John Trapp on 2 Corinthians 3

CHAP. III. Verſe 1. Doe we begin again, &c.]

AS we had done before, cap. 1.12.Plin. l. 1. epiſt. 8

To commend our ſelves] Quod magnificum referente alio fuiſſet, ipſo qui geſſerat recenſente vaneſcit. Let another man praiſe thee, and not thine own mouth, Prov. 27.2. Laus proprio ſordeſcit in ore. But the Apoſtle was neceſſitated to it.

As ſome others, letters of commendation] As the falſe Apoſtles, who carried it by teſtimonials: in giving whereof many good people are much too blame. Beauty needs no letters of commendation, ſaith Aristotle: much leſſe doth vertue, where it is known. If morall vertue could be ſeen with mortall eyes, ſaith Plato, it would ſoon draw all hearts to it ſelf.

Verſe 2. You are our Epistle] The fruitfulneſſe of the people is the Preachers teſtimoniall: as the profiting of the ſchollar is the teachers commendation.

Written in our hearts] Or rather in your hearts, as tables; the Spirit writing thereon, by his Miniſters as pens, that form of doctrine, Rom. 6.17. that law of their mindes, Rom. 7.23. Heb. 8.10. to be known and read of all men.

Verſe 3. Ministred by us] Who are devoted to the ſervice of your faith, and are the Lord Chriſts Sectaries.

But in fleſhly tables] In the ſoftened heart God writes his law, puts an inward aptneſſe anſwering the Law of God without, as lead anſwers the mould, as tally anſwers tally, as indenture anſwers indenture.

Verſe 4 Such trust have we] i. e. Such boldneſſe of holy boaſting, If Tully could ſay, Two things I have to bear me bold upon, Cic. ep ſam [illegible: 1 letter] 7. the knowledge of good arts, and the glory of great acts; how much more might Paul?

Verſe 5. Not that we are ſufficient] Leſt they ſhould think him arrogant. Cyrus had this written upon his Tombe, I could doe all things, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. as Arrianus reports. So could Paul too; but it was thorow Chriſt which ſtrengthned him. Phil. 4.1[illegible: 1 letter].

All our ſufficiency is of God] Had not Miniſters then need to pray? Benè oraſſe eſt benè ſtudniſſe, ſaith Luther. And whether a Miniſter ſhall do more good to others by his praiers or preaching, I will not determine (ſaith a reverend Writer) but he ſhall certainly by his praiers reap more comfort to himſelf. Whereto I adde,D. Tailour on 1 Theſſ 5.23. that unleſſe he pray for his hearers as well as preach to them, he may preach to as little purpoſe as Bede did, when he preached to an heap of ſtones.

Verſe 6. Not of the letter] To wit, of the law, which requireth perfect obedience, preſuppoſing holineſſe in us,Lex jubet grat[illegible: 1 letter]a juvat. Aug. and curſing the diſobedient: But the Goſpel (called here the Spirit) pre-ſuppoſeth unholineſſe, and, as an inſtrument, maketh us holy, Ioh. 17.17. Act. [illegible: 1 letter]0.32. For we preach Chriſt, 1 Cor. 1.23. We give what we preach. The Spirit is received by the preaching of faith, Gal 3.2. This Mannah is rained down in the ſweet dews of the Miniſtery of the Goſpel, 1 Pet. 1.22.

For the letter killeth] Many Popiſh Prieſts, that hardly ever had ſeen, much leſſe read St Pauls writings, having gotten this ſentence by the end, The letter killeth; took care of being killed, by not medling with good literature. Hence that of Sr Thomas Moore to one of them, Tu benè caviſti, ne te ulla occidere poſſit Littera: nam nulla eſt littera nota tibi.

Verſe 7. The miniſtration of death] That is, the Law. David was the voice of the Law awarding death to ſin, He ſhall ſurely die. Nathan was the voice of the Goſpel, awarding life to repentance for ſin, Thou ſhalt not die.

For the glory of his countenance] Which yet reflected not upon his own eyes. He ſhone bright and knew not of it: He ſaw Gods face glorious, he did not think others had ſo ſeen his. How many have excellent graces, and perceive them not?

Verſe 8. Be rather glorious] Let this comfort the Miniſters of the Goſpel under the contempts caſt upon them by the mad world ever beſides it ſelf in point of ſalvation. See Iſa. 49.5.

Verſe 9. Exceedin glory] A throne was ſet in heaven, Rev. 4.2. Not in the Mount, as Exod. 25 9. The patern of our Church is ſhewed in the heavens themſelves, becauſe of that more abundant glory of the Goſpel above the Law. And therefore alſo Iohn deſcribeth the City far greater and larger then Ezekiel, Revel. 21. Becauſe Ezekiel was a Miniſter of the Law,Brightman in loc. Iohn of the Goſpel.

Verſe 10. Had no glory] To ſpeak of, and in compariſon. The light of the Law was obſcured and overcaſt by the light of the Goſpel. The ſea about the altar was brazen, 1 King, 7.23. and what eyes could pierce thorow it? Now our ſea about the throne is glaſſie, Rev. 4.6. like to cryſtall clearly conveying the light and ſight of God in Chriſt to our eyes.

Verſe 11. Much more that, &c.] As the Sun outſhineth Lucifer his herald.

Verſe 12. Plainneſſe of speech] Or, much evidence, as Ioh. 10.24. and 11.14. and 16.29. with much perſpicuity and authority we deliver our ſelves: we ſpeak with open face, not fearing colours.

Verſe 13. Could not ſtedfaſtly, &c.] Could not clearly ſee Chriſt the end of the Law, Rom. 10.4. Gal. 3.24.

Verſe 14. But their mindes] Unleſſe God give ſight as well as light, and enlighten both organ and object, we can ſee nothing.

Which vail is done away] See Iſa. 25.7. Faith freeth from blindeneſſe: we no ſooner taſt of that ſtately feaſt by faith, but the vail of ignorance, which naturally covereth all fleſh, is torne and rent.

Verſe 15. The vail is upon their hearts] By a malicious and voluntary hardning; they curſe Chriſt and his worſhippers in their daily devotions, and call Evangelium Avengillaion, the Goſpel, a volume of vanity or iniquity.Eliab in Th[illegible: 1 letter]b.

Verſe 16. When it ſhall turn] Of the Jews converſion, and what hinders it. See the Note on Rom. 11.7, 8, 25.

Verſe 17. The Lord is that ſpirit] Chriſt only can give the Jews that noble spirit, as David calleth him, Pſal. 50.12. that freeth a man from the inviſible chains of the kingdome of darkneſſe.

Verſe 18. Are changed] As the pearl, by the often beating of the Sun-beams upon it, becomes radiant.

From glory to glory] That is, From grace to grace. Fulneſſe of grace is the beſt thing in glory. Other things, as peace and joy, are but the ſhinings forth of this fulneſſe of grace in glory.