2 Corinthians 11

6. We glorify God by being contented in that state where his providence has set us; we give God the glory of his wisdom in that we rest satisfied with what he carves out to us. Thus did holy Paul glorify God; the Lord had cast him into as great variety of condition as any man, i…

As the soul is excellent in its nature, so in its capacities: it is capable of grace, it is fit to be an associate and companion of angels. It is capable of communion with God, of being Christ's spouse (2 Corinthians 11:2): "That I might espouse you, virgin souls, to Christ." It…

If Satan has all these subtle artifices in tempting, are not we in great danger of this prince of the air, and had not we need often pray, Lord suffer us not to be led into temptation? As the serpent beguiled Eve with his subtlety (2 Corinthians 11:2), let us not be beguiled by…

First on carnal reason, on which he chiefly works in this sort of temptations, the strength whereof lies in false reasonings, wherein, if in anything, he has the advantage. First, his abilities to forge and invent false reasonings and arguments to overthrow our faith are (as the…

The Christians live so bad because Christ taught them no better. How should the righteous cut off occasion from them that seek occasion (2 Corinthians 11:12)? Daniel's piety sealed up the lips of his enemies (Daniel 6:4).

2. We may clear and confirm it from these similitudes, by which the offer of this gospel is, as it were, brought to the doors of people, and there are several similitudes made use of to this purpose; I shall name but four. 1. It's set down under the expression of wooing, as (2 C…

The first is that of (John 12:27-28) — now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour; here our blessed Lord is troubled in spirit, and so pinched and hedged in as in a prison, that he is holily nonplussed what to say. The second Scripture is (Matt…

And fifthly, if we look to the rise of error, or from where it comes, we will find it to be a fruit of the flesh (Galatians 5:19), and that which flows from our corruption, and is therefore ranked in with witchcraft, adultery, fornication, idolatry, hatred, variance, etc. 6. If…

2. The respect that a faithful minister has to the people's souls, has influence on this; A tender shepherd will watchfully care for, and wish the sheep well, and be much affected when they are in an evil condition, and where the relation is of a more spiritual nature, and the f…

Job had an army sent against him, and from heaven too (Job chapter 6:4): The terrors of God set themselves in array against me. See what a catalogue of sufferings Paul did refer to God (2 Corinthians 11:23-25, etc.): one good violent death would have made away a stronger man tha…

And to clear it further, we must conceive that the promises of forgiveness are not as the pardons of a prince, which merely contain an expression of his royal word for pardoning, so as we in seeking of it do rest upon and have to do only with his word and seal which we have to s…

And that both these are [reconstructed: meant], 1. That under [infirmities] he means persecutions and afflictions is manifest, not only in that the word is often used in that sense, as (2 Corinthians 11:30) and (chapter 12:5) but also it is plain, that the phrase is here so inte…

1. Observe the devil's cunning in citing Scripture. The Apostle tells us that Satan is sometimes transformed into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). And we read that once he took the habit and guise of a prophet (1 Samuel 28:18), and indeed he deceives more by the voice of…

Let him suffer the law to rule over the body and members thereof, but not over the conscience. For that queen and spouse may not be defiled with the law, but must be kept without spot for her only husband Christ, as Paul says (2 Corinthians 11): I have espoused you to one husban…

The better your cause is, the better are your sufferings: they are blessed that suffer for righteousness. Paul commends himself by the multitude of his sufferings (2 Corinthians 11:13). Again, it may be demanded, how long we must suffer?

The weakness of the child stirs up compassion in the mother: and David says, as a father has compassion on his children, so has the Lord compassion on them that fear him: and mark the reason: for he knows our frame, and that we are but dust (Psalm 103:14). When Paul says, I trav…

Lawful boasting is in the Lord, when, being urged and compelled, we confess the good things that are in us, to God's glory. Of this read at large (2 Corinthians 11). Unlawful is, when men ascribe the gifts that they have of God, to themselves: or having gifts, do arrogate more t…

Secondly, consider the reasons why Paul would not take wages of the Church of Corinth, and some others. 1. Lest he should be a burden to them (2 Thessalonians 3:8): We worked with labor and travail, day and night, because we would not be chargeable to any of you (2 Corinthians 1…

For who sees him not speaking here in the person of this railing miscreant? In fact, which is more, he takes to him even the person of God himself, and so transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). For what says the Holy Spirit in other places?

Yet the solution is easy: for when we speak of this marriage of the Church, she has but one husband, that is, God; who always attributes this title to himself. Now this is accomplished in Christ, to whom the Pastors marry and couple the Church, as a chaste and pure virgin; as Sa…

As the faithful friend of the bridegroom he presents the bride chaste and uncontaminated to Christ, who alone is the bridegroom of the Church. Paul tells us that he kept the same object in view, (2 Corinthians 11:2), and the example of both is held out for imitation to all the m…

Hence it follows that leaven is the name given to every foreign admixture; as Paul also tells us that faith is rendered spurious, as soon as we are Drawn aside from the simplicity of Christ, (2 Corinthians 11:3.) It must now be apparent who are the persons of whose doctrine our…

And therefore we ought so to judge as God himself judges, that is, that we must have all one mind and one judgment, that unity and concord may flourish and remain in the world: that our hearts may continue undivided, and not be drawn asunder for these outward matters: so that we…

He also expresses the affection of Hope; in Philippians 1:20 he speaks of his [earnest expectation], and his Hope. He likewise expresses [an] affection of [Zeal], 2 Corinthians 11:2, 3. And it appears by [his whole life], after his conversion, in the [Acts of the Apostles], and…

And in the Scripture, the deceit of the Mind is commonly laid down as the Principle of all Sin what-ever, 1 Tim. 2. 14. Heb. 3. 12, 13. 2 Cor. 11. 3. Sect. 62 And this is a brief Delineation of the state of the Mind of Man while unregenerate, with respect to Spiritual Things.

There are manifold hazards into which we are often cast in this world. The Apostle Paul gives us a general account of his dangers, in 2 Corinthians 11:26 And how great a wonder is it, that our life has not been extinguished in some of those dangers we have been in? For,

And there is a truth also in this, O death how sweet are you to a man, that is bitter in his soul! It often falls out, that to die, is but a short affliction, but affliction many times is a long and a continued death, a frequent death, as the Apostle speaks of his afflictions, i…

The effect of these his ointments (which is a proof of the reality of this truth, and the third thing in the verse) is in these words, Therefore the virgins love you. By virgins here, are not understood bare professors, but sincere believers, who are not counterfeit in their aff…

3. They are compared to these for their subtlety, a fox being famous for that, for which cause Herod is called a fox (Luke 13:32). So false teachers speak lies in hypocrisy (1 Timothy 4:2), creep into houses, their doctrines eat as a canker insensibly: And they are called deceit…

This then is the meaning: consider Christ in the beauty wherein he appears to believers, and with the esteem they have of him, as full of grace and truth, when they acknowledge him, and subject to him, and he will be seen to be exceeding stately and lovely. The second qualificat…

3. What is the scope of these allegories, in other Scriptures, as that of Psalm 45, that of planting a vineyard (Matthew 21), that of marriage (Matthew 22), (which none can deny) is meant of espousing spiritually. (See this same allegory of marriage, Jeremiah 3, Hosea 2-3, Ezeki…

We will find all these parties in this Song, acting their several parts. First, The Bridegroom is Christ (John 3:24), called the one husband (2 Corinthians 11:2), for there is not another spiritual husband, to whom believers can be matched; He is the King's son, for whom the mar…

First, the charge laid upon them is greater, and the burdens pressing them, are heavier than what lie upon other men; and therefore they should be eased and helped by our prayers. What St. Paul says (2 Corinthians 11:28), that he had the care of all the churches upon him; we may…

Objection. But here some may object against the Sufficiency of the Marks given, what the Apostle Paul says, in 2 Corinthians 11:13, 14. For such are false Apostles, deceitful Workers, transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ; and no Marvel, for Satan himself is transf…

It is said of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:19), that he shall not strive, nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets, (that is,) he shall not keep a bustling, and a stir for worldly glory and great matters in this life; and truly we should learn…

Rejoyce in that day, and leap for joy, for, behold your reward is great in heaven: As if Christ should say, I do not bid you bear it patiently, but joyfully, and more then an ordinary joy, leap for joy. And that is remarkable of St. Paul, in 2 Cor. 11. where he reckons up many t…

Which is a plain allusion to the Custom of the Iews in punishing an offender who being convicted, the Judge was to see him bound fast to a Pillar, his cloaths stript off, and an Executioner with a Scourge to beat him with so many stripes: But now those stripes came but from the…

That this might be the state of the church of Corinth, the apostle made it his endeavor. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:2-3: I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ; and I fear, lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through…

And always where there is most of grace, and of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, there is most of this sympathy. The Apostle Saint Paul, as he was eminent in all grace, had a large portion of this (2 Corinthians 11:29). And if this ought to be in reference to their outward condition,…

The Devil may find forces from the temper of the body to destroy the soul. So also from sex, as he beguiled Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3). And from age, we read of youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22).

We, 1. Beg wisdom, that you may espy the wiles of Satan, and may not be caught unawares, for he is transformed into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Mark, the Devil does not care so much to ride his own horses, to act and draw wicked men to evil, he has them sure enough;…

But he also worked miracles, he endured a number of troubles and encumbrances, and finally he suffered imprisonment and death. Now when we see that for all this he ceased not to go through steadfastly, and to overcome all the assaults that Satan and the wicked world were able to…

So ministers (Romans 9:1): I say the truth in Christ, I lie not. (2 Corinthians 11:31): The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ knows that I lie not. Among private Christians, are we not too rash in our suspicions, and speak worse of others than they deserve?

3. So many and subtle are those temptations which Satan sets on foot to make us transgress this Rule. The Devil assaults us two ways, by fiery darts, and by cunning wiles (Ephesians 6:11); he has not only violent temptations, burning lusts, or raging despair; but he has ensnarin…

1. Without the distinguishing or discerning act of judgment, how apt are we to be misled and deceived! They that cannot distinguish meats, will soon eat what is unwholesome; so if we have not a judgment to approve things that are excellent, and disapprove the contrary, our fanci…

The lamp is starved, when not supplied with oil. Some to gain credit and entrance, and to disgrace Paul, and the true evangelical ministers, whose poverty needed a supply, will take no maintenance; therefore Paul says (2 Corinthians 11:12), That wherein they glory, we might be a…

It may be sin to another that knows not to do good, but not so great a sin as it is to him that knows; and therefore he that knew not his master's will was beaten but with a few stripes, but he that knew it, and did it not, was beaten with many (Luke 12:47-48). The Jews had used…

Surely no: So if he did come and tempt men to sin, and tell them it is the ready way to hell, would this prevail with them, to swear and whore, etc. No, no, the devil is subtle (an old Serpent) he colors and paints sin, covers his hook with a bait, etc. and draws men in ere they…

2 The sinfulness of sin appears by the Commandment thus, that it takes occasion by the Commandment to deceive us, as the Apostle says it did him (Romans 7:11), just as the devil took occasion from the Commandment to deceive our first parents; as if God were envious to us, or at…

These are the Devil's brokers that beguile unstable souls (2 Peter 2:14). And Paul was afraid that the new converts might be cozened by the wily carriages of the false apostles which would work upon their simplicity (2 Corinthians 11:3). I [illegible] by any means, as the [illeg…