diligence, and in your love to us, see abound in this grace also.

i

h that ye

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

k

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.

10 And herein I "give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not

6 as commanding. Wi. 7 give my opinion. Pu.

h2 COR. ix. 8.

i See on 1 COR. vii. 6.

PHI. ii. 6: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. HEB. i. 2: [God] hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things.

'MAT. viii. 20: LUKE, ix. 58: Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. PHI. ii. 7: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant.

m REV. iii. 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

n

1 COR. vii. 25: I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

• PRO. xix. 17: He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. MAT. x. 42: Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. 1 TIM. vi. 18, 19: That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. HEB. xiii. 16: But to do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. JAMES, ii. 15, 16: If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warned and filled; notwithstanding ye give them

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.10

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:

Gr. to be willing. A. V. as there is a forwardness to resolve. Ham. 10 in proportion to what ye have. We. there be a readiness beforeband. Ham.

not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

P2 COR. ix. 2.

9 EXOD. XXV. 2: Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. do. xxxv. 5: Whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass. PRO. xi. 25: The liberal soul shall be made fat. do. xix. 22: The desire of man is his kindness. ECCLUS. xxxv. 9, 10: In all thy gifts show a cheerful countenance, and dedicate thy tythes with gladness. Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye. MARK, xii. 43, 44: And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. LUKE, XXI. 2-4: He saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. Roм. xii. 8: He that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. 2 COR. ix. 7.

r

15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gather

ed little had no lack.

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, 12 which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord,13 and declaration of your ready mind :

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

W

21 Providing for honest 14 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,

12 benevolence. Co. Ma. Cr. charity. Ham. gift. ver. 4, 6, 7; chap. ix. 8. A. V. 13 the Lord himself. Ham. 14 good. Wi.

EXOD. xvi. 18: And when they did mete it [the manna] with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack.

s Ver. 6.

t2 COR. xii. 18: I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother.

u 1 Cor. xvi. 3, 4: And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

V

2 COR. iv. 15: For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God,

W

See on ROм. xii. 17.

whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have 15 in you.

23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

24 Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

CHAP. IX.

1 He yieldeth the reason why, though he knew their forwardness, yet he sent Titus and his brethren beforehand: 6 and he proceedeth in stirring them up to a bountiful alms, as being but a kind of sowing of seed, 10 which shall return a great increase to them, 13 and occasion a great sacrifice of thanksgivings unto God.

a

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.

e

d

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.

15 he hath. A. V.

*PHI. ii. 25: Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger.

y 2 COR. vii. 14: do. ix. 2.

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,2 that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.3

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

h

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 k grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency

1 Gr. blessing. GEN. xxxiii. 11: 1 Sam. xxv. 27: 2 KINGS, v. 15. A. V. 2 which hath been so much spoken of before. A. V. 3a defrauding. Co. Ma. Cr. as an extortion. Bi. as of sparing. Gen. 'of compulsion. Co.

f MAT. vii. 2: With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

8 Ps. xli. 1-3: Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. PRO. xi. 24, 25: There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. do. xix. 17: He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. do. xxii. 9: He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. GAL. vi. 7, 9: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

:

h DEUT. XV. 7, 8: If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates-thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him.

i See on 2 COR. viii. 12.

* PRO. xi. 24, 25: The words under ver. 6.

do xxviii. 27: