Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Corinthians 7:9

9 Now I rejoice not that you were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance : For ye were made sorry after a godly manner , that ye might receive damage by us in nothing .

The Apostle takes all advantages to insinuate himself into the good Opinion and affections of the Members of this famous Church, and to obviate any misrepresentations of him to them from those false Teachers that were crept in amongst them. Lest they should take some advantage from his saying, that he repented not that he had made them sorry; he here openeth himself, and tells them, he did not rejoice in their sorrow, but in the blessed product and effect of it; which was their Reformation of those abuses and Errours which he had reproved them for; the effect of which reproof, was this their sorrow for a little season.

And that they were made sorry after a godly manner; they did but sow in tears, they reaped in joy; they had a wet Seed-time, but a fair Harvest. They sorrowed with a sorrow according to God; the cause of their sorrow was their sin, the root of it a love to God, the manner of it such as was agreeable to the Will of God.

The wise God [illegible: 1 letter]o governing things by his Providence, that nothing, which the Apostle spake or wrote, should prove de[illegible: 1 letter]rimental; but rather advantageous to this Church which he so loved.

Marginal references: Or, according to God.