The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 112

Ver. 18.-Seeing the unseen. I. THE HABIT OF :MmD HERE DESCRIBED. The apostle i;peaks, not of an act or effort, but of a steady mental habit which he had formed-an intentness of regard in a particular direction. He describes it in a form that sounds 11aradoxical, but the thing meant is well known to all experimental Christians. Tho things seen and not seen in this passage are not the visible e.nd invisible by mortal eyes, as in Rom. i. 20, The things not seen in the verse before us are so, not because they cannot be seen, but because the time has not yet come for their manifestation. The things seen, from which St. Paul turned away his eyes, were the toils and afflictions endured by him as a servant of Christ, The things not seen were the rewards of faithful service at the coming of the Lord-the "weight of glory." And the habit here indicated is that of looking off from labours and sufferings to the glorious appear- ing of the Lord, and the bright "recompense of reward." It is the highest form of looking on the cheerful side of things. As this is a habit, it must be formed by degrees and by reiterated efforts. By be!lding the mind as much as we can towardH the futuro with Christ, we must train it to habitual expectation and desire. II. THE BEASON ASSIGNED FOR FORMING THIS HABIT. "l!'or the things which are seen are," etc. St. Paul reflected that "the st1fferings of the present time" were, after all, of short continuance. The affliction he endured was only for a moment as com- pared with the eternity before him. So he felt that he would outlive and triumph over all his trials. 'l'hey were temporal, and so could not reach into the life beyond or mar the hope laid up for him in heaven. Was not this the way with the Divine Master himself? For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame. And so should all who are his bear the cross and endure patiently, because tht1 time will not be long and the things not seen are eternal. III. TnE BENEl'ITS WHICH ACCOMPANY 0B FLOW FROM THIS HABIT WHEN FORMED, 1. Elevation of the tone of life. Life is as its motives are; and tho motives come from the convictions, fears, and hopes that arc strongest in tho mind. A superficial religion has not power enough to cleanse tho heart or ennoble the principles of conduct. But a formed habit of regarding the things eternal as those to which we hasten must raise and refine the character. " Every one who has this hope in him purifies himself, oven CH. IV.1-18.] 'l'HE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 11;}