grieved mee but in part: that I may not over-charge you all.
Sign 6. His friendly mind towards the Corinthians, That the Apostle did esteem as nothing, that heaviness which the incestuous person had created to him, in comparison with that sadness which hee had caused to all the Corinthians: Hee addeth (in part) because his grief was now turned into joy through the incestuous persons repentance: Therefore by way of mitigation hee saith, that hee added (in part) for the incestuous persons sake now a penitent, lest hee should cast a burden on him already burthened in himself, if hee should too much ag∣gravate his sin.
Vers. 6. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
Sign 7. That now hee was ready to receive the peni∣tent incestuous person into favour, and so to give a proof of his lenity and meekness, that it might appear that the former severity came not, but from love and his desire of advantage to the Church of Corinth. To which end hee declareth that the chastisement of this Incestuous person, inflicted by the Authority of many (i. e. the Governours of the Church, the Church it self consenting) after his repentance appeared, was sufficient.
Vers. 7. So that contrariwise, yee ought rather to for∣give him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such an one should bee swallowed up with over much sor∣row.
That hee might shew his meekness towards the peni∣tent Incestuous person, hee adviseth that hee may by the Corinthian Church bee again received into favour, for these six Reasons annexed.
Reason 1. Because they are bound to forgive the pe∣nitent, and to comfort him, no less than they were bound to excommunicate him, being impenitent.
Lest perhaps] Reason 2. Because otherwise it was dan∣gerous, lest hee should bee swallowed up with over much sorrow, except they should now receive the penitent into favour again.
Vers. 8. Wherefore I beseech you, that you would con∣firm your love towards him.
Reason 3. Because (especially they were so desired by the Apostle) they are bound to testifie their love to∣wards him, to wit, by shewing themselves to have ex∣communicated that man, not that they might destroy him, but that by repentance, they might save him.
Vers. 9. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether you bee obedient in all things.
Reason 4. Because by this means they were about to shew themselves obedient to the command of the Apostle in all things, as before in excommunicating, so now also, by absolving him from the bond of excommunication, wherein the Apostle did prove their obedience.
Vers. 10. To whom yee forgive any thing, I forgive also▪ for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ.
11. Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for wee are not ignorant of his devices.
Reason 5. Because the Apostle, for the sake of the Corinthians, had granted him pardon, and was about to forgive him: Therefore it was meet that they for the Apostles sake should forgive this man also.
Get an advantage] Reason 6. Lest through the craftiness of Satan, the Church should suffer harm: except now they should forgive him repenting; for by ever much severity sinners may bee brought into despe∣ration, or a depar••ing from the Church, because of Sa∣tan, whose arts and deceits to do harm are not unknown to the Church.
Vers. 12. Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christs Gospel, and a door was opened unto mee of the Lord,
13. I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Ti∣tus my Brother, but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
Sign 8. His constant good will towards the Corin∣thians; That hee could not any where rest, also that great hope of promoting the Gospel being offered, as in Troas, until hee had known of Titus, whom hee had sent to Co∣rinth, concerning their affairs, for the cause of meeting him hee went into Macedonia, that by him hee might bee made more certain concerning the affairs of the Co∣rinthians, and that hee might learn, whether as yet it was a convenient time to come to the Corinthian••. All which signs of his ready mind towards the Corinthians, being considered, the Apostle perswadeth himself that the suspicion that his mind was alienated from them, was removed.
The second Part.
Vers. 14. Now thanks bee unto God, which alwaies causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh mani∣fest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
The second part of the Chapter follows, in which hee defendeth his Ministery, and proveth it to bee commen∣dable, by five Arguments, intimating by the way, that hee, whilst hee was absent from them, was not idle, but was busied in the work of the Lord with success.
Argum. 1. Because Christ in his Ministery, and hee himself in Christ did triumph concerning his enemies, by snatching many out of the power of Satan, and by bringing them to the Faith of the Gospel.
The savour] Argum. 2. Because by his Ministery, (whatsoever the success were) the sweetness of the Gos∣pel and its efficacy was manifested in every place, whilst the knowledge of Christ did breathe a quickening life, by which sinners are quickened and converted un∣to God.
Vers. 15. For wee are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.
16. To the one wee are the savour of death unto death, and to the other a savour of life unto life: and who is sufficient for these things?
By preventing an Objection, that the Apostles and their preaching would give an ill savour to many; Hee answereth and adds, Argum. 3. That notwith∣standing the Apostles themselves with their Ministery, were acceptable unto God, and through Christ brought an acceptable savour to God, no less in the conviction and perdition of the Reprobates (to which the Gospel by accident was a savour of death) than in the faith and salvation of those that beleeve and are saved, to whom the Gospel, both in its own nature, and proper effect, was a quickening savour to life and salva∣tion.
Who is sufficient] Argum. 4. Because seeing that few were fit and sufficient Ministers (as the interrogation shews) whose Ministery God might prosper and accept, that hee was in the number of those that are made fit for these things which are spoken of: secretly checking the false Apostles, which were not fit Ministers for the con∣version of sinners, although they did prefer themselves before the Apostles.
Vers. 17. For wee are not as many which corrupt the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God in the sight of God speak wee in Christ.
Hee confirms the next Argument, more openly noting his enemies, and those that envy him, and also adds Argum. 5. From the unlikeness betwixt himself, and many Preachers; if they did not mix false doctrine; yet they did mingle their own passions with true Doctrine, serving their ambition and covetousness, and bending the Doctrine to the favour of men: But the Apostle 1 In Sincerity, i. e. neither mixing false doctrine, nor