A. D. 57. pare our selves with that admire themselves, because

fome that commend they consider No-body's Accom-
themselves : but they plishments but their own,
measuring themselves
by themselves, and comparing themselves amongst themselves,
are not wise.
13. But we will not

13. Nor shall I infift upon the
boaft of things with Authority and large Extent of my
out our measure, but Apoftolical Commiffion; all I say
according to the mea. is, that I am commissioned to be
sure of the rule which the Apostle of the Gentiles; and
to us, a measure to according to it, have come gra-
reach even unto you. the several Countries, till I reach-

dually preaching the Gospel to
ed you at Corinth.
14. For we stretch

14. For it is not my Method to
not our felves beyond run abruptly from one Church to
our measure, as though another, without finishing my
we reached not unto

Work in any, as your new Teach-
you; for we are come

ers do, but to take them gradual-
as far as to 'you also
in preaching the gol-

ly in my Travels, and perfect their

Conversion as I go along.
pel of Chriit;

15. Not boasting of 15 & 16. And not like them,
things without our to come into Churches that other
measure, that is, of Men have planted, and then brag
other mens labours; and boast upon other People's La-
but having hope when bours. ' I only hope, that as I
your faith is increar-
ed, that we shall be converted you at first, your Pro-
enlarged by you ac-

gress in Christianity will be fo
cording to our rule a good as to enable me to keep my
bundantly,

Course on beyond your Country,
16. To preach the and convert ftill more People to
gospel in the regions the Gospel.
beyond you, and not
to' boast in another mans line of things made ready to our
hand.
17. But he that glo-

17. If your new Teachers there-
rieth, let him glory fore are for boasting, let them, if
in the Lord.

18. For not he that 18. For it is not the vain Apcommendeth himself plauses that Men give themselves, is approved, but whom that signify any Thing ; 'tis God the Lord commendeth. alone that can duly recommend a Christian Apostle, by the Gifts of his Holy Spirit, and his Blessing upon the Work of their Ministry.

I

you could

+ H A P. XI.

The CONTENTS.
To preserve the Corinthians in a good Opinion of himself,

and a juft Sense of his Apoftolical Authority, against
the Suggestions of the false Teachers; the Apostle en-
larges upon one of their chief Insinuations, viz. That of
not taking Maintenance of their Church. Exposes their
Pride and Subtilty, particularly of the Judaizing Part
of them. Compares himself with, and justly prefers
himself to them, on all Accounts; on his innumerable
Sufferings for Christ's Religion, his unwearied Labours
in the Church, his constant Cares and Fears for, and
his compassionate Tenderness to, all its Members.
uld to God I.

Request therefore of your A. D. 57. !. Would

boasting Teachers, and of all bear with me a little that still adhere to them, in my in my folly; and in. Disparagement, to bear with what deed bear with me.

I am thus * forced to say in my own Commendation, and not interpret it as Vanity and Ambition.

2. For I am jealous 2. I do it purely from the pious over you with godly Care I have of your Welfare, jealousy: for I have that as I have made you a Chrifespoused you to one tian Church, the Spouse of Christ, husband, that I may I may keep you chaste and uncorpresent you as a chaste rupted in the Love of him, and virgin to Chrift.

his true Religion. 3. But I fear, lest by 3. For the busy and designing any means as the ser- Temper of those Men, makes me pent beguiled Eve dread you should be seduced from through

which ye

A. D. 57. through his subtilty, it, by the subtle Insinuations of

so your minds should the fame evil Spirit that drew
be corrupted from the our first Parents into Sin.
fimplicity that is in
Chrift.

4. For if he that 4. You that follow these new cometh, preacheth a- Teachers, can bear their Boastings nother Jesus whom patiently enough. And indeed, we have not preach- did they propose to you a greater ed, or if ye receive and better Saviour, or preach a another spirit, which

more holy and comfortable Docye have not received, or another gospel, trine, or bestowed any larger Gifts have not

of the Holy Spirit upon you, than accepted, ye might I have already done; you were in well bear with bim. the right in so doing, and in

esteeming them as greater and more excellent Apostles than I am. 5. For I suppose I

5. But this you cannot say ; was not a whit behind for I have spoken and done that the very chiefest apos- which gives me equal Pretensions tles.

with any other Apostle whatever. (See 1 Cor. xv. 8, 9.)

6. But though I be 6. For if I be not, in outward rude in speech, yet Accomplishments, the most plaunot in knowledge ; sible and fine Speaker, yet have but we have been I, by my Sincerity in Preaching, throughly made ma- and the Powers by which I have nifest among you in confirmed it, fufficiently convinall things.

ced you of my compleat Abilities in the Christian Religion.

7. Have I commit- 7. As to the Distaste they ted an offence in a- would * seem to take at

my

workbasing my self that ing for my Livelihood among you, you might be exalted, and not insisting upon my Privibecause I have preach; lege of Maintenance froin your ed to you the gospel

Church; I hope it was no Injury to teach you your A. D. 57. Christian Religion of Free-cost, and undergo the Labours of a Trade, to be the more capable of serving you.

8. [ robbed other 8 & 9. On the contrary, it churches, taking wa- should rather seem a Mark of ges of them to do you Kindness, that I should receive service. 9. And when I was I was in Want, on Purpose to

Supplies of other Churches, when present with you, and wanted, I was charge.

excuse you absolutely from it. And able to no man: for

I have good Reason why I still that which was lack- keep my Resolution to do so. eing to me, the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things have I kept my self from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep my self.

10. As the truth of 10. Nay I proteft by the very Christ is in me, no Truth of the Gospel, I will keep man shall stop me of it, and make it Matter of glorythis boafing in the ing and valuing * myself for thus regions of Achaia.

preaching freely to the Churches of Achaia.

11. Wherefore ? be- II & 12. Not that I refufe cause I love you not ? Maintenance from you out of any God knoweth.

Disgust or Dislike to your Church. 12. But what I do, Far

otherwise, God knows. But that I will do, that I I do it chiefly to stop the Mouths may cut off occasion

of from them which de

your Judaizing Teachers, that fire occasion,

that pretend (and indeed only prewherein they glory, tend t) to preach of Free-cost, and they may be found e- to show them I can really do what

they make only a Pretence to.
13. For such are 13. Those Men, while they
false apostles, deceit derogate from my Apostleship, are
ful workers, trans- evidently themselves designing and
forming themselve

themselves false Apostles; having nothing but
into

the

ven as we.

* Ver. 10. See 1 Cor. ix. from 15th to 19th Verse.

+ Ver. 12. Wherein they glory, but had no Reason to glory. For says Theodoret, Edbe ulos adyo xouma forlas, acizde ö zenuala Sokéves. The Apostle means, that they boajted of it, bit privateiy got all the Money they could.

me, that I

A. D. 57. into the apostles of the Outside and Appearance of
Chrift.

that sacred Function.
14.

And no marvel; 14 & 15. And since the Devil,
for Satan himself is their grand Master, is wont to
transformed into an assume the Shape of an Angel of
angel of light.

Light, when he intends the most
15. Therefore it is
no great thing if his dangerous Deceits; no Wonder

his Scholars should venture their
ministers also be trans-
formed as the mini-

Errors and Delusions, under Co-
sters of righteousness; ver of the truly apostolical and
whose end shall be Gospel Ministry; but they shall
according to their one Day receive the due Recom-
works.

pence of such Wickedness.
16. I say again, Let 16. While therefore fuch Hy-
no man think me a pocrites as these can have the
fool; if otherwise, Face to magnify themselves, you
yet .as a fool receive must suffer me to speak more of

may
boast

my self as a true Apostle, than o-
my self a little

therwise I would do. 17. That which I

17. Indeed I have no positive speak, I speak it not Command from Christ to insist after the Lord, but as

thus far upon my own Character; it were foolishly in I do it from prudential Considerathis confidence of

tions of the just and necessary
boasting

Occasion given for it; tho’ some
perhaps may call it Vanity and Oftentation.
17. Seeing that ma-

18. And whereas your Ju-
ny glory after the flesh, daizing Teachers do so much ex-
I will glory also.

alt themselves upon the outward Privileges of their Birth, and Extraction from Abraham and the Patriarchs, and being Members of the antient Church of God by Circumcision; I can set myself upon the Level with them in those Points too.

19. For ye suffer 19. And I hope those Profelytes fools gladly, seeing ye they have gained over to them, gour selves are wise.

will pardon my Folly in so doing, since, as wise as they are, they can bear a great deal more from those false and foolish Pretenders.

20. For ye suffer 20. For 'tis plain they suffer Ha a man bring you them to impose upon their Underinto

standings