The Third Part.
Vers. 19. Again, think you that wee excuse our selves unto you? wee speak before God in Christ: but wee do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
The third part of the Chapter follows, wherein by preventing an objection, hee gives the reasons of his de∣fence: Some might say, wherefore dost thou write these things? wherefore is that defence? whether art thou conscious of some evil? or dost thou desire to bee extol∣led by us? Hee answers, by giving five reasons, why hee was so solicitous in that kind.
1. I have not writ these to this intent, that (as guil∣ty of some evil, or that I desired glory) I may clear my self amongst you, or excuse my self; but out of my love to you, that I might promote your edification and Salvation, lest you viz. thinking meanly of my Apostle∣ship, should by the false Apostles bee moved from the simplicity of the Gospel, for the testimony of this my assertion, I call God (who hath known my mind) and Christ (whose business I do) to bee my witnesses.
Vers. 20. For I fear, lest when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall bee found unto you such as yee would not, lest there bee debates, en∣vyings, wrath, strifes, back-bitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
Reason 2. I fear lest my Authority and Doctrine being diminished amongst you, through the false Apostles, when I come I shall find you such as I would not; i. e. infected with those evils which follow upon Schismes, such are strifes, or contentions: emulations or envy concern∣ing the gifts of God: wraths or angers from mutual in∣juries: brawlings or mutual provocations: back-bitings and whisperings, by which openly and privily men are wont to defame one another: swellings, and as it were puffings up of the mind out of pride; and lastly, tu∣multuous seditions.
And that I] Reason 3. I fear lest yee should find me more severe than you would, unless yee timely mend by admonitions, and submit to my doctrine and authority in the Lord.
Vers. 21. And lest when I come again, my God will humble mee among you, and that I shall bewail ma∣ny which have sinned alreadie, and have not repent∣ed of the uncleanness, and fornication, and lascivi∣ousness which they have committed.
Reason 4. I fear lest if my authority bee despised a∣mongst you, many amongst you will impenitently conti∣nue in their defilement, fornications, and such like sins which I have in the former Epistle reproved.
Will humble mee] Reason 5. I ••ear lest the Lord should afflict mee when I come to you, viz. lest your sins should create shame, sadness and mourning to mee, and offences amongst you, who are my glorie and joy, if you behave your selves as it becometh children; but yee will cause shame and sadness to mee if you do otherwise.
That hee might prevent these evils, and take away scandals arising amongst them, it was necessary that the authority of the Apostle and Apostolical Doctrine should bee maintained amongst them, for this end, this the Apo∣stles Apologie was necessarie.