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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Second Corinthians IV].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D C O R I N T H I A N S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. IV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have an account,
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I. Of the constancy of the apostle and his fellow-labourers in their
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work. Their constancy in declared
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:1">ver. 1</A>),
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their sincerity is vouched
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:2">ver. 2</A>),
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an objection is obviated
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:3,4">ver. 3, 4</A>),
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and their integrity proved,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:5-7">ver. 5-7</A>.
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II. Of their courage and patience under their sufferings. Where see
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what their sufferings were, together with their allays
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:8-12">ver. 8-12</A>),
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and what it was that kept them from sinking and fainting under them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:13-18">ver. 13, to the end</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="2Co4_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Constancy and Sincerity of the Apostles; The Apostle's Integrity.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received
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mercy, we faint not;
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2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not
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walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully;
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but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every
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man's conscience in the sight of God.
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3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
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4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them
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which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of
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Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
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5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and
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ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
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6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
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hath shined in our hearts, to <I>give</I> the light of the knowledge
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of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
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7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
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excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The apostle had, in the foregoing chapter, been <I>magnifying his
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office,</I> upon the consideration of the excellency or glory of that
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gospel about which he did officiate; and now in this chapter his design
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is to vindicate their ministry from the accusation of false teachers,
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who charged them as deceitful workers, or endeavoured to prejudice the
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minds of the people against them on account of their sufferings. He
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tells them, therefore, how they believed, and how they showed their
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value for their office as ministers of the gospel. They were not puffed
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up with pride, but spurred on to great diligence: "<I>Seeing we have
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this ministry,</I> are so much distinguished and dignified, we do not
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take state upon ourselves, nor indulge in idleness, but are excited to
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the better performance of our duty."</P>
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<P>
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I. Two things in general we have an account of:--Their constancy and
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sincerity in their work and labour, concerning which observe,
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1. Their constancy and perseverance in their work are declared: "<I>We
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faint not</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>)
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under the difficulty of our work, nor do we desist from our labour."
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And this their stedfastness was owing to the <I>mercy of God.</I> From
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the same mercy and grace from which they received the apostleship
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:5">Rom. i. 5</A>),
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they received strength to persevere in the work of that office. Note,
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As it is great mercy and grace to be called to be saints, and
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especially to be <I>counted faithful, and be put into the ministry</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+1:12">1 Tim. i. 12</A>),
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so it is owing to the mercy and grace of God if we continue faithful
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and persevere in our work with diligence. The best men in the world
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would faint in their work, and under their burdens, if they did not
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receive mercy from God. <I>By the grace of God I am what I am,</I> said
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this great apostle in his former epistle to these Corinthians,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+15:10"><I>ch.</I> xv. 10</A>.
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And that mercy which has helped us out, and helped us on, hitherto, we
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may rely upon to help us even to the end.
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2. Their sincerity in their work is avouched
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>)
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in several expressions: <I>We have renounced the hidden things of
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dishonesty.</I> The things of dishonesty are hidden things, that will
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not bear the light; and those who practise them are, or should be,
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ashamed of them, especially when they are known. Such things the
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apostle did not allow of, but did renounce and avoid with indignation:
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<I>Not walking in craftiness,</I> or in disguise, acting with art and
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cunning, but in great simplicity, and with open freedom. They had no
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base and wicked designs covered with fair and specious pretences of
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something that was good. Nor did they in their preaching <I>handle the
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word of God deceitfully;</I> but, as he said before, they used <I>great
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plainness of speech,</I> and did not make their ministry serve a turn,
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or truckle to base designs. They had not cheated the people with
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falsehood instead of truth. Some think the apostle alludes to the
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deceit which treacherous gamesters use, or that of hucksters in the
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market, who mix bad wares with good. The apostles acted not like such
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persons, but they <I>manifested the truth to every man's
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conscience,</I> declaring nothing but what in their own conscience they
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believed to be true, and what might serve for the conviction of their
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consciences who heard them, who were to judge for themselves, and to
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give an account for themselves. And all this they did <I>as in the
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sight of God,</I> desirous thus to commend themselves to God, and to
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the consciences of men, by their undisguised sincerity. Note, A
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stedfast adherence to the truths of the gospel will commend ministers
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and people; and sincerity or uprightness will preserve a man's
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reputation, and the good opinion of wise and good men concerning
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him.</P>
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<P>
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II. An objection is obviated, which might be thus formed: "If it be
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thus, how then does it come to pass, that the gospel is hid, and proves
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ineffectual, as to some who hear it?" To which the apostle answers, by
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showing that this was not the fault of the gospel, nor of the preachers
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thereof. But the true reasons of this are,
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1. <I>Those are lost souls</I> to whom the gospel is hid, or is
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ineffectual,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Christ came to <I>save that which was lost</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+17:11">Matt. xvii. 11</A>),
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and the gospel of Christ is sent to save such; and, if this do not find
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and save them, they are lost for ever; they must never expect any thing
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else to save them, for there is no other method or means of salvation.
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The hiding of the gospel therefore from souls is both an evidence and
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cause of their ruin.
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2. <I>The god of this world hath blinded their minds,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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They are under the influence and power of the devil, who is here called
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<I>the god of this world,</I> and elsewhere <I>the prince of this
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world,</I> because of the great interest he has in this world, the
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homage that is paid to him by multitudes in this world, and the great
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sway that, by divine permission, he bears in the world, and in the
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hearts of his subjects, or rather slaves. And as he is the prince of
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darkness, and ruler of the darkness of this world, so he darkens the
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understandings of men, and increases their prejudices, and supports his
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interest by keeping them in the dark, blinding their minds with
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ignorance, and error, and prejudices, that they should not <I>behold
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the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of
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God.</I> Observe,
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(1.) Christ's design by his gospel is to make a glorious discovery of
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God to the minds of men. Thus, as the image of God, he demonstrates the
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power and wisdom of God, and the grace and mercy of God for their
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salvation. But,
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(2.) The design of the devil is to keep men in ignorance; and, when he
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cannot keep the light of the gospel out of the world, he makes it his
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great business to keep it out of the hearts of men.</P>
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<P>
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III. A proof of their integrity is given,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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They made it their business to preach Christ, and not themselves: <I>We
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preach not ourselves.</I> Self was not the matter nor the end of the
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apostles' preaching: they did not give their own notions and private
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opinions, nor their passions and prejudices, for the word and will of
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God; nor did they seek themselves, to advance their own secular
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interest or glory. But they <I>preached Christ Jesus the Lord;</I> and
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thus it did become them and behove them to do, as being Christ's
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servants. Their business was to make their Master known to the world as
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the Messiah, or the Christ of God, and as Jesus, the only Saviour of
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men, and as the rightful Lord, and to advance his honour and glory.
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Note, All the lines of Christian doctrine centre in Christ; and in
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preaching Christ we preach all we should preach. "As to
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<I>ourselves,</I>" says the apostle, "<I>we preach,</I> or declare,
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that <I>we are your servants for Jesus' sake.</I>" This was no
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compliment, but a real profession of a readiness to do good to their
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souls, and to promote their spiritual and eternal interest, and that
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for <I>Jesus' sake;</I> not for their own sake or their own advantage,
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but for Christ's sake, that they might imitate his great example, and
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advance his glory. Note, Ministers should not be of proud spirits,
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<I>lording it over God's heritage,</I> who are servants to the souls of
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men: yet, at the same time, they must avoid the meanness of spirit
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implied in becoming the servants of the humours or the lusts of men; if
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they should thus <I>seek to please men, they would not be the servants
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of Christ,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+1:10">Gal. i. 10</A>.
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And there was good reason,
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1. Why they should preach Christ. For by gospel light we have the
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<I>knowledge of the glory of God,</I> which shines in the <I>face of
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Jesus Christ,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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And the light of this <I>Sun of righteousness</I> is more glorious than
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that light which God commanded to shine out of darkness. It is a
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pleasant thing for the eye to behold the sun in the firmament; but it
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is more pleasant and profitable when the gospel shines in the heart.
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Note, As light was the first-born of the first creation, so it is in
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the new creation: the illumination of the Spirit is his first work upon
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the soul. The grace of God created such a light in the soul that those
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who <I>were sometimes darkness are made light in the Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+5:8">Eph. v. 8</A>.
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2. Why they should not preach themselves: because they were but earthen
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vessels, things of little or no worth or value. Here seems to be an
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allusion to the lamps which Gideon's soldiers carried in earthen
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pitchers,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+7:16">Jud. vii. 16</A>.
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The treasure of gospel light and grace is put into earthen vessels. The
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ministers of the gospel are weak and frail creatures, and <I>subject to
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like passions</I> and infirmities as other men; they are mortal, and
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soon broken in pieces. And God has so ordered it that the weaker the
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vessels are the stronger his power may appear to be, that the treasure
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itself should be valued the more. Note, There is an excellency of power
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in the gospel of Christ, to enlighten the mind, to convince the
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conscience, to convert the soul, and to rejoice the heart; but all this
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power is from God the author, and not from men, who are but
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instruments, so that God in all things must be glorified.</P>
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<A NAME="2Co4_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co4_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Apostles' Sufferings and Supports.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 57.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>8 <I>We are</I> troubled on every side, yet not distressed; <I>we are</I>
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perplexed, but not in despair;
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9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
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10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord
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Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our
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body.
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11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus'
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sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our
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mortal flesh.
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12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
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13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is
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written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also
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believe, and therefore speak;
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14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise
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up us also by Jesus, and shall present <I>us</I> with you.
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15 For all things <I>are</I> for your sakes, that the abundant grace
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might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of
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God.
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16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man
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perish, yet the inward <I>man</I> is renewed day by day.
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17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh
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for us a far more exceeding <I>and</I> eternal weight of glory;
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18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the
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things which are not seen: for the things which are seen <I>are</I>
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temporal; but the things which are not seen <I>are</I> eternal.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses the apostle gives an account of their courage and
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patience under all their sufferings, where observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. How their sufferings, and patience under them, are declared,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:8-12"><I>v.</I> 8-12</A>.
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The apostles were great sufferers; therein they followed their Master:
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Christ had told them <I>that in the world they should have
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tribulation,</I> and so they had; yet they met with wonderful support,
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great relief, and many allays of their sorrows. "<I>We are,</I>" says
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the apostle, "<I>troubled on every side,</I> afflicted many ways, and
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we meet with almost all sorts of troubles; <I>yet not distressed,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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We are not hedged in nor cooped up, because we can see help in God, and
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help from God, and have liberty of access to God." Again, "We are
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<I>perplexed,</I> often uncertain, and in doubt what will become of us,
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and not always without anxiety in our minds on this account; <I>yet not
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in despair</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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even in our greatest perplexities, knowing that God is able to support
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us, and to deliver us, and in him we always place our trust and hope."
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Again, "We are <I>persecuted</I> by men, pursued with hatred and
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violence from place to place, as men not worthy to live; yet <I>not
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forsaken</I> of God,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Good men may be sometimes forsaken of their friends, as well as
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persecuted by their enemies; but God will never leave them nor forsake
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them. Again, "We are sometimes dejected, or <I>cast down;</I> the enemy
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may in a great measure prevail, and our spirits begin to fail us; there
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may be fears within, as well as fightings without; yet we are <I>not
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destroyed,</I>"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Still they were preserved, and kept their heads above water. Note,
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Whatever condition the children of God may be in, in this world, they
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have a "<I>but not</I>" to comfort themselves with; their case
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sometimes is bad, yea very bad, but not so bad as it might be. The
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apostle speaks of their sufferings as constant, and as a counterpart of
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the sufferings of Christ,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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The sufferings of Christ were, after a sort, re-acted in the sufferings
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of Christians; thus did they <I>bear about the dying of the Lord
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Jesus</I> in their body, setting before the world the great example of
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a suffering Christ, <I>that the life of Jesus might also be made
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manifest,</I> that is, that people might see the power of Christ's
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resurrection, and the efficacy of grace in and from the living Jesus,
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|
manifested in and towards them, who did yet live, though they were
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always <I>delivered to death</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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and though <I>death worked in them</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
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they being exposed to death, and ready to be swallowed up by death
|
|
continually. So great were the sufferings of the apostles that, in
|
|
comparison with them, other Christians were, even at this time, in
|
|
prosperous circumstances: <I>Death worketh in us; but life in you,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. What it was that kept them from sinking and fainting under their
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sufferings,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:13-18"><I>v.</I> 13-18</A>.
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Whatever the burdens and troubles of good men may be, they have cause
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|
enough not to faint.</P>
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<P>
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1. Faith kept them from fainting: <I>We have the same spirit of
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|
faith</I>
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
that faith which is of the operation of the Spirit; the same faith by
|
|
which the saints of old did and suffered such great things. Note, The
|
|
grace of faith is a sovereign cordial, and an effectual antidote
|
|
against fainting-fits in troublous times. The spirit of faith will go
|
|
far to bear up the spirit of a man under his infirmities; and as the
|
|
apostle had David's example to imitate, who said
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+116:10">Ps. cxvi. 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>I have believed, and therefore have I spoken,</I> so he leaves us
|
|
his example to imitate: <I>We also believe,</I> says he, <I>and
|
|
therefore speak.</I> Note, As we receive help and encouragement from
|
|
the good words and examples of others, so we should be careful to give
|
|
a good example to others.</P>
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|
|
|
<P>
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|
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|
2. Hope of the resurrection kept them from sinking,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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|
|
|
They knew that Christ was raised, and that his resurrection was an
|
|
earnest and assurance of theirs. This he had treated of largely in his
|
|
former epistle to these Corinthians,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+15:1-58"><I>ch.</I> xv</A>.
|
|
|
|
And therefore their hope was firm, being well grounded, that he who
|
|
raised up Christ the head will also raise up all his members. Note, The
|
|
hope of the resurrection will encourage us in a suffering day, and set
|
|
us above the fear of death; for what reason has a good Christian to
|
|
fear death, that dies in hope of a joyful resurrection?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. The consideration of the glory of God and the benefit of the church,
|
|
by means of their sufferings, kept them from fainting,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Their sufferings were for the church's advantage
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+1:6"><I>ch.</I> i. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
and thus did redound to God's glory. For, when the church is edified,
|
|
then God is glorified; and we may well afford to bear sufferings
|
|
patiently and cheerfully when we see others are the better for them--if
|
|
they are instructed and edified, if they are confirmed and comforted.
|
|
Note, The sufferings of Christ's ministers, as well as their preaching
|
|
and conversation, are intended for the good of the church and the glory
|
|
of God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. The thoughts of the advantage their souls would reap by the
|
|
sufferings of their bodies kept them from fainting: <I>Though our
|
|
outward man perish, our inward man is renewed day by day,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) We have every one of us an outward and an inward man, a body and a
|
|
soul.
|
|
|
|
(2.) If the outward man perish, there is no remedy, it must and will be
|
|
so, it was made to perish.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It is our happiness if the decays of the outward man do contribute
|
|
to the renewing of the inward man, if afflictions outwardly are gain to
|
|
us inwardly, if when the body is sick, and weak, and perishing, the
|
|
soul is vigorous and prosperous. The best of men have need of further
|
|
renewing of the inward man, even day by day. Where the good work is
|
|
begun there is more work to be done, for carrying it forward. And as in
|
|
wicked men things grow every day worse and worse, so in godly men they
|
|
grow better and better.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. The prospect of eternal life and happiness kept them from fainting,
|
|
and was a mighty support and comfort. As to this observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The apostle and his fellow-sufferers saw their afflictions working
|
|
towards heaven, and that they would end at last
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
whereupon they weighed things aright in the balance of the sanctuary;
|
|
they did as it were put the heavenly glory in one scale and their
|
|
earthly sufferings in the other; and, pondering things in their
|
|
thoughts, they found afflictions to be light, and the glory of heaven
|
|
to be <I>a far more exceeding weight.</I> That which sense was ready to
|
|
pronounce heavy and long, grievous and tedious, faith perceived to be
|
|
light and short, and but for a moment. On the other hand, the worth and
|
|
weight of the crown of glory, as they are exceedingly great in
|
|
themselves, so they are esteemed to be by the believing soul--far
|
|
exceeding all his expressions and thoughts; and it will be a special
|
|
support in our sufferings when we can perceive them appointed as the
|
|
way and preparing us for the enjoyment of the future glory.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Their faith enabled them to make this right judgment of things:
|
|
<I>We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which
|
|
are not seen,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:18 "><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is by faith that we see God, who is invisible
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:27">Heb. xi. 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
and by this we look to an unseen heaven and hell, and faith is the
|
|
<I>evidence of things not seen.</I> Note,
|
|
|
|
[1.] There are unseen things, as well as things that are seen.
|
|
|
|
[2.] There is this vast difference between them: unseen things are
|
|
eternal, seen things but temporal, or temporary only.
|
|
|
|
[3.] By faith we not only discern these things, and the great
|
|
difference between them, but by this also we take our aim at unseen
|
|
things, and chiefly regard them, and make it our end and scope, not to
|
|
escape present evils, and obtain present good, both of which are
|
|
temporal and transitory, but to escape future evil and obtain future
|
|
good things, which though unseen, are real, and certain, and eternal;
|
|
and faith is <I>the substance of things hoped for,</I> as well as the
|
|
evidence of things not seen,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:1">Heb. xi. 1</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
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