whole ‘course is steered by the apostle in this place’is easy for any one to observe.
(2.) Because of the wmportance of the matter in hand. He is. treating of the very head of all the differences between. the law and. the gospel, between those who adhered unto Mosaical institutions and those who embraced the faith. Hence he calleth them unto a renewed attention unto what he delivered. For herein he set life and death before them, and was zealous for them, and earnest with them, that they would choose life, and not die in their unbelief.
2. The sense of the words is to be considered. KegdAasv is “ ca- pitulum,” “caput;” properly the “ head” of any living creature. But the most frequent use of it is ina sense metaphorical, as it is here used by the apostle. And so:it hath a double sense and use, whereunto: it is principally applied (for it hath also other significations). For, (1.) It is taken for that which is chief and principal in any matter, business, or cause. Kepdédasoy SAou- 00 xpaymwaros, Isoc.;—“ The head of the whole business.” Kepdérason 67 rasdelac, REyouev ry dpdqjv rpooqv, Plato, de Legib., lib. i.;—%“ The principal thing in education or instruction.” And so is “caput” used among the Latins: “Caput est in omni procuratione: negoti et muneris publici, ut avaritize pellatur etiam minima suspicio ;”— “This is the chief or principal thing in the management of all publie affairs, that all suspicion of covetousness be far away.” (2.) It is taken for the sum and: substance of what hath been spoken or declared, reduced into a short scheme: ‘Og 62 év xeQaratw eireiv,— “‘ Ut summatim dicam,” Demosthenes. And so some render these words “‘summatim dicendo.” And Isocrates hath an expression: directly answering that of the apostle in this place, Nicoc.: Kegd- Aasoy ds ro sipnuévav,— “The sum of what hath been spoken.” So wx, “caput,” the “head,” is used in the Hebrew: “32 UNT7NN NPN 13. DiI, Exod, xxx. 12 ;—“ When thou takest the head” (the « sum” of es children of Israel. ” §$o also Num. iv. 2. And in this sense is dvaxepurorovua: used by our apostle, as some think, Eph. i. 10; but it may have another sense in that place.
In whether of these two-significations it is here used by our araailes _ will best appear from the consideration of what it is applied unto,— eal roig Aeyouévorg. For these words also are capable of a double in- terpretation.
(1.) *Ea/ may be put for 2, “in” or “among;” and then the things themselves treated of may be intended. And if so, xpd usy requires the first signification, “the chief and principal thing” or “matter:” ‘Among all the things treated of, this is the principal ;’—as indeed it is, and that which all other things i in debate did depend upon.
(2.) If é7/ be in a manner redundant, and no more is intended
KiParcioy.
"Eri rois Ae Yofeevors.
‘
6 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP VIII.
but rév Aeyouévov, “ of the things spoken,” then xepdéaaiy is.to be taken in the second signification, and denotes a recapitulation of them: ‘This is that which my arguments amount unto, the sum of what I have pleaded.’
Both these senses are consistent. For the apostle in this and the ensuing verses doth both briefly recapitulate what he had evinced by his preceding arguments, and also declare what is the principal thing that he had contended for and proved. I incline unto the latter signification of the word, respected in our translation; yet so as that the former also is true, and safely applicable unto the text.
And some directions we may take from the wisdom of the apostle in this management of his present subject, in our preaching or teach- ing of spiritual things; for,—
Obs. I. When the nature and weight of the matter treated of, or the variety of arguments wherein it is concerned, do require that our discourse of it should be drawn forth unto a length more than ordi- nary, it is useful to refresh the minds and relieve the memories of our hearers, by a brief recapitulation of the things insisted on.—It is so, I say, sometimes; as this way is taken once, and but once, by our apostle. When it is necessary, is left unto the wisdom and choice of those who are called unto this work. J mean, of such who, labouring diligently and conscientiously in the discharge of it, do really consider at all times what is for the benefit and edi- fication of their hearers. But this is to be done only on great and important occasions. The usual way of the repetition of the heads of sermons before preached, is, in my judgment, useless and un- profitable.
Obs. II. When doctrines are important, and such as the eternal welfare of the souls of men are immediately concerned in, we are by all means to endeavour an impression of them on the minds of our -hearers.—Be they never so precious and worthy of all acceptation, ofttimes they will not obtain an entrance into men’s minds, unless they have an edge ministerially put upon them. Wherefore they are by all suitable means, with gravity and zeal, to be called unto a diligent attendance unto them. Weight is to be laid doctrinally, in their delivery, on things that are of weight really in themselves.