A60194:318
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 2
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.
I Answer, He doth alway comfort in some degree: for take a Christian 1at the lowest, yet he hath so much comfort as to keep him from sinking, when he is at the depth of misery, there is a depth of mercy lower then he, Out of the deep have I cried unto thee Lord, and this is a comfort that he hath in the middest of discomforts, that he hath a spirit of prayer, and if not a spirit of prayer, yet a spirit of sighing and groaning to God, and God hears the sighs and groans of his own spirit in his children. When they cannot distinctly pray, there is a spirit to look up to God. Though thou kill me, yet will I trust in thee, saith Job, in the middest of his miseries: So though God, more notoriously to the view of the world, sometime doth comfort before we come to trouble, that we may bear it the better, and sometime he doth comfort more apparently after we come out: yet notwithstanding in the middest of discomforts, he doth alway comfort so far, as that we sink not into despair, there is somewhat to uphold the soul: For, when Solomon saith, A wounded spirit who can bear? that is, none can bear it, it is the greatest grief: then I would know, what keeps a wounded spirit from sinking that it doth not despair? is it not a spirit stronger then the wounded spirit? Is it not God that is greater then the wounded conscience? Yes, then there is comfort greater then the discomfort of a wounded conscience that keeps it from despair; those that finally despair, they are none of Gods: So that take the words in what regard, or in what sense you will, yet th•re is a sweet and comfortable sense of them, and the Apostle might well say, he is the God of all comfort, that doth comfort us in all tribulation.
I Answer, He doth alway comfort in some degree: for take a Christian 1at the lowest, yet he hath so much comfort as to keep him from sinking, when he is at the depth of miserie, there is a depth of mercy lower then he, Out of the deep have I cryed unto thee Lord, and this is a comfort that he hath in the middest of discomforts, that he hath a spirit of prayer, and if not a spirit of prayer, yet a spirit of sighing and groaning to God, and God hears the sighs and groans of his own spirit in his children. When they cannot distinctly pray, there is a spirit to look up to God. Though thou kill me, yet will I trust in thee, saith Job, in the middest of his miseries: So though God, more notoriously to the view of the world, sometime doth comfort before we come to trouble, that we may beare it the better, and sometime he doth comfort more apparently after we come out: yet notwithstanding in the middest of discomforts, he doth alway comfort so farre, as that we sink not into despaire, there is somewhat to uphold the soule: For, when Solomon saith, A wounded spirit who can beare? that is, none can beare it, it is the greatest griefe: then I would know, what keeps a wounded spirit from sinking that it doth not despaire? is it not a spirit stronger then the wounded spirit? Is it not God that is greater then the wounded conscience? Yes, then there is comfort greater then the discomfort of a wounded conscience that keeps it from despaire; those that finally despaire, they are none of Gods: So that take the words in what regard, or in what sence you will, yet thre is a sweet and comfortable sense of them, and the Apostle might well say, he is the God of all comfort, that doth comfort us in all tribulation.