VERS. XII.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.
All things are lawful for me, &c.
THE Apostle now passeth to another subject, and treats underhand against that Plague, that got too much ground in the Church, even the wicked Horesie of the Nicolaitans, which perswaded the eating of things offered to Idols, and Fornication.
I. He that should deny the Sect of the Nicolaitans to have taken its name from Nicolas one of the seven Deacons, would seem certainly to go against all antiquity. And yet the Antients themselves do not sufficiently agree about the matter. Go to the Authors, and you will find them differing, whether the Heresie sprang from an action of Nicolas, or from some saying of his. What if it came from neither? But that the name of the Sect comes from the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nicolah, which signifies, Let us eat. For who knows not, that the Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 might pass into 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 among the Chaldees. And when nothing was more antient among those very wicked men, than mutually to exhort one another to eat things offered to Idols, saying to each other, and to others also, as we may guess, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Let us eat; how very fitly might they be called hence Nicolaitans by the Orthodox? 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 r 1.1 Saying, Let us eat flesh.
II. Whencesoever the name of the Sect comes, one can scarce say, whether the Sect it self were more to be abominated, or more to be wondred at. For when the Synod of Jeru∣salem had very lately decreed against eating things offered to Idols, and fornication, Act. XV. it is a matter of astonishment, that presently a sort of men should spring up, and they such as professed the Gospel, who should oppose them with all boldness, and excite others with all industry and endeavour to eat things offered to Idols and to commit for∣nication.
III. Besides, that those naughty wretches used and abused the pretence of Christian liberty, in the doing of these most wicked actions; they invented arguments, fitted to conceal their wickedness, and to defend their boldness: which the Apostle reflects on in order.
The first is that, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ All things are lawful for me. Which although Paul might very well say concerning himself, All things are lawful for me, as he doth, Chap. X. 23. Yet he seems secretly to whisper their very words, and argumentation: to which he also answereth, But all things are not expedient. But I will not be brought under the power of any.
The second is, The Belly is appointed for meats; Things offered to Idols are meats, Ergo. He answereth, God shall destroy both it and them. Therefore care is especially to be taken of the Soul, not of those things which shall perish. And be it granted, that the belly is for meats; but yet the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord.