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If any man speak, that is, 1. As a public minister or teacher, let him speak as he is instructed from the oracles of God.
Or, 2. If he speaks as a private Christian, let his discourses be grave and serious, for mutual edification, especially when he speaks of divine things: speech is a noble and advantageous benefit to man, by which he excels the whole creation; our tongue is our glory, the instrument of our Creator's praise; and there is no subject so sublime and honourable for the tongue of man to be employed about, as the word and oracles of God; but then we must never mention them but with reverence.
Woe be to those men that bring forth scripture in their discourse, as the Philistines brought forth Samson, only to make them sport, rendering it the theme of their giddy mirth and profane drollery; but these men ere long will find Almighty God in earnest, though they be in jest; such men forget this injunction of the apostle's, If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.
--If any man minister,-- To supply the necessities of others, either as a deacon, whose office it then was to take care of the poor, or as a private Christian, by charitable contribution, let him perform that duty readily and cheerfully, according to the ability God hath given him.
Where observe, That he that with his wealth ministereth to the necessities of others, if he doth it not according to the ability which God has given him, his charity is not acceptable in God's account; not acceptable to God, because not proportionable to what he has received from God: the reason of this injunction is added in the next words, That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ;-- in whose strength these gifts are rightly employed, and by whose merits and intercession our intention to glorify God by them is accepted. To whom, that is, to which Jesus, as to God blessed for evermore, be all honour and dominion everlastingly ascribed. Amen.