2 Cor. xi. 29. Who is weak, and I am not loeak ? Who is offended, a7id I burn not ?
TRULY, the testimony of a good conscience is a source of unbounded joy. There are, and ever were, those who would traduce the characters of the best of men. The Apostle Paul himself was reproached by many, yea, and by many who professed them- selves Christians too, as a " weak" man, and " a fool^" He was able, however, to give very abundant proof, that, whilst others gloried on false grounds, he had just and good ground for glorying; and that,
a ver. IG, 21.
" in no respect was he inferior, either to them, or to the very chiefest Apostles'"." In truth, the very things which rendered him contemptible in the eyes of many, were those which redounded most to his honour. His enemies thought that " hunger and thirst, and cold and nakedness, and persecutions" for Christ's sake, were occasions for reproach ; whereas the Apostle judged that they were grounds rather for approbation from men, and for thanksgivings to God. And, whilst he vindicated himself thus from the charges that were brought against him, he could appeal to his very enemies, and ask, whether his labours had been of a mere general and ostentatious kind ; or whether they had not, even to that very hour, been so universal and particular, as to entitle him to gratitude from every member of the Christian Church : *' Who is weak, and I am not weak ? Who is offended, and I burn not?"
Now, in this appeal we may see, T. The infirmities incident to the people of God —
There were at that time, and have been in every age of the Church, some who need all possible atten- tion from their brethren :
1. Those who are weak —
[There are "children" in the family of Christ, no less than " young men" and "fathers." In truth, there are many who are " weak" in knowledge, having but very indistinct
views of the Gospel and its attendant privileges Some
also are " weak" in faith, even as the Apostles themselves shewed themselves to be on many occasions *=: " they stagger at the promises of God;" and, when greatly tried, are unable
firmly to rely upon them Some, too, are " weak" in
hope: for though, under the Christian dispensation, we do not see so much of doubts and fears as under the darker dispensa- tion of the law ; yet we can have no doubt but that in the apostolic age, as well as now, there were many sincere persons, who felt secret misgivings respecting their own state before God, and wanted that "full assurance of hope" which some were privileged to enjoy. In convict, doubtless, many are " weak." It is no easy thing to contend even with flesh and blood, and still more with the prhicipalities and powers of
" ver. 5, 21— 28; >= Matt. vi. 30. Mark iv. 40. Luke viii. 25.