The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 113

as. he is pure." And ~hie is no selfish h?pe, no ~otistical am~ition. It is the hope of being cro~ed along with all wh_o love his appean_ng, ~nd of being rewarded along with all the fa1thf~ servants of the Kmg. 2. U<>nsola~wn in hardship a'Tld adversity. Even when a lamp 1s not near enough to cast a clear light on our path, it is cheering to see it in a murky nigh_t; and so are we comforted as we look for the glory with Christ. We move towards 1t over ever so rugged a path. We steer towards it over ever so restless a sea. If we look at the things which are seen, the waves and the threatenin"' rocks, we lose strength and courage; but with the eye fixed on the light of that blessed hope, we make straight for the harbour. 3. Preparation/or departure hence. It is appointed to men to die. To take no thought about this appointment, and to occupy the mind with only the things that are seen, forgetting their transience, is to play the part of a fool. The wise man is he who, while fulfilling the duties of the passing time, looks much and steadily into the future, and so, when he departs, goes not into regions unknown, but to the Saviour, whom he has loved and served, to wait with him and with all the saints for the resurrection and the glory.-F. Vers. 1, 2.-J,'ull CO'Tlji,dence in the power of the ti-uth. "By manifestation of tho truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." The great work of the Christian ministry is to set forth before men the truth. But we are not to understand by that term all truth or any truth. Reference is precisely to that truth about God, and, his relations with men, which had been partially revealed before, and was fully disclosed in Jesus Christ the Saviour. That special truth had been committed to the trust of the apostles. 'l'hey were to proclaim it freely to men, as they had or could make opportunity. And they were to be sure that God would make that truth his power unto men's salvation. Referring to the work of the modem ministry, it hna been well said that we have not so much" to tell the truth as to make the truth tell." The apostle, in these verses, reminds us of some things that are necessary if we would efficiently set forth the gospel truth. I. PERSEVERANCE. "We faint not." There must be no shrinking back in face of difficulties, no losing heart because things will not go smoothly, no wearying in our well-doing. St. Paul himself gan the noble example of what he enjoined. He did not count his life dear to him so that he might finish his course with joy. Succeed or fail, in strength or in weakness, he was "instant in season and out of season." II. SillPLICITY. 'l'he faithful minister will absolutely refuse all morely sensational aide to his work. He will wholly separate himself from worldly and guileful schemes for accomplishing his ends. He will refuse in any way to "do evil that good mny come." lt had been made an accusation against the a~sUe that he bad shown cmfti- ness and guile in his dealings with the Churches. '!his charge he most vigorously rebutted, a:id was led to urge that guilelesMness is essential to the faithful minister, whose conduct and motives may be searched through and through. Illustration mny he taken from the ministry of the Lord Jesus. He resorted to no arts, or schemes, or tricks, either of speoch or of conduct. His work was simple. It wus the living of u life, the delivery of a message, a genuine effort to bless iind save men. Ill FAITH. In the witness which the truth ever makes, and the rosponso to it which is alwnys given by men's consciences. We may pronch with this confidence- conscience will surely acknowledge the claim of God, and the guilt of sin, a.nd the need of redemption. Men may indeed silence conscience and put away the truth, but we always have this assurance-the best and deepest in every man responds to our mesMge. IV. 'l'HE ooNSCI0UBNl!:BB or BEING UNDER Goo's EYE. "In the sight of God." 'l'lmt Divine presence the minister realizes as the fulfilment of Christ's words, " Lo, I nm with you alway, even unto the end of the world." There is a hardness and coldness about the idea that we should work "as ever in the great Taskmaster's eyo." '!'here is warmth, tender sympathy, and inspiration in the BBSurance that the spiritual "Man, Christ Jesus," is with us everywhere. In conclusion, such points as these need careful treatment. 1. Is this confidence in the power of the truth justified by experience? 2. Does Christ's truth over really stand in peril? 3. If so, from what sources or in what directions does the peril come? Agencies and organizations and human moulds imperil it, and in every a.ge men are raised up who can set Christ's truth free from our human limitations and bondages. IL CORINTHIANS, I  114 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [cu. iv.1---:!S..