in all Manner of Afflictions and Diftreffes;
may unavoidably feel in them (b) :

5 In Stripes, in ImpriLabours, in Watchings, in

fonments, in Tumults, in Faftings,

6 By Pureness, by Knowledge,

471 This ftea- Sect. 10.

5.

dy Patience we endeavour to maintain, in Stripes,
when we are fcourged in Synagogues and Cities, 2 Cor. VI.
as if we were the most notorious Offenders against
GOD and Men, and the vileft Pefts of Society: In
Imprisonments, tho' we not only endure fo many
Hardships in our Confinement, but are cut off
by it from these publick Labours for the Glory
of God and the Edification of the Church, which
are dearer to us than our Lives: In Tumults (c)
which are raised against us by Jews and Gentiles,
and by which our Enemies are often endeavour-
ing to tear us in Pieces: In Labours, which we
inceffantly pursue, either in our Ministerial Work,
or in these secular Callings, by which we are of-
ten obliged to earn our daily Bread: In Watchings,
when in Prosecution of thofe various Employ-
ments, the Hours of the Night are added to those
of the Day, and we have hardly Time for our
neceffary Repose: In Faftings, to which, befides
those which Devotion chooses, we are often
obliged to fubmit, for Want of proper Supplies of
Food: Yet ftill, in the Midst of all these 6
Difficulties, conducting ourselves, in unspotted
Purity, labouring to improve daily in the Know-
ledge (d) of these Divine Truth, which it is our
great Business to teach others, and by the Exer-

cife

(b) AfflictionsNeceffities-Straits.] Dr. Whitby thinks, the firft Word, as, fignifies Affliction in general-the fecond, avayxn, more grievous and unavoidable Troubles-and the third, revopa, fuch Preffures, 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 (c).

(c) In Tumults: axalasaσiais.] Beza interprets this, (and I think no Man feems better to have understood the peculiar Propriety of Greek Words,) of fuch Attacks, as a Man cannot ftand againft, but which bear him hither and thither by Violence: He would render it in Latin, Exagitationibus.

(d) By Knowledge.] Interpreters give many different Senfes of this Word. Dr. Scott fays it fignifies Prudence, which is a Chriflian Virtue, whereas the mere Understanding of Divine Things was a Gift. Mr. Pyle thinks it fignifies their improving the Knowledge of Divine Myfteries. Mr. Cradock refers it to an Acquaintance with the true Senfe of Scripture; which brings it to much the fame, with what has been called the Word of Knowledge. I conclude, it implies not only a Sollicitude to grow in the Knowledge of the Gospel, but to improve that Knowledge to the Edification of others; which accordingly is exprefled in the Paraphrafe.

(e) Armour

472

Sect. 10.

2 Cor. VI. 6.

7

By the Power of GOD, and the Armour of Righteousness;

by

7 By the Word of Truth,

the Power of GOD, by the Armour of Righteouf nefs on the Right Hand and on the left,

cife of a conftant Command over our Paffions, ledge, by Long-fuffering, to grow in Long-fuffering and in Gentleness, and by Kindness, by the Holy Ghoft, by Love unfeigned, every other amiable Difpofition, which we cultivate in humble Dependence on the fanctifying Influences of the Holy Spirit; who dwells in our Hearts, as a continued Principle of that undiffembled Love, which we exercife without Limitation, not only to Friends and Benefactors, but Enemies and Perfecutors. Still we are faithful. in afferting, and zealous in propagating, the facred Gafpel, that Word of uncorrupted and infallible Truth; and we perfift in it, fupported by the almighty Power of that GOD, by whom it is revealed, and by whom we know, it shall be rendered finally victorious; and in the mean Time, while our Enemies affault us on every Side, it is our Care ftill to be cloathed and girded about with the Armour of Righteousness, both on the Right Hand, and the Left (e); well knowing that Ar8 mour to be impenetrable. And in this Consciousness we pafs unhurt, and in a great Meafure unmoved, through Honour and Dishonour, through evil Report and good Report, neither elated with the one, nor depreffed and dejected with the other. We are treated by many, as if we were a Set of artful Deceivers, that fcruple no Fraud and Falfehood, by which we might carry our Caufe; and yet we know in our own Conscience, and GoD can witnefs for us, that we are true and faithful, and would not deviate from the ftrictest Rules of Integrity, to carry any Point, how important foever it might feem to ourselves, or the Religion we propagate. We are treated by Men, as inconfiderable Creatures, in the loweft Rank of Life, obfcure and unknown, as undeferving any publick Notice and Regard; and

9

[ yet]

8 By Honour and Difho

nour, by evil Report and good Report: as Deceivers, and yet true;

As unknown, and yet well

(e) Armour of Righteousness, on the right Hand, and the left.] Some naturally think this alludes to the Soldiers, who were taught to wield their Swords with the left Hand, as well

as the right; and others, that it refers to the Chriftians being armed against the Temptations

of Profperity and Adverfity. That may well be included; but the Armour fpoken of, feems of the defenfive Kind, on the Arms, or Breaft, or both.

Pro

As poor, yet making many rich.

473 [yet] we are really well known to Multitudes, by Sect. 10. the happiest Tokens, as the Men by whom they have not only received that bodily Healing, which 2 Cor. VI.9. they could never have expected from natural Means, but by the yet more valuable Memorials of having enlightened their Eyes with Divine Knowledge, and brought back their wandering Souls to GOD. We are regarded by others, as dying Men, and we feem ourselves to be in daily Danger of being facrificed to the Rage of our Enemies; and yet behold hitherto, thro' the guardian and astonishing Care of that Redeemer whom we preach, we continue in Life, and live to the most important Purposes. Our Afflictions are many, and we confider ourselves under them, as chaftened by our heavenly Father; yet, blessed be his Name, we are not killed; and far from intending our Destruction, we know, that he will over-rule these Chastisements to the Advancement of our Salvation. If our external Circumftances alone be regarded, we muft indeed appear as forrowful, and the World will naturally conclude, that we have Cause for continual Lamentation; and yet when the inward Difpofitions of our Minds are known, and the Views with which we are secretly fupported, it will be found, that we are always rejoicing, in the present Affurances of the Divine Favour, and the certain Expectation of compleat Felicity and eternal Glory. We appear as poor in this World, and indeed we are fo; having neither Silver, nor Gold, nor Eftate; and yet we are continually enriching many, with Treasures, which they would not part with for all the Revenues of Princes and Kings: As having nothing, that we can call our own; and yet, indeed, possessing all Things; which we know to be ours, fo far as our heavenly Father fhall fee fit; and therefore are as eafy and happy, as if we were actually the Proprietors of the whole World (ƒ).

(f) Poffeffing all Things.] This is certainly one of the fublimest Paffages, that was ever writ. Compare Phil. iv. 18. 1 Tim. vi. 17. Eph. i. 3. Rev. xxi. 7. 1 Cor. iii.

21,

23.

VOL. IV.

IMPROVE

10.

474

Sec. 10.

Ver. 3.

Ver. 4.

Ver. 5. Ver. 6.

Ver. 7.

Ver. 8.

Ver. 8.

Ver. 9.

Ver. 10.

Reflections on the Character and Labours of the Apoftles.

IMPROVEMENT.

HOSE Soul can remain untouched, while he reads this eloquent Period, in which the Apoftle's Mouth is, (as he afterwards expreffes it,) thus opened, in Confequence of his Heart's being enlarged! In how lively, yet unaffected a Manner, does this facred Writer paint his own Character and Circumftances: And how much profound and important Senfe is there in thefe Paradoxes, which he fo naturally introduces on this Occafion! Let the Minifters of the Gospel herein behold, at once, their Model, and their Support. Let them cultivate this inoffenfive Behaviour, not only out of Regard to themfelves, but that their Office may not be cenfured; and ftill approve themselves the Servants of God, by Patience amidst all their Tribulations, their Neceffities, and their Preffures; and, fo far as their Circumstances require it, by Labours, by Watchings and Faftings; efpecially when by an indulgent Providence they are not called to do it in Stripes, in Imprisonments, and in Tumults. Still let them cultivate Purity and Knowledge, Long-fuffering and Gentleness, with unfeigned Love in the Holy Ghoft. Aided by him, let them arm themselves with the Word of Truth, and in the Strength of GOD, gird on the Armour of Righteoufnefs on the right Hand, and on the left. Thus fortified, they may boldly break their Way thro' Honour and Infamy, thro' Praife and Reproach; as we plainly fee, that Infamy and Reproach may be the Portion of the beft of Men, and the most useful Members of Society. Who are we, that we should refufe a Cup, of which the Apoftles, and our Lord, drank fo deep? But let us be fuperior to human Cenfures. If any call us Deceivers, let us fhew that we are invariably true, to the Interefts of GOD, and of Goodness! If they affect to overlook us, as unknown, and beneath their Notice, let us endeavour to render ourselves well known, by the Benefits which, by Divine Grace, we are the Inftruments of conferring on Mens Souls. So fhall we be always rejoicing in the Midft of thofe Sorrows, of which Nature cannot be intirely infenfible; whilst amidst our Poverty we are inriching many, yea then, tho' we have nothing that we can call our own, we fhall poffefs all Things; fhall appear in the Eyes of GOD, and of the Lord Jefus Chrift, the richest and the happieft of Mankind, even tho' we were in other Refpects, of all Men the moft miferable.

While we confider this, as the Character of the firft Preachers of Christianity, which, with fo noble a Plainnefs and Simplicity they profefs, let us adore the Divine Grace, by which fuch a Spirit was raifed in the World, and by which it hath in fome Measure been maintained, even

to

St. Paul reminds the Corinthians of bis peculiar Affection:

475 to this Day. And let it encourage our most earnest and affectionate Pray- Sect. 10. ers, that God would raise up in every Age, (and especially in our own, in which they seem fo ready to fail,) a Generation of Evangelical Minifters; who fired with fuch generous Principles of Action, and emulating fo noble a Character, may commend themselves to every Man's Confcience in the Sight of GOD, and roll away that Reproach, which unworthy Men have brought on the most excellent of all Offices. Thus armed, may they extend their happy Conquefts; thus animated, may they fee of the Travail of their Soul, to their abundant, their everlasting Satisfaction and Delight.

SECT. XI.

The Apostle urges the Corinthians to avoid thofe Alliances with Idolaters, which might tend to enfnare them; and pleads the gracious Promifes, GOD had made to his People, as an Engagement to them to be upon their Guard in this Refpect; and, in general, to aim at the fublimeft Attainments in Religion. 2 Cor. VI. 11, to the End. Chap. VII. 1.

You

2 CORINTHIANS VI. II.

2 Cor. VI.

II.

OU fee, Oh ye Corinthians, my dear Bre- Sect. 11. thren, my beloved Children, with how much Freedom of Addrefs our Mouth is opened to you; but Words flow freely on an Occafion, on which our Heart is fo much enlarged, in a Tenderness, which neither Words, nor Tears, can fufficiently exprefs. Sure I am, that ye 12 are not ftraitned in us; all that we can do for your Comfort and Happiness, you may fecurely promise yourselves: But I fear, ye are fraitned in your own Bowels, and have not, all of you, that Affection for us, nor Readiness to receive our Communications, which the Relation between us might challenge, and my Tenderness

for