ABOVE THE LAW. 305
times, when there was no day but the Ancient of Days : no good but God : no light but the Fatlier of Lights : Arts were but ideas ; the world a map of Providence ; heavens, the book in folio : earth, water, air, and fire, in quarto : hell, tlio dooms- day pageant : men and angels but capital letters in the margin of God's thoughts.'
(h) P. 252. — ' Oh foolish Galatians, before whom Christ hatii been painted and crucified.' Consult and compare Baggo on Galatians, in loc. : also Ellicott.
(i) P. 277. — ' It is said of Antiochus, tliat he was a vile person,' &c. Cf. Memoir of Antiociius, in Dr Smith's ' Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography,' with its ample autliorities.
(y ) P. 280. — ' We must not think to come de coeno in calum,'' as he saith, ' out of tlio filth of sin to heaven, but heaven must begin here.' One of Aixgustiue's Memorabilia.
(/c) P. 281. — ' It is not as a flash or blaze of flax, or so.' For a fino dcscrip tion of the lighting and fading away of the threads of flax, on the consecration of a poj)e, see Cardinal Wiseman's interesting ' Recollections of the Popes,' in any of its editions.
(I) P. 284. — ' As Hilary said in a time of schism, ' it requireth deal of wit to be a Christian.' The following is probably the passage referred to : — ' Cum .... nee ncgari possit ex vitio malos intelligentiaj fidei extitisse dissidium, dum quod legitur sensui potius coaptatur quam lectioni sensus obtemperat.' — Hilar. Be Triiiitate, lib. vii.
(to) p. 286. — ' We are here lame Mephibosheths.' That rare little book, full of pensive and wise meditation, by a very dear friend of Dr Sibbes's —the ' Al Moiido, or Conteraplatio Mortis et Immortalitatis,' of Henry, Earl of Manchester— furnishes an interesting parallel passage here — ' Nature's perfection caught a fall when she was young, as 'Mephibosheth did, whereof she hath halted ever since' (5th edition, 1642, 18mo, page 12).
(n) P. 298. — ' Therefore we must open as that flower that opens and shuts as tho sun shines on it.' There arc very many flowers of this character. The common daisy is the most familiar example. What one in particular the author refers to we cannot tell.
(o) P. 299. — ' As St Augustine saith, ' Wicked men have the Spirit of God knock- ing, and he would fain enter, .... But God's children have the Spirit entering and dwelling and resting there.' A frequent sentiment in ' The Confessions' of this father. G.
VOL. IV.
EXPOSITION OF 2» CORINTHIANS CHAPTER IV.
EXPOSITION OF SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER IV.
NOTE.
Tlio ' Commcutary or Exposition ' upon the fourth cliapter of the 2d Epistle to the Corinthians forms the larger portion of a quarto volume published in 1656, The title-page is given below.* The second of the three treatises mentioned therein is given in the present volume. The others will appear in tlieir proper place hereafter. U.
* A LEARNED COMMENTARY
OR,
EXPOSITION,
UPON
The fourth Chapter of the second Epistle of Saint FA UL to
the CORRINTHIANS.
t I. A Conference between Christ and Mary after his To which \ resurrection. is added S II. The Spirituall Mans aim.
(_ III. Emanuell, or Miracle of Miracles. Published for the advantage of those that have them not, others may have the Commentary alone.
Virtus Codo beat.
By that Reverend and Godly Divine, Rich: S i b b s D. D. Sometimes Master of Catherine Hall in Cambridge, and Preacher to that Honourable Society of Orayes-Inne. Psalmes 37. 30. The mouth of the righteous will speak of wisdome, and his
tongue will talk of judgement. Vers. 31. For the Law of his God is in his heart, and his steps sh.ill not slide.
LONDON,
Printed by S. G. for John Rothwel, at the Fountain
in Cheap-side. 16 5 6.
TO THE READER
Christian reader, there are three ways by which a minister preaches : by doctriue, life, and writing. It may be questioned which is the hardest.
1. Truly for preaching, — the apostle's rig 'r/.av6;, 2 Cor. ii. 16, ' who is sufficient ? ' may correct the slight apprehensions of hearers, and the hasty intrusion of teachers. Luther was wont to say. If he were to choose his calling, he would dig with his hands rather than be a minister (a). The disposition both of speakers and hearers, saith CMysostom, makes this work difficult (b). In regard of heai'ers, scarce any member groans under more moral diseases than the ear. We read of an ' uncircumcised ear,' Acts vii. 51; ' deaf ears,' Rom. xi. 8, Micah. vii. 16; ' itching ears,' ^ Tim. iv. 2 ; ' ears that are dull of hearing,' Mat. xiii. 15. Most people come to hear as men do to a theatre, uou ntilitatem scd voliiptatem perceptiui, not so much to feed their fixith as please their fancy. And for teachers, how many dangers do they lie open to ! If they do not preach novelties, falsi- ties, yet to preach sana, sane, sound things soundly ; to deliver the word, ug dsT/M Aa/.rj6at, Col. iv. 4, * as it ought to be spoken.' To * speak a word in season,' Isa. 1. 4 ; to ' approve ' themselves to God workmen that "need not be ashamed ; oidoro/xoiivra rov Xoyov rrig cO,r\&'ztag, rightly cutting the word into parts, giving every one his portion, 2 Tim. ii. 15.* And when a man hath done God's work in God's strength, to go away, with a humble heart, hie labor: — such a one is an 'interpreter,' ' one among a thousand,' Job xxxiii. 23.