it was in this very state, and under these circumstances, that the Macedonian Churches exerted themselves for the relief of persons belonging to a different and distant country, of per- sons too, who, though agreeing with them in the profession of Christianity, differed widely from them in many points of sub- ordinate importance.
The manner too in which their liberality was exercised de- serves particularly to be noticed. It was put forth voluntarily : they waited not for any application to this effect from the Apostle ; they were willing of their own mind to embrace the opportunity afforded them of fulfilling a duty so congenial with the best feelings of their hearts. It was exercised also hoimtifully. Their ability was the only measure of their gifts. In some respect they seemed, as it were, to exceed even that : for " to their power, and beyond their power," they exerted themselves, insomuch that, according to God's estimate of their gifts, they " abounded unto the riches of liberality." And what they did, they did zealously. They did not make an offer which they hoped would be refused, and then, on the refusal, feel pleased that the will had been accepted for the deed : no ; they forced the Apostle to accept their donations : they would not suffer him to decline their offer; " they prayed him with much entreaty that he would be their almoner, and be the medium of conveying to their afflicted brethren the relief which God had enabled them to bestow.
If we would know whence it was that they were enabled so to act, the text informs us : it was, primarily, from " the grace of God" operating powerfully on their hearts ; and, next, from the joyful frame of their minds, which bore them up above all their own trials, and exulted in every opportunity of manifest- ing their love to their blessed Lord and Saviour. They had " an abundance of joy" in the midst of their deep poverty ; and that "joy in the Lord was their strength."]
2. Their piety —
[This was not a whit less remarkable : indeed, it was the foundation, of which their liberality was the superstructure. They " first gave up themselves to God " in a way both of secret surrender, and of ofeti profession.
They surrendered themselves wholly to Christ as his willing subjects and servants. Without this, all their liberality would have been a mere heathen virtue. If, without love to man, a person might " give all his goods to feed the poor, and yet be no better than sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal," much more would his best actions be of no value, if not springing from love to God. It is this principle that constitutes the perfection of every thing we do, and makes a wish, a sigh, a groan more acceptable to God than the most splendid action