Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4, Title page – Errata
A LEARNED COMMENTARY OR, EXPOSITION, UPON The fourth CHAPTER of the second Epistle of Saint PAƲL to the CORRINTHIANS.
To which is added
I. A Conference between Christ and Mary after his resurrection.
II. The Spirituall Mans aim.
III. Emanuell, or Miracle of Miracles.
Published for the advantage of those that have them not, others may have the Commentary alone. —Virtus Coelo beat.
By that Reverend and Godly Divine, RICH: SIBBS D. D. Sometimes Master of Catherine Hall in Cambridge, and Preacher to that Honourable Society of Grayes-Inne.
Psalmes 37. 30. The mouth of the righteous will speak of wisdome, and his tongue will talk of judgement.
Vers. 31. For the Law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not slide.
LONDON, Printed by S. G. for John Rothwel, at the Fountain in Cheap-side. 1656.
TO THE READER.
Christian Reader.
THere are three waies by which a Minister preaches, by Doctrine, Life, and Writing. It may be questioned which is the hardest?
1. Truly for Preaching, the Apostles 2 Cor. 2. 16.foreign, who is sufficient, may correct the slight apprehensions of hearers, and the hasty intrusion of teachers. Luther was wont to say, If he were to choose his calling, he would dig with his hands rather than be a Minister. The disposition both of Li. 5. de Sacerd.speakers, and hearers, saith Chrysostome, makes this work difficult; In regard of hearers, Scarce any member groans under more morall diseases than the ear. We read of an uncircumcised ear, Acts 7. 51. deaf ears, Rom. 11. 8. Micah 7. 16. Itching ears, 2 Tim. 4. 3. ears that are dull of hearing. Most people come to hear as men do to a Theatre, non utlitatem, sed voluptatem perceptu…i, not so much to feed their faith, as please their fancy. And for teachers, how many dangers do they lie open to? If they do not preach novelties, falsiti…s, yet to p…each sana, sanè, sound things soundly: to deliver the Word, foreign, Col. 4. 4. as it ought to be spoken. To speak a word in season, Isa. 50. 4. to approve themselves to God workmen that need not be ashamed, foreign M…taph…ra à sacrificiis, Illyr. Perkin. Metaphora à conviviiapparato…ibus Gerrh. in Harm. Evang.foreign, rightly cutting the word into parts, giving every one his portion, 2 Tim. 2. 15. And when a man hath done Gods work in Gods strength, to go away, with a humble heart, hic labor: Such a one is an interpreter one among a thousand, Job 33. 23.
2. But then for the Life. Alass, how many think the work is done when the glass is out; how many are good in the doctrine, bad in the application, especially to themselves; how hard is it to have life in doctrine, and doctrine in life? It is easier to preach twenty Sermons, than to mortifie one lust. It was a harder task Paul set Timothy, 2 Tim. 4. 18. When he bids him be an example to beleevers, in Conversation, in Charity, in Spirit, &c. than when he bids him give attendance to Reading, Exhortation, Doctrine, vers. 13. Yet we shall often hear Ministers say, They must study to preach, then study to practice. God would have the very snuffers in the Tabernacle pure gold, To shew, they that purge others must shine themselves; surely they must needs be unclean, that chew the end by meditation, but divide not the hoof by practice.
3. Lastly, for Writing, that hath more pr…heminency, though the two former have more vivacity. There is saith Gurnals Ep. to his Christian in compleat a…mour.a good man, as much difference between a Sermon in the Pulpit, and printed in a book, as between Milk in the warm breast, and in the sucking bottle. Yet the convenience of it is very great; good books are the baskets that preserve excellent lessons that they be not lost. This also wants not its difficulty; for what censures, impostures, contempt, wrestings, have the labours of the most eminent Saints been exposed to, yea, the Scriptures themselves, the Pandect of all truth, The Testament of our Lord Jesus, how much have they suffered in all ages? besides the great difficulty, that is in other mens spirits to write truth. Yet let us blesse God for the writings of his Servants, for by these being dead, they yet speak to us. We have the Prophets, and Apostles, in their writings, preaching to us; their Sermons were like a running banquet, refreshed many, their writings were a standing dish. Sermons are like showers of rain, wet for the present; Books are like snow-banks, lie longer upon the earth, and keep it warm in the Winter. It might be a Problem whether professors Preaching, and Writing, or confessors Dying have most profited the Church.
Some have thought it preposterous in times of reformation to shut the Pulpit against erroneous persons, and leave the press open to them.
That being so compendious a way to propagate, and to multiply errors, and the liberty used more, to condemn truths received, than to debate in a friendly way things indifferent. Indeed, it must be acknowledged a very sad thing, the multitude not only of vain, but blasphemous treatises this age hath produced, and the great mischeif they have done: But blessed be God the press is as open to The same day Pelagius was born here in Britain, Austin was born in Africa.Truth as Error, and Truth hath been as nimble heeled, as Error; God never yet suffered any Goliah to defie him, but he raised up a David to encounter him. Though Error like Esau hath come out first, yet Truth like Jacob hath caught it by the the heel, and wrestled with it. If God hath suffered any horn to push at his Israel, he hath presently raised a Carpenter to knock it off. Let us blesse God for the witnessing Spirit that is abroad, though it go in Sackcloth. Think how great a mercy it is to keep ground, though we cannot gain ground.
Let none complain of the multitude of good Books, though one bad one be too many, yet many good ones are too few; or as one saith, one uselesse, or erroneous book is to C…ryl. on Iob 5. part in the Ep.many. Many useful Orthodox books are but one. Al the Prophets & Apostles make but one Bible, upon which account we may say, all the Books that faithfully interpret that, are but one Book.
All these waies this Reverend Author was serviceable to the Church of God while he lived, and since his decease, the Providence of God hath brought to light severall tracts of his, some sooner, some later; and that in great wisedome; for our foolish nature doth many times prize the labours of those dead, whom we despised living; as the Jewes, Their Fathers killed the Prophets, and their SonsMat. 23. 29. builded their Tombs; we have many such in these daies. The spirit of man hath a more reverent opinion of things past, than present, of things ancient, than modern, of things farther off, than neer at hand. Another thing wherein the wisedom of God appears in the multitude of books, is, not only a discovery of the manifold gifts of his Spirit, that he powrs on his Servants (which could not well be seen but in variety and diversity) but also to invite us to the farther study of them by change; for the best of us have some seeds of curiosity; now God by the variety of gifts and graces in his Servants, invites us to pass from one to another.
We shall say no more, but intreat thee to consider this treatise is a Posthume. The notes were taken from his mouth by the pen of a ready writer, and a person of note and integrity, whose design is not to forge a piece under the Authors name. The very stile, and matter, is so like his other pieces, we hope the legitimacy of it will not be questioned. It is easier to counterfeit another mans name, than another mans gifts. Had the Author lived to supervise his own work, no question but it would have passed his hand with more authority, and more politenesse. Thou wilt sometimes meet with some repetitions, yet with the addition of new matter; when thou meetest with it, read it as an impression which may carry force, and work more upon thy heart. In a word, the earthen vessell is broken, the heavenly treasure is preserved for thy use, and here offered to thee.
Now that God that caused light to shine out of darkness, cause the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ, to shine in thine, and our hearts, more and more to the perfect day. So pray.
Thy souls, and thy faiths Servants in the Lords work
Simeon Ash,
Ja. Nalton,
Joseph Church.
ERRATA.
Reader,
I pray mend these faults with thy Pen, and false poyntings, in this piece on the Corinthians.
PAge 4. l. 12. for it, read darknesse, p. 22. l. 38. for the Son r. his suffering, p. 26. l. 10. blo… out and Christ, p. 41. l. 36. blot out especially. p. 43. l. 5. for thing, r. think, p. 72. l. 15. r. follow the Doctrine of the Cross, p. 133. l. 15. for and r. do to, in the next line blot out do, p. 164. l. 10, r. distinct, p. 244. l. 5. blot out thus, p. 258. l. 13. for now if we, read and.