Use is, to teach us all to apply this truth. What Paul had spoken in general concerning the last judgment, he applieth to himself It is not enough to have a general knowledge of truth, but we must improve and apply them to our own use. Men of all ranks must do so.
1. It presseth preachers to persuade men. Oh, how diligently should we study, how earnestly should we persuade, with what love and tender compassion should we beseech men, to escape this wrath to come ! How unweariedly should we bear all opposition, and mocks, and scorns, and imthankful returns ! How jilainly should we rip up men's sores, and open their very hearts to them ! How carefully shoidd we watch over every particular soul ! How importunate shoidd- we be with all sinners, for their conversion, considering that shortly they must be judged! "Cry aloud, spare not,' Isa. Iviii. 1. It is a notable help a^rainst a sleepy ministry to consider that those sotils to whom we speak, must within a while receive their everlasting doom. When you find a deadness, rouse up yourselves by these thoughts, this will put a life into your exhortations ; a senee of what we speak, zeal for the glory of God, and compassion over souls, will not suffer us to do the work of the Lord negligently.
2. To all christians.
[1.] Persitade yourselves, commune with your own souls, Do I know the terror of the Lord ? What have I done to escape it ? If you would not fall into the hands of a living God, cast yourselves into the arms of a dying Saviour. Hide yourselves before the storm cometh : ' If his anger be but kindled a little, blessed are all those that put their trust in him," Ps. ii. 12. Seek conditions of peace, while a great way ofi", Luke xiv. A powerful enemy marcheth against us, especially when you begin to gi-ow negligent, dead-hearted, and apt to content yourselves with a sleepy profession. Paul counted this terror, or matter of fear, to be an help to him ; and should not we, who are so much beneath him in holiness? Will you, that must shortly be in another world, wiU you be careless, and please the flesh, and give up the boat to the stream ?
[2.] Do you persuade your family, servants, friends, and neighbours, with your children about it ; tell them what a dreadful thing it is ; they have a conscience, apt to fear. Dives, in the parable, is repre- sented as desirous of his brethren's welfare, lest they should come into that place of torment: Luke xvi. 27, 28, 'Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house, for
100 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XIX
I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' Shall we be less charitable than a man in hell is represented to be ? If we have a friend or a child falling into the fire, we save him by violence, though we break an arm or a leg. Your children by nature are children of wrath ; pluck them as brands out of the burning.
SERMON XIX.
But loe are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are mnde manifest in your consciences. For ive commend not ourselves again to you, but give you an occasion to glory on our behalf, that you may have someivhat to ansiver them luho glory in appearance, and not in heart. — 2 Cor. v. 11, 12.
The apostle having proved his sincerity and fidelity in his ministry, now asserts it with confidence; — (1.) By an appeal; — (2.) An apology.
1. An appeal to God, as the supreme judge ; and to the Corinthians, as inferior witnesses. And he appealeth to the most impartial and discerning faculty in them, their consciences, who are most apt to give infallible judgment, and to take God's part, and own what is of God.
2. By an apology, or answer to an objection, which might be framed against him, by his adversaries, ver. 12 ; where, first, the objections were iiitimated — We commend, not ourselves again to you. Secondly, His vindication, from the end, the reason why he spake so much of his fidelity and integrity — But give you occasion to glory in our behcdf that you may have someichat to ansiver them. Thirdly, A description of the false apostles at Corinth, or those vain-glorious teachers who went about to lessen the apostle's authority : They glory in appearance, and not in heart. Let me explain these passages.
[1.] The intimation of the objection ; ' For we commend not our- selves again to you.' The adversaries were wont to say upon all occasions, he runneth out into his own praises ; which doth not become a modest and a sober man, for boasting is the froth of pride ; and how can Paul be excused from pride? This was the objection against Paul, that he did commend himself too much.
[2.] Paul's answer and vindication was from his end. It was not to set forth his own praise, but to arm them with an argument and an answer against the false teachers, whereby they might defend his ministry, and the doctrine they had heard from him ; it was not pride and ostentation in Paul, but a necessary defence of the credit of his ministry, their faith and obedience to the gospel depending thereupon.