96 HORiE PAULINA. 



Where is then the blessedness ye spake of?" that is^ the 

 benedictions which you bestowed upon me ; " for I bear you 

 record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked 

 out your own eyes, and have given them to me." 



In the two epistles to the Corinthians, especially in th? 

 second, we have the apostle contending with certain teache •§ 

 in Corinth, who had formed a party in that church against 

 him. To vindicate his personal authority, as well as the 

 dignity and credit of his ministry among them, he takes occa- ■ 

 sion — but not without apologizing repeatedly for the folly, 

 that is, for the indecorum, of pronouncing his own panegyr- 

 ic=^ — to meet his adversaries in their boastings: "Where- 

 insoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. Are 

 they Hebrews ? so am I. Are they Israelites ? so am I. 

 Are they the seed of Abraham ? so am I. Are they the 

 ministers of Christ ? (I speak as a fool,) I am more ; in labors 

 more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more 

 frequent, in deaths oft." Being led to the subject, he goes 

 on, as was natural, to recount his trials and dangers, his 

 incessant cares and labors in the Christian mission. From 

 the proofs which he had given of his zeal and activity in the 

 service of Christ, he passes — and that with the same view 

 of establishing his claim to be considered as " not a whit 

 behind the very chiefest of the apostles" — to the visions and 

 revelations which from time to time had been vouchsafed to 

 him. And then, by a close and easy connection, comes in 

 the mention of his infirmity : " Lest I should be exalted," 

 says he, " above m.easure through the abundance of the rev- 

 elations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the 

 messenger of Satan, to buffet me." 



Thus then, in both epistles, the notice of his infirmity is 



* " Would to God you would bear with me a little iu my foii f : 

 &nd indeed bear with me." Chap. 11:1. 



'■'That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were 

 foolishly, in this confidence of boasting." Chap. 11 : 17. 



"I ara become a fool in gloryin^g; ye have compelled me." Chap 

 12:11. 



