The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 164

human theories, but Divino revelations, Holding to the "one thing" and not carried ab,,ut by every wind of doctrine, The weathercock preacher may ~ amusin"' but he will do little to advance the gospel. (8) The power of God. Upon this Pa~i relied. To this he submiUed himself. He humbled himself into nothingness, that God micrht work through him and be all in all. He gave the praise of everything accomplished to the great W?rkcr, And qo_d specially honoured him by manifesting his power in and through him. Some mm1sters are too strong and great to accomplish anything. '1.'hey can do without the power of God; they do without it, and then they do nothing except hinder the gospel. (9) The armour of righteousness on the right hand and 011, the le/I. He was clad in the whole armour of God (Eph. vi. 13). Offensive and defensive. Himself justified and accepted and living in holiness; and weapons in his hand by which he emote evil wherever he saw it. 3. In the maintenance of wnsuitency and integrity under specially trying circumstances. Whether he was held in honour or dishonour, whether subject to good report or evil, he strove to be ever the same, to preach the same gospel, to manifest the same spirit, to live the aa.me life. His life and ministry were not dependent upon surroundings. 4. By not trlJCCWTTl1Ying to adverse circumstances. (1) Though branded as a deceiver, he convinced the candid that he was true and sincere. (2) Though unknown in true character by many, his faithful persistent ministry and· life made him well known to multitudes, and won their high regard. (3) Though chastised by enemies and dying daily, his heroic spirit continued 'its hold upon God, and he was not overborne. (4) Thou:i:h sorrowful as to outward lot, his inward condition enabled him ever to rejoice, and his joy found eonstant expression and was a powerful tribute to the gospel. (5) Though poor and outcast, he laboured so zealously in the gospel that many were made rich. (6) Though seeming to have lost all possessions, he could and did lay claim to every- thing, In the spirit of his own words to the Corinthians, "All things are yours" (1 Cor. iii. 21). Such conduct, spirit, life, bore the most powerful testimony to the p;ospel. Paul himself was a great sermon which, under God, shook the world. What Paul •vas is to-day one of the mightiest witnesses for Christianity.-a Vers. 14-18.-Unequal yoking. Intimate associations ought not to be formed by the people of God with the ungodly. The reference is, no doubt, to Deut. xxii, 10. I. How THa MAY BE DONE. 1. In reUgiousjellowship. 'l.'he apostle had occasion to warn the Corinthians against fellowship with idolaters. We may be attracted by a religious community in which the truth is not found or in which it is greatly obscured or distorted. 2. In marriage. With believers the religious question should be a prime question. Alas I it is often no question at all. Religious inequality is most frequently esteemed as the dust of the balance, and less than that. Consent is asked of the earthly father, but the heavenly Father is too commonly forgotten altogether, Marriages too often are not made in heaven, and that is why they have so little heaven about them. Th" ill-assorted union does not lead so much to Paradise as to misery and the divorce court. 3. In friendships. There is often much unequal yoking here. A wise man chooses his friends with care, but a fool takes them haphazard or on mere "liking." The power of a friendship is great, for good or for evil. Believers should choose friends who will help, not hinder, and friends who will be friends for ever, and not severed at the grave. 4. In business. Partnership iD commerce is a yoke which brings men vrJry close together. They must have very much in common ; their lives must run in very much the same channel; their actions must lari!;ely agree. Or, if not, their union will be disunion, and the issue, quarrels first, and perhap11 bank- ruptcy or worse next. How often a. child of God has lived to rue the day when he entered into partnership with a child of the devil! 11. WHY THIS SHOULD NOT BE DONE. 1. Unreasonable in itself. Consider what believers and unbelievers are. (1) The one," righteousness" (ver. 14)-lovers of holiness, striving for its fuller possession. The other, "iniquity "-the heart alienated from God, loving sin and walkin:;?; in it, though possibly exterior gloss may obscure inward defile- ment. (2) 'l.'he one," light" (ver. H)-illumined by the Holy Ghost, shone upon by the " Light of the world "-possessing a knowledge of the truth, children of the day. The other, "darkness "-the true light rejected or ignored, subjects of error, prtlparing them- selves for "the outer darkness,n (3) The one, in Christ (ver. 15)-members of his 160 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO 'l'HE COilIN'rHIANS. [en. VI. 1-18,