H1s * 1s the third time I am coming to you 4:46, * In the mouth of two or three witneſſes ſhalt every word be eſtabltſhed b. * Da,
a Not the third time when he was upon his journey, (for he wy, not now travelling) but the rhird rime that he had taken up thouzhr; of, and was preparing for ſuch a journey. Which it may be, ha hinteth to them, that they might be the more afraid to continye 1 thoſe ſinful courſes, .which he had blamed them for. 5 He all to the Law of God, Deut. 19. 15. concerning Witneſſes in any <6, Gad ordered, that the Teftimony of two or three Perſons ſhould .determin all Queſtions in their Law, and that ſhould be taken certain and eftabliſhed, which ſuch a number of Perſons aſſerts, The Apoftle would from hence have them conclude, that he woul! certainly come z becauſe this was the third time that he had rey: ved upon it, and was preparing for it.
2 I told you before, and foretel you, as if I wer preſent the ſecond time c, and being abſent, now[ write to them which * heretofore have ſinned, and tg all other 4, that if I come again, * I will not ſpare,
c T told you in my former Epiſtle, and now (though I h: yet * Civ abſent) I tell you aforehand, as though 1 were preſent among you, 2 4 1 write this for the ſake of thoſe who have already finned (car *& dalouſly ; and not for theirs only, but for the ſake of others, who may have Temptations ſo to offend, e That if I do come, and fnd any ſuch who walk in courſes of fin, and are hardned in them, { as all that I have ſaid, will not bring them to remorſe and refor- mation 3 T will zor ſpare them, either as to ſharp reprehenſions, or as to Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures, according to the truſt which Chil hath repoied in me. Some extend this further, to a pglſſr of flicting bodily Pains: But it is not clear that the Apoftles v:re intruſted with any ſuch power ordinarily, (tho' ſometims they did exert ſuch a power, as appeareth both from the inſtance ot Ananiasand Saphira, Atts 5. and that of Elimas, Acts 13. $,g,1%)
3 Since ye ſeek a proof of Chrilt * ſpeaking ia ne, wy, which to yov-ward 1s not weak, but is mighty in youf. 26,
f Chrift (faith the Apoſtle) hath openly fhewed his pover in my Miniftry, ſpeaking to you, how elſe came your hearts to be turned from dumb Tdols to ſerve the living God ? how came you to be furniſhed with thoſe excellent Gifts wherewith you abound? But ſeeing all this is not judged a ſufficient Proof of Ct-riſt's /p24i- ing in me 10 y04, but you are yet doubting whether I am an 4p0- {tle or no, and calling for a proof of Chriss in me, I will, if 1 come, and find any that have lived ſcandalouſly, and are impenitent, ſh-w you another proof of that Power and Authority with which Clift hath truſted me. Which muſt be underſtood, either of his miracu- lous power to infliit ſome budily Afiftions upon thein ; or (which is more probable) of his power as an Apoftle to cut them oft iron the communion of Gbſpel-Churches. | .
4 * For though he was crucited through weakneſs, f " yet he liveth by the power of Godg: For we allo are 1.6 weak | in him h, but we ſhall live with him by Ce |, © power of God toward you 7.
g He had before ſaid, that Chriſt i» him was not wt, but pin, mighty ; here he ſheweth, that there was a time when C ri! him- ſelf was weak, in a low and contemptible ſtate, in whic! tate he was crucified; his ſtate of weakneſs ſubje&ed him to a death vpM the Croſs; but by the power of God he roſe again from ti? dead, aſcended up into Heaven, where he liveth for ever 0 make interceſhon for us. h TIn-conformity to Chriſt (he faith) he and the reſt of the Apoſtles were weak; in a low, abjett, confemper. ble condition, expoſed to reproaches, deaths, &r. 7 Bur 7- val livez which ſome underſtand of life Eternal, conſequent tO the Reſurrettion of Believers : but others better, of the lite and TIgnns of the Apoſtles Miniſtry. Through the mighty Power of God, _ ing from a living Chriſt, who hath aſcended up on high, and give" Gifts unto Men, our Miniſtry ſhall be a living, poweriul, E:aca cious Miniſtry towards you.
5 * Examine your ſelves k, whet oo faith /: prove your own ſelves wm. Know ye Rot you own ſelves z, how that Jeſus Chriſt 15 12 You, except
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