[Dear brethren, I would have you all like Mary ; who, when her sister " Martha was careful and cumbered about many things, was intent only on the one thing needful." In relation to the concerns of eternity, be as careful as ye will. In reference to these things, the Apostle approves of, and
applauds, our care* And, if only in this matter ye will
be " as wise as the children of this world," ye shall never fail of obtaining all that your souls can desire ]
' He uses the same word in reference to both, and no less than five times : ver. 32 — 34.
1 Cor. viii. 2. If any man think that he knoiveth any thing, he knoiveth nothing yet as he ought to knoiv.
OF all the apostolic churches, not one abounded with such various and enormous evils as that of Co- rinth. To bring the people to a better mind was the continual labour of the Apostle ; and a difficult task he found it : for, whilst some denied his authority, others justified the very evils which he endeavoured to correct. Hence, on different subjects, an appeal was made to him, that he might state his sentiments upon them fully, and lay down rules for their future conduct.
The eating of meats offered to idols was a ground of much contention among them. They all, to a cer- tain degree, were agreed on this, that " an idol was nothing in the world ;" and that the circumstance of meat having been offered to an idol could not defile the meat itself, or render it unfit for food. But there were some who thought, that by eating such meat they should, in some respect, be partakers in the idolatry of those who had offered it to their idols. Those who saw their liberty in relation to this matter felt proud of their superior discernment ; and, for the purpose of displaying their superiority to such antiquated prejudices, would actually go into the very temples of the idols, and eat with tlie idolaters