Commentary on 2 Corinthians 1, Commentary · Commentary on verse 16
VERSE XVI.
And to passe by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way to Judea.
SEe what a Circuit the blessed Apostle fetched; indeed he Saint Paul's Circuit.was industrious after his conversion: he made amends for his harsh conversion by his speedy labours: For he spread the Gospel like lightning through all the world almost: his course was like the course of the Sun, he went every where spreading the Gospel. We see his Circuit here, To passe by you into Macedonia, and to come again from Macedonia to you, and by you to be brought on my way to Judea. There is little to be Observed here, because it is a passage to other things, and circumstantial: I will not dwell on it. OnelyOnly this by the way: we see here, That
It is a commendable custome among the people of God, to bring one another on their Observ. A commendable custome for Christians to bring one another on their way.way, by way of honour and respect.
Partly it was for his security, and safety: but especially for the honour of his person. And they knew that it would not be a barren courtesie: for they knew that he was a man of a blessed spirit, so thankful, that he would deceive all the tediousnesse of the journey, by his heavenly discourse. And he intended their good as well as his own. You may see therefore, Religion establisheth courtesie. Saith the Apostle to the Philippians, Chap. 4. 8. Whatsoever things are of good report, whatsoever things are lovely, (he goes over many instances) think of these things. Ths same command of God that urgeth, and presseth love, it commands all the expressions of love, and all the means to kindle love.
Now this, their carrying of him, and going on the way with him, which was for honour and respect of so excellent a person, that he deserved so well of them; it was an expression of their love, and a means to preserve it. I shall not need to prove it, it is taken for granted. Those complements that expresse and maintain love, they are good, when the outward expression, and the inward affection go together.
I speak this by the way; to shew, that Religion doth not countenance Religion teacheth not incivility.incivility. Therefore those that affect unnecessary sternnesse, and unnecessary retirednesse, it is not out of Religion: Religion stablisheth whatsoever is good, whatsoever is of good report, whatsoever may maintain love: so much as a man is defective in this, he is defective in Religion; unlesse his affections and intentions at that time be deeply taken up by serious things: For then lesser things must give way to the greater, or else there is no excuse. For Religion is a thing of a large extent, even duties of Civility, and courtesie, and whatsoever may expresse and maintain love, is established by Religion. We see in Gen. 18. when Abraham entertained the Angels, he led them on their way. And so in Act. 15. The company sent them on their way; and we see in Scripture many common courtesies.
But I do but touch it by the way: because this whole Verse is but a passage to another thing; therefore I come to the seventeenth Verse.