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…

Lastly, This will take off all those general thoughts, which do almost reign every where, to consider of men by their Cities and Townes, not by ¹their Churches; It's the Town at such a place, the Corporation at such a place, but no attending to that place, as it is a Church of God. Hence it is that we are wholly drowned in the thoughts of our selves, as a Town, as a Parish in civil respects, but never considering the relation of a Church, and what duties we are obliged unto thereby.

1. 1Use 3.

The two other Observations are to be dispatched in a little room, as ¹from the Apostles writing a second time to the Church of Corinth, which he seldom did to any Church, but to that of the Thessalonians, and to Timothy a single person. One reason whereof amongst others, was, because that his former Epistle had taken some good effect; and whereas they had been too remiss before about their indulgence to that incestuous person, it seemeth this Epistle had now so awakened them, that they began to be too severe to him, though repenting and humbling himself, as appeareth, Chap. 2. 6, 7. whereupon he exhorteth them, To comfort him, lest he be swallowed up with too much sorrow. It's true, there were other reasons, why he wrote this second Epistle, but this is one amongst the rest. From whence we might observe,

1. 1Why Paul writeth this second Epistle to the Corinthians.

That it's very hard for the Churches of God to keep within their proper bounds about Church-administrations.