I. What it was that the Apostle desired in their behalf —
St. Paul had no wish to proselyte men to a party, or to procure followers to himself —
His object was to " save" them —
[Salvation comprehends not only a deliverance from all the penal effects of sin, but a restoration to the favour and image of God, and an exaltation to all the glory and felicity of
heaven
This is the greatest of all blessings. The concerns of time and sense are of no value in comparison of it : yea, crowns, king- doms, worlds, are lighter than vanity itself It is a
blessing which all equally stand in need of. There is no man that is not a sinner before God, and therefore no man that is not exposed to his everlasting .displeasure. Though men may differ with respect to the degrees of their guilt, there is no dif- ference whatever with respect to their liableness to the wrath of
God, and their need of his saving mercy It is a bless-
ing, without which existence itself ivill prove a curse. If those who did not partake of it could be annihilated, or if there were a purgatory, where those who die unprepared for it may be rendered fit to enjoy it, we might account our pre- sent life a blessing. But there are two states, in the one or other of which all must be fixed for ever : and they who enjoy not the felicity of heaven, must endure for ever the miseries of hell. Let us consider for a moment what those miseries are, and we shall need nothing more to shew us the value of salvation ]
This object lay near his heart, and called forth his most earnest exertions —
[He was not contented to obtain salvation himself: he was anxious for the welfare of his fellow-creatures, and laid
to heart their interests, as though they were his own
Nor did he rest satisfied with good wishes and desires: he laboured with incredible assiduity and self-denial, suffering all things cheerfully, not excepting imprisonments and death
itself, for the advancement of their happiness e In
secret also did he " labour fervently for them in prayer night and day." He knew the efficacy of intercession ; and there- lore besought God, with strong crying and tears, to take the veil from their hearts, and to enlighten them with the saving knowledge of his truth ]
For our own information, it will be proper to in- quire,
c 2 Cor. xi. 23—29. 2 Tim. ii. 10.