An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 103
SERM. CIII.
Of the Rejoycing a faithfull Miniſter hath in an Obedient people.
2 COR. 1. 14.
That we are your rejoyeing, as you alſo are ours, in the day of the Lord Jeſus.
THere remaineth the Second part of the Doctrine to be diſpatched, which is,
The Miniſters rejoycing upon good grounds in his people.
For you heard how happy and bleſſed a thing it was when there was cauſe for a mutuall and reciprocall rejoycing in one another, between Miniſter and People. For God many times, upon wiſe ends, doth divide thoſe who ſhould be conjoyned: ſometimes he ſends faithfull Embaſſadours to a froward and rebellious people, as God in Ezekiel, that the people were bryars and thornes to him, and that he did dwell among ſcorpions; yet he muſt not be afraid, or diſmayed at their lookes, though they were a rebellious houſe, Chap. 2. 6. Now what comefort could Ezekiel have from ſuch a people? They were ſo many bryars and thornes ſcratching and tearing of him; ſo many ſcorpions that had ſtings: and what danger was it to dwell with ſuch? Sometimes again there may be a godly and holy people, highly priſing the means of grace; and yet God ſet over them dumb or wicked Paſtors, that are Idols, and no ſhepherds. Now when this is ſo, their is little rejoycing in one another: and if Jehoaſh, the King of Iſrael, 2 Kings 13. 9. compared an unequal Warr to an unequal and unfit Marriage, the thiſtle in Lebanon with the Cedar in Lebanon, which proved deſtructive immediately; for the wilde beaſt in Lebanon came, and trode down the Thiſtle: How much more now is this true in this ſpiritual relation? When an Ignorant or prophane Miniſter is over a gracious people, then the Thiſtle is married to the Cedar, but but this cannot hold long; for the Devil, which is like the wilde beaſt, the roaring Lyon, he will come, and devour all; ſo that, what the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, 2 Cor. 6. 14. may well be applyed here, Be not unequally yoaked: what communion hath light with darkneſs? It is then very uncomfortable, when a Godly people hath an unfaithfull Miniſter, or a faithfull Miniſter an ungodly and a froward people; This will make him ſadly to bewail his condition, crying out with Iſay, Wo unto me, for I dwel among men of polluted lips, Iſay chap. 6. 12. This maketh him like Lot to torment his righteous ſoul by ſeing and hearing the wickedneſs of thoſe he dwelleth amongſt, 2 Pet. 2. 8. This is a bitter and ſad Perſecution: as it were, thou doſt not onelyonly perſecute a Miniſter by the malicious oppoſition, and violent courſes againſt him, but even thy ungodly life, that thou wilt not be reformed, that thou wilt not hear and humbly receive the word of God; this maketh them grieved, and wearied in their work; This is a perfecution of their righteous ſouls, as Jeremy ſaid, chap. 13. 17. If you will not here it, my ſoul ſhall weep in ſecret places, for your pride. Thus the wickedneſs and ungodly wayes of a ſtubborn people are the very heart-breaking of a godly Miniſter; while they deride, and ſcorn, his ſoul mourneth for them; while they revile, and reproach him maliciouſly, he giveth himſelf to prayer for them; Even as it is with ſome tender Father, who hath a Son grievouſly diſtracted, and bereaved of his wits, while he rageth, and raveth at his Father, while he miſcalleth him and ſtriketh at him; The Father ſtands by ſadly affected, weeping, and praying for his childe, that he might be brought to his ſound minde again. Thus doth a godly tender Paſtor mourn over a wicked, ſcornfull, and rebellious People.
But let us proceed to ſhew Wherein a faithfull Miniſter of Chriſt hath cauſe Wherein a faithfull Paſtor hath cauſe to rejoyce over his people. 1. When they are tractable and teachable.to rejoyce over his people:
And firſt, When they are a teachable and learning people, very tractable, and ready to receive Inſtruction. This is a great joy and Incouragement: There are many, who, as they are ſottiſhly ignorant in matters of Religion, ſo they will continue obſtinately therein: They are not deſirous and hearkning after knowledg; that ſay with thoſe in Job 21. 14. unto God, Depart from us, for we deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes. Now it is for want of a true knowledg of God, that iniquity and profaneneſs doth abound every where; as Hoſ. 4. 1. Is it not better, and more comfortable to be a Shepherd to the bruit beaſts, than to ſuch men; for the Shepherd driveth his ſheep into what Paſture he pleaſeth, and ordereth them according to his deſire: but theſe, though bruitiſh in knowledge, yet are devilliſh in wilfulneſs and obſtinacy, and therefore, as they ignorant, ſo they will live and die, and go to Hell in it, go from darkneſs here to darkneſs hereafter. It is a very great comfort to preach to a knowing people, to men of underſtanding, and that are deſirous to be more and more and more inſtructed: There is great hope of ſuch a peoples converſion, afterwards, as you ſee by that expreſſion, Iſa. 6. 10. Leſt they underſtand with their heart, and be converted. What good doth the light at nown day to a blinde man? This makes Preaching in vain, and Hearing in vain.
Now, that you may be matter of rejoycing to your Miniſter in this reſpect, Motives to knowledg in ſpiritual things. 1. Conſider the Neceſſity of it.conſider theſe things;
Firſt, The neceſſity of knowledg in holy things: There is no ſalvation without it, 1 Tim. 2. 4. God would have all men to be ſaved, and to come to the knowledg of the truth; If they will be ſaved, they muſt firſt come to the knowledg of the truth. Thou that art ſottiſhly ignorant of the Principles of Chriſtianity, there is no way for thy ſalvation; ſuch Ignorance as well as Profaneneſs will neceſſarily damn, Iſa. 26. 11. It is a people of no underſtanding; therefore he that made them, will not have mercy on them. This very Text breaketh the ſtaff of your confidence; for you are ready to ſay, Alas, we are poor ignorant people, we know nothing, What then will this help you? No, God that made you, will not have mercy on you. It is true, we pitty poor old blinde men, becauſe they are blinde againſt their will, They would uſe any means to have their ſight: but you that are Ignorant, are no wayes to be pittied, for it is affected and willfull, your eyes might be opened, and you will not: Oh how ſad is it to preach to ſtones, to preach to poſts, for ſo we do, while to the groſly ignorant. Therefore as one ſaid, when asked what was the benefit of Learning; ſaith he, nè lapis ſedeat ſuper lupidem, that when a man is grown up, he may not in the Counſel-Houſe ſit as a ſtone upon a ſtone; implying, that a man without knowledg was no better than a ſenſleſs ſtone: and truly this good would you have by getting knowledg, that in the Congregation thou mayeſt not ſit a block upon a block. How grievous is it to have Idol-hearers, that have eyes but ſee not, and ears but hear not? Know then, to be an ignorant people is matter of grief to a godly Miniſter; for ſuch carry about with them, the viſible mark as it were, of condemnation.
Secondly, That ye may be a knowing people, Conſider, not onelyonly the neceſſity, but the uſefulneſs and profitableneſs of Chriſtian knowledg: By this we come 2. The uſefulneſs of it.to know how to pleaſe God, how to be ſaved, how to enjoy eternal life. All are convinced of the neceſſity of knowledg of earthly things, They muſt know how to plow and ſow. Do you not ſet your children to know a Trade, do you not ſay, They muſt do ſomething that they may live, implying they are outwardly undone, if they know not theſe things? Oh fooliſh and unwiſe! Muſt men know how to live here, and not know how to live hereafter? Muſt men know how to keep of poverty, and not how to keep off damnation? Why then do you not lay aſide all things, to get ſome competent knowledg of Chriſtian Principles, without which you cannot get any good by Sermons, by acraments; without which ye cannot tell how to live, or how to die? And never complain, ſaying, Thou art two old, or thy memory is bad, It is plain, thou haſt no heart to it, no zeal and affection for it. For how many as unlikely as thou art have by diligence got knowledg, even to the admiration of others? And God, he uſeth to bleſs thoſe, and to encreaſe their gifts, that are ſerious in their deſires after theſe things: But the truth is, The world hath thy heart, Luſts have thy heart; If thou didſt follow the wiſe mans Counſel, to ſeek for it more than gold or ſilver, more then any precious treaſure, thou wouldeſt not be ſuch a blinde wretch as thou art; Then, ſaith Solomon, thou ſhalt underſtand the fear of the Lord, and finde the knowledg of God, Prov. 2. 3, 4, 5. If then thou dyeſt in thy ignorance, and without inſtruction, which is threatned as a dread full judgment, Prov. 11. 23. blame thy own corrupt, lazy, and wicked heart: now this univerſal ignorance is the more abominable, becauſe we enjoy the plentifull means of knowledg we have conſtant Preaching, we have the Word read, and Ordinances adminiſtred in our known tongue. How intolerable then is it, if generally people be ſtill as ignorant as if the Bible were not tranſlated, and all Church Adminiſtrations diſpenſed in an unknown tongue?
Secondly, Then are people matter of rejoycing to a miniſtry, when they are believing of the word of God, and receiving it as Gods word, thereby 2. When people believe and receive the Word as Gods Word.awing their hearts, and captivating the whole man thereunto. For knowledg is not enough. How many know, and can remember places of Scripture, can underſtand moſt Sermons? But they do not believe thoſe things to be true, neither are they ingrafted in their hearts by faith, ſaying, This is Gods word, how can I go againſt it? this is the word of God, and not man, that condemneth this ſin, commands that duty. Wo then be unto me if I gainſay it, for this the Apoſtle doth exceedingly commend the Theſſalonians, 1 Theſ. 2. 13. ye he is ſo affected with it, that he did thank God without ceaſing in his reſpect, even becauſe they received the word of God, which they heard of Paul, not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh in thoſe that believe. How comfortable a thing is this, for a Miniſter to ſee his people receiving the truths he preaches of Gods word? They hear and tremble, they believe and tremble; ſo that without this ſaith, as it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, ſo it is to get any good by the Miniſtry. As its not the ſeeing of meat, but the eating of it, and digeſting, that doth nouriſh: ſo neither is it the hearing and knowing, but the believing of it that maketh a powerfull change upon a people.
Thirdly, Then a people rejoyce a faithfull Minister, when to knowledge 3. When they are converted by the Word.and Faith there is added that compleat efficacy of the Word, as to regenerate us, and make us to become new creatures. Even men who yet will lye roaring for ever in Hell, may have great knowledg, and ſome faith; yet, becauſe not regenerated, not delivered fully from their bondage of ſin they lived in, do therefore come ſhort of Eternall glory. Now this is the moſt noble effect of the Preaching of the Word, that it becomes ſpiritual ſeed, to give men a new ſpirituall life, as well to feed, to nouriſh them therein, James, chap. 4. 18. Of his own will begat he us, with the word of truth. and John. 17. Sanctifie them by thy word. When therefore the Miniſters of God do not onelyonly become Inſtructers, but Fathers, as the Apoſtle ſaith he was to theſe Corinthians: this is matter of great joy, Though ye have ten thouſand Inſtructors, yet not many Fathers; for in Chriſt Jeſus I have begotten you through the Goſpel, 1 Corinth. chap. 4. 15. This then is a foundation of much indearing comfort, when a people can owne their Miniſter to be a Father to them, and he them for his ſpiritual children; when by his Miniſtry they are able to ſay, I was enlightened, I was converted, I was ſanctified. Surely, if Ariſtotle ſay, We can never recompence the Gods, nor our naturall Fathers; neither are we able to requite our ſpiritual Fathers. Although as in nature it is obſerved, that love, though it be fire, yet it doth deſcend, not aſcend; ſo it is in ſpirituall relations. Such Miniſters who have been inſtrumental to the converſion of any, do far more rejoyce in ſuch a people, then they can in the Miniſter. Hence the Apoſtle ſpeaketh moſt affectionately, in an overflowing manner, 2 Cor. 6. 11, 12, 13. O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is inlarged, ye are not ſtreightened in us, but in your own bowels; now, for a recompence in the ſame (I ſpeak, as unto children) be ye alſo enlarged. Here you ſee Pauls heart was more inlarged to them than theirs to his. This then is an unſpeakable mercy, when we ſhall be able to ſay with the prophet, (though in another ſenſe) Behold I, and the children which thou haſt given me, Iſa. chap. 8. 18. Or, as it is ſaid of Chriſt, after all his ſufferings for us, He ſhall ſee of the travail of his ſoul, and be ſatisfied. He ſhall ſee his ſeed, and the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall prosper in his hand, Iſa. 53. 10, 11.
Fourthly, Then are they rejoycing to a Miniſter, when they are a ready 4. When they are ready to all duties.and willing people in all Goſpel Duties: when they are his living Sermons, his walking Sermons; when they endeavour to adorn the Goſpel by their converſation, when there are no profane perſons, no bitter roots growing up amongſt them, but a Garden without weeds, a floor of pure wheat without chaff; a net of good fiſh onelyonly; a field of wheat without tares. It is true, there is no ſuch people, no ſuch Church to be exſpected in this life: But the leſs weeds, the fewer brambles, the greater joy to the Husbandman. What a glorious commendation doth the Apoſtle give this Church, 2 Cor. 2, 3. when he calleth them his Epiſtle to be read and known of all men? Yea he ſaith, They are manifeſtly declared to be the Epiſtle of Chriſt. O what unſpeakable gladneſs of heart would it be to a Miniſter to be able to make ſuch an holy boaſt of his people, That they are his Sermons to be read, and known of all men? we may know what he preacheth by the lives of his people. The Apoſtle inſtanceth in one Duty, viz. their Liberality to the poor Saints of God, 2 Cor. 9. 13. For thereby they did glorifie God, by their profeſſed Subjection to the Goſpel. This is bleſſed, when a people in all Goſpel Duties will not cavil, and be contentious, but declare their profeſſed ſubjection thereunto.
5. When they are a people willing and ready to ſubmit to the whole Order of 5. When they are ready to ſubmit to the whole order of Chriſt.Chriſt. To re…orm all corruptions and abuſes; as alſo, with much Repentance to manifeſt their ſorrow for any negligence and remiſſion herein. Theſe very Corinthians, as they were matter of joy, ſo alſo of much trouble, of much trouble, of much ſorrow, and Humiliation. Hence he ſpeaketh remarkeably, 2 Cor. 12. 20. I fear least when I come, I ſhall not finde you ſuch as I would, and that I ſhall not be found unto you, ſuch as ye would; and leaſt when I come again, my God humble me among you, and that I ſhall bewail many which have ſinned already, and have not repented of their uncleanneſs. By this you ſee, that though the Apoſtle had much rejoycing from them, yet he had alſo much Humiliation: Many did not repent, and therefore put him to more ſeverity than he would. Now then that Paul may not contradict himſelf, They could not be his rejoycing, and mourning alſo. Therefore we muſt either hereby gather that the Corinthians were unconſtant, ſometimes hopfull and reforming, and afterwards again relapſing: or elſe this is ſpoken not in reſpect of all, but ſome of them, who did groſly fail in their duty. For if we conſult with 2 Cor. 17. there we ſhall ſee the Apoſtle wonderfully affected with the joy that he had by ſeeing the good effect of his former Epiſtle upon them; for thereby they did ſet upon Church-order, they purged out the old leaven, they manifeſted much godly ſorrow, indignation and zeal, and every way endeavoured to approve themſelves unto Paul, and this did ſo exceedingly rejoyce him, that he ſaith, Verſ. 4. Great is my glorying of you, I am filled with comefort, I am exceeding joyfull in all our tribulation. In the midſt of all his troubles this rejoyced his heart, that they did themſelves aſſiſt to the caſting out of wicked perſons, and were exceeding ſorrowfull for their former negligence herein. Thus then, when a people are ready to obſerve all the Orders, and Inſtituions of Chriſt, this is matter of great joy. But becauſe many Churches have received but half Chriſt, as it were; hence alſo their Miniſters have received but half joy: Some Proteſtant Churches received the Doctrine of Chriſt, but not the Diſcipline: Some were for Orthodoxy in judgment, but not purity in lives; Some were willing to caſt of the Antichriſtian yoke, but then would not ſubmit to the rod of Chriſt: And by this means many faithfull Paſtors have gone to the grave with great grief of heart. Oh it is a ſad thing when people are ſo willfull, as to neceſſitate a Miniſter to remove from them, becauſe they will not receive the whole Order of Chriſt, ſo that he is limited in his Miniſterial Adminiſtrations, and cannot do all he deſireth. Thus theſe Corinthians failed alſo about holy Order, in reference to the Lords Supper, which maketh him begin his diſcourſe about it after this manner, Shall I praiſe you in this? I praiſe you not, 1 Cor. 11. 22. There are many other particulars, which rejoyce a Faithfull Miniſter, as when they continue from not falling off from the truth, either by falſe Teachers, or afflictions, (which is ſo great a matter, that the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Theſ. 3. 8. We live, if ye ſtand faſt in the Lord) likewiſe, when they are a growing people, and do not continue as babes, but are carried unto perfection, and do not ſtand ſtill, but walk in the truth, … I have no greater joy, than to ſee my children walk in the truth, ſo 2 Epiſt. Ver. 4.
Laſtly, When they live in accord and Love: when they think the ſame things, and ſpeak the ſame things, Phil 2. 2. Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like minded, and let nothing be done through ſtrife, and vain glory: But theſe may ſuffice.
Uſe of Inſtruction: How much it lieth a people upon ſo to live, and ſo to walk, that they may rejoyce the Ministers of God: To take heed of that ignorance, of that Impiety and wickedneſs which may grieve them; and ſo they ſhall give an account with heavineſs, and not with joy, at the great Day. Though for the preſent theſe things are a fable, or a ſcorne to thee, yet remember, all the Sermons and Admonitions thou haſt had, all the pains and ſtudies taken for the Salvation of thy ſoul, will one day witneſs againſt thee. This will make us with ſadneſs and trembling to think what account can we give of ſuch perſons at that great Day: we that have prayed for you, preached to you, mourned for you, muſt then be your Accuſers; we cannot help it: The Lord will require your ſouls at our hands, and then muſt we ſay, O Lord, ſuch a ſinner, and ſuch a ſinner, we have reproved him, we have declared thy will to him, but he would have his luſts though he were damned for them, he regardeth his ſinnes more than heaven, and eternal life. Let us conclude all with that ſad and ſerious place; and oh that it might never out of your heart, but be with you ſitting and walking, riſing and going to bed, Heb. 13. 17. Obey them that rule over you, and ſubmit your ſelves, &c. In which Text is much excellent matter, but I ſhall touch at it onelyonly. Firſt, There is the Sanction and eſtabliſhment of a Miniſtry and Paſtors over a people; For they are commanded to obey ſuch. Where are they then that cry down a miniſtry, think it needleſs, at leaſt no Inſtitution of Chriſt? Secondly, Here is eſtabliſhed the dignity of Miniſters, partly by their Titles, foreign, they are Guides, Leaders, ſuch as are ſet over you; and partly in the duty enjoyned the people, which is to obey, and ſubmit. The firſt ſignifieth obedience, the other reverence and ſubmiſſion, ſo that they are to yield to the wholeſome Counſels of their Paſtors, and that with honor to them. 3. Here is the office of a Paſtor to watch for the peoples ſoules, ſo that, if the Honor tempt, here is the Duty and danger which may deterr. 4. There is the duty of the people, as you heard, to obey and ſubmit. 5. Here is a Reaſon of it, They are to give an account of your ſoules; we are Stewards, and to ſee that one ſheep be not loſt. So that the Miniſters office is more dangerous, becauſe he muſt account for himſelf and many others alſo; which made Chryſoſtome wonder, if any Guide or Officer of a Church could be ſaved; but that he ſpeaketh, ſaith Eſtius, becauſe of the many evil and negligent ones; otherwiſe, ſuch as Chryſoſtome himſelf would be ſaved. Neither is this Text to diſcourage good and Faithfull Paſtors, but rather to comefort them, becauſe God will, in a ſpecial manner be with them, and bleſs their Labours. Now the Apoſtle ſheweth, that this is a ſpecial means to diſcourage them, if by their wickedneſs people ſo walk, as that they ſhall render their account with grief. For certainly, if the more they have converted, the greater their accidental joy will be, then the more are damned (though not by their fault) the greater will their grief be. And that we might not think it a light matter thus to diſcourage and grieve a Miniſter, either in his Paſtoral labours for their ſoules, (as ſome relate the words) or when, at the day of Judgment, he is to give an account (as others) he addeth, this is not profitable to you, that is, you will finde the loſs of this, you will ſmart for it; God will reward them for their Labours, though ye be damned. Thus God will be avenged for your ingratitude herein. But what people think of theſe things?