8

SECT.

xiii.

1 Cor.'

The believing party may convert the unbelieving.

future obligation, and is not in bondage in such God hath called us to [cases.] But let it be always remembered, that peace. God hath by his gospel called us to peace; and VII. 15. therefore it ought to be our care, to behave in as inoffensive a manner as possible, in all the relations of life; that so, if there must be a breach, the blame may not be chargeable upon the Christian.

16

16 For what knowest

thou shalt

Or how

And as it is worth your while, to be very careful in your behaviour to those who thus make, thou, O wife, whether as it were, a part of yourselves, that you may husband? save thy adorn the gospel you profess, by the most ami- knowest thou, O man, able and engaging conduct; for it is possible, whether thou shalt save the unbeliever may be thereby gained to Chris- thy wife? tianity. Let each therefore reflect on his own concern in this observation. For how knowest thou, O wife, but thou mayest save thine husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, but thou mayest save [thy] wije? And surely the everlasting happiness of the person, now the companion of your life, will be more than an equivalent for all the self-denial to which you may be 17 required at present to submit. But if this should not be the effect, it still becomes you to do duty; and therefore since the providence of God called every one, so let is concerned in all these relations, and in the him walk and so orsteps by which they were contracted, as God dain I in all churches. hath distributed to every one, and as it were, cast the parts of life, let every one so walk, even as the Lord hath called hima. This is the lesson I would inculcate on you Corinthians, and thus I command in all the churches, and charge it upon the consciences of men, as a lesson of the highest importance.

your

17 But as God hatla distributed to every

man, as the Lord hath

18 Is any man called being circumcised?

18 Is any one, for instance, called, being circum-
cised, let him not become, so far as in him lies, let him not become
uncircumcised; nor act, as if he were desirous, uncircumcised; is any
as far as possible, to undo what was done by his man called in uncir-
cumcision? Let him
Jewish parents, or masters, in his infancy. Is
not become circum-
any one called to the fellowship of gospel-bles- cised.
ings in uncircumcision let him not be solicitous to
be circumcised, as if that rite were necessary to

d As the Lord hath called him.] This is a very pertinent digression, as it so directly contradicts the notion which prevailed among the Jews, that embracing the true religion dissolved all the relations which had before been contracted. Whereas the apostle here declares, that the gospel left them in this respect, just as it found them; increasing, instead of lessen

his

ing, the obligations they were under to a faithful and affectionate discharge of their correspondent duties.

e Become uncircumcised] The word Iowacw, has an evident relation to attempts, like those referred to, 1 Mac. i. 15, which it is not necessary more particularly to illustrate.

f You

In general, as God hath called every man, so let him walk.

cumcision is nothing,

20 Let every man

abide in the same calling wherein he was called,

xiii.

1 Cor.

9

his salvation, as the Jews, and some zealots SECT. 19 Circumcision is amongst ourselves, have taught. For to speak nothing, and uncir- the important truth in a few plain words, Cirbut the keeping of the cumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is no- VII. 19. commandments of God thing; the observation, or non-observation, of the Mosaic law, will neither secure nor obstruct our salvation; but all depends upon keeping the commandments of God. An obediential faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, produced by the sanctifying influences of his Spirit on the heart, and bringing forth the genuine fruits of holiness in our temper and life, is the great concern: and whether we be Jews, or Gentiles, circumcised, or uncircumcised, we shall be happy, or miserable for ever, as we are careful or negligent with regard to this. As for other matters, be not 20 excessively concerned about them; but in whatever calling, that is, profession and circumstance, any one of you was called, in that let him continue; affect not to change without the clear and evident leadings of Providence, as there is generally greater reason to expect comfort and usefulness in such a calling than another. And I may apply this, not only to the different 21 employments, but relations in life, as well as diversity in religious professions. Art thou, for instance, called into the church of Christ, [being] in the low rank, not only of an hired servant, but a slave? Do not so much regard it, as, upon that account, to make thy life uneasy; but if thou canst, without any sinful method of obtaining it, be made free, choose it rather; as what is no doubt in itself eligible, yet not absolutely necessary to the happiness of a good man. 22 For he that is For he that is called by the Lord to the Christian 22 called in the Lord, faith, [being] a servant or slave, is the Lord's Lord's freeman: like- freeman. Christ has made him free indeed, in wise also he that is making him partaker of the glorious liberties of called, being free, is the children of God; (John viii. 36 ;) and on the

21 Art thou called not for it; but if thou mayest be made free,

being a servant? care

use it rather.

being a servant, is the

Christ's servant.

23 Ye are bought with a price; be not

ye the servants of men.

other hand, he also that is called, [being] free
from the authority of any human master, is still
the servant, the property of Christ, and owes
him a most implicit and universal obedience.
But upon this head, remember, that as Chris-23
tians, you were all bought with a most invaluable
price: Christ hath redeemed you at the expence

f You were bought with a price. &c.] Dr. Whitby would render it, "Are ye bought with a price, that is, redeemed from

of

10

Reflections on the improvement of our relations and callings.

SECT. of his own blood; and therefore, let me caution

1 Cor.

you out of regard to him, and from a desire to be capable of serving him, as much as possible, VII. 23. that ye do not, where it may by any lawful means be avoided, become the slaves of men; since so many evils and dangers and snares are inseparable from such a situation.

24 This, brethren, is the particular advice which

let

24 Brethren, every man wherein be

I thought proper to give upon this bead; and is called, therein abide
the general rule I laid down above, is of such with God.
great importance, that I must repeat it; in
whatever [condition] a man was called at first,
by the gospel and grace of Christ, in that let him
abide with God, taking care to behave in a
prudent and religious manner, as under the Di.
vine inspection; and not changing his business in
life, if it be in the general lawful, because he is
a Christian; but endeavouring to pursue it with
such integrity, diligence and prudence, as that
his great Master and Saviour may be most effec-
tually glorified.

IMPROVEMENT.

Ver. LET us learn, from the exhortations and reasonings of the' 14 apostle, a becoming solicitude, to contribute as much as we possibly can, to the Christian edification of each other; and espsecially let this be the care of the nearest relatives in life. What can be more desirable, than that the husband may be sanctified by the wife, and the wife by the husband! May all prudent care be taken, in contracting marriages, as to the religious character of the intended partner of life; and in those already contracted, where this precaution has been neglected, or where the judgment formed seems to have been mistaken, let all considerations of prudence,

counsel Christians against becoming slaves,
if it could be prevented and with great
reason, as it was a circumstance which
seemed less suitable to the dignity of the
Christian profession, and must expose them
to many incumbrances and interruptions
in duty, especially on the Lord's day, and
other seasons of religious assemblies; be-
sides the danger of being present at do-
mestic idolatrous sacrifices, or being ill-
used, if they refused their compliance.
But I cannot thoroughly approve of the
Doctor's version, because the advice is
unnecessarily restrained thereby, o those
slaves who had been redeemed; which
plainly, as well suited those who had their

freedom given them, and indeed suited all Christians who never had been at all slaves, and who might more easily have been prevailed upon, by their poverty, to bring themselves into a condition, the evils and inconveniences of which they did not thoroughly know.

g Abide with God.] L'Enfant explains Taga Tw ew in the sight of God, (Compare 2 Cor. x. 11; Eph. v. 21,) and thinks there had been some disorders at Corinth, proceeding from some irregular claim which Christian slaves made to liberty, under pretence, that, as Christian brethren, they were equal with their masters.

h Care

xiii.

Reflections on the improvement of our relations and callings. prudence, of religion, of affection, concur to animate to a mu- SECT. tual care of each other's soul, that most important effort of love, that most solid expression and demonstration of friendship. Nor Ver. let the improbability of success be pleaded in excuse for neglect, 14 even where the attempt must be made by the subordinate sex. A possibility should be sufficient encouragement; and surely there. is room to say, How knowest thou, O wife, but thou mayest save 16 him, whose salvation, next to thine own, must be most desirable to thee?

Let us all study the duties of the relations in which God hath fixed us; and walk with him in our proper callings, not desiring 24 so much to exchange, as to improve them. His wise Providence. bath distributed the part; it is our wisdom, and will be our happiness, to act in humble congruity to that distribution. Surely the apostle could not have expressed in stronger terms, his deep conviction of the small importance of human distinctions, than he here does; when speaking of what seems to great and generous minds, the most miserable lot, even that of a slave, he says, Care not for it. If liberty itself, the first of all temporal bles- 21 sings, be not of so great importance, as that a man, blessed with the high hopes and glorious consolations of Christianity, should make himself very solicitous about it, how much less is there in those comparatively trifiing distinctions on which many lay so disproportionate, so extravagant a stress!

Let Christian servants (for blessed be God, amongst us we have no slaves,) remember their high privileges, as the Lord's freemen. Let Christian masters remember the restraint, as the 22 Lord's servants. And let the benefits of liberty, especially, when considered in its aspect upon religion, be so 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 mind from the bondage of corruption; and of keeping, with all humble and cheerful observance, the commandments of God. While many express the warmest zeal 19 for circumcision, or uncircumcision, in defence of, or in opposition to, this, or that mode or form of external worship, let our hearts be set on what is most vital and essential in religion; and we shall find the happiest equivalent, in the composure and satisfaction of our own spirit now, as well as in those abundant rewards which the Lord hath laid up for them who fear him.

h Care not for it.] This fine remark, Goodwin's Works, Vol. I, p. 50, (for such indeed it is,) occurs in Dr.

VOL. IX.

B

SECT.

a Or

11

12

The apostle again says, that marriage was then inexpedient.

SECT. xiv.

VII. 25.

SECT. XIV.

The apostle treats on the inexpediency of marriage, in the circumstances of the church at that juncture; and inculcates a serious sense of the shortness of time, as the best remedy against immoderate attachment to any secular interest. 1 Cor. VII. 25, to the end.

I CORINTHIANS VII. 25.

1 COR. VII. 25.

NOW concerning vircommandment of the gins, I have no Lord: yet I give my

BUT UTI have been insensibly led by these gene. ral views of our obligations and hopes, as 1 Cor. Christians, to digress from the subject of marriage, which I had first in view, and to which judgment as one that hath obtained mercy it is time I should return. And here, concern- of the Lord to be faith ing the case of virgins of either sex, I have re- ful. ceived no express commandment from the Lord, as I had in the case handled above; whether by what is transmitted to us in Christ's discourses, or by any immediate and personal revelation ; nevertheless, I give my opinion, as one who hath received grace and mercy of the Lord, to be faithful in the great charge he hath committed to me; and therefore, considering the many instances, in which I have been enabled to approve my fidelity to Christ and his church, may expect to be heard with some peculiar regard. 26 I apprehend this therefore to be right and good in the present exigency and extremity of affairs, while the church is in such a state of persecu- I tion, that [it is] best for a single man to continue a 27 as he is. Art thou indeed bound to a wife al- 27 Art thou bound ready? my advice affects not thee; in that case unto a wife? seek not bear patiently whatever burdens may occur, and to be loosed. Art thou seek not to be loosed from her by an irregular and scandalous divorce or separation. But on the other hand, art thou loosed from a wife? Hath Providence never led thee into those engagements, or has it broken the bond by the death of thy former companion? If thou canst conveniently and virtuously continue as thou art, seek

a Or by immediate and personal revelation.] To this, I think he refers, rather than the former, as he speaks in the singular number; whereas else he might more properly have said, we have received

none.

b Present exigency.] This must certainly refer to the prevalence of persecu

not

26 I suppose there. fore that this is good say that it is good for for the present distress. man so to be.

loosed from a wife?

seek not a wife.

tion at that time; for nothing can be more absurd, than to imagine, that an inspired apostle would, in the general, discountenauce marriage; considering that it was expressly agreeable to a divine institution, and of great importance to the existence and happiness of all future generations.

c Con.