they might lesm from their own oonduot picture of you which I bad drawn for Tltu11 the reality of their e11,mest feelings for him. when I was urging him to be tile bearer of Be hu already spoken of this "earnest my letter." . Is found a truth; literally, care" of theirs (var. 11), but not in quite proved itself to be a truth. Here again tllere the same sense. Certainly, however, the ie a most delioe.te reference to tile oharge of reading followed by our Authorized Version, levity and unveraoity which llo.d been even if it be a correction, furnishes a more brought Rg11.inst him (eh. i. 17). I o.lwaye natural meaning (comp. oh. ii. 4), and the spoke the truth to you; but I might well other may have Rrisen from a clerioe.l error. have feared that, in speaking of you to Ver. 18.-Therefore we were oomforted, Titus, my affection for {ou ho.d led me to eta Sinoe my Epistle eecured the result overstep the limits o perfect aoouro.cy. of manifesting your true feelings towards me, But you yourselves, by proving yourselves " we have been comforted." The Revised worthy of all I said of you, ho.ve established Version and many editions put the stop here, my perfect truthfulness, even in the only and continue (reading i~ after 1-irl), and in point where I might have thought it addition to our coMOlation, abundantly the doubtful. Nothing could exceed the to.et more did u,e rtjoiu at the joy of Tiw,s, be- and refinement, the subtle delico.oy and cause hi.a spirit has been refruhed by you all. beauty, of this gentle remark. Ezoeedingly the more. In the Greek this is Ver. 15.-Rie inward affeotion. The expressed by double comparatives (comp. same word which is so needlessly rendered eh. xii. 9; Phil. i. 23). Wu refreshed; "bowels" in oh. vi. 12. More abundant. rather, haB been (and u) refreshed. The Bis love for you hu been increased by his same verb is used in 1 Oor. xvi. 18; Philem. recent visit. With fear and trembling. 7, 20. On this Pauline phrase, see 1 Oor. ii. 3, Ver. 14.-1 am not ashamed. The due Ver. 16.-I rejoioe therefore. 'fhe "there- rendering of the tenses brings out the sense fore" concludes the whole pe.ragmph, but is much more accurately. " Because if I have omitted in many manuscripts. I have oon- boasted anything to him on your behalf, I 11.denoe in you; literally, I am bold in you; WRB not put to the blush;" in other words, ie. I feel courage about yon. The phraije " One reason of my exceeding gladness waa in 2 These. iii. 4 expressea a calmer and lee~ that you fully justified that very favourable hazardous trust.
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-4.-.A minister's address to his people. "Having therefore these promises," et.c. In these verses the apostle exhorts the Corinthians to two things. L To THE PURSUIT OF SPmITUAL PURITY. " Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh e.nd spirit, perfecting holiness in the fea.r of God." He seems to regard the attainment of spiritual purity as consisting in two things. 1. Getting rid of the wrong. "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit." Perhaps the reference to "filthiness" here referred especially to the idolatry and unchastity which was so prevalent in the Corin- thian Church. All sin is '' filthiness," and cleansable; it is not nature, it is a stain on nature; it is not something inwrought into the very texture of our being, otherwise it could not be cleansed away. It is no more ourselves than the soil on the white robe is the robe. It can, it should, it must, be washed out, that we may appear "without spot or wrinkle." 2. .Attaining the right. "Perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Holiness implies the consecration of our entire nature, flesh and spirit, body and soul, to the Divine will, and this requires habitual, solemn effort in" the fear of God." Now, the gmnd end of Christ's mission to the world is to produce this purity in man. "Having therefore these promises" (viz. the promises in the last verse of the pre- ceding chapter, which are in substance the promises of the gospel), this spiritual purity should be struggled for. " The grace of God hath appeared to all men, teaching them that, denying ungodliness &nd worldly lusts," etc. The supreme desire of every true minister of the gospel is the.t his people shall become pure. II. To REGARD Blllil WITH AFFECTION. "Receive us [open your hearts to ue]," eto. He grounds his claim on their affection : 1. On the fact that he had done harm to none. "We have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.., This is said, no doubt, in answer to some of the charges which bis enemies had brought agii.i.n.st him-said in self-vindicati1111. He had " wronged no man," donu on. vn. 1-16.J THE SECOND EPIS'rLE TO THE CORIN'rIIIANS. 173