For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Ver. 11. What carefulness] Gr. what study, which (saith Cicero) is an earnest and serious bending and applying of the mind to something with a great deal of delight, σπουδη, Vehemens ad aliquam rem magna cum voluptate applicatio. It is rendered here carefulness, not that of diffidence, but that of diligence, putting a man upon those wholesome thoughts, What have I done? what shall I do? &c.
Yea, what clearing] Gr. apology or defence. The old interpreter renders it satisfaction. It may be (saith Mr Bradford) he meant a new life, to make amends thereby to the congregation offended. As the devil is called the accuser, so the Spirit is called the Comforter or pleader for us; because as he maketh intercession in our hearts to God, so upon true repentance he helpeth us to make apology for ourselves; not by denying our sins or defending them, but by confessing and disclaiming them, as a child to his father.
Yea, what indignation] Or stomach, as Ephraim, Jeremiah 31:19. The publican who smote himself upon the breast, he would have knocked his corruptions, if he could have come at them, as those, Isaiah 30:22, that polluted the idols that they had perfumed, and said unto them, Get you hence, be packing. "What have I to do any more with idols?"Hosea 14:8. Out-of-doors with this Tamar, here is no room for her. So foolish was I, and so very a beast, saith David, Psalms 73:22. How angry and hot was he against himself,2 Samuel 24:10 .
Yea, what fear] Of God's heavy displeasure, and of doing any more so. The burnt child dreads the fire. He that hath been stung, hates a snake.
Yea, what vehement desire] As that of Rachel after children, as that of David after the water of the well of Bethlehem, as that of the hunted hind after the water brooks, Psalms 42:1. David panted and fainted after God. That martyr cried out, None but Christ, none but Christ.
Yea, what zeal] Which is an extreme heat of all the affections for and toward God. David's zeal ate him up. Paul was just as mad for Christ as ever he had been against him, 2 Corinthians 5:13; cf. Acts 26:11 .
Yea, what revenge] Out of the deepest self-abhorrence, buffeting the flesh, and giving it the blue-eye, as St Paul (that crucifix of mortification) once did. Thus the women parted with their lookingglasses,Exodus 38:8. Mary Magdalen wiped Christ's feet with her hair, wherewith she had formerly made nets to catch fools in. Cranmer burnt his right hand first, wherewith he had subscribed, and oftentimes repeated in the flames, This unworthy right hand, so long as his voice would suffer him. The true penitentiary amerceth himself, and abridgeth his flesh of some lawful comforts, as having forfeited all. These seven signs of godly sorrow are to be seen in the repenting Church, Song of Solomon 5:2,7, as in a worthy example or emblem. "I sleep," there is indignation; "but my heart waketh," there is apology. "I arose to open," &c., there is study or care and diligence. "My soul failed," there is her zeal. "I sought him, I called on him," there is her vehement desire. "The watchmen found me, they smote me," &c., there is her revenge, while she shrank not for any danger, but followed Christ through thick and thin in the night among the watch. And all this shows her fear of being again overtaken with drowsiness.
To be clear in this matter] Because they had heartily repented of it. Quem poenitet peccasse, pene est innocens. Repentance is almost equivalent to innocence. (Sen. in Agam.) Imo plus est propemodum a vitiis se revocasse, quam vitia ipsa nescivisse, saith Ambrose.