with what we preach; we do not meet the taste~ of our hearers by prophesying deceits. The ,ery fact that we know the tremendous issues of our work would hinder that." God's gospel word, the message of eternal life in Christ Jesus, may be adulterated or corrupt~d in three ways. 1. By mixing up with it foreign, inharmonious, merely human, teachings. 2. Or by making the gospel revelation into a stiffened, formal creed, over the precise terms of which we may wrangle and dispute. 3. Or by dis- Jilacing the true motive in preaching it, and giving place to low aims, and purposes of merely selfish ambition, and longing for the praise of men. The appeal of the text has its special force when we remember of what things the Judaizing party accused thu apostle. St. Paul's enemies forced this appeal from him. Usually it is enough that the sincer~ and true man sh?uld keep on bis _faitbfnl ~ay, little heeding the opinions or accusations of others, trustmg the care of his reputation to God. But occasions do arise when something like public vindication becomes necessary, and a man is called to assert bis conscious integrity. Of this we have two ,ery striking instances recorded 1n Scripture. Samuel, when set aside by the mistaken longing for a. visible king, felt deeply hurt, though more for the insult thus offered to Jehovah, the ever-present but invisible King, than for his own sake. He pleaded thus with the people: "I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. Behold, here I am : witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you " (1 Sam. xii. 2, 3). And David, misunderstood and slandered, turns to speak to God in the bearing of the people, and says, " Judge me . . . according to my righteous- ness, and according to mine integrity that is in me" (Ps. vii. 8). Consider- L THE GREAT GOSPEL TRUST. 1. On the one side, the trust of Divine revelation and message. Illustrate by the direct communications of the Divine will made to the ancient prophets. These they were expected to deliver with all simplicity and com- pleteness, and without making any additions of their own to them. 2. Oa the other side, the trust of men's souls. The world was given to the apostles as the sphere in which their 11:ospel message was to be deli vored. Such a trust demanded seriousness, sincerity, and holy zeaL It should ever call out the best that is in a maa. II. THE PERIL OF ITS INJURY THROUGH THE GUILE OF THE SELF-SEEKER. Men will surely take their impressions of it from the character of the men who preach it. If we get a soiled idea of the gospel preacher, as an insincere, self-seeking maa, it is only too likely that we shall have a soiled and stained image of the gospel that he preaches in ' our minds. Men can make golden glowings or deep shadows rest on the gospel that they declare, the message which they have in trust. !II. 'l'HE FORCE OF IT AS PilESERVED WHEN THE AGENT IS GUILELESS AND SINCERE, The stream gets no foulness as it flows through him. Illustrate how men of transrarent character and beautiful piety put honour on religion. 'fhe commendation of Christ's gospel to men is (1) the pure and stainless Christ himself, and then (2) the graciousness and charm of his servants who are like him. The force behind gospel preaching is tho , life of the men who preach. The simple-minded, sincere, uncorrupted man may posi- ' tively make additions to the pra.::tical power of the gospel upon men.. Distinguish, however, between simplicity and moral weakness, and also between gwlclossncss o.n<l ignorance. The simplicity required is" unity" as opposed to" double-mindedness;" it is being wholly for God. - R. 'l.'.
EXPOSITION. given to Moses (vers. 7-11). This ministry CHAPTER m needs no veil upon the face (vers. 12, 13), Defence e.gaiDBt the charge of self-recom- suoh e.s to this de.y do.rkona the hearts of meadation, which St. Paul does not need the Jews (vers. 14, 15), though it she.11 one (ver•. 1-3). His eufilciency comes from do.y be removed (vers. 16-18). God (vers. 4-0), who has made him minister Vere. 1-11.-Bt. Paul's ministry i, hi, of a covenant far more glorious than that eujJicie11t letter of commelldalicm. elk. UL 1-18.) THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIAN~. 57