to whom it renders no homage, to whom it gives no glory?

Scripture abounds with every motive to obedience, both rational and spiritual. But it would achieve but half its work, had it stopped there. As peaceable creatures, we require not only inducements to obedience, but a heart, and a power, and a will to obey; assistance is as necessary as motives; power as indispensible as precept;-all which requisites are not only promised by the word, but confered by the Spirit of God.

CHAP. VI.

come; all are yours, and you are Christ's and Christ is God's. *

Knowing the proneness of human nature to this party spirit, he takes pains to prevent excessive individual attachments. There is no instance of a man so distinguished, so He chooses to little distinguishing himself. merge himself in the general cause, to sink himself in the mass of faithful ministers.This is particularly evident in the beginning of many of his Epistles, by his humility in attaching, to his own, some name of far inferior note, as his associate in the work ;'Paul and Sosthenes'-Paul and Sylvanus -Timotheus our brother;'-and in writing to the Thessalonians, he connects both the latter names with his own.

The Disinterestedness of Saint Paul. He laboured to make the people bear in THE perfection of the Christian character mind that the apostles were the disseminadoes not so much consist in this excellence, tors, not the authors, of the faith which they or that talent, or the other virtue; in the preached. Miraculous as his conversion performance of some right action, or the ab-had been, superior as were his endowments, stinence from some wrong one, as in the de- favoured as he was by Divine inspiration, termination of the whole soul for God. This he not only did not assume, but he rejected, generous surrender of self, whether of the any distinction, and only included himself sensual or of the intellectual self is the une- among the teachers of their common Chrisquivocal test of a heart consecrated by man tianity. Thus he bequeathed to his succesto his Maker. He has no bye-ends, no se- sors a standing pattern of humility, and of cret reserves. His intention is single, his the duty of ascribing their talents, their way is straight forward; he keeps his end application, and their success, to him, from in view without deflection, and he pursues whom whatever advantages they possess, it without weariness. are derived.

Saint Paul and his associates were the first moral instructors who preached not themselves. Perhaps there is scarcely a more striking proof of the grandeur of his spirit, than his indifference to popularity. This is an elevation of character, which not only no Pagan sage has reached, but which not every Christian teacher has been found to

attain.

Saint Paul did not rank, on the one hand, with those liberal modern philosophers, who assert that virtue is its own reward; nor on the other, with those abstracted mystics, who profess an unnatural disinterestedness, and a superhuman disdain of any recompense but that which they find in the pure love of God. He was not above accepting heaven, not for any works of righteousness This successful apostle was so far from which he had done, but as the free gift of placing himself at the head of a sect, that God through the righteousness that had he took pains to avoid it. In some subse- been wrought for him. He was not too quent instructors, this vanity was probably proud and independent to confess, that the the first seed of heresy; the sound of Eb-nearness of heavenly glory was with him a ionites and Marcionites would as much gra- most animating principle. tify the ear of the founders, as bringing over This hope cheered his fainting spirit; this proselytes to their opinions would delight prospect not only regulated, but almost antheir feelings. Paul would have rejected nihilated his sense of suffering. Invisible with horror any such distinction. He who things were made so clear to the eye of earnestly sought to glorify his Master, would faith; remote things were brought so near naturally abase himself. With a holy indig- to one, who always kept up in his mind a nation he asks, What then is Paul, and comparative estimate of the brevity of this what is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye afflicted life, and the duration of eternal believed? He points out to them the little- happiness; faith so made the future present; ness of such exclusive fondness in men, who love so made the labour light; the earnest had such great objects in view—'overvalue of the Spirit was given him in such a meanot Paul or Apollos as yours, for all things sure;-that mortality seemed, even here, to are yours.' be swallowed up of life. His full belief in It is impossible not to stop a moment, in the immediate presence of God in that order to notice the fine structure of the pe- world in which he was assured, that light, riod to which these words are an introduc-purity, holiness, and happiness would be ention. It would be difficult to find a more joyed in their most consummate perfection, finished climax: 'Let no man glory in men; not only sustained his hope, but exhilarated for all things are yours, whether Paul, or his heart. Apollos, or Cephas; or the world, or life, or death; or things present or things to

If it does not support us under our inferior 1 Corinth. iii. 22.

trials in the same manner, it is because we to those from whom they received their spíhave rather a nominal than a practical ritual things. While he himself refused to faith, rather an assenting than an obeying claim them, lest it should be made a pretence conviction; it is because our eyes are not for hindering the Gospel, he yet looked forfixed on the same objects, nor our hearts ward with an eye of kindness and justice, in warmed with the same affections; it is be- thus stipulating, as it were, for the comfort cause our attention is directed so sparingly of the Christian ministers to the end of the to that Being, and that state, to which his world. was supremely devoted. Ought we to complain, that we enjoy not the same supports, nor the same consolations, while we do not put ourselves in the same way to obtain them?

In a long expostulatory argument, illustrated by a variety of analogous instances, he shows the propriety of a provision being made for those who dedicated themselves to the spiritual instruuction of others :-the warrior engaged in the defence of his country is supported at the public expense; the planter by the produce of his vineyard; the feeder of a flock by the milk of his flock; the agriculturalist by the profits of his plough.

But though Paul was no disciple of that metaphysical theology, which makes such untaught distinctions, as to separate our love of God from any regard to our own beatitude; though he might have been consider ed a selfish man, by either of the classes to whom allusion has been made, yet true dis- He strengthens his argument by an alluinterestedness was eminently his character- sion to a humane practice in the old law, by istic. Another instance of a human being which even the ox was allowed to participate so entirely devoid of selfishness, one who in that plenty which his labour assisted to never took his own ease, or advantage, or procure; then, by a sudden generous intersafety, or credit, into the account, cannot be jection,- Doth God take care for oxen?' found. If he considered his own sufferings, he intimates that this provision of mercy for he considered them for the sake of his the beast, was emblematical of this justice, friends. Whether we be afflicted, it is for-for it scarcely amounted to mercy,-which your consolation and salvation.' The only ought to secure to every minister a fair rejoy he seemed to derive, when he was 'pres-muneration for the sacrifice he has made of sed out of measure, above strength,' was, ease and profit, by addicting himself to the that others might be comforted and encou-service of the altar. raged by his sufferings. So also of his con- After, however, having declared that he solations; the principal joy which he deri- renounced all reward for himself, fearing ved from them was, that others might be that this assurance might be construed into animated by them. This anxiety for the an insinuation of his wish to receive the proficiency of his converts, in preference to emolument which he pretended to refuse, his own safety; his disposition to regard with a noble disdain of so mean an expedievery object in due subjection to the great ent, he protests that it would be better for design of his ministry; his humble, vigilant him to die of want, rather than, by receicare, while exulting in the hope of an eter-ving pecuniary recompence, to rob himself nal crown, that he might not himself be of his honest claim to the consciousness of cast away;'-form, in combination with the disinterested services. rest of his conduct, a character which we must allow has not only no superior, but no parallel.

The union of generosity and self-denial,and without the one the other is imperfect,was peculiarly exemplified in our apostle.His high-minded independence on man had nothing of the monkish pride of poverty, for he knew how to abound; nor was it the worldly pusillanimous dread of it, for he 'knew how to want.'

Saint Paul's conduct in these instances affords something of the same fine climax in action, with that which Jesus expressed in words, when he sent to the Baptist the proofs of his divinity. After enumerating his miracles of love, he closes with declaring, as the highest possible instance of that love, that the Gospel was preached-but to what class? to the poor! From the words of Christ, turn to the life of Paul. The persecution of his enemies, the fatigue of his travels, the In vindicating the right of the ecclesiasti- falsehood of his brethren, the labour of incal body to an equitable provision, as a just structing so many nations, of converting so requital of their labours, he nobly renounces many cities, of founding so many churches, all claim to any participation for himself.--what is his relaxation from such labours, I have used none of these things! This what his refreshment from such perils, wise and dignified abstinence in the original what his descent from such heights?— formation of a church, which must be foun- Working with his own hands for his daily ded, before provision can be made for its continuance, while it maintained the dignity of his own disinterestedness, enabled him with the better grace, and more powerful effect, to plead the legitimate claims of her ministers; and to insist, that it was the duty of the people to supply their temporal things

bread, and for the relief of the poor. The profane critic may call this the art of sinking, the Christian will deem it the noblest point of elevation. Might not the apostle well say, 'Be ye followers of me, as I am of Christ?

How has the world stood in just admiration

of the generous conduct of Cincinnatus! | the skilfulness and affection with which Tired with the fatigues of war, and satiated they exercised it. He tempers their sorwith the glories of conquest, he very ration- rows and difficulties, by interspersing with ally, and (as he refused all reward) it must the recital those Divine consolations, from be owned very disinterestedly, withdrew to which alone genuine cheerfulness can be dehis country-house, from which he had been rived. reluctantly torn. He withdrew to enjoy, in the bosom of his family, the advantages of agriculture and the pleasures of retirement. To such a retreat would Paul have flown with delight, had he not known that, for him it was not a duty. He, unlike the Dictator, had no intervals of unmolested claim; it was not in the quiet of repose, but in the very midst of perils and of persecutions, that he laboured for his own support:

In this enumeration he had not to rack his invention for precedents; he had only to make a transcript of the state of his own mind, and the tenor of his own practice, to give them a complete delineation of the ministerial character. While he encourages them to perseverance by the success which might attend their labours, he prepares them also to expect reproach; mingling good and evil report as the probable It cannot be denied, that his whole consis-lot of every devoted servant of Christ. tent practice furnished this sure criterion of When he was setting out from Ephesus a faithful minister,-that he enjoined no self- for Jerusalem, bound in the spirit, not denial, preached no mortification, recom-knowing the things that should befal him,' mended no exertion to others, of which he the indefinite yet certain anticipation of cagave not himself a shining example. While lamity which he expressed, might have he pointed out to his associates the duty of *approving themselves ministers of God in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,' he was not himself lying on a bed of roses; he was not making light of sorrows, of which he was not personally partaking; he did not deal out orders for the patient endurance of sufferings, the bitterness of which he had not tasted. He had largely shared in the stripes and imprisonments which it was possible some of his followers might be speedily called to endure.

been interpreted into the pusillanimous forebodings of his own apprehensive mind: he guards against this suspicion by informing us, it was by the unerring inspiration of the Holy Ghost, he was assured, that bonds and afflictions awaited him in every city;' so that he knew infallibly, wherever he went, it was only a change of place, not of peril. Yet was this conviction so far from arresting his purpose, so far from inclining him to hesitate, or not to persist in the path of duty because it was the path of danger, At the same time, he furnishes them with that his mighty faith converted duty into cautions drawn from his own invariable pru- choice, elevated duty into joy. Hear his dence, when he exhorted them to give no triumphant proclamation: But none of offence. This was not altogether to avoid these things move_me, neither count I my personal discredit, though that should be life dear, so that I may finish my course carefully guarded against, so much as to with joy, and the ministry which I have represerve the character of religion itself ceived of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gosfrom the obloquy she would sustain from pel of the grace of God.' the faults of her disciples. His great object It is not the nature of Christianity to conwhy the ministry should not be blamed, was vert a man of sense into a driveller; if it because he knew how ineffectual all teach-make him self-abased in the sight of God, ing would be rendered, if the teacher com-and in his own eyes, it does not oblige him mitted the faults he reprehended, or even to a renunciation of his just claims in civil exercised a religious vocation in an impru- society, nor to a base abjection in the sight dent manner. of men. He is not desirous of honours In another place, after recapitulating which do not belong to him, but he does not some of the hardships which himself and despise those to which he has a lawful his companions were suffering, up to the ve- claim. The character of Paul, like the ry moment when he was describing them, religion he taught, is manly, rational, inge-their hunger and thirst, their nakedness nuous.

and buffeting, deprived of domestic com- This combination of dignity with humiliforts, destitute of a settled home; having ty, he uniformly presents to us. He always shown what was their treatment, he pro- humbles, but never disparages himself. He, ceeds to show what was their temper under who on one occasion was the least of all it-Being reviled, we bless; being perse-saints,' was, on another, not a whit behind cuted, we suffer it; being defamed we en- the chiefest of them.' He, that was not treat. This is indeed practical Christianity! worthy to be called an apostle,' would yet After enumerating the trials to which they magnify his apostleship. He who would may be exposed, he sets over against them patiently endure injury and reproach, yet a catalogue of the qualities by which they refused to be scourged contrary to law. should be distinguished,-pureness, know- He, who was illegally imprisoned at PhiLedge, kindness; thus encouraging them to lippi, accepted not the deliverance till the patience by the integrity of their motives; magistrates themselves came in person to and to the adornment of their calling, by release him,-a resolution not only due to

VOL. II.

31

his own innocence, but probably intended some.' Let those who justify its adoption

also to render the magistrates afraid of pro- by the sanction of Paul, employ it to the ceeding unjustly against other Christians. same end to which he employed it. But is it He, who could submit to live by the labour not frequently carried to a conceding length, of his own hands, and to receive charity in to which he would never have carried it, to his sickness, would vindicate his civil title to answer any purpose; and is not the end itrespect, and not only urge his right of Ro- self often such as he would not have sought, man citizenship, but press his peculiar even by the best means? To the perversion ground of superiority over the officer who of this sentiment the fashionable doctrine of would have contended with him, by de- expediency may be imputed,-a doctrine not claring that his own freedom was not a pur- more corrupt in its principle, and dangerous chase, but an inheritance. He who deter-in its results, than opposite to the whole bent mined to know nothing but Jesus Christ, and current of the apostles' views, as deand him crucified,' could assert, when it be-veloped in his writings and in his practice. came proper, his liberal education under a That hollow maxim, of doing evil that master in Israel. He, who was now lying good may come, had indeed been adopted by at the foot of the cross, avowed that he had some of the wisest Pagan legislators. Not been bred at the feet of Gamaliel. He, only the prudent Numa pretended to Divine who was beating down the pride of 'gifts' communications with his inspiring goddess, in the assuming Corinthians, scrupled not to declare his own superiority in this very article, yet with an exclusive ascription of the gift to the Giver. I thank my God, that I speak with more tongues than you all.'*

in order that his laws might be received. with more reverence; even the open-hearted conqueror of Carthage used to enter the Capitol alone, under pretence of consulting the gods, that whatever enterprises he wishTo those who understand what Bishop ed to recommend to the people, they might Horseley calls 'the paradoxes of Christianí- believe them to be directed and approved by ty,' it will be perfectly intelligible, that one, their deities.-But nothing impedes the who was so feelingly alive to the perception march of truth more than the offered assisof sin, as to deplore that when he would do tance of falsehood. Nothing is more injurigood, evil was present with him,' could also, ous to a good cause than the attempt to help in the integrity of his heart, boldly appeal it forward with fictitious or even doubtful to the Thessalonians for the purity of his additions. Some of the best cases,-cases own conduct, and that of his companions-corroborated by a thousand indubitable 'you know how holily, and justly, and un- facts,-have been injured for a time, by the blameably we have lived among you,' detection of petty instances of misrepresen He was aware that contentions about tation, or mistake, or aggravation in ill-judgpractices and opinions comparatively insig-ing advocates. nificant, were generally the most vehement- After the example of the illustrious Roly and uncharitably carried on by men who mans above recited, but with far less excuse, are the most cold and indifferent in the de- even some weak Christians, in the second fence of truths of the most awful moment. century, fancying that deceit might succeed Inflexible himself in every thing which was where truth had failed, attempted by forgeof vital importance, yet accommodating in ry to supply the deficiencies of Scripture. trivial matters, about which men of narrow Spurious Sybilline verses, under the reign of views pertinaciously contend, he shaped the one of the Antonines, were imposed by course of his usefulness to the winding current of life, and the flexure of circumstances; and was ever on the watch to see how, by giving way in things indifferent, he might gain men to the great cause which he lived only to promote.

fraud upon folly, as prophecies of Christ, pretending to be as old as the Deluge. The attempt to mend perfection never answers.

To these political impostures what a contrast does Saint Paul exhibit at once in his writings and his life!-In his writings he deNever was any sentiment more complete- clares, in one short sentence, of all such ly perverted, than that which is so expres-principles, 'their condemnation is just.' In sive of the condescension that distinguishes his life he suffered evil to extremity, that his character,-I am all things to all men. good might be produced; but never, under The Latitudinarian in principle or in morals, the most alluring pretence, did evil, or conwho would not consider Paul's authority as nived at it. He drew in no convert, by disparamount on any other occasion, eagerly playing only the pleasant side of Christianipleads this text to justify his own accommo-ty. To bring forward the doctrine of the dation to every thing that is tempting in in- cross was his first object; though, since his terest, or seductive in appetite. This senti- time, to keep them out of sight has somement, which proceeded from a candour the times been thought a more prudent measure. most amiable, was, in the apostle, always But the political wisdom of the Jesuitical governed by an integrity the most unben- missionaries failed as completely as the simding. ple integrity of the apostle succeeded.

To what purpose did he make use of this maxim? That he might by all means save Acts, ch. 16.

His arguments, it is true, were powerful, his motives attractive; but he never shrunk from the avowal, that they were drawn

wholly from things unseen, future, eternal. |als which would have subdued a weak one. To you who are troubled, rest with us, His zeal increased with the darkness of his when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from earthly prospects. What were his induceheaven, with his holy angels.' If we suf-ments? The glory of God. What was his fer with Christ, we shall be also glorified to- reward? Bonds and imprisonment. When gether.The sufferings of the present arrived at any fresh scene of peril, did he world are not worthy to be compared with smooth his language to secure his safety?— the glory that shall be revealed.' And in Did he soften an unpalatable truth to attract this view he is not afraid to speak of suffer- upon false grounds? Did he practise any ing, as a favour connected with faith. It is artifice to swell the catalogue of his prosegiven unto them, in the behalf of Christ, lytes? Did he take advantage of ignorance not only to believe, but also to suffer for his and idolatry, when acclamations met him? sake. Did he court popularity when he refused diHow powerful must have been the convic-vine honours? Did he not prefer his Mastions of his faith, and the integrity of his ter's crown of thorns to the garlands with heart, which could not only conquer preju- which the priests of Jupiter would have dices the most inveterate, but could lead crowned him? Is it not observable, that him to renounce every prospect of riches this offer of deification disturbed the sereniand power, fame and distinction,-objects ty of his spirit more than all his injuries had which were likely to have taken deep hold done?

on a temper so fervent, a genius so active! Two remarks arise out of this circumHe knew that the cause he was embracing, stance. How little is popular acclamation would defeat all such expectations. He any proof of the comparative excellence of possibly might have advanced his fortune, the objects of acclaim; and how little is gecertainly his reputation, under his Jewish masters, had he pursued those practices in which he was so hotly engaged, when he was so exceedingly mad against the Church of God.

What was the use which, in his new character, he made of his natural advantages? It was the same which he made of his supernatural graces. Did the one induce intellectual pride? Did the other inspire spiritual self-sufficiency? Was it his aim to exalt the accomplished preacher? Was it not his only endeavour to magnify the crucified Saviour? He sought no civil power, courted no ecclesiastical supremacy. He confered honour on Episcopacy by ordaining bishops, but took no rank himself. He intermeddled with no party. All his interference with governments was to teach the people to obey them.

nuine grandeur of soul elated by it! Jesus, after all his miraculous deeds, as full of mercy as of power,-deeds repeatedly performed in his own country, and before the same spectators-never had divine honours paid him. While, for a single cure, Paul and his companions were instantly deified, though they rejected the homage with a holy indig nation. Nothing could more fully prove their deep humility than that they bore the abuse and ill-treatment of the people with meekness; but when they would have wor shipped them, they rent their clothes.'

In fine, no principle short of the faith described by our apostle in the eleventh of Hebrews, could have enabled him to sustain with such heroic firmness, the diversified sufferings alluded to in the twelfth of the second of Corinthians. Nothing short of that Divine support could have produced a disinterestedness so pure, a devotedness so sublime.

He had nothing to bias him at the time of his conversion, any more than afterwards. He embraced Christianity when at the The afflictions of the saints serve to prove height of its discredit: in defending it, he the distinguished character of God's favour. was neither influenced by the obstinacy of The grace so eminently afforded to this apossupporting a preconceived opinion, nor the tle neither exempted him from sorrow, nor private motive of personal attachment. As suffering, nor dangers, nor calumny, nor pohe had not been a follower nor an acquain-verty, nor a violent death. That its results tance of Jesus, he had never been buoyed up were in the opposite direction shows at once with the hope of a place in his expected the intrinsic nature of the Divine favour, and temporal kingdom. Had this been the the spirit in which it is received and acted case, mere pride and pertinacity in so strong upon by sincere Christians. a character might have led him to adhere to the falling cause, lest by deserting it he might be accused of disappointment in his hopes, or pusillanimity in his temper. Was it probable then, that on any lower principle Saint Paul's prudence in his conduct tohe would encounter every hazard, sacrifice every hope, annihilate every possibility of THE judgment of Saint Paul is remarkapreferment, for the cause of a man, after his bly manifest in the juxta-position of things. ignominious death, whom he had so fiercely In opening his Epistle to his converts at opposed, when the danger was less alarming, Rome, among whom were many Jews for and the hope less uncertain. whose benefit he wrote, he paints the moral His strong faith was fortified by those tri-character of the Pagan capital in the dark

CHAP. VII.

wards the Jews.