us again and again as broken-hearted penitents to the foot of the cross. Thus the repeated consciousness of sin may, in this manner, help to destroy in us one of the worst of enemies, pride of heart; and so the sweet flower of humility shall in time take the place of this root of bitterness, which springing up, does so continually trouble us. The Christian's is a life of warfare; and no progress in grace can be made but by a course of conflict, in which the waves of sin and grief will be continually battling with the consolations and joy of faith; that is to say, of faith in the promise, that we shall be made more than conquerors through Him that loved us. EXPLANATION. Verse 13 to 18. Although St. Paul had declined receiving any recompense for his labours from the Corinthian Church, he wished it to be clearly understood, that it is the duty of Christians to maintain their Ministers; and this he now goes on to prove. (13) Observe, he says, what is the custom in the Jewish Church. Do not the Ministers there live by what is provided for the temple? and those whose business it is to offer sacrifices upon the altar, do they not partake of the offerings? (14) In like manner, it is the will of our Lord Jesus Christ that those who preach the Gospel, should be supported by them who receive that Gospel. (15) Nevertheless, although the duty on your part to maintain your Ministers is plain enough, I have not availed myself of it; neither have I written thus much from wishing, when I come again, to receive any thing from you. No; I would sooner die than give any man the power to rob me of that satisfaction, which my conduct in this particular affords me. (16) As to my preaching the Gospel, there is no merit in that, for under my circumstances it becomes a matter of necessity. Woe indeed would it be unto me, if I were to refuse to preach! (17) If I willingly fulfil my Lord's commands, I may certainly look for a reward; but if against my will, still I must do it, seeing I have received such a commission from Him. (18) In what respect then do I look for reward? Why, surely in this, that I have preached the Gospel of Christ without being chargeable to any one in doing so, and that I have certainly the evidence of not having abused the power which was committed to me. APPLICATION. It is not enough that we do the Duties of our station, we must do them out of Love to God. When any one feels tempted to complain of the expense incurred by the support of Ministers of the Gospel, let him remember this text, "The Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel." His own words when on earth were, "The labourer is worthy of his hire." (Luke x. 7.) Those who grudge the supply made for the maintenance of Christ's Ministers, have yet to learn the true value of things temporal and spiritual; they know not wherein true riches consist. Still less do Ministers understand the inestimable privileges of their calling, who use their power so as to hinder the Gospel which they are appointed to preach. But the instruction which may be gained from the language of St. Paul in this passage of Scripture is of universal application. We are taught this lesson, that the merely doing the duties of our station is not enough, but that God expects them to be done in the spirit of devoted love towards Himself. To a certain degree, outward circumstances lay us under a sort of necessity to the performance of our duties; so that woe be to us, even in a worldly point of view, if we do them not. And generally speaking, a necessity also is laid upon us respecting the nature of our occupations. The Clergyman must preach; and the husbandman must till the ground; but while we are thus in so great measure constrained in our actions, we are free in our spirits; we are free either to follow the leadings of God's providence willingly, or unwillingly. We may do what we do either grudgingly and of necessity, or of a ready mind. And God who reads the heart will deal with us accordingly. Considering that God's right over us is absolute, we must be aware that reward is what we can never claim as our due; let our devotion to His service be ever so great, still we have but done what it was our duty to do. But in His infinite condescension and love, He has made known to us His willingness to recompense our services, in proportion as they are done out of regard to Him, and in love to that Saviour who died for us. Keeping then in mind that our deservings are nothing, but that all we receive is as a free gift, we may look for our measure of reward in proportion to our faithfulness and zeal in the performance of our several duties. EXPLANATION. Verse 19 to 23. To show that he had not abused the power given to him as a Minister of the Gospel, St. Paul here describes what had been his manner of life. (19) Though I was not bound, as regards man, to serve any one; yet in order to gain souls, I have made myself, as it were, a servant to all men. (20) With this object in view, I studied the prejudices of different people. That I might win the Jews over to Christianity, I yielded to their ceremonial law. (As we see in Acts xvi. 3, and xxi. 26.) (21) When I resided with the Gentiles, who were without the law of Moses, I omitted the ceremonies of that law; (yet I observed carefully the law of God as delivered to us through Christ;) and this I did that I might the better gain over to Christ the souls of the Gentiles. (22) Thus also I have yielded to the weak scruples of the ignorant, that I might not offend, but save them. In fact I have made myself all things to all men, that I might by all means bring some at least into the way of salvation. (23) Now this I do, that by spreading the Gospel, I may partake with others in the full blessedness of it. EXPLANATION. That we must deny ourselves, if we would benefit others. It is a most certain truth, that if people wish to save souls, they must endeavour to win hearts. The example of St. Paul in this respect, is very forcible, but it is alas much forgotten! We should learn from him to study to meet the prejudices, and consult the feelings of others, to the utmost extent we can possibly go with a safe conscience towards God. But how commonly do men follow a line of conduct the very opposite to this. The unessential peculiarities of party feeling are too often just the very things most warmly contended for, and matters of the smallest importance are made the grounds of angry contention to the great and evident hindrance of the Gospel. The cause of this must be found in St. Paul's melancholy declaration, "All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." (Phil. ii. 21.) It is a something of personal feeling, a standing up each for his own honour, which causes party zeal. St. Paul on the contrary consulted, not what was most for his own honour, but what was best for the saving of souls. He was willing even to be thought weak, that he might save the weak. But alas! who will follow him to such lengths? Who can thus hold cheap the opinions of this world? Who can bear to be thought meanly of, to have it said, that his argument is weak, because he declines to push it, or that |