FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 55 



which the passover falls. It was written before Pentecost, 

 because he says, " I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost." 

 It was written after winter, because he tells them, " It may 

 be that I may abide, yea, and winter with you." The 

 winter which the apostle purposed to pass at Corinth was 

 undoubtedly tlie winter next ensuing to the date of the epis- 

 tle ; yet it was a winter subsequent to the ensuing Pente- 

 cost, because he did not intend to set forwards upon his 

 journey till after that feast. The words, " let us keep the 

 feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice 

 and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity 

 and truth," look very like words suggested by the season , 

 at least, they have, upon that supposition, a force and sig- 

 mficancy which do not belong to them upon any other ; and 

 it is not a little remarkable, that the hints casually r'roppt^d 

 in the epistle, concerning particular parts of the yeai should 

 coincide with this supposition. 



