reckons A7inifters, Every one ofthem might lay a claim to Pasl, to 4»0/los, to Peter; for they were all Servants of Chriſt for the viz: of his Chnzch, a part of which they were ;z then he goes on, and ſaith, :e world, that is, the things of the world are theirs, that is, whatſoever portion of them the Providence of God order- ly diſpoſed to them, they hi1 a true title to ir, and it was for their uſz and advan-age ; fo were the livesand deaths of God's Mi- niſters, their own live: and deaths, all things preſent, and all things that were to come, they were all theirs by a juſt ritle : if the Providence of Gd gave them to them in an orderly way, they migi;t comfortably uſe them. Thev themſelves were Chriſt's, they | were not of Paz/, nor of Ypo/los, nor of Peter, He that had the
Bride was the Bridegrnom, theſe Miniſters were but the friends of che Bridegroom: and Ch-//? 7s Gag's, the Son of God by an eter-
nal Generation, the ſervant of God as man, and born under the
Law, fo yielding obedience to his Father, the M-fiah or anoint-
ed, and fn: of God as Mediator, All things are Gods, by God
given to Chriſt, by Chriſt given to, and ſanCified for you ; that
makes the Believers ſp:cial rirls ro all things, The men of the world
derive their title to what they have from God alone as Creator ; they derive not from Chriſt, as being ingrafred and implanted into bm. Hencethe Apoſtle rightly concludes their vanity, in glory- 1ng 1n their Relation to this or that ſpecial Apoſtle or Miniſter ; when as they had a true and juſt right to the Jabours of all Mi- niſters, and ought ro look upon all faithful Miniſters , as God's gifts to his whole Church, and for the advantage and benefic of ail. Yer this hindereth not, but that people ought to have their particular Paſtor: and Teachers, ro whom they oughr ordinarily to attend intheir Miniſtry ; bur they oughr not to have their perſons in fuch admiration, as for them to deſpiſe or ſlight any other faichful Miniſters; nor to make Parties and Fa&tions in the Church
of God.
FE 4, »s [Law e x £ 3 p
&limiſiers what" they are and ſhould be. 1, 2. the Fudgment of Men not much to be regarded, but what of God. 3—5. Miniſters and all Belie-
#3 7. _y Pe! _ , . Vers enuft rave a modeſt Opinion of themſelves: For God's Gifts alone Make obs deans bi ant bick 7 ; make rhe aiffer:nce. 6, 7. The Corinthians high in their own Eſteem. CE 71 ES R
8, TOE AN/ites, pectacles to the World, Augels, and, Men. 9—14. He was tir Syiritual Father in Chriſt ; Whom they ought to follow : he ſent Trmathy to \jzrm, and would come himſcf. 1 5—19g. Wherein the Kingdom: of Ghe conſiſts. 20.
judgment concerning my ſelf, and therefore I wili affirm nothing as to my ſelf.
4 For I know nothing by my ſelf, * yet aml not. hereby juſtified f: but he that judgeth me, is they, Lord g. | '
f Nothing amiſs, nothing that 4s evil ; yet this muſt not be Rt interpreted univerſally, as if St. Pau! knew nothing that was evil: and ſinful by himſelf: himſelf, Row. 7. tells us the contrary; but it muſt be underſtood with reſpe& to his diſcharge of his miniſterial Office. I do not know any thing wherein I have wil. fully failed in the diſcharge of my Miniſtry, yer even asto that durſt not ſtand upon my own Righteouſneſs and juſtification before God ; I may haveſinned ignorantly, or have forgotten ſom? things wherein .I did offend. g God knoweth more of me than I know of my ſelf, and it is he that judgeth, and muſt judge me. Though in this Text Pau! doth nor ſpeak of his whole life and cowerſation, but only of his converſition with reſp2& ro his Miriſtry ; ye! the concluſion from hence, That no man can be juſtified from his own works, 1s good: for if a man cannot be juſtified from his conſcience, not rebuking him for his errours in one part of |: converſation, he cannot be juſtified from his conſcience not rebu- king him for his whole converſation. For he that keepeth tie whole Law, if he offendeth bur in one point, muſt be guilry of all, becauſe the law curſeth him who continueth not in every paint 0 the Law to do it. :
5 Therelore * judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come h, who both will bring to light the hid- den things of darknefs, i and will make maniteſt che coun- ſels of the hearts &, and then ſhall every man bs * praiſe of God /.
h Seeing that the judgment of ſecret things belongs to God, judge nothing before the. time which God hath fer to judge all things. The works of the fleſh are manif:ft, and men may judge of them ; but for ſecret things, of which it is impotlible that thoſe who do not know the hearts of men, ſhould make up 2 jucg" ment, do not judge of them before the time þ When God v1 certainly come to judge all men. 7 Ifmen cloak the hidden things of darkneſs with the cover of hypocritie and fair pretences, they willat that day be moſt certainly uncovered,and the ſecret choughts counſels, and imaginationsof mens hearts ſhall ina that day Þ* - ' manifeſt, 7 And then thoſe that have done well, every of tif
EF a main fo acccunt of us as *the miniſters of
f. ; F bo . . s Tie Apoſtle here gives us the right notion of the Preach-
Chriſt, a and * flewards of the myſteries of ſhall have praiſe of God ; as on the contrary, (which 15 under
ſtood, though not here expreſſed) thoſe that are hypocrnns, whoſe hearts have beenfall of evil thoughts and counſis, ſhal God be put to ſhame, and expoſed to contemp*.
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that was evil? he contrary ; charge of his 1 | have wile en as to that fication before n ſome things e than ] know me. Though 4 converſation, Mir:iſtry ; y* juſtified from
tified from iis 3e part of lits ence not rebil it keepeth tft be guilry of all, every pan G
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belongs to Got, ſer to juage 3 men may Judge ofible rhat thoſe jake up 2 JÞcs: | When God vV he hidden th10g8 pretences , they e ſecret thoughts hat day bz M7 every of tle which 1s under hypocrites, 3 ounſcls, ſhall
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