Finally, be ye all of one mind
Not that the apostle was about to conclude his epistle; but
having finished his exhortations respecting the obedience of
subjects to magistrates, and of servants to their masters, and
the duties incumbent on husbands and wives, he proceeds to sum up
what he had further to say, in general rules; which regarded all
sorts of Christians, magistrates and subjects, masters and
servants, husbands and wives, parents and children, old and
young, rich and poor, of whatsoever state, age, sex, or
condition; and so the Arabic version renders it, "the sum of the
commandment is"; and the Ethiopic version, "the sum of all is
this"; namely, what follows; "be ye all of one mind"; whatever
difference there might be in their natural and civil relation and
character; and which is to be understood not of the sameness of
affection to one another, or of an humble and condescending
spirit, disposition, and carriage to each other, for these are
expressed in some following exhortations; but of sameness of
judgment with respect to the doctrines and ordinances of the
Gospel, in which saints should be perfectly joined together in
the same mind, and in the same judgment; for as the church is but
one body, of which Christ is the head, there should be but one
mind in it; even as there is but one Spirit of God, who
convinces, enlightens, and leads into truth; and but one heart
and way, given to fear the Lord; and there is but one hope of our
calling, or to which we are called; and one way to it, and
therefore ought to agree in everything respecting the way, the
truth, and the life; though in things which do not, should bear
with one another; and there is but one Lord, who gives the same
laws and ordinances to one as to another, and which are to be
kept alike by all; and there is but one faith, one doctrine of
faith, which is uniform and all of a piece, and but one rule and
standard of faith, the sacred Scriptures, and but one baptism, to
be administered in the same way, and upon the same sort of
subjects, and in the same name of the Father, Son, and Spirit;
and but one God and Father of all; all belong to the same family,
and therefore should preserve a unity of spirit and mind, and
speak the same things; which is necessary to carry on the worship
of God, honourably and regularly, to the glorifying of him, and
for the peace, comfort, and safety of the churches of Christ:
having compassion one of another;
or sympathizing with each other, both in prosperity and
adversity, whether in temporal or spiritual things; rejoicing
with them that rejoice in Christ, make their boast of him, and
have communion with him, and who are also blessed with health of
body, and a competency of the good things of this life; and
weeping with them that weep for the loss of goods, relations,
&c. and being in bonds and afflictions; or because of sin,
the absence of Christ, and the temptations of Satan; and being
concerned also for such who are fallen into immorality, or error,
and heresy; endeavouring to restore them out of the one or the
other, in a spirit of meekness and tenderness: to all which they
should be engaged by the example of Christ, the sympathizing high
priest; by the consideration of the divine compassion to them,
both in a providential way, and in a way of grace; and on account
of their union and relation to each other, as members of the same
body:
love as brethren;
not in a natural and civil, but in a spiritual relation, being
children of God, and brethren of Christ, and in a Gospel church
state; and whose love to each other ought to be universal,
fervent, without dissimulation, and as Christ has loved them; and
which should show itself in praying for each other, in bearing
one another's burdens, in forgiving each other, in admonishing in
love, and building up one another on their most holy faith, and
communicating to each other both in temporals and spirituals: and
of a very excellent nature is it; it is the bond of perfectness,
and evidence of regeneration; the glory and ornament of a
profession, and without which it is nothing; and what renders the
communion of the saints with each other pleasant and profitable,
comfortable to themselves, and honourable in the eyes of others;
and to which they should be induced from the consideration of the
love of God and Christ unto them, and from their relation to each
other, as brethren:
be pitiful;
to those that are in distress; put on bowels of mercy, and
relieve and succour them, distributing cheerfully to their
necessities:
be courteous;
gentle and affable, carrying it friendly to one another, seeking
those things which may be most agreeable to each other, shunning
all moroseness, stiffness, and incivility. The Vulgate Latin
version renders it by two words, "modest, humble": not proud,
haughty, and overbearing, but condescending to each other, and to
men of low estates; and so the Syriac version renders it, "kind
and meek".