The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 49

, upon the sight were the vast population of the city. Before, the victor passed onwarJs 1 the captives taken in the campaign, and the spoil which had been wrested from the foe. Behind, followed the army, flushed with victory and rejoicing in the insolence and i pride oi' military m1.gbt. 'l'he conqueror himself, mounted aloft upon bis car was tbe centre of observation and attraction. Every mrLrk ()f honour was paid to him. Sacrificcij were offered by the priests to the gods to whose favour victory w11s. ascribed. Incense- bearers marched in the procession, and fragrant clouds ascended, floatina in the air and mintli~g with.the shouts and wi~h the strains of ma!tial music. Anl'in the temples sacnfic1al offermgs were accompamed by the presentation of the odorous incense. • I. 'l'HE TRIUMPHS oF THE GOSPEL. The warfare of the Word is against the sins of the rebels who have defied the authority of the Most High. In apostolic times the proaress of the gospel, though often opposed and often checked, appeared to the view of Pa~l as a triumphal progress. God, who had triumphed over the enemies whom he converted into his friends and comp1mions, made them, as his representatives, triumph in their 'turn and admitted them to share his triumph over the enemies of truth and righteousness. ' 11 THE INCENSE-BEARERS IN TlIE TRIUMPHAL TRAIN. There is a prodigality of wealth in the imagery here employed. Paul and hie fellow-ministers were themselves both captives and also incense-bearers-" unto God a sweet savour of Christ." As the Son of the Eternal is infinitely acceptable to his Father, so those who share his mission and pnrpose, and faithfully pnblish his gospel, are well-pleasing to him, as the odour of the fragrant incense to the nostril. III. THE ACCOMPAl-"IMEXTS AND RESULTS OF TlIE GOSPEL TRIUMPH. These are twofold and opposed. 1. To the peri,;bing the ministry is a sentence of death. Some captives were taken aside and put to death in cold blood as the procession approached the Capito line hill. The incense to such was deadly-an odour premonitory of a violent and miserable death. Thus the proclamation of the gospel, in itself an unspealmble blessing, is actually the occasion of the condemnation of unbelievers, who reject and despise it. 2. To those in course of salvation the ministry is a message of life; Welcome and pleasant alike to God and man, the glad tidings of redemption tell of life to those whose desert is death. A welcome and delightful fragrance to the saved, it promises participa- tion in the glorious victory and the eternal reign of the Divine Redeemer.-T. Ver. 14.-The triumph. The emotional and susceptible nature of the Apostle Paul was quick to recognize either opposition or success. And when it occurred to him, in the providence of God, to meet with instances in which his message was gratefully wel- comed and he himself was cordially appreciated, his heart was fille<l with joy, and be was eager to utter forth gratitnde and praise. When elated with prosperity in his evangelistic work, he felt that God was always making him to triumph. His spiritual successes were to him more glorious than the triumph which the victorious general enjoyed upon his return to Rome, when he ascended the Capitoline hill, with his fellow-warriors in the procession and his captives in hie train. What an ins[Jimtion do these words c,f the apostle afford to those who are engaged in the service of tho Saviour, and are expr.riencing the vicissitudes of earthly ministry I I. IF THERE 18 WARFARE, THERE WILL DE VICTORY. The Christian lire is a. warfarr, involvino-0 effort, dao~er, and resistance. Much more manifestly does thiR figure apply to those who preach the goi;pel, especially as evangelists among the heathen, tho degraded, the unbelievi~g. Such stand in n~ed _both of. spiritual courage and ol spiritual weapons. And m the stress of the confl1ct, m the n01se and tumnlt of warfare, it is well for them to remember that the issue is not uncertain, that conquest is close at hand. JI. IF THERE ARE ENEMIES, THEY WIJ.L BECOME EITHER CAPTIVES OR, DETTF.R STILL, Al,LIES AND FELLOW-SOLDIERS. When spiritual opponents are many and daring, and when their onset is sore and perhaps alarmin)(, the heart of the soldier of Christ may sometimes sink within him. But he is required to estimate the fortunes of the war, not by human lJrobabilities, but by Divine predictions. Of those who oppose themselves none shall prevaiL Some shall be vanquished and put to shame. Others shall confess the justice and the grace of Christ, shall lay down the arms of rebellion, shall enlist in the apiritual host, shall take to them the armour of God. III. JI THBRE 18 DISAPPOINTMl'!NT, THERE WILL BE REOOMPENSE. Paul knew often OB. u. 1- 17.J THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 49