Julian Pe- yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what Philippi. riod, 4771. zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved Vulgar Era, 58.

yourself to be clear in this matter.

12 Wherefore though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

16 I rejoice, therefore, that I have confidence in you in all things.

§ 20. 2 COR. viii. 1—15.

St. Paul exhorts the Corinthians, by the Example of the
Churches in Macedonia, which were in very straitened
Circumstances, to contribute liberally to the Relief of the
Christian Brethren in Judea-He declares he does not
give this Injunction by commandment, because Works of
Kindness must be voluntary, but hopes they will abound
in them, from the Example and Love of Christ-He calls
upon them to complete the Collections already begun
without loss of Time, according to their ability, as God
regards the willingness of the Giver more than the Value
of the Gift-The Amount of their Liberality to be applied
only to the poor Brethren in Judea, who in their turn may
be able to supply the Wants of the Corinthians.

1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace
of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2 How that, in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3 For to their power (I bear record) yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves;

4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave
their ownselves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of
God.

5 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had be-
gun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and

Julian Pe utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in Philippi love to us, see that ye abound in this

riod, 4771. Vulgar Æra, 58.

your

also.
grace
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of
the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of
your love.

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor,
that ye through his poverty might be rich.

for

10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want, that there may be equality :

15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over and he that had gathered little had no Exod. xvi. lack *.

18.

§ 21. 2 COR. viii. 16. to the end.

St. Paul thanks God for having made Titus as anxious about
them as he was-His Diligence induced him to become the
Bearer of this Epistle-The Apostle informs them he
sends with Titus a Brother of great reputation, who had
been chosen by the Macedonian Churches, as a Witness of
the Administration of their Gifts, that no Suspicion of
Blame should be attached as to the Disposal of the Abund-
ance entrusted to them-Another Fellow-labourer is likewise
sent, who is more than commonly active on the present
Occasion, from the Report of their good Dispositions-He
instructs them how to answer the Inquiries of the Faction,
and exhorts them to give to these Messengers and to the
Churches a proof of their Love, and of his Confidence in

them.

16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel, throughout all the churches;

19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is admi

VOL. II.

A a

Julian Pe- nistered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and decla- Philippi. riod, 4771. ration of your ready mind:

Vulgar Æra, 58.

20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-helper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your be

half.

§ 22. 2 COR. ix. 1—5.

St. Paul continues his Discourse, by reminding the Corin-
thians that he had boasted to the Macedonians of their
willingness a year ago-Since which time, being informed
by Titus of their Negligence in these Things, he sends
Titus and his Companions to make ready the Collections
before his Arrival, that he should not be ashamed of his
boasting in them; and that what they gave should be
done freely, and not as it were extorted from them as
from Persons of covetous Dispositions.

1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is
superfluous for me to write to you:

2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very

many.

3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready :

4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

§ 23. 2 COR. ix. 6. to the end.

St. Paul exhorts the Corinthians to Liberality, from the
Consideration that we shall be rewarded in another World
according to our Actions here-He admonishes them to give
with Cheerfulness-The Power of God, by blessing their

Julian Period, 4771. Vulgar Æra, 58,

Labours, to supply them with all the Sufficiency of this Philippi.
World's goods, both for their own Maintenance, and for
their Works of Charity-The Joy of those relieved-
-Their Gratitude to God, and Prayers for their Bene-
factors.

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap
also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap
also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath / given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men ;

14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

$ 24. 2 COR. X. 1—6.

St. Paul here particularly addresses the false Teacher, and
his Adherents, who had calumniated him, by asserting
that he was mild only when present, but bold in his Ļet-
ters, when absent-He now, though absent, ironically
beseeches those who accuse him of walking after the
Flesh, that he may not when present have cause to prove
his Boldness-He declares the extraordinary Powers
conferred on him by God for the Purpose of pulling down
every thing opposed to the Gospel; and asserts that he
was prepared to shew his miraculous Power to punish
Disobedience, as soon as the Obedience of the Penitent
among them should be complete.

1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and
gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you,
but being absent am bold toward you:

2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be

Julian Pe

riod, 4771. Vulgar Era, 58.

bold against some, which think of us as if we walked ac- Philippi. cording to the flesh.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

§ 25. 2 COR X. 7-11.

St. Paul upbraids the false Teacher for judging from out-
ward Appearances-He desires also to be acknowledged
as the Minister of Christ, boasts of the Power imparted
to him for Edification, and again sarcastically refers to
the calumniating Reports of his Opponent, whom he calls
upon from the Effects of his Power, already seen, when
absent, in the Punishment of the Incestuous Person, to
conclude that when present it would be equally great.

7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?
If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of
himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's even so are
we Christ's.

8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our
authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification,
and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed :
9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by
letters.

10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful;
but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemp-
tible.

11 Let such an 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.

§ 26. 2 COR. X. 12. to the end.

In a continued strain of Irony St. Paul declares that he
dare not compare himself to the false Teacher, who mea-
sures himself only by himself, and commends himself for
the Things he had done at Corinth; but, on the contrary,
desires only to rejoice in the Bounds prescribed to him by
God, in obedience to which he had now reached the Co-
rinthians-He refuses, like the false Teacher, to boast in
the Labours of other Men, and hopes to preach the Gos-
pel in those Countries, where it was never before preach-
ed; for not he who glories in the Works of others, but