He would have them not attached to any secular interest; in the flesh: but I spare you. 13 SECT. XIV. I Cor. not a wife at present, till the storm which now hovers over the church be a little blown over, 28 But and if thou and more peaceful times return. Yet if thou marry, thou hast not dost marry, thou hast not thereby sinned and if vII. 28. sinned: and if a virgin marry, she hath not a virgin marry, she hath not sinned; the marsinned. Nevertheless, riage-state is no doubt both lawful and honoursuch shall have trouble able; yet such will have probably some additional affliction in the flesh; they will be encumbered with the burden of many temporal affairs; and the representation which I make to you of these things, is not out of severity, but tenderness; as I would fain spare you, and speak on the whole, in this gentle and cautious manner on the subject, to avoid extremes either the one way, or the other. 29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short. It remaineth, that both they that have wives, be as though they had none; that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; But this I say brethren, with great confi- 29 dence; and desire you would hear it with due attention; that the whole time of our abode in this world is contracted within very narrow limits; it remains therefore, that we guard against too fond an attachment to any relation or possession in life: so that they, who have wives, be 30 And they that in a manuer, as if they had none; And they 30 weep, as though they that weep, as not weeping in streams of inconwept not; and they solable sorrow, though nature may be allowed to drop its moderate tear; and they that rejoice, as not rejoicing in dissolute and confident sallies of mirth, as if secure from any distressful revolution; and they that purchase, as not possessing by a certain tenure what they must shortly re51 And they that sign; And they who use this world, as not 31 use this world, as not carrying the enjoyments of it to an unbridled abusing it; for the fashion of this world excess; for the whole scheme and fashion of this world passes off, and is gone like a scene in a theatre that presently shifts; or a pageant in some public procession, which how gaudily soever it be adorned to strike the eyes of spectators, is still in motion, and presently disappears, to shew itself for a few moments to others. So transitory are all our enjoyments, and afflictions too, and worthy of little regard, when compar passeth away. c Contracted.] The word cigahun, properly imports this, being, (as many have observed, a metaphor, taken from furling or gathering up a sail. Dr. Hammond, and some others, would render this, it is but a little while, and they that have wives, shall be as though they had none. That is, "I see those times of persecution B 2 ed rising, which will put men out of a ca- d Fashion of this world passes off.] Exu 14 That they might without anxiety serve the Lord. SECT. ed with the solid realities which are soon to open xiv. 1 Cor. upon us, and never to pass away. But I would have you without anxiety, while 32 But I would have married, careth for the things that belong to ness. He that is un the Lord, how he may please the Lord: VII. 32. you continue here amidst all these uncertainties; you without carefuland therefore it is, I advise you in present circumstances to decline marriage, if you conveniently can. For an unmarried man careth for the things of the Lord Jesus Christ, how he may please the Lord, and is in a great degree at leisure to employ his thoughts, and schemes, and labours, for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom among men ; and sure there is no other employment so honourable, so delightful, and when remote consequences are taken into the 33 account, so profitable: Whereas he who is married, careth for the things of the world, how he may maintain his family, and how he may please [his] wife, and so accommodate himself to her 33 But he that is married, careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. holy, both in body and world, how she may 34 temper, as to make her easy and happy. On 34 There is a differthe other hand, there is just such a difference be- ence also between a tween the condition of a wife and a virgin. unmarried woman carwife and a virgin: the She who is unmarried, is careful about the things eth for the things of the of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and Lord, that she may be spirit. She has leisure to attend to the higher in spirit: but she that improvement of religion in her own soul, by the is married, careth for more abundant exercises of devotion, as well as the things of the to do something more for the advancement of please her husband. religion among others; whereas she that is married, careth for the things of the world, how she may please [her] husband; and the diversity of humours both in men and women, and the imperfection of even the best tempers, make this sometimes on both sides a difficult task; on which account single persons have always some considerable advantages, which are especially apparent in these times of public danger. But all this I say for your own benefit, with 35 e There is just such a difference, &c.] Some would connect the word με μερίς αι with the close of the preceding verse, and render it, "He that is married, cares, &c. how he may please his wife, and is divided in his thoughts, or distracted with a variety of anxieties." But this would occasion an unnecessary ellipsis in the beginning of this verse, and destroy the resemblance between the conclusion of the two verses, when it is evident the apostle meant to say the same of both the busband and wife. f How she may please her husband.] The apostle, in this text, and the counter-part a 35 And this I speak for to it, seems to declare, that single persons Ile that gives a young person in marriage, does well: 15 for your own profit; a sincere desire to promote your happiness; and SECT. not that I may cast a not that I may throw a snare upon you, and snare upon you, but for xiv. that which is comely, bind you from that which God for wise reasons 1 Cor. and that you may at- instituted, and allows, and which the state of VII. 35. send upon the Lord human nature generally requires; but out of without distraction. 36 But if any man himself uncomely to regard to what is to be sure very comely and But, on the other band, if any on mature de- 36 Not that I may throw a snare upon you.] This is the most literal version I could give of βροχον υμιν επιβάλω. Mr. Locke thinks the word Boxov, which signifies cord, alludes to the Jewish phrase of binding what was declared unlawful. h Comely: ευσχημον ] This seems to intimate, that they were now in a circumstance in which God did, as it were, exact a peculiar severity from all their thoughts; and that it was a time to think of the trials of martyrdom, rather than the endearment of human passions. i Without any violent constraint.) ATEfaces, is rendered in our translation by the addition of several words, that ye may attend on the Lord without distraction. But Sir Norton Knatchbull has convinced me, that the version here given is much preferable to ours. k Pass the flower of her age, &c.] There is hardly any passage in the epistle, about the sense of which I have been more perplexed than about this; and I am still far from being satisfied concerning it. I had once translated it, "If any one thinks that he acts an unbecoming part, by continuing in his single state, till he be past the flower of his age,-let them marry, he that marries does well, &c." and had paraphrased the words accordingly. And what induced me to this, was, that, verse 37, the apostle puts the issue of the matter on the stedfastness of his own mind, the power he had over his own will, and his having no necessity; whereas if a daughter, or a ward, were in question, her inclinations, temper and con that veniency were certainly to be consulted; 16 xiv. Though he that does not, does better. neth not: let them 37 Nevertheless, he in his heart, having no creed in his heart, that SECT. that it ought to be so, let him do what he will in require, let him do this respect: he sinneth not in his intent of let- what he will, he sin1 Cor. ting her change her present condition; and there- marry. VII. 36. fore let him seek out a proper partner in life for 37 her, and let them marry. But he that hath hitherto stood stedfast in his heart, having also that standeth stedfast on her side no apprehension of any necessity, in necessity, but hath consequence of what he discerns of her disposi- power over his own tions, and no engagement subsisting which might will, and hath so degive another a just claim to her, but hath power he will keep his virg:n, over his own will, being at liberty to act as he doeth well. pleases; and hath in such circumstances determined in his own heart that he will keep his maiden still single, he does well, and the part he acts is so far from being blameable, that in present circumstances it is much to be com38 mended, So that on the whole, the conclusion of the matter is this; he, that in such troublous times as these gives [her] in marriage doeth giveth her not in marri well; she may find opportunities in that rela- age, doeth better. tion both to adorn and to serve Christianity; but as things are circumstanced, I must needs declare, that where a man is under no necessity of doing it, he that gives [her] not in marriage, doeth better; and more effectually consults both his comfort and safety. 89 38 So then, he that giveth her in marriage, doeth well: but he that 39 The wife is long as her husband to whom she will; on. This however is beyond controversy certain, that the wife is bound by the law to continue bound by the law as with her husband, and submit herself to him, liveth: but if her husas long as her husband liveth; but if her husband band be dead, she is at be dead, she is in that case free, and may marry liberty to be married to whom she will; only let her take care that she ly in the Lord. marry in the Lord, and that, retaining a sense of the importance of her Christian obligations, she does not choose a partner for life of a different 40 religion from herself. She may, I say, law- 40 But she is hap fully act thus; but I would not be understood to pier, if she so abide, advise it; for she is happier according to my sen- and I think also, that after my judgment: timent, if she continue as she is: and I may mo- I have the Spirit of destly say, that I appear to have the spirit of God. God to guide me; and not merely some degree of experience, arising from the many observations which for a course of years I have made on human affairs. I may therefore reasonably sup I appear to have the Spirit of God.] It is very unreasonable for any to infer from hence, that St. Paul was uncertain whether he was inspired or not. Whereas this is only a modest way of speaking; and doxw x, often signifies the same pose with yw. Compare Luke viii. 18; with Mat. xiii. 12; 1 Cor. x. 1, 2, chap. xiv. 37. And the ambiguity in the expression, appear to have, seems exactly to correspond to the ambiguity of this original phrase. Reflections on our indifference to secular concerns. 17 SECT. xiv. pose my judgment will have its peculiar weight, VII. 40. IMPROVEMENT. *sure. 25 LET us observe the humility of the excellent apostle with plea- Ver. When he speaks of his fidelity in the ministry, he tells us, he obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. Edified by such an example, let us ascribe to Christ the praise, not only of our endowments, but our virtues; even to him who worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure. Let us seriously contemplate the affecting lesson which the apostle here gives of the shortness of time; and infer how much 29 it is our wisdom to loosen our affections from the things of this vain world, which are ready to ingross so disproportionate a share in them. Let us look upon the world as a transient pageant, and not set our eyes and our hearts on that which is not. We 30 expect, instead of these transitory vanities and empty shews, a 31 kingdom that cannot be moved; in the expectation of which let us be solicitous to please the Lord; making the best of our opportu-32 nities, and guarding against all that may unnecessarily divert our minds, and divide our cares, from what will at length appear the one thing needful. Let us attentively reflect upon the advantages and snares of our respective conditions in life; that we may improve the one, and escape, as far as possible, all injury from the other. Let those who are single, employ their leisure for God; and endeavour to collect a stock of Christian experience which may support them, when the duties and difficulties, the cares and sorrows of life, may be multiplied. Let those who are married, with mutual tender 33, 34 regard endeavour to please each other, and make the relation into which providence hath conducted them, as comfortable and agreeable as they can. And whatever cares press upon their minds, or demand their attention, let them order their affairs with such discretion, that they may still secure a due proportion of their time for the things of the Lord. If any in their consciences are persuaded, that by continuing 35--38 single they shall best answer the purposes of religion, and promote the good of their fellow-creatures, in conjunction with their own; let them do it. As for those that marry, whether a first, or a second time, let them do it in the Lord; acting in the choice 39 of their most intimate friend and companion, as the servants of Christ; who are desirous that their conduct may be approved by him, |