A60194:3074
A learned commentary or exposition
A learned commentary or exposition: upon the first chapter of the second Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians Being the substance of many sermons formerly preached at Gray's-Inn, London, by that reverend and judicious divine, Richard Sibbs, D.D. Sometimes Master of Catherine-Hall in Cambridge, and preacher to that honourable society. Published for the public good and benefit of the Church of Christ. By Tho. Manton, B.D. and preacher of the Gospel at Stoke-Newington, near London.A learned commentary or exposition: upon the first chapter of the second Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians Being the substance of many sermons formerly preached at Grayes-Inne, London, by that reverend and judicious divine, Richard Sibbs, D.D. Sometimes Master of Catherine-Hall in Cambridge, and preacher to that honourable society. Published for the publick good and benefit of the Church of Christ. By Tho. Manton, B.D. and preacher of the Gospel at Stoake-Newington, near London.
London: printed by J.L. for N.B., 1655
A COMMENTARY upon the first CHAPTER of the second Epistle of S. PAU… › Commentary on verse 22
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And therefore again, as it should comfort us, if we have any thing; so it 1should exhort us to examine rather the truth, then the measure of any grace; we have examined the truth, it is the truth of this Earnest, the truth of grace and comfort: it is an excellent speech of our Saviour Christ, in Rev. 3. to the Church of Philadelphia, in verse 8. Because thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my Word, and hast not denied my Name: there is a great promise made to the Church of Philadelphia: and why? Because thou hast a little strength; how is that discovered? Thou hast kept my Word, and hast not denied my Name. So then, if that little be true, God respects not that little as it is little in quantity, but as he means to make it ere long; he looks upon the Earnest, as he means to make up the bargain: he looks upon the foundation, as he means to rear up a goodly building: he looks upon the first-fruits, as he means to add the harvest; and therefore, Ephes. 1. and other places, We are elected to be holy and blameless in his sight. So, Ephes. 5. latter end, He purgeth the Church, that she may be presented to him without spot. So Christ looks upon his Church as he is purging and washing, till he have made it holy in his sight. We are elected, not to Earnest, not to first-fruits, but to be unblameable; we are elected to perfection: it is the comfort of Christians, that God looks upon his, not as they are imperfect here, but as they are in beginning, and as they are growing, and as he intends to bring them to perfection afterwards: For all things are present (we know) to him, the time to come, what we shall be: he considers us as if we were in heaven already; we are in our degree, and in our faith. So now we sit in heavenly places: therefore as he looks on us as we shall be, so faith answers his looking, when we are framed by the Spirit to comfort; faith looks not upon the weak Earnest, the poor beginnings, but as we shall be after in heaven, without spot and wrinkle.
And therefore again, as it should comfort us, if we have any thing; so it 1should exhort us to examine rather the truth, then the measure of any grace; we have examined the truth, it is the truth of this Earnest, the truth of grace and comfort: it is an excellent speech of our Saviour Christ, in