Cha by Men in the Fleſh, or as to their outward Man, yet as to their Souls {meant here by Spirits) they might live a holy ſpiritual Lite :
Life to God 1n this World, endingin a Life with him in the as. s
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. 7 But * the end of all things # isat hand 7: + Bc»
ye therefore lober », and watch 7 unto prayer 0, k The laſt Judgment which will put an end to all the Eyil: a
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well as good things -of this Worid. 1 Sce Fames 5. 8, 9. m Both 2 | in mind, prudent, n.oderate, 2 Cor. 5. 13. Tit. 2.6. and in Bog +
7 n The word fignities both $0: Ma briety, in oppoſition to Drunkenneſs, 1 Theſſ. 5. 6, 8. and Witch. «
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fulneſs, 2 Tim. 4. 5. and this ſignification agrees beſt with this Plire the former being implied in the word /»ber. o The end tor whic!; they ſhould be fober and vigilant, viz. that they might obſerve ever! ſeafon fit tor Prayer, and might ſtill keep themlelves in a pravins frame. =
s And above all things p have fervent charity ,; among your ſelves, for * charity || hall cover the mul- titude of fins 7.
þ See the like exprefſion, Fam. 5. 12, and on the ſame occaſion Col. 3.14. q Not only labour after Charity &ligently and carey). ly, but let it be fervent, intenſe, ſtrong. r Partly by preventin- Anger, Railings, Revellings, Contentions, that they break not out. and partly by repreffing, concealing, pardoning them when they dg break out, 1 Cor. 13. 7. ſee Jum. 5. 20. :
9 * Uk holpiraliry / one to another F withouz + +
grudging 7. |
/ Chriftian Hoſpitality in entertaining Strangers, thoſe eſpecizlly that are brought to necd your kindnets by ſuffering for the Goſpel, t Or murmuring, either at the expence you make, or the carriate of thoſe ye entertain, q. d. ule Hoſpitality willingly, freely, checr- fullv, Rom. 12. 8. and 2 Cor. 9. 7.
10 * As every man hath received the gift z, ev /o miniſter x the ſame one to another, as f good tier ards y of the manifold grace £ of God.
u Any pitt, office, faculty, or ability, whereby he may be ſervice- able to the good of others, all which are received of God, 1 C97. 12, 11. Eph. 4.7. not liſting himſelf up above others upon the account of his Gifts, but remembring he hath received them, and is a Steward to dit- penſe them. y And therefore faithful in diſtributins his Lord's Goods, 7 By Grace, he means the ſame as by Gifrs before, and ſo by manifold Grace, the various gifts given to them of God, 1 C:r, I2. 4, 5, 6.
11 *It any man ſpeak «@, /et him ſpeak as the ora- cles of God b, if any man miniſter c, /et him do it 4s of the ability 4 which God giveth ; that God in all things e may be glorified. through Jeſus Chriſt f; To whom be praiſe and dominion for ever, and ever, Amen:
a Viz. Authoritatively, and by way of Office, as a publick Teacher in the Church; though this may be accommodated to private Chri- ſtzans in their charitative Inſtruftions of others, yet it ſeems eſpe- ciaily meant of teaching Officers. 6 This relates not only to the manner of ſpeaking, that it be with Faith in that Word the Preach- er ſpeaketh, and a due reverence of it, but to the matter likewiſe, that he Preach nothing but the pure Word of God, and do not obtrude upon the Hearers, the Fancies, Figments, or Traditions of Men inſtead of the Oracles of God, c This may be underſtood ei- ther, 1. More particularly of the work of Deacons, A&s 5. who were to ſerve Tables, ver. 2. diſtribute the Alms of the Church, and take Care of the Poor; Or, 2. More generally of any Miniſtry in the Church diſtin& from that of Teaching (of which he ſpake be- fore) as the diſpenſing of Sacraments, exerciſe of Diſcipline, 09. d i. e. Not remiſly and coldly, but diligghtly and ſtrenuouſly, and with his might (as far as God enable him) this being to do it faith-
'tully, which 1s eſpecially required in a Steward, 1 Cor. 4, 2. e In all
your Gifts, and the Communications of them, q. 4d, God doth not adorn you with his Gitts ſo as to bereave himſelf of his Glory, but that you ſhould give him the honour of them. f From whom ye tave received the Giffs, Eph. 4. 8. and by whom you are enabled to slorifie God, and by whom alone what ye do, can be accented of God. See Eph. 3. 21.
12 Beloved, think it not ſtrange g concerning the * fiery trials þ which is to try you z, as though tome {trange thing had happened unto you.
2 Be not offended or troubled at- Perſecution, as at 2 thing un- uſual or never heard of; it-implies that they thould reckon upon 1t before-hand, that they might not be ſurpriſed with it when it comes. The ſame word is uſed vey. 4. h The heat or burning, whereby he means great afflitions, eſpecially thoſe that are for right-outnels lake, as appears ver, 14. Which are often compared to Fire, as being alike painful and grievous to them, as Fire is to Mens Bodics ; and bec.vle men are tried by them as Metals are by Fire, P/z/. 65. 10. 1/4. 48. 19. ; This he adds as the reaſon why they ſhould! not think firinze 0! Perſecutions, viz. Becauſe they were ſent by Gcd, not for their De- {tru&tion, but tor the trial and exercite of therr Grace:,
13 But rejoice # inaſmuch as * ye are partakers of
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Chriſts ſufterings /, that when his glory {hall 55
a 4 . SF > revealed 7, ye may be glad alſo with cxceculng }
OV 7. ] Þ Be ſo far from being offended at your Suferinge, 45 ratner ©0 reckon that there is great matter of rejovcing in them ; ter onthe, trya/s makes them tolerable, but your being jt them parraners of Chrift's Sufferings, makes them comfortable. / z. e. Ye lunci, i. Chriſt did, for the Confeſfion of the Truth, and fs ye are fuch kind of Sufferers as Chriſt was. 2. As Members cf Cirift, VC WNET thoſe evils which are laid out for thoſe that b0tviz 5o ey keg.
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Aification »f your Sufferings, ſee Phil. 3. 10. mViz. Athis fecond 5 8 coming, Chap. 1. 7. Col. 3. 4. and 2 7iejf. 1.7. n A Joy without any the lea!t mixture of Pain or Gricf. The rejoycing of the Saints here is mixed with pai and heavinels, but fhall be pure hereafter 3 they rejoyce in hope now, but in cnjoyment then.