2 Corinthians 7:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 7 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul exhorteth the Corinthians to purity of life, 2 Corinthians 7:2 and to receive him, who had done nothing to forfeit their esteem. 2 Corinthians 7:3-7 He repeateth the assurance of his love for them, and showeth what comfort he had received in all his troubles from the report which Titus had brought of their good dispositions toward him. 2 Corinthians 7:8-12 So that, upon the whole, he did not repent of having grieved them a little by letter, considering the good effects which that godly sorrow had produced. 2 Corinthians 7:13-16 Above all, he rejoiced to observe the good impressions which their behaviour, so answerable to his former boastings of them, had left in the mind of Titus. Having therefore these promises; i.e. of God's dwelling in us, and walking with us; of God's being our Father, and making and owning us as his sons; which promises are made to true penitents that will touch no unclean thing. Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and the spirit; let us, through the assistance of Divine grace, endeavour to cleanse ourselves, or keep ourselves clean, not only from fleshly filthiness, such as are sins of intemperance, drunkenness, uncleanness; but also from spiritual filthiness, extravagant passions, corrupt affections, pride, envy, rash anger, idolatry, contention, division. Perfecting holiness in the fear of God; and that, because we are not only obliged to holiness, but to perfect holiness, in, or through, the fear of the Lord; awing our hearts, lest we should profane the temple of the Lord, or behave ourselves as undutiful sons to so good a Father. So far are God's promises, and our belief of them, or affiance in God for the fulfilling of them, from hindering us in the practice and exercise of holiness, that there can be no more potent motive to persuade the perfection of holiness; and that not only from the argument of Divine love, contained in the promises, but from the consideration of the persons to whom, and the conditions upon which, the promises are made.