While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Ver. 18. Whiles we look not] Gr. σκοπουντων, while we make them not our scope, our mark to aim at. Heaven we may make our mark, our aim, though not our highest aim.
At the things that are seen] While we eye things present only, it will be with us as with a house withouf pillars, tottering with every blast, or a ship without anchor, tossed with every wave.
But at the things which are not seen] Pericula non respicit martyr, coronas respicit; plagas non horret, praemium numerat; non videt lictores inferno flagellantes, sed angelos superne acclamantes, saith Basil; who also tells us how the martyrs that were cast out naked in a winter's night being to be burned the next day, comforted themselves and one another with these words, Sharp is the cold, but sweet is Paradise; troublesome is the way, but pleasant shall be the end of our journey; let us endure cold a little, and the patriarch's bosom shall soon warm us; let our foot burn awhile, that we may dance for ever with angels; let our hand fall into the fire, that it may lay hold upon eternal life. Δριμυς ο χειμων, &c., Basil. εις τους μαρτ .
But the things which, &c.] The Latins call prosperous things res secundas, because they are to be had hereafter; they are not the first things, these are past, Revelation 21:4 .