“But I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence, wherewith I count to be bold against some which count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.” Seest thou how great his indignation, and how complete his refutation of those sayings of theirs? For he saith, ‘I beseech you, do not compel me to show that even present I am strong and have power.’ For since they said that ‘when absent, he is quite bold against us and exalteth himself,’ he uses their very words, ‘I beseech therefore that they compel me not to use my power.’ For this is the meaning of, “the confidence.” And he said not, ‘wherewith I am prepared,’ but ‘wherewith I count.’ ‘For I have not yet resolved upon this; they however give me reason enough, but not even so do I wish it.’ And yet he was doing this not to vindicate himself, but the Gospel. Now if where it was necessary to vindicate the Message, he is not harsh, but draws back and delays, and beseeches that there may be no such necessity; much more would he never have done any thing of the kind in his own vindication. ‘Grant me then this favor,’ he saith, ‘that ye compel me not to show, that even when present I am able to be bold against whomsoever it may be necessary; that is, to chastise and punish them.’ Seest thou how free he was from ambition, how he did nothing for display, since even where it was matter of necessity, he hesitates not to call the act, boldness. “For I beseech you,” he says, “that I may not when present show courage with the confidence, wherewith I think to be bold” against some. For this especially is the part of a teacher, not to be hasty in taking vengeance, but to work a reformation, and ever to be reluctant and slow in his punishments. How, pray, does he describe those whom he threatens? “Those that count of us as though we walked according to the flesh:” for they accused him as a hypocrite, as wicked, as a boaster.