Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

*

were

A. D. 66. them which ftumble Foundation of God's True Church. at the word, being In them alfo is compleated that Predifobedient, whereun- diction of Ifa. viii. 14. representing to also they Chrift as a Stone of Stumbling, Error, appointed. Prejudice and Destruction, to which God has in fo juft Judgment, given that People over, for their incurable Malice and Ingratitude*.

9 But ye are a cho- 9 & 10. As much, therefore, as fen generation, a roy- the Jewish Zealots are apt to despise al priethood, an ho- you Gentile Chriftians, as a People ly nation, a peculiar that never were in Covenant with people; that ye fhould thew forth the praises God, nor belonged to his ancient of him, who hath cal- Church; yet even you may now afled you out of dark- fure your felves that, by your emnefs into his marvel- bracing Chriftianity, your Condition lous light; is as much different from what it was, as Light is from Darkness; and all the facred Characters, || great Titles, and religious Privileges, that Nation fo much value themselves upon, are yours now in a much better and truer Sense than ever they were theirs. that you are capable of offering up a Service to God more pure and acceptable than they, by their Ceremonial Worship, can pretend to.

10 Which in time See Ver. 5. paft were not a people, but are now the people of God: which

had not obtained mer-
cy, but now have ob-
tained
mercy.

[blocks in formation]

So

11. Wherefore, dear Brethren, whether Gentile or Jewish Chriftians, make it your utmoft Endeavour to answer this excellent Defign of your Religion, for the Glory of God and your own Happiness,

* Ver. 8. Whereunto also they were appointed: Or else is i ironov To which [Prejudice and Infidelity] they were wilfully and habitually diffofed: In the fame Senfe with TETRYMÉROS IC, Men well difpofed for eternal Life, Acts xiii. 48. But it is, perhaps, most natural to refer the s obnov, to the Ta doya, The Word. Thus "They, being difobedient, ftum"bled at that Word to which they were appointed, viz. for Light and Instruction.”

66

piness, by the Conqueft of all those fenfual Appetites that A. D. 66. corrupt the true Principles of the Mind.

Place not your

Aims and Hopes upon Temporal Pleasures: Look upon the prefent World only as a Paffage toward the more certain and durable Happiness of Heaven.

12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works which they fhall behold, glorify God in the day of vifitation.

12. I warn the Jewish Converts efpecially, to confult the Credit and Intereft of their Profeffion, by a prudent and decent Behaviour among the Gentile People; and particularly by paying all due Obedience to the Government of the Country you live in. This will be the best means to take off that Prejudice and Mifrepresentation you lie under, among the Romans, as a People as feditious || and averfe to their olay. Jofeph.de Laws, as the rest of the Jewish Nation is. And, by Bel. Jud. thus expreffing your peaceable Subjection to their Govern- Lib. II. ment, you will avoid the Vengeance of God, where- Cap. 8. with the reft of the finful World will be feverely * chasti- * up fed; and, whenever you are called to Account before the Roman Judicatures, will be able to give an honourable Account of your felves, and cause all People to think and fpeak well of you and your Religion.

13 Submit yourfelves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's fake, whether it be to the king, as fupreme,

13 & 14. Nor let your own private Safety be the only Motive of Obedience to the Government under which Providence has placed you; but know, you are bound to it by the Law of Chriftianity, which makes no Alteration in Civil Rights. As therefore, the Roman Emperor and his Deputy Officers, are placed over you, for the fame good Purposes as Jewish Princes or Governours were formerly appointed over the Jewish Nation, viz. the Prefervation of the publick Peace, the Security of the Rights and Properties of the People committed to their Charge, by fuitable Rewards and Punish

14 Or unto governours as unto them that are fent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praife of them that

do well.

[blocks in formation]

πισκοπῆς.

A.D. 66. ments; all ought to pay them a juft Obedience and

See Rom. xiii. 1, &c. + ὅτως ἀγαθοποιέν

Subjection *.

15 For fo is the will of God, that with well doing we may put See Verfe to filence the ignorance of foolish men.

τες.

[ocr errors]

As free; See Jobn viii. 32, 33-36.

16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of malicioufnefs, but as the fervants of God.

15. Thus you will at once promote your own Safety, obviate the Prejudices your Character is afperfed with, and discharge a most principal Duty of your Holy Religion.

16. The Jews indeed, under the Notion of being the Seed of Abraham, and under the immediate Government of Heaven + proudly dif dain to be fubject to any Powers but those of their own Nation and Religion. You Chriftians are now entitled to Liberties ‡ and Privileges much nobler than theirs. But thefe Privileges are purely Spiritual; and you ought by no means to abuse them into a Pretence for feditious Practices, and Disturbance of the Civil Government you live under, as the Jews do.

17 Honour all men.

Love the brotherhood.
Fear God. Honour

the king.

17. In fine, therefore, give all Ranks of Men the Refpect due to their Character. Bear an affectionate Regard to all your Fellow Chriftians, of what Denomination foever. Adhere firmly to your Religion, and reverence the Emperor and his Minifters, with the Honours due to Temporal Governors.

18 Servants be fub

ject to your mafters
with all fear, not on-
ly to the good and
gentle, but also to
the froward.

18 Let all Chriftians, that are Servants or Slaves, to Heathen Mafters, continue to ferve them with all Fidelity and Respect; not only fubmitting to their Reasonable Commands, but also patiently bearing their Frowardnefs toward them on account of their Religion. Think not that Christianity exempts any one from his Natural and Civil Obligations, as the Jewish Zealots See Pref. to are apt to imagine *.

the Ephef.

§4.

19 For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience

toward

19 & 20. Not to repine at the Punishments you really deferve, by neglecting your Mafter's Bufi

nefs,

toward God endure grief, fuffering wrongfully.

nefs, has no great Virtue in it: But A.D.66.
to endure, with an even and con-
tented Mind, the Hardships they lay
on you for being Chriftians, and
difcharging your Conscience towards
God, this is a true Inftance, and
will be rewarded by God as a gene-
rous Act of Obedience.

20 For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye fhall take it patiently? but if when ye do well, and fuffer for it, ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called : because Christ alfo

21. This is indeed agreeable to
to your Religion, which you are
now to confider as a State of Suf-

suffered for us, leav- fering and Difcipline. Your very
ing us an example,
that we should follow Profeffion is, to imitate the Meek-
his steps.
nefs of Chrift, your great Head and
Example; and to fuffer for His
Sake, who has undergone fo much for you.

22 Who did no fin, neither was guile

found in his mouth. 23 Who when he

was reviled, reviled not again; when he fuffered, he threatned not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.

22 & 23. For thus did the innocent and unfpotted Jefus, while he fuffered for the Sins of others, having no Blemishes of his own, return none of the Reproaches caft upon him, nor flung out fo much as one impatient Threat against his mercilefs Crucifiers; but perfectly refigned Himself and his Caufe to God, the Great and Righteous Judge.

24 Who his own 24. So compleat an Example have felf bare our fins in you in a Saviour, who ought the his own body on the moft ftrongly to engage you to an tree, that we being Imitation of him, in this, and all dead to fin, fhould live unto righteoufother Inftances of true Virture; fince nefs; by whole stripes pofed to you were the Means wherethe very Sufferings and Patience proby he Redeemed you from Sin and Death.

we are healed,

25 For ye were as fheep going aftray, but are now returned

unto

25. In fhort, both Jewish and Gentile Chriftians are to reflect upon themfelves to have been in fuch a State

Vol. II. A.D. 66. unto the Shepherd and a State of Ignorance and Vice, beBishop of your fouls. fore their Converfion, as might well bear the Comparison of the Prophet, refembling you to Sheep that were loft and gone aftray (Isaiah liii. 6. See also Jerem. 1. 6, 17.) But now, by the Chriftian Religion, you are recovered again, and put under the Conduct of a Saviour and Governour, whom it is your utmost Happiness, as well as Duty, to imitate and obey.

CHA P. III.

The CONTENTS.

Differences in Religious Principles ought to be no Pretence for Chriftian Hufbands or Wives to withdraw the Duties of that Relation, even from Heathens, to whom they are Married. The Chriftian Wife ought to endeavour to win over fuch Husband to the Chriftian Faith, by the fingular Kindness of her Behaviour, her Modeft Garb, and Virtuous Converfation. The Chriftian Husband to do the fame toward fuch Wife, by Expreffions of the utmoft Tenderness and Affection, Unanimity, Candor, Peace and Justice recommended, upon the fame Reasons of Intereft and Duty, as in the foregoing Chapter, especially that of the Example of Chrift, who is now Exalted to be our powerful Head and Saviour. A Comparison between the Ark of Noah, and the Baptifm of Chriftians.

* See Chap.be in fubjection to
Ikewise, ye wives, 1 & 2.

ji. 13-18.

[blocks in formation]

your own husbands, blige Chriftians to be peaceable Sub-
that if any obey not
jects, even under Heathen Govern-
the word, they also
may
without the word ments, and faithful Servants, even
to Infidel Masters, are equally ftrong
be won by the conver-
fation of the wives :
for your Discharge of all other Rela-
tive Duties, under the fame Circum-
ftances. Thus, all Chriftian Wives

2 While they behold your chafte converfation

ought

« AnteriorContinua »