b If indeed the Corinthians had had no other competent Judges, they. bad been to have been excuſed, in making uſe of Infidel Jud- ges ; but (faith the Apoſtle) you have other perſons competent enough, whom you may (by your ſubmiſſion to them) make Jud- ges ; for you know that the Saint ſhall judge the world. In the ſame ſenſe (as ſome think) as Chriſt ſaich the Ninevites and the Queen 6 the South ſhould riſe up in judgment againſt the Jews, and con-
emn them ; bur certainly there is ſomething more than that in it, when the Apoſtle ſaid, The Saints ſbeuld judge the world, he inten- ded te ſay ſomething of them, which was not common to ſome Heathens with them. Others therefore think, that the Saints in che day of Judgment ſhall judge the World, approving the Sen.
rence of Chriſt pronounced againſt the World, and as being Aſſſlors with Chriſt, which indeed is whar Chriſt ſaid of the A. poſtles, Mat?. 19. 28. Luke 22. 30. Others think, that the Phraſe only ſfignifieth a great honour and dignity, to which the Saints ſhall be advanced. A Iate learned and very Critical Author hath another notion of the Saints judging the world here ſpoken of, in- terpreting it of a time when the ſecular Judgment of the World ſhould be given to the Saints, which was propheſied by Danzel, Chap. 7- 18, 27. and therefore might be know by them. If this be the ſenſe, it is either a Prophecy of God's giving the Government of the Word into the hands of Chriſtians (which fell out after this in Conftantine's time) or elſe it ſignifies ſuch a time towards the end of the World, as thoſe that expe& a ffrh Monarchy ſpeak of when thoſe that are true Saints, in the ſtricteſt ſenſe, ſhall have the Government of the World ; which ſeemeth not probable, con- fidering what the Scripture ſpeaks of perſecutions, and wars, and diſorders, rather increaſing, than abating towards the End of the World. The Apoſtle therefore here ſeemerh rather to ſpeak of the Saints judging the World in the laſt day, approving the Sen- tence of Chriſt the Judge of the quick and the dead; or elſe to propheſie of that time, when Chriſtianity ſhould fo far ob- tain in the World, that the Government either of the whole World, or of great part of it, ſhould Be in the hands of Chri- ftians. ce From whence the Apoſtle ſtrongly concludeth the com- perency of Chriſtians to arbitrate and determine little matters of difference amongſt Chriſtians in their commerce and civil dealings one with another. :
3 Know ye not that we ſhall judge Angels 4? how
much mors things that pertain to this life ? e.
a4 That the Saints ſhall judge Angels, is here fo plainly aſſerted, as a thing within their knowledge, that none can doubt it, bur how, or when, or what Angels, 1s not ſo eaſily determined. The b:R Interpreters underſtand it of che 6vil Angels, that is, the Da«
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by the Apoſtle is 5TInua, which fſignifieth rather an inp or weakneſs of mind and affeftions, a defe& or diminution fron perfeQtion, than any ſcandalous ſin. Going to Law withbrethre (though lawful in it ſelf) may be made unlawful by circumftanc I. When it is before Judges that are Unbelievers; ſo as mensgoin to law before them, tends to the reproach of Religion; the credi and reputation of the Goſpel ought to be dearer to us than any li tle ſecular concern. 'This was the caſein this place. 2 Wheni is for little matters, ſuch as a Coat or a Cloak. It is agamt ti Law of Charity to do another a great Wrong to recover to ou ſelves a little thatis ourrighrt. 3. When we cannot do it withar wrath, anger, impatience, covetouſneſs, or deſire of revenge. It | thing poſſible to go to law without ſin, but what very fewd through that corruption which cleaveth to corrupt Nature. !It therefore far more becoming conſcientious Chriſtians totakea hit wrong, m2 and to ſufferthemſelves to be cheated of their gt
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eſpecially under ſuch circumſtances, where the credit of the @ f pel and Religion muſt loſe more than they can get. And to therwiſe ſpeaks 1711u@, a defe& or imperfe&ion in Chuiſtians, a a is not without its guilt. If by their contentiouſneſs, they do n | ſhew themſelvesſo bad, as ſome would make them, who hold l contendings at Law amongſt Chriſtians 'unlawful, yet hey dot e ſhew themſelves ſo good asthe Rule of Chriſtianity requirerh tit £ to be, Matt. 5. 39,40. Luke 6. 29. Rom. 12.19. * 8 Nay, you do wrong and defraud, and that j iy brethren ». * : Tit » The Apoſtleriſeth higher in his charge againſt them, hs If before only charged them for want of ſelf-denia], that they 03 9h not bear or-ſuffer wrong ; he now chargerh them for doing v0. and defrauding, and that not Heathens, (which yet had been 0
enough) bur Chriſtians that were their brethren, whom ws | the higheſt obligations upon them imaginable ro love, 2 good ro. And indeed this charge followerh dire&ly upon ther : For as in war, one Army always are murderers, 0! gy ofthe blood which they ſpill ; fo in ſuing at Law (which is vil War betwixt the two Parties) cither the one or the _—_ : ſuing muſt do wrong, either putting his brother to mw - expence, to recover of him what isnot his right, or chat - withold from him what is truly and indeed his right, 6 which is indeed a doing of wrong or defrauding. 1 not o Know yenot * that the ' unrighteous ſha Fo | herit the kingdom of God o ? Be not deceivec 4d ther fornicators q, nor idolaters 7, | NOT _ | nor effeminate perſons *, nor abuſes of chemleive
mankind #s, ie King o That by the Kingdom of God is here meant * £ hefs of Glory, the happineſs of another life, is plain, becau po f eth in the Future teaſe 4 this Kingdom, be fairh, the wp
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