166 II. CORINTHIANS 6, 14.

the heatlien, much less to association with the opponents of the apostle. It no doubt had a special reference or applica- tion to the peculiar circumstances of the Corinthians, and was intended to guard them against those entangling and danger- ous associations with the unconverted around them, to which they were specially exposed. And as we knoAv that their special danger was from idolaters, (see 1 Cor. ch. 8, and 10, 14-33,) whose festivals they Avere constantly urged to attend, it is to be presumed that it was from all association with the heathen in their worship that the apostle intended to warn them. But this is only one application of the principle here laid down, viz., that intimate associations ought not to be formed by the people of God with those who are not his peo- ple. The same remark may be made in reference to the per- sons here intended by imheUevers. It is no doubt true that Iby unbehevers {ol a-LaToi) Paul meant the heathen. (See 1 Cor. 6, 6.) But it does not follow from this that intimate as- sociation with the heathen is all that is here forbidden. The principle applies to all the enemies of God and children of darkness. It is intimate, voluntary association with the wicked that is forbidden. The worse a man is, the more openly he is opposed to Christ and his gospel, the greater the danger and evil of connection with him. It is not so much his profession as his real character and influence that is to be taken into account. If it be asked whether the marriage of professors of religion with non-professors, in the modern (or American) sense of those terms, is here expressly prohibited ? The answer must be in the negative. There were no such classes of persons in the apostolic age, as professing and non- professing Christians. The distinction was then between Christians and heathens. Persons born within the pale of the Christian Church, baptized in the name of Christ, and relig- iously educated, do not belong to the same category as the heathen. And the principle which applied to the latter there- fore does not apply to the former. Still it is to be remem- bered that it is the union of incongruous elements, of the devout and undevout, of the spiritual and the worldly, of the good and the evil, of the children of God and the children of the evil one, that the apostle exhorts Christians to avoid. Be not unequally yoked. The w^ord is £T€joo^t7ea>, to he yoked heteroyeneously^ i. e. with an animal of another kind. The allusion is evidently to the Mosaic law which forbade the uniting animals of different kinds in the same yoke. Deut. 22,