, and reject those things which arc alien from, ' the holy scriptures." {WkitbiiJ) V. 2.3 — 28. The apostle subjoined to his exhortations, his fervent prayers to God, knowing that his efficacious grace alone could produce the will and power to do all these things. He besought the God of |ieace himself, asreconciled to believers in Christ Jesus, and the Author of all their in- ward and outward peace, that lie would sanctify the Thes- salonians in respect of their whole nature, as consisting of a rational and immortal soul, an animal life, with its various sensitive appetites, and a material body ; that every sense, member, organ, and faculty, might be completely purified, and devoted to the service of God, and that thus they might be preserved blameless till the coming of Christ. — He was confident that the Thcssalonians in general were true believers : and as he was assured of the Lord's faith fulness to his promises and covenant-engagements to his people, whom he had called by his grace, so he was satis- fied that he would fully grant his prayer for them. Having therefore desired them also to pray for him, ar.-J solemnly charged them, by the authority of the Lord Jesus, to let this episde be read to all the holy brethren, the saints that formecf their church, he concluded with his usual saluta- -tions and benedictions. Charge yoit, &ic. (27.) Itscems evident that this was addressed to the pastors of the 25 Brethren, ° pray for us. 26 P Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. 27 1 1 * charge you by the Lord, ' that this epistle be read unto all the ^ holy brethren: 28 The ■ grSce of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. * Or, adjurt. ) Kims ZK'n " r Col iv. 16 2 Tljes. iii. 2 Tbes iii. 18. o Rnm. XT 30. 2 Cor. i II Eph V. 18-20. Pbil. i. 19. Col. iv. 3. 2 Thes. iii 1-3 Philenj. 22 Ueb siii. 18, 19 p 5cc on, Rom xvi IS. 1 Cor. xvi 211. q ii. II Num. xxvii 23. 1 Tim i.3 IB ». 7 21. vi. 13, 17. 2 Tim iii. U. .7 Aclsxii. I?. , i, 7. xvi. so 24. Church, and not to believers in general : else the persons charged, and they for whose benefit the charge was given, would have been precisely the same. The original is, '' I adjure you." [Marg. Ref.) This shows, both that oaths and adjurations are in some cases lawful ; (Note, Matt. xxvi. 63 — 68 ;) and that the subject, concerning which the apostle wrote, was considered by him, as pecu- liarly important. This is worthy of the most serious con- sideration of all those, even among protestants, who dg not make the reading of the scriptures a part of the service, when they meet in the worship of God ; and of those who read them in so careless and indistinct a manner, that the congregation cannot hear or understand them. The advan- tage to illiterate people, to the multitude who cannot read, or, who can read but imperfectly, of an audible, distinct, and emphatical reading of the scriptures in public, can scarcely be calculated. It will soon render even the best preaching more fully understood; and it will, in some de- gree, supply the deficiency in other cases. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. I— 11. Curious inquiries about times and seasons are commordy unprofitable and vain. " Behold, noiv is the accepted " time ;" the present time we ought to redeem, the pre- sent season of making our peace with God, and of doing his will, we ought to embrace : and then we shall be safe and hapjiy at all events. But, if we regard the scripture, we know perfectly, " that the day of the Lord cometh as '' a thief in the night ;" and that when sinners arc pre- sumptuously, or carelessly, saying " peace and safety, "then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail " upon a woman with child, which they shall not escape." No man is sure that death and judgment will not thus surprise him, unless he continually expect and prepare for those approaching events : ' Numbers, at this very hour, ' are speaking peace and safety to themselves, over whose ' heads instantaneous destruction is hovering.' (/.>of/rfri(/»e.) And how dreadful will be the astonishment and conster- nation of the scornful infidel, the careless profligate, the proud Pharisee, or the hardened hypocrite, when sudden destruction shall thus seize upon him, and no possible method of escape can be found ! As yet we are in the land of light, of prayer, of forgiveness, though we might before this have been cast into outer darkness. Nor are we enveloped with Pagan, Mahometan, or Antichristian darkness and delusion ; we have the light of the Gospel, and the holy scriptures, afibrded us; we have been led tc pay some attention to them: if then wc arc yet in darl;.- A, D bO. L THESSALONIANS. .i. D M. ness, that the day of the Lord should overtake us as a perhaps have an effect for the lime upon their tempers. thief, our guilt must be peculiarly aggravated. Let us therefore seriously inquire whether we really be the chil- dren of the light and of the day, by divine illumination, and by an obedient faith ? Let us seek to render this evi- dent, as well as to act consistently with our profession, by casting off the works of darkness, and shaking off indo- lence and carelessness, that we may noPsleej) as others do, but may " watch and be sober.'' Let us leave sloth, self- indulgence, ungodliness, and worldly lusts, to " the chil- " dren of the night and of darkness :" but let us, who profess to be of the day, be sober, vigilant, awake, and armed with the breast-plate of faith and love, and with hope as the helmet of salvation. Thus our evidence will continually increase, that God hath not ap])ointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by the Lord Jesus ; and that, " whether we wake or sleep," we shall surely live together with him. And when we remember that he purchased our deliverance from the wrath to come, by dying on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, we shall not only be Even when we are injured in the most atrocious manner, we must see to it, that we on no account render evil for evil to any man ; but must learn to follow, with persevering constancy, that which is good and friendly, both among ourselves, and to all men, as knowing what patience and mercy wc have experienced from God. His glory is con- cerned in our " always rejoicing :" this will be greatly promoted, if we " pray without ceasing ;" and in " every " thing give thanks," according to the will of God in Chiist Jesus concerning us. To make progress in this life of communion with God, we must be careful not " to " quench the Spirit," by refusing compliance with his holy suggestions, or postponing the good works to which his influences tend to excite us. We should also learn to pay a reverent attention to every message delivered to us by his ministers ; and thus we shall grow in grace, and abound in consolation. Yet, as Satan's ministers are trans- formed into the ministers of righteousness, whilst wc " despise not prophesyings," wc must learn to prove and directed how to comfort ourselves together, and to edify assay men and docli'ines, that we may distinguish betweer. one another in all holy affections, but we shall feel the truth and specious error, and so choose and cleave to tha; oonstraining power of grateful love, and learn how to live which is good and right; and that, for the honour of the to him, with whom we hope to live for ever in glory. Gospel, we may "abstain from all appearance of evil.',' V. 11—22. The office of a minister calls a man to labour for the salvation of souls with unwearied assiduity, as well as to preside over them in the Lord ; nor ought the spiritual authority ever to be separated from the labouring in thei " word and doctrine." Faithful pastors should carefully i be distinguished from slotliful, ambitious, or mercenary i men, who have the name and garb of ministers: theyj should be owned and attended to, and their admonitions! should be valued and obeyed, and they ought to be esteemed very highly in love, not because of the name and office which they bear, but '• for their work's sake," and in proportion to their skill, faithfulness, and diligence in it. They therefore are highly culpable, who despise thej admonitions, reject the authority, and refuse respect and atVection to the persons of faithful ministers : but such as! expect the reputation, esteem, authority, or emolument of| the ministry, without a diligent attention to its various and laborious duties, are even still more criminal. Outward respect may indeed be paid them ; but it is impossible for intelligent Christians " to esteem them very highly in love " for their work's sake," though they will compas- sionately mourn over and pray for them. Our love of peace among ourselves must not induce us to connive at' sin ; but we must, according to our several relations in the church, in domestic life, or in society, warn, reprove,' and censure the unruly, as well as tenderly soothe, and' comfort the feeble-minded, and support the weak in body! or soul. ^Ve should also learn patience towards all men, especially towards persons of weak capacities or little faith, who are often very wearying with their complaints, scruples, doubts, mistakes, and infirmiiies, and yet give ^10 reason at all to suspect their sincerity, but rather call ff*r comtjassioR, as harassed with sore temptations, which; V. 23—28. The exhortations, above given, show us what we ough.- to be and to do : but we must remember, that our hearts are naturally opposite to them ; nor can any inward and abiding change be wrought in us, save by a divine power. As therefore ministers should pray for, as well as exhort, their people, every individual should turn the precepts and pro- mises of God into prayers for himself and his brethren; and whilst he uses every other means of grace, and vigi- lantly shuns all hinderances and temptation, he should still beseech " the God of peace himself to sanctify him " wholly, in spirit, and soul, and body, and to preserve " him blameless until the coming of the Lord Jesus." If these be our earnest desires, fervent prayers, and diligent endeavours, the promises and covenant of our God, his power and love, and his immutable foithfulness, authorize our fullest assurance, that, having called us by his grace,, he will keep us by the same unto complete and everlasting salvation, whatever immense inward or outward difficulties may seem to render it impracticable. The most eminent servants of Christ want and value the prayers of their weakest brethren. Let us be thankful that these excellent epistles are preserved for our perusal also : and w hile we rememember that the apostle charged the Thessalonians, by the authority of the Lord Jesus, to let them be read to all the holy brethren, some of whom might not be able to read ihem all for themselves, we may be sure that Antichrist alone would forbid the laity to read the scriptures, lest they should lead them into heresy. We shall also learn the propriety of reading them in our public congregations; and ue shall be stirred up to study them with more hum- ble diligence and obedient faith, that thus the grace of the Lord Jesus may be with us also. THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE THE8SALONIANS. This epistle is eominonh supposed to have been ivrittcn from Corinth, not very long after the forcgoinif, because Silvanits and Timothy still continued icith St. Paul ; but the evidence is not very conclusive, and some difficulties attend this opinion. (Note, i. 3, 4.) It is, hotvever, certain that it was not sent from Athens, according to the spurious postscript. The main object of the epistle seems to have been, to prevent mistakes, which the Thessalonians were about to fall into, concerning the near approach of the day of judgment ; grounded in part on a misconstruction of some c.rpressio7is in his former epistle, and of tvhat he had spoken when at Thessalonica ; but supported also by some person, er persons, pretending to inspiration, and, as some think, by a forged epistle. Jis this opinion was of a very injurious tendency, the apostle strenuously opposed it . (Notes, ii. 1 — 4.) He had also heard of some individuals, who on religious pre- tences neglected their secular employments, and walked disorderly; whom he exhorted them to censure and shun, yet so as to seek their good. Amidst a number of instructive learnings, exhortations, and en- eouragements, it contains a most remarkable prophecy, (Notes, ii. 2 — 12,) the exact fulfilment of ichich is a full demonstration of the divine inspiration, by which the apostle wrote his epistles. ' Besides the "^ general marks of its genuineness and divine authority, which it bears in common with the rest of ths ' epistles, it has one jjeculiar to itself, from the exact representation it contains of the papal power, un- ' der the characters of " the man of «?«," and " the mystery of iniquity." For, considering how directly ' opposite the principles, here described, tvere to the genius of Christianity, it must appear, at the time when this epistle was tcritten, highly improbable, that they should ever prevail in the Christian church : and con- ' sequently a prediction like this, which answers in every particular so exactly to the event, must be allowed to ' carry its own evidence with it, and to jJrove that the author of it wrote under a divine influence.'' (Doddridge.) A. D. 56. CHAP. I. The apostle salutes the Thessalonians, 1, 2 ; th'inks God for their growth in faith and love ; encourages their perseverance under persecutions, by the prospect of the coming of Christ ; and shows how glori- ous he will then appear in the destruction of all unbelievers, and the complete sal- vation of his people, 3 — 10. He prays for their complete sanctification and NOTES. CHAP. I. V. 1, 2. {3Iarg. Ref. and notes on the scriptures referred to.) A. D.56. meetness for heavenly felicity, by the grace, arid for the glory, of God the Fa- ther, and the Lord Jesus Christ, 11, 12. AUL, " and Siivanus, and Timo- ',t" Thes?"!.'' theus, unto the church of the Thes- salonians in God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ ; 2 Grace *> unto you, and peace, from ''r'i'cjr'i°3! *' God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. V. 3, 4. The apostle had receive-! such further good accounts of the Thessalonians, that he deemed himself bound to return continual thanks to God in their behalf.- A D. 56. II. THESSALONIANS. A. D. 56 'linn.''. 3*'Vor 3 Wc 'are bound to thank God ahvavs iHuke X.. 3j for you, brethren, '^ as it is meet, because fli"' ^''*' that "your faith growcth exceedingly, V.x'''"" 'xni. and the charily of every one of you all is. ir il-z\. towards each other aboundcth : j'obnx»'VVhii. 4 So that we ourselves ' glory in you i' 3, 10 I'let in the churches of God, for « your pa- i. 22. Srct i 4 ,. , ^ .^1 -11 I, "^ ' -TO ill. .8 ticncc and laith m all your '■ pcrsecu- ix 2 i I The!, tions and tribulations that ye endure : gjii s- Rom ii 7. 5 Which is 'a manifest token of the xii. 13 I The. t righteous judgment of God, that ye «eb. tm4_x. ifnay be cotmted worthy of the kingdom 7'™ a ret i 6 of God, " for which ye also suffer : i^Thw' i'i' 14. ^ Seeing ° // is a righteous thing with ir'i iVii 28 1 God to recompense tribulation to them 'iii'i'l'p; ll»at trouble you ; 7 And to you " who arc trouljled, rest , .loh IX. 7,8. xxxHi s I 6. is xiix 4 csi 7. Jer ix 24 Dm ii. 37. Horn ii. 5. Rev. xv. 4 x Luke \x 35 sxi 31;. kcXi xiii 46 Ep!i i». 1. C.il. i. 12. Re 7 six. 2 1 1 1 « m7 Alts nom. viii. 17 1 Tiies ii 14 a Tim ii 12 n Deut xxxii. 41—13 Ps iv. r: i'3 IxxiX 10—12 xcin :0— 2X is Xlix 26 Zech. ii 8 Hev vi 10 \\. 18 4. X>i 5. 6. Xvni: 20 24 xix 3 o Is Ivii. 2. Mail t. i0-12 Luke x»i. 2S n. ^iii 17 3 Cor. iv. 17. 3 iim. ii. 13. Heb iv. I 9. II. I Pet iv 1. Bcv. vii. U— xiv. 13. sxi. 4. this was meet and right: seeing that, in answer to his prayers, and by means of his epistolary exhortations, they became more fully acquainted with divine truth, and grew stronger in faith, by an exceedingly rajjid progress : and the i!ore of every one of them towards all the rest abounded, in all its manifold exercises and beneficial cfiects: so that he rejoiced and gloried in them in the churches of God, showing ihcm what flouri.=hing Christians the Thessalonians were, and what a blessed seal God had given tolas ministry in their conversion. This may induce a doubt, uhether the epistle ■were written from Corinth or not : for on that supposition Paul had visited no other churches, since he tvrotc the former ei)islle, except such as were planted in that vicinity : and we can hardly suppose, that he only referred to what Timothy or Silvahus had said of them, if they had left him for a season to visit odier churches, and 'hen returned. However, he and his fellow-labourers gloried in them ; because they endured various persecutions and aftVictions, with exemplary patience and constant faith. We arc not informed of the particulars relative to these f)ersccutions ; but they seem to have exposed the Thessa- onians to very great hardships and dangers. V. 5 — 10. The patience of the Thessalonians, in suf- fering in th6 cause of Christ, and for conscience' sake, was a manifest token or demonstration, of the righteous judg- ment of God : it fully proved, that he would judge the World in righteousness, and rectify all the apparent dis- orders of the present scene ; seeing he lel't his blameless and zealous worshippers to endure jx-rsecutions and tribu- lations, and his enemies to prosper in their impious and iniquitous opposition to his cause and people. Indeed, he permitted his servants to be afflicted, in order to prove and manifest their faith and grace, and to increase in them all holy dispositions; that they might at Icngtii be counted meet and proper persons to inherit that kingdom of heavenly glory, which God hath prepared for them that ?ove him : in hope of which they so patiendy sufl'ered, as with us, p when the Lord Jesus shall be p Man xi.i 39 revealed from heaven with his * mighty " *" " **' angels, y Jn ■' flaming fire t taking ' ven- geance on them that ' know not God, ' and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord esus Chnst : i 3. Eph 1 21 0 \\\\o shall "be punished with ever- '^^Jl^ ,^" lasting destruction " from the presence of i^J^^jj .^'''j, -* the Lord, and from >'the glory of his power; f ^1/*' ^J 10 AVhcn he shall come no be glori- "'• "> >i»a fied in his saints, and to be admired m all them that believe, (because ^ our testi- ,„ .^ ,j ^^, ^ mony among you was believed,) '' in that J DeufiMM 3j day '■' "■ '-'^' xxvt 64. Mark viil 3?. x.v C2 Jot;ni.SI. Actsi.ll IThM iv 16, 17 Tit. ii 13. Heb. i.T i8 Jude 14 Ii. Hev. i.7 xx.ll • Cr Ihtanrdic/' Heb X 27 xii. •jj 2 Pet i:i. 7 10-12 Rev XX. Hi l4,IS xxi 2 Ixiii 4-G. Heb. X 30. Rev. ri 10 16, 17 8 Ex v. 3 I Sirft. ii fl Pj il lO. Ijlis. fi Is XJtii. 11 Jer. ix 6 John iii 19 viii. 19. RoTi i 28. 1 Cor xv 34. 1 The3 iv. i. t Deut iv 30 Ps xviii 41 If. i 19. Actsvi 7 Horn i S. ii. 7,8. vi. 16 x 16. »v. 1» XV. 26. 2 Cor. X. 5. Gal iii 1. Het) ii 3. v. 9 xi 8 I PeL i. 2 ii xixii'. 14. Ixti 24. Dan xii. 2 Matt. xsv. 41. 46. xxvi 24. Mark i 26. 26 Jotio V. 14. Heb. X. 29. 2 Pet ii. 17 JuJe 13. Rev xi xsii. 15 X Gen. iii 8. iv 16 Jobxxi U xxii xxii 13 ixv 41 Luke xii 27 y Deut. xxxi xxiv. 30. in ii. 13 Or Hev. .tx. II J 12 : _ xllx 3 Ix 21. Jer.xxxiii 9 John xi. 4. xvii I* Gal i 24. Bpb.i 6. 12.14 IB iii 10 16 I Pet ii 9 Kev vii. II, 12 a li. 13. 1 Tiies i. 5. ii 13. b MsL iii. 17 .Malt. vii. 22. xxiv 26 Lute X. 12 2 Tim « iv 17. u I _ 43-49. Luke XV r. 10. II XS. l.t xsi 17. Ps. XVi. 11 11 II. -Matl. vii. 2 . _ 10 19 21 .Matl. xvi. 21 12 Nu.n xsiii. 23.1s xliii. 21. xii l« Gal i 24. Bpb.i 6 li. 13. 1 Tiies i. 5. ii 13.- i. 12 18. It. 8. well as from love to his kingdom of grace established upon earth, as introductory to the kingdom of glory in heaven. •Seeing, by these means, it would be manifestly shown to be perfectly just and righteous in God, to recompense with tribulation and anguish those, who troubled his harmless and holy friends and worshippers by their cruel enmity and persecution, because of their relation and conformity to him ; as they would evidently be proved to be his in- veterate enemies. On the other hand, it would appear honourable to his justice, as well as his mercy, to bestow rest and felicity in heaven on those, who willingly endured tribulation in his cause, for his sake, from his enemies, and according to his will : and, indeed, having given pro- mises to this effect, his equity required the fulfilment of them. This righteous judgment of God will take place, when " the Lord Jesus shall be revealed," as visibly de- scending from heaven, attended by " the angels of his " power i"' his creatures, worshippers, and servants, who shall then act as the ministers of his authority, in showing mercy and in executing vengeance. (iTarg. Ref.) Then he will appear " in flaming fire," to burn up this visible ci'cation, and this will be an emblem of his awful avenging justice : for he will take vengeance on all ; not only on iflolalrons Gentiles, persecuting Jews, and men of scan- dalous and abandoned characters ; but on all who continue strangers and enemies to the true God, and bis holy worship and service ; who have not so known him, as to fear, love, trust, and serve him ; and on all, who obey not the Gospel of the Lord Jesus, by receiving him, relying on hira, and submitting to him, as their Saviour and King. All these persons, howcij'er numerous, or distinguished by rank, ac- complishments, or splendid actions, will be punished with eternal destruction, being banished, as accursed, from the presence of the Lord, iu which alone felicity can be found, {l\Iaig. Rcf.) and finding his avenging frown, like light- ning, to appal and torture their inmost souls, and the glory of his power irresistibly forcing them with dreadful con- J. D. 58. CHAPTER I. .4. Z). 5U. es«eo», Rom.i ji Wlierefove also, 'we pray alwavs 9. Eph i. 16 .„ " , , y-, 1 „ ' 1 T * •' , Hi. M-21 rh.i. for you, ifiat ''our Ood '^ would * count 9-'i_ij' ri'"^ you worthy oi ihis 'calling, and « fulfil "/'"'so' it. a" ''tlievood pleasure of 7a5 goodness, ixV'g lv'7. Dan w 17 Kev. •». lO. e .««»«, 5 » Or. i>»uc/ij,./>. — f ii 14 Bom vin 30 is 23.21 I'-l "■■ U- ' The3 li. '2 Heb. iii I 1 Pet.v 10 — --(; I's. r«ixviii 8. Prov. iv, 19 I3. l«vl.9 Hos vl 3. Zech iv 7 Markn. 28 1 Cor Pliil i e b Ps. li 18. LaU xii. 32. Eph. i. 4. 9. Phil ii 13. Tit. iii. 4-7. stcrnacion into the place of torment. This will take place, when he shall appear with divine majesty inhuman nature, to lie glorified by his saints ; as the riches of his love, the preciousness of his redemption, the etticacy of his grace, the power of his arm, and his faithfulness to his promises, will be most gloriously displayed by their complete salva- tion. And not only will he then be admired by those, that now believe in him, who will then find their largest expec- tations far exceeded, and who will not think it possible, sufficiently to adore and praise such a glorious Benefactor; but he will be admired in them, likewise, by all the inha- bitants of heaven, who will celebrate the wonders wrought by him, in thus saving and exalting such polluted rebels and enemies. This the aposde was copfident would be the case of the Christians at Thessalonica, because his testimo- ny concerning Christ had been credited by them, and their faith manifested by its genuine effects. V. 11, 12. In the prospect of this decisive season, the aposde and his brethren prayed continually for the Thes- salonians, that the Lord would vouchsafe them whatever ■was wanting to make them meet for this felicity, to which the Gospel called them; that he would adjudge them to be entitled to it, according to the grace of the new Covenant in Christ; and that he would accomplish that work of cciuplete sanctification, and prepare them for that glory, to which the sovereign good pleasure of his goodness and love had appointed them, and which he had great compla- cency and delight in conferring on them : that so he would finish the work by his almighty power, which he was car- rying on in their souls through faith, till at length it should be perfected in vision and enjoyment. This they prayed for, in order that the name of Christ might be glorified in thein, both by their present bold profession of his truth, and their holy conduct, and zealous labour.s to spread the Gospel ; and in the sight of the whole world, and to all eternity : and that they might also be glorified in Christ, by perfectly bearing his image, enjoying his love, being owned as his brethren, and sharing, as it were, all his ho- nour, according to the infinite riches of the mercy and grace of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus. The context shows, that the word caihng' must here mean the inheritance to which they were called. {Marg, Ref.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. They wlio have already distinguished themselves by " the work of faith, and the labour of love, and the '' patience of hope," are cajiable of growing exceedingly in all these things : for the highest attainments of saints on earth fall far beneath real perfection. When Christians thus grow in grace and abound in all the exercises of mutual love, the hearts of faithful ministers will reioice : and they will deem themselves bound to give thanks to God always for them, as it is meet ; and to .speak of them Vol. v.— No. 34. arKl 'the work of faith with power :' J"i','"i«'-=' tn rill .11 /. T 'i -r ''■I''' '• "i *"■ 12 1 hat "^ the namo of our Lord Jesus ' ''J" ' ? J* f-,1 • I I • » , • '•' '^'*^i* ''" 2- Clirist may be p-lonticd in you, ' and ye \^" •>"• .? '"• m liim, according to '"the grace of our,'ce»' L';,!* ., God, and the Lord Jesus Christ. '';•'■':: ii 17. Is xlv. 17 2.'i John Row. I 7 I Cur i. t in the churches of God, to excite their thanksgiving also, and to animate them to a holy emulation. The patient huflciiiigs of exemplary Christians, and the prosjierity of ungodly men and cruel persecutors, fully demonstrate a future ji;d;;ment, when all shall " discern between Uie '' righteous and tiie wicked, between him that servedi " God, and him that serveth him not." This heljis to explain those mysteries of providence which would other- wise greatly perplex us : and we perceive that the devoted worshippers and beloved children of God are proved and purified in the fiery furnace of tribulation, " that they '• may be accounted worthy of that kingdom for which "they suffer;" and that wicked men are permitted to prosper, that their rancorous enmity against God may be manifested, and the measure of their ci-inies filled up, and that all may see the glory of that justice, which consigns them to the punishment intended for them. It must in- deed at length appear evident to all rational creatures, that it is righteous in God to recompense tribulation to those, who trouble his people from hatred lo his holy truth and service ; and that it is honourable to all his perfections to give rest and felicity to those, who have been trouijied for his sake, and for their love to his cause and worship. Faith, anticipating the grand decisive day, is enabled by the light of revelation to read, and, in a measure, to un- derstand, the book of providence ; and thus to wait with composure and comfort for the coming of the Lord. — That will be indeed " a day of W'ratb, and of the revelation " of the righteous judgment of God :" then the Saviour, once a Man of sorrows, and generally despised, rejected, and disobeyed, will " be revealed, with his mighty angels, "inflaming fire, taking vengeance," not only on crue! oppressors, persecutors, and murderers, or on scandalous profligates and depredators, but " on all who knew not " God, and obeyed not the Gospel of his Son;" whether infidels, Pharisees, scoffers, hypocrites, enthusiasts, or An- tinomians, or however they might otherwise be denomi- nated or distinguished. All these shall be punished with "an everlasting destruction from the presence of the " Lord ;" the majesty of that countenance, which was once defiled with blood and spitting, and the glory of his power, who was once crucified in apparent weakness, shall be intolerable to all the multitudes of the wicked; and they will be wholly incapable of making the least resist- ance, when with a tremendous frown he shall say to them, " Dejiart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the " Devil and his angels !" But at that awful season, he will come especially to be glorified in his saints, who have here believed the testimony of his apostles concerning him, and thus learned to trust, love, obey, and rejoice in hira, whom tbey have not yet seen, and to know and worship God the Father in and through him. No words can pos- sibly express the admiring and adoring gratitude and love, which wdl unite with the exulting joy and triumph of that 2 Z A. D. 56. H. THESSALONFANS. A. D. 56. CHAP. II. The apostle warns the Thessalonians. agftimt irrouniUessly supposing that the day of Christ was at hand, I , - ; u):(i shows, that it must be preceded by a great apostacy ; in which " the man oj sin,"' oy his blasphemies, usurpations, and impostures, ivould cause the destruc- tion of numbers, and then sink himself into perdition, H — 12. He thanks God for his special grace shown to the Thes- salonians, 13, N; exhorts ikcm to stcad- f ashless, 15 ; and prays, that thnj may be comforted, and established in every good word and work, lb, 17. k.TOW ' we beseech you, brethren, '' by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, "^ and by our gathering together ^S" Vx,' m uuio nun, ,,,,,, , ^^ -'^ 2 That ye l»e not soon "^ shaken in tIT. ,1" i'^ * mind, or be troubled, neither * by spirit, ''ij, 3" LvV'!!' nor by word, ' nor by letter, as from mI'X. *,",!; ', us, as that the day of Christ is at Jot' "v f i?' liailU. I Tbes. iii 3 3 Let s no man deceive you by any 'icriiVi? ali" moans: for thai day shall not come, ''ex- aLi xxii'.'i"" cept there come a Calling away first, and 3*ijobl'iv'iIt that ' man of sin be revealed, " the son offi,Th^'1»''?5 2 perdition ; g s" ",l; *~Auit. 4 Who opposeth 'and cxaiteth him- ^v'/s t:ph »°6 self above all that is " called God, or that a^'il^m l-t is worshipped • so that he, as God, " sit- '"-'o d«« »» tetn m the temple 01 uod, shewine bim-v"*," ,«''' ''•»" sell that he is Ood. liuppy pciiod Ail hopes and imaginations must fall im- mensely brncciili ihoM- unutterable glories, and the holy aflectio'ns wiih \,!iicli thry will be contemplated anrl adored. But ever\ b^ b''vpr will t'h'-n rcilect, display, and in* rease, the maiiilested glory of the divine Saviour, and enhance the praises of all the inhabitants of heaven " to the Lamb '• ihai was slain, and hath redeemed them to God with his " blood." Miiy we then pray always for ourselves and . 9-11. xi.3G. Rev I 1.1. XIV. 1 — m I Cor. duties of their several callings in society ; and their con- duct, expectations, and disappoinlmcnt.i h. llei-. 1 ro ij m xix. IS .'1. Vee o«, 1 e. » .'ohn viii. 4). it Acts Viii 9- II. xiii to. 2 Cor. Iv 4 XI. :l 14, Eiih 1 2. ItRV ix II Xli. ^ 2 M»lt XXIV Hum x»i 8. li 8 AriJ tlan shall "that Wicked be': revealed, " whom the Lord shall con- sume with y llie spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy * with the brightness of his comiue^ : 9 Even him, whose coming " is after the working of Satan, with all power '' and signs, and Ijing wonders, 10 And with all "^ deceivableness of 9 17. Xiii. 1-J. xix iO XX. 10 bEx vii !2. viii. 7 18 Deut xiii .24. Mark xiii lU. 3 Tim iii. 8. Kev xiil ll-li. xviii. 23. xix 20 Cur ii. 17. iv 2. xi 13. IS. Epb iv. 14. 2 Pet. ii 18. .superstitions, will-worship, self-imposed austerities, and the wor.-^hip of angels: and the disposition of many pro- fessed Christians to follow iheir pernicious ways, were as a corrupt leaven, which, working scci^tly, would at length protJuce this great a postacy. {Murg. Urf.) But, the Ro- man empire, which then let or liiiidcrcd, its full efiect, by keeping the church under peisccution, and curbitig all authority but its own, would continue to retard this event, until it should be removed out of the way. The conver- sion of the Roman emperors to Christianity, in the be- ginning of the- fourth century, tended greatly to prepare thingsfor this apostacy ; by giving scope to the ambition and avarice of the ecclesiastics, and by multiplying ex- ceedingly nominal Christians; but it was not till the sub- version of the western empire by the northern nations, and the division of ii into ten kingdoms, that way was made for the full establishment of the papal usurpation at Rome, the capital city. V. 8 — 1'2. The obstacle above-mentioned having been taken out of the way, that wicked or lawless one would be revealed, and would display the deformity of his cha- racter without disguise, by endeavouring to exalt himself above all laws human and divine. But, though this great usurper would practise and prosper, yet, the Lord would at length consume him by the spirit, or the breath, of his mouth. {Marg. Ref.) According to the predictions of his word, and by the preaching of his Gospel, attended by the influences of his Spirit, he would gradually waste and consume this anti-christian tyranny, and terminate all his corruptions of the Gospel. This he hath been accomplish- ing, during the space of above three hundred years, since the first dawnings of the Reformation : he will shortly destroy the whole papal authority, and all its dependencies, bvthe brightness of his coming to spread the Gospel through the nations; (Notes, Rev. xviii. xix. xx. 1 — 6:) and he will finally condemn, and punish with everlasting destruc- tion, all the actors in this grand delusion, when he shall come to judge the world. Such will certainly be the doom of this " lawless one," this "man of sin," this " son of ■' perdition," whose coming was to be attended, and success obtained, not by open force, but by the deep subtlety and peculiar energy of Satan : with th% highest pretences to authority and claims of power ; and with every kind of counterfeit signs and wonders, either of dcepdaid human inJ^osturc, or of satanical operation, by which men would mimic the miracles of Christ and his apostles, as the Egyptian magicians did those of Moses. It would also be accompanied with all the various kinds of forgery, fraud, and imposture, with )vhich men's senses iinn<;hteousnes9 ''in tiicm that perish; "iiror. ■ is. 2 I.I • 1 .. L V n Cor. ii. Ii iv. 3. because * they received not ine love oi = <•«< » is 1 1,11 -11 I " '"''<'* I ' " '— the truth, ' that trey miffht be saved. '>'»•' »;" "• 11 And »;lor this cause ''God shall Joii- j.i i9-2l , , 1 , • I I I »iii4j-47noni. send them strong delusion, ' that they J'.j'i'isliu'^- should believe a lie : V."*" nil' 'l T ' .M nOID X I. 12 That "they all might be damned 1 '^.'JS,* jj", '«■ who believed not the truth, 'but had 8j» ',Vlfj,^i'i'|; 'easure in unrighteousness. pleasure in unrighteousness. l^-a^v^^ 21—25 28 bl Kings xxii 18-22 2Cllr. xviii 18-22 .SVt o«. Is vi. 9. lu Et. xir 9 i l8. xliv. 20 livi 4. Jer. ixvii in. Bz xxi '.'9 k Mark xm |6 Jobn iii 3S I Tbes V 9. 2 Pet ii.3. Ju.le4. 5 IPs xi 6 1. IC-2l.lii 3 4 H03 vii 3 Sllc. iii2 .M ' xiv. II. John ill 10-21 Rom. i. 32 ii 8. viii 7,8. xii. 9 2 Pet ii. 13—15. 3 Jobo II ■rk and understandings have been deluded by artful dcceivcrst in ditferent ages and nations of the world; and with every hypocritical device, which the ingenuity and sagacity of men or devils could possibly invent ; to support tlie cause of unrighteousness, and delude the world into a stupid admiration, a blind reverence, and an implicit submission to the arrogant claims, and multiplied idolatries, and abo- minations of this grand delusion. Thus, by artful stra- tagems and machinations, multitudes would be fatally deceived, among such as were in the way of perdition. For, seeing they had not received the love of the truth, but had neglected or perverted the saving doctrine of the Gos- pel, through pride and carnal enmity, they would, for this cause, be left to judicial blindness; and God would, by means of these men, send them a delusion, which would bind them, in the strongest chains of error and false confidence ; so that they would be fascinated into the firm belief of Satan's lie, and venture their souls upon it. Thus, being held in impenitence and unbelief, and under the power of their own lusts, they would be left to mani- fest their enmity to God, and to fill up the measuie of their sins ; that they might all be condemned at the day of judg- ment, and receive their merited punishment, who had not believed the truth of Christ, but had pleasure in Anti- christ's " deceivableness of unrighteousness." because it accorded to their pride, love of the world, and dislike to the spiritual worship and service of God : for this seems rather to refer to the deceived, than to the deceivers. It implied that God would act in this matter, according t* the general rule of giving up those who obstinately hate the truth through love of sin, to be blinded by Satan ; and that there would be a remnant, even under the deepest darkness of Antichrist's reign, of another character and description. Nothing can more exactly coincide with the system of poperv, as it prevailed in the Roman church, and under the ftoman pontiff, for many ages, than this passage does. Even their boasted pretensions to mira- culous powers, and the imposture or ambiguity of every instance, is the grand proof of all, that they were marked out by the Holy Spirit. {'Marg, Ref.) And the adhe- rence of the church of Rome, even to the present day, to the worship of images, saints, and angels, and to the doctrine of absolutions, penances, purgatory, transubstan- liation, and the merit of good works, proves that the man of sin, though consuming by the Spirit and word of Christ, is not )et destroyed by the brightness of his coming. It is very wonderful, that any reflecting per- sons should ever think this prophecy applicable to the anti-christian delusions of modern infidels or atheists, wh6 A. D. 5G. CHAPTER 11. A. D. JG. m\ a sc, en, 13 11 But "we are bound to give n lo'oc.rtvii ?; thanks alway to God tor you, brcdiren, ss.""]!'!'!. :s " beloved of (lie Lord, because God hath 3°Ez.""'6"« f[-oin tlie beginning p chosen you to 11 lo Rom I salvation, "J through sanctification oi" the 1. Col. 111. 12 _, . . , , ,■ ^? /• 1 ,1 I John iv. 10 Spirit, and ' belief of the truth : o'ceo i. 1 Prov. 14 Whcrcunto " hc called you by 'our Tin 23 Is xWi 1 ■ • r I 1 /• jffhn i. I. Gospel, " to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, ^ stand fast. Heb. p Rom viti iz. II Epb 5.S Tim i o 10 12. Luke i. 75 1 Pet. i S— 5 r John viii. 45. J6 xiv 6 Gal hi. 1. Eph il. 8. Col. i. 5. 2 Tim ii 15 iii 15 Jam. i 19 viii 28-30 1 Thcs. ii 12. 1 Rom ii :6. xvi 25 P Th< 5 i 11 Matt XXT. 21 John »iv. S, 3. XTii 22 Oi Rom. liii. 17 Eph i T.m. ii. 12 1 Pet i 4, 5. T. 10. .lev iii. 21. i»i 23. sxil. 3—5.- J.V 58. xvi. 13 Fhil. iv. 1. uPs xvi B. 1 Thes. ii 12 -X Stt on, 1 Cor have apostatized from a profession of Christianity ; when the single expression, " signs and lying wonders," demon- strates that ihey could not be meant. Antichrist indeed has made strenuous efforts as an ■iinmasked infidel ; yet, these short-lived appearances must not be compared with the permanent and wide-spread mischiefs of 1300 years; and in some considerable degree, much longer. The original and >■ liold "■ the traditions which yc have y iii. s. icrxi been taught, * whether by word, or our /"nm m. it CpiStlC. aiiii, u. 16 Now "our Lord Jcsu.'; Christ him- ''m™"' ^■' ""^ self, and God, even our Father, " which '^j*^!^.','^"!;' hath loved us, and hath o-jyen tis ''ever- 9°i|"'Rom. ^ I ,. I . -O 8. Eph. II. 4.5 lasting consolation, and ' good hope ^- = •? 7;' !'■ e .\ 1 ^ V 4—7. I John >ii ' tiirouffa o^race, le- >v a, m C5 & " Kev. i 5 Iii ^ 17 e Comfort your hearts, and " stab- ''/^'„j'V m. fl lish you 'in every good word and work. l^,',?;.-v\,i'-*' 16-18 xti. £2. 2 Ciir iv. 17. 18. Hfb.vi. 18. I Pet i 5-8 Re» ';„ '„— « """'; ' 2-5 viii. 21. 'Ji C„l i 5 2:i. 1 Tlies i. 3. Tit. i 2 ii 13 Heb vi. 10. 19 yii 19. 1 Pet I. :)-5 1 Julin iii 2,3 fAclsuv. 11 xviii. £7 Horn. Iv. 4. r. 2. XI. 5. 6.-— f 16. Is ii .1. 12 Ivii :5. Ixi 1, 2. Ixvi 13. Rom. jv 13. itnr i 2- — — h HI 3. Is Ixu. 7. Rom i. 11 xvi 25. I Cof. i. 8 2 Cir i 21 Co! ii. 7. 1 Thc.l 2.13 Hen XI ii. 9. 1 Pet v 10. Juile2l i Jam. i. 21, 22. 1 John iii. IS. righteousness, and grace ; and so they received their title to heavenly felicity, and were trained iiji for the enjoyment of it. According to these purfjoses of God respecting then?, he had called them by the Gospel, which Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy were sent to preach to them ; this ■' came to '' them not in word only, but with the power of the Moly " Ghost ;" and their conversion by it both evidenced their words may mean, either false and lying pretences to the " election of God," and was intended for " their obtaining powerof working miracles, and the impostures by which the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." ' How wiselyand hap- they are rendered plausible ; or to things really superna- tural, when performed in support of false doctrine, and claims to a divine authority, in propagating it. V. 13, 14. The apostle intimated in these verses, that even at that time strong delusions were sent to those who " received not the love of the truth, that they might " be saved :" he was therefore bound 'to thank God always for his brethren at Thessalonica ; because it was evident pily does the apostle unite (he views of the grace of God ' and the duties of men ! While he represents our choice ' to salvation in a light so worthy of God, since this salva- ' tion is still to be obtained, through sanctification of the " Spirit, and belief of the truth." {Doddridge.) V. 15. The apostle, therefore, exhorted his beloved brethren to stand fast in the belief of those truths which they had heard from him, not only amidst the rage of that they were specially beloved of the Lord, having been i persecutors, but against the^artifices of deceivers; main- " from the beginning chosen to salvation." (Marg. Rcf.) : taining the instructions which he had given them, whether Some contend that the apostle meant the beginning of the j by word of mouth when with them, or by any verbal Gospel being preached to them ; but he plainly distinguish- 1 message, or by his former epistle. Doubtless the aposde's ed this c/ioice of them, from their cnf/ing, and spake of the traditions were worthy of credence and obedience; but latter as the effect of the former. The doctrine of election, how shall we know any thing of them, except as they hath been repeatedly considered, {Notes, Rom. viii. 28 — 31. ix. 11. Eph. i.) but we may here add, that if the calling of the Thcssalonians was the effect of any pre- ceding cAoice of them ; it comes to the same thing, whether that choice was made the preceding day, or from before the foundation of the world, or from eternity ; except as the former suppositions would militate against the immu- tability of God, and his absolutely perfect prescience were written for our benefit ? It is therefore a singular instance of the " deceivableness of unrighteousness" in "the man of sin," to attempt the support of his corrupt system, by a single word in that very chapter which most fully exjioses his devices. For oial tiaditions, of equal authority to tlie written word, beiiig the rule of its interpre- tation, and committed to the keeping of tiie church, (that is, to the Romish clergy,) was the grand support of Otherwise, if he acted Avisely and righteously in choosing I papery forages ; and of this fundamental principle they them, rather than their companions in idolatry and vice, I have no better scriptural proof than this single word, and it was equally wise and righteous to choose them from ] one or two mere of simdar import! {Noles" Mall. xv. I eternity, as at the very hour preceding their regeneration. — 20.) V. 16, 17. The apostle here addressed himself in prayer This choice of them to salvation had not been made, be- cause he foresaw they would be holy, nor yet with the purpose of leaving them unholy; but with the design of preparing them for salvation, " through the sanctification " of the Spirit," and his new-creating energy, beginning, carrying on, and perfecting their renewaT'to the divine image ; and " tl rough their belief of th- truth, as here opposed to the lie of the man of sin. For when they had been quickened from the death of sin, he led them to believe the several truths of God's word, especially those relating to the Person and Redemption of Christ; thus they were brought to receive him, and rely on him for pardon, to " our Lo?d Jesus Chi ist himself," along with " God •'even oar Father," and he mentioned Christ first, ia this most evident act of divine cdoralion ; "for he and the " Father are One," even that one God, "who had loved '•believers, and given them eveiit'Siing consolation," a well-siiringof comfort in his Gosjel, and by his Spirit in their hearts, which would endure lo eternity, and of which they then enjoyed the earnest : : nd he had given them a " good hope," well-grounded, of a good, a suitable, and sufficient portion and felicity, which originated from his mercy, and was evidenced and saiiciioned by his grace in J. D. jti. U. TUESSALONfANS. «^. D. 5G OHAP. 111. The ajiosile requests ihc praijcrs of the Thcssalonians ; expresses his eonjidenee rcspccling them, and prays for them, 1 — 5. He charges (hem to censure, and tvithdratu from, disorderly walkers, U'ho neirleeled their own business, and intermeddled in that of others ; intcr- spcrsintr suitable arguments, directions, and exhortations, ti— 15. lie concludes with benedictions, 1 U — 1 8. 'lu ir Hearts : and which produced ihe most beneficial effects ill iheir lives, and supported tiicm under their manifold trials. He tliercfore bcsouf;ht ftiu-Lord Jesus Christ him- self, and God, even our Father, still more and more to comfort them; and to render them steadfast, not only in fniih and hope, but in a constant attention to holiness, in all ihcir discourse and behaviour, and in an habitual readiness ii;Uo every good word and work. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. It is peculiarly incumbent on ministers to caution men against expectations, not warranted by scripture, but grounded on impressions, supposed revelations, and per- versions of tlie word of God : for Satan makes immense use of these things : not only to unsettle men's minds, and fill them with needless apprehensions ; but even to shake the foundations of their faith and hope, to draw them off from their duty, and to expose the Gospel itself to ridicule and contempt. It is sufiicient for us to know that our Lord will come, and will gather all his saints unto him; and wc should be careful to be always ready for his com- ing, and to guard against delusions and presumption, in respect to the ej.act lime of that great event. We know, however, that ihe scriptures cannot be broken : the day of Christ could not come, till the predicted apostacy had ta- ken place. These proiihecics have now in a great measure received their comjiletion, and confirm our assured belief of the truth of the scriptures : but though " the son of perd '• tion" hath been revealed ; though he hath " opposed and " exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is " worshipjjed ;"and hath spoken and acted as if he were a deity upon earth, who was to be adored in the temple of God himself; though the mystery of iniquity, after work- ing long in secret, at length was brought to light ; and " the lawless one" openly proclaimed his arrogance, en- forced his presumptuous decrees, and supported his delu- bions, by the working of Satan, with lying miracles, and all kinds of impostures ; yet the Lord hath not yet fully destroyed him with the brightness of his coming ; and other prophecies still remain to be fulfilled, before the end shall come. But let us observe, that Satan does most mischief by those, who, Judas like, profess themselves dis- ciples and apostles, and sell Christ for money : these are emphatically "sons of perdition," and "men of sin." Pride and ambition are always hateful ; but they are most diabolical when employed about spiritual things ; and there bare indeed been maiiy Antichrists ; yet no one has been so mischievous as he who seated himself in the temple of God. V. 5—12. ■ The world, in every age, has been replete with cheats of destruction, by means of lying signs and miracles, o" other S))ccics of the deceivableness of unrighteousness, with more fatal effect than in any other character, (,r by any other engine. However, neither the father of lies, nor any of his children, can go further, or proceed more rapidly, than the oidy wise God is pleased to permit him. Every event takes place in the a|)pointcd se;..ion ; and after all the mysterious devices of inirjuily, which Satan, or wick- ed men, can frame, " the counsel of God shall stand, and " he will do all his pleasure ;" and one Aniichrislian pow- er has often been cmplr-.ycd far beside his purpose, to stop the progress of another still more pestiferous. It will at last appear that none were deceived by any '• energy ol " delusion," who were not at heart enemies to the truth and will of God, and disposed to take pleasure in unri'^'ht- eousness : he is continually permitting the devil to seduce persons of this character into the belief of some lie, by which they are held, as with fetters of iron, till they re- ceive their merited condemnation. To avoid this fatal doom, men should take heed not to repress their convic- tions, from love of sin : they should pray earnestly for the love of the truth, and for saving faith, from which it springs ; and they should use every means of obtaining that humbile and spiritual mind, which is the best security against eve- ry fatal delusion. V. 13— ir. If we now hate sin and love the truth, we are bound to thank God for ourselves, and for each other. M.my can well remember the time when they despised or hated the doctrines of scripture, and preferred soothing errors to them : nay, some of us seemed to provoke God to send " us strong delusion to believe a lie ;" and we should cer- tainly have held it fast, if we had been left to ourselves. If then it bo now otherwise with us, we may thankfully ascribe it to the sovereign love of God, who from the " beginning chose us unto salvation, through sanctification " of the Spirit, and belief of the truth." But let none conclude themselves chosen and called, who are strangers to the " sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and " sprinkling of the blood of Jesus." (1 Pet. i. 2.) Let none place saving faith in any thing, but real efficacious " belief of the truth," as revealed in scripture. This belief of the truth brings the sitmer to rely on Christ, and so to love and obey him ; it is sealed by the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and it prepares him for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ in heaven. Let us then stand fast in this doctrine of the apostles, and reject all spurious addi- tions from every quarter ; let us neither hesitate nor omit to pray to our Lord Jesus himself, as well as to our loving God and Father, that our interest in his " everlasting and forgeries ; yet none are so iniquitous or impious as " consolation, and good hope through grace, " may be those which some have called pious frauds ; and " Satan, evinced, not only by his " comforting our hearts, but by his '• transfortned into an angel of light," carries on his trade " establishing us in every good word and work." Then .5. D. CUAPTEIl ni. J. D. .MatixMLuke TT^INALLY, brethren, " pray for us, that ■VitoriM X^ ''tlio word of the Lord uiuy * have ft\ "',"' 1 free course, nnd " be glorilicd, '^ even as it He xiii 18,19 IS With you : %t."'hil.%\i: 2 And that we may be ' dcHvered from s's ■riro°^i.V' t unreasonable and wicked men : ' for all « Ps'JJxxviii.s. «jfrt liave not faith. «*''Tiics"i''» ii. 3 But E the Lord is faithful, who Horn. XV. 31. shall '' stablish vou, ' and keep you from SCr^i. .8-10. evil. 3 T.m' iv 17 4 And •" we have confidence in the Loru ♦ Gr absurd ill i -ll , ueut.xxxii SO tone uuff you, ' that ye both do and will Matt. XVII 17 -^ y ' J ""ill ?3, '"K^do the thmsrs whicli we command you. Will. 8 John II- O *' sHi '45*50 xil' ^ -^"d "" ^'^^ Lord direct your s/'Kom^x.'ie'; hearts "into the love of God, "and aCor. i» 3, 1 — gS 5.6 Lam lii 26 Alike xll 36,37 Rom tiii 25 Pliil. ill 20, 21 1 Thes i 3. 10. 2 1 im iv S. Til ii 13. Heb. ix. 23. 2 Fet ,ii 12. Rev. iil. 10, 11 xiii. 10. we may, even in the most afflicted circumstances, look down with pity on the wealthiest of those who have only the perishing consolations and hopes of this vain work) ; or who have only the vain confidence, which attends the contempt, neglect, or perversion, of the Gospel of God our Saviour. NOTES. CHAP. III. V. 1 — 5. The aposUe, as usual, requested the Thessalonians to pray for him and his fellow-workers, and for success to their labours ; that so the word of the Lord Jesus, concerning him and his salvation, might run, and be diffused by a rapid jirogress, from heart to heart, and from place to place, through divers nations ; and that its excellent nature and efiects might be manifested in the conversion of numbers from idolatry and vice to the true worship of God, and in the holy lives of j)rofessed Chris- tians ; as the glory of the Gospel had been most signally displayed among them. lie requested them also to pray for the protection of him, and the other preachers of the Go.^pel, from the malice and violence of perverse and wicked men, such as the Jewish zealots were ; whom no arguments could convince, bo persuasion or kindness mollify ; seeing their prejudices, the jeffect of their per- verscness and wickedness, hurried them into all kinds of crimes, in order to oppose and destroy the apostle, and others who preached Christ to the Gentiles. The blind devotees of the pagan idofury, whom the Jews stiixed tip to aid their persecutions, may also be intended. Notwith- standing the abundance of miracles, and the fulfilment of prophecies, which evinced the truth of the Gospel, yet all men had not faith to believe it, that being the effect of a divine power upon the heart, which overcame the carnal pride, obstinacy, and enmity of fallen nature. Probably some professed Christians secretly concurred with more open enemies, in at'empting the life of the apostle ; and these false brethren, having no real failh in Christ, were al.so destitute o{ faithfiilne'sx in their pretended friendship toliim ;.nd his fellow-k'.hoiircrs. He was, however, .satis- fied that the Lord uns faithful to his promises; and that xvlil. 17. K<;i. XNi. 17 I Co. II— in IT. into tiic :[■ jiniieiit \\r.inng fc;- C'liriit. \"^;!;;/"'i:.".^' G Now wc command you, brethren, ^'',"•^• "''■■' I'in the name of our Lord Jeou's Christ, Vor" lo Kpi." 1 thtit yc withdraw yourselves from every !7j'Ti,i!^1v''i: brotlicr that ' walkclh disorderly, and no"t »!."">, u 's 'after the tradition which ho recti vcd o\\^u.' \i' us. 7 For yourselves know ' l;ow yc ou^ht ^i ''I'-nin'm: to follow us: " for wc behaved not our- w 'i' Joi."' iit selves disorderly among you ; r .- n, 12 i 8 Neither did wc * eat any man's n '" " bread for nought; > but wrougl-it with'v'ii-^ labour and travail ^ night and day, that >> 1 "vhir'ni'. • 1 , .1 1 '= 1 , , •' 17 iv a I Thes. we might not be chargeable to any of ! ^- ''■ ' ''™- o o J \\. 1; Tit ii. 7. you : 1 ''el- V 3 ■' n -M 1 - I ""^ 'Tlif- '' '0 9 MNot because we have not power ; "'^''^nv.xx.M. b. r ? 27. malt VI 11. ut " to make ourselves an ensamplc unto '/"^^H "^v';, •'• - , r sx. .'4 1 Cor. you to lollow us. j,^ 'i'?Th^.''''v '1 ■> "" o" I Tlies ii 9 a Matt X 10. Sft on, 1 Cor. is l-li-'oal vi'e 'l' Thes ii 6. 1> 6ec o«, t. 7. Jnhti xiii 15. 1 Ptt ii 11. the Thessalonians were true believers, whom Gjd would establish in the faith, and. defend ag.iinst the devices of the wicked one, and of evil men, and keep from the evil of sin, and all its fatal effects. lie had also confidence in the Lord respecting them, that he would give them grace to dispose and enable them, both at prestiitand in future, to observe all the directions and commandments which he had given them. He therefore prayed that God would guide and lead their hearts into the comfortable experience of his love towards them, and into the exorcise of lovo to him, and into the " patience of Christ;" that patience which he exemplified, taught, required, and bestowed • even a resignation of soul under sufferings, meekness and long-suffering under injuries, " patient continuance in " well-doing," and a disposition calmly to believe and wait for the Lord's time of deliverance. As it is the aoik of the Holy Spirit to direct and lead the soul into the exercise of these holy dispositions, and as '• the Lord" is here mentioned distinct from God, and from Christ it has been supposed, with some probability, that the ajjosilc addressed this prayer personally lo the Holy Spirit, " the " Lord the Spirit," the third person in the adorable Tri- nity. (J^Jtarg. fief.) V. 6 — 9. The Thessalopians were generally deservin"- of high commendation; but the aposl!^ had occasion to speak with authority, and implied reproof in one par- ticular, of which he had before given some intimation. (I Thes. iv. 11, 12.) He therefore commanded and ex- horted, or charged them, in the name, and as they valued the authority, favour, and glory, of the Lord Jesus, that. they should withdraw from every one called a Christian brother, who walked disorderly, like a soldier that quitted his ranks or deserted his post. For they well knew in what respects they ought to imitate him and hfs bicdiien ; :is they had not behaved in a disorderly manner amoiit^ ihcm, or done any thing inconsistent Avidi the regularitv of families, or of society. In particular, (hey had not lived at other peoplc'.s expense, nor in idleness : on the con'rnr}'. 'hey !nd wrci'g.'^f, 7:i'.h v"iv grcit hbotir an^ .'i. D. 5^. II. THESSALONIANS. 10 For even '^ when we were witli i Christ, '' tliat with quietness thc^ work, .i. D. ^. c: I. Kite \Sil Acts XX II ■1 Ucn /( D'M XX R r> xxvil 13. Is. xl 111 1 S'or IV 1 16 ficb jcii i. Kev ii.3 1 Dcu 2 2lor li s.vii 14 x.fi. Phil ii li. 1 Tlies iv 8 Or. nfni/y that mtn b)a%ifitlU. m 6 Malt, xv h Gc.i xlix. U. 15 Frov. x»ii. 1. Ec. ip. 6. I Thca. iv. II. 1 Till il. 2 t Set Oft, 8. Luke XI 3. k I> xl 30, 31. Mai. i. 13 Kom. ii 7 1 Cor XV. »« Gal. II 9 10- I'hil i 9 IThes. .19 ZecK ill IC. I xvii. 12 Prov. Fhilem 21 lleh. Ili 17 Rom xvi. i.. worth inquiry. Certainly the money might be almost always belter employed. Whatever rank men sustain, ihf'y are mere drones in the hive, unless they fill up the duties of their station for the common benefit. Christians, therefore, should not countenance such evident injustice ; especially as this hath always been one of the slanders raised against the professed worshippers of God. (A'o/e, Ex. V. 8, 9.) The kindness required from believers, and to which they are prepense, olten gives slothful persons an opportunity, on various pretences, lo seek exemption from labour, by which they become useless and mischiev- ous ; they and their families are often reduced to great distress ; debts are contracted which they cannot pay ; and that bounty is diverted into a wrong channel, which should encourage the industrious poor, and support the sick and afflicted. The aposde therefore reminded his beloved Thessalonians of Uiis rule ; because he heard that there were some of these disorderly persons among ihem, who did not work at their own trades or callings, but expected to be mainiained in idleness by their brethren. These persons would naturally contract a sauntering, gossipping habit, and would indulge a talkative, curious, and conceit- ed temper; and, having much leisure, ihey would inter- meddle with other men's concerns, to the disturbance of families, by exciting suspicions and jealousies among neighbours ; and to the injury of men's characters. But, the apostle commanded, and charged them, in the name of Christ, and as they would stand accepted before his tri- bunal, lo cease from this ofRciousness ; and to attend to their own labour with humility, modesty, contentment, and peaceable industry ; that, thus subsisting on their own earnings, they n)idit " eat their own bread," and not con- sume what properly belonged to others. V. 13. As the bad use which some individuals made of the liberality and hospitality of their brethren, tended lo damp the ardour of Christian charity, the apostle thought it necessary to caution them against growing wea- ry in well doing, in this or any other instance. (i\ot\emy, but p admonish htm as a bro- o Lev xiK. 17, <■"»'' • s'cor"ir6li*: 1i'< 17 The salutation of Paul ' with mine {' J^^'m'-iJ^j' own hand, which is " the token in every j^h,/'";,.^""?' epistle : so I write. fh'r'iV""-'' '' 18 "The grace of our Lord Jesus VtIxx'*"'!!""!-): Christ 6c with you all. Amen. to the scandal of his profession, and he is soothed into carnal security by an ill-judged and unkind lenity. \Miat- ever difficulties occur respecting public discipline, t'C- lievers of every denomination might agree, in separating from disorderly walkers, with proper admonitions and expo.-tulations ; that thus being put to shame, they might be brought to rcjicntance. This would be so far from treating them as enemies, that it would be the wisest exercise of brotherly love. It is peculiarly incumbent on ministers, . to show the tendency of their doctrine in their own con- duct, that the people may perceive how they ought to follow them. It is not indeed required, nor generally expected, that they should " labour and toil, night and 'day, to avoid being chargeable" to the people; for ' they that preach the Gosjicl have a right to live of the ' Gospel;" and, if faithful and diligent in their work, they by no means " eat any man's bread for naught." Vet they should be very careful to avoid every appearance of selfish- ness, indolciice. or an encroaching spirit : and they must often give up their own intere.'it, imiulgencc, and incli- nation, to make themselves an examjile to the (jeople, and to give energy to their instructions. A slothful man is a scandal to any society, but most to a religious society. It would be deemed rigorous- should we enforce the a|ios- tle's rule, " that if any will not work, neither shall he eat ;" yet, in fact, it is founded in equity and love. It is injustice to the indigent, the weali, and the industrious, when the bounty of their brethren is wasted on the indclent and extravagant. The greatest kindness that can be shown to the latt'T, is to constrain them, if possible, " to labour, " working with their own hands the thing which is good ;" this alone can preserve them from mischief, temjiiation, and misery. None can " cat their own bread," whoaie not willing, in some way, to labour ibr it. They who neglect their own business become busy-bodies, cflicious intci'meddlers, tale-bearers, and disturbers of the peace of families, churches, and communities ; for ' the devil finds ' some mist hi^f still for idle hands to do.' Persons of this description ought therefore to be discountenanced, re- buked, and commanded from the Lord Jesus, with quiet- ness to labour and e.it their own bread; and. if they refuse to do this, they should be censuicd, noted, and sliunned by all believers, till brought to repentance. No abuses, how- ever, of this or any other kind should make us weary of well-doing, check our bounty to proper objects, or our genuine good will to the most unworthy. While we use every means of peace in our private or public capacity, we nvdst still pray to the Lord of jieace, to give us peace always, and by all mean.-, and that he would be with us, and confer his grace on us and all our brethren. 3 A THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO TIMOTHY. Thfftiiixe uhcn ihis epistle was written, constitutes the principal dijjiculty respecting it. It was long the general opinion, that the apostle wrote it soon after he ivas driven from Ephesiis, on account of the tumult excited by Jjemctrius and his craftsmen. (Acts xix. 20 — 40. sx. 1.) But, several very learned and respectable men have, in modern times, started objections against this opinion, which they think insurmountable. There is no reasonable doubt, but that the Second Epistle to the Corinthians was written during the apostle's abode in Macedonia, after he came thither from Ephesus. But, it is evident that Timothy was with him when he wrote it ; for his name is inserted in the superscrijjfion. How then, say they, could he have been left at Ephesus, and entreated to abide there ? (i 3.) '• .dnd as to the only solution of the difficulty, which can be ' thought of, viz. that I'imothy might folloiv so soon after, as to be with the apostle in Macedonia, ivhen he ' Bishop Pearson, in placing the date of the epistle, and the history referred to in it, at a period subsequent to ' St. Paul's first imprisonment, and consequently subservient to the cera, up to ivhich the -lets of the j^postles ' brings his history.^ (Palej.) This is a fair statement of the main obj'ction ; though sonic things, of in- ferior moment, will require a little attention. It may, hoirever, be questioned, whether the conclusion here deduced, does not lie open to still more insvperabk objections. Some regard may be due to the total silence of the scripture, as (o any subsequent visit of the apostle to Ephesus, aiid his departure thence to Macedonia. It is indeed allowed, that during his imprisonment at Rome, he mentions in his epistles, a purpose of risitinrr several places, in the eastern regions. (Phil. ii. 14. Philein. 22 Heb. xiii. 19. 23.) Jind in his second epistle to Timothy, it appears, that he had been at several places in the neighboiuhocd of Ephesus. Still, however, there is no intimation that he visited Ephesus He observes, in the close of this epi.stle, that he had sent Tychicus to Ephesus ; which may imply, that he had not gone thither himself. Indeed irhrther it be allotred, accordin•. 13. .'} As I besoujrht tliec to abide still ''at 1" < Ji.hn .v"ii: f, I i ! I • T* ■ ■ • Jiiil'-:.i. Lpncsus, ' when 1 went mto iVJacedonia, ikoo. xt uu. I ' ^1 ■ , , , , Col . S7 :'I'liei. tiiat tnoii nii<^htost "^charge some that ^i. is 1 ret. ..3. they teach no other doctrine, e"«ff.nAct. .vi. 4 Neither give heed ' to fables and i- ,, " , . ... . . f 18. I Tor IV U "endless n-cnealogies, which minister -" '"I'l " '» ^ , D ' — 22. I'T.in i.2. "questions, ratiier than " jjodly edifying 'i. ''''„'* . 7.,..'^. , » J J a gS,i on Rom i. which IS in laith : so do. TitV'4" iPet 5 Now p the end of the commandment '/, .. , , , b Acts SIX I KC- IS ''charity, out of ■■ a pure heart, and of[^'\l^'^'\,'-\ 'a good conscience, and 0/ ' faith un- l',^'r^^:„^''^t itij^iii.u . .jjf i g_,, 2 Jol.ri? 9. 10 Ret ii 1.2.14 20. 1 iv 7 vi 20 2 Tim ii 16-18 iv 4. Til i 14 2 ;et.i lb. m Til iii. 9. n vi 4, 5 2 Tim ii. 23 o iii 16. ti 3. II 2C'ri i2. VI. 9,10 Kpli IV 12-16. Til 1 I Heb. xiii.. b 2 I'el. i 7 r P< xxiv 4. Ii 10. Jeriv U .Milt v. 3 .iii. 35 Acts XT. 9. .lam iv 8 I Pel i 22 I J..nn iii 3 3 19 iii 9 Aitexxui. 1 xxiv. 16. Uoin. is I. 2 Cor i. 12 2 Tim i 3 ii. 22 Til i 15 He. ix. 14. ». 22. Kiii. 18 I Pet. iii. 16. 21. t Gal. v. 6. 2 Tim i. i Heli. xi 5, 6 I Julm iii 23 they imagined themselves entitled to peculiai privileges. These gene;ilogies led to endless intricacies and ptrplexi- ties, and to many difficult questions and useless controver- sies; and, at last, they rather induced a carnal confidence and a self-confide.ut temper, than any improvement in god- liness of heart and life; which could only be maintained and increased by t'aith in the truths and promises of God, through .Jesus Christ. This charge therefore was to be steadfastly observed by him. Some imagine, that " end- " less genealogies," denotes the extravagant, and indeed unintelligible, notions of the Gnostics and other heretics, about the origin of the world ; but the context seems to determine in favour of the interpretation before given ; and it may well be questioned, whether these heretics had, at so early a period, openly propagated their imohe- I'ent and profane jargon. Godly edijlcdlion, or " Edifica- " tion of God;" ' because it hath God for its Oljject and ' End, as tending to the true knowledge and right worship ' of God : it is ellicienlly from him, and tendeth highly to ' his glory.' {IP'ltilby.) • V. 5. The word rendered commandment, is, by some, explained of the moral law, the scope and substance of which is charity or lo\e, towards God and man. Othei's understand it to mean the message of God to men by the Gos()el; the end of which is to restore fallen sinners to the love required by tlic law ; and this better suits the context : but others ex|ilain it of the charge given to Tiraothy by the apostle. This seems to be the right interpretation : and thus it had reference buth to the law as the rule of duty, and to the grand design of the Gospel. The chai-ity, or love, here sjioken of, must arise out of a pure heart, or the afTections of the soul, as cleansed by renf wing grace from the love and pollution of sin, and from carnal eij- mity and selfishness, I Pel, i. '•2'i:i and a " good con- " science," or one well informed concerning the will of God, and made tender and active by divine grace, as weil A. D. 60. CHAPTER I. .?. D. 60. • Or, a^icA j,mi< 6 *•' FroHi wlilcli 3ome having " swcfv- u"Si'!j'i'.'"'lT'm ed have "turned aside unto vain jaug- XV.J5 'vi 1.5. ling; ii'rvi. i lo! 7 Desiring ^ to be teachers of the law; y A.ts sv, 1 J understanding neither wliat tiiev sav. GaKiM s.i^iv nor whereof thej' allirm, iio.ii'. 8 But we know tliat ^ the law is ffood. zi, 4. Is xs;x. V ■, 1 J- II » 13.11 jer.viii. if a lunri use it ^lawtullv; ti. 9. .M«t XV -V ,« , ■ I'll xxiii "if-"' " Knowing tins, that "^ the law is not ?x'"':o''4?' \ "^a<^^* fo'' ^ righteous man, but for '^ the T.u. Ill 7 a lawless and " disobedient, for ^ the un- Pet . 18. » godly and for sinners, for unholy and a Heat IV. 6—8 Sell ix 13 Ps B xis 7-10. csix 'jC-laS. 127, 1 b2riai ji..'i c !lo;n. iv 1:5 -lb Tlies. II. 3 (j'r. e Horn, i 30 Tit ri Het. iv. 18. 12, 13. IC. 18 22 xii 2 Cijl r: ij. Gal iii- In-M. 19. v 2.1 il ; .3 Heb xi. 31 Murj. 1 Pet ii.7 iii 20 as purged from guilt hy the blood of Christ ; that so the possessor niigiit bo iiitluenced to act con.'^eieritiously in his whole conduct. It must also come from " unfeigned faith," or a sincere belief of revealed truths and a reli- ance on the merits of Christ, and the promises of God through him. This faith, working by love, purifying the heart, and producing a good conscience, constiluied the substance of whit the ajjostlc ordered Titnolhy to give in charge to the Ephesian teachers ; becau.se it comjirised the grand essentials of evnngelical religion. The several characteristics of charily or love, here given, admirably dis- tinguish it from the spui'ious charity, now the favourite virtue of the world, it is not the natural growth of trte human heart, but exists only in a heart purified by divine grace. It is consistent with, and grows out ot, a good con- science, not sacrificing truth un2 — 29.) " Men-stealers," are inserted among these daring criminals, against whom the law of God directed its awful curses. These were persons, who kidnapped mca to sell them for slaves ; and this practi' e seems inscp irable fnim the other iniquities and oppressions of slavery ; nor can a slave-dealer easily keep free irom this criminality, if indeed ' the receiver be as bad as the thief.' They who ' make war, for the inhuman purpose oi selli:ig the van-» Jl. D. 60. r. TIMOTFIY. A. D. 60. u John w crt. Fhil.ii ll.Uev. T. a— U vli. 10 — 12. »2Cor. lii 5. G. IT I. xii 9, 10. I'h 1. iv. U 3 Tim iv. 17 y Acts xvj. 15. I Cor. vli 3i. z Ac 12 AnJ "I thank Christ Jesus oiir| 15 This is ^a faithful sayin*, f»ntl e^l^; "^j',, ';. V Lord, ' who hath enabled nic, for that hcj" worthy of all acceptation, ' that Christ ^"^^J^^" "'^ y counted mc faithful, ^putting me into J csu.<; came iiito the world to save sinners; Vj"n\j2.'ifc am chirf. Sc, , II a Act- vi!i. 3 IX. 1 i 13 xxii 4 xxvi. 9, 10 I Cor. XV 9 Gal. i. 13 I'h 1. lii 6. b IS. H03 li 23. Rom T. .0, 21 |xi 30,S1 Hebiv 16 I I'et ii. 10 C Num. XV 30 I.uke iji 47. nx 2 Pel. ii. 21,22.- e K.x xsxiv 6. f Luke Vli. «7-»0 the ministry ; 13 Who "was before a blasphemer^, and a persecutor, and injurious : ' but I obtained merry, "^because 1 did it igno- rantly in unbelief. 14 And '' the grace of oor Lord was ^exceeding abundant, Mvith faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. li .1*. John ix. 39—41 Actf lii 17. %• il Ac's XV 11 Koin XVI 20 2 fo Is. Iv 6,7 Rom V. 15 30 1 Co 1 Tbes. V. e. 2 Tim i. 13 I Jobu iv I I. Hcl> vi 4-9 X 28—19 i 9. xiii 14 Hev. xxii Hi . 10 Epb. i. 8. 1 Pet i 3 ' quished for slaves, as is the practice among African ' princes, are really tnan-slealers. And they, who, like ' African traders, encourage their unchri.stian traffick, by ' purchasing that which they know to be thus unjustly ac- ' quired, are partakers in their crimes.' {Macknight.) The clause should have been, 'know, or have reason tosu.spect.' The apostle did not mean, that none but persons of so infamous a character lay under the curse of the law ; but that it was directed against ail other practices, that were contrary to sound doctrine, or the salutary nature and ten- dency of the Christian revelation. According to this eve- ry impenitent sinner, every man who allowed himself in the practice of any known transgression, remained under the covenant and curse of the law. This accorded to the Gospel of the glory of God, (as intrusted to the apostle,) by which he displayed all his perfections in the most ho- nourable and harmonious manner, by saving believers from their sins, as well as from wrath : for, being " the " blessed God," the Perfection and Source of fflicity, as well as of holiness, he had devised to render fallen men jiartakers of his happiness, by renewing them to the parti- cipation of his holiness. V. \'2 — 14. The consideration, that the Gospel of the blessed God had been intrusted to him, awakened in the apostle's mind, the afleciion of humble admiring gratitude, and he broke forth into adoring thanks to Christ Jesus, for his distinguished mercy to him, both by conferring on him abundantly miraculous powers, and by enduing him richly with the courage, resolution, and patience of faith, hope, and love. Thus he had enabled him and qualified him for this honourable service ; and had accounted him a faith- ful person, fit to bo employed as his steward and ambas- sador ; which he had evinc ed, by putting him into the sacred ministry, and owning him as his apostle. This was, in all respects, most astonishing grace ; seeing he had I>f fore been a most daring blasphemer of his name, and had compelled others to blas])h('rae ; he had furiously persecuted Christ's disciples, and most injuriously haled them to prison, with bitter sarcasms and reproaches, and sought to put them to dcith, from entire enmity to the name and cause of their Lord ! But, though his conduct haii been so aggravated, be had obtained mercy ; for his sins were not absolutely unpardonable, because he had perpetrated theni " ignorantly in unbelief;" whereas, if his knowledge had been greater, and if his malice had been everted against the full convictions of his own conscience, of wl wiiom 16, 17. 36 AcO xi.l. 18 I Joha Iti Howbcit, 'lor this cause ""I ob- '}^«'i-.»; '*- tamed mercy, that m me lirst Jesus Christ fufce'v"32''xix might shew forth " all long-suflering, J^"!. '°W,^^\ "for a pattern to them which should i^^j"*;" |"^ hereafter p believe on him to life evcrlast- JV^n*!!.''*"^ ;„„. iv.sione.. t: k 13. Job xlii. 6 Er. xv'. 63 xxxvl 31, 32. I Cor xv 9 F.nii iil. 8 1 Num. xxiii. S3 r» XKV. 11 1, i la »lill 25 Kpii i 6 13 ii 7 2Tl.e5.i 10 m .5,;if.-8« 3 mortal, 'invisible, 'the only wise God, ij u^ii 41. t ^g honour and flory for ever and ever. 1. Mai. i. .4. u Amen. ;=";:,'*, "\^ .*■ 18 This " charo-e 1 commit unto thee, r'/oh^o'fi's^Roai. '" son Timotuj, ^ accordmg to the prophe- af.. sf 27.'*i <^'^s which went before on thee, that thou Johu Iv. 13 3 Roai. x-i. i? Jude 2S. 1 1 Chr xxis. II. Neh. ix. 5 I's xli. 13. Ivii 11. Ixxii 18, 19 cvi. 48 Dan iv 3137. Eph lii. 20, 21 IFet v 11. 2 Het iii I« Uev. IT. 8— II V. 9-11 vii. 12. xix. 1 6 u 4(C nn. Mnlt. ti 13 SXviii 20 X See on. 11, 12 iv. Ii »i. 13, M 20. 2 Tim iv. 1-3. y Str on, 2. Phil ii. 22. 2 Tim. i. l.Tit. i. 1. Philem. 10 U. by them ' mighfest 'war a good warfare; \p '=j.=|f"' «■ 19 "iloldinjr faith and a jrood con- -'" 2T,m. n. science; 'which some having put awar, Y".^;',' *•, ''j- '^ concerning faith have " made shipwreck : [?!,''■ j,i ,'5* ,„' 20 Of wiiom is fHyraeneus, and k7,»vV!;' ili- J ^ C I hi I 111. lU, I;'. # Alexander; whom '' I have delivered ;,1e'rii"l-3.f2 unto Satan, * that they may learn not to a~y^ 'T'"Z'<^t blaspheme. f^f^f-nm" . 4. Heb. vi. 4— 6. 1 .lohnii. 19 e vi. 9. Matt. vii. 27. r2 Tim ii 17. g A^-ta X 33 2 Tim iv. It, 1,^, h Matt.xviii. 17. ICor. V 4,5 2Cor x 6. xiii 10. i 1 Cor. xi. 32. 2 Thes. iii. 15. Hev. iii la k Acts xiii. 45.2 Tim. iii. 2. Itej. xiii. 1 5,6 ciliation of so virulent a persecutor, should be considered as an illustration of the nature of the Gospel ; and of the exceeJing riches of the mercy of God in Christ Jesus. It was indeed a true " and faithful saying," authentica- ted by every evidence which proves Christianity to be " the word of God, who cannot lie ;" and it was worthy to be received, with humble and thankful faith, by men of all nations ; (as all are sian'-rs, and none can be saved in any other way.) and as none are excluded from sah-ation who seek it in this way ; " tiiat Jesus," Emmanuel, the Son of God, tlie M >ssiah, " came into the world" volun- tarily, and with the express design, and for the single pur- pose, of saving sinners. " The Word," who was God and was with God, the Creator and Upholder of all worlds, the Lord of all creatures, became flesh, that hs might be the second Adam, the Surety of the new covenant, to fulfil all righteousness, and make an infinitely valuable atonement for sin ; in order to his officiating as the Advo- cate of his people in heaven, and reigning over all worlds for their benefit. The only end of this was " the salva- " tion of sinners," of every nation and description, from condemnation, sin, Satan, the world, and death : even all, without exception, who came to him by faith for this sal- vation. Of these sinners, Paul judged himself the chief : the greatest enemy of Christ, and the most deserving of divine vengeance, of all who ever were, or woukl be, sa- ved by him. This seems the purport of the expression: but it is possible, that he supposed his actual crimes to be so numerous and enormous, that his guilt even exceeded that of those who had sinned moi-e entirely against their own convictions, and so had been given up to fiaal impeni- tency. Instead of imagining that there was something meritorious in his blind and obstinate sincerity, as some have averred, he considered himself as one selected on purpose, because he was more guilty than any other person in the world, fthose only excepted, who had committed the unpardonable sin, if even they wore excepted ;) that in him,^rs/ or the chief sinner, Jesus Christ might exhibit, witii the greatest lustre imaginable, that degree, in which hecanbeLtr with, and pardon, his most virulent enemies and the vilest of mankind : that so it might stand upon re- cord to the end of time, for the eritourngement of all others, in every age and nation, who believe in Christ, and rely on his merits and grace for the piirdon of their sins, and the gift of eternal life ; to prevent their being disheartened by a retrospective view of the number, na- ture, and heinousness of their crimes. V. (7. Some expositors suppose this doxology to be addres.scd personally to Ciirist as God, because the apo.-^tle had before been speaking of him ; but it seems rather to be addressed to the Godhead, without distinction of persons. The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, three Persons in the unity of the Godhead, as the triune God of salva- tion, constitute the Object of all our worship, which per- son soever we immediately address. To God, as the King eternal, in every age and under every disjiensation, the universal and everlasting, though invisible, Sovereign, the inexhaustible Source of all wisdom, he ascribed all the glory of his conversion, salvation, faithlulness, and useful- ness ; and he desired earnestly that God might be honour- ed, in all his perfections and wonderful works, by all ra- tional creatures, for ever and ever. Amen. {Mn'rg. Ref.) V. 13 — 20. The apostle here referred to what he had before spoken. (;J.5. 11.) The trust committed to him by Christ, as his apostle, he had committed to his " so.n " Timothy ;" he was encouraged to repose great confi- dence in him, not only by what he knew of his principles and character, but by entertaining hopes of him " accord- " ing to certain prophecies," which inspired persons had uttered concerning him, before his appointment to the ministry; and he expectjed, that by meditating upon them he should he animated and instructed, in " warring a good " warfare," or rather " the good warfare," as a valiant soldier of Jesus Christ. This must be done, by main- taining and insisting upon both the faith of the Gospel, or its doctrines as uncorrupted and unmutilated, and a good conscience, or an universally conscientious conduct. These Timothy must be careful to connect, both in his or/n example, and in his preaching; for some professed Chris- tians, having neglected to maintain and insist on a good conscience, had, after a time, renounced the faith also, and made ship-wreck of their whole religion ; either by a total apostacy from their profession, or the most heretical corruptions of the Gospel. Of this number were Hymc- neus and Alexander, with whom Timothy had doubtless been acquainted. (Murg. Ref.) These the apostle had deemed it needful openly to excommunicate, and cast out of the church, into the visible kingdom of Satan ; that they might not blaspheme Christ, orchsgrace his Gospel liy their impious tenets. It is generally supi^osed, that some severe correction was also miraculously inflicted on tliem, which would tend to make them sensible of their guilt and danger, and subserve the charitable design of bringing them to repentance. (Mnrpr. Ref.) We nftcrwards read of Hymeneus ; and, probably, Alexander the coppersmith uas the other person meant. ( "'arg. Ref.) It does not, however, ap]iear, that either of them was recovei-ed by the discipline awarded thcrn. It has often been justly observed, that the severe censures, which the apostle inflicted on those, who had once been ])rofts3ors or ministers ofChfis- A. D. 60. \. TIMOTHY. A. D. 60. CHAP. II. The apostle enjoins prayers and thanlcs- giviiigs to be made for all jnen ; espe- cially for kin our rule of conduct, and should dictate our prayers. God will hear our supplications for temporal benefits, or eternal salvation, in behalf of those on whom he sees good in his sovereign wisdom to bestow them ; and in other cases, our prayer will return into our own bosom. But how can we pray for enemies and persecutors, (whom we cannot know to belong to " the election of grace ;") without equally appearing to interfere willi God's sove- reignty ? How can we pray for our children, relatives, or neighbours, or indeed for any unconverted person, or for those whom we are not sure are converted, without vio- lating the same imaginary rule ? The malignity of an apos- tate, indeed, may be so excessive, that it would not be proper to pray for him : (2 Tirn. iv. 14. 1 John v. 16 :) but such exceedingly rare cxcaplions to a general rule no ways interfere with our praying even for the salvation oi all men, that now are, or ever shall, live on earth. This is no more than the Lord's prayer teaches us, {Notes, Mall. vi. 10 ,) and if there be any individual, for whom we can- not pray that the Lord would have mercy on him, and convert him, the inability must arise from sin, even the sin of not " loving our neighbours as ourselves." Nothing- can tend more to perplex theological subjects, topremdice men's minds against the doctrines of grace, nay, to bring them into odium and contemjU ; nothing can more narrow and harden the heart against the human species in general ; than this method of making the secret decrees of God our rule of action, instead of adhering to his revealed will. We know not, and cannot know, who are elect, and who are not ; we are bound to love all men, to pray for them, and to do them good ; and then leave it to God to govern the universe in his sovereign wisdom, justice, and mercy, as he sees good. {Note, Deut. xxix. 29.) . V. 2. It was a proper expression of benevolence, for Christians to pray for all orders and conditions of men ; and to interest themselves in the calamities and deli- verances of their neighbours, of the community, and of any of the human species. This would soften the pre- judices, and conciliate the favour of those around them ; especially when they persevered in such supplications and thanksgivings, notwithstanding the persecutions which they endured. It would likewise tend veiy much to silence the accusations of those who charged them with disaflectioa to the civil government, and with being troublers of the city, if they not only behaved with quiet subjection to the laws, in all things consistent with their duty, and con- scientiously paid tribute and custom ; but if they were known to |)ray for " kings, and all in authority" over them ; for their preservation, and success in all their un- dertakings, for the |irotection and peace of the community, and for all blessings upon their persons and families; and that they opposed no other weapons than these to the in- juries which they sullcred. {Marer. Hef. Notes, Rom. xiii. 1 — 8.) The Ephesians were under the Roman emiieror, who was a monster of tyranny and cruelty ; but the .3 B J. D. CO. 1. TIMOTHY. A. D. 60. »j ^^ Rom xi^- 3 For ' this »'• 7 VV hereunto ' 1 am ordained " a ? 1* }S°l '• 1 1 / I I<,I5 il. Kpli. preacher, and an apostle, (" 1 speak j,',,.' Heb"*!!^' the truth in Christ, and lie not,) >a 1; n's?!;,' .'«'• teacher of the Gentiles in Man Christ Jesus; 1: 10,30 3 Cor V 17 la I Tbcs ii. 15, i6 Tit. ii 11 2 Pet. iii 9 ■ 19 Mark«vr IS Luke XTiv. 47 11)11) X 12-15 Rev xiv. 6 i U. Luke i. 77 John xlv 6. xvii 3. 2 Tim. Ii i6. ortant, though much neglected, duty, for Christians to pray and return thanks " for all men,'' according to the difl'erent relations in which they stand to them, and as their circumstances require. Thus they may show their love to those, whom they cannot otherwise serve : and evince that they interest themselves in the hap- piness of mankind in general. And, not only in public, but in our families and closets, we should pray " for " kings, and for all that are in authority;" both as guar- dians of the public tranquillity, and in respect of their temporal and eternal welfare : this will far more conduce to the continuance of our i)rivilegcs, in being allowed, without molestation, " to lead a quiet and peaceable life, " in all godliness and honesty ;" than any means, which men of restless spirits can employ. But, whatever effect ippose lirst entered by the woman, whence all the pains and sor- rows of child-bearing originated, yet, through those sor- rows, One had come into the world, born of a woman, by whom all those would be saved, who continued in the faith : and indeed the original may well bear that interpretation, which is also very ancient. Eve, whom the apostle had iust before mentioned, was thus addressed by her offended "Creator: "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy " God and man, even the Man Christ Je.' the woman, and the entrance of sin by the latter, who being deceived was first in the transgression, concur in showing the reasonableness of that subjnction, humility, and te:irhableness, prescribed in scripture to the woman, and the impropriety of her usurping authority over the man. But as the Gospel gives special encourage- ments to the woman, in respect of those sorrows which the entrance of sin has entailed on her, provided she con- tinue in "faith and love, with holiness and sobriety ;" so the consideration of those manifold sorrows, to which the female sex is subjected, should teach men to exercise their authority with tiie utmost gentleness, tenderness, and af- fection. • NOTES. CFIAP. III. V. 1.* Ft has already been shown, that the woid rendere I bishop was at thi.s time of the same import with that translated elder, or presbyter; (Note, Arti^ XX. -28 :) for the charge, given by Paul'to the Ephe- sian elders, is here supposed to have been subsecjuent to the writing of this epi>tle the silence of the apostle THIS ' is a true sayina:, if a man dc- '=ij;i'i;''^|5=',j , site '' the oOice of a "= bibhop, he p« .»."is''g. '' dcsireth a jjood work. 'O™' »> =" 2 A " bishop then must be ' blameless, J*";" ;/',o '^, °the hu.sband of one wife, '' vigilant, so- 7^^^% j^j jo!''' ber, *of good bcijaviour, * given to bos- f ,'„" [„V/i. g. pitalitj, <■■ apt to teach ; ^^^J'^ ',*„',., 8 " Or modal- 1 P.om 3ii 13 I'.t tion or appointment of an individual to be overseer of the elders or pastors, though very ancient, and probably apostolical, was not at this time in general use. It had becji said, and it was true and worthy of special notice, that if a man desired, or earnestly longed for, the pastoral oiTice, and, from love to Christ,' to Ins flock, and to the souls of men, was ready to forego other prospects, and expose himself to hardships and perils, by devoting him- self to that service, he sought to be employed in " a good " work," and his desire ought to be approved and counte- nanced, provided he v.as properly qualified. y. 2. It is manifest that Timothy was supposed to be principally concerned in the choice of the bishops, being the apostle's deputy and representative: and accordingly, instructions are here given him how to fulfil this ardiious charge in the proper manner; instructions no doubt in- tended to be useful in the highest degree, if duly regarded, to all others, in every age and place, on whom the same most important trust devolves. The apostle therefore showed, very particularly, what manner of persons these bishops or elders ought to be ; that ambitious and improper desires after the sacred service might be repressed, and likewise that they who had been appointed to it might know how to behave in it. Whatever naiural abilities, learning, elocution, or spiritual gifts, any man might pos- sess, he must be considered as ineligible to this office, if he was not of a blameless character, and had not avoided scandalous vices, at least since his professed conversion to Christianity. He ought also to be " the husband of one " wife." Christ and the apostles expressly condemned po- lygamy, as well as divorces, except for adultery, {ISotes, Mult. xix. 1—9. Mark x. 1 — 12. 1 Cor. vii. 1—3;) yet there was no direct command for a man, who had pre- viously taken more wives than one, to put the others away when he embraced the Gospel ; and such a requisition might have produced many bad consequences in domestic life, and increased t!;e opposition of the civil powers to the preaching of Christianity. But the rule, that no man, however qualified in other respects, should be admitted into the pastoral office, who had more than one wife, or who had put away one to take another, tended to show the impropriety of polygamy, and divorces on fiivolous pre- tences, and their inconsistency with the Christian dispen- sation, and concurred with other things to bring ' - into total disuse in the Christian church ; yet witho\it violence and confusion. To argue hence, as it has been ''one, that rhe same is also proved, by i polygamy was lawful for other Christians, else it would erning any other order than not have been needful to restrict pastors from it, would bishops and deacons. Indeed, it is evident, that the selec-' prove, if it proved any thing, that it was also lawful and A. D. GO. I. TIMOTHY. A. D. 6«. ''°%u1r'cL"'J,'i 3 * Not ' given to wine, " no stri- Ulit'ii'nZ'' " ^^"f"' "ot " greedy of " filthy lucre ; but I'l'^'^is' ^xs'ii' '' patient ; not ''a brawler, 'not co- yl Lnv."'2f: vetous ; nuu. xxw.ilL 4 One that ' rnleth well his own house, *l. Luke lii «-46. Hi 31-:!S- Eph v 18, Tit. i 7 il 3 mSTim il 24.25. 'fit i. 7 oB. Pro» i. 19. XV. 27 Is Ivl. II. Jude II ol Sam viii S Tit (.71) I D«i .. n .. ..; ii C- ..i: e i aii...o — im i T\^ H o, > Tit i. 7 II 1 Pel V. 3 p vi II. Ec. »ii. 8 I Thes v. 14 2 Tii.. .. - Hev. i. 9 q lit ii 2 Jam iv 1 Marg r I Sam. ii 15-17. 2 Kins V 20-27 Jer vi. 13 viii 1(1 Mic. iii i 11 M«l i. 10 Matt. x»i. 13 John » IJ xii 5. C Alts Till IM_21 XV 3). Koir. x»i. 1° " "- " - " "— - Ur'-': 8 13 Geu. xviii. 19. Josli. xxii Tit. i. 6. 2 Pel il. 3 15 Ke. _ Ii ft. ci. 2-8. Ads 1 common for them to be dnuikards, covetous, brawlers strikers, <&:c. Some have inferred from this text, that stated pastors ought to be married, as a prc-reriuisite to their office : but this seems to be a mistake of a general permission, connected with a restriction, for ;u) express command. It is, however, abundantly sufficient to prove, that marriage i.s entirely consistent with the most sacred functions, and the most exemplary holiness, and to sub- vert the very basis of the antichristian |)rohibition of mar- riage to the clergy, and all its concurrent and consequent mischiefs. Yet some have even endeavoured to infer a part of that system from this clause itself, and have sup- posed that the apostle meant to prohibit second marriages to the clergy; but this is contrary to the whole tenour of Scripture: it is by no means contained in the meaning of the words, and would certainly bring in a part of those evils, which long experience hath proved inseparable from the general prohibition ; for as good reasons may very often be given for marrying a second time, as for marrying at all. The pastor must also be " vigilant," a circum- spect and attentive man, one who watches carefully over his flock, capable of discerning dangers at a distance, guarding the people against the artifices of false teachers and the devices of Satan, and prompt to embrace oppor- tunities of usefulness ; he must be sober, serious, and temperate ; moderate in all his desires and indulgences ; '• of good behaviour" in all the transactions of life ; show- ing a meek, kind, equitable, faithful, and prudent dispo- •sition towards all men. He should likewise be ready, according to his ability, to relieve the poor, to tnlertain his brethren without grudging, and with evident cheerful- ness and satisfaction ; especially, he ought to be hospitable to Christians, who were driven from home by persecution, or who in any other way were brought to the place of his residence. He must be ready at teaching, both capable of instructing others, and prompt to embrace every occasion of doing it in public or in private ; counting it his busi- ness, and malung it his delight. ' But now that the ' ancient customs are changed, and inns are every where 'open, in which travellers, for their money, may be as ' well accommodated as in private houses, there is little ' occasion for what the apostle calls hospitaliti/.^ {Mack- night.) This is a specimen of the way, in which many learned men, (some perhaps without intending it,) show us, that we have little or nothing to do, either with the praclical, or doctrinal part of Scripture ! I should rather say, ' Now, that ancient customs are changed, and bishops have ample revenues, they are bound to exercise enlarged hospitality tn the poor, especially to the inferior clergy, who often have little of that money, which is needful for having his children in subjection ' with all iT|t. »^3^^f- ffravitv : " ' ^"" "■ *'• S' * y • ., , , 30 i.i 13 5 (For " it a man* know not how to »^)i^A.^^,»» jj rule lii.s own house, how shall he take >^^^-^ '"",o'""ili* care of ■« the church of God ?) I'Hch'vMs.ia: (i Not t a novice, >' lest, being lifted up j.',5;«„\"vf„ ,«. with pride, he fall into ^ the condemnation I]', of the devil. 20 2Kin;i 10. 3 Chr. 16 XXXii J5 fmv (vl 1«, Cor. Xii. 7. I ftt ». i. accommodation at inns ; and who, if hospitably entertained by bishops, would feel cordially reconciled to the affluence of such kind superiors, and disposed to receive their pas- toral in.'tructions with reverence.' Here let me observe, in particular, that when young men go for ordination or institution, to places where they cannot be accommodated except at an inn, it is incalculable what mischief might be prevented, and what an opening would be made for usefulness, if the bishops would entertain them in their own houses, and take the abundant opportunities, which this would afford, of instructing them respecting the na- ture and importance of those solemn engagements, into which they are about to enter. The affection and venera- tion thus excited, in all who are in any degree proper for these sacred services, and the opening thus made for sub- sequent admonitions and counsels, would repay the ex- pense of it a thousand fold. V. 3. The person eligible to the office of a bishop must also be free from every measure of intemperance, in the use of wine or strong liquors, which would both be scandalous to him, and unfit him for the important duties of his station ; (Ao/es, Lev. x. 1,2. 9, 10. Prov. xxxi. 4, .5 ;) and he ought to be equally superior to anger, and not liable upon any provocation, however great, to vent the vehemence of his passion, by striking the offender, as was often the practice among worldly men. Nor be greedy of gain, which might lead him to prostitute his ministry for the sake of " filthy lucre ;" or to carry on any disgraceful employment, along with his. ministry, for the sake of profit. But he must be of a resigned, meek, persevering, and constant spirit ; peaceable, forgiving, and calm ; not clamorous in disputation, or even in re- proving others ; nor yet avariciously tenacious of that property, which he had obtained even in the most unex-..^ ceptionable manner, ^ V. 4, 5. The bishop or pastor should likewise be able and careful to govern his own household in a discreet and regular manner ; maintaining a meek and firm autho- rity over his domestics, and having his children in due subjection, ruling over them in all gravity, and restraining them from all levity and excess ; that their appearance, deportment, and attendance on the worship of God, might be an example to others. For if a man were evidently incompetent to govern his own family, and to preserve order and decorum in it, how could it be supposed that he would be found qualified to preside over the Church of God, and to preserve order and harmony among the members of whom it consisted, who were of various dis- |)ositions and situations, and generally removed from un- der his immediate inspection ? J. D. CO. CHAPTER III. ^. D. Gt^ »v 21,25 ISaro. ii 2* Acts vi 3. X. 22 xxii 12 3 John 13. b ICar. V 13 Col iv. s n'hes. iv 13 C V 14 1 Cor X. 32. 3 Cor vi 3 vii 21 I Thet »22 I'lt 11 SB IHcl. iv.14 -16 d VI 9 STjin ii 28 • .\cts vi. 3— C Phi i 1 IJVeon. t 1. a I's. T.9 xiJ 2. 1. 19 111 2 Rom lii. ::t JdiD ill. 10- ii Stt on. 3 iS'Jcn, i 5 19 » 16 2 John 9,10. I 6 » 22. 1 Mm iv. 1. a> 13. 7 Moreover, he must have ='.1 goodl report of '' tijem whicli are witliout; ' lestj he fall into reproach, and '^ the siiare of the devil. 8 Likewise must ° the deacons ' he grave, not « double-tongued, '' not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 ' Holding " the mystery of the faitli in a pure conscience. 10 And 'let these also first be proved ; then let them use " the office of a deacon, " being found blameless 1 1 Even so must "their wives i- be grave, o i ev x^ ''not slanderers, 'sober, 'faithful in all i2'*j!;L' things. psn < 12 Let the deacons be ' the husbands UPs-.-iv 3. I 10. 1,2 d2 1 Cor. j 8 Col i 22. Til i 6,7. V. 6. It would not be generally expedient to choose a new convert to this office, or an inexperienced person, one but «uperficially acquainted with human nature and the things of God, lest the distinction of his situation, or the applause bestowed on him, should chue him with pride and ambition, and he should thus fall into a con- demnation, similar to that of the devil. It is evident from this, that spiritual pride and ambition constituted the beginning of Satan's apostacy. Some have conjectur- ed that it was revealed to the angels, that the eternal Son would assume a nature inferior to theirs, in whicli he would rule over them, and be worshipped by them ; and that Satan, and the other angels who fell with him, proudly disdained such subjection. But all our conjectures on this subject must be uncertain, and in a measure presump- tuous. The pride, however, and ambition of ministers, on account of their office, gifts, popularity, or success, would be of a similar nature to Satan's pride in heaven, and might involve the novice under a similar condemna- tion. It is evident that some exceptions to this important general rule must have been admitted in the first forma- tion of newly planted churches, in which the special gifts of the Holy Sjiirit seem to have superseded the necessity of such previous study and experience, as are, in all ordi- nary cases, indispensable. V. 7. The person elected to this office must also have a good report, an unblemished character, even among his unconverted neighbouis : lest he should fall into reproach, lose his influence, disgrace the Gospel, and be ensnared by Satan into the practice of his former evils, and en- tangled in the world and sin. Or, " into the snare of the "fal&e accuser,''^ who might watch for his halting, to retort his mistakes, as a reproach to the Gospel. {See 1 1. Gr.) It would not therefore be generally adviseable to ajipoint those to the ministry, whose conduct had been remarkably bad, until a competent time had elapsed to evince the reality of their repentance, and to retrieve and re-establish thjeir characters. It is evident, that the aposUe did not here at all speak of the several duties of ministers ; but oply of the conduct and character of those whose desires aftpr that office were to be countenanced by Timothy, and by others concerned. V. 8 — 13. The deacons were primarily appointed to dispense the charity of the church, and to manage its se- cular concerns ; }et they preached occasionally, or taught in .private, or were readers in the public assemblies ; or of one wile, ruhnir tlictr chddrcn, and i^'',- ">' their own houses well. pjim ii 13 For Mhey that have * used the ,«"; l^ii.J^ office of a deacon well, purchase to ^^if.lj^i themselves ;i good ^degree, and ' great ,'sf/J,„Vii boldness in the faith which is in Chvht ^%l, „J „ ^ Jesus. 2 xix 17.— *0r. winOJerfJ. Matt x^ 23 Uom xii i 10 1 IVt iv 10,11. xActaxxi ib. Gr y AcU \ 14. 1 Thes il. 2. ' Luke xvi 10- 1 Cor xvi. 15 Hch. 8 15. vii. l,!iC. Fhi!. pastors and evangelists were often chosen from among them. (Notes, Acts vi. viii. 5 — 40.) Some of the same things were requisite in them as in the ])astors. They too must be grave, serious, and prudent men ; sincere^ candid, and consistent in their discourse ; not speaking; one thing before men's faces, and another behind their backs ; neither flattering, slandering, dissembling, noi' jirc- varicating, in any company, or on any occasion ; not ad- dicted to much wine, nor greedy of filthy gain, which might tempt them, after the example of Judas, to embezzle the money committed to them, or unfit them for liberally and impartially supplying the wants of the poor. They must also profess and maintain the mysteries of the Christian faith, with a pure conscience and a uniform inlegiity of conduct, that so they might recommend it to others. It was proper, even in respect of this inferior office, that trial should be made of new converts ; that, previous to their admission to it, they might be ajjproved to be men of blameless conversation. The wives also of the deacons, (and much more those of ihe spiritual pastors,) must be of grave and serious deportment; not addicted to the vaniues and dissipations of the world ; not slanderers, or prone to circulate disadvantageous reports of their neighbours > (the original is S'lx^oXm, devils, 7 ;) but sober women, tem- perate in all things, and fai.hful in the discharge of every relative and religious duty. Nor would it be proper for those, who had previously to their conversion taken more than one wife, or divorced one for the sake of taking another, to exercise the oflice of a deacon. It was requi- site that they also should rule their children and domes- tics in a regular and exemplary manner. For the faith- ful discharge of this office would lend to the increase of their-gifts and graces, and to render them very bold in pro- fessing the faith. They would be much employed amon"- the poor and sick, and such as were imprfsoned for (he Gospel ; and by thus exposing themselves, and giving counsel and encoura^emeal to their suffering brethren, they would be emboldened and habituated to a prompti- tude of utterance, which would be a good stej) towards their being admitted to the oflice of pastors or evangelists. — This interpretation has been contested ; yet it seems to be the apostle's meaning ; and, without adverting to moderft habits or controversies, it is evident, that the due discharge of the primitive office of a deacon must tend to quality men for the ministry ; it appears from facts that some deacons became preachers,, nor hare wc reason to think A. D. bO. I. TLMOTHV. Jl. D. 60. li 31. xvi S- : Cor. iThcs. icor 14 These things write I unto thee, VI S-7 . Ill \^-\\ ' hoping to come unto tliee shortly : »m*i3"2 "oI'd ^'"^ ^"^ ''^' tarr)- long, that thou maycst a's. Veut'x''»xi ' '^'^^^^ ^"'^ ^'^"'^ oughtcst to bchavc -^.'ichr'Viii" ^hyseir in "the house of God. which is at Aas I'z '~ "^ ^'ic church of ''the Uviug God, *■■ tlie ^ariln 'I'i so piUar and * ground of ' the truth. J1«b iii 2-6 1 Pel II. S cStton, S d iv 10. vi. 16. Uelit. V. 26. Josli iii. 10 1 Sam. xvii 26. 36. SKIa^rsxixt. Ps slil 2. Ixxxiv. 2 Jer. x. 10 xi>tii. 36 Dan. vi S6 H08 i 10. .Matt. XVI 16. John »i. 69 .\cts xiv 15. Koin. is 26. 2 Cr. Hi. i. vi. ir.. ITbes.i 9 Heb iii ^2 ix 11 xii 22 Ke». vii 2 — •-- c.I»r.i.l8 Mjtt.xvi 1^.19 sviii. 13 Rom. Iii 2. Gal il. 9. ' Ot. :la'j f IC. Jolin : 17. xiv. 6. x»iii. U7. 2 Cor vi. 7. Gal. Iii 1 Epb, iv 21. Col. il 4 10 And s without controversy, great is sh* jj^^^,^ '' the mystery of godliness : ' God was ^J f'^^ *'| t manifest in the ile.^h, 'justified in the *',?^-' '• '■'•■» , . . , 'J —J VI. 19. Col. Spirit, ' seen of angels, "" preached unto 7R,*'i°f|'s^- the Gentiles, "believed on in tlie world, 'j'j,'i^'j|'j* | ° received up into glory. "i' IoJb'm!^: 11 Acts xs. 28 Rum. viil. 3. ix. ». 1 Cor w 17. Oal i7 It Phil. ii. 6-8. Col. l 10-18. Heb. i. J. ii. 9-l:l. I John i 3 Her. i 17, 18 1 Gr maniftiUd. IJohn iii 5 k It. I. 6—7. Matt ill. 1« Juboi. 32,:S3 xv ii. xvi. 8. 9 A.tsii. .12-30 Kom i. 3,1 I Pet iii 18. I.Inlinv 6-8. 1 Pi .'ivii' 17, 18 Mall iv 1 1. xxHii 2 .Mar, i. 13 xvi i Luki: 11,10-14 >/iii 13 xxiv. 1 Jolin /x 12 Acu i 10, ii. bi>ti. iii. 10 IPet i 13 — m l.ute li 32 Aots X.31 xiii «-l8. Rom. X. 18. Gal li. 8 Epil. iii. S— 8 Col 1.27.- n AcU xi». 27. Col 16 13 Rev vii 3. o .Mark xvi. 13 Luke x.tiv SI. Joiin vi. 63 xm. 3. xvi.2S. ivii j AcHi 1-9. Ejih i». 8-10 Heb i. 3 viii. 1 xii 2. I Pat. iii. 22. that any persons were then regularly educated for the pas- toral cilice ; but ministers seem to have been always chosen from the most established and best qualified believers, and generally from those that were matured in years and expe- rience. This does not, however, prove, that a regular education may not, in the present state of things, be most expedient. — Proved. {10.) 'By publishing their names ■ to the church ; that if any one hath aught to lay to their ' charge he may show it.' {!\l(tckniglit.) — No doubt this was customary in the primitive church, and productive of many good cll'ects : indeed, the form of it remains to this day. But it does not appear that the original word can admit of this interpretation ; for it generally means that trial of persons and of things, which is made by experience and observation. — IVives or rvomcn. Some think, that the wives of deacons and of bishops are not here meant ; but Tvomen, who were selected and appointed by the church to teach young persons of their own sex, who were restrain- ed by local customs from so attending on the instructions of nieji, as to obtain from them an adequate acquaintance with Christianity. It is, however, very doubtful, whe- ther this be the apostle's meaning ; and the instruction from the passage as interpreted of the wives of those who performed any [iublic office in the church, is so replete with instruction, that it seems highly worthy of the men- tion made of it by the apostle. \. 14, 15. The apostle hoped, when he wrote this, diat he should soon be able to return to Ephesus : but matters so turned out, that he never again visited that city ; and Timothy, in all probability much sooner than had been intended, went to him into Macedonia. [Preface.) In case, however, the apostle should not see Timothy for some time, he wrote this epistle, to show him how he ought to conduct himself, as an evangelist intrusted by him, and by the Siviour, to regulate matters in the family or household of (Jiod ; even that society of believers, in whom the living God dwelt, as in his holy habitation. These directions were not peculiar to the Ephesians, but would be a rule to Timothy in other churches also, where he might sustain the same oifice, and perform the same services ; and to all others in subsequent ages, who should be employed in a similar manner. — The following wor Is have been variously applied : the church of the living God, by supporting, maintaining, and recommending the truth of revelation, by j^ubbcly preaching and professing it, and by the worshiji and service therein performed, tn ly he considered as the foundation which ujjholds the edifice, as a pillar tiiat supports and adorns it. This by no means jscludes the infallibility of any particular church ; but merely implies that divine truth is upheld, professed, and maintained in the true church : whilst ungodly men in general, and heretics in pardcular, oppose, pervert, and undermine it ; and so error and ignorance envelope all the rest of the world, as with a dark and dreadful cloud. Some apply it to Timothy and other faithful ministers, {Gal. ii. 9 :) but this seems to be oply a |)art of the pre- ceding truth ; for the profession and suitable conversation of believers as really maintain and recommend the truth, as the minister's labours and doctrines do. Others detach the sentence from this verse, and connect it with the fol- lowing ; as if the apostle had meant, that the doctrine there specified was " the pillar and ground of the truth :" but this construction also seems unnatural, and the first interpretation is most obvious and satisfactory. As the church was appointed to maintain, hold forth, and adorn, the doctrine of God oor Saviour, in the midst of a dark aiid wicked world ; so it was very important for Timothy to know how to conduct hmisclf in subserviency to that great design. V. 16. That mystery of godliness, which the church must maintain, was, without controversy, exceedingly great. It never could have been thought of, if it had not been revealed ; it could not be received but by faith ; and it must be very imperfectly understood by man in his present state, being connected with infinite and incomprehensible objects. Some persons might on that account deem it less credible ; and others attempt to obviate the objection, by explaining away the mysteriousness of it : but the apostle declared it to be beyond all controversy '' a great mystery." It must, however, be noted, that it was '■ the mystery of godli- " ness." The revelation and belief of it were the source of all the pious dispositions and affections in the heart of fallen men, and of all the spiritual worship of God in the world. Had this mystery never been revealed, there would never have been any true godliness among men : none could be found, where this mystery was unknown or rejected ; and that abounded, in proportion as it was scripturally pro- posed and received. — By this mystery, men learn the true charaf~ter of God, and the way in which sinners may ap- proach and worship him ; they discover their real situatioa, their danger, and their remedy ; and thus they are brought to fear, trust, love, worship, obey, and rejoice in God. The substance and centre of this great mystery was this, " God was manifest in the flesh ;" the divine naiure, in the Person of the co-elernal and co-equal Son and Word of God, wa-i manifested to fallen men, as dwelling in the man Ciirist Jesus ; so that whoever saw, or contemplated by faith, this express Image of the invisible God, saw the 1. D. 69. CHAPTER IV. J. D. 69. CHAP. IV, The apostle foreiels a great apostacy, and corruption of the Gospel in offer times, 1 — 3. Every creature of God is good, and to be received with thanksifivins; Father also ; {Notes, John i. 1-18. Phil. ii. 5—11. Col. i. ij — 17.) — Thus sinners became acquainted with, and reconciled to, God. This high charac !■ r Emmanuel claim- ed. wh>=n on earth ; and iho unmeasurable unction of the Holy Spirit in his human nature, as evinced by his perfect holiness and stupendous miracles, justified his claim. But the Jewish priests and rulers put him to death, " because " he, being man, ma. If himself God ;" and he was further justified by the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the apostles ar d disciples, who bare v, itiirss to his resurrection, and ascension into heaven. During the whole of these amazing events, " he was seen of angels." These " morn- " ing stars, who sang together," when he called the world into existence, {Job xxxviii. 7,) saw their incarnate Lord laid as a babe in a manger, and sang " Glory to God in " the highest, Peace on earth, Good will towards men." They saw him fasting forty days in the wilderness, and tempted by the devil ; they witnessed his agonies in the garden : and, in both cases, they were employed to minister unto him. They saw their incarnate Maker expire, amidst the most cruel indignities, on the cross, but with what sensations who can conceive ! They witnessed and attend- ed his resurrection and ascension. They now behold his glory, sing his praise, and execute his mandates ; and they •will at length be his attendants, when he shall come to judge the world. In all this they contemplate, with astonish- ment, delight, and adoration, the infinite wisdom, justice, holiness, truth, and love of God ; and desire to look into these things, as more conspicuous displays of the divine glory than all his other works had exhibited. " God, " manifested in the flesh," had also been preached to the Gentiles, as their Lord and Saviour, which was a great mystery to the Jewish nation. And thus he had been be- lieved on in the world, by many tens of thousands of dif- ferent nations, who, without the Mosaic law, were be- come the spiritual andaccepted worshippers of Jehovah ; and the case has been to a great degree the same to this day. This was the eflect of his having been " received '• up into glory ;" and proved, to a demonstration, his exaltation to the mediatorial throne ; all power in heaven and earth being given to him, as the Advocate and Inter- cessor for sinners. — This important text seems to have been obscured and confined in the inlerjjretation given of it, by the attempt of some expositors to reduce the overflowings of the afiostle's fervent spirit to their own ideas of method. But the events referred to cannot be reduced to exact or- der of time, without evidently doing violence to the mean- ing of the word-.. — The construction necessarily requires, that the first clause of the passage serve as the nominative case to the subsequent verbs. On the above interpretation the construction is as follows : " God was manifested in the " flesh ;" " God manifested in the flesh," was justified by " :he Spirit, was seen of angels. cSc." But the Socinians, and some others, have laboured to establish another read- ing, to this efl>5ct : " the mystery of godliness, rvliich was Vol. v.— No, 34. ««(/ prayer, 4,5. He directs Timothy, in respect of his doctrine and personal conduct, that he may behave so, as '' to " save himself and those that hear him,'''' 6—1(3. " manifested in the flesh," According to this reading, it must follow, " which mystery was justified in, or by. the " Spirit ;" " which mystery was seen of angels ;" " which " mystery was preached unto the Gentiles ;" " which " mystery was believed on in the world ;" " which myste- " ry was received up into glory." The mystery being ma- nifested in the flesh, and the mystery being received up into glory, are not very sensible propositions : but num- bers seem to prefer any absurdity to orthodoxy, especially in respect of the person of Emmanuel. Indeed, it is not very consistent with their avowed dislike of mysteries, to personify the word mystery in this text, and put it even in the place of God our Saviour, In fact, however, the authority for this emendation does not entitle it to any regard. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS, V. 1—7. The office of a minister is a laborious, but a good, work : they who desire it as such, from proper motives, do well : and, if duly qualified, they should be encouraged and assisted in obtaining their object. But to desire emolu- ment or authority in the Church, by intruding into this sacred office, without either qualifications suited to its important duties, or any purpose of performing them, from indolence, ambition, and love of filthy lucre, is the vilest of all prostitutions, and merits the deepest condem- nation. Let then none, wlio desire this office, or have entered into it, or who have any concern in admitting others, forget, that nothing can compensate for the want of proper motives, or a blameless conduct, in those who minister in holy things. The pastors of the Lord's flock should be continent, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach, and remote from violent passions, and evei'y kind of covetousness. The more extensive the sphere, and the more conspicuous the station, to which any of them are called, the greater measure of all these holy endowments is requisite : but no man aa be a meet person for the pastoral office, in the most obscure situation, who is unwatchful, frivolous, licentious, given to wine, greedy of gain, disposed to furious anger, neg- ligent of moral and relative duties, selfish, averse to hos- pitality, and unable or unwilling to teach the flock. It would be invidious to contrast this description with the characters of those who have sustained the ministerial office in different ages and parts of the visible Church. No order of men fulfil the duties of their station : but, alas ! none have more violated them than nominal ministers. It, however, behooves us to look to ourselves, and those with whom we are concerned. We, who sustain this office, should pray without ceasing to be enabl .d more fully to transcribe these rules into our lives ; and the people should learn to distinguish 7nercenar'cs from upright disinteiested ministers : they should make ullovvauce for human infir- 3C :J D. 00. J. TIMOTHY. Ji. D. 60. xlH. U. Act3 ji.iv.ii. 2S ICor. xii. II. Kev. ii. 7. II. 17. S3, iii. ^R 13 ii. NOW ^ the Spirit speaketh '' expressly, I /w^" '' to abstain from meats, ' which God kRom xiv 3 17 that in ' the latter times soqic shall! hath created to be received "with thanks- to"' "" ^ • - ■ ■ ■ - Heh depart from the faith, giving hoed to I Ez > 3 e seclucinf spirits, 'and doctrinca of tievils : Num. XXIV. U. o I ,. • I • 1 • ''"'t-J', '*! 2 bpcakmir s lies in hypocrisy; liaving xxsli.29. I3 li. .1 .0 I ■' • I I ■ xii'x*''' 33"''kI' "" their conscience seared witli a hot iron; ""'"nos^i'ii.' 3 ' Forbidding to marry, and command- ». Mi^. iv. I. 2 Tim. iii. I 2 Pel. iii 3. Juil.' 18 d Uari. \. Mi i Tlics ii 3 2 Tim, iii. 1-3. i». .1 — ^ e r.en. lil 3-5 13 IKili»sxxil i3, 23 2 Chr. xviii. 19— ;': 2 Cnr xi 3. 13-15. 2 Thes ii 9- 12. 2 Tim .ii. 13 Hev is. 2-11 Xiii U xvi U. xvli 2 33 xiic. 2.1. XX. 2, 3. 8 10 — • f Uin si 3.^-38 I Cor viii. 5, i', x iO Col ii. IS. Arts xvii 18 Kev ix iO Or. ^-f; 1 Kings xiii. 18 xxii 22. Is, ix. 15 Jer. V 31. xxiu, M. 32, Dan viii 23-25 Malt vii 15 xxiT £l Acts XX 30 lli.ro xvi \\f. Eph iv II 2 Tim ill 5.8 Pel ii. 1 3. Ret xvi. li. li ftom. i. 28 Kpli iv. 19. i Dan xi. 37. 1 Cor. vji 28 36-39. Heb xiii. 4 20- a. rriving, of them which ° believe and know i ceu. "il'V 30. fl .^ ,1 ix 3. AtlBX. 13 the truth. -u- 1 tor.»i. 4 For "every creature of God is good, ■»* 'S"""'' 13. p and nothing to be refused, 11 it be re- j, ceived with thanksgiving : I' 5 For 1 it is sanctified by ' the word of God and prayer. Luke Joba VI. 2j Acu xx\ii 35 Ivom. xiv 6 1 Cop, X. 30,31. Col. lil. 3l,:i2 2The3 ii 13, 14 xxl 25 lUim. xiv 14 20. I Ci) Til 1. 15. r Luke iv, i. 31 Deut. x«xii 2 B 25 q See , m 3. Lute xi 41, I Cor. mities, which are incident to all : they should help their ministprs by their prayers, blessing Goil lor such as ate faithful, and supplicating converting grace for such as are evidently the reverse of what they ought to be. It is incumbent upon ministers to rule well their own houses, and to have their children in subjection with all gravity. If they find this too difficult for them, " how shall they " take care of the Church of God ?" The folly, ostenta- tion, conformity to the world, extravagance, or ungod- liness, of a minister's family, will surely lessen his own influence, and prevent his usefulness, as well as his com- fort. It is also very wrong for novices, however eminent for abilities and gifts, to be pushed forward prematurely into this arduous work. This hath ruined many promising young men, by pulling them up with pride, and so casting them into the condemnation of the devil. The honour of the Gospel also is gready concerned in the good report of ministers amongst those that are without. And Satan finds various advantages against those who lose their repu- tation, and incur the reproach of the enemies of the Gos- pel. V. 8—16. Not only bishops and elders, but all concerned in the Church of the living God, should be grave, sincere, up- right, candid, temperate, and disinterested ; those espe- cially to whonl money is intrusted, and who have the charge of relieving the poor : for to rob them is one of the very worst kinds of dishonesty. The mystery of faith will never appear respectable among men, except it be held in a pure conscience. Professed Christians should there- fore be proved, and found blameless, before they are ad- mitted to any office in the Church. Time spent in prepa- laUon and probation will not be lost ; and a precipitate zeal is not one of the pre.>^cribed qualilications for the ministry. All who are connf>rted with persons in jiublic stations in the church should be exemplary in their whole appearance and deportment. The wives of ministers and deacons should be grave and sober, no slanderers, but faithful in all things. They should choose such wives ; and their wives should be reminded to study and practise these rules, and to assist and concur in ruling their children and house- holds well. They who have acted faithfully and diligently in inferior stations, are best qualified for more important services ; especially when, by enduring hardship and facing danger, they have attained to great boldness in the faith of Christ. These things should be frequently meditated upon and prayed over by all persons concerned ; that they may know how they ought to behave in the Church of the Uving God, according to the relations in which they stand to him, to his saints, and to the world, that they may hold forth and adorn the doctrine of truth, as pillars and sup- porters of it. This will be despised, or revered, in great measure, according to the conduct of professors ; which will be greatly influenced by that of ministers, their fami- lies, and connexions. The importance of these things is therefore unspeakable ; and our watchfulness ought to cor- respond to it. Whilst numbers want a religion without mystery, (which they who worship the incomprehensible God cannot possibly have,) and whilst manj' seem to make the very truths of the Gosjicl a mystery of ungod- liness, let us glory in the incontrovertibly ■' great mystery " of godliness," and show the sanctifying eflicacy of it in our lives. Let us remember that " God was manifested in the " flesh," to talte away our sins ; " to destroy the works " of the devil ; to redeem us from all iniquity, and to " purify us unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of " good works :" and let us recollect, that the doctrine of his mysterious Person and Redemption must be justified bj the fruits of the Spirit, brought forth in our lives. Let us learn to contemplate his antecedent glory, his voluntary humiliation, his subsequent exaltation, and his future coming to judgment ; till we hate sin, despise the worlt^ are transformed into his image, filled with his love, and prepared to join the worship of his holy angels ; and let us still pray, that he may be preached to all the nations on earth, and believed on in all parts of the world, and so wait till he shalJ please to receive us to his glory. NOTES. CHAP. IV. V. 1—5. To stir up Timothy, and others by him, to adhere steadfastly to the " Great Mys- " tery of Godliness," the apostle declared, that the Holy Spirit spake, in the most express and decisive manner, not only by Daniel, antl others of the ancient prophets, but to him by immerliate revelation, and pcrha|5S to several of his brethren, {j)l(irg. Rff.) concerning some in the latter days, under the Christian dispensation, or in after times, that would apostatize from the true faith of the Gos- pel. This apostacy woulti be effected by men's hearkening to false teachers, who would be influenced by seducing spirits; and thus they would embrace doctrines of devils or demons, and adojit such notions about the souls of the dead, as would introduce the worship of saints as intercessors, and of angels as spirits superior to men, though inferior to God. This was a species of idolatry, like that of the heathens in worshipping their departed monarchs, legislators, and benefactors, as demons, or a A. D. 60. CHAPTER rV. J. D. CO. f Acnxx.3i.3s. 6 If • thou put the brethren in renicm- uTr " 17 brance of these things, thou shalt be ' a 14. '""pet.! 12- orood minister of Jesus Christ, " nourish- juiej ' cd up in the words of iaith and of i Matt nil. M ' . , ■ I , ,1 I . I Cor. iy 1, 2 K frood doctrinai whcreunto ^ tliou hast i Cor 111. s »i. r> . ^ Ti'ifn'is* ^ "^ But 'refuse profane and old wives' "itTsVs'o,,^''.'] fables, and " exercise tliyself rather unto ih.u-f?^''''"' godhness. '3' 'ps"i.ii r' ^^ f'or * bodily exercise profiteth Mar;. Pro. u '3. Joho vii. 16, 17 2 Tim. iv. 3 Tit ii 1. 7-10 2 John 9. y Phil. ;iii 16 2 Tim Hi 14. 1 i. i v :n. 2Tim ii. 16 23. iv.* 111.1.14 iii. 9 ai 1 4. ii. 10. i-i 16 vi II Arts niv. 16. 2 lim. iii. 12. Tit ii. 12 Heb v M. 2 Pet i. 6- £ h I Sam xv 22. Ps. I. 7 -14 l^ 1 11-:6 Iviii 3- S. Jer vi.20.Am v. 21 - 24. I Cor. viii. 8. Col. ii. 21— S3. Heb xiii. 0. middle order of beings between God and men. And, as devils are the real objects of all worship paid to mere creatures, so this delusion would tend to gratify the ambi- tion of these apostate spirits. {Notes, 1 Cor. x. 19 — 22. Col. ii. 18.) These doctrines and practices would be sup- ported btf the hi/pocrisif of liars, who would invent a variety of legends, impose on men with pretended mi- racles and revelation?, cheat them by legendary tales, and so carry on an infamous traffic by forgery and imposture, under the pretext of great sanctity, to the aggranilizing of themselves and the deluding of the credulous multitude. Nor would these men feel remorse for their lies and for- geries, as the habit of viilany, under the mask of extra- ordinary piety, would cairtvrize their consciences, and render them entirely callous ; even as the external skin becomes unfeeling by being frequently seared with a hot iron. To mainta'n their usurpations over men's minds, and to fix a large body in their in'eiest, by detacliing th( m from otker connexioii.s, as well as to amuse mankind by the ap|iearance of uncommon sanctify, they would dis- courage, and even forbid marriage, a? if it were an unholy estate, and unfit for devout persons : thry \v.>yld deny this liberty to numbers, especially to the cleiv^y. by means of which all kinds of abominations would be iiiroduced and connived at. They would also enjoin their abstinence from this and the other kind of meat, either entirely, or on particular days and seasons ; by this likewise they would keep up their authority over men's consciences, and im- pose upon the multitude with apparent devotion, whilst they perpetrated all kinds of iniquities, as the Pharisees had done before them. (Notes, Matt, xxiii.) But, indeed, God had created every kind of wholesome food for the benefit of man, and allowed Christians the use of it all, indiscriminately, at all times and seasons, without restric- tion ; and therefore any of his creatures might be received with thanksgiving by those who believed the truth, and so far understood it as to know th.;ir Christian liberty. For all his creatures being in themselves good, and serving the purposes for which he made them, nothing was to be refused as unclean, provided it was received with thank- fulness, as the permission of God's word, a temperate use of it according to his precepts, and prayer for a blessing upon it, sanctified it to the believer's use, and to fit him for the Lord's service. Every smaUerer in ecclesiastical history must know what aj^ostacy and corruption of Chris- uanity most entirely accorded (o this prediction. The * litllo : but "^ godliness is profitable unto 'Or ror a nn all tilings, " having promise of the hfc a. if>' that now is, and ol that winch is to coinc. s.J 9 Th!.i ' is a faithful saying, and wor- thy of all acceptation. 10 For ■■ therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, ^ because we trust in '' the living God, who is 'the Saviour [^'^^''^ii'^' i-: of all men, "^ especially of them that be- {^';y„ l^-3-\i lipVP »'i 33 xix IB "'''^^- M,rK K. 29 S«. Lukexii. 31, 32. Rom. viil 2S. 1 Cor. iii. 22. 2 Pet i. 3 4 1 Jnlin ii. 25 Hcv iii. Ii. 2i. e Hreoii, i. IS f I Cor. iv. 9-13 2 Cor. iv. E-lu. vi. 3-10 xi r:)-27 2 Tim. ii 9, 10 iii 10— 12 IleU. xi. 26 xiii 13.1 Pet. iv. 14 15 j vi 17 I's x>.vii 40 l:i 8 Isxsiv 12. cxviii. 8. Is xii. 2. 1 10. .ler Xvii. 7. Uao iii. 28 Nah i 7 Matt, xxv.i. 43 Horn XV. 12. 13. 1 Pet i 21 hSfrmi, in 16 i See im ii 4 6 i'l,. nxxvi 6 Is xlv.21, 22 I John i. 29. iii. 15-17 1 JoliD u. 2. iv 14. k Jolip v 24 Joiia v. 10-13. ,t H.-tviii. I — 14 Job V 19 — 2f. rvKXHvi'. 3. 1 IC-rJ. 29. Hsxiv II. xri. 10-16 csii. 1 — 3. cxxviii 1—6. I'rov iii If— l;. Judaizing teachers, and the Gnostics and others, con- tended indeed for some of these superstitions ; die mystery of iniquity in these respects also did even then work; but it was reserved for the Church of Rome fully to prove the truth of the scriptures, by accomplishing these predictions in their most detestable enormities. (2 T/ifs. ii.) It has often been shown, in what manner the errors of the Juda- izing teachers and the traditions of the Pharisees, on the one hand, and the speculations of the henthen philosophers, on the other, corrupted the pure doctrine of Christianitv in the primitive times. But it should not be forgotten, that in subsequent ages, csjiecially in the Roman Church, the mythology of the Pagans, and the writings of the poets, helped to introduce slill further corruptions. For what are the nuns of popery, but the vestal virgins of the Romans engrafted on Christianity ? Saints and'angels, as mediators, answer to the demi-gods and heroes of the Pagans; and the numerous processions, and festivals, and the method of observing them, answer, with surprising exactness, to those described in Homer and Virgil, espe- cially in the latter. Indeed, it appears to me that a learned man, who had leisure to compare all tiie pompous and fascinating outward services, in the Church of Rome espe- cially, though not there exclusively, with the Greek and Latin poets, might form, I had almost said, a Rubric and a ritual from the latter- At least, I have never, for many years, opened Virgil to read a few pages, but 1 have met with some things, which cogently reminded me of the popish processions and festivals. The third verse contains ' one of the boldest ellipses in the New Te.sta- ' ment, where a word is to l)e understood contrary (o that ' which is before expressed : but some of the most celc- ' brated classical writers, and particularly Horace and ' Cicero, take the same liberty.' {D odd ridge. Black- wall.) The passage undeniably demands this coastruc- tion, and all the ancient expositions and versions supply the ellipsis in the same manner, or to the same meaning. (Note Acts XV. 19—2!.) ' V. 6—10. Timothy was directed to attend to these precautions himself, and also to put his brethren in re- membraiice of them, (hat they might be upon their guard against every specious delusion. Thus he would be a good minister of Christ, and act as b-nme one who had been fully insirucled in the words of (ruth and good doctrine, and v.ho had digested them well, and turned them'into spiritual nourishment : as he had been trained up in these 3 C 2 Ji. D. 60. I. TIMOTHY. A. D. 60. HI Mitt z I Cor I n 2 Tito 1 1 These things ' command and teach, j 12 Let "no man despise thy youth; but ° be thou an example of the bc- 1. 1 Lor.'°°j,'! 1 lievers, " in word, in conversation, in ) The« i 6. il. , . ' . •■•,'■,!• 7% * Tlrii"? chanty, m spirit, in uiiUi, in purity, '^i'"-'., 13 Till p1 come, give attendance olCor. »i 1—17. 1 • 1 * •:',i. '"ii S3 '' ^^ readmg, ' to exhortation, ' to doc- .lim. ill 13 17, trnnp •J Pet 15-8. inn*'- .„ , . - MDeutx'vlMi J'l 'Neglect not the gift that is m ilt 'cxlx''^- ll^ce, " which was given thee by pro- Voii I'rov'. ii. 4 i M-.!t xiii 61, 61. John » 33. Acl> »i.4 xvli. II. S Tim. ii li— 17, rRom Jii 8 1 Cor xiv. 3 Tit.ii IS b6 16. 1 Cor liv. 6. 26 2 Tim. iv 2 I Malt. XXT U— ;iO. Luke xix. 12-26. Bom.xii. t— 8. 1 The!, v. 19. 2 Tim. i. 6 1 Pel iv. 3—11. u i. 18. things, and indeed had made great proficiency in them. But he ought steadily to reject the impious fables and foolish traditions of the Jewish deceivers and others, who phccv, * with the laying on of the hands »»52 Aci.Ti.9. o the presbytery. ',,..» „ • •,,,/.' , , . . y Josh i. 8 Pi. \b y Meditate upon these thines, 'give ", a »'«•>«. thyseil wholly to them ; ^ that thy pro- '^»j» ^^\$i fiting may appear * to all^^ us'^.tm" "' 1 6 '' Take heed unto thyself, and '^^r" \'»i* u! ■^ unto thy doctrine; 'continue in them: ^(^"'j/Tau.' for in doing this ' thou shalt both save , 'J M.tt t 15. thyself, and ' them that hear thee. •^c^A^'Jukilt!. b 1 Clir xxviii. 10 2 Chr xix R. Mirk xiii. 9. I.uk6 xxi. 34. Acli XX 28. I Cor. iii Iff, II Ciil iv. 17.2 Tim. iv 2. Tit. il 7 15 Heb. Iii. li. 2 John 8 c 6. I. 3. Rom. xvl. 17 Eph. iv. 14. Tit. Ii 7. HeH Xiii. S 2 Jt tin 9. d Ads vl. 4 xivi 22 Rom 2 Ti_ r is. Il Tim. 1 Tit i. 9. e fcz. iii. 13— 21 XXI II Jer xxili 22. ' 10 Fhilem. 19. Jam ^ III. i;i— le before God. 1 I'et ii. 17. iii 7 h 9. Deul X. 18 xlv. 29. xvi ll.U.XJtvii 19. JnS Xsis. 13. xsxi 16. Ps Uviii b xciv. e. cxivi 9 Jer. xlix II. Matt xx>ii U. I uke vii. 12 Acta vi. l.iK. 3^. Jam i. ■.i7 14,5 9-11 . 16 I.uke ii. 37 Juhn i 47 1( Jwlg xl 14 Marg- Jo:, xviii. Vi Is. xiv. 22 1 1 Sai il.Johnxix JS, 27. ' Or, *-;/i(infij. iMatt.xv 4-6 Mark 11.10, ll.xlvii. 12 23. Ruth il i 18. Eph vi. 1 -3. o Stt 3 I't . 28. 11-1) m Gen 5 Now she that is " a widow indeed, 03 Ruth 15 is p and desolate, '' trusleth in God, and p^u^.'i 26 xii. ' continueth in supplications and prayers VA night and day. b But ' she that liveth t in pleasure is 32 iretms"' d] 1 •! 1 !• ,1 ' r ,>;<« o». Luke li. ead while she livcth. 7 And " these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. 0 But if any provide not for his own, ijj'^/^^yi'a* "and specially for those of his own j.^ie'v; i*"'. ?' X house, >■ he hath deni-jd the faith, ^ and \°^;^^ ji'^i'jl is worse than an inhdcl. 1 Mitt 1. LaiB qUutliii.12. Ps xciv 1.1 xil 2. 1 10. 1 Cor. t ii! Luke 1 37 xviil I. 7 Kph vi 18. B 1 ^am. z\v. 6. Job xxi. 11-14. I's Itxiii S-7. Is zxii. 13 Am 21. Is. xlvii 1. .12. 2 Cor V 14, 17.2 Tim. iv I %\. 11-13 2C[ 5 Tit i. IB. 11 iCor.ii. 16, 16. 5 I.uke vii 2i.— I. U Col. ii 13 He X Gen Kxx. Z^. Is 10. : Or.Vindrfrf. Sii z Malt xvivi 17 Luke xii 47, ii. Jol.n x 32. fruv. xxix. vtil 22 Lu .e XV 2t. u i 3. iv II. vi. 7. .Matt, vii II Luke ,4 y : have ever seriously read these directions ! and that the'^" method of spending ihcir lime, the subjects of iheir studies, the objects of their pursuits, and the business and pleasure of their lives, form a ]jerfcct contrast to what they ought lo be ! But may the Lord have mercy upon each of us, and write these adinoniiicns in our inmost souls ! May \vc meditate continually on them! May our thoughts and af- fections be engrossed by them ! May we " give ourselves " wholly unto them, that our profiling may appear unto " all men !" Let every minister, then, hear the apostle call upon him to " take heed to himself," as one that must give account ; to look to it, that he experience the power of the Gospel in his own soul, and bring forth the fruits of it in his life ; that his motives, temper, words, and works, be pure and evangelical ; that his doctrine be scrip- tural ; that he " declare the whole counsel of God ;" and that he manifest his truth to every man's conscience, as in the flight of his heart-searching Judge. And let every one, who hath thus begun his ministry, persevere in this holy living and faithful preaching; however despised, reviled, opposed, or discouraged, he may be : for in so doing, he shall both save his own soul, and those of his attentive hearers ; whilst blind guides and mercenary teachers can only expect to go before their deluded followers into the pit of everlasting destruction. NOTES. CHAP. V. V. 1, 2. The connexion of die word trans- lated " an elder,'' in this place, has induced expositors in general to understand it of senior Christians, as well as of pastors. It must likewise be supposed that the apostle spake of such faults, as resulted from inhrmity, and were not openly scandalous ; or the counsel here given cannot be reconciled with a subsequent injunction. (Ao/e, 19, 20.) As Timothy was young, it was peculiarly incumbent on him to avoid harshness, in animadverting'onthcmisconductof aged Chris- tians or ministers : he ought not therefore to rebuke them with severity, or in apparent anger ; but to entreat them to act with greater circumspection, and endeavour modestly to convince them of the impropriety and bad etfects of the mistakes into which they had been betrayed : even as a ^n, plarod in authority, would adth-ess an honoured parent wlio had not acted with due regard lo his character and situation. In reproving young men or ministers, it would be proper to speak with great meekness and affection, and to admonish them as brethren. The elder women he must counsel and caution, as dutiful sons in such stations would their mothers ; and he should behave towards the younger women with that kind of regard and afliction which is borne to sisters ; and with all purity, that nothing contrary to the strictest decorum might attend his ministerial con- verse with them. V. 3, 4. The apostle next directed, that the aged widows, who were really destitute, should be honourably treated and provided for. But, if any widow had " ctiil- " dren or grand-children,'''' who were capable of relieving her, they ought to be required, as a duly of the first importance, to show piety, or a respectful and grateful affection, " at home ;" ret|uiting the lender, laborious, and expensive care of their parents towards them, in in- fancy and childhood, by providing for tliem in old age ; for that was good in itself, a debt due to them, and an acceptable service to God, even in preference to any other charitable work. V. 5, 6. The " widow indeed," whom the apos- tle peculiarly intended, was one who was desolate, having neither children nor relations, able to maintain her; and being destitute of the means of procuring a decent subsistence : at the same time she trusted in God to pro- vide for her, and used no improper methods of obtaining a support; but devoted herself to his service, in conti- nual prayers and supplications, stated and occasional, pub- lic and private, and oven by night as well as by day ; taking great delight in devotion, and employing herself very much in supplicating God, in behalf of her fellow Cliris- tians and all around her. (Note, Luke ii. ."37.) But any one, who lived a delir:.te, luxurious, dissipated life, and perhaps chose lo continue unmarried, that she might have less restraint in this self-indulgent courst-, must bo consi- dered as dead in sin, and only alive lo worldly pleasure, (Marg. R(J-) so that no honourable attention was due to her from the church. V. 7, ii. These things Timothy must give in charge to the pastors and deacons; that the body of professing Christians at Ephesus might be preserved blameless ; that no encouragement might be given, even by means of their J. D. 60. CHAPTER V. J. D. 60 »s«oii.3.4. 9 Let not *a widow be * taken into bii 11 Lui.eii. the number '' under threescore years old, 36 37. , • , IT.' *vii' fo'n \iVo ' havmc;- been the wile ol one man ; \l 10 Well ''reported o.'" for " croo(\ ,3 works ; ''if she fiave brouj^ht up chilch-en, 36; s if she have lodcfod strangers, if she have J" '■ washed the saints' feet, 'if she have re- d Hi 7 Acts z 23 xxi 3 Jobn 19. e a II. 10 V Malt. V. Act3 ix Fph. 2 Tin r t. i 8 U. Heb X ;i. II. IS Rom. xii 13 Heb. xiii 2 1 Pet iv 9 38 44 John siii S— 15. i Lev xsv 35. Is -f2 Pim > 5 iii. ij. ; Act! — -h Ge 1 XVI 11 4 Xii. 2 L uke 17. Acts ix. 39 benevolence to such persons as were a scandal to them. — But if any man refused to provide for his own near rela- tions, especially for his wife, children, and household, or for his aged parents, through sloth, covctousness, extra- vagance, or self-indulgence, he should be considered as having renounced the faith, by manifestly and habitually refusing to obey Chri-st ; nay, as acting more disgracefully and unreasonably than an unbeliever would do in such circumstances. The heathen, in general, considered chil- dren as bound to support their aged parents ; and con- sidered the neglect of this duty as infamous, and fit only to be mentioned along with the most scandalous vices. — (^Marg. Rff-) The manner in which many covetous per- sons grievously [ervert this text must not pass unnoticed : while they evidently violate the duties of piety, equity, and charity, as well as that of providing for their indigent relations ; yea, while they bring up their children, and maintain their families, in a manner utterly unsuitable to their circumstances, from eagerness to amass riches ; they often quote this verse, in vindication of their sordid ava- rice, and imagine that the apostle commanded men to ne- glect all other duties, in order to enrich their children ! (16.) • Some plead these words, to justify, or to excuse, ■ their sordid parsimony and want of charity: — whereas, ' they plainly respect the provision which children should ' make for their parents ; and not that which parents should • make for their children.' {IVhUby.) V. 9 — 12. The apostle could not here mean, that no \Tidows were to be relieved by the Church, who were under sixty years of age : for the distresses of younger widows, as well as of other poor persons, might be very urgent. — lie is, therefore, generally supposed to refer to a certain number of widows, who were discharged from all secular cares, and maintained by the Church; of whom such as were able acted as deaconesses, to visit sick and poor women, and to administer relief and counsel to them; to insti-uct young women, and perhaps children; or to attend on such other concerns of tiic church, its ministers, and pious strangers, as lay within their province. Though no command is given for such an order of persons in the church ; (for many things of this kind were left discre- tionary, and to be determined according to circumstances ;) yet they might frequendy be useful, if properly selected and regulated. In this view the propriety of the rule here given is apparent. As the apostle counsels the younger widows to marry, it cannot be imagined that he would exclude them, when grown old, from the number here intended, if otherwise qualified, merely because they had followed his counsel. By " the wife of one man," therefore, tl-e apostle did not intend to exclude such as bad married a second time, which the Scripture no where ^ lieved the afflicted, ''if she have diligently K''«p"2V *^m followed every good work. ^i_ ti^i n^. \i 11 But 'the younger widows T''^-'Jot»i^x*ii\s. fuse: for when they have besun ""to l'-."';'*, ""'• J ^ c* ^ Sill G jatD. V , wax wanton against Ciirist, "they will /,^^ f^'ji', 'c'or. marry ; /;'r^!- *!?; J J ^ O I Cor XI. ia, 12 Havinn- "damnation, because they r'riJ.' n 'or' have cast off' p their first faith. ^.f'-'l I ^- ^"• disallows. But shameful and astonishing irregularities, in this respect, were common among the heathen women : they frequf'ntly left their husbands to live with other men, and then •sometimes returned to them again ; they often designedly gave them just cause to divorce them, that they might take other husbands ; nay, they sometimes did what was equivalent to divorcing their husbands : nor were these things deemed scandalous ; at least, not in that degree which they would be at present. If then any woman had formerly conformed to these corrupt customs, it would not be consistent with the credit of Christianity to admit her into this select number of devoted widows, though no other objection lay against her ; for it must exclusively consist of those who had lived virtuously and honourably in the married state, (iii. 2. 12. ) — Some expositors think that they who had married again, after being divorced, were intended : but there is not the least intimation in scripture, that the divorced should be restrained from mar- rying again, even if justly put away, and surely, then, not when unjustly divorced. — They must also be such women as had an established character for good works since they were converted. Those were to be preferred who had charitably educated the children of their poor relatives or neighbours, or who had faithfully done their duty towards their own children ; who, when in more prosperous cir- cumstances, had hospitably entertained strangers in their houses ; who had willingly stooped to the office of washing the feet of the saints, when wearied with travelling ; and who had, from love to Christ, readily relieved the afflicted, and diligently attended to every good work. These wi- dows, when grDwn old and left desolate, were the proper persons for this service, — But Timothy was directed to reject the application of younger widows ; for experience showed that their avowed purpose, of no more entering into the married state, was not to be depended on. After a time, when their grief on account of their form.er loss had subsided, various circumstances might induce them to mar- ry again : and as their admission into the number of devoted widows implied an engagement to the contrary, and pro- bably was attended by some promise to this effect ; so their violation of it might be called " a waxing wanton against " Christ," leading them to be unfaithful to him, for the sake of some earthly object. Thus their engagement would serve to their condemnation, by occasioning their violatioa of that fidelity to Christ which they had previously pro- mised : the church would see it necessary to censure them, and their sin would expose thern to condemnation, if not repented of. They might perhaps be tempted to apostatize from the faith, by marrying heathens : and this seems to have been the case with some of this description. For Christians, probably, would not be disposed to marry those J. D. 60. I.TIMOTHY Ji. D. 60. qvro. xxxi 17. 13 Aficl willial tliej learn 1 /o 6e idle,! II ""^ '"■ '~ ' Avanclering about from house to liou.se ;j V'lov. ^j^s' ij nnd not only idle, but tattlers also, and! x«. 20*' ^''" " busy-bodies, ' speakins: 'tliin^s which 1 Pet iv. IS thev oujTtit not. Til", "jim 14 " I will therefore that " the younger] u.stion, iis. women marry, bear children, >' cuido the II IT 3. I Cor , . •' • 1° 1 f.i. 8, 9 He. house, ' give none occasion to the adver- '^pro!'"J'i'v° ? ^^^y * *° speak reproachfully ; rlf'ii 5*6>" ^^ ^^^ some "are already turned ^xiii 4 Dan*"?i 3side af er Satan. 2 Cor" xi"' 12 '^ If any man or woman that boliev- iTi'ct'iv i5 15 ^tJi have widows, '* let them relieve them, X II • Gr Tallin'-'" u'-ie ^"'-' '^^ not thc cliurcli be charsfcd : that x.xiii.M-4l 1 Fhil.iii. 31. 32 it may relieve thcra that are ' widows i. IV. 10.2 Pet 'fl 2 20 22 ili. 16. I Johl deed. 19. Jn'le 4, 5 Rev. xii • -b Set on, 4. 8 cSee on, 3 who had enlercd into this number ; and if their inclination^ led them to marry, their situation might expose ihrm peculiarly to this temptation. The original is, " They will "incline,^' or choose, " to marry.'' V. 13 — 1.5. It might like\vi..;e be feared, and expe- rience had shown there was danger, lest younger widows, being eai'ly freed from thc employments of domcsiic life, and having much leisure, should neglect to spend it in devotion and the duties of their station ; and so contract habits of idleness, and waste their hours in sauntering from house to house, as tri.Ting visitants ; tattling and gos- sipping about the news of the day, and intermeddling with other people's affairs, spreadingslandcrs, andspeakingmany things of a mischievous and improper nature. (2 Tliefi. iii. 11.) We should not suppose the aposde meant, thai all the younger widows, who were emjiloyed in this service, acted in this manner ; but it was an evil incident to that practice, and formed a sutficienl reason for excluding them. He therefore determined that it was better to leave them a\ hberty to marry, if they chose it and circumstances ad- mitted, that they might be occupied in the useful duties of wives and mothers, and in domestic business ; that so no occasion might be given to any adversaries of the Gospel to speak reproachfully of it, through the misconduct of such as professed to be peculiarly devoted to the service oi Christ. For indeed, some younger widows, being impro- perly admitted into this number, had turned aside to follo^y the suggestions of Satan, had married unbelieving hus- bands, and so relapsed into idolatry. ' The converting ' men to the Christian faith, being the " turning them " from Satan unto God," ' The casting off the faith ' may well be styled, " the turning aside after Satan." {Wliitby.) The aposde's determination, that no widov under sixty years of age should be a imitled into this select number of devoted women, lest their useless lives and misconduct should occasion scandal, conclutlcs with pecu- liar force against all vows of virginity, taken by young persons, under pretence of more strict religion than can be practised in the married state : and, indeeil, the silence of the aposde concerning women who had never been married, in this connexion, is very expressive. But the pastors of 17 Let ''the elders that 'rule well j.^,,,,, t,. ,, ' be counted worthy of ^ double honour, i".'LuVe'i"i3 especially they who '' labour in the ' word "ThM."" if. I ] ^ ■ 13. Heb ziii 7. and doctrme. n u 18 For "'the scripture saith, 'Thou Ac's xTviu la! shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out i cor ;x s-14! tlie corn : and, "^ The labourer is worthy ii'ss. ' r I ■ I ^ gsKiogali 01 his reward. H' Against an elder accusation, but f before witnesses. xl 2 Jer Pbil. 9 1i. receive not an ,^«*'„'\ .'?. . hi'.' 10 Mttt.iz. " two or three 3'. .^s '"ke .«• 1. 2 7 JobD IV. 38. Acts XX 3». Roto xvi 12. 2U Them that sin, " rebuke before all, lo^^xvi'.'": T that others also may fear. \l\\.'\\ \ v,. XI'X m il f, 1 S« on iv s. 16. Slim ir.S. k Rom iv. 3 ix. 17.'x 11 xi 8. Oal iii 8. .lam. iv S 1 Deul xxv. ». 1 Cor. xi. 9, 10. m Lev xix. 13 Deut iixii 14 li Mall .< 10. Liikex.7. .-i Jotinxvui. 23 Acts xxiv 2—13. xxt. 16 Tit i. 6. t Or. uvltr o Deut. X«ii 6. xii. 15. IE, 19 M»tt xviil. 16. John Tiii 17 2 Cqr. xii 1 Heb X. 28 p Gal il 11-14 2Tim. iv 2 Tit. i. 13. ql SO. Del;'.. Xlii. II XJV. 13 xix. 20 xxi 21 Acts V. 5. II. xix 17. the church, before many ages had elapsed, abundantly made up this deiiciency ! V. 16. In closing this subject, the apostle required every believer, man or woman, that was able, to relieve widows belonging to their families, and others who were destitute, that the church might not be burdened with them,, or prevented from relieving such as were entirely indigent and friendless. ' In the opinion of Estius, this precept ' extended to the proprietors of slaves, and bound them to ' maintain their slaves, when they became incapable of 'labour.' (Macknisht.) The spirit of it, no doubt, extends to servants of every kind, who have spent their strength in our service, as far as we are able to support them. V. 17, 18. Many expositors infer from these verses, that there were ruling elders in the church, who did not )jreach ; others do not allow the inference ; and. in general, ridniu- and /eacfci»i|r are united. {Marg. Ref.) Indeed, as double honour chiefly relates to a more plentiful and decent maintenance, it is improbable that mere rulers, who would not be greatly taken off from their secular business, should be thus maintained at the expense of their brethren. To preside in the affairs of the church, and to preach the word, (even the doctrine of Christ.) constitute the outlines of thf pastoral office ; the direction seems therefore to mean, that they who ruled most prudendy, faithfully, and diligently, and were most laborious in their ministry, should be most respected and best provided for: especially they who were most unwearied in preaching and private exhortation ; as the exercise of authority was more suited to the natural dispositien of the human heart. (Notes, 1 Cor. ix. 4 — 14.) Labourer, kc. 'This, as well as • what goeth before, is affirmed by the apostle to be said in ' the scripture ; yet it is no where written in the Jewish 'scriptures. It is found only, (Mutl.x. 10. Luke x. 7.) ' The aposde must therefore have read either Matthew's or ' Luke's Gospel, before he wrote this epistle. And seeing ' he quotes this saying as scripture, and represents it as of ' equal authority with the writings of Moses : it is a proof, ' not only of the early publication of the Gospels, but of ' their authenticity, as divinely inspired writings.' {Mack^ night.) {Notes, 1 Thes. v. 27. 2 Pet. iii. 16.) A. D. 60. CriAPTER V. A.D. m • Matt xvi 27 («xv. 41. 2 Pel. li. 4 Judc 5 Rev xii. 7-9 »iv 10 t Ps. c»ii 43. cxix 43. Matt XJViii. iO • Or, nilKout prfjudict. Deut xs y iv 14 Acts V3 TiLLS- 21 I 'charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and Ulie elect angels, ' that tJioii observe these things, * without " preferring one before another, doing nothing by " partiality. 22 * Lay hands ^ suddenly on no man J ,j ' neither be partaker of other men's sins ■;';■ 5 '' keep thyself pure. 31 Aclso r.7. 38. SCor v 16. ^ . 3. a Tio lEph. V. II.: [ Mai ii 9. Jam. . 6. 10. Jnah ix, 4. biv. 12. Actsi V, 19, 20. The character of an elder, or pastor, was of great im|)orta nee ; it would therefore be iniproper, nc only to condemn him, but even to receive an accusation against him, except it was attested by two or three cre- dible witnesses. Many might be disposed to revile thos< fcithlul ministers, whose doctrine and reproofs had oftendef) them ; and indeed, the grand enmity of " the accuser of "the brethren," and of all his servants, would be excited against them. It was therefore highly reasonable, that no accusation, tending to bring the conduct of an elder to a public investigation, and thus to endanger his character, should be regarded, if supported only by one solitary testi- mony ; which his denial of the crime wonld at least coun- terbalance. But in respect of those who were evidently guilty of any scandalous offence, whether elders or others, Timoihy, as presiding in the Church, was required to rebuke them before all their brethren ; not only in order to their being made ashamed and brought to repentance ; but that others might fear the same censure, and so be excited to greater circumspection. V. 21 , 22. The aposde here most solemnly charged Timothy, as in the presence of God and the Lord Jesus Christ ; and as he hoped to join the company of the elect angels, who had been preserved and confirmed in holiness, when many of their company apostatized and ruined them- selves ; who then witnessed his conduct, and would attend, when he should give an account of it to his sovereign .Judge; that he observed these things with the utmost care .'ind exactness, whatever opposition and trials he might incur ; and that in all these regulations he should take care not to prefer one man to another, through any carnal affection, attachment, connexion, or obligations : and that he should manifest no partiality, either in censuring offend- ers, or ordaining elders, or in any other part of his im- portant service. In ordaining elders, especially, he must be careful not to act in a hasty manner ; but take time to examine into men's characters, principles, motives, and endowments, that he might not be induced to lay hands on improper persons, by imjsortunity employed in their be- half. He would need great care, in this immensely im- portant concern, to avoid being partaker of other men's sins, and becoming answerable in part, at least, for the crimes of those who thus intruded i-uo that sacred func- tion, to the dishonour of God, the great detriment of the church, and the ruin of immortal souls : for even an obliging and easy temper might betray him into much cri- minality, from which he must by a'i means keep himself pure. It is manifest, that Timothy is here, and elsewhere, supposed to possess great authority in the Ephesian church, both in superintending the elders already ordained, and in Vol. v.— Nc. 24. . 3. W.4. te» -M IN .MS. . XJCX" 23 Drink no longer water, <^ but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake, and ?»|j'rov thine often infirmities. si 'kpn .. le. 24 Some men's "^ sins arc open before- "i.J'f J) ^i^acu hand, going before to judgment; and i'V/lf°"'- some men they follow after. 1' '™ . •"■ "^ - ^ ., .-' , Vet. M. iO. 21 25 Likewise also " the good works (/Vj' ac^'iVw fiotne are manifest before-hand ; and thev ;[„■? ,r,t^',~i: that are otherwise ^ cannot be hid. \y " '""' * f Ps. xxxvii 5, 6. Malt vi. 3-6 I-uVe si 3" ordaining others. It is also allowed that he was an extra- ordinary person, especially appointed by the ajioslle to this service ; but there is no proof, that he conferred miracu- lous powers by the imposidon of his hands, as the apostles did. We cannot indeed by any means infer the divine right ■if episcopacy, from the autiiorily eserci.sed by Timothj-, Titus, and olher evangelists ; yet it is highly probable, at least, that it was very early found expedient, and conducive to peace, to have a stated presiding inspector, of approved wisdom and piety, who might su[)erintend the pastors and die affairs of a few neighbouring churches, as moderator and censor ; and be peculiarly attended to in the appointment of church-officers. Hence a moderate episcopacy was very early, probably even while some of the apostles lived, generally prevalent in the church : indeed, this seems to have taken place between the time, when St. Paul gave his admirable parting charge to the elders or bishops of Ephesus, and the time when St. John, from our Lord's own mouth, wrote epistles to the angels of the seven churches in Asia. And after all the abuses, usurpations^ controversies, and prejudices, that have since been intro- duced, probably the time will ere long arrive, when expe- rience will convince pious men of different persuasions, that something of this kind, properly conferred, limited, and exercised, would prove a suitable remedy to those multiplied divisions, which so weaken and disgrace reli- gious societies, that in doctrine, worship, and practice, are in all other respects unexceptionable. V. 23. This verse is a remarkable instance of the aposde's neglect of exact method in penning his epistles. It occurred to his mind, when reflecting on Timothy's manifold cares and labours, that his frequent indisposition? might be increased by his too great abstemiousness ; to the prevention of his usefulness, and the shortening of his days. He therefore broke in upon his subject, to counsel him not to drink water any longer, at least as his only liquor ; but to use a little wine, to strengthen his stomach, and preserve his health. We may hence form an estimate of the exact temperance practised by these laborious ser- vants of Christ, who so zealously pleaded the cause of Christian liberty, who placed no dependence on such mat- ters, and who never prescribed their own conduct as a rule for other men ! V. 24, 25. In respect of the choice and ordination of ministers, it might further be observed, that some men's crimes were so notorious, and so easily proved, that they lay open before-hand, and anticipated the judgment which was to be formed of their conduct and pretensions. In olher cases they followed after ; so that diligent and im- partial investigation would be requisite, in order to detect 3 D Ji. I). 60, . I. TLMOTHY. ^. D. 9«. CHAP. VI. The dutji of servants to unbelicvingi and believing, masters, I, 2. Timothy must shun those, as corrupters of the Gospel, who teach contrary/ to the apostle's doc- trine, 3 — 5. The advantage of godli- ness with contentment, 6 — 8. 77ie mis- chiefs arising from the love of money, 9, 1 0 The apostle exhorts Timothy to fiee from these evils ; to follow after righteousness, 8,-c. and to fight the good fight of faith, 11, 7 2; and most solemnly charges him to le faithful till the coming of Christ, 1.'5, 14. He ascribes glory to the cterncd God, IS, 16. Timothy must charge the rich to avoid pride, and con- fidence in wealth ; and to abound in li- berality, as seeking a treasure in heaven, against the time to come, 18, 19; and he viust adhere to the faith, avoiding pro- fane and vain controversies, 20, 21. tliem. In like manner, some y)ersons, applying for admis- sion into the public s rvice of the church, had a suftkient testimonial in their kiioun and abundant good works, which were manifest before any peculiar inquiry was made ; and when this was not the case, yet, upon due investigation, Timothy and others micht become acquainted with them : so that, i') most instances, an impartial attention to the bu- siness, without any respect of persons, would enable them to know who were, and who were not, eligible to public stations. ' I speak not of men, whose good or bad works ' are manifest b( fore-hand : for they without further ex- ' amination may be admitted ; or are to be rejected : but ' those whose vices, or good works, are latent. For they, ' after examination and inquiry, cannot be long hid. And ' so, if thou be not hasty in laying on of hands, thou may- ' est timely discover them. Or thou wilt not be partaker ■ with the sinner, having done as much as was in thy pow- der to discover them.' {Whitby.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—8. There is a respect due to the aged, which must not be withheld by their juniors, when placed in authority over them, or even on account of incidental faults. Every thing harsh and assuming must be improper, in the con- duct of young ministers towards their seniors, as it would be in the conduct of a son to his parents. Indeed, admo- nitions are generally most efficacious, whether to old or young, when meekness and affection unite with firmness and faithfulness. The greatest caution and purity arc re- quisite in the conduct of ministers, (especially while in the prime of life,) as to their most needful converse with the younger women in their congregations; that all occa- sion, appearance, and suspicion of evil may be prevented. — It is an indispensable duty, for children and grand-chil- dren to requite the kindness of their aged parents; this is good and acceptable with God ; nor are more distant rela- tions exempt from a measure of the same obligation, when they can afford it ; that neither the churcii, the parish, nor the public, may be charged ; but that the contributions, raised in any way, may be applied to such as are really destitute. But if any professor of liie Gospel, through sloth, improvidence, selfi?hness, oi' other corrupt princi- ple, wilfully neglect, or refuse to provide for, his near re- laiives, he is, in the ajjostlc's judgment, virtually a denier of the faith, and even worse than his neighbours who do not pretend to believe the doctrines of grace. And may we not, by parity of reason, infer, that they who neglect to instruct their household, and to do what they can for the salvation of their relatives, act altogether inconsistently with the Christian profession ? Aged widows and others of good character, who are left destitute in the decline of life, ought to be honoured as well as supported. It seems the intent of these scriptures to teach us, that every reli- gious society should, as far as it is able, make provision for persons of this description, and not leave them to sordid penury, or to the tender mercies of the wicked, in their old age. But then this provision should be limited to such " trust in God, and devote themselves to his service, in prayer and supjilicalion night and day ;" at least to such, as give evidence that they are of a widely different charac- ter from those, " who live in pleasure, being dead whilst " they live." Alas ! what numbers are there of this de- scription among nominal Christians, even to the latest pe- riod of life ! And how much does the same leaven work among professors of the Gospel! These things we must give in charge, that the church may be preserved blame- less ; or, at least, that we may deliver our own souls. V. 9—16. Every one, who is brought forth into notoriety in the church, should, as much as possible, be free from scandal ; and many are proper objects of charity, who ought not to be employed in public services. They who in domestic life have shown most diligence, humility, compassion, benevolence, love to the people of God, and readiness for every good work, are most likely to fill up leisure time profitably, and to be faithful in whatever is intrusted to them. It is not sufficient to determine what would be best in itself, of things not absolutely obligatory or unlawful : the state of human nature, and facts, must be attended to, that it may be known what is most generally expedient. It might have seemed plausible to admit the young widows, or other young women, to such a service in the church, as implied an entire devoting of themselves to religion for the rest of their days ; yet the apostle, not oidy with the wisdom derived from deep reflection and extensive obsei vation. but under the influence of the di- vine Spirit, decidfd o'henvise. He knew that this would expose them to tempt.Uion, and lead many into si i ; that it would tend to ens».ire some of them into improper mar- riages, and even occasion their apostary and ruin ; th.it it would give others of thcni a habit of indolrnce. sau:iler- ing, slandering, intruding into matters not belonging tu ,i. IJ. 0«. CHAPTER Vi. Ji. D. Gi;. I Beit.xiv ET as many' servaHts as arc under t Malt xi S9 i A 1 co'r ''ii 21. worthy of all honour, ' that the name of ■fieu^x.i 9 God and /u'^ doctrine be not blasphemed: js/kc."': Kir.sj 2 And they that have '^ beUevino" nias- V. 2, 3 13. Mai , ,-' , . , ° , 1 i 6 Acts X. 7 ters, " let them not despise them, ' be- i2. Kph VI. 5- ' , , ' , , , Hj coi^ '|i.- 1=- cause they are brethren; but ratiier do *"*' ' "Tf,t '^^"'* service, s because they are * faithful '^ and beloved, " partakers of the beneht. |5 * These things teach and exhort. 5I, 3 If ^ any man teach otiierwise, and tn: consent not ' to wholesome words, even iii.'l6. dCol. iv 1. Phllem. 10-16. e Oen XTi 4, 5. Num xvi. :t. 10 Judo 8 f V I. M.lt sxiii 8 xsv. 40. Horn . 6. Eph U Gc c7. 8 2 ?;n 14 N'eh 1 I Cor. Tit ii 1 Pet ii. 12. ill. 1( Malt vi 24. 2 Pel iii 2i;-29. Col lii 1 1 z r. Philem 5-7 'Or, luli!ui 14 1 Pet V. I — ii» 11 T 1 i. 10. 2 Tim. i. JU. iv. 3 Tit. — h .J.iet I 1 15 iii 3. ii. I,2Cr 23. Rom xi. 17 Epli. k 1. 3 G Horn XV rov. xy. 1 Tit. iii. 8 29. Gal I. 2 Thes i 3 ii. f, Heb iii I. 17. Gal. i C, 7 them, and improper conversation : and that it wouii.], there" fore, be generally better for them to be employed in the duties of the married state, and in the cares of a family ; that this would give less occasion to the enemies of the Gospel to speak reproachfully, and Satan less opportunity of prevailing against them. And immense numbers, in every age, have shown their total ignorance of humau na- ture, and have done incalculable mischief, by attempting to improve on his plan, or rather to subvert it, V. 17—2.';. The office of a minister is honourable to all, those alone excepted who arc a disgrace to their office ; but the most pru lent, fiithful, and diligent, especially the most labori- ous.in the word and doctrine, ought to be most honoured and best provided for. The reverse proportion indeed seems generally to be adopted in this matter ; but the Lord will provide for his faithful servants, whatever me- thod men may follow in disposing of their favours. It may be expected that the impartial public reprover will be exposed to the attacks of malicious calumniators : and though his fauhs should not be connived at, yet accusa- tions against him ought not to be regarded, except well authenticated : but they who give public ofl'ence by their crimes, should be rebuked publicly, that others may be put upon their guard. All, who are employed in impor- tant services in the church, should consider themselves as charged by the ajjostle, " before God and the Lord Jesus " Christ, and the elect angels, to observe those things, '' without preferring one before another." The neglect of this rule, in the exercise of ecclesiastical authority, has given its 0[iponent3 one of their best arguments against it. So much hath been done out of carnal respects, and by partiality to relatives, friends, and connexions, in admit- ting men into the ministry, appointing them to livings, and conniving at their crimes, that the exercise of all authority of this kind has been consiilered as unlawful. — How far those concerned in ecclesiastical matters are cul- pable, in respect of " laying hands suddenly" on improper persons, without due inquiry and circumspection, or from complaisance to sujieriors or friends, and how far this rule is observed, or violated, in all its extent, every man's coBscience must determine for hi«self, till Christ shall ■" the words of our Lord Jesus Clirisl, n M»it. sxi, :i. and to " the doctrine which is according: to Thei"iv i?i b' II- " n iv. 7 e Tit. i I godlmcss ; ii u-m 2i'et. 4 "He is t proud, knowing nothintf, "i ' >ii e r^v. but I doting I" about questions and strifes "."."i 'Jf An« of Avords, ■'whereof comcth envy, strife, "<>".,.«" 'cn' ... ., . . ,' ' ' Cor. ill. 18. viii. railings, evil suiinisings, ^^s- oai. v^i x 5 § Perverse disputings of ■■ men of ;}:|'«'- j!!- <• | corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, Jif^V'io'^' le' 'supposing that gain is godliness : '. from ^'^'/J^jj,'' such withdraw thyself. p?V2'Tim. n 23 qls h iii. 4. Arts XV. 2 P,om. ii. 8 xiii 13 xiv. I. 1 Cor. iii 3 xi. IB 18 2 Cor. xi. :0 Gal V 15. 20,21 i'6 Phil, i 15 ii 3. 14. T,t. iii 9 .lam. i. 19, 20. iii U— IS iv 1.2 5, 6. 1 Pet. ii. 1. 2 J Or, Gallmgsrwofauot'ieT.i fi r Matt, vii 17-20 xil. :)3. Jobn iii' 19— 21 Kpli. iv 17-1'j 2 Thes. ii. t— II. 2 Tim iii. 8. Tit i. 15,16 Keb. iii. 12, 13. 2 John 8— 10 s G. iii 3.6 2K.DJS v. 20-27 Is. ivi 11. Jer v. 3. vi 1.3. vi.i. 10 Ei xx. 16 a Ps xllx IT Lu Tiii. 3, 4 Prov. Heb. xiii 6,6 — i7. Pro v. XI' 27. *-6. Zecb. xi S. 6 But " godliness with ^ contentment is great gain. 7 I''or *' wc brought notliing into (his world, and it is ^ certain we can carr^' nothing out. a And " having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. 9 But " they that will be rich, fall into kesli 20 21. xvl. xsvii. 2;i— 27 xis 8.! — hGin xlii 10-1 1. ix 21. xxi. e xxii It Mitl xiii. 22. x.x. 21' 20 xlviii. ift. Deut . ii 24-2e iii. 13, U. Matt vi 1 1 25 S.t. ixii. 17 - la. Josh. vii. 21. 2 Klli|» v. 20- vfil. LO-22 Is V 8- Ilos xil 7. B Am v.ii i 15 Ji.ii 1. 1— 4 2 Pet. li 15. 16. Juilcll ihat their religions knowicdge, privileges, or libcrly, gave iliern a right lo despise iheir healhen masters, to disobey ihcir iawl'iil coiiiinnnds, or to expose their faults to their neighbours. This they ought to attend lo, that the name of (jod might not be blasphemed, and his truth and worship reviled, among the Gentiles, by means of the failure oi Christian servants in acknowledged duUes. And such of them as enjoyc;d the privilege of believing masters, ought by no means to despise them, or withhold from them due respect and obedience ; because they were brethren in Christ, and so upon a level in respect of religious pri- vileges : but rather lo do them service, with double dili- gence and cheerfulness, because of their faith in Christ and (heir interest in his love, as partakers of the inestimable benefit of his free salvation. This shows, that Christian masters were not required to set their slaves at liberty ; (hough they were instructed to behave towards them in such a manner as would greatly lessen the evils of slavery. It would have excited much confusion, awakened the jealousy of the civil powers, and greatly retarded the pro- gress of Cliristianity, had this been expressly recjuired by the apostles ; though the principles both of the law and the Gospel, when carrifd to their consequences, will infallibly abolish slavery. These things Timothy was directed lo teach and enforce as matters of the greatest importance : and if any persons taught otherwise, and consented not to such salutary words, which were indeed the words of Christ speaking by him, and an essential part of the doc- trine according lo godliness, he should be considered as a self-conceited ignorant man, who, being puffed up with an opinion of his own abilities, was ambitious of distinc- tion and apjiluuse, though entirely unacquainted with the real nature and tendency of the Gospel. It is not abso- lutely certain to what set of men tile apostle referred : but as many of the Jews deemed it unlawful to submit to healhen governors, so it is probable the Judaizing teachers inculcated that the worshippers of God ought not to obey heathen masters: and so paid their court lo servants, by persuading them that they ought to assert their liberty. But there might be others also who disregarded and de- spised these practical instructions, while their attention was taken up with curious and nice speculations and dis- tinctions. Such persons, however, were lo be considered as doling or raving, (like men in the delirium of a fever,) about hard questions and disputes of words, names, forms, or notions, which had no connexion with the power of godliness : nay, on the contrary, they tended to excite envv and competition between one and another, angry coftiests for victory and pre-emincncej mutual revilings temptation and "^^ a snare, and t«/o ■' many »"■• t Deut nt ("ooii.sh and hurtful lusts, *■ wliich drown "r"" > "-•'- . 1 1- ■ *■"'* "' ^• men in destruction and perdition. A'.ik 'iv* is 10 For f the love of money is the root J^fiJ',, ,'*;j?% ' of all evil; which while some * coveted *j^™ »«'^^^ erred from the faith, 5is*'';i',»V.'4 1 2U.2PeL t'VI after, they have '' and pierced themselves through with fj^j" I Ort. 23. many sorrows. Kx. xxiii 7,« Ueut xvi. 10. ij»iii i, i 13 Judc l?ii. 10. 11 irlii. 19. 20! 59— 31. 8 Sam iv. 10. II. Prov i IB. 1>. i 13 l»r II Icr. v 37, 28 Kt. xiii )>. xvi. Xi. xxii. 12. MIc lil II. vii 3. 4. Mai i. 10. MiU xxili. 14. Acts! K.— 19. Tit i. ILRer. xviil 1.1. S :'I 2 I im iv. 10. .luile II. Rev li. U. IS. • Or, htm scitucfd b Gen. zU. li 26 :il,&c. 2 KlDje V 27. Ps. xiixi. 10. Prov. i. 31. 2 Ptt. li. 7. fc. and calumnies, injurious suspicions and jealousies, and absard, obstinate, and violent controversies, between men of corrupt and carnal minds, who were destitute of the real knowledge of the truth and its sanctifying efficacy, and who only sought their own secular advantage, sup- |iosing religion to be valuable, in proportion as il tended to enrich them, as if gain and godliness had been but two names for the same thing! Thus they wanted to persuade the Christian servants, that the recovery of their liberty was to be considered as a Christian privilege, of great value, which they ought to claim, whatever the conse- quence might be : and, from the same principle, they sought worldly lucre by their religious profession, and as their leading object. From such men Timothy was ex- horted lo withdraw himself; and neither have acquaintance with them, nor spend his time in disputing against them, (3Iarg. Re/., V. 6 — 10. The proposition before mentioned, " that " gain is godliness," might be reversed, and thus contain a most important truth. Godliness, connected with a con- tented mind, was indeed very great gain, (Aotf, iv. 8. Phil. iv. 10 — 13;) as it tended to a man's present comfort and everlasting benefit, whatever his outward circum- stances were. For men brought nothing into the world with them, but were born helpless and destitute, except as providence supplied all their wants: and it was most cer- tain, that no man could take any thing along with him when he left the world. So that a subsistence during his journey was the utmost that any one could have of earthly things ; and a very mean and scanty provision would answer that end, as well as a more luxurious and abundant one, and occasion less temptation and sin. In a short time all these things would be finally done with ; whereas godliness would soon terminate in eternal felicity. Having therefore food and raiment, (or covering.) including both raiment and habitation, and things barely needful for the present, we ought to be contented and satisfied with them, with- out indulging any desire of acquiring greater affluence, or of being exempted from hard labour and mean fare : for discontent in a lowly situation, commonly produced a determination to be rich if possible, arid led men out of the plain path of honest industry and prudent economy, in dependence on the providence, and obedience to the commandment, of God. It was indeed evident from facts, they who would at any rate be rich, gave Satan the oppor- tunity of tempting and ensnaring them into such actions, as could not consist with godliness or a good conscience ; urging them to use dishonest means of increasing their gains, aiid a variety of fiauduleat practices : it betrayird A D. (iO. CHAITEII Vf. A^ D. Gii. i so. DMUt xiixiii. 11 But tliou, 'O man of Got), 'flee i, e*""! iimp ihese thi.'igs ; 'and follow after ■" riglit- >a u. «. ia' eoi!?noss, jrodlincss, faitli, love, patience. a Kings i 9 !3 ' = ' ' f. If x\i i 17 meekness. aci,'r viii'u 12 " Fiirht the ffood fifflit of faith, j«i. »«xv 4. o lav hold on eternal lite, p whercunto 2 I ini ill. 1' , •' , III 11 I'K'o'-j^j^'s thou art also called, and '•hast pro- txvi fessed a good profession before many wit- IV. 10 Deut ] ^x-l^iifao ■ Is nesses. is' 1*0? si' ^"^ ' 'give thee charge in the sight of 1 2T.m 'i S2^eb. xii. M. 1 Pet iii 11 m i» 12 Gjl v 22, 2.1 Phil iv B. 'J T.t ii II, 12.2 Pet : 5-7 n i. 18. Zeoll. x. 5 I Cor ix, 25. SB 2 Cor vl. 7 x 3-5 Kph vi 10-18 I Tbes. n 8,9 o I'l Ps Isiii 8 Prov iii 18 Can' I'i. 4 Phil iii 12 l:i Heb. ill. 14 VI. Ifl I .lohn ii. 25. Rev in 3 p Rn:n viii 2R-3n. ix. I:', 2J. Col i.i. 15 I Thes ii 42. 8 The- ii U 2 lira i 9. 1 Pet. iii. 9. v. 10 .j 13. Deut xivi. 3. IV— 19 la. xliv. 5. Luke Iii. 8,9 UcB X a, 10 r Ste OB, ». 21. theiM into such a multiplicity of emplo3'ments and hurry of business, as left no time or inclination for spiritual religion; and it led them into such connexions and com- panies, as tended to draw them still further into sin and folly. Thus they were brought under the power- of *' many foolish and hurtful lusts," even " the lust of the *' flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life." which mocked their expectations, and proved most injurious to themselves and others, till they were plunged into inevi- table ruin and eternal perdition ; as men are drawn in by the voi'te.\ of a whirlpool, when they venture too near it, and go are swallowed up and drowned, without any possibility of escape. When once " the love of money" is allowed to rule in the heart, it becomes the prolific root of all liinds of evil. Impostures, frauds, lies, thefts, robberies, oppressions, murders, ungodliness, hypocrisy, apostacy, contention, law-suits, wars, cruelty, pride, luxury, sen- suality, and penurious avarice, are some of the noxious ■weeds, of which it daily produces a most abundant in- crease, according to the different constitutions, habits, and circumstances of mankind. Every species of impiety, ini- quity, and vice, in one way or another, grows from it ; and a large proportion of the miseries, as well as the crimes, «f mankind originate from the same source. And while some professed Christians, even in the apostle's days, had coveted riches, they had been seduced into apostacy, or led to corrjpt the faith, or to act grossly inconsistent with it : and thus, " they had pierced themselves through," as with wounds made by a sword, in every part of the body ; so that even those who were not finally ruined, were filled with many sorrows, and must endure the most exquisite anguish, in consequence of their folly. All this would have ber'n avoided, if they had been contented with food and raiment, and watched and prayed against the desire of being rich. It is not to be supposed, that the apostle meant to establish, as an universal proposition, that every hind and every act of wickedness grew from the love of money, as from their only root ; for, doubtless, many kinds •and innumerable atls of wickedness spring from other roots, which have scarcely any connexion with the love of money. But whoever well considers what influence the desire of riches, (not only to hoard them, but to purchase with them the gratification of pride, ambition, sensual in- clinations, and even revenge,) has on the conduct of man- kind, will readily see, that, as a general truth, there is God, ' who cjuickcneth all things, and hcforc Christ Jesus, ' who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good * confession; 14 That thou "keep M/y command- ment * without spot, y unrcbukeabie, '^ until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ ; 15 Which in his times he shall shew, ' who is the blessed and only Poten- tate, *> the King of kings, and Lord of lords : 2 1 Cor i 8. Pliili.S 10. 1 Thes. iii. 13 v. 23 2 The? il 1 STim. Hch ix. 28 I Pet i. 7 1 .loUo iii. 2 Rev i 7 » See «b i II Kxxiii. 18 Jer x. 10 xlvi. 18 Dan. ii. 41-47. 1? ai. Matt vi. 13 — Rev. xvii. U xix 16. 8 Uoill. Xiixii39 I Sam. li. G Jolin V. 21. 25- Si 25,26. xlV 6 ActJ xvii 25 Rev. XXI b. x«ii I. t Molt xxvli 11. JohD xviii ;"!, 37 six II. Ret. is. iii 14 * Or, profession, u20. iv 11-16. I CliT xxviii 9, 10 20 Col iv. 17 X Cant iv 7 Tph. .v it. Ueh ix. 14. I Pet i. 19 2 Pet. iii 14. )■ I'liil. ii l.>. Col -i i3 Ju pro- fession of the truth before many witnesses, at lii.^ b;ip- tism, when ordained to the ministry, and especially itj his subsequent labour; and .sufferings Jjs a preacher of the. A. D. (30. I. TIMOTHY. A D. (JO' c su o» i. 17. 16 Who ■= only hath immortality, xxxii 40. Fs, S xxxi. 21. S5. •ov. li 28. Jer ix Si, 21 Mark X. 21 Luke xii. lJ-21 i\t u.icerjji;,(j oj Ttc'tes. Prov. xsiii. i. xxvii. 24. Lc. V but in ™ the livinjr Gocl, " who sriveth us i p> ixn 3 , • 1 1 ,1 ,1 • ^ . " iixxiv 11, la. riclily all thmgs to enjoj ; ^%™ a, a.jer. 18 That '' they do good, that they be "jf^";" '" '* • rich in good work.s. 'ready to distribute, "„•'''':*• ss- T wiiiing to communicate ; tf si'"' "' 19 ' Laying up in store for themselves "j^o'^"^'*- Tit. a good * foundation against " the time to ''p\5'',%*^;r '5 come, that they may » lay hold on eternal f^" -I'j'a.^ "xtil hfe " « =5 G"'- »'. " „• . . 10 Heb xiii 16. 1 Pet. 111. II, 3 John 11 q T. 10 I.ulie xii 21 AeU ix. 3««Tit.ii 11. iil. 8 r Deut. XV. 7, 11. Pg. cxii. 9 ProT. xi. 24, 2s. Ec. xl 1 2, « l5 XXIii 8 Irili. 7 Luke vi 34. xiv. 12—11. Acta ii 44. 45 i» 31-37. xi 29. Bom. xii 8 I Cor. xvi 2 2 Ccr viii. 1, 2. 9. 12. ix.s-15 Phil iv 18. U. Heb xiii. 16. 1 John iii n --t Or. toaabtc. » Ps. XVii 14 .Halt vi 19-31. x.41.42 xix. 21 XKv 31-41. I.me xii 33 Xvi 9. xviii. 22. Gal vi. R, 9 1 Prov x. 25 I.uke vi. 48, 49 Gal v f.. Ejjh iii 17 2 Tim. ii 13. 11 Prov xxxi 25 Luke xvi 9. 25 x Su ono. 12. 1 Pet i 4. V. 13 — 16. To confirm Timothy in the purpo.se of persevering amidst liis various trials and )icrils, the ajiostlc soieiTiiily charged him, as '■ in the sight of God, who •' quickcnelh all things," (or giveth life to all,) and could therefore ]ncscrvc his life, however exposed, and would certainly raise him again to immortal glory, if he laid it down in his cause : aiitl " before Jesus Christ," who had ■boldly borne witness to the truth, and avowed himself the Son of God and the King of Israel, in the presence of Pilate, when he knew that he should be crucified for maintaining that claim ; who required his servants thus constantly to confess him' before men ; and who had pro- mised to own them that did so, bctorc his Father and the holy angels: as in the sight of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, he charged him to keep the command- ment before given, or the trust committed to him, without the spot or blemish of any miscarriage, neglect, or unfaith- fulness, from fear of man or love of the world ; that he might be " unrebukeable ;" that his brethren might see nothing to reprove in him, that the world might have nothing to say against him, and that his Lord might wel- come him as a good and faithful servant. In this let him persevere, till " the appearing of the Lord Jesus ;" which, in his appointed season, he would display in the sight of the whole world, who was, " the blessed," or most happy, " and only Potentate," possessed of absolute, universal, and eternal dominion, " the King of kings, and Lord of " lords," from whom all power and authority were derived and delegated ; {Matt, vi. 13;) who alone possessed im- mortality in and of himself, having undeiived, unalienable, and unchangeable existence, perfection, and felicity; who inhabited the " light itself," being surrounded with such resplendent glories, that no man could possibly approach to him, (except as revealed to sinners in and by his incar- nate Son ;) whom no man ever did or ever can see with his bodily eyes, being a Spirit, and the object of intellec lual vision alone ; to whom honour and power everlasting ought to be ascrib'd by all intelligent creatures. Amen. The Godhead itself seems to be here intended and adored, without distinction of persons ; of which all these things are properly spoken, whether the Person of the Father, of the Son, or of the Holy Si'irit, be mentioned. But the invisible God is revealed to us only in and thiougli the human nature of Christ, as the only-begolten Son of the Father : and this display of the divine glory will be ren- dered most illustrious, when Christ shall be seen as man, exercising all the power, authority, and perfections of God, by the whole assembled universe. {iSules, Malt4 XXV. 31— 4C. John i. 13.) " Without spot," -in re- ' spect of the commandment itself, and '• unblameable," ' in respect of thy performance of it ; which will con- ' tribute to preserve the good confession in the world, "till the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.' {Mnck- ntght.) This is true and important, and indeed implied : but the apostle constantly, in his exhortations, referred t» the ajipearing of Christ; not to establish as a doctrine, that it was near, in respect of time ; but to inculcate a continual readiness for it, and an habitual regard to it, in the whole conduct of Christians, to the very close of life. V. 17 — 19. A few rich persons had, it seems, em- braced the Gospel at Ephesus ; and, as wealth is a compa- rative thing, some such must be found in other places. — But Timothy, and other ministers, might be tempted to pay them undue deference ; and it would require much firmness and impartiality to give them proper counsel, caution, and instruction. He was therefore peculiarly directed, in the most plain, authoritative, and solemn manner, to warn them against the danger to wdiich they were exposed, and to enjoin on them the peculiar duty of their station. He must " charge those that were " rich in " this world," (w hich was perfectly distinct from being " rich towards God,") that tliey should not be puffed up by aflluence, and superiority of circumstances above their brethren ; as if this implied more wisdom or excellency, or conferred on them higher jirivileges, ensured them more regard from God, entitled them to pre-eminent authority n the church, exempted them from censure or reproof^ or authorized them to neglect or contemn others : and that they should not confide in their riches ; as if they couM make them safe or happy, increase their present comfort, give them any permanent advantage, or promote their eternal felicity. For riches were uiirertain, liable to be torn from them, often proving the cause of distress, temp- t;ition and sin, speedily to be left at death, and to be given an account of at the day of judgment. (Notes. Matt. vi. 19—24. xix. 16— 'J6. Liifrexii. 13— 21. xvi.)' Timo- thy must therefore ch;irge the rich, as well as the poor, •' to trust in the living God," both for present safety, sup- port and comfort, and for etern;d happiness ; remember- ing that he gave them bountifully all the things which they enjovf tl. They ought therefore to acknowledge him as the Author of their abundance; it was all given them in his wi'-ilom, and revocable at his will, and could only be profitable to thcra, when used to his glory. They mus^ ^. D. 60. CHAPTER VI. J. D. (50. lu ?n%om 20 5' 0 Timothy, * keep that which i4'iMs Vfim 's committed to thy trust, "avoiding Tit'i'l "iiev profane and vain babblings, and '' op- . a b Acts i 18. 21 Rom i. 23. I Cor i 13-23 therefore be enjoined, by the authority of God himself, to do good with their riches, and to deem this tlieir duty and happiness, instead of avariciously hoarding, or luxuriously wasting them. By relieving the wants of the indigent, and largely contributing to the support and comfort ot their poor brethren, they must aim to be rich in good ivorks, the genuine fruits of faith and love. They must be prompt and liberal in distributing their wealth to proper objects, and for valuable purposes ; as the husband- man scatters his seed without grudging, in hopes of a future harvest. Thus they would treasure up for them- selves the true riches, (not for their heirs, or they knew not whom, as misers do their idolized wealth,) and lay a good foundation for their hope and comfort, in the ap- proaching season of affliction and death ; showing their faith in Christ, (the Rock of salvation,) by the unequi- vocal fruits of love and obedience : that so they too might lay hold on eternal life in actual possession, when the self-indulgent, the covetous, and ungodly rich men around them, would " lift up their eyes in hell, being in tor- ments." V. 20, 21. The apostle, considering the snares and temptations, the allurements and terrors, which Timothy had to guard against and overcome, in order to the faithful execution of his ministry ; and reflecting also on the vari- ous species of false I'eligion, which many artfully substi- tuted instead of tlie humbling, holyGospel of Christ; again most affectionately and earnestly called upon him to keep inviolable, without shrinking or wavering, the ministry, or stewardship, with which he had beeu intrusted. And he charged him to shun the profane aud vain babblings of those, who wanted to impose the foolish and trifling tra- ditions and observances of the Jewish scribes, as well as the rites of the Mosaic law, upon Christians ; and the " oppositions of science," or knowledge, " falsely so " called," such as the Gnostics, or knowing ones, after- wards corrupted the Gospel with. Tliese sjieculations were borrowed from the vain philosophy of the Gentiles ; and, being distoited and mutilated to suit their purpose, they introduced them into Christianity, to render it more congenial to the heart of man, and especially to gratify their fondness for disputation, and their pride of superior penetration and acuteness. Thus one corrupt system of pretended knowledge was opposed lo another, jangling con- troversies were multiplied and perpetuated, the truth was obscured and overlooked, and the wildest absurdities were sub>tiiuled in its |)lace. Some, even then, having been seJui:-ed into these speculations, had erred from the faith into fatal heresies ; aiid the evil was likely to increase. Having therefore, given Timothy this warning, the apostle closed this most instructive epistle with his usual salutation. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—5. It is most important to the honour of the Gospel, that positions of science falsely s« called ; <=.f« ,™. /j, |; 2 1 Which some professing, "^ have erred \^,^-^ "'''• ■' concernmg the thee. * Amen. faitli. "Grace be with */"»;; '.!;; professed Christians duly perform their various relative duties; and that" servants count their own masters worthy •' of all honour," even though they be unbelievers. Their condition, indeed, in this favoured land of liberty, allows them to change one situation for another; but the precepts of scripture do not at all permit them to behave with dis- respect to the persons, or disregard to the lawful com- mands, of those whom they serve ; nor yet to return ailVont- ing answers, or lo speak of their master's faults to others without cause ; but rather to weep over and pray for them in secret, when they are ungodly and unreasonable. Alas ! how grievously are the^ name and Gospel of God blas- phemed through those, servants, who love to discourse and dispute about doctrines and sermons in families averse to them, and then behave with impertinence in their places, if not with sloth, dishonesty, and unfaithfulness ! Thus thousands are fatally prejudiced against the Gospel. Nay, this matter is so little attended to, that many masters, who would be glad to have believers in their families, and to behave to them like brethren, as far as it is consistent with domestic subordination, are often wearied out, and tempted to prefer servants who know not the Gospel, be- cause of the misconduct of those who profess it. Indeed, some servants, whose sincerity is unimpeached, through a lamentable mistake, suppose equality in religious privi- leges to imply equality in the family : and thus they act as if they despised their believing masters and their authority, giving them rude answers, or neglecting their business, or doing it in their own way, as if this was a part of their Christian liberty ; whereas they ought to honour and serve them, with the greater diligence and alacrity ; because " they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit." No doubt there are violations of duty equally inexcusable, committed by those who stand in the opposite relation : and professors of the Gospel are accessory to believing servants choosing to live in irreligious families, by behaving in an unchristian manner to such as have come among them, expecting better treatment. Ministers are bound to teach and enforce the duties of all ranks and orders to men, in the church and community ; and if any one teach other- wise, and s|)cak contemptuously of these exhortations, and consent not to salutary words, which are, indeed, the words of our Lord, and a part of the doctiine according to godli- ness, he ought to be deemed a proud man, who knoweth nothing, (whatever his gifts and profession maybe;) and he should be pitied, and shunned as a distempered man, who is infected by the love of abstract " questions, and •' strifes about words ; whereof cometh envy, contpntion, " revilings, evil surmises, and perverse di-puiing>." This is manifest from daily observation ; to lhe.se thuigs men of corrupt minds, and destitute oftheti-uth, are [)eculiarly addicted; especially when they can make them subservient to their emolument and reputation, being disposed to think that the best religion, by which they can get the most mo- nny. Instead of engaging in controversy with such mer- cenary, self-wise, and ignorant wranglers, who will not J. D. GO. (. TIMOTHY. J. D.GO. conscat even to the aposlie\s Avorus, or to those of Christ himself, wo should withdraw, and thus protest against thfm, and leave iheui to dispute by th--aisclvcs or with one another. V. 6— 12. We slioulJ always remember, " that godliness with con- " tpntniciit is great gain." As we brought nothing with IIS into the worhl, and can carry nothing out, let us trust him that hath hitherto provided for us, to supply our wants during the remnant of our pilgrimage. Having food and raiment, we should daily beg of God that we may be oontented with it, and that he would keep us from every degree and kind of covetousness. We cannot look about us at all, without perceiving that " they who will be " rich fall into temptation, are entangled in a snare, and " are avercomc by many foolish and hurtful lusts, which " drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of " money is the root of all" kinds of" evil," in every part of the earth : and even among professors of the Gospel, we often see piety, charity, mercy, equity, sincerity, temper- ance, and humility, laid like so many bleeding sacrifices on the altar of Mammon ; while men's own souls, and those of their ill educated children, are destroyed, to gi-atify the malignant demon ! Many hopeful persons, by allowing themselves to covet something greater, more elegant, or afHucnt, have erred from the faith, have made shipwreck of their profession, or have turned out mere thorny-ground hearers ; and others have pierced themselves through with many sorrows, to the embittering of the whole of their future lives. No words can express, no description reach, the numberless and horrid evils that continually flow from this source ; especially in a day of outward prosperity, extensive commerce, vast expense, and loose profession ! But " what is a man profited, if he gain the whole " world, and lose his own soul ?" Let every Christian flee from this destructive lust ; let the men of God espe- cially avoid every appearance of the love of filthy lucre, or improvident expense : let us, on the contrary, " follow " after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meek- " ncss," with that assiduity and earnestness, with which worldly men pursue their perishing riches : let us fight the noble and profitable fight of faith, and thus lay hold on eternal life, to which we also are called ; and strive to act consistently with that good profession, which (in our ministry at least.) we have made of the truth, before many witnesses, who will all at last testify against us, if we for- sake Christ from love of this present world. V. 13—21. The apostle charges us also, " as in the sight of God " who quickencth all things, and of Christ Jesus, who '' before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, that " we keep the commandment of God without spot, and " unrebukeablc, till the appearing of Jesus Christ." Let none suppose that our Lord dclayelh his coming : in his own times Lc will be uianif«sted, as " the cflulgpncy of " the divine glory, the Image of the invisible God." 'J'hk will be brought to pass by •' the blessed and only Fotcn- " tate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords ; who only •' hath immortality, dwelling in inaccessible light," and invisible to human eyes. That we may bo presented fault- less before the divine Redeemer's presence with exceedinj; joy, receive the crown of immortal glory, and be admitted to the beatific vision, it bohooves us now to be faithlul, watchful, sober, diligent., :ind disinterested. Thus honour- ing our God here, and desiring to ascribe to him glory and power to eternity, he will honour us at last, befoie the assembled universe. Ministers are recjuired, especially, to point out to rich men their peculiar dangers and duties j because they are numerous and important. Whilst n«/«r« prompts us to desire connexion with them, it produces a leluctancy to that part of duty which relates to them. Even modesty, timidity, gratitude, or supposed prudence, may warp us in this matter: a false apprehension of what may conduce to their best interest, that of our religious society, or of the Church at large, and a fear of prejudicing and offending them, and so losing the opportunity of doing good to them or by them, may easily mislead us in this great concern : not to speak of the dread of their frown, and the credit and advantage of their friendship, both which are very ensnaring to the ministers of the Gospel. But we must break through all these obstacles, if we would be faithful stewards and vigilant watchmen, and deliver our own souls. We must charge them in the name of God not to be high-minded, nor to trust in their un- certain riches, or idolize them ; and not to seek happiness from them, but from the '' living God, who giveth us all " things richly to enjoy." We must show them the danger to which they are exposed, of being betrayed into pride, avarice, ambition, self-indulgence, and the love of out- ward splendour. We must point out to them the proper use and improvement of their wealth ; charging them to do good, to be " rich in good works, ready to distribute, " willing to communicate :" we must call on them to provide against the time to come, when it will be said to them, " Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou " shalt be no longer steward." We must exhort them so to use present advantages, that they may lay up for them- selves a better treasure, and ensure a good hope, and know themselves to have a firm foundation in a dying hour, that they may lay hold on eternal life. But who is sufficient for these things ? Or who can give such charges with energy, that is not himself evidently superior to the love of wealth, or any thing that wealth can purchase ? May the Lord help us all to keep these things, which are committed to our trust, to avoid profane and vain babblings, disputa- tions, philosophy, and oppositions of science, falsely so called ; by which so many are drawn away from the preaching of, and believing dependence on, a crucified Saviour : and may the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all Lis faithful ministtrs and people every where, and at all times ! Amen. THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PxlUL tHE APOSTLE 'tTie dpostie was evidently a prisoner at Rome, when he wrote this epistle; Lid some suppose that it was written during his first imprisonment., as the epistles to the Ephcsians, the Philippians, the Colossians, Philemon, and the Hebrews were : others, however, are of opinion, that it was ivritlen when he was im- prisoned a second time, and not loni^ before he suffered inartyrdom; and this appears to me by far the most satisfactory. The ancients, from these ivords, " / a?/i ready to be offered, and the time of my depar- "■ ture is at hand,''"' (iv. (3) do frencrally conclude, that this was the last of his epistles. /J nd truly the tvords are not well capable of a)iy other sense : for he says expressly, '^ I am now offered, and the time ^' of my dissolution is instant. [ have finished my course.''^ Whereas he not only expected to be delivered from his first bonds, but says expressly, '•'■ I know that I shall abide. Sec.'''' (Phil. i. 25, 2ti. Philem. 22. Heb. xiii. 23.) ' In his flrat bonds, he was in libera custodia, in his own hired house.'' (Acts xxviii. 39, 31.) ' His bonds were known in Cccsa/s jmlace, and to all others. Here he is in areta custodia : so ' that Onesiphorus was forced to " inquire more diligently after him, that he might find him out.'''' Jiganb ' he said before, " Many of the brethren, being encouraged by my bonds, were bold to speak the w ord '■'■ without fear.'''' (Phil. i. M.) Here '■^ all men forsake hirn.'''' (Whitbj.) Timothy was with Paul, when he wrote to the Colossians, to the Philippians, to Philemon, and to the Hebreivs. (Phil. i. 1. Col. i. 1. Philem. 1. Heb. xiii. 23.) Mark was also ivith him, and joined in saluting the Colossians : but both were absent when this epistle teas written. Should it be argued, that they came lo him before he ivrote the other epistles : what can be said concerning Dcmas ? For he was with the apostle when he wrote to the Colossians, but had forsaken him rv lien he tvrote this epistle. (iv.10.Col.iv.il.) The supposition, that Timothy and Mark had come to the apostle, before he wrote the other epistles, implies that this was written a considerable time before those : but the supposition, that Demas had repented, and returned to the apostle, when he lorotc to the Colossians, implies, that this epistle was written some time after. Yet, these contradictory suppositions must both be admitted, to support the opinion, that this epistle was written during the apostle'>s first imprisonment. Indeed, the language used in it, implies that tli£ apostle considered himself, as one who had finished his ministerial labours, and after a severe imprisonment, perhaps for some time, was about to close his testimony by martyrdom. (Notes, i. 15 — 18. iv. 5 — 9.) It if also questioned where Timothy was, when the apostle wrote to him. It is generally thought thai he resided at Ephesus ; and indeed this is probable, though not certain. (Compare ii. 16 — 18 iv. 15. with 1 Tim. i. 20. — See Notes iv. 9 — 12. 19 — 22.) The scope of the epistle evidently was to animate Timothy to endure persecutions with courage and constancy ; to caution htm and others against false teachers and corrupt professors of Christianity ; the increase of ivhom, the apostle predicted in most enersretie lani^uage ; and to direct and animate him in fulfilling his mi?iisiry, and in following after holiness. '■The apostle had been for some time under close coifinement at Rome, at the mercy of a cruel and capricious tyrant. He had seen himself deserted by his friends in his greatest extremity, and had '- nothing before him, but the certain prospect of being called to suffer death, in the same rause to which • he had devoted his life. In this situation, hoiv does he behave ? Docs he seem to look back with concern ' on his past conduct ; or to regret the sacrifice he had made of his worldly interests ? Can we discover ' any thing, that betrays a secret consciousness of guilt, or even a suspicion of the weakness of his cause ? — ' On the contrary, upon the most calm and deliberate survey, he expresses an entire satisfaction in ' refecting on the part he had acted ; and earnestly recommends it to his beloved pupil, to follow his '■example in maintaining the glorious cause, even at the hazard of his life. He appears throughout the * epistle to have felt a strong conviction of the truth of those principles he had embraced; and glories in ' the sufferings he had endured in support of them ; triumphing in the full assurance of being approved - by his great Master, and of receiving cU his hands a crown of distinguished lustre.'' (Doddridge.) Vol. v.— No. 34^. 3 E J. D. G7. IJ. TIMOTHY. ji. D. 67. CHAP. r. a Su on nnm. i. 1, 2 Cor i I. h John V 24. 39, 40 w <0 51- X. 28. svii 3. Kom T. SI v\. 23 2 Cor i 2f> Eptl iii 0 T.t i. 1! Heb IX, li2Pet i. 3,4 1 •ii V. 1 1 The apostle aJfcchonaleJy sahites Timo- thy, xiith thanksgiving and prayer on his account, ] — 3 : and expresses a great desire of seeing him, 4 ; remem- bering his faith, and that of his grand- mother and mother, F). He exhorts him to stir np the gift of God which toas in htm, 6. He charges him not to be asha- med of the divine testimony, or of him the Lord's prisoner ; but to prepare for suffering, as having been saved and colled by special grace, according to the blessed tcnour of the Gospel, 7 — 10. Of this, Paul had been made an apostle ; for which cause he suffered, ivithout be- ing cither ashamed or afraid, as lie knew the pouer of Him in whom he trusted, II, 12. He exhorts him to steadfastness and faithfulness, l.'i, 11 ; shows thai those of ^isia had turned from him, 1.5 ; and commends the diligent and courageous kindness of Oncsiphorus ; praying fervently that he and his family might find mercy from God, at the lust day, lU — 18. PAUL, "an apostle of Jesus Christ, bj the will of God, accordine^ to ''the joim li. promise of hfe which is in Clirist Jesus ; 2 To '' Timothy, »'V dearly beloved "■»"•»• 'Tim *• , ^ J^ J J 2— Kooo. nil. son: "urace, mercy, and peace, Irom .'^pw' >" ' /-111 T-i 1 1 * .1 • T <) .5it on Rom i 7. uod the father, and Christ Jesus our '/« ?" R,"" '• Lord. f*-.!'! >5 ArU 3 ' 1 thank God, ' whom I serve from *■!';,* E Acu my forefathers e^vith pure conscience, g'^' /''jcS?'! ''that without ceasing I have remem- la Heb "i/. i»' brance of thee in my prayers 'night and VTii^i'2°T,i'io: ,|nv • iS«im,r.uke i.37" "^y > _ _ k ,v a, 21 Horn. 4 Greatly •" desiring to see thee, 'being l-ilii '!.'8.^,72l' mindful of thy tears, that 1 may be " filled ^o!"'.!.'. " "~ wiin joy; 3,, 38. Rev. vn.. D NVhen " I call to remembrance the m Pe^c^tis. it. " unfeigned faith that is in thee, which i3''john%v"«.' dwelt hrst in thy grandmother Lois, and n*Ps imth s f thy mother Eunice; and "^ 1 am per- "xvni. 4'Yivi 3? dl .1 , • .1 1 ' Ixxji 15 Mart. ed tliat m thee also. Jer.in lajoi,. 6 Win re fore ' I put thee in remem- ^ ' Tim i y'i *, Pet i* 22- brance, ' that thou stir up the sift of God, p »"» "»■ lo- ,.,.., , , r . '^ I, .IXMvi 16. cxvi. wliich IS in thee, ' by the putung on ol my \^'j^^'''' \ hands. ss Rom. iy 21 TIM 38 xiv 6, 7 f or God hath not given us " the spirit It g^xi'n"^'' of fear; "but of power, and '' of love, '^'l ,' Vfro. w'^; am! of '■ a sound mind. f ^^^^'^ '^- "'' 8 Be not thou therefore "ashamed o(^i^ ^^'^^"l- "the testimony of our Lord, nor of me ru*"""*'"^: Koni. .\il 6-8 1 Thes. v. :9, 1 rel.ii. 10.11 1 Acts Tiii 17, 18. xix 6. 1 Tim, i»l 14 Heh vi 2 -uArlsnx 24 xxi. 13 Horn viil. 15 Heb, ii. 15 1 John iy 16. K IMic, iii. 8 Zech iv r,. l,u>e X 19 Xliv 49 Acts i. 8 vi 6 ix 22 X 38, 1 Cor. ii. 4. y Kim.T, i Gal v 22. Col i B 1 Pel i 22 z Ps. cxix. 80 Frov ii 7 viii, 14. I.uke vii, 35. xv. 17. Acts xxvi 11 25 2 Cor v. 13, 14 a 12 Ps. csis. 46 Is. li. 7 .Mark viil 38 I.uke ix- 26, Acts v 4l, Rom. i 16 ix. 33 Eph iii 13 1 Pet iv 14. l)Ps. xix — • ■ — • - ~. . NOTES. CHAP. I. V. 1. The Gospel, intrusted to the apostle by the sovereign will of Gofl, according lo the promise of life ami salvation made to fallen man, through the pre- dicted Messiah, from the beginning: ail these predictions were fulfilled in Christ, and then the promise of life was sent lo Jews and Gentiles without distinction. ' Thus he ' shovTs, that the Gospel is not new; but the very thing ' wtiich God promised by the prophets. I would again ' and again admonish the reader, not to pass over tiie ' superscriptions to the epistles of Paul in a siiglit man- ' ner; as he uses, in them, with a sort of inimitable ' brevity, to eml)race the sum of the mysicry of the ' Gospel : so that, while these are preserved, the church ' possesses that which she may oppose to all heretics.' (Besa.) V. 2. {Maror. Ref. Note, 1 Tim. 1, 2.) V. ,3— .5. The ajx>slie returned hearty thanks, on Ti- mothy's account, to the one living and true God, wiiom he worshipped, after the manner of liis pious progenitors in successive ages, from Abraham to that time ; or accord- ing to the revelations of a .Saviour vouchsafed to them. F.Ji- indeed they all looked forward to the Messiah, and served Gorl with a believing regard to him ; though their descendents had rejected and crucified him, and now per- .*eculed those wlio believed in him. The apostle had indeed formerly been a leader of these persecutors : but his conscience was now jiurged from dead works by the atoning blood of Christ, and made tender and well in- formed by divine grace ; so that he served God conscien- tiously and cheerfully, with spiritual worship and believ- ing obedience. He was especially thankful, that he was- enabled continually to remember Timotliy in his fervent and frequent prayers, by night and by day ; being mindful of the tears which he shed, as expressive of his love and sorrow when they last separated ; and longing greatly for another interview, which he was assured would fill his own heart with joy and salisfartion. This persuasion arose from his recollection of the unfeigned faith which Timothy's whole conduct had manifested to dwell in him, and to influence and sanrtify his heart. Tiiis was the same precious faidi that had first been communicated to his grandmodier Lois, and to his mother Eunice. These pious women seem to have " waited for the consolation of " Israel," before they heard the Gospel, and thus were prepared to receive it: having diligently given Timo- thy a religious education, it greatly conduced to his being made partaker of the same faith, as the apostle was fully persuaded concerning him. (Note, iii. J4— 17.) It is not unlikely, that Timothy accompanied the a|50stle to Miletus, and parted with him there, accompanying the Ej)hesian elders when they i clurned lo Epheaus. A. D. 67. CHAPTER I. A. IX (17. c 16 ii. 9. s« on c his prisoner: but "'be thou partaker of Iti.V.llx-. the afflictions of the Gospel, * according S Rom. vHi >7. , r /-< 1 18^36 I Cor iv. to the power ol Oou ; 17-27. Phi itI: 9 Who Hiath saved us, and ^ called 10. Col. I. S4 . , , , ... K , l- 1 Thes. m.j._,i ^s ^vith an holy calling, " not according ^" '^ora «i to our works, but ' according to his own %'2.^cor.'vi_^7. purpose and grace, '' which was given us Ti'n'Col. I. il'. 1 Pet i. 5. Jude21 f Ao.ls ii. 47. 1 Cor. '. IR Epb ii. 6. t^l Tim, 1 1 Tit iil 4. S. gUom vili.ao ix 24. 1 Thes iv. 7. 2 Thes u 13, li Hel. mi. 1 I Pet i IS.l6.ii S 20,21 h Kom lii.Sn ix II si 5 6 Eph li 9 Tit m 5 1 is xiv 36.27. Matt, xi.25, 26 Luke X. 21 Kom. viii £8. Eph i 3. II. k John vi. 37 X. 28,29. »vii 9. I Cor iii. 21, 22. Eph i. 3. in Christ Jesus, ' befor«5 the world began ; ^j^^^ »;" f^; 10 But is '" now made uiatiifest by the »*j™ .i*"]; J* appearing of "our Saviour .lesus Christ, J,,, '^' 'iiji'- '; ° who hath p abolished death, "» and hath „fVi.xxv. 7 u, brought life and immortality to light ?i,* 32^"''Rom: through the Gospel : rcd'Y 2n''27, Til i 3. Ji. ll.lPet. i 10,21.1 .lolin i 2. n Is sliii 3, xlir. 15 21 1,'jkeii. U. John iv. 42. Acts V 31.xiii. 23. Tit i 4 li. 13. iii. 4 2 Pet i. 1. II ii 20 ili 2. 18, 1 John iv. 14. ols. xsv 8. Hos xiii U John xi 25, 21; 1 Cor sv, 54,45 Heh n. 14.15, Uev XX, 14. p Luke xiii, 7 Rom iii. 31. vi. B C!..l v. 4 Gr ql .lohn V 29. 40. Kiv 6 XX- 31. Rom ii 7. v, 17. 18. 1 Cor. XV. 52 2 Cur. v 4. 2 Pet. i. 3 1 Jiihn i. 2 Hev. ii. 7 xxii. 1, 2. 14. 17 -Luke &i 36. John i. 9. 1 Cor iv. 5. Eph i. 18. Heb x. 32 Rev. xviii 1. Or. V. 6—8. {Note, 1 Tim. iv. 14.) The spiritual gifts conferred by the laying on of the apostle's hands, probably at Timothy's ordination, ought to be exercised in the per- formance of the ministry intrusted to him. The aposUe therefore reminded him to " stir up the gift of God that •» was in him," by meditation, prayer, and diligence, as the fire is stirred, and so made to glow, when fuel hath been laid upon it. Thus love, zeal, and compassion for souls, being brought into vigorous exercise, he would be animated to improve his talents, and fulfil his ministry with ardour and eflect. For the Holy Spirit, whom God had given them, as established believers, was not the Author of a timid and cowardly disposition, or of slavish and discou- raging fears ; but, as the Spirit of adoption, he inspired their hearts with holy courage and confidence, gave vigour and energy to their spiritual affections, and endued them ■with strength for service or suffering: while love to Christ, his people, and all mankind, animated them to self-deny- iv\a and perilous labours; and a sound mind, a sober judgment, and heavenly wisdom, led them to choose the noblest ends, and to pursue them in the persevering use of the most jirudent and effectual means. So that the spirit of a lively Christian was that of courage, firmness, zeal, and consistency of conduct, in the midst of perse- cutions and temptations. Timothy was, therefore, ex- horted not to be ashamed of that testimony which be had borne to the Lord Jesus, among those who reviled and derided him : nay, he must not hesitate to avow him- self the fellow-labourer and dutiful son in the faith of Paul, the despised and imprisoned apostle of Christ. On the contrary, he ought willingly to become a partaker of those afflictions, which were to be endured for the Gospel, de- pending for support, protection, and comfort under them, " on the power of God," which would certainly be exerted in his behalf. V, 9. The Lord, indeed, had already saved both the ^apostle and his son Timothy; or brought them into a .state of safely: having "called them with a /io/,(/ calling ;" as the Holy Spirit, by whom they were converted, was the Aiillior of all holiness in the hearts of believers, and as the Gospel, through which they were called, was in all things of a holy tenrlrncy. This had no[ been " according to " their works ," for if God had dealt with ihi m by that rule, they must have been left under condemnation : but it was " according to his purpose," of special love, and ♦' his grace, which was .given them in Christ bcfnrc the " world began;" that is, his purpose of giving thrm grace in and through Christ Jesus, which was engaged to him as the appointed Surety of his chosen people, " from eternal " ages." Various ways of setting aside the obvious mean- ing of the verse, as implying ■personal elect ion from the be- ginning, or " before eternal ages," (which is the most lilerartranslation,) have been proposed: but, none of them can be maintained, as it appears tome, without sup- posing that all they, who live and die impenitent and un- believing, may be said to be " saved and called with a " holy calling ;" because a Saviour was promi.';ed from the beginning of the world. Indeed, " the purpose of God" is mentioned, as the reason why they, rather than others^ were thus saved and called. V. 10. This eternal purpose of God, respecting the calling and saving of sinners by grace given them in his Son, was at lengUi made manifest by his appearance in hu- man nature ; when, through his righteousness, atonement, resurrection, ascension, and mediation, he abolished the reign and power of death, and deprived him of his sling and terror, in respect of all believers, who might through him face that dreaded enemy, in his most tremendous form, with comfort and confidence ; being assured of the imme- diate entrance of their souls into glory, and a future triumphant resurrection of their bodies from the grave. By the publication of the Gospel, likewise, he had brought life, spiritual and eternd, and a state of immortal felicity, as attainable by sinners, into full light; and had given the most explicit declaration of the nature, certainty, and method of obtaining that future happiness. Whatever notions the Gentiles had of the soul's immortality, they knew nothing of the way in which eternal life might be attained by sinners; they were wholly ignorant of the meaning annexed to the words, " life and immortality," in scripture : their >peculations served only for amusement or disputation, being blended with error and fable, in- volved in obscurity and uncertainty, and utterly inelSca- cious on their practice. The Jews indeed had a revelation in the Old Te.st.iment, both of a future state and the resur- rection of the body. But it was far less full and explicit than in the New Testament ; it was chiefly confined to one small nation ; and it was very imperfectly understood and believed even by them. So tl\al whatever had been con- jet turcd. or believed, previous to the coming of Christ, concerning a future state, it might properly be said, that '• he had brought life and immortahty to light by the " Gospel :" the cfoctrine respecting it was plat cd in the most convincing and interesting light, every proper ques- tion about it was sitisfactorily resolved : and the whole was suited to answer the most important practical pur- poses. Indeed, after all modern improvements and meta* phvsical demonstrations, all influential belief of the im- mortality of the soul, and a future state of retribution, rests wholly on divine revelation; as well as that of the 3 E 2 J. D. G7. n. TIMOTHY. J. D. 67. 1 Act' ix liP.pli ill 7ce.— s 1 Tiro i 1 1 1 Wlieieiiuto ' I atii aj^pointed a preacher, and a;) apostio, and a teacher of js "iv. 'i6."'i7 the Gentiles. V, 60 xivj, r. 12 For " the which cause I. also suffer 3tx,i 21 - 2J these thinsrs : nevertheless ' 1 am not }.iih. 111. i-e t ° r t \ 1 II ^'j, '^hes j'j'i^^ ashamed, "lor 1 know whom 1 have ' '• '',!, * u*"" * believed, and " am persuaded that ■• he 31X1. 13 noili ^ ' I I ■ I 1 1 M^i-hiiV iu "^ able to ^ keep that ^ which 1 have ;,. " ' committed unto him, ^ against that '"."Ida HeS. Phil - . mlid. I . 12. 13 I Pft i 20 21 ii 18 vi, 25. z John vi 39, 40. ii x 3ixKi 5 Luke XMii. 46 Acts vii 69. 1 I'et 36. Luke X. 12 1 '1 hei. v. 4. 2. Vah. i. 7. Malt xii 21 Rom. xv. 12, 13 Eph X Sfe on q 6 y John X. 28-30. Phil 13 ' Hold fast "^ the form of sound c u in. u. pro^. Avords, ^ which thou hast heard of mc, -n 'f x^xxiiV 23 ' in faith and love which is in Christ Je- n'^ »'2rHcb. iii 6 iv 14. X. SUS. 23. Jude3 Rev. 14 That ^cood thinjj which was com- d"pro. "viii. u • ~ HoQi il 20 vi mitted unto thee, keep ''by the Holy n 1 Tim. i.' lo! /-I ^ 1 1 • I 1 11 .L ■ ■' ^ vi. 3 Til il. 1. (jhost ' which dwelicth in us. 8^. ^ „^.^' .^ 1.5 H This ihou knowest, "that all f, *",'..""?''!''• ♦■ 1 1-1 • 4 • , 1 1 lini. 1. 14 they which, are in Asia ' be turned away e,',' ?; '"ke «vi J / il. Horn. 111. 2. from me; of whom arc Phygellus and ^1°' ,'\'^;^ Hermogenes. 5;*' „" J i^j'^ i 11. vi 20 h Rom viii 13 Ejih v. 18. 1 Thc« » 19. 1 Pet. i 22 1 John xiv 17' Hon, viii 11. I Cur li,. 16. vi 19. 2 Cor vi. IC t;,,h i, 22. k Adb Xvi 6. xix. ip. resurrection of the body, and the way of a sinner's accept- ance. If indeed it could be drmon.strated that the soul is naturally capable of immort;ility, yet it cannot be prove L except from immediate revelation, that almighty God \i'ill not terminate its existence, especially as it is forfeited by sin ; or that he will not make every sinner miserable in his immortality: and it serves to enhance our value for the oracles of God, when we clearly jierceive the insutfi- ciency of the oracles of reason in the most important con- cerns. V. 11, 12. St. Paul had been constituted a preacher, and an ajiostle, of the Gospel before described, that he might instruct the Gentiles in the way to immortal life and happiness : but instead of receiving honour and affluence, as a recompense for his labours, he suffered all kinds of injuries, and was then in prison as a criminal, in continual expectation of an ignominious death. lie was not, however, in the least ashamed of having engaged and spent so many years in the service of that Saviour, whom men thus despised : for he knew, by faith, divine teach- ing, and happy experience, the power, faithfulness, and love of him, in whom he had believed: and, as he could not doubt of his comjiassion and kindness, so he was fully persuaded of his authority and ability to take care of him in all events. He had intrusted his life, his soul, and his eternal interests, into his hands, as a precious deposit. He had discovered especially the value and danger of his im- mortal soul ; he had been convinced that none else could effectually deliver and secure it through the trials of life and death ; and that Jesus both could and would : he had therefore long before, and by renewed and constant appli- cation to him from time to time ever since, intrusted it in his hands by faith and prayer: to be washed, justified, and sancliiicd, and at last to be produced comjilcte in holi- Xiess, and meet for glory. What he might pass through by the way, he knew not ; but he was persuaded, that Christ was fully able to keep the precious deposit to that day, to which he continually had resjieci, as the grand accomplish- ment of all his hopes; when his beloved Lord would again appear in glorious majesty to judge the world. His most important interests, therefore, being thus secured beyond 'the reach of all enemies, he was prepared to endure igno- miny, pain, and death, Aviihout shrinking ; hoping to com- mit his departing soul into his Saviour's hands, even as Jesus himself had rammended his spirit into those of his heavenly Father. {Marg. lief.) V. 13, 14. After the above animating declaration of his own experience in the midst of sufferings, and the (irospcct of a violent death, the apostle exhorted his be- loved Timothy to hold fast, in a steadfast profession and by faiihlul preaching, " the form of sound words," the sub- stance of evangelical truth, which he had heard of him ; and of whichlie perhaps had given him some compendious epitome. This he must do in the exercise of faith and love, by which the soul has communion widi Christ, and receives communications from him, and so holds the truth in a vital and efficacious manner ; and he must thus guard himself, and others, against the innovations, which false teachers were introducing by unsound and specious words. That good thing, the ministerial charge, or the Gospel committed to his stewardship, he was exhorted thus to keep, observe, and fulfil, without turning aside from it on any account : but he must do this " by the Holy " Ghost, which dwelt in them ;" in dependence on his sacred influences, sought by constant prayer, and by com- pliance with them ; ' adhering closely to the words and ' phiases, in which the apostle had taught the doctrines of ' the Gospel. The teachers in modern times, who, in ' explaining the articles of the Christian faith, use jihrases ' different from the scripture-phraseology, would do well ' to attend to this apostolical injunction.' {Macknight.) V. I. 5. The caution above given was the more need- ful for Timothy, as he must have heard that all they who were in Asia had turned away from him. Some under- stand this of those ministers and Christians, who had been natives of Asia professing Christianity, and with the apo.-;tle at Rome, but who had shamefully deserted him in the season of his greatest danger. Others suppose the apostle to mean, that the churches in Asia, (or that district of which Ephesus was the metropolis,) had withdrawn their regard from him, being perverted by heretical teachers. Some indeed interpret it of the Judaizing teachers ; but they who had always openly ojiposed the apostle could not be said to be turned away from him. These, however, and other false teachers, probaKly had succeeded to alienate many of the apostle's converts. Yet the first interpretation seems to be the true one. The expression, " Thou knowest,'' may only mean, ' No doubt thou hast heard ;' and to mention two individuals, of whom better hopes had been formed to Timothy, while resident in Asia, and witness- ing the defection of many churches, seems wholly uhna*^ iiii'al. Jl D. 67. CHAPTER I. Ji. D. 67. 16 The "Lord give mercy unto "the l\ house of Onesiphorus ; for he oft ° re- lied me, ■' and was not ashamed of 26 Mai. [ 11. 42 fj.pc 1^ in fi li ^ 3 mv Cham; 1 7 But when he was in Rome, ' -p5cfonf.— — q Acts Si he sought :c E|ih vi 20 V. 16 — 18. Onesiphorus was, no douhl, an exception to what had before been said coint'iMi:ig l!.ose of Asia; and it is probable he resided at i:]phesu5 ; where his family then was, while he was at Rome, at a distance from them. The apostle therefore pr lycd for ihcm sepa- rately : for Onesiphorus, by his company and assistance, had greatly refreshed and enlivened his spirits, and had not been ashamed of being known to be his friend w-hen he wore a chain, as many others had been. lie had bestowed much pains to find out the place of St. Paul's confinement, and hid at last succeeded. This shows that the apostle's imprisonment was more close and seveie than before; so that Christians in general scarcely knew where he was, and were afraid to inquire after him. {BJarg, Kef.) He therefore prayed, that Onesiphorus might find mercy in the day of Christ : for Timothy knew in how many things he had served iiim at Ephesus, and ministered to his wants ; and he had now proved the genuine constancy of his affec- tion. The eager manner in which the Papists catch at the unfounded notion, that Onesiphorus was dead, because the apostle prayed separately for his household, and yet ■that he afteiwards prayed for him also, shows how entirely destitute their practice of praying for the dead is of scriptural proof; and how glad they would be to meet with some countenance for it in the word of God, if that xould be done. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—9. The promise of eternal life to sinners, who believe in Jesus Christ, is the leading subject in the preaching of those ministers, who are employed " according to the will " of God :" and though outward dispensations vary, yet Jiis real people have in every age substantially the same religion, and serve God, after the manner of their fore- fathers and predecessors, with a pure conscience ; being ])artakers of the same " grace, mercy, and peace, from •' God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ." The tears of loving Christian friends, when separated at the call of dnty. make way for their fervent prayers for each other ; their earnest desires of meeting again on earth, lead to the cheerful hope of a blessed re-union in heaven, and the fulness of joy to which they will then be_admilted ; and their remembrance of the clear evidences of unfeigned faith, which they have witnessed in each other, excite their thanksgivings to God for his grace bestowed upon them. The pious instructions and fervent prayers of be- lieving parents, are often the means of conversion to their children ; yet such as enjoy this advantage should be re- minded, that they will derive no benefit from the unfeigned faith of the nearest relations, unless the same dwell in ihera also. We ought to remind those of whom we have 4hc best opinion. " to stir up the gift of God that is in me out very diligontlj, and found "^c- 'ik'„.°%^,'*;^ 18 The Lord grant unto him ' that ','^;^^"_'"'^j'-.'j' lie may find ' mercy of the Lord " in """I's.i's^i^^ph that day: alid in how many things he „'^^^, „'/^*',^- '" " ministered unto me at > Ephesus, thou V„"'',\'','' ij knowest vcrv well. " them," and to occupy with it in the duties of the stations allotted them. The new nature communicated in regene- ration tends to liberty, and victory over the fear of man ; and of those rejjrooches, contumelies, and injuries, wliich may be expected in the'path of duty : whenever, therefore, we find our hearts discouraged, our hands weakened, or our earnestness in the work of the Lord abated, we should ascribe it to the remains of unbelief and a carnal mind, and to the temptations of Satan ; and we should strive more fervently in jirayer for supplies of the Spirit of Christ, to invigorate our faith and hope, to " shed abroad " the love of God in our hearts," to animate us with zeal and holy affections, and to produce in us a sound mind and heavenly wisdom. {Note, Phil. i. 9 — 1 1.) Then we shall not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord, but glory in it, even among his most scornful enemies ; we shall not hesitate to join ourselves to his most despised and persecuted servants ; and we shall willingly become par- takers of the afflictions of the Gospel, in dependence on the power of God to support and comfort us. In propor- tion as " the Spirit witnesseth with our spirits, that we " are the children of God," and we know, " that he hath " saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not accord- " ing to our works, but according to his purpose and " grace given us in Christ, before the world began ;" we shall feel ourselves constrained by love to devote ourselves and all our talents to his glory ; thus we shall manifest the holy nature of our calling, and of that doctrine, which is so much opposed and abused by the pride and carnality of the human heart. V. 10-18. We should bless the Lord continually for the appearing of our Saviour .lesus Christ, for what he hath done and suffered to abolish death, and for his Gospel, by which he hath brought life and immortality to light. As we have such decisive assurance of a future state, such full infor- mation concerning the nature of it, and so clear a prospect of immortal felicity, by faith in Him, " who is, the Resur- " rection and the Life," let us give the more diligence in making our personal interest in his salvation sure to our souls ; and let such of us, as are appointed to publish these important tidings to mankind, and to instruct the nations in the truths of Ciirist, prepare for sufferings, knowing that his most honoured servants have always been most conformed to him in this respect. If then we be despised and persecuted for " this cause," let us not give plate either to fear or shame ; for he, in whom we have believed, is able to bear us out, and to keep us safe to that day, when he shall appear to perfect our felicity. The hope of the meanest real Christian, rests on the same basis w ith that of the greatest apostle. He too hath learned the value and danger of his soul, and_his eternal interests •. he iriJrusU .i. D. 07, II. TIMOTHY. J. D. 67. Hag ii *■ on I Cor 13 2 Cor. 9, 10. Eph CHAP. II. Timotluj is exhortcil to courage, ililigencc, fulclily, and sclf-daiylng patience, as the good soldier of Christ, 1 — 6; in remem- brance of Christ, 7, ii ; in imitation of the apostle's example, 9, 10 ; and in assured faith and hope, II — 13. He viust team the flock avainsl false teach- ers, and vain controversies ; studying •' rightly to divide the word of truth,'''' 14 — l(i. The pernicious effects of the error of Hymcncus and Fhiktus, 17, 18 : yet " the foundation of God stands sure,''' and all called Christians should depart from iniquity, 19. Some are vessels of honour, others of dishonour ; but Timo- thy should seek to be theforiner, 20, 21. He is taught ivhat to flee, ami what to fol- low after, 22 ; to shun disputatious ques- tions ; and to instruct opposers with meek- ness, in hopes of recovering them, 23 — 26. THOU therefore, ' my son, '' be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And Mhc things that thou hastci. lani. lo. i«. heard of me * among *■ manv wii.)rsses, .iP'A. it. u " the same commit thou to ' li'fliful men, «sJ''n^ 1. 14. s who sliall be able to teach ot' . ,« also, ia""" '•'*'■ 3 Tliou thercfoie ''endure i udness, T sTm *I! 2*. as a ^ood soldier 01 Jesus Chn.-t. c\ e vn,. xiiu 4 INo man ^ that waneth, ' entangleth ». m.u ^'v;. Iiimself with the affairs of this life ; °' that «' x-.^'Via! he may please him who hath chosen him .c«i ' ' 'T''?,' to be a soldier. '•' /"-^'i" "" 5 And if a man also "strive for il^\f^ ^^[\'''y masteries, yet ° 'm he not crowned, except [^;;,"ih"j-9 he strive lawfully. ^'-s rit-i. i- 6 The r husbandman t that laboureth, V'" 5.'."coi; must be first partaker^of the fruits. eHeb ^t^."'!*.' 7 "Consider what I say; 'and the si, j%jLbi^: Lord give thee understanding in all ,a^cor i 3-5. thino-q *■?" "' ".7'*- lllllJ^tj. _s« on I Tim. i. 18 k Deut XX. 5-7 Lute ix S5-6S. 1 ir. 10 Luke vlii. U- 1 Tim. vi 3—12 2 Pet ii 20 m 1 Cor vii 22 23. 8 Cor. v. 9. 1 Thea. li. i D Liike xiii. 2l. I Cor. 21-27 Phil. i. 15. Col. I. 23. Heb xii. 4. o ir. 7 8 Heb ii 7. 9 Jjm i. 12 I Pet i Rev. ii. 10 ill 1 1, iv. 4 10 p iB. xxviii 24—26 Malt, ix 37. 38. XX 1. xxi. 33— 4T. Luie x.2. John is 35—38. I Cor. iii. 6— 9. ix. 7—11 f Or, lahotirUtg firit, mult be parlaker ofUic fruils. I Cor. Ix 23 Heb x. 36 q Deul iv. 39. xxxii 29. Ps. lliv. 9 Prov xxiv. 32 Is i 3. v. 13. Luke ix. 11 Phil iv B. Heb Iii I vii 4 xii 3 xiii. 7. r Gen. xij 38. 39. Ex. xxxvi 1.3 Num. xxvii 16,11. 1 Chr xxii 12 xxix 19 2 Chr. i 8—12 P3 csix 73 125 144. ciliii. 8, 9 iProv il. 3-6. Is. xxviii 26 D«n. i. 17. Luke xxi 15 «iv 47. John xiv 26 xvt. 13. Atts vii 10 I C»i. xii. 3. Epb. i. 17, 18. Col. i. 9. Jam. i. 3. iii. 15 17. I John v. 20. them, by daily faith and prayer, in the Redeemer's hands, as the only security with which he can be satisfied. He too hath believed in him, and hath some experience of his power, truth, and compassion ; the answers which he hath received to his prayers, and the change that hath been wrought in his soul, increase and confirm his confidence ; and thus he is " persuaded that the Lord Jesus will pre- " serve him unto his heavenly kingdom," whatever dan- gers, trials, and enemies, he may meet with in his way thither. In order to possess this good hope, we must adhere steadfastly to the form of sound words, which the apostles have taught us ; not only rejecting new notions, but new expressions ; which are often emjiloycd to exalt one part of religion, by drawing the attention from others of equal importance. We must also be careful to hold even an orthodox creed, " in faith and love which are in '" Christ Jesus :" this, as well as ministerial faithfulness, must be aUemptcd "by the holy Spirit which dwelleth "in us;" and will never be performed by those who trust in their own hearts and lean to their own understand- ings. We need not wonder that self-wisdom, and a contempt of the influences of the Holy Spirit, united with adi.slike tothe'humbliug truths of theGospel, and to bearing the cross for Christ's sake, should turn so many in these lat- leragps from regarding the writings of the apostles, as simi- lar causes turned many from them, when the apostles were living, and confirming their authority and doctrine by the most undeniable miracles ! But if others choose to follow the example of Phygellus and Hermogenes : let us copy that of Oncsijjhoni.s, by ser king out, refreshing, and mi- nistering to the afflicted servants of Chri.st ; not being ashamed of iheir poverty or disgrace, though laid in dun- geons or work-houses ; and doing them all the good we can with a constant affection for the Lord's sake. Then shall we have an interest in their prevailing jjrayers ; we may hope for the mercy of God upon our families ; and may rest assured of " finding mercy of the Lord in that " day," when we shall most know its unspeakable value. And let those, who are thus comfort'd and- relieved by their brethren, not be backward to acknowledge their obli- gations, nor negligent in praying for them, and all their con- nexions. NOTES. CHAP. II. V. 1, 2. The aposde next exhorted his beloved son Timothy, to be bold and vigortius in preaching " the grace that was in Christ" for sinners, or to be strong in dependence on the grace of Christ. In order to ci.nli- nue and spread the knowledge of the Gospel among men, he directed him to commit those doctrines, which he hacl heard from him concerning the Lord Jesus, and his atone- ment, resurrection, ascension, intercession, and salvation, in the presence of many witnesses, (or by many wiinesses, who all concurred in attesting them.) "to faithful men, " who might be able to teach others also." This dtics not indeed prove, that the people had no concern in the ap- pointment of their own pastors, or of ministers to preach the Gospel in dark places ; but it shows that Timothy had a superintending authority ; and was empowered to take heed that none should be appointed, except faithful men, able to instruct others also. It can scarcely he sup- posed that there was any competition at that time. The apostles, and those sent by them, would, doubtless, select the most suitable persons, and the people would cordially acquiesce in their choice. The communication of divine truth to mankind, by a succession of witnesses, iroin age to age, was thus etfectually provided for. A. D. 67. CHAPTER ri. Ji. D. 07. eHeh \Stt I. I. A. ts Kill ii s 3 8 • Remember tl)at ' Jesus Christ, of "*"ao the seed of David, was " raised from the 3 4 -Rev. p 5 dead. " according to my Gospel : «^.°."6 Acu !) Wliercin y 1 suffer trouble, - as an i'i-2o' " '''' evil-doer, even unto bonds : * but the word X Rom. Ii 16 xvi r /^ i • i 1_ J 26 s Thes ii.u. 01 (jou is not boimd I Tim 7 U. 10 Therefore, '' 1 endure all things "= for tlie elect's sakes, that they may also ."Artax'xvi.i 31. ii obtain the salvation which is in Christ F.ph vi la 2". . , , , Ph.i i 12-u. Jesus, * with eternal olorv- 9 Thes 111 I. r . , ,. • 1 ,. 1 ■•' r\ •/> bs,tonx-Rf\>. 1 ] It IS f a faithful saying : « r or if we '-"■"si Vohn st ^^ ^^^^ ^^*^'' ^"''^' "" ^'^^ ^'^^^' also live with Cor IV. 15 cui 12 If 'we suffer, we shall also reign dProv viii. 35 John niii r-J l Thes 7 K. 23 2 Cor iv. 17 Col i. 27 2 Thes ii It 15. iii. I.— Tt. ill 8 cRom.vi. 5 8 2 Cor iv h Jn!in xiv 19 2 Cor xiii 4 I Thes. iv. 17. v.lO. 2'.' Kom. viii. 17 Tbil. i 38. 2 Thes i 4-8 1 Pet. 4 6. i, 13, 11 1 Pet 1 Pet V 'fl — f Sir on 1 Tim. i. in. Gsl 1 19,20 Col. iii 3. 4. i M^tt. XIX. j28,29'Artsxiv V. 13-16. Uev. 1 S. 9.». 10. KX V. 3 — 7, Timothy was again called on to consider himself as the good soldier of Christ. Having enlisted under his banner, he wa.s bound to follow him, and obey his orders ; he must be ready to expose his life in the cause of the Gospel, and at all hazards to endeavour to promote it. As therefore soldiers, in actual service, must expect toil and hardships, as uel! as danger, .so he ought to be prepared for sufferings and difficulties of every kind. And ©s no man, who engaged in the military life, entangled himself wiih the management of hu.sbandry. or commerce, but left these employments to others, that he might be wholly at liberty to please the commander under whom he served, and so to obtain prefn-mont an' honour; so Timodiy must not engage in any secular business, or any of the affairs of life, so as to interfere with his pleasing Christ, who had chosen him to be his soldier, and was able abundantly to make up all losses to him. It is plain from Paul's own example, that ministers may, on some oecasions, earn their bread by labour; but th's widely dif- fers from seeking to grow rich by trade, or such em[doy- ments as engross the mind and time, and introduce minis- ters into such connexions, and involve them in so many pecuniary engagements, as greatly endanger their own characters and the honour of the Gospel. The original ■word means ncgroliations, rather than uffairs. In the pub- lic games, also, the man who strove for mastery was not crowned victor, unless the contest had been managed according to prescribed rules ; it therefore behooved Timo- thy and his brethren to regulate their diligence and earnest- ness by the word of God, otherwise they could not exjiect the conqueror's crown. .\nd as the husbandman mui-.i first labour, before he partakes of the fruits of the field, so they muil first diligently and paticnUy execute their mi- nistry, before they received the gracious recom]>ense. This is the most obvious construction and meaning of the verse ; but it may signify, that the labouring husbandman ■musters/ be supported by the fruits of ihe earth, or he cannot perform his work ; nor can the otnce of the mi- nistry be duly exercised, except by those who live on Christ themselves, as well as preach him to others. Ti- mothy ought therefore well to consider these illustrations ; Matt X. 3R SXVl. 3.V 75 Mark til . 3i, IX 2ti xii. 9 1 .lohn ii :i2, S3 Ju (le < Uev i 13 Hi 1 l3 xxv. 1 Mai xxiv 35 Horn with him; ''if we deny fnm, he also will u deny us : 13 If we believe not, ^ i/cl he abideth I'u" faithful ; " he cannot deny himself. 14 Of these things ''put (hrni in re- membrance, ° charging them before the Lord, '' that they strive not about words 2 ihes iii. 3' " to no profit, but to "■ the subvertinc: of the "r',L™ "2 "neb; , r ' o VI 18 hearers. n «" ""is. 15 ' Study to shew thyself ' approved '.'j-'rhls'ti'^' unto God, " a workman that needeth not ^.T;^"- ' ''• to be ashamed, " rightly dividing the word p^'f,^', ^•'1 \°^ of truth. i'4it.^ii!''9- q I Sam 1 6 But y shun profane and vain bab- Jcr. ii 8 II vii. 8. xvi. 19. x^iii 32 Has ii 18 Matt xxi 26. 1 Tim iv. 8. Heti xiii 9, r Jer xxiii 36. Acts xviii.'lO. xv 24 Gal. i 7. Tit. iii 11 s l-eh iv 11.2 Ptt 1.10, 15 iii 14 Gr tA'ts li 22. Rom xiv. 18. xvi 10 2 Cor v. 9 10, X 18. Gal. i 10. 1 Thes. li. 4 u Matt xiii 52 2 Cor. iii. G vi 3.4 1 Tim " ~ ■" — X IHark iv. 33. Luke xii 42. JohD xxi 15- 17. Acts xx 20 27 I Cor. Tit i 14. 2 2 Cor. iv 2. 1 Thes. y. 14. Heb. v 11-14. y 14. I Tim. 20 for thus the Lord would give him understanding in respect of all things pertaining to his work and circumstances. Thus it may be explained ; though our version renders it as a prayer for him. \'. 8 — i'3. Amidst all dangers and sufferings, it bs- ' hooved Timothy to " remember Jesus Christ," the pro- mised Saviour, " of the seed of David, who had been '• raised from the dead." This seems the proper transla- tion ; for Timothy was not only called on to remember, and preach to others, the resurrection of Jesus, but all the sufferings which preceded this great event, and his conduct under them* (Notes, Heb. xii. 1 — 3.) This could not fail to suggest proper motives and encouragements to per- severance and constancy. For preaching that Gospel, which related to these great events, St. Paul was then suffering trouble as' a malefactor, even unto bonds, and in prison ; yet as the word of God was not bound, but was success- fully preached by numbers, he was well satisfied, nay, he exulted with joy. For he willingly endured all things that he was called to suffer, from love to the elect of God; and in order to be an instrument in bringing those to com- plete deliverance from all evil, and the enjoyment of eter- nal glory, for whom Christ had shed his precious blood. Thus he at onre sought their salvation and his own : for it was a faithful saying, (probribly in frequent use among Christians) that if they were indeed dead with Christ, to sin and the world, and ready to die for his Gospel, they would assuredly live with him in that g'ory, which he en- tered on after hi.s crucifixion and resurrection ; if they de- nied him from dread of sufferings and death, or any other carnal motive, and persisted in this denial. Christ would also deny them, and leave them to perish with his enemies ; if they dared not to rely on his word, would not credit his testimony, or were unfaithful to him, they would ruiii themselves ; but he would still abide faithful to his covenant- engagements to his true disciples, and true to his word of execuling vengeance on uobclievers. For ho could not deny himself, or act contrary to his word, and his own essential and divine perfections, out of jiarlial favour or weak com- passion ; so that it behooved them :ill to '• hold fast tli.^ " beginning of their confklcncc steadiest to the rndc'' .;. D. ti7. II. TIMOTHY. •}. D. er. 7. iii 13. E^ro K blinffs ; ' lor they will increase unto more 10 H03 Ml. I ° I,. •' I Cor. ». B. XV unffodlincss. 33. 2 Thea li. ^ 7,8 Til i. ii:' 17 And "tlieir word will eat as doth a He'). Ii. ! Pet. .i 2. 18 * canker : of whom arc •'Hymcnens and Rev. XIII 3 U T^, ., J IS Philetus ; 18 Who '^concerning the truth liavr That the resurrection i.s • Or, gnuiT b 1 T.iii I c Matt XX 20 29 2» erred, saying, lo jam"°v 19. V^^^ already ; and •= overtl\row the faith ■"coMH ."■ " "^ some- "ilJJ'v;,r 1': 19 Nevertheless, 'the foundation of J.'M'i'eor.^xi'Godsstandeth t sure, "having this seal, nTiv""x"2s'L'The Lord knoweth them that are his. XIV 33 xxviii. 16. Matt. vii. :i. Luke vi 18 1 Cor iii 10, II Bpliii. 20 I Tim vi, la Heb. xi 10 Kev xxi u g ,vl»it «>iv 2». .Mark xiii 22 R.un. viii 31-a5 is. II Heb. vi. Ifl, 19. r Or. stlad^ Ps. cuii. 6 c«xv. 1,2. li Ha', li 2:t Zp.cti iii 9 iv 7- 9 Kph. IV :iO — i Num. svi 5. Ps. i. 6 xiixvii.18 2B N.ih i 7 Milt i li 13 Lute xiii 27. Jolio X. U. 28-30 xiii IS.Rom. viii. 2ii, xi. 2. 1 Cor viii. 3. C.al. i«.9. Reu xvii 8. V. 14 — 18. Timothy was directed to remind Chiis- tians, and mini.sters, ofthe important jjractical truths bcfoie stated ; and to charge them most solemnly, as in the pre- sence of the Lord, not to stiive and dispute about words, and such frivolous matters, as the love of controversy And, '' Let every one that namcth k K-um vi 27 i,. the name of Christ, 'depart from ini- lM"t't.'xxv"i 1*. .-..,l#,r A ts ix u xi. qUlty. 26. XV 17. Rom. 20 But ™ in a ereat house there are not ■ 2. Kp'h liL^s! In I r I I 1 ,• -I 1 "«"■ 'I. 13 Iii. only " vessels 01 efoid, and ol silver, but » xsn « I •' ^ I *i /- I 1 I '"<> Xxviil 28. also ol wood, and ot earth ; " and some •*' xjtvi» "• . , 1-1 x\xii. 27 Prov. to honour, and some to dishonour. M'2Cr,'*°°ii'"i' 21 If a man therefore Ppurffe himself ^p'-, "■',■ ,1 ■^■"'•^ r 1 I 1 II I ' " 1 ' '~" '^'^ troin these, he shall be "i a vessel unto i'lL^^", "^p'^t 'j- honour, sanctified, and 'meet for the i^,i' ij^,','- ',■ nsastcr's use, and ^prepared unto every ^^'^J"i,j '-J^'; good work. I'Tim'jii' fi "Heh iii. 2-6 f Pet il 5 n Ex x^vii 3 Etra i G vi 5. I.^in iv. S Dan v 2. iii! 2 6.27. 2Cor iv 7 o Rom ix il-23 — pis i 25 Iii II. Mal. hi. 3 I Cor v 3 q20. Ps cxis. 9 I Pet i. 7 — r Acts ix. !.'•. thus they denied the future resurrection of tlie dead. {Notes, 1 Cor. xv. 1 — 19. 1 Tim. i. 19,20.) In this man- ner they had perverted the fniih of some, and seduced se- veral into fatal heresies, who had once made a promising profession of llic Go5['el. Rightly dividi7ig, &!c. ' Let magnified into important distinctions. These disputes I ' him pass over nothing that should be said; let him add could answer no good purpose ; but, on the contrary, they tended to subvert the hearers ; perplexing ihem about empty speculations, feeding their self-conceit and con- tempt of others, and drawing them oflT from the sim- plicity of faith and obedience. At the same time, Timothy was enjoined studiously to endeavour to approve himself, in nothing of his own: let him mutilate, tear in pieces, and ' wrest nothing : finally, let him dilig'enily consider what 'the hearers are capable of receiving, and what conduces ' to edification.' (IJesa.) V. 19. Notwithstanding those apostacies and delusion.'?, by which many were ruined, it ought to be firmly bc- thc sight of God, in all his conduct and ministrations ; hejieved, that " the Foundation of God stood sure." Some was reminded to bestow pains, that he might perform his ministerial services as a workman who knew how to go about his business, and needed not to be ashamed of his performances, or airaid of having them most accurately examined. In preaching the Gospel, he must " rightly •' divide the word of truth ;" giving to every person his proper portion, according to his state, character, and cir- cumstances. In this expression, the apostle is supposed by some to allude to the skill used by the priests, in cutting in pieces the victims, and dividing them according to the legal prescriptions ; and by others, to refer to the conduct of those, who carve for a large company, and are peculiarly careful iliat no one wants what is suitable for him. To this conduct he was required to adhere : and to avoid the have interpreted this of the doctrine of the resurrection, and others of election ; but Christ himself, or the promise of eternal life to every one that bclieveth in him, is doubt- less " the Foundation of God,'' which the apostle meant. This stands sure ; " the gates of hell cannot prevail against " it," nor can any one, who has truly built upon it, be fatally deceived. According to the ancient custom of seal- ing the foundation-stones of magnificent structures, and engraving some inscription upon them, this mystical Foun- dation had the seal of God, and a double in-iv I. % Rom. xiv 17. t9. XV. i, 6 .t Cor i 10. Heh xli U I ret. iii. II J il Chr XXIX 17. ■ K. Ps. xsii 1 livi J Tim vi. 4, S ■«i. II. Tit. i I. Jam I Tim iji. 3. Tit i 7 Ja Jam iv 2 Gr. fL Tij. 17. I Fet iii 8. 22 * Flee also " youthful Ui.sts ; but * follow righteousness, faith, > charity, ' peace, with them that ^ call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2.i But ^ foolish and unlearned ques- tions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes ; 24 And " the servant of the Lord '' must not ' strive ; ' but be sfentle • ti IR. 19 1 Deut xxxiv 5. .losh i. 1. 2 Cbr. - -d Matt xii. 19 Acts XV. 2 19,20. Ji]de3. e Jolm ... . II. SCor. X I. Gal v 22 1 Hies 8 1 Set ,171, M 16, [Xiv. n Dan. vl.20. I Tim 2 Cor X. 4 Phil, li 3 14. S2 Acts vii. 26. xxjii B. it Hi 3. Jam. V. 20 — 22. .Still fiirtlipr to show that heresies and defections were entirely consistent with the engagements of God by his covenant to believers, the apostle observed, that in a great house, the habitation of some wealthy per- son, there were not only vessels ofgoldandof silver, but others of baser materials : the former for honourable, and the other for meaner, uses. In like manner, in the visible church, not only true Christians and faithful ministers were found, as willing instruments in the honourable work of glorifying God, and promoting the good of men; but per- sons also of a different character, whose hypocrisy and iniquity were over-ruled, contrary to their intentions, to fultil his righteous purposes, though to their own ruin and eveilusting contempt. If then a minister carefully purified himself from these evil things, and simply adhered to (he truth and will of God, he would be a vessel of honour, sanctified, and pre pared for the service of Christ, and ready to be his willing instrument in every good work. The apostle therefore warned Timothy, not only to avoid false doctrines, but " to flee youthful lusts :" both the sensual indulgences to which young persons are most liable, and also those impetuous passfens, that rashness, and love of novelty or controversy, and that desire of being distin- guished, to which they are equally propense : anri he ex- horted him to pursue every holy temper, and diligently to practise every good thing himself, as well as to inculcate them on others ; especially to follow after peace with all those, who called on the Lord out of a pure heart, or in sincere faith and love, notwithstanding their infirmities, and mistakes in matters of inferior consequence. V. 23 — :;6. Again the apostle saw it necessary to caution his beloved Timothy against foolish and unlearned tjuestions : such curious, presumptuous, or usele.-s ques- tions, as often appear to spring from a depth of discern- ment, reflection, and eruilition ; but which in fact are suggested by folly, and a want of solid acquaintance with the majesty of God, with man's true condition and cha- racter, and with other subjects of similar importance. For these questions, which different persons would resolve in different ways, must engender fierce and hostile contests among proud and obstinate disputants, which would be managed with such acrimony and mutual revilings, or even injuries, that they might be c;dled /y-ft^ '■»("•*•. What- ever Jewish or Genlile dispiiters did, "the servant of the " Lord must not strive" in this manner, or with such ■weapons. On the coi.tr.nry, he must be gende in his address and conduct to ail men, even to the most virulent Vol. v.— No. 34. unto all men, s apt to teach, * patient ; ?.i,Tiiii m 25 ''In mecdvness ' instructing those *o'r,/or6M that oppose themselves ; '' if God ' per- >>•■ ^" , ' • -11 • 1 I h Milt, xi, adventure, will give them '" repentance ^.«^ »■; I to the acknowledging of the truth ; ! '^p^' Jin ''; 20 And thai they may f recover them- selves " out of the snare of the devil JohDV. 34 Aci JXli. &c , , ' k Jer. xxKi IS.I ° who are | taken captive by him p at his ;lji,['' j^j'- 3 will. Actsv 31, m iii. 7 Matt. sxi. 17 I Cor XV. 14. Eph 3i. i. 17. I John V. 16 1 Acts viii 22. I Tim. ii. 4 3, 4. 15, Act£ ii. 38. XX 21, 1 Gr. amake, Luke x -n Ps cxxiv, 7 Is viii. 16 xxviii 13 Actsxxvi. 18 2 Cor ii.9--l2 1 Tim iii 7. vi 9.10 Kev xii 9, xx. 2, 3. o Is. xlii. S, 7, xlix.26. 12. Matt. xii. 28, 29 Luke xi £1,22. 2 Pet. ii. 16-iO 1 Gr. 'otcn oKlt, 12. ii. 6. Lul;e Xiii 31, 32. John xiii. 2 27. Acts v. 3. I Tim ), 20. and unreasonable opposers, or jierverters of the truth : he must be apt and ready to instruct men in the doctrines of Christ, with clear exjjlanations, cool discussions, conclu- sive arguments and testimonies, pertinent illustrations, and kind language : at the same time he must patiently bear revilings, ridicule, and ill usage, without recrimination or resentment. Thus, in a meek, dispassionate, forbearing, and forgiving temper, he must continue to instruct such as opposed themselves, however perverse and obstinate they were, provided they would attend to the word ; still hoping that " God, peradventure, would give them repentance." This might be sometimes the case ; and then they would humbly receive and profess the truth, and depend on the mercy and grace of God in Christ for pardon, assistance, and deliverance. But, should this take place, the servant of God would reflect, with remorse, on the sharpness which he had shown towards those, whom the Lord had mercifully borne with, notwithstanding their provocations. He should, therefore, rather hope and wait for their coming to themselves, " awaking as from sleep," or re- covering as men from intoxication ; and so escaping the snare of the devil, in which he had entangled them, by his arlfiil devices and suitable temptations, even as fowlers draw the birds into the fatal snare. That so they might recover their liberty, though taken captive by Satan, as prisoners are after a battle, who may be disposed of at the victor's will ; being consigned to death, to chains, or to slavery, as he pleases. For such men would remain entirely in the power of Satan, unless God should mer- cifully please to give them repentance, and so effect their deliverance. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—13. The falls of some, and the good examples of others, should excite us to be strong in the grace of Christ, and zealous in his cause. None ought to be chosen or ap- pointed to the sacred ministry, who are not faithful men, and competent to instruct others also: and all concerned in this important trust should be careful, to whom they com- mit the " stewardship of the mysteries of Christ :" for if they wilfully, negligently, or partially choose, or ordain, improper persons, they will be condemned for it hrfore many witnesses, however they here concealed their motives or excused their conduct. The gooH soldier of Christ must be ready, at his Captain's word, to venture into the most 3 F A. D. C?. H. TIMOTHV. .1 D. G^. CHAP. Hi. The apostle fordels grievous times, in the last days, through the atrocious wicked- ness of those, uho would have the form, without the power, of godliness, 1 — 5 . perilous situations, and to endure the cxtrcmest liardshijis. He ought therefore to be hardy, self-denying, and coura- geous ; one who loves his leader, and firmy believes he can make up all losses to him, even the loss of his life, which no other prince, or general, can do for his soldiers. It is desirable that ihey who are engaged in this holy war- fare, should be exempted from the necessity of attending io ."secular business : but all, who would please their Lord, must avoid whatever is not absolutely necessary, and evei'y thing that is entangling. Whilst numbers wholly disre- gard these rules, some, who are active, and seem to strive ibr the mastery, arc not careful to " strive lawfully :" for they cither spend their zeal about outward forms, human inventions, and doubtful disputations, or they use unsanc- tifiod weapons, furnished by bigotry and resentment. A\^e should also labour in patience and hope, assured " that " in due season we shall reap, if we faint not," without vainly expecting to receive our reward, till we have given proof of our persevering diligence. In all our hardships, conflicts, and temptations, we must remember the Lord Jesus, and meditate daily on his sufferings, his resurrection, and his subsequent glory. Thus wc shall learn to expect trials, and be the less disquieted " if we suffer trouble as " evil doers even unto bonds ;" knowing that no j/ower can Lind the word of God, or prevent the spread of the Gospel as he sees good. And if the mind of Christ be in us, we bhall be willing " to endure all things, for the elect's •' sake," and to promote the salvation and eternal glory of those, for whom Christ willingly laid down his life. It is a faithful saying, that if we be thus dead with Christ, we shall also live v.ilh him ; if we suffer, we shall also reign with him. Bot he will deny before his Father's throne, those who deny him before men ; and hi? truth as much ensures the unbeliever's condemnation, as the believer's salvation ; for he cannot deny himself, and •• heaven and " earth shall pass away, but his words shall not pass away." V. 14—18. Ministers must charge their flocks before the Lord, with i^rcat solemnity and earnestness, not to strive about words, or the Shibboleths of a parly, which tend to no profit, but rather to the subverting of the hearers. In this part of onr work we shall be likely to give offence ; for eager con- troversy is exceedingly relishing to the vitiated taste of the carnal mind, which loathes plain practical instruction- IVe should therefore " study to show ourselves approved ♦'to God," and to obtain his seal to our ministry : we should bestow pains to become skilful, as well n^fnithful, preachers, " wo:-kmen that need not be ashamed;" in- structors " that know how rightly to divide the word of " truth," and to give every man the portion that belongs to him, with clo>e application to his conscience and affcc- 1 tions. This will lead us to a distance from profane and! end the dccncs ciwl opposition of fulsc teachers, 6 — 9. He jiroposcs his own ex- ample to Timothi/, ]{) — Ki; exhort ino- him to continue in thcfnllu 1 1 ; und show- ing the excellency, uuthority, and suffi- ciency of the sacred scriptures, \[) — 17. vain babblings, which continually in re .se to more ungod- liness : for many a specious error is allowed, -ivithout notce, to be intruded among professed Cliris'.ians, which gradually cats like a canker, and destroys il.e j o\ier of go('lin*=ss in an imperceptible manner. Sci^rct !y any thing hath done more mischief within the chun h, and among those who retain a regard for the sciiptures, than the manner of Hymeneus and Philetus, in allegorizing away its plain doctrines and precepts, and so causing them to evaporate in some visionary mystical notion. This some cull apiri- (iializing ; but it well answers the put pose of deceivers, (though often used by well-meaning injudicious persons.) It excites the won-ler of the ignorant, and the disgust of rational men; and thus it takes off the one from the sub- stantia! part of relitcion, to amuse themselves with fancies ; and it increases the prejudices of the other against evan- gelical religion. Nothing can be so crude, foolish, or evi- dently erroneous, but it will subvert the temporary faith of some jipofessors of the Gospel ; for of all the numberless delusions, which have been, or may be invented, there is not one, but is more congenial to the pride and lusts of men, than the simple truths of God's word. V. 19—26. Amidst all confusions and apostacies, " the Foundation " of the Lord standethsure." Secure and happy arc they, who build thereon by an obedient faith ! He knows them as his own people ; and they m^' know this thf msclvcs, by their diligent care to depart from iniquity, and to honour the name of Christ by a holy conversation. These are the vessels of gold and silver, which the Lord hath '■ before pre- " pared unto glory," whom he haih "sanctified and made " meet for his own use. and ready for every good work :" and when the vessels of dishonour shall be consigned to destruction, these will be " filled with all the fulness of " God." Let us then seek to be cleansed from all fihhi- ness of tlesh and spirit: let young Christians and ministers flee from youthful lusts : let all " follow after righteous- " ness, faith, love, peace, with all them that call on the " Lord out of a pure heart:" and let the frequent repe- titions of the apostle leach us the vast importance of avoid- ing foolish, curious, and frivolous questions, and whatever can produce strifes and angry controversies. Alas ! how little has it been remembered, that " the servant of the " Lord must not strive, but be gentle towards all men, '■ apt to teach, patient !" Numbers seem to think that the reverse should be his character and conduct, and that zeal for doctrinal truths is incompatible with gentleness, meek- ness, patience, and love ! This predilection for controversy, both in teachers and hearers of the Gospel, is one grand hinderance to our recovc-ing sinners out of the snare of the devil ; for to exasperaic opposers is by no means the way to cooviflce them. Tlie artful enemy of our souls knov,-5 A. D. C7. CHAPTER in. A. D. m ( Gen. X ix.1. Is li 2 le . xU'i'i* 17 xlix 39 V.t. S5\VI1I 16 njn. X U l03 iii. ». Mlc iv 1. I T;ra i?. I. Si'et Hi 3. 1 John ii 18. Ju '0 '8 bDa:, V iS20— 2-». v'li 8-li . 36- JS THIS know also, iliar ^iii the last days, "perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be ' lovers of their own selves, '' covetous,'' boasters, ^ proud, '' 6 blasphemers, '' disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without ' natural affection, •= truce- 11 3 Thes. ii. ;l-12 1 rian. 17.1-3 Rev. viii-xvii. 1 Jl. Jam. 11. 8 d I-uke xii. 15. Ro-u i. 29 < Re . xviii 12.13. e Ps. X 3 xli-'i 6 Iii I 3 Thes ii. 4. Jam iv 16. 2 Pet ii. 18. Jucle 16 • 0. 1 > el V 5 E Dan ».i ii. xi. 36 1 T.m S, 6. wi. 9. II SI h Matt XV. 6. Mark v Uoai I. 31. k 3 Sam Xii. 1—3. Bs. xr. 4. Rom xv 1-3. 2 Cor v. 15 Ph 1. ii. 1. iii S 2 Pet. ii 3. 14. IS JuJe U IS Is s 15 Acts V. 36 Rom i 30 xi 18 — f I'lov. vi. 17 1 Tim vi. I Jam iv . 20. J I'et, ii 12 Juile 10. Rev. xiii. 1 . 11. 12 Ro:o. i. 30. i .Matt. X. 21. E. xvlK 16-19. Rum i 31 Or how to bait his hook, and spread his net for men, accord- ing to their ditTerent tastes, humours, and situations- He conceals thfd.inger, and allures ihcni with the prospect of gain or pleasure. They suspect not the deccjjtion, till they ha-.c swallowed the bait, or are caught in the net : then they arc " taken captive hy him at his will ;" and they sornetiraes appear under a kind of necessity of proceeding in their ruinous courses. Yet, some are recovered from out of the snare: for when God gives them repentance, they come to themselves, they acknowledge the truth, they con- fess their guilt, they cry for mercy and deliverance, they obtain pardon and grace, they are set at liberty, and walk in newness of life ; snd Satan can never more regain his dominion over them. There is no peradventure in respect of the readiness of God to pardon those, who do repent ; but we cannot tell whether he will give repentance to tJiosc, who still continue to oppose his will : yet, as he sometimes gives it even to the most obstinate of his one- mics, it is our duty to hope and pray for them ; and in meek- ness to instruct them, as long as we have the opportunity. And, if any feel themselves taken captive by Satan, and long for deliverance, let them remember, that they can ne- ver recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, ex- cept by acknowledging the truth of God in the Gospel ; that this they never can do without repentance ; that re- pentance is the gift of God ; and finally, that they must ask It of him by earnest persevering prayer. NOTES. CHAP. III. V. 1 — 3. The apostle foresaw, and gave warning to Timothy, that in the last days, or under the Christian dispensation, perilous or grievous times would arrive ; in which it would be extremely difficult for Chris- tians to escape the contagion of bad examples and corrupt principles, or for ministers to preach the unadulterated truth of the Gospel ; and in which they, who retained their integrity, would be exposed to the hatred and perse- cution of their professed bretlsren. For, while the love of Christ, of one another, and of all men, distinguished real Christians from other.^, a race was about to arise, who would in general " be lovers of the ir own selves," in a carnal, inordinate, and exclusive manner ; being covetous am! greedy in getting and keeping wealth at any rate, and idolatrously trusting in it. They would be " vain-glorious " boasters," and '• proud," of their abilities, attainments, and supposed merits ; blasphoniprs of the perfections, truths, and ways of God; disobedient to their parents; ungrateful to the Lord, and their earthly benefactors; ■unholy and profane, ready to violate promises and cove- breakers, * false accusers, ' incontinent, ' ^r.xiau-h^i,, " lierce, " dcspisers ol those that are good, i.'; '"...■''""»..' ri-i . r , . , •" 1 I Tini. lull Tit. 4 ° Iraitors, heady, p high-mmdcd,,';^,^^''^'.'"^"^' ^ "i lovers of pleasures ' more than lovers 3"t,j;e''i5",e''' of God ; "iian"' vii'i'" 2 V 5 Having = a form of godliness, but "" e^xti'^c" denying the power thereof : 'from such "iJi':,i'^'|',i;Jks tin-n away. Wcl us !4,r' ii. 0 0 2 Pet. ii. 10. Jnde S, 0. p Rom. xi. 20. 1 Tim. vi. 17. e persecu- tions, rather than more recent ones, which Timothy had not witnessed. Antioch in Pisidia is meant, ludi ed, it was a general rule, that if any man was dot' rmined to live a godly life, in dependence on the atonement and grace Ji. D. 67. CHAPTER III. ./?. D. 67. ti. IS ii.s. s« 14 But ' continue thou in the thini^s ul'cu ™ii. 3i: whicli tliou hast learned, and hrst been itog coi'ii 2 u assured of, " knowins: of whom thou I Thes i 4. Heb. ' ° /iV^Thls ii. "^^* learned them ; >3- ,„ 15 And tiiat ^ from a child thou hast y 1.5 I Sam )i. ■ ■ ■ • i • i 3' ?e Ysx"'? known Mhe holy scriptures, ^ vvhicli are • tiire't-i sit. ^t)le to make thee wise unto salvation, ii 40"''° ' " through faith which is in Christ Jesus. £ Did. s 21. Malt xxii. M l.ukexsiv. 27 32. 4i, Act? xtii 2 Kom 1. 2. xvi. 20. I tor XV. 2 Pet i. 20, 21. iii. 16. a I's xi\ 7. Julia v. 39, iO. Acts X, .13. Kiii 89. 38,3». 1 Pet. i. 10-ia. 1 John t. U, 12. Rev. six 10. tlO of ihe Lord Jesu."?, and according to his precepts, he would certainly be exposed to persecution. A lorm of godliness, without any direct connexion with the doctrine of faith in a crucitied Saviour ; or a profession of that faith, without the example of a godly life, might bo endured and tole- rated : but the open profession of " the truth as it is in " Jesus," and a resolute attention to all the duties of vital godliness, would excite the scorn and enmity of mankind ; nor could any abilities, ainiableness, or benelkmce, secure a man from some effects of their jiersecuting animosity. — Instead of matters taking a more favourable turn,' the apostle predicted that wicked men and seducing teachers would grow more and more subtle, daring, callous, mali- cious, cruel, covetous, and ambitious ; deceiving others, and being themselves deceived, by their own delusions and by Sutan's wiles. The history of the Christian church, through all the subsequent ages, forms an awful demon- stration, that he spake as he was moved by the Holy Spirit : so that all the declamations of infidels against the impostures, persecutions, wars, massacres, and mischiefs, ©ccasioned by Christianity, are only so many attestations to the truth of that religion, which is contained in the holy scriptures, and in the profession and lives of a remnant through every age ; and they bear against nothing but that spurious Christianity, which was long before condemned by the Spirit of prophecy. The individual deceivers, whom the aposde in the preceding verses described, wnuld soon be put to shame : but others, succeeding them in the same course, would, from age to age, carry on a similar pl.tn of deception, with more diabolical subtlety and ini- quity; being themselves deceived by Satan, while employed by him to deceive mankind. The original word, for " sedu- '' cei's," signifies »nag'('cia»i.s, or fnc/ia,'i/frs, such as Jannes and Jiimbies had been : that is, men who, by lying jjreten- cesto miraculous powers, opposed that Gospel, which had been confirmed by real and indisputable miracles. Now it scarcely admits of a doubt, what company of men, since the aposde'sday.'s, have most exactly answered this descrip- tion. {iSole, i Thes. ii. 9—12. fiVv.xiii. 11 — 17.) V. 14 — 17. The apostle, applying what he had before stated, called on Timothy vigilantly to maintain, and per- severe in, the inofes.nion and preaching of that doctrine which he had learned, and assuredly believed ; knowing that he had n^ccived it fi om the Lord through his ministry, and remembering that it accorded to the holy scriptures, w ith which t'.e luid from his childhood bcii acquainted. — Tiiese, when properly understood, were sufficient to render him wise unto salvation, and to instruct him in all things pt'rt.iiiiiiig to it : as they all spake of the promised Messiah, and prepared the mind for receiving him in faith, and sub- IG *■ All scripture is given by iu5nira-t''S""''=V» .^ n ot Uod, ' and is jjroiitable " lor j;;'^; '•''i,^?- J^; doctrine, « for roproof, for correction, ' for ?Ji,'^.,*;i°Ac^ instruction ni righteousness : !<,!', ",V's*'xJ' 17 That sihe man of God may be f„%^' ';;..M"'''2 perfect, * thoroui^hly " furnished unto all ^k- lix.~7-ii. good works. ^ - ^J^^.,;?.':^;',!: 2^.32 M.c. ir 7. Acti XX 20 27. I Cor. xii. 7 Ep!i i». 1 1 -16. d S« oti, h. 10. e IV. 2 Prov vi 23 xv lo. at. .;.hniii. 20. Kph. v 11-13. Heb si. I. Gr. f ii. 2S. Deut iv. 36. Neh ix. 20 I's cxix. 9. 11. Matt. xiii. 52. Acts xviii 25. R.i'". il-M. I'teoa, 1 T.m. vi 11. '■ Oi-. prrftcUd b ii. 21. Neh. ii 18. Acts ix. 36. 2 Cor. ix. Eph. ii 10. Tit. ii. U lii. 1. Htb..' 8 Epb tb. X. 2d. mitting to his authority. For all the writings of Moses and the prophets were given by inspiration of God, to instruct men in divine things : and every part of them was not only perfect truth, but profitable, to teach them sound doctrine respecting God and themselves, the eternal state, the way of acceptance, and other interesting and dillicult subjects ; to reprove and convince them of their errors and sins, that they might learn their guilt and danger, and so value and embrace the remedy proposed ; to correct and regulate their affections, dispositions, and conduct; and to instruct them in every part of universal righteousness, with the obligations, motives, and encouragements to it. — Thus they were suited, and sufficient, not only to make the Christian wise unto salvation, and to direct his whole behaviour, but to perfect " the man of God," the faithful minister of Christ; and fully to supply him with know- ledge and wisdom, and whatever could tend to his fitness for every good work, in his private conduct, and public services. Doubtless this is still most emphatically true of the sacred scripturts, now the canon of the New Testa- ment also is completed. The Old Testament, almost entirely in its present form, was called by the Jews, " The " scriptures," or, " The Oracles of God :" now, if every thing, which Christ and his apostles spoke on the subject, was exactly calculated to confirm them in this opinion, and to discredit all traditional revelations; and if the apostle here expressly declares, that the whole was divinely in- spired; what are they about, who, as professed friends to Christianity, and in the office of pastors and rulers of the Christian church, labour indeed to persuade men that the books of Moi^es, and other parts of the Old Testament, aregenHmtand aH//i«i/i'c, but speak so ambiguously on the point of their being divinely inspired, as to leave their readers in general to suppose, that they do not believe them to be so; or that this is a matter of subordinate conse- quence ? PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-9. The descent of a stone to the earth is not more natural, than men's propensity to turn away from God : so thai,' whatever means are used to bring them to loveiiim and one another, the end will not he attained, unles,-* iiy the continual influence of his new-creating Spirit. We need not, therefore, wonder, that, in the last days, under the fullest external revelation which God hath made to man perilous times soon came, and professed Christians bera/no '* lovers of themselves, lo\cis of money, of honour and " of pleasure, rather than lovers of God." Our land at A. D. 67 If. TIMOTHY. J. D. 67. CHAP. IV. The apostle solemnly charges Timothy to be diligent and faithfulin his ministry, 1,2; as ere long nun would not endure sound doctrine, 3, 4 ; ami as he, Paul, had nearly finished his work, ivas about to suffer martyrdom, and receive the crown of righteoustiess, 5 — 8, he presses Timo-\ (hy to come to him, and to bring Mark with him, as he was almost left atone ; and gives him information, direction, and caution, in several particulars, fl — 1 5. He shows Timothy how his breth- ren had forsaken him, and how the Lord had supported him, when called to an- swer before his persecutors ; expressing his confidence in htm for the future. lt> — 18 ; and concludes with salutations and benedictions, 1 9 — 22. this day abounds with such nominal disciples as are here described; some are selfish and covetous; othei'S proud boasters and bhi^phemcrs, or regardless of iheir duty lo parents or children, relatives and rulers, being unthankful and unholy ; others are slanderous, treacherous, intem- perate, licentious, fierce, implacable, despisers ot good men, traitors, heady, high-minded ; and who can number ijhose, " who are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of *' God ?" Can any man seriously ihir.k that these crimes arc less abominable in men called Christians, than they ■were in heathens ? Can any one doubt that they will be more terribly punished ? In fact, in proportion to the zeal and exactness with which the form of godliness is re- tained, when the power of it is denied, the more criminal and dangerous men become, and the more should they be avoided and protested against. For when any form or notion of religion is made a cloak or an excuse for wilful transgressions of fiod's law, the danger becomes greater than from men who openly cast ofl' all regard to God. Hypocrisy, superstition, enthusiasm, and aniinomianism, are infectious beyond other mental maladies ; the poisonous draught is most dangerous, when mingled to resemble some valuable medicine ; and a wolf in sheep's clothing is most dreadful to the unsuspecting flock. Of this genux, (which is divided into various apecies, popish and protest:>iU, an- cient and modern, learned and unlearned,) there hav^ ever been artful men, who have insinuated themselves, by pom- pous or plausible pretensions and flatteries, into the favour and confidence of the weakest, most credulous, most igno- rant, and imaginative of the human species ; and who have taken them captive, by soothing them into quietness, " when •' laden with sins, and led away with divers lusts." Those ueak and deluded persons, who want a safe and comfort- able religion, without self-denial, humiliation, and mor- tification of their lusts, " are ever learning, and never " able to come to the knowledge of the truth," and readily fall in with artful and interested deceivers of every description. For as Jannes and Jambres withstood iVIoses by aping his miracles, so do such men resist the truth by a counterfeit Gospel, and by substituting visions, supcrsti- tionv "r curious speculations, instead of repentance, faith, and holy obedience. Such delusions act like opiates; they lull the conscience into a pleasing sleop, and increase the disease; and Ihcy arc administered by men of corrupt minds, wlu) are reprobate concerning the faith, of wliom all fliould beware. But, though it is grievous to perceive fjiat '• evil men and seducers grow worse and worse, de- " cciving and being deceived ;" yet we may rejoice that they cannot exceed their limits, that they cannot fatally dc-j lude the upright believer; and that, at length, their folly will be made manifest to all men, as that of their predeces- sors has been. V. 10—17. In order to escape and expose every seduction, let us study to become well acquainted with the doctrine and example of the apostle ; let us copy his manner of life, " his purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, and patience ;" let us frequently reflect on his persecutions, supports, and deliverances ; let us count our cost, and know assuredly, that " if any man will live godly in Christ Jesus, he must " suffer persecution" in one way or another, as far as Pro- vidence will permit the enmity of men's hearts to break forth against him. Let us then continue in the things which we have learned and professed to believe, endea- vouring to get further acquaintance w ith the holy Scrip- tures, " which are able to make us wise unto salvation, by " failh in Jesus Christ," who is the jirincipal Subject both of the Old and New-Testament ; and let us learn to reve- rence the whole Bible, as every sentcnjce in it was given by inspiration from God, and is profitable to instruct, reprove, correct, and guide us in the way of peace and holiness. Nothing more can be wanting to render the Christian or the minister perfectly qualified for every service rec|uirpd of him, and thoroughly furnished unto every good work, than a complete, believrng, experi- mental, and practical knowledge of the whole Scriptures, in their genuine meaning and connexion, and the propor- tion of one part to another. All religi(;us error springs from ignorance, perversion, or misunderstanding of the Scriptures ; from overlooking, objecting to, or explaining away some part of them ; or from adding men's notions, inventions, superstitions, or new revelations, to them, as of equal or superior authority. The ivay therefore to oppose error is by jjromoting the solid knowledge of the word of truth, especially by the faithful preaching of the Gospel ; and the greatest kindness wc can do our children is, to make them early acquainted with the Bible. Thus we shall do something important, that may tend to pre- serve religion in the world, when we are removed out of it ; and to perpetuate a succession of those, who are es- tablislicd in the faith, wise unto salvation, and thoroughly furnished unto every good woik. ' For it is evident, that the pious endeavours of Lois and Eunice, in bringing young Timotliv acquainted with the Holy Scriptures, laid the foundation of all his subsequent eminence and useful- ness, in which he was inferior to none but the apostles. It is probable, that, while they were teaching the child [o Jl. D- 67. CHAPTER n' J. D. C7. CHARGE thcc thercrore before God, 13 X find 'li'^ Lord Jesus Ciirist, •" who a li. 14. Stt Tim V. 21. bPsU XC kvi.'sT. !txv.3i. shall iiidfre the niiick and the dead ' at kc. John r 2J .' » . I I 1 • 1 ■ 1 -2- Alts X. 42. Ills appearinc:, and '^ his kmo;doni ; T.Tii 31. Rom. 11 P 1 1 f ? • li. 16. xiv.9- 2 * r reach the word : ' be instant ^ m 11. I Cor.iv.4,5. ' , sj-'of V 9ja 3 season, out ol season ; " reprove, rebuke, •'"A" ?.*'" exhort, with ' all lono'-suflerin£f and doc- NS. It — 15. , ' do »■ «. Col ill. 4 1 trinp Thes.iv li,16. "'"It- 1 • -,1 T^'iiis'Heh. 3 For •= the time will come, when . j't't f I'j^bn ' thej will not endure sound doctrine; ' ii 28.'«ev i 7 dLukexix 12. i5. xxiji-42. 2 Pet. i U 17. c Ps. »1. 9 U. l«i 1-3 Job. iii 2 I.ukeiv 18.19 il 00 Horn. X 15 .^M on. Col i. 2i 28. 1 Luke ' Tii. 4. Xlliil.23. Alts xii. 5. Karg Horn .\ii. 12, I Tim iv IS. 16. g Johuiv f.-lO. 32-34. Adsxvi 13 31-33. XX 7 16-21 xxviii. 16 30,31 h Cu! i. £0.29. 1 Thes. Iii. II, 12 V. U. 1 Tioi. iv. Iff Tit. i. U ii 15. Heb. xiii 22 Rev. iii. 19. i Set on, ii 24.25 iii. 10 k See en. iii. 1—6 1 Tin., iv. 1-3 1 I Kings xxii. 8. 18 2 Chr. STi 9, 10 xsiv :o— 12 ixv. 15. 16 la xxviii. 12. xsx. 9— 11. Jer. vl. 16, 17. Xvjil. 18. xxix. 8. Mic ii 1 1 I.UlC VT, 2f. Jiihii i.i m-il 1 let ii. 1-3 ■"but after tlicir owa lusts tliall they Dinti„;."i cor'ii 5 But ■» Avatch thou in all lhino;s, A '*,'',""■ ^ 'endure anliclions, do the work of = an {J^ *"J,Vj'j "• evangelist, *niake full proof of thy uii- f,' Jj.'.'j'-j'*^ '"j nistrv Pet i 16. ""'";• qU hi. 9, 10, 6 For M am now ready to be ofieicd, 'n.'' k/.''hm7: " and the time of my departure is at hand. --" 37. Acts IX 30.31, 1 Thes V. 6. Hell ., . , - .10—13 Luke XX. 19. JohD viii 45. Gal IC. iii. 10-12. B Actsxxi. 8. Eph. 17. 1 Phil ii. 17. u Gen. xlv Josh, xxiii. 14. 2 Pet i. 14, 15. ill 2, 7. Mark 31 37. Luke 17. r.ev i.i. 2 T Ste im t 0 i. ,3 10. 11 »Or,/ii^( Horn. Kv. 19 Col i.25 iv. ii 21, 1.24. Kuiu. xxvii, 12—17. Leut. Xixi, 1^ read, and treasure up in his memory, the Oracles of the doctrines of the gospel, in the simplest and most con- God, they little thought what a harvest in future life {vincing manner. In these important services, he ought to would spring from the seed thus sown. But the scripture I be the more assiduous ; as the lime was about to come, warrants hi.£;h expectations in this respect : and it may i when professed Christians would not endure sound doc- £airly be said, that the education of women in usefu knowledge and genuine piety, in order a crown of rigiiteousncss, wliich tlie Lord, "= the righteous Judge, shall give me '' at that day : and not to nic only, but unto all them also ' that love his appearing. 9 Do ' thy diligence to come shortly unto me: 10 For 8 Demas •" hath forsaken me, I John ii. I .4.4. k Acts XTII 5, 6 Hcv. six. 11 (1 i. 12. 18 Mai ii hes V. 4. e Horn. viii. 23. 2 Cor v V. i 7. xxii iO 1 iO i. 4 gCol li i 56 Acts xiii. 13. XV . 3b 2 I'et. ii. 15. , 17. Matt. vii. 22.XXiv 3S 2. 1 Thes i. 10 Tit ii 13 . 14. Philem 21. h 16 ' having loved thi.-; present world, and is i Luke ir si, sa departed unto '- Thessalonica; Crescens Jl' i3.'xvii3a. to ' Ualatia, '" litus unto Ualmatia. ] 1 Only ° Luke is \vidi me. Take " Mark, and brine: him with thee p lor he is prontable to me lor the ithi 23 0.1. ministry. °fi*i*Tiii"6 le 12 And 1 Tychicus have I sent ' to ^'^^ ^Y' '-*■ Ephesus. "j.Ap' j''/'- jj- 13 The ^ cloak that I left at ' Troas, /j';;'';.^'*-, ,s_ with Carpus, when thou comest, bring *' mt*!^"' I'l' U'ilh thee, and the books, but especially Pj,^°'- ,^i' ^ the parchments. Jf,, ]^ '-""• q Acis XX 4 Eph VI 21 Col. Iv V. 6 — 3. It behooved Timothy to act with the greater vigilance and fortitude, as the apostle foresaw that he him- self should shortly suffer martyrdom, and pour out his blood as a drink-offering to the honour of the Lord. For this approaching event he was ready, and he knew the time was at hand, when he should be removed out of the world, as the sojourner took up his tent and departed to another place. He considered himself as one who had finished his public ministry, and had only the conclu- ding scene to pass through; and since the time when Christ had chosen him to be his soldier, he was conscious that he had " fought a good fight," he had valiantly con- tended against sin, the world, and Satan ; he had, at Christ's command, through labours, perils, and sufferings, sought the subversion of the kingdom of darkness, the deliverance of Satan's captives, and the advancement of the kingdom of Christ; this he had done, with the ap- pointed weapons of his warfare, by faithful preaching, a holy example, fervent prayers, and patient sufferings. He had " finished his Gourse." He had set out to run the Christian race, laid aside every weight, pressed for- ward through every obstacle to the mark, and was now about to seize the prize. " He had also kept the faith," both ill his profession, and in the execution of his important mi istry. He thei-efore assuredly expected the " crown " of righteousness," that glory and immortality, which were prepared for all true believers in Christ, according to the measure of their grace, services, and sufferings, in his cause. This the apostle knew had been " laid up for " him," and he had little more to do, than to receive and enjoy it. The righteous Judge would openly award it to him" in that day," to which he constantly called men's attention ; for, though as a sinner he merited condemna- tion according to the law, yet, as a believer, whose faith had been shown by his works, he was entided to the re- ward of righteousness, according to the Gospel. He ex- pected, indeed, " when absent from the body, to be present '• with the Lord," and to have pre-libations of his com- plete felicity with " the spirits of just men made perfect;" but the public declaration of his right to the conqueror's crown, and his admission to the full enjoyment of im- mortal glory, would be reserved for that day, when Christ sh.ill nppear t'l show his ritjhteousness, as well as his mercy, in rewarding his faithful followers, {Notes, 2 Thes. }, 5 — 10.) Nor was this crown of righteousness laid up for him oitly, or for other eminent ministers or martyrs, but for all believers, in every age and place, even for all " who love Christ's appearing ;" for they all expect, pre- pare, and wait for his second coming; they look for their gracious recompense from him at that period; they endure hardships, and deny themselves worldly pleasures and in- terests, in hopes of that recompense ; they regulate their habitual conduct, as those who believe ' that he will come ' to be their Judge ;' they long to see him as he is, to be freed by him from all sin, and to witness his triumph over all his enemies, and, as far as faith and hope exclude anxious doubts of their acceptance, they love the thoughts of his a[)pearing to raise the dead and judge the world, V. 9 — 13. The apostle greatly desired Timothy to come to him, as he was solitary in his imprisonment, and had scarcely any with him whom he could employ in need- ful services. Demas, of whom he seems before to have judged favourably, had forsaken him in his perilous situa- tion, " having loved this present world." He had not courage to venture his life, by continuing with the apostle under his persecutions ; he loved the world too much to give up all for Christ, and perhaps some prospect of secular advantage offered itself, with which he was caught, and he departed to Thessalonica in pursuit of it. Whether he finally apostatized or not we cannot tell, but the apostle stood in doubt of him. {Note, 1 John ii. 15 — 17.) Two other helpers, known to Timothy, were gone to different places, about the work of the Lord, with the aposUe's approbation, so that only Luke, his faithful companion in all his sufferings, continued with him. He therefore desired Timothy to bring Mark with him, who was employed in the same parts. Mark had once forsaken the apostle, having too much " loved this present world," but he had repented, and had now regained his entire confi- dence, and might be profitable to him for the ministry at Rome, as he had been in other places. He also informed Timothy, that "he had sent Tychicus to Ephesus." This has b-en deemed a decisive proof that Timothy was not at Ephesus at that time, and indeed it greatly favours that conclusion ; but. pussiblij, Tychicus might be sent by another way than the be irer uf this epistle, and calling at other places might not arrive till afterwards, and the apostle might mean, that he h.id sent Tychicus to supply Timothy'.s place at Ephesus, that he might come to him the sooner. Among these informations and directions, we i. D. 67. CHAPTER IV. j9. D. G'/. 0 Acts sii 33,34. H "■ Alexander the coppersmith chJ xi'^s^m'sxivis mc much evil; the Lord "reward him Ps^'"°xJiii ^i according to his works : xliiTf^iu"^ 15 Of whom J" be thou ware also; —23. 2ThC9 • uoirfiefor he hath greatly ^ withstood our t.vi lO.sviii. ^ 1 ° * words. .„ 16 At my first ^ answer '' no man 'o'T°fr'ttchints stood witH Hic, but all 7nf« forsook me : *iG"ico'r is.V c / pray God that it may not be laid to Fhii j 7 17 1 their charge. bsrton.xo. ps ]7 JS otwithstandinjr, '' the Lord stooo ssxi It — 13- . , , ^ , , , Msrk xiv 50. ^ith me, and " strengthened me ; tliat ' bv me the preaching miiiht be fully »xi«n -iJ J t ,, P fp ., • i*^ Kv Mz^' x" '^"°"''-'' ^^^ ' Uentiles might Jfv'iii" 9. ''la '^^^1" • ^ ^"<^ ' "'^s delivered out of the xKvii. njouth of the lion. 17, 18 «. 20 1 Matt. X. 16.17 Phil ■ - John c Acts d Ps. »xn 23, 24. e Is. xli. ID U S« on, 2 Cor Rom. xvi.25,i6 Kph iii 8 1 Jcr. ii. 30. Uao. vi 22.27 Ue 9, 10 f L'lke xxi. IS. Acts ix. 15. xt , .. i. 12-14. ? Ps. xxii.21. Prov xx. 2, xxviii. 15 i. 33. I Pet. T. 8. find St. Paul desiring Timothy to bring his cloak to him. If the word means a cloak, or upper garment, (as it seems to do,) which he supposed he might want at the approach of winter, it is a remarkable proof of his poverty to the end of his life, that he should need to send so far for a garment to keep him warm during the remuant of his davs ! ^Vhat books and parchments were meant, Timothy •wo'uld know, but it is vain for us to conjecture. As Troas was not in the direct road from Ephesus to Rome, this may be urged n.> a proof that Timothy was not then at Ephesus ; but it is not certain, that he might not go by an- other way, local! upon some of the churches with which he was connected. V. 14, 15. It is not certain, though probable, that this was the same Alexander, of whom we have before read. {.'Ids xix. 33. 1 Tim. i. -O.) The apostle, however, knew the person spoken of to be an incurable apostate, or enemy to the Gospel. Perhaps, after having been excom- munic;iteJ, he openly renounced Christianity, and did evc^y thing ih.it he could to stir up persecution against St. Paul and the believers, and to obstruct the success of the Gospel. He therefore spake by the Spirit of prophecy, declaring that the'" Lord would reward him according to his works," or denouncing this awful sentence upon him for a warning to others. -We cannot certainly know who are given up to final obduracy, and must therefore persevere in praying for our enemies and persecutors. Timothy was moreover warned to beware of the malignant and subtle machinations of this wicked man ; as he would do as much to injure him, and withstand his words, as he had done against the apos- tle and his doctrine. V. 16 — 18, When the apostle was first, "after his second imiirisonment," called before the emperor, (or the prefect of ihc city in his absence, as it is generally thought,) none of the Christians at Rome had courage to stand by him, but all forsook him, to provide for their own safety, as the apostles had done when Christ was apprehended. The cruel persecutions of the Christians at Rome, under Nero, sepm to have preceded the writing of this epistle. Kumbers had then been put to defith or driven from the city, and the rest seem to have been greatly intimidated ; Vol. v.— -No. 34. 18 And the Lord shall '' deliver me ,, n<.n. »uiii ;» from every evil work, * and will preserve Ic^riv.'io. ps! me unto his heavenly kingdom: " to vm's. 'i,uL'""r. whomAfi glory forever and ever. Amen. IcoA'^ls ''.i 19 Salijtc ' l.'risca and Aquiia, and t^gs 'u « " '" the hoiisehold ofOnesiphorus. 'ss"' isx"'"^!' 20 " Erastus abode at Corinth: but xiii.w r.V.'aj. ° Trophimus have I left at •• Miletum "kil zfj^h'; . , t^ X. :«-30. 1 I sick. Thes V.23 Heb. 21 Do 'thy diligence to come before » '."'^t i s. Winter. ElhjuIus grceteth thee, and ''^'^"^''^".•',^°™,^|- Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, ' and '^j^ig' 'S™ inl' all the brethren. 21 1 ret. Judc 25 22 'The Lord Jesus Christ be with 'j'*"^^^'': thy spirit. " Grace be with you. Amen, -j./;' 19. 2 Cor. siii 13. Phil iv. 22.2.1otin 13. 3 .lolin 14 1 Mdtt x 20 2 Cor. xiii 11 Gal. vi is. Philem. 25 u Ser on, llocr vi.24.Col. iv. 18. 1 Tim. VI 21. 1 Pet. v. LI. Rev. sxii. 21. p Acts x^. 15. 21-23. 1 Cor xvi. 20, . 20. Set on. Rom svi, . 1 Cor. xvi. 23. Epti. so that on this important occasion none were found, who dared to attend St. Paul to the tribunal. This was a crimi- nal weakness, the effect of unbelief ; but the apostle prayed that it might not be laid to their charge. Yet, though he was deserted by man, the Lord was graciously pleased to stand with him, and make him sensible of his presence, favour, and protection ; thus giving him strength of faith, courageously to bear witness to the truth before his per- secutors, that so the doctrine of the Gospel might be fully known by those in authority, and by all present; and that thus it might be circulated among the Gentiles into distant nations, with the most overbearing evidence of its divine authority. Indeed, though his judge was powerful and outrageous, yet he had been for that time delivered from him, as out of a lion's mouth. Perhaps the apostle had in view that adversary, " who goeth about as a roaring " lion, seeking whom he may devour;" and who was noL entirely without hope, that the fear of death would induce St. Paul to renounce the faith, and that he should thus seize upon his soul. St. Paul certainly did not expect to escape martyrdom; but he was confident that " the Lord " would deliver him from every evil work," not suffering Satan to prevail against him, to cause him to do any thing inconsistent with the honour of the Gospel, or the benefit of his soul, and " that he would preserve him to his " heavenly kingdom." Instead therefore of complaints or dejection, he was ready to ascribe " glory to the Lord for " ever and ever. Amen." V. 19 — 22. Prisca, or Priscilla, and Aquiia, were near to the place where Timothy resided ; but, as they frequent- ly changed their abode, this does not determine where he then was. (i. 16 — 18.) The apostle had protiably been at- tended by Erastus and Trophimus, when he lust parted with Timothy ; but the former abode at Corinth, and the latter was left sick at Miletum, the Lord not seeing good to enable him to work a miracle for his recovery. Having again desired Timothy to come to Paul before winter, (pro- bably apprehending that he might otherwise come too late to see him,) he concluded with repeated prayers and benedictions. Surely, every reader rau>t be fully satisfied, from reading the close of this epistle, that St. Peter was not 3 G y A. D. 07. II. TIMOTHY. ^. D. 67. ai Rome when it was wiittcn: if, therefore, he sufTeredj marl) r loin at tlie same time th^t the apostle Piulilid,} according to ancient tradition, he must have arrived at dial j city alter tiiis e.jijXle l.ad been sent, 'i'iinotiiy accom- ' :ity panicd the apostle iVom Corinth, through Macedonia, pro- bably to Miletus, wheii he went to Jcrus ileiii before liii first imprisonment at Rome. (Acts xx. 4 — 16.) Itj would therefore have been wholly superfluous to inform him concerning Erastus, if that voyage had been spoken of: and Tropliiinus accompanied the apostle to Jerusalem. | {Ad- 21 — i'J.) Some, indeed, suppose Miletum in Creie,! mentioned by llonirr, to be intended : but, in that case,| St. Paul mual have left Trophimus there, at some time, subsequent to the voyage towards Rome, in which he! sulTcred shipwreck ; for no intimation of such an event isi given in the narrative. Mirtial, a Roman poet, who lived! about this time, mentions Pudens and Claudia ; and some sUf)pose that the same persons are here meant, and that they were converted to Christianity, by the apostle, during. his imprisonment. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-8. The importance of the work of ministers, the peculiar temptations to which they are exposed, and the multiplied evil eflfects of their niiftithfulness or negligence, concur in rendering it needful to charge the most zealous of them, as in the presence of God and of the Lord Jesus, before whom they must shortly appear to give an account of their .stewardship, that •' they preach the word, instant in " season out of season." to few, or many, as opportu- nities offer : like men engaged in tiie work, who make it their one great business and pleasure, without consulting their ease, interest, or reputation, or shrinking from hard- ship, reproach, or persecution ; and that they reprove, I rebuke, exiiort, with forbearance and perseverance, with] plain instructions and close application. This is the morej indispensable, as the ti ne is indeed come, when even the| most of professed Christians " will not endure sound doc-l "trine:" thoy are olfcndi^d by the heart-sc irching, dis-j tingui-.hing, practical Iruilis of God's word, which detects| their sins, and shows the necessity of morlifying iheirj pcculi;ir lusfs; and they desire to bp soothed and flittered! in the indulgence of them, and to have " teachers nccord-j " ing to them." Hence some achnire emollient, com-i plaisant. ingenious, or clorpient harangues; others prefer curious, speculative disquisitions, or virulent invectives on men of diverse sects and senti-ncnts. Thus their consciences ire (lui- ted. and their self- preference and con- tempt of others are hu'noured, together with a curious and captious temper: and because "' they have itchiTg "ears." the pnjriency of which is not easily quieted. « they heap to themselves such teachers," and always ■«-ant new voices, new gifts, new notions, till their ears are wholly turned fmm t.'ie truth, and they are turned unto fables. This should induce those who love souls to watcli in all things, to venture and endure all uainfid effec's of their faithfulness, to take every opportunity of preach- ing the pure Gospel, and to make full proof of their ministry, that they may do all the good in it that thev pos- sibly can. In doing this, they should be quickened by the consideration, that their brethren, one after another, arc taken away, or laid aside, and that their own term of usefulness will soon expire. In this way we may hope to be ready for the stroke of death, wh^n the time of our departure arrives ; for the diligent Christian, or faith- ful minister, who is conscious of having acted in good measure consistently with his profession, may with com- fort say. at the close of life, " I have fought the good " fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the " faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of " righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will •' gice me at that day, and to all who love his appearing." The true believer will give all the praise to sovereifn grace, and ex[iect acceptance only by faith Tn Christ: but his conduct will prove, that " he hath loved the " Lord," who first loved him, and that he hath exer- cised the faith of God's elect. Such a man may thf re- fore, amidst poverty, coniempt, pain, sickness, and the agonies of death, rejoice in hope of the glory of God : but this triumphant language cannot properly be adoptfd, tvhen most needed, by those who have been negligent, lukewarm, and unfaithful in the service of God, from the time of their supposed conversion. In proportion as the duties of a man's f)lace and station are neglected, his evidence of an interest in Christ must be obscured; and uncertainty and discouragement may probably distress his closing scene. V. 9—22. There are various characters in the visible Church, and various changes take place among ministers. Some, who have apparently run well, are hindered, and forsake the Lord and his faithful servants, " loving this present '■ world :'' others are recovered from grievous back- slidings, and become profitable for the ministry : and not a few turn open apostates or virulent opposers, doing much harm to the seivants of Christ, and gieatly withstanding their words ; whom the Lird will reward according to their works. Others bring their characters into doubt, or incur disgrace, by their cowardice in times of danger; and th'ir brethren are calleJ on to pray for them, that the Lord would not lay that sin to their charge. But a few prof-eed with diligence and courage in every circumstance ; though no man stands by them, the Lord is with them, to stretigthen and comfort them; he "gives them a mouth " and wisdom which all their enemies cannot gainsay ;" he delivers them from outward dangers and enemies, as long as it is good for them ; he preserves them from the mouth of the lion that would destroy their souls ; and he keeps them from every evil work even unto his heavenly kingdom. Many such are now before the throne, giving glorv to his name ; may we be followers of them ; may the Lord Jesus be with our spirits, to comfort and sanctify them ; and may his grace be willi all his disciples anct ministers in every place ! Ameiu THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO TITU8. It is remarkable, that Tiins, of whom the apostle repeatedly speaks in terms of the his^hest approhation, and most cordial affection, in his epistles ; (Marg. Ref. i. 1 ;) is not once mentioned in the ^icts of the jlpostles. JVor is any thing recorded, concerning St. Patd''s labours in Crete, now called Candia, a large island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is indeed probable, that the gospel was made knoivn there at an early period ; as there tvere Cretes present on the day of Pentecost, to witness the stupeyidous miracles of that day, and to hear the U7ianswerabl.e sermon of St. Peter, on that wonderful occasion. (Acts ii. 11.) If however, any, who were then converted, on their return home made knoivn the gospel to their neighbours; the joyful report loould reach none but the Jews and proselytes. But, no information is given us of what passed in that islaitd, at that time, or afterwards ; except as this epistle shoivs, that St. Paul had laboured there icith. great success. Probably, this was subsequent to his first imprisonment at Rome, and before his second. He seems to have had very great success in his ministry in that island ; but by some means to have been hurried thence, before he could order the stftte of the Churches, in a regular manner. He, therefore, left Titus there, to settle the churches in the several cities of the island, according to the apostolical plan, in other places. Tradition and ecclesiastical records have made Titus bishop of Crete ; and, because so large an island, renowned for an hundred cities, was an extensive charge ; some have conferred on him the title of archbishop. But, I am not conviticed, that even this title would not have been a derogation from his real dignity, as an evangelist. ' If by saying, Timothy and Titus tvere * bishops, the one of Ephesus, the other of Crete, ice understand that they took upon them these churches, '■or dioceses, as their fixed and particular charge, in which they were to preside for a term of life ; I ' believe that Timothy and Titus tvere not thus bishops : For, both Timothy and Titus were evamrelists. ' A'ow the work of an evangelist, says Euschius, ivas this, to lay the foundation of churches in barbarous. * nations, to constitute them pastors ; and, having committed to them the ctiltivating of those new ' plantations, they passed on to other cGuntries. Jls to Titus, he was only left in Crete, to ordain elders ' in every city, and to set in order the things that tvere wanting. Having therefore done that work, he ' had done all that teas assigned him in that station, and therefore St. Paul sends for him, the very * next year to Nicopolis.'' (Whitbj.) // is, however recorded, that he afterwards returned to Crete, and died there when ninety four years of age. Dr. Whitby never doubted, nor does the author of these notes, at all doubt, but that diocenan ejiiscopacy, was generally introduced into the churches, even during the lives of the apostles. But, the office of an evangelist of old, and that of a true missionart/. at present, should be considered, as perfectly distinct from that of a bishop, and in many respects, (especially as a general commission, to preach the gospel to the nations,) superior to it. The postscript statet, that the epistle was written from J\'icopolis in Macedonia : but, had this been the case, the apostle tvould have said, "/ hare determined here to winter T not "there to winter.'" (iii. 12.) There were several cities called JS'icopohs ; and it is not certain tchich is here meant. The scope and instructions of it, are similar to those of the two precedimr epistles. .3 G 2 J. D. 66 a Set oa, 1 Chr.vr 49. Horn. i. 1- Vbil. i I b John xl26 27. TITUS. CHAP. I. 4 To o Titus, p miiif. own son J. D. 66. after °/,^"-; " 13 vu. 6 13. U viji 68 Horn ii. 7 v.2-4. Col. i. 27 1 Thes V 8 a Tim \i 10, 1 Pet 3, 4. I Jobn 2, 3. J»i. ii. 3 Arts XtJ] 26 G Gal IMark xiii. 10 xvi. 15 Acts X. i C 23. I Tim manner of persons should be ordained to the ministry, 6 — 9. He exposes the dan- gerous principles, and the selfishness of the false teachers, whose inotiths must be stopped, 10, II : and the bad charac- ter of the Crctians ; whom Titus must sharply rebuke and instruct, that they may be sound in the faith, 12 — 16. PAUL, =■ a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to '' the faith of God's elect, and ■= the acknowledging of the truth wliich is "^ after godliness ; 2 * In '' hope of ' eternal life, which ° God, that cannot lie, " promised ' be- fore the AvorJd began ; 3 But hath ^ in due times ' manifested his word through preaching, " which is committed unto me, according to the commandment of " God our Saviour : 26 Eph, i6. Rom X. Ij. IS XV. 19 i. 6,6. Rev. xiv. 6 1 13 iii. 4-6. Is. xii 2 xl 7. iii. S-8. Phil. i. 13, Col ict (/u,i Cur. IX. 17 It Tim |ii 7, S Tim 16 21. Set on, 1 Tim. i 1. ii. 3. iv. Ill things that are f wanting, elders in every city, as fhad appointed " thee : 6 If 'any be blameless," the husband ", of one wife; " havuig faithful children, Vc.*^!;', ^'li ■^ not accused of riot, " or unruly. ill's..' ,i',*^5: 7 For « a bishop must be blameless, t*^oJ,;!>i'«,rf,„,. f as the steward of God ; e not self-willed, ^rlmM" " not soon angry, ' not given to wine, \f'V-'i ^ no striker, ' not given to (ilthy lucre : t'l" xi 8 Dim I r-i',!' I Mai ii Ii I.uke riut ™ a lover ol hospitality, " a lover s » i Tim. nl of I good men, "sober, just, holy, tem- "x^'o xvin is. r perate; 2-. 30 1 i «. 13. 9 p Holding fast 1 the faithful word, jp™" ««vm. 7;* § as he hath been taught, that he may be ^\^ able by ' sound doctrine, both to exhort, ^l and * to convince the gainsayers. ' ""' - '" 8 Geo xhx 6 2 I'et. ii 10 h Prov xiv 17. xv 18 3 Uv. X 9 Prov x.-iSi 4. 6 Is. xxviii 7 II 3 k 2 Tim ii 24,25 Cr 11, |vi .2. roS<«on, lT:m iii 2 n l Sam xi 14 T 1. tOr good\lliines o ii 7 2 Co>. -- - II 2 Tim ii 22 — pjooii 3 xxvIK t>. Prov xxiii 23 1 Tbes V 21 2 Thes ii 16 2 Tim i 13 Jude 3 Kev ii Ji iii 3 I'-I: q ) Tim i 15. iv 9 vi. 3 2 T.m ii 2. fpr.in UacMng r ii. I. 7.8. ITim i 10. 2 Tim IV. 3. s 11 Acts xviii. 28. 1 Cor. xiv. 2i. 2 Tim.ii 25. I Pel. vii, 9 Jam i 19, 20 i. xliv. 21 Eph V. 18 I Til I J'.hli iv 14 t 1 1 im i 3. I Acts Ii. II xxvu. 7. 12, 21. 23. 2 I Titi. i. 7. 14. !* Phil. i. I. I Tim ill 1. Matt xsiv. 45. Luke xii 42. I Cor. iv. 1, 2. 18 xvi «32 Ec. 7 Ivi. 12 El. vi 10. II. Ste '" I. I Kings NOTES CHAP. I. V. 1—4. St. Paul was the servant of God, as he was an apostle of Christ ; the former was his general character, the latter his special employment. His apostolical office accorded with the faith of God's elect, and was intended to bring numbers to helieve in Christ, and to encourage, increase, and direct, the faith of those ■who had already believed. This he did by publicly de- claring the great truths of the everlasting Gospel. Thus men would receive and profess those doctrines, which being truly believed, bring sinful men, who have been alienated trom God, to leverence, trust, love, and worship him, as his obedient children and devoted servants. These truths he preached, and his converts acknowledged, amidst mani- fold trials, " in hope of eternal life, which God, who can- " not lie," break liis word, or deceive those that trust in him, " iiad promised" to Christ, the Surety of his peo- " pie, before eternal ages," (Xole, 2 T(?n. i. 9, 10 ;) which purpose OP prorniso had been concealed, or hut in part revealed, in former ages ; but in due lime God " had " manifested it as his word," that cannot be broken, by the preaching of the Gosjiel which had been committed to the apostle, " according to the commandment, or appoint- The expression, " God our Saviour," seems here to relate to the Godhead, without distinction of persons ; and in some places it refers to the person of the Father, as saving us by his beloved Son, (iii. 4—6.) Some explain the words, rendered " before the world began," (literally, before eternal limes.) to relate to the jjromise made to Adam, or to Abraham, before the promulgation of the Mosaic law. But, without engaging in any argument on the critical question, I must think that the interprciaiion above given is far more obvious ; if indeed I hrist be •' the Chosen of God," the Surety and Representative of all who were given to him : eternal life whs promised to him, in behalf of his people, of all, who in every age should believe in him, before the world was, in conse- quence of his engagement to become incarnate, and to be obedient even to t!ic death upon the cross. " Known unto •• God are all his works, from the beginning of the " world." Allow this, (and who will venture to deny it ?) and then the promise of eternal life to the divine Logos, in behalf of all his people, is clear, and the meaning satis- factory, which, in my jud-ment at least, the Otlier inter- pretations by no means are. V. 5-9. Titus had been left in Crete, to set in order what wa.s wauling in the government, worship, and dis- ent of God our Saviour." He therefore wrote to „ Titus, "his firpjjf/.-Hf son in the faith," (which was com-|cipline of the chuTThcs7anTespeciaiiy to ordain Hdm raon to all true Chnstian.s,) as he had been converted by; every ciiv in which there were converts to Ch.ist'anity his ministry, and trained up under him for the work of an!(Ao/es. \'Tim. iii. v. -21. -v. •.' Tim. iv. 5,) Th.re uere evangelist, and in his behalf he presented his usual devout! many cities in this populous i.-hmd. a id the apostle >.eens «lps„-r.s nf '' crr^rp mnrnv r„.rt r...n. » (^Murg. iJf/.) [ to havc been verv successful during his short stay there desires of " grace, mercy, and peace.' A. D. 66. CHAPTER 1. J. D. 66. t Acts xs. 29. Rem »vi. 17. lb 2 Cur xi 12 -15 Kph. iv U. STbes ii. 10-12 1 Tim i. «. Ti 3-5. 2 Tim. iii. 13 iv. 4. 2 Pet. ii 1 2. IJolin -i. 18 iv 1 Kev. il 6 u. u Acts XV 1 21 Gal. 1. 6-8 ii. 4. lii. l.iv 17- 21 V 1-4 Phil, iii. 2, 3 S 9. iii. 10. Ps. 11 Isiu . 42. Bz. Luke 63 19. T Malt. x»iii. 14 2 Tim. ill 6 zStt on, 7 15. Ivi 10,11. Jer viii. 10 Ez sii fc Rom xvi. 18. 1 g Cor. xiii 10. 1 ». 2Cor. vii 8- 10 For 'there are many unruly nnd vain talkers, and deceivers, "especially they of the circumcision ; 1 1 Whose '^ moutlis must be stopped, who ^ subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for ' filthy lucre's sake. ] 2 One " of themselves, even a pro- phet ot their own, said. The Cretians are alway '' liars, evil beasts, slow-bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore, ' rebuke them sharply, '^ that they may be sound in the faith ; i 13. .M..... 111. 5 11 .lohci X. 12 2 IVt. ii 1— 3. a .lets x\ ii. 28 Tim IV :. 2 Pet il 12-15 JuJe»-13. c ii. 15. Prov. xxvii. 5. Tim V 20 2 Tim iv 2. d ii. 2. Lev. six. 17 Ps. cxix. DO. cxll. 11 Not giving heed to " Jewish fables, ei T.m. i. 4-7. and "^ commandments of men, that ^ turn i' ^ "^ " ft.| , ,1 lis. xxix. 13. ■om tlie truth. Matt. xv. a. 15 Unto ''the pure, all things are c".n-It '' pure: ' but unto tiicm that are defiled ivVHehsIl: ^ , , ,. . . , . , 25 2 Pet li 22. and unbelievms;, is nothmff pure; but iiL"i-e v. aa- ^o ~ I ^' m Acis i- 15. even ^ their mind and conscience is de- "om "i" 1*" 1 Cor.vi. 12. 13 filed. Tim i" 3 ^4 ' 16 They ' profess that they know'^j^' ?"'' ,* God ; but in works they deny him ; ^^^ij^ "^^'^ *•,* " being abominable, ° and disobedient, ^T and ° unto every good work * repro- j bate. 23 1 Cor -29. k I Cor vi Heb ix. 1, 1 Niim xiiv. 16. Is. xxix. 13 xlviii. l.lv ii IC— 24 2 Tiun iri. 5-8 Jiidel m XV 22—24. 1- ph V. 6 I TiiD. i. 9. • Or,void e/ iuiigniint i 2. Ez xxxiii. 31 Hos. viii 2,3 Horn. oh sv, Kv Rev. xxi. 8 27 n 1 .'iam. — o Jer. vi. 30. Horn, i 28. 2 Tim. iii. 8 but probably many had before been converted to Chris- tianity. The chLiracter and quiilifications of ihcse pa.s- tors, (who are called elders and bisliops indi.sciiininAtely,) correspond to what hath before been considered : but, it is here added, that ihcy ought to be such as " had believing •' children." They who had children grown up, not hav- ing embraced Christianity, that were accused of riot and licentiousness, or that would not be governed and restrain- ed from scandalous vices, were not to be admitted into the pastoral office. The pastors must be chosen from those, who had for some tiuie professed the Gospel, (when that could be done:) but, if their children proved untractable, it would at lea.st be thought that they did not know how to govern their own families ; and the misconduct of their chiT.iren might reflect disgrace upon the Christian religion, as w( 11 as weaken the hands of their parents in the public ministry. For the overseer and steward of God's house- hold, {Nole, 1 Cor. iv. 1 — 3.) must be an irreijroachable person ; and not of an over-bearing, self-willed, dogmatical temper, that could not endure to be opposed or contra- di' tedT To the other excellencies of his character, it was needful that he should be a man who " held fast," in a .steady consistent pi-ofession, " the faitliful word" of the Gospel, according as it had been taught by the apostles, without having jierverled or sophisticated it, as many did ; that so he migtii be a judicious, experienced defender of its truths ; able, by substantial, salutary, and holy doc- trine, in every pjrticular. to exhort the disciples to stead- fastness in the faith, and to an honour.ible conduct ; and to €• nfute, convince, or silence gain-sayers, who opposed or corrupted the truth. V. 10 — 13. The qu.dification mentioned in the ninth verse was the more requisite, as there were in every pi ice, (especially in Crete,) a number of ungovernable talkers and interested deceivers, who could not be kept, by any censures or admoiiitions, frotnd'Ung great mischief. These were of various lesrriptions ; but the .ludaizers were the most busy, unruly, and pernicious; thev subverted whole faiiiilies, turnin;; them a-i'lf from the siiiipli- ity of faith in Christ, to attend on h gd ceremonies and iiuman tradi- tions, by teaching su'h iliines as they ought not, and '■ this for filtiiy lucre's sake." rather than fiom mist, ke or ignorance. For in this mannT they htimounc' fiie pride and prejudices of some, and flattered otheis in their sins, till they got to be the heads of a party, and found means of enriching themselves. The mouths, therefore, of these deceivers must be stopped, by sound doctrine, and conclusive arguments, and testimonies from the word of God ; that the tencJency of their principles, and the baseness of their designs, might be manifest to every man, and that they might have nothing to say in their own defence. The character of the Cretians indeed was so bad. that numbers of such persons, both deceivers and deceived, might be expected in their churches : for Ejii- menides, a native of Crete, a poet of some reputation, who might be " called a prophet of their own," and who ]ierhaps was deemed a prophet by his countrymen, had said, " the Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bel- " lies ;" they had in all ages been notorious lor lies, frauds, and impostures ; they were like poisonous or ferocious animals, gluttonous, and indolent to excess ; so that, whilst a great proportion of their time was employed in eating and drinking, they were rendered torpid and inactive, by their excesses, and made no good use of the rest. They united the subtlety of the fox, the venom of the serpent, or the fierceness of wolves and tigers, with the greediness and inactivity of swine. It is not easy to determine, from what concurrence of circumstances the Cretians obtained so odious and contemptible a national character : but the in- spired apostle attested the ti-uth of this testimony ; and the eflects of it appeared in the conduct of many false teachers and professors of Christianity. Titus was therefore directed '• to rebuke them sharply," or with cutting reproofs and awful warnings, " that the churches might be sound in " the faith," when the mouths of deceivers were thus stopped, hypocrites detected, and unestablished Christians put ujion their guard. Timothy had been taught to instruct opposers With meekness, and to rebuke with fme:-suflV:r- ing ; but Titus was ordered to rebuke with ^li'^rpitess. .'Some have conjectured, that Timoihy was too vehement in his natural spirit, and Titus too timid and jiliant ; others ascribe the difference to the opposite ciiaractfr* of the persotis to be rebuked. But, in fact. Christi r; nir cknrss ie as distant from pusillanimous connivance at sin and er- ror, as from impetuous anger and impatience. This the apo>tle's conduct, and even that of our Lord himself, de- monstrates, i V. H — 16. In order to the Crctian churches being 'I. D, ^{3. TITUS. J. D. C6. CHAP. II. 37ie aposth directs Tilus to instruct the people in their several duties; to exem- plify them in his own conduct, and to take heed to his doctrine, 1 — 10: and enforces his exhortnfinns, by showing the holy tendency of the gospel, and charging Titus to speak with authority and firmness, 11 — 15. .--oiiiid ill the faith, Titus was to warn them with sharp re- I uki'S, if necessary, not to give heed to Jewish fables, hu- man traditions, or io^^al observances, which were then en- tirely the commandments oT' men who " turned from the •• truth," and wanted to impose their uwn usages on Chris- lians. These related, greatly, to distinctions of clean and yinclean meuls, and the pharisaical inventions of washing their iiands, and other external observances. {Notes, Mult. XV. 1 — 20.) But to the pure, to the real believer, who had peace with God through Jesus Christ, and had his heait purified by faith, all such things were pure in themselves, and used in a holy manner, by the allowance, according to the precepts, and for the glory, of God : to I hose, however, " that were defiled," with the guilt and jMjllulion of unrepcnled sin, and who, through unbelief, remained strangers to the purging of the conscience with the blood of Christ. " nothing was pure:" for as their hearts were unsanctified, and their consciences were erro- neous, partial, callous, and unclean, so all their enjoy- ments and actions, however innocent or good in them- eelves, were corrupted by their pride, avarice, sensuality, and enmity against God. They indeed professed to know him and to be his people, but in works they denied him, and manifested a disregard to his authority, favour, and indignation : for their conduct in all respects, especially in crucifying Christ, ]iersccuting Christians, and endea- vouring to subvert the churches of the Gentiles, proved them to be abominable and disobedient ; and as to every good work rejected by God. and given up tojudicial blind- ness. The unbelieving Jews seem to be primarily in- tended ; but the judaizing teachers were purposely included as unbelievers also, though they professed to believe. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—9. All who are not slaves of sin and Satan are the ser- vants of God : " this honour have all his saints," and this dignifies their meanest employments, though the office of "ministers is confined to a few, and that of apostles and evangelists to a very small number. But sinners cannot serve God, excejit " according to the faith of his elect" people, and bj- " acknowledging the truth which is after '• godliness :" {Sole, 1 Tim. iv. 3 :) nor can they be stead- fast in the midst of trials and temptations, save " in hope '■ of eternal life." This was promised in Christ, " be- " fore the world liegan:" and, though he who gave this promise can do all things else, he '* cannot lie," he cannot " deny himself." In his due time, he has manifested his word of truth by preaching: and all, to whom this is ( oaimitted, must take heed to publish it, " according to " the commandment of God our Saviour," that the com- mon faith may thus be wi'ought in those whom they may rejoice in as their own children, and to whom, ' arace, " mercy, and peace, may be given from God the Father, " and the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour." When a mul- titude of captives are brought forth from the dark dungeon of Satan into the glorious light and liberty of the Gospel, many things will be wanting, and much required to be set in order, before their worship and service can be per- formed in a suitable manner, the best methods used for their edification, and the most eflectual defence made against the assaults of their spiritual enemies. Then the presence, counsel, and influence of some experienced and faithful servant of God will be peculiarly useful, especially in respect of the choice and oi'dination of pastors to preside over them and teach them. They, to whom this important trust is committed, are bound, as they shall answer for it before God, to appoint blameless and faithful men to this stewardship ; such as are of pliant tempers, respecting their own humours and interests, peaceable, sober, tem- perate men ; superior to the grovelling love of filthy lucre ; lovers of hospitality and of good men ; just and holy ; prudent managers of domestic concerns ; attentive to rela- tive duties; constant and bold in professing the truth, as taught in the word of God, and able by sound doctrine to exhort and to convince gain-sayers. As it is peculiarly incumbent on ministers to educate their children with dili- gence and piety, and to rule them with prudence and firm- ness, so {jxe children of ministers should consider what a dreadful Account must be rendered by them, if their unbe- lief, riot, and unruly behaviour, bring «an imputation on the characters of their fathers, and interfere with their use- fulness. V. 10—16. In all ages there have been unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, by whom Satan.sows tares in the Lord's field ; and this should teach and induce the servants to be vigilant and diligent, that they may counteract the enemy. For unless the " mouths of such men be stopped," they will subvert whole families of hopeful persons, and teach the most per- nicious doctrines for filthy lucre's sake. To j^revent this mischief is the most difficult part of a minister's work: and his wisdom must especially be shown, in discerning men's chai-acters, distinguishing between the weak and the wicked ; and knowing when to exhort with gentleness, and when to " rebuke with sharpness, that men may be " sound in the faith." For though there are national diffisrences of character, yet the heart of man in evei-y time and place is deceitful and desperately wicked : and while some need the gentlest guidance, others must be exposed and warned with decided severity ; or they will turn men away from the faith to fables and human inven- tioHS. The true Christian learns to exercise his liberty in a pure and holy manner; all things are pure to him, and grace teaches him '' to eat, and to drink, and to do all " things to the glory of God ;" and when he fails, he has humble recourse lo the puritying blood and sanctifying grace of Christ. But unbelievers are defiled in their minds ^. D, 66. CHAPTER 11. J}. D. 0J3. .11-14. i 9 ii T3UT speak thoii the things " which Ji 3^2™i'm'r fj hcconie sound doctrine : b'Lv. xix 3=. 2 That '' the aged men be * sober, ac'i.M. ' ''rov " frrave, '' temperate, ' sound in faith, ' xvi 31 i< uv p . y # 10. chanty, in patience. Cor XV 31. I 3 ihe aged women hkewise, tliat itm.M.i \\ theif be in behaviour s as becometh 7 v' 8 Gr + hoh'ness : '' not t false accusers, ' not e 1 I Tin) ill 4 . 11, 1 /• 1 8. II. ihi i« jriven to much wine, " teacliers ol good i{coM"2». things. f 'e '■ "a?lf V; 4 That they may teach ' the young i' 'itom xli women to be §' sober, "° to love their hus- I'lfi'w. 7 cr hands, to h)ve then' cliildren : On, 1 T.ni. 1 S 1; Rom xvi, 2. Epb v 3 1 Tim ii 9. !0. i'i- 3-5. f Ot hull, numtn h Sre on, 1 Tim iii 8.11 n. iii i Or i Srf on, 1 7. :. i. He.'i. u. 12. Rev. il. JO. Sci 0B,2 m 1 Tim. v. U. 13 fS. II V s-10 I 1 et i I Or, make-^alct 3 Tjra iii ; II Tim V a II II. JOi and consciences; their ordinary actions and religious du- ties are unclean ti them: whether tlicy riot in iiceiuiausness, as il that were liberty, or whether they enslave themselves to superstiiioiis observances. For, alas! " numbers, of "■varii^us descriptions profess to know GoJ, but in works "deny him; being abominable, disobedient, and unto " every goo.l work reprobate." Yet, at last " the tree " will be known by its fruit ; and every tree that bringeth " not forih good fiuit, shall be hewn down and cast into " the fire." NOTES. CHAP. II. V. 1, 2. To mark the difference be- tween fal=e teachers and the servants of Ciirist, the apo.^tle exhorted Titus to " speak such things as became sound " doctrine," or the salutary healing truths of the Gos(,el. from which all the motives and encouragements to holy obedience must be deduced: and it " became sound doc-j " trine," that preachers should inculcate on their hcareiSj the practice of their various duties, from evangelical prin- ciples. Thus, " the aged men should be sober," serious, prudent, vigilant, " grave, temjieratc," in every kind of indulgence, and "sound in fiith," steadfast in the pro- fession of sound doctrine, and faith in Christ, " in cha- " rity," or love to him and their brethren, and." in " patience," amidst trials and persecutions. It docs not appear that elders, or pastors of the Church, were exclu- sively intended. The original word is different from that tran^hited elders, and signifies men advanced in years. The apo.iilo had before spoken of the elders. (Note, i. .5 — 9.) v. y— 6. Aged women also, whether employed as deaconnesses by the Church or not, should be instructed to act consistendy with their sacred character, as professedly a part of the spiritual priesthood, and that devotedness to God which it implied. They should be warned against speaking slanders or calumnies, a sin to which human nature is peculiarly prone, and to which the national cha- racter of the Cretian.s must give them an additional pro- pensity. The original word is the same that is in many places remiered "devils;" which shows what a hateful example slanderers and back-biters imitate. They must be careful not " to enslave them."-* Ives to much wine :" some of them might have been accustomed to this when hea- thens, and it would need great self-denial to acquire vic- 5 To be " discreet, chaste, ° keepers at home, "• good, '^ obedient to their own husbands, ' that the word of God be not blasphemed. 0 "Young men likewise exhort to be Ij sober-minded. 7 In ' all things shewing thyself a pat- tern of good works: in doctrine shelving " uncorruptness, " gravity, ^ sincerity; 8 ^ Sound speech that cannot be con- demned ; " that he that is of the contra- ry part •> may be ashamed, " having no evil thing to sav of you. n Srt on. 2 0 Oiii xvi. E, 9, xviJT. 9. PrOT \\,. 11,12 xixi, 10-31. 1 T.m, 13. . 3G 35 r 10 i Ifi. 1 34. Kph V 2:— 24 33 Col. i 1 13 1 Tm. •\ II. I Pet. iii. 1-.1 r2Sam xii. 1»'. P3 ij»i' :4. 14 i I. i Joh x»ix 3, Ps. cslviii 12. Vc. X . 9. xil. 1 Joel il 2a. 1 Pet t. & I Joha ii 13, 14. II Or. discrttt Sec t Acts XX 33-34 _ s Ht! on, c 2 y 3 C . 17. 2 Thes i.i 14. cPh'l. 14 I Pet ii. 12. 15. tory over the habit, and liberty from the thraldom, of tin'-; infatuating vice. They were likewise required to be teachers of good things in their families, and to their juniors : that so they might be employed in exhorting the younger women to be sober and [)rudent, without levity or vanity; affectionate to their husbands and children, and taking pleasure in the duties of wives and mothers ; dis- creetly avoiding all appearance of evil, or ground of sus- • icion, as well as evei-y actual violation of their conjugal fivielity; to be "keepers at home," ani.1 diligent in ma- naging their domestic aftairs, (for both are implied;) not delighting to gad abroad, nor yet loitering away their time at home; to be good or kind to all around them, " and "obedient to their own husbands," even if ihey were not Christians, and in many things behaved improperly to them ; for this woui.l iVequenlly be the case. These things must be attended to, " that the word of God might not be ■■ blasphemed," or evil spoken of among the Gentiles, through any improper conduct of Christians in relative life. Young men also must be taught to be sober-minded, to act in a prudent and considerate manner; avoiding all youth- ful lusts and vanities, and attending to their several duties in the fear of God. V. 7, 8. It was especially incumbent on Titus to five, in his own conduct, a pattern of all those good works to v.-hich he exhorted others, that ihcy might h.ive his example for a comment on his instructions. In his doc- trine also, he should take care to preserve " uncorrupt- " ness," not admitting any of those adtlitions or vain conjectures, by which the holy nature and clficacy cf divine truth might be altered; "gravity," avoiding every thing ludicrous, all affectation of wit, or whatever did not consist witli the solemnity becoming the gre^l concerns cf God and eternity ; and " sincerity," or an upright, evi- dent, and single aim to the glory of God and the' good of souls; without seeking applause or worldly advaniage, or tiiC appear-ance of seffish d'.si;;ns. in whM he did. He must also use " sound speech, that could noi be con- " dcmned." as erroneous, ambiguous, unin'elligibie, or of bad tendency : that, thus stating divine truth in plain, con- vincing, and scriptural langi:age, they, wlio were of the contrary part, whether heathens, or heretic^, might find nothing weak, frivolous, or unguarded, to object against ; /I. -0. G(j. TITUS. J. D. 66. CHAP. II. 77ic apostle directs Titus to instruct the people in their several duties; to exem- plify them in his own conduct.^ and to take heed to his doctrine, 1 — 10: and enforces his exhortations, by showing the holy tendency of the gospel, and charging Titus to speak tvith authority and firmness, II — 15. .sound in the faith, Titus was to warn them with sharp re- I'ukcs, if necessary, not to give liced to Jewish fables, hu- niaii traditions, or lo^al observances, which were then en- lircly the commandments oT men who " turned from the ■' truth," and wanted to impose their own usages on Chris- lians. These related, greatly, to distinctions of clean and \inf!ean meals, and the pharisaical inventions of washing their liands, and other external observances. (Ao/es, Mull. XV. 1 — 20.) But to the pure, to the real believer, who had peace with God through Jesus Christ, and had liis heart puiified by faith, all such things were pure in themselves, and used in a holy manner, by the allowance, according to the precepts, and for the glory, of God : to ihoso, however, " that were defiled," with the guilt and j)ollution of unrepcnted sin, and who, through unbelief, remained strangers to the purging of the conscience with the blood of Christ, " nothing was pure:" for as their hearts were unsanctified, and their consciences were erro- neous, partial, callous, and unclean, so all their enjoy- ments and actions, however innocent or good in them- selves, were corrupted by their pride, avarice, sensuality, and enmity against God. They indeed professed to know him and to be his people, but in works they denied him, and manifested a disregard to his authority, favour, and indignation : for their conduct in all respects, especially in crucifying Christ, jiersecuting Christians, and endea- vouring to subvert the churches of the Gentiles, proved them to be abominable and disobedient ; and as to every good work rejected by God, and given up to judicial blind- ness. The unbelieving Jews seem to be primarily in- tended ; but the judaizing teachers were purposely included as unbelievers also, though they professed to believe. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—9. All who arc not slaves of sin and Satan are the ser- vants of God : " this honour have all his saints," and this dignifies their meanest employments, though the office of "ministers is confined to a few, and that of apostles and evangelists to a very small number. But sinners cannot Kervc God, except " according to the faith of his elect" peo|)le, and by " acknowledging the truth which is after *• godliness :" {Sole, 1 Tim. iv. 3 :) nor can they be stead- fast in the midst of trials and temptations, save " in hope '• of eternal life." This was promised in Christ, " be- " fore the world liegan:" and, though he who gave this promise can do all things else, he '• cannot lie," he cannot " deny himself." In his due lime, he has manifested his word of truth by preaching : and all, to whom this is committed, must take heed to publish it, " according to " the commandment of God our Saviiiur," that the com- mon faith may thus be wrought in those whom they may rejoice in as their own children, and to whom, " grace, '' mercy, and peace, may be given from God the Father, " and the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour." When a mul- titude of captives are brought forth from the dark dungeon of Satan into the glorious light and liberty of the Gospel, many things will be wanting, and much required to be set in order, before their worship and service can be per- formed in a suitable manner, the best methods used for their edification, and the most eft'ectual defence madeagainst the assaults of their spiritual enemies. Then the presence, counsel, and influence of some experienced and faithful servant of God will be peculiarly useful, especially in respect of the choice and ordination of pastors to preside over them and teach them. They, to whom this important trust is committed, are bound, as they shall answer for it before God, to appoint blameless and faithful men to this stewardship ; such as are of pliant tempers, respecting their own humours and interests, peaceable, sober, tem- perate men ; su[ierior to the grovelling love of filthy lucre ; lovers of hospitality and of good men ; just and holy ; prudent managers of domestic concerns ; attentive to rela- tive duties ; constant and bold in professing the truth, as taught in the word of God, and able by sound doctrine to exhort and to convince gain-sayers. As it is peculiarly incumbent on ministers to educate their children with dili- gence and piety, and to rule them with prudence and firm- ness, so lite children of ministers should consider what a dreadful Account must be rendered by them, if their unbe- lief, riot, and unruly behaviour, bring ^an imputation on the characters of their fathers, and interfere with their use- fulness. V. 10—16. In all ages there have been unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, by whom Satan,sows tares in the Lord's field ; and this should teach and induce the servants to be vigilant and diligent, tliat they may counteract the enemy. For unless the " mouths of such men be stopped," they will subvert whole families of hopcfid persons, and teach the most per- nicious doctrines i'or filthy lucre's sake. To jirevent this mischief is the most difficult part of a minister's work: and his wisdom must especially be shown, in discerning men's characters, distinguishing between the weak and the wicked ; and knowing when to exhort with gentleness, and when to '• rebuke with sharpness, that men may be " sound in the faith." For though there are national differences of character, yet the heart of man in every time and place is deceitful and desperately wicked : and while some need the gentlest guidance, others must be exposed and warned with decided severity ; or they will turn men away from the faith to fables and human inven- tioss. The true Christian learns to exercise his liberty in a pure and holy manner; all things are pure to him, and grace leaches him '' to cat, and to drink, and to do all " things to the glory of God ;" and when he fails, he has humble recourse to the purifying blood and sanctifying grace of Christ. But unbelievers are defiled in their minds ^. D. 66. CHAPTER n. BUT speak thoii the things " which heconio sound doctrine : 2 That '' the aged men be * sober, ic'i.M ''nrov "^ crrave, '' temperate, ■= sound in faith, ' in xvi 31. 1' Uv P ■, ■ f 9 10. chanty, in patKMice. Cor XV. 31. I 3 1 he aged women hke\vise, tliat 2 " they be in behaviour s as becometh t holiness : '' not J false accusers, ' not gGr''"' '' Sfiven to mucli wine, '' teachers of good '^(cof "2;. things. p^^- >■■ 2JJf «;• 4 That they may teach ' the young 3i "iiom xii women to be § sober, "■ to love their hus- \v'eiT^.lc^r hands, to love then' childi'en : »ll— U. i 9 ii a I Tim i 10 Ti. 3 aXiin. i 13 b i.ev. xix 32. 1 1-Pt 7 V. 8 Gr. el iTi II V 6-10 1 ret ii' t Or, makciaUs 2 V 1 1 TiOi V 2 II 14.- 0... 1 T.m. I 5 1; Rom xvi, 2. Epb v 3 I Tim ii. 9. 10. i'l' 3-S. 1 Or, />!/(« 7v(/mei> \iSee on, 1 Tim iii 8.11 m. iii 3 Or - i Srr on, I 7, ;, i. Heb. v, IS. Rev. il. 20. and consciences; their ordinary actions and religious du- ties are unclean I) iheni: whether tliey riot in licentiousness, as il that were liberty, or whether they enslave themselves to su|jeistiiions observances. For, alas! "numbers, of "^vaiiuus descriptions profess to know GoJ, but in works "deny him; being abominable, disobedient, and unto " every goo.l work reprobate." Yet, at last " the tiee *' will be known by its fruit; and every tree that bi'ingeth " not forth good fiuit, shall be hewn down and cast into " the lire." NOTES. CHAP. II. V. 1, 2. To mark the dilTorcnce be- tween falie teachers and the servants of Christ, ihc apo,-^tle exhorted Titus to " speak such things as became so ind " doctrine," or the salutary healing truths of the Gos(,el, from which all the motives and encouragements to holy obedience must be deduced : and it " became sound doc- " trine," that preachers should inculcate on their hearers the practice of their various duties, from evangelical prin- ciples. Thus, " the aged men should be sober," ,serious, prudent, vigilant, " grave, temjierate," in every kind of indulgence, and "sound in f;iith," steadfast in the pro- fessiun of sound doctrine, and faith in Christ, " in cha- " rity," or love to him and their brethren, and." in " patience," amidst trials and persecutions. It docs not appear that elders, or pastors of the Church, were exclu- sively intended. The original word is different from that translated f/£/frs,and signities men advanced in years. The apo.-itle had before spoken of the elders. {Note, i. 5 — 9.) V. y — 6. Aged women also, whether employed as deaconncsses by the Church or not, should be instructed to act consistently with their sacred character, as professedly a part of the spiritual priesthood, and that devotedness to God which it implied. They should be warned against speaking slanders or calumnies, a sin to which human nature is peculiarly prone, and to which the national cha- racter of the Cretians must give them an ad' sincerity; 8 ''Sound speech that cannot be con- demned; "that he that is of the contra- ry part '' may be ashamed, " having no evil tliinof to say of you. .i. D. G6. Xtili. 9. iTOt lil. II, |2. 'K.li. 10-31, 1 Tin. V 13. p Arts ix. .1C M 1 Tim V 10 q Gen iii 16. 1 Cor Hi, 3 xi». 34. Kph V 2:— 2,1 33 Col, i i la 1 T m, .\ II, 1 Pet, iii, !-,•. P9 isx 14, i 1. i Joh KXix 8, H.I, cslviii 12. K,., X ,9, xii, I J„tl n 2U. 1 Cet V. 6 I JoliQ ii 1^, 14. I Or, iiscrtct Set tActs ,, s Sii on 3a I I viii. » Epli 9 I Tim 1 cl'h'l. 12, I Pet V, 3, VI, 21, Phil i 10, , 14 1 Pet ii. 12. 15. tory over the habit, and liberty from the thraldom, of this infijtuating vice. They were likewise required to be teachers of good things in their families, and to their juniors : that so ihcy might be employed in exhorting the younger women to be sober and prudent, without levity or vanity; affectinnate to their husbands and children, and taking pleasure in the duties of wives and mothers ; dis- creetly avoiding all appearance of evil, or ground of sus- picion, as well as every actual violation of their conjugal fidelity; to be "keepers at home," and diligent in ma- n'lgiiig their domestic affairs, (for both are implied;) not delighting to gad abroad, nor yet loitering away their time at home; to be good or kind to all around them, " and " obedient to their own husbands," even if they were not Christians, and in many things behaved improperly to them ; for this would frequently be the case. These things must be attended lo, " that the word of God might not be =• blasphemed," or evil spoken of among the Gentiles, through any improper conduct of Christians in relative life. Young men also must be taught to be sober-minded, to act in a prudent and considerate manner; avoiding all youth- ful lusts and vanities, and attending to their several dudes in the fear of God. V. 7, 8. It was especially incumbent on Titus to givp. in his own conduct, a pattern of all those good works to which he exhorted others, that they might hnve his example for a comment on his instructions. In his doc- tiine also, he should take care lo preserve " uncorrupt- " ness," not admitting any of those additions or vain conjectures, by which the holy nature and efficacy of divine truth might bo altered; "gravity," avoidint' every thing ludicrous, all affectation oi wit, or whatever did not consist witli the solemnity becoming the gicat concerns of God and eternity; and "sincerity," or an upright, evi- dent, and single aim to the glory of God and tiie" good of souls; without seeking applause or worldly advantage, or ti.e appearance of selfish d'.si'^ns, in whjl he did. He must also use " sound speech, that could not be con- " demned." as erroneous, ambiguous, uniii'elligib,e, or of bad tendency : that, thus stating divine truth in plain, coiv- vincing, and scriptural langi:age, they, who were of the contiary part, whethpr heathens, or heretics, might find nothing weak, frivolous, or unguarded, to object against ; J. D. 66. TITUS. J. D. 66 * Eph 9 Exhort *■ servants to be obedient^ i' ''^T..- unto their own masters, and 'to please 1 Pet n ia-2j . ... Ill- J. • oEph V 21 them well in all thitifrs ; not t answering Or. jpainj/u/i"?- , *-' 24 Luke XVI. C "-"'" — ». JolMi \ii 6 Acts V 2 3 CGen. XX'-I7 Juile 18 - p I'm cv 45 t.L xxxvl 27 .Malt V. 19,20. Luke i 6 75. iii. 9- 13 Acts sxiv. Ir.. 25 V.n> iiinlA- c ..^♦^ u\ \r „ ,i 1:__ "',ii ^.'^'l'"; our Saviour Jesus -JO, SI !T .8 2 Pet 13-14 _ O "vsviii''r°'5^'"eat God, and - . n Col. i Christ; gave himself for us, * tliat ri (,i .'MarU 4 f>. 2 ret iii. 13 Rph. 11 Who CT. a The » He>>. ri 18, 19. 1 Pet i. 3 _ I John iii. 3 x JoH r\x 25-27 Is jisv 3 ^fi.tt viii 38. Ii» 62 1 Tim vi 13.14 Heh ix. 28 2Cor iii. IB I John iv U z Matt. XX 28 John ti. 51 x. \S Gal ! V. 2 23-i27. I Tim. i. 15 li C Heh ix 14. 1 Pet iii. 18 llev. i. Ziriii. IG Ps. cxxx. 8 Ez. sxri. 25. Matt. i.21. Rom. xi 26,27 6 ■ he shed on us | aliun- Vt;^'','' ," " dantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviom-; YUx't 'i'" 's 7 'I'hat, " Ijeing justified by his grace, '^.V'- 'j^J"'^ we should be ''made heirs according to Kpi,*''i "c. " the " hope of eternal life, j^,^^', ^'l y, !^ u Joliii iii 3 4 ICor.\i 1 1 Eph. v. 26. I Pet. iii 31. X P= li lO noUi. xii 2 F.ni/ iv 23 Col iii in Heb vi B --y I'rov.i. 23 I? xxxii 15 xliv 3 V.i xxx' 1 2.'>. Joel ii IB. John i. 1« rii 37. Art=ii.33. x 45 Kom v 6 *■ Sr. richly Srt on Epli ii 4. iii 8 zi 4 JoliD iv 10 xiv 16, 17 xvi. 7 Rem viii 2 a Kom lii 24. jb iv.4. 16. v 1,2. 15-21. xi. 6. I Cor vi ll.Gal.ii 16. b Kom. viii. 17 2.1,24 Gal iii, 23 iv 7. Heb. VI. 17 xi 7. 9 Jam ii 5 I Pet iii. 7, c Alton, i 2 ii. 13. to wander out of the right way. They had been "slaved '' to divers lusts," and the love of worldly " pleasures ;'" some beinrfuirdcr the power of one sinful passion, sonic uf another : iftfy had lived in malice and envy, from the v,i- rious competitions, animosiiics and resentments, which their eager pursui't of v.orldly objects, and the prido of their hearts, gave rise to: thus they had been "hateful"' in their disposition and conduct in the sight of God, " and " had hated one another," especially in the iccinint nl contempt and enmity borne by the Jews and Gentiics against each other. y, 4. — 7. God might justly have left even the apostjp and Titus, with their brethren and fellow-labourers, lo perish in their sins, as, before their conversion, they had not only deserved it, but were " vessels of \\rath' filed " for destruction." Yet he had not only spared Ihem, but had ctlected a blessed change in their state and cha- racter. For the kindness and philanthropy of God, (his love to sinful men, whilst he left sinning angels to pcri.sh.) had made it proper for them to call him "God our Sa- " viour," as he had purposed, planned, and cfTcclcd men's salvation, by giving his holy Son to be their Redeemer. After this love of God toman had been displayed in the incarnation, obedience, death, and resurrection of the eter- nal Son of God, and by the preaching of the Gospel, he had also brought the apostle and his brethren to paitake of this salvation ; not through the merit or cificacy of " works of righteousness which they had done," but according to his exceedingly rich and free mercy, and com- passionate good-will to them ; and by " the wasiiing of " regeneration," that new birth of the Spirit, of which the laver of baptism was the sacramental sign, but nothing more. This was not only a washing of the heart from the prevailing love and pollution of sin, but made way for the renewal of the soul to the divine image by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God the Father had richly and abundantly poured forth upon them, in all the variety of his gifts, graces and consolations, through Jesus (Christ our Saviour. His atonement had purchased, and his me- diation had obtained, this inestimable gift for sinners^ in order to apply his salvation to their souls. Thus, being brought to repent, and Iielievc in the Son of God, they bafJ 3 H 2 J. D. 66. TITOS. J. D. G6. ■is.con. 19 1 8 7^A/a /.v' a faithful saying; and these eiw. xxi 28 things I will * that thou aHirm constantly, F°s' u«ini 22 ^'"^'^ ^''^y ' which have believed in God, Join. V 2. x.i ii)i„,"■ " " ■ Pllilem II inffs about the law : for they are '- unpro- kJobx».2.iror. litable and vain T.n. a. u. JO A man that is an ' heretic, "" after G"| v io'«pe.il the first and stcond admonition, " re- ■",">'»»>'! '*- 17 2Cor kill. S. lect; "."""' »'' 1' I 1 1 Knowing that he that is such, ° is 5,-j;.^ *., [^ ,» subverted, and siiineth, p being condemned ^^,7',^" * " of himself "' " *"«»»• •-■11 2 Tim. ii U. H«b x 25 p Matt. xxt. 26-28. I.wke vii. 30 XIJ. 23. John iii. ;b. been jiLsiifieJ in him, of his free mercy and grace, without any o! their ovmj iiieii.s; and so they bec;imo the adojjtcd chilJieu and iieir.5 ofGnd, .icccrding lo the ho|ie of eternal life, wliich Ills promise iiad taught them to entertain. See- iiig then all liieir hopes and privilci^es had been conferred upon them wholly by the mercy of God, contrary to all iheir own deserts, it was proper for thera to be followers of God, in (heir conduct towards their brethren and neighbours. The miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit are not so much a.s allude I lo in this place : and nothing induces more confu- sion Into the expositions gi\eii of the Scrinlucc, by com- mentnlors of ditrcrent descriptions, than thCT^^bct of dis- tinguishing between those communicalion.=i, w^rcn constitu- ted men piojjhet.s or apostles, and those whicii were, still are, and evf:r must be, indisjjensably necessary to render them true Christians. The cxprr-ssion, '■ shed," or pour- id, '• on us," in this manifest allusion to the ordinance of baptism, may properly be noted as an intimation, that the pouring of water on any person, " in the name of the Fa- '* thcr, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit," is baptism, equally with immersion. V. 0. " The saying," which the apostle had just deli- vered concerning free salvaiion to vile sinners, was true rind faithful; and the doctrines which he had stated, as well as the exhortations before given, (for both seem to be referrcil to,) he would have Titus insist upon with con- stancy, and without wavering; in order that "they, who " had believed in God," and had come to tiust in his mercy, grace, truth, and power, through .Jesus Christ, might be rendered careful to maintain, or lo slandforemosl, in the practice of good works; being influenced by love and giitilude, and encouraged by the |;romiscs of the Gospel to abound in them. For though the things, before stated in various practical admonitions, could not in any degree justify sinners before God, they were good in themselves, and prjfitable to men, in respect of their temporal and eternal interests, both to those who perf.jrm- cd them and to others. V. 9. It was incumbent on Titus, to insi.st on the grand peculiarities of the Gospel, and by all means to avoid fri- volous and foolish questions, or subtile nice disUiictions and " genealogies," which the .lews were aUached to, as >f men were the better in the .'^ight of God for being de- scended from the patriarchs. These matters and the con- tests and angry disputes of the Jewish teachers about the Mosaic law, and the obligations of its cei-emonies, were utterly vain under the Christian dispensation ; and only amused men with such sjjeculaiions, as took them olffrom the great doctrines and duties of Christianity. V. 10, 11. A heretic, in St. Paul's sense, seems to have been a professed Christian, who obstinately denied, and opposed, some fundamental doctrine of the Gospel, as taught by the a[iostlcs; especially if he were earnest to propagate his notions, from a vain desire of being the head of a party, and so made divi.sions in the Church. {Note, Gal. v. '10.) Titus was therefore directed to ad- monish such a man, once, and again ; showing him the error and evil tendency of his principles, and their coi'iupt. source ; warning him of his guilt and danger, and ex- hoiting him to retract them, if this failed of clfect, he ought afterwards to reject him, as an excommunicated person ; being assured that his dangerous errors, and his proud and pertinacious adherence to them, evinced him '• to be subverted," or turned aside from Christ, the Foundation of ihe Church, by the artifices of Satan ; that his mistakes arose, not from unavoidable ignorance, but from proud and carnal ]irejudices. so that he sinned in them; and that " he was condemned of himself," as his avowal of such heresies rendered further |3roof against him unnecessary : he was therefore not to be considered as a Christian, or allowed to continue in the communion of the Church. {Marg. Kef.) The Scriptures referred to in the margin, and many others, show, diat when a man's owu words suffice for his condemnation, without further evi- dence, he may be said to be '' condemned of himself :" nor does any great difficulty appear in this much disputed text, except in explaining it in consistency with the sys- tems of contending ■zealots. In subordinate matters, the apostle inculcated nmtual forbearance: but all his epistles show, that he supposed some errors to be fundamental, and absolutely inconsistent with faith in Christ. For avowing these errors men were to be excommunicated, as much as for gross immoralities; and were things restored to their pri- mitive state in the Chm-ch of Christ, there can be no doubt, but that they who deny the lost estate of man by nature, the Deity of Christ, the real atonement of his death, jus- tification by faith in the merits of Christ being of grace and not of works, the need of sanctification by the Holy Spirit, and obedience to God's commandments as the effect and evidence of justifying faith, with other doctrines of similar importance, would, after proper admonition, be rejected by believers, and excluded from their communion. No doubt would remain in their minds, but that such heretics were subverted and sinned ; and their professioa of tenets, so destructive of Christianity, would be deemed a kind of " self condemnation," without considering them as less sincere in opposing the truth than Saul of Tarsus was. They would not judge them proper persons to associate with those who believed the doctrines of grace; but they would not do them any injury in their temporal concerns, or neglect to pray for " God to give them " repentance, to the acknowledging of the truth." The .'i. D t3(i. CHAPTER llf- .;. 1). lib. qs«i.f.A.:t3xs 12 Wiion I shall send Aitcin.as unto i 3 Till). IV 12 , rt\ , ■ 1 p-r rir.in .V a 21. tlico, or '• 1 vclucus, ' De aili;'-eiit to „l Cor svi c 9. ' . . . ,• '^ 1 1 , .Matt. > "■'»".«• tain good works tlir necessary u:^es, ^ that <'<':i''nU'>'-\X, tiiey be not tiiifriiiti'ui. . " tr 'i-.i,!," k' 15 All thai arc ^ with me sahite thee. ^■',J'^^j'ii,'«n,^,( '' Greet them that ' love us in the ibith. jiue'lhrOs J .hn y. 0- 16. Ph 1 .11 fv IT. Col U) Hel. ■T fi-IC S I-a 1 K n.Vf t on. Rom ?l- N See II XVI. ! - ; [1 — < Ga 1 V. i: 1 ,.! >i 21 1 r^ai 1, 5 I'll Icm b ii oi:n ■I. sv 1.-4 U T :n,,» s. . Hco &ii Si •• magistrates ;" but it is peculiarly so at present., when most valuable privileges and liberties, which ought to have rendered cheerful subjection and peaceable obedience uni- versal, among all who name the name of Christ, have given occasion to a contrary spii'it and conduct in nundjcrs, who seem to forget that p_recepts to this eticct are found in the Scriptures. But real religion, in proportion as it jjrevails, will render men quiet subjects, as well as good iieiglibours and rekiiions, and ready to every good work; it wdl re- press the turbulent and censorious tempei', and restrain them from speaking evil of others, and from reviling and wrangling, aJMkuiH teach them to be gentle and meek to all men. ^^P^ dispositions and diis conduct arc the genuine effec^of a deej) conviction of our own guilt, united'wiih an experimental knowledge of the iiea salva- tion of the Gospel ; wc shall not, if thus humbled and enlightened, disdain, or be wearied out by, the miscon- luct of the most unrea.sonable enemies ; if we duly con- sider that we ourseh'es were formerly foolish, disobedient, •Tnd deceived, slaves to divers base lusts, and a fondness fur carnal jdeasures ; " that we lived in malice and envy ;" and, in short, were hateful to God, and disposed to hate V. 12—15. There were several cities called Nicopolis, j one another, and thus '• vessels of wrath fitted for dcstruc and it is not certain which was here meant; but it hence " tion," till divine grace eflecled the blessed change. Let appears that Paul was at this time at liberty. Had he writ- us then often contemplate the discoveries which have ten from Nicopolis, as the spurious postscript asserts, he 'been made, of the kindness and love of God our Saviour would have said, " /tcre to winter." He purposed to send | towards our fallen apostate race, in giving his Son to he Arteinas or Tychicus to inform Titus when to meet him there, and probably to supply his place in Crete, and de- sired hiai to come without delay. But he was to bring, or to sold before, Zenas, (who was either a converted Jewish doctor of the law, or one who had been a Roaian lawyer,) and Apollos, who seems to have been then in Crete ; and he was studiously to help them, that, by the kindness of the churches, their war.ts and travelling expenses mi;'-ht be sujipliod. Titus was also directed to remind the in;me- diate friends of the apostle, and especially the ministers, that they should "learn to maintain," or .to stand forth in the [)ractice of good works, for such useful and necessary purposes ; that they might not be unfruitful, but might set a good example to the new converts. Some explain the v/urds to mean, that they should learn and labour in " use- " ful trades," which would enable them, though no emolu- ment were annexed to their otiice, to assist their brethren, and so, in this respect, not to be unfruitful. {Marfr. lief.) With this admonition and customary salutations and bene- dictions he concluded the epiMle. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—8. the propitiation for our sins; his patience in sparmg us during the years of our foolishness and rebellion ; his good- ness in sending us the word of salvation; and, above all, Ids mercy in causing us to partake of the " washing of •' regeneration and the renewing of. the Holy Ghost," whicn he poured upon our soul.*, of his plenteous grace, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Surely we know that none of these things were procured " by works of righte- " ousiiess that we had done!" And that we were "jusr " tified freely by his giarc." and so made heirs according to " the hope of eternal life."' Having been therefore brouo-ht into a state of safety, and made partakers of a joyful hope by the meremercy of God the Father, through the redemp- tion of his incarnate Son, and by the new creation of the Holy Ghost, it certainly behooves us to take the lead in every good work, by \yhifh we can glorify God our Sav- iour, or benefit mankind. Ministers should insist upon these faithful sayings, and affirm these things constantly ; and show the tendency of the truths of the Gospel to holi- ness of life : and Christians should be ambitious of exceed- ing all other mc.i in every good thing, for the honour of the truth through which they are saved. V.9— 1 It hath at all times been necessary to remind Christians '• to be subject to principalities and powers," and to obey | AtiendiDg to the good and profitable things before ihcHh ^. D, bO TITUS. //. /). Gl>, cated, we sliould laapn to avoid foolish questions and con- (cnlious disputations, which aro iinprolilahle Qiid vain, But, tliough we must not sirivc about words, or magnity every difference of o(iiiiion into a damnable heresy, ycl, we should carofuUy watch against funddmental errors, which are incousisient with the life of faith in the Son of God, and of grateful obedience to him^ Many grc sub- verted by heretics ; we should therefore withdraw from tlicm, if they neglect proper admonitions \ and though they be not separated from the communion of believers here, yet. continuing impenitent, they will 9t last be rejected by the oniniscitnl .Judge C'f all nien. Whatever Christians find to do, they should attend on it diligently ; they should be (vcr ready to hclj) one another, and to prevent and relieve the wnnts of (hose who are labouring to promote the Gos|)cl. They wlio exhort others to such good works, must le;.rn to uiaintain them in their own conduct, and, on necessary occasions, to set a decided and conspicuous example. 1'hcn ihey will not be unfruitful in ihe k.iowltdge of Christ ; mutual love, as the fruit of f.ii.h, will be increased, and the grace of our Lord wil! be with ihe«i all. THE EPiSTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE Philemon steins to liuce been a Christian of some eminence, residing al Cohsse ; (Col iv. 9 17-) icho had heen convcrtetl mulcr Si. PauPs ministry; (19;) j^crhaps during his abode at Ephcsus. (Acts xix \0\ fHen the apostle was imprisoned at Rome, Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, having, as it is gencrallii thowriJ been guilty of some dishonesty, lejt his master and fled to thai city, though at the distance of several hundred miles, nhen he came thither, curiosity, or some such motive, induced him, to attend on St. Paul's ministry which It pleased God to bless /or his conversion. After he had given satisfactory proof of a real chancre and manifested an excellent disposition, by suitable behaviour, ichich hcuUtreatly endeared him to Paul, he%id'red It proper to send him back to his master; to whom he icrote this ejl^lhat he might procure Onesimus a more favourable reception than he could otherwise have expected. 1 hmmst competent judges have ^iven it a de- cided preference, as a model of good writing m the epistolary kind, to the most admired remaim of antiquity Indeed, we can scarcely conceive, how such a cause, as that of Onesimus, could have been pleaded in a more interesting, obliging, pnulent, pathetic, and masterly manner. It is also very replete with useful instructiofi. The apostle entertamed'no doubt of Philemon s compliance with his request ; and expected that he would do more than he said It is therejore probable, that Onesimus was not only received into favour, but set at liberty ■ and. It is generally thought, that he became afterwards a minister of the gospel. Onesimus accompanied Ty- chicus to Colosse. and, it may be concluded, that the apostle wrote to Philemon at the same time ■ and that One- simus, having delivered the letter to his master, and obtained his forgiveness, joined mth Tychicus,in executinsi the ajiostlc s commission to the Cofossians.. ^ j ar A. D. 64. The apostle salutes Philemon, 1 — 3 ; declares his Joy at hearing of his faith and love, 4 — 7; earnestly and patheti- cally entreats him to receive into favour his fugitive servant, Onesimus, now be- come, by the apostle^s ministry, a con- sistent believer, 8 — 21 ; desires him to provide for him a lodging, as he expect- ed to be speedily released, 22 ; and con- NOTES. CHAP. I. V. 1, 2. The aposlle did not intend to -.vrile aulhoiitritivcly to Philemon, and therefore he only atyled himself " the prisoner of Jesus thiist," which tend- ed to procure an affectionate regard to his request; and he joined Timothy with him, that ihey might be presented as the united desire of him and his brethren. Though Phi- Jemon is called " a fellow labourer," yet it is not certain >-;hat he was a miniater ; pcihaps he served the cause of J. D. 64- eludes with salutations and benedictions, ^'' -^'J. a 3 W /J,, Epttt PAUL, " a prisoner of Jesus Clirist, ^^^^ ''^ '" ]," ^''. and ^ Timothy our brother, unto PI}]- "'■■"com/i"''' 3 lemon otir dearly beloved, •= and fellow- « 2'" cor.m.r 11 " •Phi iv. 3. Col. labourer, iv n. ixhesi. 2 And to our beloved Apphia, an d*** £?!,''. '^- Archippus, " our fellow-soldicr, and tOf'Ji^'i.t* , ^ the church in thy house : ^"\- . "■ ''^ J Col. IV. IS. Christ by active diligence in another manner. {Marg, Ref.) The beloved Apphia is supposed to have been his wife, though some think that she was his sister. Archip- pus, whom the apostle called his fellow. soldier, and to whom he sent a special charge in another epistle, is thought to have been the son or near relation of Phile- mon ; and he seems to have resided in his family, which was so pious and well regulated, that it was ia some sense a Christian Church. k J. D. G-l. PPIILEMON. J. D 6i I'Ml 1.3 C.il I 3. I Thes I 3 2 Thes. i 3 STim ■ 3. i Gal V. 6. K|)h. i IS Col. i. I 117 FsxviS Actl i\.4l Knm Nili. n Matt V. 16. 1 Cor. xiv. 25 1 ret ii 12. iii. I ;6 B » Pet. i 8. e I Thcs i 3 ii 13. 19 iii. :» 3 Jnim 4. 3 John J p so 2'rim 3 ^ Ciraf^n lo yoii, and peace, from Gotl our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I '■ thank my God, making mention of thoc always in my prayers, 5 ' Hearing of thy love and faith, whicli ihou hast '' toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6 'J'hat ' the communication of thy faith may become ctTectual by " the ac- knowlcdVnig of every good thing which is " in you in Clirist Jesu.?. 7 For wc have " great joy and conso- lation in thy love, because p the bowfls V. 3. (iVo/f, Rom. i. 7.) (Marg. Ref.) <■ Hence it ' appears, thai the nature of the Father and of the Son is ' the same ; seeinc; the Son can do that which the Father ' doeth, and the Father i^ said to do that which the Son ' doelh.' [Jer.om.) V. 4—7. The apo.stle thanked Godj*|gBii&liy for his grace bestowed on Philcinon, niakin^i^^Bn of him in hii prayers. His gratitude to the Lord ^Irexcited from lime to time, by the good accounts which he received of .his " love and failh,'' even his faith toward the Lord Ucsus, and his love to all the saints for his sake. The obvious meaning of the passage requires a transposition of the words, which arises from an arrangement not at all ■unsuitable to the Greek language, though it is rather harsh in an English translation. The ap-ostlc also prayed, " that " the communication of Philemon's faith might Ijccome " effectual," kc. Some explain this of his liberal com- munication from his temiioral affluence, being made effec- tual for the relief of the saints, and for the evident de- monstration of his failh from which it sprang. Others suppose the apostle to mean, that his eommnnioii, or parti- cipation of failh in Christ, might be effectual in regulating his whole temper and conduct. But, though both these senses may be contained in the words, they seem to have a still further meaning ; and the apostle probably prayed, that his endeavours to communicate his fiith in Christ to those around him might tie rendered effectual, througb the evident excellency of his exami)le and that of his family ; so that men might be induced to acknowledge the reality and yalue of every good thing which was in them, by mems of their relation to Christ, and thus to entertain a favnurabl^opinion of that religion, which produced such beneficial effects on the conduct of limse who embraced it. This he hoped would be the case ; for he had great joy and comfort in the accounts that he heard of his liberal love, by which the urgent necessities of Christians and ministers were sup)>lied ; so that, while their bodies were refreshed at his expense, their hearts were also rejoiced liy his good exami>le and pious conveisaiion ; and therefore the apostle cordially owned liim, anl greatly loved him as his brother in the Cospcl. The woni InoUicr, placed thus at the oikI of a sentence, is ppciib'arly cmilKilical, and expressive of the most entire cordiality. V. S — 11. The apostle here enters on the immediate business of tlic ejiistle, When he considered hi^ own ivl, ;•. 4. 1 Sit (in. EpY. of the saints arc refreshed i)y thee, bro- ''i**^"-,!"' j*' "» '■"^' • r : Cor 1 8 8 Wiicrefore, though I might be mucli 'co"""; io ,'i i' 1 bold in Christ, to ' enjoin thee that i.'lJis^ie"','!: which is convenient, iVs ini » t, 9 Yet for ' love's sake I rather beseech l^i' thee, being such a one as ' Paul the aged, "ii' and now also " a prisoner of Jesus Christ. VviTr'i.'Iii.~r. 10 1 beseech thee for" my son > One- frlm" ^'n't simus, '■ whom I have begotten in myyCoii.. s. , , ° J t \C0T \v IS, bonds : • «»i >» is ] 1 \V Inch in tmie past was to thee ?'"' *«'.• "' rill /* I 1 l.uke xvti i» " nnprolitabic, but now ''profitable to thee ,.';T "'I? . I r , b T.iiVe XT 21 32 and to me : ziim. .v n. apostolical authority and Philemon's character, he sup- posed that he might, with propriety, have enjoined him, in the name of Christ, to do what was so evidently con- venient, or agi-eeablc to the loving spirit of Christianity ; yet he pi'eferred the language of a supjiliant in the present case, and besought Philemon, for love's sake, even the love of Christ to them, and their love to him and to each other through him, that he would grant him one special favour, which he had it much at heart to obtain. He would re- mind him, that his humble supplicant was such an one " as " Paul, the aged" minister of the Gospel, (for he was probably above sixty years old at this time :) who, having encountered numbei less afHictions and perils, in seeking the salvation of men's souls, was then enduring the hard- ships, of a tedious im|:irisonment in the cause of Christ ; and he could not doubt of Philemon's readiness to do any thing which might mitigate the severity of his sufferings. His petition indeed was not presented for himself; but it was in behalf of " his son," even of one " whom he had " begotten in his bonds," the son of his old age, for whom he had the most tender parental atTection ; and the name of this son was " Onesimus !" In the original, Oncsimus is mentioned at the close of the sentence ; that the susjicnse, and most affectionate introduction, might prepare Philemon lo read a name, which could scaicelv tail of being associated in his mind with unfavourable ideas. Onesinuis signifies projiluhle ; in allusion to which, the apostle allowed thai he had not formerly deserved that name, having been ttiiprofiiable ; probably he had Keen unfaithful, dishonest, and unruly ; perhaps addicted to other vices , and this the apostle seems to have known from his own confession. But he spake of his faults in the gentlest language, and hastened to mention the change that had taken place; by which his character was now made to answer (he meaning of his name, and he was become profitable both to Philemon and to St. Paul. He was prepared to be a useful servant to the former; he had been serviceable to the latter, and he hoped that he would be still more so. V. ri — IG. Oncsimus was Philemon's legal property, and St. Paul had retjuircd, and prevailed ^^ith him to return to him. having made sufficient trial of his sincerity ; and he requested Philemon to receive him with the same kindness, as he would the aged apostle's ov.-n son accord- iag lo the ficsh, being equally dear to him, as his spiritual A. D. 61. PHILEMON. J. D (Jl Mttt iviii. Mark 12 VVi:om I have sent aijain: • thou . 14, 15. SI — 3d. Brh tT. M. '* therefore receive him, tliat is '^ mine own "■i Dciit. sill. r,. 1,-„.„|„ t"!..-".**!. '" i;> Whom I would have retained with Vhfrii 3n.'' '' me, that ' in thy stead he might have 'i!i'i''V I. *" ministered unto me in ' the honds of the | thee in tiic Lord 34 ll'et. V.3. gospel. rs.cx."7cor 11 But s without thy mind would I do r'iii 12. ix'sT nothing; that '' thy benefit should not .(ien'iiV 5-8 be as it were of necessity, but willinsfly. !."0. I't. lixvi. , ^ 1-1 ■ 1 1 I ^ c 1 '^ -^i Hi I, X. 7. 15 !< or ' perhaps he tliereiore departed Acls W. 18. ' I ^ I 111 ^ • •« Milt, sxjir 8. lor a season, tliat thou shouldest receive him lor ever ; 16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, ^ a brother beloved, especially i^ to me ; but hoXv much more unto thee, j"^ f 1^^^"^'!: ' both in the flesh, and in the Lord ! jsm.'in'.'i'p'et 17 If" thou count me therefore a part- .'io. i2.''M°tt: I ner, ° receive him as myself. tTviii.yVxdS 18 If he hath wronged thee, or owethjf f.^^^'Jof^ °Htb. '"' ■' ^~' ^^^^ aught, ° put that on mine account ; iii.se, 29 11 VI 2. Hcb. •,. I Pet i i;3. 1 John V. lEpb. vi 5 Col- iii. 22. Ill Acts jvi 2Cnr. viii. 19 p I, Paul, have written it widiminc VD'^''oai'v '». own hand, I will repay it; albeit I do ,','c,'.r. i.-. u. not say to thee, ■! huw thou owcst unto ■',';: «: "i tiS*"!; me even thine own self besides. ^^^ v''is,^2o'' 20 Yea, brother, ' let me have joy of 7-t.'"', " Vb!!. refresh my bowels in tiJ.^. iTig m' it T 1 '11- 7-9 IIplV the Liord. x-i, w.sjoiid-i. 21 Having 'confidence in thv obcdi- 'im'." iJuViiii once, I wrote unto thee, knowiiiij that 1 2 cor n. 3. vi.. ., -1. I 1 II ° 16 viii 22 Gal. thou wilt also do more than I saj". y.. 10 siuies 22 But withal, "prepare nie also a " Art-'xxHii.s.-;. lodging ; •" lor 1 trust that >' through p^^i^ '^^^- ?•= your prayers, I shall be given unto you. 3^01,^ u*'" '^ 23 Tliere salute thee ^ Epaphras, ^ Diy J^J'""^ ,,^j- s"!- fcllow-pnsoncr in Christ Jesus ; J."''j'j. '■ " ■'«"'• 24 ^ Marcus, " Aristarchus, '' Demas, ^|^"'' '■ '. ''•■■ ' Lucas, ' my fellow-labourers. 'c^uv 10''' ''' 2D The 5 grace of our Lord Jesus '•,tif',3'"ijy!: Christ U with >> your spirit. Amen. 'l^-.J^t'n '" '' d Col iv. 14. Pliil. ii 2S. iv. 3 3 John 6.- h2 Ti child. He would gladly have kept him at Rome, to mi- 1 he would il||i^t upon demand. It is generally observed, nister to him in his confinement; which Onesimus would! that this is a plain instance of a debt being imputed to willingly have done in the bonds of the Gospel, being one, which was contracted by another; and of one by a attached to him from Christian love and gratitude; and, j voluntary engagement becoming answerable for the mis- as he knew that Philemon would gladly have done him, conduct of another, that he might be exempted from the any service in person, if he had been at Rome, so hej punishment due to his crimes, and partake of benefits to would have considered Onesimus as ministering to him in j which he had no right; according to the doctrine of his master's stead. But he would not do any thing of. Christ's voluntarily bearing the punishment of our sins, this kind without his consent, lest he should seem to ex-' that we might receive the rcivard of his righteousness, by tort the benefit, and Philemon should appear to act from' a reciprocal imputation. Perhaps the apostle understood necessity, rather than from a willing mind. And thoughl that Philemon had expressed some sharpness concerning he had hopes of deriving benefit from Onesimus' faithful < Onesimus' conduct; or knowing him to be naturally service, at some future period, by Philemon's free consent, i somewhat severe in his temper, he might fear lest he yet he was not sure that this was the Lord's purpose' should punish him, as the laws permitted masters to do respecting him ; for perhaps he permitted him to leave his i their slaves in such cases ; which would not only have been master for a season in so improper a manner, in order grievous to Onesimus, but disgraceful to the Gospel, and that, being converted, he might be received on his return to Philemon himself. He therefore so far interested him- with such afleclion, and might abide with Philemon with; self in the matter, though he could scarcely suppose that such faithfulness and diligence, that they should choose ^payment would be demanded of hitn ; and added, that to live together the rest of ihcir lives, as fellou-hrirs of allhough he made this proposal, yet, in doing so, he had eternal felicity. {Murg. Ref.) In this case he knew that! fnibnrne to bring into the account, that Philemon owed to Philemon would no longer consider Onesimus merely as him his own self, besides other benefits, as God had made a slave, but view him as " above a slave, even as a brother! him the instrument of his eternal salvation ; thus intimat' " beloved." This he was become to Paul in an especial! ing diat he never could sufficiently requite that obligation, manner, who had before been entirely a stranger to him ;! He therefore pathetically besought him to let him have now much more then might it be supposed, that he would an opportunity of rejoicing on hi.-s account, in the Lord's be endeared to Philemon, when he became well acquainted, kindness to him, and to grant him this request, Avhich with his excellency! seeing he would he near to him both: would as much refresh his compassionate heart, as Phile- in the flesh as one of his domestics, and in the Lordasimon's liberality did the bowels of the saints. Having one with him in Christ by faith. confidence that he was ready to obey the Lord's will, v. 17 — 2!. If Philemon deemed the apostle a partner, intimated by him, he had written to him, being assured or partaker of the same grace, and dear to him for Christ's that he would do even more than he had requeued. Our sake, let him express his love to him by receiving Oiiesi-' curiosity is not gratified by being informed ot the effect mus with as much kindness as he would have received of this epistle ; but we can hardly doubt that Philemon himself, if he had come in person; and, in case Onesimus forgave Onesimus, received him with kindness, remitted had wronged Philemon, or was in his debt, let him place, what he owed to him, and afterwards gave him his liberty, that to his account; and, as he wrote the episde with his! that he might attend on the apostle. His appointment own hand, he gave, as it were, a promissory note, that with Tychicus to deliver the epistle to the Colossians, sccml Vol. v.— No. 34. ' ' 3 \ J. D. 64. PHILEMON. J. D. 64. to iiuimatc, tliat Paul meant to rniploy hiiu as a minister, ■nhich probably wns afterwards clone. V. 22 — 23. The apostle, though at this time in bonds, had an expertation of being speedily released when he wrote this epistle, and he purposed to visit Philemon and the Colossians when that took place : he was ])crsua(lpd they did not forget to pray for his liberty, that he might be enabled to visit them, and he trusted, that in answer to their prayers this would soon be effected ; therefore he desired them to prepare him a convenient lodging. Epa- phrns attended Paul so closely, that he might be deemed liis fellow-prisoner ; oi-, perhaps he was imprisoned with him. (iViurif. Ref.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—16. The fellow-labourers and fellow-soldiers of Christ ought to pray, and to thank God, for each other, witli the greatest constancy and fervency ; for faith in Christ, and iovc to him, should unite saints more closely, than any outward relation can the people of the world. They, who partake of these graces, must and will desire to communi- cate them to others ; and their endeavours a^I be render- td effectual, through fervent prayer. :':id^5jjjja:i uniform <;ourse of jiicty, purity, integrity, aii''. ; '"^J^P' ' ■ "■'nich will constrain men to acknowledge the t,ooc!3Biig.?, which v^rc in them as believers in Christ. Faithful ministers have great joy and conafort in the little company of afflu- ent Christians, whose love abounds in liberality to all men, and when the bowels of the saints are refreshed by them, and their wants generously supplied. It is by no means proj)er to exercise authority on every occasion, even when ministers may be bold to enjoin what is convenient. It is often far more prudent, for love's sake, to beseech even ju- niors and inferiors ; especially when it may be supposed that lliey will be reluctant to what is required, and when it may be difficult to convince them of its indispensable obligation. Tliese requests, from such a one as in any good measure resembles Paul the aged, ^\ill have the en- ergy of injunctions, and engage compliance, without risk- ing a subsequent distaste, which is always in such cases to be feared from the remaining self-love of the human heart, even in respect of pious men, who would do much to alleviate the sufferings, or increase the comforts, of their faithful pastors. In such circumstances, wisdom and hu- mility will teach the aged and experienced to become will- ingly the obliged parties, when they might assume a high- er tone. In speaking to men of their sins for their humi- liation, the heinous nature and manifold aggravations of ihem should be insisted on : but in mentioning them to others, who arc disposed to severity or resentment, wc should soften and extenuate as far as truth will permit : and such subjects ought to be introduced with all the ten- derness and caution iriiaginable, that every ihinti may tend to conciliate, and nothing to cxasptrate. When peni- tents show their sincerity by " works meet for repent- " anco," they should be treated by ministers with parental tenderness, and taken under their patronage, in respect of the temporal consequences of their former sins. For in this manner they, who were unprofitable to their relatives and neighbours, and a trouble to all connected with them are made profitable to the community and to the Church of God. They often become greatly useful to ministers and their families, and a blessing to all among whom they re- sii'.c ; they supply other men's lack of service (o the suf- fering disciples of Christ, by tending on them in their' sieail ; they promote the Gosj;el by their exauiple, con- veisation, and prayers, and many of them become jireach- ers of the word of life to their fellow -sinners ; for " behold " all things are become new !" No prospect of useful- ness should induce ministers to counsel their converts to neglect lelative obligations, or to fail of obedience to their superiors. One great evidence of true repentance, consists in returning to the jiractice of those duties, which had been neglected : and even liberty to engage in other services sliould be sought from those concerned, not as it were of necessity, but by their willing consent. We know not for what services God may intend those, whom he hath marvellously converted : having therefore given our judg- ment, and used proper means, we should leave all things to his determination. V. If— 2j. Little do men know for what purposes the Lord leaves them to change their situations, or engage in enterprises, from worldly or criminal motives. We should have thought, that Onesimus' departure from his master would have been final, and his journey to Rome ruinous ; yet the Lord had far other and more gracious ])urposes con- cerning him : and had not He over-ruled, in a similar manner, some of our ungodly projects, the writer, and many readers, may say, with humble gratitude, our de- struction must have been the inevitable consequence, though they ])rovcd the means of our being brought into the way of salvation. And when we read of Onesimus' con- version at Rome, after having grown worse and worse, as it is probable, in Philemon's pious family, wc should learn to despair of none, but still to use means and offer prayers for them ; while we should be ever ready to receive the penitent with that kindness that God shows to his returning prodigals. This should especially be attended to in our conduct towards relations or domestics, whose conversion should be doubly ivelcome, notwithstanding their past misconduct, that they may be nearer to us in the flesh and ill the Lord. Ministers should, in such cases, love to be peace-makers, and they should give up their own interest, in order to jjrevail with offended parents or masters to be reconciled to their penitent children or servants, that so the severity, animosity, and division, may be prevented, by which the Gospel is often disgraced. When such offenders have wronged others, or owe what they cannot pay, it may sometimes be proper for us to pay it for them, if wc can, as followers of Christ, who bore our sins in his own body on the tree. Thus we shall best pre- vail with our brethren to use lenity and forbearance ; es- pecially when we deal with those, who owe their ownselves to the blessing of God on our ministry ; and such persons ought to be reminded to let their loving jiastors have jo)- of them in the Lord, to refresh their hearts, to answer their confidence, and even to do more than modesty Avill permit them to request. Then their prayers for each other will be more fervent ; and, in answer to them, their meetings on earth will be comfortable and cordial ; but even if this be denied, the grace of the Lord Jesus will be with their spirits, and they will soon meet before the throne, to join for ever io admiring the riches of redeeming love. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE • HEBREWS, The general testimony of antiquhy, the current tradition of the church, and the jiHl Ks. . I.Sic I.uke xxlv 27 ii Act! xxviii £3 1 I'et I 10—15 2 Pet. i 20, 21 bNnm xii. 6-3. Jopl ii. :>8. c LuLe i. Si. T2. Join »ii 52. 1 Acta xiii. 32. (1 (ieu xli A' urn. xxi ;Hns. iii, 5. Mic i ir. I. AcUii 17. I Gal. \y. i. Bpli. The writer declares the essential and media- torial glory of the Son of God, btj irliom the Father speaks to men umler the i^os- pel dispensation, 1 — 1. He addiices several scriptures to prove, that the Messiah tras to he far greater than the angels, and tvorshipped In/ them as their Creator and Lord, 5 — 11. GOD, who " at sundry limes, and '' in divers manners, spake in time past unto '^ the lathers by the propliets, 2 Hath in "^ these last days " spoken e 5 a. ii. 3 V. 8 »ii 3, Matt. iii. 17. Xvil S, xxv?. GJ Mark i. 1. lii. lii. 16. XV. IS. Horn i. i. ^ J- NOTES. CHAP. I. V. 1, 2, The Flebrcws allowed the divine authority of the Old Testament ; and therefore the writer of this epistle waived the mention of his apostolical autho- !'ily, and reasoned with them principally from their scrip- tures : and he thought it best to conceal his name ; that none might be deterred by it from reading his arguments, or induced to receive them with prejudice. He therefore entered u|ion his subject without any introduction. That God, who in former age.s had spoken to the progenitors of ).he Hebrews, from the calling of Abraham, to the latter times ©f their nation, by prophets, mci-e men of the same fallen nature with their brethren ; who had gradually made known his truth and will, from liaie to time, through suc- cessive generations, and who had spoken to them in diver.5 methods, by personal conference, by dreams and visions, or by supernatural impulses upon their minds ; had in the last days, under the dispensation of the Gospel, spoken to them by his own Son, apjiearing personally among them in human nature. The eternal Word, or Son of God, had indeed appeared, and spoken to the patriarchs, pro-j phets, and others: but he then spoke as .Ikhovah, asj God, to a few individuals, by whom his will was made i known to their brethren : whereas he had at length become j flesh, and dwelt among men, and among the Jews almost i exclusively, to fulfil ancient prophecies and promises, and: to give the most complete and explicit revelaiion of God, amJ of his truth and will, to mankind; as well as to pro- cure salvation for them. So that, while [\Ioses and other mere men, were the prophets of the old dispensation, the only begotten Son of God. appearing in human nature, •was the great Prophet of the new dispensation. This glorious Person the Father had appointed " Heir of all •' things." As the coequal Son of God, the government of all worlds by original right was vested in him: [losse.ssing the essential ];erfections of the Deity, he was capable of properly exercising universal authority, which no mere creature could have done ; and ho had been appointed by the Father, in respect of his assumed manhood, to rule over all worlds upon the mediatorial throne, with uncon- uoUed dominion and unrivalled glory. Thus he inherited ail things, and no creature can have any inheritance of power, honour, or fclicify, ciccpt as derived from him, unto us by /^w Son, whwn he hath 'ap-riir,.. Pe ii. pointed Heir of all things, - by whom r''m.".o-,l'. also he made the worlds ; ^h fa^ta 3 Who, being " the brightness of his itM xIh. I glory, and the express 'nnagc of his vi'.rir'i'co^ person, and '' upholding all things bv s?" hh\wZ i ,1 ■ 1 !■ I ■ ° I 1 '^ , S 23 Phil.li 6— tlie word ol Ins power, when he had ii.coi. i.117, le. " by himself pur-jed our sins, " sat down s/'" "'"!*«- on the right hand e[ the "Majesty on *'' 'is"'','!*. 1 ■ , ~ J J "" John i. 3 1 Cor nijjn ; viii 6 Eph. lii. -^ ,-v . , , , , '.1. Col. i. 16,17 4 Bemg made ffo much better than Vm'scor'iv'o the angels, as he hath '^ by inheritance 'l^i^i,^''- * obtained a more excellent name tiian they. ''c^^^- j 'i^/^r^J; ■ • " ' "- "'-'- ■"■•---■• 7 — - 2 Pi - 2. T4. 26. John i Jol,ui.7 iii. 5 n iv. 1 1 viu 1 s. 12. xii 2 Ps. c.< I. RIait, xxii 41 Mark xvi 19. .u o XX. 42, 43. Acts ii. :;:i v n 56. Mom vi^i. 31. Kph. i 20—22. Col. iii 1 1 ret. i. 1. Ke» iii. 21. o 1 Chr. Kxis. 11 Jofi xxxvii. 2.'. Mic v 4 2 ret i 16. Jmle 2S. 9 Eph. i, 21. Col i. IS li. lO. 2 TbPS i. 7. 1 rtt. iii. 22. liev. v 11, 12. q Va. , Phil . 9-11. and held in subordination to him. (Notes, Phil, ii. 0 — 11.) This ap|jointment had the more evident propriety, in that " by him also God made the worlds:" being One with the ;''atheraiid the eternal Spirit, in essence, power, and co'jiiatljjic'niad been (he immediate Creator of the hea\|cns aud the earth, and of every order of beings in the univ^c. The idea of a created agent, by whom God made all things, which some have endeavoured to support from this text, is so absurd in itself, as well as contrary to other scrijjtnres, that it is astonishing it could ever have been adopted. The apostle evidently meant, that God now spake to men by that same glorious Person, who had been the immediate Creator of the world, and who was also exalted to the mediatorial throne as Heir of all things. ' 1 believe it is as impossible to understand how a man ' should have this em[)ire over all things in heaven and ' earth, and over death itself, and yet be a mere man, a? it ' is to understand ar>y mystery of the tacred Trinity.* {IFhilbif.) {Noles, Joftni. 1—1S.) V. 3, 4. The essence of the Deity is invisible 10 man ; but the only begotten Son, of whom the v>ritcr spake, hat: been appointed to make known his glory and perfections ■- I-eingone with the Father, and Cfjual to him in the divinr- nature; and shining " in the form of God," with all tlie eilulgei'.cy of his glory; and being also distinct from the Father, as to his personal subsistence. By assuming huniai. nature he became "■ the Efiulgrncy of liic divine glory" to men, and made knou-n the pcifrctions of th""; Godhead i< them, so that " he who saw Him saw the Father al.;o.'" For the Son was " the express image," or the Charatte.'. of the Father's Person, or Subsistence; and sho'>ved even, part of the nature and perfections of God to man, with the gi'eatest exactness and in th.e most effectual marine: possible ; so that in proportion as any u;a:i knows Chri.«t. in his Person, characler, and salvation, he knows l!u, Falhcralso; and he that knows not Christ,, hath ntj rea' knowledge of God at all. (i\oles. Malt. xi. "25 — 27, '2 Cor. iv. 3—6. Col. i. 15—19.) And not only did the Father create the world by the Son, but the same divine Agent still ujiholds alt things by the word of ids pov.er, a;! one in the unity of the Godiicai! with the Father; and hi; even upheld all things in being, and m their settled order, by his almighty word and will, when he appeared on ear'..h- ^. D. 65. HEBREWS. ^. D. 65. 5 For unto wliicli of the angels said i' the First-])egottcn info the world, he ««• ''">»•';■•«■' '•^•f3^i?;"v.}''' he at any time, "■ Thou art my bon, tliislsailh, "And lot all the angels of God i^./^'^c^H 88s»m. »ii. 14. ^^y hawc I begotten thee? And again,} worsiiPp him. " '"• ''"•'" I Cl[ xxii 10 X 6 !■: 2ii. S7 • Or Hhtit brlrg't/i agat l;j',f ^ I will be to him a Father, and he shall G * And a2,ain, when he bringeth in " as the visible Elliilt;cnce of the Fatlior'.s glory, and the " Character ol' his subsistence ;" of which lie gave many proofs in his miraculous power over the cour.TC of nature, legions of evil spirits, diseases, and death. This same Person, who created and uj. holds all worlds, as the High Priest of his people, purged awoy the guilt of their sins, by himaelf, and the sacrifice of his death uijon the cross. Then, having risen as a miglity Conqueror over death and hell, he ascended in human nature, to be seated as Heir of ^11 things upon the mediatorial throne, at the right hand of the Father, where he displays his glorious mnjcsty. There the incarnate Son is enthroned in i)re-emineiit dig- nity, as the Head of all things to his church, which he purchased with his own blood. For he wa^Mjde so mucli better than the angels, or superior in^^^By to thcin, that they were all made subject to liifll^reigniiig in human nature ; seeing he in!icrilid,as " the only begotten " Son of God," a more excellent name, or nature, than they: foi-, however exalted any of them were in capacity or authority they were only mere creatures, and he their infinite Creator. This inlcrprctntion coincides with that, which hath already been given of similar passages ; but it differs, in some degree, from that of several eminent eva;i- gelical expositors : for they suppose that the expressions, " the Brightness of his glory, and the iliaracler of his siih- '• sislence,'''' are illustrations, taken from external objects, of the eternal generation of Christ, and his equality with the Father in the Godhead. But though the author is decidedly of opinion, that Christ is called the only Son of God, in respect of his divine nature; and therefore allows ihc eternal generation, as well as the equality of the Son with the Father, yet he does not think that the scripture contains any JHiishYt/ioiis of these mysteries ; or that we are taught to form any ideas of the manner, in which they subsist ; but rather to receive them in implicit faith, as the revelation of God, and to adore them as absolutely incomprehensible by us in our present state. He, there- fore, supposes these expsessions to signify the manifesta- tion of the glory, character, and perfection of the invi- sible God to man. in and by the F'erson of his incnrnate Son_; whose original equality with the Father, by the participation of the divine nature, and his voluntary assumption of the human nature, concurred in rendering him the |)ropcr medium, so to speak, through which we might see the effulgency, or shining forth of the divine glory ; and become acquainted with the perfections and subsistence of God in the bc?t manner, of which in our present condition we are capable. He is also confirmed in this view of the passage, by finding that the venerable reformer Beza interprets it in the same manner, and makes the same objections to the other interpretations. V. 5 — 7. In the. preceding verses, the apostle had stated the outlines of that doctrine, on which he meant more largely to discourse: and, having declared the per- 7 And t of the angels he saith, " Who ",^,;^^ niakctli his angels spirits, and his minis- nfy'v. aiiu'' ters a llame of fire, II. vl 17. !>!. civ. 4. I J v\.l. H \ Gr. tinlo x.U. 2Kin;i . n, 11 Dan Til. 10 Zech \l sonaland m-'.liatorial sujieriority of Jesus the Son of God (o all angels, he proceeded to show, that the Old Tes- tament prophecies spake of the promised .Messiah in simi- lar language. As we are satisfied by abundant evidence, that the writers of the New Testament were equally in- spired with those of the Old, their expositions arc of equal authority with the originals which they riuote. But wlicn the apostle reasoned with the Hebrews out of their scriptures, he doubtless quoted them in that sense in which many of them \mk been used to understand them, or in which they might be convinced they ought to be understood. Had not the more learned Jews, at the time when the c]iisl!e was written, been used to understand the texts adduced in the sense which the apostle puts upon them, he would scarcely have left them, as proofs of his doctrine, without hesitation, in an argumentative treatise, which he knew must pass the ordeal of the strictest exami- nation, by the most prejudiced and hostile persons. Now, if they were sufficient jjroofs to the persons immediately addressed, thej' must be sufficient, for all, who consider the writer as fully knowing, by divine inspiration, both the doctrine of Christ, and the true meaning of the scrip- tures : though the context might otherwise, in some in- stances, lead us to suppose them instructive accommoda- tions ; and though the Jews, in subsequent ages, to evade the writer's conclusion, have attempted to put another construction on them. We have briefly considered these quotations before ; yet it is necessary here again to examine them. The first is brought from an evident prophecy of the Messiah's kingdom. {Nolcs, Ps. ii.) Jehovah had there addressed him in such language as had never been used to any angel. The words quoted were spoken long before his incarnation, and were the declaration of an eternal decree : they must therefore relate to his Sonship, or eternal generation : for the subsrquent [iroduction of his human nature, by the power of the Holy Spirit, would not give him that essential and original superiority to the angels, which the argument here required ; nor could his appoinlirient to the office of the Messiah be meant by the words, " Tliou art my Son. this day have I begotten thee :" as that appointment was the consequence, i-ather than die cause, of his superiority to the angels ; he was advanced above them, as he had inherited a more excellent name than they : and his Sonship is plainly denoted to be such a participation of the Father's nature, as any son partakes of that of his father, in the ordinary course of things ; and not merely a communication of existence by an act of creating power ; or adoption, bv an act of special grace. The next quotation apjears primarily to have been meant of Solomon, (A'o/e, "2 Sam. vii. 14 :) but Solomon was a most remarkable type of the Messiah, as the Jews in gene- ral must know : so that when Jehovah said of him m so peculiar a sense, " I will be to him a Father," it must be obvious that this; in its fullest meaning was to be under- ,f. D. 65. CHAPTER I. J. £>. 65. yPasuc. 8 But unto the Son Ac sailh, ^ Thy riil. J. 4 Is vii , y-^ '. I • ■■ 1 1.1. ii 6.7 .^i». throne, '^ (J Oou, ?5 ' lor ever and everj xiiii. c. Hoi i. I) a sceptre of * lishteousness is the scep- r'^'V' Luki^'i *''^ °' ^'^y kingdom : m'm xx""'"*' ^ Ttiou hast " loved i-ighteousness, and i*T?m m 16 "^ listed iniquity; therelore God, even uobi'v.a) '* * *hj God, hath ' anointed thee with the 'ix'r uao 'i^ \l' ° oi' of gladness above '' thy fellows. vii, 14. I Cor. xv. SS 2 I'et i M li 2 Sam xxiii 3 I's. Isxii. 1-1.7 U- U. scix. 4. Is. ix 7. xxxii. 1,2 Jer xxiii. 5 xxsiii 15 Zccli ix. 3 " Gr rigkl- iiesi.or.slraigklnas csii. 26 i's xi. 5. xxKiii. 4. x\xvii 28. xl 8 sit. 7 Is 1x1.8 (I Hs. cxix 104 118 I'rov. viii 13. Am. v 15 Zech. vii 17. Bom. xii 9 Rev. ii 6. 7. IS. e Ps . Isxxix 16 .lolin xx. 17 2 Cor xi. 31. Epli. i 3 1 Pet. i. 3. f I's. li. 2. 6 Marg. Ixxxix 20 Is 1»'. 1 Luke iv. 18 John i. 41. iii. 31. Acts .27.X.3B. g I's. xxiii. 5. 16.1x1.3. lloin xv. 13. Gal. v. 22 h li 11. I Co .1. 1 Joi Stood of ihe anlilypc r.sther than of the type. The nex proof was brought from a prophecy of the establishment of the Messiairs kingdom, (Notes, Ps, xcvii.) in which it is said, (v. 7.) '■ uorshiphim, all ye gods." Jehovah there spake of bringing in the IMessiah, whom he had elsewhere declared to be his first begotten Son, {Fs. ii. 7.) and appointed to be Heir of all things; and at the same lime he called upon the most exalted of his creatures to " submit to the Son," adore, and " honour him, even as •' they honoured the Father that sent him." For, though the magistrates and grandees of the earth might be inclu- ded, yet all the angels of God were evidently intended also. But Jehovah had never spoken in such language con- cerning angels ; of whom it iiad been said, that he made them spirits, or ivinds, (for so some render it,) and as flames of lire to l^e Ids ministering servants. {Note, Ps, civ, 4.) {Murg, Ref.) He had indeed formed them active, powerful, pure, and spiritual intelligences, to |)erform his mandates with inexpressible force and fervent love ; but he had never commanded other rational creatures to wor- .ship them ; nay, he had most jsercmptorily ^[forbidden the worship of any creature ; yet he recjuired the most exalted of them to worship his Son, even when brought into this world to dwell in human nature! A most decided proof of an infinite disparty between Christ'and tlic highest angels. (Her. xix. iO.) V. 8, 9. A passage is next adduced from a most re- markable prophecy of the Messiah ; {Noles, i:c. P^. xlv.) in which Jehovah said to him, as his Son, '• Thy throne, " O God, is for ever and ever :'' lie addressed him as God, declaring the perpetuity of his mediatorial kingdom to the end of the world, and over his redeemed peo]de to all eternity. (lYo/e, 1 Cor. xv. 24 — '28.) As the sceptre with which he would rule his ])eople, and all nations, yea, the universe, for their benefit, was a sceptre of righteous- ness, the exercise of his pardoning mercy would be most lionourable to divine justice, and most clfcctual to promote righteousness in the world. His laws and administration would be altogether righteous: whilst he act(d as the Friend and Saviour of sinners, he would most pcrlVclly love righteousness and hate iniquity : as the Son of God, he was essentially and unchangeably holy: his human nature would be produced and preserved, entirely free fro.ni »'f pollution of sin; his whole conduct, even unto deaih, would be perfectly righteous, and the government of Id's kingdom would be the same for ever. On this account God, even his God and Father, would anoint him, (for the future 10 And, ' Thou, Lord, '^ in the begin- i rs 011.55-27. ning ' hast laid the foundation of (he i 1-3.' Rev. u'i! earth; and the heavens are "'the Avorks irrowiii 29.1?. of thine hands : ip 1. 13 jer! 11 They "shall perish: but ° thou '-i'',. ,„ „ 11 II 111 I 1 "" Oeul IV 19 Ps. reaiainest: and they all p slia wax old, jii' 3.4.X1X 1. 'J Is. Ixiv 8 as dotn a garment 12 And as a vestm-e shalt thou fold \l ^^urk'r^k 31 l.uke xxi. 33 2 fit. lii. 7— sx. II. them up, and they shall be changed : '' but thou art the same, "■ and th}' years j°i"" shall not fail. O I's X. If'. XXi' was spoken of as if it had already taken place,) " with " the oil of gladness," or the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, (the source of all substantial gladness in the heart of man.) in a more abundant manner than any of those pro- phets or servants of God had received, whom he owned as his fellows, companions, or brethren, in the human nature. The Holy Spirit was given without measure to Christ, for the bcne^^^iis church, in conseciuence of his under- taking, incaaHBm, obedience to death, and exaltation to the medialoriW throne : from this fulness all his fellows have received their appointed measure, whereby they have been qualified for these services, to which they were called, comforted in the trials appointed for them, and jirepared for their future happiness in heaven. Some suppose, that angels were meant by Christ's/c//ows, because thcajjostle was proving his superiority to angels; but he never, bore the nature of angels, and partaking of tlie same nature seems to be the meaning of the expression. {Mai'g, Ref.) The quotation was full to the apostle's purpose, by proving that Jehovah spake of the Messiah in such language as he never used of angels ; and the Psalmist, from whom hf adduced his proof, spake of the Messiah as incarnate, of his espousing the churchto himself, and of believers as the companions of the glorious King. They were indeed anointed with the oil of gladness for his sake; but he far more than they all, even 'as his excellency and dignity exceeded theirs. • They,- who imagine this Psalm is ' an epithalamium upon Solomon's- marrying Pharaoh"? ' daughter, must suppose that it is foretold, th.U Solo- ' mon was to have a numerous progeny by !ier, whom he ' would set up for princes and rulers, up ar.d down the ' world, {Ps. xlv. 16.) But this cannot be true: for, be- ' side that, we read not of any children Solomon had by • Piiaraoh's daughter. Kcbo'boam, who succeeded him, ' was the son of Naaniah, an An.monitess. And so far • was he from being al-ie to set up his sons to rule over • other countries, that it was with great difficulty his suc- ' cessors kc|)t two tribes of the twelve steadfist to them.' Ccriainlv, '" a greater than Solomon was here." (Bp. Pioce.) Very many ol'ier -sujipositions, by which the nrophc les, concerning Christ, are explained nw;iy, or rnervateiJ, by men crdied Christians, miglit be shown to be f-qually absuid, if the nature (d' this "publication would atimit of more than a spccini! n. V. 10--12. {Note, Ps. cii. 2.5—27.) 'i'hc psalm, whence these verses arc ciuoted, seems to be a prayer of the afflicted church of Israel for the coming of her ex- ..I. D. G^. HEBREWS. A. D. 6 u. l:i Bill to wl.icb of llic angf'ls smdi II Arc they not all _» ministerinpf vji'^-^y,; M,u. «M.%V j,c at ftiiv time, * Sit on my riglit hand, spirits, >' sent forth to 'minister for them f-;;!; =^«»f;; ^"c.xx. ^-' <■ lUitil r make thine enemies thy foot- 1 who shall be » heirs of salvation ? Vw\'''"ij'H ,f/-:>. HEBREWS. jj. D. 65, »,iiisx.5.Gen now we see not yet all tbino-s put under xl I. liii.2-11). liim. Kom Tiii 3 Cal. rw T-» ^ v T I 1 jv.i. Phil ii.7.a. 9 but we sec =' Jesus, who was made yi's'xiii 3-i a littic lower than the anffcls * for the Acts II. 33. Hcv ,, . r T 1 i -.1 l «'\'2,., sulloi'iu" crowned with fflory r. John ill. "5,1* , , , , V M^cor^v^sl '''"" honour; that he "^ by the grace oi ^1^21 ijohniv. Qod should "taste death ''for every man. ".Mafk "i^i: ^^ I'^*^!" 'i^ became him, "for whom jnhirv.i'.''52.^'' ^'■^ ^1' things, and by whom arc all '•Ss'cofv.^s. things, in bringing '^ many sons unto 1 Trm. ii. 6. l John ii. 2. Rev. v 9 c vil. 2C. Gen Kviii. 25. I.uke il 1 1. xxiv. 26 Rom. jii. 25,26. Ei.li i G-8.ii.7.iii 10. I I'et i. 12 il Proit. xvi 1. Is xliii.2l. Rom xi. 36 1 Cor. vi.i. r, s Cor v 19, Col i. 16. 17 Rci. iv. II e Hos. i. 10 John xi S2. Kom. viii U-IC. 29, 30 ix. 25,20- 2 Cor. vi. 18. Gal iii. 26. Eph. i. S. 1 John iii. 1,2. Kev vil 9. V. 3 — 9. The argument, concerning the Mcssiah'.s superiority to the angels, is here resumed. " The woi'Id " to come," or the future age or dispensation, was a (jhrase in use among the Jews, denoting the times of the Messiah, of which the apostle was discoursing: and it is observable dial he uses it only in this epistle. {iMarg. Kef.) This period began at the first coming of Christ, and will con- tinue till his second coming. Now, it is not subjected to angels, but to him whom all the angel^f^ptshijiped and obeyed ; nor were they ministerially employed in the intro- duction of it, as they had been in the giving of the law. — This had been implied in what was spoken by one in a certain place, with which the Hebrews were well ac- quainted, (Notes, kc. Ps. viii.) In a view of the starry heavens, those majestic displays of God's creating powei-, David had exclaimed, " What is man, &c. ?" The words might indeed be explained of the attention and kindness of God to so inconsiderable a creature as man, amidst the immensity of his works. He had made him at first in .some degree inferior to tlie angels, but he had crowned him with glory and honom-, and made him lord of this _Iower creation. Yet, as man had soon fallen from his ori- ginal dignity, had lost his crowu of honour, and retained , but an imperfect dominion over the creatures; and as the Messish was intended to be the chief Glory and Blessing of the fallen race ; so the Psalmist might properly be con- sidered as " ill Spirit" speaking of him, and of Jeho- >ah's being mindful of and visiting the human race, by giving his own Son to become the Son of man for their .■salvation, Indeed, if the words .were exactly weighed, it would be found tliat they had not received a full accom plishment in any other sense ; for if God put all tlwigs 'in subjection under the feet of the Son of man, it must .follow, that there was nothing left that was not put in . subjection under him : whereas it was manifest, that all things, even here on earth, (not to speak of other worlds,) were not thus put in subjection to man, for many of the creatures scorned to bear his yoke, and some even made v/ar against him. But believcr.s, looking to Jesus, saw the accomplishment of the words in his exaltation, and the event of it- he had become a little lower than the angels, by appearing in the likeness of sinful ficsh, that he might be capable of sufiering death ; but speedily he had been, as the Son of man, crowned with glory and honour, placed on the mediatorial throne, invested with universal dom nion, and made Head over all things to his Church. So that, in fact, all things in heaven and earth, and under the f glory, to make ' the Captain offitom ixss. i their salvation '■ perfect throuejli suffer- m'lii'u.n' cnV ' ^ iii 4 2T.ni ji. IllgS. in. iPet. v.l 10. J 1 For both ' he that sanctificth, and '^.'olh t. u.'ii , , 'r* 1 hit/* Is. Iv. 4 Mil*. they who are sanctdied, are ''all ol one: ii n Acisii. !• 1 • I II- L 1 IS. V. 31. lor which cause ' he is not ashamed " to ^^.^^^^ ^"^^^ call thcin brethren, «^ I' ^^'o'"' 12 Saying, "I will declare thy name ',^ "'}^;|„ *jj;- unto my brethren, " in the midst of the ^'^^ church will 1 sing praise unto tlree. 13 And again, p 1 will put my trust in Acts KTii. 26 Gal ic. 4 \i. IC. Mark viii. 38 Luke 1 Malt xii. 48- 50 XXV. 40. xxviii 10 John xx 17 Rom. Ps. xl 10 ni. 1 J„hnxviii 20 p 2 Sam. xxii sci. 2 Is. I. 7-9. Mall. Kxvii. 43. Heb. %:i. 2. earth, were put in subjection to him; and, though some for a time refuse to submit to him, they must all at length either be his willing servants, or be crushed under his feet as enemies. {Note, I Cor. xv. 24 — •23.) Thus, by means of his humiliation, he became cajiable of dying; and, by his subsequent exaltation, he was enabled to apply the benefits of his death to his people ; and so he tasted death in all its bitterness, for the benefit of every man, who came to trust in his salvation ; which constitution was the eflect of the plenteous mercy and fi-ee favour of God to our rebellious race, as the Psalmist had intimated ; nor could that grace ever be sufficiently admired. Little loner. (9.) Many expositors suppose the original to mean, " lower " for a short time," that is, during the term of our Lord's humiliarion on earth ; but the use of the same words in the seventh verse determines its sense here ; yet there it can have no reference to time, unless we ex;)lain the Psalm as a prophecy of Christ exclusively, without allow- ing that either Adam or his posterity were at all intended. It is, indeed, argued, that Jesus was made, in humau nature, immensely lower than the angels, being " despised " and rejected of men," and considered as one of the most abject of the huraanIediator to exert omnipotence in supporting, comforting, and rescuing them ; and having a sympathizing and most tender love for them ; seeing he had passed through the saaie temptations himself, as far as ho could do it, continuing perfectly free from sin. The ends of Christ's humiliation, death, and exaltation, are set forth in this cbajjter. To " taste death for every " raan," to "become the Captain of our salvation," and to " lead us to glory," to " sanctify us," to " destroy death,. " and him that had the power of death," to deliver us from his bondage, to become our Hight Priest to " make '• reconciliation for our iniquity," having " by himself " purged our sins." (i. 3.) What unutterable blessings^ are these, flowing to us fi'om " the grace of God !" and what do they imply concerning the natural state of man ! PRACTICaI OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—4. The excellency, importance, and clearness of the Cos- pei, and the dignity and grace of the Redeemer, concur in calling on us to "'give the more earnest heed to the " thing, which we have heard;" for unless serious recol- lection, fervent prayer, and reverent attention, with sub- sequent inciiitation and practice, ]irevcnt, we shall surely let divine truths run out of our minds, as water from a vessel with holes. Alas! how many hearers of this kind are found in all our congregations! and indeed we are all in some measure criminal, and foolish, in this lespect. Let us then beg of God to sanctify our memories and hearts, that we may become less forgetful, and more practf^l, hearers of the word of life. The judgments *t)f J. D. t)5. CHAPTER 111. A. D. Gf) CHAP. HI. The great siipcriorily of Chrint above Mo- ses is proved and illustrated, J — 6. The Hebrews are warned not to copy the example of their unbelieving ancestors, who perished in the wilderness, 7 — ]9. God under the new dispensation are chiefly spiritual : butfsafcd to become our Brother, and to own and glory in they arc on that account the more to be dreaded, and" if that condescending,' relation to us sinful worms' And "they, uho despised Moses' law, died without mercy,; what advantages may we not expect from so powerful and " how shall we escape, il we neglect so great salvation" gracious a Fx'iend and Brother? as Chri:5t hatli purchased and revealed ? Blessed be God, this salvation is so great, that nothing but our neglect o it, in one way or anoiher, can exclude us fiom its eterna advantages : so that the trembling jienitent, who is ready to tnink himself too vile to be [)ardoned, or too polluted to V. 14—18. When the divine Saviour saw the children, whom he had undertaken to redeem, partakers of flesh and blood, be cleansed, may come to Christ with cheerful confidence,! he also was pleased to partake of the same • thou "-h he and expect from hmi the tree gift of all that can be} knew ihat he must not only dwell in their nature*^ buf needful tor him: and even they, who are conscious ofj bear their curse, pay their ransom, and through death, having hitherto neglected so great salvation, may hope for deliver them from the old serpent, by whom sin and death the i-ardon of that aliocious guilt in the same manner, ;| entered into the world, to. make havoc of the human race- bein? assured, that" where sin hath abounded, grace shall! For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, b« h more abound." Yet even partial neglects will •''he took upon him the seed of Abraham."\hat w< not escajje rebukes : and they, whose souls are not finally ruined, often weaken their evidence, and bring darkness upon their minds by them. Let us then mind this one thing needful : for, though we cannot sit at the Lord's feet, as tbey did, to whom he first began to speak the word, yet in duly attending to the writings, which were penned by those who heard the words from his gracious lips, and which have befn al undantly attested to us by God himself, %ve shall be blessed with " that good part which cannot be "jlaken from us." V. 5-13. The glorious God hath done wonderful things for us in creation aiid providence, for which, alas ! we have made the basest returns ; but he Avas mindful of us, and visited us, in the most surprising manner, when he gave his own Son to be made a little lower than the angels, foi' the suffering of death in our nature and for our salvation ; that, being crowned with glory and honour, and having all power given to him in heaven and earth, he might rescue every man, who believes in him? from all the ellects of original and actual sin, and raise him to far higher dig- nity than what was lost by Adam's transgression. By the grace manifested in the incarnation of the Son of God. and the exaltation of the Son of man, the honour of oui- nature is eternally secured ; and all our concern should be to secure an interest in this salvation. Whatever the proud, carnal, and unbelieving, may imagine or object, the spiritual minfl will perceive peculiar glory in the cross of Christ, and be satisfied that it became him, (who in all things makcth the' display of his own perfections his chief end.) "in bringing many sons unto glory, to maki " the Author of their salvation perfect through sutlerings." Wisdom, power, justice, holiness, truth, and love, be- yond expression or conception, are displayed by our Go 21. 22. 1 Tim. iii IS. I Pet. ii 5. r II. iv II. »i. II x. 23 35. .Mltl x. 22. xxiv. 13. Gjl vi. 9. Col. i 23. Rev ii.25 iii. 11 s Rom v. 2 xii 12. xv. 13. I Ihes. t. IS. 2Tlies. ii. 16.1 Pet i. 3-C 8. NOTES. CHAP. MI. V. 1 — G. From what had been advanced concerning the superiority of thn Messiah to the angels, and his dignity, as t!ic incarnate Son of God, the apostle took occasion to call the attention of the Hebrews to the offices which he performed for the benctit of his Church. He addressed them as " holy brethren," either as belong- ing to tliat nation which was relatively holy, or rather as professors ufChristianity, and '• partakers of the heavenly '• calling," by which the Lord from heaven called tlieiii to leave the vain pursuit of earthly things, and to seek those things which are above. He exhorted them to con- sider and attend impartially and seriously to his words respecting Jesus the Messiah, as the apostle and the High Priest of their profession. He had been sent by the Father as his AposUe, even as he had sent others to be apostles or messengers from him to mankind; {John xx. '.il.) bi this respect, he more especially superseded Moses, in his prophetical office, as the law-giver of Israel, as in his high prieslhooJ he superseded Aaron and his posterity. Of this latter olTice the sacred writer meant afterwards to discourse more fully ; he therefore proceeded to show how superior Christ was to Moses, as it might be proved from ihc prophecies of his being the Son of God. He had been faithful to the Father who had appointed him to this , I i' /■ xvii. 5 Jo^in V. proved me, " and saw inv works •= lorty 10 Wherefore, "^ I was jvijeved with Rev V 12, 13 (Ex. vii "is I Sam. vi. ( 2 Kings xvii.U . _ _ Mx''r'i'. isTNeh' that generation, and said. They do always ij 16. ioh iK. 4. Pmv. XKviii. 1 1. sxix 1. Jer. vii. 20. Ez. iii. 7—3 Dan. v 20. Zccli vii. 11. 12. xiti. 15 Acts sis. 9. liom ii. ."i, 6. 7. Num xiv. 11. 22 23. Dei.t. is. 22, 33 P6. Iltxviii. 56. a Kx. xvii 7. Deut. vi 16. Ps. Isxviii 18. cvi. 14 I Cor. X. 9. b Ex. xix 4 XX. 22. Deut. iv 3 9 xi. 7 xxix 2. Josb xsiii. 3 xxiv. 7 Luke vii. 23 c Num. xiv ?3. Deut viii. 2. 4 Josh. v. 6 Am. ii 10. Acts vii.36. xiii. 18. J Gen vi. e.Jud-. x 16. Ps. Ixxviii. 40. Is. Ixiii. 10 Mark jii 5 Eph. iv. 30. * therefore, if lie be not truly God, God doth not now ' govern the world, but hath given up the administration ' of it to a creature.' {JVIiilby.) The words translated, " made all things," may rather relate to the formation of the Church, than to the creation o^he -world ; yet there can be no reasonable doubt, but (hat the apostle purposely intimat- ed, that he who formed the Church also created the world ; and certainly he asserted that Christ, whether as Former and Ruler of the Church, or Creator of all things, was God. V. 7 — 13. This address was directed to those pro- fessed Christians who were in danger of apostatizing, or who did not seem in earnest in their religion ; but it was peculiarly suited to excite the attention of such Jews also Hs might read it. The example of their unbelieving pro- genitors, and the words of their own Scriptures respecting them., were adduced with great propriety on this occasion (Notes, Ps. scv.) The waining given by the I-Ioly Spirit in the days of David, with reference to more ancient events, was equally applicable to the .Jews in the days of the apostle. On the present day, which might terminate their lives, or the season of the Lord's long-sufleriiig, or deprive them of the means of grace, they were urgently entreated to attend to, and obey, the voice of God, if they ever meant to obtain his favour and esca|)e his wrath ; and not obstinately to harden their heart.-;, and stupify (heir consciences in wilful sin, by carnal prejudices and plea- sures. This their fathers had done, in that provocation of Jehovah which had taken place in the wilderness ; when, after all the demonstrations of his power and goodness to ihem, they ungratefully wearied out his patience by their aggravated rebellions. That season was peculiarly " the " day of lemjitation ;" for their fathers acted as if they meant to try how much provocation God would bear with, before he took vengeance upon them. {Note, Ex. xvii. 2.) Wherefore he was at length so angered and grieved, by their perverse returns for his manifold favours, that he would no longt T bear with that gcneiation of Israel ; for he said of them, that their wicked hearts always led them to depart from him ; as they had never approved and chosen his holy ways, but had always preferred their own evil devices ; he therefore irrevocably determined, and confirmed it by an oath, that they should never enter into the rest of Canaan, the type of heavenly felicity. {Notes, Num. xiii, xiv.) It therefore was incumbent upon the " err in ihcir heart, and ' they have not known my ways. U So? I sware in my wrath, * Thoy niuTr-ii-^. shall not enter into '■ my rest.) f rs. wiu.L'rc'v 12 ■' Take heed, brethren, lest there Jer.'Yv':"- iiS; be in any of yon '' an evil heart of un- A" i«'' w s. belief, ' in departing from " the ]ivint>- St"°26''''27i3? /-;„,1 I O o 35 XXXii. 10- 'JOU. 13. IJeiit. i. -Ji, 1.3 But "exhort one another " daily, *"'"/■ w«j/j*o it while it is called To-day; lest any ofyou f""^",- i'..^- be hardened through p tlie deceitfulness 'jj^jf^'jfl''^ j*; oi sin. - :i3 Luke x^i. -k See on, 10. Gen. viii 21 Jer. iii. 17. vii, 24 xi, 8 ^xvi'^S^xv'i.^'j. 21,22 Ix 38. xii. 25. Johnxi 14 xxii. 17 Ps, xviii, 2l'. Prov. XVII S. Hos i. 2 mSceon 1 Tlies. i. 9 ox 24 25, Acts xi" ■■■"■ y-.'t 5Ti"'-iV.,2,— — oS«o»,7_,,I>rov. .xvii,. 26. 1,; I. vn. 11. Eph IV. 22, Jam i U. XV. ii. 12, Mark vi i. 32 Islix. 13 J 2! 1 'Ihes ii. II. xlit. 20, Ob 1 He Hebrews to look well to themselves, lest there should be in any of them the same evil or wicked heart, the same proud, carnal, rebellious, and ungrateful temper, whence the unbelief of their ancestors Iwd originated ; and lest this should be manifested by their apostatizing from the living God : either in rejecting Christianity, or in after- wards renouncing it ; for in both cases they would be deemed apostates from the living God, who now spoke to them by his beloved Son, and in.no other way ; and they would be punished accordingly. To prevent this, they ought also, day after day, to exhort one another to embrace and adhere to the Gosj)el of Christ ; while the day of their personal and national probation continued ; as they were shortly to be cast oft" from being the people of God ; and that generation was about to be visited in a far more tremendous manner than their fathers had been in the wilderness. This was needful to every one, " lest any of " them should be hardened through the deceitfulness of " sin ;" for their sinful jjropensities tended to deceive them into a persuasion, that satisfaction and impunity might be found in the world and in disobedience ; and that the self-denial and suffering, connected with Christianity, were unnecessary and intolerable ; and thus to delude them into negligence, procrastination, and sinful indulgence ; which, producing frequent violations of the light of their own consciences, would gradually render them callous ; and God might thus be ^^lovoked to give them up to fatal delusions or final obduracy. ' Seeing Moses, the servant, ' could not be despised with impunity, let them consider ' what punishment they must endiu-c, if they despised the ' Son of God, to v/liom Moses liimself invites them.' (Besd.) The apostle's reasoning, like that of Stephen, {Notes, Acts vii.) was snitcd to show, that the fathers of the Jewish nation had, in every age, been prone to resist the Holy Spirit, and those ^vho spake by him. This had excluded the generation which came out of Egypt from Canaan, in the days of Moses : David, many ages after, was inspired, by the Holy Spirit, to warn the Israelites against imitating their unbelieving progenitors, and for- feiting spiritual blessings ; and the writer of the epistle warns his contemporaries, not to exclude themselves from heaven, in the same manner as their ancestors were exclu- ded from Canaan. In this view, there is a vast propriety in the warning and exhortation. A. D. G5. HEBREWS. A. D. 65. ql. Tl. I xil 10 Ham.xi 17 1 Cor i 30. is S3 X 17 Eph ill. 6 1 Tim vi 2. 1 Pet iv 13 V. I. I Ji'lin 1 3 t Stt on, T. 6. vi 30 38. Ueut. 36 3H. .losh Xi 7-11. Horn x: 14 For 1 we arc made partakers of Christ, ' if we hold the beginning of our conlidcnce steadfast unto the end. IT) Wliiic it is said, ' To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. IG For ' some, when they had heard, did provoke : howbeit " not all that cauic out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But "with whom was he grieved »sj'»».io. forty years .'' >' was it not with them that Ji iTior.".'!- had sinned, ' whose carcasses fell in the ' f-'gra »iv. ss. , \ 3^33. Dciil. 11. Wilderness t ^|. is •""• u. 18 And ' to whom sware he that they J*j<^°".u^ ^^ should not enter into his rest, ''but to "•'? V''"' '• them that believed not.-* /.v "'2^*7^,1. 1 a So we see that " they could not ^,"3^'^ ^^t^^' enter in because of unbelief. io.'/udcs"'"'^ ■\'. 14 — 19. Tl^y, who professed the Gospel, were made partakers of Christ, and of all the bics.sings of his kingdom an„ ^ . . 1 r/. I \Or k„p,ui,.fa to " the people 01 Liou. ,"! j°\*|.. i 10 For ''lie that is entered into his ?r't -^I;'',;'^"- rest, he also Miath ceased from his own ^'^'''^ '^- j^ „^^ works, '' as God f/(V/fromhis.) c'joi,n\is m. 11 "* Let us lal)our therefore to enter j'^.^'^'^J^'^J''- into that rest, 'lest any man fall after Vii.''i'3"'x'"°ia" the same example of ^ unbelief J..lin.ei 27. Phil il. 12. 2 Pet. i. 11. 1 1. fS«ei>i. jli Act! xxvi. 19. Rom xi. 30-32. Kptl ii. 2 v 6. Col. 4 Num. xi Matt 'xxV. 43. whom * it was lust i xxii. a, 10. . , /• 1 I r Luke xi». 21- uotin because ol unbeliel 24. vlctsxlii 46, _ .. » • 1 .1" •. .1 V X1.V ii s8. 7 (Aeain, lie limitetn r 2 Gal. i i 8 . ^ " • r-. • 1 . m I v A •Or, ((rt 6v„pti t gaynjo; m Uavid, " lo-tiay, " altei so 1, lo long a tiuie ; as it is said, 'I'o-day if ye 'ix.i'" ? "'m"" ^^''" 'i*^^'" '"^ voice, harden not your iF3G''i',;ke hearts. "-" IxvMI" S For if t Jesus ^ had given them rest, 2S _u iii 7. 15 Ps. xc» 7 X 1 Ki[.-« vi 1, Act-sxin. 2" -L3. — -i That iv Joj/liiB Ste on, Arts vii .15 y xi. 13-15 Ueut x.i 9 x^v U Josh i. 15 XMi 4 uiii. 1. F3. Ixxviii 54. cv. 44 V. 3—11. The apostle In id it down as a principle, that they who believed, an(/6 ii. G Til i 16 iii 3 Or. to express ibe idea the more strongly. This was reserved for them in heaven, where they have done with sin, tempt- ation, pain, conflict, fear, death, labour, and di.saiipoint- ment, and enjoy uninterrupted, unalloyed, inetllible, and eternal delight, in God and bis holy worshi[i and service. This point the apostle argued from the Old Testament so carefully, because the Sadducces entirely denied that any voui- and salvation of ihe Lord Jesus. It was evident ihati better recompense than temporal prosperity was to be ex more was meant than the rest of Canaan, in the scriptures j pected, and the Jews in general were prone to overlook referred to, as God had called it /a's rest, with allusion toj ihe spiritual blessings proposed lo them in the promises the appointment of the sabbath, though the works of' made to their fathers, and to rest wholly in the temporal creation from which he ceased, and in which he rested sanctions of the national covenant made with thim at mount Sinai. {Sotes, Kx. xix. 1 — 15.) He therefore added, that he, who had entered into his rest, had ce.ised from ids own works, in which he had previously been occupied, even as God ceased from creating wlien he rested on the sabbath-day. Thus Jesus had finished his work on earth, and had entered into his rest in heaven, as the Fore-runner of his people ; thus the souls of the right- eous have ceased from their self-denying labours, and ar^ in Canaan would be a type of' a more spiritual and sacred enjoying their gracious recompense : and thus the belicv with infinite satisfaction, as being " very good," had been finished from the foundation of the woild ; above two thousand five hundred years before he spake thus of the unbelieving Israelites ; for it was thus written in a passage die ) of scripture, well known to the Hebrews, concerning Ui origin.il institution of the sabbath, {Nute, Gen. ii. 1, "2, And yet he spake so long after, that they '• should not *' enter his rest," which implied that the rest of Israel rest, satisfaction, and felicity, in him and his glory, (in some degree resembling his complacency in his own per- fect v/ork of creation,) which would be conferred on his believing people. The exclusion of the generation from 'Canaan, to whom that rest was first preached or proposed er, when brought to rest in the mercy and love of God, through Jesus Christ, ceases from all his allowed works of sin and folly, as well as from his vrdn endeavours to establish his own righteousness, or to effect his own hap- piness. As such blessings therefore were surely atlain- implicd that it remained for some others to enter in, able by those who diligently sought them ; and as the which their posterity accordingly did ; and the language denoted, that while, through unbelief, numbers of them came short of the better rest of heaven, yet it was pur- posed that some should enter in by faith, hi confirmation of which, another day was limited by the Holy Spirit in the prophet l^uid, many ages afterwards, tluring which believers would enter into rest, but after which unbelievers would be irrevocably excluded. Now, as this was address- ed to those who wore actually in possession of the pro- mised land, and at the height of their prosperity as a na- tion, it evidently related to another and better rest than that of Canaan, from which unbelief would exclude even the inhabitants of that good land. For if Jesus, (or Jo- shua, as it would have been better rendered, to prevent niisiake and ambiguity,) had given them all the rest in- tended for believers, God would not so long after have spoken " of another day." Joshua liad indeed given Israel rest from the fatigues and wanderings of the desert, and from the hardships and perils of war, by their settlement in Canaan, yet there evidently remained for the true peo- ple of God another and better rest, even the keeping of a iperpctual and most blessed sabbath 5 for the word is changed l^rondscd rest would so abundantly repay their previoiis hardships and conflicts : it behooved them to labour in the use of all appointed means, and in the persevering attend- ance on every duty, to enter into this rest, and to obtain the assiirnnce and earnest of it; fearing, lest any of ikem should fall under condemnation, after the same example of unbelief, by which their ancestors had been excluded from Canaan. The apostle's reasoning, from the Old Testament, concerning another res/, entirely distinct fjom the rest in Canaan ; even '' the keeping of a sabbath rc- " served for the people of God," which unbelievers even in Canaan came short of, is as conclusive against all those moderns, who labour to prove, that the doctrine of a future state of righteous retribution was no part of the religion of Israel; as against the ancient Sadducees. The proof of this doctrine, from comparing two passages in the books* of Moses, with one in the Psalms, is as clear and con elusive, as our Lord's proof of the resurrection by what Jehovah said to Moses from the bush : and, probably, the aposde knew the Pharisees in general would have allow- ed, that all who rejected i*, " erred, not knowing the scrip- " tures." A. D. 65. CHAPTER IV. A. D. 6;>^ f siii7Lukoviii. J2 For 'the word of God '' ?s quick, Cor. iVitmv 2* and powerful, and ' sharper than any two- Rev, XX 4. , f- , , ■ . ' , 1 r ■ 1 hPscx 3 cxix edoffid sword, pierciUji even to tlic uiviu- 130. Ec.Xii 11 . S 'I » . I r il Is iv. n. ief iiicr asunder ol soul and spu'it, and ot the Xxiii.29. RoQi . a , 1 • 1- C 'li^'tlo°l '-joints and marrow, '- and is a discerner ol ? ' '^"''fo' ;'o'^ the thouixlitd and intents of the heart. Jam I. I« 1 Pet. ivt ■ i i • I ii'ii'^i i-et^ir '^'^ ISeither ' isthcre any creature that iV3*»iv3cxiix i^ '^ot manifest in his sight: but all things Ji''';'"'^';,* 'I' ore " naked, and opcnod unto the eyes aai'^Epii/!.''. ir! of him " with whom we liave to do. Rev. 1.16. sis. ]^ Seeing then that we have " a great 6 1 Cor. xiv. 21,25. Eph » 13 1 1 Stim xvi vli 9 six.ii 14. IS xlii. 21. cxisis 11,12. I'ro John ii. 24. 25 Xxi 17. 1 Cor. ir S. Kev li. 2 J — oKc. xii. IJ. Matt vii. 21.22. xsv. 31.32. Jclin i xiy. »— 12 2 Cor v. 10. Rev. sx 11—15 uJ 1 Chr. x.'vviii. 9 2 Cbr. vi .( XV 3 II. Jer xvii. 10 xsii iJutvXXVi 6. XXXIV 21- XKXV >2— 29. Acts svii 31. Rom. on, iL. 17. ill 1. > 5, 6. V. 12, 13. It hath been greatly controverted whether .the holy scriptures, or the personal Word of God, be meant in these verses ; but St. Paul never calls our Lord by this title, and it appears to me that the apostle meant tlie written word, and that he gradually passed from the word spoken, to him who spake it. The Hebrews needed not be surprised to find such deep and interesting truths couched under the typical events of their history, or con- tained in other parts of their scriptures, for they were " the word of God." This was no lifeless, feeble, or formal insti'uclion, like the traditions and glosses of the scribes, but it was a living, active, energetic word, suited to be the instrument of the Holy Spirit in quick- ening those that were dead in sin, and in awakening, convincing, and alarming the most careless and insensible of mankind. It was even sharper than any two-edged sword, which would cut each way ; for it would pierce the heart and conscience like the irresistible lightning, forcin'^ convictions and alarms upon the most haughty and obstinate •, showing men their past and present sins in all their odiousness and aggravations ; detecting the unsus- pected pride, enmity, rebellion, ingratitude, and other evils of the heait ; distinguishing men's charactei-s with the clearest evidence, and exposing the base motives of their most specious actions. Thus, by exhibiting the o-lory of the divine perfections ; men's relations and obli- gations to the great Creator ; the spirituality, extent, ex- .cellency, and sanction of the law; the evil and desert of sin, and the depravity of the human hearts, in a variety of ways and a muUiplicily of experiments ; it forces con- viction of guilt and danger upon the siuner, and compels bira, as it were, to condemn himself and seek deliver- ance ; nor can any kind of delusion or hypocri.sy stand before its penetrating energy, when experimentally and fully preached, and applied to the hearts of men according to their various characters. It is, as it were, a sword which can pierce so deep and cut so keenly, as to divide between soul and spirit, (1 Thes. v. 23.) and to penetrate the joints and marrow, which no other sword can reach; being, in pl.iin language, a discerner of men's most secret thoughts and intentions : so that it often shows them their most hidden purposes, and makes them afraid of being openly named and expo.scd ; as if the preacher knew their hearts far better than they did tliemselves, and had a regis- ter befoi'e liiiu even of those sins which they had for- High Priest, "• that is passed into the pioviso vii'zs, iieavens, "i Jesus the Son of God, ■■ let us u x"i2 kn's old last offr prolession. Luke xxiv. »i l.*} For Mve liave not an High Priest Kou,\ui'2d.' which cannot be touched with the feelinof ''w"rk",'.' i. ^ . l- . . , . ,, . ~ tSiciin. ii. 1. lii ot our innrmities ; but was m all point ' tempted hke as «e are, " ytt Avilhout ' sin. 17"" -" '"'''' 16 Let us therefore ^ come boldly unto ';''", o".'' '^' 'J y the throne ol grace, that we may ^ ob- ^^^^^\f i,. .n, tain mercy, and find grace to lielp in time 2tor'"'v''' fi of need. 17 Eph 12 F.x ■> liii niatt I. 19-23 xiii 6. Rom. \ sv, xvi 2 1 Chr. xxviii -10. Ph. 1. IV. 6, 7.1 fet. 1 Pet. 1 John iii. 5. I. iii. 12 y ix 5 Ex xxv 17-22. II. Iv. 6, 7 Matt Tii. --U. 2Cor xii. gotten. {Marg. Ref.) Thus " the word of God," is •' the sword of the S])irit," in the hands of Christ, as well as in the hands of his peojile. For the Lord himseif is the Speaker, when his own word is properly decHred and applied ; he discerns, and, by his word, detects, the thoughts and intentions of the heart ; nor is there any creature, who is not wholly manifest in every respect in his sight, before whom all things are naked, as stripped of all disguise, and open, being fully understood by him " with whom we have to do," as with our Lawgiver and Judge, and to whom we must at length render an account of ail our conduct, and of all our most secret thoughts, mo- tives, and intentions. The expiessions, "naked and " open," are supposed to refer to the sacrifices, which were flayed and opened, and cleft down the chine, and then eve- ry part of the body and of the intestines, that were before concealed, were exposed to the exact inspection of the priest. V. 14 — 16. As, therefore, conviction and condemnation were inevitable to sinners before an omniscient Judge, whose quick and pjowerful word forced men even here to condemn themselves, it was the more needful for the Hebrews to regard the great High Priest, whom he was recommending to them, even Jesus the Son of God, who, having appeared in human nature, as in the court of the sanctuary, to offer his atoning sacrifice, had passed through the intervening heavens into the immediate presence of the Father, (as the high-priest passed through the first sanc- tuary into the holiest of all, to sprinkle the blood and burn the incense on the great day of expiation,) and was accepted in his rainistralions, and invested with all power in heaven and earth to save or to destroy; it behooved them to hold fast the profession of the Gospel in all dan- gers and persecutions. For they had not a High Pries who disregarded or could not sympathize with them in their pains and sufferings for his sake, or who would make no allowance for their infirmities, or refuse assist- ance in their temptations; but he was One, W'ho, to pro- cure their pardon and salvation, had voluntarily submitted to be tried and tempted, even as they were, as far as he could be without a sinful nature, or the least sin in his life; and this exemption was needful, in order that he might be their Sacrifice and their Advocate. As therefore there was a mercy-seat above the ark of the covenant in die most holy place, before whicji the high-priests once » 3 L 2 v^i D. 65. HEBREWS. J. D. 4)5. CHAP. V. The nniure of the .'laronic hif Christ, and the word of the Gospel, will not profit those who do not unite faith with his gracious message, for many have heard and professed the truth, who are finally excluded from the jiromised rest because of their unbelief ; their stale is determined, and all their sabbaths and o'-di- rances have only served to increase their condemnation. Many thousands join them every day, to whom, could we address them, we' could only say, ' Had you attended yes- ' terday, it might have been well \ now it is too late.' To survivors, however, we may still say, " To-day if ye will " hear my voice," and the present is an accepted time and a day of salvation. Many, also, are continually entering into the earnest and beginning of this rest by faith: and ethers jnto the full possession pf il, by dying "in the Lord. Then they have done with all their sorrows, sins, and temptations, and their groans and tears are exchanged for unalloyed and perfect serenity and satisfaction. Let sin- ners then labour to enter into this rest, lest they should fall after the example of ancient unbelievers, and perish with heaven before their eyes : let believers keep close to Christ by faith and obedience, and learn to delight in his holy day and sacred ordinances, as earnests of their expected eiernnl sabbath, and preparations for ii: let them bear up under fatigues and hardships, in the prospect of heavenly rest ; and, if ever drawn aside, let them recollect these things, and say to themselves, " Return unto thy rest, O mv soul." (Pa. cxvi. 7.) V, 12—16. While we find, l)y experience, that " the word of God " is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged " sword," to penetrate the heart and conscience, let us remember that the Lord himself is the Discerner of the thoughts ami intents of the heart, before whom all crea- tures are manliest, and all things are naked and open. AVith him we have to do, and to him we are accountable ; and if, under faithful preaching, we find our hearts con- demn us, we are sure that ■• God is greater than our " hearts, and knowelh all things." Instead, therefore, of quarrelling with the heart-searching ministry, and choosing such lifeless, feeble instructions, as are more like a shaken reed than a two-edged sword, let us lay open our inmost souls to the piercing strokes of the distinguishing word of God, that wc may learn our need of that great High Priest, even the Son of God, who now pleads for us be- fore his Father's throne in heaven. In proportion as we know and condemn ourselves, and abhor our sins, he will become more and more precious to our souls, and we shall cleuvc to him more constantly. The thoughts of the holi- ness and heart-seaching knowledge of God, and our con- sciousness of guilt and infiimity, will endear to us the Redeemer's condescension and compassion ; and we shall rejoice that he can he " touched wiih the feeling of our '■ infirmilies," and that he knows what sore temptation.s mean, though he v.-a5 perfectly free from sin. Let us then approach continually to the throne of grace, where our reconciled God deems it his peculiar honour to pardon rebels, and answer the i>rayers of those who supplicate his favour in the name of his beloved Son : let us improve the d;iy of his jiatience, and approach in his appointed way : let us come with believing boldness, as well as with adoring reverence and humble repentance : let us seek for mercy to jwrdon our sins, to compassionate our miseries, and to supply our necessities : and let as supplicate grace sufficient for us in all our trials and temptations, and to enable us-for every day's service ; thus waiting as humble pensioners at the throne of grace, which is our best prepa- ration for appearing before the tribunal of oiu- omnisticn; and holy Judge, .-i. D. Ii5. CHAPTER V. A. D. 63. Vsyiii.'' I, Ec: Ti^^fi ' every higU pi'icst taken from I.e'>^ tii/i.icr!' JL among men, is ordained •> for men ^e x"viii"i'-3~ in thin^cs pertaining to God, that he "Tr. »i''4 'iJv may olicr " both crifts and sacridcus for it. 7 14-;i . •' ^ rt n 13 ir. 15. Sms '. * Or, rtasiinablu i> ,i WT\ --is ! bmrwith. 2 '' Who can liavc compassion on loTrim'i n" the ' ignorant, and on ' them that are out Jujj of the way ; for that lie himself also f is s- compassed with intirmily. 3 And by reason h.crcof he ought, '' as "Cor *"'! w ^"' ^'"^ people, so also for himself to offer i« for sins. jl 4 And ' no man taketli this honour ',7 unto himself, but lie that is called of if,,' "' 6 '*God, as was Aaron. 'reV "V" i 5 So also "^ Christ glorified not himself s'Ti'o M^Vo *o ^e made an High Priest; but he that 7i"si.-ri"i-y said liuto him,' Thou art my Son, to- EChrKxvi 18 day have I begotten thee. Juhniii i7 kJohhvii 18. v;ii 5l. 1 i. 5. Ps ii, 7 Mic 1.2. John jii JC Actsxiii. 3J. Rom \\,\ 3. ii 17 Is XII 11. 3 vii. 88. Es XXxii. 2-5 21- »4. Num. SI 10-12 Gal i 13 Jt vii. 27. i Kx. xsix 6 As he saith also in another place, VTs ■" Thou art a Priest for ever after the or- n"oS der of " Melchiscdec. "Ii \ 7 AVho ° in the dt lys of his llesh, up prayers and .1B,19.- lohn I. viil. 3. NOTES, CHAP. V. \. 1 — 4. In order more fully to show the nature and cflicacy of the high priesthood o.f Christ, the aposile made some observations on that of .Aaron, vhicli tended to manifest its insufficiency, and to point out Its typical meaning, as well as to illustrate his subject. Every high priest, selected from among men, was" or- dained and appointed for the benefit of man in the great concerns of religion. That office required him who sus- tained it to present before God the oblations and sin- OiTerings of the people; nor would he accept of any services that were not offered in this way, which con- tinually testified that sinners were unworthy to approach their offended Creator, save through an expiatory sacrilice and an intercessor. For as the high priest was the head of the whole priesthood, so all the other priests were de- scended from Aaron, who had first obtained this office in fsrael, and, were in some sense, one with him. It was, more- -over, proper that the high priest should be capable 9f compassionathig, in a proportionate and reasonable man- ner, his brethren, who had sinned through ignorance and innr:niiy, for which their sin-offerings were appointed ; and this was jiiovided for, by ordaining men of like passions with others to that office, who being conpassed w iih natural and moral infirmities, were as liable to mis- take or sin as they. It was therefore prescribed, that they should offer sacrifice? for their own sins, as well as for those of the people, which was a plain intimation, that they could only be typical high priests, being not worthy to appear before God in their own cause, but with the shedding of blood. {Mars- lUf. and notes on llic Scrip- tures referred to.) Nor might any man assume this honour- able ofline of his own will, or by human appointment, but it was confined to those whom God expressly called to the execution of it, as he did Aaron, and his posterity after him : and if any one else presumed to perform any part of its peculiar duties, he did it at the hazard of his life, Tlxich showed, that it derived all its t fficacy from the P when he had oflrercd supplications, i with strong crying ' and ''i.I'ix.''^''i,'~lc; tears, ' unto JJirn that was able to save Mau."xxvi.'38- hirn from death, 'and was heard t in 52-1"'' Luke that " he feared ; 'IL il-~ '{; 8 Though '^ he were a Son, ^ yet q watt xsvii «. learned he obedience by the things which s'' he suffered ; 9 And ' beinsf made perfect, "he be- "^^i^'r"''^"^ , A 1 c 1 11- t Sin iO Ps xviil. came the Author ot ''eternal salvation J^- ^'' ;"''i'i,i' ' unto all them that obey him : '",!' ?Vf '?• 10" Called of God an High Priest a(^- r''or}li'l.upu!y. ter the order of IMclchisedec. u^mJ? xxvi 37 ;i3 Mark xiv 31, 3J I.u'e ssii 42— 11 Jo'in xii 27, D3. sSeton,! 5 i. iii, 6. 10. Phil John xi. 35. Mall, xxvi 52, 40. Dan ix 2l. I-ukii xiii 32. Jnhu six. 30 i xir. 22. xlix G Aclsiii. 15 Mnrg iv 12 Thes. Ii IG. 2 Tim ii. 10 1 Jolin v 20 Jude 21. Mall vii 24—27. ivii S Acts v. 32 Kom i. 5 Tlies i, 6. 1 I'et. i 22 il See l)I^ 1. 5, C. P3. Ixvili lB-20. Is. ix. 12. 15. is xiv 1/ Ii 6 e J Xi. 8. la. 1. 10. Iv 3. Zecli, vi 15. \i 17 X, 16. XV. It 2Cor. x.S 2 appointment of God, and not from its own intrinsic value. V. 5, C. According to these prefigurations, Christ had not taken honour to himself, by acting as the High Priest of his people, without express warrant ; but the Father had in the Old Testament openly declared that the Messiah should sustain that off;ce ; for as he said in one place, " Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee,"- when announcing his decree concerning the Messiah's kingdom; {Soies, i. .5. Ps. ii.) so had he as expressly made known his appointment to the priesthood in another prophecy, {Notes, Ps. ex.) though the Jews had paid more regard to the predictions of his kingdom, than to those of his priesthood, through their prejudices for the Leviticai law. Many expositors, interpreting the , expression, " This day have 1 begotten thee," of Christ's restirrec- tion, (though that was only the proof, and not, in any sense, the cause or origin, of his Sonship.) have strangely argu» cd that he did not officiate as a priest till after he arose from the dead ! But the typical meaning of the legal cerC' monies will sufficiently e;; pose the gross absurdity of this suppoiitior. as we proceed with the subject. V. 7 — 10. Though our Lord was free from all sinful infirmitv, yet he came as near the condition of a sinner as he poss'iblv could; he was compassed about with the sin- less infirmities of o'.ir frail nature; he" appeared in the '• likeness of sinful flesh;" he was dealt with as a sinner, both by God and man ; he endured the most violent temp- tations', sufferings, and agonies ; and even his soul was full of consternation and of horror unspeakable. Thi» was " in the days of his flesh," subsequent to his incar- nation, and previous to his exaltation, when his human nature became incapalile of suffering, and was made incon- ceivably glorious, (,Ao/f,l Cor. xv. 50.) His luiLniliation, and distress were extreme in his agonies in the ga.-dcn. {Notes, Matt. xxvi. 36—4-2. Luke xxii. 40— -^'l.) Thea especially he offered up to his Father most earnest prayers, and supplicaliocs, acswropaiucd witli strong cries and t cajs^ A. D. 07. HEBREWS. A. D. (i7. II or whom '" wc have many things :il. tJ3. llom. i 17, I e. X S, 6 ;Cur lii. 9 5 Tim iii it.. 11 But strong meat belonirc'tli to thctn ° '» e 1 Kiog^ I- ^t^" m'iiifi's.' to say, and iiard to be uttered ; seciniil. 17, 18. \ili. 3 xM 5 M^tt Xlli 23-32 l.ukexiv. I 6 XHiv 15 21. Rom. vi. 5. 1 Cor xv. 18 u Kc Hi. I.l. MMt. itxv 31-J6 Acts Cor V lO. 2 Pet iii 7. Jocte 14 15 Dcr. s\ 10—15. — I Cor. iv 1 cii.3. »9 i« belter thiiiars of you, and ' tliinejs that Ivii IS. Mall. ^ I :• iL I ^l V 3-is. Mark accompanv salvation, tnougti we thus Ji»i. 16 Aclsxi 1 ' "^ J.' "^ .Vr, ? speak. Cor. vii. 'O. Oal r »-i , /-. 1 ■ . 1 ». 6. 28. S3 Tit. JO ror "^ (jod ts not unnsliteous " to " "-!■» . , , 111^ /• \ rtoeui "s.xii 4. fororet your ' work and labour ot love, Horn. Ill 4 T . , • , 1 , 1 1 ■ srl'm iv^' c ^ ^vhicii ye liave shewed toward his name, eVvsVis xiii. '" that ye have ministered to the saint?, ?' jir 'i' 3*": and do minister. 6. 13. 1 Thes. i. 3. I John 3 Jpr . xviii.Sn Art's X i 31 f I Cor xiii .1-7. G .„ .. - . - f xiii ir. Prov Kiv 31. Matt. X 42 sxv. 35— 40 Murk ix. 41. Acts ii 41,45 ix. 26 3J. xi 2J Horn xii 13.xv 2i, 26 I Ccr. xvi. 1-3 2 C lial \i 111 Phil iv 16- 18 Col iii. 17. 1 I'ioi. vi. 18 ! T.m li. 15-17. 1 JohDiii. 14-17. . -.. 34, 35 .... 1-8 ix 1 11-15. lb. Pliilero 5-7. Jim, 1 1 And '■ we desire that every one of'"'''"" xh-s n. you do shew tiie same diligence, ' to f ",' .7, ' -.jr''," the full assurance '' of hope ' unto the J.'j[h^»- .'.^ \» end : »,•"«" '"'»-« 12 That "■ ye be not slothful, " but '«==.J,'» v-- followers of (hem, who through " faith and IJ^^-, \a *, patience '' inherit the promises a-5 viii l'l,25 xii I Pet -1 .3—4.21 1 John m V. 11. Cr Prov xii 21 n yii. I xiii 7 Cant i « o 15 X =6 xi 8-16. \M Jolin iii U 19 k 111-20 Rom V. 13 1 Cor xiii. n GjI v 5 Col. i 5.23. 2 Tl.d il Ifi. 17. , 1-3 1 iii f. U. ': 3-. 3^. MM. xxi». 13. Ke» ii. 26 xiii 4. xviii a xxiv 30 Mjtt. XXV. 2G Rom. xii. II Jer vi 16 Horn. iv. 12. lam v l'> II. I Pet iii S. 6 viii. 15 Rom. 1> 7. vili 25, 26 I Thei:. i 3 Rev. xiii 10 11.32. Luke xvi 22 XX 3', 38, I John V. 9, 10. While the apostle spake such awful and alarm- ing truths, with reference to the case of those to whom he knew them to be seasonable, he would not have it tliouglit that he had so unfavourable an opinion of the Hebrew Christian.s in general, or of those whom he immrdiateiy addressed in particular; on the contray, he and iiis fellow- labourers were " persuaded better things of them, even " things which accompany salvation ;" namely, that t!i"y were real penitents, humble believers, spiriliuilly minded and grounded in the love of Christ, and of his cause and people. The expression is remarkable and cmphatical ; the things before spoken of, might or they might not ac- company, or be inseparably connected with salvation ; but those things Avhich he now spake of were always found in true converts, and never in others. ' Nothing ' availeth in Christ but " faith that worketh by love ;" " but a new creature." " Hereby we know that we are " passed from death unto life, because we love the bre- " thren." " To be spiritually minded is life and peace." There is no intimation in the whole Bibie, ihat any one, who ever had these things, came short of eternal salva- tion, or that any apostate ever possessed thera. The apos- tle especially referred, in this, to those Jewish converts, who had manifested their love to the name of God, as re- vealed in Christ, by their works, yea, (heir laborious ser- vices, and in ministering to the saints for his sake. Of this, a most admirable specimen had been given, after the day of Pentecost, and many of them still continued the same disinterested self-denying conduct. These genuine evidences of faith working by love, God would not reject nor forget ; he was not unrighteous, and therefore he would not fail to deal with them according to his promises and covenant engagements to believers, who have, through grace, a claim upon him on that ground. V. 11,12. The apostle earnestly desired and longed, that every one of those whom he addressed, whatever he had formerly done, might thenceforth show the same atten- tive and disinterested diligence in good works, which some of them had heretofore shown ; that so, evidencing their faith to be genuine, beyond all reason for doubt or hesita- tion, they might obtain and possess the full assurance of hope, in respect of their final salvation, to comfort them under all trials, even to the end of their lives. Thus they would be distinguished from slothful unfruitful professors of Christianity, and be approved as imitators of their pi- ous progenitors ; and of those Christians, who, by faith in the promises of God, and " patient continuance in well- '' doinsc," and in waiting his time of deliverance from their trials, had at length entered into rest, and >vere actually enjoying that perfect felicity, in which all the j)romises of God to his people centered. This is a con- clusive |>roof of the immedidle happiness of b'llievers after death ; if this be the true interpretation, and after having maturely considered the other interpretations of the pas- sage which some learned men have given, the author hesitates not to say that he considers them as absurd, and has no doabt but the apostle meant to lead his readers to medit.ite on the happiness of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and Job, and all others, who had on earth lived^y. faith in the promises, of God, especially the great proniRe of a Saviour, and eternal salvation by him ; had patiently wait- ed, laboured, and suflisred, in the obedience' of faith, and in consequence were, at the time when the afiosile wrote this, inheriting the promises of God, of blessings through Christ to all believers. " Assurance of hope," should be distinguished from " the assurance of understanding,"" and "the assurance of' faith." He, who so understand- the Gospel as to perceive the reliiion of each part to all the rest, and its use as a part of one grand design, in something of the same skilful manner that an anatomist understands the use and ollice of every part of the human body in relation to the whole, has '• the full assurance of " understanding ;" and those things which appear incon- sistent, useless, or superfluous, to others, .he perceives essentially necessary to the system, or gi'eat design. The man who is fully convinced, that this consistent and har- monious, though complicated, design, is the work and revelation of God, and has no doubt but the things testified are true, that the promises and ihreatenings will be fulfilled, and that Christ will certainly save all true believers, has '• the full assurance of fiiilh ;" though he may, through misapprehension, or tem|nation, or other causes, doubt of his own personal interest in this salvation. But he who, beyond doubt or hesitation, is assured that he himself is a true believer, interested in all the precious promises, sealed by the sanctifying Spirit, and " a par- " taker of the glory that shall be revealed," has " the " full assurance of hope." The " full assurance of " faith" is the duty of every one ; for he who doubts the truth of the testimony, or the faithfulness of the pro- mises of God, questions his veracity ; but " the full assu- " ranee of hope" must be obtained and preserved by diligence ; and, though the want of it may generally be traced to a criminal source, yet it is not the ;jro.t(mrt/e duty of every one ; indeed of a very few. A man may ques- tion, whether the paper in his possession be a genuine bank-bill, or a counteifeit; and yet have no doubt, either of the ability, or willingness, of the directors of the Bank J. D. 65. Luke I rCeu qi6-'8 Gen. 13 For' when Cod made promise to "i«"~i3' v%. Abraham, because he could swear by no xu "sa.'" Jer greater, i he sware by himself, >*" vu"io 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless ,2 thee, and ' multiplying 1 will multiply w Deut. thee. i'j ' 15 And so,' after he had patiently cu- a Stt 0/1. 12 Gen. , i/-ii -^ .xii. 2,3 x«.2- dured, he obtained the promise. »xi a-7.Ex I 26 For men verily ' swear by the great- Rom iv. V- er : and " an oath for confirmation is to .n.Gcn !iiv:2. them an end of all strife. xxi 23. Matt. ri^Gen'^fso. ^^ Wherein God, willing ^ more ek. "sll: ": abundantly to shew unto ^ the heirs oi Josh, is- i5-:o. CHAPTER VJ. ^q, j). G5. 18 That by "two immutable things, , in. i, ^i, ;i. ii\whicii it teas " impos.siblc for God to iti^i* '^' "' &S) promi.se, ^ the immutability of his coun- S Fi XXSVP. Cant. v. 1 Is. Iv 7 John x 10 1 Pet i. 3. Jam ii. 5 1 Pet iii 7 2 18 Job sxii 24 26.27 xlvi. 10 liv. 9. tO Iv II Jer Jam i. 17. ■ ' * Gr inttrposed niith an i — -y 12, s 9, Horn. V ii. 17 GjI. i ID 14 r«, 1 KS 11 1 1 Pro v.xix 21.1s 1X1 '0.21 i>!i at; Mai. h i. 6. Rnm. X Ik. 16 (Jen XX 28. Ex. sxii. 11. to honour every genuine bank-bill. " The full assurance " of hope," in the highest meaning of the words, is attain- ed by comparatively few, and is seldom, if ever, pre- served, without .some degree of diminution, or variation, through the remainder of life ; but a prevailing assurance of acceptance, and of final salvation, is the privilege of all diligent and consistent Christians ; and is, in ihem, sel- dom greatly interrujjted, excejit by misapprehension, or by peculiar temptations and conflicts, or by being betrayed in!o sin. V. 13 — 15. There could be no reason to doubt of the Lord's i^erforming his promises to those who trusted in him, and waited for him ; for the covenant ratified with Abraham in s ine respects typified, and in others was substantially the same with, that made with every believer ; and when God gave the promises to " the father of the •' faithful," he at length was jileased to confirm them with an oath, showing his irrevocable purpose of accomplishing them ; and, as he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, and so pledged the honour of his great name and all his perfections, as the security of that engagement. (A"o'fs,Gen. xii.xv.xvii.xxii. 16 — 18.) Accordingly, Abra- ham patiently waited the Lord's time ; and the promised blessings to him and his seed were at length vouchsafed. When old and full of days, he died, and was personally blessed in God as his "exceeding great Reward;" his posterity also increased ; the promises made to them were accomplished ; the Messiah at length came, and all the na- tions of the earth were about to be blessed in him. V. 16 — 18. It is customary for men to swear by those that arc greater than themselves, whom they call on to witness their attestations or engagements, or to avenge their unfaithfulness, if they fail of them. When important concerns require it, and the omniscient God is thus reve- rently and uprightly appealed to, it may be considered as an act of worship to him ; and an oath, for -the confirma- tion of covenants and treaties, is the means of terminating disputes of every kind, by establishing mutual confidence between the parties, from the persuasion, that men in generl will not defy the vengeance of heaven by delibe- rate perjury. The Lord therefore, in condescension to ipos.su lie, Mve might have a strong consolation, ''i]!?^",)"^' ''who have fled for refuge to "^ lay hold wm'i'^a- iit" on ' the^Miope 5 set. before us : ■V'»'.-^!.''° ! "■ 19 Which hope \vc have "as an an- chor of the sOul, 'both sure and stead- entereth into that with- 2T'" fast, and whicli in the veil; 20 Whither ' the Forerunner is ™ for us entered, even Jesus, made " an High Priest for ever after the order of Melclii- sedec. rov. i;i. 18. iv, 13. Is XSv V r. 1. Kxii 1.2, Roi 5 iK 13 I. like J Ro.i. .V 2 Coc. i. S Ph.I. ii. 5. 23 27. 1 T;i clvi S, 6. t 34 I Cnr, XV vii 51. Kph. i cii 2. Rom, V i vii 1-21 1. IxiT. 7. 1 Ti Ii Acts r: XV. 3 i \!HI ira. ii 19 ■--■ k''\ IS- iii I 1 .i. 10. Joh liph. i 3. 20-3J 1 Pel i.7. Gen. xi.». Niim s.-ctv. — 5. JnsK. xxvii 1, 2. Ze'li. ix 12. Matt iii 7 2 Cor V. i;<— 21. 1 riici ri. 13 f Col 29. 10 Ps 10. 3 7 7,8. the weakness of man and his proneness to unbelief, and pui'posing to give his people the most abundint assu"in''e, that his counsel respecting their salvation was imniutable, confirmed the promise and covenant resfiecting it with the most solemn ratification of an oath- That so by two iji- mutable things, even the Word and the Oath, or, as others understand it, ' by the immutable counsel and inviolable ' oalli'' of " God, who cannot lie," either by beirg deceiv- ed, or induced t« deceive othei-s, or by seeing cause to alter his purposes, they all. (in the apostle's time, and con- sequently in all limes,) who had fled for refuge from the wrath to come, to lay hold on the hope of pardon and eter- nal life set before them in the Gospel, might have a firm ground for assured hope, and the powerful consolations which spiing from it. These piersons, to whatever nation they belonged, were the " heirs of promise," the spiritual children of Abraham, and interested in the covenant rati- fied to him and to his seed, {Notes, Rom. iv. Gal, iii.) and therefore the oath sworn to Abraham irrevocably confirm- ed the spiritual blessings of that covenant to each of them. {Note, Lnkei, 67 — 80.) In order to ascertain that they were of this number, it was needt'ul to inquire whether they, having discovered their danger of fdling under the curse of the broken law, and under the wrath of God, had renounced all other confidences, and broken through all hinderances, to flee for refi;ge, (as the man-slayer speeded towards the appointed city,) to the free mercy of God, through the redemption of Christ, according to the cove- nant of grace ; laying hold on this Object of a sinner's hope by faith, and by a humble persevering reliance on the promises of God through Jesus Christ, manifested by its genuine effects. They who had thus " fled for refuge, "■ to lay hold on the hope set before them," had a source of strong consolation given them in the oith and covenant of God ; and their conscious unworthiness, depravity, and weakness; their experience of the deceitfulness of their hearts; their conflicts with inward and outward enemies ; and the various temptations, trials, and persecution -, to whicli their profession would expose them, rendered sucli security, consolation, and hope in God, neetlful to them even as the anchor is to the ship. By this hope they would 3 M 2 Ji. D. 6«. HEBREWS. A. D. 6ft CHAP. VII. The superiority of Melchisedcc's typical priesthood, above that of Aaron, proved and illitslratcd, 1—10. It was intend- ed thai the priesthood should be chang- ed, and consequently, that the ritual law be preserved in their proper station, without being driven from their profession, or duty, by any storms ; while others would be induced to aposlacy by worldly fears and hopes, or be drawn aside by manifold delusions, even as tlie ships that have no anchor, will be driven by the tem- pest from their station, on the rocks or sands, forced out to sea, or dashed in pieces one against another. No anchors, however, can at all times secure the ship from driving or being wrecked; but this hope in the divme promise, oath, and covenant, was so sure in itself, and kept the possessor so steadfast in his adherence to the truth and cause of God, that it always ensured him from final ruin, and in proportion to its vigorous exercise, secured him from temjiorary failures, and against the storms of incumbent temptations. For it " entered into that within " the veil," and fixed the heart in a stable union with, and joyful expectation of, those things which were in the true Holy of Holies, in heaven itself, and caused the believer to sl'ay himself on the power, truth, and love oi God to sinners in Christ Jesus, to bring him lo the enjoy- ment of that felicity. For thither its great Object, Jesus the divine Saviour, had already entered, and continually ministered in the Father's presence, for the benefit of all believers, being their Fore-runner and Representative, who, as their High Priest, had on earth atoned for then- sins, by the sacrifice of himself; and who, being risen from the dead, was gone before them to heaven, to prepare a place for them, to remove all obstacles to their admission, to lake possession in their stead, and to reign and plead in their behalf, being constituted a High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec, of which order the apostle was about to discourse more fully. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—6. Tlie principFcs and rudiments of the doctrine of Christ sliould be accurately understood, before men attempt to learn thesublimer mysteries of the Gospel ; yet they ought not always to be confined to them, but should be led on towards perfection, in knowledge, experience, and holiness. Even the fundamentals of " repentance from " dead works, faith to^vards God, the resurrection of the of Moses should be disannulled, when the Messiah came, that a better cove- nant and priesthood might take place, 11 — 18. This was needful, for the more perfect state of the church, and for the salvation of sinners, to the ut- termost, and for ever, 19 — 28. lament to see those, who once made a credible profession of the Gospel, turn back into the world and sin, and thus in a measure " crucify to themselves the Son of God " afresh, and put him to an open shame;" as if upon trial they found nothing in his salvation worthy of their con- stant regard! In general, we should warn and j)ray for such persons ; but there are cases, in which we must let them alone, as having no prospect of their being renewed to repentance. We should beware, and we ought to caution others, of every ap[)roach lo so tremendous a precipice : yet, in doing this, we should keep close to the word o! God, and be careful not to wound and terrify the weak, or discourage the fallen and penitent. Knowledge, gifls^ convictions, and very strong impressions, must j)rcced€ or an apostacy of this kind cannot take place ; great obsti- nacy and malignity must follow, before we are warranted to conclude it fatal or final. The general invitation^- and prornises of the Gospel include all who are humbly willing lo embrace ihem; humiliation and self condemnation, when united with some hope and cries for mercy, are such tokens of God's renewing a man to repentance, as should be pointed out to him for his encouragement in expecting forgiveness : on the other hand, the self confident should be taiiglit, that knowledge, gifts, terrors, subsequent joys, and high affections, are no certain' evidence of a man's conversion, without brokenness of heait, hatred of sin, a spiritual mind, and fiilh which worketh by love ; and that tliey who do fiiially apostatize were never created in Christ Jesus, whatever man might judge of them. But they, whom it is indeed impossible to renew unto repentance, are commonly the last to think themselves in so awful a state; and such as are most Tiarassed by fears of this kind may generally be assured that this is not their case, whatever they have been, or done, unless they actual- ly run into ungodliness and wickedness thi'ough total des- peration. V. r— 12. A negligent and unfruitful profession of the Gospel tends directly to the brink of that dreadful precipice above described; for when abundant means of grace, and even the ordinary strivings of the convincing Spirit of God, aeau worKS, lami lowaius \jou, mt resuncLuuu ui unt ^-^ v,.v^...,..j o,.......sj^ «. ^..v, v,vy..T...v,...., «,^.... „. ^v- '" dead, and eternal judgment," should not always engross leave men unchanged, and produce not the fruits of holi * __ »_ 1 _ _ 1 . . ; 1 — ♦ i. _r »l^ -. ««..«U r^ .-.i-l r\oci iirnii-'n rwcw't^ thot tnrnr niiro rannivntX Kl**ccin(T \rr\r\ men's whole attention, but every part of the truth and will of God should, in due order and proportion, be set before, and enforced on, the professors of the Gospel. Much less then should we perpetually be discoursing or disputing about " baptisms and laying on of hands," and other externals, which have their place and use, but often occupy far too much of the attention and time of those ■who might be more profitably employed, TVc cannot but nes^, which prove that they have received blessing from God, and are blessed of him; they are often given up, like waste land, to bear briers and thorns only ; their slate is nigh unto cursing; and the end of all unfruilful pro- fession will be "the furnace of fire, where is wailing " and gnashing of teeth." Let us then fear, with humble caution and watchful prayer, in respect of ourselves, and let us hope the best of othei-s that the case will admit. A. D 65. CHAPTER Vir. Ji.D. bii. OR ' this Melchiscdec, kinaj of " Sa- lern, priest of *■ the most hio-h God, 56 who met Abraliani returning from "^ the ^1 slang-htcT of the kings, and blessed him: » li. 2n Gen sir. 19-20 hPf ISKVi- 2. t Ps. Ivii fnxviii. 3S. Dan. iv. J 18 SI Mic vi. 6. Mark V 7. Acts xvi. 17 iGen. xlv. 14- .11 16.1s «ii. 2, 3 2 lo whom also Abraham o-avc ' a iSm. "xt'^ii. 21 te"th part of all ; first bemg by interprcta- 1 Sam- viii. 15. 17. Whilst we warn such as are in evident^ danger, wc should encourage those, in whom we see the things which accom- pany salvation. Ministers should frequently specify these in an experimental and distinguishing manner; and con- cerning such matters iheir hearers should examine them- selves frequently and seriously, instead of perplexing them selves about those texts, which were inserteil to serve as beacons to warn the presumptuous against fatal rocks, and not to aflVight the humble and cautious. Of those " things which accompany salvation," none is more free from ambiguity, than laborious, self-denying love to the name of the Lord shown by ministering with persevering affection to his saints : and, though God is no man's debtor, and will reward no works wnich proceed from pride and self-righteousness, however splendid and labo- rious they are, yet he is not unrighteous, nor will he forget one service, that springs from humble grateful love : he hath spoken, and will be as good as his word, that " not a cup of cold water, given to a disciple from rcgai-d " to his Lord, shall in any wise lose its reward." We should therefore desire, that we, and all wlioare called Christians, may give the same diligence in such good woi-ks, as the most eminent saints in the primitive ages did. This is the scriptural way of acquiring and jireserving the full assu- rance of hope, to the end of our lives. Many have thus by faith and patience inherited the pi-omiscs ; but no slothful professor of Christianity has any evidence that he is follow- ing them. V. 13—18. The privileges of the Gospel belong to the diligent and fruitful, who walk in the steps of Abraham, to whom the promises were made. These obtain an inward testimony, by the powerful ojieiation of the Holy Spirit ; and give abundant proof in their lives, that they are the children of Abraham, and heirs according to the promise. This inward seal confirms to them personally that covenant, which God hath ratified with an oath to the heirs of promise in weneral. Because their infirmities are many and their trials great, their condescending and compassionate Father is " willing more abundantly to show them the immu- " tability of his counsel ;" that, by his faithful word and irrevocable oath, " they might have a strong consolation, " having fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before " them." Indeed, the Lord having sworn by himself, that he hath no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but that he should repent and live, holds out abundant encourage- ment to all, whom he warns to flee from the wrath to come, and invites to " lay hold for refuge on the hope set " before them." Aixl, as he "cannot lie," the destruc- tion of th3 unbeliever, and tlic salvation of the believer, tion 'king of nglitcoiiEneps, and after tiiaf fssam. viii. is. also king of Salem, which is, king of peace ; iV^si.V i^cifr! .■} Withotit father, witlioiU mother, ^-I'-i^',''' '-3- without * descent, having neither begin- '",">,'„«"''' ning of days, nor end of life ; but made £l:-::V;I„*;!r like unto the Son of God, ahidetli s a priest continually. * Or. fuUgree. Ex. vi. 18 2.0—27 I Ctir »i. 1—3. 15, 16 IV ic V S Luke 1, 11 Rom. iii 26 V 1 2. F.pb i 14- -18 — -gl7. 2J- -23 arc alike certain. Let then such, as have fled to Christ, and have their hope sealed to them, in " the love of God •' shed abroad in their hearts by the Hely Spirit," rely confidently on the powei', truth, mercy, and covenant, ol' God, amidst all the opjposition of earth and hell. (Notes, Rom. viii. 29—39 :) let them pray for faith and hope equal to their security : thus let them cast anchor witliin the veil, staying their souls on the word of God, and on the mediation of their great High Priest, in all dangers, afflictions, and temptations : let them follow the stejis, as well as trust in the merits, of the gieat Fore-runner of his people : let them by faith realize his appearance befirc the Father's throne for them, as their constituted High Priest and King : and thus let them "set their affections on things above," and wait patiently for his apj)earance, when they also shall most certainly apjpear with him in glory. NOTES. CHAP. VII. V. 1—3. The apostle had repeatedly referred lo the prophecy, that the Messiah should be " a " Priest for ever after ihe order of Melchiscdec," (Ps. ex. 4;) signifying that his priesthood would resemble that of Milchisedec, and not that of Aaron : he therefore next proceeded to illustrate that prophecy, and argue more ex[5licitlv from it, as compared with the scriptural ac- count of tliis extraordinary person. (Note, Gtn. xiv. 18.) Being king of Salem, jirobably .Tcrusalem, and priest of the most high God, by an appoinlmcnt of which wc ha\-f no information, he came to meet Abraiiam, after he had vanquished the invading kings who had carried Lot cap- tive from Sodom : and, as the priest of the most high God, he blessed Abraham, and received of him a tenth part of the s[X)ils taken from liis conquered cncn)ips. His very- name, being, by interpretation, " icing of righteousness." and doubtless corresponding«wi;h his characlcr and ad- ministration, marked him out as a type of the Messiah and of his kingdom. (A'o/^'i. 8, 9.) The name of hi^ city signified Peace, and, as king of^ peace, he typific(r Chri'it, " iho Prince of peace," the great reconciler ci" God and man, and of men to one another, in pcrfec, consiitency with the interests of righteousness, and th. honour of the divine justice : and the union of j'oyal autlio- rity with the priestly office, (ivhich were divided bctuceii the family of Aaron and that of David, in the case oi Israel,) jjlainly pointed to the royal priesthood of llw; Messiah. We have no account! of Melchi.^cdec's parent- age, or pedigree, as in the case of the priests appointed by the law, who were all requircrl to prove their descent from Aaron ; and exact rules were given concerning tliei-- marriages, for this, as well as for olher reasons. But Mr i- chisedec was introduced into the sacred history as a pric.=; of the most high God, who had no father, or mother, ov A. D. 6.-). HEBREWS. A. D. G5. hActsii.23. vii. ,1 Now consider how great this man iGen.xiL2 Kvii. j^.^o mjto whom even '' the patriarch 5, 6. Rom. iVt ' . \ [* a\ GaT'^'i"' 28 ' Abraham ^ gave the tcntli ol the 1^- ■'«'"" '"'spoils. xx»i 1—6. Nell I'/TiV',.^; i 'i And verily, tliey that are of the sons .!i.'^'i;?,i"-io' of Levi, 'who receive the office of the m^LevLviiso- priestliood, have a couimandment "" to ""sTiir take tithes of the people according to the " " law, that is, of their brethren,' though "ir xniyEx: they " come out of the loins of Abra- i 5 1 Kings i_ •' v.ii. 19 nam : *^ojp,ycc*. ^ g^^^ 1^^^ ^^l^^^g^ :;, descent is not VTluenxiisil' counted from them, ° received titlics ol 4-8 xxiiiTjB, Abraham, and blessed him that ^ had Acts ill :5 ItoiD I jr. 13 Gal. ill. tlie promises, q 1 Tim. iii IB. 7 And, 1 without all contradiction, "■ the rxi 20,21 Oen . , , ' i /■ i i xxvii. 20-40 less IS blessed o( the bettor. xsviii. I — U All • 1- xivi'i. 'ir-io ^ '^"'J "^'"^ ' ""-^^ '•''^^ *^ receive vi'" ^'23 -"ri tithes : but there he' rcccivdh them, of "s"™.""''*:!!: vvhom it is witnessed that ' he liveth. 2Ch?^ssx' 27 9 And, as I may so say, Levi also, who Lukeixiv JO 5l.2Cor. xiii. 14 s 23 ix 27 13 16. 21, 25 Jobn xi 25,26 xiv. 6 J9. Uev i 18 receiveth tidies, "payed tithes in Abra- u 4. cen xiv so, nam i''"s 10 For he was yet '' in the loins of»* "^"vi*"! his father, when Melchisedec met him. ' ^"'i'^ »*■' i' 1 1 If therefore > perfection were by ',!^'|- l"\_\ the Lcvitical piiesthood, (for under it the {J'}oL'i7^' '^°' people received the law,) ^ what further'""^ need %va.- S 13 I'bil 111 8. altar. e^en. xlvi 12. ■r-, . • -1 1 , T , »'i« '" ""'I' 11 for it ?* evident that '• our Lord i", ,",-;=, \^^ sprang; out of Judah ; of which tribe *j;j,^^ T'slil; OSes hood. II 31-34. Kl . 61 Acl> 13. 14. genealogy, that he might ihe more exactly typify tha High Priest, who, as the .Son of man, liacl no human father' as the Son of God was without mother, and who was appointed to the priesthood, and without deducing his pedigree from Aaron. Moreover, nothing was said of Melchisedec respecting the beginning of his life, or the end of his days, and priesthood, that he might resemble the Son of God. whose existence is from eternity, to eter- nity, and who hath had no predecessor, and will have no .successor in his efficacious, meritorious, and perpetual Priesthood. In all these respects the silence of the Scrip- ture being intentional, and referring to the great Anti- type, is mentioned isi language taken from the instruction to be conveyed, rather than from historical fact, of which learned men have brought instances from other writers of antiquity. {Margr. Ref.) V. 4 — 10. The argument, arising from the fact that one of Abraham's contemporaries was superior to him. was very conclusive against (tie perpetual obligation of the Leviiical law, and the perpetuity of the Aaronic priest- hood, and that of the covenant made with the nation of Israel at Sinai. The apostle, therefore, cxhoried the Hebrews to consider how great a person their inspired law- giver had represented Melchisedec to be, not so much in I'espect of his rc-gal authority, as of his priesthood, when even Abraham the patriarch, and honoured father of their whole nation, who was not one of Melchisedec's subjects, or in any other way connected with him, owned his superiority, and paid him tithes as the representative of th^ most high God ! The Levites indeed were ordered in tht law. as die Lord's tribe, to take tithes of their brethren the descendents of Abraham, of which the priests had a tenth part for their portion : but Melchisedec, who wa^ not of Abraham's family, received tithes of that patriarch himself: nay, as the priest of God, -he pronounced the benediction u]ion him, to whom the promises concerning the Messiah, and all nations being blessed in him, were ade. Now it was well known and certain beyond con- tradiction, that the inferior character was to be blessed, in this authoritative manner, by the superior and more honourable, .as children by their parents, and the people by the priests. {Mars;. H(f-) So that some one higher than Abraham, or Aaron, or any mere man of his race, was evidently to be expected, as a priest for ever after the order of Blelchisedec. ' Under the law indeed mere sinful dying men took tithes of their brethi-en, and so one gene- ration after another rose up to receive them : but in the case of Melchisedec, one received tithes of Abraham, the Representative of all his posterity, concerning whom it was only witnessed that he lived ; by which it was inti- mated, that a Priest should arise, to whom the whole Israel of God would pay their devoted homage, and from whom they would receive the blessing; so that, " to s|)eak it in •• a word," the apostle might say, that even Levi, and all the priests descended from him, paid tithes to Melchi- edec, for they were in the loins of their father and repre- sentative when Melchisedec met him. This sufficiently proved the inferiority of the Levitical priesthood to that of the Messiah ; yea, its absolute dependence on him, and subserviency to him. Indeed, it may be said, that Christ also was in the loins of Abraham; but his divine nature, his miraculous and immaculate concejjtion, and his being the intended and predicted Antitype, sufficiently show that he was excepted, as the seed to whom espe- cially the promises were made. This argument of the iposde illustrates the nature of our union with Adam, and representation by him, and our participation of the consequences of his apostacy, as well as the method of iur recovery by " the second Adam, the Lord froa " heayen." J. D. 05. CHAPTER VII. 1.0 And it is yet far more evident : for f3 u 17. 21 that '' after the similitude of iMclchisedec Ps. CS.4 , . , , . there arisotli another priest, lis 9, 10 X. I itj Who is ij'iade, not afier s the laAV of Gal. iv. 3 9 , , r , , Eph i 15 Col a carnal commandment, but alter " tlie li. MM ""'i 28 Kev i' P""'^'" °' ^" endless lite. '8 17 For he tcstifieth, Thou <7?7 a priest ' 13.' '" X '^"i-I for ever alter the order of Melchisedec. 18 -For there is vcrilv ' a disannullinjr Cal. lil li. 17. V. 1 1 — 17. If God had designed that (he most perfect state of tlie church on earth should be under the Lcvilical priesthood, and if com|ilctc salvation could have been obtained by that institution, without reference to the priesthood of the Messiah, what occasion was there for another Priest to arise, and of anotiier order? Or why should the Holy Spirit dictate such a prediction, and ex- cite such an expectation? The ten commandments, indeed, and many other parts of the law, were given before Aaron was appointed to the priesthood, or expressly mentioned as the intended high ]' made nothino; perfect, but * the bringing in of "• a better hope dill ; by the which "we draw nigh unto God. 20 Ancf inasmuch as not without an oath he teas made Priest : .^. D. G5. k 19 viil 7, 8. il. 9, 10. X. 1—4. Xiii9 Aclssiii. 39 Gal. \v 21. I 17 Horn. viii.3. Col. i i 7 Tim i. 1 D iv. 16 X 19-22 Ps Ixx. ■ 28 John XI V 6 n om T. 2 Eph. ii 13- IS iii. 12. '• life." For though Christ willingly died for the sins of the people, yet that was a part of his priesdy office, and he had power to resume his life, and to preserve it for ever, that so he might perpetually execute his office, as the only one to whom it belonged, and who alone .was ca- pable of duly performing it. V. 18, 19. This prediction before-mentioned, and its accomplishment, implied a disannulling, or abrogating, of the preceding commandment, concerning the priesthood, sacrifices, and purifications. And this was intended by the Lord, because they were in themselves weak and unpro- fi'.able : for though they had a temporary and typical use before the whole was completed, and received its final land benefit, in respect of the nation uf Israel, till the confirmation : the appointment of that priesthaod consti-l coming of the Messiah, and to believers as means of faith tuted an essential part of it, and was so inseparabi}- con-! and grace, yet they had no inherent efficacy to purge th(> necled with its ministrations, that scarcely any jiart of it 'conscience or the affections, and they did not at all profit could be exactly performed without them. Thus die people those who rested in them. For the ceremonial law made received the law, along with the Aaronic priesthood, the termination of which must render the observance of it impracticable by necessary consequence. The change of the priesthood must therefore imply a change of the law too ; and the appointment of a High Priest after the order of Melchisedec must abrogate the ceremonial law, and terminate the legal dispensation. For it had been ex- nothing perfect, either in the state of the church, or the hearts and consciences of the worshippers; but the intro- duction of a better hojie, even that of acceptance wiili God, through the sacrifice and intercession of Christ, brought the church to its highest state of liberty, and it-^ worship, to the most entire spirituality, which its condition in this world admits of, and provided most effectually for jiressly and repeatedly predicted that the Blessiah should the complete justification, the inward peace, and the sane arise from another tribe, even that of Judah ; (ilfnrg-. itification of all believers. For by that hope men are Ref.) and though most of their kings had been of that allowed to draw near to God, even to his mercy-seat, will tribe, yet none of them had ever presumed to officiate at the altar, except Uzziah, who was severely rebuked for his temerity. {ISote, 2 Clir. xxvi. 16 — 21.) Thus distinct were the kingdom and the priesthood kept tinder the law, whilst their union, in the Person of the Messiah, of the tribe of Judah, was also predicted in the most explicit manner. Indeed, it was evident, and sufficiently proved, that "Our Lord" and Saviour, to whom the apostle called his brethren's attention, was descended from Judah, and of the family of David, of which Moses in the law had said nothing concerning their admission to the priest- hood ; so that the prediction and its accomplishment con- curred in proving that the Aaronic priesthood and the Mosaic law were abrogated, and of no farther validity or efficacy. The j.rophecyof the Messiah, as a Priest after the order of Melchisedec, made this evident, even to a demonstration ; yea,* more evident than any other argu- ment coulcl do ; as this Priest was not constituted after, or according to, the law of Moses, or any of its pre- scriptions, which were in themselves carnal command- ments relating to mere externals, and incapable'of securing spiritual excellency to the appointed high priests ; but He was con.slitmed, " according to the power of an endless humble boldness, and are not wholly excluded, as the Gentiles during the law, or kept at a great distance, as the Israelites themselves were. The concluding words may be rendered, " The bringing in of a better hope ?.s " that, by which we draw near to God." The original word signifies something more than bringing in, and im|jlies that this " better hope" was brought in, even under the old dispensation, by the promises and prophecies of the Messiah, and by the types of the law, though more fully and clearly v/hcn Christ had actually come, &nd finished his work on earth, and entered into his <^lorv. " The weakness and unprofitableness of the ceremonral " law," either to jiisdfy or sanctify those who rested in the outward observance- of it, and did not by faith look to the things prefigured by them, was exactly parallel to the Christian sacraments, when the ojiiis ope'rnhim, ilie mere attendance on the ' outward anrl visible sign,' is dejiended on, wjiile'lhe inward and sjjiritual grace,' the things signified in them, are disregarded. To such jicr.sons they are " weak and unprofitable," but to believers they are means of grace, and solemn and acceptable acts of spi- ritual worship. .7. tf. C.'' HEBREWS. j9. D. 65 ' Or, «HMw.n>r -1 (For those prio.5{3 wore made with- ''•""cTi out '* an oath ; but this with nn oath, by •'.s:"""' '■'■"" him that .«aicl unto him," The Lord Vi'V^j^'T-roSlP snare, luul will not repent, Thou art .Vm' ?-?.:.* ix. a Priest forever, after the order of Mel- .>-53 Xli.il. , . , s »iii.2n. D«n IX cni=edec ;) S7. Malt xxvi. ,, -«T> K 1 In It. .(lark xiy. 22 By so niiicn was Jesus made '' a M.' 1 COT.Vi.is! Surety "' of a better testament. * jj ,Nea. xii. 10, 2.3 And they truly ' were many priests, '■•'3" °i'i' u'u ^^ccause they were not suffered to con- Mi D'i'uo[n°5" ^'"^'^ by reason of death : 2'1 But this man, because ' he conti- % Or,apr,i(ithood. ^''„",;j';|; nueth ever, hath an f unchangeable 7. 1, priesthood. ,{ 2.'j VVhereforc " he is able also to save jn vi. 37-10. s. 29, 30. liph. iii 20. Phil. iii. 21. 2 Tim. i. 12 Jude21. not fn njiolhcr. ijiterpose, and m?de higher than the heavens, and all their glorious inha- bitants :° that the dignity of his Person and the pre- eminence of his exaltation might give efficacy to his ministrations, "and manifest the justice an'l holiness of God in savinrf sinners for his sake, and through his merits. He must begone, who had no need to offer sacrifices for him-, self at all. or repeatedly in behalf of others, as the Levit- ical priests, (who were the coadjutors of the high priest,) did dailt/, and the high priest did oil every return of the ffreat day of expiation. But such a High Priest could not he found, except Jesus, whose one oblation of himself, be- ing of infinite value, rendered further sacrifices for ever needless. For the law made infirm and sinful men high priests, whose persons and services always needed atone- ment and forgiveness, and many of whom were men of very bad characters ; but the word of the I.ord, which he had ratified with an oath, and which had been sj:)oken long af- ter the giving of the law, and reached far beyond it, had appointed the eternal Son of God to that oflice, who was in all respects competent to it, as he alone could be ; and he was moreover consecrated or perfected to it for evermore. It was therefore evident, that the Levitical priesthood was intended to typify, and prepare the way for, that of Christ ; which was purposed in due time to supersede and dis- r.anul it. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—18. Es'ery part of scripture was intended, in one way or an- other, to honour our King of Righteousness and Peace, our glorious High Priest and Saviour ; and the more accu- rately we examine it, the fuller will be our conviction that " the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy." May v/e then learn in simplicity to trust in him, and submit lo Jiim, to copy his righteousness, to seek the peace of ins kingdom, to devote all that we are and have to liis service, and to expect i»les;ings from him alone ! May we go forth in our spiritual conflicts, at his word, and in his strength ; ascribe all our victories to his grace ; aid desire to be met and blessed by him in all our ways ! Patriarchs, prophets, aposUes, and angels, own him to be far better and greater than they all; preceding events and dis|)ensations, fiom ♦he beginning, prepared the way for his appearance, and Vol.. v.— No. 34. criAP. VIII. 1 — (J; and that the Sinai-covenant was to be abrogated, to make way for a ncia introduced his royal priesthood : those instiiutions, which had divine authority and eminent usefulness for the time, after his coming were disannulled, " because of the wcak- •' ness and unprofitableness of them ;" for a better hope was then introduced, by which we draw nigh to our of- fended God, and call him, " Abba, Father." No further change shall now take place in the priesthood, or the wor ship of the Church, by any future revelation from God; but he will " overturn, overturn, ovci'turn," the kingdoms of the earth, till that of our Melcliisedec be every where established. As the Surety of a far better covenant than that connected with the Levitical priesthood, he hath given his Church and every believer the greatest advantages for follow ing after perfection. May he stii' up the hearts of his ministers and people, and pour out his Spirit, through- out all his Church, that more spiritual worship and holy obedience may every where abound ; and that the congre- gations and services of his saints on earth may more resem- ble those of heaven ! V. 19— 2r. It becomes us to aspire afler a degree of sjiirituality and holiness, ai much superior to those of old testament-be- lievers, as our advantages exceed theirs. No man who knows God, and his holy law of love, and who understands the evil of sin, and the difficulty of saving sinners to the glory of God, could desire the continuance of a priest- hood, " according to a carnal commandment ;" which ap- pointed those to that office who were themselves sinners* ' and needed to '' ofl^er sacrifices for themselves first, and '• then for the jjeople ;" nor could they wish those to retain that station, who generally filled it. But now, that the Son of God is made the High Priest of his believing Israel, even such a High Priest as became us, being " holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and " made higher than the heavens," we may well rejoice that he is consecrated for evermore, and that he hath an unchangeable priesthood. As he is '• able to save to the " uttermost, all who come to God through him," let the vilest of sinners api^roach in this way to the mercy-seat oi' our forgiving God, seeing " he ever liveth to make inter- " cession for them." None need be dismayed, but they who will not come unto God, or who will not conic in the name of his beloved Son ; and the case of those will soon become hopeless, how great soever their present pre- sumption may be. But. let believers meditate on the power and grace of their great High Priest, and on his universal and absolute sovereignly ; and let them copy his holy, harmless, and undefiled conduct, and separation from sinners ; then they may confidently expect, that he will "save them to the uttermost," and 'deliver them, ' in all time of their tribulation, in all lime of their wealth, • in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment.' 3 N A. D. 6§. HEBREWS. Jl. D. OD ll S'c on, i. 3 11 xli. 3. Rev. ill 21. c IChr. xxix. II Joii xxsvii. 22 1'! xxi S xl» 3.4 cic. I.ctiv 12. Is Xliv U MiC V 4., *ix U-11 N 21 Ex xxxvii I 3S KXiX 44 Horn. XV. 0 • Or. hu'ri (»ln?j. eix II. 21 24 rxj 10 2 Cor. V I Cul ii I!. ti ix 14 K.D-U, John vi.&l Kph i vii.ll— IS Vum :{vi-40. XVI) I'J )3. xviii. 5. 1 €lir .xxvi. la, and LelUr coccnant. through a superior Mcdiitlor, 7 — 13. NOW^ of ihc things wliich \vc liave spoken, this is the sum : " We have such aii High Priest, '' wlio is set on the light hand of the throne of" the Majesty in the heavens ; 2 'a '' Minister of * the sanctuary, and of' tlie true tabernacle, ' which the Lord pitclied,and not man. 3 Fur 8 every high priest is ordained to olTcr gifts and sacrifices : ulierefore it is of necessity that this man '' liavc some- what also to otler. 4 For if lie were on earth, ' he should NOTES. CFIAP. Vllf. V. 1, 2. The principal matter, or the substance, of what had been discoursed on was this, that Chri.stians had such a High Priest as became, and was needful for them ; who, having finished his work on earth, had ascended into the heavens, and was exalted to jjrc-' eminent dignity and authority, at the right hand of God, in that place where lie displays his glorious majesty, and which may be called his royal throne; (A'o^i,V,l' ij to the pattern shewed to thee in the ''J A'^^"*"" mount. (j But now hath he ""obtained a more jii..«;i' J'., f excellent, ministry, l)y how much also he , righteous persons, o^- refuse to come at all, as [( soffic'ipat 3N2 times of the Gospel : but it is also fulfilled to all the sp - ritual Israel, who are realli/ a holy nation, as Israel ac- cording to the flesh was relatively: the repentance, faith, divine and efficacious teaching, and .sanctification of the chosen people of God, as well as their complete forgive- ness, were provided for, in the better promises of this new covenant, and thus their holy obedience, ^their final perseverance, and their eternal salvation were secured. — The apostle, therefore,, inferred conclusively from this prediction, that the promise of a new covenant had iq effect made the first old, or antiquated ; and this was as much as to say, that it was decaying, and about to vanish away. So that the abolition of the national covenant made with Israel, and the abrogation of the Mosaic law, should have been expected at the coming of the Messiah^ according to their own prophets. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—6. Whilst we bless God, that of his plenteous mercy he hath provided for us lost sinners such a High priest, a.s suited our helpless condition ; that he hath accepted his one oblation of himself; that he hath exalted him to the right hand of his Majesty in the heavens, tr. be a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tahernacle ; and that he hath made a better covenant with him, in behalf of his (rue people, and established it on better promises, than those given to Israel; let us see to it, that we draw nigh to him in this appointed way, as spiritual worshippers, in humble faith, and submission to his righteousness, relyinaj on his mercy and truth, and praying lor all his promised J. D. 65. a Till. 7. 13 b 10. Lev. ZTiii. 3, 4 'JO xxii. 9 JJum Ix. 12. Ez xliii II. Luke i fi • Or. ctnmonUs. C 10. 11. viii 2. Bx. XXT. 8 Col. ii «. a Ex. xxvi.l— 30 XXXvi. 1! - 38, XSXiX .12-34 xl. 2 18-SO. XKXvii 10—24 mXSiX 36—38 xl. 82-24. t Or, holy. Ex HEBREWS. J. D. 65. SXV . 3J. 19 20. Ex. XXTi. 31 33. xxsvi. 33 —38 xl 3. 21. SCbr iii. 14. Is XXV 7 Mitt, XXV b\. gli.X. 19 I KlDg3 CHAP. iX. The tabernacle and its furnilure, and (he typical mcaninsr of its ordinances, 1 — 10. jln application of the subject to the Priesthood, sacrifice, and covenant of Christ, 1 1—28. THEN verily ' tlie first covenant " had also * ordinances of divine service, ^ and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was '' a tabernacle made : *= the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the she w-b read ; which is called t the sanctuary : 3 And after ' the second veil, the taber- nacle which is called ^ the Holiest of all ; 4 Which had *" the golden censer, and «». 10-16. I - S. xl 3. 33,34. ■ 4 8. le. ' the ark of the covenant overlaid round i e« about with gold, wherein '' was the "ix 3* golden pot that had manna, ' and Aaron's fNuVJI.. od that budded, '° and the tables of the m ex"xxv^ J XXVi. 33 jrj '^ covenant; 21 Deatl's- 5 And "over it the cherubims of glory 21 2cifr.V"io.* shadowinor ° the ftiercy-seat ; of which we xxx"" e'l^l" cannot now speak particularly. ' ssm iv <. b INow when these things were thus ' iKiogsxix! I ■ .15. Ps, Ixxx I ordained, p the priests went always into *«'» ' Eph. .1 r 1 ' I I- 1 ' 1 '" '" ' Pet I. the urst tabernacie, accompiishmff the '? „ , . -^ , r S oiv t Ler. ivK service oj Uod : ^^J:l^ ,|' <-'i>r. 7 But '• into the second went the high fj^* "T-chr' priest alone, once every year, ' not with- f>*^' j.':,- ;'!• andybr the ' errors of the people. 13. 20 s I,ev v 18 2 Sa n V 7. 2 Clir i. 16. xxviii. 7 xxis 14. Hos IV. 12. Am. i xxxiii 9 P3. xix. 1: or their own felicity ? In every part of our worsliip and obedience, we should keep close to the only and perfect standard of Scripture, and every deviation must be propor- tionably injurious : but mistakes in the way of a sinner's access and acceptance cannot but prove fatal in the end, if not previously discovered and rectified. V. r— 13. We should often inquire, whether the new covenant be really sealed and ratified to us ? for, though tlie Gospel- dispensation is fauUless, and though the Lord hath, as it were, taken us by the hand, to lead us forth from pagan and antichrisliaa idolatry, yet he will have no special regard to us at last, unless he now put his laws into our minds and write them in our hearts, as the principle of genuine repentance and willing obedience, unless we ex pect our happiness from him as nur God, and worship him- spiritually as his people ; and unless we are taught by his Holy Spirit to know him in such a manner, as uprightly to fear, love, trust, and obey him. Thus all true Israel- ites, from the least to the greatest, are taught of God, and sealed as his people ; and thus they are assured, that he hath been merciful to their sins, and will remember their iniquities no more. This " righteousness shall be for •• ever, this salvation shall not be abolished," and the blessings of thi; irrevocable covenant will be the eternal portion of every true believer. But all other things, whether they be worldly vanities, external privileges, or forms and notions of religion, will soon decay, wax old, vanish away, and leave "those who have trusted in them most miserable for evermore. NOTES. CHAP. IX. V. l.-,5. The apostle, knowing the excessive and dangerous attachment of the Hebrews to ihe legal ceremonies, proceeded more particularly to show their t^vpical reference to Christ. The first covenant had indeed ordinances of divine worship, the observance of which constiiuted a considerable part of the legal right- cousnc:;s of Israel, as a. nation; and it had a sanctuarv. built of such materials, and decorated with such magni- ficence, as this present world afibrds, and as carnal men adcnire. For Moses, at God's command, caused the taber- nacle to be erected, which, besides the courts, and the porch, consisted of two parts : in the first division, called " the holy place," or the sanctuary, were the candlestick, the table, and the shew-bread ; and within the second veil, in the holiest of all, were' the ark, and the other things here mentioned. {Soles, &c. Ex. xvi. 32 — 34. xxv — xxvii. xxxvii — xl. Num. xvii.) The golden'ccnser, on which the high priest burned incense within the veil, on the day of expiation, seems to have been left in the most holy place during the rest of the year. The rod of Aaron and the golden pot of manna were wilkin the holy of holies, and by, or near, the ark, as the word may be ren- dered ; but they seem not to liave been put ivilhin it. — (1 Kings viif. 9.) The typical import of all these things has been shown ; and it is not necessary to speak of them particularly in this place, even as it was not for the apostle. The golden altar of incense is not mentioned in this cata- logue ; for what reason we know not; but the conjecture of some expositors, that the words, rendered the golden " censei'," meant that altar, is groundless; for that was stationary in the first sanctuary, and was not used by the high priest on the day of atonement, who burned incense on a portable censer within the veil. V. 6, 7, When all the particulars above mentioned had been prepared, according to God's appointment, the ordinary priests performed the several parts of their office in the first sanctuary at all times, without .further limita- tion. But the high priest alone was allowed to go into the most holy place ; nay, he was not allowed to enter thitlier more than once, or on one da)', in the year; nor even on that day, till he had offered sacrifices for his own- ' transgressions, and those of the nation, and then he took the blood of the sin-ofi'eriiig within the veil, to sprinkle before the mci'cy-seat. {Notes, Lev, xvi.) Thus, out of Israel, that holy nation, one holy tribe was selected ; of that tribe, one holy family ; and of that family one person to be " holiness to the Lokd :" yet even this person, so carefully selected from the whole race of men, might not- J. D. 65. CHAPTER IX. J. D. 65. till, 7. 1115 Is. 8 The ' Holy Ghost tliis signifying, iMiM.s:'xsff:K that "the way into the holiest of all was Pet>ii"'''^ not yet maJe manifest, while as the first "i9-22 John x' tabernacle was yet standing : 7.9 Mv 6 bph g VViiich was " a figure for ^ the time Vu'i'ptt.ii I" then present, in which were offered both y villi. Ki.39 40. .,. ' 1 ■!• .\ , 11 iFct. 111. u ' oriits and saerihccs, "that could not 2 Sf f on, V I. II* I 1* I 1 • /' 1 a 13, u. vii 18,19 niakc hmi that did the service perlect, a. 1 — *. 11. Gal. . . , . ' J".ri , . as nertainino- to the conscience; b xiii 9. Lev XI. t , p II,- I 31?-;, k!"^ "u 10 iVhica stood only '' in meats and A^f ,",5'^-'* drinks, and ' divers washings, and '^ car- "^fii" f'lx^" '^^' * ordinances, imposed on them "^ un- f2"'i.'cVsiv''8', til the time of reformation. I.!.""..!' ?J 11 But f Christ beinor come ^ an High 1 Lev Till 2. > xvi 4-10. [DP.3« 9-I4 Actl , i'"j7 Priest '■ of good things to come, ' by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, ^ not DeuU sx xxiii. II dl vii. 16 Gal Vv 3 9. Eph ii 15 Col li. 20-22 * Or, rii, e ii 5 Ti 5 Gal. iv.4 Eph i. lO fGen. xlix 10. Ps. xl. 7 Is.lix. 20 Mai. iii. 1 Malt li 6 si 3 John i».25 I John iv 2.3 v. 20. 2 John 7. g S« on. ii. 17. iii 1 iv 15 V 5, 6 vii 1-11 26,27. viii.l. h X. I. 1 1— 9. viii. 2. John L 14 Gi i 23, 24. Acts vii 48. xvii. 24,;'5. 2 Cor. v. 1. Col. ii. II. approach God on a mercy-seat without atoning blood, and only one day in a year, on pain of death for his presump- tion, if he transgressed these rules ! The word rendered errors seems to deaotc all those sins, for which sacrifices were appointed ; indeed, all but those presumptuous sin.3 which were punished by death. Some commentators men- tion carrying the blood of the sacrifices into the temple, to sprinkle it ifefore the veil, as one of the services per- formed by the ordinary priests ; but no blood was carried into the tabernacle, except that of the sin-oflerings for the high priest, or for the congregation ; and this was done by the high-priest himself, (xiii. II. Notes, Lev. iv.) V. 8 — 10. By all those restrictions and limitations, which kept even the worshippers of Jehovah at so awful a distance, the Holy Spirit, by whose inspiration tiiey were revealed and recorded, conveyed tliis important in- struction ; namely, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest. This instruction must be constant- ly inculcated, as long as the first tabernacle was standing, and the ceremonies of that worship continued in force. Tor the temple, being formed after the pattern of the tabernacle made by Moses, and having the same ministra- tions performed at it, might bo consiiiered as the conti- nuation of it ; and " the first tabernacle" is distinguished iVom that " greater and more perfect tabernacle," after- wards mentioned, (11, 1-2.) So that the holy places, in which the priests of Aaron's family ministered till the coming of Christ, are evidently meant. A few believers indeed, under the divine teaching, saw a little concerning the way of access to God, of communion with hip, and of admission into heaven, through the promised ifcdecm- er ; but the Israelites in general looked no further than the external forms ; and scarcely any person conceived an idea, that sinners of every nation should have that boldness of access to God through Chiist, and all the privileges and hopes, which believers enjoy under the Christian dispensa- tion. The dilficulty, of guilty polluted rebels being thus admitted iiUo the presence and favour of a holy God, was declared by those appointments ; but the sacrifice and made with hands, that is to say, notofm, this buihiing ; 12 Neither ' by the blood of goats and coM.u%{il: calves, but "■ by his own blood, " he en- Hev.'i.''5.'v!9"' tered in ° once into the holy place, "• hav- "se'x'V °*~ ing obtained eternal redemption /or Mi. p i6"'v.'9'Dan. 13 For if the blood of bulls, and of 29. *Gai. Ii, ni goats, '1 and the ashes of an heifer, sprink- q Nim xix'i- linff the unclean,.sanctifieth to "■ the puri- r Numviii.7.,ix. lyinfif 01 the llesh ; '» •"» 11.7. Acts J 4 ' How much more shall * the blood "^^^^^^ ">«' f^- of Christ, " Avho through the ^ eternal l';^^^ »'.. j^- Spirit y oiTered himself^ without f spot J{om x'.i2 2^: to God, ^ purge your conscience fi-oni **',""'' '^•"°'"' = de ■ I.uke iv. 18. John iii. 3l Acts i 2, ^ 38. 1 Pet. i,i. , Jer. X. 10. Rom. i. 20 I Tim i 17. yScion.1. ii. 14. I Pet. ii 24 Iii. IE. z Lev. xxii. 20 Num. xix 2. II. xxviii 3 g.'ll. Deut.xv 21. xvii. I Is liii. 9 Dan ix 2»— 26. 2Corv. 21. I Het. i. 19. ii. 22. 1 John iii. 5. ■Or. fault a9. i. 3. x'.2.22. -b .Sec on, vi. I. c Luke i. 74. Rom vi n 22. Gal. ii 19 I T lies i.9 IPet iv. 2. dx,i.22 Dent v. 26. 1 Sam. xvii, 26. 2 Kings xi>! 16, Jct. X. 10. Urn. vi. 26. Acts xiv. 15, 2 Cor. vi. 16. 1 Tim iii. 15. priesthood of the incarnate Son of God at once disannulled them all ; when he hung upon the cross, the veil of the temple was rent, his ascension into heaven, and interces- sion there, opened the way to the mercy-seat ; by his doc- trine the way into the holiest was made manifest, and thenceforth it was only necessary that sinners should be made willing, by regenerating grace, to avail themselves of such an invaluable privilega. The legal ordinances therc- foi's, especially those of the great day of atonement, were figures for the time that they lasted, (or, as some render it, " of the present time," the happy period thus prefigured being then arrived ;) in which were ofl'ered various gifts and sacrifices, that could not give the' worshippers genuine solid peace of conscience, or make a perfect reconciliation between the sinner and his offended Judge. The offerers, who rested in them, and did not by faith rely on the pro- mised Saviour, could not obtain forgiveness of sins, or spiritual blessings ; but were only exempted from tempo- r.'il punishment, and admitted to external privileges, as members of the kingdom and Church of Israel, which was in a peculiar sense utide'r the government of Jehovah. And as to the other ordinances of that covenant, which were connected with its sacrifices, they consisted principally of regulation^ concerning meats and drinks, and divers baptisms, or washings wil'i or in water, as typical of sancti- fication, and such like institutions, which were carnal in themselves, though for wise purposes they were im|)osed till tlic coming of the Messiah, which was to be a time of reformation, by the introduction of a more simple and si^iiitual worship. They could therefore be of no use to the Je^vs, who rejected Christ out of zeal fur tliem, and it was absurd lor the Hebrew Christians to adhere so per- tinaciously to them. The Holy Ghost, &c. This is a most express attestation to the divine inspiration of Moses, which should not pass without special notice, in these days of skepticism on this subject. V. 11 — 14. After long expectation, the promised Re- deemer was come, to be a High Priest, capable of pro- curing and bestowing to fiUure age.S; and to all eternity^ HEBREWS the Mcdia- J. D. 6J. *v' J- T"'i"6- l.'J And for tliis cause ho is III. 24. Ilim. /• I ivT m fv«*o» viii 8 toroff theNcw lestament, thatby ^means -"if^s"' M u of death, '"for the redemption of the trans- )Va.'i'x giessions that icere under ' tlie first tes- tament, '' they wliich are called might re- . 2.1—26. V 6_S 10. Epli i.7 1 Pol. iii. 18. Hev ». 9 xiv. 3, 4. ; i I. flii 7 13. J. D. 6.5 -i:. Uaa. .xi.4ft.Ro ■26. I. Set I Una . 28 30 ix. 21, ; The . 14. cclve tlic ' promise of" eternal inheritance, '^'j '5^»' p^^ 1 6 For where a testament is. there must J ii"'';,'i^." ,g also ofnecessity*be the death of the testator. J"/^^. 17 For ° a testament 2S of force after men ^^y,l are dead : otherwise it is of no strength at all while tjic testator liveth. 10 ' Or. br ltro«sU in n (Ici. kIvim 21,22 'ohn siv. 2 .Mark l/iike John X. 28. Ran. •!. 2:i. s Tin. li. in. Tit. i i. ill. 7. I Pet.i 3,4. ». the blessings of salvation on all bclicvcr.s, and fulfil to hciided by failh, it r.ould remove the burden of guilt froin them all the ancient promises of God. This he was ap- Uhe conscience, and give the trembling sinner peace, con- pointed to do, by officiating as a High Priest, in a greater J fidcnce, and comfort in approaching, \vorshi[)ping, and and better tabernacle than that prepared by Moses, or obeying the living God; and Christians therefore could even the tem[ile built by Solomon, or any made with : have no occasion to cleave to the abrogated tyjiical expia- bands ; that is to say, in one, not builded after the manner ^ tions of the Mosaic lawf Some expositors, by "-the of men, or even like the lower creation, being the con- , " eternal Spirit," suppose the Deity of the Son to be irivance of infinite wisdom, and the work of almighty ! meant ; but this seems rather to be implied in the word power. This may be explained either of his holy human Christ ; and as the holiness and obedience of our Saviour, nature, in which he tabernacled on earth, and officiates as his miraculous poweis, and the supports given to his hu- Priest in heaven, or of the heavens themselves, where he : man natui'c, are constantly ascribed to his immeasurable appears in the presence of God for us. Nor did he aiiempt unction with ihe Holy Spirit, sealing his appointment to lo atone for sin by the blood of goats, bulls, or calves, ; his mediatorial cflkes ; and as he was carried through his and to enter into the most holy jjlacc with it ; but, having last scene of sufferings by his most perfect zeal and' love, shed his own most precious blood on earth, as in the court ' which also gave value to his sacrifice ; so the Holy Spirit of t!ie sanctuary, he entered in, once for all, into the true ! seems to be intciuled, and his eternal Deity, (as well as holy place in heaven, to plead the merit of it before the i the everlasting value and efficacy of Christ's atonement,) Father's throne, as the complete atonement for all the sins | is attested by the epithet here employed. The Levitical of his people ; having thus purchased for them " eternal [services were all shadows of heavenly things; tiie cx|)ia- " redemption" from wrath, and sin, and all its conse- 1 tions were, therefore, types of some real expiation. 'Now quences, and being assured that no further atonement ' wdiat expiation is there in the whole universe, if the would ever be required in their behalf. For if the blood !' Sacrifice of Christ is excluded ?' [Mack^ght.) of bulls and g(-";s, and such irrational creatures, couldl V. 15 — 17. Because of the unceasing ana inexhaustible avail to exijiate the guilt of the nation, or of individuals, ! efficacy of his sacrifice, Christ was appointed to be the on the day of atonement, or on other occasions, {Notes, \ Mediator of the new covenant. He had undertaken the Lev, xvi.) and if the ashes of an heifer mixed with water, ! cause of sinners, which must otherwise have been relin- and sprinkling those who were unclean through the touch qiiished as desperate, as he alone was cajiablc of oflering of a dead body, could produce a typical external sanctity, a sacrifice of sufficient value to make a real atonement ; ity which they might be admitted into the congregation of and he had come into the world in human nature for that the Lord, {Notes, &c. Num. xis.) how much more elfi- ' ])urpnse, in order by means of his death to atone cacy ir.ight be supposed in the blood of Christ, actually to (and pay a ransom to God for the transgressions, which had lemovc guilt and defilement ! The exalted dignity of his ! been committed by believers under the old covenant, or the divine nature, the entire purity of his human nature, the j legal dispensation; even they who lived hclbic his corn- honour put on the law of God by his most perfect obc-;ing, as well as all others who were called by the grace of dience, and the voluntary oflering of himself, under the J God to failh in him, might receive the promise of an f/enirti immediate influences of the eternal S[)irit, as a spotless inheritance, (A'o/fs, iiJo/n. iii. '21 — 'JC.) For the /fjn;)orn/ sacrifice to divine justice in the stead of sinners, concurred ! inheritance alone was secured to the Israelites by their to render it glorious in God, for his sake, fully to pardon, j observance of the legal expiations, and they among themi and freely to accept, all who were interested in him by faith. It then there was the least c.licacy in external expiations and purifications, through the appointment of who sought and obtained spiritual and eternal blessings, were made partaker? of ihem through the anticipated effi- cacy of Christ's redemption. Yet that grace was finally God, and becau,se they showeil the guilt and pollution of confirmed to them by his death ;«60 that, in this respect, sin, and typified the method of its removal, so that it 1 the corcnoH/ he nifidiated might also be considered as a became projier for God, through them, to confer leinporal i Tesiun^nt, by which a man bequeaths certain legacies to benefits on criminals, how much more efficacious must personal specified therein, to be given to them in consc the blood of Christ be, to purge the believer's conscience — ~ ircm the guilt of those evil works, which were committed by such as were dead in sin, and deserved death, or that really polluted the soul, even as the touch of a dead corpse did the body ! As, therefore, it was abundantly suited to render the exercise of mercy consistent with the most per- (juence of his death. Thus Christ might be considered as having acquired, in Ms mediatorial office, a conditional right to dispose of spiritual and eternal blessings, as by his will and Testament ; these he bequeathed to all such as should apjily for theni in faith ; and though, by a special favour, some were made partakers of them, in conse- cct justice and holiness, and honourable to God lo accept I qucncc of his unfailing engagements lo assume human he services of sinners who believed, so. whf^n appre- 1 nature, and make rcdertiption for their tran.sgressions, yet A. D. 6; CHAPTER IX. J. D. GO 18 Whereupon neither ° the first testa- ment was * tledicated witliont blood : J 9 For uiieri Moses had sijoken evorv p 12. X. 4. Ek n 1 1 1- 1 ' 10 iT'l' pi'^-^P*^ ^o all the people according to the ' Or, fv.rified. II 3cei law, he took p the blood of calves, and 2,3 10 xvi. u-18 law q Lev. Kiv a— 6. x'^iTs"' ""■"• ol goats, With water, land t scarlet Vvool, ^KKk^utllll ' ^"^ hyssop, and » sprinkled both the ^r^'a f' ■'"'"' '^oo'^ '^'"^ '^" *'^*'" people, 20 Savinc^, s This is the blood of the I'a. li 7 ■" "24 Es xx S. l3 lii IS b ,, testament whicl^ t5oJ hath enjoined unto ....... .„.iFet; you. ,2 tsiiiS0Zeeh.ix.il MM. 21 Moreover, " he sprinkled likewise with blood, both the tabernacle, and alJ the vessels of the ministry. 22 And ^ almost all things are by the law purged with blood : y and without shedding of blood is no remission. 2,i // teas therefore necessary th^it '• the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these : but =■ the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices' than these. ' I'a. 61, i2 y Lev. IV. 20. 2fi. 05. V 10. li. 18. »1 7. xvii. II. 17. Col. 12. II 24. X 1. 10—17. LuVe xsiv. 8fi. 46 John xiF .'I 1 Teti. 19-21. Uev. V. 9. even their right to them .was incomplete till after his death, however, on the whole, but think that the latter exposition and all others must be admitted to claim them on that is the most obvious, and consonant to the apostle's gene- ground only. For when a Tcptainent is made, the death ral way of reasoning. of the testator must of necessity take place, before the V. 18—23. To prefigure the necessity of the blood- legacies can be claimed; it is of no validity till he be shedding of Christ, even the Sinai-covenant had not been dead; for, as he may change it at pleasure while he liveth, dedicated, or ratified, without blond. For after the law of ten commandments had been delivered from the mount, and Moses had spoken every precept to the people, ac- so it hath no force till afterwards. Thus Christ died, not only to purchase the blessings of salvation for us, but to give eificacy to his testamentary disposal of them ;; cording to the outlines of that"^law, (on which their national though he is dilTerent from all other te.stators, in that liej covenant was to be established.) and they had consented to rose again, and ever liveth to be the executor of his own it, hey\vrote them in a book, and proceeded to the solemn testament, for the benefit of all that are interested in it, j ratification of the covenant, as a typical mediator between Thus the passage has generally been interpreted; butthisJGod and the nation. (Notes, Ex. xxiv.) I'he apostle is the only passage in which the original word is e,r;5r€ss/y; specified some particulars, which are not found in the used in Scripture for a testament, or the will of a dying! history, probably taking them from the traditionary usages person. The change of the meaning also from coiimfwij of his peoplje on similar occasions. To prevent the^blood to testiunenl seems ._unpiecedpnted : the Mediator " of a! fro.m coagulating, it was customary to mix it with water '■ testament," " the blood of a testament," are expressions! that it might sprinkle the bettei', (which was an apt to w^hich it is difficult to annex any precise ideas; andj emblem of the two-fold benefit of Christ's atonement,) the Sinai-covenant can hardly in any sense be called a i and then putting.scarlet wool upon a stalk of hyssop, tlie'y testament. Several modern expositors have therefore en- sprinklicd the blood with it. (Notes, Lev. xiv. 7. Fs. li. deavoured to establish another interpretation. 'ForthisiT.) The Hi^rews also knew, that Moses sprinkled the ' reasori, of the new covenant he is the Mediator, or tabernacle ao# all 'its furniture with blood, to consecrate them for the worship of God. (Marg. lief.) In short, it was a general rule, that almost everything was by the law purified with blood, which showed, that nothing could be* clean to a sinner, not even his religious duties, except as his guilt was expiated by the death of a sacrifice of suffi- cient vahiefbr that end, and nnless he continually depend- ed on it. T^tid indeed it was absolutely an universal rule, that without the shedding of blood, no kind or degree of, sin cou'd be pardoned, or the punishment due to it be remitted. It was then necessary, by the appointment of the law. for the exemplars, or types, of heavenly things to be purified by the sar.rifict^of innocent animals, and by the application of their bloo'd, or they could not be ac- ceptably used in the worship of God ; but it was necessaiy, for more durable and immutable reason^', that the heavenly things themselves should be fjin'ified l)y an atonement of superior excellence, even by (he^^ie sacrifice of the death of I'hrist, which was infinitely more valuable tiian all of them. In order to his efTicaoiously interceding for sinners in heaven, and opening fo" them the way to the mercy-scat, that they might commune with their reconciled Father iii his ordinances, and at length be admitted into heaven ; it was necessary that Christ should on earth, in our nature, High Priest, by whom its bdessings are dispensed, and ' also the Sacrifice, by whiuh it is procured and ratified ; ' that, his death being accomplished for obtaining the par- ' don of the transgressions of the first covenant, believers ' of all ages and nations, as the called seed of Abraham, ■ may receive the promised eternal inheritance. For ' where a covenant is nude by sacrifice, there is a neces- sity that the death of the appointed sacrifice be pro- • duced. For, according to the practice of God and man, ' a covenant is made firm over dead sacrifices ; seeing it ' never halh force whilst the goat, calf, or bullock, ap- • pointed as the sacrifice of ratification, liveth. Because, • from tlic beginning, God ratified his covenants by sacri- ' fice, to preserve among men the expectation of the ' sacrifice of his Son ; hence, not even the covenant at ^ Sinai was made without sacrifice, or, blood.' (Mac- Icnight.) It appears to me, that the original will admit of this interpretation ; but the nature of this work does not admit of my enlarging on the criticisms by which it is supported. On the one hand, the cavils which have been raised against the apostle's reasoning as inconclusive, if the first interpretation be adopted, and on the other hand, the venerable names which have sanctioned it, with othe circumstances of a similar nature, render me afraid ofl shed his blood, and die a sacrifice on the cross ; that he too confidently preferring either interpretation. I cannot,! might have the infinite merit of that sawifice to plead A. D. 6.'}. b Set 011,11 Mark xiv. 5H Joh nil f Utt oi,9.S3 8. <5 i. 3. vi. sn Vii ro. viii.2 i xii. 2 Ps. Ixvii , in. Mar* xvi IS, Luke XKi» .■>!. ;Jalin vi 62 «vl ?t>, 21. Acts i <> 11. in 21 Sph 1 i 20 -22 iv 11 Col. lii e >i>. 25 Kit. xxviii. 12. Sil 30. Zech. li 1. Xom viii 1 .loho ii. . 2. HEBREWS. Jl. D. (35. 24 For Cliiist is not entered into " tlie holy places inaJe witli hands, u-hich arc ^ tlic figures of the true ; "^ but into hea- ven itself, now " to appear in the pre- sence of God for us : 2.0 Nor yet that he should ^ ofior him- self often, 5 as tiie high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others: 26 For then must he often liave suf- fered since i the foundation of the world : but now once, ' in the end of the world. i i. 2. Is. ii. 2 Du hath '■ he appeared to put away sin by ki2.Tii sc «.4, , ^, - .^rl ,1 J J 10. r-e<.x. 21. ' the sacriiiee ot lunisell. 2^ 2 Sa 27 And "as it is appointed unto men once to d!C, ° but alter this (he uido:- n'et ii ->; , nicnt ; ?(.{ So Christ " was once oflered ^ to ' '*• m Geo 2 rit. bear the sin.sof many: and unto i them jo^'.^vVvJi that look for him, shall 'he a{)pcar the ^jj- ^^J ^;-' '^ second time, * without sin ' unto salva- ',Jo^ ^\^ • tion. • n>i.iJo%,i, «ii II. M»tt axv. 31 icJolinv 26-i9f Acts xvii. 31 K 5 2 Cor 5. 10 2 Tim iv. I. Julie 15 Rev. si. II- IS. Xum xvli'. 1.23 U liii. 4-6 II 12 1 Pet ii 24— q I'liii i i 2ii. I Thcj i. 10. 2 iim iv.8. Tit. li. 13 2 Pft. ill 12 rZech «lv 4 Innn < v . 3 .\. ts i. II. I TliPS It. U -16 2T!-ef i S-S ii. 1. I John .ii i Hev. i 7 ■ K im vi IP xVi 3 1 Is XX v. 3 Rom viii 23 1 Cor xv. 41 Phi iii. 21 I Thes. i» 17. 2 Ti«.- I 10 ' 23. Ec , 9. 5. xiv 9-12 I Cor iv. n, 2,S p Le\ I ThC) I. 10. before the throne, in behalf of all who should come unto God by him : otherwise mercy .shown to sinners would dis- lionour the justice and holiness of God, and ihnir admission into heaven, wouM, as it were, defile that holy place. V. 24 — 26. Christ had not entered into a " a wordly " sanctuary," made by the hands of men, to be the figures of the true, for which the blood of animals might be a suit- able consecration : but lie had entered into heaven itself, lo appear in die immediate presence of God, as the Advocate for rebels and enemies, and in order to procure them full' pardon., abundant grace, and clernal life; and a sacrifice of proporlionably superior value was necessary, that he might perform this ministration to the glory of God, and! the salvation of his people. This had been provided, in 1 the sacrifice of himself : and there was no need, thai he i should frequently repeat his atoning sufforings and death, j after the manner of the high priest ; wlro every year wenti into the holy place with the blood of others, even of the animals slain for sin-otlcrings: for in that case Christ must often have suffered, since the first entrance of sin soon after the foundation of the world, wh^n the eflficacy of his gracious inlcrposition m behalf of wmicrs began. This he must have done, if the sacrifice had been of small, or even of finite, value ; as it would have been, if he were •only a mere man, or a mere creature. But, on the contra- ry, the intrinsic and infinite value of his sacrifice ap- peared, in that, after he had been predicted and pro mised for four thousand years, and sinners hSftl all along been saved by faith in him ; he at length appeared in. human nature, once, in the last period of the world, when the concluding dispensation was to be introduced: that by the One sacrifice of himself he might make an all-sulli- . cicnt atonement for sin ; and both provide for the full par- don of all the sins of the numberless multitudes of believers, through every age and naiion ; and also for the destruction of sin out of their hearts and nature, by their gradual s;inc- tification : that so they might at last be made as righteous, holy, and happy, as if they never had been sinners. So vast was the value and efficacy of his one oblation ! V. 27, 28. As by the sentence denounced on the human race in Adam, the siivety of the covenant of works, it had been " appointed fgr men once to die ;" (from which Enoch and Elijah aloii<; had been excepted, nor was that favour to be hoped for by any others, till the end of the world ;) and as it was also appointed to all men, without one exception, that after death they must appear in judgment before God, and receive an eternal recompense of dieir conduct during their lives on earth ; which judgment must bo mto coii.lemnation to all sinnc-rs, who have not jireviously -btained a pardon ; and as wiih- out shedding of blood (hi fc can bo no remission of sins, nor could the legal sacrifices rrully ativn-' for iht m ; so Christ, the second Adam, llie. Surely of his people, had once offered himself '• to bear the sins of many," even of all the multitudes that ever ^t have been, because God saw that sin fully deserved his wrath and the curse denounced against it ; and that it could not consist with perfect distributive justice to remit the punishment, except through a vicarious sacrifice : and if the blood of bulls and goats could not possibly take away sin, it must have been, because they were not a sufficient satisfaction to divine justice ; or, in other words, a sufficient declaration of God's holy hatred of sin, his judgment of its desert, and his determination to maintain the tionourof his broken law, in order to render it consistent with his glory finally to pardon sinners on account of it. Now it must be evi- V. 3, 4. The aposdc's argument implied, that no I dent, that the crucifixion of Peter, or of Paul, even if for if thc?e sacrifices could have completely atoned for the sins of the people, would they not have been discontinued, as no further necessary ? Seeing the worshippers, having lieen once purged from their guilt, would have no more been burdened with such a conscience of sins, as required more and further sacrifices to take it away. This is the ])rivilege of Christians; for the sacrifice of Christ, being uf intrinsic and infinite value and efficacy, Uicre is no occa- sion that it should be repeated : but believers, having once had their consciences purged from dead works by faith in his blood, are perfccUy justified and accepted unto eternal life : thenceforth they seek no other sacrifice ; ihey are no more brought under condemnation ; they continually apply, in the exercise of ijcnitent faith, the unfailing eili- tacy'ofthnt atonement to theirconscicnccs ; and thus they preserve inward peace, connected with humiliation and tenderness of conscience, notwithstanding the remains of sin in their hearts, and the guilt which tiicy tlience con- tract in their daily conduct. " U^ould they not, &c." (2.) Some render this " they would not have ceased to • be ofl't red." That is, they would have continued to be utlered, being elficacious and adequate; whereas it was plain, from the aposUe's previous reasoning on several things contained in the Old Testament, that this was never intended. But the reading with an interrogation is founded on the best authority, and is most satisfactory. If any sacrifice had been offered of sutficient efficacy to atone for sin, there would have been no need for a continual repe- tition of it ; and that repetition showed the inefficacy of the most solemn legal sacrifices. On the contrary, when the one sacrifice of Christ had been otTercd, the legal sacrifi- ces were virtually abolished ; no other sacrifice was requi- red ; no repetition was necessary ; the end was fully an- swered ; nothing, except faith in him, was needful ; and the appointed ordinances were no longer prefigurations, but memorials, of his one all-sufficient atonement sacrifice could really atone for sin, or bring sinners into a state of acceptance with God unto eternal lifo', which did not make full satisfaction to his offended justice, and ren- der it honourable to him to remit the punishment of it. But the legal sacrifices were so far from being thus effi- cacious, that they did not suffice for the individuals, or the generation of Israel, who presented them, even in respect of a permanent exemption from' temjioral judgments : for the most solemn of them, at the day of atonement, was raUier an annual remembrance of their sins, than a re- moval of the guilt of them : so that they had only a respect to the year that was ]iast; and the same remembrance was made of sins, when the day returned the next year. For indeed it W'as not possilile.for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin, by making an actual atonement to divine justice for it. As divine appointments, such sacrifices might be a suitable acknowledgaient of guilt, and pro- fession of repentance, and reliance on God's mercy, on account of which he might bear with the Israelites, and give U\em temporal benefits : and they aptly typified the they had been free from sin, would have exhibited nothing decisive in this matter; there would have been no equality between the sufferer, or his sufferings, and the criminals to be pardoned, and the punishment to be remitted for the sake of it: and the case must still be the same, how high soever we ascend in the scale of created being. But when " God manifested in the flesh," became the Sacrifice, and his death upon the accursed tree the ransom, when " God " purchased the church with his own blood," the Sufferer being of infinite dignity, his voluntary sufi^erings were of infinite value. The perfect justice and holiness of God, and the honour of his law, are as legible in the cross of Christ, as his love to sinners : infinite purity and infinite mercy are in perfect and eternal harmony, while unnum- bered millions of rebels who deserve the final wrath of God are pardoned, and made heirs of eternal felicity, through this satisfaction of inestimable value. We see, that this was an expedient adequate to its "object ; and that such a sacrifice would suffice for the sins of the whole world, if all men were willing to come to God througli A. D: 65. CHAPTER X. ,-?. D. Gj. »7.if. Matt.xi 3. I.uke »ii. 19 Or h Vi xl 6-8. i 10 ii II viii. 3 GcD.iiilS Is vii U. Jer. sxxi 52. Matt i 20-23. Luke i. 3i John i. U. G honour, and secured ' the reverence and observation of his laws, seeing he offering, and burnt-oiierings, and offering for sin, thou wouldcst not, neither hadst pleasure therein ; (which arc offered by the law ;) 9 Then paid he, " Lo, I come, to dci" "-" thy will, OGcd. ''He taketh away the p/^j"^.'.',,^^;^ first, that be ma;,- establish llie second. 'ze.'h "^lii'?' 10 By the which will '» we are sancti- '°ji° .^'l co}. find, through ' the offering of the body of Jesus.Christ once for all. .InhQ \.6 rs. ■■!■ 14 20 2e 23 ' hath, by this example, let all men know, that though ' he be a God of great long-sufiering and mercy, he will ' by no means clear the sinner, or suffer sin to go un- ' punished. But that none of these ends could be at all ' obtained by the suhslilution of a bull, or goat, or ram, ' to suffer in our stead, must be extremely manifest ; for ' this would rather tempt men to conceive that God's ' displeasure against sin could not be great, and that he ' was not much concerned for any satisfaction for the ' violations of his laws, when such slight matiers were by ' him thought sufficient expiations for them.' (Whitby.) V. 5 — 10. To prove his doctrine in the most unan- swerable manner, the apostle referred the Hebrews to a remarkable prophecy of the Messiah, which showed that his coming was the necessary consequence of the inciTiracy of the legal sacrifices, and of God's purpose of .saving sinners. (Note, Ps. xl. 6 — 8.) The Messiah, speaking concerning his coming into the world, remarked, that Jehovah had no delight in the sacrifices of the law; (A'o/es, Ps. 1. 7—15. Is. i. 10 — 15:) but that he had " prepared a body for him." The words in the Psalm are, " mine ears hast thou opened," or " bored." (Ex. xxi. 5, 6 ;) and it hath pei-plexcd many to determine why the apostle, writing to the Hebrews, should quote from the Septuagint, where that translation seems to deviate fiom the original. But he probably supposed that the words conveyed the true meaning, though not the literal render- ing of the passage; and that tiie production of the holy human nature of Christ was the preparation for his media- torial obedience, which the Holy Spirit intended by the expression, "mine ears hast thou opened." When Jeho- vah had no satisfaction in the legal sacrifices, not merely because the people rested in them in a formal and self- righteous manner, but especially because they did not suificicndy display the honour of his justice in pardoning sinners, the eternal Son declared his readiness to come nto the world in human nature for that purpose ; accord- ing as it had been written of him in the volume of the book, or in the opeuingr of lite roll of prophecy, in which he had been promised as the Seed of the woman. Now the apostle argued from this, that the opposiiioii lieiween the sacrifices, in which Jehovah had no pleasure, and the obedience of Christ to his whole will, in which he would be fully satisfied, was an evident. intimation, that he intended to remove the former, in order to psiablish the latter in its full glory, and as the only ground of sinners being pardoned and saved. By this will of God. perfectly performed by Christ, in his obedience unl ) the death upon the cross. Christians were sanctified and consecrated to 3 02 .4. D. 65. HEBREWS. J. D. 65 ' lie hath per- fected for ever ' them tiiat are sanctified ; 15 Whereof'' the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us : for after that he had said before, 16 This is ^ the covenant that f will make with them after those days, saiththe Lord,! will put my laws into their hearts, ; and in their minds will I write them ; 17 * And their sins. and iniquities will I remember no more. Bcopiejhave, TSen kc siid, Jnd llteir, Uc. God. as accepter] and spiritual worshijipers, through the olleriDg of his body once for sin, with which his media- torial obedience had been completed. ' From this menso- ' rable passage of the fortieth Psalm, we learn that the ' only expiation for sin, which God ever appointed, is 'the sacrifice of his Son in the human nature; tlrat all ' the sacrifices, which he appointed to the Israelites, were ' nothing but emblems of the sacrifice of Christ ; and ' that the sacrifice of Christ being offered, the emblems ' of it are now fitly laid aside, that under the Gospel dis- ' pensation there might remain to mankind no sacrifice, ' havintr pretension to take away sin Init the sacrifice of ' Christ, expressly established by God himself, as the me- ' ritorious cause of our pardon.' {Muckniirht.) V. 11 — '8. Every priest of Aaron's order stood as a servant at his work, offering repeatedly the same in- effectual sacrifices : some of the priests did this every day, and the high jaiestdid it every year on the day of atone- ment. But litis person, or this priest, even Christ, after the otTering of one sacrifice, (because that was of infinite value and eternal efficacy.) sat down as a royal Priest upon )iis throne at the right hand of God ; from that time wait- in" the fulfilment of the prophecy, or promise, which engaged that all his enemies should be put under his feet. For by hi« one oblation he had provided effectually for the perfect justification unto eternal life of all those, who received his atonement by that fiith that springs from regeneration, and is evidenced by the sanciification of the Spirit unto obedient e, and who were thus set apart and consecrated to die service of God. To this the Holy Spirit had borne testimony in the scripture, which has been belbre quoted; OVo x 7.10. 21 And Aai'jW ' an His-h Priest over t or"^"""'«'« , , , r r^ ^1 ^ ? M 13 jx. 3. '= the house ot God ; fx xx-.i. 31. . , . , tiC XXXTI 3S, 22 Li'^''. ourselves toiretiier, as tli'j manner of some of iudji-ment and = fierv inditrnalion, '"*■*'. r'.'"" '' .^. . ^ . .. - J o " 1.'. lit et. 11.20—. viii. 13. n is a X. 33 Gnl vi. I l-nl. ill IS I Tlies 1 ;„ , II 2Thes iii 9 '■> y X Horn si l-l 2 Cur. viii U ix 2. 9— li 1 The?. I. 3 iii 12,1:1 I Tin. vi. xvii 2t) John x.K. 19 29 KX3 i 11. 14 SO. xiv 33 lu.leia. a See on, u 2; 18. v, II x^Urs. but exhortiniT one uno/he. ■y >i To. II X and I Gal. V. 6. 13. 22. IMi.l i !J 1 Jolm iii. lU. z .Mutt x\ 7. I Cor. V 4. .vi. 17, 18 . 3 1 Cor. xiv. 3 I Thca. iv " which shall devour the advcrsaiies riies. i'. 10 J.ira iv. 17 ft .ixiii M Dliii V 0 HC!. X 1 — gxii. if. N'lim xvi.35. I's i i. 6 Zeph i 13 iir S. M 12 SO. XTV. II M:uKi\ i.l-ll. LuUesvi 24 2 The^ 1] Dcut xxxii 43 I's. Ivviii 1,2 Nah.i 2.8-10 Lulie xi.x. 27..I Tties ii. IS, 1 John siii. 17 XV ■"-24 1 Sam. ssviii m ,20. 1=. xxiii 30 liev \ I 1 .^ — r xsxviii. 19. J,:ol li. iii. .N 22. I .loiiii V tl U:Ke xii 0,1. 3-10 f li 3. xi MiiU viii. 29. (..ukexxi XI. 9. Jcr. iv, 3 Kl X5X iv. I. Malt iii 10 12 ''t the clcansiiig of their heart.s from all corrupt and carna affections. Their" bodies also must bo washed nidi pure " water," a.s the priests wei'c washed with water Ijetbre they v.ere admitted to enter ujion their office, and con- tinually washed themselves in some measure before tliev officiated ; and as divers washings were appointed to the worshippers by the law, so the use of water in baiitisin liv.ng ; as Jesus, the High Priest, ever liveth to intercede before the throne of God for us, as the way itself gives life, as it were, to tho.>e that come in it, and as it leads to eternal life. {iSole, John xiv. 6.) This new and living way Christ hath consecrated, authorized, and set apart for this purjiose, that we may come to Uod in the holiest, upon a mercy-seat, " through the veil, that is, his llesh."i Jehovah displayed his glory above the mercy-seat, in the was to be a constant memorial to Christians, that their holy of holies, before the coming of Christ ; but this gloi-yj outward conduct should be pui-e and holy befoie men, as was covered and concealed by the veil ; that is, the har-j well as their hearts and consciences cleansed in the sight mony of infinite holiness, with pardoning mercy in the! of God. Thus they would approve themselves to be divine conduct and character, was not clearly discoveredj spiritual worshippers; and, whilst they derived comfort or understood. But when the human nature of Christ, and grace from dieir reconciled Father, they would adorn the Son of God, was wounded and bruised for our sins, the tloctrine of God tlieii- Saviour in all things. the veil was rent from top to bottom, the obscurity was| V. 2'J — 2.0. 'I'he apostle further called upon the removed, and " a just God and a Saviour" was openly: Hebi'eivs, to unite with liim in holding fast the profcs- revealed to mankind, di.>jjlaying his glory from the mercy-; sion of their faith and hope in Christ, without wavering seat, and exercising most abundant grace to the vilest of in it, faltering about it, or shrinking from the j)ersecu- sinners, in a manner most honourable to his infinite purity.! tions to which it would expose them ; being assured that Having such a Way to God, and such a High Priest over God would vouch.=afe them die pieseat supports, and the the true sanctuary, it was not pi'oper that the Hebrews future felicity which he hati promised, and depending on should stand at a distance," as if afraid to apfiroach, or his faithfulness lor then). And moreover, they ought to averse to the most cordial reconciliation and friendship., consider one another's interests, dangers, and situations. The apostle therefore joined himself to them, and called and by what means they could be of service to each otiier ; on them to accompany him in drawing near to the Lord,' especially they should endeavour, by their example and with fervent desires, large expectations, and continual 'exhortations, to stimulate one anotlier to the more vigorous prayers and thanksgivings, with sincerity and integrity of and abundant exercise of love, and the zealous jtractice of heart, as real penitents, and upright worshippers, fearing sood works. Nor ought they, from fear of the reproaches nothing but hypocrisy ; and, " in full assurance of faith,", and persecutions of their enemies, to forsake the assern- most firmly believing that God would accept the person:^' bling of tiietnselvos togfther, on the Lord's day, oral and services of all those who came to him in this appointed ' otlier times, to worship God in his ordinances, and to licar manner. For, though they might properly examine them- his word, as the manner of some Christians was, who selves, whether they were true believers or not, and sol were induced, through timidi'.y or hikewarmness, to de- admit a doubt of their own sincerity or personal accejit- cline such attendance on public worship. On the contrary, ance ; and therefore " the full assurance of hope" could not! they ought to exhort one another continually to be bold, always be a duly, anymore than always attainable ; yet' constant, and diligent, in their holy loligiou, in honouring they must never allow themselves to doubt of the truth of God before his enemies, and in seeking their own and the testimony of God, or his faithfulness to his promise? ; each other's edification, and establishment in the fiith. so that " the full fissurance of failh" was always their This they should the more resolutely perform, as they duty, though in that, as in other things, they would be' might clearly see the signs of Jerusalem's approaching liable to come short of it. In ctrdcr to come in this man- desolation, which the Lord Jesus had mentioned in his ner, they must " have their Jiearts sprinkled from an evil; predictions of that catastrophe, and whifh was evidently " conscience," by a special reliance on the atoning blood approaching. {Note.'<, Mult, xxiv.) This epistle was of Christ, to lake away their sense of guilt and fears of written only a few years before that event, and as it would wrath, and to give them solid peace, cotinected with the be a critical deliverance of Christians from the perse- purifying of their consciences from error, ignorance, par-Jcutions of the Jews, so it would be jjcculiarly terrible to tialily, and stupidity, or whatever might render them apostates, vjuiet in the allowance of any kind or degree of sin, and| V. 23, 27. {Notes, &c. vi, 4—9.) The Hebrewc J. D. Gj. HEBREWS. 2o He tliat ' despised Moses' law died 36. Ueut. xiii. C— !0 svii. 12, 13 2 Saai I'i 3 13, ^ without mercy, witnesses : Jl. D. ft5. under two or three *,fVx»ifM j^r liii. 14. Kom vvoiilJ be tempted lo apostacy, not only by the virulence better knowledge uith prcsumptuoi^ enmity, when thev of their persecuting countrymen, but by llicir own undue saw matters cvidendy coming to those extremities which altachmenl to the legal sacrifices. So long as they sup- 1 Christ had predicted. But this horror and despnir were posed that llie bl'iocl of bulls, lambs, or goats, could take only a shadow of the unspeakable anguish to which they away sin, they might hope for safely in renouncing Chris- [would at length be reduced, when the insulted Saviour tianity, and so escaping persecution; and thus they might should |)rocc'd to execute vengeance upon them, from be induced to '' sin wilfully, after they had received the' which they would see that it was impossible to escape. " knowledge of the truth." The whole argument shows,' Sometimes apostates have perceived their desperate condi- that the aposde principally intended a wilful. deliberate,| tion before death, and, in all the horrors and blasphemous and pertinaciolii apostacy, not the effect of ignorat;cc or rage of damned spirits, have served as beacons to warn sudden surprise, but against tiic convictions of their own otiiers not to imitate their conduct. Probably there were consciences, and in a prcsumj-tiious and obstinate manner, ; few or no instances of such enlightened and delihernte though he expressed himself in such language, as might apostates being restored; perhaps several of them had also" warn the readers against every kind of wilful and' been known to be given uj) to the most tremendous horrors prcsOmpauous si:;. The persons spoken of were such, as' of conscience, and it was peculiarly proper lo slate this had " received the knowledge of the truth," and were so; matter in such strong language, for the benefit of others, enlightened in respect of the evidences and doctrines ofjYet this did not imjjly, that any peuitent would fail of Christianity, as to make a credible and intelligent profes- oluaining mercy, or that anyone would be cjscluded from sion of it, even in the linie of the apostles. When this the benefit of the Saviour's sacrifice, who humbly, earnest- had jJrecft'f J, a wilful renunciation of Christianity to re- ly, and yyersfrfr/ji^/?/ sought it, into whatever sins he had turn to Judaism, eidier from a determined purpose of| been betrayed. The jiersons spoken of are considered as escaping persecution, or from priiud and carnal enmity to the hum'iliating and spiritual truth of the Gospel, would generally be fatal. In respect of such apostates, " there " remained no more sacrifice fproaching miseries, or any alleviation .;f them ; and the apostates wilfully chose their portion with that accursed generation, " after having received the '• knowledge of the truth." Nor coidd it be expected, that they would ever be '• renewed to repentance" of this ■.ttrocious and presumptuous wickedness ; for they must have witnessed so many miracles, "and even have exercised such gifts of the Holy Spirit themselves, that it might be supposed they had conmiiitcd the blasphemy against that divine Agent, by ascribing his operation to some satanical influence, and that they would be given up to final impe- nitence and unbelief, and be wholly excluded from ih benefit of Christ's efficacious sacrifice. So that nothing would remain for them, either as individuals or as a part of the Jewish nation, in respect of their temporal or their eternal state, but a certain, inevitable, and most terrible expectation of th'> judgment and vengeance of God, and of his indignation, like flaming fire, to consume them as his implacable enemies, and sacrifices to his offended justice, in the same manner that the fire on the altar consumed the typical sacrifices. There seems in this fiassage to be a pe- culiar reference to the unoxamph d. miseries, which came soon after on the Jewish nation, and to their desperate rage and fury in the midst of them : and this horror of conscience, connected with desperation and all its tremendous effects, (as in the case of Judas.) might be expected to be most iKhcrsan'es, which cannot properly be a|jplied to the case of any tremliling, weeping, praying pcniten'. It was not pi-obablc, that such apostates as were described would, in the peculiar circumstances of those times, return to seek forgiveness by faith in the blood of Christ ; and their danger consisted in being given up to final obduracy or desperation. These things indeed were written to warn those who wavered in their profession ; not to affright the fallen, or to discourage the penitent. The passage there- foie can have nothing to do with the case of persons called Christians in these days, who had not previously received the knowledge, either of the evidences or doctrines of Christianity ; but who, through the ignorance and the arti- fices of wicked men, were led to doubt, or deny, the truth of the Scriptures, without any of the peculiar aggravations of these primitive apostates. Some of these persons, being afterwards " renewed to repentance," have assuredly be- lieved the Gospel, experienced the power of its truth in their hearts, and produced the fruits of it in their lives ; yet Satan has taken advantage of the sound of this and similar passages, and of some unguarded things that ex- positors have said upon the subject, to harass them with perpetual apprehensions, that there remained no benefit for ihcm in the sacrifice of Christ, because they once doubted the truth of Christianity, though they now value that sal- vation more than all the world. Some cases of this kind have fallen under the writer's cognizance; and in this day of skepticism and infidelity, in which multitudes aspire to the reputation of free-thinkers by never thinking seriously at all, there may be many others of the same kind ; for when Satan can no longer buoy up men 'in unbelieving presumption, he endeavours to drive them into unbelieving desperation ; and he never fails to harass those to the utmost, whose destriirtion he cannot compass. To obviate such conclusifins, these passages have been enlarged on, and shown to be totally inapplicable to the case under con- common among apostates from Christianity, who had done! sideration. Even when the Gospel has been renom. red, violence to d\eir own convictions, and sinned against their| after far clearer knowledge, and with much greater malig- J. D. G5. CHAPTER X. ^7. jj. 65. »s«o-,ii3 sii. 29 01'"' how much sorer punishment,! 32 But 'call (o rciucmbrancc the yc.i. in. 3, 1 a'lKinss i« 33. suppose ye, shall he be thougl)t worthy, 'former days, in which, ^ after ye were lohna!''R'e'v i? ^. "! xxria who hath "trodden under loot the Son illuminated^ » ye endured a '■•rcat fio-ht zV<" J!. vi. 4 Acts Ki ''*™vi' 1 of God, and hath counted " the blood of^ of afflictions j io'"M.a'vn'^'6. the covenant, p wherewith he was sancti- 33 Partly, whilst ye were *' made a ^-V 1x"i!"2: corVVsi'l? ' Aed, an unholy thing, "i and hath done gazing-stock, both -^ by reproaches and tI™ '■'''iii'V xi'i'.K)"' "" " despite unto ' the Spirit of g-race ? atHictions; and partly, •^ whilst ye became h'siV. Ps \%x\. pii 11 •\M3et I _^ 1 1 • I 1 • 1 • I ■ I- I 1 ■^ 7 Nail iii 6. ---''-- companions ot them that were 60 used. zect.. lii. o. i 31 For ye had compassion of me " in '^^'' =f xiii is. my bonds, ' and took joyfully tlie spoil- 2^- ""I'six'^'ia' • /• 1 1 ■ "■ • ' iK.xxix Sl.Isli. mg ol your goods, knowing * in vour- ';,-*^'"' *" '"■ selves s that ye have in heaven a better ^^' ";• "'?-'•'• and an endurins^ substance. "'vin .^o Eiii,. 6 John n 36 ■ii 19 I Cor. . 27 ;3. 30 For we know him that hath said, Is isiii 10 Vengeance belongcth unto inc, I will ■*'^«|'^''H..3i.32 j-ecorapcnse. saith the Lord. And Again, vt'i/M. " ' "^'^^ Lord shall judge his people. 'z'L'h°xii"in '*"■ -^^ ^'^ '* " a fearful thing ^ to fall into ' in' «f"" !?■ the hands of the living God. lit. 17. Ixi 2 Itiii 4. Nah i. 2 Rom \li 19 xiii. 4 1 Dp it. xx^ii JO P? I 4 xcfi. 12 scviii.S. csxxv 11 Kz xtiii ;;0 itsxiv 17 2Cor v 10 il :7. Is X'sxiii 14. Lules would com- monly use, in order to gain confidence uiih the party which are excluded, who are willing to accept of them in the: they had joined. They had moreover done despite to the prescribed manner: "Him that conieth unto Christ, he Holy Spirit, the divine and gracious Author of spiritual " will in tio ivise cast out," whatever he hath before been life, and alt its consolations in the souls of sinners. They guilty of: but when professed Christians are tempted to had acted in direct opposition to the convictions of the Holy aposlacy, ihcy may well fear, lest God should be provoked i Spirit, and to his strivings with them. In renouncin" Chris- to give them up to final obduracy and a reprobate mind. Uianity, they traduced, with most virulent reproaches, that ' The apostle lays it down as certain, that God will not religion, which was adorned Liy the holy fruits of the , ,._ ..- ...:.i ... -ff^. .• r .■ Spirit in the lives of its jirofcssors : and above all, by ascribing his miraculous power to salanical agency, even contrary to their own knowledge ; they acted as if they were determined to provoke him in the most despiteful manner possible. So that die aulhorily and mercy of the Father; the Person, love, and atoning blood of the Son ; and the Person and operations of the Holy Spirit, were alike insulted and blasphemed by them, after having pro. fessed the Gospel, and having been baptized " iiuo the " name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Gliost," yea, most of them at least, after having received the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of the apostles ! and what punishment could be too severe for such accumulated guilt? Nor should any man, when tempted to so atrocious a crime, flatter himself with hopes of impunity, from the immensity of the divine mercy; seeing God had declared that vengeance belonged to him as hi,', peculiar preroga- tive; and that he would judge his pcojile, bein- deter- mined to punish with most decided severity, the crimes of such as renounced his worship, or commiited wickedness to the disgrace of their profession. {Motes. Dent, xxxii. 3.5—44.) And it would be found, and might be known* to be a terrible thing, beyond all expression or imagina- tion, to fall into the hands of the living, the eternal, and almighty God, as sacrifices to his justice, and obj-u- of his vengeance and abhorrence, without any obLuioi .ir Mediator, to appease his indignation. This was .'bout to be ihc case of the Jewish nation ; and it would jjeculiarly be the doom of wilful and malignant apostates from Chris- tianity. ' The epithet of living, is given to God, in ' this passage where his vengeance is spoken of, to show, ' that as he lives for ever, he can puni.sh for ever; a con- ' sideration which adds to the terriblcness of his ven- ' geance.' {Macknight.) ' pardon sinners, without some sacrifice or saiigfaction ' For otherwise it would not follow, from there remain- ' ing to apostates no other sacrifice for sin, that there must ' remain to them a dreadful expectation of judgment.' {Macknight.) {3Iarg. Ref.) V. 28 — 31. The sacrifices of the law wcve princi- pally appointed for sins of ignorance, infirmity, or inad- vertency ; but presumptuous transgressors were excluded from that, benefit. {Marg. Ref.) He, therefore, who despised the law of Moses, and deliberately violated its plain commands, in contempt and defiance of the autho- rity and vengeance of God, was punishable with death, and excluded from mercy, when the fact had been legally proved; even though the crinie v.ere such as might oiher- wise have been pardoned ihroi^ a trespass-ofilring. But of how much severer vengeance would they be adjudged to be deserving, who had renounced the Gospel, in that wil- ful, contemptuous, and presumptuous manner, which had been described ! Thej- had indeed, as it were, trampled upon the Son of God, with insolent defiance and disdain, by doing all in their power to dishonour him, and to pro- voke him willi the most desperate ingratitude and impiety : they had esteemed that precious blood, which purchased all the blessings of the new covenant for sinners, and ratified it to all that believed, and by the shedding of which Christ had been sanctified, or consecrated to be the High Priest and Advocate of sinners in the heavenly sanctuary, as if it had been an unclean thing, less holy than the blood of goat.s, or as vile as that of a malefactor! Some indeed a))ply the word sanctified to the apostate ; who had been admitted into the church, as set apart for God, and consecrated to his service by professing faith in the bJood of Christ, which he afterwards vilified. This may refer to those blas- jihemies against Jesus of Nazareth, which were often Jl. D. Gr> V. 32 — 3-1. The apostle here proceeded lo caution the Hebrews by other topics. To fortify their minds against tenVptaiions to aiiof tiicy, or other wilful sins, they ought frequently to recollect the former days of their [profession ; and to consider what they had ventured, suflercd, ancl renounced for Christ, and how they had been supported and comforted under their trials. When they were first illuminated in the knowledge of the gospel, (A'o/cs, 2 Cor. iv. 3 — 6 ;) and had been admitted into the Christian church ; they were speedily called, as soldiers to the com- bat, to contend with prrsecutioiis and atTiirtions. Some of thcni were made a public spectacle to their neighbours, by the malicious accusations brought against them, and the disgrace, derision, and punishment laid uj^on them : and others were the companions anc^ witnesses of the cruelties inflicted on those who were so used ; and thus were called to un"tc sym|)athy with their afflicted brethren, to alarms on their own account. Among those whom the apostle especially addressed, were several that had shown com- passion to him some years before, when he was bound at Jerusalem, and in his subsequent imprisonment : and when. on that or other accounts, their property was seized and conl'iscaled, they bore it, not only patiently, but joyfully ; having abundant consolation from the assurance that they had in heaven a better and more enduring inheritance, which could not be taken from them, but would be their stuhslanlial felicity for ever : for they possessed in ihem- sf ('res, independently of all external things, the pledges and earnests of that expected blessing. V. 35 — 39. None of those who had acted hitherto in an honourable and consistent manner, should at length cast away their confidence in Chiist, or renounce the pro- fpssion of his name, which they had boldly made; and to which so gracious and abundant a recompense was pro- mised. Some indeed who once seemed to be zealous be- lievers had apostatized, and the rest would surely be Mied greatly ; and they had need to have their minds armed nith patient resignation and persevering constancv: that, having done the will of God, by steadfastly cleaving to CJhrist, and obeying, they might afterwards receive the promised gift of eternal life. For in respect of their final deliverance from trouble, as well as to the coming of <'hrist to take vengeance on the Jewish nation, and thus to deliver the christian Church from the |->ersecutions which they endured from that quarter, the v.ords of God by the prophet might properly be applied. {Noles, Hah. ii. 1 — 4 :) and ihe just, bii faith, would live, as had been predicted, while proud imbelievers would be cut olTand perish : but if any man, who had maOe the most plausible profession of faith in Christ, should draw back in the time of trial, and finally apostatize, the Lord declared, by his apostle according to the tenour of his whole word, and speaking after the manner of men, that " his soul sho-iid have no « pleasure m him," that is, he would utterly reject and entirely abhor him. Many of the Hebrews had thus evidenced the insincerity of their profession byapostacv and others began to forsake the assembling of themselv-eJ together, who needed to be reproved and warned • hut the apostle trusted that he himself, and they whom he imme- diately addressed, were not of the same character with those who drew back lo perdition, but such as had " be- lieved to the saving of their souls ; even such as were partakers of living faith, and would be kept ihroueh it bv the power of God, unto salvation. ^ PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—1. So precious are tlie blessings which come to us ihroueh the Gospe, (hat all sacrifices and ordinances, however varied and multiplied, could only be an indistinct shadow and not so much as an exact image of (hem : and in like manner, the most nervous language, the most lively ex pressions, and the most fervent affections, fall immenselv beneath their real excellency. The righteousness broueht in and the sacrifice once offered, by Christ, are of eternal efficacy, and his salvation shall never be abolished • thev sulhce to make all " the comers thereunto perfect •" the worshippers, once purged by his atoning blood, need seek no other sacrifice ; nor wilj^cy, bv the conscience of guilt be ever driven to adopt such eipedients, as call sin to remembrance, yet cannot possibly take it away ; but daily applying to the great propitiation, they derive from it both strength and motives for obedience, and inward comlort notwithstanding their sinfulness. Most certain it is from' these chapters, that God will not pardon any transgression without such a sacrifice as can really expiate the guilt of It. And il those sacrifices, which were of his own appoint- ment, could not take away sin, bccaase they could not sat.sly the demands of his justice, let none suppose, that human inventions self-imposed penances, prayers, tears amendment, moral virtues, alms-deeds, or any other device or performance, can avail in (he behalf of those, who out them in the place of the sacrifice of the Son of God • for .f righteousness," in any way or degree, " come by •' the law, then Christ died in vain." ^ V. 5—18. When the eternal Son saw the hopeless condition of .'?. D. Gr»: CHAP. xr. The naiitre, cxcelknnj and cfflcacij of faiths illustrate J by the examples of the moat an ncnt mints, from Abel to the close of the old tcslarncnf-disjjcnsation, 1 — 3o. The su- perior advantages of Christianity', 39, 40. CHAPTER XI. ow fallen man, for whom no sacrificps or contrivances could in the least avail, he, according as it had been written of him in the volume of the book from I he beginning, with infinite compassion to our d?serv-ed misery, came, in our nature, to accomplish the will of the Father, anil to " bear " our fins in his own bod^/ on the tree." Thus, by one sacrifice for sins, he fleeted the glorious and gracious de- sign, and now sealed on the right hand of God, he hence- forJi expects till all his enemies shall be put under his feet. What then remains, but that we seek an interest in this sacrifice by faith, and the seal of it to our souls by " the sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience ?" Thus, by the law being wnitten in our hearts, we may know that we are perfectly justified, and that God will no more re- member any of our sins and iniquities. V. 19—25. *' Having " access with boldness into the holiest by the " blood of Jesus ;" by " the new and living way which he '' hath consecrated for us," through the rending of the veil by his crucifixion for our sins ; and having such a High Priest over the house of God, let us not stand at a distance, or turn away fiom him, who beseeches us to be reconciled : let us in ihefir^t place, beware ofhypocrisy, that we may " draw near '••. ivith a true heart :" let vis watch and pray against unbe- lief, that we may come " in the full assurance of faith," as Knowing this to be the appointed and only way of accept- TTice and salvation : let us apply his blood to purge us from c:uilt, and seek for his promised grace to cleanse us from r,ll our filthiness ; that so, oiir hearts being sprinkled from "n evil conscience, we may lay aside the body of the sins '-reihrcn, that v.e may animate them to love and good works. But if they v/ere not to be excused, who, in the time of severe persecution, forsook the assembling of themselves together, how shall we answer it to God, if, in these favoured days, j/e indolently abs'^nt ourselves from the assemblies of his saints, and neglect to honour him by attendance on his ordinances ? Against such evils we '^iiould exhort olliers; and we ought ourselves gladly to suffer the word of exhortation, as knowing that soon the — No. 35. K faitli J. D. G.'i- the * substance of \^^»,_^-= things " hoped I'or, ''the evidence |,Si ot tilings not seen. 2 For "■ by it tlic elders obtained aVihil"' good report. * \^vfJ,Z\ Gospel are left to " sin wilfully, after they have received " the knowledge of the truth ;" and, though the fallen, the weak, and the trembling should be encouraged, yet we cannot too awfully alarm the secure and presumptuous ; as every dclib-rate sin against light and conscience is a step towarls the tremendous [irccipice here described. Neither the mercy of God, the sacrifice of Christ, nor the love of the Spirit, will profit that man who " tramples under foot " the Son of God," treats his atoning blood with insolent contempt, and docs despite to the Spiiit of grace. For such daring rebels and apostates, " there remains no more " sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful looking for of judg " ment and fiery indignation, to consuiue" them as the cue-' mies of the Lord. To him belongeth vengeance, and hi; righteous recomj^enses of the crimes committed lay hypo- crites and apostates will be more terrible than the doom of Sodom, or even than that executed upon the devoted .lews. Hov.'cver men may now despise these warnings, they will at length know that it is " a dreadful thing to fall " into the hands of the Jiving God,"» and to hear him say, " It is a people that hath no understanding ; therefore he " who made them will have no mercy on them." Let then every professed Christian " give diligence to make his " calling and election sure :" let us all remember our con- victions, allections, and jiurposes, when we were first enlightened, and how we thought that we should bo willing to endure or part with any thing, if we could but obtain peace xvith God and a good hope of salvation ; and let us remember our consolations and supports under forme;- trials. And if we have been called to " endure a great " fight of afllicticins," and have suffered reproaches and losses with fortitude and cheerfulness, from a persuasion that we had " in heaven a better and a more enduring sub- " stance," let us not disgrace our former conduct, or '• cast: " away our confidence, which hath great recompense of " reward." For we still have need of patience, whilst we wait the accomplishment of God's promises, in obe- dience to his will. But the time is short : he that comelh will soon come, and will rot tarry beyond his appointed season; and he will shortly end oursorrows and conflicts, by removing our souls to heaven : yea, he will speedilv come to raise the dead, and perfect our salvation. Let us then sho\^ that we are justified through faith, by living and walking with God in dependence upon his promises, and in obedience to his Ci)inmands, Ijccanse we are satisfied with the security of his word. Thus we shall possess the assurance, that " we are not of them who draw back to " perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." NOTES. Cri.\.r. Xl. \. 7, 2. The apcsde, having referred to the prophet's testinionv, thai " the just should live by "faith," ])roceedcd more fiilly to show the nature and efiicacv of that principle, and to prove that it had alway.n J. I). ti5. HEBREWS. JL D. fSi,. ^ ' 2 .|^«n. M, 3 Throu^ii • lailii v.c iiriderstaii(] that j*" a riioii; cxceiiorit saciiiicc than ^"ain, ''gj'';^.^5"'.»y ""'iiu? i' u' '■''^ worlds wore Iriinioil by tlic woid ol ' ,^ God ; so that tliirit^s wliicliarc fcoer), werti T'l'-l'i i""/? "'J'^ iTiadc of things whicli do appear, ul'^iv 'I'l ' 4 By ^ Tiiith .^cl oilercd unto God S GfcD. IV D-S IS :i 1 Jo'.:i lii. II, i: by which ' lie ohtained wilness that he .'i^J •""Jj'"', was righteous, God testify -ng of his »j'.,°*"*^;i',' ^ tjifts ; '^ and by it he being' dead * )'«Ui-,'-,^<=,»J"' speaketh. * or, uy^i !;,<,»,„ been ihc grand peculiarity of JEHOVAn''s \voiship|i'r.-,l:oni the beginning ol, tlie world. This induclioii of cxaniple> he prefaced L/y a clcfinilioa of faiih ; in which he did noi confine liis views lo one single ercrcise of that funda- mental t;race. but took in all t!ic variety of its actings_, iu ihc uluile of a believer's exjjerience and conduct. Where! the principle, fiom •.•. hit, according lo ihe measure of light ufibrded him ; but it will! also embrace the whole word of (jod, and expect its; accomplishmenl as to all the extent, in which he hathi spoken and jiromiscd. This divine faith is "the sub- 1 '• stance of things hoped for:" crediting tiie testimony ofi Cod, resting on his |)i-omises, and ex|iecting the aceom- 1 plishmcnt of them, it gives ihcf object hci^ird for at some' J'lilun: [)eriod, a prevent subsistence in the soul, as if it v.cre already possessed; for the believer is satisfied with ihe security ailurded, and acts under the persuasion that God will not fail of his engagements. 'i'hus he gives up jiresent advantageSj and endures jiresent haTdships, in obe- dience to God, and in wailing for his promise ; evrn as men give ready money for an ts'ate in reversi| 7 By faith * Noah, being- * warned ^j',',",'^ J^^f; of God of ^ things not seen as yet, ^'i,^'"*,:^ •'^J; * moved tvith fear, " prepared an ark to ^^^H v^ f^ the saving of his house, by the which ?.''«J- ' *• '"■ *■ he condemned tlic world, and became "^""^l/j "jy,^,?; heir of the "^ righteousness whicli is by rukexvl^'sB.!?.' laiin. y Gen Ti 13 XIX. 14 Ex ix. 18— Sl.ProT xsii 3 XXvii. ID. Er ii! 17-13. JVUt iii 7 xxiv 15 25 "JPft. ill. 6 8 zSuiin.l. f-Or.btiiig narn ^toa.v. 7 Or a Gen vi. 18 vii 1.28. viii 16. Ei yi« u 20. 1 Pet iii 10 h Matt, xii 41,42 I.ukexi 31,32. c Rom. i. 17. Iii. 22. iv ll.ix30 K.6 Gal. v 5. S'hil iii.9 2 Pet i. I. to heaven, without seeing death, or experiencing its pain, ful stroke; his body having been changed and rendered incorruptible, that he might immediately enter on his full felicity. So that he was not found on earth by those who sought him, as the sons of the prophet .sought Elijah ; for the Lord had taken him to himself. (Marg. Ref.) ■ But, before this took place, he had received seme evident tes- timony, that God was pleased with him. and probably this was made known to his contemporaries. St. Paul here quotes the SeptuaginI, where the words tranr-lated in our version, •' he walked with God," are twice rendered, " he pleased God." The general meaning is, no doubt, the same, though the language is less emphatical, and the apostle seems to have been unwilling to interrupt hi.s' argument, by noticing the variation. Enoch had walked with God for a long season, but this was the effect of that faith by which he pleased him ; for it is, and always was, impossible, for fall'^n man to please God, except by faith, seeing every one who cometh to God, to worship and serve him, " must believe that he is ;" he must realize hi.s invisible being, presence, and perfections, which can only be done by faith, exercised on the Revelation which he hati) given of himself; otherwise some imaginary deity, some idol, will be substituted in his place. Moreover, he must believe '• that God is the Rewarderof them that diligently " seek him;" but as all men deserve condeni lation for their sins, and even their best services need forgiveness, so no one can know, or on good groun'ls conclude, tnat God will reward his services, or accept him in diem, unless by receiving the' testimony of revelation, cither immediate, traditional, or writlen. ' This Enoch doubtless did. and so he believed in God, and came to hr-.n by faith in his word and promise, according to his appointment, and thus was accepted and graciously rewarded. But this differs widely^ fi-om a mere assent to a conjecture, or a conclusion of reason, concerning the cxistenr-.e of a God, without any just notions of his charactei-, v»-ill, or worship, and an at- tempt to please him in ways of man's devising. This ma- ny su[)posc to be all the faith which the apostle here means ; thouc;h it accords to the religion of no one person men- tioned in this chapter, except that of Cain, who doubtless had this kind of faith, ;ind came in this manner, but " with *' him God was not well pleased." V. 7. {Nntt'x, Gen. vi— ix.) The Lord, by immediate revelation made knowi) to Noah his purpose of destroying the inhabitants of the whole earth by a flood of water, and warned him to prepare for such an event. These " things " were not seen as yet ;" nothing of that kim! had ever lia!;;.rncd; no token of such a deluge appeared; unbelief y P 2 J. D. 65. HEBREWS. J. D. Gi ^-^/Jh^ixiv! ^ ^J ^^''^^^ "^ Abfaham, when he was f,'^,^|'„'*,j'- 2; called to go out into a place * wliich he ogm xYiS xTh should after I'cccive for an inheritance, xtTi's ii'vl's 'obeyed ; and he went out, no> knowing "'"I-Il t. whither he went xzxiii 21. M, V 9. Gen. f sxii. IB. xxvi. 5. Malt. Til. 24, 2i. Rom i, 5 vi n. s IP. 2 Ci.r x 5 Jam. ii u-26. I Pet. 1.22. iii. 1. iv. 17. gOen.xviJ, 8. xxiil 4. xxvi 3 xxxv.S;. Acts vii. J, 6 imiier nu weiu. 9 Bj faith s he sojourned in tiie land Matt, vli 9.1. 9S 1)nm i ^ im I? v IR r< r..r « i; luin ii Ii — SK might conclude it impossible, or exclaim agaiii.st il as inconsistent with the justice or goodness of God. But Nouli had faith, and that was in him " a demonstration of " things not seen :" he verily believed that such a deluge would come ; he expected that omnijiotence would execute the sentence denounced by infinite justice, and fulfil the ■word of unfailing veracity ; he therefore reverenced with holy awe the majesty of God, and was moved with fear of lalling under his disjileasure : he was aware that unbelief and disobedience would expose him to future vengeance, .".s well as involve him in the common calamity ; and therefore he was prepared to employ any means of deliver- ance, that the Lord should see good to appoint. Accord- ingly, when directed and commanded to |;repare an ark, he did not hesitate to obey in the most entire and unre- served manner, though the labour and expense of building so vast a vessel must have been enormous, and though the undertaking must have exposed him to all kinds of ridicule and obloquy imaginable ; and he might be sure that the unbelieving world would deride him as a visionary, and a fanatic for so singular a conduct. But he obeyed in faith, he ventured all conscc|ucnces, and exercised the needful self denial ; he waited the Loid's time, and jneached, though unsuccessfiiUy, to the men of his generation ; he expected safely in the ark, thuugh Onunpotence alone could secure him in such a vessel, through so ti'emendous a deluge. Thus he was preserved, and preserved his fa- mily also, from the common destruction of mankind, to rejjeople the earth ; his example and admonitions concur- red in condemning the world, and in showing the justice of God in thus punishing their universal and incoriigible wickedness ; and, by the same faith, he relied on the [jro- luise of God concerning the Blessiah, and became '"heir '• of the righteousness of faith," and of eternal salvation ihrough him. This mpy be shown to be an exact rejjre- sentation of the manner, in which believers, being warn- ed by God to fice from the wrath to come, are moved with "'.ar, take refuge iu Clirist, part with all fur his sake, are ften made the itistruments of salvation to their families ;.lso, condemn the world, and become heirs of the right- lousncss of faith, {Notes, Phil. iii. 7—9.) A Jewish writer introduces N.>ah, from the aik, expostulating with lliose who were pci i.^hing, because exclu led. They plead, that they had used various means of securing themselves, in case the deluge should come, though they had declined bis invitation to come into the ark : but he silences all their y]ecs at once, by saying, that they had refused to avail themselves of Gou's appoiiitcd way of preservation, and every other method must be unavailing. " IIow shall ye '■ esca;ie, if ye neglect so great salvation ?" V. J! — 10. ^.\'>/e.';, ° J^V/ hath foundations, ' whose Builder and ^|;"i 2 lu Maker 15 God. n.i4 i. xi,.32. sujiericr to them in eminence, was Abraham, the father of Lsraelj of many nations, of the Messiah, and spiri- tually of all believers. When ' they seek a country. t27 Genxlis.lO Kum. KS.v IT, Job u Ro ix ^5 Ps. xxsix. I« V. 1—7. Fiiii 15 And truly if they had been '^ mind- ful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now ^ they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly : wherefore '' God is not ashamed "^ to be called their God : *" for he hath prepared for them a city. 17 By ^ faith Abraham, ' when he was tried, offered up Isaac : and he that bad s received the promises, '' offered up his ' only begotten son, 18 tUf whom it was said, '' That in Isaac shall thy seed be called ; 19 Accounting that ' God M'rr.5 able to raise kini up, even from the dead ; " from whence also he received him in a figure. k Gen xvii 19 sxi. 12 Rom is I9. Xli. 8- -10, Jer. xxsi il Matt, xxil ni, 32 Mark xi .2K, 27. I.iike XX 37, 38. Acts vii 32. d Stf on. in. Malt x\v. 31. I.iikeXii, 32 e Gen xxii. 1 — 12 Jam. li iil— 24 f Deut, viii 3. 2Clir. xxsii 31. Joh i 11, 12. ii. ,3-6 Pro». s vti- 3. Diin. 11. 3j Zech. xiii 'J. Mai. i.i 2 :i. Jam. i. 2-1 12. 2 16. preceding revelations mafle to tlieir torefatliers, and trans- mitted to them, and all the obedient conlidence, which their forefathers had placed in those revelations ? In fact, there is not one age in the history of Israel, from the origin of the nation to the termination of the New Tes- tament, of which we have any remaining records, but in those lecords, the belief of a future slate of just retribu- tions, a future judgment, and a state of supreme blessed- ness to the righteous, may not be clearly discerned, and pointed out. V. 11, 12. Sarah was at first unbelieving, when a son was promised to hev in her old age ; but she after- wards was enabled to rely on the faithfulness and power of God to perform'his word, though contrary to the ordinary course of nature: and, in consequence of this faith, she was supernainrally strengthened to conceive and bear a son. Thus, in answer to the expectation of the faith, both of Aliraham and Sarah, there sjjrang from one father, (who af)parently was in this respect even as a dead person, from whom no offspring could have been expected,) such an im- piense nuiltitutle, that they were as the stars of heaven, or even absolutely innuraeralile as Uie sands on the sea- shore. This principally relVrs to the descendants of Abra- liam by Isaac anU Jacob : Ijut those descended from hiin by Ishmael and the sons of Kcturah render the fulfilment of the promises to hiin, in this reojiect, still more surpris- ing. (A'o/cs, ficu. xvii. I J — 21. xviii. 9 — I'j. x\i. 1 — T. XXV. 1—4.) V. 1.3 — 16. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob, per- severed in faith, antl the obcdirnce of faith, even unto death, and departed, rxpecling the performance of God's promises to them and their posterity. For they had not received the promises, or the things promised; cither the inheritance of Canaan, or the f:oming of the promised Seed, during their lives. They had endured many hard- ships and triah, without any such f'tculiar advantages as might answer the singular favour, wliich the Lord declaied that he bore to them. But they liad " seen them afar off, -" and were persuaded'' that they would be performed iti due season ; they embraced them by faith, as their portion and the inheritance of their posterity ; and they gave up present advantages for the sake of them " confessing that " they were strangers and pilgrims upon earth." {JSales, Gen. xxiii. 4. xlvii. 9.) Now they, who considered them- selves, during their whole abode in this world, to be strangers in a foreign land, and travellers through it, plainly declared that they we;e going home to their native country, the residence of their Father and their most beloved friends, and the place of their permanent abode and enjoyment. Indeed, if, weary of this wandering life, they had purpos- ed to return into Mesopotamia, they niight have found an opportunity of doing it, and might there have settled among their relations ; but this would have been an act of unbe- lief and disobedience, and a renunciation of the promises. Whereas, by sojourning in a strange land unto death, they declared their sujireme desire and nope of a belter country than could be found on earth ; even of that heavenly in- heritance, which Canaan typified. As, therefore, they were willing to renounce all other prospects to follow God in obedient faith, for the sake of an eternal and invisible inheritance ; and as he hnd prepared such an inheritance, or permanent gloi'ious city, for tliem ; so he was not asham- ed, or did not disdain, to be called their God, their Friend, and their everlasting Portion. Whereas the advantages which they had on earth from their believing dependence on him were too transient and little, to answer to such a relation ; seeing they were neither sufficient for their linai felicitv, nor for the glory of his divine munificence. V. "l7 — 19. (iVt»/p.s, (xen. xxji. 1 — 1^.) It was pecu- liarly to be noted that in the grand instance, in which Abraham li.id been tiied how far he would carry his unre- served obedience to the Lord, he had been influenced by the same powerful principle of faith; even when, in his determined purpose, he liad otVered up his fieloved Isaac as a burnt-otlering, in whom God him.self had, as it were, laid up the promises : so that he niight have thought he was about to render the performance of diem impossi- ble, by obeying this hard aiid mysterious command. But \i. J. D. Cj. HEBREWS. A. D. 65. . \U\\i. 13 xlvil.31. qCfn. 1. ;i. r5 fee r Ex il its vii. 20 9Xiii. 6. fa Ivi i cxviii 6 la vitl 12, II xM. in. \i. li 7, la. Dan. iii. 10—18 vi in .Matt. K :S. Luke Kii. t 5 t Ex i. 16 5S. 29 By " faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning tilings to come. 21 By " faitii Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joscnli; ''and Worsh;nped,/ca/j;.';^'- upon the top of his strff. 22 13y "* faith Joseph, when he <]ied, *mrclc mention of the departing of the children of Israel : and gave command- ment cencerning his hones. 2.'i By ' faith Moses, wh.cn he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child ; / and tliey were not afraid of ' the king's commandment. 23 By faith Moses, " whcQ he was uex. ii. lo. li come to years, refused to be called the xx^MJonxx^t. rrjL I • 1 1 i 81 PjixxJiv in son ot rnaraohs daughter; 25 " Choosing rather to suffer afflic- tion with >■ the people of God, than to enjoy ' the pleasures of sin for a season : ;' ^-'o »\ i,i ' . .12 Jam I. 1 2G Esteeming * the reproach f of Christ jj^fi ''■'•'' '' greater riches than the treasures in V' J* p"^' Tmo Egypt : " for he had respect unto the Vi-is'piox"! iccompense of the reward " "" Mitt ». Ift-ll. xiil.21. ActiTii. 3».M. IX. 33,2<. Roa.v 3 »iii.l7^ 18. 3i-39 SroiM iv. 17. Col. ?r 94 3 Thn. i. :( -6 2 Tim i. B. 19.20. xvi is. Janf. xxi>[. 60.51. Is. II. 7. Act! \rist hVt xxxvi Iii 18— cStton.ti. . 1. X il. Luke xiv U. t' 41 2Cnr xii 10 I Pet 16 Jcr ix 23. 21 2 Cor >i ii S.x. 3i. Rulh ii. 12 Prov lt-30. Is. xxi 4. xlvii f, 9. s. 33 xiii. 13. P> ixix 7 :». II. iv. 14 f Or.for 10 Eph I. 18 iii. 8. Rev !• xi 18. xxiii. 18. Matt. , IS. left this to GoJ, assured that he was able to restore his son to life, from the ashes to which he was about to reduce his body ; though no instance of a resurrection from the dead had ever occurred. And in fact he did receive him back, as from the dead ; seeing he had for three days lain tiudcr the sentence of death. This, in a most expressive figure, represented llie cnu-ifixion and resurrection of Christ, the only begptten of the Father, thus delivered for us lost sinners, to bleed and die, and hear the wrath of God for us, by love which passeth knowledge. Some indeed explain the last clause, of the supernatural conception and birth of Isaac, which, by a figurative manner of speaking, mi"ht be called receiving him from the dead : but the other interpretation is far preferable. V. -20. Isaac, (as well as Rebekr.h and Jacob,) was reprehensible in the circumstances of the transaction which is here referred to ; {Notes, Geii. xxvii.) yet he blessed his two sons, in a firm belief that God would fulfil his pro- mises to his posterity. He also spake by the Spirit of jjro- phecy; and he most entirely believed, and acfjuiesced in, the discoveries made of the future condition of the poste- rity of both Jacob and Esau, though his own purposes were thus disannulled. In a firm belief and assured persuasion, that the promises made to Abraham and to himself would be accomplished, (though under an error, the effect of a criminal partiality for Esau, ho mistook the heir of these jiromises,) he blessed Jacob, supposing that it was Esau : but subsequent events convincing him of his mistake, he confirmed the blessing pronounced on Jacob, which he afterwards more deliberately ratified; and he also fore- told many Important particulars concerning Esau and his descendants. V. 21. {Noles, Gen. xlvii. 28—31. xlviii.) Jacob, when hisdeath approached, pronounceda pi-ophetical bless- ing on each of his twelve sons, but that which respected Ephraim and M.uinsseh is hcic especially noted. God re- vealed to him his t'uturc purpose concerning their posterity, end in a firm belief of his woid Jacob blessed them : and, thouc'h weak and infirm, he expressed his confidence in God, and hii gntitude lo him, by worshipping him, leaning on the top of his staff. Thus the Septuai;int rcndoi- the words, which, in our version, are translated /ifie bed^shend, and the variation is immaterial. Learned men have shown that the same word, by changing merely the vowel-points, will bear either signification. — ' ^Vc have here a lively exam- ' pie of that substance, {Note 1,) which was before com. 'mcmoraied. As Jacob, dying a stranger in Egypt, dis- ' tributes the kingdoms of the Canaanites to his twelve sons ' in no other manner than he would have done, had he ' reigned in peace at Jerusalem. But how true and solid ' this " faith, the substance of things hoped for," was, ' appeared by this, that after many years, the whole con- ' ccrn being committed to the lot, than which nothing ' seem.s more foi tnitous, the event confirmed Jacob's testa- ' ment.' {Hesa) — This learned writer here includes the blessing which Jacob pronounced on all his sons, as well as that on Joseph, with Manasseh and Ephraim. {Notes, Gen. xlviii,xlix.) V. -22. Joseph, kc. {Notes, Gen. 1.) Joseph, though lord of all the land of Egypt, yet, believing the word and promise of God concerning the posterity of Abraham, ex- pressed his confident expectation, that they would be per- formed in the removal of the Israelites to Canaan : and he ordered bis bones to be carried along with them, both as an expression of his faith, and to show that he desired to have his lot after death with the people of God, and not with the Egvptians. V. 23. The parents of Moses also acted from the same powerful principle, of faith in the word and promises of God. When that eminent deliverer and lawgiver of Israel was born, they concealed him three months, from those who were appointed by Phai-aoh to destroy the male children ; for they perceived something uncommon in his appearance, which was supposed to indicate his future eminence. {Note, Jets vii. 20.) By faith they relied on the promised care and protection of God ; and so they were not afraid of the king's commandment, but preserved the life of their son, at the peril of their own : and they act- ed from the same kind of faith, when they trusted Moses to the care of Providence in an ark of bulrushes; which believing expectation was answered in his preservation by Pharaoh's daughter, and his education in the court of Egypt to be the deliverer of Israel. V. 24—20. In like manner, when Moses was grotvn up, even to the age of forty years, and was become very eminent among the Egyptians, he refused any longer to be called the son of Phliraoh's daughter, (though tradition reports that he was considered as heir of that prosperoos" A. D. 00. CHAPTER Xf. ii s:i. X ;s, 20. xi. u xii. ai, (■: xiil. 17- 27 By faith "^ he forsook Kir> [it, ■= not fearing the wrath of the king : for he ' endured, ' as seeing him who is invisi- ble. 28 Through faith '' lie kept the pass- over, and ' the sprinkhng of blood, lest . 21. Ex %\\ 7 13. kingdom :) but, believing the testimony and promises of God concerning Israel, and especially that respecting the Messiah, he would not take his lot among the Egyplian.s, for the sake of temporal advantages, however great. On the contrary, seeing God's peculiar people under the most cruel bondage and in the most abject condition, he openly avowed himself to be one of them : choosing rather to suf- fer tlie most distressing affliction -.vith them, and to share the blessings promised to them ; than to enjoy all the tem- porary |)leasurcs, which his high station could have pro- cured him, in the ways of sin and ungodliness. He like- wise esteemed the reproach cast on Israel, for their expec- tations of a glorious Redeemer to arise from among ihem, under whose special care they [irofesscd themselves to be. as v.ell as the disgrace of their condition, to be more valu- able than all th'" immense treasures and revenues of Egyjt ; so thnt he renounced the kmer, that he might partake of the former : for '■ he liad respect unto the recompense of " reward ;" even the gracious and abundant compensation, which Christ confers on all those who arc reproached for he that destroyed the first-born should touch them. 29 By faith " they passed through the Red Sea as bj dry land ; wliich the Egyp- tians assaying to do were drowned. 30 By' faith ' the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. JL L ). 6.5. kEx s vl 1-?,! XV 1- '1 .In-I. ii. la fir Ii, ii 11. Pb l.MVlh 1.1 vi. 0. U-ll rKi 1. 1- 5. cxxxv lli- M. Is ^ . i;., Hi. 1 a in I\in 11-13. Ha J iu 8-10. 1 Jo'h vi. J -i' 2 Cor. s ..1 i. deliver him. {Notes, Ex. viii. xi. xii. 29 — 42. \iv. i — 14.) • V. 23. By the same eflkacious principle Moses fore- saw the destruction cf the first-born in Egvpt, and -x- pected the exemption of Israel from that calamity, in the way that the Lord prescribed unto him. He therefore in- fluenced his people to keep the I'assover, with the sprinlv- ling of the blood upon the door-posts, and the other signi- ficant ceremonies ; lest the destroying angel should enter their houses also : by which they were preserved, and (his made way for their deliverance out of bondage. The whole hath been shown to be a typical representation of a .sinner's salvation by the death of Christ, and by faith in his blood. (iSotes," Ex. xii. 3 — 28.) V. -9. Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Caleb, and ofheis truly believed ; and the re -t of the nation, by the exhor- tations of Moses, were excited to a confidence in Jeho- vah's power and fuvour for present tleliverance from Pha- I'aoh. But it was chiefly by the fiith of Moses, their lead- er, that the Israelites passed safely through the Red Sea • his .sake. In consequence of this believing choice and pur- 1 even as Noah's family were preserved in the ark by means' j)ose, he renounced all his |)rospects and indulgences in Egypt, and became a refugee, or a stranger and a huin- ,ble laborious shepherd in Midian for forty years. (Xoles, Ex. ii. iii.) ' Esteeming the scoff's cast on the Israelites. ' for expecting the Christ to arise from among them, in ' whc^n all the nations of the earth should he blessed, •' greater riches than the treasures of Egypt." (3Iacknighl.) " The recompense of reward," here mentioned, could ' not be tetnporal ,• for Moses came not into the land of ' Canaan ; nor could he expect any greater blessing in that • kind, than he might have had in Egypt. He therefore • must have had respect to some spiritual and heavenly ' recompense.' (fVliilby.) V. 27. Moses evidently feared, when he forsook Egypt the first time : but this relates to his leaving that kingdom the second time, when he led forth the tribes of Israel. He was then strengthened in faith to disregard the wrath and power of king Pharaoh : he denounced the death of ihe first-born, left the tyrant's presence, as one who bade defiance to his menaces, and marched out of Egvpt vith great intrepidity ; though he was fully aware, that Pharaoh, with his army, would pursue him : and when that actually took place, he boldly said to the aflrighted Israelites, " Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of " the Lord. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall '' hold your peace." For he endured most constantly in delivering his messages, and in this emergency, though he had no visible protection against the vengeance of Pharaoh ; because, (by f ith, as the evidence of things not seen,) he saw the invisible God,' as his almighty Defender, and tested assured that he was with him, to take care of andl ' should be taken in such a manner, as to demonstrate ih^ f his faith, though they seem not all to have been true believers. Israel was the visible church of God, and the type of the wh(jle n. altitude, who by faith jiass through trials and death unhurt : but the Egyptians rcyiresenled the enemies of God and of his people ; and, copying Pharaoh's pride and presumption, they ventured into the sea, and pe- rished ; as all the enemies of the Lord will do at death, which delivers>"a!l believers fi'om them. This does not therefore aulhirize us to suppose, that any of the persons, /if re mentioned bji name, were destitute of justifying faith: as some have inferred from the subsequent unbelief of many, who ] assed safely through the Red Sea. (Notes, Bh-. xiv. XV.) V. 30. {Notes, Lc. Josh, vi.) Joshua, and many of the I.sraelites, believing the promise of God, that he would deliver Jcricuo into tlirir hands, obeyed his command, and iiiduced their brethren to do the same, in respect of the extraordinary means used for that purjiose. They expected God to pel form his woi'd, and they observed his Jirections. in marching round the city, and bIo>ving the trumpets for seven days: and in this manner the walls fell down at the aipointf-d lime, and alTordcd them a safe and easy vic- tory. The SI me ]jrinciple would lead them to embrace •he promises concerning the Messiah, and salvalion by him: but in collective bodies th''re has aluays subsisted the dilTeience between real believers, and mere professors, who coneurred with ihem in the same external .services. — ' As the land of Canaan belonged to the Israelites, by a ' grant from God, the Possessor of heaven and earth, it ■ was proper that the first city, which resi^ierl thrm, J. D. 65. 01 Jofh. ii. I-S2. VI 22—25 Malt i. IS Juai ii.;:6. *0r. that were ditobedU'ii See on. ill 17—19. I Pet. 11. U. hi -Z"- . . . n RoiD in. 6. IV. 1 vi I. vii 7 b JdhD xxi.25' p Ju.ls. vl-vili Gidton I Sam xii II. Jcnib- bant. II Jurl». iv. v. rjulg xiii-xvi. sJuilg xi. xii I — 7. Jfpftthak HEBHEWS. .1. D. 65. t I Sam xvi. 1 1.1 »vii. Kc. Arts ii. 29-31 xiil 22 36 U 1 Sa.n. i 20 ii II. |i Sic Ps. xcix 6. Je i.. 1. Arts ill. 24 xili 20. X l"'' '« Jer. , , . , •' , . , . XI.. 7.Mjlt K(. sheep-skms and tjoat-skms ; "i bcm"- des- i'-» , M.rk ». j,. ' ..y,. , " , O iM\u: XVI. 1. 31'. titiite, atllictcd, tormented ; ,1"^,;; I'^^e ^^ 3!J (Of ■■ whom the world was not ;J",\ii"|^,,.r worthy :) they '^ wandered in deserts, and-m ?.■" " ..""i''- mountains, and in dens, and caves of the iV'%3 *% co)' earth. T'^^\'}- r-" ni X 34. Oec. xxxix 20.1 Kill's xxii S7. SChr.xvi. 10. Ps rv 17, l«. Jor xxix- 26. xxxii 2, 3. B. x«xvi 5 XXKvi, 1.^-21. xxxvii,, f,— 13 2S. xxxiR. IS. l.«m iii 42-55, Acta i».-( v 18. viu. 3 xii. 4. kic. xvi. 24.8IC »xi 3J xxiv 27 2 Cnr xi.23 Epli. iii. I. iv. I.i Tim, ■ 16. ii. 9. Rev. ii 10 11 iKnf-VKi ;o 13-15 2Clir. xxiv 21. Mult. 37 I.iike xiii :i4. .lohn X. 31-33 Acts vii- 58, ."la. kiv 19 2Cr.rxi.25. kxii 17—19 I K^D-s xtiii n 13. xi xxiii 34-37. I.u!:.) Others performed most eminent obedic nee to hi.s command- ments, or executed justice, and reformed the nation ; and they waited for, anii obtained, most remarkable accom- plishments of the divine promises to them and their peo- ple. Some had even, in the exercise of faith in God, been enabled to stop the mouths of lions : Samson and David slew each of them a lion ; and Daniel the prophet spent the night in a den of hungry lions. {Notes, Dun. vi.) Others quenched the violence of the fire. {Nolef, Don. iii.) Elijah was repeatedly delivered from the persecii- ^ ting rage of Ahab, Jezebel, anil Ahaziah ; Miciiah from that of Ahab ; and Elisha from the sword of the kings of Israel and Syria ; and Jeremiah from that of Je- hoiiikim, and Zedekiah's princes. {Nolef, Sic. 1 Kingn x\ ii. xviii. xix. xxii. 2 Kings i — vi. Jer. xxvi. xxxviii, B — 13.) Hezekiah and others were miraculously recover- ed from sickness; and Hezekiah's kingdom was restored from the utmost debility to a very flourishing condition, in answer lo his confidence in (iod. Many instances occur in the history of Israel, of those who waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens : yet it has generally been supjiosed, that there is a peculiar refer- ence Ig the successes of Judas Maccabeus and his bre- thren, against the forces of Antiochus Epiphanes; when, from feeble beginnings, they arrived at great power, and defeated all that persecutor's devices, by faith in the i)ro- raises and protection of the Lord. VVliile we make a de- cideil diflerence between the word of God and all other writings, there seems no iirtpropricty in supposing, that the apostle had these events in his view on this occasion ; as the historical facts respecting the pers[)ecting redemption constitute its peculiar province. Believing liis testimony concerning the future judgment and the eternal world ; and even more than believing that we are siiuiers, exposed to condemnation and deserving of it, according to the tenour of his righteous law ; we gladly receive ihe truth, concerning salvation by grace through the atoning blood of the divine Saviour, and wait on him for pardon, and every blessing, as his gift through Jesus Christ. Thus we are enabled by faith to plead a far more excellent Saci'!fice,jjnd to present more accejitable worship, than any Phari--ee or infidel can ofter unto God, accoidiiig to the vain devices of his proud impenitent heart : we obtain the tesiimony of God in his word, and by his Spirit, that our persons and servi- ces are accepted with him: and. however we may be per- secuted or driven out of the world, our felirity will be sure ; and we shall wish to declare to all around us, and to leave it upon record for those that come after, that this is the only way to heaven, and that we are exceedingly thankful for having been tjught to walk in it. Wc may not expect to escape the Jiangs of death ; but we may hope to be with God, when no longer foiuid on earth ; as having |)leased him, by coming in faith to his mercy seat, desiring his favour as our portion, and not only believing that He is. but that he is the gracious rewarder, even of sinners who diligently seek him; for without this faith it is impossible to please God. If we possess this evidence of things not seen, we shall hear with great interest the warr^ings of the oracles of God, concerning the future and eternal misery of the ungodly ; we shall reverence the denunciation which unbelievers deride, object to, or blaspheme ; we shall be moved with fear to flee from the wrath to come ; we shall be encouraged in hope to make Christ our Refuge, and to ieave all things, as comparati\ely worthless, to seek ad- mission into this ark : tlius we shall be safe, during the '' hell, even all the people that forget God :" and We may in tiie mean time hope tj be the instruments of saving our beloved children and relatives also. But then wc must be contented to bear the reproach of singularity, enthusiasm, 01 hypocrisy : we must be imfashionable ; and the world will condemn us, if our profession and behaviour condemn the world, as they certainly will, if we " become heirs of the righteousness which is by faith." We may by failh fore- sec the time, when cor revilcrs will wish in vain that they were with us in the despised ark. V. 8—19. That is not justifying lluth, which does not obey the- command, as well as rely on the promise, of God : we- too are called to leave mmy of our \vorldly connexions, interests, and comforts, to go in quest of a future inherit- ance; and if heirs of Abraham's faith, we shall '• obey,'*" and go forth, not knowing what things may befall us, of whither the Lord may lead us ; we shall wait in the way of duty for the performance of his ]1ro.^lises ; we shall not take up our rest in the world, or be satisfied ^vith its most S|)lendid accommodations ; but wo shall seek for a city that hath foundations, whose Architect and Founder is the LoKO of hosts. Our faith indeed, will not be abrayg alike vigorous and efficacious ; and its waverings will show, that we are not saved for it, though by it : yet, upon recollection, "judging him faithful, that hath pro- " miscd," we shall be strengthened to expect the l)lessing,. in defiance of apparent dithculties and supposed impossi- bilities, and thus shall be enabled for whatever is con- nected with the obtaining of the promises. If indeed we professed to seek a jjortion in the world, the advantages of religion might appear dubious; but we avow ourselves to be strangers in a foreign land, and upon our pilgrimage to our ilesiicd home, where our treasure and our hearts already are: we have not yet received the promises, but we see them afar off, embrace them, and wait in hope for their accomplishment; and we profess to be satisfied with tlic life of a sojourner and a pilgrim, and to wait till after death for our felicity. If, (like apostates,) we were minded to r.Hurn to the country whence we canie out, we might find an op|>-irtunity of doing it, perhaps with some secular advantage ; but faith shows us, that it is devoted to destruction, with all those who choose their in- heritance in it. We therefore desire a better country, that is " an heavenly ;" and as God hath prepared everlasting mansions for us in the city of his special abode, in which he will make us most blessed for evermore ; so his glory ij-oubles of life, the terrors of de:'th, ami the solemnities! in our salva'.ion. ?nd our wisdom in choosing him for ou'r <« judgment; and when " 'Jie wicked shall be turned into; Portion, will be most manifest ia the event, whalerer pre- ^. D. Go. CHAPTER XW. J. D. 63. WHEREFORE, compassed about with so great seeinff \vc«lso are cloud of ■ ^ ■ -- u. 1 Pet. V witnesses, ' let m lay aside "jVhn*i "s. f?.' -d Malt x 3 . nom. silj. II — I ii 4. I Pet ii. I I.uke 2 Cor V ,.... :: I Jobn il. 13. 16. 59-6J, xii. IS. I. Rpb. iv. 22-Sl Coi. sent appearances may be. This faith endures lo the end ; we must live by it, and die in it ; and then have its expec- tations answered, and far exceeded. Whilst we live, our faith must be repeatedly and sharply tried, that we may be distinguished from mere professors of Christianity ; but we may expect that we shall be strengthened in propor- tion to the trial : nor can we reasonably doubt of the power of faith to produce the most unreserved obedience, when we remember, that by this principle Abraham, when tried, offered his beloved Isaac as a burnt-offering at ?. D. 63- the crqps, " despising the shame, • and is » x 33 xi ae. p«. set down at the right hand of the throne J'-f I'll;' 3 of God. 6J"ix.'il'2i-3l. 3 For p consider liim tliat endured ?|~V.uki"xi'.x such '* contradiction of sinners against t'vr'f p^f "" himself, ' lest ye be Avcaried and faint in o";c'm,''~J'i3. Ps your minus. p 2. 1,1.1. is.m xii. 24 2 Tim. ii. 7, 8. (fMalt x. 2I,2S. Xi.l9. xii.2l XV. 2 xxi. Ii, 16. 2). 46 XX'i. 15 I.ukeii 34. 6>. Iv 28.29 V 21 xi. 15, 16. 63. 54 Xiii 13 14. xiv. 1 XV 2 xvi 14. xi< 33, 40. John v. 16. vii 12. viii. 13. 48.49. 52 59. ix 40 x. 20 31-39. xii 9. lO. xv. IK — 24. xviii 22— — r5, Ueul xx. 3. PrOf. xxiv 10. Is. xl 30, 31. I 4 I Cor. XV. 58. * Cor. iv. 1. 16. Gal. ri. 9. 2Tlies. iii. 13. NOTES. CHAP. Xll. V. 1. The apostle called on the He- brews to consider themselves as surrounded with witnesses to the faithfulness of God, and the power and efficacy ol faith, as innumerable as the drops of water in a cloud. The persons before-mentioned, and multitudes besides, seemed to look down from heaven, or even to come from thence, to compass them about, and to bear their testi raony in the cause ; as well as to be spectators of their conduct, in that arduous, perilous, and honourable race, in which they themselves had got so blessed a victory. Pro- fessed Christians ought therefore, with one consent, to lay aside every weight,' (as men laid aside their superfluous garments, or most costly ornaments, when about to run in the Isthmian games, or to contend in the race on any occasion :) and not to burden themselves with worldly cares, interests, or indulgences, idolatrous attachments, or needless hurry of business, which might hinder their spiritual progress, and cause them to loiter, to move heavily, or to look back, and so endanger the loss of the race. They should also watch against, and seek a decided victory over, natural depravity, which would still conti- nually beset them, and take advantage, so to speak, of every favourable circumstance, and especially of those sin- ful propensities, which on any account had a peculiar power against them. In particular they ought to use every means of conquering their unbelief ; through which they were tempted to apostatize, from love of the world and fear of suffering. This was the sin which most easily beset them in those times of persecution : many had been cast down by it, many more were in danger, and they all would doubtless be vigorou.sly assaulted on that side. It behooved them, therefore, to get rid of every encumbrance, and to seek the increase of their faith, and the ciuci- fixion of their worldly lu.sts, that they might press for- ward with progressive earnestness and unwearied patience, in the persevering obedience of (a'nh in Christ. This was "the race set before them," in which they must cither win the crown of glory, or have everlasting misery and Ignominy for their ]iortion. V. 2, 3. The ajiosile had indeed called the Hebrews to contcmjjlate the coikUicI of those who had patiently run the race, and to consider the perils, diflicultics, and suffer- ings, through w-hich they had urged their course by faith, to seize the incorruptible prize : and they (night to realize their presence as witnesses for Christ, and spectators of their conflict. But they must look off, not only from the vain-glory of the world, the number and power of their that glorious Sun, from which even they received all the light that rendered them so resplendent. In order to their more full instruction and encouragement, they must look steadily to Jesus ; not merely as one who had run his glorious race, and completed his work, by faith in the promises and covenant-engagements of the Father, but as '' the Author and Finisher of faith" itself. He alone had opened the way for men to return to God, and to enter heaven by faith, when sin had closed for ever that of personal righteousness : from him, as the great Pro- phet of the church, the doctrine of faith had been deli- vered, which none could ever be authorized to change, add to, or deduct from : he alone, by his Spirit, protluces faith in the hearts of his people, which he maintains, increases, and perfects, in its nature and fruits, till its work be finished. So that they must look to him for faith, as well as by faith : and though he needed not that faith, by which a sinner is justified, yet, in finishing his work on earth, he led his peo])le the way to complete vitlory over every enemy, by a patient obediejU reliance on the word of his heavenly Father. As he had in all diings the pre-eminence, so he did not enter into his mediatorial glory, without having the precedency, in the measure of his sufferings, above all others that ever went to heaven. '' For the jny set before him," of his own personal exalt- ation to the mediatorial throne ; of the salvation of many millions of lost sinners from destruction; of bringing thcra to endless happiness, and of etei-nally glorifying the wi.iilc Name and all the perfections of God; he, with the utmost fortitude and constancy, endured all his other humiliating sufferings, fi'om his birth in the stable to his agony in the garden ; and at length most willingly submitted to be sus- pended on the cross, and there to expire in lingering tor- tures. And though this method of execution was pecu- liarly ignominious, and by the law pronounced accursed ; and though his crucifixion was attended with unheard of circumstances of indignity, outrage, revilings, and derision ; yet he disregarded the shame, as well as the anguish of it, as not worthy to be compared with the glorious event which he had in view. Thus, having endured, until his undertaking was finished, he was speedily raised from the (lead, and exalted to " the right hand of the throne of God." The disciples ought therefore to look unto him, both as an example of constancy and patience ; as the Author of their strength, encouragement, victory, and salvation ; and as a glorious instance of the blessed effect of perseverance amidst reproaches and sufferings, in cleaving unto God, and being faithful unto death. For this case was so extia- enemies, and their own weakness and sinfulness, but even! ordinary, that they would do ^\ell to consider it, even with from these inferior luminaries; that they might hehokv arithtnelical cxactticss ; and to estimate the dignity and A. D. 65. CHAPTER XII. J. D. 65. s S.x 32-34 Mali xxiv 9. I Cor X. 13. 2 Tim iv. s, 7 Hev ii. 13. i9-ll xii II 4 Ye have ' not jet rcsigj^d unto 5 And • ye have forgotten " the ex- t*Dei.i* iv'^'m hortation which speaketh unto you as fo9 "rov'Hi". unto children, My son, =* despise not thou il'ia'^'uike the chastening of the Lord, ^ nor faint uVfroM'i 11,18 wiien thou art rebuked of him : V«iv"-3"i'' p?: 6 For ■' whom the Lord loveth he ?l." Jer."Ix.': cliasteneth, * and scourgeth every son 18. 1 Cor. »i 32. , , • ,1 ® ■' y4.joah »ii 7- ^yhom hc receivctli. 7-10. 'ichr! 7 [f ye '' endure chastening, God isl'n. Ps.vi.u dealeth with you as with sons; ^ for what w. sii.V; ro- ' son is he Avhom the father chastencth not .'' X Deut. vu» 5 Ps. T^ • . 1 -1 1 * xxxii. I - 5. 8 But il ve be '' without chastisement l&xiil. 14* 15. * 1 I i»^«,Jo-^^ whereof all are partakers, then are ye fr's'xxvh'g' bastards, and not sons. Jer X 24. Jam. i IS. v II llev iii 19 a 7, 8 2 Sam. »ii. 14 h Job xxxiv. 31,32. Prov. xix. IB xxii.15. xsiii. 13, U xsis. li 17 Adsxiv. 22 c 1 Sam ii. 29. 34. iii. 13. 1 Eln's 1 6. ii. 21. 25 Pio». xxix. 15 J 6. Ps Iixiii M. 15, 1 Pet.v 9, U). 9 Furtiiermorc, wc have had ^ fathers eJohauiG.Aeis of our flesh which ' corrected us, and 3 ix'^s.?."" ' 8 we gave them reverence : '■ shall we not g ex.°x.' 12 Lev- much rather be in subjection unto ' the f^"^ '''="""" Father of Spirits, and live -* excellency of the sufferer; the contradiction of sinners against him, who ensnared, reviled, opposed, and accused him, with most perverse enmity against his holy doctrine and example, and with malignant ingratitude for all his love ; the intenscness and variety of his sufferings ; the meek and composed fortitude with which he endured them ; the love which moved him thus to suffer ; and the most blessed consequences of his humiliation. When they were weary and faint in their minds, with trials and injuries from their malicious persecutors, such considerations would serve to quiet and encourage tl.em, whilst they recollected that the holy Jesus suffered, to save them from deserved and eternal misery, and that sinners of the same nature with themselves inflicted these tortures; that he had much bitterness in his cup, which was not in theirs ; that he was hated for his own sake, and they only because of their relation to him ; and that his cross secured a happy event to all their conflicts and trials in his cause. In short, by looking to him, every kind of humiliating and animating topic would occur to their minds, to invigorate the exer- cise of their holy affections, and to repress the working of every carnal propensity. V. 4 — 8. The Hebrews had indeed suffered the loss of their property, and even bonds and scourgings, for cleaving to Christ, and maintaining the conflict against sin and temptation : but they, whom the sacred writer ad- dressed, had not yet resisted unto blood. Ma-oy of their brethren had chosen to die in this conflict, rather tMm-yield the victory to their enemies by renouncing the Gospel : even men of like inArmities with themselves had endured moi'e, by faith in the cause of God, than they had been called to do ; and their sufferings for Christ were unspeakably less than his for them had been : so that they ought to be ashamed of their cowardice, if they grew weary, or fainted in the contest, because of their inferior trials. It would in that case appear, that they had forgotten the exhortation of the Lord, by Solomon, who addressed be- lievers as his children, when he called on them not to despise his chastening, nor yet to faint under it. What- ever instrument was emjiloyed, they were thus taught to recognize the fatherly correction of God in their trials, and neither to disregard them with stoutness of spirit, and 16 Prov. xiK 17. Fz xxii. 7. 10 For they verily for a few days t m»i.Y e'T/am. ..•' " '' . - •' i" 7. 10. I Pet. chastened us, * after their own pleasure ; .'v's' '' but he for our profit, that toe misrht be 'xx"Ti ic'e'c x^T ' partakers 01 his holiness. 16 zech xii. 1. I -1 M „, I . • r _ 'Or, as seemed II i\ow, " no chastenino- ior the sood, or. mat, ... O .10 them. present seemeth to be joyous, but gnev- J.or. iii 2.3 Rev xxi :i-i7 xxii 3 l 11-IS 1 ii 1,3 ill ,35. Dent. i». 9. Pmv. 1v. 23 1 Cor ix 21-27 x 12 2 Cor ll. 2 John 8 Jinle2l), 21 a-a I.ulie xxii 33. 1 Cor. xlii B. 19. I Cor. 1. 10. fial : Tim. li. 22 Jiim. ill i-.n. IPc. 75 Rom. Ti. 22 2 Cor Ti 17 vii. ii. l:i 2 Pet iii. II. 18 ■■; John u. I Jf'hn I. iv. I II. Ti. II. X 23— . I. xiii, S. 2 Pet iii. II. death could be the consequence of iheir rebelling against liim ? For indeed the corrections of their earthly parcntsi during the few days of their childhood, had been inflicted " after their own pleasure," and were often, in a great degree, the effect of their own passions, rather than of a prudent design for the good of their children : but their heavenly Father corrected them, though with apparent severity, during the short lime of their continuance on earth, yet entirely with a wise and faithful regard to their prpfu ; and in order to make them partakers of his holi- ness, by mortifying their pride and carnal lusts, and bring- ing thera, through such discipline, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, to be conformed to himself in their judg- ment, dispositions and conduct. For by the.se means, he showed them the vanity of the world, the evil nature and efl'ects of sin, the depravity of their own hearts, and the preciousness of his salvation : and so trained them up (o humility, spirituality, simplicity, tenderness, submis- sion, lover reverence, gratitude, compassion, and every lioly affection. Now they were not to suppose, that these salutary corrections ever appeared pleasant, or matter of ioy, to the persons who were enduring them : on the con- 'trary, they always seemed for the present grievous, and caused much anguish : nor could they otherwise answer their intention. So lh;»t the sufferers often thought, that their trials did them harm, and would end in iheir ruin : vet afterwards, when the tumult of their passions had subsided, and they were able to digest the lessons which they received under them, they amply compensated for luc anguish, by yielding the peaceable fruits of righteous- ne.ss, and bringing them into a disposiuon quietly to sub- mit to God, and meekly to bear the injuries of men ; and by rendering them fruitful in all those good works, which evinced them to be justified, and at peace with God, and which tended to sive them inward peace,, joy, and con- lideiice in hitn. Thus having been exercised, disciplined, or instructed, by sanctified afllictions, they would after- wards possess the benefit of them ; even though for the present they seemed to irritate their corruptions, and tend- ed immediately to make a discovery of the evils of their hearts, for their subsequent humiliation. V. 12, 13. The considerations, above insisted on, should '.induce the Hebrews, both in respect of themselves and each other, to observe the counsel of the prophet, {Nole, Is. XXXV. 3,) by endeavouring to counteract every dis- |)osition to faint, despond, or throw up their profession t fail of|j^e grace ofGod ; lest •" any root ♦or. /■«•! rror-,. of bitterness sprinfjinc: up "^ trouble vo»<, bbeJiiix is. .1 I jU 1 U I Tl 1 xxxii 38. Kt. 'and thereby many be detucd ; i■^ j»r, ii.ji. lo Lest there oe "any tornicator, or >» ^ r T-. •' 1 /• CJ0!h»l.l8.»li.J5. prolaiK! person, ' as r.sau, who lor one m- »«» i'-2o. i ^ ... ^ Ex. xxxii 21. morsel ot meat sold his birthright. '"'"'S' *i' i<"-^ ,_ _, ' , , 1 ^ ,- 1 A<:H»X 30,31. 17 I'or ye know how that afterward, i,'^''cli'ii "' 5 when ho would have inherited the bless- 111'^ Jl '5*'J' ing, '' he was rejected : ' for he found n,o I place of repentance, though he stught jd' -jV/^Ti it carefully with tears Mark Cor. 1-6 8-11. 15—20 X 8. 21. CtA\ T. 19-21. F.ph T. 3.5. Col. iii. 5. 1 The*. iT.3-7 Kev. ii, 20— 23. xii 15 fnen xxt 31— .34 xxrii. 3G » ten. XXvii 31—41 h »i. i 21-31. Jer vi 39 .Matt vii 23 xxv. II, 13. Luke xiii 24—27. i vi «-• 6. X. 26-29 1 O' niy '" chan;e Mi mina. of the Gospel, amidst their persecutions. For they should consider them as fatherly corrections for their profit, sub- mit to them as such, and seek to have them sanctified, and direct and encourage each odier to take the same course. Thus they ought patiently and firmly to main- tain their profession, and go on in the path of holy obedience ; and, by proper instructions, admonitions, and counsels, oppose every false doctrine, and remove every stumbling-block : that so straight paths might be made for their feet, though the road itself was rough and thorny, lest any of those who were discouraged, or who, (like lame persons,) proceeded with difficulty and pain, should be turned out of the w-ay, to seek an easier path, by con- cealing, or acting contrary to, their profession ; (Note, Is. Ivii. 14.) On the contrary, such persons should be healed, and confirmed by suitable encouragements and cautions, whilst there remained any hope concerning them. V. 14. Whilst the persons addressed thus steadfastly adhered to the truth, and contended for it, they should also avoid all discord and resentment, and pursue peace with all men, even though it seemed to flee from them. They ought, as far as truth and duty would permit them, to live peaceably with Jews and Gentiles, and to bear or concede every thing for that purpose : and thev should study to be at peace with each other, and w ith their Gen- tile brethren. This would greatly aid their following after holiness, and seeking nearer conformity to tl:e spiritual law and perfect character of God, as exhibited in the ex- ample of Christ : nor must they even seek peace, so as to neglect the practice and pursuit of holiness, or by conni- vance at sin ; for without holiness no man, of any religion, could see the Lord. None could behold his manifested glory, aud commune with him in comfort, whilst in this world, without " the sanctification of the Spirit unto obe- " dience ;" nor could any one be capable of the beatific vi- sion hereafter, or be admitted to it, without being made holy even as God is holy. It should be noted, that humilia'- tion, brokenness of heart, and proper affections towards the Lord Jesus, are essential to the holiness of a redeemed sinner, and all else, however specious, must be counter- feit where these are wanting, V. 15 — 17. It behooved Christians to look diligently not only to themselves, but likewise to each other, both in respect of their principles and conduct : lest any one of them should fail of an interest in the special mercy and i favour of God, or remain destitste of his sanctifying A. D (35. kKx. xix 12-19 Jt» IB XXIV 17. Beul iv II V 22— »<. Rom vi M viii. IS. : •lim 1 7 I Ex. kis. 16 19 1 Cor. XV. 62 1 Thcss. iv. 16. mEx XX I-I7 2! Deut ciiArrEKXit. ^. £>. (35 -J3 3-2 a Kx xs.19.Deut oDeui.xxxiti 2. Rom. ill. 19, SO Gal il. 19. ill 17 rV 6 xlviii 2 cxxsii 13 U. Is xii 6. xiv. 32. x.iviii. 16 li II 16 I 'I 20 Ix U. Joel ii 32 Bom xi 26 Gtl iv iC Uev. XIV 18 For "^ yc arc not come unto l!ie mount tlvit might bo touched, and thut burned with ^wv:^ nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 .And ' the sound of a trumpet, "" and tlic voice of words ; which tone " they that heard entreated, that the word should not be spoken to them any more : 20 (F'or " tliey could not endure that which was commanded, and '' if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust though with a dart : 21 And so terrible was the sight, that ■^ Moses said, 1 exceedingly fear and quake :) 22 But ■■ ye are come unto mount SioH, and unto ' the city of 'the living God, txiii ursxivm. the heavenly Jerusalem, and to "" an in- Mau^'i'Vhli. numerable compaiiv ul anwls. ncv ,ii i2x»i _.1 lo ^ the sreneral assembly and mi iS'" '* x. 1 I /• w ;• 1 1-1 " TJcut. V. :i'. ciuircii or ^ tlic lirst-born, ^ whicli are J^sii, im iik s *■ written m heaven, and to " God the ji''2 '"^'''^ian. Judge of a!!, and to ''the spirits of just V- '" """ ' ^ ■ I J 10. Malt, ^v^ men made perfect. 1° -rte"' '1 "1 24 And to -^ Jesus the Mediator of the ^'{Z^H£u i. '' new t covenant, and " to the blood of dj„ itn'li .Ui'd. sprinkling, that ' speaketh better things ^|4|f^\\^;.}'j.[; than thai (/Abel. ^f.tf\^'t. -27. Col. i. 24 I lim iii. 5 y Kx. iv. 22. siii. 2, Deut Kxi. 17 Vs Ixxxis. 27 Jcr sxxi 9. Jam. i 18 Kev xiv i 1 Ki xxxii 32. Ps. Ixix. SS. Luke X £0. Phil. iv. 3. Rev. xiii. 8. xs. 15 ► Or. tiir»»f li a vi. 10— 12 ix 27 Gen xviii 25 I's. 1. 5- 6 xciv 2 xcvi. 13 xcviii. ;•. Matt xxv 31-11 Jcln v. 27 i'l'hes i 5-7 1 Pet ii 23 bxi i Kc. xii 7 1 Cor li i 12 2 Cor. v S I'tlil i 21-2i. iii 12. hu. Ol 1 12. Rev. vii U— 17 i:\ii.22 viii 6. 3 I Ti.ii. ii 6 dxi'i 20. Is. Iv. 3 Jer-xxxi 31—33. 1 Or (ii/a»ie;i( is li Illstt xxvi. 28. Msri." xiv. 21- l.uke xxii 2a — c ix 21. x. 22. Ki 28- Kx. Ksiv. 6. I I'et. i. 2. f xi. 1 Gen iv. 10. Matt xxiii 36 Luke xi. 61. grace, and so be left to aposlalize ; aud lest any root of billerness, any unmortified lust in the heart', which seemed to be dead, should spring up and shoot forth its bhter and poisonous jiroduce, in heretical doctrines or scandalous practices, to the trouble and disturbunce of the whole body, and the defihng and corruptmcr of numbers, as frequently had been done. (Note, Deid. xxix. l!i — 21.) [Mai or. Ref.) For instance, lest any one among iheni should commit fornication, under a mistaken notion of Christian liberty ; or lest there should be some profane person, who so despised the peculiar blessings of the new covenant, as to barter them away for temporal advantages, like Esau, who for one meal of meat sold his birthright, (A'o/es, Gen. XXV. 29 — 34.) That example ought to be a warning to them, not to renounce Christianity for the sake of worldly ease, interest, or indulgence; for when Esauj would afterwards have inherited the blessing, he was rc-| jectcd both by the Lord, and by his father Isaac. {Notes, Gen. xxvii. 31 — 41.) so that he found naplace or oppor- tunity for repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. The whole history of Esau shows, that he, at that time, neither truly repented of all his sins, nor sought to do it ; but he was grieved and vexed at being circumvented by Jacob ; he was sorry that he had made so foolisli a bar- gain ; he coveted the temporal advantages which belonged to the birthright, especially the dominion over his brother; he had altered his mind in that particular, and he sought carefully, and with tears, to induce Isaac to alter his pur- pose, to retract Jacob's blessing and to bestow it on him ; but he sought this in vain, for it was then too late. This latter, however, even the change of mind in Isaac, which might induce him to retract the blessing pronounced on Ja- cob, and to confer il on him, seems to be the repent anre which Esau sought with tears. Thus the lime would short- ly come, when they, who refused spiritual blessings for the sake of lempord interests, would become fully sensible of their madness and folly, and would be glad to reverse the fatal bargain ; but that must be let alone for ever. This was another awful warning against apostacy ; but it in no de- gree relates to the case of sut;h as do truly repent of all their sins, or who seek repentance of God in prayer, care- fully, and with tears ; for this Esau never did. Indeed it chiefly respects the condition of sinners in another world, though it also includes the total desperation and treaieii- dous horror of some apostates in this present life. {Note. &c. vi. 6- ' "~ "" ■ V. 1! -8 x. 26—30.) !1. The a]jostle here recurred to hi? argu- ment, that the superior excellency of the Christian di.'pei;- sation would render it |)roi)ortior.ably more criminnl and perilous to reject it; {Notes, ii. 1—4. x. 28---3I) ior his discourse seems equally suited for the warning of avowed unbelievers, and of those who ucre tempted to apostacy. He did not speak of the slate of individuals, as converted or unconverted ; liut of the diflerent method in which God now s|iake to the nation, from that in which he deliveretl the law to their fathers. This he showed by an allusion to the two mountains. Sinai and Zion ; for though God at length spake to his people from mount Zion and the mercy-seat, through the atonements and ministrations of the high priest, yet this was only in a typical and obscure manner; the way into the Holiest was not made manifest under that disjiensation, but the law was delt* vcrcd from, and the national covenant was ratified a(, mount Sinai. That dispensation was at length abolished, and another introduced ; the Lord therefore had not called them to assemble, and hear him speak to them from the material mountain, which was capable of being touched, (though their fathers had been foi'hidden to touch it.) from whence such tremendous disjilays of the divine glory had been made, when the Liw was given, and the terrors atteiid- ing on it made the people entreat, that Jehov.ih would no more speak to them in that way, as ihey could not endure the things which were spoken. {Notes Ex. xix. xx.) Indeed the severe restraints laid on them, and the terrible things seen and heard by ihem, filled them with dismay, and even made Moses exclaim, that " he exceedingly fear- " ed and quaked," notwiihslandiijg his typical office of Me- diator, his peculiar sanctity, and the long and intimate com- munion with God that lie had maintained, {Note, Ex. xix. 16—20) — The whole of this .scene siiowed the impossi- bility of a signer's coming before God with accejjtance, according to the works of the law, the highly criminal presumption of attempting it, and the nc(d of a Mfdiator and a better covenant; and it was to the apostle's purpose to call ofl'the attention of the Hebrews from that dispei>- sation to the Gospel, by every argument. J. D. 65. HEBREWS. ^. D. ^. gTiii.S Ei.XT xix 10. SI h Prov. i 24 33. liii 18 25 5 See that ye '' refuse not him thatj tl u^sMti'e speaketh : For ' if they escaped not who' 4 iThes V. IS 1 rcfiLsed him that spake on eartli, nuicli Pel i 2a. Rev in. •/• i.- i ' more shall not we escape, it we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven : 26 Whose ' voice then .skook the earth : but now he hath promised, saying, "■ Yet once more 1 shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this tvord, Yet once more, , 1—3 i See on. lii. 17. X. i k Nuro XXX Deut. zxx Josh. xxii. 16. aChr »ii. la. Prov. i. 32. 2 Tim ii 19 xiii. 13. Joel " signifieth the removing of those things that * are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore, we reteiving " a king- dom whicli cannot be moved, let us t have grace whereby p we may serve God acccj)tably, "^ with reverence and godly fear ; 29 For ' our God is a consumins; fire. . in. Phil. iT. 18 1 Pet ii. ii io. q iv. 16 « I'rov. xxviii. m Il-ni. xi iO 1 Pet 1.17 Bi i. 1. xvi. 3S Dent. iv. S4. ix. 3. Ps. I. 3. xcvi 7 X 10 22 Lev. x 3 V XV 4. r X 27. E] .3. is Ixvi. 15. DdD. ' n Pf.eii XfJ Zz. XI i. 27 Mjtt. xxiv. 3S 2 Pet ill 10 II. Hev. xi Ii xxi. 1 * Or, may be i4a- kcn. o H ix. 7 Din. ii. 41 vii. 14. 27. Matt XXV. .14 Luke i 33. x. CHAPTER xril. J. Z). (7.7 CHAP. XIH. Exhortutions to brotherly love, hospitality, and compassion ; to chastity, contenl- vient, and trust in God. 1 —3 ; to recol- lect the faith, examples, and happy cud of deceased pastors, 4 — 7 ; remembering slill more extraordinary changes, to be introduced at the coming of the Messiah, denoted the total removal of the things^shaken, as of things made and constituted after the manner of this lower creation, to endure but for a time: this was to be only " once more," and then a constitution would be introduced of a heavenly nature, which could not be shaken or removed, but s'.iould continue to the end, and, in its elTects, for ever. As, therefore, they wlio had embraced the Gospel were admitted into, and made par- takers of, a kingdom which could not be removed ; as others were invited (0 acce[)t of these benefits, according to the dispensation which was now opeiiiy introduced ; and as all grace was fret-ly llromi^cd to every one who sought it in the appointed way ; it was proper to exhort ail of them " to have," that is, to seek for, and so obtain, " grjce," that they might serve God, not merely as his professing people, but acceptably, as true believers and spiritual worshippers : and not only with joy, confidence, and gratitude, but with reverence of his majesty and authority, and a godly fear of deceiving themselves, of falling under his wrath or frown, or of dishonouring his name; as humbly conscious of their unworthiness, weak- ness, and depravity, and recollecting, that the God, whose people they professed to be, was a consuming fire, to dc- ■^troy hypocrite;, apo-tates, and enemies of every kind, however masked or disguised. {?Iarg. Ref.) The apostle evidently meant some of his expressions for one description of readers, and others of them for those of a different char- acter; though he left each to make the application to him- self: but he peculiarly aimed to convince his countrymen, that unbelievers among them wcr^ doomed to the most tre- mendous vengeance of God, boch national and personal, from which there could be no escape, except by believing Hi the Lord Jesus Christ, and cleaving to him. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-4. While prophets, apostles, martyrs, and ancient believers, sing the praises of our redeeming God, they unitedly testify to us his faithfilncss to his piomisis, and the pre- r:iousness of his salvatijn ; and they exhort us to lay aside every weiglit, and to run with patience the race set before us. We should therefore seriously inquire, what are the weights which retard O'jr course ; what the sin, or sins, by which we are most easily beset, .-ind peculiarly endan- gered ; that we may seek for grace to tna!)le us to lay aside the one, and to be upon our guard agiinst all occa- sions of the other. Many, who seemed to sot out well, ]ose the race, through the weight of increasing trade or afflience, with the peculiar snares, tempialions, con- -r.exions, and encuT.brances of ihe.r. This seeius the easiiy-bcseiiiii;; sin of these daj-s of libcrlj' and peace ; Vol. v.— No, 35. that Christ is unchangeable and eter- nal, 8 ; to icatchfulncss against fuLe doc- trines, regard to the sacrifice of f'l. rist. willingness to bear reproach for him, thanksgivings to God, liberality to men; subjection to teachers, and prayer for the apostle, 9 — 19. Jl prayer for the though all persons, in whatever slate, have their peculiar dangers and hinderances, against which thry arc required to watch and pray v.idiout ceasing : ncr caa we " run with '' patience the race set before us," unless we be crucified to the world, and daily employed in raorii tying the whole body of sin, with all iis allcctions and lusts ; those espe- cially, to which education, habit, or situation, give most: advantngf^. We should imagine ourselves surrounded with this cloud of witnesses, as spectators of our conduct, ani- mating us to run the race without fainting, and prepared to congratulate our success with adoring acclamations. Yet the eye of our souls should be principally fixed upon ■' Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith ," from whose fulness they all received, by whose light they shone, and through whose strength they contended for and obtained the victory : and we should turn our attention from all other objects to fixed contemplation on his ignominious cross, and his glorious throne. The thoughts of the variety of his sufferings, from love to sinncis, and his animating example of meekness and patience, cannot fail to exhilarate our drooping spirits with an assurance of his compassion, and tender regard to our good. We shall then see, that a joy is set before us also, at the end of our sorrows, for the sake of which we may cheerfully cnduro them ; we shall ptrccive that it is reasonable to disregard the reproach and contempt of men, as the divine Saviour bore and sanctified this trial also : and the view of his glorious exaltation will inspire us with confidence in his power to protect, support, and comfort us, under all that wc can suffer for his sake. Let us then frequently " consider " him, who endured the contradiction of sinners against " himself, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds." What are our little trials to his agonies, or even to our deserts? What indeed are they to the sufferings of many of our brethren, in different ages and places ? We have not yet resisted unto blood in our waifare against sin, as many others have done ; and we should be ashamed of our murmurings and impatience, whence have so little, cause of complaint. V. .J— 13. While we look to Jesus, to reconcile us (0 suffering, to set us against sin, and to eclipse the vain splendour of thi-! worthless woild, we should also learn to receive every affliction, which the malice or envy of men brings upon us, as a correction -sont by our wise and gracious Fatiici-, who speaketh to us fcy his word, interpreting his providential dispensations as to children, and calls on us neither to despise, nor to faint undt r, his chastisements. We should con-idcr them as precious favours, needful blessings, pledges of love, and the only s] ii itual good which he Lalh promised to give us wiihout our praying for it. He never fails to chasten his children ; though he often pericits 3 R Ji. D. 65. HEBREWS. J. D. 6^ .Ti. 10 VI. X. Hebrews., and concluding salutations., Acta ii 1. «- •^" ■^''• «6. iv 32. Kom TT xii. 9. 10 Gal. ■ Eph^iv.3 v"; I jET ^ brotherly love continue, i I i^les iv 3,~o 2 Be '• not forgetful to entertain stran- ' a.Thes i. 3.' I Pet i 52 ii. 17 iii. 8 iv. 8. 2 Pet. I. 7. 1 John il 9, 10 iii. lO-IC 53 iv. 7- 11. SO Jl V I. 2 John S. 0. Hev. ii i li Lev. xiM 3i l)^ut x 18, 13 I Kin; 8 xvii. 10- 18. : K,os« iv. 8 Job ixxi 111. 32 l9. Iviii. 7. Mall xxv. 35 43. Act! xvi. 15. Kom. xii. 13. xvi. 1'3. 1 Tim. iii 2. v. 10. Tit. i 8. I Pet. iv. 9. gers : for thereby '■ seme have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember '' them that arc in bonds, as bound with them ; and them " which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. IG-I8. c Nell c Gen xvii . 2- 10. > IX -:i. Judg. xiit \\ kc. M»H XXV. 411 .! X 34 Gen. xl U, 15 43 Jer. XXXV li 7-lfi. M.lt XXV ■ii 43 Act< X vi. 2"* -34 XII V 32 XXVii 2 tph. hypocrites to remain unmolested, because lie means lo destroy them. He will neglect the education of none whom he receives into his family ; and he sets us an ex- ample how we should correct our children, not tor our pleasure, but for their profit, not from passion, but in wise affection. Thus he " makes us partakers of his holiness," that we may be meet lo share his felicity. Let us then endeavour to receive chastening from the Father of our spirits, as we expect our children to submit to our correc- tions : these momentary sorrows will be over in a few days : and though for the present they seem not to be joyous, but grievous, yet wc shall afterwards experience the benefit and comfort of them in the peaceable fruits of righteousness, which have been produced and matured by our being exercised with them. Thus nauseous medicines yield the pleasant sensations of health, when the taste is forgotten ; and delicious poisons cause extreme agony, when the relish of them is gone for ever. Let us then comfort ourselves and each other with these topics ; that we HTiy lift up the hands which hang down, and confirm the feeble knees : and let us carefully remove obstacles out of the way of pilgrims, and look well to the weak and tempted, lest they should be turned out of the way, in- stead of being encouraged to persevere in the course, amidst all its roughness and diificulty. V. 14—17. To avoid stumbling-blocks and offences, w^e should follow peace with all men, and leave no proper means untried to avoid contention, which numbers delight to kindle, and blow into a tlaine. As far as we can go, without sacri- ficing truth or duty, we shall find, that peace with men of all parties and descriptions will be favouraljle to our pur- suit of holiness ; without which no man of any sect can enter heaven, or enjoy the favour of God, or be capable of delighting in hin^ and his presence, worship, and service. Let us then looFdiligently to ourselves, that we are not deceived by notions or forms, and " fail of the grace of " God ;" and let us watch over each other, that no root of bitterness may spring up, in our congregations or fami- lies, to disturb their peace and to defile the souls of many. Those loose notions especially must be zealously opposed, which give allowance to the flesh, from a perversion of evangelical princi|)lcs ; for a little of this leaven will .suffice lo leaven a whole lump. All prot'essors of the Gospel should remember profane Esau ; for they will all be tempted, more or less, to sell their birthright for worldly pleasure or advantage. But the time i.s at Land, when ihey, who thus renounce, or refuse, the salvation of God, for carnal indulgence, would be glad to inherit the blessing, and will be rejected; no place will be found for reversing ■.ihc fatal bargain, though they should seek it carefully with tears; nor can any one, who wilfully rejects the Gospel for the love of this present world, know to what obduracy and desperation he may be given up, in the righteous judg- ment of God. V. 18—29. We have abundant cause for joy and gratitude, that we are not left under the terror and curse of the broken cove- nant of works, or under the darkness of the legal dispen- sation. The moit holy man must tremble, yea, despair, if he were to be judged according to the law given from mount Sinai ; and the vengeance of God would be far more tremendous than the fire and tempest there wit- nessed. But whil.'t we bless God. who speaks to us from the mercy-seat, and calls us to partake of the privileges of Zion's citizens, and the happiness of angels and glorified saints, through Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and the sprinkling of his precious blood, let us see to it, that we have good evidence of our names being written in heaven, with those of true disciples, and not merely on earth, with those of professed Christians : let us remember that our cause must be tried by God, the Judge of all, who will determine whether we do, or do not, belong to the church of the first-born : and let it be noted, that whilst the blood of Jesus speaketh nothing but mercy to the vilest, who truly believe, it will call for severer ven- geance on those, who neglect, pervert, or despise it, than that of Abel did on his murderer Cain. Let all then see to it, that they do not refuse him, who speaketh to them from heaven, with infinite tenderness and love ; lest they should fall from a greater height of privilege to a more tremendous depth of condemnation, than ancient rebels did : for how can they escape, who turn away from God in unbelief or apostacy, whilst he so graciously beseeches them to be reconciled to him, and to acce|)t of his ever- lasting favour ? No oilier disjiensation is now to be intro- duced, till the consummation of all things ; the kingdom which we are called to receive can never be moved ; the inheritance of believers is secured against all enemies and disasters ; all things pertaining to salvation are freely given in answer to ]5rayer : let us then seek for " grace, that we •' may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly " fear ;" remembering that he is greatly to be feared in the assembly of his saints ; and that he is a consuming Fire, especially to hypocrites, apostates, and despisers of his salvation. NOTES. CHAP. XIII. V. 1—3. The Hebrew converts, after the day of Pentecost, abounded in love to each other, and in all the fruits of this holy affection : but many things would naturally occur to interrupt that entire harmony. and to stop .the current of that liberality, which they at first showed. It was therefore peculiarly proper for th€ ^. D. 6J. CHAPTER XIII. ^i. jt>. t)«. f Gen. i 27 38. ii 21 X. Lev. XII i3-i: 2 Kings XXI 21 Is vi i 3. 1 Cor. vii. S , fc!C. is. y 1 Tim, II 2 4. 13 V. 14. Tit i. (,. R 4« 0 %, XI 16. 1 Cor VI n. (isl. i Ex KX. 17 Jrwh Luke nil 14. xii Hi. i 1 T.n . iii. l.ube III. 14 Phi! 4 ' Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undertled : « but whoremongers and adulterers ^ God Avill judge. 5 Let your ' conversation be Avithout covetousness ; '' and be content with such V. 19 1) I's 1 (G-22. Alal. lii. 4. 1 Cor v 13. 2 Cor v. 10 vii 21. Ps X 3 cxix. 36. Jer vi. 13 IS.T. xxxiii 31. Mars vii. i2. 15-21 xvi, 13. U Horn. 129 I Cor. v. II vi 10 Eph v 3 ». Col .3. VI. 9, 10 2 I'et li .1. U JuJe II k Bs. il. 21. .Matt, vi 24. 31 iv II, 12. I Tim. vi 6-a apostle to exhort them to "let 'irolherly love continue," and to avoid every thing that interfered with their perse- vering attention to peace, kindness, and reciprocal aflcc- tion, as became children of one family, and heirs of tlie .same inheritance; and he probably meant to excite them to brotherly love towards the Gentile converts, against whom they were generally prejudiced. In particular he exhorted them not to forget to entertain strangers, espe- cially such as were driven, or travelled, from home, for the sake of the Gospel, and who in general were destitute of other accomodation, and dependent on the hosjjitaiity of their brethren, though not personally known by them. To encourage this kind of charity, he reminded them, that some had entertained angels unawares, as Abraham and Lot. {Note, Gen. xviii. xix.) It hath been ob.^erved, ;hat one of the three who came to Abrnham was railed Jehovah, and was doubUess the eternal Word and Son of God ; but it was not necessary for the apostle lo advert to that circuiii.Mance, when he merely suggested a hint on the subject. It was not indeed to be expected that the Hebrews would literally be visited by angels, in the form of strangers : but by hospitality to their brethren, for Christ's sake, they in fact received him, and would be rewarded accordingly : {Notes, Matt. xxv. 31 — 40 :) and even if they were mistaken in the character of those stran- gers to whom they showed this kindness, their intentions would in no wise fail of a gracious recompense. Many of their brethren also were bound in jiiison for the sake of die Gospel ; and they ought to remember the hardships endured by such sufferers, as if they were confined with them, that they might be excited to adopt every method of alle- viating their sorrows, or procuring their release. In short, whatever adversity any of their brethren were exposed to, in their persons, connexions, or circumstances, they ought (o sympathize with them, and endeavour to relieve them ; recollecting that they were still in the body, and liable to similar afflictions ; and that they would in that case expect the soothing lenient care of their brethren. All captives and afflicted persons might be included in the exhortation, but the household of faith was specially intended. V. 4. Marriage, &ic. Many persons, particularly they of the Church of Rome, explain this as an exhortation ; •'Let rarrriagc be honourable m e./nftmgs, &c. ;" and doubdcss the apostle meant, that it ought to be entered into, and behaved in, according to the holy commandments of God, that it might be honourable to the persons them- selves and to dieir profession of the Gospel, as well as that the state should be had in honour and considered as undc- liled. The particle but, however, introducing the second clause, shows that his primary meaning was to assert, thai marriage in it.self was honourable in all things, and in all persons, and the bed undefiled as lo it^ own nature, though things as ye have : lor he hatli said, ' 1 1 oi^n. xxviii is. will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. "^"^ i'Tls^m. Go .1 . , 1 .1 nt,. "li -2 I Cbr. bo that we may " boldly say, " The "^'iii.so i>8. ord ts my Helper, and ° IaviII not fear ^'j/'l^'og',, what man shall do unto me. "Epi i"- 1?- 7 liemembcrthem p which * have the J^Klii' s/^il P». xviii 1.2. xxyi,, 1-3 9.XXXiil,20. Bl, 17, liv. 7. Isiii. 7-xciv. 17, cxv 9-11 cxvili'. '^.^"."o'V, "'"' 3 ,ls,>'lil.O U Rom. viii 31 ol's. Ivi. 4 11, 12. cxviii. 6. Dan. • ill. 16-18 Matt. K 20 Luke xii. 4. 5 p 17. 21 Matt, xxiv, 45. l,ul.e xii 42. Acta XIV 23. I riie^ V. 12,13. 1 Tiin. lii. 5 -t Or, are tkc 'vldci not incapable of abuse : for he contrasts marriage with the conduct of fornicators and adulterers, whom God will cer- tainly judge, and condemn for their violations of his law. Some persons in the primitive times contended for the lawtulncss of fornication, and most abominable sentiments and practices, in respect of polygamy and divorces, pre- vailed, not only among the Gentiles, but even among the Jews: while, on the other hand, some of both, and of the Christians, condemned marriage, or at least deemed it a less holy state than celibacy. This mystery of iniquity very early began to work, and the apostle, in a few most expressive words, guarded against both the extremes, which expe- rience has always proved to be, in different forms, but al- most equally, in efiecl, destructive to morality, the welfare of society, and the purity of religion. V.5, G. 'i'he Hebrews were generally poor; many had sold their estates to iclieve their brethren, after the day of Pentecost, and the goods of others had been ])lun- dcied by their pei'secutors. The apostle strenuously ex- cited himself to procure them a liberal relief from the Gentile churches ; but he here exhorts them, to let their whole conduct, discourse, and manner of life, be evidently at a distance from covetousness : neither being anxious about getting money, to lay uji, or to expend in super- fluities ; nor yet to be tenacious of what ihcy had, or averse to lay it out for valuable pui'poses. On the con- trary, it was proper for ihcm to be content, well-satisfied, and jilcased with such things as they had at present, though mean, scanty, or precarious; assured that infinite wisdom, and love chose their portion for them ; and remembering the promise of God, that " he would not in any wise " leave them, nor in any wise, on any account, in. any " emergency, or at any time, would he forsake them." — The emphasis of the original words, in whicli five nega- tives are used to increase the strength oflrbe negation, according to the Greek idiom, can scarcely be retained in any translation. The words are quoted from the Lord's address to .Joshua, though nearly the same are used in several parts of the scripture, {3Iarg. Ref.) They how- ever, show that every believer, in similar circumstances, may rely ujion the ])romises made specially to any person, as recorded in the Scripture. The Hebrews, therefore, cleaving lo the Lord and his service, in the depth of poverty, and in the midst of their persecutors, might say with confidence "the Lord is my Helper," according to the frequent language of the Psalmist: and tlioy might be assured that he would protect, provitle for, and comfort ihcm, in all possible cmci-gcncies : and never forsake them in lifeordealh, but bring them safe lo his heavenly rest and glory ; and in this confidence, they need not fear what men could do, in any way, to impoverish, distress, or injure, them. '3 R 2 J. D. 65. HEBREWS. .J. D. 65. qLukc Tui 1) rule over )ou. avIiu Lave broken unto iTKoa."x*n. you "the word of God: ' wliose faith Re"": s^vi's follow, ^considering 'the end of //kj> rMtz. Cant. I. conversation : xi.i.'^''pi'ii i'l 8 Jesus Christ Mne same vestcrdrw 17. I Ti.es '■ 6 , ^ J , ,■ sThe. ill 7 9 and to-day, and lor ever, iicorx. 13 Gr. 9 lie not "carried about witli divers eii 27.28 c" i. and strange doctrines ; for ^ it is a good 6 MJi'\ii.'6 thina: that tlie heart be established with John vlij 56— 5t* o ■ I'll iTi u uVs gi'^ce ; ■ not with meats, wliicn liave not *s«' a'o(s"J' 3*0 profited them that have been occupied Horn. xvi. 17, t|-|Aff^in 18 2Cor li II l-"«-»^'"- r'^Ep^'^.v ^i7 '^ We have ° an altar, whereof they T 6 Col li. 4g 2Thei> ii. 2. I Tim iv 1-3. vi. 3-5. 20 1 John iv. I. JuJe 3. y Acts XK. 32 2 Cor i 21 Gal vi. 1 2 Thes ii 17 2 T'ln ii. 1 2 — £ Sn on, i« 9 10 Lev xi Deut. xir 3-21 A. Is X 14-16 Rom. xiv 2-6 17 I Cor vi 13 viii.8 Col ii. 16-20 I Tim iv 3-6 Tit i 14, 15 a I Cor v 7,8 ix 13. x. 17-20 have no right to cat which '' serve the b Num. ii 7. s tabernacle. c kx. xxix_ u. 11 For ' the bodies of tiiose Leasts, li-ii. vr' 30 whose blood is brought into the sanctuary -is. 27 'iiuJ. "- 19 . -. ii-i /• ' T 1 1 1 , XIX 34 ICor.vi. 12 VVJierefore Jesus also, '^ that he h, fph v. 25. ■ 1 -r 1 1 • I 1 • ' '''" ^ ^~'' nutflit sanctiiv the people with hisown*''* xxiv.23 blood, ■= suffered without the gate. •?:*".■ ''' "* 13 Let us ' go forth theicfure unto him without the camp, bearing his re-'j,^j, ^ „ ^ proach. ^^'.^f "/'s'- 11 For 8 here have we no continuing "ci'^iVcu? city, but we seek one to come. i'i.'toTiPet'^i'v 4 14-16 g iv 9 XI. 9 10 13-16 lii 22 1 Cor vii. i>. 3 Cot iv, 17, IS. T. 1-3. Phil iii. 20 Cr Col. iii 1—31 Pet iv 7. 2 Pel iii 13, U. Mark X ii John 18 Act! V. 7, 8. To encourage ihc patience and perseverance of the Hebrews even unto a violent death, if that were set before dicm, the apostle called on them to remember such as had presided over them, and spoken the word of God to them, but had been removed by martyrdom, or in some other way, as James whom Herod beheaded, and several others. They ought carefully to recollect their instructions and behaviour, to adhere to the doctrines which they had delivered, and to copy their vigorous faith and constant obedience ; considering especially the con- clusion of their course, and the manner in which they departed out of the world, and thinking of the composure and holy joy, with which they met the stroke of deatli, with whatever circumstances of torture or ignominy it was attended. For if they would end their conversation, or their Christian course of obedience, in the same happy and honourable manner, they must follow their example, and adhere to their doctrine and instructions. And though these useful persons had been removed, yet Jesus Christ, the great Head of the Chuixh, was " the same ycsterd:iy, " to-day, and for ever," equally merciful, powerful, faithful, and all-sufhcien!. As the Son of God, he was possessed of all possible peifeclion from eternity; lie had continued to exercise tiiose perfections, for the good of the Church, through all preceding ages; nor was he less per- fect and po\^ful, when manifested in the fiesh, to" pur- " chase the (Whrch with his own blood." lie continued the same, when esalLed in human nature to the mediatorial throne ; and when he shall come to judge the world, he will exhibit tiio >.jme divine perfection and glory, and so to all eternity. The expiession seems to be a perij.hrasis of iramutabiliiy, a divine attribute, incommunicable to a mere creature : his Person is as immutable as his doctrine ; his justice and holiness as his mercy and truth; and all kinds of persons will meet a Judge exacdy of the same cha- racter, as he m.inifested when he apppared on earth as a >5aviour. The ilel)rcw.s might, therefore, confide in him, tosupportanl comfirt them under thrir s':ffcrin''.s for his sake, even as h-' h rl those, who hail so happily fi:ii>hed their course. ' 'J'int tli;^ aposih speaks hoe, not of their ^ living, but doid guiJe.^ will appear, parUy fnm his ^ exhortation to rciiiniher ihem, the living guides lining • the objects, not of their ineaiory. b'lt sense : partly fi-om th'- p!iri-e, " hive snoVn," • -..^irh iiti'-n'p=, ' that they had now left off speaking ; and partly, from ' the cx^xa-if, or close cf their conversation on earth." {IVhitbi/.) V. 9 — 14. {Sole, Blpli. iv. 14.) The apostle exhorted the Hebrews to trust in Christ and cleave to him, accord- ing to the instructions of their deceased teachers ; and not to be carried about with divers and strange doctrines, as the clouds are driven by the wind. Many innovations were started, by different descriptions of false t-'achcrs, which were all foreign to the simplicity of Christianity: but Christians should especially seek to have their hearts established in a single dependence on free grace, and in the experience of the sanctification of the Holy Sjiirit, which would both comfort them, and render them steadfast against every delusion. ^Vhereas, if they paid any jiarti- cular attention to distinctions of meats, cr rested in the legal sacrifices and peace-offerings, on part of which the offerer and his friends feasted before God, as at-peace with him, they would not arrive at stability. They could not indeed expect spiritual profit from sucli observances, seeing that they, who had heretofore been occupied in them, and had looked no further, had derived no saving benefit from them. But true believers had, in the atonement cf Christ, the substance of all that had been shadowed forth by the saciifices of the law. The flesh of many of these had been divided between the altar and the priests, who alone were to eat the most holy things. But such of tlic He- brews, as continued to mir.istcr at the tabernacle or temple, and neglected the d'ospei, had not t!:e privilege of parti- cipating with Christians in feasting upon their spiritual sacrifice : of this the Lord's supper was the appiointed memorial, and might perhaps be alluded to. An intima- tion of this might be implied in the iirohibiiion of the priests eating any part of the mo.-t solemn sin-offerings, the blood of which was carried into the most holy place on the day of atonement, to expiate the guilt cf the nation -. for these were ordered to be burned without the camp. [Notes, kc. Lev. iv. xvi.) 'Whercfjre Jesus al-c. that he might set apart, and ctMisecratL to God, lis pcrple as a spiritual priesthood, 1)V shedding his own Mood as their sin-offering, jn'cviously lo his entrance uith it for liiera into t!ic iieavenly sanctuary, suliercd death, not within t!ie precincts of the temple, cr even in the holy city, but wihoiii the eate. upon mi^'Mit C.dvnrv. 'J'h'JS he was. a,s J. D. 65. CHAPTER XIII. ^i. X>. 65. hvii 2i johax. 15 "^ Bj him therefore let us ofler ' the ii'. 18 coi'iii. sacrifice of praise to God continually, 31. xV^iii 16 thanks to his name. Ezra mil Neh , ■, ^ sii 40 43. Ps. 1 16 But 'to do sood, and to " com- 3j^^."'j', ^-22 municate, forget not: for "with sucli "sxii 1 J?' sacrifices God is well pleased. l]l%!'t\pl. 17 ° Ol^ey iv. H, 20 Prov v. 13 Ph:l ii. 12 2a. I The?. V 12.2Tlie5 ill. 14 1 T.m. V 17 tOr.Guidc p Geii xvi 9 I Cor. X'i 16 ■Epli V 21 Jam. iv 7 I Pet v. 5. q Es. iii 17-21. xxEiil 7-9 Acts XX. 24-26 ! Cor. iv 1,2 1 Pet y. J, 3 it we're, cast out of the camp as accursed ; that he might appear to be the true Sin-offering of which all others were the types. As, ihcrefore, it was jiropt-T for believers to renounce all dependence on legal sacrifices, and the service of the sanctuary, to follow Christ, so they ought will- . ingly for his sake to bear the reproach cast ujion them on that account ; and submit to be excommunicated and vili- fied by the persecuting priests and scribes, going along Avith Christ out of the camp of fsrael, and enduring every indignity for his sake and afier his example. Nor should they shrink from any hardships in his cause, even if they wene driven from their houses, possessions, and cities, to become exiles and wanderers, or if they were immured in j^risoas ; for, being strangers and pilgrims, they had on earth no continuing ciiy or quiet settlement, but were seeking one to come, even heaven itself, from which they could not be excluded. {}[ftrg. Uef.) V. 15, 16. The Hebrews needed no atonement but ihatof Christ ; and therefore living on him by faith, they might disregard the legal oblations, and offer, at a distance from the temple, more acccjitable sacrifices than burnt- cfferings or peace-offerings, if, through tiie meJiation of the great High Priest, they presented to God their con- tinual and fervent praises and thanksgivings, adoring his manifested perfections, celebrating his wonderful work?, and gratefully acknowledging his abundant lo\ing-kindness towards them. This fruit of their Ii]is would be more pleasing and honourable to him, than the fruits of the land or the firstlings of their catde, {Marg. Uef.) At the same time ihey ought not to forget, nor neglect, to do good to their i.ndigent brethren, or odiers in distress, by communicating to them according to their ability : for with such sacrifices, when offered from a principle of humble faith and love, Ood would be well | leased, as they were a projicr e.xprcssion of their gratitude to him, very honour- able t ) the Gospel, and beneficial to mankind, and the fruits of his grace in their hearts. {Sole, Phil. iv. 10.) V. 17. The apostle, as a debtor to all men, had written to the Hebrews, to establish them in the truth ; and he had called on them to remember and follow the faith of their deceased j-.?stors : but he would also remind ihcm, thai they ought to obey diose })ious teachers and guides who jnow presided over them, and to submit to tluir instruc- tions, admonitions, and reproofs, as ruling them with ..'p.irilijal authority derived from the Lord .le.^us. I'or they must ' give account, that they may do it r luu xvi •> ^ with joy, and not ' with grief: for that fcor "l! '}, is UDprofitable for you. sPhi.i i w. is. 18 "Pray for us : for wc trust * we is,' W nf ", have a good conscience, y in all things t e« xxxh 31. willing to live honestly. p"ii iv,"is. "' 19 But 1 beseech you the rather to do "Eph"'-"!', sn this, ^ that I may be restored to vou the i Thes "v. 25. J y "^ 2 Thes. iii. 1. sooner. x Acts xsiii. I 20 Now ' the God of peace, that r^ipiJiKl " brought again from the dead our Lord y=[,„ Jesus, ' that great Shepherd of the 13 Ph 1. i' . „ .. „ -^ ■ 6. I Tlies .V 1: I Pet II 12. z Horn 1 12xv.31,32 i hilem 22 aBomxv...3 xvi2. iCo v 33 2 Cor xui. 11. Phil iv 9. 1 The=-. v 13. 2 Thes iii. 16. h Acts ii 24 xi i IV. 10 V.30 X 40.41. Kill. 20 xvii 31. Horn 1.4 iv. 24,i5 15 Gal i. I. Eph I 20 Col ii. 12 1 Thes I Ixtii 11. E£ XKXIV 13 xxs _ _ . , , - I Cor ... . . . 10 c Ps xsiii l.lxxx 1 Is xL John I 11. 14,1 Pet. ii 25 v 4. were appointed to watch for their souls, and to guard and caution them against all those errors and sins which might endanger them. They performed this important and difficult service, as men who must give an accqjint, for every part of their conduct, to him who employed them ; so that they could not deliver their own souls, without great vigilance, diligence, faithfulness, and im- partiality, which would often constrain them to displease men. 'J"he people ought therefore to obey the word of God as spoken, and submit to his authority as exercised, by them ; that they might be able to give up their account with joy, having been successful in their labours, and not with grief and anguish of heart, because of the untract- able conduct of those to whom they had been sent ; which would not be for the profit of those who occasioned grief to their faithful pastors, but infinitely injurious to them. This mu.5t principally relate to the account given before the Lor;], as it were, from day to day, with joy or grief, by- ministers, of the reception given to their message ; hr no misconduct of the people will occasion sorrow to the faith- ful servant of Christ, at the final day of retribution, though tiieir sahation will be unto them a crown of rejoicing. The exhortation supposes ihe faithfulness of ministers, and that they exercise a scriptural authority in a proper mannei' ; for no obedience and submission can be due to the usurped dominion of unfaithful stewards or blind guides. V. 18, 19. It is plain fiom tliese verses, that the per- sons immediately addressed, to whotiwii) the first instance the epistle was sent, would know Worn v.hom it came. The apo:t!e desired them to pray for him and his fellow- labourers, as well as for their own pastors : for, how ever he had been calumniated, or suspected, by his nation, he trusted that he had a good conscience, tender, and duly informed, and that he was willing and desirous in all things, and among all persons, to act v.ilh integrity, and in a becoming manner. lie ihercfoie entreated their prayers for his protection, comfort and success : but, espe- cially, that the providence of God would order things in such a manner, as to enable him to come among them the sooner : for he was persuaded many of them would be glad to see him ; and he purjiosed to come as soon as he had fuKy regained his liberty and had o]-.poitunity, i/Otwith- standing all that he had pufiered in consetjuence of his lasj jnurncy to Jerusalem. It is^io' known whether he afcqnv lpii^hed this purpose or no'. A. D. 65: HEBREWS. .4. D. 66. ds« on, ix 20 sheep, throu£rh '' the blood of the " ever- Ex XKiv. 8 , .r' ^ '^ , Zfi-h. i« 11 lasting covenant, mJ'I; "»! It 21 ' Make you perfect in eevcrj;^ good eVsam'i'iiiis. xvork '' to (lo li'is will, | worUlng in you i, fva^lxi^e that which is ' well-pleasing in his sight, E«. «x"v!i. M k through Jesus Christ; ' to whom be • Or, tttla' brother 1 imothy x 1 Pbiieai i,v. 1-1 •' -1 i Tl °*^*' "' "■ ' 1 IS set at liberty : with whom, 11 he come p« '■ 's- ,,,..,•' pif«o«,ActS»»l siiortly, ' 1 will see you. 2~i>i,iiJm" '''" 24 ' Salute all "them that have ' i^^^ VZ'!°i t' nJ rule over you^ and " all the saints. ^ They r^Lm' xv 25 of > Italy salute you. .^/'^^'"'b"^ 25 ^ Grace be with you all. Amen. ts'e 6,7^7. V. 20, 21. After desiring the prayers of tlic Hebre\vs in his behalf, the apostle gave ihcni a comiiendium of his most fervent supplications for them. He addressed him- self lo the Lord, (by a title never used but in St. Paul's epistles,) as " the God of peace," reconciled to believers, and ready to be at peace with all sinners that came to him in the appointed way, as the Author of spiritual peace in thelieavts and consciences of his people, and the Lover ol peace and concord in the church and among mankind ; who " had brought again from the dead the great Shepherd " of the sheep," from whom all pastors derived their authority. Jesus, the great Proprietor of the chosen flock, to whom they had been given, had laid down his life to atone for their sins, and lie continually sought them, and brought them home to his fold, where he protected and fed them. {Notes, Ps. xxiii. /s. liii. 0. Es. xxxiv. Litke XV. 1 — 6.) In order to show that his ransom was accepted, and that he might perform his gracious work as the great Shepherd of his sheep, God the Father had raised him from the dead, " through the blood of the everlasting " covenant." For this may cither refer to the reconciled love of God to his people, through the blood of Christ, or to his being brought again from the dead, because his sacri- fice was sufficient and accepted, and so he became the Shepherd of the sheep ; or to the blessings for which the apostle prayed, and which were bestowed " through the " blood of the everlasting covenant :" all these things may be contained in the words, and it is not obvious to deter- mine which was principally intended. The blood of Christ purchased the blessings of the new covenant, and ratified it as unalterable ; so that it was rendered perpetual to the end of timc^feind everlasting in respect of the sal- vation conferred according to it. The apostle entreated " the God of |)cace," through the mediation of the great Shepherd, and on account of the blood of the covenant, that he would make the Hebrews " perfect in every good " work to do his will," rectifying every disorder of their souls, and completely fitting them for every part of his ■' holy service ; working in them," by his new-creating grace, '■ that which was well-plcasing 'in his sight," being according to his law and image, and for his glory, and therefore acceptable with him through Jesus Christ ; to whom, even to " the God of peace," ho ascribed eternal glory, (.llin-cr. Kef.) The apostle i'i;iyed for them, placed over the Hebrews, or disposed to speak to them in an authoritative style, entreated them to take in good part the word of exhortation, warning, and onconiagement, which he had sent them from love to their souls : for Jir had written a letter to them in few words, compared with- the vast importance and the great variety of the subject^ discussed in it. Timothy had, it seems, been confined ii; prison for preaching the Gospel, of which the Hebrews had heard ; but the writer informed them that he was at , length set at liberty, and that he purposed to come with him to see them, if they were not delayed. It appears hence that the apostle either was at liberty, or had a pros- . pect of being speedily liberated, and that the spurious postscript falsely says, that Timothy was the bearer of the epistle. After this, he concluded with salutations, espe- cially to the pastors and rulers of their churches, and from all the Christians in Italy, as well as those at Rome. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—8. Brotherly love tends, in such various ways, to the benefit of the church, the comfort of believers, and the honour of the Gospel, that the enemy of our souls endea- vours by every means to interrujit its exercise, and to work ii|)on the remains of our corrupt affections for that purpose, with a vast variety of most subtle artifices, against which we should be perpetually upon our guard. Hence it is, that so little of this love is found in the church, though so much is read concerning it in the Scriptures, and that so many divisions and controversies prevail among those, who seem in a measure to have been taught of God to love their brethren ! We best consult our own interest, when we are mindful to use hospitality, and to relieve or entertain our poor brethren, even though they be strangers to us : for thus we entertain Christ himself, whom all angels worship, and obey. When we are exempted frona imprisonment, or other grievous adversities, we should take care not to forget how many are thus oppressed and bowed down, that we may sympathize with them in their sor- rows, and help or comfort them according to our ability; being aware that we are liable to the same distresses, as long as we are in the body. Defilement and dis- honour spring from contrariety lo the law of God, which under the full persuasion, that sanctifyitig grace and holy is perfectly suited to promote our present and future wel- obedience would surely be alteTided with divine consola- j fare : marriage therefore is honourable in all ; nor can any tions, which he did not part^ularly mention. [defilement attach to it, except when the letter or spirit V. 22 — 25. The apostle, as not being immediately 1 of God's commandments is violated by men's behaviour J. D. 65. CHAPTER XIII. .^. D. 65 respecting it. But God doth, in this world, severely mark his abhorrence of those forbidden lusts, to which the depravity of ttie human heart leads such numbers ; and he will surely condemn erery impenitent fornicator and adul- terer at the day of judgment, whatever disguise or ex- cuse he may here use to cloak his wickedness. Chris- tians, whedier poor or rich, should, in all their words and actions, show, that they abhor covetousness. Having in heaven inexhaustible treasures, they should be well satis- lied with mean accommodations here: and, as God hath promised " that he will never leave them, and in no case " forsake them," they have no cause to court the favour, or fear the frown of men, or to dread the want of things needful ; but may courageously say, " the Lord is my " Helper, I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." The instructions and example of ministers, who have honourably and comfortably closed their testimony, should be peculiarly remembered by their survivors. Death, as it were, gives the last sanction to their doctrine and ex- hortations ; and the happy event of their trials calls on others to follow their faith, and to consider the joyful end of their course ; and ministers should have respect to this during their lives. But Jesus alone is an ever-living Friend, " the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." Still he fills the hungry, encourages the trembling, and welcomes penitents of every class ; still he rejects proud Pharisees, abhors painted sepulchres, and teaches all whom he saves to love righteousness and to hate iniquity : and, having called them by his grace, he will love them un- changeably and for ever. Indeed, all those, and those alone, will abide the day of his coming to judge the world, who would have met with favour from him when he taught on earth. - V. 9—16. We should be careful not to be carried about with strange doctrines, but seek to have our hearts established by grace : for notions and forms never profit those who arc occupied in them. Living by faith in Christ, and being consecrated to God through his blood, let us willingly separate from this evil world, and bear the reproach of proud formalists. We have here no continuing city ; our pilgrimage will soon end ; let us then seek an abiding mansion in the city of our God, and consider all temporal prosperity or adver- sity as of scarcely any consequence. As a spiritual priest- hood, let us solace ourselves in this evil world, by offering to God, through Jesus Christ, our continual sacrifice of praise, " even the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his " name." This, joined with the acceptable sacrifice of doing good to men for the Lord's sake, will be an anticipa- tion of the joys of heaven, and a preparation for its work and worship. V. 17—25. Ministers should peculiarly remember, that they are called " to watch for men's souls, as those who must give " account ;" for dreadful will be their condemnation, if they be slothful, selfish, or unfaithful ; and Christians should obey and submit to their faithful pastors, and take in good part their loving admonitions, that they may give up their account with joy, and not with grief: for [{such pastors lose their labour, their hearers will lose their souls. Men should also pray for ministers ; who would generally walk more honourably, and labour more successfully, if the people were more earnest in praying for them ; and when they see, or think they see, something amiss in those, who, upon the whole, have a good conscience, willing in all things to live honestly, they should pray the more fervently for them. Let us then approach the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep, and, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, let us beseech him, for ourselves and each other, " to make " us perfect to do hLs will, working in us that which is " well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ," that we may glorify him for ever. Then every word of exhor- tation, and every dispensation of Providence, will do us good, the communion of saints will be maintained, and grace will be with us all. THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. James^ the son of ^tjlpheus, the brother of Jmlc, and the near relation of our Lord, called also ''• James the' " /c5s," probably bcim^ lower in stature, or younger, than the ether James, is generally allowed to have been the writer of this epistle; (Marg. Ref. Notes Matt, xiii /il — 58 Luke xxiv. Hi — 21 :) and they who have doubted of this, have assigned very slight reasons for their hesitation. It is recorded in ccclesiaslieal history, and The Acts of the apostles confirm the fact, that he generally resided at Jerusalem, superintending the concerns of the churches in that city, and in the neighbovring places, to the end of his life ; which was terminated by martyrdom, the circumstances of which are differently related. He seems to have written this epistle, but a short time before his death ; and it is supposed by some, that the sharp rebukes and awful warnings, given in it to his countrymen, stirred up that persecuting rage, tvhieh terminated his life : but indeed, it is peculiarly wonderful, that he should have been preserved so majiy years, in so perilotis a situation; and it can be accounted for only by ascribing it to the Lord's immediate protection. The epistle is styled general or catholic, because it was not addressed to any particular church, but to the Jewish converts, throughout their dispersions ; imleed with evident reference also to the unconverted purl of the nation. This title, however, is not coeval with the epistle ; but was prefxed to it, some ages after it was written ; and to the subscejuent epistles, in several inslonccs with manifest impropriety. It is probable, that the apostle by means of the elders and Christians at Jerusalem, circulated copies of tins epistle, by (hose strangers who came to the sacred festivals, from the severed cities and countries where the Jews resided, and especially where there were Jiivish converts to Christianity : and, as it was crclusively addressed to his countrymen, it seems for a long time to have been little known among the Gentile converts ; so that its authenticity was doubled for a considerable time. ' While the second Epistle of Peter, the second and third of John, the Epistle of Judc, end the ' Revelation, arc omitted in the first Syrioc trandation of the JYeic Testament, uhich was made in the * beginning of the second century, for the use of the converted Jews, this Epistle cf Ji mes hath found a 'place therein. This is an argiinxnt of great weight : for lertcinly the Jevish icluiers, to whcm that ' epistle teas addressed and delivered, ivere n.iuh better judges of its uvthenticily, than the tonvcrlcd "■ Eusebius saith. It was knoiin to most, and publicly read in most. Christian churches: St. Jercw, * that in process of time it obtained authoritr. Eslhitis notes, That they, who before dcvlttd (f .it, in * the fotirth^eentury embraced the opinion of them who received it ; and from thence no ehireh, no * ecclesiastical ivriter, is found ivho ever doubted of it. But, on the contrary, all the catahgves of the ' books of the holy scripture, published by general end provincial councils, Rovian bishops, or other ' orthodox writers, number it amorg the cahotiiccd .Hriplures.^ (Whitby.) ' // eppccrs to me, that the * authority of this, and some other parts of the JS''(U) Tcstemeut, having been early fjucstionid by some * primitive churches, effords an argument of their peculiar ccvtion, that ho other wriiii.gs shoild Lc •* admiitcel into the sacred canon, however txcellent ; besides those whieh hcd en vndovLted claim to thai ^distinction : and justly challagcs cur deference to their judgment, who dcibtlei-s trere mosi cajnble of *■ deciding, and gave svffu lent evidauc (f their care, as well as their capacity The epistle before us, <■ having passed through a severe and accurite scrutiny, appears to have been universally received ; e.nd <■ (wcordingly has been trcnsmiiled down to lie present ogc, as en authentic part - tlic tongue, 26. await.x.-. lii;. rril I r , ■";• • n-l 55' Mark iii 18'. 1 he nature of true relis;ion, II . i.uke v.. is. ■' '^ Actsi- 13. Jtii 17 XV. 13 xxi. ' "TAMES, " a servant of God, and of Tiz'^juJei "' O t'le Lord Jesus Christ, "= to the Rom°iT'phii' twelve tribes which are '' scattered abroad, Pet. i i c Ex XXIT. i. ' greeting. f^iKin^s^^iii^ 2 My brethren, '' count it ail joy when Jij^^'^Ji,' eJ: ye fall into ° divers temptations ; a^'^' ^^^l ''■ 3 KnoAving this, " that the trying oi^^-i^^ ^v" t' your faitii worketh ' patience. j^^'x/xii.""; 4 But "^ let patience have her perfect ^f,"'i5"'jo1,„frj. work, that ye may be ' perfect and entire, ^.'j, ^% i', •\ " wanting nothing. e'lvJis 'sv. n. XX i 2r.. 2 Tim. iv. 21 fl2. Malt. T. 10-12. Luke yi 22.23 Acts v. 41 "om. viii. 17,16,35-37 2Cnr xii. 9, 10 Phil, t 29 ii 17 Col. i 24. Heh. x. 31 1 Pet iv 13-11'. S Heh. XI. 36-38. I Pet. i 6-8 2 Pet. ii 9 Ilev ii. 10. h Horn v 3 1 viii. 2S . 2Cor. iv 17 i Rom. ri 7 viii 2S XV. 4. Col. i. II STIies i 4. iii S. Heb. x. 2t.. xil 1 2 Pet i fi kv 7-11 Jol.xvii 9 Ps. xxxvii 7. xl. 1 Hah ii. 3 Malt x. 52. I.uke viii 15 xxi 11 Gal vi 9 1 ili 2, Piiiv. iv 18 Matt, v 4" lohn xvii 23 I Cor ii 6. Pliil.iii 12-14. Col iv. 12 2 Ti™ iii 17 Bet., xiii. 21 1 Pet v. 10 1 John iv 17 18 m 5. Matt. xix. 20. -Mark x. 21 Luke xviii. 22. 1 Pet. ii 9. ' festivals.' (Beza.) Some of all the other tribes still subsisted, as distinct from the Gentiles, and as generally incorporated with the descendants of Judah ; and the nation wasdispersed abroad in alniostallpartsof the known world, as is evident from the Scriptures themsehes, (Mnr((. Rcf.) a.s well as from the testimony of ancient writers. Greeting. James, who pi-obal)iy di-evv up the epistle of the council at Jerusalem to the Gentile convert.^, uses the same word. {3Inrg. Ref.) V. 2 — 4. Knowing the afflicted and persecuted con- dition in which his brethren were, the apostle exhorted them to esteem it altogether a cause of rejoicing, when they fell into divers temptations. Conscious of their weakness, they were in general warned not to run into temptations, and taught to pray not to be led into tempta- tion : yet if the Lord saw good, that, notwithstanding their watchfulness, they should fall into such trials as might ex- pose them to temptation, and give them an o()pcrlunity oi resisting and overcoming it, they ought to consider it as a matter of nnmingled joy, an occasion of evidencing the sincerity and strength of their love to God.antl as a rich advantage to their .souls, though painful for the time. For they might know, from the word of God and their own experience, that the temporary trial of their faith, by 55 S A. D. 60. JAMES. A. D. 60. iiKxxxxi.3 6. a If n any of you lack wisdom. " leti vvaverine : for ' lie that wavcrcth is likc'Gen«'i«*Eph xxxVi !- . 1 I • 1 II /• 1 1 ■ -11 . , " U Hell X 23 KioR, "i '-9 him ask ol God, that givcth to all mc/iiawaveoi tlie sea, driven vvitli tlic wind xiii » nHct ». Joh HX'iii. 12— i . - .R 1 1 • i ■ '" Juoe 12, 13. S8. vrov.iii s- jiberailv, ^ and upbiaideth not; and it ',„«•'»<=<"• » shall be given him. °i'jhr""x"i°i2 ^ ^"t ''let him ask in faith, nothing 2Chr. i 10 rrov ii 3-e Is I v. 6, 7. Jer mix. 12, 11. Dan. ii 18-22 Mali, vn 7-11. Luke Ml. 9—13. Joliu iv. 10 xiv. IJ xv . 7 .xvi. 13-24. 1 John iii 22. v U. 15 pMatt. xl 20 Mark svi U Luke xv. 20-22. qMalt.xXi. 12 ftlarkxi 22-24 .1 Tim ii. S Hel. xi. G and tossed. / r or Met not that man think that he .'.' 'r,'" ?•«• • i». 8 I Kings xviii.:i iK\nt» -'" •■■>- 41 Is. shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A ' double-minded man is unstable in *' all his ways. X 2. IXalt VI. 32 24. 2 Pel. ji 14 ill. le. which its genuine nature and strength were proved, had a tendency in the event to work patience in their disposition and conduct, and to bring thorn into a resigned, clepend- cnt, waiting frnme of mind, connected with meekness and perseverance in well doing. But, in order to derive the full benefit from their trials, they must allow j)aticnce to perform its perfect work, and submissively wait, in reliance on the promises of God andohedicncc to his com- mandments, till he saw good to deliver them, without being induced, by the number, variety, or duration of their sufferings, to use sinful means of deliverance, or grow faint and weary in well doing, or to manifest peevish- ness, discontent, or despondency. Thus patience, like a salutary medicine, would have its perfect operation, and bring them into so tractable, docile, meek, compassionate, and resigned a stale of mind, so enilear to them the love and sufferings of Christ, so wean them from the w orld, and so reconcile them to death, that they would be ren- dered complete and mature in everj- part of the Christian character, and in all respects meet and prepared for the duties of their several situations, and wanting nothing in order to the performance of every good work. {iSotes, &c. Rom. v. 3 — 5. Heb. xii. 5 — 13.) Temptations, Or, Trials. Some expositors lay considerable stress on the distinction between ,'*xiKviT'2. temptation : for "^ when he is tried . S, 6 Jon. lie IS tried ne . xl 6. Matt, vi, 30. 1 Cor sii. 31. 1 Pet. i. 2.1. 1 Jobn 7, 8 Matt xiii G Mark iv. G h v. 1-7. .lob xxi. 24— 30 Ps. xsxvii. 35, 3G xlix. S— 14. Ixxiii.ie- 20. Ei; v. 15 Is xxviii. 1 4. xl 7,8 Luke xii. 16-21 xn. 19-25. 1 Cor vji, 31. 1 Pet. i. 4 v. 4. c 4>c on, 2-4. v 11. Job V. 17. Hs. xciv 13 cxix 67 71.75 Prov, iii 11,12 Heb. vi. 15. x. 32 xii 5. Hcv -dDem viii 3. xiii 3. Prov. svii 3 Zecli. xiii 9. Mai. iii. 2, 3. Heb xl. 17. 1 Pet i 6, 7. 10. LorJ, to whom shall I go ? Thou hust the words of eternal life ?" V. 9 — 11. In order to attain greater simplicity and shall receive ' the crown of life, Avhich the Lord hath promised to ' them that love him. 1 .3 Let s no man say when he is tempt- ed, ! am tempted of God : for God can- not he tempted v.ith f evil, neither tempt- eth he any inan : 14 But every man is tempted, '' when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 1.5 Then, ' when hist' hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin ; and '' sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. ; Mall. XXV 34. Luke xxii. 28- 30 Uom ii. 7- 10 1 Cor. iv. 25 1 Tim iv. ;■ I Pet i. 7 i-. 4 Uev. ii 10 21. 2 -l. Job xxxi. 9. 27 Pro", iv 23 Is vii II. 13 E|ili iv 22 Hell, li . If. li.>c 4 Mic ii. 1- 3 Malt i 17-15. Vi,. ix. 1/ Bom. V. 12 .2!!. XV 13, 2 i Gen Mi. 6 iv. ,^-B Ji. 4, IS. IS- 50. Ai:t3 V. 1-3.- 21. 2j. hev. XX. 14, 15. some learned men do, would wholly destroy the cnrrcjy and beauty of the contrast; and to cxjilain it evlusrvtly of the rich man, who was reduced to poverty for the sake slabiliiy in the faith, it was proper for believers to know -of the Gospel, would imply, that no rich man, however in what they ought to rejoice. The brother of low degree, | humble, poor inspirit, liberal, and condescending lo his the real Christian, who was poor and afflicted in his out-' poor brethren, could have any ground of rejoicing or ward circumstances, should not deem himself unhappy on glorying in Christ, and in the hope of gli'iy. unices he that account ; on the contrary, he ought to rejoice or glory,' voluntarily relinquished, or were forcibly dep;'i\cd of his to comfort himself and lift up his heart,' (Besa:) because he was exalted, in an honourable relation to Christ, in be- ing conibnned to him as to his outward condition, and in estate and possessions, and so reduced lo entirr poverty ; a doctrine well suited to some ortlers of papists, but not at all to .genuine Christianity. It is proper that some should being made a Son of God and an heir of heaven. But thelbe the l^ord's stewards and almoners in outward things; rich Christian ought not to rejoice or glory in his riches, [but if they be made low, as humble, teachable, penitent or at all trust in them for happiness: radier let him re- 1 believers in Cl;rist, and thankful to be ihus employed by joice in that " he was made low" in the disposition of hisjhim, let them rejoice in this humiliation of heart under heart, having been convinced of his guilt, depravity, andi these circumstances, which generally increase pride and misery, and made humbly willing, as an indigent pensioner self-exaltation. on the mercy of God, to ask for the blessings of salva- V. }'2. Whilst the world deemed those happy who en- tion in the same way with the poorest of his brethren ;' joyed uninterrupted prosperity, though it served to in- and to consider himself as no wiser or better than they, but crease their ]iride, malice, avarice, sensuality, and impi- merely intrusted with a larger stewardship, of which aniety, they were indeed lo be congratulated as blessed, who account must shortly be rendered. Being thus nuide Zow endured tempiations, and passed through various afflictive would be a solid ground for exultation, seeing that fewjand trying dispensations with submissive conslancy, and rich persons were thus humbled and made "poor in' the persevering obedience of faith and hope. For after the "spirit;" nor would the cause for this joy be abated,: Christian had been thus proved, an I the reality of his grace even if they were made low in their circumstances also through the rapacity of their persecutors. For all out- ward splendour and distinction must soon pjass away, as the gaudy tlowers that grow among the grass are withered by the scorching sun, and lose all their beauty and transient glory, even sooner than the green blade doth ; and bein manifested, and after his holy afl'ections had b( en thus invigorated, and the temper of his mind imjiroved, he would be honoured as a conqueror in the spiritu il ron- lest ; not with a wreath of fading flowers, but with die crown of life ; the honour, glory, and immortality, whirh the Lord had promised to them that love him, as rccon- withered, they perish, and are less valuable dian the com-j ciled to him and made to delight in him and his ways, by mon herbage. Thus rich men flourish only to be cutj faith in Christ Ji-sus. {Mar^. Ref.) down, they grow but to wither, and their transient dis- V. 13 — 1;>. When trials become tonp/rt/ton." and of-a- tinctions issue in deeper misery and disgrace, if ilicy pro-'sions of sin, no man should venture to say (hai he was ceed ill llieir w«7/.s of avarice, luxury, pride, selfishness,! (emp'ted by God, as if he werr- the Author of tiansf.res- or ungodliness, and are not made low by repentance,! sion, or of the dishonourable event of the trial. (IS.i:les, faith, S3lf-denial, crucifixion to the world, and submission; 2—4. ' the wrath of man worketh 3s°''tc'''»^'7 not the righteousness of God. 3l"(,,'iketv*'i' 21 Wherefore, ' lay apart all'' filthi- J^" ^'" Msik xii. :i.2i. , liiti. "" 17 Every " cood irift, and every per- IS i< 1 Hei.. feot gilt IS from above, and comctli down n*.s« o;i. 5 iii " iVoin the Father of lights, with whom ' 'S" u 'i" xxxT '* P no variableness, neither shadow of F""'«!.;''*r'-,! turning. IM'Of '' his own will begat he iCUr. i. II, 12 Prov. ii.fi.U. xxviii. IC Uan ii 21, ns. 27-30. Matt vji II. xi. l.iji II, 12. Luke xi. 13. Jnl,n iii. 27, Acl^ V 31. xi. 13. ICTm vi 23. Xl 36 Xii Cor iv 7 xli 4-i; Epli ii 3-5 8 iv. 3-11 Phil i 2i) Tit iii 3— S 1 Jnhn V. II, 12. oGcn i 1.2 14.15. Deut i» 13 Ps, xix 1— S. Ixxxiv II, Is V« l« Jnha i, 9. viii 12. 1 Cor i» i> Eph i 18 1 John i " V .V.im xxili 13. I Sam. xv 2a. Pa cii in. 27. Is xlv . 11.12 siii- 0 .) John i n. iii 3-5 Bom. iv. 4 i Cul. i. 10,21. 2 Thcs. li 13, M. 1 I'd. i 3. ness, and superfluity ot naughtiness, '' and } — ■ • • - •■ X ta. xi- ~ - — - . - . - 20. 21. Bpli 1.2 1 xNeh. is, 17, IT Matt V 22 Gal. 2 I im li. 2i, 35 8 Heb. xii. 1. 1 Pet b Ps 9 Is 42-^4 4li. KTii. I I The! ii 13. 3. 2. xxi 23. Ec V. J, 3. «vi 32 xvii U \ix 11 19. XXV. 28 Ec vii 8,9. 2011 Col viii. 15 yiii 17. IS Sum xa 11.12. x.22.Rr. xviii. 31. Rnm Hill 12.13 F.ph. Iv 32 Col. 1 II a iv 8. Ei xxstiil 25 2 Cor vii. 1 Eph. v 4. :i<. 19 Ixi I. Zcph. ii 3 Malt 13. disobedience must be the effect. Nothing, therefore, that is sinful in the heart or conduct can be ascribed to God, ■without the same absurdity as it would be to chiirge dark- ness and coldness upon the sun ; for God cannot be tempted | with evil ; his absolute perfection and all-sufficiency render| it impossible that there should be any inducement for him,j in the nio^t minute degree, to deviate from complete j and entire justice, truth, wisdom, purity, and goodness ;| neither doth he in this sense tempt any man, by putting evil into his heart, suggesting it to his thoughts, or neccs-, sitating his commission of it. He is not the Author of the dross, though his fiery trial delects and exposes it. But every man is tempted to commit sin when the inor-| ilinate desires of his heart after worldly ease, honour,! Aveallh, or pleasure, induce him to seize the bait witlij which Satan entices him: thus he is drawn out of the! line of duly, as the fish is draggcil out of llie water when | It hath been enticed by the delusive morsel that covered | the hook. So that when lust, or vehement desires after any ; object which cannot be obtained without sin, is conceived | in the heart, through the suggestions of Satan and the allurements of external objects, the purpose of indulgence! is admitted and cherished; thus actual transgression is! brought forth, and when this is completed, it bringeth forth death as its genuine offspring, and nothing but the mercy and grace of God, through Christ Jesus, can jircvent the sinner's final destruction. This may be considered as the! scriptural account of the original of moral evil, the natural history of the conception, production, and progeny of the first sin, and of every sin, except as repentance, through God's mercy, prevent the effects of them. But jierhaps the apostle referred to the case of apostates, who, under persecutions, through love of the world, conceived the purpose of renouncing Christianity, which, being delibe- rately done and persisted in, ended in their final ohtliiiary and destruction. It is egregious trilling, and ninnift\st!y ab- surd, to take occasion iVom the English word Insl, vvliich is often used to mean one particular sensual inclination, when impetuous, and ungoverned, to li;nit the passage merely to sensuality, as if the impetuous and ungoverned desire of power, praise, wealth, or revenge, were not «T(^f/ti«, as much as the sensual inclinations. The word indeed is often used in a good s^gpe. (Luke xxii. 15. Phil, i, •23. Gr.) and simply means a vehement inclination, whatever be the object. V. IG — 18. h behooved believers to be very careful not Jo mistake in this matter, lest they should be induced to listen to temptation, and wander from their duty, from an erroneous supposition that their circum.stances would excuse their sins, or lest they should dishonour and offend God, by ascribing that misconduct to hiin, which was solely the effect of their apostate natur''. Every thing truly good, of whatever kind, must be considered as a gift and bounty coming down from God, being beneficial in itself and perfect in its kind, like its great Author, who is tne Father, the Source, and Fountain, of light, natural, moral, and spiritual ; the Author of whatever is beauti- ful, excellent, and good, in all creatures and in the whole universe, as well as of all true knowledge, wisdom, holi- ness, and felicity, in those rational agents that never sin- ned, and in redeemed sinners. But nothing of a con- trary nature comes down from him, '' with whom is no " variableness, neither shadow of turning." The sun and moon, the two great natural lights which he hath made, appear to us to have several changes and turnings, whence originate summer and winter, day and night ; but in fact these appearances arise entirely from our situation respecting them. Thus God is immutably the Fountain of good, and of nothing else ; all good is to be ascribed to him, and sought j'rom him ; but the evil which we do or suffer, with all the changes which we experience, are from our- selves ; the consequences of our having turned away from God, and of ji change in our situation resjiecting him ; and must not in any degree be ascribed to Him, who is unchangeably the same in his nature and perfec- tion, without the least variation; and whose conduct pro- ceeds upon the same unalterable principles of justice, truth, wisdom, and goodness, whatever effect it may produce on us, according to our character, behaviour, or state in his sight ; and all sin, error, ignorance, and misery, must be ascribed to the mutability, frailty, and imjierfection of cre- ated beings. It should also be remembered, that all the |)Prsons to whom the apostle wrote had been in them- selves dead in sin and children of wrath ; and that Gud, of his sovereign will and free mercy, had regenerated them by his Spirit, through the word of truth, (Soles, John iii. 1--8. 12. Eph. ii. 1—9. Tit. iii. 3—7.) in order that they might be consecrated to his service, as a kind of first- fruits of his creatures, more excellent and valua- ble than the rest of them ; and as an earnest of a vastly larger increase from the Gentile world in that and future ages, even as the first-fruits, presented to the Lord, were the earnest of the future harvest, and brought a blessing upon it. A. D tiO. CHAPTER I. J. D. GO. c John vi. 63. *s receive uitli meekness ' the ensfi'atted Marg xi. 17 word, •' which is able to save your souls. uaVs siii 26. 22 But" be vc doers of the word, and Kotn. I. IC I •! . . for.»v.^8_^^*:p,':- not liearers only, J deceiving your own I4-J7 Tit i' spIvPS e',v''"7'.Mltt.vii -^ Foi" 'f ^"J "® ^ ^ hearer ol the .xL~fn. 3(? Luk°e word, and not a doer, he is like unto a ■•» *iZ*^i, *« ™^n beholding his natural face in a glass : Johi xiiu 17. Rom li J.1. Phil iv. 8, 9. Col. iii 17. I John ii 3. iii 7 sJohnll. Rev XSii 7. fSi- U Eliv. SO Oh 3 1 Cor iii. 18. vi. a sv. 33. r.al. vi 3 7. 2 Tim iii. 13. Tit. iii 3 2 I'et ii. 13 I John i. 8. Rev xii. 9. gSceoa, ii. 14-26 Jer xliv 16 Ez. xxxiii. 31,22. Matt, tii 26, 2'. Luke vi 4». V. 19 — 21. As believers owed all the difference, in their state and character, to the sovereign grace of God, by means of his word, so it behooved all of them to be swift and ready to hear further admonitions, instructions, and counsels, from the same source, in a teachable and attentive manner, and to " be slow to speak ;" not rash or dogmatical in their judgmenls and decisions, not hasty lo assume the otfice of teachers, not allowing themselves to dispute of things beyond their depth, and not indulging a conceited loquacious humour, as speaking for the sake of speaking, or in the hope of obtaining applause, with- out due seriousness, modesty, recollection, and prudence. They should also be slow to wrath, not giving way to angry tempers, bitterness of s|jliit against opposers, or proneness to acrimonioHS controversy, under a mistaken notion of great zeal for the truth ; on the contrary, they should be slow and backward to entertain, or express, any kind or degree of resentment, even against their most cruel persecutors ; assured that the wrath of man was not a proper means of promoting the interests of religion in the ■world, or leading men to embrace the Gospel and lead holy h'ves. For such proud contentions and violent tempers tended to (irejudice the minds of men against the Gospel ; to disturb the peace, and corrupt the purity of the Church ; to multiply iniquities, and in cwry way to hinder the knowledge and practice of the righteousness of God. The apostle therefore exhorted them to lay apart, and to cast off with abhorrence, as a filthy garment, all the sinful practices of their past lives, which were abominable in die sight of God, and especially to avoid and repress the " ovedlowings of malignity," which many indulged under a pretence of zeal ; whereas they proceeded entirely from the predominancy of pride, wrath, envy, and other hate- ful passions. Tl'iss they ought to be prepared to receive the word of God in a meek, docile, humble, and jicace- able frame of mind ; for it could profit them only, when it became an "engrafted word," or ufi/'/fni/ffJ word, living and growing in the .-oul by failh and love, as the principle of a new nature, changing all their views, di.'-posilions, and affections, into conformity to its own holiness, and so producing suitable fruit in their li\es; and being thus le- ceived and engrafted, it would be able to effect the com- plete salvation of their souls, us the means by which the 3]'iritof God bega;), carried on, and wouk] perfect, his new creation of the soul to holiness. V. '22 — 25. In order that the -word of truth miuht produce these blessed effects upon 'he souls of those who beard it, they mu.st lie doers of it, and not hearers only. For if they were only hearers, however attentive, cunslanl. 21 For he bcholdetli himself, and I'^'i'U. viii. m. .1 1 . ■ 1 . , ^ , Matt, vlil 27 goetli his way, anil stiaigfilway lorgetteth Jg"^y- ^'^^ »"; " what manner of man he was. pct'^ii'ii*' ^ 25 But -whoso ' lookcth into ^ the per- i|'™f ._/'„",; '■'*„ feet law of ' liberty, "■ and continucth I,';,; ^jfls ''" therein, he being not " a forgetful hearer, "i'nj'^^^^.fj^j^ but a doer of the work, " this man shall vii"'?'" """^ be blessed in his * deed. ' il'T ^Tit ^ Jy 2 Cor. iii. 17, 18. Gal. v. !. I Tel. ii 16. m 1 Sam. xii. 14. John viil. 31. xv. 9, 10. Acts ir. 42. xiii. 43 sxvi.^S lUim ii. 7. 8 xi. 22. Cul. i 13. 1 Tm. ii 15. iv. 16. I John ii. 24.-— -n23, £4. o Vs Ki\. il rvi. 3. cxix. 2, 3. LuKexi. 28 John xiii 17. 1 Cor. \v 58. Kev. x-iv. 13. sxii. 14 • Or, doini;. or teachable, they might seem to be, their neglect of prac- tising what they heard would prove, that the word was not engrafted in their hearts, and that they were putting a most fatal imposition on themselves ; whether custom, curiosity, a love of speculation, or a vain confidence in knowledge without obedience, for salvation, induced them to attend. A man of this description, who heaid the Gospel,' and did not obey its call to repentance, failh in Christ, and a sober, righteous, and godly life, was like a person who gave a transient look at his natural face as reflected from a mirror, without attempting to alter what was unbecoming in his attire or appearance, who would therefore imiiiediately depart, and soon forget what manner of man he was ; and the glimjise which he had of himscli would have no abiding eflect on him. Thus the mere hearer might have short-lived conviclimis of his .sinfulness ; but, not liking the view given of Ids state, heart, and cha- racter, in the glass of God's word, and having no cticctua! desires of an entire change, he would soon lose sight of his transie^U discoveries, in the company, business, and pleasures of the world, and so remain ignorant of himself, and destitute of tninsforming gj-ace. But whosoever look- ed, steadfastly and attentively into the word of God, with a real desire of learning from it his true state and character, and the way of acctptanre and salvation, and continued uith perseverance in this important inquiry, he, not being a forgetful hearer, but one that reduced to practiced what he learned from time to time, though it cost him much humiliation and self-denial, would be blessed in liis deed, or in his doin» uou and tiie rather is this, " lo visit }'"j''\'- J- '■>"'" the fatherless and widows in their afllic- "la"!;^,"!*!'^ tion, and " to keep himself unspotted f'^'"li' %j'i^ from the world. 3i-4s'°'Ga"v f, vi 9 I Jchii i.i 17- HI. X iv 4 John xrii J4, 15 H'^m. xii. 2 Gil. i. 4. vi'. M 'co' iii l_1 1 Ii.t.n .i f;-!.; >. 4 r. ID relieve their wants, and afford them protection, counsel and comfort, in their distresses ; aad in keeping at a dis- tance fiom the sinful pursuits, interests, pleasures, maxims, fashions, and pollutions, of this wicked world ; so that a man might have no stain upon his garments, no blemish on his character, po guilt'upon his conscience, on that account. Without some measure of this holy love, and this mortification to the world, no doctrines, forms, con- fidence, high affections, zeal, or apparent devotion, can |)iove a man an accepted worshipper of God, Our true religion is exactly equal to the measure in which these things have place in our hearts, experience, and conduit: and these are therefore the criteria of pure and undefiled religion, by which we should judge of it, in our.>elvcs and in others, both as to the reality of it, and the degree in which it is jiosscssed. But this holy love, and mortifica- tion to the world, can only be ])roduced by faith in a cru- cified Saviour, and the suj^ply of his sanctifying Spirit ; so that no ajipearimcc of these things can be depended on, except they spring from, and are connected with, a pro- fessed belief of the Gospel, and a reliance on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus for salvation. {Notes, I Cor. xiii.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIOiNS. V. 1—8. — «=14.C»— The servants of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ must consider themselves as employed to do good to the chosen tribes of the true Israel, through all their dispersions in this evil world. Divers temptations we must meet with ; and if we fall into them without our own fault, and have only the distress of bearing them, without the guilt of yielding to them, we may deem it a great cause of joy to be thus proved and purified in the furnace, and made meet for future honour and felicity. For these painful, but short, trials tend to reduce the gracious heart into a more submissive temper, and a more cordial aci)uie.scence in the v/ill of God ; and when patience, in its various exercises, is allowed to have its perfect work, it meliorates all the dispositions and affections of the soul ; produces a peculiar simplicity, humility, and tenderness ; corrects the harsh- ness and roughness natural lo us, and matures the fruits of righteousness to the greatest advantage. So that in this severe school the Christian makes his greatest jiroficiencv, and becomes perfect and entire, in every part of his tem- per and conduct, according to the measure of attainment which may be arrived at in this world, and is defective in nothing recjuisite for the due performance of the services required of him. But in respect of this, and every other part of our conduct, we shall fcfl that we lack v.isdom, in proportion as we become acquainted with ourselves ; nor shall we, if we re^verence the Scriptures, seek it in the schoola of philosophy, or from the counsels of the wise men of this world ; but we shall ask the precious boon of A. D. GO. CHAPTER ir. Ji. D. 60. CHAP. II. Cautions against partial regard to the rich, and against contempt of the poor, as cou- trarii to the k:w of love, 1 — 9. 7Vje transgression of one commandment vio- lates the whole law, 1 0 — 1 '1 JYo meroj God, and obtain the substance, while others are deceived M'itli an empty shadow. As the Lord " gireth to all " men liberally, and ujibraideth not," and halh engaged that wisdom shall be given to them that ask him lor it, so every man, who feels his want of heavenly wisdom, may apply to him for this inestimable benefit without fear of being refused. Did we fully avail ourselves of this privilege, how greatly should we be enriched with divine knowledge! And how jirudently shoidd we conduct all our concerns, and avoid every snare anddevice of our enemies ! But pride, prejudice, and a carnal mind, co-oporating with unbelief, not only ijrecludc multitudes entirely from these treasures, but in some degree prevent all -of us from drawing from them so copiously as we otherwise might do. If men be divided in (heir judgment, between a depend- encie on the promises of God in the use of appointed means, and other methods of seeking wisdom; if they do not really believe that the Lord will bo as good as his word ; or if they question whether heavenly things are decidedly preferable to earthly ; no wonder that they are like the waves of the sea, which are driven with the wind, and tossed ; and if they rcceivenothing of God, they have non&to blame but themselves. Whilst we see so many of these double-minded men on every side, who are unstable in all their "'ways, we are reminded to pray for the in- crease of faith, that we may waver no more, but trust in the Lord, and cleave to him alone. V. 9—18. If there were any substantial satisfaction in earthly things, there might be some speciousncss in attempting to serve God and Mammon; but as all below is " vanity and '' vexation of spirit," the poor believer may well rcjoicein being exalted to an interest in Christ, and in the prospect of glory in -heaven, though he have all kinds of hardships by the way ; and the rich have at least equal cause for rejoicing, if God hath humbled them before his mercy seat, though the world despise and hate them on that account ; nay, though they should be stripped of the possessions for the cause- of Christ. For the fashion of this world passeth away, and all its magnificence and show of liapiiiness fadcth and withereth,like the flower of the grass, and most miserable arc those rich men, who fade away in the pride of ungodly prosperity. But blessed are they. who patiently endure trials, and manfully resist tempta- tion; for " through much tribulation shall they enter into " the kingdom of God ;" and, having been tried, they sh;ill receive the unfading crown of glory, which God hath promised to them that love him. But let not hypocrites who are tempted under iheir trials to renounce the profes- sion of the Gospel, or believers, who through unwatrh- fulness are overcome in some sharp conflict, venture for a moment to say or think that they are tempted by God ; will be shoxon to the unmercifxd, 13. As love, shown by words alone, is worth- less ; so faith ivithoiit works is dead and nnprofitabie, M — 20. This is illustra- ted bi/ the examples of Abraham and Rahab, 21 — 26. " for he cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he " any man." And if any one skould dare thus foolishly to charge God with being the Author of sin, in any way, or on any ]jretcnce, he may surely exjiect some dreadful rebuke for his prcsumjition. For when the depravity of the heart hath influenced men to hearken to Satan's entice- ments and catch at his "bails, and so sin hath been con- ceived and finished, and condemnation justly incurred, it is no less than blasphemy, to throw the blame upon the righteous jDrovidence or holy commandnents of God. Such inferences from important trutlis, ill understood, should be carefully avoided, whilst we remember that every good and perfect giftcometh dawn from the unchangeable Father of Light, the inexhaustible Fountain of wisdom, holiness, and felicity. But if we be Christians indeed, the Lord hath, according to his determinate purpose and " the " counsel of his own will," begotten us with the word of truth ; we should therefore give him all the glory of this hapjiy change, and consecrate all our faculties to his service, that we may be " a kind of first-fruits of his " creatures." V. 19—27. It behooves us all to be " swift to hear, slow to speak, " and slow to wrath," even when apparently religious zeal prompts a diflcrent conduct ; for " the wrath of man work- " eth not the righteousness of God;" but is the scandal and bane of every society in which it is indulged. Let us then lay apart all filtliincss, and the overflowings of inalirious- ness, that we may receive with humble teachableness, and maintain with meekness and love, the sacred truths contain- ed in the holy scriptures, which, being engrafted in the heart, are effectual to the salvation of our souls. But, while we are swift to heai the word of God, let us take care to be doers of it, and not heareis only, lest we deceive our own souls ; many such are found in most congrega- tions, who deceive scarcely anj body but themselves. The word of God is a faithful mirror, to show us the defor- mity and pollution of our souls, and a monitor, to teach us how we may remove them, and adorn ourselves with the beauties of holiness. Happy would it be for mankind, were they, in general, as assiduous in seeking this inward, durable, and spi/ilual adorning, as they arc in decorating iheii- poor mortal bodies, lliat they may ap|jear comely in the eyes of their fellow-worms ! Transient glimpses, how- ever, and notional discoveries, leave mere hearers un- changed, and a large majority choose to go awny from the sermon, and forget what manner of persons they are. — But " whoso looketh into the ficrfect law of liberty," and meditates continually on thehnly word of God, not as a forgetful hearer, but as an obedient believer, shall be blessed in his deed; for in this way he shall find out whatever in his heart andconduct needs repentance, forgiveness, and the '• sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience :" thus Christ A. D. 60. JAMES. //. D. GO. I. [' Act? "X 51. < I llui i \>- Tit i. I ::l'et i. 1 Hcv. Kiv. 12 7-10 I Crr ;i 8 T't ii 13 ll. vi. 10. Kpli i. 18 iii 8 I Tim vi 18. Heb si. 26. Re» ii 9 iii 18 xxi 7. II Matt V. 3. Xl». 31. I.ilke Kii 32 Horn viii 17 1 Thes. ii 12 2 Tlies. i S. 2 Tim IV. 8 18. ll'et, i. 4 2Fet. i II lOr. (fta(. ■pSittm,\ 12 q 1. Pp. xiv. 6. Prov. xiv. 31. xvii. 5 Kc ix. 15, 16, Is Jiii 3 Jolin viii 19. 1 Cor xi 22. , 6. Is. Isv. 5. I-i:lie V. 4. Jol) XX. 19. Ps. X. 2. I . 10 U xii. b. Prov. xxii. 16. Kc. v. 8 Is iii U IS. Am ii 6, 7 iv 1. V 11. Viii. 1-1 . Mio. vi, 11. 12 Hab. iii 14, Zrcb. vii. M V. 6. 1 Kings xxi. 11-13. Ai-t3 iv 1-3, 2G-23, V, 17, le. 26 27. xiii ;.i xvi. 19, 20. would not this prove that they were partial in forming au opinion in themselves concerning others, and were become judges, who were misled by vain reasonings and imagina- tions, by unjust thoughts and corrupt afTections ? For their conduct would show, that they deemed wealth and splen- dour, however actjuired, to be honourable ; and poverty, however incurred or supported, to be disgraceful : forget- ting that the Lord of glory was pleased to be poor for the sake of sinners, to enrich them with eternal felicity. Some expositors, suppo,sing that the passage thus inter- preted, could scarcely consist with rendering honour to civil superiors, as required in other scriptures, have endea- voured to explain it of partiality in deciding causes, iu favour of the rich and against the poor ; because some courts of justice used to beheld in the Jewi.sh synagogues. But had the apostle intended to point out so gross an ini- quity, he would doubtless have spoken of it with far more decided severity. If such partiality were used in their determinations of those matters, that came before the churches, it would certainly be condemned by what he said : yet the language does not seem to relate to judicial proceedings of any kind ; but to an improper respect shown towards some, and contempt expressed towards others, merely on account of iheir external appearance. — No doubt this is very reprehensible, and the effect of a carnal judgment, how common soever it may be : nor does civil respect to superiors, or to those in authority, render such difl'erence of conduct towards the rich and the poor in religious concerns, at all necessary : especially when the rich have nothing but their wealth and splendour,' to recommend them ; and the poor are persons of pious cha- racter and good behaviour. As places of \vorship cannot be budded and maintained without much expense, it may be proper that they, who contribute towards defraying it, should be accommodated accordingly: but were all pro- fessed Christians more spiritually minded in such matters, less disparity would be made, and ihe poor would be treated with more attention and regard, than they commonly are in mean and worn-out clothes, as a poor man, and they in worshipping congregations. And we may conclude, should pay great attention to him in gay clothing, accom- that if the apostle could witness what takes place generally modating him with some chief place in the synagogue, in our days, in this matter, and give his opinion of it, he and contemptuously order the joor man to stand in some would repeat the censure, that we were become partial in inconvenient place, or to sit on the ground at their feet, ourselves, and judges influenced by evil thoughts, corrupt without further inquiry into their characters and conduct, reasonings, and erroneous caleulations. will become more precious to his soul, and by his grace he will daily grow more "meet for the inheritance of the " saints in light," and have more abundant anticipations of their holy felicity. But words must be attended to, as well as actions; for, whatever appearances there may be of true religion, in the creed, worship, and outward conduct of any man, yet, if he bridle not his tongue, lie deceiveth his own heart, and all his religion is vain. No ■wonder that disputatious, contentious, and noisy talkers about forms and doctrines disrelish this epistle, when the unbridled license of their tongues exposes them to an unqualified charge of total hypocrisy in the very opening of it. But, while we depend on God's mercy in Christ Jesus for all things pertaining to .salvation, let us reinem- l)er the essential nature of pure and undefiled religion before God, even our Father ; let us show our love to him, by " visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction," and seek grace from him to preserve us unspotted from the world. For nothing " availeth in Christ Jesus, but faith " which worketh by love," purificth the heart, subdueth carnal lusts, and obeyeth God's commandments. NOTES. CHAP. II. V. 1 — 4. White the persons whom the aposde addressed held the doctrine of Christ, and professed faith in him as " the Lord of glory," most glorious in himself, and the Source of all that was honourable in men, they ought to take care not to show respect of persons, giving honour to some and despising others, on account of their external circumstances and appearances, without estimating the real excellency of their characters, or the contrary : for this would be very inconsistent with professing themselves the disciples ot the lowly Jesus. For instance, if any person, adorned wiih rings on his A:»n;ers, and costly garments, as one of high rank in the community, should come into their as.sembly, when they were met for the worship of God, as the Jews did in their (synagogues, and another should, at the same time, enter. A. D. G(i t p.. Usiii Malt. XI xsii. e> AfU sx 7-9. . Si. Luke . «.■) i 11 CHAPTER II. J. D. CO. xix. 13 16 X l3 Ixi.li Acts liiU F.plii I i. y 1.'. i. S5 1 I'et. Milt. Luke X 3i -37. Rum. liii. ( 9 Jon. iv. 1. 9 c John %-.ii 9. IG- Cal. ii. 19 I Job. 7 Do not ihc)' '■ blagphcmo tliat " wor- tliv na.Tio " by the which ye arc called ? 8 If ye ftiliil >' the royal law, according to the scripture, ^ Thou .shalt love thy neighbour as thy.-^eir, " ye do well : 9 But *" if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and ' are convinced '' of the law as transgressors. 10 For ° Avhosocver shall keep tl whole law, and yet offend hi one point, he is guilty of all. " " " - -■ ■ - 1 ii 19 1 Kinis viii 18 3 Kings SO, Knm. xiii. O. £2. Pi. cutx. 3, . U. 1 The t.KV. SI 23. Pliil. ilarg I Cor si» e Deut XXV V. 3 — 7. The apostle caljcd the atlenlion of his brethren to the subject, by iucjiiiiing whether ihey did not know that •' God had chosen the poor of this norld," Were not his people generally of that lanlc in life, with onI\' a few exceptions ? If the Lord Imd therefore chielly blessed the Gospel for the conversion of the poor, it must be evident, tliat he had appoinled th;it lowly state for his chosen people, as the safest, most comfortable, and advan- tageous for them ; as most conducive to their progressive sanctification, most favourable to their inward peace, and most suited to show forih the power and blessed eflects of his grace bestowed on them. For he could have given them the riches and honours of this woild, if he had seen that these would have done them good ; but he had chosen them to be "rich in fiith," interesting them in all the unsearchable riches of Christ, and in all the precious pro- mises of the scripture, and had nominated them to be heirs of the kingdom, which he had engaged to bestow on all those who were taught by his grace to love him and his holy ways ; which comprised such a confluence of honour, authority, greatness, riches, and enjoyments, as no earthly kingdom could ever pretend to. (i. 12.) It was therefore evident, that the Lord peculiarly honoured and favoured men of low condition : whereas his wor- shippers despised the poor, and slighted them, as if be- neath tlieir notice ! {ISoles, Prov. xvii. 5. Luke ii. 1 — 14.) Did they not also know that rich men were gene- rally oppressors and persecutors, and dragged them before their iniquitous tribunals, to condemn them for their re- ligion ? And did they not often hear them blaspheme the name of Christ, from which th.ey were called Christians, and whom they considered as worthy of all honour and ■\vorship ? Could they then iiuagine that the enemies of Christ and his church, and persons of the vilest characters, ought to be treated with more respect, on account of their wealth alone, than their poor brethren and neighbours were entitled to ? This implies, that the apostle principally referred to the case of such rich [i^'rsons, as occasiofinlly came to their assemblies, to whom vast attention was pjiJ, whilst the poor were despised ; whereas the latter were far more likely to profit by the word preached than the former; and he does not seem to have meant, that the rich, who were stated attendants on their assemblie.s, and godl) persons, ought to have no degree of superioi- regard shov n ihem, provided the poor were not despised and under- valued. Vol. v.— No. 35. 11 For * he tliat said, ^ Do not com- •or. that uit mit adultery, said also, Do not kill. rT.-'it '«»! rj m « Now if thou commit no adultery, yet ivutVV.si-sn if thou kill, thou art become a tran.s- grcssor of the law. 12 So '' speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by' the law ofliber- j'ig" ♦ y i U Sre 0 1.^ For ^ he shall liavc judgment 5,',^,^",' without mercy, that hath shewed no i^"\^ mercy ; ' and mercy t lejoiceth against \l judjrment xxxiii. 11. Mic svm tH — 36 >XV 41—45 G. 7 .i..l 7 1 JohB V. 8 — 13. The apostle reminded his brethren, that they would do well, if they attended (o and fulfilled the comprehensive scriptural jirecept, of loving their neigh- bours as themselves, in the several parts of their coiuluct towards each othei'. This might be called a royal law, because of its pre-eminent excellency and permanent au- thority, and because it was the law of Christ their King, respecting tlieir conduct towards one another and all men. {Marg. Kef. and noles on the texts referred to.) It is of vast importance to observe how often this abstract of the second table of the law is referi'cd to in the New Testa- ment, as a rule of conduct to believers ; as it is alone sufficient to show the fatal mistake of those who deny the moral law to be the rule of our duty. But if Chris- tians had respect of persons, treating the |.oor with con- tempt, and paying court to the rich, they evidently com- mitted sin and acted unjustly, and, consequently, were convicted by the law as transgressors, as they did not show an equal love to their poor brethren. For if they were obedient in all other things to the law, and only offended in one single particular, they were guilty of all ; that is, they broke the law, and fell under its condemnation, as certainly, though not so deeply, by transgressing one pre- cept, as if they had broken them all, even as a man is liable to the sentence of death by the law of the land, who offends in one capital matter, though he be clear in all others. The chain consisting of many lirdcs is broktn, when anyone link is broken. According to the covenant of works, a single violation of any one command, brings a man under condemnation, from which no obedience, past, present, or future, cancleliver him : and, according to the covfnant of grace, the allowed, known, and habitual trans- gression of any pait of the moral law, as given to us from the hands of a Mediator, proves a professed Christian to be impenitent, a hypocrite, an unreconciled enemy, and a rebel against God ; and that his obedience in other respects is not the result of a sincere regard to the authoi-ity and glory of GotI : for if it were, the same principle would induce him to a constant endeavour and purpose of obeying every commandment. The authority, which prohibited adultery, forbade murder also; and the s&me was the case wi'h every other requirement of the law; therefore a vidlalion of any one of them constituted the man a trans- gressor, and i'mplied rebellion ffL^ninst the Law-giver. Some would |)crhaps object, that they " were n.n under '' the law, but under grace," and therefore the) might bo 3 T A. D. btt. JAMES. A. D. fciO. 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, _.. _ man say he hath faith, and "••^^.'sf'vii' have not works ? ° can faith save him ? 'f' '^ 15 If '' a brother or sister be naked, 'i^cor a"*^ destitute of daily food, cii^."!'?? i*' And ''one of you say unto them, 1 T^m.\. s Ti? Depart in peace, be ye warmed, and filled ; i. 16 iii' 8. Hell Hi 7. 8 17. 2 Tel i 5. I John v. 4. 5 o 1 Cor xv 2 Epii. ii. 8-10 pS. Jobx»xi. IG-21 Is.lviii. 7. JO E?. xvlii 7, Matl. Xvv. 3i-li) Mjrk xiv 7. l.uke iii. U Acti ix 39. Hell xi. 37 C| Joh xxii. 7-a. Prov iii. 27, 28. Malt \iv 16,16 XV.32. XXV.42— 45. Horn. xii. 9. 2 Cor. viii. 8. 1 Jobii in. IC-ln m 16 Jer. Rom li — . Corx,ii3.1Tim " thouffh Matt 21—23 Luke AcU V notwithstanding ye give them not tiiose things wliich are needful to the body ; ' what (loth it profit ? 17 Even " so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being * alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, 'Thou hast faith, and I have works : shew mc thy faith t without thy works, " and I will shew thee my faith iiy my works. rSu oit,m Hi : 14 19, 20 30. 1 Cir xii. 3 13. 1 Thes. i. 3. 1 Tim. i. 6. 2 Pet i i-9. • Gr. 1>» ««»//•. 1 14. 22. Itotn. xiv 23 I Cor. Xiii 2.r.al. V. e. Heb. II. 6 31. t SoDie copies reail, bj tky nifrkt. 122- . 13. 3—10. 1 Tim. 1. S- :M»tt Horn viii. I. 2 Cor. V. 17 vl». Til ii. 7. 11-14 in a state of acceptance, though ihc law condemned their conduct in various particulars : but though this in a certain sense was indeed the case with true believers ; yet it be- hooved them, in every respect, to speak and act as persons who were to be judged according to " the perfect law of "liberty." {Note, i. 25.) For the whole tenour of reve- lation, and the Gospel itself, by which men were set at liber- ty from condemnation and every yoke of bondage, would condemn all those who did not repent, and forsake every sin, and obey the commandments of God in sincerity and simplicity, from faith and love to the Lord Jesus. So that if they habitually allowed themselves in the practice of any known sin, the Gospel would adjudge them to be un- believers ; they especially who showed no meicy to their neighbours, inferiors, and dependents, would certainly have judgment without mercy, and be punished with the utmost rigour of the law. As no man could be a true believer, whose heart was not humbled and softened into a compas- sionate, forgiving, kind, and loving disposition. {Notes, &c. Mall. v. 7. vi. 14, 15. xviii. 21 — 35.) The exercise of mercy indeed might be ascertained by its " rejoicing " against judgment," and by any one's taking pleasure in abating from the demands of rigorous justice, and show- ing kindnes.s to those who had no legal claim to favour. Thus God deemed it his glory and joy, to pardon and bless those who might justly have been condemned at his tribunal, and his grace taught those who weie partakers ' but by faith ; we believe, and have all things in Christ.' He therefore inquired of them, what it profited a man, " though he said that he had faith, and had no works" oi" true piety and holiness, to which he could a|ipcal as the fruits and evidence of it : " Could faith save him .'" No doubt true faith, interesting men in Christ's righteousness, atonement, and grace, saves their souls ; but then it also produces holy fruits, and is evinced to be genuine by its effect on their hearts and lives : whereas a sjieculaiive as- sent to any doctrine, or a historical belief of any facts, es- sentially differs from this saving faith. The worthlcssness of such a dead faith is here shown by an apposite illustration : If any poor Christians were destitute of proper clothing or food for the day, and so in immediate distress, and in danger of perishing, and a professed Christian, who was able to relieve them, should avow much brotherly love, and express a cordial wish and desire that they might be furnished with raiment and support by some kind friend, but at the samf lime should give them nothing towards the supply of their urgent necessities, would any man be so destitute of com- mon sense, as to suppose these unmeaning expressions constituted that most excellent grace of '• brotherly love," which Christ and his apostles so gready insisted on and extolled ? Or would a poor starving jjcrsoii be persuaded to account it any better than a cruel mockery of his misery :' What then would such a love profit cither the j.osscssor or his poor brother ? Thus faith is most excellent and advan- of his mercy, to copy it in their conduct towards their af- tageous, when genuine and efficacious ; yet that faithj which fiictcd and offending brethren : and all, who were not has no good works springing from it, is dead and worth taught lo show mercy to others, must expect to be dealt with according to the severity of justice, in respect of their eternal state. What then must be the doom of the cruel oppressors and iniquitous tyrants of the human species ?^ Some explain the expression, " mercy rtjoiceth against ''judgment," lo denote the cheerful exiicctation of a future judgment, with which the exercise of nici-cy to others in- spires the true Chri.-itian's heart : but, though this may be implied, yet it seems not to be the proper meaning of the passage, or construction of the words ; for to " glory '• as^uiiisl,''' or " to rejoice against,'''' does not properly de- note, to rejoice and glory in expectation of an event, but to rejoice and glory in obtaining the ascendency or victory over a comj)etiior, as mern/ is figuratively re|Kesented to do over the severity of God's judgment, when they are justified and saved, who deserve to be condemned. V. 14 — IS, h is plain that the apostle here argued against those who substituted a notional belief of the Gos- pel for the whole of evangelical religion, and who were ready lo answer exhortations and reproofs, (as many now do;) by saying, ' We are not to be justified by our works. less, and as it is inactive and unfruitful, so it can by no means justify the possessor, being alone, and separated from repentance, love to God and man, and every olh:r holy affection. It would therefore be most absurd to sup- pose that the Lord would ajiprove such a failli, when no poor Christian would value love of exactly the same kind. So that a Christian, who was more attentive " lo the work •' of faith and labour of love," than to the disputatious profession of certain doctrines, being questioned by one of another stamp, might say to him, " Thou hast faith, and •' I have works ; show mc, therefore, thy faith without " thy works," if any conceivable method can be found of doing this, and in the mean time, ' I will proceed to show ' thee, and all around me, that faith in Christ influences ' and rules in my heart, by the works of a sober, right- ' cous, and godly life.' Most copies read " show me " thy faith by thy works, and I will show thee my faiih " by my works." ' Thou professest to believe, and dis- ' gracest that profession by thy conduct ; but do not expect ' to be considered as a believer, till thou showest thy faith ' by the good works of a holy life : and thou consurtSst J. D. 60. CHAPTER II. .^. D. 60. xDeut ^i 4, I?. 19 Thou ^ belicvest that there is one sl'xiv.j.^i'js God; >■ thou tloest well : e the devils also believe, and tremble xlvi 9 Zi 9. Mirk Joliriwii 3 Rom ^,^ rt . -i, .\ i ^ r\ iiuo icor .ii. 20 But Wilt thou know, '' U vain man. 4 6 Gal " '■' 1 Tim. II. 5. Ju(ie V R^ Jon. ilartr v ! Matt S; 6 ''that faith without woiks is dead.'' 21 Was not ' Abraham our Father juslilied by works, *= when he had offered ■i'fke'^^v %I Isaac his son upon the altar.-* six" ir'xilv -- * Seest thou how ' faith wrou<:^ht sx.2"'3^m'*''' ^^'■'•'i '''^ works, and by works was ^ faith ','„=,V*^.'a'!;made perfect ? U. Prov sii. M. -. - i. 6. T 2i 30. JofiD 1 \liii. 2 Man sii. • Or. r*OB , IT, IB. 1 Cor. X' on, 11 c Josh 39. 53 56. Acts vji. i S!iv. 31-40 Rom i I.-. r 13. Gal V. 35. 3G Gil vi 3 Col ii. 8 1 Tim Li;. 3 Is Ii 3 Matt, iii 9 Luke i. Horn. i5. 1. 12. 16 d m 24 20 e Gen. sxii 9—12 16— Hebxi. 17—19. g I Jolin ii. ' me, as not ^ufficiontly exact, or zealous in respect of ' faith ; bdt I deem it better to evince it by my works, ' than by disputing about it.' Either reading warrants the same int'erence ; nan-icly, that there is no possible way to show that we really do believe in Christ, except by being " zealous of good works," from evangelical motives, and for evangelical purj^oses ; and where good works are evi- dently wanting, the most confident profession of the most orthodox creed, can only prove a man to be a weli-instructed hypocrite, who has received a system of doctrine into his understanding as true, but has never been so convinced of its excellency, as to admit it into his heart experimentally, as the influential principle of his conduct towards God and man. ' A wicked opinion having sprung up, ev^n in the ' apostle?s days, by misunderstanding Paul's arguments, ' Peter, John, James, and Jude, aimed, in their epistles, ' principally at this end, to vindicate the doctrine of Paul ' from the false consequences charged upon it, and to show ' that faith, without works, is nothing worth. But indeed ' Paul does not spea^ of faith at large, but only of that ' living, fruitful, and evangelical faith, which, he says, " worketh by love." ' As for that faith, void of good ' works, which these men thought sufficient to salvation, ' he declareth positively against it. Peter calls it mresl- '• ing, (2 Pet, ii. 16.) because Paul was in truth of the ' same opinion with the other apostles, and held eternal • life impossible to be attained by any faith which had not ' the aUestation of a holy life.' {Augusline.) V. 19, 20. To show the vanity of such a faith as did not influence the heart and conduct, the apostle men- tioned the fundamental article of all religion, the existence of one God as the only Object of all worship and service. Now the professed Christian, before described, believed this important truth, but without making any practical use of it. No doubt he acted more properly in believing this truth, than they did who denied it 5 but of what advantage could this be to him, seeing the very devils believed it also ? Nay, they trembled at the thoughts of the omnipotent power and righteous vengeance of the one living and true God ; yet they continued implacably to hate his perfections, govern- ment, cause, and service. If any man therefore believed all the truths of the Gospel in the same manner, with the utmost exactness, he could not know them more, accu- rately, or assent to them with greater certainty, than devils did. Would not then the vain antinoraian disputer Murk xM V. LM I.uke t. Act^ i 1.10 22 2Tiai i IG. 1 I'el. li. 6. i Gen XV C. K., iv. 3-6 10, I n 18-22. 0 Josh i 9-2 i vi 17. 22-25 lU'b %\ 31. p Job X. Miv 11 15 Ps civ. 2a cslvi. 4 £c. xi 7 U ii 22. Liil^ Su un. 14. 17. 20 23 And " the .scriptui^e was fulfilled which saith, ' Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for right- eousness : and he was called '■ tlie friend of Go J. 21 Ye ' see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 2.') Likewise also, " was not "llahab the harlot " justified by works, " when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way } 26 For P as the body widiout the I spirit is dead, 1 so faith without works is dead also. xtiii l'.. Acts vii. 59, GO. tOr, lirtvif* n be at length convinced by the testimony of an apostle, and such irrefragable arguments, that faith without works was dead, worthless, and useless; like a dead tree, fit only to be cut down and cast into the fire ; or a dead corpse, to be buried out of sight, that its putrefaction might not annoy the living? It is vain to say, as some have done, that de- vils are not under a dispensation of mercy, and therefore they have no ground for appropriatrng the revelation and promise of salvation to themselves. For the apostle is not speaking of the different circumstances of fallen angels and fallen men, but of the difference between dead, inact- ive, inefficient faith, and that " faith which worketh by " love ;" and his argument proves, beyond all doubt, that a faith, which is of no better kind than that ofihe devils, cannot possibly profit the possessor, however he may be circumstanced ; for this plain reason, because it is not that faith to which the promises are made. V. 2'— 26. The apostle next proved his assertion by examples. Was not Abraham, the father of the Israel- ites, and spiritually of believers, justified by works, when, at God's command, he did not hesitate to offer his beloved Isaac for a burnt-offering? {Notes, &c. Gen. xxii. Heb.%[. IJ" — J 9-) Did not his works evidence the reality and holy efficacy of his faith, and prove him accepted before God ? The attentive reader must see in what a powerful manner his faith in the promises of God operated to produce good works, in obedience to his commands, in the most trying circumstances, universally, and without reserve ; and thus " by works was his faith made perfect," as the tree is in its perfect state when grown to maturity, and loaded on every branch with abundance of valuable fruit. Thus the scripture was fulfilled, which declared that "Abraham " believed God, and it was imputed to him for rit^hteous- " ness ;" in consequence of which he was adni'itted to such a state of peace and intimate communion with God, that he was honoured with the privileges and appellation of his " friend." {Marg. Ref.) Abraham's justification by faith took place many years before he was commanded to sacrifice Isaac ; but his obedience in that respect proved him to be a sound character, and justified him as a true beltpver, and a devoted servant of God. So that it was evident there was a good and important sense, in which " a man was justified by works, and not by faith only," as his works must be appealed to for the justification of his professed faith before men ; and as they will be adduced 3 T 2 A. D. (iO. J AWES. J. D. 60- CHAP. .111 ./9 caution alurs. knouiiig liiat we sliall receive the ^ coudeiniiaiion. — I. Let. j( ;'. I i:iir ir II 1 Cor si 1 r Dr \ii :» Jf.lih it n 1 Tim, 11 7. 2 T m i. 11 Or lii Mcxi; 7—9. l.ukc Kii. «7. j8 xvi. 2 Acta \s S 10 !eli. xi li. 17. ♦ ClI,jitdgViiul. Matt. vii. 1,2. sx. wc have iT.'^pccl of persons, we commit sin and are cop- vii tod as transgressors, even though we be not guilty ofahy gross violation of justice and truth. If our obedience he sincere, it will be uni\ersal, as far as we are acquainted with our Lord's will, for the same authority is affronted whatever command is broken. In vain do men urge that they ai-e not und.cr the law, whilst they allow themselves in known sin ; the very Gospel will consign ihcm over to the righteous vengeance of God, and all the cui'ses of the law will be executed upon them, with a tremendous in- crease of punishment, fur having " sinned on that grace " might abound." But the haid-heartcd, selfish, impla- capible, and ojjprcssive professor of Christianity, has the greatest cause to tremble; for if •' he sliall have judo-- " mcnt without mercy, who hath showed no mercy," the meanest slave, that ever was whipped and worked to death, must be considered as happy, compared with his haughty cruel tyrant; and this will sufficiently appear, " when the " earth shall discloseher blood, and shall no more cover ''her slain. V. 14—26, 2 ror'in i;iany things wc olTentl Mr any man ollLnd not in woid, same is " a pcifect man, and able ai.so bridle the whole body. siii.;i, llet V. 10. liCorix.17. c ■•>« on, J i. D. GO. HI ': 1 K-Tlf, ti.i 4G SCI,,-. >i. M. the ITOV US. u Ec 'to 6. Koi.i 111. ig. vii.:l. lial.iii. S2. ? 17 1 Jobii Vain men, while neglecting judgment, mercy, and Ihe love of God, quiet their conscience, and ward off reproof, by talking of faith, of mercy, of salvation; but God will no more regard their heartless assent to truth, or their indolent presumjituoas reliance on his mercy, than their hollow expressions of love to their poor destitute neigh- bours. Let no man deceive himself: faith, being alone and not jiroductive of good works, is no better than the faith of devils, and will leave the possessor in thel'r com- pany to all elernity. Would we be, with Abraham, " the . " fiicnds of God," we must both believe his promise, (rust his mercy, and obey his comiriandment ; or else pub- licans and harlots will enter heaven before us: and a believing Rahab shall be justified by her works, and dis- tinguished from all open unbelievers, and those whose faith was dead, befoi'c the assembled world, when many dis- pulers for orthodox creeds, which they h.^tve disgraced by their livc>, shitll have their portion with the workers of ini- (juiiy, '• in outer darkness, where is weeping and gnashing " of teeth." NOTES. CHAP. IIT. V. 1, 2. The word, here rendered "■ masters," si.^niries fff/c/iers: some ought to be teachers but none ought to domineer, assume authority in the Church, or indulge a censorious arrogant temper. When ' the aposde forbids many to be such, he spcms to allow ' that some may ; and consequently I think " teachers" ' ought to be explained in an innocent sense.' {Doddridge.) An arrogant, self-preferring, dictatorial temper, whether it led men, without a jiroper call or suitable qualifications, to aspire to the office of teachers, or whether it induced them to assume pre-eminence in other ways, was the general object of the apostle's reprehension ; though the I tormer, as the eflecl of such a temper, seems to have been principally intended. Many converts to Christianity uould he desirous of the distincUon of teacher:, with a view to the credit and prc-tmiiicnce of that ^iffice, or from a mis- taken idea that they could not glorify God, and do good to man, in other stations ; while perhaps they were not aware of the wjglit and difficulty of the work, and the solemn account which nmst be given of it. But they ought to know, and seriou.sly consider, that teachers must stand a greater or more strict judgment than other n;en, and that false, unfaithfiil, ambitious, and selfish teachers, would be subject to a greater and more awful condemnation than other sinners. This is also in a degree applicable to the case of censorious, assuming, and domineering persons in any station. {Notes, Matt. vii. 1—6. Luk£ vi. 37, tin.) Indeed, even true believers, though preserved from final condemnation, if employed as teachers, must exjiect to be called to a more strict account than their brethren ; and as their conduct would be more severely scrutinized by men than that of others, so they wculd be more sharply re- buked and chastened by God for their ofTenccs, in older to the display of his glory, and the prevention of scandals in the Church : so that every attempt to force themselves in- to eminent and conspicuous stations, would ensure a larger measure of painful and mortifying trials. {Note 1 Cor. XI. 31—3-1.) Nor could any man expect to behave so as to escape correction or condemnation ; for in many things ailoflended, without excepting the apostles themselves: al! frequently tripped or stumbled in their walk, though they did not utterly fall ; and the more men were advanced and distinguished, the greater would be their dangers, the more noticed their transgressions, and the more needful their rebukes and chastisements. Especially it would be found extremely difficult for them to speak so much, and so often, as the public and private duties of the ministry required, without often uttering unadvised words, dis- honourable to God, injurious to men, or the result of pride, anger, or some selfish passion. So that idle and evil words must be multiplied, in consequence of men's improperly entering into the pastoral cflice : nor could any wholly esca|ie this guilt; though such as were duly called to the service mightexiiect proportionable grace and'mercy. {Notes, Is. vi. 5—8. Matt. xii. 34—37.) if indeed any man were able to bridle his tongue, so as not at all to offend in his words, he must be a perfect man, able also to govern, restrain, and use all the appetites, senses, and members of his body, " as instruments of righteousness," in subserviency to the glory of God and in obedience to his will, seeing he was found able to govern the most unruly of them all. (i. 26.) N» man actually attained to this absolute perfection ; for in many tilings al-l oflended : but the degree of a man's wisdom and grace might be a. the horses' j ru'x^v^s": nioutlis, thr\t they may obey us ; and >ve| 'jon ?i "hiii: turn about their whole body. | sillii^.Kr'" 4 Behold also tlie sliips, which though 1 'iiwz^'xH'll they be so great, and '' arc driven of fierce j "' ""ili'^it' winds, yet arc tliey turned about with a; "2. very small helm,whitliersoever the govern- j xii 18. xviii'Vi; or listcth. iB.Ti «vni"». .O Even so the tongue is a little mena-j men, which are "fv. ao aVc!: bcr, and ' boastcth great things. 13eho!d,, i!o-" . Tb,i^' how great a * matter a little lire kindlcth !j k .u;ig°x„ .i-c. (j And ^ the tongue is afire, ' a- Avorld TciirV of iniquity : so is tiie tongue aniong our ^'""il niembers, that it defileth tlie whole body, i '" and sctlcth on fire the t course of nature ; '\Vi .IVl. 9.XXX. i:.xxxy. !8 li. even u ivii. «. i,ii. XX 1 Vi.U a Prov > xvi 27. XX '"-6 L^v"'jiv '^"'^ " '^ is set on fire of hell. 11. Num XXV 2 lfi?.'(;'^jud'''"i'vi 15-20 1 Sam. sxM 9-17. 2 Sam. xiii. 2G-29 xv. 2-6^ XV.i. 1, 2"l Kio'S xxi 5-15 Prov i. 10-U vi K. vii, 5 21. viii. £1-23. E, .... .. v 17 Jer.xx 10 xxviii 16 Matt xii 2l 32-36 xv 18.19 Mark vn. 20— 22 xiv 65- S7' Acts vi 13 xs. 30. Horn iii. 13. U xvi. 17. 18 Kph v.^D. 4 Col. iii.S.D 2 Tbes ii 10-12 Tit i 11 SPet.ii 1.2. iii. 3. 3John 10 Ju.le2— 10 15—18 Hcv li 14,15 Kiil. 1-5 U iviii 23 xix 20 f Gt jiliict Ez i 15.16 m Luke jvi 24. Acts v •J. 2Cor. xi. U-16. 2Tlies ii S.Ucv.xii 8 IG 7 For every t liind of beasts, and of 20-21 n afore. birds, and of serpents, and of things in '',rX"L\a,mcof tiie sea, " is tamed, and hath been tamed o"°," .„, c. ?,. o(\) mankind. lix.v'uiVa J. 8 But the tongue can no man tame : "pv^y.ir^'cS; il is "an unrulv evil, '' full of deadly iiom" iiT !'■ poison. # 0 ■» Tljprewith ' bless we God, the Father; and ' therewith curse we i Aci,n2f"'' made alter the simili- so.ps x-.xiv i tudeofGod. 10 Out "of the same mouth proceed- > ^ \ eth blessing and cucsing. My brethren, 2s>m xvi. s ^ these things ought not so to be. i'J< '"2 ' < ^7- 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the x',"".?/ ftu*i same || place sweet water and bitter ? in'.'.n* 26 •>- ix 12 Can ^ the fig-tree, my brethren, „V'^r 1c-2o bear olive-berries .'* either a vine, figs } ifj'j ^'iV,*"!" ^ so can no fountain both yield salt water "p'J, j„''9 " and fresh. ^'^saSi x"" 12 I Cor. iii. 3. 1 Tim V 13 1| Or. Ao/« y Is v 2-4 Jer i;.21. Matt, vii 16— 20 xii 33 Luke vi. 43 44 Rom. xi. 16-18. z Ex. ST. 23-25 8 Kiugs ii. 19-22. Ej xlvii. 8-11. words, and spake most to the glory of God and the edifi-l cation of men, must be deemed the most eminent Chris- tian : whereas falehood, boastings, revihngs, and corrupt conversation, brought a man's character into suspicion or disrepute, whatever else seemed to be good in it. The! .Jews at that time, even when grossly ignorant and vicious,] were exceedingly prone to consider themselves as called | and qualified t^ be the religious teachers of mankind;' (Rom. ii. 17 — 21 :) and, probably, the apostle saw, that many of the Jewish converts to Christianity were influenced, bv die remains of the same disposition, to aspire prema- turely, from questionable motives, or without jnoper quali- fications and weight of character, to the othce of teacliers or ministers, which he counted it needful thus to repress. The word, rendered condemnalion, mcniv^ jiiilormenl, in many places at least. {Hhttl. vii. 'i Ads xxiv. 25. Rom. V. 16. 1 Cor. xi. 29. 32. Gr.) V. 3—6. To show the importance of the subject, the aposdc observed, that the estimate must not be made ac- rording to appearance, but by the eflcct. The horse, though a powerful and spirited animal, might be directed Ijy the bit in his mouth according to tlie will of the rider, and his whole body followed that guidance ; whereas, if that were omitted, great danger and mischief would ensue ; and the ships, though of vast bulk, and driven by violent winds on the impetuous ocean, might be directed by a very small helm according to the moiion of the pilot's hand. Even so the tongue, thougii a little member, boasted and •doried of being able to do great things : when properly l)ridled and directed, it could produce the most blessed effects, but if neglected, the most fatal consetjuences must follow. For let any man consider how vast a quantity of fuel a small match, or even a sj^ark of fire, would suffice to kindle, and what tremendous conflagrations might follow, and hence learn the importanre of the tongue; which is, in fact, a fire to destroy all beibre it, and a world of iniquity, comprehending, in the abuse of it. all the wickedness of the universe, in miniature, or rather in embryo. Its situation and office among the members is such, that it defileth the whole body, and inflames or gives ven*. to all those corrupt passions, by which men are insti- gated to commit the several vices, of which the other members are the instruments. Nay, it setteth on fire the whole circle of nature, through every generation, and pro- duces the most extensive and prolific mischiefs all over the earth ; being indeed set on fire of hell ; as the devil, working on the various lusts of man's apostate nature, and exciting men to vent their abominable thoughts by their tongues, disseminates from one to another, all over the earth, atheism, infidelity, heresies, blasphemies, impiety, lies, slanders, emulations, lewdness, and discords, whence all kinds and degrees of atrocious and destructive crimes proceed. (Mar^. Ref.) V. 7 — 12. Every kind, or nature, of living creatures, however monstrous, ravenous, fierce, or venomous, has been and is subd2ied by the reason, courage, and perse- vering efforts, of the human species, by which means the mischiefs, which otherwise would have been occasioned by them, are in a great measure prevented ; but no man could ever find out a way to subdue the tongue, or to hinder wicked men from corrupting the principles, polluting the imaginations, and inflaming the passions of others, by their mischievous discourse. No one, however wise, powerful or excellent, has ever been able, by laws, punishments, arguments, or any other method, to stop the progress of this evil, which etTects far more tremendous desolations, in communities, churches, and families, and does far more to make men miserable, here and hereafter, than all the venomous and voracious creatures in the world combined together can do. The word, rendered tamed properly means subdued. It could scarcely be said that all, kinds of sea-monsters, crocodiles, and serpents, had been tamed, or rendered tractable, by men ; but they have all been brought under subjection in one way c* another^ .7. D. 60. CHAPTER ril. .1. Bc.»ni. 1. s. 13 Who ^ w a wibC man and ''endued M«u vii 2* with knowledge ainons: you ? " let him 1 Cor vi 5. , •,. r* f'^ "^ ,• I • bscbr. 1112.13. shew out of ''a ccod conversation his Job xxvni 28. 3 ^ . , Is si e. Dau w'orks ^ with meekness ol wisdom, c ii-'is. Is ix 6. J 4 gut ' if ye have bitter envyiiia: and 2Cor. \i, ° (here is t confusion and " every evil work. 17 But r the wisdom that i;i from above is 1 first pure, tlicn ■■ peaceable, 'gentle, and easy to be entreated, ' full of mercy and good fruits, " without % partiality, and without " hypocrisy. 18 And >' the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that "^ make peace, xii. 9 Cor ! Tit iii. 2 tJolini. 14 Acta ix. 36. .ii" 24. Udai. xv M, 2 Cor Col. i 10. u ii. 4. Mai. ii. 9. 1 Tim v 21. 1 Or, viranglmg — Matt xxiii 28 LuVe xii. 1, 2. Jnhli i. 47. y i. 26. Prov. xi. 2S. 30 John iv. 30. 1 Halt. V 9. :^. D. 60. m See on, 14. 0 «en xi. 8. tilarg Actsxix. 21 I Cor. xiv. t'(;r tn,r.„lt, or, vntji'ttifts a 1 John ill. 12. p 15. i S 17. Gen. xii. 38.33 Ex. iii.S12 28. IChr. 4pb xxviii. 13 23.23. rrov.Ji. 6 ls.xi. 2. X Dan, i. 17. I.iike sxi 15 I Cor ii fi,7. xii n. qiv, S.Mai, iii 3. Malt V tt. Phil. iT 8 Tit i. 15. I Jolin iii 3. [ii. 18 s Is, im , 24. IX, 10, Phil, i )l. X Is. xxxii 6. Is, xxxii. 16, 17. aspiring, and discontented spirit; but lot them show forth by the general lenourof a good conversation, in the several relations and employments of life, their works of piety, equity, purity, and mercy, " in meekness of wisdom," exercising that prudence which is characterized by a meek and quiet spirit, and inseparably connected with it, and with a readiness to forgive and to be at peace with all men. (A'o/es, 2 Tim. ii. 24— -26.) But if any of them indulged bitter envyings, or proud, fierce, and malevolent zeal for their party or sentiments, in their hearts, and so rivalled others for pre-eminence, reputation, or authority, as to censure, revile, and calumniate them in a vehement and malignant manner, and to take pleasure in contending and quarreling with such as differed from them, let them not absurdly glory in these tempers and behaviour, as if they arose from extraordinary zeal, boldness, or faithfulness ; neither let thenr defame the truth, by pretending that such were the necessary effects of embracing, professing, and earnestly defending it, or that those were lukewarm, who the Truth, and'against error ; but these things ought not by j did not dispute fcr it in this violent manner. For this any means to be so, and every Christian, who acted in'wi.sdom, though it would have numbers of injudicious such a mannei-, belied his profession, and yielded to the |^dmirers, even among apparently religious people, _did not ^gestions of Satan and to his own corrupt passions Indeed, it was an absurdity which could not be paralleled ; for no fountain from the same opening sent forth water, sometimes sweet, at others bitter; sometimes fresh, and at lesccnd from above, (i. 5,) but was " earthly," as it sought earthly distinctions and advantages, and was of an earthly origin ; it was also " natural," the result of such principles as unrcgenerate men are actuated by ; and it others salt, and every plant produced uniformly its natural I was " devilish," being at lirst derived from the devil,^and fruit, and no other. Bat pious, pure, loving, candid, sin- constituting the image of his pride, ambition, policy, saga- cere, humble, and edifying languaga was the genuine pro- city, envy, malignity, and falsehood. The word, rendered duce of a sanctified heart, and none, who understood Chris- UeJisiut/, is elsewhere translated nnliind, and I apprehend tianity, would expect to hear curses, lies, boastings, and it should be so rendered in this place ; for it seems rather revilings, from a believer's mouth, any more than they to relate toman's natural depravity in general, than to his would ""look for figs upon a vine, or olive-berries on a sensuality in particular, to which ambitious disputants are fig-tree. (Marg. Ref.y-Curse, &zc. (9.) 'Perhaps the commonly less addicted than to malignant passions. {Note, • apostle in this glanced at the unconverted Jews, who ' often cursed the Christians bitterly in their synagogues.' {Macknight.) V. 13 — 1(5. The aposde had rather digressed from his subject, but he was showing the consequences of an assuming temper and an improper desire to be teachers. If, therefore, any of those, into whose hands this ejjistle might come, were, or desired to be thought, persons of superior wisdom and capacity, and endued with much knowledge of the Gospel, let them not think themselves buried in a private or obscure station, or indulge a proud, 1 Cor, ii. 14—16.) — The apostle added, that where envy and strife are found, there is of course confusion and every evil work; for those passions, when given loose to by one man, are excited in others, till churches, communities, and families, are thrown into confusion, and all species of crimes are perpeti-ated, whilst men are blinded and hur- ried on by their violent resentments and prejudices. V, 17, 18. On the contrary, " the wLsdom which is " from above," even that wisdom, which God gives to his people in answer to their humble and believing prayers, " is lirst pure," in respect of its objects, motives, and ten- J. V. CO. JAMES. A. D. 60. CHAP. IV. JJ'ars ami conlentions spring from the lust of the human heart, which produce ih vi-oslfatiil facets, and end in diaappoint vicnt. 1,2; becnnse men do not seek good gifts from God ; or bera'isc they ask amiss, 3. The friendship of the world is enmity against God, 4. 'J 'he spirit dency ; it relates to the holy and purifying truths and pre' cepts ofscrij.ture, and tends to holiness of heart, language- and tonduet. As far as it can consist with this, and with stcidily avowing the truths, and obeying .the command- ments of God our Saviour, this wisdom is jicaceable ; tlie possessor ol it is disjioscd to give up every rhing for |;cacc, exc( pt truth and duly, and these he will firmly adhere to, but in a peaceable and loving manner It is also gentle, and iallutnces men to be slow to anger, candid, calm, for- bearing and courteous. Moreover, it is easy to be en- treated, and persuaded to what is reasonable, or forgiving, and to listen to the words of truth and equity, though spoken by an iideiior, a child, or an enemy ; and it is full of mercy, compassion, tenderness, and all good fruits. (ZVo/f, Gal. V. 22, 23.) It is likewise " without par- " tiality," in judging of persons or actions, free from bigotry for one party or against another, and frotn con- tending for one part of religion, to the neglect and dis- paragement of others, or producing that partiality to the rich, and that prejudice against the poor, which the apostle had before reproved, (IWotef!, ii. 1 — 6.) Finally, it is free from hypocrisy, leading a man to a greater regard to the acceptance of God, than to* the good opinion of men. (Ao/fs, &c. 1 Cor. xiii.) Heavenly wisdom, actording to St. James's description of it, is nearly allied to that love, for which St. Paul contended; and we may observe of both, that they are described as they are in themselves, and that every man may ascertain the reality, or the degree of his attainments in them, by the effects of them on hi temper and conduct. For, whatever bigots and zealots may imagine, "the fruit of righteousness," or that good seed whence this blessed fruit grows here on earth, " is sown " in peace ;" men of peaceable, loving tempers, preaching the Gospel, adorning it in their lives, and watering it with their prayers, sow the seed, which God blesseth to the conversion of sinners and the propagation of true religion in the world. It is sown in peace, not amidst a great noise and disturbance, and " by those that make peace," who are both peaceable and peace-makers in the church and in the world. {Note, Matt. v. 9.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—1 a. Did men duly weigh the importance and difficulty of the sacred ministry, the account which must be given of it, and the trials and temptations to which it exposes them, they would be less forward, than they sometimes are, in aspiring to that distinction. Indeed, every conspicuous station must he connected with many painful and m that ts in vs lusts to envy and pride ; but God resists the proud, and^'iows favour to the liumble, 5, G. Erhorlalions to repentance, and submission to God, 7 — 10. Cautions against detraction and ccnsoriousness, and against carnal secu- rity ; icith instructions to consider the uncertainty of life, and to trust in God in every undertaking, 11 — 17. tifying events ; and numbers, who intrude into them, will receive the heavier condemnation on that account. If then, the gloi-y of God, the good of mankind, and an evident call in iirovidence, did not require the coiitrar)' ; a wi-;c and humble man, possessed of much self-knowledge, and knowledge of Imrnan nature, and the state of the world aiid the clnirch, would choose obscurity and pri- vacy, to be out of the way of temptation, to shun tlie danger of dishonouring the gospel, and to escape trials, as much as thi'; present state wili aJmit. For in many things we Oifend all: and though a well-informed chris- tian will readily acknowledge, that his rule of duty is per- fect, he will also know that in fact no man on earth lives ,up to it. But nothing is more arduous, than the proper government of the tongue ; and though the minister, who is satisfied that Christ hath sent him to preach the gosjicl, will trust in his abundant mercy and all-sufficient grace; yet he will also perceive, that no outward appendages of the work can counterbalance the additional danger of con- tracting guilt, to which that work exposes him. Facts abundantly prove, that more professed Christians succeed • in bridling their senses and appetites, than in duly restrain- ing their tongues : and whilst we contemplate with grief and astonishment the horrible effects produced by this un- ruly evil, " this world of iniquity, this deadly prison, this " fire that sets the whole course of nature" in a flame, in every part of the earth, and halh done so through all the ages of time; and while we recollect with admiring grati- tude and joy, that the Lord makes use of this very mem- ber, when he has fdled the heart with holy affections, to sjiread the word of truth and righteousness throughout the earth ; let us particularly inquire, what use we make of our tongues. It behooves us to bridle them, that they may obey the dictates of our eidightencd understandings and holy affections, as the well-managed horse does the rider; or as the shij) is turned by the helm in the hand of the pi- lot : that neither pride, passion, lust, or levity, nor yet any temptation, may lead us to speak corrujit or unadvised words, or any thing contrary to the glory of God and the (edification of men. As no man is able to subdue and tame the tongue, no, not his own tongue, without the help of di- vine grace; we are reminded to beg of God to do it for us : for " the things, which are impossible with man, are " possible with God." Depending on his grace, let us take heed to bless, and curse not ; let us aim at a consistency of conversation and conduct, and see to it that our love to men proves the sincerity of our professed love to God; and that our conduct, out of the place of worship, corres- ponds with our language and professions in it. For many things are even among Christians, that ought 7iot to be so. J. D. 60. CHAPTER IV. A. D. m. •Or. 1 bi. U FROM ^ wlietitc come wars and *fight- ingii among you .'* '' come they not Ms'.t * sV" 13 hence, even of your t lusts that war ' in M.rk vii. 21- , < 23. j«>io viii.ij. your members r ■v\m }\\-\Q. 2 Ye " lust, and have not : ye kill, i Vii II iv and desire to have, and cannot obtain: S 3- 2 Pet- II. 19. m 3^1 J'^hn yo tight and war, yet ye have not, " be- 16-18 cause ye ask not. c K03, VH s rs -^ Yc f asji and receive not, because Gal. V 17 Cot 1 • I ,i't'^'5 Prov i y^ ^^"^ amiss, that ^ ye may consume it Hab^° ii'"' 5 upon your X lusts. . 9, 10 ' — c i 5 Is svl. 24 ■ f i 6. 7. Jo;i X xxi. 13 27 Is i 15, IG Je 22 Mir. X. J3. 1 John iii. 2 pltasurtt 12" Malt. vii. 7,8 Lulie xi 9—13 John it. 10 8—10. Ps xviii 41. Isvi. IS, 19 Prov i 28 xv 8 , 11 xiv. 12 Mic iii. 4. Zocll vii. 13. Matt. XK. U. g Luli.e XV. 13.30. xvi. 1,2. (Or, V. 13—18. Instead of seeking the reputation of wisdom and know- ledge, by ostentatiously aspiring after pre-eminence, let us be careful to " show out of a good conversation our " works with meekness of wisdom ;" avoiding all bitter envyings and strife in our hearts, as well as in our words and actions, not glorying in such things as are indeed a shame to any man, or scandalizing the truth by disgraceful contentions about it. Such wisdom is common enough in the world, and in the visible Church, and it thrives here, being in its proper soil and climate ; for it descendeth not from above, but is earthly, natural, and devilish, pro- ducing confusion and every evil work. May the Lord then bestow upon us the wisdom which is from above ; may the purity, peace, gentleness, docility, and mercy, mani- fested in all our actions, and the fruits of righteousness abounding in our lives, evince that God hath replenished us with this most excellent gift ! May we avoid all par- tiality, respect of persons, narrow prejudices, and a half religion, as well as hypocrisy ; and, in our words and works, be employed as peace-makers, to sow that good seed, which yields the fruits of righteousness on earth, to the glory of God and the salvation of men. NOTES. CHAP. IV. V. 1— 3. The apostle is generally sup- posed in this place, to have addressed the unconverted Jews, to whose conduct his language is peculiarly appli- cable, according to the history of those times. Indeed, we can scarcely conceive that persons, continuing members of the Christian Church at so early a period, were guilty of the enormities here mentioned, though the passage is applicable enough to nominal Christians in subsequent ages. But the aposde seems to have cautioned his Christian brethren against envy, strife, and ambition, which gained ground within the Church, by the example of their nation, and the still more tremendous effects which sprang from the same cause among them. He, however, employed such language, as would be a direct and pointed address to those Jews that might happen to read his epistle, when he inquired, " whence wars and fightings" among them originated ; seeing the nation was divided against itself, and was split into parties, which destroyed each other by most furious contests, while theiv continual insurrections Vol. V No. 35. 4 Ye ''adulterers and aduitcies.'ifS, know lps i le ixsiir. ye not that ' the friendship of the world JeV. ix' 3.' Hoa! is '' enmity with God } ' whosoever there- .39 ivi I fore will be a friend of the world, "is 19 23.xvi;u''i the enemy 01 (jrod. keen. iii. is. (- ■nw , T • I t I . Kom. viii. 7. .5 Do ye think that " the scripture [^<5^«[ i^o. ^ saith in vain, " The spirit tliat dwelleth "v^f* ^i- f I 1 c -\ John XV jj, £1 m us iusteth Q to envy.-' «"■" »."'„ 6 r5ut he giveth more orrace : where- " *'" ?Z tore he saith, p (jrod resisteth the proud, oGln''''iv' 5, e but 1 giveth grace unto the humble. xivi^i/'xix'l xxsvii. II. Nnm. si 29 Ps.xxxvii. 1. cvi. 16 Ec. iv 4. Is. xi 13. Acls vii,9 Kom.i.29 Tit. 111. 3. { Or. enviously p Ex. x 3,1. xv. 9,10 iviii. 11 I Sam. li 3. Job xl 10-12 Ps cxxxviu G. Prov. iii. 34 vi 16.17 xxix 23. I.s. ii li. 12. 17 x. 8— 14 XV" 6,7 Dan vi. 37 v 20-23. Malt xxiii. 12 I.uke i. 52. xiv. II. sviii. 11 1 Pet. T 5 qSCIir xxxli. 26. xxxiii. 12. 19 23. xxsiv 27. Job Kxii. 2J. Ps is. 12. Prov. xv. 3T 12 xxii 1 Is. li 15. were drawing down destruction on them from the Roman power. Did not these calamities arise from their hists, or their pleastcres ? that is, from those corrupt passion?; which they sought their pleasure in gratifying ? These lusts warred in their members ; either the members of the corrupt nature, the old Adam, in which one lust warred against another, as all could not be gratified, and each strove for the mastery ; or their carnal passions, working within, and overcoming the feeble resistance of reason and' conscience, made use of the members of the body as weapons or instruments of unrighteousness, for perpe- trating their criminal purposes. They lusted after, and eagerly craved, worldly prosperity, and the several things connected with it, but they did not possess them ; and, in consequence of this disappointment, they were ready to murder, or actually did murder, such persons as stood ia their way, yet they could not after all obtain the advan- tages which they so inordinately coveted ; this, therefore, rendered them still more violent, and intestine discords and public insurrections were excited ; but instead of prospering by them, they were only the more impover- ished and distressed, because they sought not the desired benefit from God by prayer. This seems to refer to the eager desires of the Jewish nation after temporal pros- perity, and liberty from the Roman yoke, and to the vio- lent and impious measures which they adopted, in order to obtain them ; for these things only increased their miseries, and were hastening their destruction, because they trusted not in God. Some of them, however, it might be sup- posed, kept up the form of religion, and prayed for liberty from their oppressors, and for temporal prosperity ; but they did not receive what they asked for, because they asked amiss ; their very prayers were dictated by carnai affections, they were piesented in a formal manner, and by those who continued to reject their Messiah, vainly expecting a temporal deliverer, whom they would gladly have welcomed. So that they only asked for worldly advantages and possessions, and in order that they migh? spend and waste them in gratifying their passions. V. 4 — 6. The Jews were still the professed worshipper.^ of God, and the nation had been espoused to him by special covenant ; idolatry, therefore, and other direct violation^, of the national covenant, were spiritual adultery ; and the rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah was the grossest instance of that crime that could be committed. The%- 3 U //. IJ. uo. JAMES. jj. D. Uit. ' Sail, i.i IP. 2 Siito XV. Ill i Kin:;! i. 13- li 8Chr. XH». I, xxxiii 13.11 7 ^SuUuityou^selvcsthcrc(■ol•ctoGod. yc sinners ; and " pur iCy your hearts, " ye "j^; >; «•/ ,11 » Rc.,i.-,t the devil, and he will ike from , double-minded. ^-VmJu.V,:: 9 Be ' afilicted, and mourn, and weep : " »xin.2i,2,,- let your laughter be turned to mourn- ^|'j"|"'|'p^f°J- ing, and your py to heaviness. vluon^i'e" '' 10 ^ Humble yourselves in the sight of'-^; '•^i,'''«^J^; the Lord, and " he shall lift you up. v"'2*y' 'i, xxii. li', 13 Jer.sxxi 9. 1.1 18—20. Ki vii. 16 xvi 63. Zech. xii 10, (m v. 15 Lukevi.Si xvi :■! Key xtiii 7,8 bSfe. Joti lixsviii. 2 Horn ii 1. is. 20 xiv.4 13. i V. 1 Gin XI. 3, 4.7. EC :i 1. la. 1 1 H '•^ Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speakcth evil of his brother, " and judge thhis brother, ' speak- eth evil of the law, and judgeth the law; but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the ^ law, but a judge. 12 There is one '' Lawgiver, wlio is ' able to save and to destroy : ^ who art thou that judgest another .'' 13 'Go to now, ye that say, ^ To- day or to-morrow, we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, " and buy, and sell, and get gain : 17— 2a n Is. xsn nigh to them, to support, sanctify, comfort, and bless them. But at the same time, they, who were living un- godly and wickedly, or practising any kind of sin, must cleanse their hands from it, by repenting of it, forsaking it with abhorrence, and renouncing all the carnal pleasure or profit connected with it. (A^o/e, /s. i. 10 — 20. Marg. Ref.) Also the double-minded or hypocritical professor.?, {Note, i. 8.) the men, who cleaved to the world and its i^i-iend- ship and interests, neglecting God and his will, must pu- rify their hearts, in dependence on the mercy and grace of :he Gospel, from every pollution, that they might be pre- pared, in the fear and love of God, and by all holy affec- tions, for a life of humble and devoted obedience, histead therefore of proceeding in a thoughtless course of sin, or a formal and unfruitful i)rofession of Christianity, " let them •' be afflicted, and mourn, and weep," on account of the dishonour which their sins had done to God, the mischief which they had occasioned to men, and the danger to which their own souls were exposed ; and because of the rebellious ingratitude, conlem|)t, and enmity, of which they had been guilty, especially in their opposition to Christ and his salvation. Their carnal mirth and laughter, as well as their scornful derision of divine things, ought, without delay, to be turned into mourning and godly sor- row, and their worldl^'joy into heaviness, depression' of spirits, self-abasement, brokenness of heart, and serious concern for their souls. For if they humbled themselves inwardly, and in the sight of God, by unfeigned rcfient- ance, submission to his righteousness, and acceptance of ■ his salvation, he would certainly lift them up from their dejection, heal their wounded spirits, comfort them with his reconciled love, exalt them to most valuable privileges, and enrich them with everlasting glory and felicity, as well as exempt them from the miseries which were about to come on their nation. V. 11, 12. The apostle next warned his brethren, or those who professed and apfieared to be Christians, to avoid detraction, slander, and uncharitable judgments on each other's motives, actions, characters, or state. As these things were expressly forbidden in the divine law, (Notes, Ex. XX. 16. Lev. xix. 16—18.) the man, who thus re- viled, slandered, or decided against his brethren, did in fact judge and condemn the law itself, as if it were unjust, unnecessary, or unfit to be obeyed. This conduct, there- fore, was indeed no less a presumption, than for a man to 14 Wherca.s ye know not what shall tor. Purm, be on the morrow. For what is your V, %X%i, life ? * It is even " a vapour, that ap- H_«,x'i UKxi",,': pearethfora httle time, and then vanish- 3' u 'xxLii! ,U 12 I Pet i. 24. eth away. ;<,. 7 i jotn ;.. 1.0 For that ye 0!;o-;j< to say, p If (-he p'2 sam.^xv. jj Lord will, we shalTlive, and'do this or =•' that. 16 But now 1 ye rejoice in your boast- ings : all such rejoicing is evil. ^"7 'rrov''xx'i 17 Therefore to him that 'knowcth "vf^iV'io''" to do good, and doeth it not, to him it e °ite '' xvli, r is sin. . Ai;ts xviii. Rom, i. 10. 32. I Cor 17. XV, 22 Rom, i 20, 21. 4tl, John ix 41 quit his station as the subject of God, who should be a doer of the law, and to usurp the place of a lawgiver and judge, whose office it was to determine what ought to be commanded, to prescribe to men their conduct, to call them to account for it, and to pass sentence upon the guil- ty. .But there was one Lawgiver, who was fully author- ized and qualified to enact laws for his church and for the universe, to enforce them, and to vindicate their obliga- tion and honour; being able to destroy the obstinate trans- gressor, and to delect the masked hypocrite, as well as to save the luunble penitent ; and to whom all authoiity and judgment belonged. AVho then was the poor worm, the vile sinner, that, forgetful of his own deserts, dared to usurp the throne of judgment, as ifhe were the compe- titor of Christ, and to decide on the actions, and denounce sentence against the persons of his brethren, in a dictato- rial manner, and according to his own rules, as if that were his province and duly? {Notes, Slatl. vii. 1,2. Rom. xlv. 1 — 13.) Nothing can more completely demon- strate any proposition, than this passage demonstrates that the moral law is the believer's rule of duty, and tliat every word or action, which dishonours the law, is rebel- lion, if not blasphemy, against our one Lawgiver and Judge ; at the same time that it exposes, in a most striking manner, the wickedness of that |iresumjiiuous, rash, and censorious way, in which zealots and bigots condemn and anathematize those who in any respect differ from them, to the immense scandal of the Gosjiel and distuib- ancc of the church ; and this conduct in fact is often con- nected with antiliomian tenets, and is perfectly congenial to them. The coincidence of St. James' exhortation with that of the apostle of the Gentiles, in the fourteenth chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, is well worthy out special notice ; for it is generally supposed, that James here refers to the same subject, namely, the difference of opinion and conduct between the Jewish and Gentile converts, concerning meats and days and the other cere- monies of the law. V. 13 — 17. The apostle here proceeds to reprove and expose the self-sulHciency, worldly spirit, and unbelieving, irreligious language, which were manifested by many, in another way. The expression, " Go to now," or, " Come " now," here implied strong disapprobation, and a call to any one to consider the absurdity or baseness of his conduct. The persons reproved were eager in pursuing 3 U2 A. D. bO. JAMES. A. D. 60 ClfAP. V. Judqinciils arc denounced on the rich and wicked Jews, 1 — 6. Christians arc ex- horted to patience and meekness under their trials, in hope of a .ipeedy dcli- v-crance, 7 — M. A cnulion against swearing, and an admonition to prayer and jjraisc, 12, 13. Instructions con- woildly advantages, pleased with the sagacious plans which they had formed for obtaining them, and sanguine in ex- pecting success ; but they neither considered the shortness and uncertainty of life, nor their entire dependence on God in every thing. Thus some would say, ' We shall set out ' to-day, or to-morrow, and go to such a city, where we ' purpose to reside for a year, and by carrying on such or ' such a trade, \vc expect to enrich ourselves.' Whereas they could not know what might take place respecting them, even on the morrow, or for a single day. {Notes, &c. Prov. xxvii. 1. Ijuke xii. 13 — 21.) For indeed what were iheir lives to be compared unto, but a vapour, .or lu- minous meteor, which, gliding through the air in the 1) ght, may perhaps appear beautiful for a moment, but then vanishes for ever ? So short, unreal, unsubstantial, imccrtain, and fading, was-human life, and all the splen- dour, prosperity, or enjoyments, that attended on it; though an eternity of bliss or wo, to each of them, must be determined according to their conduct during this fleet- incr moment ! They ought therefore to say, with serious recollection, submission to God, and indifference about earthly things, ' If the Lord will, I shall live, and do this ' or that : it is in the line of my duty ; and if he spare my ' life, 1 shall go about it according to his commandments, ' and in dependence on him ; and he will succeed the de- ' sign so far as it is for my real good.' But as the persons reproved " rejoiced in their boastings," concerning the po- licy of their schemes, and their prospect and confident ex- ]5ectation of success, they must be reminded, that " all " such rejoicing was evil ;" the result of a proud, carnal, unbelieving, and ungodly disposition ; a self-idolatry, as well as an idolizing of the world, and a forgetfulness of God, of death, and of a future judgment. This heathen temper and conduct was less excusable in them than in the Gentiles ; for, having the word of God and the instruc- tions of his ministers, they could not but know that they ought to be spiritually minded, and " to acknowledge God in all their ways:" if therefore they knew, in this and other things, what the good and perfect will of God was, and yet did not obey it, their omission would be emphati- cally sinful, and expose them to severe rebukes or final condemnation. This is a rule universally applicable, and every man ought most carefully to consider it, in respect of sins of omission, which the conscience docs not so rea- dily remonstrate against, as it does against thcise of com- mission. (iVo/es, Lu/ce xii. 47,48. Jo/tw xiii. 17.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—6. All the wars, murders, massacres, persecutions, oppres- cerning the elders visiting the sick, 14, 15; and concerning Christians confess- ing iheir sins to each other, with prayer for one another ; and a declaration of the efficacy of fervent prayer, 17, 18. An encouragement to attempt the con- version of sinners, and the recovery \of their offending brethren, 1 9, 20. sions, and bloody contests, that ever desolated the earth, or harassed the church, originated from the lusts of man's apostate nature, and the perverse pleasure whieh he take;- in breaking the commandments of God. The carnal affec- tions of the heait having cast off the rule of reason and wisdom, anarchy and civil war takes place in the soul; while one member of the corrupt nature wars against the rest, and they in turns prevail and are gratified ; and while the members of the botiy are the instruments of their per- nicious purposes, and obey the dictates of the tyrant of the hour. This being, in one way or another, the case with the unnumbered millions of the human species, (except the remnant of those who. are born again,) we need no; wonder at the confusion, crimes, and miseries, which have, in every age, abounded in all parts of the world, though we ought to mourn over them. But satisfaction cannot be found in ungodliness, whatever method the carnal mind may select in order to obtain it. In respect of spiritual blessings, it may be said of many, " ye have " not because ye ask not, or because ye ask amiss ;" yei all who ask in sincerity will surely receive : and humble, believing prayer is the best means of obtaining all desira- ble success in temporal things. But if men ask worldly pros- perity and affluence, that they may gratify their lusts, and waste the bounty of God in violating his commandments, their requests will either be rejected, or they will receive the things for which they prayed as a scourge, or a curse. Alas ! how many nominal Christians might be addressed in the apostle's words, " as adulterers and adulteresses,'' both literally and spiritually ! And yet, how would they be disgusted and enraged, if a minister were to accost them in such language, however justly and scripturally applied ! But, in whatever terms the offensive truth be conveyed, we are bound to delare, most perspicttovsh/, that " the friend- " ship of the world is enmity against God, and that who- " soever will be the friend of the world is the enemy of "God." Such a profession of the Gospel, as gives no offence to a world that lieth in wickedness, will leave a man to perish with the enemies of Christ. Let us then endeavour to be friends to mankind, and to do good to all men, and at the same lime to disri^gard the friendship or enmity of the world, to refuse conformity to its vain fashions, to separate from the intimate society of ungodly men, and to profess the truths, and obey the precepts of Christ, without inquiring how far we may do it without incurring reproach, contempt, opprobrious names, or other kinds and degrees oi' persecution. The envious, ambitious, and aspiring spirit of ungodly men is totally contrary to the Christian tenijrr, and the influences of the Holy Spirit ; and " if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, lu; is none "of his." The Lord giveth grace to his people, though A. D. GO. CHAPTER V~. d, D. 60. •^^ O to now, "^e ricli men, « weep and \J howl for your miseries that shall j'sTssis. Job s's. come upon you. u~xiir.'7-2'o 2 ■^ Your riches are corrupted, and Ixsiii. 3-9 IS— , ^ i\ t •ja. Pro». xi 1 « vour garments are motn-eateir 28.Ec V 13. U. •' „ ..~ , , , ., ■ f 1 1 jsr ix.23 Mic. 3 Your gold and Sliver IS 'cankered; ^3. si .Lu'ke'vl: and the rust of them shall be « a witness 1-1 xil. 16-21 J vi. 19-25 1 vi 9 10 Re 15—17 9. Is X « Ste «n, iv. 13. b i.ll.ii? Deut. viii 12 — M. xxxli. 15. Neb ijm. against you, '■ and shall eat your flesh as IV 3 15 XII. o ^^ were fire. ' Ye have heaped treasure fw^'s 'ei^sV: together for ■= the last days. rioeiVsii. 4 Behold, ' the hire of the labourers 13 Am* VI. b, 7 ^ rt . . Zech si. 2. 3. Luke v;. 25, xsiii. 28. 29 d Matt. vi.l9, 20 Luke xii 33- 1 Pet. i. 1 eii.2. Jobxiii 23. Ps. xsxJx II Is.l. 9 li. 8. Hos v. 12 f2Tmi. li 17. g Gen. sxxi. 48. 32. Josh xxiv 27. Joh.'Svi.S. bJer. xis. 9. Mic. iii.3 Hev.xvii. 16. xx. 13. xxi 8. i Deut. xssii. 3:1,31. Jobxiv. 16. 17. Rom. ii.5 k Set on. Gen. xlix. ). Is ii 2. Mic.iv. 1. Acts ii. 17-2 Pet. iii. 3 1 Lev xix 13 Deut. xxiv 14, 15. Job xxiv. 10, II. xxxi. 38,39 Is v. 7. Jer.xxii. 13 Hab.il.ll. MaJ. iii. 5. he often denies them wealth and honour, and he will give more grace to those, who long to have all sin mortified, and their heart.s completely sanctified ; but he resisteth the proud, as his rivals and personal enemies, while he communicates the blessings of his special favour and grace, exclusively, to the poor in spirit and the broken in heart. V. 7—17. If any of our fallen race desire to be happy here and hereafter, let them submit themselves to' God, and seek his grace and favour ; let them resist the devil and reject his temptations, and he shall flee from them ; and let them draw near to God upon his mercy-seat, and he will (draw near to save and help them. But repentance must be shown " by works meet for repentance ;" the sinner, who comes to God, must cleanse his hands from the allowed practice of every transgression, however secret, gainful, or pleasant to corrupt nature ; and the double-minded must cleanse his heart from hypocrisy, j)artiality, and worldly lusts, earnestly calling upon God to enable him for these things, which would otherwise be entirely im- practicable. All sin must be wept over or lamented, either here in godly sorrow, or hereafter in wailing and gnashing of teeth ; men may defer this inseparable con- sequence of wickedness, but they cannot escape it. Well may we then call on the gay triflers around us, to " be af- "• flicted, and mourn, and weep," as well as on the haughty and presumptuous, " to humble themselves under the mighty •• hand of God, that he may exalt them in due time ;" for this is the only road to everlasting honour and felicity ; nor will the Lord refuse to comfort one godly mourner for sin, or to exalt one who abases himself before him. But ■while ministers and Christians, in their several places, pro- test against ungodliness, impenitence, pride, unbelief, and all iniquity, they should carefully avoid calumniating, reviling, and judging others, or deciding either on their state or conduct, except when their duty to them, or to others, renders it unavoidable. Alas ! there are too many professed Christians, who seem openly to quit the place of the Lord's servants and doers of his commandments, to set up forjudges, and to prescribe to their fellow-servants, or decide on their eternal state. Such men speak evil of the divine law and defame it, while they vent their own passions under the colour of zeal for the truths of the who have reaped down your fields, which m oen iv m. f.%. is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and k'xi,%l-2i"job ■"the cries of thorn "which have reaped f2!'"xxxv.9"i?; are entered into the ears of the " Lord of niiom.'"'ix; 'aa 1.1 Is. i. 9 Hfb. Sabaoth. o l Sam xxv. e. r \/ „ \ I- 1 • I .1 36. Job xsi. II - 5 xc " have lived in pleasure on the is. p^xvii. n .1 1 ., 1 . 1 lsxiii.7 Ec.Xi.9, earth, and ^ been wanton; ve have is.v 11,12. xuii. . , , , , . ' •' , ,. 8 Ivi 12 Am vi 4 nourished your hearts, "^ as in a day 01 -o-iukexvin , , ^ J 25. I Tim. V. 5. slaughter. 2 '""^ ^'>'- "■ 6 Ye ' have condemned and killed V'i:.^" „ . . p Is 111 16 Rom the just ; = ana he doth not resist q^pV;"' vii i^ ynij xvii. I IB XXii 7""* 13 El XKSiX 17. Uev xix 17,18, rii6 Matt. xxi. 33 xxiii. 31, 35 xxvii. 20. 21, 25. John xv; 2,3 Actsii. 22,23. iii. 14, IS.iv 10-12 vii 52 xiii. 27, 2B xxii U 1 Thes ii 15,16 5iii.7 Matt. xxvi. 53,54 Luke xxii. 51-53. John xix 9-11. Acts viii, 32- 1 Pet, ii 22 33. Gospel. But let us leave them, and all others, to their own Master, remembering that " there is one Lawgiver, " who is able to save and to destroy ;" and let us be careful to judge ourselves, that we may not be condemned by him. — Let us also watch against the worldly spirit and conduct so common among professors of the Gospel, who scheme, purpose, and speak, as if they wei'e to live here for ever, as if this were their rest and portion, and as if God were not in all their thoughts. Let us remember, that our life is but " a vapour, that'continueth a little while and then " passeth away," just when and as the Lord pleaseth, that the world is full of vexation and disappointment, and that we have nothing to do on earth, but to secure the salvation of our souls, to glorify God, and to serve our generation. Then we shall cordially say, " If the Lord will, we shall " live, and do this or that," and keep at a distance from the self-conceited, and foolish boastings of ungodly men; Let us learn also to reduce all our knowledge to practice, remembering, that in all things, to him that knovveth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin, heinous and ag- gravated sin. NOTES. CHAP. V. V. 1—6. The apostle here evidently meant a direct address to the unbelieving Jews, among whom were, in general, the rich and great men of the nation. He wrote but a short time before the destruction of Jerusalem, and those desolations »vhich Christ had predicted, and his disciples expected ; and as the more prosperous of his countrymen ffijected the Gospel froni regard to their worldly interests, and were become most atrociously wicked, he foresaw the speedy termination oi all their enjoyments, and the most grievous, temporal cala- mities about to overwhelm them, as well as the event of their crimes in future misery, if they continued unbe- lieving and impenitent. He, therefore, called on them to come and attend to his words, and to consider the dan- ger of their condition, that they might weep and howl with most doleful lamentations, on account of the com- plicated miseries that were even then coming upon them. As to their treasures, they would not at all profit them in the day of the Lord's vengeance. (Note. rcmovnl of our bodily sufferings. Christians may prodtaljlv confer together con- r. X J. D. 60. JAMES. Ji. D. 60. concerning iheii' conflicls, sins, and icmplalions, that ihey may encourage, warn, counsel, exhort, and properly pray for, each oilier : and they should never be backward to con- fess those offences that they have committed against their brethren, or to forgive such as have been done against them. We ought greatly to desire, and highly to value, the prayers of our fellow-Christians, and to abound in supplications for them, " as the effectual fervent prayer of « a righteous man avaiicth much." Nor ought we to be discouraged from this duly by the consciousness of our weakness, unworthincss, or sinful passions, as they, who ef old received such signal answers to their prayers, were men of like passions w-ilh us : and we have as good reason to expect that God will answer our humble believing requests, for such things as he hath promised, and as are teally for our good and for his glory, as Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Hezrekiah, or Daniel had, or any other person who wrestled with liira and prevailed. In the use of all jiroper means, every one of us should seek the spiritual good of our children, relatives, friends, enemies, and all around us, and the conversion of sinners, as well as the recovery of such as have wandered from the way of truth and holiness ; considering, that if in one instance only, during the course of our whole lives, and after ten thou- sand disappointments, we are made successful instruments in saving a soul from death, and covering a multitude ot sins, the event is of so vast importance, as abundantly lo re]iay all our toil, anxiety, and disappointment, being fai greater than the preservation of the lives of multitudes, or promoting the temporal prosperity of whole nations. {Note, Luke xv. 8 — 10.) Let us then, in our several stations, keep these things in mind, and spare no pains in so charitable a service ; and the event will prove that " oui " labour was not in vain in the Lord." THE PIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. We have had repeated opporliaiilies of considering the character and upostkship of Peter, who wrote this epistle and that ivhich follows, as far as are made known by the holy scriptures. Much additional infor- mation concerning him, however, has been conveyed down by tradition, and by ecclcsiastirxd hisiorti : but n large proportion of this is absolutely incoinpatille with the Acts of the apostles, and many thin«-s in St. Paul's epistles ; much more is dubious ; and the pretensions of the church and bishop of Home, as ground- ed on these records and. traditions, are so absurd and extravagant, as to deserve little notice, or to re- quire any firtlicr refutation. It is not absolutely certain that Peter ever uris at Rome ; though it is highly probable that he ivent thither, towards the close of his life; and that he teas there put to death by crucifixion, at, or nectr the same time, when Paul as a Roman citizen ivus beheaded, during JVcro's per- secution. He wrote this epistle, probably some time before, to the Christians in the different provinces of Jisia JMinor. Many indeed have endeavoured to prove that, as the apostle of the eircumcision, he address- ed the Jewish converts only ; but Peter teas distinguished, not only as the chief preacher to the Jews on the day of Pentecost, but also as the first preacher to the Gentiles. And as Paul, the apostle of the un- circumcision, ivrote to the Hebrews, and in all his epistles addressed the Jewish as ivell as the Gentile con- verts ; we may well suppose, that St. Peter addressed the Gentile as well as the Jewish converts : thoui(h perhaps with a peculiar reference to the case of the latter. Indeed, the contrary opinion is founded on some passages in the epistle, which are capable of another, and far inorc natural, interpretation ; but the apostle^s language in other places cannot at all consist with it. It also seems evident, that he wrote to the very churches, which had been founded by St. Paul, to corroborate his testimony, and to confute ihose who pretended that his doctrine differed from that of the other apostles; and he sent the epistle by Silvanus, St. Paul's faithful and constant coadjutor. The epistle is dated from Babylon, in the remains or vicinity of which city, it is probable a Christian church had been planted, perhaps consisting principally of the descendants of the Jews, who remained in those regions after the Babylonish captivity For no sa- tisfactory reason can be assigned, for supposing, as many have done, in ancient and modern times, that Babylon signifies Rome. Language of this kind suited the nature of St. JohCs Revelation ; but was wholly unsuitable to ,the date of the letter. JVe here find the same great doctrines, icith which St. PauVs epistles arc replete, applied to the same practiced purposes. jind it is pcculiarli^ remarkable for the sweetness, gentleness, and humble love, with which it is ivrittcnj ivhieh indeed forms a striking contrast to the domineering pride and severity, that characterize the pretended successors of this sacred writer. Various opinions have been entertained of the time ivhen the epistle was written ; but, as no certainty seems attainable, it is dated according to the author''s opinion, on the subject, in which, hotcevcr, he is by no means confident. A. D. 63. A. D. 63. CHAP. I. The apostle addresses the strangers in Pon- tus, &i.c. with salutations and thanks- givings to God for his abundant mercy, and the inestimable blessin, 7. Through faitK they loved, and rejoiced in an xmsecn Saviour, and received his salvation, 8, 9. The ancient prophets had most diligently incpnred into this salvation ; angels desired to look into it ; and the Holy Spirit confirmed and pros- pered the preaching of Tl, ! 0 — J 1. This should animate Christians to a holy and circums/jcct conduct ; as the worship- pers of a holy God, 1 3.^ 1 7 ; and as re- deemed by the precious blood of Christ, through ivhom they believed and hoped in 3X2 J. iJ. &s. 1 S.« on. Mate.n U X. S Jo.lj> to his * alMiiidant mercy ' liath beuottem i iji- /■> vi i. n, lis asrain ' unto a hvely hope, " by the re- -la l'o. n m. • r t r \ • !• t I Uxil 16, I'J surrcction of Jesus Christ from the dead. 2' incorruptible, ^*'^\j ^^^.^ ,, PETEPi, an apostle of Jcsns Chrfst,' and Vuntlefilcd, and that ; fadeth not J«„'«;='ji'^j£ to " the strangers <^ scattered [away, ^ reseiTcd in heaven t for you, ^ "ii.'i. 7^^!',. througliout J Pontus, '"Galatia, ^ Cappa- 5 Who are '^ kept by the power of God ir";^^^.'*' ' through faith " unto salvation, ' ready to l^\l be revealed ^ in the last time : i^„ QoJ, 18 — 2(. Kxd>)i('.lio/is to pure auu fcrccnt love of one another, btm-j; brethren by rcireaeralion, throii<(k the zvorJ of Go J, which, as an incorrupli- bl? iced, enthtrctk for ever, in the en- deared relation, thus formed, 22 — 23., docia, ' A?ia, and '' Bitliynia, 2^ 2 ' Elect according to "the forcknow- i4.\ev.'i'Ti '■ ledge of God tlie Father, through' sancti- i'lt^J^u'lut vii ficatlon of tiie Spirit unto obedience, '" and M.\t'xxi.' 1 ° sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ : 21.31. M,trk>rii CO. -.'2 :7. l.uke xviii 7. Jelin «v 16-Ui. Kar.i. viii 3!. xi. 5-7. 28. Kph i 4. S Col ill 11 2 Tim li. 10. Tit. i I. 2 lolin 1. 13. !< Acti li 2J XT. 18. llo.n viii :9, 30. is a.', Ll. si. 2 1 Acts XX. 32. Knm. XV. 16 1 Cor. i- 30. vi 11.2 Tlies ii 13 . .0 22 Rom. i. 5 viii 13. xvi. 19. 26. 2 Cur. X. i. llab v. 9. n See VII, Heu. ix. 19-22. X. 12. xi. 23. s:i. 11. much. 2 Jolio r. iil. 3— S. 1 John ii 29 iii. 9 iv 7. v 1 4 I Cor xiii. 13. Col i. 23 27. 1 Thes 1 lii 21 Iv. xxvi 19. Horn. iv. :5 9 MjU XSV- 34 Ai.li XX 3 . 15 y 1 Cor IX 25. xv. 52-51 -=l Kev , Jam i II h Ps xxxi. 19 CoF i. 5. Sam ii 9 Pj xxxvii 23,21 27 ciii. !7. IS 1 Horn. » 4.S viii. Il *ii. 12 x 3 Tit ii 13. Heb. iii 6 vi. 18. 19 1 .>obn 10 viii II. I Cor. XV. 20 Eph. ii. 6 1 Thes I*. Gal. iii 18 Kpli l. II. 14 18 Col i 12. Hrt>. — J Jlom XI. 20, XI. 7.8. tOr. form i l9. liv 17. Jer. 8-30 xvii II. 12 15 horn viii. 31-39 Pbil. i 6 Jnda ir 1.31 Ral ii -20 Eph ii.B iii 17 2 Tim iii. 15 BeU. Ihes i. 3 2 Thes. ii. 13, U- H«h ix 23. f 13 I Tcic . 2 g Job xix. 25 John xli. 48. wi.shed, and prayed, " that grace and peace might be mul- " tiplied," according to the salutation generally used by St. Paul. {Note, Koni. i. 7.) Thus they were taught, at the opening of the cpisde, to ascribe their salvation to the electing love of the Father, the redemption of the Son,, and the sanclification of the Holy Spirit, and so to give glory to one God in three persons, into whose name they had been baptized. Elect, &c. ' Those who in tlieir ' outward profession, and in the due judgment of charity, 'arc justly reputed for the elect of God, accort;«ng to the • eternal decree and good purpose of God the Father.' {Bp. Hall.) Sprinkling, kc. ' Men are not easily con- ' vinced of the deep slain of sin, and that no other laver ' can fetch it out but the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus ' Christ. Some, that have moral resolutions of amend- ' men', dislike at least gross sins, and purpose to avoid ' them, and it is to tiiem cleanness enough to reform in ' these things ; but liicy consider not what becomes of the • guiltiness that they have contracted already, or how that ' shall be purged. Be not deceived in this; it i.s not a • transient sigh, or a light word, or a wish of, God forgive ' me; no, nor the highest current of repentance, nor that ' which is the truest evidence of repentance, amendment; it is none of these that purifies in the sight of Gcd, and- es]ii.itcs wrath. They are all imperfect, and, stained ihcmseives, cannot stand and answer for themselves, much less bo of value to counterpoise the former guilt of sin. The very tears of the purest repeniance, unless ihey be sprinkletl uiih this blood, are impure; all oi.'r washings, without this, are but the washings of a blacka- ,'• moor, it is laixjur in vain.' (Arbp. Leiglilon.) V. 3—5. (.Vo/r. Kplt. i. 3.) St. Peter, as well as his. NOTES. ,CHAP. I. V. 1, 2. The churches, here addressed, were situated in Asia Minor, (as distinguished from the eontinent of Asia,) and.Asia, (as mentioned separately,) was the proconsular district, of which Ephesus was the capital city ; so that they ^vere chiefly the churches which had been planted by St. Paul, and the evangelists that accompanied or helped hira. As the apostle called the persons to whom he wrote " strangers," some have la- boured to prove that they were prosef^ tes of llie gale, who had embraced the Gospel, as Cornelius and his friends are supposed to have been before their conversion. Others confine it to the Jewish converts, who, living at a distance from the promised land, among the Gentiles were thus called. But as Christians are " strangers and pil- ^" grims upon earth," and as the sojourning of the patri- archs, or of the Jews, in foreign nations, was a type or emblem of this pilgrimage, (ii. II.) it is more natural to undcrstantl it of believers in general, v/ho were pil- grims or strangers in every city or country where they lived, and who were scattered through the nations, to be as " lights in the world, and as the salt of tlic earth. V These the apostle addressed as " Elect," or chosen in Christ, " according to the foreknowledge of God." {Aoles, Hinn. viii. 28— 31. Eph.i. 1 — 12. 2 7Vics. ii. 13, 1-1.) Tnis eternal purjjose and special love of God the Father had been rendered clfectual, " through sanctilica'ion of the •' Spirit unto oliedience," begun in regenenuicn, and carried on in the continued mortification of tf.eir whcle iinful nature, and the progressive renewal of their souls to the holy image of God, thus preparing them for evan- gelical obedience; and this was accompanied wiiii •' the '•sprinkling of the blood of Jesus," or the continual (beloved brother Paul, opened his subject, by calling on his application of the virtue of his atonement to their con- fello'v Christians to join with him in bics.sing God for !iis scieices, by divine faitli, for the removal of their guilt, distinguishing mercy and grace, under the ch.aracler of and the rendering of their p-cr.sons and services accepted " the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." '• Of his with God ; as the blood of the legal sacrifices was applicdi" abundant meroy," or the greatness of his compas.vonate by sprinkling it around the altar, and before the mercy- love to the guilty, the polluted, and the wretched, even seat, or as the blood of the sacrifices was sprinkled o:i tiie such as were " dead in sin and children ot wrath, he had people, when the covenant was ratified with Israel ati " rfgrnerd/frf thein," (A'o/f.', Jo/ui ,iii. 1 — o. Epli, li, 1 «,o'jnt Silt:;!, ijlurg. Rff.) To Uiese persons the aposilej — 10.) and from Uiis gracious change, wrought in them Ji. D. 63. CHAPTER 1. .■/. />. ij;>. 7 That " tlie trial of voiii- i'uilh, being »8.iv. i3.is«m- Q Wherein " yc gieatl} rejoice, thougli I 7 'i'kiv.Tl.'^c* now * for a seasoiiv" (if need be,) ' yc arcniucli more '^ precious than of goiil •' that »iij3 >o^ M>".- in heaviness througli '" manifold tempta- «7. ii u. X 20 tions : R^m. v.S. ll'xii. IS. S Cor vi. 10 xii. 0, 10. Gal. v.SS. Phil, iii 3. iv «. 1 Tlics. i 6 Jam I 2 9. 10 iiv. 7. v m 2 Cor iv.l7 » 7. Pa. cxix. 75 Lira, iii 32, JJ Heb. xii. 10. 1 Job ix S7, 23 Ps. Isis 20 csix. 28. Is Ixi. 3. Matt. si. 28 ijvi. 17. Bom ix. 2. Phil ii 25 Heh. xi xvi. 3% Act3 xiv. 23. 1 Cor. iv. 9-13. 3C perisheth, though it be "i tried with fire, ■■ might be found unto praise, and lionour, and giory, ' at the appearing of Jesus, Christ : ;0, 21 »:! Arl! 1| iv U 1 Cur. ill 44 xii 26 Kom. ii. 7. 1» lyv in-ii i».7. Zcoh Xii!. H .\I»1 ill. .■■. Horn V. ;', i. J^iJl i 0, I Her ii 10 ":i> '0. I ii 4 7 Prov^ Pet, i 1, I p e 2,3 ,2 Pet. iii, lu-i: r I Sam.ii 30 Matt. \1 5. 2Thes i 7-12, Jii 14. Jnr. xlvM S6 Tiuke Bil cv. XV, ii IC, iT ij i 1 xsv. 21 Ui John ' DV his divine power, th eir repentance, faith, and obedience, had originated. Thus, as the children of God, they had been taught to entertain " a lively," or living "hope." They were no longer lel"t to be intluenced principally by any of the hopes which worldly men indulge, of obtaining satisfaction in temporal things ; or to the jiresumptuous and inefficacious hope of mercy and salvation, by which formalists and hypocrites are deceived : but they were made partakers of a well-grounded hope of salvation. which was an active living principle in their souls ol -patient and cheerful obedience. This regeneration, and the hope resulting from it, were consequences arising from •' the resurrection of Christ." His vicarious sacrifice having been accepted, he had been raised from the dead, to prove that he was the Son of God, and that he had done his work on earth, and in order to the performance of his mediatory o.ffice in heaven ; that by communicating, through his intercession, the Holy Spirit, to give efficacy to the preaching of the Gospel, sinners might be raised from the death of sin, by a continuation, as it were, of that power which restored to life the dead body of Christ. {Notes, Epii. i. 19, 20.) Thus they had obtained a title to an inheritance, which was of a very different nature tVom those which worldly men sought for, as well as a warranted hope of it, and a mcetness for it. For earthly inheritances are corruptible in themselves, and in respect of their possessors ; dejileil, in respect of the means by v.hich they are obtained, ihe use which is generally made of them, and the persons who possess them; and fading, as to the very trivial comfort, honour, or distinction, which they confer. But the inheritance '.o which the regenerate were entitled, and for which they ho|>ed, is iiicorriiplible in itself, and they will be reivieied incorruptible and im- mortal to enjoy it; it is uudefiled. in respect of its plea- sures, and the character of all those who partake of them; and unfiiding, as to its satisfaction, glory, and splendour, xvhich v/dl be unalloyed, unsullied, prrmaneiit, unin- terrupted, always inci-easing, and eternal. This inherit- ance was "reserved in heaven," out of the reach of all enemies and changes, in the place of perfect holiness and Iclicily, " for them," even for all the elect, or the rege- nerate, vdio "were kept," as in a strongly fortiiied and garrisoned cnstic, by " the power of God," engaged by covenant to fulfil his irrcvocaWo promi.^es, and the pur- poses of his everlasting \ovg. So that, having entered, Through Christ the Door, into this strong tower, by faith, and still exercising faith on the promises of God, and on his perfections as engaged to perf^orm them, and this faith being preserved from failing, through the continual inter- cession of Christ, and grace bestowed by him, they ^vere .sure of being preserved in all dangers, and protected against all cr.cmies. interna! and ex,lernal, unto complete salvation This was in all respects prepared and ready for them, though the appointed season of it was not yet arrived ; so that it still remained, as it were, veiled : but it would be revealed, manifested, and publicly conrerred on them, at the last time, even at Christ's coming to raise the de?d, to judge the world, and to destroy all ungodly men. A liveiij )tope, ' living in death itself. The world dares say no ' more for its device, than dum^ spiro, spero : (while I • breathe, I hope ;) but the children of God can add, diim '• expiro, spero ; (when I expire, I hope.) It is a fearful ' thing when a man and his hopes expire together.' {Arbp. Leigltton.) V. 6, / . In the earnests and hopes of eternal salva- tion, true Christians greatly rejoice, or, at least, were required to do so. This was the genuine efiect of dieir faith; in proportion to its strength; iliough at the present, for a transient season, they might be, and often were, " in heaviness," and even "dejected, through a variety of afiiictions and trials in ihe'ir outward circumstances, through the remaining sinfulness of their hearts, and the harassing" assaults of Satan: {Notes, Jarnes i. 1—3. 12 — 15.) These troubles and conflicts inteirupted their re- joicings by short intervals ; but they were needful, in order to th-'ir best good and for the glory of God : other- wise he would no more have appointed such trials to them, than a kind and wise father would needlessly afflict his beloved child, or a jihysician would prescribe nauseous medicines, without occasion, to his dearest friend. The intent of all these troubles was, to make a proper trial of their faith, tiiat it might be proved to be genuine. They professed to believe in Christ, and to love him; and it was proper that the sincerity of their profession should be ascertained, that they might" be distinguished froin hypo- crites. This was effected by persecutions, afflictions, and- temptations, as gold is distinguished from base metal, (as well as purified,) by being east into the furnace. But the faith of Christians was immensely more precious than gold,, which is of a perishing natu.c, and can only purchase perishing things; whereas faidi interested the soul in the unchangeable promises of God, and enlided it to eternal felicity. It. was therefoi-e pro|)er that this faidi should be tried in the fire of tribulation, by which the dead faith of. hypocrites was generally consumed, as they commonly renounced Christ to escape the cross, and sernre worldly advantages : but the living faith of the regenerate was thus manifested to be genuine, by theii' steadfastly cleaving to Christ and his will, at any price^ their faith inilced being increased and purified by the trial. They would also have the comfort of it, and God the glory, at present ; and U would be " found to praise, and honour, and glory," in the presence of the whole creation, when Christ shall appear to judge the v.orld .; when no deqree ol applause, ©i Jl. D. Gji. John XX :} •' Cor. i>-. IB. V 7 iH ,i. 7 Caul i. 7. V 9 16 Malt X. 37. «xv to-*U John viiili. »iv 1121.24 XII IS —17. I Cor XVI as 2 Cor. ». 11. IS. Gal 1 C t|ih iii24 iJuho f. PETER. J. D. G;j, . 19 XJ>'< y 2 Cor. Ix. 15 xii. i. I i- 2.4. 2 Cor. i 22 Gal. V.22. F.i.h i 13. 14 — 21 xxi». »-27 I'rov li 4 Johi VIII 9. Gal. iv S Whom ' having not seen, " ye love ; in whom, though now yc see Am not, yet " believing, ye rejoice with joy '' un- speakable, and ' full of glory : 9 " Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of yowr souls. 10 Of '' which salvation the prophets have enquired "^ and searched diligently, who prophesied of '' the grace thai should come unto you : 1 1 Searching what, or what manner of time, " the Spirit of Christ which was a U.im. Tl. 22. Hcb. xi 13 Jam 1.21 b Malt, xiii 17 Luke x. Is. Ill 13, 14 liii. I- 10 Dan IX 24 , -38 Zerh Xmi that '■ *" "" Luke -b MaU. 27 2J. KXv. — dHeb. xi. 13. 40- in them did signify, when it testified be- r p». xxn i-ei forehand ^ the sufferings of Christ, and ■— • " ~- ■■' ' the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom "^ it was revealed, III I xxiv £6.27 44. not unto themselves, but unto us, they &'r.ei. in.ii xmx. did minister the things which are now 31 ixix.3o-3c. 1 11 1. I 1 c\ 1 6 I, IX. reported unto you by them, ' that have '■'.«■'»« ''!•• r .; 1 1 • 1 I "• ^ Dan. Ii. preached the gospel unto you ' with the ^^' j*^^ "ecb'^li Holy Ghost " sent down from heaven ^5..'hn' "' " " which things the angels desire :„♦„ ii. 10. 22. 18, :9. miO. ^, X , Am iii. 7 Matt xi 25 iT xvl 17. Luke ii 25. Rom. i. 17. 18 1 Cor II 10 Gjl i. 12 16. i Dao ix 24 xii 9 U Heb xi 13 3J. 40 K Mirk xvi. 15. Luke x C Acts vlii 25. xvi. 10 Rom I. 15 X 15 Xv. 19 1 Tlies ii. 9. Hfb. iv 2 — I Jobn xv 26. xvi 7-15. ActJ ii 4 33 iv. 8 31 x. 44145 2 Cor vi. 6. 1 Tljes. i 5.0. Heb ii 4. m frov I 23. Is xi 2-6. sxxii 15. xliv 3-5 Joel 11 28 Zcch xii 10 John XV. i6. Acts ii. 17,18. D i::i XXV 20 Ddu. viii 13 Luke xv 10 Epb iii. 10. Kev. v. 11-13 weight of glory, could excite pride, Qs they would do whilst prophets from the beginning: so that their writings were sill remuuied in their hearts. To this joyful event all true peculiarly worthy of the alieiitive consideration of Chris- believers looked forward with serious preparation. tians. These ancient servants of God had themselves, most V. 8, 9. The Christians, to whom St. Peter wrote,! earnestly and diligently, investigated the meaning of their liad, in general, never seen Christ during his humiliation, I own predictions ; not being able fully to understand what and they were not at present admitted to see him in his | that grace was, which was intended for those who should o-lory : yet they loved his Person, his divine jierfections, live after the coming of the Messiah. They therefore his human excellencies, and his mediatorial suitableness ji searched, as miners do for the precious metals, that they ihcy were earnestly desirous of his favour and salvation ;] might discover when, and in what manner of time, those tliev were thankful for his unspeakable love, and the bene fitscoi.fcrred on them ; they rejoiced in his exaltation, and were zealous for his glory ; and this led them to cleave to him and obey him ; to love his people, ordinances, truths, and commandments : and to give up whatever intervened hr'.ween him and their souls, or was his rival in their ullections. Tliis love of an unseen Saviour sprang from I'aith in him; they believed die testimony of God by his things would occur, which the Spirit of^Christ, who dwelt in thera, did intend by the predictions which he suggested to them, for they did not know the full import of their own words, while they testified, so long before, that the Messiah would pass through a variety of complicated suf- ferings, even unto death ; and that he would afterwards be glorified, in his jjersonal exaltation, and in the extent, cace, and duration of his mediatorial kingdom, the hap- iiposlles concerning him and his glorious excellencies; and piness of his subjects, and the destruction of his enemies, concerning what he had done and siiflercd for sinners, and (iVofes, iScc. l-'s. xxii. Ixis. Is. liii. Dan. ix. 24 — 27.) his power, grace, and truth. In this faith they had in- 1 The Holy Spirit is here spoken of as a distinct Person, trusted their souls into bis hands, and depended on him to [and as the Spirit of Christ, not only in that he spake of cleanse and save them. Fi'om this faith, "working by j him, but as sent forth by him long before his incarnation. — "love," they derived a joy, tliat was in its nature so The same order was evidently observed, both in the express excellent, holy, substantial, and satisfactory, that it could projihccies of Christ, and in all the typical persons, events, not be expressed by words, as it was " full of glory," or and institutions, that related to him ; his sulicrings were glorified; of the same nature and cfl'ccis with the glory and uniformly represented as introducing his glory, and the felicity of heaven : and they shared this joy, in proportion glories of his kingdom. The prophets had been imme- to the degree of their living fjith and obedient love ; whilst •.hey inwardly delighted in the salvation which was wrought by him, and in their enrajituring discoveries of the glory of God, harmoniously uniting with the everlasting felicity ■©fall believers in Christ; and whilst they possessed the Earnests of this felicity, in the graces and consolations of the Holy Spirit, and in communion with the Father and his beloved Son. This faith, love, and joy, in respect of an unseen Saviour, con'iiiutcd the peculiar experience, and formed the distinguishing character, of real Christians, •ivho thus were assured that they should receive .hat salva- lion of their souls, which was the end proposed by them when they believed ; and they were conlinuilly receivius ihat salvation, in the earnest.--, comforts, and sanctificatioTi of it, amidst their trials, and proportioned to the degree of ihcir faith and grace. (John xx. 29.) V. 10 — 12. The salvation, to which men were called '.)y the preaching of the Gospel, had been predicted by the dialcly instructed, that tlicy should not live to witness the accomplishment of tlieirown predictions; and that neither tliey nor their contemporaries would derive the principal benefit of their ministry, or enjoy the privileges annotjnced by them; but that they were labouring for the benefit of ■ future generation.s, whilst they declared those great events, which had at length taken place, and had been reported to the Jews and G.-ntilt's by the apostles of Christ, who had preached the Gospel to them ; whose ministry was attested by the miraculous operations of the Holy Spirit, and ren- dered successful by his cllicacious intlucnces ; and who was sent down from heaven to "bear testimony to the perform- ance of those prophecies, which he had of old inspired. Indeed, these mysteries of redemption contained such dis- plays of the wisdom, power, truth, justice, holiness, and mercy of God, that die angels desired, with great earnest- ness and persevering attention, to bow down to look into them, and to join in adoration of the divine Redeemer, like J. D. (i-i CHAPTER 1. ./. D. U3. oEx sii. II. 1 13 Wherei'ore, "gird up tlic loins of a'Kfnp'"i. M your mind, ^ be sober, " and hope * to job^sxiviii, 3 '.j^ gj^j^ ^^j. ^i|p grace that is to ' be ^j" »"xvii"V brought unto rou at tlic revelation of piv7 ' 3 i.uke Jesus Llirist ; xxi.34.55 R" Xlii 13. I Th «s« 'on. 3-5 injr yourselves accordins; to the former lii. 15 Rono XV. , s •' . . ° <-i5. icor. »iii lusts " in vour Ignorance : neb-iiu'vi'ia.- J5 But ^ as he which hath called you * OT.r-rn'ctiy 5- is holy, ^ so be ye holy " in all manner r 1—9. Luke xvii. J ' . J J 30 1 Cor i 7. oi conversation ; 2Thes i7. 2 .. . _ Tim iv 8. T't lb Because it is written, ^ Be ye holy ; ? ? .) .cr lor • ani holy. 'i' 3i? ""Eph' 1'^ ^^'^ •' y'^ " *^'^l' o" *^'*^ Father, ii' siTv" '^''' "^ who without respect of persons judgcth "i Tb1s.'"i'v 's. according to every man's work, *= pass the Tit iii. 3-5 X li 9. v. 10 Rom. tiii 28 30 ix 21. Tbil. iii. 1 1 Thcs. ii. 12. \i- 7 2 Tm i 9 Pet i. 3.10. y Is. vi. 3. Hcv iii. 7 i» 8 vi. 10 7. JUtt v. 48. I.ukc i. 71, 75. 2 Cor vii 1. Epb. v 1,2 Phil i 27 ii 15.16. IThes iv 3-7. Tit, ii ll-M iii. 8. 14. Heb xii. U 2 Pet. i 4-10 — a li. 12 iii. 16 Phil. iii. 2n. l Tim. iv. 12. Heh. Jiii. 5. Jam. iii. 13. 2 Pet. iii. 11 — M b Lev si 44 si.x. 2. xs. 7 Am iii. 3 oZeph.iii.9. Matt. vi.9. vii. 7-11.1 1 Cor. i 2. Epb i 17 iii 14 d Deut x 17 2 Chr xix 7. Job zzliT 19. Malt xxii. 16. Acts.x. 34.35. Kom ii 10 II Gal ii G. Eph. Ti. 9. Col. iii. 25. eOeo xlvii 9. 1 Cbr.xxix 15 Ps. xxxix. 12. Heb. xi 13-16. the cherubim,who were represented as bowing down to look upon the ark of the covenan|. (Miirg. Eef.) They, as it were, left the glories of heaven, to study the clivine ))er- fections, and to learn new songs of adoring praise, in the stable at Bethlehem, in Gethscmane, on mount Calvary, and from the Church, which " God manifested in the " flesh," had " purchased with his own blood." (IS'olcs. Eph. iii. 10. 1 Tim. iii. \6.)—Tlie Svirit of CItrist. (II.) - That is, say the .Sccinians, the Spirit in ihcm, which 'spake of Christ, c hrtvc puiilictl vour 17.10. ActSXV. . . O ,J , ,1 ,. .1 I o Bom ti IB, souls, * III obcyinc tlic truth ^ throuirli , m"'T iV'i? t''<^ bpint, ' unto unieigiieU love ol 'iiEm i &Si 8 ^l>c brethren, " sec that yc love one zTr 17. iii.ll i« 11 Jniin xiii. M.M. x» 17. Unm xi i 9.10. 2 < or vi. C I p i .v 3 1 ■nm i. 9 HeS \1 10 Kilt. 1 J«m li. ih, 10 2 fct i 7. 1 John in 1 I U-19 23 iv 7 I2S0 31 V 1.2 in-ll i. iT I TUM. ill. 12. 2 ThM 13 Be«. ii 4. Father in him : they ought to remember, ll>at " without " respect of persons, he juJgpd according to every man's -work." [Notes, ,'lf/s x. ^J-J. 3.j. Hom.'\\.\\.) Thry .shoulJ not therefore suppo-c, that any nunc or foim would avail ihem ; or iliat he would approve of any man, because another Avitli ** a piirc heart fenently : •'i^''^'"; ' * ■'" 2.{ Being ''■ horn again, ''not of cor-5*;j,^;'3^„o„j ruptiLIe seed, ■= but of incorruptible, 'by sj "Corxv.si, the word of God which liveth and abid'- ".V""- '« ' ' etii for e\ei-. '^; t' m'JJ: xxiv 35. Juhn li SB Heb. iv. 13. Jam.'i \z •29.) For this was the Lamb of God, without the least s[)0l or blemish of sin, of whose purity and'excellency. as well as his sufierings untn death, the innumerable mul- titude of paschal lambs, and daily burnt-ofTerings, under the law, had been no more than shadows. He had indeed been he had been a .lew, or was now called a Christian ; lor he I fore-ordained to this work, (which none el.^e could have would certainly judge of every man's jirofession and cha-j performed.) " from before the foundation of the world," in lacter by his works, appoint hypocrites their portion with the eternal counsels of God ; and he had been promised as unbelievers, and finally condemn every worker of iniquity, soon as sin had entered : but he had not been personally {Noles, Jiimcs ii. 14— 2G.) Nay. if believers did any manifested, "to take away sin by the sacrifice of h" " self," till these last times; in consequence of which he was now openly proclaimed by the preaching of the Gospel, as the Saviour of all men, Jews or Gentiles, who came to him. For the whole benefit was intended for those, who. evil thing, ("iod would not connive" at it because of their relation to him ; but he would surely visit them with sharp rebukes and corrections, and refuse them his consolations, till they had deeply rejiented of if. It therefore behooved them to pass the whole time of their pilgrimage in this! by his grace and through his intercession and atonement, evil world, in feai', as well as in hope: not doubling of j relied on the mercv, truth, and power of God for salva- God's faithfulness lo his promises, oi' giving way to dis- tion : being assured, tliat he had raised the crucified Jesus from the dead, and conferred on him the predicted glory, (11 ;) for this very p-irpos^, that sinners, when made sensible of their guilt, and their entire inability tojus- tify, sanctify, and save themselves, or to appear before their just and holy Judge, might fix their faith and hope on God, as reconciled to all believers in his Son. and for his sake engaged to fulfil all his promises to them. Fvnr, &c. (17.) ' Why should he, that hath assurance 'of salvation, fear? If there is truth in his assurance, 'nothing can disappoint him, not sin itself, it is true: ' but it is no less true, that if he do not fear to sin there is ' no truth in his assurance. " It is not the assurance of faith : ' but the mispersuasion of a secure and profane mind." {Arch. Leiglilon.) \r > V. -22. 2.3. The souls of "those whom the apostle addressed, like those of all other men, had been polluteii with ungodliness, |iride, malice, selfishness, and worldly lusts: but they had " purilicd them" from the prevailing influence of these pollutions, as well as from the guilt of their actual sins, in the meihod which God had appointed for that purpose. They had been shown by the word of truth their need of this purification, and taught in what way it might be efl'eclcd • and '" in obeying the truth," by repentance, faith in Christ, and the use of ihe means of iromises, cburaging enslaving dread ofhis wrath ; but being humbly jealous of themselves, and watchful over (heir own hearts ; "fearing lest they should be deceived and come short, lest they should dishonour God, or incur his awful rebukes, and lest they should fall into temptation ; and uniting their confidence in the Lord's mercy with reverence of his majesty, holiness, and authority. For the Christian's best state of mind is, a due proportion of humble fear and believing hope, at an equal distance from presumption and desiiondency : without hope, a man is like a ship which hath no anchor ; witlvout fear, he resembles one without ballast. The fearless professor is defenceless, and Satan 'akcs him captive at his will ; whiUt he, who desponds, has no heart to ava.il himself of his advantages, and surrenders at discretion. They, to whom St. Peter wrote, were ex- horted to fear always, as well as to hope to the end ; especially as they knew at what a price they bad been redeemed. Once they had lived in a vain unprofitable manner, ordering their whole conversation according to iraditions received from their fathers. The Jews rested in their legal ceremonies, and the traditions of the elders ; and '.he Gentiles in the absurd fables and idolatrous worship, which had Iteen transmitted to ihem from their ancestors : and both were at an immense distance from spiritual religion. But they were redeemed fiom this state of slavery and wretched imprisonment, into which they had iieensold for their crimes ; not only by power exerted, but ly a price paid for them as a sntistaction to the justice of God, that he might be honourable in delivering them. This price had not consisted of corruptible things, such as silver and gold, ihc treasures which men gencrallv most value; but it had been paid wilh the lilood of Christ, the Son of the living God, which wns indeed most precious, bv reason of his divine nature and exeellencv : so that it grace ; they were thus cleansed fiom their filthiness and idols, and the several faculties of their souls were purified and sanctified to serve God in righteousness and true holi- ness. This purification had been effected, " through the " Spirit," who first quickened, convinced, and humbled them, and so led them to repent, believe, and obey ; and afterwards thcv had sought further degrees of holiness, in dependence on his grp.cious and-poweriul influences, and in compliance with them : so that Ihey indeed were active in this matter, but He had given them both the will and the was sufficient to render it glorious to the justice and law of ] power. One peculiar effect and evidence of this purity God, for the sake of it lo show mercy and give grace toiof heart consisted in " unfeigned love of the brethren.'' sinners of every nation and description. (A'o/e, John i. They had thus been led to love the image of Christ in hf^ A. ». 63. CHAPTER I. Jj. D. 63. • Or, For Mar 2.1 * For = all flcsli 15 33 s;rass, antl all Jl s'"cii. 7 ^"<^ g'*^''y o' i"^" ^^ '"'^ flower of grass, cxiii e'^'is it The grass withereth, and the flower thcre- !'o,'n'°i»^'^: of falleth away : 1 John ii 17. people, and to esteem them highly, though once they would have despised and hated them : they had learned lo love their company, to sympathize in their sorrows, to rejoice in their comforts, to do them good, and to live at peace with them. This they did vnfeignedli/, by choice and in uprightness, and they evinced it by giving up tlicir own interest or indulgence tor their benefit. Their love ol each other was in this respect far different from that hollow show of friendship and affection which prevails in the world, and which is chiefly expressed by insincere pro- fessions and unmeaning compliments. (Ao/es, Rom, xii. 9, 1 John iii. 18.) As they had then attained to a mea- sure of this disinterested love, let them see to it, as of the greatest importance, that they loved one another more and more ; in the use of the same means, and in de[)end- ence on the same Spirit, let them seek more entire purity from every selfish, envious, or malevolent affection, that no anger, bitterness, prejudice, or carnal passions, might warp, debase, or interrupt their mutual love, and that it might grow more fervent and intense, and be m.anifested in more self-denying endeavours to promote each other's tem- poral comfort and spiritual advantage, v. 24, 25. This brotherly love was indeed in some sense natural to them, not as men, but as Christians, as they were all children. of one family, and nearer related than any earthly brethren could be. For they were born again, not of corruptible seed, as all the human race are born of Adam's fallen nature, to sicken and die, and so to return to corruption and dust in respect of their bodies ; whilst the soul, unless regenerate, must sink into misery; nor yet were they merely distinguished from others as the natural posterity of Abraham, which was only a cor- ruptible seed; but they were born again by means of an incorruptible seed, even by the word of God implanted in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. This, being immutable and eternal truth in itself, lived and would abide for ever, in the effects produced by it on their hearts, according to the promises of God, being the seed of a divine life, and powerfully operating a total change in the judgment, dis- positions, and affections of the soul. So that all, who ■were born again, (however before separated and distin- guished,) were thenceforth brethren by an enduring and eternal relation, which will flourish, when all other rela- tions shall be dissolved, or lost in total enmity. For " all " flesh," all that is born of Adam's fallen nature, is as grass ; " and all the glory of man," whatever any of the human race ever boasted of, or rejoiced in, was but as the gaudy flower of the grass ; whether it were roynl or noble birth, genius, wisdom, learning, accomplishments, wealth, magni- ficence, or splendid actions, or even the glorying of the Jews in being the children of Abraham ; for the whole must soon wither and be cut down, and end in the grave and in hell. But the word of God abideth for ever; its truths, promises and threatenings, will be accomplished to eter- nity, and its effects in the souls of the regenerate will be eternal also; and, as this word had been bv the (Josnel Vol. v.— No. 33. 2.5 But '' the word of tlic Lord endiir- ^S"^.:' p« eth for ever. And ' tliis is the word i;" '■"'r* Mai which by the Gospel is preached unto /',', „ ," ] you. . 21—2 1- . 8. Tit. Cor. ii."i. EpiT. preached to them, they ought to bless God for their pri- vileges; to seek an increasing experience of its efficacy; to value this distinction above all others; and "to love •' one another with a pure heart fervently," without respect to their Jewish or Gentile extraction, or any external dis- tinctions, of whatever kind. ' It is grossly contrary lo ' the truth of the Scriptures, to imagine that they, who ar^ ' thus renewed, can be unborn again.' {Arbp. Leigliton.) PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1—5. As we, if true Christians, are strangers on earth, we should expect contempt and unkindness for the men of this world, and continually prepaie for our rtmoval to our eternal home ; and we should remember that we are scat- tered into different countries, cities, and familie.*, as wit- nesses for God and his truth to those among whom we live. All the redeemed were " elected according to the " foreknowledge of God the Father ;" but this cannot be known by them, except " through the sanctification oi " the Spirit unto obedience ;" and when a simple depend- ence on the atoning blood of Christ unites with a holy hatred of all sin, and a disposition to obey all the com- mandments of God, and to delight in them, we may be sure that we are the objects of his evci-lasting love, and that grace and peace will be multiplied unto us, till they be perfected in the felicity of heaven. " The lively hope " of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and unfa- " ding," which springs from regeneration, is insepaiably connected with faith in a crucitied and risen Saviour : it ascribes all salvation to the abundant mercy of God, and excites the possessor to love and practise holiness ; it is peculiar to the real Christian, and it totally differs Irom the vain confidence of formalists, Pharisees, Antinomians, and enthusiasts, of every description. If we thus hope for an undefiled felicity, and habitually prepare for it, w« may well rejoice, that it is " reserved for us in heaven," and that we are kept, as in a castle, by the power of God through faith, unto salvation, which is made ready, and will be openly revealed, when the mystery of God shall be finished. V. 6—9. The lively and assured hope of an inheritance in heaven gives substantial joy to the soul, and must be had recourse to in all our troubles for support and anima- tion ; yet we cannot but be sometimes in heaviness, when we are called to struggle with manifold temptations, to conflict with inward enemies, to walk in darkness without sensible comfort, or to endure alllictions in body, mind, or circumstances. Even tliey, who have the first-fruits oi the Spirit, do on such occasions '"^roan, being burdened ;" and though " the Lord does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men," yet his wise love often appoinl^ sharp trials for his people, because lie knows theiu id bn 3 Y ,^. D. G3. 1. PETER. J. D. 63. CHAP. H. Christians are exhorted lo lay aside selfish and ani^ry passions ; that they inuy de- sire the sincere milk of the tvord, of which they had tasted, and groio by it. 1 — 3. I'he preciousness of Christ, the chief Corner-stone ; to believers as one with him, by faith, ami thus made a holy temple and a spiritual priesthood. nccordinu; to the scriptures ; tcliile un- believers stumble and jjcrish, 4 — 8. The sacred character and invaluable privileges of believers, as called out of darkness into light, to show forth the praises of God, 9, 1 0. The apostle be- seeches them lo abstain from jlcshly lusts, and by their good conversation to glorify God among the Gentiles, 11, J 2. He enforces obedience to magistrates, 13 — 17, and that of servants to their masters ; exhorting them to suffer pa- tiently for well-doing after the example of Christ, and from love to him, 18 — 25. necessary, in order to humble and prove them, to show them what ;s in their hearts, and to do them good at the latter end. When this is the case, or his glory in any way recjuiros it, they will be in heaviness for a short season ; but neither their trials, nor the peculiar distress- inc circumslanccs connected with them, will be sharper, more numerous, or of longer continuance, than it is need- ful they should be, in order lo try their jn-ccious faith, that the means of appropriating to ourselves its everlasting benefits ? Far be this from us ! Rather let us throw aside all carnal encumbrances, and use every method of bringing our minds into a proper frame for attending to this grand concern, and of doing the work of our great Master with alacrity and industry. Let us study to be sober in the midst of a giddy, sensual, and intoxicated world: let us hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the It may " be found unto jiraise and honour and glory, at [end, and show ourselves the " obedient children" of God, "the coming of the Lord Jesus." In the intervals of j by avoiding conformity to the world, and by taking care their temptations and conflicts, when they are composed enough to make observations on their experiences, they can find that they really do believe in and love an unseen Saviour, and show that faith and love by cleaving to him, and aiming to obey him, in the midst of their troubles ; and this causes them to rejoice in his all-suilkiency and crace, in his glory and blessedness, and in admiring his infinite loveliness, and loving kindness, with a joy which is unspeakable, and which forms a sweet antepast of the heavenly felicity; tuning their hearts to the songs of the redeemed, and prcjiaring them for their holy emiiloyments. Thus, by the way, they receive in part " llie end of the'ir ''■faith, even the salvation of their souls." V. 10—16. While we discourse freely on evangelical and experi- mental subjects, numbers, either ignorantly or malicious- ly, charge us with holding novel doctrines, and introdu- cing a new religion ; but in fact these principles were first published, as soon as sin entered into the woilJ, though they have iiassed, so to speak, through several enlarged editions. Concerning these things the ancient prophets inquired and searched witii gieat diligence, ihat they might know something of the grace preparing for later , ages; and for four thousand years, " the sulVerings of " Christ, and the glory that should follow," formed the great subject of revelation, iu multiplied types, promises, and predictions At length the desire of nations appeared, finished his sutfcrings, and entered into his glory : then apostip? bore testimony to the same important truths, and the Holy Spirit was sent down from heaven to authenticate their testimony, whilst angels desired to look down into these things, as eclipsing all former displays of the har- monious perfections of their God ! And shall not we then search diligently those Scriptures, which contain the joyful and interesting doctrines of Salvation ? Or shall we neglect not to " fashion ourselves according to the former lusts " in our ignorance," but especially watching and praying against those sins, to which we were then most prone or accustomed ; and thus let us aim to become holv in all manner of conversation, even as God, who haih called us, is holy ; for he sanctifies all whom he saves, and " with- " out holiness no man can see the Lord." V. 17—2!. The God whom we worship is no respecter of jjersons, but doth now, and will at last, " judge according to every man's work." He will detect many hypocrites, whom his servants never suspected, and some who never suspect- ed themselves ; and he will condemn many, as workers of iniquity, who calh-d Ilin) their Father, and Jesus their Loi-d and Master. Knowing these things, and aware of the deceitfuliiess of our hearts, the subtlety of our ene- mies, and the manifold delusions which are propagated on every side, we should pass the time of our sojourning in this perilo\:s world in humble, watchful, and jealous fear, which will best secure us against fatal decefitions, and pre.-erve us from dishonouring God, and exposing ourselves to liis fatheily coiTcctions. It behooves us also frequently to remember, that all the riches of the world could never have saved one soul from eternal destruction. Why then should we covet such perishing treasures ? But how vast are our obligations to the Lord Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, whose precious blood was freely shed lo ransom our souls, and to obtain eternal salvation for us! May we by < him believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, that our faith and hope might rest on the infinite perfection and love of God, for all things pertain- ing to our salvation. In this view, how absurd does the conduct of all those appear, who cleave to " the vain " conversation delivered to them by tradition from their " fathers," and avow a determination never to change iBe J. D. (i3. CHAPTER II. .1.1). i)i5. WHEUEl-'OllK, " laying aAdc all " malice, and all ' guile, and « I. io-;5. b Is. ii. 20. xxii M. St-xviii. :il ?a: Eph'Tv.M- « hypocrisies, and ' envie.s, and ^ all evil SS. i"l. ili S- ■' ', . 8. Hel;. xii. I. spCaKUlgS, c'''" icor.v. 8 2 As ''new-born babes, desire 'the t\v. so Eph i». . ... p • 1 jI 1 31. T.t .il 3-5. sincere milk of the word, that yc may xxxii. 2 x»xiv. k trfow thereby ; IJ .lolin 1.47 t5 ,^ ,.* , ,, ,l,lj.l 'J,"°' V *■ ^ 3 If so be ye have ' tasted tliat tlie %!"« I^r's. XV. Lord is gracious : N5iv."'"Mn"rk 4 ™ To wlioni coming, as unto " a iii I.'i i.u'ke vi. 12 xi u. xii. 1. 2. J:\m. iii. 17. f 1 Sam. xviii. S, 9 Ps. x\s "ixxiii 3 Priiv. jii 31 Kit. 30. xxlv. I I'.l. Rom. i. W siii 13. I Cor iii 2, 3. 2 Co :0 n;U. V. 21-26 Jam.iii.U16 iv. 7 g iv. 4 Kph. iv. 31. Col. iil U.l'J'ii II Tit ii, 3 .lam iv. II. hi 23 Matt, xviii. 3 Mark x. IS Rom. vi 4. 1 Cr, 1 xi» 20 i Ps xii 7— 10. 1 Cor. iii. 2. Hch v. 12 13. k2t^am xsiii ; ■«vii 9. Prov. iv 18 Hcs vi. 3.xiv.5.7 Mai. iv. 2. Bph ii. 21 iv 15 2Tues i Pet ili. 18. 1 Ps. ix in. xxxiv a Uiii. b Cant ii 3. Ztch ix. 17. Heb. vi m Is Iv 3. .Icr. iii. 22. Matt. xi. 23. John v. 40, vi 37. n Joliil T. SG vi. 57. ) :6 xiv. 6 19. Uom. v. 10. Col. iii 4 religion which they have inherited from ihcm ! If this principle had been adhered to, Christ must have died in vain ; for Jews and Gentiles must have agreed in re- jecting the Gospel, to cleave to the traditions, supersti- tions, or idolatry, of their elders and ancestors. V. 22—25. It is highly important that men should seriously con- sider, and be deeply convinced, that their souls must be purified from pollution, or they will inevitably perish ; that there is a work and duty for them to attend on in this matter ; that they can do nothing in it, except by '• obcy- " ing the truth ;" that they cannot obey the truth but by the Iloly Spirit, wliom God hath promised to give to those that ask him ; and that unfeigned love of true Chris- tians is the proper test and standard of evangelical purity of heart. If we have attained to this infallible evidence that the good work is begun within us, let us see to it, that we love one another with a pure heart fervently ; thus it will be more and more evident that we are " born again " of incorruptible seed, by the word nf God, which liveth •• and abidcth for ever." As tliis needful and most blessed change is wrought by the sacred word of divine life, it is of far greater importance to us to search the scriptures daily, to use every means to become acquainted with them, and to bring others in our families or congregations itcquainted with them, than to speculate about the manner in which they are rendered etiectual to this end. All other distinctions will soon be lost in the dilfcronce between the regenerate and the unregencrate ; all other glory will wither, and terminate in everlasting shame and disgrace ; all other unions will be dissolved and perish. But they, who are one in Christ Jesus, and arc beautified with his salvation, will be united in perfect love, glory, and felicity, for ever. As this word of the Gospel, which is the seed of eternal life, is preached to us also, let us see to it, that it dwells in our hearts, and brings forth holy fiuit in our lives, and then we shall " not be ashamed or confounded, world without end." NOTES. CHAP. II. V. 1—3. From the truths stated in the preceding chapter, the apostle took occasion to exhort his brethren to " lay aside," as a casl-ofl' garment, which they living "Stone, p disallowed indeed ofois xxv-ii. le men, but i chosen of God, ond 'pre- ^■^X.^^i'V-. ' p I'S OSM.I. Si, CIOUS, ill. Is ^iii. II. r \r I 1" 1 -u. 1 ', I** Mj^tt. xxi. J I e = also, as lively stones, * are built «2 .Markvii m. up a spiritual house, 'an lioiy priesthood, i". A^tsiv. u, to ofler up "spiritual sacrifices, " accept- i^'i*^'' '■*'»"■ able to God by Jesus Christ. '•/|i'- " ^rn. 6 Wherefore also >' it is contained in ^!,*^3Cnrii'^(J the scripture, ^ Behold, I lay in Sion a .'''fj; A'; ^"-'-^^ chief Corner-stohe, =" elect, precious; and /or'Xychuni. he that believeth on him '' shall not be con- \l,i%; 'Se, ";■ founded. uV" T m.' V cKli 2 Hrs xiv. 2 Mal^i. 11. John iv 22-24 Rom. xii I, Phil. ii. 17. iv 18 lleli. xiii. IS, IC s iv. 11, Ihil i 11. iv 18 Col iji. 17.-- y Dan s 21' Mark xii. 10 John m. 38. A(\ts i 16. 2Tiui iii. 10, 2 Pet i, 20, iii 16 r. i la xxviii. Ml. Zech \ 4 R"m 32, 33 Eph ii.20 j Ps Ix.sxix IS Is xlii I HV't xii IS. Luke xxiii, 35. Bph. 4. b r.i .XI U. Is xii 11 xiv, 16, 17 1. 7. Ii' had worn too long, all kinds of malice, guile, hypocrisie.-, insincerity in iheh' profession, or flattery and compliment in conversation, with all envyings and slanders ; that, widi the simplicity of new-born infants, they might desire and relish the uncorrupted doctrines and precfpts of God',-; word, as the new-born babe craves the nutrimenlal milk of the bi'east, and wants no other sustenance ; that thii.'i they might grow, by this wholesome food for their souls, in knowledge, faith, hope, love, and every holy aflcction- and not always be as children, or become dwarfs, who arc seldom healthy, comfortable, comely, or useful. Thi.s might be expected from them, and even ft'om those that had lately been converted ; " if so be," or since, " they had " tasted that the Lord was gracious." The apostle hero applied to Christ, as the context proves, what the Psalmist had spoken of Jehovah. {Note, Ps. xxxiv. 8.) The Lord is merciful and kind, whether men believe it or not ; many have inefficacious notions of his mercy, without any experience or taste of it,, and these notions commonly embolden them in rebellion ; but regenerate persons believe that he is gracious ; they apply to him in (hat behalf, and thus they taste and relish his grace, and have an earnest of their future felicity, even " the " witness in themselves" of his mercy and truth. — Malice, &;c. (1.) ' The apostles sometimes name some ' of these evils, and sometimes others of them ; but (hey ' are all inseparable as one garment, and all comprehend- ' cd under that one word, " the old man," which the 'apostle there exhorts to put ofi'. (Eph. W. 2^.) "The " word," is both the incorrujitiblc seed, and the incor- ' ruptibic food of that new life of grace, which must ' therefore be an incorruptible life. Though it seem a ' poor despicable business, that a frail sinful man, like ' yourselves, speak a few words in your hearing ; yet, look ' upon it as the means wherein God communicates hap- ' piness to thcin that believe, and works that believing ' unto happiness : consider this, which is a true notion, and then what can be so precious ? (Arhp. Leighlon.) The word snicere, shows with what diligent care the true doctrines and principles of the sacred word should be distinguished from all corrupted and mutilated systems, even as a parent would guard his beloved child from in- fectious or jioisoned nutriment, though it assumed the name, form, and colour of milk. 3 Y 3 .•?. /). G3. ■' i e. Cant v I PETER. J. D. 63. M Lulc! IX. 17 Acts IV. 11, 12.- >>. 3i. 33 I Cor I Thes. V. 3. 2 I' 7 Unto ' you therefore which believe he is * precious : but unto them ' which be disobedient, " tho Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made ' the Head of the corner, y Ar)d Ea Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even lo them which stumble at the woid, ''being disobe- dient ; ' wliereunto also they were ap- pointed. 7 Col i|. 10 g Is viii 14 Icii. 14. Lukeii. 34- Ro- — fZecl i 21 SCnrii 16 h S 3. Ju ,7. i Ei. U. 16. Hom. ix sa. .9 But ye arc '■ a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, "" an huly nation, " a 1 peculiar people; that ye should " shew forth the j praises of him ^ who bath called you out of darkness into his mar- vellous light : JO Which in time past '• were not a people, but are now the peuple of God : which had not ' obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 21 Ix l-.t Mall V 16 Eph • 6 hi. 21 Phil, ii 14.16 tOr.ci/ 2 IX. I. 2. Malt >» 16 Luke i. 79 Arts xxvi 18 Kom. ix 21 El'tl 8 q Ho! i 9 10 Kum i« 25 25. 1 T.m 1 u. Hcb i> 16 k i. 3 Dent X. li P> xiii 30. xxxiii.l2. Iixili. >!>■ Ii xli 8. xlir. 1. I Ex xii 6 Is Ixi. e. Ixvi. 21. Ue<. i 6 V. 10 XX 6. m Fs c«i 5. Is. xiti 2. Jobs XI li 13. I Cor. iii 17. 2 Tim. i 9 0 Oeut. iv.20 *ij. 6 XIV 2 xx»i. 18, 19. Tit II. 14. t Or, purchattd people. Aclsxx. 28 Eph. I 14 o.v. II. Is.xliii. Ii«.. p Is ix V 8-11 Phil iii. ' IIos ti. 33. Uom. V. 4 — 6. The ,npo. your conversation ^ Honest He'bxi'u-^ ui. 2 Lakexx5l Acta xv 2 1 3J. R.Mn„„ U x.ii 13,U n 24 1 Ti - "* '^ '" '"'" *'' ' V III. 2 Ps ssxvil U. \. ii Jt^or. i Gal \i F.ph Ii 3 Rom xii- Heb xiii I 17 xii the same sense, " a chosen generation," &c. as Israel was of old, is such a confusion of the typical prophe- cies contained in the Old Testament, with the accom- plishment of them in the true Israel, or the whole body of true believers, as addressed in the New Testament, that to admit it would subvert the whole system of inter- pretation adopted throughout this work, and which, on mature reflection, even on the objections of opponents, the author is daily more and more assured is the true one. He would not notice these interpretations, but from a fear, lest it should be thought that he had not duly con- sidered what men, eminent for learning, had said against that exposition which he decidedly adheres to. Israel, as a typically chosen generation, was cast off fiom being the peculiar people of God ; but Christians, as the spiritual seed of Abraham, and as born again in consequence of their election in Christ, were indeed " a holy generation," nay, " a royal priesthood." A small company of Israel, compared with the whole nation, officiated as priests, and they were not of the same tribe to which the kingdom was allotted ; but in Christ the kingly.|and priestly offices were united, and through him believers became both kings and priests, being every way dignified and made honour- able, called to exercise a spiritual dominion over those passions to which others are enslaved, and to obtain victories over Satan, the world, and sin, and appointed heirs of the kingdom of heaven. They also constituted •' a holy nation," incorporated under the government of Christ; subject to his holy laws, sanctified by his Spirit. >:onformcd to his image, and safe under his protection ; and they were " a [leculiar people," purchased with the ^ among the Gentiles ; " that, * wliorcas they speak against jou as evil-doers, " they may, by your good Avorks, which they shall behold, '' glorify Uod in * the day of visitation. 13 ''Submit yourselves to every ordi- nance of man for the Lord's sake : 41 Acts XV II- a Ren. xiii. 7,3. rh.l ii IS, IG. I> ill. 1. 16 IV. 14 - 10- iMatt V. 1 1 X Si l,i!k«- vi22 AasKxii. .'. 6 13. XXV. 7 r .Matt V. 10. Til. ii. 7. 8 <1 IV. II Pj. 1.2:; llo &. xiv 25 el.u ei 6B six. 21 Mnrk Jii. 17. .ii. 10 Jude D. le. referred to the calling of the Gentiles, shows that the Jew- ish converts were not exclusively addressed. {Marg. Ref.) V. 11. The apostle exhorted his dearly beloved fellow- Christians, who were so highly honoured and peculiarly favoured, to consider themselves " as strangers and )nl- " grims," who were journeying through a distant land to their heavenly inheritance, {iSotes, &c. i. 1. Heb. xi. 13 — 16,) and to abstain from " fleshly" or carnal '•• lusts," and not allow themsf Ives to hanker after any unlawful, inexpedient, or inordinate animal pleasures, much less to indulge in them, but to keep at a distance from sen- suality, and to bridle and restrain all their apnctites, and inure them to subjection, as well as to avoid all other carnal desires after things forbidden, or any earthly object. For such lusts warred against men's souls, to ihe destruc- tion of immense multitudes ; nay, they v.'arred against the souls of Christians ; and by their strivings against the spirit, or the regenerate j^ar!, and their temporary preva- lence in their atiections and conduct, often wounded and weakened them. Covetousness, piide, envy, and other as- piring and m.ilignant passions, as much militate against the salvation of men's souls, and oppose the believer's growth in o-race, as sensual propensities can do ; " they wai-agaiiisi " the soul," and are numbered by the apostle Paul among " the works of the flesh," {Notes, dal. v. 16 — 21.) it can- not therefore he proper to explain the words of St. Peter restrictively of the animal appetites, as warring against tiie rational powers of the soul. The whole natural man is de- iiraved ; and in the regenerate, the conflict is not between the body and the soul, but between the new and the old nature, ailed " the flesh and the spirit ;" and the' warring against blood of Christ, redeemed from worse than Egyptian bon- ! the soul relates to the destructive tendency ol fleshly lusts, dage, favoured with peculiar privileges, and tormed to a j the indulgence of which, in anyway, is hostile to the sou!, peculiar character and conduct. (iVo/p, T;"/. ii. It.) In all and wars against its salvation, or its peace, purity, and vigour. peculiar cnaracier and conduct. (jVo/p, Til. ii. It.) these respects they were appointed to sho'.v forth the praises of the Lord, by their spiritual worship, their profession of his truth, their holy conversation, and exempln-y conduct. To this the apostle exhorted his brethren ; the Ijord had .called many of them out of the total darkne-s of Pagan idolatry, and the rest from the comparative darkness of the Mosaic dispensation and Jewish formTlity. into the cl^ar light of the Gospel, to behold the m3rvellou=; displays thus given of the divine gloiy, and to partake of his astonishing love to sinners. This he had done, in order that they might be his witnesses and worshippers, to render him the glory due to his name ; and to declare his virtues or energies V. 12. It was incumbent on Christians to maintain an honourable and becoming conversation, in all resiiects, among their Gentile neighbours : that whereas, through their carnal enmity and ignorant prejudices, they were led to invent and propagate slanders concerning them, as if they were evil-doers, or malefactors guilty of crimes inju- rious to society, because they would not join in the esta- blished idolatry among them, they might silence their calumnies, and soften iheir prejudices, by their evident nnd abundant good works. Thus their example, in the presence of their enemies, would concur with the preach- ing of the Gospel, in promoting the conversion of the even the efficacy of his grace, in their holy tempers and I Gentiles ; and '• in the day of dieir visitation,- \vhen the actions. They had formerly been a people of no name or Lord should please to call them also by his grace to glo- cxcellency. but they were now become the people of God. rify his name, the holy lives of his people would be owned and had obtained that mercy for the pardon of their sins, as the means of that happy changp. (^oles, Mntt. v. !•> and the salvation ol their souls, to which thev once were -16. Acts xv. 14.) Da,/ of visitation, (yotes, Gen. Strangers. The prophecy, thus applied, being elsewhere xxi. 1, 2. Luke xis. 41—1-1. 31arg. HeJ.) J. D. 6.3. I. PETER. Ji. D. 63. i.lc 10, I ticut. IlXXii S Job ii 10. fB V. J Prui Ix. C. Rom. xiii. 3.* wlictlici- it be to tlic king, as supreme; .'.7 11 ills. iv. \\ Or unto j^ovnrnors, as unto tlicm i'toii 12 joSy. that arc sent by him s for the punish- Ve'"" i' r nient of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do ucU. 1.0 For •' so is the will of God. that j;*J"y ' with well-doing' ye may put to silence "."T.Ti^Vii''/' '' the ignorance of' foolish men: '. ,!°K"nm!'v.ir IC As '"lice, ° and not * using your r'»i! "^y' u" ?3 liberty for "a cloak of maliciousness. ;'•"."' 2 rX I'i. '' but a.^ the servants of God. ,'j;,de* ]7 t Honour all mm. i Love the i Mati°xJkM. brotherhood. ' Fear God. ' Plotiou-r the king. 18 Servants, '■be subject to ^o;, 21 For ^evcn hereunto were ye called : f"^{^^l\ ^ ^ s because Christ also suffered || for us, "4, 3^Lj|,e''i'^. •^ leaving us an example, that ye should f^j" „ xh f . follow his steps : The!.'",i'3 i 22 Who * did no sin, neither was E'iriii'^is'ir i '• guile found in his mouth : k"!*' "'!' \ 23 Who. ' when he was reviled, re- /som"reid./.r viled not again; when he suffered, he h""" 'umvIi.. ™ threatened not ; " but conmiitted * him- Rnm. *'','> 2) f elf to him that " judgeth righteously : i^ph.%. s^'phi'i; Tbes. |, Fph. ill. -n \ Or.£i( 6. Col .12 ler tcrs with all fear; not only to " the good »v.kRoin sii and sentlc, " but also to the froward. 10 xiii 7. Phil ^ ' ii 3. ITini »i. I <] Set on. in his own body t on "the tree; that 24" "r.uke«x,it , , . 11. • I 1 I «. 31. «" Johnviii. we, Wjcmc: dead to suis, should 'live isacor.v. 21. . , ^ .11 • ***'' "'• '* »»'■ unto riii-hteousness : 'by whose stripes ve '^■'"- '"■^- " » J I » John 11. I. Mi. » were " healed. kjohoi n. Rev 25 For ^ ye were as sheep going astray? 'u "'"im'*? 19 For > this is j thank-worthy, if a 'HcV"iii'. 1 man ^ for conscience towards God endure but are now returned unto ^ the Shepherd ""' and bisliop 01 your souls m gi't^l'i " suffering Avrongfully iiiV'^" 7' sxii": 20 For ^ what glory is it, if, when ye ""'I'iCoT.^e "^ buffeted for your faults, ye shall vji. 1. Eph. V. jg].g ij patiently ? but if, '' when ve do «"l Sam XV. M I Clir XSK. 2". 1 K[i!i. vi. .-i-?. Col iii- 22-25 lTim"'vi 1—3 Tit ii 9, IB u 2 Cor x 1 Gal v 22 Til Hi 2. Jam Hi 17 x Ps pi 4 I'rov. )ii. 32 »iii 13 x.32.xi.2n y 20. l.uke vi 32. 1 Or, ;*.mir. Acts si. 23 I Cor XV 10. 2 Cor i. 12. viii I Cr. » iii U-17. Matt v. 10-12 John xv 21 Horn xili. S 2 Tim. i 12. a Johxxi 27 Ps xxxv.19 xiixviii. 19. Ixix. i. csix BS. b iii 14 iv 11—16. Matt. V. 47 c .M4tt xxvi. 67. Mark xiv 6S. I Cor. iw II. d Srt an. 19. V. 13—17. (yoles, Rom. xiii. 1— G. TU. iii. 1.^, Thfi words rendered '• every ordinance of man," may sig- nify every Immitn consliturton. God has tppoinlcd m:igis- iracy as his ordinance, for the peace and good order of society ; but the peculiar form of it is left to human pru- dence, under the direction of Providence. So that Chris- tians are required to submit to that government which is established in the countries where they reside, without attempting any alteration, exce|it in a peaceable and legal manner, according to t'jeir rank in the community. The apostle wrote when Nero was the Roman emjieror ; but lie was led to use the more general name of king, as his • pisdc was intended for the use of all future ages. This savage tyrant, who was at length put to death as the enemy of mankind, but not till he had slain multitudes of Chris- tians by his persecuting cruelly, and among the rest the apostles Peter and Paul, (as i't is generally supposed,) was the " supreme," whom Christians must submit to and honour ! And the governors of provinces, deputed by him and the Roman senate, together with other subordinate magistrates, must also be obeyed. The intention of civil government was to " piini.sh cvii-dopis," and to protect and honour those who did well ; and, in o-eneral, the aJmi- nislralion even at that time would be productive of much good, though in many things the end of government was doubdess counteracted, for which the rulers would be ac- countable to God. But in respect of Christians, it was his will that by their good behaviour, in all godliness and honesty, as peaceable subjects, notwithstanding the ojipres- sions which they suffered, they might put to silence the XXvli. S9 Mark xiv 60 61. XV. 89- 32. Luke axii. 1,65 TSiii.9 34-39 John xix 9-II. Acts vlii 32— 35.Heh xii ^ m Acts iv 2!<. ix 1. Eph vi 9. n it 19. Ps. X- 14 xxxi 5 xxxvii. 5 Luke xxiii 46 Acts vii 69. 2 Tim 1 12 *Or.lii« cause o Gen xviii. 25 P?. vii II xcvi 13 AcH xvii 31 Horn ii 5 2 The?. 15 2 Tim. iv. 8. Rev. xix. II. p Ks. xxviii. 38 Lev xvi 22.xxii 9 Niim xviii. 22 Ps xxsviii 4 Is lili 4-fi II. Matt viii. 17 John i. 29 Heb ix 28 t Or. 'n .| Heiit xxi. 22. 23. Arts V 30 X 39 xiii 19 Gal iii. 13 r iv 1,2 Kam. vi 2. 7 II vii R Jlirj. Col ii 20 iii 3. Gr 2 Cor vi. 17 Hcb. vii 20. s Matt v 20. Luke i 71. 75 Art.. X. :'5 Rom. vi. Iii 22 Eph v 9 Phi i 11. I John ii. 29. iil 7 t J?!. 1 ii 5. .Malt, xxvii. 2S Mark iv 15. John xix. I u Ps cxivii. 3. Mai. iv.2.Luk9 iv. I«. Rev. xxii 2 X Ps cxix. 176. U. Ijii 6. Jer. xxiii. 2. El. xxxiv. 6. Matt ix. 36. xviii. 12 Lille xv 4-6 y v. 4. Ps xxiii. 1-3. Ixxx I Cant i 7. 8 Is. xl 11. Ei xxxiv. 11—16 21,24 xxsvii 24 Zecli xiii 7 JoljD I II. U IC Heb xiii 20 tHeb iii I. Acts XX 28 Cr. ignorant slanders of foolish and wicked men, who reviled them as seditious persons and enemies to the state, because they would worship God, and would not join in idolatr)-. They ought indeed to consider themselves '' as free" from the ceremonial law, from condemnation, from Satan's yoke, and from human impositions, in respect of God's worship : but they must by no means use their liberty to veil maliciousness, id cover over any sinister and selfish designs, or to tind a pretence for gratifying revenge on those who had injured them ; but in all things to act as the servants of God, in willing obedience to his command- ments, whicb formed the most perfect liberty that could be enjoyed. Let them, therefore, in obedience to him, show a proper respect and honour to all men, according to their rank and authority in society, and not scruple the customary tokens of subjection in all things lawful ; let them at the same time reserve their especial love for the brotherhood, or their felloiv-Christians ; and, whilst they feared, worshipped, and reverenced God supremely, let them honour the king, as far as consisted with '.heir other duty. (iVo/f, Mall, x.xii. 15 — 2*2.) It is almost impos- sible that there can be a worse sujirerae Governor, than he who ruled the vast Roman empire when this was written by divine inspiration. The comprehensive brevity of the closing verse has been greatly and justly admired by competent judges. "V. 18—25. (:Vo/fS, £/;ft. vi. .5— 9. Co/, iii. 22—25. 1 Tim. vi. 1, 2. Til. ii. 9, 10.) Peter exhorted servants to obedience, even in stronger language than his beloved brother Paul had done. These were generally slaves, and .4. b. 63. CHAPTER 111. .i D. g;;. CHAP. IH. Exhortations to wives and husbanih', con- ccming their respective duties, 1 — 7; and to all Christians to live in amity, to many of them to heathen masters, who used ihem very cruelly. The word signifies domestics, who, being more constantly under the eye of their masters than other slaves, are supposed to have suffered more from their vio- lent passions. Yet the apostle directed them to be sub- ject to their masters with all fear, with a due respect to them, as placed over them by Providence, and with a fear of offending or dishonouring God. This conduct should be observed, not only to such masters as were kind and humane, and who would be pleased on reasonable terms, and be gentle even when offended, but also to the froward and morose, who would be angry without cause, and use severity when displeased. For it would be grace, or the effect and evidence of grace, acceptable to God and worthy of man's commendation, if, from- a conscientious regard to the authority and will of GoJ, they patiently and meek- ly endured such treatment as was grievous to be borne, W'hen, not having been faulty, they were unjustly punished. Indeed, what glory or honourable distinction could it be, for professed Christians to be patient, when they were beat- en or scourged for their I'aults, seeing many of the Gentile slaves submitted quietly in this case ? But if they behaved well, and were beaten by their proud and passionate hea- then masters, and yet bore it without peevish complaints or purposes of revenge, still persevering in meek endea- vours to do their duty, this indeed would be acceptable with God, and be rewarded by him as a distinguishing ellcct of his grace. For Christians were called thus to do good to all men, and to endure ill usage from them, and still to proceed with alacrity in doing well, amidst ingratitude, revilings, and injuries, without being wearied out by any kind or degree of evil done to them : because Christ, when he suffered in their stead, left them, in this, and in all other respects, an example, that they should follow his steps, that in the same Object, to which they looked for pardon and righteousness, they might learn how to act in the most trying circumstances. He indeed had done no kind of sin, and perfect wisdom, love, and holiness, were disjilayed in all his works, nor was there any guile in his words: so that the contempt, malice, and cruelty, with which he met, were the base returns for the greatest kind- nes-es, and the unworthy treatment of consuinmute ex- cellency. Yet when he was reviled as if guilty of the most atrocious crimes, he did not retort the reproachful language, though most justly deserved by his enemies : and evnn when he suffered all kinds of indignities and tor- tures, till they terminated in his death on the cross, he did not so much as menace his crucifiers, though all power was vested in him. On the contrary, he prayed for them, saying, " Father, forgive them, for they know not what *• they do," and thus he " committed himself to him who "judged righteously," and left him to justify his charac- ter, plead his cause, and punish his enemies. This ex- ample Christians were peculiarly bound to consider and imitate, because the Lord Jesus, when he thus suffered, forgive injuries, to be constant under persecutions ; to profess and defend the truth, with meekness ; and to maintain a good conscience : enforced, by the na- ture of their calling, their privileges. acted as their holy and divine Surety; and pitying their misery when the}' deserved, and were exposed to, the wrath of God, he voluntarily bore the guilt and jjunish- ment of their sins as imputed to him, and expiated them by his death on the accursed tree ; in order that through his grace, and the encouragements of his Gospel, they might become dead to, and separate from sin, and live unto righteousness, as the obedient servants of God. Thus, through the ignominious stripes which he, (holy and glorious as he was,) willingly endured for them, and by the scars of those wounds which he received for their sakes, the diseases of their souls were healed, which were far worse than the livid marks left on their bod ie from the cruel scourgings inflicted on them, in which they were conformed to their divine Lord : and the considera- tion of his scourgings and livid scars was suited, in the most affecting maimer, to reconcile the poor slaves, while suffering under the cruel usage of their masters, to their hard lot, when their Redeemer, the Holy Jesus, the I^ord of glory, had thus suffered for their salvation. These things indeed related to all Christians, though especiallv addressed to slaves ; for they had, without exception, bceii as sheej5 going astray, and must have fallen a prey to the roaring lion that sought to devour their souls ; but they had been sought out by, and broitgrkl back to, the good Shepherd, who laid down his life for the slieep ; and ihuj they were safely lodged in his fold under his care, and be- come partakers of his love, who, as the Bishop, or Over- seer of their souls, watched ever them, and was become their omniscient, omnipotent, and most holy Piotcctor, {Notes, i^r. Lu liii. Ps. cxis. 176. Lnkc xv. 1—6.) Some expositoi's call the things, which the apostle here speak; concerning Christ, a digression from his subject, and the effect of tlic fulness of his heart : but I apprehend, that the Holy Spirit led him thus to write, that ministers might learn, fro;n his exara[)!e, to inculcate />r«c/ica/ matters from eirnn^ gelical principles. PRACTICAL OBSER\ ATiOX>. V. 1—3 The apostles with or.e consent declai-e the ueces^ily oi " laying aside all malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and •• slanders," in order to receive with meekness the in- structions of Chiisl. We need not then wonder, that there are so many unfruitful hearers of the word, and diat others are so little edified, when we observe how much these apostolical injunctions are neglected. But let those, who arc as new-born infants in the family of God, and who have " tasted that the Lord is gracious," avoid all those who would mislead them into controversies, which are commonly conducted with malice, envy, deceit and detraction, and let them beware of all hypocrisy: that so their spiritual health may be preserved, a vitiated appetite prevented, an}3 a desire aXter and relish of the holy word ji n. 03, I. PETER. s^. D. 6rJ fill 'I ike f!.tnmplc of Christ, 8 — 18. 7Vtc (:it-.r. of (hose to uhom Christ, by his spirit in JS'ooh, had prcachcrl, icho yet pcrishnl in (lie deluge ; and that of JVo- ah and his family saved in llie ark ; an of Go.! iiicrenac,!. They ought also to attend |)riinai-ily to i.'i2 iiioru siiiiplc and easy parts of divJDC truth, which is 111'.; [iroper mill; I'l^r young convei-ls ; that so, growing by it to ni itiirily of judgment, exiJcriencp, and gracp, they may at length be alile to digest the more difJicult doctrines, >\hich are suitable food for those who are of full age, and Avliich will never be given to new-born bube«, by those who know how rightly to divide the word of truth. But let no man vc^i in unexperienced notions: for even babes in Christ ta.^le that he is gracious, and their experience of liis love and mercy draws them to seek to him in all their further distresses, fears, wants, and temptations, and to rest on him as the Foundation of all their hopes. Thus they are coming daily to him, and are buildcd on him, as living stones, to be a spiritual house, and consecrated by liim as a holy priesthood, to ofler up spiritual sacrifices ac- ceptable to (jio I through him: for true religion consists of doctrine, experience, and practice; and he who separates these destroys the whole. As the Lord halh laid this Chief Corner-sione, elect, precious, to be the Foundation of his living tenijile, they, who are taught to come to him, and rest their hojies on him, will surely be safe and happy : for the whole scripture declires, that " he who believeth " on him shall never be ashamed." But whilst our Em- manuel and his salvation are glorious in the eyes and pre- cious to the hearts of all the regenerate, who deem it their chief honour to belong (o him and serve him, men in ge- neral, continuing proud, carnal, and alienated from God, can sec no comeliness or glory in thetn. Though he is made " the IJcad-Stone of the corner," yet modern build- ers in goiieral mike no account of him, bat carry on their work, either in open opposition to him, or in manifest ne- glect of him. Thus they stumble at the word, being disobe- dient, and will perish more dreadfully than if he had never come to be the Saviour of sinners : " whereunto also they '• were appointed." But let us inquire, whether we have the obedient faith of those to whom " Christ is precious :" for many profess his truths, who stumble at his precepts, and so in another way he becomes to them " a Rock of of- " fence," and an occasion of deeper condemnation. V. 9-17. Ilappy are they, of whom it may truly be said, " Ye " are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy na- " tion, a peculiar people!" If we aspire to these distinc- tions, let us be followers of God as dear children, let us abound in our spiritual sacrifices, and be careful to act up to the dignity and sanctity of our royal ami priestlv charac- ter, in all the concerns of life: let us obey the lioly laws of Christ our King, and seek his honour, in connexion •with the peace and prosperity of our fellow-subjects : and let us be careful to ajipear as " a peculiar people, zealous " of good works," whose great business it is, " to show " forth the praises of God, who hath called us o'lt of dark- cmbtcm of the destruction of the wicked, and the salvation of those, icho had not only the s'gn of baptism, but the thing signified by it, through a risen and glo- rified Redeemer, 1 8 — 22. " ness into his marvellous light." Thus we shall best evince, that these blessings belong to us, and shall make the most suitable returns for them. Most of us \vell know, that once we were not a people devoted to the Lord, nor had we sought or obtained raercj' from him : how vast then are our obligations to him, who hath made U5 his people^ and shown mercy to us ! It becomes us, therefore, as stiangers and pilgrims, to abstain from all kinds of fleshly lusts, which continually war against the souls of men : nor can a believer, in any instance or degree, indulge them, without being wounded, weakened, defiled, and injured. But we should not only consider our own comfort and advantages : the honour of the Gospel, and the conversion of our neighbours, likewise demand our attention. Let us then study to have our conversation honest and honoura- ble, amid'st our enemies aiid slanderers ; that, whereas they revile us as evil doers, our evident good works may refute their slanders, and be the means, if the Lord please, of biinging them also to believe in him, and to glorify his name : for if we, who had not obtained mercy, have- at length obtained mercy, why may not they, who still re- main ignorant and prejudiced, be made partakers of the same salvation ? With this jntent, and fiom other evan- gelical motives, we should submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, obeying the king, and all placed in authority under him, praying for them, that they may have wisdom and grace to be faithful to their important trust, and for the preservation of our most excellent con- stitution ; and endeavouring, as " the quiet in the land,'* by " well-doing to put to silence the ignorance of foolish " men, as free," with that liberty which the Son of God bestows through the Holy Spirit ; but remembering that we are the servants of God, and must in no degree use our liberty to cloak any malicious or ambitious designs. By thus honouring all men, loving our brethren, fearing God. and honouring the king, we shall best adorn the Gospel- and most experience its comfort. V. 18-~25w The view given by the apostle, of the behaviour of many masters to their unoffending slaves, may serve to convince us, how incompatible slavery is with the love of our neighbours, and animate us to protest in all proper ways against so grievous an oppression of our fellow-crea- tures : yet Christianity, among its other unparallele 1 Co xi. 3 LIKEWISE, 'ye wives, be m siilijec- tion to your own husbands ; that, it" %^' ^""S-W any ■'obey not the word, Mhey also may, Tinf'"ii"n,'%'. without the word, be Mvon by tlic con- Tit, ii 3—5. .■/■.!• bi. 22 . i'.i 17 versation ol the wives; fe'^s Thes i ?. 2 While they ''behold your chaste Heh V 9. si a. . •' 1 I t -^x r c I Cor vii. «. conversation coupled ' witli tear : dp'rov'si 30 3 Whose 6 adorninir, lot it not be ''that xv.ii^iy icor outward adormns: oi plaitin2; the han-, and IX 19-22 Jam. , . /• ~ 1 1 "^ ,- • r '■■.".="' .. „ ot weanntr oi irokl, or ol puttino- on ol fj''' . '...."i- !l' apparel ; - - - '5. Col.iii 22 g 1 Tim ii. 9 Re» .. J ret iii.ll. r5.6 15. Fpll.v 33. sxi 2 bOen. xJiv 2; i7. 63 Ex. lii 8. SK^n^ix 30. Es!h v. 1. Ps. iW. 9. Is E/. xvi 7-13 x.\iil 4U. Ii: I. Isi. 10 Jer. 't But let il be' the hidden man of t!\e i Ps. xir, n. n, e. heart, in that J whicli is not corruptible, Ke ."xj."' '5 even the ortmmcnt of ''a meek and ' quiet ^vii'cL^orli. spirit, ■" wliich is in the sight of God of .2i.,con,!U;a great price. k'ls'^ v,. xx». f- |7i /\ ,1 * . , , 1 . 9 cslvii 6. Ii. -J 1* or alter this manner, ui the old time, fj,i^,5''\*i 'J- " the holy women also, " who trusted in .«"" ;■ ^' ■^^■ God, P adorned themselves, being in sub- ' = '^7^''h°i'V'' jeclion unto their own husbands: |.,.