22. If any man love not the Lord Jefus Chrift, let him be Anathema, Marana 22. Whoever among you ma- A. D. 57. licioufly and obftinately breaks the Peace and Credit of the Chriftian Church, by wicked Factions, or fcandalous Vices, let him be excommunicated, and left to the terrible Judgment of God, till he repents and reforms. (See Chap. v. 5. and 2 Cor. ii. 6, 7, 8.) tha. 23. The grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift be with you. 24. My love be with you all in Christ Je fus. Amen. 23 & 24. May the Love and The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from * Ver. 22. Maranatha is a Syriac Phrafe, and fignifies as much as The Lord cometh, i. e. to punish him. A 416 લોરિન અ A PARAPHRASE ON The Second Epiftle of St. PAUL ΤΟ ΤΗΕ CORINTHIAN S. T The PREFACE. HIS Epiftle was written upon the fame Occafion, and follows the fame Argument with the former. A confiderable Part of it refers to the Succefs his First Epiftle had in the Corinthian Church; which appears to be different according to the Tempers of the Perfons concerned in it. The more found and well-affected were duly moved by it, and fhewed a ready Compliance to the Apoftle's Directions, which he here glories in and commends them for; while feveral both of the Gentile and Jewish Faction remained stiff in their Oppofition to him, both in Doctrines and Practices. With these latter the Apostle renews his Argument, moft prudently mix'd up of calm Reasonings, kind Perfuafions, and Threatnings of Severity toward the Perverse and Incurable. Whatever incidental Arguments or Exhortations are interfperfed with thefe, the Reader fhall be methodically advertised of at the Entrance of the feveral Chapters. СНАР. CHAP I. The CONTENTS. The Apoftle prefents himself to them as a defpifed and fuffering Apoftle. He bleffeth God for his Support under, and Deliverance from his Afflictions, as being of great Benefit both to himself and them. Comforts himself under the divine Protection, and his own Sincerity. Returns upon their factious Teachers for misinterpreting his not coming to Corinth fo foon as he propofed. Shows himself confiftent in what he faid and taught, and gives the true Reason of his not seeing them at the Time appointed. 1. PAUL an apoftle 1 & 2.1 of Jefus Chrift by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the faints which are in all the Year. P4 AUL an Apoftle of Je- Written fus Chrift, called to A. D. 57: that great Office by an exprefs the latter and particular Revelation of End of God; and Timothy my Chriftian Brother; to the Corinthian Church, and to all the Chriftians of Achaia: Wishing you all divine Favours and Bleffings from God our Father, and Jefus Chrift our Lord and Saviour. 3 & 4. Firft expreffing my hearty Thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the fupreme Author of all our Mercies and Comforts, for fo affifting and fupporting me under all my Sufferings and Diftreffes, that I am enabled to make others partake of the Comforts he bestows on me. trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our felves are com forted of God. * Acts ix. and xxvi. A. D. 57. 5. For as the fufferings of Chrift abound in us, fo our confolation alfo aboundeth by 5. For I must thankfully acknowledge that Chrift has never laid any Sufferings upon me for the Sake of his Religion, but what he has given fome proportionable Chrift. 6. And whether we which we also suffer: 7. And our hope of alfo of the confola- 8. For we would to us in Afia, that 9. But we had the fhould 6. Whereof your Church is a very fatisfactory Inftance: For my Sufferings and Afflictions have had this good Effect upon you, to after my Example; and my Blefencourage you to fuffer patiently fings and Comforts are fo many Arguments to you, to depend fteadily and joyfully upon the fame infinite Power and Wisdom as I do. 7. Being fully affured, That as you partake with me in the Sufferings for your Religion, you fhall not fail of a proportionable Share in its present and future Bleffings. 8. My own Sufferings I speak of, are those I lately underwent in the Leffer* Afia, where I was fo fore and 'fo hardly used, that I had fcarce any Expectation to outlive them. we defpaired even of life: 9. But I make ufe of the defperate Condition I was then in, as an Argument for an entire Con Ver. 8 & 10. Ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ, In Αfia, and ἐκ τηλικέτες Davale, From fo great a Death. See Acts xiv. the xvi and xix. Chapters. To which of these Conflicts the Apoftle particularly refers, is not certain; moft probably he respects them all; for feveral good Greek and Latin Copies read it, ex 74λικέζων θανάτων, and ἐκ τηλικέτων κινδύνων, a tantis periculis. From fuch and so many Deaths or Dangers. 10. Who delivered us from fo great a death, and doth deliver in whom we truft that he will yet deliver us. 11.You also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many perfons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf. Confidence in God, without whom 4. D. 57. 10. And I reft fully fatisfied, That the fame good Providence that has already delivered me from fuch and fo many Diftreffes, will not fail to protect me in the future Course of my Mi 11. For which I have had, and truft fhall ftill have, the Concurrence of your Prayers with my own; and then as you all contribute toward my Safety and Protection, you may all have the Pleasure of rejoycing and giving Thanks for it along with me. 12. For our rejoy- 12. As to my self, whatever cing is this, the tefti- the Difpenfations of Providence mony of our confci- toward me, or the ill Opinion ence, that in fimpli- fome Men may have of me, be, city and godly fince- this inward Comfort I always enrity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the joy, and will glory in, that I have performed my Chriftian Migrace of God, we have had our conver- niftry in every Place, agreeably to fation in the world, the Abilities God has bestowed and more abundantly on me, preaching the Gospelto you-wards. Doctrine free of any finifter or private Defigns; and exercifing my fpiritual Gifts without + Ver 12. In Simplicity, not with fleshly Wifdom, &c. He Ib. But by the Grace of God, i. e. By exercifing his fpi- 1 χάρις |