n 6. Having then gifts differing • according to the grace that is given to us, (1) whether prophecy, let us prophefie according to the proportion of faith: 7. Or miniftry, let 5 received the Gift, even fo minifter n 6.1. Cor. 12.4, 7, 11. Now there are diverfities of Gifts, but the fame Spirit. But the Manifeftation of the Spirit, is given to every Man to profit withal. But all thefe worketh that one and the felffame Spirit, dividing to every Man feverally as he will. Eph. 4 7. Unto every one of us is given Grace according to the Meafure of the 10 Gift of Chrift. Heb. 2. 4. God alfo bearing them witnefs, both with Signs and Wonders, and divers Miracles, and Gifts of the holy Ghost, according to his own Will. †1 15 Pet. 4. 10, II. As every Man hath I Pt Cor. 13. 10, 28. ti Cor. 13. 2. † Cor. 14. 1, 29, 31. See on Acts 11. 27. 7.91 Cor. 12. 5. There are differences of Administrations, but the fame Lord. " (1) By Prophecy, feems here to be meant, the Gift of Expounding the Revelations made by infpired Perfons to others, and particularly the Prophecies of the Old-Teftament. Some think that the Measure of Faith, Ver. 3. and the Proportion of Faith here, are Expreffions of the fame Import, and fignifie the Proportion or Measure of Spiritual Gifts bestowed in the Apoftles Times upon Men, upon their Faith, or believing the Gospel, which were more or fewer, according as they fitted and prepared themfelves for the receiving of them. There is another Senfe of this Place, which though it might not be intended by the Apostle, yet because it is in it felf an excellent Rule for interpreting the Scriptures, I think it may be of Ufe to mention it. It is that of thofe, who by the Proportion of Faith, understand the Analogy of Faith; by which they mean, the conftant Scope and Tenour of the Scriptures, in the plain and neceffary Points of Faith and Practice. For we may be affured, that no Senfe of Scripture can be a true or good Senfe, which is contrary to the general Design and tenour of the whole. To give an Inftance or two. We may conclude that the Senfe put upon thefe Words, This is my Body, by the Church of Rome, cannot be true, it being evident from the History of the New-Teftament, that Lord is afcended into Heaven, where he is to continue, Acts 3. 21, till the Time of the Reftitution of all Things, that is, till his fecond Coming to Judgment. How then can his Body be in ten Thoufand feve ral Places on Earth at one and the fame Time? I will add, if the Do&rine of Tranfubftantiation is true, it will follow, that our Lord, when he inftituted the holy Sacrament, did eat his own Flefh, and drink his own Blood, which thofe who maintain this Do&trine would do well to confider. Once more, We may conclude that God did not, by an eternal Decree, reprobate any Man, or create him on purpose to glorifie his Juftice in his everlafting Destruction; becaufe, fuch a Notion is contrary to the conftant. Tenour of Scripture, which affures us, That every one's Mifery is from himself; That God defires the Salvation and Heppi our nefs r Let us wait on our miniftring; or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8. Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation : he that " *giveth [Or, imparteth], let him do it with fimplicity [Or, liberally]; he that ruleth, with dis ligence; he that fheweth mercy, with 9. Let love be without diffimulation. 2 cheerfulness. Abhor that which s A&ts 13. 1. There were in the Church that was at Antioch certain Prophets and Teachers; as Barnabas.- A&s 20. 28. Take heed unto your felves, and to all the Flock over whom the holy Ghost hath made you Overfeers, to feed the Church of God.- +Eph. 4. 11, 12. He gave fome Paftors and Teachers: for the perfecting of the Saints, for the Work of the Miwiftry, for the Edifying of the Body of Chrift. Tim. 5. 17. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double Honour, efpeci-15 ally they who labour in the Word and Doctrine. 1 Pet. 5. 2. Feed the Flock of God which is among you 10 over you. с cheerful Giver. I 8. A&ts 15. 32. See on 20 A&ts 13. 43. 9. dt 1 Tim. 1. 5. † 1 Pet. 1. 22. See on Joh. 13. 34, 35 25 "Mat. 6. 1, 2, 3 Take heed that ye do not your Alms before Men to be feen of them: otherwife ye have no Reward of your Father which is in Heaven. Therefore when thon doft an Alms, do not found a Trumpet before thee.But when thou doft Alms, let not thy left Hand know what thy 30 will fet no wicked thing before mine right Hand doth. e Pfal. 34. 14. Depart from Evil, and do good. † Pfal. 36. 4. He deviseth Mischief upon his Bed, he fetteth himself in a Way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. Pfal 37. 27. Depart from Evil, and do good, and dwell for evermore. † Pfal. 97. 10. Ye that love the Lord, hate evil. Pfal. 101. 3. I Eyes: a 2. Cor. 8. 2. T -Their deep Poverty abounded unto the Riches of their liberality. b I Thef. 5 you, Brethren, to know them nefs of all Men; That he is not willing that any fhould perish, but that all fhould come to Repentance; That Jefus Chrift tafted Death for every Man. A Man may be at a lofs about the Meaning of a difficult Text of Scripture, but he can be certain, that that cannot be the Senfe thereof which contradicts the general Scope of the holy Scriptures. I will farther add, That to fuppofe that God, without any regard to the good or evil Actions of Men and Women, has by an eternal and unalterable Decree appointed fome to everlasting Happiness, and the much greater Part to everlafing Mifery, is to fuppofe him to be in the moft proper Senfe, a respecter of Perfins, which the Scriptures are fo careful to guard against, that it is aff'd feveral times in the Old and New-Teftament, That God has refe to any Man's Perfon. See the References on A&ts 1D, 34. * one another : II. k which is evil, cleave to that which is good. 10. f Be kindly affectioned one to another; with brotherly love [Or, in the love of the brethren], in honour preferring h Not flothful in bufinefs: i fervent in fpirit; ferving the Lord : 12. Rejoicing in hope; pa tient Mind, Meeknefs, Long-fuffering. 1 Pet. 2. 17. Honour all Men. I Pet. 5. S. Likewife ye Younger, fubmit your felves to the Elder; yea, all of you be subject one to a nother, and be clothed with Humili5tg. Eyes: I hate the Work of them BEcclefiafticus 3. 18. The great- II. h Eccl. 9. 10. Whatfcever thy Hand findeth to do, do it with thy Might; for there is no Work, nor Device, nor Knowledge, nor Wifdom in the Grave whither thou goeft. iSee on A&s 18. 25. 12. k Luk. 10. 20. In this rejoice not, that the Spirits are fubje&t unto you: but rather rejoice, because your Names are written in Heaven. Rom. 15. 13. Now the God of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing, that ye may abound in Hope through the Power of the holy Ghoft. 2 Cor. 13. 11. Be of good Comfort.Phil. 3. 1. Finally, my Brethren, rejoice in the Lord. † Phil. 4. 4.. 25 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again. I fay, rejoice. † Thef. 5. 16. Rejoice evermore. Heb. 3. 6. Whose House are we, if we hold faft the Confidence, and the rejoic30ing of the Hope firm unto the end. I Job 2. 10. What fhall we receive Good at the Hand of God, and fhall we not receive Evil?· Rom. 5. 3,4. Knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience; and Patience, Experience; and Experience, Hope. Rom. 2. 7. To them who by patient continuance in welldoing, feek for Glory, and Honour, and Immortality, eternal Life. Heb. 10. 36. For ye have need of Patience; that after ye have done the Will of God, ye might receive the Promife. Heb. 1 1. - Let us run with Patience the Race that is Phil. 2. 3. Let nothing be done 40 through Strife and Vain-glory, but in lowlinefs of Mind let each efreem other better than themselves. Col. 3. 12. Put on therefore (as the Elect of God, holy and beloved) 45 bowels of Mercies, humbleness of tient in tribulation; e P continuing inftant in prayer: 13: "Diftributing to the neceffity of faints: ⚫ given to hof pitality. 14. Bless them which perfecute you: bless, and curfe not. 15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16. Be of the fame mind one towards another. Mind not high things, but * condefcend to men of low eftate [Or, be contented with mean things]. "Be not wife in your own conceits. 17. * Recompence to no man evil for evil. Provide things honeft in the ; fight is fet before us. Jam. 1. 3, 4 15. Ecclefiaft. 7. 34. Fail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that mourn. Mat. 25. 35, 36. I was an hungred, and ye gave me Meat: I was thinfty, and ye gave me Drink: I was a Stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was Sick,and ye vifited me: I was in Prison, and ye came unto me. Luk. 1. 58. Her Neighbours, and her Coufins heard how the Lord had fhew ed great Mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 1 Cor. 1512. 26. Whether one Member fuf fer, all the Members fuffer with its or one Member be honoured, all the Members rejoice with it. Gal. 6. 2. Bear ye one anothers Burdens, and fo fulfil the Law of Chrift. Heb. 13. 3. Remember them that are in Bonds, as bound with them; and them which fuffer Adverfity, as being your felves alfo in the Body. r 16. Rom. 15. s. ti Pet. 3. 8. See on Joh. 17. 11. st Pfal. 131. 1. Lord, my Heart is not haughty, nor mine Eyes lof3ety: neither do I exercife my felf in great Matters, or in things too high for me. tJer. 45. 5. Seekest thou great things for thy felf? Seek them not. u mti Thef. 5. 17. See on Luk. I 18. I. î 13. "I Cor. 16. 1. See on A&ts 11.29. Gen. 18. 3, 4. [Abraham] faid, My Lord, if now I have found Favour in thy Sight, pass not away I pray thee from thy Servant. Let a little Water, I pray thee, be fetched, and wash your Feet, and reft your felves under the Tree. Gen. 19. 2. [Lot] faid, Behold now, 25 my Lords, turn in, I pray you, into jour Servants House, and tatry all Night, and wash your Feet A&ts, 16. 15-[Lydia] befought us, faying, If ye have judged me faithful unto the Lord, come into my House, and abide there.- 1 Tim. 3. 2. A Bishop then must be blameless, -given to Hofpitality. Tit. 1. 8. -A lover of Hofpitality. Heb. 35 13. 2: Be not forgetful to entertain Strangers: for thereby fome have entertained Angels unawares. † I Pet. 4. 9. Ufe Hofpitality one to another without grudging. 40 f 14. See on Mat, 5.44. a † Prov. 3.7. t Ifa. Rom. 11. 25. See on 17. t Prov. 20. 22. † 5. 15. t Pet. 3. 9. Mat. 5. 39. $. 21: Ver. 3, Thef. See on 2 Cor. 8, 21. Providing for honest in you, e fight of all men. 18. If it be poffible, as much as lieth live peaceably with all men. 19. Dearly beloved, avenge not your felves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay faith the Lord. 20. Therefore if thine f enemy I hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in fo doing thou fhalt heap coals of fire on his head.. 21. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. CHAP. 5 fore thus faith the Lord God, I will also ftretch out my Hand upon Edom. Nah. 1. 2. God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth and is furious, the Lord will take Vengeance on his Ad-, verfaries; and he referveth Wrath for his Enemies. † Heb. 10. 30. We know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompence, faith the Lord. 1 honeft things, not only in the fight 10 in Chrift. 18. Heb. 12. 14. Mar. 9. 50. 5.39. 20. Exod. 23. 4. If thou meet thine Enemies Ox or his Afs going aftray, thou shalt furely bring it back to him again. Prov. 25. 21, 22. If thine Enemy be hungry, give him Bread to eat: and if he be thirsty, give him Water to drink: for thou fhalt heap Coals of Fire upSee on 20 on his Head, and the Lord fhall reward thee. 1 Sam. 24: 16, 17. Saul faid, Is this thy Voice my Son David? and Saul lift up his Voice and wept. And he faid to David, Thou art more righteous than I s for thou haft rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 2 Efdr. 16. 53. Let not the Sinner fay that he hath not finned: for God fhall burn Coals of Fire upon his Head, which faith before the Lord God and his Glory, I 30 have not finned. Deut. 32. 35. To me belong-25 eth Vengeance and Recompence.Pfal. 94. 1. O Lord God, to whom Vengeance belongeth: O God, to whom Vengeance belongeth, fhew thy felf. Ezek. 25. 12, 13. Thus faith the Lord God, Because that Edom hath dealt against the House of Judah by taking Vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them: there-35 |