John Trapp on 2 Corinthians 8:5

Verſe 5. Not as we hoped] God is uſually better to us then our hopes.

Firſt gave their own ſelves to the Lord] Ay, this is the right way of giving alms; and this is done by faith, the work whereof is to be an empty hand, Mendica manus (as Luther calleth it) a beggers hand to receive it: but when it hath received, it gives back again it ſelf and all, and thinks all too little, as Mary Magdalen did her precious ointment.

And unto us by the will] The good ſoul delivers up it ſelf to Chriſts faithfull Miniſters, and ſaith in effect to them, as Luther, before he was better informed, wrote to Pope Leo X, anno 1518.Scul. Annal. [illegible: 1 letter]8 Proſtratum pedibus me tibi offero, cum omnibus quae ſum & habeo:—Vocem tuam vocem Chriſti in to praeſidentis & loquentis agnoſcam. I humbly proſtrate my ſelf with all that I have, and am, at thy feet, &c.