He observes, that though they knew an idol was nothing; known of him. there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords XV. 1 Cor. love God, the same is it by a steady regard for the Divine glory, and SECT. the good of his brethren, he is indeed known of him, this man hath attained the true know4 As concerning therefore the eating ledge of God, and will be sure of his approba- VIII. 4. of those things that tion and favour. Therefore, to proceed to the unto idols, we know question in debate, concerning the eating of the that an idol is nothing things sacrificed to idols, we well know that an in the world, and that idol [is] in itself nothing in the world, but a mass of senseles matter, and when regarded in a religious view, so empty a vanity, that it deserves not to be named among the things that exist. And we all know that there [is] indeed no other God, but that one glorious and trånscendent Being, to which the gospel hath taught us to appropriate our worship. For though there 5 are many which are called gods, whether residing in heaven, or on earth, or even under the earth; for the heathens have not only their celestial, and terrestrial, but likewise their infernal deities as there are many gods, and many lords, who are in their various subordination adored by the Gentiles, and have great though very absurd 6 But to us there is worship paid to them. Nethertheless, to us, ther, of whom are all [there is but] one God, the Father of angels things, and we in and men, from whom [are] all things in created him: and one Lord nature; and we derived our being from him, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we were made for him, and for his glory; and there is also but one Lord, even Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and man, by whom [are] all things created, supported, and guided, and we by him, thankfully owning ourselves obliged to his agency and care for all we are, and have, or hope to obtain. These are grand principles, in which all intelligent Christians are agreed; and it would be happy many.) but one God, the Fa by him. b He is known of him.] Most understand it, he is approved by God, as to know, sometimes undoubtedly signifies, Mr. Locke would render it, he is instructed by him. But I acquiesce in Mr. Pierce's reasoning, in his 6th Dissertation, to prove the construction followed in the paraphrase, by a construction like that of the original of Acts x. 36. where a plainly refers to the immediate antecedent. c We know that an idol is nothing in the world.] Dr. Whitby shews this was a common aphorism among the Jewish doctors to which the word, the name given them, did probably allude. Mons. Saurin thinks it so hard to reconcile this with what the apostle says elsewhere, that he judges it necessary to understand this VOL. IX. C d as an objection made by one of the Corin- d One God, the Father.] In answer to nor is the Son to be considered as another 6 19 20 Yet the consciences of weak brethren might be defiled by eating. SECT. happy, if they kept them steadily and consis XV. I Cor. tently in view. unto an idol ; and their You are possessed of these apprehensions of 7 Howbeit, there is VIII. 7. things: it is well; But you ought to remem- not in every man that knowledge: for some, ber, that [there is] not in all men this knowledge. with conscience of the Some Christian converts may not sufficiently ap- idol unto this hour, eat prehend this; but may imagine there is really it as a thing offered some invisible spirit present in the idol, and act- conscience being weak ing by and upon it. And in consequence of is defiled. this, some do, even until now, with consciousness of some religious regard to the idol, eat the things in question, as what is sacrificed to the idol, intending thereby to pay some homage; and so their conscience being too weak to withstand a temptation to what in these circumstances is really evil, is defiled, and brought under a grievous and terrifying load of guilt. 8 9 10 8 But meat com mendeth us not to God: for neither if we eat, are we the better; are we the worse. But why should we occasion this inconvenience? For we know, that meat commends us not in any degree, to the acceptance and favour of God; for neither are we the better, if neither if we eat not, we eat, nor the worse, if we eat not. The great God does not so much esteem a man for being, or disapprove him for not being, superior to such little scruples; but the tenderness of his conconscience, together with the zeal and charity of his heart, are the grand qualities he regards. 9 But take heed, come a stumblingblock to them that are But take heed, lest this power and liberty of lest by any means this yours, be by any means a stumbling-block, and liberty of yours beoccasion of sin, to the weak, with whom you converse, or who observe your conduct, perhaps weak. with more regard than you pay to it yourselves. 10 For if any man For if any one see thee, who hast this boasted, see thee, which hast knowledge, sitting down to an entertainment in knowledge, sit at meat an idol's temple, as freely as thou wouldest in in the idol's temple, thine own house, and partaking of his sacrifices shall not the conas cheerfully as if they were the common pro- is weak be emboldenvisions of thine own table; though this may in- ed to eat those things deed arise from that sovereign contempt in which are offered to which thou holdest that idle fiction of deity; can he know that situation of thy mind? And will not the conscience of him that is thus weak e Sitting down to an entertainment in an idol's temple.] How commonly entertainments among the heathen consisted of what had been sacrificed to their fictitious deities, and how religiously the christians abstained from them, even when most rigorously imposed, Elsner has shewn by many very apposite citations; (Oserv. Vol. and science of him which idols ? II.p. 96,and no doubt the apostle's decision here had great weight with them. That these feasts were often celebrated in their temples, the same learned critic has abun dantly shewn, in his notes on this clause; and it is strange that Chemnitius, and Erasmus, should ever have doubted it. Reflections on condescension to the weakness of our brethren. 11 And through thy weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? knowled e shall the 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren conscience, ye sin against Christ. and wound their weak 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. SECT. XV. 1 Cor. 21 and who perhaps feels some scruples in his own Therefore it is a determined point with me, 13 IMPROVEMENT. LET us learn from this short, but excellent chapter, to estimate Ver the true value of knowledge, and to see how worthless and 1 dangerous it is, when, instead of discovering to us our own ignorance and weakness, it serves only to puff up the mind. Let us rather labour and pray for that love and charity which edifieth ourselves and others; taking heed, that we do not demonstrate 2 our ignorance, by a high conceit of our attainments in knowledge; for nothing can more evidently shew, how small those attainments are, than not to know their limits, when these limits so soon meet f As long as I live: ac Toy alwva.] We (which might simply have been rendered render it, as long as the world stands. But never) to the sense here given. the sense plainly limits the expression, 22 St. Paul appeals to them, that he was an apostle of Christ, XV. SECT. meet us, on what side soever we attempt to make an excursion. "Give us, O Lord, that love to thee which is the best proof of Ver. our knowledge, and the surest way to its highest improvement.' 3 Let us always remember the grand principle of the unity of 4, 5 God; and with the one God and Father of all adore the one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we exist; setting him in our estimation far above all the powers, dignities, and glories, of created nature. 8 Belonging to so Divine a Master, let us endeavour to learn the most generous principles of true religion. Let us not found our confidence on admitting, and contending for, or despising, and deriding, this or that particular observance, by which, as it may happen to be circumstanced, God is neither honoured, nor dishonoured, pleased, nor displeased. But let us ever maintain the tenderest concern for the edification and comfort of our brethren; and guard against whatever might either grieve or ensnare them. 9 Let us remember, that Christ died for the weakest as well as the 11 strongest; and let their relation to him, and his tender and compassionate regard for them, melt down our hearts, when seized with that cold insensibility, which, alas, is too ready to prevail amongst christians! It is Christ we wound, in wounding our bre 12 thren; and in smiting them, we smite him. Let us then stay that rash hand which is so ready in mere wantonness to do mischief; and be willing to deny ourselves in any desire, for ever so long a time, rather than by our indul13 gence to dishonour God, and injure others. This is the excellent lesson St. Paul often inculcates, of which he was an eminent and illustrious example. But O, how low are multitudes of christians, multitudes of ministers fallen, when they cannot deny themselves in what is unnecessary, and even unlawful where either interest or pleasure solicit the gratification! SECT. SECT. XVI. The Apostle, proposing to illustrate his condescension to the weak, by his waving to accept of a maintenance from the Corinthians, introduces what he had to say on that head with a short discourse on the right, which as a gospel-minister he really had, to be supported by those among whom he laboured; which he argues both from natural equity and scripture principles. 1 Cor. IX. 1-14. 1 CORINTHIANS IX. 1. 1 COR. IX. 1. WHILE I thus speak of the concern I have AMI not an aposde? to avoid what may prove an occasion of 1 Cor. injury to weak brethren, it leads my thoughts IX. 1. to the part I have acted, while I resided among you am I not free? have I And had all the rights of the other apostles : our Lord? are not you xvi. 23 1 Cor. I not seen Jesus Christ you in declining to take that maintenance from SECT. my work in the Loid? you which I might very justly have expected and demanded. And here you must give me leave to express my surprise, as well as my con- IX. 1. cern, to hear, that so unkind and unnatural a construction has been put upon my generosity and tenderness, as if I had declined to accept your contributions, from a consciousness of not being intitled to them as well as my brethren. But can you really imagine that to be the case? Am not I, as truly as any man living, an apostle of Jesus Christ? Am not I as free in this instance, as any other, and may I not, as justly as they, expect to be maintained by vou, while I am serving your best interests? Have not I, though called so much later than my brethren, seen Jesus Christ our Lord, after his resurrection, so as to be able to testify the important fact on my own knowledge, as confidently as those that were earlier acquainted with him? And, to urge so plain a point no farther, are not ye Corinthians, particularly, my work in the Lord, and the evident token of his blessing on my apo2 If I be not an stolical labours? On this account, if I am apostle unto others, not an apostle to some others, yet I doubtless am 2 you: for the seal of so to you, who of all people in the world can shew mine apostleship are the least excuse for questioning my mission: for yer doubtless I am to ye in the Lord. S Mine answer to me, is this, 4 Have we power to drink? ye are indeed the seal of my apostleship in the This therefore is my apology to those who ex-3 5 Have we as other apostles and a Have I not seen the Lord, &c.] That this was necessary, in order to his being an apostle, that is, a witness of Christ's resurrection, bas before been observed. Sce Vol. VII, p. 483, note g. Compare Acts xxii, 14, 15, chap. xxvi, 16; 1 Cor. xv. 8. and b A sister, a wife.] The word γυναίκα, has no force at all here, if it be rendered a woman: a sister must undoubtedly be a woman: not to say, how improbable it is that the apostle should have carried about with him, in these sacred preregrinations, |