should they not be as solicitous to receive, as their minister can be to communicate, good ; and should not every other consideration be regarded as a matter of comparative in- difference ? Happy would it be for the Church of God, and happy for the world at large, if such dispositions obtained amongst the hearers, wherever the Gospel is proclaimed !]
Application —
[We ask, What is the improvement which you have made of our ministry ? We presume not to compare ourselves with the holy Apostle : we know full well how remote we are from him in every attainment : yet we hope that, in some small measure, we may adopt his language in the text, and say, " We seek not yours, but you." (Would to God that we could affirm it as fully, and as confidently, as Paul himself!) Let each of you then put the question to himself, and ask. Whether the pursuit of your own salvation be the one concern which swallows up, as it were, all others ? At least, are all other things comparatively worthless in your eyes ? And are you, " as new-born babes, desiring the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby ? " Remember that, if we must give an account of your souls to God, much more must you give an account of your own souls ; and the more our exer- tions for you are increased, the more will your condemnation be aggravated, if they prove ineffectual for your salvation.]
2 Cor. xiii. 4. Though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth hy the jootver of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live tvith him hy the power of God toward you.
AMONGST the evidences of our holy religion, there are many which are of a recondite nature ; and which, as superadded to those which are more ob- vious, are of great importance. The passage before us affords a strong proof that the Apostle Paul was no impostor. Suppose that he knew himself to have been acting the part of a deceiver, he would be extremely careful not to offend and irritate those who might detect his treachery. But behold, when he had occasion to reprove the Corinthians for their unchristian practices, he declared, that, if they