Jesus Christ be with you My love be with you all in Christ Jesus Amen 23 24. The best Benediction I can give you is by praying That the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be with you for that will render you holy and acceptable to God and save you from Evil and bring you to Glory I am sure my Love is with you all May your Loveliness so continue it Amen The Second Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to the CORINTHIANS CHAP. I. 1. PAul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God and Timothy our brother unto the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints which are in all Achaia 2. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ 1 2. When it is read to the Church at Corinth to whom it is specially directed to be communicated to others in Achaia by them 3. Blessed be God even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort 4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God 3 4. By the same Reasons that comforted me and by the experience of his Mercies which giveth me a comforting frame of Mind 5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ 5. As I suffer more than others for Christ so I have proportionable comfort by Christ 6. And whether we be afflicted it is for your consolation and salvation which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer or whether we be comforted it is for your consolation and salvation 6. So great is the love of God to you that both our afflictions and our comforts are intended as means to your comfort that you may the easilier suffer as we do and hope for that comfort that we enjoy and that all may further your Salvation 7. And our hope of you is stedfast knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings so shall ye be also of the consolation 7. Therefore I hope that suffering will not overthrow your Faith while you look for the same consolation 8. For we would not brethren have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia that we were pressed out of measure above strength insomuch that we despaired even of life 8. I would have you know how great our sufferings were in Asia even beyond our own strength to bear them and such as put me in expectation of death 9. But we had the sentence of death in our selves that we should not trust in our selves but in God which raiseth the dead 9. But God brought me to this expectation of death that I might not trust to my present life but unto God alone and that as one that can raise the dead and give them a better life hereafter than that which they lay down for Christ 10. Who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us 11. You also helping together by prayer for us that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf 10 11. Who hath delivered us from so terrible a kind of Death and still doth deliver us and we hope will do till our Work be done But your Prayers must concur as the Means that God also may have all your Thanks 12. For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world and more abundantly to you-wards 12. Note 1. That a Christian must have rejoicing not only in Christs Merits but in the Conscience of his own Sincerity 2. Sincerity is much in Simplicity and contrary to self-seeking fleshly Wisdom 3. It is Gods Grace that giveth this Sincerity 4. Where it is used in eminent Self-denial it may lawfully be gloried in against Dâ—tractors 13. For we write none other things unto you then what you read or acknowledge and I trust you shall acknowledge even to the end 13. For I willingly expose my self and Doctrine to your Trial I write but the same things which you have received and own and I hope will own even to the end 14. As also you have acknowledged us in part that we are your rejoycing even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus 14. As I my self have been owned by you as your Comfort though I have some Accusers even as you are my Comfort when I render an Account of my Ministry to Christ 15. And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before that you might have a second benefit 15. And in confidence of this our mutual Love I purposed to come to you for the increase of your Graces 16. And to pass by you into Macedonia and to come again out of Macedonia unto you and of you to be brought on my way toward Judea 16. When I carry the Contribution to Judea 17. When I therefore was thus minded did I use lightness or the things that I purpose do I purpose according to the flesh that with me there should be yea yea and nay nay 18. But as God is true our word toward you is not yea and nay 17 18. What I purposed was with submission to Gods Providence and Will Had any cause then to accuse me of Levity and Falshood in my Promises as if my Word were not to be credited I take God to witness that I spake my real Purpose in truth though I was hindred from Performance 19. For the son of God Jesus Christ who as preached among you by us even by me and Sylvanus and Timotheus was not yea and nay but in him was yea 20. For all the promises of God in him are Yea and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us 19 20. And more abusive is it hence to gather my Incredibility in preaching and the uncertainty of my Doctrine For Christ whom we preached is a certain Saviour and his Promises all sure and are sealed confirmed and proved to Gods Glory in the Power of our Ministry 21. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God 22. Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts 21 22. And it is God himself who stablisheth both us and you in Christ and hath anointed and sealed us and given us the Earnest of his Spirit which is his Pledge and our Security 23. Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth 23. I do by Oath call God himself to witness that my not coming yet to you was not out of any such Falshood Levity or Self-respect as my Accusers intimate
day and not to me onely but unto all them also that love his appearing 6 7 8. Note That 1. Our Ministry and Life is like a Battle Combat or Race for Life or Death 2. Onely they that overcome shall be Crowned 3. Faithful Men may take great Comfort when when â—eath is at hand in the Conscience and review of a well spent victorious Life and Ministry 4. Their Reward will be a Crown of Righteousness given by God as a Righteous Judge on Gospel worthiness tho not on legal merit but supposing free Grace in Christ 5. To love Christs appearing is the effect of a Saving Faith 9 10 11. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me For Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present world and is departed unto Thessalonica Crescens to Galatia Titus unto Dalmatia Onely Luke is with me Take Mark and bring him with thee for he is profitable to me for the ministry 12. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus 19 10 11 12. Note That 1. It is not Christ that Demas is said to forsake but Paul and not to turn Worldling but to go about his Worldly Business unseasonably 2. Timothy was not then at Ephesus 13. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus when thou comest bring with thee and the books but especially the parchments 13. Note The word translated the Cloke is very probably by others translated the Roll viz. of Parchment 14 15. Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil the Lord reward him according to his works Of whom be thou aware also for he hath greatly withstood our words 14 15. Alexander an Excommunicate Man hath much wrong'd me God will reward him according to his works Note Excommunication enrageth impenitent bad Men. 16. At my first answer no man stood with me but all men forsook me I pray God that may not be laid to their charge 16. Note 1. This was not a forsaking Paul's Cause but his Person in danger which is too usual a case Herein he followed Christ whose Disciples all forsook him and fled 2. It 's like Peter was not then at Rome among the forsakers of Paul 17. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me that by me the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion 17. But God forsook me not when all Men forsook me but was with me and strengthened me in Vindicating my Person and Cause that while I was admitted to answer for my self the Hearers might know and fame might tell abroad what Doctrine it is that I suffer for Preaching and so all the City of Rome and others by their report might hear and have notice of it And so I was delivered from the present danger of Death by the Roman Persecutors as from the Jaws of a Lion Note 1. Some think that the words that the Preaching might be fully known refer to Paul's longer time to Preach I exclude not this but prefer the other sence 2. It was not Treason nor sin for Paul to call his Deliverance from the unjust Judgment of the Civil Power his being delivered out of the mouth of the Lion 18. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen 18. And I doubt not but God will still keep me from all the ill Designs and Attempts of Men against me at least so far that they shall not draw me to do evil and will keep me in a state of right and preparation to his Heavenly Kingdom In the hopeful Sence whereof I rejoicingly desire that he be Glorified for ever Amen 19 20. Salute Prisca and Aquila and the houshold of Onesiphorus Erastus abode at Corinth but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick 19 20. Note That Trophimus was sick though Paul had the Gift of Healing because it was not to be common nor at the Will of Man 21. Do thy diligence to come before winter Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren 21. Make hast to come c. 22. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit Grace be with you Amen 22. The Lord Jesus Christ who is our Mediator and Head and hath purchased chosen and called thee performed for thee his saving Office in keeping thy Soul in Holiness and Peace His Grace which is the greatest Treasure on Earth be with you to keep you and prepare you for Glory Amen Note The Suscriptions to the Epistles are no part of the Holy Scripture ANNOTATIONS FAithful Ministers whose Work is to Preach the Gospel of Salvation should have so much of the Form Belief and Power of it in themselves as to pass triumphantly out of the World in suffering for it and not to think that God useth them hardly And to be satisfied in God's acceptance though their Brethren and Converts should forsake them as the Bishops and Churches of Asia did Paul The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to TITUS CHAP. I. 1 2. PAul a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of Gods elect and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie promised before the world began 1 2. Paul c. for the propagating of the Faith of God's Elect and the acknowledgment of that sound Doctrine which is suited to the promoting of godliness in opposition to prophaneness and heresie in hope of eternal life which is the end of all our faith and godliness and all our preaching and suffering which God that cannot lie promised before many Ages past 3. But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour 3. But what he so long ago purposed and darkly promised he haâ—h in the fittest appointed season manifested by his Gospel through preaching which is committed to me by the Commission and Commandment of God our Saviour Note That it is doubtful whether by God's Promise be meant only his secret purpose or by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be meant many Ages ago One of the two it must be for we cannot feign an actual Promise before the world began distinct from his purpose 2. It is not unlikely that he meaneth the Promise first made to Fallen Man of the Womans Seed and after oft renewed and this obscure word was made plain by the preaching of the Gospel upon Christs Incarnation Life and Resurrection c. 4. To Titus mine own son after the common faith grace mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour Note The Church hath but one Faith or Creed common in the Essentials to every Christian 5. For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee 5 Note
are guilty of this sin though they be Infidels Some Ancients and most Papists expound Impossible by Difficult but I think ungroundedly 11. Yea the Jews that crucified him were not such as here are described for they had not before believed and received the Holy Ghost It is the worst reproach of Christ for a professed Christian to say I did believe in him and had the Spirit my self and saw and did signal Works or Miracles and I found at last that he was but a Deceiver and all these Gifts were the operations of evil Spirits 7 8. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth blessing from God 8. But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned 7 8. For as the Earth is blest or justly praised which bringeth Fruit when it is watered and manured but that is called cursed and bad whose fruit must be for the fire which bringeth forth but Thorns and Briars So God will bless and reward them who fruitfully answer the means which he useth in them but will curse and burn those who after the greatest means and experimental partaking of the signal gifts of the Spirit shall turn to reproach and blaspheme him whom they believed in 9. But beloved we are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany salvation though we thus speak 9. But though in the dangerous times and temptations to Apostacy I think meet to tell you the dreadful case of such for your safety do not interpret iâ— as though I thought this is or would be your case We have reason to hope better of you that you have the Grace which will bring you to Salvation 10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed toward his Name in that ye have ministred to the saints and do minister 10. For God who is our most righteous Governor even in this Life distributeth Rewards and Penalties in Justice And as in Justice he forsaketh the foresaid Apostates who scorn his Mercy so he will reward your faithful use of his Grace with more Grace and will not forsake you who have shewed so much fidelity to his Name and charity to his Saint Note That the additional Grace which is necessary to Perseverance is given oft by way of Reward for former fidelity and not meerly without such respects 11. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end 11. Therefore seeing this is God's ordinary way to reward well used Grace with more I desire that you will hold on in the same diligence till you reach to the Consummation or full Assurance of your hope of Perseverance and Salvation which every young Beginner doth not attain 12. That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises 12. And that tired weary sluggishness make you not desist and lose your reward but that in unwearied diligence to the end you follow them who through faith and enduring patience have won the prize and possess the promised felicity 13 14. For when God made promise to Abraham because he could swear by no greater he sware by himself Saying Surely blessing I will bless thee and multiplying I will multiply thee 15. And so after he had patiently endured he obtained the promise 13 14 15. So God who sware by himself to Abraham having no greater to swear by confirmed his Promises of the Multiplication of his Seed which yet Abraham lived not to see fulfilled but he patiently waited and dyed in faith and all the Promises were fulfilled in due time 16. For men verily swear by the greater and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife 16. For men use by Oath to appeal to him that can discern and revenge Perfidiousness and when other Evidences fail they end their Strifes by the Confirmation of an Oath 17. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immâ—tability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath 17. And God knowing our weakness of faith to confirm the Faithful who are the Heirs of his promised Happiness of the truth and immutability of his Decrees confirmed his Word to us by his Oath that we might be put quite out of doubt 18. That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us 18. That so by his Word and his Oath which are both immutable and therefore infallible Security seeing it is impossible for God to lie we who are fled for refuge from guilt and sin and danger and misery to lay hold on the proposed hope of Everlasting Life might have well grounded and strong Consolation and not be shaken by any doubts of the Fidelity or Promises of God Note God would have us to have strong Consolation in our Faith and Hope 19. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entereth into that within the vail 19. Though the things of this Life are much uncertain this Hope which is our Support and Comfort is founded on firm and stedfast Security and is fetch 't by faith from the most holy and invisible things which the Vail of Mortality yet hideth from our sight 20. Whither the fore-runner is for us entered even Jesus made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec 20. Into which invisible heavenly Glory Christ is entred not only for himself and his own Consummation but as a Fore-runnner for us to intercede and prepare felicity for us and from his fulness of Power to send down his Spirit and consummate all that concerneth our Salvation as a Royal Priest typified by Melchisedec CHAP VII FOr this Melchisedec king of Salem priest of the most high God who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him 2. To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all first being by interpretation king of righteousness and after that also king of Salem which is king of peace 1 2. This Melchisedec to whom Abraham gave the Tenths of the Spoils was King of Righteousness by the signification of his name and King of Peace interpreting his place which Christ is eminently whom he typified 3. Without father without mother without descent having neither beginning of days nor end of life but made like unto the Son of God abideth a priest continually 3. The History of him maketh no mention of his Father or Mother or Descent nor of his Birth or Beginning nor of his death or end but describeth him like a continuing Priest and a Type of the Son of God who abideth a Priest continually Note The Jews think he was Shem whose Beginning
supream onely God both in the Temple at Jerusalem and throughout all the now-Christian Eastern Empire and a great part further of the World and under the Title of God's greatest Prophet will put down God's own Institutions and Laws and Gospel and set up his own in the stead 6. What it is that stops him is a thing known to you all even the Imperial Power which as it falls he will rise For as he is to make his false Religion by a composition of Arianism Judaism and his own Inventions so the swarm of Heresies now among us Nicolaitans Ebionites Cerinthians Gnosticks c. are secretly a Mystereous Iniquity preparing for him Onely that Empire that now letteth must give place to him by diminution at his first rising and by its total-overthrow in the East at his full possession And so he shall in his time become the open Seducer and Captivater of the Church and World and must stay till Christ diminish and consume Mahometanism by his Word preached and utterly destroy it with the Glory of his more full appearance before the end 9. Even that Mâ—homets Kingdom whose coming is by Satanical Murdering Wars and deceitful pretences of Heavenly Signs and Revelations and with the unrighteous deceit of pretended opposition to Idolatry and to Christians as if they worship two or three Gods and their Laws were not so good as his And those Superficial Hypocrite-Christians that had but the Name and Form and not the hearty belief love and obedience to the Truth shall turn Mahometans and be damned II. The commonest Protestant Paraphrase is thus V. 3. Christs coming shall not be till there be a general Apostacie of the whole visible Church say some or of most or much of it say others unto Idolatrous Worship and subjection to the Papacy and that Man of sin the Pope be revealed the Active and Passive Son of Perdition the Abaddon the Head of this Apostacie given up to all sin himself and to promote it 4. Who claimeth Christs Prerogative under the name of his Universal Vicar and overthrows his Officers and Laws and sets up his own against them and overtoppeth and subjecteth all Princes and Magistrates and this in the Church of God say most or in that Idolatrous Church of his own falsely called The Church of God say others as if he were there chief Lord himself and arrogating names of Blasphemy I told you formerly of all this And now you know what hindereth his speedy arising Even the Empire as such say some including both the Pagan and Christian Or as others the Empire as Pagan only 6. For the beginnings of Antichristianity are secretly and mysteriously already working which will bring him forth in time even the Pride and Ambition of Ministers seeking Superiority and the Peoples excess of Factious Respects to some above others and falling into Sects and Heresies in following them Only the Empire that now hindreth must first be taken out of the way 8. And then shall the Pope that Man of Wickedness arise say some or be openly discovered to be Antichrist say others Whom the Lord shall consume by the Power of his Word preached by the two Witnesses and then destroy by pouring out the Vials of his Wrath upon him at his later coming to restore his Church 9. Even that Pope with his Roman Church of Papists whose coming to the Papacy is after that way of working by force and cheats and feigned Miracles which Satan teacheth and giveth them to seduce the Christian World 10. And with all the deceiving Arts of falshood by which unrighteousness is upheld and promoted to delude those that shall perish for ever Because they received not sound Doctrine when it was delivered nor held the Christian Faith in Love and in its Power but in Custom Hypocrisie and Form that it might sanctifie and save them Therefore God justly gave them up by desertions to Deceivers and Delusions to believe a lie 12. That all these Papists might be damned who believed not the Truth that is contrary to Popery but had pleasure in its unrighteous Principles and Practices and in that sensual life which is contrary to the Christianity which they profess III. The third considerable Opinion runs thus in the Paraphrase Exposition 1. Pauls words have relation both to Daniels words of Antiochus say most but of the Roman Power rather say Calvin and Brightman who largely proveth it 2. It is so far from being true that the Christians rejoiced in Christs sending the Romans to destroy Jerusalem that they greatly lamented it The Cities name was precious to them the first Christians being all Jews and the Gentiles receiving the Gospel from Jerusalem Christ wept over them when he Prophesied their ruine Paul's lamentation was great for them The ruine was dreadful 1110000 killed and 700000 carried Captive And the Apostles were all Jews and there was a common expectation among the Jews of the Messiah's glorious Kingdom at Jerusalem and they called it The Holy City and Land 3. The Abomination of desolation is by Christ himself compared to that spoken of by Daniel the Prophet which was the destroying the Holy Place and Worship and setting up Idolatry in its stead And the Authors themselves of the second Exposition as against the Pope Expound the Desolating Abomination in Matth. 24. to be the Roman Heathen Army coming to lay waste the Holy City and Temple For that Abomination of Desolation was to go before the flight of Men from Jerusalem or to concur And this Text v. 3. c. seemeth plainly to follow Christ and speak of the same that he speaketh of 4. Vespasian and his Son Titus by his Command were the Men that destroyed the Holy City Temple and Nation and the Idolatrous Heathens and their Worship there took present possession and so set up the Desolation and Abomination And his younger Son Domitian destroyed the Christians and Proclaimed himself to be God and to be worshipped with Altars and Sacrifices as God 5. This Vespatian took on him to work Miracles healing a Blind Man and many others So that some foolish Jews called him the Messiah And he and his Son Titus by their flattery and fair lives got great esteem as excellent Men And their Learned Orators c. promoted the honour of Idolatry by theirs 6. This way of Self-deifying and promoting Idolatry and Captivating the Jews and all Christians went on though not equally through all the Emperours almost till Constantine 7. The attempt of Caius Caligula told the Christians what further to expect when he Commanded Petronius to set up his Image in the Temple to be worshipped as Jupiter Nero's Cruelty prognosticated much 8. But Vespasian and Titus were stopt from the Desolation first attempted by the Life of Claudius Galba Otho Vitellius till he was made Emperour himself 9. And Christ consumed their Idolatry by his Gospel and destroyed it by Constantine These things premised their Paraphrase is v. 3. The day of the Lord will not