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For they, tho' many, are one Body in Chrift.

Man the

foberly according as GOD
hath dealt to every
Measure of Faith.

4 For as we have many Members in one Body, and all Members have not the

fame Office:

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of himself with Modefty, Scbriety, and Humility; Sect. 27.
according to the Measure of that Faith, and in cor-
refpondent Proportion to those Gifts, which GOD Rom. XII. 3.
bath diftributed to every Man among you.
And

furely when you confider, it is GOD who hath
given all, there will appear little Reason to mag-
nify yourselves on any distinguishing Share of his
Bounty, which any one may have received.
Efpecially, when you remember, that this Di- 4
ftribution is made, not only, or chiefly, for your
own Sake, but out of Regard to the Good of the
Whole: For as in one Body we have many Members,
but all the Members have not the fame Ufe, but
each proper Function and Service, appointed by
the wife Former, and gracious Preferver of the
Whole; So we, tho' many, are one Body in 5
every one Members one of Christ, and every one Members of each other: We
fhould therefore endeavour each of us to know
his own Place and Condition, and mutually to
make our various Capacities as ferviceable as we

5

So we being many are one Body in Christ, and

another.

6 Having then Gifts, differing according to theGrace that is given to us, whether Prophecy, let us prophesy according to the Proportion of

Faith:

7 Or Ministry, let us

wait

'can.

Having therefore Gifts, all proceeding from 6
GOD, the great Fountain of every good Thing,
and different according to the Diversity of the
Grace, that is given unto us: Whether [it be] Pro-
phecy, as enabling us to foretel future Events, or
to make Difcourfes for the Edification and Direc-
tion of the Church, [let us be employed in it] ac-
cording to the Degree of our Gift, which is in
Proportion to the Degree of Faith, that is ref-
pectively in us (f): Or [having] the Office of 7
Miniftry,

(f) According to the Proportion of Faith.] Many interpret this, "Do it according to the "general Scheme of Divine Revelation, not fetting up any novel Interpretations of Scrip"ture, injurious to it." But Raphelius, (Annot. ex Xen. in Loc.) objects that oyos, not aranoyia, would be the proper Word to exprefs that, Dr. Sam. Clarke, (Pofthum. Serm. Vol. i. pag. 6.) by Faith understands the Trust repofed in them, or the Nature and Ufe of the Gift they had; which is a very unusual Senfe of the Word . The Rhemish JeJuits fuppofe, it was a Confeffion, or Summary, of Faith, drawn up by all the Apostles in Conjunction; to which they refer, Rom. vi. 17. Chap. xvi. 17. Tim. vi. 20. Gal. i. 6.

Acts xv. 6. none of which Texts feem to imply any Thing like it; nor is it pretended, that fuch a Creed was ever quoted in Antiquity, by the Name of avahoya Tses, or indeed that I can find, by any other. If we fuppofe the prophetick Gift to be given in Proportion to the Exercife of Faith, that is, of Dependance on GOD, when he fignified a Difpofition in general to impart it, we have I think the cleareft Explication the Phrafe will admit. See Vol. ii. pag. 322. Note () on Mark xi. 22.

(8) Employ

152

They are to abbor Evil, and cleave to that which is Good..

he that teacheth, on Teaching;

8 Or he that exhorteth, on Exhortation: He that

giveth, let him do it with Simplicity; he that ruleth, with Diligence; he that fheweth Mercy with Chear

fulness.

Sect. 27. Miniftry, as Deacons, let a Man employ himself wait on our Miniftering; or actively and faithfully in his Miniftration (g): Rom. XII. 7. Or if he be an Inftructor of Catechumens, who are to be fitted for the Communion of the Church, let him continue humbly, tenderly, and patiently 8 in the Work of Teaching : Or if he be an Exhorter, whofe peculiar Bufinefs it is, to urge Christians to Duty, or to comfort them in the Discharge of it, let him continue in his Exhor tation: He that giveth any Thing to a charitable Ufe, [let him do it] with true Simplicity, and unfeigned Liberality of Heart; neither feeking the Applaufe of Men, nor any other finifter End, which he could defire to conceal: He that prefideth in the Diftribution of Charities, fo collected, let him do it with Diligence (b); that he may know the Care propofed, and that be may fee, that nothing be wanting to make the Charity as effectual as poffible: And as for him, that fheweth Mercy, that is, who has the Care of those, who on Account of peculiarly grievous Calamities are the Objects of particular Compaffion, let him do it with an obliging Chearfulness of Temper, cautiously guarding against any Difgust at what may feem mean and difagreeable, in the Offices, which muft neceffarily be performed for fuch.

9

On the whole, [let] Love [be] undiffembled, and all your Expreffions of mutual Friendship, as free as poffible from bafe Flattery, and from vain Compliment. Abhor that which is Evil, in every Inftance, and adhere refolutely to that which is Good. Practise Benevolence in all its Branches, and every other Virtue, with the greateft Deter

mination

9 Let Love be without Diffimulation. Abhor that which is Evil, cleave to that

which is Good.

(g) Employ himself in Miniftration.] It feems the Word r is understood. Compare 1 Pet. iv. 10, II. -The Word Saxona properly fignifies the Miniftration of a Deacon; and fo interpreted, gives the diftincteft Sense.

(b) He that prefideth with Diligence.] In this and the following Claufe, I follow the Interpretation of Lord Barrington, (Misc. Sacra Vol. i. pag. 77,-80.) and refer to him for the Reasons, which I think fufficient to juftify it; only mentioning the Application of the Word orals, in the fame Senfe to Phoebe, Rem. xvi. 2. who could not be fuppofed a Ruler in the Church. Пposapevos, properly fignifies one who prefides, but, in what, the Connection must determine. For the extraordinary Mercy exercifed among the ancient Chriftians, fee Lucián de Morte Peregrin. apud Opera, Vol. ii. pag. 764. Edit. Salinur. 1619. and Julian. Epift. xlix.

(i) In

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly Love, in Honour preferring one another:

153

Rom. XII.

10.

To cultivate Love, and to be fervent in ferving the Lord. mination and Perfeverance of Mind; whatever Sect. 27. Difcouragements may for the present arife. Do not only abound in the Exercifes of common Humanity; but in brotherly Love, as Chriftians, [be] mutually full of tender Affection (i), yea, cultivate those gentle Difpofitions of Mind with Delight; and endeavour to think so modeftly of yourselves, that you may still be in Honour preferring one another. Let each, in his Turn, be ready to think better of his Brethren, than of himself; and fo to prevent them in every Office of Respect (k), and out of Regard to their Advantage, to give up with as good a Grace as poffible, any Thing, in which his own Honour or perfonal Intereft may be concerned. When 11 you are actually engaged, be not flothful and fluggifh in the Profecution of your proper Business in Life, but endeavour to rouze your Spirits; fo that it may be dispatched with Vigour and Alacrity, and without an unneceffary Expence of Time. For this Purpose be fervent, warm, and active in Spirit; and certainly you will fee the greatest Obligation and Encouragement to be fo, when you confider, that you are ferving the Lord Jefus Christ (1), to whose Condefcenfion and Love

II Not flothful in Bufinefs: fervent in Spirit: ferving the Lord.

you

are

(i) In brotherly Love, [be] mutually full of tender Affection.] Perhaps the extremely expreffive Words of the Original, în piñadenia is anλes ocopy, might juftly be rendered, delight in the tendereft fraternal Affection to each other. The Word oropy, not only fignifying a ftrong Affection, like that of parent Animals to their Off-fpring, but a Delight in it, as the ingenious Dr. Balguy has obferved in his excellent Sermon on this Text.

(4) Preventing them in every Office of Respect.] Archbishop Leighton, well observes, (Expofitory Works, Vol. ii. pag. 429.) that the original Words, on top ander tonguevo, are very expreffive, and might literally be rendered leading on each other with Refpect, or in giving Honour going before each other. This I have endeavoured to exprefs in this Clause of the Paraphrafe, but have retained our Verfion, as expreffing fomething of the Efteem, from which this refpectful Behaviour should proceed. L'Enfant renders it, mutually prevent one another

with Honour.

(1) Serving the Lord.] Several Copies for upw read nagw, ferving the Time, that is, hufbanding your Opportunities; and Dr. Mill, trufting chiefly to the Authority of Jerome, and fome other Latin Tranflations, admits this as the true Reading. But it is by no Means fupported by an adequate Number of Greek Manufcripts; and befides, that it would be an unnatural and inelegant Expreffion in that Senfe, it finks the noble Senfe of the commonly received Reading fo much, that I could by no Means perfuade myself to follow it. It is a lively Exhortation to Chriftians to be always ferving Chrift, and to cultivate the Temper, which the Apoftle expreffes, when he fays oslo xpsos, Phil. i. 21. to me to live is Chrift. It alfo fuggefts a Motive, to enforce the former Exhortation; as I have hinted in the Paraphrafe.

VOL. IV.

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Reflections on our Obligation to Piety, Humility, &c.

Sect. 27. are infinitely indebted. May you always attend
his Service with the greatest Zeal and Delight,

Rom. XII. and may every Action of Life be brought into
a due Subordination to that

II.

Ver. I.

Ver. 2.

Ver. 3.

Ver. 4.

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How

great

End!

IMPROVEMENT

OW rich were a Chriftian in practical Directions for the Conduct of Life, even if this excellent Chapter were his only Treasure of this Kind. Let fuch Scriptures as these be welcome to us; the Scriptures, that teach us our Duty, as well as thofe, that difplay before our Eyes the richest Variety of spiritual Priviledges. Indeed it is one of our greatest Priviledges, to be taught our Duty, if at the fame Time we are inclined by Divine Grace to perform it; and if we are not, we have no Priviledges, that will prevent, none that will not encreafe, our

Ruin.

Wifely does the great Apoftle lay the Foundation of all Virtue in a Principle of unfeigned Piety towards GOD; in prefenting before him our Bodies, as living Sacrifices. How great an Honour and Happiness will it be to us, to do it.That we may be engaged to this, let us often think of his tender Mercies, fo many and fo great, and especially, of that most illustrious of all Mercies, his redeeming us by the Blood of his Son, and calling us into the Chriftian Covenant. Can there be a more reafonable Service than this? That we should be confecrated to our Creator, to our Redeemer, to our Sanctifier, to our conftant Benefactor, to our fupream End and Happiness ?The World indeed neglects him, yea, even what is called the Chriftian World, neglects him, to fuch a Degree, as, if we did not continually fee it, we should not fuppofe to be poffible. But let us not in this Inftance be conformed to it. Oh that Divine Grace may so transform and renew our Hearts, that we may not! Nothing but Experience can teach us, how good, and perfect, and acceptable the Will of GÓD is, and how happy a Thing it is to be governed, in every Refpect, by its unerring Declarations.

Let us remember, that as our Sanctification, so alfo our Humility, and our Usefulness, are his Will; and therefore let us endeavour to conquer every high Conceit of ourselves, and every fordid and felfish Sentiment. Let us often reflect, that we are all Members of each other; and being fo happily united in Christ, have all but one Interest, which is that of the &c. Body, and of its glorified Head. Whether our Station in the Church be more publick, or private; whether our Capacities and Endowments be more or less distinguished; let us all be faithful, be affectionate, be difinterested, be active, endeavouring to ferve Chrift, and even the pooreft of his People, with Simplicity, with Diligence, with Chearfulness; prefer

5

ring

Chriftians are to rejoice in Hope, and to continue in Prayer;

155 ring others to ourselves; abborring that Love, which is fpent in hypocri- Sect. 27. tical Words, and unmeaning Forms; cultivating that, which gives to the Soul Tenderness, Condefcenfion, and Vigour. In one Word, let us remember, we are ferving the Lord, the Lord Chrift; and doing all in Ver. 11. his Name, and for his Sake, let this add Fervour to our Spirit, Zeal to our Diligence, and Abasement to our Humility; for nothing furely can be so animating, nothing fo melting, nothing fo humbling, as to recollect, on the one Hand, how much we owe him, and on the other, how little we are able, how much lefs we are careful, to do for his Service.

SECT. XXVIII.

The Apostle pursues his practical Exhortations, and particularly recommends Devotion, Patience, Hofpitality, mutual Sympathy, Humility, a peaceful Temper, and a Readiness to forgive Injuries. Rom. XII. 12, to the End.

ROMANS XII. 12.

Rejoicing in Hope; pa

tient in Tribulation; continuing inftant in Prayer:

I

ROMANS XII. 12.

12.

HAVE been exhorting you, my Brethren, Sect. 28. to many Chriftian Duties and Graces, and among the reft to the greatest Activity and Zeal Rom. XII. in the Service of Christ. Let me alfo exhort you to guard against fuch a Dejection of Spirit, as would enervate that holy Activity and Zeal. On the contrary, [be] you, that are the Servants of Chrift, always rejoicing in the Hope of those glorious Rewards, which your Divine Mafter, in the Riches of his Grace, hath fet before you, and in that Support, which he gives you in the Way to that eternal Glory. And animated by that Hope, be patient in all the Tribulation, which you may bear in his Caufe, or from his Hands, in the wife Difpofals of his gracious Providence. And while under thefe Preffures, continuing inftant in Prayer, draw down thofe neceffary Supplies of his Holy Spirit, which may carry you honourably through all your Trials: 14 Diftributing to the Liberally communicating to the Neceffities of the *3

Necef

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Saints,

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