Reflections on the apostle's generous zeal. 33 IMPROVEMENT. xvii. LET us learn, by the example of the apostle, a generous am- SECT. bition of excelling in religion. Not of doing more indeed, than our duty, for we owe God our best, and our all; but Ver. abounding in it to the utmost, carrying our love, our zeal, and 16--18 our obedience, to the highest degree we can attain, and preserving an honest readiness to know our duty, even in circumstances in which there might be some plausible excuse for overlooking it. In particular let the ministers of the gospel not think it much to their praise, to perform those services which it would be shameful and almost impossible for them to neglect; but labour to acquit themselves in the very best manner they can; shewing in the whole of their conduct, that they are not animated only, or chiefly, by secular motives, in the labours they bestow upon the souls of men. They are peculiarly concerned to learn and imitate this con- 19--22 descension of the apostle, in becoming all things to all men, if by any means he might gain some. But they are not the only persons who are interested in this. It is the duty of every Christian, to endeavour to please his neighbours and brethren for their good; and it will be our wisdom, and happiness, upon such generous principles, to learn to govern and deny ourselves. We are all called to engage in the most important race, in the most noble combat. The children of this world fatigue themselves for trifles, and exert the noble faculties of an immortal spirit, to purposes far beneath its dignity. But all is not vanity. Every 24--26 crown is not withering and corruptible. We have heard of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. And whatever there was in the prospect to awaken these Corinthians, still remains to awaken and animate us. Let us therefore keep our eyes and our hearts fixed upon it, and be in good earnest in what we do; often looking to the marks which are drawn in the word of God; realizing to ourselves the certain existence, and formidable character, of our invisible enemies; suspecting especially ourselves, fearing the treachery of our own corruptions, and using all that mortification which may promote our spiritual life and usefulness. Who would not tremble, how high soever his profession, or 27 office may be-who would not tremble, to hear St. Paul insinuate a supposed possibility, that after having preached to others, and made such animating proclamations of the heavenly prize to them, he might himself be rejected, as unqualified to receive it? Let us learn from it humility and caution; learn to watch against dan gers, 34 SECT. xvii. SECT. He endeavours to excite their holy caution and circumspection. gers, which will still surround us, as long as we dwell in this body; and rejoice in the guardianship of Christ, who will at length deliver his faithful servants from every evil work, and preserve them to his heavenly kingdom. SECT. XVIII. Farther to awaken that holy caution which the apostle had suggested in the preceding section, he here represents to the Corinthians, on the one hand, the privileges which Israel of old enjoyed, and on the other, the Divine displeasure which they brought upon themselves, by behaving in a manner so unworthy of them. 1 Cor. X. 1-13. I CORINTHIANS X. 1. 1 COR. X. 1. thren, I would not XV. I HAVE been urging you to run your Christian MOREOVER, bre- so wonderful and solemn an event, that I may a Would by no means have you ignorant.] 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud, and in the sea; sacraments, as well as other acts of worship; and that they might be exposed to ill-will, and ill-usage, if they did not sometimes comply with their neighbours. And he supposes the apostle had each of these ideas in view in what follows: it is possible he might. b The The Israelites lusting after evil things in the wilderness, same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same 35 people; and they, by following his miraculous ECT, guidance, declared their dependance upon him, 4 xviii. 3 And did all eat the and entire subjection to him. And as they 1 Cor. proceeded in their journey, they did all eat x, 3, the same spiritual food, that is, the manna, which for its excellence is called angel's food, (Psal. lxxviii. 25,) and which was indeed an emblem of the bread of life that cometh down from heaven. And they did also all drink of what spiritual might be called, on the like principles, the same drink. (For they drank spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual of that spiritual Rock or mysterious Rock, the wonderful streams of and that Rock was which followed them through so many of their wanderings and incampments; and that Rock was a most affecting representation of Christ, the Rock of ages, the sure foundation of his people's hopes, from whom they derive these streams of blessings, which follow them through all this wilderness of mortal life, and will end in rivers of pleasure at the right hand of God for ever. that followed them: Christ.) 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased; for they were derness. с It was the privilege of Israel as a people, to 5 enjoy such typical blessings as these; and yet it overthrown in the wil- is plain, that God had no pleasure in the greatest part of them, for they were overthrowu in the wilderness; the whole generation that came adult out of Egypt was made to die there, and they sometimes died in such multitudes, that the ground was overspread with carcases, as a field is in which a battle has been fought. the intent we should 6 Now these things Now these things were types and figures to 6 were our examples, to us, that we might learn wisdom at their exnot pence, and not. trust to external privileges, while we go in a course of disobedience to the Divine authority; and particularly, that we might b The same spiritual meat-the same spiritual drink.] It is not necessary to understand by the same meat and drink, the same by which we christians are supported for this could not properly be said of any Israelites who were not true believers; but the meaning is, that they all, good and bad, shared the same miraculous supply of food and drink. c That followed them.] It is objected, that "this stream did not constantly follow them; for then they would have had no temptation to have murmured for want of water, as we know they did at Kadesh, in the circumstances so fatal to Moses; nor would they have had any occasion to buy water of the Edomites, as they proposed to VOL. IX. do. Deut. ii. 6." Mr. Mede justly an- E ture. d To 36 xviii. 1 Cor. And being guilty of idolatry and fornication, were destroyed. 7 Neither be ye ido. laters, as were some of rose up to play. SECT. might not lust after evil things, and indulge not lust after evil things, ourselves in irregular and luxurious desires; as they also lusted. as they also lusted after quails in contempt of the X. 6. manna, and thereby brought the wrath of God upon them, and were consumed with pestilential distempers, while the meat was yet between their teeth. (Psal. lxxviii. 30, 31.) Learn therefore, by what they suffered, to cultivate that temperance and self-denial which I have just been recommending to you. Neither be ye idolaters, as some of them [were] even them; as it is written, while they yet continued at mount Sinai; as The people sat down you know it is written, (Exod. xxxii. 6, 19,) to eat and drink, and with relation to the feast of the golden calf, The people sat down to eat and drink of the sacrifices which were offered to it, and then they rose up to play, and dance in honour of this 8 vain symbol of deity. And this naturally leads me to add another caution, no less suitable to your present circumstances than the former; mitted, and fell in one neither let us commit fornication, or lewdness day three and twenty of any kind, as some of them in their idolatrous thousand. revels committed [fornication;] and particularly when they eat the sacrifices of Baal Peor, and offended with the Midianitish women; the sad consequence of which was, that there fell in one day twenty three thousand by the plague, besides those that were slain by the sword, who amounted to a thousand more. (Numb. xxv. 91-9. Neither let us tempt Christ by our unbelief, after the tokens he hath given us to command our faith, and engage our dependance; as some of the next generation of them serpents. also tempted [him] while he resided among d To play and dance.] Dr. Whitby observes, that, though many commentators understand this of fornication, it is without sufficient reason. Fornication is indeed spoken of in another clause, and that the very next verse 8, which makes it less probable that it is intended here. As the golden calf was designed as a symbol of Jehovah, there is no reason to imagine they would bring such an abomination into worship, however irregular, which was addressed to him. And Elsner, (Observ Vol. II. p 105.) has abundantly vindicated the remark of Grotius, that way, signifies to dance, a ceremony with which God himself had lately been honoured, (Exod. xv. 20.) and which, it is very probable, might naturally be at them 8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them com 9 Neither let 113 tempt Christ, as some and were destroyed of of them also tempted, tended with the shouts and songs which Moses heard on approaching the camp. Exod. xxxii. 17, 18. e Commit fornication.] This was common at many idolatrous feasts among the heathen; and it was the more proper for the apostle to caution these christians against it, as it was proverbially called the Corinthian practice, sgwângan, being, as many have observed, equivalent to scortari. Strabo tells us, that in one temple of Venus at Corinth, there were no less than a thousand priestesses, who made pro stitution a part of their devotions to the goddess, Strabo. Lib. 11. cap. 16. f Tempt Christ, as some of them tempted [him.] Though the word him be not in the original, it seems plainly to be im Let him therefore who standeth, take heed lest he fall. xviii 1 Cor. 10 them, as the angel of God's presence; and were SECT. destroyed by fiery serpents. (Numb. xxi. 6.) from the venom of which others were recovered by that brazen serpent which was so illustrious X. 9. 10 Neither murmur a type of the Messiah. Neither murmur ye ye, as some of them under dispensations of Providence, which may were destroyed of the seem at present to bear hard upon you, and destroyer. are contrary to your present inclinations and interest; as some of them also murmured again and again, and were destroyed by the destroyers, who was commissioned by one judgment and another to take them off. also nurmured, and 11 Now all these But let me remind you on the whole, as I 11 things happened unto hinted above, that all these calamitous things them for ensamples; which happened unto them, were intended as for our admonition, up- types or examples to us, that we might learn on whom the ends of what we are to expect in the like case; and and they are written the world are come. they are written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the world are come; as we live under the last dispensation which God will ever give to the children of men, and with which the whole economy of their probation shall 12 Wherefore, let wind up. Therefore let me urge this improve- 12 him that thinketh he ment of the whole survey upon you, and upon standeth, take heed lest all into whose hand this epistle may come, he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not and say, let him that thinketh he standeth most se- It is true indeed, and it is matter of great 13] comfort and thankfulness to reflect upon it, that no temptation has yet taken but such as is you, common to man, and such as human reason, suffer you to be tempt- properly exercised on the principles of that ed above that ye are revelation which you enjoy, may furnish you temptation also make with motives to resist. And we have the pleaa way to escape, that sure farther to reflect, that [God] is faithful ye who hath promised to preserve his people, and able; but will with the plied; and this is a considerable text in proof of his residence with the church in the wilderness, as the angel of God's presence. Compare Exod. xxiii. 20; Isa. Ixiii. 9; Heb. xi. 26; Acts vii. 58. g The destroyer.] The Jews generally interpret this of him whom they fancy to be the angel of death, and whom they call Sammael. h Ends of the world.] Tean atwww properly signifies the concluding age, or the last dispensation of God to mankind on he earth; which, if we believe the gospel to i Common to man. k Faithful who hath promised.] Com- 37 |