A60194:517
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 5
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.
To give an instance; if a Monarch should redeem a slave, a Traitor from Prison, and take him to fight in the Quarrel of his own son, to be his Champion, were it not an honour? so the very sufferings for Christ are an encouragement; the disgraces, and whatsoever they are that we suffer in a good cause, they are ensigns of honour, they are badges of honour of Christian knighthood. If a Golden Fleece, or a Garter, or such things be accounted so highly of and glorified in, because they are favours, &c. much more should the sufferings for Christ be glorified in as ensigns of the love God, and of our Christian profession; when we fight under Christs Banner, we are like to Christ, we are conformable to him, he went before, and we follow his steps; and if we suffer with him, we shall be Glorified with him.
Therefore be not discouraged, that which we think to be matter of discouragement, it should be our Crown, it is our Crown to suffer reproach in a good cause. It is a sign God favours us, when he takes our credit, our goods, or our life to honour himself by. Is it not an honour to us? doth he take any thing from us but he gives us better? he takes our goods, but he gives us himself: he takes our liberty, but he gives us enlargement of conscience: he takes our life, but he gives us heaven: if he take any thing from us, for to seal his truth, and stand out in his quarrel as Christ saith, he gives an hundred fold in this World, that is a gracious spirit of contentment and comfort.
We have God himself: hath not he more that hath the spring, then he that hath twenty Cisterns? Those that have riches, and place, and friends, they have Cisterns, but he that suffers for God, and for Christ, he hath Christ, he hath God, he hath the spring to go to, if all be taken from him, he hath God the spring to go to: if all particular Beams, he hath the Sun. It is durable, wondrous comfort to suffer for Christs sake.