Truly his labours and his sufferings had been such as no human being could have sustained, if he had not been aided and upheld by Almighty power —
[His " labours were more abundant than those of any
other Apostle;" and his trials, beyond measure, great"1
But " he obtained help of God," and therefore was enabled to proceed without weariness or dismay God had pro- mised to succour him11; and this promise was fulfilled in a
d Col. i. 18. e Rom. iv. 25. M Cor. xv. 3, 4.
£ Isai. liii. 5. Dan. ix. 26. Zech. xii. 10. *> Ps. xvi. 10.
1 Jonah i. 17. k Gen. xlix. 10.
1 Isai. xlii. 6. and xlix. 6.
n Compare Rom. xv. 19. and Acts xx. 34. with 2 Cor. vi. 4, 5. and xi. 23 — 29. n ver. 17.
variety of ways. Sometimes God averted trials from him0; sometimes upheld him under themp; and sometimes delivered him out of them, when it seemed as if his career had already been brought to a close q. Hence the Apostle thankfully acknowledged his obligations both to the providence and grace of God ; to the one, as fortifying his mind ; and to the other, as strengthening his body, for all that he was called to endure.]
To the same Almighty power must every faithful minister ascribe his continuance in the free discharge of his duty —
[The labours or sufferings of ministers, at this day, are as nothing, in comparison of those which were sustained by the Apostle. But the continuance of life, and health, and liberty, should be regarded as the special gift of God : and more par- ticularly should we acknowledge our preservation from sin and from apostasy, as the very work of God ; without whose gracious aid we should never be able to withstand the assaults of our great adversary one single hour. Even the being kept steadfast in the faith is no small mercy : and if we are enabled simply to adhere to the doctrines of the Apostles and prophets without being led aside into any pernicious error or vain conceit, we may well acknowledge, with devoutest gratitude, our obligations to Almighty God.]
We may see, in this passage,
1. What is the real ground of that hatred which faithful ministers have to encounter —
[Many reasons were assigned by Paul's enemies for their inveteracy against him : but the true reason was, that he bore a faithful testimony to those very truths which they themselves professed to believe. They could not endure the fidelity with which he called them to receive the testimony of Moses and the prophets. And is not similar fidelity a ground of offence at this day ? Yes : there is no man who boldly maintains the authority of Christ, and demands unlimited subjection to him, but the men of this world will cry out against him, as fanatical or righteous overmuch. But, if only we can say that we speak nothing but what the prophets and Apostles have declared before us, we need not regard either the calumnies or opposition of the whole world. The same God that helped Paul will help us also, and will richly recompense into our bosoms whatsoever we may suffer for his sake.]
2. What reason we have for thankfulness, if a faith- ful ministry be continued to us !
0 Acts ix. 24, 25. and xviii. 9, 10, 12, 17. and xxiii. 12 — 31.
P 2 Cor. iv. 8—10. 2 Tim. iv. 16—18.
<* Acts xiv. 19, 20. and xxi. 31, 32. and xxiii. 27.
1813. J Paul's vindication of his ministry. 577
[Satan is ever on the watch, to rob us of it. Innumerable are the efforts which he makes to intimidate or ensnare the servants of the Lord Jesus. There are no persons in the world against whom he directs his efforts with more subtlety or venom. Surely they greatly need the prayers of their people in their behalf. If Paul said so frequently, « Brethren, pray for us," much more may they, whose attainments are so inferior to his. Let us, then, be thankful to God for the ministry we still enjoy ; and whilst it is continued to us, let us improve it with all our might.]