18. And a little after he
saith, “For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is
superfluous for me to write to you. For I know the forwardness of
your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that
Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
Yet have we sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be
in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: lest
haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared,
we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this substance.
Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they
would go before unto you, and make up beforehand this your long
promised benediction, that the same might be ready, as benediction,
and not as covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly
shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth in benediction shall
reap also in benediction. Every man according as he hath purposed
in his heart, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a
cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound in you;
that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to
every good work: as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he
hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. But
He that ministereth seed to the sower will both minister bread for
your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the growing
fruits of your righteousness; that ye may be enriched in every
thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving
to God: for the administration of this service not only supplieth
the want of the saints, but makes them also to abound by
thanksgiving unto God of many, while by the proof of this
ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession
unto the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto
them, and unto all men; and in the praying for you of them which
long after you for the excellent grace of God in you. Thanks be
unto God for His unspeakable gift.”2538
In what richness of holy
gladness
must the
Apostle have been steeped, while he speaks of the mutual
supply of the need of
Christ’s
soldiers and His other subjects,
2539
on the one
part of
carnal things to those, on the other of spiritual things to
these, to exclaim as he does, and as it were in repletion of holy
joys to burst out
2540
with, “Thanks be to God for His
unspeakable gift!”
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