A60194:87
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.
Grace in this place, is the free favour and love of God from his own 1bowels, not for any desert, or worth, or strength of love of ours: it is his own free grace, and love, which is shed by the holy Ghost, and springs only from his own goodness and loving nature, and not from us at all; this is Grace: It must be distinguished from the fruits of it: as the Apostle doth distinguish them, Rom. 5. 15. Grace, and the gifts of grace. There is favour, and the gifts of favour, which is grace inherent in us. Here especially is meant the fountain and spring of all the favour of God ⟨p. 11⟩with the manifestation of it, with the increase of it, with the continuance of it. He wisheth these things; the favour of God, with the manifestation of it, to their souls; that as God would be gracious to them; so that he would show his Grace, that he would discover it, and shine upon them: and to that end that he would give them his holy Spirit, to shed his love into their hearts. This shining of God into the heart, this shedding of the love of God into the heart, is the Grace here meant: Gods favour with the manifestation of it to the soul, and with the continuance of it, and the increase of it still. Grace unto you. As if he should have said, I wish you the favour of God, and the report of it to your souls: that as he loves you, through his Christ; so he would witness as much by his holy Spirit to your souls. And I wish you likewise the continuance of it, and the increase of it, and the fruits of it likewise: for that must not be excluded, all particular graces, which are likewise called Graces. They have the name of favours, because they come from favour, and favour is the chief thing in them. What is the chief thing in joy, in faith, in love? they are graces: they cannot be considered as qualifications, as earthly things in us: they proceed from the grace and love of God, and have their especial value from thence. So I wish you the manifestation, the continuance and increase of favour, with all the fruits of Gods favour, especially such as concern a better life. The word is easily understood, after the common sense, Grace is the loving and free respect of a superior to an inferior: the respect of a Magistrate to such as are under him: such a one is in grace with the Prince we say: we mean not any inherent thing: but free grace.