same occasion to prove the Messiahship of Christ, since that is universally acknowledged amongst us, yet are we called to magnify the importance of that truth, and to commend it to men's attention, as the source of all their happiness.]
In his labours he was useful to many souls — [He " mightily convinced the Jews," so as to stop the mouths of some of the more obdurate, and to bring the more candid of them to the acknowledgment of the truth. Nor were his labours of little service to the Church of God : on the contrary " he helped them much, who had believed through grace." It was through the operation of divine grace alone that any had believed: "whether Paul planted, or Apollos watered, it was God alone that gave the increase :" but still, it was no slight benefit to the garden of the Lord to be watered by such a hand as his : and no doubt he contributed greatly both to the growth and fruitfulness of those trees of righteous- ness which God's right hand had planted.]
Address —
1. To those who labour in the ministry, or are preparing for it —
[Let Apollos serve as a guide for you. If you possess good natural talents, account it your honour to consecrate them to the service of your God. And, in the employment of them, do not inquire where you may gain most credit to yourselves, or most consult your present ease and interests, but inquire rather where you may do most good; and be ready to exercise your ministry wherever the providence of God may call you. Moreover, if called to labour where a more honoured servant of the Lord has gone before you, do not draw back through a pretended sense of your own in- sufficiency; but be willing to have your talents and services undervalued, and to be nothing yourselves, that God may be all in all.]
2. To those who have received good by the mi- nistry—
[To God you must ascribe the praise for all that you have received; since to whomsoever you are indebted as an instru- ment, the benefit proceeds from God alone, who " gives to every man" according to his own sovereign will and pleasure. It is possible that you who have long known the Lord, may be called to attend the ministry of one who may be comparatively a novice in the ways of God ; and you may be tempted on that account to despise him in your hearts, and to lower him in the estimation of those around you. This, alas ! is the conduct of many ; but it is a most sinful conduct, and utterly unworthy
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