2 Cor. iii. 7 — IL If the ministration of death, written and en- graiie7i in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could jiot steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory
of his countenance ; which glory was to he done away : how shall not the ministration of the spirit he rather glorious ? for if the ministration of condemnation he glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that tvhich was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which was done aivay ivas glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
THE Apostle, in vindicating his claim to apostolic authority against the false teachers at Corinth who disputed it, appeals to the Corinthians themselves as proofs and evidences of his divine mission ; since the work of God upon their hearts abundantly mani- fested, that his ministrations among them had been attended with a power more than humane In thus substantiating his title to apostolic authority, he is led, incidentally as it were, to mention the excellency of that Gospel which he was sent to preach ; and from thence to shew, that the deference due to him was the greater, in proportion to the excellency of the Gospel which he ministered unto them. Honourable as the state of the Levitical priesthood was, it was not to be compared with that of those who preached the Gospel ; because the law, as ministered in the " letter" of it, proved fatal to all who trusted in it; whereas the Gospel was a source of " life" to all who cordially embraced it : the one, as a mere " letter, killed ;" the other, as a quickening '' spirit, gave life''." The Apostle, having touched upon this point, pro- ceeds to open it more fully in the words which we have just read : for the fuller understanding of which we shall consider,
I. The different terms by which the law and the Gospel are here designated — The law is called " the ministration of death and of condemnation."
[The law as given to Adam in Paradise " was ordained to life," and would have entitled him to life if he had continued obedient to it"^ : but, as republished by Moses, it was never
a ver. 2, 3, 5. with 1 Cor. ix. 2. ^ ver. G.
^' Rom. vii. 10.