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180

Earthly and heavenly Riches compared.

XIII.

HOMIL. according to the word of God, has all men's houses opened to him. For unto him that for God's sake has ceased to possess any thing, every one will contribute of his own. But whoso will hold a little with injustice, shutteth the doors of all against him. To the end, then, that we may attain both to the good things here and to those which are there, let us choose the wealth which cannot be removed, that immortal abundance: which may God grant us all to obtain through the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c.

HOMILY XIV.

1 COR. iv. 17.

For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ Jesus1.

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CONSIDER here also, I intreat, the noble soul, the soul more rec. text. glowing and keener than fire: how he was indeed most especially desirous to be present himself with the Corinthians, thus distempered and broken into parties. For he knew well what a help to the disciples his presence was, and what a mischief his absence. And the former he declared in the Epistle to the Philippians, saying, "Not as in my presence Phil.2. only, but also now much more in my absence, work out your ma own salvation with fear and trembling. The latter he rec.text. signifies in this Epistle, saying, Now some are puffed up, Ver. as though I were not coming to you; but I will come. He 18. was urgent, it seems, and desirous to be present himself. But as this was not possible for a time, he corrects them by the promise of his appearance; and not this only, but also by the sending of his disciple. For this reason, he saith, For this reason: how is

3

I have sent unto you Timothy.
that? "Because I care for you as for children, and as having
begotten you." And the message is accompanied with a
recommendation of his person: Who is my beloved son,
and faithful in the Lord. Now this he said, both to shew
his love of him, and to prepare them to look on him with
respect. And not simply faithful, but, in the Lord; that is,
in the things pertaining to the Lord. Now if in worldly
things it is high praise for a man to be faithful, much more
in things spiritual.

182 St. Paul's Economy in commissioning Timothy:

HOMIL. If then he was his beloved son, consider how great was XIV. Paul's love, in choosing to be separated from him for the Corinthians' sake. And if faithful also, he will be unexceptionable in his ministering to their affairs.

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Who shall bring you in remembrance. He said not, "shall teach," lest they should take it ill, as being used to learn from 11 Cor. himself. Wherefore also towards the end he saith, 'For he 16. 10, worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him. For there was no envy among the Apostles, but they had an eye unto one thing, the edification of the Church. And if he that was employed was their inferior, they did as it were reinforce him with all zealousness. gérou. Wherefore neither was he contented with saying, He shall bring you in remembrance; but purposing to cut out their envy more completely, for Timothy was young, with this view, I say, he adds, my ways; not his, but mine; that is, his policies, his dangers, his customs, his laws, his ordinances, his Apostolical Canons, and all the rest. For since he had said, We are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place: "all these things," saith he, "he will remind you of;" and also of the laws of Christ; for destroying all heresies. Then, carrying his argument higher, he adds, which be in Christ; ascribing all, as was his wont, unto the Lord, and on that ground, establishing the credibility of what is to follow. Wherefore he subjoins, As I teach every where in every church. "Nothing new have I spoken unto you: of these my proceedings all the other churches are cognizant as well as you."

3 ràs eixovoμίας.

Further he calls them ways in Christ, to shew that they have in them nothing human, and that with the aid from that source he doth all things well.

[2.] And having said these things, and so soothed them, and being just about to enter on his charge against the unclean person, he again utters words full of anger; not that in himself he felt so, but in order to correct them: and giving over the fornicator, he directs his discourse to the rest, as not deeming him worthy even of words from himself; just as we act in regard to our servants when they have given us great offence.

Next, after that he had said, I send Timothy, lest they

and in warning them of his Intention to come. 183

should thereupon take things too easily, mark what he 1COR.4. saith:

Ver. 18. Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming unto you. For here he glances both at them and at certain others, casting down their highmindedness: since the love of preeminence is in fault, when men abuse the absence of their teacher for their own self-will. For when he addresses himself unto the people, observe how he does it by way of appeal to their sense of shame; when unto the originators of the mischief, his manner is more vehement. Thus unto the former he saith, We are the offscouring of all; and soothing them he saith, Not to shame you I write these things: but to the latter, Now as though I were not coming to you, some are puffed up: shewing that their self-will argued a childish turn of mind. For so boys in the absence of their master wax more negligent.

18, 19.

This then is one thing here indicated; and another is, that his presence was sufficient for their correction. For as the (2.) presence of a lion makes all living creatures shrink away, so was also that of Paul to the corrupters of the Church.

Ver. 19. And therefore he goes on, But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will. Now to say this only would seem to be mere threatening. But to promise himself, and demand from them the requisite proof by actions also; this was a course for a truly high spirit. Accordingly he added this too, saying,

And I will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For not from any excellencies of their own, but from their teacher's absence, this self-will arose. Which again itself was a mark of a scornful mind towards him. And this is why, having said, I have sent Timotheus, he did not at once add, I will come; but waited until he had brought his charge against them, of being puffed up: after that he saith, I will come. Since, had he put it before the charge, it would rather have been an apology for himself, as not having been deficient, instead of a threat; nor even so would the statement have been convincing. But as it is, King's placing it after the accusation, he hath rendered himself such MS. as they would both believe, and fear.

Mark also how solid and secure he makes his ground: for he saith not simply, I will come: but, If the Lord will and he

11 οὕτως. so the

οὗτος the

rec. text.

184 Deeds, not Words, required in God's Kingdom.

HOMIL. appoints no set time. For since there was a chance that he XIV. might be tardy in coming, by that uncertainty he would fain

keep them anxiously engaged. And, lest they should hereupon fall back again, he added, shortly.

[2.] And I will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power. He said not, "I will know not the wisdom, nor the signs," but what? Not the speech: by the term he employs at the same time depressing the one and exalting the other. And for a while he is setting himself against the generality of them, who were countenancing the fornicator. For if he were speaking of him, he would not say, the power; but " the works," the corrupt works which he did.

Now why seekest thou not after the speech? "Not because I am wanting in speech,' but because all our doings are in power."" As therefore in war success is not for those who talk much, but who effect much; so also, in this case, not speakers, but doers have the victory. "Thou," saith he, art proud of this fine speaking. Well, if it were a contest and a time for orators, thou mightest reasonably be elated thereat: but if of Apostles preaching truth, and by signs confirming the same, why art thou puffed up for a thing superfluous, and unreal; and to the present purpose utterly inefficient? For what could a display of words avail towards raising the dead, or expelling evil spirits, or working any other such deed of wonder? But these are what we want now, and by these our cause stands. Whereupon also he adds,

Ver. 20. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. By signs, saith he, not by fine speaking, we have prevailed: and that our teaching is divine, and really announces the kingdom of heaven, we give the greatest proof, namely our miracles, which we work by the power of the Spirit. If those who are now puffed up desire to be some great ones; as soon as I am come, let them shew whether they have any such virtue. And let me not find them sheltering themselves behind a pomp of words; for that kind of art is nothing to us.

[4.] Ver. 21. What will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

There is much both of terror and of gentleness in this saying. For to say, I will know, was the language of one as yet withholding himself: but to say, What will ye? Shall

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