instruments in the hand of God, as mere husbandmen, tillers of the ground, who could not secure an increase to their labour: still more unreasonable would it be to think of other men above that which had been written and prescribed as the line which they ought to observe: to be puffed up for one against another, as if they were lords instead of stewards: authors of the gift, instead of the channels through which it flowed.

For he might ask of one of these self-exalted teachers, as in truth he might ask of any individual member of the church,

7. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Whatever they possessed or boasted of, it could only have been received from God; so that not unto them, not unto themselves, but unto God must be all the praise. Had they wisdom? It is God "who giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding." Had they eloquence? That will fail like seed cast by the wayside, unless the Lord open the heart that it attend unto the words spoken. Had they success? Had they success? This too is from the Lord: he "gives the increase:" it is with the natural husbandry, "I, saith the Lord, I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered."3

2

the spiritual as with

1 Dan. ii. 21.

2 Acts xvi. 14.

3 Amos iv. 7.

This is forgotten, when the people glory in their teacher, or the teachers in their people. The tendency of such boasting, such puffing up of one against another, is to keep out of sight "the lord of the harvest," on whom alone it must depend, whether the most skilful teaching, or the most zealous labours, bring the expected return. Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas came back to Antioch, after a visit to the principal districts of Asia, and gathered the church together that they might report the progress they had made, they "rehearsed" (we are told) "all that God had done with them." They did not relate what they had done for God, but what God had done with them: how he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles. It could not be alleged against these, as against the boasters at Corinth, Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? as if by thine own power or holiness thou hadst caused this man to cease from evil, or that man to learn to do well?

But they were proud and self-satisfied.

8. Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

They had exalted themselves, and held the apostle in contempt. They had boasted of themselves that they were rich, and had need of nothing: that they were full, had all things, and abounded; they wanted no counsel: they assumed power and honour: they reigned as kings. And would to God ye did reign, says the apostle seriously: would to God that ye

Acts xiv. 27.

were really deserving of such honour: we would be

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partakers of your joy:" we would reign with you, and ye should be "our glory and crown of rejoicing." Nothing could be more gratifying to us, than to see you possessed of true riches, real abundance, and that honour which cometh from God: the sight of it would raise and exalt us: because ye were honoured, we should be honoured also. And, truly, we have much need of some such comfort. Very different are our circumstances now. Our reign is not yet come. At present our honour is reproach; our riches, poverty; and our throne, a prison.

9. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

10. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

11. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;

12. And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

13. Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day.

This was the condition of the apostles. They were treated as the last, the lowest or vilest, of men as appointed unto death: deserving nothing else: as when the multitude at Jerusalem lifted up their voices against Paul, and said, "Away with such a fellow from the face of the earth: for it is not fit

5

5 Acts xxi. 22.

that he should live." It could not be otherwise, condemning as they did the evil ways which men had been used to practise, and considered innocent: or exposing the vanities in which they had been bred up, and which they held in esteem. "Turning the world upside down," they could not but be buffeted, and reviled, and persecuted, by those who had their interest in the world. Such as Demetrius at Ephesus, who stirred up "the workmen of like occupation," warning them of the danger which threatened their craft, if Paul should " persuade and turn away the people, saying that they be no gods which are made with hands." Or such as those at Philippi, who "when they saw that the hope of their gain was gone" through Paul's means, 66 caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the market-place, unto the rulers: when the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them."

This is our state, says Paul to these Corinthians; very different from that which ye seem to court or admire. And thus he delicately reminds them that they were in great danger, if they looked for temporal privileges or man's applause: or regarded present comforts as the thing chiefly to be desired. Not, however, that he repined, or murmured: he was enabled," in whatever state he was, therein to be content;" nay, to "joy in tribulations also;" knowing how the Lord had said, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, or persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your 6 Acts xix. 24-27.

7 Acts xvi. 19-22.

reward in heaven." Looking to this assurance, he was able, when defamed, to entreat; when reviled, to bless; when persecuted, to suffer it; knowing that his light affliction, which was but for a moment, should work for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."9

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LECTURE LVIII.

THE CORINTHIANS REMINDED OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO PAUL, AND OF HIS AUTHORITY.

1 COR. iv. 14—21.

14. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

15. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus have I begotten you through the gospel.

16. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

17. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

Elsewhere, as well as here, Paul speaks of Timothy as "his own son in the faith:" and of Onesimus, "whom he had begotten in his bonds:" i. e. whom he had converted whilst a prisoner at Rome. In the same spirit he reminds the Corinthians, who were

8 Matt. v. 11.
1 1 Tim. i. 2.

9 2 Cor. iv. 17.

2 Philemon 10.