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…

These words (brought in, as some say, be a parenthesis) are by way of mitigation and mollifying the minds of the Corinthians. For Paul in his former Epistle having severely reproved them, it obtained good success, and procured some spiritual effect upon them, for they were made sorrowful thereby, and set upon the work of Reformation. And although the false Apostles had too much prevailed with them, yet they were brought to a sounder temper than formerly. Neither were Pauls afflictions such matter of contempt as formerly; yea they are partakers of the same sufferings with him. These things laid together, maketh Paul use these encouraging and softening passages; to rebukes we must join meekness and love together. The Artificer cannot build his house with hard brick or stone, he must have his soft mortar to cement them together: Rigidness to rigidness will never unite. There must be yielding as well as severity, else the edification of Gods Church cannot proceed.

THese words (brought in, as some say, be a parenthesis) are by way of mitigation and mollifying the minds of the Corinthians. For Paul in his former Epistle having severely reproved them, it obtained good successe, and procured some spiritual effect upon them, for they were made sorrowfull thereby, and set upon the work of Reformation. And although the false Apostles had too much prevailed with them, yet they were brought to a sounder temper than formerly. Neither were Pauls afflictions such matter of contempt as formerly; yea they are partakers of the same sufferings with him. These things laid together, maketh Paul use these encouraging and softning passages; to rebukes we must joyn meeknesse and love together. The Artificer cannot build his house with hard brick or stone, he must have his soft mortar to cement them together: Rigidnesse to rigidnesse will nener unite. There must be yeelding as well as severity, else the edification of Gods Church cannot proceed.

The words are a profession of Pauls charitable esteem and loving apprehensions of them, though sometimes he doth rebuke them very sharply. If he had said, I have no hopes of you, no Epistle, or writing will do you any good, this might have more hardened them in obstinacy. Yea as Chrysostom well observeth on this place, He speaketh more hopefully and confidently of these Corinthians, then he doth of the Thessalonians: For,