: Tt is moſt commonly ſeen, that thoſe who are moſt buſie to defire or inquire after a proof of Chriſt in Others, are tardiefſt in making an inquiry after Chrift's being in themſelves. The Apoſtle cherefore calleth the cenlorious part of this Churc h, who deſired a roof of Chriſt it kim, to examin themliclves. 7 \V hether they had any true Faith? ſuch as works by Love, and purites the heart. For ho knew that they were baptized, and Chriftians in oitward pro- Eon 3 nor is he blaming them for any Apottaſie from tne TDocttrin of Faith, only fer an ill lite, which evidenceth their Faith not to be the Faith of God's Ele, a Faith of the Operation of God, &c. m He doubleth the Exhortation upon them poſſibly for chis end, To let ſem know, that. if they found themſelves 7 rhe Faith, they could not reaſonably doubt, whether he himſelf was in the Fazth, or not, whom God had made the Infrrument to convert them. # He com- mends to them the knowledge of themſelves, as being a far more dent- | -able piece of knowledge, than the knowledge ot other Meir, as to what they are, or what their ſtate is towards God. 0 In the inqui- ry after this, he bids them to inquire, Whether Chriſt Was in them, $24 0r 10? The name of Chriſt was named upon them in their Bap- tiſm, Chriſt had been preached to them ; this the Apoſtle knew : But all this might be, and yet Chrift not dwell in their hearts by Faith. This is the great point the Apoſtle directs them to examn and prove themſelves about, whether Chriſt was 77 them by a liyely Faith, apprehended and applicd as their Saviour, ruling and go- verning them as their Lord and King? He lets them know the um- portance of this inquiry, telling them, that Jeſus Chrift muſt be in therr, if they were not Reprovates. But (ſome might ſay) how could the Apoſtle conclude this ? though at preſent Chrift was not in them, and they as yet were no more than formal Profeſſors; yet might not God open their Eyes, and work in them afterwards a more full and efectual change? 1. 4Anſw. The Apoſtle might be al- lowed to know more than ordinary Miniſters can know. He bad defore aid, ?f cur Goſpel be hid, it # bid to them that periſh. 2. When the Goſpel! an4 the means of Grace have been for ſome coniiderable time in a place, ,it is much to be feared, that thoſe who have not in that time felt the ſaving power and etfett of it upon their Hearts, never ſhall. It is ordinarily obſerved, That where God bletſeth the Miniftry of any convert Souls, their greateft harveſt is in the firſt vears of their Miniftry. 3. Some think that the word > #:4401
ould not be tranſlated Reprobates, but rather nor approved by God, Tf Chriſt be not 7z rhe Soul by Faith, it cannot be approv'd by God, becauſe without Faith, it is impoſſible? ropleaſe God. But we generally tranſlate the word by Reprobare, rejeted, caſt-away, 1 Cor. g. 27. 2 Tim. 2. 8. Tit. 1. 16. Hb. 6. 8. Ttſeemeth to lignifte perſons given over by God to a ſtupidity of Mind, &c. <o as the Apoſtle here uſeth a vers cloſe Argument, to put them upon a ſearch into their own hearts and ftates, to ſee it they could find Chrift dwelling in them ; for otherwiſe, (conſidering their long profeſſion, and the revela- tion of Chriſt to them) it wou'!4 be a ground of fear, that they were ſuch as God had caſt off for ever. However, as to their pre- fent ſtate, they had no ground to conclude better, whatever mercy God might afterwards ſhew them. Mens fitting and continuing tons under means of Grace, and an outward proteſſion,- without a faving knowledge of Chriſt, and true ſavour of the Truth, and a reformation of their lives according, to the rules and dire&ions of the Goſpel, isnot indeed an infallible 112n that he who formed them will never ſhew them any favour ; but it is a very great preſump- tion that it will be ſo wich ſuch. Which ſhould cherefore ſtrongly ingage them to be very often and very ſeriouily proving them- ſelves, as to this thing, whether they be in Chriſt, and whether they have a true ſaving Faith ?
6 Burt I truſt that ye ſhall know that we are not re- probates p. |
p You make adoubt whether Chriſt be iz us, and you would fain know how it may be evidenced that he zs ſo 3 If Chrift be not in #5 we muſt be R-probates. But 1 truſt that ye ſhall know, either in this life, / by the evident ſigns of my Apoſtleſhip, (which when 1 come, I ſhall give you) and by the life and power of my Miniftry among you Or in another life, when the Sheep ſhall ſtand at God's right hand, and the Goats at his left, that (whatſoever you think or ſay of us) we are none of thoſe who-are rejected and diſapproved of God.
7 Now [| pray to God that you do no evil qz not that we ſhould appear approved 7 but that ye ſhould do that which is honeſt, tho * we be as reprohates s.
q I do not defire that when I come I may find Objetts for my ſe- verity (upon whom I may ſhew a proof of Chriſt ia me, by exerciſing that Authority upon them, with which Chriſt hath betrufſted me) no, on the contrary 1 heartily pray that ye may be holy and blame- leſs, without ſpot or wrinkle. r Neither do I deſire this tor my own ſake, that T may be approved, but I fingly detire it for your good, S that you may do that is Zood; and then do you, and let the World think of me as a Reprobate, or what they will.
8 For we can do notning agaiult the truth, but for
the truth 7.
t Truth in this place notes integrity of life and converſation; truth in ation oppoſed to Hypocrifie, or ſcandalous living. He had be- fore prayed, that they might do no Evil; which if they did not, they need not fear his coming with 4 Rod: For though he had a power from Chriſt to puniſh, yet he had no power to puniſh ſuch as did well; his power was to be uſed for them, not againſt them. As the Law was n0t made for the Righteous, and the Civil Magiftrate is not ordained of God for the terror of thoſe that do well, . but only of thoſe that do Evil ; So neither did Chriſt ever ordain Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures for the puniſhment of good and holy Men. And indeed here is the juſt boundary of all Civil and Eccleſiaſtical Power: No Magiſtrate or Miniſter, aQing as Chriſt's Servants can (lawfully, Or as by any Commiſſion from him) do any thing againſt the Truth, or thoſe that own, defend, and practiſe it ; the power, with which they are betruſted, is for Edification, not Deſtrufion.
9 For we are glad * when we are weak «, and ye are