The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 46

embittered his career. St. Paul was subjected to these annoyances tbrou!(h all the middle period of bis apostolic life. And what did he learn from them? To he <listrnstful of his own heart, to keep _an open and vigilant eye on his in6rmities, to he specially guBrded as to the amb1t1ous uses of power, and to foreclose every avenue to his soul through which an entrance might be effected of a fanatical temper in rebuke, in the management of Church troubles, and in the relation sustained to the other apostles. In the_case of the C~rint~ian offender we see his lofty bearing. ~eady to forgive, glad to forgive, yet he waits till he can say to the Church, "If ye forgive anythin" I forgive also." And hear his reason," Lest Satan shonld get an advantage of us: for°;_eare not ignorant of his devices." Never could he have been St. Paul, apostle of the Gentiles, without this intense conception intensely realized of Sa.tan as an infernal a."'ent of prodigious power and unceasing activity. In his theology, in his way of looking 7't men and things, in his calculation of the forces to he met in the great conflict, it would have been inexplicably strange had he ignored or depreciated this gigantic spirit of evil. Elsewhere we have his allusions to Satan in other aspects of his character. Here he is the schemer, the wily plotter, the adroit strategist, observant of every movement, and on the alert for every opportunity. St. Paul was not afraid to acknow- ledge that in this matter at Corinth Satan might even yet turn things to his advanta::;e. Recall the words (1 Cor. v. 5), ." 'l'o deliver such a one unto Satan, for the destruction of the flesh;" and yet they were to labour a.nd intercede "that the spirit may be saver\ in the day of the Lord Jesus." And now, this repentant and forgiven man, shoul,l they not save him from the snares of Satan ?-save themselves, too, from being over- reached by the arch-enemy of Christ and all goodness ?-L. Vers. 12-17.-0oming to Troas; disquietude; defence of his apostleship. Quite abruptly St. Paul mentions that he came to Troas. Why he left Ephesus he does not say, but we infer it was because of his anxiety to see Titus, and hear from him how his letter to the Corinthians had been received. There was a fine opening at Troas to preach the gospel, and yet he was greatly disquieted as 'l'itus did not meet him. "Taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia." Here he met Titus, though, in the excitement of joy, he fails to state it. The sudden outburst of gmti- tude, "Thanks be unto God," expresses his exultation over the good tidings Titus hail brought from Corinth, so that here, as is frequently the ea.so, wo got the outward history of events from the biography of the apostle's heart. All he had expected, and even more, had been realized, and he breaks forth in thanksgiviog. .. Ye that in waters glide, and ye thu.t walk The earth, and sto.tely trend or lowly creep, Witness if I be silent, morn or ev'n, To hill or valley, fountnin or fresh sho.do, Mu.de vocal by my song, and tnught his praise." St. Paul was not a silent man in his happiness. No depth of emotion safolied him unless it could be imparted to others. On this occasion his soul found uttcrnuco in thanking God, "which always causeth us to triumph in Christ." A militnry triumph rises before him; the victorious general is returning to the capital; the long procession moves before his eye; and, in the train, the captives brought home are conspicuous. Such a captive is the apostle following the ch1uiot of his Lord. "Yet (at the same time, by a characteristic change of metaphor) a.n inconsc-boa.ror, scattering incense (which was always done on these occasions), as the procession moves on" (Conybeare and Howson). Christ is the fragrance; " we are unto God a sweet i;avour of Christ." Whether men are saved or lost, Christ is Christ, and the fragrance cannot perish. ThE1re will be a " savour of death unto death " nnu a " savour of life unto life;" but, in eit.her issne, the glory of God's government is maintained. For, so far as we can see into the relations of Christ to man and of man to Christ, tho fundnmental fact in each aspect of the subject is human freedom. Of his own free- will Christ took upon himself our flesh and blood, sutrorod, and died; and of our owu free-will made such by him and acted on as such by the Holy Spirit, we 1Lccept hi:1 atoneme~t. If we reject the offered mercy, the act of our rt!joction testifies to tho infinitude of the mercy, and the" savour of Chrlat" is none tho less" aweo~" in itsdf,  46 THE SECOND EPISTLE_ TO THE CORI,NTHIA~S. [oH. u. 1-17,