96 R0R.5I PAULl^^.E. 



tion, that the epistle presents nothing: hut indefinite aUasions 

 to puhUc facts, 



IV. Chap. 4 : 11-16 : " I am afraid of you, lest I have 

 bestowed upon you labor in vain. Brethren, I beseech you, 

 be as I am ; for I am as ye are : ye have not injured me it 

 all. Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached 

 the gospel unto you at the first. And my temfAation ivliich 

 was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected ; but received 

 me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where ig 

 then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, 

 if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own 

 eyes, and have given them unto me. Am I therefore be 

 come your enemy because I tell you the truth ?" 



With this passage compare 2 Cor. 12:1—9: " It is not 

 expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions 

 and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above 

 fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell ; or 

 whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth ;j 

 such a one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew 

 such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I can- 

 not tell : God knoweth ;) how that he was caught up into 

 paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not laAv- 

 ful for a man to utter. Of such a one will I glory : yet oi 

 myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For, thougl' 

 I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool : for I will say 

 the truth : but now I forbear, lest any man should think ot 

 me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth 

 of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through 

 the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a 

 thorn in thejlesh, the 7nessenger of Sata7i to buffet me, lest 

 1 should be exalted above measure. For this thing I b;'- 

 songht the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And 

 he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee ; for my 

 strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly there- 

 fore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power ol 

 Christ may rest upon me." 



