la vs. 1-6 the apostle resumes the theme of 3, 12, viz. the open and faithful manner in which he preached the gospel. In vs. 7-15 he shows that his own personal insufficiency and suffering served to manifest more clearly the power of God, who rendered such a feeble instrument the means of producing so great effects. Therefore, vs. lG-18, he was not discour- aged or faint-hearted, but exultingly looked above the things seen to those unseen.
As Paul had been made a minister of the new covenant, in- trusted with the ministration of righteousness and life, he acted as became his high commission. He was neither timid nor deceitful. He doubted not the truth, the power, or the success of the gospel which he preached ; nor did he in any way corrupt or conceal the truth, but by its open proclama- tion commended himself to every man's conscience, vs. 1. 2. If, notwithstanding this clear exhibition of the truth, the gos- pel still remained hid, that could only be accounted for by the god of this w^orld blinding the eyes of men. Nothing short of this can account for the fact; for, says the apostle, we preach Christ and not ourselves, and Christ is the image of God. In him there is a revelation of the glory of God to which there is nothing analogous but the original creation of light out of darkness, vs. 3-6. This treasure, however, is in earthen vessels. The gospel is the revelation of God. It is to do for the w^orld what the creation of light did for the cha- otic earth. But we ministers are to have none of the glory of the work. We are nothing. The whole power is of God;