As in the body, it is a sign it is sick when the actions are hindered ; so it is likewise with the soul.
We should bless God for ability to do good, for any health in our souls, more than for health of body. Do but consider, if we are to thank God for the instruments of good, much more are we to thank him for the good things themselves. If we should thank God for the ministers (for now I stand upon that, many prayers and praises were given to God for St Paul) much more should we be thankful for that which we have by the ministry, that is, for
202 COMMENTARY ON
all the blessings of God, for grace and glory, for life and salvation. It is the ministry of life, * and the power of God to salvation,' Rom. i. 16. We should bo thankful to God for peace, ' we are the messengers of peace,' Eph. vi. 15. We should bo tliunkful to God for gi'aec, and for his Holy Spirit ; the Spirit is given with it. We should be thankful especially for spiritual favours. A man cannot be thankful to God for health and liberty, unless first ho know God to be his, that he can bless (iod for spiritual favours. ' Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ, Eph. i. 3. Wo should be thankful for Christ, and all the benefits we have by Christ, much more than for any other blessings whatsoever.
Therefore, now seeing we are a communion, let praise be given by many.* We have greater matters than the health of a minister (or any particular person, either ourselves or others) to be thankful for. We have greater cause, being to bless God for the greatest gift that ever he gave, even for Christ. The disposition in a feast is to be joyful, and cheerful, to praise God. Now we are to feast with God, and with Jesus Christ. Christ is not only the food, but he invites us, he is with us. What will we do for Christ if we will not feast with him ? What a degree of unthankfulness is it, when we will not so much as feast with him ? when we will not willingly receive him ? What will he do for Christ that will not feast with him ? How unfit will he be to praise God, and praise Christ, that when Christ makes a feast of himself, and gives himself together with the bread and wine, representing the benefit of his body and blood, broken, and shed for us, and all his bene- fits ? If we will not feed upon himself, when he stoops so low as to give him- self for us, and to feed us with himself, what will we do ? How can we be thankful for other blessings, when we are not thankful for himself? And how can we be thankful for himself, when we will not come and partake of him ?
Let us stir up our hearts and think now to take the communion ; as for matter of repentance and sorrow, it should be despatched before. It is the Eucharist, a matter of thanksgiving. We should raise our hearts above earthly things. We should consider that we are to deal with Christ, and these are but representations.
When the bread is broken, think of the body of Christ ; and when the wine is poured out, think of the blood of Christ. And when our bodies are cheered by these elements, think how our souls are refreshed by the blood of Christ by faith. If we should be thankful to God for bodily de- liverance, how much more should we thank him for our souls, being delivered from hell by the blood of Christ, which is the grand deliverance ? Let us dispose our hearts to thankfulness. It is a fit disposition for a feast.
And, as I said, take heed of sin. It chokes thankfulness. Therefore ex- amine thy purposes, how thou comest. If thou come with a purpose to live in sin, thou art an unfit receiver. The place we stand in is holy, the business is holy, we have to deal with a holy God ; and therefore if we pur- pose not to relinquish wicked courses, and to enter into covenant with God, to abstain from sin, we come not aright. ' When thou comest into the house of God, take heed to thy feet,' saith the wise man, Eccles. v. 1. Take heed to thy afl'ections ; consider with whom thou hast to deal. But if thou hast renewed thy repentance, and thy purposes with God for the time to come, come with cheerfulness, with a thanld'ul disposition. Thankfulness * Margin-note here, 'It was a sacrament day.' — G.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 12. 203
is a disposition for a feast. If it be a disposition for bodily deliverance, it is much more for the deliverance of the soul ; and much more for Christ, and the blessings we have by him, who is ' all in all.' ' That thanks may be given by many on our behalf.'
VERSE 12.
' For our rejoiciiiff is tJiis, the testimo)iij of our conscience,' &c. St Paul in these words doth divers things at once.