2 Corinthians 6

In every nation he that fears God, and works righteousness, is accepted with him. Position 2. Adoption takes in both sexes, females as well as males: (2 Corinthians 6:18) I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters. I have read that in some countries, femal…

Assurance will rock the heart quiet; the reason of discontent is either because men have no interest in God, or do not know their interest. Saint Paul: I know whom I have believed (2 Timothy 1:12) — there was the assurance of his interest; and (2 Corinthians 6:10): as sorrowful,…

Having received the word in much affliction — [illegible Greek text] — with joy. These are roses that grow in winter; these joys can sweeten the waters of Marah; he that has these can gather grapes of thorns, and fetch honey out of the carcass of a lion (2 Corinthians 6:10). As…

Resp. It is comprehensive of all good things: God is our strong tower; our fountain of living water; our salvation: More particularly, God being our God, implies the sweetest relation. 1. The relation of a Father (2 Corinthians 6:18). I will be a Father to you: A Father is full…

If we have God to be our God; well may we be contented, I know whom I have believed (2 Timothy 1:12). There was Paul's interest in God (2 Corinthians 6:10). As having nothing, yet possessing all: there was his content.

Solomon though a man of wisdom, yet his idolatrous wives drew away his heart from God; the people of Israel entered into an oath and curse, that they would not give their daughters in marriage to the idolaters (Nehemiah 10:30). For a Protestant and Papist to marry, is to be uneq…

1. In putting them out to service; their care is chiefly for their bodies that they may be provided for, but care not what becomes of their souls: their souls are in Egypt, in houses where there is drinking, swearing, Sabbath-breaking, and where God's name is every day dishonore…

Lastly, if we confess and believe God to be the father of Christ, and in him our father also; then in regard of our conduct, we must not frame ourselves like the world: but the course of our lives must be in righteousness and true holiness. Paul exhorts the Corinthians to separa…

"You are his workmanship," says the Apostle (Ephesians 2:10). And truly, if we could enlarge upon all the varieties of dealings God uses to each soul to work it, the several sorts of gracious dispositions he imprints and carves upon it; the manifold actings of every soul drawn f…

Sinners wrong Christ and themselves oftentimes when they shy away from this cordial consolation that by Christ's becoming man is allowed on them. Indeed if we were immediately to go to God, who is a consuming fire, it were no wonder that we stood at a distance; but when God is i…

But it may be asked, Why will God have Christ in the offer of the gospel brought so near the hearers of it? Answer. 1. Because it serves to commend the grace and love of God in Christ Jesus, when the invitation is so broad, that it is to all; it speaks out the royalty of the fea…

There is the way held out for obtaining pardon of sin, and peace, the Lord has made the offer, and laid a fair bridge over the gulf of distance between God and sinners, though you should never get good of it, and though you should never set a foot on the bridge; none needs to fe…

This is condemnation: that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light. (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) Touch no unclean thing, meddle not with vain company; and have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness, and then I will be a father to you, and y…

But for further opening of this phrase, read John 19:27: he took her home to his own house; it is in the original the same word with that in John 1:11, into his own home; he came to his own home or house, to his own temple and people, and they received him not, but neglected his…

It is the Work that Ministers are devoted to; and therefore they are represented as Co-workers with Christ. 2 Corinthians 6:1. We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that you receive not the Grace of God in vain.

2. The manner and way of his fight is by the world, per blanda & aspera, by the good or evil things of the world. There is armor of righteousness on the right hand, and on the left (2 Corinthians 6:7), as there are right hand and left hand temptations. Both ways he lies in ambus…

(1 Corinthians 10:21) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils; you cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. So (2 Corinthians 6:16-17) what agreement has the temple of God with idols? In short, for it is endless to reckon up all wh…

Come then, and fear not, poor disciple of Christ, come with filial affections, and the Spirit of Adoption, and you are sure to speed: for this paternal relation imports affection, provision, condescension, and compassion. If you will be a child to him; he will be a Father to you…

Now we are all to be exhorted, to order our lives in this manner. For first of all, we are God's: and therefore we must glorify God both in our bodies and souls (2 Corinthians 6:20). Secondly, the end of our justification and redemption is, that we may live to God.

When Paul says, be as I: I am as you: we learn, that there must be a special and mutual love between the teachers and the people. Paul says, that he did enlarge his heart for the Corinthians, and he requires the like of them (2 Corinthians 6:11, 13). Teachers must show their lov…

This was Paul's practice (1 Corinthians 4:3). I pass very little to be judged of you, or of man's judgment: we must go through good report, and evil report (2 Corinthians 6:8). Lastly, we must seek to be approved of men, not so much in regard of ourselves, as that, by this means…

Now however Isaiah prophesied these things in respect of the Babylonians, yet doubtless he specially aimed at the coming of Christ in the flesh, at whose appearance all Idolatries and superstitions should be abolished. For when his kingdom is once established, all Idols forthwit…

And this, as I have said, ought to be well observed, for the expositors have balked it, and yet without it we shall not be able to make these verses to cohere. Saint Paul plainly shows this, in applying this very sentence to the whole Church (2 Corinthians 6:2). But yet that whi…

For it is always seen, that out of the lap of the Church there arises wicked contemners of God, who are the surliest enemies that the Prophets of God have. Those then who will serve God purely, must fit themselves beforehand to bear all these things with patience, that so they m…

For this cause Ezekiel has foretold, that in the restoration of the Church, the Levites should be high Priests, and all the people should be put in the place of Levites. Seeing then that the Lord has advanced all to so high a degree and dignity, it necessarily follows, that this…

Saint Paul in his Epistle to the Romans 16:26, and to the Galatians 4:4, calls this year the fullness of time. We have also seen previously that the Prophet in Chapter 49:8 said, Behold the acceptable time, behold the day of salvation: which sentence Saint Paul in 2 Corinthians…

For he means that the day is now at hand, which had been appointed by the eternal purpose of God for the salvation of Jerusalem, and had been foretold by the prophets. Thus (says Isaiah) is the accepted time, this is the day of salvation, (Isaiah 49:8; 2 Corinthians 6:2.) Seek t…

He confirms what he had said about the approaching vengeance of God, by saying that the only method of avoiding destruction will be taken from them. For that was the accepted time, the day of salvation, (Isaiah 49:8; 2 Corinthians 6:2,) so long as that very person who had come t…

He speaks of great and [continual] Grief that he had in his Heart from [love] to the Jews, Romans [9]:2. He speaks of his Mouth's being opened, and his Heart enlarged towards Christians, 2 Corinthians 6:11. O you Corinthians, our Mouth is open unto you, our Heart is enlarged!

So that not only the Persons are called spiritual, as having the Spirit of God dwelling in them; but those Qualifications, Affections and Experiences that are wrought in them by the Spirit, are also spiritual, and therein differ vastly in their Nature and Kind from all that a na…

I will, saith God, set my Tabernacle among you; and I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my People. The accomplishment of this Promise the Apostle declares, 2 Cor. 6. 16. Ye are the Temple of the Living God, as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk…

Though that vile Apostate Julian derided this Promise, yet thousands and ten thousands have experienced it, and do at this day stand ready to set their seal to it. God has made it good to his people, not only in spirituals; inward joy, and peace; but even in Temporals also: inst…

The Apostle says more (Romans 5:3): We glory in tribulation. And again (2 Corinthians 6:10): as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. The sorrow of godly men is like the joy of the wicked: only in appearance; Paul had only a shadow of sorrow, as sorrowful; but his joy was substantial…

So like wise does every name of God belong now unto us, as if it had in particular manner been engaged in covenant unto us. And that because the whole covenant is ratified and confirmed unto us by Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 6:18. Chap.

4. This argument here made use of, says also, that these who are most tender of his Church, and the graces of his people, will be most zealous against false teachers, even the least of them; for, these two are joined together in him, and are in themselves necessary to preserve t…

For more full taking up of the meaning, consider, that it does here include these three. 1. A nobleness and greatness in respect of birth, that the Bride is honorably descended: From which we may learn, That believers (whatever they be in respect of the flesh) are of a royal des…

He sent forth his servants, to call them that were bidden to the wedding: The Ministers of the Gospel are his ambassadors, to tryst this match, and to close it (2 Corinthians 5:19 and 11:2). The day when they shall be spoken for, is either while the means are among people, and s…

And therefore the Wise Man (Ecclesiastes 7:1) compares a good name to precious ointment; and in the comparison gives it the preference; for as precious ointment diffuses its fragrance through the room where it is poured forth, and affects all that are in it with its delightful s…

'Tis better, infinitely better that you be rich with our wares, than we with yours, our greatest treasure as ministers lies in your souls' riches, we seek not yours, but you, and it will be transcendently more comfort if you give up your souls to Christ, than if you should give…

18. A man's personal day of grace may be short. There is a time while the scepter of grace is held forth (2 Corinthians 6:2): "Now is the accepted time." The Lord has prefixed a time wherein the means of grace shall work or not work.

He walks among the golden candlesticks (Revelation 2:1). "I will walk among you," says he, "and be your God" (2 Corinthians 6:16). Upon this account the Church is called Jehovah Shammah — the Lord is there (Ezekiel 48).

Thus God came to dwell upon his own fee and inheritance, in Judea (Leviticus 26:11-12): And I will set my tabernacle among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people. Which promise is again renewed to his churches of the New Testament (2 Corinthians 6:16). And when th…

1. Beware of passion in your own interests, though they may be much shaken and damaged in the present controversies, yet self-denying patience will be the best way to settle them: the injury to us may be great, but the injury to truth is greater; we must approve our faithfulness…

Being to pass through this world by honor and dishonor, by evil report, and good report; that is, through a great variety of conditions and treatments, we have need of that long-suffering and kindness, and love unfeigned, which will be armor of righteousness, on the right hand a…

Or as the complaint was upon another occasion, Aut hoc non Evangelium, aut hi non Evangelici, either this is not gospel, or these are not to be called professors of the gospel. If ministers give offense in anything, not they only, but their ministry will be blamed (2 Corinthians…

Surely our hearts may rest where God rests, and we should not be weary where God is not weary. And he does not only dwell here, but he has his delightful walks here: the walks of God are amongst his people, 2 Cor. 6:16 If a man have a house that he rejoyces in, he will have his…

As the Sun-flower, when the Sun shines, the flower is open, but when the Sun is down, it shuts: So here when Gods face shines, their hearts are open to God, but often they lose the shine of Gods face, but in Heaven Gods shine shall be always upon them, and their hearts shall alw…

The longest date of it can be but the time of this Life: This is our day to work in, Job 9. 4. and upon this small wyre, the weight of Eternity hangs. But sometimes the season of Grace is ended, before the night of Death comes; the accepted time is gone, men frequently out-live…

But alas! how are men mistaken? Truly, their fellowship is with the Father: let men think of it as they please, they have close, spiritual, heavenly refreshings in the mutual communication of love with the Father himself; how they are generally misconceived, the apostle declares…

The way of the house is a way of holiness through which the unclean shall not pass, Isaiah 35:8. Expressly they are the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty, and they only, 2 Corinthians 6:17-18. All others are excluded, Revelation 21:27.