confirmed in you ; so that ye come behind in no gift ; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ*^." So again, after the high eulogiura which he had given them in my text, he tells them, in the very next chapter, that all who had heard of their liberality " both prayed for them and longed after them for the exceeding grace of God in them''."
And good reason there was for this commendation : for their " faith" was genuine; their " utterance" easy and intel- ligible to all whom they addressed: their " knowledge" was diversified ; so that they delivered their sentiments to great advantage: and so devoted were they to the service of God in their respective spheres, that nothing could exceed their " diligence :" and in addition to all this, instead of setting up themselves or others against him, as had formerly been the case with many amongst them, they abounded also in " love to him," as their common parent^ Truly this was a state highly creditable to them, and most honourable to Christianity itself.]
And may I not adopt, in some measure at least, the language of my text towards you ?
[God knoweth, my brethren, that I would not knowingly " use Mattering words towards you :" but I must and will sa)', in reference to many of you, that your "faith" is remarkably simple, unmixed with erroneous notions of any kind. You do also, in your respective spheres, communicate instruction to others with a ready " utterance," and with a " knowledge" that is at once enlightened and discreet. You discharge cilso, with "diligence, all" your offices in common life. And I should be ungrateful in the extreme, if I did not acknowledge also your " love to your minister," and your readiness to pro- mote any measures for the good of others which he proposes for your adoption and support *^. And, from this view of your character, I am emboldened to exhort you to bear with me, whilst I call your attention to,]
II. The advice administered —
" See that ye abound in this grace also," the grace of liberality to the poor. The words added in our translation here are too strong. The Apostle tells us, that " he did not speak by way of commandment, but only in a way of advice^." He tells us, also, on what grounds he ofifered this advice ; namely,
<: 1 Cor. i. 4—7. ^ 2 Cor. ix. 14. e 2 Cor. viii. 7.
'' Of course, no minister will use such an Address as this, but to a very peculiar audience, and on a very peculiar occasion.