1: He concludeth the duty of the hearers towards their ministers: that they esteem them not as lords: and yet notwithstanding that they give ear unto them, as to them that are sent from Christ, sent I say to this end and purpose, that they may receive as it were at their hands, the treasure of salvation which is drawn out of the secrets of God. a: Every man. 2: Last of all, he warneth the ministers, that they also behave themselves not as lords, but as faithful servants, because they must render an accompt of their stewardship unto God. 3: Because in reprehending others, he set himself for an example, he useth a preoccupation of preventing of an objection, and using the gravity of an apostle, he showeth that he careth not for the contrary judgements that they have of him, in that they esteemed him as a vile person, because he did not set forth himself as they did. And he bringeth god reasons why he was nothing moved with the judgements which they had of him. 4: First, because that that which men judge in these cases of their own brains, is no more to be accompted of, then when the unlearned do judge of wisdom. b: Word for word, day, after the manner of the speech of he Cilicians. 5: Secondly, saith he, how can ye judge how much or how little i am to be accompted of, seeing that I myself which know myself better then you do, and which dare profess that I have walked in my vocation with a good conscience, dare not yet notwithstanding challenge anything to myself: for I know that I am not unblameable, all this notwithstanding: much less therefore should I please myself as you do. c: I permit myself to the Lord's judgement. 6: A third reason proceeding of a conclusion, as it were, out of the former reasons. It is God's office to esteem every man according to his value, because he knoweth the secrets of the heart, which men for the most part are ignorant of. Therefore this judgement pertaineth not to you. *: Matthew 7:1 d: one could not be more praised above the rest, but the other should be blamed: and he mentioneth praise rather then dispraise, for that the beginning f this sore was this, that they gave more to some men, them was meet. 7: Having rejected their judgement, he setteth forth himself again as a singular example of modesty, as one which concealing in this epistle those factious teachers names, doubted not to put down his own name and Apollos in their place, and took upon him as it were their shame: so far was he from preferring himself to any. e: By our example, which chose rather to take other men's faults upon us, then to carp any by name. 8: He showeth a good means to bridle pride: first if thou consider how rightly thou exemptest thyself out of the number of others, seeing thou art a man thyself: again if thou consider that although thou have something more then other men have, yet thou hast it not but by God's bountifulness. And what wise man is he that will brag of another's goodness, and that against God? f: There is nothing then in us of nature, that is worthy of commendation: but al that we have, we have it of grace, which the pelagians and half pelagians will not confess. 9: He descendeth to a most grave mock, to cause those ambitious men to blush even against their wills. g: He that will take a right view how like Paul and the Pope are, who lyingly boasteth that he is his successor, let him compare the delicates of the Popish court, with saint Paul's state as we see it here. *: Acts 20:34 1 Thessalonians 2:9 2 Thessalonians 3:8 *: Matthew 15:44 Luke 23:34 Acts 7:60 h: Such as by sweeping is gathered together. 10: moderating the sharpness of his mock, but putteth them in mind to remember of whom they were begotten in Christ, and that they should not doubt to follow him for an example, although e seem vile according to the outward show in respect of others, yet mighty by the efficacy of God's Spirit, as they had trial thereof in themselves. i: What way and rule I follow everywhere in teaching the Churches. 11: Last of all he descendeth also to apostolic threatenings, but yet chiding them as a father, lest by their disorder he be constrained to come to punish some amongst them. *: Acts 19:21 James 4:15 j: By words he meaneth their painted and coloured kind of eloquence, against which he setteth the virtue of the Spirit. 12: A passing over to another part of this epistle, wherein he reprehendeth most sharply a very heinous offence, showing the use of ecclesiastical correction. k: Meekly affected toward you. |
Chapter 41. Bringing in the definition of a true apostle, 7. he showeth that humility ought rather to be an honour then a shame unto him. 9. He bringeth in proof, whereby it may evidently appear, 10. that he neither had care of glory, 11. nor of his belly. 17. He commendeth Timothy. Let 1 a a man so think of us, as of the ministers of
Christ, and disposers of the secrets of God: |