2 Corinthians 4

2 Corinthians 4:1

SEing we have this ministerie] Gr. having this ministery.

we faint not] Gr. we shrink not back; or, grow weary and slothfull. Though we are broken in pieces with heart-griefs and clamities, yet we velled not, not withstanding all the disCouragements we finde in the world, we slack not our pace, nor remit any thing of our zeal for Gods glory, which, like fire, is kindled more, and not at all quenched by the blasts of opposition.

2 Corinthians 4:2

hidden things of dishonesty] Gr. shame. All secret underhand dealing, all lurkinmg holes to hide shamelesse practices. As we preach the clear and evident truth of the Gospel, so our carriage is open and fair, not hating the light, as they who do evill.

nor hanlling the word of God deceitfull] They handle the Word deceitfully, who either corrupt it by mingling false doctrines or humane traditions with it; or those who preach the pure and sincere trath, but not sincferely seeking by the preaching thereof their own glory or gain, as did the false apostles, Philippians 1:15-16.

2 Corinthians 4:3

But if our gospell be hid] Because he had said before in the last Verse of the former Chapter, We with open face behold the glory of the Lord, here he prevents an objection which might be made against him, If you preach the Gospel with such plainnesse and sincerity, delivering the naked truth nakedly, how cometh it to passe that so few are nlightned by your preaching, and that the Gospel is hid to so many? He answereth, that the fault is not in the preachers, but in themselves, whose eyes Satan hath pluckt out, or blinded so, that they can see nothing, though it be never so clear and evident in it selfe.

that are lost] Or, that perish.

2 Corinthians 4:4

the god of this world] S. Austine in his book de spiritt & lit. ad Marcel. understandeth by the god of this vvorld, the true God, vvho justly blindeth the mindes of infidels, non insundendmatiam, sed subtrahendo gratiam; not by infusing any malice into them, but by taking away from them, or not giving unto them enlightning grace. Adn true it is, that as obduration of the heart, so excecation of the understanding is in Scripture attributed to the true God, who justly inflicteth them as punishments upon them, who wilfully oppose the light of his truth, and not onely resist, but despight the Spirit of grace; yet by compaing this Text of the Apostle with John 12. 31. The Prince of of this vvorld is cast out, and Ephes. 6 12. it should seem rather, that the Apostle by the god of this vvorld, understandeth Satan, vvho by the just judgement of God hath gotten such a dominion over unbeleevers, as if he were their God, and he usurpeth the honour and soveraignty of God, and they readily obey and serve him as their Lord and God. And it is worth our observation, that the Apostle styleth him not the god of the vvorld simply, but the god of this vvorld, vers. 12. vvhich wholly lyeth in vvickednesse, 1 John 5. 19.

the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ] Gr. the light of the Gospel of the glorie of Christ. Wherein is manifested the Majestie of the person and reign of Christ, the soveraign excellency of his benefits, and the divine efficacie of his Word and Spirit in us.

the image of God] In whom the Father setteth forth himself to be seen and beholden, vvho is the ingraven from of his person, Hebrews 1:3. And this is spoken of him, not onely in regard of his divine nature, being the eternall Word and Wisdom of the Father; but also in regard that he is God, revelaed in the flesh, by whom the glory and righteousnesse, grace, vvisdome, and power of God is revealed unto us in the Gospel, asin a glasse, Colossians 1:15.

2 Corinthians 4:5

we preach not our selves] We make no ostentation of our gifts, nor in the exercising of our Ministery seek our own glory, but Christs; neither carry we our selves as Lords over your faith, but as your servants in and for him, Chap. 1. 24.

2 Corinthians 4:6

commanded] Gr. said to.

the light of the knowledge] That being lightened of God vve should in like sort give that light to others, as a candle tinded giveth light to the whole room.

in the face of Jesus Christ] Or, in the person of Jesus Christ. The glory of God shined in the face of Jesus Christ; for as S. John affirmeth, chap. 1. v. 14. The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, as the glory of the onely begotten Sonne of Father, full of grace and truth. Or, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the person, that is, in the room, stead, name, and authority of Christ, whose Ambassadours we are.

2 Corinthians 4:7

in carthen vessesl] Or, in vessels of shell. He here taketh away a stumbling block, to wit, that the Apostles were vile, weak, frail and miserable men; Paul answereth, that he and his fellow Apostles were as it were earthen Vesseles of small price, and subject to many knocks and falls, yet that there was most expcellent treasure of wisdom and knwoledge in them. Some conceive that the Apostle alludeth to glasse Lanthorns, in which lights are carried, and that he hereby intimateth, that they hid not their light, but that it shined through them as a Candle doth through a Lanthorn. If we render 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Vessell of shell, then th Apostle manifestly alludeth to pretious Pearl which is found in shels; the pearl is that rich pearl mentioned in Matthew 13:46. which the Merchant sold all that he had to buy; the shall or mother of pearl, are the Apostles and Pastours.

2 Corinthians 4:8

yet not distressed] In the Originall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, fignifieth not every pressure, but to be so prest by a throng in a narrow place, so that we cannot possibly get out: the meaning of the Apostle is then, that though they were laid in wait for and best on all sides, and were enforced to strive and struggle with all their might, yet that they escaped, and that God gave them an issue with the temptation how great soever it were, 1 Corinthians 10:13.

not in despatre] Or, not altogether without help, or means.

2 Corinthians 4:10

dying of the Lord Jesus] Or, mortifying. That is, in our sufferings we represent the death and passion of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:11

For we which live] Which live that life, to wit, by the Spirit of Christ among so many and so great miseries.

2 Corinthians 4:12

death worketh in us] A passionate conclusion: as if he should say, We die that you may live by our death; we venture into all dangers for the building of the Church sake, and cease not to confirme all the faithfull by the examples of our patience; and you by all our afflictions and dangers of death are strengthened more and more in the life of the Spirit: so that even all these straights we are put unto, turn to your advantage, and are means to maintain the life of grace in you here, and further your eternall life and happinesse hereafter. Or for the present I do principally prove the effects of my conformity to the death of Christ by the afflictions that I suffer in his behalfe, wheroof it seems you have you have no share, nor sense: ye onely partake of his life and glory, being exernpted from the like calamities, and abounding in all manner of blessings: and so the latter words carry in them a close, but sharpe reproof.

2 Corinthians 4:13

We] Gr. But. or, And.

Wehaving the same spirit] He sheweth that he and his sellow Apostles dya in a sort to purchase life to others, but yet notwithstanding they are partakes of the same life with them, because they have the same faith by the inspiration of the same Spirit, and beleeve that which they propound to others to beleeve, to wit, that they also shall be saved together with them in Christ.

I beieeved] See Psalms 116:10.

2 Corinthians 4:15

that the abundant grace] When it shall please God to deliver me, and restore me to you, that exceeding benesit, which shall be powred upon me, shall in like fort redound to the glory of God.

redound] Gr. abound.

2 Corinthians 4:16

faint not] Or,slack not. See vers. 1.

yet the inward man is renewed day by day] That is, gathereth new strength (Esa. 40. 31.) that the outward man be not overcome with the miseries, which come sreshly one on the neck of another, being maintained and upholden with the strength of our inward amn. By the ourwardc man he understandeth our bodies; or rather our persons in the naturall estate and condition of this life, which do decay and confume away by continuall sufferances: by the inward man he understandeth our soules, or persons, consfidered according to our spirituall estate, which cannot be discerned by any bodily eye, but onely by the light of the spirit: this inward man renewed by the Spirit of God is strengthened and confirmed more by daily pressures and tribulations; as the Palme-tree groweth the higher, and slourisheth the more, the more burthers are laid upon it; and as Anteus in his wrestling with Hercules, is said by the Poets to gain new strenght by every fall on the earth.

2 Corinthians 4:17

light affliction] Afflictions of the godly are not light in themselves, but comparatively, to the insfinite and eternall weight of heavenly glory, which our affliction worketh for us not by any merit of ours, but out of Gods meer grace for Christ his sake, Rom. 8. 17, 18. Or they are called light, because they lightly and speedily passe away; or because God maketh them seem light unto us by the strong support and comfort of his Spirit, Romans 8:37.

for us] Or, to us.

eternall weight of glory] The Apostle seemeth to allude to the Hebrew word, which signifieth both weight and glory: to gold and precious things the weight addeth to the value, as the more massie and weightie crown is, the more it is worth; and he implieth that we shall be at the last crowned with such a crown of infinite glory, which even in this world we lively apprehend by faith, and the contemplation thereof taketh off all the consideration, love and esteem of all the things in this world, which are seen, our heart being fixed on the eternall things in heaven, which are not seen.