The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 142

III. THE MOOD OF HIND THAT WISHES FOB DEATH, St. Paul wrote this in dejec- tion of spirit. To his sickness, which had much enfeebled him was added at that time much anxiety about the condition of the Churches in Gre~e and their feelings toward himself. So hie heart, as tender and sensitive as it wae ardent and brave was bruised and weary ; and he fell a-thinking of death as welcome. Let the outward man perish ; let the earthen vessel break ; let the weary spirit escape and be at rest. A mood this into which, at one time or other, many Christians fall; but it should not be elevated into a pattern or rule, as though it were the duty of every Christian to Jong and sigh for death. Our holy faith requires nothing so unnatural. They who are in health and well omployeu ought to make the most of life-to value and not despise it. Enough that they do not forget death ; and they need not fear it if they Jive well. We must do Paul the justice to acknowledge that there was nothing peevish or impatient in bis mood. So long as there was service for him to render to the Church on earth, he was willing to abide in the flesh and to endure any toil or suffering in order to finish his course. But the mood that was on him led him to long for the finish, when he might leave the little horsehair tent on earth and be at home in God's building in the heavens.-F. Vers. 14, 15.-The secret of devotedness. No one now flings a charge of madness at the sublime enthusiasm of St. Paul. He is looked on as a paragon of Christians. But, while he lived, ho had no such general appreciation to encourage and sustain him. What he had above other men were not praises, but labours and reproaches. He endured all because he had in himself the mainspring of faith and the holy energy of love. Throughout this Epistle he shows his feeliags and motives with the utmost candour, and in this passage tells how he came to be so enthusiastic toward God and so thoughtful aud self-controlled toward his fellow-Christians. I. THE :r,rnvmo PRmCIPLE OF CHRISTIAN DEVOTEDNESS. It is the strong unchang- ing love of Christ to his people, assured to them by his Spirit and his Word. Paul had a fear of God, a reverence for the Law, and walked in all good conscience; but when the love of Christ was revealed to him and sufl'nsed his spirit it made a new man of him-thrilled, stirred, animated, constrained him to love and serve Chlist and the Church. And as the apostle grew old and experienced, this motive lost nothing of its power. The love of Christ became to him, as it does to all experienced Christians, more aud more wonderful-a Shepherd's love, that led him to die for us, and that now secures that we "shall not want;" a Brother's love, and "love beyond a brother's; " a Blide- groom's love, who gave himself for the Church and will present the Church to himself. II. '1.'HE WAY IN wmcu THE MOTIVE ACTS. It is through DO mere gush of feeling, but through consideration of the purpose and efficacy of Christ's death and resurrection. I. He died for all to tbis intent and with this result, that all of them died. Virtually and in the estimate of God this crucifixion of the whole Church took place when Christ was crucified. In the actual realization of it it becomes true to each man as and when he looks to Christ crucified and is united to him by faith. And with effects both legal and moral. He who was married to the Law dies to the Law, and is freed from its claims, so as to be married to the risen Christ. He who lived in sin dies to sin, and may not any longer live therein. He who loved the world is crucified to it, that he may love and live to God. 2. He rose again; and all the crucified ones live by him. So they have justification, ns represented by the accepted One, who has gone to the Father; and sanctification too, as separated to God in holy living and guided by the indwelling Spirit. The former manner of life is marked by self-regard. The new manner of life exchanges this for the habit of regarding Christ. So his con- straining love induces his followers "to live unto him." III. USES OF THIS DOCTnINE. I. Let it instruct us. Many are very ill informed on the relation of our Lord's death and resurrection to the Divine will and to human salvation; and for this reason they are much less constrai_ned br his love than t~ey ought to be. Study these things. Brina thouaht and cons1derat10n as well as emotion to the theme. 'l'ho love constrains "bc~ause ;e judge." 2. Let it humble us. Has the Son of the living God so loved us, and where is our love to him? "Lord, it is my chief complaint That my love is oold and faint," 139 'l'I-IE SECOND .h.PISTLE TO TH~ CORINTHIANS. Lon. v. 1-21,