^ Xlvtv//.aTixa ra, ffrifiUK xaXuv, on Ttnura. epyx rm TTviviAuroi fiovov, ovdiv avCfiuTTiirii tTiKripioovffyts ff-TTouiTis, i'S ''■0 Ta Toiaurct S-ocvf^t.a.'rovp'yiTv. — Chrysost. in loc. bo also Ani- bros. and Theopbylact. in Ijc.
* XctpiirfiaTCC Ti iiX'^y "' H-'^ IXxTrovcc, o'l ti TXiia- y.ai rauTO alrmv <r;j;/»'|«aTa{ ahm7s 'cyiiitTO, oh "Trafoi irit o'lxuav (pvffiv, aXXa -ru^a. u.yvui/.effvvriv tcaii ti>.yi(poruv oiti yap to. [iit- H^ovai^ovTii I'Try.povro xci-ra raiv ra. iXoLrrcta, xixnj/aivuv ouroi oi av ^dXiv nXyovv, xa) rois fu fiii^oia 'ix,ov<rii if^ivovti.- — Chrysost. in loc.
CHAP. I.] THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WORK. ] 7
— hurried with violent impressions from the devil into the service of idols. This he mentions not to reproach them, but to let them know what frame of mind and what fruit of life might be justly ex- pected from them who had received such an alteration in their con- dition.^ Particularly, as he elsewhere tells them, if they had not made themselves to differ from others, if they had nothing but what they had received, — they should not boast nor exalt themselves above others, as though they had not received, chap. iv. 7; for it is a vain thing for a man to boast in himself of what he hath freely received of another, and never deserved so to receive it, as it is with all who have received either gifts or grace from God.
This alteration of their state and condition he farther declares unto them by the effects and author of it : chap. xii. 3, " Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed : and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." The great difference which was then in the world was concerning Jesus, who was preached unto them all. Unbelievers, who were still carried with an imjjetus of mind and affections after " dumb idols," being led and acted therein by the spirit of the devil, blasphemed, and said Jesus was anathema, or one accursed. They looked on him as a person to be detested and abominated as the common odium of their gods and men. Hence, on the mention of him they used to say, " Jesus anathema," " He is," or, •' Let him be, accursed," detested, destroyed. And in this blas- phemy do the Jews continue to this day, hiding their cursed senti- ments under a coiTupt pronunciation of his name: for instead of Plt^', they write and call him ^^;., the initial letters of i^^ri iOE^ n?3^^ — that is, " Let his name and memory be blotted out;" the same with " Jesus anathema." And this blasphemy of pronouncing Jesus ac- cursed was that wherewith the first persecutors of the church tried the faith of Christians, as Pliny in his epistle to Trajan, and Justin Martyr, with other apologists, agree; and as the apostle says, those Avho did thus did not so " by the Spirit of God," so he intends that they did it by the acting and instigation of the devil, the unclean spirit, which ruled in those children of disobedience. And this was the condition of those Corinthians themselves to whom he wrote, whilst they "also were caiTied away after " dumb idols." On the other side, those that believed called Jesus " Lord," or professed that he was the Lord ; and thereby avowed their faith in him and obedi- ence unto him. Principally, they owned him to be Jehovah, the Lord over all, God blessed for ever; for the name '"•)'"•; is every-
1 " Spiritualia illis traditurus, exemplum prioris conversationis memorat ; ut sicut simulacrorum fuerunt forma colentes idola, et ducebantur duce voluntate dsemoniorum; ita et colentes deum sint forma legis dominicse." — Ambi'os. in loc.
VOL. IIL 2
] 8 GENERAL PRINCIPLES CONCERNING [BOOK L
where in the New Testament expressed by Kvpiog, here used. He who thus professeth Jesus to be the Lord, in the first place acknow- ledgeth him to be the true God. And then tliey professed liim therewitlial to be their Lord, the Lord of their sbuls and consciences, unto whom they owed all subjection and performed all obedience; as Thomas did in his great confession, " My Lord and my God," John XX. 28. Now, as he had before intimated that those who dis- owned him and called him "accursed" did speak by the instinct and instigation of the devil, by whom they were acted, so he lets them "know, on the other hand, that no man can thus own and confess Jesus to be the " Lord" but by the Holy Ghost. But it may be said that some acted by the unclean spirit confessed Christ to be the Lord. So did the man in the synagogue, who cried out, " I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God," Mark i. 23, 24 ; and verse 84, he "suf- fered not the devils to speak, because they knew him." And the dam- sel possessed with a spirit of divination cried after the apostle and his companions, saying, " These men are the servants of the most high God," Acts xvi. 1 7. So also did the man who abode in the tombs, pos- sessed with an unclean spirit, who cried out unto him, " What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God," Mark v. 7. And other testimonies to the like purpose among the heathen, and from their oracles, might be produced. Ans. 1. Our apostle speaks of such a saying of Jesus to be Lord as is accompanied with faith in him and subjection of soul unto him; which is from the Holy Ghost alone. Thus none acted by the unclean spirit can call him Lord. 2. These acknowledgments were either (1.) wrested from the devil, and were no small part of his punishment and torment; or (2.) were designed by him with an intention to prejudice the glory of Christ by his testimony, who was a liar from the beginning ; and