A60194:534
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.
But what is the reason of the proportion, why the greatest comforts follow the greatest sufferings, what is the ground of it?
They are many, to name some. First of all this is a ground, that the 1more capable the soul is of comfort, the more comfort it receives; but great troubles bring a capacity, and capableness of soul, fitting it to receive comfort. How is that? Troubles do humble the soul, and humility is a grace, and the vessel of all grace, and of comfort too: a low, and meek spirit 2is a deep spirit, and the lower, and deeper, and the larger the spirit is, the more capable it is to contain heavenly comfort. We know the more empty a man is of himself, the more fit he is for comfort: but crosses and afflictions empty us of our selves, to see that there is nothing in us, that what we are we must be out of our selves; and the less we are in our selves, the more we are in God. And that is the reason that St. Aust. saith, that nothing is ⟨p. 83⟩more strong then a humble empty spirit: because it makes the creature to go out of it self to him that is strength it self, and comfort it self; Now that which makes us go out of our selves to strength, that is strong; but this doth crosses and afflictions: that is the main reason why the proportion holds.
They are many, to name some. First of all this is a ground, that the 1more capable the soul is of comfort, the more comfort it receives; but great troubles bring a capacity, and capablenesse of soul, fitting it to receive comfort. How is that? Troubles do humble the soul, and humility is a grace, and the vessel of all grace, and of comfort too: a low, and meek spirit 2is a deep spirit, and the lower, and deeper, and the larger the spirit is, the more capable it is to contain heavenly comfort. We know the more empty a man is of himself, the more fit he is for comfort: but crosses and afflictions empty us of our selves, to see that there is nothing in us, that what we are we must be out of our selves; and the lesse we are in our selves, the more we are in God. And that is the reason that St. Aust. saith, that nothing is