party to visit you; but he was not willing to do so at this time; though he will come to you when he has more leisure. APPLICATION. That we should so arrange our worldly affairs as to have the mind as free as possible to serve God without distraction. A rule is here laid down for the regulation of our charity, so reasonable, that every one must feel the justice and propriety of it. As God prospers us, so we should give. If "freely ye have received, freely give." The first day of the week, which is the Christian Sabbath, is here proposed as a proper season for laying by for the poor. Not only is it lawful, but it is our duty, if opportunity offer, to do good on the Sabbath day; for he that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord. How can we expect that our worship in His Church will be accepted of God, if our hands and our hearts be unwilling to distribute to the necessity of the saints? But though we may gather from this, as well as from our Lord's example, that acts of charity are rightly done upon a Sabbath, yet we are not to understand by it, that our weekly gain should be counted on a Sunday, to know how much we can spare for the poor. No. We may conclude that St. Paul's intention was to put the Corinthians on a regular plan, so that they should have their money ready for him when he came, in order that they might be quite at liberty to attend to his spiritual counsels, and not have their time and thoughts occupied with collecting their charity. The same principle should guide us in making all our family arrangements, and settling all our plans of usefulness. We should study to have our minds as free as possible from all worldly thoughts, at the times of public or private devotion. The duty of avoiding every thing that might raise a suspicion against us. Verse 3. We may here remark the great caution, with which St. Paul proceeds, in regard to this charitable contribution. He is not satisfied that his conscience should acquit him of dishonesty; but he takes care that others also should be satisfied. He studies to avoid even the appearance of evil. And it is most certainly a Christian's duty cautiously to watch against doing any thing which may give grounds for suspicion. From the neglect of this prudent precaution, many good people most unhappily give occasion to their enemies to speak against them, which is sadly injurious to the cause of religion. A Christian's character is not only valuable to himself, because without a good character no one can get on well in the world, but it ought to be ten-fold dearer to him, because the honour of Christ is concerned. If those who profess to be His followers act no better than other men, they bring discredit on the holy name' they bear. And if, while our conduct is really just and right, we allow appearances to be against us, surely we give occasion to the enemies of our Lord' to blaspheme. Our concern must not be about our own honour, but for the cause of God. We must be careful that religion may not, on our account, be spoken against. It appears that St. Paul, in arranging his future plans, had two things in view : namely, the will of the Lord, and the work of the Lord. At Ephesus, he says, there were many adversaries: nevertheless, he is willing to remain there, since there was a way opened to him for preaching the Gospel with effect, and he felt it his duty to silence the gainsayers. He sought not his own ease and pleasure, but the salvation of souls; so there he remained until driven out by the violence of his enemies, as we see by referring to the nineteenth chapter of Acts. It would be well for us, if, in all our goings and comings, we kept the same things in view. We are not all Ministers of the Gospel, as St. Paul was, but we have all an account to render. Our time and our talents, though they must be differently disposed of according to our circumstances in life, must still be all referred to the will of God. It may be consistent with one person's duty to go here or there, while it would be quite wrong in the case of another. The thing is, do we make a conscience of our ways? Do we form our plans, choose our abodes, and carry on our employments, with a reference to the will of God? It would be very desirable now and then to put these questions to ourselves. Why do I stay here? What is my object in going there? And then to consider whether the answers would do to offer at the judgment-seat of Christ, Would that we might all find as good a reason for being where we are, as St. Paul had for staying at Ephesus. Let us constantly desire and pray that wherever we go, a great door and effectual for our doing good may be opened to us; and then wherever our lot be cast, we shall be brought on our way in peace, until all our journeyings here below are ended; and we shall be able to look forward to a glorious meeting with all the brethren, when we shall rest from our labours, and our works shall follow us. EXPLANATION. Verse 13 to 18. Before closing his letter, St. Paul gives just one more word of earnest counsel. (13) Be watchful, he says, against all the many enemies of your soul. Stand firm in the profession of the Christian faith. Act manfully, and be of a strong courage. (14) Yet remember, that your conduct must in all things be governed by the law of love. (15) I beseech you, brethren, since you know that Stephanas and his family were the first in the province of Achaia to become Christians, and that they have given themselves to the ministry, labouring for the good of saints, (16) that you will be ready to submit yourselves to them, and to every one who is helping us by such labours. (17) I was very glad at the arrival of this same Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for they have made up to me in part for my not seeing you at present. They have refreshed my spirit, as doubtless they have your's: and I beg you will always acknowledge the debt of gratitude, which is due to such spiritual comforters. i APPLICATION. Gentleness and holy boldness alike necessary in the Christian character. The Christian's course is, more or less, always one of conflict and difficulty. It is a narrow path, which lies through an enemy's country, not quickly found, and not easily kept. No wonder then that St. Paul in his anxiety for the welfare of his disciples should say, 'Watch.' And his words, as they stand written in the book of divine revelation, are addressed individually to each one who reads them. There is as great need now, as there ever was, for Christian watchfulness, and bold perseverance in maintaining the truths of the Gospel. The devil and the world are enemies still powerfully and busily at work to overthrow the religion of Christ. We must therefore stand firm to resist them. We must not weakly yield to their assaults, but manfully fight against those that oppose themselves; and be strong in the Lord to profess the truth, and to maintain it. But while we are thus fearlessly to stand the conflict with an opposing world, we must at the same time be guided in all respests by the spirit of love. The Christian's character combines that of the lion and the lamb boldness and gentleness united together. Reader, are you bold to maintain a religious profession before the world? Can you, without shrinking, manfully endure the smile of ridicule, or the bitter taunt ? For if we go but a little beyond our neighbours in zeal for the honour of God, we must certainly expect to be sneered at. Again, if the sacred name of Him : |