ther to eat flesh, nor Christian liberty, when by thy so doing any other to drink wine, nor man is kept from receiving the faith, and so falls by any thing whereby thy brother stum- some occasion of thine, or is galled and discouraged, bleth, or is 12 offend- and driven from the profession, (as the Jewish beed, or is made weak. liever is by seeing others cast off the Mosaical yoke, whom they think obliged by it,) or any way wounded

22 Hast thou faith?

or hurt, that is, brought to any kind of sin; (see note [b] 1 Cor. viii.)

22. If thou hast a clear understanding of thy have it to thyself Christian liberty, it is well for thee, and thou mayest before God. Happy use it betwixt God and thyself, but not always before demneth not himself men, as when it may be in danger to hurt them, and in that thing which when it is not necessary to reveal thy practice in such

is he that 14 con

he alloweth.

matters. He is a happy man, that when he knows a thing lawful doth so manage the practice of it, the use of his liberty, that he hath therein no reason to accuse or condemn himself: see note [f] ch. ii.

23 And he that 23. And indeed for the scrupulous Judaizer there doubteth is damned is little reason he should be so ill used for his not if he eat, because 15 he eateth not of faith: daring to cat, when he thinks himself otherwise for whatsoever is obliged; for it were a damning sin, for which his not of faith [e] is sin. own conscience already condemns him, should he eat

WE then that are

weak, and not to

or do any indifferent thing as long as he thinks in conscience that it is not so, because it is contrary to persuasion or assurance of the lawfulness of his action and whosoever doth any thing without that persuasion, (called faith here, and knowledge, 1 Cor. viii. 7,) so far at least as to judge that which he doth lawful for him, he certainly sins in so doing.

CHAP. XV.

1. They that know the nature and extent of Christian strong ought to bear liberty, ought to help and relieve those that do not the infirmities of the understand it, to be watchful to keep them from fallplease ourselves. ing into sin, and not please themselves too much in 2 Let every one of reflection on their own strength and knowledge, and us please his neigh- neglect or despise others that have not so much. hour for his good to 2, 3. Let us rather do what good we can to the 3 For even Christ edification of other men, after Christ's example, who pleased not himself; did not consider the pleasing of himself, but had the but, as it is written, same common concernments with the Father, that The reproaches of whatsoever befell God fell on him, was as tender of them that reproach- God's honour as if it were done to himself: psalm 4 For whatsoever lxix. 9; see John ii. 17.

edification.

ed thee fell on me.

things were written 4. And if ye think or pretend that those words

12 scandalized, or is sick, σkavdarl§etai † àodevei.

13 by thyself, Kaтà σautóv. 15 it is

14 judgeth not himself in that which he approves, ǹ kpívwv čavтòv èv å dokiμášel. not of faith, οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως.

aforetime were writ- spoken by the psalmist belong not to you, ye must ten for our learning, know, that generally such sayings in the Old Testathat we through pa- ment were meant to be our instructions and docuof the scriptures ments; and one principal use of them is, that by the might have hope.

tience and comfort

examples which we find there of the patience of pious men, and of God's relieving and comforting those that want relief, we might be confident that God will relieve us also in due time.

5 Now the God of 5. And that God, for whom we ought to suffer, patience and conso- and who will give you that relief, give you also the lation grant you to 1be likeminded one grace of unity and charity, such as Christ commanded toward another and expects from

Jesus:

ac

you:

cording to Christ 6. That ye may join unanimously, Jews and Gentiles, into one, and assembling together worship and serve the Lord, who is both the God and Father of mouth glorify God, our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephes. i. 3. 17,) in all unity even the Father of of affections and form of words.

6 That ye may with one mind and one

Christ.

2

our Lord Jesus 7. Wherefore, in all humility of condescension and kindness, embrace and succour one another, help 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, them up when they are fallen, instead of despising as Christ also re- and driving them from your communion, after the ceived us to the example of Christ's usage toward men, who came glory of God. from heaven, and laid down his life to relieve us; and there is nothing by which God is more glorified than this.

minister of the cir

8 Now I say that 8. And that ye may not think fit to despise the Jesus Christ was a Jewish believers, let me tell you, that Christ came to cumcision for the them, was by God constituted a means or instrument truth of God, to con- of good to the Jews in preaching to them the truth firm the promises of God, calling them to repentance, and so exhibiting made unto the fa- and making good to them the promises made of old to that people beyond all others.

thers:

9 And that the 9. And on the other side, that the Jew may not Gentiles might glo- condemn and reject the Gentile Christian, or him rify God for his that makes use of his lawful liberty, let him know, mercy; as it is written, For this cause that God hath been most wonderfully merciful to the I will confess to thee Gentiles, and made Christ also an instrument of this among the Gentiles, mercy to them, after that the Jews had rejected him, and sing unto thy and so hath given them occasion to magnify his name, according to that of psalm xviii. 49, I will praise thee, and sing unto thee among the Gentiles, signifying thereby, that the Gentiles have cause to give thanks and praise him.

name.

10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye

Gentiles, with his 10. And so, Deut xxxii. 43, the Gentiles are bid to people. join with the Jews in rejoicing and praising God.

1 mind the same thing among one another, τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις. 2 the God and Father, τὸν Θεὸν καὶ Πατέρα.

II And again, 11. And so, psalm cxvii. 1, all the nations and all Praise the Lord, all the people of the world are called upon to praise

ye Gentiles; and Íaud him, all ye people.

12 And

God.

12. And Isaiah prophesying of Christ, ch. xi. 10, again, that should come from David's family, (under the Esaias saith, There type of Hezekiah, a king of Judah lineally descendJesse, and he that ing from David,) saith, that he shall be for a standard shall rise to [a] reign to the Gentiles, to whom they may and shall come, over the Gentiles; and trust and rely on him.

shall be a root of.

in him shall the 13. Now that God, in whom all our trust is reGentiles trust. 13 Now the God Posed, and from whom all good things are to be of hope fill you with received, bestow on you that cheerful quiet, (instead all joy and peace in of the contentions that have been among you,) and believing, that ye that union and concord in the Christian faith, (or may abound in hope, without any receding from it,) that thereby ye may through the power have that hope (which the gospel bestows on you on of the Holy Ghost. 14 And I myself condition of charity, &c.) increased unto you into all also am persuaded abundance, through the working of the Holy Ghost of you, my brethren, in you.

of goodness, filled

that ye also are full 14. And though I doubt not but ye that are full with all knowledge, of virtue and charity, and perfectly know what your able also to admo Christian duty is, are also without my help able to nish one another. advise one another to do what I now say, that is, 15 Nevertheless, to abstain from contemning and condemning one brethren, I have another;

written the more

you

boldly unto you in 15. Yet I have thought good to write freely to some sort, as putting you, to stir you up to the practice of that which you in mind, because know already, this being a branch of my office and of the grace that is authority apostolical, as well as that of making known given to me of God, the gospel;

16 That I should

be the minister of 16. That office, I say, to which I was sent by Jesus Christ to the Christ, Acts ix. 15, to preach the gospel to the GenGentiles, ministering tiles as well as the Jews, that the Gentiles might be the gospel of God, 3 that the offering up presented and offered up unto God as a sacrifice most of the Gentiles might acceptable unto him, sanctified, not as other sacrifices be acceptable, be- by any priest on earth, but even by the Holy Ghost, ing sanctified by the that is, that they might be brought to obey the Holy Ghost. gospel.

17 I have therefore

4 whereof I may glory

17. And for my success herein I have ground or through Jesus Christ matter of great rejoicing, not in myself, but in order in those things which to God the author of this success.

pertain to God.

18 For I will not

18. And herein I shall not need to be so vain as to

dare to speak of any mention any thing that can be questionable, wherein, of those things which as an instrument in Christ's hands, I have wrought

3 that there might be an offering of the Gentiles acceptable, ἵνα γένηται ἡ προσφορὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν εὐπρόσδ. 4 glorying in Jesus Christ as belonging to God, καύχησιν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τὰ πρὸς Θεόν.

make the Gentiles

Spirit of God; so

Christ hath not and had this success to my work, in bringing the wrought by me, to Gentiles to receive and obey the gospel: a work obedient, by word which hath been done by miracles and preaching, and deed, 19. Proving and manifesting my commission, and 196Through mighty the truth of what I should say.by greater evidences signs and wonders, than any prophet of old, by doing all kinds of miraby the power of the cles, as also by speaking of strange languages, 1 Cor. that from Jerusa- xiv. 18, and receiving and making known revelations lem, and round a- from heaven, 2 Cor. xii. 3. And after this manner, bout unto Illyricum, beginning at Jerusalem, and taking a circuit through I have fully preach- Phenice and Syria and Arabia, Acts xix. 20, &c., I ed the gospel of have discharged this my office, and preached the 20 Yea, so have I gospel to the Macedonians which join upon Illyricum. strived to preach the 20. By which course it appears that I have not gospel, not where only been careful not to preach where some other lest I should build had been before me, upon which it might be said that upon another man's I did only superstruct where others had laid the foundation, but I had a kind of ambition in it to 21 But as it is writ- make known the gospel to them that had never heard ten, To whom he of Christ.

Christ.

8

Christ was named,

foundation:

was not spoken of, they shall see and 21. To fulfil that glorious prophecy, Isa. lii. 15, they that have not that they should be brought home to God that were heard shall under- never preached to before, as the events of Jeremiah's prophecies should be made good to them to whom 22 For which cause also I have been the prophecies had not come.

stand.

much hindered from 22. By this means of preaching to some new coming to you. people or other, I have been hindered unexpectedly 23 But now having from coming to you, when I have several times these parts, and hay- designed it.

no

more place in

ing a great desire 23. But now having no more occasion to detain these many years to me in these parts, that I yet foresee, and having for come unto you; many years had an earnest desire to visit you,

24 Whensoever I

take my journey into

24. In my journey to Spain I am resolved to do it, Spain, I will come taking you in my passage, and expecting that you to you: for I trust will accompany me some part of my way thither, to see you in my after I have stayed a while, and satisfied myself with journey, and to be the pleasure of being among you.

brought on my way thitherward by you, 9 if first I be somewhat filled with your company.

25 But now I go 25. But now I am a going to Judæa, to distribute minister unto the to the poor Christians there the collection that hath

unto Jerusalem to

saints.

been made for them

5 towards the obedience of the Gentiles, eis vnakoǹv ¿0vŵv.

ἐν δυνάμει σημείων. 7 fulfilled, πεπληρωκέναι.

6 by the power of signs,

8 And such an ambition have I had to,

Οὕτω δὲ φιλοτιμούμενον εὐαγγ. 9 if I may first in some measure have my fill of you, làv ὑμῶν πρῶτον ἀπὸ μέρους ἐμπλησθῶ,

26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for

the 10 poor saints

which are at Jerusalem.

are. For if the

26. By the Christians of Macedonia and Achaia.

27 It hath pleased 27. This they have done, and it was but due from them verily; and them; for considering that these Gentile provinces their debtors they have been beholden in a higher respect to the Jews, Gentiles have been have received the gospel from them, as indeed from made partakers of Judæa it was that it was first preached to Macedonia their spiritual things, and Achaia, it is but reasonable they should make their duty is also to them those poor returns, contribution to their wants.

minister unto them

in carnal things.

28 When therefore

28. When therefore this business is dispatched, I have performed and I have delivered to them safely this fruit of the this, and have sealed Gentiles' liberality, I intend then to begin my journey to them this fruit, to Spain, and take you in my way thither.

I will come by you

into Spain.

you,

29. And I am confident when I come, I shall give 29 And I am sure you such evidences of the great mercy and glorious that, when I come unto I shall dispensations of God, and the good successes which I come in the fulness have had, that you will be much confirmed in the of the blessing of Christian faith by my coming and telling you what I the gospel of Christ. have been able to do, and consequently that I shall 30 Now I beseech bring as much blessedness to you, and be cause of as the Lord Jesus much Christian joy, as is possible.

you, brethren, for

together with me in

for me;

Christ's sake, and 30. And now I beseech you, for our Lord Christ for the love of the Jesus' sake, and upon that obligation of Christian Spirit, that ye strive love which he requires, and his Spirit works in your your prayers to God hearts, that you will with great earnestness and intention join your prayers with mine to beseech God, 31 That I may be 31. That I may be delivered from that danger delivered from them which I foresee in Judæa from some refractory men, in Judæa; and that that though they have received the faith, are viomy service which I lently bent against me as an opposer of the Mosaical have for Jerusalem law, and that the relief which I bring to the poor may be accepted of Christians at Hierusalem and Judæa may be taken by them in good part, though it come from those Gentile with provinces. joy by the will of 32.

that do not believe

the saints;

32 That I may

come unto

you

This would be a means to make me come God, and may with cheerfully to you, if it please God to grant it to our you be refreshed.

33 Now the God prayers, and to have a cheerful being with you. 33. And the God of all unity and concord bless you, and preserve unity among you all.

of peace be with you

all. Amen.

Amen.

10 poor of the saints, πτωχοὺς τῶν ἁγίων. 11 Or, blessing of Christ: for the King's MS. reads, evλoyías Xploтoû, and so Origen and Ambrose and the Latin.