But we may make an use hence, to judge of what spirit they are that judge and think so, they are not true believers ; for thei'e is no man that hath given his name to Christ, and makes it good by his life that he is a good Christian, but he accounts the ministers ' helpers of his joy.' Those that do not so, are in an ill course ; and which is worse, they resolve to be in an ill course.
Therefore, let us make much of the ordinances of God, as that which is the joy of our souls ; not only make much of the word of God, but of the word of God in the ministerial dispensation of it ; for ofttimes we find that comfort by the opening of the word of God, that our own reading and pri- vate endeavours could never help us to : experience shews that. We see when the eunuch was to be converted, it was he that read, but Philip was sent to open the word to him, and then ' he went away rejoicing,' Acts viii. 39. And so the poor jailer, when the word was opened and applied to him, then he rejoiced, Acts xvi. 33. Therefore, as we intend our own comfort, let us regard the ministry.
Ohj. Many object that, that Naamanthe Assyrian did, I can have as much comfort by reading.
Ans. I would they were so well occupied. But God gives a curse to pri- vate means, when they are used with neglect of the public. And joy comes * That is, ' loosening,' = departure. Cf. note a, vol. I. p. 350. — G.
512 COMMENTARY ON
from God's Spirit. God will not attend our pleasure to give us joy and delij,'Lt in what we sin<,'le out, but in bis own course and way. And if Naanijui the Assyrian,* tbat tbouj^'bt the rivers of Damascus were as good as Jonbiu, and, tbereforo bo tbou;^dit it a fondf tbinj,' to wash there ; if be bad not yielded to the counsel of his servants, be had gone a leper home as be came ; but be was wiser, 2 Kings, v. So those that cavil at the ordi- nance of God, they may live and die lepers for aught I know, except with meekness of spirit they attend upon the ordinance.
Ohj. But you will say. Those that are true Christians and good men, they are ofttimes cast down by the ministry, and brought to pangs of con- science ; therefore, what joy can there be ? bow are they ' helpers of their joy ? '
Am. If they do so, yet it is that they might joy. St Paul did bring the Corinthians here to sorrow, but be brought them to sorrow tbat they might joy ; as you have it excellently set down. ' For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent,' 2 Cor. vii. 8. I was sorry tbat I was forced to be so bitter against you ; for I perceive tbat the same epistle made you sorry, though but for a season ; ' now I rejoice, not tbat 3'ou were made sorry ' (here is a sweet insinuation), but tbat you were sorry to repentance ; ' for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that you might receive damage by us in nothing.' So the sorrow that is wrought by the ministry in the hearts of the people, it is a sorrow to re- pentance, a sorrow tending to joy.
"We say of April, tbat the showers of tbat month dispose the earth to flowers in the next ; so tears and grief wrought in the heart by the ministry, they breed delight in the soul ; they frame the soul to a delightful, joyfol temper after.]; And that is part of the scope of this very text, ' we are helpers of your joy,' and, therefore, if I bad not spared you, but bad come in severity, all bad been for joy: so whether the minister open comfort or direction, it is for their joy. If they see them not in a state fit, then [it is their office] to discover to them their sin and danger, and to tell them tbat they must be purged by repentance, before they can receive the cordial of joy ; but all is for joy in the end.
A physician comes, and be gives sbaii) and bitter purges ; saith the patient, I bad thought you bad come to make me better, and I am sicker now than I was before. But be bids him be content, all this is for yoiir health and strength, and for your joyfulness of spirit after ; j'ou will be the better for it. So in confidence of that, be drinks down many a bitter potion. So it is with those that sit under the ministry of God, though it be sharp and severe, and cross their corruptions, yet it is medicinal pbj'sic for tbeii' souls, and all will end in the health of the soul, in joy afterwards.
Ohj. It will be objected again. The w^ord of God, and the dispensation of it, it is for doctrine, ' to teach and to instruct,' and not especially to joy : tbat should not be the main end ; for we see in Rom. xv. 4, ' Whatsoever was written, was written for our learning.' So in 1 Cor. xiv. 3, he tbat speaks, speaks to ' edification and exhortation,' as well as to comfort.