between near relatives, such marriages are not sins in the sight of God. To deny, therefore, the permanency of the law recorded in Lev. 18, is not only to go contrary to the authori- ty of the apostle, but also to teach that there is for Christians no such crime as incest.
2. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
They were puffed up, i. e. elated with the conceit of their good estate, notwithstanding they were tolerating in their communion a crime which even the heathen abhorred. Some have endeavoured to account for the occurrence of such an offence, and for the remissness of the church in relation to it, by supposing that both the offender and the church acted on the principle taught by many of the Jews, that all bonds of relationship were dissolved by conversion. The prosel}i;e to Judaism became a new creature. He received a new name. His father was no longer his father, or his mother his mother. The Rabbins therefore taught that a proselyte might lawfully marry any of his nearest kindred. It is possible that such a notion may have partially prevailed among the Jewish portion of the church; but not very probable, 1. Because of its ab- surdity ; 2. Because its prevalence among the Jews was only after their reprobation as a people ; 3. Because the wiser class of the Jews themselves condemned it. It is more probable, if the crime was defended at all, it was on the principle that the Scriptures and nature condemn intermarriages on the ground only of consanguinity and not also of affinity. A prin- ciple opposed to Leviticus 18, and to what the apostle here teaches.
And have not rather mourned (iirev'^rja-aTe)^ i. e. grieved for yourselves. Your condition, instead of filling you with pride, should humble you and make you sad. J7iat (tm), not so that, but 171 order that, as expressing the design which the apostle contemplated in their humiliation and sorrow. Comp. John 11,15. 'I would that ye Avere grieved and sorry for yourselves, in order that he who had done this deed might be taken away.' The Iva may depend on a word implied. ' Ye have not mourned, desiring that, &c.» Chrysostom says the idea is, that they should have acted as they would have done had a pestilence appeared among them which called for