A.D. 66. CHA P. IV. The CONTENTS. The Gentile Chriftians again exhorted to Purity of Life, and Conftancy in their Profeffion, from the Confideration of Christ's Sufferings for them, and their Engagement to imitate Him. They are warned from the former Vices of their Heathen State. The Apostle turns his Argument again to the Jewish Converts, telling them, the Diffolution of the Jewish State and Religion, with the exemplary Deftruction of that People, was near at hand; exhorting them to great Sobriety, Devotion, Charity, and Hofpitality, for their Prefervation from the Effects of that Calamity. Advices for the due Ufe of Spiritual Gifts, and the Exercife of Sacred Offices. The dreadful fudgment upon the Jewish Nation, and the happy Security of good Chriftians. Orafmuch then as F 18, &c. likewise with the faine mind: for he 2 That he no lon- reft of his time in the flesh, to the lufts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may fuffice 3 You Gentile Converts muft especially know, you are now to us to have wrought bid adieu to all the Drunkenness, the impure Ver 1. He that hath suffered in the Flesh. A Chriftian's Suffering in the Flesh is, in this Place, evidently the fame with his Mortifying the Flesh, and its Lufts: As appears by the second and third Verses. the will of the Gen tiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lufts, excefs of wine, revel impure Debaucheries and abominable A. D. 66. lings, banquettings, and abominable idolatries : 4 Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the fame excess of riot, fpeaking evil of you : fectation, with the 5 Who fhall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. an 6 For, for this cause was the gospel preached alfo to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the fpirit*. 4. Those impious Customs being become Branches even of their Religious Worship; your Heathen Neighbours will, 'tis like, wonder at your relinquishing them, and point you out for Men of Novelty and Afutmost Indignity and Reproach. 5. But let not that dishearten you. A Time is coming when God will feverely recompence them, and all that have given themselves up to obftinate and irreclaimable Wickedness. 6. Remember the bleffed Advantages you Gentile Chriftians, who were dead in Trefpaffes and Sins, now enjoy, by the Gospel Revelation, engaging you to condemn * and mortify your former vicious and fenfual Habits, and live a new and divine Life. A Thing which, though your Heathen Neighbours may reproach*and condemn you for, yet the Present Comforts of this Spiritual Life, and the Affurance of being raised to an Immortal Happiness, by the Power of the Divine Spirit, will demonftrate your Wisdom and their Folly. 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore fober and watch unto prayer. 7. Let the Jewish Converts now take Notice, the Ceremonial Religion, fome of them are fo fond of, is drawing near to an End; and the Jewish Ꮓ Judged according to Men in the Flesh, but, &c. I have joined the two most natural Interpretations of these Phrases, and leave the Reader to take which he thinks to be the most strictly agreeable to the Context. A.D. 66. Jewish State and People to be deftroyed, by a most Exemplary Judgment. To prevent their fharing in which common Calamity, it behoves them to betake them felves to great Sobriety, Temperance and Devotion, according to our Saviour's Advice, Matth. xxi. 34, 36. Η χάρις, χαρισμα Η λαλεῖο Η ὡς λόγια Θεό. See Rom. xii. 6. : fhall cover the mul- 8 And above all 8 & 9. Remember too, that a things have fervent charitable, kind, and hofpitable Temcharity among your per, free of all partial Distinctions felves for charity and Animofities against fuch as are not of your Opinion, will do you particular Service in the prefent Cafe, will contribute much to atone for your former Miscarriages of that Kind; and procure you the Divine Protection from the Miferies now coming upon your obdurate Nation. 9 Ufe hopitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even fo minifter the fame one to another, as good fewards of the manifold grace of God. 10 Whatever extraordinary || Gift of the Spirit any Christian is endowed with, or whatever || Office he is intrusted withal, let him not overvalue himfelf and defpife others upon that Account; but look upon himself as a Steward, to whom God has committed a Talent to be liberally and chearfully improv'd to the Church's Good. 11 If any man fpeak, let him peak as the oracles of God: if any man minifter, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glodanove. rified through jefus Chrift; to whom be praife and dominion for ever and ever. II Thus, he that has the Gift of explaining Scripture Prophecies, let him prefume to carry that Explanation no further || than his Infpiration reaches. He that is a Steward of the Churches Charities for the Poor, or is fent on any Charitable | Meflage to any Church, let him perform thofe Offices with Diligence and Heartiness. And fo, for all other Employments in the Ministry, let your chief Aim be to the Glory of God, through Jefus Chrift, to whom be afcribed all Praise and Dominion. Amen. Amen. * See James v. 9-20. and the Note there. 12. Once 12 Beloved, think it not ftrange concerning the fiery tryal, which is to try you, as though fome ftrange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, in as much as ye are partakers of Christ's fufferings; that when his glory fhall be revealed, ye may be glad alfo with exceeding joy. be re 14 If ye proached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory, and of God refteth upon you : on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glori fied. 15 But let none of you fuffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a bufy-body, in other mens matters. 12. Once more let me intreat you, A.D.66. dear Brethren, not to be furprized and difheartened at the fevere Perfecutions that befal you, for the Sake of your Profeffion. Think it not ftrange, That Chriftianity fhould be now a State of Trials and Sufferings. 13. Look on it, rather as an Honour to be Sharers in the Sufferings of your Lord, who accounts all Your Afflictions as his Own. And rejoice in it as your greatest Happiness, that, as you are to refemble Him in Suffering here, you are one Day to fhine with him in Eternal Splendor and Felicity. 14. Whenever, therefore, you are vilified for your Chriftian Religion, 'tis a happy Token of your being the true Difciples of God and Chrift; entitled to thofe Endowments of the Holy Spirit, that are the Earnest and Pledge of your future Glory, and will enable you to triumph and fing the Praises of him, whom your Advefaries fo ignorantly despise. 15. Only take special Care, that none of you commit, and fo justly fuffer for, any Acts of Violence, Theft, Sedition, or intruding into Matters that don't belong to you: Vices that the Jewish Zealots are * Jofephus. now fo very prone to. 16. But, fo far as you innocently fuffer for the peaceable Profeffion of Chriftianity, blefs God, for fuch happy Opportunities of difplaying and perfecting your Submission to Providence. 16 Yet if any man Suffer as a Chriftian, let him not be afhamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf, his Divine Will and 17 For the time is come that judgment now must 17 & 18. In fine, the Time is fian must begin at the fian Church it felf is to undergo the sharp Difcipline of present Trials and Afflictions. And, if the Believing Part of the Jewish Nation be, by Divine Wisdom, permitted to fuffer fuch Things, how dreadful must be the Judgment upon the Infidel and Obftinate Part of that People? And, if their Deftruction will be fo general and terrible, that the very Chriftian Members are likely to escape it only by a fpecial Act of Mercy and Providence; what must be the Condition of thofe, upon whofe Heads thefe Judgments are intended Principally to fall? 19 Wherefore, let them that fuffer ac cording to the will of God, commit the tor. 19. Wherefore, as you Chriftians are fure of the Divine Protection, bear your prefent Perfecutions with an easy and chearful Mind. Keep fteddy to your Duty, and commit your Lives into his Hands, who is your faithful Creator, and cannot fail to be your merciful Deliverer, and eternal Preferver. The Elder and Superior Officers of the Church exhorted to A.D.66. T H Aving thus given you these general Directions, I now particularly exhort the Clergy of your |