The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 165

hody, his disciples, his ransomed people. The other, folloivers of Belia!, the childnln of the wicked one, sen·ing him daily. (4) The one, the temple of God (vcr. Hi), con- secrated to God, God dwelling in tbem. The other, the temple of idols-of the idols ol sin, made into gods. God in the one, the devil in the other. How can such opposites as these be united? Why should righteousness seek alliance with iniquity? Can light and darkness walk together? Can Christ and Delia! be on terms of concord? How can temples of God and temples of vilest idols be brought to agreement? 2. Extremely perilouB. How many have found this! In marriage, for example. What misery, loss of peace, loss of holiness, loss of everything most prized once, have followed upon o.n unequal alliance I The life has been nttedy ruined and lost. Some marry iu order to convert; but we should always convert people before we marry them. The peril applies to all cases of unequal yoking. The evil generally triumphs because the good has robbed itself of power by taking a false step. 3. Expi·essly forbidden by God. 'rhe Divine Word is emphatic: "Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch no uncle.an thing" (ver. 17). This is e. Divine command which we de.re not set aside. This is Divine wisdom; our wisdom may note.ccord with it, but if so, our wisdom is assuredly folly. This is Divine love, purposing to save us from misery and loss. 4. .A most gracious promise for the obedient. The resolve not to be unequally yoked ma}' sometimes seem to entail large sacrifice. H we lose something, this is what we gnin. God says: (1) "I will receive you" (ver. 17). . We shall be with God. We shell have God. Though we may lose the creature, we shall gain the Crea.tor. God will be gracious to us if others are ungracious. If the stream fail, we ma.y resort to the Fountain. Here is the warrant for doing so. (2) "And will be to you a Father" (vcr. 18). We ma.y lose the earthly father, who may have singular views respecting our "prospects;" we shall have a Father above. If we a.re obedient, God will reveal himself in the tenderest and most loving guise. If God be our Father it must be well with ns whatever betide. (3) "And ye shall be to me sons a.nd daughters" (ver. 18), Note," daughters" are specially mentioned. These have frequently to endure. much when "unequal yoking" is resisted. We shall be "children of God." Then we shall be " heirs of God. and joint-heirs with Christ." Sweet, indeed, a.re the fruits of obedience. We may lose much; let us never imperil this.-H. Ver. 2.-" Now." Before Christ came, religions privileges were with Israel. The Gentiles walked in darkness through "times of ignorance." But with Christ came tidings of great joy to all people. And when the Holy Spirit fell on Gentiles as well as on Jews who heard the gospel, it was evident that a new age had come. This is the "acceptable year of the Lord," and is the dispensation of grace intended to con- tinue till the second coming of Christ. It is the world's great opportunity. So it is on the large scale; but when we take groups of men and individuals, the scale of time is proportionally reduced. Nations miss opportunities which may never return. Con- gregations have a bright season, a time of visitation, which may come to a lamentable end. The Lord may withdraw hi2 favour; may even fight against an unfaithful Church with the sword ot his mouth. Sborter still is the day of salvation for the individual. L THE VALUE OF OPPORTUNITY. In affairs of this life it is fully recognized. It is the dictate of worldly wisdom to wait for and to seize the fit occasion. Does a specu- lator watch for a rising market? or a capitalist look out for a good investment? or a. politician aspire to office? Such men keenly watch their opportunities and must not let them slip. • There iii a tide in the affairs of men Which, taken e.t the flood, leads on t.o fortune ; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bouud in shallows and in miseries : And wo must take the clll'rent when it aenes Or loae our ventures." All thil is quite as true of spiritua.l advar:otage. There ia an opportunity to be eeized, a tide to be taken at the flood. There is a day which must become the birthday of the BOW, the pea.ce-day of the conscience, or loss will be suffered-eternal loss. There 011. VI, 1-18.] 'fHE SECOND EPJS'l'I,E TO THE CORINTHIANS. 1r,1