^floS*"

¦y. L^

1

the'
FAMILY EXPOSITOR:
,PARAPHRASEf AND VERSION
OP THE
NEW TESTAMENT; J
WITH
CRITIC A L 'notes,
AND ¦• ¦ .
A PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENT OF EACH SECTION.
VOLUME THE FOURTH;
' containing the epistle of
PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE ROMANS,
AND HISFIEST AND SECOMD
EPISTLES TO THE CORINTHIANS.
By P. DODDRIDGE, D.D.
THE SEVENTH-EDITiaN,

ajo! ntClayiXa^o; ^ayiils.1. OttiGEN. con. Cels. lib.iii. p. 1231 Cantab. 1658.

LONDON:
Prirted for T. Longman; B. Law and Son; G.G.J, and J.Robinson;
R.Baldwin; F. and C. Rivincton ; W.Richardson; J.Mathews;
S.Hayes; W.Bent; W. Goldsmith ; T. Veknor; D. Ogjlvy and
J. Speare;J. Deichton; J. Scatchekd and J. Whitaker ; and Bowj.es
andWACE. 1792. '

THE

PREFACE.

/IFtER what I have /aid concerning this work, in the
•* prefaces to the former volumes, I have little to add,
hut what relates to the manner in which I have endeavoured
to conduSl this part upon the Epiftles ; which I blefs God, he
has carried me through, and thank the public they have Jo
kindly encouraged.
As far as I know myfelf, I have no Javourite hypothefis to
Jerve, nor a fondnejs for any unfcriptural fhrajes ; in which
Jo many have, on one fide, and the other, made the very being
of orthodoxy to confifi. I have been dijpojed to let fcripture
^^rry me along with it, where uer it naturally leads, rather
than rejolve it Jhould follow me. Inftead of labouring to efia-
blijh any particular humanjyftem, which has always, I fear y
a leaven of imperfeSiion attending it ; I have endeavoured to
keep controverjy as much out of fight as pofftblt, and to repre~
Jent what I verily believe to be the Jcripture-doBrine, in as
fimple a manner as I could, and divejled of thoje partictdar
expreffions, which Jome, who perhaps are not averje to the
main doElrine itjelf, are ready to rije up againft.
But I have not the vanity to hope [have ejcaped all pre
judice. Where it has been manifefted, may God pardon it,
may my brethren excuje it, and may Divine illumination, more
plentifully imparted, prejerve others from being led into any
errors into which I may have fallen I •
I hope it will be deemed no matter of jufl offence, that I
have not always critically examined thoJe interpretations,
which, as Jeeming le/s natural, I have declined. It had been
endlejs, amidft Juch a variety of fentiments and explications,
to have done this. Some commentators have darkened theje
epiftlesjo much, that lamjenfible St. Paul's writings are befi
explained, by keeping their gloffes as much as pofftble out of
Jtght. I have therefore frequently paffed them over, as if I had
never heard of^ or known them. And if any Jhould impute this
A 2 to

iv PREFACE.
to ignorance, I wijh they had happened to be in the right ; as
¦ it had been thejaving of a great deal of important time, not to
have known the manner in which thefe writings have been tor
tured, toferve and f ave a favourite hypothefis.
It hasjeemed reajonable to me,^ when the text and context
will bear two interpretations, to prefer that which gives the
noblefl and moft extenfive Jenje, and might make the pajfage
in queftion moft univerjally ujeful. And I hope this general
apology will bejufficient.
If I have been lefs Jangidne than Jome would chooje, let it
ha forgiven. I wrote with fear and trembling when I con-
fidered the favourable reception which the former volumes had
t}:^et with, and that thefe which I new publifh might probably
fhllow them over a confiderable part of the prot eft ant world :
a teftimony, I hope, that they breathed ajpirit of piety, rather
than party ; and a reajon for caution in theJe that an air of
authority might not miftead, or of. rafknejs offend.
I have endeavoured to guard againft exceffive length in the
Paraphrafe ; and Jo much the rather, as St. P'uxiMsJentences.
are often Jo long, that I feared Iftoould otherwife have objured
the Jerje, rather than illuftrated it ; and have rendered one
cj the livelieft writers in the world, (for Juch undoubtedly St.
Paul is,) tedious to the reader. To avoid this, I have often
broke cvejentence of the Text into two or three in the Parai'
phrafe ; and have had a great deal of work in the review, to
correSl the objcurity, which was the natural conjequence of
Jollowing one leading thought.
I have aimed at making the Improvements naturally
£irije out of, apd fpUow the JcriptureS illuftrated; and by
tracing the temper of the apoftles, under the influence of the
great truths they are inculcating, to produce correjpondent af-
feSiions in my own heart. I have endeavoured that the mind
of the reader, more attentive perhaps 'atfirft to the critical
fenfe, may be led into //^^'-praftical ufe, which, plain as it ge
nerally is, is indeed the epd of all, and alas ! the hardeft of
all to teach. I have preferred plain and ujeful reflexions to
thoJe which might have been curious and Jurprifing ; and
propojed thoJe leffons which I would be moft defirous to imprtfs
upon my own' heart.
When this work is read in the families, or clojets, of any
whopraffife free prayer, I would defire them to objerve, hoip
naturally

PREPACE. V
•naturally the Jeveral Improvements willjurnifh them %mth.
proper materials for this important and delightful exercije ;
and by Juch a uje of them, their hearts may be more power^
fully tmpreffed with the truths illuftrated, and the duties re^
commended. In this view, I have in Jome of them Juff'ercd
my thoughts, while warmed with ferious and devout medi
tation, to breathe forth the language of prayer and praije ;
which may furnijh my fellow -Chriftians with a Jpecimen of
the manner in which moft of them may be converted into direSl
addreffes to God.
Upon the whole, the defign of this isiork is not to profelyte
men to human names, nor to reconcile them to this or the other
difcriminating phrafe ; which in the mouth of one may be
truth and propriety, and in the mouth of another, falfehood and
nonfenje ; according as any idea, or none, ajuft, or a wrong
idea, may be affixed to them. — Nor is my defign to influence
Chriftians to worjhip here, or there-^my defign is to let
into the heart the great Jentiments of Chriftianity, and to
convey them there as warmly andftrongly as I could. And
I hope God will gracioufty reward the faithful care, with
which I have conjulted the honour of my Jacred Guide, by
making it the means of fpreading true religion, and univerjat
goodnejs. Amen.

Philip Doddridge.

A 1 T tl E

THE

Family Expofitor:

O R.

A PARAPHRASE

O iSr THE

EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE
To THE
R O M A 'N S.
WITH
Critical Notes, and a Praaical Improvement
of €ach Section. .

A
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
TOTHE
PARAPHRASE and NOTES
ON THE EPISTLE TO THE
R O M A N S.

THIS celebrated epiftle was probably written from
Corinth, when Paul was travelling through Greece,
^fter finilhing his tour in Macedonia, about tht year of our
Lord ^'i, which was the fourth of the Emperor Nero. The
chief arguments to prove this have been already ftated in
a few words. Vol. III. p. 295. note (c) ; and they are
drawn from comparing A(5ts xx. i — 4, with Rom. xv.
25 — 27 ; xvi. 21. But for the fake of thofewho may
not have the third volume before them, I fhall exhibit
them again in my notes on thoJe texts as they occur in the
epiftle, and fhall obferve the fame method elfewhere on
the like occafions.
The defign of the epiftle has been much more contro
verted than its date; and yet it fcems fo obvious, that
hardly any thing has furprifed me more than the different
and inconfiftent plans which ingenious writers have given
of it. I Ihould but confound the reader, as well as fweli
this preface beyond all due bounds, if I fhould attempt
diftinftly to propofe and examine them he re. Inftead of
this, I fliall therefore content myfelf with exh ibiting (notmy
cwn hypothefis, for truly it has been my care to have no
hypothefis at all, but) what upon reading the epiftle, with
out any view but that of fyllowing the apoftle whitherfo- cver

2 A Genird htrodu^ioH
ever he fhould lead me, I find to be afTured fadl ; aftd I will
ftate thefe contents in as few and as plain words as I cin,
and fo every reader will eafily fee what this great authour
intended, by feeing what he has done; for no doubt hean-
fwered his own defign.
Now I think it muft be evident to every reader of com
mon difcernment and attention, that Paul is labouring
through all this epiftle, " to fix on the minds of the Chri-
*' ftians to whom he addrefTes himfelf, a deep fenfe of
*' the excellency of the gofpel, and to engage them to aft
" in a manner agreeable to their profefEon of it." For
this purpofe, after a general falutation, (chap. i. i — 7,) and
profefiion of his ardent affeftion for them, (ver. 8 — 15,)
he declares, that he fhall not be afhamed openly to main
tain the gofpel at Rome ; for this general reafon, that id
is the great and powerful inftrument of falvation, both
to Jews and Gentiles, by means of faith, (ver. 16,17.)
And then to dembnftrate and vindicate its excellency in
this view of it, the apoftle fhows,
I. That the world greatly needed fuch a difpenfation j
the Gentiles being fallen into a moft abandoned ftate,
(ver. 18, to the end,) and the Jews, though condemning
Others, being themfelves no better ; (chap. ii. throughout i^
as ndtwithftanding fome cavils, which he obviates, (chap.
iii. I — 8,) their own fcriptures teftify: (ver. 9 — 19.) So
that there was an tiniverfal riecefTity of feeking for juftifi^
cation and falvation in this method, (ver. 20, to the end.,)
II. That Abraham and David themfelves fought jufti-
fication in fuch a way as the gofpel recommends, that is,
by faith, (chap. iv. i — 12,) and that a very illuflrious aft
of it entailed everlaftjng honour on that great patriarch
from whom the Jews boafted their defcent. (ver. "13, to
the end.)
III. That hereby believers are brought into fo happy a
ftate, as turns the greateft affliftions of life into an occa-
fionofjoy. (chap. V. i — 11.)
IV. That the calamities brought on the feed of theflrfi
Adam by his ever-to-be-lamented fall, are with glorious
advantage repaired to all who by faith become ititerefted.
in the Jecexd.Adam. (ver* 12* te the end.)
V. That

to the Epiftle to the Romans. 3
V. That far from difTolving our obligations to praSli^al
holinejs, the gofpel greatly increafes them by a peculiar
obligations, (chap. vi. i — 14,) which the apoftle ftrongly
urges upon them, (ver. 15, to the end.)
By thefe general confiderations, St. Paul illuftrates th©
excellency of the gofpel in the fix firft chapters of this
epiftle, and they muft be acknowledged confiderations of
the higheft importance.
There were great numbers of Jews at Rome, many of
whom had embraced the gofpel ; to make them therefore
more fenfible how glorious a difpenfation it v/as, and to
take them off from a fond attachment tothe Mojaical law f
now they were married to Chrift by a folemn profeffioa
of his religion, (chap. vii. 1—6,) the apoftle largely re-
prefents how comparatively ineffeftual tlie motives of the
law were to produce thofe degrees of obedience and ho-
iinefsi which by a lively faith in the gojpel we obtain,
(Chap. vii. 7, to the end. Chap, viii. i, 2.) And here, in all
the remainder of this celebrated chapter, tlie apoftle gives
a more particular view of thofe things which rendered t\m
gojpel fo much more efficacious for this great purpofe,
viz. that o{Jorming thejoul to holinejs^ than the legal aecO"
nonty had been : (chap. viii. ver, 9.) The difcovery it
makes of the incarnation and death of Chrift, (ver, 3, 4) 5
the fpirituality of temper to which it calls us, (ver,4— -8) j
the communication of the fanftifying and comforting in
fluences of the fpirit of God, whereby true believers are
formed to a filial temper, (ver. 9 — 17)5 the views which
it exhibits of a ftate of glory, fb great and illuftrious, that
the whole creation feemed to wait for the manifeftation
of it, (ver. 18—25)5 while in the meantime believers
are fupported under all their trials by the aijjs of the Spirit,
(ver. 26, 27,) and an affurance that all events fhould co
operate for their advantage, (ver. 28) ; ftnce God has in
eonfequence ofhis eternally glorious plan already done fo
much for us (ver. 29, 30,) which emboldens us to eon^
elude, that no accufation fhall prevail againft us, and no
temptations or extremities feparate us from his love, (ver,
31, tothe end.)
As the bleflings fo affedtionately difplayed above had
been fpoken of as the peculiar privileges of thofe who be
lieved

4 A General IntroduSlioH
lieVed in the gofpel, this evidently implied, that as all Dtf-»
lieving Gentiles had a full fhare in them, fo all unbelie
ving Jews muft neceffarily be excluded from them. Btit
as the calling of the Gentiles and the rejeftion of the
Jews was a topick of great importance, the apoftle employs
the ninth, tenth, and eleventh chapters in the difcufTlon of it,
and fo concludes the argumentative part of this epiftle.
He introduces what he had to fay on this interefting
fubjeft, by declaring, that he thought moft honourably
and affeftionately of the Jewifh nation, (chap. iv. i' — 5)5
and then fhows,
\ft. That the rejeftion of a confiderable part of th6
feed of Abraham, and even of the pofterity of Ifaac too,
was an inconteftablefaft, which the Jews themfelves could
not but grant to have happened, that is, with refpeft to
the dcfcendants of Iftimael and of Efau. (Ver. 6 — 13.)
idly. That the fovereign choice of fonie individuals to ,
peculiar privileges, to which none had any claim ; and the
fovereign appointment of fome, from among many cri
minals, to peculiar and exemplary punifliment; was per
fectly confiftent both with reafon and fcripture. (Ver. 14
— 24.)
'^dly. That the taking the Gentiles to be God's pecu
liar people, when Ifrael fhould be rejefted, had been ac
tually foretold, both by Hofea and Ifaiah. (Ver. 25. td
the end.)
Afthly, That God hath gracioufty offered the gofpel-fal-
vation to Jews and Gentiles, on the fame equitable and
eafy terms ; though Ifrael, by a bigotted attachment to
their own law, had rejefted it. (Chap. x. throughout,)
Sthly, That, neverthelefs, the rejeftion of Ifrael, though
according to their own prophecies it be general, and at
tended with aftonifhing blindnefs and obftinacy, yet is not
total, there ftill being a number of happy believers among
them. (Chap. xi. i — 10.)
6ihly, That the rejeftion of the reft is not final, but
that the time fhall come when, to the unfpeakable joy of
the whole Chriftian world, the Jews ftiall in a body be
hroughtinto tht church of Chrift. (Ver. 11 — 31.)
And lajily. That in the mean time their obftinacy and
rejeftion is Over-ruled to fuch happy purpofes, as fervc,
through

to the Epiftle to the Romans. ^
through the whole various fcene, to difjjlay, in a glorious
manner, the unfearchable wifdom of God. (Ver. 52, to
the end.)
The remainder of the epiftle is taken up in a variety of
praUical inftruSfions and exhortations, which hardly admit,
and indeed do not need fo particular an analyfis. The grand
defign of them all is, " to engage Chriftians to aft in a
" manner worthy of that gofpel, the excellency of which
<^ he had been illuftrating." He more particularly urges, —
an entire confecration to God, and a care to glorify him,
in their refpeftive ftations, by a faithful improvement of
their different talents (chap. xii. i' — 11); — devotion,
patience, hofpitality, mutual fympathy, humility, peace,
and meeknefs, (ver. \i to the end) ; and in the whole
thirteenth chapter, — obedience to magiftrates, juftice in
all its branches, love as the fulfilling of the law, and an
univerfal fanftity of manners, correlpondent to the purity
of thofe religious principles which they profeffed. In the
fourteenth, and part of the fifteenth chapter, he dilates more
largely on mutual candour, efpecially between thofe Chri
ftians who did, and thofe who did not think themfelves
obliged in confcience to obferve the ceremonies enjoined
by Mofe.s ; and pleads a variety of moft pertinent and af-
fefting confiderations in this view (chap. xiv. i, to chap.
XV. 17) ; in profecu ting fome of which, he is led to men
tion the extent of his own labours, and his purpofe of
vifiting the Romans ; in the mean time recorlnmending
himfelf to their prayers, (ver. 18, to the end.) And after
many falutations, (chap. xvi. i — 16,) and a neceffary
caution againft thofe that would divide the church, he
concludes with a benediftion and a doxology, fuited to
the general purport of what he had been writing. (Ver.
17, to the end.)
From the Jketch here given, the reader might form
fome conjefture of the rich entertainment provided for
him in this epiftle, were he yet a ftranger to its more par
ticular contents : but, bleffed be God, they are already
familiar to almoft all who have any regard for the Bible,
and take any delight in perufing any part of it. I fhall
not therefore detain fuch from Paul's invaluable periods,
any longer than whilft I obferve, that whereas the inter
pretation

€ A General IntroduSiion, &c.
pretation of feveral phrafes which occur here, has very
much divided commentators, and laid the foundation for
many Unhappry contentions, which have been more effica
cious to ^//ot^j/i? the affeftiohs of Chriftians, than all thet
apoftle's arguments, powerful as they are, have been to
unite them ; I am very folicitous to handle this epiftle in
as pacifick a manner as polfible. I fhall l^herefore, as plain
ly as I can, give that fenfe of the difpiited phrafes which
appears to me moft natural, and briefly fiiggeft, in the
Notes, the reafons which induce me to underftand them in
the fenfe I have preferred. And I hope my readers will
be content with this j for were I to produce what in
terpreters of different opinions have alledged, and canvafs
the reafons by which they have endeavoured to fupport
their explications and criticifms, I muft turn my work
into a Treatije of Polemical Divinity ; and fo quite change
that original plan, which I hope will be found much more
entertaining and ufeful : nor fhould I, if the fcheme were
thus changed, be able to comprehend, in this whole vo
lume, what I might eafily find to offer ©n this epiftle
ak>ne.

A PARA-

:>^ A

¦¦'in

PARAPHRASE A N P
NOTES O N T H E
EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
ROMAN S.

SECT. L
Tbe Apoftle hegins his letter with a general falutation to the Chri.^
Jiians at Rome ; in which he tranftently touches on fome very
important doSirines of that gofpel, which it was his great defign
to illufir ate and enforce. Rom. I. 1 — 7.
Romans I. 1. ^ RoMANS I. I.
*^ Jefu's Chrift cal- TVT^ ^^^'^ Chriftian brethern, you receive Szct.
\tin bt an apoftle, -'¦'¦*¦ this epiftle from Paul, who, though once J-
fepaiated ^ bitter perfecutor, hath now the honour to "^^
flyle himfelf a fervant of Jefus Chrift ; whofe i.° "'
property he humbly profeffes himfelf to be, and
glories in it, as his higheft happinefs, to be ab-
folutely at the command and difpofal of fuch a
Mafter. And he is the more fenfible of his great
obligation to this, as he hath been, in fo won
derful a manner, called, not only to the fellow-
iLip pf that holy faith which we all profefs, or
to the common fervices of the minifterial office,
but even [to be'] invcfted with the diftinguiflied charadei

Sect. I.
Rom. I. z

Paul, infcrihing this eptfile fo the Romans.
charafler of an apoftle ' in the church. He once
indeed boafted that he was of the Pharifaic fed,
feparated from the reft of the Jews by ceremo
nial obfervances, in which they place fo peculiar
a fanflity ; but he now rejoiceth much more,
that he is, by fo fpecial an aft of condefcending
grxe, feparated to the glorious and faving gofpel
of the bleffed God, deffined and devoted to its
i'acred interefts ; even to that gofpel which, before
it was thus exprefsly committed to the Chriftian
apoftles, was in a more obfcure manner promijed,
and in feme meafure declared and exhibited, by
his prophets, in ihe records of the holy Jcriptures,
on which fuch bright luftre is now thrown by
comparing the prediflions with the eventsi I
would take every opportunity of promoting in
your minds, and my own, the higheft regard to
this bleffed and evangelical difpenfation with
which God has favoured us ; relating chiefly to
his only begotten and beloved Son Jejus Chrift,
our great anointed Saviour, our ever honoured
Mafter and Lord, who was borrizitvf years ago
efthe Jeed and family of David, according to the
flejh, that is, with refpedl to his human defcent,
and fo far as flefh was concerned in the conftitu-
tion of his nature : [i?«/] who is alfo to be re
garded by us in a much higher view, as having
been determinately, and in the moft convincing
manner, marked out as the Son of God ^, with the
moft aftoniftiing difplay of T)W\ne power accord
ing to tbe operation of the Spirit of hoUnefs ",
which

feparated unta
gofpel of God,

the

2 (Which he had
promifed afore by his
prophets in the holy
icriptures.)

3 Concerning his
Son Jefus Chrift ouf
Lard, which was
made of the feed of
David, according to
the fcriptures.

4 And declared rt
he the Son of God
with power, accord
ing to the Spirit of

^ Catted ts lean apojlle."] As the^V-
Jaixing teachers difputed Paul's claim to
apoftolical o^ce, it is with great pro
priety that he afferts it in the, very en-
trance'bf an epiftle", in which their prin
ciples were to be' entirely overthrown.
And the attentive reader will obferve,
with great pleafure, what a variety of
ether moftfproper and important thoughts
are fuggefttfd in other claufes of this ftiort
introdu£iion : particularly the views which
the Jewifh prophets had given of the
gofpel, the defcent of Chrift from David,
the great doftrine of his refurreftion, and
Deity, the fending the gofpel to the Gen
tiles, the privileges of Chriftians as the
called and beloved of Gsd, and the faith,
obedience, and f.<nftity to which they
Were obliged, in Tirtue of their profcBion.

Occafion wil! be given for the like reflec
tions on a thoufand other occafions, tho'
the limits of fuch a work as ours will
not allow us fo particularly to trace
them. ^
b Determinately marked out. '\ That this
is the exafl: iignification of ofurflEvIo?,
Elfncr has learnedly proved. Compare
Adls xvii. 3J,
c The [pint of holitiefs.'] It feems to
me fo little agreeable tothe ftyle of fcrip
ture in general to call thz Di-vine' tiature
of Chrift the Spirit of boVmep, or the Holy
Spirit, that liighly as.I efteera the many
learned and accurate commentators who
have given it this turn, I rather refer it
to the operation of the Spirit of God in
the production of Cbriji^zbody, by which
means the op pofition between x:(l* crapxo
' and

holinefs, by the te-
furreiilion from the
dead:

5 By whom we
have Received grace
and apoftlelhip for
obedience to the faith
among all nations for
Jiis name :

6 Among whom
4ie ye alfo the called
«f Jefus Chrift.

7 To all that be
in Rome, beloved of
God, called to be
faints :

afferts his apoftolical MiJJion. c
which having originally produced that holy thing Sept.
which was born of the virgin, exerted its energy ^'
upon him on fo many occafions, and efpecially r^^
in the tniitnphzni-refurreif ion from the dead^ , I. 4
which amply rolled away all the reproach of his
crofe, and intitled him to the honour of the firft-
born among many brethren.
This is that illuftrious perfon hy whom we 5
have received grace and an apoftolical mifjion ° ;
as t efteem it the greateft of favours to be thus
employed, and furnifhed for this important
work : efpecially fince the plan is fo extenfive,
and it is the glorious defign of it, that, out of re
gard to his name, all nations might, in due time,
he brought to the obedience o/'the Chriftian /a///^,
and thereby refcued from a ftate of idolatry and
wickednefs, formed to the moft rational and
fublime pleafures in theprefent life, and fitted for
a ftate of complete and eternal felicity : This 6
is the grand fcheme which God i^ already car
rying on in many Gentile nations ; among whom
are ye Romans ; illuftrious in the world on many
accounts, but on none fo happy as on this, that
ye alfo are now the called of Jefus Chrift, invited
by him mto the fellowfhip of his gofpel, and a
participation of all its invaluable bleffings. And n
as God hath efpecially committed this miniftra-
tion to me, I do therefore, agreeably to the ge
neral purport of my ofllce, infcribe this epiftle
to all in R,ome, who are to fuch a degree beloved
of God, as to be called to the privileges and hopes
of Chriftianity, \_and\ numbered among t|iat
holy people who folemnly profefs theinfelves
confecrated to his fervice. And a?, in this view.

and Halft irnvfjia,. wil be preferved ; the
,one referring to the materials a£led upon,
the other to the Di'vine and miraculous
jS^ent. Compare Luke i. 35.
tl RefitrreElion of the dead.! B^ava^-TO-^*?.
vEKpaiv is rendered by fome, reJurreB'ton
from among the dead, i. c. leaving many
of "the dead behind j and Mr. Fleming
ha§ taken great pains to ftiew, that whcre-
ever the compound word e^avag-^ij-tc (for
he conftders it as pne word) is ufed, it
IS always in this fenfe. See Flem. olReJ.
p. 70. — ;By this refurreftion Chrift was
declared the Son ef God; but to fay he
was sonftituted the Son of God by it, feems

very unfcriptural, fince he was proclaimed
under that title fo long before his refur-
reflion. d Grace andan apofloUcal mijjlon.'^ Many
would render it the fa'uour of the apojlle.*
fbip : but tfiat rendering Is not the moft
literal ; and it is certain that Paul did re
ceive grace to-fubdue his heart to- the
obedience .of Chrift, and iic him for the
miniftryof the gofpel, before he received
his apoJloUcal commision, whenever we
fuppofe tliat commiftion ^0 have been
dated. I therefore choofe to keep the
claufes thus diftinft.

V6.L. IV.

B

I muft

IO RefleBions oH the regard due to the apoft'Jic wrlliiigs.
«"T. I muft think of you with gi;eatrefpea, fo f moft ^^T '• ^" rVm God
I. c ¦ 11 ••Il ° 1 r . _, -.1 and peace Irom ooa
 unreignedly wiln^ra^ and favour to you, witti ^^^ Father, and the
Rom. all kinds of profperitya/z^^f^f^, /row the bleffed Lord Jefus chrift.
^- 7 God, the great original of all good, who is now
¦ become our Father, and from the Lord Jefus
Chrift, who is exalted at his right-hand, that he
may fcatter down all the bleflings of providence
and grace on his people, and may rule over all
things for the good of his church.
IMPROVEMENT.
Let us begin the perufal of this excellent, tfiough in many
paffages obfcure, and difficult epiftle, with paying our humble
acknowledgement.! to the Divine goodnefs, that we are favoured
with fo valuable a part of fcripture as that contained in the apo
ftolical epiftles. How happy are we, who read from the, pen of
thofe holy men the fentiments they entertained of Chriftianity,
under the full illumination of the facred Spirit ; — and fp Icam
what were the leading affeflions which prevailed in their minds.
k By thefe letters, they open all their hearts to- us, amidft their la
bours and fufferings, that we alfo may have fellow/hip with them in
thofe important things in ivhich their communion was with the Fathet
and his Son Jefus Chrift.
Vcrfc With particular pleafure let us perufe the writings of Paul,
I who was, in fo peculiar a manner, called., to be an apoftle, and
feparated to the gofpel of God. He gloried, in the name of a fer
vant of Chrift, and let us emulate it as the greateft honour. Let ,
us be animated to exert ourfelves to the utmoft under that clia-
' 5 rafter; fince God hath been pleafed to bring us, though origi
nally Jmners of the Gentiles, to the obedience of faith, and to re- -
Veal unto us the gofpel of his Son ; that glorious gofpel predicted
by the prophets, and opened by the apoftles, yea, by their I^iyine
2 Mafter. May our hearts adore the great Emanuel, who, though he con-
3 defcended to be mlde of the fied of David, according to his flejh,
had a Divine nature infinitely fuperior to it. Let us often refledl
4 on that glorious difplay of the power of the Holy Ghoft, in his re-
furreSiion from the dead, by which he was marked out as the Son
of God; and yielding to the force of fuch a demonftration, let us
confide in him as Jefus our Saviour, and obey him as Chrift our
Lord. We are called to partake of the privileges of his people ; we
7 belong to the fociety of thofe who are eminently beloved of God,
and who lie under obligations, as they are called an holy nation,
a peculiar people,, to be indeed faints, to be holy in all manner of
eenverfatioflj as being entirely devoted to God and the Redeemer. May

Paul ajfiires the Romans, that he conftantly prayed for them; ii
May fuch grace be imparted to us Jrom God our Father, and from Sect.
Jefus Chrift our Lord, that we may notdiftionour the facred com- ¦'•
mjunity to which we belong ; that we may not with millions be verfe
caft out at laft infamous and abhorred, but may enjoy its moft n
important privileges, in that ftate of final and everlafting glory
in which the kingdom f the Son of God fhall terminate !

SECT. IL

The Apoftle ftrongly exprefjes his affeBion for his Chriftian friends
at Rom( ; thereby to introduce, with greater advantage, the
conftdenttions he had to lay before them in the procefs of the
epiftle. Rom. I..8 — 15.
Romans I. 8. ROMANS I. 8.
piRST,lthankmy y ^j^ j^q^, feeing myfelf to write to you, my Sect.
ChrS^Vr you lu' dear brethren at Rome; and I muft, in the "•
that your faith is fitft place, declare to you, that / unfeignedly ^^^^
fpoken of through- (hank that moft glorious and excellent Being, i. i
out the whole world. ^,^^ j^ ^^^^^ become my covenant God and Father
through Jefus Chrift, by whom we have received
the adoption, and blefs him Jor you _ all ; that
your faith in his invaluable golpel is fo pure and
ftediaft, and produces fuch genujne fruits, that
it is declared and • celebrated through the whole
ivorld ; and is univerfally looked upon, by all
Chriftians in this extenfive empire, as a moft
happy prefage of the general fpread of their
^ For God is my holv religion. Such a report as this cannot 9
witnefs,whomiferve j^^j excite my praifes, as being fo agreeable to
^o'^erof'"hls"son! the tenot of my petitions _: >r God, whom I
that without ceafing I make it the continual bufinefs of my life to
nrake mention of you fef-yg o^ith the greateft integrity and ardour of
a!way.;n my prayers; ^^^ Jpl^lt^ ;„ /^^ ^^jp^l ^J- ^/^ Son, is my witnefs ;
and I appeal to him with confidence on fo fo
lemn an occafion, as it is Jje only who can
judge of the fa 61 ; how inceffantly I make men
tion of you, Romans, when I bow my knee before
him in folemn feafons of devout retirement ;
I o Making requeft Always intreating in my prayers the permiffion i®
(if by any means now gf j^jg gracious providence to come unto you, if
,at length I might , ° ^^wivrij
have a profperous h any me({ns now at length, alter lo long a de-
journey by the will lay, / may have a profperous journey to you, by
of God) to come un- //,^ j^,/// of God ; On whofe blelTing I am fenfible
'"-'''"¦ the profperity of all our ways depend.?, and to
' ' B a whofe

12 That he deftred to impart to them fome fpiritual gift ;
Sect, whofe wife determination I defire to fiibmit all
^^' . my fchemes and .purpofes, even thofe which are
"" formed with the moft affedlionate regard to the
I 'T; good ofhis church. Neverthelefs, fo far as n For i long ,t»
• may 'confift with this due refignation, I am '^^^^^^^^;^^tZ
humbly importunate -yvith him on this head , (p-irituai gift, to the
for I defire greatly to fee you, not frdm any cu- end you may be efta-
riofity which the grandeur and magisificence of ifhlhed;
your city excites, nor from any profpefl: of pcr-
fonal advantage that I might receive from the
moft confiderable of you, in the greateft diftinc-
rion of circumftances, but that I may impart
to you Jome fpiritual gift, by the laying on of my
hands in the name of the Ldrd Jefus Chrift" ; ,
that by the farther experience which you may
then" have of the operations of the Holy Spirit,
as well as the edification to be received from
what difcourfes may paf^ between us, you may be
eftablijhed in your Chriftian faith, and fortified
12 againft all teiriptation, either to renounce or dif-
¦ honour it: That is, in other words, [/ defire^ ^^ Th.t ¦;, tlutf
that iuhile I am among, you, we may be comforted' , may be comforted to-
together, as I have great reafon to believe that gather with you, by
we filall, by the exercife oUhe mutual faith, tt.Z^^lm^
both of you and me'; while I am cominunicating
and you receiving thefe blefilngs, and thofe cor- /
, refpondent graces are working on each fide,
which I doubt not will be for my improvement,
as well as for yours ''.
^ Impart. to you Jome fpiritual gift. "^ Bos fuch afliftances more deftrable, and the
interprets this, of preaching the gofpel, apoftle more folicitous for fuch an in-
which was a Divine kind' of food by tcrview— As for tlie words Er ii/.tiv, it
which their fouls might be ftrengthened ; makes the conftruftion much plainer to
and which he, as with the rlcheft libera- • read them before (rufj.mfay.i'nf>t.\a., as
lity, ,was willing to impart and diftribute they can by no means, otherwife, have .
among them. But as fpiritual gifts, any force at all. They muft therefore,
in the language of St. Paul, have generally as Z,'j?«/anr has v/ell noted, be rendered
another iignification, (compare I Cor, being among you.
xii, I, 4, 9; xiv. I, 12; and it was the 1> For my improvement, as well as for
particular office of the apoftles to beftow yours.] This thought, fo full of refpeft
miraculous gifts, by the layirjg on of their to his Chriftian friends at Rome, is fag-
hands, I have taken the paffage in that gefted -with greatis/iMf)i and aifr/rc/s j and
view; and though it is reafonable to fup- it is very reafonable to fuppofe that every
pofe the Chriftians now at Rome had nc.v inftance, in v/Ktch miraculous gifts
' ibme fhare of thefe. endowments, chap, were, communicated by the laying on the
ili. 5— 7, it is highly 'probable, that on hands of 'any of the apoftles, would be a
Paul's arrival among thain they might fource of. new edification and eftablilh-
receive them in much. greater abundance, ment to thefe holy men ; as loeing fo evi-
The great temptations which the inha- dent 'a token of the Divine prefence wich
bitants of Rome were under, both to in- them, and a new and folemn f.-al f;t ta
fidelity and iramoralLty, would Make the commiffion they had received.
And

and that he was ready to preach the gofpel at Rome. 13
13 Now I would jlnd^ while I thus exprefs my defire of an in- Sect.
not h?ve you igno- ^^j-^\Qy^ ^vith you, / would not have you ignorant '
rant, brethren, that i 'i i r i r i  "
oftenthnes I purpofed my dear brethren, that 1 have often been propo- Rom.
V to come unto you ftng and coqtriving to come to you; though I I- 13
(but was let liithcrto) jj^^^^ hitherto, by- One means or another, been hin-
fo"efrul™fnongyouv'{'°'"^'^- I have, I fay, long meditated and de_-
alCo, even as among fired the journey, that I might have Jome fruit
other Gentiles.. of j^y rninifterial and apoftolical labours among
¦ you alfo ; even as I have alread)' had from the
many churches I have planted and watered
14 I am debtor among the reft of the Gentiles. Which I 14
ioth to the Greeks, jjjention, not by any -means as boaftina; of what
and to the barbarians, t i i r \ ^ i • i ¦
both'to the wife, and I have done ; >r 1 know, that m the circum-
to the unwife. ftances in which Chrift has placed me, confider-
^ ing the charge he honoured me with, and the
mercy he hath extended to me, / am, in the
ftri£teft juftice, a debtor both to the Greeks and
the barbarians, both to the learned and the igno-
^ rant '^. Duty and gratitude bind me to do v^y
beft, to promote the converfion and falvation of
men of every nation and rank, of every genius
15 So, as much as and chajadter. Therefore, according to my weak 15
in me is, 1 am ready abilities, and the opportunities which God may .
to preach the gofpel ¦ ^^ j ^^ , ^^^ defirous ° to treach the
to you that are at & ,' ir i n i i • i
Rome alfo. SyP^^ '" y^ "il" ™'^' ^''^ ''' Kome, though it be
the capital of the world, a place of fo much
politenefs and gi-andeur, and a place likewife
where it might feem peculiarly dangerous to op-
pofe thofe popular fuperftitions to which the em
pire is fu'ppofed to owe its greatnefsand felicity:
yet ftill, at aU events, I am willing to come and
publifli this Divine meffage among you ; though
it fhould be at the expence of ^my reputation,
my liberty or life.
IMPROVEMENT.
Happy is the church of Chrift, when its minifters are thus verfe
confcious of the excellency of the gofpel, and thus earneftly 15
defirous, in the midft of reproach, perfecution, and danger, to
^ The learned and the ignorant. '^ti'^'Eniint ropot. See ver. 22; i Cor. li. 4j iii.
juftly obferves, that a-o^oi often fignlfies 'zo, and npiti plainly fignlfies learning ;
learned, (compare i Cor. 1. 20, &c.) Mat. xiii. 54 ; Mark vl. 2 ; Afts vi. 22.
and confequently avoiHoi muft jignify ig- dJJeai^ji and defirous.] Raphehus (tieva
sonant, or thofe whofe undetitandlngs that wiobvy.ov exprefies not only a readi-
had not been improved by cultivation, nefs, but, in fome cafes, an eagernejs of
AndMt is well known that the literati, defire. Not. ex Herod.
or /ages of antiijuity, were anciently called B 3 extend

J 4 RefteBions on Paul's zeal for the gojpel of Chrift.
Sect, extend its triumphs ; when they can thus appeal to God, that it
' is with their Jpirit that x\\e.y Jerve him in the gojpel of his Son.
Verfe This wiH give them a largenefs of heart well becoming their
9 office. Devotion will then flourifh in their fecret retirements, as'
10 well as be maintained by them in public affemblies ; and the con
cerns of the churches, and fometimes of far diftant churches,
will have a place in their thoughts and prayers at fuch folemn
feafons. ' ' ¦
May they ever remember, that as the krvants oi Chrift, they
are to be the friendsof mankind; and that their Mafter has laid
14 fuch obligations upoYi them, that for his fake they are debtors to
the whole world, in every office of Chriftian friendfhip, and efpe-
1 1 cially as to any fpiritucfl gift which by their miniftration they may
be inftrumental in imparting. Th(e more they exert themfelves
in fuch fervices, the more will their ov/n faith and comfort, as well
12 as that of their people, be confirmed.
But in whatever ftation we are, let ys be forming fchemes for
the fervicb of God, and good of men ; projedfing our journeys
JO and vifits on that plan, yet always with a becoming fenfe of our
dependence' on the fmiles of heaven, for profperity and fuccefs ;
and as dutiful children, referring it to the infinitely Jiiperior wif;
' dom of our heavenly Father, ' to put a negative, at his facred plea
fure, upon thofe purpofes which lay neareft to our hearts, and jn
I whjch we moft fincerely intend his glory.
SEC T. Ill,
The Apoftle declares his readinefs boldly- ta preach the gofpel at
Rome, fupported hy a fenfe of its excellency ; to illuftrate which,
hejhews that the world greatly needed fuch m difpenfation. And
firft he introduces a difcourfe of the abandoned ftate into which
the Gentiles were fallen. Rom. I. i6 — 32,
Romans I. 16, Rom.^ns 1. 16.
Se c t'. t Ha V e told you (ver. 1 5 ,) that I am ready and F°^J ""^1°^ '*';,
 ¦ -^ defirous to preach the gofpel at Rome, though "^ " '^ ^° ''qf
. the capital city of the world ; and indeed there
j[°j6 is nothing that I more earneftly wilh than op
portunities of bearing the moft public teftimony
to it : for, with whatever contempt that facred
difpenfation, and they who publifh it, may be
treated on account of the circumftances ¦ and '
death of its founder,' the charader of its mini-
flers, arfd the nature and tendency of its doc-
f j-jnes ; / am not afhamed of the gojpel of Chrift,
3 ' I'M*

~ TJ-jC gofpel reveals the righteoujnejs of Gxi hy faith.

15

of chrift ; for it is
the ' power of God
nnto "falvation, to
every one that be-
lieveth, to the Jew
firft, and alfo to the
Greek;

17 For therein is
the righteoufnefs of
God revealed from
faith to faith: as it
is

1. 16

but iMther glory in it. And f have great rea- Sect.
fon to do it ; for while other 'methods, intended ^"'
to promote the reformation ar,d happinefs of Rom,
mankind, have been all incffcftual ; // has
clearly appeared that this is the power of God for
complete dnd eternal y"i3/i,v//««, to everv one that
helieveth. It cojitains the mort glorious difplay
of the Divine power, efficacioiifly exerted for this
important purpofe, and operating in favour of
every one who cordially embraces it.- Thus fa-
lutary is it to the Jew, who is far from being
above the need of it, and to whom, by the fpe
cial command of our Lord, it is to be firft
preached and -propofed ", wherever its ambaf-
fadors come ; yet not to be limited to him, but
proclaimed alfo to_ the Greek, and the Roman,
and Gentiles of every hation under heaven ;
who are all, with equal freedom, invited to
partake its important benefit^. And it is ad
mirably adapted to fecure this great and blefied
end ; for in it the righteoujnejs J God" by faith,
that is, the method which God hath contrived
and propofed for our becoming righteous, (Ifa.
Ivi. I,) by believing his teftimony, and cafting
ourfelves on his mercy, is revealed to onr faith ",
and moft clearly exhibited, as the great objeft of
it. As it is written in the prophet Habakkuk,

17

a 'To the yeivfrfi, &c.] There is a t\o-
h\& franknejs^ as well as w^xy comprtben-
Jive fetifef in tliefe few words of the apo-
rtle ; by which, on the one hand,^ he
ftrongly infinuates to the Jews, their abfo^
lute need of the gofpel, in order to falva
tion ; and on the other, while he declares
tol them, that it wasalfo to be preached to
the Gentiles, he tells the politeft and
greateft of thefe nations, to whom he
might come as an ambaffador of Chrift,
both that their Jal'v ation alfo depended upon
receiving it, and that ths firft offers of it
were every where to be made to the de-
fpifed Jews.
^ The righteoufnefs of, God,'^ Aixa(0(3-i;;«
©Etf plainly fignifies, in feveral paflaget of
this epiftle, not the effential righteoufnefs
of God^s nature, but the manner of becom
ing rigbteouSf which God hath appointed
and exhibited in the gofpel. Compare
chap. iii. 21, 22; x. 5. Compare Phil, iii-
9; Mat* vi. 33, And the phrafe may
perhaps have Siie fame fenfe in feveral

paflages of the Old Teftament. See Ifa,
'xlvi. 13 5 11, 5, 6, 8 j Jvj. 1. Mr. Mace
generaUy renders it the dit^ne juft if cation^
yet cannot always render Jixa oc-yvH fo.
e By faith^ is repealed to faith.'^ I would
conneft ex 'mg-i-^g with Aixmoff-ww!, and
fuppofe EI? TCig-iy to be governed oi airona'
"Kuifldai, thinking the tranfpoJitlon ealier
than the inte-rp re tation given by many
others, as if it implied its being lohollyby
faith, as Mr. Mace renders it J or going on
from one degree of*faith to another : for,
though it is true that this is the cafe^ I
find no example in which the phrafe is
ufed in either of thefe fenfcs, Thofe
which Mr. Locke produces to jiiftify the
former of thefe interpretations, (viz.
chap. vi. 19^ and 2 Cor, iii. 18,) being by
no means exaftly parallel, AntJ it is fo
plain, that e» Trifea-? in the clofe of this
verfe, fi^m^es by faith y that I wonder it
fhould have been rendered fo mdifftrently
in the former claufe.

B4

chap*

1 6
Sect. III.

and the wrath of God againft all unrighteoufnefs.

Rom. I. 17

chap. ii. 4, '¦ Thejttftjhall live byfaith^:" and
as good men were then delivered from the ruin
which involved others, by trufting to and adling
upon the Divine declaration ; ^fo now the like
principle of faith, receiving and embracing this
¦great difcovery which God hath made ofhis
mercy in Chrift, fccures our life and falvation.
18 And as in tliis view it is well worthy of our re-
.gard, fo there is an abfolute neceffity of its be
ing attended to : for the wrath of God is revealed
from heaven'', by many fingular interpofitions
of Divine providence, and efpecially by the
moft exprefs declaration bf the facred oracles,
which teach us, to look on the grand and final
revelation of it as nearly approaching. And the
terrors of this wrath ' are apparently levelled
' agqinft all impiety and unrighteoujnejs of men
•who wickedly refrain the truth in unrighteouf
nefs ; when that heaven-born Captive would
exert its energy upon their minds, and urge
them to obey its didlates. This is, more or
lefs, the generally prevailing charafter;' and
it expofes men to a fentence, the terrors of which,
if they were well underftood, would foon drive
them, with the grteateft folicitude, to feek, their
refuge in that gofpel, the tidings of which they
now fo arrogantly defpife.
The fad charafter I hinted at above, of re-
ftraining and imprifoning the truth in unrighte
oufnefs, is, more general than mankind are

is writteni The jaft
fhall live by faith.

1 8 For the vyrith
of God Is revealed
from heaven againft
all ungodlinefs, and
unrighteoufnefs of
men, who hold the
truth in unrighteouf.
nefs.

19

19

Becaufe that
which

<i As it is written, Thejitftjhall live by
faith.X The prophet Habakiiuk, fpeaking.
of the deftruftion to come upon Jerufa-
lem by the Chaldeans, obferves how d;f- ,
ferent the behaviour and dates of good
and bad m6n would be. Thefinncr''s heart
•would be vainly lifttd up to his deftruilion,
while truiiing to his ^ own wifdom and
power, (and accordingly prince and peo
ple became the facrifices of this foolifii
ielf-confidence :) whereas tie rightooiis,
the truly 'good man, .would prejerve bis
life by bttievitig the Divine declarations,
and afting according to therh ; and thus
. under the gofpel, he that believes Ihall
live. Some .would render it, The juji by
failh fhall live, or he ihall live who is
¦ jtijiifed by faith ;_ but however this jnight
fuit the Greek phraje, it feems lefs agree- .
atle to "the Heireiu, from whence it is
taken.

e For the tvrath of Gcd'is revealed, &c.]
Commentators differ much in fixing the
connexion of thefe words. — Some have
coniidered this verfe as another reafon
why he was not afliamed of the gofpel ;
becaufe it contained fo awakening a de
claration of the wrath of -God againft lin,
andliy that means had a moft' powerful
tendency to awaken men*s confciences
and fave their fouls ; in which view,
fome treating the particle ya^ .as an ex
pletive, have rendered it, there tbe -wrath
of God is revealed. And Mr., Locke
brings it nearly to the fame, where he
explains it as a reafon why Paul was ia,
ready to preach the gofpel at Rome.^
But the connexion, hinted in the parar
phraje, feems moft rational and natural.
The fcntences in Paul's writings often
run into each other. iiware,

The works of creation teach the knowledge of Gcd.

^7

which may be known
of God, is manifeft
in themj for God
hath fliewed it ynto
;hem.

20 For the invi-
fibls things of him
from the creation of
the world are clearly
feen, being under
ftood by the things
fhat are made, e'vcn
his eternal power and
Godhead ; fo that
they are without e:^-
«iffe;

21 Becaufe that
when they knewGod,
they glorified him
not as God, neither
vvere thankful, but
became

Rom. 1.19

aware. We find it not only among thofe who Sect.
have enjoyed the benefit of a revelation from ^^'"
God, but in all the Gentile nations. For the
main fundamental principles of what is by any
means to be known of God, that is, that he is the
great Original of all, is manifeft among them, for
God hath fhewcd it to them, by a light univerfal
as the fun. For thofe things of him which are 20
irivifible, are, and have been from the very crea
tion of the world, not only intimatedj but being
duly attended to^, clearh Jeen by the things
which are made; the whole fyftem of which
beats fuch eminent fignatures of the great Arti
ficer, as loudly to proclaim his name and attri
butes, even his eternal power and divinity^:,
fo that if any of the Gentile .nations negleft to
, trace it, with reverence, love, and obedience,
they are without excuft, and would be deftitute
of every juft crplaulible apology for themfelves,
if he ftiould enter into judgment with them: ,
Becaufe knowing God^^, as the great Former of 21
all, and a Being of fupreme and incomparable
perfeflion, they have not adored and glorified
\J}iin\ as God their Maker, neither were duly
thankful^ to him as their great and conftant Be-
nefadtor ; but afted as if they had neither oppor
tunity nor capacity of acquainting themfelves
with him. This has generally been the charac
ter of the Gentiles, without excepting thofe of
the politeft ages and moft learned nations. In
ftead of fetting themfelves to enquire into the

' f Being duly attended to.~\ 'iio-^/x£va
feems to have this figniiication, and to
be, as it were, included in z parenthefis ;
fo that 1015 •7ror;{jt.a.Ti is governed of naBa-
e Divinity.J It is obfervable that .^a-
gufline {Civ. £>ei, viii. i,) nicely dlftin-
,guiihes between ^iCiiola,, and ^n^nla, the
word here ufed; maintaining that the. one
figniiies i/eif)T, or divine nature; the other
divinity, or divine majejly and glory ; and
if theri be that dlftinftlon, the latter
word is apparently more proper here, as
divine glory Kfults from that eternal
power which is comprehended iu the
divine nature,
Ir Kno-ivin^ God.l Some underftand it
as if he had fald, Whereas they might have
knows GS4 ; but I think ' what Paul

charges upon the philofophers is, that
though they a&ually knenu there was one
fupreme God, they neglefted him, to
conform (for low and bafe coniideratlons)
to the eitabllihed idolatry ; which was
really the cafe, to their aggravated guilt
and condemnation ; ,«s appears from moft
of the paflages in which the Pagan wri
ters bear a teftimony to the doctrine of the
' Unity J a fpecimen of which may be izzt\
in Dr. Sykes'' s ConneB. chap. xiv. p. 364—
383 ; Dt.'Ab. Taylor of Faith, p. la —
17, not. ; and Cud'worth''s JntellcB. Syjlem,
cliap. iv. § 10—31, efpecially ^ 19 — 2?.
i Neither mere thankful.^ It is worthy
our obfervation, that gratitude to God is
here put for the vjhole of religion j and no
urinciple can be nobler, and none can be
Jlronger or more extenfive.
will

l8 The Gentiles, tho' thus taught, ran into the moft ftupld idolatry.

Sect III.

Rom.
1,21

will of the fupreme Being, and with becoming
gratitude and zeal devoting themfelves to his
fervice ; they became vain and foolifli in their
21 boafted reafonings ^, intangling themfelves with
a thoufand unprofitable fubtilties, which only
tended to alienate their fouls from every fenti-
ment of true religion ; and their unintelligent
heart, inftead of being enlightened by thefe fo-
phiftrfes, was more and more involved in dark-
nefs, and rendered impenetrable to the fimpli-
512 city of the moft important truths. So that
profefting themfelves to be wife, far beyond the
Common pitch, afluming and glorying in tbe
cities of fag(s or wife men, at ieaft in that of
lovers of wifdom', theyhecame fools and idiots,
degrading, in the loweft and moft infamous man
ner,, the reafon which they fo arrogantly pre-
23 tended to improve, and almoft to engrofs. And
as tlris* was evident in a variety of other vices,
in which the philofophers of heathen nation^
joined with ihe vulgar, fo particularly in the
early, and almoft univerfal prevalence of idolatry
amongft them, by which they changed the glory
cf the immortal incorruptible and eternal God,
even all the majeftic fplendbrs in which he fhineS
forth through earth and heaven, into the repre-
fenling image of mortal and corruptible man ;
which, how elegantly foever it might be traced,
was a .great and infuffferabie degradation, had
their folly proceeded no farther. But not con
tent with this, they-fet up, as emblems'of deity,
and objedls of worfhip, brutes and their images,
birds and four-footed animals, and even fuch vile
reptiles as beetles, and various kinds of reptiles
which creep on the duft "".

became vain in their,
imaginations, and
their footlfh heart was
darkened.

22 ProfeiTmg them-
M\e& to be wife,
they became fools. •

23 And changed
the glory of the un
corruptible God, in
to an image made
like to corruptible'
man, and to' lilrds,
and four - footed
beaits, and creeping
things.

k Vain in their reajonings, mtSaix'Gr,crav
EV Tfllff J.'aXoyir/>ol? aulftJ^.T Mr. Locke
illuftrates t!his by the ftupld folly of their-
idolatry, z Kings xvii. 1 5, 1 6 ; Afts xiv.
J5. But I rather think the word AiaXs-
j-KT-ffoi; refers tothe ferpiexing fophijlry
cf the philofophers. I have often thought
lucretlus one of the moft femarkable'il-
luftrations of the char.aaer here drawn 
What vain fcajonings, and' how dark a
heart, in the midft of the moft pomcouB
Tf [ofefiion of iratular ifijdi.K !

1 Prof effing themfelves.'] iI>no-xo.7E?iiv/ti
5-ofoi, feems juft eijulvalent toXenophon's
ifas-xolaff *i)(Aojotl5£(* ; which fo evidently
refers to the pride they took in the' title
of lovers of li'ijdom. See Raphel. in he.
^ "II Beetles and ferpents.] Of this ama
zingly ftupld, yet prevalent idolatry, the
nvorfiip of jerpents, fee Jenk. Reaj. of
Cbrftianity, Vol; II. p. 246^^48 ; Tea- ¦
nifon of Idol. chap. xiv. p. 352-354;
Ovim on Serp. chap. iv. and vj SHilUngf.
.Crig. Sac, p. 516, aV.

This

and were abandoned to the moft infamous pafjtons.

19

24 Wherefore God
alfo gave them up. to
uncleannefs, through
the luits of their own
hearts, to diflionour
their own bodies be
tween themfelyes :

25 Who changed
the truth uf God Into
a He, and worihipped
and fervcd, the crea
ture more than the
Creator, who is blefled
for ever. Amen.

26 For this caufe
God gave them up
unto vile afieftions.
For even their wo
men did change their
natural ufe into that
which is againft na
ture :
27 And likewife
alfo the men, leaving the

This was fuch fcandalous and pernicious Sect.
fuperftition, that it no wonder that God ftiould ^^^'
in righteous judgment withdraw froip thofe Rom.
who introduced and encouraged it. He there- I. 24
fore not only left them to fink lower and lower
in thefe abfurd methods of worftiip, but alio
delivered them up to the vileft uncleannefs, in
\ gratifying^, ihe deteftable lufts of their own
heart ; which grew more and 'more outrageous
and enormous when the reftraint of his common
influences was'thus withdrawn from their minds.
Thus he left them to difho'nour their bodies among
themfelves, as much as they had before diflionourcd
their rational faculties by fuch fenfelefs idolatries.
This was fo prevalent an evil, that even many 25
of them who knew much better, and had in
their own minds founder apprehenfions of things,
yet from mere fecular motives, fupprefled that
better knowledge, and conformed to popular
fuperftitions and follies, and th^eby .changed ihe
truth of God, the true doctrines of his nature,
and genuine inftitations of his worlhip, into a
lie ", into abominable idolatries, founded on the
falfeft reprefentations of God, and often fup
ported by a train of artful forgeries ; and, upon
the whole, they worfhipped and fervcd, with
religious homage and folemn devotion, the frea-
turc, to the negleSl of the great Creator ; ivho,
however bafely and ungratefully neglected by
men, is fufrounded with the perpetual homage
of the heavenly world, and bleft'ed for ever. Amen.
May he ever be held in the higheft veneration,
by all his creatures in heaven and earth, through
out all fucceeding ages.
Therefore, I fay, becaufe of this inexcufable 26
negled: of the ever-blefted God, he abandoned
them to the moJi infamous pajfions^ for even their
women, from whom the ftridle/l modefty might
reafonably have been expe£led, changed the na
tural ufe of the other fex to that which is againft
nature °, And likcwfe their males, leaving 27

n Changed the truth of God into a, &.] Jfai, xtiv. 20 ; Jerem. lil. 23 ; xiii. 25 ;
Eljner takes great pains to ihew, that the xvi. 19.
truth of God here fignliies tvhat he really ^ » To that tvhich is againji nature.'^
•was; and a lie, a falfi reprefentation. Many horrible jUuftrations of this may be
See £/y«£r'sOi/cTO. Vol. II. p. II. It is Uifi'mBos, Exsr(it, in loc.
well known that idols arc often called lies, {hi

29

They were given up to an ^undijcerning mind.

Sect, the natural ufe of the female, have been ' in-
•^"' flamed' with the moft fcandalous and abominable
Rom. ¦ deftres towards each other, males with males per-
i' 27 petrating that which is moft- Jhamejul to mention,
and deteftable to think of, and receiving in
themfelves the juft recompenje oJ their error, in
that ftupidity and degeneracy of mind to which
28 they were evidently left. And thus, upon the
whole, as they were not Jollcitous p to retain God
in their knowledge, nor to propagate fuitable con
ceptions of him, or addrefs him by proper a£ls
of rational and pure devotion, God delivered them
over to an undijcerning' mind, to do things moft
inexpedient 1 and enormous ; as he cannot more
dreadfully punifh one fin than by giving up the
29 offender to more. And accordingly, univerfal
depravation and corruption feized'and poifelfed
them ; and the whole feries of their difcpurfes
and aflions fhewed that they were Jull of all
, manner of injuftice, lewdnejs,, mif chief, covet-
cujnejs,, and malignity; perpetually injuring
each other, and drawing damage and mifery on
themfelves ; while they were filled and intoxi
cated with every imaginable vice, envy, murder,
contention, fraud, the inveteracy of all evil and
pernicious habits^, which no fenfe of decency,
or regard to reputation or intereft could reform.
30 Inftead of entertaining thofe friendly regards to
each other which common humanity might
have taught them, they were whijpering fome-
thing againft thofe that were prefent, as well as
backbiting fuch as were abfent ; and being
haters ofGod, difcontented with his government,
and, difaffecled to his rule as a righteous and
holy Being, who could not but be highly dif-
pleafed with their abominations, they were vio
lent and. overbearing ' in their behaviour to each
other.

the natural ufe of .the
woman, burned in '
their luft one toward
another; men with
men working that
which is. unfeemly,
and receiving in
themfelves that re-
compenfe of their er
ror which was meet. ¦
28 And even ag
they did not like to
retain God in theiir
knowledge, God gave
them over to a repro
bate mind, to do'
thofe things whlelj
are not convenient \

(^29 Being filled
with all unrighteouf
nefs, fornication,
wickednefs, covet-
oufnefs ; maliclouf.
nefs ; full oi envy,
murder, debate, de
ceit, malignityj whif,
perers.

30 Backbiters, ha.
ters of God, defplte- ful,

P Were not jolicitous.'] E%xi,'.<a»-«» im
ports a concern to bring things to a trial or
' toucpftone, which this tranftation cxpreffes
much better than ours, which coldly ren
ders it, they liked not.
q Things mft inexpedient.] The original
expreiri«n is a meiofis, to exprefs things
moft deteftable; as asiK;* spva fignifies all
the inhumanities which Achilles moll un-
generoufly praJlifedon the corpfe of Hec
tor. Compare ffijd. xiv. 22 — 27. See
Sos in loc.

r Mijchicf, malignity, inveteracy.] Ac.
cording to fome acute' conamentators,
¦jrmyii fignifies doing mifchlef, xaaia a
malicious temper, and xaKmBsitt a cuftom
of repeating it frequently.
s f^i'.lent and overbearing.] TSfij-ns is
properly oppofed to ^ai<;,pxv, and exprefifs
the char^fter of a man who is refolved
to gratify his own appetites and paffions,
and to purfue what he apprehends his'
own mtereft, right or tvrong ; without at
all regarding thofe inconveniences or
fulferings

fu!, proud, boafters,
iowentor^ of evil
things, difobedient
to parents.

31 Without un-
derftanding, cove
nant-breakers, with
out natural affjftion,
Jrhpiacable, unmer-
clful :

32 Who knowing
the judgme.at of
God, (that, they
wliich

and to the mojl deJlniBive vices, 21
other, proud of what they had, and arrogant Sect.
boajlers of what they' had not; ingenious invert- _^^^"
tors of eiri 1 3.nd vjcious things, who piqued them- "r^^
felves on makuig fome new difcoveries in the I- 3^
arts of fenfuality or mifchief. And it is no
wonder tl)at when there was fuch a-n impious
difpofition to rebel againft God, they fliould alfo",
be dijohedlent to earthly parents: And that 31
they ihould a6l in fo wild and unaccountable a
manner, as to feem to be without the natural
underjidnding of men ; implacable in their re-
fentm.ents, wiihoi.it natural afftSiion S even to
their own children in forne inftances, and to
their parents in others. And when a reconcilia
tion was attempted, and mutual engagements en
tered into with the higheft folemnity, they were
on any prefent appearance ,of advantage, pre-
fently for breaking thofe pacific treaties^ and
unmerciful in purfuing their fchemes of cruelty
and reyenge, whenever they got any new oppor
tunity of doing it.- This was the chara6J:er 32
which generally prevailed in the heathen world,
whoy though they knew the righteous judgment of
God^', and though their confciences, as well as ,
the kftbns of their wifeft teachers, told them.

fufFerings which he rrlay thereby bring
wpon others.
' t JVithout natural affsBion,"^ ATopvn
may include the abfence of both parental
a.nd filial affeBion. The cuilom Qi expofing
nc'iO'jrhcrn Infimts, which prevailed fo ge
nerally in the heathen world, and that
among poHCe nacions, and perfon-s,^ in
other rtfped^s not deftitute of humanity,
is a moft ftriking jnltance of the truth of
this afTertion.; as chat of kiUing their aged
parents aifo was of the counterpart.
u Who, though they knew the righteous
judgment of Ood, &c.j The Clermont
copy infcrts th^ words ovx svQr,:rav after
ETTLyyovlig ; , agreeable to which reading,
Mr. Locke renders it, nvho, though they
> acknowledge the rule of r'lght [Ji^iaiw^uaj
prefcrihed them by, God, Ind difcovcred by
the Ught of nature, yet did not tinderfiand
that they 'who do thefe things are ivcrthy of
d^athj and therefore — trhv-v^onaa-i live ^vell
\viih thofe tuho do them, ^^ that is, converfe
*' with them, withoyt any -marks of
** dife-fteem and' cenfure ; whereas the
*' Jew, who condemns the evils which he

J' praftlfes, Is much more Inexcufable;"
{q eonnedting this verfe with , the' ^ad
chapter. But I neither think the' autho
rity of the Clermont copy, by any pieans
Sufficient to juftify our admitting this
reading, nor can Imagine it would make a
good fenfe : , for furely if they knew a rule
of right prcfcribed by God, they' could no*
be ignorant that the violation of it woulil
expofe them to punlfhment ; and it is
evident, in faC"t, from^numberlefs paflages
in heathen WDrallfts, that they were not
ignorant of it. The njulgar Latin does
indeed partly follow this peculiar rei^dingj
bat they add, non fiAummqui facjunt, fid
qui confintiant facientHus, ^^ not only
*^ they who commit thefe crimes, buc
*' they who agree with others that com-
'f mlt thf^m;'* which I think maJces a
itn^^- much preferable 'to Mr. Locke's,,
though by no means agreeable to the
oiiginal.—'l'i feems here to be implied,
that to look with "complacency on tlie
vices of others. Is one of the laft d -grees
of degeneracy, that

22 Refleilions on the bad ftate of the Gentile world.
Sect, that they who do fuch things as thefe are worthy ^W-^h ""™' '''''*
TTT ^,71 -^ J 7 ! r 1 ¦ L r 1 ' things are worthy ot
. of death ; yex not only do thefe things tneml<i\vcs, jejth,) not only do
Rom. out alfo look with complacency upon, and agree the fame, but have
1. 32 together with thofe , that do them ; forming cpnfe- pleafur^ in them that '
deracies to countenance and fupport each other,
and impudently out- braving thofe who fhould
' prefume to bear teftimony againft them.
IMPROVEMENT.
Verfe When we dwell on the reprefei;itation of that charafter which
21 this humane and candid apoftle gives us of the heathen world,
with regard to their idolatries, impieties, and other immoralities,
what reafon have we to blefs God for the dif pe? fat ion of the, gofpel;
which hath wrought fo efFeitiially for the reformation of thoufan'ds, '
who might otherwife have been as deeply drenched in all thefe
enormities as the vileft of them ! For we know, that it was not
the barbarous nations alone, but fome of the politeft, whp in
negledl of all the opporUinities they had of knowing better,
and in oppofition 19 that better knowledge which lome of them
aftually obtained, were often diftinguilhed for the fu'perftition of
their worfhip, and the fca:ndal of their lives ; fo that the chief
jlluftiations of this fad fubjedt are ta be borrowed from Egypt,
Greece, and Rome,
Let us learn, not only to guard againft the vices for which the
heathens :are here branded, (knowing that the praftice in us will
be yet riiore crimina^,} let us cultivate the oppofite virtues of
•2,(^-2,^ juftice and temperance, benevolence znA contentment, peace and charily,
finceriiy and humility; and let us ch&v\(h the natural tender, affec-.
tions. ' If offences arife, let us always be ready to hearken to terms
of reconciliation, and faithfully obferve our engagements ; taking the
32 greateft heed, that knowing fo clearly as we do the judgments of God,
we do not, by any means, give countenance to, and feem to join in
a confederacy with finners.
Let us blefs God for all the capacities and opportunities he hath
given to th^ heathen nations of coming to the knowledge of himfelf .
by the things that are^ made, which declare his eterndl power and
19,20 Godhead.' znd render mexcufable both atheifts and idolaters among.
them. But when we recollefl: how many either entirely loft the
truth, ox imprifoned it in unrighteoufnefs, let us be moft afFeftionately
thankful for fo fuperior a light ; for that gofpel which is to every
16 believer, without exception, the power of 'God for falvation, and
; , which declareth the righteoufnefs of God, as the objeft of. om faith.
May we properly receive it, and fo efcape the terrors of that Divine
1% wrath which ts jevealcd from heaven againft all impiety and un
righteoufnefs of men. ,
To this revelation lei us give the moft attentive heed, and be
much

Thofe who knew their duty, and condemned the crimes of others, 23
much upon our guard againft thofe vain and fophiftical reafonings, ^^'=~^-
to which they, who knowing God, neglect lo glorify him as God,

are fo ready to fly; left we approve ourfelves yw/.f in proportion to Verfe
the degree in which -we profefs to be wife, and provoke God to giv'e 21
us up to an injudicious mind, and to leave us to that reciprocal in- 22
fliicnce which evil principles and evil actions have to render each 2S
other more inveterate and incurable.
SECT. IV.
The apojlle difcourfes more particularly of thofe who knew thel^
duty, and yet aSted contrary to it ; and of the condemnation thsy
muft expeB from God ; that fo he mi^ht properly introduce the
particular' charge he had to advance againft the fews, as, abov»
all others, anfwering that character. Rom. IL I — 16.
•
RoMANsH.i. Romans II. I.
']-H£REFoRF tl.ou ^ -fj^ ^ j, -r^ y^^^^ fpcaking ofthc great and Sect.
art inexrulable, I -' i -i r l /- ° u i j IV.
O mnn, wlnfiever aggravated guilt or thole, who not only do

thuu art thatjuijeit: tilings which they know to be Uifpleaiing to Rom.
fur vhertin thou Q^^j^ ^j^^j g^u j^ themfelves, but alfo agree to- u. t
c^iid^-mrrelt th'vfeif"; gather to couutenance thofe that do them. ' And
for them t'hat jud^ieft, it may be, fome who know they are not'of that
diicft the ' lame number '', but, on one principle or another, bear '
'"'^' ' their teftimony againft the prevailing immora
lities of thofe about them, may imagine therti-
felves fecure and happy. I muft, therefore,
argue from the premifes juft laid down, that thou,
art inexcufable, O man, whojoever thou art that
judgeft, and pretended: to pafs fentence upon
others : for I know what the charafter of fuch
generally is, and I know that the very beft of
them all have their blernifhes _and faults ; and
therefore I may fay, that wherein thou judgeft.
another, thou condemneft thyfelf; for thou who
judgeft, doeft the fame things in many inftances '",
and
* Some who know that they are not of This was eminently the cafe with the .•
t^at number.] There is a greater delicacy Jews: but he does not dlre<^ly fpealc of
in tile apojlle'' s tranfition here, than molt them till -the 9th verfs ;, but draws thein-
cominentators have imagined. From ference at lirft In fuch general terms as
what he had before fald, to prove the might alfo comprehend Gentile pbilojo-
moft abandoned and ignorant of the hea- phers, and all others who contradifted
thens inexcufable in their wickednefs, he the moral initruAions which they them-
julily infers, that the crimes of thofe felves gav^.
who h-id fiich knowledge of the truth as b D:eji the.j.ime things.'^ Dr. Whitby
to condemn' the vices of others, were ihews, by^ m?..n> v..ry proper quotations,
propo;:U'inabiy yet more inexcufable. chiefly fi'oni jol phus, that the Jews of
th'at

are fiill more inexcufable in their dif obedience to God.

24 Sect, apj confequently art convifled out of thine own
mouth. Far we know in general, that the
Rom. judgment of God is according to truth and juftice,
U. 1 againft all thofe who do fuch things, Kowever they
3 may behave towards their fellow-finners. .4"d
canft thou then, by the fentence which thou
pafleft upon others, think to evade that which
goeth forth againft thyfelf.'' Or reajoneft thou
thus, Oman, whofoever thou art, whether Pa
gan philofopher or Jewifh teacher, who judgeft
thoJe that do Juch things, while thou doeft them
tkyjelf, that thou jhouldeft ejcape the judgment of
4 God ? Or is tjiy heart fo obdurate, as to make
light of thofe judgments which thou muft cer
tainly meet, becaufe they are not imirediately
executed: zn&kloeft thou mAttd. defpife the y-iches
of his gentlehefs and forbearance, and long-fuf-
fering % exercifed towards thee for fuch a length
of time, fo as to think it may be fafely trifled
with .'' Surely if thou doft, thou art (haniefully
ignorant indeed, as not knowing, that the good^
nefs and gentlenefs of God leadeth thee to repent
ance. He bears' with thee, that thou mayeft.,
prevent the threatened blow, by humbling thy-
5 felf before him, and forfaking thy fins. But
this day of mercy and grace ha's its limits ; and
however thou mayeft flatter thyfelf now, the
eonfequence will foon appear fatal, and thou wilt
find, to thine unutterable confufion, that by this
hardnefs and impenitence of thy heart, thou art
treajuring up to thyjelf a more abundant ftore of
: wrath, in the day of final wrath, and of that re
velation of the righteous judgment of God, which
is now, as it were, under a veil, and fo difre-.
garded becaufe unfeen ; but it fhall then be fet
6 forth to view, in all its luftre and terror. The
Divine Being is indeed a moft gracious and in
dulgent Father ; but be it known unto thee, that

2 But we are fure
that tht judgment of
God is according to
truth, againft them
which commit fuch
things. 3 And thinkeft
{hou this, O man,
that judgeft them
which do fuch things,
and doeft the fame,
that thou fhalt efcape
the judgmentofGod?
4 0rdefpifeftthou
the riches ofhis good-
nefs, and forbear
ance, and long'-fuf-
ferlng; not knowing
that the goodnefs of
God leadeth thee t»
repentance }

5 But after thy
hardnefe and impeni
tent heart, treafurcft
up unto thyfelf wrath
againft the day of
wrach, and revelation
of the righteous
judgment of God-j

d Who will render to

that age were guilty of many of thofe
crimes which had been enumerated above, '
See Jojeph.de Bellofudaiq. lib. v. cap. 13,
[al. 16,] § 6,, and lib. vii. cap. 8, [al.,
1,6,] ^ I. Edit, ilavercamp.
c Gentlenejs, forbearance, and long-juf-
fering.] Mr. Blackmail [Sacr. ClaJ.Vol. I.
p. 306,) enlarges on the great emphafrs
of thefe words in the original. He thinks
X(^o-}lr,s fignifies benevelencenni gencrojiiy

in the general, amxt mercy in the pro-
pofaJs of pardon and -happinefs to falleii
creatures, and fj.a.-'i^o^vuia patie/tce in at
tending fo long on fuch obftlnate Wretches;
I have given what I take to be the exafteffi .
rendering of each ; but did not judge it
convenient to protraft the paraphrafe of
jo lively a paffage, by attempting in man]
•words to illultrate it. , he

God will recompenje every mart according to his works.

25

,to every lAan accord
ing to his deeds :

7 -T.i them who
by patient continu
ance in Well-doing,
feek for glory, and
iionour, and immor
tality ; eternal life :

S But tinto them
that are contentious,
and dp not obey the
truth, bXit obey un
righteoufnefs; indig
nation, and wrath ;

he is alfo the wife and holy Governor of the uni- Sect.
verfe; who will recompenje every man according

9 Tribulation and
anguiih upon every
foul of man that doth
evil; of the Jew firft, and

to his zvorks, in the final diftribution of good and Rom.
evil, how unequal foever his prefent difpenfa- II. 6'
tions may feera. To thoJe .generous and ele- 7
*ated fouls, that are not difcouraged by prefent
difficulties, nor enfnared by the alluremehts of
the world, but amidft them all, by a patient and
perfevering courje of well-doing, Jeek Jor glory
and honour, and immortality, he will gracioufly
render the great prize they purfue, even eternal
life. But to the perVerfe and ungrateful chil- g
dren of contention *, vjho quarrel with the merci
ful difpenfation that fhould have faved them,
and are obftinately difobedient to the diftates of
truth, but fervilely obedient to the ufurped and
bafe tyranny of unrighteoufnefs, perverfely op-
pofing the evidence of true religion, becaufe-
they are averfe to its praQical defign, \he will
render'] a quite different portion. For, them is
referved all that can be imagined moft dreadful :
indignation fhall be conceived, and wrath fhall
break forth againft them ; The Iharpeft tribu- „
lation, the moft hopelefs and inextricable anguijh
and defpair ", which fhall be poured out in a tor
rent of unmingled mifery, even upon every foul
of -man ,who worke th that which is evil. This
ihall be rendered to the feiu in the fiift place ',

fl Children of contention.'^ Mr. Locke
thinks that patience in the former verfe,
and contention here, refer tothe malignant
enmity with which the Jews endeavoured
to exclude the Gentiles from the church.
Compare Gal. \. j ; l T\m. vl. 4, 53 but
it fe^ms much better to explain it in a
latitude which ihall Indeed include this,
-.as one inftance of obftinacy and perverfe-
nefs, without contradting that exten
five and important fenfe which our Inter-
pretE^tion gives. And that the contention
of the Gentiles is included here, evi
dently appears by the conclulion of the
fentence. ^ Indignation andivrath, tribulation aijd
anguijh, &c.] Here feems to be a refe
rence to thofe expreffive words, Pfal.
Ixxviii. 49, when fpeaking of the Egyp
tians, it is fald, he cajl upon them the
fercenejs ofh'is angci-, ^vrath, and indigna
tion, and trouble. And It may finely in
timate, that the Jews would, in the day
bi vengeance, be more feverely puniftied
Vol. IV. ' I

than even ' their Egyptian enemies were,
¦when God made their plagues io wonder
ful. ^Isox^'^i properly figr^ifies ftrait-
nefi J and is ufed by Xenophon to fignify
a narrow way, that cannot be paffed.
See Raphel. Not. ex Xen* In he. As for
the difference between Su{x'<^ and O^yn,
Elfner\Objernj, Vol. IL p«^i4) takes
feme pains to fhcw, that the former iig-
nliies the firlt conception of angef., the
'latter a defire and prnpofe of punipmg.
Some reference to this interpretation will
be found in the paraphrafe, tho' expreiled
as briefly as poihble.
f ^0 the Jetv firfl:.'\ Here we haVe the
firft exprefs mention of Jews in this fec-
tion ; and it is introduced with great
energy and Weight. ' Their being trained
up in the knowledge of the true religions
and having Chrift and his apoftles firft
fent to them, will place them in the fore^
moft rank of the criminals who obey not
the truth.
Z who

a6

There is no acceptance of perjons'.with God.

.Sect, vvho far from efcapiiig by his fuperior advan-
^ ^^' tages a«^ priviL'ges, will, by the abufe of them,
Rom. be obnoxious to diftingiii filed wrath. Nor ftiall
II. 9 the Greek efcape, who fliall be judged according
to the light he hath enjoyed, or the opportunity
10 he had of enjoying more. But, as I faid
before, and repeat it with pleafure, as the more
defightfiil part of the fubjeS, which I love to
dwell Upon ; glory, honour, and j>eace \jhall be\
recompenfed to every one who worketh good; firft
to the Jew, who ftands fairer (in virtue of the
Divine revelation he enjoys,) for diftinguifhed
degrfees of it, as well as receives the firft mef-
fages of this falvation ; and then to the Greek,
vvho, if he exclude not himfelf, (hall not be ex-
1 1 empted from his proper fliare. For there is no
partial acceptance of pcrjons with God^, which
iliould engage him hn account of outward con
dition, or lineal defcent, to fpare obftinacy and
wickednefs in a Jew, or to rejefl the humble
12 faith and obedience of a Gentile. And he will
fully difplay this impartiality of adminiftration in
the great day of univerfal judgment; for as many
as have fmncd ivithout //;^Mofaic law''\ and have
continued impenitent in their crimes, fhall with
out the law perifh; the light of nature, without
the knowledge of revelation, being fufficient to
condemn them. And as many as have finned
under the inflrudion and obligation of the law,
jhall with proportionable feverity be judged by
the laiu ', and meet with a more awful fentence,
as their offences have been aggravated by fuch
1 3 exprefs difcoveries of the Divine wilh: For

and alfo of the Gen
tile ;

10 But glory, ho
nour, and peace, to
every man that work
eth good, to the Jew
firft, and alfo to the
Gentik : •

II For there is n.
refpetft of perfons
'with God.

12 For as many as
have finned without
law, fliall alfo perilh
without law: and as
many as have finned
in the law, fliall be
judged by the law.

13 {For not, the
hearers

g Acceptance of pcrjons.^ That Is, in
palling the final fentence, he Is determined
by their real charaftcrs. — This is very
ronfiftent with an equality In dlftrlbutlng
advantages and opportunities of improve
ment, according to the fovereign pleafure
of the great Lord of all. This afiertlon
of the apoftle's, fo pften repeated, will
appear the more important and feafonable,
as the Jews thought th.U nolfraelltc ftiould
be deprived of future happinefs, whatever
iii^ uiilts hjd been3 unlefs he were guilty
ol apoftafvj Idolatry, and a few otlier very
enormous crimes. See Mr. Jcrtins DiJ'-
courjcs i'.r.cci-iii>!g the Truth of the Chrijl'ian
KcJigion, p. 26, zy, aad tht nsUs there.

^ Sinned •Lvithout the Mojaic laiv, &c.]
It is evident that muft- here be intended j
for none can fin without the natural laiv,
under which all are born.
i Perifb — be judged. '[ Th^cfe two
phrafes are fo different, that one would
hardly think they were intended to fig
nify the fame ideas ; yet fo many argu
ments, both from reafon and revelation,
lie againft fuppofing wicked heathens an
nihilated, as Mr. Locke feems to Infinuate
from thefe w^rds, that I think it moft ¦
rational to interpret both thefe expreliions
as fignifying real punifhmem , but in d'tffe-
reut degrees. not

He will judge fcWs and Gentiles by the light they enjoy.

juft before God, but
the doers of the law
fliall be juftified.

14 For when the
Gentiles, which have
not the law, do by
nature the things

law, are a law unto
themfelves :

27
hearers of the ia>y are not the men who gre merely refpe£lful hearer s^^'^'^-
ofthe law of God in the fynagogues, or loud and ^'
vehenaent applauders or defenders of it elfewhere, Rom.
\a?e'\ juft before God, nor will he ever accept any II. 13
encomiums upon it, inftead of the obedience it
demands ; but the doers of the law, who fteadily
and univerfally, in the tenour of their lives, aft
agreeably to its precepts ; they, and they only,
Jhall be juftified, in the day of final audit and
account ; whether their knowledge of it were
more or lefs exprefs. For when the Gentiles, 14
who have not the written revelation of the
Divine law, do, by an inftindl: of nature, and in
contained in the law, confequence of the untaught diftates of their
thefe having not the ^.^.^ mind, the moral duties required by ihe pre
cepts of the law ^, theJe having not the benefit
of an exprefs and revealed law, are neverthelefs
a law unto themjelves : the voice of nature is
their rule, and they are inwardly taught, by the
conftitution of their own minds, to revere it as
the law of that God by whom it was formed.
And they who are in this ftate, do evidently re
Jhew the work of the law, in its moft important'
moral precepts, written upon their hearts, by the
fcience alfo bearing fame DivXne hand that engravedj the decalogue
upon the tables given to Mofes; their confciences
joining to bear witnefs to it, and [their^ mutual
reafonings among themfelves, accufing thofe that
break fuch precepts, or defending thofe who ob
ferve them, atteft the fame thing. As there- 16
fore there are fure traces of fome natural know
ledge of the law, a due regard will be main
tained towards them, and on this moft equitable
principle will the grand procefs be condudted, in
that, awful day when God Jhall judge the Jeer ets
dJ the hearts of men by Jejus Chrift, according to
the tenour of that glorious difpenfation which I
may call my gofpel ', as it is committed to my
care:

15 Which fliew
the work oFthe law
written in their
hearts, their con.

witnefs, and tbe'ir
thoughts the mean
while accufing, or
clfe excufing one
another j)
16 In the day
when God fliall judge
the fecrets of men by
jefus Chrift, accord
ing to my gofpel.

^ Sy natural Raphelius {Not. (x Xen.
in loc.) fliews, that anjmals are fald to do
that by nature which they do by infinS ;
ini Eljner, [Objerv.'Wol.'n.. p. i6,) that
TO. Ta oOfj^n fignifies the duties inculcated
by the law.
t According to my gofpel.] Nothing is
more contrary to the apoftle's meaning,
as exprefsly declared above, than that all
tpsp are to be Judged by the gofpel. He

only means, that the gofpel teaches fuch
a judgment. Therefore, fome tranfpofing
the laft claufe, render It, very plainly
and properly. In the day luhen God Jhall,
according to my gojpel, judge the jccrets
of men. Mr. Mace ti-anfpofes the whole
fjJcteenth verfe to join It with the twelfth ',
and J think it very evident, the thir
teenth, fourteenth, and- fifteenth verfes
come in as a parenthejis ; but the tranf-
C 2, pofition

28 Reflexions on the righteous judgment of God.-
Sbct. care ; in which no-doftrine is more important,
^^' or evident, than that of a univerfal and moft im
partial judgment. IMPROVEMENT.
Let us revere the righteous judgment of God, which is here laicJ
before us in fo particular and afFedting a manner ; remembering
we are each of us to have our part in that day ot final retribuflon,
Verfe and that the fecrets of our hearts will then be made manifeft. Let
1 6 us often refle£l upon the awful refult ; and confider, that indigna^
8 tion and wrath, tribulation and anguijh will be our portion, if we
9 are contentious and dijobedient to the truth, yea, if we do not, by a
patient continuance in well-doing, Jeek the promifed glory,' honour
7 and immortality; which, if we do, we fhall, through the grace of
God, fecure everlafting lije. Vain will our knowledge and our
r profeffion otherwife be, and crur teftimony againft the fins of others'
will only inflame the guilt of our own.
Let it ever be remembered, that the goodnejs of God, which wc
have fuch daily reafon to acknowledge and adore, gently takes us,
4 as it were, by the hand, and leadefh to repentance ; and while we
continually live upon it, let us not ai£t in contempt of it, or abufe
it to our own inconceivable detriment. Is the wrath already laid
up fo fmall, that we fhould be increafing the treafure ? Increafing.
5 the terrors of the day of wrath,, and revelation .pf the righteous
judgment of God? , ^
It will be a moft impartial, as well as important day. Nor are
we concerned to know how the heathen will fare in it : let it fuffice
I4>I5 us, that if they are condemned, they will be righteoufly con
demned ; not for remaining ignorant of the gofpel they never had
an opportunity of hearing, but for violating thofe precepts of the
Divine la.w which were infcribed on their confciences. Let us blefs
God that he has written .it there, and reverence the traces of bis
hand oa our own minds ; always remembering, that the difcoveries
of revelation were never intended to erafe or difcredit the didates
of nature, but to illuftrate and confirm them.
iz We fliall be judged by the difpenfation we have enjoyed ; and
13 how devoutly foever we may hear and fpeak of it, fliall be con
demned, if we have not afted agreeably thereto. The Lord grant
that we may 2W. find that mercy of the Lord, which we (hall every
one of us need in that day; and that we may find it, may we keep
that day continually in view, and direft all our aftions with a
regard to its grand decifions,
pofition of verfes feems a dangerous doned, confidering the different genius of
thing ; though, I think, in fome evident ancient and modern, eajlern and •weflern,.
(afes, tliat of a few words may be par- languages,
SECT.'

The Jetvs made their hoaft in the law :

29

SECT. V.
Paul proceeds to fix the charge upon the Jews, that they were ftn-
ners^ as well as the Gentiles; and confequently flood in need of
juftification hy the grace of the gofpel, as well as they. Rom.
IL 17, to- the end.

B

Romans II. 17.
'Ehold, thou art
called a Jew, and
refteft in the law,
,and makeft thy boalt
uf Cod ;

1? And knoweft
h'ls will, and approveft
the things that are
more excellent, being
inftrufled out of the

Romans II. 17.
T Have hitherto been fpeaking of the inex-
*- cufable guilt of thofe who have the greateft
opportunity of knowing their duty, and in con
fequence of this acknowledge it, and condemn
others for adling contrary to it ; while yet they
are guilty of the fame evils. I will now keep
on the reserve no longer; but will' boldly declare,
that in what I have faid concerning fuch, I meant
the conviftion, not merely of heathen philofo
phers, but of wicked Jews ; and if thou, O
reader, art fuch an one, I apply myfelf perfonally
to thee. Behold, thou beareft the name of a Jew'',
and thou repojeft thyjelf on the knowledge and
profeftion of the law, as if that would fave thee ;
and thou glorieft in the true God, in whom thou
believeft ; as if thy defcent and profeffion, by
virtue of the peculiar covenant he made with
thy fathers, muft neceftarily intitle thee to his
favour. Thou boafteft of it as thine honour 18
and happinefs, that thou knoweft \his~\ will; not
merely by uncertain conjefture and reafoning,
but by ari exprefs revelation ; and that thou ac- .
curately difcerneft and diftingiliftieft upon things
that differ ^ which untaught nature may in many
refpeds confound ; being thyfelf well inftruBed
out of the law, having been from thy infancy ca-
techifed and educated in the accurate knowledge

Sect. V.
Rom.
II. 17

a Bearefl the name of a yetu.] The
apoftle frequently addrelfes himfelf to
unconverted Jews In this epiftle, and
efpecially here j for no doubt therg were
many of them at Rome, who might "he
curious to know, what lie, who had
been fo violent an enemy to Chriftianity,
would fay to recommend It. And Paul's"
great love to them engaged him, on thtT
contingency of fuch an event, to infert
fuch paffages j and other paflages are cal

culated for the convidlion of other unt^e-
lievers, as well as for the edification of
Chriftians. b Dijcerneji things that differ.] So Beza
renders hKifj-a^s.i; th 5tal>^po^la ; and
Eljner vindicates it in a manner which
feems very fatisfadlory; though Cappel-
lus, Hammond, and Erafnius, defend
our tranllatlon, approve/} things ivhich are
more excellent. See Elfna', Objerv. Vol. II.
p. 17.
C3 of

which are in darli-
nefs, zo An inflru£lor
of the foolilh, ateach-,
er of babes, which
haft the form of

21

30 Tct they were finners againft God, as well as the Gentiles.
S-T. of it. And in confequence of this, thou art ^^9^^ ^nd^art^ con-
very confident, that thou thyfelf art fit to teach felf art a guide of the
Rom. the whole Gentile world; to be a guide of the blind, a light of them
II. 19 blind, as thou thinkeft them to be; a light to
them, that for want of the light thou difperfeft,
20 are in darknefs : An inflruBor of the ig
norant, - a teacher of thefe babes'-, as thou
efteemeft them in comparifon with thyfelf;
havinz perhaps not only the facred oracles in knowledge and of
thine hands, but alfo, in order to render thee Ae truth m the law.
more expert and methodical in the ufe of them,
a fiirtimary, a compendious fyftem and form of
the knowledge and truth which is contained in
the law^.
,Now I deny not that thine advantages are in
this refpedl very great ; but 1 muft caution thee,
thatahou art not deceived by any abfolute de
pendence upon them ; and muft prefs thee to
reflect how far thine own temper and conduft
is agreeable to this knowledge and profelHoil.
Let me afk therefore. Thou that teacheft another,
teacheft thou not thyfelf? Doft thou aft as if
thou hadft forgotten thine own precepts, or didft
imagine they did not oblige thee ? Thou that
preacheft, for inftance, a man Jhould not fteal,
doft thou think thyfelf tolerated to fteal = ?
22 Thou that forbiddeft a man to commit adultery,
. doft thou commit adultery ? Thou that doft fo
abominate idols, and fpeakeft of them at all times
with fuch great and juft abhorrence, doft thou
commit facrilege by robbing the true God of what
he fo juftly claims from thee, whether of out
ward tributey or inward homage ; while thou fo
ftrenuoufly difputeft againft any other objeft of iceft\hV'boaft""f"the

21 Thou therefore
which teacheft ano
ther, te.icheft thou
not thyfelf.' Thou
that preacheft a man
ftiould not fteal, doft
thou fteal?

22 Thou that fay.i
eft, A man fliould
not commit adultery,
doft thou commit
adultery ? Thou that
abhorreft idols, doft
thou commit facri
lege .'
a 3 Thou thatmi-

23 worlhip ? , In one word, thou that glorieft in

law?

-c Bl'ind,^ignorant,~babes.'\ Thefe
were titles which the proud Jews often
give to the Gentiles. .
d Fon/i.] ?.Top43a)?-(5 has this fignifica-
tion, '. Tim. iii. 5. And Bos [Exercif.
p. lOp, 101) Iheyvs, that it often figni
fies the pet^hi or out-lin£s of a thing ;
which fults the interpretation here g'ven
better than he feems to apprehend. —
L'Enfant renders It, having in the laiv tbe
rule of knoioledge and truth ; but I know
not whether ^.o^^ua-.i; ever fignifies rule ;
and if the article has arty force, it is in

favour of the rendering we have pre
ferred. Q Daft thou fteal f] Grotius on this text
proves from Jofephus, that fome of the
J^wifli priefts lived by rapine, depriving
others of their due fliare of the tithes, ^nd
even fuffering them to perifli for want \
that others were guilty of grofs uncleannefs]
and as for facrilegioufly robbing God and
his altar, it had been complained of as
early as Malachl's days, Mai. i. 8, 12, IJt
So that the inftances are given iiyith great
propriety and judgmwti the

Circumcifton of no importance without keeping the law.

31

amo,
through you, as it is
Avrlctoa.

law, through break- f/jg Jatv, as fo excellent, and thinkeft it fuch an Sect.
ing ths law diflio- honour to be acquainted with it, dofi thou by the ^•
noureft thou God .¦¦ ^ r rr- /¦ < 7 i-n V-. ; 10 
tranjgrefjton of trie law dijhonour God, and aft as Rom.
if thou wert ftudying the declaration of his will, n- 2 ^
only to fhew him, in a more prcfumptuous and
contumacious manner, that thou doft not regard
?,4 For the name it ? It is not an improbable fuppofition that 24.
of God is blafphcmed J j^^^g ,.,ow been making ; fori, who have had
amo;-.K' the Gentiles .. •.. f 1 • 1, 1
an opportunity ot knowmg by long experience
the temper and charafter of the Jevvilli people,
know it to be fiich, that I will boldly fay to their
faces, " the name of the God of Ifrael, for which
" you profefs fo warm a zeal, is by your means
" blnfphemed among the Gentiles, and his holy
" religion brought into Contempt by your no-
•' torious and fcandalous immoralities; as it is
" ivritten in your own fcriptures cor.cerning
" your* fathers, whofe evil deeds you fo generally
" imitate." (Corhpare 2 'Sam. xii. 14; Ifai.
Iii. 5; Ezek. xxxvi. 23.)
My duty abfolutely requires me' tu give fuch 2r
cautions, and to make fuch remonftrancef as
thefe : for circumcifton is indeed profitable, iJ a
man keep the law ^ : his being a Jew, if he be
truly a good man, will give him many advan
tages for becoming a Chriftian ; and were his
obedience perfeft, would intitle him to the blef
fings promifed in the law. But iJ thou be a tranj-
greft'or oJ the latv, thy circumtifton is in eifeft
become uncircumcifton : thou wilt have no more
benefit by it thart if thou hadft never received
it ; as thon well knoweft, that according to the
tenour of the law itfelf, circumcifton, far from
being any excufe for thy oftisnce, will rather
expofe thee iu many refpefts to a much greater
punifhment. And therejore, by a parity of 26
reafon, iJ the uncircumcifton, that is, an uncir-
cumcifcd perfon, obferve and olJey ihe greateft
and mort important precepts or righteous de
terminations of the law, though without any

25 For circumcl-
fion verily profiteth,
if thou keep the law :
but if thou be a
breaker of the liw,
thy clrcumcifion Is
made uncircumci-
fun.

26 Therefore, if
the unclrcumcifion
keep the righteouf
nefs of the law, fli.ill not

f for cirxuKc'fion, &c.] It is moft
evident that yaf cannot here fignify that
the following words are a r«afon for what
was afferted in thofe immediately pre
ceding : it feems tittle more than exple
tive, as the particle notv among us often
is. I (hall not therefore in many paftiiies

'take the pains of endeavouring to find
fuch a connexion as would juftif\ the
ufe of it in its, ftrlfteft propriety ; In at
tempting which, many nave vainly per
plexed themfelves to no other purpnltr
than to make the writings of St. Paul ap
pear m^rc obfcure than they really are.

C4

acquaintance

3^

He is a Jew, that is one inwardly.

Rom.
11.26

SicT. acquaintance with the book that contains them ;
^' if he faithfully and fleadily conform himfelf to
fhe main branches of virtue and reftitude it re
quires, Jhdll not his uncirxumcijion be imputed or
reckoned as circumcifton ? Shall he not be treated
as favourably by God in his final account, as if
he had been circumcifed, when his not being fo
does not proceed from any contempt of the
Divine authority, but from his knowing nothing
of thg_rite, or not apprehending it in his parti
cular circumftances to be his duty to praftife it ?
27 Tea, it is certain, that the uncircumcifton that is
by nature, a man who continues uncircumcifed
as he was born, accomplifhing the great moral
puipofes of the law, in fubferviency lo which its
rituals were appointed, fhall judge and condemn
thee ; who while thou afteft by the letter of its
ceremonial precepts, and retaineft circumcifton
and all its appendages with ,the greateft exaft-
nefs, art neverthelefs, in things far more effen
tial and important, a tranfgrefjor oJ the Ifiw, to
the fpiritual meaning and extent of which thou
continueft an utter ftranger, and which thou en-
cour^geft thyfelf, by thefe external obfervances,
28 to pegleft. For upon the whole, as you
would not allow any man to be truly a Jew,
merely for any outward rites which he might
obferve, if he continued uncircumcifed, how
carefully foever he might conceal it ; fo muft I
freely declare to you, that he is not in the moft
lublime and irnportantfenfe a yi?M', that is, one
of God's covenant and beloved people, who is
merely Jo in outzvard fhew, neither indeed [/j-
thaiA^ the true circumcifton which is apparent in
29 the flefh. IsTothing merely ritual , or ceremo
nial can recommend a man to the Divine fa
vour ; but he [«] a Jew, that is, one of God's
chofen pe.ople, ivho is one in the hidden part, as
David exprefies it, (Pfal. li. 6 ;J or in the fecret
rccefles of the foul ; and the acceptable circum
cifton [is that'] of the heart, which your own
prophets fo often inculcate, (fee Dent. x. 16 ;
XXX. 6; Jer. iv. 4;) when they urge the putting
away all inward impurity and obftinacy, as that
which is moft highly offenlive in the fight of
God. This excellent circumcifton is feated in
the fpirit, confifting of a change^ made there by
a the

not his uncircurpci-
fion be counted for
clrcumcifion f

27 And Ihall not
uncircumclfionwhlch
is by nature, if it ful
fil the law, judge
thee, who by the
letter and clrcumci
fion doft tranfgrefa
the lav/ ?

28 For he is not a
Jew, which is one
outwardly ; neither
ii that clrcumcifion,
which is outward in
the flefli ;

29 But he ij a Jew,
which is one inward
ly ', and clrcumcifion
is that of the heart,
in the fpirit, and not in

Reflexions on the vanity of a mere external relation to God. 3 7
in the letter; whofe the operation of the Divine Spirit himfelf, and Sect.
praiie is not oi nlen, * ™, i * .. i r • .i i V
tut df God. not merei)' in an external contormity to /Zt- /^//fr ' ^'
of t'.ic lav.', of which the woril of men may be — """
capable. Now .fuc!i a pLilbn, whatever his out- J^"™'
Vi'ard profelllon may be, is one, whofe praife \is'\ '
not fo much of men ", who eager to ipread tiieir
own Itcls applai'.u thofe who become their pro-
'felytes, or moft ftrenuoLifly retain their peculiar
forms ; but is of God, who alone knows the
heart, and whofe efteem ;ind complacency is in
finitely preierable - to that of whole nations or
worlds.

IMPROVEMENT.
Let our hearts be always attentive to thefe leffons of inward Vcrfc
religion which the facred oracles fail not continually to inculcate. 28
It is the praife of Ga^that is in queftion : and who can be fo loft 29
to all true greatnefs of mind, to all generous ambition, as that he
fhould not long, and even burn to obtain it .'' Or who can enjoy,
or attend to the praife of men, while he has any reafon to fear that
God condemns ?
To have the name of a Jew, or of a Chriftian 1 HoW' little will in
it fignify r To boaft in an external and temporary relation to God,
if we are fuch as ihall finally be difowned by him, will make us
the more wretched. To have knotun his will, to have diftinguifhed 18
things that differ, and fet up for inftru£fors or reprovers of others, '
will only furnifh out matter of condemnation from our own mouths ;
if, while teaching others, we teach not ourfelves. Well may the 19-21
punifhment be aggravated, where the guilt is fo great; when it
brings fo peculiar a reproach upon religion, and in eifeft diftates fo
many hlafphemies againft the name of God, at the very time it pre- 24
tends to exalt it..
We pity the Gentiles, and we have reafon to do it ; for they are
lamentably blind and diftblute : but Jet us take heed, left thofe ap
pearances of virtue, which are to be found among fome of them, 26 27
condemn us ; who, with the letter of the law, and the gofpel, and
with the folemn tokens of a covenant-relation to God, tranfgrefs his
precepts, and violate our engagements to him; fo, turning the
means of -goodnefs and happinels into the occafion of more aggra
vated guilt and mifery.
% Praije not of men, &c.] Perhaps name of Judah, which fignifies Praife,
here is a reference to the etymology of the Compare Gen. xxix. 35 j and xlix. 8.
word Jew 5 it being derived fron^ the

SECT.

34

Tliough the Jews had the oracles of God, and the promifes.

SECT. VI.

Jfter removing fome objeSiions, the fad cafe both of Jeivs and
Gentiles is farther illuftrated; and the reprefentation fiiewn to
I he agreeable to the fcriptures of the Old Teftament. Rom. III.
I— 19.

Romans III. i.

Sect, VI.

"DUT fome may be ready to objeft, " If it be
•'-' " fo, that no circumcifton, but that of the

Rom.
m. I

Romans III. i.
\I/'HAT advantaga
then hath the
Jew ? or what profit
is there of clrcumci
fion;

2 Much every ^yay:
chiefly, becaufe that
unto them were com
mitted the oracles of
God.

heart, will avail to men's final happinefs; what
then pr] tht advantage of the few, or what
" the profit of circumcifton, which yet you feemed
" to allow, when you fald but juft before,
"" chap. ii. 25,) that it in fome circumftances
2 '< profiteth ?" Nor do I deny it now I fay that
it profiteth much every way, or in a variety of
refpeits ; as 1 fhall hereafter more fully ftiew%
(compare chap. ix. 4, 5 ;) and chicfty in that
they, who have received it, have _ been intrufted
with the oracles of God'^ in the Divinely infpired
fcriptures ; by which they are taught many im
portant leflbns, which may direft their lives, and
difpofe them to embrace the gofpel, to the fecu-
rity of their final and everlafting falvation.
3 Of great importance indeed are thefe Divine
oracles to this purpofe. And what if fome, and
they a confiderable number, of thofe who once
poifeffed thefe invaluable treafures, believed
t\\tmnot, or did not duly confider what they
fpeculatively believed, and fo rejefted the gofpel
to which they were intended to lead : Shall their.
unbelief dif annul -SLnd enerv'ate the faith of God^ ?
Shall it deftroy his fidelity to his promifes, or
prevent our receiving them and owning their
4 accompliihment, with becoming regard } God
forbid, that we fhould infinuate any thing of this '•=' ^°^ *>= '™''' '""^
kind. No ; let the bielTed GWever be acknow- ^''"^ ™" ' ''"'' '^
ledged to be true and faithful, though every man

3 For what if fome
did not believe i* ftiall
their unbelief make
the faith of God
without effe*S ?

4 God forbid : yea.

a rHe orarlts of God.] This is fo re
markable and important a teftimony to
the Divine injfiratvm of the Old I'ejiat:::'::
in general, that it can leave no doubt
co'ncerning the full perfuafion of St. Paul
upon this head.
_b Tht faith of God.] This is an am-
))igU9U3 exyreffion, and may either fig

nify, thefdf.'i.y of God, or that faith of
curs which God has pointed out as the
v^y of obtaining juftification jnd life.
The fenfes run at laft Into each oth?r. I
have included botli ; and hmted, in the
laft words of the paraphraje, at a fort of
intermediate jenje; as the attentive reader
will obferve. / be

yet God is not unrighteous in taking vengeance.
it is written. That l^ efteemed a liar, and unfit to have any confi-
thou mighteft be ju- , „..,'. . . . "'V >-"""
ftifiedin thy fayings, fencc repofed in him ; as it is wriltei, (Pfal.
' 4>) " ^I'ot thou mighteft be juftified in thy

35
Sect. VI.

and mighteft over
come when thou art
judged.

5 But if our un
righteoufnefs com
mend the righteouf
nefs of God, what
fliall we fay ? Is God
unrighteous who tak-
keth wengcance ? (I
fpeak as a man.)

li,

words, and mighteft upon the" vvhole over- ^°™

6 God forbid : for
then how fhall God
judge the world ?

7 For if the truth
of God hath more
abounded through my
He unto his glory j
why yet am I aifo
judged as a finner }

" come, when thou art called into judgment '^ ¦
" that they, who infolcntly dare to arraign the
" equity of thy conduft, may foon meet with
" the confufion they deferve."
But a Jew may be ready fiirther to objeft, and 5
fay, " If our unrighteoijnefs recommend the righ-
" teotijnejs of God'\ and illuftrate his perfeftions
" in that way of becoming righteous by faith,
" \A'hich he now ordains ; what Jhall we fay,
" and what are we to expeft ? Is not God un-
" righteous, who inflideth that wrath, which it
" is well known, you affert, he will execute
" upon the whole jewiih nation for rejefting
" it ?" I now fpeak as a man, who had a mind
to cavil at the gofpel, might plead ; and by no
means exprefs my own fentiments, as you may
well imagine.
No ; God forbid, that I ftiould harbour fuch a 6
thought, or allow fuch a confequence. For how
then fhould God judge the world ? With Abraham
our Father, I acknowledge him, under the cha
rafter of the judge of all the earth ; and main
tain that he will always " do right." Gen.
xviii. 25. And as for fuch a caviller, he 7
might as well fpeak out, and fay, " If the truth
" of God hath abounded to his own glory by means
" of my lie ^ my falfehood ar^d iniquity of any
" kind ; if he has taken occafion to over-rule
" my offence to the accompliihment ofhis word,
" and the honour of his adminiftration ; why
" am I neverthelefs called into judgment as a
" ftnner', and arraigned for that as a crime.

m. S

f When thou art called into judgment.]
Eisner and Bos have abundantly fiiewn,
that ¦A.^-.M^'bai has this fignificatlon, (com
pare Afts xxv. 15; xxvi. 6j) and that
Tijfav, in fuch a connexion, fignifies to
carry the cauje. See Eljner, Objerv. Vol. II.
p. 18, 19 ; and Bos m hc.
' 1 <l "The righteoujnejs of God.] Though.
the phrafe be in itfelf ambiguous, I think
Dr. Whitby has abundantly proved it has
Jierc the fenfe wc give It.
¦ e If ,kc u-uth of Gcd, &c.] The

Prufftan 7eftanienttifniers this claufe,
" In the mean time if my lie conduces
" to the glory of God, by making the
" grandeur of his truth fliine forth with
" fuperior advantage," ^c. This is the
clear and genuine fenfe, but it Is not con
fiftent with the rule I generally follow, to
deviate fo far from the vjords of the origi
nal; and I nientlon it as a 'fpecimen of
many Hbertle., in which I have declined
following that -vcrfon after attentive eia-
znlnation of it. " which

Kom. il. 8

3^ // will be no.excufe, that we do evill hat good may come.
Sect. " which is attended with fuch happy confe-
^^- f quences?" [And why may I mtjayi] (us
 we are calumniated, and Jome moft injunoufly
affirm, that we maintain, " let us do evil things,
*' that ^os^confequences may come from them I"
You irTay eafily fee, that- principles like thefe
would juftify the greateft crimes in the world,
if they might be fo over-ruled as to prove the
occafion of good; and confequently, would fo
entirely confound the pature 'of good and evil,
that I think it not worth while to_ argue with
fuch perfons ; whoje condemnation is indeed fo
apparently 7V ^ that I leave them to be con-
'vinced, and filenccd, by their own confciences j.
and only, mention fuch a deteftable principle,
fplemnly to warn you againft it.
But, to return from this long digreftion— If

8 And not rather,
as we be (landeroufly
reported, and as fome
affirm that we fay.
Let us do evil, that
good , may come ;
whofe damnation is
juft.

g What then 'i are

fs But, i> .^^uii. 11V..M "¦- ¦-¦t= -3-  we better rWt%.?
-^the qiieftion 1 mentioned before be repeated, ^^^ ._^ no wife: for

and any fay, " What then, upon the whole,_ hrevs
" we l-z-^^s the advantage of the Gentiles fo. far,
¦" that in confequence of having thefe oracles
"¦ of Cjod -.vhich we have received, the proiniles
"' which be will never fail to obferve, and the
-" principles of righteoufnefs, which he will
" never himfelf violate in his conduft, we can
¦" claim juftification before God by virtue of
" our obedience to his law r" Not at all ; Jor
we have bejore proved that Jews and Gentiles are
all under Jm, and have piked them as coiwifted
JO criminals at the Divine bar; As it is writ
ten'^, (Pfal. xiv." I,) in a variety of parages
which may be applied to the prefent occafion.

we have before p'.-:,v.2d
both Jews and Gen
tiles, that they are al!
under fin j

10 A', it 's written.
There is none rlgh^
teous, no not one i

f Whofe condemnation is juft.] I th'.nk Greek verfun, to render it more agreeable
this muft imply, that there are certain to the New Tcfta-.nc:!! ; though many
rules which God has laid down for us, paffages might efcape the notice of fuch

dlfobedience to which in any imasinable
circumftances is univefally a moral evU j
even though the quantity of gcod arifing
from thence to our fellow-creatures,
ftiould be greater than that arifing from
obferving thofe rules. For if this be not
allowed, there'can be no fiiadow of force
in the apoftle's conclufion.
g As it is ivritten.] Thefe fcriptures
are collected from different parts of the
Old Teftament ; but there are many edi
tions of the lictjcr.'y in which they all ftand

as made this attempt, if it were really
made. But it muft have been, as we fee
in this inftance it was, a fruitlefs one ;
confidering how wide fuch copies were
difperfed, and how dlfterent the rellgloijs
fentiments of the perfons with whom
they were lodged. It feems much more
realbnable, to account for the diverfity
we find \itt\'iQQntheoriginal^n^ quotations,
by fupp^!i':g the ^tnid, rather than words,
intentionally regarded j and fome acci
dental alterations have happened fince in

together, in the xivth, or according to the Jfeirt'^o copies, which in feveral places
their order, xiilth Pfalm ; v^'.uch has may make the difterence greater than it
given fome occafion to think, that other origina/'y was.
alterations- may have been made in that " There

The Old Teftament afferts the univerjal depravity of mankind. v;

1 1 There Is none
that underftandeth,
there Is nohe that
feeketh after God :
32 They are all
gone out of the way,
they are together be
come unprofitable;
there Is none tKit do-
ethgood, no not one:
13 Their throat is
an open fepulchre ;
with their tongues
they have ufed deceit;
the polfon of afps is
Mnder their lips :

14 Whofe mouth
ii full of curfing and
bitternefs :

15 Their feet are
fwlft to filed blood :

16 Deftrufllon and
mifery are in their
ways i

17 And th[
ef peace have
not known :
18 There
fear of God
their eyes.

- way
they
is no
before

"There is none rift:teou\, no not one; There Sect.
" is none that underftandeth his duty and his ^^' __
" true intereft ; there is none that Jeekelh ajter Rom.
" God^, and conftantly endeavoureth to fecure m. ii.
" his favour. Tl:ev are all declined from that 12
" moral rtftitudc, which is the glory of the ra-
" tional nature ; they are altogether become uje-
" lejs as to the great end for which they were
" made, io xhM there is none that praSfiJeth good,
" there is not Jo much as one. (Pfal. xiv. i — 3 ;
" Iiii. » I — 3.) Their throat, [is] noifome 15
'Vand dangerous as an open Jepulchre, gaping
" to fvtallow them up, or poifon them witti
" its infefted air ; ivith their tongues they l.'.'ive
" ujed the moft mifchievous deceit ; and while
" they make the faireft profeffion of fricndftiip,
" the mortal venom oJ rjps [is\ hid under their
" lips, which utter the moft infeftious and fa-
" tal flanders. (Pfal, cxl. 3. J They are men 14,
" whofe mouth is fidl of curfing and bitternefs ;
" (Pfal. x. 7 ;) fo that the moft fliocking pro-
" phanenefs mingles itfelf with that malignity
" of heart towards their fellow-men, which
" breathes in every word. Their feet [are]
" fwift to run towards the places where they
" have appointed to fhcd the blood of the inno-
" cent. (Prov. i. 16, 18.) Ruin and mifery I&
" V."^^ ^'^ ^^ whole in all their- ways ; tliey
" bring it upon others, and fo, by an inevi-
" table conftquence, upon themfelves at laft.
" And as for the way of peace and happinefs,
" they have not knoivn or regarded it. (Ifa. lix.
" .7, 8. (And to fum up all in one word,
" the great caufe of all this degeneracy is, that
" the fear of God is not before their eyes, but they
" are utterly deftitute of any true principle of
" religion, of any reverence and love to the great
" and adorable Objeft of it." (Ptal. xxxvi. i.)

IS

I?

h 'There is none that fieketh after God,
&c.] It is allowed, that this palfage only
proves diredlly, what was the chara^Sler
of the Jews in David^s time j but it
plainly ffiews that the wrath of God was
awakened againft them, as well as others,
ibr their fins: it proves alfo, that a ge
neral degeneracy might prevail among
them, though by profeffion God's peo
ple ; and it fuggefts a ftrong prefumption.

that if Ifrael in David's time, wh'ch was
one of its beft ages, was fo bad. Gentile
nations were ftill worft ; and in ail cli^'fc
vicwcj it was much to the apoftle's pur
pofe tfi produce the palfage. The like
obfervation is in a great moafuve appli
cable to all the following quoi:ations j aa
the paraphrafe on ver. 19, fugjefts, or
rather, as the apoftle himfelf there evi
dently infinuates^ Tlii9

3S

TFhaf the fcripture faith is to convtSf the World.

Sect. VI.

This, my brethren, is in general the fad cha-
 rafter of mankind in their fallen ftate ; and the
Rom. repivfentation is the more ftriking, as it is bor-
III. 19 rowed from the facred writings. Now we know,
that zvhat the laiu faith in fuch paffages as thefe,
it faith to thofe that were under the law ' ; they
do not immediately relate to the heathen, but
contain the charafter of thofe that were at that
time the profeffing people of God. And as mofl
of thefe paflages are borrowed from the writings
of David, Solomon, or Ifaiah, it appears, that
even in the beft days of their ftate, they had a
great deal of enormous wickednefs ampng them.
And if Ifrael, even at fuch a time, could not
juftify itfelf, much lefs can it be imagined that
the idolatrous nations of the Gentiles fhould be
able to do it : fo that every mouth muft be ftopped,
and ihe whole ivorld ftand conviiied before God ^
as guilty, and acknowledge itfelf obnoxious to
a dreadful fentence from his tribunal. Now I
earneftly defire to bring every reader under a
fenfe of this, as what is of the higheft import
ance, in order to receiving the golpel with be
coming gratitude and joy.

19 Now we know,
that what things fo
ever the law faith, it
faith to them who are
under the law : that
every mouth may be
ftopped, and all the
world may become
guilty before God.

IMPROVEMENT.
' Who can read this melancholy pifture of human nature,
copied by the hand of an apoftle from the Ijnes firft drawn
Verfe by infpired prophets, without deep humility, and lamentation ?
10,11 To this was it funk, that there was none righteous, no not one ;
18 none difpofed to feek , after God, or to cultivate his fear. And
from this bitter root, the apoftafy of our nature, from God, what
13,14 deteftable fruit proceeds! The throat which is like an open fepul
chre, the deceitful tongue, the envenomed lips, the malicious heart,
the niurdcrotis hand ! And who can wonder, that fuch rebels to
their heavenly Father fhould fometimes prove ruffians to their
brethren !
Let us blefs God that we have been preferved from falling into
fuch enormities, and from falling by them. His grace has re-
ftrained us'from finning againft him in fuch an aggravated man
ner; his Providence has guarded us from thofe whofe feet are

i What the laiv juith.] It appears here,
that this word Lno'iolh fometimes fignify
the Old Teftament in general j for not one
of the quotations above is taken from the
pcncateuchj

k Stand copviSled before God.] So vnc-
Jiit©- Tdo ©£iu fcems exaftly tp fignify.
Archbifliop Tillotjon would render it,
liable to Divine juftice ; which is the fame
in fenfe. See h'n Works, Vol. I. p. 126.
fwft

Refledions'on the fcripture-account of men's degeneracy, -jg
Jwift to filed blood, and in ivhofe paths there is dcftru£lion and^'^'^^-
mijery. ^'

Let us remember the view in which thefe inftances were verfe
brought; even tQ evince this deplorable, but undeniable truth, 15,16
ihat Jews and Gentiles are all nnder Jin. The purpofe ot convic- jq,
tion therefore being anfwered on our hearts, let us humble ourfelves
before God, as thofe tha.X. ftand guilty in his prefence, and obnoxious
to his judgment.
Thankfiilly let us own the ineftimable goodnefs of God in hav
ing fa\'oured us with his facred oracles, and endeavour to improve 2
in the knowledge of them. Thus inftrufted, let us be careful
to form the molt honourable aotion of God, as the worthy and
univerfal fudge, who will never fail |to do right; and may thefe 6
views of him produce an abhorrence of every thing evil which muft
neceftarily be difplealing to hirn. Nor let us ever allow ourfelves
to be brought under the influence of thofe tkllacious and pernicious
maxims which would perfuade us, that the goodnejs oJ the inten
tion JanBifies the biidnejs pf the aBion ; or that the pretended bene- S
volence of the end will jufttfy irregularities in the means. God's
judgment and decifion is final ; and an infpired apoftle's authority
is an anfwer to a thoufand fubtilties, which might attempt to turn
us from the ftrifteft rules of that immutable reftitude on which it
always proceeds.
SECT. VII.
From .the reprefientation made above, of the guilt and mifery of
mankind, the apojlle deduces the neceffity of feeking juftification
by the gofpel, and confequently the excellency oJ that dijpenja-
tion, as exhibiting the method oJ it. Rom. III. 20, to the end.
Romans III. 20. RoMANS III. 20.
'j'HiREfcRE by Y Have iuft been propofing to you convincing Srcr.
the deeds of the | . , "' r i ' • r i j j vir
hvv, there fliall no -*- evidences 01 the univeiial degeneracy and cor- *^'J-
fleflibejuftifiedinhis ruption of mankind, and Ihe wing you, that the ^^^'
fijht: whole world muft ftand convifted before God : m. 2a
therefore let all my readers be peiftiaded to ad
mit it, as a ir.oft certain principle, and at all
times to aft upon it, that according to the juft
and humble acknowledgement of the Pfahnift,
(Pfal. cxliii. 2,) no flefi} jhall he juftified, or pro
nounced righteous, before him '", by works of
com-

2 Be juftipid, &c.] The learned Vi- cxliii. 2, and muft therefore fignify to re-
Iiinga h.lth wicii gre.-.c proprict) obfewed, c civ e the teft'imony of being righteous fr(n
that this woid is borrowed from Pfal. a judge, and cannot merely lignify to oi-
taia
6

4-0

Nojiejh to be juftified by the lauj.

Sect VII.

complete obedience to the law of God ^, whe-
 ther natural or revealed. For, inftead of jufti-
"Rom. fying any man, it only anticipates, in a more
III. 20. obvious and affefting manner, the fenfe of his
condemnation ; as by the law is the knowledge of
ftn", it difcovers to us how grievous a thing it
is, and exhibits the righteous difpleafure of God
againft it.
But yet, bleftTed be God, every door of hope
is not ftiut againft the finner, convifted by the
law : for ihe righteonjnejs of God, that is, the
manner of becoming righteOns, which God
hath ordained and appointed in his gofpel, with
out that perfeft obedience which the law re
quires, is now made manijeft ; being indeed at-
teftedby the whole tenour of the law and the pro
phets^, which join in leading our eyes to the

fight 1 for by the law
'is the knoWldge ai
fin.

21

ai But now the
righteoufnefs of God
without the law is
manifefted, being
wltneflTed by the ta*
and the prophets;

tain mercy. Tobejuft'fted, alfo fometimes
fignifies to overcome 'in judgment, Pi^^h-li^. 4,'
and' the expi;effion' of he'ipi juft before
OW Implies the fame. >&tid that this is the
fenfe of the word 'in^th'is epiftle, appears
from feveral paflages ; particularly Rom.
il. 3. So that on the whole, as he ar
gues, juftiftcation is not a phrafe parallel
to forgivenejs, but refers to a judicial
procejs, and carries 'in it the idea of ac
quittal, praije, and reivard. And indeed
it feems to me always ultimately to refer
to the being pronounced, and treated- as
rightebus, in the great day of God's'
univerfal judgment.' See Rom. ii. 13,
b By tvorks of the law.] I think with
Mr. Locked that the word latv muft. here
be taken in this extent, comprehending
ceremonial and moral, repealed and natu
ral. And this I conclude, not fo much
from the omiflion of the article, (com
pare Rom. ii. 12, 14, 25, 27 ; chap. iii.
31; chap. V. 13, 20 J in all whl<^ places,
and many more, vo,u@- without the article
fignifies the Moj.nc latv, as the fenfe
evidently provi^,) but from the conclu
fion which the apoftle draws, and the
whole tenOr of his fubfequent argu
ment ; which would ' have very httle
weight, if there were room to objeft,
though we cannot be juftified by our
obedience to the laiv of Mojes, we may
be juftified by our obedience to God's
tiaturat law. And nothing can be more
evident, than that the premifes, from
which this conclufion is drawn, refer to
the . Gentiles as well as the Jews ; and

confequently, that law has here, and in
many fubfequent" paffages,- that general.
fenfe.  A very learned perfon has lately
propofed to render eJ eii'm n//.a by thi
law of works 5 pleading ^a.'nlis-fj.m JiJa-
^nq (Heb. vi. 2,) as a parallel inftance;
but I liave declined this rendering,- as
(ver. 27,) the apoftles exprefli:s the lain
of works by words placed in a different
order, \'iy-v ta-v tpfa"', oppofed to vo,utf
¦n\q-ia.'i: ; and (ver. 28,) x"!'^ ^f^"" '"'.'"'
is plainly, as we render it, without tbe ,
works of the law ; as the continuation of
the apoftle's argument, in reference to
Abraham fli->vi. Nor can I fee what
great end could be ferved by..allowlng this
crltlclfm; fince the apoftle elfewhere af
ferts juftijic.-.tion X'-o?^^ Bpfm ivithout works
(chap, iv., 6.) And to fay that iffx'/'ii^
^atelliptically for ytu,«s ipi'ai-/ (that Is, works
for the laiv of ivorks) is very arbitrary.
Nor can I conceive, that any one can be
juftified by the law of ivcrks, without
being juftified by the ivorks, or vice verja^
and this is exprefsly Paul'.s afl'ertion,'
chap. iv. 4, 5. ' . '
c By the laiv is the knoivlsdge of ftn.]
This ftrongly implies tire broken and dlf-
jointed ftate of human nature, in confe
quence of which the precepts which God
gives us, will, on the whole, only ferve to
convift us of guilt, but not to produce
an obedience by which we can finally be'
acquitted and accepted. Some render ity
the laiv takes cognizance offtn.
d Attefted by the law and tbe prophets.]
See in this viewj Gen. xv. 6 ; Ifa. liii.t«/f.'
Dan. ix. 24. great

But juftification is hy grace through the blood of Chrift.

41

and upon all them
that believe; for there
is no difference : '

23 For all
finned, and

haTe

52 Even the righ- great Mefliah : Even the righteoufnefs of God, Sect.
S'fbvlaith^of ^hkhhe hath appointed us to feek, bythee^-Z±.
Jefus Chrift unto all, ercile 01 a living /«z/A on the power and grace Rom.
of his Son Jefus Chrift ; to whom he commands m.?7
iis fo commit our fouls, with all humble and
obedient regard. This way of obtaining righ
teoufnefs and life is 'now, I fay, made manifeft
to all, and, like a pure, complete, and glorious
robe, .is pdt upon all them that believe ; whether
they were, or were not, acquainted with, or
fubjeft to, the Mofaic law before their conver
fion to Chriftianity : Jor there is in this refpeft
fio difference at all between one believer and aho-
ther. For all have finned, as we demonftratecl 2-7
fhort of the glory of above, and come Jhort of the glory of God" ; they
'*°'^> have failed of rendering him that glory that
was fo juftly his due, and thereby have not only
made themfelves unworthy the participation
of glory and happinefs with him, but ftand «x-
pofed to his feyere and dreadful difpleafure :
And if any efcape it, they are fuch, as being in.
duced to embrace the gofpel, are juftified freely
without pretending to plead any merit of their
own, by his rich and fovereign grace, propofed
there by virtue of that redemption and. deliver
ance which is in Chrift Jefus his well-beloved
Son : Whom God hath in his infinite mercy
propofed and exhibited to us in the gofpel ^ as
a propitiation through vvhom he may honour
ably difcover himfelf, ^s propitious to us; and
converfe favourably with us, as he did with Mo
fes from the mercy- feat: an ineftimable privi
lege, which w€ receive by virtue ol faith in his
atoning blood, with which the throne of God is,
as if were, fprinkled over ; as the propitiatory
in the tabernacle was with the blood of the fin-

24 Being juftified
freely by his grace,
through the' redemp
tion that Is in Jefus
thrift :'

24

hath

Whom God'
f&t forth tQ
be a propitiation
through faith in his
Blood,

e Come feort of the glory of Gcd.] Mr.
Fleming, and after him, if I miftake
not. Lord Barrington, explains tiiK falling
.ftiort of God's g!'ry,-ss fignifying the lojs
«/" that lucid rejemblance of the glorious
Shechinah. which they, after Mr. Jofeph
Mede, fuppofe our firft parents to have
worn in their primeval ftate. But if it
were to be granted they had fuch a glory
in that ftate, I cannot think it wou,ld
have been natural to have called It God''s
^hry, or to explain the word v^ipdai of
Vot, IV.

lofing it, which certainly fignifies, a defi
ciency of what might have been attained,-
rather than the lofs of what is aftually
poilefted. Compare Mat. xix. 20; i Coio
i. 7 ; Heb, Iv. 1, chap, xii. 15.
f Fropofed^l Some contend that irpzQf.o
here fignifies to cjfii^/f j others, that it
fignifies to determine, intend^ or fix upon„
(Compare S'^s in Loc. and Ephi. i. 9, 11 ;
Rom.^ i. 13.) ,1 have ,chofe the word
propofe, as having juft the fam? am
biguity.

D

ofFe

nils

42 Sect. VII.

Boafting excluded, not by the law, but by faith.

Rom.
III. 25

offering. (Lev. xvi. 15, 16.) And this rsap-
pointedyir a demonftration of his righteoufnefs in
the remiffon offtns, which now appears to be
accomplifhed withom any refleftion upon that
awful tribute which might feem to have a
claim fo direftly contrary to it ; and this remifr
fion extends not only to the prefent, but former
age, and to all the offences which are long fince
paft, according to the forbearance of God, who
has forborn to execute judgment upon finners
for their repeated provocations, iu reference
to that atonement which he knew fhould in due
26 time be made. He has, I fay, propofed his
Confer a demonftration ofhis righteoufnefs, which
now, in this prefent ever-memorable and fignal
time, is fo wonderfully illuftrated in the great
tranfaftions of our own "age, intended for this
purpofe, that he might he, and appear _/z//?, and
yet at the fame time, without impeaching in
any degree the rights of his government, the
juftifier of him who is of the faith of Jefus, who
foever he be*, that is, of every one who fincerely
believes in him, and acqaiefces in that great me
thod of falvation which God hath publiflied by
him, and eftablifhed in his perfeft obedience and
meritorious fufferings.
Contemplate, I befeech you, this only way of
redemption and acceptance, and fay, Where then
\is\ boafting'in. our own righteoufnefs, or on ac
count of any other peculiar privileges ? Or what
reafon can any who partake of thefe bleflings,
have to glory in themfelves ? You will eafily fee,
that // is entirely excluded. And refleft farther,
by what law is it excluded } [By the law] of works?
By that of Mofes, or any other law, promifing
life only to perfeft obedience, and threatening
all dlfobedience with inevitable death ? By no
means. . This would leave a man all the little
reafon for boafting he could poflibly have ; even

.^7

blood, to declare his
righteoufnefs for the
remiffion of fins that
are paft, through the
forbearance of God ^

26 To declare, /
fay, at this time hit
righteoufnefs : that
he might be juft, and
the juftifier of him
which helieveth in
Jefus.

27 'Where kboalt-
Ing then ! It is ex
cluded. By what law !
of works ? Nay : but

tjuft, and thejuftiftei, &c.] 'Kf juft,
Mr. Taylor would underftand merc'iful,
and Mr. Locke, faithful to his promijes ;
. but either of thefe makes but a very cold
fenfe, when compared with that we have
here given. It is no way wonderful that -
God fliould be merc'iful, ox faithful to his
promifes, though the juft'fter of believing
finners : but that,he fliould bsjuft in fuch

an aift might have feemed incredible, ha4
we not received fuch an account of the
propitiation and atonement. But our ex
plication/ is vindicated in a moft mafterly
and unanfwerable manner by the worthy
author of an excellent trail, intitled',
Chrift th'e Mediator, p. 85,- £ff. to which
I with great plcafute refer the reader.

' fuftification by faith eftablijhes the law: 43
ty tlie law of faith, that he had afted perfeftly right and well, and Sect.
had all that excellence and worth of charafter ^^^'
which a being in his circumftances could attain. Rbm.
But if you fuppofe him to have recourfe to the m. 27
gofpel, by the lavj of faith it muft certainly be
excluded, fince the very conftitution of that re
quires perfons to acknowledge themfelves finners,
and as guilty and indigent, to make an humble
application to the free mercy of God in Chrift
for' pardon, and every other blelftng which is
neceflary to their final happinefs.
IVe therefore are come to a ccncliifton of this 2S
paft of our argument, that a man, of whatever
nation, profeffion or charafter, is jujlified by a
true, hvely, and effeftual faith in the gofpel,
without the works of the law "^ ; that is, though
deftitute of any legal works, in confequence of
which he could claim juftification and life.
And this naturally leaVes room tp add, [Is 29
God,] who hath eftablifhed fuch a method of
juftification, the God of the Jews- only, and not
alfo of the Gentiles ? Surely he is the God of the
Gentiles too : fince it is very evident, that all
claim from works being thus univerfally given
Up, the Jews and Gentiles rhuft in this refpeft
ftand upon a level. So that [it is] bne God, the 30
fame eternal and unchangeable Jehovah, that will
juftify the Jews, who have received circumcifton,
not by that, but by faith ; and will juftify the
(ientiles too, who are ftill in their uncircumci
fton, through the fame faith ; and therefore 'de
mands the grateful love, and the new obedience
of both '.
wa then Now while WC maintain this method of juf- 31
make tification and falvation, can it be faid, that we
derogate from the honour of God's juftice or

z8 "fherefore we
Conclude,, that a man
is juftified by faith
without the deeds of
the law.

2'9 Is he the Go'd
of the Jews only i Is
he not alfo of the
Gentiles ? Yes, of tlie
Gentiles alfo :

-30 Seeing it is one
God, which fliall ju
ftify the clrcumcifion
by faith, and unc'ir-
cumcifion through
faith.

31 Do

h A lively and efl^eflual faith, without
works, &c.] By thus guarding the afl'er
tion we fiifliciently fee how very confift
ent it is with that of St, James, (chap. ii.
17, 23, 25,) who only in eft'eft afterts,
that no faith can fuflice to oxsr juftification
which is net in faft produiftive of obedi
ence ; and when the matter is thus ftated,
there is no appearance of contradldtlon.
i .One God,.ioho juft'ifieth the circumcifton
by faith, and Unc'ircumc'ifion through faith.]
Mr, Locke would render it, feeing bod is

one, and fuppofes it an allufion to the
predlftion, Zech. xiv. 9, that the Lord
fhall be one, and his name one; fulfilled by'
the -publication of the gofpel. But I
think thia fuppofed illufion far fetched,
and fee not any occafion foir fuppofinS
eit -TTi^-fajf by faith, and Jia it^qzwq thriS'
faith, to fignify different things; nor can
1 fee what different idea can here hz affixed'
to them. L'Enfant renders it, he w'lll
juftify the circumcifton by faith, And uncir
cumcifton by thi fame faith -\
D 2 his

Rom
III

jA RefleSllons m juftification by grace through Chrift.
SECT, his law 1 Do we fet aftde the law by faith, as if [J^ytltht Go"
V"' it were a 'faiilty, or annihilate it, as if it were forbid: yea, weefta-
 ^ an ufelefs thing? God forbid, that we fhould bliOitheUw.
'• ever infinuate fuch a defign, or Entertain fuch a
^Shought. Nay, on the contrary, w« really ^a-
blifh the law ¦" on a firmer foundation than ever,
, and plac? it in ajufter and more beautiful point
of light r for we ftiew alfo its honour difplayecl
in the atonement as well as the obedience of
Chrift ; and we make it of everlafting ufe, for
attefting the truth and illuftrating the neceffity
of the gofpel, as well as for direftiqg the lives
of men, when they profefs to have- received it ;
as we fhall abimdantly fhew in the procefs of
this difcourfe. IMPROVEMENT.
Let our whole fouls rejoice in this glorious difplay of the Di
vine mercy, in fo beautiful an harmony with Divine juftice,
in our redemption by Chrift ; to which the apoftle in this feiiion
Verfe bears fo noble a teftimony- We are all become guilty before God;
20 fo that if he Jhould mark iniquity, no flejh living could he juftified -
¦ bejore him : let us ther^oie with all reverence and efteem, and
21 with all joy, embrace the righteoujnejs of God, as now attefted by
22 the law and prophets, by Chrift and his apoftles; which fhall ^^
23 upon all believers without any difference : humbling ourfelves deeply
in the prefence of God, as^ thofe zuho have finned, and come Jhort of
24 his glory ; and feeking to be Juftified freely- by his grace, through
. the redemption that is in Chrift JeJ'us.
25 To him let us continually look, as Ae great propitiation ; ex-
ercifing Jaith in his blood, and rejoicing that thofe which feemed
to our feeble apprehenfions the moft jarring attributes, are now
-27 reconciled and glorified. Let us readily acknowledge that boaft
ing is excluded ; and in the grateful overfloyvings of our fouls fall
down before that throne whence pardons are difpenfed, and confefs,
" that this aft of grace is our only plea ;" and that we muft re
main humble before God for ever, in a fenfe of the demerit of our
fins and the abundance of his mercy.
29) 30 Let Jews and Gentiles unite in thankfgivings to God, and in
love to each other, as having been all involved in the fame con
demnation, and all partakers of the fame compaffion. And let
31 Chriftians remember, that God intended by this illuftrious difplay
k TVd eftabli/h the taw.] Some render I think not the proper fignificatlon pf
it. Nay, but vie are the perfons that ob- icm/mev.— Forthe juftice of this infereneCj

ferve tbe la'tv ; which is a juft and ttrong fee Chrift tbe^Bded, p. JQ— 96.
tjisught, (compaje Rom. viii. 3, 4,) but

ot

Abraham was not juftified by works.
of grace, not tofuperfede, but to eftablijh his law. May we there- S
fore make it our concern, that not only the aftions of our lives,
but the fentiments of our hearts, be direfted and determined by
it ;' as it is now inforced by more powerful motives th.in when it
appeared in its unallayed terrors.

45
ECT.
VII. '

SECT. VIII.
The apoftle here fliews, that Abraham and David Jought juftifica
tion in Juch a way as the gojpel recommends : that is, by faith.
Rom. IV. 1—12.

Romans IV. i.
'IS/'Hat fli,all we fay
then that Abra
ham our father, as
pertaining to the
fie.'h, hath fo,und .'

1 For if Abraham
were juftified by
works, he hath
ii;hereofto glory, but
pot before God.

-J For what -faith
the fcripture ? Abra ham

¦R-OMANS IV. I.
T Have been o"bferving to you, that we Chri-
¦*¦ ftians, by maintaining the doftrine of juftifi
cation by faith, inftead of fuperfeding and ener
vating, do indeed eftablifh the Divine law, and
aftert in the moft convincing manner both its
atitl)ority and purity. For the illuftration of
this therefore, let us confider the important in-
flance of Abraham, and the manner in which
he "vvas juftified. What then Jhall we fay, that
the holy ^^¦^xr\^.xc)ct Abraham, our rcverenA father,
according totheftejh, hath Jound effed.ua.\ in this
refpeft".? apd to what muft his juftification
and acceptance with God be afcribed ? For 2
iJ Abraham were juftified by' clrcumcifion, or by
the merit of any other works, rather than by the
free grace and mercy of God, then he hathjome-
thing in which he may glory ^ : but it is certain,
by what the facred oracles exprefs, that, though
the behaviour of this celebrated perfon was in
deed innocent, fair and honourable before men,
yet [he hath] not any- thing to boaft, /« the Jtght
of God. For what faith the fcripture upon this 3

Sect. VIII.
Rom.
iV. I

•i Hath foimd,'^ Some would tranfpofe
the wordsj and render them, " ShaU ive
*¦* fay that our father Abraham hath found <,
?* that is, obtained jullificacion and life,
*' according to the fiefij, that is, by cir-
*' cumcifion, and obfervlng the carnal
'* rites of the Mofaic ceconomy f'' But
when the Jtetural order, and ufual import
of the .phrafe makes fo eafy and fo good
a fenfe, I can fee no reafon for admitting
this conftruftion, Raphelius fhews, that
Herodotus, and other autbmtic Greek au

thors, ufe Eypisrxo; for obtainittgy and that
by merit, Annot* ex Herod, in Loc.
b He- hath fomcthing in ivhich he may
glory. "^ This feems to intimate, thatthe
Jews maintained not only the ueeefiity^
but the merit of the Jewifh obfervances 5
elfe it might have been replied, that
Abraham was indeed juftified upon his
being circumcifed, but thatJt was by the
grace of God, in freely annexing the
promife of juftification ani^ Ufe to fuch a
rite. P 3 head ?

46

But his faith was imputed for righteoufnefs.

Sect. };ead ?
VIII.

ham believed God,
and it was counted
unto him for righte
oufnefs.

4 Now to him that

5 But to him that
worketh not, but he
lieveth on him that
juftifieththe ungoSly,
his faith is counted
for righteoufnefs,

(Gen^ XV. 6.) Abraham beUeved God,
when he made him the premife of that mira-
Rom. " culous and important Seed, and fo // was im-
IV. 3 " puted to him, or placed to his account, for
" righteoufnefs,. or in order to his juftification :'-
that is, God was pleafed gracioufly to accept it,
though he had not fhat complete and perfeft
righteoufnefs which might in ftrift juftice be
demanded of every rational creature, as the only
condition of his being acquitted at the Divine
4-' bar. Now to him who thus worketh to the
utmoft extent of all that was required, the re- ivorketh h the reward
ward proportioned to that work is not charged ^^^^^^ ''l^^ of debt. "
to account, as matter of grace % but of debt ;
and he may glory, at Ieaft in having diligently
5 earned it. (Compare chap. xi. !&•) But to
him who in this fenfe worketh not, who can by
no means pretend to have wrought all righteouf
nefs, but humbly helieveth on him- who declareth
the freenefs of pardoning grace, and by that
juftijieth even the ungodly, if he repent and re-
( turn, the phrafe ufed concerning Abraham may
be applied with the ftrifteft propriety, and it may
be faid, that his faith is imputed to him, or
placed to his account for righteoufnefs, or to the
' purpofe of his being accepted and treated by God
as righteous,
6 And [this is] very agreeable to what we read
elfewhere; particularly as David (Pfal. xxxii.
1 , 2) defcribed the bleffednefs of the man who is
accepted of God, whom he fpeaks " of as one
" to whom God, according to the method of ¦without v.^rks;
'• proceeding we now maintain, imputeth righ-
" teoufnefs without any fuppofition of, or rc-
" gard to a former feries of good works, fup-
" pofed to have been performed by him,'-
¦7 For he exprefles himfelf thus, " Bleffed are they
" whofe' iniquities are pardoned, and whofe fins
" are, as it were, covered^ by the vail of Di-
«< vine

6. Even as David
alfo defcribeth the
bleffednefs of the man
um.o whom God im-.
puteth righteoufnefs

7 Saying, Blefled
are they whofe ini
quities are forgiven,
and whofe fins are
covered :

t As of grace.] Raphelius has fliewn,
that ^(^'jv do not only fignify a reivard of
debt, but alfo a gift of favour'; and that
the phrafe fj.i^ov ^wpenv occurs in Herodo
tus ; fo that a reivard of grace or favour
is zclaJjicalzivj&W as theological ex^rzi?ion.
r—Con\A we be fure that Abraham Was
once an idolator. It would be fome iliu-
ilratipn of the apoftle's rcafoniag {lere-;

but the Validity of-it by no means de
pends upon that fa£t.
d Whoje iniquity is pardoned, and whofe
fin is covered.] Archbifliop* iei^Ara« has
fo elegantly and beautifully illuftrated
thefe words, that I muft beg leave.to re
fer thofe of" my readers that cannot ufe
his Latin meditations on the xxxjld
Pfalm, to revieiv the Englifli tranllation of

tie was juftified by faith before he was circumcifed.

47

8 BlelTed is the
man to whom the
Lord will not impute

" vine mercy: Bleffed. ts the man to whom^^'^T.
" the Lord imputeth not ftn." Which plainly ^"^"
implies, that fin had been committed by the r„^_
beft and happieft of men, and that it is matter IV. 8
of mercy and favour, that it is not charged to
account, fo that he ftiould finally be condemned
for it.
Now while we are fpeaking of this bleffednefs g
of the pardoned and accepted finner, give me
leave to afk [doth it come] upon the circumcifton
[onlyf] or alfo on the uncircumcifton ? The cele
brated inftance we have juft been mentioning
will Ihew how far circumcifton is from being
neceflary to a fhare in it. For [when] we fay,
as above, that faith was imputed to Abraham
for righteoufnefs" ; How and when was it lo
thus imputed, and charged to his account, in
this view ? When he was in circumcifton, or in
uncircumcifton ? [Truly] thehiftory plainly fhews
us, that it was not in circumcifton, but in uncir-
ciimcifton ; for it relates this important cjrcurn-
ftance of Abraham, as taking place many years
before circumcifton was inftituted^ And it n
cumcifion,'*a feai of aifures US, that he received the ftgn of circumci-
the righteoufnefs of fton, not as the means of making him acceptable
the faith which *. to Qod ^hen he was not before fo, but as the
kadyet bemg uncir- , c ^ - \ • i ^ i ji
cumcifed : that he token 01 his being already accepted ; and there-
might fore as the feal of the righteoufnefs of that faith.
which he had in uncircumcifton '^ : thatfo he might be

9 Cometh this blef
fednefs then upon the
Clrcumcifion only^ or
opon the unclrcum
cifion alfo } For we
iay that faith was
reckoned to Abraham
for righteoufnefs.

JO How was it
then reckoned? when
he was In circumci-
fion, or in uncircum-
cifion ? not in clr
cumcifion, but in un-
circumcifion.

II ~And he recei
ved the fign of cir-

of it in the 2d rjolume of his ^xpofitory
Difcourfes \ printed at Edinburgh, 174S,
e Imputed to him for righteoufnefs. ] I think
nothing can be eafier, than to underftand
'how this may be faid in full confiJtence
with our being jufl:ified by the imputation
of the righteoafnefs of Chrift, that is, our
being treated by God as righteous, for the
fake of what he has done and fuffered :
for though this be the meritorious caufe
of our acceptance with God, yet; faith
may be faid to be impuJed to us e(? ^ikclio-
ruynVf in order to our being jufiifiedj or be
coming righteous : that is, according to
the view in which I have elfewhere more
largely ftated it, as we are charged as
debtors in the book of God''s account,
what Chrift has done, in fulfilling all
righteoufnefs for us, is charged as the
grand balance of the account 5 but that it
may appear, that we are, according to

benefit of t;his. It Is alfo entered in the
book bf God's remembrance, «' that we
are believers :" and, this appearii^g,
we are gracioufly difch^rged,' yea, and re
warded, as if we ourfelves had been per-
fe6lly innocent and obedient. See my
Sermons on S-aivation hy Grace, p. 14—
19, which account is perfectly agreeable
to what/^f//«shasremar)6ed. Oecon, Feedm
tih. iii. chap. viii. § 36.
f Many years before clrcumcifion was
inftituted.] It is faid this imputation
was made on Abraham's believing the
promife. Gen. xv. 6, about a year before
the birth of Ifiimael ; but he did not
receive clrcumcifion till, Ifhmael was
thirteeen years old. Gen. xvii. 27, con
fequently, Abraham was declaredjuftificd
at Ieaft fourteen years befofe he was cir
cumcifed. '
g Seal of the righteoufnefs of faith A

ihe tenour of the gofpel, intitled to Uie This feems an unconteftablc proof, that
t) 4 wirpim-

48 RcfteBions on the happinefs of a juftjfied ftate.
Sect. I,e the father [of all thofe who beUeve in uncircum- "n'S^" ^^ the fath»r
J^ cif on. that righteottfneft may alft be imputed mto ^^fl '\ZS^%
Rrim. them, that they may be juftified in the fame be not circumcifed •.
IV, II means, and that it may be written down in the that righteoufnefs
book of God's remembrance, that they are fo. "'^ht be imputed
. ,, . , ¦ • • 1 r-\. ¦ ¦ unto them alio ;
Andne. received this rite by Uivine appointment, j^ ^.nd the father
that he might alfo be the father of the circumci- of clrcumcifion to
fton, that is, to thofe who fliould afterwards prac- '']'='". ""^° ^'¦= "»' °!-
tife it, and were not only partakers of the exter- \f^ bliTalfo walk°h
nal ceremony of circumcijion, which in itfelf in- the fleps of that faith
deed can have no efficacy ; but fhall alfo walk in °f o""" Father Abra-
the footfleps oJ that faith of our father Abraham, l^""' '"^'"'^ *' ^'f'\
,¦<,¦','/,.•' . •' .j. ,1-1 being vsr uncircunl-
Which he had in uncircumctjton, and which cifed,
rendered him fo dear to God while he was in
• that ftate.

IMPROVEMENT.
If there be indeed fuch a thing as Tiappinefs io\)t enjoyed by
Verfe mortal man, it is the portion of that man of whom David
¦'• y, 8 fpeaks, even of him whofe iniquity is pardoned, and whofe ftn is
covered, and who enjoys the manifeftation of that pardon. Well
may he endure the greateft afiii£lions of life with chearfulnefs, a;id
look forward to death with comfort ; when the fting of all thefe
evils is taken out, and the returning tokens bf the ^ivine favour
convert them into bleflings. O let us earneftly pray that this
happinefs may be oiirs : that the great and glorious Being whom
by our fins w'e have offended, and in whom alone the righ^
^nd power of pardon refides, would fpread the vail of his' mercy
over our orovocations, and blot them out of the book of his re
membrance ! ¦
Let us on the one hand fix it in our mind, that it is the cha
rafter of that man to whom this bleflednefs belongs, that in his
fpirit there is no guile ; and on the other, let us often refied, that
it is in confequence of a righteoufnefs which God imputes, and
vi\\\c\\ faith receives and embraces. We are faved by a fcheme
that allows us not to mention any works of our own, as if we had-
j-2 whereof to glory before God, but teaches us to afcribe our falvation
to believing on him who juftifieth the ungodly. ' Nor need we
5 be aftiamed of flying to fuch a method to which Abraham the
1,2 father of the faithful had recourfe himfelf, and on which he built
his eternal hope. May we ftiare his difpofition of "mind, that
we may inherit the fame promifes ; walking in the footfteps
12 of our father Abraham:'- So fhall we aifo be called the friends
clrcumcifion was a/ea/ of tbe covenant of confiderable objeftion that hath ever beeii
grace, and npt merely o^ temporal pro- urged againft »r/a«f- i<2^f|/"«.
m'lfes ; and confeq^ucntly obviates the mofl: and

Juftification only by the law makes void ihe promifes.

49

and children of God, ¦a.uAftt down with Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, ^^
in Lis heavenly kingdom. • ^ '"'

T.
vm.

SECT.

IX,

fn order ta recommend tbe fcheme of juftification, by believing
God's promifes, the apoftle fhews, that it was an illuftrious a£l
ef faith, luhich entailed. everlafting honours on the great patriarch
Abraham ; in which he was intended for an example to us.
Rom. IV. 13, to the end.

Romans IV. 13.
pOR the promife
that he Ihould be
thehelrof the world,
t'-'as not to Abraham,
or to his feed, through
the law, but through
the righteoufnefs of
faith. I

14 For if they
which are of the law
ae heirs, faith Is made
void, and the pro
mife made of none
eflba :

15 Becaufe the law
worketh

Romans IV. 13.
T Have fpoken of Abraham as the father of Sect.
-*¦ uncircumcifed believers, as well as thofe of _^^*
the circumcifton, (ver. 11, 12,) and that with "^^fi^
evident propriety : for the promife to .Abraham IV. ij
and his feed, that he fliould be heir of the world ^,
that is, that he ftiould inherit all the nations pf
the ear\:h, as a feed that Ihould be blefled in
him, iva^ not, and xould not be by the laiv of
circumcilion, or of Mofes ; being, as we have
already obferved, prior to both ; btU it was by the
righlcoijnejs oJ Jaith. God. gave him that pro
mife on his exerting a remarkable aft of faith,
on which God in the mwft gracious and honour
able manner declared iiis acceptance of him as
righteous. Now if they who are of the law, ijL
and depend upon that alone, [are] heirs, exclu-
five of al! others, (as fome fo eagerly contend,)
then that/a//^, which in the inftance before us
was fo eminently honoured of God, is made uje-
lejs, and treated as a thing of no value ; and fo
the promije made toit is in efFeft abrogated, the
performance of it' being put, not only on new
conditions, but on fuch as cannot be perfeftly
performed in this finful ftate ''. For the law 15
of

a He'ir of the world.] V.oe-1-i.o; cinnot
here fignify, as yn fometimes does, one
country, or land, how fine or iai-ge foever.
.It muft' therefore imply! his inheriting a
feed out of all nations, whom he might
be faid to poflefs, in fuch a fenfe, as
children are faid to be an heritage, Pfal.
cxxvii. 3. Compare Gen. iv. i j Prov.
xvii. 6. ,See alio Pfal. Ixxxli. 8, where
Cod is faid to inherit the nations that are

taken into his family oo the profeffion of
the true religion*
b Cannot be perfcflly performed. J
This Is here fald with reference to a moral
impcjjibiliiy. It feems evident from what
foIlov/3, that the law Is to be confidered
as infilling on an obedience abfolutely
perfect ; fo that thefe good men who
were juftified under it, were not juftified
by it, but by the difpenfation of grace ,
under

The promife was, that he ftould be father of many nations;

SO Sect, of God, Confidered in itfelf alone, and without
' any regard to that grace, which, though it was
Rom, ii^ faft mingled with it, yet makes no part of the
IV. 15 legal difpenfation as fuch; is fo extenfive and
difficult, and we are fo weak and finful, that in
faft, inftead of fecuring to us the promifed blef
fings, it only vjorkeh wrath, that is, it becomes
to us accidentally an occafion of wrath, and ex
pofes us to punifhment as trarifgreflTors ; for where
, there is no law, either revealed or intimated,
\there is] no tranfgreffion; but the multiplication
.of precepts increafes the danger of offending,
and the clearer declaration of thofe precepts
' aggravates the guilt attending the violation.
l6 But therefore [it,] that is, the promife, and the
inheritance to which it relates, [is] of faith, or
annexed to it, th(it, it [might be] of grace, that
God might magnify the riches of his grace in
propofing juftification and 'life to us in a yvay
that might in multitudes of inftances be effeftual ;
that fo'the blefling exhibited in the promife might
he firm,- and fecure to all the believing ^^f^; not
only to fhat part of his defcendants which was
placed under the difpenfation of the Jewifh law,
who are not indeed excluded from it, if they
feek it in a proper manner ; but to that which is
the feed of that holy patriarch, to whom the
promife was made, by a nobler relation, even by
a participation of the faith of Abraham, who is in
17 this vievv the father of us all: As it is written,
(Gen. xvii. 6,) / have made thee a father, not of
one family alone to defcend from Ifaac, or Jacob,
but of many nations; fo that he is in fome de
gree even like God himfelf, who is the Father
of all good men ; like that Almighty Being in
whom he believed, as re-animating thofe who are
dead, and calUng into aftion and enjoyment things
that are not now in exiftence, with the fame eafe
as thofe that are"^.
¦18 And fince 1 have begun to touch upon it, per
mit me, my brethren, to animate your faith, by

worketh wrath : for
where no law is, there
is no tranfgreffion.

16 Therefore it is
of faith, that it mif ir
be by grace ; to the
end the proinife
might be fure to all
the feed, not to that
only which is of the
law, but to that alfo
which is of the faith
of Abraham, who Is
the father of us,all ;

17 (As it is writ
ten, , I have made
thee a father of many
nations,) before him
whom he believed,
even God, who quick-
eneth the dead, and
calleth thofe things
which be not as
though they were '.

18 Who againft hope

under which Abraham was, which, tho'
not a part of the covenant of' God by
jMofes, was not, and could not be, abro
gated by it. Compare Gal. iii. 17.
c Uke God.] Soltliink xalwavli may
Jieie fignify ; and accordingly it is

rendered, ad inftar Dei by Para?us.
d Calling things that arc not.] That
this is to^ be underftood of jummon'ag
them, as it were, to rije into being, and
appear before him, Elfner ha?, well proved
on this place. ¦ dilating

As Abraham was, fo are we, juftified ly faith.

hope believed in
hope, that he might
become the father of
many nations ; ac
cording to that which
was fpoken. So Ihall
thy feed be.

19 And lieing not
wealc in faith, he
•onfidered not his
own body now dead,
when he was about
an hundred years old,
neither yet the dead-
oefs of Sarah's wombk

SO He ft^ggered
¦ ot at the promife of
God through unbe
lief; but was ftrong
jn faith, giving glory
to God ;

2.1 Andbeingfully
perfuaded, that what
he had promifed, he
was able alfo to per
form. zz And therefore
it was imputed to
himforrlghteoufnefs.

23 Now it v/as not
written for his fake
alone, that it was im
puted to bim;
24 But for us alfo,
to whom it Ihall be
imputed, if we be
lieve on him, that
raifed up Jefus our
J.ord from the dead.

25 Who was''-<le-
livered for our of
fences.

5«
dilating a little farther' upon that of this ill-jf- Sect.
trious patriarch. It was he, who againft all hu- ^^'
man and probable hope, believed with an afllired ~^j^
and joyful hope, on the fecurity of die Divine IV. 18.
word, that, unlikely as it feemed, he Jhould be
a father of many nations, according to thaf which
was fpoken to him, (Gen. xv. 5,) when he was
called to take a view of the ftars of heaven, and
God faid, " So numerous and glorious Jhall thy
'' Jeed be," And having received fuch a pro- 19
mife, n'jt being Jeeble in Jaith, how feeble foever
he might be in his animal conftitution, he con
fidered not his own body, which with regard. to
the probabihty of begetting children was now
dead, being about an hundred years old ; nor the
deadnefs of Sarah's womb, of whom the facred
hiftorian tells us, " that it ceafed to be with her
" after the manner of women:" (Gen. xviii.
1 1 .) Amidft ¦ all thefe difiiculties and dif- 20
couragements, he oljeBed not to the promife of
God through unbelief, but was ftrengthened hy the
exercife of the moft vigorous and triumphant
faith, thereby giving a due and becoming glory
to the great God, the Lord of univerfal nature ;
And was confidently perfuaded, that what he 2T
had thus gracioufly premifed, he was, and ever
is, able to perform, though that performance
fhould to fenfible view feem ever fo improbable.
And therefore this heroic faith was fo acceptable 23
to the Divine Being, that' it was, as we have
heard again and again, imputed or accounted' to
him for righteoufnefs, that is, in order to his
juftification. Neither was it written in the 23
facred records, which are to reach the remoteft
ages, with regard to him only, or chiefly to do a
perfonal honour to that illuftrious patriarch, that
it was thus imputed to him ; Butma\Co for our 24.
fakes, to whom it, that is, the like faith, Jhall
alfo be imputed, if we fteadily believe in him, who
not only brought Ifaac as from the dead womb '
of Sarah, but, in the moft literal fenfe, raifed
Jefus our Lord from the dead, when he lay among
them flain and mangled by his cruel enemies ;
Even that great and glorious Redeemer, who was 25
delivered up to them by the determinate counfel
of God, that by his death and fufferings \\t might
atone for our many offences, and when he had
2 fully

52 Refteilions on the faith ef Abraham, Sec. .
Sect. fuHy fatisfied the Divine juftice for them% was fences, and was raifed
J^ raifed again for our Juftification ; that putting ^^^!°' °''' i''^^-
Rom. our truft in him, who was thus apparently dif-
JV. 25 charged from all farther claim upon him, as our
furety, we might obtain, by virtue of our relation
lo him, plenary. pardon and eternal life.
IMPROVEMENT.
Let us continually bear in our mind the great and venerable
example of our father Abraham ; labour to the utmoft to trace
Verfe his fteps ; and have faith in God, who at his pleafure quickeneth
17 the dead, and calleth things which are not as if they were. If
fenfe were to judge, it would prohounce many of thefe difficul-
30 ties invincible, which lie in the way of th^ accompliftiment of his
¦promifes ¦-, but they fliall all be fulfilled in their feafon. Let us
therefore he ftrong in faith, remembering that thus it becomes us
to glorify that God who condefcends fo far as to engage the_honour
of his word for the fiipport of our fouls. He who hath promijed
is able to perform, for zvith him all things are poftible. Already
hath he done that for us which we had much lefs reafon to expe6t,
25 than we now have to hope for any tiling tha^ remains. He delivered
his fon Jefus for our offences, to redeem us by his blood from final
and everlafting ruin.
24 Jyet it be our daily joy that he was raifed again for our juftifica
tion ; and let his refurreftion be continually confidered as a noble
22,23 argument to eftablifli our faith in him vvho performed this illuf
trious work of power and mercy. So fhall it be imputed to us like-
wife for righteoufnefs ; yea, fo fliall the righteoufnefs of our Re
deemer be reckoned as ours, to all the purpofes of our juftification
and acceptance with God. And though, by our tranfgrefllon of
14>i5 the law, we can never inherit by any claim from that, which only
worketh wrath and condemnation in confequence of our breach of
Jo it; yet fhall we, by believing and obeying the gofpel, find the
promife fure to us, as the fpiritual feed of Abraham, and be for
ever happy in the enjoyment of that beWer Canaan; when every
earthly inheritance ftiall be no more found.
e Fully fatisfied the Divine juftice for " degree weakened, or our obligation to
them.] V,^ jatisfy'mg the Divine juft'ice, I " the free grace of the Father in our
" mean, doing all that was neceffary, " falvation transferred, or enervated.''
«' amply and perfeftly to fecure the ho- And I defire it may be remembered, and
" nour of the Divine government, in the attended to throughout, that this is the
" pardon and acceptance of penitent and fenfe in which' I would ufe the, phiafe,
" believing finners ;" but I do not mean wherever it occurs in any of my wriQngs,
" the payment of the debt, in fuch a fenfe and I hope it will not be found, that I have
" as that our engagements to holinefs ever deviated fr.om it.

" ihould be difpenfed with, or in any

SECT.

£mg juftified by faith, we have peace with God. 53
SECT. X.
The excellency of the' gofpil-difpenfation is farther illuftrated t be
lievers being hereby brought into fi happy a ftate, as turns even
the heavieft affiiSlions of Ufe into an occafton of joy. Rom, V.
I— II.

Romans V. 1.
T^ Herefore being juftified by
faith, we have peace
with God, iSirough
our Lord Jefue
Chrift.

2 By whom ajfo
we have acceis by
faith igito this grace^
whecein

Rom. V. 1

Romans V. i.
TXTE have, been reviewing the manner in sect,
*'^ which Abraham and David, thofe illuftri- X.
ous patriarchs, looked for juftification and hap
pinefs, and in which we are tp feek it, if we
defire to fucceed. We have been fpeaking of our
adorable Saviour, as delivered for our offences,
and raifed again, for our juftification. Lei us
now therefore refleft a little on thofe invaluable
benefits, which we who have embraced this
difpenfation, whether Jews or Gentiles, enjoy
in confequence of it. And here it is in the firft:
place evident, that being thus juftified by ineans
oi faith in Chrift, ive have peace with Gad''-
Our guilty fears are filenced, and we are taught
to look gp to him with fweet ferenity of foul,
while we no longer conceive of him as an
enemy, but under the endearing- charafter of a
friend, ind a father ; even through the media
tion and grace of our Lord fefus Chrift : By
whom we have been introduced '', by means of

a Tfe have peace ivith Gad.]- It feems
very unreafonable to fuppofe, that when
the apoftle w.rote fuch paflages as this,
andEph. i. 1—3, he Jhould mean to ex
clude himfelf, who was no Gentile ; they
are not therefore to be expounded, as
fpoken particularly of the Gentiles : nor
could he furely intend by thefe grand
defcriptions and pathetic reprefentations,
to fpeak only of fuch external privileges
as might have been common to Simon
Magus, or any other hypocritical and
•Ui'iiked profeffor of Chr'ift'tan'ity. And if he
did not intend this, he muft fpeak of all
true Chriftians as fuch, and. as taking It
for granted, that thofe to whom he ad-
drelled this, and his other epiftles, were In
the general fuch, though there' might be
fome few excepted cafes which he does
not think it neceffary often to touch upon.
And this is, after all, the true key to fuch
paffages in his epiftles; and as fuch,. I
have- ufed it throughout my work; and as

I have more particularly ftated and vindi
cated it in the potijcript which I have
added to the pieface of my Sermons on
Regeneration, In the jecond edition, I m'.:t
beg leave! to rcfcc my reader thither, and-
hope I Ihall be cxcull-d from a more par
ticular examination of that very different
fcheme of interpretation, whichMr. Tay
lor has fo laboriuufly attempted to revive.
The main principles of It^re, I think,.
well c.)nfuted by my pious and worthy
friend Dr. Guyje, .In the preface to h'i2
Paraphrafe of this Epiji'e.
b I'l^e have been introduced, '^n'l irpoTu-
•yoiyri' cr;^rx-sjMev.] Raphelius has fliewn
from Herodjtus, that OTf.-.a-ayxyn is often
ufjd as a ja:crd?ij! phrafe, and fignlfies,
*' being wkh great ibiemnits' intioduc-d,
** as into the m.ire Imm^dlat^ prc-lcnct^ of
'* a deicy in his tcnipK;, fo as by a fuppofed
" interpreter, from thance called -n^oiTi-
" -y-ji-yi^'^;, the 'introducer, to have a kind
<< of conference w.th fuch a deity." faith

54

tVe rejoice in the frulTi

Rom, V. z

Sect, faith into that ftate of grace and acceptance in
^ which we no^ ftand with humble boldnefs in
his prefence, and cheerful confidence, that no
thing fliall remote us from his favour. And by
a farther confequence, we do not Only rejoice in
fome confiderable prefent privileges; but boaft
in a pleafant and aflured hope of inheriting at
length the glory of God; a ftate of perpetual
Iplendor and happinefs in the hoflfe and prefence
of our heavenly Father, in which he will, as it
were, adorn us with the rays of his own glory.
3 And not only do we fo boaft in this hope, hut we
alfo glory in our tribulation '^ and affliftion, which
far' from efteeming, as the Jews are ready to do,
any token of reprobation or difpleafure, we look
upon as being, in this conneftion, the allotment
of God's paternal love to ire ; that we may there
by be enabled to do him a more fingular honour,
and be prepared for a more exalted happinefs ;
knowing that tribulation, under the influence of
Divine grace, worketh a calm, filent, humble
patience, a moft beautiful and happy difpofition
of mind, which is daily fttengthened by exer-
4 cife. And this patience produceth fuch an ex
perience of God's fupporting goodnefs, and fuch
proof of our own fincere faith ^ ftrift integ
rity, and fteady refolutioa, for him, as we are
fure will be acceptable to him i and therefore
this - experience and proof of our graces, which
like pure gold brighten in the furnace, worketh
a more lively and triumphant hope of a glorious
5 future reward. And this hope, fublirne and
confident as it is, does not fhame and confound
[us] with difappointment ; yea we know it can
not, becaufie we have already within ourfelves
the very beginning pf that heaven at which it
afpires. For the . love of God, in the perfeftion
of which the bleflTednefs, of that celeftial world

wherein we ftand,'
and rejoice in hope
of the glory of God."

3 And notoaly/jj'
but we glory in tri
bulations alfo ; know.
ing that tribulation!
worketh patiencej

4 And patiencey
experience ; and ex
perience, hope ;

5 And. hope ra*-
keth not alhamed f ,
becaufe the love of
Go*

e IVe glory alft, in tribulation.] The
Jews might objedt to the perfecution of
Chriftians, (as we know they did to that
of their mafter,) as inconfiftent with what
they concluded would be the ftate of the
people of the Meffiah. It is therefore
with great propriety, that the apoftle fo
often difcourfes on the benefit arifing from
the fufferings of true believefs, by which
be lays in the ftrongeft anfwer to any fuch '

infinuation. And this dsllcacy of addrefs,
is fo apparent In many paflages of the
epiftles, that I fhOuld fwell the notes too'
much, If I were accurately to trace it.'
d Proof of our faith.] Monf. Sauri*
very juftly obferves, that the word SoxsiMn
has this fignificatlon, and in a metaphor,'
taken from gold proved by purifying fifej
Compare i Pet. i. 7 ; fee Ecclus. ii. 5.
^aur. Ser. Vol. VII. p. ijj. confifls.

ef our tribulation.

S5

,iSaA is fhed abroad
in our hearts, by the
Hnly Ghoft which is
given unto us.

6 For when we
Jivere yet without
ftrength, in due time
Xhrift died for the
ungodly.

Rom;

7 For fcarcely for
a righteous man vfill

confifts, is, in a plentiful efflifipn, poured into Sect
our hearts by his Holy Spirit, which is given unto ^'
us, and enables us to fee his love amidft all his
correftions, and to delight ourfelves daily in
him ; though for the prefent he appoints us trials
which may feem ever fo rigorous.
Now all thefe invaluable privileges and hopes, ^
which make our lives fo joyful amidft fuch vari
ous tribulations and extreme fiifFerings, arc to
be traced up to the death of Chrift, and refolved
into his leve : for when we were yet in a weak
and languilhing, infirm and helplefs ftate, def
titute bf all thefe Divine principles and hopes ;
yea incapable of delivering ourfelves from the
depths of guilt and mifery, into which we were
plunged ; Chrifl mo'HJeaJonably died for us, even
in the ftead of the ungodly °, for Jews and Gen
tiles, when they were, as we have proved before,
all under fin.
Now ^ this is a moft memorable thing, and y
worthy our frequent, attentive, and- affeftionate
confideration. For fcarcely would one be willing
to die in the ftead of a righteous man, though we
apprehended him in the moft immediate danger ;
[if] perhaps in the ftead of a remarkably good
and benevolent man *, one would even dare to
die :

« Died ip tbe ftead of the ungodly.] By
vngodly here, Mr. Locke underftands Gen
tiles ; as alfo by iueak,ftnners, enemies. Sec.
They are undoubtedly included ; but it
feems very inconfiftent with the whole
ftrain of fhe apoftle^s argument in the
¦ preceding chapters, to confine it to them.
Compare chap. iii. 9 — 20, 2Z, 23; chap.
iv. 5 ; chap. v. 20. I therefore all along
explain fuch paffages iu the moft exten
five fenfe ; and think nothing in the
whole Ne^ Teftament plainer, than that
the gofpel fuppofes every human creature
to whom it is addreffed, to be in a ftate
of guilt and condemnation, and incapable
of being accepted with God, any other-
wife than through the grace and mercy
which it proclaims. Compare John ill.
16, 36; chap. v. 24; I John iii. 14;
Mark xvi. 15, 16 ; Luke xxiv. 47 ; and
efpecially i John i. 10; than which no
affertion can be more pofitive and exprefs.
Alber('{0_bjerv. Sacr. p. 304,) has well
proved that xola xoifov fliould be rendered
feafonably ; and Raphelius [Not. ex Xen. in
«<«¦. 81 has abundantly demonftrated.

that ursp ritxoiv aito^ain fignlfies he died in
our room and ftead ; nor can L find, that
a'iro9:-Vitv vTTE^ Tiv£? has ever any other
fignificatlon than that of. rejcuing the life
of another at the expence of our o-wn : and
the very next verfe fliews, independent
on any other authority, how evidently ft
bears that fenfe here ; as one can hardly
imagine any one would die for a good
man, unlefs it were to redeem his. life by
giving up his own. How much higher,
not only Grotius, but Le Clerc, carried
their explications of this*great doctrine,
than fome moderns have done, may be
feen hy confulting Grdtius^s glojs on i P..-t.
11. 19, [de Satisf. cap. ix.) and Le Clerc
on John i. 29.
' A'oOT .• ya^.] It is very evident, that
•ya^ cannot have the force of an* illative
particle here, or In the preceding verfe ;
and it Is hardly polfible to number all the
paffages in Paul's writings, to which the
like remark may be applied.
e Righteous, — good.] It is true, that in
one fenfe righteoujnejs muft include good
nefs, as we owe to every man a benevolent aftcition.

36 Sect, X.

Juftlfiei by Chrift' s death, we fliall be faved by his life.

Rom. V. 8

die : for certainly it is but here and there one,
in a great multitude, who would be willing to
redeQin, the moft eminently ufeful life at the
price of his own. But God hath recommended
his aftoniftiing love towards us, and fet it off" as
it were with this grand circumftance of high
embelliftiment, if 1 may fo fpeak, that when we
were yet Jinners, and therefore not only unde-
ferving of his favour, but juftly obnoxious to
wrath and punifhment, Chrift died in our Jlead,
that our guilt might be cancelled, and we brought
9 into a ftate of Divine acceptance. ^mtt there
fore jt hath pleafed the bleffed God to give us
fuch an unexampled difplay of his love as this,
how high may our expeftations rife, and how
cheerfully may we conclude that much more being
now juftified by the efficacy of his moft precious
blood, we flail he faved from wrath by him !
For we can never imagine that God would pro
vide at fo expenfive a rate for our juftification,-
and then finally leave us under wrath ; though we
.have acquiefced in the fcheme of his grace for
our deliverance.
For if, as I have already maintained, tvhen
we were enemies, through the perverfenefs of
our minds, and the rebellion of our lives, tve
were reconciled to God by the death of h\s own
As-iiX Son, and if forefeeing we fliould fall into
this ftate of hoftility, he made this v.'onderful
provifion fOr our being admitted to terms of
peace ; how much more being thus recbnciled, flail
we be faved from mifery, and made completely
happy by his recovered life, now he is rifen- from
the dead and afcended to glory ?

lo

one die ; yet perad-
venture for a good
man fome would even
dare to die.
8 But God com-
mendeth iiis love to
wards us, in that
while we were yet
finners, Chrift dlej
for us.

9 Mtfch more then,'
being now juftified
by his blood, we Ihall
be faved from wrath
through him.

10 Fof if,' wheri
we were enemies, we
were reconciled to
God by the death of
his Son j much more
being reconciled, we
(hall be faVed by his
life,-

arfFeftion, and are bound in duty to God
to do all the good we can to the whole
human fpecies. But he may in comraon
Ipeech be called a jtift or righteous mm,
who gives to every one what is by law his
due ; and 5e a good or benevolent man
who voluntarily abounds In kind and ge
nerous aftions, to which no human la.; s
can compel him. Tully has the like dlf-
tlnftion, [de Offic. lib. 1: chap. x. edit.
Fierc] and it is admirably illuftrated by
Raphelius [Not. ex Xen. in lo.:) by ap-
pofite quotations from other ancient v. ti
ters. It may very poffibly, (as Godivya
ias fliewn in his jewifi Am'iqu'u'ies, lib. I.

cap. ix,) bear f ime alluCon to a' diftrlbvfi
tion of mankind into the three claffes,-
anOn. DipnV, and D'yWH. g"^
mm, r'lghtnus men, and finners, which
fome rabbinical vir'itets mention. — All the
beauty and grace of this paffage is loft, by
reading ^^ mt inftead of JiKoiy, *as the
editor of the netu verfton- of 1727 does ;'
without, as I can find, any fingle autho
rity : for a vjicked man no one ivould tv'il-
ling'y die, ihrughfor a benefaSlor jtme ha^e
read-ty ojfercd to die. And . ayaQa do not
figni.'y merely ^ perfonal bdfiefaSor, but in
general a benevolent man,
IIVfPROtEMENr^

RefteHions on Ih'e happinejs of peace with God, H
IMPROVEMENT.
With what extafies of holy joy may we juftly furvey thefe Sec-t.
liieftimable privileges, and bleifed confequences of having em- ¦^'
traced the gofpel, and being juftified by faith unfeigned I How -yerfe
great a haf^pinefs to have peace with God, with that omnipotent i
Being, who can at pleafure arm all nature againft us, or for us !
To have ac'cefs to him by Jefus Chrift, and daily converfe with him 2
as our Father in heaven 1 To rejoice in an aflured hope of enjoying
gloiy with Chrift, in his prefence ; yea, of enjoying the God of
glory. To fee all affliftion not only difarmed, but turned into
matter of triumph, while tribulation worketh experience, patience, 3, 4
and hope ! So may all our tribulations work, and be they ever fo
fevere, they will be reafons for our joy and praife. The pain of
thein will foon be over ; the happy confequences of them wiU be
as lafting as our immortal fouls.
Let us endeavour to dilate our hearts, that we may receive the 5
largeft effvfions of the love of God, to be fled abroad there. The
love of God I That plant of paradife, which will fpring up unto
tternal life. And to excite it, let us be daily meditating upon the
rich wonders of redeeming love a:nd grace ; adoring that feafonahle-d
interpofirion of Divine mercy, that when %ve luere weak and guilty
creatures, when we lay for ever helplefs under a fentence of
everlafting condemnation, that is, when we appeared thus in the
eyes of him who behhldeth things which are not as if they were, y
Cbrijl died for us-t and gave a token of his love even for the worft
of finners, which few among the children of men are willing to
give, with refpeft to the moft upright and benevolent of their
brethren. Since the love of God cornes thus recommended, let
lis cordially embrace it, and awaken all the powers of our fouls
to a diligent care to fecure the happy fruits ; that we may not
receive the grace of God in v.:in. If we do indeed experience in
ourfelves, not only that there is a foundation laid for our reconcilia
tion, but that we are aftually reconciled to God by the death oJ his
Son, our hopes may rife high, that we flail much more obtain 16
confundmate falvation by his life. For furely it is infinitely more
aftoniftiing, that the .Son of God fhould die to reconcil^enemies,
than that having fubdued their hearts by his dying love, and re
ceived them to friendfhip as the purchafe of his blood, he fhould
employ his recovered life and extenfive authority for their pfofeftionV
^nd complete falvation.
SECT. XI.
The apoftle flews, that the calamities brought by the firft Adam
On his feed, are repaired with glorious advantage to all who
Vot. IV. E b' .

58 , "IVe glory in God, through JeJus Chr iji.
hy Jaith become interefted in the Jecond Adam. Rom. V. II, to
the end.

Sect. XI.
Rom.V. JI

!¦?.

Romans V. ii. *
T Have been breathing out our hopes, and our
-^ joys, as weare Chriftians, and are taught by
the principles of our Divine religion to rejoice,
not only in the profpeft of glory^ but even in,
tribulation itfelf. And now 1 muft add, that it
is not only [Jo] but that there is another grand
confideration, which, though not yet mentioned,
lies at the root of all our confidence and happi
nefs ; which is this, that we boaft in God as in
variably our covenant God and ¥?A\\tv, through
JeJus Chrift our Lord, by whom we have now, in
thefe late times, received the great and important
reconciliation % which not only averts the terrors
of Iris wrath, but opens upon us all the bleflings
of his' perpetual friendfhip and love.
And therejore^ we may from thefe premifes
infer, that the benefit which we believers re
ceive from Chrift", is equal to the detriment
we receive from Adam ; yea, is on the whole
greater than that; for we now obtain righteouf
nefs and life from one ; as by one man, thaf is,,
Adam, the common father of the human fpecies,
(in entered into the new made world, and death,
before unknovvn ip the cireation of God, entered
oyjtn ; and Jo death paffed on from one genera
tion to another upon all men ; unto which all have
finned in him ^ that is, they are fo far involved in

Romans V. ii,
AND not 6nly^^,
but We alfo joy In
God,"^ through our
Lord Jefus Chrift,
by whom we have
now received the
Atonement.

12 Wherefore, as
by one man fin en
tered into the' world,
and death by fin;
and fo death pafled
upon all men, for
that all have finned.

a P -jcc'-iied the reconciliation.] The word-
•Aa',aY^'^a).r, here has fo apparent areference
to ^-.¦"'-T^l.a-ytlf/.iV and »a1a\?.(tv£vlEC In
the, pr.eeding verfe, that it is furprlfing
it fli.-iuld have been rendered by fo dlf-
f^-rent a word in our verfton ; efpecially as
it is fo improper to fpeak of our receiving
an atcr.ement, which God receives as raade
for our fins.
b Therefore.] Ata Tt'lo certainly does
, often fignify in this refpcEi', but there ai-e
fome inftances even among the texts col-
lefted- by Mr. Taylor here, in which it
may as well be rendered therefore ; parti
cularly M^tt. xiii. 1 3 ; John ix. 23 ; chap.
xii. iS ; .chap., ¦ xiii. 2; .1 Cor. iv. 17;
chap. xi. 30 ; Eph. i. 15. In all which
'^j'^bces our rendering feems preferable to
-.-.-hat he would propofe.
c We believers.] As this 12th verfe

is an inference from the Iltrh, it feems-
e'vident that they only are fpoken of; for
it is plain from comparing the gth, IQth,
and nth verfes with the' firft, that it is
only they ^vbo are juftifted by faith, ivbo
have peace laith God, and v>ho joy in him
by Chrift as having received the reconc'ilia-
t'lon. And this obvious remark clears the
foUojvIng pafl'age of difficulties, which
<VouM'be exceeding great, if it were to be
confidered without regard to this connec
tion, and which have in faft, mlfled many
commentators ; who for want of .attending
to It, have plunged themfelves and their
readers into great perpl-exity, and given a
fen~fe to the paragraph, of which it is by
lio means capahle.
d Unto which all have fjntted: it) "
¦iravl!? n«ap1i)>.] Eljner (Oi^eTO. Vol. II.
p. 26) would render it, on account of
3 tnhm >

For though by the one offence oJ Adam death came ;

59

in the confequence of his firft tranfgreflion, as Sect
by means of it to become obnoxious to death. ^^'
13 For until the And that this was indeed the cafe, and this of-
w:;id:"buTfinis*ot ^^"'^^ the engine of niortality in the whole hu-
. imputed where there -Hian fpecies, we may infer from one very obvious

Rom.
V. .3

is no la-.v.

14 NSyerthelefs,
death reigned from
Adam to Mofes, even
over them that had
not finned after the
Ji:«iilltude of Adam's
tranfgrefiion 1 wh-j Is
the figure of him that
u-js to come :

faft, I mean the death of infants, from the very
beginning ; for from the fall of Adam unto the
time when God gave the laiv by Mofes, as well
as after it, ftn was, and appeared to be in the
zvorld, by the continual execution of its piiniih-
ment, thaf is, death. But it is a felf-evident
principle, that_y?« is not, and cannot be, imputed,
where there is no law; fince the very elfence
of fin is the violation of a law. And confe
quently, if we fee in faft that fin was imputed;
we muft conclude that the perfons to whofe ac
count it appears to have been charged, were
under fome law. Neverthelefs, it is certain
death reigned from Adam to Mofes, even Over
infants as well as others, over thofe I fay, who
had not finned, according to the Ukenefs of the
tranfgreffion of Adam % that is, who had never
in their own perfons offended God, as Adani their
father did ; who, with refpeft to the extent of
his aftions to aU'his feed, was the figure, or
model ^ of him who was to come'^, that is, a
kind

14

whom \ and he produces forae remarkable
authorities for it, (compare Phil. iii. 12 j
;Rom. X. 19 j chap. xvi. 19; 1 Thcfl'. iii.
7j) but I think thofe produced By Mr.
Taylor, (from Gal. v. 13 ; Eph. ii. 19 j
I ThefT. iv. 7 ; 2 Tim. ii. 145) with the
ufe of the particles in fopie of the pureft
Xireek clafficzy fufficient to fupoort his ren
dering, vv'hith I have here followed. See
hi% Scripture DoBrine of Originat Sin^ ,
Parti, p. 51, &;c. Note,
0 Likenefs ofi Adam^i tranfgrefiion.'^ Mr.
Locke and feveral more interpret this of
the Gentiles, who did not fin dgainft a
pofiti'ue taiu. 'But they might certainly
have died for their tranfgrelRon againft
the natural laiv, under which they were
,born, and for which the apoflle exprefsly
ailerts, not only that they were in faft
liable to'perifr, (chap, ii, 12, &c.) but
tliat they knew they were ivorthy of death,
(chap. i. uh.)
f Figure, or model.] That the word
Tt/TT^ hfts this lignificationj will appicar
from Ads vii. 44; Rom. vi. 17 5 Phil.
iji, 17; ' Their, i. 7 5 2 TheH". iii. 9;

I Tim. iv. 12 i Tit. ii. 7; Heb, viii. 5;
I Pet. y. 3.
S Of him 7vho ivas to conk : rn fxiX~ ,
Aoi'Jt^.J Here is evidently an e^ipfis.
Molt commentators ,have explained it as
referring to the great perfon that was
to corrie, or in other words, the future
[j^dam,'] that is, Chrifi. Bat Sir 'l^ortajt
Knatchbull would explain it of mankind to
come. He thinks that Adam cannot with
any propriety be called a type ofi Chrift^
as the type of a thing is its fijope, model,
or r epref ent ation ; and tneii_fo're if the
thing be good, the type of it muft be fo
too* Dr. Milner, in vindication ef this
intdrpretationj obferves, that this will
beft agree with the apofilcCs defign. For
if Adam was to be confidered as a pubiick
perfon, the type, figure or reprefentstion ofi
mankind, his conduft will, as the apoflle
fays it does, affeft infants. Dr. Mdncr''s
Fading Fltnvers ofi Lifie, p. 14.— -But it
may be fufficient to anfwer, that upon the
common interpretation, there was plainly
a correfpondence between Chrift and A-
dam, as each was a pubiick head^, thoush
E 2 the

6o S&CT. XI.
Rom.
V.ij

And reigned over the whole human race ;

kind of type of the Mefliah, as being a pubiick
perfon and foederal head.
rei I muft obferve by the way, that with
refpeft to the free gift of God in the gofpel-dif-
penfation, it [is] not exaftly as the offence, nor
limited in all refpefts as that is ; Jor f by the of
fence oj'one many died, if the whole human family,
numerous as it is,- become obnoxious to death
and deftruftion thereby ;^ how much more hath
the free grace of God, and the gift [^ivhich is
granted] by that grace, as manifefted and dif-
played in that one greater and better man Jefus
Chrift, abounded to many, that is, to all the
numerous family of believers^
1 5 And this in two very important refpefts. In
the firft place, the gift [is] not merely, as the
ruin that came upon us by one that finned, in
refpeft to fhe number of offences in queftion ;
for the fentence o/'but one [offence paffed] u^ow us
to condemnation ; and we were no farther affefted
by the fubfequent fins of Adam, than by thofe
of any intermediate parent : but the gift of Di
vine grace, exhibited in the gofpel, [is cffcSiual^
to our iuftification firom fhe guilt ol many offences.
It not only delivers ns from the fentence to
¦vC'hich we were from our birth liable on account
of Adam's fin, but from that more grievous
and dreadful fentence which we had brought
upon ourfelves in adult life by our innumerable
17 and aggravated perfonal tranfgreftlons. More-'
over there is another important article in which
the grace of the gofpel exceeds the feeming
feverity, which attended the imputation of guilt
from our firft father Adam ; namely, that if by
one man's offence death reigned by one, over all
^ his poilerity, as we obferved above, they who
thankfully and obediently receive'^ /^i? over
flowing abundance of free grace, and of the

15 But not as tbe'
oft'ence, fo alfo is the
free gift. For^ if
through the oft'ence
of one many be deatl j
much more the grace
of God, and the gift
by grace, vjh'ic^ is
by one man, Jefus
Chrift, hath abound-'
ed unto many.

16 And not as 'ti
•was by one that fin
ned, fo is the. gifts'
for the ju^mentwui
by one to condemna
tion, but the free gift
is of many offencea-
unto juftification.

17 For if by one
man's offence death
reigned by one, much
more they which re- ,
ceive abundance of
grace, and of the gift of

the influence of each on his refpeftive
feed was different ; fo that the whole rea
foning of both thefe learned and ingenio,us
writers feems Inconclulive.
Il Thankfully and obediently receive.]
It is fo very plain, that the abundant reign
in life by Jejus Chrift, is appropriated to
perfons of a particular charafter, exprelTed
here by f-eceiving the gift, that it is fur-
priling any Ihould have fpoken of it as

common to the whole' human race.' Ani
nothing is more evident, than that tha
word Xa^Cavtt? has often this fenfe, and
fignifies being aB'ive 'in embracing a benefit?
propofed, or a perfon offering himfelf
under a charafter of importance. Com
pare John i. 11,12; chap. ill. II, 32;
chap. V. 43 ; chap. xii. 48 ; chap. xiii.
20; Jam. V. loj ) John v. 9 ; 2 John ipj
3 John 7. -finunificei^

Believers in Chrift flail he juftified from many offences.

6i

of righteoufnefs, fhall
reign in life by one,
Jefus Chrift.

18 Therefore, as
by the offenceof one,
judgment cav'.e upon
all men to condemna
tion ; even fo by the
righteoufnefs of one,
the free gift came upon
all men unto juftifi
cation of life.

19 For as by one
man's dlfobedience
many were made fin
ners ; fo by the obe
dience of one fhall
njany be made righ
teous.

Rom.
V. 17

20 Moreover, the
law entered, that the
offence

munificent gift of righteoufnefs exhibited in the Sect
gofpel, Jhall much more reign in life by the one ^^'
great Reftorer and Recovercr of his feed, even
JeJus Chrift ; ' that is, believers ftiall by him be
brouglit to a much nobler and more excellent life
than that from which Adam fell, and which they
loft in him.
Therefore, on the whole, you fee, as I begun 18
to obferve to you before ', that as [the confe
quence] of one offence, on the one hand, [extended]
to all men, to bring condemnation iipon them, fo
alfo, on the other fide, [the confequence] of one
grand aii of righteoufnefs [extended] fo all men
wh'o receive and embrace it ; fecuring to them
that juftification which will be crowned with the
enjoyment ofi eternal life. For as by the dlf
obedience of one man many were confiituied Jinners,
thaf is, became obnoxious to death, as if they
themfelves had finned ; Jo by the complete and
perfevering obedience ofi one many flail be confti-
tuted righteous^, thaf is, they fhall be treated
as fuch in the day of God's final account ;
though they have no perfeft righteoufnefs of
their own to plead, in confequence of which
they fhould ftand before God, and claim the
reward. But as for the law of Rdofes, that could not 20
poftibly procure this great benefit to them ; for
thaf made a little entrance ', that is, took place

19

J As I begun to obferve, Sfc] This
i8th verfe feems connefted with the end
of the I2th; and all the intermediate ver
fes do undoubtedly come in as a parenr
thefiii ; and the reader, by perufing the
interwoven text alone, will obferve, that
thefe verfes, T/JK. 12th, iSth, igthj make
one continued fentence. But I judged, it
neceifary here, and elfewhere, to, break
the paraphrafe into feveral fentences, left
the exceffive length ftiould have rendered
the fenfe obfcure, and the pafl'age un
wieldly and difagreeable. Many of Paul's
fentences are, as they ftand in the text,
obfcured by the length- Compare z Cor.
:cii. 14 1 chap. xiii.
k Many fhall be conftituted righteous.'^
To become liable to death for the oftepce
of another, is indeed being thereby con
ftituted a 'finner, or treated as a finner;
fince death is, in its primary view, to be
cpnfidered as thetvages ofifirtj or the.ani-

madverfion of a righteous God upon it:
but fimpiy to be raifed from the dead is
not being made righteous, or treated as a
righteoqs perfon ; fince it is a very fup-
pofiible cafe, -and will in faft be the cafe
of millions, that a finner may be raifed
in order to more condign and dreadful
puniftiment. The whole interpretation
therefore, which Mr. Tay^j^r has given of
this text, in this view, appears to me
deftitute of a fufficient foundation,
1 Made a Httle entrance,'^ So mapziTifKB^
properly fignifies, and is.well rendered by
the Vulgate, fubintramit ; in which fenfe
'UTapBia-aUJoL is ufed, Gal, ii, 4. Thus the
partial and limited entrance of the law
is diftinguifiied from that univerfal en
trance of fin, which pafled on all, as
Mr. Locke well obferves. This I think
preferable to Mr. L'Enfant's rendering it,
jhe laiu inter'vened, that is, between
Adam and Chrift,

E3

among

$2 Grace reigns through Jejui Chrift to eternal lije.

Sect, among comparatively a very fmall number of
•^^' mankind for a few ages, thiH- the offence might,
Rom. inftead of being removed, abound much more
V. 20 than before ; as in confequence of it many
things became offenfive to God, which were
before, indifferent, and the. guilt of moral ot-
fences was aggravated by fo exprefs a declaration
of the rule of duty, violated by them : fo that
on the whole, it feemed intended to convince
and humble, rather than to juftify. Yet, on the
whole, God hath taken an occafion to glorify
the riches of his mercy by fhat difpenfation, and
where fin has abounded under the moft aggrava
ting circumftances, grace hath fuper-abounded,
fo as thereby to gain a fiiperior and more illuf-
21 trious triumph. That as ftn had reigned in
the wide and univerfal devaftation which death
had made on thofe whom it had brought under
that fatal fentence, fo grace might reign to fuch
- a degree, as to beftow eternal life and happinefs,
through the glorious and complete righteouf
nefs " which we obtain by Jefus Chrift our
Lord, when we fincerely believe in him as
our Saviour, and give up our fouls to the au
thority of his equitable and aufpicious goyern
ment.

offence might a-
bound : but where
fin abounded, grace
did much more s-
bound ^

i\ That as fin
hath reigned unto
death, even fo might
grace reign through
righteoufnefs unto
eternal I'rfe, by Jefus
Chrift our Lord.

IMPROVEMENT.
-Verfe J-ET US daily remember our relation to God by Chrift Jefus,
II and ff/ory z« this relation ; faying, frequently, " He is indeed our
" Father. This God, with all his adorable, unfathomable, im-
" mutable perfeftions, is our God. He will be our Guide unto
" death, and our portion for ever. My foul flail make her boaji
" in the- Lord. What relation can be fo honourable, what can
" afiijrd fuch an unfailing fpring of peij^tual joy 1"
Let us honour him in all his difpenfations ; even thofe which
may appear the moft myfterious. In this number we are undoubt
edly to reckon his conftituting Adam the covenant-head of his
• pofterity, and involving our life or death in him ; yea, adjufting
the relation fo, that our fpiritual ftate (hould . be greatly affefted
by his conduft, and we fhould by his tranfgreflion become the
heirs, not only of death but of moral pollution, and ultimately
by -virtue of our defcent from him, be flapen in iniquity and con
ceived m ftn.
. _ m Grace might reign to eternal fife through righteoufnefs,! &c.] "This trajeSioii
tiie fenfe abfolutely requires. It

RefleClions on Adani' s ftn, and the grace of Chrift, 6 J
It is a confideration which muft carry awe and folemnity, Sect.
grief and lamentation, throughout all ages, that hy one man Jin

entered into the world, and death made fuch a progrcfs by tlie en- -verfe
trance ox ftn, as to pafs upon all men in, confequence of that aft. 12
O God, how terrible are thy judoinents ! and yet how rich thy
companion, jn appointing the fecond Adam to repair the ruin
and defolations of the firft ! Yea, more than to repair them ; to
deliver us from all our i,tio[1 aggravated tranfgreifions, if we
believe in him, and receive the gift of righteoufnefs ! to caufe us
fo reign in lije hy him ! to bring us to a more exalted and fe- 1 7
cure happinefs than Adam himfelf enjoyed in the day in which
he was created, or than Eden, the garden of God, could afford!
Let us adore thefe fuper-ahoundings oJ Divine grace, and its 20
reign unto eternal life. And let all our knowledge of the law of
God, our diftrefs under a fenfe of ^ having broken it, and being
thereby expofed to its condemning fentence, be confidered as
illuftrating the riches of that' grace whereby we are faved, and
fo animate us to returns of the humbleft gratitude, and a per
fevering obedience. Amen.

' ta

SECT. XII.
The apoflle flews, that the gofpel, far from diffolving our obliga
tions to praStical holinefs, does ftrongly increaje them; which is a
confideration tending highly to recommend it to the efteem and ac
ceptance of all. Rom. VI. i — 14.
Romans VI. 1. ROMANS VI. I.
W ft'^The!!'?"shiri npHUS we have alferted the doftrine of juftlfi- Sect.
we continue in fin. Cation by faith, or in other words, of faU ^"-
that grace may a- vation by grace. And now let us confider how j^^^^^^
''°""'*' it is to be improved. What flail we fay then, vi. i
concerning the praftical inferences to be drawn
from it ° r Shall we fay. Let us continue in the
habitual praftice oi ftn, that grace may abound
fo much the more, in pardoning and faving us ?
2 God forbid : how Q^^ forbid, -that fuch an u nworthy thought ftiould 2
fhall we, that^a^re ^^^^ ^^.^^ .^ ^^^ ^^^^^^_ ^^ ^^^^ dlfclaimed
the confequence above, (chap. iii. 7, 8,j and
we moft folemnly difclaim it again. We, who
> What pall tue jay then, &c.] The chap. iii. 7, 8. He had then only in
-«/>o/i/e here fets himfelf more fully to clear ftrong terms denied, and renounced it,
and vindicate the doiftrine he taught, but here removes the very foundation
from ti>e confequence fuggefted before, of it. E 4 are

u

His grace leads us to walk in newnefs of life.

Sect, icii.
Rom,

are dead to ftn **, we, who by our profeftion are
under fuch facred engagements to mortify it with
the greateft care, how flail we yet live in it ?.
Surely if were the grofteft contradiftion that can
be imagined. On the contrary, it is apparent,
that nothing has fo great a tendency to animate
lis to avoid fin, and to enable us fo conquer it,
as this doftrine of gofpel -grace
What, Sirs, know ye not, and is it pofllbile,
that any of you fhould be ignorant of this great
and obvious trijth, that as many of us as have
been baptized into Jefus Chrifi'', that is, into
the profeffion of the Chriftian faith ; which is
the cafe of us all ; have been baptized into his
death, and engaged to conform to the great pur
pofes of it j which vye know were to abolifh fin \
(l Pet. iv. I, 2; I John iii. 5.) Therefore,
as this is the known obligation of this folemn
initiatory ordinance, it may be faid, that we are
buried with him in that baptifm^ which we re
ceived as bringing us into ci kind of fellowfhip
in [his] death ; moft evidently for this purpofe,
(hat as Chrift was raifed from the dead by the glory
of the Father , and the operation ofhis illuftrious,
tnciugh rhyfterious power ; fo we alfo flould
continue, during the remainder of our days", to
walk in newnefs of life ; maintaining a courfe of
conduft and aftions entirely different from the
) former. For furely thefe two muft go toge
ther ; and we may conclude, that if we are thus
made to grow together in the Ukenefs of his' death",
" ' ¦ ft

dead to fin, live any
longer therein ?

3 Know ye not,
that fo'marty of us ai
were baptized into
Jefus Chrift, were
baptized into liif
death ?

4 Therefore we
are burled with him
ty baptlfnt ' Into
death ! thai like aS
Chrift was raifed up
from the dead by the
glory of the Father,
even fo alfo we Ihould
walk in newnefs of
hfe. '

5 For if we have
been planted toge
ther in- the llkenefs
of his death, we fliall

b Dead lo fin.'j Elfner ftiews how
frequently moral writers among the hea-
ihe-'U fpeak of wife and good men as dead
to fenfualities and animal pleafures, Elfner,
Obfer-v, Vol.II. p. 28.
c Baptised into Jefus Chrifi.'\ As the
church at Rome feems to have been
planted about the year 43, and this ep'fiie
was written in the year 58, that is 15
years after, ^nd yet the apojilc fpeaks of
the converted Romans in g:^ne!ral as bjp-
tizedy it muft be fuppofed, as Dr. Gale
well argues, that baptifm was adminifter:-d
to thofe whofe parents had been Chriftians
at the tirae of their birth. Compare Col,
ii. 12, See Gale's Sermons, Vol. II,
p. 202, 203.
' ^, Buried ivith him in baptifm,'^ It feems
th^ part of candor to confcfs> chat here

is an allu/}on to the manner of baptizing
by immerfion, as moft ufual in thefe early
times; but that will not prove this parti
cular circumftance to be effential to the or
dinance ; and, in whatever manner it vvas
adminiftered, if it were intended as a de
claration of faith in the death and refur-
rcdlion of Chrift, as it is we\l 'known
Chrift died for fin, it would infer an obli
gation to die to it, and rife again to a holy
life, which is the main point the apoftle
labours, ^*Made io grow together.~\ Dr. Wells
obferves, that this is the nioft exaft im
port of ^vtjL^vQ., and that it do not fig- '
nify merely being planted together, — As
there is fomcthing harrti in the conftruc--
tion of El and a\\a here, Beza would far
oXKa read «,«a j but Rapheliusj in his
notes

jyc alio in the Ukenefs
bS his refurieftlon :

'6 Knowing this,
that our old man is
crucified with hi,i:,
that the body of fin
might be deftroyed,
that henceforth we
ijiould not ferve !}n.

Rom,
VI. ^

7 For he that is
dead, is freed from
fjn.

S No\v if we be
dead wjth Chrift, we
believe that ^e fliall
affo live with him :

For the old man is criuificd with Chrift. 6
fo alfo flail we be united [in the Ukenefs] offhls] S*:ct,
refurreSilon, and fliall rife up to a life fpiritually '^"'
new, as he rofe to immortal life and vigour ;
As %ve know this, that our old man, that is, the
whole fyftem of our former inclinations and dif-
pofitiqns, which did by a fatal "contagion fpread
themfelves over the whole man, and were in-^
corporated with it, hath now, as it were, been
crucified together [ivith Chrift,] the remembrance
and confideration of his crofs co-operating in the
moft powerful manner with all the other mo
tives whi-jh the gofpel fiiggefts, to deftroy the
former habits of fin, and to infpire us with an
a verfton to it ; that fo the body offtn, of which
this old man did as it wereconfift, might be ener-
V.ated, depofed, and deftroyed ' ; that we might
no longer be in bondage to ftn ; as we were before
we were fo happy as to know the gofpel and
the efficacy of this great doftrine of a crucified
Saviour. For he that is thus dead with Chrift i
is fet at liberty front ftn ° ; fin being cruci
fied to him and he to fin, on the principles
mentioned before ; juft as the death either of
the mafter or the flave, and,much more evidently
of both, dilfolves the relation, and deftroys the
oppieflive povyer which might before be exer
cifed. And let me farther remind you, that, as S
we are Chriftians, we believe that if we be thus
dead with Chrift, we flail alfo live together with
him. We expeft ere long to Ihare with Chrift
in the complete holinefs and glory of the hea-

potes from Herodotus has produced many
parallel conftrudiions in which aWa.
fignifies, jo. As for ^he luture so^i^a,
he Jhews that it fignlfies a neccliary con
fequence from the premifes.
f Kncr^.cted, depofed, and deftroyed:
ttaiaiy-viSr,.] We render it deftroyed, not
only, tormented or enfeebled, but utterly
flain j and fo the fame word is rendered
2 Their, ii. 'i8 ^ and i Cor. xv. 26 ; per
haps not with exa£l propriety, H-:b. Ii.
14. The utter deftruBio-.i of the body of ftn
in us Is certainly Intended in the g'jfpel,
but the particular import of this wjrd is
to make void', debilitate, enervate, dijannul,
abol'ifh, or depoje. Compare Rom. ill.
31 ; chap, iv. 14; i Cor. il. 6; chap. xlli.
8 J chap. XV. 24; Eph. ii. 15 j 2TIai,I.
10. I have joined the fjgniiications -in

the paraphraje, and given the -verfton,
which appears to me moft exadily to an
fwer the Import of the original. Thie body
of ftn in believers Is indeed an enfeebled,
conquered, and depofed tyrant, and
the ftrolce of death finilhes its deftruc-
tion. Z S;t at liberty.] ^=li!daiiel«i fignifies
to be juftifted, or vindicated', and here it
feems to import being delivered from fu
ture claims •jf jubjeB'ion. But this fenfe is
fo uncommon, that I am- much in doubt
whether it might not be tttiAzt^i juft'ifici
hete, to intimate that a lenfe of juftifica
tion by the crofs of Chrift is the great
m.:;an3 of our delivery from the bondage
of fin, as it animates and excites us to
Ihake ofi' its yoke. yenly -

66

Chriftians being dead with Chrift, flail alfo live with him.

ICT
XII.

Venly world ; and you will eafily underftand, and
 I hope, eafily feel the obKgation, which that
Rom. hope lays upon us, not only to ceafe from fin,
VI. 8 but through his grace to cultivate univerfal holi-
9 nefs. We fliould ever be under the influence
of thefe views, even, to the very end of our
courfe, as we know that Chrift being raifed from
the dead, dies no more ; death no more reigneth
over him, as it feemed fpr awhile to do. And
thus your immortal life and happinefs, if you
purfue it agcoiding to his direftion and inten-
jo tion, is feCiire. For whereas he died, he died
once fpr all, as a facrifice for ftn, to atone the
injured juftice of God, and repair the honours
of his vicJated law. And as he liveth, he liveth
Jo God for ever : his immortal life is entirely
appropriated and devoted to his fervice, wherein
we ought to make it our conftant care to imitate
Jl his example. Suffer therefore the word of
exhortation^ grounded on this important prin
ciple, and fo do ye alfo reckon yourfelves to be
once for all dead unto ftn, never to return under
its power any more ; and being thus made alive,
let it be your care, in imitation of your Divine
Mafter, to devote your recovered life to the ho
nour and fervice of God in Chrift Jefus our Lord,
whofe pattern and authority, in fuch a relation,
J 2 concur to demand it of us. Therefore let not
ftn reign as an uncontroulable fovereign, now
you have another Lord, fo much greater and
, better ; let not the irregular inclinations of your
minds, when they mzy .mose. in your mortal bo
dies, give law to them. The early conqueft of
iin over the human nature hath, alas, reduced
them to the fad ftate of mortality : but do not
go on, after fuch a deliverance hath been wrought
out for you, in a fervile and wretched manner,
to obey it in its licentious deftres and demands :
13 Neither prefent your members to ftn [as] weapons
and inftruments of unrighteoufnefs ; but with all
devout affeftion and holy zeal, prefent yourfelves
lo God as thofe who by his rich mercy and
almighty power, are now made fpiritually alive,
and called ont from that wretched ftate, in which
you lay as among the dead. Confcious there
fore of the obligations you lie under to him,
>vho hath raifed you to this new and glorious life.

9 Knowing that
Chrift being raifed
fi'.om the dead, dicth
no more ; death hath
no more dominion
over him.

io For in that be
died, he died unt&
lin once ; but in that
he liveth, he liveth
unto God.

11 Lilcewife reck
on ye alfo yourfeivee
to be de^ indeed un
to iin, but ali^^e u^to
God, 'through Jefus
Chrift our Lord.

12 Let not fill
therefore reign in
your mortal body,
that ye ihould ~ obey
itintlie lufts thereof.

13 Neither yield
ye your members as
inftruments of yn-
ri ghteoufne fs unto
fm J but yield your
felves unto G(?d, as
thofe that are alive
from the dead, a,nd
your

Reflexions on our obligations to holinefs from the grace of Chrift. 67
your members as in- Ijfe, prefent all your members and powers to God Sect.
oufn^fs^un^oGot"' f ^f P^^ ^"'l '"A'-'-'^ of righteoufnefs, to J^
fight his battles ", and to be lor ever devoted to
14 For fin fliall his fervice. Do it boldly and refolutely, and Rom.
not have dominion not as if you feared that your former mafter VI. 14.
rorin°de;^he^ia:: ^^'^'^ ^f"-^ ^^ Pf^^ -J P-f a feverer
but under grace. tyrant, after you had thus 'attempted to revolt ;
for you may on the contrary be affured that ftn
flail not have any more dominion 'over you, as
you are not under the law ', a difpenfation of
bondage and terror, but under grace, under the
mercitul difpenfation of the gofpel ; which affords
fuch cohfolations, and infpires fuch hopes, as
may animate the foul to a much more fiiccefsful
combat with fin than the law could do, and give
a much nobler aftiirance of a complete viftory
over it. Rom. viii. i — 4.

IMPROVEMENT,
Let our hearts rife .with indignatipn at the thoughts of fo un
grateful an abufe of the Divine goodnefs, as to take encourage
ment from the aboundings of grace to continue in ftn. Are not we Verfe
likewife by profeftion dead to it ? are not we bound by our bap- 2
tifmal vow, as the ancient Chriftians, fo whom Paul addreffes-
himfelf, were ? Or has the ufe and purpofe of baptifm been fince
altered, fo as to allow a covenant with ftn, an agreement with hell,
even to thofe who are lifted under the banners of a Saviour? Is
Chi 1ft then become the minifter of ftn, or fhall his death lofe all its
cffeft, while we profefs to honour fhe folemn memorials of it ?
Recollefting that we are not under the law , but under grace, let 14
fo glorious a difpenfation animate us to refolutions proportionably
heroic ; and may- the remembrance of the death of the Son of
God, in concurrence with that of his refurreSiion, engage us to 4
walk in newnefs of life, if we defire another day to h& planted into 5
the Ukenefs of that refurreSiion, and to rife viftorious and trium
phant from the grave. •
No more let us return under the power of that fpiritual death,
from which Chrift, at the price of his own life, hath delivered 10,13
. Us ; but let us live to God ; folemnly prefenting our bodies and
h /K/?rai«(?^/i to fight his battles.] The in the . vilth chapter: but it may very
word oiXa properly fignlfies ioeaj>ons, and well imply that we are hot fo under tiny
in this fenfe it has a beautiful propriety. lavj, as to be utterly condemned for want
1 Under the latv.] The Mojaic laiu of a legal, that is, ^ perfeB righteoujnejs :
may be particularly intended 5 and the an apprehenfion of which would tend ut-
proprlety of what is here faid, when con- terly to difcourage the foul, in all its at-
fidered in reference to that, is illuftrated tempts to free itfelf for the future from
by that excellent difcourfe of the apoftle the dominion of fin. our

StCT. XII.

Chriftians are not the fervants of ftn :
our fouls to him, to be honoured as the inftruments of his fervice,
and employing each of our members, according fo its proper office,
for his glory. We are alive from the dead, we are raifed by a
Divine power. Let us therefore daily fet ourfelves as in the
prefence of the God of our renewed lives, and account that time
loft in which we are not afting from him. Without this, in vain
do we Jcnow the vital truths of his gofpel, in vain do we plead for
them, and amufe ourfelves with a fanguine hope of bearing the
iniage of Chrift in glory, if all thefe povyerful arguments cannot
now engage us to bear it in holinefs.

SECT. XIIL

Sect. XIIL

Rom.
Vj, J 5

Romans VL 15.
-^yHATthenPOiall we fin, becauf?
we are not under the
law but under grace ?
God forbid.

16

The apoftle takes this opportunity of urging on the Chriftians at
Rome, that holinefs to which they were foftror\gly obliged by the
gofpel. Rom. VI. 15, to the end,
Romans VI. 15.
T Have juft been reminding you Chriftians
^ of your great privileges ; that you are now
under a difpenfation of the moft glorious grace
in the gofpel, and not under the reftraints, nor
linder the terrors of the Mofaic law. And
what then are we to infer ? Shall we fake en
couragement from thence to offend him to
¦whofe diftinguifhing goodnefs we are fo much
ftbliged, and fin fecurely and prefumptuoufly,
becaufe we are not under the law, btit under the
grace oi the gofpel ? God forbid! The inference
would be fo odious, and fo dangerous, that
though I difclaimed it before, (ver. r.) I cannot
too frequently guard you againft it. And
fhould yon allow yourfelves to argue thus, it
would fufficiently prove thaf you do not belong
to Chrift; however you may glory in a pre
tended external relation. Know ye' not, that to
whomfoever ye prefent yourfelves [as] fervants,
aftually to obey his commands, his fervants you
are F Not his whofe name ye may bear with
out praftically acknowledging his authority, but
his whom you in hSt obey. Leaft of all can you
divide yourfelves between two contrary mafters,
but muft either be entirely the fervants offtn,
which you know by a certain confequence leads
to eternal death, or entirely the fervants of God,
by a courfe of refolute and perfevering obedience ;
which.

16 Know ye not,
that to whom ye yield
yourfelves fervants to
obsy, his fervants ye
are to whom ye obey ;
whether of fin unto
death, or of obedi ence

But, being free from ftn, afe the fervants of righteoufnefs .

^5

ence unto righteouf- which, notwithftanding your former failures, ^ec-t.
-*"^'''' will fecurely lead to righteoufnefs and life. .^^
t.hanLd,"ha?y°e'^were ^"' '^""^^ ^^ '" ^*4 *^."^. "^"'^''^as you were Rom,
the fervants of fin ; once the fcrvants of Jin, this is to be fpoken VJ.'i;
but ye Save obeyed of as a bondage paft and gone ; and that ye have
from the^ heart^tha^t p^.^^, ^^^^^^^ ^Qt ;„ ptofeftion alone, but/M?w the
which was delivered heart, the model oJ doctrine into which ye were

yo

l8 Being then
made free from fin,
ye became the fer
vants of righteouf
nefs. 19 I fpealc after
the manner of men,
becaufe ot. the infir-
fnity of your flefli :

delivered, as into a model''; thaf your whole
temper and life might be formed and fafliioned
into an amiable and glorious correfpondence with
it. y^W therefore being thus made free from ftn, 18
ye are become the fervants of righteoufnefs, and are
at once enabled, and obliged to lead a iife of true
piety and exemplary goodnefs.
I fpeak as a man, and upon the common prin
ciple of human equity and juftice, as well as
with a reference to civil cuftomsi with which

19

vantrto uncleannefs
and to iniquity, unto
iniquity; even fo now
yield your snembers
fervants to rlghteouf-
.oefs, unto holinefs.

for as ye have yielded y^y Romans are fo familiariy acquainted.' And
your mem - j ^g^f^jj 'sJpiM^ with you, becaufe of the weakneft
of your ftefl, becaufe of thofe infirmities and
temptations arifing from it ; againft which I
would endeavour to fortify you by every confi
deration that may render you viftorious over it.
As ye have ^ in time paft, while ignorant of the
gofpel, and many of you the flaves of heathen
vice and idojatry, prefented your members fervants
to uncleannefs, and to other kinds of iniquity,
into which that debauchery too naturally leads ;
fo let it noiu be your care to prefent your members
fervants of righteoufnefs, in order to tlie praftice
of nniverfal holinefs.
zo For when ye And it is Very fit that this fhould be j'our 20
were the fervants of entire employment ; for zvhen ye were fervants
fin, ye were free ^r r ^^^ jr^^^ r^^^.^ righteoufnefs, you never
from righteoufnefs. i-i ¦' r i ¦' r\-'^ i i i i
did any lingle aftion that was truly good, and
on the whole acceptable to God, becaufe none

a Model of doBrint, &c. tif op itafU
JaiBsIs luittx J-iJa;^»t.] That tuwo? may
properly be rendered model, fee note f on
Rom. v. 14, and add to the inftances
there given Elfner's note on this place ;
and fee Dr. Sykes of Chriftianity, p. iji 
Mr. Locke thinks it is an ekgzntmetaphor,
to reprefent the delivery of a fervant over
from one mafter to another, and that the
gofpel, exprefled by the form of found
Words, is the mafter fucceeding to the
i»w. Bilt it fssms more probaWe» that

it may allud-s to melted mital being formci
by the mold into which it is poured ',
and it finely exprefles that pliancy of tem
per with refpeil to the gofpel, which cor. -
ititutes fo lovely a part of the true Chri-
ftian^s charafter.
b ./Is ye have.] It is in the urig'inal
(uTijip ya-o : but yap Is here moft evidently
an expletive, as in Greek it often is. It is
of fome moment to obferve this; and I
think it had been better, if our tranfiators
had mors freijuently attended to it. was

yo For the wages of fin is death ; the gift of God, eternariijei
Sect. .,^35 performed from fuch principles as could
' intitle it to his complete approbation. Now
Rom. furely you (hould be as ready to obey righteouf-
VI. 20 nefs as you have been to obey fin, and fhew
as much zeal in the beft as you have done in
0,1 the worft of caufes. To engage you therejore
to this, confider, what Jruit or advantage did
you then derive from thofe things, of the very re-
. membrance of which you are now heartily
afhamed; which you would not be, if you had
indeed obtained any folid advantage by them ;
whereas this is far from being the cak, for the
22 certain end of thofe things [is] death. But re
member, you have now what is moft honoura
ble and moft advantageous in your view ; for
¦teing fet free from ftn, and engaged to God as his
fervants and property, you have your fruit unto
holinefs, in which you find a prefenj and moft
folid advantage ; and the end you have in view
is nothing lefs than eternal life : fuch is the in
finite difference, and fo advantageous the ex-
23 change you have made. For eternal death [is]
the proper wages and defert offtn, and is all the
- gain which its wretched .flave will have fo fliew
from the hand of his tyrannical mafter in the
great day of future account":: but eternal lift
£/x,] not as in fhe former inftance, the juftly
deferved retribution of the aftion, but the gift of
a gracious and bountiful God in Chrift Jefus our
Lord, to whom we are to afcribe it, that any of
our fervices are accepted, and much more that
they are recompenfed with a munificence worthy
the Lord of all.

21 What fruit had
ye then in thofe
things whereof ye .
are now aftiamed ? for
the' end of thofe
things is death.

22 But now being
made free from fin,'
and become fervants
to God, ye have your
fruit unto hollneft,
and the end everlaft
ing life.

23 For the wages
of fin is death ; buf,
the gift of God is e-
ternal life, through
JcfusChrift our Lord*

IMPROVEMEN.T.
Verfe Being fet at liberty from the condemning fentence of God's
15 hw, let us charge our fouls, by all the ties of gratitude, that
we do not turn his grace into wantonnefs ; or deceive ourfelves
with vain words in a matter of infinite importance. We cannot

c Eternal death — in the great day of
future account.] I fee no imaginable rea
fon to believe, as foine late writers have
Intimated in their paraphraje on -this
verfe, that- death here fignlfies being caft
out of exiftence. See chap. ii. 12, note i.
If this could be inferred with r^ation to
w'leked lieathens from the places before us,

it might alfo, contrary to the opinion of
thefe authors, be concluded to be the cafe
of •wicked Chriftians from chap. vijl. 13.
The truth is, that to die fignifies to fall
ynder the capital fentence of the Divine
law; and it is well known, that being
caft.into the ever-burning lake is in this view
called death, Rev. xxi. ». be

RefteSlions on the wages ofi ftn, and the fruits of righteoufnefs.

•71

be at the fame time the fervants of God and the fervants offtn ; Sect.
and certainly our underftandings muft be darkened to infatuation, ¦^'"'
if we can long doubt whofe fervice we fliould prefer. The work Vcife'
of righteoufnefs is peace, the effe3 of it quiet nefs and affurance for in
ever, (Ifa. xxxii. 17-;) \Mi death is the wages of ftn, audit fhall 2:;
be repayed to all that go on in it. And O what, and how terri
ble a death ! to be caft into the lake which burneth with fire and
hrimftone, which is the fecond death. How merciful are all the
repeated admonitions which warn us to flee from it ! Let us all
judge, that it is already too long that we have yielded ourfelves the 18, iq
fervants offtn : too long that our members, made for the fervice of
their Creator, devoted perhaps with great folemnity to our Re
deemer, "have been abufed and proftituted as the inftruments of
unrighteoufnefs. Surely it is too much time that we have already 22
fpent, too much vigour that we have already exerted, in fo bafe a
fervitude. For the future let us aft as thofe who are made free
* from ftn.
And to animate us to it, let us often refleft how unfruitful ix
the works of darknefs have been found ; in what flame they have
already ended ; in what fliame and everlafting contempt they muft
end, if they be finally purfued. And let us daily direft our eye
to that everlafting life, that crowns the happy profpeft of thofe
vvho have their fruit unto holinefs. Blefted effeftof ferving God 23
now, to ferve and enjoy him for ever ! to enjoy, through eternal
ages, the pleafures of a nature thoroughly fanftified, and fhe fight
and favour of that God, who is the original fource and pattern of
fanftification ! It is the glorious mark at which we are aiming.
Let us purfue it fteadily and refolutely ; yet always remembering
that it is the gift of God, and never prefiraning to think of fo glo- 2 :^
rious a remuneration as the ivages of any duty we can perform.
Alas ! the imperfeftions of our beft fervices daily forfeit th^ blef
fings of time : how impoftible then is it, that the fincerity of them,
amidft fo many frailties and defefls, fhould purchafe the glories of
eternity !
SECT. XIV.
The apoftle enters upon his defign of taking off the beliiving JeWs
from their fond attachment to the' Mofaic law, now they were f
in a fpiritual fenfe, married to Chrift by the gofpel. Rom. VI I.
1 — 6.
Romans VII. i. RoMANS VII.
jj^ ""^^^""^reii^ T H.-vvE been endeavouring to direft your re-
i gards to , the gofpel, and to Chrift as there
exhibited, in order to your juftification and fal
vation. Now you may perhaps be ready to ob
jeft.

fti The law hath domiiiionl its long cts it liveth.
Sect, jeft, that you, who are Jews, will certainly be *i*n, (for I fpeafe
-VT-v •" V, , ¦' ' ^ , . •". 1 r • -1 -f to them that know
^ out of the way of obtaining thole privileges, it ^^^ j^^^j ^ow that
*" you fliould negleft the Mofaic law, the Divine

VlC'i s^u'hority of vvhich none can reafonably quef-

the law hath domi
nion over a man as
loni as ho liveth ?

tidn. But krioiv ye not brethren, (for I am now
fpeaking to thofe that are fuppofed to be famili-
' arly Acquainted ivith the contents of that law
for which they are fo zealous ;) that, on the
principles which the law itfelf lays down, if
ruleth over a man only fa long as it liveth':
its dominion over particular perfons can, at the
utmoft, laft no longer than till it is itfelf abro
gated ; for that is as it were its death, fince. the
Divine authority going along with it Was the
very life and foul of the law. Suppofe that td
Ceafe, and the letter of the precept is, but
dead corpfe, and with refpeft to its obligation
2 as if it had never been. Juft as-it is, according 2 For the woman
to the law itfelf, with refpeft to the power of ^^'"=^ ''^th an huf^
an hufband over his wife, which death entirely the'^i'aw'to'T huf^
dtffolves : for thi married woman is indeed band fo long as he
hound and confined by the law to her hufland I'veth ; but jf the
while he is alive; but if [her] hufland be dead, Wo^nd be dead, ihe
r, • r !¦! r -r- -1 /- 1 ¦ o.' '^ looled from the
Jhe IS jet at Uberty Jrom any farther lubjectiofi lav/of ic^ hulband.
to the law of iher] hufland, that i,=,' from that
law which had given him a peculiaf propertjli sSothen, ifwhli^
^ in her, and authority over her. Therefore if ^f h^tapd liveth,
o rf 7 ,1 . . : r- .1 , b 1 ¦in H12. be jfiarried to a-
fle became the property of another m^n^ , whilft „other man, (he fliall
her hufland liveth, fle carries the infamous name be called an adulte-
of an adult er eft ; but if her hufland be dead, fle "fs; but if herhuf-
is fet at liberty from the obligation of the law ^A"eVom tt? la":,'^ ' fo

A So long as it liveth : ep btov ^ovov ^n.]
It -would be contrary to the apoftle^s de-.
lign, to fuppofe the fenfe of this to be,
as our tranftation renders It, as long as Ve,

tranfpofitlon not to be allowed without
more apparent reafon. Our rendering is
more natural,^ and fults the connection
with the' following verfes, in which the

that is, the raan in queftion liveth: for- law is reprefented as tht ftrft hufband,
he profefledly endeavours to prove, that whofe deceafe leaves therrt free to be mar-
they had out- lived their obligations tothe ried to Chrift.
lata, Elfnerwould conneibatSpTra v/;th ^ If fhe become the property of another,
TO;j«-, and render it, the la'tv ^nd autho- (sot vsvnltfi a>S^i iltg'ji,) while ber hitjband
rlty of the huftand continues in force, as liveth, &c.] The apoftle l\ere fpealfs in .
long as he, that Is, the huftand I'lveth, - the genera', notentering exaftly into every
and produces authorities to prove that excepted cafe that might be imagined ;

3iL»gi£yiw is often applied to the obliging
force of a lau, or that matrimonial cuftoms
are fometimes called laws. {Objerv.
Vol. II. p. 31.) But this, Ifltavoldas
he pleads, one tautology, certainly occa
fions another, for the 2d verfe plainly ex
prefles this fenfe j and it would require a'

to infer therefore, contrary to our Lord's
exprefs decifion elfewhere, that adulterfii
not a fufficient foundation for divorce,
feems very unreafonable; though Blfliop'
Birrnet afliires us that great ftrefs wa^ once^
laid, on the argument. Burn. Hift. of the
Reformation, Vol. II. p, 57. tiiat"

I But we. are fet at liberty from the law. 73
fo that Ihe is no adui- that bound' her to him, fo as to be no more Huh- Sect.
terefs, though flie be jeft to the ftiame and puniflimeiit of fl» W«//^- ^^^-
married to another '' r j i n ¦ i i r ? '
jnan. ' rejs ; though Jhe become the property of another Rom.
man: for death iiavinginterpofed between tiiem, YII. 3
hath diftblved the former relation ; he is dead to~ 4.
her, and ftie to him. Thus ye alfo, my dear
brethren, are in effeft dead to the Mofaic law by
law by the body of ll^^ lody of Chrift ° ; his death and fufferings
Chrift; that ye fliould having now accomplifhed its defign, gnd abro-
be married to ano- a^xcA its authority : and this, with a eracious
ther, even to him wno P . • ; , ; ¦ -7
is raifed from the uitent, that ye might be, as It were, married to
another, [that isf] to him who was in fo glori
ous and triumphant a manner faifed from the
dead, no more to die ; that in confequence of
this new marriage, we might bring forth fruit
unto God in all the ways pf holy obedience.
And ye ftiould do it with the greateft zeal ; 5
in the ftefl, that is, under the
comparatively carnal difpenfation of Mofe.?, a
variety oiftnful paffions, accidentally occafioned
and irritated by the law, were adive in our mem
bers, fo as to produce vifible finful aftions, and
in them to bring forth a yery different/i-z/// from
that which I have juft been mentioning ; even
as I obferved before, (chap. vi. 21, 23,) fuch
fruit as would expofe you to eternal death, if
God were to be ftrift to mark your offences,
9nd if his mercy did not interpofeto break the
fatal conneftion : a circumftance which it is
of the utmoft importance ferioufly to refleft
upon. But now we are fet at liberty from 6
our ^obligation to the law, that obligation in
zuhich we were held, being' in effeft dead, or
abrogated, as I told you above, (ver. i—J^,)fo
as that now you are, in a more liberal manner, ,
and from nobler principles, to Jcrve QoA as your
Mafter and Father in Chrift,- in the newnefs of
the Spirit, and not [in] the oldnefs of Jhe letter '' ;
that is, you are to live as thofe that are renewed .
by the Holy Spirit of God, in a rich abun
dance poured out upon you under this new and

4 wherefore, my
brethren, ye alfo are
become dead to the

dead, that we ftiould
bring forth fruit unto
God.

5 For when we
wa-e in */ fl=*. Ae ^^ ^^^J^^^^ ^^ ^^^^
motions or fins wjiich '
were by the law, did
work in our members
to bring forth fruit
unto death :

6 But now we are^
delivered from the
law, -that being dead
'vheu'in we '.vera
heldi that we /hould
ferve in newnefs of
fpirit, and not in the
oiincfsof the letter.

'<^ By the body of Chrifi.'] He is to be
confidered here 3s teltifying by the au-
tiiority of a Chriftian apoftle that thit. w.-^s
the defign of Chriit's death ; fo chat all
he does in his argument h^re, is to iliew,
that allowing it to have been thus, (.u
Je'Toifb belic-vers all died,) their frecdo:n
Vol. IV

from the Mofaic laiv followed on the very
principles of that lai^\\.{^\i,
d f.ttvnefz ofi the Spirit, not [m] the old-
rfs ofi the letter.] This is the literal ver^
fion J but nexu fpirit, and old letter, are
tantamount exprellio.i:', and -are rtiore
a^aeeable to ihe turn of our language-
F better

y4 RefteSlions on freedom from the law, and union with Chrift.
SEdT. better difpenfation, whereby you are brought to
^ obferve the fpiritual meaning and defign of the
Rom. law ; being no longer bound by thefe literal and
VII. 6 ceremonial precepts which were indeed obliga- ,
tory long fince, but now begin to be antiquated,
and out of date. (Heb. viii. 13.)
IMPROVEMENT.
God hath conferred upon aft Chriftians this fingular honour, tha{
Verfe the whole body of theni (hould be reprefented as efpouftd ts Chrifi^
4 Let us always remember, how we are engaged by that facred rela
tion, to bring forth unto God. And may the remennbrance of the
refurreftion of Chrift put continual vigour into our obedience^
while we regard him as the ever-living Lord, to whom our obli- '
gations'are indiffoluble and everlafting.
5 Too much h'U'vt ftnfui paffions reigned in our flefh, during our un
converted ftate. In too many inftances have they wrought-tStSka-
ally to bring forth fruit unto death. And we-owe it to the wonder
ful mercy and forbearance of God that death, eternal death, hath ¦¦
not long fince been the confequence.
6 Being freed from the yoks of the ceremonial law, being freed
alfo from, the condemning fentence of that moral law,- under the
obligations of whi(;h bythe conftitution of- our intelligent and ra
tional nature we are all born ; let us thankfully acknowledge the
favour, aud charge it upon our grateful hearts, that wt ferve God
, in newnefs of fpirit and of life. To engage us to this, may we
experience more abundantly the renewings of the Holy Gholt ;
and the aftions of our lives will be eafily and delightfully reduced
to fhe obedience of thefe precepts which his omnipotent and graci
ous hand hath infcribed on our hearts !
SECT. XV.
To wean the believing Jews from their undue attachment to the law
of Mofes, the apojlle refrefents at large, how comparatively in-
effeBual its ^ motives were, to produce that holinefs, which, by a
lively faith m the gofpel, we may fo happily obtain. Rom. VII.
1,totheend.V\\\. \-^i^.
Romans. VII. y. Romans vii. 7.
xv^' I ^^Y'^.'^een obferving above, to thofe of my W"''^*'"r'""^-
' Chriftian brethren who were educated in the °"'
Rom. Jewifti religion, that irregular paflions, while
VII. 7 we were under the law of Mofes, and were ac
quainted with no fuperior vdifpfinfation, did in
fome inftances, by means of the law, operate fo
as to bring forth fruit unto death. And it is ne
ceflary, that I fhould not only farther illuftrate that

By the law of Mofes is the knowledge offtn. y^
then?/! the law fin? that important remark, but exprefsly caution Sect.
Ood torbid. Nay, I ¦ n ¦ n i ' ¦ ^u ' i ^- • tjj-i , XV.
had not known lin, aga^fi any miftake with relation to it. What f^f^
hut by the law : for I flaU we fay then, or what do we intend by Rom.
had not kpown lull, that affertion? [thai] the law itfelf [u] ftn,Vll. j
fairThou ihlit nft *^'=** ^^"^ '^ ^"X "^""^^ ^^^^ in It, Or that it is in-
iov'et. tended by God, or adapted in its own nature,
to lead men into fin ? God forbid I We revere the
high authority by which it was given, too hum
bly, to infinuate any thing of that kind. And
indeed rhere are many particulars in tn'hich /
flould not have known ftn, but by the lavj '. I
fhould not, in a mere ftate of nature, have ap
prehended the evil of them ; which I now learr^
from finding them fo exprefsly prohibited. /
had not for inftance known the finfulnefs of luft,
or irregular defires, unlejs the law had Jaid',
" Thou Jhall mt covet'^ ;" from whence it was
eafy to infer, that this law takes cognifance of
,. ^,^"' ''" '^'^'"S the heart as well as of external aftions. Bui 'i
occafion by the com- r rij'j/ij- u^
mandment, wrought as foon as I had underftanding enough to per-
in ceive that the law forbade the indulgence ot ir
regular deftres, I found that I had in faft bro
ken it; and thereby incurred the penalty, without
any hope of help and deliverance from the law.
And this, while I looked no farther, naturally
tended to throw my mind into a ftate of dejec
tion and defpair. ¦ So that I may fay, that_/?« tai-
ing occafton from the awful fanftion of the
commandment", the wrath and ruin which it de
nounced, brought me into fo fad a fituation of
mind, and left me fo little ftrength and fpirit to
refill
, ^ J pouid not have known ftn, SiZ.l^'Vhe of his ilfcourfe, as well as to Virhat is ejt-
apoftle here, by a very dexterous turn, prefsly aflerted, chap. viii. 2,
changes the perfon, and fpeaks as of him- b 'Thou fhalt not covet.] This, by the
felf. This he elfewhere does, (Rom. Ili. way, proves, that Paul thought the covet-
6 ; I Cor. X. 30, chap. iv. 6,) when he o-ufnefs forbidden in the tenth commands
is only pecfonating another charai^er. ment related to the heart, ^nd not merely.
And the charafter aflumed here is that of as fome have reprefented it, to any overt
a man, firft ignorant of the laiu, then un- aSl, to an attempt to fake away what be-
fltr if, and fincerely defiring to pleafe God, longs to another. And this might be a
but finding to his forrow, the weaknefs hint to all thinking men, that the fecret;
of the motives it fuggeffed, and the fad powers of their fouls were under a Divine;
Aifcouragement under which it lef^hlm,; infpeftlon, and that much guilt might be
and laft of all, w'lth tranjport difcoverirtg contrafted whkh did not appear to any
/Ac |;o^c/, and gaining pardon and ftrength, human eye.
peace and joy by it. But to fuppofe he ,^ c Sin taking otcafton from ths command-^
(peaks all thefe- things of himfelf, as the aent.] Moft commentators have explained
confirmed Chr'ift'ian, that he really was, this, as fignifying, that fin was quick-
'Kfhen he wrote this epiftle, is not only ened by the prohibition ; the inclination
foreign^ but contrary to the whole fcope of human nature in general being like that

76

The comtntindmint found to be unto death :

Sect. XIV.

Rom.
VII. .3

JO

refift future temptation, vvhen I feemed already
undone ; that it might in a manner be faid to
have wrought powerfulh 'in me all manner of con-
cupifcence"^ : fuch advantage did fin gain againft
me. And L mention this, as the effeft of my be-
corning acquainted vvith the law, becavje while
I was ignorant of the fentence and confidered my
felf as without the luvj of .GoA, ftn [was]Aead ;
I was no' more avvare.of any danger from it, or
any power it had to hurt me, than if it had been
a dead enemy. For I once was, as it were,
alive with the laiu", confidering myfelf as a
man acquainted with it, I may fay I was
comparatively cheerful and happy ; but when
the commandment came, and I became ac
quainted with it, in its wide extent, un-
fpotted purity and awful fanftions, then ftn,
immediately came to Ufe again; it, fprung
up againft me as a living enemy, armed with
inftruments of deftruftion ; and L, as inca
pable of refifting it, fell down, and died; find
ing myfelf unable to refift my miferable doom.
And thus the commandment which [%vas] in
Its originar conftitution [intended] for life^,
and calculated foto regulate men's temper and
conduft and if perieftiy obeyed, to give them a
legal claim to life and happinefs, was quite
changed in this rcfpecl. For / having thus bro
ken it, and by fuch breach brought its condemn-

In me all manner of
concuplfcence.- For
without the law £n
was dead.

9 For I was alive
without the law once*.
but when the com
mandment came, fin
revived, and I died.

' 10 And the com-
mandmentwhichwdi orda'ined to life, I
found

of a froward chili-, who will 'do a thing
hic^.i'je It was ftrbuidcn, and perhaps Is,
.:s it '.-.Lie, remi, .ded of an evil, on hear
ing it n.entioned in a prohiblcion. But,
jiot to examine how far this Is a univer-
lal cafi', It ,-nui'': furely be acknowledged,
tna: all luft does not arife from hence,
much being previous to a-iy pollible
knowledge of God's law, whether re
vealed or mtural. I therefore incline to
the interpretation which Mr. Qunlope has
^ivcn, in his excellent Sermon on this paf-
j..ge. the tenor of whofe thoughts I have
followed In the whole of my paraphraje
-jpov it, begging leave to refer my reader
to his difcourfe, lor the reafons that have
determined me to It. compare Jer. li. 25,
See Dviil. Serin. Vol. II. p. 46, 47.
'I Wrought for vie.] The word Jtal-g-
ya^o.uai in iTLiny places fignlfies to ope
rate in a po^.verful ard efticac'ious 'manner,
(compaj-c 2 Cor. iv. 17; chap, v. 5 ; chap.

vii. II ; chap. xii. 12,) and may well her=
fignify a ftrong irritation uf what might)
without it, have been in fome degree na-
tu.-al. e / tvas once alive ivithout the law.]
The apoftle cannot, as Mr. Locke fuppo
fes here, fpeak in the perfon of ths whole
Jewiih, people, and in this claufe, relsr to
the time between Abraham a.id Mof'S ;
for, not to-examine how far this defcrlp-
tion would fuit them then, we muft on
that principle of interpretation fuppof-;,
they are all reprefented in the cloje of ihe
chapter, as believing in Chrift ; which alas !
we know to have b\;en very far frora, being
their cafe.
f 'intended for life,] The law. may be
fald to have been intended j^rt'ife, though
by fin made the occafion of death ; as me
dicines, which not being rightly applied,
prove fatal, may neverthelefs be fa,d to
have been intended for cur:. ing

For though the law is holy and fpiritual.

11

found death.

to he unto

ing fentence upon me, really found it [to be] unto Sict.
death. I found it attended with deadly confe- ¦'^^•
quences, both as it configned me over to deftruc-

Ron

II For fin taking
occafion by the com
mandment, deceived
mei and by it fiew
me.

12 Wherefore the

tion for paft fin, and occafionally, -though not VII. I'o
intentionally, proved prodiiftive of new guilt
and mifery. For Jin, as I before faid, taking t-f-
occafton by the terror and curfe of the violated
commandment , and reprefenting the great Law
giver as now become my irreconcileable enemy,
deceived me into a perfiiafion that I could be no
worfe than I was, and thereby it fiew me ; it
multiplied my mortal wounds, and rendered my
cafe ftill more defperate.
So that you fee, upon the whole, the law in 12
law is holy, and the the general [is] acknovvleilwd to be holy, and
commandment holv, ..7 ..¦ l 7 ^ - , n- ¦
and juft, and good. "'^ particular commananient in queftion is ac
knowledged to be agreeable to the holy nature of
Go'\, juji'va reference to the reafonof things, itW
on the whole, in its confequences ^o;?^, and fub-
fervient to fnen's happinefs, if they continue in
a ftate bf reftitude. Was then that which was 13
good in itfelf mitde death lo me? Shall I charge
forbid. But fin, that my ruin on this holy and good law of God ? By
it might appear fin, no means. God Jorbid 1 ihould ever utter any ,
r'^t^at'^whl^h "; thing like that. But I muft rather charge it upon
good; that fin by the fttn, which by means of fo holy an inftrument
commandment might undid me. I fay it again. Sin was made death
^fx^T "'^"''"^ 1:0 me, fto that it appeared to he ft.n indeed', (that
odious dreadful thing, of which nothing can be
faid worfe than that it is itfelf,) as working death
I in mc, by the occafion of that which is fo emi
nently good: that ioftn might by the commandment
thus perverted, appear exceeding finf id, and ftand
forth in all its native and deteftable colours ;
capable of turning the law itfelf into a means of
producing the guilt it fo folemnly forbade, and
the ruin it was intended to prevent.
It is on this therefore that I lay all the blame; 14
for we well know that the law is fpiritual, and
as it . extends to the Spirit, was intended to
purify and exalt it, and to affert its fuperiority
over the meaner part of our nature. But, alas.

13 Was then that
which is good ,made
death unto me ? God

14 For we know
that the_, law is f^*! ri
tual :

% So that it appeared : iva <^avn.] Elf- , fairly and naturally be expounded Into
ner contends that <{?av>i is an expletive any fignlficant fenfe ; as it is plain this
here ; but I.choofe not to allow any word may here be. See Eljner, Objerv. Vol. II.
in fcripture to be an expletive, that may p. 37.

F3

may

Yet by means of the law ftn worketh death ,*

tual ; bat I am c^4
nal, fold under' f)'n. '

?5

15 For that which

16

J7

18

may the man I have been defcribing and repre
fenting above, be ready to fay, / am in a great
meafure carnal, and in fo many inftances fub
dued by the remaining infirmities of my nature,
that I am ready paffionately to cry out, I ani
even fold under ftn '' ; which often rifes with an
almoft irrefiftable ftrength, to affume a tyranni
cal dominion over me, as if fwere its flave and
property. For that which I aftually do, I _
allow, or approve not'' in many inftances ; for i do, i allow not : foi
too often, through the -ftrength of paflron and Io Tnoi ,™ut whati
furprife of temptation, / praSiife not that which hate, that do I. '
in the genSraV tenor of my. mind /4iabitually ' ¦
will;, hut the things which / even hate, which I
think of with the greateft abhorrence, thofe
things in many refpefts /am fo unhappy to do;
which indeed makes me a burden to myfelf.
A'ij'U' if I do that which I would not, in willing
not to do it, / do fo far, though to my own
condemi^ation, confent to the law, and bear my
teftimony to it, that [it is] good, and do indeed good
defire to fulfil it ; though When a prefling hour
of temptation comes, contrary to my refolution,
I fail in obferving it. But now, in thefe cir
cumftances, /'/ is no mofe I myfelf that can pro
perly be faid to do it ; but rather ftn, which
dwelleth in rite, and which makes, as it were,
another perfon, having defires and motions and
interefts entirely contrary to thefe of the renew
ed part within ; which I would call my better-
felf. For I well know, that in me, that is, in
my ftefl, the corrupt and degenerate felf, nothing
that is good dwelleth. I find my animal_ powers ZZTLlft
ladly debaled and cnflaved : for to will ts indeed to willis prefent with
prefent with me, I form many good purpofes and. ^^ ;

16 If then I do
that which I woul(i
not, I confent unto
the law that it is

17 Now then it is
no more I that do it,
but fin that dwelleth
in me.

18 For I know,
that in me (that is,.

^ Sold under fin-] ThJs is often urged
as an argument, that the apoftle here
fpeaks in the perfon of a 'wicked man, and
IS reprefented as a phrafe parallel to
3 Kings xxi. 20 j 2 Kings xvii. 17 ; .where
fome of the worft of men are defcribed
as having fold themfelues to do eviL But
the diverfity of the expreiTion is very
obvious i and yei had this perfon been
reprefented as lamenting that he had fold
himfelfi to Jtif ;t might have been under
ftood as the language of penitent remorfe
for paft guilt, and fo very confiftent with
a good man's character. Aad the many

inftances in which very excellent perfons,
in the diftrefs of their hegirts for the re
mainder df imperfeftioh in their charac
ter, adopt this very phrafe, plainly ihew
with what propriety Paul might put it into
the mouth of one v/bjm he did not con
fider as an abandoned iinner, and deftitute
of every principle cf r9al piety.
i / approve not.] Gataker {de Sfyl.
Nov, Teftam, cap. 4; Adverf. Mifeell,
lib. i. cap. 6) and Raphelius in lac. bring
appofite inftances of fuch a ufe of the
word yivxtrxm* refolutions ;

ihe caufte of which is in dwelling ftn.

79

nje ; bnt ho^o to per
form that which is
good, I find not.

19 For the good
that I would, I do
not : but the evil
which I would not,
that 1 do.

20 Now if I do
that I would not, it is
no niore I that do It,
but fm that dwelleth

tt I find then a
law, that when I
would do good, evil
is prefent with me.
2z For I delight
in the law of God,
after the inward man :

23 But I fee ano ther

refolutions ; but when the time comes in which Sect.
I fhould bring them into efftft, / find not in my
heart a fufficient [ahiUty\ ftrenuoufly to perform Rom.
that luhich 1 know is good, and which, I ac- VII. 18
knowledge to be moft amiable and defirable.
It is indeed fo grievous a refleftion to me, that ig
I cannot forbear repeating it again and again ;
for it is really fo, that I do not the good that /
often zuiU, and refolve to do ; but the evil which
I will not to do, which I form the ftrongeft pur
pofes againft, that I do^ in repeated inftances.
ff therefore, as I faid before, / do that which I 20
zuould not, gnd am, as it were, overpowered in
fome cafes and circumftances, contrary to the
fettled and prevailing bent and inclination of
my foul ; // is no more I that do it, but fin, which,
as another perfon, dwelleth in me^, and, like an
evil demon, when it 'has taken polfeftion of a
man, ufes my faculties afid powers, over which
if ufurps an .abhorred dominion, to carry on its
own contrary and deftruftive interefts. I find 21
then, upon the whole, a fort of conftraining
law, which fo influences me, that ivhen I would
do good, evil is in faft prefent with me. For 23
with regard to the inner-man, that is, my mind,
the better and nobler powers of my intelleftual
nature, / delight in the law of God ™, I moit
heartily approve it, and look upon its whole
fyftem with complacency, as what I could
rejoice to be conformed to in the completeft
manner, and higheft degree. - But alas, / 23

k l^ke evil ivh'ich Ituill not, that I do.]
If the meaning of fuch expreliions as
thefe were, that upon the whole, the
perfon uling them went on in a prevailing
courfe of habitual wickednefs, againft the
conviftions and dii5late5 of his own con
fcience, one would Imagine Paul would
have rebuked fuch a one with great feve
rity, and anfwered thefe va'n and hypo.-
critical pleas ; whereas he reprefents this
perfon afterwards, as with joy embracing
the gofpel, and fo obtaining fuperior
ftrength upon the full manifeflTatlon of
pardoning grace there.
1 Sin that dwelleth. Sec] This feems
indeed no more than a repetition of verfe
];7 J but it is a graceful and expreffive
repetition, and Ihews how near the aftair
iay to tbe heart of the perfon tkus com

plaining, and in what fad and frequent
fucceffions the complaint was renewed.
The beautiful paflage in the. 6th book of
Xenopbon^s Cyropadia, (p. 328, edit.
Hutchin.tTji, 'ivo.) where Arafpus com
plains of two fouls Contending within
him, (a palTage which^t is very poiiible
St. Paul raight have read,) contains an
agreeable illuftration of this paragraph.
tn 1 delight in the law of God after the
inner-man.] This is Cd fure a trace of
real piety, and is reprefented in fcripture
as, in this, view, fo declfive ; that if it
be fuppofed a true reprefentation of the
x:hara(Ser, we muft furely allow it to have
been that of a truly good -man ; whatever
lamented imperfection^ mi^ht attend it..^—
Plato ufes the phrafe 0- fiv1i>? av&pajTTOff for
the rational part of our nature.

F4

fee

8o

The happinefs of being freed fri^n this law of ftn ;

5^f.T. fie another , and quite oppofite law, of vicious
•^^" and irregular ir.clinations, feated in my members,
Rom. , which, taking its rife from a lower and meaner
VII.23 principle, is -continually making war againft the
better law of my mind, ' and too frequently cap
tivating me to the law of ftin, which is, as I faid,
24 feated in my corporeal members. Wretched
. man that I aAi I Do I often cry out in fuch a
circumftance, w^iih no better ftipports and incite
ments than the law can give ; who. fliall rejcue
me, miferable captive as I am, Jrom the body oJ
this death P From this continual burden which
I carry about with me, and which is cumber-
fome and odious, as a dead carcafe, tied to a
living body, to be dragged along with it where-
ever it goes".
25 Thus I bemoan myfelf, when I think only of
the Mofaic law, the difcoveries it makes, the
motives it fiiggefts, and the circumftances in
which it leaves the offender: but in the midft of
this gloomy prdfpeft, a fight of the gofpel re
vives my heart ; and I 'cry out, as in a kind of
rapture, as foon as I turn mine eyes to it, / thank ¦
God, through JeJus Chriji our Lord°, in whom
he now reveals himfelf to me, and by whom he
delivereth me from this bondage and mifery.
So then, whereas I myfelf^, with the nobler
powers of my Jpirif Jrrve ihe law of God, though
in too many inftances I am fo opprelfed with the
infirmity of my flefl, thatT am fubdued by the
lavj offtn:, [There is]inou-, under the gofpel-
difj enfation, no condemnation to thofe in Chrift
Jefus, who ivalk not after the flejh, but after the
Spirit * ; . that is, to thofe, v\'ho making a pro
feftion

ther law in .my mem
bers, warring againft
the law of my mind,
and bringing me into
captivity to the law
of lin, which is in
my members.
24 P wretched
man that 1 am, who
Ihall deliver me from
the body . of this
death 1

25 I thank God,
through Jefus Chrift
our Lord. So then,
with the mind I my
felf ferve the law of
God;' but with the
fielh, the law of fin.

Rom.
vm. ,

Romans VIII. I.
'there is therefore now
no condemnation to
them which are in
Chrift Jefus, who
wa'k not after the
flelh, but after the
Spirit.

n Dead fa^rcafe, &c.] It is well known,
that fome ancient writers .mention this
as a cruelty praftifed by fome tyrants on
miferable captives who fill into their
hands; and a more forcible and expreftive
image of the fad cafe rteprefented, cannot
furely enter into the mind of man.
o / thank God through Jefus Chrift.]
For ivxo.^'Toi Toi (r'ia-, fome copies read
T) %:ifi^ Ttf ©et?, the grace of God, which
to be fure makes a noble fenfe ; but that
of the. received, and much more authen
tic copies comes very near it, and in the '
main coincides with It.
p tVhereas I jerve, ^c. — there is noiu
vo covdemihiiion, &c.j I think^ there 15

not in the whole Nevi Teftament a mors.
unhappy divilion between two ch(tpters
than what has been made here, not only
in the midft of an argument, but even of
a fentence. A^a tv, and aga vvv, anfwer
fo evidently to each other, that 1 think
it plam, the former {hould be rendered,
whereas, arid then the fenfe appears
plain and ftrong. I muft 'confefs this to
be an uncommon, ufe of cij!i ; but if It be,
as it often is, an expletive, it will come
to rguch the fame. ,
1 To thoje in Chrift jtejus, who walk. Sec.']
It Is certain, tljat to be in Chrift, though
it fometimes imports a true and fan^tify-
ing ftith, (2 Cor. v. 17,) at other times
expreflis

as we are ly the law of the Spirit of life ;

8l

For the law of

feftion of the Chriftian faith, do in t'le main Sect,
courfe of their li\es verify that profeffion ; ^^'
governing themfelves by fpiritual vi^ws, and
maxims, and not by carnal appetites an! inte
refts. I fay it again, I thank God for thi ; dif-

Chrift'''5cfus?""ha:h penfation vvith airthe powers of my foul; for
made me free from though, when cpnfidermg myfelf as only under
the law of fin and , the law, I made ftich melai;ci;(.ly complaints,
the law of tbe Spirit of life in Chrift Jefus, that
glorious gofpel which is attended with' an abun
dant effufion of the vivifying and animaang
Spirit, has now recovered me, mortally wounded

Run.
VJJI. I
2

death.

3 For what the law
could not do, in that
it was weak through
¦the flefti, God fend
ing his own -Son in
the Ukenefs of finful flefli,

as I (eemed to have bi.>.,i, and yi-/ me at Uberty
from that lamented capii\'ity to the law offtn
and death '. For God hath now, by .1 gracious 3
and moft wonderful appear.i:ice [done] what
it luas impoffiole for the law to do, in that it was
comparatively iveak' through the great infirmity
of the ftejh', againft which in fo corrupt a ftate
it could not, merely by its own principles, ilif-
ficiently provide ' : [hef] I fay, the great Father
of mercies, by jending his own well-beloved Son,
in the Ukenefs of finjul flefl ", with all thofe in-

expreffes only an external profeftion,
(John XV. 2,) and as the articld toi; is
no: rcp..'ated, 1 ihini; It is plain the latter
claufe limits the, former, which juftjfits
our rendering. C'-nn^ire PlV-1. Ixxili. 1.
r Hath jc: me at ld,crty, &c.] It is to
be obferved, that the fiine perfon who
^ fpoke before is here reprefented as con
tinuing the difcourfe, and fpea.ks of^him-
felf as delivered from the b6nd4ge fj
bitterly oaip!. lined of.
s li^^i:^-3t it 'was impoftible for the latu to
dc, Sec] it is indeed Lrue in the general,
as the pious Profeflbr Zimmerman juftly
obferves (in his Excellent Comment, de
£ii:in.'C:fi:it. Chnfli, p. 6, 7, and 34,)
" that the ItreT^'t.'i of the law is notade-
" quate to that of corrupt nature ; and it
" is by evangelical confiderations, that
** we are moft efl"e,t5tually animated to
** fubdue fin." But this is'to be conii
dered as a confequence of what the apoftle
here afierts concerning the law of Mofes,
rather fhan the aftijrLion itfelf. And in
deed whoever con.'iders the awful nature
and fandlions of that law, muft acknow
ledge, ':'i3t it was calciflated to be a much
more ' eiiicacious reftraint from ftn than
the una'.iiltcd light of nature, or than any
Qther difpenfation rev.ealing God's hu-.

prior to the gojpel. Eo that the above-
mlentioned conieqoence is v. ry ftrong.
t Jvlerely by its own principles, iiii^-
cicntly provide.] By this claufe I endea
vour to lay in an efi'eitual anlw.^r tp that
objeflion whicfl might lie againft the
apcftle's argument, and our explication of
it, from the eminent heights of good
nefs, attained by fome holy men under
the la%u. It was riic by the law, rh.mgh
under it, that they oDtained them; but by
thole evangelical promifes which min
gled with the law, though they did not
make » part of it, but fprang from the
Abrahamic covenant, which, as the apoftle
elfewhere urg^s, was unrepealed by the
laiv ; and this, which the Jews wore fo
ready to forget, (Rom. x.^,) is the poijit
that he fo particularly labours, both in
this epiftle, and that to the Galatians, to
-inculcate. u The I'lkenefi of finful flefti.] Thofe
writers who imagine thai: oar Ivi'l pa
rents were, in their original ftat", cloath-
ed with a vilible luftre, which was loft
by their tranfgreffion, in reference 10
which it is faid, that they knevj they loere
naked, naturally explain this claufe by that
hypothefis. nocent

2z

Gad hiiving fent his Son, io condemn ftn in the flefli

-fcT. nocerit infirmities which the firft apoftafy of our
ft-^' nature brought upon jhuman flefh, and by ap-
Rom. pointing him to be a Sacrifice to make expiation
^\M. t for fin"^ , ivho hath condemned ftn in the flefh.
Inftead of being viftorious, if is now brought
Hnder a fentence of death and deftruftion, which
. we, animated by thefe glorious motives of the
gofpel, are , enabled to put into execution :
4 That the righteoujnejs of, the lazv, in all its fun
damental branches, may with greater ardour of
holy zeal be fulfilled in us, who anfwer the en
gagements of- our Chriftian profefllion, and, in
the tenour of our lives, walk not after the ftefl
So indulge its defires and demands, but after
the Spirit; that is, who under the influences
of th'e Spirit of God abound in the fentiments
and duties of a truly fpiritual lite. You fee
therefore, my dear brethren, by the whole
feries of this difcourfe, not only how fafely you
may ceafe the ohfervation of the Mofaic law,
but how abfolutely necefl^ary it is, that you
flioTild look beyond that, and confequently be
yond any other law, natural or revealed; as
ever you expeft juftification before God, and de
fire fo be animated to ferve him hi an acceptable
' manner.

fieih, and for fin con
demned fin in tilt
ffefli; 

, 4 That tlie righ,
teoufnefs of the law
might be fulfilled in
us, who walk not af..
ter the flefli, but af,
ter the Spirit.

IMPROVEMENT.
Admirable and adorable indeed were the condeltenfions (^
Verfe the blefled God, in fending his own Son in the Ukenefs of our
¦xftnful flefli, ftript of its original glories, that he might become an
e.y.Y^z.Xosy Sacrifice fqr ftn. Let us remember the grand purpofe
for which he did it ; that he might condemn fm in our flefh, that
he might enable us to do execution on fin as a condemned male-
faftor. In his name therefore let us purfue the viftory, and re
jefting every overture of accommodation, with determined zeal
do juftice upon it. And may what we have been reading,
J eftablifli our refolution of walking, not after the flefl, but after the
Spirit, fince we are now delivered from fhe curfe of a broken law,
2 and bleffed with a difpenfation fo properly called the law of the
fpirit of Ufe in Chrifl Jefus : a difpenfation, hy attending to the
peculiarities of which, we may be enabled to extend our conqueftg

¦X For Jin.] That afjcd{\ia fignifies a
Jacri 'ce for ftn, is very apparent, from
Heb, X.' 6 i 2 Cor. v. ult. and' a vaft
many other paflages. The reader, will

obferve, how yery eafy this little tranfpo
fitlon, on account of what is fo plainly a
parenthefts, makes this paflage, which is,
generally thought fo obfcure.

over

RefieSiions on God's Jending his own Son to free us frim ftn. 6j
over fin in the moft effeftual manner, and' to attain heights of S^'=^-
yirtue-and piety to which no legal confiderations and motives alone ^^'_
could raife us.
But O, what reafon of humiliation is there, that we improve
it no better, and that thefe melancholy ftrains ftiould fo well be
come us I That inftead of prelfing forward daily to frefh viftories,
and making new improvements in the Divine life, we Ihould fo
pften complain, and have fo much caufe to complain, of a law Vej-fe
in our members, not only luar'ring againji the law oJ our minds, but 23,24
even, in many inftances, bringing us into captivity to the law offtn
and death ; fo that we Chriftians fhould cry out, like thofe under
the Mofaic ceconomy, 0 wretched men, that we are, who flail
deliver us I Let renewed views of ChriJi Jefus animate us to re- 25
newcd vigour in this warfare ; left when we are delivered from
thofe fervile terrors which the legal difpenfation under a confciouf-
pefs of guilt might have awakened, Jin, no longer able to take this 8, 11
cccrfton from the laiv, fhould appear yet more exceeding finful, by 1 3.
taking occafion, in another view, even from the gofpel itfelf;
which in many inftances it feems to do.
Let us remember, that the law of God is holy, juft, and good ; 12
delighting in it more and more after our inner-man, and taking g.z
.heed, that we do not deceive ourfelves by fuch a paflage as this,
into a fecret, but vain and fatal hope, that becaufe we are convinced
of our duty, and feel in our confcience a fenfe of the evil of fin,
tve onight be faid to ferve the law of God, while by abandoning
ourfelves to known afts of wilful tranfgreflion, we are in our flefti
ferving the law of fin. Habitually to allow ourfelves in neglefting
the good we approve, and committing the evils we condemn, is
the readieft way that hell itfelf can point out for the ruin of im
mortal fouls ; in fuch a cafe, all that we know, and all that we
feel, concerning the obligations of duty, and the excellence of
holinefs, aggravate, rather than extenuate, our failures; and though
the fublime views which eminently good men underthe gofpel have
of religion, may fometimes incline them' to adopt fuch complaints
as thefe, in reference to the unallovved and lamented deficiencies
and infirmities of a truly upright and pious life; it remains aa
eternal truth, vwhich inftead of being abrogated under the Nevy
Teftament, is moft exprefsly confirmed, that he who Hoth righteouf
nefs is righteous, and not he that merely wifhes to do it : and he
who committeth ftn, is of the devil, even though he fhould fpeak
againft it like an apoftle, or an angel.
It is indeed impolfible, exaftly to lay the line that feparates 21,24
the boundaries of the kingdom of Chrift and of Satan; nor is it
by any means a defirable tiling, that we fhould l;now the loweft
ftate of weaknefs and degeneracy into which a Chriftian may fall,
while he continues in the main a Chriftian. We have great rea
fon to doubt whether we be really Chriftians ourfelves, if for our
own

84. This blefting belongs to the ftpiritually-minded ;
Sect, owp fakes we wifh to know it. Our calling obliges us to afpire
• after the moft eminent attainments in religion ; it obliges us never
to reft till we find ourfelves V^fa^/ indeed unto fttn, and alive to God
,• through fejus Chrift; fo as to abound in all the vital fruits of
righteoufnefs unto his praife and glory.

SECT. XVI. 1
Th^ obligations which the gojpel lays upon us to a holy lije are
farther argueds and efpecially thofe arifing from the communica
tion of the Spirit of God to believers. Rom. .VIII. 5 — 17.

Romans VIII.

Sec XVI

T. T Have, in the pfeceding difcourfe, urged it
^- ¦*• again and agam, that we who profefs our-
Ron,. felves Chriftians fhould walk, -not alter, the flefti
VIII. 5' but after the Spirit, as ever v/e defire to rejoice
in the glorious deliverance -which the gofpel,
brings ; and with the greateft reafon : for this is
""indeed the moft important diflinftion in the
charafter of men, and not any form of outward
prOi'eflion or rite of \-\orfhip and devotion. They
who arc after the fiejh, , that is, who remain
under the irlfliience of a corrupt and degenerate
nature, do mind the things of tbe flefl ; they pre
fer and purfue carnal and animal gratifications :
i lit 'they who are ajler the Spirit, that is, who
know any thing experimentally of that Spirit of
Jjfe which I mentioned aboye, (ver. 2,) [do
?>!ind] and purfue the things of the Spirit .- their
minds are formed to a fuperior relifh of fpiritual,
iritilleftiial, and facred pleafurq.s, fuited to that
nobler and immor-al part of their nature.
6 Nozu as the charafter of thefe perfons is fo wide
ly diittrc.'it, their end will be proportionably
fo'; for the minding of the flefl ', the preferring
and purfuing its interefts, [is~\ death; it is the
grc;neft mifery that can be imagined, and that
i.vhich leads lo everlafting death and ruin: zuhcre-
cs the n;i)hl:ng, preferring and purfuing the in-
: rpfts of the Spirit [isf] life and peace ; the
grcatcil prefent good and happinefs which leads
7 to life and glory everlafting. And it muft

Romans VIII. 5.
¦pOR they that are
after the flelh, do
mind the things of
the flefli ; but they'
that are after tbe
Spirit, the things of
the Spirit.

6 .For to be carnal
ly minded 'iS death j
but to be fpiritually
minded, is life and
peace :

7 Becaufe the c.ir- nal

- Now the ni'i'.iiri, &c.] It Is plain, fr.nqe rr.'v.idci ,tlie things' of the flefli, be-
;={ muft h"!-e 'ij'iify now, for nothing cau/e It is deatli to do it.

aofurd, tha.i to fiy, that

needs

Jor he that hath not, the Spirit, is not his. 85
nal mind is enmity needs be fo, bccauJe the carnal mind, as I have Sfct.
againft God: for It Is ^^^^^'^i^^^ j^ ^^ove, [is] in the very efleiice of it ^^^-
not iubject to the law iri 'i ii-ri.^/ ri

of God, neither ill- an abfolute enmity to the blelTcd God: frdm Ro^.
deed can be. whom all life and peace and happinefs proceed ; VIII. 7
and confequently it brings us into a llate of hof
tility againft hira. For it is impoftible his crea
tures ihould be in a ftate of friendfhip with him,
unlefs they are in a ftate of willing fiibjeftion to
him. Now as for the carnal mind /'/ is not JuhjeEi
to ti.'c hnu cf God, neither indeed can it pollibly
he [yr.,] For, however you may fuppofe any
law of God to vary, as to ritual and ceremonial
inftitutions, while the nature of God continued
pure and holv, as it muft eternally and immutably
do ; he cannot but require the obfervati.on of the
grand branches of moral virtue, founded on the
unalterable nature 'and relation of things ; he
therefore muft require us to be fpiritually mind
ed, and to prefer the intereft of the foui to that
S So then they of the body. So that they who are in the flefl, 8
tliat.arein the flefli, j[^^[ |g^ Under the government of a fleflily priii-
cannot pleafe God. . , , ^ . , . .u
' ciple, wriatever ceremonial precepts they may
obferve, or whatever orthodox principles bf faith
they may profefs aii'l maintain, yet cannot -^o^-
fibly pleaje God. Ke muft either abhor and
punifti them, or diftiorlour his own law, and con-
tradift his pure, holv, and unchangeable nature.
¦ \^''\ r Y" "?' But hlelled be Go^f you Chriftians are not in the g
>n the flefli, but in „ ,, . '-, „ , „. , r ¦, , ^
the Spirit, If fo be fl'^J"' ' '^i ti.at Carnal ciiiiavcd uate dclcribed
th:it the Spirit of above, but in the Spirit, and under his influence;
God dwell in you. yg^ niy brethren, are certainly fo, if that the
Now Jt anyman have n • - r /^ i i n i • r \ t
not the Spirit of Spirit of God dvjelleth in you ; tor wherever he
Chrift, he ii none of dwells he reigns, and makes the foul thoroughly
^^- holy. And if any man have not the Spirit of
Chrift thus reliding and governing ill him, then,
whatever he niay pretend, he is none of his : he
is not to be reckoned as a difcipic of Chrift, and
Chrift wift difown him another da^, as having
only abufed his name, v»-hile he wore it.
10 And if Chrift And by the way, to animate your hopes and 10
be in you, the body g]! your graces, remember, that if Chrift [be]
" ^-d ''"'"%„"[ thuG refident in you, by his fanftifying Spirit,
though the body [is] indeed dead becauje of the
firft ft.n that ever entered into the world °,
, which
b Thehody is dead becauje of fin, .&c.] but as there is no feeming opp-'iivrin be-
Some U'ould render It, i^-'nl rfjt^ to ftn ; f.veen a d:.,tb w.th rft.'.: tijm, ;.r 1 a '.jt

Ifr

ff we mortify the deeds of the body, we flail livtl

Sect
X"V^I.

RomVIII 10

which as I fhewed above, has brought on a fen
tence of univerfal death ; yet the fptrit [is] life,
and fhall after death continue living, aftive and
happy, becaufe of that righteoufnefs of which
our great Head, the fecond Adam, is the Author,
II as I have inculcated at large. And we have
this farther joyful hope, that if the Spirit of him
that, raifed up Jefus, our. great Covenant Head,
from the dead, dwell in you, he that fo powerfully
and glorioufly raifed up Chrift from the , dead,
will alfo, in due time, quicken yout mortal bodies,
though corrupted and confumed in the grave, by
the agency of that great and powerful Spirit
which now dwelleth in you, and afts to quicken
you in the Divine life.
12 Therefore, my dear brethren, ^ihct it is certain
the gratifications of the flefli can do nothing for
us like that which will be done for us at the re-
furreftfon, and fince all prefent enjoyments are
mean and worthlefs when compared with that ;
here is a moft fubftantial argument for that mor
tification and fanftity which the gofpel requires.
And it neceffarily follows, that we are debtors
to the Spirit, which gives us fuch exalted hope.s,
and not unto the flefl, that we flould live aJter
the diftates, defires and appetites of the flefl.
(3 For I muft plainly and faithfully tell you, and
fnuft repeat and inculcate it upon you, as a mat
ter of infinite importance, that iJ you, though
profefting Chriftians, and fome of you eminent
for fo high and diftinguifhing a profeftion,
(Compare chap. i. 8,) do Uve after the ftejh,
and mind nothing fuperior to its interefts, ye
foall aflliredly die, fhat is, fhall perifti by the
fentence of an holy God, no lefs than if you
were Jews or heathens. But if you, through the
influence and afliftance of God's holy Spirit, and
the exercife of thofe graces which he by regene
ration has implanted in your fouls, do mortify
and fubdue the deeds of the body, thofe carnal
inclinations from whence all criminal indulgen-.
cies of the body arife, ye flaU live: ye ihall
filially obtain a ftate of complete felicity, in fpite

fin ; buf the Spirit i(
life, becaufe of righ,
teoufnefs.

II But if theSpi.
rit of him that raifed
up Jefi^s from the
dead dwell in you ;
he that raifed up
Chrift from the dead
fliall alfo ' quicken
your' mortal bodies,
by his Spirit that
dwelleth in vou.

. 12 Therefore, bre-
tVen, we are debt
ors, not to the flefli,'
to live after the flelh.

13 For if ye live
after the flcih, ye
fliall die : but if ye
through the Spirit do
mortify the deeds of
the body, ye Ihall
live.

'tvith rejpeB to righteoujnejs, I think the contrary to Mr. Locke's -unnatural 'glofsf
vevfion here retained much preferable; vthkh ex^hins, quickening the mortal bodyi
and if this be admitted. It will certainly ^y janaifying the' immortal fpirit.
determine the fenfe of the next verfe !j.uite
3 d

14 For as many as
ire led by the Spirit
of God, they are the
fobs of God.

IS

Fjr thi Spirit teftifies that we are the children of God. ?,j
of all that death can do to diifolvc thcfc animal Sect.
bodies: not now to inftft on that true rational "^ '
delight which is only to be found here in fugh uonu
a courfe, and without which our abode on earth VM.
fcarce deferves the name of life. Well may it . 'S
be expefted, that in this cafe, you ftiall live for ^^
ever ; -fince hereby your adoption of God, which
muft intitle-you to ablifsful immortality, will
be approved. For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, and humbly refign themfelves to
be guided whitherfoever he will, by his fweet and
fecret influence on the foul, the) are indeed the
fans and daughters ofi God, and fhalLinha-it eter
nal life with their heavenly Father : of which
indeed, if we are obedie it to his holy diftates
and motions, we already receive the earneft and
foretaftes. For ye, who are real Chriftians,
have not received the fpirit of bondage again unto
fear", ye are not come under another difpen
fation like that of Mofes, which was much more
adapted to ftrike the mind with terror, and
often produces a fervile difpofition ; but, on the
contrary, ye have received the Spirit of adoption,
the confidence of children in appro3.:hing to
God; bv which Spirit, whatever our different na
tions anil languages may be, tve can, with equal
joy and freedom, prefent our addreflTes to his
throne, and cry with the overflowings of filial af
feftion to him, and fraternal love to each other,
Abba, Father ''. For as the communication i5
of the vifible and extraordinary gifts of ^/;^ Spirit
both to Jews and Gentiles, witnefles that we
are, without diftinftion, in this refpeft accepted
and ovvned by God as his people; fo alfo he
himfelf, by his internal and gracious operationsi
beareth witnefs with the anf.ver of our fpirits,
when ferioufly examined and interrogated, and
gives us an inward and joyful alfnrance, that
we are the children of God, and perfonally intc-

15 For ye hare
not received the fpi
rit of bondage again
to fear j but ye have
received the Spirit
of adoption, whereby
\re crv, Abba, Fa
ther,

16 The Spirit it
felf beareth witnefs
with our fpirit, that
we are the children
of God :

c The jpirit cf bondage.] Both Mr.
Locke and Mr. Pierce underftand this of
the fear of death, under which the legal
difpenfation left the Jews ; but I rather
underftand it of that comparatively jer-
vile Jpirif which ran through tiie whole
Mofaic oscor.omy, and which is finely illuf
trated by Dr. Evans, in his Sermon on
till text, Evans's Chriftian Temp.^'VoU t.

i Abba, Father.] I fuppofe few of
my readers will need to be informed,
that the word abba, figmfies father, in the
Jewifli language, that is, the Syro-Chal-
daie ; and the infertion of it here bcauti-
, fully reprefents the union of Jewifli and.
Gentile believers, in thofe devotions,
which wers diftated by a filial fpirit. rellod

88 Jf children, then heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Chrift.
Sect, refted in his paternal love. And from hence 17 -And if cbii-
^^'^- arifes a moft joyful and triumphant hope; for f'"' f^f-.ft'"'''
Rom. if y^'ezrcxwi children, then we are undoubtedly joint -heirs with
Viii. heirs of a glorious and immortal inheritance: Chrift; if fo be" that
^^ we are then heirs of God, and ftiall for ever ^"^ ''"ff'='- «''t'' *'«»
, . ^ -^ ¦ T^ 1 1 r 'bat we may be alfo
enjoy him, as (Air gracious l<ather, whole pre- glorified together.
fence and love is the very heaven of heaven.
'And we are z\^o joint-heirs of Chrift, we ftiall
enjoy this" happinefs as with him, iii his fight,
and fhall be formed to a refemblance of him, as
the great foundation of that enjoyment. But then
tet it ever be remeinbereij, that this is to be taken
in conneftion ; it is, provided that we are willing,
not only to deny ourfelves in prohibited carnal
gratificalicDis, and to govern our, lives by his
precepts, but alfo to fuffer with [him,] that is,
in conformiiy to him, if called out to it for the
honour of God, and for the teftimony of a good
confcience ; that fo we may alfo be glorified to
gether with hira, in that world where he now
triumphs, and where all the infamy and pain we
endure for bis fake, fhall be amply repaid with
hpnoiirs and joys everlafting. IMPROVEMENT.
Verfe ,Well may we rejoice in privileges like thefe; well may we
17 be aftonifhed to think, that they fhould be beftowed on any of the
children of men ! That any of them fnould be heirs oJ God, and
joint-heirs with Chrift ; the adopted children of an heavenly Father,
and marked out by the communications of his Spirit for an inhe
ritance which he hath pfepared I That they fhould lie fitted and
enabled to approach him with that endearing compellation, Abba,
15 Father, in their, mouths I O thdi every one of us rnay know by
experience, which alone can teach us, how fweet it'is ! and if we
14 would obtain and fecure this witnefs, let us fee to it, that we be
obediently led by the Spirit of Gad ; for that Spirit is not where he
does not efFeftually govern ; and if any man have not the Spirit of
9 Chrift, he is none of Chrift' s difciples, nor is he entitled to any of
the privileges of his people.
Let the matter therefore be ferioufly examined : and let it be
determined by inquiry, whether we do on the whole vjalk after
I the flefl or the Spirit. Let us guard more and more againft that
'J carnal mind which is enmity againft God, and cannot be fubjeii to
his law, nor leave room for us to pleafe God, while it prefides-and
¦governs in us. Let us often refleft upon that death which would
6 be the confequence of our living .after the ftefl ; and never con
ceive of ourfelves upon any occafion as perfons, who, in confe
quence

RefteSlions on the privileges .of the children of God. 89
quence of fomething that has already pafled, have found out a Skct.
way to break the conneftion here eftablifhed, and in the nature of
things effentially eftablifhed between a carnal mind and death. May '.
our fpirits be more and more enlivened by that vital union with a
Redeemer which may give us a part in the merit of his righteouf
nefs, and in the life it has fecured for all true believers ; and may
the efficacy of his Spirit to raife our fouls from a, death of fin to
a life -of holinefs, be in us a blefled earneft, that he will complete
the work, and at length quicken_our mortal bodies by his Spirit which
dwelleth in us. When flefli and fenfe can adminifter a confolatlon
like this, let us hearken to them : in the mean time, let us re
member, let us always remember, how much we are debtors to the
Spirit ; and let us endeavour to aft according to thefe immenfe
obligations.

SECT. XVII.
The glorious profpe£is, which the gcjpcl Jets before us, are repre
fented and urged as a further advantage which it gives us for
holinefs ; even that cortjummate glorv, the difcovery of luhich the
whole creation, now jubjeSl to vanity, feems to wait and call for. '
The apoftle then mentions confolations which are derived from the
aftiftances of the Spirit in prayer, as further illuftrating his main
defign. Rom. VIII. 18 — 27.
Romans Vni.iS. RoMANS VIII. l8.
¦'^^heV^ ff'^°"' *^f T''^ reprefenting the high privileges of our adop- Sect.
the prefent time, are tio"> I have been obferving, that if, in con- xvn.
not worthy to he com- fequence of our fidelity to our Saviour, we fhould ~^^
t"'redw\zh the ^\acY fuffer with him, we fliall alfo be glorified toge- vill'.
edinu..^ ^"^^'" ^^^"^ with him : and in this perfecuted ftate in iS
which, as Chriftians, we now are, I befeech
you attentively to enter into this thought, that
your hearts may be duly quickened and fortified
by it. I have for my own part been obliged,
amidft. the peculiar hazards of my apoftolic office, ~
frequently to weigh, and exaftl)i* to examine
the matter; and I find upon the moft deliberate
computation, that the fufferings of the prefent time,
how extreme foever they may be, [are] not wor
thy, [of any account] at all, not fo much as wor
thy of a mention, when fet againft that great and
unalterable glory that flail in due time be re
vealed -to us ; but, which at prefent exceeds even
our moft elevated conceptions, and can never"
Vol. IV, , G be

9° Sect.XVII.

The creation waits for the revelatioi of fhe fom of God,

Rom.VIII. 19

be fully known, till we fee each other wear it,
and by confcioufnefs feel it in ourfelyes.
Thefe, my dear brethren, are the views with
which I would animate your minds ; and fiirely
no objeft can give them more noble or more
delightful employment. For methinks, when
I look "round upon the blafted and wretched ftate
of this world of ours, it feems that all hatur?
does, as if were, call aloud, in pathetic lan-
.guage, for that bleffed ehange which the gofpel
was intended to introduce. The earneft _ expec
tation of the whole creation ", fo far as if now
lies open to our view, is waiting for the revela
tion of the fans of God; for the happy time when
he fliall appear more openly to avow them, and
that reproach and diftrefs fliall be rolled away
under which they are now difguifed and con-
20 cealed. For the creation foon loft its original
beauty and felicity; a fad change paffed. on man
and his abode, fo that all the vifible face of na
ture was made fubjeSl to vanity and wretched-
jiefs in a variety of forms : and this not willingly,
not by the perfonal mifbehaviour of thofe who
are now moft deeply affefted vvith it, but by him
who fubjeifed [it,] that is, by Adam, when he
flood at the head of our race, as a pubiick per
fon, and by his tranfgreflion brought us into fo
21 deplorable a ftate. Deplorable indeed! but
bleffed be God not entirely abandoned ; fince it
is ftill in hope, that the falvation fo happily be
gun, fhall at length be much more widely ex-

19 For the earneft
expoGatlOn of the
creature waitefh for
the manifeftation of
the fons of God.

20 For the crea
ture was made fubjedl
to vanity, not wil
lingly, but by reafon
of him who hath fub-
jedted the jame m
iiope :

21 Becaufe the
' creature

a The earneft expeBation of the creation,
tec] This and the following verfes have
been generally, and not without reafon,
accounted as difficult as any part of this.
epiftle. The difficulty has perhaps been
fomething increafed by rendering x!i.-if,
creation in one claufe, and creature in ano
ther. To explain it as chiefly referring
to th£ brutal, or inanimate creation, is
infuft'erable; fince the day of the redemp
tion of our bodies will be attended with
tilt conflagration which will put an end
to thera. The interpretation therefore,
by which Dr.'Whitby and Mr. Grove refer
it to the Gentile "world, is much prefer
able to this.- But on the whole, I think,
it gives a much fubllmei: and nobler fenfe,
to fuppofe it a bold projopopee'ta , by which,
on account of the calamity iin brought

and continued on the whole unevangcfixed
world, (though few of its inhabitants faw
fo much of their, mifery, as aftually to
defire the remedy,) it is reprefented as
looking out with eager expeBation, (as the
word B-Tto-A-afxhy.ia exaftly fignifies,) for
fuch .1 remedy and relief as the gojpel
brings, by the prevalency of which hu
man nature would be refcued from vanity
and corruption, and inferior creatures
from tyranny and abufe. Nothing is
more common, than to reprefent a land
as mourning or rejcticing, as calling for rain.
See. And if this be allowed to be the
meaning of thefe three verfes, the grada
tion in the 23d will be much mor? intel
ligible than on any other fcheme that I
know. See note b next page. ,
tended;

in hope to he delivered from the bondage of corruption.

twature itfelf alfo
fliall fee delivered
from the bondage of
corruption, into the
giorioiis liberty of
the children of Go^.

"" 22 For we know
fliat the whole Crea
tion groaneth, and
travaileth in pain to
gether until now :

23 And not only
they, but ourfelves
alfj, which have the
flrttfruits of th4 Spi
rit, even We ourfelves
groan within our
felves. Waiting for
fhe adoption, to wit, the

9^
tended ; that the creation flail, at leaft in ages to Sect.
corne, be fet free from the bondage of torruption, ^^^^-
by which men are now abufing themfelves and Rom.
the inferior creatures ; and that they fhall even VIII.
be brought into the glorious Uberty it/^ which we **
Chriftians are poffeffed, ift confequence of our
being the fons of God.: as it is certain the crea
tion would be made inconceivably happier than
it is, if this bleffed difpenfation, by which we
are introduced into God's family, and taught fo
do our utmpft to diffufe good to all around us;
were univerfally to prevail. In the mean time, 2'2'
fuch is the ftate of the whde world, that it feems
to call in the mofl importunate manner for this
great interpofition of Divine power an:l mercy
in its favour; yea, I may fay in reference to it;
We know that the whole creation, ever fince the
firft apoftacy of our nature from God, groiineth
''together, and travaileth together until niw ;- it
laboureth in ftrong pangs to bring on this ira
portant birth of fons and daughters unto the Moft
High ''. Arid not only doth the whole creation 23
feem [fo] to travail in pang.s around us, when
we furvey thofe parts of it where the gofpel is
yet unknown, but even we Chriftians ourfelves,
who have received the firft-fruits of the Spirit,
and thereby have attained no inconfiderable de
grees of liberty and deliverance, even we groan
Itvithin ourfelves under many lemaining imper
feftions and burdens ; while we are yet wait
ing with ftrong defire for the great event,
which may, by way of eminence, be called ouf
adoption ', as it fhall be the pubiick declaration of

b Bring on tjiis important birth, &c.]
It is indeed true, that to be in pangs tike
a woman in travail fometimes only figni
fies being in great diftrefs. Where there is
Ao reference to any expefted birth ; but
it feems to me very probable, that the
apoftle in thefe metaphors here aludes to'
what he had been faying before, (verfes
14—17, 19, 21.) fn all vjhich places
he defcribes Chriftians as the children of
God, and fo here exprefles the general
prevalency of the gojpel By the birth of
many more, with which nature was preg
nant, and of which it longed, as it were,
^o be delivered : thereby beautifully re
prefenting the fad condition of thofe,
who whilS tbey have faculties 6-Vis^ thera

for (landing in fuch' a relation to 06d,
as his children, are loft in darknefs and
vanity, while ignorant of God and tlie
way of falvation ; during ^'hich time they
were even pained by the excellency of
their nature, it having no fuitable objeft
to aft upon. And' this is the well adjuft-
ed, but generally unobferved gradation
I referred fo above, tiote a ; the worfd
feeitis to wait, and call, and groan, for
the fpreading of the gojpel j and thofe
ainong whom it prevails, are ftill travail
ing, as it were, with the hope and defire
of a yet more exalted ftate after the re
furreftion. c The adoption. Set.] I entirely agree
with Mr. Howe, {ftyorks. Vol. I.' p. 6So,
Gi 681,)

And Chriftians groan for the redemption of the body.

Sect, of it, when our heavenly Father (hall produce
¦^^"' us before the eyes of the whole world, habited
and adorned as becomes his children. , You will
eafily perceive I now refer to the redemption
^ our- bodies, their, final deliverance from the
, power of the grave at the general refurreftiCin '',
which (hall introduce us to a happinefs, incom
parably exceeding the freeft and moft glorious
(late into which the earth fliaU ever be brought,
even by the greateft triumph and prevalency of
the gofpel.
24 This, I fay, we are longing and breathing
after, and we (hall ftill be fo, while we continue
here: for we are faved by hope; the firm belief
and cheerful viev/ of this complete falvation is
our great fecurity, amidft fo many evils, temp
tations, and dangers. But hope, which is feen,
that hoge which relates merely to objefts now
vifible, is not worthy the name of hope. For
what a man fees, how doth he yet hope for ? the
more wc know of thefe worldly things, the lefs
fhall we amufe ourfelyes with any high hopdS
25 and expectations concerning them. But, ftnce

the redemption tf
our body.

24 For we are fa
ved by hope : but
hope that is feen, is
not hope : for what
a man feeth, why
doth he yet hope for ^

25 But if we hope

we hope for what we fee not, for a liappinefs far f""" 'h^' we fee not,
exceeding any' thing we have ever feen, orean [fence wlit for' it.""^',
fee, we patiently wait for it, and find fomething
in the greatnefs of the profpeft, to repay the te-
dioufnefs of the moft afflifted circumftances, and
to excite us to prepare for it by cultivating a
fuitable temper in all its branches.
26 Such hope doth our holy profeftion admfni(ler
to us, for our fupport amidft aft the difficulties
of our ChrKtian courfe ; and we have moreover
this ifnportant privilege, that the Holy Spirit of
God gracioufty lendeth us his helping, hand "^ under
all our burdens and infirmities ; fo fhat we are
not left to fuftain them alone : which is of vaft

26 Likewife the
Spirit alfo helpetb '
our infirmities ! for '-

62 1,) that here Is an allufion to the two
kinds of adoption among the Romans j the
ftrft of which was private ; the fecond,
pubiick in the forum, when the adopted
perfon was folemnly declared and ayowed
to be the fon of the adopter. Coinpare
Luke XX. 36.
<l Deliverance, Sfc] That redemption
fometimes fignifies deUverance, is very
tertain. Compare Lulce xxi. 2 j Eph,
i. 14; Heb. xi. 35.

e Lendeth us his helping hand.] I know
not how better to render that expreffive-
phrafa, ayvav1tya.v.Zavilai )ijW(V, which li
terally exprell'es the aElion of one ivho- helps
another to ra'ije or bear a burden, by tahr.g
hold of it on one fide, and lifting it or' blar
ing it ivith him j and fo it feems to inti
mate the' obligation on us to exert ,'our
little ftrength,, feeble as' it is, in concur
rence with this ahnighty aid. moment

In the mean tim?, tfe Spirit helps their infirmities.

we know not what
we ihould pray for as
we ought; but the
Spirit itfelf mjketh
interceflion for us
with groanings whicK
cannot be uttered.

517 And he that
fearcheth the hearts,
knoweth what 'is the
mind of the Spirit,
becaufe he maketh
interceflion for the
faints according to
pht w'lll of G"od,

93
moment in many refpefts, and particularly ii;i Sect.
the conduft of our devotions ; for we are fur- ^^"'
rounded with fo much ignorance and prejudice, Rom.
that in many inftances we do not know what We vm,
flioidd pray for as we ought,' becaufe we know
not on the whole what may be beft for us : but
the Spirit itfelf manages thefe affairs for us,
guiding our minds to fuitable petitions, and
exciting in them correfpondenf affeftions, and
¦fometimes infpiring us with that intenfe ardour
of , holy defire which no words can exprefs, but
muft therefore vent themfelves in unutterable
groanings. But though we are not able to 27
fpeak thefe defires, they are not concealed from
God : he who fearcheth the inmoft receflTes of
human hearts, knoweth what [is] the mind of
the Spirit^; he reads all thefe fecret agitations of
our fpirits which anfwer to the emotions of his ;
for he manages affairs for the faints according to
[the] gracious [ftjuill ] and appointment [of\
God'', a circumftance which we cannot recolleft
without the greateft pleafure, and the moft
cheerful expeftation of receiving every fuitable
blefling in confequence of it, and in anfwer to
thefe prayers which are prefented to God under
fuch influence.

IMPROVEMENT.
For ever adored be the Divine goodnefs, in fending down Verfe
his Spirit on fuch finful creatures, to help our infirmities ; to im- 20
plant, and to excite graces in our hearts, to be a fource of
prefent delight and of eternal happinefs. May we feel him"
helping our infirmities, and improving our joy in the Lord, to
fuch a degree, that all our devotions may be animated facrifices. ,
Let not the want of expreflion in that cafe trouble us ; thefe unut
terable groanings ard fometimes fhe fweeteft mufic in the ear of God. 27

f The m'md^ of the Spirit^] The phrafe
is here (pjioynfjia tu <n:viu,ualo^, the very
, fame,~that was ufed verfe 6 ; and expreffes
not merely the meaning, but the tc^.er
and dijpoftt'im of the m'lnd, as ynder the
influences of the D'lvine Spirit, purfuing
and breathing after fuch blefiings as fuit
its rational and jmmortal nature.
g Manages ajfairs for the jaints, &c.]
I agree w.th a late ingenious wr'uer, feve
ral times mentioned before, in rendering
lili/y^ay-M uite^ a-yixv, manages affairs for

the ja'tnts, as the office of an intercelTor
with God is fo peculiarly that of Chrift,
our ./Advocate with the Father, i John ii. i .
As for the phrafe y.ala. fog.-., it is capable
of many different lignificatlons ; but I do
not think it here fignifies the fame with
EvftiTTfov TH ©Etf, in the prejence of God,
but rather on the part of God, that is, by
his appointment, or perhaps, as we ren
der it, according to the ivill of God. I have
therefore retained our •yi.'r/itJK, and included
both the fenfes in the paraphrafe.
G T Well

94 Rffle^^ons on the aid and firft fruits of the Spirit.
Sect, Well may fuch fervent groanings be excited, when we view
 ^ that great arid glorious Objeft;, which the gofpel propofes to pur
Verfe hope. Let us encounter the fufferings of the prefetit time, with a
fortitude becoming thofe that fee them fo (hort and fo far over-
l8 balanced by the inimenfe and boundlefs prqfpefts which lie beyond
them ; profpefts pf unclouded luftre and unmingled felicity.
Wheri we corifi4^r the (tate pf that part of the world in which.
19 Chriftianity is unjinawn, or of thofe among whom' it is a mere
engpty form ; when we confider the vanity to vyhich that part of
God's creation is fubjeS, let it move our compaffion, and our
20 prayers, that the (tate of glorious liberty into which God has al
ready broiight thofe who by faith in Chrift are his children,, may
become more univerfally prevalent ; and the knowledge of the
21 Lord cover the earth as the waters cover fhe channel of the feas.
O that Divine and omnipotent grace may give a birth to that
grand event, in th^ expeftation of which nature feems in pangs;'
fijcfi a hjf th, that nations might be born in a day ; and where the
children are born, may it give a more abundant growtli and more
22 happy ipcreafe. ,
We have received what the travailing creation has not, the firft..
fruits of the Spirit, and they muft furely excite us to grran after.
7,'^ fhe redemption of bodies : yet ftill with humble fubmiflion to th»
>yill of God, waiting his wifely appointed hour for the dilfolutionj
and fpr the reftoration of them. That God, in whofe hand thefij
' important events are, beft knows how long to exercife our faith,
whether in this mortal world, or in the ihtermediate (tate ; not,
fhould any delay be efteemed long by thofe who have fq cheerfvil
an hop? of enjoyirig God for ever.
SECT. xyiii.
The ^ apoftle reprefents other advantages for holinefs which the gofpel;
givef tiS f particularly thofe which arife from an affurance that
all things Jhall work together for our good; and from the view
we have, as trUe Chriftians, of an eternal gracious plan which
God has laid for our happinefs, in purfuance of which he hath
already done fuch great things for us,- efpecially in fending his
Smfor our redemption ; whence his people may be affured, that na
accufation flail prevail againft them, and no temptations feparate.
them from his love. Rom. WllV! 2S, to the end.
Romans VIII. 28. Romans VIII. i?.
J Have taken occafion to hint at many privi- ^nd we know thit
* leges, which,' in confequence of participa- '
ting of the gofpel, you enjoy : and now I muft
'¦'•'' ' ' add '

All things work together for good, to them that love Gad :

all things Aork to
gether for gobd, to
them that love God,
to them who are the
called according to
iiis purpofe.'

3q For whom he
&i foreknow, he alfo
did predeftinate, to be
conibrmed to the
image of his Son,
that he might be the
firft-born among ma
ny brethren.

95
add this to the reft, that though our affliftions Sect.
may lie heavy upon us, and though our burdens ^^^"'
may continue long ; yet we aflliredly know, that Rom.
aU things which occur in the courfe 'of Divine vm.
Providence, either in their prefent and imme- ^^
diate, or future and more remote confequences,
do, and fhall work together for real and everlaft
ing good to them that fincerely and prevalently
love the bleffed God^, and are by Divine grace
called, and formed to this happy principle, ac
cording to [his] gracious and efteftual purpofe.
We have this confidence, I fay, becaufe God in 29 "
his eternal counfels defigned this, and appointed
a proper feries of fubordinate caufes to make
way for that blefted event in which all is to ter
minate ; eftablifhing a certain conneftion be--
tween the one and the other; a conneftion,
which in fhe greateft diftrefs is our confidence
and our joy. For whom he foreknew, as the
•objefts of his peculiarly favourable regards ^
knowing with everlafting complacency his own
thoughts of peace towards them, (compare Jer.
xxix. 2,) he did alfo predeftinate \to\ ftand in a
peculiar relation to the great Redeemer, and
[be] made in due time conformable to the image
of that glorious and' bleffed Perfon, even Jefus
his only-begotten and heft-beloved Son, who is
now exalted high above all heavens. He ap
pointed, I fay, fuch a conformity between him
and them, that he might be, and appear fo be,
ihe fitft-borii among many brethren ; and might
at length fee many of his brethren by his means
(haring with him in thaf happinefs to which he

» All things which occur in the courfe
of Divine Providence, ^c] It is fo
plain, from the whole context, that the
apoftle only fpeaks of providential events,
and it is fo evident, that the univerfal
expreflion all is fometimes to be taken in
a liinited fenfe, that It muft 'argue, I fear,
¦fomething worfe than weaknefs, to pre
tend that ftn is comprehended in the
apoftle's aflertipn. Plato's fentence fo
nearly parallel to this, is a commentary in
finitely preferable to fuch an explication,
" 'Whether a righteous man be in poverty,
•** ficknefs, or any other calamity, we
" muft conclude that it will turn to his
** advantage, either in life or death."
S«e Flato de 'Rep, lib. ix.

b Whom he foreknew, as the objcQs of
his peculiarly favourable regards.] To
knmv, fometimes fignifies to favour, Amos
iii. a; 2 Tim. ii. 195 Exod. xxxiii. 12,
17 J Pfal. !. 6; Jer. x. il|.; Rom. xi. 2 j
I Pet. I. 2; Hoir. xiii. 5; and they who
interpret thefe verfes, as Mr. Locke, and
many others do, of God's intending to
bring the Gentlies into the church on a
footing of equal privileges with the Jews,
muft certainly take the word in this fenfe.
.But the reader will eafily perceive, by my
paraphrafe, that I Confider thera as appli
cable to all true Chriftians, whether origi
nally of Jewifli or Gentile defcent; as the
privileges themfelves relate not to com
munities, asfuchj but to individual*.

G4

IS

g6 For being chofen, and called, and juftified, they flail be glorified;

Sect.
XVIII Rom.VIII. 3°

31

is now received, and in which he (hall for ever
' (hine, diftinguifhed from them in all rays of
"peculiar glory. To this felicity did the Father
of rriercy decree to raife a part of our fallen and
miferable race; and thofe whom he thus predefti-
nated he in due time hath called, or v/ill here
after in their fucceeding- generations call, by the
invitations of the gofpel and operations of his
Spirit, to repent and believe; that fo'they might
claim the promifed bleflings, in' virtue of thaf
everlafting covenant which they cordially em
brace ; and whom he hath thus called, he hath, on
their compliance with that czW, jujlified", freed
them from the condemning fentence of his law,
and given them a pleadable right to a full ac
quittal at his bar ; and thofe whom he haih thus
juftified, he hath alfo glorified^, that is, he hath
appointed they (hoiild ere Jbng attain to complete
glory and happinefs, to which, by virtue of their
union with him, they may be faid even now to
arrive. (Eph. iii. 4.)
On the whol^ what flail we therefiore ftiy to
theft things, or conclude upon this review ?
furely we may Courageoufly defy all our enemies,
and fay, .^ that God, who hath .all power in
himfelf, and all the events of time and eternity
iinder his direftion, [be,] as we have heard, for
vs, who [can] prefume to [be] againft its, of be
able to do us any hurt hy the fierceft oppofition,

30 Moreover, whom
he di'd preiTeftinate,
them he- alfo called;
and \yhom he called,
them he alfo juftlfi.
ed : and whom he
juftified, them he
alfo glorified.

31 What (hall to
then fay to thefe
things ? if God be for
us, who can be againft

e Whom he hath called, he hath juftifted.'\
Barclay pleads'that tWiz juftiftcation, rriuft
include holinejs, or it is left out pf the
chain. Barcl, Apol. p. 221.' But the
apoftle had fo plainly declared in the be
ginning of the chapter, that 2.'. freedom
Jrom condemnation was the peculiar ^privi^
liege of thoje who vialk- after the Spirit ',
that it was the lefs necefl'ary for him here
diftlnftly to mention janBJftcation.
d Whom he juftifted he ghrifted.] It is
plain, that juftiftcation Is here confidered
as diftinft from, and prior to, gloriftcatioji ;
and Confequently, that there Is a fenfe
in Which believers may be faid to be
jujiifted now, (as they often are, compare
Luke xviii. 14; A*^sxlii.39; Rom. v. 9';
J Cor. vi. II,) though it is at the great
day, that their cotriplete juftification will
' be declared, and there fe,ems generally, to
be an ultimate reference to that "great tr^n-
faftion, in the ufe of th'is forenftck term.
1 (Matt. xii. 37; Rom. 11.13; chap. iii. 30.)

To fuppofe that Chriftians are C^ii to be
glor'ifted merely in reference to the Spirit of
glory now refting upon them, ( I Pet. iv. 14,)
is limiting the phrafe to a fenfe lefs fub
lime and extenfive than it generally has,
particularly, ver. 17, iSj^Cor. iv. 17;
'Col. I. 27; chap. iii. 4; I Their, ii. la;.
2 Pet. -V. 10 ; to which a multitude of
other texts might be added, where glory
refers to the exaltation and bleflednefs oif
the future ftate. — This is a memorable
inftance, and there are fcores, and perhaps
hundreds more, in" which things, that
ihall certainly ^nd- fpeedily be done, are
fpoken of as .done already. Mofes gave ,
a remarkable example of , this -noble lan
guage of faith, in his fong, ,(Exod. xv.
13, &c.) on. thf deftfuB'ion of .Pharaoh 'm
the Red jea ; and the prophets and apoftles
have continued it -in a variety of trium
phant pa^age^ which it wlli be a great
pleafure to the pious reader -to obferve for
himfelf. while

and he that fpared not his opjn Son, flail give us all things. 07
while we' are guarded by fuch a. Prhteftor ? Sect.
32 He that fpared Yea, I may add, not only what we have to fear, ^¦^™-
d:iiv'ere7hlmu'p'f:: ^ut what have we not to hope and expeft, in I^T
us all, how fliall he Connection with luch views as thefe? he thatym.yi,
not with hjm alfo fpared not his own, his. proper and only-bebot-
fteeiy ^give us all ^^^ Son, vihtn even his blood and life came into
" ' queftion, but . vtWWn^y delivered him up io -agony
and death, that he might be- a Sacrifice for
•us all, how Jhall he not with him freely grant us
all other things, fubfervient to our truift happi
nefs ; which may now be regarded as the puir-
chafe of his blood ? We may reafonably conclude
.that what is now 'with-held, would be detri
mental, rather than advantageous to us.
Upon the whole then, we may take courage, 33
and fay, who flail lodge any accufation againft
the eleB of 'God", againft thofe who love him,
and have been, as we before obferved, predefti-
nated and called according to his eternal purpofe ?
[is it] God? What! he who himidl juftifieth^}
as the prophet in his own cafe expreffes if . (Ifa.
1. 8, 9.) He is ready to anfwer all objeftions,
and folemnly to pronounce us abfolved. IVho 34
[is] he then that cqndemneth ? [is it] the Lord
Jefus Chrift, whom we know to be appointed as
the final Judge ? What ! doth ^^^condemn, who
hath died to expiate our guilt, ands refcue us
from condemnation ? yeci rather, (which is the
moft delightful confideration of all,) vuho is rifen
cfgain? (hall he undo the purpofes of -his death
and refurreftion ? He who is now fitting at the
right-hand of God, where he appears under a '
quite contrary charafter, and is alfo making in
terceflion for us ; nndertaking the management
of our affairs, and, far from accufing us, appears
ready to anfwer all accufations brought againft us,
and to fruftrate all the defigns of our enemies ?

33 Who fliall lay
any ' thing to the
charge of God's eletSl;.'*
// 'is God that jufti
fieth :

35 Who is he that
.condemneth } ¦ It is
Chrift that died; yea,
rather that Is rifen
again, who is even at
the right-hand . of
God, who aifo ma
keth' interceflion for
Jis.

c Who Jhall ledge any accujation. Sec]
This E;jiaAE£rEi plainly fignifies. — By the
sle& of God many underftand the Gen
tiles ; but as it is certain, the phrafe,
whatever it imports, is not to be confined
to them, and is prefently after ufed of be
lieving 'Jew's, (Rom. xi. 5, 7, 28.) it
feems highly reafonable, to confider it
}iere, as Including them alfo; efpecially
as^ their unbelieving -brethren might be
ready to lodge'the^heav'ieft accujat'ions aga'mft
them, as dejerters and apoftates from their

own lav), if tiiey afted on the principleg
the apoftles h3.i been laying down in the
former chapter.
f God who juftifieth, &c.] I here fol
low the pointing propofed by the learned
And ingenious Dr. Sam. Harris, (in his
Objervations, p. 54, 55,) which greatly
illuftrates the fpirit 'at this paffage, and
fliews, how juftly that author adds, that
it is remarkably in the grand manner of De-
mofthenes.
Con--

f)S Mthlng therefore flail feparate us from the ifve of Chrift.
Sect. Confident therefore in his profeftion and fa- 35 who fliall fe,"
i!^ vour, we defy them all ; and fay in ftrains of yet ZTof%\^^ ft]u
Rom. fubhmer triumph, who flail feparate us from the trifriilation, or dU
T» 35 love of Chrift ? Who or what (hall diflblve that ftrefs, orperfecutlon,'
union to him,, which is our great fecurity, and °'^^™'^";' "'^fj""^-^
be able to alienate our hearts from him, who is fwordi"
the Source of fuch invaluable bleflings, and hatjji
difplayed fuch incomparable riches of grace ;
\Shall] the fevereft, afliiSlion^, or the moft pref-
hng ftraits, or the moft cruel perfecution, to the
inconveniences and extremities of which we may
indeed be expofed in our Chriftian warfare ; or
hunger, if we be ftarviiig in defolate places'";
or nakednefs, if it had not fo much as fheep-(kins
or goat-fkins to cover it; or, in a word, any
other peril, to which in our different fit uations
we may be expofed, or even fhe drawn fword
of our blood-thirfty enemies ready to be plun-
36 ged into our defencelefs bofoms ? It may 36 (As it is wrif,
indeed cut (hort the refidue of our mortal days ; tcij For thy fake we
as it is written, in words which may iuftly be f^ '''"^'' ="" '"^^ '*^
f J .. rnr ^ v __ \ .. T? ..i r i long; we are account.
applied to us, (Pfal. xllV. 22.) " For thy fake ed as ftieep for the
" we are without remorfe killed all the day long, flaughter.)
, " we are accounted as fo vazny fleep deftined to
" the flaughter, and delivered over to it, without
" refiltance on our part, or mercy on that of
77 " our enemies." Neverthelefs, while we ap- 37 Nay, in all
pear in fo weak and helplefs af ftate. We do in all 'hefe thing? we are
thefe things more than conquer, we triumph in ™>-= *an conquer-
.. • J -11 n. • -il \i ; /• 7 o«, throughhim tliai;
certain and illultnous viftory, through him who loved us.
hath loved us, and, having redeemed us to God
by his own blood, will fecure us amidft all thefe
' temptations, and finally (hew that our fufferings
and death have been precious in his fight, and
have made a part in his merciful fcheme for our
more exalted happinefs.
2^ Well raay I thus boaft of the fecureft and com- 38 For i am pen.
pleateft viftory, even amidft the combat ; for I funded, that neither
am perfuaded, that neither the fear of death, in ^^^'^' ^^ ''*^» ""
?ny imaginable form of terror, nor the hope and '""
e Shall affiiS'ion, Set;.] None can ima- .manner, would engage him to fupport
gine that Chrift would love a good Chri- them under all their trials, by vital com-
Jlia«t.h.t lefs for enduring fuch extremities munications of Divine ftrength.
forhis fake. The text muft therefore b Hunger.] The word Xi^o®. is more
be intended to exprefs the dpofth's confi- extenfive than famine, and may be ap-
dence, that God*5 invariable loire to his plied to perfonal, as well as public necef-
peo^le, illuftrated already ia fc glorious a fity. .
1
4 (Jefire

RefteBions an the fruits of ihe everlafting love of God.

»ngel5, nor principa-
Jities, nor powers,
nor things prefept,
nor tilings to come,

39 Nor height, nor
depth, nor any other
creature, fliall be able
to feparate us from
the love oif God
which is in Chrift Je
fus our Lord.

99
defire of life, in the moft agreeable circumftances Sect.
that can be imagined, mr all the efforts of ^^^^^•'
infernal angels, nor of principalities, nor of Rom.
powers^, however various their rank, however vm. jS
fubtile their artifices, however furious and ma
lignant their rage may be, nor things prefent,
difficult as they are, nor things future, extreme
as they may poflTibly prove. Nor the height 39
of profperity, nor the depth of adverfity, nor any
other creature, above or beneath, in heaven,
earth or hell, flail be able to feparate any of us,
who are Chriftians indeed, from ihe love of the
Almighty and ever-bleffed God, which is graci
oufly given us in Chrift Jefus our Lord^, by a'
tenure fo certain, that it fliall never be loft; and
being thus fecure that nothing (hall feparate us
from that, we affuredly know that nothing can,
on fhe whole, hurt us ; and feel a courage which
nothing can difmay.

IMPROVEMENT.
O Blessed fouls indeed, who having been in the eternal coun- Vcrfe
cils of the Divine \o\q foreknown and predeftintited, are, in con- 29,30
fequence thereof, called and juftified, as the earneft of being ere
long glorified ! Who would not defire fo fee his own title to pri- ,
vileges fo ineftimable as thefe ? And how fhall we know that
we have our part in them ? how but by fecuring an evidence, 28
that we love God? Then may we be affured that aU things fliall
Xi'ork together for our good and glory in it, that we are the eleft 33,
of God; to whofe charge therefore nothing flail be alledged, fince 34.
God juftifieth ; whom none fhall condemn, ftnce Chrijl died to expiate
our finsj and is afcended into heaven continually to intercede
for us. In cheerful dependance on his patronage and care, let us
t)id defiance to all our enemies, and be willing to fubmit to the 35
greateft extremities, fince they (hall not be able to feparate us 36

' Aitgeh, principalities and powers.]
Mljner, {Objerv. Vol. II. p. 42,) has fuf
ficiently fliewn that^W angels are fome
times called ^cj^t><?r5, to exprefs their be
ing ufed as inftruments of the Divine
fower, (compare Eph. i. 21, chap.i. 10;
Col. i. 16, chap. 11. 10,) as likewife that
tt?)(a.i may fignify magiftrates, compare
Tit. iii. i. But as it is certain that ev'il
angels are called principalities and poivers,
(Eph. vi. 12; Col. n. 15,) and as that in
terpretation of the words beft fults the
iofttext, (for it is not to be thought that

good angels would attem^ to feparate me.i
from Chrift's love,) I muft adhere to it.
fc Shall feparate us, &c.] Archbifliop
Tillotjon thinks (Vol. I. p. 491) Paul
fpeaks thus confidently in reference to
himfelf, and the experience he had pafled
through of fo peculiar a nature ; but he
feems to me to found the argument on
confiderations eommon to all Chriftians,
ver. 28, and the conneftion is fuch, that
if thefe latter claufes are limited to St. Paul,
I do not fee how the preceding can be ex- '
tended farther. from

lOO The apoftle projeffeth his affeElion for the Jews ;
Sect. f-Qm fhe love of Chrifl, even though for his fake we flould be MUed

qjl the day'long, and accounted as fleep for the flaughter.

Verfe O bleffed fouls, whom neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
38,39 any other creature, (hall be able to divide and. Cut o{f from ihe love
of God I What then can harm us } what evil can we then fuffer ?
what good can we want ? IVhen God is for us, and when we are
fenfible of his love in giving us his Son, how can we allow ourfelves
to fufpeft his readinefs with him to give us all things truly reafon
able or defirable ? All other bleflings, when compared with thefe,
will appear^ unworthy of a mention ; and we fhould have great
reafon to fufpeft, th^t they were not ours, if we did not find |
heart fuperlatiyely to value them above every thing elfe,
S p C T. XIX,
The apoftle now finding it_ neceffary to fpeak. more exprejfly tf the
rejection of the Jew;, and the calUng of the Gentiles, introduces
the Jubjeii with very tender expreffions of his regard to bis Jewijh
brethren ; and then flews, that 'the rejeStion of a confiderable
part of the feed of Abraham, and even. of the pofterity of Ifaac,
from the peculiar privileges of God's chofen people, was an in-
cont eft able faH, which the Jews could not hut grant to have hap-
» pened, that is, with regard to ihe defcendants of Iflmael and of
Efau. kom. IX. i — 13.
Romans IX. i. Romans ix.i.
xix' T^^.^' "^y brethren, I have endeavoured to I ^'^ ''^^ ""^4"
-*¦ animate you by leading your meditations to ' '

Rom. thofe ineftimable privileges which we receive
V^' I in virtue of the gofpel, which renders us fo far
fuperior to all the hardfhips we can endure ;
and t hope the thought of them will be abun
dantly fufficient to eftablifh your adherence to
it. Faithfulnefs will alfo oblige me to add, that
as all who embrace and obey this gofpel, whe
ther Jews or Gentiles, are accepted of God, fo
all who,rejeft it, are rejefted by him '". And
left, while I maintain this important truth, any
a As all who embrace, feTc] This the Jews met with from their obftlnate. coons
api)/?/fi had intimated -all- along in the pre- try-men, would make encouragements,
ceding difcourfe, which is addrefi'ed to and confolations like thofe fuggefted in
Chriftians, ..^s Chriftians, without any re- the eighth chapter, as neceflary for them
gard to their having been Jews or Gen- as for any Chriftians in the world. So
tiies ; nay, he had exprefsly declared in very much miftaken have fonSe learned
. tlje 2d and ^d chapters, that their having commentators been in the peculiar turn
been Gentiles would be no obftruiftion« they have given to that chapter, and fevc-
And it is certain, the peculiar oppofitions ral paffages in thofe preceding it.
and perfecutions, which' the believiog fhould

tmd that he could wifli to he an anathema for them, loi

Chrift, I li^ not, my
confcience alfo bear
ing me witnefs in the
Holy Ghoft,

1 That I have
great hcavincfs and
continual forrow in
my heart.

3 For I could wlfli
that myfelf were ac-
curfed from Chrift,
for my brethren, my
kinfmen according to
the flefli :

4 Who are Ifrael- ites ;

fliould imagine that I bear hard upon my dear Sett.
countrymen fhe Jews, on account of any per- •^^'^'
fonal injury, which I, or my Chriftian brethren, Rom.
of whofe fufferings I have been fpeaking, (chap. IX. i.
viii 35 — 39,) have received from them, or by
their means ; I begin this difcourfe with the mort
folemn affurance I can give you to the contrary.
_And herein / fay the truth in Chriji , I fpeak
with that candour and integrity which becomes
a Chriftian, and as in the prefence of fhat
blefled Redeemer who fearches all hearts. He
knows that / lie not : my confcience alfo bearing
me witnefs as to the truth of what I fay, in the
Holy Ghoft, asunder his influence who fo tho
roughly difcerns the foul on which he operates. .
With all this folemnity, on fo great an occafion, 2
do I declare to you, that I have great grief,
and inceffant anguifl in my heart; when I think
of what hath happened, and will happen unto
them, in confequence of their oppofition to the
gofpel. For methinks, if I may be allowed 3
, to exprefs myfelf fo,_ / could even wifl that as
Chrift fiibjefted himfelf to the curfe, that he
might deliver us from it, fo / w^y^^" likewife
were made an anathema after the example of
Chrift^ : like him exppfed to aft the execrations
of an enraged people, and even to the infamous
and accurfed death of crucifixion itfelf, for the
fake of my brethren, and kinfmen according to the
fteJh, that they might thereby be delivered from
the guilt they have brought upon their own '
heads, and become entitled to the forfeited and
rejefted bleffings of the Meffiah's kingdom.
So cordial and difinterefted a regard have I for

b Made an anathema after the example
tf Chrift.] This fenfe is given by the
leajned Dr. Waterland, [Serm. Vol. I.
p. 77, 7S,) who 'urges tbe< manner in-
which alto is_ ufed, 2 ' Tim. i. 3, a7.fi
Tajv iT^oyo-im after the example of »<y fore
fathers. Compare i John iii. 16. Next
to this I fliould incline to the intt-rprcta-
tion given by Dr. Clarke, {Seventeen
Si'rm, p. 340,) who fuppofes the apoftle
means, that he could be content that
Chriil fliould give^hlm up to fuch cala
mities as thefe, to which the Jewijh
people were doomed for rejefting him ;
fo that if they could all be centered in one
perfon, he could ~be willing they fljould

unite in him, could he thereby be a means.
of faving his countrymen. Compare
Di^ut, vii. 26; Jofli. vi.«7, chap. vii. 12.—
Grotius underftands it of a feparatlon
from the church of Chrift, (which is fome
times called by the name Chrift, i Cor.
xii. 12 ; Gal. iii. 27 ;) or of excommunica
tion. — Elfner, (who, agreeable to Dr. .
Clarke^s interpretation, joins b.itq th
Xg'5-H .with nL';^o,w«v,) fliews very well, as
many other commentators have done, how
very abfurd it would be to fuppofe he
meant, that he could be content to be de
livered over to everlafting mifery for the
good of others.
my

J 02
Sect'. XIX,

ivho were ihe feed of Abraham, aridheih of the pfomife;

feed

as a

Rom.IX. 4

my dear nation, who are •Ifraelites'', the
of Jacob, that eminent patriarch, who
prince had power with God and prevaliled 5 whofe
the fpiritual adoption [iV] in confequence of
which, as a people, they were cabled the fonS
and daughters of the moft high God ; and the glory,
which in the Schechinah refided vifibly amon^
them on the mercy-feat"; and the covenants
made fucceffively firft with Abraham and then
with Mofes, and with the vvhole Jewifli people
in him ; who were honoured with the giving of
the law in fuch folemn pomp, «»(/ received with
the precepts of that excellent polity, an exaft
ritual for the fervice [of God] in~ their taberna
cles afterwards prafti/ed in their temple with
unequalled (blemnity and magnificence ; wha
were alfo /^^ heirs of fuch peculiar and important
promifes, . rela;ting not only to their abode in
Canaapr^inder the adminiftration of an equal
and miraculous providence, but likewife inclu
ding and centring in the fpiritual kingdom of
the Meffiah, who was to arife among them.
5 I cannot but have a refpcftful and fender regard
for a nation thus dignified and diftinguifted ; a
nation ; whofe privileges [are] handed down to
them from fo niany illuftrious anceftors, in a
long, defcent, who were in their refpeftive ages
the great fathers of the world and church ; and
from whom, V&~ crown the whole, according to
the ftefl Chrift himfelf is [defcended] luho,
though found in fa(hion like a man, and truly
partaker of our nature in all its finlefs infirmi
ties, is alfo poflTefled of a Divine nature, , by vir
tue of which, he is above all our conceptions
and praifes, above creatures of the higheft or
der,' and indeed God bleffed, for ever ', the wor thy

ites : to whom per,
tainetb the adoption,
and the glory, and
the covenants^ ,^nd
the giviijg of the (a,w,
and the ferv'iceofGod^ i
and the promifes i

5 Whofe are the.
fathers, and of
whom, as concern
ing the flefli, Chrift
came, who is over
all, God blefled for
ever. Amen.

c Who are Ijraslites.] The apoflle,
with great addrefs, enumerates thefe pri
vileges of the Jews ; both that he might
fhew how honourably he thought of them,
and that he might awaken their folicitude
not to facrifice that Divine favour by
which they had been fo eminently and-
io long diftinguiflied. '
d The fpiritual adoption is.] That is,
whom God hath taken intoa fpecial cove
nant with himfelf, whereby he ftands
engaged ever to aft the part of a God and
Father to them, and taown them asliis.

children. Deut. xiv. i^ Jer. xxxi. g^
Exod. iv. 22;, Hof. xi. i.-
c Refided on the mercy-feat.] Hence
the ark was called theglory. Pfal. Ixxviii/
61 ; 1 Sam. iv. 21, 22, to which fome
add Pfal. Ixiii. 2.
S4boveall, G.d- bleffed forever.] How*
ingenious foever that conjefture may be
thought, by which fome would read this,'
m 0 eei^ 0 itrt itmim, to anfwer to i»»
01 waltj-t, (whofe , are the fathers, and'
•Khofi IS the fupreme pod;) I think it
would be oxtremely dangerous to follow- this-'

6 Not as though
the word of God hath
taken none efteft.
For they are not all
Ifrael, which are of
Ifrael ;

Yet all the feed of Abraham ere not the children of God ; loj
thy Objeft ot our humbleft adoration, as well Stcr,
as unreferved dependance, love and obedience.  ^
Amen : let his Divine glories be ever proclaimed Roip.
and confeffed ! May all the houfe of Ifrael know IX. $
;this affuredly, and fall down before him, as in and
with the Father of all, their Lord and f jieir God !
Yet, notwithftanding all thefe tender preju- 6
dices in favour of my own dear countrymen, I
cannot defend or excufe their conduft ; nor muft
I conceal fhe ungrateful truth, aflerted above,
that by rejefting the gofpel, they bring upon
themfelves rejeftion from God. But to prevent
miftakes, let me in the firft place, obferve, that
it is not to be fuppofed, I would by any means
infinuate, that the word of God hath fallen inef-
feftual to the ground, even all that glorious fyftem
of promifes, by which he engaged to beftow
proteftion, favour and happinefs upon his peo
ple. For in order to provide againft any fiith
allegation, I muft infift upon it, as a very cer
tain and apparent truth, that all [are] not rec
koned to be the Ifrael of God, fo as to be the
heirs of the promifes made to his people, wha
are defcended of Ifrael by natural generation.
Neither becaufe they are the feed of Abraham, the 7
head of the holy family according to the flefh,
are [they all] children of the promife ; but you
know it is faid, (Gen. xxi. 12,) though Ifhmael
were the fon of Abraham long before, " In
" Ifaac, then unborn, y&a// thy feed be called:
" the defcendents of Ifaac (hall be fpoken of as
" thy feed, by way of eminence, to the exclu-
" fion of thofe who may fpring from thee by
" thine other children." That is, on the 8
whole, not ihe children of the ftefl alone, nor
any of them merely as fuch, [are] the children,
of God, but the ' children of the promife, in one
peculiar line, are accounted as thefefd of Abra-

7 Neither becaufe
; they are the feed of
Abraham, are they
all children i but, In
Ifaac fliall thy feed
be called.

8 That Is, They
which are tbe chil
dren of the flefli,
thefe are not the chil
dren of God: but
llie children of the
promife are counted
for the feed.

this reading, uniiippofted as it is by any
critical authority of manufcripts, or an
cient quotations.— ^ot can I find any au
thority for rendering ©£©• Ell^o>¦l!^®. iK
TUS atma;,, God be bleffed for ever. I
Inuft therefore render, and paraphrafe,
and improve this memorable text, as a
proof of Gbr'ifl's frifer Deity, wJiich I

think, the oppofers of that doSr'ine have
never been able, nor will ever be able to
anfwer. Though common fenfe muft
teach, what Chriftians have always be
lieved, that it is not with refpe^ to the
Father, but to the created ivorld, that this
auguft title is given to hira. Compare
1 Cor. XV. »7, '&c.
ham.

10.)

As appears in the cafe of Iflmael and Efau;

IO

II

ham, and honoured yvith' thei adoption ; For
this [is] the word of the promife, (Gen. xviii. lo,
14,) " according to this time, that is, reckoning
" fhe conception of the child from hence, /
" wiU come [to thee,] in a way of gracious and
" merciful interpofition, and Sarah flail have a
" fon :". which was faid, when Hagar had many
years been Abraham's wife, and had long fince
borne a fon to him.
Nor was [this] the only inftance of the kind;
but in the cafe of Rebeccah, when fle was with
child of twins by one man,, that is, our father
Ifaac ; While [the children] were not yet born, and
had done neither good to merit, nor evil to forfeit,
the Divine favour, that the fovereign purpofe of
' God, according jo his free eleSiion, might ftand
ftedfaft, and appear -not to be formed in refpeft
of the works Aone. by either, but according to
the mere good pleafure of him who calleth things
that do not yet exift into • being, and difpofeth
|2 of all according to his own will : // was faid
to her, when confulting the Divine oracle on the
unufual commotion fhe Telt in her womb, that
two different people fhould proceed from the
birth then approaching, (Gen. xxv. 23,) and
" that the elder of them, that is, fhe pofterity
" of Efau, flould ferve the younger, that is the
" defcendents of Jacob." As it is alfo writ
ten, (Mai. i. 2, 3.) " I have loved Jacob, and
"¦ hated Efau, thaf is, I, have igreatly preferred
" the former to the latter^; beftowing many

9 For this is the
word of promife,\ At
this time will I come,
and Sarah fliall have
a fon.

13

10 And not only
this, but when Re
becca, alfo had con
ceived by one, rae»
by our father Ifaac.
II {Forthe cbildrtn,
being not yet born,
neither having done
any good or evil, that
the purpofe of God
according to eleftion
might ftand, not of
works, butv of hira
that calleth.)
12 It was faid unto
her, -The elder fliall
ferve the younger.

13 As it is writ
ten, Jacob have I
Joved, but Efau have
I hated.

S Greatly preferred the former to the
latter.] That to love and hate have this
fenfe in jcripture, is evident. Compare
Gen. xxix. 31 ; Luke xiv. 26; John 'xii.
25; and the notes there. Thefe words ii)
their conneftion with the preceding and
following, do indeed prove, that God
afts with a fovereign and unaccountable
freedom in the difpenfation of his favours ;
and do, I think, confequentially prove,
that it was not upon the forefiglit of the
obedience and piety of Jacob on the one
hand, or the profanenefs of Efau on th^
other, that this preference was given ; for
then the argument taken from their hav
ing aftually done neither good .nor evil
would be very weak, fince, to an omni-
fcientGod, that which he certainly fore
knew would be, is with regard to his pur
pofe of events to fucceed it, as if it al

ready were. Neverthelefs, it is certain
the apoftle does not here fpeak of the eter
nal flak 'of Jacob and Ejau, (whatever
fome may fuppofe deducible .ffom what
he fays,) nor does he indeed fo much
fpeak of t^xe'vcperjons, as of their pofterity ;
fince it is plainly to th^tpofterity tliat both
the prophecies, which he quotes in fup
port of his argument, refer. Gen. xxv.
a 3 ; Mai. 12, 3. His laying wafte the
heritage of the Edomites for the dragons of
the ivildernefs, is fo dlfterent a thing from
his appointing the perfon of Ejau to eter
nal mijery by a mere aft of foverelgnty,
without regard to a'hy thing done or to
be done by him to deferve it, that I will
rather fubpiit to any cenfure from my
fellow-fervants, than deal fo freely with
my Maker, as to conclude the one from
the other, '< pe-

Refienions on the Apoftle" s affeElion for his Irethr en, toz. 105
" peculiar privileges and favours upon the pofte- Sect.
" rity of Jacob, which I have denied to that ^^^'
" of Efau, whofe habitation I have laid wafte, Rom.
" for the dragons of the wildernefs, while thaf ix. 13
" of his brotner flourifhed in the richeft abun-
" dance of aU things." We fee then, to clofe
this branch of the argument, thaf the exclufion
of a confiderable part of the feed of Abraham,
and even of the defcendants of Jfaac, from the
fpecial promifes of God, is not Only a cafe, which
may be fuppofed poffible,, but a cafe, which ac
cording to the Jewifh fcriptures themfelves, hath
aftually happened.
IMPROVEMENT.
. Let fhat affeftion which the apoftle exprefles for the Jews> Verfe
his country -men and brethren according to the flefl, and the tender '' 2-
and pathetic reprefentation which he makes of the privileges
which they once enjoyed, awaken in our hearts an earneft folici
tude, that they may by divine grace be brought back ; that they
may again be adopted \nto the family from which they have been
cut off, again clothed with the glor;f which is departed from them ; 4
that, through him who was given for a covenant to the people,
they rriay receive the law of life and grace, be formed to that j'p/-
ritual fervice which it introduces, inftead of their pompous ritual,
and embrace the promifes on which the faith and hope of their illu- 5
ftrious fathers was fixed.
Let it likewife teach us fpiritual compaffion for our kindred, 3
who are ftrangers to Chrift, ahd let us be willing to fubmit to the
-greateft difficulties, and think nothing too much' to be done or,
borne for their recovery.
Let our fouls pay an humble homage to him, who is, in fuch
an incommunicable and fublime fenfe, the Son of God, as to be
\ms\1t\l over all, God bleffed for evermore. With proftrate reverence r
let us adore him, as our Lord, and our God, and repofe that un
bounded confidence in him which fuch an affemblage of Divine
perfeftions will warrant, putting our moft hearty mien to every
afcription of glory, to every anthem of praife, addrefled to him.
And, to conclude, fince we fee fhat many of the children of ^ -
Abraham, and of Ifaac, failed of any (hare in the fpecial promiles '
of God, let us learn fo depend on no privilege of birth, on no
relation to the greateft and beft of men. May we feek to be in- ^
ferted into the family of God, by his adopting love in Chrift " ^
Jefus, and to maintain the lively exercife of faith ; without which
no child of Abraham was ever acceptable to God, and with which
none of the children of ftrangers have ever failed of a (hare in his
jnercvf and favour.
Vol. IV. H SECT,

io6 God hath a right to flew mercy to whom he ivilly
' *^
SECT. XX.
The. Apoftle flews, that the fovereign choice of fome individuals tt
peculiar privileges, to which none had claim, and the fovereign
appointment, from among many criminals, of fome to peculiar, ,
and exemplary puniflments, was perfeiily confiftent both with rea
fon and fcripture. Rom. IX. 14 — 24.

Sect. XX.

' Romans IX. 14.
T Have already (hewn you how poffible it is
,  -*¦ thaf perfons defcended from Abraham, and
Rom. even from Ifaac, may be cut off from the fpecial
IX. 14 promifes of God ; as the pofterity, firft of Ifh
mael, ^d then of Efau, evidently were- What
therefore flail we fay to this ? [Is there] unrigh
teoufnefs with God in the proceedings and diftri-
butions of his providence, in this or any other
inftance fo be produced ? God forbid we fhould
infinuate any thing of that nature. It is, in the
higheft confiftence with juftice, matter of the
freeft choice, fO' whom fuch favours (hall be
15 granted. For he faith to Mofes,. (Exod. xxxiii. _
19,) when intimating a gracious purpofe toward
Ifrael, though they had broke his covenant fo
foon after the firft confirmation of it, and by an
aft of flagrant idolatry had juft merited imme
diate deftruftion, / wiH have mercy on whomfo
ever I will have mercy, and will compaflionate
whomfoeveY I pleafe to compaffionate, fo as to^
difpenfe afts of pardon according to my own
fovereign pleafure.
16 Jacob and Efau, of whom I was fpeaking juft
above, may be farther confidered as an illuftra
tion of the fovereignty of the Divine difpenfa
tions in fuch cafes : the latter of them, after he
had foolifhly fold his birth-right, ,was exceed
ingly defirous of obtaining his father's bleffing,
and run ouf eagerly fo hunt venifon for him,
(Gen. xxvii. 5 — 30 ;) neverthelefs, it was be
llowed upon Jacob. [// is] not therefore, you fee,
to be referred into the forwardnefs of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth ; but it is of
God that fleweth mercy, to one rather than ano
ther, on fovereign reafons, ¦tvhich we cannot
penetrate, but muft always belidve fo be worthy
of himfelf.
J 7 And moreover we may add, that fuch is the
con-

ROMANS IX. 14.
'VI/'Hat fliall we fay
then ? Js there
unrighteoufnefs with
God-? God. forbid..

15- For he faith to-
Mofcs, I will have:
mercy on whom 1
will have mercy, and
I will have coWpaf-
fion on whom L wilL
have compallion..

t6' Sb then ii is
not of him that will
eth, nor of him that
runneth, but of God.
that flieweth mercy.-

J 7 Far the fcrip-- .ture

ffwcf to make what finners he will the 'monuments of his wrath. 107

f'.-.re fa'th unto Pha
raoh, Even for this
fume purpofe have I
raifed thee up, that I
might fliew my
power in thee, and
that my n^me might
be declared through
out all the earth.

1 1 Therefore hath
lie mercy on whom
he will have mercy,
and whom he will he
hardeneth;

19 Thou wilt fay
then unto me. Why
dothhe yet find fault? for

conduft of God in other inftances, -when of va- Sacr.
rious finners he appoints one, rather than ano- "
ther, to be a monument of fpecial vengeance. ''
For the fcripture fays to Pharaoh ', CExod. ix. 16. j ix"™^
" For this caufe have I raifed thee up, to that
" height of eminence in which thou glorieft'',
" that 1 may remarkably fliezu forth my power
" in thee, and that my name, in confequence of
" diftinguifhed judgments to be righteoufly in-
" flifted upon thee,, may be celebrated through all
" the earth, in the moft diftant nations and re-
" moteft ages." And accordin'j;ly he hardened
his heart, that he fhould not let Ifrael go; that is,
he took meafures which he knew would be at
tended with that effeft, and at laft brought the
extremity of his wrath upon him. So then 18
we muftj after all our objeftions, rell the mat
ter here, that the bleffed God, as he is uncon
troulable, fo he is alfo unaccountable in his dif
penfations : that in choofing this or, that creature
to diftinguifhed favours, or appointing this, or
that finner to deferved puniftiment, he hath mercy
on whom he will have mercy, and he hardeneth
and deftroyeth zvhom he villi.
But thoU wilt perhaps be ready, while thou ig
readeft this declaration, to raife an objeftior^
againft it, and fay to me. If ",God afts thus,
" ivhy doth he then find fault, and blame his
" creatures for their obftinacyT when he deter-
" mines to give what he knows will in faft

' Moreover the jcripture fays, &c.] It
, is plain, that this is no proof of wliat imme
diately goes before ; I therefore- choofe
to render ya.^ by moreover, which is con
fiftent with making it intioduftory to
what proves fomething afferted at ibme
diftance, if it come in as ji co-ordinate
proof. This is fo important a remark in
the illuftration of fcripture, and clears an
attentive reader of, fo many- embarralT-
ments, that I hope I fliall be excufed .'c-
Jieating it on different occafions. The
reader will obferve, the Apoftle does not
produce an inftance of an innocent perfon
being made an objeft of Divine difpleafure,
out of mere fovereignty, but one of the
moft infolent finners that the world evet
knew. b I have raifed thee up.] Some would
render it, / have made thee to ftand, that
is^ I have fupported tbee during the for

mer plagues, that I might raake thee a
more remarkable example ,of vengeance ;
but though (as Dr. Shuckford, Connect.
Vol. II. p. 433, ahd many others obferve,)
that agree with ^.tlnpnfli;!-, the word ufed
by,the LXX. in their verfton of the text ill
queftion, and with the original "prnDVn
yet it does not anfwer to the Greek word
ufed by St. Paul, s^yifei^a. If, as fome
writers fuppofe, thePharaoh here fpoken
of were an Egyptian king, (I think Apo-
phis,) who made his Way to the throne
by treafon, inceft, and murder, the words
had a fingular weight, in the fenfe vi's
have here given them. Mr. Taylor ex
plains it of his having been recovered
from the plague of hlains, which was in
deed faid to have been upon Pharaoh,
Exod. ix. 15, 16. and this may poflibly
be the true fenfe ; but £ thJilk the c:h.;c
ftronger and nobler.
Ha " proYS

loS God miy bear with hardened ftmners, to make his power known.
Sect. " prove a prevailing ofcafion to it.' Who hath for who hath reli
XX. ,, „.'  :„ i_.. ¦ /x„r__ ...r.n.j  i  his will i"

¦Rom.
IX. 19

20

prove a prevailing occafion to it \ Who hath
ever, in any inftance, refifted, or who can ever
" be able to refift his wiU? If he hath deter-
" mined by fuch methods to deftroy a nation,
" or a perfon, who can preveijf it, or prevent
" thofe evils, which fhall, according fo his high
" appointments of Providence, be in faft the
" means of bringing on that deftruftion r"
Nay, but let me rather reply, Who art thou, O
vain, weak and ignorant man, with all thy
boafted wifdom and penetration, who art thou
who thus arrogantly entereft into a ' debate with
the all-vvife, almighty and all gracious God, and
chargeft his proceedings as arbitrary and unjuft ?
Surely it becomes us, whenever we treat fuch a
fubjeft, fo do it wth the humbleft reverence,
and through '(he whole to reniember the infinite
diftance befw^een him and us. Shall the thing
formed fay unto him that formed [it,] Why haft
thou made me thus ? Let us remember he is our
almighty Creator, and not imagine we can ever
have any room or' right to expoftulate with him,
, or in any circumftance to complain of him.
21 Hath not the potter power over [his] clay '^, as
God himfelf reprefents the cafe, (Jer. xviii. 4
-^6,) out of the fame mafs to make one veff'el to
ufes of honour, and another to the bafeft offices
of diflonour ; and to break and renew it af his
22 pleafure ? [What] then is it to thee, or what
right haft thou to find fault, if God' refolving at
laft, to manifeft the terrors of [his] wrath, and
to make known his awful and tremendous power,
in their aggravated deftruftion, hath in the mean
time, endured with much long- fuffering thofe
'who (hall finally appear to be the vefjels ff wrath
which -A-xt fitted to deftruiiion '' ? Is he to account
to thee for punifhing them vvho juftly deferve
puni(hment, at what time, and in what man
ner he pleafes, and to aflc thy leave to delay or

20 Nay but, O
man, who art thou
that replieft againft
God ? fliafl the thing,
formed fey to him.
that formed it. Why
haft thou raade me
thus ?

ZI Hath not the
potter power over
the clay, of the fame
lump to make one
veflel unto honour,
and another unto dif-
honour ?
22 What if God,
willing to fliew his
wrath, and to make
his power known,
endured with much
long - fuffering the
veffels of wrath fitted
to deftruftion :

c Potter pctver over '{^h'ls] clay.] It is
cbfi^rvable, that Plutarch ufes the very
fame fimilitude with this before, us ; and
Ariftophancs, among other contemptu
ous expreffions, by which 'he' defcribes
the frailty of human creatures,, calls them
grXfl^/wa .a itrihn, veffels of clay. See Bos
in loc. d Endures with much long-Juffering tbe
3

vefjels of wrath. Sec] The apoftle feems
here to have had the impenitent Jmus in
his' thought, though he did hot think it
proper exprefsly to name theni. It is
cei-tain, they were veffels of wrath, and
that they were long borne with, under,
many advantages, which they ungrate
fully abufed, to

and with the veffels of mercy to make knotun his glory.

2 J And that he
might make known
the riches of his glo
ry on the veflists of;
mercy, which he had
afore prepared unto
glory ?

24 Even us whom
he iiath called, not
of the Jews only, but
alfo of the Gentiles.

thatand

to execute the ftroke of his righteous ven
geance'? And [[what if,] on the other hand,
may make knoivn in the moft affefting'
learing manner the riches of his glory,
and difplay his compaffioi;is in thofe whom he
will make the vefl'eh of mercy,'he'gj:-!i.z\on^y waits
upon them, and [long endures] them"^, even
[thoj'e] whom he hath, by the power of his 'own
grace, previoifty prepared to glory, that they
might in the moft honourable manner be at
length called to partake of it .'' Even us, whom
he hath already called into the happy number
of his people, not only of the Jews, but of the
Gentiles too. Shall he make an apology to
thee, O man, that he hath appointed fome of
our finful race to fuch mercy, that he hath ex
ercifed much long- fuffering towards them, that
he hath at length wrought upon them by his
effeftual grace ; or that determining to deal thus
mercifully with fome of Jacob's race, he hath
added 'to their nuraber others whom he hath
taken from Gentile nations .'' Know thy place,
and acquiefce in humble filence. Allow the
bleffed God to do what he will with his own,
and let not thine eye be evil becaufe he is good.

109
SrcT'. XX.Rom.
IX. 23

24

IMPROVEMENT.

Let us learn from fhe memorable feftion which we have now
been reading, humbly to adore the righteoufnefs and holinefs of Vei-'i:
God, in all the moft amazing difplays of his fovereignty, which ^4-
we are fure are always confiftent with it. Let us own his right
to confer on whom hp pleafeth, thofe favours which none of us
can pretend to have deferved ; and adore his wonderful good
nefs, in chufing to exercije mercy anti compaffion on any of the 1$
children of men, yea, on many, who muft own themfelves in the
number of thofe who had the leaft claim to it. He? hath of his
mere; goodnefs given us thofe , privileges, as Chriftians, and as
proieftants, which he hath with-held from moft nations under

e He waits and endures.] As it Is cer
tain, there is an ellipfts in thefe words,
and that fomething muft be fupplied, it
feems moft natural to borrow a word or
two from the preceding vcrje, to com
plete the fenfe. Every attentive reader
will, I doubt not, infer for himfelf the
g^eat difference of phrafe in which they
who are veJJ'eli of wrath, and they who

^re veffels of mercy , are fpoken of; it be
ing faid fimpiy of the former, that they
v^ere fitted for dcftruclion, but of the latter,
that God prepared them for glory. A di
ftinftion of, lb great importance, chat I
heartily wifli we may ever keep it in view,
to 'guard us againft errors, on th-* right-
hand, ,or on the left. Compare Mat.
xxv. 34, 41, and the note there.
H 3 heaven.

no RefteSlions on. the righteoufnefs of God in his difpenfations l
^y'x ' ^^^^^'^' -An"^ if we improve them aright, we have undoubtedly
reafon to look upon, ourfelves as veffels of mercy whom, he is pre-

Verfe paring for eternal glory. Let us adore his diftinguifhing favour to
2-3 us, and arrogate nothing to ourfelves. It is neither of him that
10 willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that- fleweth 7nercy,
and worketh in us both to will, and to do, of his own good pleafure,
22 Long did his patience wait on us ; and let that patience be for
ever adored ; It fhall be glorified even in thofe that perifh : for
he is fo far from deflro}ing innocent creatures, by a mere arbitrary
aft of power and terror, that he endureth with much long- fuffering,
thofe who by their own incorrigible wickednefs prove veJJ'els of
wrath, and whom the whole aflembled world (hall conkk fitted
"f^ for the deftruBion to which they fhall finally be configned. That
after long abufe of mercy they are hardened, and perhaps after long
hardnefs .are at length deftroyed : yea that fome of the vileft of
j^ men are exalted by providence to a ftation that makes their crimes
confpicuous, as thofe of Pharaoh, till af length ht flews forth his
power the more awfully, and maketh his name the more illuftrious,
by their ruin is certainly confiftent with that juftice which the
Judge of the whole earth will never violate. ',
But if in tracing fubjefts of this kind difficulties arife beyond
20 the ftretch of our feeble thought, let us remember thaf we are
men, and let us not dare to reply againft God. Retiring into our
own ignorance and weaknefs, as thofe that are lefs than nothing,
21 and vanity, before him, let us dread by any arrogant cenfure to
offend him whp has fo uncontroulable a power over us. As clay in
the hand of the potter, fo are we in the hand of the Lord our God.
Let us acquiefce in the form he has given us, in the rank he has
affigncd us ; and inftead of perplexing ourfelves about thofe fecrets
of his counfels, which it is impoffible for us to penetrate, let us
.endeavour to purify ourfelves from whatever would difpleafe him ;
that fo we may, in our refpeftive ftations, be veftels of honour,
^ fit for the ufe of our Mafter now, and intitled to the promife of
being acknowledged as his, in that glorious day when he ffiall
tnake up_ his jewels,
SECT. XXI,
The Apoflle flews, that the admiffion of the'Gentiles to the privileges
of God's peculiar people, when Ifrael flould be rejeiied, was
fo far from being inconfiftent with fcripture, that it had been
aSlually foretold, both hy Hofea and Ifaiah.' Rom. IX. 25, to
the end. .

I

Romans IX. 25. Romajjs ix. 25.
Ha've been remonftrating as to fhe unreafon- f^^ he faith alfo in
ablenefs of quarrelling with the Divine dif- ^"?
penfations.

Hofea foretells the admiftlon of the Gentiles :

HI

I will cal!
my people.

Ofee,
them ...J I —
which were not my
people; and her Be
loved, which was not
Joeliv.d.

:;6 And it fliall
come to pafs, that in
-the pi ace where it was
.faid unto them. Ye
ere not my people;
there fliall they be
callei, The children
ei the Jiving God.

2 7 Efaias alfo cri-
ct'a concerning ifrael.
Though

penfations, in diftinguifhing one creature from Sect,
another, by his favours ; or one finner from ano- ^^''

ther, by appointing him to peculiar feverities Rom.
of puniftiment, not exceeding the demerit of his ix. 25
offence : I will now venture, without farther
referve, to fay, that in what 1 have been writ
ing, I had fome peculiar reference to God's call
ing fo many of the Gentiles by the grace of his
gofpel, and his appointing the impenitent Jews
to the monuments of wrath- And let me now
addrefs myfelf to the latter, and fay. Who gave
thee, O Jew, an authority to queftion and dif-
pute with thy God on this occafion ? Yea> is
there on the ^vhole any reafon for thee, who haft
the fcriptures of the Old Teftament in thine
hands, and profeffeft fuch a regard for them,
fo much as to be furprifed at this, when there
are fo many hints of it ih thefe Divine oracles ?
As particularly in Hofea, where he hath fpoken
of calling Ifrael Loammi, as difowning them for
their wickednefs, and hath alfo faid, (Hof. i. \o,)
" I will call them my people, who were not my
" people before, and her Beloved, ivhich vjas not
"for a long time beloved'^; And it flail 26
" come to pajs, [that] in the place where it was
" moft exprefsly faid to them, Te- [are] not my
" people, there flail they be called, not only the
" people, but the fons and daughters of the liv-
" ing God, by fpecial adoption and favour."
As he is the living God, he can eafily bring if
into execution, and the more you refleft on the
vvhole tenor of his word, the- more you will be .
fertfible of the propriety with which 1 apply this
paffage, whatever its original fenfe might be to
the purpofe in view. I muft alfo obferve, that -3^
Ifaiah crieth concerning Ijrael with great ear-
neflnefs and affeft^ion, (Ifa. x. 22, 23,) " Tho'

a Call them my people, ivhich ivere not
my people] It feems very evident from
tiie conn?ftion of thefe words in H.ifea,
that they refer to God's purpofe cf refto-
ring the Jews t'o the privileges of his
people, after they had been a wlrile re
jefted of him. - But it is obvious, they
mig'ht with great propriety be accommoda
ted to the calling of the Gentiles ; and in
deed that great event might with fome
probability be inferred, partly from the

temporary rejeftion of^he Je-vs, of which
this text fpalce, (for it was not to be ima
gined God would have no people in the
world ;) and partly, as it was in the na
ture of things more probable that he
fliould call th : heathen, than that he fliould
reftore the Jews, when he had caft them
off for fuch ingratitude, as rendered them
lefs worthy of his favour than the molt
idolatrous natio--3. Compare Jeffcr-.ts
True Grounds, p. 349.
H 4 ^^^^

IIS

And Ifaiah foretells the rejection of the Jews.

Sect. XXI.

Though the '. number
of the children of If.
rael be as the fand of
the fea, a remnant
fliall be faved.
28 For he will
finifli the work, and
cut it fliort in righ.
teoufnefs : becaufe a
fliort work will thS
Lord make upon the
earth. 29 And as EfaJas
faid befo.-e. Except
the Lord of Sabbaoth
had left us a feed, we
had been as Sodoma,
and been, made like
unto Gomorrah.

" the 'vyhole number of the children of Ifrael be
 " OS ihe fund of the fea, [yet] only a remnant
Rom. " flail be faved, and the bulk of the people cut
IX. 28 " off. For the Lord is finifting and cutting
" flort his account in righteoufnefs ; Jor the Lord
" will make a flort account upon the earth ^:
*' there fhall be fuch a confumption of them,
" that when accounts come to be balanced,
" there will be found but a very fmall overplus."
?9 A. the fahne Ifaiah hath formerly Jaid in a paffage
very much refembling that which I juft now re
ferred to, (Ifa. i. 9,) " Except the Lord of hofts
" had left us a feed, we flould have been as So-
" dom, we flould have been made like to Gomor-
" rah." There ^was then you' fee but a little
remnant, which preferved the whole people
from being utterly confumed ; fo that it is no
unexampled thing thaf the main body of the
Jewifh nation (hould fall intp a revolt from God
and become the objeft of his difpleafure to the
30 moft dreadful degree. What fliaU we then Jay,
in the conclufion of the whole argUmenti? Surely
this ; that the Gentiles, who purjued not aJter
righteoujnejs, who had a little while ago no
knoyvledge or expeftation of it, and no defire
after it, have now, to their own unfpeakable fur-
, priie, and that of the whole w orld, attained to
righteoujnejs, that is, to the profeffion of a reli
gion whereby they may be juftified and faVed ;
even the righteoujnejs, which is by Jaith in the
gofpel, and confifts in humbly committing the
(bul to Chfift in the way that he hath appointed.
3 r But while Ifrael was purfuing the law of righ
teoufnefs, and expeftingto obtain righteoufnefs
by legal obfervances, it hath not attained to
that; which is indeed moft properly to be called
the law oJ righteoujnejs, that is, 'to the bleffings
of that difpenfation by which alone righteouf
nefs and life is to be ft cured. And wherejore
did they mifs thofe bleffings ? Becaufe they ne
ver heard of the way to Divine favour and accep- "y
tance.? Nay; but becauje [they did] not [pur
fue it] by faith, whereby ' alone in this fallen
b Cutting Jhort his account in righteouf- in righteoujnejs, pall make a Jhort or jniall
uejs.] Mr. Locke would Irauflate it, for remnant in the earth. This is undoubteijly
the Lord, fin'fhing or cutting ftjort his work the fenfe, [lat the verjioii is not exaft. ffate

30 What fliall we
fay then ? That the
Gentiles which fol-
lo'wed not.after righ
teoufnefs, have at
tained to righteouf
nefs, even the righ
teoufnefs which is of
faith :

32

31 But IfiMef, which
followed after the
law of righteoufnefs,
hath not attained to
the law of righteouf
nefs. ;
32 Wherefore .' Be
caufe they jought it not

Reflexions on the calUng of the Gentiles..

113

by faith, but as it ftate ofour nature it is to be obtained ; ?i</ merely. Sect.
xv^erc by the works ^^ |f j^ ^^^ ^^ ^^ -.^^^ 1 ^^^ ^^^y r ^^ j XXI.'
of the law. tor they _ , . . _ ». . , / . , .. J .

ftumbled ' at that For they in faft ftumbled and fell at that Jlone Rom.

ftumbling-ftone ;
33 As it is writ
ten. Behold, I lay in
Sion a ftumbling-
ftone, and rock of
oft'ence : and whofo
ever bsllcveth on
him, ihall not be
alhamed.

of offence which lay in their way. As it is IX.
ivritten in thefe ever-memorable words, (Ifa.
viii. 14; chap, xxviii. i6,) " Behold, I hy ia
" Zion, that is, I exhibit in my church, what,
'^ though fo well fitted to be a foundation of their
" happinefs, fhall in faft prove h ftone of jlum-
" bling, and a rock of offence, that is, an occafion
" of fin and ruin to many, through their own
" prejudice and perverfenefs.: and every one who
* ' helieveth in him Jhall not be ajhamed, (hall not
" be brought under a neceffity of feeking his
" refuge elfewhere, in helplefs and hafty con-
" fiifion, to which all they who flight himjhall
«' at laft be reduced."

33

IMPROVEMENT.

How can we finners of the Gentiles ever fufficiently acknow
ledge the goodnefs of God to us, in calling us to that full
participation of gofpel-blelTings which we enjoy! , That in our
native lands, where the name of the true God was fo long un- Verfe
known, we fliould have the honour of being called his children I 26
O that we may indeed be fo, not only by an external profeffion,
but by regenerating grace ! May we be of that remnant, that 28
little remnant, ^'hich fliall be faved, when numbers countlefs as the
fand' of the fea, which h.id only the name of God's Ifrael, fliall
perifh, even in the day when his work fliall be cut Jhort in righ
teoujnejs I
Blefled be God that there is a fed remaining. It is the pre- 20
fervation of the people among which it is found, and had it not -
been found among 11s, we had probably long fince been made a
feat of defolation. May it increafe in the rifing age, that the
pledges of our continued peace and profperity may be more affured,
till our peace be Uke a river, and our falvation like^ the waves of
the fea. *
It will be fo, if we be awakened ferioufly to enquire how we
may be juftified before God, and feek that invaluable bleffing in
the way here pointed out ; if we feek it, not as by the works of the 31,3a
laiv, but by faith in Chrift, as the Lord our righteoufnefs. He hath,
in this refpeft, been to many a Jlone of fumbling and a rock of ^-^
offence May Divine grace teach us the neceffity of building upon
him, of refting upon him the whole ftrefs of our eternal hopes.
Then (hall they not fink into difappointment and ruin ; then ihall
\ve not flee_ away aflamed in that awful day, when the hail fhall
fweep

f 14- 2^^ 2ffl^ "f Ifrael for God not according to knowledge.

Sic

"'•fvjeep away the refuge of lies, and the waters of thai final deliige of
_^ Divine wrath flail overflow every hiding-place, but that which.God
hath prepared for us in his own Son.
SECT. XXJI.
' The Apoftle flews, that God hath offered pardon and falvation on
the fame equitable, gracious, and eafy terms to all ; thouoh Ifrael,
hy a bigotted attachment to their own law, rejected it. Rom.
X. I— -I-:;.

Rom.4NS X. I,
l"^u' "V^^ f^^' ™y brethren, to what this difcourfe
' *¦ of mine tends, in which I have been re-

' ^om.

Romans X. i.
¦DRethren, rny
heart's defire and
prayer to God for If^
rael is, that thcv
might be faved.

prefenting faith' in Chrift, as the only method
to prevent our fhame and ruin, W'itho,ut the ex
ception of any, whether Jews or Gentiles, -who
fhould .rgjeft him. I know how unkind and
unjuft an interpretation may be put on fuch ah
affertion, though thus fupported by the- facred
oracles themfelves; and therefore! think it pro
per to rene'.v the affurances I before gave, that
the moft affeBionate defire of my heart, in the
accompliftiment of which I ftiould find thegreat-
¦cft cohiplacency, and [my] fupplication, which
I am with daily importunity repeating before
God concerning Ifrael, is for its prefent and
eternal falvation and happinefs-; which I wifh as
2 fincerely as my own. For I am ready to teftify,
from what I well know of them by my own
obf(?l-vation and. experience, that they have a
very ardent ¦z.ecd for God ; but I lament that it is
a zeal not regulated according to knowledge, or
direfted into a right channel, in confequence pf
which it leads them into the moft fatal miftakes
3 and exceffes. For they being ignorant of the
righteoufnefs of God, of the purity of his nature,
the extent of his law, anti the method which
in confequence thereof he hath eftablifhed for
the juftification of a finner; and feeking with
great diligence to eftabVff and fhoar up, "as it
were, by the moft infufficient props, the ruinous
edifice of their own righteoufnefs, by the obfer
vation of the precepts or expiations of their
law ', have not fubmit ted with due humility to
the
> Cbfervatjons of the precepts or expi- efpecially the late Dr. Sherlock, in hia
ations of their law.] Many writers, and hook of the knoivledge of Cbrifl, bxve heen
2 1 much

2 For I bear irhcnj
record, that they
have a zeal of God,
but not according t^
knowledge.

3 For diey being
ignorant of God's
righteoufnefs, and
going about to efta-
blith their own righ
teoufnefs, have not
fubmitted themfelves unto

they being ignorant of the only ivay to obtain righteou fiefs.

unto the righteouf
nefs of God.

4 For Chrift is the
end of the law for
righteoufnefs to every
line that helieveth.

5 For Mofes de
fcribeth the righte
oufnefs which is of
the law, That the
man vvhich doeth
thofe things ihall live
by them.

6 But the righte
oufnefs which Is of
faith, fpeaketh on
this wife. Say not in
thine heart, 'Who
Ihall afcend into hea
ven?' (that is, to
^ brlAg

Rom. X. 4.

115
the righteoufnefs of God exhi\h\teA, in his Son, nor Sect.
placed their own attempts of obedience in a due ^¦^'^*
fubordination to thaf.
This is the moft fatal error that can be ima
gined ; for how infenfible foever Ifrael in general
may be of it, it. is on the whole mofl; certain,
that Chnft [is] the end of the law for righteouf
nefs to every one that helieveth '', that is, it is the
great fcope and defign of the law to bring men to
believe in Chrift for righteoufnefs and life, and
its ceremonial and moral precepts and conftitii-
tions moft harmonioufly center in this. For 5
Mofes moft exaftly defcribeth the only way of
righteoufnefs which is attainable by the law,
[when he faith] again and again, (Lev. xviii. 5,
compared with Deut. Xxvii. 2.6,) the mm who
doth them flail Uve in and by them " ; thaf is, the
man who perfeftly obferves thefe precepts in
every particular, and fn every punftilio, he, and
he alone, i( fuch a perfon there be, may claim ,
life and falvation by them. Now this is a way
of juftification, which, when the law has- once
been broken, becomes abfolutely impoffible to
the tranfgreffor. But the righteoufnefs which 6
is by faith, fpeaketh a very different language,
and may be confidered as expreffing itfelf thus,
(if I may be allowed to borrow the words of the
great Jewifh legiflator, when reprefenting the
plainnefs and perfpicuity of his law ; (Deut.
XXX. II — 14;) " Say not in thine heart. Who
" ffall afcend into . heaven, that is, as I may in

much miftaken in the reprefentation they
have made of the Pharijaical righteoujnejs,
as if it confifted merely in fubftituting
qeremon'ial otjjervances inftead -of moral
duties. The Phsrifees certainly inculcated
the external duties of moraUty, how much
foever they might themfelves fail in ob
ferving them, or reft merely in outward
afts J but tliey trufted in legal expiations
to procure the pardon of thofe evils which
might happen ; and the compolition of
thefe, ifl may be allowed the exprplTion,
conftituted the righteoufnefs which they
went about rw^ai, to eftabl'ift, or prop up,
decrepit as it was.
b The end of the law .] The jcope of 'it,
as Elfner fliews on this place, that teM©.
fignifies ; he paraphrafes the words, no
tne can fulftl the law, till he believe in

Chrift. But that, how true foever, (com
pare chap. viii. 2 — 4,) feems not the
chief view of the apoftle here.
, c The man that doth them, flail live by
them.] The Sinai covenant made no ex
prefs provllion for the pardon of any lin
deliberately and wiclL;dly committed
againft it; and fo was indeed a covenant of
tvorks : though the difpenfation of Mofes
contained fome further Intimation of the
covenant of grace, which was made with
Abraham, and was quite a dlftlnfl thing
from the lavi. And the apoftle builds fo
much on thefe thoughts here, and elfe
where, that it will be of importance to
render them, familiar to the mind, and to
trace the evidence and illuftration of them
in the Mofaic writings. . " this

J l6 Which may he obtained by Jew and Greek thro' faith in Chrift.

Sect.XXII.

" this view accommodate the paffage, to condu3
 " Chrift down with him [from thence,] to teach
Rom. " and inftruft us, or to' atone for our offences :
X. 7 «« or. Who flail defcend into the deep abyfs. that
" is, to bring Chrift again from his, abode
" among the dead, in the bowels of the earth."
No; bleffed be God, Chrift hath already defcend
ed from heaven' fo bring down the gofpel, and
' he hath in a triumphant manner arifen from the
dead to fet an everlafting feal to its Divine au
thority ; fo that there is no more room to puzzle
ourfelves about difficulties, or to wifh for a power
of doing 'what fo human (kill or ftrength is
8 impoffible. But what faith he afterwards ?
even thefe words, fo remarkably applicable to
the fubjeft before us ; " The word is nigh to thee,
" [even] in thy mouth, and in thine heart ; eafy
" to be underftood, eafy to be remembered ;
" and if thine heart be rightly difpofed, eafy to
" be praftifed too." And that is eminently the
cafe with relation to the word of Chriftian faith
9 which we preach : For God hath, given a very
plain and intelligible fevelation in his gofpel ;
and the fubftance of it is this. That if thou doft
couragioufly confefs with thy mouth, that Jefus
is the Lord, and at the fame time believe in thy
heart, with a vital and influential faith, that
God hath raifed him from theAead, in proof of
his Divine miffion ; thou flalt affuredly be faved,
whoever thou art, and how heinous and aggra-
10 vated foever thy paft fins may have been. For
it is with the heart that a man helieveth to righ
teoufnefs, or fo as to obtain juftification, nor can
any thing but a cordial alTent fecure that ; and
with the mouth confeflion is made to falvation,
and that pubiick profeffion of Chriftianity is
maintained, without which a fecret conviftion
of its truth would only condemn. Let there
fore the heart and the tongue do their refpeftive
parts on this occafion, and your falvation and
happinefs will be fecure; though your obedience
to the law of God may have been very defeftive,
and you could have ho claim to reward, or for-
ji givenefs from thence. For the fcripture in
~ reference to Chrift, as in the forecited text,
(Ifa. xxviii. i6,) faith, " Every one that be-
" lieveth in him flail no! be in danger of being
" aflt^med.

bring Chrift
from above •j'^

down

7 Or, Who fliall
defcend into the deep?
(that is, to bring up
Chrift again from the
dead.) -

8 But what failh
it ? The word is nigh
thee, even in thy
mouth, and in thy
heart : that is, the
word of faith whlcl)
we preach.

9 That If thou
/halt confefs with thy
mouth the Lord Je
fus, and Ihalt believe
In thine .heart, that
God hath raifed lum
from the dead, thou
Ihalt be faved.

10 For with the
heart man liclieveth
unto righteoufnefs,
and with tljie mouth
confeflion is made
unto. falvation.

II For the fcrip
ture faith, Whofo
ever helieveth on
him Ihall not be a-
ihamed.

ReJle£iions on the clear knoivledge ive have in the gofpel. 117
" ajhamed, and put to confufion, in any imagi- Sect.
12 Forthereisno " nable circumflance :" Every one without ^^^^'
t^"^w atrth^ diftinftion, Jor, you fee, there is no difference T^
Greek: for tbe fame between Jew and Greek. Jor the Jame Lord of X.iz
Lord over all, is rich aU, the Creator, Governor, Preferver, and Be-
onWrn '*"' "" ''^' "^f=*ft°'' of ^^^ w'^°i'^ IVuman fpecies, difplays his
riches, and magnifies his bounty, to all that call
upon him, imparting to them all the fame blef-

13 For whofoever fings of his providence and grace. For who
""" "!f X^Lord J°J^'"- f^^^ mvoke the name ^of the Lord flail be

name ot u.v. i.wiu - - , . , , - .- -.. , 7-t , ..
fliall be fav.-j. Javcd^, as the prophet Joel teftihes, (Joel 11.
32,) when he had been fpeaking of thofe great
events which have in part been fo wonderfully
accomplifhed in the eftufion of the Spirit, and
fhall be farther fulfilled in thofe fcenes of Provi
dence which are fhortly to open on the Jewifli
nation.

IMPROVEMENT.
Let our hearts, after the example of St. Paid here before us, Yerf^
be overflowing with love and compaflion to our brethren; and let i
us be earneftly interceding with God for their falvation. Where
we fee a zeal for God, let us pa)' all due regard to it, and com- 2
'paffionate.that ignorance which may fometimes be mingled with it;
efpecially if it effeft fo impoi,tant an article as that of our becom
ing righteous before God by a better righteoufnefs than our own. -2
Let us pray that God would teach us, and \yould enable us, ac
cording to our refpeftive fituations, in a proper manner to teach
others, that Chrift is indeed the end of the laW, of all the laws which ^
God ever gave to fallen man, for righteoufnefs ; all were intended
to convince men of their need of coming to him, that righteouf
nefs and life may be obtained.
Great reafon have we to adore the Divine goodnefs, and to
congratulate ourfelves, and one another, upon onr great happinefs
in this refpeft, that God hath given us a revelation, fo obvious
and intelligible in all the grand points of it. We have indeed no
neceffity, no temptation to fay. Who fliall go up into heaven P or, 6, -i
IVho flail defcend into the deep P or. Who, like the induflrious,
but bewildered, (ages bf antiquity, fhall crofs the feas, to bring
that knowledge from diftant countries, which is vsanting in our
own ? The word is nigh to us: It is indeed in our mouth: O that g
it may be in our heart too. We know a defcending, a rifen ,
Redeemer. He ftill vifits us in his gofpel,- ftill preaches in our
d Invoke tbe name of the Lord, See.] the apoftle's argument is quite inconclu-
Bilhop Pearfon rgues at large from hence, five TMrf:n cji the CucJ, p. 149.
UiM if Chrift b* not her? called Jehnvh, affemblies,

ii-8

The gofpel then is to be preached to the Gentiles ;

Sect, affemblies, and ftretches out a gentle and compaffionate hand, td
¦^^"' lead us in the way to happinefs. May our profeffion of faith iii
Verfe him be cordial ; and then it will be open and courageous, what-
9, 10 ever facrifices we may be called to make. BeUeving on him, wt
flail not be aflamed ; calling on his name, we flail be Javed;
, though we can meet with nothing but defpair from a difpenfation;
5 that faithi The man who peifeftly doth thefe precepts^ fliaU live b^
them.
SECT. XXIII.
The Apoftle purjues the view given in the laft JeSfion, and flews^
thcii tbe gojpel had been diffufed widely through the world; though
according to other prophecies, which he here mentions Jrom Mofes,
and Ifaiah, the Jews had rejeiied it, while the Gentiles embraced
it. Rom. X. 14, to the end:

XXIII. Rom.
X, 14

Romans X. 14.
SxcT. ¦pROM the promife of falvation to them thaf
¦* fhall call on the name of fhe Lord, I have
juft been inferring, (ver. 12, 13,) that there is
no difference between Jews and Gentiles, as to
the poffibility of obtaining falvation from God.
And from hence, we may farther infer what is
very fufficient to juftify me and my brethren,
in preaching the gofpel to the Gentiles, though
we are fhe objefts bf fo much reproach and per
fecution on that account. Let us therefore at
tend to the inference. For how flail they call on
him on whom they have not believed, as worthy
to be invoked with Divine honours and adora
tion ? and how flail they beUeve -on him of whom
they have not heard P and how flajl they hear of
him without a preacher to carry thefe important
tidings which the light of nature could never
15 be able to difcover ? And, as for the minifters
of the gofpel, how flould they preach, except
they be Jent exprefsly for that purpofe .' For,
as we were originally Jews, our own prejudices
on this head were fo ftrong, that we fliould never
have thought of carrying the gofpel to the Gen
tiles, if God had not particularly charged us to
do it. But blefled be God, that the charge has
been given, and fhe embaffy fent ; and moft
welcome (hould it be to all that receive it, as it

Romans X. 14.
"OOW then ihall
they call on him
in ^yh'gm they have
not believed ? and
how Ihall they be
lieve in him of whom
they h^Ve not heard?
and how fliall , they
hear without i
preacher ?

15 And how fliall
they preach, except
they be fent ? as it is
Written;.

for faith is by learning, and hearing ly ihe word. jja
wi'itten, How beau- is written and defcribed in that lively prophecy ', Sect.
tiful are the feet of -j^^^ j;;_ ^ g j .. q ^ beautiful are the feet, ^^^'
them that preach the \^ , en. r i r -^i i • , -
gofpel of peace, and the very tootlteps, OJ thoje WHO bring the good Ram.
bring glad tidings of " tidings of peace, who bring the good tidings X. 15,
good things ! .< ^y tj^Qfg various good things which God hath
•' now been pleafed to beftow on his church.
" It is pleafant to fee and hear the melfengers,
'• pleafant to view the very traft of ground over
" which they have paffed, on the mountains
" which furround Jerufaleni''."
16 But they have ^^^ ^^^ ^// ^^,y^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ,/,^ a,^/ glorious ifr
not all obeyed the .^ ^.j- • •.. . "^"^ i- ,
gofpel. For Efaias ^s its tidings are, nor given it that cordial recep-
faith, Loid, who hath fion which its happy contents might well have
believed our report.? demanded." And they who are weU acquainte'd
with^ the oracles of the Old Teftament, and
ftudy them impartially, will rtbt be furprifed at
it. For Ifaiah faith, in that very context, which
contains fo many illuftrious teftimonies to the
caufe in which we are engaged, (Ifa. Iiii. i,)
" Lord, who hath believed our report, and to
" whom is the arm of the Lord revealed, and
77 So then, faith « made barer" Faith indeed [cometh] by hear- if
tometh by hearing, 'ing.^ and hearing in the cafe now before us by the
wotd^of cSfd."'^ "^^ '^<"'^' the exprefs command of God, to make the
declaration ". It is therefore our duty to deliver
the meffage, wherefoever we come, whether to
Jews or Gentiles, in humble hope, that fome
will believe ; though we have fo much reafon to
r? Bit I fay,Have f«ar that many will rejeft it.
they This is our duty,, but a duty which we cannot iS'
3 In that lively prophecy.] Moft com- pare Gen. xxv. 30, in the original. But I-
mentators think, that ther Hid, chapter of think the turn given in the paraphraje^
Ifaiah is to be explained, as a prophecy of illuftrates it-inuch better. Bos obferves,
the return of the Jews from. Babylon, and that in 'Sophocles,. '^^ hands ind feet of
that the text Here quoted refers tothe joy- thofe who come upon a kind defign, arc
fill welcome that Ihould be given to the reprefented as beautiful to thofe who re-
meflengers who brought the firft tidings ceived benefit by their arrival.
of Cyrus's decree for their difmlflion. c Faith indeed [cometh.] Mr. L'Enfant
And if it were fo, the apoft.le-m\%ht very would tranfpofe the ibtli aid'iyth verfes;
juftly infer from thence the fuperior joy and it is certain, as any one may eaiil-^
with which the melTengers of the gofpel perceive, that the conneftion of all from.
fliould be received. But, I think, -a great the I5tb to the iSth, would in that view
deal may be fald to Ihew it probable, that be clearer ; but as no copies warrant it, I,
the context in queftion has in its original think it is by no means, to be prefumed
fenfe a farther reference. Compare Ifa. 11. upon. I have therefore tranfl^tcd apa,.
4—6. But not judging it neceffary, in which is often a fort of an expletive, by
the paraphraje, to build upon it as an ar- the' word indeed, which throws this verjt
gument, I fliall not by any means difcufs into fome kind of connexion wich the
the matter here. . next, and if referred to a'Kt.a there, will
b The very footfteps.] -L' Enfant thinks I hope be thought agreeable enough to the
the feet are put for tie arrival. Com- (preek Idiom. fetforni.

It20

The JeWi might have known this from jllfes aiid Ifaiah.

Sect, perform without fome difcouragements ; yet
, / may confidently fiy, it hath in the main been
Rom. praftifed ; and I may appeal to what you at
X. 18 Rome knew of the matter, in confequence of
your correfpondence with all parts of the empire.
Have they not heard of the gofpel all' abroad, fo
that I may take up the words of David, (Pfal.
xix. 4,) when defcribing the courfe of the ce
leftial luminaries, and apply them to the zeal,
and in fome meafure to the fiiccefs, with which
the miffionaries of this holy religion have exerted
themfelves, aflifted by the blefled Spirit of God,
and animated by the hope of that glorious im
mortality to which they have taught others to
afpire. , Of them may I fay, that " verily their
" voice is gone out through all the earth, and
" their words to the end of the world :" many
diftant nations have already heaM thefe glad
tidings which God wifl at length render univerfal.
(Col. i..6, 23.)
19 But I may farther yiy. Hath not Ifrael known,
or had an opportunity not only of knowing thaf
the gofpel fhould be preached, but fhat it lh,ould
be carried to fhe Gentiles too ? For firft, Mofes
Jaith, in that celebrated fong of his, which the
children in all generations were to learn, (Deut.
, xxxii. 21,) " I will raife your jealiufy by [thofe
" who were] not a nation, [and] your anger
" with a foolifl people ;" which may well be
underftood as ultimately referring to this great
,20 fcheme. And Ifaiah hath the boldnefs to fay,
in a context, where fo many things evidently
refer to the gofpel, (Ifa. Ixv. i, 2,) " / was
" found of them that fought me not ; I was
" made^ manifeft to them that inquired not for me,
" nor difcovered any concern to be informed
21 " of my nature, or my will ;" IVhereas,
invidious as he knew it would be to a nation, fo
impatient of rebuke, with relation to Ifrael he
faith, in the very next verfe, " All the day long
" have I ftretched out mine hands, in the moft
•; importunate and affeftionate addreffes, to a
" difobedient and gainfaying people, who are
" continually objefting and caviUing ; whom no
" perfuafion can win to regard theii? own "hap-
" pinefs, fo as to be willing to admit the evi-
" dence of truth, and the counfels of wifdom." It

tbey not heard.' Yci
verily, their found
went into all the
earth, and their
words unto th? ends'
of the world.

19 But I fay. Did
not Ifrael know ?
Firft, Mofes faith, I
will provoke you to
jealoufy by them that
are no people, and
by a foolilh nation 1
will anger you.

20 But Efaias is
,vei-y bold, and fal^,
I was found of them '
that fought me not ;
1 was made manifeft
unto them that alked
not after me.
21 But to Ifrael he
faith. All day long
I have ftretched forth
my hands unto a dif
obedient and gainfay
ing people.

KefleSiions on the preaching and fpreading of the gofpel. 121
It appears then on the whole, that fince the pro- Sect.
phets fo plainly foretold that the Gentiles fhould ^¦'^'"-
be called and the Jews rejefted, it is no way un- p,om.
becoming my charafter, as a meffenger from x. al
God, and a friend to the Jewifh nation, to affert
the fame, and fo aft upon it.

IMPROVEMENT. >
Blessed be God for ihe preaching of thc' gofpel, fo abfolutely vcrfc
neceifary to that faith without which we can have no well- 14
grounded hope of falvation. Bleffed be God therefore for the 15
tnipfion of his minifters, and for his abund.^nt goodnefs, in fending
them to us finners of the Gentiles. Let us give them a refpcftful
and attentive hearing, and fay, How beautijtd upon the mountains
are the feet of thofe that preach falvation, that publifl peace ! And
let us take great care, that we do not only fpeak refpeftfully
of their doftrine, but that we comply with the purpofes of their
embaffy. ^
It is matter of continual joy to refleft, not only that God hath •
afforded to all men fiich means of attaining Divine knowledge,
by the intimations of it which he hath given in "the conftitutioiis 18
of the heavenly bodies, and in the whole frame of vifible nature ;
but alfo, that he hath fent fhe exprefs meffages of grace to fo many
millions, in the extenfive publication of his gofpel. Let us rejoice
in the fpread it hath already had, and let us earneftly and daily pray,
'that the voice of thofe Divine meffengers, that proclaim it, may
go forth unto all the earth, and their words reach in a literal fenfe
to the remoteft ends of our habitable world. Let us pray, that
wherever the word of God hath a free courfe, it may be more
¦3bv\nd?int\y glorified ; and that its minifters may not have fo much
reafon to fay, PVho hath beUeved our report P and to complain of l6,2i
ftretching out their hands all the day 'long to a dijobedient and gain-
faying people. Exert, O Lord, thine almighty arm, make it bare
in the fight of all the nations. Shed abroad thy faving influences
on the hearts of multitudes, that they may believe, and turn unto
the Lord !_ May the great Saviour of his Ifrael be fmnd of thofe 30
that feek him not, and by the furprlfing condefcenfions of his grace,
may he manifeft himfelf to thofe thaf do not inquire after. him.
And may his ancient people not only be provoked to anger, {q
but awakened to emulation too ; and put in their claim for thofe
bleffings which God has by his Son yolichfafed to offer to all the
Gentiles.
Vol. IV. ' I S£CT,

122

Tet God hath not utterly forfaken his people 'Ifrael;

SECT.. XXIV.
The^Apoftle flews, thai though the rejeSiion ef Ifrael be, for fle
¦prefent, general, according to their own prophecies, and attended
with aftoniflrAng blindnefs and obftinacy, yei it is not total ; then
being ftill a number of happy believers among them. Rom,
XI. I — 10.

SrrT.

Rom.

Romans XI. i.
XXIV "XA/^ ^^^^ ^een, my brethren, how the per-
\  '. ' , verfenefs of the Jews, and the calling of
the Gentiles, hath been foretold ; but do 1 fay
then, that God hath entirely rejeiied his whole
people,, fo as to have mercy on none of them ?
God forbid I I fhould then pronqunce a fentence
of reprobation upon myfelf; for I alfo am an
Ifraelite, as it is well known ; I am of the feed
of Abraham, and can trace my genealogy, and
ihew particularly, that I am [of] the tribe of
2 Benjamin. No, bleffed be his name, God
hath not rejeiied thofe of his people whom, he
foreknew; but hath, ftill) as in the moft degene
rate ages, a feed, whom he hath chofen to faith
and falvation. Know you not what the fcripture
faith to this purpofe, in tlie ftory of Elijah P
(Compare x Kings xix. 14,) when he pleads
3' with God againft Ifrael, faying, , " Lord,
" they havi cruelly fiain all thy faithful prophets,
" and they haiie digged up the very foundations
" of thine altars " ; and I am left alone, after
" the flaughter pf all thine' other fervants ; and
" they feek my life too, and fend murderers in
•' purfuit of me from place to place, that thefe
" raay not be one worfhipper of Jehovah left
4 " in their whole land." -: But recolleft, what
fays the Divine oracle to him, in anfwer to this
doleful complaint I " I have referved Unto niy-
" felf, by my grace and Providence, no lefs than
•' feven thoufand men, who have not bowed ihe
" knee before fhe image of Baal, nor complied

RoMAIiTS XI. I.
J Say tlien, Hatli
God caft away hii
people ? God forbid.
For I alfo am an
Ifraelite, of the feed
of Abraham, of tht
tr.be of Benjamin. '

z God hath nut
caft away his people
¦which he foreknevv.
Wot ye not yvhat the
fcripture faith of Eli- -
as ^ how he maketh
interceflion to God
againft Ifi:ael,fayliig,
3 Lord, tnev have
killed thy prophets,
and digged down
thine altars ; and I
am left alone, and
they feel^ my life.

4 Bdt what faith
the anfwer of God
unto him ? I have
' referved to myf^'t
feven thoufand men,
who have not bowed
the knee to tbe image
of Baal.

a Digged up thine altars, ] It feems from
hence, that, though according to the
law there was only one altar for facrifice,
and that in the place where God had
fixed his peculiar refidence; yet, by fomt
fpecial difpenfation, pious perfons in the

ten tribes built altars elfewhere. It is well
known, at leaft,' that Samuel, and Eli
jah had done it, and perhaps, they were
either -kept up, or others raifed on the
fame fpots of ground. " with

hul there is a reninani according to the elciiion of gracti

I
5 Even fo then at
this prefent time alfo
there is a remnant
according to the elec
tion of grace.

6 And if by grace,
then is, it no more
of Works : otherwife
gr:lce is no more
gracei But if ir be of
works, , then it is no
more grace : otlier-
v.'.fe wor.k is no mere
wor.k.

7 What then ? If
rael hath not obtain
ed that which he
feeketh for ? but the
election hath obtain
ed It, and the reft
were blinded :

8 According aj it
is -written, God hath
given

125
" with any of thefe idolatrous rites -which are Sect.
" eftabliftied by thefe iniquitous laws." And'^^^^'
fo alfo in the prefent time, bad as this generation Rom.
of Ifraelites is, and fure they were never worfe, XI. 5
yet there is a remnant, who continues faithful to
God, according to the free eleStion of his grace,
whereby God hath referved them to himfelf, and
made them to differ from others ''.
And by the way, I cannot forbear obferving, 6
and intreating you to refleft, that if it be, as I
have faid, according to the eleftion of grace,
then [it is\ no more, as fome have maintained, of
works, whether of the Mofaic, or any oth.er law ;
elfe grace is no longer grace '^, if the glory of our
acceptance with God is not on the whole to be
afcribed to that. But on fhe other fide, if
[it h.^ of works, then it is no more of grace ; elfe
work is no longer work. There is fomething fa
abfolutely inconfiftent between being faved by
grace, and by works, that if you lay down either,
you do of neceffity exclude the other from being
the caufe of' it.
But, to return from this ftiort digreffion, what j
then do we conclude ? What, but this, that
Ijrael hath not obtained that juftification and
righteoufnefs which it has fought, nor retained
thefe particular privileges of the church of God
^vhich they pretend entirely to engrofs : but the
eleilion, the chofen remnant, hath -obtained it,
having been by Divine grace engaged to embrace
the gofpel ; whereas the rejl were blinded by their
own fatal prejudices, to which God hath, in
righteous judgment, given them up. Ac- 8
cordingly as it is written, (Ifa. xxix. 10. Com-

b The ele^'ion of grace.] Some explain
this of their having chftn grace, th.'.c is,
the gofpel ; but that turn is very unnatu
ral, and neither fults the phraje nor the
connexion with the former claufe, or with
the next'verje, in which the apoftle com
ments on his own words.
c Eije grace is no longer grace, &c-']i
Some interpret this, ** The gojpel -.vould
" not deferve the name of grace, if the
" obfervation of the Mojaie law were to
" be taken in as a part of the terms of
" our acceptance with God." But this
¦\vould have been a ftrange pofition. Who,
t'..i: In any degree knew the terrors of

God's anger, would not moft gladly have
accepted of the full pardon the gojpel of
fers, on much more rigorous terms than
obedience to the Mojaif ritual. The
meaning rather feems to be, " what is
** given to works is the payment of a
" debt^ whereas the notion of grace ini-
** plies an unmerited favour; fo thatthe
** fame benefit cannot, at tl^ fame time
<f be derived from both." This feems lo
be a refleftion on the liches of Divide
grace, which the apoftle mak^s by the
way, and which well agrees with the ful-
nefs of his heart on this fubjeft.

I Z

pare

1 24 Rtfteiiions on ihe remnant God hath referved to himfelf.

^ y'^v P^""^ Deut. xxix. 4; and Ifa. vi. 10,] God hath
'given them a fpirit of flumber ; eyes- that they

Rom. Jhould not fee, and ears that they flould not hear.
XI. S He threatened, you lee, to punifh their perverfe
nefs, when it (hould come to a certaintlegree,
by abandoning them to increafing ftupidity and
obftinacy, and he hath done it even unto this day:
for their blindnefs continues, notwithftanding all
the extraordinary things which have been done,
even iu our own age of wonders, for their con-
9 viftion. jfWthis is agreeable to what David
hath faid, in that prophetical imprecation which
is applicable fo them, as well as to Judas,, (Pfal.
Ixix. 22, 23; compare Afts i. 20,) Let all the
bleflings of their moft plentiful table become a
ynarf to them; a«(^ that which Ihould, according
to its original ufe and intentitJn, have been for
their welfare, a trap. Thus the gofpel, which
(hould have been the means of their falvation,
is now become an inftrument of ruin anddeftruc-
tioii to them, and an occafton of fumbling in the
moft fatal manner. And it muft be acknow
ledged fo be a juft recompenfe for their wicked
nefs ; that the beft of bleffings fhould thus be
turned into a curfe to them that fo ungratefully
to rejefted and defpifed it. . And in them the
following words are alfo fulfilled. Let their eyes
be darkened, that they may not fee, and keep their
back continually bent down, under a perpetual
weight of forrows, which they may not be able
to fupport, and which may be a juft puniftiment
Upon them for having rejefted (b ea(y a yoke.
(Compare Lev. xxvi. 13.)

given them the fpirlr
of flumber, eyes that
they flio\ild not fee,
and ears that they
Ihould not hear, uato
this day.

J And David faith,
Let their table , be
made a fnare, and a-
trap, and a ftumbllhg-
block, and a recom.-
penfc unto them.

10 Let their eyes
be darkened, that
they may not fee, and
bow down their bi;!:
alwav.

improvement.

V-erff

Let us learn from the anfwer of God to Elijah, when he
3* 4 thought himfelf left alone, and knew nothing of the feven
. thoufand which God had referved; to encourage ourfelves in a
(ecret hope, fhat there may be much more goodnefs in the world
than we are particularly aware of. The number of thofe, that
conftitutff the inviflble church, are unknown to us, but they are
known to God. They are all regifliered in the book of his re
membrance, as they are all referved unto himfelf by his grace ;
2 nor (hall his people whom he hath fonkn'own be caft away. May
we be of thaf bleffed number ; and may the degeneracy, which
we fee fo prevalent around us, animate us ro a holy zeal, to hold
3 iaft

T hroughJhe fall of the fews falvation is come to the Gentiles, 1 25

/ ct.

XXIV.

faft our own integrity: yea, to fcize thc occafion of approving it ^^^
in a more acceptable manner, from, a circumftance, in every other
view, greatly to be lamented. .
Let us often refleft*-upon this great and important truth fo Vcife
frequently inculcated upoft us in the word of God, that it is to his o
grace, and not to any works of our ozvn, that we are to afcribe
our acceptance with him. And let the minifters of Chrft be ready,
after the example of the apoflle, fomeiimes to turn, as it were,
out of the way, to dwell a little ona thought, at once fo humbling,
and fo reviving.
We fee the miferable circum.ftances of God's ancient Ifrael, 7, 8
given up to a fcirit of flumber, to blind eyes, and to deaf ears.
O let us take l.eed, tliat we do not imitate their obftinacy and
folly ; left God make our own wicke.'lnefs our deftruftion ; left ,
he fend a curfe upon us, and curfe our hlcffngs, fo that our table 9
Jhould become a fnare to us, our temporal enjoyments, or our fpi-
, ritual privileges. Lord, let us often fay. Give us any plague, rather
than the plague of the heart ; and bow down our backs under any- 10
load of aftliftion, rather than that which (hall at laft crufh thofe
•who have relufLri to accept of thy gofpel, and to take upon their
llioulders the light burden which a gracious Saviour would lay
upon them. s
SECT. XXV.
fhe Apojlle fiicws in this and the next feiilon that the rejeilion of
Ijrael is not final ; but that the time Jhall come, when, to the un-
Jj'eakable joy of tlie 'Chriftian world, the Jewifli nation Jhall be
brought into the churJi of Chrift. ' Rom. XI- 11 — 14.
Romans XI. II. ROMANS XI. II.
J s.-.v then, H.ive | Have afferted above the rejeftion of fhe Sect.
tlicy Itumbled th:it It-,i •- i -ri irj -vv\r
rivy 111 ,uid tall.' God Jewilh nation in general ; yet 1 have oblerved, -s-tv.
tiu'tiid : but rather that it is not total, fo that none of them fhould "^^ffjff
rhwugh their fall fai- remain objefts of mercy. And do I affert it to xi. ti
the"GentilcT''for"to ^^ fi"^' • Do I then fay, they have {o ftumbled,
provoke them to jea- Hi that, as a nation, they flould fall into irreco-
¦'°"')'' verable ruin, and never more be ovvned- by Gai
as his people ? God forbid I but I affert, that by
this fall of theirs, falvation [is] at the prefent
[come] to the Gentiles ; the future confequence
of which fhall be to provoke them to a holy emu
lation of fharing fhe bleffings and benefits fo be
expefted from their own Meffiah, when they
(hall fee fo many heathen nations enjoy therri.
ii Now if the fall^ But thefe (hould be no unwelcome tidings to jo
you Gentiles : for if their fall [be] by accident
I 3 the

of

?26

ihat the Jews might be provoked to emulation.

Sect, fhe riches of the world, and their diminution the
^^'^- riches of the Gentiles, by fcattering the preachers
Rom. of the ' gofpel among th>jm,' by proving our
XI. 12 veracity and integrity, and in fome meafure ex
citing compaffion too ; though their rejefting
us, in itfelf confidered, might rather appear as
an argument againfl it ; how much more fhall the
bfinging in their whole Julnefs, that is, the
whole body of the Jewifh nation, be a means of
propagating the gofpel much farther, and re
covering multitudes, by vyhom it hath been re
jefted, from their fcepticifm and infidelity, when
fo great an event appears'in accompliftiment of
13 its known prcdiftipns ". ^ For I now fpeak to
you Gentiles, and I do it with tendernefs and
refpeft, as I am, by a fpecial defignation of Pro
vidence,, fhe apojlle oJ the Gentiles ; I therein
extol my offce, and efleem it 'the moft fignal
J4 honour pf my life to be employed in it. And
while I thus addrefs you, it is alfo with a defire
that I may, if poffible, excite io emulation [them
who are] my brethren according to the flefl, and
who are dear to me as the members of my own
body ; that, if I may not prevail for fhe recovery
of their nation in general, I may at leaft Jave
fome oJ them ; while I fpeak of thefe kind pur
pofes, which I affuredly know God will'accorn-
pliih towards the whole Jewifli people in his ap
pointed tirae. And this thought gives new fpirit
to my addrefs fo you, as 1 hope it may not only

of them he the riclics
of the wqrid, and the
diminifliing of thera
the riches of the
Gentiles; howmuch
more their fulnefs ? '

1 3 For I fpeak to
you Gentiles, iiial'-
much as I am the a-
poftle of the Gentiles,
I magnify mine of
fice :
14. If by any means
I may provoke to
emulation them which
are my flelh, and
might fave fome of
them.

a Accompliflimfnt of its known pre-
diftions.] S^ many of the prophecies of
the Old Teftament, do evidently refer to
the reduftion of the Jews into their own
land, as the people of the Mefliah, that
I can by no means doubt of the certainty
f>f that event. Compare Ifa. xxvi?. 12,
33; Ezek. xi. 17 — 21; chap. xx. 34 —
44; chap. XX xiv. 13, 14; chap. xxxv.
^5-^-29 ; chap, xxxvi. 24 — zS ; chap.
xxxvli. 21 — 28; Amos ix. 14, 15;
Obad. ver. 17 ; Mic. vii. 14, 15; Zech.
xiv. 10, u. And tbe wbiidei-ful prefer-
vation of them as a diftln61 people, thus
far, not only leaves a polfibility of this
great event, but encou-.-ages the hope of
' It. "Wlicn it fliall be accomplilhed, it will
be fo unparalleled, as ncceflarily to ex
cite a general attention, and to fix upon
men's minds, fuch an almoft irrefiftible
demonftration both of the Old and New

Teftament revelation as will pi-gbably cap
tivate the minds of many thoufands of
delfts, in countries profell'edly Chriftian,
(of which, under fuch corrupt eftabl'fh-
ments as generally prevail, tliere will' of
courfe be increafing multitudes ;") nor will
this only captivate their underftanding,
but will have the greateft tendency to
awaken a fenfe of true religion in tneir
hearts ; 'and this will be a means of pro
pagating the gojpel with an amazing velo
city in Pagan and Mahometan countries ',
which probably had been evangelixed long
ago, had genuine Chriftianity prevailed in
thofe who have made a pro.ellion, and
God knows, for the moft part, a very
fcandalous profeffion, of its forms.— The
15th verfe has fo natural a conneftion
with the izth, that Elfner includes the
ij'h and I4"> in a/>a;-fa/Ai,^i, tend

Tet the Gculiles were not to boaft againft the Jews :

127

15 For if the caft
ing away of them be
t'.if i-econ^iling of the
\vorld; whutftoallthe
receiving of them be,
tut life from tlie
dead?

16 Korif the firft-
fruit b'e hol\ , the
lump is alto bt./y : .ind
if the root be holy, fo
.irc thc branches.

17 And I f fome of
the branches be bro
ken off, and thou
being a wild olive-
tree, wert grafted in
.-iniongft them, and
^vIth them partakeft
of the root and fat-
nefs of thc olive-tree;

iS Boaft not a-
gainft the branches :
but if thou boaft,
thou beareft not the
root.

tend to )'our edification and falvation, but alfo Sict.
to theirs ''. xxv.
' In like manner, when I wifti their recovery, it Rom.
is not for their fakes alone ; but alfo with refpeft XI. is
to thofe happy confequences which 1 know it
will have upon the fpread of the gofpel arhong
the Gentiles. For, as I hinted above,' if their
rejeilion [were] the reconciliation of fo great a
part of the heathen ivorld to God, as it was the
means of fending the gofpel of peace among.
them ; ' what [will] the reception [of them be,]
hut life from ihe dead P What joy will it necefta
rily give, and what a general fpread of fhe gofpel
will It naturally produce ?
And this bleffed cient we may affuredly ex- 16
peft : for if the firft-fruits [be] holy, fo [is] the
lump. The confecration of them was looked
upon as in effeft the confecratioq of all. And
fo would I look upon the converfion of fome few
of the Jewifh nation, as an earnefl of the con
verfion of all the reft. And fo much the rather,
when I confider, how eminently dear to God
thofe pious patriarchs were from whom they
have defcended : for if the root [be] holy, the
brunches [are likewife] fo, and will furely at
length be regarded as fuch. And this, though 17
fome of them be at prefent in fo melancholy a
ftate ; for if fome of the branches were broken off,
and thou, O Gentile, being, as it were, a fcion
of a wild olive, wert graffed in among them- that
remained ', and .art with them partaker of, and
nourifhed by, the root and fatnefs- of the good
olive; being not only a graft upon another
ftock, but a, meaner graft on a ftock originally
nobler and more excellent ; Boajl not thyfelf 18
prefumptuoufty and ungratefully againft the nz,-
tural branches ; and if thou boafteft, [remember^
fo thy humiliation, [that] thou beareft not the

b Alfo to theirs.] Perhaps we can no
where find an inftance of a more popular
and affeftionate turn than this, in which
the apoftle feems to find a reafon for his
zeal to convert the Gentiles, in J|is love
to his own countrymen the Jews.
G Wild ol'ive graffed in among them.] It
is very improper to objeft, that it is un
natural to fiippofe an 'ignoble branch graf
fed on a rich ftock ; for it was not neceflary
that thefimile taken from inoculation ihould

hold in all its particulars ; and the engage
raent to humility arifes in a confiderable
degree from the circumftance objefted a-
gainft. Had the jcion been nobler than
the ftock, its dependance on it for life and
nourifliment, would render it unfit thaC
it Ihould boaft againft it ; how much
more, when the cafe was the reverfe of
whsjt in human ufage is praftifed, and the
wild olive is ingraffed on the good. '

I4

root.

1 28 For the Jews, the natural branches, flail be again graffed in.

Sect, root, but the root thee. Thou haft received many
,- • benefits from Abraham's feed, and the covenant
Rom. rnade with him, but they have received none
19 from thee. Wilt thou therefore objeft, and

root, thee.

but the root
- 1-

XI

19 Thou wilt fay

were broken ofl", that
I might be ^raffed ia,
20 Well ; becaufe
of unbelief they were .
brdken off, and.tho'u
ftandeft by faith. Be

fay, " Thy natural branches were broken off, that '>>="' ^'J^^ branchy
" / might be grafted in ; and therefore we may
" glory over them as they once did over us J'
20 WeU, take this thought at leaft along with thee,
they were broken off for [their] infidelity, and thou
hitherto ftandeft in their place through faith.
Therefore be not high-minded vinA arrogant, but not high-minded, but
fear^, left thou by thy fins forfeit the privileges fear.
21 to which thou art lb wonderfully raifed. For 21 Forif Godfpa-
if God fpared not the branches, which were ac- '[=^ "=" "^"^ "^'"'¦=''
¦1 ,. -I' . , -11 1 I bftnches, talc heel
cording to nature, neither wilt he by any means jgfl. ^e alfo fpare not
fpare thee, if thine unbelief make thee, .after all thee.
thy peculiar obligations, as' bad^ and in that
22 refpeft, even worfe, than they. Behold there
fore, on the. whole, a remarkable difplay' of the
intermingled goodnefs and feverity of God, and
endeavour to imprsve both well I Towards them
ihat fell, thou indeed feeft a memorable inftance
of hits- feverity ; but to thee, a difplay of gentle
nefs and goodnefs,. if thou wilt be careful to con
tinue in \his] goodnefs,. ?cnA endeavour gratefully
and dutifully 10 improve it ; elj'e thou alfo fii alt be
cut off, for the bleffed God will not bear always
to be infulted with the petulancy of finners.
23 And I would have you farther to confider, as a
juotive to think of the Jews with refpeft, rather
than contempt, that they alfo, if they do not con-
iinue in their unbelief, flail be grafted on again,
and reftored to their former privileges. For it is
certain, God is able again to ingraff them : hope
lefs as their ftate may feem, both with refpeft to
their obftinacy and their mifery, his powerful
^accefs to their mind can fubdue their prejudices
againft the gofpel, as thou mayeft eafily argiie 2. j-^,. ;f thou
24 from what thou haft thyfelf experienced. For wert cut out of the
if thou wert, as fc may properly enough exprefs o'lve-tree which is''
it, cut off from the olive-tree which was nat-uralh '"''! •'X "«"''=>/'"''
.-¦*'•'- -. „ ^ n wert gi;arrea contrary
iviia^ ana contrary to the courfe and procefs* , to

2Z B;:aoM there
fore the goodnefs,
and feverity of God:
on them which fell,
fc^verity; buctovslirds
thee, g^odnefs, if
thou continue in hh
goodnefs. Oshcrwife
thou alfo (halt be cut
off".

23 And tbey .ilia,
if they abide not iVili
in unbelief, ihall be
graffed in ; for God
is able to graft' then^
in aj^ain.

d Be not high -minded y Szc,'^ Archhipop makes, amidft all the abfurdities with'
Tillotfjn well obferves, that this caution which, h^x'docfrw^'^ and her ritual are
lU fults the claim to infallibility ^ which loaded. ¦¦
ilie modern church of Rome -fo arrogantly of

Refteilions on God's deaUng ivith fews and Gentiles. 1 ija
to nature into a good of nature, were graffed on the good olive-tree' Sect.
mor;'''&airZfe 'i' S^°^ ^'^^t adii.itted into covenant with God, ^^
which be the natural though defcended from parents that were ftran- Rqip.
branches, be grafted gers and enemies, how much more fliaU they who Xi. 24
""c'*^'' °™°'""' "''^ ''-''^ natural [brandies,] to whom the pro
mifes do originally belong, be graffed on their
own olive f God will not feem to do fo wonder
ful a thing, in reftoring them to wiiat might
feem the privilege of their birth-right and def
cent, and faving the feed of Abraham his friend;
as he hath done, in calling you finners of the
Gentiles, to participate the bleflings of which
you had not the leali notion, and to which you
cannot be ftippofed to have had any imaginable
claim.

IMPROVEMENT.
Let us fet ourfelves ferioufly to paufe upon the conduft of
God towards the Jews and Gentiles in that part of it which the
apoftle here defcribes, and rejoice with trembling in it. Let us
refleft on the Divine feverity to them, and the Divine goodnefs to '^''erfe
us. What immenfe goodnefs ! That we fhould be taken from 2%,
that wretched condition in which we were utterly ignorant of the
great Author and end of our being, of the nature of true happi
nefs, and the way of obtaining it; that \ve and our offspring
might be grafted on the good ftock, be called to the. moft important 24
of thofe privileges and hopes witii which the feed of Abraham were
honoured an^ enriched. We partake of the fatnefs of the good in
olive ; may our fruit abound to the honour of God, to the benefit
of mankind.
Let us cherifh the moft benevolent and tender difpofition towards
the houfe of Ifrael, to whofe fpiritual privileges we are raifed ;
and let us earneftly pray that they may be awakened to emulation ; u
efpecially as their fidnefs ts to be the riches of the Gentiles, and the
receiving them again, as life from the dead to thc languilhing and "
decaying church.
In the mean time, as the gofpel comes to us jn fo awful a
manner, vindicated from fhe contempt of former defpifePS, let us
folemnly charge upon our fouls this leffon ofi holy caution, thefe
falutary words, (O that they may be continually prefent to our
thoughts!) Be not high-minded, but fear : whatever our privileges, 20
whatever our experiences are, whatever our confidence may be,
let us dwell upon the thought ; for there is no Chriftian upon
parth that hath not reafon to fear, in proportion to the degree in
which he feels his thoughts towering on high, and grows into any
fonceit of hinjfelf. Daily let us recolleft v/hat we were in our
natural

130 BUndneJs is io Ifrael, till the fulnefs of the Gentiles come in:
SscT, natural eftate ; and what, with all our improvements and attain-
_^  ; ments, , we fhotild immediately be, if God fhould forfake us.
¦Verfe Let US pray therefore that we may continue in God's goodnefs-;
22. and whoever may continue to fall from it, let us not glory; but
rather mourn over them, and pray fot their recovery and falvation
18 to that God -vvho is able to recover from the moft obftinate infidelity
and impenitence, a'nd to graff on not only foreign branches, but
what may feem yet more wonderful, thofe that have appeared more
than twice dead.
SECT. XXVI.
Tlie Apoftle farther illuftrates the future converfion of the Jews to
the gofpel ;. and concludes the argument with obferving, that in
the mean time, their obftinacy is over-ruled to Juch happy pur
pofes, as make the whole fcene a moft glorious difplay of the un
fearchable wifdom of God. Rom. Xi. 25, fo the, end.
Romans XL 25. Rom.^ns xi. 25.
XXvV A ^^ ""'^' "^y li-ethren, upon the whole, I F°^^^^ "°"fjy^
 [ -^^ will conclude what I have to fay upon this ^ouid be ignorant of
Rom. interefting and affefting fubjeft, which I have this myftery, (left ye
21- --5 indeed enlarged upon pretty copioufty ; for if "-'"nclsiTTa;
hes with great weight upon my heart. And blindnefs in part is
therefore / would not have you to be ignorant of happened to Iftael,
this material circumftance relating tothe great untir the fulnefs of
, ,. ^ ,. . , r ° ']¦ 1 the Gentilei. be cpme
mffery. in the difpenfation before us, winch, j^j^
on thc firft views of it, may appear very_unac-
coiintable ; left you flould have too high an opinion
of yourjclves, when you fee the Jews rejefted
for their fatal error. I would not, I fay, have
you ignorant of this, that the lamentable blind-
rtej't and infatuation we have been fpeaking of,
' is in, part happened unto Ifrael, and has Ipread
itfelf over by far the greateft part of the Jewifh
people, not that they may utterly perifti, and be
for ever cut off; but that they may continue in
this humble and rejefted ftate, //// a certain pe
riod aiTive, when the Jtdnejs of the Gentiles, the
appointed harveft of them, flaU be brought in ",
and
i Till the fulnefs of the Gentiles ftall le the Jews, by the firft preaching of the
brought in. Sec] If is well remarked, by apoftles, and af;cr Paul had been abo.ut 3^
my late learned, pious and candid friend, years engaged in his work, it appears, that
Dr. William Hani-, that as th'is epiftle was the prophecies relating to the calling df the
wi'itten about tbe year 57, that is, long Jews were not accoihpliftie'il then, and
ifter t):,e moft rer.i.nkable converfion of confccjuently' are hot ' yet accomplilhed. Harris's

And when that event is come, Ijrael flail be Javed:

»3i

j6 And foall Ifrael
Ihall be faved: as it
is written, There Ihall
come out of Sion the
Deliverer, and ftiall
tijrn, away ungodli
nefs from Jacob.

17 For this is my
covenant unto tliem,
when I ftiall taKe a-
way their Ijns.
a8 As concerning
the gofpel, they are
enemies for your
fakes : but as touch
ing the eleiSion, they
are beloved for the
fathers fakes.

and incorporated with thofe already aflTociated to Sect.
the church of Chrift. And j'o, whpn this ^'^^•
happy feafon marked out in the Divine decrees, R^m.
though to us unknovvi,!, flail be come, that XI. a6
blefled event fhall make way for it, and all the
feed of Ijrael fhall, by a general converfion, be
Javed from its difperfion and mifery, and fixed
in a ftate of covenant-favour and acceptance with
God again. As it is written, (Ifa. lix. 20,) a
Deliverer flail come out oJ Sion, and he flail turn '
aivay the punifhment of their former impiety
from Jacob, when he hath brought them to true
repentance ''. As it is added, Ar.d this [is] 27
my covenant which I fhall make with them when
I flail take away their fttns, that is, when their
fins as a nation are remitted, it fhall be to bring
them again into covenant with myfelf. And 28
thus, on the whole, with rejpeii to the gojpel,
[they are] indeed regarded as enemies Jor your
fakes.; that is, for their obftinate rejefting the
gofpel, God hath rejefted them, in favour of
you, and that he might receive you into his
church, as in their ftead '^: hut as for the elec
tion, thaf remnant of them which God hath
gracioufly chofen to be fubdued by the grace of
the gofpel, [they are] beloved for their fathers
fakes. God's gracious regard to the memory of

Harris'' s PraSical Difcourfes on the Meffiah,
p. 91. Dr. Whitby very juftly obferves,
that there is a double harveft of the Gen
tiles, fpoken of by Paul, in this chapter;
the firft, called their riches, verfe 12, as
¦conllfting in the preaching the gofpel to
all nations, whereby indeed they were
happily enriched with Divine knowledge
and grace 5 the jec ind ^ the bringing in their
fulnefs, which expreffes a more glorious
converlion of many to the true fa'ith of
Chriftians, in the latter age of the worW,
which is to be occafioned by the conver
fion of the Jews. Whit, in Loc. This
anfwers Orob'id's objeiftion, [Limb. Collar.
p. 94,) that Paul's account is contrary to
the prophecies of the Old Teftament, which
reprefent the recovery of the Gentile na
tions, as confequent on the redemption of
Ifrael. b As it is ivritten, (Ifa. lix. ao. Sec]
This text, ' as it ftands in the Hebreiv,
items dift'crent from the fenfe in which it
}s here quoted, ji Deliverer fhall comc-m

to thoje that turn from iniquity. But if Chrift
be here foretold as a Deliverer to thc Je^ivs,
it is all that the apoftle's purpofe requires.
Yet it is obfervable the LXX agrees better
with the words of the quotation, as it pof
fibly might with the original reading ; and
it is certain, that the general tenor of
God's covenant with Ifrael .gave no hope
of deliverance after rejed:ion and chaftife-
ment, but in a way of repentance and
reformation. Compare Lev. xxvi. 39—45 ,
Deut. XXX. I — 10.
c Enemies for your fakes.] The moft natu
ral meaning of thefe words, were they con
fidered alone, might feem, that the calling
the Gentiles prejudiced the Jews againft
the gojpel: but as they generally rejefted
it before the Gentiles were called, I, on
the whole, prefer the fenfe given in the
paraphrafe. The diffi^rent fenfe of Site.
here fuppofed, may feem a ftrong objec
tion againft it ; but if Jia be rendered
ivith a regard ts, it may be applicable to
both. their

132 Sect.
XXVI. Rom.
JCl. 28
29

For God's gifts and callings are without repentance,
their pious anceftors, e.igages him to take care ,
that fome of their feed fhall always continue in
covenant with him, till at length he recover
them as a nation, and aftonifli the world with
their unequalled glory and felieity. And this
fhall moft affuredly be, for the gifts and calling
of God [are] not. to be repented of^ : he doth
not refume the gifts he hath once beftowed, nor
retraft the calls he hath once given, but will
maintain a remembrance of them, and aft in
perfeft harmony 'with them, in all his d.fpen-
fations ; according to that wife plan which he .
hath laid in his eternal counfels, and from which
no unforefeen contingency can ever caufe him to

.29 For tbe gifts
and calling of God
are without repcnt-

vary

3c For a: ve in
t'm?s paft have not
,'°I'", believed , God, y-r
htauicd i,2^(, „o^^, obtained
mercy througli tlleit
unbelief: 31 Even fo h.ive
thrfr alfonnw nr.r hf>
lieved. that triroutih
r.tiir mercy t\v-- fllfi>
mj'. obtain merc\ ,

As then ye Gentiles were once, and for a long
time, difobedient to God, and buried in igno
rar.te and fuperftition, but now have 0'
mercy, by means' of their difobedience ; God ha-
vinp' taken you to be his people inftead of the
31 Jews ; - So they alj'o, having been dijobedient to
the gofpel, and the more prejudiced againft it
on occnjion oJ yoai" admittance to fuch diftiii-
.nilftiing r.un-y, yet fhall not be lit'crl}' and
ii;ialiv ruined, but Jkall aljo to the g!'-ry of
Divine grace at length, themfeh.'cs, obtain the
02 niirry they have envied you. And thus the Di
vine goodnefs is illuftrated, even by Hiat which
might feem moft contrary to it : Jor it appears,
tb.it God hath, for a certain time, Jhul up aU upon all.
iwiSiT obftinacy and difobedience", fuffering each
in their turn to revoltj under difterent degrees
of light, that he might in -a more remarkable
manner h/rjc mercy on all, and glorify the riches

32 "For Cil t-nt-h
conclu.l.-d th.nn all
in unbellelo tli.u he
nii-.bt ¦ lu^ J IT. jirv

<! Not to Ic rcpt,i:c.! of] ElfiK-r has
prodi.c'ed 'niny paffji^cs from approvfd
C' ¦:'¦ r.-^ft'us, i'l which the word -y.C.j.-
fy.t' i'l'^> , ii ufed exactly in this f,::-:f- ; and
liucoHefted in his curious mte on this
--rjje, many teftimonics/of Pagan authcrs
rrla:ive to tne l^iviiie perfeftions, which
might have taught foine Chriftian divines
to fpeak more honourably* of them than
they do in forhe of their writings.
e Shut up all vr.dn- d'ljobcdieiice, &c.]
It is of great importance to obferve, that
this refers to difterent periods. Firft,
God fuft'ered the Gentiles, in tlie early
.'gcs of thc world, to revolt, and then took

the .'Ih'-ahamick family .is a peculiar feed
r:> himfeli, .and beltov.,-J extraordinary
U'.'uurs upoii them.^ .'Jfericards, hc pu--
mitted them, by unbrljcf .md dlfobedience,
to fall, and took in the Gentiles on ihcir
b?licving; and he did even this, with,.in
intent to make that very mercy to the
Gentiles a n:^:ir,s of provoking the Jews
to jealoufy, and fo bring them to faith,
by that which had at firft been an offence
in the way to it. This was truly a myftory
in the Divine conduct, which the apoftle
moft rationally, as well as rcfpedifully,
adores, in thc concluding wards of the
chapter, of

The Apoftle adores the riches and wifdom of God, 1 3?
33 0 t!^= '''^P* of. of his grace, in favours beftowed on thofe who Sect.
th.^nch(..s both of the -j -i ¦ , i r ¦ i /- . wij-r
wifdom aud know- evidently appeared fo undcfcrvmg. ^^"f^-
Idi-. of God! how And now, lo conclude this article. Who in ~sffZ
unfearchable are .his the view of fiich a fcries of events muft not cry XI. -i^
'iTt^ tdl'; -^^^Othe.-.^:^\.nAnni..ho^^h\edep,hsoffhe
tut! riches, and ivijdom, and kno'wled:^e oJ God I ffovr
rich are the treafures of his lueTcy, how deep the
contrivances of his wifdom, how boundlefs the
ftretch of his knowledge I How itnjearchable,
and yet how unqueftionable, [are] his judg
ments 1 and his'ivays Juch a-: cannot he traced out I
34 For who Jiath For zvho hath completely knoivn the mind of the 94,
known tha mind of f^^j ^,^ jhgfg ^i^ ^,. ^1^^ i^^^.f^ ^ ,- ^
the Lord i' or who , „ • .¦ ¦ i i ,- , , ' Trr-
hath 'been his coun- Jetlor, in forming the plan of theni? Who, 35
f;iior .> whether Jew or Greek, can pretend, that he
3'5 Of *ho hath ^^//;, ^,-fl niven any thins to him, or conferred
firft given to him, "( ,¦ '^. u- i r i ¦ i
and it Ihall be recom- any obfigaUou upou hull? Let hini make out
penfed unto h'm a- the claiiii, and we may anfwer for it, that it
E^'" ' . Jhcdl be exaftly repaid him again. For, on the ^5
anf through'" him! ^^^o'^' f/ ^im, ^s the. Original Author, and
¦ and to him, are all through him, as the gracious Preferver, and for
thi ng J : to whom is him, as the ultimate end, [are] all thinps^.
giojy for ever. A, y^ ^/^ therefore [be] glory for ever and ever;
and let all the^crcation join their urmoft force
to advance it to the higheft degrees, and unite
their voices in faying. Amen.

IMPROVEMENT.
Let our whole fouls be engaged to glorify this great and bleflid "Vcrfe
God, from whom, and through whom we, and all creatures 36
exift. O that it may be our eternal employment to render
adoration, and bleffing, and glory /s /)//« .' To him, whofe coun
fels none can trace : to him, who hath prevented us all with the
bleffings of his goodnefs ; fo that far from being able to confer
any obligation on him, for which we ftiould pretend to demand a o^
recompenfe, on the contrary, we muft own, 'that the more we are oc
enabled and animated to do for him, the more indeed are we
obliged to him. We cannot pretend to have known the mind of 3^.
the Lord in all its extent, or to have been admitted into his fecret
counfels. He is continually doing marvellous things, which we
i-now not : yet fuiely'we know enough to admire and adore. We
f" Of him, through bim, for him, &:c.] Paul, f» crtf tcvI':, sv troi lna.-?,a., £lj ers
vf/;f(jn/«Hs,_fpeaking of «tr/Hr^, that is, of •sra-fu, ,all th'ir^', are of thee, in thee, and
God, has an exprellion, which one would t-i th::.
unaginc he had borrovjed from this of kiiovy

134 Refteilions on the final converfion of Jews and Gentiles.
Sect, know enough to cry out in raptures of delightful furprife, 0 tht
' depth of the ricfies, both of his wifdom and goodnefs I
'Verfe One inftance, though but one of many, we have here before
23 us, in his myfterious conduft towards Jeivs and Gentiles ; in
which, occurrences fhat feem the moft unaccountable, and, in
deed the moft lamentable, are over-ruled by God to anfwer moft
benevolent purpofes. That the fin of the Jews fhould be the
falvation of the Gentiles, and yet the mercy (hewn to the Gentiles,
in its confequences fhe falvation of the fews, and fo both fhould be
32 concluded under ftn, ihat God might more illuftrioufly have rnercy
on both ,!
26 O that 'the bleffed time were come, when all Ifrael flail be
faved: when the Deliverer, who is long fince come out of Sion,
2^ Jhall turn away iniquity Jrom facob ; dinti. the fulnefs of the Gen
tiles come in, fo that from thc rifing to ihe going down of the fun,
the Lord flail be one, and his name one. Our faith waits the glo
rious event, and may perhaps wait it even to the end of life.
But a generation to be born fhaU fee it -..for the gifts and ciillings
yg of God are without repentance. Let our aflfured confidence in
the Divine promife, travel on, as it were, to the accompliftiment
over mountains of difficulty, that may lie in our way ; and let oiir
hearts be cheered with this happy profpeft, under all the grief which
they feel, when we fee how few i^ow believe the report of the
gofpel, and to how few God hath revealed his arm.
While the . glorious expefted eveht is delayed, let us add our
fervent intercelfions with God, to thefe prayers, by which the
church has in every age been endeavouring to haften it on. They
are all written in the book of God's remembrance, and fhall all be
reviewed and anfwered in their feafon. Let us in the mean time
comfort ourfelves with this reviving thought, thai the covenant which
God wiU make with Ifrael in that day, is in the main the fame he
has made with us, to take awdyftm. Eafed of fuch~an infiipportable
burden, that would fink us into final ruin and defpair, let us bear
up cheerfully againft all difcouragements, and glory in the gofpel
which brings us this invaluable bleffing; how long, and how gene
rally foever, it may be, to the Jews a ftumbling block, and io the
Greeks fioolifimefs., '

SECT. XXVII.
The Apoftle enters on a feries of moJi admirable praiiical exhorta
tions and direiiions ; in which he labours to perjuade Chriftians
to aii in a manner worthy oJ that gojpel, the excellency of which
he had been illuftrating. And here, particularly, urges an en-
tii-e confecration fo God, and ci care to glorify him, in their re-
fpeiiive

Ghiftians exhorted to prtfiit themfelves to God, I35
fpeilive llations, by a faithfuHmp','ovemcnt of their various talents. Sect.
Rom. XIL I.— XI.

> Rom.
RoM.\Ns XII. I. Romans XII. i. xn. 1
J Befeech yiu there- TT A vii4g .thiis difpatched what I propofed in
the'm'erdror^Got ^ 'he argumentative part of the epiftle, and
that ye prefent your fuggcfted a Variety ot coiifideratioiis, which may
bodies a living fieri- convince you ot the great excellency of the gof-
fice, holy, accepta- p^j ^^^ ^j^^ ftngular favour which God has
hie unto God, ¦zW-iif* f ' -, r F- -i \ i i , n ¦
!jyourreafon.ablcfer- Ihewn to thofe Gentiles whom, he hath called
vice. into the Chriftian church, and to that remnant
of the Jews who are kept in fo happy a reljition
to them, while the bulk of their nation are fallen
into a ftate of rejeftion ; let me now endeavour
to animate you all to behave in a fuitable man
ner. / intreat you therejore '', my dear bre
thren, partakers with me in this holy calling,
bx /all the' tender rnercies oJ our molt compaf
lionate God, that inftead of the animal viftlms,
whofe ftaugh tered bodies you have been accii-
ftomed to offer, either to the true God, or to
idols, you \vou\il now prejent, as it were, at
his fpiritual altar, your own bodies, as a living
Jucrifice, holy and well-pleafing to God. Let all
the members of' your bodies, and all the facul
ties of your fouls °, being fanftified and.animatt-d
1 b\' Divine grace, be employed in the fervice
of him to whom you are under fuch itnmeufc;
obligations. This he requires, of you, [as] your
rational fervice ; and it will be much more ac- ,
ceptable to him than any ceremonial forms,
though moft e.xaftly prefcrihed in' a ritual of his
2, And be not con- owii appointment. And as you delirc; to en- 1
fjimcd to tills world: gage his approbation and favour, be not, in the
""^ general courfe of your temper and aftions, con
formed to the fentiments and cuftoms of this
a lull cat you' tier Jer.".] Some apply ingly in the ^dfflji'irfl/tf applied it to both.
this to the Gentiles ; and as moft of eke b BoJ'es .md fouls.] ^hibo.U' is here by
members of the church at Rome were ori- a \ifo.^\ftg',;r€ put for the v:hoie pcrjon, nor
ginally fo, it is reafonable to believe the can the /;.''/ b,* now prefencpd co Goi
apojilehj.*^ them princip.illy in view; but orherwifc than as dwelling in tlr.' /'C't^', or
not excluding the Ci.v/^'-rff.'/ yc-iuj, who, as truly confecra'?d to him, unh'fs the .^j^/y
he had juft before expreft'ed it, remained hi empbyed in his fervice j nor on the
as a remnant acccr,.ii"o- to -the election of other ha.ij, can tlie lody be prejentcd as a
grace, when tbe rejl -ivcre harden^l, and li-v'.ng jacrift:e, otherw.fe than as aftuated
therefore had furely rcahin to acknow- and animated by die jc:i!.—Tor the pro-
ledge the tender nurcics of God to them, pricty of the word ixrap-nrii&at, which
and were undar ftroug obli5.ttions to de- properly liralfi ¦ ', pLic'ircr the victim before
vote themfv'lves to lj7ni, I have uncord- the altar ) ic^i E'jner in !.'¦:. vain

135
Sect.
XXVII. Rom.
XU. :

They are exhorted againft conformitj to the World,

vain and finful world ; but rather be ye tranf-
formed, in the reneiving of your mind: endea
vour to becpme new creatures, contrafting new
¦ habits and engaging iu new purfuits, under the
influence of the Divine Spirit on your hearts;.
that you may not only be fpeculatively acquainted
with the doftrines, precepts, and defign of the
gofpel, but may experimentally know that will
of God [which is] in, itfelf fo ey.ce\\en\\y good,
and which, as it is moft acceptable to him, has
the moft apparent tendency to purify and perfeit
our natures'^.
5 And /'particularly//;', and give it in charge'',
according to that grace which it is given to me as
an infpiretl apoftle, to every one that is among
you, as if perfonally named, fo take the greateft
heed, that he be not exalted into fpiritual pride,
by the gifts and privileges which God hath con
ferred upon you. I charge each nit to arrogate
[to himfelfi] above what he ought t'o think " but
that he think of himfelf with modefty, fobriety,
and humility ; according to the meafure , of that
faith, and in correfpondent proportion to thofe
gifts, which God hath diftributed to every man
among you. And fiirely when you confider it
is -God who hath given all, there will appear
little r&afon to magnify yourfelves on any di
ftinguifhing fhate of his bounty, which any one
may have received. Efpecially, when you re
member, fhat this diftribution is made, not
only, or!chiefly, for your own fake, but out of
^ regard to the good of the whole : For as in
one body we have many members, but all the mem
bers have not the fame ufe, but each its proper
funftion and fervice, appointed by the wife
c Former, and gracious Preferver of the whole ; So
we, though many, are one body in Chrift, and every
, one members of each other : we fhould there
fore endeavour each of us to know his own place

but be ye transformed
by the renewing of
your mind, that .ye
may prove whaj, 'n
that good, and accep
table, and perfeft will
of God.

3 For I fay^
through the grace gi
ven unto me, to every
man that is among
you, not to think of
himfelf more highly
than he ought to
think; but to think
foberly, according as
God hath dealt to
every man the mea
fure of faith.

4 For as we have
many mpmbers in
one body, and all
members, have not
the fame ofBce s
5 So we, being
many, are one body
in Chrift, iind every
one members oneof
another.

<:- Good, acceptable, and perfct^.] L'En
fant explains each of thefe as oppofed to the
Jcivift? ritual; thisChrlftian facriftce being
more excellent in itfelf, Ezek. xv. 2.5 ;
more plealjng to God/ Pfal. xl. 7, 8 5 and
tentjling more to make us perfe&, Heb. vii.
19 5 I underftand it as reterrin^ to all the
preceptive part of Chriftianity, the ex
cellency of which the) will beft under

ftand, who fet themfelves moft exa£tly to
praiStlfe upon it.
*' Say, and give it in charge. So Xeysiv
fignifies, Aifts xv. 24. See Raphel. Annot.
ex Plerodot. in loc.
e Not ro arrogate, &c.] Raphelius, An-
r,ot.' ex Herod, m loc.] has 1 Ihewn, that
i^-.fffo-iiit has preperly this figniiication* and

aiid in all things io walk infimplicityt

137

6 Having then
gifcs, differing ac
cording to the grace
that Is given to us,
whether prophecy,
let usprophefy accord
ing to tde proportion
of faith :

7 Or miniftry, let
us vuait on our mini-
ftering; or he th^t
teacheth, on teach-

% Or he that ex
horteth, on exhorta
tion ; he that giveth,
Ut him do it with lim-
plicity ; he that rul
eth, with diligence; he

and condition, and mutually fo make our various Sict.
capacities as ferviceable as we can. x:t.yii.
Having therefore gifts, all proceeding from Rom.
God, the great fountain of every good thing, XII. 6 .
and different according to fhe diverfity of the
grace tjiat is given unto us : whether [it be] pro-
phefy, as enabling us to foretell future events, or
to make difcourfes for the edification and direc
tion of the church, [let us be employed in it] ac
cording to the degree of our gift, which is in
proportion \o the degree of faith, that is refpec-
tively in us ^ : Or [having] ihe office of mini- y
ftry, as deacons, let a man employ himfelf
aftively and faithfully in his miniftration ^ : or
if he be an injlruiior of catechumens, who are
to be fitted for fhe communion of the church,
let him continue humbly, tenderly, and patiently,
in the work of teaching : Or if he be an ex- S
horter, whofe peculiar bufinefs it is to urge
^Chriftians to duty, or to comfort them in the
difcharge of it, let him continue in his exhor
tation : he that giveth any thing to a charitable
ufe, [let him do it] with vcueftmplicity, and un
feigned liberality of heart ; neither feeking the
applaufe of men, nor any other finifter end
which he could defire to conceal : he ihat pre'
ftdeih in the diftribution of charities fo collefted,
let him do it with diligence ^ ; that he may know the

r According to the proportion of faith.]
Many interpret this, " Do it according to
** the genera! fcheme of Divine revela-
*¦' tion, not fetting up any novel inter-
'* pretatlons df fcripture, injurious to it."
But Raphelius {Annot. ex Xen. in loc.)
objetts that Ao;-®-, not dv^Xoyia, would
be the proper word to exprefs that. Dr.
Sam. Clarke, {Pofthum. Serm. "Vol. I. p. 6,)
by faith underftands the trtft repofed in
them, or the nature and ufe of the gift
they had ; which is a very unufual fenfe
of the word ttk-i;. The Rhemijh Jeju'its
fuppofe; it Was a confeftion, or fummary,
of fa'ith, drawn up by all the apoftles in
conjunftion : to which they refer, Rom.
vi. 17; chap. xvi. i 7; T Tim. vi. 20;
Gal. i. 6 ; Afts xv. 6 ; none of which
texts feem to imply any thing like it ; nor
is it pretended that fuoh a creed was ever
quoted in antiquity, by the name of
ev.xoyia mfioic, or indeed that I can find,
Vol. IV.

by any othefi If we fuppofe the prophe
tic gift to be given in proportion to tht ex-
ercije of fa'ith, that is, of dependance on
God, when h^ lignilied a difpolition in
general to impart it,, we have I think the
cleareft explication the phrafe will admit.
See Vol. 11.^. iw.note^ on Markxi. 2Z.
g Employ b'lmjelf in miniftration.] It
feems the word 5701 is underftood. Com
pare I Pet. iv. 10, II. — The word JiMjtii
properly lignifics the miniftufition of thedea-
con, and fo interpreted, gives the di-
ftinfteft fenfe.
b He that preftdeth ivith diligence.] la
this and the following claufe, I follow the
interpretation of Lord Barrington, [Mife.
Sacra. Vol. I. p. 77 — 80,) and refer to
him for the reafons which I think fuffi
cient to juftify it ; only' mentioning the
applVifation of the word irfiro'ic, in the
fame fenfe to Phcfbe, Rom. xvi. a, who
could not be fuppofed a ruler in thc
K ~i church.

138

They are to cultivate love and brotherly affeiiion.

Sect, the Cafe propofed, arid that he may fee that
^'"'"' nothing be wanting to make the charity as effec-
Rom. tual as poftible ; and as for him that fleweth
XII. ?. mercy, that is, who has the care of thofe who
on account of peculiarl)4 grievous calamities are
the objefts ot particular compaffion, let him
do it with an obliging cheerfulnefs of temper,
dautioufty guarding againft any difguft at what
may feem mean and difagreeable in the offices
which mutt neceftarily be performed for
fuch.
9 On the whole, [let] love [be] undiffembled,
and all your expreffions of mutual friendfhip as
free as poftible from bafe flattery, and from vain
compliment. Abhor that which is evil, in every
inftance, and adhere refolutely to thai which
is good. Praftife benevolence in all its branches,
and every other virtue, with the greateft deter
mination and perfeverance of mind ; whatever
I 10 difcouragements may for the prefent arife. Do
not only abound in the exercifes of common hu
manity ; but in brotherly love, as Chriftians,
[be] mutually full of tender affeiiion ', yea, cul
tivate thofe gentle difpofitions of mind with de
light ; and endeavour to think fo modeftly of
yourfelves, that you may ftill be in honour pre
ferring one another. Let each in his turn, be
ready to think better of his orethren than of
himfelf ; and fo to prevent them in every office
of refpeft'', and out of regard to their advantage,
ro give up with as good a grace as poftible, any
thing in which his own honour or perfonal in-
10 terefl may be concerned. When you are ac
tually engaged, be not flothful and fluggifh in

he that flieweth mer.
cy,with cheerfulnefs.

I) Let love be with.
out diflimulation. >
Abhor that whiJh is
evil, cleave to that
which is good.

IO Be kindly af-
feftioned que to ano
ther with brotherly
love ; in honour pre
ferring one another :

XI Not flothful in
bufi-

church. ng5i^a/./.£v^, properly lignilies
one viho prejidts, but, 'm ivhat, the con
neftion muft determine. For the extra
ordinary mercy exercifed among the an
cient Chriftians, fee Lucian de Morte Pere
grin, apud Opera, Vol. II. p. 764. Edit.
Salmur. 1619; and Julian Epift. xlix.
i In brotherly love, [be] mutually full of
tender affeBion.] Perhaps the extremely
expreffive words of the original, tti >{iiXa-
ie'h'^la i'.q a.t''Kr,'Kldc 4)iX ^o^yox, might juftly
be rendered, delight in the tendereft fra-

nious Dr. Balguy has juftly obferved in
his excellent Sermon on this text.
k Preventing them in every ofBce of
refpeft.] Archbifliop Leighton well ob
ferves, [Expofttory Works, Vo\. ¦ II. p.
329,) that the original ivords tjj rifj.11 aX-
;ir,\u; ir^onyuf^Evot, are very expreffive,
and might literally be rendered, leading.
on Stch other with rejpeB, or in giving ho-,
flour going before each other. This I have '
endeavoured to exprefs in this claufe of
the paraphrafe, but have retained our ver-

ternal affeBion to each other. The word fion as eitpreiiing fomething of the efteem
t<J.(rof>-oi not only fignifying a ftrong af- from which this refpcftful behaviour
¦feB-ott, like that of parent animals to their lhQul(J proceed. L'Enfant renders it,
offspring, b\it a delight iu us, as the inge-- mutually prevent imi amtber ivith htnour.
a the

Refteilions on our obligations to piety, ^ humility, &c. I39.
bufinefs; fervent in the profecution of your proper bufinefs m life,Ss:cT.
fpirij; ferving the ^^^ eudeavoiir to rouze your fpirits ; fo that it ""^"V
-' . maybe difpatched with vigour and alacrity, and Rom.
¦without an unneceffarv expence of time. ForXil. 11
this purpofe be fervem, warm and aftive in fpi
rit ; and certainly you will fee the greateft pbli-
gallon and encouragement to be fo, when you
confider that you are ferving the Lord Jefus
Chrift: ', to whofe condefcenfion and love you
are infinitely indebted. May you always attend
his fervice with the greateft zeal and delight,
and may every aftion of life be brought into a
due fubordination to that' great end I
improvement!
TJOW rich were a Chriftian in praftical direftions for the con-
"*• duft of life, even if this excellent chapter were his only
treafure of this kind. Let fuch fcriptures as thefe be welcome to
us ; the fcriptures that teach us our duty, as well as thofe that dif
play before our eyes the richeft variety of fpiritual privileges. Indeed
it is one of our greateft privileges, to be taught our duty, if at the
fame time we are inclined by Divine grace to perform it, and if
we are not, we have no privileges that will prevent, none that will
encreafe our ruin.
Wifely does the great apoftle lay the foundation of all virtue in Verfe
a principle of unfeigned piety towards God: in prefenting before I
him our bodies as living facrifices. How great an honotlr and
happinefs will it be to us, to do it — That we may be engaged to
this, let us often think of his tender mercies, fo many and fo great ;
and efpecially, of that moft illuftrious of all mercies, his redeem
ing us by the blood of his Son, and calling us into the Chriftian
covenant. Can there be a more reafonable fervice than this ? that
we fhould be confecrated to our Creator, to our Redeemer, to our
Sanftifier, to our conftant Benefaftor, to our fupreme end and
happinefs ? — The world indeed neglefts him, yea, even what is
called the Chriftian world, negleft him, to fuch a degree, as if
we did not continually fee.it, we fhould not fuppofe to'be pofliblci
f
1 Serving the Lord.] Several copies for the noble fenfe of the commonly received
xuf lai read siaif^, ferving the time, that is, reading fo much, that I could by no means
hulbanding your opportunities; and Dr. perfuade myfelf to follow it. , It is a lively
Mill, trufting chiefly to the authority of exhortation to Chriftians to be always
Jerome, dct^i forae other Latin tranfttitions, ferving Chrift, and to cultivate the tem-
idmlts this as the truf reading. But it is per which the apoftle exprefles, when he
by no means fupported by an adequate fays »vio; to favXgir©', Phil. i. 21, ro me
number of Greek manufcripts; and be- to live is Chrift'. It alfo fuggefts a motive
fides, that it would be' an unnatural and to inforce the former exhortation ; as I
inelegant expreflion in that fenfe, it finks have hinted in the paraphraje.
K a But

14.0 ' Chriftians are io rejoice in hope, '
SicT. But let us not in- this inftance 3^ conformed to it. O that Divine
'"^^"' grace may fo transform and renew our hearts, that we may not !
Verfe Nothing but experience can teach us, how good, and perfeii, and
Q, acceptable, ihe wiU of God is, and how happy a thing it is to be
governed, in every refpeft, by its unerring declarations.
Let us remember, that as o\t faniiific ation, fo alfo our humi
lity and our ufefulnefs are his will; and therefore let us endea-
' 3 vour to conquer every high conceit of ourfelves, and every fordid
4 and felfifh fentimenf. Let us often refleft, that we are all mem-
7,&c. bers of each other; and being fo happily unifed in Chrift, have all
but one intereft, which is that of the body, and of its glorified
head. Whether our ftation in the church be more public, or pri
vate i- whether our capacities and endowments be more or lefs di-
{tingiiifhed : let us all be faithful, be affeftionate, be difinterefteJ,
he aftive, endeavouring to ferve Chrifl, and even the pooreft of
his people, vtith ftmpUcity, with diligence, v/iih cheerfulnefs ; pre
ferring others to ourfelves ; abhcrring that love which is fpent in
'hypocritical words and unmeaning forms j cultivating that which
gives to the foul tendernefs, condefcenfion and^ vigour. In one
II word, let us remember we zxe. ferving the Lord, the iord Chrifl;
and doing all in his name, and for his fake, let this add^n;««rto
om fpirit, zeal to our diligence, and abafemen^ to our humility ;
for nothing furely can be fo animating, nothing fo melting, nothing
fo humbling, as to recolleft, on the one hand, how much we owe
him, and on the other, how little we are able, how much lefs we
are dareful to do for his fervice.
SECT. :>. XVIIL
The Apoftle purjues his praiiical exhortations, and particularly re-
ctmmends devotion, patience, hojpitality, mutual Jy>npathy,
humility, a peacejul temper, and a readinejs to forgive injuries.
Rom. XIL 12, io ihe end. '

Romans XIL 12. Romans xii. 12.
I Have been exhorting you, my brethren, to R^Ve'-" '"atU"
many Chriftian, duties and graces, and among ia
the reft, to the greateft aftivity and zeal in
the fervice of Chrift. Let me exhort you to
guard againft fuch a dejeftion of fpirit as^would
enervate that holy aftivity and zeal. On the
contrary, [Im] you, fhat are the fervants of
Chrift, always rejoicing in the hope of thofe glo
rious rewards which your Divine Mafter, inr
the riches of his grace, hath fet before you ; and *
in that fupport which he gives you in the vvay to

lo continue in prayer, and io purfue hofpitality :

141

jn tribulation ; con
tinuing' inftant in
prayer i

13 Diftributing' to
the neceflity of the
faints ; given to hof
pitality.

i4Blefs them vvhich
perfbcute you : blefs,
and curfe not.

1 5 Rejoice with
them that do rejoice,
and weep with them
that weep.

16 Be of the fame
mind one towards
another.

Rom.
XII. II

to that eternal glory. And animated by that Sect
hope, be patient in all the tribulation which '"'^"'
you may bear in his caufe, or from his hands
in the wife difpofals of his gracious Providence.
And while under thefe preffiires, continuing in
ftant in prayer, draw down thofe neceffary fup-
plies of his holy Spirit which may carry you
honourably through all your trials; Liberally 13
communicating to the neceffties of the faijjts, and
accounting nothing your own which their re
lief requires you to furnifh out : particularly /iwr-
fuing that hofpitality v^'hich prefent circumftances
fo peculiarly demand *, efpecially towards
thofe ftrangers that are exiles, or travellers, in
the caufe of Chriflianity. Stay not filf occa
fions of this kind force themfelves upon you,
and much lefs, till importunity extort the favour,
as it were, againft your will ; but, like Abraham,
look out for proper objefts of fuch a bounty,
and follow after them, to bring them back fo
your houfes. On the other hand, blefs them 14
who are purfuing you with evil intentions, and
perfecute you with the greateft .feverity for con
fcience fake'. Wifh them well, and pray for
their converfion ; yea, if they Ihould go on to
revile you, for all the expreffions of your love,
go on to blefs ; and curfe them not, though pro
voked by their bittereft imprecations againft you.
Make it a conftant maxim with yourfelves, to i;
maintain a conftant fympathy with your .bre
thren of mankind, which may lead you to re
joice ivith them that rejoice, and to weep with
them that weep ; to congratulate others on their
felicity, and to bear your part with them in their
forrows, as members of one body, who have all,
as it were, one common feeling. [.^'^1 en- 16
tirely united in your regards for each other ^,
Let

il Furjuing hofpitality. ] It was the more
proper for the apoftles fo frequently to
inforce this duty, as the want of public
inns (much lefs common, than among us,
though not quite unknown, l,uke x. 34,
35,) rendered it diflicult for ftrangers to
get accommodations, and as many Chri
ftians might be banilhed their native coun
try for religion, and perhaps laid under a
kind of biinn of exconimunicat'ion, both
jimong Jews and heathens, which would

make it a high crime, for any of their for
mer brethren to receive them into their
houfes. — For the illuftration which the
paraphraje gives of the energy of this text,
I am obli^d. to Mr. Blackwell, Sacred
Claff. Vol. I. p. 231.
b Be entirely united in your regards for
each other.] This, on the whole, feemed
the moft proper verfton of. To auio fic
tiWnXag cffovaws; ; and though Dr. Whitby
paraphrafes it, << Defire the fame things
K 3 •' for

142 Not to render evil for evil, but io live peaceably with all,

Sect

xxvni.

Let each condefcend fo the reft, and agree with
'_ them, as far as he fairly and honourably can ;
Rom. and where you muft difl^er, do not, by any
?£II. i6 means, quarrel about it, but all-ow the fame
liberty of fentiments you would claim. Aff'eit
not high things; either to ppffefs exalted ftations
of life, or to converfe with thofe that bear them ;
but rather condefcend, and accommodate your
felves to men of low rank ; for it is chiefly among
the poorer part of mankind th^t the gofpel
is like fo-prevail : and all Chriftians ought, in
this refpeft, to bear the image of their great
, Mafter, who fpent moft of his time in conver-i
fing with fuch. Be not fo wife in your own con
ceit, as to think yourfelves above the Divine
direftion, or that of your fellow-Chriftians, in
17 this refpeft, or in any other. Render to none
evil for evil ; nor imagine that any man's injuri
ous treatment of you will warrant your return
ing the injury ; but aft in fuch a cautious and
circumfpeft manner, fhat if may evidently ap
pear you provide againft the malignity which
will lead many to put the worft conftruftions
upon your aftions. And do only thofe things
which may be above the need of excufe, and
may appear, at the firft view, fair and reputable
10 in the fight of all men. If it be poffible, and
at leaft to the utrnoft oJ your power-, as far as it
is confiftent with duty, honour, and confcience,
Uve peaceably with all meti ; not only your own
countrymen, or fellow-Chriftians, but Jews and
.Gentjles, Greeks and barbarians".
19 Upon the whole, my dearly ^f/w?^/ brethren,-
whatever wrongs you may receive, revenge not
yourjelves on thofe that have injured you ; but
rather yield, and give place to the wrath of the
enemy '' ; for God hath' forbidden us to indulge any

another. Mind not
high things, but con
defcend to men of
low eftate. Be not
wife in your own
conceits.

17 Recompenfe to
no man evil for etil,
Provide things ho-
neft in the fight of
all men.

iSIfltbepoflible,
as much as lieth in
you, live peaceably
with all men.

ig Dearly beloved,
avenge not youtr
felves, but rather
give place unto
wrath ;

" for others that' you do for yourfelves,
" and would have them defire for you ;"
I think the fenfe given above preferable,
as it fuppofes lefs of an cll'ipfis, wliich I
would not fuppofe without apparent ne-
5;eflity. c Greeks and barbarians.] It is remark
able that Dr. Barrcnv adds, this muft in
clude living peaceably with Hereticks and
Schijvuzticks ; Barrow'' s Works, Vol. I. p.
278 ; however, th'e ill treatment which
;nuft be expefted under thefe hard names

from men of unpeaceable tempers, Ihould
never lead any to deny, or flight, what
they in their (;onfciences judge the truth
of doftrine, or purjty of worfliip.
<i_Give place to wrath,] L'En&nt and
others explain this of giv'mg_ way to the
wrath of God, and quote the phrafe of
giving place to the phyfician, (Ecclus.
xxxviii. 12,) and giving place to the liw,
(chap. xix. 17,) as authorizing that in
terpretation. But I think, in both thofe
pafl'ages, to give place fignifies to y'leld
vnthout

and overcome evil with good. 143

mth : for it is writ- any of the vindiftive paflions : as // is written, ^^
en. Vengeance is f\'\ ^ •- - \ 17 r- ~\" • l ^ • xi
nine; I will repay, i^^Ut. XXXII. 35,) I'-engeance [is] mine, that IS, ;^

faith the Lord. it properly belongs to me, and / wiU recompenfe Rom.
the deferved punifhment, faith the Lord. And XII. 19
indeed it requires the wifdom, as well as the
dignity and majefty, of a God, to claim, and
20 Therefore if manage it aright. Therejore, inftead of bearing 20
feefhimS"wrft! ^ny thoughts of hurting them that have ufed you
give him' drink: lor moft unkindly and unjuftly, if thine enemy hun-
in fo doing thou ftiait ger, feed him, and if he thirft, give him drink ;
heap coals of fire on ^^^ ^^ ,he whole, do him all the good in thy
his head. ,, , i ^r» \
power, as bolomon urgeth, (rrov. xxv. ¦ 21 ;j
for by doing this thou Jhall, as it were, heap coals ¦
of fire on his head" : thou wilt touch him fo fen-
iibly, that he will no more be able to ftand
againft fuch a conduft, than ,to bear on his head
burning coals ; but will rather fubmit to feek
thy friendftiip, and, endeavour by future kindnefs
to overbalance the injury.
21 Be not over- q jj occafions, aft OU this as an inviolable 21
come of evil, but . i t i r i i • i-
overcome evil with maxim ; and II you do not nnd the immediate
good. good effeft, perfift in fuch a conduft ; be not
overcome with evil ; where it feems moff obfti
nate, but. overcome evil with good: for, that is
the moft glorious viftory, and a viftory which
may certainly be obtained, if you will have the
courage to adhere to that, which, being good, is
always in its own nature, ori the whole, invin
cible, to whatever prefent difadvantage it may
feem obnoxious.

IMPROVEMENT.
Surely if any thing confiftent with the burdens and forrows
of mortal life can infpire conftant joy, it muft be the Chri
ftian hope ; the hope of onr calling. Surely with a Joy thus fup-
pjDrted,^ no tribulation can be too great to be endured with pati
ence ; yea, with cheerfulnefs ; fince, whatever it be, the glorious
without oppofing ; in which fenfe it beft cannot be, thou fhalt conjume him, and
fults the interpretation given in the para- bring jndgements upon tiim ; for that
pbraje, which feems' moft natural. The would be applying to revenge, and build-
ingenious and learned Dr. Balguy deter- ing upon it, while it is moft exprefsly for-
mines in favour of the othzr interpreta- bidden. It muft therefore intimate, in
tion, [Balguy''s Serm. Vol. II. d. 222, how tender a manner human nature is af-
223,) though the force qf the reafon that fcftcd with favours received from one
follows is not at all impaired by ours. who has been confidered as an enemy.
c Thou palt heap, &o.] The fenfe

K 4 Objeft

144 Refleiiions on our obligation io joy, love, peace, &c.
SicT. Objeft of our hope, far from Iseing endangered or diminifhed by
""'"• if, fhall rather be fecured and increafed. Let us therefore ««//««{
inflani in prayer, that our minds may be fo fortified and ennobled,
that we may dwell upon thefe views.
Well may they keep the heart in fo ferepe and pleafant a ftate, '
as to make us ready to do every aft of kindnefs to our fellow-crea
tures ; but efpecially to thofe who are heirs with lis of this hope j
Verfe whom WC ought to efteem if our great honour and privilege to be
13 able in any meafure to affifl and accommodate, while they are
tr'avelling through this too often - inhofpitable wildernefs, ip the
way to that kingdom they are going to receive. It is no wonder,
that as we are not of this world, but are chofen and called out of
the world fb fo glorious a profpeft, the world flould hate and per
fecute us : but let us neither be difmayed, nor in any degree ex-
afperated, with the ill ufage we may meet with.^ Rather, with
unfeigned compaffion and good-will to the moft injurious of our
enemies, let us not only refrain from repaying evil with evil, but
17 render them blefling for curfes, and benefits for wrongs : fince we
have ourfelves found fuch mercy, and are called to inherit fuch a
bleffing. _ . • . . .
15 Let us cultivate thofe kind and focial affeHions which this great
proficient in them all fo forcibly^nculcates ; — thaf \.enAex fympathy
which may teach us to fhare in the joys and forrows of all aboi)t
16 us — that candid humility, which fhall, with, graceful unaffefted
freedom, ftoop to the loweft and the meaneft, and while it ftoops,
rife in unfought honours,— thaf diftruft ef ourfelves, which fhall
caufe us to ceafe from our own wifdom, that we may repofe our
felves upon the unerring guidance of our heavenly Father,^that
18 kindly obftinate attachment to /ii?i;f^, that heroic fuperiority, which
^c. melts down with kindnefs the heart that but a little before was
glowing with rage. And on the whole, that reiohite perfeverance _
in goodnefs, which muft be finally viftorious, and will afluredly
ai rife with a new acceffion of ftrength and of glory, from every
defeft.
SECT. XXIX,
The Apoftle urges obedience to magiftr-ates, juftice in all its branches,
and love, as the fulfilling of the law ; concluding the chapter
¦with a warm exhortation to that univerfal f anility which might
become, and adorn, the excellent difpenfation of the gofpel. Rom.
XIII. I, io the end.
Romans XIII. i. RomansJCIU. i.
A Mong the many exhortations I arn now L ."^"^^ ""f,,!,,
*^ giving you, my Chriftian brethren, to a life
worthy

All are -to be JiihjeB to the fuperior authorities.

i"^ unto the higher
powers. For then- is
no power but of God :
the powers that be
^re ordained of God.

a Whofoeverthere-
fore refirteth the
power, refiftetb the
ordinance of God :
and

MS
worthy of the gofpel, that of obedience to ma- Sect.
giftrates, to which I now proceed, muft be ac- ^•^^^'
knowledged of diftinguiflied importance. I Rom.
know the Jews are ftrongly prejudiced againft Xill. %
the thoughts of fiibmitting to heathen governors ;
but let me ftriftly charge and enjoin it upon
every foul among you,- without exception, how
holy Ibever his profeffion be, arid however ho
nourable his ftation in the church, that he be in
all regular and orderly fubjeiiion to the fuperior
civil authorities which Divine Providence ' hath
eftablifhed in the places where you live. For
there is no fuch legal authority, but may, in one
fenfe or another, be faid to be from God. It is
his will, that there fhould be magiftrates to '
guard the peace of focieties ; and the h^nd of
his providence in direfting to the perfons of
particular governors, ought to be ferioufly con
iidered and revered. The authorities that exift
under one form or another, are in their different
places, ranged, difpofed, and eftablifhed by God',
the original and univerfal Governor. He there- %
fore, who, by an .^unjuft refiltance, endeavours to
confound thefe ranks, and fets himfelf, as it
were, in array '° againft the authority of which
magiftrates are poflTefled % withftands the difpofition
of God, for the pubiick peace and order ': ¦ ami

a Difpofed and eftabliftied.] So I ren
der tlie word Tslaj/jtAEVai, thinking the
' Englifli word ordained rather too ftrong.
Compare Afts xiii. 48, and tjie note there.
Divine Providence ranges, and in faft
efiabl'ifhes, the various governments of the
world ; they are therefore, under the
charafter of governments, in the general
to be revered: ' but this cannot make
what is wrong and pernicious in any par--
ticular forms, facred, divine and immu
table, any more than the hand of God in
2i famine or peft'ilence, is an argument againft
feeking proper means to. remove, it.
b Sets h\mjelf, &c.] This feems the
moft direft: import of a\ltlai7ffofji£v^,
which may allude to the word rslctyfiiyiti,
ranged or marpalled by God, ' ufed ^bove
with refpeft to the magiftrdte, ver. 1.
c Authority of which magiftrates are
jjolfefled.] Bifliop Hopkins lays great
ftrefs on the word Erao-ia, here ufed, as
fignifying 2. lav}ful authority, and incapable
of being applied to an ufurper ; and in

purfuance of this, has taken fome pains
to Ihew, that the power of the Romctn em
perors in the apoftle^s time was not ufurp
ed, the people having given up their ori
ginal ri{;hts to the fenate, and the fenatf
to the emperors. But as this is a very ab-
ftrufe queftion, and the pretended evidence
for it very ftender and exceptionable, and fo
far as I can judge, quite unfatisfaftory ;
fo it is certain, that ejbit a, is fometimes
applied to an ujurped authority, being ap
plied to the power of Satan. Afts' xxvi.
18 ; Eph. ii. 2. Compare Eph. vii 12 5
Col. i. 13; chap. ii. 15; Rev. xiii. 2, 4,
5 ; to which feveral other inftances miglit
be added. But the natural and candid
interpretation propofed above, needs not
the fupport of fuch a criticijm, and frees
us from the endlefs embarrafl'rhent of the
queftion of a king de Jure, and de faBo.
I -Ihould think it unlav/ful to refift the
moft unjuft power that can be imagined,
if there was a probability only of doing
mifchief by it. they

1^6 For magiftracy is the ordinance of God, for the general good,

Sf.CT.
XXIX.

Rom.
XIII. 2

they who withftand fo wife and beneficial an ap
pointment, flail receive to themfelves condemna
tion, not only from the civil powers they injure,
but from the fupreme Sovereign, whpfe laws
thty break, and whofe order they endeavour to
reverfe.
3 And indeed the gofpel purpofes fo which ma
giftracy is fubfervient, make it very apparent,
that God muft be difpleafed vyhen that' is de
fpifed : for rulers, in their feveral offices, are not
oil the whole a terror to good works, but to fuch
as are evil^, being intended to encourage the
former, by punifhing the latter. Wouldeft thou
not therefore be afraid cf the high authority with
which they are invefted? JJo that which is good,
and thou Jhall, according to the general courfe of
adminiftration, have not only 'proteftion, ' but
praife and refpeft from it ". This, I fay, may
reafonably be expefted, and will be the cafe,
where the magiftrate underftands himfelf and
his office: for he is, according to the original
appointment, to be confidered as elevafed above
his fellow- men, not for his . own indulgence,
dominion, and advantage, but that he might be
to thee, and to all the reft of his fubjefts, as the
fervant and inftrument of God for thine and the
4 pubiick good. But if thou doft that which is
evil, and fo makeft thyfelf the enemy of that

and they tliat relilt,.
Ihall receive to thejn-
felves damnation.

3 For rulers are
not a .terror to good
works, but to the
evil. Wilt thou then
not be afraid of the
power .' (Jo that which
is good, and thou
fljalt have praife of
the fame :

4 For he is the
minifter of God to
thee for good. But-
if thou do that which is

d Are not a terror to good tvor/is, &c.]
If circumftances arife in whichthis argu
ment is not applicable, it is reafonably to
be taken for granted, that the apoftle did
not intend here to pronounce concerning
fuch cafesl Nothibg can be faid for in
terpreting thefe pafl'ages in favour of un-
I'nnitid paffve obedience, which will not
i^rove any refiftance of a private injury
unlawful, by the authority of our Ltn-d's
decifion, Matt. V. 39,40. And this would
fnbvert the .great foundation of magiftracy
itlelf, which is appointed by force to
ward off and prevent it, or avenge fuch
injuries. But it was very prudent in the
.apoftle not to enter into any queft'lon re-
1 jting to the right of refiftance in fome ex-
tfL'ordinary cafes ; as thofe cafes are com
paratively few, and.as the jufteft decifions
¦which he could have given on that fubjeft
might poflibly have been mifreprefented,
to his own detriment,) and that of the
gojpel. The general laws of benevolence

to the whole, fo ftrohgly aflerted in this
context, are in particular cafes to deter
mine ; and all particulkr precepts, in what
ever univerfal terms they are delivered,
are alv.'ays to give \^'ay to them.
e In the general courfe of adminiftra
tion, &c.] As it is certain the cafe often
is otherwife, and was particularly fo with
refpeft to Nero, under whom this epiftlf
was written ; it is necelTary to interpret
thc words with this latitude. And there
is great reafon to conclude, that magiftrates
in general are in faB much more beneficial,
than hurtful, to jociety, which is a good
argument for a general fubmiflion; and
that was, as we obferved above, all the
apoftle could intend to inforce. Compare
Prov. xviii. 22, where, if I maftake not,
tho- fenfe is fimilar, and is to be under
ftood thus. ** generally fpeaking, a wife
" ' is a felicity, rather than a detriment to
" herhulband, tliough to be fure there
" are many excepted inft-mces.'".. fociety

Suhjedlon and tribute are therefore due for confcience fah,

is evilj be afraid; for
he beareth not the
f.vord in vain : for
he is the minifter of
God, a revenger to
tKi:uta wrath upon
him that doth evil. '

5 Wherefore j?e
muft needs be fub-
^e<£t, not only for
wrath, but alfo for
confcience fake.

6 For, for this
caufe pay yoij tribute
alfo: for they are
God's minifters, at
tending continually
upon this very thing.

7 Rendertherefore
to all their dues; tri
bute to whom tribute

147
fociety of which he is the guardian, thou haft Sect.
indeed reafon to be afraid: for he holdeth not the •^•^'•^.
fword of juftice, which God hath put into his Rom.
hand, in vain ^ It was given him for this very XIII. 4
purpofe, Ijhat he might fmite malefaftors, and
thereby preferve peace and order in his domi
nions. And in doing it, he is to be regarded,
not as afting a fevere and oppreflive part, but as
the fervant and fubftitute of God ; an avenger
appointed in his name, to [execute,] not his own
perfonal refentment, but the wrath of a righte
ous providence, againft him that doth evil, in
inftances wherein if would be highly improper
to leave that avenging power in the. hands of
private injured perfons. Therefore, when 5
this is confidered, piety, as well as prudence.
and human virtue, will teach thee, that // />
neceffary to be in a regular fubjeiii-on, not only out
of regard to fhe dread thou mayeft reafonably
have of that wrath and punifhment which
man can execute ; hut alfo for the fake of con
fcience, which will be violated, and armed with
reproaches againft you, if you difturb the pubiick
peace, refift the kind purpofes of God, by op
pofing governors, while they aft under his com-
miffion, This is in effeft, what all fubjefts 6
profefs to own, as on this accoztnt you alfo pay
tribute ; which magilf rates every-where receive,
and is levied for this apparent reafon, that they
are to be confidered as the minijlers of the good
providence of God, who give fo the pubiick the
whole of their time, care, and labour, and con
tinually applying themfelves to this one affair, the
execution of their high office, have a right to be
honourably maintained ouf of the pubiick re
venues, on the moft obvious principles of equity
and juftice.
On this principle, therefore, ^e careful that ^
you render to all what is juftly their due ; even
though you may have opportunities of defrauding
them of it, to your own immediate and tem
poral advantage. To whom tribute [is due,] for
your perfons or eftates, [render] fuch tribute,

f Holdeth not the fword in vain.] This flifting capital puniftjment, which to deny
ftrongly intimates the lawfulnefs of in- is fubverting the chief ufe of magiftracy.

or

uS

All focial duties fummed up in the love of our neighbour,

SicT. or taxes ^ ; . and to whom cuftom is due, for any
 ; commodity exported, or imported, render that
Rom. cuftom; and feek not clandeftinely to convey
Xlli. 7 fuch commodities away, without paying it. To
whom reverehce is due '", on account of their
worth and . charafter, render reverence; and to
whom any external fqrm of civil honour and
refpeft is due, by virtue of their office and rank
of life, though it (hould fo happen that they
have no peculiar merit to recommend them to
your regard, fcruple not to pay all proper marks
of honoitr ; and guird againfl that ftiffnefs,
which, under pretence of Chriftian fimplicity,
by difputiiig fuch common forms, may rather
S indulge pride, and occafion reproach. On
the whole, owe nothing to any, but endeavour to
manage your affairs with that oeconomy and
prudent attention, that you may as foon as
poftible, balance accounts with all who have de
mands upon you, except it be with refpeft to
that debt, which, while you pay, you 'will be
renewi^ig ; I mean, the obligation you will ever
he under to love orte another. That I would
recommend to your conftant care ; for he that
loveth another, hath in a compendious manner
fulfilled every' thing that the law requireth with
9 refpeft to him. For that [precept,] Thou
Jhalt not commit adultery, Thou flalt not kill.
Thou flalt not fteal, Tbotf flalt not bear fialje
witnejs againft thy neighbour. Thou flalt n-.t
covet any thing that is thy neighbour's, and any
ather command refpefting our fellow-creatures,
iJ Juch [there bef] is Jummed up in this one ex
cellent and comprehenfive precept, which I wifh
may be engraven on all our hearts, fo as to re
gulate every affeftion and aftion : Thau flalt love
thy neighbour as thyjelf. Thou fhalt learn to
put thyfelf, as it were, jn his place, and to aft
as, in a fuppofed change of circumftances, thou

II due, cuftom to
whom cuftom, feai-
to whom fear, ho.
nour to whofn ho-
nour. , ' ~^

8 Oiye no man
anjr thing, but tp
love one another; for
he that loveth ano
ther, hath fuilillcd
the law.

9 For this, Thqu
Ihalt not commit
adultery. Thou Ihalt
not kill. Thou Ihalt
not fteal, Thtiu (halt
not bear falfe witnefs.
Thou Ihalt notcovet;
and if there be any
other commandment,
it is briefly compre
hended in this faying,
namely. Thou Hialc
love thy neighbour'
as thyfelf.

g Tritute to whom tr'ibute.] It is well
.known that the Jews had a favourite-no
tion among them, that they, as the pecu
liar people of God, were exempted from
obligations to pay tribute to Gentiles ;
^Joj'eph. Antij. lib. xviii. cap. i ; Bell.
Jud. lib. ii. cap. i, § 2, & cap. 8,
(al. 7,J ^ J ;) againft which this paffitge is

direftly levelled, though withouf pointing
them out in any invidious manner.
ll Reverence-.] This muft certainly be
the import of ^c-.ou here, as alfo, of
(po^nlai, Eph. V. ult. and it exprelfes the
inward dijpofiticn, as rifAr., honour, ex-
prefl'esthe conduft and external behaviour,
proceeding from it, couldeft

Chriftians are to put off the works of dcfrknefs.

l45

10 ^ove worketh
no ill to his neigh
bour : therefore love
>i the fulfilling of die
law.

II And that,
knowing the time,
that now it is high
time to awake out of
¦fleep : for now is our
falvation nearer than
when we believed.

12 The night is
far fpent, the day is
at hand : let us
therefore caft oft" the
works of darknefs,
and let us put on the
armour of light.

13 Let us walk
honeftly, as in the
day;

Rom.
xm. 10

couldeft reafonably defire to be treated. Now ?p^'''-
it is very obvious, thaf love worketh no evil to ^^^
one's neighbour ; nay, wherever that noble prin
ciple governs, it will put men upon doing all
they can, fo wa.-'d off injury from one another,
and to raake the life of each as comfortable and
happy as poffible : therefore it' may well be faid,
as it is aflerted above, that love [is] ihe accom-
pUflment of the whole law.
And let me urge you to attend to this, and to x i
the other precepts I have given, with fo much the
greater diligence, knowing the circumftances of
the prefent feafon ; which, if you confider, you
will fee that [it is] high time now to awake out
of fleep, and vigoroufly to improve every oppor
tunity of doing good, and profecuting the great
bufinefs of life, which is to fecure the Divine
favour, and your final happinefs : for our great
expefted falvation [ is] now confiderably nearer
than vjhen we at firft believed. We have com
plete falvation in view, it is continually ad
vancing upon us, flying forwards, as it were,
on the fwifteft wings of time ; and that which
remains, interpofed between the prefent moment,
and our entering on the promifed reward, is
comparatively but a very fmall fpan. Aft
therefore at all times, in a holy fubordination to
fuch a circumftance ! And fince the night is far
advanced, fince the dark ftate of the prefent life,
in which we often confound good and bad, is
almoft over, and the day is drawing near, even
that day which will fhew every thing in its pro
per colours and forms ; let us therefore put off
the works, which fuit only a ftate of darknejs,
and let us put on the complete armour of Ught.
Let us be cloathed with all the Chriftian graces,
which like burnifhed and beautiful armour, will
be at once an ornament and defenoe, and which
will refleft the bright beams that are fo glori-
/oufly rifing upon us. And as [being] now
in the clear and open day, lei us fake care to
walk decently, honourably, and gracefully ' ; fince
the luftre, already fhining about us, requires

13

i Let us walk homiirably and grace- Dr. Milner renders it, let us walk -icu'ri «
full/.] So iirf^ui^nttt exaftly fignifies, grgce. Fading Flowers of Lift, p. 38.

great

I f O And to put on the^ Lord fefus.
Sect, great reformation and exemplary holinefs : not
^¦^ in rioting and dfunken debauches, not in cham-
Rom. bering ^, effeminacy, and lafcivioufnefs ' j the
xm. vices in which fo m.any are wafting and polluting
'3 the hours which nature has deftined to neceffary
repofe : not in the contention and emulation which
' the indulgence of fuch irregular defires often
14 occafion. But laying afide all thefe abomina
tions -and enormities, let us put on the Lord
Jefus Chrift^", our great Sovereign and Savioun
Endeavour, my brethren, to obtain the greateft
conformity to his temper, and to appear as like
him as poflible, in every particular in vyhich he
can be the -objeft of our imitation; for that
fhort precept will contain aft that is neceflary to
adorn our profeffion to its greateft height. And
while fo many are fpending ' their time, and
thoughts, and fubftance, in thofe low purfuits
which regard only the meaner part of their na
ture ; make not a folicitous provifion for the flefl,
to [fulfil its] irregular defires, nor be intent in
pleafing any of the fenfes, even where their de
mands may not appear direftly criminal ; but
labour to preferve the fuperiority of the imfnortal
fpirit, and to keep- it continually under the dif-
cipline of fo holy, and fo noble a religion;

day ; not in rioting
and drunkennefs, not
in chambering and
wantonnefs, not in
ftrife and envying.

14 But put ye on
the Lordjefus Chrift,
and make not provi
fion for the fiefli, to
fulfil thelrsfa thereof.

IMPROVEMENT.
Verfe V'Jni'L'E fubjeHs leam reverence and obedience to their magi-
I — 5 ftrates, not only for wrath, but for confcience fake, may magiftrates

k Chambering : Koflan;.] This Leigh
explains of lying long in bed. I will not
defend that fenfe of the word ; but I will
here record the obfervation which I have
found of great ufe to myfelf, and to which
I may fay, that the produftion of this
work, and^moft of my other writings, is
owing ; viz.. that the dift'erence between
rifing at 5, and at 7 of the clock in the
morning, for the fpace of forty years,
fuppofing a man to go to bed at the fame
hour at night, is nearly equivalent to the
addition of ten years to a man's life, of
which, (fuppofing the 2 hours in quef
tion to be fpent,) 8 hours every day
ihould be employed in ftudy and devo
tion. J ^ffemmicy andlajcivioujnejs.] I think
ttTB'Kynti, properly fignifies a joft, luxu
rious, and effeminate manner of life, attend
ed with an affefted delicacy very detri-

naenlal to that refolution which is fo ne
ceffary an ingredient in the charafter of
one who would approve himfelf a gni
joldier of Jefus Chr'ift.
m Put on tbe Lord Jejus Chrift.] A
ftrong expreflion for endeavouring to be
cloathed with all the virtues and graces
which compofed his charafter. Which
reminds me of what Plutarch tells us con
cerning the k'lngs of Perfta; that on their
coronation-day, they put on a robe,
which the firil Cyrus wore before he w.is
king, to remind them of imitating his
exemplary temper and behaviour. Plu
tarch. Artaxerx. apud Opera, 'Tom. vi*
p. 1851, Edit. Steph. 1572. It is obfer
vable, the apoftle does hot fay, " put on
" purity, .and jobriety, peaccfulnejs, and
" benevolence;''* but he, in "eftisft, fays
all at once, in faying, put on tbe Lord
Jejus Chrft, learn

Refteilions on the obedience due to governors, &c. 151
Jearn a correfpondent- care to anfwer that end of their office. Sect.
which the apoftle makes the foundation of fuch precepts as thefe, ^^^^'
and to be indeed the minifters of God for good, a terror not to good Verfe
hut to evil works. 9,4
Gruat-BrI'TAIn, while I write this,* is happy in a govern-"
ment to which this charafter may juftly be applied. Its fubjefts
are under the greateft obligations to the Divine goodnefs, in ha
ving fo remarkably, overthrown- the attempts of thofe who would
have left us little ufe of the fcripture ; , but would themfelves have
abufed it, to have rivetted on the heavieft fetters, by perverting
this paffage of St. Paul, as if he' had intended to fubvert every
free conftitution under heaven, and to put a fword into the
hand of mercilefs tyrants, to kill and take poffeffion of the he
ritage of the Lord, counting his people but as Jheep for the
fiaughter. While we are thus fiappy, we fhall be doubly inexcufable, if
we fail in rendering both honour and tribute, where they are fo 7
juftly due-
May we extend our care to the univerfal law of love; and may 8-10
it be fo deeply engraven on our hearts, that the praftice of every
focial virtue may become eafy and delightful.
And on the whole, being animated by the approach of f aha- 11,12
tion, may we awake to the yigorous difcharge of our duty, and
while the , light of the gofpel fcatters about us fo bright a ray,
may we walk, in every refpeft, worthy of it, that we may have
no reafon to wifh for the vail of darknefs to cover our fhame.
May we not only abftain from fhe vices, which are here branded
with the infamy they deferve ; but diftinguifli ourfelves in culti
vating the contrary virtues. And that we may do it effeftually, 13
may we put on the Lordjefus Chrift, remembering continually the 14
obligations we are under to confider his life as the model of our
own. So fhall we make the gdfpel-rf'fly yet brighter in the eyes
of all aropnd us, and anticipate, while we are here in this world
of comparative darknefs, the luftre, with which we hope, through
his influence and grace, to fline forth in the celeftial kingdom of
our Father. * Anno Domini, 1749.

SECT. XXX.
The Apoftle recommerids mutual candour ; efpecially, between thofe
Chriftians .who did, and ihofie who did not., think themfelves
obliged in confcience io obferve the ceremonies enjoined by Mofes,':
and ftrenuoufly attempts to turn their %(al for^ or againft, thofe
cbfervanceSf

152 The wiak fhould he received, not to doubtful difputa'tions\
obfervaiices, into a concern to prepare for their final appearand
before the great tribunal. Rom. XIV. 1-^12.- .

RoM.iNS XIV. I.

Sect.xxx.

Rom.
xiV. 1

T Know there are different opinions among
¦¦¦ you Chriftians at Rome, with regard to the
obligations df the Mofaic ritual. Now here, I
would be folicitous to fuggefts fhe moft peaceful
councils, and to perfuade you to mutual forbear
ance, and mutual love. As for him ihat is fo
weak in the Chriftian faith, as ftill to retain the
prejudices of a Jewifh education on this head,
let me prevai^l on you. Gentile believers, in this
refpeft better inftrufted iu the nature and ex
tent of Chriftian liberty, to receive and converfe
with him, in a friendly and refpcftful manner :
and do not indulge yourfelves in the inclination
which you may fometimes find, to run into de
lates, and diftinftions about matters in doubt
a between you '. For one, that is, the convert
ed Gentile, -.believeth very truly and rightly, that
he may eat all things indifferently that are good
for food ; but aikther, who is in this refpeft
weak, eateth nothing but herbs, and other vege
tables '', to exprefs his humility and felf-denial.

Romans XIV. i.
f^IM that is weak
in the faith re
ceive ye, but not t4
doubtful difputations,

2 For one believeth
that he may eat all
things : another, who
is weak, eateth herbs*

a Debates, ziiddiAinOfions, about matters
in doubt.] Dr. Whitby explains ha.icpia'B^^,
of dijcViminating perjons according to their
hivfard thoughts and reajonings on thefe
heads. The force of the apoftle's ad
mirable reafoning in favour of candour,
and mutual, condejcenfton, cannot be ener
vated by faying, as fome have unhappily
done, that here was nojeparation between
Jewifli and Gentile Chriftians. Had the
things judged indifterent by the latter,
and apprehended finful by the former,
been impofed, a jeparation of communion
muft have enfued, and the jchifm on the
apoftle's principles would have been charge
able on the impofers. When it fliall
pleafe God to awaken in the governors of
tfiablifbed proteftant churches, fuch a fpirit
of moderation and goodnefs, joined with
a true zeal for religion, as to leavp fu'ch
things in that natural ftate of indifterence,
in which almoft all fenfible men confefs it
is beft they jhould be left ; many feparations
will ceafe of courfe, and the healers of
fuch breaches will do a noble fervice to
their country, be honoured hy all that
love Chr'ftianitv, and amply rewarded by
the great head of the cjiurcb.

b Eateth herbs.] Dr. Whitby demon-
ftrates, by many learned quotations here,
that fome of the ^ews ufed to cat no flelh"
at all, and others looked upon it asj very
high pitch of virtue, to abftain from it in
Gentile countries, and to fubfift entirely
on vegetables ; becaufe they did not know,
but any flefli fold in the fliambles 'might
have been ofti:red to idols, or at leaft con-
trafted fome other ceremonial pollut'ums.
Mr. Baxter thinks here is a reference to
fuch Chriftians as might have been Py- ,
thagoreans before their converfion, and
might retain their old prejudices 'againft
animal food. Baxter* s Works, Vol. IV.
p. 614. But as that averfion to animal
food depended on their doftrine of the
tranjmigration of jouls, which no Chriftian
could retain, I think, that interpretation
is much preferable, which refers it to
Jewifli converts, who were alfo more
numerous in the church, and poflibly
might fome of them come from the Ej-
fines, a Jewilh feft peculiarly ftrift on this
head, fothat they abftained, not only
from flijb, but from fruit.

and

5 Let not hira
that eateth, defpife
him that eateth not ;
and let not hii^ whicli
eateth not, judge him
that eateth: for God
hath received him.

4 Who art thou
that judgeft another
man's fervant i* to his
own mafter he ftand-
eth or falleth. Ye.i,
he fliall be holden
up ; for God is able
tu make him ftand.

5 0ncmanefteem-
etji one day above
another :

Concerning ihe diftinifion of meats and days. 153
and to guard againft fhe poflution that might at- Sect.
tend even the ufe of clean animals for food, if ^•^•^'
they are not killed and prepared after the Jewifh Rom.
manner. Now in this diverfity of opinion xiv. j
and praftice, exercife candour and forbearance fo
each other, and all will be well. Let not him
that eateth all kinds of flefh freely, defpife and
fet :.t nought him that eateth not thefe prohibited
or fufpicious things, as if he were a weak and
fuperftitious bigot : and let not him that eateth
them not, but confcientioufly abftains from them,
judge and condemn him that eateth .them, 'as a
profane, unclean,' and intemperate perfon. For
God hath received him into the number of his
children and people, without laying him under
fuch reftraints ; and furely where God receives,
we fhould not prefume to rejeft.
Let me afl?: thee ferioufly on this occafion, 4
whoever thou mayeft be, and how wife and holy
foever thou mayeft think thyfelf, JVho art thou
.that judgeft the fervant of another?- Wouldft
thou think it an indecent thing to meddle with
the domeftic fervant of thy neighbour, or of thy
friend, and wilt thou pretend to govern Chrift's
family, and judge of his adminiftration towards
the members of it ? Know, that not to thee,
but to his ozvn Mafter he ftandeth, or falleth : it
is by Chrift he is to be finally acquitted or con
demned. Te.a, if he offends in no greater points
than thefe in debate amongft you, he flail be up
held in his Chriftian profeffion, and eftablifhed to
eternal falvation; for God is able to eftahlifl him'^,
and his promifes affure us that he will do it.
What I have faid with relation to fhe diftinc- 5
tion of meats, may alfo be applied to that of
days. One than, that is, the Jewifh convert,
efteemeth one day above another^. ' He thinks
their fabbaths and new-moons, and yearly fafts

e God is able to eftabl'ift? him.] Dr.
Whitby explains this of God's convincing
the Jevj'ift converts in general, of the in-
diffcrency of the Mojaic ritual, by putting
a fpeedy period to the very polIibiliLy of
obferving it in the deftruftion of the
temple at Jerufalem ; which would have
; a peculiar efficacy to wean nien's minds
from an attachment to it, when confidered
VOLJ IV.

in conneftion with Chrift's prediftions of
that event. But I choofe the more ex
tenfive interpretation, as more obvious,
and lefs liable to objeftion. '
d Efteemeth one day above another.]
Raphelius here produces fome appofite
paflages to fliew that nfmit in fuch a ton-
ftruftion fignifies to prefer.

er

f J4. Svery one to be perfuaded in his own mind, and
Sect, qj- feafts have fomething inviolably facred, and another f another e-
'^f±_ that the obfervation of them is matter of perpe- '^'iZt^Zl^^l
Rom. tual and univerfal obligation. Another, edu- be fully perfuaded in
XIV. 5 cated among the Gentiles, or more thoroughly his own mind.
inftrufted in the defign and genius of Chriftia-
•nity, efteemeth every day [alike,] withouf any
regard at all to the Jewifh inftitution. Let every
man freely enjoy his own fentiment ', and go on
in his own way, without impediment pr cen-
6 fure. For we may reafonably hope, that
Chriftians are aftuated, in the main, by the fame
principles, when their praftices differ according
to the diflFerence of their judgments ; fo thaf he
thai regardeth a day in this peculiar manner, re-
- gardeth [it] to the Lord, and takes this diftin-
ghifhing notice of it, becaufe he thinks it is the Lord, for he giveth
will of Chrift that an honour ftiould ftill be God thanks; and he
done to thefe Mofaic inftitutions: and on the
other hand, he that regards not a day, it is to
'• the Lord, we hope, that he doth not regard [it;]
it is becaufe he thinks Chrift will be honoured,
by afferting the liberty of his followers in this
refpeft. He that eateth freely of whatever comes
before him, eateth to the Lord, endeavours to
glorify him for it, as becomes a good Chriftian,
and giveth God thanks for the various provifion
of his liberal providence ; and he that eateth not
> the food which the law forbids, may aft on the
fame pious principles, and we ought charitably
to conclude, that it is out of a regard to what he
apprehends the will of the Lord, that he eateth it
not; he cheerfully denies himfelf what he fuppofes
Chrift would have him forbear ; and he likewife
giveth God thanks that other food is provided
on which he may conveniently fubfift, and that
he is not forced to eat what he thinks unclean,
out of abfolute neceflity. Now where is fhe
damage of all this, and while fuch a religious
temper towards God prevails, how little does it
comparatively fignify, whether it afts by the ufg

6 He that regard
eth the day, regard -
eth it unto the Lord;
and he that regardeth
not the day, to the
Lord he doth not re
gard it. He that eat
eth, eateth to the

that eateth not, to
the Lord he eateth
not, and giveth Qod
thanks.

« Let every man freely enjoy his own fen
timent.] Critics have obferved that th&
word tffXtip^o^tur^at is moft properly ap
plied to'a /hip, which is carried on by tlie
wind and ^de, with all its fails fpread, to
forward if, and nothing to obftruft it;
»nd fo the meaning is, 1st him go on in his

own way, without impediment. fioW ftrong-
a text ^thxi is for the right of private judg..
ment, I need take no pains to (hew; but
the reader may fee it vindicated from the
evaftons of a very celebrated writer, inMf.
Bcnnefs Appendix tQ bis IrenUum, p» lio,
•-l'Z4- ef

7 For none of us
liveth to himfelf, and
no mandicth to him
felf.

S For whether we
live, we live unto-the
Lord ; and whether
we die, we die unto
the Lord : whether
we live therefore, or
die, we are the
Lord's.

coAfull life glory of Chrift, whofe they are, living and dying, ¦ 155
of thefe things, or by a confcientious abftinence Sect.
from them ? ^^^.
It may well be fuppofed that this is a juft re- Rom.
prefentation of the cafe ; for it is certainly what XIV. 7
every Chriftian is obliged to, by virtue of our
common profeftion ; as none of us, who under
ftands and anfwers that engagement, liveth to
himfelf ; and none of us, fo far as the circum
ftances of his death aire under the direftion of
his own choice, dieth to himfelf, nor determines
the moft important afl^airs by his own humour,
or prefent intereft. But from the time of our 8
giving up our names fo Chrift, as our Divine '
Mafter, to the laft day and hour of our continu
ance in life, if ive live, it is our concern that
we may Uve to the Lird, and ftrenuoufly purfue
the great purpofes of his glory; or that ifwedie,
we may die unto the Lard either by facrificing
our lives to his gofpel, if he demands it of us;
or, if we expire in a natural way, by behaving
to the laft, as thofe who have his love ruling in
our hearts, and his facred caufe ftill in our eye :
Jci that whether we Uve, or die, %ve are ihe Lord' s ;
in confequence of being thus faithfully -devoted
to Chrift, both in life and death, v/e have the
pleafure to think, that living or dying, we are
the objefts of his care and favour. For to this 9
purpdfe Chrift both died and rofe again from
the dead, and ftill continues alive, that he might
be the fovereign Lord, both of the dead and of
the living. This is the reward beftowed upon
him for all his fervices, as Mediator ; that he
fhould be exalted to fuch a kingdom, and that
all Chriftians fhould thus own tl'rafelves his
fervants ; not only in this prefent world, but in
that unchangeable ftate into which they pafs by
death ; yea, that all the inhabitants of both
worlds, fhould be ever fubjedt to his difpofal and
command. >
But the thought of Chrift's exaltation furnifhes 10
another argument for the candid temper I am
now recommending, as it implies his future ap
pearance to the univerfal judgment, where our
temper, in this refpeft, will be ftriftly review
ed. In this light then, let me ferioufly afk,
why doft thou, O Jewifh convert, judge thy
L 3 Gentile

9 For to this end
Chrift both died,
and rofe, and re
vived, that he might
be Lord both of the
dead and living.

10 But why doft
thou

For we muft aU ftand before the tribunal of Chrift.

Si^cT. Gentile brother, for the non-obfervation of thofe
•^^^' precepts by which thou thinkeft thyfelf bound .'
Rom. Or why doft thou, O Gentile befiever, fet at
XIV. nought and deride, as weak or fiiperftitious, thy
^° Jewifh brother, who confcientioufly obferves that
butdenfome ritOal from which thou art fo liappy
as to apprehend thyfelf free? This cenforioufnefs
or contempt is greatly to be blamed, and either
muft very ill become the ftate in which we are,
and muft quickly be : for no principle of our
common faith is more certain than this, that
zve muft aU at length appear, and be folemnly
prefented before the tribunal of Chrift : and as it
is there fhat we are all to take our final trial, it
muft be dangerous prefumption to anticipate that
II judgment. Rertiertber it, my brethren, and
ponder ferioufly upon that awful day ; for it will
afluredly come, as it is written, (Ifa. xiv. 23,)
" [As] I live faith the Lord, furely every knee
" JhaU bow unto me, and every tongue flail confefs
" to God;" and it is then only, thaf fuch a great
and extenfive prophecy fhall be completely ac
ta complifhed : So that every one of us flail ren
der an account of himfelf to God. Let each of
us therefore apply it to his own Cafe, and fay fo
his heart, " This account muft be mine." And
we ihall then be too ititenton regulating our own
conduft, to have either leifure or inclination, to
be fevere, or pragmatical, in cenfuring that of
our brethren.

thou judge thy bro.
ther .' or why doll:
thou , fet at nought
thy brother ? for we
fliall! all ftand before
the judgment-feat of
Chrift. '

1 1 F»r it is writ
ten, As I live faith
the Lord, every knee
fliall bow to me, and
every tongue fliall
confefs to God.

12 So then every
one of us fliall give
account of himfelf tt
God.

IMPROVEMENT.

Vi.rfe Le'I" all ?'le different fefts and parties of Chriftians ftudy to
I, &c. imbibe more of the equitable and lovely temper which the
apoftle here expreffes in fo genuine a manner. The divifions of
the church are not to be healed by impofing our own fenti
ments, phrafes and forms, and cenfuring and harraffing thofe tha't
will not acquiefce in them. Such a temper will only ingender
ftrife, and mutual provocations will produce mutual increafing
¦refentment. Let us rea ive our weaker brethren with tendernefs and refpeft ;
not defpifing thofe who fcruple what we praftife, no't judging thofe
who pniftife what we fcruple. God may receive the one and the
other : yea, the difi^erent praftices of both may proceed from the-
fame- general principles, a defire to pleafe him, and to approve
ourfelyes in his fight. ^ , /In

Refleiiions on Chriftian Jorbearance and candour. 157
In this we may all unite, in a concern that we may not live, or Sect.
die, to ourjelves, but to Chrift. His dying love, his living care.

may furely challenge this. Worthy is he-who died, and roJe again,, Verfe
^and revived, to-be adored and obeyed, as the Lord, both oJ' the 'j ,%,(f
dead and of the living. And fuch, in one view or another, he will
finally appear. We fhall know it in that day when we fhall be
called before his judgment-feat . Confcious of fo many crimes, to
and, even in our beft days, of fo many imperfeftions, how fhall we
dare to appear before him ; efpecially, if we fliould then receive
judgment ivithout mercy. Let us not tempt it, to our own evcrlaft- •
ing confufion, by fhewing no mercy.
Let us not add, to all the offences which may juftly caufe us
to tremble before his tribunal, 'the criminal arrogance of ufurp-
ing fhe place and prerogative of our Judge. Let us remember
our relation to him, audio each other, and aft in a manner be
coming it. Let us diligently jW^* oi-trjelves as thofe who muft n
be judged of the Lord; fo thinking of that grand account, as with
an increafing folicitude to prepare for it. The Lord grant ihat
we may find mercy of the Lord in that day ! The Lord^ grant that
it may alfo be imparted to many of our brethren, who have dif
fered molt from us ; yea, and through the indulgence of our com
paffionate Saviour, to many who have been prone to cenfure and
condemn us for thofe things which he knows we have done from
a dtfire to pleafe him, or refufed to do from a fear of offending
him !
SECT. XXXL
The Apoftle Jarther urges the mutual tendernejs and candour he
had recommended above, by reprejeniing the love oJ Chrift to all
Chriftians, the nature and deftign oJ his religion, and the danger
of a contrary temper. Rom. XIV. 13, to the end. ,
Romans XIV. 13. RoMANS XIV. 13.
LET us-not there- , f^^.^^ ¦ n j^^g^^ ^minding you of your ap- Sect.
lore judge one { ¦> -, ° i r r^i -n i 'X"X'YI
another any more: pearance bctore the tribunal 01 Chnft, and ^^^''
kutjadgc this rather, the account which every man n:)j>ft render of '
that jiiij-ifelf there : and now give me leave a little .j^j!^'
farther to purfue the confequence which fo na- jj '
turally follows. Let us not therejore any longer
judge another ", but rather judge ye, and deter-
a Let us not therefore any longer judge ferent ftiijes, as Raphelius on this text,
*;.-;- another.] It is verv pl-ain tliat the ihews ^atna^itv is ulcj, in thc fame yi«-
word H^,vji\, is here ufed in two very dif- rtvifi', by Herodotus.
L 3 mine

158 Sect.
XXXI. Rom.
XIV. 13

14

Chriftians not io judge one another ;
mine this, as- matter of undoubted and impor-
finf duty, not to lay any ftumbling- block or fcandal
before a brother"" : to do nothing, how indif
ferent foever it rpay be in itfelf, which may tend
to prejudice, difcourage, or miflead any other
Chriftian. , .
/ know, fdr inftance, and am at length per
fuaded, by fhe powerful teaching of the Lord
JeJus Chrift, though it be fo contrary to the prin
ciples I imbibed in my education, and fo ftrenu
oufly maintained in my Pharifaical ftate, thai
pothing [is] unclean oJ itfelf: that there is no
moral turpitude, in any kind of food, by which
the human body may be nourifhed: but thaf,
feparate from particular circumftances which
may arife, it may lawfully be eaten : there is
nothing, I fay, unclean, unlejs [it be] io him
ihat in his confcience accountelh any- thing, to be
unclean : [and to him,] while he retaineth that
opinion, [it is] indeed unclean, how indifferent
foever it is in itfelf; and he will contraft guilt
befpre God, by allowing himfelf in it, whether
it be to indulge his own tafte, or to engage the
favour of others, whilft he hath this inward ap-
; prehenfion . of its being unlawful. But if
there fliould not be fuch an apprehenfion con
cerning the thing, in itfelf confidered, yet' it
may be in effeft prohibited to thee, as injurious
toothers; {ov. if thy brother-be grieved'^, wound
ed, and led into fin, by [thy], .ufe of meat, how
doft thou any longer walk according io that noble
principle of lovie which I have juft now been fo
earneftly recommending ? How innocent foever
it may in itfelf feem, O do not, if thou haft any
bowels for him, or any regard for thy great
Mafter, deftroy him by thy rafh and unkitid ufe of
fuch particular meat, for whom Chrift, not only
fubmitted to fmaller inftances of felf-denial,
but died in the agonies of the crofs. Is a

that no man jim 1
ftumbling-block, or
any occafion to fall
in his brother's way.

14 I know, and
am perfuaded by the
Lord Jefus, that then
is nothing unclean of
itfelf: but to hinj
that efteemeth any
thing to be undean,
it is unclean.

15 But if thy bro
ther be grieved \yith
thy meat, now. walk-
eft thou not charit-,
ably. Deftroy nothim
with thy meat, fof
whom Chrift died.

b A ftumbling-block.] Some fay that
o-Hav^aXt,v, properly fignifies '^ a piece
** of wood that fupports a trap, which
'* falls, on its being moved," and fo may
with peculiar propriety fignify ^whatever
may be the occafion of enjnaring another,
ar.d drawing him into^fin and mifchief.
' - jf thy brother be grieved.] Hence it

appears, that grieving a perjon does not
fignify merely putting him out of humour,*
but hading him into fin. 'The grief there
fore is that which arifes from a' conjc'iouj-
uejs of having aBed amijs, in conformity
to the example of a perjon, confidered as
juper'wr, whether in rank or genius, knoiu-
ledge or piety, morfe^

hut to purfue ihe things thai make for peace.

159

16 Let not then
your good be evil
ipoken of:

17 For the king
dom of God is not
meat and drink; but
righteoufnefs, and
peace, and joy in the
Holy Ohoft.

morfel of meat indeed, fo great a thing to a Sect.
Chriftian, thaf for the fake of it an immortal  _J
foul fhould be endangered, and the blooij of a Rom.
Redeemer injured ? Lei not then your liberty, Xiv.
which is in itfelf good, be flandered and blamed, '
for being the occafion of fo much mifchief, as
fuch an ill ufe of it may probably produce.
And furely none of you can pretend to objeft
any thing from confcience, againft abftaining
from thefe things. For the kingdom of God, 17
into which we are entered by believing in Chrift,
and becoming his fubjefts, conftjis not in meat
and drink; it neither prohibits nor enjoins fuch
things as thefe, nor is taken up with fuch little
matters ; but the great defign of it is to regulate
the temper of its profeffors, and in the mofl
effeftual manner to cultivate and promote righ^ -
teoufnefs and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoft, that
is, a cheerful temper, fupported hy a confciouf
nefs of ftrift integrity, eftablifhed on principles
of univerfal love, and infpired by the bleifed
Spirit of God ''. And he ihat in theft things I £
faithfully ferveth Chrifl, and afts upon the great
maxims of his religion, [is] acceptable to God,
whether he abftains from the liberties in quef
tion, or allows himfelf in them : and he will
alfo be in the main approved by men too ; for
bad as the world is, upright and benevolent men,
who put on no affefted rigour and feverities in -
religion, are generally efteemed and beloved in
it. Thus let us therefore aft, and with all i§
poffible diligence purfue the things which tend
to peace, and may promote our nmtiial edifica
tion in our common faith. And whoever ^'^
thou art, that mayeft difrelifh the exhortation,
in this conneftion, do not indulge fo mean a
tafte, as for the fake of this or that particular
kind of meat, to deftroy thy broths; who, as
a man, would appear ike nobleft work of God,
in this lower world, if all the peculiar confidera
tions of Chriftianity were out of the queftion.
It is true indeed, and I hinted above, that in
themfelves all things [are] pure ; yet [thai is]
i A cheerful temper, &c.] This is and I think, on the whole, preferable to
the interpretation wliicli Dr. Scoff has any other.
given, in his Chriftignl.ife,Yo\, I, p. 285 ; h 4 Kiorall;

iS For he that in
thefe things ftrveth
Chrift, is acceptable
to God, and approved
?f men.

19 Let us there
fore follow after thefe
things which make
for peace, and things
wherewith one may
edify another.
20 For meat, de-
Aroy not the work of
God. All things in
deed erf pure, but if /^
evil

) 6o Chriftians io enjoy their own perfuafion without offending others.
Sect, morally evil io a man, that he eatetji with evil for that man who
^^^'- offence and fcandal ; contrary to the rule of his "'^th with oflFence.
Rom. own confcience,' and enfnaring to that of others.
XIV. In this view I may venture to fay, [it is] good 21 it 'u good nei,
*' neither io eat any kind of ftefl, though that t^er to eat flefh, nor
would be a much more rigorous felf-denial than '° '*""'' ™"!' "<"
T 1 J- r .. J • 1 - ""y ''"'"S whereby
1 am now pleading tor ; nor even io drink wine, thy brother ftum-
though in the moft moderate degree ; nor indeed tleth, or is off'ended,
to inilulge in [any thing] elfe, by which thy brother °' '= '"^'*= *"k-
is fcandaUzed or weakened, that is, by which he
may .either be enfnared, or difcouraged, in his
religious courfe.
22 Thou wilt perhaps plead, that //^ifftt ^(j/? /a///& 22 Haft thou faith?
in a fuperior exercife, and beholdeft Chriftianity forJ God! Hap ?
in a more extenfive and generous view. It is he that condemneth
well; and I could not wifh thy views fhould be not himfelf in that
more contrafted. But if thou haft fiich a juft *^"4r'''''' ^' "''
perfuafion of the indifference of thefe things,
which others fcruple ; yet in circumftances like
thefe, which I here fuppofe, have it to thyfelf
before God: content thyfelf that he is witnefs to
it, and conceal thofe apprehenfions, juft as they
may be, in thine own breaft, when they can- ,
not be publifhed with advantage, or without
offerice. But permit me to add, upon this occa
fion, happy [is] he who doth not condemn himfelf
in the thing which he alloiveth : it is a happy
thing for a man, to be quite eafy in what he
does, and free, not only from the reproaches,
but the fufpicions of his confcience, and to ufe
even lawful enjoyments only in a lawful and
23 regular degree. But he that really in his con- 13 And he that
Rience maketh a difference between one fort of ^f^^f^^l '^J,l^khe
food and another, is condemned by God as a eateth not of faith ;
finner, if he eat out of unbridled appetite, vain for whatfoeveris not
complaifance, or weak fliame. It muft in fiich of faith, is fin. '
a cafe be criminal, becaufe [he eateth] not tvith
faith, that is, with a full fatisfaftion in his own
mind, that God allows and approves the aftion.
For it may be laid down as a general maxim in
all thefe cafes, that whatfoever [is] not of faith,
is ftn'; fince, the Divine authority ought to be fo
¦facre4 with every man, as to engage him, rtot
only to avoid what is plainly and direftly con
trary to it, but what he apprehends, or tvcn
fufpefts, to be fo ; thoi'gh that apprehenfion, or
fufpicion.

Refleiiions 'on our obligation to avoid giving offence, &c. l5l
fufpicion, fhould chance fo be founded on his Sect.
own ignorance or miftake. XXXI.

IMPROVEMENT. /
Still let thaf great and final account which each muft render "V^erfc
of himfelf .to God, be kept in our mind; that we may learn ^2
obedience to him, candour to each other, and a tender care to avoid
every thing that might give unnecelfary offence to our brethren.
And in the views of it, let us learn always to reverence our own
confciences, fo as never to be engaged to do what we fufpeft to
be unlawful : fince no confideration can ever balance the infinite
evil of offending God, and bringing guilt on our own fouls.
That is to us unclean, which we efteem to be fo, and what is not 14-23
of faith, is ftn.
Let us alfo be cautious, that we do not incur guilt and condem
nation,- even by things which we allow, as in the main lawful ;
folicitoufly attending, not only to the general nature, but the
probable confequences of our aftions. And where there is dan
ger of injuring the fouls of others, let us often refleft', that Chrifl 15
died for them ; and eftimate, fo far as we can conceive it, the
value of fouls, by the value of that blood by which they were re
deemed. Let us alfo take great hted, that we do not give occafion to
others, by our imprudent conduft, to fpeak evil o/ that which is 16
in itfelf good. And that we may not do it,_ let Us ftudy thofe great
and generous notions of religion which this excellent paffage of
fcripture gives us. Let it be w-ritten upon our hearts, that the 17
kingdom of God is not meat or drink, that it doth not eonfift in a
zeal for, or againft, any of the little diftinftions by which
Chriftians have been fo often divided, and which have been too
frequently the occafion of mutual alienation in their afl^eftions.
Let us ftudy, and praftife more righteoufnefs , and peace, and joy 18
In the Holy GhoJl. The approbation ,of God, confequent on this,
may well fupport us, though men fhould cenfure us as lukewarm ;
yea, perhaps as hypocritical, and interefted too, in the candid re
gards we fhew to thofe which difi^cr from each other, and from us.
God will remember their rafhncfs and forwardnefs to thefe un
charitable cenfures ; but let us rather fay, " May he cure and for
give them."
Yet while we cultivate the amiable temper here fet before us,
bad as the world is, we may hope that wefnall be accepted bv
many ; and indeed, in proportion to this knowledge of our real
charafter, by all whofe acceptance and friendfhip is moft to be
valued. Let u^ not therefore be difcouraged af any ill ufage,
which in particular inftances we may meet with ; but ftill follow
the things that make fr peace, and conduce to mutual edlfica- 19
tion;

j62

Tlie ftrong to bear the infir/hities of the weak ;

^^"- tiim : and the God , of peace wiU be with us, and Jefus, the great
"^^^^^ Lord of ihe church, 'which is his houfe, will fmile on our attempts
to build it up into one united and beauteous edifice, till he calls us
to his temple above, where all is order, and harmony, and loye
for ever,
SECT, XXXII.
The Apoftle farther ur^es-mutual condefcenfion by new motives ; par.
ticularly the example of Chrift, and, the goodnefs of God to us all^
and the regard which Chrifl had fleivn to Jews and.Gentiles, in
bringing or fending the gofpel to them, according to the tenor of
prophefies, which he adds io ihe lift of thofe produced above:
Rom. XV. I— 17.

ROM-INS XV. I.
Sect. oEEING therefore, my brethren, it is fo dan-
gerous for any to do that concerning which

Pom. they are not in their confciences fatisfied that
J^V^' I if is affuredly lawful ; we ought to take great
care, that we do not, by our uncharitable im-
pofitions or irregular examples, lay a tempta
tion in their way to do it. And we who are
' ftrong, that is, \vho perfeftly underftand the
liberty which Chriftianity gives to its profeflJbrs,
aught, with all tender fympathy and compaflion,
io hear ihe infirmities of ihe weak, not only tole
rating them,, but in fome inftances reftraining
our own inclinations, ouf of regard to their
advantage, and not as too many do, to pleafe our
felves, to gratify our own inclinations and hu
mours, whether others be comforted or grieved,
a edified or enfnared. On the contrary, let every
one of us rather make it his care, fo far as he
lawfully and conveniently can, to pleafe [his]
neighbour, where it may be for [his] real good,
and condefcend even to his ignorance and pre
judices, where there is reafon to hope it may
conduce 'to his edifi.cation and that of the church ;
which is nearly interefted in the mutual tender
nefs of its members for each other.
3 And furely -We muft be difpofed to aft fuch a
part towards our brethren ; for we all well know,
that the Lord Jefus Chrift, our great and Divine
Mafter, though fo infinitely exalted above us,
pleafed mt hinjrlf; but, when he vouchfafed in
mercy

P.0MANSXV. 1.
¦^I^E then that are
ftrong, ought ta
bear the infirmitie|
of the weak, and not
to pleafe ourfelves,

2 Let every one of
us pleafe h'ls- neigh
bour for his good to
edification.

3 For even Chrift
pleafed not hunfelf; but

For even Chrift pleafed not himfelf.

«63

hut as It is written.
The reproaches of
th.'m that reproached
thee fell on me.

4 For whatfoever
things wrere written
^foretime, were writ
ten for our learning ;
that we through pa
tience and comfort ^f
tJie fcriptures might
pave hope.

5 Now the God of
patience and confola
tlon grant you to be
like-minded one to-
¦ivard? another, ac
cording to Chrift je
fus :

mercy to vifit this low world of ours, inftead-of Sicr.
ftudying his own eafe and pleafure, he fubmit- "'""'•

ted to an almoft continued feries of felf-denial, Rom.
mortification, and trouble, for our fakes. .He XV. 3
confidered fhe weaknefs and infirmities of thofe
about him, that he might teach them, and train
them up for fervice, as they were able to bear
it. (Mark iv. 33.) Yea, he even fubmitted with
the greateft gentlenefs, to much reproach and
contempt ; as it is written, (Pfal. Ixix. 9,} in
words which may well be applied fo him ;
" The reproaches of th'ofe who reprcachedthee, are
*' fallen upon me^. I have placed myfelf in a
" world, where I have been afflifted with the'
" wickednefs of mankind, which I have con- ,
" tinually feen and heard about me, and which
" has been through the whole courfe of my life,
" my continual grief and burden."
jSlow, by the way, I accommodate this text 4
to the purpofe before me, becaufe I think, we
may make the beft we can of every fcripture, to
produce and cherifh good difpofitions, and pious
fentiments in our hearts. For whatever things
were formerly Written, were written for our in-
ftr uiiion, that we through patience and confolatlon
of the fcriptures, that is, by the ftrenuous exer
cife of that patience whieh the confolations ad
miniftered in fcripture fo powerfully fupport,
might have an aflfured and joyful hope in the
midft of all our tribulation.
Now may the God of -patience and confolatlon, 5
from whom all thefe gracious and feafonable
provifions proceed, give you raore of this bleffed
temper ; that ye may have the fame mutual affec
tion, according to the example of Jefus Chrift^; That

a The reproaches of thofe, &c.] Some
fxpofttors refer this to Chrift's having un
dertaken by his juffct^'ings to expiate the
guilt offtn, every jpecies of which may be
confidered as a reproach caft on the law
and government of God. See Cradoc in
loc. I iiave given what feemed to me the
more direct and nztv^rzX jenje, but will not
fey this other Ihould be excluded, which
may well agree both with the ivords and
cuaneB'ion. It muft, on the' principle on
which the Apoftle goes in many of his
quotations, , be very pleafant to obferve,
how all the expreffions of the higheft piety

and devotion, to be found in the writings
or dijcourjes of good menof old, are ap
plicable to Chrift. But many learned
critics maintain, that the Ixixth Pfalm
may, in its original fenfe, be interpreted
as zprophecy of the Mcjfiah. How inex-
preflible a grief and burden the fight of
fo much wickednefs muft have been to fo
pure and holy a mind, as that of our
Lord, it is impoflible for us fully to con
ceive; but were we more like him, we
might, and we certainly Ihould, enter
more into it, than we generally do.
b Ihe jame mutual affeBion, accottding ti>
the

164

We flould receive one another, as he hath received us.

Sect. Tliat with one mind [and] one mouth, with united
"''"' hearts 'and voices, ye may glorify the God and
Rom. Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who hath fent
.XV. 6 his beloved Son into the world, to unite our
hearts in love to each other, and to tune them to
thofe, devout praifes which we addrefs to his
.7 bleffed felf through him. Therefore, whether ye
were, before your converfion to Chriftianity, Jews
or Gentiles, confidering it now as an endear
ing bond, which caufes every difference to be
forgot, receive ye one another, and embrace
one another, with mutual love ; as ChriJi hath,
without any diftinftion, received us all to the
glory of God. And greatly will that fubfime
end, at which he aimed in all, even the glory
of his heavenly Father, be promoted, by fuch
endeared affeftion in his people towards each
other.
8 Now I fry this, with peculiar regard to tliofe
differences in. judgment which I know are fo
ready to prevail among Chriftians of different
educations, as to the obligations of ihe Mofaic
law. And I would reniind you Gentiles, that
you ought not to ftifl^er your hearts to be aliena
ted from your Jewifh brethren, for their attach
ment to it ; becaufe Jefus, Chrift %vas [made] a
minifter of the circumcifton ; as lie was a Jew by
birth, he received clrcumcifion himfelf, in to
ken of his obligation' to obferve the law ; and
confined his perfonaf miniftry, according to what
he himfelf declared concerning the limitation of
his embafly, (Mat. xv. ^.4,) to the loft flieep of
the houfe of Ifrael. And this was for the illu
ftration of the truth and fidelity of God, to con
firm and verity the promifes fo long fince [made]
ta Abraham, and the oxher fathers of that na-.
tion. And I would remind Jewifh believers,
that hc alfo came that he might gather together
all the children of God fcatlered abroad among
ihe Gentiles, that they might glorify God for [his]
viercy, in granting them a participation of the
•-feme privileges; and gave it' in charge to his
apoftles, that they fhould raife difciples to him

6 That ye may
with one mind and
one mouth glorifr
'God, even the Father
of our Lord Jefuj
Chrift.

7 Wherefore re
ceive ye one anoth#,
as Chrift alfo received
us to the glory of
God.

8 Now I fay, that
Jefus Chrift was a
minifter of the clr
cumcifion for the
truth of God, tocon-
firm the promifes
made unto the fa
thers :

9 And that the
Gentiles might gloi-l-
fy God for bis mercy ;

the e.-r.-.-npIc of Jejus Chr.ft.] Raphelius x=5o maybe tenierei according to tbe ex-
Kas evidently Ihc-.vD, that au^o.l]jo>ii., fig- ample of. Compare Gal. iv. z8 ; i Put.
i. 15; Eph. Iv. 24; See Raphel. Aii-

:ilfi.'-s 10 agree in an harmonious and affec ¦
t^-ixie. maniitr \ and thai the prtpyitiou

n-A, ex Herod, in loc.

among

and Jews and Gentiles fiiould glorify God together.

165

a5 It is written. For
this caufe I will con
fefs to thee among
the Gentiles, and
fing unto thy name.

10 And again he
faith. Rejoice, ye
Gentiles, with his
people. II And again,
Praife the Lord, all
ye Gentiles ; and
laud him, all ye peo
ple.

IZ -'ind again E-
faias faith. There
Ihall be a root of Jef-
fe, and he that Ihall
rife to reign over the
Gentiles, in him ihall
the Gentiles truft.

13 Now the God
of hope fill )ou with
'*i\ jov and peace in
b--

amoiigall n.itions, (Mat. xxviii. ig.) So that it Sect.
is a failure of love and duty to Chrift, not to re- ^'^""'^
ceive thera. And accordingly the Gentiles are Rom.
often fpoken of in the (}ld Teftament, as called xv, 9
to join with the Jews, in worfhipping the God
of Ifrael : as it is written, (Pfal. xviii. 49,)
" For this caufe will I confefs to thee among the
" Gentiles, and ftng praijes unto .thy name "."
And again he, that is, Mofes ftaith, (Deut. lO
x.'^xii. 43,) " Rejoice ye Gentiles with his people ;"
which may intimate their being called to parti
cipate the bleffings once peculiar to Ifrael.
And again, David faith, (Pfal. cxvii. 1.) H
" Praife the Lord, all ye diftant niitions, and
" repeat his praij'e, aU ye people." Now furely
this glorious privilege of an admiffion into thc
church, may juftly engage the Gentile nations
to praife God, in fiiblimer ftrains than any
other occafion to which we can fuppofe either
Mofes or D.ivid to refer. And again Ifaiah 12
fays, exprefsly in this view, (Ifai. xi. 10.)
" There flail be a root from the ftock of Jeff'e,
" and one arifing' to rule over the Gentiles, [and]
" in him Jh.iU the Gentiles hope and rruft ; not
" dreading deitruftion, but cheerfully expefting
" proteftion and falvation from thence." It is
evident therefore, how unreafonable it would be
to defpife them, and how fit it is affeftionately
to receive, efteem, and embrace them.
I am willing, therefore, to perfuade myfelf, i?
that this mutually candid temper will prevail
among you, and in the confidence of it, 1 com
mend you all, without any diftinftion, to the
Divine grace an I bleffing. And accordingly,
may the God of hope, from whofe mercy all the
hopes both of Jc'iV.x and Gentiles are derived,
pit you with aU fa'^ieJ joy and peace in believing.

c / ^vill confefs tj tbee, &c.] Diodati,
and many others, fuppofe this to be only
an allufton to the ->vords of David in
the place referred to. Mr. Pierce has
taken great pains to prove, that the whole
xviiith Pjalm is a direB prophecy of Chrift, ,
who is, according to his interpretation, to
be confidered as fpeaking throughout the
whole of (t. in which yiew he would
render the title, <« The Jong which Da-
" vid fang when God dslivcred him from

" the hand of Shed, (inftead of Saul,)
*^ that is, the grave.'''' But I cannot
think his reajcning conclulive, and the
23fl verje of that Pjalm fe:ms an invin
cible objsBion againft this [olution. I have
taken a middle way, which I' hope the at
tentive reader will fee reajon to approve.
Compare chap. ii. 24., where the fame
method of quoting feems, evidently to be
taken.
Mar

i66 The Apoftle prays that ihe Rotiians might abound in hope

Sect. May he give you a well-grounded complacency
^'"^"' and comfort, in confequence of fhe growing
Rom. ftrength of your faith, that you may abound in a
XV.jj more cheerful and lively hope of eternal glory,
through ihe power ef the Holy Spirit, confirming
all thofe habits of grace which you experience,
as planted and rooted in your fouls by his agency.
14 And cheerfully do I expeft this, when I refleft
on what he has already done ; for / am indeed
myftlf perfuaded concerning you, piy brethren,
that ye are already full of goodnefs, and of un
feigned benevolence to each other, being filled,
through thefe illuminating influences which you
have received, with all fpiritual knowledge, and
fo well acquainted with the whole nature and
genius of the Chriftian religion, as to be both
able and inclined to admonifl and encourage one
another, as to this meek and peaceable difpofi
tion, which I have been recommending, and
every other part of an amiable and valuable cha-
J3 rafter. 'Neverthelefs, brethren, I have written
the more boldly to you, and enlarged with the
greater freedom, in this part of my epiftle, on
the privilege to which God hath called Gentile
believers, in fome meafure as ftirring up your
grateful and pious remembrance of them, becaufe
of ihat great grace and favour which is giyen io
16 me of God; Even that I flould be the mini-
fteringy^ri'^ra/ of Jefus Chrift unto the Gentiles,
adminiftering to them in his name, and by his
authority, the infinitely valuable gofpel of .God:
thai the offering the Gentiles to him, as a holy
facrifice, by my hands, may be acceptable to
God, being Janiiified and fet apart by the Holy
Spirit, fo plentifully communicated to them in
17 a rich variety of gifts and of graces*. I have
therefore, in ' this refpeft, confiderable matter of
boafting in Chrift Jefus, with refipeii to the things
of God", and the office which I bear in his
church ;

belieying, that Je
may abound in hope
through the power of
the Holy Ghoft.

14 And I myfelf alfd
am perfuaded of youj
my brethren, that ye
alfo are full of good
nefs, filled with ill
knowledge, able alfo
to admonilh one ano
ther.

15 ISfererthelefs;
brethren, I have
written the more
boldly unto you, in
fome fort, as putting
you in mind, becaufe
of the grace that is
given to me of God,
16 That I Ihould
be the minifter of Je
fus Chrift tothe Gen- ,
tiles miniftering the
gofpel of God; tbat
the oft'lring up of the
Gentiles might be
acceptable, being
fanftified by the
Holy Ghoft.
17 I have there
fore - whereof I may
glory through Jefus
Chrift, in thofe things
which pertain to God.

d Sar.B'ifted by the Holy Spirit, &c. To
Explain this of the miraculous dejcent of
the Holy Spirit, fuppofed to have hap
pened at Antioch in Pifidia, on converts,
who might be called theftrft-fruits of the
idolatrous Gentiles, Afts xiii.. 52, which
is the interpretation advanced by the afr- .
tbur of M'ljciU. Satra. (VoU I, p. lU,)

and his followers, is not only a needlefs
limitation of the more noble and natural
jenje here given, but in my judgment, for
reajons in part given in my notes on the Alls,
an explication which goes upon various
principles, precarious, or tathet utterly
incredible. e With rejpeB to the things of God, &c.

Refleilitins on Chriftian forbearance and felf - denial. tS-i
church ; which I efteem far more honourable Sect.
than any fervices of the Jewifh ftate or prieft- """'•
hood. *

IMPROVEMENT.
May the abundant communication of the Spirit that is in
Jefus Chrift, form us more to thc amiable temper here recom
mended ! That we may prove the diftinguifhed Jlrength of our Veifc
minds, by the fuperior fortitude with which we' bear the infir-
jnities of our weaker brethren, and may feek the noble pleafiire of 3
pleafing our neighbours for their good, and to their edification. Let
the generous felf-denial of our great Lord be in this yiew before
our eyes : and let us endeavour to- feel the reproaches which are
caft upon God, much more fenfibly than thofe \Vhich impediately 3
fall upqn ourfelves.
Happy are we in the fcriptures, which through Divine Provi- 4
dence and grace have heen written for our injlruiiion. May they
infpire us with patience and confolatlon, and eftablifh our fouls in
humble hope ! May our hearts be cemented in the bond of mutual
love, that with one mind and one mouth we may glorify God, and S'^'l
receive each other, with an endearment like that, with which, if
we are true believers, notwithftanding our fmaller differences, we
zse received by him.
Mercy is communicated' by Chrift to Jews and Gentiles, who 8- IS
therefore are juftly required to unite their praifes to the root of '
Jefle. Let us all truft under the fbadow of this pleafant plant,
and may we be filled with joy and peace in believing. What
can furnifh out fo calm a peace, fo fubiimc a joy, as the Chriftian i j,
hope P May we all abound in it by the power of the Holy Ghoft.
And furely if we are filled with fucfi joy and hope, we muft be '
filled with all goodnefs too, with a truly benevolent temper to- 14,
wards others, which a fenfe of our own happinefs tends moft power
fully to promote. We Gentiles have been prefented to God a.s a. 16^
holy offering : may we be fanilified more and more by the Spirit ;
and eftabliftied in a firm confidence in Chrift, that he will tran-
faft all our concerns with God, under the charafter of the great
Mediator : efteeming that the moft happy and glorious circum- 17
. ftance in the ftation, which Providence may have affigned to us,
which gives us the greateft opportunity, of fpreading the honour of
fo dear a name, and of prefenting praifes and fervices to God
through him. '
TO arp©. TOU ©MV.] Raphelius very juftly God; of which the apoftle is here ipeak-
obferves, that this phraje hAS a ' peculiar ing. Other «x« are illuftrated by this rc-
propriay, when '-x^^fiedi , to jacerdotal af- mark, and particularly, Heb. ii. 17. See
ja'irs, and efpec'ally victims prefented to . Raphel. Mot, ex Xen, in loc.
SECT.

l68 Thii Apoftle would not boaft of what Chrift had Hot wrought hy him ;
SECT. XXXIII.

The Apoftle takes occafton from what he had been faying, to mentim
the extent of his own labours, and his purpofes of further
journies, in which he hoped to vifit the Romans ; in the mean
time, earneftly recommending himfelf to their prayers. Rorp. XV.
1 8, io the end.

Romans XV. i8.
Sect, t PJa VE hinted above at the caufe I have to re-
'""'"'• -*¦ joice and boaft in Chrift, as to what relates to
Rom. God, and the office pf my Chriftian miniftry.
XV. i8 puf I ^i.jjl not dare to boaft falfely, nor even
fpeak any thing of what Chrift hath not indeed
wrought by me, to bring the Gentiles into -obedi
ence. No; God forbid! that I fhould either
exceed the bounds of truth, in making the re
port, or arrogate any thing to myfelf, as my
own work, when fpeaking of the conve'rfions
that have indeed been made. I humbly confefs
that it is Chrift who hath wrought whatever is
done : yet I boldly declare, that his grace and
merCy hath, in this refpeft, diftinguifhed me
both in word and deed, by the manner in which
he hath enabled me to fpeak, and fhe things
JQ which he has ftrengthened me to perform. He
hath wrought by the miraculous energy of ftgn s
and wonders, accomplifhed in and by the ama
zing power of the ' Spirit of God, which hath
net only been plentifully imparted to me, but
beftowed on others by the laying on of my
bands ; fo that thus fupported, / have with the
happieft effeft fully preached and explained the
gofpel of Chrift, from Jerufalem, Antioch, and
' Arabia, in the eaft; round about through all the
LefTer Afia, and Greece, even as far as the
weftern fhores of Illyrlcum, v\hich fo nearly
20 borders on your own celebrated Italy". For it has
ftill been the objeil of my ambition, fo far as Pro
vidence would permit me to indulge it, to preach

Romans XV. 18.
p OR I will riot dare
to fpeak of any
of thofe things which
Chrift hath not
wrought by me, to
make tde Gentiles
obedient, by word
and deed.

19 Through mighty
figns and wondeis,
by the power of the
'Spirit of God; fo
that from Jerufalem,
and round-about unto
Illyrlcum, I have
fully preached the
gofpel of Chrift.

20 'Vea, fo have 1
ftrived to preach thc
gof-

a As- far as the weftern ftiores of llly-
ricuni.] Though it is evident from hence,
that St. Paul before the date of this epiftle,
which was in the year 58, had preached
the gojpel in thefe regions, it is obfer
vable, that Luke takes, no notice of this,
in the hiftory of the Afts ; where he alfo
' •mits to mention the journey he took to
6 '

Arabia, on his firft converfion, and feve
ral other very remarkable faBs, referred
to in the xith chapter of the fecond epiftle
to the Corinthians, and elfewhere ; and- it
is very poflible, that the vifit to Crete,
when Titui was left behind to ordain elders.
Tit. i. 5, might be of this number. the

Therefore he had been Mndered froni viftling the Rottians i 1 69
gofpel, not where the gofpel, not where Chrift was [already] named, ^^'''^'
f fti\ TkT'''' left I flould feem^defirous to biUld upon 'another "=""'
l-.-tt I IhoulJ buildup- J ^J , • K 1 r 1 ,• '^ I xvc- '
man s foundation ", anti lo decline the ditfa- Rom.
culties which attend the fettlement of new XV. 20
churches. Others indeed have done

on another man's
foundation :
21 But as it is
written, To . whom
he W.IS not fpoken
of, they Ihall fee :
and they that have
not heard, Ihall un
derftand.

this, and

little elfe ; hut I have chofen a different manner

of afting ; as it is written, in words well appli
cable to the feries of my labours, (Ifa. Iii. 15.)
" They to whom nothing was declared concerning
" him, Jhall fee, and they who have not hi ard,
" flail underjiand." Thus have many received
from my mouth, fhe firft notices they have ever
had of true religion, and of the method of fal
vation by the Great Redeemer. The confe- 22
quence iheiefore was, that I have been long hin
dered from coming to yoi.t ; which, out of my fin
gular affeftion for you, I was very defirous of
doing: though it be fomething contrary to the
method of proceeding which I generally choofe,
as you have the Chriftian religion already, by
the Divine grace, moft happily planted among
you. But now having no longer place i either 23
at Corinth, or elfewhere in thefe Grecian climates,
no more work of this kind remaining to be done
thefe many years to here, of which Providence feems to open any
e un 0 you , probable profpeft, and having alfo on various
accounts, a great deftre for many years to come
14 Whenfoeverl to you ; I will attempt to put it into execution.
take my journey into ff f ng into Spain, I wiU entieavouT, if poftible, to^24
Spain, I will come to -^ °, c r i i. .. ¦ i i .. u
you : for I truft to "'"«' '* >'"« ¦> fif ^ "'P'^ quickly to have an op-

21 For which
caufe alfol have been
much hindered from
Coming to you.

23 But now having
no more place in
thefe parts, and hav
ing a great defire

fee
b ObjeB of my ambition, fo far as Pro
vidence would per.mit ms lo indulge ic,
to preach the gojpel, not where Chrift luas
already named, &c.] The meaning to be
fure cannot be, that Paul fcornedto come
after any other Chr'ift'ian minifter ; which
would have argued a height- of tamper very
inconfiftent with the bumiliiy of this blef
fed apoftle ; and does not agree with what
we read in the hiftory of the Afts,
of his going to preach the gojpel at Da-
mafcus, Antioch arid Jerufalem; to which
it feems probable, Troas, if not Corinth,
or Ephefus, may be added. It may-fig^
nify that, far from declining dangers arid '
cppofit'ians, which might efpecially be ex
pefted 'mfirfi break'mg up, as it were, the
fallow -ground of heathen and uneva-ngelixed
countries, he rather felt a fublime ambi
tion, as '^(Xoliweiv fignifies, (fee Ellncr,
Vol. II. p. 64,) to make the &riiproclama-
Vot. IV.

portunity
tion of a 'Redeemer's name, in places where
it had before been quite unheard of. And
probably, in mentioning this, he may
glance «pon thofe falfe apoftles who
crept into churches whicli he had planted,
and endeavoured to eftablifli their own
reputation and influence there, by aliena
ting the hearts of his awn converts from
him, their fpiritual father ; while like
fome in our own days, who have trod
moft exaftly in their footfteps, they built
on his grand and noble foundations, an
ed fice of tuood, and hay, and ftubble,
I Coti iii. 12.
<i If I go to Spain, &c.j It appears
probable from hence, confidering the
principle v/hich St. Paul chofe to govern
himlelf by, of not buildiiig on another man's
foundation, that no apoftle-htid yet planted
any church in Spain ; v*lilch, as Dr. Ged-
des juftly obferves, very ill agrees with
M tht

JS But now I gl
unto Jerufalem, to ,
mipifter unto the
faints.

26 For it hath'

170 to, whom, after gning io Jerufalem, he deftgned io come.
Sect, portunity of going thither, and <7^ /^fl/r ^/i' wiH fee you in my jour.;
'"'"• contrive, if I can, io fee vou. and OiaM expeft to "="'*"'* '" >¦=
¦ ; , '1 r 7 7 ¦'^ •'^ • .; -,7 u brought on my way
Rom. be brought -Jorward by you in my way thither, by thitherward by you,'
X7.24 the kind attendance of fome of my friends at iffirftibefomewhat
Rome, and the refreftiment which my fpirit may ''"'='* "'* your™.
receive from others; if I may firft i hot only have
a fhort interview in pafling, but make fuch an
abode with you as fo be in, fome degree fatisfied
with your [company :] I fay in fome degree, fori
know that if 1 were to indulge my own affeftion
to you, my vifit would be much longer than
the views of duty elfewhere will permit.
i5 This I fpeak with relation to my future de
figns : but I am now - giiing to Jerufalem, mini-
Jiering to the neceflities of the faints there, by
fuch contributions as I have raifed for their fub-
fiftence, or may farther colleft, as I profccute
26 my journey. For it hath pUafed [the churches
, of] Macedonia and Achaia'^, to make a certain pleafed them of ^a-
colleiiion for the poor faints, their believing bre- ^''^ce "t lert'a'n
thren, thai are in Jerufalem, who are expofed contribution forthe
2710 fuch peculiar perfecution and affliftion. I poor faints which arc
' fay, it hath pleajed them to do this; and, tho' ,''J"i[taTh pleafed
I acknowledge their free love and generofify in 't^em verily, and
it, yet I may fay, thaf in a fenfe, they are their theirdebtorstheyare.
debtors : for iJ the Gentiles, have been brought f "i^ ''[ *^ G/°''''"
r I-' ¦ ¦ i V> ,, r have been made par.
into lo happy a union with God s once peculiar takers of their fplri-
people, and are made partakers oJ their fpiritual tual things, their du-
things, the invaluable bleffings of the gofpel, ty is alfo to j^^^^'
firft brought to them from Jerufalem, and by "^'° j. °™ '"
perfons of the Jewifti nation too ; they otight cer
tainly to be ready, with all religious gratitude
and refpeft, to minifter to them 'in their carnal
things, and impart the inferior bleffings of Pro- .
vidence, in which they fo much more abound.
28 Having therejore dijpatched this affair, andjealed 28 'When there-
io- them, that is, fafely delivered as under feal, fore I have performed.
this prefent, which is the fruit of that love and S'^;;em AlTftut I
care which their Gentile brethren fo juftly ex- will
prefs towards them, I will, if it pleafe God to

the legend of Sti James ; for, according to
that, he had now been 1 5 years in Spain.
and had erefted feveral , bijhopricks there.
Cedd. Mift. Vol. II. p. 221.
d Churches of Macedonia, &c.] As we
read of no more than one colleftion of
thc Macedonian churches, which was that

direfted by Paul, when he went from
EphcfustoMacedonia, (AftsxK. i,)inthe
year of Chrift 57 ; this circumftance feems
to fix the date of this epiftle - pretty early
in 58 ; as was obferved in the introduc.
tioii, and the former note there referred to.

Fle defies their prayers, and gives thsm his benetTiiiiori, 171

will come by you Into
Spain. 29 And I am fure,
that when I come
unto you, I fliall
come in the fulnefs
of the blefling of the
gofpel of Chrift.

53 Nowl befeech
you, brethren; for
the Lord Jefus
Chrift's fake, and
for the love of the
Spirit; that ye ftrive
together with me in
your prayers to God
for me ;

give me a favourable opportunity, come by you Sect.
into Spain. And as I doubt not, but you will '" 

1 3 That I may be
delivered, from tiiem
that do not believe, in
Jiidea ; and that my
fervice which I have
for Jerufalem, may
be accepted of the
faints :

32 That I .may
come .unto you with
joy by the will of
God, and may with
you be refrelhed.

pray for me, that, my coming may be comfort- Rom.
able, and ufeful for your confirmation in reli- XV. 2^
gion ; fo I have a cheerful confidence, that God
will hear your prayers, and may fay, that / knozri
ihat when I come among you, I flail come in the
fulnefs of the bleffing of the gofpel of Chrift, that
is, with a full and abundant' bleffing, attending
my minifterial and evangelical labours. Yet oq
when I write thus, it is not from any particular
revelation, to affure me that I fhall be enabled
to fulfil this purpofe. I know, that in this jour
ney to Jerufalem, I have, huthanly fpeaking, a
very dangerous fcene before me, having fome of
my moft mortal :jnd implacable enemies to con
tend with. And therefore, as I cannot fo/ ap
prehend the intereft of the gofpel to be concerned
in my life and liberty, / Befeech you^ brethren,
by our Lord "fefus Chrft, and by the love which
is the genuine fmit of the Spirit'^, ihat you join
your utmott ftrength and fervency with mine',
in [your] daily prayep to God for me. That I 31
may be refcued 'from the unbelievers . in Judea ^;
who are fo fiill of rancor againft me, as a deferter
from their caufe ; and will, I am fure, fpare
no force or fraud to deftroy me : and alfo that
my miniftration at Jerufalem, in the charitable
affair which I mentioned above, may be accepta- <
ble to the faints, for whofe ufe it is intended ; fo
that no prejudices in our Chriftian brethren there,
againft the believing Gentiles, may prevail fo
far as to prevent their receiving it with a becom
ing candour and gratitude : Thai fo, in con- 3'Z
fequence of all, / may come to you with joy,
by the will 'of God, and thai I may be refirefled
[together] with you, in our intended interview.

, 's By the love of the Spirit.] Some
Hvould explain this of the love which
the Sp'irit of God bears to us, or' the
affeBion which , we owe to that gra
cious agent ^ and were we certain, that
either of thefe v^ere the genuihe fenfe,
important confequences would follow-.
' f Join your utmoff ftrength with mine.]
Elfner, (fibferv. Vol. II. p. 65.) has a beau
tiful note on this word o-uiayaiv o-atr^ai,
to fliew how exaftly that is the import of it.

% That t may be refcued from the unbelie
vers in Judea.] How extreme. their ii^^o-
try and rage was, appears from their beha
viour to him at the very time here referred
to, Afts xxi — xxiv. It was from a fenfe
of the great importance of his life to the
caufe of Chriftianity, that he is thus ur
gent ; elfe we may be aflured, he would
gladly have given it up. Pliil. i. 21,
&c.

M 3

And,

£72 RefieRlons an the Apoftles httmilify and zeal.
SecT. And, in the mean time, may the God of peace, 33 Now the God
^"'"- who has gracioufly given us that peace with^ him- ^.^ '^/„'/"'' »"
Rom. felf, which we efteem the firft. and greateft of
XV. 3j bleflings, and hath cemented our hearts in thofe
Chriftian bonds of peace and love to each other,
[be] with you all, whether I am prefent or abfent.
Amen ! IMPROVEME^IT.
"'^^rfe Let us behold with pleafure the modefty and humility which
18,19^3 joined with all the zeal of this holy apoftle, while he thus
obliquely owns, in a manner which fhews how familiar the thought
was to his mind, that all tie had done in the Chriftian miniftry,
and for the propagation and advancement of the- gofpel, was only
what Chrift had done by him, to procure fuch obedience of the Gen
tiles, both in word and in deed.
Adored be the grace that made his labours fo fuccefsful, and
fowed the bleffed feefl fo wide by his diligent hand, from Jeru-
falem unto lUyricum. Moft Divine inftruftions did he give them
in matters of faith, and taught them to exprefs that faith by
their works. While he was dead to all thougtus of enriching
himfelf, and in fome inftances, chofe rather to maintain himfelf
by his own labours, than to fubfift on the bounty of others, his
i-iikc. liberal foul devifed Uberal things for his neceffitous brethren. He
raifed a noble colleftion, and was much concerned, not only that
3"^ it might be fafely, but acceptably delivered.
Well may our fouls be olified, by obferving the things which
-lay neareft the heart of this generous apoftle, thaf coming fo his
Chriftian friends at Rome, he might come in ihe fulnefs of ihe b'tef-
ftng of the gofpel of Chrift, and thaf if he was fpared thro' their
prayers, it might be for public ufefiilnefs. St. Paul, dead as he was
to human applaufe, was, from much nobler motives, folicitous
about.^M acceptance ; and he fhews by his manner of fpeaking, what
a fenfe he had of the degree in which it depended upon the turn
and difpofition which God fhould be pleafed to give to the fpirits of
men : may this juft -and pious thought frequently dwell upon thc
hearts of the minifters of -Chrift I
Some of the prayers, which the apoftle fo affeftionately befpeaks,
were anfwered ; and Lome feemed to be forgotten : Yet did God
make, what feemed the rejeftion of fome, the means of anfwer-
ing the reft. He was for a while delivered into the hands of thofe-
in Judea, who believed not-, and this Providence, which might
have feemed an invincible obftacle to his defign, proved the occa-
fio^ of bringing him to Rome, and promoted the fuccefs of his
minillry there.
33 Let us adore the God of grace, and pecice, who works the moft
important

The Apiftle recommends Phoebe to the Romans ; 177
important ends, by methods to us unthoughtof; and let ns be Sect.
greatly cautious, that we do not rathly judge that he hath rejefted =""""•
Qur prayers, becaufe we do not fee them anfwered in that parti- '
ciilar way which «iight have been more agreeable to our own
wifhes.
SECT. XXXIV.

fhe Aj-oftle, after recommending Phcebe to the Romans, particularly
falutes feveral of his friends refident among them. Rom. XVI,
I— 16.

Romans XVI. I. ROMANsXVI. I.
I ^yoTprbe "o"ur H'^^.^^^ '^"^ difpatched the fubftance of my Sect.
fifter, vvhich is a fer- epiftle, / would add, by way of poftfcript, ^'""^'-
vant of the church fomething relating to a few particular Chriftian r^^
wliixhisinCenchrea: friends, with. its, or with you : and firft would X-VI. 1
recommend'to you the bearer of this epiftle, PJioebe,
ourjifter, who is, not only partaker with us in
the profeffion of the gofpel, but in the oflice ol a
i\atedjervant, or deaconnefs °, ofi the church in
Cenchrea^; in the neighbourhood of which I
2 That ye receive ,^.^^^^ j^ ,_ ^^j | ^gj-^.^ ^/^^^ ^^^^^y
lier jn the Lord, as . i . , : , ^
becometh faints, and entertain her, in regard to her relation to the
that ye aflift her in Lord Jefiis Chrift, our common Saviour, with
whatfoe-lrer bufinefs a]j Chriftian afl^eftion, and 'in a manner becoming
ihe hath need ot you : . , r i r r , /. t r - r . . i
for file hath been a '"o'^ ^hat prolels thcmfefves Jatnts, feparated
fuccourer of many, from the world, fo the honour of his name ; and
and of myfelf alfo. that you would affjl her in any thing in which
file may need it of you ; for I can allure you, Jhe
has been, rn her office, an helper of many, and
of myfelf in particular ; on -ivhich account flie is
well worthy of your regard, and will I hope
meet with a very kind reception from all that love
me, or have any concern for the common caufe.
3 Greet Prifcma j j^j-j^g ^^^ ^^^1^ 2\{ofalute the pious Prlf^ 3
cilia, and her worthy confort *Aquila ' who
have
> ^-ftated /Irt/a^if, or deaconnefs.] b the church in Cenchrea.] As PauJ
Compare i Tim. v. 9. That there were mentions the ciiurch in Cenchrea, as
fome grave and pious matrons engaged in diftinft from that at C'lrinch, though
fuch an office, in the primitive church, is, Cenchi^ea lay in the juburbs of it, I muft
I think, very apparent from thefe places : fubmit to the candid reader, whether it
but it is obvious there were circumftances be not probable, that it had a diftinB pa-
which rendered fuch fort of yVriiflTJ/j much fter, or bijhop of 'iits own.
more ufeful and neceflary in thc churches at ': Prijc'dla and Aqit'ila.] This excellent
thattime,thantheywouldnowgenerallybc. coiipie jppear, by tliis pafl'age, to be re-
M 3 turuccj

And fends feveral falutations In his own name.

174 Seer, have both deferved the name o^ my fellow labourers
XXXIV. -^ Chrift Jefus, as they have each of them,
Rom. according to their different ftations and charac-
?CVI. 3 ters, been ready to do their utmoft fo promote
4 the intereft of the gofpel amongft us. And
indeed they are perfons, who for the prefervation
of my life, expofed to fo many tumultuous dan
gers, (Afts xviii. 6, 7, 12, 13,) have, as it were,
laid down their own necks, fhat is, offered them
felves to the extremeft dangers : to whom there
fore, 1 do not only owe my own perfonal thanks,
but alfo all the churches of the Gentiles, whofe
apoftle I peculiarly am, and for whofe fpiritual
liberties and privileges I am always fo ftrenuous
5 an advocate. You will alfo, I hope, prefent my
fincere and affeftionate falutation to the church
that is in their houfe ; as I know there are feveral
Other Chriftians with them; refident in the fa-
jnily, or meeting them for fociaf worfhip there.
Salute alfo my beloved Epenetus, who is one of
fhe firft-fruits ofAchaia ° io Chrift, in the num
ber of the firft Chriftian converts of thefe regions,
and therefore worthy m.y particular remem-
6 brarice. Salute Mary, v^ho has taken a great
deal of pains on our account, to accommodate me
and my companions when we were in her neigh-
7 bourhood. Salute Andronicus ", and Junius,
my kinfmen, and dear in the bond of Chriftian
' fellowfhip, and united fufferings too ; having
once been ' my fellow-prifoners ; who were early
in great reputation among the apoftles \ and were alfo

and Aquila my help.
ers in Chrift Jefus :

4 (Who have for
my life laid down
their own necks : un
to whom not only I
give thanks, but alfo
all the churches of
the Gentiles,)

5 Likewife greet
the church that is in
their houfe. .Salute
my well-beloved Z-
penetus, who is the
firft-fruits of Achaia
unto Chrift,

6 Greet Mary,
who beftowed much
labour on us.
7 Salute Androni
cus and Junia my
kinfmen and nay ,
fellow-prifoners, who
are of' note among
the apoftles, who al fo

turned to Rome, on the ceafing of that
ediB againft the Je\lvs, which had driven
them from thence, in the reign of Clau
dius, Afts xviii. 2. Prifcilla feems to
have been a woman of great note, and pro
bably of diftinguiflied genius, and in
fluence ; which appears, not only from
fhe manner in which ftie is here named,
but alfo from the edification which the
'tloquejit Apollos received from her in
ftruftions, in concurrence with thofe of
her hulband.
<I The firft-fruits. Sec] It is very pro
bable he raight be converted at the fame
time with Stephanas, called alfo the firft-
fruits ol Achaia, (i Cor. xvi. 15,) lor
there is no manner of neceffity to under
ftand by that expreflion, the very firft
fhriftid/t convert. Indeed it is poffible,

Epenetus might be one of that happy fa
mily to which tJiis appellation is given;
e Andronicus, Sec] Dr. Jenkins very
juftly obferves, that this lift of names can
be no objeftion at all to the authority of
this epiftle-, for it might be an encourage
ment to the perfons thus particularly
mentioned, might conciliate fome additi
onal refpeft to them, whereby their ufe
fulnefs might be promoted, and would
render each of thefe perfons a kind of wit
nejs to the genuinenefs of the epiftle, as v{e
may naturally fuppofe it was fliewe*d to
each of them. Jenk. of Chriftianity i Vol. p.
'P- 37-
f In reputation among the apoftles.] Di
odati thinks, that apoftles here fignifies
evangelifts ; and that tlie meaning is, that
thefe perfons were noted meff'engers of the
thurchts,

ns

fo were in Cljrift be
fore.

S Greet Ampllas
my, beloved in the
Lord. 9 Salute Urbcine
flur helper in Chrift,
*and Stachys my be
loved. 10 S.dute Apelles
approved in Chrift.
Salute them which
are of Ariftobulus'
houjhold.

If I Salute Hero-
dion my kinfman.
Greet tliem that be
of the hoiijchold of
NarcilTiis, which are
in the Lord .
12 Salute Try
phena and Tryphofa,
who labour in the
Loi'd. Salute the be
loved Perfisi which
laboured much in the
Lord. 1 3 Salute Rufus
chofen in the Lord,
and .his mother and

Rom.
XVI.^

i>

IO

io the beloved in Chnft Jefus ai Rome,
alfo happy w being joined to the church of Chrift Si,ct
before me; and therefore, though once the.ob- '"""^
jeft of my furious perfecuting zeal, are now ho-
noured and beloved as my elder brethren in' the
Lord. Salute JmpUas, my beloved in the
Lord, for whom I have a moft affeftionate friend
fhip, cemented in the bonds of mutual faith a'nd
love. Salute alfo Urhanus, my fellow-labourer
in the gofpel of Chrift, to the fervice of which
he is fo faithfully devoted, and with him my be
loved Stachys, of whofe friendfhip I cannot but
retain an affeftionate remembrance. Salute
ApeUes, whofe long experienced worth render^
him thoroughly approved in the caufe of ChriJi,
as a difciple of a charafter undoubtedly honour
able. Salute alfo thofe [ of the family] of Arifto
bulus '¦, and affure the Chriftians that hold the
loweft ftation in it, that they are not forgotten
by me. Salute my couftn Herodion, ftill dearer
to me in the ties of grace, than in thofe of
nature ; and . thofe belonging to [the houjhold of]
Narciffus, who are believers/';; the Lord Jetus
Chrift. Salute thofe excellent woraen Try-
phana arid Tryphofa, who, according to their
ftations, have laboured with great diligence in the
fervice of the Lord. Salute the beloved Perfis,
who diftinguifhed herfelf among many who were
faithful and diligent ; fo that it may properly be
faid, fhe laboured much in the Lord. Salute
Rifus, chofen in the Lord, whom I efteem as a
Chriflian'of a moft excellent charafter ; and pay
the moft affeftionate refpefts, in my name, to
his mother and mine " : for fp ] may call her, on
account

II

12

13

churcbesj 2 Cor. viii. 23; Phil, JI. 25.
But I rather apprehend with Mr. Cradock,
\Apoji. Hifi. p. 43,) that they were fome
early cowens-, who had been known an5
m'-ich eiteemed by the apojiksf before the
diiperlion occafioned by the death of
SC'.phen, (Adts viii. 2,) and if fo, per
haps Paul might once have been adVive in
perfecuting them, and have learned their
names at fir(t, with'an hojlHe wtent of
hunting them down to dleftruftion.
g rhofe [of the family] of Ai-'iftobulus .]
Thc Roman church hath confecrated days
to the honour of many o^ \^\e. Joints men
tioned in this chaptevy whom they declare,
I know not on what fufficient authority,
to have been martyrs. See L'Enf. Pref

to the Ramans, p. 6, 7. To thefe they
have added Arillobuius, and Nacciflus,
though there is no certain evidence that
itoiey were Chriftians. It fcems nioit pro
bable, they were perfcws of high rank,
who had each a great family oi" Jlwves -y
and fome of them being Chrijiiati connjem,
the apojik would not forget them, low as
their rank in life wasj when he was fa-
luting his brethren, in fo particular ,1
manner. We may obferve, what a regard
the ^^o/?/t had iox foreign cburche^^ when
he informed himfelf of the namas^ cir-
ctimf ances, and abodes, of fo many then
in Rome.
ll His mother (?ffif~"7^>i\] Hence fome
have thought thaf ivufusr ',yM at leaft
M 4^ ^ h^\C-

17$

And bids ihemftfluie one another with an holy kifs.

Sect.
f-lfilV,

Rom.XVI. 14

account of that maternal tendernefs and care
¦which fhe has often fliewn towards me. Sa
lute Afyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas,
Hermes, and all ihe brethren with them, as if
eyery one of them had been particularly named.
15 Salute Philologus, and Julias, Nereus, and his
ftfter, (ind Olympas, and all the other fincere
faints and Chriftians ', thai are with them ;
whom, with the reft of the perfons that I have
mentioned, I moft fincerely honour and love.
j6 In a word, whether you be Jews, or Gentiles,
when you meet at your affemblies, _/«/«/? one
another with a holy'kifs^ ; and take care that the
kifs which you give to each other, at the con
clufion of your worfhip, be expreflive of a pure
and undiffembled affeftion, and condufted with
the graveft and moft decent circumftances. All
the churches of Chrift in thefe parts, falute you ;
as they, with me, have heard of the eminent
figure you make in religion, and the many excel
lent perfons vyho are refident among you.

14 Salute Afyn,
critus, Phlegon,Her.
mes, Patrobas, Her,
mas, and the bre
thren which are with
thtfm. 15 Salute Philolo.
gus, and Julia, Ne
reus, and his'fifter,
and Olympas, and
all the faints whicli
are with them.
16 Salute one ano
ther with an hojy
kifs. The churches
of Chrift falute yoi),

IMPROVEMENT.
Though fo mueh of \!n\sfeiiion be a mere catalogue of names,
it is not without its tnoral and religious inftruftion. We fee in
it the good heart of the apoftle ; how full he was of the fentiments
of C,6r//?/fln friendfhip; how folicitous he was to exprefs his efteeni
and love, for his brethren in the Lord. And God hath made him
the means of tranfmitting to pofterity, the memorials of many ex
cellent perfons, of whom we no where elfe read, or hear, any'
thing : of whom all that we know,, is, that they were fuch as
deferved the ^particular affeftion of St. Paul, and were profeffors
pf the gofpel At Rome, in the reign of a very worthlefs and wicket}
prince, under whom it is highly probable, that fome of theni
fuffered martyrdom for Chftft.
His large heart opened to embrace them all, whether by birth
b'ljhops, as the Roman church delivers it, fails
in the moft fundamental article of all.
k A holy-kijs.] The cuftom of thus
faluting each other, was borrowed from
tlie Jewijh jynagogue ; and as chafl^ly aud
prudently as it was managed. It feems to
have been the occafion of thofe falfe and
fcandalous, reports which were fo indu-
ftrioufly propagated among the heathen of
the adulterous and inceftuous praftices, in
Chr'ift'ian affemblies ; en which account, it
feeros to have been laid afide very early. Jews

half-brother to Paul, but perhaps hc
might in this exprejfion refer to the mater
nal care this good woman had taken of
him. i All the faints, &c.] Calvin, and others,
very juftly obferve, that had Peter been
.Fiow at Rome, he would undoubtedly
have been named ; lince no one in this
3?umerous catalogue was of a dignity and
.eminence, by any means comparable tp
him ; and yet, if he were not there at this
t'.r^ic, the whole tradition of the Roman

Refteilions on the friendly falutations of St. Paul. I'jj
Jews or Gentiles ; and as they fhared in his falutations, we cannot Sect.
doubt, hut they fhared in his prayers too. We find fome of thefe '^^""^
pious, and much efteemed friends of the apoftle were women, of verfe'
whom he fpeaks with great regard, as of perfons whom Divine i, 2
grace had made very ufeful in the church ; who had been helpers of
many, and particularly of him ; who had laboured, yea, had la- 12
poured mueh, in the Lord. Let not that fex therefore think that it
is cut off from the fervice of Chrift, becaufe the minjftry is appro
priated to men. Eminently ufeful have many of them been. The
moft valuable minifters have often been affifted by ihem, in the
fuccefs of their work, while their pious pare, under the reftraint
of the ftrifteft modefty and decorum, has happily and effeftually
influenced children; fervants, and young friends ; yea, has been the
meansof fowing the feeds of religion in tender minds, before they
have been capable of coming under minifterial care.
Generous was the zeal which Aquila and Prijcilla fhewed in 3
cxpofing even their own lives in the defence of this holy apoftle.
Great obligations did they, thereby, lay upon all the churches of
the Gentiles, and on us, who, at this diftance of time, receive fo
rnany bleflings from the long continuance of St. Paul's life,
which they were ready fo heroically to defend at the hazard of 4
their own.
Truly valuable were thefe mutual friendlhips, of which, zeal
for Chrift was the common bond ; lafting, and indeed everlafting.
Thefe excellent .perfons are doubtlefs the companions of Paul in
glory now, and will many of them be his crown in the day of the
Lord. Some of them indeed were in Chrifl bejore him ; and he
fpeaks of it as peculiarly to their honour. Let thofe, who were
early in Chrift, rejoice in the thought. Let thofe who came later
into his church, be exhorted td exert themfelves with the greater
vigour in his fervice, that they may recover the time they have loft:
and let us all learn fo efteem it, as the moft fubftantial proof of our
love fo tjiofe who are peculiarly dear to us, to fhew, upon all oc
cafions, how fincerely we wifh, thaf they may early form an ac
quaintance with Chnft; that they may conftantly walk in him,
and grgw up in all things in him, as our common Head.
SECT. XXXV.
Tl^e Apoftle concludes with other Jalutations, and a neceffary cau
tion againft thoje who would divide ike church, together with a
doxology, fuited io ihe general purport of what he had been
writing. Rom. XYl. ij, to the end.
Romans XVI. 17. ROMANS XVI. I7,
JSJOW I befeecl, * ^ £) „^.^, having difpatched thefe faluta-
4^ tions, vvhich Chriftian friendfliip has largely
diftated,

1 7^ T'he Apoftle cautions againft thoje ihett cuiffe divifions,
^'^'¦^- diftated. Jet me conclude my epiftle to you, you, brethren, mark
_!I!I; with a few words -of additional advice. And '^ffffff'^^^lf^llf'-
Rom. / would particularly exhort you, brethren, ¦ to contrary to the doc-
^^^* have your eyes upon, and to mark ouf for the trine which ye have
'' caution of others, thofe perfons, whether ifi received j and avoia
pubiick or private' life, which caufe divifions and ' ""
, offences [among you,] by falfe doftrines, faftious
temper?, and fcandalous lives : therein doing
contrary to that pure, certain and uniting doc
trine which you have learned of us, the apoftles
of Jefus Chrift, who have been commiffioned
by hirp, as the authentic te.achers of his gofpel.
And when you have difcoveped fuch pernicidus
fedticcrs, avoid them, io as to have no intimate
converfe with them ;¦ nor. even to permit them ,
to continue in your communion, if they will
not be reclaimed by the milder methods of bro-
18 therly admonition. For you may be affured, 18 For they that
that fuch, whatever they ipay pretend, ferve ^^e fuch, ferve not
¦not the Lord Jefus Chr'ift; under whofe commif- butthet own'M"*,'
fion we fo apparently aft, and the nature of and by good words
whofe religion is'fo holy and benevolent : but and fair fpeeches dc-
on the contrary, it is plain they ferve the'ir own thrfim'^le ^'^^^ "^
belly; they have only their own fecular intereft
, in view, and hope^to gain fome temporal ad
vantage, by fetting themfelves up as heads of ' '
parties among you ; and by fair fpeechet, and ,
ftattering forms of addrefs'^, they deceive the
hearts of the 'innocent and well-meaning, and
lead them into fnares of which they are little
aware.
19 It is very poflible, that having done fo much 19' For your ob?-
mifchief here at Corinth, and at other places, '^i'^nce is come abroad
they may alfo make fome attempts upon you ; "^^ ""ICfffJZ
efpecially confidering the figure you make in the your behalf: b^tyet
Chriftian world ; but I truft their endeavours I
will be unfuccefsful, for the report of your ex
emplary obedience to the diftates of our holy re
ligion, is come abroad unto all: therefiore I re
joice an your account, in hope you wilf overcome '
this, and every other danger, and maintain the '
good charafter you have already gained. But I
give you this caution out of my abundant
a Flattering firms iif addrefs.] Ivt-oyia, periphrafis. 'Wc fee here what thefe wM-
jn this connexion, has Sl force, which I pons are which thefe falfe apoftles oppofed
knew not how to exprefs, but by this to the miracles of the true. tendernefs

and prays, thai the God of peace may be with ihem.

179

I would have you
wife unto that which
is good, and fimple
concernini evil.

ao And the God
of peace Ihall bruife
Satan under your feet
fliortiy. The grace
of our Lord Jefus
Chrift be with you.
/Amen.

II Timotheus my
¦worlc-fellow, and Lu
cius and Tafon "Hnd
Solipater my 'kinf
man, falute you.

22 I Tertius, who
wrote this epiftle, fa
lute

tendernefs and care; becaufe / am deftrous you Sect';
7nay be wife, and fagacious, with refipeii to every '.
opportunity of praftifing and maintaining thai Rom.
which is good, and d.i ftmple as poftible, with XVI.
regard to that which is evil : perfeftly free from ¦"'
all ill views, and defigns of every kind. And I
know, hoVv much the infinuations of thofe men
tend to deftroy ' thofp benevolent .difpofitions,
which Ihould ever reign in the hearts of Chrif
tians, and to fill them with fuch prejudices
againft each other, as may produce mutual jn-
juriest And I have an agreeable perfuafion, that you 20
will take care to maintain this happy mixture of
innocence and prudence, and will fucceed in that
care. Yes, my brethren, I am well affured,
that the God of peace, from whom we derive all -
our peace and happinefs, and who delights in
feeing this peaceful temper prevail among his
fervants, will quickly bruife Satan under your
feet ; ,will defeat the artifices by which the great
enemy of God and men is endeavouring to in
finuate himfelf into the church, and to infufe his
own malignant fpirit into its members. God
will enable you, animated by the firft great pro
mife, (Gen. iii. 15,) which you have feen fo '
illuftrioufly fulfilled, to trample on the fly de
ceiver; ason a wounded ferpent, whofe head
your great Leader hath already crufhed. And for
this purpofe, inay the grace of our Lordjefus Chrift,
¦which hath already been in fo confiderable a
degree imparted to you, [be] ftill more conftantly
and abundantly with you I Amen.
I add, by way of poftfcript, that Tiinothy, my 21
pious and zealous fellow-labourer, to whofe affec
tion I am fo much obliged, and Lucius, andjafon,
and Softpater, the meffengers of the church at>
Beraea,^ and both of them my kinftntn, falute you
with fincere Chriftian friendftiip.
/ Tertius, or Silas, who write [this] epiftle, 22
while the apoftle Paul diftated it to me', as
his

b Softpater.] As it appears from A£ls
XX. 4, that Softpater was with St. Paul,
when he travelled jn Greece, in the year
58, this is one argument for fixing the
date of this ep'iftle to that year.
c Who ivrote this epiftle, &c.] <t. Paul

feems not himfelf to have been very well
verfed in, the Greek charadlers. Gal. vi. II.
Compare i Cor. xvi. 21. He therefore
made ufe of the hand of Silas, or as the
Latin would exprefs his name, Tertius,
who wrote what the apoftle diilated ; and I
fubmit

He adds the falutations. of fome other Chriftian frlfnds ;

Rom.
^Vl. »3

i8o Skct. Jiis fecretary, do alfo moft affeftionately /a/a/fjsw
fffj^in the Lord.
The generous Gaius, whp is my hoft, and in
deed, I may fay, that of the whole church, fo
ready is he to every &ft of hofpitality and good
nefs, falutes you, [and] Eraftus the fteward of the
city, [alfo] falutes you ; and fo doth one partus,
who, though, you may not particularly know
him, is a Chriftian brother^, whofe name I think
worthy of being inferted. '
24 Onfe more receive my repeated good wifhes,
that the beft of all bleflings may attend you ;
.even that the grace oJ our Lotd JeJus Chrift may
he with you all; to which I again put my cordial
Amen,
$^ Nozv, let me fum up all,, with afcribing praife
to the great Author of all the blelEngs, of
lyhich 1 have been writing ; even to him, who as
he has called you to participate thcfe iijvaluable
bleflings, is able to ftrengthen you ' in every vir
tuous difpofition and good refolution ; accord
ing io the tenour of rny gojpel, eyen the preach
ing rf Jefus Chrift, as our o(ily and almighty
>Dvioiir, whom I proclaim, wherever I come,
to Gentiles, as well as to Jews : a gofpel which,
however it is oppofed as contrary, is indeed moll:
exaftly agreeable io tfe revelation which (iod
has now been pleafed to make of that myflery^
in ancient times kept in ftlence ^ and never before

lute you in the Lord,

13 Gaius mine,
ho4, and of ^he'
whole church, fal^-
teth you. Eraftus the
chamberlain of thc
city laluteth you, and,
Qu^artus a brother.

34 The grace of
our Lord Jefus Chilli
be with y&i^ all. A.
fnen.

15 Now to hiiti
that is of power to
ftabiilh you accorfling
to my gofpel, and the
preaching' of Jefus
Chrift, (according tcv
the revelation of the
myftery, which wa^
kept fecret .fince th?
world began.

fubmit to con^deration, whether fome of
the intricate, and fome of the untinilhed
fentences, which we raeet with in thefe
epiftles, might not be owing to this me
thod of writing by an amanuenfis. They,
whofe variety of bufinefs has obliged them
to "didtate to others, and ufe their pens in
fuch ajnanner, will be very fenfible, this
is no abfurd, or very in^robable conjec
ture. Compare Jerem. xxxva. 17, 18, as
an inftance of a fimilar nature.
d Abruther.] Mr. Pierce thinks this ex
preiTion intimates, that he was a Chriftian
w-inifter. Compare Phil. iv. 21, 21, but I
cannot fay, it appears fufficiently evident.
e Noitr to h'lni. Sec] This doxology 'is
found, in many copies, at the ,end of the
xivtli chapter, and in the Alexandrian MS.
is inferted both there and here. Jerome
iays, that Marcian rejedled the two laft
.thapters, as contrary to his opinion ; and
Sir Norton Kjiatchbull conjeftures, that,
2

in order to prevent any fufpicion, as if
the epiftle ended with the xiv^h chapter^
fome orthodox Chriftian transferred thia.
pafl'age from thence, which he fuppofes
to have been in its true place. Dr. Mills
, is oi the fame opinion j and fuppofes the
two laft chapters to; have heen added by
way of poftfcript, a? the apoftle had time,
before he f^nt it away.. All the other
ep'iftles of Paul elid with the bened'iB'ion.
f Myftery, &c.] Many commentators
explain thefe intrjcs as referring to the
calling of the Gentiles into thc church ;
-and then foine of them fuppofe the ;^po-
voi; ttiw'131? to refer to the divifton of tini£,
by jubilees ; but it is certain, the words
will make good and weighty fenfe on the
different interpretation we have given j. and.
as the jubilees fn early grew into negleft
among the Jews; it would be lefs natural
to fuppofe, thc periods of time they mea-
fured, to he defigned here. fo

and concludes with a benediillon and doxology. t§£
16 But now is fo fully exhibited- But, adored be his good- Sect.
f/te'Sfui-es'of n^f^' 't is now made manifeft according to ihe^^fl.
the prophets accord- tenour of the prophetic fcriptures, accjrding to ixom.
ing tu the command- the commandment cf the eternal God. And it Xvi.
_m:ntoftheever!aft- -^ ^^^ q,^; (iifcovcrcd tO US bythe Spirit, but ^^'
ing God, made i_i- i i j 1 ¦• 1 'V-i -1 . .
known to al! nations puDlickly made Icnown ti all ttie Gentile nations,
for the obedience of as well as the people of Ifrael, for the obedience
^^"''O of faith; that they, firmly believing it, may yield
a correfpondent praftical fiibmillion fo it, and fo
obtain by it evtrlafting falvation ; fubjefting theni-
»vif-'^*'^.'l "^"h °"'h ^'^'^^^ '" ^" things to the facred authority of ihe 27
Jefus ChriftVor'T"fr. "''y ''-^'ft *^^'^' ^"^'^o has fo prudently conn-ived,
Amen. and fo effeftually executed, this grand fcheme.
To him, on the whole, [be] glory by Jefus ChriJi,
in all the churclies, and in the general affembly,
to endlefs ages. Amen I
IMPROVEMENT.
Worthy are thefe concluding words of being deeply engraven -verf-
on every heart. The gofpel was a myftery long concealed in the 25
breaft of the Divine Wifdom, and opened but by imperfeft hints,
even to the church itfelf, in former ages. Let us be humbly
thankful, ihat it is now made manifefl ; and that we are among
the nations who are called to the obedience of the faith. Let us be 26
folicitous to anfwer that call ; and if we have already done it in any
meafure, let us remembei^, we are ftill furrounded with many fnares
and dangers; fo that we have continual need of heing ftrengthened ^Z
and confirmed by him who hath done us the honour to call us into the
fellowfhip of his gofpel. Let us walk 'worthy of it, and faithfully
endeavour to advance its interefts, in a noble fuperiority to al!
thofe fecular and mercenary motives, by which bad men, under a 18
Chriftian profeflion, are often influenced, and in confequence of
.which, they often abufe even the miniftry of religion to the moft
infamous purpofes.
Let us (hew, how thoroughly we have imbibed the fpirit of this
Divine difpenfation, by the generofity of our fentiments ; guard- '
ing both againft fcandals and divifions; and aiming in wifdom, 17,18
integrhy, and love, both fo unite and edify, the body of Chrift,
Satan will indeed lay -difcouragements and ftumbling-blocks in our
way, and perhaps may fometimes ufe very fubtile arts to promote
difcord and divifton among thofe who ought to be moft dear to
each other in the bonds of the Lord. But let us ufe a holy cau
tion, ancf commit ourfelves chearfully to the Divine keeping; and
we may humbly hope, that the God of peace will make us vifto
rious over all the artifice and power of our fpiritual enemies, and '
v,-ill lhoTt]y bruife Satan under our feet. Les;,

iSz Refteilions on the concluding feiliom
Sect; Lgf yg humbly hope that he will, through the grace of our tori
*"'' Jefus Chrift, in virtue of thaf great original promife which was
given to chear our firft parents, when they lay under their deep
diftrefs, and heavy load of Uew-contrafted guilt. (Gen. iii. ii.j'
And as we fee how God hath taken the fubtile in his own craftinefs
and triumphed over Satan, by that event which^ he laboured to
accomplilh, as his own triumph, even the death of our Divine
. Redeemer; ]et us Aknbe to h'lm, as the only wife God, everlaftinr
glory. And O, that we may join with all the redeemed world
in this afcription j when the accufer- of ihe brethren, the great
enemy of God and man, with all his adherents and inftruments
¦Verfe flail be caft out for ever I Amen.
27 N. B. Pi. note, added to the end of this ep'iftle, fays, that 'it teas -written to the Romans
from Corinth, by Phcebe, jervant of the church at Cenchrea. Part of this, the lirft
verje of this laft chapter 'jud'ifiei j but as the mod ancient manujcripts have not thefe
notes, and fome of them ate fl?.''nlr contrary to fome paffages in the ep'iftle, to which
they arc affixed, they are to be eiteemed of no authority. I

The Ekd cJ thi Faijilv ExPusitor on the Romans

THE.
Kamily Expofitor;
OR, A
PARAPHRASE ON THE
FIRST EPISTLE
OF
PAUL the APOSTLE
TOTHE
CORINTHIAN S^
¦WITH ' '
Critical Notes, and a Praftical Improvemen-t
of each Section. . I

GENERAL INTRODUCTION
to the
PARAPHRASE and NOTES
On the FIRST EPISTLE to the /
CORINTHIANS.

THE apoftle Paul had been the inftrument in the
hand of God, of planting a numerous Chriftian
church, chiefly of Gentile converts, at Corinth ; where
his miniftry was fo fuccefsful, that he co,-itinued there
near two years; (Acts xviii. i — 18.) Corinth was a city
ofAchaia, fituated on the Ifthmus, which joins Pelopon-
nefus, (now called the Morea,) to the reft of Greece.
From the convenience of its fituation for commerce, it
abounded in riches, and was furnifhed with all the ac
commodations, with all the elegancies and fuperfluities of
life. This by too natural a confequence, led its inhabitants
into luxury, lewdnefs, and all manner of vice; and they
were accordingly infamous even to a proverfe.
About the fpace of three years after the apoftle had left
Corinth, to preach the gofpel in other parts of Greece, he
had occafion to write this epiftle to the Corinthians 5 which
he accordingly wrote from Ephefus about the year 57,
the 3d of the emperor Nero. See Vol. III. fed. 42, note
{d,) and fedt. 44, note {a.)
The reafon for which this epiftle was written, _ was, to
anfwer fome important queries propofed by the Corinthians;
Vol. IV. N and

1 86 A General Introduclioh
and correfb the various criminal irregularities and dijorderi
of which thiey were goilty.
In correiSling the abufes with which they were
chargeable, The firft article on which the apoftle thought himfelf
obliged to infift, related to the parties and faiiions into
which they were fallen, and the oppofition which was
made by fome of them to his own apoftolical miffion. On
this head he largely difcourfes in the firft four chapters ;
introducing the epiftle with an affeftionate addrefs to the
Corinthian converts, in which he congratulates them on
the rich variety of gifts and graces God had beftowe'd upon
them; and animates their hopes of his continued favour
in the Lord Jefus Chrift, even till the day of his final
appearance; (chap. i. i — 9.) A.nd then, exprelTing his
great concern on accotJnt of their animofities and faftions,
he expoftulates with them on the unreafonablenefs of fet
ting up Chriftian minifters as heads of parties, when they
were under fuch ftrong engagements to Chrift, as, their
common Saviour and Mafter; (ver. 10 — 16.) And as he
well knew, that a fond regard to eloquence and philofophy,
to which fome of the Corinthian teachers made high pre-
tenfions, was one great occafion of their divifions, he fets ,
himfelf to fhew how little ftrefs was to be laid upon them;
which he illuftrates by the choice that God had made of
gofpel-preachers, entirely deftitute of thefe boafted accom-
piiihments; (ver. 17, to the end.') The apoftle further ex
plains the reafons for which he had declined all oftentation
of eloquence, when he came among the Corinthians, and
particularly, infifts on the extraordinary nature of the fafts
and doftrines he was to teach, which were of a much
higi^er original than any difcoveries which human wit or
learning could make, and were to be tracedup to the im
mediate teachings of the Holy Spirit; their nature being
fo wonderful, that it was difficult for the corrupted minds
of men to receive them, even when they were taught ;
(chap. ii. throughout.) After this the apoftle more direftly
comes to the cafe of their animofities and divifions, and
reproves their carnality in contending about human
teachers,

to the firft Epiftle to the CoxmtMuns,. 187
teachers, and urges many important confiderations to
cure them of fo unbecoming a temper; (chap. iii. 1 — 9.)
Reminding them for this purpofe, of the great trial whicli
every man's work muft undergo, the guilt of polluting by
unhallowed divifions the temple of God, the vanity of
human wifdom in his fight, and of glorying in men, fince
minifters and all things are appointed for the common
benefit of believers ; (ver. 10, to the end.) The apoftle
further difcourfes with the fame view of the nature of the
minifterial office, reminds them of the final judgment of
him who fearcheth all hearts, and the obligation they
were under to the Divine goodnefs for every advantage by
which they were diftinguifhed from others ; (chap.' iv. i —
7.) And as a particular oppofition had been made in the
Corinthian church to himfelf, he reprefents the hardfhips
and dangers to which he and his brethren had been, and
were expofed in the fervice of the gofpel, and the obhga-
tions which he had in an efpecial manner laid upon them ;
warning them not to force him upon feverities, which he
was very unwilling to ufe; (ver. 8, to the end.) And ha
ving thus difcourfed with admirable ¦wifdom, faithfulnefs,
and zeal, he'difmifies for the prefent, this part ofhis
fubjeft; which, on account of his perfonal concern in
it, was attended with circumftances of peculiar delicacy.
The Jecond topic which the apoftle confiders, was the
cafe of a notorious offender in the Corinthian church,
who was guilty of moft fcandalous inceft with his father's
wife. Animated, therefore, with a warm zeal for the ho
nour of Chrift, for the purity and credit of the Chriftian
church, with a benevolent concern for the conviftion of
the offender, and that others might be deterred from
the like enormous praftices, he exhorts tljem, upon
thefe principles, to beware of all unnecelfary conneftion
with him, and to exclude him from Chriftian communion;
(chap. V. throughout.)
The third article, which, in this epiftle, St, Paul exhibits
againft the Corinthians, is, that by a -covetous and liti
gious temper, they were led, contrary to the rules of
Chriftian prudence and love, and fometimes contrary even
to the principles of juftice, to profccute their brethren
in the heathen courts. This he folemnly cenfures and
N 1 condemns}

1 88 A General IntroduMon
condemns ; and clofes ^^hat he offers upon this head, by
warning them of the fad confequences that would attend
the indulgence of thofe criminal difpofitions in which
Chriftianity found them, and from which it was intended
to deliver them; (chap. vi. i — ^ii.)
In the fourth place, the apoftle Paul cautions them
againft the fin oi fornication, to which they had been, in
the Gentile ftate, greatly addifted. And it fhould feemi
that having been formerly wont to look upon this heinous
crime as lawful, there were, even now, fome among
them, who reckoned it among the things indiflferent ; and
that they were not in general, fufficiently convinced of its
enormity. He therefore introduces what he propofed to
fay on this fubjeft, with fome ufeful refleftions on things
really indifferent, and then illuftrates the heinous evil of
fornication from views peculiar to the ChriftiAn religion;
(ver. \i, to the end.)
Having thus largely, and with great faithfulnefs &nd
plainnefs, correfted fome fad diforders with which the
Corinthians were chargeable.
The apoftle proceeds to the other main end of his
epiftle ; namely, to anfwer certain important queftions,
which it feems the Corinthians had propofed. And here,
He determines, Firft, Thofe which related to xhtmar-'
riage-ftate. Some queftions upon this would naturally arife
among the >firft converts "to Chriftianity-; as. Whether
they fhould difown and withdraw from their partners, if
they continued unbelievers ? And, Whether it was good
to marry in the prefent circumftances of the church ? when
the contrafting new, and efpecially fuch near alliances, in
thofe times of perfecution, would involve in peculiar difB-
culties thofe who fhould enter into the m.arriage-relation ;
which they might notwithftanding judge it proper for
other reafons td do. Now the apoftle fhews at his entrance
upon this fubjeft, that in fome circumftances the marriage-
ftate fhould be entered- into, and continued in ; but in
others,, foreborn, particularly at that time ; and injoins
wives not to depart from their hufbands, and hufbands
not todifmifs their. wives; (chap. vii. i- — ii.) He then
fhews that marriages were not to be diflTolved, as fome
thought they niight, on account of a 4ifference in religion; and

to the firft Epiftle to /^^ Corinthians. 189
and yery properly urges in the general, contentment with
the ftations jn which they were called, and a concern to
ferve God in their. ptoper condition, wheth.ep married or
fingle, bound or free'; (ver. 12 — 24.) And with regard
to fingle perfons, he afl;erts the inexpediency of their mar
rying in the circumftances of the church at thatjunfture,
inculcating a ferious fenfe of the fhortnefs of time, as the
beft remedy againft inordinate attachment to any fecular
intereft; (ver, 25, to the end.)
h. Jecond query which the Corinthians had propofed to
the apoftle to be refolved, was. How far they might com
ply with their heathen neighbours in eating things Jacri -
ficedtQ idols? St. Paul upon this reminds them, that though
all Chriftians might well be fuppofed to know the vanity
of thofe imaginary deities to which the facrifices were
offered; yet it might prove to fome, an occafion of grief
and fcandal, that the profeflTors of Chriftianity fhould par
take of thefe facrifices in their temple ; which therefore
charity would require them by all mea,ns to avoid ; (chap.
vii. throughout.) And having, in this inftance, urged them
to a Chriftian condefcenfion to their brethren, that he might
inforce the principle more ftrongly, by his own conde
fcenfion to the wealc, in waving to accept of a maintenance
from the Corinthians, he introduces what he had to fay
upon this head, with a fhort difcourfe on the right, which
gs a gofpel-minifter, he really had to be fupported by thofe
among whom he laboured; which he argues both from
natural equity, and fcripture principles; (chap. ix. 1-^14.)
He then proceeds to' fhew, that out of tendernefs to them,
and to prevent exceptions to the gofpel, he had waved
this right, and had been cautious upon all occafions to
avoid offence, by exercifing felf-denial, which he illuftrates
by a very expreflive fimilg taken from thofe who contended
in the Grecian games, (ver. 15, to the end.) And to
recommend this felf- denial and holy caution to the Corin
thians, he reprefents the privileges which Ifrael of old
enjoyed, and the difpleafure, which, notwithftanding this,
God manifefted againft them in the wildernefs, when they
indulged their irregular and luxurious defires, and in con
tempt of the manna, lufted after quails ; an example, pro
per to put the Corinthians in mind of the danger they run
N3 , of

190 A General IntroduBion -
of incurring the Divine difpleafure, if they fhould be in,
duced for the fake of gratifying a luxurious appetite, to
partake of entertainments upon things offered to idols in the
heathen temples; (chap. x. i — 13.) That he might there
fore caution them againft all approaches to idolatry, he
particularly argues,' from that communion, which, as
Chriftians, they had with Chrift' at his table, that they
ought to keep at the remoteft diftance from what might
juftly be called having communion with devils-, (ver. 14,
— 22.) After which he lays down more particular direc
tions, as to the cafes and circumftances in which things
Jacrificed to idols might, or might not, lawfully be eaten ;
and urges further confiderations, to engage them willingly
to refign their own gratification for the glory of God and
the good of their brethren ; (ver. 23, to the end. Chap,
xi. I.)
The apoftle now proceeds to a third query, concerning
the manner in which women fhould deliver ahy thing in
public, when by a Divine impulfe called to it. And after
having fettled this point, he particularly correfts the in
decency of women's prophecying with their head unco
vered ; (ver. 2 — 16.) Being thus led to confider circum
ftances which attended the Chriftian worfhip, he takes
the occafion naturally afforded, of introducing a difcourfe
upon feveral abufes among theni of a higher Mature, with
refpeft to the public celebration of the Lord's fupper--,
leading back their views to the original inftitution, and in
ferring fronn thence the danger of profaning it in the man
ner they did ; (ver. 17, to the end.) Being thus naturally,
' and as it were accidentally, brought to take notice again
of the corruptions prevailing in the Corinthian church, the
apoftle makes fome remarks upon their abufe of the_/J)z>z-
tual gifts ; obferving that they all proceed from the fame
facred agent, and are intended for the edification of the
fame body, in which all Chriftians are united; (chap. xii.
!¦ — 13.) Inculcating humihty in the ufe of thofe gifts,
and jihat mutual affeftion which the Corinthians needed
to be taught, he purfues the allegory further and repre
fents Chriftiah as fo united in one body, as to have en
tirely the fame intereft; and infifts on a tender care of the
Ieaft member, from its fubferviency to the good of the
whole,

to the firft -E'piftle to the Corinthians. 191
whole, (ver. 15, to the end.) And to engage the Corin
thians to cultivate love, as more important than the gifts
about which they contended, he gives a lovely defcription
of that excellent grace ; concluding it with a refleftion on
its perpetual duration, in which it exceeds even faith and
hope; {ft!f\2.'\p.yf'\\\. throughout.) After thus inculcating cha
rity and love, a grace which they needed tnuch to adprn
their Chriftian profeffion, and direft the exercife of their
fpiritual gifts, the apoftle particularly cautions them againft
their prevailing vain oftentation of the gift of tongues, and
reafons with rtiem concerning the abfurdity of the manner
in which they, fome of them at leaft, abufed that gift;
(chap. xiv. I — 19.) And adds, upon the whole, proper
motives to prevent that abufe-; (ver. 20, to the end.)
Some among the Corinthians doubted, and others de
nied the reJiirreSiion of the dead. To prove and eftablifh
therefore this great and peculiar article of the Chriftian
faith, the apoftle Paul makes fome remarks on the cer
tainty and importance of the refurreftion of Chrift: (chap.
XV. I — II.) And infers from the refurreftion of Chrift,
the certainty of the rejurretlion of the dead-, urging the im- ^
portance of this grand fundamental doftrine oi Chriftianity ,
and mentioning in the feries ofhis argument, that furrender
of the mediatorial kingdom which Chrift at the confum-
mation of all things fhall make to the Father; ( ver. 1 2 — 34. )
After which, he anfwers objeftions to the refurreftion,
drawn from our not being able to conceive of the particu
lar manner in which it fhall be effefted ; and concludes with
urging this doftrine, as a noble incentive to the greateft
readinefs, and the warmeft zeal in religioi©; (ver. 25, tQ
the end.)
This is the conneftion of the feveral parts of this excel
lent epiftle, and a fketch of the apoftle's defign ; which
Was to correft the corruptions and abufes, and anfwer fome
queries of the Corinthian church. And though he hath
not throughout difcuflTed thefe two points ftparately, and
wjth the exaftnefs of fyftematical method ; yet he hath
handled his fubjeft in a more natural manner, and given
a mafterly fpecimen of the freedom ufual in epiftolary writ
ings.— Before he concludes, he gives fome advice to the
N 4 • Corinthian

192 A General Introdu5iion, &c. f
Corinthian church, relating to the colleftion propofed to
be made for the poor faints in Judea; (chap, xvi. i — 12.)
And then clofes all, with fome particular falutations and
direftionsu with general exhortations- to courage and
love, a folemn benediftion to true Chriftians, and an
awful anathema againft thofe who were deftitute of love
to our Lord Jefus Chrift j (ver, 1 3, to the 'end of the
epiftle.)

A PARA-

PARAPHRASE

AND

NOTES ON the
FIRST EPISTLE
T Q THE
CORINTHIANS.

SECT. I.
The Apoftle introduces' his epiftle with a moft affeiiionate and fuit
able falutation, in which he congratulates the Corinthians on ihe
rich variety 'of gifts and graces which God had beftowed upon
them ; and animates their hope of his continued favour in the
Lord Jefus Chrift., even till the day of his final appearance.
J Cor. I. I — 9.

1 Cor. I. I.
pAUL called to be

I Corinthians I. i.

¦"'1^'*"^'' 'pAVL, who was in fo peculiar a manner Sect.
fus Chrift, \hl}^fh '^'^^^'f l^" ^^1 "" "fft^^ \ofJf"' Chrft, not ^-
the will of God, and Undertaking that office of himfelf, but invefted j q^^^
Softhenes, our bra- with it by the moft exprefs declaration of the will 1. 1
* ' of God, fignified at the time of that miraculous
interpofition of which you have fo often heard ;
-< and Softhenes^, fo well known unto you, whom'
J efteem as a dear brother ; concur in writing

a Called [to he] an apoftle.] There is
great propriety in eyery claufe of the falu
tation prefixed to tVis' epiftle -, and par
ticularly in this, as there were thofe in the
church of Corinth who affefted to call
the authority of his mijfton into queftion.
k Softhenes.] This was a Cmmhiaa

minifter who attended Paul in his travels;
Compare Afts xviii. 17. It was both
humility and prudence in the apoftle,
thus to join his name with his own, in an
ep'iftle in, which it was neceffary to deal
fo plainly with them, and to remonftrate
'againft fo many irregularities. . this

Paul, infcrihing this epiftle io the Corinthians,

194 Si CT. this epiftle. To ihe church of God, which is
^' in the rich, populous, and learned city of Co-
j Cor. rinth, whofe chief glpry it is that they, fif they
I. i ate what their Chriftian profeftion fpeaks them
to be,) are fanilified in vital union with Chrift
Jefus",' 2& well as called with an external voca
tion, by which they are feparated from the reft
of the world [as] the faints of God. And when
we exprefs our affeftionate regard to you, and
our good wifhes for your edification and comfort,
we extend them io all thai in every place ^ in
voke the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift ", whom
¦we, and all true Chriftians, join in acknowledge-
3 ing and adpring as their [Lord] and ours. May
you experimentally know more of the privileges
and bleflings of his gofpel ; and for that purpofe,
[may] grace and peace [be] with you, that
abundance of Divine influence, which may
eftablifh your peace and multiply your profperity;
even from God, the original fountain of all blef-
fjngSj whom we are now taught to look upon as
our reconciled and gracious Father, eind from
Jefus Chrift our Lord, that anointed and exalted
Saviour, by whom we receive the adoption, and
* through whofe hands all its bleflings are commu
nicated to us.
4 I cannot addrefs you, my dear brethren, with
out aflliring you in the firft place, that I always
give humble thanks to my God on your account,
whenever I mention you before him in prayer,
ES 1 frequently do, for ihe abundant grace of
God given unio you iri Chrift Jefus ; by virtue of
which you have beep received into the Chriftian
5 church, and §re made ornaments to^ it. For

z Unto the churcli
of God which is at
Corinth, to them
that arc fanaificcj i„
Chrift J.efus, call{d
to be faints, with all
that in every, place
call upon the name
of Jefus Chrift our
Lprd, both theirs an4
oprs :

3 Grace be unta ¦
you, and peace from
God our Father, 'an4
from the Lord JeXvi^
Chrift ;

4 I thank my God
always on your be
half for the grace of '
God, which is given
you by Jefus Chilli:

5 That in evcty thing

c SanEl'ified in Chrift jtejus.] I cannot
agree with Mr. Locke, in concluding,
that this muft lignify only an external '
reparation of the true religion, as the Jews
were externally tt holy people, 1 Pet. ii.
8, 9, 10. It feems rather to intimate the
perfuafion, which he had, that notwith
ftanding fome lamented irregularities a-
jnong them, which he was faithfully foli
citous to reform, they were in the general,
a body of ftncere Chriftians'^ and the excep
tions comparatively few.
d With all that in every place, &c.j
Nothing could better fuit the candid and
tatholic views which Paul was fo much

concerned to promote in this epifik, than
this declaration of his good wilhes for
every true Chriftian upon earth, whether
Jew or Gentile, learned or unlearned,
Greek or Barbarian. To limit it, as Gro
tius, L'Hnfant, and fome others would
do, to the Chriftians in Achaia, is to
fpoil all the ftrength and beauty of the fen
timent. e Invoke the name, &c.] Thia ftrongly
implies, that it might well be takep ff>t
granted, that every true Chriftian would
often pray to Chrift, as well as addref^
the Father in his name. ever

congratulates them, thai they came behind in no gift.

thing ye are enriched
by him, in all utter
ance, and in all know
ledge i
6 Even as the tef
timony of Chrift was
confirmed in you.

7 So that ye pome
behind in no gift :
waiting for the com.*
ing of our Lordjefus
Chrift :

S Who (hall alfo
confirm you unto the
end, that ye may be
biamelefs in the day
of our Lord Jefus
thrift :

9 God is faithful,
by whom ye were
' called unto the fel-
lowlhip of his Son
Jefus Chrift our
Lord.

195
ever adored be his holy name, ihat in all things Sect.
ye are enriched in him ^ with a variety of gifts ''•
and graces, and particularly, that ye are made j cor,
copious in all utterance, and ready [in] all know- I. 5
ledge of fpiritual and Divine things ; As the 6
teftimony which I bore to the gofpel of Chrift,
when 1 abode fo long at Corinth, was confirmed
amon^ you ^ by fuch various communications of
the Spirit, in confequence of which you became
living witnefles of it to all who knew you.
So that you are deficient in no gift which can 7
render' you ufeful in the church, while you arc
waiting for the glorious manifeftation oJ our Lord
Jefus Chrift, in connexion with which, I hope,
you will always confider this extraordinary fur
niture for his fervice," and improve it fo, as to
advance your preparation for that day : Still 8
keeping up an humble dependance on him, who,
if you faithfully apply to him for the continued
communication of his almighty aid, will confirm
you to the end; [fo that] when fo many others
Ihall be condemned, [ye may be] prefented biame
lefs and irreproachable, in the great day of our
Lord Jefus Chrift ^. Fear not, my brethren, a
but this blefted day will come, and bring with
it thofe glories 'which we have fo long been
taught to expeft. Fear not, but Divine grace
will ftill be effeftual to bear you through all dif
ficulties in your way to it; for God [is] faithful,
by whom you -were called into the communion and
fociety of his Son Jefus Chrift our Lord, that you
may participate of the bleflings he hath pur-
chafed ; the grand promifes of whofe kingdom,
ye know, refer to that illuftrious day of which
I have been fpeaking. Be therefore courageous
and chearful in the alfured expeftation of it.

f Tliat ye are enriched, Sec] Thefe re-
fpeftful congratulations, and acknowledge
ments of the things in wQi'rch they did
really excel, had a moft happy tenden-:y to
foften their minds ; and to difpofe them
the better, to receive the plain reproofs
he was going to give them, and which,
in their circumftances, faithful love ex
torted from him.
g Confirmed among you.] As they could
not but know they had received thefe
gifts by thc hand of Paul, this exprefpon

fugg.^fts a rational and tenner argument,
to reduce them to their former affeBion to
him as their fpiritual father.
h [That ye may be] biamelefs, &c.l I
think it would make a very loiv jenje of
this, to explain it, as fome have done,
that they would be preferved, if biame
lefs : the apoflle plainly intends to encou
rage their hope in that grace ,vih\eh might
enable them fo to perfevere, that they
might be found biamelefs.

IMPROVEMENT.

J 96 Refteiiions on ihe obligaiioijs of ihe Chriftian calling.

IMPROVEMENT.
Sect. j^et US remember, ?that we alfo zre faniiified in Chrift, mi
. „ ' faints by our calling. Though we are not enriched with fuch
¦Verfe extraordinary endowments as thofe which were beftowed upon
I this primitive Corinthian church, yet we call on ihe name of tht
2 Lord Jefus Chrifi ; and let it be confidered as a band of love to
'all thofe who join with us to acknowledge him undej; the cha
rafter of their Lord and their Saviour. Let it engage us to pray,
3 that the fame grace and peace may be iv'ith them from God our
Father, and from Chrift Jefus our common Lord, which we will)
for ourfelves. <
4,&c. Let our hearts be ever open to fuch noble fentiments of
Chriftian love ; not envying the gifts or endowments of others,
but rather rejoicing in them, bleflrng God for them, and praying
6 that they may be largely increafed ; that fo the teftimony of Chr'fi
may be confirmed, by the flourifliing ftate of religion among his
followers ; than which no confirmation will probably carry a
ftronger and more affefting conviftion into the hearts pf thofe
who obferve it.
7 To quicken us to this, let us be continually waiting for the
revelaiidn of Jefus Chrift ; thinking ferioufly, how certainly, and
how quickly, he will be revealed from heaven, to bring us, and all
our brethren, to an account for the improvement we make of the
various favours he hath conferred upon us ; of which, furely to bb
9 called into the fellowflip of Chrift, and the participation of fpiritual
bleflings by him, is to be reckoned among the chief.
Let us rejoice in the fidelity of thofe promifes which encourage
us to hope, that he whofe grace hath called us to a participation of
o the gofpel, will confirm us biamelefs, even until ihe day of Chrifi ;
and, as we have fuoh profpefts -of prefent fupport and comfort, and
of final and complete falvation from him, let us, like this bleifed
apoftle, take a pleafure in founding forth his name, and in keeping
I — 9 lip a moft affeftionate remembrance of him, even of Jefus ChrlJl
our Lord and our Saviour, in our own minds, and in thofe of ouf
' Chriftian brethren.

SECT. II.
The Apoftle expreffes his great concern on account of the faHions in
ihe church of Corinth, of which he had been informed; and ex-
poftulaies with them, as to the unreajonableuejs of Jetting up
Chriftian minifters as heads of parties, when they w^re under
.. fuch

He exhorts ihe Corinthians againft fchifms .
fuch ftrong engagements to unite in Chrift, as their common Sa
viour and Mafter. I Cor. L 10 — 16.

m

I Cor. I. 10.
jaOW I befeech"
you, brethren,
by the name of our
Lord Jefus Chrift,
that ye all fpeak the
fame thing, and that
there be no divifions
among you ; but that
ye be perfeftly join
ed together in the
fame mind, and in
the fame judgment.

11 For it hath
been declared unto
me of you, my bre
thren , by them ivh'ich
are of the houfe of
Chloe, that there are
contentions among
you. 12 Now this I fay,that

I Corinthians I. 10.
"T NOlVhv^{ien tothe great things, which I havesEcr.
¦*• in view in this addrefs to you : and / muft il.
firft of all befeech, as well as exhort you, my bre

thren, by the venerable and endearing nam.e of i Cor.
our Lord Jefus Chrift ", as you defire eitheV to ^' '°
fecure his favour, or to advance his caufe and
intereft in the wofld, .that ye all endeavour fo
far as poflible to fpeak the fame thing, that is,
that you do not unneceifarily aW unkindly con-
tradift each other, but rather maintain a peace
ful unanimous temper ; [that] there may be na
fchifms among you, nor mutual alienation of affec
tion ; but [that] ye be all knit together in the
fame mind, and in the fame fentiment ^ ; waving
unneceflary controverfies, debating thofe which
are neceflary with temper and candour, and de
lighting to fpeak moft troncerning thofe great
¦and excellent things in which as Chriftians you
cannot but be agreed, and which, if duly con
fidered, will cement your hearts to each other in
the ftrifteft and moft tender bonds.
I urge this with the greater earneftnefs, be- i j
caufe it hath been certified to me, my brethren,
concerning you, by ihofie of Chloe's [family °,j that
there are fome contentions among you, which by
no means become the relation wherein you ftand
to each other,' arid the regard which you profefs
to the gofpel of Chrift.
Now this I fay and mean by the preceding 12
charge, that, if my information be right, there
are among you various parties, which avowedly

a By //'i?venerable and endearin;; nam.e
ef the LcJ Jejus Chrift.] This is ber.uti-
tuUy and properly oppofed to the various
human names under which they were fo
ready to lift themfelves.
b In the jame mind, and in the jame jen-
t'uncr.t.] It was morally 'impoftible, confi
dering the diverfity of their educ.itions and
capacities, that they ihould all agree in
opinion ; nOr could he intend that, be
caufe he does not urge any argument to
reduce them to fuch an agreement, nor
fo much as declare, what that c« Opir.ion

was in which he would liave them
agree. The words muft th^efore exprefs
th^t peaceful and . unanimous temper vvhich
Chriftians of different opinions may and
ought to maintain towards each other' ;
which will do a much greater honour t..>
the gojpel, and to hUman nature, than th-
moft perfeft uniformity that can be ima
gined. \
c Thoje of Chloe's [ family.] Grotius
fuppofes Fortunatus and Achaicus, (men
tioned chap. xvi. 17,) to have been hei
fons. fet

198

He expojhilaies with them Concerning their contentions ';

Sect II.

I Cor,
X. IZ

fet themfelves up, as under different heads, tho'
you are not yet come to an open feparation ; fo
that every one if you lifts himfelf under -ene or
another of thofe dividing names which are fb
unhappily ufed among you on this occafion^
One, for inftance. Jays, I am for Paul, admi
ring the plainnefs and purity of his AoSt.'fint ; and
a fecond, / am Jor Apollos, charmed with the
eloquence and beauty of his addrefs ; and ath'ird,
I zm Jor Cephas, the apoftle of the clrcumcifion,
who may be well called a foundation-ftone in
the church, as he maintains fo ftrift a regard to
the Mofaic ceremonies, and the peculiar privi
leges of God's ancient people ; while a fourth
fays, / am Jor Chrift^, whofe fuperior narhe,
and ftrift obfervation of the Mofaic law in his
own perfon, unanfwerably teftify its perpetual
obligation ; however any of his minifters may
regard, or negleft it.
13 Give me leave now to aflc, Is Chrift divided
into as many parties as you are fplit into, fo
that each has a diftinft Saviour ? or is he be
come only the head of one party of his followers,
that his name fhould thus be appropriated by
way of diftinftion, as if it were to exclude all
the reft of his difciples from any relation to him ?
And on the other hand, (not to introduce the
name of my honoured and beloved brethren upon
this invidious occafion,) was this Paul, whom
fome of you fo much extol, crucified Jor you" P
•Or were you bapt'ized into the name of Paul ;
that you fhould thus afteft to wear it as a mark
14 of diftinftion ? Since there have been thefe
unhappy divifions in your fociety, and my name,
among others, has been made ufe of to fuch a
purpofe ; / thank God, that it fo happened in
the courfe of his Providence, that / baptized
none of you, except Crijpus, once the ruler of the

that every one of you
faith, I am of Piulj
and I of Apollos,
and I of Cephas, and
I of Chrift.

13 Is Chrift divi
ded .' was Paul cru
cified - for you } or
were ye baptized in
the name of Paul >.

14 I thank God,
that I baptized none
of you, but Crifpus
and Gaius -,

<! / am for Chrift.] They might per
haps, be difpleafed with Peter, for his
condefcenfion to the uncircumcifed at Ao-
tioch, (Gal. ii. 12,) which happened
long before the date of this ep'ftle ; and
might alfo, as L'Enfant intimates, .have
v.ilued themfelves on having-heard Chrift
preach' In his ovin perfon, during the time
of his miniftration on earth.

^Was Paul cruc'fied for you ?] As if
he had faid, Are your obligations to me
equal, or comparable to thofe you are un
der to our common Mafter, to" him who
died for us upon the croft? He mentions
himfelf, as it was leaft invidious to doit;
though the application was equally juft
as to every other inftance. Compare chap.
iii. 6.

fynagogue,

and declares thai he had given no tccafton for their ftilioni^ 15^

15 Left any ihould
fiy, that I had bap
tized in my own
name.

16 And I bapti
zed alfo the houfe-
hold of Stephanas :
befides, I kno\Ar not
whether I baptized
any other. ,,
17 For Chrift fent
me not to baptize,
but to preach the
gofpel.

fynagogue, and my worthy friend, the hofpita- Sect.
ble Ga'ius : Left any flould have a pretence to, ^^'
fay, though ever fo falfely, thai /made the waters 1 Cor.
of baptifm, waters of ftrife; and had bapti'z.ed I. is
into my own name ', or in a view of particular
and perfonal attachment to myfelf, to the injury
of my brethren, or of the Church in general.
I remember, that / bapti'z.ed alfo the family of 16
Stephanas, the firft-fruits of Achaia ; and I know
not whether I baptized any other '^. And indeed, 17
it might very naturally happen, that I fhould
baptize only thefe few ; for Chr'ift fent me not
fo much to baptize ; which was an office that
others of a much inferior rank in the miniftry
might as well perform ; but to preach the gofpel,
and thereby to bring perfons to that faith which
•would entitle them to this appropriate ordinance
of Chriftianity. And I blefs God with all my
heart, that I have been enabled to do it with
fuch fimplicity, fidelity, and fuccefs.

IMPROVEMENT.
While we live in the midft of fo much darknefs, and conti
nue obnoxious to fo many prejudices and errors, it will be abfo^r
Jutely impoffible for us, fo to fpeak ihe fame thing, and fo per- Vcrfe
feftly to be joined in the fame mind and judgment, as that there i o '
fhould be no diverfity of opinion, or expreffion. But let us labour
to obey the apoftle's pathetic exhortation, fo far as the imperfec
tion of this "mortal ftate may admit. Let us be intreated in the
name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that venerable, that endeared.

f Left any jhould jay, I haptixed into my
nrni name.] If any Ihould objeft, that
others might do it for bim ; it m^y be
anfwered, that Paul's attendants, (who
feem to have b'een Timothy and Silas,
Afts xviii. 5; 2 Cor. i. ig,) were per
fons of an eftablijhed charaSter, fo as to be
above fuch fufpicion ; that baptijm was
probably adminiftfcred too openly to allow
of this ; and that the apoftle herein does
as it were, appeal to the baptized perfons
themfelves, challenging any one o'f them
all to fay, that the ordinance was admini-
ftred (0 him in Paul's name.
g / tnoiu not whether I have baptized
any other,] This expreffion of uncertainty
as to fuch a .fa£i, is by no means incon
fiftent with infpirat'ion, in that view and
notion of it which I have endeavoured
(0 ftats.and vindicate in my difcourfe in that

jubjeSt, annexed to the third volume of
this work. I can by no means think,
with Biftop Burnet, that the reafon, why
Paul baptized fo few, was, becaufe ^^i^.
tijm was delayed till fome confiderable
time after converfion to Chriftianity, and
that the apofile did not ftay fo long in j
place as to do it ; {Burnet on tbe Articles,
Art. xxvii. p, 304, Edit. 1699;] for itdjes
not appear to me, that baptijm, in thefe
earlieft and pureft ages, was long delayed ;
and it is certain, that this caufe could not
take place here, as Paul continued at Co..
rinth 18 months. I rather think the
office was generally alligned to inferiors, as
requiring no extraordinary abilities, and
as being attended vvlth^ fome trouble and
inconvenience, efpecially where immerfion
was ufed, as I fuppofe it often, tho' noc
coAftantly, was. that

2 OO Refteiiions on our obligations to avoid a party-fpint.
Sect, that facred name, that there beirig no fehifm among us, no mutual
• hatred or animofity, no uncharitable contentions, no fevere cen-
futes of each other. And as we defire that there may not. Jet us
take care, that, we do not impofe upon our brethren indifFerent
things as neceffary ; and thereby drive them into a feparation for
confcience fake ; and tempt them, at the fame time, by our ill
ufage, to that bitternefs of refentment, which would make them,
what th& mere feparation would not, tranfgreffors of this precept •
and us partakers of their fins.
On the other hand, let none of us be difpofed to difpute merely
for the fake of difputing, nor unneceffarily pppofe the judgment
or tafte of our brethren, out of an affeftation of fingularity,
or a fpirit of contention. But let us rather labour, fo far as with
a fafe <;onfcience we can, to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond
of peace. And while we do this, if our brethren will exaft fuch
fubmiflAons from us, as they are not warranted by God to re
quire, and as we cannot in confcience pay, let us follow con
fcience whitherfoever it leads us ; taking all neceffary care, that
it be rightly guided ; and if in that circumftance our brethren
will caft us out, and fay. Lei the Lord be glorified ; and if to the
refl of their unkindnefs, they will add the farther injury of brand
ing us with the odious names ol fch'ifmatics, or of heretics; let
it be a light thing to us, to be judged of man's judgment. Let us
not render railing for railing, nor injury for injury, but rather,
by 0111* meeknefs, endeavour to overcome their feverity ; and 'wait
for that happy time, when more of the fpirit of knowledge and
of charity, fhall difpofe them to throw down thofe middle walls
of partition, by which the temple of God is ftraitened and defaced,
and the convenience,, the fymmetry, and grandeur of its original
plan, fo lamentably fpoiled. Above all, let- us wait that day,
wheri the fecrets of all hearts flail he made manifeft; and that world,
where they, who love the' Lord Jefus Chrift in fincerity, fhall retain
no remembrance of the controverfies that once divided them;
unlefs it be to balance th^ .alienations of time with the endearments
of eternity.
In the mean while, let us avoid, as much as poflible, apartyr
Verfe fpirit; and not be fond of lifting ourfelves under the ndme of this,
12, 13 or that man, how wife, how good, how great foever. For furely
if the names of Peter, and Paul, were in this view to be de
clined, much more are thofe, which, in thefe latter days, have
fo unhappily crumbled the Chriftdan and Proteftant intereft, and
have given fucli fad occafion to our enemies to reproach us.
Chrift is not divided ; nor were Luther, or Calvin, or even Piter,
er Paul, crucified Jor us ; nor were we baptized into any of their
nameu. , Happy fhall that difciple of our compaflionate Lord be, whom
he (hall moft eminently own in healing the breaches which the
artifices

Sti Paul had not preached ihe gofpel with the wifdom of words t 2oi
artificers of the tempter, too often abetted by the infirmities of Sect.
ChriJi' s faithful fervants, have already made in th'e Church, and "'
which the great enemy is continually endeavouring to multiply, ~"
and to widen 1 Happy he, who reverencing and loving his Mafler's
image wherever he fees it, fhall teach others to do fo too ! And'
who, being himfelf an example oi yielding, fo far as he confci
entioufly can, and of not taking upon him to cenfure others,
where he cannot yield ,to them, fliall do his part towards cement
ing, in the bonds of> holy love, all the children of God, and the
members of Chrift I How unfuccefsful foever his efibrts may be,
amidft that ^ngry and contentious, that ignorant and bigotted
crowd, who mifcall themfelves Chriftians; or by whatever, fufpi
cious and repi'oachful names his moderation may be ftigmatized ;'
his Divine Mafter will neither fail to confider it in its true view,
nor to honour it with proportionable tokens df his acceptance and
favour. Love is the firft and greateft of his commands ; and after
all the clamour that has been made about notions and forms, he
who praftifes and teaches love beft, fliall be greateft in the kingdoni
if heaven.
SECT. IIL'
The Apoftle, knowing that a fond regard to eloquence and philofo
phy, io which fome of their teachers made high pretenftons, was -
one great occafton of their div'iftons, fets hirnjelf to Jhew how
I'lttle ftrefs was to be laid upon them ; which he illuftrates by the ,
choice which God hath made of gofpel-preachers quite deftitute of
thofe accompliflments, I Cor. I. xy, tothe end.
I CoR. I. 17. t CoR-rNi*mANS I. 17.
poR Chrift fent me -r TysT now told you that Chrift did riot find izZT.
not to baptize, \ J , . ¦' • • i u i- r i y ITT
but to preach t'he me to baptize, as my principal bufinefs, but ^"-
gofpel; not with wif- rather to preach ihe gofpel'' y and now I mUft
thT crofsT/ Ohrift ^^^' ^^^^ '" *^^ t-ommilfiofi which I had the hb'-
ihouid'°be "made "of nour to receive from him, he did nof rnftriift
none effeft. me to' preach it with thofe p'hilofophical niceties
of expreflion, or laboured rhetoriel?, which many
are fo ready to efteem as the wifdom of Words ;
left if 1 had attended to thefe little things, the
crofs of Chrift flould have been deprived of its
juft honours, and fo have been enervated, and
* S'apttze, iut is preach.] As I knew improper divifi^on ; I hope th^ reader will
not how to avoid the repetition of this excufe it and a few other inftahces- of this
tlaufe, without prolonging the former kind which will occur.
feliion beyond due bounds, or making an
Vol, IV* G rendered

202 left the crofs of Chrift flould have been of mneeffe^.

SEliT m.

i8

rendered vain ''. Fdr this muft have been the
natural confequence, when men faw one who
I Cor. pretended to know fo much, and to have re-
1. 17.' ceived fuch exfraordinaiy difcCiveries of fhe gof
pel, and of Chrift crucified as its great founda-
' tion, feeming not fo much to truft to the grand
. ifflpoVtant fafts he averred, as to artificial rea
fonings, or ornathents of fpeech, in his manner
of reprefenting them to the world.
I might well be cautious' on this head ; for
the do&rine of the crofs is indeed folly, with re
fpeft to the judgment of them that are perijhing ;
to wretched creatures, who are in the way to be
for ever-undone. They, in that fafal madnefs,
which leads them to fpeedy ruin, think it a ridi
culous and mean thing, to expeft- falvation
from one who feemed unable to fave himfelf ;
and glory from one who expired in ignominy.
But to us who are faved from the contagion of
fo wjcked an age, and are in the way to ever
lafting falvation, ii is a moft illuftrious difplay
of the power of God, to the nobleft purpofes our
minds can conceive. For it is written, and
the words are remarkably applicable to this great
event, (Ifa. xxix. 14,) / will deftroy the wifdom
tf the wife, and abol'ifl the fagacity of the pru
dent ; thus hath God, by this difpenfation, poured
20 confufion on human wit and learning,' elo
quence and philofophy : So that, in allufion
to other words of the fame prophet, we may
fay% (Ifa. x\xiii. 18,) J'Vhere[is] the celebrated fage.

18 For the preach.
ing of the crofs is to
them that perilh,
foolilhhefs ; but unto
us which are faved>
it is the fowisr of
God.

191

19 For It is writ
ten, I will deftroy
the wifdom of the
wife* 'and will bring
to nothing the un
derftanding of the
prudent. ao 'Where 'ts the
wife ?

^ Should have been' enervated, and rendered
vditi.] If the dodr'tne of the crucifixion
of the Sen of God for tbe fins of men be
indeed true, it is undoubtedly a truth of
th'^ higheft importance, and it /might
¦reafonably be expefted, that a perfon
v.'ho had been inftrufted in it'by fuch ex
traordinary .methods, fhould appear to lay
the main ftrefs of his preaching upon it.
The defign of this wonderful dijpenjaiion
trtight therefore have been in a great mea
fure fruftrated, if it had 'been the care of
^e firft preachers of it, and particularly of
Paul, to ftudy a vain parade of words,
and to fet oft' their difcourfes with thofe
glittering ornaments Which the Grecian
orators fo often fought, and which the Co
rinthians were fo ready to afteft. But
amidft all the beautiful fiipplicity which

a deep conviftion of the gojpel tended to
produce, there was room left for the moft
manly and noble kind of eloquence ;
which there'fore the Chriftian pteachir
Ihould labouT to make habitual to him,
and of which this apoftle himfelf is a moll
illuftrious exaipple.
c In allufion'to other words of the
fame prophet we may fay.] I think it
would be a very xrhnecelTary labour, to en
deavour to prove that thefe words are an
exaB tranfiation ot the palTage referred to ;
or to (hew that p^flTage to be a prophecy of
the fuccefs of the gojpel. The context
in Ifa. xxxiii. refers to ilhe deliveranc'e of
Judea from Sennacherib; and the iS"'
verfe defcribes the Jews as revi'ewing'and
meditating on the terror into which they
had been thtoft'n j and then crying out in »
noble

For God hath made the xolfdOm of this world foolifl ;
wife ? where is the i-^e, whofe wife counfel and penetrating ge-
dif utlrrfth'sviUd? niushave been held in greateft efteem? PFliere
hath" not God made the learned fcribe ? PVliere the oftentatious dif-
fiuiifli the wifdom of puter of this world^, who hath been moft ?dmi-
thiswoiidf j.g(] fQj. the fubtilty ofhis reafoning, and accuracy
of his diftinftions ? As God of old 'delivered
his people, in fpite of all the proud preparations
and infolent boaftings of the Aflyrians, not by
their own counfels or arms, but by his almighty
power i fo doth he now conduft his grand de
fign for the immortal happiupfs of his cliofen.
Look upon the difpenfation of the gofpel as now
ailminiftered, and hc^, hath not God made the
wifdom of this world appear to be foolifl, and
vain, when the higheft refults of it are compared
with thofe great effefts which he knows how
to produce withogt it, and even in oppofition to
41 For after th.it, it all. For it is indeed fo : ftnce in ihe wifdom 21
God''"ihe"wtid by t <^^'^' i" ^^e midft of the moft ftupendous
wifdom knew not difplays of the Dlvine wifdom with which they
God, it pleafed God were always furrounded, the world, by all the
by the fooiiihnefs rf improvements of its boafted wifdom, knew not
• '"^'¦'"^ '"* the living and true God, but ran into the wildeft
and moft abfurd fentiments that can be ima
gined concerning the Deity ; (foine of them abfo
lutely denying it, and others reprefenting it un
der the rtoft monftrous notions and forms ;).
when this I fay was generally the cafe, it pelafed
God, by that which they have impioufly ridi
culed as the moft egregious_/i//v of preaching, by
noble exultation over all the baffled fchemes ttiral philojopher, ani the literal, and the
of the enemy ; tVhere is the jcr'ibe, that allegorical interpreter of fcripture ; I ra-
muftered the forces ? Where the receiver, ther think the apoftle meant to include
or pay-mafter, who. diftributed money or perfons moft eminent for their learning
ftores among them .^ Where the engineer, and fagacity, whether among Jews Or
xkiit counted the toVjers, to determine where Gentiles. The fages of rhe latter, and
the attack might moft conveniently be ycWiei of the former, are well known ; and
made ? In a bold and beautiful allufion to, the dijputer of the age may include fuch
and imitation of thefe words, though with of both, as, proud of their natural fagacity,
very different ideas, the apoftle proceeds, were fond of engaging^ in controverfies,
in the animated clauje that follows, to and fancied they could confUte every ad-
triumph over the oppofitions of human verfary. If, as Mr. Locke fuppofes, the
fcience in its various forms, when.levellcd chief leader of the faftion againft St. Paul,
i%siiri&GoA^s vi^cr'ioits gofpel. (whom that learned and ingenious writer
d Sa^e, fcribe, d'ljputer'.] Notwithftand- ftiles the falfe apoftle,) called himfelf a
ing all the learned pains which Dr. Ful- jcribe, there will be a peculiar propriety
ler, in his Mifcellanies, [Lib. III. cap. 7 ;) in the ufe of the word here ; but without
or Godtv'm, in his Hebrew Antiquities, that fuppofition, it might eafily be under-
{Lib. n. cap. 6,) have taken to prove, ftood by the Corinthians, who had fo
that tliefe three ivords refer to three orders confiderable a fynagogue of Jews among
of learned men among the Jews—the na- them. O 2 preaching,

By ihe preaching of falvation through Chrift crucified;

preaching, which is indeed deftitute of all the
wifd6m of which they boaft, , to fave multitudes :
. and thofe, not fuch as are the moft artful cavil- ,
lers, or the moft fagacious reafoners ; but thofe
thai with honeft fimplicity and plainnefs of heart,
beUeve what is credibly telfified to theni, and
taught by a fiiperior authority.
22 For whereas ihe Jews demand a ftgn" from
heaven to introduce a Meffiah, who fhall efta
blifh a temporal kingdom, viftorious over all
their enemies ; and the Greeks feek a depth of
wifdom and philofopy, or the ornaments of
23 eloquence, and charms of addrefs ; PFe never
thelefs, confcious of our high commiflion,
and faithful to our important truft, without re
garding at all the unreafonable and petulant de-
1 mands of either, go on plainly to preach Chrift
crucified; tothe Jews indeed a ftumbling-block'',
being moft direjftly contrary to all their fecular
expeftations ; and fooliflnefs in the abftraft to
ihe Greeks^, who treat it as a low and idle tale,
24 hardly worth the leaft degree of notice : But
to thofe who are by Divine grace effeftually called,
both Jews and Greeks, Chrifl, amidft all the
diftionours of his crofs, is known and acknow
ledged as the power of God, and ihe wifdom of
God; to the converted Jews his miflron is con
firmed by miraculous evidence, and the accom-
plifhm.ent of prophecies, far more important

preaching ' tb fave
them that believe.

II For the Jews
require a /fign, and
the Greeks fe?k after
wifdom :

23 But we preach
Chrift crucified, un
to the Jews a ftum
bling-block, and un
to the Greeksfoolilh-
nefs J

24. But unto them
which are called,
both Jews and
Greeks, Chrift the
power of God, and
the wifdom of God.

e The yevis demand a ftgn. Sec] When
we confider how many miracles were con
tinually wrought by, and upon the frft
prcarliers and converts of Chriftianity,
this may feem an aftonifhing demand ;
b\it from a memorable pafi-age in Jofe-
p'hus, in which he fpeaks of sin'impoftor,
promifing his folloviers to Ihew them a
fign of their being fet at liberty from the
Roman yokt, compared with their re
quiring from Chrift, amidft the full tor
rent of his miracles, a fign from heaven ;
I am led to conclude, that thc fenfe given
in the paraphrafe'is the genuine interpreta
tion of this much controverted pjfiage.
See tbe paraphraje and note on Mat. xii. i,
38, Volv I. p. 3;i6j and Mat. xvi. 1,
P- 457- .
f To the Jews indeed aftumbling-block.]
It is well known, that nothing expofed
Chriftianity more to thc conteropt of the

Jews than the doftrine of the crojs ; they
therefore called Chrift in derifion, *n^lO
Tolvi, the man that tvas hanged, that is, on
the iirojs ; and Chriftians, ^yptB ^'^'3'HAbde
tolvi, the dijciples of tbe cruc'ifted malefaSior-,
and by a paranomafta, or malignant play
ing on the word, they called, iva.yyn'^.M
Tl^.^ I'M Aven gelon, « revelation ef
vanity. See Leigh's Cr'it'Ka Sacra in loc.
g To the Greeks foolijhnejs.] It is well
, known how profanely Ludlan infults the
Chriftians, on worlhipping a crucified im-
poftor ; and many of the fathers fpeak of
the fame reproach. Archbilhop Tillot
jon appears to have given credit to the
charge brought againft the Jefuits, who,
to avoid the like oft'ence of the Chinefe,
denied that Chrifi tvas crucified, and repre
fented it, as an invention of the Jews to
afperfc Chriftianity. Tillotfo/t't IVorks,
Vol. II. p. 284. than

which, though defpifed, is ihe power of God to ihem who are called; 205
than any event which their carnal brethren ex- Sect.
peft -, and the believing Gentile finds it infinitely "'
fuller of Divine wifdom and goodnefs to a loft i Cor.

25 Becaufe the
foolilhncfs of God is
wifer than raen j and
the weaknefs of God
is ftronger than men.

26 For ye fee your
calling brethren,
how that not many
wife men after the
fielh, not many migh
ty, not many noble
are called ;

27 But God hath
chofen the foolilh
things of the world
to confound the wife ;
and God hath chofen
the weak things of
the world to confound
the things which are
mighty ';

world, than any fyftem of philofophy that was l- 25
ever invented. And Well ' may they thus
judge, becaufe what the world profanely cenfures
as a folly moft unworthy of God *¦, is, and in
its effefts appears to be, incomparably wifer
than all the projefts which the wit of men can
devife ; and what it impioufly infults, as the
weaknefs of Chriftian teachers, which it charges
them with falfely afcribing to God, being- really
his own work, 'will be found to he ftronger than
all the efforts which men can make, either td
reform the world any other way, or to obftruft
the prevalency and fuccefs of thi&: and this is
the neceflary confequence of its being indeed
Divine. And for the farther illuftration of this 26
thought, let me call you to behold, and ferioufly
to contemplate, your calling^, brethren; con
fider the ftate of your fellow-Chriftians in ge
neral, and even of thofe who are employed as
minifters of the gofpel, and you will perceive
[there are] not many wife according to the flefl,
according to thofe maxims which a fenfual
world governs itfelf by, in its principles of fecu
lar policy ; there are not many mighty heroes re
nowned for their martial courage, there are not
many of noble birth and illuftrious rank among
men to be found on their lift. But God hath 27
chofen thofe that are reputed the foolifl things of
the ivorld, ihat he may fhame the wife men of
whom it is moft ready to boaft ; and the iveak
thhigs of ihe vjorld, vvho pretend to no 'extraor
dinary ftrength or valour, hath God chofen, that
he may, by their hcroick patience under the
fevereft fufferipgs, flame its mighty tilings, which
have never been able with all their boafted fierce-
nefs, to equal that meek fortitude with which

Il The folly of Go4, &C.] As it is abfo
lutely impoiiible that there Ihould be ei-
ther folly or tveaknefs im God, fo it is cer--
tain, that the wprld did not in general be
lieve there was; and confequently thefe
firong phrafes muft be ufed in a very pe-
" culiar fenfe, and muft mean that fcl/eme,
whicji was really bis, though the world.

for want of underftanding it, reprefented
it as 'Weaknefs and folly unworthy of
Co^. i Tour calling.] L'Enfant renders it,
thofe among you, who are called ; which,
with many other palTages in this verfion,
retains the, f2nfe, but departs from the
exaftnefs of St, Paul's expreffion.
O3

ao6

That he who glorieih, might glo'ry in the Lord,

Sect III.

I Cor,
I. »8

we trace the footftiips of the Lamb of God :
Arid ignoble things of the world hath God chofen,
and things moft (;ommonly and fcorrifullyy?/ at
nought^ among mert; yea, and things which
are noi^ in the leaft regarded, but overlooked
as if they had np being, and were below con
tempt itfelf, hath God chofen, thai he may abo
lifh and annihilate things ihat are in the higheft
•efteem, and make the rnoft illuftrious figure
20 among the children of men ; Thai his great
end of humbling us might be more effeftu ally
fecured, and that no flefl might boaft of any ad-
70 vantages or diftinftions in his prefence. For
on the whole, all we have that is worth men
tioning, we receive from Chrift ; and we re
ceive it from him as the gift of God, fince it is
of him, and his free rnercy and grace, th'z.tye are
called to fhare in the bleflings given by Chrift
Jefus his Son. He exhibits this bleffed Saviour
t6 us, arid difpofes our hearts to accept of him,
who amidft our ignorance and folly, is made of
God unio us a fource of wifdom : and through
him, guilty as we are, we receive righteoufnefs ;
polluted as we are, we ohtzm faniiification ; and
inflaved as we naturally are to the power of our
lufts, and the dominion of Satan, we obtain
31 by him complete redemption'". So thai we
may now indeed boaft of our happy change, in
¦whatever point of light it be confidered ; but it
is a boaft not of infolent prefumption, but hum
ble gratitude ; as ii is written, (Jer. ix. 23, 24 ;
Ifa. Ixv. 1 6,) '« He that boafteth, let him boaft
" in the Lord, and in this, that he knoweth me
" who exercife loving kindnefs, judgment, and
" righteoufnefs on the e^th." •

28 And bafe things
of the world, an4
things which are de
fpifed, hath God
chofen,, yea, 'and
things which are not,
to bring to noijght
things that are ; '

'29 That no flelh
Ihould glory in his
prefence. 30 But of him are
ye in Chrift Jefus,
who of God is. made
unto us v/lfdom, and
righteoufnefs, and
fanftification , and r«i
demption ;

31 That, accord
ing as it is written.
He that glorieth, let
him glory- in th?
Lord.

k Things fet at nought.] Agreeable to
this, the Danifti miffionaries tell us, that
moft of the Malabarian converts were the
pooreft of the people ; the poets-and wits,
i^ho valued themfelves upo/their genius,
learning, and politenefs, defpifing the
gojpel, and doing their utmoft to oppofe
its progrefs. See Nieuchamp's excellent
Hiftory of this impott^t ffii^m;.
1 Things which arc not.] Dr. 'Whitby

Ihews here, how well this feprefents the
fdpreme contempt in which the Jews
held the Gentiles. Compare Deut. xxxii.
ZI ; Ifa. xl. 17.
m Wijdom, righteoujnejs. Sec] Bos
would render the words, for of him, (in
Chrifi Jefus, who is made of God unto us
Wifdom,) ye -are righteoujnefs, fan£i'ifica-
tion, and redemption, that is, completely
juftified, fanftified and redeemed.

IMPROVEMENT

Refieftiions on the wifdom of God being defpifed by the world, 207

IMPROVEMENT.
May Divine grace form the tafte of minifters, and their hearers. Sect.
more to' this doftrine ol ,Chrift crucified! May he every-where '^''•
be preached; and ihat be accounted thetrueft zuifdom of words '
by which his crofs may become moft effcaciotis. There cannot Vec|e
be furely a more evident demonftration of folly, or a more dread- 1 7
ful token of approaching ruin, than defpifing the wifdom of God,
and the power of God. If we are ever fhakeii by that contempt 1%
fdr the gojpel which fb ~^many are continually ready in our age to
exprefs, let us recolleft what glorious effefts it hath produced;
whilft, in the midft of fiich illuftrations of the wifdom of God,
the world by all its wifdom kneiv not its Maker; how many believers 'J-l
have been faved, hwv many by believing are daily brought into
the way of falvation ? In this view let us triumphantly fay, fVhere
is the wife, the fcribe, the difputer of this ivorld : what has wifdom, ,2o '
learning, difputation done, in comparifon of what the plain and
fimple doftrine of a crucified Saviour has wrought, and is con
tinually working } Let us earqeftly pray, ¦ that God would, by
the power of his graoe, difperfe the prejudices of men ; that the
Jews may not-fo demand a ftgn, as that Chrift crucified fhould be 23
a ftumbling-block to them, nor ihe moft learned of the Gentiles fo
feek after fcience, as that the wifdom of God Ihould ke-cn fooliflnefs 24.
to ihem; but that both may join in feeling, and owning, how
Divinely wife, and how Divinely powerful, the difpenfation of the
gofpel 'is.
Let us not be offended with our calling, though fo few of the 26
wife, the mighty, and the noble, partake of its benefits. If God 27
hath chofen the weak things, they fhall confound the mighty ; and
the foolifh, they ^2^ flame the wife. Never fhall we find ourfelves
truly happy, till we come to feel that we are naturally foolifh
and guilty, polluted and enflaved ; and that our wifdom and rlgh~
teoujnefs, our faniiification and redemption, are in ChriJi, who is oq
nmde unto Us ofi God all this, and indeed all in all. Then fhall
we know, and not till therf, what true glory means, even when
we can abafe ourfelves to the duft in his prefence, and have leamed
only to glor'j in the Lord, ^

31

SECT. IV.
The Apofile farther illuftrates ihe reafons for which he had declined
all ofl enfation of eloquence, when he came. among the Corinthians ;
and particularly infifts on the extraordinary nature of the fails
and doilrines he was to teach ; which were of a much higher
original than any difcoveries which hmnan wit or learning could
make, and were to he traced up to the immediate teachings af
O 4 the

20^ He had preached in the demonftration of ihe Spirit ;
the Holy Spirit ; 'their nature being fo wonderful, thai it was
difficult for the corrupted minds of men to receive them, even
when they were taught, i Cor;- II. I, to ihe end.

I Corinthians II. i.

S^CT IV.

I Cor,
U.J,

T Have obferved that the defign of God in
•^ .the gofpel is of a very humbling nature, ad
mirably calculated to ftain the pride of human
glory, and bring men to boaft in him alone.
And with truth and pleafure, / can fay to you,
my brethi-en, that in perfeft harmony with this
>vife and excellent fcherrie, when /firft came
among you, I came not with the pomp of language^,
or worldly wijdom, with the laboured charms of
eloquence, or philofophy : for I remembered,
that I was declaring to you xto human invention,
which needed or admitted fuch ornaments or
recommendations, but was exhibiting the tefti
mony of God to a plain faft, for which I pror
duced authentic evidence by vifible Divine ope
rations. I therefore endeavoured to exhibit it
in as intelligible a way as I could, and treated it
as one who believed that it really came from
God, and fo needed not the varnifliing of human
3 art. For I was previoufly determined in my
¦ mind, thai fond as I knew you were of refined
fpeculation, and polite addrefs, / would appear
to know ^, and employ myfelf to make known,
nothing among you ^, but Jefus as the Chrift,
the great promifed Mefliah of the Jews, even
thai crucified perfon '', againff whom fo many
fcandals ^re raifed. Yet did I refolve fteadily to

I Cox. IL 1.
A ND I, brethren,
when I came to
you, came not with
excellency of fpeech,
or of wifdom, de
claring unto you the
teftimony of God.

2 For I determi
ned not to know any
thing among you,
fave Jefus Chrift, and
him crucified.

a The pomp of language.] This cer
tainly alludes to the vain aft-eftation of fu-
blimity and fubtilty fo common among
^he Greeks of that age, and very remote
from the true eloquence in which (as was
obferved above) our apofile did fo re
markably excel.' L'Enfant thinks, he
refers to his not being perfeftly mafter of
the Greek language in all its purity and
elegance with which the Corinthians
fpoke it ; but I prefer the former fenfe,
as more fuitable to the original.
b Appear to know.] In that fenfe, the
word yetxa-nx, is ufed by Pindar, {Olymp.
xiii,) and it is moft natural to give it that
fignificaticn here.
c Among you.] There feems a peculiar
empkafis in this expreffion; as if the
¦ ¦ 4

apoftle had faid, I did not change my ufir
method at Corinth, and you know wi;....
what glorious fuccefs it was attended.
*1 Even that crucified perjon : nal ru '
sira-j^-jifABvor.] the Jews and heather.
probably gave Chrift this nanie by way e.
contempt ; but St. Paul declares, that in
ftead of concealing this as an Infamy and
fcandal, it was the main thing he infifted
upo<ij as indeed all, the moft important
doftrines of the gofpel ftand in a clofe
and natural conneftion with it*- And np
doubt but he took them in that connec
tion ; for he refers in the courfe of thefe
epiftles, to feveral doftrines relating to the
Father, and the Holy Spirit, as what he
had taught them, tjiough not exprefsly
included in the doftrine of the crucifixion. ma'in-

that their faith might depend on ihe power of God. 205
maintain the doftrine of his crofs, and endea- Sict.
vour to exalt its honours wherever I came, not ^^"
And I was with excepting your opulent and polite city. And Tcor"
¦¦ .- ""^'f •''''' '"^ to this plan you know I refolutely adhered, tho* II. f
in tear, add in much '^ . , 1 . , - , ¦ r ,•
/ was With you in weaknefs, and m fear, and m
much trembling; for I know I had enemies about
me on every fide, (Afts xviii. 6, 9,) and laboured
under natural dif(idvant.iges, (2 Cor. x. 10,)
and the force of the prejudice which I had to
encounter was ftrong. And you well know, 4
that my fpeech in private, nnd my preaching in
pubiick, [ziiflj] not in the perfuajive difcourfes of
human wijdom,", eloquence or philofophy, nor
with that pomp and fophiftry of argument which
the learned men of the world are fo ready to'
affeft. Bnt far from being contemptible on that
account, it had other much nobler recommen
dations ; for it was in the demonftration of ihe
Spirit, and of power, by the moft convincing
evidence, arifing, both from the prophecies of
the Old Teftament infpired by the Holy Ghoft,
and from the miraculoiis energy which he hath
exerted in and by the apoftles, and other mini- ,
fters of the New. And. on this I laid the 5
whole ftrefs ; ihat your faith ftiould not depend on
the wijdom, reafon, or addrefs oJ men ; but on

you in weaknefs, and
in fear, a<ii
trembling;

4 And my fpeech,
and my preaching
was not with enticing
words of man's wif
dom, but in demon
ftration of the Spirit,
and of power :

5 That your faitii
Oiould not ftand in
the wifdom of men,
but in the power of
God.

6 Howbeit, we
fpeak wifdom among
tlicmthat.ire perfeft:
yet not the wifdom

the power of God, a much furer foundation,
which fhews how little reafon you have to
value yourfelves on any appearance of the for
mer. Neverthelefs , though we want what is com
monly called human wifdorr), yet we fpeak the
trueft and moft excellent wifdom among thofe
of this world, nor of who are perfeit, and ifl may fo exprefs it, com-
v™-id^'''t"h" cl Tto P'^'^^'y initiated into thefe Divine myfteries; fuch
jjought. well inftrufted and experienced fouls will bear
witnefs to its incomparable excellence. But we
fpeak not the wifdom of this worlds nor hj the
rulers of this world ; nor that which is admired
and fought by the great politicians of the age,
whether Jews or Gentiles, who neverthelefs flail
foon be brougnt down and abolifhed, fhall find
difficult and dreadful fcpnes arifing, in which all

e Perfuafive difcourfes of human wijdom,] and fo, I think, it is rendered by the ce.
This feems to be the juft rendering of the jebrated Archbilhop of Cambray.
ctpreHjon WiiSilif tt'/BinTtim fofi"; 'Koyo-.s, their

He had preached the hidden wifdom of God ;

9.SO SicT. their boafted fagacity and penetration ¦w\\\ he of
^^' no avail '; But we, taught of God to def-
3 Cor. pi fe the tranfient vanities which delude them.

11- 7 fpeak what muft be infinitely more worthy your
moft attentive confideration and regard ; for it is
the wijdom of God himfelf in a myftery : that
myfterious wifdorn, which was long hidden and
entirely unknown, and now appears to contain
wonders which no underftanding of man or
angel can fully penetrate ; even that wifdom
which God from eternal .ages ^ pre-determined
rn the fecret of his own alUcomprehending mind,
for the great purpofes of our final falvation and
8 glory '". A wifdom this, which none of the
Jcvvifli rulp's of this our age, or of the heathen
that were concerned in it, knew; for if they had
indeed known [iif] they would not by any means '
have prefiimed to have crucified one fo greatly
their fuperior, as the Lord if glory ; wicked as
they were, they would for their own fakes have
been afraid to attack the Son of God, his long
prcH-nifed Mefliah, had they been thoroughly ap-
«j prized of his high charafter and dignity. But
[this is,] as it is written^, (Ifa. Ixi v. 4,) when the

7 But we fpeak the '
wifdom of God in a
myftery, even the
hidden •zujWjm, which
Cod ordained before
the world unto oijr
glory i '

8 'Which none of
the rulers of this
world knew ; for had
they known it, they
would not have cru
cified the Lord of
glory.

9 But as it is writ ten.

¦ f Politicians of the age, &c.] Mr.
Locke infifts uppn it, as an obfervation of
_ jreat importance, tlptauBt bI©. generally
fignifies the Jewijh ceconomy; and fup-
yofes that the apoftle here alfo aims a
filent ftroke at the Jewijh teacher that fet
Mmfelf up in oppofition to him, and re
fers to the approaching deftruftion of the
Jews by the Romans. And Mr. L'En-
Jaat agrees with this, only explaining
It of the learned rabbles of their fyna-
gogues. ' But as the Jew'ip magiftrates, or
fcribes, were not the only princes in cru
cifying .Chrift, (compare Afts iv. 27,)
and as the word aim, ,has fometimes un
doubtedly a more extenfive fignificatlon,
(compare Rom. xii. 2 ; Gal. i. 4 ; Eph.
ii. 2; chap. vi.i2i 2 Tim. iv. 10; Tit. ii.
13; and .even in this ep'iftle, chap. iii. 18,
and the next chapter, iv. 4j) and as St.
Paul's obfervation here may fo well be ap--
plred' to Gentile, as well as Jewifli princes,
I law no reafon for limiting the fenfe,
¦which I never choofe to do, without fome
apparent nccefiity. On the fame prin
ciple, I have receded from Mr; Locke's
interpretation of the next verje.
i FrM eternal ages.] To what I have

juft faid of my reafons fojr not interpreting
this of thc time of fetting U^ the Jeviijh
eeconcmy, 1 muft add, that it figniffes
little, to endeavour to bring fuch expref
fions down to any period of time. If it
be granted, that they intend any thing
previous to the exiftence of thofe to whom
they refer, the fame dithculties will ft'ril
lie in tiie way ; nor is it poffible to avoid
them. ,
h €ur final falvation ani glory.] L'En
fant explains this, of the glory of tli •
apoftles, in being appoiiited to publilh this
revelation ; but the fenfe we have given
equally fults the phrafe, and is much more
' fublime and important. -^
1 J^ot by any means.] ' ax av, is an ex-
prelHon which feems to have this, force. ,
Compare Luke xxiii. 34.
k As it is written, &c.] The context
in Ifa. Ixlv. may well be explained, to ex
prefs the Church's earneft defire of the mani
feftation of the glories of the Meffiah's king
dom ; and I (hink it. more probable, that
this is a ^ufitation of thofe words,with fome
little variation, than that it refers to a paf
fage faid to have been found in an apocry
phal book ai'cribed to Elijah, (which
probably*

no

fit according to tic fpirit of the world, but of God : ~ 211

ten. Eye hath not the prophet, fpcaklllg of the bleflings of thc Sect.
feen, nor ear heard Mefj^^h's kingdom, favs, Evc hath mt feen, nei- ^^^
neither have entered , , . 9 I I . -'. -J . . ^ .

intothehpartofman, ther hath ear heard, neither have entered into the , Cor.
the things vvhich God heart f man, ivhat ^onons. things God hath pre- II. 9
hath prepared for pared for them ihat love him. Nor "had the 10
them that love him. ¦¦ -',. r 1 ¦ j ..u 1 .
10 But God harh, generality ot mankind, or even the people who
revealed thun un:n enjoyed the benefit of the Jewifh fcripuirc, any
us by his Spirit: for ju(t conception of the nature of this fublime
the Sp.rit fearcheth , ^^ ^, method bv which it was to be ac-
all things, yea, the r ,. , ,-, r^ i i i 1 ir i " "¦'¦
deep things of God. complilhed. But God hath reve'aled[them\ to us
Chriftians, and efpecially to us his apoftles, by
the extraordinary iiifpiration of his Spirit, who
intimately and fully knows them : for the Spirit
fearcheth and penetrates all things, even the deep
things of God, the profoundeft myfteries of his
counfels, and his gofpel. (Compare Rom. xvi. 25;
II For what man ^.oh. \. Q ; chap. iii. "2, C, 7.) And well may n
Jinoweth the things i^ , ' • /¦ - X. i\ /i, r ..-c- j.- 1
of a man, fave the "^ be acquainted With all thefe things ; Jor ivho
fpirit of man, which of mankind knoweth the things of a man, the fecret
is in him.' even fo receffes of his mind, on many occafions, and in
knowe'^th ^'no*" m^nt many circumftances, unleft it be fhe fpirit of a
but the Spirit of God! man which is in him^, which knows it by con
fcioufnefs, to a degree of certainty which no
obfervation or reafoning can produce in another;
fo alfo no one knoweth the things of God, but the
Spirit of God himfelf, who is intimately con
fcious of all, and can conceal, or difcover, what
ever he pleafes.
^ 12 Now we have ^^^ this is entirely to the prefent purpofe ; iz
rit"o/the world' bit for the fpirit, which' we have received, is not
the Spirit which is of that of the world, nor do we govern ourfelves
God ; that we might by thofe carnal views which engrofs and enflave
'"'OW ^Q great a part of mankind ; but we have re
ceived, in large and liberal fupplies, thai Spirit,
which is from God, and which is the nobleft of
his gifts to the children of men, by which their
minds are both informed and regulated ; that fo
we might both notionally and* experimer\tally
., probably was 2. forgery of much later date the perfeB acquaintance viith all the Divine
than this time,^ wliiere thefe words are in- fchemes and purpofes which the Holy
deed extant, being perhaps tranfcribed Spirit has, and which the apoftle's argu-
from St. Paul. ment direftly proves, that no creature can
1 The fpirit of a man.i] I do not ap- have : fo that it feems a glorious proof
prehend that the diftinftion between the of the Deity of the .Spirit, and has accord-
foul and jpirit, to which fome refer thefe ingly been urged as fuch, by all .who have
words, is of great importance in the in- defended that important doftrine.
terpretatian of diejn. They mi<ft Jigrafy
hmv

212

And in words diiiaied by the Holy Spirit ;

Sect, know the things which are J'reely given us by
 '_ God': IFh'ich we aljo make it our bufinefs to
J Cor. Jpeak, and to communicate to others, not in
II. 13 words diiiaied by human wijdom, to excite men's
curiofity, amufe their imaginations, or gain their
applaufe ; but in thoje diilated by the Holy
Spirit^'; and confequently beft adapted to convey
fuch ideas as he would impart, and to imprefs
the hearts and confciences of men, with a reve
rent and deep fenfe of, thofe holy myfteries :
and this we do with all ferious care and atten
tion, explaining Juch Jpiritual diXid fublime things
by Jpiritual " [jjuords,] fuggefted by him as belt
14 adapted to them. Bui in the mean time,
vain and foolifli men find a great deal in our
preaching to cavil at, and objeft againft, And
it is no wonder they do ; for the animal man °,
who crtitinues under the influence of his appe
tites and paffions, and is a ftranger to the noble
exercifes and principles- of the Divine life,
receiveth not, with any inward relifh or fenfe,
ihe things oJ the Spirit of God, which are too
fublime and refined for his low, corrupted and
degenerate tafte : for in proportion to the degree
in which they are full of Divine Wifdom, they
will appear fooliflnefs to him ; neither can he
rightly know [them,] whilft he continues in his
prefent ftate, and under fuch unhappy prejudices
as thefe : for they afe fpiritually dlfcerned, and
a man muft have a fpiritual tafte, formed by the
influences of the Holy Spirit upon his heart,
before he will thoroughly enter into their excel-
15 lence. But the fpiritual man, whofe heart,
illuminated and fanftified by the Divine Spirit,
is fet on fpiritual' and noble objefts, difcerneth
nil things about him rightly, while he h'lmfelf is

know the things that
are freely given to us
of God.
13 Which things
alfo we fpeak, not in
the words . which
man's wifdom teach
eth, but which thc
HolyGhoft teacheth j
comparing fpiritual _
things^with fpiritual.

14 But the natural
man' receiveth not
the thmgs of the Spl.
rit of God : for they
are - foolilhnefs unto
him 5 neither can he
know them, becaufe
they are fpiritually
dlfcerned.

i; But he that is
fpiritual judgeth all
things, yet he him- ¦ felf

m Thoje d'lliated by the Holy Sp/ir'^t.]
This expreffion may certainly convince
us, of the great regard which we ought
always to maintain to the ivords of fcrip
ture ; and may efpecially teach minifters
howattcntivelythey Ihould ftudy its beau-
tJcr, and how careful they Ihould be to
make it the fupport of their difcourfes,
r. Explaining jpiritual th'mgs, Ue.] This
fenfe of (Tu^'KgiKjvIe? occurs. Gen. xl. 8;
and Numb. xv. 34, in the Seventy.
0 The animal man.] ¦Without examin

ing all that the learned and judicious Dr.
Owen hath faid one way on this text, or
Dr. Claget, and Dr. Stebbing another, I
have taken that which feems to me the
due medium, and for the farther vindica
tion of this expofition, muft refer to
Clifford, in the 2d volume of the Phanixi
p. 544, and to my third letter to th/ Author
of Chriftianity not founded on Argument,
p. 39, 40, only reminding my reader,
that this very word 4w'"! '^ rendered
fer.jtigl, Jam, iii, 15; Jude, ver. 13.
difcerned;

for ihe c^oftks have the mind of Chrift. ^13
felf is judged of no dlfcerned by no man; by none of thofe who are Sect.
"^"•. moft forward and heady in- their cenfures ; ¦ but ' '
" rernains like a man endowed yvith fight» among
thofe born blind, ¦who are incapable of appre
hending what is clear to hira, and amidft their
own darknefs cannot participate of, nor under
ftand, thofe beautiful ideas and pleafing fenfations
which light pours 'upoH him.
26 .For who hath ^j^d furely, if you confider mattprs aright, 16
thTTorf t'hLf he yo"' cannot much wonder at this. For who hath
may inftruft him ? known the mind of the Lord, or who hath inftruii-
Butwe have the mind gif him? There muft undoubtedly be in the
of Chnft. Divine counfels, many fecret and hidden things,
and a man muft have a mind, capacious as that
of the bleffed God himfelf, to take upon him to
judge of his fchemes, and arraign his conduft.
But we, even I Paul, and my brother-apoftles,
have the mind of Chr'ift '^, who is the incarnate
wifdom of God himfelf; and therefore we are
not to be called to the bar of thofe who arro
gantly pretend, merely on the foot of human
reafon, to cenfure us, as fome of your prefump- '
tuous teachers do, to their own fhame, and the
detriment of thofe that hearken to their fug-
geftions.

IMPROVEMENT.
Let it be the refolution of every Chriftian, and efpecially the Verf?
determination of every minifter, with St. Paul, to know nothing 2
hut Jefus Chrift, even him that was crucified: to efteem this the
moft important of all knowledge, to cultivate it in their own minds,
and endeavour to propagate«it to others. With this Divine fcience, i
(hall thofe minifters of the gofpel, who knew leaft of the excel
lency of fpeech and the enticing words of man's wifdom, do more
important things for the reformation of the world, and the falva
tion of fouls, than without it, the greateft mafters ot language,
or adepts in philofophy, will ever be able to effeft. Let the
P Who hath inftruBed h'lm.] Some good , had been fufpefted amongft themj yet
interpreters, and particularly Mr. Pyle and he does not direftly propofe, but obliijucly
Dr. Guyfe, explain this of the jpiritual infinuate, arguments againft fuch fuf-
man ; but it feems more agreeable to the picions ; arguments which might poflefs
conftruftion, and its conneftion with their minds before they were aware of
what follows, by b'lm, to underftand God. what he intended to eft'eft by them. This
1 We have the m'lnd of Chrft.] This important remark will often prefent it-
part of the epifile is very artificially con- felf to the attentive reader of St. Paul's

dufted. He, is now aiming at the great- epiftles,
point of eftablifhing his authority which

princes

2l+ Refteilions <m the preaching of Chrift by the power of God-.
Sect, princes of this world boaft of the knowledge and refined policy
^ ^^' which is fo foon to perlfl, by ;wliich fo many of their fubjefts
Verfe perifh, and fometimes themfelves before their lime. In how many
6 inftances floes it leave them to imitate the deftruftive maxims of
thofe, who, under pretence of pubiick good, but really under the
8 inftigation of the bafeft private paffions, crucified Jefus, the ado
rable Saviour, the Lard iff glory.
May God teach us more of that hidden wifdom which they who
are truly initiated into real Chriflianity know, and which opens
g upon us views and hopes, beyond what eye hath feen, or ear heard,
or it hath particularly and fully entered into the heart ofi man ' to
conceive. There is no need we fhould diftinftly conceive it. It
is enough that we know in the general, it is what God hath pre-
parecTJor them ihat love him; which confideration may furely teach
us to trample under our feet that which he fp often beftows on them
who hate him, and are abhorred by hini ; on thofe with whom he is
angry euery day.^
May that Spirit, which Jearcheih all things, ¦ even the hidden
12 things oft God, give us more deeply and affeftionately to know the
things which are Jreely given us of God, and to adore that free grace
from which we receive them ! Thefe things we learn with the
13 higheft advantage from the holy fcriptures, where they are delivered
in words which the Holy Ghoft taught: in words therefore, the moft
admirably adapted to exprefs thofe fpiritual and fublime ideas they
were intended to communicate : In which words confequently, we
learn to fpeak of the things of God with the exafteft propriety and
the trueft edification.
May we be enab]ed Jpiritually to dljcem them, with whatever
14 contempt they may be treated by natural, that is, by animal men ;
by thofe, whg, though conceited of their rational powers, can
relifh little or nothing but what relates to this low and fenfual life.
15 Confcious of that inward difcerning, which difcovers all th'mgs to
us in their true 4ight, even things of infinite importance, may we
pity that undifcerning ra-fhnefs of bliri3 arrogance and pride, with
which fome, who think themfelves the wifeft in proportion to the
degree in which they are the moft wretched of mankind, may treat
us, and not only us, but that-^£^^/ which is our glory and our
16 joy. IVe have the mind of Chrift delivered to us by his holy apoftles,
who were intimately and miraculoufly inftrufted in it. Let
us humbly receive the oracles they deliver ; and whilft others are
prefuming haughtily to cenfure them, may we think ourfelves
happy, if, with ineek fubjeftion to their unerring authority, we
may fit at the feet of fuch teachers, and regulate our lives by their
infliruftions !
SECT.

He could not fpeak io -the Corinthians, iut as to. bSei in Chrft. 215

S EC T.

The Apoftle reproves the carnality bf ihe Corinthians, in contending
ahput human teachers, and urges many important confiderations to
cvre them of fo unbecoming a temper, t Cor. III. i — 9.

1 CoR. III. I.
AND Ij brethren,
could not fpeak
unto you as unto fpi
ritual, but as unto
carnal, even as unto
babes in Chrift.

2 I have fed you
with milk, and not
with meat : for hi
therto

I Cor.
III. I

I Corinthians III. i.
T Havk been fpeaking of that great plainnefs sucr.,
¦*¦ with which I addreffed myfelf to you when v.
I came to preach the gofpel among you at Co
rinth ; and I hope, my brethren, you will not
defpife me for it : for triily, as it became my
charafter as an apoftle of Chrift, fo it fuited
yours, as being under the power of prejudices,
wluch fo far prevailed, that even when you virerc
converted to the piofeftTion of Chriftianity, I
could not^ fpeak unto you as unto fpiritual perfons,
who had made any attainments in religion, pro
portionable to the illuminations and influences
of the Spirit, which you had received : but was
obliged in many inftances to addrefs yoUj as
th-ofe who were ftill in too great a meafure, car
nal in your temper and views, and therefore
were but as babes in Chrift ', and beginners in
the Divine life, I might have faid fubfimer
thihgs, and in a more elevated manner ; but
found fo much pride and faftion among you,
that it was neceffary to infift much upon the
plain and fundamental doftrines of the crofs,
¦rather than on things, which, if they might
have fuited your inclinations better, would have
fuited your circumftances lefs. / was forced 2
to preach to you, as tp perfons weal^ as infants ;
and fo feed you ' with milk '', which I did as it
were pour into your mouths with a tendernefs,
like that of a mother, or ia nurfe, )yhen feeding
her fucking child ; and could not conveniently
feed you with ftrong meat. I waved difcourfing

» Babes in Chrift.] By explaining this
il beginhert in the Divine life, or fuch as
had made but little proflctericy in it, we
reconcile this with thofe paflages which
fpeitk of the eMinency of their gifts.
I Cor. i. 5 ; 2 Cor. -viii. ".
b fed you with inilk.] The i*ord tvtr-
9ur«, cia^lly |igftifies, Igiveyou to drink ;

but as that rendering would not fuit the
other word with which it is connefted,
ftrong meat, I thought it beft ta retain
our verfion. Parallel inftances to this
manner of expreflion, are produced by Mr.
Blackwall, in his Sttcrld Clajpeks,, Vol. I.
p. 7».
on

2l6

He tells ihem of their envying, and ftrife, Sec.

Sect, gn fome of thofe doftrines which left room for
^' the curiofities of fublimer fpeculation, and ad-
1 Cor. mitted of the greateft ornaments of difcourfe '^,
in. 2 becaufe ye were not then able [to bear it ;] nor
indeed are ye yei able ; as I perceive by the ac
count which our brethren give of your prefent
3 ftate. For it evidently appears, by what I
hinted above, that ye are yet cnrnaK ftill .under
the influence of weak, and indeed finful, pre
judices. I appeal to your own confciences on
this occafion for the proof of this : while [there
is] emulation, and contention, and fail ions among
you, are you not indeed carnal ? and do ye not
zvalk and conduft yourfelves, as unregenerate
. men do ? So that by this behaviour, a ftranger
wpuld not know that you were Chriftians, or
fee any thing in you above uninftrufted and un-
4 fanftified nature. For when you eagerly con
tend about the honours of this or that teacher,
and fet him up as the head of a diftinguifliing
party ; fo that one fays, I ant for Paid, and
another, I am for Apollos'^, I admire the fubfime
fentiments of the one, and I the fine language
and addrefs of the other ; are ye not carnal? and
do ye not talk in the fpirit of your heathen
neighbpiirs, who have their favourite philofo-
5 phers and orators too ? And is this language
for Chriftians r JfTio then is Paul ? and ivho [is]
Apollos ? For what reafon do you regard either
the one or the other? Is it for no confideration
but that of talents,, which they have in common
with many who are ftrangers to the gofpel ? Or
ought it not rather to be in a different view ?
even becaufe they are the minifters of Chrift, .^y
whofe mearis you have been inftrufted in his

therto ye were not
able to bear it, neither
yet now are ye able.

3 For ye are yet
carnal j for whereas
there is among you
envying, and ftrife,
and divifions, .are )k
not carnal, and walk
as raen ?

4 For while one
faith, I am of Paul,
and another, I am of
Apollos, are ye not
carnal ?

5 Who then is
Paul, and who is A-
poUos', but minifters
bywhom ye believed, even

_c Ornaments of difcourfe.] If any
think that thc ufe of them might have
been a proper condefcenfion to their weak
nefs, it is to be remembered, that the
emulation of eloquence fo ready to prevail
among them, might have rendered fuch
an indulgence dangerous.
d I for Apollos.] Mr. Locke fancies,
(comparing chap. iv. 6,) that by Apollos,
¦Paul means that Jew'ift? teacher who was
fet up in oppofition to him, and came
among them, after he had preacheiji the
gojpel to them ; but it feems mush more

probable to me, efpecially firom the tixl
jaft referred to, that he chofe this name,
tliat he might give no offence, and to Ihew
that he Ihould lament and condemn any
divifton among them, thpugh it were in
favour of himfelf, or the deareft friend he
ha^ in tlie world._ I cannet think St. Paul
would have defcribed the falfe apoftle, if
there were any one perfon wiio might be '
fo called, as watering his plantation, which'
he rather wafted j or have fpoken of hlm-
ftlf, and that mefjenger of Satan, as one ;
as he does verfe J. reli'giortr

BtJl lb his and Apollos' labours God gave the Irtcreafe,

2*7

eifen as the Lord gave
to every man ?

6 I have planted,
.Apollos watered ; but
God gave the in-
creafe.

7 ScJtHen, neither
13 he that planteth
any thing, neither he
that watereth ; but
God that, giveth the
increafes

8 Now he that
planteth, and he that
watereth, are one :
and every man Ihall
receive his own re-
wardi according "to
his oVfnf labour.

9 For We are la
bourers together with
Cod : ye are God's
hulbandry.

religion, and under whofe teachings ye have be- Sect.
lieved and embraced it ; and becaufe they have ^'
humbly attempted to do their part for this great i cor.
purpofe, even as ihe Lord gave ih every man in- S
both furniture and fuccefs. / hate planted a 6
Chriftian church among you ; Apollos has fince
watered it by his affefting and ufeful addreffes,
(Afts xviii. 27,) but it was God who gave ihe
increafe, and caufed the plantation thus watered
to grow : no labourer can make his feed fpring
fip without the influence of heaven, fifnfhihe,
and rain. When you come therefore to com- n
pare our part with that of God, it appeareth even
as nothing, in the comparifbn. We freely own,
that ho-w highly fpever you iftay think of us, he
ihat planteth is nothing at all, and he thai Water
eth ; but God, who by his efficacious Spirit land
grace giveth the increafe, is all in all.
But as for this oppofition which you make 8
between us, and this zeal with which you con
tend for one againft another, it is altogether un
reafonable and abfurd : for he that planteth, and ,
he thaf watereth, are one ^ 5 we are united in
intereft, and united in defign and affeftion ; fo
that inftead of being pleafed, we are rather dif
pleafed and grieved, with thefe invidious com-
parifons in favour of either. ,Oar great concern
is, to pleafe our great Lord, to whom we are
fhortly to give up our account,' and from whom
we flail receive, every one, his own proper re
ward according to his o'ivn labour, and not a;c-
confing to the prejudices of our fellow-fervants
either for, or againft us. , For we are not 9
lords and proprietors of the church, nor perfons
that have independent fchemes of our own to
carry on ; but we are the fellow-labourers of
God^, the great Mafter of the family. Fe are

e Are one.] This is, (as Mr. Cradock
well obferves, in his Apoft. H'ft. p. 156,)
another cogent argument againft div'iftons ;
that, though their labours were dift'ercnt,
and their rewards proportionable, yet they
had in the general one oftice, and were em- ,
•ployed as workers together 'by God, to
plant the feeds ' of grace and liolinefs in
the fouls of men, and to bring them on to
perfeftion. He here introduces an ex
cellent" difcourfe, of the happy confe
quences of t^e faithfulnefs in ths minifte

rial- work, and the awful account of it to
be ^ven up to God. A fubjeft familiar
to his own mind ; and fo proper for their
teachers, that if it render the epiftle fome
thing left regular, it barlartces the account
by rendering it much more ufeful.
f The fello^v-labourers of God.] "This
is the exaft import of a-mifyoi ata, which
our verfton renders, labourers together with
God; an improper rendering on every
account.

P

she

21 8 Refleiiions on our attachment io human names and parties.
Sect, {he hufiandry of God, which we are to cultivate, tufljandry, ye
^- that ye may bring forth fruit for him. [Te are] ^"^'^ '""'*'"S-
I Cor. the building of God, .which we are to endeavour
IU. 9 to advance-; that he may dwell in you, as in
his holy temple, and glorify his name among
you.

IMPROVEMENT.
Vcrfe Who that wifties the welfare of the church of Chrift, raufl
^ not lament thofe fad remainders, of carnality which are often to
be found among them who have the greateft advantage for becom
ing fpiritual ; while the fame contentious principles, fermented,
no doubt, by the fam6 malignant enemy of the whole body,
breathe in fo many of its members, and diffufe a kind of poifon,
3 which at once fwells and tornflents it ? What envyings, and
ftrife, and faiiions, among thofe who ought to join as brethren,
and to know but one intereft 1 What a defire, in many inftances,
to increafe the burdens of each other, inftead of bearing them with
friendly fympathy 1 '
4 May Chriftians be cured of this difhonourable and fatal attach
ment to diftinguifhed /iar//«, and human n^mes ! May minifters
feel more of that generous and noble fpirit which this great apoftle
expreffes ! His reafoning hath the fame force ftill. Minifters
are ftill intended to be only the inftruments of producing and
eftablifhing faith in their hearers, and ftill depend, as entirely as
5)6,7 ever, upon the blefling of God to give the increafe to their
labours. To that may they daily look ; and be fenfible that they
are nothing without it ; and that with it, their part is fo fmall,
that they hardly deferve to be mentioned. May their hands and
hearts be more united ; and retaining a due fenfe of the honour
9 which God doth them, in employing them in his vineyard, and
in his building, may they faithfully labour,. not as for themfelves,
but for the great Proprietor, and till the day come, when he
8 will remember theni in full proportion to their fidelity and
diligence. ,

SECT. VI.
As a ufeful. lefton both to teachers and private Chriftians, in ihe
prejent flat e of ihe 'Corinthian church, the Apoftle reminds them
ef that great trial which every man's work was to undergo, the
great gu'ilt of defiling God's temple, the vanity of human wifdom
tn the fight of God, and the great happinefs of the true believer in.

The apoflle Paul had laid the foundation;
in that univerfal grant which God had made him of every thing
neceffary to his welfare. I Cor. III. lo, to the end.

^19

, I Con. III. 10.
ACCORDING to
the grace of God
which is given unto
me, as a wife mafter-
builder I have laid
the foundation, and a-
nother bulldeth there
on. .But Ut every
man 'take heed how
he bulldeth there
upon.

I

II For other foun
dation can no man
lay than that is laid,
which is Jefus Chrift.

rz Now if any
man build upon this
foundation, gold, fil-
ver, precious ftones,
wood, hay, ftubble :

I Corinthians III. 10.
Have fpcken of you asXjod's building; and Sect.
in that view, have the pleafure to fay, that "^i-
in mj firft preaching amongft you, when you 7^^
were entire ftrangers tP the. firft principles of the in. lo
gofpel, according to the meafure of the grace of
God given to tne ; to which I defire to refer the
honour of all that I am, and of all that I do, in
this excellent work ; / have been enabled to aft
in the charaiier of a flilful architeil, -or mafter-
builder-:.for with all due care and application,
have I laid the great foundation, which hath
ftrength fufficient to bear all the ftrefs even of ^
oar eternal'hopes. And-one, and another, whom
God calls to labour among you, bulldeth thereon,
for the further edification of your church, and
of the fouls of its particular members : but let
every one- carefully fee to it, hozv he buildeth
thereon, and what' fuperftrufture he raifes.
This is all indeed that remains to be done : for 1 1
other folid foundation no one is able to lay, befide
what is already laid, which is fefus Chrift *, the
great foundation-ftone, which God hath laid
in Zion, eleft and precious-; and I take it for
granted, no one who calls himfelf a Chriftian
will attempt to lay any other. If any man 12
build, I fay, upon this foundation, let him look
to the materials and nature of his work ;
whether he raife a ftately and magnificent temple
upon it, adorned as. it were, like the houfe of
God at Jerufalem, with gold and fthier, [and]
large, beautiful, and coftly ftones ; [or] a m^an
hovel, confifting of nothing better than planks of
vuood, roughly put together,' and thatched with
hay [and] ftubble ; '^¦A is, let him look 'to it, ''
whether he teaob the fubftantial vital fruths
¦Vi'hich do indeed 'belorjg to Chriftianity, and
'which it was intended to fupport and . illuftrate ;
or fet himfelf to propagate vain fubtleties and
conceits on the' one hand, or legal rites and
Jewifh traditions on the other ; which, though

a Which is Jejus Chf ift.] L'Enfant CW)!; but I think the fenfe given in our
yioulixiaiex'it, even-tb'is, that Jejus isthe r«f much nobler. '

P2

they

220 And it became others to tah heti how thiy built thereon.

Sect. VI.

t Cor.
III. 13

they do not abfolutely deftroy the foundation,
difgrace it, as a'mean edifice would do a grand
and expenfive foundation, laid with great pomp
and fplemnity. But to prevent this, let me
ferioufly admonifh you, that whatever any man's
work may be, and however it may be covered,
and as it were hid behind the fcaffolding, every
one's work flail ere long be made manifeft. 1 For
the great day, which is approaching, Jhall lay ii
open, becaufe it flail then be as it were difcovered
hy fire; yea, the fire of that great day. of general
conflagration, when the heavens fhall pafs away
with a great noife, and the elements fhall melt
with fervent heat, flail prove every tnan's work,
lir of what kind it is ^. It fhall ftand^ fevere
examination, which will as foon expofe the
vanity of many things, which fome admired
preachers value themfelves upon, and for which
they are extolled by their hearers, as the flame
of fome mighty burning fhews the difference be
tween the ftability of a ftraw roof and a marble
wall. And then if any mans fuperftruiiure
abide the teft, and be approved, he will not only
have the comfort of it in his own mind, which
is an immediate and permanent fatisfadiion ;
but he flail alfo receive a glorious reward from
Chri(l;, the great Head of the church, and Pro
prietor of the building, in comparifon of which
the applaufes of men, or any thing they can be
ftow, deferve not to be mentioned by the natne
15 of a reward. But if any man's work be then
burnt up ; if on that trial it be found like the
combuftible and mean materials which I repre
fented by the wood, the hay, and the ftubble ; the
confequence is, that he will fuftain a proportipn-
able lofs ^ He will find he has been fpending

13 Every man'i
work Ihall be made
manifeft. For the
day ihall declare it,
becaufe it Ihall be re
vealed by fae; and
the fire ihall try every
man's work of what
iort it is.

14 If any man's
work abide which he
hath.huilt thereupon,
]ie ihall receive a re
ward.

15 If any 'man's
work ihall be burnt,
he ihall fuffer lofs :
but

*» The iay fhall prove every man's tvork.]
It js fo vcrj( unnatural, with Dr. Whitby,
to interpret this of the time of the de
ftruftion of Jerufalem, or of any ap
proaching perfecutions of the Chriftian
«harch, that one cannot but wonder, that
sritiis of character have adopted fuch a
fenfe. « Sufla'm a proportionable lofs.] I can
not but fear, that an application to fuch
Jllteti^s of unprofitable learning, as thofe,
:n which fome, who bave tbs charge of

fouls, fpend almoft the whole of their
time, to the negleft of the vitals of
Chriftianity, will be found in .this day,
loft labour. Though fuch as employ
themfelves chiefly to inculcate in their
preaching, doctrines, ceremonies or forms of
human invention, come nearer thc cafe
immediately referred to here.— L'Enfant
refers this lojs to the reproach and ihame
which fuch Ihall fuft'er before the tribunal
of Chrift. his

bfjt he himfelf ihall
be faved ; yet fo, as
fcy fire,

17 Know ye not,
that ye aj e the- tem
ple of God, and that
the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you ?

17 If any man de file

Chriftians are the temple of God t 22 1
his time and ftrength to little purpofe, and has Sect.
Jpft a great deal of that reward which he might, ^^'
through Divine grace, have fecured, had he ap- , cor.
plied himfelf with vigour and zeal to the proper HI. 15
labours of a gofpel-minifter. Yet, if he be upon
the whole a good roan, who hath built upon
Chrilf as the foundation, and, orj the terms of
the gofpel, conjmitted his foul to him, he fhall
himfelf be fctved, and find mercy of the Lord ;
though in comparifoii with that more abundant
entrance into his kingdom which others will
have, it ihay be faid, that he is faved with ex
treme difficulty, and as a rtian whofe houfe is
in flames while he is in it, ai)d who is there
fore forced with great terror to efcape through ihe
fire '', fuftaining the lofs of every thing but his
life. Again, before I difmifs this topic of; your 16
being the building of God, let me lead you into
fotne farther refleftions, and afk you ferioufly,
Know ye not ihat y^ are ihe temple af God'f' that
the whole body of Chriftian converts is dedi
cated to his peculiar fervice, and honoured by
his moft gracious prefence, as the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you, and you thereby appear to be
confecrated to hinifelf ? Npw if any one 1 7

i Through the fire.] To be as a brand
plucked out of the burning, is well known,
as a proverbial expreffion, to fignify a
narrow, efcape from extreme danger.
Compare Zech. iii. 2 ; Amos iv. 11 ; and
efpecially Ifa. xxxiii. 11, 12; to which
fome have thought the apofile here al
ludes. Aia irif®-, (Jude 23,} is put for
pafling through ihe fire, as h' uf»1®',
(1 Pet. iii. 20,) fignifies to be faved froni
the water, by paffing through it, as the ark
did. The learned Eljner, who urges and
illuftrates thefe inftances, ihews, that the
moft approved heathen writers ufe the
phrafe in this fenfe. {Obferv. Vol. II,
p. 78.) Many divines have well ihewn
how far tfiis text is from giving any fup
port to a popifti purgatory. And though,
Mr, Flemming follows many of the ancient
fathers, i^ explaining it of fome terror, or
pain, which Chriftians of very imperfeSl
charafter may be expofed to, when they
rife, (as he fuppofes they will,) amidft
the flames of the laft conflagration, {Flem.
Firft Refur. p. 44,) the text will admit
fo fair a lenfe oji the interpretauon here

given, that I cannot perfuade myfelf from
hence, without farther evidence, that
numbers of holy fouls, who have long been
glorified in heaven, will be re-united to
their bodies, which arc to be raifed in
glory, to be in the firft moments of that
union terrifted and tormented ; though it
ihould be but for eyer fo ihort a timer
That the Pagan.'i, as w.:H as fo.me of tlie
fathers, had a notion of fome fuch^wr^^-
tory, Elfner has ihewn yi the palT^c c'ltei
above. f Tm are the temple of God.] Elfner
hath many paffages hice, from Philo,
Plato, and, other vyritersj in which they
reprefent a virtuous mind as the temple cf
God, and in which heathens fpeak in the
higheft and ftrongeft terms, of the obli
gations men are under to keep his tem
ples inviolate and unpolluted. And if, as
Mf. Locke fuppofes, Paul's chief oppofer
was a Jew, the vaft veneration he would
of courfe have for the temple at Jerufa
lem, would add great weight to this ar
gument ijvith refpeft to him ani his fol
lowers. P ¦^ defile

222

Jf ahy man deftroy his temple, God will deftroy him.

Sect, defile, or deftroy the temple of God, it mSy well
^ be -apprehended, that God, ever jealous of his
T Cot. own honour, will deftroy -him. And you may
HI. .17 affui'e yourfelves from this view, that whatever
{^reaching, or whatever conduft, tends to diminifh
its purity and gloryi will be very feverely refented
by him ; even much more than the violation of
the place, (great as that impiety and provocation
¦was,) where he fo long caufed his name, to dwell
upon mount Zion. For the temple of God, <;on-
fidered as fuch, is undoubtedly holy, and awful.
Much more then muft that be fo, which he hath~
erefted by his grace in the breafts of intelligent
creatures, and fanftified to himfelf, as the ever
lafting refidence of his peculiar complacency.
(Compare Ifa. Ivu. 15; chap. Ivi. i,.2.) Now,
ye are this [temple;] eaph of you, if a true
Chriftian, is fuch a facred fhrine, and the whole
Chriftian church the complete and magnificent
building. It therefore becomes every rriember
df it, to be very careful how he behaves, and
what he teaches among you ; left he fliould com
mit an evil, of the enormity of which he may
not be immediately aware.
J 8 I know there are thofe among you whofe
pride and felf-cdnceit may lead them to defpife
this admonition, efpecially as coming from me;
but let no man dea'ive himfelf with vain fpecu-
lations of his own worth ;:nd abilities. If any
one of you feem to he wife in this ivorld, if he
value himfelf upon what is commonly called
wifdom among Jews or Gentiles, let him become
a fooj, that he may be wife indeed. Let him
humbly acknowledge his own natural ignorance
and folly, and embrace that gofpel which the
wifdom of the world proudly and vainly derides
as fooli-fhnefs, if he defire to approve himfelf
really and fubftantially wife, .and to reap at laft
the honours and rewards of thofe who are fruly
19 fo in the fight of God. For all the boafted
wifdom of this World is fooliflnefs ivith God, who
with one glance fees through all its vanity ; as
it is written, (Job v. 13,) He ent angle th the wife
in their ozvn crafty artifice, often ruining them
by thofe defigns which they had formed with
the utmoft efforts of human policy, and were
20 moft intent upon executing. Atid again, itis

file the temple of
God, hi'm fliall God
deftroy : for the tem
ple of God is holy,
which temple ye are, '

18 Let no man
;lefeive himfelf. If
any man among you
feemeth to be wife hi
this -world, let him
become a Tool, that
he may be wife.

I9 For the wifdom
of this world is fool
ilhnefs . with God.
For it is written. He
taketh the wife in
their own craftinefs.

ao And

agam, The

Chriftians belong to Chrift, and all things are theirs ; 223
The Lord knoweth -is faid elfewhere, (Pfal. xciv. II,) The Lord^^<;-^-
wife.''thl'''Ltte ^""J^'^^ 'f" thoughts of the wife, ihat they are _^
vain. vain. He fees, how they enfnare themfelves iri i cor.
their own fubtileties, and when they think them- HI. ao
felves moft fagacious, are only amufed with their
own fophiftry and deceit.
SI Therefore let Therefore u^on the whole, (that I may return 21
^o^mangior^mmem to the point from whence I fet out,) confidering
yoV's: * '"^^ ^"^^ ^'1 I ^'^vs faid, and efpecially confidering in
what view the great God regards thefe things
which we are fo ready to value ourfelves upon ;
let none glory in men, or divide themfelves into
parties, out of attachment to. this or that
¦ teacher. For all things are your's, and we in
particular, are to be regarded, not as your lords
and commanders, that you fhould lift undey our
sr'Ap^ios, or^'ce'- banners ; but rather as' your fervants. I ex- 2a
phas, or the world, cept not myfelf. Or the moft honoured among
or life, or death, or my brethren ; -whether Paul, or Apollos, or Ce-^
!v"!! .''^''^""' °n pl^a^^ be in queftion, we are all eaually your's,
things to come: all ' - ^ , . n r v'-i- ¦ • l
ve your's : ^^ lerve yoii to the utmoft of our abilities, in th^
advancement of your beft interefts. Yea, I rnay
go»farther, and fay, whether 'we fpeak o,i the
world, God will give you fo much of it as fhall
be for your real good ; and indeed he fupports
• its whole frame^ in a great, meafure for your
fakes : or if we furvey life in all its various con
ditions, or death, and all its fpleijnn harbingers
and attendants, God will make the one, «r the
other, in different views advantageous to you,
and will adjuft the circumftances of botji whh
tbe kindeft regard to your happinefs. Things ;
prefent, or future, the comforts, and privileges
of this life on the one hand, or its affliftions
' and troubles on the other, and at length, ther
boundlefs felicity of the eternal ftate, where
afflitlion and trouble fhall be no more known ;
all are, through the Divine gizce,tyour's. Re
member this, and let the thoHght raife your
minds above thefe little things which now oci-
cafion fuch contention between you ; and be
united in love, as God hath united yoii in pri-
?j And ye m yileges and hopes, j^w^ bear in your mind too, 23
' as the counterpart of this happy detail, that ye
are Chrift's, his property, his fubjefts, his peo
ple j arid let that engage you to attend to his
P 4 ' " royal

224 Refleiiions Ai ihe treafures and hopes of Chriftians,
Sect, royal law ¦ of charity', by which you may be chrift's; and Chrift
¦ peculiarly known to be his. And d.% Chrift [is] " " ^'

T Cor. God's, and refers all his fervices as a Mediator,
Iii. 23 to his Father's glory, it will moft effeftually pro-
inote that great end of his appearance, that you
, fhould learn fuch a fubjeftion of foul to him, and
imbibe thofe candid and generous fentiments
which I am labouring to produce and cherifh in
your rninds. IMPROVEMENT.
Verfe WiTH what' delight may the Chriftian furvey this grand Iht
?J-23 ventory, and, confcious that he is Chrift's, call all things his own!
With "what pleafure furvey the various gifts and graces oi minifters,
and Confider them as given by God for his edification! ,With
what complacency look round on things prefent, and forward on
things to come, in this conneftion, and call the zfiorld his own;
and count npt only life, but death, amongft' his treafures 1 Both
in their different afpefts, are fubfervient to the happy purpofe
cf glorifying God : and furely, when by death we mgy dp it
more effeftually, death fhould be more welcome than life. And
welcome it muft indeed be to every believer, as the appointed
means pf tranfmitting him to the fight and enjoyment of God, and
the polfeflion of better bleffings, than Paul, or Apollos, could ever
defcribe, or any thing prefent, or any thing to come in this world,
could ever afford.
, Let thefe fublime views elevate the Chriftian above thofe oc
cafions of contention, which, for want of afcending to fuch nohle
contemplations, are often the fource of innumerable evijs. And
let us add to them that other confideration, that we are the temples
16,17 of the Holy Ghoft; if Chriftians indeed, we are inhabited by God,
even by his Spirit. Let this engage us to take the ftrifteft care,
neither to defile ourfelves, nor to injure our brethren ; l§ft, in either
view, it fhould be refented and punifhed by the holy God, as a
facrilegious profanation. .
yg Let us not overvalue the wifidom of this wsrld, fince it is little
regarded by God ; nor be greatly concerned, if fools account our
wifdom, folly,, and our life, madnefs. So cenfured they the
prophets, and apoftles, before us; nor did our Mafter himfelf
efcape the calumny and outrage. We Iball be happy enough,
f Royal law of charity.] Nothing \yhich were common tq them all, as It
could have a greater efiicacy to put an end would tend to fweeten' their fpirits, and
{0 the contention, fo prevalent among infpire them with honourable and aflFec^
the Chriftians at Corinth, thin the confi- tionate fentiments with refpeft to their
deration of thofe high privileges and hopes brethren. ' 'A

And their obligation to build fo as tit ftand (he trial. ^^S
if we approve our fidelity to him, and if we build a 'wik fuper- Skct,
ftruiiure on Chrift, as the great, the only Foundation. ^^'
Let his minijiers efpecially, be folicitous, that they may not Verfe
lofe the labour' of their lives, by choofing unhappily to employ 1 1, i©
them, in that which will turn to no account, in the great day
qi his appearing. Let them carefully examine their materials.
Surely if they have fenfes fpiritually exercifed, il cannot be hard ,
to diftinguifh between the fubftantial and undoubted doftrines
of Chriftianity, which me its gold, and ftlver, and precious ftones, -^^-it:
and thofe fiftitious, or at beft, dubious arui intricate pcjints,
which in comparifon with the former, are but wood, and hay, and
ftubble. And if in urging thefe, they paffionately inveigh againfl
thejr brethren, and endeavour to bring them into contempt, or '
fufpicion, what do they but cement thefe combuftible materials
with fulphgr. '
O! let thp frequent views of that laft fearching fire, that 13
grand period of all, be much in our thoughts : that day, when
not only the works of minifters, but every private perfon, mufl,
as it 'were, pafs through the flames. May we then he faved,
not with difficulty, but with praife and honour I May our works,
of what kind foever tliey are, abide, fo as to be found worthy
of applaufe, and through Diyine grace repeive a diftinguiflied
feward.
SECT. VII.
To lay in a farther remedy againft the pride andfaiiionfo ready
to prevail among tfie Corinthians, the apoftle leads therh into
feveral ufeful refteiiions on the nature of the minifterial office, the
final judgment of him who fearcheth all hearts, and the omgaiions
tjoey were under to the Divine goodnefs, for every advantage hy
which they were diftinguifled from others, i Cor. ^V.
1—7- 1 CoR. IV. I Corinthians IV. i.
j^ET a man fo ac- y Ha VE told you, how rich and happy you are g^^..^
of thr",iinffte"rs' of ^ i" the Divine donation, in copfequence of vu.
Chrift, and ftewards which all things are yours ; and particularly, ^ ^
ff Paul, and Apollos, and Cephas, with their jy^ " ^^
various gifts and endoVvments. Learn therefore
to form your eftimate of us aright ; and let a
man fo account of us, not as the mafters of the
church, but as ihe fervants of Chrift, who are
in obedience to his commands, to wait on his
family ; efteeming it honour and happinefs
enough, if we approve ourfelves as ftewards "f
¦¦ ¦ the'

226

i Minifters areftetxiards, and flould be faithful.

Sect, fj^g myftems of'God; as perfons whofe bufinefs it
 '_ is, with the fmcereft regard to bis glory, to dif-
I Cor. penfe that gofpel which contains fuch fublime
IV, I. fenfe,. for fo many ages concealed from the
2 knowledge of the world. And as for what
remains to be done, in the difcharge of this of
fice, I hope we fhall alway -remember, that // /V
demanded in ftewards, ihat a man be found faith
ful; 'fince they alfo, as well as lower fervants
in the family, are fubjeft to account. And
accordingly it is my higheft ambition, that my
great Mailer may judge me faithful, whether
* my fellow-fervants be pleafed, or difpleafed,
3 with my conduft. And if my fidelity to my
Lord may offend them, which is a very-fuppo-
fable cafe, I am well contented to abide all its
confequences. For I will freely declare in this
view, it is -with me the fimaUeft thing that can be
imagined, that I flould be judged by you, dear
as you are to me, or by any man's judgment ;
his day will fo foon be over ; his cenfures can
effeft fo litrie, that amidft the great profpefts
I have before me, it feems fcarce to deferve a
mention. Nor indeed do I fo judge myfelf, as
if my cafe were finally to be determined by my
4 own apprehenfions concerning it. For though
I blefs God, / am not conj'cious to myfelf of any
thing criminal, of any defigned negleft of my
oflice, or unfaithfulnefs in my truft, yet am I
not hereby, juftified^: that is not the main thing
in queftion ; I know partiality to ourfelves may
often lead us to overlook many faults, for which
God may another day condemn us. But he that
judgeth me, the Perfon by whofe judgment I am
to ftand, or fall, is the Lord Jefus Chrift, who
fearcheth the hearts and trieth the reins of the
5 children of men. Therefore be ftriftly careful
that ye judge nothing before the appointed time,
that is, until he, /Z-^lgreat Lord of all, flail
ioine, who flail pluck off the mafk of every artful
hypocrite, how high foever he may bear himfelf
in the Chriftian church ; fhall bring to light the

of the myfteries of'
God.

2 Moreover, it is
required in ftewards,
that a man be foun^
faithful.

3 But with me it
is a very fmall thing
that I lliould be jud
ged of you, "or of
man'sjudgment; y6a,
I judge not mine
own felf.

4 Eor I know no,
thing by myfelf, yet
am I not hereby ju
ftified : but he thaty
judgeth tne . is the.
Lord.

5 Therefore judge
nothing before the
time, until the Lord
•come, who bofh wii^
bring to light the
hiddea

» fet am'l not hereby juft'ifiid.'] This and fafcty, would do well ta- tike greater
feems a gentle, but a very aft'eaing in- heed, that they were not impofed upon
finuation, tliat his opponents, confident as by the deceitfulnefs of their owa
they might feem in their own integrity hearts. hiddm

One teacher, therefore, flould not be fet up againft another. . 2ay
hidden things of darknefs '', and fhall manifeft all Sect.
the fecret counfels of the hearts". And then flail ff^"
every one have in the moft public manner, that j Cor.
praife from God, before the'affembled world, IV. 5
which is proportionable to his real charafter and
conduft. Thefe things, brethren, I have by a very ob- 6
vious figure transferred io myfelf, and [to]
Apollos '' ; mentioning our names, . and that of
Cephas only, inftead of many more, fince you
know the entire friendfhip there is among us,
and how far the names of moft about whom
you contend, are inferior to thefe. And I have
done this, not on our own account, as ydu
may eafily apprehend, but for -your fakes, that
you may learri, in attending to What, has been
faid concerning its, diftinguifhed as we are by
our office, furniture and fuccefs, not io enter
tain too high an opinion of yourjelves, or others,
whom you sre'moft ready to admire, above
what is here written ', and appears reafonable
on the principles which have been laid down:
thai you may not ie pujffed up for one -teacher*
and againji another; which furely you cannot
allow 'vvith refpeft to other teachers, when you
fee us renouncing all fuch attachment to our
felves. And indeed this would be very un- "J
reafonable, if the diftinftions were as great, as

'hidden things of
darknefs, a'nd will
make manifeft the
(E'ounfels of the hearts :
and then ihall every
man have praife of
God. 6 And thefe things,
brethren, I have jn a
figure transferred to
myfelf, and to Apol
los, for your fakes:
that ye might learn in
us not to think of
men, above that which
is written, ^that no
one of you be puffed
pp for one againft a-
nothcr.

7 For who maketh thee

b -^ringto light thei'tdden things ofdark-
»ifs.] This is a Uyely and juft infinuatioft,
that under fpccious forms, his enemies
<:oncealed very dark defigns, which would
not bear the difcoveries of ihat awful day.
c Manifeft all the fecret counftls of the
teafts.] This pafiage alfo fuggefts a very
folid 'argument againft magnifying one mini
fter above another, namely, that the fecret
principlfes of men's aftions are unknown ;
and it is enlarged upon to very good
praftical purpofes ; wliile the apoftle, at
the fame time, takes an opportunity of
makihg ¦ a very folemn profeftion of his
own faithfulnefs, and /hewing the bold
nefs he had towards God, and his modefty
and candour to men j all' which were ex
tremely fuitable to the general purpofes he
J^ad in view.
' i Tfansf erred to myfelf, -tec] Some,
and particularly Mr. Locke,_have inferred
¦ from hence,-that not St. Paul, and Apol-
}osj but fome other perfons, 'were fet up

among the Cotinthians for heads cf par
ties, for whofe names the a^o^/efubftituted
his own, and that ofhis rnoli intimate
friend ; but the Jearned and judicious
IVkJius well obferves, {Mektem, p. 104,)
that 'it.is .probable their names were ufed
among forae others omitted^ and the figure
was only this~, that the names bf St.
Paul and Apollos were ufed fo fignify
themfelvesj and any others fo extolled;
»nd when the apoltle would fay, how little
minifters were in thenifelves,""he chofey
out of humility and prudence, rather to
take fuch freedom with himfeff and his
moft particular and intimate friend, than
with others..
c What is here imtteK,'] FIfrer (Objerv.
Vol. II. p. 85,) confirms this interpreta
tion, and produces many inftances, in
-which ^^ovziv is ufed to exprefs, hanfing
too high an opinion' of orie^ s Jelf, -V^nf^nt
explains it in fomething of a different
fenfe, «< above what fcripture tvarrants."** you.

RepBions on the nature of the minifterial oftice.

428Sect, you, or they, who have the higheft conceit bf
^"' themfelves, can imagine. For allowing all,
1 Cor. that felf- love and prepoirefllon can wifti, let ntie
IV. 5 afk the man who carries it to the greateft height.
Who maketh thee to diff'er [from another,] in any
furniture, or attainment, whether intelleftual,
or moral ^ ? And what haft thou of any kind,
which thou didft not receive from God, the great
Parent ' of uiiiverfal good ? But if thou haji re
ceived [it] all from him, why doft thou boaft irt
the gift of his liberal goodnefs, as if thou hadft
not rechved [it] from him : but Jt were origi
nally and eflentially thine own ? Would you all
but ferioufly refleft upOn this, it would teach
you humbler fentimen,ts, much more rational in
themfelves, and on the whple, rpuch more for
your credit, as well as eotnfort,
IMPROVEMENT.

thee to differ from
another? and what
haft thou that thou
didft not receive? now
if thou didft receive
it, why doft thou glo
ry as if thoti hadft
not received 'it f

Nothing can be more conducive tp the advantage of Chrifti
anity, and by eonfequence, pf the world, whofe happinefs
is fo much concerned in its fupport aiid-4uccefs, than that its
preachers ftiould cor^Gder, and their hearers remember, the nature
Verfe of thpir office. They are not lords over God'S houfehold and
I heritage, but minifters of Chrift, whofe bufinefs it is to, promote
their Mafter's honour ; ftewards of his myfteries, who are to en-
2 deavour both to kepp and difpenfe theiri with all good fidelity,
From their Mafter therefore piay they take all their inftruftions,
and to him let them refer all their adminrftratjons. Various
judgments will be pafTed upon them ; and they, who will oppofe
the attempts of foifie of their brethren tp introduce corruption
and ^confufion into his family, will have many an unkind reflec
tion thrown upon them, and experience the feverity of cenfure,
for a conduft which inerits the jufteft approbation, But let them

f Whether intelleftual, or moral.] I
include moral attainments, becaufe the
apoftle had in the preceding verjes, been
Ipiaking of fidel'ity in thc miniftry, and
he elfewhere in this epiftle fpeaks of ob
taining merty to befa'itbful, (ch^p. vii. 25,)
and would be underftood, as referring,
not only to his giving us our faculties,
fcut exciting us to the right ufe of them,
both by external calls '^nd advantages,
and by inward impreflions of his grace on
the heart ; though ftill in a manner fuited
to our free and rational natures, and
wkich, however fome may be dlftin-

guiihed by them, leaves !ill who chufe
wrong, without excufe, and admits the
exercife of juftice, as well as grace,'
in the' final diftributions of good and
evil. See the paraphrafe oif chap.' iii. 7,
which feems very applicable to this
clauje. Yet as it is certain, the Corin
thians chiefly gloried in their gifts, and in
thofe of their favourite teachers, I doubt
not but it is to theje that the apoftle chiefly;
refers in this place, and cartnot think that
the ftrefs of thc controverfy relating tai
the fanftifying influences of Divine grace,
docs bjr any "ineans reft on this pafiage. learn

^aul rCthlnds the Corinthians of their profperous condition; 229
learn by this excellent apoftle, to be above ihe judgment of men, Skct.
and tb keep the judgment of ihe Lord in view ; that they may not ^^
only be' fupported under that petulance of their fellow-fervants, Verfe
but may learn to gu^rd againft, what is much more dangerotis, the 3
treachery of their own hearts, and the flattery pf felf-lpve ; left
they fondly miftake the voice of prejudice for that of confcience,
or in other words, the voice of an erroneous confcience, for that
of a confcience vyell informed. ^
Let us often recolleft the narrow limits of our own knowledge^ 4
that we may learn modefty in our cenfures to each other. He
only can judge, who knoweth ihe heart; and there is a day ap- 5, gee
proaching, which will manifeft all its fecrets. While others,
with a pitiable mixture of arrogance, and^ ignorance, judge one
'another, and judge us, let us - rather be concerned that we may
fecure that praife of God, which will be heard and felt by the foul^
with the higheft rapture, and will filence every echo of human
applaufe, or cenfure.
To conclude \ if it hath pleafed God, in any refpecS, to diftln- 7
guifl us from others, by the gifts or graces which he hath beftowed
upon us, let us humbly trace thefe diftinftions to their true
fource : and inftead of indulging the leaft degree of pride on
their account, let us rather, be the more humble. For furely
the more we receive from God, the more we are indebted and
obliged ; and the more we are obliged to the Divine goodnefs, the
greater ought our fliame and confufion to be, that we have not
anfwered thofe obligatibns by more faithful care, and more cqiiftant
gratitude.
SECT. VIII.
The Apoftle, in order io gain farther upon their affeiiions, repre'
fents the many hardfhips and dangers, io which he and his bre'
thren were expofed, in comparifon of ihat eafy flaie in which
the Gorinthians were ; and reminding ihem ai the fame time of
their particular obJigations-to him, he warns ihem not to force
him on feverities, io the ufe of -Uihich he was very averfe.
I Cor. IV. 8, to the end.
J CoR. IV. 8. I Corinthians IV. 8.
Ji^fOW ye are fiill, THavb fuggefted fome humbling thoughts to
""^ A your confideration ; but I fear you will have
•little relifh for them, as you feem to indulge
yourfelves in very different views. Am I not
rather to congratulate Chriftians, whofe rank
and figure in the world is fo much fuperior to
that of many of the brethren, and even of their firft.

fi3*3

And of the aflliiiive circumftances of the apoftles ;

Sect, firft apoftle too ? For now. you are full ; now you
' are rich ; you enjoy fo great a degree of profpe-
I Cor, rity and plenty, that methinks you -have even
IV. 8 reigned as kings zvithout us''' : fo happy, in a- va
riety of fecular enjoyments, that you have hardly
milled my company. And indeed / wifl yon
did reign, in the trueft and nobleft fenfe, and
were altogether as happy as you think your
felves. I wifh the moft excellent power of the
human nature had, through Divine grace, greater
riile and fovereignty in your fouls, thai we,
in the midft of all our prefent diftrefs, might
alfo reign with you, and partake of your happi
nefs, in that high degree, in which, if it were
fincere and folid, our afl'eftion for you would
9 euable us to fhare it. And furely we fuffi
ciently need fuch confolatlon as this ;/ir I think
God hath exhibited us, -the afoftles of his Son,
like thofe gladiators which are brought out on
the ftage laft , of all, as appointed to certain
death^, and therefore not furnifhed with wea
pons of defence, nor allowed fo much as a chance
of efcaping : for we are produced, as it were,
on a public theatre, and made a fpeiiacle to ihe
whole world of rational creatures, both to an
gels lUnd men ^, who are all«held in folicitous at-
' tention

now ye are rich,
ye 'have reigned as
kings without us ':
and I would to God
ye did reign, that ws
alfo might reign with
you.

9 For I think that
God hath fet forth
us the apoftles laft,
as it were appointed
to death. For we are
made afpeftacle unto
the world, and to an
gels, and to men.

» Tou have reigned as Jiings, &c.] This
13 a proverbial expreflion of the moft
fplendid and plentiful circumftances ; and
fome think, when the a^o/?/e adds, Iwi/h
ye did reign, he means, ** I wilh you had
" the authority of princes, that ye might
** flielter and accommodate us amidft all
*' our diftreil'es and affliftions." But one
can hardly think he did indeed wi'ih each
of them a pr'ince, or the civil power in
their hands. It frcms much more pro
bable, that as fpiritual objefts were fo
familiar to his mind, he changes the idea
in the manner the paraphraje exprefli^s ;
in which fenfe it feems that Chriftians are
ca.\\edpriefts and kings, (Rev. i. 6j) as it is
certain they are called a rcyal pr'iefthood.
(i Pet. ii. 9.) — i cannot think with Mr.
L'Enfant, that this refers peculiarly to the
'id.Qiioni paftors of the church ^t "Corinth.
b Laft of all.] I cannot think, as Elf
ner f^ems to do, that the word £(r^d!iti,
refers to the low rank whichl the apoftle
held in fecular life j or which Meflieurs
Calvin, Locke, and L'Enfant, that
St. Paul fpeaks of himfelf as the laft called

apoftle ; but that there is a reerfence to
the Roman cuftomof bringing forth thofe
perfons on the theatre on the after -part of
the day, either to fight with each other,
or with wild beafts, who were appointed
to certain death, and had not that poor
chance of efcaping whicil thofe brought
forth in the .morning had. Compare Sen,
Epift. Caf. m. Reeves Apol. 'Vol.1, p. 137.
Such kind of fpeftacles were fp common
in all the provinces, that it is no wonder
we ihould find fuch tin allufion here. The
word aTTohi^^'., exhibited, and ^=<^poy,
a jpeBacle on,tbc theatre, have in this con
neftion a beautiful propriety. The' whole
pafl'age is indeed full of high eloquence,
and finely adapted to move their com
paflion in favoUr Of thofe who were fo
generoufly expofing and facrificing them
felves for the public good. '
c AjpeClacle to — angels and men.] This
reprefentation is wonderfully pathetic and
fublime; whifp they confidered evil an
gels and men as beholding tlicm with al!
the malignant, and good angels and men
with all 'the bcn.iolent paffions, it muft have

wha are made a fpeiiacle unio ctngels and io men.

10 We are fools
for Chrift's fake, but
ye itre wife in Chrift !
we are weak, but ye
are ftrong : ye are
honourable, but we
tre defpifed.

1 1 Even unto this
prefent hour, we both
hunger and thirft,
and are .naked, and are

^3*
tention to fo ftrange and tragical a fight. Irna- Sect*
gine not, that I have aggravated the reprefen- ^"^'
tation ; the more you attend to our circum- i Cor.
ftances, the more you will difcern its juftice : IV. 19
for we [are] treated like/ao/.f, bablers, and mad
men, for ihe fake of Chrift, (Afts xvii. 18,
chap. xxvi. 24,) as if we were the weakeft and
moft ignorant of mankind, becaufe we preach
the plain truths of the gofpel, and endeavour to
the utmoft to exalt our Lord. But ye [are] wife
in Chrft: ye fet up for a \ind of Chriftian phi
lofophers, of more refined underftandings than
your brethren, and think you have 4bund out a
political way, at once of fecuring the bleffings
of the gofpel, ^nd efcaping its inconveniences
and perfecutions. IVe \ are] weak, in^prefence,
in infirmities, and in fufferings : but ye [are]
ftrong, have great confidence in yourfelves, and,
are got above many of thofe tender alarms and
impreftions which hearts like ours are fubjeft;
to, on a variety of occafions ; you [are] honour
able, adorned with extraordinary gifts, ih which
you are ready to glpry, and many of you fet off
with circumftances of external diftin^ion ; but
we [are] pppr, defpifed creatures, treated with
cpntempt wherever we come. For even to
this prefent hour, after all the Isattl^s fought,
and all the conquefts already gained, by the gof
pel, weare often expofed to i:ircumlf ances of the
extremeft want and mifery. Sometimes we both
hunger and thirft, and amidft our^ charitable
journies to diffufe the gofpel, hardly find enter
tainment of the plaineit kind, to relieve our ne-
ceffities, or mcjney to purchafe it. And our
clothes are fo worn out with travelling, and we
are fo jll furnifhed for buying more, that we are
often almoft naked^, not having decent raiment
to wear, though we appear fo oftfti in public
aflemblies. And in many inftances, where our

II

hant a great tendency to infpire their
minds with the moft heroic fent;ments. —
Elfner has given an excellent colleftion
of palTages from heatiien writers, in which
fuch a figure is made ufe of by them.
e Are naked, &c.] Surely one cannot
Jmagine any more 'glorious triumph of the
truth, than what it' gained ' in thefe cir

cumftances, when St. Paul, with an im
pediment in his fpeech, and a perfonage,,
rather contemptible, than dlfgraceful, ap
peared in a mean, and perhaps fometimes
tattered drefs, before perfons of the higheft
rank, and yet commandedyi^£^(&' attention,
and mniefuch impreffions. benevolent

d3i

and are reviled and perfecuted as ihe filth of the world.

Sect, benevolent a;id important meflage is heard,, in-
ftead pf being received with due refpeft, we are
I Cor. infulted, and perhaps buffeted, by the unruly
iV. ii and barbarous mob ; and atheli, if we now and
then meet with a little more hofpitable ufage>
it is but for a very little while; for, whereas
you dwell in a rich and magnificent city, we
have no certain abode, but are continually re.<
16 moving from one place to another. Andthaa^
'we are engaged in a work of fo great import-
anceto the fotils of men, which might well in-
grofs all our time and care ; yet fucfi are the cir
cumftances in which we are often placed, that
we are obliged in duty and prudence, to labour
in fome fecular calling, working with our own
hands, to procure the neceflary fnpports of the
moft frugal and parfimpnious life. Being in the
moft infolent and provoking manner revlM to
our faces, and loaded with every opprobrious
name of contempt, we meekly blefs, and pray
for our enemies ; being perfecuted, we endure it
patiently, unable to right and help ourfelves.
13 Being blafphemCd, and fpoken of in the moft
fcandalous, and, confidering pur facred charac
ter, the moft impious termsl; we only intreat
that meh would more impartially examine our
pretenfions, that they may entertain more fa
vourable fentiments concerning us ; and in the
mean time, we freely forgive them their rafh and
injurious cenfures. And on the whole, fuch is
the ufage we meet with, that we ere made and
treated like the veiy filth of the world", like the
wretches, which being taken from the dregs of
the' people, are offered as expiatory facrifices to

are bufteted, thi
have no certain
dwelling-place ;

Ii And labcar,
working with, our
own hands. Being
reviltd, we blefs; be
ing perfecuted, we'
fuft'er it i

13 Being defameJ/
we intreat : we are
made as the filth of
the world, and are
the

e Filth of tbe world.] The word xi-
Bd^fAalia. has a force and meaning here
which no one word in our language can
exprefs; I have given, what I am perfua
ded is the true meaning of it in the para
phrafe, and muft refer to Dr. Hen. More,
(Theol. Works, p. 63,) and Dr. iVhitby in
loc. for the illuftration of this bold and
noble figure. Suidas fays that thefe
wretched viliims were called rnxBa^fjialei,
as their death was efteemed an expiation ;
and lie tells us the word .TTEpt^-fl/Aai*,
which we render oft'-jcour'ing, was alfo ap
plied to them ; and Bos, [Exercit. p. IIJ,)
illuftrates this fenfe of the word by a very
l»rge and judicious colleftion of Creek

quotations. See alfo Dr. tLiUcy's Chr'ift'ian
Paffover, p. 12. It appears from fome
of thefe pafl'ages, that when the aflies of
thefe unhappy men were thrown into the
fea, thefe very words were ufed in the ce
remony, yad «rE^(4.j)(uia, ytvtf Kadn^fjia J
but the former of thefe titles was given,
them, in reference to that orifwa/fignifi^
cation of the words, which the paraphraje'
on the end of the verfe expreffes. That fo
wife and ancient a republic as that of
Marfeiiles, originally a Greek colonv,
ftiould have retained this favage ufage, is
aftonifhing ; yet Servius exprefsly afferta
it. Serv, in Mncid. Lib. III. Lin. 75. the

The Apoftle writes thefe things for their warning.

233

14 Iwrite not thefe
things to Ihame you,
but as my beloved
fons I warn you.

14

thcoft'-fcouringofaii the infernal deities among the Gentiles, and Spot.
things unto this day. Iq^^^^ ^-ith curfeS, affronts and injuries, in the ^"J-
way to the altars, at which they are to bleed : , ^^^^
[or like] ihe refufe of all things io this day^ the IV. 1 j
very fweepings of the ftreets and ftalls, a nui*
fance to all around us, and fit for nothing but
to be trampled upon by the meaneft an(J vileft of
mankind. / do not write thefe words to flame you, ot in
any degree to ftain your credit with other
churches, by fuch a reprefentation, as if you
were unmindful of my fufferings for the gofpel ;
hut confidering the relation in which we ftand
to each other, and looking upon you as my he-
loved fons, I warn [you] of thofe dangers to
which I fear you may be expofed, and of the
regard which it is your duty and iritereft to
pay to thofe who voluntarily fubjeft themfelves
to fo many evils on your account, that you
ought furely to be the laft to increafe their bur
dens. And I may particularly urge this with jr
refpeft to myfelf; for if you have ten thoufand
inftruiiors in ChriJi, be they ever fo many, or
ever fo valuable, yet [you have] not many fpiritual
fathers, for in Chrift Jefus /Paul have begotten
you by thegofpei: I preached it firft among you,
and was the happy means of your fpiritual birth,
and all the privileges of God's children which
you receive by it. / befeech you therefore, j^
[that] with filial piety and duty ye he all imita
tors of me, keeping ftriftly to the faith which I
taught you, and carefully copying my meeknefs
and humility.
For this reafon, that you may be the better j~
able to trace my fteps, and may be animated to
do it with the greater care, / have fent fo you '
Timothy f who is my beloved fon, or dear convert,
(Afts xix. 22,) ««^who, though yet But a young
man, is remarkably /a//^/ in ihe Lord, an ex
cellent Chriftian, who will he able more perfeftly
to bring io your remembrance the ways of Chrift,
as I am every where teaching in every church
where I come: by which you will perceive, that
I do not aft partially with refpeft to you, but
proceed on general principles of integrity and
' prudence, from which I no wJnere allow myfelf
to v^ry.
Vol. IV. Q. Some,

1 5 For though you
haye ten thoufand in-
ftri^ftors in Chrift,
yet have ye not many
fathers : for in Chriil
Jefus I have begotten
you through the gof-
pet.

1.6 Wherefore I
befeech you, be ye
followers of me.

17 For this caufe
have I fent unto you
Timotheus, who is
my beloved fon, and
feithful in the Lord,
who Ihall bring you
into remembrance of
my ways which be
in Chrift, as I teach
every where in every
d>>irch.

«34 Sect. VIII.

4n4deel4r(s his purpofe lo eome ti them flor ily.

Some, 1 liear, are pufted up in vain and proud
_ confidence, as if, after all I have faid, / would
I Cor. not come io you, and did not dare to appear in
IV. 1% a place where I have now fo many oppofers.
19 Bui they are extremely miftaken, for / will cer-
t^iijly come to you, and that quickly too, if ihe
Lord, who holds the reins of univerfal govern
ment in his hands, permit ; and 1 will then know
ar|d examine, not the conMent fpeech, and florid
talk of thofe that are thus puffed up, but the
power they have to, vindicate their pretenfions,,
and what miraculous proof they can give of that
authority in the church which they prefume
20 to oppqfe to rnine. ,For ihe kingdom of God
is not in fpeech, in confident affertionS, or in
elegapt form? of addrefs, but is eftablifhed in
the exertions of a rniraculous power, conferred
on the true and genuine apoftles of our Lord by
the effufion of his Spirit upon them, by virtue
of which, his faithful fiibjefts may be fully fatis
fied, they aft accortling to his will, in paying
31 them the regard' they require. PVhat there
fore do you on the' whole defire, and choofe ?
That I flould (ome to you, as it were, with a rod^
of «orreftiort in my hand, ufing my apoftolic
power for your chaftifement ; or, which for your
f?kcs I fhould much rather choofe, in lave, and in
the fpirit cf meeknefs and gentlenefs^ comforting
and commending, inftead of chaftifing ? You,
•vs'ill, 1 hope, think ferioufly upon the matter in
time, before things are driven to fuch an extre
mity, as may not any longer leave it in my choice
or yours.

18 Now ibme are
puft'ed up as though
I would not come to
you.' 19 But I will come
to you Hiottiy, if the
Lord will, and will
know, not the fpeech
of them which are
pufted up, but the
power.

20 For the king
dom of God is nof in
word, but in power,

21 What will ye?
ftiall I come unto you
with a rod, or in love,
and i» the fp'u:it of
meeknefs ?

f With a rod of correftion.] That tlie
apoftles had often a miraculous power of
inflijfting death, arfd other temporal judg
ments, in cafe of aggravated offence, ap
pears from other paffages of jcripture,
Afts 5—10, chap. xiii. io, n ; t Tim.
2. 2D ; and is referred to more than once
ov. twice, in thefe epiftles, to the Corin
thians, 1 Cor. v« 5 ; z Cor. i. 23, chap.
x. 6, 8, chap, xiii. 2, 3, 10. And I can
not mention thefe paffages, without lead
ing my reader to refteft on the wifdom
of Providence, in permitting fuch opp«r

fitlon to arife againft St. Paul, particu
larly at Corinth. It gaVe him an oppor
tunity of making the ftrongeft appefls to
what they are fuppofed to know of his'
miraiulous potver ^ and had thefe appeals
Hot been indeed founded on the moft cer
tain and evident truth, they muft, inftead
of reftoring him to their regards, as we
find in faft they did,^ have been fulBcient
of themfelves utterly to have ruined alt
his reputation and intereft among them,
had it before been ever fo great.

IMPROVEMpKT.

•Refteiiions on Paul's tendefnefi fif his children in Chrift. 23 j:

IMPROVEMENT. •¦
How adorable is th? efficacy of Divine grace which bore^thofe y!;!'
zealous and faithful fervants of Chrift through all their labours _ '
and fatigites, when they were made a fpeiiacle to the world, to ^
angels and men ! How glorious a fpeftacle ! worthy furely, as _
any 4hing, fince that wonderful fcene on Calvary, of the eye of'
God himfelf.
How little are we to judge of the Divine favour by external cir
cumftances, when thofe beft of meri Were of all others the moft
miferable, farther, than as their heavenly hope fupported and ani
mated them? And when that is taljen into the account, who
would not emulate their lot, though hungry and ihirfty, tho,ugh 1I-I3[
naked and deftitute, without habitation', withput proteftor, with
out friends ? When we confider their fhare' in1|l>e Divine friend
fhip, when we confider the blefted effefts of their labours, and
the glprious crown which awaits them after all theif fufferings ;
furely they muft appear happy in proportion to the degree in which
they feemed miferable, and glorious in proportion to the degree
in" which the world held them as infamous I
That illuftrious perfon, whofe epiftles are now before us, knew
not the pleafures of domeftic life, in many of its inoft endearing
relations." But God made him z fpiritual father to multitudes ; and
no doubt, as'hd urges the confideratiop on his children in Chrift, 15
he felt the joy arifing from it ftrong in his own foul, when he
faid, I have begotten j/ou in Chrift fefus bj the gofpel. Surely it
ought never to have been forgotten by them ; and if through the
artifices of i!l-defigning men, and the remaining irifirmities of
their own charafter, it was fometimes, and in fome degree for
gotten now, yet undoubtedly, it would be remembered by them
in the heavenly world for ever ; even by as many as ihe Lord his 14
God had gracioufly giyen him. And if there be any remeinbrance
there, that they once grieved him, it will be an engagement to
all thofe offices of an eternal friendfhip, which the exaltation of
the heavenly ffate fhall allow. In the mean time, his paternal
affeftion for them wrought, not in a foolifh fondnefs of ind.ulgeiice,
which in the^language of Divine wifdom, \s hating *Jon; but in
the iharaiier of a prudent and faithful parent, who, defirous that
his children may be as wife and good as poffible, will rather ufe 21
the rod than fuffer them to be undone. Yet when he fpeaks of
ufing it, he fpeaks with regret, as one. who would rather chufe
to aft m^G fpirit of gentlenefs, and without any mixture of feve
rity, how neceffary foever. The whole; of his fubfequent con
duft to the Corinthlaris, as..^far as it msoj be learned from this, or
the following epiftle, bears a perfeft confiftency with thefe expref
fions, and illuftrates their fincerity.
' ' - Q_2 ' May

The Apoftle proceeds to the cafe of the inceftuous perfon;

436 Sect. ^fay God give to his minifters more of this truly apoftolical Jpt.
^ rit, more of thofe overflowings of holy love, attempering and at-
^ tempered by that ardent zeal againft fin, and that firm refolution
in the difcharge of duty, which fhone fo brightly in the apoftle,
and in which he fo freely and juftly recommends himfelf to ths
imitation of his children and brethren.

SECT. IX.
The Apoftle proceeds to mention the irregularities which prevailed
in fhe Corinthian, church ; and here handleth the caje oJ the 'in
ceftuous perjon, whom he commands them to Jeparate from their
cohimunion. 1 Cor. V. i, to the end.

I Corinthians V. i.

I Cor. 'V. I.

Sect. IX.

2 And ye are pbff-
ed up, and have not
rather mourned, that he

T Have fpoken pf cpming to you with a rod V" fP^f^m-
\ c a.- , A - ¦ ¦ L UI T monly,, ti>fl( there
,  of correction ;'and it is too probable 1 may ;, fornication among
I Cor. be laid under a neceflity of ufing it, though it you, and fuch forni-
V. I. be an unwilling -neceflity. For it is generally ^^'°^' ^^^^^ ""' f"
reported \ [that there is] a kind of lewdnej's "ongft?he"G"ntilesj
among you, and thaf too fuch fcandalous and that one (hould have
enormous lewdnefs as is not heard of even among ^'^ father's wife.
the heathen, degenerate as they are, and aban
doned as their praftices are known to be, even
that a certain perfon flould have ufed criminal '
2 converfe with his father's wife ''. One would
have imagined that a fcandal like this, fhould
have thrown the 'whole fociety into diftrefs and
humiliation, like the public mourningof a Jewifh
fynagogue on the apoftacy or ejeftion of one
of its members ; and yet it is faid, that ye are
pujffed up with this fpirit of pride and carnality
which I have been mentioning and reproving.
Should ye 'not father have lamented on this fad
occafion'? and purfued thofe ftrenuous meafures
for reformation which the genius of the gofpel
.a .Generally reported.] Dr. 'Whitby, intredible & inauditum, an incredibile and
thinks, that the fcandalous ftories that unheard of wickednefs. See alfo Grot, de
were generally told among the heathen. Jure Bel. & Pac. Lib. II. Cap. v. § 14,
of the 'inceftuous praftices of primitive No. 2.
Ciri^:«m, had their orifmfl/ from the niif- b Criminal converfe.] Probably Ibme
reprefentation of this faft. Many quota- . father had parted with his wife, perhaps
tions, brought by this learned author, provoked by her indifcretion, and his
and others, on this text, ihew, that inceft fon, to whom flie was mother-in-law, had'
was held in high abomination among the married her ; for by 2 Cor. vii. 12, it '
heathen ; and an enormity of this kind is, feems probable, the perfon injuredl. was
(as well known,) called by Cicero, Seeks yet alive. / fo

and exhorts them io deliver him io Satan,

m

he that hath done
this deed, might be
taken away from a-
mong yoii.
3 For I. verily, as
abfent in body, but
prefentin fpirit, have
judged already, as
though I were pre
fent, concerning hi.m
that hath fo done
(his deedj

4 In the^ name of
curLord Jefus Chrift,
when ye are gathered
together, and my fpi
rit, with the power
of our Lord Jefus
Chrift,

5 To deliver fuch
an one unto Satan for
the deftruft'ron of the
flefti, that the fpiiit
maybe faved in the
day of the Lord Je
fus,

I Cor.

fo evidently diftates, that he who hath committed Sicr
this faH flould be taken away from you, and be ^^'
no longer allowed to continue in your commu
nion ? Bui however negligent you have been,
and whatever confequence I draw upon myfelf,
by interpofing in this affair, I cannot, I will not
be filent. / am abfent indeed in body, and there
fore cannot take thofe vigorous fteps which my
?eal for the honour of Chrift, and my tender
concern for your reputation and happinefs dic
tate : but I am prefent in fpirit ; / have a di
ftinft view of all the qircumftances of the cafe,
and therefore in as determinate a manner, as if
IwerciiiXnTiW'jprefeni, I have /«<^^^ and paffed.
fentence on him who I 'know has indeed com
mitted this enormity. And the fentence 1,4
have, paffed is this : That ye being all folemnly
gathered together in full affembly, in the name
of our^ Lord fefus Chrift, and my fpirit being
prefent with you, with the efficacious power of
our Lord Jefus Chrift, afting according to my
determination, though I be at fuch a diftance, and
being ready to add an awful efficacy and fanftion
to yopr cenfure. Do, by a public and exprefs 5
aft, deliver fuch an one by name/o Sa^an^, to be
by him, as the terrible executioner of the Divine
juftice and difpleafure, chaftifed and tormented,
in order to ihe deft r uiiion. of the ftefl, thai, for
this . fhameful indulgence of its lafcivious appe
tites and defires, if miy be emaciated and en-'
feebled, and the offender, alarmed, by fufferings
of fo extraordinary and formidable a nature, if
poffible, may be brought to true repentance
and humiliation, that fo the 'immoital fpirit may
be faved, in ihe day of the Lord Jefus, from

c Prefent in jpirit.] Some -think this
refers to an extraordinary gift which
St. Paul had of difcerning clearly and
circtimftantially what was done at a di
ftance. Compare Col. ii. 5 ; 2 Kings v.
26, chap. vi. 12. See Dr. Benfot's Hift.
Vol. II. p. 16.
•^ Ta deliver fuch an one to Satan, &c.]
Some think, that, as Satan is confidered
.IS the head of all who are not under
Chrift as their head, that is, in the church
of Chrifi, every one, who was Cut oft"
from the church, muft ef courfe be deli

vered over to Satan; but it feems much
more reafonable to believcji that this re
fers to the ' infliftion of fome bodily pains
or difrajes,^ in which Satan might aft as
the inftrument of the Divine juftice.
Compare I Tim. i. 20, and this was /or
tbe deftruiiiom of tbe flefh ; not direftly of
.the _^f/&/)i principle, tor in that fenfe it
could not be oppofed to the jav'tng the
jpirit in the day of the Lord ;' bu^ proba
bly, as the paraphrafe intimates,''for the
emaciating and enfeebling tbe powers of
animal nature.

0.3

thofe

«38

Left a little leaven flauld leaven the whole lump.

Sect, thofe infinitely more infupportable and ever-
f^' lafting agonies to which it might otherwife be
1 Cor. doomed.
V. 6. And give me leave on this occafion farther
to tell you, that yottr boafting, whether of fuch
a perfon as your friend, if he be remarkable for
any peculiar diftinftion in gifts, abilities and
circumftances, or againTl him, as your enemy,
if he be of an oppofite faftion, [!f.f J not by any
means good'^.'- t)o you not know, in a familiar
inftance, which it may be profitable for you to
- recolleft, thai a little leai'en quickly diffufes it
felf by a fecret fermentation, till it leavenetb the
whole mafs. Thus will evil examples tend to
f{)read in the church ; and if a brand of infamy
be not quickly fet upon the incorrigible offender,
wickednefs will grow familiar, and lofe its
Fiorror ; fo that many Other member? of your
fociety may bepolluted, enfnared and difhonourfed.
7 Set yourfelves therefore with a refolution and
diligence, like that which the Jews fhew in
all their dwellings, when the annual feaftof the
paffover is approaching, to purge out the old
leaven : fearch for it, as it were, with lighted
candles, wherever you fufpeft any of it to lurk
unobferved, ihat ye may indeed be entirely a new
mafs ; as ye are by your Chriftian profeffion un
leavened, let there be no mixture of any thing
inconfiftent with that fimplicity and purity which
the gofpel teaches.
It is a diligence and refolution that becomes
you ; for we have not only the Divine command
to enforce it, but this tender additional obliga
tion, that eviin Chrift our paffover was flain for
us f. He hath made his precious blood the
price of our redemption, that he might make it
the means of our fanftification, and that we,
inftead of being fmitten by the fword of the

6 'Your glorying
75 not good; Know
ye not that a little
leaven leayeneth the
whole lump }

7 Purge out there-
fore the old leaven,
that ye may be a new
lump, as ye are un
leavened. For even
Chrift our paffover is
facriliced for us,

e Your boafting is not good.] L'Enfant
would read it interrogatively, Have yoa
mt aftnefubjekfor boafting? which is in
deed more animated than our verfton ; but
I. think, not in the tafte and manner of
St. Paul, nor does it. feem exaftly to fuit
the original.
f Chrift our paffover was ftain.] It is
well kno'Wn," th^t Juftin Martyr, in his
dialogue with Trypho the Jew, accufes
2

the Jews with having taken out of the
book of Efdras the following words,
** The paffover 'is our Saviour, and-our re-
" /"?*•" L'Enfant thinks thefe words
of St. Paul are an allufion to them. — It is
a very inconclulive inference of fome from
this context, that this epiftle was written
about the time ol the paffover. Compare
chap, xvi. S. avenging

He charges them not to be familittt wilh leiitd perfons ;

S Therefore let us
keep the feaft, not
with old leaven, nei
ther with the leaven
of malice and wick
ednefs ; but wit'n
the unleavened bread
of fincerity and trutli.

avenging angel, might fit down to a Divine ban
quet in peace. Let us then keep the holy feajfi
which he hath at fuch an expence provided for
us, and in which he feedeth, us even with his
own flefh. ; and let us celebrate it in a manner
which may do him the greatefi honour, and be
moft pleafmg to the adorable Author of our li
berty and our happinefs ; that is, not with tht
old ftale leaven of uncleannefs, fo common in
your Gentile eftate, nor with the leaven of malig
nity and mifchief, which yourjudaizing teachers
would intufe, tjiough it is as inconfiftent with
the benevolence, as the other with the purity
of the gofpel: but avoiding thefe with the
ftrifteft care, keep it with the mnleaitened [bread]
of fincerity and truth; with the moft fimple and
fincere defire of knowing and praftifing every
branch of our duty ; which if We really have, it
will keep us from all thefe evils, and fecure an
uniformity of behaviour, honourable to our pro
feftion, and agreeable to the glorious fcheme and
defign of its illuftrious Author.
Iri this conneftion it occurs to me, and I con
clude you remember, that / wrote to you an
epiftle which I fent you before your meffengers
reached me, thai you flould not eorfuerfe' with
fornicators and kwd perfons ^, or others bf ill
fame and charafter. Bui I think you muft
apprehend, that by what I then wrote, I in*
tended not entirely to forbid all converfe with the
lewd people of this world, or with covetous men,
or extortioners, or idolaters, among your hea
then neighbours ; for then, as thefb charafters
fo generally prevail among mankind in this de
generate ftate, you muft indeed go aui of the
world, and feek fome foUtary ^bode in the wil
dernefs ; which is what I never intended to re
quire or encourage. Bui the intent of what I
then faidj and of what I have now written unto
you, is, thai if any who is named a Chriftian
eda brother be a foF- hrtither ^i" evidently « lewd perfon, or rcmafka-
mcator, ¦' ^ ¦'

9 I wrote to you
in an epiftle, not to
corapany with forni
cators.

IO 'Vet not altoge-
tl\er with the fornica
tors of this world,
01' with the covetous
or extortioner, or
with idolaters ; for
then muft ye needs
goout of the world.

1 1 But now I hav'e
written unto you, not
to keep ooriipany, if
any man that is call

IO

II

Z Lewd perfons.] I have rendered ftrongly againft fome other fpecies Of
•nropei, lewd perjons, in thefe verjes, as lewdnejs, than againft what is callcdy/ni-
I think it very plain the apoftle intended pie fernicas'mni deteftable as that is. See
the word fhould be taken in that ex- Vol.1, p. 202, Hofef; and Vol. II. p. 220,
tent i his argument concluding yet more note f. .
Q.4 biy

240

And mi io eat with fuch a one, if called a brother.

V.

Sect, bly fw«/ff«.f, or in afts of occafional, though not
 '__ ftated and cuftbmary worfhip, an idolater, or
I Cor. even a railer, who labours to provoke or in-
ii-juresany in their abfence by flanderous reports,
or a drunkard, and in any other refpefts an
abandoned fenfualift, or rapacipus extortioner,
pu flould not converfe familiarly, or fo much as
eat with fuch an one, in cpmmon life, and much
lefs, in fuch religious folemnitie^as are peculiar
to the church of Chrift, whigh ought ever to be
a pure and holy fociety.
11 You muft underftand my caution with fuch a
limitation as this : for what have I io do, as a
Chriftian apoftle,. to judge thofe that are without
the pale of the church ? Of others indeed I may
fpeak ; for do mt even yoii, in your more private
^capacity, judge thofe that are within ? I have
taught you, that every private Chriftian fhould
be concerned in his ftation to maintain the dif-
cipline of the church of Chrift, and to bear his
teftimony againft diforderly -walkers, which may
J3 at prefent have 'a place in it. Bui let it be
remembered, that thofe who are ^without, God
judgeth"^ ; and he will find a way, fooneror later,
to teftify his awful difpleafure againft them
for crimes which they have committed againft
the law of nature, and that acquaintance with
it which he knows they aftually had, or might
have attained. Therefore in confideration of
this, both in one view, and the other, let it be
your immediate care, as you regard the peace
of J;he church, and the fafety of your own
fouls, fpeedily, and with all due folemnity, to
take away Jrom among yourjelves ihe wicked per
fon • I have mentioned, and any others, whofe
charafters may, like his, be fcandalous and in
feftious.

nicator, or covetous,
or an idolater, or a
railer, or a drunkard,
or an . extortioner,
with fuch sn one no
not to eat.

i2Forwhathavc J
to do to judge them
alfo that are without ?
do not ye judge them
that are within ?

13 But them that
are without, God
judgeth. Therefore
put away from a.
mong yourfelves that
wicked perfon.

h Thofewho are without, God judgeth,]
Dr. Whitby thinks this is an oblique re
ference to the tnother-in-taw of the incef
tuous perfon, who was a heathen ; which,
from the apoftle't giving no direftions con
cerning her, is not improbable. But I
think, tbe views of S<. Paul in this claufe,

were more extenfive, and have parapbra-
fed them accordingly.
i Take away, &c.] This feems plainly
to imply, that the Corinthians had a
¦power of excommunication in themfelves, as
has generally been pleaded by congrega
tional writers from this text.

IMPROVEMENT,

Refteiiions on ihe godly difciplinf of the Chriftian church, ^41
IMPROVEMENT.
Happy are thofe churches who have it in their power to g
exercife godly difcipline, and to chafe from their communion fuch ix,'
members as are its reproach and fcandal I Happy they, who 
having this power, have the courage and fidelity to ufe it, fo as not ^"^°
to be afhamed and condemned by it. Let us not be too much ^3
' furprifed, that offences come, and if there are, even in Chriftian
focieties, fome enormities beyond what are commonly heard of
among the Gentiles, It is no wonder, if fuch abandon themfelves,
yea, if they are in righteous judgment abandoned of God, to the
uncontroulable rage of their own lufts and corruptions, and the
great enemy of fouls be fuffered to carry them captive at his plea
fure. Let it however be our concern, that when this is the cafe,
the wicked perfon be taken away. And though the extraordinary
power which the apoftles had, be long ceafed, and we cannot
deliver over offenders for coireftion to Satan, as they did, let lis
take fuch methods as are ftill open, for purging the old leaven out ;,
of our churches ; and O, that we may be enabled to pifrge It out '
of our hearts ! remembering Chrift our Paffover, who was ftain for
us, feeding daily upon him by faith, and keeping the facred feftival,
at once with joy and gladnefs, and with fimplicity and fincerity
of heart. ,
Lamentable indeed is it that fo many vices fhould prevail in hu
man nature ; that he, who would avoid all fociety with perfons of
a bad charafter, muft needs go oui of the world. But moft lamen- ,-
table of all, that any one who is called a brother, fliould be a xj
fornicator, or covetous, an idolater, or railer, a drunkard, or an
extortioner. May God preferve us from fuch deteftable crimes,^
and may he purge out all fuch fpots as thefe from our feafts of
charity ! and to that end, may he quicken our zeal to bear a tef
timony againft them, in every fuch method as fuits our relation
and circumftances of life ! Above all, let not any^ever imagine,
tl)at being joined in communion with a Chriftian church, can ex
cufe the guilt of fuch immoral and fcandalous praftices, for which
the wrath of God comes even upon the children of difobedience among
the heathen. God will have his time to judge ihem that are with- i-t
oui; and not only Chriftians at large, as fome may fondly and
perhaps profanely be ready to call themfelves, but Mahometans and
Pagans too, fhall find articles like thefe, fitting upon their fouls
with a dreadful weight, and if fincere repentance do not make ^
way for pardon, plunging them into the loweft abyfs of mifery,
into a ftate of everlafting feparation from the blefled God, and all
fiis holy and acceptable fervants.
SECT.

H^

The faints flail judge the vjorld;

, SECT. X.
The Apoftle reproves the Corinthians for profecuting their brethren
in heathen courts'; end folemnly warns them of the fad confequences
zuhich would attend the indulgence of thofe criminal difpofitions
and praiiices in which Chriftianity found ihem, and from which
it was intended to deliver them. | Cor. VI. i — ii.

I Corinthians VI. j.

Sect. I" Have already rnentioned one very great
^' irregularity among you ; and now I am under
J Cor.
VI. I

an unhappy neceflity of animadverting upon
another ; which is, that you enter into fuits of
law 'W'itk each other in heathen courts. And
is this poffible ? Dare any of you indeed aft
fo fhameful a part ? Can you really be fo irnpru-
dent, having any matter [of complaint] againft
another, as to refer it ta the decifion of men,
' who lie under fo many temptations to be unjuft,
and not of ihe faints *, of your Chriftian bre
thren, from whofe fanftity of charafter and
profeffion you might reafonably expeft the moft
equitable ufage, and the utmoft tendernefs in ac
commodating differences, upon the eafieft terms
2 that juftice will iallow. Do you not yet indeed
know, have you never been told it by me, or by,
any other, that the faints flail in the great day
judge the world? that they fhall be affeffors
with Chrift in that folemn judgment when he
Ihall condemn all the ungodly ? (Compare Matt. .
xiX'. 28.) And if the world is fhortly to be judged
hy you, are. ye unworthy of determining the moft
inconfiderable matters whicii daily occur in your
fecular affairs ?
3 I repeat it again ; and you will find it a ftrik
ing argument, if you will allow yourfelves to
refleft upon it ; know you not, ihat we Jhall

? CoR. VI. I,
'TJARE any of you,
having a matter
againft another, go
to law before the un.,
juft, and not before
the faints .' " ' '

2 Do ye not Know
that the faints fhall
judge the world .' and
if the world fhall be
judged hy you, are
ye unworthy to judge
thc fmalleft matters ?

3 Know ye not,
that wc fliall judge
angeli ?

's Unjuft— fa'ttits.] Thc lieathen judges,
as Pars] fe»ms here to infinuate, or father
in tfteft to declare, were generally unjuft ;
Chriltians were generally good, righteous,
and holy men. There might be excep
tions on each fide, but the apoftle's argu
ment turns on what might commonly be
tippofed-. The faints, who arc to judge

angels, are not merely profeffing Chrif
tians — To fuppofe, thaf the cafe of the
inceftuous Corinthian had been carried
before a heathen judge, as Mr. Locke fup
pofes, feems entirely groundlefs. A
thoufand other dilputes, might have occa
fioned the remonftrancc before us. judge

and flould not be judged hy perfons not eftteined In the church : 243
»ngels? how much judge even the fallen angels'' themfelves, who, Sect,
Stffllfe?"- r,r'K^^K'"^'".S '^^ ?"' -T^T'^ \nd pride, ^
fhall be brought to that tribunal at which you, i Cor.
having glorioufly paffed your own trial, fhall be VI. j
feated with Chrift, ydur Viftprious Lord, when
by his righteous fentence he (hall fend thefe
rebellious fpirits to that flaming prifon which
Divine juftice hath prepared fpr them. And
[are ye] not then much more apparently [worthy
to judge] ihe little trifling affairs ivhich relate io
this mortal life ? If therefore ye, who have 4,
fuch great honours and dignities in view, have,
in the mean time, any little controverfies with
-each other, relating to the affairs of this life, do
ye fet thofe to determine ihem, who ^are of no
efteem at all in the church ", but whom ye know
tP be idplaters, defpifers of the gpfpel, and ene
mies to your great Mafter and his caufe, as ypur
heathen neighbpurs undpubtedly are ? ''I fpeak 5
[this] io your fhame; and hupe ypu blufh while
ypu read it. Are things indeed cpme to fuch a
pafs in your church, celebrated as it is, and
boafting fo inuch of its wifdom, that this fhould
be neceffary ? What, is there not one wife intelti- ,

4 IF then ye have
judgments of things
pertaining to this life,
fet them to judge who
are leaft efteemed in
the church.

S I fpeak to your
fhame. Is it fo, that
there is not a wife
man

* Shall judge angels."] ¦ Had the apoftle,
as Dr. Whitby fuppofed, refeited to the
poMier which many Chriftians had of
driving out demons from thofe who were
poffefl'ed by them, he would not have
Ipokcof this as a future thing, nor can
we fuppofe it to have been common to all
Chripians, nor Would it have afforded an
argument equally forcible with that which
th; paraphrafe fuggefts. Mr. Reyntlds
extends the interpretation yet farther, and
feems to infer from it, that the holy angels
are ftill in a ftate of probation, and ihall
be rewarded at the laft day, according to
the degree of their fidelity and aftivity in
the fervices alligned to them by Chrift,
as the Head of angels, who fhall take his
redeemed from among men, to be affeffors
with him in that final fentence. Reyn. of
¦Ang. p. 183. But the angelick legions
are reprefented in quite another view,
namely, as miniftering to Chrift, adding
pomp to his appearance, and executing
his fentence ; which, I think, fufficiently
proves that this is an ungrounded inter
pretation, and that if any fuch judgment
is to pafs, with regard to ihem, it ihuft
te at fame other time, xa.i in fome other

place. But there feems a peculiar dignity
and propriety in the determination of thc
great God, that When the devils, who
are exprefsly faid to be referved in chains of
darknefs to the judgment of the great day,
fhall be condemned, the faints, being
raifed to the feats of glory which thefe
wicked fpirits have forfeited and loft,
fliould affift in that fentence which fliall
difplay the viftory of Chrift over them in
thefe his fervants, once their captives, and
\yill; no ioubt, render the fentence itfelf
yet more intolerable, to creatures of fucK
malignity and pride.
c Do ye fet them, &c.] Our tranftatiots
renders it, fet them tojimge, who are leaft
efteemfd in the church, as if the apoftle had
faid, «« take the meaneft Chriftian, ra-
" ther than any heathen." But I follow
that preferred by Beza and Whitby.
Limborch would underftand x^iinpict, as
equivalent to Juwrn.'ia, and render it as a
piece of advice, " conftitute to yourfelvei'
'f courts of judicature, relating to civil
" affairs." — Elfner fhews, that KnSil^en,
fignifies to place perfons on judicial fefts.
Obferv. Vol. II. p. 93. gent

man amongft you ?
no not one that fhalt
be able to judge be
tween his brethren ?
6 But brother go
eth to law with bro
ther, and that before
the unbelievers.

244 ' The Apoftle therefore. reproves their contefts in the heathett courts,
^^•^'^- gent perfon among, you all, who may be able to de-
t ermine the caufe of a Chriftian brother ? But
I Cor. though the civil conftitution allows you to decide
vi. 6 thefe things among yourfejves, one brother hath
a fuit (fgainft another, and this before infidels ^,
who cannot but be greatly fcandalized at this,-
and take occafion from youi; mutual, quarrels and
accufations, to brand the whole body of you as
injurious and avaricious ; who, while you pre
tend to be fo far fuperior to fecular views, are
yet fo ftrongly attached to them, that w'th all
your profeflions of univerfal benevolence and
brotherly love, you cannot forbear wronging one
7 another ? Therefore, whoever may have the
right on his fide, on this or that particular quef-
" tion, even thjs is altogether a fault among you,
that you bring it under the cognizance of hea
thens °, on whatever occafion it be, that ye have
fuch law-fuits and contefts with each other, JVhy
do ye not rather endure wrong patiently, and fit
down by the lofs ? Why do ye not rather fuffer
yourfelves to be defrauded, than feek fuch a re-
S riiedy as this ? But indeed, to fpeak plainly,
you do wrong, and you defraud even [your] bre
thren. By fuch proceedings as thefe, you do
much greater injury to the church of Chrift, and
the common caufe of religion, than you can
fuftain from any particular brother againft
whom yon advance a complaint. ^Jor is this
the only thing wherein you are to blame, nor
the only inftance in which you injure each.
other.
Tf And permit me to expoftulate with you a
little on this head. IVhat ! can vou contentedly
lacrifice this great and glorious hope which ,tlie
gofpel gives you ? With all your boafted know
ledge, (lo ye not indeed know, that the unjuft Jhall
not inherit ihe kingdom of God ? Be not deceived

7 Now therefore
there is utterly a fault
among you, becaufe
ye go to law one with
another : why do ye
not rather , take
wrong } why do ye
not rather fuffer your,
felves to be' defraud
ed .'

8 Nay, ye do
wrong and defraud,
and that your brcn
thren.

9 Know, ye not,.
that the unrighteous
fhall not inherit the
kingdom of God.' Be
not deceived : neither
fornicators,

d One brother has a fuit againft another,
&c. J Jofephus obferves, that the Ro
mans, (who vlere how mafters of Co
rinth,) permitted the Jews in foreign
countries, to decide private affairs, where
nothing capital was in queftion, among
themfelves; ahd from hence Dr. Lardner
argues the, juftice of this rebuke of St,
Paul, as th-zre js no room to doubt but
Chriftians raight hav» had the fame privi-'

leg*?, as they were looked upon as 2,yewijh
fef.i. Cred'ih'il'ily, 'Vol.' I. p. 165. But fe-
parace from that, they might certainly by
mutual confent have chofen their brethren
as referees.
e Even this is altogether a fault am^t.g
you.] That Tj^Ti, fhould be rendered evrn,
R!iphelms hath v/ell obferved, and proved.*
Annot, ex Herod, in ke, '

The Corinthian converts were once of ihe Worft charaiier. 845
fornicators, nor ido- by a valn imagination, that tlie Chriftian name Sect.
no7eft°mint'te"noJ ^^^ privileges will fecurc you in the praftice oi f^'

abufers of themfelves your vices : for I now folemnly afliire you, as.I iCor.
with mankind, have often done, that neither fornicators, nor VI. 9
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate perfons, ¦
\ I who give themfelves up to a foit indolent way of
living, and can endure no hardfhips in the way
of duty and honour ; nor Sodomites, thofe infa-
10 Nor thieves, mous degraders of human nature. Nor thiebes, 10
nor covetous, nor ^gj, thofe who are infatiablv covetous,' nor drunk-
drunkards, nor revi- , , ., . ' - . r i
lers, nor extortion-, '^'''^^' «"'' revtlers, nor rapcictous perfons, who
ers, fliall inherit the by extortion, or any other kind of violence, in-
kingdom of God. yajg ^\^Q property , of their neighbours ; flail in
herit that pure and peaceful region, the kingdom
ef God, where holinefs and love muft for ever
' reign, under the aufpicious government of his
Son. *
II And fuch were jfW while I Write this, excufe me, that I II
Irw°ftirf!"bu"^e *^'"^ it my duty folemnly, though tenderly, to
are fanftifie'd, but ye Call you my dear brethren, to recolleft, that
are juftified in the y«f A detcfted Creatures as thefe, were fome of you
name of the Lord Je- jjj y^^j. unconverted ftate ! as manv of your
fus, and by the Spl- . -V i i j ri • u
rit of our God. neighbours know, and as you yourfelves, with
deep humility and agony of foul confeffed. But
ye are wajhed, not merely by the baptifm of
water ; but ye are fanilified, but ye are juftified ;
Divine grace has made a happy change in your
ftate and temper ; and ye are purified and re
newed, as well as difcharged, from the condem
nation to which ye were juftly obnoxious, in the
7ianu of the Lordjefus, and by ihe Spirit ^.hitn
whpm we are now taught, through that common
Saviour, to call with complacency our God.,
You ought therefore ever to maintain the moft
grateful fenfe of this important bleffing, to ftand
' at the remoteft diftance from fin, and to be
tender of the peace and honour of a fociety whicfi
God hath founded by his extraordinary interpo
fition, -and into which he hath been pleafed iu
fo wpnderful a manner tP bring even you, who
were once in the inoft infamous and deplorable
ftate. IMPROVEMENT.
Alas ! How great a reproach do we bring on our Chriftian
profeffion, by fo immoderate an attachment to our fecular in-
tereiis ! How mucji does the family of our common Father fuffer,
\ ~ while

j>46 Refleiiions on L)ivine grace, which Jetves the vHeft ftmiets.
Sect, while brother goes ia law with brother 1 What are thefe little in-
^' terefts of mortal lije, that the heirs of falvation, by'whom angels are
Vcrfe to be judged, fhould wrangle about them, and for the fake of them
6 do wrong, and that even to their brethren I
,8 Men had need, where fuch a temper prevails, to examine them-
Q felves, and take heed that they be not deceived ; for though good
men may fall into fome degrees of this evil, through negligence
or miftake, yet certainly it looks too much like the charafter of
9» 10 fuch of whom the apoftle teftifies, that they Jhall not inherit the
kingdom oJ God- Let us obferve, that in this catalogue, are con
tained, not only the moft infamous and enormous offenders, but
fome, who perhaps may be tempted, becaufe of their freedom
from flagitious crimes, to think much better of themfelves than
they ought. We find here the effeminate, and covetous, and re-
vilers, and extortioners, ranked with adulterers, and Jornicators,
with thieves and drunkards, with idolaters and Sodomites, ' We
carv never be fecure from danger of falling into the greateft fins,
till we learn to guard againft the leaft ; or rather, till we think
no evil fmall ; viewing every fin in its contradiftion to the nature
of God, and in the fad afpeft it bears with regard to an eternal
ftate. But how aftonifhing is it to refleft, that when the apoftle is
fpeaking of perfons of fuch infamous charafters, he (hould be
able to add, in his addrefs to bis Chriftian brethren at Corinth,
*l And Juch were Jome of you I Who muft not adore the riches and
fovereignty of Divine grace ? were fueh as thefe the beft of the
heathen world ? were fuch as thefe prepared by their diftinguifhed
virtues to receive farther affiftance ? let us rather pay our homage
to that grace, which went, as it were, into the fiiburbs of hell, to
gather from thence chizens of heaven. And let the worft of men
learn, riot to defpair of falvation, when made fincerely defirous of
being wafled and fanilified, as well as juftified, in the name of our -
Lord Jefus, and by the Spirit of our God, It is that name, it is
that Spirit alone, which accomplifhes works like, thefe. And,
blefled be God, all the wonders of this kind were not exhaufted
in thofe early ages, but fome have been referved for us, on whom
the end of the world is come : the gofpel hath exerted its triumphs in
our own days, and they fhall be, renewed in thofe of our children.
Only let none from hence prefume to turn the grace of God into
wantonnefs ; left, inftead of being among the few, who are made
the trophies of the Divine mercy, they fhould perifh with the
multitude of the ungodly world, who die in their pollutions, and
go down to final and irreverfible condemnation.
SECT.

^e Apoftle would not he under the power (ven of lawful things. 247

SECT. XI.

Whereas fome among the newly-converted Corinthians, might not he
fufficiently fenftble of the enormity of the Jin of fornication, the
Apoftle, after fome ufefitl refleiiions on things really indifferent,
exprefles himfelf ftrongly on ihat head, and pleads thofe, views
peculiar to Chriftianity, which efpecially illuftrate the imnoufnefs
of it. 1 Cor. VI. 12, io the end.

1 CoR. VI. 12.
A LL things arelaw-
ful unto me, but
all things are not ex
pedient : all things
are lawful for me,
but I will not be
brought under the
power of any.

13 ^i^ats for the
belly, and the belly
for meats ". but God
fliall deftroy both it
and them. Now the
body IJ not for fornl-
cationj but for tbe
Lord; and the Lord
for the body.

1 Corinthians VI. 12.
T Know, fome of you at Corinth, allow your- Sect.
••• felves to philofophize with great liberty, and ^••
find many excufes for doing things which "TcorT
others confcientioufly fcruple : but as matters at VI. n
prefent ftand, I think it neceffary to give you
fome cautions upon this head. Suppofe the
things in queftion to be as indifferent in their
own nature, as many of you would fain per
fuade yourfelves and others, they are : I will,
for argument fake, grant, that all thefe things
arejawful for me; but at the fame time you
muft acknowledge, if you refleft ever fo little,
that all fuch things are not convenient : circum
ftances may make it improper for me to do .
that which is not abfolutely and univerfally cri
minal. And though it be aUowed, that all
things in queftion ari lawful for me, neverthe
lefs, I ivill not be brought under ihe power of any
{uch thing. . But am folicitous to maintain" fuch
a fuperiority to appetite and pafliou, as becomes
a man and a Chriftian in thefe cafes. This ij
majfinti may be particularly applied to the fup^ ,
pofed difference' between one kind of food and
another. All meats, capable of miniftering to
our nourifhment, [are] indifferently , inade for
the ufe of the bellyl and ihe belly is made for re-
ceiving and digefling ;«^fl/i. It is true; hut
then it ought to be remembered, that the time
will quickly come, when God will deftroy both it
and them; meats, and the organs by which
they have been received, and this animal frame,
which has been nourifhed by them, fhall be mixed
together in the grave, and moulder into duft.
Since therefore they refer only to this mortal
body, fo foon to be reduced to its firft mean
principles.

24S

Much lefs WdUld he allow fornication.

Sect, principles, it is certainly beneath the dignity of
^^' the'Chriftian charafter, to be a flave to this or
I Cor. that kind of meats ; or in any inftances, to in-
VI. 13 dulge this perifhiiig flefh, fo as to injure the fouls
of others, pr hazard our own.
Bui if any man extend the maxim I have men
tioned above, to patronize any kind of lewdnefs,
it would be a groundlefs and moft unjuftifiable
inference : for it is moft certain, that the body is
. not made for fo infamous a purpofe as fornica
tion, nor can the commiflion of it be ever necef
fary or expedient ; but it was, on the contrary,
formed for the fervice of the Lord, that, while
we continue in it, we might devote all our
animal, as well as rational powers, to our great
Creator and Redeemer ; and the Lord is in an
important fenfe for the body, he is the great
Saviour of the body, as well as of the foul, and
will make it at laft appear, that he hath not for
gotten the meaner part of our nature, in the
gracious fcheme he hath formed for our felicity :
14 And this fcheme fhall furely be effeftual ; for
God the Father hath both raifed up ihe Lord
' Jefiis Chrift, from the dead to an immortal life,
and will alfo raife us up, in like manner, by his
Divine and almighty power, and transform thefe
bodies of ours, into a refemblance of the glorified
body of our Lord ; which fhould certainly raife
us above all impure affeftions and defires, and
engage us to live in the body, in fome conformity
to fo Divine and glorious a hope.
15 Enter, I befeech you, into the thought ; and
let me expoftulate freely with thofe who are
ready to forget it. Know ye not indeed, that, as
your bodies make an effential part of yourfelves,
they are to be confidered as members of Chrift,
belonging, as it were, to his body, ^nd in that
view under his care, as to their final and ever
lafting happinefs with him. Shall I then take
thefe which I am taught to look upon as in an
important fenfe the members of Chrift, and prof-
titute them to fo infamous a purpofe, as to make
ihem ihe members of an harlot by unlawful em
braces ?' God forbid ! It is a thing not to be
thought of, without the utmoft abhorrence and
16 indignation. What, know ye not, ihat he who
is thus joined to an harlot, is one body with her ?
For.

14 And God hath
both raifed up the
Lord, and will alfo
raife up u: by his
own power.

15 Know ye not,
that your botfies are
the members of
Chrift ? ftiall I then
take the members of
Chrift, and 'make
them themembers of
an harlot ? God for
bid.

16 'What, know
ye not that he which
is joined to an harlot,
is one body ? for two
(faitl»

For our bodies are ihe members of Chrift. 245
i'^'"fl Ih'^ *''*" ^^ ^'"' -f^^^ [the Divine oraclesf] fpeaking of that Sect.
°"^ ' * conjunftion which whoredom proftitutes td the ^^'
diflionour df matrimony, fo wifely and graci- TcorT
oully ordained by God, (Gen. ii. 24,) they two, VI. 16
. that is, the man and his wife, flail be one flefl.
, i7 But he th.-it is But on the other hand, he ihat is joined to the x")
joined unto the Lord, rju - c • \. •' r • ¦ • i , • '
is one fpirit. •^''™ °y * true faith, IS one fpirit with him.
And as the head and members of the natural
body are one, as they are afted upon by the
fame fpirit, fo the fame Divine and holy Spirit,
which lives in Chrift as the Head, is communi
cated to us from him; juft as the vital fpirits are
communicated from the head to the limbs.
Now what thought can be more monftrous than
that any bne fhould think pf being, at the faine
time, one fpirit with the Lord, and one flefli
18 Flee fornioa- vvitb an harlot ? Let this therefore be infteiid i8
tion. Every fin th.it c .. .i. c \ '
a man doeth, Is with- "' *^" thoufand arguments, .to engage you to
out the body ; but flee whoredom ; concerning which, one may far-
he that committeth ther plead, that every [other] Jin, which a man
-SSu own bS rf^^i', " ^''^^*"'' '^' '"'^y '''' "^^^^ ^^" "°*
fo direftly upon the body, but often inore iih-
mediately upon the mind ", But he that com
mitteth whoredom, or any kind of lewdnefs,
ftnneth particularly againft his own hody^, not
only polluting and debafing it, by making it one
with fo infamous a creature, but perhaps infeft-
ing and enfeebling, wafting and confuming iir,
which thefe vices, when grown habitual- and
frequent, have ^n apparent tendency to effeft.
(Compare Prov. v. 11 ; Job xxxvii 14 ) There
is alfo another view, in which the bafenefs of
this criihe muft appear tb you, GhriftianSj in
confequence of your relation to that blefled agent,
tj Whati know the Spirit of God. Have you not all been 19
y^ baptized in his name, and inftrufted in your
a Every \otbir] ftit, &c.] It Woiild be Socrates is reprefented as%yingj " that
Unreafonable to infift on the moft rigo- " intemperate men hurt themfelves far
rous interpretation of thefe words; but ** more than others; whereas fome fin-
the general fenfe i^ plain and true, and I <* nets fecure forae profit to themfelVes,
fuppofe, that on the whole, there is no " though they are injurious to othefs. "—
otfier fin by which the body receives equal It is, evident, that rtjvsia, muft here fig-
detriment, confidering rtot only its nature, nify any unlawful commerce between perfons *
but how much it has prevailed. of different fixes, fince whoredom with
b He that committeth whoredom, ftnneth jmarried women is as direftly contrary both
egainft bii own body".] This is well il'uf- to the honour and health of the body, as I
traced by a fine pafl'age of Xeiui{ibon, witk fingle, .
firaduaed by Raphelius here, in whicli
Vol., IV. R relation

i^o Refteiiions on our obligations io purity, &c.
Sect, relation to him ? IVhat, know you not, that your 1^ "ot that yotir
^^bodyisihetei^pleofihemiyGhoft which is in ^^0^0?^
iCor. you, dedicated to him, and inhabited by him; ,-, i„ you, which ye
VI. 19 even thaf fpirit wh'ich you receive of God as his have of God, andyc
moft valuable gift ? And, on the whole, in what- ^'¦^ ™« ^o^f o™-
ever view you confider yourfelves,- it will appear,
that ye are not by any means your own property,
nor can be juftly at your own difpofal, to feek
your prefent gratification without controul, or
regard to the will of a fuperior.
2° For the contrary is moft appareht ; se are 2° Eor y^ arc
bought with a price, and that infinitely beyond. Sl^g^ti
what you can pretend to be worth. Therefore, in your body, and in
far from doing any thing to bring a difhonour your^ fpirit, which
on religion, you ought in every aftion, wprd, ^^^^°^'^'
and fentiment, tp own yourfelves his property,
and exert yourfelves to the utmoft, in a courfe
of vigoirous and conftant obedience, to glorify
God, -both with your body and with your fpirit,
wh'ich are, by the jufteft title, God!s ; as he hath
not only created, preferved, and maintained
you, but by the invaluable blood of his Son pur-
chafed and redeemed you to himfelf, ahd by his
holy Spirit taken poffefllon of you, and marked
you for his own.

IMPROVEMENT.
How peculiar is the excellence of the Chriftian religion! With
\vhat incomparable advantages doth it inforce all tiie leffons of
inoral virtue, which it teaches ! With what holy difdain fhould
we look on the baits of fenfe, and the pollutions which are in the
Verfe world through luft, if we ferioufly andoften reflefted on thefe two
15 things — That our bodies are the members of Chrift, (tnd that they are
i 9 the temples of the Holy Ghoft I Let it be our care, that they may
not only be nominally, but really fo. That we may by a Uving
faith be united to the Lord, fo as to become one fpirit with him,
^7 animated by that Spirit which refides in him and dwells in all who
are truly his.
Let us, as often as we are tempted to alienate ourfelves from the
fervice of God, refleft upon the price with which we are bought.
20 How great, how important a price, which we fhould never think
of but with fecret fhame, as well as admiration and love ! O Lord!
haft thou paid fuch ^ ranfom for me, and fhall I aft as if 1 thought
even ihis not enough ? as if thou hadft acquired only a partial ahd
imperfeft right to me, and I might divide myfelf between thee
and ftrangers, between thee and thine enemies ? , O. may we be
entirely

The Apoftle advifts them not to marry at thai feafoH i- i^t
entirely thine ? and m.ake it the bufinefs of the lateft day and hour S^ect.
flf our lives, to glorify God with our bodies and with our fpirits,, '
tvhieh are his !
Under the influence of this thought, may we effeftually enter
into- the wife and pious fuggeftions of the cfpoftle ; and guard, not Verft
only againft things abfolutely and univerfally unlawful, but like- I2
wife againft thofe, which, in prefent circumffancesj may be in
convenient. May we be ever ready to exert a holy freedom of
foul, and a fiiperiofity to whatever may enfnare and enflave us ;
which we fhall more eafily obtain, if we refleft on the tranfitory
duration of the objefts of appetite and fenfe : how foon the things 13
we enjoy, and -thofe bodies by which we enjoy them, fhall be I'e-
diiced to the duftj out of which they were taken. God deftroys
all that is prefent and vifible, that we may look more intenfely for
a kingdom thai cannot be moved. He reduces our bodies to putre-
faftion, that we may learn to cultivate with greater care the in
tereft- of a never-dyiitig foul: which if We faithfiilly and diligently
purfue, God, ivho hath raifed up his Son as our Surety and Saviour, 14
will alfo raife us up by his own power, to enjoyments, fublime, '-
incorruptible, 3nd eternal. 0 Lord I we would wait for thy fal- '
Vation, and in the mean time, would do thy commandmetiis ; and
animated by fo exalted. a hope, would purify ourfelves, even as
thou art pure,
SEC T. XII.
The Apoftle proceeds io anfwer certain queftions which the Corin
thians had put to him ; and firft, what related to the marriage-
ftate ; and in thefe introduiiory verfes, he determines that in fome
circumftances ii flould be - entered into, and continued in, but in
ethers, forborne ; and forbids wives to depart from their huft ands,
I Cor. VIL I— II,
i CoR. vft. 1. I Corinthians VII. i.
1^0 W concerning J iVO^proceed to give you uiyopinion coricern- Sect.
«fyfwrMeTnW: ^«^ 'hoft things about which you wrote to me, XU
it isvgood for a man And I begin with that concerning the. lawful- ^ ^or.
not to touch a wo- nefs or expedience of marriage. And here I vil. i
"*"• muil firft obferve^ that as to its expedience, [ii
is] in prefent circumftances good for a man,
where he is entirely mafter of himfelf, to have
¦nothing to do with a woman ; fo many are the
conveniences which, recomrnend a fingle life
to thofe who are propf againft fome of its moft
« Neverthelefs, to obvious temptations. Neverthelefs, as the 2
avoid Q^^ qJ nature has for certain wife reafons im-
R 2 planted

25 5 Yei marriage is neceffary io prevent fornication ; ¦
^x^n ' P^^"*^^ '" *^^ ^^'^^^ ^ mutual inclination to each ¦ awW fornication, ut
, '„. other, in order to prevent fornication, and every ^^"''^Tfe" and' le?
1 Cor. Other lp6cies of uncleannefs, let every man have every woman have
VII. 2 and retain his own proper ifiife ; and let every her own hulband.
woman have and retain her own proper huf
band : for neither divorce nor poligamy are
by any means agreeable tp the genius pf the
gofpel. ' _ .
3 Let the hufland, where this relation is com- 3 Let the hulband
menced, render all due benevolence to the wifie, render unto the wife
and in like manner alft the wife io the hufland : fiketlfeTfo th^wift
let them on all occafions be ready mutually to unto the hulband.
oblige, and confult the liappinefs of each other's
life. And let them not imagine that there is
any perfeftion in living feparate from each
4- other, as if they were in a flate of celibacy. For 4 The wife hath
- the wife hath not In this refpeft power over her tT^^'ft'T'c
i , , , , , , f ' . >ody, but the huf-
own body, but hath by the marriage-covenanti band-, and likewife
transferred it to the hufland; and in like manner alfo the hufliand hath
, alfi, ihe hufland hath not power over his own not power of his own
,'¦',,.¦¦'¦ ¦ ' . c ..I body, but the wile.
body,^ but it is, as it were, the property pt the
/ wife ; the engagements being mutual, fo that on
every occafion confcience obliges them to remain
appropriate tp each, Pther, and cpnfult their
mutual gogd.
5 IVithdraw not therefore from the company of s Defraud ye not
each other, unlefs [it be] by confent for a time ; ^nf the'other, except
,1. ./ \ -r , r. ./-L jr 6e with confent for
that ye may be at leilure to devote yourfehes ^ ^^^^^ j^at ^e may
more intenfely to fafting and prayer, and that give yourfelves to
ye may come together again as ufiial, left Satan '"^ftme and prayer;
tempt you on account of your incontinence, and take Win '^°'^at^''^Sat;m
occafion from the irregular fallies of animal tempt yoa not for
nature, to fill you with thoughts and paffions, your incontinency.
which iTiarriage was ia its original inftitution \n-
tended to remedy.
0 But you will obferve, th^it I fay this by per- 9 But I fpeak this
mijjion from Chrift ; but not by any exprefs Com- ^y P"miflion, and-
mandf, which he gave in perfon in the days ^°^'„J* 'pmman*-
of his flefh, or gives by the infpiration and fug-
geflion' of his Spirit now: by which infpiration.

_ . . „ . . J epiftles, that they
not enjoin it ;" and have elfewliere ob- will rather ftrengthen the proof of it.
fi-rvtd, that this verfe, and others in See B£ay on Infpiration in Vol, III.
this content, nearly piirallcl to it, will be ' ¦
you

and ii is letter to marry, than io burn.

2S3

7 For I woWd that
all men were even as
I myfelf I but every
man hath his proper
gift of God, one af
ter this manner, and
another after that.

you may conclude I am guided when I lay in no Sect.
fuch precautions as thefe. . X"-
But as for the main queftion we are now i cor,
upon, / could wifl that all men were, in this Vil. 7
refpeft, even as myfelf; ihat all Chriftians could
as eafily bear the feverities of a fingle life in
prefent circumftances, and exercife as refolute
a command over their natural defires *•- But
every man has his proper gift of God', one in this
kind, or manner, and another in thai. $0 that
though I give the beft advice and example I can,
I would not exalt myfelf on account of this
attainment, nor defpife thofe that have it not.
.8 I fay therefore But as to unmarried men, who, like me, have 8
^^HlrT-'"**"^ Juried their wives, ««^tothe widoiOs, 1 fay, it
widows. It IS good . , „ ^, t -J- ,r ¦ ¦ , •< ¦'^
, for them if tbey abide " good for them, [if they conveniently can,) to
even as I. continue, as Ido, in the widowed ftate. BmI g
9 But if they can ^- f/j^y ^^ve not attained to fuch a degree of tem
perance, as to be eafy in it, let them by,air means
marry. For though it be better to live calmly
and foberly in a ftate of widowhood, than to
marry, // is undoubtedly much better to marry a
fecond, or a third time, than to burn, and to be
tormented with thofe reftlefs paffions which fome
in fuch circumftances feel.
But as to thofe that are married'^, [it is] not 10
/ [who] command, but the Lord Jefiis Chrift
himfelf, who enjoins, thai the wife Jhould not'
iL'ithdraw herfelf from [her] hufland; Bui iJ 11
Jhe' be withdrawn by her own rafh and foolifh aft,
let her not by any means contraft another mar
riage ; but remain unmarried, or rather, if it
may be accomplifhed by any fubmiffion on her
fide, let her be reconciled to [her] hufland, that
they may, if poffible, live in fuch an union and
harmony as the relation requires. And lei not
the hufland difmifs [his] wife on any light ac
count, or indeed, for any thing fHbrt of ^dul-

not contain, let them
marry : for it is bet
ter to marry than to
burn.

10 And unto the
married I command,
yet not 1, but the
Lord, Let not the
wife depart from her
hulband :
U But and, if ftie
depart, let her re
main Mnmarricd, or
be r^onciled to her
hulband : and let not
the hulband put away
his wife.

l" That all men were even as myfelf.]
Common fenfe requires us to limit this
expreflion as in the paraphraje-, for it
would be a moft flagrant abfurdity to fup
pofe that St. Paul wiflied marriage might
entirely ceafe. It ftiews therefore how un
fair and improper it is, in various cafes,
Jo ftrain the apoftle's words to the utmoft
rigour, 'as if he perpetually ufed the moft
i;ritical exa^^nefs ; but indeed chap. ix. 2z,

is fo full an inftance to the contrary, that
it is not neceflary to multiply remarks oi"
this kind.
c To thoje that are married,] The tranf
tation, pubjiflied by the Engl'ifti Jefuits
at Bourdeaux, renders it, to thofe ivho are
j united 'in the facrajnent of marriage ; which
I mention as one inftance, felefled fram
a vaft number, of the great dilhonefty of
that tranftation.

R3

terv

2^4- Refteiiions on the Apo/ile's obferyations about marriage.
Sect. tery. For whatever particular reafons Mofes
' might have, for permitting divorces on fome
iCor. flighter occafions, Chrift our great Legiflator,
VII. 1 1- who may reafonably expeft higher degrees of
purity and virtue in his followers, as their
aftiftances are fo much greater, hath feen fit
exprefsly to prohibit fuch feparation, and we his
a'poftles, in our decifions upon this matter, muft ^
guide ourfelves by the authority, of his deter
mination, IMPROVEMENT.
The decifions of the holy lipoflle aie here given with fuch
gravity, ferioufnefs and purity, that one would hope, delicate as the
fubjeft of them is, they will be received without any of that un
becoming levity which the wantonnefs of fome minds may be ready
to excite on fuch an occafion.
It becomes us humbly tb adore the Divine wifdom and goodnefi^
manifefted in the formation of the firft human pair, and in keeping
Verfe up the different fexes through all fucceeding^ ages, in fo juft a
2 prpportion, that every man might have his own wife, and every
4 woman her own hufland: that the inftinft of nature might, fo far
as it is neceffary, be gratified without guilt, and an holy feed be
fought, which being trained up under proper difcipline and inftruc-
tion, might fupply the waftes that death is continually making, and
be accounted to the Lord for a generation : that fo virtue and re
ligion, for the fake of which alone it is defirable that human
creatures fhould fubfift, may be tranfmitted through every age, and
earth become a nurfery for heaven.
With thefe views, let marriages be contrafted, when it is proper
thev fhould be contrafted at all. Let none imagine" the ftate itfelf
to be impure ; and let it always be preferved undefiled. Let all
5 occafion of irregular defire be -prudently guarded againft by thofe
vvho have entered into it.' And let all Chriftians, in every relation,
remember that the obligations of devotion are common to all ; and
that Chrift and his apoftles feem to take it for granted, that we
fliall be careful to fecure proper feafons for fafting, as well as for
prayer, fo far as may be needful, in order that the fuperior autho
rity of the mind over the body may be exercifed, and maintained,
and that our petitions to the throne of grace may be offered witb
greater intenfenefs, copioufnefs and ardour.
SECT. XIII.
The Apoftle exhorts Chriftians not to break marriage on account of
diffeience in religion: and urges, in the general, contentment wit.^

Murriage- not diffblved by difference in religion,
with the ftations in which, they are called, and a concern to ferve
God in their proper condition, whether married or ftngle, hound
or free, i Cou VIL 12—24.

25 >

1 Cor. VII. 12.
JDUT to the reft
fpeak I, not the
Lord, If any brother
hath a wife that be
lieveth not, and flie
be pleafed to dwell
with him, let him
not put her away.

J 3 And the wo
man which hath an
hulband that believ
eth not, and if he
be pleafed to dwell
with her, let her not
leave him.
14 For the unbe
lieving hi;fljand is
fanflifiedbythewifc,and the unbelieving
wife is fan£tlfi-ed by
the hulband : clfe
were your children
unclean ; but noW
^e they holy.

I Corinthians VII. 12.
T Have reminded you of the decifion of Chrift ^^7,'
-*¦ with refpeft to the affair of divorce : now as  1.
to the reft of the perfons and cafes to which I i Cor.
fhall addrefs myfelf, it is to be obferved, that / '^^^- "
fpeak according to what duty and -prudence feems
on th'e whole to require ; and it is mt to be
confidered as if it were immediately fpoken by ,
the Lord. If any Chriftian brother hath an ufi-r
believing wife, and fle confent io dwell, with
him, notwithftanding the diverfity of their reli
gious perfu^fions,- let him not difmifs her. And 13
on the other hand, if any Chriftian wife have
an unbelieving^ hufland, and he confent to dwell
with her, let her not difmifs him °, nor feparate
herfelf from him, though the legal conftitution
of the country in which fhe lives may allow
her to do it. For in fuch a cafe as this, the un- 14
Jielievlng hufland is fo faniiified by the wife, and
the unbelieving wife is fo faniiified by the huf
band^, that their matrimonial converfe is as
lawful as if they yvere both of the fame faith t
otherwife your children, in thefe mixed cafes,
were unclean, and muft be' looked upon as unfit
to be admitted to thofe peculiar ordinances
by which the feed of God's people are diftin
guifhed ; but now they are confeiTedly holy ",
an4 ' •

a Let her not dijmijs him.] I have elfe
where obferved, that in thel"? countries,
in the apoftle's days, the tvives had a
power of divorce as well as the hujbands.
Sei Vol. II. p. 220, note S.
b Is jari&ifted, &c.] Some think
the meaning is, ** the Chriftian may con-
'( vert the infidel ;'' as appears, in that
the children of fuch marriages are brought
up Chriftians. But this cannot polfibly
be the fenfe ; for that they were brought
up fo, was not to be fure always fa£t, and
where it was, there was no need of pro-
vilig from thence the converfion of the ^4-
reitt^ which vyould in itfelf be much more'
apparent than the educdtiori of the child,
c t^ow are they holy,] On, the ma-
tureft anil moft impartial confideration of
this text, I muft judge.it to refer to infant-

baptijm. Nothing can be more apparent
than that thc word holy, flgnifies perjons,
who might be admitted to partake, of the
diftinguifliing rites of God's people.
Compare Exod. xix. 6 ; Deut. vii. 6 ;
chap. xiv. 2 ; chap. xxvi. 19 ; chap.
xxxiii. 3 i Ezra lie. 2 ; wiA Ifa. xxxv. 8 ;
chap. 111. I ; A6ts x. '28, &c. And as
for the interpretation, which fo many of
onr brethren, the Baptifts, have contend
ed f^r, th.1t holy fignlfies legitimate,, and
ftnclean, illegitimate ; (not to urge that this
feems an unfcriptural fenfe of the word,)
nothing cap be more evident, than that
the argument will by no means bear it ;
for It would be proving a thing by itfelf,
')4em per idem, to argue that the conyerfe
of the parents was lawful, becaufe the
children wer? nof baftards.-, whereas all
R 4 whq

256

The believing party may convert the unbelieving.

Sxct. and ate as readily admitted to baptifm in all our
^" • churches, as if both the parents were Chriftians :
I Cor. fo that the cafe you fee, is in effeft decided by
Vll. IS this prevailing praftice. However, if the un
believing party in fuch circumftances as thefe be
abfolutely determined, and will depart, let him,.
or her depart, and take the courfe they think
beft ; and the confequence is, that a brother, or
a ftfter, who hath been united to fuch a wife,
or hufband, in matrimonial bondsr is by fuch a
conduft of a former partner, difcharged from
future obligation, and is not in bondage in fuch
[cafes.] But let it be always remembered, that
God hath by his gofpel called us to peace ; and
therefore it ought to be our care, to behave
in as inoffenfive a manner as poffible, in all the
relations of life ; that fo, if there muft be a
breach, the blame may not be chargeable upon
the Chriftian.
1 6 And it is worth your while, to be very care
ful in your behaviour to thofe who thus make,
as it Were, a part of yourfelves, that you may
adorn the gofpel you profefs, by the moft ami
able and engaging conduft.- for it is poffible,
the unbeliever may be thereby gained to Chrif
tianity. Let each therefore refleft on his own
concern in this obfervation. P"or, how knoweft
thou, 0 wife, but thou mayeft fave [thine] huf
band? Or how knoweji thou, 0 hufland, but thou
mayeft fave [thy] wife? And furely the ever
lafting happinefs of the perfon, now the com
panion of your life, will be more than an equiva
lent for all the felf-denial to which you may be
1 7 required at prefent to fiibmit. But if this fhould
not be the effeft, it ftill becomes you to do your
'duty ; and therefore fince the providence pf God
is 'concerned in all thefe relations, and in the
fteps by. which they were contrafted, as God
haih diftributed to eyery one, and as it were, caft
the parts of life, let every one fo walk, even as
the Lord hath called him ^. This is the leffon I
would

15 But if the un.
believing depart, let
him depart. A bro
ther or fifter 1$ not
under bondage in
fuch cafes ; but God
hath called ut to
pcaccf

i6Forwhatknowr
eft thou, O wife,
whether thou flialt
fave thy hufliand ? Qr
how knoweft thou^
O man, whether thou
flialt f»ve thy wifii?

17 But as God
hath diftributed to
every man, as the
Lord hath called every
one, fo let him walk :
and fo ordain I in all
churches.

who thought the converfe of the parents
unlaivful, muft of courfe think that the
children were illegitimate,
i As the Lord hath called bim.] This
is a very pertinent digreflion, as it fo
iireftly contradids the notion which pre

vailed among the Jews, that embracing
the true religion difl"olved all the relations
which had before been contraflied. Whete-
as the apoftle here declares, that the go/--
pel left them in this refpeil, juft as it
found them; increafing, inftead of leflTen- in(

i8 Is any man
called being drcum-
cifed > let him -not
become uncircumci
fed: is any called in
uncirctirocifion } Let
him not become cir
cumcifed.

19 Circqmcifion is
nothing, and uncir-
eumcifion Is nothing,
"but the keeping of
the commandments
«f God.

/h genfraU *^ God hath called every man, fo let him walk ; 257
would, inculcate on you Cbrinthians, and thus /Sict.
command in all ihe churches, and charge it upon .
the cpnfciences pf men, as a leffpn of the higheft , cor,
iinportance. Vii. 17
Is any one, for inftance, called, being circum- ig
cifed, lei him not become, fo far as in him lies,
uncircumcifed'^ ; nor aft, as if he were defirous,
as far as poffible, to undo what was done by his
Jewifh parents', or mafters, in his infancy. Is
any one called to the fellowfliip of gofpel- bleflings
in uncircumcifton, let him not be folicitous to be
circumcifed, as if that rite were neceffary to his
falvation, as the Jews, and fome zealots amongft
ourfelves, have taught. For to fpeak the im- 19
portant truth in a few plain -w nrds, Circumci
fton is nothing, and uncircumcifton is nothing;
the ©bfervation, or non- obfervation, of the Mo
faic law, will neither ffccure nor obftriift our
falvation ; but all depends upon keeping the com
mandments of God. An .obediential faith in the
Lord Jefus Chrift, produced by the fanftifying
influences of his Spirit on the heart, and bring
ing forth the genuine fruits of holinefs in our
temper and life, is tlie gredt concern : and whe
ther we be Jews, or Gentiles, circumcifed, or
uncircumcifed, we fhall be happy, or miferable
for ever, as we are careful or negligent with re
fpeft to this. As for other matters, be not 20
excefliivefy concerned about them ; but in what-^
ever calUng, that is, profeffion and circumftance,
any one of you ivas called, in that let him con
tinue : affeft not to change without the clear
and evident leadings of Providence, as there is
generally greater reafon to expeft coinfort and
ufefulnefs in fuch a calling than another.
And I may apply this, not only to the different ai
employments, but relations in life, as well as
diverfity in religious profefliibns. Art thou, for
inftance, called ,into the Church of Chrift,
[being] in the low rank, not only of an hired
fervant, but a flave F Do not fo much regard ii,
3s, upon that account, to make thy life uneafy :

IO Let every man
ahide in the fame
calling wherein he
was called.

II Art thou called
being a fervant .' c?re
not for it; but if
thou

;ng( the obligations they wer? under to Eiriffmao-Sm, has an evident relation to at-
a faithful and afFeftionate difcharge of ttm^n, like thofe referred to i Mac. i. 15,
their correfpondent duties. which it is not necefl'ary more particularly
e Becmt uncircumcifed.] TJie word to illuftrate. hut

258

Without affeifing io chtange his^former ftation.

Sect, but if thou canft, without any finful methpd of
^^' obtajniRg it, be made f Fee, choofie it rather; as
1 C<8-.. what iis no doubt in itfelf eligible, yet not-abfo-
VIJ. ZI lutely neceffary to the happinefs of a good raan.
23 For hethat is called by the Lord to the Chriftian
faith, [being] a fervant, or flave, is^ the Lord't
freeman,- Chrift has made him fre© indeed, ih
making him partaker of the glorious liberties of
the children of God; (Tohn viii. 36 ;) and on the
other hand, he alfo tliat is called, [being] free
frolttithe authority of any human mafter, is ftill
the. Jervant, the property oJ Chr'ift, and owes
him a moft implicit and univerfal obedience.
23 But upon this head, remember, that as Chrift
ians, you 'Ctiere all bought wilh a moft invaluable
price ^ : Chrift hath redeemed ypu at the expence
of his own blood ; and therefore, let me caution
' you out of iregard to hitri,. and from a defire to
be capable of ferving him, as.mudi as poffible,
that ye do not, where it may by any lawful means
be avoided, become the flaves of men; Smce fo
many evils and dangers and fnares ^re infepa-
rablefrom fiich a fitUatio;^.
^4- This, brethren, is the particular advice which
I thought proper to give upon this head ; and
the general rule I laid down above, is of fuch
great importance, that I muft repeat it ; in
whatever [condition] a man was called at firft,
by the gofpel and grace of Chrift, in thai let him
cfbide with God^, taking care to behave in a
prudent and religious manner, as under the Di-

thou mjiyiSft be made
free, ufe it rather.

22 For he that is
called in thc ' Lord,
being a fervant, is ^he
Lord's freeman: like-
wife alfo he that is.
called, be'mg free, is
' Chrift^s fervant.

25 Ye are bought'
with a price ; be not
ye the fervjftts - of
n>en.

24 Brethren, let
every man wherein
he is called, therein
abide with God.

f Tou wiere bought with a price, S^c.]
Dr.' "Whitbv would render it, ** j4re ye
i < 'hou-ght 'with a price, that is, redeemed
•* ' from fervitude ? Become not fervants of
*• nten -, do not fell yourfelves' for flaves
** again. ^' It is indeed probable, that thc
apoftle c^oe-i counfel Chriftians agairft he-
coming ftaves, 'if It could be prevented ;
and with- great reafon, as it was a circum
ftance which feemed lefs fuitable to the
dignity of the Chriftian profelBon, and
muft expofe them to many incumbrances
and interruptions in duty, efpecially on
the Lord'f day, and other feafons of reli
gious aU'emblies ; befides .the danger of
being prefent at domeftic idol.itrous facri
fices, ot being hl-ufed, if they refuted
their compliance. But I cannot thoroughly
approve of the Doctor's vnfti.ii, becaufe

the advice is unnccclTanly refttaincd
thereby, to thofe flaves who had been re-
decrhed; which plainly, as well fuited
thofe who had their freedom given them,
and indeed fuited air Chriftians who ne
ver had. been at a\\ftc,vcs, and who might
more eafily have been prevailed upon, by
their poverty, to bring themfelves into a
condition, the evils and inconveniences
of which they did not thoroughly know,
g .^ide with God.] L'Enfant ex
plains tra^i Ta) ©soj in the fight of God,
(Compare 2 Cor. xi. 11; Eph. v. 21,)
and thinks , there had been fome difor
ders at Corinth, proceeding from fome
irregular claim which Chriftian flaves
made to liberty, under pretence, that, as
Chriftian brethren, they were equal with
their mafters, vine

Mefte^ions on the impfovemenl of our relations and callings. 255 ^
vine infpeftic|n ; and not changing his bufinefs ?=«:'r. ^
in fife, if it be in general lawful, becatife he is ^'^^ *
a Chriftian ; but endeavouring tp purfue it with i Cor.
fuch integrity, diligence and prudence, as that VU. 24
his great Mafter ?nd Saviour may be moft effec
tually glorified.

IMPROVEMENT.
Let us learn, from the exhortations and reafonings of the Vezie
apoftle, a becoming folicitude, to contribute as much as vvc 14
poflibly can, to the ChrijUdn edification of each other ; and efpe
cially let this be the cal-e of the neareft relatives in life. What-
-can be more defirable, than that the hufland may he faniiified by
the wife, and the wife by the hufland 1 May aVl prudent care be''
taken, in contrafting marriages, as to the religious charafter of
the intended partner of life ; and in: thofe already contrafted,
where this precaution has been neglefted, or where the judgment
formed feems to have been miftaken, let all confiderations of
prudence, of religion, of affeftion, concur, to animate tp a mu-
tual'care of each other's foul, that moft important effort of love,
that moff folid expreffion and demonftration of friendfhip. No.f
let'the "ihiprobability pf fuccefs be pleaded in excufe for negleft,
even where the attempt muft be made by the fubordinate fex. A
poffbiliiy fhould be fufficient encouragement ; and furely there is
room to fay, Hotx.' knoweft thou, 0 wife, but thou mayeft fave him, 16
whpfe falvation, ijext to thine own, muft be mpft defirable to
tfiee ? ¦
Let us all ftudy the duties of the relations in which God hath-
fixed us ; and walk with him in our proper callings, not defiring 24
fo much to exchange, as to improve them. His wife Providence
hath diftributed ihe pari ; it is our wifdpm, and will be our hap
pinefs, to aft in humble congruity to that diftribution. Surely
the apoftle could not have exprelfed in ftronger terms, his deep,
conviftion of the fmall importance of human diftinftions, than,
he here does ; when fpeaking of vi'hat feems to great and gene
rous minds, the moft miferablp lot, even that of 2.ftave,^he fays, 21
Care rfot for ii^. If liberty itfelf, the firlV of all temporal blef
fings, be not of fp great impprtance, as that a man, blefted with
the high hopes and glorious confolations of Chri/lianity, fhouli^
make himfelf very folicitous about it, how much lefs ir, there in
thofe comparatively trifling diftinftions pn which many lay fo dif-
proportionate, fo extravagant a ftrefs 1
Let Chriftian fervants, (for bleffed be God, amongft us we
i Care not for it.] This fine remark. Dr. Goed;u>'in''s Wor^s, Vol. I. p. 5".
( for fuch indeed it is, ) occurs io ' - ,
haye

»6o. The Apoftle again fays, thai marriage ''txjas then inexpedient.
*xm' ^^^^ "° flaves,"^, remember their high privileges, as ihe Loril's
 '_freemen. Let Chriftian mafters remember the reftraint, as the
Vetfe Lord's ferviinis. And let the benefits of liberty, efpecially,
when confidered in its afpeft upon religion, be fo far valued, as not
to be bartered away for any price which the enemies of mankind
may offer in exchange.
' But above all, let us remember the infinite importance of
maintaining the freedom of the m.ind • from the bondage of cor
ruption ; and of keeping, with all humble and cheerful obfervance,
8 the commandments of God. While many exprefs the warmeft zeal
for circumcifton, or uncircumcifton, in defence of, or in oppofition
to, this, or that mode or form of external worfhip, let our hearts
be fet on what is moft vital and effential in religion ; and we fhall
find the happieft equivalent, in the compofure and fatisfaftion of
our own fpirit now, as vreVt as in thofe abundant rewards whiph
the Lord hath laid up fotthem who fear him.
SECT. XIV.
The Apoftle treats qn the inexpediency of marriage, in the (ircum.
ftances of the church at that juniiure ; and inculcates a ferious
fenfe of the flortnefis of time, as the beft remedy againft immoicr
rate attachment to any fecular intereft, i Cor. VII. 25, ii
ihe end.
g^„ , I Corinthians VII. 25. ' c^"- ^ii. 25..
XIV.' DC/r I have been infenfibly led by thefe gene- N°yj";;;;»
J, ^-^ ral views of our obligations and hopes, as no command.-nent of
\IlI\ Chriftians, to digrefs from the fubjeft of mar- thct-ord: yciigixe
riage, which J hadfirftinview. and to which Z'tT"lh:Z:i
it is time I fhould return. And here, concern-, mercy of the Lord (a
ing the cafe of virgins of either fex, / have re- be faithful.
ceived no exprefs commandment from the Lord,
as I had in the cafe handled above ; whether by
what is tranfmitted to us in Chrift's difcourfes,
or by any immediate and perfonal revelation " ;
neverthelefs, I give my opinion, as one whti hath
received grace 4ind mercy of the Lord, to be faith
ful in the great charge he hath committed, to
me ; and therefore,- confidering the many in
ftances, in which I hav'e been enabled to approve
my fidelity to Chrift and his church, may ex^
» Or by immediate and perfonal rev-- fingular number; jwher^as elfe he might
lation.] To this, I think he refers, ra- more properly have faid, w# have received
ther than the fsrrael^ as he fpeaki in tbe non«, peft

' He would not have them attached to. any fecular intereft ; a6l

26 1 fuppofe there
fore that this is good
for the prefent di
ftrefs. I fay that it is
good for a man fo to
be. . 27 Art thou bound
unto a wife ? feek not
to be loofed. Art
thou loofed from a
wife ? feek aota wife.

i8 But and if thou
marry, thou haft not
finned ; and ifa vir
gin marry, ihe bath
not finned. Never
thelefs, fuch fliall
have trouble in tbe
flefli: butllpareyou.

29 But this I fay,
feretliren, the time is
Ihott. It remaineth, that

peft to be heard with fome peculiar regard. Sect.
/ apprehend this therefore to be right arid good in ^^^'
• the prefent exigency^, and extremity of affairs,, , cor.
while the church is in fuch a ftate of perfecu- vii. 26
tion, that [^ii is] beft for a fingle man io conti
nue as he IS. Art thou indeed bound to a wifie 27
already .' my advice affefts not thee ; in that cafe
bear patiently whatever burdens may occur, and
feek not to be loofed from her by an irregular and
fcandalous divorce or feparation. But on the
other hand, ari thou loofed from a wife ? Hath
Providence never led thee into thofe engage
ments, or has it broken the bond by ihe death
of thy former companion? If thou canft conve
niently and virtuoufly continue'as thpu art, feek
not a wife at prefent, till the ftprm which now
hovers over the church be a little blown over,
and more peaceful times return. Tet if thou 28
doft marry, thou haft not thereby ftnned: and if
a virgin marry, fhe hath not ftnned; the mar-
riage-ftate is no doubt both lawful and honour
able ; yet fuch zvill have probably fome addi
tional afftiaion in ihe ftefl ; they willb^ encum
bered with the burden of many temporal affairs :
and the reprefentation which I make to you of
thefe things, is not out of feverity, but tender
nefs ; as / would fain fpare you, and fpeak on
the whole, in this gentle and cautious manher
on the fubjeft, to avoid extremes either the one
way, or the othet. '
But this I fay, brethren, with great confi- 30
dence ; and defire you would hear it with due
attention ; that the whole ' time of our abode in
this world is coniraiied "^ within very narrow li
mits ; ii remains therefore, that we guard againft
too fpnd an attachment tP any relation or poffef-.

b trefetit exigency^ This muft cer
tainly refer to the prevalence of perfecu
tion at that time ; for nothing can . be
more abfurd, than to imagine, tliat an in
fpired apoftle, would, in the general, dif-
countenance marriage ; confidering that it
was exprefsly agreeable to a divine infti
tution, and of great importance to the
exiftence and happinefs of all future gene
rations. C ContraSed.] The word avti^iCK^t,'^ ,
properly imports this, being, (as many

have obferved^) a metaphor, Sken ffom
furling or gathering up a fait. Dr. Hiym-
mond, and fome others, would render-
tbis, if is but a little while, and they that
have -wives, fhall be as though tbey bad
none. That is, " I fee thofe times o^
" perfecution rifing, which will put men
" out of a capacity of enjoying thofttem-
" poral delights which they may now be
" fondeft of." But this does not feeia
an exa£t tjanflatibn, though L'Enfant
mentions it with confiderable regatd. (too

262

That they might without anxiety ferve the Lord.

Sect, fton in life : fo thai they, who have wives, be
in a manner, as if they had none ; And they
I Cor. that weep, as not weeping in ftreams of incon-
VII. 30 folable forrow, though nature may be allowed
tb drop its moderate tear ; and they that rejdice,
as not rejoicing \n diffolute and confident fallies
of mirth, as if fecure from any diftrefsful revo-
ilution ; and they ihat purchafe, as not poft'effmg
by a certain tenure what they muft fhortly re-
31 fign.; And they who ufe this woild, as not
carrying the enjoyments of // to an unbridled
excefs ; for ihe whole fcheme snd faflion of this
world pafles off^, and is gone like a fcene in a
theatre that prefently fhifts ; pr a pageant in fome
public proceffion, which how gaudily foever it
be adorned to ftrike the eyes of fpeftators, is ftill
in motion, and prefently difappears, tp fhew it
felf for a few moments to others. So tranfitory
are all our enjoyments, and affliftions too, and
worthy of little regard, when compared with the
folid realities which are foon to open upon us,
and never to pafs away.
¦VI But I would have you without anxiety, while
you continue here amidft all thefe uncertainties ;
and therefore it is, I advife you in prefent cir
cumftances to decline marriage, if you conve
niently can. For an unmarried man car eth for
ihe things of ihe Lord Jefus Chrift, how he may
pleafe the Lord, and is in a great degree at lei
fure to employ his tho-jghts, and fchemes, and
labours, for the advancement of the Redeemer's
kingdom among men ; and fure there is no other
employment fo honourable, fo delightful, and
when remote confequences are taken into ac-
32 count, fo profitable : PFliereas he who is mar
ried, careth for ihe things ofi ihe world, how, he
may maintain his family, and how he may pleafe
[his] wife, and fo accommodate himfelf to her
34 temper, as to make her eafy and happy. On
the other hand, there is juft fuch a difference be
tween the condition of a wife and a virgin '.
She

that both they that
have wives, be as
though they hnJ
none ;
30 And they that
weep, as though tbey
wept not; and they
that rejoice, as though
tbey rejoiced not;
and they that buy,
as though they pof-
felTed not ,
5 1 And they that
life this world, as not
abufing it; for the
fafliion of this world
palTetb awayi

31 But I would
have you without
carefulnefs. He that
is unmarried, careth
for the things that
belong to the Lord,
how he may pleafe
the Lord ;

33 Bui he that is
married, Careth for
the things that are
Cjf the world, how
he may pleafe his
wife. 34 There is differ
ence alfo between i
, wife -and a virgin^ the

d Fajhion of this world paft'es off.]
X^rifAo. <cTa^a-yit. Compare i John ii. 17.
e There is juft fuch a difference, &c.]
Some would conneft the word |U£/»£fifai
with the clofe of the preceding verjej and
J-endet it, « He that it marritd, cares, Sslc,

" how he may pleafe his wife, and is di.
" vided in his thoughts, or diaticieim^
" a variety of anxieties." But this would
occafion an unnecefl'aty ellipfts in the be
ginning ofthisw/"e, and deftroy the re
femblance between the conclufion of the
tw»

Now they that are mart-led, care for the world.

iH

the uhrharried \*o-
man careth for the
things of the Lord,
that flie may be holy,
both ih body and in
fpirit : but flie that is
married, careth for
the things of the
world, how -flie may
pleafe her hulband.

35 And this I
fpeak for your own
profit; not that I
may caft a fnare upon
you, hut for that
which is comely, and
that you may attend
upon the Lord with
out diftraflion.

36 Butif any man
think

. She who is unmarried, is careful about the things Sict.
of -the Lord, thai fle may be holy 'both in body and ^^'
fpirit. She has leifure to attend to the higher iCor.
improvement of religion in her own foul, by the Vlhg'^
more abundant exercifes of deVotion, as well as
to do fomething more for thte advancement pf
religion among others ; whereas fle thai is wor
ried, careth for the things ofi the world, how Jhe
may pleafe [her] hufland ^ ; and the diverfity of '
humours both in men and women, and the im-
perfeftipn pf even the beft tempers, make this
fometimes on both fides a difficult taflc; on
which accpunt fingle peHbns haVe always fbme
confiderable advantages, which are efpecially
apparent in thefe times of public danger. .
But all this I fay for your own benefit, with 35
a fincere defire to prompte your happinefs ; and
not thai I may throw a fnare upon you ^, and
bind you from that which God for wife rea
fons inftituted, and allows, and which the ftate
of human nature generally requires; but out of
regard' to what is to be fure very comely '' atiid
decent in the Lord, without any violent con-
ftraint', by which I might feem to drag you
into a ftate of life, which fhould make you con
tinually eafy : for that would quite fpoil its
gracefulnefs as well as acceptance, and might
plunge you ipto much greater inconveniences
another Way.
But, on the other hand, if any on mature de- 36

two verfes, when it is evident the apoftle
meant to fay the fame of both the huf-
,hand and wife.
f Hovjfhe may pleafe her hufband.] The
apoftle, in this text, and the counter-part
to it, feems to declare, that fingle perfons
of either fex, have generally opportunities
fiir devotion beyond thofe that are mar
ried, even in' the moft peaceful times of
the church; and that a <iiverfity of hu
mours, botli in men and women, makes
it difficult for thera to pleafe each other fo
thoroughly as is necefl'ary, in order ,tQ^
make a married life delightful. So that
it intimates * a counsel to fingle people, to
value and improve their advantages, and
to married people, to watch agaiiift thofe
things that would enfnare them, and in
jure their mutual peace and comfort.
% Net that 1 may throw a j'r.are upon

you.] This is the moft literal verfion I
could give of B^'X'^ iJi"'' eiciiahii). Mr.
Locke, thinks the word $po^ov, 'which
fignifies cord, alludes to the Jewifli phrafe
of binding what was declared unlawful.
b Comely : iiis-)(vfiov.] This feems to
intimate, that they were now in a circum
ftance in which God did, af it were, ex-
adl a peculiar feverity fi-om all thjeir
thoughts; and that it was a time to think
of the trials of martyrdom, rather than the
endearment of human paflions.
i tVithout iny violent' conftraint.] Airs-
^isir^<;-M<;, is rendered in our tranflac'oa
by the addition of feveral words, that..jie
may attend on the Lord without diftraiiion.^
But Sir Norton Knatchbull has convinced
me, that the verfton here given is mucll
preferabl: to oiir:. liberation

a64

He thaf gives a young perfon in marriage, does Well;

Sect, liberation apprehend that he aiis an unbecoming
pari towards his virgin A&n^ter, or any other
I Cor, maiden, that may fall under his guardianfhip
VIL 36 and care, if fle pafs the flower of [her] age in a
fingle ftate ; which, I know, is an opinion very
prevalent among the Jews ; and if he think
that it ought to be fo, let him do what he will in,
this refpeft ; he ftnneth not in his intent of let
ting her change her prefent condition ; and there
fore let him feek out a proper partner in life for
37 her, and let ihem marry. But he thai hath
\i\therto ftood ftedfaft in his heart, having alfo
on her fide no apprehenfion of any neceffity, in
confequence of what he difcerns of her difpofi
tions, and no engagement fiibfifting which might
give-another a juft claim to her, but -hath power
ever his cwn will, being at liberty to aft- as he-
pleafes ; and hath in fuch circumftances deter
mined in his own heart that he will keep his
m/tiden ftill fingle, he does well, and the part
he aft;s is fo far from being' blameable, that in
prefent circumftances it is ihuch to be com-
3' mended, So that on the whole, the conclufion of
the matter is this; he, ihat in fuch troublous

think that hc bek3<
veth himfelf uncomt4
ly toward his virgin,
if flie pafs the flower
of her age, and need
fo rccjuire, let him
do what he will, he
finneth not! let them
marry.

37 Ncverthelefsy
he that ftandetfi fted..
faft in his heart, h^
ving no necelfity, but
hath power over his
own will, and hath
fo decreed in his
heart, that he will
keep his virgiri; do
eth well.

3^ So theny fie
that

fc Paft-theftower of her age, &c.] There
{5 hardly any paflage in the epiftle, about
the fcnfe of which I have been more per
plexed than about this; and I am ftill
far from being fatisfied concerning it. I
had once trai^flated it, ** If any one thinks
** that he a£ls an unbecoming part, by c»n-
•' tinuing in his ftngle ftate, till he be paft
•' theftowerofhis age, — let them marry,—
" he that marries does ivell. Sec. and had
farapbrajed tbe words accordingly. And
what induced me to this, was, that, verje
37, the apoftle puts the ilTue of the mat
ter on the ftedfaftnejs of his own mind, the
fower he had over bis own nvill, and his
having no neceffity ; whereas if a daughter,
or a wgrd, were in queftion, ber incli
nations, temper and conveniency were
dertainly t» be confulted ; and it would
be tbe fame, if tbe virgin fpoken of, was
one to whom the man was himfelf en
gaged. But it is' really doing fuch vio
lence to the original, to render t«jsiv tijv
tJi/la mafiitot, keep hirnjelf fingle, or keep
his oWn virginity ; and to render ex-^b/ji^w,
4r that marries, that after long delibera
tion I chofe to abide by our own verfion \
tfjeeially fince k agrefsvath moft of thofe

I have had ^n opportunity of confulting.
And if this be admitted, I think it muft
be taken for granted, that when the
aptftle fpeaks of this man*s having no ne
ceffity, he means to take iir whatever might
urge him to difpofe of her in marriage,
whether in her temper and inclinations,
or in their domeftic circumftances.— As
for Heinfius's opinion, '* that asyri^jio-ii^v
** tiri -ir.\i irapQfV'T, fignifleS-, to incur
'< ftame by reajon of his virgin ; " mean
ing, if a man apprehend that his dattgh-
ter will diflionour his family by fornica
tion, he will do prudently to marry her:,
I think the above objeftion lies equally
againft tbe interpretation., But if the
Alexandrine reading of yajxi^wj, in
ftead of eiiya^.i>|»jr, be admitted, il
may deferve confideration, virljetber the
whole pafl'age may not refer to tbe cafe' of
a contraft between a man and a young
maiden, the accompliffiment, or diflbtu-
tion of which, might, in fome imaginable
circum'ftances, depend very much on (he
conduft of the man, as he feemed to
urge, or decline,- the bringing it into
effeft. times

Though he that does not, does belief.

265

that giveth her, in
marriage, doeth well:
but he that giveth
her not in-marriagei
doeth better.

39 The wife is
bound by the law as.
long as her hulband
liveth ; but if ber
hulband be dead, Ihe
is at liberty to be
married to whom flie
will ; only in the
Lord.

40 But flie is hap
pier, if flie fo abide,
'after my judgment:
and I thint alfo, that
I have the Spirit of
God.

times is thefe gives [her] in inarriage doeth well ; Sect.
flie may find opportunities in that relation both ^'^'
to adorn and ferve Chriftianity ; but as things i co.-.
are circumfta'nced, I muft needs declare, that VII. 38
where a man is tinder no neceffity of doing it,
he that gives [her] not in marriage, doeth better ;
and more effeftually confults both his comfort
and fafety.
This however is beyond . controverfy certain, -20 '
that the wife is bound by ihe law to continue
with her hufband, and fubmit herfelf to him,
as long as her hufland liveth ; but if her hufland
be dead, fle is in that cafe free, and may marry
to whom fle will ; only let her take care that fhe
marry in the Lord, and that, retaining a fenfe of
the importance of her Chriftian obligations, flie
does not choofe a partner for life of a different
religion Trom herfelf. She may, I fay, law- 40
fully aft thus ; but 1 would not be underftood tO
advife it ; lox fle is happier according to my fenti
ment, if fle coritinue as fle is : and 1 may mo
deftly fay, that /• appear to have the fpirit of
God ' to guide me ; and not merely fome .degree
of experience, arifing from the many obferva-
tions which for a courfe of years I have made on
human affairs. I may therefore reafonably fup
pofe my judgment will have its peculiar weight,
even where I do not pretend to decide with fuch
an authority as fhould bind the confcience aS
by an apoftolical diftate.

improvement.

Let us obferve the humility of the excellent apoftle with pleafure. -v^erfe
When be fpeaks of his fidelity in the miniftry, he tells us, he oh- 25
ictined mercy of the Lord to be faithful,, Edified by fuch an exam
ple, let us afcribe to Chrift the praife, not only of our endow
ments, but our virtues ; e"ven to him who worketh 'in ufboth to will
and to do of his own good pleafure ,
Let us ferioufly contemplate the affefting leffon which the
apoftle here gives of the flortnefis of time ; and irifer how iiiuch ^q

1 / appear to 'have the Spirit of Godi]
It is very unreafonable for any to infer
from hence, that St. Paul was uncertain
whether he was infpired or not. 'Whereas
this is only a modeft way of fpeaking ;
and *(jxa) iy^'f. often fignifies the fame
Vol. IV;

with syM. Compare Luke viii. 18; wich
Mat. xiii. 12; iCor.^. 1,2, chap. xiv.
37. And the ambiguity in th". expref
fion, appear to have, feems exaftly to cor-
refpond to the ambiguity of this original
phrafe. S it

266 Refteiiions on our indifferetice io fecular concerns-.
Sect, it is our wifdom to loofen our affeftions from the things of this
^^^' vain world, which are ready to ingrofs fo difproportionate a fliare
Verfe in them. Let us look upon the world as a tranftent pageant
30 and not fet our eyes and our hearts on that which is not. We
31 expeft, inftead of thefe tranfitory vanities and empty fliews, a
kingdom ihat cannot be moved; in the expeftation of which let us
32 be folicitous to pleafe the Lord; making the beft of our opportu
nities, and guarding againft all that may unneceffarily divert our
minds, and divitle our eares, from what will at length appear the
one thing needful.
Let us attentively refleft upon the advantages and fnares of
our refpeftive conditions in life ; that we may improve the one,
and efcape, as far as poffible, all injury from the other. Let thofe
who are ftngle, employ their leifure for God ; and endeavour to"
colleft a ftock of Chriftian experience which may fupport them.,
when the duties and difficulties, the cares and forrows of life, may
33,34 be multiplied. Let thofe who are married, with mutual tender
regard endeavour to pleafe each other, and make the relation into
which providence hath condufted them, as comfortable and
- agreeable as they can. And whatever cares prefs upon their minds,
or demand their attention, let them order their affairs with fuch
difcretion, that they may ftill fecure a due proportion of their
time for the things of the Lord.
35-38 If any in their, confciences are perfuaded, that by continuing
fingle they fhall beft anfwer their purpofes of religion, and pro
mote the good of their fellow- creatures," in conjunftion with their
own ; let them do it. As for thofe that marry, whether a firft,
39 or a fecond time, let them do it in the Lord ; afting in die choice
of their moft intimate friend' and companion, ¦&.% the fervants of
Chr'ift ; who are defirous that their conduft may be approved by
him, and that any avocations and interruptions in his fervice,
which may be occafioned, even in thefe peaceful times, by mar
riage, may be, in fome meafure, balanced, by the united prayers,
prudent counfels, and edifying converfe of thofe with whom- they
unite in this tender and indiffoluble bond-

SECT. XV.

The Apoftle proceeds to confider ihe cafe of eating things faerificei
to idols; and reminds them, that though all Chriftians might
well he fuppofed to know the vanity ofi thofe imaginary deities
io which they zvere offered, yet it might prove an occafton of
grief and fcandal, that the profeffors of Chriftianity flould
partake of thefis facrifices in their temple; which therefore charily

The apoftle treats of their eating things confecrated lo idols; 276
charity would require them by all means to avoid, i Cor. VIII. Sect.
throughout. ^^' .

1 Cor. viii. 1.
'NJO'Vi^' as touching
thingsofte red un
to idols, we know
that we all have
knowledge. Know
ledge puffeth up, but
charity edifietb.

2 And if any man
think that be know
eth any thing, he
knoWetfi nothing yet
as he ought to know.

3 But if any man
love God, the fame
is known of him.
4 As concerning
therefore the- eating
af thofe things that'
are offered in facrifice
unto idols, we know
that an idol is nothing
in the "world, and
that

I Corinthians VIII. i.
T NOfF proceed to confider the other cafes
about which you confulted me ; particularly
that concerning things facrificed to idols :' and
here it mav be obferved, that we know, we all
have, as Chriftians, that general knowledge of
the vanity of thefe fiftitious deities of which
Tome are ready to boaft, as if it were an extraor
dinary matter, and which they fometimes are in
danger of abufing, by making it the foundation
of- liberties which may be very detrimental.
But let it be remembered, that knowledge often
puffeth up'', and is the occafion of great felf-
conceit and arrogance : whereas it is confiderate
love, and gentle tendernefs, that edifies, and has
fuch a happy effeft in building up the church
of Chrift. And indeed, if any one think that %
he knoweth any thing, if he be conceited of his
knowledf^e, fo as to negleft and defpife his bre
thren, and upon account of his fuppofed fiipe-
riority in that refpeft, fet a very high value upon
himfelf, it appears, that he as yet knows nothing
as he ought toknow it, and needs to be taught
the very firft and moft effential principles of
that knowledge which is truly ofnamental and
ufeful. But if any man love God, and fhew 3
it by a fteady regard for the Divine glory, and
the good of his brethren, he is indeed knovun of
him ^ : this man hath attained the true know
ledge of God, and will be fure of his approba
tion and favour. Therefore, to proceed to the 4
queftion in debate, conceming the eating of the
things facrificed to idols ; we well know that an
idol [is] in itfelf nothing in ihe worW^, but a
' • mafs

I Cor.
Vlll. I

a Knnoledge puffeth up.] Eljner, {Ob
ferv. Vol. II. p. 96,) acknowledges that
as Bos, and Erafmus Schmidius, contend,
there is a parenthefts here ; but he thinks
it begins in the middle of the firft verfe,
-and ends after the firft claufe of the 4th,
•wt have all kiunoledge,—we knew that an
idol is nothing. Sec.
•> He is known of hint. ] Moft under
ftand it, he is approved by God ; as to
knew, fometimes undoubtedly fignifies.

Mr. Locke would render it, he is 'inftruSled
by him. But I acquiefce in Mr. Pierce's
reafoning, in his 6tli Diftertatien, to prove
tbe conftruftion followed in the para
phraje, by a conftruftion like that- of the
original of Afts X. ,36, where it'^ plainly
refers to the immediate antecedent.
c JVe know that an idol is nothing ia tht
world.] Dr. 'Whitby fliews this was a com
mon aphorifm among the Jewifli doftors, to
which the word 0>1ji'pis, the name given
S a thew

268

He obferves, that though they knew an idol was nothing.

Sect, mafs pf feijfelefs rhatter, and when regarded in
a religious view, fo empty a vanity, that, it de-
1 Cor. ferves not to be named among the things that
VIII. 4 exift. And we all know that [there is] indeed
no other God, but that one glorious and tran-
fcendent Being, to which the gofpel hath taught
5 us to appropriate our worfhip. For though there
are many ivhich are, called gods, whether refiding
in heaven, or on earth. Of even under the earth ;
for the heathens have not only their celeftial,
and tefreftrial, but likewife their infernal deities :
as there are many gods, and m'any lords, who are,
in their various fubordinations ' adored by the
Gentiles, and have great though very abfurd wor-
6 Ihip paid to them :. Neverthelefs, to us [there
is but] one God, the Father'^ of angels and men,
from whom [are] all things in created nature ;
and we deriving our being from him, were made
for him, and for his glory : and there is alfo but
one Lord, even fefus Chrift, the only Mediator
between God and man, by whom [are] all things
created, fupported and guided; and we by liim,
thankfully owning ourfelves obliged to his agency
and care for all wq are, and have, or hope to
obtain. Thefe are grand principles, in which
all intelligent Chriftians are agreed ; and it wotild
be happy, if they kept them fteadily and con-
I fiftently in view.
y You are poffeffed of thefe apprehenfions of
things : it is well ; But you ought to remem
ber, that [there is] not in all men this knowledge.
Some Chriftian converts may npt fufficiently ap
prehend this ; but may imagine there is really
fome invifible fpirit prefent in the idol, and afting
by and upon it. And in confequence of this,
fome do, even until now, with confcioufnefs ofio'cae
religious regard to the idol, eat the things in

that there is none
other God but one.

5 For though there
be that are aiki
gods, whether in
heaven or in earth,
(as then be gods ma
ny, and lords-many,)

6 But to us there is
but one God, the Fa
ther, of whom are
all things, and we 'ifl
him : and qne Lord
Jefus Chrift, by
whom are all things,
and we by him.

7 Howbeit, there is
not in every man
that knowledge : fo^
fome, with confcience
of the idol unto this
hour, eat it as a thing
offered

them did probably allude. Monf. Saurin
thinks it fo hard to reconcile this with
what the apoftle fays elfewhere, that he
judges it necefl'ary to underftand this as
an objeftion made by one of the Corin
thians, with whom he i? difputing, Saur.
Dijc. Vol. ll. p. 476— 4S1. But I can
not, from an impartial view of the con
text, give into his interpretation.— See
Elfner's learned mte here on Ei$«?iwj and
SimulHtbrum,

i One God, the Father.] In anfwer t»
the argument drawn from hence againft
the Deity of Chrift,, fee Dr. Guyfe on this
place ; and Dr. Edm. Calamy^s Serm. on
the Trinity, p. 25 and 244. The Perfon,
to whom the Son, as Lord or Mediator,
introduces us, is undoubtedly the Father -,
nor is the Son to be confidered as another
God. But it is not the defign of thefe
notes, largely to difcufs theological contro
verfies. queftion,

yet the confciences of Weak brethren might he defiled by eating. 269

offered unto an idol ;
and their confcience
being weak,is defiled.

8 But meat com-
mendeth us ;iot to
God: for neither if
we eat, are we the
better ; neither if we
eat not, are we the
worfe.

9 'But take heed,
left by any means this
liberty of yours be
come a ftumbling-
block to them that
are weak.
10 For if any man
fee thee, which haft
^ knowledge, fit at
merft in the idol's
temple, fliall not the
confcience of him
Which is weak be em
boldened to eat thofe
things which are of
fered to idols .'

T I And through
thy knowledge fliall
the. weak brother pe
rifli, for whom Chrift
4ied }

queftion, as what \s facrificed to the idol, intend- Sect.
ing thereby to pay fome homage ; and fo their ^^*
confcience being too weak to withftand a temp- j Cor.
tation to what in thefe circumftances is really vm. 7
evil, is defiled, and brought under a grievous and
terrifying load of guilt. 1
But why fhould we pccafidn this inconve- 8
nience ? For we know, that theat commends us
not, in any degree, io the acceptance and fa
vour of God ; Jor neither are we the belter, if '
we eat, nor the worfe, 'if we eat not. The great
God does not fo much efteem a man for being,
or difapprove'him for not being, fuperior to fuch
little fcruples : but the tendernefs of his con
fcience, together with the zeal and charity of
his heart, are the grand qualities he regards.
Bui take heed, left this power and liberty of a
yours, be by any means a ftumbling-block, and oc
cafion of fin, to the weak, with whom you con
verfe, or who obferve your conduft, perhaps
with more regard than you pay to it yourfelves.
For if any one fee thee, who haft this boafted 10
knowledge, fttting down to an entertainment in
an idol's temple^, as freely as thou wouldeft in
thine own houfe, and partaking of his facrifices
as cheerfully as if they were the common pro
vifions of thine own table ; though this ma y in- .
deed arife from that fovereign contempt in
which thou holdeft that idle fiftion of deity ;
can he know that fituation of thy mind I And
will rtot the confcience of him ihat is thus weak,
^nd who perhaps feels fome fcruples \x\ hjs own
mindabout it, be encouraged by thy example io
eat of the idol-facrifice with fome fentimenfs of
fuperftitious regard? And fo flail the weak 11
brother, for vjhom the Lord Jefus Chfift hirnfelf
died, be liable to perifl by thy knowledge, in this
inftance, mifchievous rather than ufeful ; fo that
when thou makeft a vain oftentation of it, thou

e Sitting down to an entertainment in
an 'idoVs temple,] How commonly enter
tainments among the heathen confifted of
what had been facrificed to their fiftitious
deities, and how religioufly the Chriftians
^bftained from them, ^ven when moft rigo-
roufly impofed, Eljner has fliewn by many
ver/Nappofite citations; {Objerv, 'Vol.II.

p. 96 ;) and no doubt the apoftle's decifion,
here had great weight with them. That
thefe feafts were often celebrated in their
temples, the fame learned cr'itic has abun
dantly fllewif, in his notes on this claufe ;
and it is ftrange that Chemnitius, and
Erafmus, fliould ever have doubte^ it.
S-? doft

370 Refleiiions on coi^defcenfton to the weaknefs of .our brethren.
S?cT. doft in effeft pride thyfelf in thy brother's ruin.
^ ' Imagine not this to be an inconfiderable evil ;
I Cor. ^«/ on the contrary, rather know, that when you 12 But when ye fia
Vin. thus ftn againft the Jirethren, and wound their fo againft the bre-
" weak confidences, leading them into guilt, and t^^r^Tl cTfd-
hazarding their falvation, you greatly Jtn againft ence, ye fin againft
Chrift ; who had fuch a tendernefs for fouls, that Chrift.
he died to redeem them, and hath done all that
example, or precept, can do, to make his fol
lowers enter into fuch humane and compafiionate
views.
13 Therefore it is a determined point with me, 13 Wherefore, if
upon thefe principles, that f meat of any kind ThTtT:^^^^
fcandalize my brother, and lead him into fin, / eat no flefli while the
would not only abftain, now and then, from this world ftandeth, left I
or that agreeable food, but would never as long ^^^^f ^ '''°'^" "
as I live , eat any (ott of ftefl. I would fub
fift entirely on vegetables, ihat I may not Jcan-
dalize and infnare my brother ; if there be no
other way of avoiding it. Of fuch importance
fliould 1 efteem the prefervation of one endan
gered foul. And herein I wifti that God may
give you the like felf-denial, both for your own
fakes, and for the peace and honour of the
Chriftian church.

IMPROVEMENT.
Verfe Let US learn from this fhort, but excellent r^fl/Z^r, to eftimate
i the true value of knowledge, and to fee how worthlefs and
dangerous it is^ when, inftead of difcovering to us our own igno
rance and~ weaknefs, it ferves only to puff up ihe mind. Let us
rather laboiir and pray for that love and charity which edifieth
ourfelves and others ; taking heed, that we do not demonftrate
2 our ignorance, by ^ high conceit ofi our attainments in knowledge ;
for nothing can more evidently (hew, how fmall thofe attainments
, are, than not to knipw their limits, when thefe limits fo foon
meet us, on what fide foever we attempt to make an excurfion.
3 " Give us, O Loi^, that love to thee which is the be,ft proof
" of our knowledge, and the fureft way to its higheft im-
" provements."
1 ^\ Let us always remember the grand principle of the unity of
God; and with the one God and Father of all adore the one Lord
^ As long as I live : e{? tov aiavov.] 'We (which might Amply have been rendered
render it, as long as the world ftands. But nc-vf,) to the fenfe here given.
the fenfe plainly limits the expreflion, Jefus

St. Paul appeals to ihem, thai he was an Apoftle of Chrift : 271
jlefus Chrift, by whom we exift ; fetting him in our eftimation far Sect.
above all the powers, dignities, and glories, of created nature. ^^'
Belonging to fo Divine a Mafter, let us endeavour to learn the verfe
moft generous principles of true religion. Let us not found our 8
confidence on admitting, and contending for, or defpifing, and
deriding, this or that particular obfervance, by which, as it may
happen to be circumftanced, God is neither honoured, nor dif-
honoured, pleafed, nor difpleafed. But let us ever maintain the
tendereft concern for the edification and comfort of our brethren ;
and guard againft whatever might either grieve or enfnare them. 9
Let us remember, that Chrift died for the weakeft as well as the 1 1
ftrongeft ; and let their relation to him, and his tender and com
paflionate regard for them, melt down' our hearts, when feized
with that cold infenfibility, which, alas, is too ready to prevail
amongft Chriftians I It is C^rj/? we wound, in wounding our bre- 1%
thren ; and in fmiting them, we fmite him.
Let us then ftay that rafh hand which is fo ready in mere
wantonnefs to do mifchief; and be willing to deny ourfelves in
any defire, for ever fo long a time, rather than by our indul- i-j
gence to difhonour God, and injure others. This is the ex
cellent leffon Si. Paul often- inculcates, of which he was an
eminent and illuftrious example. But O, how low are iBulti-
tudes of Chriftians, multitudes of minifters fallen, when they
cannot deny themfelves in what is unnecelfary, and even unlawful,
where either intereft or pleafure folicit the gratification !

SECT. XVL
The Apoftle, prspeftng to Illuftrate his condefcenfion to the weak, by
his waving to accept of a maintenance from ihe Corinthians, in
troduces what he had io fay on that head with a flort difiourfie
on ihe right which as a gojpel-niinifter he really had, to be Jup-
ported by thofe among whom he laboured; which he argues
loth from natural equity and Jcripture-priricipU. iCor, IX,
I— 14.
1 OoR. IX. I. I Corinthians IX. i.
_^Minotanapoftie? TTTHILE I thus fpeak of the concern I have
ana V V {q avoid what may prove an occafion of
injury to weak brethren, it leads my thoughts
to the part I have afted, while I refided among
you in declining to tal?e that maintenance froni
you which I might very juftly have expefted
and demanded. And here you muft give me
ie^ve tp exprefs my furjwife, as well as my con-
S,4 Cei-n^

And had all the rights of other apoftles ,
cern, to hear, that fo unkind and unnatural a
conftruftion has been put upon my generofity
and tendernefs, as if I had declined to accept
your contributions, from a confcioufnefs, of not
2 being intitled to them as well as piy brethren.
But can you really imagine that to be the cafe ?
Am not I, as truly as any man living, an apoftle
of Jefus Chrift ? Am not 1 as free in this inftance,
as any other, and may I not, as juftly as they,
expeft to be maintained by you, while I am fer
ving your beft interefts.? Have not I, though
called fo much later than my brethren, Jeen Jefns;
Chrift our Lord'^, after his refurredlion, fo as
to be able to teftify tbe important faft on my
own knowledge, as confidently as thofe that
were earlier acquainted with him .¦' And, to
-urge fo plain a point no farther, are not ye Corin
thians, particularly, my work in the Lord,
and the evident token ot his blefling on my apo-
2 ftolical labours ? On this account, if I ain
not an apoftle to, fome others, yet I doubtlefs am
Jo to you, who of all people in the worjd can fhew
the leaft excufe for queltioning my miflion : for
ye are indeed the feal of my apoftleflip in the Lord ;
iand the extraordinary fuccefs I have had among
you, if others fhould doubt of my commiflion,
might furnifli out a proof of it alfo to them.
3 This therefore is my apology to thofe who ex
amine and cenfure me, as to this part of my con
duft. Does my waving the ufe of a privilege
4 prove that I have it not ? Have we not, both
in natural equity, and according to the Divine
conftitution, the fame power, as others in the
fame office, 4o eat and to drink, and to fubfift
ourfelves at the expence of thofe among whom
c we labour ? Yea, have we not power to lead
about [with us] in our apoftolical travels, (if we
think it neceffary,) a ftfter, whom we might
take for a wife *¦, as fome of the other apoftles and

am I not free .' have
I not feen Jcl'us
Chrift our Lord ? are
not you my work in
the Lord ?

2 If I be not an
apoftle unto others,
yet doubtlefs I am to
you : for the feal of
mine apoftlelhip are
ye in the Lord. .

3 Mine anfwer to
them that do exa
mine me, is this,
4 Have we not
power to e^t and to
drink .'

5 Have we not
power to lead about
a fifter, a wife, as
well as other apoftles and

^ a Have not I jeen the Lord, &c.] That
this was necefl'ary, in order to his being
an apoftle, that is, a witnejs of Chrift's re-
furreBiin, has before been obferved. See
Vol'. II. p. 594, note g. Compare Afts
^xii. 14, 1 5, chap. xxvi. i6 ; i Cor. xv. 8,
b A fifter, a wife.] Tbe word yivama,
Jias no force at all here, if it be rendered

a tvoman ; a ftfter muft undoubtedly, be a '
nvoman : not to fay, how improbable it
is that the apoftle fliould have carried
about with him, ih thefe facred peregri
nations, a woman to v^hom he was not mar
ried. So that the anfifrer which the Pa-
pifts make to the argument often brought
from thefe words, in favour of " mar ried

And particularly, to he maintained by his miniftry :

Vi

and as the brethren
of the Lqrd, and Ce-
ph.is .'

6 Or I only and
Barnabas, have not
wd power to forbear
working f

7 Who goeth a
wartare any time at
hjs own charges ?
who planteth a vine
yard, and eateth not
of the fruit thereof ?
or, who 'fccdeth a
flock, and eateth not
cf the milk of the
/lock ?

8 Saylthefe things
as a man ? or faith
not the-law the fame
alfo .'
a I'or it is written

and the brethren of the Lord do, and Pe'ef'^SiicT.
in particular; and to expeft, that fhe likewife, -''^^•
as well as ourfelves, ftiould be provided for by Tcor"
thofe to whom we have done fuch important IX, j
fervices, as nothing of this kind can ever requite r
Orean it be thought there is any thing fingular 6
in my cafe, or in that of my prcfenti compa
nions, that it flould rob me of the liberties others
have ; fo that / only, and IJarnabas '', Ihould tiot "'
have power to decline ivorking with our own
h^nds for a maintenance, while we are preach
ing the gofpel ? I tnight here infift indeed 7
on the natural equity of the thing, that they
who devote themfelves to the fervice of the pub
lic, fhould be fupported by the public -wTiom
they ferve. IFho, for inftance, ever £nes to -vjar
at his own charge? The community furnifties
out provifion for thofe who guard it, and fight
, its battles.' And if the fervices of 3 foldier de
ferve that maintenance, which, while engaged
in the defence of their country, men cannot
earn, how much more may it be expefted by us,
who daily hazard ourJives, as vvell as wear them
out, for men's everlafting happinefs } IFho plant
eth "a vineyard, and doth not expeft to eat of its
fruit ? Or ivho feedeth a ftock, and doth not think
he hath a right to eat of the milk of the flock ?
And if ifbe judged reafonable, that men ihould
have an equivalent for their labours .about natu
ral things, and the accommodations of the body, -
is it not more evidently fo, when the felicity of
immortal fouls is concerned ?
But do I fpeak thefe things merely as a man, 8
upon principles of human reafon alone, and doth
not the Jewifh law fpeak alfo the fame ? For n
there is 4 paffage in the facred volume, on vvhich

ried clergy, is abfolutely inconclufive.
,c And Peter.] This is an important
claufe, both as it declares jn eftisft that
St. Peter continued to live with his wife'
vfter he became an apoftle ; and alfo that
St. Peter had no rights, as an apoftle,
which were not common to St. Paul. A
remark Utterly fubverfive of Popery, if
traced to its obvious confequences.
d / only, and Barnabas.] From this
expreflion' one would indeed think, that
the Judaixing Chriftians, who were the

main caufe of St. Paul's unraflnefs in this
refpe/t, had a peculiar fpleen againft tho'fe
two apoftles of the uncircumcifton ; who
were fo inftrumental in procuring and
publlfliing the ferujalem decree, which
determined the controverfy fo direftly in
favour of the believing Gentiles. — It
fcems probable from the I2'h verje, that
Barnabas fupported himfelf by the labour
of his -hands, wliqn at Corinth, ai well as
St. Paul. the

Which he argues from fcripture and equity ;

27+ Sect, the like argument may be built, (I mean, Deut.

XVI

I Cor.
IX. 9

XXV. 4,) where it is written, even-tn-the law of
Mofes itfelf, for which fome have fo diftinguifli
ing a regard, " Thou flalt not muz'zle the ox
" that treadeth out the corn "," but Ihalt allow
the poor animal to feed, while it is labouring for
thee, in the midft of food : a circumftance in.
which its hunger would be peculiarly painful.
10 Now// God [o folicitous about oxen, that he in
tended this precept merely for their relief?
Or doth he fay [this] with a farther view, and on
the whole \ for our fakes ? Surely, we may con
clude, he intended fuch precepts as thefe, rela
ting to compaffion to the brutes, in fome mea
fure at leaft _;^r our fakes ; to humanize the heart
with generous and compaflionate fentiments,
and to make men much more tender to each
other, where their various interefts are con
cerned. I may therefore apply it to the cafe be
fore us, as entirely comprehended in his exten
five univerfal views ; and fay, for us indeed was
[it] written, that the neceffary ' offices of life
might be more cheerfully performed, in the ex
peftation of fuch due acknowledgments ; thai
he, who ploweth, might plow in hope of fuccefs,
and ihat he who threflelh in fuch hope, fhould not
be difappointed, but flould in proper time par
take of his hope, and poffefs the good for which
he has laboured. And furely, amidft his care
for others who are in meaner offices of life, God
could not intend, that the minifters of the gof
pel alone fhould be funk under continual difcou-
ragement, negleft, and ill-ufage.
And indeed whe'n we confider what great be-
befaftors thefe perfons are to the fouls amongft
whom they labour with fuccefs, the reafonable-
nefs of the conclufion will appear beyond all
contradiftion. For if we, by our inceffant dili
gence in preaching to you the gofpel of the blef
fed God, have fown unto you fpiritual things,

in the law of Mofes,
Thou flialt not muz.
zle the mouth of the
ox t)i3t treadeth out
th^'corn. Doth God
t^ke care for oxen ?

IP Or faith he it
altogether for our
fakes .' for our fakes,
no doutt, this Is writ,
ten : That he that
ploweth, fliould plow
ill hope; and that he
that threftieth in
hope, Ihould be par.
taker of his hope,

II

II Ifwe have fown
unto yovi fpiritual things,

e That treadeth out the corn.] It is well
known that this was the cuftom in Judea,
and other eaftern nations. It is ftill re
tained by many of them, and particularly
in Ceylon. Raphelius has produced paf.
fages from Xenophon, which fomething
illuftrate it.

f On the whole.] It cannot bethought
that God had no regard at all to the brute-
creatures, in fuch precepts as thefe ; and
therefore I thought it better to render
tsruvleti^, on the •whole, than entirely or.al-
together, though that fenfe is 'more fre
quent. which

Tet he waved this right in condefcenfion to them.

275

things, Jj if a great
thing if wc fliall reap
your carnal things ?

IZ If others be
partakers of th'ts
power over you, arc
not we rather ? Ne
verthelefs, we have
not ufed this power ;
but fuft'er all things,
left we fliould hinder
the gofpel of Chrift.

13 Do ye not
know, that they
wbicR. minifter about
holy things, live of
the things of the tem
ple } and they which
wait at the altar, are
partakers with tlie
altar.'

14 Even fo hath
1 the

which may fpring up in a harveft of eternal Sect.
bleffings, [is it] tiny great matter that we fhould ^^^'
reap your carnal things ? Is there the leaft pro- i Cor.
portion between any thing which your libera- IX. n
lity caa impart to us, and that which we have
been the happy inftruments of imparting to you ?
This is the privilege of mimfters in general, I2
and it is a privilege which you well know
fome of them have exerted. And if others are
fo readily allowed to partake of [this] power
over you ^, [flail] not we rather claim it, with
yet more evident and apparent reafon,' who have
been the means, not only of edifying and in-
ftrufting you, but likewife of calling you into
the profeffion of Chriftianity ? But we have not
made ufe of this power, though founded in fuch
evident aiid various principles of equity. But
we rather choofe to endure all things, the fa
tigues of labour, and inconveniences of frequent
neceffity, thai vie may not occafton any hinder- .
ance to the gofpel of Chrft ^, from the cavils of
ill-difpofcd people, who are" afways watchful for
opportunities to mifreprefent and cenfure our
conduft. But though I do not now alk any thing of 13
this kind for myfelf, yet I will not give up the
juftice of the demand. And I might farther
fiipport it, from, the provifion w)iich God made
for the priefts aud Levites, under the Mofaic
law. Know ye not therefore, thai they who are
employed about holy tilings, are fed out of the pro
vifions which belong to the temple, and [that]
they who wait upon ihe fervice of the altar, are
partakers with the altar, in a part of the vic
tims offered on it, particularly the vows and
the facrifices of peace-offerings: And it is 14
farther to be confidered, that J'o alfo, that is, on

% Partake of [this] power, Sec.] Mr. Pyle
thinks this refers to the other ap'ftles of
Chrift; but I rather think St. Paul In
tended to glance on ^e falfe teachers who
carried their claims of this right to fuch
an exorbitant height, though their fer
vices had been by no means comparable
to thofe of the apoftle. Compare 2 Cor.
xi. ao. — Mr. Locke would here read
tiff-ict'i ufji.oi\, of your fubftance ; but Mat. -
X. Ij John xvii. », and many other
4

places, prove that '.^utiag ii/Jim, may pro
perly be rendered, power over you.
h Hinderance to the, gojpel.] From the
conduft of the other apoftles, and of St.
Paul at other places, particularly among
tbe Macedonian churches, we may con
clude, that he might fee fome circum
ftances- at Corinth, (not necefl'ary for us
exaftly to know,) which determ'med him
to decline accepting of any .fubfiftencc
from them while he refided there.

principles

376 Refleiiions on ihe right minifters have to be maintained.
^xvV P""C'P^2S like thefe, the Lord Jefus Chrift hiqi- 'he Lord ordained,
, felf hath exprefsly commanded and ordained, that ' ^^^.j^ J *,''''''
1 Cor. they who preach the gofpel flould live and fubfift fliould iiv<; of tfci
IX. 14. ufton the gofpel'-, when he declares, as you gofpel.
know more than one of the evangelifts affures us
he did, " that the labourer is worthy of his ¦
»' hire.*' Compare Mat. x. 10; Luke x. 7.
IMPROVEMENT.
Verfe May the difciples of Chrift learn from thefe inftruftions, io
1-1 honour the Lord with the'ir fubftance, and the firft-firuits of all
their increafe I And may they feel thofe happy effefts attending
the miniftration of the gofpel, and reap fuch an abundant har-
II veft of fpiritual bleffings, that the imparting temporal fubfiftence
and accommodation, to thofe who are the inftruments of convey
ing them, may not be matter of conftraint, but of free and affec
tionate choice ! May the minifters of Chrift, while they thankfully
accept of that , fubfiftence, which Providence, by the inftrumen-
tality of their brethren, fends them, ever aft a moderate and gene
rous part, and maintain fuch a vifible fuperiority to all fecular views,
as may do an honour to the gofpel, ^nd command veneration to
themfelves !
May the fecular advantages of the office never invite bad men
into it ; nor its difcouragements deter good men from underta
king it. And whatever cenfures a malignant world, who them
felves know not any higher motive than felf-intereft, fhall pafs,
may the minifters of Jefus ever haVe a teftimony in their con
fciences," ihat they feek not ihe properties, but the fouls, of their
hearers !
9 10 Let us attend to the humane genius of the Mofaic law, mani
fefted in th? precepts which relate even to the brutes. And re
member, that it is the charafter, and fhould be the care of a
vierciful man, to extend mercy to his. beaft. Much more then let
us fhew compaflion to our fellow-men. Let us not defire to en
joy the benefit of their labours, even in the loweft employments
of life, without giving them fome valuable equivalent. Let u!
bear tov/ards all, the hearts of equitable and generous brethren,
and conftantly wifh the profperity and hippinefs of the human fa
mily. On the whole, may there be between the teachers, and
i L'lveupon tbe gojpel.] Mr. Me.i: un- to be admitted, without farther proof.—
derftands ive.-y-, ih-o-i here, of the reward That man might be faid to live on the goj-
g'lven for bringing a gaod meftage, (fee pel, who v;as maintained for preaching
Diatrih. in loc.) and fliews, that the word it ; as he might be faid to live on tbe
fometimes has that meaning, in heathen temple, who was to be fupported out df
authors ; but it is a very uncommon fig- its income, for miniftering there, though
nification in the facred, and therefore- not the word temple has the ufual fignificatlon. thof^

He did not mention this, io refume the right he had waved. 1']'1
, tbofe who are taught by them, a continual intercourfe of bene- Sect.
volent affeftions, and friendly aftions ; as becomes thofe who ^^^*
ftand in fuch an endearing relation to each other, and have, as " ^
Chriftians, the honour of being intimately related to that bleffed
Redeemer, who fought not his own things, but ours, and hath
thereby laid the ftrongeft engagement upon us, if we have any
fpark of gratitude and honour, not to feek our own things, ' but
his t '

SECT. XVII.

The Apoftle illuftrates the condefcenfion and tendernefs of his conduit
towards the Corinthians, in declining to accept of their contri
butions ; and fpeaks of his felf-denial under a very exprejftve
ftmile, taken from ihofie who contended in ihofie Grecian games
with which they were familiarly acquainted. I Cor, IX. 15, /a
ihe end.

1 Cor. IX. 15.
OUT I have uf.-d
none of thefe
things. Neither have
I written thcfethings,
that it fliould be fo
done unto me : forif
Kvere better for me to
die, than that any
man (hould make my
glorying void.

Sec

46 For though I
preach the gofpel, I
have nothing to glory
of: for neceflity is
laid upon me ; yea,
woe is unto me if I
preach not the gofpel !

I Corinthians IX. 15.
T Have thought if my duty, in the foregoing xviL
¦ difcourfe, to plead the natural and the evan- 
gelical rights which the minifterS of the ' c°r-
gofpel have to be maintained by the people, to '^
whofe fpiritual tification they give their time •
and labours. But you vvell knovv that / myfelf .,
during my abode among you, have ufed none of
thefe things ; nor have I written thus, thai '\f,-
according to my purpofe and hope, I eyer fhould
vifit you again, it flould hereafter be fo done unto
me. I think of the generous and felf-denying
part, which 1 have afted among you, in declin
ing, for fome particular reafons, to take a
maintenance, with a pleafure fo great, that I
may even fay, [// were] better for me to die for
want of the neceffary fupplies of life, than
that any man among you Jhould make this mj
boafting void, by having it to fay, tha? I have
eaten his bread, and been fuppiarted at his ex-
pence. For if I preach the gojpel, after what 16
hath happened in my fingular cafe, / have no
[matter of] boafting in that, for, having re
ceived fuch a commiffion, how could I refufe!
I may fay, a kind of invincible neceffity lieth upon
mCf-and woe to me indeed, if I preach not the
gofpel. To decline a work, alligned to me by
To condefcending an appearance of CHrift, when with

278 To the Jew's he became as a Jew, thai he might gain th Jews •
Sect, ^vith malicious rage I was attempting to deftroy
^^"' his church, would be an inftance of ingratitude
X C-ir. and obftinacy, deferving the moft dreadful and
1^- 17 infupportable condemnation. Ifi indeed I do
this voluntarily, and (hew upon every occafion a
cordial willingnefs to do it, I have indeed fome
room to e.xpeft a reward, but if I do it un
willingly, as I faid before, a difpenfation is in
trufted to me, and I muft of neceffity fulfil it.
iS IVhat then is that circumftance in my conduft,
for which I may expeft a reiuard of praife from
the mouth of my Divine Mafter ? Surely this,
that when I preach the gofpel of Chrift, I may
render it unexpenjive ; that fo I may be fure not
in the leaft degree to abufe my power in the gof
pel to any low and fecular purpofes, or carry it
19 beyond its due bounds. For in this refpeft,
being free from all men, and under no obligation,
in this manner, to give them my labours, /
made myfelfi the fervant of all ", addifting my
felf to the moft fatiguing duties, ihat I might
advance their happinefs, and gain the more to
true religion and falvation ; in which I have
found a noble equivalent for all I could do, or
20 bear. And I not only fubmitted to preach the
gofpel without any reward, but I made it a con
ftant maxim, to accommodate my manner of liv
ing to the way and relifh of thofe about me ;
facrificing my own humour and inclination ;
and that, in fome inftances, when I could not
do it, without confiderable inconvenience to
myfelf: accordingly, to the Jeivs, I became as
a 'Jew^, that I might gain over more of the
"Jews to Chriftianity : to thofe, I fay, who were,
or apprehended themfelves to be, under ihe tedi
ous ceremonies and difagreeable reftraints pf
the Mofaic law, I became, as if I were ftill in
confcience under the obligations of the law '^,
though

17 For if I do this
thing willingly, I
have a reward i but
if againft my will,
a difpenfation tf the
gojpel is committed

1 8 What is my re-
ward then ? verily
that when I preacli
the gofpel, I may
make tbe gofpel of
Chrift withoutcharge,
that 1 abufe not my
power in the gofpel.
19 For though I
be free from all men,
yet have I made my
felf fervant unto all,
that I might gain the
more.

20 And unto the
Jews, I became aS \
Jew, that I might
gain the Jews ; to
them that are under
the law, as under the-
law, that I might gain
them that are under
the law.

a The jervant of all.] This has a
ftronger fenfe than can eafily be exprelTed
in the paraphraje-, and intimates, thiit
he afted with as fclf-dcnying a regard to
their interefts, and as much caution not
to offend them, as if he were abfolutely
in their power, as aftave is in that of his
tnafter. >> To the Jews, &c.] Compare, forthe
iUuIlration of this, Afts xvi. 3, chap.

xxi. 21, &c, which inftances were un
doubtedly a fpecimen of many more oi-
the like kind.
<^ j^s if I were ftill under the obligations ,
of tbe law,] This can only fignify, that
he voluntarily complied with it, as an in
different thing ; bnt it cannot by any
means imply, that he declared fuch ob
fervance neceffary, or refufed to converfe
with any, who would not confirm to
them;

21 To them that
.ire without law, as
without law, (being
not without law to
God, but under the
law to Chrift,) that
I might gain them
that are without law.

To the weak he became as weak, thai he might gain the weak. 279
though I knew it to have been abolifhed ; and Sect.
this, thai I might gain thofe who apprehended
themfelves to be under ihe bond of that law. On i cor.
the other hard, to thofe who were without thei^'ii.
law of Mofes, and either unacquainted with it,
or apprehended themfelves under no obligation
to <;onform to its peculiar inftitutions, 1 behaved .
as if I had myfelf alfo been without the law,
negledting its ceremonial precepts, which I well
knew to be fuperfeded and abolifhed. [Tet] ftill
taking care that it might appear both from my
words "and aftions, that I -was not without law
to God; but apprehended myfelf under a law
of the mof^ affeftionate duty and gratitude ia
Chrift, who came by new bonds to engage us
.'to the ftrifteft obedience. But thefe freedoms I
ufed, and this moderation I manifefted, not by
any means for my own indulgence, but that I
might gain thofe who are without ihe law ^,
and make my miniftry mOre agreeable and ufe
ful to fuch. as were educated among the. Gen
tiles. / therefore became to ihe weak, as if I 23-
had been as weak and fcrupulous as they, in the
various articles of food and drefs which might
come into queftion, ihat I might gain upon the
weak ; for the foul of the weakeft appeared to me
infinitely valuable ; and I have th^ warrant of
my great Mafter to efteem it more precious
than all the treafures of the world. In a word,
/ became all things to all men ; accommodating
myfelf to them, fo far as with a fafe confcience
I could, that by any, or all means if poffible, /
tnight fave fome : and it is the daily grief of tny
foul,, that after all thefe efforts the number fs
fo fmall. And this I do for the fake of the ^
gofpel, to promote its fuccefs to the utmoft of ^
my ability ; that I alfo may be a Jhdrer. in the
generous pleafure arifing from the ccjpimunica-
tion of it ". I mav

22 To the weak
became I as weak,
that I m'rgbt gain the
weak : I am made all
things to all men,
that I might by all
means fave fome.'

aj And this I do
for the gofpel's-fake,
that I might be par
taker thereo'f with
you.

them ; for this was the very difftmulat'ion,
which, with fo generous a freedom he
condemhed in St". Peter. Gal. ii. 14, &c.
<* That I might gain thoje without the
taw.] This feems to imply, that the
Gentiles not yet converted to Chriftianity,
are here referred to ; unlefs gaining
tbe perfons fpoken of fignlfies, rendering

them " better difpofed to regard his de.
" cifions" which is at moft but a fubor
dinate fenfe.
s A /barer in the communication of if. J
We render'it, that I might be partaker with
you, but as tbe words, with you, ire not
in the original, which is *vj a-vvAoifm^
aula yito>f\ai, I rather underftand the
words

28o

Fhs felf-denial was like thai of

Sect. \ niay illuftrate this, by referring to the
^^ • games fo well known in Greece ; and pafticu-
i Cor. larly to the Ifthmian, fo often celebrated among
IX. 24 you at Corinth. Do you not know, that with
refpeft to thofe who run in the ftadium or foot-
race'^, ail indeed run, and contend with ^ach
other : whereas but one receiveth the prize * ?
Yet the uncertain hope, that each may be that
one, animates them all to ftrain every nerve in
the courfe. You have much greater encou
ragement to exert yourfelves in the purfuit of
celeftial bleflings.- ,See to it therefore, that ye
Jo run as that ye may obtain, and that ye lay
afide every thing that would be an incumbrance
to you, or render you incapable of difpatching
2C the race with neceffary vigour and alacrity.' And
every one who contendeth in the games, whether
in running, as above, or in wreftling, qr com
bating, is temperate in all things^; abftaining
from whatever might enervate his ftrength, and
fubmitting to a regular courfe of diet, exercife
an hardfhip, that he maybe the more capable
of exerting himfelf with fuccefs. [And this]
they indeed [do,] that they may obtain a corrup
tible crown ', a garland of leaves, that will foon
wither

24 Know ye not
that they which ran
in a race, run all, but
one receiveth the
prize .^ So run that ye
may obtain.

25 And every mart
that ftrlveth forthe
maftery is temperate
in all things:' Now
they do it to obtain a
corruptible crown but

words as referring to the fatisfaftion he
found in imparting the invaluable and in-
exhauftlble bleflings of the gojpel to all
around him ; a fentiment molt fuitable to
his 'charaiier and oflice.
K The ft.-idium or foot. race.] On com
paring the traiijlatioti I had before made
of this pafl'age, with that of my l.earned
and worthy friend Mr. Weft, (in his ex
cellent Dift'ertat'mi on the Olympic Games,
p. 189, 190,) I had the [Jealure to find
a remarkable agreement; but where there
was any dlffrrenci:, I have generally
a'teri d what I had written, either in the
verfton or paraphraje, to make it conform
able to his : whofe judgment, in any
point of criticijiii, has with me great
weight; but ei'ptcia'.ly on a fubjeft of
which he ap-jiears to have been fo eminent
a iTiaRcr^ that his writings upon it are as
diftinguiflied in their kind, as the games
be I'o elegantly defcribes were in theirs.
ll C/ie receiveth the prixie.] It is
true, th.^t in Ibrae garnes there were
jeveral prizes of difl-'erent value ; yet in
thole to which he here reffrs, there
was but one for the viftor, and the ar

gument Is very ftrong and ftriking.
h Temperate in all things.] Whoever
confiders on the one band, to what, great
felf-denial, in articles of food, fleep, and
every other fenfual indulgence, they, who
were to contend in their ^«wa, were obli
ged ; and on the other, of how great im
portance it is, that the youth or a com
munity ftiould be formed to a manly tafte,
and refolute 'felf-government ; -.vill un
doubtedly fee the great national prudence
of the Greeks, in the inftitution and fup
port of thefe games ; to which it is very
probable their remarkable valour and
fuccefs in war, during the beft days of
tbeir feveral republics, might in fojne
confiderable degree be owing,' See, for
the illuftration of the temperance here re
ferred to, Elfner's excellent note ofi this
text, and .a:iian. Var. Hift. lib, IH.
cap. 3 J. lib. X. cap. 2.
i Corruptible crown, a garland of leaves',
&c.] It-is well known, that tbe crown
in the Olympick games, facred to Jupiter,
was of wild-olive; in the Pythian, facred
to Apollo, of laurel; in the Ifthmian,
or Corinthian, folemnized in honour of
Paliemon,

but we aii uncorrup
tible.

26 I therefore fo
run, not as uncer
tainly; fo fight I, not
as one that beatetb
the air :

27 But I keep un
der my body, and
bring it into fubjec- tion ;

the combatants in the games. ¦- 28 S
wither and perifh: but we are animated by the Sect-
view of an 'incorruptible crown, the duration, and  ^
glory of which, will be commenfurate to the j Cor.
exiftence of our immortal fouls. ^^' »S
It is no fmall pleafure to me, while I am ex- 26
honing you to this, to refleft that I am, thro'
Divine grace, myfelf an example of the tem
perance I recommend. / for my pari run nott
as one who is to pafs undiftinguifled^ ; but
knowing what eyes are upon me, and folicitous
to gain the approbation of my Judge, and at
tending with diligence and care to the bounda^
ries which are marked out to us, 1 exert myfelf
to the utmoft. / fo fight, not as one that beats -
ihe air^, who fights as it were with his own
fliadow, or praftifes a feigned combat ; but as
one who has a real and living enemy to con-
lend with, and who knowing that his life and
his all is in queftion, would ftrike fure, and not
lofe his blows upon empty air. Thus I allow 27
not myfelf in a habit of indolence and luxury,
but imitate on a much nobler occafion, and to
a much greater degree, the felf-denial of the
combatants I mentioned above ; / bruife and
mortify my -body "", and bring it into fuch a de
gree of fervitude as the fuperior interefts of
my foul require. And this I judge a moft

Palsmon, of pine-tree ; and in the Ne-
msean, of jmallagc, or parftey. Now the
moft of thefe were c^£r-^rei:ff ; yet they
would grow dry, and break to pieces.
Eljiin,, (Objerv, "Vol. II. p. J03,) produ
ces many pafl'ages in which the contend
ers in thefe, exercifes are rallied'by the
Grecian wits, for the extraordinary pains
they took for fuch trifling rewards ; and
Pljto has a- celebrated pafl'age, which
greatly i-efembles thisof St. Paul; but by
no means equals it in beauty and force.
^ I run not as -one that is to pajs und'i-
ftinguified.] T{=;^Ey a!-n»tL'?, 'is to run un
noticed. But as fome have explained it
of " running without attending to the
" marks and lines which determined
" the path ;" I have hinted at that fenfe.
As for Heinfius' interpretation who ex
plains it "moving fo flov/ly,'as that he
" might feem to ftand ftill," it is like
many others, peculiar to that writer,
quite infupportable: no one, in fuch a
circumftance, could be laid to 'run at all.
Woi.. IV.

1 Beats tbe airy &c.] In order to at
tain the greater agility and dexterity, 1%
was ufual for thofe who intended to ^0;*
in the games, to exeycife tiieir arms with
the gauntlet on, when they had no anta- ¦
gonift near them ; and this was called
rxw^ap^ia, in which a man would of
courfe beat tbe air. But Bos has taken a
great deal of pains in his mte here, to
fhew, that it is a proverbial expreffion
for a m.^n' % mijjing hisbloiv, and fpending
it, not on his enemy, but on empty
air* 9
m Bruife and mortify my body.'^ Tsrw*
Ttia'f^v, properly fignifies to firike on the
face as boxers dld'5 and particularly on
(the L/TTajTrto;-,) the part of it under the
eyes, at which they efpecially aimed. ,
Hence it cjmes to fignify ci livid tuwour on
that part; and fometimes it is proverbially
uled for a face terribly bruifed, morti
fied, and disfigured, like that of a boxer
jult come from the combat; as Bos h^ii
ihewn at large, Exercit* ^. 138, &e.
T neceffary

282

Refteilions on the Apoftle's generous zeaL

Sect.

neceffary precaution ; left after havingferved as a
herald to others, and after having made procla-
I Cor.
IX. 27

mation of the glorious rewards to be attained,
and endeavoured to animate their zeal in the
purfuit, / Jhould triyfelf be difiapproved^ of 'the
great Judge, and finally declared unworthy of
obtaining a ftiar in them.

tion;. left thlt by ajiy'
means, wheii I have
preached to others, i
myfelf Ihould be a
caft away.

IMPROVEMENT.

Verfe j^^f yg learo, by the example of the apoftle, a generous ambi-'
iD-.i^tion of excelling in religion. Not of dding more indeed^
' . than our duty, for we owe God pur beft, and our all ; but
abounding in it to the utmoft, carrying our love our 'Zeal, and'
our obedience, to the higheft degree we can attain, and prefer-
ving an honeft readinefs to know our duty, even in circumftances
in which there might be fome plaufible excufe for overlooking it.
In particular let the minifters of the gofipel not think it much to
their praife, to perform thofe fervices which it would be, fhame
ful atid almoft impoftible for them to negleft ; but labour to ac
quit themfelves in the very beft manner they can ; fhewing in the
whole of their conduft, that they are not anjmated only, or chiefly,
by fecular motives, in the labours they beftow upon the fouls
of men.
ig-22 They are peculiarly concerned to learn and imitate this con
defcenfion of the apoftle, in becoming all things to all men, ifi by
I cliff means he might gain fiome. But they are not the only perfons
who are interefted in this. It is the duty of every Chrijlian, to
endeavour to pleaje his neighbours and brethren for their good ; and
it will be our wifdom, and happinefs, upon fuch generous princi
ples, to learn to govern and deny ourfelves.
We are all called to engage in the jnoft important race, in the

^ Lefl after having jerved as an herald,
J ftould be dijapproved.] I thought it of
importance to retain the primitive fenfe
o/thef.-' ^ym/iiT/Jic expreffions. It is well
known to thoie who are at all acquainted
with the original, that the wo:'d -A^^u^aq,
exprell'es the difcharging the office of an
hcivld ; whofe buflnefs it was to proslaim
ilje conilitlons of the games, and difplay
the prizes, to awaken the emulation and
refolution of thofe who were to contend
in them. But the apoftle intimates, that
there -.va5 thi-) peculiar circumftance at
tending the Chriftian conteft, that the
perfon who proclaimed its laws and re
wards to others, was alfo to engage; hirn
jelf; and that there would be a peculiar
infamy and mifery in mifcarrying in

fuch a circumftance. Ah-uu®', which
we render- caft-away, fl-m'.iies one, who
is dijappnved by the judge of the gamesi
as not~]iaving fairly deferved the prize.
Mr. Fleming, arguing that^Sc. Paul kne-#
his oWn fincere piety, and confequen::ly
might be afliired of his future hippin-fs,
maintains that to be a caft-aioay, here figni
fies, being judged unworthy of a pa.t in
the firft refurreflion. {Fleming's Dijcourji
on the ftrft Rejurrefl. p. 89.) But it ap
pears to me much more natural, to refer
it to the ^ivhole Chriftian reward ; as it is
certain God^cngngss his people to perfe
vere, by awful threatnings againft apt-
jhify, as well as by the promifes of eter
nal-life to thofe who continue faithful
and coiiUaoT. ¦ moft

To excite their holy caution and circumJpeSiion, 283
Ipoft noble combat. The children of this world fatigue themfelves ^.^7'
for trifles, and exert the noble faculties of an immortal fpirit, to  \
purpofes far beneath its dignity. But all is not vanity. Every -Vcrfe
crown" is not withering and corruptible. We have heard of an 24-26
inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and ihat J'adeth not away.
And whatever there was in the profpeft to awaken thefe Corinthians,
ftill remains to awaken and animate wr. Let us therefore keep
our eyes and our hearts fixed upon it, and be in good earneft in
what we do ; often looking to the marks which are drawn in the
-word of God ; realizing to ourfelves the certain exiftence, and
formidable charafter, of our invifible enemies;* fufpefting efpeci
ally ourfelves, fearing the treachery of our own corruptions, and
ufing all that mortification which may promote our fpiritual life and
ufefulnefs. Who would not tremble, how high foever his profeflion, or 27
office may be^who would not tremble, to hear St. Paa/ infinuate
a fuppofed pojfibility, ihat after having preached to others, and
made fuch animating proclamations of the heavenly prize to them,
he might himfelf be rejeiied, a^ unqualified to receive it .' Let us
learn' from it humility and caution ; learn to watch againft dan
gers, which will ftill furround us, as long as we dwell in this body ;
and rejoice in the guardianfhip of Chrift, who will at length
deliver his faithful krvants from every evil work, and preferve them
to' his heavenly kingdom.
SECT. XVIII.
Farther to awaken that holy caution which the Apoftle had fuggefted'
in the preceding' feSiion, he here reprefents to the Corinthians, o-n.
theone hand, ihe privileges which Ifrael of old enjoyed, hnd on
the other, the 'Divine difpleafiure which they brought upon them
felves, by behaving in CI manner fo unworthy ofi the?n. i Cor.
X. I— 13,
iCoR.X. t. I CoHINtHIANS X. r.
jyfOREovER, bre- -J- Have been urging you to run your Chriftian 5ect.
not that'ye'*o"™"be race with refohition and diligeflce ; which ^^
ignorant you ftiould the rather do, Confidering how fatally i cor.
many of thofe mifcarried who were once God's X. i
' peculiar people, and favoured in a very extraor
dinary . manner. Now this is fo affefting a,
thought, that I muft defire yon, my brethren,
to attend, while I farther illuftrate it; for /
would hy no means have you ignoratfi ^ oi fo iii-
ftruftive
3 P^ould by no means have you ignorant.] thians inquired about the lawfulnefs of
Mr. Locke thinks, that when the Coiin- eating things facriftced unis idcls, they might
T a utgB

a84 'Si'. Paul fets before them ihe example of the tfraelites ;

Sect, ftruftive a hiftory. You have, I doubt not,
^^"'' often heard, that all our fathers, whom Mofes the
T cor. great lawgiver of our nation led out of Egypt,
X. "i -were all under the conduit of that miraculous
pillar oi cloud, and of fire, 'which did their camp
fo fingular an honour ; and they all pafl'ed through
the fea, the power of God opening a way for
them, while the mountains inclofed them on
either fide, and their Egyptian enemies were
2 prefling hard upon their rear. And this was
fo wonderful and folemn an event, that I may
fay, they were all baptized into Mofes, that is,
initiated 'into the profeflion of that religion
which he was to teach them from God, in the
cloud, and in the fea: God did, aB it were, fo
lemnly receive them under proteftion, as his
people ; and they, by following ^is miraculous
guidance, declared their dependance upon him,
3 and entire fubjeftion to him. And as they
proceeded in their journey, they did all eat the
fame fpiritual food, that is, the manna, which
for its excellence is called angel's food, (Pfal.
Ixxviii. 25,) and which was indeed an emblem
of the bread of life that cometh down from
4 heaven. ^ And they did alfo all drink of what
might be called, on the like principles, the fame
fpiritual drink ; for they drank ofi that fpiritual
or myfterious Rock^, the wonderful ftreams of
' which followed them " through fo many of their
wanderings

ignorant, how that
ail our fathers were
under the cloud, and
all pafled through
tbe fea :

7. And were all
baptized unto Mofp»
in the cloud, and in
the fea ;

3, And did all eat
the fame fpiritual

4 And did all
drink the fame fpiri
tual drink. (Forthey
drankof that fpiritual
Rock that followed therh ;

urge thatthey could notbe miftaken for iM-
thens, becaufe they maintained an open
profeflion of Chriftianity, holding commu
nion with the church, by partaking of the
facrameniji, asweli as other a£ts of worihip ;
, and th-at they might be expofed to ill-will,
and ill-ufage, if they did. not fometimes
comply with their nrghbours. And he
fuppofes the apoftle had each of thefe ideas
in view in what follows; it is poflible he
Plight. fa SThe jame jpiritual meat — tbe fame
fpiritual dunk.] 'It is not necefl'ary to un-
derftan4 by the fame meat and drink, the
fame by wliich we Chriftians are fupported;
for this could not properly be faid of dny
- Ifraelicfs who .were not true believers;
but ti»o meaning is, that they all, good
and bad, 'fliared the fame miraculous fup
ply of food and drink.
c That followed them.] It is objected,
tjiat " this ftrsam did not conftantly

" follow them; for then they would have
** had no temptation to have murmured
** for want of water, as we know they did
«' fit Kadefti, in the circumftances fo f.itjl
" to Moft-s ; nor would they have had
** any occafion to buy water of the Edop
«^ mites, as they propofed to do, Deu^".
" ii. 6." Mr. Merfc juftly obferves, thlt 1
perhaps the ftre;ims from the firft rock at
ftephidim failed, for a faith'.r trial of
their faith; and at Kade'fli God renewed
the like wonder; but that likewife might
probably fail when t'-iey came to tbe inha
bited country of the Edomites; which
was not t-ll near the end of their wander
ing, Mede'f Ii atrih. in loc. He there il
luftrates the fimilitude between Chrift
and th'srock, in mny other particulars;
but thofe mention-^d in the paraphraje
feem the moft material. — That the word,
tvas, imports here no more than ftgnifted,
is extremely obvious; and inftances -of
the

who, luffing after evil things in ihe wilder.tefs.

285

them : and that Rock
wass Chrift.)

5 But w!th many
of them God was not
weU pk-afcd: for they
v-ere overthrown in
' the wildernefs.

SNowthefethir^gs
were our examples,
ro the intent we
ihould not luft after
things, as they aifo
tufted.

7 Neither be ye
Idolaters, as tuere
fome of them ; as it
is written. The peo
ple fat down to eat
and to drink, and
rofe up to play.

wanderings and incampments ; end that Rock^^-^"^-'
was a moft affefting reprefentation of Chrift, ^^"^'
the Rock' of ages, the fure foundation of his i Cor.
people's hopes, from whom they derive thefe X. 4
ftreams of blelfing, which follow them through
all this wildernefs of mortal life, and will end
in rivers of pleafure at the right-hand of God
for ever. -
It was the privilege of Ifrael as a people, to 5
enjoy fuch typical bleflings as thefe ; and yet it
is plain, that God had no pleafure in the greateft
part of them, for they were overthrown in fhe
wildernefs: the whole generation that came
adult out of Egypt was made to die there, and
they fometimes died in fuch multitudes, that th
ground vvas overfpread with carcafes, as a field
is in which a battle has been fought.
Now thefe things were types and figures to 6
us, that we might learn wifdom at their ex-
pence, and not truft to eternal privileges, while
we go on in a courfe of difobedience to the Di
vine authority; and particularly, that we might
not luft after evil things, and indulge ourfelves
in irregular and luxurious defires ; as they alfo
lufted aiter quails in contempt of the manna,
and thereby brought the wraih oi God .upon
them, and were confumed with peftilential dif-
tempers, while the meat was yet between their
teeth. (Pfal. Ixxviii. 30,' 31.) Learn therefore,
by what they fuffered, to cultivate that temper
ance and felf-denial which I have jult been re
commending to you. Neither be ye idolaters, -7
as fome of, them [weref] even while-they yet con
tinued at mount Sinai ; ar you kqow it is written,
(Exod. xxxii. 6, 19,) with reliction to the feaft
of the golden calf, The people fat down to eat
and drink of the facrifices which were offered
tp it, and then they rofe up to ptay, and
dance '' in honour of this vain lythbol of deity. And

the like life of it every where abound in
fcripture. <• To play and dance.] Dr. 'Whitby '
obferva^, that, though many ccmmenta-.
tors underttand this of fornication, it is
without fufficient 'reafon. Fornication is
indeed fpoken of in another claufe, and
{hat the very next, verfe S, which m-^kes

it lefs probable that it Ts intended here.
As the golden calf was defigned gs a
fymbol of Jehovah, there is no reafon to
imagine they would bring fuch an abomi
nation into worfliip, however irregular,
which was addrefled to him. And Elf
ner, {Objerv. 'Vol. Ih p. 105,) has abun-
duntly vindicsted the remark of Grotius,
T 3 that

286 . And being guilty of idolatry and fornication, were deftroyed.
Sec-t. And this naturally leads me to add another

caution, no lefs fuitable to your prefent circum-
I Cor. ftances than the former ; neither let us commit
X. s fornication', or lewdnefs of any kind, as fome
of them in their idolatrous revels committed [for-
nication ;] nnd particularly, when they eat the
facrifices of Baal Peor, and offended with the
Midianitifh women; thefad confequence of which
was, that there fell in one day twenty-three thou
fand by the plague, befides thofe that were flain
by the fword, who amounted to a thoufand more.
9 fNumb. xxv. I — 9.) Neither let us tempt
Chrift by our unbelief, after the tokens he hath
given us to command our faith, and engage our
dependance ; as fume of the next generation ot
them' alfo tempted [him ^] while he refided among
them, as the angel of God's prefence ; and-
were deftroyed by fiery ferpents, (Numb. xnI. 6,)
from the venom of vvhich others were recovered
by that brazen ferpent which was fo illuftrious
10 a type of the Mefliah. Neither murmur
ye ^ under difpenfations of Providence, which
may feem at prefent to bear hard upon you,
and are contrary to your prefent inclinations and
intereft ; as fome of them alfo murmured again
and again, and were dcfiroyed by the deftroyer'^,
who was commiffioned by one judgraent and
another to take -thctn oft'.
1 1 But let me remind you on the >vhole, as I
1 hinted above, that all thefe calamitous things
whicli happened unio them, were intended as types
or cxn-mples to u.s, that we might learn what we
are to expeft in the like cafe ; and they are writ-

8 Neither let ni
commit fornication,
as fome of thera com
mitted, and fell ia
one day ^hree and
twenty thoufand.

9 Neither let us
temptChrift, as forae
o( tfiem alfo tempt
ed, and were deftroy
ed of ferpents.

10 Neither mur
mur ye, as fome of
them alfo murmured,
and were deftroye^
of the deftroyer.

1 1 Now a'l thefe
things happened un
to them fcr enfam-
ples : and they are
written

thlt TTa.^ar, figriiies tct' dance, a cere
mony with which God himfelf had lately
been honoured, (Ixod. xv. 20,) and
which, it is very probable, might naturally
be attended with the fliouts and fongs
M-'lrcli Mofes heard on approaching the
camp. Ex^d. xxxii. 17, t8.
e C'.ii:r:it fornication.] This was com
mon ac many idolatrous feafts among thc
heathen ; and it was the more proper for
th-; apftle to caution thefe Chriftian?
r.^'d'.uA it, as it was prover'oially called the
Corm'hian praBice, r.o^nQ a^.= .v being, as
ni.iny have obfcryed, equivalent to _/irra-
tgri. Strabo teWi us, th.it in one temple
of 'I'enus at Corinth, there vi-ere no lefs

than a thoufand pr'wftcft'ct^ v^ho made pro-
ftltution a part of thor devotions tothe
goudcji. Stiabo. Lib. 11, Cap. 16.
f Tempt Chrft, as jome of them tempted
[^him.] Though the word him be not in
the original, it feems plainly to be im
plied ; and this is a confid-rable rejffin
proof of his refidence wich the riuicA in
the wildernefs, as the angel of God's pre
fence. Compare Exod. xxiii. zo ; Ifa.
liiii. 9 ; Heb. xi. 26 ; AGs vii. 38.
e , The deftroyer.] The Jews generally
interpret this of him whom they fancy
to be the angel ',j~ death, and whom they
call Sammael, ten

Lei him therefore who ftandeth, take heed left befall.

287

written for oaradmo-
tion, upon whom
the ends of the world
are come. - ^
11 Wherefore, let
himthat'thinketh be
ftandeth, take heed'
left he fall.

1 3 There hath ,
¦no temptation taken
you, but fuch as is
common to -man i-but
God is faithful, who
-will not fuffer you to
be tempted above that
ye ^re able: but v.-iU
¦'.vltb the tempntion
alfo make a w ay to
efcap'', that ye may
. be able to hear 'it.

ten for our admonition, on whom the ends of the Sect.
world are come^ : as vi^e" live under thc laft dif-
penfation which God vy'ill ever give to the i Cor.
children of men, and with which the whole oeco- X. n
nomy of their probation fhall wind up. There- 12
fore let itie urge this improvement of the whole
furvey upon you, and upon all into whofe hand
this epiftle may come, and' fay, let him that
thinketh he ftandeth moit fecurely, and who may
be ready moft confidently to truft in his own
ftrength, take heed left he fall fo much the lower,
in proportion to the degree in which he imagines
himfelf out of all manner of dauger.
It is true indeed, and it is matter of great 13
comfort and thankfulnefs to refleft upon it, that
no temptation has yet taken you, but fuch as it
common io man', and fufh as human reafon,
properly exercifed on the principles of that re
velation which you enjoy, may furnifh you with
motives to refift. And \ve have the pleafure far
ther to refleft, that God [is] faithful who hath
promifed "^ to preferve his people, and he will
, not leave you to be tempted above your ability ;
but will with ihe temptation withi-which he per- ,
mits you to be alfaulted, provide you alfo with
a %uay of efcape ; that if you be not wanting to
yourfelves, you may be able to bear [it :] yea,
and may acquire new ftrength, and honour by the
combat.

IMPROVEMENT.

May Chriftians.be always fenfible how haj^y they are in Verfe
having received fuch ufeful hints from the New Teftament, to 6-1 1
aflift them in the interpretation of the Old ; and particularly
thofe which are here given. We fee in ff rael according to the
flefl, an affefting emblem of the church in general. We fee all
their external privileges, though many and great, were ineffec
tual for their fecurity, when they behaved as unworthy of them.

, h Ends of tbe world.] Ts^i aiaiwet
properly fignifies the concluding age, or
the laft dijpenjai'ion of God to mankind
. on earth ; which, if we believe the gojpel
to be true, we muft afluredly conclude
that it is.
i Common to man.] AvflpwTriv^, may
£sn'ify aKo, proportionable to humanftrength.

as well as frequent to human creatures ;
the paraphraje therefote 'ia\ports that.
k Faithful \yho hath promifed. ] Com -
pare Pfal. ciii. 13, 14, and numberlefs
paflages, in which God' encourages his
people to hope for his prefence and help
in prelfing danger.

T4

Alas !

288 Refleiiions tin the conduit of Ifrael in ihe wildernefs.
Sect. Alas! how affefting is the -thought, that fms who were wi'
^^™- der the miraculous cMd, who pafl'ed through the waters of the
Verfe divided /^a, who eat of the bread that came down Jrom heaven, an4
I drank of that -Viving ftream -wWich omnipotent mercy had opened
ifirom the flinty rock, and made it to follow them in the windings of
3,4 their journey, fhould yet become, inftead of being on the whole
the objefts of Divine favour and complacency, the monumenta.
of wrath. Let us not ourfelves therefore be high-minded, but
e^fear. Let us mark the rocks on which they fuffered this fatal
fhipwreck, if poflible to keep clear of them ; and pray that Divine
grace may direft our courfe. Let us avoid not only thofe fuper
ftitious and idolatrous rites of worfhip, by which, as Proieftants,
rr w€ are in little daftger of being enfnared ; but alfo thoie lufis of
b the flejh, which muft, confidering our fuperior advantage,, be highly
difpleafing to God ; even though they ftiould not rife to a degree ,
of equal enormity and fcandal.
9 Let us efpecially take heed that 'we tempi not Chrift, who has
gracioufly been pleafed to take us under his conduft, and to honour
his church with fo many demonftrative tokens of his prefence.
JC Nor let us murmur, if while we are in this wildernefs ftate, we"
fometimes meet with difiicuUies in our way. Still let us raake it
familiar to our minds, that Go'J adjufts the circumftances of every
trial ; even that God who ftands engaged by the promifes of his
word, as well as the equity and goodnefs of his nature, not toper-
Ij mil us to be templed above what we are able to bear. If we fee
not an immediate zvay ofi ejcape, let us calmly and attentively look
around us, and hiimbly look up to him, that he may pluck our feet
out of the net.
SECT. XIX.
The Apoftle fai'ther purfues that caution againft all approaches to
idolatry, which he had been fuggefting in the former Jeiiion ;
particularly arguing from that cofnmunion which Chriflians
had with Chrift at his table, which ought io place them at the
rem.oteft diftance from what might juftly be called having, coni'
tnun.on with devils. 1 Cor. X. 14 — 22.
I Corinthians X, 14. ' C""- ^* '+•
J Have juft expreffed my confidence in the W dearly" beiovdl
care of God to fupport you under any extra- flee from idolatry,
ordinary temptation which piay hereafter arife,
to draw yoa out of the t^ay of your duty :
wherefore, my beloved brethren, being affured of
this, let me exhort you carefully, to fee from
^ll approaches to idolatry, whatever circumftances

As Chriftians, they are one bread and one tody: 289
i5 I fpeak as to of allurement, or danger, may feem to plead Sect*
what j'%.^'"'^' y' for fome degrees of compliance. I novf fpeak ^^^.
as unto wife men : I ufe a rational argument, j Cor.
which 'will bear the ftrifteft examination, and X. ij
-which I am willing fliould be canvaffed as accu-
- > rately as you pleafe ; judge you therefore what I
fay ; for I will refer it to your own deliberate
and cooler thoughts, whether there be not dan
ger in thofe idolatrous participations which
fome of you are fo ready to defend ; and whe
ther they may not naturally bring fome degree of
guilt upon your confcience ?
16 The Clip of The facramental cup, which is to us both the 16
'blefling which we commemoration of paft, and the pledge ^ fu-
biefs, is it not the ^^^^^ blefling, which in the name of the Lord wi
communion or the - "T ii r n r • ¦ ii i
blood of Chrift? The folernnly blefs , fetting it apart tp a holy and
bread which we religious ufe ; is it not the token of our faith
break, is it not the ^j^^j q^^ communion in thefe ineftimable privileges
body"of "chrift f wliich are the- purchafe of the blood of Chrift,
fhed for ti>e remilfion of our fins ? The bread
which we break, and which was appointed in the
firft inftitution of the ordinance for this purpofe,
is it not the communion of the body of Chrift in
the like fenfe ? That is;- the token of our fhar
ing in the privileges which he procured at the
expence of fufferings, by which his body was
many, aTeTebrea"^ brokai^ and almoft torn in pieces. For we 1}
and one body : for Chriftians being many, are yet, as it were, but
we are all partakers different parts of one and the fame broken bread"",
pt that one bread. ^j^;^j^ ^^ diftri'bute, [and] receive, in token of
our being members of one body ; for we are all
partakers of one kind of holy brqad, atid one
cup, which we eat, and drink together at the
fame table, in teftimony of our mutual and in-
n TVh'ich we blejs.] This text very plainly nations, a token of mutual friendlbip.
fliews, that there is a fenfe in which See'Mr. Lowman's Hebrew Ritual, ¦^. 54,
we may be faid to blefs the facramental and Maimonides, quoted by him there.
elements. To render it, the cijp over See more efpecially. Dr. Cltlwortb''s Dij-
ivhicb, or for which we blejs God, )s do'in^ coKr/fl concerning the True Notion of (he
great violence to the original. That is Lord's Supper, chap. 1. and chap, vi,
faid to be bleffed wh'ich is fet apart to a And it is certain alfo, as it is intimated
facred ufe, (Gen. ii. 3; Exod. xx, II,) below, that by facrifices, and the feafts
and on which the blefling of Cod is fo- on them, ihey held communion with the
lemnly invoked. ' > . real or fuppofed deity, to which they were
' b Of one br'ead.'] Many valuable ma-' prefented; as the author of a d'lfcourje on
nujcripts re^i 'it, and of one cup. Elfner facrifices has ihewn atla;^e; but that this
has an admirable note upon this texr, to was the only end of a// facrifices, I can-
- prove, that eating togetiier in a religious not think that learned -WTiter fufficiently
pjaiiner hath been, in al(nolt all ancient to -have proved, violaWfli

Sec XI

29O' They ought therefore to fee from idolatry,
J- viokble friendfhip, cemented in Chrift our great
 '_2'_ and common head.
1 Can. Cohftder how it is with Ifrael according io -ihe 18. Behold ifrae]
2:. a fejh, the lineal defcendants of thofe who were '^^'^'^f ^^^^\^ ^=
the chofen and peculiar people of God : are not of the facrifices, par-
they, who eat of the facrifices which have been takers of the "altstf
offered in the court of their temple at Jerufalem,
efteemed to be partakers.of the altar of God,
on which part of them have been confumed ?
And is not their eating the flefti of thefe viftims
, efteemed as an aft of communion with the
Deity, to whom they were offered ? Now you
may eafily perceive, that the fame argument
will be conclufive to prove, that they who fhare
in the facrifices preft-nted to idols, knowing
what they do, and efpecially doing it in fome .
apartments belonging to the temples of fuch
idols, hold a kind of communion with thefe fifti
tious and deteftable deities, by no me.-jns re-
concileable with the fandliiy of their Chriftian
characler, or the tenour of their facrameu'ial en
gagements. 1
19 What then do I fay, that an idol of wood or 19 'VVhat fay i
ftone, of filver or gold, is in 'itieM any thing then.' that the idol is.
Diviiier Or do I (ay, that the. thing which is which is^'oft'ered'/in
facrifi.ced to idols is'm itfelf an ^thing morally and facrifice to idols is
univerfally unclean ? You well know, th^t I in- anything.'
tend to maintain nothing of this kind.
23 But on the other hand, you muft be aware, 10 But //ay, that
that win:! thc heathens j-acrifice, the'i facrifice to ''^''^'ff'K '"}^'^
., , -^ r-i 1 r \ r ¦ • tie Gentllesfacrihce,
evil aewon',, and not to God; luch (pints, as theyfacrlfic»todcvils,..
thofe to wliich they addrefs their devotions, muft and not to God: and I
to he hire be wicked fpirits, if they fexift at all ; ^"0 I!"' 'r^!, '^
I,, ni_r r-iri- fliould have fellow-
an-i devils may well be luppoied to ufe their ut^ a,; ^v^tl, ^^jis,
moft efforts to fupport fiich worlhip, it being
grateful to them, in proportion to the degree in
which it is affronting and injurious to the great
Objeft of Chriftian adoration, and enfnaring to
the fouls of men. Now 1 would not by any
nvjans, that you who have at your baptifm fo
lemnly renounced the dtvil, and all his adhe
rents, flioidd in any degree have, or feem to
SI Ii-ave, .ccnuiiunian wilh demons'^. And in- zi 'ye cannot
deed ; ^"""^
c/ would rr'_,t that ye ftnould have ccin- g-ined the very fuftenance and body of
xmnioB w'u'f ..uir-ns.] Ic is a monftrous their dpitiesiniinuated -itfelf into the vic-
aation c':" Olk^rius, that the heathens ima- tim offerej! to them, and fo was united to
'the

the table of devih.

the lahie of demons being inconftftent with ihe Lord's table. 291
drink the cup of the 'deed this is moft inconfiftent with thofe foi.=mnSECT.
oft'vihf ve cV"? badges of your holy profeflion, by which your ^
be partakers of the baptifmal covenant is fo frequently ratified and i Cor.
tord's table, and of renewed. Te Cannot with tolerable decency and X.ji
confiftency, atone t\me drink of the cup of the
Lord, in that holy rite in which you commemo
rate his death, and a.t another time of the cup
of demons, of libations poured out in their ho-
I nour, or cups drank at their feafts. Te cannot
furely think, you fhould be partakers of the table
of the Lord, and go from thence to the table
of demons, or from theirs to his, to fhare alter
nately in fuch holy and polluted rites and enter
tainments. Yet it is certain, that by partaking
in their feafts, you do, as it were, contraft's
kind of friendfhip and familiarity with thefe in
fernal fpirits.
" D° we provoke j^^ by fuch a conduft as this, deliberately 2^
the Lord to jealoufy .? ' -' , i r , ¦ i r ,i ",'7
are we ftronger than ^^^^ to provoke the Lord to jealoujy", by thus
be.' careflipg. thofe whom he abhors as his rivals?
Muft it not incenfe him exceedingly? and muft
it not, in its confequences, be detrimental, and
even fatal to us ? Or are we ftronger than he ?
fo as to be able to refift, or to endure the dread
ful effefts of his difpleafure.
IMPROVEMENT.
Let US-hear and fear: for it is the tendency of every wilful ^=^=
fin, to provoke the Lord to jealoufy ; it is a challenge to him, ^^
as it were, to let loofe the fiercenefs of his wrath. And alas,
how can fuch feeble creatures as wc, endure its terrors ! Let the
confideration urged by the apoftle, to deter men from partaking
tn idolatrous facrifices, be weighed by us, as, extending to every
the perfon eating the flefli of thefe facri- " eat at one table, and fat down at one
flees., Elfner, {Objerv. Vol. II. p, 108,) " board." The altar was called the /ai&
has fufliciently confuted this his weak in- of the L rd, Mai. i. 12. ComparCiDeut,
ference from fome miftaken pafl'ages of xxxii. 17. But then, as Dft Cudw.rth
Firmicus, and Jamblicus. But'this learned hath fliewn, we are not to conclude from
ahd judirioils critic has proved at large, hence, that under the gofpcl-difpenfation, '
fro.m inconteftable authorities, that the - the table of the Rord is properly an altar ;
femons were confidered as prejent at thefe for the herd's jupper is not tijacriftce, but
fa(?rifices, and as taking their part a feaft upon a facrifice. Cudworth on the
Svith the worfliippers in the commo'n True Notion of the Lord's Supper, cbzf. 5.
feaft; by which means, as Maimonides <^ To jealoufy , See.] Alluding to the no-
exprelTes it, in a very ramarkablepaflage, tion of idolatry, as a kind of fpiritual adul-
{ATore Nevoch. Purtlll. cap 46,1 Friend- ic*ji, which moved tbe Jca.'iKi^i of God. Yet
flilp, brotherhood, and fanliliarlry, wks ev\sry deliberate fin is in effeii daring his
cantraclcd between them, becupfq, << all omnipotent vengeance. ^
• . , 6 thing

«r, &c,

ag-i Refleiiions on ouf partaking of the Lord' s fupper.
*xix" ''^'"^ whereby God may be "^diflionoured, and 'Chrifl af.
., fronted. They who are Chriftian' indeed, and partake of that feajl
which the bleffed y^.f-hath inftituted in commemoration of his
dying love, do herein partake of ihe body and the blood of ChriJi:
.Verfe Let, it be remembered as a pledge of everlafting obedience, fince
21 it is a memorial of infinite obligation: it fhews that we belong
to him, as his willing and peculiar people, that we renounceall
his rivals, particularly Satan, and his kingdom, and whatever
favours and fupports his accurfed caufe. Let us be faithful to out
allegiance, and have no more to do with any of thefe abominations.
' 'Let us alfo remember this as a pledge of everhd'mg peace anti
love; weare all one bread, and one body. Let us not envy and
pfovoke, grieve and revile one another ; but ftudy mutual com
fort and edification. And when little jealoufies arife, and our
fecular interefts feera to interfere, which may often be the cafe ;
let us open our minds -to thofe exalted fentiments which our
common relation to Chrift tends to infpire ; and let the fweet re-
Biera^i-rance of the communion we have had with him, and each
other, in that holy ordinance, blot out of our minds the memory
of every difference which might ' tend to promote difguft |iiid
alienation.
S E C T. XX.
The Apoftle gives more particular direiiions as to the cafes arti
circumftances in which things facrificed io idols might, or might
not, lawfully be eaten; and urges farther confiderations, to en
gage them willingly to refign their own gratification iri form
injiances, for the glory of God, and the good of their hreihrew,
1 Cor. X. 23, io the end. Chap. XI. i.

SrtT. T Have faid a great deal, to guard you againft
_ alt approaches to idolatry. In anfwer to this.

I Corinthians X. 23. iCor.x. 13.
ift A^^ ;^'"f '"
lawful for me,
 _ _ _ . but all things are not
iCor. I know, it may be replied, that there are cer- expedient: allthingi
X.. 2.3 tain things which may accidentally lead toit, ^'^ '^"f"' f""' "V
and yet, being in their own nature indifferent, lH '" """^^ '^'^'^
may he fo ufed as to decline the danger. Grant- /
ing it then, that all thefe things are lawftd fior
tne, I am perfuaded, neverthelefs , you will rea
dily aeknowfedge, that all fuch th'mgs are not
in every circumftance expedient. Granting, I
fay, that all thefe things, about which we have
been difcourfing, are lawful fior me, yet it is un
deniably appareht, that all things edifiy not ; and '>
I ought

2tv Apoftle fays, thai what was fet befoie them ihey might eat : 295
I ought certainly to confider what may moft ef- Sect.
fcftually conduce to the edification of my neigh- f^^'
hour, and of the church in general, as well as , Cm-.,
what nnay fuit my own particular inclination, or X.^j
convenience : for I may find good reafons for
declining many things, as enfnaring to others,
which, were I to regard myfelf alone, might be
perteftiy indifferent,. Let no one therefore feek 24
the gratification of hi't own humour, or the ad
vancement of what may feem his peifonal in
tereft ; but let every one purfue another's [wel
fare ;] endeavouring to enrich all that are around
him in holinefs and comfort.
Believe me, my brethren, I am defirous not 25
to lay you under any unnecelfary reftraints.
And therefore, whatever [flefl] is fo'.d in the
flambles'^, that I allow you to eat; afling no
queftions for confcience Jake, that is, not fcrupii-
loufly inquiring, whether it have, or have not,
made a part of any idol-facrifice. /bras. the 26
Pfalmift expreffes it, (Pfal. xxiv. i,) the whole ,
earth [is] the Lord's, and the fulnefs thereof.
All thefe things therefore are to be taken as they
come to our hands, and ufed with cheerfulnefs
and thankfgiving, .as the comrnon bounties of
his Providence to his human creatures. And 2f
farther, if any of the unbelievers, who live in
your nex^bouxhciod, invite you^ to his 'houfe,
and you are difpofed to go, eat whatever is fet
before you,, at the enXeiUifwnent; not afting any
queftions for confcience fake, but receiving it,
whatever it t)e, as that fupply which Divine Pro
vidence has then been pleafed to fend you.
But 'tf any , one fay to you. This food is part of 28

24. Let no man
feek bis own : but
every man another's
wealth.

25 Whatfoever is
fold in the fliambles,
that eat, alking no
queftion for confci
ence fake.

26 For the earth
is the Lord's, and
tbe fulnefs tliereof.

27 If any of them
that believe nst, bid
you to a feaft, and _v e
be_ difp.ifed to go ;
whatfoever is f^.t be
fore you, 'eat, alktng
no queftion for con
fcience fake.
28 But if any man
fay unto you. This
is offered in facrifice what hath been facrificed to an idol, eat'ii not
rhisffk:thrfli:w! ^^'^^^^ "J^^^^^-^ to h-imthat Jiewed //...this
ed circumftance ; whettier he be an heathen, who

a SoU 'm the pambks.] Herodotus ob
ferves, fhat the Egyptians, when they had
cut off the head of their viiSims, ufed to
carry the carcafe to the market, and f.-ll
it to the Greeks, if they could find any
to purchafe it ; jf not, they threw it infj
thc river, judging it unlawful to eat it
themfelves. Raphel. ex Herod, in loc.
And though the Grecian priefl;s had no
fuch fcruples, yet as they had often more
ficfli uf their facrifices than they and their

famUies could confume, it ^as natural
for them to take this method of difppfing
of it to advantage ; and at times of ex-
^ traordinary facrifice, it is probable thc
neighbouring markets might be chiefiy
fiipplied from their temples.
l> Invite you.] That x .7is:i, often fig-
nlncs to invite, Raphelius {Annot ex JCen.\
has fliewn at large ; but to conclude that
'it muft generally be fo rendered, is Very
unwarrantable.
may

294 tinlefs ihey were told it had been facrificed io an idol;

Sect XX.

1 Cor.
X.2S

may hereby be confinned in his idolatry, or a
brother, who may otherwife be enfnared by thine
example, and tempted to violate the diftates of
his own mind ; and, I may fay, out of regard to
confcience too ; for thou canft not injure thy bro
ther in this refpeft, without fubjefting thyfelf
to fome remorfe on a ferious refleftion. And
the fcripture I mentioned before, may fuggeft
a pertinent confideration here : for as the earth
[is] the Lord's, and the fulnefs thereof^, thou
mayeft reafonably hope he will provide for thee
fome other way, and mayeft be affured, that he
29 cannot want the means of doing it. / fay
[for rhe fake of] confcience ; but I mean, not
thine own immediately, but that of another per
fon ; for how indifferent foever thou mayeft
efteem the matter, thou art obliged in duty to be-
very cautious that thou doft not wound and
grieve that of thy brother : (but you will obferve
that I here fpeak only of afts obvious to human
' obfervation ; for as to what immediately lies be
tween God and my own foul, why is my liberty
to be judged, arraij^ned and condemned at [the
har of] another man's conjcience ^ } I am not,
in fuch cafes to govern myfelf by the judgment
and apprehenfion^ of others, nor have they any
authority to judge, or cenfure me, for not con
curring with them in their own narrow notions
and declarations. IFor iJ I by the D'lv'me grace
20 dnd favour, am made a partaker of the common
gifts ot Providence, uihy am I reviled for my
free and cheerful tiie oi that for which I give
God my humble thanks, as tracing it up to the
hand of the great fupreme Bcnetaftor .?)
Therefore, on the '\-vhole,, to conclude this dif
courfe ; fince no one pai-ticular rule can be laid
down, to fiiit all the diverfities of temper and
apprehenfion which may arife, inftead of un-

ed it, and for confe!.
ence fake. For the
earth 'ts the Lord's,
and the fulnefs there
of. '

29 Confcience, 1
fay, not thine own,
but of the others: for
why is my liberty
judged of another
man's confcience i

V-

30 For, if I by
grace be a partaker^
why am I evil fpoken
of for that for which
I give thanks ?

3 1 Whetherthere- fotS

c The earth, &c.] Some good cc.p',;s
omit thefe words, yet th- y have- fo evi
dent a propriety ar.d beauty here, in con
traft with verfe 26, that I was by no
means difpofed to follow them.
iWhy is my liberty, &C.] Some, think
the meaning is, " Why fliould I ufe my
" liberty fo as to oft'end the confcience of
«« any." Others think, it is an objeftion

in the mouths of the Corinthians, and to
be thus underftood, " but why fliould I
" fufter myfelf to be thus impofed upon,
" and receive law from any, where Chriil
"' has left me free ?." I rather think, that
this, and the 30tli verfe come in as a
kind of parenthefts^ to prevent their ex
tending the former caution beyond what
he defigned by it, chariiable

And then they flould abftain, thai thej might give no oftisnce. fi^J
charitable contentions with each cither; or any Sect.
th ng that looks like mutual contempt, let us ^^'
take all the pains we can to meet as in the cen

fore ye eat or drink.
Or whatfoever ye do,
do all to the glory of
Cod.

31 Give none of
fence, neither to the'
Jews, nor to the
church of Cod :

33 Even as Ipleafe
all men in all things,
hot feeking mine own
profit, but the proftt
of many, that they
may be faved.

I. Corinthians
XI. 1. Be ye follow
ers of me, even as I
alfo am of Chrift.

tre of real religion ; fee to it then, that whether^
ye eat or drink, or whatfoever elfe ynt dn, in the
common, as well as facred, aftions of life, y6
do all to the glory of God, purfiiing' the credit of
the gofpel, and the edification of the church ;
that he may be honoured in the happinefs of' his
creatures, and more univerfally acknowledged as
the author of all good.
In this refpeft, and in every other, fee to it, J3
that ye beinoffenftve, both to the Jews, who, you.
know, abhor every thing that looks like the
leaft approach to idol-worlhip ; and to the
Greeks ', and other iinconverted Gentiles, who
are fo much attached to it, that they are willing
to catch at all preteraces of juftifying themfelves
in the praftice ; and to the church of God, whe
ther confifting of circumcifed, or uncircumcifed
converts to Chriftianity, who> would grieve to
fee the common edification obftrufted, ia in
ftances wherein they themfelves might not be.
endangered. Endeavour to follow^ in this' re- 33
(peft, my example ; afting as I alfo do, who
ftudy ^/« all things to pleafe all men, fo far as I
apprehend it for their real advantage ; not feek
ing mine own intereft or gratification, but ihat of
many, ihat they may be faved by being brought
to, and confirmed in, that religion on which
their eternal happinefs depends. In this grand
and important confideration I lofe every inferior
view, as our great Lord and Mafter did ; ' be ye
therefore herein imitators of me, as I alfo [am]
ofi Chrift ; and you will be in the way to pleaf©
him, and to fecure infinitely greater advantage
from his favour, than you can ever be called to
refign for the good of your brethreix. ,

Cor- 31.

I Cts.
XLi

IMPROVEMENT.

What exalted and generous fentiments are tljefe ! Well do
ih.;y become every 7ninifter, yea every difciple of Chrift!

, e Jews and Greeks ] As tbefe are
both oppofed to the cb'jrch of God, I con
clude he {peaks of uneonvcrted Jetvs, or
Gn:!::; and rcf?r5 to the danger there

might be of prejudicing them againft
Chriftianity, by the indulgences againft
which hc cautions th:m.
¦What

"figS RepBions on our oUigations not io offend others.
Sect. What a glorious fociety would his church foon be, if each of its
^^' members was aftuated by them ! not feeking his own things, hut
Verfe thofe of Others ; not purfuing his own intereft, but that of many,
23 that they may be faved 1 Yea, how happy would each particular
24-29 perfon be, in fuch a wife and tender care of the whole, beyond
what the moft eager and fuccefsful purfuit of a feparate intereft can
render him !
Let us endeavour to fteer in the due medium, between the oppo
fite extremes of an exceffive fcrupulofity, and a prefumptuous
rafhnefs ; and attend to the various diftinguifhing circunillances
125-27 which will demand a correfpondent difference of conduft, in
things which may feem to an inattentive eye much the fame: .
not thinking that attention and caution needlefs, by which the
31 glory of our God, and the edification of onr brethren may be pro
moted. We may expofe ourfelves in confequence of this tender
nefs of confcience, to inconveniences, ftraits, and contempt ; but
let us commit all our concerns to that Divine Providence which ex-
26-28 tends itfelf to all its works ; and rejoice to think, that the earth
is the Lord's, and all its fulnefs : out of which he will not fail to
furnifh neceffar}' fupplies to thofe who fear him, and are thus folicit
ous to preferve a confcience void of oft'ence before him. But while
we are ftriftly cautious ourfelves, let us not be rafti and fevere in
our cenfures of others, who ftand, or fall, to their own mafter, and
who may in fome inftances have reafons, to us unknown, for a
conduft moft different from ours.
O 1 that Divine grace may teach us all to govern our whole
31 lives by this extenfive important maxim ; that whether we eat, or
drink, or whatfoever we do, we purfue the glory of God I Let us
dignify and fanftify all the common aftions of life, by performing
them from thefe high and holy motives ; and fo turning them into
facrifices of devotion and love. Then fhall we not only avoid
32 giving oft'ence to others, but (hall conduft ourfelves in fuch a
manner, as fhall make us burning and flin'ing lights in the world,
and extend our fphere of ufefulnefs far beyond that of our perfonal
converfe, and perhaps beyond the date of our precarious abode in
this tranfitory world.
Thus glorifying our heavenly Father on earth, and finifling the
work he hath given us to do, we may hope through his grace in
Chrift, to be glorified with him above, and to be brought to a
'Chap, brighter image of that Saviour, who has fet us fo perfeft anex-
^^ '¦ ample of the temper and conduft here recommended, which even
the bleffed apoftle Paul followed only with unequal fteps.

SECT.

The Apuftle Mamis an indecency in the church of Corinth, 297
SECT. XXI.

The Apoftle fets himfelf to reform fome ifideceucies which had crept
into the Church of Corinth ; and particularly that of women pro-
phefyittg with their head uncovered. 1 Cor. XI. 2-^16.

I Cor. XI. 2.
jg-OW I praife you,
brethren, thatyou
remember me jn all
thbigs,' and keep tbe
ordinances, a: I deli
vered theirt to you.

3 But I would have
-you know, that the
head of eyery man is
Chrift ; and the head
of the woman, is the
man ; and the head
of Chrift. (1 God:

4 Everyman pray
ing, or ptophefying, having

Vol. IV.

I Corinthians XI. 2.
T HA'VE jufl now exhorted you, my hrethren, Sict.
•*- to imitate me, as I endeavour to copy the ^^*'
example of our bleffed Lord. And while I am \ cer.
giving you fuch an exhortation, I ought to ex- xi. a.
prefs my fatisfaftion in feeing many of you fo
ready to comply with it. / praife fuch of you -
therefore, thai in all things you are mindful of
me, and ftrenuoufly retain the charges I gave, as
I committed [them] io you. Bui as to your in- 3
quiring concerning the manner in which women
fhould deliver any thing in public, when they
are by a Divine impulfp called to do it ; 1 would
have you to know, in order to regulate your judge
ment and conduft aright, thai Chrift is the
head of every man ; fo that every Chriftian
fhould ofteii recolleft the relation in which he
hath the honour to ftand to him, as an engage
ment to obferve the ftrifteft deCorum in his
whole behaviour. And if the different fexes be
compared, ihe head of the woman is the man; to
whom therefore fhe ought to pay a reverent re
fpeft, as in the Lord. And ihe head of Chrift [is]
God: Chrift, in, his mediatorial charafter, afts
in fubordination to the Father, who rules by
him, and hath conftituted him Sovereign of all
worlds, vifible, and invifible. And as the Fa
ther's glory is interefted in the adminiftration of
Chrift, fo is the glory of Chrift in fome, mea
fure interefted in the conduft and beh|yiour of
thofe men whofe more immediate head he is;
and I may add, of thofe women whofe heads
fuch men are.
Now, upon this pripciple, I may fay, in re- 4
ference to the ufages w,l)ich prevail at this time
. in your country ; every man, prdying or prsphe-
fying, in a public afletj^bly, whether he give
forth iti-(^)ixed pfalms or hymns, or utt^r predic
tions, or common inftrudtion ; if he do it with
U . Ihis]

2,98 Sect. XXI.

H-^iere women prophefied with their head ttncontpred.

I Cor.
XI. 5

[his] head covered, afting therein contrary to
the received rules of decency among us, he^ in.a
degree, difhonour s Chtift'Aw heatd*, as behaV-
5 ing unworthy his relation to him. AndonUcse,
other harld, every woman, prayingtir\prophefyiHgt:. .
under fuch infpiration' as above, with [her] head
unveiled, difbonogreth man, who is her head,. '
' by behaving in' fuch a manner as is indecent in
an alfembly confifting of fo many men as are
4ifually prefent on thefe" occafions : for \ rnay
fty, that it is iti this refpeft the fame as if Jhe
ztxr'e flaped'-i fhaving her head is only faking
off thfe hatlital covering, and expofing it bare;
which is fo fharnefiil a thing, that you know it Has
often been' inflift;ed as a proper kind of punifti-
jnent, on women of the moft abandoned cha
rafter ; arid it is fcandalous, that any thing like
this fhould be ufed in your Chriftian affemblies ;
and this too, by perfons pretending to extraoi:-
6 dinary charafters and' aftiftances. I ma-^- there
fore iay, if a woman will not be veiled, let her
even be fliorn ; but if it he appare'ntly flameful
for a woman io have her hair florn, or flamed
off, let her keep as fat as poflible from fo difa
greeable an appearance ; and have her head co
vered With a proper veil, at the times, and ia
the circumftances of 'which we now fpeak,
n For a inan indeed ought not to have [his] head
covered ¦as being /Ae^ immediate image and glory
of God: and made 1n his llkenefs as the fitft
copy of its kind,' before woman was created. It.
is decent therefore, that he fhould appear with ,
the marks of that fuperiority which he indeed
bears : but the woman fhould forbear k ; and it
isehough to fay of her, that (he is the ghry of
ihe man; to whom God hath done no inconfi
derable honour, as well as favour, in making fex

having h'ls head' co-
vered, dilhonouretlt i
his head.
S But every wo
man that praylth,.tir.
pxophefi'cth, withiw'
head uncovertd, dif,
bonourethber'hea^: for that is even all
oneasiffliswerejia-ven. "• '

6 For if the wo
man Ee not covered,
let ber alfo be fliorn :
but if it be a Ihame,
for a. woman to be
Ihorn or ftiaven, let
her be covered.

7 For a man in
deed ought not to co
ver his head, foraf-
much as he is the
image and glory of
God : but the woman
is the glory of the
man.

¦£ Every man praying, &c. tvith his
head covered,- diftonoureth \_h'ls] head.] It
was certainly-(as Dr..,'Whitby, and others,
have proved,) the cuftom among the Greeks
and Ronjans, as well as the Jews, to ap-
¦ pear in wprfliipping afl'emblics w'Ali their
head covei^ed ; and itig certaiti the Jewilh
priefts wore a kind of t-utbofit, when mj-
ni^fterirtg, in the temple.' But it fcems,
that the C'd'rinthian'me'n v.-ore a veil,' out
of- regard' to PhariJa'Kal iaXviioni, aniliii)
..6 . .

imitation of the cuftom prevailing wi the
fjBigogues; which therefore the apofili
difapproved. The women feem to have
their hah: dilhevellcd, when praying bj
Divine infpiration ; (which feems to have
been . the- only cafe in which they Could
regularly pray in public :).this made them
refembia thofepagan 'pr'iefte^es, who pre-
tended to be aftuated by their gods ; the
apoftle therefore with great propriety dif-
coin'sjesit, f©

vAich- is_ mt -a^eefdle to her ftate of inferiority t 299
fo,.ex(C!ellent a,nd, amiable a creature for his be- Skrt.
nefit and cotnfort. Yet ftill her, ftate of fubjec- ^^^*
tion to jhim fhould be repifrnbi^red, and i^ is j cor.
yery pcpedient. fhe fho^ld.app^ar in public with Xi. ^
fome tpcit a,ck,novvledgement of it.' For the S
miin is not, in the firft' produftion of his nature,
taken Q\it of fhe wornftfi,;. kut as we read in the
facred hiftory, (Cj<^p, iif ?,.i— 723,) the woman,
out of the man. Neither [was] ihe.man created 9
for tJie f^Jte of the wt^mcm, to acconnmcj^ate
ancL aflift her \ hut the, woman for , the_ fa^e of
the, tncm, that he might hay^ a ^elp meet for
hitn, which before he foi^nd not iii the whole
creation, (Gen. ii. 20.); .Qn this account, the^e- lo
have power on her- fore, as well as fpr t\^p, oth^ reafons I have rnen-
head, becaufe of the tipned above, the woman ought to have upon [her]
hecid a veil, as a token of hqr beiing, under the
-pfftjioer^ and fubjeftion of the in^n,: and, fo
much, the rather il^oul^l ftie w-ear it in worfhip
ping aifembUes, becaufe of the, angels, who afe
efpecially prefent there, ^d bfforg v^hom, ^we,
ought to be exceedingly careful tjiat notliing
pals which may be; indecent ar\d irregular, and
imlike that perfeft order apd profound^ humi-.
lity with which they, worfti,ip in the Djvine pre
fence. '

, 8 For the man is
not of the woman;
but the woman of the
man. '
¦.
9 Neither was the
man created for the
woman ; but the
woman for the man.

, 10 For this caufe
ought the woman to

angels.

b Power c>i [her] head.] IVIr. Locke ,ac -
knowledges with a modefty which .does
him much honour, that he did not under
ftand this text; and many feem to have
darkened it, by their attempts to explain-
it. But the cliief difficulty-does not lie in
the v/ord power ; which! muft, to be fure,
be- underftood of a ve'd, which married
women wore oh their head, as a token of
fubjeftion to their hulband ; (fee Gen.
xxiv. 65 ;) and Mr. Godwin, (TAofes and.
jfaron, p. 236,) fuppofes the "oci/was in
Hebrew called niT^,, {Radid,) from a root,
~\~\~\, {Raddd,) whicli fi%rnfie& fubjeiiion -,
To that the veil ifcis, as it were, the habit
by which a woman ihewedlhe confidered
herfelf jn fubjeiiion : and Qhardin, ob
ferves, that tbe married women in Perfia
wear^a peculiar habit to the very fame
purpofe. Chard. Perf.Vol, It. p. 187- It
is much; more difficult to afcertain the
meaning of that claufe, becaufe of the an
gels. It feems neither reafonable, nor
decent, to explain this of youtig mimfters ;
as if they were in pecwliar danger of being

infnSred by .the beauty of women; a^id it
is more grofsly abfurd ftill to fuppofe with
TertuUian, {de Vet, firg. § 7,) that ther^ .
was any room to apprehend it could be
a fnare to celeftial fpirits ; (which miftake
feemed to be grounded on tbe wild inter-.
^pretation of Gen. vi, 2, fo generally, re
ceived among the fathers.)- Dr. Whitby, '
underftands it of evil angels, and thinks'
it refers to the punilhment which Eve in
curred, (Gen. iii. 16,) for hearkening to
the, fuggeftions of Satan. A la'e ingeni
ous writer by tcyy-iXm, unde,rftands^ifj;
who he fuppofes ,came into Chriftian af
femblies to make ill-natured^emarks, and.
fo would be glad to blaze abroad any in-,
de<encies they might obferve there. (See
Mr. Cough's biff, in loc.) I have not room
to canvafs all thefe ; but only add in flip-
port of the fenfe, wjiich, as leaft excep
tionable, 1 have followed, that the pre
fence of angels in religious aft'emblies is
favoured by Ecclef. v. i, 6, ¦ and the
figures, of* Cheruhitn in tbe tabernacle and
temple.

U2

I h,av:e

;Jo'o tfor is it confiftent with nafutal itecCncy.-
Sect. I haVe treated the matter with a plainnefs and »» Neverthtiifs,,
'^freedom becoming my charafter; neverlhelefsi "f j^er is the man
 I ^ ^ L- " L- L T i_ I , r •'i • Without the woman,
1 Cor. let. not any hints which 1- have dropped of the neither the woman
XI. II fuperior dignity of the man be abufed, to render without the man,, in
him haughty and tyrdnnical : for it is evident, *'^f^--
thai the man [is] not without fhe litoman, nor' the
woman without the mdn, in the Lord. You know
that the exiftence and comfort oi either fex
has a dependance upon the other ; which the'
genius of the Chriftian religion requires us to
confider, and to behave in a manner correfpond-
12 ent to it. For as the woman [jcuas] at firft upor th
taken /r^w the rib of the man, whom he ought man ;. of the mm,
thei'efore to love as a part of himfelf, and (he to even fo is the mau-
revere hiw, as under God the fource of her be- ?"° ^J *= ™15,»" >
ing ; ft a'lfo,m fhe ordinary courfe of the Di- ¦'^''""""S^.o^God..
'frine produciIion> the man [is] by the woman ,'
born, nou-riflied, and in the tendereft years of
life educated by her ; a circtrmftance that ought
to be ever rfioft tendferly remembered, as a fpring.
of grateful affeftion and regard.. But let me
add, that whether in fhe fkft creation, or the'
fucCeflive produftion of human creatures all
things [are] of God; whofe conftitution ought
therefore humbly and obediently fo- be revered,
and all the duties of relative life performed, as*
for his fake, and to his glory.
1 3 But with refpeft to the particular ci-rGamffance i? Jiafge m your-
I was fpeaking of, I may leave you to iudee of 'f '"'=¦'' ' '* ic' comely^
V- 7 ;°> ... I -^ J. . L r that a woman pray
yourfelves, whether it be, according to the ufages unto God uncovered ^
generally prevailing araong us, decent"^ for a
woman to pray to God with that mafculine and-
confident air which fhe muft have -when her'
1 4 head is uncovered : Or rather, doth not the '4 Do'h not even
fight immediately fliock us, previous to any "''"''='"'=''' t"<^^
reafonings upon it in our own mind? So that w long hair, Tis.
¦ nature itfelf feems to teach you, that qn the one a Ihame unto hJra I
hand, for a man io hceve long hair folicitoufly
adjufted and artfully adorned, is fuch a mark
of an effeminate charafter, as is, on the whole,
\^ a difgrace to him; Whereas, on the other 15 But ifa woman
hand, if a woman hath long hair fpread otserher "Jiaveiong hair, it is
ftioulders, // is. rather JL.^iiry to her ; for her * ^'"^ '" ''"'^"
n Judge, whether itie decent. See.] The .when tbey came into public affemblies;
Giccian women, excepting tbe heathen as we find in Homer, and many other an-
f/nftcff-s, ufed to appear in th^ir veils, dent writers, hair

churches of God.

RefteiiiMS on decency in Divine worflip, &c. . 301
fcerTiairylt given her hair was given her inftead of a veil, in the firft Sect.
.foracovermg. conftitiaion of her nature, and before the arts J^
i6 But if a»y man ^ ^^^^ ^^^ invented or needed. i cbr.
feem to be contehti- Thus the matter appears to me, when I re- xi. 16
ous, we have no fuch ifleft upon the iftriginal, and the prefent ftate of
cuftom, neither thj! ^hjngs, and what lieems from, that to be the
.voice of nature. But 'f ,any one .appears to be
contentious, and wsill difpute this, upon his own
^different viiew^ of what )S: jiaturally decent, I
Ihall not (Controvert it farther ; but content my<-
feilf with laying, that meihatae here no fuch ciif-
tom, for women i^ .appear with their head un^-
^overed ; neither do I Jcnow of its prevailing in
any of .the other churches of God*', whether
planted by me^ or any of my brethren. I think
;therefore that it ought to be avoided, as a fin-
igularity which may appear like aflEeftation, and
give oftehce, even if it be not judged a natufal
indecorurn. And thus I leave the aftair to

your confideration ; and promife myfelf, you will
give me no farther £aiue of .complaint on this
Jbead.

SMPROVEMENT..

Let Chriftians frequently remember the Tionourable relation 'Verfe
iin- which they ftand to Chrift as their Head; and as bpyond 3
all difpute, he is, under his mediatorial charafter, moft willingly 4
and joyfully fubjeii to God, let us learn to imitate him in that
cheerful and entire fubjeftion, nut of love and reverence to him,
guarding againft whatever is unbecoming, feft he be diflionoured
thereby. By the .pafl!age before us, we fee the feroe of cuftom, for deter- )t4> '^
miiMng -in many refpefts, what is decent, and what is otherWife.
Let .us maintain a proper regard to this ; left even our good fhould
be through our imprudence, evil-fpoken of, and all our infirmities
magnified into crimes. Let us often -recolleft the original dignity
of our nature, by which we are 'the image and glory of God ; that,
fo far as by fin and folly this honour is, loft, -we may endeavour tp
regain it ; and where it is not, naay think and aft more fuitably tp
fo high a relation. ' ¦ '
When in any aft of Divine worfhip, we have the honour to IO
approach the bleflied- God, let us reverence his awf«l prefence,
<l Nor any of the other churches,] Monf. but the, former claufe,, we. have .niffucb
Amyraut underftands it In this fenfe', 'cB^om,' will not admit this. The.'argu-
«' The churches do hot ufe to contend mbrit on the otheir inteipretstlon is clear
v'ith me, but to fubmit .to.my decifions j'" and ftrong.
U3 and

T(o 3 The Apoftle cotftders their dhufe of the Lord' s fupper ;
Sect, and eveu that of his holy angels, who attend the aflemblies X)f the
^^^' faints. We pray, that the will of God may be done upon earth, as
it is done in heaven: let us be careful to worfhip God in fuch a
manner, that thefe Celeftial fpirits, who ever appear before him
with facred awe, may not be ofl^ended at the rudenefs and folly
6f finful mortals ; whom they may well wonder to fee admitted,
in their beft eftate, to this Divine privilege which they have fori
felted by repeated provocations.
'^"^'^ As for wbat'^;. Paw/ obferves of the mutual dependence which
^ ^; ^^2 tjjg fexes have on each other, let it difpofe them to mutual candour
and refpeft ; avoiding' the Cruel tyranny, or the vain affeftatioii,
which often arms them, on either fide, with ungenerous refleftions.
And as all things are of God, let it be our concern, that all things
be to him ; that all things be faithfully employed for his glory ;
and whatever comforts we receive in relative life, which are indeed
many and important, let us adore the wifdom of the Divine con
ftitution in tne original formation of our nature, and the fecret
influence and conduft of his Providence, in the regulation of our
vefpaftive circumftances and affairs.

SECT. XXII.

The Apoftle, in order io' reform ihe feveral fcandalous abufes of the
Lord's fupper, which had crept into the church of Corinth, leads
back their vieivs to the original inftitutiim of the folemn ordinance,
iand infers from thence the dangler of profanifig it, i Cbr. XI.
17, to the end.
I Corinthians XI. iCon.xi. 17.
¦tviV T^^^ y°V ^^^^. ™y ^^^^ fentiments of the ^"'l^ure^lw^l,
^'^^"' ¦¦¦ manner in which women, even when moft: i praife _/«» not, that
r Cor fingularly honoured by God, fliould appear ' in yo" <^^^ together
XI. 17 your religious aflemblies. But while I am giving ^"^ fof , he worfe?"'
[you] thefe inftruiiions, I do not, and cannot,
praij'e [youf] as I would, on feveral accounts ;
.and particularly on this, il^i when you come to-
.gether in thefe aflTemblies, and on the moft fo
lemn occafions,- there are fuch irregularities, ,
and fometimes fuch indecencies among you,
that your meeting is npt for the better,, but for 1
iheworfic,- as you lofe more in religion one way ' .
than you gain another. For, before I men- 18 For firft of alt,
'tion any other inftance of this, I muft' obferve ' ^^'" J'' """'X
jn the firji . place,, that when ye come together in
- - the

which they regarded as a comtnin meal ;

'303

¦(her in thechar<;h, I
hear that there be di
vifions among you j
and I partly believe
?t.

19 For there muft
be alfo berefies among
you, that they which
are approved, may
be made manifeft a-
piong you.

¦20 When ye corae
together therefore in
to one place, this, is
not to eat the Lord's
fupper.

the church ", though it is fo evident, that nothing Sect.
but reverence to God, and love to each other, ^^^^-
fhould reign on fuch occafions ; / hear thai there j cor.
are fchifms or uncharitable and angry divifions XI. 18
and difpiites among you, and I do, in fome refipeii,
and with' regard tb fome of you, beUeve it:
For in the courfe of things, it is to be ex- 19
pefted, that there niuft be' even hereftes among
you '¦ : contentions will arife to fuch a height,
that feparations will enfue. The warmth of
fome tempers evidently leads to this ; and Pro
vidence may probably permit it, ihat they who
are of the moft approved charafters, may be made
manifeft among you, by the fteadinefs and candour
of their conduft.
It is particularly grievous to me, to be forced 20
to complain of your irregular behaviour, while
celebrating that moft excellent and endea'ring
ordinance of the eucharift; but I am compelled
to do it; and therefore I tell you plainly, that
when -you. come together in fueh a manner, as you
do, into' me place, under pretenfe of attendir^
this grand folei-nnity, it is not eating the Lorifs
fupper " : it does not deferve to be called by
that

a Come together in the church.] So'cae
have urged this as an inftanc^ in which
thurch fignifies a building fpr public wor
lhip ; and have urged alfo. the 22d verje
in tbe fame view ; but both- may be. inter
preted of the aftcmbly, ii% the paraphraje
¦¦ftiews, ^ There muft be even hereftes,]' It feems
evident from hence, that herejy is fpoken
of as fomething worfe than the fch'tfm
mentioned above ; but whether it be an
-evil entirely of a dift'crent kind, or only of
a higher degree, is not fo clear from this
palTage. I think, for reafons not, here to
be enumerated, tliat the word a-fsait, fig
nifies a feU of people feparated from-otbe'rs,
and forming what we call a diftin£t deno
mination ; whereas there may-hefchijm tttith-
eiit jeparation, if people aftbmbling, together
have uncharitable contentions with, each
other ; . which was the cafe of thefefchif-
matical Corinthians.
c It is not eating the Lord's fupper.]'The
Corinthians feem to have been guilty of
two great faults, in the matter Here referred
to, which St. Paul in tbe following dif-
fourfe labours to reform ; — Tbe one, that
they confounded the Lord's fupper with

the comraon meals tbey made ,togather;
(from whence the lov^-feajh were after
wards derived;) thinking.it fufficient, (as
tbe ^akers^ now do,) if they mingled
fome thoughts ofChrHl's. death, \vith:tbi:i
- cbmmnn ufe of .bread and wine ;— Tl^c
other, that tbey ufed fuch a rapacious ,.be-
. h^viour at thefe feafts, and .treated one
anotber'fo rudely and unkindly,.as on their
own principles would have been very in
decent. "I'his latter circiimftance is finely
"illurtrated in a palTage from Xenophon,
{Memor. tib.'i, cap. xiv. § i.) in which
he obferves, that Socrates was much of»
fended;With tbe J^tlicnians for their conr
dudt at their tommon fuppersj as fome
prepared delicately for themfelves, while
others w-ere but flend*rly provided for.
¦That wnrtby man endeavoured to -Ibame
tbem outof this low tafte, by oftcring his
provifions to all the company. Mr. Grove
hath with groat propriety mentioned a
palTage from Socrates the eccleftaftial bir
ftorian,.{lib. v. cap. 22,) in vvhich he
fpeaks of fome Egyptians' living near
Alexandria, who partook of the facrament
in a very peculiar manner, (as'-ir-feema
much after the Corinthian falhion,) intro-
U 4 during

;3P4

And ate and drank to excefs.

Sect, that name. Inftead of. regarding it iri a holy
^ and religious view, you confound it with a coii^-
I Cor. mon meal ; and do not indeed behave in the
XI. 21 manner that decency would require if it were
no more than a common meal : for though you (it
down at what, even in that cafe, ought to be a
focial and friendly table, yet each has his parti'
cular mefs, and without offering a. fhare of it,
in an obHgipg manner to the reft, every one in
<a//«j-„ greedily taketh before [the other] his own
fupper^, both the food and liquor which he
hath provided ; and fo while one poor brother,
for want of fgitable provifions, is hungry, another
eats and drinks to excefs ' ; which would in all
circumftances b€ a fcandal to a Chriftian, aiid
. efpecially to a religious aifembly, as this certainly
ought to be,
%% IVhat a reproach is this to your eommop pro
feflion ! Give rne leave to aflc you, have you not
houjes io eat and to drink in on comnion occafions,
that you piuft come to the place of public wor
fhip, thus to entertain yoiirfelves there, which
is certainly in all views very ill-judged? Or
.do you defpife the church of God, which you muft
greatly offend by fuch a conduft as this ; and
9t the fame time flame thofe that have not pro
vifions and accommodations of their own, atid
might hope at your common tneal's to be re
lieved ? 'What flail I fay to you on this occafion ?
Shall I praife you in this [rej'peii ?] I wifti I
could fairly and Ijonourably do it ; but afprei-
. fent, / praife [you] not ; I muft rather blame
you, and exhort you to amend what is fo grofsly
ainifs. And that my admonitioris and exhortations
may come with the greater 'weight, let me lead
back your thoughts to- the original inftitution of
this profaned aiid affronted ordinapce ; which if

21 For in e«ing,
every one taketh be.
fore other his own
fupper : and one Is
hungry, and another
is drunken.

93

22 What, have je
not houfes to eat and
to drink in .' of de-
fpife ye the church,
of Cod, and Ihame
them that have not !
what ihall I fay tq
you? fhall 1 praif(|
you in this .' I pralfs
jioB not.

23 For I h^.ve re
ceived

ducing it with a jovial feaft, in which
they regaled themfelves. with all kinds of
food. ^ee,Grove on the Sacrament, p. 108.
d His own fupper,] This ¦ monftrous,
and to us ui)accoUntable circumftance, is
cleared up by. what is faid above , of the
fecial fupf ers ufed a.-nong the, Greeks : to
which each brought his own provifions,
H^-hich vtf-ere not always made fo com-
f[ion to the whole company as decency

and friendftiip might have required.
e Drinks to, excefs,] The word fi,iuion,
has this .fignificatlon in a great latitude ;
biit one w^ould hope, that though tbe
Jews and heathens were often intoxicated
in their religious feftivals, thefe Chri
ftians, imprudent and irregular as they
were, did not carry their excefles fo far J
and therefore I chofe to foften the verftom.
Comp'die 'Vol. I, p. 1J9, note k. you

To reform this, he reminds them of the original inftitution ; 305
you refleft upon, I am fure you muft be heartily Skct.
grieved at the indignities you have oflered it, ^*""

teived of the Lord,
that which alfo I de
livered unto you,
That the Lord Tefus,
the fami night in
•which he was betray
ed, Cook bread :

24 And when he
had given thanks, he
brake it, and faid.
Take, eat; this is
my body, which is
broken i'or you: this
do in remembrance
ef me.

and will be engaged to refolve you will never 1 Cor.
repeat them. Now 1 am able to fpeak of this XI. »j
matter with great certainty and exaftnefs : for
my knowledge of it did not depend upon any
human tradition whatfoever ; but / received by
fpecial revelation from the Lord^ ]eins Chriit
himfelf, thai which I alfo delivered to you, in my
former preaching on this fubjeft, in which, as
in all things elfe, I have been careful moft ex
aftly to adhere to my original inftruftions. And
you know the fubftance of it was thi^, Thai the
Lord fefus Chrift, the very [fame] night ih which
he was betrayed, and amidft all thofe ferious
thoughts which his own nearly approaching
fufferings might fuggeft, after he had finifhed the
pafchal fiipper, took bread, fome of the re
mainder of thofe unleavened cakes with which
that folemn feaft is celebrated ; And having, 24
in a moft reverent manner, given thanks to God,
the great Author of all temporal and fpiritual
bleffings, and looked up to him for his blefling
il]pon it, for the purpofes to which it was going
to be appropriated, he brake [it] into feveral
pieces, ««</ diftributing it to his difciples who
were prefent, faid, Tfike this bread, and eat it
with due reverence and regard ; for this is the
folemn reprefentation of my body which is juft
going to be broken,.by the moft bitter pains and
agonies, for you and your falvation ; this there
fore do in all the fucceeding ages of my church,
as a commemoration of me^ -^ that the memory

t I received hy fpecial revelation, &<:.]
ThUepiftle feems to have been written be
fore any of the Gofpels ; and it feems to
be intimated. Gal, i. 17, fife, that when
he wrote it, he had feen none of the
apoftles. It is very remarkable, thatthe
Inftitution. of this ordinance Ihould make
a part of that immediate revelation with
which Chrift honoured him; and it af
fords a ftrong argument for the perpetuity
of it in the church. ' For had others of
the apoftles, (as Barcltiy prefumes to in
finuate,) miftaken what pafl'ed at the laflf
faffover, and founded the obfervation
vt the eucharift on, that miftake, furely
Chrift would rathsr have corrected this

error in his new revelation to St. Paul,
than have adminiftered fuch an occafion
of confirming Chriftians in it. For fome
notes which might have been inferted here,
fee Vol. II. feft. 172. «
g Thisdo, &c.] Becaufe the word iro-.ci,
fignifies, in fome few inftances, to facri
ftce. Dr. Bret would render it, facriftce this :
whence he infers, that the eucharift is a
facrifice. And a learned prelate in the
council of Trent, pleaded, linuch with thc
like judgment, that when Gbrift uttered
tbefe words before the cup, he ordained
them priefts ; whereas he gave them thc
bread as. laicks. See Father Paul's Hift. of
tbe Council of Trent, p. 510. of

^o6

The defign. tf which "was to Jhew the':Lord' s death.

Sec-t. of my paihfiil' death may be; kept up in the world,
^''"•-OTd your hearts, and thofe of all mylfaithful

I Cor. followers, be ,'properly affefted with the review
:3U. 25 of it. Jn like -manner alf o_ [he took] ihe cup;
vvhich, you well remember, was after he had
fupped; fa that it was by no means a part of that
meal they had been making, but fomething quite
diftinft from it : and he likewife diftributed that
to them, as he had done the bread ; yiz)///?g-. This
cup is th'e folemn feal and memorial of the mw
covenant, which is eftablifhed in my blood, .by
-which all its invariable bleflings are derived to
you. -Ti^U likewife do, asojiten-asye drink [it]
in 'commemoration of me, ,and in order to main-
taiiT the memory of my bleeding dying, love in
'^6 the church and the worlds ' T,u therefore,
as often as ye eat " this bread,- and- drink this. cap!,
do indeed, perform a very foleiTm ancf important
aftion ; for, according to his own interpretation
and inftitution, yow Jhew forth, and- -as-\t •were
proclaim, the Lord's death .'m its moft affefting
circumftances ; which the church miift"throiigh-
out all ages continue to do, until he come^ to
clofe the prefent fcene of things, and. to receive
,all his faithful fervants to a place, where, for
ever dwelling with him,, they.will.no more need
27 thefe memorials of an abteni Saviour. So that
you fee, by . a farther -confequence, whofoever
Jhall eat this bread, or- drink ' [this] cup of the
; -Lord,

2^ After the fanje
manner alfo' he totit
the cup, when '^e
had fupped, faying,
This cup if the new
teftament in my
blood : this do ye,
as oft as ye drink if,
in remembrance of

26 For as often as
ye eat this bread, and
drink this cup, ye do
ftiew theLord's death,
tin he come.

27Wherefore, who- .
foever Ihall eat this
bread, and drink this
cup of tbe Lord uti.
worthily,

h Tfierefore, as often-asye eat. See.] It
is plain, that yaj, .muft here have the
force of an illative particle ; as it alfo has,
Luke .XX. 3S.
i Eai this bread. Ice.] ¦ It is no wonder,
a text in which this element is fo plainly
C3i\ed' bread after confecration, Jh-Ould be
urg-d againft the Popilh daftrine of tran-
fulftar.tiat'ion. And "it fignifies little for
tnem to plead, that the fcripture fame-
times calls things changed, by the name
of the thing out of which they were made,
(as Adam is called duft. Gen. iii. 19 ; .^a-
r.n's ferpent, a rod, Exod. vii. 19 ;) or
calls tbem according to their fenfible ap
pearance, (Jolb. V. 13 ; Mark xvi. 5 ;) for
thefe inftances rather turn againft them,
by proving, that where the literal inter-
-pretation- is evidently abfurd, we muft
,have recourfe to the figurative. '
k XJnt'il he come.] Nothing can be more
.tiBrealasable, than to refer this, (as tbe

. Quakers do,) trf the tirae when Cbr'i^
. fliould come, by his jpiritual illuminatioit
on their minds, to take them oft' from
carnal ordinances ; for, not to infift upon
it, that we have at leaft as " much nec'd of
the Lord's jupper as the primitive Cbrif-
tianshtid, (not having >fo -many advan
tages as they, -.to -keep up the memory <if
Chrift in our :niinds, to.^iKcken us to
holinefs,. and. .to ..unite us in love,) it' is
evident, the grand coming of Chrift by
.tlic Spirit was, when- it was - poured out
on tbe day of.penteeeft; an event, which
¦bad- happened many years before the date
of this epiftle.
1 Eat, or drink.] So it.is- in the oriW-
nal, li mvn 5 nor could our tranjlators fure
ly be under any temptation to render it,
eat.and drink, to elude the argument drawn
fromhence fox comtnunion in one kindonly;
fince, as that excellent French preacher^
Monf, Superviile obferves, [Serm, 'Vol.

wo'rthily, ftiall be
guilty of the' "body
and blood of the
Lord. I

He who does It ¦M'oiorlhily,, Is guilty of Chrift's body ahd blood, '^07
Lord, urnvorthiiy, that is, in an irreverent man- s«ct.
ner, without a due regard to him, and to the ^^"'
giteat original pU^ofe of its appointment, "^s// i Cor.
be counte'd guilty 0/^ profaning, and affrortting in XI. 37
fome meafure, that which is intended to repre
fent the body and blood of the Lord; and confe
quently the affront does evidently rebound to our
Lord himfelf, who was pleafed with infinite ^
condefcenfion, for our fakes, to affume hunjan
flefti, and to fuffer in it.
Let none therefore come to the ordinance in a 28
rafh and irreverent manner ; but let a man exa
mine himfelf as to his knowledge of its intent,
and his defire to comply with its great defign ;
and fo let him eat of the facramental bread, -and '
drink of ihe cup which is ufed with it. For 29
he that eateth and drinketh in an irreverent, pro
fane, and unworthy manner ", 'muft certainly
difpleafe and provoke God ; fo that it may truly
be faid, that h6 eaieth and drinketh judgment io
himfelf^-. he takes the readieft way to bring
down the judgments of God upon him, not dif--
tinguifling the Lord' s body, nor making that pro
per difference which he ought to make between
that and common food.
And accordingly many of you have aftually 3P
brought fuch judgments upon yourfelves.; and' I
muft plainly tell you, it is upon this account, and
to manifeft the Divine difpleafure againft you for
fuch fhameful irregularities, that God hath fent
diftempers among you, fo that many of you [are\

28 But let a man
examine bimfi^f, and
fo' let hira eat of thiit
bread, and drink of
that cup.
2^ , For he that
eateth and drinketh
unworthily, eateth
and drinketh damna
tion to himfelf, not
difcern'mg the Lord's
^ody.

50 For this caufer
jnany are weak and
Cckly

I'V, p. 245,) it might as well prove, that
thc cup may be received without the bread,
as tbe bread without the cup. So that it
is furprlfing alTurance in a late Popifh
writer, to 'plead from hence, that com
munion in one kind only was the praftice
of the Corinthian church. See Mod.
Controv. p. 200.
m In an univorthy manner.] To 'receive
to purpofes of faftion, or intemperance,
was receiving very unworthily ; but the
fenfe of thsit phraje muft extend to every
manner of receiving contrary to the na
ture and. defign of the ordinance ; and
confequently, to the cafe of doing it
merely in ajecular view ; which I heartily
pray that all conceniBd in it may ferioufly
(fionfider. - " Judgment to hirnjelf.] I think it the

moft unhappy miftake in all our verfton
of the Bible, that the word Xfi.ua, ia
here rendered damnation. It has raifed a
dread in tender minds, which has greatly
obftrufted the comfort and edification
tbey might have received" firom tSiis ordi
nance. The apoftle afterw^s fays, we
are judged, (that is, as be afterwards ex
plains it, tve -are correBed,') that vie may
not be tondemnedt, which plainly Ihews,
the judgments fpoken of might be father
ly cbaftifements. This fin, as fin,- does
indeed expofe us to condemnation, fhould
God be extreme to mark it, as an irreve
rent behaviour under any other ordinance
docs ; but it is juferft'it'ion to fet this at fo
Vaft a diftance from all the reft, as many-
do- •
now

3o«

Refleiiions on the ordinance of the Lord's fupper.

Sect-, now Weak and ftcl, and fome confiderable num-
^^^^' bers. of your fociety are fallen, afleep in death.
a Cor. Survivors therefore ought to lay the 'matter feri-
XI. 30 oufly -to heart, and fet about an immediate re-
31 formation. For if we zuould judge ourfelves °
with a due feverity and impartiality. We flould
Kot furely ^e io feverely judged, and animad-
32 verted upon by God. But when we are thus
Judged, it is not in a difpleafure wholly inexo
rable, but with kind defigns of paternal good
nefs ; and we are correSled of the Lord, thai we
may not be condemned with ihe impenitent world,
and xonfigned .oyer to final and .everlafting de
ftruftion.
33 Thi,refore, my brethren, in ohe word, when
ye come together to eat in thofe feafts which
frequently precede the adminiftration of this or
dinance among you, wait decently and refpeft
fully one for another, till the whole affembly be
34 f onv£ned. And if any one be io' hungry, that
he cannot conveniently ftay till that time, let him
eat al his own houfe f ; or at leaft take a kind of
antepaft, that may prevent any inconvenience
arifing from a little neceffary delay ; thai you may
not come together to your condemnation, ,and in
fuch a manner, as to provoke the Judgment -of
God againft you- It may fulHce to have faid
thus much, for the prefent, on this fiibjeft ; and
twhat remains farther to be adjufted, I will regu
late when I come to Corinth ; which if Providence
anfwer riiy hopes, and fucceed my fchemes, will
be in a little time-

lickly among .jou^
and mahy fl^p.

31 ForifwewoiiH
judge ourfelves, we
Ihould not be judged,
32 But when wt
are judged, we are
chaftened . of the
Lord, that we ihould
net le icondenmcd
with thc world.

33 Wherefore, my
brethren, when yo
come together to eat,
tarry one for ano
ther.

34 And if any
man hunger, let Jiin
eat at home ; that ye
come not together
unto condemnation.
And the reft will I
fet in order when I -
come.

IMPRCVEMENT.

What juft matter of thankfulnefs to our bleffed Redeemer,
<loes that account of the inftitution of the facred fupper af-
Verfe ford US, which St. Paul affures us he received immediately from
23 him. Let us often refleft it was in thai very night in which he

" J^ftg^ ourjelves.] luaufnm, ver. 29,
figni-fies to diftinguijh; here, Soxjivojutv
fignifies, examining that we may Sift'mguifh,
and judge of our own charafter and fit-
nefs for tbe facrament, Mr. Locke juftly
obferves, that he is little attentive to St.
Paul's writings, who has not obferved,
that he often repeats a word hc had
«fcd before, though in ,a ftnfe fome

thing different from the preceding.
P Let h'm cat jii his oion bouje-] M.
Amyraut and Mr. Cradock, {Apoft. {iifi-
p. 174,) underftand this, as a prohibition
of love-feafts ; but I think it evident from
antiquity, they were retained in the church
long after ; though dubious whether they
prevailed fo foon. war

tirtd the temper with which ti flould le atiended, 3'6$
toaf betrayed, that his thoughts fo compaflionately wrought for our ^^7'
coinfort and happinefs; when it .rnigh^ have been imagined, that __^
his mind would be entirely pofleffed with his perfonal concerns,
with the doleful fcene of his approaching fufferings. We-learii
from this account, the perpetuity, as well as the great leading Verfe
defign, of the ordinance.' JVe fhew forth the Lard's death,, and z&
•iue Jh/w it forth till he come. If we do indeed defire to preferve
the memory of Chrift's dying love in the world, if we defire to
maintain it in our own (buls, let us attend this bleffed infti'tui-
tion ; endeavouring bythe lively exercife of faith and love, to
difcern, and in a fpiritual fenfe, to feed upon, the Lord's body.
Nor let any humble and upright foul be difcouraged, by thefe
threaneitmgs isi judgment, to the profane fmners who oflfered fuch 29
grofs affronts to this holy folemnity ; affronts, which none of ^s
are in any danger of repeating. Thefe fcandalous eXcefies', when
they pretended to be worfhipping God on this great occafion, might
juftly provoke the eyes of his holrnels, n>ight awaken the arm of
his indignation. Yet even thefe finners ivere chaftifed, ihat they 3^
might not be finally and for ever condemned.
Let not any then be terrified, as if every fbul that approached
the ordinance without due preparation; muft by neceflary confe
quence, feal its own damnation. Thus to attend' the table of the
Lord is indeed a fin ; but, blefted be God, not a fin too great to
be forgiven. Let thofe therefore, who, though they feel in their
hearts a reverential love to Chrift, yet have hitherto refrained from
attending this feaft of love, be engaged to come ; to come with
due preparation, and ftlf examination, as to their repentance and 28
faith, their love and obedience ; then may ihey, with the moft
hearty welcome from the great Lord of the feaft, eat of this bread, 2^
and drink of this cup ; receivftig it as the memorial of Chrift's body
broken, and of his blood fhed for the remiffion of our fins. Through
that blood alone, let us feek this invabaWe blefting, without which
indeed, nothing can be a folid and lafting blefling to us : and let
us. Oil every occafion, treat our brethren with a tendernefs and
refpeft becoming thofe who have confidered ourfelves and them,
as redeemed by that precious blood, and indebted to it for the
hopes of everlafting falvation.
In a word, let us never reft in the external rites or exqfcifes of
worfhip, how decently and regularly foever performed ; but look
to our inward tetnjj^r, and to the conduft bf our minds, if we
defire to maintain theii' peace, and that our coming together fhould
he for tht better, and not ftir ihfUiorft.

SECT.

2^0-, The .4p?ftle^ treats of the fcripture gifts ; . .
, S E C T. XXIII.
The Apoflle comes to treat on fpiritual gifts ; and introduces itihat
be had farther to fay concerning theni, by obferiiing, that, va.
rious as they are, ihey all proceed from the fame Ja.cred Agetit,
end. are intended' for' the edification of the. fam^ body, in ijuhich
alf Chriftians are united. I Cor. XII. i — 13.

Sect.
XXII|,

i CqRINTHIAMS XII. I.. iCoR. XII. I.
TT is «w,time LftjQUld proceed to fpeak fome- N° J ™f"g
 -*¦ thing concerning th^ie fpiritual [^?/?r,] . with , brethren, I would notp
iCor. which God hath -been pleafed fo abundantly to have you ig;norant.
XII. 1 blefs you, my Corinthian breihi'en ; and as to
the right ufe and . improvement of which, /
would- not by any; meaps h^ve you ignorant.
.i Upon, this head y««- in. the general know, ihat * Yeknowthatye
during youf- natural ftate, before the cheering Tf *^'""'"'i>';
°r \ r 1 1 I ¦ ° ried away unto ^hefe
rays of the golpef. broke in upon you* ye were j„^b idols„even a
heathens, without any knowledge of the true ye were led.
God,, and f«rrzV(^ by a blind implicit credulity
after dumb idols ; which were fo far from being
able tO'heftow on their votaries any fupernatural
epdowments, by which t^ey might be enabled
to fpeak- extraordinary truths, or in: languages
,' -before unknown, that they were themfelves defti
tute- of the common powers of fpeech, or any - " .
- capacity ¦ of perception and aftion. Yet you,
were blindly enflaved to the. worfliip of fuch
fhipid forms, degrading as it evidently is to the
rational nature of man ; [juft] as yoii were led
by the artifice of yoiir priefts, who found their,
account in your dejufions.- And L hope there-.
fore, vou will always - remember,, that the un
merited. gopdnefs of God in beftowing fuch gifts
on perfons who could pretend fo little claim. to .
them,, lays you under a lafting obligation to ufe
tbem in: tlie, moft dutiful and grateful manner.
2 And therefore ' I hope you will not allow 3 Wherefore,^!..
^ yourfelves to defpife. any of your bretliren, on
1 , . ,-' _ , _¦  - '^
a Therefore.] The force of this far- extraordinary privileges and endowments*
title Jm, feems to be this ; I am careful to I am folicitous you may be preferved ftom
give you the following hints concerning abufing them, and 'engaged to improve
fpiritual gifts, becaufe in proportion to tbe them in the wifsft and moft faithful

degree in which God hath magnified his uumner.
graiie in oaUiiig you from idolatry to fuch

account

And- fays, tkal^none hy the Spirit calls fefus accurfed. Jjf ,
gije you to unden- account of ;tl)eir.-defici^ncy. inthenji ; fince tliere S* ex-'.
Sin^X tTeS^;!" ^^ i>«P0"-nt fenfe in which th,y may all be™^
tit, of God, .cailutb faid" to have beqn enriched,by Divine and luper- .i Qot.
Jefus accurfed.: and natural influsnccs.. ¥(or I. give you, to, know, aa^ Xii. 5
'£ji:i::heLoS d«f».ey.oJ.toadmit.andretain H asaprindpl^: '
but by the Holy equally certain .and weighty; that, as, no one,
Ghoft. - f^ftlfing^by the -Spirit- oJ. God, callt Ui yefijis, cft;-, ¦
curftd^ \ «»</ confequently all pretences made,.
f to the Divi»e'Spirit by the Jew-sare notoiioufly
falfe and deteftable ; fo, ori the other hand, na-
one can finCei'elyyitj,', [that\yefus [is the^.Lord^:
none can. embrace his refigion, and fupport the
profeflion of it in truth, but by .tJie. powerful
operation of the Holy Ghoft on his heart ; and
therefore; as you are all in a fenfe fpiritual, it
would he highly unreafonable, that the greatefi
fliould defpife the leaft, on account of any
.diftinftion which may have been made in-^ his-
favour ; efpecially, when you confider who is
4 Now there are the great Source of all. , Now there are diverft--^
Averfuiea ot"^ gifts, fie^ ^f gifig in diffiirentj perfons, te there is. one
but the fame Spirit. ,,,-;• r^- - n^- •. r l i_ ' '
and /*f/flra^ Divine o/jr/A,-frpin. whom they are
5 And there ar^ all derived ; Arid though there are diverfities- 5
d-fferences of admi- gf adminiftrations ¦', there is ome and the fame
nitrations but the ¦' r j u ' - . il- • -ri T
fame Lord. Common Lord, who .appoints his minifters under .
their ' (Jiftinft,. ofljces, and ¦ gives then! their ,.
^ Calleth J^us acnifjedi] Mr, NatbaKtcl aihi memory be hlnttcd otit ; which. Lveaui-
Taylor, {on Deijm, "p. 60, 6.1,) thinks this v-iileht to Ati^lhema, or let him bf accuried,
refers in general to the teft put on Chrlf-' Oni'en on the Spir. p. 3.
tians, by their perjecutors, that they c Sincerely jay, ^hat] y^us [is the] ,
Ihould not only deny, but blafphcme X.'ort/.']' Chryl'oftom well obferves, this
Chr'ift, This the Gentiles, indeed, re- ^'tirt^e of faying, that Jejus is- the Me^b^'
quired, (fee P I'm. Epift ^ x. 97. Eufcb, -^ nnift be fuppofed, to. proceed from true
,Ecclej. Hift.hi.-i^.) . But 1 rather think yii'fi in ¦ bim ;. and; the expreflion is ufed
this refers to the Jews, who while they to import a man's, being a true Chriftiaa^ ¦
uttered hlafphemies againft Chrift tbem- becaufe fuch ftrong-teraptations lay againlfe
felves, (i "Tim. i. 13,) and- extorted- profeflingChrift under this charadier,-$hac,
them, if gofSble, from- tliofe the; appre-.. they. who raaintained this do£b:ine were in
he,nded ta- be his diiiiiplesi (Ails xxvi. heart real believers ; though, there might
II,) pretended to the gifts of the^^ir'it, , be a.few. excepted inftances. This feems
by which they undei;took to caft out as plain a proof as could beiliefired, thaC
devils; and perhaps 6hey might -imitate ¦ fr»c^/rA'is.the work of theS^iri/of God
fome of the exorcifms which Chriftians. upon the heart. The third Letter to the
under the operation of the spirit perform-. Author of , Chriftianity not fou/ided,on Ar-.
ed. Such a caution- might therefore be - gument, p. 34^36. /
very, ufeful. (Compere i John Lv.-i — \, '^¦Diverftt'ies of adm'iinfirat'iotvs.] Calling-.
vvhichifeems nearly parallel to this paft'age.) tliem adminiftrations, or jervic^s, (Jtax-o-
Dr. Gwe»- pertinently obferves, that tbe . waiv,) was a gentle manner of reminding
Jews fometimes call jefus l^JJ'', inftead of them of the great defign of thefe gifts',
yiltf" > coocealiilg- iheifblafphemya^iet and fo df- reproving . thofe .who perverted
the three i»iriai/ttrsrt of the wonis, n3,p theqa to eonttary purpofes.
IDlt' no » wliich i.%tiift, let his tiame_ ,; , J . : -' .
..;„ . powers.

3t2

But among Chriftians there are diverfities of gifts j

Sect, powers, their ability, and their fuccefs. And
"• though there are diverfities of operations and
1 Cor. effefts produced, yet ii is one and ihe fame God
-xn. 6 who worketh all thefe effefts in all the perfons
'- concerned; and they can pretend to nothiiig
rriore than being the fubjefts, or at rtioft^ the
inftruments of his almighty and univerfal
agency. ^
7 But to every one of his believing fervants, who
ate thus honoured, is given, according to his
wife and holy diftribution, a manifeftation of
the Spirit : {iot that our portion of gifts may
properly be called :) and this in fuch a degree, '
as is moft agreeable and profitable for the intereft
of the whole, that all may harmonioufly carry
on the great defign of glorifying God, in the
edification and happinefs of the whole body.
S For io one, for inftance, who is placed in the
higheft rank of the Chriftian church, is given
by the Spirit, ihe word of wifdom ; a comprehen
five view of that grand fcheme in which the
wifdom of God is fo wonderfiilly difplayed,
that even angelic intelligences are continually
admiring it : io another, by the fame Spirit,
fuch lower degrees of it, as may be called the
word of knowledge ' ; whether refpefting the
meaning df the Old Teftament, or other things
in the Chriftian plan, which may render them
fuperior to moft of their brethren ; tho' inferior

6 And there are
diverfities! of optra-
tions, but it is the
fame God whicii '
worketh all in allj

7 But the mani
feftation of the Spirit
is given to every man
toprofit withal.

8 For to one is
given by thc Spirit,
the word of wifdom j
to another, tbe word
of knowledge by ths
fame Spirit i

e ff^ord of wifdom— and of knowledge,]
There are, perhaps, few texts in the New
Teftament more difficult than fome in
this chapter, and in the xivth of this
epiftle, relating to the extraordinary gifts
then in the church ; which were at that
time fo well known, as not to need expli
cation ; and it is a noble inftance of the ge
nuine iimplicity and modefty of the apoftle,
that he did not expatiate on fo grand a
fubjeft with any unnecelfary parade. I
think the late Lord Barrington, and after
bim Dr. Benjon, have made it highly
probable, that the ivord of wifdom was
that extenfive plan of Chriftianity which
was revealed to the apoftles by the Holy
Spirit. See Baring, Mijc, Sacr, Effay i.
p. 39—41. Benj, Propa, of Cbr'i/tianity,
¦Vol. I. p. 40— .46. But that the word of
knowledge was, as they, after Dr. Whitby,
alTert, (Mife, Sacr. ibid. p. 4^— 4J,
and Be'nf, ibid, p, 4^48,) an extrwr-

d'mary ability to underftand and explain
the Old Teftament, and elpecially its pro
phecies, I do. fiot think equally apparent.
Perhaps it might be a lower degree of the
word of wifdom. See Mr, Chandler on
Joel, p. 133—137.' In confirmation of
which opinion, it may be obferveid, that
when wijdom and knowledge, (nODR *"''
Pyi,) are mentioned together, wijdom is
generally put firft, as moft excellent.
Compare Ecclef. i. 16; chap. ii. z6; Ifa.
xxxiii. 6 ; chap, xlvii. 10 ; Col. ji. 3.
And it is well known, that the higheft
orders of teachers in Ifrael' were called an
ciently, D'DDn> '"'ifi "en. See Deut. i.
13; chap. xvi. 19; 1 Cor., i. 20. Mr.
Saurin explains knowledge of a dijcerning
of myfteries ; fuch as the appearance of
Chrift to change the faints found alive,
the re.-eftablilbmentof thejews, the man
offtn, the btaft,(ge, Sgur.Senii.yol,\l.
p. I J. ta

Oiie haih ihe gift of faith, another of healing, &d. 3^^

\

9 To another, faith, to the clafs I mentioned abovS. To another is Sect.
to^^oL'^he^^S given ftich an extraordinary >///.; ^^ ihe'f^
of healing by tbe Jarnc Spirit, that he can commit himieli to the iCor.
fame Spirit; Divine proteftion in the midft of the ektrettleft XII. 9
dangers; and is thereby i^ualified courageoufly
to affert the truth of the gofpel, in the'vety
face of its moft vidlent perfecutors^ to attotheri
ihe gijts of healing, by the fame Spirit, in confe-
, quence of which, while under its operation,
he car! by a word, dr a touch, remove the moft
10 To another, inveterate difeafes. To another, ihe working of 10
the working of mi- miracles » of a different kind, fuch as tak-
rades; to' another, ¦ f gn,, drinking any deadly draught
prophecy; to ano- & 1 S <- ¦ n l" - A- r j
ther, difcerning of Unhurt, and elpecially the ejeftion ot demons :
fpirits ; to another, to another the gift of prophecy ; whereby he Ihall
divers kinds of jjg gjjjg exaftly to foretel fome contingent futdrei
tongUes; to another, -* , i - ,-r • J^z-i- -i r-
xhi interpretation of event ; to another, the difcerning of fpirits, fo
toIfg^es. as authoritatively to determine by what iiiipulfe
any one fpeaks, who pretends to infpiration ; oi*
to be capable of pronouncing on the fincerity of
men's profeflions, or their fithefs fdr any public
work to be afligned td them : io another", the
gift of fpeaking with lyarious] kinds of tongues,
which he had never had the natural itieans' of
acquiring: and io another, the ho lefs ufeful/
though lefs fplendid endowment, which we di-
ilinguifh from the former; by,callihg'it the inter
pretation, of tongues^: in confequence of whichy
a perfon ihall be able to underftand, and render
into a kn6wn language, thai which is fpoken by
a foreigner, in a tongue, with which neither.
1 1 But all thele jjg himfelf nor the other hearers . have been ac-
rhTfetf^rrpirit qu^lnted. But the one and ihe Jame almighty j^
dividing- Spirit Worketh all theJe diverfitieis of gifts,
f Faith,] Faith, as an extraordinary over the p^tientj &C. Compare Mark
gift, in this conne£l'on, matt in the ge- xvi. i8 ; A£ls v. 15. But I rather think,
neral fignify, " a firm perfuafion of be- v5ith Monf. Amyraiit, {in his ^ceUent
*^ ing called out by God, at any particu- Paraphrafe,) that £ve^yn.udla, ^uvaosm,
'' lar time; to perform fo.me miracle, and may refer to the dijpcjfeftion of demons, or
*' accordingly going about it witholit any deli-Vei^'ing perfons over to them, Tbis^/ff,
*' fufpicion or fear, .in confident depend- and that of healing, might be ' compre.'
" ente on a cflrreljjondent Divine inter- hended in faith ', but perhaps in fonifc
" pofition." inftances, it might work-only in the one
g fforking of miracles,] It is difficult or the other of thefe efi-'edts.
to diftinguifli this trom faith, as explained h Ta another, the gifts of tongies — ta
above. Some underftand it of fome anttier, the ihterpretatiok of tongues.] For
vefy extraordinary miracles, fuch as taking the- ferther illuftration. of thefe olaufes,
up ferpenH, drinking any deadly draught and the interpretation here given, fee the
anburt, curing difdafes by ^fkadtiw pafling notes on ch4p, .xiv. 28*
Vol. Iv, X dliiidirig

314 Tet all, as the members in a body, are one in Chrift.
SECTi dividing urito every onejeverally as he thinketh fit ' : dividing to every mm
^^'"- his wifdom fixes the fcheme, what this variety f'=v"aiiy as he mil.
I Cor. fhould be ; and his fovereign pleafure deter-
XII. n iTiines, why they fhould be imparted to fuch and
fuch particular perfons, rather than to others.
12 The variety, I fay, is wifely appointed ; Jor as iz Fdr as the bol
the body is one, and yet hath many members, but ^y '^ one, and hath
all the members of thai one body, many as they "|-»"y ¦n'^mbers , a„d
_. - -' L J -- J • ^ 11 "^ ^" ^^^ members'of
are, conjiitute one body united in one well re- that one body, being
gulated fyftem ; _/tf aljo [is] Chnft, that is, the many, are one body*
whole fociety of which Chrift is the Head ; and '<' ='"'° "^^"^•
for the whole of which he may, as it were, be
13 put, being indeed all and in all. For by, atid _ 13 For by one Spi-
according to the operation of one Spirit, we Chri- fn^'^^^^^i^'^X'^
ftians fl;'<? all baptized into one body, whether we the, .^le be llvn w
be originally fews or Greeks, whether flaves or Gentilesrwhethetaie
Jreemen; the religion we before profeffed, whe- ^i^ bond or free; and
ther .true or falfe, the rank which we now hold ^ drink SoontTpi!
in life, whether high or low, makes no differ- rit.
cnccas to the grand point ; our union with the
body is the fame ; and the fame happy confe
quences follow from that union. And this in
particular, that zue are all made to drink into one
Spirit ^ ; 'as we drink of the fame facramental
cup, fo we do by our communion with Chrift,-
whofe blood is reprefented by it, all imbibe the,
.influences of Xhe fame Spirit, by which the
14 Divine life was af firft produced,' and is conti
nually preferved. I fay, we have all imbibed it ; 14 For tiie 'body is
as the whole body may be faid to imbibe the -not one member, but
wine, which enters in at the mouth, and de- ^^°'''
fcends to the ftomach ; yet it is not intended /sr
the benefit of thofe members alone, but of the
v\'hole ; fo, in like manner, the body is not one
member, but many ; yet fo united^ that the Spirit,
imparted to one, is defigned, whether in its mi
raculous operations, or fanftifying influences, for
the benefit of the whole. t
IMPROVEMENT.
Let. us thankfully acknowledge the Divine goodnefs, that we
have not been led on after the example of our Pagan anceftors,
1 As he thinketh ftf.] EB>£7ai does not cup, rather than the bread here, becaufe
' fo much exprefs arbitrary pleafure, as a the wine is more fpirituous, and in a
do-ermination loundcd on toi/i council. live'y manner reprefents the'animating
fc Drink into o»f Spirit.] Mr. Locke eft'efts of Chrift's blood, and the Sp'w'it
thinks St. Paul refers to, the facra.-Bental communicated by it. t»

kefteSiibris on the diverft.ty of fpiritual gifts, "jft^
to the vain worfhip of dumb and ftupid idols-, but have been Sect.
taught from our infancy, to adore the Uving Jehovah. May we, ^^"^'
in the inoft folemn and confiftent rhanner, fay, That Jefus is the Vetfe
Lord t And while our afti6ns fpeak our regard to him as fuch, 2j3
may it appear, that our hearts are under the ififluences of the
Spirit of Gild, by which alone men are brought to that Divine
temper* Let us often refleft upon thofe glorious atteftations which
were given to the truth of our holy religion; by that diverftty of
gifts and operations with which its firft teachers . were furnifhed
and adorned. Let us thankfully receive their teftimony, and 4> &<:•
thereby y«'^ to our feal, thai God is true. And let a view to that
great defign, in which all thefe wonderful things center, engage
us to ftudy more a union of heart, with all whd in every place call
on ike rMme of the Lord Jefus Chrift i In hirn Greeks and Bar
barians, bond and free, are united. His glory therefore let all
unanimoufly feek ; and yvhile his name is blafphemed by the igno-
tant and malignant, who cannot bear the purity of that religion
which he teaches, may it fo be defended by us, as at the fame time
to be exemplified and adornedi^
SECT., xxiv;
The Apoftle, farther to inforce ihat humility in the ufe of their fpt-
tiludl gifts, and that mutual affeSliofi which the Corinthians
fo much needed to be farther taught, goes on^ in profecution of
the allegory ufed. above, to reprefent Chri-flianS as fo united iri ont
body as to have entirely the fame intereft ; and infifts on a tender
care of the leaft - rne ndier, from ilsfubfervieiice io the good of the
ivhile. I Cor. XJI. 15, to the end".
1 CoRi XII. 15. 1 Corinthians Xlt. i^i
^^Becau°fr f a'^not jT is of the higheft importance, in your pfe- Sict.
iSie band, 1 am rot "*- fent circutnftances, for the honour of God, XXiv.
of and your comfort and edification, in the ufe of 
the gifts with which God hath endowed you, -XS"^'
that I fhould fiirther illuftrate and enfBrce the ' '^
obfervation I have juft been making, that the
body is not one member, but made up of the
conjunftion of many, which have various offices
ind purpofes. None can therefore complain of
its own fituation, as if it were infignificant; nor
fhould any defpife another, as unworthy of re
gard. As to the firft of thefe, if the foot flould
fay, Becauje I am not the hand, but am placed in
the loweft order, reft upon the ground, and am
X %, often

31 6 // would be abfurd for one member to ufurp ihe place of the reft ; ,
vYT^ often covered with dirt, therefore / am not of "^ Ae body; is i(
^- the body; Is it 'xndeed for this, not any part a/ *'^'^<=|'o« not of the
\C-n. the body; or would it have reafon to reprefent
^U.i6 itfelf, as, on this account, an out-caft,? And
if the ear flould fay, Becaufe I am not fo vifible,.
10 beautiful, fo ufeful as /*« fy«,- therefore lam
' not of the body; is it indeed, /ir this reafon
not of the body ? Is it not a very important and
ufeful part .'' Yea, is not the body far more per
feft, in confequence of the foot, and the ear,
being what they refpeftively are, than it M'ould
be, if each of them were another hand, or ano-
17 ther eye ? For if the whole body [luere,] as it
vvere, an eye "; and a man could look at will,
through every pore; where [were] the hearing, ing? if the whoii
that important fenfe, which admits fo much
pleafing entertainment and improvement ? And
if the whole [lUere] hearing, where [were] the
fmelliiig, a fenfe Which tho' lefs important than
the former, is not deftitute of its proper delight
i!^ and its proper ufe .-' But noix; we fee, that God,
the great and wife Creator, hath placed ihe vari
ous members, every one of ihem in ihe body as he
hath feen fit ; and his inimitable contrivance,
and overflowing gopdnefs, is glorified in their
19 variety, and in their -arrangement. But if
they all were one member, or the members all of
¦one form and ufe, where [were] the body ? How
could it poflibly fubfift ? What a monftrous
thing would fuch a detached member be, if it
could be fuppofed to exift alone? Or if each'
member were to be transformed into that which
might in itfelf feem moft noble, how ruinous
to the whole , would fuch a transformation, be ?

16 And if the ear
ihall fay, Becaufe I
am not the eye, I
am not of the body ;
is it therefore not of
the body ?

17 If the whole
body <wcre an eye,
where ttiere the hear-

were hea'rlng,-. where
were the fraelling''?

18 But now hath
God fet the members 1
every one of thera In
the body,- as it hath
pleafed him.
19 And if they
•iiere all one member,
where were the boiy?

20 But now, as [there are] many members, there is
in the union of them all, but one harmonious
regular body, furnifhed for the -various animal
funftions, and capable pf a variety of fenfations
21 and aftions. And no one of them ought to
defpife any of the reft ; for the eye cannot fay to
the hand, I have no need of thee ; fince by the
hand the body is maintained and fed, and the

20 But now are
they many members,
yet but one body.

21 And the eyi!
cannot fay unto the
hand, I have no need of

a If the whole bedy [were] an eye, tee.]
The apoftle by this intends probably to
infinuate, that, were there no other gifts
ifl the church but thofe which they fa

much extolled in fome of their teachers,
it would be a very great difadvantage to •
thc body. eye

for all have their proper ornament or ufe \

317

oi thee ! nor again,
the head to the feet',
I haye no need of
you.

eye itfelf preferved and defended. And again, Sect.
ihe head, elevated as it is, and fo admirably  \
furnifhed with all the nerves and organs planted x Cor.
in it, [cannot fa-y] to the moft diftant and ex- Xll.a'i
treme parts, even the feet, mean as their form
and office feems,' / have no need ofi you ; fince by
means of them , the head, and all tne other parts
of the body, are fupported, and removed from
place to place. , ..
But it may farther be obferved here, agreeably 2a
to the point which I have now in view, that the
members of the body, which appear to be weaker "^
than the reft, and perhaps are moft delicate
and tender in their ftrufture, are more abun
dantly neceflary ; fo that without them the ani
mal funftions can by no means be difcharged.
Andio likewife with refpeft to thofe which feem 23
bers of tbe body, to be the more ignoble and diflonourable [parts 'J
which we think to be ^y f/^^ ^^^^^ ^f^^^ we furround with more abun
dant honour^ ; aw^thofe which feem our uncomely
[farts] have, by -virtue of tlie drefs we put
upon them, more abundant comelinefs than moft
of the reft. For otir comely and graceful 24
[partsf] have no need of being fo adorned, as
they appear to greater advantage uncovered ;
biit God haih fo attempered the feveral parts of
ihe body together, as to give a mor-e abundant ho
nour to ihat which is fo forraed, as rather, to ap-

2a Nay, much
more, thofe members
of the body, which
feem .to-be more fee
ble, are necefl'ary;

23 And thofe m«»!-

lefs honourable, upon
thefe we beftow more
^bundantbonour, and
our uncomely parts
have more abundant
comelinefs. 24 For our come-
ly/'f»r/shave no heed :
but God hath tem
pered the body toge-
'ther, having given
mo;-e abundant ho-
which laVed'-' ^'^ P^*"^ deficient ; for by making 'the meaneft part
' thus neceffary, he' hath entitled it to the care of
• 25 That tjM!re the uobleft': That fo there might be no fehifm "^S
fliould be no fehifm in the body, no divifton of feparate interefts / but
in the body; buttiaf ff^^fy gji -^^^ members might have the fame care
the members Ihould '-/.-',, . ¦ . .- • ^ -
have t)je fame care Of '«'" <>t"cr, as bcin^ each an important part
one for another.

1" Appear to be weaker.] Sonje tbipk
this refers to the brains, and bowels,, which
¦re very tender, and liable to many difor
ders. Others underftand it, of tbe leaft
mufcular parts, or veins, arteries, and other
minute channels in tlie body ; the 'leaft
obftruftion in which would be fatal. If
more feeble, be put for lejs noble, it fug
gefts a very obvious and important fen'fe,
relating to the channels by which na
ture has provided for throwing oft' the
"dregs ; which dilhonourable as tbey raay
feem, are fo ,neceirai:y, that if they be
obftrufted, intenfe torment and inevitable

deatl\muft epfije.
c Our dijhonourable parts, ic.J It feems,
as if he bad faid, tioe face, onwhicb the
image -of God is particularly ftamped, we
leave uncovered ; but as - for thofe parts,
which decency, or cuftom, teaches us to
conceal, we contrive not only to cover,
but alio as far as we conveniently can, td
adorn by covering.
<1 We furround with more abundant ho
nour ! thI if TiiAm iTfftffg-olipav TtefilldE-
)W6*;.] Our verfton by no means expreffes
the force of the Greek id,iom here.

X3

?f

3,i8

And if one member fuffer, all the reft fuffer with it.

Sect XIV.

of the whole. . So that if one member fuffer,
_ all the members fuffer with it ", and are concerned
r Cor. to remove the complaint ; or if one member be
XII, ii6 honoured and adorned, all the members rejoice with
it : the ornament of one part being looked upon,
as that of the whole,
27 N01V to apply this to the purpofe for which I
introduced it: you are all the body of Chrift, and
28 rnernbers [each] in particular. And as God
hctih placed fome members i-n more eminent fta
tions in the body ; fo^ alfo fome Chriftians m the
church. He hath placed in the firft rank, apo
ftles ; who are honoured with an office of the
higheft diftinftion, and furniflied with endow
ments peculiar to themfelves. In the fiecond
face, are ranked prophets ; whofe bufinefs ir is
to , foretel future events, or to fpeak by imme
diate infpiration, for the edification of the
church. Ill the third, teachers, oi amore ord'i-
nary kind, afterwards, thofe who are endowed,
upon fome particular occafion, with [miracu
lous] powers ;^ then the gifts of healing difeafes
by anointing the fick with oil,, and praying for
their recovery. Befides thefe, he has endowed
fome vvith fuch extraordinary aftivity and faga
city, as may fit them to be helpers in the ma-
nageqnent of charities ;' others are qualified by
their prudence to be governments'^, by whofe
advice', the affairs of focieties may be fteered and
condufted in the fafeft and happieft manner :
there are alfo wonderful operations, by which
men are taught [different] kinds of tongues, which
they_had never learned by any human methods.

26 And whether
-one m ember fulfsr
all the members fuffer
with iti or one mem,
ber be honoured, all
tbe members rejoice
with it.
27 Now ye arc the
body of chrift, and
members in particu
lar. 2? And God hath
fet fome in thg'
church, firft apoftles,
fecondarily prophets,
thir<(ly 'teachers, af
ter that miracles, then
gifts of healings,
helps, governments^
diverfities of tonguet,

c If one member fuft'er, Sec] Bos, in
his Exer citations on. this te-xt, has collefted
many parallel pafl'ages from Seneca, and
other heathen writers.
f Helpers — governments, &c.] I think,
we can only guefs at the meaning of thefe
words ; not having principles on which
to proceed in fixing them abfolutely. I
have Inferted what feemed to me 'moft
probable in the paraphrafe. The Au
thor of Mijcellanea Sacra thinks, much
light is to be derived, by comparing verjes
8—10, with va-jes 28 — 38, the order
in one text correfponding with, that of
t'he other ; but the order of tbe fame
words differing in the two places demon-

ftrates the contrary. I have met with nei
remark here, which feems more perti
nent than that of Mjnf. Amyraut-, who
thinks, thatthe fame perfons niighcpof-
fefs many of thefe gifts, and fuftain jeve
ral of thefe charafters, which were not
ftated diftinft offices ; and might be called
helpers, in reference to their great dex
terity and readinefs to help thofe in di
ftrefs ; and governments, in regard to that
genius for bufinefs, fagacity in judging the
circumftances of aft'airs, and natural au
thority in the councils and refolutions of
focieties, which rendered tljem fit to pre-,
fide on fuch occafions.
Now

They fliould not therefore contend about ihe beft'gifls.

%t) Are all apo-
¦^les ? are all pro-
' phets .* are all teach-
Jrs ? are all workers
of miracles f

30 JIave all the
gifts of healing ? do all
fpeak with tongues?
do all interpret }

31 But covet ear
neftly tbe beft gifts :
and yet Ihew I unto
you a more excellent
way. ,

3'?
Now as the offices of the church are different, Sect.
the gifts by which men are ^fitted to difcharge  \
them, are propor ionably fo. [Are] all the i cor.
members or minifters of the church, apo/lles^i ^li.^y
Yea, [are] all, who are fiibprdiiiate to them,
prophets? Or, [are] all that fort of inferior "
teachers, whom I obferved to ftand in the third
clafs? [Have] all thofe [miraculous] powers,
which I have again and again mentioned ?
Or, to inftance only in oneof the -loweft of them, 30
have alLthe gifts of healing difeafes, in that ex
traordinary manner in which fbme have effefted
it ? Yei, do all fpeak tuith tongues which they
have never learned ? Or do all others find them
felves able to aft in that lower fphere I fpoke of
before, and to interpret into their native lan
guage, or any other, what has been uttered in
a tongue to them generally unknown? Thefe 31
things are well worthy your confideration ; hut
inftead of attending to them, ye conterid earneftly
about-Jhe beft or moft (hining gifts^; envying,
and It irtay be, detrafting from the fuperior en
dowments of others. Tet I flew you a way of
the higheft excellence, to which it will be your
greateft wifdom carefully to attend.

IJJPROVE.MENT.
THE wifdom and goodnefs of God, as difplayed in the/ir- -Verfe
mation of the human body, is a fubjeft that well deferves our x8 •
attentive refleftion, and humble acknowledgment. All its feve
ral parts are ufeful to the whole ; and the moft noble cannot up
braid the-meaneft as an incumbrance. Each has reafon to rejoice 20
in its own fituation, as -well as in the addition of all the reft ; and
were the loweft placed higher than it is, it would- become ufelefs -
biirdenfome, and monftrous.
.Let us acknowledge the fame hand in the wife fubordination.

% Are all apoftles? &c.] It appears
that this invidious temper was not extir>-
pated from among the Corinthians, even
by. this juft and lively expoftulation ; for
Clerneps Romanits, writing' to them many
,years after, complains of its continued

h Te contend earneftly about we beft gifts,
&c.] I -doubt not but this is the juft ren.
dering of ^iixa/fi to. -^a^cr.'/.dlltj.'ra jtpgtl-
i-o»a : for it feems co-itradiftory to fup
pofe, th^t after the apiftle had been fliew-
ing them, that thefe'^/^rr were not at their

prevalence, as leading them to negleft a own Option, and that they ought not to
liae regiri to thofe prefty ters, whowereac- emulate tbe gifts of each other, nor to
cording to Divine d'lreBion' ftXed among afpire to fupenority ; he fliould in eft'eft
them, and to throw them out of their epifco- unfay all agiin, an4 give tbem fuch qon-
fial o^ce. See Clem. Epifile, to tbe Cor. trary advice,
$e£i. t^, . ' ( X4 "appointed

32o ^eflidions on the different gifts and off ces in the church, ,
Sect, appointed in civil ftxrietjes, and in the church of Chrift, L^t
 ' none be difcouraged at the low ftation wherein they are fixed,
but rather let all acquiefce in the prudent and gracious difpofal of
the fupreme Lord, and apply themfelves to their proper funftions.
Let each member confider all the reft with pleafiire ; and rejoice
with thankfulnefs, in the health and vigour of the other parts,
rnaking the proper ufe of them, and communicating in return its
proper > fervices. If any be weak, let all ftrengthen it. If there
be any blemifh and imperfeftion in any part, let all the reft ten-
-y-erfe derly cover it ; unlefs when a regard to the health and happinefs
2-7 of the whole, requires that it fhould he '^id open, and fearcfied
in order to its being cured. And upon the whole, fo far as we
25 can prevent it, let there be no fehifm in the body. Alas, that there
fhould be fo ifiany breaches and contentions 1 Let us lament tliem }
let each in his place endeavour to heal them ; and linite in a fym-
pathizing care of one another. So fhall we beft exprefs our rer
gard to our comraon Head; fo fhaU we, in the remoteft confe
quences, beft confult our own intereft and honour.
2? Blefled be God, that he hath, in his church, given not only
apoftles, and prophets, but alfo paftors and teachers ! ,^dored be
that bounty with which he hath fcattered down his gifts, whethw
ordinary or extraordinary, on the children of men. Let all be
ufed, not. to the purpofes of oftentation, but of edification. And
let us be defirous of rhofe whereby we may bear moft of the image
of Chrift, and may moft promote the great defign for which he
vifited this low worid of ours, and was pleafed to unite his church
unto himfelf, and its feveral members to each other, in fuch deaf
gnd indiffoluble l^onds. *
SECT. XXV. I
fo engage the Corinthians to cultivate charity, as more exceUer^
and important than any of thofe gifts about wh'ich they were fo
ready to contend, the Apoftle gives a moft lovely defcription of it ;
which he concludes with a refleSl'ion on its perpetual duration,
in wh'ich it exceeds everi ihe graces of fa'ith and hope, I Cor. XIH.
throughout. ¦ ' ' '
I Corinthians XIII. i. iCor.xiii. i,
Sect, "t Have been urging you to purfue fomething 'J'^?"'^" ^ '^P?''
 '_ ' more excellent than any of thofe gifts about '"n
1 Cor. which fome among you have been io ready
xm. I io contend; and I have' recommended it as a
more excellent way. That of which I fpeak; is '
the incomparable and Divine grace of Love ;
which indeed is not only of the h'gheft excel-
- , ' " lence^ 1

with the tongues
of men, and of an
gels, and have not
.charity, 1 am become
as founding brafs, or
a tinkling cymbal.

'^he higheft accomplifhmenis are of no importance without ove. 321
lence, but of abfolute neceffity. ' For if I were Se<:t.
to fpeak with all the variety of tongues " Which ^^^'
are ufed among all the nations of men, and yvere , Cpf.
capable of employing theni even with the elo- XUI. i
quence of angels, and knew their celeftial dia-
left ; but have not love^ to God ^nd my fel-
lowicreatures, be my ftrains of difcourfe ever
fo harmonious, or ever fo fublime, / am become
but founding brafs, or a tinkling cymbal ', at
.beft but like an inftrunjent of muiick, and hardly
worthy to be compared to an inftrument of
the nobler kind. So little delight would any of
my moft pompous performances give to God, or
to any of his rhoft valuable fcreatures, who fhould
know that love was wanting, that I might as
¦well think to recommend myfelf to acceptance,
by the noify clank made by brazen inftruments,
in the worfliip of Ifis or Cybele. And if, %
befides thofe gifts of tongues and eloquence, /
have that of prophefying, io as to foretel the
moft diftant and important future events ; and
know all thefe myfteries which have hitherto
been concealed' from/ the moft penetrating fl«<^ il
luminated eyes ; or have all the exafteft knoW'-
ledge of religion, or any other objeft that carx
be fuppofed the fubjeft of my inquiries ; and if
joined with this, / have all the moft miraculous
faith^, by virtue of which I Ihould be able to
-produce eff-efts that might amaze the whole
world, Jo as to remove mountains from their b3-
fis, to tranfport them from one part of the esSrth
to another, and to change the whole face of
nature with a word; but with all thefe wonder-
pus endowments, have not love, fimple as that

2 And though jt
haVe the gift of pro-
.phecy, and under
ftand alt- myfteries,
and all knowledge ;
4nd tho'ligh I have
all filth, fo that I
could remove moun
tains, and have no
charity,! am nothing.
i ¦ '1 - ,

a Speak ivith thr tongues. See.] Dr,
Whitby fhews, by agr^at'many admirable
quotations, both from Jofephus and the
Jewilh rabbles, how much each of thefe
things was regarded by 'the Jews, which
St. Paul here fpeaks of as ablblutely of no
.a'yail without fian'ry.
¦ b ptave not love.] Aya-^yi is not fo
properly rendered charity. It muft here
be taken in the nobleft fenfe, for fuch a
love to the. whole church, and the whole
world, as arifes from principles of triie
piety, and ultimately centers in (?od,
c Tinkling cymbal.] Mr. Locke-very juft
ly remarks, that as a cymbal was made gf

two pieces of hollow brafs, which bein^
ftruck together made a tinkling, with yejif
little variety of found ; St. Paul chof?
to inftance in this, rather th4» in a harp,
or ftute, or any other more harmonious
inftrument of mufick. See Commentar.
(te Cymbal'is, at the end of Fortuita Sacra,
d Moft miraculous /airi..] As it is here
fuppofed that this fa'ith might in faft be
feparated from love-, it cannot figpify the
fame, as in the ep'tftte to the Romans 5
where it is fuch an alTent to a Divine de
claration as produces afuitableterofer and
conduft.

ppnciplc

322 Charily, Dt\G\'t,fuffereih long, is, kind, ettvieth ,not , Sic.
*^^^' principle is, and comparatively mean as it may

_r_J_ be efteemed, yet for want of it, / am nothing' \n
I Cor. the fight (if God, and have in reality no trqe
XIU. 3 worth and excellence. And I may farther .
add, that no external a ifl of charity, or of zeal,
will fignify any thing, if this inward principle,
which ihould be tlie life of all, be, wanting;
for if I diftribute all my goods in alms for -the
fuftenance of the poor, and deliver up my body to
he burnt in defence of religion itfelf, and do it
frotn a fecret defign of human applaufe, and
oftentation of charily, or of piety ; but have
not in the fight of God that love to which I
make fo higl) a pretence, / flail receive no ad
vantage by it ; but in. the day of final account,
my Judge, inftead of applauding and rewarding
me as a faint and a manyr, will condemn me as
a wicked and vain glorious hypocrite.
4., Iridecd the properties of this love which I
am now recommending, are fuch, that one would
imagine the defcription of them fhould be
enough to charm the whole world to putfue it.
SuflScientlymult that fhew how happy it renders
the foul, which is under its influence, as well as
how .amiable fiich muft be both to G.od and
man. For love Juffereth long injuries [and] pro
vocations, without being tranfpnrted into rage,
or inliigated into revenge. On the contrary, un
der all this ill-ufage it is gentle and I'lnd. Love
envieth not the advantages which others enjoy ;
but rather takes pleafiire in them, and by friendly
participation makes them its own. Love is not
not /«/!//i;«/ and over-bearing', does not aft with
fuch precipitancy and rafhnefs as pride and ill-
nature often hurry men into; but engages us
with tendernefs to look round on thofe about ,ur»
left we fliould by any means harm them before
-vve are aware. Love is not prefently puffed up
-with arrogant felf conceit, on account of any

3 And thougb J
beftow all my goods
to feed the psor, and
though I give my
bpdy to be burned,
and have not charity, -
it profiteth me no.
thing.

4 Charity fuffereA
long, and Js kbi<|;
charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not
itfelf,; is not puft'ei
up.

^ I am nothing.] A perfon fo erninei^tly
favoured by God, as this defcription fup
pofes, yet. deftitute of true piety and be
nevolence, muft be very contemptible,
and juftly odious.
f Is not infolent. Sec] The Greek word
'Br£;-n---f©-, fi-om whence the verb here
ufed is derived, lignif.es rafh and wccnftde-
A.

rate ; fo that the word muft here import,
** one that afts with fuch precipitancy and
** inconlideration as pride and ill-natiirc
** ofLcn hurry people into," which chs-
rity would preferve them from, and in
duce that tendernefs- a.id caution which
engages us to look about us, that we
may do ourfelves, and trthers, no harm,
diftinguiftiin|

5 Doth not bebaye
Ufelf unfeemly, feek
eth not her own, is
not eafily provoked,
tbinketh no evil.

-6 Rejoifeth not in
Jniquity, but rejoic
eth in the truth ':

7 Beareth all things,
^elieveth all things,
Ijopeth all things,
^oduruh all things.

And ii is a grace which fhall never fall; 3,23
diftinguifhed ftatiop, or peculiar endowment. Sect,
which a man may poffefs ; nor outwardly boaft- '^^^'
eth of thefe things, or inwardly overvalueth it- iCor
felf upon them. Love doth not behave iridecently ''; XIII. 5
in a manner unbecoming a perfon's ftation,
age, or circumftances. Love feeketh not her own
things, hut makes all reafonable conceffions in
,any point of felf-intereft, where any fuperior
intereft of others is concerned. Love is not exaf-
perated, and thrown into bitter and implacable
refentments, even where the ufage it meets with
is moftrWpparently unjuft ; and where the inten
tion is dubious, it imputeth not evil ; but puts
the kindeft conftruftion upon the aftion itfelf,
or the principle from whence ir proceeds, which
the nature of circumftances may by any means
allow. Love rejoiceth not at iniquity ; it 6
takes no pleafiire to fee an adverfary fall into a
crime by which his reputation Ihould be blafted,
apd his intereft ruined ; but on the contrary,
it rejoiceth with others in the truth, and is pleafed,
when its greateft enemies behave themfelves
in a manner agreeable to the word of God, and
the reafon of things. Far from delighting to y
blaze abroad the faults of others, it covereih all
things that are amifs, fo.faras it can lawfully
conceal thern ; all, which benevolence to the
public or kindnefs to any individual does not
require them to r"ake known. It is not apt to
fufpeft the integrity and veracity of others ; but
rather, knowing itfelf to be fincere, believeth all
things, fo far as with the moft candid allowances
it rationally can ; and where it is reftrained to
confefs, that many things are v/rong, it is un
willing to treat the worft of mankind as utterly
incorrigible ; but hopeth all things, ahd with,
that hope fiipports itfelf in every kind effort it
can make for their recovery ; and as y is loiig-
fuffering with regard to human provocations, fo
from the hand ol God it endureth all things,
even the moft Iharp and heavy affliftions, acqui-

ff Does not behave indecently,'] I cannot
fead this palTage, without thinking of the
yeherable Mr. Male's ftory of the lancet
.concealed in 3 fptmge, in-order to open
an impoftumated part without giving any
jlarm to the patient Vfho dreadc^ the

operation. There is great reafon to belieye,
that in all this defcription, the apoftle bad
in his mind that contraft to this beautiful
charafter which was fo prevalent among ¦
the Corinthians, as'is evident from many
pafl'ages in both thefe epiftles. efcing

^:(-4, Bui oterpiyfent means of knouiledge fiiall fail in heaven r

feeT.
2>.lii.$

8 Charity never
falleth: butwhcthef
there be prophecies,
they fliall fail; whe
ther there, be tongyrtg^

10

efcing in his will, trufting in his care, and re
joicing, if its own fufferings may be a means of
confol-ation and edification to others.
And fartlier to recommend this excellent prin
ciple of /swfj'give me leave to obferve, that it is
a grace whiqli never faileth ; but will accom
pany and adorn us to all eternity, and indeed _ ,
makes a very effential part of our preparation for ther^f^re'beTlli
the heavenly world ,- in which it hath- an appa- ui-^e, it ftuU vaniili
rent advant^e over many of thofe gifts which "w-iy
fo-nrre are fo ready to emulate and putfiie, to the
iwgleft and injury of luve. But whether mer^
^tmre prophecies, it i.s fit they inatdd knovv they
jhiill be ahol'iflied, when the faith of God's peo
ple fliall no longer need tp be encouraged, nor
their devotion to be affifted, by fuch exhortations
and inftruftions as are neceifary now : or whe
ther they boaft themfel-,'cs of the variety of:
tongues, they Jhall ceafe in thofe celeftial regions :
«ne fpeech and one language fhall prevail ainong
a'fl the blelled inhabitants, and the languages of
the earth be forgotten, as too low and imperfeft.
Yea I may add, that a great deal of that kno-w-
ledge, vvhich we novf purfiie with the greateft
eagernefs, and which is very conducive to our
prefent ufefulnefs among mankind, fldll then be
ulnUJhefl^ and fioperfeded, as referring to things
altogether antiquated and paffed awa-,' '; or fwal-
iowcd up in difcoveries fo much clearer, ftronger
and more important, that it fliall appear, in
comparifon of them, as nothing. For now we
know but in part, and we prophefy but in pari ;
fliere is a great deal of obvious imperfeftion, at
tending all our knowledge, and all the fervices
-tve can here perform for God and for his church :
But when that which is perfect is come, as in the
heavenly ftate it ihall, then that [which is] only
in pari, Jhall be akoUJhed : all -thefe flow and un-

9 For xve know i^
part, and we proph«-
fy in part.

.*i KmmiUdge fhall be abol'ifhed.] This
cannot refer to all kind of knowledge ; for
tire nobleft fliall be much improved.
Son-ic think it here fignifies, that of Old
T'iftameni myfter'ies, which will be fuper
feded in that world where jcribture fliall
?)€ of no farther ufe ; and hence fome
Irave farther argued for that Intt-rpreta-
titfh r^i the word of knowledge which v.-as

IO Bvrt when that,
which is' perfeft is
come, then that
which is in part fliall
be done away.
Ipoken of above, (chap. xii. S ) Butthf
explication given in the paraphraje, feeuis
mire natural and unexceptionable. To
trice. the gradual openings of the Chri
ft an fcheme, though the various dlf-
peilfirlons of God to the church, may
be an important pai-t of the celeftial hap-
pinvfs.

fatisfa<S|

' For tve now fee obfcurely ; bat then, face t-o face.

325

II When I was a
trbild, I fpake as a
child, I underftood
3.% a child, I thought
.as a child : but when
1 became a man, I
put away ch'ildilh
things-

JzFornow we fee
through a glafs dark
ly ; but then. face to
face : now I know In
part ; but then ihall
I know, even aS alio
I am known.

fatisfaftory methods of obtaining knowledge, Sgsc-r,
and all the little ftock we have here laid up, fliaiU ^^^'
be exchanged for the moft extenfive views of TcorT
whatever it can be defirable to know opeiiiug Xllfc
upon the mind in the moft eafy. clear and de- l-o
lightful manner.
It (hall indeed be like a ftaite of adult age, when li
compared with that of feeble infancy. Juft as
when I was a chfid, I Jpake as a 'child would
naturally do, a few imperfeft words, hardly af
firft articulate and intelligible, and often in
themfelves unmeaning; I was affeiied as a ehild,
thrown into tranfports of joy or grief rstj irifiifig
occafions, which manly leaibn (boii taught me
to defpife ; I relftrwd as a child, in a weak, Ja-
fonclulive, and fometimes ridiculous manner.
But when my faculties ripened, and / became a
man, I put aw-iy the things of the ehiJd, and feJt
K-ntinients, and engaged in piirfiiits, corre
fpondent to fiich advancements bf age and rea
fon. Such fhall be the improveincijt of -the iZ
heavenly ftate, in comparifon with thofe whielj
the moft eminent Chrillian can attain here-
For now we fee the moft noble objefts of oitf
intelleftual view, in un ambiguous . avA obfcufe
manner, as we difcern diftant objefts by meam
of a "glafs or mirror^, which reflefts only theiir
imperfeft forms, fo tliat, (as when riddles are
propofed to us,) <mtc underftandings are oftca
confounded with the uncertain 3nd indetermi-
xiate appearances of things. But then we Thai}
fee, not the faint refleftion, but the objefts
themfelves, face to Jace, in as diftinft a manner
as ,we could wifh, ' AW I knozu [hut] in part^
and though the light of an immediate revelati-on,
irom heaven has been imparted to ms in many
inftances, and in an €.\.traorilinary manner. J
am fenfible how great a part is Hill k$pt under
the veil. Bui then it fhall be taken off, and /
Jhall know, even as alfo I am known, in an iiv
tuitive and comprehenfive manner ; fo tjiat in/

1 By means of a mirror.] This is the
esaft rendering of ^r e^o-.'fjtf. It is. well
known, that the ufe of dioptrick glalTes in
telejcopes, did not prevail till many ages
after the date of this epiftle. And the

Seventy ufe this word for the w-omen^s lo'jl...
ing glafjes, or mirrors of metal, out ^/
which Mofes made tbe laver. JEjso.d,
xxjtyiij. 8,

knowledge

326 keftefiions on the Apoftle's defcription of charity, or loHii.
Sect, knowledge fhall bear fome fair- refemblance to
^^^' that of the Divine Being, which, vvhile our
J Cor. notices of things hover about their furface, pene-
XIII. trates to the very centre of every objeft, and fees
, 12 through my foul, and all things, as 'at one fingle
, glance.
13 And thus upon the wholeit appears, and I ij And nowabi.
hope you will remember and confider it; that ^t'^ th*ed,Te'-'hM
there now abide thefe three moft excellent graces, [bl'greateft oftbrfe
fa'ith, hope, and love ; each of them far to be is charity.
preferred to the moft (hining gifts about which
you can contend. But the greaiejl of thefe
graces [Jis] love; which moft direftly tranf-
- forms us into the iniage of God, and which
fhall continue to ccert all its influence, when
faith is fuperfeded by fight, and hope by enjoy-
mentl . IMPROVEMENT.
SuEEL'V after having attentively furveyed the beautiful defcrip
tion which- the apoftle gives us of this Divine grace, love, it
cannot be neceflary that its caufe (hould be farther pleaded. It
fpeaks for itfelf; fpeaks to our very hearts. But O, who that
enters into the defcription, muft not mourn, that its angelic'
form is fo much a ftranger to multitudes who bear the Chrjiiatt ¦
name ! So that in many inftances it can hardly pafs uncenfured ;
•while thofe extremes which moft evidently violate it, are often
confecrated under honourable names, and men build much of
their hopes of heaven, on breathing what is indeed the temper of
Verfe hell. How many that ftile themlelves Chriftians, can endure ni
4 &<•. provocations, can cover no faults of their brethren, can keep them
felves within no bounds, can believe nothing to their advantage,
againft whom, on party-principles, they have entertained pre
judices! They vaunt themfelves, they are puffed up with the con
ceit of their 6wn wifdom^ they behave unfeemly, they feek only their
own reputation and profit, they believe the worft they can hear of
others, and fijpe£i more than they, hear ; they envy thofe whofe
endowments and ftations are fuperior to their own, and inftead
ot labouring themfelves to excel, they affeft by calumny and (lan
der to bring down their brethren to their own level, or rather^
as far as poffible, below it, Alas, that the diftates of our Divioe
Mafter, and the genius of our religion, are fo little underftood,
are no more regarded ! ,and that we fo entirely forget the pre
cepts of Chriftianity, as not to remember even tliofe of common
humanity. Yet furely, if thefe precepts are wholly forgotten, it is in vain, that

They fltiuld deftre fpiritual gifts 'in order io prophefy. 'ifl.'j
I
that we remember, or contend for any of its" doftrines and prin- S^'^'^-
ciples. ¦ As all languages and giftSi fo all knowledge and faith
is hain, if it be feparate from love, by which true faith always ~^
operates. Let us cultivate love more and more ; and ip much the rather, Verfe
as it is a plant of the cehfticd paradife ; which will there for ever i>2
flourifli, when tongues Jhall ceafe and that knowledge, on which 8-19
men value themfelves highly, ySa// utterly vanijh. The ripenefs
ef adult age, and the knowledge of the moft improved fciences, .
human or Divine, is but as the trifling of an infant, when com* H
pared with that manly and perfeft ftate after which we are afpir- 12
ing. "The dim mirror of faith fhall then be laid afide; and the
truth of the objefts, now fo imperfe£lly dlfcerned, (hall in full
luftre be prefented to our eye, purged from every film, and
ftrengthened for a brightnefs vvhich would now overwhelm it.
In the mean time, attending humbly to the narrow limits, and
neceffary obfcurity, of our prefent, knowledge, let us not be,
puffed up, in ourfelves, let us not defpife others; but by a modeft
eftimate, and a faithful improvement, of fuch degrees of light
as God (hall be pleafed to afford us, lel us prefs on towards the
regions 'of eternal day,; wherein his light we Jhall fee light, and
where amidft the fuUeft communications of his love, we ftiall
for ever love him, .and each other, with ardours, which the Iieft
hearts in their beft moments on earth, can neither aitain nor
conceive.
SECT. XXVI.
The Apoftle cautions ihe Corinthians againft that vain oftentation of
ihe gift of tonp,ues which was fio prevalent among them ; and
reafons . with them concerning the abfurdity .of the manner, in
whith thai gift was abufed byf ome of them, i Cor. XIV. r — 19.
1 CoE. XIV. I. I Corinthians XIV. i
pOLLOW after y'HAVE exhorted, and I would ftill exhort yeu. Sect.
chanty, anddefire I r i. . , • -' • vvu-r
fpi. my brethren, to purjue love , to cultivate it -»-¦»• v''
to the utmoft of your power, in yHiir oWn TcotT
- . ;, breafts, and in all around you, not grudging XIX. »
any labour, neceffary to promote fo excellent a
caufe. Yet I would not lead you to flight ahy '
a Pttrjue love.] The word &3.-itsT=, volent fpirit, in the' main feries of life ;
properly fignifies, " to purfue wilh in confidering on the one hand, how many
" eagernefs like that with which hunters provocations we are like to meet with, and
<• follow their game." And it may be on thc other, the force of felf-lovc, which
intended to intimate,, hoW-;,iar<i it ,is to will in fo many inftances be read Jr to break
•btain and preferve' fuch a truly "bene- in upon it. inferior

328

And thai for the edification of the church.

S^CT.
XXVI.

iCo
XIV,

inferior endowment, by which the edification of
_ the church may be promoted. I permit you
. thereiote, ttikiMi^^ to deftre fpiritual [gifts f] io
I far as fubmftfion to God,' the great Difpenfer of
them, and loVe to your brethren may admit.
But I would efpecially urge you to defire and pray,
that ye may be enabled to prophefy, in that fenfe
of the Word in which we commonly ufe it, to
exprefs the gift whereby we are etiabled to ex
plain fcripture, and publicly to difcourfe of Di-
, vine things, in an inftruftive and edifying man
ner ; for by this you may hope fo do the greateft
3 good. For he that fpeaketh in a tongue ''.
unknown to the auditory to whom he addrelfes
YiimitM, fpeaks in effeft not to men, but to God ;
for no one elfe prefent underftands [him ;] and as
God alone knows fhe truth and importance of
what he fays, fo it is all loft on the audience,
though in the fpirit he fpeak the moft fublime
3 myfteries : fVhereas he that prophefteth, in
the fenfe in which I now ufe the wcrd, that is,
difcourfes of Divine things in a known language,
fpeaketh to men, and affords them edification, and
exhortation and comfort, according to the parti
cular tenor and contents of what he fays.
4 And thus, on the moft favourable conceffions
that can be made, he ihat fpeaketh with a tongue,
edifies himfelfi only, if peradventure his own
good affeftions may be awakened by the truth
he fervently ilelivers ; and the, confcioufaefs of
that miraculous power which he feels working
in- him, may farthe"r eftablifh his faith in Chri
ftianity; but he that prophefies, while he has a
fhare of this advantage, edifies ihe church alfo.

fpiritilal gifts, bift'
rather that ye may -
prophefy.

2 For he that
fpeaketh in an un
known tongue, fpeak
eth not unto men,
but unto God : for
no man underftand
eth h'lm ; howbeit in
the fpirit he fpeaketh
myfteries. 3 But he that pro
phefteth, fpeaketh
unto men to edifica
tion, and exhorta
tion and comfort.

4 He that fpeaketh
in an unknown toiigue,
edifieth himfelf: but
he that prbphefieth,
edifieth the church.

b' He thatjpeaketh in a tongue unknown,
&c,] Dr. Whitby thinks, that the gifts
of languages and prophefy Were always
to be found in tbe fame perfon ; but that
the firft was permanent, the other tran
fient. Yet it feems to me very (Conceiva
ble,, either migh^ be without the Other.
The miraculous inftamping, as it were^
On a man*s m-ind a new laneuage, would
enable bim to fpeak all he knew in it ;
but his fitnefs to difcourfe in public, as
Weil as his capacity of predift'-ng future e-
vc'nts, were matters quite of another nature.
c Edtfteib himfelf,] After all that is laid

in the paraphraje, Co prove that this migdt
be ptiiiible, it was much more probable/
that a man might be hurt, -than edified,^
by the exercife of this gift, when attended
with fuch oftentatious circumftances.
But tbe apoftle, according to that bifppy
addrefs for which be was fo remarkabley
makes his fuppofition moft honourable
and favourable fo tlTe perfon reproved ;'
as HeCior afcrlbes the retreat of Pai;is
from the battle, to refentment againft the'
Trojans, rSther than to cowardice, ttom,
Iliad. I'li. iv. verfe Jlft; and ^uftathi in
loc. by

Now prophefy is preferable io fpeaking with a tongue;

329

S I would that ye all
(Jake with tongues,
butratherthatyepro-pbefied : for greater ir
he that prophefietb,
than be thatfpea.ketb
with tongues, except
he interpret, thatthe
church may receive
•difying.

6 Now, brethren.
If I come unto you
fpeaking with, ton
gues, what fhall I
profit you, except I
fhall fpeak to you
either by revelatio-i,
or by knowledge, or
by prophefying, or
by doftrine ?

by taking thofe methods which are moft likely to Skct.
promote the number of its converts, and to do ^^^^'
good to thofe who are already gathered into it. i Cor.
For my own part, far from envying any of XIV. 5
your gifts, / wifl th-m increafed, and indeed that
ye all Jpake ivith tongues, in as great a variety as
I myfelf can, or as God hath imp.vted the gift
to any man living : but on the whole, I had
much rather, that ye m'ght all prophefy ; for
when -we come to confider the different effefts
and tendencies of tliefe different gifts, we muft v
own that, with refpeft to the profpefts of ufe
fulnefs, by which thefe things are much to be
eftimated, he that prophefteth [is] greater than
he who fpeaketh with tongues ^ which the audi
tory cannot underftand, except he interpret what
he fays, that the church may receive edification :
and even tjieri, his fpeaking whh an unintelli
gible tongue is but an unnecelfary incumbrance,
which it would be much more modeft and pru
dent to omit:
A ojv, as perhaps you will apprehend this bet- 6
ter by an example, fuppofe it were your own
cafe, brethren: if I come to vou, the next tithe
I make you a vifit at Corinth, fpeaking to yo.u
with a variety of unknown tongues, what Jhall
I profit you, who are ftippofed not to underftand
me, unlefs I fpeak not merely in your hearing,
but to you, that is, in a language with which
you are acquainted ? Elfe all is abfolutely loft,
w'hatever my meftage may be, whether I fpeak
by the revelation of fome gofpel- doftrine and
myftery, or hy knowledge^ in the explication of
fome controverted text in the Old Telfament,
or by prophefy in the prediftion of fome future

i He that prophefteth. See.] How hap
pily does the apoftle teach us to eftimate
the value of gifts and talents, not by
their briUiancy, but ufefulnefs. Speaking
ivith tongues, was indeed very ferviceable
foi- fpreading the gojpel abroad^ but for
thofe who ftaid at home, it was much
more defirable to be able to difcourfe well
on ufeful fubjefts in their own language ;
which might ferve more for the improve
ment of the fociety they belonged to, and
thc conviftion of fuch of their unbelieving

neighbours, as might out of curiofity
happen to ftep into their ^fTembliea.
Compare verfe 23 — 25.
c Revelat'un, or knowledge. See,] I am
not certain, how far different ideas are to
be affixed to each of thefe words ; or fup
pofing that, bow far thefe are the appro
priate ideas intended by each : but f ceuld
tliink of no more proper explication ;
and muft number this among the many
texts which I dare not pretend fully to
und.-rftand.

Vot.. IV.

event.

JfVtch, iJ unknown to the hearer, is Jpeahing io the air.

Sect, evcnt, or by do£irtne for the regulation of life
and manners.
So alfo inanimate things ivhich give a Jound,
¦wJjether it be pipe or harp, or any other inftru
ment of mufic, unlejs they give a due diftin^ion
in the variety oJ Jound s proceeding from them,
how can it be known what is piped or harped ?
How fliould dancers be direfted by mufic, un
lefs the proper tone ahd modulation be duly
8 maintained? Moreover, in vv.ar, iJ the trum
pet give an uncertairi Jound, fo that there is an
undiftipguifhable mixture of various kinds of
notes ; who Jhould prepare himjelj to battle ?
Could foldiers know, when to advance, or when
to retreat, unlefs the trumpet's found be adjufted
9 and conftantly adhered to ? So likewije, in your
religious affemblies, unlejs ye utter by the tongue
fignlficant words, to' which the ear of your audi
tory are accuftomed, how Jhall it be known what
you Jpeak ? For ye Jhall be in that cafe, as thofe
that Jpeal to the air, or make a mere inarticulate
noife ; and I leave you to judge, how abfurd it
would be, to bring fiich unmeaning founds into
the worlhip of God, as ye would not endure in
the common affairs of life.
I o There may be ever Jo many Jorts oJ language in
the -world, perhaps as many, as there are per
fons in your moft numerous affemblies; and
none ofi them is without its proper ftgnification
among thofe that ufe it; there are great numbers
that iijbabit the fame region, who perfeftly un
it deiftand it. Tct unlefs I know the '^ro^er force
and import of the particular language which is
ufed in my hearing, no one can converfe with
mc; and I fhall in vain aik an explication in my
own ; ior I flinll he to hint that fpeaketh a barba
rian, and he that fpeaketh [fliall ¦ be] a barha-
riau to ine ; and if the language be ever fo copi
ous, har/nonious, expreflive and polite, I fliall
hardly be able to djftinguifh it from that of thc
i.i rtioft unpolifhed favage. So that on thc whole,
I muft urge it upon you alfo, that feeing ye de-
Jire fipiritual [giJts,] and arc ready to vie with
t-ach other ih the excellence of them, ye feek to
abound [in them] fior the edification ofi the church',
anil nbt meiely tor your own honour, accortling to

7 And even things
without life giving
found, whether pipa^
or harp, except the*
give a diftinftion in
the founds, how fliall
it be known what is
piped or harped-?
S For if the trum
pet give an uncertain
found, who ftiall pre- '
pare himfelf to the
battle ?

9 So tifcewife ye,
except ye utter by
the tongue words eafy
to be underftood,
how ftiall it be known
what is fpoken ? for
ye fhall fpeak into
tbe air.

10 There are, It
may be, fo many
kinds of voices in
thc world, and. none
of them is without
fignificatlon.

II Therefore, ifl
know not the mean
ing of the voice, I
fliall be unto him
that fpeaketh a bar-
bail. m ; and hc that
fpeaketh ft.'alt bt a
barbarian unto mc.

12 Even f> yc,
forafmuch as ye are
zealous of fpiritual
gifts, feek' that >'e
may excel to the evil-
tying of thc churcb.

The Apoftle would pray with the fpirit and underftanding ; 33 J
to thofe rules of honour which you may too ^"^j
rafhly lay down to yourfelves. ^
Therefore let him that fpeaketh in a tongue ge- \ Cnr.

13 'Whetefore, let
him that fpeaketh in
an unknown tongue,
pray that hi! may in-
icipret.

" 14 For if I pray in
an unknown tongue,
my fpirit prayeth,
but my underftand
ing is unfruitful.

15.What isltthen?
I will pray with the
fpirit, and I will pray
with tbe underftand
ing 'alio : I will fing
with the fpirit, and
I will fing with the
underftanding alfo.

nerally unknown to the congregation to which Xiv
he would addrefs himfelC pray that he may be '^
able rather to interpret the difcourfe of another,
than to amufe, or indeed, amaze and weary thc
audience by the oftentatious exercife of the gift
he has already received, and with which he is
fond of making a vain parade. For if I pray 1 1
in a ftrange ahd unknown /w^wf, without ma
king ufe of any explication, my fpirit indeed
prays, and I may have true devotion of h^rt
towards God, as I underftand the language my
felf; but my underftanding is inthis refpeft un
fruitful as to others \ and I perform an aftion
void of that prudence and good fenfe whicii
ought always to govern in my addreffes to God,
and aft fo childifli and foolifli a part, that the
reafon of a man may feem at that time to have
deferted me. IFIiat then is [my duty] in thefe 15
circumftances ? Truly it is plain enough ; it
requires me to fay, / will pray with ihe fpirit,
exercifing the faculties of i-riy own foul in devo
tion ; but I will pray with the underftanding
alfio^. I will ftng die praifes of God with the
fpirit; but I will ftng them with underftanding
alfo, and will take great.care to mingle no foolilh
trifling aftion,, unworthy the dignity of a ra
tional creature, with my prayers or fongs of
praife. And it becomes you efpeciafly to con
fider this, who are fo proud of your own wifdom,
and yet in fome refpefts aft fo-foolifli a part.

f Underftanding, unfruitful to others.]
This 1 think » more natural interpreta
tion, than th.-it which fuppofes the apoftle
tb fuggeft a thought, which the Papifts
urge to palliate the abfurdity of prayers 'in
an unknown tongue, namely, *' there may
•* be fome general good affeftions work-
'* ing, where the perfon praying does not
" particularly underfland what he fays."
But thisiwould, make it almoft impofiible
to conceive, how the gift of tongues could
be abufed, if the perfoii exercifing it was
under fuch an extraordinary impulfe of
tho fpirit, as to utter fenfible words, which
he did not himfelf underftand ; in which
«afc, a man muft be, in th: moft extraor

dinary fenfe that can be conceived, tlie
mere Organ of the Holy Ghoft himfelf,
g Pray with uiulerftanding.] Mr. Locke,
and moft other commentators, feem heri'
to have loft the fenfe andiihigh fpirit of
the apoftle in this claufe, when they ex
plain VJ vol, as if it merely fignified a man
ner intelligible to others. I apprehend, it is
defigned farther to intimate, what a want
of manly fenfe aud right underftanding Ic
muft betray, to talk in a language the
hearers could not take in,, how fubllm.-:
fuevCr the difcourfe might be. This thc
20ib vtrfe, and efpecially the ufe of ri^ini
there, ftrongly fuggefts.

Y

Moreovtr,

332

And fpeak in Chriftian affemblies to edification.

1 Cor.
XIV. 16

Sect. Moreover, whoever thou art, who afteft in
^ ' this oftentatious . manner, confider a little, for
the farthei- illuftratioa of this argument, the
fituation of one of thine own hearers. If thou
giveft thanks, for inftance, /«, the fpirit, in the
manner that we now fuppofe it to be done, that
is, in an unknown tongue, how flail he that
filleth up a private place, and (hould join with
thee in thy devotion, fay Amen to thy thankfgiv
ing, feeing he knows not what thou fayeft ? You
know it is cuftomary for the audience to pro
nounce their amen : now it feems a very abfurd,
not to fay,- hazardous thing, for people to tef
tify in fuch a pubiick and folemn manner their
confent to, and concurrence with, they know
17 not what. For we will grant, that thou in
deed giveft thanks well, and that there is nothing
improper either in the fentitnehts or exprelfions,
if they were underftood ; neverthelefs, the other
IS not at all edified, or improved ; in order to
which it is abfolutely neceflary, that he fhould
know what is faid.^
18' For my own part, I thank my God, and de
fire to mention it entirely to the glory of that
bleffed Being from whom all my gifts and ta
lents are derived^ that I fpeak with tongues more
than you all, even -the whole fociety taken toge
ther, and am diftinguiflied from my other bre
thren in this endowment, in proportion to the
more extenfive commiffion which I have receiv
ed, to bring a variety of nations to the know
ledge of the gofpel, and perfiiade them to em-
19 brace it. But in a Chriftian church, wheii
alfembled with them for the purpofes of pubiick
devotion, ./ had rather fpeak five phin words
with my underftanding, in a rational manner,
that I might teach others alfo, and promote the
edification of thofe who were joining with me,
than ten thoufand of the moft pompous and ele
gant words in an [unknown] tongue, though ut
tered with the greateft readinefs, and expreffing
conceptions ever fo excellent ; yea 1 had ra
ther be entirely -filent in an affembly, than take
up their time, and proftitute the extraordinary
gifts of God, to fuch vain and foolilh pur
pofes. And I heartily wifh I may be able to
'.ning you to the fame reafonable way of think ing;

16 Elfe when thos
fhalt blefs with the
fpirit, how fliall he
that occupietb the
room of the unlearn
ed, fay Amen at thy
giving of thanks, fee-*
ing he underftandetl^
not what thou fayeft?

17 Foi- thou verify
giveft thanks well,
but the other is not
edified.

18 I thank roy
God, I fpeak with
tongues more than
you all :

19 'Vet in the
church I had ra'her
fpeak five words with
my underftanding,
that by - my voice I
might teach others
alfo, than ten thou
fand words in an »»-
known tongue.

Refteiiions on ihe abfurdity of praying In unknown tongues. 333
ing; which would be much tb thfe credit of your ™^j
own underftanding, as well as of your Chriftian _
profeffion.

IMBROVEMKNT.

How weak and poor a thing is pride and oftentation, and how "Verfe
wile and honourable, charity and humility ! Who, that has 2-ia
a right difcernment, would not rather have been the obfcureft
Chriftian, that now, almoft unfeen, joins our affemblies, and in
heart at leaif, humbly puts his amen' to the petitions pBefented
tliere, than the moft fluent talker at Corinth ; abufing the fpecial ,
gifts of the Spirit, and trifling away, in an unfeafonable difplay
of his own, then unprofitable, endowments, the precious mo
ments, which were deftined to the higheft purpofes of religious
edification ? Who muft not lament to fee pride and vain-glory, fo
early infimiating themfelves into Chriftian focieties I Who muft
not, from fo fad an inftance, learn to be greatly watchful over their
own hearts, on a fide where they are fubjeft to fuch dangerous
attacks !
Had the moft able and zealous Proteftant divine endeavoured 13" ¦
to expofe the abfurdity of praying in an unknown tongue, as prac-
tifed in t!sxe church of Rome, \t is difficult to imagine what he could
have written, more fully to the purpofe, than the apoftle hath here
done, And when it is confidered, how perverfely the Papifts
retain the ufage of fuch prayers, it will (eem no wonder they
¦fliould keep the fcriptures in an unknown tongue too. But t-hey
proclaim at the fame- time, their fuperftition and idolatry in fo
univerfal a language, that, even a barbarian might perceive and
learn it in their aflemblies. Let us pity, and pray for them, that-
God may give their prejudiced minds a juftej and happier turn.
And fince we fee the unreafonable and pernicious humour of im
mutably adhering to ancient cuftoms, prevailing to maintain in the
church of Rome, fo flagrant an abfurdity, as praying in an unknown
tongue, let it teach us to guard againft every degree of the like
difpofition ; and not, fo much confider, what hath been the4)raftice
of any church, in which we were educated, or have chofen to
worfliip, as what the reafon of things, and the authority oi fcrip
ture concur to diftate.
Of this wife and benevolent apoftle -let us learn, to eftimate the 18,19
value of gifts by tiieir ufefulnefs ; and to feek above all things the
edification of bur brethren ; efpecially if We are providentially
called to minifter in pubiick. There is perhaps a manner of
fpeaking in an unknown tongue, even when the language of our 3> 4
own country is ufed ; a height of compofition, an abftrufenefs of
thought, an obfcurity of phrafe,' which common Chriftians can
not underftand. Let not the minifters of the humble Jefus feek
Y3 fuch

334 They flould ufe their fpiritual gifts with underftanding.
xxvY-^"^^ ^'^^' *^^"i^ ' ''w' '" *^'s important fenfe of the exhortation,
 " condefcend to men of low eftate. If the ignorant may be inftruft
ed, if the carelefs may be convinced, if the vicious may be re-
\ formed, if the devotion of our Chriftian brethren may be excited,
their love to each other cherifhed, and their holy refolutions
confirmed, the great ends of Divine" ordinances are anfwered;
• and that plainnefs of fpeech, which may be moft likely to pro
mote them, is ratl^er the glory, than reproach, of the Chriftian
orator.

SECT. XXVII.
St. Paul gives proper advices for preventing that abufe of the,
gift of tongues which he had heen reproving in the preceding
feiiion. i Cor. XIV. 20, to the end.

• Sict.
xxvll.

I Corinthians XIV. 20,
TVyT"^ brethren, permit me to be the happy
 ^^ meaUs of forr^iing you to a more noble
I Cor. and manly way of thinking, with relpeft to
xi'V. thefe fpiritual gifts which are the occafions of
^° fo -many unbecoming emulations among you..
Do you defire to be diftinguifhed in the church ?
diftinguifh yourfelves by folid wifdom ; and be
not, as this oftentation of tongues would fhew
you to be, children in underftanding ^ ; but in
malice indeed, be as mucb as poffible, like little
irfanls ; have all the gentlenefs, fweetnefs and
innocence of their tender age : but, as ye have
arrived to years of maturity, in underftanding
he perfieB [men ;]' ior that religion which the
gofpel hath now taught you, far from impair
ing any of the natural faculties, rather exalts and
irriproves them, and direfts them to the higheft
21 and nobleft ufe. To return to the fubjeft we
were upon, you know // is' written in the law,
ithat is, in the Old Teftarrient, (Ifa. xxviii, 11,
13, where God had been complaining of the un-
-teachable difpofition of the Jews,) " Surely in

I CoR. XIV. 20.
¦pR E T B R E N, be
-^ not children in
underftanding; how-
beif, in malice be ye
children, but in un
derftanding be men.

21 In the lawitli
writteh, With men of
other

a Children in underftanding,] This is an
admirable ftroke of true oratory, 'adapted
to ftrike and bring down the height of
their fpirits, by reprefenting thofe things
in which they_wcre moft ready to pride
themfelves, as comparatively. rAi/i/i^. —
The word yij-n-ia^^l; rijf,rs to infants, and

is not fufjiciently expreffed _by the word
chUdreh, 'for they are fometimes vain and
fometimes raallcibus too. — TeXeioi fignlfies
full grown mea ;' intimating, it was a kind
of boyiftnefs, if I may be- allowed t'o ufe
that wo,rd, to emulate and ijuarrel with
one another. -• - ' '

" f'cli

The confufton attending their abufe of ihe gift of tongues 'f 335
'foreign language^ and with foreign lips /Sect.
' will fpeak unio this people ; and even fo ihey ^'^''^^-
will not hear me, faith the Lord:" which may ,, Cor.

ether tongues and-o-
tlicr I'lps, will I fpeak
unto this people ; and
yet for all that will
they not hear me,
faith the Lord.

21 'Wherefore,
.tongues are for a
iign, not to them
that believe, but to
them that believe not:
but prophefying fer
veth not for them
that believe not, but
for them which be
lieve. 23 If therefore the
whole churchbe come
together into one
place, ahd all fpeak
with tongfies, anti
there come in thofe
that are unlearned, or
unbelievers, will they
not fajr that yS are
mad ,'

. 14 But if all pro
phefy, and there
come in one that be
lieveth not, or one
unlearned, he is con
vinced of all, he is
judged ol all :
25 And thus are
the fecrets of his
heart made manifeft ;
and

be confidered and interpreted as an intimation of Xiv
the purpofe God had of fending one laft mef- *'
fage to them, by his fervants endued, with the
gift of tongues. So that, according to this 22
inticpation, tongues are a ftgn not to believers,
but to infidels. The gift was intended to propa
gate the gofpel among tliofe who were ftrangers
to it, not to edify thofe that- had already be
lieved. Whereas, on the contrary, prophefy [is]
defigned not Jor infidels, but believers, to edify
churches already gathered ; in which refpeft "it
is nobler, and more worthy your purfuit. But 23
as there is a manner of ufing this gift of tongues,
which would even pervert the original end for
which it was given, and obftruft, rather than
promote, the converfion of infidels, I muft ob
ferve therefore, that 'if the whole church be come
together into one place, and ail fpeak With a va
riety of unknown tongues, and any of the unin-
ftruSied, or, in other words,, the /n;W?/r, come. in,
when they hear fuch a cohfufed jargon as this
muft be, will fhey not prefently fay thai you are
diftra£ied, and adopt the cenfure which was at
firft fo rafhly paffed in the day of Pentecoft, that
thefe men are full of new wine .'' (Afts ii. 13.)
Whereas if all prophefy, and an infidel, or igno- 24
rant man, (for I efteem every one ignorant, who
is uninftrufted in the great myfteries of the gof
pel, whatever elfe he may know,) comes in, he
is conviiied by all 'who thus fpeak ; he is judged
by all ; every one fays fomething, to which his
confcience bears witnefs : And fo ihe fecrets 2^
of his heart are made manifeft '^, in a manner to
him

b In foreign language. See.] Moft rn-
r.vi refer thefe words, as they ftand in
Ifaiah, to the Babylonians, who fhould
come and fpeak to the Jews in a language
i.nintelligible to them ; in which fenfe
the phrafe is ufed elfewhere, Deut. xxviii.
49 ; Jer. v. 15. Diodati thinks the mean
ing is, *' Becau-fe they would not attend
•< to, plain mefi'ages, God would fpeak
** to them by fuch as they could not un-
'* derftand :" and then the dpoftle^s ar
gument will be, « Siace God threaten*

'' this as a curfe, do not voluntarily bring
" it upon the church, merely to m^ke
" oftentation of your own gifts." But
perhaps the apoftle in this application in
tends to give us the true, though not moft
obvious interpretation of the words.
c Secrets of his heart are made maviffft. J
It is very poflible, that, (ds in the known
c'afes of Nathaniel, and the woman of
Samaria, John i, 47; chap. iv. 18,) fome
fecret fafts, relating to a ftranger, might
in fome inflances be revealed to the fro-
Y4 I phet;

336 Would expofe ihem to ihe cenfure of infidels.
Si^cT.hJfn very furprlfing and unaccountable; info- a*^ fo falling down
""''"• much, that fometimes a perfon who comes into °" *'f ft«. tewiii
...  rr , , r *^ • r /vi 1 worfhip God, and
iCor y""'' ^''^""oly out of mere curiofity, or poflibly report that God is in
xiv' with fome ill defign, is not able to command you of a truth.
25 himfelf under the imprefiion which the word of
God thus fpoken makes upon him; and fo,
under the power of it, falling down upon [his]
face, he ivill worflip that one living and true God
whom you adore ; declaring, ihat this ever-bleffed
,God is indeed among you ; and perhaps, imme
diately profelfing on that account, his refolution
of joining himfelf to you ; and proclaiming after
wards wherever he comes, in what an extraordi
nary rnanner he has met with the Divine pre
fence, and what a wonderful impreffion hath
been made upon his mind. Now furely, that
degree of honour which is brought to God and
his gofpel by one fuch effeft of prophefying,
Jhould appear far more defirable to you than any
applaufe or admiration which you can receive <-
from your fellow chriftians by the exercife of
your moft fplendid gifts.
36 I might alfo urge, upon this head, the great 26 How is it then,
diforder which is introduced into your affemblies, brethren? when ye
i_ .u- n .. ,.• ¦- r- r come together, everv
by this oftentatious manner 01 proceeding ; (or one of .you hath 'a
indeed, if you think ferioufly, what a fhocking pf^Un, hath a doc
thin? it is, mv brethren, that when \ou come to- J''"^'^' *¦'* ^ tongue,
,, r.i. r c r - i n • - hath a revelation,
gether for the purpofes of fecial worfliip, in h^th an interprcta-
•whi'ch all hearts Ihould unite, each of you is de- tion,
firous himfelf to officiate publickly, in fuch a
manner as beft fuiis his prefent inclination, with- :
out any regard to decency and order .'' Every one
ef you hath a pfalm to read, hath a doSirine to
inculcate, hath a tongue in which to preach or
jaray, haih. a revelation of fome myftery to pro
duce, hath an interpretation, which perhaps he
immediately begins, while the perfon, from
whom he is to interpret, hath but begun to
fpeak ; and thus five or fix '^, if not more, may be
t'lct ; perhaps the ill defigiis v.-hich had and ftate of tlie mind which fuoh a ftran-
rrought them into the alfembly, when ger might be confcious of. Many nie-
tliey came only as jp-a i and this was raorable inftances of which 7!i// happen,
-^vell fuited to thc purpof; of producing where minifters preach in an experimental
irrong convlftions of the prefence of God manner; and laftingcfFtfts haveoften been
with Chriftians. But I chofe to para ¦ produced, in confequence of fuch im-
fhrafe the words in Inch a manner, as to preflions.
include any remarkable correfpondence d Five of fix, fijfc] Five fuch caf.-s
'tetweenwhjtwas fpoken, and the thoughts we menli-jned. It feems probable, tbat
foiw

Tliofe who fpeak with tongues, flould fpeak in courfe.

337

tion. Let all things
ttedone to edifyii^^.

be fpeaking at the fame time: in confequence Sect,
of which no one can be dift-inftly heard, and the ^""

17 If any man
fpirak in an unknoivn
tongue, let it be by
two, OT at the moft
hy three, and that by
courie J and let one
interpret,. aS But if ttiere be
no interpVeter, let
him keep filence in
tKe church 5 and let
him

affcimbly degenerates into a kind of tumultuous i cor.
riot. I befeech you, my friends, to reftify this, XV.aS
and, to proceed upon the general canon, which
I vVould recommend to you upon all fuch oc
¬cafions, let all things le done, not for oftentation,
but far edificatian *", in fuch a manner as yoii do
in your confciences believe will b^ moft like to
do good to the fouls of men, and to build up the
church of Chrift.
And in particular, if any {hovXd fpeak with an 27
funJ:nQwn'\ tqngue, ^let it he^ by two, or at mafit
by\ three in one meeting, and that by courfe :
and let fome one prefent ftill interpret what is
faid ^. But if there be not an interpreter, let 28
him be filent in the church ^, where he can do no
' manner

Ibme of thefe Chriftians were fo full of
themfelves, and (o defirous of exercifing
their refpeftive gifts, that without wait
ing for the permiffion and direction of
him whoprefided in the afiembly, (which
in the jynagogue^ the apojlles themfelves
feem to have done, compare A€k.h xiii.
15,} feveral began fpeaking, or finging,
in- the fame minute, and fome beg^n
while others wei^ fpeaking. The man
ner in which difcourfes were carried on
in the fchools -of the pbilojopbers, where
feveral knots of dlfputants feem fo to have
been engaged at the fame time, and what
. happened in yeioiJ}j jytiagogues after wor
ship was concluded, might poffibly have
glvjn fome occafion to an irregularity
which to ua feems fo fliocking.
e Done for eti'tji cation.'^ I muft prefume
to fiy, that it .appears probable to me,
that had ove officer been appointed, as a
reprcfentative of the apoftle, to whofe di
reftion the fociety would in confcience
Jiave been obliged in all indifferent mat
ters to fubmit, fome hint would have been
given of it, amidft the many opportuni
ties which the ftate of this Corinthian
church efpecially, gave both to St.^Paul,
and afterwards to Clemens Romanus.
f Let cne interpret,"^ In this*method it
iS evident, that any difcourfe thus deli
vered, would take up more than twice the
time in which it might have been deli
vered had it firft been fpoken in a known
tongue. g If there be vo interpreter, ht bim he
flait,]^ Ur. Whitby thinks this was only
enjoined to avoid the oftcntaLiffn of a

man's fpeaking, firft in an unknown
tongue, and then afting as his own inter
preter ; but I think it evident, from this
text, compared with verfe 13, that a mare
might have the gift of fpeaking with
tongues, -wYiQ could mt interpret \ and thc
great,' difficulty is to fay, how this could
happen, and yet the thing wanting not
.ht another tongue', which the diftinftion
between the gift of tonguei, and the inter
pretation of tongues, feems to demonftrate
that it was not, I can only offer a con-
jeJ}t:re here, which' it becomes me to do
with the greater modefty, as I think it h
a pretty fingular one ; (as indeed the" dif
ficulty itfelf, great as it is, has feidom
been ftated by commentators,) Th6 mi
racle, which conferred the gifts of tongues,
feems to have been the inllantaneous im-
preffing on the mind the familiar and per
feft knowledge of a language with which
the perfon was before unacquainted j yet fo,
that from that time the perfon receiving it
ihould be able, without any nWv miracle,
to ufe it as he thought fit, and this, a.'i
Uv, Leland well obferves, is the only hypo-
thefts on which the abufe of this gift can
be accounted for. (See Leland againft.
Morgan, Vol. I. chap. xiii. p. 375.) But
I apprehend, that though every man ufing
this gift, and underftanding what He faid,
muft have been able to have rendered his
difcourfe fentence by fentence, into his na
tive language,hemightbe unable to render ,
it into a third, which might be that of many
prefent. Now in fuch a circumftance, the
gift of interpntation might take place, if
it confifted, ag I conjefture it did, in an
inftantaneoue

33? Some oiie prefent fhould interpret what is faid.
i
Sict. manner of fervice by uttering -what none but him fpeak to himfelf^
^'"^"- himfelf can underlland ; and let him fpeak to him- ""^ "^ ^°^
J Cor. felf, and to God; let him make ufe of this lan-
^^iv. guage in his own private devotions, if he has a
'^ mind by exercife to keep «p his readinefs in it :
but let him not produce it fo unreafonably, as
29 in the prefent cafe. And as for thofe pro- 29 Let the pro.
phefyings which we chiefly fpeak of, when tZ,'^!^^^^
Icriptures are explained; let ojily two or three other judge.
' of the prophets fpeak in one affembly ; and let the
reft judge, and compare one doftrine vvith ano- ,
30 ther for the farther improvement of all. But -ia if any tVing^x
if while the difcourfe continues, iany thing] be [V'^^^f '° ?""*"
-' , , , , r 1 1 I I.- '"^t utteth bv, 1st
revealed to another that fitteth by, let nim not the fi^ft hold his
immediately arife, and inten-iipt the firft ; but peace.
let him fit ftill, till he have done fpeaking^.
31 For .by this means ye may all, who are thus tut- 31 For ye may ail
nifhed for it, prophefy one by one, that your in- prophefy one by one,
ftrudion and confolatlon may not be thrown f„;\n"41 'col,":
away, -U'hich ivquld be the cafe, if many were f,rted.
fpeaking at once ; but all may learn, and all may
32 be comforted. And there is no impollibility of 3^ And theipirits
doing this; /.r the Spirit of God that infpires t^l'X ;i
yoa, is not a wild irrefiftible iixipulfe, like that, phets.
by which the Pythian prieftefs, and others -who
profefs ' infpiraition and prophefy* among the
Gentiles, pretend to be agitated ; but the fpirits,
or infpirations, of the Chriftian prophets produce
thofe calm emotions which are fubfi£t to the
prophets: they leave a man mafter of himfelf,
fo that he can moderate his paftions, and wait
the moft convenient lime and manner of utter- 33 ForGodisnot
1. 1 J-. r-i J - .fx/nr .1 ~l the author ot confu-
35 mg his oracle^. ForGodisnot^the^ [author^ fion, but of peace, a.
^f diforder and confufion, but of peade and rcgu- in
inftantaneous capacity of underftanding a ercifcd, it would always argue the petfon
lltrangL- language, juft for that time, and under an ifnniediate agency of the^Spirit,
rendering what was fpoken in it, into the and conduce'fo his ufefulnefs.
lutivc tongue of the interpreter. (Com- h Let the ftrft ha've done jpeakingtl*-^^^
f2\re ihe paraphraj'e oji chap, x'n, 'verfeio^) I think Tiyal^ muft here be rendered j for
On thh I'-'xpcihcfiSf and truly I thmk on if the direftion had been^ " Let him
this alone, one, who had the gift of in- " that was fpeaking immediately hold
terprctation, might not be able to fpeak *'- his peace, as foon as another intimates
2wy foreign language at all j and he who ** that he has a revelation;" it would in-
had the gift ot" a tdnguc, might not in troduce a confufion, which this advice
ibme circumftance be able to Interpret to was intended topreventj and 1 thinkfuch
thofe who werd then hJs hearers. In this an interpretation equally inconfiftent with
I cafe, the gft of interpretatiotj, enabling a reafon, and the conneftion of the place*
man only to aft a fecondary part, ,wouId Compare, verfe 32, 33.
4*c lefi iplendid j but v.'henevcr it was ex-

Ths women muft bf filent in their reUgious affemblies:

339

\n all chu):ches ef
the faints.

34 Let your wo
men keep filence in
the churches : for it
is not permitted un
to them to fpeak ; but
tbey are ctmimanded to
be under. obedience,
as alfo faith the law.

35 And if they
will learn any thing,
let them alk their
hulbands at home :
for it is a Ihame for a
woman to Ipeak in
the church.

36 'What ? came
the word, of God out
from you ? or came
it unto you only ?

I Cor.3J

larity ; and this orderly method of proceeding. Sect
I the rather urge upon you, as it is praftifed in '"'^"
all the other churches of ihe faints : and I fhould
be forry, that you, my Corinthian friends,
Ihould be remarkable for the irregularity of
your proceedings, when God hath been pleafed
fo gracioufly to diftinguiih ¦ you by fuch a- va
riety of gifts, and the flourifhing ftate of your
fociety. Let your women he filent in your religious J-f
affemblies, if they have not fome extraordinary
revelation ; for it is not commonly permitted to
ihem to fpeak on fuch public occafions, but it is
their duty to be in fubje£lion to the fuperior au
thority of the man : as the Iqw alfio fays, in
recording that early fentence on Eve "and her
daughters for the firft tranfgreflion, (Gen. iii.
16,) To him fhall be thy defire fubjefted, and
he fhall rule over thee. ' And if they have « 35
mind to learn 'the meaning of any thing which
they cannot well underftand, lei ihem afk their
own hufbands at home, as they may more. conve
niently and freely talk with them, without any
appearance of oftentation, or fufpicion of any
other ill principles: but let them not break in
upon the affambly with queflions ; for it is evi
dently an indecent thing for a Woman to fpeak in
the church ', and fuits very ill with that modefty
and referve -yvhich is fo univerfally efteemed an
ornament to the fex.
I know the prefent cuftom among you is con^ 36
trary to fome of thefe regulations, and perhaps
fome oppofition may be made to them : but per
mit me to afk, Did the word of God indeed come
out from you ^ ? Are you the firft church in the
vy^orld, by whofe example all others fhould be
modelled ? Or did ii reach io you alone .^ Are you

i A woman to jpeak. See.] There is an
apparent difficulty in reconciling this virith
chap, xi. 5, 13, in which the apoftle feem?
to grant a liberty, which he here denies.
Befides thc folution fuggefted in the pn-
raphraje on verje 34, fome have thought,
he intended in the former paffage only
^ to fay, how women fliould fpcik, if they
fpoke at allj Lut here abfolutely to prohiiit
their doing it : tut I cannot think he
-jvoulj debate and adjuft the circumftance^

of doing an unlawful aftion. Taking this
prohiliition to be univerfal, I fliould fup
pofe with Dr.'Whitby, that prophejying in
thc foregoiilg place, fignified finging
pjalms, and praying, not leading the de
votions, hut joiriing tvith others in prayer-
¦ k Dili the Ward, &e.] Thutjcepticijm,
nuhether did the word of God come forth
from you alone, would be the exafteft
verfton ef n a<p vfAm, &c. the

340 The Apoftle exhorts ihem to regard thefe as divine precepts,-
Sect, the laft, and the only Chriftian fociety, that you
^^^"' fbould take upon you to act in fo fjngular a man-
iCor. ner? The gofpel came from Jerufalem, it is
3£iv. going all over the world, and therefore I muft:
$ admonilh you to behave with fuch a modeft
refpeft to others as becomes thofe who know
yourfelves to be but a very fmall part of that
noble and extenfive body.
37 And if any of yon appear to be a prophet, or
fpiritual [pe'j^i:] endo\\'ed with extraordinary
gifts above his brethren, let hint prove that he is
indeed under the influence of th-e Divine Spirit, that the things that!
by his fubmiirion and obedience to thefe deter- '""'^ ""'" y") '«
minations : for he muft neceffarily acknowledge, of°the^l!oiT" ^'""
that the things which / novy write unto you, are
she commandments of the Lord, diftated by in
fpiration from him, and not the private concep^

37 If any ma„
think himfelf to ben
prophet, or (pirftual,
let him acknowledge

¦^8 tion of mv own mind.

3-8 Bntif anyman
be ignorant, let hin)
be ignorant.

But ij an\ one is, or
affefts to appear, ignorant, or uncerlain about
it, let him heignorani ' : if he pretend not to own
fhefe decifions, 1 (hall not enter into any debate
with him -, let him ftand by the confequence
of his ignorance, whether real or alFcfted. But
lam confident, that raoft of you have received
proofs of my million, too convincing to be
ihaken by any, petulant oppofition which may
arife againft it.
39 Therefore, my brethren, to conclude this long
difcourfe, and to fum up the point in a few
wordSj defire chiefly ta prophefy, and yet forbid
not -thofe who are willing to do it, under fuch tongues.
regulations as I have advanced, to fptak with
tongues ; for it is a noble endowment, which I
¦would encourage none to flight or negleft. '
40 But efpecially remember this great comprehen- 40 Let all things
five rule, to be applied to a thoufand varieties l"= done decently, and
¦whkh ma-y asiit, Let all things be done decently'^, "^°' ^'
end according to order : let all be condufted in a

3 9 'Wherefore, bre-
thren, cov.-t to pro
phefy, and forbid
not to fpeak with

1 l.et him be ignorant.] Dr, Whitby
would render ayioRte, let him not be ac-
SriM^oledged to he a true prophet j but that
is changing the interpretation of the word,
in tt manner one would not choofe to ad-
Ka-it withowt greater neceflity,
m Benntly, &c.] It muft be by a mere'
aficommodation, that this expreffion can
&e applied to ceremcn'iez,' which may' be
, «i8cent 01 ifld«eejit, according to different

circumftances attending them'. In the
fenfe given in the paraphrafe, the words
are ufed by the ph'iloftpher, when he ex
horts them to confider the exaft order and
regular motions of the heavenly liodies,
that they may thereby learn to iuc-xif-"''
Kat TO -relayfA.z^ov, what is decent and or
derly. WhicbcoCsSel.Serm. p. m.Edin^
Edit. regular

Refleiiions on 'tht ufe ef the miraculous gifts.i 341
regular maimer, to prevent fuch difhirbances, Sect,
difputes, and fcandals for the future, as have al- *="'"•
ready arifen in your fociety, and will proceed to "^ 
greater evils, if you do not immediately fet upon %P,^'
reforming them.

40

IMPROVEMENT.
Ho'w fondly do men latter themfelves with empty appear
ances ! And pften, how juftly do thofe deferve the imputation
of childifh folly, the height of whofe temper will leaft allow them
to bear it ! Let us dare to examine ourfelves impartially, and be y^^^
concerned that we may not he ehfidren in underjlanding : but j^
forming our minds on the maxims of fcripture, and our lives on
the example of Chrifl, -may we grow up in him to the meafure of
the ftature of a perfeSi man. But let us be children in malice;
let us endeavour to be as free from every gloomy, malignant,
felfifh paflion, a^ new-born infants are. Who can fay he has fully
attained this happy and amiable charafter t Yet let us follow
after it ; remembering, that there is a fenfe, in which, (proud
and interefted, envious and malignant, as alas ! we too much are,)
we muft become as Utile children, or we cannot inherit ihe kingdom
of God.
Thofe extraordinary gifts, which fiiited the firft planting of
Chriftianity in the world, are now'ceafed ; but let us blefs God,
they were ever given ; and that we have fuch an inconteftable
evidence of the truth of the gofpel as this chapter affords. Such
endowments muft certainly argue a Divine power, fetting its feal
to the gofpel ; and the reality of fuch endowments can never be
queftioned, when we refleft on the manner in wh ch the apoftle
here reproves the abufe of them : and that in a fociety where fb
many were alienated from him and his miniftry; and confequently,
where fuch appeals, if not founded on the ftrifteft and moft ap-^
parent truth, muft have expofed him to a contempt never to have
been removed.
Thefe miraculous gifts, having abundantly anfwered their ehd, 24,25
are wifely withdrawn ; yet ftill the Divine prefence is w^th the
church ; of which we have tbis happy proof, that there are thofe,
¦vA\oii'c\^ the fecrets of their hearts made manifeft, by the faithful
and fkilful adminiftration of Chriftian ordinahcesj fo that if they
do not publicly _/«// down upon their faces, in fuch extraordinary
tranfports, they inwardly adore the Lord God in tiieir hearts, and
acknowledge thai he is with his church of a truth. ' May inftances
of this kind be more frequent, and may the fpirituality and fervour
with which Divine ordinances fhall be adminiftered, be fuch as
inay afford more reafon to expeft them !
Let us regard God, as ihe author, not of confufton, but of 2"^
peace :

342 The Apofile puts the Corinthians in mind,
s-LCT. peace : making it our concern to behave in his fanftuary, in a
"'"'"' manner agreeable to this view ; with fuch folemn decorum, and
w.ith fuch a tender regard tb the edification and comfort of each
other, as he may approve. May the God of peace deliver Chr'tf.
tians, of every feft, and rank, from that fpiritual pride which has
thrown many religious focieties into great diforder. And, to advance
a ftate, fo happy, as that of humility and love muft neceffarily be,
'Verfe may what the apoftles have written, be acknowledged as the com-
37 mandments of the Lord; and Chriftian worfhip, and praftice, be
more regulated by their truly authentic canons ; - which would
render many that have been fince devifed, relating to indifferent
matters, as unneceffary, as fome others are burdenfome, fuperfti
tious, and abfurd.

SECT. XXVIII.
The Apoftle enters pn his difiourfie concerning the i-efurre^ion of tht
dead; which he, introduces with fome remarks on the certainty
and importance of Chrift's refurreSiion. i Cor, XV, i — u.
I Corinthians XV, I. iCor, xv. i.
Sect, rpHERE is one topic more that remains to M^^^^^^^j^j'^^"]'^'^-
xxvm- X ijg handled, of thofe concerning which you „„((, you"the gofpd
I Cor, write to me ; I mean, the great doftrine of the which I preached un-
XV. I refurreftion of the dead -, which I perceive fome '° y™' "''''"^''. "'J"
among you begin to doubt ; whether feduced by Indwh'^einyTtodi
any Jewifh teachers ot Sadducean principles, or
biafl'ed by the vain pretences of heathen philo
fophers, who would defpife it.as a mean and un
worthy hope *; Bui I make known unto you,
brethren, and remind you of the gofpel which I
have preached io you at the very beginning of
my miniftry among you ; which ye have alfo re
ceived with readinefs and delight, and in which
ye may be faid to ftand, as much of your elta-
blilbment in Chriftianity will depend on your
» Unworthy hope.] It is well known, an unequal diftribution of rswards snd,
that the prinjitive Chriftians were ofte.-i puni'lhroents, as could not oth-rwife take
infulted by the heathen philojopbers, for place under the government of a righteous
their hope of a refurreflion ; which one God. If Chriftians were by this tempted
of them, ridiculouHy enough, calls t/ic fo to refine on the doftrine of the re/ur-
hope of worms. Comp.ire 2 Tim. xi. i&, reBion, as in eft'eft to explain it away, it
and the note there. Others taught virtue fliews the propriety of the apoftle's fetfmg
to be its own neceffary reward, in fuch a himfelf to prove the refurreftion of
manner as tended to overthrow the Chriftians, rather than a refurreftion in

ftrongeft of all natural arguments for a fu- general.
ture ftate j I mean, that taken from fuch

retaining

if the evidence of fhe refurreSlion of Chrifl^

343

2 By which alfo ye
afe faved, if ye keep
in memory what I
preached unto you,
unlefs ye have be
lieved in vain,)

3 For I delivered
unto you firft of all,
that which I alfo re
ceived, how that
Chrift died for our
fins according to the
fcriptures ;

4 And that he was
buried, and that he
rofe again the third
day, according to the
fcriptures :

5 And that he was
fee» of Cephas, then
•1 the twelve.

retaining it in its genuine fimplicity and purity r Sect.
By which gofpel alfo, whereof the doftrine of '"^"".
the refurreftion makes fo confiderable a part, ye , Cor.
are happily brought into the way of being Com- XV, a
pletely and eternally faved, if lye faithfully re
tain '" thofe joyful tidings which 1 deUvered unto
you : unlefs indeed ' ye have believed in vain :
which will certainly be the cafe, if ye let go that
great anchor of your foul which niuft fupport
it in the fierce ftorms and tempefts to which
you will here be expofed. For I delivered io 3
you among ihe firft [principles'} which I incul
cated, when I came to preach the gofpel among
you, what I have alfo received , and been 1
taught by Divine infpiration, the/i Chrift died
for our fins according io the fcriptures of the Old
Teftament, in which he was forett>ld, and re
prefented, as the great Sia-offering; (Ifai. Iiii, 6,
1 2 ; Dan, ix. 26,} And I alfo inftrufted you, 4
thai he was buried in a new tomb ; and that his
dead body was kept by a guard of his enemies :
but kept in vain, for to their confufion, and the
perpetBal eftablifhment of tlie faith and hope
of his huipble followers, he was raifed the third
day, according, io ihe fcriptures % which intimate,
that he fhouW not fee corruption in the grave.
(Pfal. xvi, 10.) And in confirmation of this 5
great truth, I told you, thai the fame day that
he rofe, he was feen firft of Cephas, or Peter, to
whom, that he might comfort his wounded
heart under its forrows for his late fall, he con-
defcended to make his firft appearance, except
ing that to the women at the fepulchre; and

l> Retain.] So nnTEyfii evidently fig
nifies. To keep in memory iii^-^^iii a very
inadequate fenfe.
c Unlefs 'indeed.] R'rjc; =1 /aij is a very
remarkable forrri of expreffion. Perhaps
there may be more in it than mort: readers
ate aware. If I miftake not, it fuggefts
the thought exprefl'ed, verfe 17. So the
two firft verfes may be a tranfition; as if
hc had faid, I preach the fame gojpel ilill,
and I hope you wifl retain itj yecI have
rtafon to fear fome of you entertain no
tions which tend quite to enervate it.
i Received.] For the import of this
phrafe, lee Gal. i. 12 ; i Cor. xi. 23.
e RaiJ'eJ the third day, .^c.-orjirg to the

jcriptures.] It has been queried, where
the jcriptures foretell, that Chrift ihould
rife from the d;ad. on the third d*y.
Some think there is z tranfpoftt'ion, or pa
renthefts-, fo tiiat the meaning \.\'^ be, he
rofe ag.-iin, according to the fcriptures -, ani
this on the third day, Chand. of Chriftia..
''-'')'> ?• 370; ^t^^ '0 Dr. B-jllick replies,
that he would h.rve rifen according to thi-
jcriptiires, had it been on the fifth or tenth
daw [Bull. rind. p. 48.) But Mr. J,j/. .
r'lci, whom I follovv in the paraphraje,
gives what appeared to me the bell folu
tion, as it is intimated, John xi, 39, that
bodies began to corrupt on the fourth day.
See ^eft'. Review, p, 1117, aftenvctrdi

6 After thit, he
was feen of abiiVe five
hundred brethren at
once : of whom the
greater part remain
unto this prefent, but
fome are fallen aflcep.

344 Who was feen hy the twelve, and above five hundrefi hrethren i
Sect, afterwards he was feen by that company who
^'^'''"- were called the twelve ' apoftles, though feveral
1 Cor, of the number were then abfent. Afterwards
XV. 6 he appeared according to his repeated appoint
ments, to above five hundred hrethren at once ^
' in Galilee, where he gave the moft glorious and
inconteftible proof of the reality of his refurrec-
tion, in the prefence of this great concourfe, of
whom ihe greater pari continue \_alive^ until
now, and conftitute a cloud of witneflis to this
important truth ; but fome are falUn afieep in
Jefus, and gone to dwell with him, as the great
Lord of life,
7 And you raay remember, I told you alfo, that
after this he was feen of James, and afterwards,
juft before his afcenfion, by all the apoftles ''.
8 But laft pf all he alfo appeared to me, ai to an
embrio, or one born out of due time, a poor,
weak, contemptible creature, from whom no
thing good was to be expefted, not -worthy of
the leait patience; how much lefs worthy of be
ing marked out with fuch diftinguifhing favours! „ p„ t ,„ ..
9 For I muft humbly acknowledge, and I -would leaii

7 After that, he
was feen of James !
then of all the apo
ftles. 8 And laft of all
he was feen of me
alfo, as of one bora
out of due time.

f Of the twelve.] It is certain, neither
Judas nor Thomas were there; and as
it is obferved below, James might pro
bably be abfent; but a§ the council of
tiL'iitty- three among the Jews might be
faid to be alTembled, if the greater part
v/ere prefent, though tlie number might
not be complete ; fo the company might
be called the tvjelve, though we Ihould
fuppofe the fourth part to liave been ab
fent. Compare Mark xvi, 14 j Luke
xxiv. 36 ; John xx. 26.
% Above five hundred.] Probably it was
in' Galilee, where there was fuch a num-
bel: of difciples ; though there were no
more than an hundred and twenty at Jeru
falem, when Matthias was chofen. Dr.
Pndeaux, Mr, Ditton, and many others,
urge this as a glorious proof of the refur
reftion of Chrift. Had it been an impof-
tuie, jo m'dny falfe hearts and tongues
could, never have afted in concert; nor
would they all have kept a fecret, which
rehiorfe, intereft, and perhaps often tor
ture, might urge them to divulge ; efpe
cially as there had been one traitor among
the twelve, on account of which, had
they been confcious of fraud, a general
fufpicion of each other's fecrecy muft have
arifen. See Pr'id. Lett. toaDe'ft, p. 24.1.

h By all the apoftles.] The change of
phraje, from that in the conclufion of the
^th verfe, is very remarkable; and, as a
very learned, candid and fagacious perfon,
has fuggefted to me, it very probably in
timates, that they who were there called
the twelve, that is, the greater, part of the
company who uled to be fo denominated,
were not all the apoftles. On which cir
cumftance this gentleman grounds a very
probable conjefture, that James might by
fjme accident, perhaps illnefs, or aft'airs
indifpenfably necelTary, be detained ftoni
meeting hii brethren, both on the day of
the refurreftion, and that day feventh-
night, and likev/ife at the time when
Chrift tip^etired to the ftve hundred -, and
that he might in this refpeft,, be upon a
level with them, our Lord appeared to
him al:iic, after all the appearances men.
tioned before. And this account of the
matter appears vaftly more credible than
that whicii St. Jerome q-jotes from the
gojpel of thc Naxarcnes, that on the death
of Chrift, James mad$^ a vow, that he
would neithef eat nor drink till he law
Chrift rifen from the dead : an event ot
which the apoftles had certainly no ex-
p.cftation. continually

and lafi of all, by the apoflle Paul himfelf

lead: of the apoftles, ,
that am not meet to
be called an apollle,
becaafe I perfecuted
the church of God.

10 Bdt by the
grace of God I am
what I am : and his
¦ grace which ivas he-
ftoioed upon mc, was
hot in vain ; but I
laboured more abun
dantly than chey all :
yet not I, but the
grace of God which
was wich me.

ii Therefore, wrhe-
tlier V ivert I or they,
fo we preach, and fo
. ye beheved.

345
continually bear it in my mind, that / am ihe Ssct.
haft of all the apoftles, who am not indeed worthy "'"'"'¦
to be called an apoftle, becaufe I perfecuted ihe i Cor.
church of God ; on which account, confidering XV. 9
the tranfports of my favage zeal, I think myfelf
hardly deferving to be numbered amongft the
ineaneft followers of my Divine Mafter, and
lefs than the Ieaft of' all faints. (Eph. iii. 8.)
But by ihe grace of God I am what I am, a 10
Chriftian, an apoftle, and not inferior to any of
my honoured brethren in that office ; and his
grace \rnanifefted'\ towards me, iri - raifing me to
fb high a dignity, and fo happy a ftate, was not.
difplayed in vain : but I laboured more abun
dantly than ihey all, confcious that I could never
do enough to balance the mifchief I had for
merly committed, or anfwer the obligations
under which fuch rich ahd diftinguifhing-merc^y
laid me. I exerted myfelf therefore to the ut
moft in my apoftblical work ; which fliould, by
the way, f hel ter me from the contempt which
foine are ready to throw upon me : yei, to fpeak
miOre properly, it was not I, but the grace of
God that was with me i- God furnifhed me for
the work, he excited me to diligence and zeal
in it ; to him be the glory of all. His grace II
was the caufe of all ; and whether therefore I, or
ihey, laboured moft, and to who^ifoeVer we de
livered our melfage, whether among you, or
eWswhere, fo. we preach, and fo ye believed. All
agree in bearing our teftimony to the death, and
refiirreftion of Chrifl, and ye, with all other
Chriftians, have agreed to receive it, as the great
foundation of our holy religion.

Improvement.
Let it be the daily joy of our hearts, to think how firm that
foundation ftands, and what various and convincing evidence
we have, that as Chnft became incarnate, vifited this wretched Verfe
world, and died for our fins, according io ihe fcriptures ; that as 3
he condefcended to go dovi-n into the caverns cl the grave, and
lie there in the cold and filent tomb, humbled in the duft of 4
death ; fo alfo accordifig to the fame fcripiura, he was raifed
again on ihe third day. Let us be very thankful that fuch con
vincing proof was given of his refurreftion, demonftrated by fuch
infallible tokens, and rebeated appearances, to all the apoftles ;
Vot. IV. Z who

346 Refleiiions on ihe evidence of Chrift's refurre£iion.
Sect, -who had evfry opportunity the moft fcrupulous doubt could de-
'"^^"'' mand-, of examining at leifure into its certainty. More than five
Verfe hundred perfons were witneft'es to ii at one time ; and witnefles, who
^furvived to many future years to atteft this important fa£f, that
our faith and hope tnight be in God : in God, who quickeneth the
dead, and who by this refurreiilon of Jefus his Son, hath begotten
us again to a lively hope of an inheritance, incorruptible, undefted,
and that fadeth not aWay. As we have received, fo let us fiand
I faft in this doflrine ; and remember, that our falvation depends on
i our rtedfaflly retaining it, and that we believe in vain, and worfe
than in vain, if we ever, on any confiderations, make fhipwrecp of
faith, atid of a good confcience.
It is matter of joy and thankfulnefs, that St. Paul was added to
this cloud of witneifes, who attefted the refiirreftion of Jefus;
that great apoftle, in whom the grace of God was fo richly mag
nified ; magnified particularly in that humility which he herfc
9 expreffes in fo amiable a manner ; calling himfelf the leaf of the
apoftles, and declaring that he was unworthy of the name of an
apoftle; and amidft all the labours and glories of this eminent
ftation in the church, ftill keeping in his eyes that madnefs with
which, in the days of his infidelity, he had wafted it. Shall we not
10 all learn of him to fay. By the grace of God I am what I am f Let
us be folicitous, that his grace beftowed upon us be not in vain;
and ever bearing in mind the many fins of our unconverted ftate,
and our great unprofitablenefs^«re wi have known God, or rather
been known of him, let us labour in our Lord's fervice with pro-
portionable zeal ; and when we have laboured to the utmoft, and
exerted ourfelves with the greateft fidelity and refolution, let us
afcribe it to that Divine agency which ftrengthened us for all, and
fay again, though fome fliould efleem it a difagreeable tautology.
A'«{ /, but ihe grace of God that was with me.
SECT. XXIX.
The Apoftle friews the neceffary connexion between the refurxeHim
of Chrift, wh'ich he had eftablijhed abotie, and the refiurre£iion of
the dead : -and urges the importance of retaining that great
fundamental of Chriftiahity : in the jeries of his argumenf
mentioning the furrender cf the mediatorial kingdom ivhilh
Chrift Jhdll make at the ronjummaiion of all things, i Cor. XV.
12—34. I CORIKTHIANS XV. 12. iCor, XV, IJ.
Sect, you have heard, my brethren, fomething N^^'^'^rf
^^^^' of the convincing evidence which attend-
, Cor. ^ *his great and important dodliine of Chrift's
XV, 12 refurreiSlion^

If ihe dead rife not ai all, ChriJi is notraifed:

Jreached that he
rofe from the dead,
how fjy fome among
you, that there is no
refurreftion of the
dead?

13 But if there be
no refurreftion of the
dead, then Chrift is
not rifen,
14 And if Chrift
be not rifen, then 'ts
our preaching vain,
and your faith 'is alfo
vain.

15 'Vea, and we
are found falfe wit
nefles of God ; be
caufe we haveteltifi-
ed of God, th.it he
t-aifed up Chrift :
whom he raifed not
up, if fo be that the
dead rife not.

_ 16 For if the dead
rife not, then is not
Chrift raifed :
^ 17 And :f Chrift
be not raifed, vocir
faith is vain ; ye are
yet in your fins.

13

14

347
refurreftion ; hut 'if Chrift is thus preached, fhat §«<:t.
he was afluredly raifiedfrom ihe dead, how do
fome among you prefiime to fay. That there is no 1 cor.
refurreiiion of the dead? With what face can XV. iz
any, who allow of Chrift's refurreftion, pretend
to deny the other, whether out of an attach
ment to Sadducean, or philofophical prejudices ?
For it is certain, that if there is no reJurre£iion
ofi the dead, if that doftrine be in the general
altogether incredible, then neither is Chrift
raified ", And this would be a confequence,
at once the raoft falfe, and the moft melan"-
choly, that can be conceived; for ^ Chrift be
not raifed, then our preaching, which pretends to
take its authority fjom a commiflion after his
refiirreftion, in a view of declaring the certainty
of it [/V J vain ; and your faith, founded chiefly
upon the teftimony which God thpn bore to
him, pf] alfo vain. Tea, aW w^ the apoftles, 15
notwithfhinding 'all the miraculous evidences we
give of the truth of our miflion, are found,
what I am fure jou cannot believe we are, falfe
wltnefi'ei of God ; becaufe you know that We
bore this as our mofl important and folemn tefti
mony concerning God, that he raifed up Chrift,
whom neverthelefs he indeed did not raife up, if
the notion of a refurreftion in the general be,
as they teach, an abfurdity, and the dead rife
¦not all. I repeat it again, as a point of the 16
higheft confequence ; for if the dead are not
finally to be raifed, neither is Chrift raifed : And in
what terrible confequences would arife from
hence ? Surely fiich as might be fufficient to
ftrike us with horror : for if Chrift be nei raifed,
all your fa'ith in the gofpel [/V] vain, and ye are
without any falvation : ye are in that cuie. ftill ifi
your fins^, under the prdfure of their unexpiated

3 Neither is Chrift raifed.] This argu^
ment, on which the apdftle dwells in f i
Copio^us a manner, would appear to be of
l^reat moment, whatever the principici
were by which the doiSf-ine of the rtft.tr--
. reSion was afl'aulted. It could not be fald,
that was in its own nature impojjihle, \vh'ich
was accomplilhed in Chrift ; and it would
prove, that the hope of a refarr^^'ion wab
•not, as the Gentiles reprefented it, a m-'Jfl
rfnii Jilrelkl hope, fin«e it wit Keomflrfted

in the Son of God, Compare verfe i,
mte ". '
*i Still inyourftns.] This plainly (hews
how neceflary it was that there Ihould bt
fomething more than reformation, which
was plainly in fadt wrought, in order to
their being delivered from their lihs.;
even that atonement, the fufficiency of
-.vhich God attefted by Valfing our great
Surety from the grave.

Z'^

.guilt)

.348 But Chrift being raified, is the firft-fruits of them that fiepti

Sect, guilt; for with the doftrine of the refurrec-
^^'^' tion of Chrift, that of the efficacy of his atone-
I Cor, ment is infeparably- connefted. And then
XV. 18 alfo there would be this deplorable confequence
farther attending, that the^ who fieep in Chrift,
are perifhed ; even all deceafed Chriftians, not
excepting the, moft excellent of them, who have
died for their religion. They have loft their
' life and being together, on this fiippofition,
^ in the caufe of one, who, if ftill among the
dead, mull have been an impoftor, and falfe
prophet.
19 And this fcheme, which would reprefent thofe
that fleep in Chrift as periftied, would, 1 am fure,
be a very terrible doftrine to us the apoftles of
Jefus, in fuch a circumftance as this ; idrifi.'tt
were in this life only that ive have hope in Chrift,
we, who are expofed to fuch a variety of cala
mities and dangers for his fake, were of all men
in the world the moft pitiable '^ : fince it is evident,
fhat amidft fuch evils as thefe, nothing could
comfort and fiipport us, but the hopes of immor
tality ; and we muft bp at once the vileft, and the
' moft wretched of mankind, if, while we make
fuch pretences to them, we Were indeed governed
by any lower views.
20 But we will now dwell no longer on thefe me
lancholy fiippofitions, for we affiiredly know
that Chrift is indeed rifen from ihe dead^ ; \jind~\ we

18 Then they alfo
which ar.: fallen allcep'
in Chriit, are perifti
ed.

19 If in this life
only we, have hopein
ChriH, w; are of all
men moft miferable. /

20 But now is
Chrift rifen from the.
dead, ^ni^- be come the
fitft-

c Of all men the moft pitiable: lyituo-
li^oi.] It is quite foreign to the purpofe,
to argue from this text, as fome have done,
that *< if there were no future ftate, vir-
** tue would make men raore miferable
•* than they would otherwife be." It is
evident, St. Paul here fpeaks, not of the
cafe of good men 'in general, if their hopes
cf future happinefs Ihould after all be dif
appointed ; but of the cafe of the apoftles,
and other preachers of Chriftianity, if
imidft all their hardlhips and perfecutions,
they were not fupported by this hope.
Deftitute of .this amidft the extremeft fuf
ferings, they muft have been perpetually
fubjedtcd to the upbraidings of their own
minds, for facrificing every view of hap
pinefs in this world or another, to ad
vance what they knew to be a pernicious
falfehood. Perhaps there never were men
on earth fo criminal, and fo wretched, as
they muft, on this fuppofition, have been.

See the thought illuftrated at large in my
Sermons on the Power and Grace of Cbrip,
&CC. Serm. ix. p. 259 — 262.
d Chr'ift is indeed rifen, Sec.] It is a
great miilake to imagine that tne apjile
is employed throughout this chapter in
proving the rejurrcBion. The proof lies
in a very little room, chiefly verfes u—
19, and almoft all the reft of the chapter
is taken up in illuftrating, vimlicat'mg, or
applying it. The proof is indeed very
Ihort, but moft folid and convincing— that
whicii arofe from Chrift's refurreftion.
Now that not only proved a refurreftioii
to be in faft not impoftible, but, which wa!
much myre, as it^ proved him to be a Di-»
vine Teacher, it proved the do^riue of a
general refurreftion, which he fo exprefsly
taught. It was natural for fo good a
man alfo, to infift on the fad confe
quences which would follow with refpeft
to himfelf and his brethren, from giving up

For as all die in Adam^ all Jhall be made alive in Chrifl :

firft-fruits of theni
that fl'--pc.
ZI For fince by
man ca ;:e d:.ich, by
man cumc alio the
relui-.-jCUoii of the
dead.

22 For as in Adam
all die, even fo in
qhria fhall all be
made alive.

23 But every man
in his own order :
Chrin-thsfii-ft-fi-iiits,artervv:u-d they that
arc Chvlft's, at his
V-oming.

24 Then conieth
fhe end, when he
ihall have' delivered
>ip the kingdorh to
(iod, ev<;n the Fa
ther J when he jhalJ
hawc put down all
rule,

349
we are fure, that in this his refurreftion, he is Sect.
become' ihe firji fruits of ihem ihat fifpt'; fo ^^'^'
that it is the fecurity of ours. For as death , cor.
[came^ on the whole human race by means of X'V,2i
one man, who brought mortality on all his pof
terity as the confequence of that one great of- ,
fence, fo likevjife by means of another man
[cometh] the refunemon of the dead ; and our
happy relation to him abundantly repairs the
damage we fuftained by our fatal relation to thc
former. For as in Adam all are dead, and a 22
fentence of inevitable death is come upon us all,
as defcended from him ; fo we Chriftians have
a joyful perfuafion for ourfelves, and for our'
brethren, that, (though we are neither capable of
efFedling or meriting fuch a change,) /// Chnft we
all fhall alfo be made alive. But it was fit that 23
every one fliould be re-animated, raifed and glo
rified in his own order: it was fit that Chnft,
aiter a very fhort abode in the grave, fhould rife
as the firft-fruits, and as fuch -fhould prefent
himfelf to God, and ufb his recovered life in his
fervice ; and ihey who are Chrift's property, the
whole body of thofe that belong to him, mould
be raifed up a confiderable time afterwards, and
appear as a glorious harveft in full maturity," at
the important hour of his coming, when his Voice
ftiall awaken, and his almighty hand reftore
them. And then \^Jhalf\ the end of the world [be, ] i^
the grand cataftrophe of all thofe wonderfiil
fcenes that have held in fufpence fo many fuc
ceeding generations ; when he Jhall publicly and
folemnly deliver up ihe mediatorial kingdom to
God, even the Father, by whofe commiflion he . ,
has held it, and to whofe glory he has alway,s
adminiftered it j when he fhall have abolifhed ^
« and

up fo glorious a hope ; ind the cordial
manner in which he fpeaks of this, is a
noble internal argum-int, ' which I hope
many of my readers will feel, though I
ha\^e been obliged to be lefs copious in
the paraphraje than I could have wifhcd.
e Firft -fruits 3/ them that ftept.] It is
without fulBcient reafon, that Mr. Flem
ing, [Chrift. 'Vol, 1. p, 218,) would ren
der atrap^n, ruler, governor, or comman-
d^.^-KeKoi/xii/ntyut here is expliiinetl by

)t«|«J59evlBf, verfe 18, and both mu^ re
fer to Chriftians, of whofe refurreftion
alone, and not that of the wicked, he
evidently fpeaks in this whole chapter.
f j^olijhed and- depofed.J The word
KAla^-ysouai generally lignilies, " diveft-
i< ing a thing of fome power, whether law-
" ful or ufurped, which it formerly had,
** and reducing it to an incapacity of exert-
<* ing that energy any more," Thus it is
ufed of Satan, Heb. ii. 14; of death here,
Z 3 ' ani

And death, the laft enemy, JhaU be deftroyed.

3SO Si":'!'- and depofed all principality, and all authority
 _¦ and power, that has oppofed itfelf to his govern-
i Cor, ment-, and (hall have triumphed over all the ef-
XV, 24. forts, which either men or devils, could ever
make againft his ever-growing empire and do-
'2.^ minion. For we know, that according to the
tenor of that ancient (jrophecy, (Pfal, ex. i,)
which carries with it fo illuftrious a reference to
the Meffiah and his kingdom, he muft reign, t'lU
he have put all [his] enemies under h'u feet ; fo
as that they fhould become his footftool, and
fubferye that exaltation which they have endea-
26 voured to prevent. And fo univerfal fhall the
triumph be, that the very laft enemy, [even]
death, Jhall be depofed and deftroyed : that
enemy which continues in fome meafiire to hold
, the fubjedls of Chrift under its dominion, even
when the temptations of the world, and the ma
lice of Satan, can hold them no longer, and when
every remainder of corrupt nature and human
infirmity has long fince ceafed in the perfeft ho
linefs of the intermediate ftate, and its un
mingled ferenity and joy.
2n This, I fay, muft neceffarily be implied : for
it is elfewhere faid, he haih put aU things under
his feet, (Pfal, viii. 6,) and it muft accordingly
be accomplifhed ; but [it is] m</^«/. enough, thai
when he faith, ihat all things were fubjeSied to
him, /'/ is with the exception of him by whom all
things were thus fubjeSied to him. None can
finely imagine, that the Son was ever to reign
over the great and glorious Father of all \ but on
the contrary it may naturally be concluded, that
he would ftill direft his adminiftration to the
glory of him from whom he received his king-
28 dom. But when the Father ftiall have ful
filled this promife in its utmoft extent, and all
tilings jhall be fuhjeiied to him, fo that it fhall
appear to every eye, that he is indeed Lord of
all ; then JhaU the Son alfo himfelf, amidd all the
glories ot that triumph, be, and declare himfelf
10 he,fuhie£ito him that fubjeSied all things to
h'lm'^, by a public aft, in the midft of this moft
augufl

rule, and all autho.
rity, and power.

25 For hc muft
reign till he hath put
all enemies under his
feet.

26 Thelafteneniy
that ihall be deftroyed,
'ts death, ,

27 For he h^th
put all things under
his feet. But when
he faith all things are
put under h'lm, it is
manifeft that he Js
excepted which did
put all things under
him*

28 And when all
things Ihall be fub.
dued unto him, then
Ihall the Son alfo
himfelf be fubjedl
unto him that put all
things- under him,
, that

kid verfe 26, a^d 2 Tim. i. 10 ; of tem- g Then ftall the Son aljo himfelf pi jni-
pcral fr'inces, I Cor. i, 2X, chap, il, 6-; jeB, &c,] I hope I Ihall be forgiven, if
and ol the ceremonial law, Eph, ii, 15. after the beft-attemion I could ufe, I ham

Why elfe are perfons baptized in the room of the dead ?

that God raay be all
i-n all.

29 Elfe what Ihall
they do, which are
baptized for tlie dead, if

auguft-aftembly, giving up, as it were, his com
miffion to prefide as univerfal Lord in the me
diatorial kingdom, to him; as having anfwered i Cor,
the end for which it was given him, in the com- XV,28
plete falvation of all his people, whom he ftiall
tlicn introduce into -a ftate of the greateft near-
nefs to God, and moft intimate convej-fe with
him ; thai •God may be, and that he may appear
to be, all in tfll; that they all may enjoy com
plete and everlafting happinefs, in the tu,ll com-
municalion ,of the Divine favour to th^m, foj
ever, in a world where they fhall no longer nee^
a Mediator to introduce them to him.
Such are our views and hopeSj as Chriftians ; 29.
elfe if it were not fo, what Jhopild ihey dq, jiiko
are bapii-zed in token of their embracing the
Chriftian faith in ihe room of ihe ^ead '', who
are juft fallen iu the caufe of Chri ft, "but are y6t
fupported by a fiicceftion of new cpnverts, who
immediately offer themfelves to fill up their
places, as ranks pf foldiers, that adyan^qe to the

miffed the true .and ex^ft fenfe of this
moft d'lfticult text. It is furprlfing to find
¦authors' of futh different fentiments, as
Witfius, and Crellius, agreeing to fpeak
of Chrift, as returning, as it were, to a
private ftation, and being •< as one of
" his brethren" when he has t'nus given
op the kingdom. The anion of the Di-
vjne and human natures in the perfon of
- the great Emanuel, the incomparable
virtues of his charafter, the glory of his
aftions, and the relation he bears to his
people, with all the texts which ilTert the
perpetuity of his government, prohibit
our imagini«g that he ^ail ever, ceafe
to be illuftriouHy diftinguiJhcd from all
others, whether men or angels', in the
heavenly worhd through eternal ages.
To me it appears, that the kingdom to
be given up, is the rule of this lower
'World, which is then to be confumed ;
a.id tdat it may feem, as if a province
of his empire were deftroyed, his admi
niftration, undertaken in ayowed fub-
fervience to the fgheme of redemption,
(Eph. i, 10,^ and compleated in the refur-
j-efl:ion of M his people, fhall clofe in a
decent itndi honourable manner j God will
/declare the ends of it fully anfwered, and
the whole body 'of his people Ihall be in-
troduQed iy htm into a ftate of more
intimate approach to, and communion
wt^ (faif than had been known by tbe

fpirits of the bleffe^ In ttufU fe,paj-nte
ftat.c, . - ..i ,
b ^160 are iaptixed in the room of the
dead.] 1% would bie almoft endlefs to
enumerate, jnd much more to canvafs, all
the interpretations which have bejn given
of this obfcure and ambiguous phraje,
uTTip TtiT' i£iLp-jj-j. I think that of Sir
Richard Ellys, which I-have given in the
paraphraje, much preferable to ?ny other.
See Fortuita Sacra, p. 137, &c. As
for other interpretations, there is no
reafon to btlieve, th.it the fuperftitious
cuftom, mentioned by Epiphanius, of
baptizing a living perfon, as reprefenting
one who had died unbaptized, is here re
ferred to ; it is more likely to have r'lfen
from a niiftake of t.his pafl'age, than to
h-ive been fo early prevalent, Mr, Cra-
dock's fLippofing it to allude to walhing
dead bodies, neither fuits the grammar,
nor really makes any fignlficant fenfe.
Nor is there any need of fuppofing, that
vixp^D-i' is put tor yEKp», and' refers to their
being baptized into the religion of Jefus,
who, on the adverfary's hypothefis, is ftili
dead. The fenfes, which Crellius, 'and
bifliop .Atterbury maintain, dift'er fo little
from each other and that we have given,
that it naay fuflice to -fay, that each ex
preffes but a part of the- fenfe, and lofes
fomething of the fpirit which we appre
hend in thefe words.
Z 4 combat

35*

And why are the iipoftles expofed to danger every hour ?

Sect, combat in the room of their companions, who
have juft been flain in their fight. 7/" the doftrine
1 Cor. I oppofe, be true, and the dead are not raifed at
xy. 29 all, why are they neverthelefs thus baptized in
the room of the dead, as cheerfully ready ai the
peril of their lives to keep up the caufe of Jefus
30 in the world ? And indeed, how could my
conduft be accounted for in any other light, but
by fuppofing, that we aft with a fteady and go
verning view' to this great principle, and this
giorioiis hope ? fVliy otherwife are we every hour
expofed to fo much danger, in the fervice of a
mafter from whom it is evident we have no fe-
31 cular rewards to expeft i' Yet, my brethren,
/ do upon this folemn occafion proteft, and even
fwear to you, by the greateft of all alfeverations,
by our hopes and our joys as Chriftians, by our
rejoicing ' and confidence cpmmon to us all, and
which I with you hai^ie in Chrift Jefus our Lord;
I proteft, I fay, by this, that / daily die; that
is, that I am every day furrounded, as it were,
with death in its molt terrible forms, and bear
fo many evils, that every hour of my life feems
3'2 a new martyrdom. One great inftance of
this has fo lately happened, that I cannot for
bear mentioning it. If to fpeak after the man
ner of men, or to ufe a common proverbial phrafe,
I have, like a flave expofed upon a public theatre,
fought with wild beajis ai Ephefus ^^ having beei^

if the dead rife not at
all !¦ why are tljey
then baptized for the
dead ?

30 And why ftani)
we in jeopardy eyery
hour ?

31 I proteft by
your rejoicing v/hicii
I have ip Chrift Je
fus our Lord, 1 die
daily.

S2 If after th?
manner of men I
have fought with
beafts at Ephefus, what

i Qur rejoicing.] Our repeiyed copies
read it, vij.{l-z;.a-,, your rejoicing-, b.:t tbe
reading which I follow, feems fo much
more natural and eafy, that one can
fcarce forbear believing it authentic. Yet
it may be interpreted into a very pertinent
fenfe, ** I proteft by youf joys, which I
" do fo cordially take part in, that I may
*' Call them my own."
k Fought with -tvild beafts at Ephefus.]
The ftories which Nicephorus, [lib. II.
cap. 25,) and Theodorct give us, of an
encounter which St. Paul had with wild
beafts on the theatre at Ephefus, (fee
IV'itfti Mel. Fit. Paul. cap. viii. /aS. 23,
See.'] have been fo far regarded by Dr.
"Whitby, that he contends -for the literal
interpretation of this pafiage ; in favour
of which it is alfo urged, that had he
fpoken of brutal men, he would rather
have mentio.ned the afl'aults that were
made upon him at Lyftra, where he was

ftoncd, and fuppofed to be dead. But
the danger of being pulled to pieces
might be greater at,Ephafus ;. it^had hap
pened very lately, and as the fcene was
much nearer Corinth, 'it might be more
natural for him to mention it here. The
filence of St. Luke in his hiftory, as to fo
memorable an event, as a combat with
beafts would have been, and St. Paul's
omitting it in the large catalogue of his /
fufferings, (2 Cor, xi. 23,) together vrith
his known privilege as a Raman, citizen,
which would probably, as to be fure it
(hould legally, have prbtefted him from
fuch an infult, do all, (as Mr. Cradock,
and others have obferved,) favo.ur tl)e
figurative interpretation. And the ex-
preflTibn xala avBfoi-n.o-; after the maimer
cf men, or humanly jpeaUng, has a pro
priety on this hypothefis, which it cannot
have on the other, 'and feems to be quite
declfive.

^ifaulte^.

the apoftle Paul, particularly, at Ephefus ?

351

what advantageith it
me, if the dead rife
not ' let us eat and
drin)t, for to-morrow
we die.

33 Be not deceiv
ed : Evil communi
cations corrupt good
manners.

34 Awake to righ
teoufnefs, and fin
not 5 fqr fome have
not the knowledge of
God : I fpeak this to
your ihame.

aflaulted with the moft favage fury by a tumul- Sect.
tuous multitude there, what adviintage have I ^^^^'-
gained by fuch a combat, if my hop6s may not iCor.
be allowed to open into iijj niortality ? OtithcS^rS^
contrary, if the dead rife not at all, tlie epicurean
maxim might feem to be juftified, " htt us
" make the beft of this fliort life, which is the
" whole period of our being ; and giving up
" thofe fublime fentiments and purfuits which
" belong not to creatures of fo fhort and low an
" exiftence, let us eat arid drink, ftnce we are to
" die, as it vveje, to mo.rrow ', , or the next day :
" for fp little is the difference between one period
" of fuch a life, and another, that it is fcarce
'' worth while to make the diftinftion."
Be not deceived, brethren, but be upon your 33
guard againft fuch pernicious maxims and rea
fonings as 'thefe ; and if you value' either faith,
or a good confcience, do not' converfe fami
liarly with thofe that teach them ; for, as the poet
Menander well expreffes it. Good ma-nners are
debauched by talk profane "', Awake therefore, 34
as becomes righteous and good men", from the
intoxications of fuch - wild and delufive dreams
as thefe; and ftn not in fupporting or counte
nancing doftrines, fo fubverfive of the Chriftian
faith and hope ; for fome are ftill ignorant of God,
arid with the abufed light of Chriftianity know
lefs of him than well-improved reafon might
teach them. ¦ / fay this to your fhame, confider
ing how mijiph you boaft of your knowledge.

\ 'Let us not. Sec] This is the great
argument urged to prove, that by the re
furreftion of the dead St. Paul means a
future ftate. But the true folution feems
to be, 'that he writes all along upon a fup
pofition, that if fuch proof as hc had pro
duced of Chrift's refurreftion, were not
fo be^depended upon, we could have no
pertainty at all with refpeft.to any future
exiftence. And ;I muft deplare^ that it
feems to me, that the natural yguments
of the immortality pf the foul, and future
retributions, do appear to carry with them
great probability, notwithftanding all
that Mr, Hallet has offered to invalidate
them. Yet the degree of evidence is by
/lo means comparable to that, which,
admitting the truths of thf fafts alledged,
(he Corii^tbiiins muft have had of Chrift's

refurreftion, with which ours has fo ne
cefl'ary a connexion. And confeq.uentty,
had thefe proofs been given up, what'
might have been pleaded in favour of the
other, would probably have made very
little impreflion,
m Good manners are debauched.] Ttw
original words of Menander arS^an iambic
verje j I chofe therefore to tranflate them
thus, and" it is very agreeable to the,
Greek, in this connexion, which feems
to determine ofAtftmi Kauai to- profane
dijcourjes. ^ n Awake, as , becomes righteous men.']
As fome read for Jixai«{, J-ixarci, which
gives rather a more forcible fenfe, I chofe
this rendering, which is a kind of medium
between the two'readings. , which

354v RefleSiioHS on our refurreSiion from the dead.
iicT. which in this plain and important branch of it,
^^^ appears fo wretchedly deficient -, while you cul-
I Cor. tivate fo many vain fubtilties, which tend rather
£,v.34. to corrupt, than to exalt and perfeft your minds'.

IMPROVEMENT.
Well may -we rejoice, to fee the doftrine of our own refur-
Verfo reStion io clofely connefted in the facred writings, and efpecially
1 2- 1 6 in this excellent difcourfe of St. Paul, with that of our blelled
Redeemer ; as that they ftiould be declared to ftand, or to fall to-
20 gether. For Chrift is afluredly rifien from the dead, and become tht
ZS.-l'j^ firji-fruits ofi them that Jleep. He hath repaired, to all his fpiritual
feed, the damage that Adam brought upon his defcendants ; yea,
he is become to them the author of a far nobler iife, than the
pofterity of Adam loft by him.
l^-l'o I^t us meditate with unutterable joy on the exaltation of put
glorified Head, of our gracious Sovereign, wlio has conquered
death himfelf, and will m-ake lis patrt^ers of his viftory. He
hath received from his Father, glory, honour, and dominion ; and
¦ he fiall reign till his cpnqueft be univerfal and complete, and
till death be not only ftripped of its trophies, luvf rendered fiibfer-
vient to his triumphs; fhall reign, till all his purpofes for his
Father's glory, and his own, be finally accomplifhed.
27 But O, who can exprefs the joy and glory of thai day I ' when
Chrift iTiall give up the kingdom to the Father, and prefent unto
him all its faithful fubjefts, transforiiiied into his own image ; a
beautiful and fplendid church indeed, fpr ever tp be the objeft of
the Divine complacence, for ever to dwell in the Divine prefenqe,
in a ftate of the greateft nearnefs to God, who fhall then be all
28 in all. Well may the expeftation of this ilkiflrioiis period cheer
the Chriftian under his greateft extremities, and make him of all
men the moft happy, when otherwife, on account of his fuifer-
29. ings in the flefli, he might feem ofi all men the moft mifer&ble.
Well may this his rejoicing in Chrift Jefus, that facred oath,
which this perfecuted and diftrelfed aptftle, with fp fi-ibVuW a
31 fpirit, here ufes, encourage hira to go on, tliougli he be daily dying;
32,34. though he were daily to encounter the mod favage of mankintl,
and death itfelf in its moft dreadful forms. Well may this know
ledge of God, oi his gracious purpofes, and of his exalted Soii,-
itwaken us to righteoufnefs ; well may it deliver us from the bon
dage oi ftn.
Ltt us retain thefe noble principles of doftrine and aftionf
and guard ;igainft thofe evil coinmunicaiionr, thofe fceptical and
33, licentious notions, which would corrupt our fpirits, which would
enervate every generous fpark which the gofpel kindles up 1359 3
flame, and by bounding our views within the narrow circle of
mortd

But feme will fay^ How are ihe deai raifed up ?

niortal life, would degrade us from the anticipations of angelical S
felicity, to the purfuits of brutal gratifications. ^

355
ECT.
XXIX.

S E C T. XXX.
The Apofile anfwers ohjeSiions againft the refiurreSiion, drawn f rem
our not being able to conceive of the particular ?nanner in which
it JhaU be effeSied ; and concludes with urging it, as a mble in
centive to the greateft fteadinefs and zeal in religion, i Cor.
XV, 35, to ihe end.

1 Cok. XV, 35.
"TjUT fome man will
*^ fay. How arc the
dead raifed up } and
with what body do
they come ?

36 Thou fool, that
which thou foweft is
not quickened ejccept
ft die.

37 And that which
thou foweft, thou
foweft not that body
that fliall be, but bare
grain, it may chance
of wheat, or of fame
other grain t

I Corinthians XV. 35,
T Have thus endeavoured to confirm your Sect,
¦*¦ faith, and eftablifli your hope, in the great '^'^X*
and glorious doftrine of a refurreftion ; but fome TcoZ"
one will perhaps be ready petulantly to objeft, xv. 31
and fay. How are ihe dead raifed up, when th^ir
bodies are quite diflTolved, and the particles, of
which they confifted', fcattered abroad, and per»
haps become parts of other bodies ? and if they
are raifed, with luhat [kind of] bodies Ao they
come out of their graves, and what alteration is
made in their conftitution, and organization, to
fit them for a future life, in fo many refpefts
different .from this ?
Thou thoughtlefs creature, who perhaps prideft 26
thyfelf in the fagacity of this objeftion, as if it
were fome mighty effort of penetration, how
eafily mighteft thou find an anfwer to it from
what pafles every day in the works of nature ?
That feed which thou foweft in thy field, is not
quickened to new life and verdure, except ii ap
pear to die " : before it fprings up to the future
vegetable, whatever it be, it is macerated, de
cayed, and at length confumed in the earth.
And [cts for] thai which thou foweft, thou foweft 37
not the body which Jhall be produced from that
feed which is committed to the ground, Jiui bare
grain, perhaps of wheat, or of any other kind
of [grain,] in which there is no appearance of

a Except It die.'] To this it hath been
ohjeHed, " that if the feed die, it never
" bears fruit," But it is certain, that the
feed in general does confume away in the
ground, tl^pugh a little germen, or bud,
which makes a part of it, fprings up into

new life, and is fed by the death and cor
ruption of the reft. So that thefe wife phi
lofophers of our own, talk juft as fooliflily
as the Corinthian fref^th'mkers, whom they
vindicate. See Jqlin xii, 24. «>0V

356

The Apoftle<, by the fimilitude of feed fown in the earth.

Sect, j-oot. Or of ftalk, of blade, or of ear. But
~'^- ' G""' in the courfe of his natural operations, by
, Cor. certain laws of vegetation, with which thou art
^V.38 entirely unacquainted, .g-Z-uw it a body as he pleafes,
and fuch a variety of parts as he hath thought
fit to determine for that particular fpecies, and
to each of ihe feeds its own proper body * : not
only a body of the fame fort, but that which bv
virtue of fome conneftion it had with this or
that individual grain, may properly be called its
own, though in jts forni much different, and
much more beautiful.
39 There is an immenfe variety in the works of
God, even in thofe which fall under the infpec-
tlon of our fenfes, feeble and limited as they are,
while we dwell in flefh and blood. AU flefli,
you know, is not the fame kind of flejh, but the
flejh of nten, and of cattle '^, of fijhes, and of
fowls, is diflerent each from ihe other, in its
form, qualities, and manner of being fiiblifted.
40 [There are] alfo celeftial bodies, and terrejirial
bodies t but the glory of the celeftial, and the fer-r
reftrial, are apparently different, and the brighteft
luftre the latter can have, is but a faint refleftion
of what is received from the former. And
even in the glory of the celeftial bodies there is
41 alfo a wonderful variety : There is one fu
perior arid incomparable glory "of ihe -fun, which
often fhines with a luftre fcarce to be endured ;
aud another reflefted and milder glory of the
moon ; and'^nother glory of the ftars, which as
they appear to us, are far inferior to either of the
two great luminaries. And again, [one] ftar-
difl'ereth from [another] ftur in gloty^, according

3SBu»Ooa giveth
it a body as it hath
pleafed him, and to
every feed his own
body,

39 All flelh ii not
the fame flelh ; but ¦
there js one kind f
fl'*.fliofmen, another
Helli of bealh, ano
ther of filhcs, and
another of birds.

4 J ^here are alfq
celeftial bodies,. an4
bodies terreftrial; buc
the glory of thc celef
tial is one, and the
glory of the terf el^tial
is anotlier, 41 There is one-
glory of the fun, and
another glory of the
moon, and another
glory of the ftars ; for
one ftar difl'ereth from
another flat in ghry,

b Its ovjn propor body.] The apoftle
feems more direftly to fpeak of that as its
proper body, which is peculiar to that
fpecies of grain ; yet undoubtedly each
ear has a peculiar reference to one indivi
dual, as its^proper feed, in fuch a man
ner, as another of the fame fpecies has
not ; and what follows, plainly fuits fuch
a view. — God is faid to give it this body
as he.pleafes, becaufe we know not how it
is produced ; and the apoftW-s leading
thought is, " that it is abfurd to argue
•* againft a refurreftion on a principle
<-* which is fo palpably falfe, as that muft
;' ic, which fuppofes us to underftand all

" th-; procefs of the Divine works,"
e Cattle.] So vImouv fignifies; but it
fei-nis to be put for beafts in general,
'I yltid one ft.ar differcth, &c.] It is in
the original ;. cf, th.it is, /or ; but I con
clude, that pa-t.cle is here ufed only as_
a copulative ; ell'e we muft fuppofe the
apoftle to argue more philofophically than
he probably intended, and to afl'ert that
th'- fun and moon were ftars. He plainly
fpeaks of th-- luftre which tliefe cdleftial
luminaries exhibit to us, not of what they
have in thcmfelve?, without any regard W
their afpefts on ut, tQ

illuftrates the truth and glory of the nfurreliion.

'3S7

42 So alfo IS the
refurreftion of the
dead. It is fown in
corruption, it is raifed
in incorruption :

43 It is fown in
diihonour, it is raifed
in glory : it is fown
in weaknefs, it is
r.-iifed in power ;

44 It is fown a na
tural body, it is raif
ed a fpiritual body.
There

I Cor,
XV, 4i

to their refpeftive magnitudes, in reference to Sect
which they are ranged by aftronomers under ^^^
different claffes.
So [Jhall be] alfo the tefurreSiioh of the pious
dead'^ : another kind of glory fhall appear, than
human nature has known in its purelt ftate, in
any beauty of form, or ornaments of drefs.
There fhall indeed, as I intimated but now, be
fome difference in the degree of that glory, cor
refpondent to the different excellencies in the '
charafters of good men, 6n whom it is to pafs:
but all fhall experience a moft illuftrious and
happy change ; fo that it may be faid concerning
the body of them all in general, // is fown, or
committed, like feed to the ground, in corrup
tion, juft ready to pulrify, and through various
forms of putrefaftion to be; reduced to the duft:
but // is raifed in incorruption, fo that no acci
dent or diforder whatfoever fhall be able to
diifolve it again, or to threaten it in the leaft
degree. // is fown in %ifihonour, in a poor 43
contemptible ftate, and under a -kind of infamy,
put upon it by the execution of God's firft fen
tence againft fin : but it is raifed in glory ^,
every part and trace of the curfe being abolifhed,
and itfelf being formed in fuch a manner as to
make it appear that the King of heaven delights
to honour ths happy fpirit on which .he be
ftows fuch a drefs. It is fown in weaknefs,
abfolutely incapable of any, even the loweft
degree of aftion, or fenfation, and deprived of
thofe limited abilities which it polfefled in this
its mortal life : but it is raifed in power, en
dowed with almofl angelic degrees of ftrength,
vigour and aftivity. // is fown an animal 4-4-
body, formed to the purpofes of animal life in this
prefent world : but // is raifed a fpiritual body,
formed to a noble fuperiority to the njeaii gra
tifications of this imperfeft flate, and fitted to be

e fhe refur reSion of the pious dead.]
Of them it is evident thc apoftle here
fpeaks, and not cf the dead in general.
Compare verfes 23, 43, 49, and 57, with
I Their, iv. 16, 17, and verfe 54. St.
Paul, (PMl. iii, II,) and our Lord,
(Matt. xxii. 3o,,Luke xx. 35,) mean the
fame thing by the refurreftion.
{ It is ra'ifei in glory.] Some think this

refers to the garment of light which the
body fliall put on at the refurreftion ; on
which Dr, Whitby ha& a remarkable note
here, (compare Matt, xvii, 2; Afts ix, 3 ;
Rev. i. 14, 15 ; Dan. xii. 3 ; Wifd,
iii, 7 ; Matt, xiii. 43 ; and Mark ix. 3,)
and which he thinks remarjcably to illuf
trate the matter ex adverfo. the

3S8

As we haVe here borne the image of the earthly Adam,

Sect, the inftrument of the foul, in the moft exalted
^^ fervices of the fpiritual. and Divine life. For it
I Cor. is certain, that as there is an an'imid body, with
XV. 44 which we are now by daily, and frequently, by
unhappy experience, acquainted; io . there is
alfo a fpiritual body: God can exalt and refine
matter to a degree of purity and excellence to
us unknown ; and there are many bodies now
exifting fo pure and aftive, as that in compa-
45 rifon they may be called fpirits. And fo it is
written with refpeft to the former, (Gen. ii. 7,)
that Jhe firft man Adam, when God had breathed
\ into his noftrils the breath of life, was made
\ a living foul ^ ; fo that even in the original ftate
of reftitude and felicity, in which man was
created, he was made capable of, and fitted to,
an animal life here upon earth: whereas the
Lord Jefus Chrift, who by virtue of the in
fluence he has upon all his feed, .as their fpiri
tual Head, and great federal Reprefentative, may
well be called the fecond, or latter Adam, [is]
for an ertlivening^pirit '' to thofe who are united
to him, and will not only purify their fouls by
the operation of his Spirit communicated to
them, but at laft fpirituaHze their very bodies,
46 Neverthelefs, the fpiritual Adam [was] not firft,
but ihe animal, and afterward the fpiritual ; and
as the firft Adam exifted before Chrift was fent
to become our Saviour, fo muft we firft wear that
animal body which we derive from the one,
before we put on that fpiritual body which we
47 derive from the other. The firft man [was]
from the earth, and fo earthy : he was created
out of the duft of the earth, and his body was
only a mafs of animated (jlay, in reference to

There is a natbral
body, and there is »¦
fpiritual body,.

45 And fo it i;
written. The firft
man Adam was made
a living foul, the laft
Adam tvas made a
quickening fpirit.

46 Howbeit, that
tuas not firft which is
fpiritual, but that
which is natural -, and
afterward that which
is fpiritual, 47 The firft mai
is of the earth,earthyi ¦ : ' the

g Made a Uvitig joul.] This is a q.uo-
^tion from Mofes; and tliere feems to be
a peculiar emphafts in the original, yvhich
1 know not how to pfeferve in the tranfta
tion, in the reference of -^vxn to ^l.u;^(Kof,
in the former verfe, as diftinguiflied
from wvivfAaltnoy^ and refers to fuch a
difference between -i-uxn, the an'mal joul,
and Ttytufjia, the rational jpirit, as is more ,
flearly exprefled, (l Thefl'. v, 23,) and is
alfo very agfreeable to the import of TTH
tt?S3» 'hs word which Mofes i.Vos,
h The jecond— an enlivening jpirit.] This
is not a ^mtatitn {rota jcripture, as fairte

have thought, but what the apoftle adds.
on occafton of the quotation biougliC
above ; as if he had faid, Chrift is the laft
Adam, as an illuftrious antitype of the
firft, (Rom. V, 14;) and he hath in him
felf a jpirit, with which he quickeneth
whom he pleafes, and in what degree- he
pleafes, John i, 4 ; and verfe 21, 26,
The words living-, and enlivening, have
fuch a correfpondence to each other, a!
^a>o-flV, and ^ftjow-oidV" I therefore pre
ferred the latter of them to juicketnng,
though the fenfe be entirety the fame. which

we Jhall hereafter hear the image of the heavenly :

359

the fecondman is the which it was faid, Duft thou art, I'Gen, iii. 10 ;) 5*'*='''
T .,-J C  U,..,...,., . .. , ' y. , ..^ . .- . ^ ' ?t -VVV-

Lord from heaven.

the

XXX.

4S As is the earthy,
fuchffi-e they alfo that
are earchy : and as is
the heavenly, fuch
are they alfo that arc
heavenly.

49 An4 as we have
borne the 'image of

the fecond man, of whom we fpeak, [is] 
Lord from heaven: he came originally from the 1 Cor.
heavenly world, to which he is returned ; and XV.47
whatever of earth there was in the compofition
of the body he condefcended to weai", it is now
completely purified and refined into the moft
glorious form. And fuch at the earth [was,- ^.B
are] they aljo thai are earthy : they all de
fcended from him, and have no higher original,
are mean, niortal, corruptible creatures ; and
fuch as the heavenly [is, are] ihey alfo thai are
heavenly : they who are, as it were, born of
Chrift by the regenerating influences of his
Spirit, and therefore are to live with him in
heaven, fhall at laft have fuch glorious bodies as
he hath. And it is delightful beyond all ex- 49
the earthy, we L°ii prellion, to think of it with felf-application, that
alfo bear the image of as tje in particular have borne, and do now beat,
the heavenly. (Jjg image of the earthy; as affuredly as we are
now finful," afflifted, and mortal men, like the
firft Adam ; fw furely fhaU we alfo hear the
image of ihe heavenly; fo furely fhall we be
brought to refemble Chrift in purity, glory, and
immortality. /
But when I fpak^'of bearing the image of 50
the earthy Adam in mortality, I would not be
underftood as afferting, that every one of tne
God i neither doth defcendants of Adam ihall, in faft, go through
corruption inherit in- jj^gfg pangs of death, and that diflblution in the
.orrup -on. grave, which Adam has experienced. This I
fay, brethren, I affirm it as a conftant and im
portant truth, thai flejh and, blood, fuch weak
and crazy fyftems of it, as thofe in Which we
now lodge, cannot inherit the kingdom ^f God;
neither doth a body impregnated with the feeds
of corruption inherit incorruption : it is tltterly
unfit for the pure etherial regions of th^ bleffed,
and indeed incapable of fubfifting in them.
5i BehoW,^nhew -j-j^is is Univerfally true ; yet behold! I teU you. 5r
fliall °pot^ air fleep, a myftery, that is, a doftrine hitherto unknown,
but we ftiall all be and which you cannot now be able fully to com-
changed, prehend : for we Chriftians JhaU not all fleep,
Ihall not all fubmit to the flroke' of death, fo
that Our bodies fhould all lie mouldering in the
grave, which is their general doom ; but vie
jhall all, thc living as well as the dead, at the
appearance

53 Now this I fay,
brethren, that flelh
and blood cannot in
herit the kingdom of

36o

For this corruptible tHuft put on incorruption f

the dead lliall be
raifed incorruptible,-
and we Ihall be
clftnged,-

Sect, appearance of Chrift: to the final judgment, be
 '_ changed in a moft glorious and happy manner
1 Cor, into the image of our defcending Lord. And . 5» i" ' ratoent;
XV. 52 this change, great and illuftrious as it is, the ^n l7e,'T'the\ft'
Divine power fhall efFeft in lefs time than we trump. Forth,' trum-
have been fpeaking of it : for it fhall pafs in a p=t fliall found, and
fnoment, in an imperceptible point of time, and
even in the twinkling of an eye, juft ai the in
ftant when the laji trumpet is blown by the Di
vine command, to awaken aill the millions of
faints who are fleeping in the duft: for the
trumpet Jhall then found, the voice of the arch
angel, aixl attending celeftial legions, fhall fill
the whole earth and heaVen with an aftonilhing
noife, and the dead Jhall immediately, as upon
its fiimmons, be raifed incorruptible, and we,
that is, thofe of us Chriftians who are living,
Jhall be changed ', as Enoch and Elija!h were in
the day of their tranftation: that body,- -which
but a moment before appeared juft as ours now
dd, fhall, quick as thought, be transformed into
an image of that worn by our triumphant Lord,
and fitted for all the moft aftive fervices, and all
the pureft fenfations and delights of the celeftial
53 ftate. For in order to that, as I have juft
obferved, // is necefl'ary, thai this eorrupiible put
on incorruption, and that this mortal put on im

53 For this cori
rupdble muft put on
incorruption, and thifs
mortal mujl put on

mortality, fo as to be no longer fubjeft to difeafes immortality
54 or death. But when this glorious and long- 5+ So when this
expefted event fliall be accompliflied, when thij
corruptible part of our frarhe jhaU have put on
incorruption, and this tnortal Jhall have put on
immortality, then Jhall the faying be brought to
pafs, which is written, (Ifa, xxv, 8,) Death is
fwallowed up in viSlory, and perfeftly fubdued ten, "Death is fwil-
dild deftroyed, and fo happy a ftate introduced, lowed up in viftory,
that it would not be known, that death had ever
had any place or power among Chrift's fubjefts
55, at all : And in the affured view of this, may 55 o deatli, where
' the Chriftian, even now, with the greateft pleafure ''

corruptible fliall have
put on incorruption,
and this mortal (hall
have put on immor-,
tality, then fliall be
brought to pafs the
faying that is-writ-

i We, that is, thofe Of us Chriftians
who are living, ftall be changed.] As the
phrafe will admit of the loofer fenfe the
paraphrafe gives, I cannot allow of the
argument drawn ffom hence, 'to prove,
either that the apoftle expefted he Ihould
live till' Chriit ap^ared to judgment, or

that he Ihould be raifed froni the dead,
dnd continue upon earth fometinie before
that great event happened : Though I
confefs, the argument which Mr, Fleming
draws from hence, in favour of the lait
of thefie opinions^ is very plaufible. Com
pare 1 Their, iv, 15, take

Chriftians fhould be ftedfaft, their labour not being in vain.

361

is thy fting ? O grave,
where, is thy viftoryi'

55 The fting of
death is fin ; and the
ftrength of fin I'j the
law.

57 But thanks be
to Ciod, which giv
eth us the viftory,
through our Lord
Jefus Chrift.

58' Therefore, my
beloved brethren, be
ye ftedfaft, unmove-
able, always abound
ing in the work of
the Lord, forafmuch
as ye know that your
labouf: is not in vain
tn the Lord, .

take up his fong of tridmph ; Where [is] thy Sect.
pointed and deftruftive fting, 0 death ? Where ^^^'
[is] thy viSiory, 0 grave '' ? How little hurt i Cor.
canft thou do me i" For how little a while fhalt xv. 55
-thou be able to triumph over me ? The very 5^
fting and torture of death, that which arms it
with its greateft terrors, [is] the confideration of
its being the punifhment oiftn, and confequently
its foreboding future mifery, as the efFeft of
the Divine difpleafure ; and the power of ftn, that
which conftitutes its malignity and gives it thefe
killing weapons, [isf] that it is a tranfgreflion
of the Divine law : Bui thanks [be] to God, 57
who in his infinite mercy hath taken away the
fting and terror of death, and giveth us the prof
pefts and the joys of a complete viBory over it,
by the difplay of his pardoning grace, through
our Lord Jefus Chrift. May we ever remain
under thofe gratefiil impreffions that fuit fo im
portant an obligation !
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be .ye fixed on 58
this as the great foundation of your fouls, and
immoveable in your regards to it, though ftrongly
borne and preifed upon, by a variety rof tempta
tions and dangers ; be abounding always in ihe
work of the Lord, in every fervice you are capable
of performing, which may be acceptable 'to this
your great and compaffionate Redeemer ; as well
knowirtg, that your labour in the fervice of fuch
¦z. Lord is not , on the whole, in' vain; but that
whatfoever you may at prefent fuffer for his fake, -
you fhall receive a moft glorious reward, in that
happy day of the refurreftion, concerning which
I have been .fpeaking fo largely.

IMPROVEMENT.
I I
Let US learn from this .incomparable difcourfe of th« apoftle, "*
D curb that vain curiofity which is fo ready in matters of 35

k IVfiere is thy fting. Sec.] The original
has a kind of poetical turn, which feems
in fome meafure to fuit the fublimity of
the fentiment; for the firft of the claufes
is an ionick, and the fecond, a trochaick
verfe, Tin a-n, &«»ecli, -m M-!\'^n ; sra tra,
oJij, TO nx^ J and Mr, Pope has only
tianfpofed. them to make them as they
ftand in oar' verfton, the conclufion of
Vol. ly.

one of his ftanxas ; 0 grave, where is thy
viStory f 0 death, where is thy fting f It
is generally thought, that tliefe words are
borrow -d from Hof, xiii, IP, 14, which
wa render, ''¦ 0 death, I will Im thy plague,
" &c." and fome urge that ns-J has
been read for -niSJ j l""' ^ ^° "°' 'ee
there is any certain evidence that the ttpoftle
intended any quotation at all.

Aa

Divine

262 RefteSlions on the glory of the refur reStion.
Sect. Divine revelation, to break out into an unbecoming petulance 5
^^^' and where we are fure, that God declares ihe thing, let us leave it
to him to overcome every difficulty that may feem to attend tht
manner in which it fhall be effefted. Nothing may be more
ufeful, in order to the conquering fuch a weaknefs, than to obferve
the operations of God in the works of nature, where he gives
Verfe fo every feed, whether animal or vegetable, fuch a . body as Jhall
2^ pleafe him. Each is proper for its fphere, and beautiful in its
conneftion and order, though the degree of their glory be different,
39»4o And thus all the diverfity of glory, which fliall at lafl be apparent,
among the children ofi God, even the children of ihe refurreSiion;
Ihall ferve lo illuftrate the Divine wifdom, and goodnefs, and
faithfulnefs. The alterations made in every inftance, will indeed be won-
53 derful, when this mortal puts on immortality, and this corrupihli
AT puts on incorruption. Let us for ever adore the Divine goodnefs,
5jc. that when> by our relation to the firft Adam, we were under a
fentence of condemnation and death, he was pleafed in his in-
finite mercy to appoint, that we fhould ftand related to Chrift,
as the fecond Adam, in fo happy a bond, that by him we might
recover what we had loft in the former ; yea and far more : fo that,
49 as we have borne ihe image of the earthy, we might as furely bear
the image of the heavenly. O let us earneftly afpire after this
bleffednefs ; and remember, that our bearing the image of his
holinefs, is infeparably connefted with the hope of fo glorious a
privilege !
Let us endeavour, therefore, by cultivating holinefs in all its
branches, to maintain this hope in all its fpirit and energy;
longing for that glorious day, when in the utmoft extent of the
54 prophetic expreflion. Death fiiall be fwallowed up in viSlory,ixA
-millions of voices, after the long filence of the grave, fhall burft
55 out at once into that triumphant fong, O death, where is thyfiing? '
56 O, grave, where is thy viSiory? And when we fea death difarmed,,
57 and the terrors of the law filenced, let us blefs God ior Jefus Chrifi,
by whom the precepts of the law were perfeftly fulfilled, and its
penalty endured ; that fo we might not only be deHvered from the
18,19 cuife, but called to inherit the blefling. Let it be confidfered, as
an engagement to univerfal obedience ; and in the affurance, that
rg whatever other labours may be fruftrated, thofe in the. Lord fhall
never be vain, let gratitude, and intereft, concur to render us _/?f(/-
faft, immoveable, and continually aSiive in his fervice.

SECT.

The Apoftle propofes a coUeSilon for the faints in jfudea^

363

S E C Tj

xxxi.

Thi Apoftle gives fiottte advices, relatihg td the propofed colleSiioH
for the poor faints in Judea. i Cor, XVL i — 12,

iCoR. XVI, I,
¦^O^ concerning
the colleftion for
the faints, as I ha've
given order to the
chiirches of Calatia,
even fo do ye.

a tjpbn the firft
day of the Week, let
every one df ydu lay
by him in ftore, as
Cod hath profpered
him, that there be no
gatherings whert I
comei

3 And when t
boifae, whomfoever
you fliall approve by
your letters, them will

I Corinthians XVL t.
BEFORE Lconclude this epiftle, I muft add Sect,"
¦*-' a word or two concerning the co.'leSiion which ^^''"'
you propofe making _/ir the poor faints which "~
are in Judeai who' are in fiich great ftraits, both ^Vh't
on account of the famine and the perfecution
tb which they are expofed. And here I would
only fay this ; as I have given ii in charge to
ihe churches of Galaiia, fe alfo do ye proceed ;
for nothirig occurs to my thoughts at prefent^
which can be more fubfervient to that generous
and good defign. When yoti hold your 'X\
.Chriftian aflemblies on ihe firft day of ihe week '',
in cbmmemoration of the refurreftion of our
Lord, which has made that day facred amongft
us, lei every one of you lay fomething by, in pro
portion to the degree in which, by the Diving
bleffing, he hath been profpered in his affairs ;
and let him bring it with him to the place
where you meet for your public Worfhip ; then
ireafuring ii up '' in the common ftock, ihat fo
it may be reddy in bne fum, and there be m
neceflity of making any particular colleSiionS
when 1 come: This will faVe us fome trouble*
at a time when we fhall necelfarily have fo much
important bufinefs on our hands; and when a
little is added to the ftock -weekly, it liiay rife by
almoft imperceptible degrees, to a grfeater futn
than cduld perhapi be expefted if the whole
were to be depofited at once. But when I am "^
arrived at Corinth, whomfoever ye Jhall appoint
and recommend by your letters, figned*by the
congregationj or its proper reprcfentative ; ihem

a On the frft day of the weeki] So xo-
M fjeuL, c-a^Zaiai-j fignifies. Compare
Luke xxiv, i ; John xx, 1 ; with Mitt,
icxviii, I ; Mark xvi, 2;
b Treafur-ing it up ; exaf 0? wap' E«y?«
n-iBiltu Sw'ffttupi^ajv.l ^e render it, let
every one of you lay by bim in ftore. But the
following Vrords flievv, that it Was to be

jjiit i'nto a comnion ftocfc. The argu
ment dra\*n from hence for the religious
obfervation of the firft day of the week
in thefe primitive churches of Corinth,
iind (jalatia, is too obvious to need any
farther illuftration, and yet too impoirtanc
to be palfed by in an entire filence.

as

iuilt

364 He would conie to them when he paffed through Macedonia;

Sixe-r . loill I fend, to carry your favour to Jerufalem,
^^^'^^ and fliall cheerfully intruft them to deliver it
I Cor. vvith their own hands to the poor Chriftians
XVI. 4 there. And if it be thought convenient, that
I Jhould alfo go up thither myfelf on this occafion,
they Jhall go with me ; that every .thing may be
Condufted in the moil open and honourable man
ner, and that your melfengers may witnefs for
me, that none of the money has been employed
to any purpofes whatfoever, different from thofe
for which it was given,
5 ' This, I hope, will quickly be difpatched ; fior
I will, if Providence permit, come to you, when
I have pafled through Macedonia ; and, I am juft
6 upon my journey through Macedonia " ; And then
perhaps ttyiy continue a-while 'with you, and even
fpend the -ojinter among you ; thai fo, when 1
have made you as long a Vifit as my afl^airS'Will
admit, you may bring me forward on my journey
x6 Jerufalem, or whitherfoever elfe / fhall go ,
' or through whatever parts Lrnay pafs to it ; for
that is a circumftance about which I am not yet
determined, and in which I refer myfelf to the
J fiiture direftion of Providence; I fpeak of my
coming as at fome diftance ; for though ftom
Hhcie maritime parts I might eafily come to you
Iw fea, and fo travel northward, when I have
difpatched my bufinefs at Corinth ; IwiU not now
fee you in this manner, in my way ; but hope the
little delay which this fcheme may occafion, will
be made up to your fatisfaftion : for I fully
purpofe to fpend fome time tvith you, if the Lord
permit ; which the neceflities of the churches of
Macedonia will not at prefent give me leave to
.g do. But I fiiall continue here at Ephefus tiU-
about pentecoft °, referving the remainder of the
.fummer

will I fend to brhg
your liberality unto
Jerufalem, 4 And if it lie meet
that I go alfo, ^hey
fliall go with me.

5 Now I will come
unto you, when I
fliall pafs through
Macedonia: (for I
do pafs through Ma
cedonia,) 6 And it may be
that I will abide j yea,
and winter with you,
that ye may bring
me on my journey,
whitherfoever 1 go.

7 For I will not
fee you now by the .
way ; but J truft to
tarry - a while with
you, if the Lord
permit.

8 But I will tatiy
at Ephefus until pen.
tJCjft.

c I am juft upon my journey through Ma-
ci.lonia ] Thus, I think, we may juftly
render, MttJes^oi'iav ya^ tfte^o/xai. Mace
donia was not the direft way from Ephefus
to Corinth. It feems by his fecond
epiftle to the Corinthians, written' a few
months after this, that he was either in
Macedonia, or on his way thither, (com
pare 2 Cor, i. l6 ;') from whence it, ap
pears, that he had a- fecret purpofe of
feeing Corinth in his way to, as well as
from, Maceiionia; but he does not exprefs

this purpofe here, fo that we- know not
how it was fignified to them, as from the
text laft mentioned it feems that it was,
d Whitberjoever e\fe I go.'] In the
forecited text, Judea is mentioned ; but
St. Paul does not feem to have fixed his
fcheme fo particularly, as yet, .
e I. frail continue at Ephejus till fiDtt-
c^,] I'look upon this as a vefy plain in
timation, that he was now at Ephefus ;
and confequently, that the infcription
added at the end of this epiftle, Vfhic^ teljs

hut would tarty ai Ephefus tiU Peniecoft\.

9 For a great door
and eft'eftual is open
ed unto me, And there
are many adverfaries.

10 Now if Timo
theus come, fee that
he may be with you
without fear : for he
worketh the work of
the Lord, as I alfo
do.

II Let no man
there fore, defpife him:
but conduft him forth
in peace, that he may
come unto me : for
1 look tor him with
the bretliren.

fummer for my tour through Macedonia, and the Sict.
neighbouring parts. In the mean time, though ^^^^'
I have fpent fo many months here, I am willing j cor.
to make my ftay as long, as with any tolerable XVL 9
convenience I can ; for a great and efl'eSiual door
of ufefulnefs is opened to mc under my apoftolical
charafter, in this populous and celebrated city,
and [there are] many oppofers,. who may perhaps
take the advantage of my abfence, to injure this
nevv-planted church on which I have beftowed fo
much labour, and for the intereft of which I have
the tenderelt concern ^
But if, in the mean tirne, my beloved friend ro
and brother Timothy fhould corne to you, fee that
he be with you without fear of any unkind ufage,
or of any attempt to fet him up as the head of a
party; as in fome inftances you l^ave been ready <
to do by others ; for as he is a man of a very
tender and affeftionate, fo he is likewife of a very
candid and humble fpirit, and he laboureth in
the work of ihe Lord Jefus Chrift with great
fincerity and zeal ; as I alfo [do] : and we are
in all refpefts fo much in the fame fentiments,
that I ara well affured, the things which would
grieve me in your conduft, / would be equally
difagreeable to him. And therefore, though il
he be yet but a young man, (i Tim, iv. 12,)
let no man defpife or make light of h'lm ; but on
the contrary, bring him forward on his journey
in peace, and do all that you can to, make it
commodious and agreeable to him ; thai fo he
may come to me at Ephefus, as foon as poflible :
fer I expeSi him here with ihe other brethren ^,
who

tells us iV, tvas written from Philippi, is
very far from being authentic, and I hope
it will be remembered, that no credit is to
be given to any of thefe additions, which
have been prefumptuoufly made, and I
think very imprudently retained.
f jf great and effeilual door is opened,
&c.] Some think that here is an allufion
to the doer of the Circus, from whence
chariots were let out when the races were-
to begin 3 and that the word -avlotsi^s-.o;,
whicii 1 repder oppojers, fignifies the fame
v/ith antagonifts, with whom the apoftle
was ttt contend, as in a courje. (Afts xix.
20, &c.) This oppofition rendered his
yrefence more neceffary, to preferve thofe

that were already converted, and to in
creafe the number, if God fliould bl^efs his
miniftry. Accordingly a celebAted church
was planted at Ephefus j and fo far as we
can learn from the tenor of his is^i^/e to it,
thare was lefs to correft and reprove
among them, than in moft of the other
churches to which he wrote,
g I expels him here with the brethren ]
The original words are fomething ambi
guous ; but I have taken the fenfe which
feemed moft natural. Accordingly I
think it probable, that he came to Ephe
fus before St. Paul was driven out of it
by the tumult ; and that the apoftle being
obliged' to leave that city in fo abrupt a
A a 3 manner^

366 RepSiionson the aff^air of the cpJleSiion.
Sect, who are now the pompanipns of his journey, and
^^^^' who are all dear to me in the bonds of Chriftian
J Cor. love.
XVI. But as for [our] brother dpollos, who is fo 12 As touching «,
» well known to you, and for whom many of ypu ^^f^^ J^^ff'^^
have fo high a regard, I am forry to tell you, to come unto yon,
that you are not at prefent to expeft a vifit from with the brethren 1
him. / was indeed very importunate ivith him ''"' .I*'' "'" "'^ ¦}«
' _,..',¦' ., ; i_ , at ?1! to come at this
to come to you ivith 1 impthy, and the other bre- time ¦, but he will
thren ; as I have an entire confidence, both in come when he Ihal!
his friendfhip and prudence, and hoped, that haveconvenienttiBe,
-whatever improper ufe has been made of his
name i)i oppofition to mine, (compare chap. i.
12, chap. iii. 4 — 6,) his prefence among you
might have been ufeful, juft at this crifis, Never
thelefs, he was by no means willing to come now,
left any advantage fhould be taken fi-om that cir
cumftance to inflame thofe divifjons he would
gladly do his utmofl to allay : but he wiU come
when he Jhall have. a convenient' opportunity ; and
you may afliire yourfelves, that he retains a moft
cordial afl^eftion for you, and tender folicitude
for your peace and profperity. IMPROVEMENT.
Verfe Let minifters, from the example of the apoftle, learn to be ready
' J to promote charitable colleSiions f^r the relief of poor Chrifiiartsi
and let them frequently exhort ihiir hearers to do good, and io
communicate ; reminding them, that their contributions ought IP
2 bear a proportion to the d-gree in which God has been pleafetl ttf
profper them. — We fee an evident reference to the ftated aflemblies
of the church on the fitft day of the week in this early age ; and i(
js a proper duty of that day to devife and execute liberal things^
according to our refpeftive abilities,
I'he prudent cautiqn of St- Paul, as to the management pf
•^t ^ pecuniary affairs, is worthy the attention of the mitilfiers ai the
gofpel ; and may teach fhern to take care, not c^nly that they f^tisfy
their p-w'n confciences;, in the fidelity pf their tranfaftions ; but
alfo, that they provide things honeft in the fight of all men. The
apoftle's courage, in making the oppofitipn he met with at Ephejus
a reafon for hjs continuance there, may inflruft^us n\3t to ftudy
8 our own eafe in the choice of our abode ; but rather to preiet
m-inner, defired Timothy to ftay a while he had an opportunity of doinS 'tj I Tim.
after hi;n, to fettle the aft'airs of tha^ i» 3t
ijnpottaiit church more completely than
' ' ¦ ' '¦ "' thofe

The Apoftle exhorts them io courage and love ; 367
thofe circumftances, however difagreeable in themfelves, wherein Sect.^
we may be providentially led to do moft, for the advancement of ^^^^'
religion in the. world.
His care, that his young friend Timothy might be eis eafy as Verfe
poflible, conftitutes likewife a very amiable part of his charaSier ; 10, it
and fuggefts, in a manner well worthy of notice, how careful
private Chriftians fhould be, that they do not terrify and diftrefs the
minds of thofe who are entering on the minifterial office. A faithful 1 2
difpofition to labour in the work of the Lord, ought to command
refpeft ; -yet fometimes, as in me iriftance of Apollos, even that
diligence may be fo liable to mifreprefentation, that it may be the
wifdom of minifters io abfent themfelves from places where they
have many to carcfs and admire them. On the whole, the great
bufinefs of life is to glorify God, in doing our beft for promoting
the happinefs of mankind ; and no felf-denial ought to feem hard
to us, while we keep that glorious end in view.
SECT. XXXII.
The Apojlle concludes with fome particular falutations, and direc
tions ; with general exhortations to courage and love, a folemn
henediSiion to true Chriftians, and an awful denunciation againft
thofe thai were deftitute of love io Chrift. i Cor. XVL 13, ^9
ihe end.
I Cor. XVL 13. I CoRINTHIANS XVL 13.
^t&\nlhe^th, TSJOW, my brethren, to conclude all, fufl^er Sect,
quit you like meji, a word of the moft affeftionate exhortation, "x""-
be ftrong. Reinember the fituation in which you are, and , c^r.
with how many formidable enemies you are xvi.
furrounded, and be watchful againft all their '3
affaults ; ftand faft in ihe profeffion of the Chrif-^
tjan faith; acquit yourfelves not liKe children,
'' but as men of knowledge and fortitude ; and be
ftrong ' in depep^ance on the beft fupports,
14 Let all your while you make that Vour conftant care. And 14
things that you may not miftake this exhortation, as '
¦ breathing any thing of a contentious fpirit, or
fitted only for perfons in military life, 1 would
fubjoin this nepeiTary caution j let all your affairs

a Stand faft — ncqmt yourjelves like men, cheerful and courageous expeBetwn ot »
kp ftrong.] 'rhere is no need of feeking a happy event, which the confcioufnefs
" ' " " .-.-.. . r .. ^ ggijj ^ caqfe ipvoiild naturally adr
fter.
Aa4 ^^

Kf jtrvnv, \ iiicic id iju iiccu ui »cc»wiiig «» '***rrJ ^-»«-i»*j *Ti*i»i.» m— uvmumu>»v>
different fenfe of each word. If there be of fo good a caqfe i^o^lld naturally ad
any difference, '»i'5'f(^,Efl-9£-''n:iay refer to ^ nvnifter
ftrength of refolution J K^arctittrQB} to th^t

368 And io pay all proper regard io ihe houfe of Stephanas.
^i,cy. be tranf aSled in mutual love, and under the in- things be done with
"'""'• fluence of that noble principle of unfeigned be- '^^'''''y*
1 Cor. nevolence which I have been fo largely defcribing
XVI. and recommending in the former part of this
¦'''¦ epifile. (See chap, xiii.)
15 And I farther befeech you, my brethren, that 15 I befeech you
for as much as ye knowjhe houfehold of Stefhanas, brethren (ye know
that it is the firft-fruits of Achaia, he, and they, 'n'/^.taUtistS:
being among the firft that were converted to fruitsof Achaia, and
Chriftianity in all your country, ye pay a. proper that they h^ve ad,
regard to them ; andio much the rather, as they t^"^ f^Z^'^T ^
, ° r 1 ri -1 !• r I ¦ •'the miniftry of the
have Jet themfelves with pecuhar refolution and faints,). ¦
care, according to the rank in which Providence
has placed them, and the abilities which God
iiath given them, to the labour and charge of ,
16 miniftering io the faints ^. Now I would by all .16 That ye fub.
means inculcate it upon you, thatyou fliould, in >"'' y™f«'« "«"
. _. / -S • ri; i- \-( ""="> and CO every
your refpeftive ranks and circumftances of lite, one that helpeth with
fuhjeSi yourfelves to fuch, and not only pay them "s and labouiejh,
all due perfonal regard, but aft as you have op
portunity, in harmony with them ; and that under
their influence you fliould do your utmoft for the
good of your Chriftian brethren. And thus I
would have you behave to every afl'ociate in ihat
good work and labour in which they are engaged ;
efpecially to thofe who are honoured with the
nlinifterial. office,
17 /could not but rejoice greatly at the arrival , '7 \ am glad of
J f. .TL^u /-TU • n. the comingofStepha-
and prefence of that worthy perfon i have juft ^^^^ ^.^ Fortunatus,
Hientioned, that is Stephanas, and of Fortuna- and Achaicus -. for
/«j V "nd Achaicus, who accompanied ' him ; that which was lack-
iecaufe they filled up your deficiency with refpeft [^f^ hayeTpplier'
to me, and gave me by their converfe and friendly
qffices, that confolatlon which I might juftly
have expefted from you all, had I enjoyed an
opportunity of converfing with you, and about
which I could, for your own fakes, wifh that
1" fome of you had been more folicitous. For i^ For they have
they refrefiied my fpirit greatly by their obliging «f"1'='l ">y fp^'^^
behaviour, and edifying converfation ; as I doubt
b They have jet themjelves, &c,] This vived St, Paul a confiderable time ; for It
iieems to imply, that it was the generous appears from the ep'iftle of Clement to
care uf the whole family to aflift their fel- the Corinthians", {\ 59,) that he was the
low-Chriftians ; fo that there was not a meffenger of the church at Corinth to that
member of jt which did not do its part, of Rome, by whom Clement fent back
c Fortunatus.] This worthy man fur- that invaluable ep'iftl^
1 not

The Apoftle fends his falutation to ihem with his own hand. 369

arid yours : therefore
acknowledge ye them
that are fuch.

19 The churches
of Afia falute you.
Aquila and- Prifcilla
falute you much in
the Lord, with the
church that is in their
houfe.

10 All the bre
thren greet you.
Greet yc one another
with an holy kifs.

91 The falutation
of me Paul with mine
own hand.

22 If any man
love not the Lord
Jefus Chrift, let him be

not but they have often refrefhed yours by their Sect.
miniftrations among you. Therefore I muft "'""'•
again urge it upon yoii, that you pay all proper i Cor,
regard to fiuch, and treat them on every occafion, XVL
-With fuch refpeft and affeftion as fo worthy a '*
charafter \vell deferves.
I muft now tell you, that the churches of the la ,
provincial AJia, which lie about Ephefus, and
vvith whom I have frequent opportunities of
correipoud'mg, falute you with all Chriftian af
fection ; heartily wilhing you peace and profpe
rity. Your good friends, Aquila and Pr'f cilia'',
who have made fo long an abode among you,
and are now providentially brought hither, moft
affeSiionaiely falute you in the bowels of our
common Lord. And with thefe tokens of re
fpeft receive thofe of the church in their houfe,
as you know their family is happy in a large
number of Chrilfian members. But I will 20
not enter into a more particular detail of names ;
for your fociety is fo celebrated, and efteemed of
fo great importance to the Chriftian intereft, that
1 may truly fay, that all the brethren falute you.
Entertain therefore that affeftion for each other,
which thofe that are almoft ftrangers bear to you,
^.nA falute one another with an holy kijs ; but let
it be as cordially fincere as I doubt not but it
will be decent.
1 have hitherto ufed the affiftance of a friend, 21
to write what I diftated to him. ; but in order to
aflure you that this epiftle is genuine, I here
add thefalutation of [rne] Paul, your well known
minifter, and father in the gofpel, with my own
hand; moft cordially wifhing you every bleffing,
both temporal and fpiritual. And let me here 22
add, (that being thus written with my own pen,
it may have the greater weight;) If -there be
any man amongft you, or elfewhere, wio under
the fpecious forms of Chriftianity, loveth not
ihe Lordjefus Chrift in fincerity ; but maintains
a fecret alienation of heart from him while he

d Aquila a«^ Prifcilla.] They had for
merly made ibme abode at Corinth ; and
there St. Paul's acquaintance with them
commenced. A£ls xviii. 1, z. It is
therefoi-e no wonder tbey vvcie particular

in their falutations. — Some copies add,
Tr:i^ oiq |Evt^ojuai, ivith vthom alfo Iladge\
but the authority of thofe manujcripts ia
fmall.

call?

1 Cor,
XVI,

3^6 He gives theni his benediSiion.
Sect, calls himfelf his ferrant, preferring any intereft
ixxn. ^f i^jj p^^i^ jjj ^l^gj qJ- j^ jj ]3ivjpe Mafter ; let him
be Anathema Maran-atha" : fiich an one is in
deed VNOrthy of the moft dreadful curfe, and it
he perfill in fuch a wretched temper, it will cer
tainly fall upon him. And let him be aflriired,
that though his crime be of fuch a nature as not
to admit human conviftion and cenfure ; yet it
is known to him whofe eyes are as a flame of
fire, fo that he fearches the hearts and trieih the
reins. And ere long, the Lord himfelf will come
in awful pomp, to execute vengeance upon him,
pronouncing him accurfed before the alfembled
world, and devoting him to utter and everlafting
deftruftion.
2-7 But it is my hearty prayer, that no fiich root
of bitternefs and heir of mifery may be found
among you; and that it may not, may the grace
of our Lord Jefus- Chrift [be] with you, and all
the bleffefi tokens and effefts of his favour reft
upon you, for time and eternity !
Be affured, that in what 1 have here faid, I
intend nothing injhe leaft unkind to any fingle
perfon among you. Far from that, /«y tendereft
and moft affeftionate love [be] with you all in
Chrift Jefus ' ; depend therefore upon my con ftant

24.

be Anathema, Mi-
ran-uthi.

7-i The grace of"
our Lord Jefus Chrift
ie with you.

a4.Mylovcifwith
you all in Chrift Je
fus. Amen.

e Anathema— Maratt'atha,'^ Among
the many various interpretations of thsfe
wordSj none feems to me fo probable and
fntisfa£t'ory as this — when the Jews ioft
the power of iife and death, they ufsd
oevej'thelefs to pronounce an aniitbema
on perfons Mi'ho according to the Mo<-
, fate laiu, Ihoul^ have been executed ; aud
fuch a perfbn became an anathema, or
(bci'smy or ac(urfed ^ for the exprelVions
are equivalent. They had a full perlua-
ijon, that the curfe would not be in vain;
and indeed it' appears they expected
iome judgment, correfpondent to that
which tht: law pronounced, would befal
fhe ofl'endcr; for inftance, that a mjn to
be ftoncd, would be killed by the falling of
a ftone cr other heavy body upon him;
3 man to be ftrangled, would be choaked ;
or one whom the law fentenc^d to the
fiames, would be burnt in his hoi^fe, and
thc like. Now to exprefs ttieir faith, that
Odd would qne \vay or 5noth'-r> and pro
bably in fome remarkable manner inter-
f:.jrf to add that cflicacy to his own fen-
tLfice which thej- could not give it j it is

very probable^they might ufe the wordj, /
Marao-atbat that is, in Syriacy the Lord
cometby or he will furely and quicklycqmc
to put this fentence ia execution, ^nd to.
fhew, that the perfon on whom it falls, is
indeed ^natbema, accurfed* In beautiful
(illujiott to this, when the apojiU was
fpeaking df a fecret alienation from Chriftj
maintained under the forms of Chriftia
nity, (which might perhaps be the cafe
among mciny of the Corinthians, an4
much more probably may be fo among
us,) as this was aot a crime capable of
being convifted and cenfurei in the Cbr'i-
Jiiati churchy he reminds them, that the
Lord Jefus Chrifi v'ill come at length, and
find il out, and 'punifh it in a proper
manner. This ivcighfv fentence thp
apofile chofe to write ivith his oivn handy
and infert between his general falutation
and henedittion, that it might be the
more attentively regarded. Compare Grof.
on Rom, v. 13 } and Ifa. xiv. 20. Bilhop
Patrick on Deut. xxvii, 15. '
*" My hfe [he'^ tvith you all in Chriji
J'ft^S'j Wiien we co;ifidei-, what an alicn-

',-- RefleSiions on the cmclufton 371
^ant readinefs, to do all in my power, for pro- Sect.
mpting and , eftablifhing the Chriftian intereft """"^
anoong you : and may it flourifh more and more, 1 cor,
till your happinefs be completed in the kingdom xvi.
of God aboye. Amen, **
IMPROVEMENT.
However the particular trials of Chriftians may vary in differ- Verfe
ent ages, the fame works in general demand their diligence: the 13
fame enemies, their watchfulnefs ; the fame difficulties, their cou
rage and fortitude : nor will they ever be more likely to perform,
to' refift, and to endure well, than when charity reigns in their 14
hearts, and prefides over the whole of their behaviour.
We owe our humble thanks to the author of all good, when he 15,16
raifes iip the fpirits of l\is fervants to any diftinguifhed aftivity
and zeal in his caufe, Chriftians of ftanding fuperior to their
brethren, ought to" emulate fuch a charafter ; and when they do. '
fo with genuine marks of becoming modefty and upright views,
.let all proper refpeSi be paid to them : efpecially to thofe who
are honoured with, and labour faithfully in, the minifterial'o^ce.
To fuch let othefs fubmit themfelves in love ; not indeed, as to
ihe lords of their faith, which even the apoftles pretended not to
be ; but as friends, vi^hom they efteem ahd reverence, ever ten
derly folicitous to fecure their comfort, and increafe their ufe
fulnefs. We fee, how much the apoftle was concerned to promote mutual J9» 20
friendjhip among the difciples of our bleffed Redeemer ; how kindly
he delivers th.efalu(e(tions of one, and another. It becomes us to
remember each other with cordial regard ; and in imitation of this
wife example, to do all we can to cultivate a good underftanding
^mong onr Chriftian brethren ; and to abhor that difpofition tofow
dijcord, which has been fo fatally fiiccefsful in producing envyings,
and ftrife, and every evil work.
To conclucje all ; let us lay up in our memory, and often re
view, this awful fentence, this Anatherna — Mq.ran-,atha, which, 22
to give it the greater weight, the apoftle records with his own hand. 21
Ivet it ever be remembered, that profefting Chriftians, wtio do not
fincerely love their rnafter, lie under the heavieft curfe which an
apoflle can pronounce, qr a Ged inflift. Let the unhappy crea
tures take the alarm, and labour to obtain a more ingenuous
temper, ere the ftird, vyhom they negleft, and againft whora
ation qf affeflion fome of thefe Corinthians have been agreeable to the generous fpirit
had exprelVed, with relpeft tp the apoftle, which diftated it, to have glanced too
this eitprelfion of tender regard to them plainly on that circuinft^nce in the para-
all \vitliout any exception, is fo much phrafe,
' the more affeflionste ; b«c it. would not they

'37* ^f the firft epiftle to the Gorinthians.
Sect, they ejitertaih a fecret enmity, defcend from heaven with unfup,
*'"'"' portable terror, and; pronounce the anathema with his own lips,
¦in circumftances which fhall for ever cut off all hope and all
pofiibility of- its being reverfed. If his folemn voice pronounce
his almighty hand will immediately execute it. Hew' will ihey
be caft down to deftruSiion, as in a moment ! How wiU they be ut
terly confumed with terrors I To prevent fo dreadful an end of our
Verfe high profeffion, of our towering hopes, may the grace of our Lard
23 J^us Chrift be with us. Amen.

The End of fhe Family Expositor on the
First Epistle to the Corinthians.

THE
Family E x pofitor ;
OR, A
PARAPHRASE ON THE
SECOND EPISTLE
O F
PAUL the APOSTLE
to the
CORINTHIANS; with
Critical Notes, and a Praftical Improvement
of each Section. .

GENERAL INTRODUCTION
TO THE
PARAPH RASE and NOTES
On the SECOND EPISTLE to the
CORINTHIANS.

THE firft epiftle of St, Paul to the Corinthians was
written, as hath been before obferved, from Ephe
fus, about the year of our Lord 57 ; towards the end of
his continuance there, and in the neighbouring parts.
(Se'c Vol, III, feft. 44. note''.) Upon leaving Ephefus,
the apoftle removed to Troas, which was fituated on the
Ihore of the jiEge'an Sea, in the expeftation of meeting
Titus, and receiving an account of the fuccefs with which
he hoped his former epiftle had been attended, and of the
prefent ftate of the Corinthian church j (2 Cor, ii, 12,)
But not meeting him there, (ver. 13,) he proceeded to
Macedonia ; where he obtained his defired interview, and
received fatisfaftion concerning the promifing ftate of
affairs at Corinth. From this place the apoftle wrote his
fecond epiftle to the Corinthians, intrufting it to the jare of
Titus, who was returning- to Corinth to forward the col
leftion intended for the poor Chriftians in Judea, From
thefe hiftorical circumftances,- the date of this fecond epi
ftle muft be fixed within a year after tht former, (See
Vol. Ill, feft. ^S-wo/^'O
In the Intrpduftion to the firft epiftle we obferved, that
its deftgn was to reftify fome fad diforders and abufes
which had crept into the church of Corinth : and anf//er
'' their

376 A General IntroduSiion.
their queries upon fome important points, in which they'
had defired his determination. The intention of the pre
fent epiftle is, in general, to illuftrate fome of the fame
points upon which he had difcourfed in the former, ac
cording to the light which ^itus had given>him into the
circumftances and temper of the Corinthian church; in-
terfperfing and inforcing fome occafional refleftions and
advices upon various fubjefts, as he thought moft condu
cive to their inftruftion and edification.
But to give a more diftinft view of the fcheme and con
tents of xK\% fecond epiftle — The apoftle, after a general
falutation, exprefies his grateful fenfe of the Divine good-
nefs, in preferving him from the dangers to which he had
been expofed in Afiaj profeffing his unlliaken confidence
in God's continued guardianfliip, fupported by a fenfe of
his own integrity: (chap, i, i — 12.) Which declaration
of his integrity he further illuftrates ; applying it particu
larly to thofe views on which he had declined the vifitto
Corinth, which in the former epiftle he feems to have pro
mifed. (ver. 13, to the end.) The cafe of the unhappy
perfon, who had committed inceft with his father's wife,
and whom, upon account of the fcandal he had brought
on his Chriftian profeffion, the apoftle direfted them to
exclude from communion, had made a deep impreflion on
his mind: This, he intimates, was the reafon of his having
deferred his vifit to Corinth ; that he might not meet them
with grief, nor till he had received advice of the efFeft of
his apoftolical admonitions, and their falutary and feafon
able difcipline. The affeftion of the apoftle to the Corin
thians is here manifefted, both in his fympathy with the
offending member of their church while under cenfure,
whom now, being penitent, he advifes them to re-admit
to their communion; and alfo in his folicitude for certain
tidings concerning their welfare by Titus, whom not find
ing at Troas, (as before obferved,) he went to meet ia
Macedonia, (chap, ii. i — 15.)
In further vindication and fupport of his apoftolical cha
rafter againft the infinuations and objeftions of the falfe
teachers at Corinth, the apoflle, having juft intimated that
a large door of fuccefs had been opened to him at Troas,
and elfewhere, makes a tranfition to this fubjeft j and ex
prefles

fo the Jecond Epiftle to the Corinthians. 377
preffes in the moft affeftionate terms his thankfgiving to
God for having intrufted him with thc miniftry of the gof
pel, and forthe fuccefs attending his fervices; declaring
his lively confidence in all events, of the Divine accept-i
ance, and fpeaking of the Corinthians as his credentials
Written by the finger of God. (ver. '14, to the end, chap.
iii. I — 6.) And as an illuftration of the dignity of the mi
nifterial office, he defcants in a very pertinent and judi
cious manner, on the comparative obfcurity of the Mofaic
law, and the fuperior glory and permanence of the g6fpel.
(ver. 7, to the end.) He then difclairns all finifter views,
and diftrijft of fuccefs, in purfuing the glorious miniftry
he had defcribed, from a firnql perfuafion that fuch a gof
pel could not be rejefted, but in confequence of the moft
fatal prejudices, (chap. iv. i — 6,) And while he acknow
ledges his own infirmities, he glories in the ftrength com
municated to him from God, as an effeftual fupport Un
der the extremeft trials; (ver, 7 — 15;) Defcribing the
glofious hopes which he entertained beyond tlje grave,
as a ground of triumph in thc face of danger, and a no- '
ble incentive to perfevering fidelity and ftedfaftnefs, (ver.
16, to ihe end; chap, v, i — 10.) Touching again upon
the ardour with which he profecuted the gofpel- miniftry,
he makes a kind of apology for it, pleading the irrefiftible
conftraints of the Redeemer's love, and the infinite im
portance of the overtures ofreconciliation ; which in a moft
pathetic addrefs he urges the Corinthians to embrace;
(ver. 1 1, to the end. chap. vi. i, 2 ;) And then expatiates
with great copioufnefs on the temper with which, in the
midft of affliftions and perfecutions, he and his brethren
, executed their important embaffy. (ver. 3 — ^10,)
It is eafy to obferve,. ori the moft curfory view of this
argument, with what delicacy^ as well as energy, it is all
along condufted. As the apoftle manages his fubjeft in
the tendereft and moft affeftionate manner, and inter
mingles general refleftions for the inftruftion and confo-
lation of the Corinthians; which however had an evident
fubfervien.ee to his main defign .; he conciliates their re
gard, and fixes the impreflions which his former epiftle
had made, in a more infinuating and therefore more ef
feftual way, than if he had exerted his authority, and
Vol. IV. Bb wrote

37? A General IntroduSiion
wrote with more clofenefs and feverity of ftile. And
having been informed by Titus, that the defence of his
miffion, and apology for his conduft, contained in his
former epiftle, had not been utterly in vairt,-^he manifefts
his fatisfaftion in the prefent difpofition of the Corin
thians, by giving his reafonings upon this head a more
diffufive and praftical turn.
After this, the epiftle affords us a farther inftance of
his affeftion, in his judicious and pathetic exhortation^ to
the Cprirtthians, (additional to what he had formerly faid,
when they defired his opinion upon the head o( marriage^
to avoid thofe alliances or intermarriages with idolaters,
which might tend to enfnare them; pleading the gracious ,
promifes of God to his people, as an engagement to
the ftrifteft purity, and as a motive to afpire aft'ei- the
fubiimeft attainments in religion, (ver. ii, to tbe end.
chap, vii, i,)
From this digreffion he returns to the fubjeft he had
before been treating; and to remove any degre'e of pre
judice which might yet lurk in their breafts againft his
apoftolical charafter, he appeals to them for the integrity
and difintereftednefs of his conduft; profeffing that the
freedom he ufes, was not intended to reproach their
diflidence, but fprung from an unfeigned and ardei)tcon-.
cern for their welfare ; which he illuftrates by the plea
fure with which he received the affurances of their good
ftate by Titus, and the part he had taken in their for^
rows, which his neceffary reproofs had occafioned, and
by his prefent joy, in that thofe forrows'had happily iffued
in their reformation, (ver, 2, to the en,d.)
The apoftle had propofed to the Corinthians, in the
clofe of the former epiftle,, their making a contribution
for the relief of the poor faints in Judea: refuming the
fubjeft, he recommends to them the example of the
Macedonians, reminds them of the grace of our bleffed
Redeenier, and gives fome advices as to the manner of col- ¦
lefting and tranfmitting their bounty; (chap, viii. i — 13,)
Expreffing his joy for the readinefs of Titus to affift in
finifhing the colleftion, and making an honourable men
tion of the worthy charafter of other Chriftian brethren,
whom he had joined With him in the fame commiffion.

it0 the fecond Efiiftle to the Corinthians. 579
(ver. 16, to the end.) He then with admirable addrefs
' further urges their liberal contribution, and in a full
afllirance of .its fuccefs, recommends them to the Divine
blefling. (cTiap. ix. throughout.)
Having expreffed in the former part of the epiftle, and
on occafion of this contribution, his confidence in the
abundant grace which had been' beftowed on the Corin
thians, the apoftle takes an opportunity of ftafing and
obviating fome refleftions which fome among them ha:d
thrown upon him for the mildnefs of his conduft, as if it
proceeded from fear. He therefore afferts his apoftolical
power and authority; cautioning his opponents that they
fliould not urge him to give too fenfible demonftrations of
it upon themfelves. (chap, x, throughout.) And further
vindicates himfelf from thc perverfe infinuations of fuch
as oppofed him at Corinth ; particularly on the head of
his having declined to receive a contribution from the
church for his maintenance ; which, though greatly to his
honour, was by his oppofers ungeneroufly turned to his >
difadvantage, (chap, xi, i—- 15,) 'Tp magnify his offic-e
as ah apoftle, he commemorates his labours and fufferings
in the caufe of Chrift ; yet in fuch a manner, as plainly
fhews, it was difagreeable, however neceffary it might be,
to dwell on a fubjeft that appeared like founding his own
applaufe, (ver, 16, to the end.) And with great clearnefs
¦ and plainnefs, yet at the fame time with equal reluftance
and modefty, he gives a detail of fome extraordiriary
revelations which he had received from God, and of his
experience of thofe Divine aids which taught him to glpry
in his owrr infirmities, (chap, xii, i— 16,) And upon the
whole, vindicates the undifguifed opennefs and fincerity
of his conduft, and his vifible fuperiority to fecular
confiderations, in all his carriage towards tho church at
Corinth, (ver. 11, tothe end.) Clofing his epiftle with
the tendereft aflljrances, how much it would grieve him
to be obliged to evince his apoftolical power, by inflifting
any miraculous punifhment on thofe who continued to
Oppofe him ; and then fubjofning the mo|3; refpcftful
falutations, and his folemn benediftion. (chap. xiii.
th;wghout.)
Bba It

380 A General IntroduSiion, Sec.
It is evident from this view of the epiftle, that a very
large part pf it is employed in reclaiming the Corinthian, .
church from their undue attachment to Judaizing
teachers, and from that party-fpirit into which they had
fallen ; ahd in re-kindling proper regards to the unadul
terated doftrine of the gofpel, and to his own apoftolical
counfels, who had been their fpiritual father in Chrift.
That this leading defign of the apoftle is occafionally in
terrupted by the'introduftion of other matters, and par^
ticularly~the fubjeft of the cpntribution for the poor faints
in Judea, will be no objeftion, I apprehend, if narrowly
examined, to the accuracy and beauty of this excellent
compofition ; for the tranfitions which St. Paul makes,
arife from fome obvious and important fentiments, whicli
render them natural and juft. And there is an admirable
wifdom in fuch digreffions, as they relieve the minds of
the Corinthians, from that painful uneafinefs which they
muft have felt from a conftint attention to fo difagreeable
a fubjeft ; I mean their unfuitable conduft towards the
apoftle himfelf. It is with the fame kind of propriety
-and fagacity, thatthe fevere intimations, which the dig-
nity of the apoftolic charafter obliged St. Paul to drop
againft thofe who might perfevere in their oppofition, are
referved to the clofe of the epiftle ; as they would fall
with additional weight, in all probabihty, after their
minds had been foftened with the reiterated expreffions of
his tender affeftion to the Corinthians in general, and the
innocence and amiablenefs of his charafter had been
reprefented in fuch a variety of views.

A PARAPHRASE-

PARAPHRASE AND
N O T E S
O N T H E ,
SECOND EPISTLE
TOTHE
CORINTHIAN S.
 1  ¦  '  1  ' — ""  c
S E C T. I.
The apoftle Paul, after a general falutation, expreffes his grate-
ful fenfie of ihe Divine goodnefs, in preferving him from the
dangers to which he had been expofed in Afia; profeffing his
unfhaken confidence in God's continued guardianfhip, J'upported
by the conficioufinefs of bis integrity before him. 2 Cor. I.
I— 12,
2 Cor. 1. 1, 2 Corinthians I, i,
Pte'f«ChrTb"lhf vou receive this epiftle from PW,' who Sect.
^ill of God, ^and hath the honour to call himfelf «« apoftle ^-
Timothy of Jefus Chrift, by ihe fovereign wiU of God ; ^ Cor.
who hath (hewn by the viftory of his grace over i. i,
me, how able he is to bend the moft«bdurate
and reluftant will to his own- purpofes, and
triumph over the oppofition of the moft obftinate
heart. And Timothy, a beloved brother " in
Chrift
» Timothy, a beloved brother.] Thia fluence of this excellent young minifter.
Ihews, that Timothy was returned to St. Some have thought this is the reafon why
Paul, fince he wrote' the laft epiftle ; and the apoftle fo often fpealcs in'the plulral
his joining the name of Timothy with his number in this ep'^le ; but it is certain,
own, is an inftance of the generous he often fpeaks in the fingular, and that
defire which St, Paul had to eftablifh, as there are pafl'ages here, as well as in the
Oiuch as poffible, the reputation and in- epiftle to the Theffalojiians, in which he
B b 3 ufes

382

5*, Paul begins with his own and Timothy^ 5 falutations.

Sect, Chrift Jefus, joins with me in this fecond ad
drefs io the church of God, that is in Corinth ;

^Cor. whom he hath mercifully called out from the
!• I. world, and united to himfelf. A fociety for
which I have always the tendereft regard; the
refpeftive members of which I now moft cor
dially falut6 j with all, who, by their Chriftian
profeflion, are numbered among the faints, that
2 are in the whole region of Achaia. I greet you,
as I do all my brethren in fuch addrefTes : fay
ing from my heart. May grace and peace [be]
in rich abundance communicated to you all,
from Cod our Father, the compaffionate Source
of univerfal goodnefs, and from the Lord Jefus
Chrift; through whom alone fuch invaluable
' bleflings can be conveyed to fuch finful creatures
3 as we are. While I fit down to write to you,
my dear brethren, in the midft of circumftances,
which the world might think very deplorable,
(compare i Cor. iv. 9, &c.) I cannot forbear
burfting out into the language of joy and praife S
for fuch a variety of Divine favours, as is con
ferred on myfelf and you, Blefl'ed, for ever
bleflTed, by the united fongs of men and angel's,
[be] the great God and Father of our beloved
Lord and gracious Saviour Jefus Chrift, through
whom we have this free accefs to him, this
fecure intereft in him : fo that we can now, with
unutterable delight, view him as ihe Father of
mercies, from whofe paternal compaffion all our
comforts and hopes are derived ; and as the God
' of all confolatlon, whofe nature it is ever to- have
mercy, ^nd whp knows hovy^ tp proportion his
fupports to the exigence of every triaj.
4 For ever adored be this benevolent and com
paffionate Being, who comforieth us itj all our
pr?fllng tribulation ", by fiich feafonable appear ances

Timothy our bro.
ther, unto the cliurcK
of God which is at
Corinth, with all tlio
faints which are in all
Achaia :

2 Gyace ie to yqu,
and peace frotp God
our Father, ani fniii
the Lord JefusChritt,

3 Bleffed ie Cod,
even the Father of
our Lord JefysChrilf,
theFather of mercies,
and the God of. all
comfort :

4 Who coirifo;t-
cth us in all our tri-
bulacioh.

ufes the plural, without intending to
include Timothy. See chap, iii. 1—3 -,
ohap. vii. 5 J chap- xii. 1952 ThelT, ii,
1—9. He alfo joins the name of Soft
henes with his own, in the former epiftle,
as alfo the name of Timothy to the epiftle
to the Philippians, and Coloflians ; yet
does not ufe the pli^ral there. •
t> Cannot forbear burfting out, &c.]
It is very obfervable, that eleven of
£:. Pau.'i ib'iri.'^n epiftles begin with fJf-

elamat'iens of joy, praife and thankfgivr
ing. As fooii as he thought of a Chrif,
tian church planted in one place or ano
ther, there feems to have been a flow of
moft lively affeftion accompanying the
Idea, in which all fcnfibility of his tcmt
poral affliftion, or theirs, was all fwal
lowed up, and the fulnefs of his heart
muft vent.itfelf in fuch chearful, exalted
and devout language,
f Cmfortetb us.] It is certain, that thtf

He declares his hope concerning the Corinthians.

383

bulation ; that we may
be able to comfort
then} which are in
any trouble, by the
comforti wherewith
we ourfelves are com
forted of God,

5 For as the fuf
ferings of Ciirlft a-
bound in us, fo our
confolatlon alfo a-
boundeth by Chrift.

6 And vvhtther we
hc afflifted, 'it is fir
your confolatlon and
falvation, which is
effeftual in the en-
' during of the fame
fufferings which we
alfo fuffer : , or whe
ther we be comforted,
it is for your confa-
lation and falvation.

ances

2 Cor,
1,4-

7 And ourhope of
you is ftedfaft, know- '
ing that as you are
partakers

n our favour. And this, I know, is not Sect
merely fo^ our own fakes, but ihat we, taught ^'
by our ovvn experience, may be able, in the mpft
tender, fuitable and efFe£itnal manner, to comfort
thrfe who 'are in any tribulation, by the commu
nication of that comfort whereby we ourfelves
are comforted of God"^-, and methinks every fup
port I feel, is much endeared to me, by the con
fideration, that the benefit of it may be refleSed
upon others. Becaife as the fufferings we 5
endure in the caufe of Chrift, and in conformity >
to his example, abound^with refpeSi to us', fo our
confolatlon by Chrift, the comforts which arife
from God in him, does abound much more, and
quite over-balance the diftrefs. ,
And much of this fatisfaftion to us arifes from 6
the hope we have with relation to you, my dear
friends and Chriftian brethren ; for whether
we be afliiSied, [it isf] we doubt not, in fubr.
fervience io the views of your prefent confolatlon,
and your future and eternal falvation ; which is
fo much the more ejfeSlually wrought out, by the
patient enduring of the fame fufferings, which
we alfo undergo, and ¦which by our example you
are taught the lefs to wonder at, and to bear with
the greater fortitude : or whether we be comfort
ed, [it is] ftill with the fame view, for your
confolatlon and falvation ; that your eternal hap
pinefs maybe promoted by thofe comforts which
we are enabled to communicate to you with t\ie
greater efficacy. And our hope conceming
you, that this will be the happy end of all, [is] 7
ftedfaft and chearful " : knowing, that as ye are
partakers

the mention of tliefe experiences muft
have a powerful tendency i:> conciliate
the regard of the Corinthians to St, Paul;
and fUch an introduftlon to h\s epifile, as
the whole of this is, muft naturally preju
dice them ftrongly in his favour ; yet this
does not feem to have been by any means
his aim, nor is there any appearance of
art in it; bnt all. is the genuine over
flowing of an heart, which rejoiced in
the confolations of the gojpel felt by itfelf,
and communicated toi others. See verfe
iz, which is much illuftrated by this
conneftion.' ^
¦• Comforted if God.] Some think this
fefcrfi particularly to th" comfort which the
fepcntence of the inceftuous perfon gavfi

St, Paul, after the afHIftion he had endured
on his account; (compare chap* vii. 7,;)
but it feems more natural, to underftand '
it of the general confolatlon arifing from
the pardon of fin, an intereft in God, an
affurance that nothing Ihould feparate him
from Chrift, that affliftions Ihould co
operate for his advantage, and that a crown
of glory heightened by thefe trials Ihould
clofe the fcene. On theje topicks he fre
quently infifts in his epiftles, and none
can he more important and delightful. -
e Our hope cattceming you 'is ftedfaft.]
Thefe word?, in feveral good manttfcripts,
are put in conneftion with the firft claufe
of the 61 h verfe ; and, fo the vcrfioa will
run thus. Whether we be a£li£ied, it is in
B b 4 fubfervient:!

384 He mentions the trials wherein he had, been fupported.

2 Cor,
I. 7

Sect, partakers of the fufferings to which we refer, fo
' you alfo have already, in fome degree, your
fhare of ihe confolatlon which arifes from
principles and hopes which are not peculiar to
us, who are apoftles, or inferior minifters of the
gofpel, but common to all fincere believers ; in
which number I perfuade myfelf that you in the
general are,
' We write thus concerning the trials of the
Chriftian life, having fojately experienced tbem
in a large meafure : for we would not have you,
our dear brethren, ignorant concerning our ^fliic-
tion, which within this few months befel us in
Afta ^ and particularly at Ephefus ; thai we
were exceedingly prefl'ed with it, even beyond our
power ; fo that ijje^defipa'tred of being able even io
live any longer, and were looked upon by others
as dead men. And not only did others appre
hend this concerning us, but we ourfelves did
indeed think, that the appointed end of our
miniftry and life was come ; and had, as it were,
received the fentence of death in ourfelves, the
execution of which we were continually expeft
ing ; but the eVent fliewed,' that it was wifely-
appointed by Divine Providence to make our
deliverance the more remarkable ; and that we
might learn for the future, not to truft in our
felves, nor merely to regard human probabilities,
but in the greatelT: extremities to repofe a chear
ful confidence in the power and providence of

9

partakers of the fuf,
ferings, fo ftall yt
be alfo of the con,
folation,

S For we' would
not, brethren, have
you ignorant of our
trouble which came
to us in Afia, that
we were preifed out
of meafure, above,
ftrength, inforauch
that we dcfpaire((
even of life : '

9 But we had the
fentence of death In
ourfelves,! that we
Ihould not truft in
ourfelyes, but in God
whic|)

fubjervience to your conjolat'ion and falvation,
which 'is effeSiually ivrought out by the pa
tient enduring of the fame juffer'ingi which
ive alfo undergo ; and our hope concerning
you is ftedfaft : or, -zvhether ive be comfort
ed, it, .h far your confolatlon and falvation ;
kncwing that as ye are partakers of the juf -
ferings, fa, alfo of the conjolat'ion. And the
repetition of the woids conjolat'ion Jvnd jal-
'vation, Ihews how agreeable the thought
was to him ; fo that he loved to fpeak of
it again and again,
f 'The aftli£iions wh-^h befel us in Afta.]
Mr, Cradock thinks, tnat here he begins
to apologize for not coming to Corinth,
and introduces thefe troubles as an excufe
for not feeing them. I think it is rather
to be connefted with the preceding dif
courfe. Yet ftill it might incline them to
, drop their complaints, and judge more

favourably of him, when they confidered
in what painful and dangerous circurnn
ftances he had, on the prefent openings
of duty, been fpending th.-^.t tirae in which
they had been expefting him at Corinth,
As for the aftiiSions here fpoken of, fome
have thought, that this may refer to thc
perfecutions at Lyftra, where St. Paul's
danger had been fo extreme, and he had
been recovered by miracle ; (Afts xiv,
19, 20;) but as that happened fo long
before the vifit to Corlntli, in which he
planted the church (here, (Afts xviii, i,)
it feems more probable, that he either re
fers to fome oppofition which he met with
in Ills journey through Galatia and Phry-
gia, (Afts xviii, 23,) of which no parti
cular account has reached us ; or to what
happened at Ephefus, (Afts xix, 29, 30,)
Vhich is Dr. Whitby's opinjpn. that

And the joy the teftimony ef his tonfcience gave him.

which raifeth the
4ead, 10 Who delivered
us from fo great a
death, and doth de
liver: in whom we
' truft that he will yet
deliver us :

II Ye alfo helping
together by piayer
for us, tb.it for the
gift beftowed upon us
by the means of many
perfons, thanks may
be given by niany on
our behalf.

12 For our re
joicing is this, the
Ceftimon^j of our con
fcience, that in fim
plicity, and godly
fincerity, not with
fle/hly wifdom7 but
hy the grace of God,
we have had pur con-
ye rfation in the world ,
ijnd more abundantly
to you-y^ards.

that God, who raifeth the dead, at his holy plea- Sect-
fure, by his omnipotent word : IVho refcued ^'
us, on this ever-metiiorable occafion, from fo jCm-,
great a death as then threatened us, and doth I- lot
~ refcue us from every danger which noW furrounds
. us, and in whom we truft thai he will make
our deliverance complete, and ftill refcue Us
from every evil, and preferve us to his heavenly
kingdom, r fay, that I have this confidence in God's \\
continual care 5 and it is the more chearful, as
1 perfuade myfelf you are, and will be> working
together in prater for us, that fo the favour
. [obtained] for us by the importunate prayers of
many, may be acknowledged by the thankfgiving of
many on our account ^ ; as ndthing can be moi-e
reafonable, than that mercies obtained by prayer,
Ihould be owned in praife. And this eon- \'i,
fidence which we have both towards God and
youy is much emboldened, as we have an in
ward afliirance of pur own integrity, however
men may fufpeft, or cenfure us : for this is ftill
our rejoicing, which no externarl calamities can
impair, or injuries deftroy, even the teftimony of
our confidence in the fight of God who fearcheth
the fecrets of all hearts, ihat in fimplicity *", and
godly fincerity, maintaining perpetually that fenle
of the Divine prefence and infpeftion, which
is the fureft guard upon unfeigned integrity,
and not with that carnal wifdom which is fo un
generoufly and unrighteoufly imputed to us
hut by the grace of God, and fuch fentiments cf
fidelity and benevolence as that blefled prin
ciple infpires, we have had, and ftill continue to
have, our converfation in ihe world ; and more
efpecially towdrds you ', with refpeft to whom.

E 7h'at jo the favour obtained, &c.]
There is lomething' very' perpfexed and
- ambiguous in the ftrufture of this fentence.
I have fometimes thought it might be
" rendered, that, (virso jj^-wv,) on our ac
count, thanks may be rendered by many per
fons, fsr (to £1^ ri;jcaq ^a^.af/.a.,) the gift,
'or miraculous endowment ivhich is in us,
or depofited with us^ (Jia i^o'hKm,) for
the fake of many : as if he had faid. That
many may join with_ us, in returning
thanks for thefe miraculous endowments
which were lodged with me, not for my

own fake, but for the benefit of mahy.
This would . be <i fentiment worthy an
apoftle ; > but the rendering in the para
phrafe feemed, on the whole, the moft
natural and fimple ; efpecially as fw,, with
a genitive, feidom, if ever, fignifies for
the fake, but rather ,by the means of any
afterwards mentioned.
h Simplicity, pla'in-heartednejs.] Not
only meaning well oth the whole, but de
clining an over-artful way of profecuting
a. good end.
1 Efpecially towardsym.] His working with

386 RefleSiions on the trials and confolations of Chriftians.
Sect, Jn fome circumftances of oppofition that have
happened among you, we have been peculiarly
a Cot. obliged to watch over our conduft ; lef^ inad-
1. 12 vertency fhould in' any inft.mce give an handle
to the linalice of ouj: enemies, to exert itfelf,
in ftrengthening prejudices againft us, and
deftroying thofe fruits of oiir labours among
you, for which we could not but be greatly
concerned. IMPROVEMENT,
Verfe Let the Venerable title oi faints, by which the apofile fo oftcfl
I defcribes, and addrelfes Chr'iJlians, be eyer retained in our minds ;
that we may remember the obligations vve are under to anfwer iti'
as we would avoid the guilt and infamy of lying to God and men,
by falfely and hypocritically profeiling the beft religion, very
poflibly to the worft, undoubtedly to the vaineft purpofes. And
that we may ba excited to a fanftity becoming this title, let'
•y us often think of God, as the Father ofi mercies, and as the God of
all confolatlon; and let us think of him, asalfuming thefe titles,
under the charafter of the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrifi:
fo fhall we find our hearts more powerfully engaged to love and
truft in hirn, and enter into a more intimate acquaintaijce and
frequent converfe with him,
4. from him let us feek confolatlon in every diftrefs ; .confidering
thefe fupports, which we fo experience, not as given for ourfelves
aione, but for others ; that we, on the like principles, may
comfort them. Let mimfters, in particular, regard them in this
view, and rejoice in thefe tribulatloAs which may render thera
more capable of contfiorting fuch as are in any trouble, hy thoje
confolat'tons with which they themfelves have heen comforted hy God;
that fo the church, may be edified, and God glorified in all, by
II the thankfgiving of many, for rnercies obtained in anfwer to unitt^
prayers. '
Let us particularly remember the fupport which St. Paul ex
perienced, when he was prefled above meafure, and as it feemed^
9 quite beyond his ftrength, fo as to defpair of life, and received the
Jentence of death in himfelf ; as what was wifely appointed to teach
him a firmer confidence in God, who raifeth the /lead. Strong as
his faith was, it admitted of farther degrees ; and the improve
ment of it was a happy equivalent for all the extremities he fuf
fered. He therefore glories, as fecure of being refcued from future
with his own hands for his m.-'.intenance, whc'-e do, muft be a coiivincing proof of
among the Corinthians, (Afts xviii, 3 ; tint.
I Cor. ix. 15,) which he'did'not evciy
6 , dan^tru

The Apoftle profeffes his integrity towards thun : 387
dangers. Nor was his faith vain, though he afterwards fell by SrcT.
the hand of his enemies, and feemed as helplefs 3 prey to their ^'

malice and rage, as any of the multitudes whofe blood' Nero, or vcrfc
the inftruments of his cruelty, poured out like water. Death is 10
itfelf the grand refcue to a good man, which bears him to a ftate
of everlafting fecurity ; and in this fenfe every believer may adopt
the apoftle's words, and while he acknowledges paft' and prefent,
may ailiiredly boaft of future deliverances,
Happy Ihall we therefore be, if by Divine grace we are enabled
at all times, to maintain ^he temper and conduft of Chriftians ;
and may confidently rejoice in the jeftimony of our confciences, that
our converfation in the world is in fimplicity and godly fincerity ; 12
,thaf our ends in religion are great and noble ; that our conduft is
fimple and uniform ; in a word, that we aft as in ihe fight ofi ciit
heart- fear ching God. Then may we look upon the applaufes, or
the cenfures of men, as comparatively a very light matter; and
may reft affured, if, as with regard to the apoftle in the inftance
before us, he fuflPers a malignant breath for a-while, to obfcure
the luftre of our charafter, the day is near, which will reveal it in
unclouded glory.
SECT. II.
The Apoftle* goes on folemnly to declare his general integrity; arfd
particularly applies that declaration to the views on which he
had declined that viftt to Corinth, which he had intimated an ,
intention of making. 2 Cor, I, 13, to ihe end.
2C0K.1. 13. 2 Corinthians I, 13.
pOR we write none |- SpEAK of the integrity with which I'have Sict.
other things unto I , n i r ir vu . TT
you, than what ye condufted mylelf among you, with great ^^-
read, or acknow- freedom ; for we write no other things to you on ^ [.^j.^
''='^gf '¦> ^"^ ^ t"'"'': this head, hut what ye well know ", and muft be 1. 13'
cyeo'tothe"ndj'^ ^^ obliged to acknovJiedge ; and 1 hope, thai ye will
have equal caufe to acknowledge [ihem] eiien unto
the end : for by the Divine grace, you fjjall never
have juft caufe to fpeak or think difhonourably
of us, or to refleft upon any inconflftency in our
'14, As alfo you behaviour. As indeed ye have zlrezdy acknow- 14
have acknowledged judged US in part ; you have acknowledged, that

in part, are
\

yOu have had no occafidn of blaming us ; for
though fome among you are not fo ready to do
us juftice as the reft are, yet moft avow it with

a Wiarjif /i!i5TO,].'Tbewoidav»j'iviwnt^ think the fenfe here plainly determines.
is ambiguousi' and may fignify either to it to ^nofflJi'iij,
(tcknu-tfledge,. to ktiow, or to*;rfj but J pleafnrc

388

And fays he had not deferred coining through Jenity.

Sict. pleafure and thankfulnefs, thai we are your
"• bdafting, and that ye have caufe to glory in your
8 Cor. relation ^to us; as ye alfo in this refpeft, (with
1. 14 humble gratitude to the great author of all our
, fucceffes be it ever fpoken,) [_are] ours now, and
will,. I truft, be fo in jhe great day of the Lord
fefus; when we hope to prefent you before
Chrift, as the feals of our miniftry, and to lead
you on to that heavenly kingdom, in the faithful
purfuit of which we have already beenifa happy
as to engage you.
i 5 And in this confidence I was long before de
ftrous of coming to you, and enjoying another in
terview with friends, who have long lain fo near
my heart ; that the expefted tranfports of that
bleffed day, might in fome degree be antici
pated, both on my part and on yours ; and ac
cordingly would have come to you much fooner,
not only on my own account, but likewife thai
ye might have had a fecond benefit ; as I doubted
not but it would have been much to your advan
tage, as well as have given you a great deal of
joy, to have feen and con verfed with your father
in Chrift, who had once been fo dear and fo
J 6 welcome to you. And indeed my fcheme was
io pafs by you into Macedonia, and make you a
fhort vifit '' in my way thither ; and then having
difpatched my bufinefs in the churches there,, io
eome to you again firom Macedonia, and make a
longer ftay ; that fo I might be brought forvuard
hy you in my journey toward fiidea, when I fhall
go thither to deliver the thoney raifed by the
contribution of the Gentile Chriftians for their
Jewifh brethi;en, when they fhall meet at Jeru-

are your rejoidnf,
even as ye alfo are
ours in the day of
the Lord Jefus,

15 And in this
confidence I was
minded to come ufito
you before, that you
might have a feconi
benefit:

16 And to pafs by
you into Macedonia,
and to come again out
of Macedonia, unto
you, aitd of you tq
be brought on my
way toward Judea,

b Make you a fliort vifit.] Ji' vfjcm
JiEXflEiv E(5 XTttHE^oi'iav fomc havc under-
flood of going into Macedonia without
calling on them in his way. But as he
went from Ephefus to Macedonia, it was
not his direft way to go fiy Corinth ;
efpecially confidering the road we know
he did take, by Troas ; and if he , were now
in Macedonia, as I think there is great
reafon to believe he was, there would on
that intei-pretation have been no fuch ap
pearance -of change in his purpofe, as
ihould have needed any apology, I there
fore conclude, that his firft fcheme was to

have made them two vifits, the one in his '
way to Macedonia, (perhaps failing from
Epliefus to Corinth,) and then anothei'
and longer, in his return. This the
word 7rtt^lv, again, feems to intimatej
and if this were his purpofe, it was now
plain in faft, that he had changed it.
The grand objeftion ag^nft this is i Cor,
Xvi, 7, which can only be reconciled by
a fuppofition, that he had altered his pur
pofe between tUedate of that epijile and
his quitting £p|iefus; and had given .
V them, perhaps, by fome verbal meifagei
fome intimation of it. iiim

^ut his' "Uiord towards them was ftedfaft ; oga
falem on occafion of fome of their great fealilsi Sect.
(See Afts XX, i6,) - "•
,7 When I there- pf^ .^ihen I intended this, did I ufe levity in TTT'
fore was thus mind- _ • n* r i ^ • y „ , -^ ^ ^^i^-
ed, did I ufe light- projefting my fcheme, or throwing it afide on I. 17
nefs V or the things any trifling occafion ? Or if e things which I pur-
that I pul-pofe, do I pofe in general, do I purpofe 'according io ihe
TfieCthatrh fif'^'^^'t''^'^ carnal principles and Views;
me there Ihould be that 1 Ihould be Continually changing my mea-
yea, yea, and nay, fures in the profpeft of eyery little intereft that
""^ ¦' may lead one way or another, and breaking my
word, fo thai there fhould be with me yea, yea,
and nay, nay; fuch an uncertainty and incon
flftency of counfels and aftions, that none fhould
know how to depend upon me, or what they
tru'e! o"u'r wo^d to" ^ad to expeft from me ? No ; I folemnly ,8
ward you was not yea proteft, that [as] thc God, whom I ferve, [is]
»n3 n^yi faithful, our word io you on other occafions,
and on this, hath not been wavering and uncer
tain ; fometimes yea, and fometimes nay ; but
that I have always maintained a confiftency of
behaviour, the natural attendant of fincerity and
truth, which is always uniform and invariable,
19 For the Son of pg^ our Lord Jefus Chrifl, the Son of God, our m
God, lefus Chrift, ..nj 1 1 , r ^ '
who was preached a- great Redeemer, who was preached by us among Ji
mong you by us, you, that is, by me and Silvanus,. and Timothy,
evenby me, and Sii- vvho joined our labours among you, (Afta xviii.
;::w'arnoryTatd 15,) as we now join in writing to you this epi-
nay, but in hhn was Itle, (according to what 1 obferved in the in-
yea. fcription of it,j was not yea and nay : Chrift and
his gofpel were not inconfiftent and contradic
tory ; butin him all was yea ; and he is the fame
yefterday, to-day, and fpr ever, the declarations
of his 'word, and the engagements of his cove-
20 For all the pro- nant are inviolably the fame. For aU the 2a
mifes of God in him , • 1,1 • , ./• r r\ 7
ve yea, and in him ™any and invaluable ^precious promifes of God,
amen, which are given us by this covenant, and efta
blifhed in his blood, [are] in him yea, and in
him amen '. They are now attended \f ith ftipu-
e Tn him yea, and in h'm, amen.] No- the glorious cohfequences to follow,) tend/
tWng can really render the promifes of . greatly to confirm our faith, and niake
God' more certain than they are ; but it eafier for us to believe fuch illuftrious
God's giving thera to us through Chrift, promifes as thofe which are given us ;
affures us, that they are indeed his pro- the very greatnejs of whicii nlight .other-
mifes, as in Chrift there is fuch a real wife have been an impediment to our
evidence of his converfing with men; and faith, and have created a fufpicion, not ,
as the wonders which God hath aftually whether God would hSve performed
wrought in the incarnation, life, refur- what he had promifed, but whether
reftion, and afcenfion of his Soir, (fafta fuch promifes were really given us,
im themftlves much ftranger than any of lations

39'

As alfo the promifes of God in Chrift were.

SrcT 11.

pulations and engagements, which may be fuf
ficient to confirm the weakeft faith, when we
fcfu confider what an affenifhing way God has
1. 2o been pleafed to take for the communication of
mercy by his Son ; fo that the ' more we attend
to them, the more we fhall fee of their invaria
ble truth and certainty : and all fends to thc
• glory of God by us, which we conftantly make
tlie end of our adminiftrafion, and fo are ani-*
mated to maintain one regular feries of uniform
truth, as in his fight and prefence.
%\ But we fay not this, as arrogating any thing
to ourfelves ; for we moft readily acknowledge,
that he ivho alfo by his ftrengthening grace,
confirmeth and ejlabiijheth us '', together ivith
you, /« the faith, and love of .CZr//?, and \\e thzt
hath ano'fnted us, as a kind of firft-fruits of his
creatures, with that Spirit, which gives us a
capacity for all the fervices to which we are called
out, and furnifhes us with all our credentials
22 in it, [wj'the bleffed God h'nnieli; IFho hath
alfo fealed us ', to mark and fecure ' us for his
peculiar property, and, in further confirmation
of his regard for us, given us the earneft of the
Spirit in our hearts, thofe facred communica
tions both of gifts and graces which lead us
into enjoyments that we look upon as the an
ticipation of heaven, and not only as a pledge,
but a foretafle of it. This is the happy ftate
into which we are now brought, for which I
defire eve'r to glorify and adore the Uivine
goodnefs, and to behave^ as one ;hat is favoured

amen,- qnto theglory
of God by us.

2 1 Now he which
eftablilheth us with
you in Chrift, and
hath anointed' us,
IS God,

22 Who hath alfo
fealed us, and given
the earneft of the Spi
rit in our hearts.

ft Eftaliliftjeth us.] To explain this of
furnilhing St, Paul with fuch arguments
as" enabled him more aid more to confirm
the Corinthians in thi; Chriftian faith,
and himftlf in th;' charafter of a faithful
minifter, is, I think, giving but a fmall
part of the genuine and fublime fenfe of
this excrlLnt paft'age.
^ Hath anointed us— jealed us.] Monf,
Saurin thinks, that the difference brtween
til'' unfiiin, the jeal, and the earneft, of
thc Spirit is this : that the uaSion chiefly
referi to thofe extraordinary endowments
by which the apoftles were fet apart to
their work, z& priefts and kings were con- '
fi'ciated to tJicirs, by being ano'uited ; the
jml, to 'the jacraineiiis, wliich marked

them out as the peculiar property of
God ; and the earneft hc explains, of thofe
joys of the Holy Qhoft, which were the
anticipation of celeftial happinefs. See
Saur. Scr. Vol. XI, p, 83—85,
fMark and fecure us.] That jealing
refers to both thefe, is well Ihewn byDr,
Whitby's note on this text. Some under
ftand tliis verje as infinuating how un
reafonable it would be to fufpeft hiiirol
levity, who was fealed by fuch extraordi
nary gifts of the Spirit. Compare John
vi, 27, But this argument would be fome-
thing-prccarious ; and as he fpeaks of the
earneft of the Spirit in the hearts of be
lievers, I'thought the interpretation here
given rauch preferable. with

Li was to fpare them, that he came not yet to Corinth.

23 Moreover, I
call God I'or a record
upon my foul, that
to fpare you I came
not as yet unto Co
rinth.

24 Not for that we
have dominion over
your faith, but are
helpers of your joy :
¦ for bj faith ye ftand.

with fuch invaluable bleflings, and with fuch Sect.
glorions profpefts as thefe. ^^•
But with .refpeft to that' change in my pur- \ Cor.
pofe of coming to you, which fome would re- I. zj
prefent as an inftance of a contrary conduft, /
call God for a record on my foul, and declare to
you, even as I hope he. will have mercy upon
it", thai it vvas, not becaufe I flighted my
friends, or feared mine enemi«s, but out of a
real tendernefs, and with a defire to fpare you
that uneafinefs vvhich I thought I muft in that
cafe have been obliged to give you, that / came
not as yet to Corinth ; as 1 had once intended,
and given you fome reafon to expeft. I men- 24
' tion this, not becaufe we pretend to have any
abfolute dominion over your faith, io as of my
own authoiity' to diftate what you fhould be
lieve, or, do; nor v/ould vve exert the power
with which Chrift has endowed us, to any
tyrannical or overbearing purpofes ; but we, even
1, and all the faithful minifters of our Lord Jefus
Chrifl, are joint helpers of your joy: we labour
to ufe all the furniture which God hath given
us, to the advancement of your real comfort and
happinefs ; which can only be fecured by re
ducing you to your duty : but this very care will
oblige us fometimes to take difagreeable fteps,
with regard to thofe that aft in fuch a manner,
as might tend to fubvert the faith of their bre
thren : for by faith ye ha-ue ftood hitherto: 1 rea
dily acknowledge you have in the general adhered
to it; and it is by retaining the fame principles
piire and uncorrupted, with a realizing fenfe of
them on (;ur hearts, that we may ftill continue
to ftand in the midft of all the oppofition we
neceftarily meet with from men infenfible of
every bond of duty and gratitude.

IMPROVEMENT.

ALL the promifes of God are yea and amen in Chrifi : let us de- ¦VerCe
pend Upon it, that they will be performed ; and make it our 20

g Have mercy on it.] Nothing but have juftified the folemnity of fuch aiv
thc great importance of St. Paul's vindi- oath,
eating his cliaraftev tp fuch ichunh, would great

5^2 RefteSlions oft the views nimifters Jhould have in their ofitcii
SEdT, great care, that we may be able to fay, that we are interefled
 '__ through him in the blellings to whicii they relate. Let therebea
proportionable fteadinefs and confillence in ovir obedience ; and let
not our engagements to God be yea and nay, fince his to us are fa
¦Veife invariably faithful.
19 Are we eftablijhed in Chrift ? Are we .fealed with ihe earhefi if
¦21 ihe Spirit in our hearts P Let us acknowledge that it is God who
22 hath imparted it to us ; and let Chriflians of the greateft fteadi
nefs and experience be proportionably humble, rather than by any
means elated on account of their fuperiority to others*
We fee the light in which minifters fhould always confider
themfelves, and in which they are to be confidered by others;
¦not as having dominion over ihe Jaith of their people, having a
right to diftate by their own authority, what they fhould believe^
or, on the fame principles, what they fhould do ; but as hd^ers
24 of their joy, in confequence of being helpers of their piety and^
obedience. In this view, how amiable does the minifterial o&ne
appear! What a friendly afpeft it wears upon the happinefs of
mankind ! And how little true benevolence do they manifeft, who
would expofe it to ridicule and contempt !
Let thofe who bear that office, be careful that they do not
give it the moft dangerous wound, and abet the evil works of
thofe who defpife and deride it ; which they will m oft efFeftually
in do, if they appear to form their purpofes according io the flejh.-
Let them with a fingle eye direft all their adminillrations to the
glory of God and the edification ^f the church ; that they may
1-7 be able to appeal to their hearers, as thofe that muft acknowleilge,
and bear their teftimony to their uprightnefs, Li that cafe, they
will be able to look on them as thofe in whom they hope to re-
jj^ joice in the day of the Lord. And if, while they purfue thefe ends,
they are cenfured' as aftuated by any mean and lefs worthy prin
ciple, let them- not be much furprifed qr difcouraged: /they fhare
in exercifes, from which the blefied apoftle St. Paul -was not en'
empted;, as indeed there is no integrity, or caution, which can
guard any man from the effefts of that malice againft Chrifi ani his
gofpel with which fome hearts overflow, when they feel themfelves
condemned by it.
SECT. III.

The Apoftle expreffes his great ajfeSiion to the Corinthians as mini-
feflcd both in his fympathy with the offending member of that
i church, who, having been under cenfure, was now penitent;
(in Wliich view hc advifes his re-admiffion ;) and alfo in hH
3 folicitUilt

The Apoftle would not come to grieve them.
folicitude for tidings comeming ihem from Titus, whom not finding
at Troas, he went to meet in Macedonia. 2 Cor. IL i — 13.

393

2 CoR, II, I.
¦pUT I determined
this with myfelf,
that I would not
come again to you
with heavinefs.

2 For if I jaake
you forry, who is he
then that maketh me
glad, but tbe fame
which is made forry
by me .'

3 And I wrote this
fame unto you, left
when I came, I
Ihould have forrow
from them of wh m
I ought to rejoice ;
having confidence in
you all, that my joy
is liejiy of you all.

2 Corinthians II. i.
T NOW plainly and faithfully tell you the true Sect,
reafon of that delay of my journey, which ^^^"
has fo much furprifed moft of you, and at which '
fome appear to be fcandalized. It was not that ^,i*"'"^*
I forgot you, or failed in any friendly regards to
you; but I determined this with myfelf, on hearing
how things ftood among you, that I would
not, if it could by any means be prevented,
come to you again in griefs ; in circumllances
which muft have grieved both myfelf and vou ;
but that I would wait" for thofe fruits which 1
had reafon to hope from my endeavours in my
former epiftle, to regulate what had been amifs.
For -if I fhould be obliged to grieve you, who 2
Jhould then rejoice me, unlefs it be he who is now
grieved by me^ P My affeftion to you as a church
is indeed fo great, that I could enjoy very little
comfort myfelf, if you were in forrow, efpecially
in confequence of any aft of mine, however ne
ceffary it were : And therefore / have writ- 3
ten thus to you, in order to the farther promot
ing of that reformation which is neceffary to
my own comfort, as well as to your honour and
peace ; that I may not, when I come again, have
grief on account of thofe for whom I ought to re
joice, having this confident perfuafion concerning
you all in general, that my joy is [the joy] of you
all ", and that you do in the main bear the fame
affeftion

a 1 would not come to you 'in grief.] It
may be objefted, why then did he fpeak
of coming in his former epiftle, (i Cor.
xvi, 5 — 7,) when the inceftuous perfon
being yet impenitent, and their obedience
to his direftions, with relation to that cafe,
being as yet unapproved, the caufe of
forrow, and the neceflity of grieving them,
feemed yet greater than now ? But it is
very likely, that after he had writ that
epiftle, and perhaps vvhile thefe things
were in fufpenfe, he had received news
of other diforders ampng them ; and indeed
it is ev'dent, that he feems apprehenfive,
even on fuppofition that the inceftuous
peribn were happily reftored, he might
yet be under a neceffity of exercifing an
unwilling feverity among them. Chap.
Vol. IV.

xii. 20, 21 ; and chap, xiii. i — 6, 10,
b Unlejs it be he ivho is grieved by me.']
It cannot reafonably be objefted, that the
jound part of the church would rejoice
him ; for even they would be gueved by
the neceflity of fuch/^i/erifics; they would
fympathize with tiie afflifted and correfted
perfons ; and on the other hand, the
recovery of offcnd.-rs would give him
more fenfible joj than any thing elfe j
which confiderations taken together will
abundantly juftify this expreflion.
- c My joy is the joy of you all.] Mr.
Locke argues from hence, that a diftinc-
tion is to be raade between the.£orinthi-
ans, to whom this epiftle was written, and
the falfe teachers who were Jews, and
who crept in among th^m, and whom
Ce he

394 Sect. III.
2 Cor,
11,4,

He had wrote his former epiftle^ to fliew his love.

affeftion towards me, as I feel in my heart to
wards you. For fome time ago, with much
afiliSiion, and over-bearing anguijh ¦" of heart, 1
wrote an epiftle to you ", which was attended
with many tears, and I defigned by it, not, as
you may be fure, thai ye might be grieved, but
ihat yc might know, by one of the moft genuine
tokens which it was poffible for me to give, ihat
overflowing love which I bear to you, of the de
gree and tendernefs of which 1 was never my
felf fo fenfible as 1 have been fince this fad occa-
; fion of difcovering it happened. And if any
one of you hath been fo unhappy, as to have
occafioned grief , he hath only grieved me in pari;
I am but one of a much greater number who
have felt this affeftionate concern. And this I
fay, thai I may not overburden you all, nor fix;
any unjuft charge upon the whole body of the
Corinthian church, as if it had taken part with
fuch an offender in afHifting me : far from that,
I rather believe it has fympathized with me in
3 my grief And fuflicient to fuch an one S
who hath here been the aggreffor, [is] this re
buke and cenfure, [thai he hath] already [fuffered]
by many, and indeed by the whole body of your
fociety ; which has fhewn fo wife and pious
a readinefs to purfue the direftions 1 gave,
for animadverting upon him, and bringing him
n to repentance. So that, on the whole, I am
well fatisfied in what the church has done ; and
inftead of urging you to purfue farther feverities
againft him, who now, by the bleffing of God

4 For out of much
affliftion and anguilli
of heart, I wrote un.
to you with many
tears j not that you
Ihould be grieved,
but that yc might
know the love which
I have more abun
dantly unto you.

5 But if any havc
caufed grief, he hath
not grieved me, but
in part : that I may
not overchaige you
all.

£Sufficienttofuth
a man 'it this punilh.
ment, which luaj i«-
ftiSled of many.

7 So that contra- riwifc.

lie does not comprehend in the number of
thofe concerning whom he fpeaks with
fuch tendernefs and hope. And thus he
would reconcile this paffage, and chap.
vii. 13 — 15 with chap, xi, 13 — 15 J
chap. X, 6 — II. Compare chap. xi. Z2,
where it is intimated fome of them were
Hebrews, But as we are fure fome of
the Corinthians had been feduced and
alienated from St. Paul by them, I think
it moft reafonable to underftand this as
Ipoken of what he might conclude to be
their general charafter j and it was both
gc'nerous and prudent in the apoftle to fet
it in thlt. point of view,
d Ovi-i-bdring angu'ift.] This feems
the Import of tim-)(ri ; which nearly rc-

fembles trM'.-^^.i, (compare chap, v, I4i)
which 1 rennet htars a-way.
e JVrote an epiftle, &c.] Probably k
here refers to fuch pafl'ages as thofe in the
frft epiftle, which fpeak of fcandalon!
perfons among them, and direft to the
methods to be taken to reduce them to
order. f To juch an one.] Mr. Locke very well
obferves the great tendernefs which the
apoftle ufes to this offender ; hc "never
once mentions his name, nor does 1-e here
fo much as mention his crime -, but fpeak'
of him in the moft indefinite manner
that was confiftent with giving fuchdirec-
tion* in his cafe as love required, on

They were to reftore the penitent offending member.

395

rl*Ife, ye ought rather
to forgive h'an, and
comfort h'lm, left
perhaps fuch a one
Ihould be fwallowed
up with overmuch
forrow.

8 Wherefore I be
feech you, that ye
would confirm ytnir
love towards hira.

9 For to this end
alfo did I write, that
I might know the
proof of you, whe
ther ye be ©bedient
in all things.
10 To whom .ye
forgive any thing, I
J'orgive alfo ; for il^ I
forgive any thing, to
whom I forgave it,
for your f^kesforga^je
I it, in the perfon of
Chrift ;

on the difcipline you have ufed, is become a pe- SsIct.
nitent, I on ihe contrary, declare it to you as

1 1 Left Satan
Ihould' get an advan
tage of us ; for we
are not ignorant of
his devices.

Furthermore, when

my judgment, that you Jhould rather forgive and ^Cor.
comfort [him;'] left fuch a one, if kept under II, 7
continualrebuke, Jhould be fwallowed up with an
excefs of forrow, and rendered incapable of thofe
duties of the Chriftian life, to the performance
of which, I would cheerfully hope that he is
now inclined. Therefore I befeech you io con- 8
firm [ihe aff'urances] and demonftrations [of your]
love to him, in the moft tender and endearing
manner that you can ; which may convince him
that your feeming feverity proceeded from cor
dial affeftion. For indeed it was partly io 9
this purpofe that / have written, that / might
have experience of you, whether' ye would be obe
dient in all things to my apoftolical inftruftions
and decifions: and it gives me unfpeakable plea
fure to find that ye have been fo. And truly 10
I have fuch confidence in you as a fociety,
that I may fay, not only in this inftance, but in
any other that may happen, that to whom you
forgive any thing which hath been efteemed an
offence, fo as to be willing to reftore the offender
to your communion, / alfo fhall be ready to
[forgive it ;] and if I forgive any thing, to
whomfoever it may be, [ii is] not out of regard
to the offender alone, but in a great meafure /or
your fakes, that as in ihe perfon of Chrift, and by
the high ' authority with which he hath been
pleafed to invert me, I join in taking off the cen
fure. For I know the profperity of the church n
in general is concerned in condufting thefe af
fairs aright, and am folicitous, left if they be
carried to any excefs of rigour, Satan Jhould get
an advantage over us, and turn that feverity into
an occafion of mifchief to the offender, to
his brethren, and to others. For we are not
ignorant of his devices, and of the great variety of
ftratagems which he is continually making ufe
of to injure us, and to turn even difcipline it
felf, to the reproach of the church, and the de
ftruftion of fouls. Thefe are the fentiments 12
which prevail in my heart towards you ; and my
conduft, fince' the date of my laft epiftle, hath
been a genuine demonftration of this my affec-
C c 2 tionate

396

RefteSlions on the minifterial temper ;

Sect III,

tionate concern. For when 1 came unto Troas^
in the fervice of the gofpel of Chrift, and found
I Cor, things there fo fituated, th-ex there was << Jarge
II, 12 door opened to me in the Lord, many circum
ftances feeming to invite my ftay, and to give a
13 profpeft of fuccefs in my miniftry ; Yet /
had no reft in my fpirit, becaufie I did not find my
brother Titus there ; whom I had fent fo inquire
into your affairs, and from whom I expefted
tidings of you. I would not therefore make any
abode at Troas, though fo many confiderations
concurred to invite me to it ; but taking my
leave of them, I went out of Afia into Macedonia \
where I thought he might be, and ¦where 1 had
the happinefs quickly to meet him, and to receive
that news of you vvhich has given me fo much
pleafure, and inf confequence of which I have
found occafion to write to you in a more com
fortable manner, as I here do. And I blefs
God, that the purpofes ot my Chriftian miniftry
have not upon the whole been fruftrated by this
journey, but that the Divine bleffing hath at
tended my labours here, as well as in the places
which I left, that I might come hither.

whenleametoTtouto/>reaciChrift'sgof.pel, and a door was
opened unto me of
the Lord,
13 I had norellm
my fpirit, becaufe I
found not Tias my
brother : but taking
my leave of them, I
went from thence in^
to Macedonia,

IMPROVEMENT.

Let minifters earn from hence, after the example of this wife
and benevolent apoftle, to be very tender of the eafe and com-
Vcrfe fof(. Qf thofe Committed to their care ; doing nothing to grieve ot
¦^'^ diftrefs them, unlefs, as in the cafe before us, love requires it,
in order to their fafety and happinefs. Let them learn this can
did and endearing method of putting the beft interpretation upon
every thing, and of believing, where there is any reafon to hope
3 it, that their joy is the joy of their people alfo. when profeffing
Chriflians offend, and cannot be reclaimed by^ gentler methods,
let them, not out of refentment, but affeftion, have recourfe to
the difcipline which Chrift hath inftituted in his church : and when

% Came unto Troas.] Mr. Owen, {OfOr-
din. Part I, p, 124,) thinks this happened
in St. Paul's journey from Corinth to
Macedonia; and mentions it as a faft
omitted by St. Luke, to be colledled from
the ep'iftle. Many fuch fafts there undoubt
edly are, and this feems one of them, tho'
not juft in that circumftance. It feems
to have happened in that pafl'age from Afia
to Macedonia, of which fo very ihort

an account is given, Aftsxx. I, 2, He
afterwards ordered fome Chriftian friends,
who were attending him to Afia after it
had fpent three months in Macedonia, to
wait for him at Troas, {ih. verfes 4, 5,)
probably for this reafon among other!,
that they might have an opportunity A
preaching the gojpel to a people wlio feeracl
fo ready to reciive it, that

and of a right conduSi. '397
that difcipline hath anfwered its end, and the offender is recovered Sect.
to a fenfe of his evil, let them with the greateft pleafure concur "^"
in re-admitting him to the communion of the church from """
which he has been excluded ; with a tender concern, left he Jhould 7'^'^
be fwallowed up of over-much forrow ; always confidering, how ' ' '
watchful the enemy of fouls is to get an advantage over us ; and
remembering, that it will be the peculiar wifdom of minifters, to
acquaint themfelves with thefe artful and rx\a\\c\ous devices of Satan, 8
by which he is inceffantly endeavouring to diftrefs and ruin the
church, and to lay fnares for its members in their hopes and
their fears, their joys, and their forrows, fo as to take occafion
from every incident, and from every intereft, to weaken and to
wound them.
The great fource of a right conduft on all thefe occafions, is
unfeigned love : that let us labour to eftablijh in our hearts towards 4
each other; praying that God, by his Spirit, would eftablifh it.
And though the confequence of this will be, that our fpirits, like
the apoftle's, will be accelfible to many forrows which we fhould
not otherwife feel ; and though il is poflible*, that we, like Si. Paul
in the inftance before us, may fometimes be interrupted in aftive
fervices of life, which we might otherwife have been more ready 12
to purfue; yet we may hope, that while we are faithfully influ
enced by love, under the direftion of that Chriftian prudence,
which ought ever to attend it, views of ufefulnefs may be opened,
^here we leaft expeft them, may be opened one way, while they
are obftrufted another ; yea, upon the whole, what has forja-while
interrupted our fuccefs, may in its remoter confequences greatly
advance it.
S E C T. IV.
The Apoftle expreffes, in the moft affeSiionate terms, his thankful
nefs to God for having intrufted htm with the miniftry of the gof
pel, for the fiuccefis attending his fiervices therein -, and declares
his joyful confidence in all events ofi the Diyine acceptance ; and
fpeaks of the Corinthians, as his credentials written by the
finger of God, 2 Cor, II, 14, to the end. Chap. Ill, i— 0.
2Coi!.n, 14. 2 Corinthians II. 14.
JsJOW Aanks^^i. ^ pj^^^ informed you. that I left a fair op- Sect. ^
^ portunity of preaching the gofpel at Troas, in ^^'
confequence of that great defire I had to hear ^ cor.
from you ; for which purpofe I went into Ma- 11. 14
cedonia. But I defire thankfully to, own the
Divine goodnefs, in attending my miniftry with
very comfortable fuccefs there. And indeed I
C c 3 havc

398 The Apoftle bleffes God for fuccefs ai Troas, and elfewhere;
Sect, jjjvg great reafon to break out into a tranfport

 of praife in the refleftion : Yes, my brethren,
a Cor. thanks, everlafting thanks [be rendered] by you
W- "4 and me, io the Godoi all power and grace, who
always caufeth us to triumph in Chrift ', carry
ing us on from one fpiritual viftory to another ;
and manifefteth by us in every place, the fragrant
and powerful odour ofi his faving knowledge.
15 Well may I rejoice upon this account ; fior we
the apoftles, and other minifters of his gofpel,
are to God a fiweet and acceptable odour of Chrift :
he is as it were pleafed and delighted with the
incenfe of his name and gofpel as diffufed by
us, both with refpeSi to them who believe and are
faved, and to ihem, who in confequence of their
16 unbelief, perifi in their fins. To the latter indeed
[we are] an odour of death ; fhe fragrancy,
fo rich in itfelf, inftead of reviving, deftroys
them, and is efficacious to bring on death in its
moft dreadful forms. But to the other [we
are] an odour ofi lifie ; the gofpel revives their
fouls, and is effeftual to their eternal life and
falvation. And when we confider all thefe
awful confequences, which one way or other
attend our miniftry, we may truly fay, who [is]
fufficient for thefe things ? Who is worthy to
bear fuch an important charge.? Who fhould
17 undertake it without trembling? Neverthe
lefs, tho' we fnuft acknowledge ourfelves unwor
thy of fuch a charge, God is pleafed to fucceed
us in the execution of it, as he knows our fin
cerity in his fight and prefence. For we are
not as many, who adulterate the word of God^ by

unttrGod, which al.
ways caufeth us to
triumph in Chriit,
and maketh miinifeft
the favour of his
knowledge by us in
every place.

1 5 For we are un.
to God a fweet favour,
of Chrift, in thera
that are faved, and
in them that peilli.

16 To the on? to;
are the favour of
death unto death j
and to the other, the
favour of life unto
life. And who ii
fufficient for thefe
things ?

17 For we are not
as many, which cor
rupt the word of
God;

a Caufeth as to triumph.] Witfius
would render &jici[a.Uu'.-iI , who triumphs
over UI, (compare Col. ii, 15,) and lup-
pofes it exprelfes the joy with which St.
Paul reflefted on that powerful and fove
reign grace which had led him in triumph,
who was once fo infol^'nt an enemy to
the gofpel, I rather think the apoftle re
prefents himjtilf as triumphing through
the Divine power. And as- in triumphal
proceflions, elpecially in the eaft, fragrant
odours and incenfe were burnt near the
fon^uerors ; fo he feems beautifully to al
lude to that circumftance, in what he
fays of the o^f^ri, tit odour of the gojpel,
'}D the following verfes. And be feems far

ther to allude to the dift'crent cffciSiof
ftrong perrumes, to cheer fome, and to
throw others into violent diforders, ac
cording to the dift'crent difpofitions they
are in to receive ihem ; and ^iieti ob
ferves, that fomc kind of animals arc
killed by them, Hift. An'im. iii, 7.
b Adulterate the word.] K»^^n^!v»l'1i( il
a very expraflive phrafe, and alludes to
the praftice of thofe who deal in liquors,
which they debaje iot their own greater
gain i and it infiniiates in ftrong terras
the baje temper and conduft of their falfe
teachers. Bos has'finely illultrated the
force of this expreflion in his learned and
elegant noteon this tepit, Exer. p, iS4i '55'
their

He fpeaks of the Corinthians as his epiftle ;

399

God: but as of fin
cerity, butasof God,
in the fight cf God
fpealc we in Chrift.

" 2C0R. Ill, 1, Do
we begin again to
commend ourfelves }

mendation to you, or
letteps of commenda
tion from you ?
2 "Ve are our epi
ftle written i-n our
hearts, known and
^ead of all men:

their own bafe mixtures, and retail it, when Sect.
formed according to the corrupt tafte of their ^^'
hearers ; but as of unmingled fincerity, but as z Cor.
by the exprefs command of God, in the prefence H- i?
of God we fpeak in the name Chr'ift; delivering
every part of our meffage, as thofe that know .
how awful our account is ; and how impoffible
it is to conceal fo much as a fingle thought from
that all-penetrating Being to whom we are fliortiy
to give it up.
And when I fay this, do we again, as fome a Cor,
prefume to infinuate, begin to recommend our- '"• '•
or need we, as Ibme fdi^es, and One another, [to you?] Or do we
(ifisM,epiftlesofcom- need, OS I perceivc fome [dof] recommendatory
letters to you from other churches, or recom
mendatory [letters] from you to others? Truly I 2
may well fay, you are yourfelves our epifile,
the beft recommendation from God himfelf,
his teftimonial, as it were, written upon your
hearts " in the glorious change by our means
produced there ; and the effefts of it are fo ap
parent in your lives, that I may fay, ye Tcsehiown
and read by all men, who know what you once
Were, and you now are ; and they who confider
thefe things, muft acknowledge, that fuch fuc
cefs granted by the co-operation of Divine grace,
is as evident a proof of God's gracious prefence
3 Forafmuch as ye with US as Can Well be imagined, [^e,] vvhofe 3
are maiiifeftiy decia- charafters were fome- of them once fo enormous,
red to be the epiftle , r^ ¦ >u.ri r -ui j
of Chrift, miniftred 1 1 Cor. VI. II,) but [rtr^J now fo amiable and ex-
by us, written not Cellent, are indeed manifeft and apparent, as the
with ink, but with gp-ijiig a- Chrift which is miniftred by us; and
Lg God: not"!.; by you Chrift doth, as it were, declare, that he
tables hath been faithfully preached among you by us i
an epiftle written not, as epiftles generally are,
with ink, but by traces drawn by ihe Spirit of
the one living and true God, moving on your
hearts and producing that variety of* graces
which render many of you fo confpicuous and
lovely. And the infcription is not, (as that

e Vpon your hearts.] Some cop'ies read
our hearts, that is, always remembered and
thought of But I apprehend, the apoftle
means, that the change produced, not only
in their external conduft, but in their
inward tamper, was fo great, that all who
could judge of it by intimate knowledge,

(and it is certain that fome judgment
may be formed,) muft own it a great at-
teftation oi his miniftry. The great enor
mities in which they were once plunged,
(fee I Cor. vi; 1 1,, &c. ) would much illu-
ilrate this argument.

Cc4

boafted

4,00 Written hy the Spirit of God, and proving his miffion.

Sect, boafted monument, which did fo great an ho-
^^' nour to the miffion and authority of Mofes,)
J Cor. written in tables of ftone, but 'in the fiejhly tables
III. 3, of the heart ; to which no hand, but that by
which the heart was made, could find accefs,
in fuch a manner as to infcribe thefe facred cha-
. rafters there. Such confidence' have we towards
God by Jefus Chrift, that our miniftry fhall
be effedlual in other places, and that the world
fhall by your means be perfuaded of ouf
apoftlelhip.
5 We fay this, not as infinuating, that we are
fuffcient oJ ourfelves to reckon upon any thing as
from ourfelves '' ; we would not infinuate this,
or encourage any others to do it ; for we are
upon all occafions ready moft thankfully to ac
knowledge, that all our fuffciency [is] from
God; whatever fiirniture of any kind we have
for our work, we humbly afcribe it to him, and
from him arife all our expeftations of fuccefs
6 with this furniture, whatever it be : From
that great and adorable Author of all good, who
alfio hath made us his apoftles, and others 'whom
he hath fent into the work, able minifters of the
new covenant, fufficiently qualified to difcharge
that important trufl of propofing this gracious
covenant of God, eftablifhed in Chrift, to our
fellow-creatures. For we are indeed minifters,
not of ipse letter, but of the Spirit ' ; for we are
enabled to enter into t' e fenfe and fpirit of the
law, and other facied writings ; whereas that'
Divine volume is to the Jews, but as a heap of
letteis and charafters, which they know not
how to read and underftand, and yet pride them
felves fo much in them, that in that fenfe it may
be faid, they receive mifchief, rather than be
nefit, from their ovvn oracles. Thus the letter

tables of ftone, tut
in fleflily tables of the
heart.

4 And fuch tnill
have we through
Chrift to God. ward;

5 ^ot that we ara
fufficient oioMf(zh<%
to think atiy thing as
of ourfelves j but our
fufficiency is of God,

6 Who alfo hath
made us able mini
fters of the new tefta^
ment; not of the let
ter, but of the Spirit:
for the letter killeth, but

d To reckon upon any thing as of our
jelves.] This fcems the moft exaft ren-
der'mg of ^.oyi^ac-flai 11 ot;:!l eai;1»" . Dr.
Whitby renders it to reajon, as if the
apoftlehtid faid, We are unable by any rea
foning of our own to bring mi..n to con
verfion : whi^h gives a fine and juft fenfe,
b;jt 1 think only a part of what the apoftle
intcndrd. Compare Afts xix. 27 ; Rom,
IV. 3, 6, 11 ; chap. viii. 18, 36 ; i Cor,
i'/» i, ia all which the word ho-yi(of.i.a,i

has the fignificatlon we here afligned it,
and fignifies to reckon ot account.
c Not of the letter, but of the Spirit.]
To underftand this of an allegoricalj ra
ther than I'tteral explication of thc Old
Teftament, is very arbitrary and unwar
rantable ; and I wilh no Chriftian com
mentators had given encouragement to the
Delfts to -abufe this text'm the manner it
is well known they have .done. killeth;

RefleSiions on ihe importance of the gofpel meffage, 401:
lut the Spirit giveth killeth ; the unbelieving Jews are undone by their Sect.
'*'^' obftinate adherence to it, and ipore prejudiced ^^"

againft the gofpel, than thofe that never heard ^aCor.
of any Divine revelation at all. But when JU- S
taught by the Spirit of God, fpeaking in us,
they enter into the fpiritual fenfe and defign
of the law, then it giveth life ; it eftablifheth
our faith, quickens our obedience, and becomes
a fource of happinefs in this world and in the
flest.

IMPROVEMENT,
May the infinite importance of the gofpel meffage be deeply ^'t^ft'
imprelfed on all who preach, and all who hear it. Life, or "•
de^th, is in queftion; eternal life, or everlafting death: and I5'^°
while it is from day to day reviving its thoufands, is it not to be
feared, that in fome places it is, by the righteous judgment of
God on hard and impenitent hearts, aggravating the ti,uilt and
mifery of its ten thoufands? How awful is the work of difpenfing
this gofpel t Who can pretend to he fuflicient for fuch things as 16
thefe ! Who, that confiders the nature and importance of the
minifterial work, can undertake, or purfue it, but with fear and
trembling I
Yet, infufficient as they ought humbly to acknowledge them- Chap.
felves to be, to reckon upon any thing, as from themfelves, there iii. 5
is -li fufficiency in God, imparted to faithful minifters; in co'nfe- Chap.
quence of which they are often made to triumph in Chrift, and 11,34-
borne on, in a holy fuperiority to all the difficuhies of their work,
and fee their labour not to be in vain in the Lord. Well may
that fupport them, under the difcouragements, which, in other
inftances, they feel, when the fruit of their laboars does not im
mediately appear ; yea, when the prefent ftate of many under
their care is direftly contrary to what they could defire ; for their
work is ftill with the Lord, and they are a fweet favour to God hi 15
them that perifh, as weU as in ihem that are faved. Let them
therefore gird up the loins of their mind, and exert themfelves
with the utmoft vigour, rejoicing in this, that God will on the
whole be glorified, and they fhall on the whole be accepted, and
through, his abundant grace be amply rewarded. Yea, God will
confider, in that day of final redompenfe, the anguifh which
they have felt for. the fouls they have feen perifhing under their
miniftratio'ns, as well as the faithful pains they have beftowed to
reclaim them.
But as they defire to fecure this acceptance ; yea, to fecure their
pwn falvation, let them never allow themfelves, by any foreign
mixtures, to adulterate ihe word of Gcd ; but let them fpeak it ia
its

402 If the law were glorious, ihe gofpel is much more fo :
SscT. its uncorrupted fincerity, as in the fight and prefence of God, and
 ;_ as thofe who know it is not their bufinefs to devife a melfage out
of their own hearts, but to deliver what they have received of ihe
Lord. So may they hope there fhall not be wanting thofe, ,who
Cjjjp. according to the views which the apoflle gives us of thefe Cor'm-
iii. 2 ihians, fhall appear -as epiftles written by ihe hand of Chrift himfelf
in atteftation of their commiffion from h m.
That minifters may more cheerfully hope for, and expeft, fuch
an honour, let us all pray, that the Spirit of God may lead them
into the true fenfe and meaning oi fcripture ; that they raay not
unprofitably amufe themfelves and their hearers with vain and
6 cold criticifms on the letter of it, fo as to negleft and forget what
is moft fpiritual in its defign and meaning ; but that they may,
under Divine illumination, attain to the mind of the Spirit, and
be enabled to make greater proficiency in unfolding and illuftrating
Chap, the important myfteries of the kingdom of heaven, and raay be to
ii. 1 6 multitudes a favour of life unto life.

SECT. V.
The Apoftle, farther to recommend ihe miniftry of which he had
heen fpeaking, falls into a very pertinent and ufeful digreflion
loncerning the comparative obfcurity of the Alofaic law, ond tht
fuperior glery and permanence of ihe gofpel. % Cor. Ill, 7,

Sect, V.

to the end.' 2 Corinthians III, 7.
T Have juft been obferving. that the letter of
 the law, in that fenfe in which it is main-
2 Cor. tained by the Jews, killeth in itfelf; it binds
^^- 1 down tranfgrellbrs under a fentence of death,
and by the perverfenefs of their interpretation,
is the occafion of ruin ; while the Spirit quick
eneth. And let me now direft your thoughts
to the argument arifing from hence, to prove
the greatly fuperior excellence of the gofpel :
for if the Mofaic hw, which was indeed the
mintftration of death, which was [contained] in
vifible letters, [and] the moft excellent part of
which was engraven in the two tables of /lone^
Jicwn indeed and prepared by God himfelf,
'which Mofes brought downfrom mount Sinai
in his hands, was attended with a fignal and un
deniable glory, fo fhat the children of Ifrael could
not look direSily upon the face of Mofes, becaufe
of the glory of his couifiename which was fo foon ia

2 Cor. HI. 7.
¦DUT if the mini
ftration of death
written and engra
ven in ftones, was
glorious, fo that the
children of Ifrael
could npt ftcdfaftly
behold the face of
Mofes, for the glory
of his countenance,
which glory was to be
done away i

For the former was to he ahlijhgd, the latter to remain.

403

8 How Ihall not
the miniftration of
the Spirit be rather
glorious ?

9 For if the mini
ftration of condem
nation It glory, much
more doth the mini
ftration of righteouf
nefs exceed in glory.

10 For even that
which was made glo
rious, had no glory
in this refpeft, by
reafon of the glory
that excelleth.

II For if that
which is done away
ivas glorious, milch
more that which re
maineth is glorious.

2 Cor,
III. S

to be alioliped in death : How much more Sect
fhaU that, which may with fo much propriety be  '_
called ihe miniftration of the Spirit, be glorious ?
Since the work of the Spirit of God on the heart
of a rational being, is fo much more important,
than any dead charafters which could be engraven
on infenfible ftones.
This may be farther apparent, when we con- 9
fider what' I hinted before, concerning the im-
poflibility of obtaining life and falvation by the
Mofaic law. For if that, which was, in its
effefts, only the fniniftraiion of condemnation, pro -
nouncing a fentence of death, in many cafes
without mercy, and which at laft certainly ended
in leaving perfons under condemnation, as it
was incapable of taking away the moral guilt of
any one offence ; [was attended with] io bright
a glory ' ; how much more Jhall the gofpel, which
may well be called the miniftration of righteouf
nefs, exceed in glory ? as it puts us into fo
certain a way to obtain juftification and life
everlafting. For even that which was made glorious at its i O
firft difpenfation, that is, the law of Mofes,
hath no glory in this refpeSi, hy re/fon of thc
glory that excelleth it by unutterable degrees ; fo
that as the fun fwalloweth up the light of the
moon and the ftars, in like manner is the luftre
of former difpenfations fwallowed up in that of
the gofpel. For if that which was to be io
foon abolifhed, was neverthelefs attended, as we
have feen, with fome confiderable degrees of
glory, to illuftrate its Divine original and au
thority, how. much more glorious [muft] that [be]
which remaineth immutable through the re
moteft ages*"- This

11

a Attended with glory.] Dr, Whitby has
taken a great deal of pains to prove, that
there is an intended oppofition between
theglory, that is, the vifible luftre on the
countenance of Mofes, (compare Exod,
xxiciv. 29, 30, where the Seventy ufe the
rd h^o^a^m,) with the glory which
defcended on the apoftles-, (Afts ii, 3, 4. ;)
and confiders each as an emblem of the
difpenfation to be introduced, bat with
incomparable advantage on the fide of the
^offel. But laboured as this interpreta

tion is, I cannot acquiefce in what is
fingular in it; and it had beenobvious to
have objefted to verfe 11, that the cloven
tongues oi fire left no fuch lafting luftre
on the face of the apoftles as on that of
Mofes, ft If that which was to be. See.] Mr.
Hallet would render it, " if that which
*' was done aw.iv, was done away by
*' glory, how much more doth th.it
" which rtmaineth, remain in glory."
But I think tliis muft appear harfti to
every

404.

In this confidence, he ufed great plainnefs of fpeech:,

i£.CT V.

This is the glorious miniftry in which we
are engaged ; and it brings along with it the
z Cor. fubiimeft fentinients and the nobleft views,
III. 12 Having therefore this hope and confidence, it is
r.o wonder that we ufe great liberty of addrefs,
13 when we are fpeaking to you ; And [are] net
herein concealed, as Mofes, [who] put a vail
upon his face, (compare Exod, xxxiv, 33 ",)
wherein he was a kind of t)'pe and figure of his
own difpenfation ; fo that he might feem there
by to intimate, that the children of Ifrael could
r.ot iliri'Siiy look to the end of ihat law which he
brought, and which was, as I obferved before,
1^ to be abolijhed^; But on the contrary, their
underftandings are evidently bUndcd, for until
this day the fame vail cont'mues upon the law, or
rather upon their own heart,^, and is ftill unre-
moved during the reading of the Old Teftament ;
which contains fuch diftinft prophefies of Chrift,
- and fuch lively defcriptions of him, that one
would imagine it impofiible that he Ihould not
be immediately acknowledged and adored by all
that profefs to believe its Divine authority :
' which [vail] is taken away in thofe that receive
Chrift, who have in him the true fubftance of
thofe fhadows, and the great end of its moft
\e important prophefies. But as to' the unbe
lieving Jews, as I faid before, the vail which
they wear in their fynagogues, too aptly repre
fents that which is upon their heart when Mofes
is read, even to this day in their hearing ; in
confequence of which they can no more fee the
mind of Mofes, than their fathers could fee
16 his face. But it fliall not alvi'ays be fo ; the
houfe of Ifrael is intitled to a variety of moft ex
cellent promifes, relating to the bleffings of the
Meffiah's kingdom ; and as when Mofes went in
to the Lord, he laid afide his vail, fo when it,
tliat is, the people of Ifrael, JhaU turn unto the

Seeing thej,
wc have fuch
we ufe great

12
thathope, plainnefs of fpeech

13 And not as
Mofes, ivhich put a
va.l over his face,
that the children of
Ifrael could not fted-
faftly look to the
end of that which is
abolilhcd.

14 But their minds
were blinded : for
until this day remain
eth the fame vailun-
taken away, in the
reading of the Old
Teftament ; which
vail is done away in
Chrift.

15 But even unta
this day, when Mofes
is read, the vail is
upon their heart.

16 Neverthelefs,
when it Ihall turn to
tlie

.every one that examines tiie original; ha
$0} n , is literally ly^glory, and fo may fig
nify, 'introduced by it, or attended with ir,
or conftrtned by it ; and in either of thefe
fenfes may well be .-ipplied to the ftj'.ning
tfi' th;l face of Moiri.
e And arc r.rji, &c.] All that follows,
froai heuc: tothe beginning of the iStS

vcrfe may be inchided in a parenthefts.
¦1 Wh'ich was to be ahclifted.] Such an
oblique manner of fpeaking on this fub
jeft, makes the argument from thel'c
words peculiarly ftriking. It is taken for
granted, a'l a thing certainly known, .and
quite indifputable, that the Mojo'tc dif
penfation was to be abolilhed.
' ' Lofdi

Since under tbe gofpel, we clearly behold the glory of ihe Lord, 405

the Lord, the vail
Ihall be taken awav.

17 Now the Lord
IS that Spirit : and
where the Spirit of
the Lord /;, there 'is
liberty.

I? But we all with
¦•pen face, beholding
as in a glafs the glory
of the Lord, are
changed in the fame
inaage, from glory tj
glory, even as by the
.Spirit of the Lord,

Lord, when the bleflTed period appointed for their Sect-
general converfion fhall come, the vail Jhall be ^'
taken away, and the genuine fenfe of the facred 2 Cor.
oracles fliall break in upon their minds with an HL »S
irrefiftible light. Noiu the Lord ]eius Chrift 17
if that Spirit oi the law of whicii I fpake be
fore ; to whom the letter of it was intended to
lead the Jews ; and it is the office of the-Spirit
of God, as the great Agent in his kingdom, to
direft the minds of men to it. And let him be
univerfally fought in this view ; for where the
Spirit of the Lord [is,] there [is] Uberty ; a
more liberal and filial difpofition, to which,
under the influence and operation of the Spirit,
the gofpel brings thofe who were fiibjeft to bon
dage, under the iti^perfcft difpenfation of Mofes.
And in confequence of the liberty, enjoyed by i8
virtue of the gracious oe-.-onomy, we all, who
have been fo happy as fuitably to welcome it,
with unvailed face, attentively beholding as by a
glafs" or mirror, the ghry of the Lord^ reflefted
from his word, are transformed into fomething
of the fame refplendent image of the bleffed
Redeemer, .whofe fhining face we there fee; and
the more ftedfaftly we behold this illuftrious and
amiable form, the more we do partake of it;
proceeding gradually from glory to glory. And
all this is as proceeding frara the Lord the Spirit^;
"for as the Lord Jefus Chrift is the Spirit of the
law, fo the Divine Spirit, under his direftion
and influences, is the caufe of this noble and
Divine effeft.

e Beholding as by a glajs.] Some would
render Kal-.Trlpi^ofj.i-joi refte^'wg as from
a glafs. But Elfner and Bos, h.ive abun
dantly proved, what indeed is evident
to all verfed in the language, that it has the
iignification here affigned; and indeed the
other interpretation would obfcure and
, perplex the fenfe.
f Be,':jlding—the glory of the Lord,]
Here is one of the moft beautiful contrafts
that can be imagined. Mofes faw the
Shechinah, and it rendered his face re
fplendent, fo that he covered it wjth a
^ail, the Jews not being able .to bear the
reflefted light ; we behold Chrift, as in
tiie glajs of his word, and, (as the reflec-
tiun of a very luminous objeft from a mir

ror, gilds the face on which the rever
berated rays fall,) outfaces Ihine too; ani
we vail them not, but diffuje the luftre,
which, as we difcover more and more of
his glories in the gofpel, is continually
increafing, S By the Lord tbe Spiiif.] As the order
of the Greek words is unufual, not ttveu-
^alc; Ttf nvpia, but nv^iu irvivfjcctlc^. Dr.
Whitby would render it by the Lord of the
Spirit, that is, by Chrift, in whom the
Spirit d.wells, and by whom it is commu
nicated according to his fovereign will.
But the paraphraje unites two fenfes, each
1 think more natural, though which of the
two was chiefly intended, I cannot abfor
lutely determine.
IMPROVEMENT.

40& RefleSiions on the glory of the Chriftian Difpenfation.

IMPROVEMENT

Sect V.

Still doth this glorious glafs of the gofpel ftand ful! in our
 view, from which the luftre of the Redeemer's countenance is
Veifc reflefted. Le*- us daily behold his image there, and contemplate
i8 it with an attentive eye, as thofe vvho are folicitous, that we may
wear fome of thofe rays ; yea, that we may wear them with fti}l
increafing luftre; that we may be transformed from glory to glory,
and reflefting thofe rays, foine as lights in the world.
Let us endeavour to raife our minds to this laudable temper,
by frequently reflefting on the excellence of the Chriftian difpen-
7,8fation, as a difpenfation of the Spirit and of life ; whereas the
law was the miniftration of death ; and while, from the glory at
tending the law, we infer, with the apoftle, the fuper-eminent
glory of the gofpel, let us learn alfo the fuperior obligation it
brings us under, to regard and obey it, and the proportionably
II greater danger of defpifing it. The law of Mofes was foon to be
abolifhed ; the gofpel ftill remains, and fhall remain to the end of
time. Let us pray for its profperity, and do our utmoft to pro
mote it. And let us earneftly plead with God, that, whereas
14 there is now a vail upon the face of the Jews even unto this day,
when the facred records are read among them, they may turn unto
16 the Lord, and find the vail taken away ; that fo by the converfion
of Ifrael as a nation, there may be a glorious acceflHon of evidence '
to Chriftianity ; and that the Jews themfelves may be happy in the
bleflings of him whom their fathers crucified, and whom they
continue contemptuoufly to rejeft.
Let the minifters of the gofpel, while defending fo divine a
caufe, and enforcing fb important a meflage, ufe all becoming
1 2 plainnefs ofi fpeech ; and may all Chriftians know more of that li-
17 berty which the Spirit of the Lord gives, that God may in all things
be glorified, through Jefus Chrift. Amen.

SECT. VI.
The apoftle declares his courage, anddifchiims all finifter views and
aU diftruft of fuccefs, in purfuing ihe glorious miniftry he had de
fcribed ; being perfuaded, that fiuch a gofipel could not be rejeiied,
butin confequence of the moft fatal prejudices. 2 Cor. IV, i,— 6.
2 Corinthians IV, r. 2C0R. iv. 1,
SUCH are the diftinguiflied glories of the gof- T"««'-»"' '<^''
 pel-difpenfation, and its effefts on the hearts
I Cor. of thofe who fincerely embrace it. And there-

The Apiftle declares, thai having found mercy he fainted not ;

407

tng we have this
miniftry, as we have
received mercy, we
faint not:

2, But have re
nounced the hidden
things of difiionefty,
not walking in craft
inefs, nor handling
the word of God de
ceitfully ; bilt by ma
nifeftation of the
truth, commending
ourfelves to every
man's confcience in
the fight of God,

3 But if our gof
pel be hid, it is hid to
them that arc loft :

4 In whom the
God of this world hath

fore having been enirufied with fuch a miniftra- Skct.
tion, as we have obtained mercy [of God] to be ^^'
thus honoured, we faint not under any of thofe 2 Cor.
difficulties we are called out to encounter ; nor in I'V. i-
any degree defift from our glorious enterprize °.
But we have renounced, and fet at defiance, the 2
hidden things of fhame^ ; in which the priefts of
Paganifm deal fo much, in order to impofe on
the people over whom they prefide, praftifing
in their myfteries fo many impure, and fo many
foolifh rites. We need not any of their ar
tifices ; not walking in craftinefs, as fome would
infinuate that we do, nor deceitfully corrupting
and difguifing ihe word of God ; but by the ma
nifeftation of the genuine and unfophifticated
truth, recommending ourfelves to every man's
confcience, we fteadily and conftantly aft, as in
the all penetrating fight of God ; aad therefore
are willing, that all the world fliould know
what the arts and myfteries of our miniftry
are. But if our gofpel, after fuch open and gene- 3
rous conduft on our fide, be ftill under a vail
too '^, as the law is with refpeft to fo many ; it
is vailed to thofe thai are perijhing ; they muft be
very bad men, and in a very dangerous ftate,
who hearing it preached as it is by us , cannot
enter into the main defign and fpirit of it, and
are not inwardly engaged to reverence it. Among 4
whom undoubtedly, that is, in the number of
fuch unhappy wretches [are] all [they] whofe
unbelieving minds Satan, who herein afts as the
god ofi this world^, whofe fubjefts the children of

a Defift from our glorious enterprife,]
EnxttiiEiv naturally exprefl'es the drawing
lack from fome ftrenuous undertaking,
in what we often call a daftardly manner,
on account of fome difficulties attend
ing it.
b Renounced the hidden things of ftame. ]^
Dr. Whitby underftands this of lewd
prall'ices ; but the oppofition between this
clauje and the following feems much
more to favour the paraphrafe-, though
to be fure the phraje may extend to all
dijhoneft art'iftcts of falfe teachers. The
word ait-2iiTafA.ida, which we render re
nounce, does not imply they ever had any
thing to do with thefe things; but the

words, "fet them at defiance," feem ftill
more literally to exprefs the original.
e If our gojpel be under a vail too.] Ei-
S"e -ACLl Itfl XEJta^OjCtjWSVOV TO EUaj/j/s^io; ny.crjv,
is moft literally rendered»thus ; and it
has fo evident a reference to what was faid
above, of the veil on the taces of the
Jews, that it feems by all means expedient
to tranflate it thus, 'rather than hid.—.
This text is juftly urged by Dr. Scott,
[Chriftian Life, Vol. V, 323,) as a proof
of the perjpicuity of the apoftle's writings
in all matters of importance to our falva
tion. Jt The god of this world.] That feveral
ancient Chriftian writers mould interpret tbi(

4o8 And that he preached not himfelf, but Chrift Jefus the Lord..
Sect, of this world are, hath blindedhv its dazzling

^^' vanities and allurements, left the lujire of ihe
2 Cor. glorious gofpel of Chrift, who is the image of the
IV, 4, invifible God in all his perfeftions arid glories,
fhould beam forth upon themi and fhould pain, or
rather awaken, thofe weak minds, darkened by
fo many gmfs and unhappy prejudices, andflum-
5 bering to their everlafting deftruftion. But
fuch as I have before defcribed, is our conduft,
however perverfely it may be miftaken, or mif
reprefented. For we preach not ourfelves '; we
aim not at exalting our own authority, at ex
tending our reputation, or fecuring to ourfelves
any fecular advantage ; but, renouncing all fuch
views, and claims, and defires, we preach Chrift
Jefus, as the fupreme Lord oih\s church ; and,
inftead of fetting ourfelves up for your mafters,
we declare ourfelves to be your fervants for the
fake ofi Jefius ; and are willing, out of regard
to you, and above all out of duty to him, to
ftoop to the humbleft offices of love, by which
we may be ferviceable to you in your moft im-
6 portant interefts. And it is no wonder, that
we are thus difpofed, confidering the view of
things which God hath given us by his grace ;
for God, who by his powerful word, in the firft
creation of this world, commanded the light in-
ftantaneoufly to fiiine out of that darknefs which
covered the whole face of the deep, (Gen. i, 5,)
hath zMo Jhined into our once prejudiced and be
nighted hearts, and particularly into mine, by
the internal operation of his bleffed fpirit, [to
impart] the luftre of the knowledge of God's
glory^, difcovered, as we before obferved, in the
face

hath blinded the
minds of them whicli
believe not, left the
light of the gloriouj
gofpel of Chrift, who
is thc image of God,
Ihould fliine unto
them.

5 For wc preach
not ourfelves, but
Chrift Jefus the
Lord ; and ourfelves
your fervants for Je.
fus' fake.

6 For God who
commanded the light
to fliine out of dark-
nefs, hath fliined in
our hearts, to give
the light of the know
ledge of the glory of
God, in the face of
Jefus Chrift.

this of Gcd the Father, is one of the moft
amazing things I have met with. See Dr, ,
fyhitby in loc. and Dr, Edwards, Exercit.
p. 291. I doubt not but Satan is intended,
and could it be proved, as has been inti
mated, that this malignant fpirit was
fo early called by the Jews ^^OK: j ^be
Cod who bl'u-ds, I fiiould think it a beau-
ful illuftration,
e Preach not ourjelves.] Grotius ex
plains it thus, " we do not preach that
** we are lords, but that Chrift is fo ;"
and this is certainly comprehended. But
I think the phrafe may well be taken in
the larger extent, exprefl'ed in the para

phraje. To preach themfelves, raay figni-
^ fy their making themjelves, in any view,
the end of the'ir preaching ; as preaching
Jefus, a phraje often ufed, may fignify
preaching, fo as to direft men's eyes ts
him. f. To impart the luftre of the knoioledge
of God^s glory.] Tvoa-lo:i; TT.q J"o^)l? Ttf
©Etf may very well fignify the glorious
knowledge ef God-, but the fbllowing
words determined me to the more literal
tranftation, as it is more proper to fpealc
of the glory, than of the knowledge of
God, as in, or upon the face of Chrift,
Some would render Trji? ^jijij-iusv accord ing,

RefleSiions on the Apoftle's difintereftednefs and carriage. 409
face of our Lord Jefus Chrifi, from thence re- Sect.
flefted upon us, and from us to you, for the '^^'
important purpofes of your fanftification and fal- 2 Cor,
vation. iv, 6,
IMPROVEMENT.
Let all who are honoured with the miniftry of ihe gofpel, learn Ver. 1,
from the apoftle, courage and fidelity ; remembering they are con
tinually in the fight arid prefence of God. Let them therefore re
nounce with abhorrence, that craft which fo many who have
called themfelves Chriftian priefts, have ftudied ;^ and labour to 2
govern their whole conduft by fuch apparent principles of inte
grity and honour, that they may commend themfelves io every man's
conjcience in the fight of God,
This end will be much promoted, if they learn to lay afide all S
finifter views of intereft and ambition, of 'human applaufe, or a
dominion over men's confciences ; and putting on that humble ,
charafter fo amiably illbftrated in the apojlle Paul's writings, every
where, with all loyal affeftion preach Chrift, as the great Lord
and Head of the church ; and declare, and approve themfelves the
-viWYmg fervants of fouls for his fake. So humbling themfelves,
they will be exalted in the eyes of God and man; and" will reap
thofe heart-felt pleafures now, and thofe honours, emoluments,
and. delights hereafter, which will infinitely more than indemnify
them for all they may refign ; and exceed, not only the low ap
prehenfions of the fervants of mammon, in Chrift's livery, but their
ovvn moft elevated conceptions.
Let every reader ferioufly examine himfelf as to the knowledge
he has of this gofpel, and the degree in which he has felt a fenfe
of its glory and excellence upon his heart ; folemnly confidering,
that if the luftre and efficacy of the gofpel be hidden from him, it 3
ifi a fad fign, that he is himfelf a loft creature, and is like to be
loft to. God and happinefs for ever ; he is the captive of Satan, 4
blinded hy him as the' god of this world, and in the probable way
to be led on to unfeen, but irretrievable deftruftion. Dreadful
fituation ! which might indeed occafion abfolute defpair, were it ^
not for the views which the gofpel gives us, of that God, -diho
in the beginning of the creation commanded ihe light to Piine out ofb
darknefs : who can yet lay. Let there be light, and there JhaU be
light in the moft benighted foul, and the luftre of ihe glorious
ing, or in proportion to, that luftre. . faid to be reflefted from Kafiace, is un-
g In the face of 'Jejus Chrift.] Some would doubtedly that which is manifefted in his
teniet -It for aiTToi perfon -, but it fo evidently perjin, in t.he union of /)eif_y with ii/»ifl-
fignifies face in the context, (chap, iii, nity, and all the wonderful things he has
13, i8,) that it feemed much better to done and fuft'ered in confeijuence of it,
render it fact-, though the glory here,
Vol, IV. Ddj know-

4ro He acknowledges ihat we have ihe treafure in earthen veffels -^
•Sect, knowledge of Gad in the perfon of Chrift Jhall beam forth. Let thii
' Divine interpofition be earneftly implored ; and O, that it may be
imparted, before the blinded captives be configned to eternal ruin,
io blacknefs of darknefs for ever 1

SECT. VII.

The Apofte freely acknowledges his own infirmities-, hut glories in the
ftrength communicated to him from God, as an effeSiual fupport
under the extremeft trials ; over which he ir-iumphs in the lan
guage of the ftrongeft faith. 2 Cor, IV, 7 — 15.

2 Corinthians IV. 7,
I Have fpoken to you of the excellence of the
gofpel, teprefentin^ it as a moft invaluable
treafure ; and indeed it is fo rich a blefliing, that
the higtieft angel in heaven might think it an
honour to be employed in difpenfing it. Bui
fuch is the conduft of Providence in this re
fpeft', that we have - this invaluable treafure in
earthen veffels : feeble creatures, who dwell in
mortal bodies, and are furrounded with number
lefs infirmities, are employed in difpenfing it to
us; ihat io fhe excellency of the power, by which
its great and important ends are anfwered, may
appear to be of God, and not of us-; who are fo
far from being able to add efficacy to our own
labours, that it is wonderful how we are en-
S abled even to fliftain them. [We are] indeed
in every refpeSi ^ greatly ajflliSied ^ ; but through
the Divine care over us, we are not utterly over-
preffed" with the weight and variety of our
trials ; we are often brought into dubious cir
cumftances : but, bleflTed be God, we are not in
9 defpair; [We are] continually perfecuted by
men, but -we are not forfaken of God; we ate

B'

2 Cor. IV, 7,
I UT we have this
treafure in earth.
en -vefl'els, thatthe
excellency of the
power may be of
God, and not'of us.

S JVe are troubled
on every fide, yet
not diftrefled; weare
perplexed, but not
in defpair j

9 Perfecuted, but
not . forfaken ; call
down, ,

» In every rejpeB we are aJliSled, &c,T
I'his. jeBion may feem a digreflion ; but
nothing could tie more pertinent to the
apoftle's grand purpofe. He aimed at re
covering the att'cdiions of thefe Corinthi
ans which syete much alienated from'him ;
for this purfofe he freely opens his heart
towards them, ,and tenderly reprefents the
irnny and grievous preffures and hard-
fliips to which love to' fouls, ' and to
theirs among the reft, expofed him. This

I take t» be the true key to this beautiful
and. pathetic pafl'aee.
b TVe are aftt'ified.] I apprehend the
apoftle here to fpeak with fome peculiar
regard to bis' own cafe; yet not lb as to
exclude that of Us brethren, which un
doubtedly did very 'much refemble it.
Compare i Cor. iv, 9,
e.Not utterly cver-prejfed.] The woid
f.£vo;^a gtf^iAEVci properly fignifies, crujhed in
aftrait paffage. thrown

that the power might appear to le in God,

down, bu| not de
ftroyed ;

IO Always bearing
about in the body,
the dying df the
Lord Jefus, that the
life alfo of Jefus
might be made mani
feft in our body.

II For we which
live, are alway alfo
delivered untp death
for Jefus' fake, that
the life of Jefus might
be made manifeft in
our mortal flefli.

II

12 So then death
worketh ' in us, but
hfe in you.

13 We haying the
fame fpirit of ^ith,
according as it is
written, I bi;^eved
and therefore have J
fpoken :

41 X
thrown down by our enemies, yet we are not en- Sect.
tirely deftroyed by them ; but animated from on ^"•
high, we fpring up again, and renew the com
bat with increafing vigour. We are always bear
ing about with us in ihe body, the dying of the
Lord Jefus Chrift ; fo that the cruelties which
were exercifed in putting him to death, feem to
be afted over again upon us, by the rage of the
enemy ; yet all this is in efFeft, not that an im-
^mediate period fliould be put to our life and
'mihiftry, as they defire, but that the life alfo of
Jefus, now triumphant above all hoftile power,
maj' ^^ more evidently manifefted in the prefer
vation of this our feeble body, which enemies,
fomany and mighty, are continually endeavour
ing to deftroy. For we who live, thofe of us,
the apoftles and minifters of Chrift, who ftill
furvive, are continually delivered over to death
for the fake of the Lord Jefus, and as it were,
every day led out to a new martyrdom in his
caufe ; but fo many new and unexpefted deli
verances arife, that it feems as if thefe dangers
were permitted on purpofe, ihat, as I faid be
fore, the life alfo and power of the h\e'SeA Jefus,
our Divine Saviour, may be manifefted and de
monftrated, in fupporting our mortal and feebly
flefh in the midft of all thefe affaults, and per
petuating our lives from year to year through fo
many fucceflive dangers, which await us where-
ever we come. So ihcii on the whole I may 12
fay, that death worketh continually to glorify his
name in us, but life in you ; while you are called
to live for his honour, we may be faid to ferve,
our Redeemer by bearing for his fake repeated
deaths. But we endure it all with refolution and cheer
fulnefs, having ihe fcime fpirit of faith, Hey which
good men of old were animated, in their moft
aftive labours, and moft painfiil fufferings ;
according to what {s written, (Pfal. cxvi. 10.)
/ have believed, and therefore have I fpoken ^ ;

n

* I have ielievf^, qtid therefore iiatie I
fpoken.] As fpr the quotation here, fome
think there is an all\ifion to the confi
dence which" David eifpreffes in the pre
ceding words, of walking before ilie Lord
in tbt btni of tbe living j as if the apoftle

had intended to fay, we alfo fliall in 4
nobler fenfe do it. Mr, Pifrce fuppofef
the Spirit of faith, here fpoken of, is thp
Spirit of Jefus, which enabled him thro'
faith in God to preach that doftrine
-which he knew would provoke the rage
Via ef

And the abundant grace might redound to the divine glory.

412 ^* "• we alfo cordially believe the certain truth of what
_, 'we teach, and therefore go on to fpeak our im-
i Cor. portant meffage, whatever may be the confe-
VI, 13, quence, fupported by this inward confcioufnefs
of our integrity, and animated by a powerful
fenfe of duty towards God, and the hope of
tfie moft glorious rewards from his bountiful
14 grace, Thofe hopes rife to complete an ever
lafting happinefs ; which we continually pur
fue, as knowing, ihat if we perfevere in that
fervice with vi hich he hath honoured us, he who
raifed up the Lord Jefus Chrift from the dead by
his almighty power, will alfo t aife us up by Je
fus, whom he will fend at the laft day, com
miffioned to accomplifli this great work ; and
that then he wUl prefent [us] with you, before
the prefence of his glory with exceeding great
jOy, in each other, and in him ; and will in
troduce us to that heavenly kingdom, to the
profpefts of which he hath called us by that
gofpel which we have preached, and which you
15 have believed. For all thefe great things [are]
prepared, not merely on our account, but for
your fakes, that the overflowing grace being com
plete in all its diffufive extent, and exajted de
grees, might abound by the thankfgiving of many,
even of countlefs multitudes, who fhall fliare for
ever in it, to theglory of God, the great original
and end of all.

fpoken; we alfo be-
lievf, and tlierefore
fpeak ;

14 Knowing that
hc which raifed up
the Lord Jefus, fliall
r.iil'e us up alfo by
Jefus, and Ihall pre-
fent us with you.

15 For all things
are' for your fakes,
that the abundant
grace might, through
the thankl'giving of
many, redound to
the glory of God,

Improvement.

Let us adore the wifdom and goodnefs of God, in fending us
the gifpel- treafure in earthen veffels, in employing our fellow-
mortals, rather than angels, under the charafter of his meffen
gers to us ; by which means we are taught more to depend on
God for that efficacy of power that renders them fuccefsful ;
to acknowledge his hand in animating and preferving them, and
are kept in fuch an exercife of faith, as is in this prefent world
moft honourable to God, and moft profitable to us. Let the

of a wicked world, fo as to end in his
death ; and he undertakes to prove in his
thud tt'iffertation, that the cxvl'h pfalm, in
its original fenfe, is to be underftood as
fpoken by the Pfalmift in the perfon of
the Mefliah. But I fee no neceflity for
urging this. The fimpler fenfe of the
pafl'age, as it ftands in thc pfalm, is.

«' Though I have been in very great
" alHi£tion, and fometimes almoft de-
" prefl'ed, yet faith in God hath fupport-
" od me, and put this fong of prSife intj
«< my mouth." • In this fenfe of the words
nothing could be more natural, than for
St. Paul to adopt thcm^ mortality

RefteSlions on the divine fupports the' Apoftles experienced. 41 3
mortality of minifters be fuitably remembered, by themfelves and Sict.
others, and improved to the beft purpofes ; and let us take care ^"' .
that we do not think the lefs honourably of the treafure on account
of the weaknefs of thefe veffels in which its great Proprietor has
thought fit to lodge it.
Let it encourage them, who are ftruggling with the difficulties'
of that arduous and important work, to think on thofe refrefti-
ments which the apoftles experienced ; in confequence of which,
though affiiSied, they were not depreff'ed, and though perfecuted, ap
peared not to be forfaken ; but could boalt, that the fupport of 'Verfe
their lives, amidft fo many prefting dangers, was a demonftration g „
of the life of Chrift. We may indeed all fay this, with refpeft to '
the fupport of the fpiritual life, in the midft of fO many difficul
ties. Having obtained help from him, we continue until this day ;
and it is becaufe he lives, that we live alfo. Confiding therefore
in him, let us exert ourfelves vigoroufly in this holy warfare to
which we are called ; and ftrenuoufly endeavour to maintain our
ground againft all the enemies who prefs hard to overbear and
deftroy us.
And that we may be thus animated, let us labour to engrave
on our hearts a more ¦ lively and affiired belief of the great and
important things of which we fpeak, and hear ; and that not only 13
in the general, but in particular inftances. Let us labour to
feel at once their evidence, and their energy ; having the fame
fpirit of faith which wrought in the apoftles and prophets, and
engaged them tb difcharge their office with fuch diftinguifhed fide
lity, fervor and zeal. Efpecially let us maintain fuch believing
apprehenfions of this great and comprehenfive truth, thai God
hath raified up Chrifi Jefius from the dead, and that he will by
the fame power alfo raije up his faithful minifters and fervants,
who firmly retain that glorious gofpel; and, as thofei difcoveries 15
are made for their fakes, that they may obtain falvation by him,
and that God may be glorified in their uiiited and everlafting ^ra^r,
let us daily fet before our eyes this rifen and triumphant Redeemer,
and look forward to that glorious appearance of his, when he fhall
come to be adrnired in his faints, and to be farther extolled and
glorified-, in all them who beUeve. Amen.

SECT. VIII.
The Apoflle defcribes the glorious hopes, which he had beyond the
grave, as his great fupport and ground of triumph, under all
thofe trials which ht had been mentioning before ; and endea-
D d 3 ' vourt

41+ ^e. Apoftle expreff'eth his confidence and fortitude ;
viurs to animate others to fidelity and zeal hy that defcriptioJi.
2 Cor. IV, i6, to the end. Chap, V. i, — lo.

Sict.

2 CttRlNTHIANS IV. l6.

VIII. "IT 7E have been fpeaking of the great defign

J Cor.
IV. i6

of God, in caufing his gofpel to be re
vealed to the children of men, that the thankf
givings of many may redound to his own glory ;
and on this account we faint not under any of the
prefent preffures, nor fuffer ourfelves to be borne
down by the affaults of our enemies ; but on the
contrary, if 'our outer man perifhes, yet ihe inner
man is daily renewed: the foul gathers new
ftrength, as the body grows weaker and weaker,
and we feel our diffolution approaching : which
I'j may well be the cafe. For we have the firm-
eft affurance, that this momentary lightnefs of
our affliSiion, which paffes off fo faft, and leaves
fo little impreffion, that it may juftly be fpOken
of as levity itfelf, is working oui for us a far
more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory %
the moft folid, fubftantial, and lafting felicity,
the exalted degrees of which, none of the boldeft
figures of fpeech can paint, nor any ftretch
j8 of human thought diftinftly conceive. And
we may affuredly promife ourfelves, that this
fhall be the bleffed end of all, while we are con
fcious that we are not aiming '° at the things
which areviftble ; are not endeavouring to fb-
cure to ourfelves any fecular advantages of one
kind or another ; but at thofe which are invifible.
And however vain and vifionary fuch views
may feem to the world about us, and we may
be-defpifed for attending to them, we have full
fatisfaftion in our own minds, that we are afling
the wifeft part, in fuch a choice and preference ;

2 Cor, tv. i6,
pOR which caufe
we feint not, but
though our outward
man perifli, yet the
inward man is re-
newed-day by day.

17 For our light
affliction, which is
but for a raoment,
worketh for us a fiir
more exceeding and
eternal weight of
glory ;

1 8 While, we look
not at the things
which are feen, but
at the things which
are not feen : for the
thmgs

2 A far more exceeding, &c,] This
fentence is one of the moft emphatical in
all St, Paul's writings; in which (as Dr.
Grofvenor well expreffes i!^ he fpeaks as
much like an orator as an apoftle. The
lightnefs of the trial is exprelfed by re
tXa^i'-j T»; &?.gvj.sc .-, the ligbtnejs of our
afti'iB'ioti -, as if he had faid, it is even le
vity 'ttjelf'm fuch a comparifon. On the
other hand, the Kct&' utn^^ohnv Efc vitif-
Cc^n:, is (fays Mr. Blackwall) infinitely
ejjijihatical, and cannot be exprcfl'eU by

any tranllation. It fignifies, that all hy
perboles fall ftiort of defcribing that weighty
eternal glory, fo folid and lafting, that
you raay pafs from one hyperbole to ano
ther, and yet when you have gained the
laft, are infinitely below it, Blackw. Sacr,
C&/.V0I. Lp. 33i,
b Are not aMing, See.] This o-hotov'JV
exaaiy fignifies ; and our Eagl'i/h word
fcope, or mark aimed at, is derived froB
ihe fame Greet thelht, fir

In the view if the future eternal weight of glory ; , 415

things which are feen,
are temporal;' but
the things which are
hot feen, are eternal.

a Coe. V. i. For
we know, that if our
earthly houfe of this
tabernacle were dif-
folved, we have a
building of God, an
houfe not made with
hands, eternal in the
heavens.

2 For in this we
groan earneftly, de-
¦ firing to be clothed
upon with our houfe
which is from hea
ven :
3 If fo be that
being clothed, we
fliall. not be found
naked. 4 For we that are
in this tabernacle do
groan, being burden
ed : not for that we
would be unclothed, but

for the things which are vifible, and in that re- Sect.
fpeft may feem to have the advantage of others, ^"^'
[are] temporary and tranfient; but thofe which 2 Cor.
are invifible, [are] eternal, and therefore fuit- IV. i8.
able to the duration of that immortal foUl
which God has given us, and in the felicity of
which our true happinefs muft eonfift. Nor iCor.
is this an uncertain, or very diftant hope ; for i^- '
we know affuredly, that if our earthly houfe of
[this] tabernacle were diff'olved, if this mortal
body, conftituted of duft, were mouldered back
to duft again ; or if our zeal for the fervice of
the gofpel fhould bring on martyrdom, which
Ihould deftroy it before its time ; we have, and
fliould immediately enter on, a building «/" which
God is the great Architeft and Donor ; an houfe
not made with mortal hands ', nor to be com
pared with the moft magnificent ftrufture they
ever raifed ; exceeding them all in its luftre, as
much as its duration ; though that duration be
eternal in ihe regions of the heavens, far above
either violence or decay. And in this view, 2
we groan through that intenfenefs of foul with
which we are earnefily and perpetually defiring
io be cloathed upon with our houfe, which is from
heaven ; Since being fo cloathed upon, we Jhall 3
not be .found naked and expofed to any evil and
inconvenience, how entirely foever we may be
ftripped of every thing we can call oilr own, here
below. And moreover, we who are yet in 4
[this] tabernacle do groan, not only with thofe
longings after a bleflTed immortality, but alfo be
ing burdeneckw'ith the prefent weight of many
infirmities, ahd many calamities: for which caufe
neverthelefs we would not be uncloathed, or ftrip
ped of the body ; for that is what we cannot con
fider, as in itfelf defirable ; but rather, if it

S Not made with hands. See.] Whe
ther we confider this Divine building, as
particularly fignifying the body after the
rejurreBion, in whigh fenfe Dr, Whitby
takes it; or an/y vehicle in which the
foul may be cloathed during the interme
diate ftate, confiderable difficulties will a-
rife, I am therefore inclinable, "rather
to take it in a more general view, as re
ferring to the whole provifion God has
made for the future happinefs of his peo- ,
D

pie, and which Chrift reprefents as his
Father^s houje, in ivhich there are many
manflons. t To be cloathed upon ivith an
houfe, is a very &-cotig.figure -, which yet
it is evident the apoftle ufes in the
next verje; having in' his thoughts the
glory which each ihould wear, inftead of
being cloatlied, as now, with that mortal
flelh which he calls a tabernacle, as it is
fo mean, inconvenient, and precarious an
abode. d 4 might

4IO Sect. VIII.

Of which God had given the earneft by his Spirit .

a Cor.
V.4,

might be referred to our own choice, cloathed
«/iw; immediately, with a glory like that whidi
fhall inveft the faints after the refurreftion.; imit
io ivhdtis mortal, corruptible, and obnoxious to
thefe diforders, burdens and forrows, may all
be io abfcirbed and fwallowed up by Ufe, as if it
were annihilated by that Divine vigour and
energy which fhall then exert itfelf in and upon
US'",
5 A^ow he who hath wrought us io this very thing,
to thefe noble views and fublime defires, [is]
God '^ ; who hath alfo given us ihe earneft of his
Spirit, as the pledge of better, even of eternal
6 bledings. Therefore, under the influences of
this Divine Spirit, [ftve are] always courageous
in the midft of furrounding danger ; and what
ever natural averfion we have to^eath, are ready
to brave its terrors, in the views of that im
mediate happinefs which lieth before us : knoiu-
Ing, thai while we are fojourning in the body ',
tve arc, as it were, in a ftate of exile from the
Lord Jefus Chrift, in the enjoyment of whom
7 our chief happinefs confifts : For we now
w'fl/y| and conduft ourfelves in the .whole courfe
of life, by the faith of objefts, as yet unfeen;
and not by xhe fight of thofe glories, or by a re-
8 gard to thofe things which we can fee. We
are courageous therefore [I fay] in thefe de
lightful views, and think With complacency, of
being rather abfent from the body, and banifhed
from all its pleafures and enjoyments, on con
dition of being, as we know we fhall be pre
fent with the Lord', and dwelling as thofe who are

but clothed upon,
that mortality might
be fwallowed up of
life.

5 Forhe that hath
wrought us for the
felf-fame thing, is
God, who alfo hath
given unto us the
earneft of the Spirit.
6 Therefore, lue
are always confident,
knowing that whilft-
we are at . home in
the body, we are ab
fent from the Lord;

7 (For we walk
by faith, not by
fight •.)

8 We are confi
dent, J fay, and wil
ling rather to be ab
fent from the body,
and to be prefent
with the Lord.

^ That mortality may be, &c.] The
expreflion in thefe arid the following .i^er-
jes, is not perfeifHy diftin£l; but the
meaning feems to be this : *' that though
** it appeared moft defirable of all to
" pafs to glory ^without dying, yet a
** ftate in which mortality fhould be fwal-
<* lowed up by life, w.is at all events de-
** ftrable-, and an abjencc j\om the body to
<* bcj not onlv fubmitted to, hut wijhed,
*< in a view of being fo prejent luith the
•* Z^rd, as even in the iritermedijte
<* ftate th'ey expefted to be."
c He who hath wrought us to this very
thing, is God.] Mr. Howe obferves, that
this is a moft emphatical mznnet of fpeak
ing; not only alCerting that God is the

author of it, but abfcribing Deity to
the author ; as if he had faid, ** none
" but God could have raifed us to fuch
*' a temper." HoWe^s fVorks, Vol. I,
p;-68o,' I" Are jojourning in the body.] So svcij-
(WavT^r here properly fignifies; and it is, as
Dr, Clark obferves, wrong to render it,
while at home in the body ; fince it is the
apoftle's defign to intimate that this is not
our home.
g Prejent with the Lord.] From this
text Mr, .By/e argues, not only againftthc
flccp of the foul during the intermediate
ftate ; but that faints, when departed from
our world, go into the higheft heaven ;
where they dwell with Chrift, and arc not

Reft.Siions on the confiolation of the Chriftian hope. 417
9 Wherefore we are at home with him. Therefore we make it Sect;
Srnt^rlbtnfw" {^^ height of our ambit'ion\ thtit whether prefent, ,^"J-
may be accepted of IU the body, or ahjent from it, we may be well-
him. pleafing to him, and receive the tokehs of his ac
ceptance and favour.
10 For we muft: This is our concern, and it ought to be the 10
all appear before the concem oi tiW , for we muji all, without any ex-
judgement - kat ot • i ^ n • • vr i
Chrift, that every ^cption. Whatever our ftatipn in life may have
one may receive the been, be manifeft before the tribunal of Chrift ;
things done in his our inmoft foul muft there be difplayed, and all
thtt"ke"h:2'ln| »he moft fecret fprings of our aft^ions laid open.
whether it icgood or that every one may then receive, in that final dif-
b«d. tribution of happinefs and mifery, according io
what he hath done in ihe body, whether good or
evil; in full proportion to his aftions, and the
principles from which the Searcher of hearts
knows them to have arifen.

improv'e.ment.
Behold the great lefton which as Chriftians we have to learn,
and which is of fuch efficacy, that if we thoroughly mafter it,
all the other parts of our duty will become eafy and defightful —
to look at the thihgs which are unfeen, rather than at thofe which are Verfe
feen ! And what can be fo reafonable, as that eternal objefts 18
Ihould employ the thoughts of immortal beings, rather than thofe
which they muft foon fiirvive ? Let all our fouls be direfted to
them. Let us contemplate the feeble ftrufture of this earthly ta
bernacle, which gives us fo many tokens of its nearly approaching 'Chap.
diffolution; this tabernacle, in which we^.r»a« under fuch ava- ^- '•
riety of burdens ; and let us comfort ourfelves with the profpeft of 4
fpeedy deliverance ; that fo while the outer man perijheth, the chap.
inner man may be renewed day by day. What though we have IV. 16
death before us in a certain profpeft, and know we muft foon be
abfent from the body ? If we are true Chriftians, we have the moft
exprefs affurance, not only that the time will come, when we
(hall inhabit a building of God, an houfe not ?nade i^iih hands, i
eternal in the heavens ; hut that we fliall immediately be prefent
with the Lord, with that blefled Redeemer, whom having not feen 6
we love. How much more fhall we love him, how much more
fliall we rejoice in him, when we are blefled with his prefence, and
behold his glory !
While we have this confcioufnefs, let us be always confident
as fome have fuppofed. In a place where ^ We make it the height of our ambit'um.]
they have only a tranfient fight of him on This 9iA.oii;uU|UE9a plainly imparts ; »nd '
fome extraordinary occafions. Soyje's fc-.r it i; flat to tranflate it, we labour.
laft Things, f. 592, and

41 8 In profpeSl of ihe future judgment he perfuaded men.

Sect, vm.
Chap.
>v. 17.
Chap. A. 7-

95
10 g

and courageous,, and rejoice in affliftions and mortality ; fince
this light and momentary affliSiion had fo happy an influence upon
a far more exceeding pnd eternal weight of glory; and death will
be the confummation of our wifhes. Let this then be our con
ftant care, to walk by faith and not by ftght; having this ever for
the glorious objeft of our ambition, that whether prefent or ab
fent, we may be accepted of ihe Lord. May God work us up to
this felf-fame thing ; and may the operation of his grace upon our
fouls for that purpofe, be'always acknowledged with the humbleft
gratitude, and its farther communications lought with tbe moft
earneft importunity. Then fhall we not dread ihe tribunal of
Chrft, before which we are fo certainly to appear, and be made
manifeft; knowing, that our integrity will be approved, and that
thofe works of faith and labours of love, which fhall then be com
memorated, will meet with gracious acceptance, and moft muni
ficent rewards.
SECT. IX.
Touching again upon the -zeal with which he profecuted the gofpd-
miniftry, the Apoftle makes a kind of apology Jor it, by" pleadi-ng
the irrefiftible engagements of a Redeemer's love, and thc infinite
importance of that meffage of recjinciliation,'with which he was
charged-, and which, while \ he recounts, he profecutes ina pa-
¦ thetick addrefs to the Corinthians. 2 Cor. V. II, to ihe end.
Chap. VI, I, 2. \

Sect. IX.
a Cor.
V. II.

2 Corinthians V, 11,
Have now .touched upon a confideration,
which animates us to that zeal in our" mini-,
ftrations with which many are fo much fur
prifed, and fome not a little difpleafed. We
often refleft how near the folemn tiine is ad
vancing, when we, and our hearers, fhall appear
before the trrbiina! of Chrid ; and knowing there
fore the terrpur of ihe Lord, the ftrift judgement
which muft then pafs on all impenitent fmners,
we, for their fake, and foi; our own, labour to
®ur utmoft, to perfuade men to take all neceflary
methods for efcaping it. But as we are made
manifeft ta God, ana? think of it with unutterable
pleafure that he knows the integrity of our hearts,
in profecuting the work he hath afligned us, /
' hope alfo we are manifeft to our confciences, and
that I have already given, and fhall continue to
.give, fuch proofs of the fimplicity of my views, and

2 C&i. V, II,
I^NowiNC there
fore the terror
of the Lord, we per
fuade men : but we
are made manifeft
unto God, and I truft
alfo are made mani
feft in your con
fciences.

Hemakesanapology for fpeaking thus of himfelf; 419.
and uprightnefs bf my conduft, that you will not Sect.
be able to harbour any fufpicion concerning it, ^^'
' d no't turfet^s ^ '"^^ ^^^^^ '^'"^^ freely ; fir we do not, after
Tgdnu"™ yoVbut *^^ modefty and humility with which we have
give you occafion to behaved hitherto, now begin to applaud our-
glory on our behalf, felves, or recommend ourfelves again unto you ° ;
tewZt tL}r ?« ^r ' ^T r^ ^t^^^ ^"^^w^ "^ ^"^ ''°'"s
them which glory in '" 'o^e further inftances ; *«/ we are giving
appearance, and aot you occafion o/" rejoicing, and boafting on our ac-
in heart. count, as you have indeed caufe'to do; and are
fuggefting what may be fufficient, ihat ye may
have fomething to [anfwer] thofe who glory in
appearance, and not in heart; for that, I am
perfuaded, is the cafe with fome of your oppo
fing teachers, whofe confciences muft furely re
coil upon them, and condemn them, while they
pretend to vie with us in the difcharge of the
Chriftian miniftry, 'and would challenge your
regards in preference to us;
13 For whether we For if, as foms injurioufly infinuate, we .be 13
]^\oGor-°"or'whV' tranfiported beyond ourfelves\ and the due exer-
"therwebefober7ir''/s cife of fober reafon, [ii is'\ io God; a zeal for
for your caufe. his glory that animates us ; or if we be fiber, as
we hope you cannot but acknowledge us to be,
[it is] for your fakes, that we take fo much fe
rious pains in the profecution of a work in
which your higheft iritereft is concerned. On
the whole, loye to God, and benevolence to
man, are the grand principles ,by which we are
aftuated ; and we' cannot be cold and unaffefted,
while we have fuch grand and noble fubjefts
before us as thofe which we handle among you,
» Ti^e do not recommend ourfelves again a madman, for what he faid in commen-
untoyou.] It appears from hence, and dation of himfelf; and then the meaning .
from the beginning of the third chapter, is, "you fay, I am diftrafled for iriy
that the Corinthiaris were ready to mifre- " prefent conduft ; but this is between '
prefent the care St, Paul took to vindicate " God and myfelf, I am fure you Co-
Tiimfelf, as ^ry^ and t'isifl-g/ory. On the <' rinthians ou'ght not to fa^ it; for all
other hand, they would have interpreted '* my fober thoughts and moft painful
h'ts ftlence as the eft'eft of guilt and con- '* labours are for you." But I apprehend
fufton. He therefore plainly, and very on the whole, that the divided claufes are
properly tells them, that he faid this only to be taken in fuch a uhited view, as to
in his own neceifary defence, and td fur- give the fenfe with which the paraphrafe
rpfli his friends with an anfiver to thofe concludes ; that it was piety to God, and
whofe confciencescondemnedthem^ while charity to them, which wrought up the
they endeavoured to afperfe him. apoftle's mind to that tranfport which
b Tranjported beyond ourfelves.] Mr. fome were fo ready to cenfure ; and that
-Locke thinks, from comparing chap. xi. alivelyTfiew of the fofeo/'CArj/i produced
i> 16, 21; chap, xii, 6, ii, that the fuch warm impreflions of both.
'pOfinthians cenfured St, Paul as a fool or to

And afcrihes it to the conftraints of Divine love;

420 Sect, to awaken our piety and our charity. For the
f love ofi Chrijl, fo illuftrioufly difplayed in that
s Cor, redemption he hath wrought, conftraineth us ;
V14 li bears us away "^ like a ftrOng and refiftlefs tor
rent ; while we thus judge, and in our calmeft
and moft raiional moments, draw it as a certain
confequence, from the important principles,
which weaffuiedly know to be true, thai tfi one,
even Chrift, died fior the redemption and falva
tion of a// who'fliould fincerely believe in him,
and obey hira, then were all dead ; for had not all,
even the very beft of men been in a ftate of con
demnation and death, there would have been no
15 need of his dying for them. And now we
know, that he died for' all, that they who live
only in confequence of his dying love, fiould
mt henceforth, from this remarkable period and
asra of their lives (whatever they have for
merly done) live to themfelves, fo. as to make
their own will their rule, or to feek any inte
reft of their own, diftinft from his ; but that they
fiiould all agree, that they vt'ill live io the ho
nour, glory, and intereft, of him who died for
them, and when he rofe again from the dead,
retained the fame affeftion for them, and is con
tinually improving his recovered life for their
10 fecurity and happinefs. So that on the whole,
we from this tirne forward know not any man after
ihe flejh; we have no longer any partial re
gard for any, on account of their being Jews
iby birth, or religion, or as to the afpeft which
their friendfhip for us may have on our fecular
intereft; and if we have known Chrift after the
flefh, and governed ourfelves by any carnal ex
peftations from the Meffiah, asatemporal Prince,
who fhould render our nation the terrour of the
whole world, and raife us to univerfal monar
chy, henceforth we kiioiv [htm] in thefe views
no more, but entertain quite different fentiments
17 concerning him. And thus it will be with
others, who enter truly into the genius of the
gofpel ; fo that if any man [be] really in Chrifl
Jefus, it he have a vital and prevailing faith in
him, [there is] a new creation in the heart of

14. For the love of
Chrift conftraineth
us, becadfe we thus
judge, that if one
died for all, then
were all dead ;

15 And that he
died for all, that they
which live, Ihould
not henceforth live
unto themfelves bu^,
unto him which died
for them and rofe
again.

J 6 Wherefore
henceforth know we
no man after the
flefti; yea, thougli wc
have knovvn Chrift
after the fle(h, yet ¦
now henceforth knoiy
we h'lvi no more.

17 Therefore, if
any man be in Chrift,
he is a new creature: old

e Bears us away.]^ This is the bfauti- nohle ftmile, which few trandatlons ?re-
ful imp^rcof, <ruK;^,i, which fuggefts a ferve. See the tate oa Phil, i, 23,
3 that

God having committed to him ihe miniftry of reconciliation.

old tilings are paft
away; behold, all
things are become-
new.

18 And al! things
are. of God, who
hath reconciled us to
himfelf by Jefus
Chrift, and hath gi
ven to us the mini
ftry ofreconciliation ;

19 To wit, that
God was in Chrift,
reconciling the world
unto himfelf, not im
puting their trefpaf-
fus unto them; and
hath committed unto
usthe word of recon
ciliation.

20 Now then we
are Ambafl'adors for
Chrift, as though
God did befeech yoa
by us : we pray you
in Chrift's ftead, be
ye

43t
that man ; fo entirely are his principles, apprd- ^^fJ'
henfions, and purfuits changed : old things are [__
paffed away, and with refpeft to him, behold, aU ^^^^
things are become new ; he is brought as it were y. 17
into another world, and is himfelf quite a dif
ferent creature from what he before was. And 18
as it is tbe work of God to create ; fo here it
may properly be faid, that aU things [are] of
God, who h^th in his infinite condefcenfion
conquered our prejudice, and recortciled us to
himfelf by Jefus ChrlJl; having by his grace ia
him, laid a proper and honourable foundation
for the exercife of his mercy towards us, and
for the fubduing of our hearts to love and obedi
ence. And in purfuance of this great and
condefcending defign, he hath committed to us
his minifters, and efpecially to his apoftles, the
7niniftry of reconciliut'ion ; entrufting us with this
important melfage, to proclaim it to tlie world,
and fo far as in us iJls, to tranfmit it to the re
moteft ages. And this is an abftraft and epi- 19
tome of it all ; namely, ihat God was in Chrift
united to him, and manifefting himfelf by him,
thereby recoi/iciling the world both of Jews and
Gentiles unto himfelfi; and in confequence of '
that, not imputing ta th^m, and charging to their
account, with righteous inexorable fei'erity, their
various and aggravated offences : but fetting forth
an aft of grace, and unlimited pardon, to all
thofe who fliould believe in him. This is that
great Divine truth on which our falvation de
pends ; and God hath committed unto us, as a
truft of the higheft importance, the gracious
word, or meffage of reconciliation. There- 20
fore we are to he confidered by you, as fuftain
ing the office and dignity of ambaffadors for
Chrift ¦*, on his account, and in his ftead ; fo
ihat God is, as it were, intreating ^ou] by us,
and we befeech [you] in Chrift's ftead ', with the
greateft importunity and tendernefs of addrefs.

i Ambaftadors for Chrift,] The apoftles phrafe had never been ufed in jcripture.
were fo in a particular fenfe ; but if it be e Jn Chrift's ftead.] So uTrsp Xp
the will of Chrift, that minifters in all plainly fignifies here
ages ftiould prefs men to accept the treaty
of reconciliarion eftabliftied in him,
then it is evident, they may be called
iii ambapitdurs, even chough fuch a

XplfS
when Chrift was
in the world, he prefl'ed this treaty'of re
conciliation ; and we rife up in his ftead
to urge it ftill farther.

that

424' Sect, IX,
2. Cot.
V. 10.

21

To befeech ihem in Chrift' s ftead io be reconciled to God.

2 Cor.
VI, I.

that, when fo much is done on God's . part to
make up "the breach, which muft otherwife have
been 'fatal to his offending creatures, ye would
not, by your own obftinacy, rejeft the benefit
of all thefe condefcending overtures ; but would
be cordially and truely reconciled to God, and
thankfully accept of thaf friendfhip and protec-
ition which he voychfafes to offer you. And
that your hearts may, if poftible, be melted, we
urge you by the moft aifefting of all arguments,
even the blood and death of his incarnate fon :
for -we tell you, that he, that is, God, hath made
him who knew no ftn, but was perfeftly innocent
and perfeftly holy, [a] fin [offering] for us ;
that by the facrifice of himlelf, he might ex
piate the guilt of our tranfgrefl^ons, and that io
we might be made accepted in him,' and fur
nifhed with a plea, as prevalent for our juftifica
tion and admiffion into the Divine favour, as if
we had retained our innocence untainted, and in
evety refpeft conformed ourfelves to the right
eoufnefs which the law of God' required and
demanded. We then [as] the joint-labourers
[of God] in this important work (compare i Cor.
lii, g. note ^) befeech [you] with the moft ear
neft importunity, thai you receive not ihe fiirpri-
fing grace of God in vain ; that you do not fo
flight this merciful proclamation of pardon,
righteoufnefs, and life, through the blood of his
fon, as to lofe the benefit of it. Again, let
me urge immediate compliance with it on all
whojiave not yet fecured its invaluable blefs-
ings ; fior hefiays, when reprefented as addreff-
ing himfelf to the Meffiah ^, in one of Ifaiah's
prophecies (Ifa. xlix, 8) / have heard thee in
an acceptable time, and in a day of falvation
have I helped and fuftained thee. God, there

ye reconciled td God,

- 21 For he hath
made hira to le lin
for us, who knew no
fin; that we might
be made the righte
oufnefs of God in
him.

2C0J1.VI, i.We
then as workers to
gether w'lth him, be.
feech jioa alfo that ye
receive not the grace
of God in vain ;

2 (For he faith, I
have heard thee in a
time accepted, and
in the day of falva-
tion have I fu'ccoured theei,

f Made the righteoujnejs of God.] That
is, divinely righteous. It is a very ftrorig
phraje to fignify our being accepted of
God, as perfeftly righteous, when confi
dered as by faith united to him who was
perfeftly fo. There is ap evident and
beautiful contraft, between Chrift being
made fm, and our being made r'lghteoujn^s
that is, treated as perfeftly righteous,
Z Addrefling himfelf to thc Mefliah,]
I think it evidint, that, as tliefe words

ftand in Ifaiah, they are a promife made •
to Chrift; in which God engages to give
him the Gentiles as an acceffion to his
church, and reward of his mediatorial
undertaking. And in thts conneftion,
it is as if the apoftle had faid " fince fuch
" a promife is made, fee to it. that you
" feek it, and you will find it an accept-
<* able time." 'Y'ou Avill corneas it were
in a good hour, as Clirift is reprefentei,
{0 have done. as

VI.

RefleSiions on the love and grace of Chrift, &c. 423
th^acce^°ablet'°me'• ^^ y°" ''"^ fpeaks of a limited time, in which Sect,
UoU,"now ^'s'"?he *^^ Meffiah's petition in favour of his people '^-
day of falvation.) was Welcome to him, and in which he was ready i Cor.
to grant falvation ; and behold, now [is] the VI.
accepted time ; behold, now [is] the day offal- *
vation : this is the precious feafon, when, by
the wonderful favour and goodnefs of God, com
plete forgivenefs, and eternal felicity is freely of
fered, O, that you may all be fo wife as to
accept it !

IMPROVEMENT.
How adorable is the Divine condefcenfion, that fuch an em
baffy of pea:e fhould ever be fent to any of the children of the
fallen Adam ! How wonderful the Divine patience, th^t the ae- Chap,
i:epied time, and the day of falvation, fhould, after fo many flights,
be fo long protrafted ! O, let us not receive Juch grace in vain, left
affronted racrly fhould forfake its feat, and give way to inexorable
juftice I
Surely if there be a fentiment, that may' juftly excite the heart
to the greateft fervotir of affeftion, and that will vindicate the moft
ardent tranfports of zeal to fpread it in the world, it muft be that
of the love of Chrifi; which may well bear us away, while we fe- ^^^^^
rioufly confider, in how miferable a ftate he found us, dead in
fin, arid under a fentence of death by the Divine law ; tfpecially,
when we farther refleft, at how expenfive a rate he redeemed us,
even with the price of his own life. Who then, that has any
remains of judgement at all, muft not judge and determine in his i4> ^S
own mind, that it is moft fit, that our ranfomed lives fliould be fa
cred to him that redeemed them ; that our breafts fliould be on
fire, with the moft earneft defire to promote his caufe and king
dom ; that henceforth, from the time we come to the knowledge
of this important truth, we fhould not live to ourfelves, but to him
who died for -us, and rofe again, refuming, with his renewed life,
the fame tender concerti for our happinefs, which engaged him
continually to exert it in the moft generous efforts for ousirecovery
and falvation.
Let all fecular \iews, therefore, be given up ; and let us labour
to improve in that renovation of foul which is the eilential cha- 17
rafter of the true Chriftian ; and as ever we defire to have any fa-
tisfaftory evidence, that we are in Chrift, let us fee to it that we
arc new creatures ; and if we are indeed fo, let us daily acknow
ledge our obligations to his transforming grace. From him are
the firft propofals-of peace and reconciliation to offending crea- 18
tures ; from him, the difpofition of foul, humbly to fubmit our
felves to the terms fo kindly propofed, and to fue out our pardon
a^greeabl/

424

The Apoftles approved themfelves the minifters of God.

Sect, agreeably to the purpofes of this grand aft of indemnhy: How
" amazing the condefcenfion that grants it ; and appoints ambafl'a-

Vcrfe dors to urge us, to have compaflion on our own fouls, and not
10, 20 rejeft this counfel of God againft ourfelves ! Miay the irt'inifters of
the gofpel often confider themfelves in this view, as ambafladors'
and agents/or Chrift, by whom God befeecheth finners to be recon-
' filed ; and let them profecute this embaffy, with all holy impor
tunity and earneft addrefs. O, that the fuccefs of it might be
more apparent ; that fo that friendftiip might be eftablifhed -be
tween earth and heaven, which may bring dowi^ daily anticipations
of heaven to earth I Amen.

SECT.

X.

The Apoflle enlarges, with great freedom, on the temper, with
which, in ihe midft of all their affliSiions and perfecutions, he
and his brethren profecuted that important embaffy of which
he had been fpeaking in the farmer feSiion. 2 Cor. VI, 3^—10,

a Cor.
TI, 3

2 Corinthians VI. 3.
?ict. 'X'HIS is the affair we negociate, this is the
X. -*¦ meffage we deliver ; and while we are thus
employed, it is our conftant care, that we may
behave in fuch a manner as may add the greateft
efficacy to our addrefs, and give no offence '
to any, by any part of our [^conduSi ;] that the
miniftry of reconciliation be not blamed, and the
fuccefs of the gofpel thereby obftrufted. But
on the contrary, we would be, and I hope we
are.j in every refpeSi, approving ourfelves to all
that fee and know us, fuch as they ought to be
who have the honour of being the minifters and
ambaffadours of God ; in this vidw we govern
the inmoft emotions of our- fouls, endeavouring
to poffefs them in much patience, in the midft of
all tbe affliSiions which his providence calls us
to bear, in all ithe neceffties we ars,compelled to

2 Cob, VI. 3.
(^IviKG no oft'ence
in any thing, that
(he miniftry be not
blamed 1

4 But In all things '
approving ourfelves
as the minifters of
God, in much pa
tience, in affliftions,
in neceflities, in di-
ftrefl'es.

a Give ne offence, &c,] This claufe is
fo connefted with the foregoing, that it
would, have been highly expedient to have
continued the preceding ftS'im, at leaft
to the end of this; but tlie length would
be inconvenient. And there are* fome
other inftances, in which we have been
forced to yield to neceflity on fuch occa
fions; but the common divifton, which
feparates the laft verje of the 5fh chapter

from the firft of the 6th, feems yet more
improper. To render the beginning of
thejeaiott lefs apparently abrupt, I render
that, we give na offence, which had inore
literally been tranfiated by the participle,
giving, See. as in the following claufes j
but fuch little variations, as they affeA
not the fenfe,' will I hope be eicufed, as
what on my plan I knew not how to
avoid. endure

In all manner of affliSfiom and diftreffes ;

'' 5 In ftripea, in
imprifonments. In tu
mults, in labours, in
watchings, in falt-
ings.

6 'By purenefs, by
knowledge, by long-
fiifFermg, by kind-
nels, by the Holy
Choft,

4'J15
endure, in all the ftraits to which we are at any s«ct.
time reduced, and all the anguifli of heart we ^'
may unavoidably feel in them'': This fteady jCor.
patience we endeavour to maintain, in ftripes, VI. s
when we are fcourged in fynagogues and cities,
as if we were the moft notorious offenders againfl
God and men, and the vileft pefts of fociety : in
imprifonments, tho' we not only endure fo many
hardfhips in our confinement, but are cut off
by it from thefe public labours for the glory of
God and the edification of the church, which
are dearer to us than our lives: in tumults'^,
which are raifed againft us by Jews and Gentiles,
and by which our enemies are often endeavour
ing to tear us in pieces : in labours, which we
inceffantly purfue, either in oiir minifterial work,
or in thofe fecular callings by which we are often
obliged to earn our daily bread : in watchings,
when in profecution of thefe various employ
ments, the hours of the night are added to thofe
of the day, and we have hardly time for our
neceflary repofe : in faftings, to which, befides
thofe which devotion choofes, we are often
obliged to fubmit, for want of proper fupplies of
food : Yet ftill, in the midft of all thefe 6
difficulties, condufting ourfelves, in unfpotted
purity, labouring to improve daily in the know
ledge ** of thofe Divine truths which it is ouif
great bufinefs to teach others, and by the exer
cife of a conftant command over our paflions,
to grow in long-fuffering and in gentlenefs, and
every other amiable difpofition which we culti-

* Affliaiotu — neceffties— ftrahs.l Dr.
Whitby thinks, the firft word, Sxi^ij,
fignifies affl'iSion in general— the fecond,
a,a.-y»n, more grievous and unavoidable
troubles— .and the third, c»o;(«pia, fuch
prfffUres as reduce ua to die greateft
ftraits : the compound fenfe therefore on
the whole is, we are, as it were, hemmed
in mth inevitable, and humanly fpeaking,
inentricable calamities, on every fide. Com
pare _/&7. vii. tuts c.
c In tumults : axafarariai;,] Beza
interprets this, (and I think no man
feems better to have underftood the pe-
enliar propriety of Greek words,) of
fuch attacks as a man cannot ftand
againft, but which bear him hither and
thither by violence; he Would render
Voi. IV.

It in Latin, Exagitatieniius.
<1 By knowledge.] Interpreters give!
many dift'crent fenfes of this word. Dr<
Scott fays it fignifies prudence, which is a
Chriftian virtue, whereas the mere under
ftanding of Divine things was s^ gift,
Mr. Pyle thinksit fignifies the'ir improving
the knowledge of Divine myfteries. Mr^
Cradock refers it to an acquaintance with
the ttxxe fenfe of fcripture ; which brings
it to much the fame with what has been
called tbe word of knowledge. I oonclude,
it implies not only a folicitude to grow in
the knowledge of the gofpel, but to im
prove that knowledge to the edification of
others ; Which accordingly is exprelTed in
ihifanifbrafe.

Ff

vate

7 By dhe word of
truth, by the power of
God, by the armour
of righteoufnefs on
the right-hand and

8 By honour and
diflionour, by evil
report and good re-

426 By thepowet of Gtfd, and the armour of righteoufnefs ;
S7CT. vate in humble dependence on the fanftifying Ghoft, by teve na-.
^' influences oi the holf Spirit; vi^ho dwells /';/ our ^"S"'"*'
» Cor, hearts, as a continued principle di thai' uhdif-
VI, 6 fembled love Which we exercife without limita-
• tion, not only ' to friends ahd benefaftoi-s, but
7 enemies and perfecutors. Still we are faith
ful in afferting, arid zealous in propagafifig, th'e
facred gofpel, jhat word of urlcorrupted 'afid in
fallible //^m'/^ ; and we perfift /« it, fuppotted by
the 2\m\^iy' power of thzt Gsr/ by whorfa it is on uhe lefty
revealed, and by whom we know it fhall be
rendered finally 'viftorious ; and in the' mean
time,' while 6ur eheniies affault us pn' every fide,
it is our care ftill to be Cloathed and gii'ded ab'oUt
with ¦ the armour of righteoufnefs, both on the ' .
righV-hand and the left'"; well knowing that
8 armour to be irii'penetrable. And in this con
fcioufnefs we' pafs tinhurt, and in a great rnea-
fure unmoved, through honour and difihonourei ^^att-. as deceivers,
through evil report and good report, neither ekted and _y« true;
with the one, nor depreffed and dejefted with
the other/ We are treated by many, as if we '
were a fet of artful deceivers, that fcruple no
fraud -'and falfehood, by which we might carry
our caufe ; and yei • we know in our own con
fcience, and God can witnefs for us, that we are
irue and faithful, and' would not deviate froni '
the' ftrifteft rules of integrity, to carry any point, >
lio'w" important foever it iiiight feem to ourfelves,
9 or the' religion' we projsagate. We are treated
by men, as incoriftderablfe creatures, in the loweft
Tank of life, obfcure and unknown, zs unde-
ferving any-' pUb-lic' notice and regard; and
[yet] we are really well knoivn to multitudes, by
the happieft tokens, as the men by 'whom they •
have not only received that bodily healing, which
they could never have expefted from natural
means, but by the yet more valuable memorials,.
of having enlightened their eyes with Divine
knowledge, and brought back their wandering
fouls to God, Weare regarded' by others, as

9 As unknown,
and yet well known ;
as dying, and behold we

e Armour of 'righteoujnejs, on the right-
hand, and Qji the left.] Some unnaturally
think this alludes to uie foldiers who w^re
taught to.wield 'their f'jvords with. the left-
hand, as/'we'll .as the right -j tind others,
thatit refers to thc Chriftians beirig ar.ne j

.againft, the temptations, of profperity ani
adverfity. That may well be included ;
liut the armour fpolcen of, feems , of, tbe
clefetifive kind, on the arjBS, , or breaft, ot
both, ¦ - dying

as poor, yet making rich. - • 427
*,ve live ; as chaftcn- d'jing men, and we feem ourfelves to be in daily Sect.
ed, and not killed; j^^gg^ ^f j^^j^g facrificed to the rage of our ^-
enemies ; and yet behold hitherto, through the
guardian and aftonifhing care of that Redeemer yj, oi
whom we preach, we continue in life, and live
tothe moft important purpofes. Our affliftions
are many, and we confider ourfelves under them,
i& chaftened hy our heavenly father ; yet, bleffed
be his name, we are not killed ; and far from in
tending our deftruftion, we know that he will
, , . over-rule thefe chaftifements to the advancement
yet alway rejoicing; of our falvation. If our external circumftances^®
as poor, yet making alone be regarded, we muft indeed appear as
many rich: as hav- forrowful, and the world will naturally con-
SffiSthirigr elude, that we have caufe for continuallament-
ation ; and yet when the inward difpofitions of
our minds are known, and the Views with which
Weare fecretly fupported, it will be found, that
we are alwirys rejoicing, in the prefent affur^hces
of the Divine favour, and the certain expec
tation of complete felicity and eternal glory.
We appear flj ^ffor in this world, and indeed we
are fo ;• having neither filver nor gold, nor eftate ;
aiid;'^'/ we are can\\rm2X\y enriching many, with
treafures, which they would not part with for all
the revenues of princes and kings ; as having
nothing that we can call our own ; and yet, in
deed, poff'efftng all things ; which we know to be
ours, fo far as our heavenly Father fhall fee fit ;
and therefore are, as eafy and happy as if we were
aftually the proprietors of the whole word ^

IMPROVEMENT.
Whose foul can remain untouched, while he reads this elo
quent period in w*hicli the apoftle's mouth is (afe he afterwards
exprefles if) thus opened, in coufeiquence of his he3t's being
enlarged I In hoyv lively, yet unaffefted a manner, does this
facred ivriier paint his -Own charafter and circumftances ; '-and
how much profound and important fenfe is there in thofe para
doxes which he fa naturally introduces on this occafion ! Let
the miriifters oi ¦the"' gofpel herein- behold, at once, their model
f Pofeftingall things.] This is cer- 1 Tim, vi, 17. Eph. i. 3. R«y, xxi, 7.
tainly one of the fubiimeft pafl'ages that i Cor. iii. II,— aj.
WJs ever writ; Compare Phil. iv. j8.
Ff a and

428 RefteSlions on thecharaSler and labours of ihe apoftles. '
Sict. and their fupport. Let them cultivate this inoffenfive behaviour,
not only out of regard to themfelves, but that their office may not be
cenfured ; and ftill approve themfelves the fervants of God, by
"' ^patience amidft all their tribulations, their neceffties, and their
^preffures ; and, fo far as their circumftances require it, by labours,
by watchings, and faftings; efpecially when by an indulgent pro-
t vidence they are not called to do it in ftripes, in imprifonments,
5 and in iumuUs. Still let them cultivate purity and knowledge,
m long-fufferings and gentlenefs, with urfeigned love in ihe Holy Ghofi.
Aided by him, let them arm themfelves with the word of truth,
and in the ftrength of God, gird on the armour of righieoufrieft
8 on the right hand and on the left. Thus fortifyed, they may
boldly break their way through honour and infamy, throa^ praije
and. reproach ; as we plainly fee that infamy and reproach may
be the portion of the beft of men, and the moft ufeful members
«f fociety. Who are we, that we fiiould refiife a cup, of which
the apoftles and our Lord drank fo deep ? But let us be fuperior
S to human cenfures. If any call us deceivers, let us fhow that we
are invariably true to the interefk of God and of goodnefs. If
tj they affeft to overlook us, as unknown, and beneath their notice,
let us endeavour to render ourfelves well known, by the benefits
which, by Divine grace, we are the inftruments of conferring on
10 men's fouls. So ftiall we be always rejoicing in the midft of thofe
forrows of which nature cannot be entirely infenfible ; whilft
amidft our poverty we are enriching many, yea then, though we
have nothing that we can call our own, we fhall poffefs all things ;
fhall appear in the eyes of God, and of the Lord Jefus Chrift, the
richeft and the happieft of mankind, even though we were in other
refpefts, of all men the moft miferable.
While we confider this as the charafter of the firft preachers of
ChrijVtaniiy, which, with fo noble a plainnefs and fimplicity they
profefs, let us adore the Divine grace by which fuch a fpirit was
raifed in the world, and by which it hath in fome meafure been
maintained, even to this day. And let it encourage our moft ear
neft and affeftionate pr^ers, that God would raife tip in every
age (and efpecially in our own, in which they feem (o ready to
fail) a generation of evangelical minifters i vrho, fired with fuch
generous principles of aftion, and emulatii^fo noble a charafter,
may commend themfelves to every man's confidence in t he fight ef God,
and roll away that reproach which unworthy men have brc»>ght on
the moft excellent of all offices. Thus armed, may they extend
their happy conquefts ; thus animated, may they fee of ihe travail
of their foul, to their abundant, their everlaftiji^ fatisfaftion and
delight.
SECT

St. Paul reminds the Corinthians of his peculiar affeSlkn. 429

SECT. XI.

The Apoflle urges the Corinthians to avoid thofe alliances with ido
laters, which might tend ta enfinare therri ; and pleads the gra
cious promifes God had made io his people, as an engagement to
them to be upon their guard in this refptSt ; and, in general, tt
aim at the fubiimeft attainments in religion. 2 Cor. VI. 11,
to the end. Chap, VII. i.

z Cor. 'VI. II.
/A Ye Corinthians,
our mouth is o-
pen unto you, our
heart is enlarged.

12 'Ve are not
ftraitened in us, but
ye are ftraitened in
your own bowels.

1 3 Now for a re.
compenfe inthe fame,
(I f^eak as unto my
fhildren,] be ye en
larged.

14. Be ye not une
qually

2 Corinthians VI. it.
y^OlJ fee, O ye Corinthians, my dear bre- Sict.
thren, my beloved children, with how ^i-
much freedom of addrefs our mouth is opened to ~~^^
you; but words flow freely on an occafion, on VI. 11'.
which our heart is fo much enlarged, in a ten
dernefs, which neither words nor tears can
fufficiently exprefs. Sure I am, that ye are u
not ftraitened in us; all that we can do for your
comfort and happinefs, you may fecurely pro
mife yourfelves : but I fear, ye are ftraitened in
your own bowels, and have not all of you, that
affeftion for us, nor readinefs to receive our
communications, which the relation between
us might challenge, and my tendernefs for you
ought to excite. And therefore, for that very j,
recompenfe, which we moft of all defire, which
is fo juft and reafonable, and which indeed, in
its confequences, would be yet more benefi
cial to you, than delightful to us, / fpeak
to you as to [rny] own children, with all the
genuine overflowings of paternal love ; be ye
alfo thus enlarged " towards ine, and let this
confidence with which I am pouring forth, as it
were, all my heart into your bofom, ftrike
ftrongly on your minds, to raife fome correfpond
ent emotion. •
And how fhall that love be exprefled ? Truly ij^.
by no method can it more effeftually be mani
fefted, than by taking all the care you poftibly
can, for your own fecurity and happinefs. In

* Be ye alfo enlarged.'] Perhaps the
aftftle's Hieanmg may be tnis, " Give me
" that pleafure which my paternal ten-
" dernefs towards you wiil find, in hav-
*' ing it in my power to do abundance

" of good, through your readinefs to per-
" ceive what we are fo ready to impart,
" and to fall in with my attempts of ufe-
" fulnefs among you."

which

Ff 3

4.30 . -^fd. eifharts them rtot to be unequally yoked with unbelieyers.

Sect, which vjew, I muft particularly urge it, that ye
be not unequally yoked either in marriage, or any
2 Cor, Other intimate friendfhip, with unbelievers ; for
VI. 14 xuhat participation hath that ftrift righteoufnefs,
to the praftice of which the gofpel calls you, its
fincere votaries, with that unrighteoufnefs, in
which they are fo generally plunged ? Or what
communion hath the Ught, into which you by the
Divine mercy are brought, with that deplorable
darknefs of ignorance and vice in which they
15 continue to be loft? Or wthat concord [is
there,] or can thej'e be, between Chrift, to whom
ye are united, and Belial, who reigneth iii the
children of difobedience ? Or what part hath a
believer with an infidel ; or an infidel, with a
believer ? The union is furely, at the firft view
of it,i too unnatural to be either eafy, fafe, or
16 lafting? And indeed I may fay, what conftfl-
ence has the temple of God ^ with thofe detef
table idols, which would by this means be, as
it were, erefted in it; or at leaft placed fo near,
that it muft be polluted by them ? It is a proper
queftion, and a juft view in which to ftate the
point ; fior ye are the temple of ihe living God, as
Goi/ himfelf hath faid; IwiU, in the moftintir
mate manner, dwell in therri ^, and walk among
[ihem,] and I wiU be their God, and they JhaU
be my people. (Lev, -xxvi. 12.) Now though this
immediately 'refers to God's extraordinary pre
fence among the Jews, yet, when we confider
the conftitution of the Chriftian church, we can
not poflibly imagine, that God is lefs favourably
prefent with it, than he was with the Jewifh.'
17 We vca.'j therefiore confider the exhortation ¦ fo
natuf-ally grounded on fuch a promife, and may,
as it were, hear God calling to us, and faying,
as to Ifrael, with refpeft to idolaters of old,
(Ifa, lii, II.) Come out from among ihem, andbe

qually yoked toge-
therwithunbclievers;for what fellowlhip
hath righteoufnefs
with unrighteoufnefs?
and what communion
hath light with dark
nefs,'

15 And what con
cord hath Chrift with
Belial ? or what part
hath he that believeth
with an infidel \

16 And what a-
greement hath .the
temple of God with
idols .' for ye are the
temple of the livjng
God; as Gorf hath
faid, I will dwell ii^
them, and walk ih
them-, and I will be
their God, and they
Ihall be roy people,

17 Whereforej
come out from a,
mong them, and be
ye

b Temple of Gcd. Thepe fcems a pecu--
liar ftrength in this interrogation. If God
would not endure idols in any part of the
Jand in which he 'dwelt, how much lefs
weuldhe endure them under his own roof?
c In the moft intimate manner divellin
^hem.] No words I know in our lan
guage, can eijual the force of the original.

ivn:ic-o\ EV ai;1inV, I will tate up my i«-
dwell'itig in them. This was a promife
made to,the Jews on their being converted;
and c'onfequ.-ntly refers to their privi
leges, as members of the Chriftijn
church; which flievvs the propriety of the
application, Jtr, xxxi, 33, chap. XJt*''-
37> 38.

fince they had the honour to be the fons of God.

431

yejeparate, faith the
J.ord, and touch not
the unclean thing ;
and I will receive
you. .18 And will be a
Father unto you, and
ye'lhall be my fons
and daughters, faith
tlie Lord Almighty.

2 Cor, -711, I,
Having, therefore,
thefe promifes (dear
ly beloved) let us
cleanfeourfelves from
all filthinefs- of the
flelh and fpirit, per
fecting holinefs in
the fear of God,

the Sect. VI
a manner

ye feparate ^ faith the Lord, and touch not
unclean thing -, and, if . ye behave ih a _ 
thus worthy your profeffed relation to me, / wiU 7c^
then receive you, which, till then, I cannot do ; vi. 17
And wiU be a father unto you ', and ye. fliall be to 18
me for fons ancl for daughters, faith fhe ford Al-
tnighiy. Now furely if the Almighty God will
fay thus unto us, we ought to be much affefted
with it, iand negleft nothing that is neceffary to
infure fo great and invaluable a, privilege.
Having therefore, my beloved hretfrrexi, fuch 2 Cor.
gracious promifes of God's abode among us, his VII. i.
dwelling in us, and his adopting us into the
number of his children, let us aft yvo/thy iq high
a relation ; and. as God is perfeftly holy, let us
labour to the utmoft to purifi ourfelyes from all
pollution, hoth of the fieJh cind of ih^ fpirit, frpm
every impurity of life, and from every fenfual
affeftion, which might defile our hearts, and
render them difpleafing to him. Nor let us reft
merely in this negative view of religio.n ; but, let
us endeavour to be perfeSiing holinefs,, and lay
the foundation of it in thefiear ofi God, in whofe
prefence we always are, and by whom all our
aftioiis are examined, and to whom our hearts
are" open ; well knowing, that we cannot fecure
to ourfelves thefe bleflings, without fuch a care ;
and that it is what gratitude moft powerfully dic
tates, where we have the higheft hopes that w§
are interefted in them.

Improvement,

Thus iT^ay cordial love opeti-. the metfth of Chriftian minifter s,'^^''^''-
when [addreftjiig their people ; . and, thus may the love pf Chrif
tians to each other in' every ftation of life exprefs itfelf, and
produce fof a recompenfe a miitviai enlargement. This is one- of la
thp fweeteft pleafures, and richeft bleffings of frier^dTliip, when

* Be. ye feparate.] As God's promife
of dwelling in a peculiar ipanner among
the Jews, obliged them tc> feparate them
felves from the converfe of "their heathen
neighbours, that they might not be en
fnared with their fuperftitions; much
more are chriftians ob|iged by that pccu-
,liar gracious prefence of God which they
enjoy, to (eparate themfelves *fr6m all
impure and idolatrous worlhip. Exod.
xxix, 45, 4.6, Lev, xxvi, II, 12,

e I will be a fathc'-, ^c.j It is que iel
where God fa^s this? Some anfwer, Jer,
xifxi. I. Bijt thi)t,4o,ssnat/ufficiently ex
prefs the paternal relation- Others refer
to 2 Sam. vii, 8, 14,' which may he ap
plied to Chrift, dnd, in him,'tobelie-i/ers.
Compare Heb, i, 4, 6, Some think, it
is npt exprefsly to be found any when;,
and that it' refers, to all the fcriptures
¦where God calls hi-s people by the title of
children.
F f 4 wifely

432 RffleSiions on our obligations to hoUneft.
Sict. wifely and happily contrafted. Let us therefore cultivate fiKh
^^ friendlhips, and be very careful, that we do not form others,
Ver, which eazy inopeily be called, being unequally yoked. We profeft
14 16 to be purfuing righteoufnefs, to be ItgJot in thie. Lord, to be united
to Chrifi, to be confecrated to God: let us not then have an inti
mate converfe with the flaves of unrighteoufnefs, the children of
darknefs, the fons of Belial, the votaries of idols. Far from fub
jefting ourfelves to fiKh dangerous fnares, let us rather be ear»
Deftly feeking every advantage for making the tu)bleft improve
ments in religion. Let us examine our lives and our hearts, that
Chap, we may be cleanfedfrom aU pollutums of the fpirit, as well as of
*"¦ '¦ the flefh. Let us labour after fublime ideas of the perfeSlim tf
holinefs, and after a temper of mind corre^ndent to thofe ideas.
In order to attain which, let us often be furvcying our high and
glorious privileges, and thofe exceeding rich and precious pro
mifes, which God by his gofpel is making to us ; feparating our-
felves from all evil, that he may receive us, that he may dtueU ivith
?7 ^^ us, and vifilk among us, that he may conieatate us as a hsAy temple
to himfelf; yea, that the Lord Almighty aszy become a Father to
us, and own us for his fons and his daughters. To us is the word of
this promife fent, this is the hope of our calling : let us make it
fure, let us daily furvey it, diat it may produce and cberifh a cor
refpondent fanftity and tjoL Aioea.
SECT. XII.
The Apofile farther expreffes his affeSiitm to the Corinthians, as il
luftrated by the pleafure with woith he received good tidings front
ihem by Titus, and by the part he took in the forrows tvbicb his
neceffary reproofs had occafioned, and his prefent jej in that
theje forrows had iffiud in their reformatiim, 2 Cor. VII. a, /a
tbe end, 2 COKINTHIANS VII. a. iCot.'^m.i.

DECEIVE
_ harewn
XII. •*-' tempt 1 was making to remove fome pre- n»n, we h»e

SrcT. RUT t° return from this digrefSon, to the at- -"^ harewroo^aa
'^ tempt 1 was making to remove fon

wc aa
CM-

^ J- ¦ judices, which, much to your own detriment, "^^ "* "^'t^t
Vji. J. I know that ibme of you have imbibed againfl
my perfon asid miniftry. Give me leave, my
brethren, to intreat you, that ye receive us with
that affeftion which is due to the faithful fer
vants of Chrift, and to thofewho have been in
ftruments in your converfion and edificaticm.
for, whatCT'er may have been infinuated by ill-
defigning perfons to the contrary, we have in
jured rui man in bis p^on> vie haw (orrupted no
man

He mentions the anxiety they hadg'tven him :

433

inve defnuded co
mas.

3 I (peak not this
to coDdenm jrwr ; tijr
i hare faid befocr,
that you axe in oor
hraits indis and live
villi ^.».

4Gnatamybald-
ne& ot fpeech toward
JOU, great h my glo-
•Tiog at you : I am
filled with comfinT,
I am exceeding joy
ful ia all our tnbola-
aon, ¦

5 For when we
veic come into Ma-
ffdonia, oor flefli had
no left, but ve were
tioabled on every
fide ; witiioat xcere
$Slidngs,witlun f»rr
^ars.

6 Neveithekis,
God that comfimedi
thofe that are caft
down, cominted ns
by the caauDg of
"ntBS!

7 And not by his
co-

man in his morals, we have defrauded no man * Sict.
in his property, by any of thofe artifices which ^"'
co\«toiifnefs fometimes praftifes under verv fo- . c .-.
lemn fonns. I fpeak not \tbis\ to c:nl-,nn[y:u'\ VII. j;
of ingratitude, or infidelity, though I have been
obligol to find fome fault with you; for I h,Jxs
told yo-j before, that ye are in cur hearts with
fuch tendernefs, that if it were the will of God,
we could be glad both to uve and to die wit'o
\fmi :] to fpend the remainder of our lives at
Corinth, or to end them there, did not the pur
pofes of our mafter's glory call to other, and
many of them lefsgratehd and agreeable fcenes.
Greai, as you fee, [is] itty freedom of fpeech to 4
v.'u, upon this fubjed ; and great is alfo my boafl-
ing corueming you, as to the ailiuance which i
have of your regards for me ; and, on this ac
count / cm filled with canfolatiitn at the remem
brance of you; I Ao exceeeHngly abound^ in joy,
in the midft of all our cffli3ion, when I think
how well you behave, and how happy an alter
ation is prevailing among you.
An inftance of this afifedionate rickard I have S
lately had an opportunity deeply to feel, and very
naturally to manifeft : for -when we came ints
Macedonia, cur JUJb bad no refl, but we were
affliSJedinevery[place2 and circumftaiKe, through
the rage and malice of our enemies ; yet thefe
alarms coold not caufe us to focget you ; but
while without there [twfnrj continual fightings,
witii the mofl fiirious and orueloppoCtion, withii
there were fears and amueties on yoiu' ac
coimt. But the blefted Gad, who is pleafed
to wear it among his other titles, that he is tbe
Comforter »f thofe who are brought low by afflic
tion and diftrefs, and owns it as his prerogative,
to bear up the human heart, consorted us by the
coming tf Titus ; who arrived fb feafonably at
Afaoedonia, at a time wheo both ourdrcumflan-
ces and frame of Spirit needed ail the afliftance
that io pious and delightful a friend could give.
And indeed it was not merely by his coming, that

a D^ramiii af sja.^ The word sr- leafin to complain, had done it.
>swunvmfMe*, figmfies to indo^ a r^r;- b £xceg£i^/f elfs^sdJ^ Tbe void,
tiai Semper, an3 make a^ny of olben 'ov vn^tt^fsssufiai, has an ioexpicffible
it J and peihaps intimates, that the falfe energy j and is, if I miftake not, a wad
(ewbcis, ot" vrimi h: had fo mach of ttnafa^'f owamakins.
\ was

434

Though he. now rejoiced that they had been brought to repentance;

Sect, I was thus comfortei^ ; but with the confolatlon
'with which he was comforted by you, when he

2 Cor. ^oi'i ^s particularly of your earneft defire to reftify
"VII. 7. whatever was amifs, ahd of your grief for
what had been matter of offence to Godi and
forrow to me, and oi your affeftionate *--z,eal for
me, fo that I rejoiced much more than in other
8 circumftances 1 could have done. Becaufe
now I can take the liberty to fay, that if I
grievedyou in ihe eptftJe which I formerly wrote,
in which indeed I. was obliged to treat fome fub
jefts with greater feverity than I could have
wiftied, I do not repent oi it, however anxious I
might before have been %• for the regret I at firft
felt on that account, is now fwallowed up in
that fuperior pleafure with which I fee the happy
effefts of it ; for I now have the fatisfaftion
to find, that this epijile, however for a little
while it might have grieved you, hath by the
blefling of God, been prochiftive of- great good,
9 And now I rejoice, not that ye zvere grieved,
for that will always give me concern when I re
fleft upon it / but that ye grieved to fuch happy
purpofe, and were by that means brought io
true repentance, lo a change of mind ; for this
was indeed the cafe, as ye were grieved with a
penitential and humble regard io the honour of
the bleffed God, which is fo immediately and
peculiarly affefted by the irregularities of thofe
that prtifefs themfelves his people. So that on
the whole* ye were not in any degree enda
maged by us ; but on the contrary received, as
we intended, great benefit by the feverity we
JO ¦were compelled to ufe. For this is indeed the
natural efFeft of a forrow like- yours ; that grief,
which regards the honour ;of God, and takes its .
rife from fuch tender and grateful views of him,
as we before hinted, worketh a repentance,
which leads io falvation, and iffues in it ; and

coming only, but
by the confolatlon
wherewith he was
somforted in you,
when he told us your
earneft defire, your
mourning, your fer
vent p^ind toward
me J fo that I rejoiced
the more,
8 For though I
made you forry with
a letter, I do not re
pent, though I didre-
pent : for I perceive
that the fame epiftle-
made you forry,
though it wci-i but
for a feafon.

9 Now I rejoice,
not that ye were made
forry, but that ye
fprrowed to repei^t-
ancq : for ye were
made forry after a
godly manner, that
ye might receive da
mage by us in no.
thing.

10 For godly for
row worketh repenf-
ance to falvation npt
' t^

^ 'Hoivcver anxiout I might before have
leenj et ^ |UElfjtt=\o,wj;y.] Sol c hoc I e to
render the word, as fxi\a.y.z^B:a ih'iftly e.x-
prcfl'es an after care and anxiety -for any
thing chat has been done, whereas the
word npent always (ignifies a w'llh it had
rot been done. Now as what ^ St. Paul
did, in writing the forfBer epiltJe, wtis

prope'r, and Bone under rtie direftiqp of
the Divine 'Spirit, it does not feem rea
fonable to fuppofe that he real/y repented
of it- It may alfo fignify a kind of mif-
gr^ing of hCiart, natural, when the re
proof, however neceffary, is given to a
perfon one tcnderlyloVes, where the event
is dubious, as in t^is inftaiice it might be,
therefore

to be repented of;
but the forrow of the
jirorld worketh de^th.

it For behold,
this felf-fame thing,
that yc forrowed af
ter a godly fort, what
.careiuincfsit wrought
in you ; yea, ivhat
clearing of your
felves j yea, what in
dignation, yea, ichat
f'jar -, yea, itthat ve
hement delire j yea
lubat zeal ^ yei, what
fevenge 1 in all thiags
ye have approved
yourfelves to be clear
, ui this matter.

12 Wherefore,
though I wrote unto
you , J did it not for
his caufe that had
done the wrong, nor
for h's caufe that fuf-
fcr-d wrong, but that our

having forrowed after a godly fort ; 4.35
therefore is never afterwards io be repented of ;^^'^'^'
whereas the forrow that arifes merely from a ^"'
regard to the,, things of ihe world, is often a TcotT
foolifh excefs, produftive of fatal confequences, Vil w
and ' fometimes worketh death ; either breaking
the heart, arming men againft their own lives,
or otherwife producing that rebellion againft
God by which the foul is finally deftroyed.
But it is pleafant to trace the happy effedk of 1 1
that better principle which hath influenced, you ;
for behold, this fame' thing, that is, your being
grieved for your fins oui of a pious refpeSi to God,
and the diihonour it brought upon him, what
diligence it wrought in you to reform what had
been amifs ; yea, [what] a folicitous care, to
make the beft apology you could for what you
had done : and of the founder part, to make
their innocenc-e appear ; yea, [what] indigna
tion ^16. it produce againft. thofe who had given
the offence ; yea, [what^ fear, left any thing
of that fort fhould be encouraged and repeated ;
yea, [v^hqt] earneft defire of feeing me again,
and confirming our friendfliip in fiirer bonds;
yea, [uthcfi] zeal in every method that could be
fubfen'ient to thefe views; yea indeed, if I may
fo exprefs myfelf, [what], revenge^, againft
yourfelves for thofe things, which, all circum
ftances confidered, you could not but condemn ;
againft fin, as your great enemy ; fo tha,t upon
ihe whole, confidering you as a fociety, you have
approved yourfelves to be pure in this matter,
and there is no farther ftain remaining on, the
church, where I was fo much afraid pf lafting
infamy arid reproach. Let it not therefore 13
be the caufe of any farther diftrefs ; but aifure
yoiirfelves, that if I hcive written [any thing j io
you, different from, what I could wifti to write,
and you to receive, [ii was] not ft^much with
any perfo'nal views, on his account , who had done,
ifT his tvhi had received ihe injury ", hut for the
fake

d yea, [wAflf] re'uenge.'j iWr. Gataker
has very well obferved here, that Calvin
and R,eynoldSj and forae other divines cf
note,' have been milled, "by Cak-Ing it for
granted, that thef? i-ttfis eoqtain feven
fli^JnSf TTiarki of: true, repentance, to^be-
jJund iu "every fincere peuUenty whereas

indeed thefe are not charafters of the
tamper of eich, but of liferent perfons in
diffprent-circumftances, according to "iic
part they reipedtively a£led in- the affair
in queftion. j
e Recei'ved.t^e injuiy,'^ Hence fo^ne in
fer, and it fwins reafon Ah, that tln'/'a- thcr

43^ ^f^ich had refrefhed the fpirit of Titus as well as his own.

^i"* f"^^ "f "''^"'fifil'^i *"'¦ diligence and care for you,
,  L which through the Divine goodnefs hath now
» Cor. been made apparent, though by fo fevere and
VII. i» painful a trial, before God, [and"] unto you.
*3 Ther^ore we were greatly comforted in your con
fiolation, and we rejoiced more exceedingly in the
joy of g(3oA Titus, which gave me a pleafure
yet greater than he himfelf could derive from
it ; becaufe we find your temper and ftate fo good,
that his fpirit was refrejbed by you all. So
14 ihat on the whole, if I had boafied any thing
of you to him, that I was confident my Corin
thian friends would approve themfelves worthy
of the figure they had formerly made in religion,
/ was not afhamed of that boafting; hut as
we have always fpoken in the exafteft regard to
truth, when addrefling ourfelves to you, fo alfo
our hoafiing [concerning you] to Titus, that all
would be well again at Corinth, has been veri-
iSfied, greatly to our fatisfaftion : So thai his
tendereft affeSlions are now engaged towards you
exceedingly, which he exprefles in the moft
genuine manner, whenever he mentions, or re-
colleSis, the obedience of you all in general to thofe
apoftolical injunftions which I fent you by him :
[and] how you received him as my meflenger,
and the minifter of Chrift, with fear and trem
bling, exprefling always the moft folicitous con-
cisrn, that he might fee nothing which it might
grieve him to obferve, or me to hear reported
16 by him. I rejoice therefore, that in every re
fpeSi I have confidence in you S and am encou
raged to renew that honourable teftimony which
it has always been my pleafure to bear to your
charafter, and which, I afllure myfelf, you will
continue more and more to deferve.

our care for you in
the fight of God
might appear unto
you. 13 Therefore we
were comforted in
your comfort : yea,
and exceedingly the
more joyed we for
the joy of Titus, be
caufe his fpirit was
refrelhed by you all.
14 For ifl have
boafted any thing to
him of you, I am
not alhamed ; but at
we fpake all things
to you in truth, even
fo our boafting which
/ made before Titus,
Is found a truth.

15 And his inward
aiFe£tion is more a-
bundant toward you,
whilft he remember,
eth the obedience of
you all, how with
fear and trembling
ye received hun.

16 I rejoice there.
for^ that I have con
fidence !n you in all

thinga.

IMPROVEMENT.
How great is the boldnefs of a good confcience ! and how
^'''* much does it promote that freedom, that authority, with which
•5 the minifters of Chrifi addrefs themfelves to their hearers,

ther of the inceftuous perfon was ftill liv.
ing ; which muft be a great aggravation
of his crime.
i Qmfidinci in you,] The addrefs of all

this part of the epiftle is wondferful. This
in particular, finely introduces whathe had
to fay in the following thafter, and il
llrongly illuftrated by chap. ix. a,— 4*
when

RefleSiims en ihe joyiheir repentance gave St. Patih 437
when they can thus appeal to them as to the uprightnefs, inte- S*«=t.
grity, and difintereftednefs of their conduft! Frequently do we. ^"'
in fome degree, Ihare the trials of the apoftle : and while we may Ver. j.
be furrounded with fightings without, are exercifed with fears
within ; but we have a God, who affumeth it to himfelf as one of 6
his titles, that he camforteth thofe that are caft down, and brought
kw. May every fincere lover of Chrift, and of fouls, be filled
with confdation from him, and amidft all his tribulations, whatever
they may be, be made to rejoice exceedingly in the joy of his CAr/- 4,
fiian friends and converts ! May he trace in them the marks of
that true repentance which is never io be repented of, and which iq
is reprefented in fuch genuine language, as no heart could have..
diftated, but one that haAfeli what is here defcribed. And fince
there is not ajufimanupon earth, ihat doeth good, and finneth not ;
andyConfequently none who nCedeth not repentance, may we all
know by experience, that diligence, that indignation, that/^ar, that 1 1
zeal, thatdefire, that revenge, which the apoflle faw in his Corin
thian brethren, and which he rejoiced fo much to fee ! There is 5
not a furer office of friendfhip, than to endeavour to promote this
godly forrow. And O, how blefled, how divine a principle is re
ligion, whofe moft painful operation is produftive of fo much in
ward and fubftantial h'appinefs ! whereas the forrow of this world,
to which they who fondly love the world, and eagerly purfue it,
are moft expofed, is attended with fuch fatal confequences^ as even jo
to work death.
Let us obferve with pleafure the addrefs of Si. Paul, to make the
Corinthians what they ought to be, by reprefenting to them that
pleafing coitfidence he repofed in them, the manner in which he
had even boafied oi them, and the fatisfaftion he found in all their ;
firft tendencies towards a reformation of remaining defefts. v And
let us earneftly pray for the Spirit of wifdom, that our hearts may 14 16
be happily attempered to fuch due mixtures of faithful inlpeftion,
refolute fincerity, and endearing tendernefs, with refpeft to all ^3
who are committed to our care, whether in offices of a public or
private nature, as may moft effeftually promote their advancement
in the Divine life, and uwr own abundant joy.

SECT. XIII.
The Apoftle enters en thefubjeSi of the contribution he was fetting for
ward for the relief of the poor Chriftians of Judea, recommends
tothe Corinthians the example of the Ufacedonians, reminds thim
ef the great grace ef our bleffed Redeemer, and gives fome ad
vice

\m.

428 "- He praifes the Maeedonidni^ liberality to the fiiints in jfude^i
vice as io the manner ' of colleSiing and tranfmitting their boUntVt
2 Cor. V Hi.. 1,-^15.
2 Corinthians VIII, I.
^11/' "^ GkF we think'tt-^ro^er,. brethren, to inform
 L you of the happy and honourable effefts of
2. Cor. that abundant communication of the gracf of
' God'^ which has been mercifully beftowed iipon -
the churches planted here in Macedonia', at , Phil
lippi,. Theflalonica.Beraea, and other; places in
this province ; which has engaged them tO ex-
•ert themfelves in a moft liberal and generous
contribution for the relief of the poor faints in
_ Judea. And here, it would be a pleafure to
me more particularly to tell you, how in a. greai
and extraordinary trial of (ffifliSiion, which they
rnetwith from their -perfecuting enemies, who
were always fo ready to harrafsand plundcrthem,
(compare Afts xvi.. chap, xvii,) the'ir over
flowing joy for receiving the Chriftian reli
gion, i<?«(^with it, if I may fo fpeak, the depth
of .their poverty amidft thefe diftreffes of their
o-wn, hath io abounded an^ furnifhed futh fup
plies, to the riches' of the'ir' UberaUty, that in
digent as they are, they have done wonders for
3 the relief of their yet poorer brethren, ¦'¦- So
that, I cari teftifiy for. them, and I do attefti it,
with pleafure, that to the, utmoft extent of.
[their] power ; yea, arid.beyond what could have
been expefted, or on the ufual principles of , i.
computation! judged to have been in [their] , ,•
power ^, , [they have be.en] willing of themfelves . . '
without ihy felicitation, to do the moft generous .1 '
4 things for the pubiick -fervice; , At thefame tiPf^y'i^SMswith
iirne .intreating us with much importunity, . that , Cwo^dSe'Sil'
we would receive the gift vi'iiich their ¦houni'jh-^A ' gift

. 2 Cor, viii, i.
JV^'OREOVER, bre
thren, we do
you to wit of the-
grjice of God beftow
ed on the churches
ofMaCedonia:

z How tliat in a
great trial of affile- ,
tion, the abundance
of their joy, and
their deep poverty,
abounded unto the
riches of their libe
rality. •

3 for to . their
power (i bear irecord)
yea, and beyond their
power, they were
willing of themfelves! ;

^ Grace of God.] As ;^o5if fometimes
fignifies a ^i/'f, and things excellent and
extraordinary in their kind, are in, Hfir^rw
eften faid to be things ofGodj Of Diuiiie ;
as trees of God, are great and flourilhing
trees j cities of Gcd, great cities, (com
pare Pfal, Ixxx, 10, AQ.STi'i'i.-zo.) fome
have explained, X'^?''' '"' ^^"^ ¦ as if it
fignified thc i^rear,' or liberal gift, which
has been given in, or by the A^cedonian
churches ; and Dr,, Whitby very fuffieient-,
ly proves, that ya^i; fometimes is put for
gift. But confidering what is the ge-
iiLtal fenfe of the word in St, Paul's wri

tings, and wiiat his fentiments evidently
are, as to the doftrine of Divine inftuences
on the heart, I chofe to follow the plaineft
and moft obvious and common interpre
tation, which indeed -I generally think
the bell, and take this verje to be in fenfe
much equivalent to that pious a'cknow-
Icdgement of David, i Chron, xxix, 14,
who are-we, ' that we ftiould be able to ojfer
-jo willingly, Sie. ' ' .^ , '. . .
\ To the'ir. power, yea-j ani beyond that.^
This is a nobly hyperbole, like that of
Demofthenes, '' I have performed all, even
<' with an induftry beyond my power."
prepared.

and enforces the likt ConduSl on them by the example of Chrift, 439
f VelXTth" ¦V^^^W^^\,mdltUh]^apart of the, ntiriiftrfliion 9=".
miniftering to the °J-^he Jaints, as One of their commiflioners to •^^"' ^
faints, . ^ convey it to' Jerufalem, Ami [this they did,] jCor..
S Ani this they did, „ot^ merely as w?. expefted and hoped, -but even YHi-S
not as we hoped, but ],„.,„  . ii ' , ij u ¦ ¦ i 'r f
firft gave their own- °^Y9n^. aft ;we could have imagined; for ihey ,
felves to the 'Lord, firft gave themfelves, and all they had, entirely
^l"* "i"*^ "f ^Y 'he to the honour and .fervice of the Lord; and
"'"" ° ' haying i;hus.,furfendered all they were, and all
theyi goftefled, to Chrift and his caufe,, they in .
effeft refigned themfelve^./fl K.r^;!/;5i^ wiUofi;God, '¦
putfing themfelves inthis refpeft under my dj-
reftion, to do what I fliould in, confcience think
6 Tnfomuch that moft ajdvife£;ble in prefcit circumftances. In- 6
aThfr/dTS^fft /^'""^/^ .'^^^ "n^bleto withftand their prefling
he would alfo finifli folicitation, we d fired Titus, that as he, had be-
in you the fame grace gun tO (lo ip Qther plaCCS, fo -fie WOuld alfo
i. <:i3W/i/<'/^//.'/'j- inftance.-of^r<z^^ and liberality a/«o«^
you ', and finifh vvhat yet rotnains to be done,
as to collefting the intended contiibution.
7 Therefore, as ye Therefore, ,vriy brethren, as ye abgund.in every 7
abound in every ol^tX [gift] ( I Cor i, 4, — 7. chap. xii, 8, 
;tt:Sn'c"e,:ndtow- 10 )^and particularly .« >V^, whichrifes to the
ledge, and in all diii- lufteft periualion Ot the truth of the golpel, and
gence, and in your In all utterance and ability to inftruft others,
love to us i fee that ^^j -^ ^^^ cicareft knowledge -ot Divide things,
ye abound in this ;; xi- j-i- j- ' ar ja-
gracii'alfo. ^^d in all active diligence, and m your afreet ion--
ate .love io us ; fo [we exhort] and intreat [you,"]
that ye would take this opportuniiy of fhowing,
that ye abound afo in this grace of Chriftian Iir
S I fpeak not by beraiity. And here, you will obferve that S
b7occ"atr'of the I fp^^K not by Way of command, fo as;to take , ,
forwardnefs of othfers, iipoii me to determine bpw much, or in what
andto prove the fin- . proportion, ye fhall give; but that 1 may prove,
ccrity of your love. ^^y^^af I have jiift been iay'mgoi Jhe diligence
of others, that is the Macedonians, /^£ genuine
' f y/nfm'/)! o/"_)'i»«r /tf'z;^ in-its moft fubftantial effefts.
9 For ye know - And I may Well expeft, that you fhould exert 9
yourfelves on fuch an occafion, in confequence
of your acquaintance with the great and moft
fundamental principles of the gofpel, in which
you have been fo,faithfully , inftrufted. For you
c Cmiplete this grat^e amon^yoy.] I-doubt m^ke the, Englilh reader more fenfible, of
not, that ;i;ajiit heri fignifies^i/'f, or pre- 'ttie ambiguity and emphafts of the word
fent, or liberality ; buc I thought, that ufually ij^ndered grace,
retaining the word grace here, might
. J . ' know-

440

He exhorts them to give with a willing mind.

a Cor.
VIII. 9

Sect, know in fome meafure, though it is impoffible for
^ you fully to know, and diftinftly to conceive in
its utmoft extent, the grace ef our Lord Jefus
Chrift, ihcft though he was rich in the glories of
the heavenly world, and in fupreme dominion and
authority there, yet for your fakes he became poor,
that you thro^ this his voluntary poverty, might
not only be difcharged from that dreadful debt
you had contrafted to the Divine juftice, by
which you were become obnoxious to everlafting
min and condemnation ; but that you might
, alfo become rich in the favour of God, and in
the graces of the Holy Spirit now, and at
length for ever rich in the treafures and glories
lo of the heavenly world : And as I cannot but
defire, that the fervants of fo excellent a Mafter
may herein imitate his example, and take the
moft effeftual methfids to advance his honour
and intereft in the world, I give [my] advice to
you in general, to difpatch this affair vigoroufly;
for this is evidently expedient for you, and con
fiftent with what you have already in a manner
bound yourfelves to, as you have begun, not only
to do fomething, but alfo to exert yourfelves*
II refolutely and determinately, a yiar ago. I
now therefore intreat you not to be offended,
if I urge you to complete your undertaking,
thqit according to the readinefs which you expreffed
fo determine, and refolve upon this good fcheme;
there may" alfo be the accomplijhmeni, of that
determination, in proportion to what you have.
12 The fmalleft contribution from fuch a prin
ciple will be pleafing to God, and moft af
furedly draw its reward after it ; for if there be
firft a readinefs of mind, according to what a
man hg.th, [he is] accepted of God, [and] not ac
cording to what he hath not : a little in proportion
to his abilities, is pleafing to God ; yea, more
pleafing , than it would be, if this proportion
13 were lefs prudently obferved. [I fay this] not by
any means, ihat [there Jhould be] a refl io others,
and affliSiion io you, that they (hould be eafed,
and you overburdened J Bui that of an equality.

the grace of our Lori
Jefus Chrift, that
though he was rich,
yet for your fakes he
became poor, that
ye through his po
verty might be rich,

10 And herein I
give my advice : (ot
this is expedient for
you, \^ha have be
gun before, not only
to do, but alfo to be
forward a year ago.

Il Now therefore
perform the doing of
it ; that as there was a
readinefs to will, fo
there may be a perfor
mance alfo out of
that which ye have.

12 Forif there be
firft a willing miiid,
ir is accepted accord-
ing to that a mail
hath, and not ac
cording to that hs
hath not.

1 3 For / mean not
that other men be
eafed, and you bur
dened s
I4Butby an equa lity

'J To exert yourjelves.] It is 'evident ard vigerous
that, t0.&eXe(v, is an advance upon, iirot- i Cor, xvi, 7..
r.o-a.. So that it muft fignify a refolute

dctirmmtioti, Coinpaw

on

RefleSiions on the liberality of the Alacedmians.

441

fity, that now at this
time your abundance
nuiy be a fupply for
their want, that their
abundance alfo may
be a jvpply for your
want, that there may
be equality,

15 As it is writ
ten, He that bad ga-
^ered much, had no
thing over ; and he
that bad gathered lit
tle, had no lack.

2 Cor.
VIII, H

15

on juft and equitable principles, your abundance Sect
[muy be] at this time, wifely and happily em- ^"'
ployed, as [a fupply\ to their want: that at
fome other time, if Providence give the occa
fion and opportunity, their abundance alfo may be
[fo] to your want' ; that there may be fuch an
equaUty in the diftribution of the good things of
this life, as our mutual relation to each other
may require. For the bountiful Providence
of God hath furniftied them out in fuch an
abundance, and given to fome of you fuch a
fuperfluity, that there is no room for a liberal dif
tribution, without injuring the original pofleflbr;
and if fuch a diftribution be made, we ihall find
that, as it is written concerning the manna,
(Exod. xvi, 18,) He that [had] much did not
abound, when all came to be divided, and he ihat
[had] Utile did not lack' ; fo he that has thc
greateft abundance of this world, may find ne-
ceflltous objefts enough, and he that is moft de
ftitute, will be competently fupplied, if his richer
brethren do their duty in this refpeft.

IMPROVEMENT.

How peculiarly amiable does the Chriftian liberality of thefe Verfe
Macedonians appear, when confidered as abounding in a great 1,2
trial of affliSiion, and in ihe depth of their poverty ; yet a poverty,
mingled with an abundance of joy, on account of that rich and
happy ftate into which the gofpel had brought them, and the firft-
fruits of that glorious inheritance to which they were entitled by
the tenor of it. They were willing of themfelves to contribute,
even beyond their power, as perfons of common generofity would
have eftimated it. Nor did they on their dying beds repent fuch
a ufe of their property, or wifh that it had been fpent in gratifying
their appetites, or hoarded for thofe they were to leave behind
them. Nor do they now regret thefe liberalities, 01;, complain
that their expefted harveft is perifhed.

e That their abundance. See.] It might
feem ohvious to' objeft, that the Corin
thians were rich and profperous, the
Jews poor and opprefiedj fo that there
was no room to expeft that this Ihould
happen. But it might be replied, " all
*' human aft'airs are uncertain ; Corinth
" itfelf, from great profperity, had been ut-
" terly undone in the Roman war by Mem-
** mius fome time' before; or particular
" perfons might be diftrefl'ed, or the
Vol. IV. G

" whole body of Chriftians there reduced
" by perfecutions, though their city coa-
" tinued to flourilh."
f He that had much, &c.] Perhaps no*
thing could more illuftrate the powerful
agency of the Divine Providence, in events
which'^fecm moft contingent, than this,
that, though Tuch dift'crent quantities of
manna were gathered by diiftrent perfons,
yet on an average there IJiould be an oviee
for each,
g L«t

442 72^ Apoftle bleffetk God far the zeal ef Titus in tUs affair :
Sect. Let US remember their example for imitation ; nor let any,
' who have a mite to fpare, be wholly deficient, how low foever
their circumftances may be ; remembering that gracious compla
cency, ,with which, where there is a willing mind, the fmalleft tri-
. bute to the treafury of God, is accepted according to what a
Verfe man hath, and not according to -what he hath not. To animate us
12 to the moft generous efforts of overflowing benevolence, may we
9 ever bear in our mind that grace of our Lord Jefus Chrifi, of
which we all know fomething, but whi<;h it is jmpoffihle we
fliould ever fully know; heca\iie\tpaff'eth knowledge: that grace
which engaged him, when rich, for our fakes to become poor, i!s\-iX
we might he.inriched by his poverty. What have we that deferves
to be called a poffeffion, which we do not hold by an aft of Divine
bounty and grace ?
Let us confider ourfelves as under indrfpenlable engagements
in confequence of it, to confecrate onr all to him,, confcious that
our all is but a low return for the infinite obligations under which-
he has laid us. He hath contrived and determined, that the poor
in fome form or another we Jhould haye-witb us always, that we
may do them good, as a token of pifr gratitude to him . Let us
5^ faithfully aim to fupply their ne^, and he who hath moft, will
have no fiiperfluity to throw aw^ay upon the I'ufts or vanities of
life; and he ^vho hath leaft, will have no unfupplied lack; but the
poor will rejoice in the relief of their neceffities ; and the rich, in
the happieft and moft defightful ufe of their abundance,
SECT. XIV.
The Apojlle expreffes his joy for the readinefs of Titus to aflift in
fin'ijhing the coll eSt ion ; and fpeaks of the honourable charaSier of
other Chriftian brethren, whom he had joined with him in tbt
fame commiffion. i Cor. VIII, lb, to the' end.
1 CofilNTHIANS VIII, l6. * CoR. VUI. l6,
XlV.- Pf/rwhile.Ifpe^ of this colleftion. which ^""U^^tl'^:.
 ¦*¦' 1 am defirous ot promoting, [/] would [re- the fame earneft care
2 Cor, turri] my humble thanks to God, who gave that into the hcart.«fTi-
^™' fame diligent care for you in the heart of Titus, «i»sforyou,
* and formed him to thefe generous and Chriftian
*7 fentiments. For indeed he not only cheerfully '7 ^""^k'^^^rta-
accepted, and complied with the exhortation 1 t'^nfbut'bein&more
gave him ; but being tnorejorwardthan I thought forward, of his own
to have found him, he went io you freely of his accord he wentunt»
own accord, tiiough he muft fee that fome pref- ^'"''
fing and peculiar difficulties vyould attend the
Undertaking, 4r"f

^th whom he fent alfo Lnkf and Apollgs ;

»8 And we have
fent with him the
trother, whofe praife
is in the gofpel,
throughout all the
churches i

19 (And not iiiat
bnly, but was alfo
thofen of the church
es to travel with us
with this grace,
which is adminiftered
by us to thc glory of
the fame Lord^ and
declaration of your
ready mind : )

20 Avoiding this,
that no man ftiould
blame us in this a-
bundance which is
adminiftered by us ;

21 Providing for
honeft things, not
bnly in the fight of
the Lord, but alfo in
the fight of men.

And we have alio fent together with him, tbat^^^l.'
excellent Chriftian broihet-^ a.nd friend, Luke. ^
%vhofe praife in the gofpel [is] in all the churches, 2 Cor.
on account of the various and eminent fervices VIII.
that he has done for the interefts pf Chriflianity, '*
vvherever his influence has extended, both by
his writing and exhortations; And not enly 19
is he yi •• much efteemed Pn thefe accounts, but
he was alfo ordained and appointed hy the
ftretchmg forth of the hand, in token of the
common confent of the churches; whom we con*-
fuited on this occafion, particularly in Macedo
nia, to be our fellow-traveller, with this grace
which is now adminifiered and undertaken by
us, purely for the glory of ihe fame Lord, and
for [the declaration of] your ready mind, in which
I was defirous to let you know how heartily I -
concur. And we now fend him to you, and I have de- 20
termined to join a man of his excellent charac
ter with me ; carefully avoiding this, thai any
one fhould blame, or throw any refleftion upon
us, for the part we may take in the management
of th'is abundance of your bounty, which is ad-
fninifiered by us ; left any Ihould be fo unjuft and
cruel as to infinuate, that I have appropriated
any part of it to my own ufe, or to any purpofe
whatfoever, differcHt from that for which it was
originally given: Therein providing .things '21
decent, honefl and honourable, not only before the
Lord, to whom it is our firft, and chief care to
approve ourfelves, but alfo before men; that we
may guard as much as poffible, againft any fuf-

a That brother, lei.] Some fuppbfe
this anonymous, though excellent perfon,
to have been Mark, or Silas, or Barna
bas; but I rather, with moft commentators,
¦ fuppofe it to have been Luke, who cer
tainly attended St. Paul in his journey to
Jerufalem. Some objeft, that the brother
ere fpoken of was fent by St, Patil to
Corinth, in company with Titus ; where
as Luke went with St, Paul to Troas, and
from thence to Corinth, Afts xx, 4, 6.
But Dr, Whitby replies, I think with fome
confiderable weight, that it is polfible St,
Paul migbt go from Philippi to Corinth,
and from thence to Troas, and fo perfons
fent befbre t« prepare hia way, qiight

come and bring word to St. Paul that the
colleftioti was ready, and go back with
him to receive it. See Whitby on chap, iik
12, Many ancient Chriftia^ thought that
expreflion, whofe praife itt the gofpel is in
all the churehei, Refers to the univerfal ap«
plaufewith which SI. Luke's gojpel viii
every-where received ; and I have para-
fhrafed it fo as to include that, though
I think thf apoftle's meaning more exten-*
five. See Gurdm at Style's Led. p. 4821
b jSnd mt <mly. ft.] This igtb verfe ia
to be included in a farmtbefti, and the
continued fenfe of verftt \% and 20 will
be, we "bavt Jent tbtt intbtr-'-to avtid
ilam,'ac't. F f 3 (tcioa

4+4

IVhi were deputed by 'fhi churches on this occafion.

StX-T. XIV.

2 Cor.
VlII, 21

23

picion of our charafter, which might hinder our
ufefulnefs. And we have fent with ihem,
that is, with Luke and Titus, our other friend,
and well-beloved brother, Apollos, whom we
•have often pr-oved in many other affairs, to he in
a ¦very extraordinary degree diligent ; but who
will now\^ 1 doubt riot, approve himfelf much
more diligent, and exert himfelf to the utmoft in
carrying on this colleftion, on account of the
great confidence [I have] in you, as to your good
nefs and liberality: on which confideration he
has changed his refolution againft making you a
vifit ; which, while he had any apprehenfion
you might make him an occafion of quarrelling
and contending, he would by no means be per
fuaded to do.
And if [there be any quefiion] concerning Titus,
[he is] my partner and ray fellow-labourer ivith
refpeSi to you; one, who fincerely fhares my
care for you, and is always ready to aft in con
cert with me, in any attempt to correft what is
amifs among you, arid to promote, your improve
ment in real Chriftianity, Or if the queftion be
[concerning] any other of our brethren, ' whom I
have mentioned above, [they are] the meffengers
of the chrrches % whom feveral Chriftian focie
ties have chofen to fend about this bufinefs ; and
they are perfons of fo valuable a charafter, | and]
do fo great a credit to their profeflion, that I may
riot improperly call them the glory of Chrifi in
24,the world. Shew therefore to them, I intreat
you, even in the fight of all ihe churches, to
which they are related, and to whom they will
undoubtedly make their report concerning you,
ihe -demonftration ofi your love, «»;/ the reafona-
bleriefs of our boafting over you ; that it may ap-

22 And we have ^
fent with them our
brother, whom we
have oftentimes pro
ved diligent in niany
things, but now much
more diligent, npon
the great confidence
which / have in yuu.

25 Whether awy (/«
inquire of Titus, be is
my partner, and fel
low-helper concern-
iilg you : or our brea
thren be inquired of,
they are the meffen
gers of the churches,
and the glory of
Chrift. '

24 Whcrcfjire-ftiew
ye to them, and be
fore the churches,
the proof of your
love, and of our
boafting on your be
half.

V- c The mt-ff'cngers of thc churches.] ^ can
-think of nothing irtve unreafonable, than
.to tranllate this word, apojiles-, r.s tli^e
Etigl'ifh -vJoxi'apoftles, is now by long ufe
appropriated to what is only a Iignification
of tlie original. As an apoftle of Jejus
Chr'ft.-is one fent forth by him, fo an
-.apoftle of any church muft furely fignify,
one fent forth by that.jociety. And if I be
lieved that.th^rt^ was fo early as at this time
a«iin'i^cr in gvcrj;^ chinch, fuperior to a
common paftor, which the moil .able ad-
: / 6

.vocates for D'locejan epijcopacy (eem not ge
nerally to think, I could not imagine it
confiftent with the dignity and importance
of their office, that they ftiould be parted
with on fuch an errand, which any com
mon deacon might with fufficient propriety
have performed. It is indeed true, that
St. Paul was charged with this truft ; but
then it feems to have been after he had
determined on this journey to Jerufalem,
and not to have b;cn the .occafion of that

journey.

pear

RefteSlions on St. Paul's caitfian in managing the colleSiion. 445
pear to me as well founded as I affuredly beheve Sect-
that it is, ^iv.

IMPROVEMENT.
The tendernefs of minifters, in all points, where the comfort
and edification of the church is concerned, is indeed matter of
the higheft moment ; and where it is remarkable in its degree,
it affords juft caufe of thankfgivings to God: for it is he whoVer,i5
puis into their hearts thai earneft care, wlw excites and maintains
every fentiment of benevolence, when they offer themfelves wil
lingly to any generous and charitable fervice. It js grace that 17
has communicated whatever good is done ; and it ought to be
afcribed to the glory of the fame Lord irom whom it comes ; and
it lofes much of its value. If it be not direfted to this ultimate,
this fupreme end.
When the Corinthians defired to depofit their al ins in the hands
of St, Paul, they certainly afted a very -wife part ; as no man liv,-
ing could have rendered therri more fecure, as to the fidelity or
the difcretion of the diftribiition. Yet we fee, that high as the
if/i2/?/^V charafter ftood, and though he had fo often given, arid 2?
Vas daily renewing, fuch ftriking. demonftrations both of his wif-
dotn and integrity ;' yet he wpuld not undertake the trpft ahne,
but ufed all proper methods to approve his exaftnefs in the ma
nagement thereof, eyen to .ftrangers ; providmg thinp honeft and 2t
laudable, not only in the ftght of God, but of all men.
JVIay minifters be often thus employed, as the almoners of perfons
richer than themfelves, (as their readinefs to Kelp the poor in their
temporal a^arn, may greatly promotetheir ufefulnefs m fpirituals ;)¦
and may they be found to manage 'their truft .with the like con-
fcidus and delicate honour. May they fliow a difpofition, like
that oiSi. Paul, to affift in eftablifhing and advancing the charac-
lers.of their );««/7ffr brethren, and introducing them into efteem 23,
and confidence. Thus will they indeed moft' effeftually ftrengthen
their own hands, and edify and comfort the churches ; will prove
the glory' of Chrift themfelves in the prefent age, and be the means
of raifing up others, who may eminently deferve that flluftrioust
titl^j in fucceeding generations.

SECT. XV.
TIjc Apoftle goes on, wiih'adtfiirable addrefs, farther to, iirge their
> Uberal contribution.-, atid 'in the full expeSiation of it, afifec-
G g 3 tianaiely

446 T^e Apoftle profeffes his tenfidence in their readinefs i
tioniitely recommends them to the Diyine bleffing. 2 Cor, IX. i,
throughout. ¦..¦•-
2 CORIN^fHlANS IX. I. 2 Cor, IX, i,
Sj"' AfOf^ concerning the miniflration mtevded to F^^^ ^.^.^.f -^
¦ "*¦ ^ relieve the neceffities of ihe faints, or be- the faiius, it is fu.
a Cor. lieving brethren in Judea, it is fuperfluous thai I perfluous for me to
IX. I Jhould write largely io yoti, in order tp perfuade '^"'^ ^"^ •
you to the thing itfelf: it is fufficient, that I give
you a tranfient hint concerning \he time and
manner of doing what is neceffary or proper on ^ ^^^ j j^^^^ ^j^
2 this pccafion. For I have knoivn in former forw-irdnci's of your
inftances, and have now again learnt from Ti- ™''"'i> ''»'¦ which i
tus y.«r extraordinary readinefs ori this head; ^rMlllLVtU
which I indeed boaft concerning yoti to the Mace- Achaia was ready a
donians, that all the region of Achaia, and par- year ago; an4yoi^r
ticularly your church in its capital cit);, has been ^f^^^ ''"^'"'1
prepared a year ago ; anti your zeal in this re- ¦ ' '
fpeft hath quickened many others tp imitate your
example, and do more generoufly tban perhaps
3 they might otherwife have done. Neverthe- 3 yet have J knt,
lefs, I have fent unto you ih( brethren \ merition- fhetblreairen, left ouf
ed before; left our boafling of you on this head, hoaftingof you ftall
., . 7 /•¦'.J •' ° -' ^,, r , . ' be in vaiij m this be.
that, as I faid, ye wer.e prepared X)e]ore, having half •. that, as I faidl
made up your inm, Jhould, by any Occident vyhich ye may be ready :
might have prevented your accomplifliing the
whole of your defign, in any degree be made 4 Left haply i(
A vain, and appear ill-grounded: " ' Left if any ^'''V "L'*^!?'^''""'?
01 the Jnacedontans happett to come with me^ and gnj yob u'nprepared;
after all, find you unprepared, the irioney ¦vvhich we (that we fay notj
has been fubfcribed not being aftually collefted, vO. Aould be alhamJ
r /T J . J /- 7/- • ' , ¦ ed in this fame con.
ipe may be ajhamed, mi to Jay you aljo, tn this con- gacnt boafting,
fiderit boafting we haye ufed concerning you, and '
which may recoil in a very unhappy maniier, if , J, Therefore I
5 it be not anfwered Therefor^ I thought it «o« thTl"!
neceffary to exhort the brethren Ih^vtTCienihaeA, thren, that they
thai they Jhould come io you fome ^jme before would go before un-
mv arrival, -ccttd fiiould firft complete your; bounty ^^ ^^X^ "fu"
wbtcti has been J-poken ofi bejore^ fo largely to bounty, whereof ye
^hem ; ihat fo on the whole, it may be entirely had notice before,
¦ '¦'¦'' \ that the fame roigh( be
. a four bounty which has been fpohn of were, wrung from 'eoyetoufnefs, by fuch
before,] We render WfoxalnyyfXiu.sviiv obft'inaey as covetous people themfelvej
whereof ye had notice before. But I fup- ufe where their own gain is concerned ;
pofe it refers tb StJ Paul's having fpoken Uni thus it is oppofrf to suxoj/ia, what
(bf it to the Utacedenian ChriftlaHs, verfe 1. is readily . given, and cohxes, as it were,
• — I think nrxun^ite here fignifies a kind With a blMng, '

bt extortion, by which money is, as it

ready^

Tet reminds tfietn, that God loveth a chearful giver :

4+7

be -ready, as a matter
ff bounty, and not
;is ef covetoufncfs.
6 But this J fay.
He which foweth
fparingly, ftiall reap
alfo fparingly; and
he which foweth
bjiuntifully fliall reap
a^fo bountifully.

7 Every man ac-
icording as he pur-
fofethinhis heart, A
let him g'l-ve -, not
grudgingly, or of ne
celfity : for God lo-
yetti a cheet;f\il giver.

.€ And God is able
to make all grace a-
bound towards you ;
that ye alwayshaving
jl'l fufficiency in all
things, may abound
to every good work.

9 (As it is w^-it,-
ten, He hath dif-
-perfed abroad j he
hath given to the
poor ; his righteouf
nefs remaineth for

JO Now he that mi-

ready, and may appear, as what I doubt not but Sict,
it is, the effeft of^ free and chearful bounty, and ^^'
not look like a font of extortion, wrung from
you by mere dint of importunity. And as to
this, it is an important maxim, which I could
wifli that Chriftians might always keep in mind.
That he who foweth fparingly, JhaU reap alfo fpa
ringly ; and he who foweth bountifully, JhaU reap
alfo bountifully : God will beftow rewards, pro
portionable to what is given, and to the temper
from which it proceeds. With this hint, I leave
it to every one to judge for himfelf, what he fhall
give, and how much feed he fhall throw into
this grateful and fruitful foil. y
Whatever it be, more or lefs, let it be given 7
with a good will, and a good- grace : every man
as he choofeth in his own heart, not as proceeding
from griefior neceffity, as if he were forry to part
with his money, and were laid under a kind of
conftraint to do it : for God loveth a chearful
giver: and nothing that is contributed, can
fiofl!ibly be acceptable to him without that truely
iberal difpofition.
And left you fhould fear, that your charity 8
fhould bring you into wants and ftraits, I intreat
you to confider, that God [is] able to make alp
grace anA bounty of every kind^ abound towards
you ^, fo that all your liberality fhall accrue to'
your advantage, and you fhall be fuppjied with
abundant matter for future charity ; thai having
always all fuffciency in all things, ye may go on
with new enlargement and vigour of generous
refolution, to abound to every good work, without
finding your circumftances ftraitened. As ii g
is written of the truely - liberal and charitable
man, (Pfal. cxii. 9,) He hath difperfed, he hath
given io the poor, and in confequence of this,
his righteoufnefs endureth for ever: Re fhall al
ways have fomething to beftow.
We obferve, in the courfe of Diyine Provi- 10
dence, that God bleffeth the increafe of the earth
fo largely, as to fuffice for the plentifiil nourifh-

b All grace to abound. Sec] Some, by Jive fenfe I have given it, prevents that
X'^fX, underftand fuch liberal providen- appearance of a tautology in the following
tial /»«*/;« as fliould furnifli out matter claufe, which plight on that limited inter-
of future liberaUties ; but thc mote exten- pretation be afprehenjied.

Ff4

ment

4^8- For liberality is an inftance offubjeSlisn to the gofpel.
SscT. ment of men, with a remainder of feed fuffi-
 '_ cient to furnifh the harveft of future years. And
2 Cor. may he, who thusfupplieth feed io ihe fower, and
IX, IO bread far fiood, fupply, and multiply your fowing %
and largely increafe the produSiions of your right
eoufnefs : , may he fo profper you in all your af
fairs, that you may have future capacity to ex
ercife that fiberal difpofition which at prefent
1 1 appears in this contribution. And I heartily
wilh, and pray, thatyou may go on in this laud
able and exemplary courfe, being in every thing
enriched to all future bounty to be diftributed in
,xhe fimplicity of your hearts, with a fingle eye
to the glory of God, and the good of your bre
thren : which, in the inftance wherein it has al
ready prevailed, worketh by our means thankf
givings towards God, both in us who are your
almoners to diftribute it, and in thofe indigent
12 Chriftians who receive it. For ihe miniftra
tion and management of this fervice **, which
we have undertaken, and in which we do, as it
were, officiate for you in the prefentation of this
acceptable offering doth not only fupply the ne
ceffties of ihe faints, but aboundeth, through ihe
thankfgivings of many which it occafions, to the
J 3 glory of God: (jfmany, I fay. Who by the
experience of this miniftration, this generous
contribution, arf glorifying God on account of
that fubjeSiion to ihe gofpel of Chrift which you
profefs ", and the fimplicity and liberality of your
communication towards them, and towards all
others, who are in neceflity, and whom you
14 have an opportunity of relieving. Arid 'Vihii}te
they thus glorify God on your account, they
are conftant and fervent in their prayers for you,
who long after you \ a,nA. wifli earneftly to fee
and

miniftcreth feed ta
the fower, both mi
nifter bread for your
food, and multiply
your (eed fown, and
increafe the fruits of
your righteoufnefs;) '

II Being enriched
Jn every thing "to all
bountifulnefs, which
caufeth through us
thankfghring to God.

II But the admiJ
niftration of the fer
vice, not only fup-
plieth the wants of
the faints, but is a-
bundant alfo by "ma
ny thankfgivings un
to God i ¦
13 (Whiles by the
experiment of this
miniftration they glo
rify God for your
profeft'ed fubjeftion
unto the gofpel of
Chrift, and for your
liberal diftribution
unto them, and unto
all men ;)
14 And by,'their
prater for you, which
long after you for
the

c 'He who fuppl'ietb — bread for food, fup
ply ar.d multiply,' &.e.] This tranfiation is
. exadlly literal, and gives an eafier fenfe
than our Englijh verlion. There ihould
be a comma, as Beza juftly obferves, after
£.c Bp-'-riv, agreeably to the rendering of
the Syriac and Arabic, See Beza in loc,
q-id lf''olf. who refers to Ifa. Iv. 10.
i -This fervice.] This ufe cf the word
/ '.irnfi-ix intimates, that it was to be con
fidered, not merely as an aft of hum.ar.ity,
but of rel'i^ion, moft pleafing to God,

d'lffenjatiom Compare Heb, xiii, 16.
e.That fubjeftion to the gojpel of Chrift
luhich you profefs.] Etti th u-itcla.-yn T'n^
ofjLoT.e/sa.t vfxdi'j £(? TO ivay-ysXio-.', exprefl'es
not merely a profeft'ed jubjeflion to the
gojpel,- hat a rM/fubjeiJ^n to. the gojpel
which v.'ss profejjed ; which fenfe I thought
it necefl'ary to preferve by a change in the
verfton. f And in their prayers, S:c.] The con
ftruftion of the original is fomething'
perplexed h'ere ; and ihdeed I hardly know
any te.-tt in the Greek Tejhii:;iit which ib

RefleSiions en the foregoing exhertations io liberality. 449
SGod?n'*''o"u^ S"" and know you, on account of ihe exceeding grace ^^'^r.
JOU. ^ God which is in you, and which produces fruits ^^'
15 Thanks be un- ^o|\'ghly Ornamental to Chriftianity. ' ^cor.
to God for his un- When I tliink of thefe things, I defire fin- IX. 3.
fjieakabie gift. cerely to blefs God on your account, for all the
grace he hath given you, and for all the ufeful
nefs with which he is pleafed to Konour you.
But I would trace up all to what is indeed the
fountain of all his other mercies to us, his hav
ing beftowed upon us his.dear and only begotten
Son. Thanks daily and everlafting thanks, [be]
afcribed io our Father and our God, for that his
unutterable gift ^, of the excellence, importance,
and grace, of which neither men or angels can
worthily fpeak, or conceive.

IMPROVEMENT,
, Happy fliall we be, if we learn this pious and evangelical turn
of thought ; if by all the other gifts of God we are thus led
up to the firft and. greateft gift of his love and mercy. From that Verfe
furely we may encourage oUr hopes, of whatever elfe is" neceffary 15
and defirable ; for he thai fpared not his Son, but delivered him up for
us aU, how is it poffible, that he fhould not be ready, with him,
freely to give us all things that are truly good for us !
Let us obferve with pleafure the happy addrefs of the apofile ; 2
¦ a felicity, not the refult of craft, but of that amiable temj^er that
was fo natural to him. He pleads the high' opinion he had enter
tained of his Corinthian friends, the honourable things he had faid 15
of them ; expreffing his perfuafion of their readinefs to give as
matter of bounty, not of confiraint. .He leads them to the inex-
hauftible ftore of the Divine liberality, from which they had re-
js more fo. But on the whole, I am. % Unutterable gift.] If we underftand
ready to prefer the reading of J-jfaf o-.liv, this with Dr. Whitby, in the foHowing
inftead of J»faJ»l£;, (which Chryfoftom fenfe, "I adore God for this tharitable
followed;) and fuppofe both Jojafoviiuv " reOT/«r in you, and other fincere Chrif-
and eTTiTro&tfvl-t'i, to agree with -sro^Xs-., *' tians, hy which God is^lorified, the
and then the fentence might be rendered, " gofpel adorned, the poor faints arere-
t h'ls miniftration produces an abundance of •* freflied, and you fitted for an exceeding
tbankjgi-p'mg to God from many, who glori- *< great reward,"— It will be as re;?ij?-i(2j/e
fy him for your fubjeSiion to the gofpel, S^C. a text as moft in the bible, to fliow, that
and in their prayer, that is, while they r-ucry good affeftion inthe human heart is
are praying, /or _yo«, earnefily deftre to fee to be afcribed to a i>j't;iffe influence. , 1
J/ou, See, But tiie paraphraje here, as in have therefore included this in the ^wrs-
feveral other places, hath obliged me to ^ir/»/!r ; but am ready to think the u^j^e'i
break the fentence ; which I more readily mind, to which the idea of the invaluablfc
did, as amidft .this perplexity of grammar ^i/r of Chrift was fo familiar, rather by a
the defign of the fentence is fcrfeitly ftrong and natural tranfition, glanced on
flain. tbal^ ceived

45<i T'hje Apoftle exhofts them by the meeknefs of Chrift,
Sect, ccived their prefent all; from vvhich he wifhes they may receive
¦ more and mpre ; and this, not that thefe fupplies might be igno-
•' ¦"" bly confumed in felf-gratifications, but employed in aSis ofi the
'^' '^o nobleft beneficence. He jceprefents il,o th^m the ihankfigivings it
/' had already occafioned to God, the r^^^/^wi/w/ it adminiftered lo
9-.'^-^the faints, the honour it did to their charafter- and profeflion, and
13 the efieem and friendfhip for them which it excited in the minds
of thofe, who, tho' unacquainted with them, were well affeded
towards their happinefs, in confequence of this honourable fpeci
men of their charafter. Who could withftand the force of fuch
oratory ? No doubt it was effeftual to cultivate the temper it ap
plauded, and to add a rich abundance tp the fruits of their righte
oufnefs. '
Let us apply thefe thon^ts fuggefted for our own inftruftion, to
n excite us to abound in afts' of UberaUty, and to prefent them to
God with that cheerfulnefs which he loves; To him let us con
tinually look, to mak,e all grace abound unto 145 ; and feek a/w/-
^ ficiency in all things relating to the prefent life, chiefly that we
may be ready to every good work ; that our liberality may ftill en-
9 dure, and t,nat the multiplication of our feed fofvn may 'increafe the
fruits of our righteoufnefs . To Gpd be the praife of all afcribed 1
10 He minifiers feect to the fiower ; he fupplies bread for food ; he calls
up the bleffings of harveft ; he infures the advantages of commerce.
May we praife him ourfelyes ; and by the ready communication of
the good things which he hath given us. to thofe that want, not
1 1 only fupply their neceffties, but give thejiii caufe to abound itf
thankfgiving to God, as well as in prayer for us, while they fee iind
acknowledge that exceeding grace, which js the fpring of every
generous motion in the hupan heart ; and to wh.ich therefore be
the glory of all,
SECT. XVI.
$ome refleSiions having heen thrown on the Apoftle for. the mildnefs
of his cond-uSl, as tf It proceeded from fear, he here proceeds to
affert his apoftolical power and authority ; cautioning his oppo
nents, that they Jhould not urge him to give too fienfitble demon,'
ftrations of it upon themfelves. 2 Cor. X. I, throughout.

2 Corinthiaks X, I, 2CoR,X,
I r felf

Have juft now been expreffing my confi- IN

dence and jpy in your church in general, as
well as my affeftion to it : but I am fenfible
there are fome among you to whom I cannot
fpeak in fuch a manner; and with regard to fuch,
/ Payd myfelf, the very man whom they have fo

being abfent am bold
toward you

7. Cor,
X.i.

pot to give him occafion ef emuting his authority : 45^
bfthe m«knefs''a°nd T^.^^*^" ^P°''^" °^ ^'^^ Contempt and defiance, Sect,
genUenefs of Chrift, mjured as 'I am, do yet condefcend to intreat you, ^^'^-
¦Who in prefence am by the tneeknefs and gentlenefs of Chrifi, our con-
^L:'^Zr:^yl defcending and companionate Saviour, \hat
meeknels' and gentlenefs which I have learne4
from his example, and defir^ to exercife towards
the moft unreafonable of my enemies ; even I^
who [am] according to your repreferttation, and
with refpedt to my perfon, yihen prefknt , humble
among you % and defpifed for the mieannefs of
jny appearance, ' but being abfent, am bold to.
wards you, and ufe fo much freedom and au
thority in my letters ; However I maybe re- a
flefted upon, and even infulted on this account ;
prefent, with that I hefeech you, I fay, as you love yourfelves, and
eonfidenctwberewith tender your own comfort and happinefs, that I
I think to be bold „ / ; r ., . /• ' , , i. ¦ ,
againft fome which may not, when I am next prefent, be obliged by
ihink of us as if we your Continued irregularity to be bold, with that
confidence on which truly / think to prefume with
refpeSi to fome, who account of us as perfons
walking in the flejh, and affeft at leaft to talk,
though they have fo little ^xcufe for doing it, as
if vye governed ourfelves by Iqw and mercenary
views. For we are confcious to ourfelves, 3
that though we<\o indeed walk in the flejh, thou^
we inhabit mortal bodies, and are obliged in
fome refpefts to ftoop to the care of them, and
to do many things for their fubfiftence, which
take up the time we could rmich more agreeably
fpend another way ; yet God knows, we do not
pianage that important war in which we are en
gaged, according io ihe flejh, by carnal methods,
or with worldly and interefted views'". This 4
you may eafily perceive, by the manner in which ,
we are armed ; for the weapons of our warfare
[are] not carnal : as we depend not on military
force, fo neither on beauty, ftature^,, eloquence

f But I befeeph
you, that X may hot
De bold when I

walked according
tlie flelji.

3 For though we
v^alkin the flefli, we
90 not war after the
iftelh:

4 (For the we?-
eohs of our warfare
tre not carnal, but
mighty

a Wher. prefent, am humble afnong you.]
Probably they had upbraided, and refleft
ed upon him, in fome fuch language as
'this; but there was a fenfe in which he
was indeed- Ivwly among them, his pre
fence probably, having nothing majeftic.
b Though ive walk in the Jlejh, Sec.]
Mr, Cradock explains this fomething dif-
ferently, " Though we are hot free from
a mixture of human infirmities, yet I do

" not exercife my apoftolical power in a
" weak manner, as either fearing or flat-
" tering men ; but ufe fuch fpiritual
" weapons, as Chriftian fortitude, zeal,
" freedorh in fpealdng the truths of
" God, and courage in admimfterihg
" the cenfures of the Church, which
" through Divine concurrence are very
" effeftual," or

45'2 Since he coield avenge all difobedience in a miraculous way ;
Sr-cT, or philofophy, or i,n a word, on any thing which mighty through God
_f^ might recommend -us , to human regard; but offc^ng^hHyf .f"""
a. Cor, /(^iflw.^^ deftitute of' thefe, we are furnifhed with ''
X. 4- others much more valuable, by that Divine
power, which would never exert itfelf for the
fecular ''advantage of perfons, profeffing, as we.
do, to defpife the world, and feek for fomething.
fo much above it, if we were not fincere in
our profeffion, and authorifed by him to main
tain it. Yes, my brethren, God hath armed us
for our warfare, by the miraculous, powers of his
Holy Spirit ; and they are mighty through God
to the demolifhing fortifications ; prejudices, and
difficulties, that like fo many impregnable caftles,
lay in our way, and yet are battered down, and
laid in, ruins, by thefe our fpiritual. weapons.
5 And thus we go on in our conqueft ; for we are . 5 . Calling down.
continually cafiing down, the fallacious and fo- ™ry'lfigrthingthat'
¦p'hiiKizaX reafonings by which vain men are en- exaiteth itfelf againft
deavouring to expofe our doftrine to contempt, 'he knowledge of
' andeve,-y high thing which exaiteth itfelf againfi '^f^' ./^ititfrrl
the knowledge of God, all the proud imaginations thought to theobedil
which I'nen have entertained of themfelves with ence of Chrift;
regard to their natural or moral excellencies, in
confequence of which they negleft the gofpel,
and are indeed ready to live without God in the
world. And thus we are enabled to bring every
thought, every proud haughty notion, which
raen have entertained, into an huihble and wil
ling captivity ^ to the obedience of Chrift, the
6 great Captain of our falvation. Aijd as Gqd 6 And having in a
is pleafed thus to caufe us to triumph in Chrift, readinefs to revenge
.with regard to tfee oppofition made by the pro- yl^;tbedienceirfr,
, feffed enemies of the gofpel, fo let .men regard fiiK-d.
tis, as. perfons Raving it in reftdmefs, by miracu
lous powers and penalties inftifted by them, to
mienge all difiobedience, tq ebaftife and punifli
the obftinacy of thofe who under a Chriftian
profeffion pretend to oppofe us ; 'now your obe
dience is; fulfilled, and the founder part of your
church recovered to its due order and fnbjeftion.
e-EfiCfy thought 'into- captivity.] .jThe leiged as abf lute mafter. The former
foul, feeing its fortifications demoliflicd, claufe (hows how ready men are to fortify
f-jhrtiits tothe conjucrorj and then every themfelves agai,iift it, and to.taife, as it
tbtitight, every reafoning, takes law fro^^ were, one fajuricr behind another, to pb-
hiro. Nothing is admitted that contra- ftruii; his cntcrance into the foul. Com-
aiflts the gofpel-, Chrift being acknow. p^re ftom. xv, i8, 19.
¦ ' ' This

Chrift's, let him of
himfelf think this a-
gain,. that as - hc is
Chrift's, even fo are
we Chrift's.

. S For though I
fliould boaft fome-
what more of our au
thori

md if there were need, would aft with the fpirit he had wrote, 453
tliil s'^aftfrth^our' This Is indeed the cafe, and I befeech you to Sect.
warTappe'a"ance Tlf coufider it asjt is. Do you look at the outward _^]2l'
anyman truft to appearance of things P Do you judge of a man 2 Cor.
him/elf, that he is by his perfon. Or addrefs, or, by any one parti- X. 7.
cular of his life ? Surely you ought not to do it.
If any man be confident in himfelf, that he is
ChrijVsy let him again bethink himfelfi of. this,
which he will fee evident reafon to acknowledge,
if he candidly and ferioufly examine, thai as he
[is] Chrift's, Jo we alfo [are] Chrift's ; nor can
any one produce more convincing proofs of
Chrift's calling him to the miniftry, and ap
proving his difcharge of it, than myfelf. For 8
if I Jhould boctft fiomething yet more, abundantly
ty, (which the morc than I have ever yet done concerning our
Lord hath given us gpoftolical authority, which I am fenfible the
tor edincation, and r > ; ; ¦ j- i ¦ ,•/•¦
not for your deftruc- 'l-ord hath - gtvfn US for the edification ot the"
tion,) I fliould not be chu'rch, and iiot fior yoUr deftruSiion, or the in-
'""¦-"-'¦ jury of ahy particular perfon, I Jhould not have
any reafon to be ajhamed, having already ufed it
in a'manner agreeable to its defign.
And this I fay, that I may not feem as if I ()
would by any means terrify you with my epiftles,
threatening morc than I can perform ; on the
contrary, 1 might pretend to much more than I
have done, and to execute, if need fhould re- ,
quire it, much greater feverities in a way 'of mi-
lo ForjAi's letters raculous punilhment''. And the hint is ne- jq
(faythey)<3«weighty ceffary ; for 1 know there are fome among you
!"\ P.7'^'''"'' ''"' that would reprefent matters quite in a different
Ah bodily prelence is .' rrr- i -n, r •? r n • , ,
weak, and Ail fpeech hght, [His] epiftles. Jay they, [are] indeed
contemptible. weighty and ftrong, but \ his] bodily prefence [is]
weak, ctiid\Jiis] fpeech defpicabW ; for which in-
II Letfuch an one deed they have fome excufe, as to my perfon, and 1 1
think this, that fuch the difadvantage attending my Utterance. But
as we are in word by y f^^h an one~, whoever he be, reckon upon this
letters when we are -' ¦ r r\ .1 . r i - j i
abfent, fuch will we ^s a Certain faft, that fuch as we-are in word by
he our letters, when abfent, fuch [fhall*We be] alfo

afliamed :

_ , 9 That I" may not
feem as if I would
terrify you by letters.

i Miraculous punilhment.] It is to be
. remembered it vras before this time that
the apoftle had fmitten Elymas with blind
nefs ; and it is highly probable from this
, rexf, and.others of the like nature, that
fome other miracles of this aweful kind had
been wrought by him, though they are
not recorded in fcripture.
e Speech defpicable.] Chryfoftom, Ni
cephorus, and tutian, or rather the au-

thor of the Pliilopatris, relate of St. Paul,
that his ftature was low, his body crooked,
and his head bald ; -Ahich feem to be
the infirmities here referred to. Some
think he had alfo an 'impediment in his
fpeech ; but I do not recolleft any ancient
teftimony to that ; though it is not im
probable. Compare chap, xii. 7. and the
ntite there,
when

For he again intimates, ihat he would come to them.

when prefent, inaSiion; our deeds, will fully cor-
refpond to our words, ind we fhall do fomething
to vindicate thefe pretences, if their fpeedy re
formation do not prevent.
For we prefume not io ritimber, or io compare
ourfelves with fome who recommend themfelves in
very high terrris ; but ihey thus meafuring them
felves by themfelves, and comparing themfelves
with ihemfelves ^, while they proudly overlook
the greatly fuperior charafters and furnittire of
others, are not wife, nor do they indeed take
the moft effeftual meafures to raife their own
charafter ; but on the contrary, in confequence
of this, fall into many abfurdities of behaviour
from which greater impartiality and modefty,
and a better knowledge of men and things would
fecure them. But ive are always careful, that
we glory not of a diftinguifhed zeal for the gof
pel canying us beyond [our] bounds, hut only ac
cording to the meafure of ihe rule which God hath
diftributed to us under the charafter of Apoftle
of the Gentiles, a meafure io come even unto
you : and accordingly we have regularly and
gradually advanced towards you, taking inter-
x4 mediate places in our way. For we do not
extend ourfelves exceffively, as not regularly com
ing io you; like fome who run abruptly from one
church to another, leaving their work unfiniflied
behind them, when they think they have difco
vered a place where they can meet with a more
pleafant and agreeable reception. For, as I ob
ferved before, we are by a regular progrefs, come
even unto you in the gofpel of Chrifl, having
faithfully preached in the other places that lay

13

he alfo in deed wheii
we are prefent;

12 For we dare,
not make ourfelves of^
the number, or com.
pare ourfelves with
fome that commend
themfelves: butthey;
meafuring themfelves
by themfelves, and
comparing them
felves amongft them
felves-, arenotwifcii

. ijSutwe will not
boaft of things with
out our mealfure, but
accdrding to the mea. .
fure of the rule which
God hath diftributed
to us, a meafure to
reach even unto you.

14 For we ftretch
not ourfelves beyond
our meajure, as
though we reached
not unto you; for we
iie come as far as to
you alfo, in preaching
the gofpel of Chrift :

r Meafur'mg themfelves by themjelves :
EV eailloir em1»c jue'IjuvIsc,] Dr. 'Whitby
would render it, meafuring themfelves by
one another ; as if they compared them
felves with the'it falfe apoftles, and grew
proud on the degree in which they refem-
bled them in acutenefs and eloquence, or
other things on which thofe deceitful
teachers valued themfelves. But it is
inore natural to think, that the meaning
is, " they looked continually on riem/e/ii«,
**. furveying their own great imaginary
" furniture, but not confidering the vaftly
*' fuperior abilities of many others ; and
' " fo formed a difproportionate opinion of

" themfelves." And this is every-where;
one of the greateft fources of pride. Bos
has taken great pains to prove, that to
meafure on^elf by oneplf, is a phrafe
which exprell'es modefty, and making a
right eftimate of ourfelves and others ;
and taking m-natri-i not for a verb, but
for the dat'svc of a participle, would
render it, we meafure ourfelves by our
felves, and compare ourfelves with our
felves, not with the wife, that is, ironically,
not with fuch wife men as thefe. But
though this fenfe be ingenioufly defended-
by that- great critic, the other feems moft
natural, in

He deftred te preach the gofipel in the regions l^yond therh, 455^

15 Not boafting of
things without our
meafure, that is, of
«ther mens labours ;
but having hope,
when your faith is
increafed, that we
fliall be enlarged by
you according to out
rule abundantly.

lb To preach the
gofpel in the reghns
beyond you, and not
to boaft in another
man's line, of things
made ready to our
hand.

17 Buthe that glo
rieth, let him glory
in the Lord.

18 For not he that
commendcth himfelf
is approved, but
whom the Lord com-
nendeth.

2 Cor.>
X. IS

I&

in our way : Not like thofe, whom I. have Sect.
had fo much reafon to complain of, boafting un- ^^^
meafurably, or /'» things beyond my proper mea
fure, not intruding into churches planted by the
labours of others, where we have no natural anc
proper call ; but having an agreeable hope, [that
when our faith is increafed, as we truft it wil
abundantly be, even by the experience of what
has lately happened, we JhaU, according to our
rule, and the conftant maxim we lay down to
ourfelves, be -magnified by youfo as to abound yet
more, that is, ihall by your countenance and
affiftance, be enabled to keep on our courfes
beyond your country into Arcadia, and Laceda:-
mon, or whitherfoever elfe Providence may lead
us. For this is greatly in our hearts, if God
(hall fmile upon our purpofe, io preach ihe gof
pel in ihe regions beyond you ^, [and] not to boaft
in another man's province '', nor rule in things
made ready to our hand ; as fome who are very
folicitous about their own eafe affeft to do, and
then pride themfelves in fowing the ground
which others have cleared. Bui after all, he
thai boafteth, whether it be of planting or wa
tering churches, let him boaft not in himfelf,
but in the power and aflSftance of ihe Lord
alone, let every minifter remember it is to
Chrift that he owes alibis ability for his work,
and all his fuccefs in it. For not he that' com-
mendeth himfelf with the greateft confidence, and
in the moft florid manner, is truly and juftly
approved ; but he whom ihe Lord commendeth by
the gifts of his Spirit, and by a bleffing on his
miniftry. Let thofe therefore, who a're fo ready
to applaud themfelves and each other, think

17

iS

g In the Iregions beyond yout] It would
certainly have been a great pleafure to the
apoftle to have gone on to Arcadia, and
Lacedxmon, and to have profelyted thofe
to the gofpel who had been fo long cele
brated; in the latter of thefe places, for
their valour and magnanimly ; and in the
former, for their wit and poetry in thbfe
agreeable and rural retreats. But we do
not read any thing in the New Teftament,
of planting Chriftian chitrches'iti thefe parts
of the Pelopennefus,
b Another man's province, «:e,] The
apoftle did indeed go to places already

converted, to confirm and eftablifli his
brethren in the faith; (but this was
chiefiy where he had himfelf planted
churches, though he might take fome
others in his way ; which it would have
been affeftation and difrefpeft, rather than
modefty to have avoided, Buthe did no):
boaft in churches thus vifited, as if he
were the founder of them ; as ijfii oppo
fers probably did, pouring contempt on
St, Paul's labours ; as if they were hardly
to be called Chriftian churches, which he
had left, as they pretended, in fo unform
ed and unfinifhcd a ftate. of

456 RefleSiions on the meeknefs which becomes minifters:
Sect, of this, and learn to be more folicitous thaii they /
•'^ are, about approving their fidelity to their great
2 Cor. Mafter, whether they be more or lefs regarded by ,
X. 18 their fellow fervants. IMPROVEMENT.'
"Ver. I. May the meeknefs and gentlenefs of Chrift ever he rtmemhered
by all his fervants , and efpecially by his minifters, to whom,
both under their pubiick and private charafters it will be of fo
great importance to imitate it., Their calling is indeed high and
holy : let their behaviour in it be fo much the more humble.
2 And let it be their great care, that while they walk i.i ihe flejh,
they do not war after 'tt. Still, though difarmed of that miracu
lous power with which the apoflles were endowed, are the weapons
A of their warfare mighty. They have the fcripture- magazine ever
at hand, from whence they may be furnifhed with them ; and rnay
humbly hope, that the Spirit of God will render them effeftual
to the pulling down flrong holds, and abafing every proud Imagi-
c nation which exaiteth itfelf againft the obedience of God. May every
thought of their own hearts be in the firft place thus fubdued, and
brought into a fweet and willing captivity I So fhall thefe their
captives, thus conquered, prove as fo many faithful foldiers to
fight for him, againft whom they once were foolifhly rebelling.
And may they fucceed in this holy war, till the empire of our Di
vine Mafter become univerfal, and the happinefs of mankind uni
verfal with it !
To promote this, let us pray, that minifters may always re
member, that whatever authority they have given them, is for
•7.1 1 edification, and not for deftruSiion ; and may learn from that mo-
deration with which the apoftle ufed his miraculous powers, in
how gentle anA candid a manner they fhould behave themfelves
in their far inferior ftations ; never making their 'pre-eminence in
the church the inftrument of their own refentment, or of any other
iinful or felfifh paffion ; but ever folicitous to fubferve the intereft
of our great Lord in all, and defirous to keep up their own charac
ter and influence, chiefly for his fake.
12-16 May they in no inftance boaft beyond their proper meafure ; ani
while they are ready, iikeSi, Paul, to meet all the moft laborious
fcenes of fervice, let them glory not in themfelves, but iri tbe Lord.
This is a leffon weare all to learn. And whatever our ftations in
life are, let us refolutely and conftantly giiard againft thati-fielfi-fiat-
17,18 fery by which we may be ready to commend ourfelves, in inftances in
' which we may be leaft approved by him, whole favour alone is wor
thy of our ambition, and by whofe judgement, in tbe day of final
account, we muR ftand or faU.
SECT.

The Apoftle declares he was jealous over the Corinthians, 457
¦SECT. XVII.
The Apoftle farther vindicates himfelf, from ihe perverfe infinua
tions of them that oppofed him at Corinth ; particularly on the
head of his having decUned to receive a contribution from this
church, for his maintenance. 2 Cor, XI, i — 15.
•VJAOULD^^o'cod 2 Corinthians XI, I, . ^^^^
^ you could bear T Would advife every man, as I have hinted, x'\^li,'
withme a little inmjr to be fpariiig in his own commendation, and 
folly, and indeed to ftudy above all to approve himfelf to Chrift ; ^^°'-
bearwithme. a \ - r - • n. i -n ' XI. i,
and yet in prelent circumftances, / wifih you
would bear with a Utile of [my] folly, that you
would permit a little of that boafting which I
know generally to be foolifli : and indeed I muft
intreat you to bear with me in what may look
this way, confidering the manner in which I
am urged to it, and brought under an unwilling
2 For I am jealous neceflity. For I am jealous over you with 1
overyou with godly ^^at I truft I may caW a godly jealoufy, and
jealoufy: for I have r,, n ,¦'„ , -' i r ¦'¦ i r
efpoufed you to one i^^' ^"e warmelt and molt zealous deiires, ihat I
hulband, that I may tnay prefent [you as] a chafte virgin to Chrift " ;
virtnto Chrift''"'*' -f"^ ^ ^'''"'' ^^ fu^cefsfully preaching the gofpel
to you, and bringing you into the engagements
of the Chriftian covenant, in tiie& efpoufed you,
to one hufiand^, even to him; under the cha
rafter of his fervant and ambaffador, I have led
you intoa holy contraft with him, which hath
been mutually fealed. I am therefore exceed
ingly concerned, that you may maintain a pure
and loyal heart to him who has condefcended to
take you into fo dear and intimate a relation.
3 But Ifearleftby ^j,j J am the more folicitous about this, as I 3
°^ know what infinuating enemies are endeavouring
to corrupt you : for I fiear lefl by any means, as
in the firft feduftion and ruin of mankind, •
^ That I m,iy prefent you, &c,] This confummation of the marriage, great
is much illuiti.ued by rccolleftion, that blame would'naturally fall upon him.
there was an oj^.ccr among the Greeks, b F'or J have efpoufed you.] This claufe,
whofe bufinefs it was to educate and form np^otratxn-i -ya.^ ii,«aff£vi av^pi, may be con-
young women, elpecially thofe of rank fiierei zs a parenthefts -, and therefore in
and figure, defigned f^r marriage, and the paraphrafe, I have tranfpofed it, that
then to prefent them 'to thofe who were the conftruftion may appear ; ^I'Kai v/xai;
to be the'it hujbands -, and if this ofticer^ ura.eiirr.j.t , I am jeahiis,iie.—tbat Imay
permitted them, through negligence, to prefent you, &c.
be corrupted, between the efpoufals and >
Vol. IV. Hh - the

458

Lft they he corrupted from their fimplicity :

Sect^ the ferpent deceived Eve'^, our common mother,
by his fubtilty yfio your minds fiould be corrupted
2 Cor, from thatfimplicity which fhould always be in us
XI, 3- towardT-Chrft^, and which the adulterous mix
tures which fome are endeavouring to introduce
among you, would greatly injure,
A For if he that cometh among you with fuch
extraordinary pretences, preach another Jefus, -as
a Saviour, luhom we have not preached ; if he can
point out another Chrift who fhall equally de
ferve your attention and regard ; or [if] ye re
ceive by his preaching another fpirit, which ye
have not yet received, which can beftow upon
you. gjfts fuperior to thofe vvhich we have im
parted; or another gofpel, which ye have not ac
cepted, the tidings of which fhall be equally
happy, evident, and important, _)iif might well bear
with [him,] and there would be fome excufe
for your conduft ; but how far this is from be
ing, or fo much as feeming to be the cafe, I
5 n;ed not fay at large. Nor will you, I am fure,
maintain any fuch thing •,for I reckon upon moft
certain knowledge, that 1 was fo far from being
inferior in my difcourfes, or miracles, to thefe
your favourite teachers, that I did not in any
refpeSi fall fhort ofi the greateft of ihe apoftles ;
but gave, you as evident and convincing proofs
of a IJivine miffion as any church has ever re-.
ceived from any one of them. For if [I am]
unfkilful in fipeech, ufing plain and unpolilhed
languages like that of a man of the raoft" ordi
nary education " ; neverthelefs [I am] not fo in
know-

any means, as the
ferpent beguiled Eve
through his fubtilty,
fo your minds fliould
be corrupted from
the fimplicity that
is in Chrift,
4 For if he that
cometh, prcacheth a-
nother Jefus whom
we have not preach
ed, 'or if ye receive
another Ipirit which
ye have not receiv
ed, or another gof
pel 'which ye have
not accepted, ye
might well bear with
him.

5 For I fuppofe I
was not a whit be
hind the very chief-
eft Apoftles.

6 But though I be
rude in fpeech, yet
' not

c Lft ^s thejcrptiit deceived Eve, See.]
¦ From the inftance to which this is applied,
¦viz. that of the falfe apoftles, whofe fub
tilty did not eonfift fo mu'ch in crafty ar
guments, as in hl{e appearances, hy which
they put on the outward forms of the
apoftles of Chrift ; Mr. Rymer infers (ef
pecially comparing vcrfe 14.) that the
fubtilty of Satan, when he deceived Evf,
ccnfiftcd in putting on the appearance of
an angel of I'lght^, or pretending to be one
of the Seraphims that attended on the
Schechinah, {^Ryr-.cr on Rev.^.'](^.') But
I think that if it had been ever fo exprefs
ly faid by Mofes, that the deception lay, as
it very probably might, in pretending to
have received the faculty of reafon and

fpeech, though a brute, by eating the
fruit he propofed to her, it might be faid
in the general, that the falfe apoftles de
ceived their followers as Satan deceived
Eve, that is, by falfe pretences and infi^
nuations. d S'lnipl'ic'ity toivards Chr'ift : atthcin'''^
m- EicloK XpTov.] This implies an entire
undivided devotednefs to Chrift, as the
great Hultand Chriftians fliould defire to
pleafe, and from whom they are to receive
law ; and is with peculiar propriety rpoo-
fed to that mixture of judaifm wli:h
fome vvere endeavouring to bring in among
the Corinthians.
e Unfti/ful in fpeech.] Uitaltif properly
fignifies n private man, one that can fpeak no

And then he-expoftulaies with them as to himfelfi 459

not in knowledge ;
but we have been
thoroughly made ma
nifeft among you in
all things.

7 Have I commit
ted an ofl^'ence in a-
bafing myfelf, that
ye might be exalted,
becaufe I have
preached to you the
gofpel of God freely ?

. % I robbed other
churches, taking wa
ges of them, to do
you fervice.
9 And when I was
prefent with you, and
wanted, I was charge
able to no man : for
that which was lack-
.ing to me, the bre
thren which caaie
from Maccdoniajfup-
plied *. and in all
things I have kept
iwieXi from being
burdenfome unto
you, and fo will I
keep myfelf.
10 As the truth of
Chriil

kiiowledge of the gofpel of Chrift, and the Di- Sect.
vine difpenfations which were introduftory to it, ^^,"'
But in every refpea we have been manifeft to you 2 Cor.
in all things , every one of you has had a proof XI, 6.
^ of this, as you received the gofpel from me, and
therefore ought jiot to queftion my abilities, nor
to prefer another in oppofition to me.
Nothing can be more ungenerous and unrea- 7
fonable, than to infinuate, that I have renoun
ced my claim to being an apoftle, by declining
that maintenance which my brethren generally
think it reafonable to take from the people among
whom they labour, and which while employed
for them they may indeed reafonably expeft.
Have I then committed an offence, in humbling
myfelf to the daily cares and toils of a tent-maker,
that you may more effeftually. be exalted to the
dignity of thofe 'who know and believe in Chrift ?
Is this after all, the crime, ihat 1 have preached
the gofpel of God toyou at free coft P
I may almoft, in this fenfe, be faid to have 8
robbed other churches ; fo freely have I received
from them, at leaft taking wages, as it were, [of
ihem,] for waiting upon you ;. ior 'indeed I re
ceived a kind of ftipend from them, while I
abode at Corinth, (Phil, iv, 15.) And when g
I was in want, while prefent with you, / was
chargeable io no one man ' of your fociety,
when incapable of maintaining myfelf as before:
for ivhat was deficient to me, in this refpeft, the
Chriftian brethren, who cafne from Macedonia
fupplied; (Phil, iv, 10 ;j and in aU things I have
kept, and fo long as God fhall enable me, / wiU
keep myfelfi from being burdenfome to you. And 1 o
this in fome meafure I value myfelf upon ; fo

no better than the generality of his neigh
bours, being unformed by the rules of
eloquence. And this is confiftent with that
gtent natural pathos which we find in the
apoftle^s. -wt'it'ingsj fo that there is no need
of recurring, as Dr, Whitby here does, to
the fuppofed impediment in his i'peech,
which allowing it ever fo certain a faft,
could not properly be exprefl'ed by this
phrafe. The good Archbifliop of Cam
bray hath a very pertinent obfervation on
this expreflion, in his excellent Dialogues
of Eloquence, (p. 136,) v'lx. that this
might well be the cafe, though St. Paul

Ihared fo largely in the gift of tongues ; as
when he was at Tarfus, he probably learnt
a corrupt kind of Greek, fpoken by the
inhabitants of this place ; for we have
reafon to believe, that as for any of the
languages which the apoftles had learnt in
a natural way, the Spirit left them to
fpeak as before.
i Chargeable to no man : ov y-alevct^yri-
a-A oyotv©-.] Beza would render it, /
was not idle at any mates expence. The
word vflp;t>3 implies a benumbed 'maSi'ive
ftate, a kind of torpor, to which no man
feems to be lefs obnoJtious than St, Paul.
H h a that

12 But what I do,
that 1 will do, that I
may cut oft' occafion
from them which de-

even as we.

460 And is anxious io prevent his enemies from defaming himi
Sect, that as the truth of Chrifi is in me, this boafi Chrift is in me, no
^^"- fiaU not be violated, nor this rule broke in upon ™" |hall,ftop_ me of
¦^ .^7 ^ .„ /•-. ¦ 1 • 1, .; ™5 boafting in the
a Cor, With reJpeSi io me, at Corinth, or tn all ihe rCr regions of Achaia.
XI, 10 gions of Achaia.
1 1 And why is it that I infift upon this ? Is it be- '? Wherefore ? be -
r I I , 1 1. r Ml- caule 1 love you not .'
cauje I love you not, and therefore am unwiiling God knoweth.
to be under any obligation to you ? God knows
the contrary, that you have a large ftiare in my
tendereft affeftions and cares ; yea, that it was
my defire of ferving you more effeftually, that
fubjefted me to thefe mortifications and felf-de-
12 nials ; for fuch they undoubtedly were, Bui
what I do in this relpeft, I will continue to do,
that I may cut off' occafion from them who greatly
defire an occafion to refleft upon me, that in [the fire occafion ; that
thing of] wh'ich they are fo ready to boafl, they wherein they glory,
may be Jound even as we K I would teach them '^''' ""^ ''' ^™"''
by my example, inftead of boafting, that they
have fuch an influence over you, as procures
them a plentiful, and perhaps fplendid mainte
nance, that they rather emulate my difinterefted
conduft, and fubfift on their own labours. But
I know they have no inward principle to bear
13 them through fuch hardfhips: For fiuch,
whatever they pretend, [are] falfe apoftles, de
ftitute of that Divine miffion which animates
our fpirits to do, or to bear, whatever we meet
in the courfe of our duty ; and indeed they are
deceitful workers, whatever pains they may feem
to take in their employment ; transforming
themfelves artfully 'into the appearance of apo
ftles of Chrifl by counterfeit forms, which they
may put on for a while, but which they can
14 with no confiftency long fupport. And [it
is] no wonder they affume them for a time ; for
Satan himfelf, in fubordination to whom they
afl, can put on fuch deceitful appearances, and
wear upon occafion fuch a mafk of lanftity and
religion in his attempts, that he is, as it were,
transformed 'into an angel of light, and one would
imagine his fuggeftions to be of a celeftial and

13 For fuch are
falfe apoftles, deceit
ful workers, tranf-
forming themfelves
into the apoftles of
Chrift,

14 And no mar
vel; for Satan him
felf is transformed
into an angel ol light.

S They might be found. Ice] The Jews " whom they taught," But it plainly ap-
liad a maxim among them, " that it was pears, that whatever the falfe apoftles
^« better for their wife-men to Ikin beafts raight boaft upon this head, there was
" for a living, than to alk a mainte- no foundation for it. Compare I'cr/'e 20 ;
" nance from tlie generofity of -thofe and i Cor, ix, ii. Divine

RefteSlions on watchfulnefs againft the wiles of Satan, 461
15 Therefore ir K Divine Original, Thetefore [it is] no ?r^fl/ Sect.
no great thing, if .; ¦ -r i ¦ - -n ir i l • • n X'VII.
his minifters alfo be f-"»^> 'f '"' rninifters alfo, under his influence, ^""v
transformed as the be transformed as minifters of righteoufnefs ; ^ Cor,
minifters of righte- vihofe end nevertheXeis fiaU be, not according to XI, 13
firlVa't^dtn^to ^heir fpecious pretences, ^ut ciccording to their
their works, works ; for they will find that God, upon whofe
judgment their final ftate depends, is not to be
impofed upon by, any of their artifices.

Improvement.
How adorable is the condefcenfion of the bleffed fefus, who 'Verfe
amidft all the exalted glories of his heavenly kingdom, is fo 2
gracioufly uniting fouls to himfelf; efpoufing them in bonds of
pverlafting love, that they may be for ever near him, and receive
the moft endearing communications of his favour. Much fhould
we all be concerned, that we may have the honour and blefl[ings of
fuch an alliance ; that being by profeflion folemnly efpoufed to
him, we may in the day of the mqrr'iage of the Lamb be prefiented
chajle and fpotlefs. How vigilant ftiould they be who are in
trufted by hini to treat vvith fouls about thefe efpoufals ! How
folicitous, tha^ they may fucceed, and may-fo prefent ihem to
Chr'ift! . Still is that crafty ferpent, whofe malignant hrea'^ fo foon 3
tainted our common mother, and all our happinefs, by his fubt'ilty,
labouring to corrupt our minds from theftmplicity of true Chrifti
anity, Let us be inceffantly watchful againft the artful deceiver ;
remembering that his works and defigns of darknefs may fome
times be vailed as under the robes of an angel of light, and his
minifters transformed as minijiers of righteoufnefs. Be there- 14,15
fore fober and vigilant, fince your adverfary the devil adds the
wilinefs of the o\d ferpent, to the rage and cruelty of the roaring
lion, and by both fubferves his purpofes of betraying, or devouring
the fouls of men,
.Let us therefore with a godly jealoufy be jealous over each other, 2
and efpecially over ourfelves ; and after the example of the apo
ftle be peculiarly fo, when we are compelled to fay any thing to
our own advantage. Let u.? endeavour to arm oiirfeWes againft
every furrounding danger, by a growing regard to the writings
of this excellent man, who, though rude in fpeech, was fo far from 6
bei/Tg in any degree deficient in Chriftian knowledge, that he was
not behind the very chief of ihe apoftles. There are thofe that preach 5
another gofpel: but can they point out another fefus, another all- 4
fufficient Saviour ? can they direft us lo another Spirit ? Let us
hold faft the doftrine we learn from his faithful pen : let us fol
low the exhortations we receive from his experienced heart : and
be ever ready to imitate him in that refolute y^^-fte/a/ which he 9
exercifed, and that glorious fuperiority to every other intereft
H h 3 which

462

The Apoftle again apologizes for his feeming boafting ,

Sict. which he always fhewed, where the interefts of Chnft and of
 '_ fouls were concerned. So JhaU we cut off occafion from them that
Verfe feek occafion againfi us, and fecure a far greater happinefs, in the
12 confcious refleftion of our own minds, as well as the expeftation
of a future reward, than the greateft abundance of this world
could have given us, or any prefent advantage to which we gould ¦
have facrificed the'views of confcience and honour.

SECT. XVIII.

Farther to affert his right as an apofile, St, Paul commemorates his
labours and fufferings in the caule of Chr'ift ; yei in fuch a man
ner, as plainly to fhew how difagreeable it was to him, fio much
as to fieem to applaud himfielf, on the moJi neceffary occafion,
2. Cor, XI, 1 6, to the end.

Sec
XVIII.

2 Corinthians XI, i6.

a CoK. XI, i6.

[jf_ T Have faid fome things, which may feem I ^aVthink me™
— more to the advantage of my charafter, than fool; if otherwife.

yet as a fool receive
me , that I may boaft
my felf a little.

2. Cor. a man would wifh any thing, which comes
from his own lips, or pen, fhould appear. But
again I muft fay. Let no man think me to be fo
, foolifh in this boafting, as to take any pleafure in
commending myfelf. Let the provocation I have
received be confidered; let the neceffity of the
circumftance, and the importance of my cha
rafter, be duly weighed ; and you will furely ex
cufe it. But if it muft be otherwife cenfured,
I will run the rifque, and befeech you, if you
think me foolifh in it, as foolijh however, to re
ceive and bear with me, as well as others, that I
may in my turn at leaft boafl fome fmall matter.
jn What I fpeak on this head, I fpeak not after the
Lord, not by any immediate direftion or infpi
ration from Chrift ; nor is it fo evidently in his
Spirit as I could wifli, or fo apparently conform.- this confidence of
able to that example of modefty and humility ''o^ft'"6>
which he hath fet us : hut I fpeak it, as it were,
fodlfily in this cotfidence of boafting * ; on which
1 Foolifhly in this eonftdence of boafting.] lead him into this track of thought and
It feems indeed not very juft and natural, exprelfion ; and though fuch apologies
t.j interpret this, as fpoken by immediate might feem beneath the dignity of an
fuggeftion; yet, it being in prefent cir- apoftle'' s ehs.tz(Xet,yetth3.t^e-!-j cotidefcenftion
comftances vcrj' proper the apoftle fliould is an excellent and moft ufeful example of
fpeak thus, the Holy Spirit might by a ge- humility to all Chriftians and efpecially to
uuial, though uuperceived, influence, ntiniften, account

17 That which I
fpeak, I fpeak ('( not
after the Lord, -but
as it were foolilbly in

i8 Seeing that ma
ny glory after the
flefli, I will glory
alfo.

And reminds them how ihey had borne with his adverfaries ; 463
account I return to this fubjeft again with fome Sect.
fenfible regret. Yet left my fifence Ihould ^^''"-
be attended with ftill worfe confequence, I think \ cor,
myfelf obliged, though with ftrong reluftance, XI, 18.
to fay, feeing many boaft according to the flejh, in
circumcifton and Jewifh extraftion, / alfo wiU
boaft as well as they: and truely were I difpofed
to do it on thefe topics, you well know that no
man could fay more than I.
./fW by the way, you may well bear with foolijh ig
people, ftnce you, [yourfelves] are fo wondrous
w'fe, and in that abundant wifdom can cherifh
that arrogant temper in others, and fecond it
with your high applaufe. Nay, indeed you 20
go farther than that, and not only endure to
hear your admired teachers make very indecent
encomiums upon themfelves, but tamely fubmit
to them, while they invade your property, and
tyrannize over you in a moft arbitrary and fcan
dalous manner- For, by what I can learn of •
the temper of fome among you in tl^at refpeft,
and of your fond infatuation in their favour, it
feems 'fciat you /5fsr // patiently if a man enfiave
yOu, and even trample upon your liberty, if he
devour [you] by his exorbitant demands, ifi he
take and fiei-ze [on your poffcflionsf] if he exalt
himfelf as if he were yoUr fupreme and abfolute
fovereign, if his mad paffion were to tranfport
him even to blows, and he were to fmite you on
iheface^, your fondnefs for him would prevent
your calling hirri to a juft account^ and you
would find fome way of excufing, or accom
modating the affair, rather than come to a breach
with hira.
Do I fpeak this by way of difhonour, from an 21
envious defire to derogate from my fiiperiours,
and fo bring them down to my own level; as if
we ourfelves were weak in comparifon with them, '
and therefore have not the courage to attempt
fuch freedoms as they take ? There can furely
be no reafon to fufpeft that ; for be they ever

19 For ye fuft'er
fools gladly, feeing
^eyourfelves are wife,

20 For ye fuft'er
if a man bring you
into bondage, if a
man devour_yo«, if a
man take o/'_yoa, ifa
man exalt himfelf, 'if
a man fmite you on
the face.

' 21 I fpeak as con
cerning reproach; as
though we had keen
weak :

b Smite you on the face.] As one can rity over the Gentiles, might lead them to
hardly imagine, that the falfe apoftles great infilence of behaviour) I chofe to
would run all thefe lengths, (though Dr. paraphrafe thc words in fuch a latitude as
Whitby well obferves, that the high con- might wave the feverity of the moft lite-
ecit which the Jews had of their fuperio- ral interpretation.
H h4 fo

2 Cor,
XI, 21

464 Who fell greatly fljor-i of him in labours and fufferings.
Sect, fo puffed Up with their external privileges, I
 \ would have them to know, that in whatever ahy
one elfe may be confident in thefe refpefts, though
I fpeak it indeed 'in folly, I alfio am confident, and
on their own terms could match, or even ex-
22 ceed them. Are they, for inftance, Hebrews
by language, capable of confulting the fcrip
tures in the original, with all the advantage
which a familiar acquaintance with that tongue
from their childhood can give them ? fo [am] I:
Are they Ifraelites by birth, not defcended from
Efiuorany other branch of the, family, but that
on vvhich the blelfing was entailed ? fo [am] I
likewife. Are they of the feed of Abraham, both
by the fathers and mothers fide, not profelytes,
or of mingled defcent } fo [•(/«] I ; and can trace
up as fair and clear a genealogy, through the tribe
S3 of Benjamin, to the father of the faithfuK Or
if they would boaft in a manner more peculi
arly referring to the gofpel ; are they Mimfters ofi
° Chrift ? I may feem to fpeak foolifhly in this
boafting manner, which is ib unnatural to me ;
I cannot forbear repeated apologies for it ; but I
will venture to fay here, that / [am] more fo than
they : fo far more than an ordinary minifter,
that I am a chofen apoftle, dignified and diftin
guifhed from many of my brethren by more
eminent fervices: more abundant in labours now
for a long feries of years : exceeding them in the
ivec^vent ftripes I have received on account of
my fingular zeal : more abundant in imprifon
ments, chearfully refigning my fiberty for the
fake of Chrift . and his gofpel ; and often in
deaths, v.lrich are continually furrounding me in
the moft horrible forms ; but which, by Divine
grace, I have learnt to meet and to vanquiih in
all their terrors, animated by love to my Divine
Leader, I certainly have endured more blows than
any of them in his .caufe ; for of the fews I
have five times received, in their fynagogues and
before their courts of Judgement, fiorty [ftripes]
fave one, according to the precautions which
they ufe, that they may not tranfgrefs the pre
cept cf their law, which limits them to that
numbc-r, (Deut. xxv. 3.) And ihrice was I
heaten with rods by the Roman liftors, or
' ¦ - . ¦ beadles.

weak : howbeit,
whercinfoever any is
hold, (I fpeak fool
ifhly) I am bold alfo.

22 Are fhey He
brews i' Co ami : are
they Ifraelties >
am I: are they the
feed of Abraham ."* fo
am I.

fo

23 Are they mini
fters of Chrift .' (I
fpeak as a fool) I am
more ; in labours
more abundant, in
ftripes above mea
fure, in prifons more
frequent, in deaths
oft.

24

25

24 Of the Jews
five times received I
forty^ri^ej'fave one.

25 Thrice was I
beaten vvith rods, once

thc deep.

For he had beenftoned, fuffered fiiipwreck, &c. 465
tl^iceiT^irLX'- '''a*^'"'' ^^"le command of their fuperior ma- Sect.
wreck, a night and a gntrates, 1 have reafon to fay, I have been in ^^"^'
day J have been in greater danger of death than any of them: for 7^
"f^y at Lyftra, / wasftoned, and left for dead XI, a6.
in the place; nor had I been recovered but by
miracle, (Afts xiv, 19,) Thr'ice I .have been
Jhipwrecked", and efcaped with the utmoft
difficulty from the rage of the waves ; at one of
which times I was reduced to fuch extremity,
that I paffed a day and a night in the deep '', float
ing on the remainder of the wreck, and juft on
the point of being waftied away, and funk,
every moment. On the whole, I have been 26
in journies often, where I have not only . been
robbers, in perils by expofed to fatigues, but to great hazard from
""'" '""""'^"' wild beafts, as well as from unreafonable and
wicked men. I have alfo been in frequent dan
gers from the depths and rapidity of feveral
rivers S which I have been obliged to pafs ; I
have alfo been in danger from the alfaults of
robbers, who have lain in wait for me with a
defign to plunder and murder me, I have of
ten been in dangers from [my own] countrymen,
the Jews ; who forgetting the mutual ties of re
lation by blood, birth, and religion, have at
tempted my life with unfatiable rage, cruelly
hunting me from place to place, as ifl had been
fome beaft of prey : in dangers from the heathen ;
who have often been ftirred up by the Jews, as
¦vyell as offended by the teftimony I have been
obliged to bear againft their idolatries. Every
place through which I have paffed has indeed
been a fcene of perils, and often of great extremi
ties ; fo that I have been indangersinthe cityoije-
rufalem, and other cities : in dangers in the w'll-

26 In journeyings
Dften, in perils of
waters, in perils of

mine own country
men, in perils bythe
heathen, in perils in
%he city, in perils in
the

c Thrice have, I been p'lpi-jrecked.] The
wreck at Malta happened long after; and
therefore muft at leaft have been the
fourth ; and had the inhabitants known it
to be fo, they would have been confirmed
in their fujpicions of his being a very b.id
man ;/lDut this remarkably fhows us a fe
ries of what the world calls misfortunes
from the hand of Providence, may befal
the belt and worthieft of mankind.
<1 F afted a day and a night 'in the deep.]
Nuj^^Sdv.sjo../, (rendered a day and a night)
fignifies a natural day, includin^i the hours

of light and darknefs, Bafl'^, the word
here ufed, and rendered, in the deep, was
indeed the name of a d^p dungeon at
Cyzicum, in the Propontis ; and Dr.
Hammond co.ijeftures, that St, Paul was
caft into it, as he paflfed from Troas to
that city; but I think the other interpre
tation moft eafy and natural.
In dangers from rivers.] To render
-VTclxfjcai:, luaters, as we do, is confound-
ing/ic/e hazards with thofe he endured in
the fea, in a very improper manner. dernefi.

Had been in labour, and toil, and watchings:, often ;

466 Sect, dernefs, while laborioufly traverfingmany dreary
^^^ ' and inbofpitable defarts in purfuit of my apofto-
2 Cor. lical work : in dangers of the fea ; where I have
XI,26. encountered many a ftorm, befides thofe in
which, as I obferved before, I fuffered fhip
wreck ; and where I have fometimes been befet,
by pirates : And though it be fhameful to fay it,
yet it is moft certainly true, that I have fre
quently been in very formidable dangers among
falfe brethren ^, who, amidft all the moft fpe
cious pretenfions of love and affeftion, have been
fecretly watching for opportunities to expofe,
and, if poftible, to deftroy me; or at leait to
ruin my ufefulnefs, ftill dearer to me than my
life.
2^ I have been for a long feries of years engaged
in ftrenuous labour, and fatiguing toil', almoft
inceifant ; fo that the end of one has prefently
been the beginning of another : I have been, in
watchings, often obliged to add the fatigues of
the night to thofe of the day, either in extraor
dinary devotion, which hath kept mine eyes
waking, while others have ftept ; or in preach
ing to thofe who have prefled in upon me to
hear the gofpel as privately as poffible ; or by
correfponiling with Chriftian churches who need
ed my advice, by which I have loft the reft of
many nights in my long journies; or in other
circumrtances into which Providence hath called
ire. I have often known what hunger and
thirft mean, have been in faftings ofiten, not
having had even the neceflaries of life at hand.
And at the fame time, I have frequently been
expofed to the feverity of rigorous feafons, in
cold and even nakednefs too''; not having con
venient clothing to cover tne, or comfortable
28 habitation to repofe myfelf in. All this, befide
foreign affairs, that daily combination, that

the wildernefs, in pe.
rils in the fea, in pe .
rils among falfe be-
thren :

27 In wearlnefs
and painfulnefs, in
watchings often, in
hunger and thirft, in
faftings often, in cold
and nakednefs.

28 Befides thofe
things

f Falje brethren.] Perhaps he mentions
thefe laft as apprehending peculiar danger
from their eftorts among the Corin thians,
g In labour and to'il.] The latter of the
words here ufed jlc-^^, is more expref
live than the former kott©-. It fignifies
not only ftrenuous labour, but fuch as
proceeds to a degree o? fatigue.
ll Cold and nakednefs.] What an idea
does this give us of the apoftle's fdel'ity

and aieal I It i s to die warm in a good and
noble caufe. How hard was it for a man
of a genteel and liberal education, as St,
Paul was, to bear fuch rigours, and to
wander about like a vagabond, hungry,
and almoft raked, yet coming into the
prefence of p-rfjns of high life, and fpeak
ing inhrg'; and various aft'emblies on mat
ters of the utmoft importance, does

and he had the care of aU the churches upon him.

aH

things that are with
out, that which
cometh upon me
daily, the care of all
the churches,
29 Who is wealf,
and I am not weak .?
who is oft'ended, and
1 burn not ?

50 Ifl muft needs
glory, I will glory of
the things which
concern mine inlir-
inities.

31 The God and
Father of our Lord
Jefus Chrift, which
is blefled for ever
more, knoweth that
I iie not.

32 In

Damafcus the

does, as it were, make up an alfembly, the care Sect.
of all the churhes abroad, whofe concerns are '^^"'^'
rufliing in upon me every_ day ', with fuch impe- ^ Cor.
tuofity, that they fometimes are ready not only to XI. iS
confound, but to overbear ma. Nor am I 29
concerned only for whole communities, but for
particular perfons too, as foon as their circum
ftances are known to me ; fo that I may fay,
IFho is weak, and I am not weak too^. Like a
tenderly-compaftionate friend, I feel my own
fpirits ready to fail, when 1 fee my brethren fink
around me. Who is offended, fo as to be led into
Iin by the rafhnefs and undharitablenefs of others,
and I am not, as it were, fired whh grief .and in
dignation, to fee fuch a diihonour brought upon
religion, and with zeal, if polfible, to redrefs thc
grievance ^ ?
If it is neceff'ary to boaft, and I am heartily 30
forry tha; it is, / wiU however, boaft of thofe
things which relate to my infirmities ; as I know
this tendernefs of temper, thatfo often weeps and
trembles, and glows with fuch ftrong emotions,
on what fome may think trivial occafions, will
be efteemed by them ; yet of thefe only, and of
thofe fufferings which fhow the weaknefs of
human nature, and my need of fupport from
Chrift ; of thefe alone have I hitherto prefumed
to fpeak : nor do I feign, or aggravate any thing.
Far from that, the God and Father of our Lord fjt
fefus Chrift, even he, the Eternal Majefty of
heaven and earth, who is ever bleffed, knoweth
thai I do not lie, or in any degree tranfgrefs the
ftrifteft boundaries of truth.
And I cannot forbear adding one circumftance 32
more, to illuftrate the early dangers to which I
was expofed, as foon as I engaged in the Chri
ftian caufe, and the remarkable interpofition of

1 Raping in upon me every day.] The
original phrafe is very emphatical, « sti-
p-i/c'tfo-ij ^H fl Ka&' B,a£fav, E7ria-v^a.a-i^
properly fignifies a tumult or crowd of
people rifing up againft a man at once,
and ready to bear him down. This, the
•»er/?onI have given, hints at better than
our own, which ne'ithet expte(tes number
nor violence. But there is ftill ^an im-
perfedtion which I endeavoured as well as
i could, to i'jp]iii' by the farapbrafe. Mr,

Saurin would render it, what befteges me
daily, Saur'm's Serm, vol. X. p, 1^3.
Edit. J749,
k IVho is offended, and I am not fired .?J
So ¦BTtftf/utii properly fignifies. It may
perhaps, in this connexion, allude to the
fudden hurry of fpirits into which a man ii
put by the dangerous fail oF a perfon he
tenderly loves, efpecially w'hen occafioned
by the carelefsneis and folly of another.

Providence

X

4.63 RefteStions upon St, Paul's account ofhis labours and fufferings.

^in P''o^'^^"'^s in my favour, which I would never
forget. I mean, that when I was in Damafcus^,

a Cor. about three years after my converfion, ihe go-
Xi. 3? vernor, or ethnarch, under King Aretas, fiet a
guard at every gate of the city ofi the Damafi-
cenes, being determ'med, if poffible, to fieize me ;
in compliance with the folic itations of the Jews,
who endeavoured by any means to make me
odious to the government, and to crufh my
ufefulnefs in the bud, if not immediately to de-
33 ftroy my -life itfelf. And I was let down, through
a ivindow, in a bafiket, from a houfe which f^dod
by the wall oi the city, and ha^-pWy efcaped from
his hands : and by the continued care of the
fame Providence remain unto this day, and fee
the many contrivances of my enemies for my
deftruftion, turned into difappointment and
fhame.

the governor under
Aretas the King kept
the city of the Da-
mafcenes with a gar-
rifon, defirous to ap
prehend me 1

3J And through
a window in a balket
was I let down by
the wall, andefcape^
his hands.

IMFKOVEMENT.
SuREL'V we have reafon to be thankful, in fome degree, for
•Ver. that providential pefmiifion to which it was owing that this blefted
f6 l8 apoftle was brought under the (inwilling neceflity of boafting; XQ
vvhich his modefty fubmits with fuch genuine and becoming
regret: we had otherwife loft fome very valuable fragments of
facred hiftory, which it becomes us to gather up with refpeft. We
are indeed elfewhere inforined, concerning feveral of his labours,
ftripes, and imprifionments ; but how frequent, and above meafure
they were, we had never known, if he had not been urged th(JS
23 to plead them w.ith the Corinthians, and fo to reprefent theni to
-us. What a life was St. Paul's amidft fo many injuries and hard
fhips ! Land and fea, every country, every city, almoft every fo
ciety of men, feemed to be in a combination againft him, to make
his life wretched ; and amidft all the rigours and feverities of toUs
26 ctnd watchings, hunger and thirft, cold and nahednefis, he felt, and
particularly complained of the treatment he received from fialfie
brethren. Yet thus fiurrounded, and as we fbould from the detail
be ready to fay, thus overivhelmed, with_ fo many and fo various
miferies, he was yet happy in the favour of God, in the prefence of
ChriJi: uiifpeakably happy in the chearful views of approaching
glory, ar.d in all that abundant ufefulnefs with which a gracious
God was pleafed to honour him, Whilft his benevolent heart

! In Damafcus, &c.] This probably
happened, not when he -Hi^ftrft convert
ed, bat when he had preached about three

years in Arabia, Compare Ai51s ix, 23,—
26. wich Gal, i, 16,— j8, was

Thi Apoftle fiays, it was not expedient to glory : 4.^9
was pained, it was alfo coimforted ; and with the care ofi aU the Sect.
churches preffing upon him, and with all that he felt from particu- ^^"''
lar perfons, ftill was his voice in tune for praij'e; and he hardly Vewi*
ever begins an epijile, without fuch a burft of it in fome of his firft
fines, as looks like one of the fongs of heaven. O glorious eff^eft
of real chriftianity, which every inferior minifler, yea, and every
private Chriftian, to this day feels, iu proportion to the degree in J
which his charafter refembles that of this holy champion of our
Divine faith !
But O ! how unlike his hath been the charafter of many who
have borne themfelves higheft on their pretended claims to the
moft extraordinary powers, by a fucceflion irom him and his
brethren! What tyrannical »2/tt//j .' What exorbitant oppreffions t ix
What bafe methods to enfiave the confcience, the properties, and
the perfons of men, whom they fhould have refpefted and loved as
xheir brethren, whom they fliould have cherilhed even as their
children I So that one would imagine they had taken the pifture
which 6'/. Paul here draws of thef alf e Apoftles, as a model of their
own conduft ; while they have perhaps denied the title of miniflers
cf ChriJi to thofe wlio have much more refembled the difpofitions 25
and circumftances of this his moft faithful ambaffador. O that
this might only be the infamy of the Pop'ift clergy, with whofe
cruel and ufurping praftices fuch fentences may feem beft to fuit!
Or rather, would to God it were no longer even theirs. May the
God and Father of our Lord fefius Chr'ift, who is bleffed for ever- 31
more, pour out a better fpirit upon all who profefs themfelves the
fervants of his Son ! That they, whofe bufinefs it is to cajl others
to Chrft, may themfelves firft come, and learn of him, who is
nuek and lowly ofi heart ; ivhofe yoke is fo eafy, and his burden fo
Ught, that it is aftonifhing, that any who have themfelves felt it,
fhould ever think of binding on others,, burdens heavy and hard to be
borne.

SECT. XIX.
The Apoftle goes on, with great plainnefs and freedom, yet at the
fame tim^ with great modefty, to give an account of fio^^e extraor
dinary revelations which he had receivelfrom God, and of thofe
experiences which taught him him to glory even in his infirmities.
2 Cor, XII, I— 10,
2 Corinthians XII. i. Sect.
I Have fpoken with fome freedom in the pre- ^ ^''^- ^"- '• '^^^'
ceding difcourfe of my labours and fuffer- -l '^-"""^ '"'"' 'f"^ a cor.
ings in the Chriftian caufe ; and whatever they XU. t
have been, / weU know, that ;'/ is not expedient for

47*

Tet thai he knew a man in Chrift,

Se". for .me to boaft; nor would I by any means in-
¦ ' dulge myfelf in fuch a praftice; neverthelefs "",
a Cor. with the precautions I have already advanced,
XU. 1. and with thofe good purpofes continually in
view, that have led me fo far out of my common
manner of fpeaking, IiviUnow come io iay fome
thing of thofe viftons and revelations of the Lord
with which his unworthy fervant has, by ^ his
aftonilhing grace and condefcenfion, been fa-
2 voured. 1 hardly indeed know how to mention
a name fo undeferving as my own, in this con
neftion ; but I will venture in thegeneral to fay,
that / well knew a certain man in Chrift ^ ; one
who efteems it his higheft honour to belong to
fuch a Mafter; who though he hath hitherto
thought proper to conceal it, was remarkably in
dulged in this refpeiSl, above fourteen years ago.
Whether he was then in tlie body, during that ex
traordinary ecftacy, I know not : or for a time
taken out of the body, fo that only the principle of
animal life remained in it, / know not '^. God
only knows how that was ; nor is it of any im
portance too curioufly to fearch into fuch a cir
cumftance. He had at leaft no confcioufnefs of
any thing that pafted about him at that time,
and all his fenfations were as entirely ceafed, as
if his union with the body had been broken.

for me doubtlefs, ta
glory : I will come
to vifions and revela-
tions of the Lord.

2 I knew a man in
Chrift above fourteen
years ago (whether in
the body, I cannot
tell ; or whether out
of the body, I can
not telt : God know- ethi)

a Neverthelefs »"] The aprjllfs fpeak
ing of his 'vlfions and revcUtft^Sy which
indeed did him the higheft honour, could
nor be a proof that hc was determined not
to boajim It is evident, therefore, that
yao cannot havs jts ufual iignification,
and be renderr'dy^;-. Our tranfiators take
it iot a mere expletl've, and therefore omiL
ir. I have ventured to render it ne^er-
ihe/efsy as it is certain it has, often various
figniiications, and muft have this iignifi
cation here, if it exprefs any thing. The
force of but In this connediion would be
thc fame with neverthelefs.
b j4 certain mafj in ChnJ},'j He muft
undoubtedly mean h'lmjclfy or the whole
article had been quite foreign to his pur
pofe. It appears from hence, that the
Afojih had conceakd this extraordinary
event fourteen ^fa« J and if this efijile
was 'written about the _j'f(3r 5S, as we fup
pofe it was, this vifion muft have fallen
out in the year 44, which was fo long af
ter his converfion^ as to prove it ^uite dif^

ferent from the trance mentioned Afts
ix. 9. with which fome have confounded
it. Dr. Benjon thinks this glorious repre
fentation was made to him while he was
praying in the temple, in that journey^
Afts xi. 30. chap, xxii. 17, and intended
to encourage him againft the difHculties he
was to encounter in preaching the gofpel
to the Gentiles. Benj, Prop vol. II. p.
7. See vol. III. feft, 50, note a.
c Whether in the body, &c.] As St,
Paul muft know his body was not aftually
dead, during this trance, but that the
animal motion of his heart and lungs con
tinued, it would lead one to imagine, that
he really apprehended the principle of
animal life to be fomething diftinB from
the rational foul, which he calls bimjelf.
It appears at leaft, that he loft all con
fcioufnefs of any thing about him at that
time ; and what the prefence of an immu'
terial foul in a body can be, diftinft from
the capacity of perceiving by itj and aft
ing upon it,. I ana yet to learn* Such

about fourteen years before caught up into the the third heaven. 47 1

eth ;) fuch an
ciught up to
third heaven.

one the

3 And I knew
fuch a man (whether
in the body, or out
of the body, I can
not tell : God know
eth :)
4 Howthathewas
caught up into pa
radife, and heard
unfpeakable words
which it is not lawful
for a man to utter.

5 Of fuch an one
will I glory : yet of
myfelf I v/ill not glo
'ry, but in mine in-
ftrmities.

Such an one, I fay, I did moft intimately know, s^^^'
who was fnutched up even into the third heaven, ^^^\
the feat of the Divine glory, and the place where 2 Cor.
Chrift dwelleth at the Father's right hand, ha- XII. i.
ving all the celeftial principalities and powers in
humble fubjeftion to him. Tea, I fay, I 3
even knew fuch a man, whether in the body, or out
of ihe body, I now fay not, becaufe I know not :
God knoweth ; and let him have the glory of '
fupporting his life in fo extraordinary a circum
ftance, which ever might be the cafe. And +
I know, that having been thus entertained with
thefe vifions of the third heavens, on which
good men are to enter after the refurreftion, left
he ihould be impatient under the delay of his
part of the glory there, he was alio caught up
into paradife"^, that garden of God which is
the feat of happy fpirits in the intermediate
ftate, and during their feparation from the
body : where he had the pleafure of an interview
vtith rnany of the pious dead, and heard araong
them unutterable words, expreflive of their fub
lime ideas, which he was there taught to un
derftand. But the language was fuch as it is not
\awiu\ or poffible ' for man to utter; we have nO
terms of fpeech fit to exprefs fuch conceptions,
nor would it be confiftent with the fchemes of '
Providence, which require that we (hould be
condufted by faith, rather than by fight, to fuf
fer fuch circumftances as thefe to be revealed to
the inhabitants ot mortal flelh. In fuch an 5
one, therefore, whoever he be, fwill venture to
boaft, fo far as to fay, that he received a peculiar
honour from our great Lord, and for the time,
was made, as it were, another man by it. But
in myfelf, I will not boaft, unlefs it be in my in-

•t A\{o caught tip into paradife.] I have
followed Biihop Bull's interpretation of
thefe words, in the diftinftion he makes
between the third hea-ven and paradife.
See his Works, vol. I. ferm, 3, p. 89. To
which Dr, Whitby agrees, who alfo fup
pofes this not merely a v'lfton, as I think
it was, buta reality; which if St. Paul
had thought it, he muft furely have con
cluded that he~was not then iti the hsdy.
= Lawful or poftibk.] I think, with
Witfius, that ejsir may comprehend both.

—Different ^;Vi»(?r have c^jefturedvery
difterently CDncerning thefe things ; of
which I fuppofe they know nothing. But
Mr. Fleming's conjefture, that he was in
ftrufted in the doftrine of the ftrft refur-
rcB'ion ; and Mr. Wh'iftorCs, that hc was
inftrufted in the grand fecrets contained
in the apoftolical conftitutioiis revealed to
the ele-ven in the chamber on Sion, and
not to be publicly difclofed till many ages
after; may ferve as fpecimens of the reft.—
ff^h'ft. Prim, Chriftianity, voi. III. p. 32.

firmities

472

But left he Jhould be exalted above meafure^

Sect, firmities, in thofe things which carry the marks
¦ of weaknefs, which yet in a certain conneftion
~~ will appear honourable too. For ifi I Jhould
xii°6 ^^f^"^^ '" ^fffl/? a little on the occafion I have
mentioned, I Jhall not upon the whole be foolijh ;
though it be generally fo, confidering the par
ticular circumftances in which I am : for I Jpeak
nothing but ihe ftrifteft truth, how ftrange fo
ever it may feem. But I forbear to infift large
ly upon it, left any one Jhould efteem me above
what he fees tobe in me, or, having a fair oppor
tunity of learning my true charafter, hears of
ine; for inftead of arrogating to myfelf any un-
deferved regards, I would rather decline them,
and ftiould be fecretly grieved and aftiamed if
they were paid to me.
f 1 have indeed had my peculiar privileges : but
alas, I have my infirmities, and my temptations
too. And left I fliould be too much elevated with
ihe abundance of thofe extraordinary revelations
of which I have been fpeaking, there was given
me, that is, it pleafed God to appoint to me an
affliftion, which was fo painful, that it was like
<2 pointed thorn in the flefh ', continually piercing
and wounding me ; and this in fuch cir
cumftances, that one would think it had been
intended on purpofe, that the meffenger and
apoftle of Satan, the falfe teachers whom I have
been defcribing (chap. xi. i-^, — 15) under that
charafter, might from thence take occafion to
buffet ar\d -vi^hr-siid tne : that I, being fubjeft to
fuch diforders, though naturally refulting from
the manner in which my nerves were imprefled
by this ecftafy, might not' be exceffively exalted ;

6 For though I
Would defire to glory,'
I (hall not be a fool ;
for I will fay thc
truth : but HOTO I for
bear, left any man
Ihould think of rae
above that which he
feeth mc to be, or
that he heareth of
me.

7 And left I Ihould
be exalted above mea
fure through the a-
bundance of the re
velations, there was
giv^n to me a thorn
in tlie flelli, the mef
fenger of Satan to
bufte.t me, left I
fliould , be exalted
above meafure.

f A thorn in the ftefti.] How much
this thorn in St. Paul's fteft has perplexed
and dilquieted commentators,' they who
have converfed much with them, know
but too well. Many have underftood it of
hodily pains ; and Mr.'Baxter, being him-
i'j.'f fubjeft to a titphriticli diforder, fup
pofes it might be the ftone, or grai-cl.
The conjefturss of fome of the ancients
are much grolTer. I rathe;* acquiefce in
that interptttation byDr. Whitby (which
the authour of Mifcel. Sacra has adopted,
and taken pains to illuftrate, Eftay'i'u. p.
22,-24.); Thatthe view he had of
celeftial glories, aftjfted the fyfteih of his

nerves in fuch a manner, as to occafion
fome paratyticit fymptoms, aiid particular
ly i ftammering in his fpeech, and per
haps fome ridiculous £/i/?orri(/« in his coun- '
tenancc, referred to elfewhere in the
phrafi^ of the inftrmity in h'ls fteft. See Gal.
iv. 13, 14- I Cor. li. 5. Compare Dan.
viii. 27. As this might threaten both
ills acceptance and ufefulnefs, it is no
wonder he was fo importunate for its be
ing removed ; yet being the attendant
and efteft of fo great a favour, he might
with peculiar propriety fpeak of glorying
in it, but

1 8 For this thing 1
befought the Lord
thrice, that it might
Aepart'/^om me.

thtre was given to hiin a thorn in thiftejh. 473
but nnight bear away, like Jacob, when he had Sect.
been fo fuccefsfully wreftling with the angel, an ^"^^
infirmity in tny animal fi'am.e, from which un- ^ cor.
generoiis and cruel enemies iliight profanely take Xlli f,
an occSfidn to infult me. (Gen. ixxii. 25.)
This was indeed at firft fo very grievbus and 8
hiortifying to me» and feemed to have fo uti*
happy An afpeft iipbn my acceptance and ufe
fulnefs, as a preacher of the gofpel, that / was
very importunate in my petitions that it might
be removed, and befought the Lord Jbim C\m^
ihrice on the occcfton, intreating him thati if it
ifiere his blfefted will, // might totally depart fritA
me, or at leaft bd moderated in fome confiderable
dbgree. And iny prayer was not in vain ; for^ 5
though he did not entirely and fully iijdulge my
requefti ht faid to me in greit condefcenfion.
My grace is fufficient for thee, to fupport thee
Under thefe trials* though I permit thern to con
tinue, which I now chobfe ; for m}i ftrength it
ties,' that the power Shade peifeSli and illuftrated fo much the more^
of Chrift may reft /„ the Weaknefs of the inftrument by which I
«pon me. Work : and this general maxim will take place
with refpeft to thee. With the greateft pleafure
therefore ttiili I boafl in my weakneffis, various as
they are, that the ftrengtk of Cfirift may, as it
were, pitch iis tent upon me ^< and furround me
to Thdrefore I on every fide. Arid therefore I feel a fecret IQ
take pleafure in infir- complacenty, rather than anxiety and terror, in

, 9 An<3 he filid tinto
Die, My grace is
i'liffiiiieiit for thee :
for my ftrength is
made perfeft in weak.
nefs. Moft gladly
therefore will I rather
glory in my infirmi

mities> in reproach
cs, in neceflities] in
perfecutions,' in di-
ftrefle! for Chrift's
fake : for when I am
weak^ then im I
AtODJ.

thefe infirmities, in all, the injuries I fuftain, in
all the nHefftiies I endure, in all the perfecutions
with which I am aflaulted^ and in all the ftraits
which /of Chrift's fake prefs me on every part ;
for when I am weak, then am I ftrong : never
do I feel larger inward communications of
ftrength from him, than when I am moft con
fcious of my own weaknefe. Nor do I efteem
any thing. a greater honpur to me^than that
Chrift fhould take occafion to glorify himfelf
by thcbfe things whereby I am humbled and
abafed.

8 Fitebiti tm, &c'.]ii<rh4t feemi'th* ftrob^ tmfhajis pf thf ctiginal wor^
sit\tKxli»ifii. i

"l Vot. IV.

IMPROVlMBNTo

474 Reflexions in the revelations, &c. gtvin to Si, Paul.
Sect. XIX. ¦ IMPROVEMENT.

JQ Well might the apoftle fay, that when he was weak, then
was he ftrong i for it is difficult to tell, when he exprelfes a
greater ftrength of genius, or of grace, than while thus difcour^
iing of his own infirmities. How glorious were thofe fears in
his body which were the marks of his fufferings for Chrift ; and
thofe tremblings and diftortbns of his nerves which were the
I refults of thofe bright viftons of the Lord which brought down
heaven to earth, and had for the time equalled a mortal man with
7 the fpirits of juft men made perfeSi ; yea, almoft with the angels
of God!
3 Tranfported with the facred impulfe, he could fcarcely tell
whether he were in the body or out of it ; but he teftified, that
4 the things which he faw and heard were unutterable. Let us
not repine, that he recollefted and recorded nothing more par
ticular concerning what pafled before the eye of his mind, when
that of the body was clofed. Thefe celeltial raptures were in
tended to confirm his faith, and confequently likewife to confirm
ours; but not to amufe our curiofity. If ihe earth be full of the
2 goodnefs of ihe Lord, how much more the third heavens, where
he holds his higheft court ! Nor ftiall the intermediate ftate of fouls
want its proper enjoyments and bleflings. Aflliredly,^ therefore
.believing thefe things, let us wait God's time for a more- particular
knowledge of them ; and when called of him to go fortl\ and re
ceive this inheritance, like genuine children of Abraham, obey,
though we know not particularly whither we go. (Heb. xi. 8.)
7 We fee the danger oi fpiritual pride, from which even St. Paul
himfelf was not fecure. One would have imagined, that fuch a
view of the celeftial world ftiould in itfelf have been fufficient to
have humbled him, during all the remainder of the longeft life:
and yet it is evident, that God faw there was fome danger, left
pride ftiould be cheriflied by ihat which feemed fo proper to de
ftroy it : therefore was there given him a ihorn in ihe flefli. And
by how many thorns are the moft diftinguilhed Chriftians often
pierced ?- Let them blefs God, if thereby they are humbled too,
even though the meffengers and inftruments of Satan fliould from
thence take occafion to buffet them.
8 In all our exigencies, extremities and complaints, let us apply
to the throne of grace, and that blefled Redeemer, who intercedes
before it, for propei- afliftance and relief. Nor let us be difcou
raged, though the, firft or y^««</ addrefs ftiould feem to be dif-
regarded: ^e third ot fourth maybe fuccefsful. And what, if
we do not fucceed to our wifti in the immediate anfwer ? Let it
content us, that we may be aflured by Chrift of the fufficiency of
9 his grace. In our weaknefs he can illuftrate his ftrtrigth. And
¦ ' '' ia

He was not behind the chief of the apoftles.

475

in that view too may -we glory in our infirmities. For furely the^fCT.
honour of Our Divine Mafter, in our deepeft humiliation, ought ''^V
to give us much more joy, than to fee ourfelves ever fo much ad
mired and extolled. M But, O blefled fefus, how much of thy
" ftrength muft be manifefted in us, to teach our vain and felfifh
" hearts a lelfon, which at the very firft propofal appears fo rea-
'f fonable, if confidered in fpectdation alone ? Lord 'increafe our
" faith ! Increafe our humility ! So ihalt thou have the glory in
" all thou giveft, and in all thou denieft us, and in all the ftrug-
" gles and trials to which thou mayeft appoint us ; and in whichi y^^z-j
" for thy fake, we 'w'lll take pleafure." jg
SECT, XX.

The Apoftle vindicates the franinefs, fincerity and tendernefs ofhis
conduSi, and his vifible fiuperiority io all fiecular conftder ation s,
in all his dealings with the church af Corinth, 2 Cor. XII. ii,
to the endi

% Con. XII. II.
T AM become a fool
in glorying; ye
have compelled me :
for I ought to have
been commended of
you : for in nothing
am I behind the very
(chiefeft apoftles, tho'
{ be nothing.

i» Truly the figns
of an apoftle were
wrought among you
in all patience, in
figns, and wonders,
^nd ini|hty deeds.

2 Corinthians XII. ii.
TT rnay be indeed, my brethren, that I am he- Sect.
-*¦ come foolijh in boaft'ing, as I have done above ; XX,
But if it be fo, you will confider where the blame "TcorT
lies. For you, by the manner in which fome xil.^i
of you, to whom I am now fpeaking, have be
haved yourfelves, may be faid to have compelled
me to do it, even againft my will. In which
you are peculiarly inexcufable ; for I ought in
deed to have been commended by you, rather than
to have found any neceffity of pleading with
you, in the manner I have done ; for I have in
no refpeSl whatfoever, failed to equal the moft ex
cellent of the apoftles, though I am myfelf no
thing in the account of fome; nor indeed am I
any thing in reality without the aids of Divine
grace and afliftance, nor would I alfume to my^
^If any glory from what that hathjjiade me.
Yet truly God has been pleafed to commuqicate j^
of his bounties to me in fuch a degree, that the
ftgns of an apoftle were produced among you in a
variety of moft convincing miracles 5 miracles,
by which I was not puffed up, but which were
wrought in all patience, in the midft o/ this un
reafonable oppofition I met with, notwithftand
ing thefe _y5f«j and wonders and powers, .v/hich
^wakened the amazement of all that beheldo
1 12  NojT

476

He would gladly fpe^df find 'be fpent for tie^.'

s»=». Nor did I exert thefe miraculous powers in cha-
^ : ftiiing the iirregular, but chofe rather, if it were
a Cor. poflible, to conquer ty love and by benefits.
XII. 13 And you kntjw that I conferred 'many bene
fits : for in what one fefpeSl were ye infer-ior to
the reft of the churches planned Ijy the other
apoftles, unlefs [// were tn this,'] that I myfelf
was not burdinfoitie iti you, by taking any apknow-
Jedgiiient for iiiy labours ? No, riot fo liiuch as
a fubfiftence among you at your expence. For
give' nie, I befeech you, this great injury ;-iori
think, I hardly need to aflc you forgivenefs on
any oiher accoiint. •
^4 ' Behold now, this js the third tirne I am ready
to come to yotf, having been difappointed twice
before, (i Cor. xv>. j ; 2 Cor. i. 15, 16.) A'i?-
verthelefs, / will not now be, in the fenfe I have
mentioned, burdenfome to you, for God knows,
I feek not your poffeffons, but yourfelves. If I
can but be inftnimehtall in promoting your'fal-
V^tion, and at the fapie tipie fecure your filial
loye and affeftiop, I fliall thirik niyfelf happy,
tho' I reap not the leaft perfonal advantage from
your property, where it is moft abundant. , For
it is notfitj that th^ chilAren Jhould lay vp treafure
for the parents, but the parents for- the children.
I therefore, being your fpiritual father, will
communicate to you fpch ' treafures as \ have,
15 and will riot defire to llia^'e yoiirs. For I will
wifh the greateft pleafure fpend, and be fpent for
your fouls; I will g)adly exhauft my ftrength,
^nd put myfelf to any expence toq, in order to
promote this; tho' the confequence; of all ftiould
be, that the more abitnditntly I love you, the lefs I
if/n loved by you. How unkind ibever yoiir re
turns maybe, if you fhould treat me like thofe
perverfe creatures w/\\o take a pleafuye in tor-
tnentjhg them that love them beft, yet fliaU ypu
ftill find roe a fincere frierjd to ypur bef^ interefts.
(Compare 2 "Xmi, ii. 105 i ThefT. ii. 8.)
16 ^ut I know, fome will be ready to objeft to
all this 5 as what will iiqt envy and falfehood
fuggeft^ where there is any intereft in fixing ah
odium? let it be fo, I did not indeed, myfelf
burden you, nor detiiand fubfiftence aniong you
as my right ; but perhaps it will be infinuated,
that being fubi'il I took you in by an artifice, ma-
¦¦•¦'''¦' king
3

13 Tot what is if
whereui ye were 'm-
ferior to other
churches, except if^i;
that I myfelf was noi
burdenfome to you J
forgive tae thiswrongl

14 BeboU, lhe„
thitd time I am rea
dy to come to you ;
and I will not be
burdenfpn^e to yAu ;
for I feflc not yours,
but you : for the chil
dren ought not to lay
up for the parents,
but the parent; tot
the children. . '

^5 And I win very
gladly fpend and
be fpent for you ;
though the more a-
buqdantly I love you,
the lefs I be loved.

i& But belt fe, I
^id npt burden you ',
neverthelefs, being
crafty, I ca'ught you
with guile. ¦ ' ' ''

4ttthat he fpoke was for their edification.

47?

J7 Did f make
gain of you by any cf
them whom I fent
'unto you .'

j8I defired Titijs,
»nd with kim I fent a
brother. Did Titus
hiake a gain of you ?
walked we not in the
Ifame fpirit ? loatked
v-e not in thti' fame
fteps?

19 Again, think
you that we excufe
Ourfelves unto you ?
we fpeak before Cod
in Chrift : but toe do
all things, dearly be
loved, for your edi
ting. •

xe For I fear, left
yihen I cpme, I (hall
pot Iind you fuch as
i would, and that I
ftpvM be found unto
yuu fuch as ye would
not: left there it
<' • ' ¦ de-

king others the inftruments of my mercenary Sbct.
principles, while I appeared myfelf fo difiiite- ^^
refted; I anfwer, by appealing to plain faft, jCor
I)id I make a prey of you, ' by a^ty one whom I Jent XII. 17
to you with any meffage from nie, or who came
to me about ahy bufinefs while 1 was refident
among you? name the man, if you cani or^
whom there is reafon to fix aiiy fuch fufpicion.
I defy the boldeft of mine enemies tp atledge,
what muft recoil on himfelf with fo much in
famy. I know, that I intr.eaied Titus ip ma^e l9
you a viflt, and ivith ihim] I fent a brother, to
keep him company on the journey, t)id Titus
then make a gain of you ? Did we not walk in the
fame fpirit, [aWJ in the fame fteps ? Did not
all his anions refemble mine, as formed upon
"the fame priniiples of ftrid integrity! and gene
rous friendfhip r
Again, do you think that we make any apology 19
to you, ahc} endeavour to amufe you with mere
words, mentioning Titus' coming to excufe my
own abfence ? In the ftght of God we fpeak as
thofe who know he is witnefs to every aftion
and word ;, yea, that he knows the fecret fprings
of affeftion which adtiiate our hearts ; and we
fpeak as thofe that are in Chrift hy a folemn pro
feftion of his religion, ^nd ftiould abhor any
thing which might bring a refleftion upon it.
And all things that we 'fay, when we are endea
vouring to reconcile your minds to us, are not
for our own fake, bnt [wc Jpeak] beloved, for
your edification : that by removing your preju
dices againft us, we may be capable of being
more ferviceable to you in your moft important
interefts. For I am really diftreffed on this 2^
accoimt, and fadly fear, left by any means
when I come unto you with an heart full of
Chriftian teiidernefs, and with all •imaginable
readinefs to do my utmoft to comfort and re-
frefh your fpirits, I fh/ndd not find you fuch as I
could wifih ; and that / fihould he fou^d by you
fuch as ye would not wifih I fhould be. I fear I
(hall have fome work before me of a very un
grateful kind, and which I would by all means
defire, it poffible, by this admonition to prevent.
For I aro very apprehenfive, left [there Jhould be]
"' ' ' contentions,

4.7S RefleSiions on St. PauTs difinterefted and prudent conduH.
SiPT. contentions, arifing from fecret and very unbe- debates, envyings,
coming emulations'", and growing up to tranfports ^"*'' '*''K'/' ''."''-
a Cor. of wraths, Jirifes, where there is a clafliing ei- {^'"mj, tum^^^l'
701.20 ther of opinions or fecular interefts; which will
tend to produce open reproaches or fecret whif-
perings, to the manifeft prejudice of each other's
fharafter ; thp inward fiuellings of pride and
atpbitipn, ojr perhaps the open confufion of riots
and iumi/lts, by which your caufe in general
31 will be expofed to public contempt ; [And] 4, ^„j 1,^ ^^[,e>.
iiideed on the whole, I am very apprehenfive, I come again,- my
left my God fiiould humble and mortify ot? when God will humble m»
/ come among you (tgain ; fo that my fpirit fljould J^if Tw'airm'ny
be eyen dejefted and broken,' on account of the which have fm'ned
fad change which hath psfTed fince I left Corinth ; »heady, and have
and left I fliould iind caufe to mourn over many ""' '"^p.^"'"' "f the
, -i ¦^ 1 1 J J \_ L , r ' uncleinnefs, andfor-
who have ftnned already, and who, though feve- nication, and lafcivi-
ral others have been wrought upon by my admo- oufnefs which jhey
nitions, have not repented of the uncleannefs and ''"' epmmitted.
fornications, and lafcivioufnefs which they have
committed: againft whom, therefore, I fear I
fhall find myfelf obliged, in virtue pf my office,
to pafs fuch cenfures, as it p^ins and pierces ipy
heart fo mtich as to think of.

IMPROVEMENT,
Ver. How amiable was the goodnefs of the Apoftle, in adding all
'i-'i- patience to thofe_y«^Kj of his Divine miflion, which were with
fo much fpleridor given among the Corinthians, when there were
fo many things to have excufed, or rather to have vindicated
Mis feverity. Such meeknefs had he learned of C/Sin^, fuch doeS
he teach to fucceeding minifters and private Chrifliam. How
difinterefted was his behaviour in every part of it ; not feekittg
J4 their fubftance, but their fouls I And indeed what is the greateft.
gain, which avarice, in its moft ^rtful and fuccefsful forms, can
make of the miniftry, when compared -w'lth winning fouls io Chrift,
and bringing them into th^ ivay of falvation ? Who, that deferves
the name of a Minifter, would not gladly facrifice the views of
15 worldly intereft to thi^, and rejoice in an opportunity oi fpending and
of being fpent for this?
Yet we fee, that even this cannot always command the returns of
love : but the love, as well as the praife, of men, is, in com-
' a CoHtent'ms, emulations, ice] All them ; and therefore he, in a very artful
thefe were the natural confequences of manner, gives this folema warning with
;bofe dciatu which i»d arifen amoi^g lelation to them, paiifon.

The Apoflle again menttens his defign of coming to them,
patifon, a matter of fmall importance. It will furely engage the
approbation of God : and all the flights and injuries over which
this benevolent difpofition triumphs, will be remembered by
him, with proportioriable tokens ofhis gracious acceptance.
Happy was that prudence which made the proof of integrity fo Yer.
clear, and the appeal to the whole world fo confident, as it here i5 i8
appears. ¦ So may we avoid every appearance of any thing which
might beget a fufpicion of finifter defigns, that we may vindicate
ourfelves from every fuch infinuation, with the hoble freedom of
thofe who are approved to God, and' the confciences rf' men. To 1 9
preferve this, may we tAways fpeak and aSi as before God, tn Chrift^
and do all things, not for the gratification of our own humour, or
advancement of our fecular intereft, but for the edification of others.
The minifters of the gofpel cannot but be humbled, when any 20
thing contrary to the rules and genius of it, is to be found among
the people of their care and charge ; whether they be pollutions of
the flefli, or of the fpirit : and they may be in fome inftances
as efFeftually moftifyed and diftreffed, by debates, envyings,
ftrifes, backbitings, and whifperings, as by uncleannefs, fornication, 21
and lafcivioufnefs. But when any of thefe things occur, as it is
to be feared that in moft Chriftian focieties, or at leaft in fuch as
are confiderable for their numbers, they fometimes will ; let it be
remembered that they happen by the permiffion of Providence.
God hath his wife ends in fuffering what is indeed fo lament
able : thus humbling the fhepherd, that the flock may be furthei
edified; that he may approve his fidelity in more vigorous efforts
for reformation ; and may not be exceffively exalted by that
better fuccefs, wherewith in other inftances God may crown his
endeavours.
SECT. XXI.
The Apoftle concludes his epiftle with affu'ring the Corinthians very
tenderly, how much it would grieve him to be obliged to fliow
¦ his apoftolic power, by inftiSIing any miraculous punijhment on
thofe who continued io oppofe him ; fubjoining ai the end of all
proper falutations, and his folemn benediSiion. a Cor. XIII. i,
throughout.
aCoR.XIII.i. 2C0RINTHIANS XIII, I. Sict.
XHIS /• the third ,^ J ^.jj ^^^^^^ ^^^^ j^^^ ^j^^j digreflion j^
^ which harh carried me away from what I 2 Cor.
vras entering upon before, [// is] now, as I faid Xlll. i
(chap. xii. 14) the third time, that I tell you, /
am

4Sd
Sect.
• XX.

.And declares, ihat then ke itiould not fpare thtd.

2 Cor.
xm. I

am coming to you " ; and as feveral cafes will
come before me on which it will be neceifary to
give my judgement, I affure you, I fhall think
myfelf obliged to proceed on that reafonable
maxim in the Jewifti conftitution, (Numb. xxxv.
30; Deut. xvii. 6 ; Chap, xix. 15,; that every
word, or thing, admitted for evidence in the
decifion, Jhall be eftablijhed by the concurrence
of what cometh from the mouth of two or three
2 credible vnineffes. And you will remember,
that 1 havc iorxasx\y foretold you, and do foretel
it now again i as if I were prefent the fecond time
in perfon ; and being abfent in body, but not in
fpirit, / now write io thofe ihat have ftnned al
ready in any fcandalous and aggravated manner,
and to all the reft, that they may take notice of it,
and be filled with a facred awe, that if I come
again, I will not fpare [you ^J as I have hi
therto done ; but am tietermined, by the divine
pfermiffion, to animadvert upon notorious of-
tenders, by the exertion. of that miraculous powef
3 with which God has endowed me. Sincci
after all the evidence you have already had, fomc
of you are fo fkang^y unreafonable, as to feek a
imther proif of Chr'tfjl fpeaking by his fpirit in
me, even of the authority of that glorious and
almighty Saviour, who is not weak toivards you,
but powerful ainong you by what he has already
wrought '^, you may at length have fuch demon
ftrations of it, as may perhaps coft fome of yoU
^ dear. For though he was once crucified as
through a ftate of weaknefs, fubmitting to thofe

time I am coming to
yoB. In the mouth of
two or three witnefles
ftiall every word be
eftabiilked.

a I told-you beforej'
and foretei you as if
I were prefent the
fecond time, and be
ing abfent now 1 write
to them which here
tofore have finned,
and to all other, that
if I come again, ]
wiil not ff are i

3 txnie. ye feck a
proof of Chrift fpeak
ing in me, which t»
you- ward Is notweak,
but is mighty, in you.

4 For though he
was crucified through
weaknefs

a The thied t'lDie I tell you / am coming :
T^iiw Turo i^^'ifjMi.] So'the words may
be taken', though I own them ambiguous.
Perh.^p3 this n»y intimate, that this was
the third ep^le he had wrote to them, in
which he had nKntioned his purpofe of
cpmingi but we cannot certainly infer it.
He feems here to refume the fentence he
had begun, chap. xii. 14. Such interrup
tions are frequent in St. Paul, and in ma
ny other writers who havc not a regard to
an artificial drefs, and do not ftand to
correAevery little inaccuracy, but abound
in quickuefs and variety pf thought, as
Mr. Locke juftly. obferves.
b I lu'ill not fpare yoa.] It 'is (as Bi- •
fliof Buriiit very juftly obftrvei*)' a great

confirmation of the veracity cf the apoftl^i
that when faftions were Taifcd againft
them, tbey ufed none of the arts of flat
tery, however neceffary they might feem ;
but depended on the force of a miraculous
power to reduce oftinders; which it
would ha«ebeen a- moft abAird thing to
have pretended to, if they had not really
been conitious to themfelves" that it was
engaged in their favour. Burnet on the
^i, p. 62. See I Cor. iv.. »i. note (.
e Already wrought.] This may, as
Mf . Cradock and others obferve, very pfo-
bably refer to fome miraculous punilh
ment inftifted lately on the inceftuouJ
CerinthSan,

in-

They Jhould exanfinej whether they were in the faith, 381

weaknefs, yet he li-
ifeth by the power of
God: for we alfo
crc u-eak in bim, but
v.-e Ihall llvewithhim
by the power of God
^ov'Mrd yoii.

S Ex.imine yoiir
felves, whether ye be
in the faith; prove
your own felves :
knowye notyourown
felvesjfow that Jefus
Chrift is in you, ex'.
ceptye befeprobates.?

6 But I. truft that
J'e fliall know that we
are not reprobates.

infirmities of mortal flefh, which put him into Sect.
the hdnds of his enemies, arid waving the ex- ^^^'
ertlon of that miraculous energy, by which he ^ cor.
could fo foon have refcued himfelf, and deftroyed XII1.4
them ; neverthelefs, he now liveth by the poiJue.r
of God the Father, whereby he obtained a
glprious refurreftion, and is iibw afcended to a
feat of uncontrouled and univerfal authority.
And thus we his apoftles, though we are alfo weak
in him, and to them who regard only external
appearances, may feem contemptible; neverthe
lefs, Jhall live with him by the power of God, ma
nifefted to you in our favour, to give ^ kind of
refurreftion to that apoftolical authority which
may have feemed for a while dormant and dead.
You examine and try me ; but let me admo- r
nifh you td turn the fearch inward, and to ex-
amine and try yourfelves, that ye may certainly
know , whether ye are iri the faith, whether ye be
true Chriftians or not^ For if you on a ftrift ,
inquiry find that you are, you will therein find
a proof of my being a true apbftle ; as it is by
means of my extraordinary gift that you are be
come id. Prove yourfelves ^, my brethrenj
whether you can, pr cannot ftand the teft. Do
you not know yourfelves, when the fubjeft of
knowledge lies fo near you, and is always before
your eye ? Are you not fenfible thai fefus Chrift
is dwelling in you by the fanftifying and tranf-
forming influences of his Spirit ; unlefe ye are
mere nominal Chriftians, and fuch as, whatever
your gifts be, will finally he difapproved' and
rejefted, as reprobate filver, that will not ftand
the touchftone ? But whatever be the cafe ,

of any of yoij, / hope ye flail foon know thai we
are not difapproved, and have not loft/ our evi
dence of the Divine prefence and approbation^

6

^ Examine yottnfelves—prorue yourfelves.]
"Whether you be Scmy.ci, fuch as can ftand
the teft-, or a.^o-.iifx<ii, fuirh as cannot, for
that is the proper import of the word
Which we render reprobates. The differ
ence- between TO-Eifa^Ele, and ioiufA.a,'C.tlif,
ftems to be gradua^^ : examine aai thoroughly
prove. = Unlefs ye'are difapproved,] Dr. Guyfe
paraphrafes the words ii ^ri ti a.^f.it.if/.u
tirt, " unlefs there be fomething very dif-
" approvcable in you j" and it Certainly
Vol. IV.

expreffes the fenfe with great propriety >
but as the apoftle fuppofes this to be
Something which would prove that Chrift
was not dwelling with and among them,
it fcems that it muft be extended to the
fenfe given in the paraphrafe.
f Have not loft, &c.] It fcems that
the poftihility of loling extraordinary gifts
by rhe fl/'w^ of them, is finely infinuated
in this .ohiique manner; and it might, if
rightly underftood, have its weight with
manv of , tbem.
Kk But

7 Now I pray t«
God that ye do nt>,
evil ; not that we
fliould, appear appro
ved, but that ye Ihall
do that which is ho
neft, though we be
as reprobates.

% For we can d^
nothing againft the
truth, bi^t (or the
truth.

4.82 That they might have a proof of his apoftolical authority.
^xxV ^"^ ^ ^"^ ^^^ irom defiring to prove fuch evi-
' dences of it as would be grievous to you ; and
2 Cor. can truly fay, that / wifh io God ye may do no
XIII. 7 evil in any refpeft, and not ihat ive may he
manifefted \as\ approved, by fuch awful methods
as thofe to which I refer : but on the contrary,
thai ye mat do what is good, beatiful, and amia
ble, that which will adorn your profeffion in
the moft effeftual manner ; though we Jhould be
as if we were d'tfa-pproved, and upon a level with
thofe who have no teftimonials of an extraordi-
8 nary miffion to produce. For we are noi able
io do any thing againft the intereft of that im
portant fyftem of truth which God hath in
trufted us with ; but muft ftrenuoufly aft fior the
fervice of the truth, and fupport of the gofpel,
and not aft by perfonal inclinations and affec
tions, of refentment on the one h^nd, or tenr
dernefs on the other.
9 I wifh the regularity of your behaviour at all
events, as I declared above ; for ive rejoice, when
zve are weak, or feem fo by not exerting any mi-
raculoiiis powers to the purpofes we have hinted ;
and when ye, our dear converts and brethren,
are ftrong in gift? and graces in faith, and good
works : and this alfo we w'lfii [even] your being
fet in perfeSi good order ^. Your entire refor
mation would give us the greateft pleafure ima
ginable, a pleafure far beyond what we could de
rive from the moft aftonifhipg interpofitions of
God, to chaftife thofe that rebel againft us.
10 Therefore upon the whole, / write thefie things
thus largely being abfent, thai when I am pre
fent I may noi he obliged to aB feverely accord
ing to the Divine and extraordinary power which
the Lord Jefus Chrift hath given me, for the ed't-
fication of the feveral members of his church,
and not for the deftruSiion of men's lives' and
comforts. And therefore it is that I give yoii
this warning ; in order to prevent what would
otherwife be grievous to myfelf, as well as to you.
II As for what remains, my dear brethren, fare-
wel ; and may all joy and happinefs ever attend
you. And that this may be the cafe, let it be

9 For we are glad
when we are weal^
and ye are ftrong :
and this alfo we wilh,
eyeti your perfeftion,

10 Therefore \
write thefe things
being abfent, left be
ing prefent I ftiould
ufe fliarpnefs, accord^
ing to the power
which the Lord hath
given me to edificai
tion, and not to de
ftruftion.

II Finally, bre
thren, farewel. Be
per-

Z Being fet in perfeU good order.] This wrought, though fomething confiderable
I think the import of nalaplia-r, that had been done towards it.
fcffeSi reformation which was pot yet
,3 T"^^

Th e Apoftle gives ihein his folemn benediSiion,

4S3

perfeft, be of good
comfort, be of one
mind, live in peace ;
and the God of love
and peace (Ijall be
\yitji ypu,

12 Gxeet one an
other with ^n holy
kifs.

13 All the faints
faluta you.

14 The grace of
the Lord Jefus Chrift,
and the love of God,
and the communion
of the Holy Ghoft,
he with yoi^ all.
Amen.

your great care, that ye may be perfect, that ye Sict.
may arrive at the higheft degrees of goodnefs.  '^
May you all 3i?.«»2/ir/<?fl^ with thofe ftrong con- aCor,
folations which true Chriftjapity fuggefts, and XIII.
exhorted and animated by the intlruftions it in- H
culcates. Attend to the fame thing^, purfue
with the greateft unanimity of heart, and in
tenfenefs of affeftion, that which pught to be
^ the great end of all our fchemes and defigns,
the care of glorifying God, and adorning the
gofpel. And as you have, in fome inftances,
feemed to have foigotten how effential it is tq
true Chriftianity, that its profeffors fhould abftain
frorn mutual injuries, and cultivate unfeigned
friendfhip, let me urge it upon you that ye be
peaceful, candid, and affeftionate in your fenti
ments ; and the God of love and peace will gra
cioufly own you as his children, and be favour
ably with you, and fix his refidence among you. '
And in token of this entire harmony, and en- j;^
deared affeftion, falute each other according to
the cuftom of your aifemblies, with an holy kifs
as a p'roper expreffion of the pureft and moft ar
dent love. All the faints, that is, the Chrif- j^
tians here, in the place fropi whence I now
-write, falute you with the fincereft affeftion, and
will always rejoice tq hear of your peace, prof
perity, and edification.
I conclude all with my moft affeftionate good 14
wifties for you ; even that the perpetuaj favour
of ihe L-.rd fefus Chrift ', the great Head of the
church, in whom all the fulnefs of grace dwells ;
and ihe conftant and peculiar love of Qod, the
Father, and the moft abundant communion and
fellowfhip of the Holy Ghoft, in the richeft anoint
ings of his gifts and graces, may [be] with you,
and reft upon you all continually, henceforth
3nd for ever. Anien : may God ratify the im-

b Attend to the fame thing.] So to auli
?fovEils fliould undoubtedly be rendered
taZher thfin ie of oee mind-, which in fome
refpefts might have been impoffible. See
Ttiy Sermon im Candour and Hupiamty, p. 8.
and Phil. ii. 2, and note there.
i Favi^ur of the Lord Jefus Chr'ft.] I
fxprefs x»S'5 h-y favour here ; .brif grace
be taken for fanftifying*. influences com
municated from, Chrift, (which to be fure
jpalfes a great part of the idea,) it may lie

lefs eafy to diftinguifli it from theccwwK-
nion of the Spirit. — It is with great reafon,
that this comprehenfive and inftruftive
tfned'iB'iop is' pronounced juft before our af
femblies for public worlhip are difmifl'ed ;
and it is a very 'indecent thing to fee fo
mahy quitting them, or getting into pof-
tures of remove, before this 'Ihort fen
tence can be ended. Compare Numb. vi.
26, 27. portant

4^4- JSjflcSiienS on the conciuatng JeStioft.
^x^ portant wifli, fo as to anfwer and exceed your
.,  '_ moft exalted hopes. IMFKOVEMENT.
¦^erfe , AnoRtD be thenarrie of that corapafCoriate Redeemer i -vihti
was once crucified as through weaknefs ; and when he Could have
commanded more tha;n twelve legions.of angels to his refcue, volun
tarily fiibmittedjo be feized and bound, like an helplefs mortal;
fubjeft to fuperior force, and thus led away to torture and death !
He lives ior ever by the power of God, by a life derived irom him :
may we, weak as we are in ourfelves, live through him to all the
purpofesof the C6/f//?/a« life. ¦ '
And that this life may flourifh abundantly, let us Ke often en-
5 gagedto examine ourfelves -, fince it Will be fo great a fcandal, and
fo grfeat.a fnare, to beftrangers al home. Do we not indeed after
all kiiow ourfelves ? Let us fearch, whether fefius Chrift be in us ?
6 Whether he be formed in our hearts; whether he live'alid aft in us
by his Holy Spirit ? Elfe fhall we be treated as reprobate filverj
fhall webe juftly r^Vif?^^ of God, and no gifts or privileges will
avail us. Having gained the fure evidfences df fincere goodnefs, in
ourfelves, we may, with the greater Chearfulnefs and confidence,"
pray for our brethren ; and let us offer the Apoftle's petition for
thern, that they may dono evik but every thing that is juft and ho
nourable, beautiful and lovely : never defiring to exalt ourfelves on
9 the miftakes and follies of others; but on the contrary, wifli'm^
theirperfeStion, and labouring to the utmoft to promote it.
How charming a fpirit breathes in thofe fentences in vvhich the
Apoftle takes his leave of the Corinthians I So much wifdotn and
J I 12 goodnefs, that one is almoft grieved, that he who bids farewel'm
fuch an engaging manner, does 'it fo foon, het us- however bear
his parting words in mind. When minifters are leaving thofe
among whom they have laboured, when Chriftiatt friends are fe
parated from each other> let this be their common petition and
care, that they may be improved ar^d comforted; thait unanimity and
peace may prevail and increafe ; and that the God of peace may he
with them all: that he may be with' them in thofe happy effefts,
and blefled operations, which will be the refult of the grace of our
Lord Jefus Chr'ift, the love of God, and the fellowjhip of ihe Holy
Ghoft.
J 3 How often hath this comprehenfive benediSiion been pronounced ?
Let ns ftudy it more and more ; that we m^y value it proportion
ably, that we fet ourfelves to deliver, or to receive it, with a be
coming folemnity ; with eyes and hearts lifted up to God, who,
when out of Zion he commandelh ihe bleffing, beftows in it life for
evermore. Amen I
The End of the Fourth Volume.

J