1 Corinthians 8

1 Corinthians 8:1

TOuching things,] they were meaes of heathen sacrifices, whereof some part having beene consecrated, and offered to Idols the rest was sold in open markets, 1 Corinthians 10:25 or made use of at private feasts, without any professed relation to the Idol, 1 Corinthians 10:27. or in pub〈…〉 feasts, in honour of the Idols, and in their Temples or Chappels, 1 Cor. 8. 10. and 10. 20, 21. and the Apostle being asked whither it were lawfull to eate of such meas, treates of it in this Chapter, only i this respect. Namely, that although it be thing indifferent, yet one ought not to doe it, to the scandall of ones neighbour who is weake in faith, 〈◊〉 feare of inducing him to doe any thing which may bee against his Conscience, but Chap. 10. 19. hee speakes of it in a more weighty consideration, in respect of communicating with the Idoll Wee kw,] I know what they that take leave to eate of them: alleadge that they are sufficiently instructed about Christian liberty in externall things, and that 〈◊〉 cannot pollute the soule, and that the Idoll, besides the stuffe that it is made of, is but the Idolaters v〈…〉imagination, without being or power, and cannot deile the meates: and therefore they being 〈◊〉 thorowly enformed and perswaded, they 〈◊〉 they cannot sinne in it. See Romans 14:1-23; Romans 14:1-23 P〈…〉eth up,] This perswasion of Christian libeie, as well as any other knowledge, which is not temper nor regulated with charitie: gives men for the most part occasion to bee proud, and despise their 〈◊〉 brethren, pleasing themselves, without any re〈…〉 to others, Romans 15:1-33. verse 1. 2 Edifieth] procures the brethrens salvation, addes to their instruction and confirmation, and keepes men from laying any stumbling blocke in their way; as they 〈◊〉 who licentiously made use of such meates, 〈◊〉 9. 10.

1 Corinthians 8:2

Thinke,] nmely by a vaine presumption himselfe As hee ought,] that is to say humbly for himselfe, and profitable for others.

1 Corinthians 8:3

Love,] he resereh all that hee knnoweth or beleeveth to the true practice of the love of God, of his glory and service, and for Gods cause, to the salvation of his neighbour Is knowne] that is to say accepted and approved of. The Apostle seemes to use this word, to shew that as the knowledge with which God knoweth those who are his, is not a bare, and barren knowledge but accompanied, with lve, so likewise ought their knowledge to be where with they that are his, doe know him. See 1 Corinthians 13:12. Galatians 4:9.

1 Corinthians 8:4

Is nothing,] that is to say hath no Godead nor divine power in it selfe, whereby it appeares that these meates can not bee defiled by being conserated to the Idoll.

1 Corinthians 8:5

Called Gods,] namely by meere abuse, as Idolls are. Or by some participation of similitude in power and dignitie, as the Angels in heaven, and Kings and Princes on earth are.There bee Gods,] that is to say, as that name is common to God, and to diverse creatures, though not in an equall sence, but ly by some resemblance or proportion.

1 Corinthians 8:6

Unto us,] beleevers, and Christians But 〈◊〉,] See upon Iohn 17. 3 not that the son is not also true God, Philippians 2:6. as likewise the dominion is not taken away from the father, because the name thereof is appropriated to the Son, but to shew that the Father is represented unto us in Scripture in the pure and naturall glory of his deitie. Whereas the Sonne sheweth himselfe in his office of Mediator, according to which he hath receaved from the Father all power in Heaven and on earth, Matth. 28. 18 Are all things,] as of their first spring and cause.In him,] to whose glory and service, all our being doth naturall and supernaturall ought to have a relation, as to its owne last end and ayme, Romans 11:36 By whom,] Namely as by a coequall joynt, and co-operant cause of the same God-head and power And we,] hee saith this to shew that in the worke of redemption, the sonne is in the, same order of action in respect of the father, as he is in the creation.

1 Corinthians 8:7

In every man,] namely in all the mbers of the church, Vnto this hour,] even after there have bin so manie declarations made by the Gospell concerning Christian liberty in case of ates, that there is no more distinction of pure and impure according to MOSES His Law, and that they are sanctified to beleevers in their lawfull use, and cannot of themselves defile the Soule, Matthew 15:17; Matthew 15:20 Eate it,] they are often iduced by the example of others for to eate of it, and when they doe it, they doe it with scruple of conscience: or with a beliefe that the consecraing of it to the Idoll, and hath imprinted some impuritie in the meate As a thing,] whose use was strictly forbidden by the law. See Exodus 34:1-35. vere. 15. Numbers 25:1-18. verse. 2. Psalms 106:1-48. verse. 28. Ezekiel. 18. 6. and 22, 9 Weak,] that is to say wavering and unresolved Romans. 14. 1. 2. 21. and 15. 1 is defd,] as beleeving to use a defiled meat now the thing it self, in it self is not the rule of what is lawfull, or unlawfull in these externall things, but the mind and conceipt of the conscience. Rom. 14. 5. 14. 23.

1 Corinthians 8:8

If we eat,] if we indifferently make use of meats, are we the better,] it bringeth no advantage to the soule, for the salvation of it.

1 Corinthians 8:9

This liberty,] namely this Christian liberty in matter of meates, become,] that it do not drive these irresolute soules, by your example, to attemp any thing against their owne conscience.

1 Corinthians 8:10

Which hast,] who art fully informed, and perswaded concerning Christian liberty, temple,] or in some chappell be longing to idolls. The Apostles meaning is not that there is no other offence in eating such meates in such places, but the oending of weak consciences. But that if there were no other offence but that one ought for to avoid it for that only and forbeare to doe it because that 1, Cor. 10. 20 hee sheweth that by so doing they did participate of idolatry, be emboldened,] induced, perswaded and strengthened by thine example against their owne minde and conceipt.

1 Corinthians 8:11

Peish,] shall be in danger of wounding his conscience mortally and whereas before through tendernesse of conscience he abhorred any thing as drew neer to idolatry, he may peradventure use himselfe to it to the shipwrack of his salvation.

1 Corinthians 8:12

Against Christ,] who as head, is offnded at the hurting of his members, as saviour, at the interrupting of his work, as king at the breach of his chiefe command which is charity, as example of all vertue, at the transgressing of his example.