An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 106
SERM. CVI.
Of the Encouragements a Miniſter hath from the hopes of doing good to a people.
2 COR. 1. 15.
And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that you might have a ſecond benefit.
AT this Verſe the Apoſtle taketh an happy occaſion for a tranſition to his Apology, or defence againſt that crime charged upon him, by the falſe Teachers; Non ſaltat, ſaith Cajetan, he doth not leap, falling upon this matter abruptly, but the tranſition is very genuine. Paul, it ſeemeth, had promiſed to come to thoſe Corinthians, but for weighty reaſons he deferred his coming hitherto. The falſe Teachers, they waiting for all advantages to calumniate him, did upon this accuſe him with levity and inconſtancy, that with him was yea and nay, that he did purpoſe according to carnal reſpects, accommodating himſelf to time, and outward advantages. Now the Apoſtle is very zealous and vehement in vindicating of himſelf herein. It is true, Piſcator doth begin this Apologetical Diſcourſe at the 12th Ver. but it ſeemeth more genuine to make the beginning of it at this verſe. Estius doth well obſerve, that while Paul was ſpeaking in the commendation and praiſe of his Converſation, he did uſe the plural number, joyning others with him, to avoid envy; but when he cometh to this Apologetical part, being charged with a heynous crime, he uſeth the ſingular Number, and ſpeaketh of himſelf onelyonly.
In the words we may take notice:
Firſt, Of Pauls Reſolution.
2. The Motive of it.
3. The Time.
4. The End:
And 5. The Manner, how it was to be executed.
In the Verſe following his Reſolution is ſet down in theſe words: I was minded to come unto you; foreign, it ſignifieth ſuch a Reſolution, and purpoſe, that was made upon good advice and deliberation; It was not a raſh, ſuddain, or preſumptuous Decree, but made upon good grounds, though afterwards he had cauſe to change his minde. From this word foreign, ſome ſay the word Bulla is derived, as being his wiſe decree and purpoſe; but ſeldome is there either wiſdome or righteouſneſs therein.
2. There is the motive in this confidence, viz. which was mentioned before of their mutual rejoycing in one another, whereby he was perſwaded, that he might do much good amongſt them: we have ſpoken of the word already. This he ſpeaketh, to ſhew that the motive of his coming to them was wholly out of love and deſire to do them good.
3. The Time when, and that is, foreign, before, ſome make it a trajection, as if it did belong to his mind and purpoſe; he had before determined others to his coming to him, as if this coming ſhould have been long before; but there is no great matter in either conſtruction, though Beza and Grotius go the former way. If you ſay, Did the Apoſtle then change his mind? did he alter his purpoſe? if ſo, would not this call in queſtion all his Apoſtolical Doctrine? To this we are to anſwer in the proſecution of his Apology at the 23d verſe; he there plainly telleth them what was the cauſe that made him forbear his comming, not any levity or inconſtancy in him, but their ſinfulneſs: It was, that he might not execute that Apoſtolicall ſeverity amongſt them, as they deſerved, of which, in its time.
Laſtly, There is the End of his coming, which is wholly ſpiritual, That you might have a ſecond benefit; It was for their good, not his own. Let us conſider the Motive in this confidence, of your kindneſs and love, as alſo, of my doing good to you. I purpoſed to come to you.
Obſerve;
That where a Faithfull Miniſter hath good hopes and confidence of doing good Where a Faithfull Miniſter hath hopes of doing good, he hath good encouragement to remain.to a people, there is great encouragement of abiding with ſuch.
Thus it was with theſe very Corinthians: God, in a Viſion to Paul, Act. 18. 10. commanded him to ſtay at Corinth, and not be afraid, which he did a year and half, longer then uſually he did any where; and the reaſon is, Becauſe there was much people in that City to be gathered to God. Oh how rejoycing is it to a Faithfull Miniſter, when he ſeeeth God hath converting work, edifying work for him to do amongſt ſuch a people? Thus you have alſo Paul reſolved upon his tarrying at Epheſus, 1 Cor. 16. 9. and why ſo? A great and effectual door is opened to me. He did ſee a likelihood of much ſpiritual good to be done, and this made him willing to abide there. To affect our hearts with this truth, conſider,
Firſt, That all people, both by nature and cuſtome have a door faſt bolted againſt the entrance of the Word. So that, it is as great a miracle, for Chriſt, by the 1. All people naturally have a door bolted againſt Chriſt.preaching of the Goſpel to enter into the hearts of Hearers, as it was, when he came in to his Diſciples, the doors being ſhut; yea here is a door upon a door, a bolt upon a bolt. There is firſt their native corruption, and by this they are dead in ſin; So that our Preaching is like hooting into the ear of a dead man, ſhould not the ſpirit of God change and prepare the hearts of Hearers. This is the inward door; and then there is an outward door, which is Cuſtome and Continuance in ſinning, and this alſo hardeneth againſt the Miniſtry. Therefore people are to tremble under this contrariety to their own ſpiritual good. Remember, that as you have a door ſhut now againſt the Goſpel, ſo God will one day have a door ſhut againſt you in the Kingdome of Heaven: ſo that, although you ſhall cry Lord, Lord, open to us, yet it cannot be granted you, Luke 13, 25. As much intreating as we make to you now to receive the Lord Chriſt, ſo much will you one day uſe that Chriſt would receive you. Now we knock, and cry, and importune that you open the doors of your heart; and then you ſhall howl and cry to Chriſt to open the doors and gates of Heaven.
Secondly, Becauſe men are thus ſhut up againſt the Word; hence it is, that neither any tractableneſs, or ſuppoſed probity in any people, nor the admirable 2. Tis the grace of God… alone that can open this door.gifts, and efficacious parts of a Miniſtry: but the powerfull grace of God alone is that which doth open the doors of mens hearts. Not any tractableneſs in people, therefore the Socinian, and Arminian Doctrine is with indignation to be excluded, who ſpeak of a probitas naturalis, and ingenium docile; a natural teachableneſs in ſome perſons, which doth prepare them for the Goſpel, and that is the reaſon why ſome are converted by the word, and not others: yea, they are not afraid to offer violence to that Text; which doth ſo evidently witneſs againſt them, Act. 13. 48. As many as were ordained to eternal life believed. The word, foreign, they would wreſt to ſignifie ſome inward Diſpoſition, and Qualification, men that had fitted themſelves: But certainly, If God ſo often tell the Iſraelites, that he gave them not that rich Land of Canaan becauſe of their Righteouſneſs, or, for that they were better than others; can we think, Heaven and Salvation, which was typified by that Canaan, ſhall be obtained by our own worth? Nay, experience telleth us, that ſometimes the moſt prophane have received the Goſpel, when others more civilized and moralized have been great enemies to it. If any have Humility and Meckneſs, which is neceſſary for the ſucceſs of the Goſpel, in his heart, that is the gift of God, it floweth not from nature. Neither Secondly, is it any thing in the excellent gifts of any men, though they could preach with the tongue of Angels. Though the Apoſtles were deſigned by Chriſt to be leaven to leaven the whole World, to be ſalt to ſeaſon all people, yet too many here as the favour of death; and ſome were the more enraged, and made more obſtinate in fin, by how much the more affectionate he was to do them good. Yet the Miniſtry, though of it ſelf it cannot roll away this ſtone, or open this door of mens hearts, is not therefore uſeleſs: God hath appointed to convert by it. We muſt not out of Pride refuſe to waſh in this Jordan, as Naaman at firſt did, thinking other waters as good; I mean, to think, that ſtayiug at home, and reading of good Books, is as profitable; becauſe this is to neglect the inſtituted means by God; and it is juſt, that it thou do not ſeek God, where he is to be found, that thou ſhalt never finde him there where thou ſeekeſt him. Though this be ſo, yet it is God that openeth the door of mens hearts; Paul ſaid, An effectual door was opened, in a paſſive fear: he doth not ſay, I have opened it. Hence Chriſt ſpeaketh from heaven to the Church of Philadelphia, Rev. 3. 7, 8. I have ſet before thee an open door, and no man can ſhut it. When Chriſt will open the hearts of people, as he did Lydia's all the rage and violence of the Devil cannot hinder it. How many men are wrought upon, that, of all in the world you would not have exſpected it? who would have thought ſuch bears ſhould be turned into ſheep? Thus God ſometimes continueth a Miniſtry to a people, which doth a world of good: when there are many perſecutors, many enemies, men that have uſed all their fraud and power to remove it, and could not any more ſtirr it, then they could mountains. While God hath converting or ſaving work to do by a Miniſter, though it be but for one ſoul, though all the reſt ſhould maliciouſly conſpire againſt him, yet they do imagine things in vain. Obſerve that I place already mentioned, 1 Cor. 16. 9. An effectual door was opened, and their were many Adverſaries. There was a large door opened for all that. It is true, we have that Expreſſion even in the ſame Chapter, Rev. 3. 20. Behold I ſtand at the door and knock, and if any man open unto me, &c. But that place onelyonly implyeth our duty, what we are bound to do, not our ability. He that knocketh muſt alſo open the door, although the will is not forced in this, but God hath inſuperable power over it, whereby he can make it of unwilling willing.
3. It may fall out ſometimes that God calleth a man to preach to a people concerning whom their is none or little hope of doing any good. Now ſuch who are thus 3. Sometimes Miniſters are called to a people of ſmall hopes.called muſt continue in their ſlation, obeying the will of God, though they ſee they labour in vain. This was Iſayes caſe, Ch. 6. when he is commanded by his preaching to make the eyes of the people blinde, their hearts heavy. It was alſo Ezekiels caſe, Cha. 3. 7. But the houſe of Iſrael will not hearken unto thee, for they will not hearken unto me, for all the houſe of Iſrael are impudent and hard hearted, ſo Cha. 2. 7. Thou ſhalt ſpeak my words to them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. Thus a Miniſter, lawfully called to a people, muſt not preſently think of departing from them, becauſe of the little hope that he hath to do good, but muſt patiently and conſtantly wait upon the Lord in his way. The caſe of a Miniſters removeal from a people is of great difficulty and tenderneſs: The cauſes of his departure may be either Internal, which God onelyonly knoweth; as, Whether it be a pure Zeal to Gods glory, or ſome carnal and ſiniſter reſpect: or External, and thoſe externally may be either by ſome powerfull and cogent Providence of God, as ſome think, in the Plague; or perſonal Perſecution of the Miniſter, or by the command of Superiours, or for want of Maintenance, or where he cannot have his health; or hy a voluntary diſmiſſion of the people; or Laſtly, when there is a manifeſt Oppoſition generally againſt the Miniſtry, ſo that the madneſs and malice of the people force him away. Thus our Saviour commandeth, Matth. 10. 14. Whoſoever ſhall not reteive you, when ye depart out of that city, ſhake off the duſt of the feet: Thereby to ſignifie, ſay ſome, ſo God would at laſt caſt off ſuch a people, with as much abhorrency, as we do the duſt of our feet: or elſe, thereby to declare, that all the labour and pains they had been at, ſhould one day give in Teſtimony againſt them. Thus we read Act. 13. 21. Paul and Barnabas ſhook off the duſt off their feet againſt the perſecuting and unbelieving Jews. And Verſe 46. Paul ſpeaketh boldly to them, Seeing ye put the word of God from you, and judg your ſelves unworthy of Eternall life, lo we turn to the Gentiles. Thus You ſee there may be weighty Cauſes of a Miniſters Removeal. For they are two rigid, who think the Union between Paſtor and people is indiſſoluble, like that of marriage: Yet among all the Cauſes, nothing is ſo clear, as when a when a people, by their wickedneſs and Oppoſition do perſecute and drive him away; or when they are too refractory to the Orders of Chriſt, that he cannot with a good conſcience exerciſe all Miniſterial duties amongſt them. But, though this be ſo, The frowardneſs and unprofitableneſs of a people muſt not immediately make them take up ſuch Reſolutions; they muſt ſhew much Conſtancy and ſelf-denial, uſing all means to recover them. For ſeeing it is God that giveth the encreaſe, though we plant and water, and his time is unknown to us, it may fall out, that a people, who give no hope for the preſent, may afterwards appear more curable; and the ſeed that is now ſown, thou for the preſent it may ſeem buried, yet afterwards it may grow up. Therefore we are to imitate God himſelf, who uſeth much Patience and Forbearance even to the vileſt men, thereby to allure them to Repentance. This counſel alſo Paſl giveth Timothy, as a Miniſter of the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 2. 25. In meekneſs inſtructing thoſe that oppoſe, if peradventure God will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. Though then hopes of doing good to a people is a great Encouragement to co continue with them, yet a people that appear incurable for the preſent, are not to be immediately abandoned, becauſe the times of ſucceſs are in Gods hand; and ſometimes Perſecutors are at laſt made Lovers, and imbracers of the truth. Beſides, we ſee the Prophet quieting his heart with this, though he had no ſucceſs in his Miniſtry, that he had his reward with God, Iſay 49. 5. Though Iſrael be not gathered, yet ſhall I be glorious in the eyes of God. Such as are deſpiſed and contemned in the eyes of men, ſhall be glorious in the eyes of God.
4. This confidence, and hope of doing good muſt not depend upon a mans own apprehenſions, but muſt be guided by the word of God. So deceitfull and corrupt 4. A Miniſters hope of doing good ſhould be guided by the Word.is the heart of a man, that many times it flattereth it ſelf, and when a man ſeeketh his own advantage, yet he may perſwade himſelf, that it is confidence, and hope of doing good, Therefore to know when their is more hope of doing good in one place than in another, muſt not be decided by ſelfiſh and private deſires, but by general Rules fetched out of Gods Word, and indeed, becauſe all ſucceſs of Miniſterial Labours lyeth wholly upon the good Grace of God, and the Word is bleſſed ſometimes to one people, not ſo likely; and at another time not to a people more likely. Therefore the will of God is very difficultly diſcovered in ſuch caſes; which ſheweth, with how much ſincerity and fervency God is to be ſought unto at ſuch times. Now the Reaſons are palpable, Why Confidence in a Miniſter to do good to a people ſhould be a matter not onelyonly Reaſons why a Miniſters hope of doing good ſhould be matter of of joy to him. 1. The End of his Miniſtry is accompliſhed.of continuance, but of ſtudying, and diligent improving all his Miniſterial Labours with the greater joy.
Firſt, Becauſe the End of his Miniſtry is hereby accompliſhed. When the Diſciples had fiſhed all the day, and caught nothing, they were diſheartened; but when Chriſt bid them throw the net in again, and they brought up a multitude, this made them rejoyce, even to amazement. If the Husbandman is at much coſt and pains about his ground, and that bring forth nothing but bryars and thornes, Is not that a diſheartening? If a Phyſician ſee that no Potions, no Medicines he giveth, ever do any good, will not that make him weary of his imployment? How much more, if a Miniſter labour in vain, Preach in vain, Admoniſh in vain, and ſtill people grow more ohdurate in their ſinnes? Doth not this teach them, with Jonah, even to run from their work?
Secondly, There is great matter of rejoycing where this hope is, becauſe Succeſs in the Ministry is above all Succeſſes. Herein the Souls of men are concerned. In this is contained our everlaſting Happineſs. Oh that men ſhould be no more ſollicitous in this than they are. How few do examine what fruit the Word preached hath upon them; whether it be a ſuſtaining Word, or an hardening; Whether it be the ſavour of life, or the ſavour of death? That Ark which brought ſo much bleſſing to Obedmelech, and his Family; to the Philiſtines was cauſe of grievous Plagues. And thus the ſame Sermons that are life to one, may be darkneſs to others; that are light to one, may be darkneſs to another. If then the Miniſter ſhall ſee his work like to proſper in the end it is ſent for, here is greater cauſe to rejoyce, then in any outward bleſſing whatſoever; for this is of everlaſting conſequence.
Let the Uſe be of Exhortation to you to be a people of good Confidence, that our Miniſteriall Labours ſhall not be in vain; That we do not in vain preach to you, or pray for you. Can there be a greater grief to the Miniſter, yea and provocation of God, than to be like that ground the Scripture ſpeaketh of, Heb. 6. 8? Which drinking in rain often, yet bringing forth nothing but bryars and thornes, is rejected; and whoſe end is to be burned. And is not this the ſad caſe of moſt of thoſe trees that ſtand in the Lords Garden? Do not many grow more ignorant, more prophane, more hardened? Oh what hope can a Miniſter have about ſuch a man? May we not ſee ſad ſymptomes of Gods wrath upon your ſoules? many ſuch deſperate Patients have the ſpiritual Phyſicians of mens ſoules to deal with. But take heed of ſhewing thy ſelf an hopeleſs man to a faithfull Miniſter, one to whom no admonition, no reproof, will ever do good. For,
Firſt, Thoſe ſighs and troubles that thou put teſt ſuch ſpiritual Guides unto are in a ſpeciall manner taken notice of by God. It is true, we ſee Jeremiah ſo grieved, and offended ſometimes at the wicked carriage of the people he propheſied unto, that he prayeth againſt his perſecutors; yea God commanded him, ſaying, Pray not for this people for their good, Jerem. 14. 11. But we have not an extraordinary Spirit; neither dare we pray againſt any hopeleſs people; yet remember, all their …ighs, all their grief will one day witneſs againſt thee. Certainly, if the ears of God be open to the Curſes of an hired Man, whoſe wages are kept from him, how much more will God hear the ſad complaints of thoſe Miniſters who are faithfull, poured out becauſe of a peoples rebellion, and incurableneſs?
2. Conſider this, That your diſcouraging them by your evil wayes maketh them the more unfit and heartleſs in their ſtudies and Labours. Why doth rain fall on the rock, ſay they? Why do we waſh blackamoors? and ſo ſome expound that place, Heb. 13. 17. That they may give their account with joy, and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you, in this ſenſe, by grieving and diſheartening of them, they cannot be ſo active in their Miniſtry, they will grow more heartleſs therein, and that will be your damage. Oh its a terrible thing, when this heavineſs and dulneſs of a Miniſter ariſeth from the diſcouragements he hath from the wicked lives of a people: and therefore Calvin upon that place ſpeaketh excellently, That people ſhould take notice of God puniſhing them for their ingratitude. When their Miniſters abate in zealous and lively watching over their ſoules, we are apt many times to complain of ſuch a dull and liveleſs Miniſtry; yet how little do people think, that many times they give the cauſe, ſo that its Gods puniſhment upon them, in that very thing: yea, though Miniſters be never ſo faithfull and godly, yet as Calvin obſerveth, they cannot go on in their Miniſterial work with that vigor and alacrity they ought to do, when their hearts are bound up with ſorrow and diſcouragements about their people. All cannot attain to Pauls excellency, who could have enlarged bowells to that people, who had ſtreightened ones towards him.