Gal. i. 23, 24. They had heard only, that he ivhich persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he de- stroyed. And they glorified God in me.
THE account of men's conversion to God is a very profitable subject of contemplation. It tends to
illustrate the infinite diversity of ways in which God deals with men, and draws them to himself. St. Paul, on various occasions, mentioned the peculiar manner in which he was turned to God, and brought to the obedience of faith a. He adverts to it in the chapter before us, in order to establish beyond contradiction his divine mission. It is not my intention to enter into the circumstances of his conversion, any further than they are referred to in my text : from whence I shall take occasion to shew,
I. What may be expected of every true convert —
It is here taken for granted that he has embraced the faith of Christ —
[This is to be taken for granted in all cases: for no man can be a Christian till he has truly come to Christ, seeking mercy at God's hands through him, even through his obe- dience unto death. This is the distinctive difference between the Christian and others. Others may possess all that Paul himself possessed in his unconverted state : all his privileges of birth, all his attainments in knowledge, all his zeal in reli- gion, and all his blameless morality ; and yet, after all, be " in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity." It is his deep contrition as a sinner, his utter renunciation of all self-dependence, either in respect to righteousness or strength, and his simple affiance in the Lord Jesus Christ, that must characterize him as a true believer ]
This faith he will endeavour, to the utmost of his power, to advance —
[If, like Paul, he have been " put into the ministry," he will " preach Christ" to his people ; yea, and will " determine to know nothing among them, save Jesus Christ, and him
crucified b" If he be a private Christian, he will exert
himself in every possible way to promote the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. Has he wealth ? he will gladly assist in educating pious persons for the service of the sanctuary. Has he influence? he will endeavour to establish faithful ministers in places which seem to afford them scope for more
extensive usefulness0 Many of the primitive Christians
gave up all that they possessed, that, in so doing, they might
a Acts ix. xxii. and xxvi. b 1 Cor. ii. 2.
c If this subject be used on occasion of a Visitation, these hints about the exercise and advancement of the ministry should be consi- derably diversified and enlarged.