That the world continueth, it is for the elect's sake, that they may be gathered out [of] the world. The world is as it were reprieved, because many are to be born in the world ; as lewd women are reprieved, being with child, for that's sake that is to be born. So the world continueth because there is a generation to come ; the number of the elect is not yet accomplished.
Thus you see the very world, and the standing of the world, is for the church's sake. The world is elect ; and so are things in the world, in heaven or earth, in some sort. They are for the church's sake. ' To us a child is born, to us a son is given,' Isa. ix. 6 ; for the church he died, for the church he rose again, for the church ' he appears in heaven and makes intercession,' as Kom. viii. 34. He sits at God's right hand making intercession for us. John xvii. 17, 19, * I sanctify myself;' that is, I pre- pare myself as a sacrifice to suffer for them. ' I pray not for the world, but for them thou hast given me out of the world.' All that Christ did suffer, enjoy, and do in heaven, as our head, it is for the church's sake. That he giveth gifts to wicked men, that they continue, it is for the church's sake, that they may be instruments and servants of the church. In that sense they be redeemed by Christ as servants of the church. We see in nature that summer and winter serveth for vines, and fruitful trees, and plants, for the good corn. Cold weather and warm weather, they have the leaves to cover them. And every thing serveth to bring forth the fruit ; all these circumstantial things. So whatsoever is circumstantial in the world, as kingdoms, states, government, they think to tumble in the world for their own ends, and to toss the world as they list. It is for a number of men unregarded, unknown, that pass here as unknown men, hidden men for the most part, it is for the church's sake that they continue, that they have any favours. They are beholden to the church for their lives, to the
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. TV, VER. 15. 467
church for their standing, and for the gifts they have, though they think not so. God, the great God of heaven and earth, and Christ the great king of the church, in reference to his church, giveth gifts to men, magis- trates, ministers, people, yea, even to them that be not good men, and all for the good of his church. So that ' all is for you,' word, sacraments, eveiy thing.
I might make a large dispute here, hut that I unfolded it at large out of that place in Corinthians, ' All is yours,'"' which is the general. The church is yours, ' whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or things present, or things to come, or life, or death, or the world, all is yours, you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.'
And from this general truth the apostle deducts this, ' it is for your sake.' All things that we sutler, all things that are done to us is for your sake. If so be all things are for the church's sake, beloved, u-e ouffht to join with God, as Paul doth here. Christ hath passed as it were a deed of gift of all things to the church, to serve her turn, to bring the church to heaven. Shall not God's intent, and Christ's intent, be ours '? Saith he, all that I do and suffer is for your sake. It is a happy thing when God's intentions and ends, and our ends, shall meet in one, beloved, voluntarily. And God will bring all men's ends to serve his against their wills. Oh but happ}' are we if we can make our ends meet with God's ends willingly and cheerfully.
Quest. What is the ground of this, * that all things are for the church's sake ' ?
Reason 1. The ground of it is, that covenant, xcherein God ixissptJi over himself as it icere to the church, ' I will be your God.' And Christ he is as it were not his own ; he is the church's. Christ is the church's. There- fore all are the church's. All the three persons of the Trinity have their title of excellency from relation to the church. God a Father in regard of the church ; Christ a redeemer in regard of the church ; the Holy Ghost a comforter in regard of the church. So God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, they are in covenant with the church. And they are the church's, as it were making themselves the church's, out of that infinite bottomless love ; being God, they have made themselves the church's.
Now if God himself be the church's, and in covenant with it, that the church may improve him, and whatsoever is in him, all his excellent attri- butes for their comfort and good, shall not all other things be the church's ? If God himself be reconciled to the church, shall not all things else be reconciled ? If God be in covenant, shall not every thing ? ' The stones in the street be in covenant with him,' as Job saith, v. 23.