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10. Neither

stroyed of serpents.
murmur ye, as some of them also
(p) murmured, and were destroyed
of the destroyer. 11. Now all
these things happened unto them
for ensamples: and they are writ-
ten for our admonition, upon
whom the (q) ends of the world
are come. 12. Wherefore (r) let
him that thinketh he standeth take
heed lest he fall. 13. There hath
no (s) temptation taken
you
such as is common to man: but
God is faithful, who will not suffer
you to be tempted above that you
are able; but will with the tempt-
ation also make a way to escape,
that
ye may be able to bear it.

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"3. Then the steward said within "himself, "What shall I do, for "my lord taketh away from me "the stewardship? I cannot dig; "to beg I am ashamed. 4. I am "resolved what to do, that, when "I am put out of the stewardship, they (u) may receive me into "their houses." 5. So he called every one of his lord's debtors "unto him, and said unto the 66 but first, How much owest thou "unto my lord? 6. And he "said, An hundred measures of "oil. And he said unto him, "Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7. Then "said he to another, And how "much owest thou? And he said, "An hundred measures of wheat. "And he said unto him, Take

The Gospel. Luke xvi. 1. (t) JESUS said unto his disciples, "There was a certain rich man "which had a steward; and the "same was accused unto him "that he had wasted his goods. "2. And he called him, and said "unto him, How is it that I hear "this of thee? give an account "of thy stewardship; for thou "mayest be no longer steward.

(p) v. 10. "Murmured, &c." In the instance of the men who were sent to look at the land of Canaan, and who made an ill report of it, who "died by the plague "before the Lord. Numb. xiv. 37."

(q) v. 11. "The ends of the world." The time when the Jewish establishment was drawing towards its close. One of the periods often referred to under the expression of "the day of the Lord," called (1 John ii. 18.) "the last time." See ante, 28. note on Rom. xiii. 11.

(r) v. 12. "Wherefore, &c." Let none assume from what has been conferred upon him that he is beyond the chance of falling; let each take heed.

(s) v. 13. "Temptation," i. e. "trial," Tapaouos, the same word as is used, 1 Pet. iv. "the fiery trial, which is to try you."

(t) The object of this parable seems to be, by drawing into notice the foresight

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thy bill, and write fourscore. "8. And the lord (x) commended "the unjust steward (y), because "he had done wisely: for the "children of this world are in "their (2) generation wiser than "the children of light. 9. And "I say unto you, Make (a) to "yourselves friends of the mam

worldly men display to advance their temporal interests, to inculcate it as a duty upon Christians to use as much prudence, wisdom, and exertion to promote their future spiritual welfare. See 2 Tillot. 481. Clarke's 18 Sermons, p. 341.

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(u) v. 4. "They, &c." i. e. impersonally, you may be received into men's houses." (x) v. 8. " Commended." Not that he approved of his dishonesty, but admired his foresight.

(y) "Because," i. e. "in as far as." It was his prudence only that was applauded. (z)" In their generation," i. e. " in the "concerns of this life; with a view to their "temporal interests."

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(a) v. 9. "Make, &c." i. e. ❝ so use your riches, as to make him your friend, "who, when you are put out of your "earthly stewardship, will receive you "into heaven."

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(b) "Mammon of unrighteousness,” i.e. "riches."

(c) "Fail," i. e. “ die.”

(d) "They may receive you," i. e. “you 66 may be received."

(e)" Everlasting habitations," i. e. "heaven, eternal life."

(g) It may be of service to add our Saviour's comments upon this parable, and to explain such parts as require it.

10" He that is faithful in that which "is least, is faithful also in much and "he that is unjust in the least, is unjust "also in much.

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11" If therefore ye have not been "faithful to the unrighteous mammon, "who will commit to your trust † the true " riches?

12" And if ye have not been faithful

• v. 11. "Unrighteous mammon,” i. e. “the "riches of this world."

+"The true riches," i. e. " the riches of the "world to come.

the world which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cesar. 29. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea : 30. which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. xii. 1. Now about that time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex 2. And certain of the Church. he killed James the brother of John (k) with the sword. 3. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.

The Gospel. Matt. xx. 20. THEN came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons (worshipping (m) him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

21. And he said unto her, "What "wilt thou ?" She saith unto "Grant that these my two him, "sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on

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"in that which is another man's, who "shall give you that § which is your own?" (h) For Acts xi. 27 to 30. see ante, 180. and for Acts xii. 1 to 3. see ante, 187, 188. "Judea." (i) v. 28. "The world," i. e. (k) v. 2. "John," the Evangelist. See the next note.

(7) v. 20. "Her sons," i. e. James, who was killed by Herod, (Acts xii. 2.) and St. John the Evangelist.

(m) "Worshipping," " " προσκυνῆσα.” Another instance in which our Saviour allowed this homage to be paid.

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v. 12. "That which is another man's," i. e, "the riches of this world, which no man can truly "call his own. They may be lost: the proprietor "is under God a steward only and accountable "for their use, and, at death, they must be left." i. e. "the riches "That which is your own,'" "of the world to come: which, if obtained, may "truly be called your own: "Treasures in heaven, "where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and "where thieves do not break through and steal. "Matt. vi. 20.-Luke xii. 33." 04

that

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"the left, in thy kingdom." 22. But Jesus answered and said, "Ye know not what ye ask. Are "ye able to drink (n) of the cup "that I shall drink of, and to be "baptized with the baptism "I am baptized with?" say unto him, "We are able." 23. And he saith unto them, "Ye "shall (0) drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized "with; but to sit on my right "hand, and on my left, is not "mine to give, but it shall be "given to them for whom it is "prepared of my Father." 24. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25. But Jesus

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called them unto him, and said, "Ye know that the princes of the "Gentiles exercise dominion over "them, and they that are great "exercise authority upon them. "26. But it shall not be so among you but whosoever will be "great among you, let him be your minister; 27. and whoso

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(n) v. 22. “To drink, &c." i. e. “to "bear whatever I shall bear."

(o) v. 23. "Shall, &c." St. James was accordingly killed by Herod. See Acts xii. 2.

(p) v. 28. "Not to be ministered unto, "&c." i. e. "not to live in worldly pomp, "but to serve and benefit mankind: not "to receive homage, but to do good."

(q) "A ransom, &c." See ante, 52. note (p) on Matt. i. 21. See also Is. liii. 10. Matt. xxvi. 28. — Rom. iv. 25. — Rom. v. 6.1 Cor. xv. 3. - 2 Cor. v. 21. -Gal. iii. 13. Eph. v. 2.-1 Tim. ii. 6.-Tit. ii. 14.-Hebr. ix. 28.-1 Pet. iii. 18. and Magee, i. 464.

(r)"For many." Not indiscriminately for all mankind, but for many; such as should look up to his intercession, endeavour to obey his commands, and rely not on their own works, but on his atonement and intercession. See ante, Mark xiv. 24. page 110.

(s) The object of this part of St. Paul's

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LET thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. 1 Cor. xii. 1. (s)

CONCERNING spiritual gifts (1), brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2. Ye know that ye were Gentiles (u), carried away unto (a) these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no (y) man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed; and

epistle was, to remind the Corinthian converts that the extraordinary powers then conferred, were far beyond any thing they had before witnessed; to satisfy them that no powers had God's co-operation but those which tended to advance Christianity; to apprize them that those powers were conferred by God, and that they were all given to advance the true religion, and for no other purpose.

(t). 1. "Spiritual gifts," i. e. "the "extraordinary powers conferred upon "the first preachers and converts; such "as healing and speaking languages."

(u) v. 2." Were Gentiles, &c." When neither you, nor any of your teachers, had any such powers; so that you may be satisfied these are new, appropriated to the religion of Christ, not acquired by man, but given by God.

(x) Omit " these," là bha là djuva.

(y) v. 3. "No man, &c." This is the test of each man's powers: if his object

that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same (a) Spirit; 5. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord: 6. And there are diversities of operations; but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7. But the manifestation (b) of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (c). 8. For to one is (d) given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge, by the

is purely to advance Christ's religion; if he says, Jesus is the Lord, boldly professes his faith; they proceed from God, and are conferred by the Holy Ghost; but if this be not his object, if he calleth Jesus accursed, speaks disrespectfully of him; his powers, be they what they may, are not of God.

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(2) v. 4. "Diversities, &c." i. e. "how "much soever the powers in different "sons vary, they all proceed from the same high original, viz. God."

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(a)" Spirit," i. e. "the Holy Ghost." The article is expressed in the original, and unless the terms "Lord," in verse 5. and "God," in verse 6. apply to the Holy Ghost, verses 4, 5, 6. must refer, in an inverted order, to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The 4th and 5th verses are evidently defective in naming the Spirit, and the Lord, without ascribing any function or operation to either; and it can hardly be doubted but that the "worketh," in verse 6. is intended to apply to "the Spi"rit," and "the Lord," as much as to God. And what is to be said as to verse 11. where, after a specification of the gifts, administrations, and operations, spoken of generally in verses 4, 5, 6. the working as to all is distinctly ascribed to the Spirit? See Middl. in loco.

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same Spirit; 9. to another faith, by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing, by the same Spirit; 10. to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11. But all these worketh that (e) one and the self-same Spirit, dividing (g) to every man severally as (h) he will.

The Gospel. Luke xix. 41. AND when he was come near, he

our Saviour inculcates it as a duty upon every one, to employ in such a way as may be satisfactory to God, whatever is entrusted to his care; and would it not be well for every man to consider, in the use he makes of his abilities or wealth, how far he satisfies this duty?

(d) v. 8. "Given." St. Paul had been at Corinth a year and six months, (Acts xviii. 11.) and could he thus have written, had not such gifts been conferred? Marsh's Lectures, v. 10. And if they were, are they not a decisive proof of the foundation of Christianity? Who but God could have conferred them? and would he have conferred them to sanction any thing but truth? See post, note on 1 Cor.i. 7. (e) v. 11. "That one and the self-same "Spirit." Can it be doubted but that this applies to the Holy Ghost? and who but an Omnipotent Being could distribute these gifts according to his will? The word here used for "worketh," évεpy, is never applied in the New Testament but to an agent, and that commonly one of great power. Middl. 225, 226.

(g) "Dividing, &c." Some persons occasionally valued themselves upon the spiritual powers conferred on themselves, or their immediate teachers, because they were of a superior nature; and this conduct St. Paul censures, by reminding them that all the gifts are conferred, and that too at the mere will of the Holy Spirit. See ante, 59. note (s) on Rom. xii. 3, 4.

(h) "As he will." So that he is free from all control, which is one of the marks of divinity. Bellarmine de Christo, lib. i. c. ix. 327.

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beheld the city, and wept over it, 42. saying, "If (i) thou hadst "known, even thou, at least in "this thy day (k), the things "which belong unto thy peace; but now they are hid from "thine eyes. 43. For the days "shall come upon thee, that "thine enemies shall cast "trench about thee, and compass (1) thee round, and keep thee "in on every side, 44. and shall lay thee even with the ground, "and thy children within thee; "and they shall not leave in thee "one stone (m) upon another; "because thou knewest not the "time of thy visitation." 45. And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; 46. saying unto them, "It is "written, "My house is the house "of prayer" but ye have made "it a den of thieves." 47. And he taught (n) daily in the temple.

(i) v. 42. "If, &c." A mode of expressing an earnest wish, "O that thou "hadst." When Moses made his anxious prayer to God, to forgive the Israelites for their sin in making the golden calf, his expression was, "Yet now, if thou wilt, for

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give their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book. Exod. "xxxii. 31."

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(k)" Thy day," i. e. " the time of thy "trial or visitation." In Ps. cxxxvii. 7. the time when Jerusalem was taken by the Babylonians, is called "the day of Jerusa"lem." See ante, 32. note on Luke xxi. 25.

(7) v. 43. "Compass, &c." This was literally fulfilled: Titus surrounded the city with a wall 39 furlongs in length, and strengthened it with 13 forts, so that no persons could escape from the city, nor could any provision be carried in. The Christians had before had the opportunity of escaping, and had done so. See ante, 76. note (t) on Matt. xxiv. 31.

(m) v. 44. " One stone, &c." This, though a figurative expression, was literally fulfilled. The Jewish writer, Josephus, has given a full account of the

Eleventh Sunday after Trinity.
The Collect.

O GOD, who declarest thy Al-
mighty power most chiefly in
shewing mercy
shewing mercy and pity; Merci-
fully grant unto us such a measure
of thy grace, that we running
the way of thy commandments,
may obtain thy gracious promises,
and be made partakers of thy
heavenly treasure, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. 1 Cor. xv. 1. BRETHREN, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand: 2. by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (o); 4. and that he was destruction of Jerusalem, according to which every thing foretold by our Saviour, in Matthew xxiv. - Mark xiii. and Luke xix, and xxi. was fully verified. Each of these gospels was promulgated many years before the event. The exact completion of our Saviour's predictions, was a strong proof of the truth of his religion, calcu lated to confirm the faith of those who had embraced it, and to bring over those who were examining its pretensions; and as these predictions were reduced into writing, and publicly circulated some years before the event which completed them occurred, it could not be objected to them, (as it might, had they rested in memory only,) that they were made to correspond with the events after they had happened.

(n) v. 47. "Taught, &c." This fulfilled the prophecies in Hagg. ii. 7.9. See ante, 121. note on Luke xxii. 53. and Mal. iii. 1. ante, 69.

(o) v. 3." According to the Scriptures." Is. liii. and see ante, 143. note on Luke xxiv. 46.

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