Verse 4
4. Prove In the manner suggested by St. James 1:25, by bringing the law of love to bear upon his work, to see if it is a work, not of vainglory, but of love.
Work His work of reproof; but inferentially applicable to all other moral work in life. That Paul means this special work is clear from the blessed result that he next deduces.
Rejoicing A true glory instead of a vainglory. The test by which we are to prove our own work, namely, the law of love, is not only an easy one but a delightful one: easy, because we can easily know whether love has pervaded our whole work or not, if we honestly examine our thoughts in the act; and delightful, if we find that the work of reproving has truly been a work of meek, restoring love. To find this love in our hearts is a matter of rejoicing far above any glory. To find it absent is truly to catch ourselves in a transgression as bad, perhaps, as our fellow sinners.
In himself In his own case, as it stands in the sight of conscience and of God.
Another And that other the poor transgressor over whose case we were gathering glory to ourselves in pretending to restore him. The words rejoicing and other should both have the article. He shall have the exultation in reference to himself alone, and not to the other.
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