! This Quotation would inclire us to think, that the abyndance mentioned in the Jatcer part of che former Verſe, as alſo the 1qua- lity mentioned 1n the end of 1t, 1s rather to be underſtood with rC- tererce ro the good things of this life, chan wich reference to St» 1ita'l Bleſſings 3 or to remporal and ſpiritual put rogerher, balancing one another to make an equality, For certain it is, char this Quo- ration re{erreth to 3{a1tra, which was the Bread God afforded for rhe Bodies of his Peopic in the Wilderneſs, rhough conſidered ty9i- cally, it 1s rightly by che Apoſtle called ſpirirzal Bread, 1 Cor. 10. 3. ſignifying thar Bread which came down from Heaven, which Moſes could not give (as Chriſt tells us, Foh. 6. 50, 58.) Theſe words are quored from Exod. 16. 18, tho more agreeably to the Septuagint than to our TranſJacjon. The Hiſtory 1s this. The anna being fallen, the Texc ſaich v. 17, That ſome gathered more, ſome leſs; bur Ir {o fell our, by the Providence of God ordering it, that when they came, and meaſured what they had gathered, MH? tat gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack. Now of this the Apoſtle makes an Argument to preſs che Corinthians ro this charitable At, The force of which 11&s in this, as it was jn the cale of Manna, there were ſome thar gathered more, others thr gathered leſs, yer all had enough : So ic will be as to the Riches of the World that Men gather, though ſome gather more, and others gather Jeſs, yet men will find, that thoſe that have gathered litrle, (hve leſs Eſtates than others) uſing what they have to the glory
of Gcd, and according tothe Divine Rule, will have no lack: And thoſe that have gathered much, if they do nor diſtribute ir accord- Ing to the will of God, will find that they have nothing over ; God will ſhrink cheir heap into ſome equaliry ro thoſe whom ar God's Command they would nor relieve, Eccl. 5. 10. He that loveth fulver ſhall not be ſatisfied with ſilver. The wiſdom of the Divine Provi- dence hath nor ordained /eze{ling, nor madeall Men equal jn their portions of che good things of this lite; bur he. hath wiled ſuchan eq alityas every one may eat (unleſs he or ſhe thar will nor work) either from the ſweat of their own Faces, or from the Charicy of others. Beſides, Nature craveth no great things, but 15 ſatisfied with alittle : So as he that hatch gathered little ſhall have no lack, if he can bur moderate the exceſſes of his Appetite. And he that hach gathered much hath notving over, wha 15 either neceſſury for himſelf and his Family, or what he ought co part with for the relief of others atrhe Command of God.
16 But thanks be to God, which put the ſame ear-
IL CORINT HIANS.
Cha
22 And we have ſent with them onr brother x wh we have oftentimes proved diligent in many th; , but now much more diligent upon the great confaes which || I have in you 7. _
s This Brother is uncertainly gueſſed at, nor is for usro know whether irwere Epenet:!s, or Apollss, -or Softher any other ; it is ſufficient for us ro know, that he was ap and one of whoſe diligence and faithfulneſs, the Apo To, Churches, where Paul now was, hid had experience, he was now very ready and forward to be imploy _ upon the Apoſtle's recommendation of th;
1m,
23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, be is my
ner and fellow- helper concerning you : or our bre be inquired of, they are the mellengers of the Churc and the glory of Chriſt w.
4 This Verſe contains the Apoſtles credential Letrers give Tits, and rhe other two perſons ſent about the buſineſ; of __— this Colle&ion inthe Church of Corinth. Many, in matter; = the drawing of their Purſes is ſolliciced and Concerned, are vi ſcrupulous and inquiſitive, ſeeking all advantages to excuſe then ſelves; one while pleading their own poverty, another while 4 jefting againſt theſtate, or want, or qualicy of thoſe for whon they are ſollicited: Again, queſtioning, whether their Charity ſhaij ever come to thoſe perſons for whom it is deſired, objeted Wainſ the perſons intruſted with the conveyance or diftribution of | The Apoſtle having therefore before obviated ſome OnjeRions, þ, here obviateth the laſt mentioned, letting them know, thr - perſons intruſted with this Service, were unexceptionah[e erſon He calleth Titus his Partner and Fellow-helper concerning then, that 4 In the buiineſs of the Goſpel, and promoting the Salvation of thei Souls, For the others, he tells them they were ſuch as the Churc : had thought fir ro make their Meſſengers; ſo had the Credit of the Churches whoſe Meſſengers they were, who would not have in. truſted them if they had nor judged them faithful. » He either callech the Churches, or them, the Glory of Chriſt If the wor be to be underſtood of the Meſſengers (which ſeemeth the faire application of them) the meaning is, thar they were Inſtrumen; of the Glory of Chriſt ; or perſons who, by their Grace, did by
thren lies u,
neſt care into the heart of, Titus for you. ; 17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation, but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto 'OU 0. ; m The Apoſtle, by his Exhorration, pur Titys upon this employ- ment of making at Corinth an extraordinary Colle&ion for the poor Chriſti.ns chat were in Zudea; bur it ſhould ſeem, rhat when he did it, Titus let him know, that he was before reſolved upon it : fo as, t[:0ugh he wear at the entreaty of the Apoſtle, yer he went alſo of his own accord, having reſolved upon the work before the Apoſtle ipokerohim of jt. To let us know, that we are not ſufficient of our lelves ſo much as tothink one good though, he gives thanks to God tor putting this earneſt care into the heart of Titus. 13 And we have ſent with him the brother, whoſe
praiſe zs in the goſpel throughont all the churches »,
# Who this other Brother was, whether Zuke or Barnabas, or $i. | | l2s, or Apo!los, or Mark, is not. much material; it is plain, whos | ! ever he was, char he was a Brother, and a Miniſter, one who had a
- good repute for preaching the Goſpel. 19 And not rhat only, but who was alſo choſen of
backed with an heap of Arguments, their love to God, to their afflited Brethren, and to the Apoſtle, 2. Ir would be a proof of it to thoſe Meſſengers of the Churches, ad to the Churches whoſe Meſſengers they WETE.- 3. that the Apoſtle had not ro Tits and others, boaſted on their bel
He gives the Reaſons why he ſent Tirus and thoſe other Brethyis iffort-