we have a value for, a kindness for, a concern for." Sometimes it is good for those that are of eminency to express their esteem, not only for the despised truth of Christ, but for the despised preachers and defenders of that truth, to encourage them, and weaken the hands of their opposers. [2.] "They are men that have signalized themselves in the service of Christ, and therefore have deserved well of all the churches; they are men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (v. 26.) and therefore are worthy of double honour, and cannot be suspected of having sought any secular advantage to themselves; for they have ventured their all for Christ, have engaged in the most dangerous services, as good soldiers of Christ, and not only in laborious services." It is not likely that such faithful confessors should be unfaithful preachers; they that urged circumcision, did it to avoid persecution, (Gal. 6. 12, 13.) they that opposed it, knew they thereby exposed themselves to persecution; and which of these were most likely to be in the right?
(2.) Of Judas and Silas; "They are chosen men, (v. 25.) and they are men that have heard our debates, and are perfectly apprized of the matter, and will tell you the same things by mouth," v. 27. What is of use to us, it is good to have both in writing and by word of mouth; that we may have the advantage both of reading and of hearing it. The apostles refer themselves to the bearers for a further account of their judgment and their reasons, and the bearers will refer themselves to their letters for the certainty of the determination.
4. Here is the direction given what to require from the Gentile converts; where observe,
(1.) The matter of the injunction, which is according to the advice given by St. James, that, to avoid giving offence to the Jews, [1.] They should never eat any thing that they knew had been offered in sacrifice to an idol, but look upon it as, though clean in itself, yet thereby polluted to them. This prohibition was afterward in part taken off, for they were allowed to eat whatever was sold in the shambles, or set before them at their friend's table, though it had been offered to idols, except when there was danger of giving offence by it, that is, of giving occasion either to a weak christian to think the worse of our Christianity, or to a wicked heathen to think the better of his idolatry; and in those cases it is good to forbear, 1 Cor. 10. 25, &c. This to us is an antiquated case. [2.] That they should not eat blood, or drink it; but avoid every thing that looked cruel and barbarous in that ceremony which had been of so long standing. [3.] That they should not eat any thing that was strangled, or died of itself, or had not the blood let out. [4.] That they should be very strict in censuring those that were guilty of fornication, or marrying within the degrees prohibited by the Levitical law; which, some think, is principally intended here. See 1 Cor. 5. 1. Dr. Hammond states this matter thus; The judaizing teachers would have the Gentile converts to submit to all that those submitted to, whom they called the proselytes of righteousness, to be circumcised, and keep the whole law; but the apostles required no more of them than what was required of the proselytes of the gate, which was to observe the seven precepts of the sons of Noah, which, he thinks, are here referred to. But the only ground of this decree being in complaisance to the rigid Jews that had embraced the christian faith, and, except in that one case of scandal, all meats being pronounced free and indifferent to all Christians, as soon as the reason of the decree ceased, which, at furthest, was after the destruction of Jerusalem, the obligation of it ceased likewise. "These things are in a particular manner offensive to the Jews, and therefore do not disoblige them herein for the present; in a little time the Jews will incorporate with the Gentiles, and then the danger is over."
(2.) The manner how it is worded.
[1.] They express themselves with something of authority, that what they wrote might be received with respect, and deference paid to it; It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, that is, to us under the conduct of the Holy Ghost, and by direction from him: not only the apostles, but others, were endued with spiritual gifts extraordinary, and knew more of the mind of God than any since those gifts ceased can pretend to; their infallibility gave an incontestable authority to their decrees, and they would not order any thing because it seemed good to them, but that they knew it first seemed good to the Holy Ghost. Or it refers to what the Holy Ghost had determined in this matter formerly. When the Holy Ghost descended upon the apostles, he endued them with the gift of tongues, in order to their preaching the gospel to the Gentiles; which was a plain indication of God's purpose to call them in. When the Holy Ghost descended upon Cornelius and his friends, upon Peter's preaching, it was plain that Christ designed the taking down of the Jewish pale, within which they fancied the Spirit had been inclosed.
[2.] They expressed themselves with abundance of tenderness and fatherly concern.
First, They are afraid of burthening them; We will lay upon you no greater burthen. So far were they from delighting to impose upon them, that they dreaded nothing so much as imposing too far upon them, so as to discourage them at their setting out!
Secondly, They impose upon them no other than necessary things; "The avoiding of fornication is necessary to all christians at all times; the avoiding of things strangled, and of blood, and of things offered to idols, is necessary at this time, for the keeping up of a good understanding between you and the Jews, and the preventing of offence;" as long as it continues necessary for that end, and no longer, it is enjoined. Note, Church rulers should impose only necessary things, things that Christ has made our duty, and have a real tendency to the edification of the church, and, as these here, to the uniting of good christians. If they impose things only to shew their own authority, and to try people's obedience, they forget that they have not authority to make new laws, but only to see that the laws of Christ be duly executed, and to enforce the observation of them.
Thirdly, They enforce their order with a commendation of those that shall comply with it, rather than with the condemnation of those that shall transgress it; they do not conclude, "From which if you do not keep yourselves, ye shall be an anathema, ye shall be cast out of the church, and accursed," according to the style of after-councils, and particularly that of Trent; but, "From which if you keep yourselves, as we do not question but ye will, ye shall do well; it will be for the glory of God, the furtherance of the gospel, the strengthening of the hands of your brethren, and your own credit and comfort." It is all sweetness and love and good-humour, such as became the followers of him who, when he called us to take his yoke upon us, assured us we should find him meek and lowly in heart. The difference of the style of the true apostles from that of the false is very observable. They that were for imposing the ceremonial law, were positive and imperious; Except ye keep it, ye cannot be saved, (v. 1.) ye are excommunicated ipso facto—at once, and delivered to Satan. The apostles of Christ,' who only recommend necessary things, are mild and gentle; "From which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well, and as becomes you. Fare ye well; we are hearty well-wishers to your honour and peace."
