dee.It untruly with the Word of God, led to like the English "to huckster." Suell the substitution of ol ;\onrol, the rest, in deceitful d~lers with the gospel are de- some manuscripts (D, E, F, G, L). But scribed in 2 Pet. ii. 3, and in one of the "the many" here means "the me.ny anta- Iguatiau letters they are ea.lied Christemporoi, gonists of mirie," who pree.ch a. different Christ-traffickers. Such were those who gospel (Ge.I. i. 6). It must be remembered altered the perspective of the gospel, the.t conceit, Pha.risa.ism, more.I le.xity, and lowered its ste.nde.rd, and adulterated it fe.ctions were e.ll at work in the Corinthian with strange admixtures. Their method~ Ohurch. Whioh corrupt. The Word means and their teaching are constantly alluded to who e.re merely " tre.ffickin"' with" "adul- in these Epistles (1 Cor. i.17, 31; ii. 1-4; terating," "huckstering," the W~rd of lifo. and eh. x. 12, 15; xi. 13-15, etc.). But The word occurs in the LXX. of Isa.. i. 22 ; e.s of sinoority, but e.s of God. Like one Ecclus. xxvi. 29 ; and Pia.to applies the so.me who speaks from the sincerity of his heart metaphor to the sophist.a, who peddle their (eh. i. 12; iv. 2) and by the inspiration of wisdom a.bout (' Prote.g.,' p. 313 d). God (1 Cor. xiv. 25). Before God speak we 'fhe subsle.ntive 1'apelos mee.us " a. rete.il in Christ. The sphere of our tcachi11g as of dee.lcr," and especially o. vintner, and the our life is Christ; and our work is done verb 1,apeleuo is e.l we.ys used in a. be.d sense, "As ever in our great T811kma.ster's eye."
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-11,-The uniting force of Christian love. "But I determined this with myself," etc. The subject which these words suggest is the uniting force of Christian love. We see it here uniting all its subjects in a common sympathy, e. common punish- ment, and a common forgiveness. Here is Christian love- I. UNITING ALL ITS SUBJECTS n; A COMMON SYMPATHY. "But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in hee.viness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by mt!?" Tin, language of l'a.ul in the first four verses implies that the "heaviness " or one would be the heaviness of all, the sorrow of one the sorrow of 1111, the grief of one the grief of 1111, the joy of one the joy of a.II. And this is whe.t Christian love does in all its subjects, wherever it exists. 'l.'o whatever Church they belong, it gathers them together in one, it binds them together as attraction binds the material universe into one m11gnificeut and he.rmonious system. What one feels all feel, all affections e.re drawn to a. common centre, all hee.rts point to a common home. The pulsations of all throb in he.rmony and make music in the ear of God. II. UNITING .ilL ITS SUBJECTS IN A COMMON PUNISHMENT. u But if any ho.ve ce.uset.l grief, he ho.th not grieved me, but in part; that I may not overcharge you e.11. Sufficient to such a. me.n is this punishment, which was inflicted of mo.ny." In the whole passage from vers. 6-10 Paul's reference is to that incestuous person of whom he wrote iu his First Epistle (see 1 Cor. v. 1-5), and whose excommunication or "punishment" he secured. 'l.'he retribution which tho.t man received was not the work of any one of them, but all joined in it. They all sympa.thetico.lly concurred in it, nod thus it was inflicted on many. They all loathed the so.me wrong and a.ll endured the same punish- ment. Tru.e punishment for wrong is the work of love, not vengear.ce. 'l'hercforo punishment is not for destruction, but for restoration. 'l'he punishment that destroys the criminal is Satanic, not saintly; devilish, not Divine. Hestorution is the work of love, the work of God. This is here distinctly stated. "So that contrariwise ye ought mther to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow." It would seem from the language of the apostle that the punishment they had inflicted on this guilty person had produced ll deep peuitcntinl sorrow-lest he" should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow." llis punishment lm,l tLnHwered its purpose, therefore restore him and "confirm your love toward him." III. UNITING ALL ITS SUBJECTS IN A COMMON FORGIVENESS, "To whom ye forgivo anything, I forgive also." As if Paul had e.aid, "You o.n<l I nro so united in luvinJ sympathy that those whom you forgh'e I forgive." Observo here three things. 1. '!'hat fo,yivene8s is the prerogative of Chri$tian love. Them is no lovo that hus tho truo spirit of forgiveness but Christi11n. 1t is the highest form of love; higher than gratitu,lc, esteem, adoration. It is the" new colllmandment." 2. That in tho cx.crcise of Lrg;-ve• 42 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [err. IT. 1-17.