• This is our rejoicing in all things, the testimony of our conscience ; ' first purged by ' the blood of Christ,' and then purged and sanctified by the Spirit of Christ, that we have had our ' conversation in simplicity and sin- cerity,' &c.
* Oar rejoiciug is this, that in sir7ipJicitij and sincerity.' This is the matter of this testimony of conscience, that is simplicity and sincerity. St Paul glories in his simplicity and sincerity. And mark that by the way, it is no vain glorying, but lawful upon such cautions as I named before. But to add a little, — a man in some cases may glory in the graces of God that are in him ; but with these cautions.
First, if so be that he look on them as the (jifts of God.
Secondly, if he look on them as stained with his own defects, and so in that respect be humbled.
Thirdly, if he look upon them as fruits of his justification, and as fruits of his assurance of his salvation, and not as causes.
And then, if it be before men that he glories : not when he is to deal with
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 12. 229
God. When men lay this and that imputation upon a man, he may rejoice, as St Paul doth here, in the testimony of his conscience, ' in simplicity and sincerity.'
The matter of the testimony of conscience wherein he glories is ' simpli- city and godly sincerity,' or, as the words may well be read, ' in the sim- plicity and sincerity of God,' such as proceeds from God, and such as aims at and looks to God, and resembles God. For both simplicity and sincerity come from God. They are wrought by God ; and therein we resemble God. And both of them have an ej^e to God, a respect to God. So it is in the original, ' in the simplicity and sincerity of God ' [11).
There is not much dilference between simphcity and sincerity. The one expresseth the other. If you will have the difference, simplicity especially respects men, our conversation amongst men. Simplicity hath an eye to God in all things in religion, opposite to hypocrisy in religion. ' Simplicity,' that is opposed to doubleness. Where doubleness is, there is alway hypo- crisy, opposed to sincerity ; and where simplicity is, there is alway sin- cerity, truth to God. But it is not good to be very exact and punctual in the distinction of these things. They may one express the other very well.
' Simplicity.' St Paul's rejoicing was, that his conscience witnessed to him his simplicity in his whole conversation in the world, his whole course of life, which the Scripture calls in other places a ' walking,' Acts ix. 31. St Paul means this first of himself ; and then he propounds himself an ex- ample to us.
Quest. How was St Paul's conversation in simplicity ?
Am. Not only if we consider St Paul as a Christian, but consider him as an apostle, his conversation was in simplicity. It was without guile, with- out seoking himself, without seeking his own ; for rather than he would be gi-ievous to the Corinthians, the man of God he wrought himself. Because he would not give any the least scandal to them, being a rich people, he had rather live by his own labom- than to open his"* mouth. He did not seek himself. In a word, he did not serve himself of the gospel. He served Chri 5t. He did not serve himself of Christ.
There are many that serve themselves of the gospel, that serve themselves of religion. They care no more for rehgion than will serve their own turn. St Paul's conversation was in simphcity. He had no such aim. He did not preach of envy, or of malice, or for gain, as he taxeth some of the Philippian teachers, ' Some preach Christ,' not of simplicity and sincerity, 'but of envy,' &c., Philip, i. 18.
Then again, as an apostle and a teacher, his conversation was in simpli- city ; because he mingled nothing with the word of God in teaching. His doctrine is pure. ' What should the chaff do with the wheat ?' Jer. xxiii. 28. What should the dross do with the gold ? He did not mingle his own con- ceits and devices with the word : for he taught the pure word of God, the simple word of God, simple without any mixture of any by-aims. So the blessed apostle was simple both in his doctrine and in his intentions ; pro- pounding himself herein exemplary to all us, that, as we look to hold up our heads with comfort, and to glory in all estates whatsoever, so our con- sciences must bear us witness that we carry ourselves in the simplicity and sincerity of God.
Now simplicity is, when there is a conformity of pretension and intention, when there is nothing double, when there is not a contradiction in the spirit of a man, and in his words and carriage outwardly. That is simplicity,
* Qu. 'their? --G.
280 COMMENTARY ON
when tlioro is an exact conformity and correspondence in a man's jndpment and speech, in his affections .and actions. When a man jud^'eth simply as the truth of the thing is, and when he affects as he judj^'eth, when he loves and hates as he jud<^etli, and he speaks as he affects and judgeth, and he doth as he speaks, then a man is a simple man.