Therefore be laboured to be accepted of him: 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing in the Body, we are abfent that whilst we are at Home from the Lord : 461 his Spirit, as the Pledge of better, even of eternal Sect. 8. Bleffings. Therefore, under the Influences of this Divine Spirit, [we are] always courageous in 2 Cor. V. 6. the Midft of furrounding Danger; and whatever natural Averfion we have to Death, are ready to brave its Terrors, in the Views of that immediate Happiness which lieth before us: knowing, that while we are fojourning in the Body (f), we are, as it were, in a State of Exile from the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Enjoyment of whom our chief 7. (For we walk by Faith, Happiness confists: For we now walk, and 7 not by Sight, conduct ourselves in the whole Courfe of Life, by the Faith of Objects, as yet unfeen; and not by the Sight of thofe Glories, or by a Regard to those Things, which we can fee. We are coura- 8 geous therefore [1 fay,] in thefe delightful Views, and think with Complacency, of being rather abSent from the Body, and banished from all its Pleafures and Enjoyments, on Condition of being, as we know we shall be, prefent with the Lord (g), and dwelling as those who are at Home with him. Therefore we make it the Height of our Ambi- 9 tion (b), that whether present in the Body, or abJent from it, we may be well pleafing to him, and receive the Tokens of his Acceptance and Fa 8 We are confident, I fay, and willing rather to be abfent from the Body, and to be prefent with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that whether present or abfent we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all ap Seat of Chrift, that every vour. This is our Concern, and it ought to be the 10 pear before the Judgment- Concern of all; for we must all without any Exone may receive the Things ception, whatever our Station in Life may have done in his Body, according been, be manifeft before the Tribunal of Chrift; our to inmoft Soul must there be displayed, and all the moft fecret Springs of our Actions laid open, that every one may then receive, in that final Distribution of Happiness and Mifery, according to what be (f) Are fojourning in the Body.] So does here properly fignifies; and it is, as Dr. Clark obferves, wrong to render it, while at Home in the Body; fince it is the Apostle's Defign to intimate that it is not our Home. (g) Prefent with the Lord.] From this Text Mr. Boyfe argues, not only against the Sleep of the Soul during the intermediate State; but that Saints, when departed from our World, go into the highest Heaven; where they dwell with Chrift, and are not, as fome have fuppofed, in a Place, where they have only a tranfient Sight of him on fome extraordinary Occafion. Boyfes four laft Things, pag. 592. (b) We make it the Heighth of our Ambition.] This questa plainly imports; and it is flat to tranflate it, we labour. 462 Reflections on the Confolation of the Chriftian Hope. Sect. 8. he hath done in the Body, whether Good or Evil; to that he hath done, whe in full Proportion to his Actions, and the Princi- ther is be good or bad. 2 Cor. V. 10. ples, from which the Searcher of Hearts knows them to have arifen. Ver. 18. BEH IMPROVEMENT. EHOLD the great Leffon, which as Chriftians we have to learn, and which is of fuch Efficacy, that if we thoroughly mafter it, all the other Parts of our Duty will become eafy and delightful-to look at the Things which are unfeen, rather than at thofe which are feen. And what can be fo reasonable, as that eternal Objects fhould employ the Thoughts of immortal Beings, rather than thofe, which they muft foon furvive? Let all our Souls be directed to them. Let us contemplate the Chap. V. 1. feeble Structure of this earthly Tabernacle, which gives us fo many Tokens of its nearly approaching Diffolution; this Tabernacle, in which we groan under fuch a Variety of Burthens; and let us comfort ourselves with the Profpect of fpeedy Deliverance; that fo while the outer Man perisheth, the inner may be renewed Day by Day. What tho' we have Death before us in a certain Profpect, and know we muft foon be abfent from the Body? If we are true Chriftians, we have the most exprefs Affurance, not only that the Time will come, when we fhall inhabit a Build ng of GOD, an Houfe not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens, but that we shall immediately be prefent with the Lord, with that blessed Redeemer, whom having not feen we love How much more fhall we love him, how much more fhall we rejoice in him, when we are bleffed with his Prefence, and behold his Glory! Ver. 4. Ch. IV. 16. Chap. V. 8. Ver. I. Ver. 6. While we have this Confcioufnefs, let us be always confident and couCh. IV. 17. rageous, and rejoice in Afflictions and Mortality; fince this light and momentary Affliction hath fo happy an Influence upon a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory; and Death will be the Confummation of Chap. V. 7. our Wishes. Let this then be our conftant Care, to walk by Faith, and not by Sight; having this ever for the glorious Object of our Ambition, that whether prefent or abfent, we may be accepted of the Lord. May GOD work us up to the felf-fame Thing; and may the Operation of his Grace upon our Souls for that Purpofe, be always acknowledged with the humbleft Gratitude, and its farther Communications fought with the moft earneft Importunity. Then fhall we not dread the Tribunal of Chrift, before which we are fo certainly to appear, and be made manifeft; knowing that our Integrity will be approved, and that thofe Works of Faith Ver. 9. Ver. 5. Ver. 10. and In Profpect of the future Judgment be perfuaded Mén. 463 and Labours of Love, which fhall then be commemorated, will meet Sect. 8. with gracious Acceptance, and moft munificent Rewards. SECT. IX. Touching again upon the Zeal with which he profecuted the Gofpel Ministry, the Apostle makes a Kind of Apology for it, by: pleading the irrefiftible Engagements of a Redeemer's Love, and the infinite Importance of that Message of Reconciliation, with which he was charged; and which, while be recounts, he profecutes in a pathetick Addrefs to the Corinthians. 2 Cor. V. II, to the End. Chap. VI. 1, 2. 2 CORINTHIANS V. II.. K Nowing therefore the Terror of the Lord, we perfuade Men; but we are made manifeft unto God, and I trust also, are made manifeft in your Confcien ces. I 2 CORINTHIANS V. II. HAVE. now touched upon a Confideration, Sect. which animates us to that Zeal in our Miniftrations, with which many are fo much furpriz- 2.Cor. V. 11. ed, and fome not a little difpleafed. We often reflect how near the folemn Time. is advancing, when we, and our Hearers, shall appear before. the Tribunal of Chrift; and knowing therefore the Terror of the Lord, the ftrict Judgment which must then pass on all impeninent Sinners, we, for their Sake and for our own, labour to our utmost, to perfuade Men to take all neceffary Methods for efcaping it. But as we are made manifeft to GOD, and think of it with unutterable Pleasure that he knows the Integrity of our Hearts, in profecuting the Work he hath affigned us; I hope also we are manifeft to your Confciences, and that I have already given, and fhall continue to give, fuch Proofs of the Simplicity of my Views, and Up-rightness of my Conduct, that you will not be able to harbour any Sufpicion concerning it. I fay thefe Things freely; for we do not, after our- the Modesty and Humility, with which we have 3 12 For we commend not be- 12% 464 . Sect. 12. 9. He makes an Apology for Speaking thus of himself; behaved hitherto, now begin to applaud our felves, or recommend ourselves again unto you (a); 2 Cor. V. as fome have very unjustly charged us with doing in fome former Inftances; but we are giving you Occafion of rejoicing, and boafting on our Account, as you have indeed Caufe to do; and are fuggefting what may be fufficient, that ye may have fomething to [anfwer] thofe, who glory in Appearance, and not in Heart; for that, I am perfuaded, is the Cafe with fome of your oppofing Teachers, whofe Confciences muft furely recoil upon them, and condemn them, while they pretend to vie with us in the Discharge of the Chriftian Miniftry, and would challenge your Regards in Prefe 13 rence to us. For if, as fome injuriously infinuate, we be On to ourselves again unto your Heart. 13 For whether we be befides ourselves it is to fober, it is for your Caufe. GOD: Or whether we be (a) We do not recommend ourselves again unto you.] It appears from hence, and from the Beginning of the third Chapter, that the Corinthians were ready to misrepresent the Care St. Paul took to vindicate himself, as Pride and Vain-glory. On the other Hand, they would have interpreted his Silence, as the Effect of Guilt and Confufion. He therefore plainly, and very properly, tells them, that he faid this only in his own neceffary Defence, and to furnish his Friends with an Anfier to thofe, whofe Confciences condemned them, while they endeavoured to afperfe him. (b) Transported beyond ourselves.] Mr. Locke thinks, from comparing Chap. ix. 1, 16,21. Chap. xii. 6, 11. that the Corinthians cenfured St. Paul, as a Fool or a Madman, for what he had faid in Commendation of himfelf; and then the Meaning is, "you fay, I am "diftracted for my prefent Conduct; but this is between GoD and myself. I am fure, you "Corinthians ought not to fay it; for all my foberer Thoughts and most painful Labours "are for you." But I apprehend, on the whole, that the divided Claufes are to be taken in fuch a united View, as to give the Senfe with which the Paraphrafe concludes; that it was Piety to GoD, and Charity to them, which wrought up the Apostle's Mind to that Tranfport, which fome were fo ready to cenfure; and that a lively View of the Love of Chrift produced fuch warm Impreffions of both. (c) Bears were all dead : 15 And that he died for all, that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rofe again. 465 For the Sect. 9. 2 Cor. V. 14. And afcribes it to the Conftraints of divine Love; 14 For the Love of to awaken our Piety and our Charity. Christ constraineth us, be- Love of Chrift, fo illuftriously displayed in that caufe we thus judge, that if one died for all, then Redemption he hath wrought, conftraineth us; it bears us away (c) like a strong and refiftless Torrent; while we thus judge, and in our calmest and most rational Moments, draw it as a certain Confequence, from the important Principles, which we affuredly know to be true, that if one, even Chrift, died for the Redemption and Salvation of all, who fhould fincerely believe in him, and obey him, then were all dead; for had not all, even the very beft of Men been in a State of Condemnation and Death, there would have been no Need of his dying for them. And now 15 we know, that he died for all, that they who live, only in Confequence of his dying Love, fhould not benceforth, from this remarkable Period and Æra of their Lives, (whatever they have formerly done,) live to themselves, fo as to make their own Will their Rule, or to seek any Intereft of their own, distinct from his; but that they fhould all agree, that they will live to the Honour, Glory, and Interest of him, who died for them, and when he rose again from the Dead, retained the fame Affection for them, and is continually improving his recovered Life for their Security and Happiness. So that on the whole, we from this Time forward know not any Man after the Flesh; we have no longer any partial Regard for any, on Account of their being Jews by Birth, or Religion, or as to the Afpect, which their Friendship for us may have on our fecular Intereft; and if we have known Chrift after the Flesh, and governed ourfelves by any carnal Expectations from the Meffiah, as a temporal Prince, who should render our Nation the Terror of the whole World, and raise us to univerfal Monarchy; henceforth we know [him] in these Views no more, but entertain quite different Sentiment 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no Man after the Flesh Yea, though we have known Chrift after the Flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. con (c) Bears us away.] This is the beautiful Import of any, which suggests a noble Simile, which few Tranflations preferve. See the Note on Phil. i. 23. 16 VOL. IV. NnR (d) Em |