Chap.3o. An expofrion upon" the Took of Jo a. Verf.25. 243 to beare up againft all thole troubles which had befallen them, or might befall them for the profeflionof the Gofpel and keep- ing the worfhip pure, becaufe no temptation (that is affliáion ) had taken them, but fuch au is common to man (or a humane temp- tation) (ICor. Io.13.) So it fhould moveus to pity the arfli&ed becaufe no temptation bath raker] them, but fuch as is common to man, that is, fuch as may take any man, andour felves may be taken with it as Toone as any. Thirdly , We íhould compaflìonate the troubles of many, as being in the fame faith with us This Confederation reaches godly menonly. One Godly man fhould compaffionate ano- ther, as being a member of the fame mydicall body. And upon this ground the Apoftlecalls the Church to this duty eminently, with reference to all the members ofit, (Rom. 12. 15. ) Be kind- ly off EEtiored one to another with brotherly love , rejoycing in hope, ( that is, of good to your felves) patient in tribulation (that is, ueeltr theevills which you fuffer) Then follows (v. 15. ) Re- joyce with them that rejoyce. (that is, rejoyce at the good of o- thers) "and weepe with them that wetpe, that is, at the evills which others buffer. He is full to this poynt againe, (r Cor. I 2. 26. ) Andwhether one member fnff r, all the members fuffer with it ; or one member be honoured, all themembers rejoyce withit; that is, as it is unfayleably and unfeinedly in the naturalbody,fo it ought to be among or in the fpiritual body of,theSaints joyned in a ho- ly Church-fellow fhip(though they fometimes falle in this duty) ifone member buffer, all the members fhould fuffer with him, and ifone be honoured, all fhould rejovce with him. For (as it follows, v. 27.) CO y are the body ofChrift, andmembrs in parti- cular, or (as the Greeke bath it ftrt&lye ) members of , tart ; that is, yeeare members of than Church which is a part ofthe uriver- fal Church, or yee are members each one for b45 pa<t.'acca d ro the place or office which yet hold in thebody ; And therefore yee fhauld have a fellowíeeliegof each others afijic4ions,as if every one of you were affii &ed, when any oneof you is aflí:&ed. And not only Both it become-godly men to be fall of fympa- thiang affedionsone tow.-di another, but in a degree towards all men, even their enemies; for them the Gofpel commands us to love. And though that be the new Commandement of love inGofpel times, yet we find it in ufe before. that time. This was Z i 2 Davids
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