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Passage 1: Leviticus 16

(Lev 16:1) Fvrthermore the Lord spake vnto Moses, after the death of the two sonnes of Aaron, whe they came to offer before the Lord, and dyed:

(Lev 16:2) And the Lord sayd vnto Moses, Speake vnto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the Holy place within the vayle, before the Merciseate, which is vpon the Arke, that he dye not: for I wil appeare in the cloude vpon the Merciseate.

(Notes Reference) And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at (a) all times into the holy [place] within the vail before the mercy seat, which [is] upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

(a) The high priest entered into the holiest of holies just once a year in the month of September.

(Lev 16:3) After this sort shall Aaron come into the Holy place: euen with a yong bullocke for a sinne offring, and a ramme for a burnt offring.

(Lev 16:4) He shall put on the holy linnen coate, and shall haue linnen breeches vpon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linnen girdle, and shall couer his head with a linnen miter: these are the holy garments: therefore shall hee wash his flesh in water, when he doeth put them on.

(Lev 16:5) And hee shall take of the Congregation of the children of Israel, two hee goates for a sinne offring, and a ramme for a burnt offring.

(Lev 16:6) Then Aaron shall offer the bullocke for his sinne offring, and make an atonement for himselfe, and for his house.

(Lev 16:7) And he shall take the two hee goates, and present them before the Lord at the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

(Lev 16:8) Then Aaron shall cast lots ouer the two hee goates: one lot for the Lord, and the other for the Scape goate.

(Notes Reference) And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the (b) scapegoat.

(b) In Hebrew it is called Azazel, which some say is a mountain near Sinai, where this goat was sent. Rather it is called the scapegoat because it was not offered but sent into the desert, as in (Lev 16:11).

(Lev 16:9) And Aaron shall offer the goat, vpon which the Lords lot shall fal, and make him a sinne offring.

(Lev 16:10) But the goate, on which the lot shall fall to be the Scape goate, shalbe presented aliue before the Lord, to make reconciliation by him, and to let him go (as a Scape goate) into the wildernes.

(Lev 16:11) Thus Aaron shall offer the bullocke for his sinne offring, and make a reconciliation for himselfe, and for his house, and shall kill the bullocke for his sinne offring.

(Lev 16:12) And he shall take a censer full of burning coles from off the altar before the Lord, and his handfull of sweete incense beaten small, and bring it within the vayle,

(Notes Reference) And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring [it] within the (c) vail:

(c) The holiest of holies.

(Lev 16:13) And shall put the incense vpon the fire before the Lord, that the cloude of the incense may couer the Merciseat that is vpon the Testimonie: so he shall not dye.

(Lev 16:14) And hee shall take of the blood of the bullocke, and sprinkle it with his finger vpon the Merciseat Eastward: and before the Merciseate shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seuen times.

(Notes Reference) And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle [it] with his finger upon the mercy seat (d) eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

(d) That is, on the side which was toward the people: for the head of the sanctuary stood westward.

(Lev 16:15) Then shall he kill the goate that is the peoples sinne offring, and bring his blood within the vaile, and doe with that blood, as he did with the blood of the bullocke, and sprinckle it vpon the Merciseate, and before the Merciseate.

(Lev 16:16) So he shall purge the Holy place from the vncleannes of the children of Israel, and from their trespasses of all their sinnes: so shall he do also for the Tabernacle of the Cogregation placed with them, in the middes of their vncleannesse.

(Notes Reference) And he shall make an atonement for the holy [place], because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that (e) remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

(e) Placed among them who are unclean.

(Lev 16:17) And there shalbe no man in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, when he goeth in to make an atonement in the Holy place, vntill hee come out, and haue made an atonement for himselfe, and for his housholde, and for all the Congregation of Israel.

(Lev 16:18) After, he shall goe out vnto the altar that is before the Lord and make a reconciliation vpon it, and shall take of the blood of the bullocke, and of the blood of the goate, and put it vpon the hornes of the Altar round about:

(Notes Reference) And he shall go out unto the (f) altar that [is] before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar round about.

(f) Upon which the sweet incense and perfume was offered.

(Lev 16:19) So shall hee sprinkle of the blood vpon it with his finger seuen times, and clense it, and halowe it from the vncleannes of the children of Israel.

(Lev 16:20) When he hath made an ende of purging the Holy place, and the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and the altar, then he shall bring the liue goate:

(Lev 16:21) And Aaron shall put both his handes vpon the head of the liue goate, and confesse ouer him al the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their trespasses, in all their sinnes, putting them vpon the head of the goate, and shall sende him away (by the hand of a man appointed) into the wildernes.

(Notes Reference) And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them (g) upon the head of the goat, and shall send [him] away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

(g) In this goat is a true figure of Jesus Christ, who bears the sins of the people, (Isa 53:9).

(Lev 16:22) So the goate shall beare vpon him all their iniquities into the land that is not inhabited, and he shall let the goate go into the wildernesse.

(Lev 16:23) After, Aaron shall come into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and put off the linnen clothes, which he put on when he went into the Holy place, and leaue them there.

(Lev 16:24) Hee shall wash also his flesh with water in the Holy place, and put on his owne rayment, and come out, and make his burnt offring, and the burnt offring of the people, and make an atonement for himselfe, and for the people.

(Notes Reference) And he shall wash his flesh with water in (h) the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.

(h) In the court where the laver was, (Exo 30:28).

(Lev 16:25) Also the fatte of the sinne offring shall he burne vpon the altar.

(Lev 16:26) And he that caried forth the goat, called the Scape goat, shall wash his clothes, and wash his flesh in water, and after that shall come into the hoste.

(Lev 16:27) Also the bullocke for the sinne offring, and the goate for the sinne offring (whose blood was brought to make a reconciliation in the Holy place) shall one carie out without the hoste to be burnt in the fire, with their skinnes, and with their flesh, and with their doung.

(Lev 16:28) And hee that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and wash his flesh in water, and afterward come into the hoste.

(Lev 16:29) So this shalbe an ordinance for euer vnto you: the tenth day of the seuenth moneth, yee shall humble your soules, and do no worke at all, whether it be one of the same countrey or a strager that soiourneth among you.

(Notes Reference) And [this] shall be a statute for ever unto you: [that] in the (i) seventh month, on the tenth [day] of the month, ye shall (k) afflict your souls, and do no work at all, [whether it be] one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:

(i) Which was Tisri, part September and part October.

(k) Meaning, by abstinence and fasting, (Num 29:7).

(Lev 16:30) For that day shall ye Priest make an atonement for you to clense you: ye shalbe cleane from all your sinnes before the Lord.

(Lev 16:31) This shall be a Sabbath of rest vnto you, and ye shall humble your soules, by an ordinance for euer.

(Notes Reference) It [shall be] a (l) sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.

(l) Or a rest which you shall keep most diligently.

(Lev 16:32) And the Priest whom he shall anoynt, and whom he shall cosecrate (to minister in his fathers steade) shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linnen clothes and Holy vestments,

(Notes Reference) And the priest, (m) whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, [even] the holy garments:

(m) Whom the priest shall anoint by God's commandment to succeed in his father's place.

(Lev 16:33) And shall purge the Holy Sanctuarie and the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and shall clense the altar, and make an atonement for the Priests and for all the people of the Congregation.

(Lev 16:34) And this shalbe an euerlasting ordinance vnto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sinnes once a yeere: and as the Lord commanded Moses, he did.

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Passage 2: Psalms 119:1-40

(Psa 119:1) ALEPH. Blessed are those that are vpright in their way, and walke in the Lawe of the Lord.

(Notes Reference) ALEPH. Blessed [are] (a) the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

(a) Here they are not called blessed who think themselves wise in their own judgment, nor who imagine to themselves a certain holiness, but they whose conversation is without hypocrisy.

(Psa 119:2) Blessed are they that keepe his testimonies, and seeke him with their whole heart.

(Psa 119:3) Surely they woorke none iniquitie, but walke in his waies.

(Notes Reference) They also do (b) no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

(b) For they are ruled by God's Spirit and embrace no doctrine but his.

(Psa 119:4) Thou hast commanded to keepe thy precepts diligently.

(Psa 119:5) Oh that my waies were directed to keepe thy statutes!

(Notes Reference) (c) O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

(c) David acknowledges his imperfection, desiring God to reform it, that his life may be conformable to God's word.

(Psa 119:6) Then should I not be confounded, when I haue respect vnto all thy commandements.

(Psa 119:7) I will praise thee with an vpright heart, when I shall learne the iudgements of thy righteousnesse.

(Notes Reference) I will praise thee with uprightness of (d) heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous (e) judgments.

(d) For true religion stands in serving God without hypocrisy.

(e) That is, your precepts, which contain perfect righteousness.

(Psa 119:8) I will keepe thy statutes: forsake mee not ouerlong.

(Notes Reference) I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not (f) utterly.

(f) He does not refuse to be tried by temptations, but he fears to faint, if God does not help his infirmity in time.

(Psa 119:9) BETH. Wherewith shall a yong man redresse his waie? in taking heede thereto according to thy woorde.

(Notes Reference) BETH. Wherewithal shall a (a) young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word.

(a) Because youth is most given to licentiousness, he chiefly warns them to frame their lives after God's word.

(Psa 119:10) With my whole heart haue I sought thee: let me not wander from thy commandements.

(Psa 119:11) I haue hid thy promise in mine heart, that I might not sinne against thee.

(Notes Reference) Thy word have I (b) hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

(b) If God's word is carved in our hearts, we will be more able to resist the assaults of Satan: and therefore the prophet desires God to instruct him daily more and more in it.

(Psa 119:12) Blessed art thou, O Lord: teache mee thy statutes.

(Psa 119:13) With my lippes haue I declared all the iudgements of thy mouth.

(Psa 119:14) I haue had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches.

(Notes Reference) I have (c) rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as [much as] in all riches.

(c) The prophet does not boast of his virtues, but sets forth an example for others to follow God's word, and leave worldly vanities.

(Psa 119:15) I will meditate in thy precepts, and consider thy waies.

(Psa 119:16) I will delite in thy statutes, and I will not forget thy worde.

(Psa 119:17) GIMEL. Be beneficiall vnto thy seruant, that I may liue and keepe thy woorde.

(Notes Reference) GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, [that] I may (a) live, and keep thy word.

(a) He shows that we should not desire to live but to serve God, and that we can not serve him correctly unless he opens our eyes and minds.

(Psa 119:18) Open mine eies, that I may see the wonders of thy Lawe.

(Psa 119:19) I am a stranger vpon earth: hide not thy commandements from me.

(Notes Reference) I [am] a (b) stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

(b) Seeing man's life in this world is only a passage, what should become of him, if your word were not his guide?

(Psa 119:20) Mine heart breaketh for the desire to thy iudgements alway.

(Psa 119:21) Thou hast destroied the proud: cursed are they that doe erre from thy commandements.

(Notes Reference) Thou (c) hast rebuked the proud [that are] cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

(c) In all ages you have plagued all such who maliciously and contemptuously depart from your truth.

(Psa 119:22) Remoue from mee shame and contempt: for I haue kept thy testimonies.

(Psa 119:23) Princes also did sit, and speake against me: but thy seruant did meditate in thy statutes.

(Notes Reference) (d) Princes also did sit [and] speak against me: [but] thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

(d) When the powers of the world gave false sentence against me, your word was a guide and counsellor to teach me what to do, and to comfort me.

(Psa 119:24) Also thy testimonies are my delite, and my counsellers.

(Psa 119:25) DALETH. My soule cleaueth to the dust: quicken me according to thy worde.

(Notes Reference) DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the (a) dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

(a) That is, it is almost brought to the grave and without your word I cannot live.

(Psa 119:26) I haue declared my waies, and thou heardest me: teache me thy statutes.

(Notes Reference) I have (b) declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

(b) I have confessed my offences and now depend wholly on you.

(Psa 119:27) Make me to vnderstand ye way of thy precepts, and I will meditate in thy wondrous workes.

(Psa 119:28) My soule melteth for heauinesse: raise mee vp according vnto thy worde.

(Notes Reference) My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy (c) word.

(c) If God did not maintain us by his word, our life would drop away like water.

(Psa 119:29) Take from mee the way of lying, and graunt me graciously thy Lawe.

(Notes Reference) Remove from me the (d) way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

(d) Instruct me in your word, by which my mind may be purged from vanity and taught to obey your will.

(Psa 119:30) I haue chosen the way of trueth, and thy iudgements haue I laied before me.

(Psa 119:31) I haue cleaued to thy testimonies, O Lord: confound me not.

(Psa 119:32) I will runne the way of thy commandements, when thou shalt enlarge mine heart.

(Notes Reference) I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt (e) enlarge my heart.

(e) By this he shows that we can neither choose good, cleave to God's word, nor turn forward in his way, unless he make our hearts large to receive grace, and willing to obey.

(Psa 119:33) HE. Teach mee, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I will keepe it vnto the ende.

(Notes Reference) HE. Teach (a) me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it [unto] the end.

(a) He shows that he cannot follow on to the end, unless God teaches him often and leads him forward.

(Psa 119:34) Giue mee vnderstanding, and I will keepe thy Law: yea, I wil keepe it with my whole heart.

(Notes Reference) Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with [my] whole (b) heart.

(b) Not only in outward conversation, but also with inward affection.

(Psa 119:35) Direct mee in the path of thy commandements: for therein is my delite.

(Psa 119:36) Incline mine heart vnto thy testimonies, and not to couetousnesse.

(Notes Reference) Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to (c) covetousness.

(c) By this, meaning all other vices, because covetousness is the root of all evil.

(Psa 119:37) Turne away mine eies from regarding vanitie, and quicken me in thy way.

(Notes Reference) Turn away mine (d) eyes from beholding vanity; [and] quicken thou me in thy way.

(d) Meaning, all his senses.

(Psa 119:38) Stablish thy promise to thy seruaunt, because he feareth thee.

(Psa 119:39) Take away my rebuke that I feare: for thy iudgements are good.

(Notes Reference) Turn away (e) my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments [are] good.

(e) Let me not fall to your dishonour but let my heart still delight in your gracious word.

(Psa 119:40) Beholde, I desire thy commandements: quicken me in thy righteousnesse,

(Notes Reference) Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: (f) quicken me in thy righteousness.

(f) Give me strength to continue in your word even to the end.

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Passage 3: 2 Corinthians 12-13

(2Co 12:1) It is not expedient for me no doubt to reioyce: for I will come to visions and reuelations of the Lord.

(Notes Reference) It (1) is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

(1) He continues in his purpose, and because those braggarts boasted of revelations, he reckons up those things which lift him up above the common capacity of men. But he uses a preface, and prudently excuses himself.

(2Co 12:2) I know a man in Christ aboue fourteene yeeres agone, (whether he were in the body, I can not tell, or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth) which was taken vp into the thirde heauen.

(Notes Reference) I knew a man (a) in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the (b) third heaven.

(a) I speak this in Christ, that is, it is spoken without boastfulness, for I seek nothing but Christ Jesus only.

(b) Into the highest heaven: for we do not need to dispute subtly upon the word "third". But yet this passage is to be marked against those who would make heaven to be everywhere.

(2Co 12:3) And I knowe such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth)

(2Co 12:4) How that he was taken vp into Paradise, and heard words which cannot be spoken, which are not possible for man to vtter.

(Notes Reference) How that he was caught up into (c) paradise, and heard (d) unspeakable words, which it is not (e) lawful for a man to utter.

(c) So the Greeks name that which we call a park, that is to say, a place where trees are planted, and wild beasts kept. And those that translated the Old Testament out of Hebrew into Greek, called the garden of Eden by this name, into which Adam was put immediately after his creation, as a most delicate and pleasant place. And from this it occurred that the blessed seat of the glory of God is called by that name.

(d) Which no man is able to utter.

(e) Which the saints themselves are not by any means able to express, because it is God himself. This is the way that Clement of Alexandria explains this passage, Strom. 5.

(2Co 12:5) Of such a man will I reioyce: of my selfe will I not reioyce, except it bee of mine infirmities.

(Notes Reference) (2) Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

(2) To remove all suspicion of seeking glory, he witnesses that he brags not of those things as though they were of himself, but as outside of himself. And yet nonetheless he pretends nothing, lest by this occasion other men should attribute to him more than he indeed is: and therefore he would rather glory in his miseries.

(2Co 12:6) For though I woulde reioyce, I should not be a foole, for I will say the trueth: but I refraine, lest any man should thinke of me aboue that hee seeth in me, or that he heareth of me.

(2Co 12:7) And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the aboundance of reuelations, there was giuen vnto me a pricke in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet mee, because I should not be exalted out of measure.

(Notes Reference) (3) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me (f) a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of (g) Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

(3) An excellent doctrine: why God will have even his best servants to be vexed by Satan, and by every type of temptations: that is, lest they should be too much puffed up, and also that they may be made perfect by being continually exercised in them.

(f) He means sinful lust, that sticks fast in us as it were a thorn, to such a degree that it forced Paul himself who was regenerated to cry out, "I do not that good that I would", etc. And he calls it a thorn by a metaphor taken from thorns, or stumps, which are very dangerous and harmful for the feet, if a man walks through woods that are cut down.

(g) Which sets those lusts on fire.

(2Co 12:8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrise, that it might depart from me.

(Notes Reference) For this thing I besought the Lord (h) thrice, that it might depart from me.

(h) Often.

(2Co 12:9) And he said vnto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect through weakenesse. Very gladly therefore will I reioyce rather in mine infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

(Notes Reference) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. (4) Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may (i) rest upon me.

(4) He concludes that he will only set his miseries against the vain braggings of the false apostles, and with this also excuses himself, because by their troublesome braggings he was forced to speak as much of those things as he did. That is, because if his apostleship were subverted, his doctrine would necessarily fall.

(i) That I might feel the power of Christ more and more: for the weaker that our tabernacles are, the more does Christ's power appear in them.

(2Co 12:10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproches, in necessities, in persecutions, in anguish for Christes sake: for when I am weake, then am I strong.

(Notes Reference) Therefore I take (k) pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

(k) I do not only take them patiently and with a good heart, but I also take great pleasure in them.

(2Co 12:11) I was a foole to boast my selfe: yee haue compelled mee: for I ought to haue bene commended of you: for in nothing was I inferiour vnto the very chiefe Apostles, though I bee nothing.

(Notes Reference) I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: (5) for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

(5) Again he makes the Corinthians witnesses of those things by which God had sealed his apostleship among them, and again he declares by certain arguments how far he is from all covetousness, and also how he is affectionate towards them.

(2Co 12:12) The signes of an Apostle were wrought among you with all patience, with signes, and wonders, and great workes.

(Notes Reference) Truly the (l) signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

(l) The arguments by which it may well appear that I am indeed an apostle of Jesus Christ.

(2Co 12:13) For what is it, wherein yee were inferiours vnto other Churches, except that I haue not bene slouthfull to your hinderance? forgiue me this wrong.

(Notes Reference) For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except [it be] that I myself was not (m) burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

(m) I was not slothful with my own hands, so that I might not be burdensome to you.

(2Co 12:14) Behold, the thirde time I am ready to come vnto you, and yet will I not be slouthfull to your hinderance: for I seeke not yours, but you: for the children ought not to laye vp for the fathers, but the fathers for the children.

(2Co 12:15) And I will most gladly bestow, and will be bestowed for your soules: though the more I loue you, the lesse I am loued.

(2Co 12:16) But bee it that I charged you not: yet for as much as I was craftie, I tooke you with guile.

(Notes Reference) (6) But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

(6) He sets aside another most grievous slander, that is, that he did subtly and by others make his gain and profit of them.

(2Co 12:17) Did I pill you by any of them whom I sent vnto you?

(2Co 12:18) I haue desired Titus, and with him I haue sent a brother: did Titus pill you of any thing? walked we not in the selfe same spirit? walked we not in the same steppes?

(2Co 12:19) Againe, thinke yee that wee excuse our selues vnto you? we speake before God in Christ. But wee doe all thinges, dearely beloued, for your edifying.

(Notes Reference) (7) Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in (n) Christ: but [we do] all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

(7) He concludes that he does not write these things to them as though he needed to defend himself, for he is guilty of nothing: but because it is appropriate for them to doubt nothing of his fidelity, who instructed them.

(n) As it becomes him to speak truly and sincerely, that professes himself to be in Christ, that is to say, to be a Christian.

(2Co 12:20) For I feare least when I come, I shall not finde you such as I would: and that I shalbe found vnto you such as ye woulde not, and least there be strife, enuying, wrath, contentions, backebitings, whisperings, swellings and discord.

(Notes Reference) (8) For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and [that] I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest [there be] debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

(8) Having confirmed his authority to them, he rebukes them sharply, and threatens them also like an apostle, showing that he will not spare them from now on, unless they repent, seeing that this is the third time that he has warned them.

(2Co 12:21) I feare least when I come againe, my God abase me among you, and I shall bewaile many of them which haue sinned already, and haue not repented of the vncleannesse, and fornication, and wantonnesse which they haue committed.

(2Co 13:1) Lo this is the thirde time that I come vnto you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall euery worde stand

(2Co 13:2) I tolde you before, and tell you before: as though I had bene present the seconde time, so write I nowe being absent to them which heretofore haue sinned and to all others, that if I come againe, I will not spare,

(2Co 13:3) Seeing that ye seeke experience of Christ, that speaketh in mee, which towarde you is not weake, but is mightie in you.

(Notes Reference) (1) Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is (a) mighty in you.

(1) A most sharp reprehension, because, while they despise the apostle's admonitions, they tempt Christ's own patience: and also while they condemn him as wretched and miserable, they lay nothing against him, which is not common to him with Christ.

(a) And will be most mighty to be avenged upon you, when need will be.

(2Co 13:4) For though hee was crucified concerning his infirmitie, yet liueth hee through the power of God. And wee no doubt are weake in him, but we shall liue with him, through the power of God towarde you.

(Notes Reference) For though he was crucified through (b) weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

(b) Regarding that base form of a servant which he took upon him when he abased himself.

(2Co 13:5) Proue your selues whether ye are in the faith: examine your selues: knowe yee not your owne selues, howe that Iesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

(Notes Reference) (2) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

(2) He confirms that which he spoke about the power of God appearing in his ministry, and he gathers by the mutual relation between the people's faith and the minister's preaching, that they must either reverence his apostleship, upon whose doctrine their faith is grounded, or they must condemn themselves of infidelity, and must confess themselves not to be of Christ's body.

(2Co 13:6) But I trust that ye shall knowe that wee are not reprobates.

(Notes Reference) (3) But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

(3) He appeases that sharpness, trusting that they will show themselves towards their faithful apostle, able and willing to be taught. And he also adds this, that he does not seek his own fame and estimation, so that they may serve their saviour, which is the only mark that he shoots at.

(2Co 13:7) Nowe I pray vnto God that yee doe none euill, not that we should seeme approued, but that ye should doe that which is honest: though we be as reprobates.

(Notes Reference) Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as (c) reprobates.

(c) In men's judgment.

(2Co 13:8) For wee can not doe any thing against the trueth, but for the trueth.

(2Co 13:9) For we are glad when wee are weake, and that ye are strong: this also we wish for, euen your perfection.

(Notes Reference) For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, [even] your (d) perfection.

(d) That all things may be in good order among you, and the members of the church restored into their place, which have been shaken and are out of place.

(2Co 13:10) Therefore write I these thinges being absent, least when I am present, I should vse sharpenesse, according to the power which the Lord hath giuen mee, to edification, and not to destruction.

(2Co 13:11) Finally brethren, fare ye well: be perfect: be of good comfort: be of one minde: liue in peace, and the God of loue and peace shalbe with you.

(Notes Reference) (4) Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

(4) A brief exhortation, but yet such a one as comprehends all the parts of a Christian man's life.

(2Co 13:12) Greete one another with an holy kisse.

(Notes Reference) (5) Greet one another with an holy kiss.

(5) He salutes them familiarly, and in conclusion wishes well to them.

(2Co 13:13) (13:12) All the Saintes salute you.

(2Co 13:14) (13:13) The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the loue of God, and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all, Amen. [The seconde Epistle to the Corinthians, written from Philippi, a citie in Macedonia, and sent by Titus and Lucas.]