often speaks of Christ " dwelling in usg," and " living in ush," and " being our life1:" and in the text he says, that " Christ in us is the hope of glory."
The necessity of this he urged with as much care and earnestness as the atonement itself: because without Christ we could do nothing k, yea, we must continue reprobates1, and for ever destitute of any interest in his salvation111.]
He next mentions the manner in which he con- ducted them —
[He left nothing undone which could promote the recep- tion of the Gospel : he " warned every man :" he was faithful to the trust reposed in him; and, without either courting the favour of men or fearing their displeasure, he boldly com- mended himself to the consciences of all. Knowing the terrors of the Lord, he persuaded men11. He told them freely of their lost estate, and their utter incapacity to help themselves. He set before them the provision which God had made for them in Christ Jesus ; and in the most pointed terms assured them, that " if they neglected that great salvation, they could never escape" the wrath of God0. If any, yea if even an angel from heaven should attempt to substitute another Gospel, or alter in any respect that which he had preached to them, he did not hesitate to pronounce them accursed p. Nor had he any respect of persons. When preaching before kings, he spake so plainly as to make them tremble on their throne q : and when addressing those who professed godliness, he warned them frequently with teai-s, that carnal and worldly-minded Christians, whatever they might profess, were " enemies of the cross of Christ; and that their end would be destruction1'." He also " taught every man in all wisdom." Being himself instructed beyond any of the sons of men, he laboured to impart what he had so freely received, and to make known to his hearers " the whole counsel of God." Yet in this he exercised discretion. He administered milk to babes, and strong meat to those only who were able to digest its. As, on the one hand, he accommodated himself to the infirmities of the weak, so, on the other hand, he " withheld nothing that could be profitable" to the strong4. As far as he could with a good conscience, " he became all things to all men, that by all means he might save some11."
s Eph. iii. 17. h Gal. ii. 20. I Col. iii. 4.
k 2 Cor. iii. 5. • 2 Cor. xiii.5. m Rom. viii. 9.
11 2 Cor. v. 11. o Heb. ii. 3. and 1 Cor. xvi. 22.
p Gal. i. 8, 9. i Acts xxiv. 25. ' Phil. iii. 18, 19.
s 1 Cor. iii. 1, 2. Heb. v. 13, 14. * Acts xx. 20.
u 1 Cor. ix. 19—22.