2 Corinthians 2

How sweet are your words to my taste! indeed, sweeter than honey to my mouth. The Apostle calls it [illegible], the savour of knowledge (2 Corinthians 2:14). The light of knowledge is one thing, the savour another.

It was a tree to make one wise. The Scriptures teach a man to know himself; they discover Satan's [illegible] snares and stratagems (2 Corinthians 2:11). They make one wise to salvation (2 Timothy 3:15).

Pray to God, that the same Spirit that wrote the Scripture, would enable us to understand it. Pray that God will give us that [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩] (2 Corinthians 2:14), that savour of knowledge, that we may relish a sweetness in the Word we read. David tasted it sweeter t…

Like Haman's banquet, which did usher in his funeral. Ordinances do a sinner hurt; they are [illegible], a savour of death (2 Corinthians 2:16). Cordials themselves kill.

God would have a public satisfaction given. So when the incestuous person had committed that sin (1 Corinthians 5:1, 9), for which at that time he was not humbled — for afterward in 2 Corinthians 2:7, when he was humbled indeed, Paul bids them comfort him — yet until his humilia…

So as to conclude, we must warily sever the work of God's Spirit herein from that of Satan and our own hearts, not attributing such desperate conclusions to the Spirit. Thus that depth of sorrow with which that humbled Corinthian was well-nigh swallowed up (2 Corinthians 2:7) is…

It is his trade; therefore as men are called lawyers or divines from their calling, so he is called the tempter and the accuser from his employment. And by this his long experience and observation he has his set and composed machinations (2 Corinthians 2:11), his methods of temp…

And in this respect that name 'the accuser' is given this evil spirit in a direct and full opposition to that special name and office of the Holy Ghost, 'the Comforter' or pleader for us. Because as the Holy Ghost makes intercession in our own hearts to God for us, and upon true…

And what were those arrows but terrors? So it follows: 'the terrors of God.' Thus that Corinthian was in danger of being swallowed up — as the word signifies — with excessive sorrow, when Satan had to do with him (2 Corinthians 2:7). And the same word is again used of the devil:…

But Satan went further — he would have swallowed him up with sorrow by persuading him that such a sin was unpardonable and that God would never own him again. The reasoning Satan used to bring this upon him was a false one, some trick and device (2 Corinthians 2:7 compared with…

Or else 2. this is done through the ordinance of excommunication and censures of the church duly administered, with the key not erring, for gross and scandalous sins. The proper inward effect that accompanies that ordinance (which casts men out of the church) being inward afflic…

(Numbers 14:24) My servant Caleb because he had another spirit with him. A wicked man has the spirit of the world (2 Corinthians 2:12). He is of an atheistical spirit; Lucian is his Old Testament, Machiavel his New; but a person invested with grace has choiceness of spirit in hi…

Now we cannot (say they) be assured that we have true faith and repentance, because we may lie in secret sins; and so lack that indeed, which we suppose ourselves to have. Answer: I say again, he that does truly repent and believe, does by God's grace know that he does repent an…

Some men's souls have given such deep wounds to their bodies, that they are never likely to enjoy many easy or comfortable days more while they dwell in them. Now this is very sinful, and displeasing to God; for if he have such a tender care for our bodies, that he would not hav…

4. It's profitable as the Lord is pleased to make use of it, to call and gather in so many as He has ordained to eternal life; for though in itself it be not able to convert, yet having the power of God going along with it, it is the instrument of conversion, and the Lord ordina…

4. It not only makes the offer, and backs the offer with a command to embrace it, but it sweetens the command with many gracious promises knit to it, as (Isaiah 55): Hear and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David;…

Isaiah 53:11 — Verse 11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for…

And though the godly do steadfastly believe their salvation is in a castle, above losing; yet in reason, sin bringing broken bones, (Psalm 51:10), a sad cloud, the damming up of a spring of Christ's love spread abroad in the heart, a temporary hell in the soul, it must be sorrow…

Nor would the spouse pray for a noon-day sight of Christ (Song of Solomon 1:7) if he could not offer himself to be seen in his loveliness of beauty. Thus Christ does make manifest the savour of his knowledge in the ministry of the gospel (2 Corinthians 2:14), when he lets out to…

The body while it is alive is sweet and savory, but as soon as ever it begins to smell, it must be buried — it cannot be kept above ground. Every living Christian is a sweet savor to God ([reconstructed: 2 Corinthians 2:13], and Colossians 4:4-6). Let your speech be savory, seas…

You shall no sooner have a petition granted, but you shall have it certified to you by this unction of the holy one, by which you know you have them granted, and for whose sake it is that they are granted by this unction; you know all things pertinent to life and godliness. And…

Have you then found some sweet relish in the ordinances? The gospel is a sweet savor to them that are saved (2 Corinthians 2:15-16), and as a sweet savor to the smell, so also as a sweet savor to the taste. Do you therefore find some kind of sweetness, a spiritual sweetness in t…

And when we consider the Greatness, Importance and Excellency of it, we have Reason to be astonished at the Condescension of God, that he would ever improve mere Creatures as Co-workers and Ministers of Christ in this Affair; for who is sufficient for these Things? 2 Corinthians…

3. It shows us the manner of conflict, both of Satan's Fight, and our Savior's Defense. 1. Of Satan's Fight it is some advantage not to be ignorant of his enterprises (2 Corinthians 2:11). Lest Satan should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Thus the devil hurries us from one extreme to another, as the possessed man fell oftentimes into the fire, and oft into the water (Matthew 17:15). Those that are guided by Satan reel from one extremity to another; either men slight sin, and make light of it, or sinners are apt t…

He speaks as if he were afraid, lest man's spirit should fail, being long overwhelmed with terror and trouble. So the apostle (2 Corinthians 2:7): Comfort him lest he be swallowed up with too much sorrow. The Lord Christ is full of bowels and compassions, pities his people in th…

These things it behooves them specially to know who are in the ministry of the word, lest while they go about to touch all things to the quick, they forget the fatherly and motherly affection which Paul here requires of those that have charge of souls. And of this precept he has…

This assurance that our callings are of God, is of great use. It makes the Minister to make a conscience of his duty: it is his comfort in trouble (Isaiah 49:2; 2 Corinthians 2:15). And to the hearers it is a means of great reverence, and obedience.

The first, that they which are, or desire to be dispensers of the word, must do it not for the belly, or for lucre's sake, or for the praise of men, but simply for this end, that they may gain souls to God. The scribe that would have followed Christ for gain, was repelled with t…

Besides this, Paul should be inconstant and unlike himself, if he should admonish unclean persons, fornicators, wantons, and that three times before excommunication: and should at the first excommunicate certain others, without any precedent admonition. Third, the word there use…

And yet notwithstanding, if any be minded to use a distinction here, the smiting of the earth shall be referred as well to the elect as to the reprobate, because the Gospel is a two-edged sword, piercing into the inmost and darkest corners of the heart and discerning the thought…

For it comes to pass by the just judgment of God, and the malice of the wicked, that that which is in its own nature profitable and healthful to them, is turned into loss and poison. Such is the nature also even of God himself, and of his Gospel: (2 Corinthians 2:16). Verse 30.…

How shall they preach, says Saint Paul, unless they be sent: Romans 10:15. It is God's peculiar office then to establish good pastors: for otherwise no man would ever be fit to exercise so difficult and insupportable a charge: 2 Corinthians 2:16. Again, he only sets forward the…

Under the word ruin the Spirit denounces the punishment of unbelievers, and thus warns us to keep at the greatest possible distance from them; lest, by associating with them, we become involved in the same destruction. And Christ is not the less worthy of esteem, because, when h…

And we see how Paul, relying on this consolation, boldly sets at naught all the obstinacy of men, moves on steadily in the midst of hindrances, and boasts that he is a sweet savor to God, though he is the savor of death to them that perish, (2 Corinthians 2:15,16.) Now, this pas…

Christ reminds the Apostles, and, through them, all the teachers of the Gospel, to reserve the treasure of heavenly wisdom for the children of God alone, and not to expose it to unworthy and profane despisers of his word. But here a question arises: for he afterwards commanded t…

Though there were at that time many who assumed this character, yet as few of them discharged it faithfully, he does not rank them among laborers: for he employs the word laborers in a good sense. When Paul complains (2 Corinthians 2:13) of bad laborers, he refers to their boast…

Such is the import of those dreadful threatenings, in which Isaiah forewarns, that he will be to the people a barbarian, speaking in a foreign and unknown language; that the prophetical visions will be to the learned a shut and sealed book, in which they cannot read; and that wh…

Now as salvation depends solely on the election of God, the reprobate must perish, in whatever way this may be effected; not that they are innocent, and free from all blame, when God destroys them, but because, by their own malice, they turn to their destruction all that is offe…

For were it not that the reprobate, through their own fault, turn life into death, the Gospel would be to all the power of God to salvation, (Romans 1:16;) but as many persons no sooner hear it than their impiety openly breaks out, and provokes against them more and more the wra…

He now repeats the same words which he had formerly used, (Matthew 16:19,) but in a different sense; for there he intended to maintain their authority in doctrine, but here he appoints discipline, which is an appendage to doctrine. There Christ declared that the preaching of the…

And certainly, as it is not in reference to the apostles alone that Paul exclaims, (2 Corinthians 2:16,) And who shall be found sufficient for these things? So all whom God raises up to be ministers of the gospel must be endowed with the heavenly Spirit; and, therefore, in every…

As to this latter clause, when Paul asserts that he does not make merchandise of the word of God, (2 Corinthians 2:17), he means that there are some persons who use dexterity, and do not openly overturn sound doctrine, or incur the disgrace of holding wicked opinions, but who di…

This passage shows that God does not always bestow salvation on men when he sends his word to them, but that he sometimes intends to have it proclaimed to the reprobate, who, he knows, will continue obstinate, that it may be to them the savor of death unto death, (2 Corinthians…

And his epistles are full of expressions of an overflowing [affection] towards the people of Christ: He speaks of his dear Love to them, [2] Corinthians 12:15; Philippians 4:1, 2; [...] 1:2. Of his abundant Love, 2 Corinthians 2:4. And of his affectionate and [tender] Love, as o…

Which hast the Form of Knowledge, and of the Truth in the Law. The latter is often represented by relishing, smelling, or tasting; 2 Corinthians 2:14. Now Thanks be to God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ Jesus, and maketh manifest the Savour of his Knowledge, in ev…

In the Case before us, it is the duty of the Mind to apprehend, understand and receive the Truths of the Gospel as they are proposed to it, in the manner of, and to the end of their proposal. This, as we have manifested, by reason of its Depravation it neither does nor is able t…

1. For suppose the Contest be considered with respect to any particular Lust and Corruption, and that in Conjunction with some powerfull Temptation, we have sufficient and blessed Assurance that abiding in the diligent Use of the Wayes and Means assigned to us, and the Improveme…

To others nothing is sanctified either as an Instrument or occasion of any spiritual good; but as the worst things are ordered to the benefit of the saints, so the best things wicked men enjoy do them no good. Their prayers are turned into sin, Psalm 109:7 The Ordinances are the…

2:18, 19. They are not such, as a cursed guilty sinner might justly expect, but such as are meet for an infinitely Good and Gracious God to propose; not suited to the wisdom of man, but full of the wisdom of God, 2 Corinthians 2:6, 7. The poor convinced wretch, thinking of deali…