An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 59
SERM. LIX.
The Miniſters of the Goſpel find much oppoſition from the carnal and worldly Profeſſors. Who are theſe carnal and worldly Profeſſors.
2 COR. 1. 8.
Of our trouble, which came to us in Aſia.
THe next thing conſiderable in the Text, is the deſcription of that tribulation which did fall upon the Apoſtle, which was ſo neceſſary and uſefull to be known. In which we have,
1. The Nature of this exerciſe, expreſſed in the name it hath foreign.
2. There is the place where, in Afia.
3. There is the aggravation of it. Of which in its time.
The exerciſe it ſelf is called foreign. Beza (in Annotat. in Cor. cap. 13.) ſaith, this word is properly rendred affliction, not tribulation, for that is foreign, rather than foreign. Hence he ſheweth out of Tully, that Affligo is properly to throw a thing to the ground, ſo as to preſſe it down, and therfore is the ſame with foreign. The word then ſignifieth not an ordinary trouble, but ſuch as doth moſt ſtrictly conſtringe and bind, preſſing a man to the ground; and this he ſaith, did come upon him in Aſia, foreign, not that it came by chance or fortune, or by the meer malice and power of men; no it came by the ſpecial appointment of God, in much wiſdome and mercy, thereby propagating the Goſpel. For afflictions are ſo many arrows delivered out of Gods quiver, which are ſure to hit the mark they are deſtined unto. Here is no more difficulty in the words; only Expoſitors queſtion, What this trouble was, he met with in Aſia? Where may we find any thing about the particulars of it? Cajetan on the place acknowledgeth, That concerning this trouble in Aſia, he could read nothing in any Book that was authentick; yet it ſeemeth not to referre generally to all the troubles he met with in publiſhing of the Goſpel, but to ſome eminent ſingular one; and therefore he ſaith, the trouble, not troubles in the plural number. Some learned men therefore referre this to thoſe paſſages mentioned in the former Epiſtle to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 16. 9. where he ſaid, A great door and effectual was opened to him at Epheſus, (that was in Aſia the leſſe) but there were many adverſaries; and theſe no doubt did endeavour to bring him into much danger. So 1 Cor. 15. 32. he is ſaid there, To fight with beaſts at Epheſus; whether he underſtand beaſts truly and properly, or metaphorically, men as wild and as ſavage as beaſts, all ſheweth the extream danger he was in. It may ſeem probable, that the Apoſtle related to this: only it is objected, That the trouble here mentioned was but lately done, and ſuch as the Corinthians had not yet heard of. Therefore the general current of moſt Interpreters, do conclude, that the Apoſtle meaneth that danger he was in, mentioned Acts 19. by Demetrius, and others, when the whole City of Epheſus was in an uproar, becauſe of the Temple of Diana, concerning which they ſo vehemently accuſed Paul; for there we read was a popular ſedition, and the City was in a great confuſion, Demetrius and his company were in a mad rage againſt Paul. So that although Luke doth not in particular mention the extream and grievous danger Paul was in, yet it may well be concluded from the general. Thus Calvin, and many others. So that this foundation being laid, and this ſuppoſed to be the trouble. We may obſerve,
That the faithfull Miniſters of the Gospel, are ſure to meet with much oppoſition The faithfull Miniſters of the Goſpel are ſure to meet with oppoſition from the world.from all ſuch, who regard Religion no further, than it maketh for their carnal advantage and intereſt.
A neceſſary truth this is; for hereby every one, whoſe heart riſeth againſt the powerfull preaching of the Word, may examine himſelf, What is the motive thereof? What is the cauſe thereof? Though he may pretend this ſpecious colour, and that fair gloſſe, yet it is ſome luſt or other, ſome carnal advantage or other, that doth indeed kindle that flame in his breſt.
That this Doctrine may be the better conceived, let us take notice, What was the cauſe that brought this trouble upon Paul at Epheſus; and we ſhall there ſee, how the ſame cauſes do ſtill make men mad, and bitter enemies againſt the wayes of God. The Hiſtory we have related, Acts 19. from verſ. 23. to the end of the Chapter: it is there declared, That no ſmall ſtirre did ariſe about that way, that is, the Evangelical way, the Gospel way preached by Paul. The occaſion whereof was by one Demetrius a ſilver-ſmith, which made-ſilver ſhrines for Diana, that is, little Images, made for the worſhip of Diana, which was a trade of very great profit and advantage to him and others of the like craft; therefore he conſults with them, and uſeth two arguments to enrage them.
Firſt, That their craft would be in danger. The trade they lived upon would fall to the ground. And this certainly was that which did moſt prevail with him; and by this we ſee, how hard a matter it is to part with a profeſſion or way of life, though never ſo ſinfull, if it be a profitable way. The matter of profit will be like duſt in our eyes to hinder our ſight; it is ready to put out all ſpiritual diſcerning in the conſcience between good and evil, juſt and unjuſt. So that we are greatly to ſuſpect our hearts in thoſe things, that are matter of profit to us, leſt they deceive us therein.
The ſecond Argument is religious: Though his heart be carnal, yet he runneth to the Sanctuary of Religion. The former Argument was too groſſe, if it had been alone; and therefore he maketh Religion the greateſt, The great Goddeſſe Diana ſhall be despiſed; her magnificence deſtroyed. Now this he maketh a very hainous ſinne, becauſe all Aſia, and the world worſhipped her. Thus you ſee multitude, univerſality, and the cuſtome of others, that is the great reaſon he hath to perſwade for the worſhipping of Diana, which is the ſame argument that carnal and ſuperſtitious people do ſtill poſſeſſe their ſouls with.
So that from this hiſtorical paſſage, you ſee the Doctrine genuinely deduced, That men who regard Religion no further, than they have carnal advantages, are like ſo many Toads full of poiſon, full of rage againſt ſuch as do faithfully preach the Gospel. Therefore in this very Chapter, we have a notable inſtance of the work of Gods grace upon ſome who believed, for they brought their Books of curious Arts, which had been gainfull and profitable to them, and burnt them before all men, though the price of them was found to be fifty pieces of ſilver; They mattered not their gain, nor their profit, they would part with all, now they had received the Goſpel in the power of it. We have a parallel Hiſtory with this of Demetrius, Act. 16. 19. where there was a poſſeſſed Damſel, that had a ſpirit of divination, which brought her Maſters much gain by ſoothſaying; but Paul adjureth and diſpoſſeſſeth that ſpirit, whereupon it is ſaid, When her Maſters ſaw that the hope of their gain was gone; They took Paul and Silas, and carried them to the Rulers, laying great crimes to their charge. Thus if we do ſearch to the true ground of all that malice which the Chief-prieſts vented againſt Chriſt, never ceaſing till they had crucified him; although they pretended Religion, and becauſe he ſpake blaſphemy, and did break the Sabbath, yet the real cauſe was, becauſe he diſcovered their hypocriſie and covetouſneſſe, manifeſting that they ſought only great things for themſelves. This alſo Paul chargeth upon his enemies, the falſe Apoſtles, who did create ſo much trouble and grief to him, That they were enemies to the croſſe of Chriſt, and did mind earthly things, Phil. 3. 19. Thus alſo Gal. 6. 12. They made a ſhew in the fleſh, that they might not ſuffer perſecution.
But we come more more particularly to enlarge this. AndTwo ſorts which oppoſe the truth and wayes of Chriſt. 1. Such as take the true Religion to be blaſphemy and idolatry, or ſuperſtition the true ſervice of God.
Firſt, You may take notice, That there are two ſorts of perſons who do with much violence and despite oppoſe the holy truths, and wayes of Chriſt.
Firſt, Such who may have ſuch an abſolute blindneſſe and meer errour upon their mind, that they take the true Religion to be blasphemy and horrible reproach to God; and on the other ſide, they take Idolatry and ſuperſtition to be the onelyonly true ſervice of God, and therefore that they cannot do more acceptable ſervice unto God, then to oppoſe that way of Religion, which yet indeed is only approved of by God. Of ſuch our Saviour ſpake to his Diſciples, John 16. 2. Whoſoever killeth you, will think that he doth God ſervice; and of this number was Paul, who profeſſeth that he once thought himſelf bound to ſet againſt the Name of Jeſus of Nazareth, Act. 26. 9. Here we ſee Paul ſo convinced in his judgement, that if he did not with all his power and might oppoſe the way of Chriſt, he thought, it would have been his great ſinne. And thus no doubt it may be the caſe of many deluded Hereticks and Papiſts; ſo that they ſhall be perſwaded there cannot be more acceptable work unto God, then that they ſhould impriſon and deſtroy thoſe that do yet truly fear God. This ignorance upon them, though it may excuſe in ſome degree, and make them leſſe ſinners, then ſuch who do wilfully oppoſe, and do deſpite maliciouſly againſt the Spirit of grace, yet it doth not totally free them; nay they are perſecutours for all that; as you ſee Paul acknowledged concerning himſelf. Now ſuch enemies as theſe are acted by religious principles, but in a falſe way; they commonly are more zealous and implacable than any other. Paul, becauſe it was not any carnal advantage or profit he ſought after, but a meer zeal for the Religion he had by tradition from his fathers, therefore did he purſue the Chriſtians in ſuch a bloody furious manner. Tantum Religio potuit, &c. ſaid the Poet: Oppoſitions againſt the wayes of God from ſuch who are zealous and devout in their falſe wayes, are conſtantly more dreadfull and terrible than any others. So that we are again and again to try what ſpirit we are of, to examine, Whether it be the true Religion indeed that we give our ſelves up to the profeſſion thereof. For if it be not, the greater zeal, the greater forwardneſſe therein, is but the greater condemnation; and like the Traveller out of the way, the more thou runneſt, the further thou goeſt from the true way. But
The ſecond ſort of enemies to the truths of Chriſt, which are farre the 2. Such who profeſſe religion, meerly becauſe it ſuits with their carnal intereſts.more numerous part, is of ſuch, Who are addicted to ſuch a way and perſwaſion in Religion, not becauſe of any Divine worke of Gods Spirit upon them, but becauſe it ſuiteth with their carnal intereſt, it agreeth with their external profit; and therefore they cry out, Great is Diana, when indeed in their heart they ſay, Great is their wealth, great is their gain; this is the Diana. We may juſtly charge this upon Popery. What was it that made Luther, and the other Reformers ſo odious to the Popiſh party? What made the Pope with his adherents, to breath nothing but fire and ſword? Was it not becauſe they touched the Popes Crowne, and the Monkes belly? Hence
Secondly, The faithfull Miniſters of the Goſpel meet with oppoſition, not Hence the Miniſters of the Goſpel are not only oppoſed to thoſe who are without, but by ſome within the Church.from the Pagans only that are without, but from the ſonnes of the Church, which are within; from thoſe who profeſſe the ſame God, the ſame faith, the ſame Chriſt with them. And the reaſon is, becauſe many that profeſſe Chriſt, do ſo for earthly and carnal reſpects; and ſuch titular and counterfeit Chriſtians as theſe, cannot but hate thoſe that are genuine. The Apoſtle in the large Catalogue of his manifold ſufferings, reckoneth this up amongſt the reſt, Perils from falſe brethren, 2 Cor. 11. 26. Thus in Abrahams family, there will be an Iſhmael to perſecute Iſaac, becauſe one is of the bond-woman; and the other of the free. Think not then, that the Pagan or Jew, will become enemies to the powerfull preaching of the Goſpel, for every falſe Chriſtian will. Every one that followeth Chriſt onelyonly, becauſe of loaves, or with Judas, becometh a Diſciple, becauſe of the bagge. Doth not experience confirme this, that the prophane Chriſtian doth as bitterly rage at, and oppoſe the holy wayes of Chriſt, as any Heathen would doe? Thus the godly Miniſters have trouble (as it were) from their own flock, their Sheep ſometimes becomes Wolves and Beares to them; and with Ezekiel, They dwell among Scorpions, Ezekiel 2. 6.Who are they which profeſs Religion meerly for carnal ends. 1. Such as live in their luſts.
Thirdly, The carnal intereſt and earthy ſinfull respects, are of divers ſorts; even as the creeping things that are produced from the earth are innumerable. As
1. He knoweth Religion onelyonly for carnal ends, though it be the true one, that turns the grace of God into wantonneſſe; That cryes up Gospel truths onelyonly to encourage themſelves in a licentious way. As many of the mixed multitude went out with the Iſraelites from Aegypt, yet kept their old and corrupt natures ſtill; So in the firſt Reformation many came out of Rome with the bleſſed Reformers; many gloried in the name of Evangelici, that they had ſhaken off the yoke of Antichriſtianiſme; but at the ſame time, they did not caſt off the yoke of ſinne. The firſt Reformers ſadly complained of ſuch, that looked upon the Goſpel, as the caſting off not onelyonly the Popes Laws, but Gods Law alſo; as if to renounce the Images and Maſſe had been enough, though in the mean time they did ſecurely ſleep in all wickedneſſe. Now from ſuch as theſe, the Miniſters of the Goſpel have found as much unkindneſſe and malice, as from their Popiſh adverſaries: So that both ot home and abroad, the Prophets of the Lord have been greatly afflicted. Theſe ſpots in our feaſts; theſe lovers of pleaſures more than God; theſe are they that have in all places withſtood the power and life of godlineſſe, the holy Order and Diſcipline Chriſt hath inſtituted; as if the liberty Paul bids us ſtand faſt in, were a liberty to ſinne without controll, and an indulgence in all licentiouſneſſe. Such as theſe, when they come into the warme Sunne, when they have Summer, an opportunity in their hand will diſcover that they are Serpents, and will ſting. Tertullian apologized of old, That the Chriſtian Religion had her greateſt enemies in Ale-houſes and Brothel-houſes; and thus ſtill the powerfull way of godlineſſe is oppoſed by thoſe monſters in Chriſtianity, that have the head of a Chriſtian, but the heart and life of beaſts; Mulier formoſa ſupernè deſinit in piſcem; Like thoſe Locuſts, Revel. 9. 6. that had faces like men, but teeth like Lions, and tailes like Scorpions. Thus how many have the face of Chriſtians, but in heart, in lives are beaſts all over? From theſe the Miniſters of God have received much oppoſition.
2. They know Religion onelyonly after carnal respects, who intend to enrich and 2. Such as intend to advance themſelves by it.to advance themſelves by it, take up the profeſſion of it for no other end, but to gain thereby. As this Demetrius made him ſhrines, not ſo much out of devotion to Diana, as to increaſe his wealth. Our Saviour knowing ſuch a ſelf-ſeeking diſpoſition was predominant in many, who proffered to be his Diſciples, he therefore prevents their Hypocriſie and Apoſtaſie, by telling them, The Foxes have holes, but the Sonne of man hath not where to lay his head; and requireth it as a fundamental qualification, That he who would be his Diſciple, muſt louelove Chriſt more than father and mother, and life it ſelf: Yea muſt not venture to winne the whole world, if thereby he ſhould loſe his ſoul. Oh take heed of this Judas, this treacherous diſpoſition in thee, to be of the mind with thoſe Paul ſpeaketh of, who ſuppoſed, That gain is Godlineſſe, 1 Tim. 6. 5. Yea ſuch are worſe than Judas; for he ſold Chriſt but once, thou doeſt continually; and he was grieved and troubled for what he had done; but thou, though thou preferreſt earthy things all the day long before Chriſt, yet art not grieved in heart. Well, ſuch as theſe are, will in caſe of profit and advantage, make all oppoſition againſt the preaching of the Goſpel, when they cannot have Chriſt and their Mammon any longer, when their Dagon and Ark will conſiſt no longer together, then you ſhall ſee all that poiſon vomited at the mouth, which before lay cloſe up in the heart; then they will deſire no Miniſtry, no Goſpel, rather than be deprived of their gain.