* In margin here, ' Gunpowder Plot.' — G.
t In margin here, ' By Gustavus AdolphuB, king of Sweden.' — G.
2 COEINTHIANS CHAP. IV, VEE. 15. 4G5
he would deliver tliem to heaven, and present them to his heavenly king- dom. Having heaven in their eyes, time to come in heaven, resurrection in their eyes, and glorious times in their eyes, it will be of such force and influence into their hearts, that they shall go through all things between, and make this disjunction ; either God will raise me out of this, or out of the grave, and present me to his heavenly kingdom. I beseech you, there- fore, learn this, that in all our dejections we make use of that last and powerful work of God in raising from the dead. Raising comforteth for what is past. Our Saviour Christ, our best part, our head, is in heaven, and we shall all draw to him in time. Let us not lose the benefit of such a meditation, of such a ground as this. See all in Christ beforehand ; all is done in Christ. Beloved, can we have a better pledge and pattern, than to see all we look for done in Christ beforehand ? We look for the resur- rection, Christ is raised ; and ascension, Christ is ascended. We look for glory in heaven : Christ is glorified, Christ, and we in Christ ; for when we think of Christ, we must think of ourselves in Christ. And therefore, ■when we hear the creed repeated, and the articles of religion, or anything of Christ, let us wrap up oui'selves by the spirit of faith in Christ, see ourselves crucified in Christ, and dead in Christ, and raised in Christ, and Bet in heavenly places with Christ.
I but administer the heads to you, for your meditations to work upon. You see what excellent use the apostle maketh of his faith. It made him believe, speak confidently for the present. And therefore, with cheerfulness attend upon the blessed means of the word and sacrament, that God hath appointed to strengthen our union and communion with Christ. Christ is our life, and the nearer communion with him, the more life we have. And the sacrament is appointed for to seal to us this communion, to strengthen this near union, and receive-''= with the spring and fountain of life, Jesus Christ. And therefore, come with exceeding comfort ; and the more our union with Christ, the more our comforts in life or death. All depends on that : as we see hope of resurrection, hope of deliverance, hope of glory, doth all depend upon that, union first in Christ, then in us, and in us be- cause in Christ. Therefore, strengthen union with Christ, and strengthen all. For matter of the sacrament, you are acquainted with the doctrinal part of it, have this conceit of it. It is a high ordinance of God, which strengthens faith, which being strengthened, strengthens all the powers of soul.
VERSE 15.
For all things are fo7- yonrsalccs, that most plenteous grace, by the thanksgiving of Viang, inag redound to the praise oj God.
The holy apostle, as we heard, labours to arm himself and all others against all discouragements in religion, by comforts fetched from religion.
He bringeth in divers springs of comfort in this latter part of the chapter. ' I believe, and therefore I have spoken ; as David believed, and therefore he spake.' It is no otherwise with us than with David and other saints before us, as we shewed at large.
The last day this comfort was handled, that God would raise him out
of his trouble, and present him together with the Corinthians in his f life,
and at the last in the world to come. And from this ground, ' Because
God raised up Jesus.' ' Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus,
* Qu. ' revive ' ?— Ed. t Qu. ' tliis ' ?— Ed,
VOL. IV. G g
4GG COMSrENTARY ON
shall raise us np by Jesus, and shall present us with him.' Of this I have spoken at large already.
I beseech you, before I leave this point, learn this, that in all our dejec- tions, we make use of that last and powerful work of God, in raising from the dead.
I now proceed to what foUoweth.
* For all things arc for your sakes.' Here is a farther ground of comfort, both of present deliverance, as for their sakes.
The second ground is, ' All is for the glory of God.'
And the means of that glory, ' Because the grace aboundcth,' that these deliverances spring from, ' thanksgiving abound to the glory of God.' Why should we bo discouraged in suflering, since God will be presented with us in sull'erings, delivering us in time, considering it is for the church's good, and for the glory of God ? And for the glory of God in this way, because it will minister matter of praise, not of one, but of many, out of which praise God will be glorified. This is the scope of the words.
The first ground of comfort is, ' All are for your sakes,' both our suffer- ings, and assistance, and presence of God in them, and deliverance out of them, all is for you, 2 Tim. ii. 10 : ' We suffer for the elect's sake,' all is for your sake. Indeed, beloved, it is a large diffused consideration, for all is for the church's sake, the world itself. The standing of the world is for the church's sake. If God had gathered his elect, there would be an end of these sinful days. Another sinful generation, God would not suffer the world to stand for a company of wretches, that daily blaspheme his name, that pollute and defile their souls and bodies, that oppose his truth like rebels.