endure, for the good of others : yet through the arti- fices of false teaches, who sought to estabhsh their own influence on the ruins of his, every thing he did became to him an occasion of reproach. There were great disorders in the Corinthian Church, which he sought to rectify. He in the first instance adopted the mildest methods : when these were ineffectual, he threatened to exert his apostolic authority : when still he could not prevail, he was extremely averse to use the necessary severity ; and forbore to do it, in hopes that his lenity might conciliate their regards, and reduce them to a willing obedience. But they construed all this change of conduct as the result of guile, or timidity. They considered him as influ- enced by a view to his own carnal interests, and as being unworthy of their respect in proportion as he strove to merit it. Of this he complains in the pas- sage before us. He assures his adversaries that, though hke other men he was still encompassed with infirmities, he was not actuated by any considerations of ease, or honour, or interest, but was intent on mortifying every evil thought in himself, as well as of checking it in them : and that, as he was impelled by a sense of duty in the whole of his conduct to- wards them, so, if his present kind entreaties should be without effect, he was ready and determined to exert his apostolic authority in casting out of the Church all obstinate off'enders, and in inflicting on them also, by his miraculous powers, some heavy judgment.
This seems to be the import of the text as it stands connected with the context. But if we divest it of the peculiarities arising from the occasion, we shall find in it a summary view of the effects produced by the Gospel in the Apostle's own mind, and, through his instrumentality, on the minds of others also. In discoursing upon it we shall be led to shew,
I. The opposition which sinners make to God —
We might here lay open the actions of men, and shew their contrariety to the commands of God.
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