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was returning to Corinth to forward the Collection intended for the Poor Chriftians in Judea. From thefe hiftorical Circumftances, the Date of this Second Epiftle must be fixed within a Year after the former. See Vol. iii. Sect. 45. Note (b).

In the Introduction to the First Epiftle we obferved, that its Defign was, to rectify fome fad Disorders and Abuses which had crept into the Church of Corinth; and anfwer their Queries upon fome important Points, in which they had defired his Determination. The Intention of the prefent Epiftle, is in general, to illuftrate fome of the fame Points upon which he had difcourfed in the former, according to the Light which Titus had given him into the Circumftances and Temper of the Corinthian Church; interfperfing and enforcing fome occafional Reflections and Advices upon various Subjects, as he thought moft conducive to their Inftruction and Edification.

But to give a more diftinct View of the Scheme and Contents of this Second Epiftle.The Apostle, after a general Salutation, expreffes his grateful Senfe of the Divine Goodnefs, in preferving him from the Dangers to which he had been expofed in Afia; profeffing his unfhaken Confidence in GoD's continued Guardianship, fupported by a Senfe of his own Integrity. (Chap. i. 1,-12.) Which Declaration of his Integrity he further illuftrates; applying it particularly to thofe Views, on which he had declined the Vifit to Corinth, which in the former Epiftle he feems to have promifed. (Ver. 13, to the End.) The Cafe of the unhappy Perfon, who had committed Inceft with his Father's Wife, and whom, upon Account of the Scandal he had brought on his Chriftian Profeffion, the Apostle directed them to exclude from Communion, had made a deep Impreffion on his Mind: This, he intimates, was the Reafon of his having deferred his Vifit to Corinth; that he might not meet them with Grief, nor till he had received Advice of the Effect of his Apoftolical Admonitions, and their falutary and feasonable Difcipline. The Affection of the Apostle to the Corinthians is here manifefted, both in his Sympathy with the offending Member of their Church while under Cenfure, whom now, being penitent, he advises them to re-admit to their Communion; and alfo in his Solicitude for certain Tidings concerning their Welfare by Titus, whom not finding at Troas, (as before obferved,) he went to meet in Macedonia. (Chap. ii. 1,-13.)

In further Vindication and Support of his Apoftolical Character against the Infinuations and Objections of the falfe Teachers at Corinth, the Apoftle, having juft intimated that a large Door of Succefs had been opened to him at Troas and elsewhere, makes a Tranfition to this Subject; and expreffes in the most affectionate Terms his Thanksgiving to GOD for having entrusted him with the Miniftry of the Gospel, and for the Suc

cefs

to the Second Epifle to the Corinthians.

cefs attending his Services; declaring his lively Confidence in all Events, of the Divine Acceptance, and speaking of the Corinthians, as his Credentials written by the Finger of GOD. (Ver. 14, to the End. Chap. iii. 1-6.) And as an Illustration of the Dignity of the Ministerial Office, he defcants in a very pertinent and judicious Manner, on the comparative Obscurity of the Mofaic Law, and the fuperior Glory and Permanence of the Gospel. (Ver. 7, to the End.) He then difclaims all finifter Views, and Diftruft of Succefs, in purfuing the glorious Ministry he had defcribed, from a firm Perfuafion that fuch a Gofpel could not be rejected, but in Confequence of the most fatal Prejudices. (Chap. iv. 1,-6.) And while he acknowledges his own Infirmities, he glories in the Strength communicated to him from GOD, as an effectual Support under the extreameft Trials: (Ver. 7,-15.) Defcribing the glorious Hopes which he entertained beyond the Grave, as a Ground of Triumph in the Face of Danger, and a noble Incentive to persevering Fidelity and Stedfaftness. (Ver. 16, to the End. Chap. v. 1,-10.) Touching again upon the Ardor with which he profecuted the Gofpel-miniftry, he makes a kind of Apology for it, pleading the irresistible Constraints of the Redeemer's Love, and the infinite Importance of the Overtures of Reconciliation; which in a most pathetick Address he urges the Corinthians to embrace: (Ver. 11, to the End. Chap. vi. 1, 2.) And then expatiates with great Copiousness on the Temper, with which, in the Midft of Afflictions and Perfecutions, he and his Brethren executed their important Embaffy. (Ver. 3,—10.)

;

It is easy to obferve, on the most curfory View of this Argument, with what Delicacy, as well as Energy, it is all along conducted. As the Apofile manages his Subject in the tenderest and most affectionate Manner, and intermingles general Reflections for the Instruction and Confolation of the Corinthians which however had an evident Subfervience to his main Defign; he conciliates their Regard, and fixes the Impreffions which his former Epistle had made, in a more infinuating and therefore more effectual Way, than if he had exerted his Authority, and wrote with more Closeness and Severity of Stile. And having been informed by Titus, that the Defence of his Miffion, and Apology for his Conduct, contained in his former Epiftle, had not been utterly in vain, he manifefts his Satisfaction in the present Difpofition of the Corinthians, by giving his Reasonings upon this Head a more diffusive and practical Turn.

After this, the Epistle affords us a further Inftance of his Affection, in his judicious and pathetick Exhortation to the Corinthians, (additional to what he had formerly faid, when they defired his Opinion upon the Head of Marriage,) to avoid those Alliances or Intermarriages with Idolaters, which might tend to enfnare them; pleading the gracious ProVOL. IV.

G gg

mifes

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A General Introduction

mifes of GOD to his People, as an Engagement to the strictest Purity, and as a Motive to afpire after the fublimeft Attainments in Religion. Ver. 11, to the End. Chap. vii. 1.)

From this Digreffion he returns to the Subject he had before been treating; and to remove any Degree of Prejudice, which might yet lurk in their Breasts against his Apoftolical Character, he appeals to them for the Integrity and Difinterestedness of his Conduct; profeffing that the Freedom he uses, was not intended to reproach their Diffidence, but fprung from an unfeigned and ardent Concern for their Welfare; which he illuftrates by the Pleasure, with which he received the Affurances of their good State by Titus, and the Part he had taken in their Sorrows, which his neceffary Reproofs had occafioned, and by his prefent Joy, in that those Sorrows had happily iffued in their Reformation. (Ver. 2, to the End.)

The Apostle had propofed to the Corinthians in the Clofe of the former Epiftle, their making a Contribution for the Relief of the poor Saints in Judea: Refaming the Subject, he recommends to them the Example of the Macedonians, reminds them of the Grace of our bleffed Redeemer, and gives fome Advices as to the Manner of collecting and tranfmitting their Bounty: (Chap. viii. 1,-13.) Expreffing his Joy for the Readinefs of Titus to affift in finishing the Collection, and making an honourable Mention of the worthy Character of other Chriftian Brethren, whom he had joined with him in the fame Commiffion. (Ver. 16, to the End.) He then with admirable Addrefs further urges their liberal Contribution, and, in a full Affurance of its Succefs, recommends them to the Divine Bleffing. (Chap. ix. throughout.)

Having expreffed in the former Part of the Epiftle, and on Occafion of this Contribution, his Confidence in the abundant Grace which had been bestowed on the Corinthians, the Apoftle takes an Opportunity of ftating and obviating fome Reflections, which fome among them had thrown upon him for the Mildnefs of his Conduct, as if it proceeded from Fear. He therefore afferts his Apoftolical Power and Authority; cautioning his Opponents that they should not urge him to give too fenfible Demonftrations of it upon themfelves: (Chap. x. throughout.) And further vindicates himself from the perverfe Infinuations of fuch as oppofed him at Corinth; particularly, on the Head of his having declined to receive a Contribution from the Church for his Maintenance; which though greatly to his Honour, was by his Oppofers ungenerously turned to his Difadvantage. (Chap. xi. 1,-15.) To magnify his Office as an Apoftle, he commemorates his Labours and Sufferings in the Caufe of Chrift; yet in fuch a Manner, as plainly fhews, it was difagreeable, however neceffary it might be, to dwell on a Subject that appeared like founding his

own

to the Second Epifle to the Corinthians.

own Applaufe: (Ver. 16, to the End.) And with great Clearness and Plainness, yet at the fame Time with equal Reluctance and Modefty, he gives a Detail of fome extraordinary Revelations, which he had received from GOD, and of his Experience of those Divine Aids, which taught him to glory in his own Infirmities: (Chap. xii. 1,-10.) And upon the whole, vindicates the undisguised Openness and Sincerity of his Conduct, and his vifible Superiority to fecular Confiderations, in all his Carriage towards the Church at Corinth: (Ver. 11, to the End.) Clofing his Epiftle with the tenderest Afsurances, how much it would grieve him to be obliged to evince his Apoftolical Power, by inflicting any miraculous Punishment on those, who continued to oppofe him; and then subjoining the most respectful Salutations, and his folemn Benediction. (Chap. xii. throughout.)

It is evident, from this View of the Epistle, that a very large Part of it is employed in reclaiming the Corinthian Church from their undue Attachment to Judaizing Teachers, and from that Party-Spirit into which they had fallen, and in rekindling proper Regards to the unadulterated Doctrine of the Gospel, and to his own Apoftolical Councils, who had been their spiritual Father in Chrift. That this leading Defign of the Apoftle is occafionally interrupted by the Introduction of other Matters, and particularly the Subject of the Contribution for the poor Saints in Judea, will be no Objection, I apprehend, if narrowly examined, to the Accuracy and Beauty of this excellent Compofition; for the Transitions which St. Paul makes, arife from fome obvious and important Sentiments, which render them natural and juft. And there is an admirable Wisdom in such Digreffions, as they relieve the Minds of the Corinthians from that painful Uneafinefs, which they must have felt from a conftant Attention to so disagreeable a Subject; I mean, their unsuitable Conduct towards the Apostle himself. It is with the fame Kind of Propriety and Sagacity, that the fevere Intimations, which the Dignity of the Apoftolick Character obliged St. Paul to drop against thofe, who might persevere in their Oppofition, are reserved to the Clofe of the Epiftle; as they would fall with additional Weight, in all Probability, after their Minds had been foftened with the reiterated Expreffions of his tender Affection to the Corinthians in general, and the Innocence and Amiableness of his Character had been represented in such a Variety of Views.

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