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526

Sect. 19.

10.

Reflections on the Revelations, and Affiftances,

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for Chrift's Sake: For when

Neceffities I endure, in all the Perfecutions with proaches, in Neceffities, in which I am affaulted, and in all the Straits which Perfecutions, in Diftreffes Cor. XII. for Chrift's Sake prefs me on every Part; for when I am weak, then am I I am weak, then am I ftrong: Never do I feel, ftrong. larger inward Communications of Strength from him, than when I am moft confcious of my own Weakness. Nor do I efteem any Thing a greater Honour to me, than that Chrift fhould take Occafion to glorify himself by those Things whereby I am humbled and abafed.

Ver. 10.

Ver. I.

Ver. 7.

Ver. 3.

Ver. 4.

Ver. 2.

Ver. 7.

WE

IMPROVEMENT.

ELL might the Apoftle fay, that when he was weak, then was he Iftrong; for it is difficult to tell, when he expreffes a greater Strength of Genius, or of Grace, than while thus difcourfing of his own Infirmities. How glorious were thofe Scars in his Body, which were the Marks of his Sufferings for Chrift; and thofe Tremblings and Diftortions of his Nerves, which were the Results of thefe bright Visions of the Lord which brought down Heaven to Earth, and had for the Time equalled a mortal Man with the Spirits of juft Men made perfect; yea, almoft with the Angels of GOD!

Tranfported with the facred Impulfe, he could fcarcely tell, whether he were in the Body, or out of it; but he teftified, that the Things which he faw and heard, were unutterable. Let us not repine, that he recollected, and recorded, nothing more particular concerning what paffed before the Eye of his Mind, when that of the Body was clofed. Thefe celeftial Raptures were intended to confirm bis Faith, and confequently likewife to confirm ours; but not to amufe our Curiofity. If the Earth be full of the Goodness of the Lord, how much more the third Heavens, where he holds his higheft Court! Nor fhall the intermediate State of Souls want its proper Enjoyments and Bleffings. Affuredly therefore believing these Things, let us wait God's Time for a more particular Knowledge of them; and when called of him to go forth, and receive this Inheritance, like genuine Children of Abraham, obey, tho' we know not particularly whither we go. (Heb. xi. 8.)

We fee the Danger of Spiritual Pride, from which even St. Paul himself was not secure. One would have imagined, that fuch a View of the celeftial World fhould in itfelf have been fufficient to have humbled him, during all the Remainder of the longeft Life: And yet it is evident, that GOD faw there was fome Danger, left Pride fhould be cherished by

that,

with which St. Paul was peculiarly favoured.

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that, which feemed fo proper to deftroy it: Therefore was there given Sect. 19. him a Thorn in the Flesh. And by how many Thorns are the most diftinguifhed Chriftians often pierced? Let them blefs GoD, if thereby they are humbled too, even tho' the Messengers and Inftruments of Satan fhould from thence take Occafion to buffet them.

In all our Exigencies, Extremities and Complaints, let us apply to the Ver. 8. Throne of Grace, and that bleffed Redeemer, who interceeds before it, for proper Affiftance and Relief. Nor let us be difcouraged, tho' the first, or fecond Addrefs, fhould feem to be difregarded: The third or fourth, may be fuccefsful. And what, if we do not fucceed to our Wish in the immediate Answer? Let it content us, that we may be affured by Chrift of the Sufficiency of his Grace. In our Weakness can he illuftrate his Ver. g. Strength. And in that View too, may we glory in our Infirmities. For furely the Honour of our divine Mafter, in our deepest Humiliation, ought to give us much more Joy, than to see ourselves ever fo much admired and extolled. "But, Oh bleffed Jefus, how much of thy Strength "must be manifefted in us, to teach our vain and selfish Hearts a Leffon, "which at the very first Propofal appears fo reasonable, if confidered in Speculation alone? Lord increase our Faith! Increase our Humility! "So fhalt thou have the Glory in all thou giveft, and in all thou deniest us, and in all the Struggles and Trials to which thou mayeft appoint and in which, for thy Sake, we will take Pleasure."

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us;

Ver. 10

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The Apostle vindicates the Frankness, Sincerity and Tender-
nefs of his Conduct, and his vifible Superiority to all fe-
cular Confiderations, in all his Dealings with the Church
at Corinth.
2 Cor. XII. 11, to the End.

2 CORINTHIANS XII. II.

2 CORINTHIANS XII. II.

IAM become a Fool in
glorying, ye have com- IT may be indeed, my Brethren, that I am Sect. 20.
pelled me: For I ought to
become foolish in boafting, as I have done above!!
have But if it be fo, you will confider where the Blame 2 Cor. XII.
lies. For you, by the Manner in which fome

of
you, to whom I am now speaking, have be-
haved yourselves, may be faid to have compelled
me to do it, even against my Will. In which

you

are

II.

II.

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Sect. 20. are peculiarly inexcufable; for I ought indeed to have been recommended by you, rather than to have 2 Cor. XII. found any Neceffity of pleading with you, in the Manner I have done; for I have in no Refpect whatfoever, failed to equal the most excellent of the Apoftles, tho I am myself nothing in the Account of Some; nor indeed am I any Thing in Reality without the Aids of divine Grace and Affiftance, nor would I affume to myself any Glory 12 from what that hath made me. Yet truly GOD has been pleased to communicate of his Bounties to me in fuch a Degree, that the Signs of an Apoftle were produced among you in a Variety of moft convincing Miracles; Miracles, by which I was not puffed up, but which were wrought in all Patience, in the Midft of this unreafonable Oppofition I met with, notwithstanding these Signs and Wonders and Powers, which awakened the Amazement of all that beheld. Nor did I exert these miraculous Powers in chaftifing the irregular, but chofe rather, if it were poffible, to conquer by Love, and by Benefits.

13

14

And you know, that I conferred many Benefits: For in what one Refpect were ye inferior to the rest of the Churches planted by the other Apoftles, unless [it were in this,] that I myself was not burthenfome to you, by taking any Acknowledgment for my Labours? No, not fo much as a Subfiftence among you at your Expence. Forgive me, I befeech you, this great Injury; for I think, I hardly need to afk you For giveness on any other Account.

If I

Behold now, this is the third Time I am ready
to come to you, having been difappointed twice
before. (1 Cor. xvi. 5. 2 Cor. i. 15, 16.) Ne-
vertheless I will not now be, in the Senfe I have
mentioned, burthenfome to you, for God knows,
I-feek not your Poffeffions, but yourselves.
can but be inftrumental in promoting your Sal-
vation, and at the fame Time fecure your filial
Love and Affection, I fhall think myself happy,
tho' I reap not the leaft perfonal Advantage from
your Property, where it is most abundant. For it

is

1

I

have been commended of you: For in nothing am 1 behind the very chiefeft Apoftles, though I be nothing.

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13 For what is it wherein

ye were inferior to other myself was not burdenfome Churches, except it be that to you? Forgive me this Wrong.

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He would gladly spend, and be spent for them:

but the Parents for the Children.

15 And I will very gladly fpend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the lefs I be

loved.

yours.

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For the Children ought not is not fit, that the Children should lay up Treasure Se&. 20. to lay up for the Parents, for the Parents, but the Parents for the Children. I therefore, being your fpiritual Father, will 2 Cor. XII. communicate to you fuch Treafures as I have, and will not defire to share For I will 15 with the greatest Pleasure spend, and be spent for your Souls; I will gladly exhauft my Strength, and put myself to any Expence too, in order to promote this; tho' the Confequence of all should be, that the more abundantly I love you, the lefs I am loved by you. How unkind foever your Returns may be, if you should treat me, like those perverse Creatures who take a Pleasure in tormenting them that love them beft, yetshall you ftill find me a fincere Friend to your best Interests. (Compare 2 Tim. ii. 10. 1 Thef. ii. 8.)

16 But be it fo, I did not burden you: Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you

with Guile.

17 Did I make Gain of you by any of them whom I fent unto you?

18 I defired Titus, and with him I fent a Brother:

Did Titus make a Gain of you? Walked we not in the fame Spirit? Walked we not in the fame Steps?

VOL. IV.

But I know, fome will be ready to object to 16 all this; as what will not Envy and Falfhood fuggeft, where there is any Intereft, in fixing an Odium: Let it be fo, I did not indeed myself burthen you, nor demand Subfiftence among you as my Right; but perhaps it will be infinuated, that being fubtil I took you in by an Artifice, making others the Inftruments of my mercenary Principles, while I appeared myself fo difinterefted. I anfwer, by appealing to plain Fact. 17 Did I make a Prey of you, by any one whom I fent to you with any Meffage from me, or who came to me about any Bufinefs while I was refident among you? Name the Man, if you can, on whom there is Reafon to fix any fuch Sufpicion. I defy the boldeft of mine Enemies to alledge, what must recoil on himself with fo much Infamy. I know, that I intreated Titus to make 18 you a Vifit, and with [him] 1 fent a Brother, to keep him Company in the Journey. Did Titus then make a Gain of you? Did we not walk in the fame Spirit [and] in the fame Steps? Did not all his Actions resemble mine, as formed upon the fame Principles of strict Integrity, and generous Friendship?

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Sect. 20.

19.

we excuse ourselves unto

Things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

All that he spoke, was for their Edification. Again, do you think that we make any Apology 19 Again, think you that to you, and endeavour to amufe you with mere you? We fpeak before GOD 2 Cor. XII. Words, mentioning Titus's coming to excufe my in Chrift: But we do all own Abfence? In the Sight of GOD we speak, as thofe who know he is Witness to every Action and Word; yea, that he knows the fecret Springs of Affection, which actuate our Hearts; and we fpeak, as thofe that are in Chrift by a folemn Profeffion of his Religion, and should abhor any Thing which might bring a Reflection upon it. And all Things that we fay, when we are endeavouring to reconcile your Minds to us, are not for our own Sake, but [we Speak] Beloved, for your Edification; that by removing your Prejudices against us, we may be capable of being more ferviceable to you in your most 20 important Interests. For I am really diftreffed on this Account, and fadly fear, left by any Means, when I come unto you with an Heart full of Christian Tendernefs, and with all imaginable Readiness to do my utmost to comfort and refresh your Spirits, I should not find you fuch as I could wish; and that I should be found by lings, Tumults: you, fuch, as ye would not wish I fhould be. I

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20 For I fear, left when fuch as I would, and that I come, I fhall not find your fhall be found unto you fuch as ye would not: Left there be Debates, Envyings, Wraths, Strifes, Back-bitings, Whisperings, Swel

fear I fhall have fome Work before me of a very
ungrateful Kind, and which I would by all D
Means defire, if poffible, by this Admonition to
prevent. For I am very apprehenfive, left [there
Should be] Contentions (a), arifing from fecret and
very unbecoming Emulations, and growing up to
Tranfports of Wraths, Strifes, where there is a
Clashing either of Opinions or fecular Interests;
which will tend to produce open Reproaches or
fecret Whisperings, to the manifeft Prejudice
of each others Character; the inward Swellings
of Pride and Ambition, or perhaps the open Con-
fufion of Riots and Tumults, by which your
Caufe in general will be exposed to publick Con-

tempt.

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(a) Contentions, Emulations, &c.] All these were the natural Confequences of thofe Debates which had arifen among them; and therefore he, in a very artful Manner, gives this fa Jemn Warning with Relation to them.

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