t

1 Cor. XI.

15.

16

than that any Man fhould make my glorying void.

T

16 For though I preach the Gofpel, I have nothing is laid upon me; yea, Wo to glory of: For Neceffity is unto me if I preach not the Gospel.

17 For if I do this Thing But if against my Will, a willingly I have a Reward: Difpenfation of the Gospel is committed unto me.

306
For he confidered himself as the Servant of all.
Sect. 17. Want of the neceffary Supplies of Life, than
that any Man among you should make this my
Boafting void, by having it to fay, that I have
eaten his Bread, and been fupported at his Ex-
pence. For if I preach the Gospel, after what
hath happened in my fingular Cafe, I have no
[Matter of] Boafting in that, for, having re-
ceived fuch a Commiffion, how could I refufe?
I may fay, a Kind of invincible Neceffity lieth up-
on me, and Woe to me indeed, if I preach not the
Gofpel. To decline a Work, affigned to me by
fo condefcending an Appearance of Chrift, when
with malicious Rage I was attempting to destroy
his Church, would be an Inftance of Ingratitude
and Obftinacy, deferving the most dreadful and
17 infupportable Condemnation. If indeed I do
this voluntarily, and fhew upon every Occafion a
cordial Willingness to do it, I have indeed fome
Room to expect a Reward; but if I do it un-
willingly, as I faid before, a Difpenfation is en-
trufted to me, and I muft of Neceffity fulfil it.
18 What then is that Circumstance in my. Conduct,
for which I may expect a Reward of Praife from
the Mouth of my Divine Mafter? Surely this,
that when I preach the Gofpel of Chrift, I may
render it unexpenfive; that fo I may be fure not
in the least Degree to abufe my Power in the Gof-
pel to any
low and fecular Purposes, or carry it
19 beyond its due Bounds. For in this Refpect,
being free from all Men, and under no Obliga-
tion, in this Manner, to give them my Labours,
I made myself the Servant of all (a), addicting
myself to the moft fatiguing Duties, that I might
advance their Happinets, and gain the more to
true Religion and Salvation; in which I have
found a noble Equivalent for all I could do, or
20 bear. And I not only fubmitted to preach the
Gofpel

18 What is my Reward

then? Verily that when I preach the Gofpel, I may make the Gofpel of Chrift without Charge, that I a bufe not my Power in the Gospel.

19 For though I be free from all Men, yet have I

made myfelf Servant unto all, that I might gain the

more.

20 And unto the Jews I

be

(a) The Servant of all.] This has a ftronger Senfe, than can easily be expreffed in the Pa raphrafe; and intimates, that he acted with as Self-denying a Regard to their Interefts, and as much Caution not to offend them, as if he were abfolutely in their Power, as a Slave is in that of his Mafter.

(b) To

became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that der the Law, that I might gain them that are under

are under the Law, as un

the Law;

307

20.

To the Jew he became as a Jew, that he might gain the Jews. Gofpel without any Reward, but I made it a Sect. 17. conftant Maxim, to accommodate my Manner of Living to the Way and Relish of those about 1 Cor. IX. me; facrificing my own Humour and Inclination; and that in fome Inftances, when I could not do it, without confiderable Inconvenience to myfelf: Accordingly, to the Jews, I became as a Few (b), that I might gain over more of the Jews to Chriftianity: To thofe, I fay, who were, or apprehended themselves to be, under the tedious Ceremonies, and difagreeable Restraints of the Mofaick Law, I became, as if I were ftill in Confcience under the Obligations of the Law (c), tho' I knew it to have been abolished; and this, that I might gain those, who apprehend themfelves to be under the Bond of that Law.

21 To them that are

without Law, as without Law (being not without Law to GOD, but under the Law to Chrift) that I might gain them that are without Law.

On 21

the other Hand, to thofe, who were without the
Law of Mofes, and either unacquainted with it,
or apprehended themselves under no Obligation
to conform to its peculiar Institutions, I behaved,
as if I had myself also been without the Law,
neglecting its ceremonial Precepts, which I well
knew to be fuperfeded, and abolished. [et] ftill
taking Care, that it might appear both from my
Words and Actions, that I was not without Law
to GOD; but apprehended myself under a Law
of the most affectionate Duty and Gratitude to
Chrift, who came by new Bonds to engage us to
the strictest Obedience. But thefe Freedoms I
ufed, and this Moderation I manifefted, not by
any Means for my own Indulgence, but that I
might gain those, who are without the Law (d),

and

(b) To the Jews, &c.] Compare, for the Illuftration of this, Acts xvi. 3. Chap. xxi. 21, &c. which Inftances were undoubtedly a Specimen of many more of the like Kind. (c) As if I were ftill under the Obligations of the Law.] This can only fignify, that he voluntarily complied with it, as an indifferent Thing; but it cannot by any Means imply, that he declared fuch Obfervances neceffary, or refufed to converfe with any, who would not conform to them; for this was the very Diffimulation, which, with fo generous a Freedom, he condemned in St. Peter. Gal. ii. 14, &c.

(d) That I might gain thofe without the Law.] This feems to imply, that the Gentiles, not yet converted to Christianity, are here referred to, unless gaining the Perfons fpoken of fignifies rendering them better difpofed to regard his Decifions:" which is at moft but a

fubordinate Senfe.

I

as weak, that I might gain Things to all Men, that I might by all Means fave

the Weak: I am made all

fome.

To the Weak he became as weak, that he might gain the Weak
and make my Miniftry more agreeable and useful,
to fuch as were educated among the Gentiles.
I therefore became to the Weak, as if I had been
as weak and fcrupulous as they, in the various Ar-
ticles of Food and Drefs, which might come into
Queftion, that I might gain upon the Weak; for
the Soul of the Weakest appeared to me infinite-
ly valuable; and I have the Warrant of my great
Mafter, to esteem it more precious, than all the
Treasures of the World. In a Word, I became
all Things to all Men; accommodating myself to
them, fo far as with a fafe Confcience I could,
that by any, or all Means if poffible, I might fave
Jome: And it is the daily Grief of my Soul, that
after all these Efforts, the Number is fo fmall.
And this I do for the Sake of the Gospel, to pro-
mote its Success to the utmost of my Ability;
that I also may be a Sharer in the generous Plea-
fure arifing from the Communication of it (e).
I may illuftrate this, by referring to the
Games, fo well known in Greece; and particu-
larly to the Ifthmian, fo often celebrated among
you at Corinth. Do you not know, that with Re-
fpect to those who run in the Stadium or Foot
Race (f), all indeed run, and contend with each
other; whereas but one receiveth the Prize (g)? Yet
the uncertain Hope, that each may be that one,
animates them all to ftrain every Nerve in the

Course.

23 And this I do for the be Partaker thereof with you. Gofpel's-Sake, that I might

they which run in a Race, 24 Know ye not that run all, but one receiveth the

Prize?

(e) A Sharer in the Communication of it.] We render it, that I might be Partaker with you; but as the Words, with you, are not in the Original, which is a outros year, I rather understand the Words as referring to the Satisfaction he found, in imparting the invaluable and inexhauftible Bleffings of the Gospel to all around him; a Sentiment moft fuitable to his Character and Office,

(f) The Stadium, or Foot Race.] On comparing the Tranflation, I had. before made of this Paffage, with that of my learned and worthy Friend Mr. Weft, (in his excellent Differtation on the Olympick Games, pag. 189, 190.) I had the Pleasure to find a remarkable Agreement; but where there was any Difference, I have generally altered what I had wrote, either in the Verfion, or Paraphrafe, to make it conformable to his; whofe Judgment, in any Point of Criticifm, has with me great Weight; but efpecially on a Subject, of which he appears to have been fo eminent a Mafter, that his Writings upon it, are as diftinguished in their Kind, as the Games he fo elegantly defcribes, were in theirs.

(g) One receiveth the Prize.] 'Tis true, that in fome Games there were feveral Prizes of different Value; yet in thofe, to which he here refers, there was but one for the Victori and the Argument is very strong and ftriking.

(b) Temperate

His Self-denial was like that of the Combatants in the Games ;

obtain.

25 And every Man that ftriveth for the Mastery is temperate in all Things: Now they do it to obtain a corruptible Crown, but we an incorruptible.

309 17.

1. Cor. IX.

24.

Prize? So run that ye may Courfe. You have much greater Encourage- Sect. ment to exert yourfelves, in the Purfuit of celeftial Bleffings. See to it therefore, that ye fo run that ye may obtain, and that you lay afide every Thing, that would be an Incumbrance to you, or render you incapable of dispatching the Race with neceffary Vigor and Alacrity. And every 25 one who contendeth in the Games, whether in running, as above, or in Wrestling, or combating, is temperate in all Things (b); abftaining from whatever might enervate his Strengh, and fubmitting to a regular Course of Diet, Exercise and Hardship, that he may be the more capable of exerting himself with Succefs. [And this] they indeed [da,] that they may obtain a corruptible Crown (i), a Garland of Leaves, that will foon wither and perish: But we are animated by the View of an incorruptible Crown, the Duration, and Glory of which will be commensurate to the Existence of our immortal Souls.

26 I therefore fo run, not

not

It is no fmall Pleasure to me, while I am ex- 26 as uncertainly: So fight I, horting you to this, to reflect that I am, thro' Divine Grace, myself an Example of the Temperance I recommend. I for my Part run not as one who is to pass undistinguished (k); but know

ing

(b) Temperate in all Things.] Whoever confiders on the one Hand, to what great Selfdenial, in Articles of Food, Sleep, and every other fenfual Indulgence, they, who were to contend in their Games, were obliged; and on the other, of how great Importance it is, that the Youth of a Community fhould be formed to a manly Tafte, and refolute Self-Go vernment; will undoubtedly fee the great national Prudence of the Greeks, in the Inftitu tion and Support of these Games; to which it is very probable; their remarkable Valour and Success in War, during the best Days of their feveral Republicks, might in fome confiderable Degree be owing. See, for the Illuftration of the Temperance here referred to, Elfner's excellent Note on this Text, and Elian. Var. Hift. Lib. iii. Cap. 30. Lib. x. Cap. 2.

(i) Corruptible Crown, a Garland of Leaves, &c.] It is well known, that the Crown in the Olympick Games, facred to Jupiter, was of Wild-Olive; in the Pythian, facred to Apol lo, of Laurel; in the Ifthmian, or Corinthian, folemnized in Honour of Palamon, of Pinetree; and in the Nemaan, of Smallage, or Parsley. Now the most of these were Evergreens; yet they would foon grow dry, and break to Pieces. Elfner, (Obferv. Vol. ii. pag. 103.) produces many Paffages, in which the Contenders in thefe Exercifes, are rallied by the Grecian Wits, for the extraordinary Pains they took for fuch trifling Rewards; and Plato has a celebrated Paffage, which greatly resembles this, of St. Paul; but by no Means equals it in Beauty and Force.

(k) I run not as one that is to pass undistinguished.] Tpexei adnaws, is to run unnoticed. But as fome have explained it, of running without attending to the Marks, and Lines, " which

5.

310

Left, tho' à Herald to others, he fhould be difappointed himself. Sect: 17. ing what Eyes are upon me, and folicitous to not as one that beateth the gain the Approbation of my Judge, and attend.. Air:

1 Cor. IX. ing with Diligence and Care to the Boundaries

26.

which are marked out to us, I exert myself.
to the utmost. I fo fight, not as one that beats
the Air (1), who fights as it were with his own
Shadow, or practifes a feigned Combat, but as
one, who has a real and living Enemy to contend
with, and who knowing that his Life and his All
is in Question, would ftrike fure, and not lofe
27 his Blows upon empty Air.
Thus I allow not

myself in a Habit of Indolence and Luxury, but
imitate on a much nobler Occafion, and to a
much greater Degree, the Self-denial of the Com-
batants, I mentioned above; I bruise and mortify
my Body (m), and bring it into fuch a Degree of
Servitude, as the fuperior Interefts of my Soul re-
quire. And this I judge a moft neceffary Precau-
tion; left after having ferved as a Herald to others,
and after having made Proclamation of the glo-
rious Rewards to be attained, and endeavoured
to animate their Zeal in the Purfuit, I fhould my-
Self be disapproved (n) of the great Judge, and fi-
nally declared unworthy of obtaining a Share in
them.

IMPROVE

27 But I keep under my Body, and bring it into Subjection: left that by any ' Means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a Caft-away.

which determined the Path;" I have hinted at that Senfe. As for Heinfius's Interpretation, who explains it "moving fo flowly, as that he might feem to ftand ftill," it is, like many others, peculiar to that Writer, quite infupportable: No one in fuch a Circumftance, could be faid to run at all.

(1) Beats the Air, &c.] In order to attain the greater Agility and Dexterity, it was ufual for thofe, who intended to hox in the Games, to exercife their Arms with the Gauntlet on, when they had no Antagonist near them; and this was called on, in which a Man would of Course beat the Air. But Bos has taken a great deal of Pains in his Note here, to fhew, that it is a proverbial Expreffion for a Man's miffing his Blow, and spending it, not on his Enemy, but on empty Air.

(m) Bruife and mortify my Body.] Tawala, properly fignifies to frike on the Face as Boxers did; and particularly on (the TwTIO,) the Part of it under the Eyes, at which they efpecially aimed. Hence it comes to fignify a livid Tumour on that Part; and fometimes it is proverbially used for a Face terribly bruifed, mortified, and disfigured, like that of a Boxer juft come from the Combat; as Bos has fhewn at large, Exercit. pag. 138, &c.

(n) Left after having ferved as an Herald, I fhould be difapproved.] I thought it of Inportance to retain the primitive Senfe of thefe Gymnaftick Expreffions. It is well known to thofe, who are at all acquainted with the Original, that the Word putas, expreffes the difcharging the Office of an Herald; whofe Bufinefs it was, to proclaim the Conditions of the Games, and difplay the Prizes, to awaken the Emulation and Refolution of thofe, who

were