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LECTƲRE XL.
For all seeke their owne, and not that which is Iesus Christs. 22. But yee know the proofe of him, that as a sonne, &c.
FOr all seeke their owne, &c.] Touching the meaning of which words it is first to bee vnderstood, that the Apostle doth not speake in this place generally of all men, but of such Ministers of the Gospell as were then at Rome with him. What then? Did all the Ministers of the Gospell that were then with him, Timothee onely excepted, seeke their owne, and not that which was Iesus Christs? No, the Apostle I take it is not so to bee vnderstood, that hee speaketh vniuer∣sally of all them, but because very many did so, therefore he saith all seeke their owne &c. euen as wee in our common phrase of speech are wont to say, that all the world is set vpon couetousnesse, because so many runne after riches; and all the world is set on mischiefe, because so many delight in wicked∣nesse. And this manner of speech is not vnusuall in the Scrip∣tures. From the least to the greatest euery one is giuen to couetous∣nesse, saith the Prophet, and from the Prophet to the Priest all deale falsly. Where the Prophets meaning is, that very gene∣rally these faults raigned, and that very many had thus cor∣rupted their wayes, not that all vniuersally were such without exception. And not to instance in moe Scriptures; this wee may often obserue in the Scriptures, that in reproofes of sinne all are accused, if many haue offended. When therefore the Apostle here saith, all seeke their owne, &c. his meaning is, that it was growne to be a very generall fault amongst those Ministers of the Gospell that were with him, that very many of them sought their owne, &c. Againe, touching the fault noted in them, it is to be vnderstood that the Apostles mea∣ning