2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:1

IT is not,] that is to say it is dangerous for feare, least I exalt my selfe above measure I will come,] laying open mine own praises, I shall never forbeare the chiefe, which is concerning the glorious revelations which I have had from God: wherein besides that I shall go beyond the will of God, who hath directed them unto mee for mine owne particular use, giving me no permission to publish them, ver. 4 there is danger of some baite of pride in me, ver 7. or of some idolatrous understanding or motion in others, ver. 6. as if I were some Angell or God on earth. See Acts 14:15

2 Corinthians 12:2

A man,] namely my selfe, who for all this, will be esteemed no otherwise, there a man, and not a God, or an Angell In Christ,] namely a Christian and beleever, which seemes to be added, to 〈◊〉 that hee gloried not of any vertue of his owne, but only of Gods grace in Christ In body,] whither it happened by Gods framing of the Images of those celestiall things, in my soule without separating it, from the body, only by the abstraction, of all sensible and naturall actions, or whither in deed my soule for a time separated from the body were transported into heaven, to contemplate those wonders in their reality Caught up,] See Acts 9. 12, and 22. 17. and 23, 11 The third,] the place of Gods glory, and the habitation of the blessed spirits is so called indifference of the aire, which is the first heaven, and of the speeres of the stars in generall, which altogether 〈◊〉 taken for another second heaven.

2 Corinthians 12:4

Paradice,] it is the same place, as the third Heaven. See Luke 23:43 Heard,] it is not 〈◊〉 that hee saw; peradventure God would shew him, that it belongeth to the state of this present life to have revelations by hearing, and not by seeing. See Exod. 33. 22, 23. and 34. 6. 2 Cor. 57 Unspeakable,] which can not be rehearsed. Whither it were because Paul was forbidden to speake them, being revealed to him in particular, and not for the publicke use of the Church, as his other revelations were or because of the incapacitie of humane nature, to apprehend and expresse them.

2 Corinthians 12:5

Will I glory,] I can indeed boast of this which hath befallen mee: but I will for beare for that glorious light which was communicated unto me is not proper for the estate of this life, wherein I am as yet serving of God: I was then as another man. But I will rather glorie in God because of my wretched and dejected estate whereunto I and all true beleevers are subject in this world, 2 Corinthians 11:30

2 Corinthians 12:6

To glory,] namely of these divine and heavenly things A foole,] rash and temerary.

2 Corinthians 12:7

A thorne,] namely a vexation, or ordinary and very sensible molestation in my body, like a thorne or splinter in my sides, Numbers 33:55. By the uncertainty wherein the Apostle leaves the Reader it is credible that it was some corporall unquietnesse or torment occasioned by the evill spirit To buffet 〈◊〉,] shamefully to outrage me, or to scoffe mee, to beare downe all manner of pride in me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

My grace,] content thy selfe with my favour and good will which neither this, nor any other affliction is taken away from thee, nor diminished and endure this tryall, for the more thou and other beleevers are assaulted, the more doe I confer my grace upon you, to overcome all temptations I weakenesse,] namely in misery and calamities Rather,] then in spirituall dignities and eminencies, May rest upon me,] the Italian, May defend me,] may be mine only safeguard and protection. The Greeke may be upon me, like unto a tent, wherewith a man keeps himselfe from the heate, and other offencivenesse of the aire. See Isa. 25. 41

2 Corinthians 12:10

Weake,] wretched and afflicted in mine selfe. Strong,] glorious, and victorious, through the power of Christ which assists and strengthens mee, as fast as evills doe oppresse me.

2 Corinthians 12:11

For in nothing,] as you your selves have by experience found, the degree of gifts, office and power which God hath conferred up on me, equall to that of other Apostles: though mine adversaries doe make me farre below them I bee,] namely of my selfe without Gods gift, or though I through humilitie make my selfe nothing.

2 Corinthians 12:12

The signes,] that is to say the certaine and irreprovable arguments, of my full office of Apostle, have appeared by the effects of my ministery towards you In all patience,] namely in all the sufferings which I have endured, and overcome by faith and constancie, which was a signe of the Apostles loyalty, and also of the presence and assistance of Gods spirit,]Mightie,] great and noted miracles. See 1 Corinthians 12:10.

2 Corinthians 12:13

Inferior,] namely in gifts, and graces of God, conferred upon you through my ministerie. See 1 Corinthians 1:5-6 To other,] founded by other Apostles, possesse then whom I am maliciously esteemed Was not,] not taking from you mine ordinary reliefe, as other Apostles did, 1 Corinthians 9:6 Forgive me,] a pleasant ironia.

2 Corinthians 12:14

The third time,] having been twice crossed in this my designe. See 1 Corinthians 16:5. and 2 Corinthians 1:16 But you,] to gaine you to God, and to acquire the treasure of eternall salvation for you

2 Corinthians 12:15

Spend,] I will employ not my substance only; but even my life also to procure your salvation, 1 Thessalonians 2:8 The lesse,] lesse then by right you should and then my love deserveth of you.

2 Corinthians 12:16

But be it so,] he answers some such objection as this might bee: Truely thou hast no way burthened us to maintaine thee: but (will some say) thou hast cunringly gotten our goods from us, by the meanes of other men whom thou hast sent to us.

2 Corinthians 12:18

I desired Titus,] namely to come unto you, He seemes to meane Titus his first voyage, 2 Cor. 2. 12. and 7. 6 A brother,] the Italian, this brother,] namely Luke 2 Corinthians 13:13. See 2 Corinthians 8:18; 2 Corinthians 8:22.

2 Corinthians 12:19

Thinke you,] that is to say, in all this, my care is not so much to maintaine my credit by defending mine innocencie; as to increase and confirme your faith and pietie: by preserving mine authoritie and good fame amongst you; for feare least for want of it, my corrections and exhortations being of no force nor effect amongst you, I be not constrained to exercise the rigor which I use against rebellious, and incorrigible people Before God,] it is a kinde of assertion of what he saith, that in all this he spake in Christ, namely by a motion of his spirit as Romans 9:1. and not through any fleshly selfe conceipt or selfe love. Or hee declares that presentin himselfe before Gods terrible Majestie, he puts farre from him all regard of himselfe.

2 Corinthians 12:20

Such as I,] namely corrected, having 〈◊〉 mended all those defects that were in you Such 〈◊〉 you,] namely a severe punisher Swellings,] of pride or discord of minds, and enterchangeable disdaines.

2 Corinthians 12:21

Humble me,] that is to say afflict me wih shame and griefe for your doings, who are my children, and should be the glory of my ministery, and the joy of my person Bewaile,] that is to say, least I do with a great deale of griefe and bitternesse exercise the severitie of Christian discipline against them. See 1 Corinthians 5:2.