Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Corinthians 7:11

11 For behold, this self same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you , yea what clearing of your selves ? yea what indignation ? yea what fear ? yea what vehement desire ? yea what zeal ? yea what revenge ? In all things ye have approved your selves to be clear in this matter.

The Apostle having shewed the mischievous effects of worldly sorrow, all which he comprehended under the word Death; here sheweth the blessed effects of that sorrow which is according to God. The first he mentioneth is great carefulness, both to make our peace with God for our former violations of his Law, (using all means he hath prescribed, and directed thereunto;) and also to preserve our peace, by avoiding the like breaches for the time to come.

The Corinthians sorrow might work in some of them a clearing, or purging themselves of that guilt which other Members of that Church had incurred. But there is another clearing of our selves, which true repentance worketh; not by denying the fact, but by confessing it, with taking shame to our selves; which, though it be not a clearing of a person from the fact, yet, through Divine Grace, joined with a reformation, it is a clearing him from the guilt thereof.

What a displeasure against your selves, for your follies!

What fear! not so much of the wrath of God, as lest you should again fall into the like temptations, and be overcome by them.

What vehement desire! what hearty Prayers to God, that for the time to come you might be kept from the like temptations!

yea, what warmth and great degrees of all sanctified affections! love to God, hatred of sin, fear of offending God, desire to please him.

What acts of Discipline, fas[illegible: 1 letter]ing, denying of your selves in some lawful things wherein you may have offended, or the too free use of which may have been to you occasions of offending.

By these Acts, though some of you have been to be blamed, yet the Body of you have shewed your selves clear of this matter; or though all of you have been formerly too guilty of some things I have charged you with, yet you have cleared your selves both to God, (who imputeth no sin to him that confesseth his sin, and forsaketh it) and to me, who am abundantly satisfied with your declared sorrow, repentance, and reformation.