eyes to the Apostle Paul, who " laboured more abun- dantly than all the Apostles'." What the main-spring was of his activity, we are at no loss to determine : it was " the love of Christ that constrained him :" he had been redeemed from death by the death of Christ; and therefore to Christ he consecrated all his time, and all his powers8.
A readiness for suffering also arises from the same source. The " peace" which Moses enjoyed "through believing," rendered him so superior to all the plea- sures of sense, that " he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt; and chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a sea- son*." St. Paul is yet a more illustrious example, as indeed might well be expected, considering how ex- ceeding abundant had been the mercy shewn towards him11." He had already endured far more than any other Apostle for the sake of Christ ; yet when the Spirit testified that bonds and afflictions still awaited him where he was going, and the Christians besought him not to proceed on his intended journey to Jeru- salem ; he replied, " What mean ye to weep and to break my heart ? for I am willing not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus x." And is it not thus also with ourselves ? If our souls be animated with faith and love, we shall " count it all joy when we fall into divers tempta- tions5';" yea, we shall" rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer shame for the sake of Christ2:" and the very things which were intended by our enemies for the destruction of the spiritual life, will tend rather to its furtherance and establishment9.
The same preparation for prosecuting our warfare is imparted to us by the Gospel,
II. In that it produces a peaceful disposition in the soul —
r 1 Cor. xv. 10. ■ 2 Cor. v. 14, 15. « Heb. xi. 24—26.
u 1 Tim. i. 14. x Acts xxi. 13. y Jam. i. 2.
z Acts v. 41. a Phil. i. 12.