Commentary on 2 Corinthians 1, Commentary · Commentary on verse 14
VERSE XIV.
As also you have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoycing, even … ye are ours in the Day of the Lord Jesus.
YOu have acknowledged us in part, now since you have repented: for when he wrote the former Epistle to them, they had many corruptions among them in Doctrine, and in conversation, about the Sacrament; many corrupt opinions they had: and in conversation, they endured the incestuous man among them without casting of him out, and many of them doubted of the Resurrection. Now when he wrote the first Epistle, it took a blessed effect in their hearts, they repented, and began to acknowledge S. Paul; notwithstanding they were disasted of him by reason of the bad information of some presumptuous. Teachers: saith he now again, You have acknowledged us in part that now we are your rejoycing, &c. Observe this, which I touch by way of coherence,
It is a sign of a repentant man, of a man that hath repented of his sins, and is in a good estate, to acknowledge him that hath told him of his sins, to acknowledge Observ. A sign of a good estate, to acknowledge him that hath told us of our sins.his Pastor.
For a false heart swells against the reproof: if the Corinthians had not been sound hearted, they would never have endured S. Paul's sharp Epistle: but now he tells them their own plainly; as indeed it is a very sharp Epistle in many passages: yet now they acknowledged him to be a good, and gracious man, a faithful Teacher.
Let it be a Trial of your estate: can you endure a plain, a powerfull, an Use. Tryal.effectual Ministery? More particularly, can you endure a plain, effectual friend, that brings that which is spoken by the Minister more particularly home to your hearts? It is a sign of a good heart, of a repentant heart that would be better. But if not, it is a sign you have a reserved love to some special sin that will be your bane: it is a sign your soules have not repented. As you see after in another Chapter of this Epistle, where he sets down the fruits of repentance. And here is one sign, T… have acknowledged us in part, &c.
In the words,
First, There is the thing it self, acknowledgment.
Secondly, the object matter of it, That we are your rejoycing, and you are ours: There is a mutual entercourse of rejoycing.
And then the time is set down, The Day of the Lord Jesus, The second coming of Christ.
To speak a little of Acknowledgment.
Acknowledgment is more then Knowledge: for knowledge is a bare naked Acknowledgment, what.apprehension; and acknowledgment is when the will and affections yield to the entertaining, and the owning of the thing known. As a father not onelyonly knowes his son, but acknowledgeth him: a King acknowledgeth his Subjects, and the Subjects their Prince. It is not onelyonly a knowledge of such men, but an acknowledging of them, acknowledging a relation to them. So, you acknowledge us, that is, in the relation we stand to you, to be faithful, and good Ministers, and good men too.
What doth S. Paul mean by saying, You have acknowledged us? doth he mean himself?
No, not altogether; but you have acknowledged me in my faithful preaching of Christ to you. Wheresoever the Minister is acknowledged as a Christ acknowledged in the Minister.Minister, Christ is acknowledged. For what are we? We are but the Ministers of Christ, no more, nor no lesse. Saith S. Paul, Let a man esteem of us as of the Ministers of Christ. If they think of us more then Ministers, that we can make, and coyn things of our own; they think too much of us: If they think meanly and basely of us, they think too little of us. Let a man think of us as of the Ministers of Christ; no more, nor no lesse: it is enough, that they acknowledge us so as the Ministers of Christ. So they are never acknowledged, but Christ is acknowledged by them: for they have a relative office; they are the Ministers of Christ.
How shall we know then, whether we acknowledge the Minister, or no?
If we acknowledge Christ first by him.
How shall we know that we acknowledge Christ?
To acknowledge Christ, God-man in his natures, that we have a great Acknowledge Christ, whatdeal of love to him, that he would be born for us: and a great deal of reverence, in that he is God. We must not think-of him but-with a great deal of reverence, and meddle with nothing of him but with much love; he is God-man, God incarnate. He acknowledgeth Christ in his Priestly Office, that doth not despair, that doth believe his full satisfaction to God; and doth not mingle other things, Popish satisfaction, and Purgatory for venial sins. He acknowledgeth Christs Priestly Office, that goes boldly to God through Christs intercession-in heaven, and boldly trusts in the satisfaction of Christ in the clamours of conscience, and the accusations of Satan. This is to acknowledge Christ a Priest in our boldnesse and liberty to God, and confidence in our conscience of the forgivenesse of sins. To acknowledge Christ as a King, is to yield subjection to his Word, and to suffer him to rule us. To acknowledge him as a Prophet, to be instructed, and guided by him.
But now such as are ruled by their own lusts, and by the examples of Who acknowledgeth not Christ.others, and care not for the spiritual leading of Christ, they do not acknowledge him: Let not this man reign over us: they shake off his bands; they are sons of Belial, without yoak: and they shall be reckoned at the day of Judgment among them that know not Christ: because to know him, and not to acknowledge him, is to no purpose. As God knoweth us well enough; but if he know us not, and acknowledge us to be his, what will. become of us at the day of Judgment? I know you not, saith he, that is, he acknowledgeth them not to be his. So, if our knowledge be to know Christ generally, so as not to give up our selves to be ruled by him, to be directed by him; this is not to acknowledge him. and to know him, and not to acknowledge him, will be no comfort for us; As it will be no comfort to us for him to know us, and not to acknowledge us. They that acknowledge Paul, or any Minister, they are brought to acknowledge Christ by him.
And then (to give you a familiar taste of these things,) they do acknowledge To acknowledge the Word.the Minister, that acknowledge the Word to be the Word of God, to be from him. What is that? when they are cast into the form and mould of the Word, and are willing to be framed, to be such as the Word would have them, to be pliable to it: if it threaten, to be terrified; if it comfort, to be raised up: to be fashioned every way to the Word, then they acknowledge the Word, then they feel it to be Gods Word: why? For they feel it leavening the soul, making all the powers holy, and comfortable. As leaven changeth the whole lump, so the Word of God, when we are cast into it, and imbrace it, it frames and fashions the whole man to be holy, as the Word is holy.
This is to acknowledge the Word of God, to hear it as the Word of God, to hear it with reverence, as we would hear something from a great Potentate, from a Judge, from a man that hath to do with us: We know the Word of God, and acknowledge him in the Minister, when we tremble at it, and hear it with obedience. As Cornelius saith, We are all here in the presence of God, to hear whatsoever shall be commanded us of God: whatsoever, without distinction, and turning over, and declining the Word, and shifting. When there is a willing yielding to every thing that is told us, and a meaning to obey it, this is to acknowledge the Word of God, or else we do not.
S Paul saith comfortably to the Thessalonians, That they received the Word of God, as the Word of God: that is, they acknowledged the Word of God, because they heard it with such reverence, and obedience, and respect.
So you may know that you acknowledge the Minister, if you acknowledge Christ, if you acknowledge the Preacher, and the VVord that he To acknowledge the Minister.preacheth: and you acknowledge him when you will be directed by him; when he speaks in the Name of Christ, to esteem highly of the Consolations of the Almighty in his mouth, to suffer the strong holds of sin to be beaten down by his Ministery. This is to acknowledge the Minister: there is no good taken by Gods Ordinance, where it is not onelyonly known, but acknowledged.
Christ comes to us in his Ministers as well as by the poor, and it shall be known one day that we have rejected, not poor men like our selves, but Jesus Christ: For we are joyned with Christ in acceptation, or in neglect Ministers joyned with Christ in acceptance, and neglect.and contempt. What we do in our Ministery faithfully, we are joyned with Christ in our acceptance: we accept Christ, when we accept, and esteem of the Minister: or we reject Christ, when we reject, and refuse, and set light by the Ministers of Christ.
The hypocrisie of mans heart is not discerned almost so much in any thing as in this. Let any command come from great men that have power of our bodies or estates to advance us, or debase us; Oh there is much astonishment, and much heed taken: wondrous heed of penal Lawes and Statutes, that we run not into the dint of them. Now God by his Ministers threatens hell, and damnation, hardnesse of heart, and to throw us from one sin to another: we hear these things as Judges, (forsooth) as if they concerned us not. It shall one day be known that they are Gods Ministers, and that it is Gods Word; If we have Grace to acknowledge them as speaking from God. This is to acknowledge the Minister, to be directed by him, and to hear that that he speaks in the Name of God. We are Ambassadours of God, saith S. Paul, and intreat you, as if Christ himself were on earth would intreat you, to be reconciled to God. Therefore when you refuse our intreaty, you refuse Christ, that comes with us. Those that will not hear him here, shall hear that sentence hereafter; they must not think to be regarded of him then: but of that I shall speak hereafter.
As ye have acknowledged us in part: You acknowledge us Ministers, you acknowledge our doctrine, you acknowledge Christ by us.
How do these Corinthians acknowledge S. Paul in part?
That we are your rejoycing, even as ye are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.
You have acknowledged us, that [we are your rejoycing;] What is the meaning of that? You have acknowledged us, that you have cause to rejoyce much to the day of Judgment, and then you shall rejoyce to purpose, that ever I was your Apostle, that ever you had Grace to hearken to me; that ever you had such a sincere down-right Apostle that would tell you the truth, and gain you to Christ.
That we are your rejoycing.
Whence we may observe, That
A faithful Minister is the rejoycing of the people.Doctr. A faithful Minister the joy of the people.
Those people that are good, and have any grace in them, and not onelyonly here, but they will be so at the day of Judgment.
Why?
Because a faithful Minister brings to them him that is the cause of all joy; Reason. He brings Christ the cause of joy.him that is Isaac, laughter, Christ Jesus, at whose very birth there was a message of joy from heaven.
For all joy, and all glory, is originally, and fundamentally in God reconciled; Original of our joy.that is certain: there is our joy in God reconciled. For naturally, before God be reconciled, our hearts are full of confusion: they are so far from joy and glory, that they are full of horrour. Now God is reconciled, by Christs satisfaction, and obedience, his full satisfaction, witnessed by his resurrection; and thereupon comes our glorying, to be in Christ, who hath brought us to be at one with God, with the God of glory: Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, saith St. Peter, that hath begotten us to a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, &c. Now we have a lively hope, we have a glorious hope, we may glorie in it, in the resurrection of Christ: considering that his resurrection is an evidence that the debt is paid, our surety being out of prison: he being risen again.
But all this must be opened to us, and offered to us, and applyed to us Christ must be opened by the Ministery.by the Ministery what Christ hath done, and what he will doe, it must be opend to us, and offered to us: to receive Christ thus graciously bringing us to God. And faith must be wrought in us, to joyn us to Christ: and this is by the Ministery.
Now in the next place, when the Ministery doth this, it doth teach us that God is reconciled by the satisfaction of Christ, and teacheth the nature Use of the Ministery.and offices of Christ, and the benefits we have by Christ, it unfolds the unsearchable riches of Christ. The Ministerie offers Christ: and God by his Spirit works Grace in the Ministerie, to believe, and to walk worthy of Christ. Hereupon comes glorying in the Ministery, in the preaching of Christ faithfully, crucified, and risen, and teaching us to walk worthy of Christ.
So it is not that any man should glory in the Minister for himself: but in that he brings us to Christ which Christ brings us to God, in whom is all our glory. So, we see the ground of it, how S. Paul was the rejoycing of the Corinthians, because he brought them to Christ.
The Office of the Ministers is to be wooers, to make up the marriage between Christ, and Christians soules: now herein is the rejoycing in a good Ministers wooers for Christ.Minister, when we are brought to Christ, and then see the riches of our husband unfolded by the Ministery; here is matter of joy: especially at the day of Judgment; then we shall joy indeed that ever we knew such a Minister, that ever we knew such a holy man, that was a means to bring us to Christ, and to God.
Hereupon it is that the Ministers are said to be a special gift of God, Ephes. 4. Christ when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, & gave gifts to men: Ministers a gift of God.What gifts? Some Apostles; some Prophets, some Pastors, some Teachers to the end of the world, for the building of his Church. Christ when he went in triumph, after his Resurrection; when in his Ascension he went triumphantly to heaven: (as the great Emperours, on the day of their Triumph, they scattered money, so) he scattered gifts, and they were not mean gifts, money, and such trifling things: but when he went in his Triumphant Chariot to heaven, he had no better gifts to leave to the world, then to give such kind of gifts as these; he left Ministers, Apostles, to found a Church; he left Pastors and Teachers to the end of the world. These were the gifts that Christ gave when he went in Triumph to heaven; therefore well may they joy in the Ministers as a special gift of God.
So, there is a notable place, Jer. 3. 14, 15. there is a Promise, if they would turn to God, and be a gracious people, what he would do, I will giveyou Pastors, according to my own heart, and feed you with knowledge and understanding The Ministery a great blessing.insinuating that it is a special blessing, it is a blessing above all blessings in this world; indeed, none comparable. To live in a place where all solaces are, where all worldly contentments, yet to be there where the sound of the Gospel is not, where the best things are not, it is but a dead place. What is it to be fatted to destruction? what life to the life of Grace? and how is the life of grace begun and strengthened, but by the meanes of salvation? When God gives Pastors according to his own heart, to feed his people, with understanding and judgment, it is a great blessing; and so it is matter of rejoycing and glorying. For may not the soul reason thus? Who am I? that when thousands sit in darknesse, and in the shadow of death, God should send his Ambassadours to me, to offer Christ Jesus with all his riches to me: and by his holy Spirit effect it, by such and such a Ministery working grace in me, to give me the first fruits of glory, the pledge of salvation, the beginning of grace here, when millions of other people sit in darknesse? Thus a Christian rejoyceth in God first, and then rejoyceth in the Minister, he rejoyceth in every thing that is an occasion to bring him to heaven.
What is the reason God brings us to heaven by the Ministery of men, and Why God brings men to heaven by men.doth not send Angels? or do all by his Spirit without help?
Amongst the rest this is one, he would have one to glory in another, he would tie one to another: therefore it ties one man to another this relation to see the need of Gods Ordinance. And that people might rejoyce one in another as the gift of God: Therefore he calls man by man, to knit man to man: And that they may see Gods love to them in men. They saw Christs love to them in S. Paul: Saint Paul saw Christs love to him in them, in their obedience: this is the reason that God useth men to call men.
Therefore those that neglect the Ordinance of God; let them never think of glory by Christ, that glory not in the Minister that brings them to Christ. Therefore, 2 Cor. 5. 19. they are excellently joyned together, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. What then? what need the Ministery? if God be reconciled to the world in Christ, God is mercifull, and Christ dyed; and there is an end: No, he hath put, to us Apostles, and after us, to Pastors and Teachers, the Word of reconciliation: and we as Ambassadours intreat you in Christs stead to be reconciled to God. So there is no word of reconciliation effectual to any, but we must have the efficacy of it by Ambassage, it must be offered by the Ministery.
This Ministery contemned by the world must be the meanes to bring Gods benefits come by the Ministery.us to Christ; we have no benefit brought to us from God unlesse it be by the Word of reconciliation. Neglect the Word, neglect reconciliation it self: Therefore it is called The Word of the Kingdom, the Word of Grace, the Word of life, insinuating, that if we neglect the Word unfolded by Gods Ordinance in the Church, we neglect Grace, we neglect life, we neglect Kingdome and all, because we see they are joyned together. I will not be long in this point in this place.
OnelyOnly this, when God doth vouchsafe any abroad wheresoever, or to any of us to partake of his Ordinance in an effectual holy manner, to joy in Use. To rejoyce in enjoying Gids Ordinance.it. As Solomon saith, Prov. 19. 14. Inheritance comes by parents, but a good Wife is the gift of God: So a good Minister or a true Christian friend is the gift of God that he bestowes on men, a speciall gift, because it is in order to eternall happinesse, it is such a gift as Christ gave when he ascended into heaven. So much for that point, We are your rejoycing.
As also ye are ours.
There is an entercourse of joy, we are your rejoycing, and ye are ours in the day of the Lord.
How were they S. Paul's rejoycing?
They were St. Saul's rejoycing, as they were gained to God, and to Christ by his Ministery; when he looked on them, he looked on them as people given him by God. As God said to him of them in the ship when they suffered shipwrack, I have given thee all their lives.
It was a great honour to Saint Paul, that God should give him the lives of all that were in the ship: but more honour that God gave him so many souls: Thou shalt have the honour of saving so many souls. Therefore they were his rejoycing (in the day of the Lord especially, but) now they were his rejoycing, because by faith he apprehended that they should be his special rejoycing, when he and they should stand together before the Judgement-seat of Christ. For faith makes things to come present: Ye are our rejoycing; because you shall be our rejoycing then more especially. This is the nature of faith to present things absent. For Blessed St. Paul now in heaven, when at the day of judgement he shall stand before Christ withall the rank about him, of Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, &c. and all the Churches he converted; when he shall be environed with them, as so many brought in triumph under the Kingdome of Christ, and pulled from the bondage of Satan: as what a world of people did he bring to God, what triumph did he make over Satan and the corruption of men bringing men into captivity to Christ? When all these shall be set before him; what a glory will this be for holy St. Paul, when he shall look on all these blessed people as conquered and brought under Christs government by him? And so for all the Apostles, St. Peter and the rest. And so for every Minister, when he shall say, Here I am and the soules that thou hast given me; thou hast honoured me so much as to be an instrument to gain them to Christ to bring them to Heaven, a special glorie. The point of Doctrine, or truth I observe hence is this, That
The Peoples proficiencie in Grace, is the Ministers joy.
The peoples good estate in Grace is the Ministers joy and will be, especially Doct. The peoples good is the Ministers joy.after at the day of judgment: ye are our rejoycing. As he saith, Philip. 4. Ye are our crown, and our glory. And so, 2 Thess. 2. What is our crown, and rejoycing? is it not you?
In every Epistle almost, those good and gracious people, he makes them his hope, and joy, and crown, and rejoycing.
In what sense?1. The matter of his joy.
Because they were the objective matter of his joy: when he looked on them, he looked on such as yielded him comfort; he could not present them to his thoughts, but he thought of them as matter of joy; here be the people that God hath honoured me to do much good unto. He could not think of them but as the object of his rejoycing; the word is Canchema, our rejoycing, that God had given them to him to bring to heaven.
Love descends we know, and the workman looks upon his work with a kind of complacencie. Saint Paul could not look upon those that he was used as a blessed Instrument to doc good upon without a speciall kind of delight. They were the object matter of his joy.
Then again, they were not onelyonly the matter of his joy and rejoycing, presenting to his soule comfortable considerations: but also they 2. A meanes to increase his joy.were some meanes to increase his joy in Heaven: for Those that convert soules, shall shine as the starres in the Firmament, Dan. 12. Those that are honoured of God so farre as to bring souls to God, they shall shine as the stars in the Firmament: especially those that convert souls shall have a degree of honour above others: though the substantial glory be by Christ. It is not to be denyed, that the accidental increased glory comes by the increase of the fruit of the Ministery: and so Christians, those that are fruitfull Christians, that do much good, they shall have much glory. Saint Paul shall have more rejoycing then others that did not so much good as he, Ye are our rejoycing; because you shall be a means of my greater rejoycing: they were the object of his joy, and the means of his joy.
Then in the third place, they were his rejoycing, because they were the seal of his Ministery, that he was a sound Minister. How was it known 3. The seal of his Ministery.whether Saint Paul were a good Minister or no? Behold his works: see how he wrought on such, and such people, how many he gained to God. When he looked on them, he looked on them as a seal of his Ministery, that he was a good Minister, and in that regard they were his rejoycing.
And in some regard likewise in the fourth place, that their gaining was 4. To evidence that he was a good man.an evidence to his soul that he was a good man. Ordinarily (though God convert men by ill men, as Judas no question might convert some, yet) for the most part God honours his servants; and he that is heat himself can kindle another. Those that are not heat with grace, they cannot speak of the efficacy and power of the things they feel not in their own hearts, as others do: therefore no question but it comforted him in the state of Christianity, that God honoured him to be a means to bring others in to Christ. So in many respects the peoples goodnesse is the Ministers joy.
If this be so; Let those that are under the Ministery not deny themselves Use. To be good under the Ministery.that comfort, or the Ministers that joy, to be good. There are many poysonful, spightful spirits that are in love with damnation, that will cherish the corruptions of their naughty nature, in spight of God and all. Rather then they will acknowledge to be wrought on by such and such, to be their children, they will be as they are; they will be broken in a thousand pieces before they will bend to any Minister, upon such weak resolutions to yield to a poor Ordinance of man: here is the devillish pride and poyson of mans corrupt nature: Can we set light by that, but that at the same time we must set light by our own comfort, and salvation?
How were the Corinthians Saint Paul's joy? were they not their own joy first? they were matter of joy to S. Paul, because he saw he had gained them to Christ: the good was especially theirs; it reflected on him onelyonly by consideration. When he looked on them he was comforted; but they were more comforted a great deal: they had more comfort in his rejoycing then he: his was but by reflexion of their goodnesse, a comfort that came by consideration; they had the main comfort of their goodnesse.
It is little comfort for any to carry themselves so, as that those that are over them in Christ Jesus, when they think of them, can but sigh, when they hear their blasphemies, when they cannot so much as gain of them to leave courses that the very light of nature condemnes: the filthy discoveries of a rotten heart, their vile words, and their offensive carriage, can this be a grief to the Minister, and not for the damnation of their soules together? And they shall find it a heavy, and bitter thing to grieve the Spirit of God in others, as well as they wound their own conscience; both are joyned together.
What a happinesse is this, that the more a man is interessed in the good of another man, the more glory, if he be a meanes of any good in him? he shall have good, and you shall have glory.
The best things in nature are communicative, and diffusive: the Sun gives light to the whole world: so the best man is most fruitful, and communicative, Good communicative.he labours to gain all men by his acquaintance: He knowes this, that he is not for himself, he is reedeemed for the honour of Christ: And then he knows that anothers good will be my glory, it will increase my glory, and be the object of my glory.
On the contrary, we see a company of wretched, despicable creatures, (let their outward estate be as glorious as it will: but I speak of them as Wicked men draw others to sin.Christian eyes judge and esteem of them,) that draw others on to the same course with them: if they be blasphemers themselves, they glory to make others so: if they be given to sensuality, they labour to make others sottish as themselves: if they be given to filthinesse, they draw others to communion with themselves. Well, will these people be much for their rejoycing in the day of the Lord, think you? what will they do when they think of others, such as they have neglected altogether, that God gave them charge of? The very thought of them instead of making them rejoyce, it will make them astonished. I betrayed his soul, he was my friend, or my servant, I let him live in such sins. Good neglected will torment us hereafter.
But then ill infused; by example, and by word, I poysoned him: suppose I have repented my self, but perhaps the person that I have drawn to communion in my sin, hath not repented: what a torment will this consideration be? Good neglected will be matter of torment, much more evil infused, poyson infused. When we shall see at the day of Judgment, instead of a company that we have gained to God, and been a meanes to further their salvation, we shall see a company that we have infected with our ill example, and our evil perswasions; this will be in hell an increase of torment.
One will curse another, and say, You brought me hither. The father will curse the sonne; To get riches for you I crackt my conscience, and lost my soul: And the sonne shall curse the father; By your riches that you lost me, I lived a base, and sensual life, whereas perhaps I might have trusted to my good endeavours otherwise: so here shall be cursing. The friend shall curse his friend; You might have told me of this, you strengthened me in evil courses.
As it will be our glory when we shall see such and such, as God hath used as instruments to do good unto; so it will be a torment indeed to think, Such and such I neglected, and betrayed; such and such I corrupted. I beseech you therefore take heed of it.
And would you have matter of joy in this world, that should joy you when nothing else will joy you? (as Saine Paul was in affliction oft,) what comforted Saint Paul? First, his own conscience, that he was a good Christian, an heir of heaven, a good Apostle: but when he wanted joy, what would he do? when he had no liberty, but was imprisoned, when he had nothing; then; he considered. How hath Christ dignified me to do good to others? this honouring of him to do this, it comforted him more then all his imprisonment, and abasement, and reproaches could discourage him; the conceit that God did use him as an honourable instrument for his honour and service, to do good to others.
So the testimony of our Conscience, that God hath used us to do good to others; not onelyonly to make me to gain heaven, but to be an instrument to gain others, this will comfort us in the world, come what will.
This should stirre up those that have to deal with the soules of others, Use. To labour to make others good.(not only Ministers, but all others,) that have any committed to them, that they should labour to make them good, to work upon them for the good of their soules, that they may have them as matter, and objects of their joy at that day. If they do not (as I said) when they are presented to them as persons whom they have neglected and betrayed negligently for want of instruction, and reformation of their lives; and as persons whom they have infected with their ill example, which is worse: alas, what matter of horrour will they be? They will not say of them as S. Paul saith here, You are my joy, and my crown, and my glory; but they will be matter of horrour: these be they that I havs betrayed, and neglected, and infected, and brought to hell, to this cursed condition with my self. It will be an increase of the torments of hell at that day, all those whom we have hurt any kind of way.
But what shall it be then of those that have opposed goodnesse? that The misery of opposers of goodnesse.have not only betrayed others by neglect; but have maligned good where they have seen it? what will become of them, that are so far from making others good, that they have despighted the Image of God in others, and have exercised their bitternesse upon Christ in his members and Ministers?.
To adde one thing more:
What! these Corinthians, that had so many abuses, and such weaknesses, were they the matter of S. Paul's joy?
Yes; why, therefore people must take heed how they leave Churches Not to leave Churches for some corruptions.that have corruptions in them. Schisme oft-times is a greater fault, then the fault upon which they pretend separation: the things for which they pretend a rent, are not so great a fault in the Church, as the want of Charity in them to do so. If Saint Paul would have taken occasion to leave them, what good occasion had he? alas, how many corruptions had they in doctrine, and in manners too? but yet notwithstanding as ill as they were, he saw what good was in them, and looked not to the evil: he knew that God would perfect the good things that were in them; and, saith he, (notwithstanding all their infirmities,) I see you were ready to reform when I wrote an Epistle to you, therefore I doubt not but you will be our rejoycing.
In the day of the Lord Jesus.
This is the time; it must be taken inclusively, I am your rejoycing, and you are mine, to the day of the Lord Jesus, and in the day of the Lord, so he means here. It is laid as a ground here, That
Jesus Christ hath a Day.Observ. Christ hath a Day.
It is his day by way of eminency, and excellency. Jesus Christ hath many dayes, two especially: The day of his first coming, and the day of his second coming. The first coming of Christ was the day of the Gospel, when he came to work our salvation: His second coming is to accomplish our salvation. In his first day he came to be humbled, and to be judged, to be a sacrifice for us: In his second, he is to come gloriously to judge the quick and the dead. In the first, he came to gain a Church to himself; by his second he shall come to accomplish the Marriage: now is the contract. There is the Sabbath, after the six dayes of this life the day of the Lord shall appear, the Sabbath day, the day of Jubilee, the solemnization of the marriage, the solemn triumph over all enemies. The first day was to save our soules, especially from the thraldome of sin and Satan: The second day, this that we speak of here, shall be to save our bodies from the rottennesse and corruption in which they have lien rotting in the grave till that day of Christ. As he raised his own body, so at that day he shall raise our bodies, and make them like his glorious body. That is the main Day, the Day of all daies: for then he will come to accomplish all: that day shall never have a night, it shall be day for ever.
As the Cloud that went before the Israelites to Canaan, that side toward the Egyptians was dark, but the other side was lightsome toward the Israelites: Simile.so this day, it shall be a dark day; it shall be both a day of vengeance, and a day of glory.
Saint Paul saith here, You shall be my rejoycing, and I yours at that day: but those that do not believe the Gospel, and obey the Ministery of it, it shall not be a day of rejoycing to them. It shall be a glorious day when all other glory shall vanish, all other glory in the world shall be eclipsed; even as the Starres are not seen when the Sun appeares in the firmament. All the glory at that day shall be the glory of Christ, and of his Church. To omit other things that may be spoken out of other places of Scripture, the Point I will observe hence is this, That
The measure of a Christians rejoycing in this world in any thing, it is the Consideration of what it will be at the great Day of Judgment.Doctr. Christians rejoycing as it will be at the last day.
I say, the rule whereby a Christian judgeth things, and that measure whereby a Christian measures things, to be thus, or thus in their excellency, and worth, it is as they will be esteemed at that day of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here S. Paul saith, I am your rejoycing, and you are ours at the day of the Lord Jesus: What? is this a vain glorying to commend him, Oh he is a worthy learned Rabbi, a great learned Apostle: and then that they were such, and such people? No, no, They had grace wrought in them; and S. Paul saw such evidences of grace in them, that at that day they should look upon Christ with boldnesse, because they were sincerely gained to the Gospel. So then this must be the rule of the worth of any thing, to esteem it as it will be then at that day; which is a day when all our estates will be determined of for eternal happinesse, or eternal misery.
To explain it a little.
We do not value things of short continuance, because they are short, as flowers that are fresh in the morning, and cast away at night; but we esteem things that will hold out: so our rejoycing, and glory, and comfort, we should consider of it how it will hold out, Riches avail not in the day of wrath. Things have that degree of goodnesse or evil in them, they have that degree of vanity, or seriousnesse, as they will stand out at that day. What are riches in the day of wrath, even in this world? what will riches be then at the day of the Lord Jesus? Therefore a Christian values them not, they are not the good of a Christian; he esteems not the applause of men: and pleasures are nothing, they are momentany, they avail not when conscience is awaked: They leave a man, and not onelyonly so, but they leave a sting behind them.
If all the good things in the world will stand us in no stead then, then what will the sins do that thou hast made so much of? what will the sins do that thou hast betrayed and damned thy soul for? thy filthinesse, and thy betraying of goodnesse, what will that do? How wilt thou look the Judge in the face, when as nothing in the world that is excellent will hold out, and avail at that day?
But what then will avail at that day when Christ shall come to judge What will avail at the last day?both the quick and the dead?
Why, this, That thou hast submitted thy self to acknowledge Christ as thy King, and thy Priest, and thy Prophet: and by means of the Ministery thou hast been wrought on, and the work of the new creature is begun in thee, true and sincere grace that thou darest look on Christ, that thou art in the state of grace, this will comfort thee in the day of Judgment.
By this you may discern who take the wisest course; he that measures his who take the ….life by a right measure and rule: who judgeth aright of persons and things? he judgeth aright of things, that values, and labours to interest himself in those things that will comfort him in this world, and stand by him in the world to come: he hath a right judgment, and esteem of things.
What be those things?
Grace, a holy, humble, gracious, believing carriage, and disposition: when a man gives himself to Christ, and renounceth the world, and sees the vanity of all things but the estate of Christianity, he hath those things in some little measure that shall be perfected at that day. Who take the wisest course, those that seek to please the humour of men, those that seek to feed their own corruptions, and the corruptions of others, those that will have some present glory in the flesh? I but what will they have at the day of the Lord Jesus? Surely, those that labour to approve themselves in sincerity and truth to Christ Jesus in all things: and so that they may approve their hearts to him, they care not what the world judgeth of them; as Saint Paul saith, I passe not what ye judge of me. If there be a day of the Lord, when he shall be Judge, then those are the wisest and the best courses that will hold out at that Day. And those that will not, we shall be ashamed of them all.
And that is the reason that many men of excellent parts and endowments are comfortlesse in the time of temptation: they did not think to do things with reference to Christ, in sincerity to please him: fot then they might old up their heads at that day.
There is a great deal of Atheisme in our hearts, we frame our courses to present contentments, by reason that we have little belief for the time to come.
I beseech you, let us often have in our thoughts the second coming of Christ. The best things are behind, our chief rejoycing is behind: our rejoycing now is our hope that we shall rejoyce then. The Corinthians were S. Paul's joy now, because he knew they should be his main rejoycing then. If we rejoyce in any thing now, let it be that our names are written in heaven, in the testimony of our conscience that we are Gods, that our hearts are wrought on, that we have something that Christ will acknowledge when he sees his stamp and Image on us: when he shall look on us, and see his own Image upon our hearts, there will be matter of joy in that day.
There will be joy in our selves, and joy in all the blessed instruments that are under Christ, the Ministers they shall rejoyce likewise in us, and all of us shall joyn in joying in Christ, all shall meet there. For their joying in S. Paul, and he in them, it was that Christ was theirs: And Christ shall come, as it is in 2 Thess. 4. to be glorified in his Saints: not onelyonly in himself, but in his believing members: for his glory shall reflect upon them, as the Sun reflects upon light bodies; all light bodies are made light by the Sun. So the Sun of Righteousnesse shall come, and all them that have glory it shall be by reflexion from him, they shall be glorious in him: so he is both the Ministers joy and the peoples, they shall all glory in Christ, whose glory is their glory. He shall come to be glorious in his Saints, therefore frame your courses that way to have glory then, to have comfort in the hour of death, and at the day of Judgment. And to end the point;
Let us labour to be acquainted with him now before that day: we shall never have comfort in the day of the Lord Jesus, except we be acquainted with him, and acknowledge him in the Ministery now, and in the Sacraments: Application to the Sacrament.for none shall ever be acquainted with him there, that have not been acquainted with him, and known him in this world.
How do we come to be acquainted with Christ?
To be present where he is present: and he is present where two or three How we are acquainted with Christ.are met together in his Name. He is present now in our meetings, he is present when we hear the Word. He is present in the Sacrament more especially: we have his very body, and blood. As verily as we take the outward signs, so verily Christ is present to our hearts; at the same time from heaven, he reacheth us himself with all the benefits of his passion: when the Minister reacheth the bread, he reacheth his body. As our outward man is refreshed with the elements, so our soules are refreshed with the spiritual presence of Christ. Now he is excellently present in heaven, he is present to our senses in the Sacrament, and by his Spirit in the Word.
Would you have him then at his appearing come and own you, and say then, Come ye blessed? be acquainted with him now upon all occasions: hear the Word, receive the Sacrament, and come to the Sacrament as acknowledging him there.
How is that?
Why then you acknowledge the bread and wine to be Seales of him, and To acknowledge Christ in the Sacrament, what.of all the blessings by him, when you come prepared; when you come to them as his, or else you do not acknowledge them: you know them to be such and such things, but you acknowledge them not to be set apart for such a holy use, except you come with prepared hearts.
Will any body acknowledge him to go to a great person, when he goes deformed, and in rags? do you know whither you go? would some say, to him. He considers not whither he goes, that comes to the Sacrament in his old sins. Come acquainted therefore with Christ, to acknowledge him that shall be your Judge at the latter day, therefore come prepared.
And then, because the Sacrament is a means to seal to us all the benefits we have by Christ, and to incorporate us more nearly into Christ: he that comes to the Sacrament as he should, must come with joy. Is it not a joyful thing to be united to Christ? and to have further assurance of all the good things by him? Yes, it is a matter of great joy: Therefore when you have repented of your sins, come with joy.
And come with holinesse. The things are holy; as our Liturgy hath it: let us give holy things to holy persons: here is presented holy bread and wine, and here you are to deal with Christ; therefore come with holy reverence in the whole carriage of the businesse.
And come with faith, and assurance, and then you shall acknowledge Christ in this Ordinance, in the Sacrament. You shall acknowledge that he deales not complementally with you, to feed you with empty signes: but you shall have himself with his signs: you shall have the Lord himself in the Word, and in the Sacraments. With the field you shall have the treasure in the field, as the wise Merchant had. With the Word you shall have Christ, wrapped in the Word; and in the Sacrament you shall have Christ, and all his benefits. Trust to it, make it your weapon against Satan, he will tempt you to doubt of your interest in Christ. Think with your selves, Had I grace to receive Christ? to be incorporate nearer into him? why should I doubt to renew my Covenant? And though I have fallen by weaknesse, yet I have a gracious Intercessour in heaven that makes my peace continually. Come in faith: Know that God in good earnest here offers Christ with all his benefits.
And come with a purpose and resolution to be led by him. You come to renew your Covenant; here is the Covenant, when Christ is given to you, and you give your selves to Christ. Therefore (as I said) if you come with a purpose to live in sin, come not at all. Christ will not live in a heart where there is a purpose to sin: therefore esolve to leave all sin, or else you cannot receive him.
To move you to come, and to come thus; do but consider that it will be your joy in this world, and in the world to come, before Christ, that you have been thus acquainted with him herc on earth, acquainted with him in the Ministery, acquainted with him in the Sacrament, in private prayer, and meditation, in all the blessed means that he hath appointed; and then he will look on you, as upon his old friends.
But now he that is a Rebel, that goes away, or else comes, not acknowledging with whom he hath to deal; him that shall be his Judge ere long, the Great God of Heaven and Earth, that shall come in glory and majestie with thousands of his Angels. Then he shall be Wonderfull indeed, as his Name is, Isai. 9. 6. and as the Apostle saith, 2 Thess. 2. where he useth the word, he shall be wonderful in his Saints. Then all the world shall wonder at the glory of a poor Christian, when he shall put down the Sun, and all the creatures in glory. Consider with whom you have to deale: him that ere long shall be wonderfull in his Saints. Therefore come prepared, come joyfully, come faithfully, come reverently, and holy, and you shall find a blessing answerable. This I thought good to touch, concerning the occasion of the Sacrament. Ye are our rejoying.
At the day of the Lord Jesus.
Saint Paul esteemed of nothing, but that which would comfort him at that day. Therefore let us oft think of the day of the Lord Jesus. Why? Thoughts of Judgment make us painful.what will make us digest labour, and pains, in dealing with the soules of others, in doing good, and being fruitful in our places? The consideration of that Day: there is a Day will come that will make amends for all, and that is the day of the Lord Jesus.
And considering that there is such a day, let us make much of the day of the Lord, that is now left us; what is that? This day: The Lords Day: Revel. 1. it is called The Lords Day. And as I said, labour to be acquainted with that Lord that must be Judge of quick and dead then. The Lord hath a day now wherein we may be acquainted with him; by hearing his Word, by yielding obedience of his truth unfolded to us: therefore let us make much of this day, if we would have comfort at that Day. Ye are our rejoycing in the Day of the Lord.