2 Corinthians 5

2 Corinthians 5:1-11

The apoths proceed in the following the reasons why they did not faint under their afflictions, viz. their explication, defers, and assurance of happiness after death, ver. 1—5. and makes an inference for the comfort of followers in their present state, ver. 6, 7, 8. and another is greater than in their duty, ver. 9, 10, 11. Then he, much as apology for firming to command himself, and giveth a good reason for his zeal and diligence, ver. 12—15. And means in this thing that are necessary in order to have living to Christ, viz. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29-30-31-32-33-34-35-36-37-38-39-40-41-42-43-44-45-46-47-48-49-50-51-52-53-54-55-56-57-58-59-60-61-62-63-64-65-66-67-68-69-70-71-72-73-74-75-76-77-78-79-80-81-82-83-84-85-86-87-88-89-90-91-92-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-100

1. FOR we know, that if ‘our earthly house of this tabernacle were disfulved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2. For in this ‘we groan earnestly, defining to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3. If to be that ‘being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but ‘clothed upon, that mortality might be fallowed up of life. 5. Now ‘he that hath wrought us for the self-fame thing, is God, ‘who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that ‘whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7. (For ‘we walk by faith, not by light). 8. We are confident, I say, and ‘willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9. Wherefore ‘we labour, that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him. 10. For ‘we must all appear before the judgment-fear of Christ, ’that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11. Knowing therefore ’the terror of the Lord, ‘we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also ‘are made manifest in your consciences.

No marvel, with such a scene full in his view, the apoths fainted not. He enlarges here on the delightful theme, which cannot but minister something of the like courage and confolation to every gracious soul. We have,

1. The apoths’ expectation and desire, which every faithful servant of Jesus can, in a measure, adopt as his own. For we know, by the evidence of God’s word, the testimony of our conscience, and the witness of the Spirit, that if our house of this tabernacle, the frail body in which we as pilgrims at present sojourn for a day, he disfulved, and returned to the dust from whence it came, we have a building of God, infinitely more magnificent, a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens, a celestial palace prepared for our everlasting residence, and found to the excellence of the glorified soul. For in this tabernacle of clay we groan earnestly, loaded with many afflictions, and burdened with many corruptions, desiring to be clothed with our house, which is from heaven, and to arrive at the celestial city, whose sin our sorrow shall ever enter more. If he be that, or does, being thus clothed with robes of light and purity, we shall not be found naked, exposed any longer to the storms of this wretched world, but be in eternal joy and felicity. For we that are in this taber-

nacle do groan, being burdened, longing for our perfect state of holiness and happiness, when we shall be for ever released from the burdens of outward afflictions, and indwelling the: not for that we would be unclothed, and with to part with our bodies, but clothed upon, that mortality might be fallowed up of life, translated as Enuch, or changed in a moment, as their bodies shall be, who are alive at the coming of the Lord. Note, (1.) Our present abode is a wretched tabernacle that must quickly be taken down; have we an eternal manion ready to receive the immortal soul? (2.) To a soul that hath ever called of the histrene of sin, and gnained under the trials and temptations of this mortal state, the exchange of worlds is a consummation devoutly to be without for.

2. The apoths’ mentions the ground of his expectation and hope. Now he that hath wrought us for this self-fame thing is God, whose mighty energy hath sprituated our souls, and led them up to seek those high and heavenly things; who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit, in his graces, confidations, and abiding residence in our hearts, which feel to us the purchased possession. Therefore we are always confident in the assurance of the fulfilment of the divine promises, and of support under all our trials till they shall happily end, keeping that will be we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord, and, like pilgrims, distant from our true home and rest. For we walk by faith, not by light, looking above all present which to the eternal world; and having our hearts influenced, and our conduct regulated accordingly, we are confident, I say, in the experience of God’s present love, and the assurance of his eternal favour, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord, well pleased, if God so endowed, to bid an eternal盛情 to all our infirmities and afflictions, and enter immediately into the beatific vision of our Lord. Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. This is our holy ambition, so to be found in him, sprinkled with his blood, clothed with his righteousness, and walking under the influence of his grace, that now, and in the day of his appearing and glory, both our persons and services may meet with his approbation. Note, (1.) None enter the heavenly world, but those who have the earnest of the Spirit in their hearts, and are made meet for the inheritance among the Sions in light. (2.) Faith in God’s promises inspires confidence of their fulfilment; we know we have not followed cunningly-deviled duties. (3.) They who have seen the glories of a better world, and are assured of their portion there, cannot but with pleasure look forward to the happy change. (4.) The more fare our hope of heaven is, the more enlivened will be our diligence in the way that leads thither.

3. He reminds them of the awful day which approached, as a spur to himself, and a warning to them. For we must all appear before the judgment-fear of Christ, where without dispute every man’s real character will appear, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad; admitted graciously to the reward of eternal blessedness, or sinking under righteous vengeance into the abys of endless misery. Among therefore the terror of the Lord, and the fearful end of the hypocrite and ungodly, we persuade men, by every alarming and alluring motive, to fly from the wrath to come, and embrace the gospel which we proclaim. But, whether they will hear or forbear, we are made manifest in God, who knows our simplicity in all our misrepresentations, and I trust also are made manifest in your conscience; for our labours and sufferings bear witness to the unfeigned concern we have shown for your souls. Note, (1.) The sense of an approaching judgment should awaken a holy solicitude to be ready for it. (2.) The terrors of the Lord his ministers must sit to rouse the lethargic sinner, and urge him to fly from his impending ruin.

4. For ‘we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion’ to glory on our behalf, that you may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13. For ‘whether we be besides ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. 14. For ’the love of Christ constrained us, because we thus judge, that ‘if one died for all, then were all dead; 15. And that he died for all, ’that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and role again.

2 Corinthians 5:12-15

The apoths,

1. Prevents an infirmation which might have been suggested by his enemies as if he meant to commend himself. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, nor speak this with a view to ingratate ourselves into your good opinions, but to give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that you may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart, furnishing you with arguments to silence the vain boathings of those justuring teachers, who would malign and traduce us. For whether we be beside ourselves, and in our zeal for the gospel talk as mere disfulved, as they would infirmate, it is to God, and for his glory,

that

oppofers; by kindness, in temper and manners gentle and courteous; by the Holy Ghost, of whole gifts, graces, and confessions we abundantly partake; by love and speed to God and men; by the word of truth, which unadulterated we deliver; by the power of God, while everlasting arms are under us, and who, in the miracle he enables us to work, bears testimony to our doctrine; by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, furnished out of the armour of God with every thing necessary for our spiritual warfare; by honour and dishonour, not elated with the high esteem of some, nor discouraged by the indolent contempt of others; by evil report and good report, mentioned with great commendation by our friends, and branded with the most infamous funders by our enemies; as deceivers, so treated by many, and yet true, proved and found faithful to Christ, and the souls of men; as unknown, represented as men of no figure and despicable, yet well known; those who are best acquainted with us, are sensible of our real characters, of our importance andfultness; as doing, and every hour in sympathy, and behold we live, amidst all our dangers; as confined from the Lord, and by the hands of men, and not killed, immortal till God’s own comes; as fervently, under manifold temptations, yet always rejoicing in a sense of the divine love and favour; as poor in this world, yet making very rich, in spiritual and eternal treasures; as being nothing, that here we can call our own, dependent on Providence for daily bread, and yet possessing all things, having a prelate fulness in the contentment we enjoy, blessed with all the internal riches of grace, and holding firm a sure title to the eternal riches of glory.