Ver. 6.-The Comforter of the lowly, We are accustomed to think of the apostle as the soldier of the cross, the hero of the spiritual war. And this is just. Nevertheless, we should not forget that he had a human heart, with human susceptibilities and cravings ; that he knew what it was to be weary, disappointed, and sorrowful, and what it was to be consoled, encouraged and elated. This Epistle represents him as bitterly dis- tressed by the conduct of the Corinthian Christians, and yet as truly comforted by the tidings brought by Titus and by the brotherly fellowship and sympathy of his youthful colleague. I. 'l'RE NEED OF COMFOBT, This is owing to the fact that Christian people and Christian workers are sometimes among the downcast, the lowly, the depressed. It is a permitted experience of human life, and there are reasons, some of them obvious enough, why the faithful and zealous servant of Christ should not be exempt from such feelings. It may be necessary, in order to keep him humble, to preserve him from self- confidence, to cherish within him a spirit of dependence upon Divine assistance. II. '.l'HE AtJTHoB OF COMFORT, This view which the apostle here takes of God may to some seem derogatory to his dignity. But it should rather be regarded as setting God's character in an admirable and attractive light. If God has made the human heart such as it is, if he has appointed its varied experiences, it cannot be beneath him to minister to that nature which is his own handiwork, to overrule to highest ends those circumstances which his wisdom has created. He has delighted to reveal himself to his people as a God of consolation, especially when their hearts have been most sore and their cry most piercing. 111. TRE MEANS OF DIVINE coMFOBT. These means accord with the nature with which the Creator has endowed us, and are none the less honouring to his wisdom because they ate often of the simplest kind. The case of Paul illustrates this. L 'l'he presence and brotherly kindness of a friend is consolatory to the afflicted; e.g. the coming of 'l'itus. 2. The good tidings that reach the downcast cheer the soul ; e.g. good news concerning the Corinthian Church. 3. The assurance of affection and sympathy on the part of those whose welfare is sought (vide vers. 7-9).-T. Ver. 10.-Sorrow aml repentance. There is only one way to avoid sorrow, and that Is to avoid sin. Even then sympathy will awaken sorrow on account of the sin of others. But so long as there is evil in this world, so long will it be a W?rld o~ an~ui~h and of tears. It is not the sorrow which is to be regretted, but the sm which IS its cause. "They that lack time to mourn lack time to mend." I. THE SORROW OF THE WORLD, The ungodly may sorrow because they have sinned. But observe : 1. Who.t o.re the characteristics of this sorrow, When the irreligious are reb~ked o.nd chastened for their wrong-doing, their vanity is wounded, their an~er ~ exc1le(l, their resentment is o.roused, they are vexed becaus~ they lose the favour ot their 15! TllE SECLlND El'lSTLE TO THE COIUNTHI.A.NS. [en. vu. 1-16,
neigbboum ,,r ~uffer in reputation. 2. The isStt,e of this sormw is de1tth • instead of being profitable, it is deleterious, drawing the thoughts awe.y from the mo;al heinous- ness of sin, e.nd confirming the sinner in oourses whose only end is spiritual death. II. THE BORROW WHICH IS GODLY. 1. '!'his is occasioned by the reco.,nition of the l!in e.s an offence against the Divine Law. "Against thee, thee only, h~ve I sinned," 2. And by the feeling that sin is a grief to the Divine heart. As a tender child grieves to hurt his father's spirit, so a tnily sensitive nature is pained in the very pain of Christ. 3. And hy the knowledge that human sin brought the holy Saviour to the cross. 4. And is heir:ht41ned by the kno1V}edge that privileges have been abused and grace defied. III. THE UPJ:NTANCE TO WHICH GODLY SORROW LEADS, It is e. change of mind and purpose; a turnini:; away from the error, the folly, the unbelief of the past, a turning away from temptation and from the society of the sinful, a turning to God as he has revealed in Christ his infinite mercy aud loving-kindness. Especially is this repentance that" which bringeth no regret." He who comes out of bondage into liberty can nover rue his choice. IV. 'l'nE ULTIMATE ISSUE OF TRUE REPENTANCE. This is salvation, which con- trasts with that death to which worldly sorrow leads. Such is the appointment of Infinite Wisdom. . And he who studies this process must acknowledge that, to a true and eternal salvat10n, there can be no other path than the path of repentance .and of faith.-T.
Ver. 13.-Refreshment of spirit. The very decidedly personal character of this Epistle is the occasion of its bringing before the reader some topics to which otherwise his attention might not be directed. The writer, his friends and colleagues, 'rimothy and Titus, the several persons in the Corinthian Church alluded to, the community which was ea.lied upon to take action,-all seem to live before us. Human feelings appear in the light of Christian truth, privilege, and duty. The experiences of the heart are represented as hallowed and elevated by the principles of spiritual religion. Titus is depicted as visiting Corinth, as received with respect, and as obeyed with alacrity, and consequently as cherishing a deepened affection for the Corinthian Chris- tians, as rejoicing beca1L'1e of their attitude of spirit and their united action, and, in fact, as refreshed in spirit by his visit to them. L THE SPIRIT.R NEED OF REFRESHMENT. This may arise from: 1. Weariness in labour. One may become weary in the work when not weary of it. 2. Disappointment in efforts made for the good of others. When energy and self-denial have done their best, and no results have followed, or at all events none have become apparent, the spirit is sometimes saddened and dejected. 3. Opposition, whether from the world without or from professed brethren, produces a most disheartening effect upon the sensitive nature. II. THE POWER OF TRUE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP TO REFRESH THE SPIRIT. It does this in many ways. I. It brings home the conviction that the Christian labourer is not alone. He may be disposed to lament, as Elijah did, that he is left alone in the world; but it is not so, and there are occasions upon which he realizes this. 2. It some- times takes the form of appreciation of services rendered on behalf of the brotherhood. The pastor finds that his visits have been valued; the preacher that his word has been a living seed in hearts of which he had thought there was but)ittle tbl\t was good ; the admonition awakens confessions, acknowledgments, resolutions, which were but little expected. 3. United exercises of praise and prayer react upon the weary soul; listlessness, discouragement, disappear; the whole nature is braced by Hea.ven- bom energy for new and happier service.-T.