We shall say no more, but entreat thee to consider this treatise as a posthiane.* The notes were taken from his mouth by the pen of a ready writer, and a person of note and integrity, whose design is not to forge a piece under the author's name. The very style and matter is so like his other pieces, we hope the legitimacy of it will not be questioned. It is easier to counterfeit another man's name than another man's gifts. Had the author lived to supervise his owti work, no question but it would have passed his hand with more authority and more politeness. f Thou wilt sometimes meet with some repetitions, yet with the addition of new matter. When thou meetest with it, read it as an impression which may carry force, and work more upon thy heart. In a word, the ' earthen vessel' is broken, the ' heavenly treasure ' is preserved for thy use, and here offered to thee.
Now that God J hath caused light to shine out of darkness, cause the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ, to shine in thine and our hearts, more and more to the perfect day ! So pray,
Thy souls' and thy faiths' servants in the Lord's work,
Simeon Ash. Ja. Nalton.iI Joseph Church. IT
* That is, posthumous. — G. f That is = more polished. — G.
t Qu, ' God that ' '?— Ed.
§ Ash was one of the most eminent of the Puritan ' worthies,' alike as a minister of the gospel and ns an actor in the events of ' the Commonwealth.' He died on the evening of the memorable 'Bartholomew' of 1662; and Calamy preached his ' funeral ' sermon. It will be found in the fullest and most trustworthy ' Collec- tion of Farewell sermons' (3 vols. 12mo, 1663), Vol. i. at end. Cf. The Noncon- formist's Memorial, i. 94, 95, and Hanbury, ' Historical Memorials relating to the Independents,' repeatedly. — G.
II See Notice of Nalton in Vol. II. page 442. — G.
•jf He was one of ' The Ejected' of 1662, having been minister of St Katherine's, Coleman Street, London. His ' Christian's Daily Monitor' is worthy to be placed beside Scudder's kindred treatise. Cf. Non. Mem. i. 137. — G.
A LEABNED COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITION
UPON
THE FOURTH CHAPTEE OF THE SECOND EPISTLE OF ST PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS.
For God, tvlio commanded the lirjht to shine out of darkness, hath shined in onr hearts, to qive the liffhi of the Icnouiedye of the glanj of God in the face of Jesus Christ.— 2 CoK. IV. C.
In the last verse of the former chapter, the blessed apostle sets out the dignity of the gospel above the things of Moses and the things of the law. ' We all,' saith he, ' with open face, as in a glass, behold the glory of God, and are changed into the same image, from glory to glory,' &c. And here- upon, in the beginning of the next chapter, he sets out the excellency of the gospel ministry, being conversant about so excellent a mystery, and sheweth his fidelity in it. ' Therefore,' saith he, ' we faint not ; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully ; but, by manifestation of the truth, commend ourselves to the consciences of all men in the sight of God.' Here he sheweth his fidelitj' in the ministry, and his courage, ' he faiuteth not ;' and likewise his sincerity, he ' labours to approve himself to the consciences of them in the sight of God.' Perhaps he had not all their good words ; but it is better to have the consciences of people to give testimony of us than their words, their hearts than their mouths. There- fore the apostle knew not what they censured, but knew he had got some authority in their consciences ; and therefore labours ' to approve him- self to them in the sight of God,' which sheweth his sincerity. For this is the property of sincerity, to do all as ' in the sight of God ;' to do good at all times, in all places, to all persons, in all actions. He that is sincere honours God in all.
Ohj. Well, it might be objected, ' Many care not for the ministry nor the gospel, it is too obscure,' &c. ; as it is the common course of the popish Jesuits to fall to accusation of Scripture as dark.
Jns. But, saith he, ' If the gospel be hid, it is hid to them whom the god of this world hath blinded.' And for further answer of the objection, ' If the gospel be hid from any, it is from them that perish.' And what is
COMMENTARY ON 2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. IV, VER. 6. 313
the cause ? It is in regard of their own hardness of heart, joined with the mahce of Satan. The god of the world hath thrown dust in their eyes, otherwise the gospel is clear enough. The blessed apostle was so privy to his own fair, open, free-dealing, that he dares freely say, ' If the gospel be hid, it is to them that perish.' There is no unfaithfulness, no obscu- rity in me. Satan hath an hand in it : ' the god of this world hath blinded their eyes.'