NOTE 69.

(Chap. xii. 12.-Page 366.)

Continuing instant in prayer.- Some are instant, but it lasts not. If they find the mercy comes, they draw hard; but if their chariot of prayer be set, and after a pull or two the mercy comes not, their faith jades, and they give over. Others are constant, but not instant. They continue to pray, but pray themselves cold. They grow lifeless in the work, as if they looked for nothing to come of it. We must join both together, or expect benefit from neither. At Eph. vi. 18, where the original word is used as a substantive, it is translated "with all perseverance.”—Gurnall's Christian in complete Armour, vol. ii.

p.

606.

NOTE 70.

(Chap. xii. 13.-Page 368.)

Distributing to the necessities of saints. The original word, KoLvwvoûtec, which may properly be rendered communicating, well expresses the affection and sympathy, with which we ought to assist the poverty of our brethren, by reason of the common and mutual relation which subsists among us, as the members of Christ's mystical body.'-Calvin.

NOTE 71.

(Chap. xii. 20, 21.—Page 380.)

Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him ; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. A thought

might have occurred to readers, of referring the expression of coals of fire, in the twentieth verse, to the words wrath and vengeance, in the nineteenth, had not the whole passage closed with, overcome evil with good. But these last words lead us to regard the coals of fire on the head, as intimating, that kindnesses to our enemy, are to the feelings of his mind, what ingenious torture would be to the feelings of his body; and that it is as much morally impossible to stand out against the former, as it would be physically impossible to stand out against the latter.'-Alexander Knox.— See his Correspondence with Bishop Jebb, vol. ii. p. 464.

'Perfect charity involves in it a disposition, first to forgive, and then to serve, our bitterest enemies. This was the disposition enjoined under the Old Testament dispensation. For the words which are here cited in the New Testament, are quoted from the Old: "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread

:

to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee." (Prov. xxv. 21, 22.) These coals are, the fire that descends from heaven. Natural men heap the coals of hell upon each other, only to consume and destroy. But this is a divine fire, that is heaped upon the head of an enemy, to melt him into love.'-Rev. W. Howels, vol. ii. p. 535.

There can be no doubt that pain is meant to be designated by the expression of heaping coals of fire on his head. But is it the pain of shame or contrition for misconduct, or that of punishment? More probably the former here. For so verse 21 would almost necessarily lead us to conclude. And it is a noble sentiment, when thus understood. Take not revenge,' says the apostle, overcome your adversary with kindness and beneficence. These will bring him to shame and sorrow for his misconduct.' —Professor Stuart in loc.

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'Donot withhold from any man the offices of mercy and kindness. You have been God's enemy, and yet God fed, clothed, and preserved you alive. Do to your enemy, as God has done to you. If he be hungry, feed him; if he be thirsty, give him drink. So has God dealt with you. And has not a sense of his goodness and long-suffering towards you, been the means of melting down your heart into penitential compunction, gratitude, and love to

wards him?

How know you that a similar conduct towards your enemy, may not have the same gracious influence on him towards you?'-Adam Clarke.

NOTE 72.

(Chap. xii. 9-21.--Page 380.)

'O what undissembled and ardent love to God and men; what hatred of everything evil; what diligence in our callings; what joyful hope of eternal happiness; what patient resignation; what fervent and persevering prayer, what cheerful liberality; what profound humility; what cordial sympathy; what harmonious concord and peacefulness; what disinterested returning of good for evil, is necessary to enter into the character of a Christian! And great is the grace and power of God, which alone can work all these in our heart and life.'-John Brown of Haddington.

NOTE 73.

Chap. xiii. 3.-Page 388.)

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Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. Archbishop Usher, in his treatise on the Power of the Prince and the Obedience of the Subject, quotes the following admirable paraphrase, by Primasius, of the above clause. "Either thou dost justly, and the just power will praise thee; or, thus doing justly, although the unjust power should condemn thee, the just God will crown thee.""

NOTE 74.

(Chap. xiv. 4.-Page 411.)

Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. By adding, he shall be holden up, the apostle not only warns us to refrain from condemning, but also bids us entertain good hopes of him, in whom we behold anything of the divine character. For the Lord has given us cause to believe, that he will fully confirm, and lead on to perfection, those in whom he has begun the work of his grace. St. Paul, therefore, does not argue simply