Heave~. 1. I_n the_r~cognltion of this _lies.the labourer's stre11gth. 2. And the dignity attach10g to hie pos1t1on and office, which is not personal, bul, ministerial. 3. And the responsibility of all for whose welfare the Christian laho11rer toils. Snch are bound to consider, not the human minister merely, but the Divine Lord, whose servant and messenger he is.-T. Ver. 2.-The acceptable time. As an ambassador for Christ, Paul used both authority and persuasion in urging his readers and hearers to take advantage of the opportunity afforded them of reconciliation with God through Jesns Christ. And he very naturally and justly pressed upon them an immediate attention to the summons, the invitation of Divine grace. There are reasons why delay should be avoided, why acceptance. should be unhesitating. L THE BLESSING, 'l'his is set before us in two lights. 1. On the Divine side, we observe that God is ready both to hear and to succour. To hear the cry of those in danger; the petition of those in want. To succour those who are in present distres~ and· who are unable to deliver themselves from their affliction~. 2. On the human side, we observe that men may be accepted and reconciled, that they may be delivered and saved. The salvation here proffered is spiritual and eternal. • · II. THE OPPORTUNITY. It is not for us to speculate as to God's reasons, so to speak, for limiting the day of grace and of visitation. We have to deal with the fact that there is e. period during which the blessiogs of salvation may be sought and secured. The first advent of our Saviour may be fixed as the terminus a quo of this period, the second advent as the terminus ad quem. During the Christian era, the dispeosation of the Holy Spirit, the gospel is preached to all men, and the invitation is freely offered to those who need to apply, with the assurance that their request shall not be refused. III. THE APPEAL, The blessing is great and adapted to the case of the sinner ; the opportunity is precious and not. to be despised without guilt and folly. What, then, follows Y Surely the appeal is powerful and timely; it deserves the immediate atten- tion of 1111 to whom the gospel comes. 1. The conditions are such that they may be at once fnlfllled. • The call is to obey God, to believe in Christ, to repent of sin, to live anew. 2. Nothing can be advanced to justify delay. Delay is unreasonable, dangerous, and foolish. To neglect·the appeal would be to defy and displease God. 3. Those of every age and condition are alike placed in this position of privilege and of respon- sibility.-'!'. Ver. 4.-" Minislers of God." Man is not meant to be a law or an end unto himself. He finds the true secret of his being, who lives, not unto himself, but unto his Lord. To take employment under a. wise and holy Master, to engage in a spiritual eervice, to look up daily for direction and for blessing, to aim at the glory of the Eternal,-this is the true vocation and the true happiness of man. Paul found his strength for labour and his consolation in suffering, not in anything personal, but in losing and merging himself in his Lord and King. J. THE MASTER. Onr Lord has bidden us call no man master, by which he directs our attention to the fact that we receive our instrnctions for duty and our revebtions of truth, not from human, but from Divine authority. God is, to those who accept service under him, a wise, just, forbearing, considerate, and liberal Master. In him we find one free from all imperfections of knowledge, and all flaws of character, such as must be expected in aii human governors. II. Tm: SERVICE. In its outward aspects this varies in different cases, so that the life-work of no two men is quite the same. " How many serve I how many moro May to the service come I- To tend the vines, the grapes to store, Thou dost appoint for some; Thou hast thy young men at the war, Thy little ones at home." III. Tim onLtaATIONS OF SPIRITUAL SERVANTS. 1. Obedience. This L~ indispensable. The vow which Christians take is that they will be the Lord's servants to obey him. 156 THE SEOOND EPISTLE TO THE COlUNTlllANS. [cu. vr. 1-18,
2. Fidelity. The allegiance due to the Divine Lord must, upon no considrmtion, be transferred to another; his cause must not be betrayed, 3. Readiness to su!Ter in the path of devotion, The context shows us that this was an element in Paul's conception of true ministry. IV. THE RECOMPENSE. 1. This is entirely of grnce ; the purest l\nd •the best havt no claim to it. 2. Success in ministry is the true servant's best reward. 3. With this is conjoined approval on the Mast.er's part. -l. And the recompense is imperishable and immorta.l.-T.