Romans 12:6-18

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; (7) Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; (8) Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. (9) Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (10) Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; (11) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; (12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (13) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. (14) Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. (15) Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. (16) Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (17) Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (18) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Here are gracious directions, which arise out of a life of grace in the heart, and such as are suited to the whole members of Christ's mystical body; both to the ministers and people. And what is necessary to be observed, they were not given for the Church in that age only, but had respect to the Church of God in all ages. I mention this the rather, because it might be supposed from what the Apostle saith about prophecy, that as the gift of prophecy, or fortelling future events, hath long since ceased, as being no longer necessary, this exhortation is done away. But the prophecy the Apostle seems to have had in view, when writing to the Church in common, as in this instance, had no reference whatever to that sense of prophesying which means predictions. Prophesying is sometimes used for preaching, see Matthew 7:22. And the Apostle recommended the Church at Corinth, to follow after charity, and to desire spiritual gifts, but father that they might prophesy. By which may be supposed he meant preaching, if the Lord should call them to it, 1 Corinthians 14:1

In like manner, when the Apostle in this exhortation, recommends the Church not to be slothful in business; it cannot be supposed that he meant worldly business, and the concerns of this life. For, although it would be at all times reproachful for men to neglect the laudable and honest concerns of themselves and families, for the maintenance in the station of life where the Lord in his providence hath placed them; yet, for the most part, men are too much alive, and even the Lord's people also, to the pursuits of things temporal, to need exhortations on this point to worldly cares, it is plain that Paul, when he said, not slothful in business, meant spiritual business, for he immediately added, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. And this became a sweet and gracious recommendation of the Apostle, and a proof of his feeling in himself what he had said to others just before, of being kindly affectioned. But had Paul been living in the present hour of the Church, what would he have said to that cold indifference which marks the age in the lukewarm, Laodicean spirit, so painful to the real follower of the Lord Jesus, and so highly reproved by Christ himself! Revelation 3:15

There is not only a great loveliness in the Christian graces which the Apostle hath enumerated in those verses, but also a beautiful order in the manner in which he hath marked them down. Rejoicing in hope, is very suitably placed before the being patient in tribulation. And the rejoicing with the happy, before the weeping with them that Weep. For until the child of God is himself established in the grace of hope, he cannot know how to minister to others the consolation. Neither can one mingle the tear of grace with the mourner, unless he himself hath had his own tears mingled with the spiced wine of the pomegranate. I refer the Reader to my Commentary on these points for the right apprehension, according to my view, of those sweet and gracious employments, Romans 5:1; Matthew 5:1.