k name of the 16 So likewise, our Apostles knew by our Lord Jesus Christ, that there should contentions arise upon the account of the ministry. About the 17 And thereforc, having a perfect fore- bishopric. knowledge of this, they appointed persons, as we have before said, and then gave direc-oraclist tions, how, when they should die, other cho-sen and apsen and approved men should succeed in their should suc ministry. of Left proved per who ceed them in their minis Arden's Disc. on this pas Dr. sage. Hammond's 413. 18 Wherefore we cannot think that those try. See Dr. may justly be thrown out of their ministry, se who were either appointed by them, or after- Power of the wards chosen by other eminent men, with the Keys, c. iii. consent of the whole church; and who have with all lowliness and innocency ministered to the flock of Christ, in peace, and without selfinterest, and were for a long time commended. by all. 19 For it would be no small sin in us, should we cast off those from their ministry," Bishopric. who holily and without blame "fulfil the duties gifts. of it. 20 Blessed are those priests, who, having finished their course before these times, have obtained a fruitful and perfect dissolution: for they have no fear, lest any one should turn them out of the place which is now appointed for them. 21 But we see how you have put out some, who lived reputably among you, from the ministry, which by their innocence they had adorned. Offer the • Just men. these things CHAP. XX. He exhorts them to peace from examples out of the Holy Scriptures, 20 particularly from St. Paul's exhortation to them. YE are contentious, brethren, and zealous for things that pertain not unto salvation. 2 Look into the Holy Scriptures, which are the true words of the Holy Ghost. Ye know that there is nothing unjust or counterfeit written in them. 3 There you shall not find that righteous men were ever cast off by such as were good themselves. 4 They were persecuted; but it was by the wicked and unjust. 5 They were cast into prison; but they were cast in by those that were unholy. 6 They were stoned; but it was by transgressors. 7 They were killed; but by accursed men, and such as had taken up an unjust envy against them. P P Suffering 8 And all these things they underwent glowent them riously. they under gloriously. 9 For what shall we say, brethren? Was 9 Dan. vi. 16. Daniel cast into the 'den of lions by men fearing God? Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, Shut into. Were they cast into the fiery furnace by • Dan. iii.20. men professing the excellent and glorious worship of the Most High? God forbid. ! Worshipping the worship. 10 What kind of persons then were they that did these things? They were men abominable, full of all wickedness; who were incensed to so great a degree, as to bring those into sufferings, who with a holy and unblama ble purpose of mind worshipped God; not knowing that the Most High is the protector and defender of all such as with a pure conscience serve his "holy name: to whom be "Full of virglory for ever and ever, Amen. tue. Have in 11 But they who with a full persuasion have endured these things, are made partakers of herited. glory and honour; and are exalted and lifted Have been up by God in their memorial throughout all ages, Amen. exalted. to. 12 Wherefore it will behove us also, brethren, to follow such examples as these; To cleave for it is written, Hold fast to such as are holy; for they that do so shall be sanctified. a 26. Ps. xviii. Junius, and 13 And again in another place he saith, "With the pure thou shalt be pure (and with the elect thou shalt be elect), but with the perverse man thou shalt be perverse. 14 Let us therefore join ourselves to the innocent and righteous; for such are the elect aside. of God. 15 Wherefore are there strifes, and anger, and divisions, and schisms, and wars, among us? from the MS. 16 Have we not all one God, and one & Eph. iv4. Christ? Is not one spirit of grace poured 1 Cor. xil. out upon us all? Have we not one calling in Christ? 17 Why then do we rend and tear in pieces the members of Christ, and raise seditions against our own body? and are come to such d a height of madness, as to forget that we Rom. xii. were members one of another? said. 18 Remember the words of our Lord Jesus, For he 'how he said, Wo to that man (by whom offences come); it were better for him that heLuke xvii. had never been born, than that he should have offended one of my elect. It were better for 2. him that a mill-stone should be tied about his neck, and he should be cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of my little ones. 19 Your schism has perverted many, has discouraged many: it has caused diffidence in many, and grief in us all. And yet your sedition continues still. g 20 Take the Epistle of the blessed Paul See Mr, the Apostle into your hands; What was it that he wrote to you at his first preaching the gospel among you? Dodwell's add. ad. Pearson, Chronol. p. 223. Dr. Grabe's Spicileg tom. i. p. 256. A Spiritual . 21 Verily he did by the spirit admonish you concerning himself, and Cephas, and ly send to Apollos; because that even then ye had begun to fall into 'parties and factions among tions (for yourselves. you. 1 Cor. i. 12. i Inclina one above another). j Inclined. of. 22 Nevertheless your partiality then led you into a much less sin: forasmuch as ye placed your affections upon apostles, men of Witnessed eminent reputation in the church; and upon another, who was greatly tried and approved of by them. k 23 But consider, we pray you, who are they that have now led you astray; and lesGravity. sened the reputation of that brotherly love So much that was so eminent among you. spoken of. ^ Institution. • See Mr. Dodwell, I. c. p. 222. n 24. It is a shame, my beloved, yea, a very great shame, and unworthy of your Christian profession, to hear that the most firm and ancient church of the Corinthians should, by one or two persons, be led into a sedition against its priests. 0 25 And this report is come not only to us, but to those also that differ from us. 26 Insomuch that the name of the Lord is blasphemed through your folly; and even ye yourselves are brought into danger by it. P Take 27 Let us therefore with all haste 'put away an end to this sedition; and let us fall down before the Lord, and beseech him with tears that he would be favourably reconciled to favourable us, and restore us again to a seemly and ho- be. ly course of brotherly love. ? Becoming T Grave, venerable. cxviii. 19, 28 For this is the gate of righteousness, opening unto life; as it is written, Open un- Psalm to me the gates of righteousness; I will go in 20. unto them, and will praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter into it. 29 Although therefore many gates are opened, yet this gate of righteousness is that gate in Christ, at which blessed are all they that enter in, and direct their way in holiness and righteousness, doing all things without disorder. 30 Let a man be faithful; let him be powerful in the utterance of knowledge; let him be wise in making an exact judgment of words; let him be pure in all his actions. 31 But still by how much the more he seems to be 'above others, by reason of these things, Greater. by so much the more will it behove him to be humble-minded; and to seek what is profitable to all men, and not his own advantage. CHAP. XXI. 1 The value which God puts upon love and unity; the effects of a true charity, 8 which is the gift of God, and must be obtained by prayer. HE that has the love that is in Christ, let him keep the commandments of Christ. 24 2 For who is able to express the obliga- Bond. tion of the love of God? What man is suffi |