Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; Ver. 1. _I would not that ye should_] _Historiae fidae monitrices, _ saith Bucholcer. There is very good use to be made of other men's examples. _Historia_ hath... [ Continue Reading ]
And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; Ver. 2. _And were all baptized_] And yet were rooted out and rejected. Baptism sayeth; not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but, &c., 1 Peter 3:21. By this text it appears that infants also were baptized unto Moses, who was a... [ Continue Reading ]
And did all eat the same spiritual meat; Ver. 3. _And did all eat_] They fed upon sacraments, and yet died in God's displeasure. The carcase of the sacrament cannot give life, but the soul of it, which is the thing represented. It is well observed that sacraments do not work as physic, whether men... [ Continue Reading ]
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. Ver. 4. _The same spiritual drink_] Here was no dry communion. _ That spiritual rock that followed them_] The waters of the rock, the virtue and benefit, went along with... [ Continue Reading ]
But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Ver. 5. _They were overthrown_] They died with the sacramental meat in their mouths. Our privileges excuse us not, but aggravate our enormities.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Ver. 6. _Were our examples_] Worthily are they made examples, that will not take them. _Alterius perditio tua sit cautio._ The destruction of others should be a terror to us, that we may was... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither be ye idolaters, as _were_ some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Ver. 7. _And rose up to play_] Now if they were so cheered and strengthened by these murdering morsels, should not we be made active and abundant in God's word by the dainti... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Ver. 8. _And fell in one day_] The apostle, instead of the cloak of heat of youth, puts upon fornication a bloody cloak, bathed in the blood of twenty-three thousand. (Knewstub. on Com. 7.)... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Ver. 9. _Neither let us tempt_] By provoking him to jealousy, as 1 Corinthians 10:22, especially by idolatry, that land desolating sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Ver. 10. _As some of them also_] viz. Num 14:1-5 And God said Amen to it,1 Corinthians 10:28. May he not justly say the same to our detestable God-damn-me's? "As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken... [ Continue Reading ]
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Ver. 11. _For our admonition_] God hangs up some, as it were, in gibbets, for public example. See 1 Corinthians 10:6. Let us therefore set a memorandum upon God'... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Ver. 12. _That thinks he stands_] If he do but think so, if he be no more than a seemer, he will fall at length into hell's mouth. A man may live by a form, but he cannot die by a form. Therefore rather seek to be good than seem to... [ Continue Reading ]
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God _is_ faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear _it_. Ver. 13. _But such as is common_] Such as is human, παν πρα... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. Ver. 14. _Flee from idolatry_] He calleth their sitting at the idol's feasts, though without intent of honouring the idol, by the name of idolatry; because, 1. Hereby they yielded a tacit consent to that sin. 2. Petty matters pave a causey for the g... [ Continue Reading ]
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. Ver. 15. _I speak as to wise men_] _i.e._ Well skilled in the doctrine of the sacraments, from one of which I am about to argue. Piscator, after he had read some of the Fathers, gave over for this reason, because scarce any of them did rightly understand... [ Continue Reading ]
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Ver. 16. _The cup of blessing_] Not the chalice, but the common cup. Calvin chose rather to leave Geneva than to use unleavened bread or wafer... [ Continue Reading ]
For we _being_ many are one bread, _and_ one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Ver. 17. _And one body_] By the force of faith and love. Song of Solomon 6:9; "My dove is but one; the daughters saw her, and blessed her." No such oneness, entireness, anywhere as among the saints. Other... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? Ver. 18. _Are not they which eat, &c._] See Leviticus 7:15; hence he infers that these Corinthians also eating of the idol's sacrifices, were defiled with idolatry; _a pari, _ from the like.... [ Continue Reading ]
What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? Ver. 19. _What say I then_] He prevents a mistake. See 1 Corinthians 8:4. Ministers must in their discourses meet with all objections as much as may be.... [ Continue Reading ]
But _I say_, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ver. 20. _They sacrifice to devils_] A good intention then excuseth not. The Gentiles thought they had sacrificed to God. So do the Papist... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Ver. 21. _Partakers of the Lord's table_] Name and thing. The Popish opinion of mass was, that it might not be celebrated but upon an altar, or at least upon a _supera... [ Continue Reading ]
Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? Ver. 22. _Do we provoke the Lord_] As Caligula that dared his Jove to a duel; as the raging Turk at the last assault of Scodra most horribly blaspheming God. But who knoweth the power of his anger? Psalms 90:11. It is such as none can ave... [ Continue Reading ]
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Ver. 23. _All things are not expedient_] _An liceat, an deceat, an expediat, _ Is it permitted, is it proper, is it expedient, are three most needful questions. (Bernard.) Things... [ Continue Reading ]
Let no man seek his own, but every man another's _wealth_. Ver. 24. _Let no man seek his own_] Self miscarries us all, and makes us eccentric in our motions, nothing more.... [ Continue Reading ]
Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, _that_ eat, asking no question for conscience sake: Ver. 25. _Whatsoever is sold, &c._] A portion of the consecrated flesh was usually sold by the priests, who make their markets of it, as Augustine upon the Romans testifieth.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the earth _is_ the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. Ver. 26. _For the earth is the Lord's_] God, of his bounty, spreads a table for all; make no scruple therefore, eat freely.... [ Continue Reading ]
If any of them that believe not bid you _to a feast_, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. Ver. 27. _And ye be disposed to go_] Our Saviour, when he saw that John's austerity was censured, took his liberty in the use of creatures, and... [ Continue Reading ]
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth _is_ the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Ver. 28. _The earth is the Lord's_] Therefore in case of scandal abstain. Why shouldest thou use this creature,... [ Continue Reading ]
Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another _man's_ conscience? Ver. 29. _Why is my liberty judged_] As a profane licence. We should be shy of the very shows and shadows of sin, _Quicquid fuerit male coloratum, _ as Bernard hath it; if a thing look bu... [ Continue Reading ]
For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Ver. 30. _For if I by grace_] Or, by thanksgiving. The same Greek word, χαρις, signifies both; to teach us, that a grateful man is a gracious man. The unthankful and the evil are set together as the same, Luk... [ Continue Reading ]
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Ver. 31. _Whether therefore ye eat, &c._] Of a reverend Scotch divine it is said, that "he did even eat and drink and sleep eternal life." These common actions also are steps in our Christian walking, despise them... [ Continue Reading ]
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Ver. 32. _Give none offence_] This is another end we should aim at, the edification of others. _Finibus non officiis a vitiis discernuntur virtutes._ (Augustine.) Two things make a good Christian: good actions an... [ Continue Reading ]
Even as I please all _men_ in all _things_, not seeking mine own profit, but the _profit_ of many, that they may be saved. Ver. 33. _Not seeking mine own profit_] This, saith Chrysostom, is the most perfect canon of Christianity, the top gallant of true religion.... [ Continue Reading ]