XVIII. The Christian's confidence.

We are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present† or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.-2 Cor. v. 6—10. + In the "earthly In the house not made with hands."

* Courageous and cheerful. house."

XIX. The afflictions and consolations of true believers.

[The contrasts in this passage are very striking: 1, The outward and inward man; 2, Light afflictions, the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 3, For a moment, eternal; 4, Things seen, not seen; 5, Temporal, eternal; 6, The earthly house of this tabernacle (or tent), a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.]

Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things

which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house* of this tabernacle† were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.2 Cor. iv. 16-18; v. 1.

*The body. See John xiv. 1,2. + Or tent, a frail abode.

XX. The wicked son.

He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother,*

Is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that

causeth to err from the words of knowledge. -Prov. xix. 26, 27.

XXI. The love of Christ.

The love of Christ constraineth * us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.-2 Cor. v. 14, 15.

* "Bears us away like a strong and resistless torrent."-Doddridge.

XXII. What the Lord sees and requires. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: But the LORD pondereth the hearts.

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing* of the wicked is sin.-Prov. xxi. 2—4.

*Or, the light of the wicked, Margin. The lamp. -Holden.

He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself* is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.2 Cor. x. 17, 18.

*Boasteth of what he is or does.

XXIV. The blessedness of the righteous. When a man's ways please the LORD,

He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Better is a little with righteousness

Than great revenues without right.

A man's heart deviseth his way:

But the LORD directeth his steps.-Prov. xvi. 7-9.

XXV. The ambassadors of Christ.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us,* who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God † in him.

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.-2 Cor. v. 20, 21; vi. 1.

* Sin is frequently put for sin-offering, Hos. iv. 8. See also Heb. ix. 28. +"Divinely righteous."Doddridge.

XXVI. The humble and froward.—The training of children.

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honour, and life.

Thorns and snares * are in the way of the froward.

He that doth keep his soul shall be far from
them.

Train up a child † in the way he should go:
And when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Prov. xxii. 4-6.

Difficulties and sufferings. + Or, catechize, Margin. "If thou teachest a child what way he should go, he shall not leave it when he is old."

Coverdale's Bible.

XXVII. The mercy of God.

The LORD will not cast off for ever:

But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies:

For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.-Lam. iii. 31-33.

XXVIII. The support Christ gives to believers in affliction.

[The apostle had been referring to a grievous affliction called the "thorn in the flesh," by which he had been humbled: he had prayed earnestly for its removal, and received this answer from the Lord.]

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect* in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.† Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.-2 Cor. xii. 9, 10.

* That is, "manifest." me."-Doddridge.

strong by Christ.

+"Pitch its tent upon Weak in myself, but made