An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

And here cometh in their doctrine of Indulgences, which was the occasion of that Reformation wherein Luther was so greatly instrumental. For the Text it self, you have Paul professing his rejoicing in his sufferings; though so afflicted, so reproached, being made a spectacle to men and Angels, Accounted the off-scouring of the world, yet in all this he did rejoice. For God loveth a cheerful sufferer, as well as a cheerful giver, Si quid boni tristis feeris, per te fit, magis quam tu facis; It is done in thee, rather than by thee, the good thou doest with grudging and reluctancy. Yea admire the public affection of Paul; this was not so much because he should hereby have a greater crown of glory, that he should hereby be more honoured, but principally he rejoiced, because he suffered for others, that by his persecutions many others may be emboldened to profess the Gospel. Now he showeth in what manner he did suffer for them, viz. By filling up that which is behind of the affliction of Christ in his flesh, for the bodies sake, which is the Church. This seemeth strange, how could Paul fill up the [Greek or Hebrew], the things behind of Christs sufferings? Were Christs sufferings imperfect? Could Paul make up that which was deficient in Christ? This would be to make Paul copartner with Christ in the work of the mediation; and then Paul might truly have said, that which once by interrogation he so vehemently denied, Paul was crucified for them. Therefore you must know, the sufferings of Christ are of two sorts.¹

And here cometh in their doctrine of Indulgences, which was the occasion of that Reformation wherein Luther was so greatly instrumental. For the Text it self, you have Paul professing his rejoycing in his sufferings; though so afflicted, so reproached, being made a spectacle to men and Angels, Accounted the off-scouring of the world, yet in all this he did rejoyce. For God loveth a cheerfull sufferer, as well as a cheerfull giver, Si quid boni tristis feeris, per te fit, magis quam tu facis; It is done in thee, rather than by thee, the good thou doest with grudging and reluctancy. Yea admire the publick affection of Paul; this was not so much because he should hereby have a greater crown of glory, that he should hereby be more honoured, but principally he rejoyced, because he suffered for others, that by his persecutions many others may be imboldened to profess the Gospel. Now he sheweth in what manner he did suffer for them, viz. By filling up that which is behind of the affliction of Christ in his flesh, for the bodies sake, which is the Church. This seemeth strange, how could Paul fill up the , the things behind of Christs sufferings? Were Christs sufferings imperfect? Could Paul make up that which was deficient in Christ? This would be to make Paul copartner with Christ in the work of the mediation; and then Paul might truly have said, that which once by interrogation he so vehemently denied, Paul was crucified for them. Therefore you must know, the sufferings of Christ are of two sorts.