The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 325

so grent I One might iml\gine, sometimes, that our Lord had commanded those who w<mld be chief to imitate turkey-cocks; but he said they must becomo RB little children. lT. Goon WISHES. "Fare~•e11," or "Rejoice." All joy to you, all prosperity, nll lrnppy and profitable experience. Not a few of them hnd ill wishes for him· ho hnd nothing bnt good wishes for friends and foes. This wns a very renl fai·e well. Upon our lips it often menns too little-in fact, it has become but the bnrost siannl for separat.ion; bnt coming from Paul's heart it was full of enmest mennina, Pos~ibly in his tb~ught it took the form of'.' Rejoice in the Lord," as in Phil. iii. 1. "Everything of value m the eyes of Paul was "111 the Lord." And there is no renl faring well unless we are in Christ. III. LOFTY Alo."D GRACIOUS DESIRF.S, 1. For spiritual g,·owth. "Bo perfected." Correct the evils which I have pointed out. Reform yourselves. Seek to become more like yam Lorn. Strive to get rid of the "old things," and to become new in Christ. Rest not as long as any sin abides within you. This was desiring for them the very highest good. This was a practical suggestion of tbe ,vay in which they mio-M "fare well." 2. For comfort. "Be comforted." Paul's heart was tender tow~ds them. They had caused him great discomfort; he desires their consolation. He had, indeed, wonnded them himself in administering stern but necessary rebuke-but faithful were the wounds of such a friend ; and now be desires that theso wounds may be healed, trusting that the lancet has done its work. Note: he does not say, "Be comforted, bo perfected," but" Be perrected, be comforted;" true comfort comes only as we strive for true holiness. The quickest way to bring comfort to men is to seek to make them better. To comfort men in sin is de~il-like ; to comfort men by bringing them out oj sin is God-like. 3. For unity. "Be of the same mind." Disunited, they would be miserable and wl!l!.k; united, they would be happy and strong. When we are drawn nearer to Ch~st we shall be drawn nearer to the brethren; if we qunrrel with the members we shall soon quarrel with the Head. 'l'he Church has to fight united foes; union should not be the monopoly of the servants of the devil. 4. For peace. "Live in peace." Let peace be continuous, uninterrupted_ Disunion will lead to civil war; and bow can Christians fight the devil if they are fighting one another? If we have peace 'll'ith Go<l we should live in peace with his children, and be at war only with Satan and sin. 5. For love. Conveyed by the exhortation to "salute one anothct· with a holy kiss." Union is not enough; peace is not enough; there must be heartfelt affection between the people of God. This is the only true basis of union and peace. An armed truce is sometimes worse thnn open battle. We must not " tolerate" the brethren-we mnst love them. A "Toleration Act" is a blasphemy against Christ. IV. A STRENGTHENING PBOMISE. " The God of love and peace shall be with you." What W eslev said in death is true for all life, "The best of all is--God is with us." "If thy presence· "O not with me, carry me not up hence" (Exod. xxxiii. 15). If we have God with us, ;.bat can we lack? Perhaps we may regard this promise as conditional. If you sincerely strive to be holy, united, loving, God will abide with you; otherwise, he will depart. Like Israel of old, you may become desolate through carnality and hardness of heart. But if you desire to live in love and peace, the God of love and peace will presence himself with you. You must be workers together with him; from him you get desires for Jove and peace; but you must cultivate these, and be true and earnest in your religious Ufe. It has been well said, "God's presence produces love and peace, and we must have love and peace in order to have hii, presence; God gi'l'es what Le commands; God gives, but we must cherish his gifts."-H. Ver. ] 4.-The benedictwn. These words have become the universal sanctuary utterance of the Christian Church. .AJJ Paul wrote them, how real and full of meaning they were! Now, alas! they have too much degenerated into a mere signal for terminatinaO nuhlic worship, anxiously anticipated by the weary-an empty appendage, for which might adequately be substituted a bare announcement," 'l'hc meeting i~ over." Yet how beautiful iB this benediction! how suggestive I how full of teaching! It is a summary of Christianity, a revelation of the Trinity and of the great threefold Divine work for human redemption and exaltation. I. TnE MATTER oF THE DENEDICTION. l. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Ghrist." c11, xm. 1-11.] THE SECOND EPIS'fLE TO THE UOIUNTliIANS. :',27