lowers were to encounter, were surely enough to create a deep impression on the apostle's mind, and to make him solicitous to prepare his brethren for the coming storm. It is not neces- sary, therefore, to assume, as is so often done, that the apostle anticipated the second advent of Christ during that genera- tion, and that he refers to the calamities which were to pre- cede that event. Such expectation would not, indeed, be in- compatible with his inspiration. It was revealed to him that Christ was to come the second time ; and that he was to come as a thief in the night. He might, therefore, naturally look for it at any time. We know, however, that in the case of Paul at least, it was revealed, that the second advent was not to occur before the national conversion of the Jews, Rom. 11, 25 ; or before the great apostasy and rise of the man of sin, 2 Thess. 2, 2. 3. Still, he knew not when those events might occur, and therefore he knew not when Christ would come. It was not, however, to the calamities which are to precede the second advent, to which Paul here refers, but rather to those which it was predicted should attend the introduction of the gospel.
27. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife ? seek not a wife.
Marriage, in the present circumstances of the church, will prove a burden. Although this fact will not justify the disso- lution of any marriage, it should dissuade Christians from get- ting married.
28. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Neverthe- less such shall have trouble in the flesh : but I spare you.
If them marry ^ or, ' If thou shalt have married, thou didst not sin ; and if a virgin shall have married^ she did not sin.' Marriage is inexpedient, not sinful. It is not because there is any thing wrong in getting married that Paul dissuades from it, but because such shall have trouble (^Xti/^t^, suffering) in the flesh / that is, external, as opposed to inward or spirit- ual afflictions. The reference is to the afflictions which must attend marriage in times of trouble. The word flesh is often used in this sense for what is external. John 6, 63. Eph. 6, 5.