1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 12:1

GIfts,] namely those miraculous ones, which were in those first times of the Christian church confetred by Gods spirit for the confirmation of the doctrine and for the founding of Churches. See Acts. 2, 38 Ignorant,] of the onely author and of the true end of them that you may not abuse them to pride, and to divisions which were the Corinthians chief defects.

1 Corinthians 12:2

Yea knw,] the remembrance of what you were may make you acknowledge, that all you have received is out of Gods meere grace, and the worke of his spirit to humble you and cause you to give him all the glory therefore, dumbe,] opposite to the true living God, who speaketh in his word even as,] following blindly and like bruite beasts the false customes the inventions and commandements of men.

1 Corinthians 12:3

Wherefore,] by your former condition you may conclude, that the holy Ghost alone is he that hath freed you from the heathens blasphemies: and keepes you from Apostasie and worketh in you the sincere confession of the name of Christ and finally by vertue of it alone ye are Christians, and therefore the glory thereof is due to God and not to you; And if he be the only author of those gifts which are common to all beleevers much more ought we to acknowledge him to be such; in these other singular and miraculous ones, Iesus,] this was a forme of detesting and abiuring of Christianity which was used amongst the Iewes, accused,] See Romans 9. 3. 1. Cor. 16. 22. Galatians 1:8.

1 Corinthians 12:4

But the same,] therefore, his gifts ought not to be drawen to divisions and partialities as the Co. rinthians did.

1 Corinthians 12:5

Admrations,] namely ecclesiasticall offices, Lord,] namely Iesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:6

Operations,] namely supernatuall gifts and lties of working diverse great miracles.

1 Corinthians 12:7

The manifestation,] namely some singular gift of the holy Ghost shewing it self in some person and by him manifesting his power, to profit,] namly for the common good of the Church to which only end all ought to be referred.

1 Corinthians 12:8

The word of,] namely the gift of treating of Christian doctrine with the application to all the uses of beleevers, which seemes to have speciall relation to the pastors charge. Romans 12:8 Of Knowledge,] namely of the pure and plaine exposition of the said doctrine, without any application, which is the doctors office. Romans 12:7. Ephes 4. 11.

1 Corinthians 12:9

Faith,] he meaneth not the common gift of Christian faith but the singular and miraculous, referred to the working of miracles. Matth. 17. 19. 1. cor. 13. 2. without which it had bin rashnesse to undertake it and the effect would not have followed but he that felt himself to have this gift might lawfully exercise it, with certainty of successe, by the same,] namely by his power, of healing, [of bodily diseases See Mark. 6. 13. and 16, 18. Iames. 5. 14.

1 Corinthians 12:10

Working of miracles,] the Italian, working of powerfull operations,] that is to say some singular gift appropriated to certaine higher and more noted miracles as of the casting out of devills, raising of the dead, changing or staying of the course of nature, prophecie,] that is to say supernatuall revelation either of future and secret things or of the misteries of the heavenly doctrine, with the faculie of expounding of them in the church. 1. Cor. 14. 1 discerning of,] this was gift of knowing by the certaine light of the holy Gost, impostors false prophets fanaticke spirits driven by the devils spirit, conuterfeiting divine inspirations, and to distinguish them from true men of God enlightened and moved by his spirit 1 Cor. 14. 29. 1, Iohn. 4 The interpratation,] this was also a miraculous gift, bywhich certain persons had the faculty of setting down in the vulgar language, that which other men propounded in a strange language, by inspiration not but that they whichspokeit, understood it themselves. 1. Cor. 14. 4 17. but that the miraculous motion of the spirit it, which was not perpetuall nore equall at all times ceased in them, after they had spoken in a strang languag & came upon the other, to expound their sayin the vulgar tongue, by a divine power, and in a divine and supernaturall manner. And if no body were presented that had such a gift, the other who had the gift of tongues, was to hold his peace 1 Cor 14. 27. 28

1 Corinthians 12:12

Christ,] beeing considered as head, in the union with his chuch, which is his body.

1 Corinthians 12:13

For by one,] by the two sacraments of the Christian Church he proves the vnion of beleevers in one and the same misticll body, by vertue of the holy Ghost, who alone ratifieth both the sacraments, Baptisme to unite them to Christ, and all togither in him. The lords supper to animate and moue all this body, and to work in all the mem¦bers thereof, by diverse gifts and operatiors to the same end and common use, made to drinke, namely in the cup of the Lords supper, under the which ought also to be comprehended the signe of bread but he seemes to make use of that of wine especially in regard of the spirit for in the nourishing of the body the wine is that part, which most breedes and reviues the spirits.

1 Corinthians 12:15

If the foot,] the end is to teach that they who have received inferior gifts, must not therefore through envie for beare to employ themselves for the common good of the Church and they that have received more excellent gifts, ought not to contemne the inferiors and as this diversity is necessary for the furnishing of the Church, entirely so they are all usefull, and therefore ought to be honoured in their degree, and ought all to aime at the same end.

1 Corinthians 12:22

Much more,] that is to say the organs of nourishment, though they be not so noble, yet are they more absolutly necessary, then those of the sences, for without them man cannot subsist nor live as he may without eyes, eares, or hands act.

1 Corinthians 12:24

Comely,] such as the face and hands are temperd,] hath given man this instinct, to divide this ornament of garments, by a just kind of proportion.

1 Corinthians 12:25

There should be,] that all the parts of the body should be united and so exercise their functions for their common and enterchangeable good.

1 Corinthians 12:28

Helpes,] namely all the Ecclesiasticall offices which belong to the releaving of the poore, the sick, strangers, or phanes etc goverments,] namely those offices which governe and guide the church by an Ecclesiasticall senate, composed of those pastors who were called Bishops of which there were oftentimes many in one church Acts 20:28. Philippians 1:1. and of Elders joyned with them. 1. Tim 5 17.

1 Corinthians 12:31

Covet,] in ead of these strifes and jealousies for those gifts of greater luster and admiration desire you and seek to obtaine at Gods hand the common git of charity, and amongst miraculous gifts, those which ma be most available for the edification of the church, shew I unto you,] namely to seek chiefly the gift? of true charitie. Or by meanes of it, other gifts, which God conferres more liberally upon them who thorow charity are disposed to employ, them for the common service.