An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 146
SERM. CXLVI.
The Comforting of the afflicted, one great part of a Miniſters work.
2 COR. 1. 24.
But are helpers of your joy.
THe Apoſtle having removed the negative in his Miniſterial power, he cometh to affirm the poſitive, which is, That we are helpers of your joy; foreign, helpers or co-workers; for the word relateth to a concurrence with others, and therefore by ſome is made to reſpect the Corinthians themſelves, as if he did work with them for the eſtabliſhing of their joy. Others relate it to his fellow-Miniſters and workmen in the Lord, in which ſenſe he often ſpeaketh of his foreign, Rom. 16. 21. Phil. 1. 2. & 24. Phil. 4. 3. and this is very probable. But then 3. others make it to referre to God, as if the Apoſtles did work with God but miniſterially and ſubordinately, to the ſalvation of men; and this the Apoſtle plainly affirmeth, 1 Cor. 3. 9. This alſo may be granted; and then the Apoſtles ſcope is to ſhew that they have not indeed any dominion; but yet leſt any ſhould judge them therefore uſeleſſe, and conclude they have no power at all, therefore he addeth, We are helpers and Miniſters under God. For though God immediatly created the world, without any inſtruments, yet he doth not ſo in propagation of the Goſpel. Therefore Stapleton need not be in ſuch rage at Calvin, for not taking notice of the word, or at Beza for rendring it helpers; ſeeing that Beza doth not thereby exclude a miniſterial help, but a magiſteriall authority, which the Papall party pleade for, calling it foreign, whereas it is rather foreign or foreign. Neither doth the Miniſtery immediatly produce ſpirituall effects in the hearts of hearers, though ſubordinately only, but doth externally apply the means of grace, in the exerciſe whereof God doth put forth his glorious power. The next thing conſiderable is the object of this, We are helpers of your joy. We might have thought he would rather have ſaid your grace, or your faith; but he ſaith joy, by which ſome underſtand heaven and happineſſe, as the word is uſed, Heb. 12. 1. Matth. 25. 23. This indeed is neceſſarily implyed, and ſo muſt not be excluded: but the proxime and immediate ſenſe is their ſpirituall joy and comfort. For this is made oppoſite to that imperious and auſtere exerciſe of Church-power, which ſome being guilty of, do exceedingly grieve and diſcourage the hearts of ſuch who fear God, as the Prophet Ezekiel complaineth of ſuch fiery Paſtors. Hence he ſpeaks of heavineſſe and ſorrow ſo much in the next Chapter, from whence obſerve,
That the miniſteriall work in a great meaſure of it conſiſteth in adminiſtring The adminiſtration of comfort is a great part of the miniſterial function.comfort and conſolation to ſuch as ſtand in need thereof.
Our work is not only to endeavour the converſion of ſuch who are turned aſide from God, but alſo the comfort and conſolation of ſuch who are ſadly dejected. We ſee our Saviour himſelf, after whoſe example all Miniſters are to walk, was very carefull heerin, Joh. 17. 13. Theſe things have I ſpoken that my joy might be fullfilled in you, not only joy, but perfected and compleated joy. Therefore when his Diſciples were caſt down with ſorrow about his departure from them, how ready and willing is he to ſuggeſt all ſuch arguments as might adminiſter joy, yea, and promiſeth his ſpirit as a Comforter, which would effectually ſet home thoſe arguments upon their hearts? This Apoſtle alſo, how frequent is he in preſſing this duty, ingeminating of it? Rejoyce in the Lord alway, again I ſay rejoyce. Phil. 4. 4. Hence he ſaith to theſe Philippians, cap. 1. 25. that he had confidence of abiding with them for the furtherance and joy of their faith: where you ſee the more growth and encreaſe in grace, the more joy; and it is called the joy of faith, becauſe by beleeving we come to partake of this joy. Let not then any people nouriſh prejudices in their hearts againſt the faithfull Miniſters of the Goſpel, as if they endeavoured only to diſcourage men, to fill the hearts of people with deſpair, to drive them into me…ancholy, and turn them out of their wits, as prophane perſons calumniate: for our great work is to provide comfort for ſuch as are fit Subjects to receive it. That muſt alwaies be remembred, oyl is for the wounded in ſoul: this wine is not for ſuch who are tranſported with feaveriſh luſts of their ſinnes, but if thy ſinnes be a burthen to thee, and thou haſt caſt them off, then manna is prepared for thee in this wilderneſſe; then a year of Jubilee is to be proclaimed to thee who didſt mourn under thy ſpirituall debts. But let us explicate this Truth.
And firſt, There is a twofold joy, a carnall and worldly joy, whereby men delight 1. There is a twofold joy, carnall and ſpirituall.in the pleaſures of …in, and the jolly paſtimes and cuſtomes that are in the world; and there is a ſpiritual joy ariſing from Gods love in Chriſt, whereby we are quickened to all holineſſe with great delight; now God forbid that any Miniſters ſhould be helpers of the former joy. There have indeed been ſuch unſavoury ſalt, prophane Miniſters of the Goſpel, whoſe work hath been to ſtrengthen the hands of wicked men, to preach peace and mercy to them while wallowing in their ſinnes; but wo to ſuch Paſtors, and ſuch a people. Theſe are ſharply reproved in the Scripture, for there alwaies will be ſuch men-pleaſers, ſuch daubers with untempered mortar, as Jer. 6. 14. They heal the hurt of my daughter ſlightly, ſaying, Peace, Peace, when there is no peace. Would you have ſuch a Phyſician that ſhould flatter you about the wounds of your body, ſaying, it will heal, it will heal, when thou feeleſt it to putrifie more and more? Such ſpirituall Mountebanks the Prophet Ezechiel complaineth of alſo, cap. 13. 10. They have ſeduced my people, ſaying, peace, peace, eſpecially at 22. verſe. theſe wicked Prophets are ſaid to make ſad the hearts of ſuch whom God would not have made ſad, and ſtrengthened the hands of the wicked by promiſing them life. Thus you ſee what an unfaithful Miniſter will do, all that he can and dare, he will uphold and encourage a prophane perſon; and all that he can and dare, he will uphold and diſcourage, vex and grieve ſuch who fear God, and whom God would have comforted: but ſuch men in time meet with an overflowing ſtorm and great hailſtones fallling upon them, as v. 11. which ſhall deſtroy them, and rend the wall down they have daubed up. Do not then think this is the joy we ſhould help you in: in your prophane pleaſures, in your ſuperſtitious and vain cuſtomes to encourage you; no, this were to deprive both our ſelves and you of true ſolid joy.
Hence in the ſecond place, We are to help the joy of thoſe whoſe grace we have 2. Miniſters are to help their joy whoſe graces they have before helped.helped before. Joy cannot be the firſt ſtone in Gods building, grace and holineſſe is firſt, and then conſolation; The ſpirit of God is firſt a ſanctifier, and then a comforter. So that many people take a prepoſterous method; if they be ſick, they look the Miniſter ſhould preſently give them comfort; there muſt not a word be ſaid of their ſinnes, of the neceſſity of repentance, this will make them deſpair. Fond and fooliſh people, why would ye be tickled into hell? why would ye be pleaſed into damnation? oh it cannot be that thou ſhouldſt have comfort before godlineſſe, this would be to falſifie the covenant of God, to abuſe the ſeal of pardon, applying it to him; whom God doth ſtill hold guilty, Underſtand then Gods method, and ſubmit thereunto, ſaying, I do not expect comfort; I would not have the promiſes of grace applied to me while thus obſtinate and impenitent in my ſinful waies, but if thou art found godly, then we are to comfort and to comfort, as Iſa. 40. 1. again and again, not giving over till that evil ſpirit of unbeleef be caſt out: And this ſpirituall comfort is ſeen in two particulars.
1. Comfort under the guilt of ſinne, and truly herein we do a moſt acceptable work. Then it is indeed the tongue of the learned, when we ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to ſuch afflicted ſpirits; how ready and willing are the faithfull Miniſters of the Goſpel to bring the balm of Gilead to ſuch perſons? how pittifull and compaſſionate becauſe they know the terrour of the Lord? God hath commanded us to be Meſſengers of peace, and like Noahs dove to come with an Olivebranch, aſſuring them that the waters are abated; and oh that God would provide ſuch comforting work for us; It is very ſeldome to meet with ſuch: we have work enough to reprove the prophane, to inſtruct the erroneous; but how few do need comfort becauſe their ſinnes are a heavy burthen upon them.
In the 2. place, we are to help the comfort of the godly in reſpect of their outward afflictions. For they are more chaſtened than other men; there is no godly man but God hath appointed a croſſe for him; yea, ſometimes many croſſes together. Now how neceſſary is it to have a faithful and wiſe comforter in ſuch caſes? for alas, our own hearts are full of diſcouragements, and every thing is ready to appear more terrible than it is, and the devil he is very ready to make the waters overflow more than they would do. So that to adminiſter comfort to ſuch diſconſolate perſons, is the beſt act of love, and the moſt ſuitable alms that can be deſired. Seeing then that grace muſt be laid, as a foundation for comfort;
Hence in the third place, Before the Miniſters of the Gospel can adminiſter comfort to unregenerate perſons, they muſt neceſſarily uſe ſharp and bitter means, 3. Sharp means are to be uſed before comfort.as preparatory there unto. Neither are we then to be blamed, or judged too cruell and auſtere, but ſinne is to be condemned as the cauſe of it. It is your ſinne that maketh all bitter things neceſſary. When the Phyſician adminiſtreth bitter Phyſick, which maketh thee exceeding ſick, is he to be blamed? and not rather thoſe peccant humours within us. The ground muſt be plowed up, and have its bowels as it were moved, ere the good ſeed can be ſown into it: The wool muſt be carded, and torn as it were in peeces, ere it be made for a garment. The ſtone muſt come under the hammer and ſaw, ere it be prepared for the building. And thus ere the heart of man be fit to receive Goſpelcomfort, it muſt be humbled and broken by the Law of God: So that we are making way for your comfort even while we denounce the curſes of the Law: To preach of hell and damnation, though it be grievous to you, yet it is wholſome; Therefore do not thou cry out againſt ſuch men that have the Law, hell and damnation ſo much in their mouths, for this is the way to poliſh and prepare thee for comfort; we do not forget the Goſpel while we preach ſo: neither are we to be accounted as legall Preachers; and not ſuch as preach Chriſt, for hereby we levell the mountain for Chriſt to come, hereby we ſtreighten the camels back, that it may go through the eye of the needle; yea, all thoſe ſpirituall cenſures inflicted upon offenders, are for comfort; if thou art reproved, and that ſharply and zealouſly, it is for thy comfort: yea, if thou art for thy ſcandalous and impenitent waies caſt out from Church-communion, and denied the ſeals of comfort: yet all this is medicinall, and maketh a way for comfort. The inceſtuous perſon is by Paul caſt into spirituall ſorrow, that ſo he may partake of ſpirituall joy and conſolation; of which bleſſed effect more in …s time, when we come (God willing) to the next Chapter.
In the next place, let us conſider the grounds, why Miniſters are to promote Why Miniſters are to comfort the people. 1. Becauſe they are Miniſters of the Goſpel.the comfort of ſuch who are fit ſubjects for it.
And firſt, Becauſe they are Miniſters of the Goſpel: and what is that but the glad tidings of pardon of ſin, of reconciliation, and of everlaſting happineſſe? foreign is noted to ſignifie not only glad tidings but the reward alſo given unto the meſſengers thereof. What then is more ſuitable to the Miniſters of comfort but to bring comfort, that we may ſay, as David of Ahimaaz, he is a good man, and bringeth good tidings? If a Miniſter be a Boanerges, a ſon of thunder, it is that he may be a ſon of conſolation. It is not contrary to their commiſſion to preach of ſinne, and of the day of judgement, for ſo Paul did to Felix, which made him tremble; only we are not to ſtay here; we muſt not keep you allwaies under this Schoolmaſter, but bring you at laſt to Chriſt. Inſomuch that all our duties tend to this, even to advance the Goſpel in the hearts of hearers; yea, every doctrine of Chriſt, as it is a doctrine after godlineſſe, ſo it is alſo after conſolation. And therefore if any opinion do properly make againſt godlineſſe, we may reject it: and ſo if any do truly make againſt ſolid comfort, we may refuſe that, as not being of Chriſt. It is true, many hereticall and erroneous perſons may pretend to great comforts and raviſhments; They uſually ſay, they never had ſo much comfort as ſince they engaged in ſuch waies; but then you muſt remember that the devil may be transformed into an angel of light: and as there is a counterfeit pie y, ſo there is alſo a counterfeit comfort. It is not enough then to have comfort, but it is to be judged and tried by Gods word. Neither may we ſay, this is a comfortable doctrine, therefore I will embrace it, but firſt ſee it be a true Scripture-doctrine, and then receive it, for ſuch to be ſure will alſo be comfortable.
2. We are to help forward the godly mans comfort, becauſe the heart of man awakened for ſinne is very much indiſpoſed to receive it, and the devil he is a vehement 2. Becauſe an awakened heart is much indiſpoſed to it.oppoſer of it. That the heart of man wounded for ſin doth difficultly receive conſolation, is plain, becauſe joy is the fruit of Gods ſpirit, and the ſpirit of God is given not only to ſanctifie us, but to vouchſafe conſolation alſo, ſo that as a man hath a dead womb, in reſpect of grace, he is not able to have one good thought without Gods ſpirit, ſo he hath alſo a dead womb in reſpect of comfort, he is not able to have one comfortable thought, unleſſe God who is called the God of all conſolation, infuſe it into him: and then the devil is a daily oppoſer of our comforts as well as our graces; as he is a tempter to ſinne, ſo to unbeleef and diſcouragements: he loveth to keep us as he did the lunatick perſon about the tombs, in thoughts of our hypocriſie and damnation, that God doth not love us, that he hath caſt us off. Is it not then neceſſary to endeavour the comfort of a godly man, when it is ſo greatly gainſaid both within and without?
3. Our duty is to perſwade to comfort, becauſe hereby the heart is more enlarged 3. Becauſe hereby the heart is more quickned to godlineſſe.and quickned unto all godlineſſe: The joy of the Lord is our ſtrength, as Nehemiah ſaid, Nehem. 8. 10. It is like oyl to the wheels. With what delight and gladneſſe doth a joyfull beleever exerciſe himſelf in all holiheſſe? with what courage and confidence doth he diſcharge all the duties required of him? The ſpirit of God did come upon the Prophet when he played upon the harp; The more chearfull, the more prepared to receive power from God; as the drier the paper is, the fitter to receive characters; whereas upon wet paper none can write. As it doth thus enable us to do, no leſſe alſo doth it fortifie us to ſuffer: We ſee with what readineſſe and undaunted courage the Martyrs endured the moſt exquiſite torments; and why ſo? but becauſe they were filled with unſpeakable joy: inſomuch that their condition was ſar better than the moſt proſperous and flouriſhing eſtate of any wicked men. They were infeliciter felices, and theſe were feliciter infelices, as Auſtin ſaid: So that in promoting holy joy we advance grace and godlineſſe alſo.
Uſe firſt of inſtruction to the Miniſters of the Goſpel, to anſwer the main end of their office, which is to be comforters; not to be Marahs but Naomies: Spiritual conſolation is the proper fruit of the ſpirit of Adoption, and therefore a pearl highly to be eſteemed: and that they may do this, they muſt attend to their doctrine and their practiſe: Their doctrine, and thus in Popery in ſtead of building up they deſtroy comfort; the doctrine of uncertainty and doubting about the ſtate of grace; the doctrine of ſatisfaction and merits, theſe are uncomfortable doctrines. Indeed ſome adverſaries ſay, the doctrine of abſolute predeſtination, and that Chriſt died but for ſome only, and not all, is an uncomfortable doctrine. Hence their ſaying is ſpiritus Calvinianus eſt ſpiritus Melancholicus. The Antinomians they alſo ſay, to preach the Law and repentance, thereby as in a way to obtain remiſſion of ſins, is a method of preaching, that deſtroyeth all comfort, but theſe might eaſily be confuted if it were our buſineſſe. It is a Miniſters duty to ſee the doctrine he preacheth, doth not in its own genius, and as a proper effect work deſpair or diſcouragement; And then for their practiſe, they muſt be carefull that all reproofs, admonitions, and ſpiritual cenſures be ſo managed, that though for the while they may ſeem bitter, yet at the laſt they will bring much comfort; and that though they be in pain for a while, yet they ſhall at laſt rejoyce to ſee a manchilde born.
2. Uſe of Exhortation, to be ſuch a prepared people, as that comfort may be applyed to you; how can ye have comfort if ye live in the waies of ſinne? doe not any thing that may chaſe away this comfort; if we preach never ſuch comfortable truths, if thou by thy negligence and unmortified walking doſt deprive thy ſelf of conſolation, then know the blame lieth in thy ſelf, and not in the Miniſtery: Thou crieſt give me a word of comfort, how can we comfort him, whom God would not have comforted?