Vers. 23-30.-.77.e evidential rolue of sufferings borne f~r <Jhrut's .sake. Recall Paley's use of the labours and sufferings of the early Christians as an arg1,1ment for the truth of Christianity. Carefully observe under what limitations such an argument must be i;et. There have been martyrs of all sorts of opinions.' Men intense ou any subject are usually willing to bear much for its sake; and the enthusiast or fanatic does not shrink from giving his life for his faith, though his faith may be nnreasonabl_e or absurd. We can only go so far as to say that willingness to bear suffering proves- I. PERSONAL SINCERITY. Men's hearts must be in that which they will maintain a,t cost of toil, sorrow, disability, and pain. Christianity must be true to the m.an who can die for it; but it is not therefore proved to be absolutely true. • II. A Drvn.,: CALL OR 00Mmss10N. It is one of the indications of ench a call Not sufficient if it stands a.lone, but very helpful 811 a buttress·~ ~ther arguments.and considerations. . , fil THAT THERE IS A FINE HORAL STRENGTH CULTURED BY CmtISTU.NITY. This, perhaps, is its chief value. The noble endurance illustrates Christianity, and_ shows what the almighty grace in it can do. That must be worthy,·and it may be Divin!), which nerves men to such heroic labour, such patient submission, and such triumphs over ill!: and death. So, when kept within due limits and carefully combirie,d with other considerations, the sufferings and martyrdoms of the Christian saints becoi:qe an evidence of the Divine origin of Christianity.-R. T. • • •
EXPOSITION. the meaning does not lie on the snrfaoe; the CHAPTER XII. diplomatic (external). evidence is less im- The revelations voncbllllied to him (vers. portant. If St. _Paul wrote a+,, it means," of 1-6). The count.emoting "thorn in the oourse it is not e:r;pedient for me to boe,st." I will come j /<Yr 1 will eome; if the reading flesh " (vers. 7-10). One more apology for of D is conect. In that case it is hardly glorying (vers. 11, 12). His disintereated- possible to. define the counter-currents of ness (vers. 13-15). Indignant refutation feeling which caused the use of the con- of the charge that he had ma.de gain of junction. Visions and reve)ations. The them through the agency of subordinates word used for " visions " means presento.tions rvers. 16-18). Caution and warnings (vers. perceived in a state which is neither sleep- ing nor waking, but which are regarded as 19-21). objective: "revelations " are the ,truths Ver. 1.-It iB not expedient for me donbt- apprehended BB a result of the vi'aions. lllllli to glory.'fhis rendering follows the Optasia, for " vieione," only occurs· else- best-attested reading; but it is at least where 1n Luke i 22: xxiv. 23; Acts doualiful whether, instead of t., or i;~, the x.xvi 19 (comp. Gal. ii. 2). ~onic i;~ of K, M, and the Greek Fathers Ver. 2.-I1mew; rather, Ilm(YID; A man. I.ii not tha true reading. In mere vowel St. Paul ,peaks in this indixect way of ve.riatioo.i, especially in passage• where himself (see vers. 5, 7). In Obrist (1 orr. xn. 1-21.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 291