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Reflections on the Apostle's generous Zeal.

IMPROVEMENT.

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ET us learn, by the Example of the Apostle, a generous Ambition Sect. 17. of excelling in Religion Not of doing more indeed, than our Duty; for we owe GOD our best, and our all; but abounding in it to the Ver. 16, 18. utmoft, carrying our Love, our Zeal, and our Obedience, to the highest Degree we can attain, and preferving an honest Readiness to know our Duty, even in Circumstances, in which there might be fome plaufible Excuse for overlooking it. In particular, let the Minifters of the Gospel not think it much to their Praife, to perform thofe Services, which it would be shameful and almost impoffible for them to neglect; but labour to acquit themselves in the very best Manner they can; fhewing in the whole of their Conduct, that they are not animated only, or chiefly, by fecular Motives, in the Labours they bestow upon the Souls of Men.

They are peculiarly concerned to learn, and imitate, this Condefcen- Ver. 19,-22. fion of the Apostle, in becoming all Things to all Men, if by any Means be might gain fome. But they are not the only Perfons who are interested in this. It is the Duty of every Chriftian, to endeavour to please his Neighbours and Brethren for their Good; and it will.be our Wisdom, and Happiness, upon fuch generous Principles, to learn to govern, and deny ourselves.

We are all called to engage in the most important Race, in the most noble Combat. The Children of this World fatigue themselves for Trifles, Ver. 24,-26. and exert the noble Faculties of an immortal Spirit, to Purposes far beneath its Dignity. But all is not Vanity. Every Crown is not withering and corruptible. We have heard of an Inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. And whatever there was in the Profpect to awaken these Corinthians, ftill remains to awaken and animate us. Let us therefore keep our Eyes, and our Hearts, fixed upon it, and be in good Earneft in what we do; often looking to the Marks, which are drawn in the Word of GOD; realizing to ourselves the certain Existence, and formidable Character, of our invifible Enemies; fufpecting especially

our

were to contend in them. But the Apostle intimates, that there was this peculiar Circumftance attending the Chriftian Contest, that the Perfon, who proclaimed its Laws and Rewards to others, was alfo to engage himself; and that there would be a peculiar Infamy and Mifery in mifcarrying in fuch a Circumftance. Adox, which we render caft away, fignifies one, who is difapproved by the Judge of the Games, as not having fairly deferved the... Prize. Mr. Fleming, arguing that St. Paul knew his own fincere Piety, and confequently might be affured of his future Happiness, maintains that to be caft away, here fignifies, being judged unworthy of a Part in the first Resurrection. (Fleming's Difcourfe on the first Refurrect. pag. 89.) But it appears to me much more natural, to refer it to the whole Chriftian Reward; as it is certain, GOD engages his People to perfevere, by awful Threatenings against Apoftacy, as well as by the Promises of eternal Life, to thofe, who continue faithful and conftant..

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Sect. 17.

Ver. 27.

To excite their holy Caution and Circumfpection,

ourfelves, fearing the Treachery of our own Corruptions, and ufing all that Mortification, which may promote our fpiritual Life and Ufefulness.

Who would not tremble, how high foever his Profeffion, or Office may be who would not tremble, to hear St. Paul infinuate a fuppofed Poffibility, that after having preached to others, and made fuch animating Proclamations of the heavenly Prize to them, he might himself be rejected, as unqualified to receive it? Let us learn from it Humility and Caution; learn to watch against Dangers, which will ftill furround us, as long as we dwell in this Body; and rejoice in the Guardianship of Christ, who will at Length deliver his faithful Servants from every evil Work, and preferve them to his heavenly Kingdom.

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Sect. 18.

1 Cor. X, I.

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Farther to awaken that holy Caution, which the Apostle had
fuggefted in the preceding Section, he here reprefents to the
Corinthians, on the one Hand, the Priviledges which Ifrael
of old enjoyed; and on the other, the Divine Difpleafure
which they brought upon themselves, by behaving in a Man-
ner fo unworthy of them.
I Cor. X. I,---13.

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I CORINTHIANS X. I.

Moreover, Brethren, I fhould be ignorant, how

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(a) Would by no Means have you ignorant.] Mr. Locke thinks, that when the Corinthians enquired about the Lawfulness of eating Things facrificed unto Idols, they might urge, that they could not be mistaken for Heathens, because they maintained an open Profeffion of Chriflianity, holding Communion with the Church, by partaking of the Sacraments, as well as other Acts of Worship; and that they might be expofed to Ill-will, and Ill-ufage, if they did

St. Paul fets before them the Example of the Ifraelites;

that all our Fathers were under the Cloud, and all paffed through the Sea.

2 And were all baptized unto Mofes in the Cloud,

and in the Sea;

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ftructive a Hiftory. You have, I doubt not, of Sect 18. ten heard, that all our Fathers, whom Mofes the great Lawgiver of our Nation led out of Egypt, 1 Cor. X. I. were all under the Conduct of that miraculous Pillar of Cloud, and of Fire, which did their Camp fo fingular an Honour; and they all paffed thro' the Sea, the Power of GoD opening a Way for them, while the Mountains inclofed them on either Side, and their Egyptian Enemies were preffing hard upon their Rear. And this was fo wonderful and folemn an Event, that I may fay, they were all baptized into Mofes, that is, initiated into the Profeffion of that Religion, which he was to teach them from GOD, in the Cloud and in the Sea: GOD did, as it were, folemnly receive them under Protection, as his People; and they, by following his miraculous Guidance, declared their Dependance upon him, and entire Subjec3 And did all eat the tion to him. And as they proceeded in their 3 fame spiritual Meat; Journey, they did all eat the fame fpiritual Food, that is, the Manna, which for its Excellence is called Angel's Food, (Pfal. lxxviii. 25.) and which was indeed an Emblem of the Bread of Life, that cometh down from Heaven. And they 4 did alfo all drink of what might be called, on the like Principles, the fame Spiritual Drink; for they drank of that fpiritual or myfterious Rock (b), the wonderful Streams of which followed them (c) thro' fo many of their Wanderings

4 And did all drink the fame fpiritual Drink: (For they drank of that fpiritual Rock that followed them; And that Rock was Chrift)

and

not fometimes comply with their Neighbours. And he fuppofes, the Apostle had each of these Ideas in View in what follows: It is poffible he might.

(b) The fame Spiritual Meat the fame fpiritual Drink.] It is not neceffary to underftand by the fame Meat and Drink, the fame by which we Chriftians are fupported; for this could not properly be faid of any Ifraelites, who were not true Believers; but the Meaning is, that they all, good and bad, fhared the fame miraculous Supply of Food and

Drink.

(c) That followed them.] It is objected, that "this Stream did not conftantly follow "them; for then they would have had no Temptation to have murmured for Want of "Water, as we know they did at Kadeh, in the Circumftances fo fatal to Mofes; nor "would they have had any Occafion to buy Water of the Edomites, as they propofed to do. "Deut. ii. 6." Mr. Mede juftly anfwers, that perhaps the Streams from the first Rock at Rephidim failed, for a farther Trial of their Truth; and at Kadesh GOD renewed the like Wonder; but that likewife might probably fail, when they came into the inhabited Country of the Edomites; which was not till near the End of their Wandering, Mede's Diatrib. in Loc. He there illuftrates the Similitude between Chrift, and this Rock, in many other VOL. IV. Particulars;

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Who lufting after evil Things in the Wilderness,

Sect. 18. and Incampments; and that Rock was a most af

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fecting Reprefentation of Christ, the Rock of 1 Cor. X. 4. Ages, the fure Foundation of his People's Hopes, from whom they derive thefe Streams of Bleffmg, which follow them thro' all this Wildernefs of mortal Life, and will end in Rivers of Pleasure at the Right Hand of God for ever. It was the Priviledge of Ifrael as a People, to enjoy fuch typical Bleffings as thefe; and yet it is plain, that GOD had no Pleafure in the greatest Part of them, for they were overthrown in the Wilderness: The whole Generation that came adult out of Egypt was made to die there, and they sometimes died in fuch Multitudes, that the Ground was overfpread with Carcafes, as a Field. is, in which a Battle has been fought.

6

Now thefe Things were Types and Figures to
us, that we might learn Wifdom at their Ex-
pence, and not trust to external Priviledges, while
we go on in a Courfe of Difobedience to the Di-
vine Authority; and particularly, that we might
not luft after evil Things, and indulge ourselves
in irregular and luxurious Defires; as they alfo
lufted after Quails in Contempt of the Manna,
and thereby brought the Wrath of GOD upon
them, and were confumed with peftilential Di-
ftempers, while the Meat was yet between their
Teeth. (Pfal. lxxviii. 30, 31.) Learn therefore
by what they fuffered, to cultivate that Tempe-
rance and Self-denial, which I have just been re-
7 commending to you. Neither be
ye Idolaters,
as fome of them [were,] even while they yet con-
tinued at Mount Sinai; as you know it is writ-
ten, (Exod. xxxii. 6, 19.) with Relation to the
Feaft of the golden Calf, the People fat down to
eat and drink of the Sacrifices, which were of-
fered to it, and then they rofe up to play, and

dance

5 But with many of them GOD was not well pleased: For they were overthrown in the Wilderness.

6 Now thefe Things were our Examples, to the Intent we should not luft after evil Things, as they alfo lufted.

7 Neither be ye Idolaters, as were fome of them ; as it is written, The Peo

ple fat down to eat and drink, and rofe up to play.

Particulars; but thofe mentioned in the Paraphrafe, feem the moft material.-That the Word, was, imports here no more than fignified, is extremely obvious; and Inftances of the like Use of it every where abound in Scripture.

(d) To

8 Neither let us commit

Fornication, as fome of in one Day three and twenty

them committed, and fell

thoufand.

ty.

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and being guilty of Idolatry and Fornication, were deftroyed. dance (d) in Honour of this vain Symbol of Dei- Sect. 18. And this naturally leads me to add another Caution, no lefs fuitable to your prefent Cir- 1 Cor. X. 8. cumftances than the former; neither let us commit Fornication (e), or Lewdnefs of any Kind, as fome of them in their idolatrous Revels committed [Fornication;] and particularly, when they eat the Sacrifices of Baal Peor, and offended with the Midianitish Women; the fad Confequence of which was, that there fell in one Day twenty-three Thousand by the Plague, befides those that were flain by the Sword, who amounted to a Thousand more. (Numb. xxv. I—9.) Neither let us 9 tempt Chrift by our Unbelief, after the Tokens he hath given us to command our Faith, and engage our Dependance; as fome of the next Generation of them alfo tempted [him] (f), while he refided among them, as the Angel of God's Prefence; and were deftroyed by fiery Serpents, (Numb. xxi. 6.) from the Venom of which others were recovered by that brazen Serpent, which was for illuftrious a Type of the Meffiah. Neither 10 murmur ye under Difpenfations of Providence, which may seem at present to bear hard upon you, and. are contrary to your present Inclinations

9 Neither let us tempt Chrift, as fome of them alfo tempted, and were deftroyed of Serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye,

as

and

(d) To play and dance.] Dr. Whitby obferves, that, tho' many Commentators understand this of Fornication, it is without fufficient Reafon. Fornication is indeed fpoken of in another Claufe, and that the very next, Verfe 8. which makes it lefs probable, that it is intended here. As the golden Calf was defigned as a Symbol of Jehovah, there is no Reafon to imagine, they would bring fuch an Abomination into Worlhip, however irregular, which was addreffed to him. And Elfner, (Obferv. Vol. ii. pag. 105.) has abundantly vindicated the Remark of Grotius, that male, fignifies to dance, a Ceremony, with which GOD himself had lately been honoured, (Exod. xv. 20.) and which, it is very probable, might naturally be attended by the Shouts and Songs, which Mofes heard on approaching the Camp. Exod. xxxii. 17, 18.

(e) Commit Eornication.] This was common at many idolatrous Feafts among the Heathen; and it was the more proper for the Apostle to caution these Chriftians against it, as it was proverbially called the Corinthian Practice, xoa being, as many have abferved, equivaTent to fcortari. Strabo tells us that in one Temple of Venus at Corinth, there were no less than a thousand Priefteffes, who made Prostitution a Part of their Devotions to the Goddess. Strabo, Lib. ii. Cap. 16.

(f) Tempt Chrift, as fome of them tempted [him.] Tho' the Word him be not in the Ori ginal, it feems plainly to be implied; and this is a confiderable Text in Proof of his Refidence with the Church in the Wilderness, as the Angel of GOD's Prefence. Compare Exod. xxi. 20. Ifai. Ixiii. 9. Heb. xi. 26. Acts vii. 38.

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(g) The

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