Vers. 6-9.-0orrespondence between (Jhristian Bowing and reaping. 'l'here was nothing of chance or luck in the operations of beneficence, It was a transaction with God, who had instituted certain laws for its government. 1. As to tho law of pro- portion. If they sowed sparingly, they reaped sparingly; if bountifully, they reaped bountifully. This was natural law. It was also spiritual law. If the law met them everywhere, addressed the senses and ~he soul, and enforced itself both in providenco and gra.<:'e, surely they could not but give very profound heed to a principle which was 80 9:mply illustrated. 2. As to the spirit of giving. 'l'he law was spontaneity of sentiment-" according as be purposeth in his heart, so let him give;" and again, it was cheerfulness of feeling-not "grudgingly, or of necessity; for God lovetb a cheerful giver." On this aspect of giving, the apostle had delivered bis mind without reser- vation. Freedom here was scrupulously insisted on. 'l'o be Christ-like it must be wholly self-directed. It must be born directly of the Spirit. Vast and indeed sacred as human agency is, there are seasons when the Spirit bids it retire, and he takes the soul into his solitary communion. 3. The element of recompense is stated. "God is able to make all grace abound towa.rd you." Blessings used rightly would ,bring other and la.rger blessings. Benevolent contributions were disciplinary. The act was educative. If a man gave because of his love to Christ, if he gave willingly and cordially, if he gave freely, then he was being trained as a giver, and of course was, in this particular, a growing man. Any sort of arrested development in goodness is bad enough, but this checking of progress in charity is peculiarly harmful. Worldliness:rushes back with an overwhelming current. Avarice, denied its food for a time, has a voracious appetite. And, therefore, the very urgent need of growth in this sentiment, which the apostle argues in a manner uncommonly forcible. Spiritual blessings are assured. "All grace abound t.oward you." Temporal blessings are promised. "Always having all suffi- ciency in all things, may abound to every good work." There was to be an "all sufficiency," an overflowing measure on God's part, so as to furnish the means or resources for continued and enlarged benevolence, or otherwise the growth would stop. "Every good work " has a very broad signification. We take it to mean a very wide and generous activity in kind deeds, an "enthusiasm," not for "humanity," but for Christ in humanity, and a desire and a purpose expanding in the ratio of new blessings, spiritual and temporal, to pour forth its heart in ministration to others. "God is able." Yet we mnst not forget that he never resigns his Divine sovereignty in a promise or to a promise, but is infinitely wise and considerately tender in the administration of providential blessings. To elucidate his meaning, St. Paul quotes from Ps. cxii. 9, "He bath dispersed, he hath given to tbe poor, his righteousness endureth for ever.'- The rnle is that God gives us what we have in order that he may give us more. There is a future in everything, a future in every seed, a future in every dollar honestly made, a future in every blessing God bestows. But it is for him alone to order this future1 so as to " make all grace abound" in us, and to enable us to "abound to every good work."-L.
Vers. 10-15.-Unity in '11,Q,tu,re and gf'(J,U; 1M1T1,ijold results of beneficmce; thanks- giving_. St. Paul had spoken in the sixth verse of the law of the spiritual harvest- proportion of reward in reference to quantity, so much sowing followed by so much reaping. But there is another law-a grain of corn or wheat produces many grains. In some instanC06 hundreds of seeds come from one seed. Seeds multiply seeds, and the harvest of a county may sow a large territory. Nothing in the vegetable kingdom is on a stinted scale. Omnipotence touches a clod of earth, and in a few months it is transformed into bread ; but this is not all the wonder, for that clod has yielded far more than it received. Thus it is that, in the physical world, labour becomes accumulative, producing over and above its own wants a vast surplus, which goes to feed those who are unable to work. Not abundance but superabundance is the lesson naturo teaches, We make enough to supply necessities, comforts, and luxuries ; enough to meet arti- ficial wants; enough to compensate for impotence, idleness, and dissipation; enough to allow for a waste that can scarcely be computed. So it is in spiritual things. The productive power is immensely rewarded. This striking correspondence was in hi11 view when St. Paul said," He that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall aupply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness" 011. 1x. 1-16.J THE SECOND EPISTLE TO 'l'HE CORINTllfANS. 225