Testament. And such a reference in this case is forbidden by the whole context. In the second chapter, the mystery which Paul speaks of is declared to be the gospel considered as a revelation of God. In the Romish church, the principal func- tion of ministers is to dispense the sacraments to which they are assumed to have the power, in virtue of the grace of orders, to give supernatural power. In the apostohc church they were regarded as the dispensers of the truth. This verse, therefore, contains two important truths : Ministers have no arbitrary or discretionary authority in the church. Neither have they any supernatural power, such as is attributed to them in the Romish church. Their authority is merely minis- terial, limited by the commands of Christ, and, therefore, to be judged by the standard of those commands, which are known to the whole church. And secondly, they are not, like Aristotle or Plato, the originators of their own doctrines, or the teachers of the doctrines of other men, but simply the dis- pensers of the truths which God has revealed.
2. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Moreover^ (o 8c Xoittov) lut what remains is ; as to the rest. Instead of the words just mentioned Lachmann and Tischen- dorf adopt the reading JjSc, here^ i. e. in the earth, or, in this matter. The most ancient MSS. are in favour of this reading, and the sense is good. The great requisite for the discharge of the office of a steward is fidehty. As he is a servant he must be faithful to his master ; as he is a dispenser, he must be faithful to those subject to his oversight. He must not neglect to dispense to them their food ; neither may he adulterate it, or substitute any thing in the place of that which is given them to distribute. The application of this to the case of ministers is plain. The great thing required of them is fidel- ity. Fidelity to Christ as servants ; not arrogating to them- selves any other than ministerial power, or venturing to go beyond his commands. Fidelity also to the people, not fail- ing to dispense to them the truths which God has revealed, nor mixing those truths with their own speculations, much less substituting for those doctrines human knowledge or wisdom.
3. But with me it is a very small thing that I