The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 224

states and tho outward monifestations of thoso states where good, are rlue to a. secret influcnco of the Spirit of God which eludes our conAciousness. The believer is most tl'uly self-determined when determined by the grace of God" (Hodge). We have seen that the apostle never loses sight for a moment of the one inspiring motive-the love of Christ towards us and his Divine sacrifice in our behalf. Equal with God and infinitely blessed, ho left his glory, assumed our flesh took its infirmities bore its sins, endured its shamo and humiliation, and expiated its gnilt. The abnea~tion was so complete that ho depended on the Holy Ghost for wisdom, fortitude, anrl strength. A man of prayer, he sought the Spirit's aid on every occasion, and was &0 dependent as to say, "I do nothing of myself." Every adventitious help was set aside; loneliness and sorrow were his self-chosen lot; and he made himself the poorest of men, that he might show how supremely he rested upon the Father in his rnediatorial work. But poverty and sorrow were not thus borne for their own sake, nor, indeed, was it the circumstances of his lot, but the lot itself, that marked the greatness of his condescen- sion. The argument of St. Paul is directed to one point, viz. what Christ was and what he became, so that the contrast between his earthly position and that of other men is not so much as hinted at, but the whole force is thrown npon the contrast as to his being "rich" and becoming CC poor," that we "through his poverty might be rich." On this basis Christian beneficence was founded. Christian "equality" was a natural sequel. For this was, in the order of Providence, the one specific and pre- eminent sphere in which Christian conscience and affection and humane impulses would most fully and freely combine to glorify God in Uhrist. On no other ground could. a Church be a spiritual human community, and hence the stress la.id on human virtues sanctified by the grace of Christ. There is emulation; how he exalts it! There is imitation; how he emphasizes it I 'l'here is prudence; what an excellence it is to protect our good from being spoken of as evil I After such a. presentation of gospel truth and its effective enforcement, he might well sa.y that it was "super- fluous'' to write concerning "the ministering to the saints." One bright spot had all along lingered·on that murky horizon; "Achaia. was ready a year ago; and yon.r zeal hath provoked very many." Men who are backsliding in religio:J. do not lose their hold o.ll at once on the Christian virtues. Happily for us, some of these virtues are stronger than others,.and these act as a breakwater against the incoming surges of temptation. One or more qualities eX:ist in us that are more receptive of grace than other qualities, and they are specially resistant of decay. As in physical disease life would often succumb were it not that some organs. have so much more functional vitality than others, so in religious life, a single vigorous principle or sentiment may save us from spiritual death. So it was with the Corinthians. Despite of their cor- ruptions, they had one redeeming excellence, viz. the "forwardness" of their "mind" in this benevolent enterprise of helping the poor saints in Jerusalem. God honoured this trait of their character. Many a virtue had gone down under the pressure of worldliness and carnality. This survived, and it was capable of being evoked into healthy and energetic action. St. Paul knew his opportunity. Ho saw the good in these erring brethren. If he had not, he could never have seen the evil. And seeing the good so clearly, he recognized it and laboured for its immediate development in a very earnest form. The true growth would choke out the weeds, and to this he directed his wise husbandry. Every way the prospect was encouraging. Yet he would make assurance doubly sure. He had boasted of the Corinthians. If they should not be ready in time with the collection," we [too delicate to say,' ye'] should be ashamed in this same confident boasting." On this account he sent Titus and the deputies to "make up beforehand " their bounty. It must be "bounty," not a mo.ttcr of" cove- tousness," Postponing the work might open the way for. selfishness to suggest reasons for less giving. Love of money might have a sudden quickening. Risks were numerous when men believed that the heart of to-day would be the heart of to-morrow. Satan was mightier at some times than at others, and Christian men were not always quite themselves. "Make up beforehand." The right thing was ennobled by doing it at the right time, and the right time was now. " Withhold not good from them to whon:: it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to ~o it." :pe~ts of love mature when the heart is first warmed by the Spirit. Puttmg off rnv1tes covetousness. "Beforehand" is the watchword of the bountiful soul.-L.  224 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TUE CORINTHIANS. [m. 1x. 1-lti.