view. Of the Macedonians he had spoken; of the "great trial of affliction," of their "deep ~ovorty," and how it abounded "unto. the riches of their liberality." ·whence came this power? A new heart had been given to poverty, so that now thouah its means were meAgre, its social position unhononred, its claims to infl~ence ~et at nought, yet it had achieved wonders such as had never been thought possible. Mace- donia he.d stretched out her arms of blessing to distant Jemsalem, and Gentiles and Jews long alienated were now one in the holiest of brotherhoods. It was due to the grace of Christ. It was his Spirit reproducing itself in the lives of believers. And therefore he had cited their conduct; but most of all let them remember the one great eacr_i.fic~. of the. in_carnate_ Christ. Years subsequently we h~ve in another Epistle (Phil. 11.) a s1m1lar tram of thought. Age was upon him then, and life was drawing to a tragical close at Rome. Yet then, as now, then and now as throughout his ministry; the grace of the Lord Jesus was the one thought that inspired all other thoughts. It is still "advice." "Advice" is better than "commandment." They bad begun the work of the collection, complete the task; they had a "readiness to will," let the effort be consummated. And, again, an important principle is brought to their notice. _Was not "advice" sufficient? Would not an opinion be strono- enough without a command? Yea, indeed, for a year ago the Corinthians had made ~ start in this matter. A willing mind is the first thing; grace begins here, and if this willing mind gives all it can, it is accepted of God, according to what "a man bath, and not according to that be bath not." Mark the solicitude of the apostle as to the education of this sentiment of giving. He ~nnot think of it as a thing to which they must be constrained, and, accordingly, he acknowledges the largest freedom, only it must be Christian freedom. Motive must have free play. Conscience must advance into affection, or cooscience is stunted. Sensibility must be self-impelled. Nor must any conclude that he wished to oppress them that others might be relieved, "but only tii establish between Jewish and Gentile Churches a reciprocity of aid in time of need" (Dr. .Farrar). To establish an "equality" was his object. Do not mistake his meaning. Political, social, natural equality was utterly foreign to his thought and purpose. No revolutionist, no anarchist, no leveller, was he in any sense, in any d,•gree, but simply the advocate of such an equality as should be produced by the sentiment of Christian liberality in the distribution of gifts. That equalizing influence was not to proceed from an arbitrary law nor from force-work of any sort. It was to be spontaneous, each man a judge for himself, and the superabundance in one place was to supply the deficiency at another placel so as to secure an abundance for all. Heference is made to the manna in the wilderness. If one gathered more manna than the allotted supply, it was sent to those who had not collected enough, so that the necessities of all were met. This was the law of Judaism as between Hebrew antl Hebrew, and the spirit of this law, fifteen centuries afterwards, reappears in :1 letter to the Corinthians. History in one portion of the world and among one people becomes prophecy in another portion and among auotber people. Prophecy, in turn, becomes a new history. And to-day, A.D. 1884, thousands in Europe and America are acting on this equalizing sentiment in the use of their property.-L.
Vers.16-24.-Prudential management; care to a11oid blame. St. Paul has given us many sketches of himself, especially much insight into his varying moods; and in these chapters (vii. and viii.) he interests us in the character of Titus. The section opens with thanksgiving to God, who has inclined the heart of his young friend towards the Corinthians aud awakened his zeal in behalf of their welfare, No doubt it had occurred to 'l'itus to undertake the project of collecting for the J ernsalem Church, but he had not broached the subject to the apostle. It lay quiet in his heart, doing the Spirit's work, expanding and strengthening his purpose, yet nursed in silence. "While I was musing, the fire burned." St. Paul had presented the matter to him and found him willing, ready, and zealous to enter on the task. "More f?rward [more earnest], of his own accord he went unto you." Two brethren of reputation had been chosen by the Churches to accompany Titus, and the three travellers, having this loving embassy in hand, would manifest " this grace," so that they and he as co-workers in the minis- tration would glorify God. Not enou&h for the apostle to _honour Christ i~ the gilh alone, but ho would enhance the glory 1>y the manner of domg the \\'Ork. rhe way o{ 204 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TllE CORIN'l'HIANS. [011. vm. 1-2·!.