tation only: but we must not " imagine that God is such an one as ourselves :" whatever tends to his glory, is pleasing in his sight.]
Our pleasure, however, in ministering the Gospel, is mixed with pain, when we reflect on,
II. The effects which it produces upon men —
To some we are an occasion of deeper condemna- tion—
[It had been foretold by the prophet, that Christ should be, not merely for a sanctuary, but also for a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence^. The holy patriarch, who embraced our Saviour in his arms, declared, that he was set for the fall, as well as for the rising again, of many in Israel^. Our Lord himself also attests, that the design of his coming was, to shut the eyes of those who proudly imagined that they saw aright, as well as to open the eyes of those who were sensible of their blindness '\ And the ministrations of his Apostles were actually attended with these contrary effects'. Thus tve also find it at this time : we are, however unwillingly, the unhappy occasion of increasing the misery of many whom we labour to save. Some hear our word, and disregard it — others despise it — others abuse it, to encourage themselves in their evil ways. For all such persons it would have been better never to have heard the word at all'^.]
To others, we are the means and instruments of their salvation —
[As odours which are most offensive to some are most pleasing and refreshing to others, so are we in the dischai'ge of our ministry. Some hear our word, and receive it with joy and gratitude. The name of Jesus becomes truly precious to them : they trust in him for salvation : they are brought by him into a state of reconciliation with God : they receive out of his fulness all the grace which they stand in need of: they are enabled by him to live a new and heavenly life ; and, finally, they are exalted by him to a state of everlasting happi- ness and glory. In effecting this blessed work, we are his highly-honoured instruments: by our word he quickens them from the dead ; by our word he gives them life more abundantly; by our word he carries on, and perfects, the work he has begun. And thus, while to some we are " a savour of death to their death" and condemnation, we are to others " a savour of life to their eternal life" and salvation.]
f Isai. viii. 14. g Luke ii. 34. ^ John ix. 39.
i 1 Pet. ii. 7, 8. with Acts xxviii. 25 — 27. ^ John XV. 22. Matt. xi. 20—24.