Wo may onslovo ourselves, but he will not. He will always treat ua as rcRponsihlc f0 r all wo do. II. 1TB GREAT DESIGN IS USEFULNESS, "The Lord bath given us for edificn.tion and not for your destruction." He gives power to men, not to pull down but to bniltl up. Usefulness is the grand ond of our existence. We arc formed, not 'to injure, but to bless our fellow-creatures. Whatever endowments we have, be they ordinary or trnnscendent, all are given by our Maker to promote truth and virtue and human h:tppinoss through tho world. Alas! how extensively men pervert these high gifts of Heaven I III. IT IS NO PROTECTION FROM MALICE, Though Paul was thus so distincru.ishc,] by signal endowments, he was nevertheless the subject of bitter env_y and cruel ;:\antler. " For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is we.1.k nnd his speech contemptible." Did the supernatural power with which some of th~ old Hebrew prophets were endowed shield men from the malice of men? Ilow were Moses, Elisha, and Elijah treated? The fact is, the higher gifts a man bas the more he is exposed to the malice of others; the more distinguished a man is in gifts and graces, the more he will arouse among hifl contemroraries the spirit of detraction and hate. It was so with Christ himself. Vers. 11-13:-The false and true n:i,ethod of estimating men. "Let such a. one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring them- selves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God bath distributed to us, a. measure to reach even unto you." In these verses we have two subjects worthy of notice. !. THE FALSE AND TRUE METHOD OF ESTIMATING THE CHARACTER OF OTIIETIS. "Let such a one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters," etc. 1. To juJge by public report is a wrong method. It would almost seem that there was a general impression in Corinth that not only was Paul's "bodily pre2ence" somewhat con- temptible, but that his letters were not a fair representation of himself, that they displayed an elevation and a. heroism of which the writer was destitute, and from this general impression he wo.s judged and considered to be something of a boaster and charlatan. How common it is for people to judge those they have never seen by general report I But a miserably false standard of judgment is this. Not unfrequently have I received impressions concerning a person whom I have never seen, which a. subsequent personal acquaintance has completely dispelled. .As a rule, the public estimate of men, both in Church and state, is most fallacious and unjust. 2. To judge by personal knowledge is the true method. "Let such a one think [reckon] this, that, such as we are in word by letters ..• such will we be also in deed when we are present." The meaning of this seems to be-Wait until I come amongst you, and you will find that I am true to the character of my letters, that I will act out their spirit. A man's own letters, even when rightly interpreted, will not give a free and a complete idea of the author. The author is greater than his book, the man greater than bis productions. One hour with an author will give me a better idea of him than I coulcl .ihtain from all the productions of his pen, however voluminous. II. THE FALSE AND TRUE METHOD OF ESTIMATING OUR OWN CHARACTERS. 1. The false method is comparing our own character with the character of others. "Meo.suring themselves by themselves." This the Corinthians seem to have done, and this, perhaps, is the general tendency of mankind. We judge ourselves by the characters of others. When we are accused we are prone to say we are not worse than So-and-so. A fo.lse standard this, because: (1) The mass of mankind are corrupt. (2) The best of men are more or less imperfect. (3) There is only One perfect character-Jesus Christ. In these words Paul indicates: (a) That it is a terrible thing thus to judge ourselves. "We dare not [are not bold enough to] make ourselves of the number." Truly it i, a terrible thing for it leads to fearful issues. (b) That it is an unwise thing thus to judge ourselves'. Those who compare themselves with others "are not wise," or arn " without understand ing.'1 2. The true method is judging ourselves by tlie will of God. ~44 THE SECOND EPISTLE 'l'O THE UOHINTUIANS, [en. x. 1-18.
"According to the me1umre of the rule which God bath distributed to us." Though the apostle by the expression, "rule which God hath distributed," primarily refers to the Divine limits of his apostolic work, as will appear !\gain, the "rule" applies also t.o his personal character, God's will is the etande,rd or ce,non by which all characters are to be determined. CoNOLUBION. " Search me, 0 God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."