being the doctrine of the Bible, no civil or ecclesiastical body can rightfully establish a different rule, or prescribe another or (as they pretend) a higher rule of morality. All attempts to be better than the Bible, on this or any other subject, only render men worse. Paul, therefore, teaches that a woman on the death of her husband, is free to marry whom she will — only in the Lord. There are two ways in which this restric- tion may be understood. First, that she should marry only one who is in the Lord, i. e. a Christian. Though mixed mar- riages between Christians and Jews or Gentiles should not, when formed, be broken up (as taught above, vs. 12-15) ; yet no such marriage ought to be contracted. Or, secondly, the phrase may be taken adverbially as expressing manner, as he- comes those who are in the Lord^ i. e. in a Christian manner. She is to marry as becomes a Christian. This interpretation includes the other. Compare Rom. 16, 2. 22. Eph. 6, 1, &c. The former explanation is the more simple and natural.
40. But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment : and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
Happier^ freer from exposure to suffering, v. 28 ; and freer from worldly care, v. 32. After my judgment ; it was an opinion founded, as he says, on the pecuKar circumstances of the time, and not intended to bind the conscience or to inter- fere with the liberty of others, v. 35. Nevertheless, it was the opinion of a holy and inspired man, and therefore entitled to the greatest deference. To have the Spirit^ means to be under the influence of the Spirit ; whether as a Christian or as an apostle, depends on the context. The meaning here clear- ly is, that the apostle was led by the Spirit to give the advice in question ; so that his advice is, so to speak, the advice of the Spirit. But is not the advice of the Spirit obligatory ? Certainly, if he meant it to be so ; but if he meant simply to lay down a general rule of expediency, and to leave every one to judge of its application to his or her peculiar case, then it leaves all concerned free. It would cease to be advice if men could not act contrary to it, without irreverence or disobe- dience. I think {ZoKio) I have^ is only, agreeably to Greek usage, an urbane way of saying I have^ comp. Gal. 2, 6. 1 Cor. 12, 22. I^ul was in no doubt of his being an organ of the Holy Ghost. I also, i. e. I as well as others. This is