mark, learn, and inwardly digest | other, as Christ also received us, them ; that by patience, and com- to (b) the glory of God. Now I fort of thy holy Word, we may say

that Jesus Christ was a minister embrace and ever hold fast the of the circumcision for the truth blessed hope of everlasting life, of God, to confirm the promises which thou hast given us in our made unto the fathers ; And that Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. the Gentiles might glorify God

for his mercy; as it is written, The Epistle. Rom. XV. 4. (f) “ For (i) this cause I will confess Whatsoever things were writ- “ to thee among the Gentiles, and ten aforetime were written for

“ sing unto thy Name." And our learning, that we through again he saith, “ (k) Rejoice, ye

" Gentiles, with his people.” patience and comfort of the Scrip' 5. tures might have hope. Now And again, “(1) Praise the Lord,

the God of patience and conso- ye Gentiles ; and laud him, lation grant you to be (g) like- “ all ye people.” And again,

minded one toward another, ac- Esaias saith, “ (m) There shall be 6. cording to Christ Jesus ; that ye “ a root of Jesse, and he that may with one mind and one

“ shall rise to reign over the mouth glorify God, even the “ Gentiles; in him shall the

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. " Gentiles trust." Now the God i 7. Wherefore receive ye one an- of hope fill you with all joy and

66 all

even Christ

(s) of the Converts at Rome, some thought themselves still bound to observe the mosaical ordinances, and to make a difference in days and meats, &c.; others considered themselves freed from such restraints. Saint Paul's object is to prevent all dissensions between them upon such points, to take away from Jews and Gentiles all occasions of contest, and to induce both to unite cordially in glorifying God. He reminds them, that it was to confirm the promises made unto the Fathers, that Christ's ministry was amongst the Jews; and that it was of mere mercy to the Gentiles, and not of right, that the benefit of our Saviour's coming was extended to the Gentiles, though this was also foretold in many parts of Scripture. That neither Jew nor Gentile therefore was to overvalue himself, inasmuch as it was not of right as from their own merit that either was admitted to the blessings of Christianity, but they were offered to the one because of a promise to that effect from God to their forefathers, and to the other because of the predetermined mercy and grace of God, and that neither Jew nor Gentile should despise the other, because God, who best could judge, had thought

each worthy of having these blessings offered to them,

“ (8) Like-minded,” i.e. giving up to 0. your neighbour in unessential points to produce unanimity, “ that they might i with one mind and one mouth glorify * God.” He had just been stating, that “they who were strong should bear “ the infirmities of the weak, and not “ please themselves ;" that “ each should “ please his neighbour for his good to « edification ;” and that “ “ Jesus pleased not himself.” He here therefore proposes that they should follow this his example, and be like-minded, &c. according to him, that is, as he was, studying to prevent dissensions, not seeking his own gratification. In Philipp.iv.2. St. Paul beseeches Euodias and Syntyche to be of the " same mind in the Lord;" and Rom. xii. 16. he exhorts the converts to be of the same " mind one towards an“ other,” i e. to have “unanimity.".

(b) “ To the glory, &c. “ making . “ God's glory the object.”

() “ For this cause, &c." This is volt transcribed from Ps.xviii.49. The cause re: lates to God's protection mentioned there,

(k) “ Rejoice.” Deut. xxxii. 43.
(?) “ Praise &c." Ps.cxvii. 1.
Im "There shall be, &c.”Is.xi. 10.

peace in believing, that ye may “ perplexity; the sea and the abound in hope, through the “ waves roaring; men's hearts 26, power of the Holy Ghost.

failing them for fear, and for

“ looking after those things which The Gospel. Luke xxi. 25. (n) “ are coming on the earth : for « And there shall be signs in “ the powers of heaven shall be “ the sun, and in the moon, and

“ shaken. And then shall they 27. “ in the stars; and upon the see the Son of man () coming " earth distress of nations, with - in a cloud with power and great

28. “ glory. And when these things “ but my words shall not pass

begin to come to pass, then away. “ look up, and lift up your

“ heads; for your (p) redemption 29.

“ draweth nigh.” And he spake Third Sunday in Advent.
to them a parable; “ Behold,

The Collect.
“ the figtree, and all the trees; O LORD Jesu Christ, who at
30. “ when they now shoot forth, ye thy first coming didst send thy

see and know of your own messenger to prepare thy way

“ selves that summer is now nigh before thee; Grant that the 31. “ at hand. So likewise ye,

when ministers and stewards of thy mysye see these things come to teries may likewise so prepare and pass,

that the King- || make ready thy way, by turning “ dom of God is nigh at hand. the hearts of the disobedient to “ Verily I say unto you, This (9) || the wisdom of the just ; that at

“ generation shall not pass away thy second coming to judge the 33•

« till all be fulfilled. Heaven world, we may be found an ac-
« and earth shall pass away ; ceptable people in thy sight, who

know ye

32.

“ be destroyed :” and the meaning in
both passages may be, that, what then
occurs shall be decisive proof from God
that Jesus Christ was the true Messiah.

See post, note on Matt. xxiv. 30.
v. 28. (P) “Your redemption." The destruc.

tion of their enemies and persecutors
would of itself make a material difference
in their condition. See note on the word
“Salvation,” Rom. xiii

. 11. ante, p.25. 0. 32. (9) “ This generation, &c.” This was

a pledge which in a limited time would
bring our Saviour's pretensions to a de-
cisive test. He claimed to be the Mes-
siah, and as one proof of it took upon
himself repeatedly to say, that before
the generation of men then living should
be removed from the earth, this great
event of his coming should occur. In
Matt. x. 23. he assures his apostles,
" that they shall not have gone over the
« cities of Israel till the Son of Man
“ shall come.” In Matt. xvi. 28. he
says, “ there be some standing here,
"which shall not taste of death, till they
“ see the Son of Man coming in his
“ kingdom.” In speaking of St. John,
John xxi. 22. our Saviour says, “ If I
“ will that he tarry till I come, what is
" that to thee;" and accordingly St.
John survived the destruction of Jerusa-
lem, that great coming of our Lord :
and in Matt. xxiv. 34. where that Apostle
gives his account of what our Saviour
said as to the signs of his coming, the

language is the same as here, “This ge“ neration shall not pass, till all these " things be fulfilled." St. Matthew and St. John, from being constant attendants on our Saviour, were not likely to be deceived as to his words, and Matthew's Gospel was published before the destruction of Jerusalem, and so were St. Mark's and St. Luke's, which con. tain similar passages. Mark xii. 30.Luke ix. 27. The accomplishment, therefore, of this vengeance, or permitting its accomplishment, within the period our Saviour specified, is an attestation by God himself that our Saviour really was what he pretended to be. It is of use to advert to the proofs of the truth of our religion, because it enables us to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and where such abundant proof is supplied, God has shewn that he expects belief. The signal vengeance he took upon those who did not attend to the proofs he gaye, or opposed the progress of the religion he sanctioned, should teach us what we may expect if we reject this religion, or act in defiance of its precepts. God, who is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, will probably in his own time, and in his own way, punish as severely the unbelievers and opposers of his religion of other times. Bishop Porteus's Lectures on the parallel Prophecy in St. Matthew are well worth consulting. See Lectures 19 and 20.

livest and reignest with the Father tified: but he that judgeth me is and the Holy Spirit, ever one the Lord. Therefore (y) judge no- 5. God, world without end. Amen. | thing before the time, until(z) the

Lord come, who both will bring The Epistle. 1 Cor. iv. 1. (r) to light the hidden things of darkLet a man so account of us, as

ness, and will make manifest the

counsels of the hearts: and then of the (s)ministers of Christ, and

shall stewards of the mysteries of God.

every man have (a) praise of 2. Moreover, it is required in stew.

God. ards, that a man be found (t)faith3. ful. But with me it is a very small

The Gospel. Matt. xi. 2. thing that I should be judged (u) Now when (6) John had heard in

of you, or of man's judge the prison the works of Christ, he 4. ment; yea, I judge not mine own sent (c) two of his disciples, and self: for I know nothing (x) by said unto him,

said unto him, “ Art thou he (d) 3. myself; yet am I not hereby jus- 66 that should come, or do we look

See ante,

0. 2.

16, 17.

0.2.

(-) St. Paul had blamed the Corinthian converts in the preceding Chapter for ranking themselves under different teachers, one saying, “ I am of Paul, another, “ I am of Apollos, a third I am of Ce" phas or Peter," and so on ; and he therefore desires them to think of the apostles, not as persons seeking their own glory, and wishing to have sects after their own names, but as ministers and subordinate officers, looking to the glory of God and Jesus Christ only, and wishing to unite all the converts under Christ alone.

(s) " Ministers," i.e. only as ministers, acting for another master, even Christ.

(1) “ Faithful,” and therefore not assuming to themselves what belongs to

their master. 1.3

(u) " Judged,” i. e. perhaps “ esti“ mated, valued.”

(x) " By myself," rather, "against my“ self.” Hamm. on N.T.519. i Clarke's Attrib. 258. The meaning perhaps is, though I know nothing against myself, that is not a ground on which I can consider myself justified; for I must be judged by God, who, according to i John iii. 21. “ is greater than our “ hearts, and knoweth all things.”

(y)," Judge nothing." See post, note on Luke vi. 37. 0.5. (z) “ Until the Lord come.” This

might allude to the great coming of our Saviour to take vengeance on the unbelieving Jews, &c. which our Saviour had predicted should occur before that generation, the generation of men then

living, should pass away.
P. 30, on Luke xxi. 32.

(a) “ Praise, &c.” Whoever really was v. 5.
praise-worthy should have it from him,
who alone knows by whom it is deserved,
even from God.

(6) “John," i. e. the Baptist.

(c) “ Sent.” It is supposed that John
sent this message not for his own sake, or to
satisfy any doubts he had, but for the sake
of his Apostles ; he had seen the Spirit
of God descending on cur Saviour at his
baptism, and had heard the voice from
heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son,
“in whom I am well pleased.” Matt. iii.

How then could he doubt?
(d) “ He that should come.” There

0.3.
was a general expectation at this time of
the Messiah's coming: Daniel had stated
expressly (Dan. ix. 25.) that from the go-
ing forth of the commandment“ to restore
" and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah
" the Prince, should be seven weeks, and
“ threescore and two weeks,” and this
time (reckoning a day for a year, which
is the method in the calculation of pro-
phetic times) was nearly, if not fully ar-
rived. This expectation, with the mis-
take that the Messiah's kingdom was to
be of this world, probably occasioned the
well known passages in Suetonius,Tacitus,
and Josephus, that “the sacred books of
“the Jews foretold, that at that time some

one from Judæa should obtain the empire ~ of the world.” There are also passages in Virgil, which probably owe their origin to this cause. See Note on John i. 21. post. and Virgil's 4th Eclogue.

0.4

4. “ for another ?” Jesus answered “ written, (k) Behold, I send my and said unto them, “ Go and

messenger

before thy face, “ shew John again those things

which shall prepare thy way " which

ye
do hear and (e) see:

66 before thee." 5.

“ The(f)blind receive theirsight,
" and the lame walk, the lepers

Fourth Sunday in Advent.
u are cleansed, and the deaf
“ hear, the dead are raised up,

The Collect.
“ and the poor have the Gospel

O Lord, raise up (we pray thee) 6. preached to them. And blessed thy power, and come among us,

“ is he, whosoever(8) shall not be and with great might succour us ; 7.

“ offended in me.” And, as they | that whereas, through our sins departed, Jesus began to say unto and wickedness, we are sore let the multitudes concerning John, and hindered in running the race “ What went ye out into the that is set before us, thy bounti

“ wilderness to see ? a (h) reed ful grace and mercy may speedily 8. “ shaken with the wind ? But help and deliver us, through the “ what went ye out for to see? satisfaction of thy Son our Lord;

a man clothed in soft raiment ? to whom with thee and the Holy “ Behold, they that wear soft Ghost be honour and glory,

clothing are (i) in kings' houses. world without end. Amen. 9. « But what went ye out for to

see? a prophet? yea, I say unto The Epistle. Phil. iv. 4.

you, and more than a prophet. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and « For this is he of whom it is again I say, Rejoice. Let your 5.

10.

0.4.

(c) “ See." According to Luke vii.21. whilst John's Disciples were with Jesus “ he cured many of their infirmities and “ plagues, and of evil spirits, and unto “ many that were blind he gave sight,” so that he might properly refer to what they saw as well as what they might

have heard.
0.5. (11" The blind,” &c. Our Saviour

refers them to his works because of their
agreement with two prophecies in Isaiah:
In Isaiah xxxv.4,5,6. the Prophet, alluding
to the times of the Messiah, says, “Behold
“ your God will come with vengeance,
“ even God with a recompence: he will
“ come and save you: then the eyes of
" the blind shall be opened, and the ears
u of the deaf shall be unstopped, then
u shall the lame man leap as an hart, and
" the tongue of the dumb sing.” And in
Isaiah xvi. 1. he says, “ The Spirit of the
“ Lord is upon me, because the Lord
" hath anointed me to preach good tid.
" ingu unto the meek,” &c. &c. His
performing the miracles was a decisive
proof that God was with him ; but it

added some weight to these miraculous acts that they corresponded with what the prophet had foretold.

(8) “Shall not be offended in,"i.e.shall 2.6 boldly and firmly adhere to me, without being deterred by persecution or danger.

(6)“A reed,” &c. that is a mere trifle. ~

(i) “ In kings' houses" and therefore 9.8. not in the wilderness.

(k)“Behold,” &c. This is the prophecy .. 10. in Mal. iii. 1. “Behold I will send my

messenger, and he shall prepare the way “ before me and the Lord whom ye seek (i. e. the Messiah) “ shall suddenly come

to his temple, even the Messenger of “ the covenant, whom ye delight in: “ behold he shall come, saith the Lord “ of hosts." See an able Commentary upon this prophecy, Chandler's Defence of Christianity, first ed. p. 63. The way was prepared by reforming their lives, and by that means fitting them to receive the precepts of Christianity, and to undergo all dangers, &c. in adhering to it.