126 II. CORINTHIANS 5, 10.

do7ie 171 the hochj^ because the matter is conceived of, or is here represented as an investment. - Our acts are treasures laid up for the future, whether treasures of wrath,^or treasures in heaven ; and these (Ko/xt^oyae^a) ice receive hack. ) "i^he words TO. 8ta, Tov o-w/xaros may mean tilings (done) through or hy the body. Then bodily acts are taken for acts of all kinds. Com- pare Rom. 8, 13. Or the 8ta may be taken as in v. 7, (accord- ing to one interpretation of that verse,) as indicating the at- tending circumstance — loith the body, i. e. while clothed with the body. This is the sense expressed in our version, which renders the clause "things (done) in the body," although 8ta of course does not mean m. According to that he hath done^ TTpos a cTrpa^ei/, indicating the rule according to which the retributions of the final judgments are to be administered. Both Avith regard to the wicked and the righteous, there is to be a great distinction in the recompense, which difi:erent mem- bers of each class are to receive! Some will be beaten with few stripes, and some with many. It will be more tolerable in that day for Tyre and Sidon than for those who reject the gospel; and on the other hand, those believers who suffer most, will love most and be most blessed. Whether good or evil^ i. e. whether he did good or evil. Each shall receive according to his deeds whether good or bad. -(It is from such passages as this that some American theologians have inferred that the only benefit which the beUever receives from Christ is the forgiveness of sin, and that being pardoned he is dealt with according to the principles of justice. Others, especially in Germany, have drawn from the same source the conclusion that the doctrine of Paul is that the merit of Christ cleanses only from the sins committed before conversion. ~> If a Jew or Gentile became a Christian his sins were blotted out, and then he was rewarded or punished, saved or lost, according to his works. The merit of Christ availed nothing for the pardon of sin after conversion. And this again is very much the ancient doctrine that there is no forgiveness for post-baptismal sins. The benefits of Christ's work, according to many of the ancients, are conveyed to the soul in baptism, but if once for- feited by sin can never be reapplied. This gloomy doctrine, which belonged to the transition period which preceded the full development of the theology of the Papal church, hasrbeen revived by the inchoate Romanists of the present clay. \ But according to the Scriptures and the doctrine of all Protestant churches, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin,