d ap 3 9 of the i, f fue of Beleever.. 325 wrote any Epifrle to the Corinthians before this;but as this car ries the title of the firft, fo there was none before it ; and this they do , to make it good that na Scripture given by divine infpirati- on is loft ; which would impeach (as they fear) both the pro - vidence of God , and the faithfulneffe of the Church to whom the Oracles of God were concredited. This I fpeak not as my own opinion, and therefore adde. But let be granted that he wrote another Epiftle which he here mentions ; yet the tenth verfe feernes to be his prefent farther explanation, and no part of the Contents of that Epiftle formerly written, and fo there is no room left foryour conje&ure. I {hail not trouble the Reader with the dull raifed by Matter Jambes (nothing pertinent to our bufineffe) upon thefe words. I farther adde, put the cafe fare ther, that the ninth and tenth verfesdo both expref e the Con - vents of that Epiftle;yet why do you take both the ends,and leave out the middle ? Making their converfe to be with Husbands or Wives , Fornicators or Idolaters, and not as well with Covetous or Extortioners ? Matter Tombes anfwers, par. 147. (and let the Reader obferve his anfwer.) I left out the middle terme! [Co- vetous and Extortioners] in m; Examen, page 71. b'ca ife 1 con- ceived tt fuperfl-toti fúr me to pat them in. Th it only ((Triple I menti- oned, was their converting With the Idolatrous ar unbelieviig rk: felow , becatsfe the r.4poflle only refolves that dusbt, i Cor. 7.12, I 3 ; 14. about which the diy piste l held wets , whether or no they fcrupled, converting with Cûvetotes and Extortioners, l could not tells becatsfe the Apotle is filent atout that doubt. If their fcruple was concerning converting with their Idolatr ous yoke fellowes, upon occafion of thofe words not to keep them company they muff needs fcruple their converfing with Covetous and Extortioners, Husbands or Wives upon the fame account; and the A poftle be-1 , ing filent in his anfwer, it is clear they were filent in their letter, L. and moving no fcruple, they had no fcruple ; w hen it is impofi- ble for them to fcruple one upon thofe words, and not fcruple all. Here is the wildeft of fancies, when he names foute evils refpe&ive to civil focial converfe; they fhould ftartle at one (re- fpe&ive to their marriage - fociety) and queftion,no more. I far- ther adde : If this conje ture of yours hold, the Apoftle thus writes to the Corinthians, If any brother bath altife that is an Ido'at'er , Fornicator , a Drurlt rd or Extortioner let him not T t 3 put..
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