this is, that Brother, cf whom he had ſaid, v. 19. Thar his praiſe was in the Goſpz1 throughout all the Churches. Some guels it was Luke, but there is no certainty of that; he appeals to them whether e1- ther of theſe made a g4in of them? that is, took any thing of them. 1m And whether they did not walk 77 the ſame ſpirir, and im the ſame fteps? Whether they did not ſhew the ſame generoſity and freedom ? And by their behaviour among them did not ſhew, that they did not ſeek what was theirs (to be inriched by their Eſtates) but them 3 to communicate the riches of Grace to their Souls. The circum- ſtances of God's Providence may be ſuch towards faithful Miniſters, as that they may be conſtrained to make uſe of others to do their work ; but ſuch, ſo near as i hey can judge, will never make ule of any therein, but ſuch as are of the ſane Spirit with themſelves, and walk in the ſame ſteps.
19 * Again, think you that we excuſe our ſelves un- to you » We ſpeak bete God in Chriſt o: but we ao all things dearly beloved, for your cditying p.
z Some of you may think, that T ſpeak all this in my own defence, and ſeek only my own credit and reputation amongſt you. 1 donot ſo, 01 ſpzak as a Chriſtian, as one who knows that God knoweth, ſeeth, ard obſerveth what Ii ſay, ſearching my Heart, and trying my Reins. þ All that 1 fay I ſpeak for your good, that you may be built up in Faith and IT ove, and all other Graces; A great hin- drance to which, is prejudice againſt me, and ſitch as are the Mini- fters of the Goſpel to you ; which I therefore detire (what in me lieth) to prevent and obviate. The Apoſtle, not only here, but in ſeveral other parts of theſe, and other his Epiſtles, declares what ought to be the great end of his, and all other Minifters, viz. The Edirfication of Pecples The Converſion of the Unconverted, and the perfetting of thoſe in whom the foundation is laid, building them up in all zood ſpiritual Habits z both of theſe come under the no- tion of Edification. If we conlider Chrift as the Foundation, Con- verſion is Edification 3 the building up of Souls upon Chriſt, who is the Goſpel-foundation ; and other foundation can no Man lay. If we conſider the infuſion of the firſt Habits of Grace into the Soul, as the Foundation, Edification ſignifies a going on from Faith to Faith, a growing in Grace and in the Knowledge of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, a going on to Perfection. - The true Miniſter of Chriſt ought to make Edification in both of theſe ſenſes his end and his great end ;
for by this means is God glorified, the Souls of his People benefit-
ed, and eternally ſaved.
20 For I fear, leſt when I come, I ſhall not find you ſuch as I would q, and that * I ſhall be found unto you ſuch as ye would not 7: leſt there be debates s, envyings t, wraths, ſtrites, back-bitings, whiſperings, ſwellings, tumults.
q A good Man, eſpecially a faithful Minifter of the Goſpel, will be concerned at the Sins of others, and as to their ſpiritual welfare. A prophane Perſon, either rejoyceth'in the Sins of others, or at leaſt is unconcerned for them ; but a good Man cannot be ſo, as knowing the Sins of others refle&t diſhonour upon God. + He alſo cannot delight in the Puniſhments of others, or doing any thing which may be ingrateful to them. Paul feareth left the miſcarriages of this Church ſhould inforce from him ſome Atts of Severity. s He inſtanceth in ſome particular diſorders in the Members of this Church, which he feared that he ſhould find among them not a- mended ; all the Effetts of Pride and Paſhon. 5s Debates, or con- tentions, ſuch as he had taxed them for, 1 Cor. 1. 11. and 3 Yo z Envyings, or heats of Paſhon;z envying of one another for their Gifts, Sc. The other things which he mentioneth, are all Sins a- Zainſt that brotherly Love which ought to be found among Chri- ftians, and tending to Ruptures among them ; 'and teach us how contrary theſe are to the duty of Chriſtians, who are one body.
21 Azad leſt, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I ſhall bewail many which have ſinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanneſs, and fornication, and Iaſciviouſheſs, which thy have committed 7.
u From hence it appeareth, that this Church of Corinth, (tho? it had many in it, without doubt, who were true and ſincere Chrifti- ans, yet) had alſo many in it which were otherwiſe; yea, many that were [candalous; (for ſuch are thoſe mentioned in this Verſe.) Again, the Apoſtle's mentioning of 724y that had committed V1- elcanneſs, Fornication, and Laſciviouſneſs, and not repented ; when as
WeEORITNTHIANS.
1 der for the reftoring him upon his Repentance ; lets ys þ,
he had only given order for the Excommunication of one inceſt ous Perſon, 1 Cor. 5. And in this Epiſtle, Chap. 7. hag viven or- that the Governors of Churches ought 'to uſe a great deal of = dence in the adminiftring of Church-cenſures. We are at arg ” taught, That nothing more afflicteth a godly Perſon, wh neg the charge of the Souls of others, than to ſee them T0 on 55 __ ſes of ſin without repentance, Whether bew1iling, in this _ implieth proceeding to Eccleſtaſtical Cerſur2s, (as ſeveral fe ters think) T doubt; for as the word doth not neceſſarily Iu "94 ſo his ſparing uſe of rhar Rod, which he could (tho' abſent) 6,” as well uſed againſt other unclean Perſons as one incefinous Þo : ſon; and chuling rather that the ſentence ſhould he declared +. gainft him by the Church in his abſence, than by himſelf when he tent, inclineth me to think, that by bewail:yg here, he only = aol a Chriſtian affliive ſenſe of their miſcarriages; whereas, "ra fire was that he might have a cheerful comfortable journey to, wa abode with them. But yet in the next Chapter he ſeemeth tg threaten ſomething more againft ſome particular Offenders, ©
CH AP. XIIL
If their former ſins be not amended, he will come withous furtker þ1,
to puniſh the committers of them; and ſhew on them how Senſe
Chriſt was in him, 1,---4. Wiſheth them to try themſelves, M8
vent the puniſhment by well-doing : that he may rejoyce over they _ }
his power tend to edification, and not wo demoliſhing, 5,----10, FE
concludes the Epiſtle with an exhortation to divers Chriſtian winyec.
with the accuſtomed ſalutation: And a prayer for them unto Gy tt,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, 11,----14.