Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 2 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI. Verſe 1. Collection for the Saints]
THe poor believers at Jeruſalem, Rom. 15.26. who had ſuffered hard things of their own Countrey-men, 1 Theſſ. 2.14. and taken joyfully the ſpoiling of their goods, Heb. 10.34.Gal. 2.10. Non foreign, ſed foreign & foreign. and were therefore relieved by the Churches of the Gentiles at Pauls motion. The word here uſed for Saints, ſignifieth ſuch as are taken off from the earth. The Saints, though their commoration be upon earth, their converſation's in heaven.
Verſe 2. Ʋpon the first day] The Chriſtian Sabbath, the Lords-day, as the Greek Scholiaſt well renders it: which to ſanctifie was in the Primitive times a badge of Chriſtianity. When the queſtion was propounded, Servaſti dominicum? Haſt thou kept the Lords-day? The anſwer was returned, Chriſtianus ſum; intermittere non poſſum, I am a Chriſtian, I can do no leſſe then keep the Lords-day.D King on Jonas, Lect. 7. But the world is now grown perfectly profane (ſaith one) and can play on the Lords-day without book. The Sabbath of the Lord, the ſanctified day of his reſt is ſhameleſly troubled and diſquieted.
Lay by him in ſtore] Gr. As a treaſure, 1 Tim. 6.18. Manus pauperum gazophylacium Chriſti. The poor mans box is Chriſts treaſury.
As God hath prospered him] Gr.foreign. Given him a good arrivall at the end of his voiage, and enabled him: for we may not ſtretch beyond the ſtaple, and ſo ſpoil all.
Verſe 3. Your liberality] Gr. Your grace: That which having received of Gods free grace, you do as freely part with to his poor people.
Verſe 4. That I goe alſo] And goe he did, Rom. 15.25. Act. 24 17. The very Angels hold not themſelves too good to ſerve the Saints.
Verſe 5. When I ſhall come, &c.] He was not then yet come into Macedonia, neither was this Epiſtle written at Philippi (as the ſubſcription ſaith) a chiefe City of Macedonia.
Verſe 6.2 Cor. 1….15. Yea, and winter with you] They had ill deſerved ſuch a favour of him: for the more he loved them, the leſſe he was beloved of them: But he ſought not theirs, but them. Diſcourteſies muſt not diſcourage us from Gods work. Calvin, though but c…u…lly, uſed at his firſt coming to Geneva, brake thorow all.
Verſe 7. If the Lord permit] The Lord ordereth a good mans goings, Pſal. 37. See Act. 16. with Jam. 4.13. It was rather raſhneſſe then valour in our Richard 1. who being told (as he ſat at Supper) that the French King had beſieged his town of Vernoil in Normandy, proteſted that he would not turn his back, untill he had confronted the French. And thereupon he cauſed the wall of his palace that was before him to be broken down toward the South, and poſted to the Sea-coaſt immediately into Normandy.
Verſe 8. But I will tarry at Epheſus] From thence then he wrote this Epiſtle, and not at Philippi, as the ſubſcription hath it. See verſ. 5.
Verſe 9.foreign. And effectuall] Or, Buſie, that requires great pains-taking. The Miniſtery is not an idle mans occupation, as ſome fools think it.
And many adverſaries] Truth never wants an oppoſite. In the beginning of the late Reformation, Eckius, Roffenſis, Cajetun, More, Faber, Cochlaus, Cutharinus, Pighius, all theſe wrote againſt Luther, Summo conatu, acerrimo deſiderio, non vulgari doctrina, as one ſaith, with utmoſt deſire and endeavour.
Verſe 10. For he worketh, &c.] So doth every faithfull Miniſter, though of meaner parts. The Vine is the weakeſt of trees, but full of fruit. A little hand may thred a needle. A little boat may do beſt in a low river. Philadelphia had but a little ſtrength, Revel. 3.8. and yet it ſerved turn, and did the deed.
Verſe 11.foreign. Niceph. Let no man deſpiſe him] For his youth: for he hath lived much in a little time (as it is ſaid of our Edw. 6.) and is an old young man, as was Macarius the Egyptian.
Verſe 12. I greatly deſired him] Paul did not compell or command him, as the Pope takes upon him to do, even to Princes and Potentates. Oh that all Kings would anſwer him in this caſe, as Philip the Fair of France did Pope Boniface, claiming a power there to beſtow Prebends and Benefices. Sciat tua maxima fatuitas. &c.Alſted. Chronol.
Verſe 13. Watch ye, &c.] Solomons wiſdome, Lots integrity, and Noahs ſobriety felt the ſmart of the ſerpents ſting. The firſt was ſeduced, the ſecond ſtumbled, the third fell, whiles the eye of watchfulnes was fallen aſleep.
Verſe 14. Let all your things, &c.] Love is the Saints livery, Joh. 13.35, Heathens acknowledged that no people in the world did love one another, ſo as Chriſtians did. In the Primitive times, Animo anima que ; inter ſe miſcebantur, as Tertullian ſpeaketh. But now, alas, it is far otherwiſe; Love began to grow cold among theſe Corinthians. Hence this ſweet and ſavoury counſel.
Verſe 15. To the miniſtery of the Saints] To ſerve them in collecting and diſtributing alms to the neceſſitous.
Verſe 16. That ye ſubmit] Giving them due honour, doing them all good offices.
Verſe 17. They have ſupplied] viz. Your abſence: for in them I take a ſhort view of you all.
Verſe 18. They have refreſhed] Ipſe aspectus viri boni delectat. It's ſome comfort to ſee a good mans face.Sen.
Verſe 19. Aquila and Priſcilla] Pauls faſt friends and conſtant companions; worth their weight in gold.
Verſe 20. With an holy kiſſe] Not hollow, as Joab and Judas; nor carnall as that harlot, Prov. 7.13. See Rom. 16.16.
Verſe 21. With mine own hand] Well known to the Corinthians, to prevent impoſture.
Verſe 22. If any man love not] That is, deſperately hate. A ſin ſo execrable, that the Apoſtle would not once name it. So the Jews would not name leven of the Paſſeover, nor a ſow at any time, but called it dabar achar, E…as Th…bit.another thing.
Anathema Maranatha] Accurſt upon accurſt, put over to God to puniſh.
Verſe 23. My love, &c.] Though I have ſharply rebuked you, &c. Tit. 1.13.