Ver. 12.-.An open door, Men a.re prone to think what doors are open to them to enter, through which they may pass to their own profit, or advancement, or pleasure. Paul's was an unselfish and benevolent nature. He was a true follower of Christ, who came, not to do his own will, and not to be ministered unto, but to minister. Again and again, in the course of his life, his hea.rt was gladdened by the spectacle of a door of holy service set open before him by God's providence, inviting him to enter in and in the name of the Lord to take possession, I. 'l'HE OPEN DOOR LE.ADS TO OPPORTUNITIES OF WORK FOB CHRlBT, To the truo Christian this is more desirable than aught beside, Paul went nowhere but some door opened before him. A synagogue was open ; he entered it, and reasoned out of the Law or the propheui. A market-place thronged with citizens a.fforded him opportunity for preaching the true God and the eternal life. Even a prison door, when it closed upon him, did not shut him off from human souls. It is well thnt Christians should think, not so much of their own interests, as of the service of their Master, II. THE OPEN DOOR .lB BET OPEN BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE, " Opened of the Lord" is the apostle's expression, We mn.y not see the hand, but we should not ignore it. Whon God himself makes " way, his doing so is " command to his people to adopt and to follow it. \Vhen he opens, " no man can shut." III. THE OPEN DOOR IS A DOOR OF rn0MlBE TO THOSE WHO WILL ENTER IN, Why is the door set open? Is there no purpose in this? Surely it is a want of faith to hold back when the Lord himself so mnnifestly encourages his servants; to "go in and possess the land." • IV, THE OPEN DOOR Wll.L BE, SHUT AGAINST THOSE WHOSE NEGLIGENCE OR DIS• OBEDIENCE HINDERS THEM FROM ENTERING IT. As the door of salvation will be closed against those who fail to enter in, so the door of service will be 8hut to exclude those who turn aside when the hand of God ha.a opened_it and has beckoned them to enter, but has beckoned them in vain.-T.
Vere. 14-16.-77ie solemnity of Che ministry. A Roman triumph, to which the apostle refers in this passage, was the most magnificent of earthly pageants. The con,queror, in whose honour it was given, was an iUWJtrious commander, who bad defeated an enemy or gained a province. The 1'0uto traversed by the triumphal pro- cession la.;y through Rome to the Capitol itself. 'l.'he spectators who fea~tcd their eyes 48 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIIE oORIN'l'HIANS. [en. u. 1-17.