The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 80

to set him forth in daily life, that we become .ehanged into• his image, As we strenu- ously endeavour to be like him we become like him. Our -endeavour to reflect him is responb-d to by the change in us which enables us to reflect him. Reflecting his glory 11,e a mirror, we are changed into the same image. VI. THE WoRKER OF THE CHANGE. The Holy Ghost, "the Lord the Spirit." Christ working by his Spirit, who takes of the things of Christ and reveals them unto us. "The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my Name" (John xiv. 26). 'l'ho work is Divine; it calls for Divine power. We cannot work this change, yet we can " turn to the Lord," that it may be worked.-H. Vere. 2, 3.-A living letter. Apollos had carried to Corinth written credentials (seo Acts xviii. 27; xix. 1). Why had Paul not done eo too? He claims that he needed them not. The converts in that city were themselves his credentials. His appeal to the Corinthians on this point proceeds on a principle easily understood and often applied. 'l'he best testimonial a teacher can produce is the proficiency of his pupils. The most satisfactory evidences of the skill of a physician are the patients who have recovered health under his care. The convincing proofs of the comp~tcncy of a gardener are tho prosperity of the plants and the abundance of flowers and fruits which he produces from the ground. So was the Church at Corinth itself the best diploma or commendation of the apostle who had founded it and watched over it (see 1 Cor. iv. 14-16). A good teacher needs no letter of commendation to his own pupils, or a father to his own children. Seizing the idea of a letter, and showing that the Corinthian saints them- selves formed the only letter he needed to produce, St. Paul used this as an illustration in two forms. 1. The Christians at Corinth were written on his heart, for they were dear to him (eh. vii 3; Phil. i. 7). And this was no secret. The tie of affection between St. Paul and the Corinthian brethren wes "known and read of all." 2. Christ had written upon their hearts what served as a powerful letter of commendation for his servant Paul. Let us pursue the second use of the metaphor. A Church is an epistle of Christ, open for all men to read. I. THE AUTHOR OF TBE LETTER. This is Christ. Whatever Divine thoughts aro given to human minds, or spiritual impressions are stamped on humo.n henrts, µrocoed from Christ. And it is true of Churches in all ages. As Christ is tho livin~. One, he ie ever writing new epistles-in harmony with those which were written at the begin- ning-and yet new and fresh and suited to the current time. II. 'l'BE AJUNUENBIS. At Corinth this was Paul. In modern Churchos it is tho faithful ministry of the Word. The epistle is not invented or dictated by us, but "ministered by us." The mind of Christ is thereby conveyed to and impressed on tho company of believers. Ill. 'l'BE TABLETS. 'l'hey are not of stone, but of the heart. The ministrntion of death was written and engraven on stone in the form of ten commandments. 'l'ho more glorious ministration of the spirit and of righteousness is inscribed on the convic- tions and affections of living men. 'l'he law of Christ is put into the inward parts and written on the heart. For this end, too, the Lord knows how to eof,01t tho tablets, to make the heart tender and warm, and so susceptible of the instruction and impression of the Word. Oh to have a still heart, not restless, that the writing may be plain, and to have a lowly heart, not hard, that the engraving may be deep I IV. Tal!l JUNNER OF WRITING. "Not with ink." St. P1.u1'11 letters were so written, ae were those of other apostles (2 John 12); and by ink of the scribo and the printer have they been preserved and propagated. But for writing on the heart porishl\blo material is unsuited. Jehovah wrote the Law on tho tablots of stone with hiij own hand; and on the tablets of the human heart Jesus Christ writes, using ministry 118 ho pleases in the process with the linger or power of God-" tbe Spirit of the living God." And so, in all times and all Churches of the saints, the application of tho truth is by tho living Spirit. V. TBE THING WRITTEN. It is the mind of Christ. Ye "have learned Christ, and the truth as it is in Jesus.• There is no higher truth to learn, no better messe.go to carry. VI. THE PUBLICATION OP THE LETTER. It is "manifestly declared," and may be known and read of all men. Thie is said of the Church collective, for such is the temple of  80 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO 'l'HE CORINTHIANS. [cH. m.1-18.