226 Ministers are stewards, and should be faithful. SECT. the mysteries of God; as persons whose business Christ, and stewards vii. it is, with the sincerest regard to his glory, to of the mysteries of dispense that gospel which contains such sub 1 Cor. lime truths, for so many ages concealed from iv. 1 2 may God. found faithful. 3 But with me it a very small thing the knowledge of the world. And as for what 2 Moreover, it is remains to be done, in the discharge of this required in stewoffice, I hope we shall always remember, that ards, that a man be it is demanded in stewards, that a man be found faithful; since they also, as well as lower servants in the family, are subject to account. And accordingly it is my highest ambition, that my great Master may judge me faithful, whether my fellow servants be pleased, or displeased, 3 with my conduct. And if my fidelity to my Lord offend them, which is a very suppos- is able case, I am well contented to abide all its that I should be judged of you, or consequences. For I will freely declare in this of man's judgment; view, it is with me the smallest thing that can be yea, I judge not imagined, that I should be judged by you, dear mine own self. as you are to me, or by any man's judgment; his day will so soon be over; his censures can effect so little, that amidst the great prospects I have before me, it seems scarce to deserve a mention. Nor indeed do I so judge myself, as if my case were finally to be determined by my 4 own apprehensions concerning it. For though 4 For I know no. I bless God, I am not conscious to myself of thing by myself, yet any thing criminal, of any designed neglect tified: but he that am I not hereby jus of my office, or unfaithfulness in my trust, yet judgeth me is the am I not hereby justified: that is not the main Lord. thing in question; I know partiality to ourselves may often lead us to overlook many faults, for which God may another day condemn us. But he that judgeth me, the Person by whose judgment I am to stand, or fall, is the Lord Jesus Christ, who searcheth the hearts and 5 trieth the reins of the children of men. There- 5 Therefore judge fore be strictly careful that ye judge nothing be- nothing before the fore the appointed time, that is, until he, the great come, who both will time, until the Lord Lord of all, shall come, who shall pluck off the mask of every artful hypocrite, how high soever he may bear himself in the Christian church Yet am I not hereby justified.] This seems a gentle, but a very affecting insinuation, that his opponents, confident as they might seem in their own integrity and safety, would do well to take greater heed, that they were not imposed upon by the deceitfulness of their own hearts. b 227 vii. One teacher, therefore, should not be set up against another. bring to light the shall bring to light the hidden things of darkness, SEC hidden things of and shall manifest all the secret counsels of the make manifest the hearts.c And then shall every one have in the counsels of the most public manner, that praise from God, be- iv. 5 hearts and then fore the assembled world, which is proportionshall every man have able to his real character and conduct. darkness, and will praise of God. 6 And these things, myself, and to Apol These things, brethren, I have by a very ob- 6 brethren, I have in a vious figure transferred to myself, and [to] figure transferred to Apollos,& mentioning our names, and that of los, for your sakes; Cephas only, instead of many more, since you that ye might learn know the entire friendship there is among us, in us not to think of and how far the names of most about whom men, above that which is written, you contend, are inferior to these. And I have that no one of you done this, not on our own account, as you be puffed up for one may easily apprehend, but for your sakes, that against another. you may learn, in attending to what has been said concerning us, distinguished as we are by our office, furniture, and success, not to entertain too high an opinion of yourselves, or others, whom you are most ready to admire, above what is here written, and appears reasonable on the principles which have been laid down : that you may not be puffed up for one teacher, and against another; which surely you cannot allow with respect to other teachers, when you see us renouncing all such attachment to our7 For who mak- selves. And indeed this would be very un- 7 eth thee to differ reasonable, if the distinctions were as great, as Bring to light the hidden things of darkness.] This is a lively and just insinuation, that under specious forms, his enemies concealed very dark designs, which would not bear the discoveries of that awful day. 1 Cor. the Corinthians for heads of parties, for whose names the apostle substituted his own, and that of his most intimate friend; but the learned and judicious Witsius well observes, (Meletem. p. 104,) that Manifest all the secret counsels of the it is probable their names' were used hearts.] This passage also suggests a very among some others omitted, and the solid argument against magnifying one min- figure was only this, that the names of St. ister above another, namely, that the secret Paul and Apollos were used to signify principles of men's actions are unknown; and when the apostle would say, how litthemselves, and any others so extolled; and it is enlarged upon to very good prac- tle ministers were in themselves, he tical purposes; while the apostle, at the same time, takes an opportunity of making chose, out of humility and prudence, rathavery solemn profession of his own faith-er to take such freedom with himself and fulness, and she wing the boldness he had his most particular and intimate friend, towards God, and his modesty and candour than with others. to men; all which were extremely suitable to the general purposes he had in view. Transferred to myself, &c.] Some, and particularly Mr. Locke, have inferred from bence, that not St. Paul, and Apollos, but some other persons, were set up among Vol. II. p. 85,) confirms this interpreta• What is here written.] Elsner (Observ. tion, and produces many instances, in which povv is used to express, having too high an opinion of one's self L'Enfant explains it in something of a different sense," above what scripture warrants.” 228 iv. 5 Reflections on the nature of the ministerial office. thou didst not re ceived it ? SECT. you, or they, who have the highest conceit of from another? and vii. themselves, can imagine. For allowing all, what hast thou that that self love and prepossession can wish, let me ceive? now if thou 1 Cor ask the man who carries it to the greatest didst receive it, why height, Who maketh thee to differ [from anoth- dost thou glory as if er,] in any furniture, or attainment, whether thou hadst not reintellectual, or moral if And what hast thou of any kind, which thou didst not receive from God, the great Parent of universal good? But if thou hast received [it] all from him, why dost thou boast in the gift of his liberal goodness, as if thou hadst not received [it] from him; but it were originally and essentially thine own? Would you all but seriously reflect upon this, it would teach you humbler sentiments, much more rational in themselves, and on the whole, much more for your credit, as well as comfort. IMPROVEMENT. NOTHING can be more conducive to the advantage of Christianity, and by consequence, of the world, whose happiness is so much concerned in its support and success, than that its preachers should consider, and their hearers remember, the nature of verse their office. They are not lords over God's household and herit1 age, but ministers of Christ, whose business it is to promote their 2 Master's honour; stewards of his mysteries, who are to endeavour both to keep and dispense them with all good fidelity. From their Master therefore may they take all their instructions, and to him let them refer all their administrations. Various judg ments will be passed upon them; and they, who will oppose the attempts of some of their brethren to introduce corruption and confusion into his family, will have many an unkind reflection thrown upon them, and experience the severity of censure, for a conduct which merits the justest approbation. But let them Whether intellectual, or moral] Iinclude moral attainments, because the apostle had, inthe preceding verses, been speaking of fidelity in the ministry, and he else. where in this epistle speaks of obtaining mercy to be faithful, (chap. vii. 25,) and would be understood, as referring, not only to his giving us our faculties, but exciting us to the right use of them, both by external calls and advantages, and by inward impressions of his grace on the heart; though still in a manner suited to our free and rational natures, and which, however, some may be distinguished by them, leaves all who choose wrong, with Paul reminds the Corinthians of their prosperous condition; 220 verse learn by this excellent apostle, to be above the judgment of men, SEOT. and to keep the judgment of the Lord in view; that they may not vii. only be supported under that petulence of their fellow servants, but may learn to guard against, what is much more dangerous, the treachery of their own hearts, and the flattery of self love; lest they fondly mistake the voice of prejudice for that of conscience, or in other words, the voice of an erroneous conscience, for that of a conscience well informed. Let us often recollect the narrow limits of our own knowledge, 4 that we may learn modesty in our censures of each other. He only can judge, who knoweth the heart; and there is a day ap-5, &c. proaching, which will manifest all its secrets. While others, with a pitiable mixture of arrogance, and ignorance, judge one another, and judge us, let us rather be concerned that we may secure that praise of God, which will be heard, and felt, by the soul, with the highest rapture, and will silence every echo of human applause, or censure. To conclude: if it hath pleased God, in any respect, to distin-7 guish us from others, by the gifts or graces which he hath bestowed upon us, let us humbly trace these distinctions to their true source and instead of indulging the least degree of pride on their account, let us rather be the more humble. For surely the more we receive from God, the more we are indebted and obliged; and the more we are obliged to the Divine goodness, the greater ought our shame and confusion to be, that we have not answered those obligations by more faithful care, and more constant gratitude. SECT. VIII. The apostle, in order to gain farther upon their affections, represents the many hardships and dangers, to which he and his brethren were exposed, in comparison of that easy state in which the Corinthians were; and reminding them at the same time of their particular obligations to him, he warns them not to force him on severities, to the use of which he was very averse. 1 Cor. IV. 8, to the end. 1 COR. IV. 8. 1 CORINTHIANS IV. 8. Now ye are full, to your consideration; but I fear you will now ye are rich, szer viii. 1 Cor. have little relish for them, as you seem to in- 230 viii. 1 Cor. And of the afflictive circumstances of the apostics; and I would to God SECT. of their first apostle too? For now you are full; ye have reigned as now you are rich; you enjoy so great a degree kings without us: of prosperity and plenty, that methinks you have iv.8 even reigned as kings without us so happy in we also might reign ye did reign, that a variety of secular enjoyments, that you have with you. hardly missed my company. And indeed I wish you did reign, in the truest and noblest sense, and were altogether as happy as you think yourselves. I wish the most excellent powers of the human nature had, through Divine grace, greater rule and sovereignty in your souls, that we, in the midst of all our present distress, might also reign with you, and partake of your happiness, in that high degree, in which, if it were sincere and solid, our affection for you 9 would enable us to share it. And surely we sufficiently need such consolation as this; for I God hath set forth think God hath exhibited us, the apostles of his us the apostles last, Son, like those gladiators which are brought to death. For we are as it were appointed out on the stage last of all, as appointed to cer- made a spectacle untain death, and therefore not furnished with to the world, and to weapons of defence, nor allowed so much as a angels, and to men. chance of escaping: for we are produced, as it were, on a public theatre, and made a spectacle to the whole world of rational creatures, both to angels and men, who are all held in solicit 9 For I think that 1 You have reigned as kings, &c.] This that there is a reference to the Roman is a proverbial expression of the most custom of bringing forth those persons on splendid and plentiful circumstances; and the theatre in the after part of the day, some think, when the apostle adds, I wish either to fight with each other, or with ye did reign, he means, "I wish you had wild beasts, who were appointed to cer the authority of princes, that ye might tain death, and had not that poor chance shelter and accommodate us amidst all our of escaping which those brought forth in distresses and afflictions." But one can the morning had. Compare Sen. Epist. hardly think he did indeed wish each of Cap vii. Reeves Apol. Vol. I. p. 237. Such them a prince, or the civil power in their kind of spectacles were so common in all hands. It seems much more probable, that the provinces, that it is no wonder we as spiritual objects were so familiar to his should find such an allusion here. mind, he changes the idea in the manner word arodu, exhibited, and alper, a the paraphrase expresses; in which sense spectacle on the theatre, have in this conit seems that Christians are called priests nection a beautiful propriety. The whole and kings, (Rev. i. 6;) as it is certain they passage is indeed full of high eloquence, are called a royal priesthood. (1 Pet. ii. 9.) and finely adapted to move their compas I cannot think with Mr. L'Enfant, that this sion in favour of those who were so genrefers peculiarly to the factious pastors of erously exposing and sacrificing themselves for the public good. the church at Corinth. b Last of all.] I cannot think, as Elsner seems to do, that the word 7 refers to the low rank which the apostle held in secular life; or with Messieurs Calvin, Locke, and L'Enfant, that St. Paul speaks of himself as the last called apostle; but The representation is wonderfully pathetic and A spectacle to-angels and men.] This sublime: while they considered evil angels and men as beholding them with all the malignant, and good angels and men with all the benevolent passions, it must |