Chronological

Footnotes

1. 1 Corinthians 1:1 The inscription of the Epistle, wherein he chiefly goeth about to procure the good will of the Corinthians towards him, yet notwithstanding so, that always he letteth them to wit, that he is the servant of God, and not of men.
2. 1 Corinthians 1:1 If he be an Apostle, then he must be heard, although he sometimes reprehend them sharply, seeing he hath not his own cause in hand, but is a messenger that bringeth the commandments of Christ.
3. 1 Corinthians 1:1 He joineth Sosthenes with himself, that this doctrine might be confirmed by two witnesses.
4. 1 Corinthians 1:2 It is a Church of God, although it hath great faults in it, so that it obey them which admonish it.
5. 1 Corinthians 1:2 A true definition of the Catholic Church, which is one.
6. 1 Corinthians 1:2 The father sanctifieth us, that is to say, separateth us from the wicked, in giving us to his Son, that he may be in us, and we in him.
7. 1 Corinthians 1:2 Whom God of his gracious goodness and mere love hath separated for himself: or whom God hath called to holiness: the first of these two expositions showeth from whence our sanctification cometh, and the second showeth to what end it tendeth.
8. 1 Corinthians 1:2 He is said properly to call on God, who crieth unto the Lord when he is in danger, and craveth help at his hands: and by the figure Synecdoche it is taken for all the service of God: and therefore to call upon Christ’s Name, is to acknowledge and take him for very God.
9. 1 Corinthians 1:3 The foundation and the life of the Church, is Christ Jesus given of the Father.
10. 1 Corinthians 1:4 Going about to condemn many vices, he beginneth with a true commendation of their virtues, lest he might seem after to descend to chiding being moved with malice or envy: yet so, that he referreth all to God as the author of them, and that in Christ. That the Corinthians might be more ashamed to profane and abuse the holy gifts of God.
11. 1 Corinthians 1:5 He toucheth that by name, which they most abused.
12. 1 Corinthians 1:5 Seeing that while we live here, we know but in part and prophesy in part, this word (All) must be refrained to the present state of the faithful: and by speech he meaneth not a vain kind of babbling, but the gift of holy eloquence, which the Corinthians abused.
13. 1 Corinthians 1:6 He showeth that the true use of these gifts consisteth herein that the mighty power of Christ might thereby be set forth in them, that hereafter it might evidently appear how wickedly they abused them to glory and ambition.
14. 1 Corinthians 1:6 By those excellent gifts of the holy Ghost.
15. 1 Corinthians 1:7 He saith by the way, that there is no cause why they should please themselves so much in those gifts which they had received, seeing that those were nothing in comparison of them which are to be looked for.
16. 1 Corinthians 1:7 He speaketh of the last coming of Christ.
17. 1 Corinthians 1:8 He testifieth that he hopeth well of them hereafter, that they may more patiently abide his reprehension afterward. And yet together therewithall showeth, that as well the beginning as the accomplishing of our salvation is only the work of God.
18. 1 Corinthians 1:8 He calleth them blameless, not whom man never found fault with, but with whom no man can justly find fault, that is to say, them which are in Christ Jesus, in whom there is no condemnation. See Luke 1:6.
19. 1 Corinthians 1:9 True and constant, who doth not only call us, but giveth us the gift of perseverance also.
20. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Having made an end of the preface, he cometh to the matter itself, beginning with the most grave obtestation, as though they should hear Christ himself speaking and not Paul.
21. 1 Corinthians 1:10 The first part of this Epistle, wherein his purpose is to call back the Corinthians to brotherly concord, and to take away all occasion of discord. So then this first part concerneth the taking away of schisms. Now a schism is when men which otherwise agree and consent together in doctrine, do yet separate themselves one from another.
22. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Knit together, as a body that consisteth of all his parts fitly knit together.
23. 1 Corinthians 1:11 He beginneth his reprehension and chiding by taking away of an objection: for that be understood by good witnesses, that there were many factions among them. And therewithall he openeth the cause of dissensions, because that some did hang on one doctor, some on another, and some were so addicted to themselves, that they neglected all doctors and teachers, calling themselves the disciples of Christ only, shutting forth their teachers.
24. 1 Corinthians 1:12 The matter I would say to you, is this.
25. 1 Corinthians 1:13 The first reason why schisms ought to be eschewed: because Christ formeth by that means, to be divided and torn in pieces, who cannot be the head of two divers and disagreeing bodies, being himself one.
26. 1 Corinthians 1:13 Another reason: Because they cannot without great injury to God so hang of men as of Christ: which thing no doubt they do, which allow whatsoever some man speaketh, even for his person’s sake: as these men allowed one selfsame Gospel being uttered of one man, and did loathe it being uttered of another man. So that these factions were called by the names of their teachers. Now Paul setteth down his own name not only to grieve no man, but also to showeth it he pleadeth not his own cause.
27. 1 Corinthians 1:13 The third reason taken of the form and end of Baptism, wherein we make a promise to Christ, calling on also the Name of the Father and the holy Ghost. Therefore although a man does not fall from the doctrine of Christ, yet if he hang upon some certain teachers, and despise others, he forsaketh Christ: for if he hold Christ his only master, he would hear him, teaching by whomsoever.
28. 1 Corinthians 1:14 He protesteth that he speaketh so much the more boldly of these things, because that through God’s providence he is void of all suspicion of challenging disciples unto himself, and taking them from others. Whereby we may understand that not the scholars only, but the teachers also are here reprehended, which gathered themselves flocks apart.
29. 1 Corinthians 1:17 The taking away of an objection: that he gave not himself to baptize many amongst them: not for the contempt of Baptism, but because he was chiefly occupied in delivering the doctrine, and committed them that received his doctrine to others to be baptized, whereof he had store. And so he declared sufficiently how far he was from all ambition: whereas on the other side they whom he reprehendeth, as though they gathered disciples unto themselves and not to Christ, bragged most ambitiously of numbers, which they had baptized.
30. 1 Corinthians 1:17 Now he turneth himself to the doctors themselves, which pleased themselves in brave and ambitious eloquence, to the end that they might draw more disciples after them. He confesseth plainly that he was unlike unto them, opposing gravely as it became an Apostle, his example against their perverse judgments: So that this is another place of this Epistle, touching the observing of a godly simplicity, both in words and sentences in teaching of the Gospel.
31. 1 Corinthians 1:17 With eloquence: which Paul casteth off from him not only, as not necessary, but also as flat contrary to the office of his Apostleship: and yet had Paul his kind of eloquence, but it was heavenly, not of man, and void of painted words.
32. 1 Corinthians 1:17 The reason why he used not the pomp of words and painted speech: because it was God’s will to bring the world to his obedience by that way, whereby the most idots amongst men might understand, that this work was done of God himself without the art of man. Therefore as salvation is set forth unto us in the Gospel by the cross of Christ, then which nothing is more contemptible, and more far from life, so God would have the manner of the preaching of the cross most different from those means, with which men do use to draw and entice others, either to hear or believe: therefore it pleased him by a certain kind of most wise folly, to triumph over the most foolish wisdom of the world, as he had said before by Isaiah: that he would. And hereby this we may gather, that both those doctors which were puffed up with ambitious eloquence, and also their hearers strayed far away from the end and mark of their vocation.
33. 1 Corinthians 1:18 The preaching of Christ crucified, or the kinds of speech which we use.
34. 1 Corinthians 1:18 It is that wherein he declareth his marvelous power in saving his elect, which would not so evidently appear, if it hanged upon any help of man: for so man might attribute that to himself, which is proper only to the cross of Christ.
35. 1 Corinthians 1:19 The Apostle proveth that this ought not only not to seem strange, seeing that it was foretold so long before, but declareth further, that God is wont to punish the pride of the world in such sort, which so pleaseth itself in its own wisdom: and therefore that that is vain, yea a thing of nothing, and such as God rejecteth as unprofitable, which they so carefully labored for, and made so great account of.
36. 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where art thou, O thou learned fellow, and thou that spendeth thy days in turning thy books?
37. 1 Corinthians 1:20 Thou that spendeth all thy time in seeking out the secret things of this world, and in expounding all hard questions: and thus triumpheth he against all the men of this world, for there was not one of them that could so much as dream upon this secret and hidden mystery.
38. 1 Corinthians 1:21 He showeth that the pride of men was worthily punished of GOD, because they would not behold God, as meet was they should; in the most clear glass of the wisdom of the world, which is the workmanship of the world.
39. 1 Corinthians 1:21 By the world he meaneth all men which are not born anew, but remain as they were, when they were first born.
40. 1 Corinthians 1:21 In the workmanship of this world, which hath the marvelous wisdom of God engraved in it, so that every man may behold it.
41. 1 Corinthians 1:21 The goodness of God is wonderful, for while he goeth about to punish the pride of the world, he is very provident and careful, for the salvation of it, and teacheth men to become fools, that they may be wise to God.
42. 1 Corinthians 1:21 So calleth the preaching of the Gospel as the enemies supposed it: but in the mean season he taunteth them very sharply, who had rather charge God with folly, than acknowledge their own and crave pardon for it.
43. 1 Corinthians 1:22 A declaration of that which he said that the preaching of the Gospel, is foolish. It is foolish, saith he, to them whom God had not endued with new light, that is to say, to all men, being considered in themselves: for the Jews require miracles, and the Greeks arguments, which they may comprehend by their wit and wisdom: and therefore they do not only not believe the Gospel, but also they mock at it. Notwithstanding in this foolish preaching, there is the great virtue and wisdom of God, but such as those only which are called, do perceive. God showing most plainly, that even then when mad men think him most foolish, he is far wiser than they are: and that he surmounteth all their might and power, when he useth most vile and abject things, as it hath appeared in the fruit of the preaching of the Gospel.
44. 1 Corinthians 1:26 A confirmation taken of those things which came to pass at Corinth, where the Church especially consisted of the basest and common people, insomuch that the philosophers of Greece were driven to shame, when they saw that they could do nothing with their wisdom and eloquence, in comparison of the Apostles, whom notwithstanding they called idiots and unlearned. And herewithall doth he beat down their pride, for God did not prefer them before those noble and wise men because they should be proud, but that they might be constrained even whether they would or not, to rejoice in the Lord, by whose mercy, although they were, the most abject of all, they had obtained in Christ, both this wisdom, and all things necessary to salvation.
45. 1 Corinthians 1:26 What way the Lord hath taken in calling you.
46. 1 Corinthians 1:26 After that kind of wisdom which men make account of, as though there were none else: who because they are carnal, know not spiritual wisdom.
47. 1 Corinthians 1:28 Which in man’s judgment are almost nothing.
48. 1 Corinthians 1:28 To show that they are vain and unprofitable, and nothing worth, see Rom. 3:31.
49. 1 Corinthians 1:29 Flesh is oft as we see, taken for the whole man: and he ruleth this word flesh, very fitly, to set the weak and miserable condition of man with the majesty of God, one against the other.
50. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Whom he cast down before, now he lifteth up, yea, higher then all men: yet so, that he showeth them all their worthiness is without themselves, that is, standeth in Christ, and that of God.
51. 1 Corinthians 1:30 He teacheth that especially and above all things, the Gospel ought not to be contemned, seeing it containeth the chiefst things that are to be desired, to wit, true wisdom, the true way to obtain righteousness, the true way to live honestly and godly, the true deliverance from all miseries and calamities.
52. 1 Corinthians 1:31 Let him yield all to God and give him thanks: and so by this place is man’s free will beaten down, which the Papist so dream of.
53. 1 Corinthians 2:1 He returneth to 1 Cor. 1:17, that is to say, to his own example: confessing that he used not amongst them either excellency of words, or enticing speech of man’s wisdom, but with great simplicity of speech, both knew and preached Jesus Christ crucified, humble and abject, as touching the flesh.
54. 1 Corinthians 2:1 The Gospel.
55. 1 Corinthians 2:2 I purposed not to profess any other knowledge, but the knowledge of Christ and him crucified.
56. 1 Corinthians 2:3 He setteth weakness, against excellency of words, and therefore joineth with it fear and trembling, which are the companions of true modesty, not such fear and trembling as terrify the conscience, but such as are contrary to vanity and pride.
57. 1 Corinthians 2:4 He turneth that now to the commendation of his ministry, which he had granted to his adversaries: for his virtue and power which they knew well enough, was so much the more excellent, because it had no worldly help joined with it.
58. 1 Corinthians 2:4 By plain evidence he meaneth such a proof, as is made by certain and necessary reasons.
59. 1 Corinthians 2:5 And he telleth the Corinthians, that he did it for their great profit, because they might thereby know manifestly, that the Gospel was from heaven. Therefore he privately rebuketh them, because that in seeking vain ostentation, they willingly deprived themselves of the greatest help of their faith.
60. 1 Corinthians 2:6 Another argument taken of the nature of the thing, that is, of the Gospel, which is true wisdom, but known to them only which are desirous of perfection: and is unsavory to them which otherwise excel in the world, but yet vainly and frailly.
61. 1 Corinthians 2:6 Those are called perfect here, not which had gotten perfection already, but such as tend to it, as Phil. 3:15, so that perfect, is set against weak.
62. 1 Corinthians 2:6 They that are wiser, richer, or mightier than other men are.
63. 1 Corinthians 2:7 He showeth the cause why this wisdom cannot be perceived of those excellent worldly writes: to wit, because indeed it is so deep that they cannot attain unto it.
64. 1 Corinthians 2:7 Which men could not so much as dream of.
65. 1 Corinthians 2:7 He taketh away an objection: if it be so hard, when and how is it known? God, saith he, determined with himself from the beginning, that which his purpose was to bring forth at this time out of his secrets for the salvation of men.
66. 1 Corinthians 2:8 He taketh away another objection: why then, how cometh it to pass, that this wisdom was so rejected of men of highest authority, that they crucified Christ himself? Paul answereth: because they knew not Christ such as he was.
67. 1 Corinthians 2:8 That mighty God, full of true majesty and glory: Now this place hath in it a most evident proof of the divinity of Christ, and of his joining of the two natures in one, which hath this in it, that that which is proper to the manhood alone, is vouched of the Godhead joined with the manhood: which kind of speech is called of the old fathers, a making common of things belonging to someone, with other to whom they do not belong.
68. 1 Corinthians 2:9 Another objection: But how could it be that those witty men could not perceive this wisdom? Paul answereth: Because we preach those things which pass all man’s understanding.
69. 1 Corinthians 2:9 Man cannot so much as think of them, much less conceive them with his senses.
70. 1 Corinthians 2:10 A question: if it surmount the capacity of men, how can it be understood of any man, or how can you declare and preach it? by a peculiar lightening by God’s Spirit, wherewith whosoever is inspired, he can enter even to the very secrets of God.
71. 1 Corinthians 2:10 There is nothing so secret and hidden in God, but the Spirit of God peereth into it.
72. 1 Corinthians 2:11 He setteth that forth by a similitude, which he spake of the inspiration of the Spirit. As the force of man’s wit searcheth out things pertaining to man, so doth our mind by that power of the holy Ghost, understand heavenly things.
73. 1 Corinthians 2:11 The mind of man, which is endued with ableness to understand and judge.
74. 1 Corinthians 2:12 The Spirit which we have received, doth not teach us things of this world, but lifteth us up to God, and this place teacheth us against the Papists, what faith is, from whence it cometh, and what force it is of.
75. 1 Corinthians 2:12 That which he spake generally, he restraineth now to those things which God hath opened unto us of our salvation in Christ: lest that any man should separate the Spirit from the preaching of the word and Christ: or should think that those fantastical men are governed by the Spirit of God, which wandering besides the word, thrust upon us their vain imaginations for the secrets of God.
76. 1 Corinthians 2:12 This word (know) is taken here in his proper sense, for true knowledge, which the Spirit of God worketh in us.
77. 1 Corinthians 2:13 Now he returneth to his purpose, and concludeth the argument which he began verse 6, and it is thus: the words must be applied to the matter, and the matter must be set forth with words which are meet and convenient for it: now this wisdom is spiritual and not of man, and therefore it must be delivered by a spiritual kind of teaching, and not by enticing words of man’s eloquence, that the simple, and yet wonderful majesty of the holy Ghost may therein appear.
78. 1 Corinthians 2:13 Applying the words unto the matter, to wit, that as we teach spiritual things, so [must] our kind of teaching be spiritual.
79. 1 Corinthians 2:14 Again he preventeth an offence or stumbling block: how cometh it to pass that so few allow these things? This is not to be marveled at, sayeth the Apostle, seeing that men in their natural powers (as they termed them) are not endued with that faculty, whereby spiritual things are discerned (which faculty cometh another way) and therefore they accompt spiritual wisdom as folly: and it is as if he should say, It is no marvel that blind men cannot judge of colors, seeing that they lack the light of their eyes, and therefore light is to them as darkness.
80. 1 Corinthians 2:14 The man that hath no further light of understanding than that which he brought with him, even from his mother’s womb, as Jude defineth it, Jude 19.
81. 1 Corinthians 2:14 By the virtue of the holy Ghost.
82. 1 Corinthians 2:15 He amplifieth the matter by contraries.
83. 1 Corinthians 2:15 Understandeth and discerneth.
84. 1 Corinthians 2:15 The wisdom of the flesh, saith Paul, determined nothing certainly, no not in its own affairs, much less can it discern strange, that is, spiritual things. But the Spirit of God, wherewith spiritual men are endued, can be deceived by no means, and therefore be reproved of no man.
85. 1 Corinthians 2:15 Of no man: for when the Prophets are judged of the Prophets, it is the Spirit that judges, and not the man.
86. 1 Corinthians 2:16 A reason of the former saying: for he is called spiritual, which hath learned that by the virtue of the Spirit, which Christ hath taught us. Now if that which we have learned of that Master, could be reproved of any man, he must needs be wiser than God: whereupon it followeth, that they are not only foolish, but also wicked, which think that they can devise something that is either more perfect, or that they can teach the wisdom of God a better way than they knew or taught, which undoubtedly, were endued with God’s Spirit.
87. 1 Corinthians 2:16 Lay his head to his, and teach him what he should do.
88. 1 Corinthians 2:16 We are endued with the Spirit of Christ, who openeth unto us those secrets, which by all other means are unsearchable, and also all truth whatsoever.
89. 1 Corinthians 3:1 Having declared the worthiness of heavenly wisdom, and of the Gospel, and having generally condemned the blindness of man’s mind, now at length he applieth it particularly to the Corinthians, calling them carnal, that is, such in whom as yet the flesh prevaileth against the spirit. And he bringeth a double testimony of it: first, for that he had proved them to be such, insomuch that he dealt with them no otherwise than with ignorant men, and such as are almost babes in the doctrine of godliness; and secondly, because they showed indeed by these dissensions, which sprang up by reason of the ignorance of the virtue of the Spirit, and heavenly wisdom, that they had profited very little or nothing.
90. 1 Corinthians 3:1 He calleth them carnal, which are as yet ignorant, and therefore to express it the better, he termeth them babes.
91. 1 Corinthians 3:2 Substantial meat, or strong meat.
92. 1 Corinthians 3:2 To be fed by me with substantial meat: therefore as the Corinthians grew up in age, so the Apostle nourished them by teaching first with milk, then with strong meat, which difference was only but in the manner of teaching.
93. 1 Corinthians 3:3 By the square and compass of man’s wit and judgment.
94. 1 Corinthians 3:5 After that he hath sufficiently reprehended ambitious teachers, and their foolish esteemers, now he showeth how the true ministers are to be esteemed, that we attribute not unto them, more or less than we ought to do. Therefore he teacheth us, that they are they by whom we are brought to faith and salvation, but yet as the ministers of God, and such as do nothing of themselves, but God so working by them as it pleaseth him to furnish them with his gifts. Therefore we have not to mark or consider what minister it is that speaketh, but what is spoken: and we must depend only upon him which speaketh by his servants.
95. 1 Corinthians 3:6 He beautifieth the former sentence, with two similitudes: first comparing the company of the faithful, to a field which God maketh fruitful, when it is sowed and watered through the labor of his servants: next, by comparing it to a house, which indeed the Lord buildeth, but by the hands of his workmen, some of whom, he useth in laying the foundation, others in building of it up. Now, both these similitudes tend to this purpose, to show that all things are wholly accomplished by God’s only authority and might, so that we must only have an eye to him. Moreover, although that God useth some in the better part of the work, we must not therefore contemn others, in respect of them, and much less may we divide, or set them apart, (as these factious men did) seeing that all of them labor in God’s business, and in such sort, that they serve to finish one selfsame work, although by a divers manner of working, insomuch that they need one another’s help.
96. 1 Corinthians 3:9 Serving under him: Now they which serve under another, do nothing by their own strength, but as it is given them by grace, which grace maketh them fit to that service. See 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 3:6, and all the increase that cometh by their labor, doth so proceed from God, that no part of the praise of it may be given to the under servant.
97. 1 Corinthians 3:10 Now he speaketh to the teachers themselves, who succeeded him in the Church of Corinth, and in their person, to all that were after or shall be Pastors of Congregations, seeing that they succeed into the labor of the Apostles, which were planters and chief builders. Therefore he warneth them first, that they persuade not themselves that they may build after their own fantasy, that is, that they may propound and set forth anything in the Church, either in matter, or in kind of teaching, different from the Apostles which were the chief builders.
98. 1 Corinthians 3:11 Moreover, he showeth what this foundation is, to wit, Christ Jesus, from which they may not turn away one iota in the building up of this building.
99. 1 Corinthians 3:12 Thirdly, he showeth that they must take heed that the upper part of the building be answerable to the foundation, that is, that admonitions, exhortations, and whatsoever pertaineth to the edifying of the flock, be answerable to the doctrine of Christ, as well in matter as in form: which doctrine is compared to gold, silver, and precious stones: of which matter, Isaiah also and John in the Revelation build the heavenly city. And to these are opposite, wood, hay, stubble, that is to say, curious and vain questions or decrees: and besides to be short, all that kind of teaching which serveth to ostentation. For false doctrines, whereof he speaketh not here, are not said properly to be built upon this foundation, unless peradventure in show only.
100. 1 Corinthians 3:13 He testifieth, as indeed the truth is, that all are not good builders, no not some of them which stand upon this one and only foundation: but howsoever this work of evil builders, saith he, stand for a season, yet shall it not always deceive, because that the light of the truth appearing at length, as day shall dissolve this darkness, and show what it is. And as that stuff is tried by the fire, whether it be good or not, so will God in his time by the touch of his Spirit and word, try all buildings, and so shall it come to pass, that such as be found pure and sound, shall still continue so, to the praise of the workman; but they that are otherwise, shall be consumed, and vanish away, and so shall the workman be frustrated of the hope of his labor, which pleased himself in a thing of nought.
101. 1 Corinthians 3:15 He taketh not away hope of salvation from the unskillful and foolish builders, which hold fast the foundation, of which sort were those Rhetoricians rather than pastors of Corinth: but he addeth an exception, that they must notwithstanding suffer this trial of their work, and also abide the loss of their vain labors.
102. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Continuing still in the metaphor of a building, he teacheth us that this ambition is not only vain, but also sacrilegious: For he saith that the Church is as it were the Temple of God, which God hath as it were consecrated unto himself by his Spirit. Then turning himself to these ambitious men: he showeth that they profane the Temple of God, because those vain arts wherein they please themselves so much, are as he teacheth, so many pollutions of the holy doctrine of God, and the purity of the Church. Which wickedness shall not be suffered unpunished.
103. 1 Corinthians 3:17 Defileth it, and maketh it unclean, being holy: and surely they do defile it, by Paul’s judgment, which by fleshly eloquence defile the purity of the Gospel.
104. 1 Corinthians 3:18 He concludeth by the contrary, that they profess pure wisdom in the Church of God, which refuse and cast away all those vanities of men, and if they be mocked of the world, it is sufficient for them that they be wise according to the wisdom of God, and as he will have them to be wise.
105. 1 Corinthians 3:19 Be they never so crafty, yet the Lord will take them when he shall discover their treachery.
106. 1 Corinthians 3:21 He returneth to the proposition of verse 2, first warning the hearers, that henceforward they esteem not as lords, those whom God hath appointed to be ministers, and not lords of their salvation, which thing they do, that depend upon men, and not upon God, that speaketh by them.
107. 1 Corinthians 3:21 Please himself.
108. 1 Corinthians 3:21 Helps, appointeth for your benefit.
109. 1 Corinthians 3:22 He passeth from the persons to the things themselves, that his argument may be more forcible, yea, he ascendeth from Christ to the Father, to show us that we rest ourselves no not in Christ himself, in that that he is man, but because he carrieth us up even to the Father, as Christ witnesseth of himself everywhere, that he was sent of his Father, that by this band we may be all knit with God himself.
110. 1 Corinthians 4:1 He concludeth the duty of the hearers towards their ministers: that they esteem them not as lords: and yet notwithstanding, that they give ear unto them, as to them that are sent from Christ, sent I say to this end and purpose, that they may receive as it were at their hands, the treasure of salvation which is drawn out of the secrets of God.
111. 1 Corinthians 4:1 Every man.
112. 1 Corinthians 4:2 Last of all, he warneth the ministers that they also behave themselves not as lords, but as faithful servants, because they must render an account of their stewardship unto God.
113. 1 Corinthians 4:3 Because in reprehending others, he set himself for an example, he useth a preoccupation or preventing of an objection, and using the gratuity of an Apostle, he showeth that he careth not for the contrary judgments that they have of him, in that they esteemed him as a vile person, because he did not set forth himself as they did. And he bringeth good reasons why he was nothing moved with the judgments which they had of him.
114. 1 Corinthians 4:3 First, because that that which men judge in these cases of their own brains, is no more to be accounted of, than when the unlearned do judge of wisdom.
115. 1 Corinthians 4:3 Word for word, Day, after the manner of speech of the Cilicians.
116. 1 Corinthians 4:3 Secondly, saith he, how can you judge how much or how little I am to be accounted of, seeing that I myself which know myself better than you do, and which dare profess that I have walked in my vocation with a good conscience, dare not yet notwithstanding challenge anything to myself? for I know that I am not unblameable, all this notwithstanding: much less therefore should I please myself as you do.
117. 1 Corinthians 4:4 I permit myself to the Lord’s judgment.
118. 1 Corinthians 4:5 A third reason proceeding of a conclusion as it were, out of the former reasons. It is God’s office, to esteem every man according to his value, because he knoweth the secrets of the heart, which men for the most part are ignorant of. Therefore this judgment pertaineth not to you.
119. 1 Corinthians 4:5 One could not be praised above the rest, but the other should be blamed: and he mentioneth praise rather than dispraise, for that the beginning of this sore was this, that they gave more to some men than meet was.
120. 1 Corinthians 4:6 Having rejected their judgment, he setteth forth himself again as a singular example of modesty, as one which concealing in this Epistle those factious teacher’s names, doubted not to put down his own name and Apollos’ in their place, and took upon him, as it were, their shame: so far was he from preferring himself to any.
121. 1 Corinthians 4:6 By our example, which chose rather to take other men’s faults upon us, than to carpe any by name.
122. 1 Corinthians 4:7 He showeth a good means to bridle pride: first, if thou consider how rightly thou exemptest thyself out of the number of others, seeing thou art a man thyself: again, if thou consider that although thou have something more than other men have, yet thou hast it not but by God’s bountifulness. And what wise man is he that will brag of another’s goodness, and that against God?
123. 1 Corinthians 4:7 There is nothing then in us of nature, that is worthy of commendation: but all that we have, we have it of grace, which the Pelagians and half Pelagians will not confess.
124. 1 Corinthians 4:8 He descendeth to a most grave mock, to cause these ambitious men to blush even against their wills.
125. 1 Corinthians 4:9 He that will take a right view how like Paul and the Pope are, who lyingly boasteth that he is his successor, let him compare the delicates of the Popish court with Saint Paul’s state, as we see it here.
126. 1 Corinthians 4:13 Such as by sweeping is gathered together.
127. 1 Corinthians 4:14 Moderating the sharpness of his mock, he putteth them in mind to remember of whom they were begotten in Christ, and that they should not doubt to follow him for an example, although he seem vile according to the outward show, in respect of others, yet mighty by the efficacy of God’s Spirit, as they had trial thereof in themselves.
128. 1 Corinthians 4:17 What way and rule I follow everywhere in teaching the Churches.
129. 1 Corinthians 4:18 Last of all he descendeth also to Apostolic threatenings, but yet chiding them as a father, lest by their disorder he be constrained to come to punish some among them.
130. 1 Corinthians 4:19 By words, he meaneth their painted and colored kind of eloquence, against which he setteth the virtue of the Spirit.
131. 1 Corinthians 4:21 A passing over to another part of this Epistle, wherein he reprehended more sharply a very heinous offence, showing the use of ecclesiastical correction.
132. 1 Corinthians 4:21 Meekly affected towards you.