lnjustico to none; ho had "corrupted no man" in doctrines or morals; he had "dofmuded no man," he ho.d availed himself of no circumstance in order to extr,rt from them money or power. A grand thing this for a minister to be able to say to his people without any fear of contradiction, and in the sight of God. 2. On the fact that be loved them. "1 spe11k not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to live and to die with you." Although I might "condemn" you I still Jove you; you are so strong in my affections that I will not only visit you bnt would Jive and dio with you, if my mission would allow. 3. On the fact that he' rejoiced i11 the good _that was in them. " Gr~at is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my gloryrng of you: I am filled with comfort," etc. Thus he commends himself to their affection. It is self-commendation, it is true; but who else could commend him? There were none greater than he living. There is no egotism in his self-com- mendation. Vera. 5-7,-The good tried and comforted. "For when we were come into Mace- donia," etc. Here we have-- I. A GOOD MAN GREATLY TRIED. "For when we were come into Macedonia, out :flesh had' no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears." In eh. ii. 13 he refers to one circumstance that troubled him on his way to Macedonia. "I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titns my brother." Ee had·.come from Troas full of excitement and agitation, fully expecting to meet with Titus, who would convey to him some information concerning the Church at Corinth, which would allay his intense anxieties. But he was disappointed. What the other particular troubles were that he refers to here, the " fightings without" and "fears within," we know not; but well we know that everywhere in the prosecution of bis apostolic mission be met with trials-great, varied, and most distressing. The best of men in this life are frequently "cast down." There are many things that "cast down" the spirits of good men. 1. The '[YT'OSperity: of the wicked. Asaph felt this. "My feet had almost gone, my steps were well-nigh slipped," etc. 2. The triumphs of wrong. Fraud in trade, corruption in politics, errors in science, moral filth in popular literature, blasphemies, sectarianism and cant in religion. What noble souls are depressed here in England with these things I 3. The non-success of Christly labour. How many preachers of spiritual thought, disinterested love, inflexible loyalty to truth, are subject to depressing moods on account of the little success apparently resulting from their arduous and self-denying toils I Often, like Elijah, they feel inclined to retire into the caves of solitude; like Jeremiah, who resolved "to speak n!l more" in bis Name, and like One greater than either or all, who wailed out the words, "I have laboured in vain, and spent my strength for nought." II. A GOOD MAN DIVINELY COMFORTED. "Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus." God is a Comforter. No one requires higher qualifications than a true comforter. Ee must have a thorough know- ledge. of the sufferer, know his constitution, and the causes ot the complaint; his diagnosis must be perfect. He must posse1aS the necessary remedial elements; he must have the antidote at command. He must also have the tenderest sympathy ; an unsympathetic nature can never administer comfort, whatever the extent of bis k.now- iedge or the suitableness of his means. God has all these qualifications in an infinite degree, Hence he is the Comforter. God comforted Paul by sending him Titus. 1. The appearance of Titus was comforting. The advent of his young friend was as the rising of the morning sun in the dark heavens of his spirit. God comforts man by man. Moses was comforted in the wilderness by the unexpected visit of bis father-in- law Jethro (Exod. xviii. 7). Hanuah was cheered in spirit by the talk of old Eli (1 Sam. i. 18). David, dejected in the wood, had his heart streng~bened by Jonathan (1 Sam. xxiii, 16). 2. The communication of Titus was comfortrng. "And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest :iesire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me ; so that I rejoiced the more." CONCLUSION, Learn : 1. That Chi istianity in its hignest torm does not exempt from the trials of life. A more Chr1stly man than Paul perhaps never lived. Yet how great his trials I 2. That the vicarious sufferings of love are amongst tlu; most 174 THE SEOOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTBIANS, [CH. VIL 1-16;
depressing. The more love a man be in him in this. world of affiiction and sorrow, the more, by the law of sympathy, will be endure. Paul now auffered for the Oorln• thians. 3. A genuine disciple of Christ oatrles comfort int.o the.house of hie distreeae4 friend. Young TitUB carried comfort into the saddened home of the Apoetlo Paul. •• He who bath most of heart KnoWB most of sorrow; nor a thing be ea.Id Nor did but was t.o him nt timea a woe, At times indifferent, at times a joy. Folly and sin and memory make a curse Wherewith the future fires may vie in vain, The sorrow• of the soul are graver still," (Foetus,)