Now you acknowledge me, and ' I trust in God you shall acknowledge me to the end.' So here St Paul sets down what he resolved to be by the grace of God, and what in the issue he should be ; because holy resolutions are seconded with gracious assistance.
And likewise he sets down what they should judge of him to the end ; I trust as you acknowledge me now, so to the end you shall have grace so to
* That is ' singular, extraordinary.' — G.
t Of. Philip, ii. 24 ; Philem. 22 ; Heb. xiii. 18 ; 2 John 12— G. VOL. III. U
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do, and I shall havo grace so to be ; I shall be as I am, and have been ; I have led my life ' in simplicity, and sincerity ; ' and as you have acknow- ledged me to be such a one, so you sliull have grace still to acknowledge me, ' I hope, or trust.' I will not enter into any common place, only I will speak that which the text puts to mo.
' I trust you sliiill acknowledge to the end.' Here he begins with his hope of their judging ol'him, to continue so to the end.
Saint Paul liei'e takes a good conceit, a good opinion of his children whom he had begotten to the faith in Corinth. I hope as you are, and as you do judge of me, so you will judge of me to the end.
Why hath St Paul such a trust of them as of himself?
Eeaso7i 1. Among many reasons this is one. He knew that where God had lerjim a fjood. work, he would finish it. He saw that he had begun a good work in them, and therefore he knew that he would go on with it.
Henson 2. And then again, God planted in him a good hope and trust of them ; heennse Jiope and trust stir up endcaroirr to tJie lliiur/ h(qn'd for. Des- peration doth quell all courage, and cool all endeavour. Now God, because he would have us constant in our carnage, and in the expressions of our love to other men, he stirs up in us a trust that all shall be well with them.
lieason 3.' Likewise St Paul sets down his hope that God had put into his heart of them, for hin own comfort ; for it is a gi'eat comfort to a minister, or to a Christian, when he is to deal with such as he trusts are good, and will be good. It is a heaven upon earth, and therefore God doth plant good conceits of other men in us for this end ; partly, to stir up our endeavour to do all good to them, and partly to comfort us. For if the final estate of any man were discovered to us, that God had no dehght in them concerning their salvation, who would do any service of love for them ? or who would have comfort in conversing with them ? But when God stirs up in our hearts a good opinion of them, partly it is good for them, to stir up our endeavour to do all good for them ; and it is good for us, it is a great comfort.
Aiid again, it was an encouragement to them when they heard of Saint Paul's trust of them to the end, that they should continue as they were. For to have a good conceit and opinion of another man, especiall}' the good conceit of a pastor, it is a great encouragement. And the best Christians in the world have need of it ofttimes. Besides the judgment of themselves, which is sometimes shaken by Satan, that they give a false witness of their own estate. Oh ! it is comfortable that a man;have the judgment of a man that looks without passion, and temptation on him ; you have been thus, and my trust and confidence is in God, and the promise of God, looking to your former course, that you will be so to the end ; he gives not a false witness.
Saint Paul speaks thus to stir up his own endeavour to do good to them ; and to comfort them, that so great an apostle should have so good an opinion of them.
Therefore let us labour, I say, to entertain as good a conceit of them among whom we live, as their carriage will bear. Two things usually are the object of our hope and trust. While men are here, before their estate be determined of in hell, God may have mercy on them, and deliver them out of the snares of Satan. That hope should stir up some endeavour to pray for them ; seeing their estates are not desperate, they are not yet sunk into hell {ccc). Or else if we see them in the state of grace, we should
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VEU. 13. 807
express our love in the services and offices of love, because God hath already sot his stamp on them.
There is no man living but wo may trust, and hope of him one way or other. Those that we see no grace in, as the apostle saith, 2 Tim. ii. 24, we may' have ' patience towards them,' seeing if at any time Cxod will have mercy on them to deliver them out of the ' snare of the devil.'