2 Corinthians 8

That he might take our flesh, and redeem us; that he might instate us into a kingdom. He was poor, that he might make us rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). He was born of a virgin, that he might be born of God; he took our flesh, that he might give us his Spirit.

Those services which would have been rejected in the first covenant, are accepted in the second. Here God accepts of the will for the deed (2 Corinthians 8:10); here sincerity is crowned. In the covenant of grace, wherein we are weak, God will give strength, and wherein we come…

The Lord healed the people. The Tribes of Israel being straitened in time wanted some legal purifications, yet because their hearts were upright, God healed them, he pardoned them; God accepts of the good will (2 Corinthians 8:12). A father takes a letter from his son kindly tho…

5. He does really endeavor to obey God's law perfectly, and wherein he comes short, he runs to Christ's blood to make supply for his defects. This cordial desire and real endeavor God esteems as perfect obedience (2 Corinthians 8:12): If there be a willing mind, it is accepted.…

Musculus famous for learning and piety was put to great straits, he was put to dig in a town ditch, and had scarce daily bread, yet content. Indeed, Christ, who was heir of all, yet for our sakes became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9). Let all these examples make us content.

Quest. 20. By what means do persons so called become a Church of Christ? Answ. They are constituted a Church, and interested in the rights, power, and priviledges of a Gospel-Church, by the will, promise, authority, and law of Jesus Christ, upon their own voluntary consent and e…

Quest. 47. The preservation of the Church in purity, order, and holiness being provided for, by what way is it to be continued and increased? Answ. The way appointed thereunto, is by adding such as being effectually called to the obedience of faith shall voluntarily offer themse…

(4) Ephesians 4:20, 21, 22, 23, 24. (5) 2 Corinthians 8:5. Qu. 49. What is the duty of the elders of the Church, towards persons desiring to be admitted to the fellowship of the Church?

Deuteronomy 26:17. 2 Corinthians 8:5. Acts 14:23.

Quest. 52. Wherein consists the duty of any Church of Christ towards other Churches? Answ. (1) In walking circumspectly, so as to give them no offence. (2) In prayer for their peace and prosperity. (3) In communicating supplyes to their wants according to ability. (4) In receivi…

(1.) Leviticus 10:3; Hebrews 12:28, 29. (2.) Deuteronomy 26:17; Joshua 24:22; 2 Corinthians 8:5. (3.) Ephesians 4:12, 13, 14, 15, 16; Jude 20.

So was it also in Macedonia, the first Church planted in that Province was at Philipi, as it is declared (Acts 16), and it was quickly brought into compleat Order, so as that when the Apostle wrote to it, there were in it the Saints whereof it was constituted, with Bishops and D…

God is the Author and inditer of this Story, and in God's sight and estimation he was offered, though not in the world's: and therefore it is so said, in regard of God's acceptance; because Abraham's purpose was to have done it; and if he had not been stayed, he had done it. Whe…

But that a man may do, and be all that the Proposition mentioneth, and yet be unregenerate, and without faith, not onely in the sight of God, but also visibly, and to the Churches judgement; this seems not very probable. Even one of the particulars which the Proposition mentione…

For this is the method of the Gospel, that first men by the preaching of it be made disciples, or be brought to faith in Christ Jesus, and then be taught to do and observe whatever he commands (Matthew 28:18, 19, 20); first to believe, and then to be added to the Church (Acts 2:…

This knowledge therefore belonging to profession is itself to be professed. There is required to it a professed subjection of soul and conscience to the authority of Christ in the Church (Matthew 28:18, 19, 20; 2 Corinthians 8:5). This in general is performed by all that are bap…

We can never exhaust the treasures of grace, and impoverish the exchequer of Heaven. So Christ has a rich and full merit (2 Corinthians 8:9) to make us rich, &c. God the Son aimed at it in all his sufferings and condescensions, that he might make a large purchase for us, and we…

Christ has but one wife or spouse (Canticles 6:9). The Catholic Church indeed is but one; namely the whole company of God's elect in heaven, in earth, dead, now living, and not yet born: But as there is the Church Catholic, which is but one; so there are particular and visible c…

And if we look to (Luke 8) we will find that he was provided for in his necessity by some few women, such as Mary Magdalen, Joanna, Susanna, and others, who ministered to him of their substance; he lived upon the charity of others. And yet (2 Corinthians 8) by his poverty he mad…

This I consider, either as in the kingdom of grace, or of glory. In grace's kingdom, the saints for their holiness, and Titus and the brethren (2 Corinthians 8:23), are the glory of Christ. I will place (says the Lord (Isaiah 46:13)) salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.

So that all that he does for his members is for himself, as truly, indeed more fully than for them; and his share of glory out of theirs is greater than theirs, by how much the glory of the cause is greater than that of the effect. And thus indeed the Scripture speaks of it: as,…

God becomes a God to me, and to my seed by way of covenant; so (Deuteronomy 29:10-13), both your children of understanding, and your little ones of no understanding, you are all here before God this day, to enter into a covenant with him, to keep his commandments forever; you an…

It is an unreasonable thing you exact of us: for, as for some of us, we have a great family and charge to look to, wife and children to provide for; and for them we must provide, otherwise we deny the faith, and are worse than infidels (1 Timothy 5:8). Others, are poor and needy…

Hence we infer, that all that he enjoined on the rich was, that they should bestow on the poor, according to their own ability, what their necessity required. "Consider to what extent the necessaries of life, which you enjoy abundantly, are wanted by your neighbors, that your ab…

That they may see your good works: for, as Paul tells us, believers must, "provide for honest things, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men," (2 Corinthians 8:21.) The command, which he gives shortly afterwards, to seek concealment and a retired situation fo…

Matthew 5. 7. 'Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall obtain Mercy.' 2 Corinthians 8. 8. 'I speak not by Commandment, but by Occasion of the Forwardness of others, and to prove the Sincerity of your Love.' James 2. 13, 14, 15, 16. 'For he shall have Judgment without Mercy, tha…

No nor yet meerly for the good and benefit of the Souls of them that do receive them, but for the Edification of the Church, and the furtherance of Faith and Profession in others, [[original in non-Latin script]]; ad id quod expedit, prodest; For that which is expedient, useful,…

For hereon depends our growth and thriving. It is required of us that we give all Diligence to the Encrease of Grace, 2 Pet. 1. and that we abound therein, 2 Cor. 8. 7. abounding in all Diligence; and not only so, but that we shew the same Diligence to the End, Heb. 6. 11. Whete…

You have known Parents that have laid out all their stock of money to purchase Estates for their Children; but when did you hear of any that spent the whole stock and treasure of their blood, to make a purchase for them? If the life of Christ had not been so afflictive and sad t…

And therefore if you would willingly do more than you do, God accepts of the little you do. Third, though you cannot put forth many acts of obedience to God, where there is readiness of mind and heart, God accepts the purposes of the mind for the action itself (2 Corinthians 8:1…

The having of poor always among us, and of us, according to our Savior's prediction (Matthew 26:11), and the promise of God (Deuteronomy 15:11), serves for the trial of themselves and others, of their own content, with Christ alone, with submission to the all-disposing sovereign…

And so great was this love of Christ, that he declined nothing that was proposed to him. This the Apostle calls his grace (2 Corinthians 8:9): You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty mi…

Lastly, if life be worth all; then hereby we may take measure of the love and bounty of Christ to poor sinners, who not only spent himself in all to his life, but spent life and all, that they might not perish. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was exceeding great towards us, t…

It's a piece of their life and satisfaction, to see the work of the Gospel thrive among the people: We live (says Paul) 1 Thessalonians 3:8. if you stand fast in the Lord. Or, 2. It may look to that which is called for from a people to their ministers, even here, they are to ack…

1 Thessalonians 2:4. God who TRIES our Hearts. The same Word is used in 2 Corinthians 8:8. To PROVE the Sincerity of your Love. So, Galatians 6:3, 4. If any Man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself: But let every Man PROVE his own Work.

But what was borrowed, or the naked ground. O melting consideration! that the glorious Son of God, Ioh, 1. 14. The Lord of glory, Iam. 2. I. The brightness of his fathers glory. Heb. 1. 3. Who was rich, 2 Cor. 8. 9. And it no robbery to be equal with God. Phil. 2. 8. who from al…

Please one another, for Christ pleased not himself (Romans 15:2-3). Be charitable to the poor, for we know the grace of our Lord Jesus (2 Corinthians 8:9). Wash one another's feet, that is, stoop to the meanest offices of love, for Christ did so (John 13:14; Matthew 20:27-28).

What do those that are gay and brave attire themselves for, but to have the eyes of men drawn after them? Let childrens eyes be drawn after them; but if they have rotten spirits, let them be so looked upon, notwithstanding they be in gay cloaths: but for those that are gracious,…

Thirdly, they reproached him, because he said, God delighted in him; so because the Saints of God do profess their relations to God, and do expect an especial love of God, therefore the world reproaches them. Secondly, it is the reproach of Christ, in regard of the near relation…

3. The fruits of the Spirit, sanctifying and renewing our natures, enabling unto good, and preventing from evil, are so termed. Thus the Lord tells Paul, his grace was sufficient for him: that is, the assistance against temptation which he afforded him (Colossians 3:16; 2 Corint…

It is believers that are mother, and brother of this Solomon (Matthew 12:49-50). They crown him in the day of his espousals, giving themselves to him, and becoming his glory (2 Corinthians 8:23). Thus he sets out his whole communion with his church under this allusion: and that…

He values his saints. Evidences of that valuation: first, his incarnation; second, exinanition (2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:6-7); third, obedience as a servant; fourth, in his death, his valuation of them in comparison of others. Believers' estimation of Christ: first, they…

As was that at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 6:4; 1 Corinthians 11:12; 1 Corinthians 14:4, 5, 12, 19; 2 Corinthians 1:1), and those mentioned (Revelation 1:2, 3). All which Paul calls the Churches of the Gentiles (Romans 16:4), in contradistinction to those of the Je…

4. Again, there Christ speaks of the general bent of our conversation, and here only of particular and private duties: it would argue too much hypocrisy to do these in public, though the whole frame and course of our carriage before men must be religious in their sight. And that…

First, A man must do it willingly: as you know when a man has any thing to do for himself, he does it with willingnesse, this the Lord requires at our hands to be willing to do them, which is much more then to do them. As the Apostle says, 2 Corinthians 8:10. It is expedient for…

Consider besides, has not he done as much for you? he requires that you should not seek your own things, but the things that are Christs, he has not sought his own things, but denyed himself for you. He might have enjoyed happiness and glory with his father for ever: but he deny…

No: but to the intent that we should receive that which we lack, according to the measure that it pleases him to deal to us, as we have seen heretofore. And that is the cause why Saint Paul in the second to the Corinthians says, that he became poor to the intent to fill us with…

And what did Jesus Christ? He forgot himself, he regarded not his own person: he that was the Lord of all glory, submitted himself to all reproach: he that was the life from the beginning (John 1:4), made himself mortal: he that was the power of God the father, made himself weak…

Peter's getting out of prison was nothing to it. In comforting: Every grace is a mystery; to depend upon what we see not; to be as a rock in the midst of a storm; dying, yet we live; as poor, yet making many rich (2 Corinthians 8:9-10). All the operations of the Spirit are wonde…

God can soon blast abundance, and can relieve us in the deepest wants. He can give you a sufficiency in your deep poverty (2 Corinthians 8:2). If you should go on carking and caring, and feathering your nests, God may take you off, or set your nests on fire.