ing here applied to God (who is the Author of all {if:s) ;: May very properly be interpreted concerning both, God is able 20 repay you 1n temporal thinss what you thus lend him, and fo to pay YO in Specie, and he is able to pay you in 7:2, by ſpiricual h2'vits 0 that you may have a ſufficiency in a!l thinss.
ſv as that you may abound to, and in every good work. I 9 AS1tis written, He hath diſperied abroad : he hath g1ven to the poor: his rightconfiiefs remaineth for ever p. p Asin the former Verſe the Apoftle had aff-rted God's Suffici- ency to repay them what they ſhould lend him, fo he hers afferterh God's readineſs and willingneſs. This he confirmeth from 4 pro- miſe taken out-of Pſzl. 112. 9. (where alſo is further added —- ks horn ſhall be exalted with honour.) Concerring the mercifal man, it is true that Solomon ſaith, There is that ſcattereth, an4 yer increaſerh, The 7/almift faith, His righteouſneſs remaineth for ever: by which term ſome underſtand his bounty or liberality ; T had rather underſtand by it here his obedience to the command of God in his free diftri-
brance for ever, God will not forget this labour of love, 26. 6. 10. lhe friends which he maketh with his Mammon of Unrighteouſ- neſs, ſhall receive kim into everlaſting habitations. A mans riches can- not remain for ever, but his Righreonuſmeſs, in the dittribution of them, according to the Command of God, that ſhall remain for ever.
10 Now he that * nuniftreth iced to the ſower 4, both miniſter bread for your food 7, and multiply your iced ſown, and increaſe the fruits of your righteouſ- nels 5.
q The God, whoſe providence and bleſſing maketh rich, and who giveth this ſeed to the ſower, r ſupply you with whatſoever you frand in need of for this life, s and give you an heart to multi- ply that ſpiritual ſeed, by which the fruirs of your Righteouſneſs {hall be increaſed. Some Greek Copies read theſe words in the Fu- ture tenſe, according to which reading, they area formal promiſe, both of good things, wherebxs they might ſhew their Charity ; and alſo of a free and large heart, diſpoſing them to that exerciſe of Grace. Our Tranſlators render it in the form of a Prayer, which yet being the Prayer of the Apoſtle, put up in Faith, doth virtu- ally contain a promiſe both of a r--mporal Bi. a ſpiritual increaſe,
11 Being inriched in every thing to all bountiful- aeſs t, * which cauſeth through ns thanksgiving to God r.
t The word here tranſlated Bountifulneſs, ſignifies Simplicity,in op- poſition to deceit and fraud. We had it before Chap. $. 2. So Rom. 12. 8. So Fam. 1.5. God is ſaid to give aa; limply, (we tran- {late it Iiberally.) We have in theſe two Chapters met with three words, by which the bounty of Chriſtians to perſons in diſtreſs, is expreſſed z Grace, Bleſſing, Simplicity, yas, tA Me, amnd rice The firſt lets- us know the true root of all acceptable giving to thoſe who are in diftreſs, that muſt be free love : the ſecond expreſſeth the true end, Bleſſing God and our Neighbour, ſerving the Glory and Commands of God, and the neceſhries of our Brethren : This third expreſſeth the manner, how we muſt give, that is, with fumpliciry. It is n0 true liberality where ſimplicity is wanting; that a Man doth not what he doth with a plain heart and deſign to obey God, and do good to his Brother. # As a further Argument to preſs then to this liberality, he tells them, That it would cauſe them that were the Apoſtles and Miniſters of Chrift, to offer thanksgiving unto God.
12 For the adminiſtration of this ſervice not only ſapplieth the want of the ſaints, but is abundant alfo by many thankſzivings unto God w.
w No Man ought to live to himſelf. The two great ends of every (.hrittian's lite ought to be the Glory of God, and the good of others, eſpecially ſuch as belong to the Houſhould of Faith. This Service (faith the Apoſtle) ſerveth both thoſe ends; r. It ſuppli- eth the neceſſities of the Saints : And, 2. It cauſeth Thank giving to God by many Perions, and upon many accounts, (which he further openeth in the following Verſes.)
13 Whillt by the experiment of this miniſtration x, they glorifie God for your profeſſed ſthjetion unto the goſpel of Chriſt y, and for your liberal diſtributi- on nato them, and unto all Men-z.
x Upon their receiving of what you ſent them. » They will ſee how ready you are to obey th2 Goſpel of Chrift, (which hath in (o many places called you to this dary) and this will give them occa- ſion of bleſſing God :; who in th2 day of his power, hath made ſuch a willing People, willing at God's command and in confideration of the Love of Chrift, to ftrip themſelves to cloath his naked Members, to reſtrain their own app?tites to feed them. The Grace of God beftowed on others, is matter of great thankſgiving to every gra- cious heart. 7 Another caule of thankſgiving, will be God's mo- ving your hearts towards them ; they will ſee reaſon to bleſs God, who hath raiſed them up ſuch Friends in their great ftraits, ſo as they will both bleſs God on your behalf, for his grace beſtowed on you, that out of the Gentiles he hath picked out a People ſo ſubd- je& to the Law of his Goſpel z and alſo on their ow b-h1f, that God hath ſtirred up a People to compathonate them in their deep di- ſcreſſes. ;
14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you a.
4 Another way, by which the glory of God will be promoted, by your fimple, free, and liberal Contribution, is, that by this he will have more Prayers, which alto will redound to your advantage, for it will procure Prayers for you : and not Prayers only, but a great deal of fervent love ; ſo as they will long after your good, and after your acquaintance, when they ſhall receive fach an experiment of the exceeding Grace of God um vo.
15. Thantk
{5 G]
Chap. IX.
bution to the poor: This remaineth in God's Book of remem- +
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