An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Title page – To the reader
AN Expoſitory COMMENT, DOCTRINAL, CONTROVERSAL AND PRACTICAL Upon the whole Firſt CHAPTER OF THE Second EPISTLE of St Paul TO THE Corinthians.
By Anthony Burgeſſe Paſtor of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickſhire.
LONDON, Printed by A. M. for Abel Roper at the Signe of the Sunne in Fleetſtreet, near St Dunſtans Church, 1661.
TO THE READER.
Reader,
AMongſt the ſeveral reaſons, why there ought to be a ſpecial care and holy diligence in writing of Books, theſe two are none of the leaſt. Firſt, A difficulty of having pure and right intentions therein, even the Glory of God, and the Edification of others. For as in Preaching, ſo in Printing; Pride, Vain-glory, and Self-ends are apt to creep in, whereby there is a temptation to accumulate thoſe things, which may be for oſtentation, more than utility. And Euge Bernarde, benè ſcribis, may importunately preſſe it ſelf into the heart, as well as benèdicis. Inſomuch that we are to looke upon the time, wherein we are preparing any thing for the publick view, as the hour of temptation, earneſtly praying unto God for humility, mortification, and a publick frame of heart. For as Gregory once ſaid, Tutius auditur veritas, quam praedicatur, The Auditor is in more ſafety, while hearing, than the Preacher, while ſpeaking, becauſe of the vain motions which are ready then to ariſe in the heart; ſo is the Reader in leſſe temptation than the Authour of the Book. A ſecond cauſe of ſuch exact watchfulneſſe, is the difficulty of working thoſe Truths in a ſavoury experimental power, upon our own hearts, which we communicate to others; whereby we may fear leaſt while we write for others, we our ſelves be foreign, unapproved. Quid tibi proderit lingua aurea, ſi cor ferreum? VVhat will a Golden Tongue advantage, if a man have a ſenſleſſe heart at that time? This then is a cauſe of godly trembling, Ne illae literae vicariae oris noſtri, in die judicii, adverſus nos proferantur, as Tertullian ſaid; Leaſt our writings witneſſe againſt us, as publiſhing thoſe things, the experimental power whereof we never felt upon our hearts. Such conſiderations as theſe may be apt to deterre from writing. For as for thoſe ordinary and cuſtomary Apologies againſt the ſevere Momuſſes, and ſharp Ariſtarchuſſes of the world, they are comparatively contemptible. But yet though there be theſe Lyons in the way, we are not through ſlothfulneſs to hide our talent in a napkin, but where Opportunity offereth it ſelfe, there to imbrace …, foreign, for the edification of others. And I know no way ſo conducible to the ſpiritual advantage of others, as the Interpretation and Explication of the holy Scriptures. Its a pleaſant and profitable work to be digging gold out of this mine, to adorne the Temple of God; to be cutting down timber out of this wood, for Gods houſe; to be plucking off the leaves and fruit of this tree of life, which are both medicinal and alimental. The Scripture is medicum myropolium, an Apothecaries ſhop, whereby all the ſpiritual diſeaſes of the ſoul may be cured. It's Bellicum armamentarium, a Magazine of warre, by which all errours and here…ies are to be deſtroyed. It is auguſtiſſimum ſacrarium, a…moſt auguſt treaſury of all ſpiritual good things. How much better then is it to be gathering honey here, than to ſting in polemical Controverſies? To keep the ſweetneſſe and the fatneſſe we may enjoy here, than to be torne by theſe brambles. Now among other parts of the Scripture, I have taken the ſecond Epiſtle of the Corinthians to comment upon, and practically improve, not onelyonly becauſe of the univerſal concernment of that excellent matter contained therein, but alſo becauſe there are few, who have ſelected that Epiſtle on purpoſe to treat upon. So that whereas there are many Books of the Scripture particularly expounded, and illuſtrated by ſeveral learned Authours, yet this hath been paſt by. Yea when the former Epiſtle hath had its Commentators, as Martyr, Pareus, Morton, yet this hath been pretermitted. As therefore God ſhall give life and opportunity, I ſhall endeavour the true and ſound Expoſition of this Epiſtle, eſpecially ſo as to reduce all Doctrinals and controverſals to practicals and experimentals, which is the life and ſoul of all. For to have Books only in our heads, and not in our hearts, doth bring (as Solomon ſaith) much wearineſſe to the fleſh; yea ſometimes much detriment, as Gerſon ſpeaketh of a young man in his Tractate, De ſimplificatione cordis, who by an indiſcreet laboriouſneſſe in reading Anſelm's Meditations, fell into ſuch a bodily diſtemper, that the very beholding of a Booke, that was written, would afterwards put him into an horrour and vertiginous giddineſſe. Thus worldly reading (as I may ſo call it) cauſeth death, but ſpiritual and godly improving of the Books we peruſe, will be like oil to the wheels, that the work of grace may ſucceed more proſperouſly. I ſhall not trouble thee with an enumeration of what different, and yet profitable matter, is treated on in this firſt Chapter preſented to thy view, that is done to thee by another hand in the Table or Contents; only my requeſt is, that the Errata, which may ſome times be committed, and the rather, becauſe of my diſtance from the Preſſe, may not prejudice the Diſcourſe. And if in ſo long a Worke, ſome things are ſpoken, that required a more diſtinct Explication, and further Illuſtration (as haply upon a Review may appear) caſt this into the account of humane imbecillity. For if even great Pillars of the Church have acknowledged, that they did Scribendo proficere; and, Docere, ut diſcant; how much more ought Tantillitas noſtra, being conſcious of my owne imbecillity? It's a true ſaying of Auſtins, ſpeaking of the imperfections of Readers and Writers, in his Epiſtle to Euodius Epiſt. 150. Laborant homines in diſcendo, & brevia non valent intelligere, prolixa non amant legere: laborant itidem in docendo, qui & pauca tardis, & multa pigris fruſtra ingerunt. However, let that which the Apoſtle ſaith to theſe Corinthians, be alſo truly applicable to us, That theſe things are not written with ink only, but the Spirit of God; not in Books only, but in the fleſbly tables of our heart. So prayeth
The affectionate well-wiſher of thy Souls good Anthony Burgeſſe.