Now concerning virgins
Whether they should continue in the same state or not, whether
they should marry or not, was one of the cases put to the
apostle, and which the Corinthians wrote to him about, and to
which he returns this answer:
I have no commandment of the Lord:
neither in the Old Testament, in the law of Moses, or writings of
the prophets; nothing is therein enjoined concerning celibacy, or
commanding persons to live a single life; but on the contrary
there are many things directing and exciting to a marriage state;
nor had the apostle any command from the Lord Jesus Christ, under
the Gospel dispensation, obliging to virginity; nor any special
orders, or peculiar revelation from the Spirit of God, fixing and
settling this point:
yet I give my judgment,
what will be most advisable, convenient, and prudent to be done,
considering persons, times, and circumstances. The apostle does
not make use of his power and authority, as such, to make
decrees, and prescribe rules, binding on the consciences of men;
only humbly and modestly gives his opinion, which if thought well
of, might be followed by them: and the more to engage them to
take his advice, he adds,
as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be
faithful;
the meaning of which is, not that he, through the goodness and
mercy of the Lord, had with great integrity preserved his
virginity, and so proposes himself, as an instance and example of
retaining it; for it is not certain, that though the apostle was
now single, that he had never been married; it seems rather that
he had, and therefore this cannot be his sense; nor does he refer
to his faithfulness, to the Gospel committed to his trust, and
the faithful discharge of his whole ministerial service, and
which was owing to divine grace and mercy; but to that plainness,
honesty, and integrity, which appeared in the whole course and
conduct of his life, and in all his conversation with men; and
particularly in giving advice about any matter, or declaring his
sentiments on any subject: and when a man is free and faithful,
and openly and honestly tells his mind, it greatly recommends
him, and commands attention and regard to what he says; and
faithfulness, it may be observed, considered in this sense, is
not of nature, but of grace; it is obtained not by a man's own
power and strength, but by the grace and mercy of God; to which
it is here ascribed.