VeU. iC] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 219
tion against Job, chaps, i. 9-11, ami ii. 4, 5 ; it is not thee they seek, but themselves ; their own commodity rather than thy glory. There is no man to seek this accusation, but to be faithful with God when he crosseth his self-interest, and to be as zealous for him when secular motives are gone as he was before.
6. In every duty we must come farther home to God ; for all Chris- tianity is a coming to God by Christ. Now we get farther home to God as the divine nature doth prevail in us, and the carnal, self- seeking nature is subdued : 2 Cor. v, 16, ' Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh ; j'ea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.'
SERMON XXXI.
Wherefore henceforth hnoiu ive no man after the flesh ; yea, though 2oe have known Christ cfter the flesh, yet noio henceforth we know him no more. — 2 Cor. v. 16.
There were false apostles at Corinth, who gloried much in outward things ; not only birth, wealth, abilities of speech, but such outward things as had a nearer connection with and respect to religion ; as their acquaintance with Christ, that they had known him in the flesh, and owned him when yet alive, and therefore are supposed to be intended in that expression, 'I am of Christ,' 1 Cor. i. 12. As others received the doctrine of life from Peter, Paul, Apollos, they immediately from Christ himself. Now this boasting these Corinthian doctors used, as to keep up their own fame among the people, so to lessen and weaken the credit of Paul's apostleship; for this objection lay against him, that he had not, as other disciples, conversed with our Lord Jesus Christ on earth. Now Paul, that he might give the Corinthians occasion to glory in his behalf, and furnish them with an answer that gloried, ev TrpoacoTTcp Kav^ofiivov;, ver. 12, in external privileges, though they knew in their consciences they had little reason so to do, he had more valuable things to boast of — namely, that he was much in spirit, much in labours, much in afflictions for the honour of the gospel, and to all which he was carried out by the hopes of eternal life, the terror of the Lord at the day of judgment, ' and the love of Christ constraining him.'' Tliis was the threefold cord : hope of reward, fear of punishment, and the love of Christ; and these were more valuable considerations whereupon to esteem of any one than external privileges could be. In their outward privileges he could vie with them; for though he was none of Christ's followers here upon earth, yet he was equal to them, by seeing and having been spoken to by Christ out of heaven : 1 Cor. ix. 1. ' Am not I an apostle ? have not I seen Jesus Christ the Lord ? ' But Paul did not seek his esteem merely for his vision of Christ, and that ecstasy which befell him at his first conversion, but for the faithful discharge of his work, upon the ground afore-mentioned, that he would
220 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SePw. XXXI.
not glory iv irpoawTrcp, as those otliers did. Mortified christians, or those that have seriously given up themselves to the Lord's use, should more mind that, and esteem themselves and others for true and real worth, rather than such an external privilege — ' Wherefore know we no man after the flesh,' <fec. In the words we have —
1. A general conclusion inferred against the boasting of the Corin- thian doctors — Henceforth ive knoiu no man ofter the flesh: we own no carnal respect to any man living, and do not value any by outward acquaintance with Christ, but according to the spiritual power that is in him, and taught by him.
2. The conclusion restrained unto the instance of Christ — Yea, though lue have known Christ after the flesh. "Wliere there is —
[1.] A sui^position — ' Though we have known Christ after the flesh.'
[2.] An assertion — 'Yet henceforth know we him no more;' that is, as a friend conversing with us upon earth in an outward way; but as a king and law-giver of tlie church, that is ascended up to heaven, there to govern the church by his Spirit and laws, offering and design- ing to us eternal life upon our obedience and fidelity to him. Well then, to know Christ after the flesh is not forbidden with intent to deny his humanity, or to exclude the comfort thence resulting, so we must still know him after the flesh ; his human natui-e is the ground of our comfort ; but that we should not esteem and judge of persons by their outward conversing with him, but their loyalty and obedience to him. This I think to be the most proper meaning of the words, though some, with probability, carry them another way, thus—' Henceforth know we know no man after the flesh ; ' that is, we do not value men for their wealth, honour, nobility ; and though we have known Christ after the flesh, alluding to his esteem, when a Pharisee. According to the humour of that sect, he looked for a pompous Messiah, but now owned him as a glorified Saviour, sitting at the riglit hand of God in the heavens.