Chapter 47. Of Edification, and Alms among the Faithful.
A GOLDEN CHAIN
Chapter 47. Of Edification, and Alms among the Faithful.
That profession of Christ, which concerns His members — namely, the Saints and faithful ones — is either Edification, or Alms.
Edification is every particular duty towards our brethren, by which they are furthered either to grow up in Christ, or else are more surely united to Him. Rom
14.19, Let us follow those things which concern peace, and with which one may edify another.
These things which follow, pertain to Edification:
I. To give a good example. Mat 5.16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 1Pet
2.12, Have your conduct honest among the Gentiles, that those who speak evil of you, as of evil-doers, may by your good works which they see, glorify God in the day of your visitation.
II. To exhort. Heb 3.13, Exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Rom 1.12, That I might be comforted together with you, through our mutual faith, both yours and mine.
III.
To comfort.
1Th 5.14, Comfort the feeble-minded, bear with the weak; be patient towards all men. Jas 5.16, Acknowledge your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. Verse 20, He that converts [turns] a sinner from going astray out of his way, will save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins. 1Th 4.18, Comfort yourselves, one to another, with these words.
IV. To admonish. Rom 15.14, I myself am persuaded of you, brethren, that you also are full of goodness, and filled with all knowledge, and are able to admonish one another. 1Th 5.14, We desire you, brethren, admonish those who are unruly.
WILLIAM PERKINS
They observe a holy manner of admonition, who, in the spirit of meekness, and as it were, guilty of like infirmities themselves, quickly admonish all their brethren of such faults, as they certainly know about them, and know it out of God's word. Gal 6.1, Brethren, if any man by occasion has fallen into any fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a person in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also are tempted. Mat 7.5, You hypocrite! First cast out the beam from your own eye, and then you will see to take the splinter out of your brother's eye. 2Tim 4.2, Preach the word; be instant in season and out of season; improve, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. Mat 18.15, If your brother trespasses against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have won your brother. Lev
19.17, You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall plainly rebuke your neighbour, and not suffer him to sin.
Alms, or relief peculiar to the godly among themselves, is a duty by which the rich, out of their plenty, supply the wants of the poor, both according to their ability, and sometimes beyond their ability. 2Cor
8.3, According to their power (I bear record), indeed, beyond their power, they were willing. Act 2.44-45. All who believed were in one place, and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and divided them to all men, as every one had need.