John Trapp on 2 Corinthians 13

CHAP. XIII. Verſe 1. Of two or three witneſſes]

SO he calleth his threefold admonition. Gods Word neglected will one day be a ſwift witneſſe againſt the contemners. Moſes ſhall accuſe men, Joh. 5.46. Gods Word lay hold on them, Zech. 1.6. and ſtick in their hearts and fleſh, as fire, thorowout all eternity, Ier. 5.14.

Verſe 2. I told you before] Sed ſurdo fabulam, no telling would ſerve turn. Many are ſo wedded and wedged to their ſins, that nothing will ſunder them, but an extraordinary touch from the hand of heaven.

Verſe 3. A proof of Chriſt ſpeaking in me] The Church is Chriſti docentis auditorium, ſaith Bernard, the place wherein he ordinarily teacheth, who hath his ſchool on earth, though his chair in heaven.Sebolam babe[illegible: 1 letter] in terris, cathedram in coelis, Aug.

Verſe 4. Crucified through weakneſſe] i. e. Ex afflicto ejus ſtatu, as Gal. 4.14. as having voluntarily ſubjected himſelf to all ſorts of ſufferings for our ſakes.

Verſe 5. Examine your ſelves] The finall triall of our eternall eſtate doth immediately and ſolely appertain to the Court of heaven. Indeed the diſquiſitive part belongs to us, the deciſive to God.

Prove your own ſelves] Redouble your diligence in this moſt needfull, but much neglected duty of ſelf-examination: an errour here is eaſie and dangerous; hence the precept is doubled: So Zeph. 2.1. Excutite vos, iterum que excutite, as Tremellius renders it.

Verſe 6. But I trust that ye ſhall know] Whereas they were ready to retort, that they were no reprobates, he ſhould well know, let him ſee that himſelf were not one: I truſt ye ſhall know, ſaith he, that we are no reprobates, counterfeits, or unapprovable, oppoſed to approved, verſe 7.

Verſe 7. Though we be as reprobates] viz. In your eſteem. The good heart is content to vilifie, yea nullifie it ſelf, ſo God may be glorified, and his people edified: let him be a footſtool, or what ye will, [illegible: 1 letter]piſt. ad Spalat. to help Chriſt into his throne. Prorſus Satan est Lutherus, ſed Christus vivit, & regnat, Amen, ſaith Luther. Let me be called a devil, or any thing, ſo Chriſt may be exalted.

Verſe 8. For we can doe nothing] A temporary many ſo fall away as to perſecute the truth that he once profeſſed, and the Miniſtery that he once admired. Never fals a Saint ſo farre in his greateſt relapſes.Lat. Seru[illegible: 1 letter] afore [illegible: 1 letter] Edward. Biſhop Latimer tels of one, who fell away from the known truth, to mocking and ſcorning it; yet was afterwards touched in conſcience for it. Beware of this ſinne, ſaith he, for I have known no more then this that repented. It is a very dangerous precipice.

Verſe 9. Even your perfection] Or, Your reſtauration, or joynting again. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. His meaning is, ſaith Beza. That whereas the members of this Church, were all, as it were, diſlocated and out of joynt, they ſhould now again be joyned together in love, and they ſhould endeavour to amend what was amiſſe amongſt them, either in faith or manners.

Verſe 10. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. And not to deſtruction] Unleſſe by accident: or, if to the deſtruction of the fleſh, it is that the ſpirit may be ſaved in the day of the Lord Jeſus, 1 Cor. 5.5. See the Note there, and on 2 Cor. 10.8.

Verſe 11. Finally] Gr. That which yet remains to ſay more, and then an end.

Be perfect] Or, Peece again.

Be of one minde] For matter of opinion.

Live in peace] For matter of affection.

The God of love] The authour and fautour.

Verſe 12. With an holy kiſſe] A cuſtome proper to thoſe times, See the Note on Rom. 16.16. and on 1 Cor. 16.20.

Verſe 13. All the Saints ſalute you] Sanctity is no enemy to curteſie: it doth not remove but rectifie it.

Verſe 14. The grace of our Lord] A friendly valediction, or fatherly benediction.