Book 4

2 Corinthians 6:2. As he says in an acceptable time have I heard you, in the day of salvation have I helped you.

The general doctrine of preparation being dispatched, we proceed to a further inquiry of the particulars under it; and there we have to inquire,

The | 1 Quality. | 2 Parts of this Work. |

The quality of this [illegible] wherein are comprehended those common affections which firstly and properly appertain to this place, and as the [illegible] and spirits pass through the whole body of a man; so these general considerations, convey over a savor and virtue of such truths as they do contain, to all the particulars which follow, and [illegible] in reason are to be handled before the rest.

The quality of this preparation is to be attended in two things: 1. The freeness of the work wrought. 2. The fitness of the time wherein it is effected.

For the discovery of both which I have made choice of this text, as affording sufficient ground for this discourse; [illegible] he says in an acceptable time, etc. In the handling of which words we shall endeavor three things,

- 1 What the scope of the text is that so it may appear it naturally fits our purpose and the point in hand, which comes to be [illegible]. - 2 The sense and meaning of the words is to be [illegible] into, and such truths to be collected which serve our turn and intention. - 3 We shall pursue the explication of each of them in their order.

The scope of the text (which I conceive worth the while a [illegible] to be attended) will appear, by the connection and [illegible] it has with the foregoing [illegible], and the dependence of it is to be fetched [illegible] the 17th [illegible] of the former chapter; [illegible] from the consideration of the privilege and [illegible] they were advanced to in Christ, the Apostle infers, and calls for that newness of life, and obedience answerable to that kindness of the Lord, and the condition to which [illegible] were advanced. If any man be in Christ, he must be a new [illegible], behold, old things are past, all things are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). And this he shows from the author of this grace who disposes of it, God: 2. From the Mediator who has purchased it, Christ: 3. From the means appointed to convey and communicate it, to such for whom it was ordained; to [illegible], the ministry of the Apostles. All things are of God who has reconciled us to himself through Christ (verse 18). And whereas the Corinthians being heathens might object, True, he has reconciled you Jews, but what is that to us? He adds in [illegible] 19, that God was in Christ reconciling the world (that is, believers, both of Jews and Gentiles) to himself: and for this cause, and to this end, has [illegible] the word of reconciliation to his Apostles for their good, that while they as ambassadors entreated, God by them did beseech them to be reconciled to him: and this was done upon sufficient warrant, and in a way of righteous proceeding, for Christ who knew no sin, was made sin, even for them [illegible] who should believe that they might be made the righteousness of God in him (last verse). Having thus shown a full and [illegible] ground for their reconciliation, and also of his own commission for that end: He further presses it in the first verse of [illegible]. If God be thus gracious, Christ's [illegible], our commission so large, we [illegible] as [illegible] together with God, [illegible] you [illegible] you receive not the grace of God (that is, the [illegible], that word of grace that brings salvation to [illegible]) in vain, [illegible] receiving benefit by it, and comfort from it to your own conversion and salvation. And whereas they might reply, it is not in our power to receive the spiritual good of this word, nor [illegible] in you that are Apostles to work it, or if both were granted, it is not yet the season, fitter opportunity will be afforded hereafter: to all these the Apostle answers, in the words of the text. True, the blessing is the Lord's, but the endeavor [illegible] be ours: we must plant and water, it is in God's prerogative, and depends upon his good pleasure to give increase; however, the time now fits, the [illegible] are now afforded; and though we cannot do what we should and ought, yet let us do what we can: and though we have no power of ourselves to compass our everlasting comforts, yet we have God's own Word and most gracious promise, that in an acceptable time he will hear us: and that presumes then that we must pray: in the day of salvation he will help, and by that it is taken for granted, we must take pains: and behold now is the day of salvation, now is the acceptable time: let us therefore now call earnestly upon him for a blessing, walk painfully in doing our duty, and let the Lord do what is good in his own eyes. Evident therefore it is, that the aim of the words carries us directly to the first work of God upon the soul, [illegible] the Prophet Isaiah expresses in Isaiah 49:5-6, 8. That is the acceptable time wherein Jacob must be brought back again to God: undeniable also it is, that this work of preparation as the outer porch and entrance which makes way to all the rest is here pointed out particularly by the Apostle, when he entreats them to [illegible] Word [illegible], signifying the entrance and admittance [illegible] the Lord when in the power of his ordinances he stands and knocks at the door of the heart, which is then done when the Lord begins to lay hold upon the soul, and to grapple with the sinner, in awakening and wounding his [illegible] for his [illegible]: and lastly beyond all question, [illegible] 49:9, [illegible] you may [illegible], go forth: the scope then of the [illegible] our intended [illegible].

Search we then in the second place, the sense of the [illegible], [illegible] so those divine truths which are there contained, may be collected by us.

Time.] The word in the original imports season, or opportunity; which is not so much the continuance of days, or months, or years; as the concurrence and meeting together of [illegible] conveniences which may be [illegible] to any work, whereof more shortly, when we handle the point hence collected.

[illegible].] Some difference there is between the Apostle and the Prophet Isaiah, from whom this testimony [illegible] taken, but all return to one sense: the [illegible] in the Old Testament refers it to the work [illegible] God, the time of his acceptation, or good will: the Apostle in the New Testament applies it to the time,

A time accepted.] Yet so as the work of God is [illegible] and comprehended under it: In the [illegible] then it intimates three things. 1. The time that is appointed. 2. The work of grace put [illegible] for the conversion of any soul. 3. The [illegible] of all, it depends upon God's pleasure, when he sees fit to accomplish the decree of his election, to convert a sinner effectually to himself, and out of his free good will to take him into his [illegible], by calling him out of the world to the knowledge of [illegible]; and his saving grace in Christ.

Day of Salvation.] For the more full understanding of the reason of the first word Day, we may inquire the nature and rise of it: In the beginning when the Lord made all, and among the rest the living creatures, he furnished them with powers and abilities for the performance of their work, he seated and set every one of them in his proper place, as upon a stage for the acting of his part. He set also bounds, and laid forth several periods and distances of time for each purpose: Now the distinctions of time, that is, the separation of light and darkness, made so many stops as it were in some, of which there must be stayed. Thus in creating every particular; that is added, The evening and the morning were the first and second day, etc. They had their day of creation, and their day of operation, so long as they continue — that is their day; for the day and night are the distinction of all this time here below, and serve as so many stops and stays, in which each thing is appointed for its being and working. And hence it may be it is, there is no day nor night in heaven (Revelation 10:6), neither shall there be any more time there; that is, distinction or measure of time by day or night after the last judgment (for that must needs be the meaning of the text), because in heaven and hell, the state of things and so their times are unchangeable. Hence to man, his day is his life — so long as he breathes in the [illegible] and [illegible] this sun, that's the time allotted to him to act his part in, to trade for his everlasting state and condition. Hence again (to descend yet lower) there is a special period, a appointed time, for every part of this life, and so many courses (as I may term them) and frames of occasions which belong to any; so many seasons and several limits of time has he allotted to each particular. Thus the wise man, There is a time to gather, and a time to scatter, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up (Ecclesiastes 3:1). And these [illegible] are called days in Scripture. Thus there are troubles and trials, visitation and grace, which the Lord in the dispensation of his providence allots to men, and there is a day for each of these — a day of trouble (Psalm 50:15), a day of trial (Hebrews 3:8), a day of visitation (Luke 19:42), and a day of salvation in this sense, as here in the text.

Salvation.] Presumes always danger and evil, and according to the quality and nature of the one, the other is to be considered and conceived; here it is spiritually to be understood in the full sense of it, to wit, from the danger of sin here begun in preparation, perfected in glorification after this life. And that speech by way of similitude seems well to interpret this manner of speech (Hebrews 3:9): The day of temptation, when your fathers tempted me — that is, that moment of time when that rebellion was expressed. So here, that moment or instant wherein the Lord begins to put forth the work of his special grace, about the salvation of a sinner, by the means he has in mercy appointed. And thus the Apostle expounds the word in the verse following, Behold now is the day of salvation; he saw it, they could not but perceive it, and all might acknowledge [illegible] much, because the word of salvation [reconstructed: Acts 13:26], namely, the grace of God — that is, the Gospel given by grace [illegible] — brings salvation, did now appear (Titus 2). So that it may be truly affirmed in a savory sense, This day is salvation coming to such, to whom the word of the Gospel has come in the ministry thereof.

The words thus opened, the collections which are of special weight and consideration, are four.

Faithful ministers ought to be earnest in calling upon God, and faithful [illegible] the improvement of means, for the spiritual good of such to whom they are sent. This is taken [illegible] in the text, How shall God [illegible], unless they call? How shall God help, unless they endeavor?

They who are thus [illegible], according to God's command, they may expect a [illegible] success according to God's promise: He [illegible], I will hear, I will help. Therefore their prayers shall be answered, their labors blessed, for God will not falsify his word, nor [illegible] of his [illegible].

It is in the mere good pleasure of the Lord to work upon the heart in the ministry of the Word when he sees fit. It is in the day of God's acceptation and good will that the prayers of faithful ministers are heard, and their pains made [illegible] for the spiritual good of any.

While life lasts, and the Gospel is continued, that is the particular season and period wherein the Lord expresses his good pleasure to work graciously upon the souls of his. It is in this season and day of salvation he performs his promise. For as the Lord may take what time he will, so has he made it known, it is his will to take this time and season, when he purposes to fasten upon the soul of a sinner for his spiritual good.

To omit the two former wholly, the two latter points we intend only, to trade in, and to treat of. To begin then with the first.