CHAPTER XII. Wherein the duty here treated of is enforced from 1 Cor. xiv. 40, and xi. 22. and also from the practice I The duty here treated of is I Cor. xiv. 40. and xi. 22. of the primitive Christians. SHALL not pass by that general rule given by St. Paul in 1 Cor. xiv. 40; "Let all things oe done decently;" enforced from forasmuch as the said rule is by analogy of reason to be understood as including the duty we are upon, as well as any other relating to the house and service of God; especially if it be considered also what the same Apostle says in this same Epistle, chap. xi. 22; "What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in, or despise ye the church of God?" Whence it is evident that St. Paul looked upon despising the church of God as a great fault; and that to perform any common actions, as to eat and drink for the satisfying of hunger or thirst, or the like, was to despise the church and if so, then by analogy of reason, it must be a much greater fault, not to have the same regard for the church as for our own houses; not to keep the church in as good and beautiful repair, as we do our own houses. he has, lie We cannot be ignorant, but that for a rich person to let any seat or house that in a mean condition or run to ruin, from the com An inference mon interpre tation of men in like cases. does des is by the common interpretation of men understood as a token that he pise that seat or house, i. e. does not like and consequently does not regard it. And agree ably hereto it is no less certain a token, that such rich persons, as can contentedly let their church lie in a mean condition or run to ruin, do despise the church; and so are guilty of the like great fault, for which St. Paul blames the Corinthians in chap. xi. 22. of the First Epistle, as also of breaking the general rule laid down by him in chap. xiv. 40. of the same Epistle. In short, the great reason why no particular rules are laid down in the New Testament O concerning this matter, is because this duty is sufficiently taught by the bare light of nature or the dictates of reason, This duty, why not particularly or expressly mentioned or New Testa ment. as is observed in chap. ii. of this enjoined in the treatise; and not only so, but also easily to be inferred from the analogy of the Old Testament, in relation to the tabernacle and temple, as has been largely shewn in chap iii. to chap. ix. inclusively of this treatise. And indeed it is not at all to be doubted, but the truly pious Christians of the primitive times understood the said duty we This duty carefully practised by the primitive Christians. are speaking of, to be thus sufficiently enjoined them; and that accordingly they were very careful to shew their outward reverence to God, by not despising or shewing any contempt to His churches, or the places set apart for their religious assemblies. It is not to be doubted, but they were very careful to shew their outward reverence to God, as well by making and keeping their churches decently, as by behaving themselves decently in such places. This, I say, is not to be doubted of in respect of the more primitive Christians, who were not permitted openly to have churches; because it is most certain from ecclesiastical history, that as soon as the primitive Christians began to have free liberty, openly to have churches, they built their churches not only decently, but even very magnificently, where they were of ability. Whereby they plainly shewed, that together with Christianity itself, they had been taught the duty I am here treating of, as one considerable branch of Christianity. CHAPTER XIII. Wherein the duty here treated of, is most strongly enforced by the consideration, that riches come of God, and that He alone is truly the proprietor of them, and that rich I persons are in reality no other than stewards to God. SHALL enforce the practice of the duty I am here treating of, but by one consideration more, which is taken notice of frequently both in the Old and New Testament, and has therefore Rich persons are obliged tude to con tribute li berally to churches. been reserved to this last place. The con sideration I mean, is this, that (as David observed, I Chron. xxix. 11, 12.) “All that is in heaven and in earth is God's; both riches and honour come of Him;" or (as St. Paul expresses it, 1 Tim. vi. 17.) "that it is God who gives us richly all things to enjoy ;" and this not as proprietors, but only as stewards, as is taught us by our blessed Saviour, in the parable of the unjust steward, Luke xvi. Since then, it is God that makes one to differ from another, as in other respects, so as to riches and poverty; hence, though we were not to give Him an account how we bestow the riches that He is so kind as to bestow on us, yet mere gratitude would render it our indispensable duty, to be ready to contribute liberally out of those riches which He has given us, to whatever conduces to His honour and glory; and therefore to the building and even beautifying churches, or places set apart for His public worship and service: so that such rich persons, as either give nothing, or else too sparingly in proportion to the riches God |