Absent from the Body, AND Present with the LORD.

Absent from the Body, AND Present with the LORD.

II COR. v.8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the Body, and to be present with the LORD.

THE Apostle in this Place is giving a Reason why he went on with so much Boldness and immovable Steadfastness, through such Labours, Sufferings and Dangers of his Life, in the Service of his LORD; for which his Enemies, the false Teachers among the Corinthians, sometimes reproached him, as being beside himself, and driven on by a Kind of Madness. In the latter Part of the preceding Chapter, the Apostle informs the Christian Corinthians, that the Reason why he did thus, was, that he firmly believed the Promises that CHRIST had made to his faithful Servants of a glorious future eternal Reward, and knew that these present Afflictions were light, and but for a Moment, in Comparison of that far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory. The same Discourse is continued in this Chapter; wherein the Apostle further insists on the Reason he had given of his Constancy in suffering, and exposing himself to Death in the Work of the Ministry, even the more happy State he expected after Death. And this is the Subject of my Text; wherein may be observed,

THE Apostle in this Place is giving a Reason why he went on with so much Boldness and immovable Stedfastness, through such Labours, Sufferings and Dangers of his Life, in the Service of his LORD; for which his Enemies, the false Teachers among the Corinthians, sometimes reproach'd him, as being beside himself, and driven on by a Kind of Madness. In the latter Part of the preceeding Chapter, the Apostle informs the Christian Corinthians, that the Reason why he did thus, was, that he firmly believed the Promises that CHRIST had made to his faithful Servants of a glorious future eternal Reward, and knew that these present Afflictions were light, and but for a Moment, in Comparison of that far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory. The same Discourse is continued in this Chapter; wherein the Apostle further insists on the Reason he had given of his Constancy in suffering, and exposing himself to Death in the Work of the Ministry, even the more happy State he expected after Death. And this is the Subject of my Text; wherein may be observed,