and edification of the church, Eph. 4, 11-16. The people, therefore, are bound to regard the ministry as a divine insti- tution, and to value its services ; but preachers are not to be regarded as party leaders, or as lords over God's heritage.
Even as the Lord gave to every man; literally, to each one, i. e. to each minister. They are all servants, and each has his appointed work to perform, Rom. 12, 3. The Lora here probably refers to God, though elsewhere the appoint- ment of ministers and the distribution of their various gifts are referred to Christ. Here, however, vs. 9. 10, the refer- ence is to God. In scripture the same act is sometimes refer- red to one, and sometimes to another of the persons in the Trinity, because they are one God.
6. I have planted, Apollos watered : but God gave the increase.
This illustrates two points ; first, the diversity of service on the part of ministers, spoken of in v. 5, one plants and another waters ; and secondly, the entirely subordinate and instrumental character of their service. As in nature, plant- ing and watering are not the efficient causes of vegetation ; so in the church, ministerial acts are not the efficient causes of grace. In both cases all the efficiency is of God. And as in nature, planting and watering by human instrumentaUty, are not the necessary conditions of vegetation, so neither are min- isterial acts the necessary conditions of faith. On the other hand, however, as the work of the husbandman is the ordi- nary and appointed means of securing a harvest, so the work of the ministry is the ordinary means of conversion.
7. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth : but God that giveth the in- crease.
This is the conclusion. Ministers are nothing. They are the instruments in the hands of God. He only is to be looked up to as the source of truth, of strength, or of success. To him is to be referred all the good ministers may be the instru- ments of effecting. If this be so, if ministers are thus ineffi- cient, why should any one say, I am of Paul ? as though Paul would save him ; or, as though a mere instrument could for- give sin or impart grace.