In general, as God hath called every man, so let him walk. cumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God 20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called, 1 Cor. 9 his salvation, as the Jews, and some zealots SECT. 19 Circumcision is amongst ourselves, have taught. For to speak xiii. nothing, and uncir- the important truth in a few plain words, Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is no- VII. 19. thing; the observation, or non-observation, of the Mosaic law, will neither secure nor obstruct our salvation; but all depends upon keeping the commandments of God. An obediential faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, produced by the sanctifying influences of his Spirit on the heart, and bringing forth the genuine fruits of holiness in our temper and life, is the great concern: and whether we be Jews, or Gentiles, circumcised, or uncircumcised, we shall be happy, or miserable for ever, as we are careful or negligent with regard to this. As for other matters, be not 20 excessively concerned about them; but in whatever calling, that is, profession and circumstance, any one of you was called, in that let him continue; affect not to change without the clear and evident leadings of Providence, as there is generally greater reason to expect comfort and usefulness in such a calling than another. 21 Art thou called And I may apply this, not only to the different 21 not for it; but if thou employments, but relations in life, as well as mayest be made free, diversity in religious professions. Art thou, for instance, called into the church of Christ, [being] in the low rank, not only of an hired servant, but a slave? Do not so much regard it, as, upon that account, to make thy life uneasy; but if thou canst, without any sinful method of obtaining it, be made free, choose it rather; as what is no doubt in itself eligible, yet not absolutely necessary to the happiness of a good man. 22 For he that is For he that is called by the Lord to the Christian 22 called in the Lord, faith, [being] a servant or slave, is the Lord's Lord's freeman: like- freeman. Christ has made him free indeed, in wise also he that is making him partaker of the glorious liberties of called, being free, is the children of God; (John viii. 36 ;) and on the being a servant? care use it rather. being a servant, is the Christ's servant. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. other hand, he also that is called, [being] free f You were bought with a price. &c.] Dr. Whitby would render it, "Are ye bought with a price, that is, redeemed from of servitude? Become not servants of men; do counsel 10 Reflections on the improvement of our relations and callings. SECT. of his own blood; and therefore, let me caution xiii. you out of regard to him, and from a desire to be capable of serving him, as much as possible, VII. 23. that ye do not, where it may by any lawful means be avoided, become the slaves of men; since so many evils and dangers and snares are inseparable from such a situation. 1 Cor. 24 This, brethren, is the particular advice which let 24 Brethren, every man wherein he I thought proper to give upon this head; and is called, therein abide Ver. IMPROVEMENT. LET us learn, from the exhortations and reasonings of the 14 apostle, a becoming solicitude, to contribute as much as we possibly can, to the Christian edification of each other; and espsecially let this be the care of the nearest relatives in life. What can be more desirable, than that the husband may be sanctified by the wife, and the wife by the husband! May all prudent care be taken, in contracting marriages, as to the religious character of the intended partner of life; and in those already contracted, where this precaution has been neglected, or where the judgment formed seems to have been mistaken, let all considerations of prudence, counsel Christians against becoming slaves, freedom given them, and indeed suited all Christians who never had been at all slaves, and who might more easily have been prevailed upon, by their poverty, to bring themselves into a condition, the evils and inconveniences of which they did not thoroughly know. g Abide with God.] L'Enfant explains Taza Tw ew in the sight of God, (Compare 2 Cor. xi. 11; Eph. v. 21,) and thinks there had been some disorders at Corinth, proceeding from some irregular claim which Christian slaves made to liberty, under pretence, that, as Christian brethren, they were equal with their masters. h Care Reflections on the improvement of our relations and callings. xiii. prudence, of religion, of affection, concur to animate to a mu- SECT. tual care of each other's soul, that most important effort of love, that most solid expression and demonstration of friendship. Nor Ver. let the improbability of success be pleaded in excuse for neglect, 14 even where the attempt must be made by the subordinate sex. A possibility should be sufficient encouragement; and surely there is room to say, How knowest thou, O wife, but thou mayest save 16 him, whose salvation, next to thine own, must be most desirable to thee? Let us all study the duties of the relations in which God hath fixed us; and walk with him in our proper callings, not desiring 24 so much to exchange, as to improve them. His wise Providence hath distributed the part; it is our wisdom, and will be our happiness, to act in humble congruity to that distribution. Surely the apostle could not have expressed in stronger terms, his deep conviction of the small importance of human distinctions, than he here does; when speaking of what seems to great and generous minds, the most miserable lot, even that of a slave, he says, Care not for it. If liberty itself, the first of all temporal bles- 21 sings, be not of so great importance, as that a man, blessed with the high hopes and glorious consolations of Christianity, should make himself very solicitous about it, how much less is there in those comparatively trifling distinctions on which many lay so disproportionate, so extravagant a stress! Let Christian servants (for blessed be God, amongst us we have no slaves,) remember their high privileges, as the Lord's freemen. Let Christian masters remember the restraint, as the 22 Lord's servants. And let the benefits of liberty, especially, when considered in its aspect upon religion, be so far valued, as not to be bartered away for any price which the enemies of mankind may offer in exchange. But above all, let us remember the infinite importance of maintaining the freedom of the mind from the bondage of corruption; and of keeping, with all humble and cheerful observance, the commandments of God. While many express the warmest zeal 19 for circumcision, or uncircumcision, in defence of, or in opposition to, this, or that mode or form of external worship, let our hearts be set on what is most vital and essential in religion; and we shall find the happiest equivalent, in the composure and satisfaction of our own spirit now, as well as in those abundant rewards which the Lord hath laid up for them who fear him. h Care not for it.] This fine remark, Goodwin's Works, Vol. I. p. 50. (for such indeed it is,) occurs in Dr. SECT, VOL. IX. B a Or 12 The apostle again says, that marriage was then inexpedient. SECT. xiv. VII. 25. SECT. XIV. The apostle treats on the inexpediency of marriage, in the circumstances of the church at that juncture, and inculcates a serious sense of the shortness of time, as the best remedy against immoderate attachment to any secular interest. 1 Cor. VII. 25, to the end. 1 CORINTHIANS VII. 25. 1 COR. VII. 25. BUTI have been insensibly led by these gene- NOW concerning vit hath obtained mercy gins, I have no ral views of our obligations and hopes, as commandment of the 1 Cor. Christians, to digress from the subject of mar- Lord: yet I give my riage, which I had first in view, and to which judgment as one that it is time I should return. And here, concern- of the Lord to be faithing the case of virgins of either sex, I have re- ful. ceived no express commandment from the Lord, as I had in the case handled above; whether by what is transmitted to us in Christ's discourses, or by any immediate and personal revelation 2 nevertheless, I give my opinion, as one who hath received grace and mercy of the Lord, to be faithful in the great charge he hath committed to me; and therefore, considering the many instances, in which I have been enabled to approve my fidelity to Christ and his church, may expect to be heard with some peculiar regard. 26 I apprehend this therefore to be right and good in 26 I suppose therethe present exigency and extremity of affairs, fore that this is good for the present distress. while the church is in such a state of persecu- I say that it is good for tion, that [it is] best for a single man to continue a man so to be. 27 as he is. Art thou indeed bound to a wife al- 27 Art thou bound ready? my advice affects not thee; in that case unto a wife? seek not bear patiently whatever burdens may occur, and to be loosed. Art thou seek not to be loosed from her by an irregular and scandalous divorce or separation. But on the other hand, art thou loosed from a wife? Hath Providence never led thee into those engagements, or has it broken the bond by the death of thy former companion? If thou canst conveniently and virtuously continue as thou art, seek a Or by immediate and personal revelation.] To this, I think he refers, ra. ther than the former, as he speaks in the singular number; whereas else he might more properly have said, we have received none. b Present exigency.] This must certainly refer to the prevalence of persecu not loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. tion at that time; for nothing can be more absurd, than to imagine, that an inspired apostle would, in the general, discountenance marriage; considering that it was expressly agreeable to a divine institution, and of great importance to the existence and happiness of all future generations. c Con 13 SECT. Xiv. I Cor. He would have them not attached to any secular interest; not a wife at present, till the storm which now hovers over the church be a little blown over, 28 But and if thou and more peaceful times return., Yet if thou marry, thou hast not dost marry, thou hast not thereby sinned and if VII. 23. sinned: and if a virgin marry, she hath not a virgin marry, she hath not sinned; the marsinned. Nevertheless, riage-state is no doubt both lawful and honoursuch shall have trouble able; yet such will have probably some additional affliction in the flesh; they will be encumbered with the burden of many temporal affairs; and the representation which I make to you of these things, is not out of severity, but tenderness; as I would fain spare you, and speak on the whole, in this gentle and cautious manner on the subject, to avoid extremes either the one way, or the other. in the flesh: but I spare you. 29 But this I say, brethren, the time is that both they that have wives, be as though short. It remaineth, they had none; But this I say brethren, with great confi- 29 dence; and desire you would hear it with due attention; that the whole time of our abode in this world is contracted within very narrow limits; it remains therefore, that we guard against too fond an attachment to any relation or possession in life: so that they, who have wives, be 30 And they that in a manner, as if they had none ; And they 30 weep, as though they that weep, as not weeping in streams of inconwept not; and they solable sorrow, though nature may be allowed that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and to drop its moderate tear; and they that rejoice, they that buy, as as not rejoicing in dissolute and confident salles though they possessed of mirth, as if secure from any distressful revolution; and they that purchase, as not possessing by a certain tenure what they must shortly re31 And they that sign; And they who use this world, as not 31 use this world, as not carrying the enjoyments of it to an unbr died abusing it; for the fashion of this world excess; for the whole scheme and fashion of this world passes off, and is gone like a scene in a theatre that presently shifts; or a pageant in some public procession, which how gaudily soever it be adorned to strike the eyes of spectators, is still in motion, and presently disappears, to shew itself for a few moments to others. So transitory are all our enjoyments, and afflictions too, and worthy of little regard, when compar not; passeth away. c Contracted.] The word oua, properly imports this, being, (as many have observed, a metaphor, taken from furiing or gathering up a sail. Dr. Hammond, and some others, would render this, it is but a little while, and they that have wives, shall be as though they had none. That is, "I see those times of persecution B 2 ed rising, which will put men out of a ca- d Fashion of this world passes off] Exruc |