John Trapp on 2 Corinthians 2

CHAP. II. Verſe 1. That I would not come again]

ILle dolet, quoties cogitur eſſe ferox. It goes as much againſt the heart of a good Miniſter, as againſt the hair with his people, if he ſay or do any thing to their grief. It is no pleaſure to him to fling daggers, to ſpeak milſtones, to preach damnation, &c. But there is a cruell lenity, as was that of Eli to his ſons, and evil men muſt be ſharply rebuked, that they may be ſound in the faith, Tit. 1.13.

Verſe 2. But the ſame which is made, &c.] Nothing can cure a faithfull Miniſter of his cordolium, of his hearts grief, but his peoples amendment. Now we live if ye ſtand fast in the Lord, 1 Theſſ. 3.8. elſe we are all amort, and you kill the very hearts of us.

Verſe 3. Of whom I ought to rejoyce] Nothing ſticks a man more then the unkindeneſſe of a friend, then expectation of love daſhed and diſappointed: All evils, as elements are moſt troubleſome, when out of their proper place, as impiety in profeſſours, injuſtice in Judges, unkindenes or untowardnes in a people toward their Paſtour, &c.

Verſe 4. With many tears] Non tàm atramento quam lachrymis chartas illevit, ſaith Lorinus. In Act. 22.19. S. Pauls epiſtles were written rather with tears then with ink.

Verſe 5. Have cauſed grief] Wicked livers are Hazaels to the godly, and draw many ſighes and tears from them. Lots righteous ſoul was ſet upon the rack by the filthy Sodomites. Ieremy weeps in ſecret for Iudah's ſins. Paul cannot ſpeak of thoſe belly-gods with dry eyes, Phil. 3.18.

Verſe 16. Sufficient to ſuch a man] The Novatians therefore were out, that refuſed to receive in thoſe that repented of their former faults and follies. The Papiſts burnt ſome that recanted at the ſtake, ſaying that they would ſend them out of the world, while they were in a good minde.Act. and Mon. fol. 1392.

Verſe 7. Should be ſwallowed up] It was a ſaying of Mr Philpot, Martyr: Satan goes about to mix the deteſtable darnell of deſperation with the godly ſorrow of a pure penitent heart. Ibid. 1665.

With overmuch grief] Some holy men (as Mr Leaver) have deſired to ſee their ſin in the moſt ugly colours, and God hath heard them.D. Sibbs on Pſ. 42.5. But yet his hand was ſo heavy upon them therein, that they went alwaies mourning to their graves; and thought it fitter to leave it to Gods wiſdome to mingle the potion of ſorrow, then to be their own chooſers. It is a ſaying of Austin, Let a man grieve for his ſin, and then joy for his grief. Sorrow for ſin, if it ſo far exceed as that thereby we are diſabled for the diſcharge of our duties, it is a ſinfull ſorrow, yea though it be for ſinne.

Verſe 8. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Confirm your love, &c.] Gr. Ratifie it, and declare it authentike, as it were in open court, and by publike ſentence (as Gal. 3.15.) and that at mine inſtance, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. as an advocate.

Verſe 9. Whether ye be obedient] Firſt to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God, 2 Cor. 8.5. Confer Heb. 13.17. Iſa. 50.10.

Verſe 10. To whom ye forgive] Or, Gratifie. Mercy is that we muſt mutually lend and borrow one of another. Let the rigid read Gal 6.1. See the Note there.

Verſe 11. [non-Latin text not transcribed] Leſt Satan] That wily merchant, that greedy bloud-ſucker, that devoureth not widdows houſes, but moſt mens ſouls. See ver. 7.

For we are not ignorant] He is but a titular Chriſtian that hath not perſonall experience of Satans ſtratagems, his ſet and compoſed machinations, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. his artificially-moulded methods, his plots, darts, depths, whereby he outwitted our firſt parents, and fits us a peny-worth ſtill, as he ſees reaſon.

Verſe 12. A door was opened] An opportunity offered. Where the Maſter ſets up a light, there is ſome work to be done; where he ſends forth his labourers, there is ſome harveſt to be gotten in.

Verſe 13. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. I had no rest, &c.] Gr. No relaxation, viz. from my former cares and anxieties about you, becauſe he was not yet returned to tell me how it was with you, 2 Cor. 7.6. Gods comforts are either rationall, fetcht from grounds which faith miniſtreth, or reall from the preſence of comfortable perſons or things.

Verſe 14. Now thanks be to God] Deo gratias was ever in Pauls mouth, ever in Auſtins. And a thankfull man is ever ready with his preſent, as Joſeph's brethren were, Geneſis 43.26.

Cauſeth us to triumph] Maketh us more then conquerours, even triumphers; whiles he rides upon us as upon his white horſes all the world over, Conquering and to conquer, Rev. 6.2.

Verſe 15. A ſweet ſavour] The Church is the morter, preaching the peſtell, the promiſes are the ſweet ſpices, which being beaten, Biſ. on 1 Pet. 2. yeeld an heavenly and ſupernaturall ſmell in the ſouls of the godly hearers.

Verſe 16. The ſavour of death] Aristotle writeth,De mirabil. auſ[illegible: 1 letter]ultat. that vultures are killed with oil of roſes. Swine (ſaith Pliny) cannot live in ſome parts of Arabia, by reaſon of the ſweet ſent of aromaticall trees there growing in every wood. Tigers are enraged with perfumes. Vipera interficitur palmis, ſaith Pa[illegible: 1 letter]ſanias, Moſes killed the Aegyptian, ſaved the Iſraelite. Obed-Edom was bleſſed for the Ark, the Philistims were curſed. The Sun of the Goſpel ſhining upon one that is ordained to eternall life, reviveth and quickneth him: but lighting upon a childe of death, it cauſeth him to ſtink more abominably.

And who is ſufficient] And yet now who is it almoſt that thinks not himſelf ſufficient for that ſacred and tremend function of the Miniſtery? Who am I? ſaith Moſes: Who am I not? ſaith our upſtart. Bradford was hardly perſwaded to become a Preacher.Act. and Mon. fol. 1578. Latimer leapt when he laid down his Biſhoprick, being diſcharged, as he ſaid, of ſuch an heavy burthen. Luther was wont to ſay, That if he were again to chuſe his calling, he would dig, or do any thing rather then take upon him the office of a Miniſter. So ſaid reverend Mr Whately of Banbury once in my hearing.

Verſe 17. Which corrupt the word] Gr. Which huckſter it, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. by handling it craftily and covetouſly, not ſerving the Lord Jeſus Chriſt but their own bellies, as thoſe Popiſh trencher-flies, and our Court paraſites.

In the ſight of God] It is impoſſible to ſpeak as in Gods preſence, and not ſincerely.