q It is manifeſt by the oppoſition of :hoſe that are without Law mentioned in this verſe, to :hoſe under the Law, mentioned in the former verſe, that as by the latter the Jews are underſtood, ſo by the former the Gentiles are to be underſtood, who were under-no obligation to the obſervance either of the Ceremonial, or Judicial Law, given to the Jews ; the one to guide that Nation in the mar. ters of Worſhip till Chriſt ſhould come ; the other to- guide them in matters of Civil Juſtice, as well as in Criminal Cauſes as mat tersof Plea and Treſpaſs ; ſo that the term vows here ſignifieth differently from what ir ſignifieth in many other Scriptures: where ic ſignifieth men that live as they liſt, without any regard to any Laws of (God or men, as Mark. 15. 28. Luke 22. 37. A#52. 23. 2 Theſſ. 2.8. 1 Tim, 19, &c. r This the Apoſtle makes appear by the next words, where he tellsus, he was not withw: Law 79 God, but under the Law to Chriſt ; though to the Gentiles he behaved himſelf, as he himſelf had been a Genzile, that is, forbeacing the obſervances of the Levitical Law, to which the Gentiles had never any obligation at all, yer he did not behave himſelf as one that had no regard to the Law of God, that was yet in force and obligatory, bur acknowledged himſelf to be under that, though a Servant of Chriſt's : ſo that he abared nothing of his neceſſary duty, only de- nied himſelf in ſome things as to which the Law of God had left him a liberty, both to the Jews and Gentiles, propounding to himſelf the ſame end as to both, that 1s, the gaining of their Souls to Chriſt. | | 22 * To
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Chap. LX.
"Rom.
I 29. 33-
I4. Ch. 7. 16.
*Gal.5. 7. Phil.3.14.
2 Tim. 4. Heb. BY
5 oain the weak 5: I * am made all things to all men, 2 Cor. 11. * that I might by all means fave ſome 2.
*"Ch. 10. had nor ſuch a firm perſwaſion of the lawfulneſs of ſome things (ſuppoſe Circumcilion,Purifyings required by the Law of Mo/:s SC.) *Rom.11. 1 became as weak, that is, I yielded to them, and the things being
ECORIN
22 * To the weak became I as weak, that I might
s To thoſe that I obſerved weak in knowledge and Faith, who
to me matters of liberty, which I knew I might do, oc notdo, and be no tranſgreſſor of God's Law, they not being able to comply with me, I complied with them, abating my liberty to gratifie their Conſciences, though I knew that it was weakneſs in them, yet I indulged it, and made my more knowledge ſerve them in their weakneſs, ſo that I might not loſe them. * Thus, that i might be an inſtrument in any degree to ſave them, according to the various perſwaſions of ſeveral Chriſtians, I behav'd my ſelf towardsthem ; doing nothing to gratifie them, by doing of which T knew, orhadthe leaſt jealouſic I ſhould offend God ; bur not re- fuſing any thing, either as to doing or forbearing which by the Law of God I faw I might do or forbear) where I ſaw the leaſt hopes, by ſuch doing or forbearing, rodo the Souls of thoſe good, in orderto their eternal Salvation, with whom I was,and for whoſe ſake Iſodid, or forbore any thing, O the humility and charity of this great Apoſtle! Whatan Example hath he ſer to all ! ( for nonecan pretendto a greater Superiority over Men, as to ſpiritual things, than heunqueſtionably had,)
23 And this 1 do for the goſpe!'s fake s, that 1 might
be partaker thereof with you w. _ bi
x Pau! hadtwogreat ends, with he aimed at, in this denialof himſelf in theſe points of liberty ; the one was the doing good to theSouls both of Jews and Gentiles, this he had before inſtan- cedin : the other was the glory of God, which is that which he here. meaneth by this phraſe, for the Goſpel's ſake, which he before CX- pounded, v. 12. leſt we would hinder the Goſpel of Chriſt. By Paul's tenacious adhering to one parz in 2 thing wherein he had liberty, 2he Goſpel, that is, the progreſsor ſucceſs of the Goſpel, might have been hindred, both by the reproaches of Enemies, and alſo by the al- lienation and eſtrangement of the hearts of weaker Chriſtians, or laying ſtumbling-blocks before them, at which they might fall, being imbo!dened by the examples of their Guides, to do what (though lawful in it ſelf) yer they judged unlawful. w I did it (ſaith he) that IT might bring you into the fellowſhip of the Goſpel ; [ had rather fo interpret it, than of the reward of the Goſpel (as it pleaſeth ſome.) The humility of the great Apoſtle is very re- markable ; he diſdainerh nor to be ovywiror©:, a partaker in the Goſpel with the meaneſt Members of the Church ; he is nor aſhamed to call thoſe Brethren whom his Lord and Maſter is not aſhamed foto call.
24 Know ye not that they which run 1n a race, run
all, but one receiveth the prize x ? 50 run that ye may obtain y. | CY
* The Apoſtle prefſerh all hisformer diſcourſe by minding them of thedifficulcy of getting to Heaven, and of the obligation that lay upon them to be the firſt in the ſpiritual Race. To this pur- poſe he ferchesa ſimilitude from whar they ſaw daily in the pra. Aice of thoſe who frequented thoſe Games by which the Romans and Corinthians were wont to divert themſelves. They had ſeveral, known by the Names of the Olympian, Pythian, Nemean, and 1h. mian Games, the latter of which were moſt proper to Greece. At theſe Games there were ſeveral that ran Races, either on foot, or on horſe-back ; and ſeveral that wreſtled, the Reward was a Crown or Garland : and for thoſe that ran, we read that the Crown or Garland was hung upat the end of the Race, and thoſe who run- ning.on foot or on horſe-back, could firſt lay hold upon it, and take it down, had it, ſo as though many ran, yet bur one had the Crown: So, hefaith, it is as to getting to Heaven ; men might think it was a light matter, butthey who would have the Crown of Glory muſt runforit, andit was a work required ſo much ſtriving 2nd labour, that not many would have that Crown ; which 1s the fame with that which our Saviour ſaith, Luke 13.24. For many ſhalt ſeek to enter in, and fhall not enter. 2 Tim. 2.5. If # man
frivve for maſteries he ts not crowned, except he ſtrive lawfully. y Thece-
fore (faith the Apoſtle} make it your buſineſs ſo zo run ; that you may obtain, not only to do things in themſelves lawful or 500d, but which are ſo cloathed with all their circumſtances, and in the beſt manner for the glory of God, and the good of others.