for those inward graces and qualities which entitled him to the confidence of his readers. He recognised Christ as the giver of those gifts, and himself as undeserving of them. Had he been left to himself, instead of being the wise, disinter- ested, and faithful counsellor of Christians, he would have been a blaspheming persecutor. Philosophy would teach us that moral excellence must be self-acquired. The Bible teach- es us that it is the gift of God ; and being the gift of Christ, Christ must be God. As such, Paul blessed him for having been so merciful to him as to convert him, and bring him to the knowledge and obedience of the truth.
26. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, (I say,) that (it is) good for a man so to be.
I suppose therefore^ {yoiLitfn ow,) i. e. I think then. The being so, i. e. as you are, unmarried, is good, in the sense of expedient. There is a sUght grammatical inaccuracy, or change of construction, in this verse. ' I think then this to be expedient on account of the coming necessity; that is, I think that it is expedient for a man so to be.' Paul here ex- pressly states the ground of his opinion that it was inexpedi- ent for his readers to marry. It was on account of the present distress, (ivea-Tuxrav avdyKrjv,) the distress standing near, whether actually present, or impending, depends on the context, Luke 21, 23. 2 Cor. 6, 4. 10, 12. 1 Thess. 3, 7. In the present case it was probably not so much the troubles in which Christians were then actually involved, as those which the apostle saw to be hanging over them, which he refers to. The Scriptures clearly predicted that the coming of Christ was to be preceded and attended by great commotions and calamities. These predictions had reference both to his first and second advent. The insight even of inspired men into the future was very im- perfect. The ancient prophets searched diligently into the meaning of their own predictions, 1 Pet. 1, 10-12, and the apostles knew little of the times and seasons. Acts 1, 7. They knew that great calamities were to come on the earth, but how or when it was not given to them clearly to see. The awftil desolation which was soon to fall upon Jerusalem and on the whole Jewish race, and which could not but involve more or less the Christians also, and the inevitable struggles and per- secutions which, according to our Lord's predictions, his fol-