The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 181

cler1naing wr1s a purification of body and spirit, St. Paul argues that the rnnctilkation bcgnn in regeneration, wae to continue, body and spirit sharing together the Spirit'~ inll11ence, Neither the one nor the other was to be lost sight of; neither part of the work was to be carried on in a wr1y detrimental to perfect unity; neither was to be exairgero.ted at the expense of the other. But as body and spirit had been redeemed by Christ's blood, sc, were both to be hallowed by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. Throughout St. Paul's Epistles there run these two leading ideas-the sanctification of body and of spirit; and if, at times, the idea of the former is prominent, and then at other times, the idea of the latter, we must recollect that this vari,ttion was neces~ry to the full presentation of his subject. Great truths are not to be vividly seen except in great moods, and great moods are not habitual, but occasional. Now, this mode of displaying his subject by a rotation of its aspects exposes the apostle to misconception. 'l'he ascetic takes him in one mood of thought, dominant at the moment, because of the nature of his argument. The mystic takes him in another. And they both do him injustice, the ascetic by laying an undue stress on bodily mortifications, the mystic by extravagance in spiritual abstractions. St. Paul is always true to his theolo;zy. He never loses his balance, never exalts spirit at the expense of body, never forgets that body is mated with spirit under an economy of permanent neutrality, Hence the argument for inward holiness, that cleansing of spirit and flesh which proceeds from the Holy Ghost in the conscience and heart, and works from the centre and seat of vitality through· all the organs of life. It is growing holiness. Growth is the law of existence. The body grows until it attains its physical development, say from twenty- one to twenty-five years of age in men, and then another and much higher growth sets in, that of intellectual and moral adaptiveness to the mind, whereby the nerves, the ganglia, the brains, are brought into closer union with thought, volition, sensibility, But it is in religious life that growth is most perceptible-a growth in the fear of God, a filial and tender fear, that is jealous of its sense of sonship, and ever watchful lest it grieve the witnessing Spirit. There is an increasing delight in the discharge of duty, in taking up the daily cross, in practising self-denial, and especially in a clearer view of the ground and reason of self-denial. How the Scriptures grow upon us, the exercises of the closet, the Holy Communion, the fellowship of Christians! And, as we advance, we feel more and more the evil of sin as it is in itself. " Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight." This psalm. the most profoundly heart-searching and personal of the psalms, is nevertheless most represen- tative of that sense of sin which forgets all else in the thought of an offended God. In that bitterest hour of David's life, his home, other homes, a nation's homes, involved in his terrible transgression, there is the one overwhelming reflection, "Against thee! n The growing Christian sees the innate quality of sin, its deep-seated hold, its presence in the life-blood of his old nature, and learns from thence to perfect holiness, by realizing, as far as may be, the holiness of God. " By studying the character of Christ and imitating his example, this Divine holiness defines itself to his mind and engages his affections. "Looking unto Jesus" is the secret of his growth. He looks to him as the "Author" of his faith; how long ago it was I How feeble then! Wbat gracious forbearance I The bruised reed not \troken, the smoking flax not quenched! And the "Author" is the "Finisher; " for he is " the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Law changes into love, and love advances from one degree of strength and beauty to another, from one relation of life to another, from one victory to a victory still greater, the holy ideal rising before him and assuming new glory, and yet, as it retreats to a loftier height, drawing him towards itself with II stronger charm. "Blessed are the pure in heart." It is far on in the Beatitudes ; but it is there, thanks to God, it is there as an attainment. The pathway to it is very clearly marked out, the successive steps, the preparatory agencies, the gradual advances, the blessedness of poverty of spirit, of mourning, of meekness, of hungering and thirsting after righteous- ness, of mercifulness. One may know what progress he is making towards it, and this is the great thing to be known. Milestones along the road record _the onward tread and aasure the pilgrim of the certain goal. "Blessed are the pure m heart : for they shall see God."-L. Vere. 2-7.-Ap~alfor a,D'ectionate ,·elations between himself and the Corinthian,, U, OOJUN'flU.\NS, ~  li8 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [oH, VII, 1-16,