new. God having committed to him the ministry of reconciliation, 421 ix. 2 Cor. v. 17 old things are past heart of that man; so entirely are his princi- SECT. away; behold, all ples, apprehensions, and pursuits changed; things are become old things are passed away, and with respect to him, behold, all things are become new; he is brought as it were into another world, and is himself quite a different creature from what he 18 And all things before was. And as it is the work of God to 18 are of God, who hath create, so here it may properly be said, that reconciled us to him- all things [are] of God, who hath in his infinite self by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us condescension conquered cur prejudices, and the ministry of recon- reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ; having ciliation. by his grace in him, laid a proper and honourable foundation for the exercise of his mercy towards us, and for the subduing of our hearts to love and obedience. And in pursuance of this great and condescending design, he hath committed to us his ministers, and especially to his apostles, the ministry of reconciliation; intrusting us with this important message, to proclaim it to the world, and so far as in us 19 To wit, that lies, to transmit it to the remotest ages. And 19 God was in Christ, this is an abstract and epitome of it all; namely, reconciling the world unto himself, not im- that God was in Christ united to him, and manputing their trespas- ifesting himself by him, thereby reconciling the ses unto them; and world both of Jews and Gentiles unto himself; hath committed unto and in consequence of that, not imputing to them us the word of re- and charging to their account, with righteous conciliation, inexorable severity, their various and aggravated offences: but setting forth an act of grace, and unlimited pardon, to all those who should believe in him. This is that great Divine truth on which our salvation depends; and God hath committed unto us, as a trust of the highest importance, the gracious word, or mes20 Now then we sage of reconciliation. Therefore we are to be 20 are Ambassadors for considered by you, as sustaining the office and Christ, as though dignity of ambassadors for Christ, on his ac God did beseech you by us: we pray you count, and in his stead; so that God is, as it in Christ's stead, were, entreating [you] by us, and we beseech [you] in Christ's stead, with the greatest importunity and tenderness of address, that, when ◄ Ambassadors for Christ.] The apos- though such a phrase had never been used tles were SO in a peculiar sense; in scripture. but if it be the will of Christ, that In Christ's stead.] So unrep Xpis plainministers in all ages should press men ly signifies here. When Christ was in to accept the treaty of reconciliation the world, he pressed this treaty of reconestablished in him, then it is evident, ciliation; and we rise up in his stead to they may be called his ambassadors, even urge it still farther. 422 ix. 2 Cor. 21 made him to be sin to beseech them in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God. SECT. SO much is done on God's part to make up the be ye reconciled to God. breach, which must otherwise have been fatal to his offending creatures, ye would not, by v. 20 your own obstinacy, reject the benefit of all these condescending overtures; but would be cordially and truly reconciled to God, and thankfully accept of that friendship and protection which he vouchsafes to offer you. And that 21 For he hath your hearts may, if possible, be melted, we urge for us, who knew no you by the most affecting of all arguments, even sin; that we might the blood and death of his incarnate Son: for be made the rightwe tell you, that he, that is, God, hath made him eousness of God in who knew no sin, but was perfectly innocent and perfectly holy, [a] sin [offering] for us; that by the sacrifice of himself, he might expiate the guilt of our transgressions, and that so we might be made accepted in him, and furnished with a plea, as prevalent for our justification and admission into the Divine favour, as if we had retained our innocence untainted, and in every respect conformed ourselves to the righteousness which the law of God f required him. 2 Cor. and demanded. We then [as] the joint labour- 2 Cor. VI. 1. We vi. 1 ers [of God] in this important work, (compare then as workers to1 Cor. iii. 9, note f,) beseech [you] with the most gether with him, beseech you also that earnest importunity, that you receive not the ye receive not the surprising grace of God in vain; that you do grace of God in vain : not so slight this merciful proclamation of pardon, righteousness and life, through the blood of 2 his Son, as to lose the benefit of it. Again, let 2 (For he saith, I me urge immediate compliance with it on all have heard thee in a time accepted, and who have not as yet secured its invaluable bless- in the day of salvaings; for he says, when represented as address- tion have I succouring himself to the Messiah, in one of Isaiah's prophecies, (Isa. xlix. 8,) I have heard thee in an acceptable time, and in a day of salvation have I helped and sustained thee. God there, Made the righteousness of God] That stand in Isaiah, they are a promise made is, divinely righteous. It is a very strong to Christ; in which God engages to give phrase to signify our being accepted of him the Gentiles as an accession to his God, as perfectly righteous, when consid- church, and reward of his mediatorial ered as by faith united to him who was undertaking. And in this connection, it perfectly so. There is an evident and is as if the apostle had said, "since such beautiful contrast, between Christ being a promise is made, see to it that you made sin, and our being made righteousness, that is, treated as perfectly righteous. Addressing himself to the Messiah.] I think it evident, that as these words seek it, and you will find it an acceptable time." You will come as it were in a good hour, as Christ is represented to have done. ed thee Reflections on the love and grace of Christ, &c. now is the accept ed time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 423 ix. 2 Cor. behold, as you see, speaks of a limited time, in which sect. IMPROVEMENT. vi. 2 How adorable is the Divine condescension, that such an embassy of peace should ever be sent to any of the children of the fallen Adam! How wonderful the Divine patience, that the chap. accepted time, and the day of salvation, should, after so many slights, be so long protracted! O, let us not receive such grace in vain, lest affronted mercy should forsake its seat, and give way to inexorable justice! Surely if there be a sentiment, that may justly excite the heart to the greatest fervour of affection, and that will vindicate the most ardent transports of zeal to spread it in the world, it must be that of the love of Christ; which may well bear us away, chap. while we seriously consider, in how miserable a state he found v. 14 us, dead in sin, and under a sentence of death by the Divine law; especially, when we farther reflect, at how expensive a rate he redeemed us, even with the price of his own life. Who then, that has any remains of judgment at all, must not judge and 14, 15 determine in his own mind, that it is most fit, that our ransomed lives should be sacred to him that redeemed them; that our breasts should be on fire, with the most earnest desires to promote his cause and kingdom; that henceforth, from the time we come to the knowledge of this important truth, we should not live to ourselves, but to him who died for us, and rose again, resuming, with his renewed life, the same tender concern for our happiness, which engaged him continually to exert it in the most generous efforts for our recovery and salvation. Let all secular views, therefore, be given up; and let us labour to improve in that renovation of soul which is the essential char- 17 acter of the true Christian; and as ever we desire to have any satisfactory evidence, that we are in Christ, let us see to it that we are new creatures; and if we are indeed so, let us daily acknowledge our obligations to his transforming grace. From him are the first proposals of peace and reconciliation to offending crea- 18 tures; from him, the disposition of soul, humbly to submit ourselves to the terms so kindly proposed, and to sue out our pardon 424 verse The apostles approved themselves the ministers of God. SECT. agreeably to the purposes of this grand act of indemnity. How ix. amazing the condescension that grants it; and appoints ambassadors to urge us, to have compassion on our own souls, and not 19, 20 reject this counsel of God against ourselves! May the ministers of the gospel often consider themselves in this view, as ambassadors and agents for Christ, by whom God beseecheth sinners to be reconciled; and let them prosecute this embassy, with all holy importunity and earnest address. O, that the success of it might be more apparent; that so that friendship might be established between earth and heaven, which may bring down daily anticipa tions of heaven to earth! Amen. SECT. X. vi. 3 SECT. X. The apostle enlarges, with great freedom, on the temper with which, in the midst of all their afflictions and persecutions, he and his brethren prosecuted that important embassy of which he had been speaking in the former section. 2 Cor. VI. 3-10. 2 CORINTHIANS VI. 3. 2 COR. VI. 3. TH fence in any message we deliver; and while we are thus employed, it is our constant care, that we may istry be not blamed: thing, that the min2 Cor. behave in such a manner as may add the greatest efficacy to our address, and give no offence to any, by any part of our [conduct;] that the ministry of reconciliation be not blamed, and the 4 success of the gospel thereby obstructed. But 4 But in all things on the contrary, we would be, and I hope we approving ourselves are, in every respect, approving ourselves, to all as the ministers of God, in much pathat see and know us, such as they ought to be tience, in afflictions, who have the honour of being the ministers innecessities, in disand ambassadors of God; in this view we gov tresses, ern the inmost emotions of our souls, endeavouring to possess them in much patience, in the midst of all the afflictions which his providence calls us to bear, in all the necessities we are HIS is the affair we negociate, this is the GIVING no of Give no offence, &c ] This clause is from the first of the 6th, seems yet more so connected with the foregoing, that it improper. To render the beginning of would have been highly expedient to have the section less apparently abrupt, I render continued the preceding section, at least that, we give no offence, which had more to the end of this; but the length would literally been translated by the participle, be inconvenient. And there are some giving, &c. as in the following clauses; other instances, in which we have been but such little variations, as they affect forced to yield to necessity on such occa- not the sense, will I hope be excused, sions; but the common division, which as what on my plan I knew not how to separates the last verse of the 5th chapter avoid. In all manner of afflictions and distresses 425 compelled to endure, in all the straits to which sECT. we are at any time reduced, and all the anguish X. of heart we may unavoidably feel in them b 2 Cor. 5 In stripes, in This steady patience we endeavour to maintain, vi. 5 imprisonments, in in stripes, when we are scourged in synagogues umults, in labours, and cities, as if we were the most notorious ofin watchings,in fast-fenders against God and men, and the vilest ings, pests of society in imprisonments, though we not only endure so many hardships in our confinement, but are cut off by it from these public labours for the glory of God and the edification of the church, which are dearer to us than our lives: in tumults, which are raised against us by Jews and Gentiles, and by which our enemies are often endeavouring to tear us in pieces in labours, which we incessantly pursue, either in our ministerial work, or in those secular callings by which we are often obliged to earn our daily bread: in watchings, when in prosecution of those various employments, the hours of the night are added to those of the day, and we have hardly time for our necessary repose in fastings, to which, besides those which devotion chooses, we are often obliged to submit, for want of proper supplies of food: 6 By pureness, by Yet still, in the midst of all these difficulties, 6 knowledge, by long- conducting ourselves, in unspotted purity, lasuffering, by kind- bouring to improve daily in the knowledged of those Divine truths which it is our great business to teach others, and by the exercise of a constant command over our passions, to grow in long suffering and in gentleness, and every other amiable disposition which we cultivate in ness, by the Holy Afflictions necessities straits.] he would render it in Latin, Exagitation Dr. Whitby thinks, the first word, Gaļus, signifies affliction in general; the second, avan, more grievous and unavoidable troubles; and the third, sevox copia, such pressures as reduce us to the greatest straits the compound sense therefore on the whole is, we are, as it were, hemmed in with inevitable, and humanly speaking, inextricable calamities, on every side. Compare sect. vii. note. ibus. d By knowledge] Interpreters give many different senses of this word. Dr. Scott says it signifies prudence, which is a Christian virtue, whereas the mere understanding of Divine things was a gift. Mr. Pyle thinks it signifies their improving the knowledge of Divine mysteries. Mr. Cradock refers it to an acquaintance with the true sense of scripture; which brings it to much the same with what has © In tumults: axasis.] Beza in- been called the word of knowledge. I conterprets this, (and I think no man seems clude, it implies not only a solicitude to better to have understood the peculiar grow in the knowledge of the gospel, but propriety of Greek words,) of such attacks to improve that knowledge to the edificaas a man cannot stand against, but which tion of others; which accordingly is ex bear him hither and thither by violence: pressed in the paraphrase. VOL. 4. 55 |