The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 262

becnuee we feel thnt it wne through and through trne ; and wh&tever were its appearances they were but manifestations of his life. II. THE OUTWARD APPEARANOE 18 OFTEN UNTRUE TO THE INWARD FACT. Of th:s the fnmilio.r illustration is taken from the usual description of the fruit grown near the Dead Sea, and called" apples of Sodom." Beautiful to all appearance, but dry and unpleasant to the taste. Hypocrisy is real " part-acting,'' representing oursel vea to be other than we are. It is a very subtle form of sin, especially in what are called "civilized times," when so much depends on "keeping up appearances." Illustrate in relation to house, dress, society; anrl show that it may even concern personal religion. 'l'he assumption and the show of piety are not always faithful transcripts of the heart'it love and devotion. But sometimes the outward appearance ie untrue by being belo'lb the reality. This Reeme to have been the case with St. Paul. His insi~ificant appear- ance, and his modesty and considerateness of manner, gave little indication of the force that was in him, or the bold and valiant defence of the truth which he could give upon occasion. So the outward appearance may be unworthy of the inward, without being wrongfully so; unworthy by reason of infirmity, and not of hypocrisy. Ill. THEREFORE WE ARE ALWAYS BOUND TO TEST THE IMPRESSIO:SB MADE BY OUTW ADD APPEARANCES, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.'' The testings can often be done (1) by patient waiting; (2) by observing the whole of a man's coaduct ; (3) by comparing-our impressions with those made on others' minds; ( 4) by the standards given us in Holy Scripture; (5) by cultivating our own sensitiveness to that which is truly Christ-like. In order to find unworthy men out, and in order to esteem aright good men, we must go beyond their form, feature, and outward show, and we must kuow them. St. Paul will bea.r thoroughly knowing.-&. T. Ver. 16.-The gospel for the regions beyond. "To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you" (comp. Rom. xv. 19-24). The apostle, lilied with the true missionary spirit, wa.s longing to be free from the care of Churches already founded, so that he might be free to go again upon his journeyings, and preach the gospel in Western Greece, in Rome, and even away in distant Spain. St. Paul was first and chiefly a missionary. The genius of the missionary is a Divine restlessness, a constant impulse forward into new spheres, a passion for finding some one else to whom the gospel message might be told. The men who settle down in Churches situated in heathen districts are ministers and pastors and clergymen; they cannot properly be called missionaries, since these are men who are always hearing a call from "regions beyond," saying, "Come over and help us." I. MISSIONABY WOBK AS HERALDING A MESSAGE. The word for "preaching" properly means " heralding "-going forth to make a royal proclamation. Explain the work of the Eastern herald. He would go through the land, and, wherever he could find people, deliver the king's message. We need a fuller and worthier impression of the gospel, as the royal proclamation of the King of kings, entrusted to us for delivery to "all the world," to "every creature." II. HERALDING WOBK AS TEMPORARY. It is done when the message is declared and delivered. The herald-as a herald-has no more to do there; he must pass on hi:1 way. There is abundant work left behind for others to do; but his is over. And "le are told that the gospel heralds will not have gone all over the world when the lo.ingdom shall come. So we need fear no lack of work for missionaries and heralds. III. HERALD'S DUTY TO FIND REGIONS BEYOND. A glance at the map of our world will show what vast masses of mankind have never heard of the true God, the redeem- ing Son, and the eternal life. We rejoice that, especially in Africa and China, the Christian Church is showing that it keeps the true missionary idea, and is ever reaching out to "regions beyond."-R. T. Ver. 17.-Man's only true glorying. "But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." 'l'he apostle used the simpler and stronger Wl>rd, "boasteth." Dean Plump_tre complains of the besetting weakness for variation which chara_ct-irizcd our English tmnslators. And oftentimes force of utterance is crained by dweumg on a word, even at the peril of tautology. Reference is made, no doubt, to the boastmgs of thi~ leader of the party at Corinth that wns antagonistic to St. Paul, and also to the accusat10n which  262 THE SECOND EPISTLE '1'0 THE CORIN'l'HIANS. [orr. :u. 1-33,