The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

And I of Christ.] To open the word, we must acquaint you, that many of the Ancients thought, they that said thus, I am of Christ, were not to be reproved, but are instanced in, as an example, that they all should follow. Yea, Chrysostom thinketh this to be Pauls words; others said, I am of Paul, I am of Apollo, but saith Paul, I am of Christ. Thus they expounded it, thinking it not matter of reproof, for any to say, they were of Christ, and (they say) Pauls arguments would hold for this, as much as they did against glorying in men. For though Paul was not crucified for them, yet Christ was. Though they were not baptized into Pauls name, yet they were into Christs. But to answer this: It's true absolutely and simply, it's not a sin, but a duty, for every believer to say, he is of Christ, To call no man Master, but Christ, therefore he is called a Christian, because a worshipper of Christ. And the Apostle 1 Cor. 3.22. useth this Argument, The believers were not Pauls, or Apollos; but on the contrary, Whether Paul or Apollo, &c. all are yours; but then mark, he doth not say, Christ is yours, but you are Christs: So for believers to say, They are Christs, is in the general a duty; but that which the Apostle here reproveth, is such a setting up of Christ, as doth oppose the Instruments ⟨p. 59⟩that Christ also hath appointed, and that the Apostle blameth those, who said, They were Christs, it's plain by the Context: It's told me by the house of Chloe, That there are divisions and contentions. This was a fault complained of. And then he instanceth in the matter of the contentions, I am of Paul, I am of Apollo, I am of Christ. This is in the same manner reckoned as the former; whereas if the Interpretation of the Ancients were true, the expression must have been adversative [But I am of Christ] And then the Argument following is plain, Is Christ divided? viz. Is the Doctrine or Person of Christ divided? Hath Peter one Christ, Apollo another, or these immediate pretenders another Christ? Now these that set up Christ thus in a sinful way, may be either those, that pretended immediate teachings by Christ, for such were in the Apostles days;

And I of Christ.] To open the word, we must acquaint you, that many of the Ancients thought, they that said thus, I am of Christ, were not to be reproved, but are instanced in, as an example, that they all should follow. Yea, Chrysostom thinketh this to be Pauls words; others said, I am of Paul, I am of Apollo, but saith Paul, I am of Christ. Thus they expounded it, thinking it not matter of reproof, for any to say, they were of Christ, and (they say) Pauls arguments would hold for this, as much as they did against glorying in men. For though Paul was not crucified for them, yet Christ was. Though they were not baptized into Pauls name, yet they were into Christs. But to answer this: It's true absolutely and simply, it's not a sinne, but a duty, for every believer to say, he is of Christ, To call no man Master, but Christ, therefore he is called a Christian, because a worshipper of Christ. And the Apostle