aft therefore be defigned to exprefs their not having any real existence, eir having no more influence on the of mankind than a metaphyfical ntity. The ufe which fome of the ians at Corinth made of this maxim, ms the explication here given of it. ey pleaded it as a reason for feasting temple upon what had been offered ifice to the idol, or false god, tho' he pposed by his worshippers to mingle and to partake of the victim. The hian converts joined their idolatrous ntance in these religious banquets, a full perfuafion that the idol could llute them, nor do any thing either

prejudice or benefit of mankind.

at the Heathens often feafted upon the fan their temples, and that the gods were to take their part in the entertainment, is y Cudworth on the Lord's Supper, (fee Moedition) Whitby and Wetfstein on 1 Cor. x. and Elfner on this place, and on 1 Cor. viii. 10. nce it appears, that thofe writers must be , who fuppofe that this maxim, an idol is

the fenfe here affigned it; for he elfewhere cenfures all the demons of gentilism

as mere vanities. It feems, indeed, to be borrowed from the Old Testament, where it cannot bear (as all allow) any other fenfe than that in which it is here explained. All the gods of the Heathens are nothings'. Behold, ye are of nothing, and

nothing in the world, means no more than that an idol is not the true God, or hath no proper divinity in him, For, though an idol were not the true God, yet might he be fomething in the world, he might have much of that power his votaries afcribe to him, and his favour or displeasure might be a matter of great importance. Nevertheless, the reverfe of all this was fuppofed to be true by those who adopted this maxim. They reafoned in the following manner: Quod non eft contaminare animum non poteft. Nihil ergo in eo peccati fi in templo epuler, fi ad exfta vocatus eam, fi poft profecta in focum data menfæ accumbam. Grotius on 1 Cor. viii. I.

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Acts xiv. 15. In 1 Cor. xii. 2. the apoftle calls them dumb idols. How well this agrees to human ghofts may be seen in Elfner, cited above, p. 198. note (1)

Elilim, nothings, or things of no value. Pf.xcvi. 5

ork of nought. They cannot do evil, alfo is it in them to do good". Vhen St. Paul fays, WE KNOW idol is nothing; the expreffion imthat the nullity of the heathen r demons was a principle admitted self, as well as entertained by those ans whom he was now addreffing. was not, indeed, in all the Chriftians nth this knowledge". For fome of y converts were not able to fhake at once their old opinion concernpower of their former gods, or at ot to efface the impreffion of it eir hearts: and confequently these - in partaking of what had been in facrifice to the heathen gods, feel fome degree of their former s reverence and awe of them, and o themselves to be joining with one common feaft. It was far

me with confcience of the idol, unto this hour,

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of the Chriftian church, with those efpecially of more enlarged understandings, and a liberal turn of mind, or who were more fully inftructed and established in the doctrines of Chriftianity. So ftrongly were they perfuaded, that an idol was nothing in the world, that under the shelter of this principle, they did fit at meat in the idol's temple, and partook of the confecrated feast as a common and ordinary repast, They seem even to have valued themselves greatly upon this conduct, as a proof of the uncommon ftrength and freedom of their minds. Now, when St, Paul tells these perfons, WE KNOW that an idol is nothing; he plainly admits the truth of the principle upon which they acted, and indirectly reproves their vanity in boafting of their knowledge of it, as if they were in this refpect fingularly wife

eat it as a thing offered unto an idol, and their confcience being weak is defiled. 1 Cor. viii. 7,

y I Cor. viii. 10

Hence it is, that when he enters upon the ar

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the apostle had faid, "Though you up with your knowledge of the of idols, and are so forward to shew s is no peculiar discovery of yours, I 1 well-inftructed Chriftians are as ly acquainted with it as you can It is very remarkable, that, notconcerning things offered to idols, he says,

that we all have knowledge, I Cor. viii. 1. Frotius obferves, Neifti weQuowuivos putent apere, non minùs et nos intelligimus quid m five deus commentitius. See alfo Mr. 1 Cor. viii. 1-13. who paraphrases v. 4. lowing manner, I know as well as you, that

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bishop of Gloucefter (Serm. vol. ii. p. 71.) nitting that the Chriftians concerned had no receiving good or harm from thofe idols, yet more to the purpose) we fee St. Paul had. But r from the paffage we are now confidering, Paul agreed in fentiment with the Chriftians d, that idols were nothing in the world, equently that no good or harm could be from them, His lordship had before (p. esented St, Paul as faying, that these idol s. Now if thefe idols were devils, it would ce follow, that devils are nothing in the confequence that his lordship will not alwith

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