Vers. 5-11.-Restoring the backslider. L CHURCH DISCIPLINE SHOULD BE ADMINIS- TERlm BY THE CHURCH. "This punishment which was inflicted by the many" (ver. 6). Not by an individual, be he the pope himself, nor by priests or clei·"y, but by the whole body of the individual Church or a majority of its memb~rs. A Christian bas a right to be judged by bis peers. II. CHURCH DISCIPLINE SHOULD EVER HA VE IN VIEW RESTORATION, Its object is not to punish the offender so much as to do him good, ~nd at the same. time to preserve the Church's purity. Church discipline should not be regarded as a final act towards the backslider, but with it should ever be associated prayers and, hope that the severance may be brief. The Church rejects that she may accept ; she casts out that she may receive back again. So Church discipline should never be of a character to hinder repentance or to render restoration impossible. III. CHURCH DISCIPLINE SHOULD BE ADMINIBTERED WITH GREAT DISCRETION. 1. On the one hand, it may be too slight and not produce suitable effects, 2. On the other, it may be so excessive as to drive the offender to despair. 3. In either case Satan will gain aa. advantage (ver. 11), which he is ever seeking and has often found when the Church or its lea<lers have attempted the delicate task of discipline. 'l'he Church's discipline of persecution and intolerance has served .the devil's purposes admirably iu many a dark century. And the Church's discipline of indifference and false charity has done similar service in many a century boasting of its light and breadth of thought and liberty. IV. P&.'ITENCE ON THE PART OF AN OFFElfDER IS A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR PROMP'l RESTORATION TO FELLOWSHIP. The duty of restQration is not so fully recognized as it might be. Often it is the predilection of the powers tha.t be, rather than the condition of the offender, which determines whether· he shall be restored or not. But when the honour of the Church has been vindicated, and the offender ,is undoubtedly contrite, the way of duty is clear. A Church which will not restore then, deserves to be excommunicated itself. , V. RESTORATION IS NOT TO BE TO TOLERATION, DOT TO LOVE. The love is to exist whilst the discipline is being inflicted. It ie to manifest itself unreservedly when discipline is removed. Many are restored to. suspicion, ~oldness, cout_eml?t-a r~st?ra• tion which paves the way for a more fatal fall. If God forgives some profossmg Christiane as they forgive others (and this is their frequent prayer), their share of the Divine forgi\·eness is likely to be a very slea.der one.-H.
Vers. 14-17.-The constant triumph of the faitliful minister. I. HE TRIU.MP,HS DECAUSE WHEREVER HE GOES BE MAKES KNOWN GoD AND CHRIST. 'l'bis is a true triucµph. Jf be succeeds in doing this he has a great success-the success of performance of duty and of fulfilment of the Divine will. Moreover, the kingdom of God is nlmost certain to be extended. Apparent failure, when more closely examined and tried by the test of_ time, will often be found to be success. II. l:hs 'fllIUMPH IB NOT DEPENDENT VPON THE RECEPTION OF ms MESSAGE, 1. To some hi,B word is a savour from death unto death. 'fhe Christ proclaimed is to them a dead Christ, and his gospel lifeless and powerless, leading them only to douser s11iritual. oH. u. 1-17.J THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 51