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Having therefore such hope, we use great freedom of 13 speech: and do not as Moses, who put a veil over his face : that the sons of Israel may not steadfastly behold the end of 14 that which is to be done away': (yet their minds are blinded: for until this very day the same veil remaineth in the reading of the old covenant; it not being discovered that it 15 is done away through Christ; but even unto this day, when 16 Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart: nevertheless

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when that heart shall turn to the Lord, the veil will be 17 taken away: and the Lord is that spirit: and where the 18 spirit of the Lord is, [there] is freedom :) but we all beholding as in a mirror with uncovered face the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Lord, who is that spirit*. CH. IV. Wherefore having this ministry, according as we have 2 received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor corrupting the word of God; but by manifestation of the truth recommending ourselves to every man's conscience, in the sight of God. But if our gospel also be covered it is covered 4 among those that are lost: among those unbelievers whose minds the god of this world + hath blinded, so that the lustre of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, 5 doth not enlighten them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants" for the

1 Or, might not steadfastly behold the end of that which is now done away. 2" until this day," R. T. and N. 3" which veil is done away," R. T. 4 Gr. lest the gospel of the glory of Christ should enlighten them. 5 Gr. slaves.

* "the Lord who is that spirit;" or, "the Lord, the spirit." The design of the apostle is to prove that Christ, that is the christian revelation, is the spirit, i. e. the end and design, the sum and substance, of the Mosaic œconomy or the Law. It is plain therefore that no inference can be drawn from this text to prove the distinct personal existence of a supposed divine person called the Holy Spirit.

+ i.e. a worldly selfish spirit, or an attachment to inveterate prejudices, expressed figuratively and allegorically, as though that imaginary being who is represented as the ruler of that portion of mankind who oppose the gospel had fascinated and blinded their eyes against the light of truth.

6 sake of Jesus. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shone in our hearts, to give the lustre of his glorious knowledge' in the face of Jesus Christ.

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But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the ex8 cellence of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are every way afflicted, but not distressed; we are perplex9 ed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast 10 down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in our body the death of Jesus; that the life also of Jesus3 may be made 11 manifest in our body. For we who are alive are continually delivered to death for the sake of Jesus; that the life 12 also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So 13 that death worketh in us, but life in you. Yet having the

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same spirit of faith, as it is written, "I believed, and therefore I have spoken," we also believe, and therefore speak; 14 knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus, will raise up us also by Jesus, and will place us before himself toge 15 ther with you. For all things are for your sakes; that the favour of the gospel which hath abounded, might abound, 16 through the thanksgiving of many, to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but even though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our present light affliction worketh for us a very ex18 ceeding and everlasting 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 for a short time, but the things which are not seen are everlasting. CH. V. For we know that, if our earthly house of this taber nacle were destroyed, we have a building from God, a 2 house not made by hands, everlasting, in the heavens. For we groan in this tabernacle, earnestly desiring to be clothed

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1" of the glorious knowledge of God," R. T. Or, exceeding greatness, N.'m. 3 Of the Lord Jesus, R. T. 4 Or, the gracious gospel, N.m. 5 Or, temporary, N. m. 6 Or," the house of our earthly tabernacle, or tent,” N. m. And so ver. 2, 4,

3 upon with our habitation which is from heaven *: since we 4 shall indeed be found clothed upon, and not naked. For we that are in this tabernacle groan, being burthened; not that we wish to be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality 5 may be swallowed up by life. Now he that hath prepared

us for this very purpose, is God; who hath also given to us 6 the earnest of the spirit. Wherefore we are always of good

courage, and know that, while we are present in the body, 7 we are absent from the Lord: (for we walk by faith, not by 8 sight:) we are of good courage, I say, and desirous rather

to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we earnestly' strive also that, whether present 10 or absent, we may be well-pleasing to him. For we must

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all appear before the judgement-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; and we are made manifest to God, and I hope that 12 we are made manifest in your consciences also. [For] we commend not ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory on our account; that ye may have somewhat to answer those who glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13 For whether we were beside ourselves, it regarded God: 14 or whether we be of a sound mind, it regardeth you. For

the love of Christ constraineth us; because we have thus judged, that, if one died for all, then all were in a state of

"From heaven." That tabernacle which, ver. 1, is said to be now in heaven, when it becomes the habitation of the virtuous believer is here said to be from heaven: which countenances the conclusion that the place in which the virtuous will reside after the resurrection, will be the renovated earth. So in the Book of Revelations, ch. xxi. the New Jerusalem when it becomes the ha❤ bitation of men, descends from heaven to earth. It has been doubted whether the word heaven in the New Testament ever signifies the place in which the virtuous will dwell after they are restored to life. This happy state is said to be now in heaven, because it is reserved for them in the purpose of God. See Hallet on Scripture, vol. i, p, 191 ; vol. ii. p. 167.

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and that he died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died and rose 16 again for them'. Wherefore henceforth we know no man according to the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we no longer know him. 17 Wherefore if any man be in Christ, there is a new creation2: the old things are passed away; behold, all things are be18 come new. But all things are of God; who hath reconciled us to himself by [Jesus] Christ, and hath given to us the 19 ministry of reconciliation: namely, that God through Christ reconciled the world to himself, imputed not to them their trespasses, and committed to us the doctrine of reconcilia20 tion. We are therefore ambassadors for Christ, as though God besought you by us: we, for Christ, entreat you, "Be 21 ye reconciled to God." For God hath made him, who knew no sin, to be a sin for us †, that we may be justified ‡ before God through him.

'Or, who died and was raised for them. 2 he is a new creature, N. See N.m. 3 Or, in the stead, or place, of. N.m. 4 Gr. become the justification of God. See 1 Cor. i. 30. "completely righteous." Sn.

* Gr.“ all died." All mankind were subject to mortality, without any rea sonable hope of being restored to life. Christ died for the benefit of all, that all by his doctrine and resurrection might be recovered to the hope of life, and that under the influence of this hope they might live to him, that is, might yield obe dience to his gospel, and live in the practice of virtue and piety. Mr. Alexander in his Commentary on 1 Cor. xv. p. 95, gives a different turn to the passage. "For the love of Christ binds us together, q. d. in the closest bonds of friendship and benevolence, because we thus judge, that if one man died for all, then all have died, i. e. to themselves. Christians are here elegantly represented as dying with Christ to all kinds of sin, and more especially to the selfish and malignant passions."

+ A sin-offering for us, N. that is, Christ who had never violated the law, suffered death as a transgressor, that we gentiles, who as such were regarded as sinners and outlaws, might be justified or acquitted, and admitted to the privi Jeges of the gospel-covenant. By the death of Christ the new covenant was ratified, the blessings of which are offered equally to Jews and gentiles. The apostle in writing to the gentiles expresses himself in the first person, as one of their number. See Locke's preface to the Epistles, p. 6. In all this there is no allusion to the commonly received doctrine of atonement by vicarious sufferings. "So as to be admitted into the christian covenant by faith; and into bea ven, by adding obedience to faith.” Newcome.

CH. VI. Now we as working together with God, beseech you 2 also that ye receive not the favour1 of God in vain: (for Isaiah saith, "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation I have assisted thee:" behold, now is the well-accepted time: behold, now is the day of salva3 tion:) giving none offence in any thing, that our ministry 4 be not blamed: but in all things recommending ourselves as the ministers of God; by much patience, by afflictions, 5 by necessities, by distresses, by stripes, by imprisonments, by danger in disturbances, by labours, by watchings, by 6 fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by 7 kindness, by the holy spirit, by love unfeigned, by the word

of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteous8 ness on the right hand and on the left; through honour and 9 disgrace, through evil report and good report: as deceivers,

and yet true: as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, 10 and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as

grieved, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many 11 rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. Our

mouth is opened to you, O Corinthians, our heart is en12 larged. Ye are not straitened in us; but ye are straitened 13 in your own bowels. Now as a recompence for this, (I speak 14 as to my children,) be ye also enlarged. Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with iniquity? and what communion hath 15 light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial * ? or what part hath a believer with an unbeliever? 16 and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God: as God hath said, "I will dwell among them, and walk among them; and I 17 will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore

1 Or, gracious gospel, N. m. Gr. grace.

2.66 or what," Mss.

"This is the only instance in which Belial occurs in the New Testament. Mr. Locke says it is the general name for the false gods of the gentiles." So,