A60194:532
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.
Alas! when there is trouble in the conscience awakened with the sight of sin, and the displeasure of God, what can all those precepts compose and frame the soul in petty troubles? They have their place: and surely the neglect of them many times is that, that makes the cross heavier: but alas in divine troubles, in terror of conscience, it must be divine comfort, it must be of like nature, or else the effect of comfort will never follow; and those be the comforts that he means here. As our troubles and afflictions abound, so our consolations, our divine supports they abound: the point is this, that Our comforts are proportionable to our sufferings.
Alas! when there is trouble in the conscience awakned with the sight of sin, and the displeasure of God, what can all those precepts compose and frame the soul in petty troubles? They have their place: and surely the neglect of them many times is that, that makes the crosse heavier: but alas in divine troubles, in terror of conscience, it must be divine comfort, it must be of like nature, or else the effect of comfort will never follow; and those be the comforts that he meanes here. As our troubles and afflictions abound, so our consolations, our divine supports they abound: the point is this, that Our comforts are proportionable to our sufferings.
What did I say proportionable? it is above all proportion of suffering. 1As it is said Rom. 8. the afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed. And indeed in this life, the consolations abound as the sufferings abound. For God keeps not all for the life to come, he gives us a taste, a grape of Canaan, before we come to Canaan; as the Israelites they sent for grapes to taste the goodness of the land, and they had them brought to them by the spies, by which they might guess of the fruitfulness, and sweetness of the land it self: so the taste and relish that Gods Children have of that fullness which is reserved in another world, it is answerable, and proportionable to their sufferings, and in the proportion, the exceeding part is of comfort: there is an exceeding if not for the present, yet afterwards. The Ark did rise together with the water, and comforts rise together with matter of suffering.