In this Chaprer and part of the next, the Apoſtle treats of ſome Jeffr matters of Religion, about which there were great Conten- tionsin the C:unch of Rome. Some of the Jews, though they em- braced the Gofpr1, did Nlifly adhere ſtill ro the Moſaical Ceremonies ; and though a difference in Meats and Dayes ſhould be Conſciten- Tiouſly obſerved; yet they were ready to cenſure thoſe that were contiary minded, as profane Perſons and Contemners of the Law of Goa. . On che other ſide, the believing Gentiles, being better inſtructed about their Chriſtian Liberty, when they faw the Jews inſiſting uponſuch things as theſe, that had never any real yood- nc in them, and were now abrogated by Chriſt; 'they were Teady to deſpiſe them as Ignorant and Superſtirious, and ro deny Communion with them. The Apoſtle therefore doth ſeaſonably endeavour £o a: bitrate this matter, and make peace amongſt them. a That is wavering and unſettled" in ſome leſſer points of Faith, particularly in the Do&rine "of Chriſtian Liberty, and freedom from the Ccrcmonial Law: He means the ſcrupulous and erroneous J«- azizer, though yet in proportion, it may be applied to other ſcru- pulous and doubring Chr:ſtians. b- Or receive him to you, take him into your boſoms, admir him ro Communion with you, bear with his weakneſs, better inſtru& him wirh The Spirit of Meekneſs, wid. chap. 15.1. Phil. 3.15, 16. Bucer received all, though dit- fering from him in ſome Opinions, in whom he found, aliquid Chriſti, ary thing of Chriſt. c q. d. Don'tentertain him with dif- putes and vain janglings, which will not edifie, but perplex and prejudice him. Don't make him Queſtion-Sick, as 'tis in 1 772. 6. 4. This paſlage may be expounded by Tir. 3.9. The Margi. nal reading would make this to be the ſenſe, That a Scrupulory Chriſtian ſhould be received unto Communion ; yet not ſoas to encourage him to judge and condemn the thoughts of thoſe that differ from him.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things 4, ano. ther, who 1s weak, eateth herbs e.
d i.c. One that is informed arighc of his Chriſtian Liberty, is fully perſwaded, and that upon good grounds, that he may eat any thing that is wholſome, though forbidden by the Ceremonial Law ; that there is now no diffcrence of clean and unclean Meats; wid. Mat. 15.11. Ads 10. 12,13, 14, 15. & 7. e. He that (as be- fare) i5 wcak 1m Faith, and not ſo well informed, ſuch a one for fear of offending God by eating any thing that 1s forbidden, wil] rather content himſelf with the meaneſt diet. The meaning is nor, as if any 1n thoſe times, thought it lawful only to eat herbs, and fo 2bſtained alrogether from other meats ; bur they would ra- ther fativfic themſelves with Herbs, and other Fruits of the Earth, in which the Law of Moſes made no difference, than eat mears that i vere forbidden, or nct cleanſed from blood, or offered to Idols, Ec. wid. Dan. 1. 8.
3 * Let not him that eateth, || deſpiſe him that eateth
not f; and let nothim which eateth not, judge him that
ng Conſcicnce, 2323.
E
L Or, frat exceth : for God hath received him gp.
045, S
F +. ce. Lit: not bim that makes uſe of his Liberty in eating any thing indifcrently, vilifke or contemn him that is of a contrary rind, as ore that 15 ignorant and over fcrupulous ; and lr zor bin car forvears fuch meats as were of od forbidden, judge and con- demn him that is contrary minded,as profane andover venturous ; nowrithfranding fach little difference, i 99inio, let one Chriſtian love ans co mumicate with another. g It ts diſpured, whether chis be mcantuf the weakor ftrong Chriſtian, the word judging, which mm<diarcly goes before, and follows after, carries it rather for the !atcer. Nur fome think ir is meant of both. He thar eareth, | and he chat caceth nor, is received by God inco his Church and Farily, and indifecently accepeed with him, upon another and 3 latger account. :
4 Who ait hou that judgeſt another inans ſervant ?
To his ewn maſter he ftanderh or falleth 4 : Yea he ſhall
be holden up : For God is able co make him ſtand z.
þ A ſharp reprehention of the forementioncd evil You have the like, 72s 4- i2. 9.d This Phraſe is cepugnant not only & che Lair of God bur tothe very Lew of Nature, chatcells us, ahac ae Ela rout 26t condemns the Seruent of awether, over whom br bats me r1giit or pruer, mich leſs ay arty Mars couder bio that is rhe I aris Servernt: Every Chriflizn hath Chriſt alone for his own, or his proper AMafer ; and it is bis Judgment by which he mutt abide ; ic is os him thar he Nanderh or falleth, that he dark. welt oc il £ 4. & Ff (as dion thinkeft} he be fallen or f3lng, he ral be upheld and ſupported : Far Ged & able, &c. Bur fare doch chis follow, becauſe God can make him Band,
Tha
Diviniz
1NS.
therefore he ſhall be holden up ? Z. It is a Rule in in all God's Promiſes, his Power 1s joyned with his yj1 . Jotha where the latter is once revealed, there 1s no queſtion of he 9 thar Now of the word of God in this matter, there was no FR ng he had ſaid, v.73. That God had received him, You hag Fg way of Arguing, chap. 11. 23. where the Apoſtle Proves yg Uike ling of the Jews, by an Argument taken from the power of A becauſe he is able to graft them in again ; wid. th _—_—_ = 10. 23. &,
5 One man eſteemeth one day above in another eſteemmeth every day alike k. Tet & be [| fully-periwaded in his own mind /.