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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Second Corinthians VI].</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. VI.</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 the apostle gives an account of his general errand to
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all to whom he preached; with the several arguments and methods he used,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:1-10">ver. 1-10</A>.
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Then he addresses himself particularly to the Corinthians, giving them
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good cautions with great affection and strong arguments,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:11-18">ver. 11-18</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="2Co6_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_10"> </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>Ministry of the Apostles.</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 We then, <I>as</I> workers together <I>with him,</I> beseech <I>you</I> also
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that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
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2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in
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the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now <I>is</I> the
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accepted time; behold, now <I>is</I> the day of salvation.)
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3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not
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blamed:
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4 But in all <I>things</I> approving ourselves as the ministers of
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God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in
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distresses,
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5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in
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watchings, in fastings;
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6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by
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the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
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7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of
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righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
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8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as
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deceivers, and <I>yet</I> true;
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9 As unknown, and <I>yet</I> well known; as dying, and, behold, we
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live; as chastened, and not killed;
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10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many
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rich; as having nothing, and <I>yet</I> possessing all things.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses we have an account of the apostle's general errand and
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exhortation to all to whom he preached in every place where he came,
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with the several arguments and methods he used. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The errand or exhortation itself, namely, to comply with the gospel
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offers of reconciliation--that, being favoured with the gospel, they
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would not receive this <I>grace of God in vain,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears; but it will be in
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vain for us to hear it, unless we believe it, and comply with the end
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and design of it. And as it is the duty of the ministers of the gospel
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to exhort and persuade their hearers to accept of grace and mercy which
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are offered to them, so they are honoured with this high title of
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<I>co-workers with</I> God. Note,
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1. They must work; and must work for God and his glory, for souls and
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their good: and they are workers with God, yet under him, as
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instruments only; however, if they be faithful, they may hope to find
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God working with them, and their labour will be effectual.
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2. Observe the language and way of the spirit of the gospel: it is not
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with roughness and severity, but with all mildness and gentleness, to
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beseech and entreat, to use exhortations and arguments, in order to
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prevail with sinners and overcome their natural unwillingness to be
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reconciled to God and to be happy for ever.</P>
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<P>
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II. The arguments and method which the apostle used. And here he tells
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them,</P>
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<P>
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1. The present time is the only proper season to accept of the grace
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that is offered, and improve that grace which is afforded:
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N<FONT SIZE=-1>OW</FONT> <I>is the accepted time,</I>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>NOW</FONT> <I>is the day of salvation,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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The gospel day is a day of salvation, the means of grace the means of
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salvation, the offers of the gospel the offers of salvation, and the
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present time the only proper time to accept of these offers: <I>To-day,
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while it is called to-day.</I> The morrow is none of ours: we know not
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what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be; and we should
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remember that present seasons of grace are short and uncertain, and
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cannot be recalled when they are past. It is therefore our duty and
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interest to improve them while we have them, and no less than our
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salvation depends upon our so doing.</P>
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<P>
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2. What caution they used not to give offence that might hinder the
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success of their preaching: <I>Giving no offence in any thing,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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The apostle had great difficulty to behave prudently and inoffensively
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towards the Jews and Gentiles, for many of both sorts watched for his
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halting, and sought occasion to blame him and his ministry, or his
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conversation; therefore he was very cautious not to give offence to
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those who were so apt to take offence, that he might not offend the
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Jews by unnecessary zeal against the law, nor the Gentiles by
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unnecessary compliances with such as were zealous for the law. He was
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careful, in all his words and actions, not to give offence, or occasion
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of guilt or grief. Note, When others are too apt to take offence, we
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should be cautious lest we give offence; and ministers especially
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should be careful lest they do any thing that may bring blame on their
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ministry or render that unsuccessful.</P>
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<P>
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3. Their constant aim and endeavor in all things to approve themselves
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faithful, as became the ministers of God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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We see how much stress the apostle upon all occasions lays on fidelity
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in our work, because much of our success depends upon that. His eye
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was single, and his heart upright, in all his ministrations; and his
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great desire was to be the servant of God, and to approve himself so.
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Note, Ministers of the gospel should look upon themselves as God's
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servants or ministers, and act in every thing suitably to that
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character. So did the apostle,
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(1.) By much patience in afflictions. He was a great sufferer, and met
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with many afflictions, was often in necessities, and wanted the
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conveniences, if not the necessaries, of life; in distresses, being
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straitened on every side, hardly knowing what to do; in stripes often
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+11:24"><I>ch.</I> xi. 24</A>);
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in imprisonments; in tumults raised by the Jews and Gentiles against
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him; in labours, not only in preaching the gospel, but in travelling
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from place to place for that end, and working with his hands to supply
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his necessities; in watchings and in fastings, either voluntary or upon
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a religious account, or involuntary for the sake of religion: but he
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exercised much patience in all,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
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Note,
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[1.] It is the lot of faithful ministers often to be reduced to great
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difficulties, and to stand in need of much patience.
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[2.] Those who would approve themselves to God must approve themselves
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faithful in trouble as well as in peace, not only in doing the work of
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God diligently, but also in bearing the will of God patiently.
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(2.) By acting from good principles. The apostle went by a good
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principle in all he did, and tells them what his principles were
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>);
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namely, pureness; and there is no piety without purity. A care to keep
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ourselves unspotted from the world is necessary in order to our
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acceptance with God. Knowledge was another principle; and zeal without
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this is but madness. He also acted with <I>long-suffering and
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kindness,</I> being not easily provoked, but bearing with the hardness
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of men's hearts, and hard treatment from their hands, to whom he kindly
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endeavoured to do good. He acted under the influence of the Holy Ghost,
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from the noble principle of unfeigned love, according to the rule of
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the word of truth, under the supports and assistances of the power of
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God, having on the armour of righteousness (a consciousness of
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universal righteousness and holiness), which is the best defence
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against the temptations of prosperity on the right hand, and of
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adversity on the left.
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(3.) By a due temper and behaviour under all the variety of conditions
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in this world,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:8-10"><I>v.</I> 8-10</A>.
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We must expect to meet with many alterations of our circumstances and
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conditions in this world; and it will be a great evidence of our
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integrity if we preserve a right temper of mind, and duly behave
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ourselves, under them all. The apostles met with honour and dishonour,
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good report and evil report: good men in this world must expect to meet
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with some dishonour and reproaches, to balance their honour and esteem;
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and we stand in need of the grace of God to arm us against the
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temptations of honour on the one hand, so as to bear good report
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without pride, and of dishonour on the other hand, so as to bear
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reproaches without impatience or recrimination. It should seem that
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persons differently represented the apostles in their reports; that
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some represented them as the best, and others as the worst, of men: by
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some they were counted deceivers, and run down as such; by others as
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true, preaching the gospel of truth, and men who were true to the trust
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reposed in them. They were slighted by the men of the world as unknown,
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men of no figure or account, not worth taking notice of; yet in all the
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churches of Christ they were well known, and of great account: they
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were looked upon as dying, being killed all the day long, and their
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interest was thought to be a dying interest; "and yet behold," says the
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apostle, "we live, and live comfortably, and bear up cheerfully under
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all our hardships, and go on conquering and to conquer." They were
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chastened, and often fell under the lash of the law, yet not killed:
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and though it was thought that they were sorrowful, a company of mopish
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and melancholy men, always sighing and mourning, yet they were always
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rejoicing in God, and had the greatest reason to rejoice always. They
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were despised as poor, upon the account of their poverty in this world;
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and yet they made many rich, by preaching the unsearchable riches of
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Christ. They were thought to have nothing, and silver and gold they had
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none, houses and lands they had none; yet they possessed all things:
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they had nothing in this world, but they had a treasure in heaven.
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Their effects lay in another country, in another world. They had
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nothing in themselves, but possessed all things in Christ. Such a
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paradox is a Christian's life, and through such a variety of conditions
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and reports lies our way to heaven; and we should be careful in all
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these things to approve ourselves to God.</P>
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<A NAME="2Co6_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Co6_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>Cautions against Mingling with Unbelievers.</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>11 O <I>ye</I> Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is
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enlarged.
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12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your
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own bowels.
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13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto <I>my</I>
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children,) be ye also enlarged.
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14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for
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what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
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communion hath light with darkness?
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15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath
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he that believeth with an infidel?
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16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye
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are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell
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in them, and walk in <I>them;</I> and I will be their God, and they
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shall be my people.
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17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,
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saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean <I>thing;</I> and I will
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receive you,
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18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and
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daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The apostle proceeds to address himself more particularly to the
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Corinthians, and cautions them against mingling with unbelievers. Here
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observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. How the caution is introduced with a profession, in a very pathetic
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manner, of the most tender affection to them, <I>even like that of a
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father to his children,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:11-13"><I>v.</I> 11-13</A>.
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Though the apostle was happy in a great fluency of expressions, yet he
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seemed to want words to express the warm affections he had for these
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Corinthians. As if he had said, "O ye Corinthians, to whom I am now
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writing, I would fain convince you how well I love you: we are desirous
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to promote the spiritual and eternal welfare of all to whom we preach,
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yet <I>our mouth is open unto you, and our heart is enlarged unto</I>
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you, in a special manner." And, because his heart was thus enlarged
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with love to them, therefore he opened his mouth so freely to them in
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kind admonitions and exhortations: "<I>You are not,</I>" says he,
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"<I>straitened in us;</I> we would gladly do you all the service we
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can, and promote your comfort, as helpers of your faith and your joy;
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and, if it be otherwise, the fault is in yourselves; it is because you
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are straitened in yourselves, and fail in suitable returns to us,
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through some misapprehensions concerning us; and all we desire as a
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recompense is only that you would be proportionably affected towards
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us, as children should love their father." Note, It is desirable that
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there should be a mutual good affection between ministers and their
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people, and this would greatly tend to their mutual comfort and
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advantage.</P>
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<P>
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II. The caution or exhortation itself, not to mingle with unbelievers,
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not to be <I>unequally yoked</I> with them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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Either,</P>
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<P>
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1. In stated relations. It is wrong for good people to join in affinity
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with the wicked and profane; these will draw different ways, and that
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will be galling and grievous. Those relations that are our choice must
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be chosen by rule; and it is good for those who are themselves the
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children of God to join with those who are so likewise; for there is
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more danger that the bad will damage the good than hope that the good
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will benefit the bad.</P>
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<P>
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2. In common conversation. We should not yoke ourselves in friendship
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and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot
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wholly avoid seeing, and hearing, and being with such, yet we should
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never choose them for our bosom-friends.</P>
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<P>
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3. Much less should we join in religious communion with them; we must
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not join with them in their idolatrous services, nor concur with them
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in their false worship, nor any abominations; we must not confound
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together the table of the Lord and the table of devils, the house of
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God and the house of Rimmon. The apostle gives several good reasons
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against this corrupt mixture.
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(1.) It is a very great absurdity,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>.
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It is an unequal yoking of things together that will not agree
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together; as bad as for the Jews to have ploughed with an ox and an ass
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or to have sown divers sorts of grain intermixed. What an absurdity is
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it to think of joining righteousness and unrighteousness, or mingling
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light and darkness, fire and water, together! Believers are, and should
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be, righteous; but unbelievers are unrighteous. Believers are made
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light in the Lord, but unbelievers are in darkness; and what
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comfortable communion can these have together? Christ and Belial are
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contrary one to the other; they have opposite interests and designs, so
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that it is impossible there should be any concord or agreement between
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them. It is absurd, therefore, to think of enlisting under both; and,
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if the believer has part with an infidel, he does what in him lies to
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bring Christ and Belial together.
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(2.) It is a dishonour to the Christian's profession
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>);
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for Christians are by profession, and should be in reality, the
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<I>temples of the living God</I>--dedicated to, and employed for, the
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service of God, who has promised to reside in them, <I>to dwell and
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walk in them,</I> to stand in a special relation to them, and take a
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special care of them, that he will be their God and they shall be his
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people. Now there can be no agreement between <I>the temple of God and
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idols.</I> Idols are rivals with God for his honour, and God is a
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jealous God, and will not give his glory to another.
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(3.) There is a great deal of danger in communicating with unbelievers
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and idolators, danger of being defiled and of being rejected; therefore
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the exhortation is
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>)
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<I>to come out from among them,</I> and keep at a due distance, <I>to
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be separate,</I> as one would avoid the society of those who have the
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leprosy or the plague, for fear of taking infection, and not <I>to
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touch the unclean thing,</I> lest we be defiled. Who can touch pitch,
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and not be defiled by it? We must take care not to defile ourselves by
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converse with those who defile themselves with sin; so is the will of
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God, as we ever hope to be received, and not rejected, by him.
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(4.) It is base ingratitude to God for all the favours he has bestowed
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upon believers and promised to them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
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God has promised to be a Father to them, and that they shall be his
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sons and his daughters; and is there a greater honour or happiness than
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this? How ungrateful a thing then must it be if those who have this
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|
dignity and felicity should degrade and debase themselves by mingling
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with unbelievers! <I>Do we thus requite the Lord, O foolish and
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unwise?</I></P>
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