An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 8
SERM. VIII.
In what ſenſe Paul ſaith of himſelf, He was an Apoſtle by the will of God: Shewing likewiſe how all. Church-Offices and Priviledges, come meerly from the will and good pleaſure of God.
2 COR. 1. 1.
Paul an Apostle of Jeſus Chriſt by the will of God, &c.
VVE are now to conſider the laſt particular in this Inſcription, as it is divided to us, and that is the impulſive Cauſe, or rather, the Manner how Paul obtaineth this Apoſtleſhip, which is ſaid to be by the will of God.
Here is much comprehended in this expreſſion; for hereby is declared, That How many wayes the will of God is taken.it was not man, but God that called him; and therefore they ſhould take heed, leſt while they ſet themſelves againſt his Office, they fight againſt God himſelf. The will of God foreign is uſed ſometime for the Effect and Object of his will, being the ſame with foreign, Pſal. 40. 8. and in many other places.
2. For the foreign, the very act of willing, Rom. 9 15. And
Laſtly, For the attribute and property in God, whereby he willeth; but this being the ſame with his Eſſence is infinite, and ſo tranſcendently differing from mans will, which is ſuppoſed to be a faculty diſtinct from the ſoul, and ſo an accident having alſo many imperfections accompanying of it, becauſe it is the will of a finite creature.
It is not proper in this place to enter upon thoſe great and large Diſputes, which are de voluntate, or of the will of God. Though it might be operoſum, yet it would not be operae pretium, eſpecially in this place, where it is mentioned upon a particular conſideration, viz. as that whereby Paul was made an Apoſtle. Paul doth not here attribute any thing to himſelf, but all to the good will of God; for foreign here is as much as foreign, his beneplacitum, his good pleaſure, both approving and procuring Paul's Apoſtleſhip. From whence obſerve,
That it is the meer will and good pleaſure of God that calleth us to any priviledge It is the meer will and good pleaſure of God that calls us to any office or priviledge in the Church.or office in his Church.
As for Paul's own particular, he is often affected with this grace of Apoſtleſhip, as he cals it, which was vouchſafed to him, whereas he had been the chiefeſt of ſinners. And leſt it ſhould be thought, that Paul indeed might well attribute his Office, and all to Gods grace, becauſe he was ſo notorious a ſinner you may read that Chriſt ſpeaks to all his Apoſtles, that he alone not for their merits, had appointed them to that Office. Joh. 15. 16. Ye have not choſen me, but I have choſen you.
Let us illuſtrate this Doctrine. AndWe have all Church-priviledges from the meer will of God.
Firſt, Every priviledge we have in the Church of God, we obtain it by the meer will of God. And this muſt needs be ſo, for our call to the Church-priviledges, ſuch as Juſtification, and Adoption, and Salvation, are greater and higher mercies than any peculiar Office never ſo eminent. If God hath called thee to ſanctifying grace in an effectual manner, this is far greater than to be made an Apoſtle. Judas was choſen to an Apoſtleſhip, but not to ſalvation, and therefore his end was dreadfull.
The Scripture ſpeaketh of a two-fold Call, That general one, which belongs There is a two-fold Call, the one general, the other particular, both which come from God.to all the people of God, who are his called ones, and that according to his purpoſe; and a ſpecial particular Call to ſome Office or Relation; and both theſe are of the will and good pleaſure of God. For our effectual Calling as Chriſtians, This is frequently aſcribed to be of grace, not by works we have done, Rom. 9 15, 16. It's not of him that willeth. You ſee, it's not our will, our power, or ſtrength, but of God that willeth. Thus Jam. 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us. This conſideration then ſhould humble all the godly, as Paul ſaith here, An Apoſtle by the will of God: ſo mayeſt thou, a Believer by the will of God, juſtified by the will of God; it's becauſe God will have it ſo; my will, my power, nor the will of any man elſe, could not effect it for me. And this is for the general, as we are called to be believers.
But then more eſpecially, concerning Gods will, as to particular Relations and Offices, especially in Gods Church. It is good to take notice of that old diſtinction, A four-fold diſtinction concerning the Call of Officers. 1. Some are called only by the will of God, not at all by the will of man.which Hierom had long ſince, concerning the Call of Officers in Gods Church. For there are ſome (ſaith he) that were called only by the will of God, and of Chriſt, not at all by the will of man. Thus were the Apoſtles, they were appointed Officers by the meer will and appointment of Chriſt. And therefore Gal. 1. 1. we ſee in what a ſpecial manner Paul was an Apoſtle by the will of God; for he ſaith, He was neither an Apoſtle of men, or by men, but of Jeſus Chriſt; nor of men, that is, he was not choſen by their votes and ſuffrage; nor by men, that is, he was not as the ordinary Paſtors, who though called of God, yet were made ſo by men, as Timothy and Titus ordained Elders in every City where they had to do.
2. There are thoſe who have their Call of God, but by men, ſuch as we now 2. Some have their call of God, but by men.mentioned. For though their Call was partly by the will of man, yet not ſolely. Therefore God is ſaid 1 Cor. 12. to ſet theſe ordinary Officers in the Church, as well as extraordinary. As Joſhua, though appointed by Moſes to be chief Magiſtrate to the people of Iſrael, was as truly of God, as Moſes, though not ſo immediately.
3. There are thoſe who are of men only, but not of God; and they are all ſuch, 3. Some are of men only, not at all of God.who by unlawfull and ſinfull wayes get into the Miniſtry, and ſo have an outward Authority and Office, though they be wholly unworthy, and unfit in themſelves. Theſe are indeed by the will of God; but it is a permiſſive will onelyonly, or by his juſt anger againſt an unworthy people.
Laſtly, There are thoſe, who have neither Call from God, or men; that are 4. Others have their call neither from God nor men.Preachers neither by the will of God, or of men, but their own ſelf-will. Theſe are intruders, that approve themſelves, that judge themſelves fit without the advice of others, Theſe run and are not ſent.
In the next place, Let us conſider how comprehenſive this is, when Paul ſaith, An Apoſtle by the will of God, and it is not uſeleſs: for every Miniſter ought to ſay ſo, I am a Miniſter of the Goſpel by the will of God; and the people ought to ſay, Such an one is our Paſtour by the will of God. It is God that had a ſpecial hand that he ſhould be our Paſtor, and we his flock. And
1. It is more than a meer bare will of permiſſion. Paul did not mean Gods meer permitting and ſuffering of him to be ſo, for thus all the falſe Apoſtles, all In what ſenſe Paul here ſaith, By the will of God. 1. It is more than his permiſſive will.the falſe and corrupt Teachers that are, they are by the will of God. It was by Gods will that any unworthy and corrupt Teachers have ever crept into the Church of God, 1 Cor. 11. There muſt be hereſies, God will have it ſo; but how? It is only his permiſſive will, whereby he ſuffers ſinne to be. It was a cuſtom that ſome Church-officers had to ſay, They were ſo permiſſione divinâ, by divine permiſſion, as thinking themſelves unworthy, only God ſuffered it to be ſo. Even as Bernard ſtyled himſelf vocat us Abbas, as if he had only the name, not the reality: but it is well, if this was not proud humility. To be ſure as God ſometimes ſuffers evil Governours in Civil Affairs, ſo he doth alſo in Church-adminiſtrations.
2. Paul is an Apoſtle not by Gods juſt and angry will, raiſing him up for the 2. It is not his angry and juſt will.ſinnes and puniſhment of a people; but it was from Gods good pleaſure. And this conſideration is very terrible; God hath not only a permiſſive will, but a juſt ordaining will of evil and ungodly Officers at ſome times, to ſome people, for wiſe and holy ends, God in great anger doth will ſuch Officers and Miniſters to God ſometimes doth juſtly ſend ungodly Miniſters amongſt a people.a people, that ſhall be blind guides, that ſhall be thieves and robbers, that ſhall be ravening wolves, and ſhall lead many to hell with themſelves. Sad and fearfull is the condition of ſuch a people. See a notable place for this, 1 King. 22. 22, 23. where God is deſcribed as a juſt Judge ſitting upon his Throne, and an hoſt ready to wait on him. Now there was wicked Ahab, who deſired ſuch Prophets that would ſpeak no evil to him, that would flatter him, and thereupon ſee what God ſaith to the lying Spirit, he bids him Go, and be a lying Spirit in the mouth of all the Prophets, and he ſhall perſwade and prevail. Thus the Lord ſtill doth. There are many people love not a Miniſter, that will reprove ſinne, that will promote godlineſs and holineſs; but let them have a man, that will let them be at eaſe in their ſinnes and formality. Now God in his juſt anger, and by his provoked will brings ſuch a Miniſter to ſuch a people: You would have ſuch, and God will have you have ſuch, and they ſhall perſwade and prevail. To this purpoſe alſo, Jer. 5. 30, 31. Now this will of God in ordering ſuch Officers, is ſometimes to increaſe the condemnation of the Officer himſelf, and to draw out his ſins more. They are Officers in the Church through the anger of God to themſelves; they will gnaſh their teeth that ever they were entruſted with ſuch power, for thereby they become more wicked. Had not Judas better have been the pooreſt wretch in the Church of God, then ſuch an eminent Officer? It is ſometimes alſo for the wickedneſs and ungodlineſs of a people; and therefore even thoſe that are godly, who live under ſuch providential Miniſters (I call them providential Ministers, becauſe they are ſo by his providence in anger, not by his approving will) they are to conſider two things:
1. To bleſs and praiſe God, that the lying Spirit in the Miniſter hath not prevailed on thee; that he hath not led thee into the ditch, that his poiſon hath not fallen on thee: Oh admire Gods goodneſs herein! And withall
In the ſecond place, Humble thy ſelf under Gods hand. It is his will it ſhould be ſo, as yet the providence of God doth manifeſt him offended with ſuch a people.
3. The will of God doth imply, that Paul was not an Apoſtle by chance or meer hap, but that there was a directing hand of God in it. And certainly ſuch a conſideration 3. It was by the directing will of God, not by chancewould much imbolden Paul; for as he was by the will of God made an Apoſtle, ſo by the ſame will he ſhould continue, and be preſerved in the ſame, notwithſtanding all oppoſitions whatſoever. And thus all the godly Miniſters of the Goſpel find the good will of God towards them, that they were at firſt ſet apart for that function, or by ſome providence of God brought to deſire it. They may find many times a peculiar will of God, that ſometimes when their friends would have it otherwiſe, yet God would have them Miniſters. And thus alſo for their deſignation to ſuch a people. How many times are great diſcoveries of Gods will, that where there was no likelihood, yet God would have him Paſtor to ſuch a people? It is of great uſe both for Miniſter and people to obſerve the ſpecial will of God. For as in civil relations of husband and wife, there God many times diſcovers a peculiar will of his bringing them together, which made the Wiſeman ſay, Riches were an inheritance, but a wife was the gift of God. Riches and an inheritance are alſo the gift of God; but thoſe relations are in a more peculiar manner of him. And it is good for thoſe that are in ſuch relations to quicken themſelves by meditation on the will of God, that brought ſuch things about, beyond all expectation, or humane providence. Thus alſo it ought to be in ſpiritual relations: Oh it is good to lay to heart, how the will of God hath been, that thou ſhouldſt live under a powerfull Miniſtry, it may be all thy life time, and it hath been denied to others, who often have ſought to God for ſuch a mercy. Act. 16. 6. You may there read, that Paul while in his travails preached the Word every where where he came, yet was forbidden to preach in Aſia; yet at the ſame time at the ſixth verſe, There ſtood a man, and cried, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. See how the Spirit of God like the wind bloweth where it liſteth, commandeth Paul to one place, and forbiddeth him another.
4. It implieth, That it was no merit or deſert in Paul, which advanced him to 4. It implieth, it was not Pauls merit, but Gods will that advanced him to this office.this Office. For as believers, John 13. are ſaid, Not to be born of the will of men, or of the will of the fleſh, but of God, which takes all from man, and giveth all to God: So it is in this work of the Miniſtry; it is not becauſe men have parts, or learning, or holineſs, that God ſets them apart for ſuch an Office, but God himſelf. God tels Jeremiah, Chap. 1. 5. That he had ſanctified him from the womb, that is, ſet him apart to be his Prophet; and this was before any good at all could be in him. And this alſo Paul himſelf acknowledgeth, Gal. 1. 15. where he ſaith, He was ſeparated from the womb. And obſerve, how both the work of grace, and his Apoſtleſhip came together; and the fountain of all is made Gods pleaſure, When it pleaſed God to call me. Thus you ſee, that thoſe who are raiſed up to be ſerviceable in the Church, have all from God, both foreign and foreign, Potentia and Poteſtas, as they are ſometimes diſtinguiſhed. Hence it is that this will of God doth not reach only to the appointing of him to his Office, but the inward preparing and fitting of him for that work. Thus you ſee that all things neceſſary for a good Miniſter is comprehended in this, That he is ſo by the will of God.
But you may ſay, What if a Miniſter ſhould at firſt enter into this Office Concerning thoſe who enter upon the Miniſtry only upon carnal and corrupt motives.meerly by the inſtigation of a corrupt will? Nothing at firſt made him intend the Miniſtry but hopes of preferment, and getting a livelihood in the world?
I anſwer, It is indeed a moſt bleſſed thing, when it is with a Miniſter, as with Paul; he was made an Apoſtle at the ſame time, when God did alſo inwardly reveal his grace to him: when from the youth the workings of ſanctification, and zeal to convert ſouls, hath put them upon the Miniſtry; but where ſuch corrupt principles did prevail, and were the only motives to be a Preacher of the Goſpel, there muſt be great humiliation for them: and no doubt many godly Miniſters of the Goſpel have greatly bewailed their ſinfull entrance into the Miniſtry, that they had only corrupt and carnal motives ſtirring them up thereunto; and when this is done, no doubt God will accept of their labours, and they be made the more zealous for God.
Uſe of Exhortation, both to Miniſters and People to ſtudy and meditate more Uſe.upon the will of God in theſe things. Am I a Miniſter by the will of God? Are theſe my flock by the good pleaſure of God? Was it of God, that I was ſeparated and ſet apart for this work? This will be a great Goad both to duty and comfort. And
For the People, it is for you to look up to God more in this matter: Can you ſay, Such an one is a Paſtor to you by the will of God, not by his permiſſive will, or providential will only, for this may be in wrath and anger to you; but his approving and appointing will? If ſo, take heed how ye reſiſt the will of God.