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57.

9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a stumbling-block to them that are weak.

10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11 And through thy knowledge shall a weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when ye so sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

§ 21. 1 COR. ix. 1-14.

The Apostle here vindicates his Apostleship by appealing
to their own Conversion from Heathenism, and the spiri-
tual Gifts he had conferred upon them-He argues
against the Objections made against his Apostolic Cha-
racter by his Enemies, whose Views and Conduct were
totally opposite to his own: by asserting, that although
he declined receiving Maintenance from the Corinthians,
he was fully entitled to demand it both for himself_and
for his Sister, or Wife, as well as the other Apostles-
He defends his right to a Maintenance from the common
Practice of Mankind; by the Law of Moses; and like-
wise by the express Command of Christ.

1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen
Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I
am to you for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the
Lord.

3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this;
4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?

5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as
well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord,
and Cephas?

6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen ?

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A MAINTENANCE FROM THE CHURCH-CHAP. XIII.

303

10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our Ephesus. sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that plougheth should plough in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we should reap your carnal things?

12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Do ye not know, that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

14 Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

$22. 1 COR. ix. 15, to the end.

St. Paul gives his Reasons for not having asserted his Right
to a Maintenance from the Christian Church at Corinth,
in the Fear that by burthening them he might make the
Gospel less successful-He declares his great desire to
excel in his Ministry; contenting himself with the indis-
pensable Duty of preaching, he shows his Condescension
and Conformity to the Weaknesses and Prejudices of all
sorts of People, that he might win them to Christ-The
Apostle (v. 24.) proves the propriety of his Conduct in
thus exposing himself to Hardships and unnecessary La.
bours, by an allusion to the Customs of their own Coun-
trymen, who only Hope to obtain a corruptible Crown;
and invites all the Converts to follow his Example, being
encouraged with the certain Hope of an incorruptible one
-They are exhorted to a Life of continued self-denial
and Abstinence.

15 But I have used none of these things: neither have
I written these things, that it should be so done unto me:
for it were better for me to die, than that any man should
make my glorying void.

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.

17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge; that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under

Julian Pe- the law, that I might gain them that are under the Ephesus. riod, 4770. law;

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21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-way.

$ 23. 1 COR. X. 1-12.

The Apostle, from the Conduct of the Israelites of old,
wishes to convince the Corinthians that as the favoured
People of God were so severely punished for their Irre-
gularities and Idolatry; so also the Christians, under the
Gospel Dispensation, who indulge in the same sinful Con-
duct and Gratifications, will be as certainly punished as
the Israelites under the Law-He cautions them from
these Examples to avoid the same Offences, and warns
them not to have too much Confidence in themselves, as
being Members of the Christian Church, but to take heed
lest they also fall into Sin.

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be
ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud,
and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them

ALL EXPOSED TO THE SAME TEMPTATIONS-CHAP. XIII.

305

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9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

24. 1 COR. x. 13–22.

The Corinthians exposed only to similar Temptations as
others, are exhorted to abstain from Idolatry, and from
eating of Things offered to Idols-The Apostle proves
by a reference to our own Communion, and to the Cere-
monial Law, that by such an Action there was an out-
ward Worshipping of the Demons on whose Sacrifices
they feasted, and to whom they united themselves-The
Worship of the true God and Idols incompatible, and
derogatory to the Honour of Christ.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is
common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer
you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with
the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be
able to bear it.

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the
communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which
we break, is it not the communion of the blood of
Christ?

17 For we, being many, are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread.

18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which
eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing? or
that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacri-
fice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would
not that ye
should have fellowship with devils.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup
of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and
of the table of devils.

22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

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§ 25. 1 Cor. x. 23. to the end. xi. 1.

Vulgar Ere, St. Paul affirms, that though all Meats under the Gospel Dispensation were lawful, in Opposition to the false Teachers he declares them not expedient, as the Edification of others should be the first consideration-The Corinthians are permitted to eat whatever was sold in the Shambles, or placed on the Table of a Heathen, unless by so doing they offend the Conscience of weaker Brethren -Christians are required to consult even in the most indifferent Actions the Glory of God, and the Advantage of others, rather than their own Inclinations—They are called upon to follow the Disinterestedness of St. Paul, who followed Christ.

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not, for his sake that shewed it and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

1 Be ye

followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

§ 26. 1 Cor. xi. 2—16.

St. Paul commends them for having observed his Ordi-
nances-He explains their Nature, by shewing the Su-
bordination of all Men to Christ, of the Woman to the
Man, and the Subordination of Christ to God-The Veil
being a mark of Inferiority and Subjection, Women are
forbidden to appear unveiled.

Ephesus.