Exposition of 2 Thessalonians, Exposition · Chapter 2 · Verse 16, 17
VERS. 16, 17.
Now our Lord Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe, and God euen our Father, who hath loued vsus, and hath giuen vsus euerlaſting conſolation, and good hope through grace.
Comfort your hearts, and ſtabliſh you in eueryevery good word and worke.
THE ſecond part of the preſcript, for preuention of ſeducement, prayer vntounto God. The carriage ſeemes to preſent it as a voluntarie act of Pauls louelove, on behalfe of this people. The intention bends it farther, to the forme of a preſcript: and is ſo to bee apprehended, in as much as Paul on this occaſion, falles to his deuotion. In his example, hee preſcribes what is moſt conuenient for them, to procure their eſtabliſhment.
Certainely it is a principall amongſt our compleate Armour, auailing to our ſtanding in the euill day:nEpheſ. 6.18. Praying alwayes with all manner prayers and ſupplications in the Spirit, watching thereunto with all perſeuerance; as if it gaue life, and ſtrength to the whole of our foreign. See Luke 17.1, 2.5. Pſal. 51.12.
1 Not onelyonly the firſt infuſion of grace is of God, but to eueryevery act and exerciſe of grace receiued, is neceſſarie nouum auxilium.
2 The giuer of grace, the ſame is the perfecter, confirmer, ſtabliſher of it. 1 Pet. 5.10. 1 Cor. 1.8.
3 What feathers are we, left to our ſelues, when the leaſt blaſt of temptation takes vsus? 1 Chron. 35.31. Mat. 26.74. Gal. 1.6.
4 When we would doe good, euill is moſt preſent with vsus. Rom. 7.21.
5 Not onelyonly Iehoſhuah, but we all hauehave Satan ſtanding at our right hand to reſiſt vsus: Zach. 3.1. The Lord rebuke him, had need bee our prayer, ver. 2. elſe whither fall we? Luke 22.32.
Vſe It much ioyed mee, amids the wauing, and wauering of our winde ſhaken vulgus, to heare the proteſtations and vowed reſolutions of my people; rather to die for Chriſt, then to denie him. Howbeit, mee thought I wanted the eleuation and aſcent of the minde vntounto God. Oh my deere brethren, firſt, thinke of the littleoRom. 7.18. hold faſt goodneſſe hath in our nature; the no nouriſhment, more then God is pleaſed to ſupply. Secondly, weigh how Adam, andpIude 6. Angels, greater in power and dignitie, fell, left to themſelues. Thirdly, conſider how theqMat. 26.74. Rocke of faith failed; of an egregious preſumer, becomming a frequent denier of his Maſter. Fourthly, how ſoonegGalat. 1.6. Galatians were tranſported, to another Goſpel. Fiftly, minde who ſaid, its a bleſſed thing, toſPro. 28.14. feare alwayes our owne infirmitie. Sixtly, how ſoone Dauid tPſal 30.6, 7.was troubled, when hee but fancied, hee ſhould neuer be moued. Pray rather as Dauid, hold thou mee vp and I ſhall bee ſafe; and Lord uPſal. 51.12.ſtabliſh mee with thy free ſpirit. Humble deuotion preuailes, rather then proud preſumption. See 2 Corinth. 12. To it God giues anſwere; my grace is ſufficient for thee, and*2 Cor. 12.9. I will perfect my power in weakeneſſe. To the reſt, thus, let him that thinkes hee ſtands, of all men, take heede leaſt hee fall. 1 Cor. 10.12.
Particulars obſerueable in the prayer, are firſt the perſons to whom its directed. Secondly, the grounds of aſſurance for audience Thirdly, the bleſſings prayed for.
1 Perſons; the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and God our Father. In Athanaſius his time, the inference was found; Chriſt is prayed vntounto as the Father, therefore God equall with the father. With good leaue of Papiſts it may paſſe current, if to him, as donour of grace, the prayer be preferred. 1 His ſtile is,xRom. 9.5. God ouer all, bleſſed for euer. 2 His properties the fame with thoſe of the Father,yApoc. 2.23. ommiſcience, ſearching the heart and reines; omnipotencie, infinite wiſedome, &c, 3 Workes the ſame,zIohn 13. creation, aHeb 12, 3.ſuſtentation, bIohn 5.17.gouernement of the creature.
Hold the concluſion firme againſt Arians. 1 It aſſures thee of thecHeb. 9.14. 1 Iohn 17. all ſufficient value of the price paid for thy redemption. 2 That he is able to ſaue, and ſet in poſſeſſion of the purchaſed inheritance, maugre all the ſpight, craft, power of hell.
2 The grounds of aſſurance for audience: 1 Gods fatherly louelove. 2 The teſtimonies of his louelove already giuen, comfort, and hope; more perſwaſiue to worke aſſurance of obtaining, more are extant in holy writ. 1 Power wee cannot but preſuppoſe in God, anddEpheſ. 3 20. abilitie to doe abundantly ouer and aboue all that wee can aske or thinke. All the doubt is of his will: What more ſwayes it then louelove? Whoſe very nature is, velle Amato bonum. See Mat. 7.9, 10, 11. Specially what our Sauiour hath. Iohn 6.26, 27. Where a little hyprobolically hee ſeemes to exclude the neceſſitie of his interceſſion, to impetration; and mindes vsus of the f…lſe propenſion that is in the Father, to grant whatſoeuer we pray for.
Ʋſe Blatterers and bablers in prayer they would make vsus, who allow vsus no aſſurance of Gods ſpeciall louelove in our adoption. 1 How then ſhall wee fulfill Saint Iames his item;eIam. 1.6, 7. to aske in faith, nothing doubting? 2 Or how hauehave certaine and firme hope of obtaining? When the doubtfull or diſputant about certainetie of obtaining, may not thinke to obtaine any thing of God. 3 And how dare they call God Father, who know not they hauehave fRom. 8.15.receiued the Spirit of adoption? 4 And hath God g1 Ioh. 5.14, 15.promiſed in vaine? OrhMat. 7.7, 8. precepted vsus in vaine, to aske with aſſurance of audience.
They ſay this certainetie quels deuotion, inhibits care of ſanctitie. See ſupra. For my part, I know none euer prayed withiHeb 5.7. more feruency of Spirit, then our Sauiour. None that was euer more kHeb 7.26.holy, harmeleſſe, ſeparate from ſinners. Nor any, that was more aſſured of Gods louelove.
Wherefore, my aduiſe is to eueryevery man deſirous to bee feruent, and hopefull in deuotion; labour for aſſurance of Gods louelove. Its not aſſurance, but doubtfulneſſe, that quencheth, or quels deuotion,
The ſecond ground of aſſurance of audience is, the gifts already beſtowed, for theſe aſcertaine vsus of Gods louelove. There is a generall louelove of God, hee hates nothing that hee hath made, doeth good for nature ſake his workemanſhip, to good and bad. But there is a ſpeciall louelove, and aſſurance of it required in him, that will pray with aſſurance to bee heard. Teſtimonies thereof are, not outward bleſſings,lEccleſ. 9.1. none knowes this louelove by any thing that is before him. But gifts there are that teſtifie it, two here ſpecified. 1 Comfort. 2 Hope. WhichmIohn 15.17. none receiue, but the people of his louelove. Particular explication expect anon, I apply now to the Apoſtles purpoſe.
Noticing theſe and like gifts of the ſpirit, as pledges of obtaining more, or in more abundance, the bleſſings wee pray for. Hence called then2 Cor. 1.22. Arrha, or Arrhabo, earneſt peny of Gods contract, teſtifying that hee is voluntarily bound to giuegive more, if we aske more of him. Wherefore Saints are not aſhamed to promiſe themſelues more, becauſe the Lord hath already done ſo great things for their ſoules. See 2 Cor. 1.10. 2 Tim. 4.17, 18. 1 Sam. 17.37. Nor to encourage vsus to aske more, euen therefore becauſe the Lord hath already beene ſo liberall to vsus.
1 God is not as man, that the fountaines of his bountie ſhould be exhauſted.
2 Nor as the ſonne of man, to oIam. 1.5.vpbraid vsus with curteſies already conferred.
3 His bonum is ſui diffuſiuum; and delights to hauehave it ſelfe extorted by importunate prayer, that indeed hee requires. 1 That hee may bee acknowledged Authour of gifts. 2 That he may ſee vsus fitted and diſpoſed to receiue. 3 That he may reape thankes as a tribute, from thoſe that are his beneficiaries. But aske what thou wanteſt, thou mayeſt bee aſſured to receiue; ſhall I ſay? Though thou hauehave already receiued much; nay, therefore bee encouraged to aske more, becauſe thou haſt experimented the Lord ſo liberall in beſtowing.
Ʋſe Grace ſometimes ſeemespEzra 9.8, 10. ouer modeſt, through conſcience of vnthankefulneſſe, and qIam. 32.10. 1 Chron.priuitie of no worth in it ſelfe to obtaine. Oh rouſe vp your ſelues, you beloued of the Lord, and know 1 the Lords delight, is to doe good to the ſonnes of men. 2 You areſApoc. 3.4. worthy by acceptation in Chriſt. 3 There is in our God a ſelfe propenſion, to deale bountifully with vsus. 4 What inclines him rather to pitie our indigence, then to exact our worthineſſe. 5 And hauehave you forgotten the conſolation,tHeb. 4.15, 16. our high Prieſt hath experimented our ſorrowes, and now appeares at his Fathers right hand, making continuall interceſſion for vsus. Thus thinke, the fauours already beſtowed, are pledges of more: prouided alwayes we bee 1 not vnthankefull for whats receiued. 2 Nor proud, of what is gratuitouſly conferred. 3 Nor ſlothfull to doe him ſeruice, or to vſe our talent to the glory of the beſtower, and benefit of our brethren.
The gifts inſtanced in, and noticed as meanes to aſſure vsus to be heard, are 1 Comfort. 2 Hope. Both amplified. 1 By ſeuerall Epithites; Comfort euerlaſting, Hope good, 2 By common fountaine, Grace.
Comfort; vnderſtand the lighting, or eaſing the heart of that ſorrow, or feare, where with its ſurcharged. Here ſpecially, disburthening the ſoule of that anguiſh, or feare ariſing from conſcience of ſinne. It hath for the harbinger, pouertie of ſpirit, mourning for ſinne, and liableneſſe to wrath: See Mat. 5.4. Iſai 57.15. & 61.3.
2 Inſtrument, the Interpreter, that one of a thouſand to declare vntounto the weary ſoule Gods righteouſneſſe. Iob 33.23.
3 Sound euidences whereby its brought home to the ſoule. 1 Performance of conditions, Faith, and Repentance. 2 Conſequents. 1 Cheerefulneſſe, anduPſal. 119. Alacritie in Gods ſeruice. 2 Courage, and ſometimes no leſſe then ioy in tribulation.
The ſtile it hath, is euerlaſting. See Iohn 14.14. The comforter abides with vsus for euer.
How? When its often interrupted, and Gods children groane vnderunder the burthen of griefe, or feare.
Reſp. 1 In Cauſis, though not in our ſenſe, becauſe of our infirmitie. See Pſal. 77.10. Thoſe cauſe are, 1 Gods*Mal. 3.6. vnchangeable louelove. 2xHeb. 8.6. New couenant ſtabliſhed on better promiſes. 3 Chriſts merit, andy1 Iohn 2.1. interceſſion.
2 Quantum ex parte Dei, it bides with vsus; the interruptions which befell vsus, iſſues from our owne default. 1 Churling at Gods hand in our afflictions. Iob 6. &c. 2 Securelie. Pſalme 30.6, 7. 3 Scandalous ſinnes. Pſal. 51.12.
3 Yet I ſay not but God remoues ſenſible comfort. 1 For triall of faith, who but belieues what he feeles? Then is faith glorious, when againſt, or aboue ſenſe, it reſts on naked promiſe of God. See Matth. 27.46. Iob 13.15. 2 Sometimes for preuention. See 2 Cor. 12.7. moſt vſually for chaſtiſement.
4 As we are ſaid to be already ſaued, that is, eternally ſaued from our ſins, and after a ſort, now ſet in poſſeſſion of ſaluation; becauſe wee hauehave now beginnings of eternall life andzRom. 8.24. hope that makes not aſhamed of the conſummation; ſo now to hauehave receiued euerlaſtingaLuke 16. conſolation. 1 In the beginnings. 2 In aſſured hope of conſummation. In end of life expecting all bApoc. 21.4.teares to bee wiped from our eyes, and to enter into the ioy of our Maſter: For which cauſe, perhaps, the mention of hope is ſubioyned.
The ſecond gift iſſuing from Gods louelove, and aſſuring vsus of audience, is hope. They conſider and handle it two wayes. 1 As a paſſion, where they deliuer vsus the generall notion of it. 2 As a vertue Theologicall.
As a paſſion, ſo they point vsus to: 1 The generall office or act of it, that is, expectation. Heb. 11.10. 2 The obiect, which is thus circumſcribed. 1 Its bonum: euill things we feare, or grieue at, hope not for. 2 Bonum abſens: for what a man ſees, or enioyes, why doeth hee yet hope for? Rom. 8.24. 3 Arduum: not without difficultie obtained. Things eaſely compaſſed, are as already enioyed, no branch of fortitude ſpends it ſelfe in the acquiring. 4 Poſſibile: for who, but a foole, hopes for things of meere impoſibilitie?
As a vertue Theologicall, ſo its deſcribed, the firme, or certaine expectation of future beatitude, ariſing from grace and precedent good workes.
Too narrowly; for wee hope alſo for: 1 Deliuerance out of temptation. 2 Suſtentation in temptation. 3 Perſeuerance. 4 Growth and confirmation in grace. Yea,c1 Tim. 4.8. bleſſing of this life, ſo farre as they are expedient, ſith theſe alſo are conueyed in the promiſe. Thus rather extend the nature of it; firme expectation of all good things, God hath promiſed, and not yet exhibited.
The epithite, Good. Goodneſſe of Chriſtian hope, amounts out of: 1 The matter or things hoped for; thingsd1 Cor. 2.9. that neither eye hath ſeene, nor care heard, nor hauehave they entered into mans heart to conceiue. So ſurpaſſing is their goodneſſe; all things that e2 Pet. 1.3.concerne life and Godlineſſe.
2 Certainetie of obtaining; Chriſtian hope fRom. 5.5.makes not aſhamed. Founded on 1 Fidelitie. 2 Power of God. 3 Merit, and interceſſion of Chriſt.
3 Regularitie, it expects: 1 OnelyOnly things promiſed. 2 So, and no otherwiſe, then they are promiſed. 1 Temporall things limitatiue. 1 If expedient. 2 With exception of the croſſe. 3 Reſeruation of power to the promiſer, to chaſten particular diſobedience. 4 Diſtinctiuely, either in the particular, or in the equiualent; by way of commutation, and compenſation with ſpirituall.
2 Spirituall bleſſings after the rate of diſtribution in this life. 1 Rather quoad eſſentiam, then gradum perfectionis. 2 In competencie for finall victorie, not in perfection.
3 Prouiding alwayes,gIohn 1.33. gratious qualification, or diſpoſition, and vſe of meanes to partake them.
Ʋſe At this cape of good hope, arriues eueryevery good Chriſtian, eueryevery true Nathaniel, and Iſraelite indeed. The reſt are all either firſt, hopeleſſe, or ſecondly, ouerhoping. That, becauſe aliens from the couenants of promiſe. 2 This, for that without euidence, and due qualification, they fondly expect the promiſe.
Ʋſe hHeb. 6.19.This hope hold faſt as the Anchor of our Soules, amids all ſtormy guſts of temptation. Meanes to eſtabliſh it: 1 Thoſe two immutable things, wherein its iHeb. 6.18.impoſſible for God to lie. His promiſe, if that bee too little, his oath. 2k2 Cor. 1.20. The ratifying of them in the blood of Chriſt, and his continuall appearing before God for vsus. 3 The lRom. 4.18.power of God, enough to make vsus aboue hope, to belieue vnderunder hope. 4 His dealings with his other Saints, for they are m1 Tim. 1.16.exemplarie, ſo wee reſemble in behauiour. 5 Recording Gods dealings with n2 Tim. 4.17.18.our ſelues in former times. 6 Prouided alwayes, we performe vnalterably our reſtipulation.
The common fountaine out of which they iſſue, is Grace; that is, free fauour, vnmerited beneuolence. The common ſpring of all ſpirituall bleſſings to vsus. Dupliciter gratis, ſaith Bernard, they come vntounto vsus. 1 Sine merito. 2 Sine labore nostro, another dupliciter you may adde. 1 Contra meritum. 2 Vltra vires.
1 Hee is found of them that ſeeke not after him. Rom. 10.20. Yea, of them that contradict him. ver. 21.
2 We were in times paſt diſobedient, ſeruing the luſts, and diuerſe pleaſures; therefore oTit. 3.3, 4, 5.not of workes of righteouſneſſe, which we had done, but according to his owne purpoſe, and grace he ſaued vsus.
3 And had wee not by ſuch courſes merited perpetuall adoration, and ſhutting vp vnderunder vnbeliefe?
4 When wee were of no ſtrength, Chriſt, which is our hope, and comfort, died for vsus. See Rom. 5.6, 8.
Ʋſe Pride not thy ſelfe in the fruition, forp1 Cor. 4.7. what haſt thou, that thou haſt not thus freely receiued?
Swell not with contempt of brethren, either wanting, or inferiour in their meaſures. For firſt are wee in natureqRom. 3.6. better then they? Secondly, andr1 Cor. 4.7. who, or what is that diſcriminateth thee.
Vſe freely to the glory of the beſtower; though thou receiue no recompence from men, nor preſent ſenſible comfort from God:ſMat. 10.8. Gatis accepiſti, gratis da.
Deſpaire not of obtaining, though thou want merits, ſtrength, ſtrenuous will to obtaine. There is in God, what ſelfely inclines him to giuegive, without, and againſt merit: without our labour, beyond our abilitie; rich grace, free bountie, &c.