The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 191

(ver.11). Before, they had connived; now, they repudil\ted. True repentance involves R desire to be separate from the sin. The evil thing is renounced. To hold to the evil, whilst we profess to repent of it, is to demonstrate that we do not l'.epent at nll. IV. DETEBTATIO~ OF THE EVIL. (Ver. 11.) We may renounce wliat we still love, but in true penitence the mind is enlightened, the true nature of sin is perceived and the soul ceases to love and begins to loathe it. Sin is detested, and self is det~steu because self has sinned. The soul is roused against sin; there is " indignation," • V. FEAR. (Ver. 11.) 1. Of the Divine wrath. 2. Of again sinning. VI. DEsraE FOR RESTORATION. (Ver. 11.) 1. To the approval of righteous men. 2. To peace with conscience. 3. Above all, to the favour of God. VII. ZEAL. (Ver. 11.) 1. In immediately taking a right course. 2. In seeking to remedy the effects of sin. 3. For God's honour. VIIL CoNVICTION THAT SIN DESERVES PUNISHMENT. (Ver. 11.) A sense of justice is aroused. It does not seem wrong for the sinner to be punished then, but ri"ht. Hearts unstirred by true penitence carp at and question sin~penalties. But" g;d.Jy sorrow" gives to sin a tongue crying loudly for wrath. When sin is rightly appre- hended it becomes an evil for sin not to be punished. This applies to ourselves• we condemn ourselves. This applies to others; we feel that they ought to be condem'ned, "Yea, what avenging!" IX. A HUMBLE, TEACHABLE SPIRIT. (Ver. 15.) Godly sorrow breaks down pride. The Corinthians before bad found fault with the teaching of Paul himself. Now they are willing to be taught by one of his disciples.-H. Vers. 9-11.-Two kinds of sorrow. Reproof works well when it induces sorrow toward God and issues in repentance. But of sorrow there are two kinds. I. TIIE soRRow OF THE WORLD. 1. Its nature. It is regret for world.Jy loss, or, if for faults and sins, it is for them as bringing worldly discrerlit, It is vexation, not for wrong done, so much as for damage incurred, credit spoilt, advantage missed, pride wounded. 2. Its issues. It works death. It wears the mind, sours the temper, fills the breast with discontent, takes away all zest of exertion, chokes the heart with resentment and chagrin. It actually kills; a rankling annoyance or shame' tends both to embitter and to shorten life. There are more than is commonly believed dying of vexation ; as Spenser has it- " Dying each day with inward wounds of Dolour's dart." Il. SORROW ACCORDING TO GoD. 1. Its nature. It springs from a sense of sin in the lia-ht of God, and in relation to his Name, Law, and glory. It is the glief of a mind· that ha.s learnt to honour, observe, and follow the Lord, and therefore mourns for sin as committed against heaven and in his sight. See the sorrow of the.world in King Saul, who, when he was reproved by the prophet, admitted, "I have sinned;" ,but immediately added this reqnest to Samuel, "Yet honour me now." See thfl sorrow accordina- to God in King David, who, when he was reproved by a prophet, said, "I have si;ned against Jehovah," and then prayed the fifty-first psalm, saying," Hide thy face from my sins." 2. Its result. It works "repentance to salvation," otherwise described as "repentance toward God" and "repentance unto life." The sorrow does not exhaust itself in emotion, but induces a change of mind, a turning from sin to God, and so from death to life. And such repentance will never be regretted. St. Paul had regretted his first letter, but now did not regret it, since he learned the good effect it had produced. A minister of Christ may have to speak sharply to men about their sins. He may have to regret that he evaded such duty or spoke smooth things, but not that he broua-ht 0 trouble to the consciences of sinners or godly sorrow to their hearts. And many a hearer of the Word may have to grieve that he was deaf to reproof, but none that he listened to it and mourned for his sin. No one will ever regret that• he repented toward God. 3. Its further issues and evidences. The mo_ral earnestness which wa.s connected with sorrow according to and repentance toward God showed itself thus at Corinth. "What carefulness it wrought in you I" What diligence! Blessed is the reproof, healthy is the sorrow, which puts a stop to trifling, and makes us face the reality and feel the seriousnes8 of living in God's sight, Wo must not then excuse our faults or count them unavoiuable, but set a buut the correction of tbew. OH, vu. 1-10.] 'l'HE SECOND EPISTLE 'l'O 'l'l:IE CORIN'fHIANS. 189