514 An Expof tion upon Chap. 12,1 Thirdly, it fharply reproves fuch as make either their own corrupt lulls, or the finfull cuflomes, or the examples of the times, or commandements of men, the pattern and rule oftheir converfati on, Mat. i s. 15. Laftly, it confutes the Papifts, which charge the will of God with imperfe &ion, as if it were only gi- ven for filch as are rude,and not for the firong and perfe &er men. Alto which equal! to it,and match with it Apocry- phall writings, and traditions of the Church,as things to be received with like affe&ion and reverence as the very perfe& will of God it fell : as the Tri- dentine Councell blafphemoufly bath decreed and written. Here alto is an ar- gument for the fulnefs and perfe &ion of Scriptures, becaufe in them only is found the good, acceptable, and perfe& will of God. When 1 go from the Scrip - tures,who (hall tell me what is the will of God ? faith one of the Fathers. DIALOGUE IIII. Vert 3. 'fay then through the grace that it given tntp me to every one that is am(ng you, that no man pre(ume to underftand above that which is meet to underhand : but that he underftmulaccordingto fobriethas God bath dealt to every man the meafure of faith. T I MOT H E U S. W. Hat is it that the Apoflle doth now perform, and how cloth he proceeed ? S i L. The Apoftle having already given us his general exhortation(in the two former verts) that we fhould ferve God, firft by ftudying how to pleafe and obey him, by mortifying of our lulls : And fecondly, by not ftudying how to frame our (elves like the chil- dren of nten : he doth in this verfe de- fund to particular duties, whereof the fief is án Apoflolicall Can &ion, or pro- pofition,touching the right ufe of fpi- rituall gifts, and the due adminiftration ofEcciefiafiical funaions, untill verf.9. T i M. What is the femme of the fpeeiall exhortation in this third verfe . contained f S i L. That no man carry himfelf. Summe. proudly in refpe& of his gifts, having an over- weeningopinion of himfelf, as if he knew more then he doth know; but to think modeftly of hisown know- ledge and gifts,and to apply them with difcretion to the good of others, accor- ding to the meafure of them, and the meaning of God the giver ; which was not for oftentation and contention, but for mutuall edification. T t M. What be the parts of this prefent exhortation ? S r L. They be two : Fief, the ex- hortation it Pelf. Secondly, the expli- cation, with certain reafons annexed, to give an edge to the exhortation. The exhortation hath a preface,and the mat- ter. The preface pointeth at Paule Apo,. ftolical authority,enabling him to com- mand; and putteth on the Romans and all other Chriftians, a neceflìty to yeeld obedience. The matter of the exhorta- tion confifts of two precepts : Firff, that we be not arrogant, prefuming to un- derfiand more then is meet, or to be too wife. Secondly, to underhand accore ding to fobriety, that is modeftly to efteem of our gifts. The reafons are thefe : Fiat, from the Author, becaufe God is the giver. Secondly, from the meafure, no one man hath all, but each his portion. Thirdly, from the uni- verfality of receivers,every one path his proper gift, there is none which bath not his talent. Fourthly, from the na- ture of the gift,it is no temporali but a fpirituall gift, therefore no man ought to be infolent to defpife others, but each to be content with his own grace and to ufe it well. The caufe which mo- ved Paul to this exhortation, was great emulation which buril out into con- tention, the Jewes would be preferred before the Gentiles, and the Gentiles defpifed the Jewes ; fuch as had more worthy gifts, difdaining their inferi- ours. T i M. What things are to be ebferved in Pauls preface ? S i L. Firft, that he gives not a coun- fell but a commandement, for [I fay] fignifiesas much as if he had Paid, (1 bid,
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