The Apoftle introduces his Epiftle with a most affectionate and I CORINTHIANS I. I. PAUL called to be an Apoftle of Jefus Chrift, through the Will of God, and I CORINTHIANS I. I. who was in fo peculiar a Manner Sect. 1. called [to be] an Apoftle (a) of Jefus Chrift, PA not undertaking that Office of himself, but I Cor. I. 1. invested with it by the most exprefs Declaration of the Will of GOD, fignified at the Time of that (a) Called [to be an Apoftle.] There is great Propriety in every Claufe of the Salutation prefixed to this Epiftle; and particularly in this, as there were thofe in the Church of Corinth, who affected to call the Authority of his Miffion into Queftion. Dd2 (b) Softhenes.] IIS 212 our Bro 2 Unto the Church of GOD which is at Corinth, to them that are fanctified Paul, infcribing this Epifle to the Corinthians, Sect. I. that miraculous Interpofition, of which you have and Softhenes fo often heard; and Softhenes (b), so well known ther; 1 Cor. I. I. unto you, whom I efteem as a dear Brother; 2 concur in writing this Epistle, To the Church of GOD, which is in the rich, populous, and learned City of Corinth, whofe chief Glory it is that they, (if they are what their Christian Profeffion fpeaks them to be,) are fanctified in vital Union with Christ Jesus (c), as well as called with an external Vocation, by which they are feparated from the reft of the World [as] the Saints of GOD. And when we express our affectionate Regard to you, and our good Wishes for your Edification and Comfort, we extend them to all, that in every Place (d) invoke the Name of our Lord Jefus Chrift (e), whom we, and all true Chriftians, join in acknowledging and adoring as their 3 [Lord] and ours. May you experimentally know more of the Priviledges and Bleffings of his Gofpel; and for that Purpofe, [may] Grace and Peace [be] with you, that Abundance of Divine Influence, which may establish your Peace and multiply your Profperity; even from GOD the original Fountain of all Bleffings, whom we are now taught to look upon as our reconciled and gracious Father, and [from] Jefus Chrift our Lord, that anointed and exalted Saviour, by whom 4 we 3 Grace be unto you, and Peace from GOD our Father, and from the Lord Jefus Chrift: (b) Softhenes.] This was a Corinthin Minifter, who attended Paul in his Travels. Compare Acts xviii. 17. It was both Humility and Prudence in the Apofle thus to join his Name with his own, in'an Epiftle, in which it was neceffary, to deal fo plainly with them, and to remonftrate against so many Irregularities. (c) Sanctified in Chrift Jefus.] I cannot agree with Mr. Locke, in concluding, that this muft fignify only an external Separation to the Profeffion of the true Religion, as the Jews were externally a holy People, 1 Pet. ii. 8, 9, 10. It seems rather to intimate the Perfuafion, which he had, that notwithstanding fome lamented Irregularities among them, which he was faithfully follicitous to reform, they were in the general, a Body of fincere Chriflians, and the Exceptions comparatively few. Ploce (d) With all that in every &c.] Nothing could better fuit the candid and catho lick Views, which Paul was fo much concerned to promote in this Epifle, than this Declaration of his good Wifhes for every true Chriftian upon Earth, whether Jew, or Gentile, Learned, or Unlearned, Greek, or Barbarian. To limit it, as Grotius, L' Enfant, and fome others, would do, to the Chriftians in Achaia, is to fpoil all the Strength and Beauty of the Sentiment. (e) Invoke the Name, &c.] This ftrongly implies, that it might well be taken for granted, that every true Chriftian would often pray to Chrift, as well as addrefs the Father in his Name. (f) That congratulates them, that they came behind in no Gift. 4 I thank my GOD always on your Behalf for the given you by Jefus Chrift; ་ Grace of God,' which is 5 That in every Thing ye are enriched by him, in all Utterance, and in all Knowledge: 6 Even as the Teftimomy of Chrift was confirmed in you. 213 we receive the Adoption, and thro' whofe Hands Sect. 1. all its Bleffings are communicated to us. I cannot addrefs you, my dear Brethren, with- 1 Cor. I. 4out affuring you in the first Place, that I always give humble Thanks to my GOD on your Account, whenever I mention you before him in Prayer, as I frequently do, for the abundant Grace of GOD given unto you in Christ Jesus; by Virtue of which you have been received into the Chriftian Church, and are made Ornaments to it. For ever adored be his holy Name, that 5 in all Things, ye are enriched in him (f), with a Variety of Gifts and Graces, and particularly, that ye are made copious in all Utterance, and ready [in] all Knowledge of Spiritual and Divine Things; As the Teftimony which I bore to 6. the Gospel of Chrift, when I abode fo long at Corinth, was confirmed among you (g) by fuch various Communications of the Spirit, in Consequence of which you became living Witneffes of it to all, who knew you. So that you are 7 deficient in no Gift, which can render you useful in his Church, while you are waiting for the Glorious Manifeftation of our Lord Jesus Christ, in Connection with which, I hope, you will always confider this extraordinary Furniture for his. Service, and improve it fo, as to advance your Preparation for that Day: Still keeping up an 8 humble Dependance on him, who, if you faithfully apply to him for the continued Communication of his Almighty Aid, will confirm you to the End; [fo that] when fo many others fhall be condemned, [ye may be] prefented blameless and irreproachable, in the great Day of our Lord fe9 GOD is faithful, by fus Chrift (b). Fear not, my Brethren, but 7 So that ye come behind in no Gift; waiting for the Coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift: 8 Who fhall alfo confirm you unto the End, that Day of our Lord Jefus ye may be blameless in the Chrift. whom this (f) That ye are enriched, &c.] These refpectful Congratulations, and Acknowledgments,. of the Things, in which they did really excel, had a moft happy Tendency to foften their Minds; and to difpofe them the better, to receive the plain Reproofs he was going to give them, and which, in their Circumftances, faithful Love extorted from him. (8) Confirmed among you.] As they could not but know they had received these Gifts by the Hand of Paul, this Expreffion fuggefts a rational and tender Argument, to reduce them to their former Affection to him as their fpiritual Father. (b) [That ye may be] blameless, &c.] I think, it would make a very low Senfe of this, 9 10. 214 Sect. I. Reflections on the Obligations of the this bleffed Day will come, and bring with it thofe Glories, which we have fo long been taught Cor. I. 9. to expect. Fear not, but Divine Grace will still be effectual to bear you thro' all Difficulties in your Way to it: For GOD [is] faithful, by whom you were called into the Communion, and Society of bis Son Jefus Chrift our Lord, that you may participate of the Bleffings he hath purchased; the grand Promises of whofe Kingdom, ye know, refer to that illuftrious Day, of which I have been fpeaking. Be therefore courageous and chearful in the affured Expectation of it. Ver. 1. Ver. 2. Ver. 3. L' tian Can whom ye were called unto Jefus Christ our Lord. the Fellowship of his Son IMPROVEMENT. ET us remember, that we alfo are fanctified in Chrift, and Saints by our Calling. Tho' we are not enriched with fuch extraordinary Endowments, as thofe, which were bestowed upon this Primitive Corinthian Church, we call on the Name of the Lord Jefus Chrift; and let it be confidered, as a Band of Love to all thofe, who join with us to acknowledge him under the Character of their Lord, and their Saviour. Let it engage us to pray, that the fame Grace and Peace may be with them from GOD our Father, and from Chrift Jefus our common Lord, which we wish for ourselves. Ver. 4, &c. Let our Hearts be ever open to fuch noble Sentiments of Chriftian Love; not envying the Gifts or Endowments of others, but rather rejoicing in them, bleffing GOD for them, and praying that they may be largely increased; that fo the Teftimony of Chrift may be confirmed, by the flourishing State of Religion among his Followers; than which no Confirmation will probably carry a stronger and more affecting Conviction, into the Hearts of thofe who obferve it. Ver. 6. Ver, 7. Ver. 9. To quicken us to this, let us be continually waiting for the Revelation of Jefus Chrift; thinking feriously, how certainly, and how quickly, he will be revealed from Heaven, to bring us, and all our Brethren, to an Account for the Improvement we make of the various Favours he hath conferred upon us; of which, furely to be called into the Fellowship of Chrift, and the Participation of Spiritual Bleffings by him, is to be reckoned among the Chief. Let to explain it, as fome have done, that they would be preferved, if blameless: The Apoftie He exhorts the Corinthians against Schifms; 215 Sect. 1. Ver. 8. Let us rejoice in the Fidelity of those Promises, which encourage us to hope, that he whofe Grace hath called us to a Participation of the Gofpel, will confirm us blameless, even until the Day of Chrift: And, as we have fuch Profpects of prefent Support and Comfort, and of final and compleat Salvation from him; let us, like this blessed Apostle, take a Pleasure in founding forth his Name, and in keeping up a moft affectionate Remembrance of him, even of Jefus Christ our Lord and our Sa- Ver. 1-9. viour, in our own Minds, and in thofe of our Chriftian Brethren. SECT. II. The Apostle expreffes his great Concern on Account of the Factions in the Church of Corinth, of which he had been informed; and expoftulates with them, as to the Unreasonableness of fetting up Chriftian Minifters at Heads of Parties, when they were under fuch strong Engagements to unite in Christ, as their common Saviour and Mafter. 1 Cor. I. 10,--- 16. I CORINTHIANS I. 10. I Cor. I. LO. NOW haften to the great Things, which Sect. 2. I have in View in this Addrefs to you: And I must first of all befeech, as well as exhort you, my Brethren, by the venerable and endearing Name of our Lord Jefus Christ (a), as you defire, either to fecure his Favour, or to advance his Cause and Intereft in the World, that ye all endeavour fo far as poffible to fpeak the fame Thing, that is, that you do not unneceffarily and unkindly contradict each other, but rather maintain a peaceful unanimous Temper; [that] there may be no Schifms among you, nor mutual Alienation of Affection; but [that] ye be all knit together, in the fame Mind, and in the fame Sen timent; (a) By the venerable and endearing Name of our Lord Jefus Chrift.] This is beautifully and properly oppofed to the various human Names, under which they were fo ready to lift themselves. (b) In |