The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 255

not rhnical. Physical wrapons hnve often been used in the canso of religion, but ahrn.~·, by mistake. Petcr's blnndcr in cutting off the car ol' Malchus has had mnny rcpct1uons. (2) They nrc not carnal, for they arc not of man. The apostle dhl not carry on his conflict by using (a) cunning and trickery in order to secure converts. Some unwisely think that, if converts be obtained, it is no matter how. But Paul desircrl to " stri_ve ~~w~ully" (2 Tim. i~; 5). (b) ~ or did he rcl,Y upon human oloquenco, Ile_came r.iot with "'.1sdom o~ words (1 Cor. 1, 17). (c~ Nor upon human reason, Ph1losoplucal subtleties he discarded. He had a revclat1on, and, whilst willing to demonstrntc to human intelligence that this was a Divine revelation, he then employed it, and hoped for ,ictory only as the Divine Spirit blessed his efforts. The apostle preached the go_spel by his_ words, by his deeds, by his spirit, by his life; and using theso weapons he rched pre-eminently upon that supreme weapon, Divine powor, to secure the victory. 2. Positively. Carnal weapons seem strong. They impress men. Paul's weapons, ·which are ours, are apt to excite ridicule on the part of fiesbly men, ~4o judge h., outward appearance. But the apostle contends that these weapons are mighty. They have done what all others havo failed to do. (1) They cast down strongholds. J3y these Satan is hurled from his seats, from his fastnesses in the hearts of men. (2) 'l'bcy triumph over sceptical human philosophies and false religions (ver. 5). '!'his is the conflict between truth and error. Truth has won. Truth will win. Though these are high things exalted against the knowledge of God (ver. 5), they find somethin" higher and mightier in the gospel and in the accompanying power of God. They ar~ but Dagons; before the ark they must fall. (3) They make. captive. µuman thought (ver. 5). Illustrated in a true conversion. Thought is then dominated by Christ..:...no more a boastful foe, but .a servant, a captive. The wise man becomes a fool that he may be truly wise (l Cor. iii. 18). Pride, boastful and arrogant in the rea,lm of human thought, is smitten-smitten to the death. (4) They are mighty before God. Through God, but also before God, i.e. in his judgment. They come from his anp.oury. They are sriecially fashioned by him for this strife. • . Ill. WE SHOULD RELY 01'"LY Ul'ON THESE WEAPONS IN THE GREAT CONFLICT. Our strength is here. There are many temptations to use others. The d,evil loves to furnish w with weapons wherewith to attack his lcingdom ! With. what strange weapons has the Church fought I No wonder the strife has so often gone. against her. With what weapons are we fighting? . . IV. WE SHOULD SEEK SKILL IN THEIR USE. 'Tis not enough to have good weapons, we must know how to employ them. The best weapons are the worst in unwise hands. We must enter the military school of Christ.-H. Ver. 7.-Judgingfrom appearances. I. A VERY EASY WAY OF JUDGING. A sound judgment often involves hard labour. Many jump to conclusions because the jump is so easy and so soon over. But a judgment lightly got may generally be lightly valued. Few thing:s are more difficult than forming accurate judgments. The importance of correct jud,,"ID.ent is, however, so all-important that weBhould spare no pains to secure it. II. A VERY COMMON WAY OF JUDGING. Surface-judgments are popWar. Many people are fatally prejudiced by appearance, whether good or bad; .of the former they will hear no blame, of the latter no praise. We need remember this when w~ estima.te hUJ]lan jndgments generally. III. A VERY PERILOUS WAY OF JUDGING, It leads to constant errors and evils. Nole one or two. 1. Gentleness is mistal,en for weakness. This was the case with the apostle. That which was kindest and best in him was esteemed a fault. 2, The physical and external are over-estimated. The voice, manner, appearance, language of a preacher are unduly regarded. The "outward appearance" often goes for much more than the inward grace and power. 3. The flashy and dazzling are more esteemed than the solid a11d weighty. Sensational religion triumphs in the realm of shallow judgment. 4. The religious life suffers in comparison with the worldly. The deep, quiet, permanent joys of the former are unconsidered. The pleasures of the latter are thought to be as great as they seem: a fatal blunder, 5. God's dw,lings with us arB misunderstood. He is often kindest when he seems most unkind. God'~" No" i11 often a far greater good than God's" Yes" could be; but a hasty superficial judgment does not perceive this. We often complain most when we have most cause to bless. 6. The more strilcing formR oj ea. x. 1-18,] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORI.NTUIA~L3. 2:35