An Exposition of Pauls Epistles, Letter 3 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Vers. 1. HAving therefore these Promises (dearly Beloved) let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The first verse of this Chapter belongeth to the precedent Chapter, wherein from the former Promises hee draws an Exhortation, that they do not onelyonly beware of Idolatry, and its outward appearance, but also from all defilements of spirit and body, i. e. from sins which either pollute the soul within, or defile the soul, and the body also, and endeavours the perfecting of holiness, going forward, and proceeding in the fear of God, using one Argument for all; The Promises fore-spoken of made to you by God do justly require that from you: Therefore apply your selves diligently to these duties.
Vers. 2. Receive us, wee have wronged no man, wee have corrupted no man, wee have defrauded no man.
In the rest of the Chapter hee endeavours to oblige the hearts of the Corinthians to him, the signs of his love towards them being produced, in the unfolding of which hee insists to the end. The Proposition is clearly propounded, which is to bee confirmed. O Corinthians, yee ought to receive us, i. e. to bee perswaded of my love towards you, yee ought to love mee again, and to lay up my exhortations in your enlarged hearts: Three Arguments are taken from the three Signs of the Apostles good will towards them.
No man] Argum. 1. That they should receive the Apostle, and the first Sign of his little ill towards them. Because I do not ill deserve of any one, either by bringing reproach, or corrupting by perverse Doctrine, or defrauding any one by any means.
Vers. 3. I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to dye and live with you.
Argum. 2. Sign 2. Because when I speak of the things fore-going, it was onelyonly for the clearing of my self; I am so far from condemning the Church of the beleeving Corinthians, that out of love I have determined the contrary, to cleave to you in prosperity and adversity, in life and death, that no change at any time may draw my affection from you.
Vers. 4. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you, I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
Argum. 3. Sign 3. Because news being received concerning your repentance, my heart so rejoyceth in the midst of afflictions, that I dare safely speak the confidence of my mind towards you, concerning your perseverance, and glory of you amongst others.
Vers. 5. For when wee were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but wee were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
6. Nevertheless, God that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the comming of Titus.
Hee being about to explain the experiment of his good will towards them, propounds his afflictions, wherewith hee was pressed in Macedonia, whilst hee expected news from them hee was oppressed partly by persecution of the enemies, partly by the intestine evils of the Church, partly by the anxiety of his mind, and also with the troubles of his body; that there was no rest to his outward man. Against all which troubles, by mercy of God, consolation was sufficiently administred to him by the comming of Titus, who had now returned from the Corinthians, and brought joyful news concerning their state.
Vers. 7. And not by his comming onelyonly, but by the consolation wherewith hee was comforted in you, when hee told us your earnest desire, your moarning, your fervent mind toward mee, so that I rejoyced the more.
The Apostle reckoneth eight causes of his joyfulness, whereof many were signs of his good will towards them. 1 Because Titus was returned safe. 2 Because Titus had received consolation from you Corinthians. 3 Because I had heard by Titus concerning your pious affection towards mee, and desire of seeing mee; concerning your weeping for the wickedness committed amongst you, concerning your zeal against the Incestuous person, and against my back-biters, from whence hath abounded joy to mee much surpassing all that grief, which I have taken for that matter.
Vers. 8. For though I made you sorry with a Letter, I do not repent, though I did repent; for I perceive that the same Epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
Before hee propounds the fourth cause of his consolation hee solves an Objection, which solution did make much to the purpose. They might say▪ Thou hast made us sorrowful in the former Epistle.
The Answer is fourfold. Answ. 1. I was compelled, and not without grief have I made you sad, but this grief through your repentance hath ceased. For when the Apostle writ the Epistle, being uncertain concerning the event, hee was sad, i. e. that hee saith, that hee himself repented: but when hee saw the event, hee was freed from grief, i. e. Now hee saies hee did not repent. Answ. 2 That sadness which was moved by my Epistle was short.
Vers. 9. Now I rejoyce, not that yee were made sorry, but that yee sorrowed to repentance, for yee were made sorry after a godly manner, that yee might receive dammage by us in nothing.
10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to bee repented of, but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Hee answers 3. That sadness is turned into joy, both to you and mee, because it is found now good and profitable to repentance; which hee proves: because it brought forth repentance not to bee repented of, otherwise than worldly sorrow is wont, which onelyonly encreaseth sin and misery, and bringeth death as well to the soul as to the body.
Vers. 11. For behold, this self-same thing, that yee sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea what clearing of your selves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what vehement desire, yea what zeal, yea what revenge: in all things yee have approved your selves to bee clear in this matter.
Hee proveth that their sadness was after God, or pious, because it produced seven Effects in them, even so many signs of their repentance, whereof the first was the shaking off security, with a carefulness to mend what was amiss. 2 Is an Apology, that now by no means they approve either the fact of the Incestuous person, or their own negligence. 3 Is an indignation against the sin, both of the Incestuous person, and their own in suffering him. 4 Is a fear, lest they should be compassed with divine justice, or a new sin. 5 Is a desire of taking off the scandal, and satisfying all good men. 6. His zeal and fervent desire in prosecuting all means for the removing of evil, and repairing of the damage. 7. Is his revenge in chastising the incestuous person, and all their dulness; in all which the Corinthians had declared their repentance, and had shewed themselves no ways delighted with wickedness, but that they were clear.
Vers. 12. Wherefore though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
The fourth answer to the objection is: I have not written that Epistle either only or chiefly that in chastising of the incestuous person, satisfaction might bee given to the Father with whose wife the son had committed adultery, or that the incestuous person might bee corrected, (which truly was not to bee neglected) but especially for this end, that my fatherly care towards you, O Corinthians, might appear to all, sincere and approved in the sight of God.
Vers. 13. Therefore wee were comforted in your comfort, yea, and exceedingly the more joyed wee for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
The objection being solved, hee adds the fourth cause of his consolation; I understand, sayes hee, that yee have taken in good part my reproof, and now have received consolation.
Of titus]▪ The fifth cause of his consolation, because all yee have endeavoured to refresh the spirit of Titus.
Vers. 14. For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed: but as wee speak all things to you in truth, even so our boasting which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
The sixth cause, That yee would prove in very deed, that which I boasting of you, confidently fore-told to Titus.
Vers. 15. And his inward affection is more abundantly towards you, whilst hee remembreth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling yee received him.
The seventh cause, Because you have engaged to you by your respects and goodness, the mind of Titus, which you may esteem as great gain. For they reverenced Titus, as an Evangelist, and a servant of God, sent to them extraordinarily, and so they had reconciled the mind of Titus to themselves.
Vers. 16. I rejoyce therefore, that I have confidence in you in all things.
The eighth cause of consolation, That I being incouraged by this experience, for the future, I may dare to promise the best things whatsoever, of you all, both to my self and others.